The Manifold Path
Accent: None
Primary Eye: Arcanorum
Qualifier: “Follower of The Manifold Path”
"And thus were the Nine Divines heralded, each with their place in the heavens, ruling over the disparate domains of Arcanorum. Then from horizons beyond the Ascendant, Linred, arrived: a Divine not yet born, yet eternal.
Thus it was shown that supplication to the Divine was possible without singling out a Deity: even the Deities, once thought ever-present, might come and go, and the heavens might shift and churn, but the order of the universe was eternal: Divine above, mortal below, each serving their own place in the cosmos.
And so we worship the Divine as a whole, rather than a single figurehead. The Aspects of Divinity serve mortals as we serve the Divine, in a great Circle…
~The Teachings of “Brother Mobius - the Circlet Guide”: Winter, 486’
Tenets of The Devoted
- The Level Field - No God shall be raised up above all others, each shall be given their due, and respect for their domain acknowledged.
- The Divine Chorus - No God’s reverence shall be left fallow. Each Deity is worthy of prayer and supplication in the face of mortal need.
- The Shrine of the Manifold Path - A Shrine shall be constructed, tended, and given prayer to, such that those that might aid us may hear us.
- The Divine Order - While no God may rise above the rest, they are ascendant above mortals, and attempts to bring the Gods low, or elevate mortals to the Divine are heresy.
- A Token of Faith - The Manifold Path requires the careful balance of many conflicting ideologies, but none may rise above the Path itself. Carry with you a token of our faith, both symbolic and conduit for divine power.
Note: If you purchased one or more abilities in this Religion, and you knowingly break one of the tenets of the Religion, you will have all powers granted by this religion revoked until the end of the event (or longer), and may be subject to a redemption or atonement quest to regain these powers, subject to the discretion of the Plot Team.
Description
The Worshippers of the Manifold Path believe that no single Deity can claim to be perfection in all things. While they have a domain with appropriate strengths to maintain dominance within it, a mortal’s life is mercurial: within a day’s time a mortal's needs may shift from being hungry, needing strength, requiring shelter, or craving peace. There is no God with a domain so broad as to capture and quell all those needs.
Thus, the leadership of the Manifold Path chose to beseech the Gods for their aid in a way that had not been done before: instead of adhering to a single God’s preferences and following the tenets of one devotion, offerings would be made to the entire pantheon of Gods in the hope of currying all of their favor.
As one might expect, it would be impossible to secure the blessings of all Gods at once, however, consistent devotion shown to all would at least maintain their favor, with focus applied with elaborate rituals when a stronger blessing was needed.
Followers of The Manifold Path understand they will never carry blessings as strong as the faithful with a singular focus to their God, but they will be able to curry favor for a particular Deity whose strengths align with their current cause.
Conflicts naturally arise with these practices. Not all Gods get along, causing strife and backlash from time to time. However, the followers of this Religion attempt to pay homage in their own ways, placating the greater beings until true favors must be asked of them.
Qualifier
All adherents of this religion gain the Qualifier: Follower of The Manifold Path. This means that the character will become targets of effects with that qualifier for as long as they maintain devotion to this religion. These effects will be both positive and negative, so be sure to be aware of the Calls being made around you.
For Example: Toric, devoted to The Manifold Path is fighting on the line during an incursion of undead. Behind them is a cleric of his order, Killian. Killian prays to their shared god and receives a boon in the form of “By My Voice, Heal 5 to Follower of The Manifold Path by Radiance”. Toric heard this call, and is devoted to the religion, and so is healed. Meanwhile, Toric’s line companion, Juris, is not a member of the church, but heard the call. They, however, not being a devotee, are not affected by the call.
Elsewhere, the undead invasion is not without its necromancer, Yorric. Yorric likewise calls out to their deity, and casts that maleficent gaze upon his foes: “By My Voice, Wounding 4 to Follower of The Manifold Path By Malice”. As before, Toric, (and his cleric friend) are affected by this call, but his linemate Juris is not.
Bonus Religion Powers
Divine Supplication [Devotion] - 1 CP
The wielder of this ability may choose an individual Deity and perform a Rite of their own creation at the Manifold Path’s Shrine. In so doing, they may alter their Chosen Accent to the selected Deity’s until (at least) the next Long Rest.
The leader of the Rite may allow as many adherents of the Manifold Path to alter their Chosen Accent as they wish, but all attendees of the Rite may only alter their Chosen Accent to the one selected by the leader of the Rite they participate in.
The Chosen Accent, for each participant, remains for at least one Long Rest, and will remain Chosen until the participant alters the Accent at a new Rite, or the Event ends. The Chosen Accent at the beginning of each event is None, and the Rite will need to be performed before the participants may select a Chosen Accent.
Note: The Leader of the Divine Supplication should notify Plot when a Rite’s attendance exceeds ten people, including leader, when convenient.
Basic Religion Powers
A Chosen Path [Devotion] - 2 CP
Whenever this character receives healing from their [Chosen Accent], they may regain one additional Life Point.
Clerical Substitution [Devotion] - 3 CP
Whenever this character uses a Power with the Radiance Accent they may substitute that Accent for the [Chosen Accent]. This is an at-will ability.
Advanced Religion Powers
The character must have purchased all the Basic Powers of this religion to buy these powers.
A Guided Path [Devotion] - 2 CP
Prerequisite: One Adept Spell or Advanced Power
“The Manifold Path is a long and winding road, full of twists and turns, and prone to encouraging conflict around those who walk it. However, for those who are truly faithful, aid will ever be present for those who do not walk alone.”
A Guided Path [Devotion] [Adept]Incantation: “I call my faith, divine and right, I wield and shape creation’s light. I draw my strength from sky and land. Gather now within my hand to walk the road less trodden.” Call: “Cure [Condition] and Grant Protect vs Packets by [Chosen Accent]” Target: Two Individuals Duration: Instantaneous, Until Used Delivery: Touch Refresh: Spell Accent: [Chosen Accent] Effect: Grant, Cure The Path sometimes deviates from our chosen fate - the Chosen may realign the fate of their allies by removing the negative consequences of ill fate and applying protective sigils to ward off further corruption. The caster may deliver a Touch cast to call “Cure [Condition] and Grant Protect vs Packets” on up to two allies, protecting them from harm. The first time this spell is cast each Long Rest it will not consume a spell slot. |
Divine Conduit [Devotion] - 2 CP
Prerequisite: One Advanced Power or Adept Spell
“The Manifold Path provides choices and opportunities aplenty, however, let not the choices provided to you choose for you: for every choice you make is your own, even if the apparent options before you seem absolute. There is always another way, if one cares to look.”
Name: Divine Conduit [Devotion] Incantation: None Call: Grant Accent Target: Self Duration: Passive Delivery: None Refresh: Long Rest Accent: [Chosen Accent] Effect: Grant Accent When attending a Divine Supplication, the participant may select from one of two benefits:
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