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Peek: The Games Gods Play
🕑 Added 2025-03-03 02:01:35 +0000 UTCMortals know the gods are interested in them, though they can only guess as to why. Some believe the mortal world is a stage, with the gods as the audience, enjoying the unscripted play of life, cheering or booing as they see fit. Others say the gods are the highest of gossips, eagerly sharing scandals and trying to subtly influence mortal lives to produce something even juicier.
One of the more popular metaphors to explain their interest is that mortals are a game of chance and skill to the gods. And in any game, there are sides. The Great Mother has a great number of children, and so they naturally line themselves up on opposite sides of the great game. Theologians argue if there is any true animosity, or if it is the simple tension of a family; while others argue that the deepest hatred is reserved for those who share blood. Either way, there are gods who happily take the mantle of antagonist, when it suits their goals. Yonji, god of Dominion. Hesfia, goddess of Strife. Bin, god of Pride. The Whispered Trio.
When the Great Mother announced her interest in Fourdock and the new god Thedeim, most of her children simply nodded and continued with their own plans. A new deity can only accomplish so much, especially when it doesn't have a pantheon. The more informed of her children decided to subtly keep an eye on things, knowing the new divine presence has already made friends of the Shield and Order, with rumors of even the Raven being friendly to it. With the new god's domain of Change, keeping a good eye is only being smart.
But the Whispered Trio sees potential. Yonji sees a path to his own Dominion, unseating the Great Mother and taking her place as the head of the Pantheon. Hesfia knows just how much strife can come from reckless change. And Bin sees an opportunity to show how powerful he is and get the recognition he deserves.
The Trio are no fools, however. Thedeim has felled foes that should have been beyond him, time and again. A direct strike would surely fail. And even if it succeeds, change is what they all want. Removing change would only be a waste of an opportunity.
But being indirect... could just work. There is a being that tried to impose its Dominion on reality. A being that caused some of the greatest Strife in history. A being of such impressive Pride. But they must tread carefully. The older, experienced gods have dealt with that being, or so they think.
So they hope. If Order were to discover what they are up to, not even their mother could protect them. She would probably help hunt them down, in fact. And yet... how can they enact change without expecting a little risk?
If discovered, they'll simply say they are trying to deal with the Betrayer once and for all. It and Thedeim are both dungeons, after all. Where the gods couldn't obliterate it, perhaps he can.
Such a conflict would provide ample opportunity for the Whispered Trio. Thedeim's success or victory both would provide ample opportunity for Yonji's new Dominion to reign over the pantheon. The fight between two dungeons on that scale would be the kind of Strife to keep Hesfia happy for a millennia. And the reveal and removal of the threat, especially without having to truly lift a finger, would be the greatest feather Bin could hope to put in his cap.
And so the Whispered Trio start to set the board, preparing for the start of a new and dangerous game.
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Inspired by both William Anderson and Navar44, who wanted to see more of what the other gods think of Thedeim.
Comments
13L00D13ANE
We can only hope
13L00D13ANE
I think the betrayer dungeon is the god of chaos
NetWon
Are these 3 all of a sudden trouble makers? One would think with their attitudes, they would have caused trouble before and would already have The Great Mother's eye on them...
mly85lc
Hmm... since there is multiple patron on world. With history of changes and broke. Old and new. And even some gods death or feiding away. Maybe there's is Some old god that's seeing and done it all moving form different pateros, and different alliances. Different acpect of his own domain. Real old goat god. Some one that could kind of act as mentor for MC. Sure Tars did that and southwoods but now theyry out of theyry steps.
mly85lc
Oh and I'm this head canon's theyry would be mortal elfs existing in same turbulent time prior, working for betterment of theyry people and rise to godhood as part off Mother of Magi unifaction efforts. Meaning theyry earn path to godhood themselves but god Magi give them and theyry siblings a last push. Maybe theyry even rises to godhood same time earnig theyry Trio Moniker. Alls skill that brings on trought times off upheavals and blood. May not be best for times of peace. With In turn brings whispers part too play. After-all theyry where's great history pepole ones, and maybe even still server elfs kingdoms prospects.
mly85lc
Oh. That's one way. Look at them. Nice one. Hmm... maybe it could even effects of whole being part of Patron.. like part of bonus god that's are in it can manifest more indirect part of theyry acpect to reality... while theyrys manifestio is subtle being affect by head god.. that in turn would make acpect wise MC good pick for head of patron. Personal I was my self thinking more of line off how every gods personality has been affect by theyry acpect. So maybe this god start theyry accession as mortal. Hesfia being some one boht passionate and holding gruds for insulted centuries, but over time learn to play and use that's acpect to her advantage, becoming some one that's diverting thous.. passion against elfs nations enemy's and becoming spoter when things becoming to hot. With in turn lead her work with. Yojin who try to calm down the domains (lands) under elfs rule. After prior off internal war? Over flow of Mana poisoning? Stiffness? Natural disaster? War against ohter kingdoms/domains All thous in last centuries? Surly some one that's managing all that and make elfs domains prospect again would be a great rule. Maybe in he's quest for unnifaction, lead him in turn reach for unnity among he's pears. With in turn leads. Bin. A some one that take civil pride of achievements of he's people. After-all where theyry culture and arts not finest under sky? Where theyry not naturally magial attuned? And now under new god of Magi theyry would reaching new heights. If only theyry would emphasis theyry path as pepole, under new rule.etc
Typhoonator
We got a BBEG folks!
AG
Khenal should make a peek based around that idea
Thomas Windsor
The title made me think of Thedeim inviting the gods over to play Catan or some other table top game
Ben Bass
TYFTP! Very interesting that the gods are looking to set the DM against The Betrayer, which was already an option since the Harbinger was handled by Thedeim. Now how much meddling will the gods do, and how badly will it backfire when Thedeim finds out, or comes up with a way of handling things that doesn’t help these gods goals at all?
Aerowarrier
Frankly, the gods are lucky TheDiem doesn’t want to stick his neck into politics. Change being brought to the gods’ structure could very easily turn him into the next great antagonist
Markell
I love that the great mother (the goddess of magic) has children whose domain represents the reasons “why” someone would use magic. Dominion: The desire to bend reality to your will. Pride: The belief you have the power to bend reality to your will. Strife: often the reason, and the consequence of seeking magic. Ok, here’s a little head-cannon I wrote: Hesfia, often mistaken as the youngest of the children because of how often strife is a consequence of the former two. But she is in fact her oldest child, for it is often strife that serves the catalyst that causes mortals to seek dominion over their current reality. Whilst the god of dominion, Yonji the middle child, always believes that they are the unseen and neglected child, craving the attention that he should have received instead of his siblings. Always feeling robbed of opportunities and given only the hand-me-downs of his eldest, yet for all his efforts he despises that it their youngest that receives recognition of their work. Bin, the youngest golden child. The one with all of the attention yet never listened to… why should they heed the others warnings when all their plans would have worked had they not gotten in the way? If only his eldest brother would just leave their plans be? And thus, the cycle of tragedy continues with the whispered trio. For their is no worse enemy than an a terrible ally.
Ethan Barrow
They fact they aren't trying to get rid of the Eldritch evil but use it will almost certainly backfire very badly.
Shawn Roach
Its from the April 21, 2024 peek. "Waiting in the Molten Abyss". Out of all the peeks, I think that one really needs to be released to non-patreon readers, as its so essential to theory crafting. Right now the non-patreon readers are still left with a complete mystery on who/what was behind the harbinger. Could even be used as a patreon advertisement for what readers are missing out on.
mly85lc
Eh... The Whispered Trio? So is Mother of magic theyry actually blood mother? So theyry are elfs... is there's a father? Is he a mortal or himself a god? What about what organizations have build around services of thous gods? Shields followers use shield and acts as para-miltary protection for pepole... while following he's teachings. While Orders Followers like to up keep and manage ledgers while organisations around them in order and running. So what in turn will these Whispered Trio followers do? Sure elfs as pride full for theyry people achievements Is understandable stereo type, take they are longer living pepole, who would accumulated accomplish and knowledge trought the years. And that accomplish would in turn over time turn lands or domain where elfs hold sovereignty and/or control. And where's there a established instres and wie point there will be over time eventually also Strife. Be that about people's habit and different look creating discord, forming to antagonism over time between individuals. And form there becoming vigorous or bitter conflict between pepole. So that they be efl god kind of match but how would theyry followers or church look like? Or theyry direct servants be theyry priest, seremony masters, palandins.etc
Kebbitevoke -
Why do I get the feeling that the Chaos branch of god/goddesses are gonna make Thedium and Foredock a major point of this worlds history???
Jerry A
Seems like they are about to live in "intresting times"
MattUDFells
Yes they were, currently hiding under the world's crust.
Tsume Eiranis
Thank you for the peek And another pebble starts to roll into a potential avalanche
Carl Gherardi
Very Terry Pratchet.
William Anderson
Thank you for the peak!!!!! Holy shit this lays down so much intrigue! I love it!
C
Oh... Oh dear...
jeffh4
Was The Betrayer the same dungeon that spawned the Harbinger? I forget the details revealed during their Sneak Peak chapter.
Herakilla
Thanks for the peek! Setting up things to come in the far future!
King Jerkera
Holy moly what a reveal!
Juno Tubolino
I can't wait to see these foolish gods' plans get utterly trashed by Thediem. I hope the newest little dungeon, Vanta, is somehow related to the Betrayer, and upon seeing it has great great grand-dungeons it decides the world is okay again lol
Cordell Patrick
The Betrayer is the Dungeon that caused the Great Cataclysm its mentioned when the Kolbold goes into the history of the world
Anthony Felscher
Wait... where/when was the first? I can't remember.
Devin Durham
Oooh 😲 The Betrayer’s second mention? I smell a BBEG on the wind! Love getting to see more of the godly powers at work in the world. Interesting that Order would give the Great Mother pause when she rules a pantheon. Wonder what the Trio will do when they find out Thedeim is already buddies with Order
Vorquel
Those idiots are gonna get on so much trouble. In unrelated news, millennia is plural. It should either be "a millennium" or "millennia" without a leading "a"
Destiny Meyers
Those three have no idea what they're getting into. This gonna be funny.
chris Bell
Ahhhhhh i know only a peak but consumed that in 2 minutes :-( i need more haha
Deathburn
Welp, seems like Thedeim is gonna have his free time go down again
