Gift of the Divine Arts
The reign of the Dragons marked a time of relative peace, even as trouble brewed across the Multiverse. Mortals on The Materium, in awe of the dragons' soaring power and protection, turned their reverence into a fervent worship thanking their deities. This newfound devotion, however, did not go unnoticed.
Whispers travelled on the wind, tales of deities – benevolent and malevolent alike – responding to the outpouring of faith. In a pivotal moment, a collective decision rippled through the divine realms. A gift, they declared, would be bestowed upon their worshippers – the Gift of the Divine Arts. This wasn't a promise of unbridled power, but a spark, a potential for devout followers to channel their deity's essence and perform rudimentary magic.
The arrival of the gift was like a blazing star streaking across the night sky. Magic, once the exclusive domain of a privileged few, became a glimmering possibility for the masses. Temples rose across Inventa, each a beacon for those seeking blessings and the coveted gift. The landscape of worship was transformed forever.
The devout flocked to the new houses of worship. Dedicated religious orders emerged, wielding their newfound magic at first for the betterment of society. Some, channelling the healing touch of benevolent deities, became menders of wounds and soothers of ailments. More, empowered by the protector gods, served as guardians against bandits and monstrous threats. Others, touched by the power of the divine used their magic to construct grand buildings and cultivate bountiful harvests.
The traditional power structures began to strain under the weight of this magical democratisation. No longer was the ability to manipulate the world unseen the sole possession of a select few. New political players, wielding divine magic and commanding the loyalty of devout followers, challenged the established order. Kings and queens, once absolute rulers, now had to contend with magically empowered advisors and divinely-backed rebellions.
However, the light of this era wasn't without its dark counterpart. The Banished Gods offered their own twisted versions of the Gift. Mortals, blinded by ambition or lured by promises of forbidden power, embraced these corrupting magics. Cults sprouted like poisonous mushrooms; their fanaticism fuelled by dark blessings. These agents of chaos wielded their twisted magic to further their malevolent deities' agendas, sowing discord, and destruction wherever they went.
The Cardinal Deities found themselves facing a new challenge: not only external threats from these dark magic users, but also the potential for their own gifts to be misused. There were whispers of once-pious orders succumbing to the temptations of power, their magic wielded for personal gain rather than the greater good.
In rare cases, the most devout and powerful individuals transcended their mortal limitations altogether. Imbued with a potent fragment of their deity's power, these Ascended Mortals became champions of their faith. Walking avatars of divine will, they led the fight against evil, serving as guardians of Inventa and testaments to the transformative power of faith.
As this power spread throughout Inventa so did a new found love of creation. The Creations themselves were able to make things they could only dream of, leading way to The Divine Dreams.
