Akmedrah - Homestead Survival 273: The Path and those who tread it 2

<14 January 2025, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+ >[Theo and Julia]Theo and Julia moved as if they were going to leave, and Gurndin stopped them. "We told Lady Lifeweaver we'd teach ye' so we will."

"Don't worry," Patriarch Karzun said, "it will not take long. But Lady Lifeweaver is right; we should have given you more information as soon as you took the first step."

"You are talking about the notice that we got, about taking the first step towards divinity?" Julia asked.

"Indeed, first we should explain what a god being means." Patriarch Karzun said. "You know several gods now. There are many ancient gods; Lady Lifeweaver is the second Pre-System god you have met. Lord Ka the Mournful is the first."

"Some of the ancient gods choose to withdraw from interacting with mortals for one reason or another. Technically, until you take the tenth step of ascension, you are still mortal. You should not have had that Token that Gurndin gave you, and there was no guarantee of who or what would answer your summons," Tharvok said, "but that is another story for another day. The basics that you need to know, and that we should have told you, are called the ten steps of ascension."

"Before ye' ask what the steps are," Gurndin interjected, "know that they're different for everyone. Though I suspect that you can guess what the first step is for everyone."

"It's Skill evolution?" Theo asked.

Julia shook her head. "No, we did a combination of Skill Reforging and Evolution. I thought it was strange that we had help with that."

"Correct," Patriarch Karzun nodded. "The first step of ascension for everyone is a combination of Skill Reforging and Skill Evolution. After that, your path is your own. It will define what kind of god you become."

"Okay, sorry, you are throwing around a term like god and divinity. We have heard that you all are considered gods, but what does that mean? The only reference we have is the ideas of gods from before the System, and not to have too low an expectation, during the Unwanted." Julia asked, with Theo looking just as curious to the answer as Julia sounded.

"That is an excellent question." Tharvok said, "To become a god, or a deity, or walk the path of the Divine, or any of the other names that the process goes by, is to become the embodiment of the ideals that you hold to the point that around you reality bends to accommodate them."

"What does that mean?" Theo said, slightly confused. "How would reality bend for your beliefs? And what kind of gods are you three?"

"Our titles are hints," Tharvok said. "Why don't we tell you the titles we have been granted, and you tell us what kind of god you think we are? After that, we can demonstrate the reality effect."

Theo and Julia agreed, and Grundin nodded. "I'll go first then. My name is Gurndin Stonewrend. Founder and Patriarch of Clan Stonewrend; there are a number of branch clans, but none of those are my title."

Gurndin closed his eyes, and the world seemed to shimmer. "I am Gurndin Stonewrend, the Darksmasher."

Theo and Julia took in a sharp breath as they felt the weight of those words. Julia did not notice anything else, but Theo did. Theo had very much not forgiven the acts of Gurndin. But with the weight of those words, he felt the anger almost forcibly being abated; then the Ring of Eternal Mourning pulsed, and his mental state was purified. Gurndin chuckled, "That ring is far more useful than ye' know Theo, but I think ye' understand what my ideals're."

"You bring light to those around you, emotional light," Theo said hesitantly.

Gurndin nodded. "That's correct. I took the first step on the path days before the fall of my homeworld, so I strove, as I do even to this day, to return my homeworld to my people, an' drive away the darkness."

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Next, Tharvok spoke, "I am Soulsmith Embervein."

Theo and Julia thought for a moment, remembering that one of the things that Tharvok had told them when he jointly joined the Sorrin Family and Clan Molbrak. Julia looked up, "You reshape souls, but not in a way that the System does. I don't think the System deals in souls, at least not to any large extent. That's why Theo and I are able to do some of the strange things that we can in that strange soul space."

"And lastly, I am Amadylaren Godsbane." Patriarch Karzun said.

"You keep the gods in check," Theo said, and Patriarch Karzun nodded, then Theo's eyebrows scrunched. "Who keeps you in check?"

Patriarch Karzun chuckled. "All the other gods do, Theo."

"Now then, do you wish to see what we meant by reality bending?" Gurndin asked, and Theo and Julia nodded. Gurndin closed his eyes, and Theo and Julia felt a pulse of power that they could instantly recognize as Gurndin's rush through the area. Negative thoughts and literal darkness seemed to lessen in the area. After a moment, Gurndin let out a long breath, and the power seemed to retract.

"I think I understand," Julia said, "it's not so much that reality is helping you; it's that reality is following the rules it always has, but you are adding extra rules. Is that somewhat accurate?"

Gurnding nodded. Patriarch Karzun spoke, "You both walk the path now, and that means that who you are, and how you handle things will be very important down the road."

"But that is all that I think we have time for." Tharvok said, "I must go, and I believe that you all have things to tend to."

Theo and Julia nodded. "Thank you all."

Theo looked at Gurndin. "Hang out for a moment if you have the time."

Gurndin and Theo waited as everyone filed out, or, in Tharvok's case, simply vanished. Then Theo looked at Gurndin. "I know that you did what you thought you needed to. And I can understand and appreciate that you could have elected to enter combat with your people. But I am still angry with you. I don't know how long that will last, but at least know that I will forgive you, hopefully sooner rather than later, but in the future. And of course you are free to send your children to run the dungeon, same rules as always, and you can of course share that information with our mutual friends."

Gurndin, who looked contented with the answer, nodded. "Thank ye' Theo. If ye' need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out."

With that, Gurndin vanished, and Theo walked out to find Julia waiting. "Let's get started."

Julia took Theo's arm as they walked out of the manor.