11.5.1 THE REALMS OF THE DOMOTH

The esoteric realms of the Nine Domoth contain great reservoirs of
divine energy. The only beings capable of surviving the realms are those
who hold some measure of divinity. Ascendants have the greatest affinity
to the Domoth Realms and can enter the realms with no impunity. Demigods
may also enter the Domoth Realms; however, they will suffer a constant
and intense drain of essence. If a demigod's essence drains to zero,
they will lose their demigod level and slip back to titan.

THE NINE THRONES
================
The Domoth Realms are divided into nine spheres, each relating to a
different vibration of energy:

- The Domotheos of Nature
- The Domotheos of Chaos
- The Domotheos of Harmony
- The Domotheos of Beauty
- The Domotheos of Knowledge
- The Domotheos of War
- The Domotheos of Justice
- The Domotheos of Life
- The Domotheos of Death

Within each of those spheres manifests a representation of the energies
there. These are called the Thrones of the Domoth. (They are not
necessarily actual thrones, though some are.) It is possible for
Ascendants and Demigods to claim these thrones and call down blessings
upon entire races, guilds or cities (or herbs for the Domotheos of
Nature). The DOMOTH command reveals the basic capabilities available to
Ascendants and Demigods, which are explained more fully below.

Travelling To The Domoth Realms
-------------------------------
From anywhere in the Divine Havens, an Ascendant or Demigods can
DOMOTH ASCEND to reach the Domoth Realms. DOMOTH DESCEND will
return the Ascendant or Demigod to the Divine Havens.

WARNING: Demigods will suffer a constant drain of 50 essence per
second while in the Domoth Realms.

CLAIMING A DOMOTHEOS THRONE
===========================
The state of the entire Domoth Realms can be revealed by DOMOTH STATUS.
If a Domotheos happens to be in a free, non-dormant state, it is
possible for an Ascendant or Demigod to attempt to claim that throne.
This is a three-stage process, which can be repeated three times to
claim the three instruments of a throne. The three instruments are the
Sceptre, Orb and Crown. The Sceptre represents the first instrument of a
throne, and which is used to bless a race. The Orb is the second
instrument which can bless a guild. And the Crown is the final and
strongest instrument which can bless an entire city or commune. The
exception to this is the instruments of the Domotheos of Nature, each of
which blesses an herb.

NOTE: All Ascendants and Demigods are hypersensitive to the Domoth
Realms and will immediately sense changes in the divine energies, such
as when challenges are being made, etc.

Stage 1: Challenging the Domotheos (for the Sceptre)
----------------------------------------------------
The first step is to DOMOTH CHALLENGE , which initiates the
challenge. The Ascendant or Demigod must issue the challenge while
standing before the Domotheos Throne. Guardians of the Domotheos will
appear to meet the challenger in combat. If the challenger defeats 30
guardians, the Domotheos will release the Domotheos Sceptre which must
then be claimed. The divine instrument will appear somewhere in
aetherspace and only the Challenger will see the location of the
instrument. (Though others may defeat a guardian, only those guardians
personally defeated by the Challenger are recognized.)

If the Challenger fails to defeat 30 Domotheos Guardians within one
hour, the challenge fails and the Domotheos will become dormant. When a
Domotheos is dormant, no challenges may be made while it recharges.
Dormancy lasts five Lusternian days.

NOTE: If the challenger holds a Seal Medallion corresponding to the
energies of the Domotheos, any defeat of one guardian will count as
though he or she defeated two guardians.

NOTE: You many not challenge a Domotheos if you control the opposing
Domotheos. Also, only one challenge may be active at any one time.

Stage 2: Claiming the Sceptre
-----------------------------
After personally defeating 30 Domotheos Guardians, the Challenger will
briefly see the whereabouts of the Domotheos Sceptre, which appears
somewhere in aetherspace. He or she must then travel to the Domotheos
Sceptre and DOMOTH CLAIM in order to lay claim to it. At this
stage, the Domotheos becomes free for any Ascendant or Demigod to
attempt to claim. The first Ascendant or Demigod to claim for 3,600
seconds wins the Domotheos Sceptre.

If no one claims the Domotheos Sceptre within three hours, the challenge
fails and the Domotheos will become dormant. When a Domotheos is dormant,
no challenges may be made while it recharges. Dormancy lasts five
Lusternian days.

NOTE: If the challenger holds a Seal Medallion corresponding to the
energies of the Domotheos, every second will count as two seconds while
making a claim for the Domotheos Sceptre.

NOTE: You many not claim a Domotheos Sceptre if you control the opposing
Domotheos.

Stage 3: Ascending to the Throne (for the Sceptre)
--------------------------------------------------
The final stage is for the Challenger holding the Domotheos Sceptre to
travel back to the Domotheos Throne and stand before it for 1,800
seconds. During this period, the Domotheos Guardians will again appear
in a final attempt to thwart the Challenger. During this period, the
Challenger will also be drained 100 essence per second (cumulative with
the natural drain on Demigods in the Domoth Realms).

If the Challenger fails to ascend the throne within one hour, the
challenge fails.

If the Challenger succeeds in claiming the Domotheos Throne, it will be
held by the challenger for 75 Lusternian days unless the Domotheos is
absolved or put back into play for the orb and crown. If the Challenger
holds a Seal Medallion corresponding to the Domotheos, the time held is
doubled. If the Challenger is an Ascendant whose realm is the Domotheos,
the time held is also doubled (cumulative with the Medallion Seal).

Whatever the outcome of the challenge (either failure or success), the
Domotheos will become dormant. When a Domotheos is dormant, no
challenges may be made while it recharges. Dormancy lasts five
Lusternian days.

NOTE: If the challenger holds a Seal Medallion corresponding to the
energies of the Domotheos, every second will count as two seconds while
ascending to the Domotheos Throne.

Challenging for the Orb and the Crown
-------------------------------------
If an Ascendant or Demigod controls a Domotheos Sceptre, he or she can
challenge for the Domotheos Orb which is exactly the same as challenging
for the Sceptre. However, the Domotheos Guardians will appear in greater
numbers in both Stage 1 and Stage 3. Also, if another Ascendant or
Demigod claims the Domotheos Orb in Stage 2, that person will also
receive the Sceptre. If the challenge fails at any stage, control of the
Domotheos is completely lost which also becomes dormant.

Also, the Challenger will also be drained 200 essence per second when
challenging for the Orb and 300 essence per second when challenging for
the Crown (cumulative with the natural drain on Demigods in the Domoth Realms).

If an Ascendant or Demigod controls a Domotheos Orb, he or she can
challenge for the Domotheos Crown in exactly the same manner as above.
However, even more Domotheos Guardians will appear in Stage 1 and Stage
3. Also, if another Ascendant or Demigod claims the Domotheos Crown in
Stage 2, that person will also receive the Sceptre and Orb. If the
challenge fails at any stage, control of the Domotheos is completely
lost which also becomes dormant.

NOTE: When the time period for control of the Domotheos Orb runs out,
the Domotheos Orb is withdrawn but the Controller of the Domotheos
retains the Sceptre for another full cycle. Likewise, when the time
period for control of the Domotheos Crown runs out, the Controller of
the Domotheos retains the Sceptre and the Orb for a full cycle.

ABSOLVING A DOMOTHEOS
=====================
With the exception of the Domotheos of Nature, each Domotheos opposes
another as follows: Chaos opposes Harmony, Beauty opposes Knowledge, War
opposes Justice, and Life opposes Death. The Controller of a Domotheos
can attempt to DOMOTH ABSOLVE to absolve the control of an
opposing Domotheos. To do so, the power of control of the Domotheos must
be equal to or greater than that of the controller of the opposing
Domotheos.

To determine the level of power: control of the Domotheos Crown is
greater than the Domotheos Orb which is greater than the Domotheos
Sceptre. Further, an Ascendant has greater control over a Domotheos than
a Demigod. And finally, an Ascendant whose realm matches a Domotheos has
even greater control. Some examples:

- Demigod with Sceptre can absolve a Demigod with Sceptre
- Demigod with Sceptre cannot absolve Ascendant with Sceptre
- Ascendant with Sceptre cannot absolve Realm Ascendant with Sceptre
- Demigod with Orb can absolve Ascendant with Sceptre
- Ascendant with Orb can absolve Realm Ascendant with Sceptre
- Demigod with Orb cannot absolve Realm Ascendant with Sceptre
- Demigod with Crown can absolve Realm Ascendant with Sceptre
- Ascendant with Sceptre can absolve Demigod with Orb
- Ascendant with Crown can challenge Ascendant with Crown
- Ascendant with Crown cannot challenge Realm Ascendant with Crown

The initiator of the absolve must stand before his or her Domotheos
Throne for 1800 seconds. During this time, the opposing Domotheos will
send guardians in an attempt to dislodge the challenger.

If the Challenger fails to finish the absolve within one hour, the
absolve fails, and the Challenger loses the control of either the Crown,
Orb or Sceptre (whichever is the greatest held), and the Domotheos
becomes dormant.

If the Challenger completes with the absolve, the opposing Domotheos
loses the control of either the Crown, Orb or Sceptre (whichever is the
greatest held). Both the initiating Domotheos and the opposing Domotheos
become dormant.

NOTE: If the challenger holds a Seal Medallion corresponding to the
energies of the Domotheos, every second will count as two seconds while
absolving an opposing Domotheos.

INVOKING DOMOTHEOS BLESSINGS
============================
While in control of a Domotheos, you can DOMOTH BLESS
to invoke their blessings. For the
Domotheos of Nature, the target must always be an herb. For all others,
the target of a Sceptre must be a race, the target of an Orb must be a
guild, and the target of a Crown must be a city or commune.

11.5.2 BLESSINGS OF THE DOMOTH REALMS

Domotheos of Nature
o Minor: Bless an herb to double its growth rate.
o Lesser: Bless an herb to increase its maximum herbs in a room;
skip hibernation.
o Major: Bless an herb to give it a sparkleberry effect in addition to
it's normal effect. Must be an edible herb.

Domotheos of Knowledge
o Minor: Bless a race with +2 intelligence (weighted).
o Lesser: Bless a guild to have 10 DMP increase in magic damage.
o Major: Bless a city/commune to increase power/culture points for scholars.

Domotheos of Beauty
o Minor: Bless a race with +2 charisma (weighted).
o Lesser: Bless a guild to increase its influence damage.
o Major: Bless a city/commune to increase power/culture points for bards.

Domotheos of Chaos
o Minor: Bless a race with +3 to a random stat (weighted); random stat
changes each Lusternian day.
o Lesser: Bless a guild with regeneration to either health, mana or ego;
randomly changing every Lusternian day."
o Major: Bless a city/commune with increased resistance to astral insanity.

Domotheos of Harmony
o Minor: Bless a race with an increase in experience gain.
o Lesser: Bless a guild to decrease in loss of experience for deaths.
o Major: Bless a city/commune to double the dross power draws.

Domotheos of Justice
o Minor: Bless a race with an increase in willpower and willpower
regeneration.
o Lesser: Bless a guild to bestow an aura that deals justice to those who
attack members of the guild (10% percent chance).
o Major: Bless a city/commune to increase the damage of any discretionary
power that causes damage (such as liveforest, flux and ripple).

Domotheos of War
o Minor: Bless a race with +2 strength (weighted).
o Lesser: Bless a guild with increased damage on all attacks.
o Major: Bless a city/commune to increase the level of the guards (20%).

Domotheos of Life
o Minor: Bless a race with +2 constitution (weighted).
o Lesser: Bless a guild with decreased on all damage to members.
o Major: Bless a city/commune to give health regeneration to all members
of the city/commune on non-enemy territories in the prime plane.

Domotheos of Death
o Minor: Bless a race with an increase in endurance and endurance
regeneration.
o Lesser: Bless a guild to give an aura of vengeance that will attack
those who kill its members. (Guild members who kill their own will not
trigger this effect.)
o Major: Bless a city/commune to summon forth a permanent Catacombs of the
Dead at the nexus of power.

Will the Death Major ( Catacombs) be truly permanent, even if the Domos is lost?

Seems interesting, but too complicated.

It doesn't have to be utterly boggling or complex to be intensely difficult.

What about if you Nature major-bless Sparkleberry? Does all Sparkleberry double in effect, or are you forbidden from doing that?

Giving the sparkleberry-effect to another herb would be more beneficial, anyways. Herb balance is faster.

I think (hope!) that it's actually less complex than you imagine. We just wanted to be thorough in the help file but I think after you run through a couple of challenges that it will become apparent. That said, we're open to changing it to make it less difficult!

Any particular reason for the "need to go get an aethership and run through aetherspace" component? Doesn't really seem related to the Domoth at all.

We had thought about throwing it to astral or other planes but if there were problems with that. The benefit of winning the challenge would be pretty small if it went to astral, and if it went to a cosmic or elemental plane, there'd be an inherent bonus (as well as being easy to find). Aetherspace also gives a bit more usefulness and importance to aetherspace.

Again, if you have other ideas, feel free to express them. We're interested in making this system work!

The new herb is on sparkleberry balance. In other words, it does 2 things, it acts as both its regular herb and also as a sparkleberry.

You've got a huge Undervault / prime area to hide it on, as well.

I was kind of thinking that the main reasoning for the decision was the last sentence, but... yeah. I think you already know my objection to that.

Aren't there herbs that exist which don't traditionally cure anything?

That is true, so I guess it is not as bad as it could seem. Still, this blessing then seems to only be a means to save on gold by switching to an herb that costs less than sparkleberry. Blessing any normal herb that is used in combat for healing would be more like a curse.