Ascended Gods

by Unknown

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Unknown2006-12-25 00:08:30
QUOTE

ANNOUNCE NEWS #694
Date: 12/24/2006 at 23:58
From: Estarra, the Eternal
To : Everyone
Subj: Ascension Event 2007

As stated in the histories under "Coming of Estarra", when the Nine
Seals are weakened, there is only one way that they can be recharged:
through the ascension of a mortal to godhood!

Throughout the month of January, there will be nine challenges, each
representing the nine seals. The winner of a challenge will be marked by
that seal and permanently receive that seal's blessing. In other words,
the winner of the Seal of Beauty will permanently have the Karmic
Blessing of Beauty. An individual may only be marked by one seal.

At the end of the nine challenges, there will be a final challenge,
whereby the Nine Seals will merge together and form the Staff of
Ascension. The staff can only be held by the nine challenge winners who
are marked by one of the seals. When the staff is released onto the
astral plane, it cannot be taken off of the astral plane. Whichever of
the nine winners holds the staff for one full Lusternian day shall arise
to become the first Ascended God!

If you win a challenge and become one of the nine finalists, that does
not mean you have to participate in the final challenge. For those who
have won a preliminary challenge and have decided to actively pursue the
ultimate reward of ascending to godhood, you need not be a top
combatant. However, you will most likely need allies to protect you
while you hold the Staff of Ascension. Thus, the strongest contestants
will be those who can gather the heaviest support from other members of
the playerbase. This is important for everyone else to keep in mind when
throwing support behind a contestant: You should be choosing who to
support based on who you think will make the best god (not who is the
best fighter, etc.).

IMPORTANT: An ascended god is an rp-only god who has no administrative
duties, but rather is only focused on roleplaying a divine role. I have
always wanted to do this in Lusternia, but there have been many reasons
preventing us from trying this experiment. However, we are taking a leap
of faith with the playerbase and forging ahead! Please be aware that the
role of an ascended god is not a role for everyone. Whoever becomes an
ascended god will not be allowed to have any seconds in Lusternia and
only be able to play his or her god role. This person will be under
STRICT scrutiny at all times and under close guidance. Though there are
many rewarding roleplaying aspects of becoming a god, it is not a good
fit if you are a metagamer or enjoy OOC relationships with players. As
one example of such a limitation, an ascended god will not be allowed to
PK without prior approval.

See http://www.lusternia.com/ascension2007.php for more details and
updates.


This will be interesting. Since it's not combat based, what will the challenges be? Could somebody like myself become an Ascended God, if I got the right people to protect me?

Also, the challenge is almost like somebody becoming Ephemeral, so who would be suited for this?
Vix2006-12-25 00:09:08
From the site in the link!
QUOTE

Seal of Chaos
Date: January 1, 2006
Time: TBD
Event: Amidst the hundreds of hamsters released during this challenge, the Purple Hamster of Chaos will be hidden amongst this furry hoard. Whoever holds the purple hamster at the end of the challenge will receive the Seal of Chaos.

Seal of War
Date: January 6-7, 2006
Time: TBD
Event: This two day long challenge will be a series of combat trials. The winner will receive the Seal of War.

Seal of Justice
Date: January 13, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: Using the skills of debate, contestants will see who will come up on top in a series of debate challenges. The winner will receive the Seal of Justice.

Seal of Nature
Date: January 13, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: Who knows the geography of Lusternia best? This challenge consists of a scavenger hunt to find out the answer. The winner will receive the Seal of Nature.

Seal of Knowledge
Date: January 14, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: This challenge is a rigorous quiz about the nature of Lusternia and its history. The winner receives the Seal of Knowledge.

Seal of Beauty
Date: January 20, 2007 (submission deadline: January 13)
Time: TBD
Event: Submit an item from any trade skill that you personally designed which will be judged for aesthetic merits. The winner of this challenge will receive the Seal of Beauty.

Seal of Life
Date: January 20, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: Who can save the most denizens? The winner receives the Seal of Life.

Seal of Death
Date: January 21, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: A rather dark challenge: whoever kills the most denizens wins the challenge and receives the Seal of Death.

Seal of Harmony
Date: January 21, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: This challenge will test the skill of influencing. Whoever influences the most denizens will receive the Seal of Harmony.

Final Trial: Ascension
Date: January 27, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: The Nine Seals will merge together and form the Staff of Ascension. The staff can only be held by the nine challenge winners who are marked by one of the seals. When the staff is released onto the astral plane, it cannot be taken off of the astral plane. Whichever of the nine winners holds the staff for one full Lusternian day shall arise to become the first Ascended God!


YEEEEEEEEE!
Forren2006-12-25 00:09:29
Estarra, you rock.
Unknown2006-12-25 00:10:14
As Jolly Bundy said, Merry Solstice, and Estarra Bless us, Every One.

Also, I read somewhere that a Demigod or Titan could never become an Ascended or Vernal, is that true for this as well?
Jack2006-12-25 00:10:35
QUOTE
Seal of Chaos
Date: January 1, 2006
Time: TBD
Event: Amidst the hundreds of hamsters released during this challenge, the Purple Hamster of Chaos will be hidden amongst this furry hoard. Whoever holds the purple hamster at the end of the challenge will receive the Seal of Chaos.

Seal of War
Date: January 6-7, 2006
Time: TBD
Event: This two day long challenge will be a series of combat trials. The winner will receive the Seal of War.

Seal of Justice
Date: January 13, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: Using the skills of debate, contestants will see who will come up on top in a series of debate challenges. The winner will receive the Seal of Justice.

Seal of Nature
Date: January 13, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: Who knows the geography of Lusternia best? This challenge consists of a scavenger hunt to find out the answer. The winner will receive the Seal of Nature.

Seal of Knowledge
Date: January 14, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: This challenge is a rigorous quiz about the nature of Lusternia and its history. The winner receives the Seal of Knowledge.

Seal of Beauty
Date: January 20, 2007 (submission deadline: January 13)
Time: TBD
Event: Submit an item from any trade skill that you personally designed which will be judged for aesthetic merits. The winner of this challenge will receive the Seal of Beauty.

Seal of Life
Date: January 20, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: Who can save the most denizens? The winner receives the Seal of Life.

Seal of Death
Date: January 21, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: A rather dark challenge: whoever kills the most denizens wins the challenge and receives the Seal of Death.

Seal of Harmony
Date: January 21, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: This challenge will test the skill of influencing. Whoever influences the most denizens will receive the Seal of Harmony.

Final Trial: Ascension
Date: January 27, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: The Nine Seals will merge together and form the Staff of Ascension. The staff can only be held by the nine challenge winners who are marked by one of the seals. When the staff is released onto the astral plane, it cannot be taken off of the astral plane. Whichever of the nine winners holds the staff for one full Lusternian day shall arise to become the first Ascended God!

All issues and problems with the event had better be retracted, because this is awesome.
Vix2006-12-25 00:11:32
QUOTE(Jack @ Dec 24 2006, 06:10 PM) 365886

All issues and problems with the event had better be retracted, because this is awesome.

ninja.gif'd

Don't really plan on doing the whole Ascended God thing, but winning one of those challenges will be my goal! biggrin.gif
Genevieve2006-12-25 00:15:34
OMFG WHAT R U DOING MAKING THIS TOPIC U NOOB, WTF LEAVE THIS IN GAME!!1!!
Furien2006-12-25 00:16:26
So many rants, questions are welling up right now..
Ildaudid2006-12-25 00:18:40
Same here, I will try to win a challenge, but we all know how scary and biased Ildaudid God would be, same with Forren God, or imagine........ Ixion God..... ohmy.gif
Vix2006-12-25 00:19:15
QUOTE
Seal of Life
Date: January 20, 2007
Time: TBD
Event: Who can save the most denizens? The winner receives the Seal of Life.

What does that mean? Save denizens?
Ashteru2006-12-25 00:20:36
Hey, even I am gonna try for all seals except Justice and War. tongue.gif I might go for godhood, might not...depends on who else would get seals that I like. tongue.gif
Anyway....permanent seals. drool.gif
Jack2006-12-25 00:20:58
QUOTE(Vix @ Dec 25 2006, 12:19 AM) 365893

What does that mean? Save denizens?

I'm guessing that's quests like rescuing furrikin slaves from Acknor or viscanti children from the observatory?
Ildaudid2006-12-25 00:22:00
QUOTE(Ashteru @ Dec 24 2006, 07:20 PM) 365894

Hey, even I am gonna try for all seals except Justice and War. tongue.gif I might go for godhood, might not...depends on who else would get seals that I like. tongue.gif
Anyway....permanent seals. drool.gif


That would be one way of never having to pay your debt to Fallen, and a way to isolate yourself from your friends, but if you do win.... transfer me your life torc... since you wont need it any more smile.gif
Vix2006-12-25 00:24:00
Yeah. It does seem like getting the god thing would be more of a penalty, but at least it's not as bad as getting Ephermal or something where no one knows it's you. If you got godhood, what would you do? unsure.gif
Unknown2006-12-25 00:26:46
This is AWESOME.

I suddenly started missing Lusternia. *sigh* damn itchy character-removal fingers.

Okay, any bets on who's gonna win?
Genos2006-12-25 00:27:59
This makes me very happy to see.
Furien2006-12-25 00:32:51
I don't believe many will step up to it.

A. Roleplay, roleplay only. NO OOC, NO alts, little to no PK.
B. Boot-licking Sycophants never leaving you alone.
C. Obnoxious noobs.
D. Stuck playing a god, only a god. Everyone's going to rant about things you do, or imagine 'WTF IS HE/SHE DOIN?'

But I still think a few of the Seals are iffy..

Nature: Sandals, Cubix, Catacombs, etc. Most will probably be turned off.
Knowledge: Lag, difficult time with English language (but you'd probably have to be good at it to be Vernal)
Harmony: Not quite all of us can change into an uber influence machine (see: faeling) :/
Death: Reaaaaallyyy ungodly high crit amounts at high levels. tongue.gif

That, and time crunches, especially for those of us at school.

But..it's still just me being jealous. happy.gif
Mire2006-12-25 00:34:37
So half the people I've been hearing from tell me they'd much rather have a seal than Godhood. Aren't there usually dozens of people who apply for Ephemeral status, though, without even a guarantee of eventual divinity? It's not like you would be cut off from the playerbase, I don't think, at least not IG.
Estarra2006-12-25 00:40:44
Let me make it clear that this is not being an ephemeral. Ephemerals are trained to build, handle issues, library maintenance, design approvals, etc. They eventually full fledged gods AND administrators.

The Ascended God would have no administrative duties whatsover. Rather, this god will be focused solely on running an order and his or her own events. It is definitely not a role for everyone.

(This is something unique we are trying amongst all the other IRE games. There is skepticism in some quarters that this is wise or can be pulled off. I hope we prove them wrong!)
Unknown2006-12-25 00:40:58
QUOTE
If you got godhood, what would you do


I guess it depends on the powers you get. You might get the entire skillset of skills. If you got the ability to create denziens or areas or have special powers, etc, it might be fun. You might even get to develop your own plot or even make changes to the game. I guess it's godhood without some of the job restrictions or emph-hazing.

I know personally I could have a lot of fun with it. I'd probably try to keep my trade and any "events" might be little cleaning mishaps or experiments, or play practical jokes on those who were mean to me. I could try to help make Deepnight an actual organization too.

But you are right, it takes a special mindset. Someone like Marina would be a good goddess if she wasn't "dead". I could see Ialie handling it, but as a Demigod I don't know if she's eligible. Some high RP-related characters who aren't primarily concerned with combat. If Azrion was still playing he might be cool.

It would also be tough because of cutting ties to OOC relationships. If you get this, no IRC or IMs or any of that stuff for you--I couldn't see many players giving that up, since a lot like the OOC relationships they form.

But for those with the discipline, it could be fun.