GOD OF WAR
(Not yet released...)
Setting: 4 billion years ago
In the ages following the death of the Araced the cycle of power began anew.
With the growth of power, as in the past, came a need for control. Long suffering societies sought ways to relieve themselves of the casual wielding of this power by the small few who had attained it, solving their dilemma in the end by making these powerful individuals kings. Once enough stability had been gained to bring these rogues into their fold Man started for the third time down the regimented road to order.
Feudalism was a natural progression, the societies who once had been plagued by these powerful beings now constraining them as rulers. Advisors from the beleaguered societies contributed much to the channeling of these new powers and it wasn't long into this era before most abilities had been clearly defined, thus standardizing power. Once encumbered with such classification the rogues were soon reduced to wizard-kings, with specific abilities, and so settled into rulership of the cosmos.
With the conquering of worlds came a desire to create new space. Despite defining boundaries that set the abilities of the new wizard-kings, evolution occurred and indeed power continued its upward climb within the confines of these definitions. New space was occupied, blow-offs from the eruption of Qoyrelm and the original Araced, many of significant volume. Into these new spaces moved many societies. Long travel, either between worlds or dimensions, occurred during this era via gates, stationary portals established by the wizards or their apprentices at either end. Utopias were grown, bringing increased levels of aesthetics, raising dependency on these increasingly powerful individuals. It wasn't long, then, before Man fell into pure awe of his shepherds.
Power among certain of the kings had peaked, which is to say god-like status had once again been achieved. Many became feared for their power, opening the door to its perversion, along with all manner of oppressive activities. This group of wizard-kings who ascended to such heights have since been called, by those aware enough to recognize them, the Few.
Reverence for these individuals had not been uncommon prior to this phase, as they exhibited great wisdom and ability, yet none had risen to the heights of divinity. When godhood was achieved so changed the inevitable course of history.
Religious codes of conduct replaced laws, giving added force to the whims of the new gods, penalties for disobedience moving into the realm of eternal suffering. It wasn't long before these gods had risen completely beyond usual contact with their subjects, assuming a disembodied state not unlike that seen almost universally during the First Age. Yet, they had simply returned to a more native condition. Powerful, untouchable, or so it seemed, in complete control, able to exert influence of an incredible magnitude.
It wasn't long before Man held these greater powers so far above himself that he granted his own existence no more status than that of simple servant. Unlike the fabricated gods at the opening of the Fifth Age these new gods had real power, able to create broad effects on those who feared and worshiped them. Man began to organize vast crusades, missions commanded by the gods, all in the name of appeasement. The Religious Marches found entire societies on the move through the cosmos, anxious under the yoke of their increasingly powerful masters. The disparity among Man had reached a peak.
And those who were gods grew more powerful. Still separated from each other in most cases, they controlled very definite spheres of influence, directly controlling their followers, some beginning to rise to even higher levels, more restored of their native power than Man had been in a great, long time.
Within this vast framework begins God of War, a tale of the rise of one of the Few, a wrathful god who can abide no equal...
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