Godfall

Summary

Long ago, when the Cradle formed around Aralla, separating it from the rest of the universe, Aralla's most powerful gods came together to form the Godpeace. This divine agreement created a boundary between the mortal world and the other planes within The Cradle. As part of the agreement, the gods were restricted to the planes that corresponded to their alignment and agreed to not directly interfere in mortal affairs.

Unbeknownst to the gods, a sliver of an old and evil being (see The Scarlet Herald) was able to infiltrate Aralla. Over time, this splinter expanded in strength and influence, eventually rivaling, and sometimes surpassing, the realm's original demon lords. When the gods realized the threat, they struck quickly but indirectly: they chose a group of mortal champions, heroes who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, drawn across the realms against cosmic law.

These reluctant champions journeyed across Aralla, gathering ancient magic and divine relics. Realizing they couldn't face the Enemy as they were, some of them elevated to minor demigod status through sheer will, sacrifice, and stolen divine power. As the ultimate confrontation came, the gods made an important decision. In spite of Godpeace, they acted immediately, empowering the champions directly to stand against the beast threatening the world's balance.

The Enemy was subsequently destroyed, its essence annihilated, but the breach of the Godpeace was not forgotten. A council of higher beings known as the Overgod Council emerged in front of the gathering deities. While they declared no intention of ruling the planet, they denounced the gods for breaching their sacred vow. As punishment, the Overgods banished all complicit gods to the mortal realm, compelling them to dwell as Avatars until they embodied their godly portfolios and proved they deserved their roles.

Only Ordum, the Lord of Guardians and Law, was spared this exile. The Overgods appointed him as the warden of the Cradle, ensuring that no other deity could cheat their way back to the planes.

For sixteen years (1202-1218 AC), the gods walked the earth in mortal form. Some were killed, others rediscovered their divinity only after putting in a lot of effort to achieve their goals. Most eventually resumed their previous roles, with their power restored, but the world had changed. The Overgods, who were before remote and abstract, have now revealed themselves. Their presence is imposing, and their judgment is unwavering, ensuring that the gods of Aralla never again violate the laws etched into the very fabric of the Cradle.

List of Deaths, Major Events, etc.

The Godfall was a major shakeup of all the Ekrunian Pantheons and saw the destruction of many dieties, this is a list of the gods who were killed, destroyed, or otherwise out of commission during the Godfall.

• Harrus fell to Aralla in southern Calimshan with Goena quickly manifesting and leading her faithful cult in the area to hunt him down. A group of adventurers traveled with Harrus, battling the cult of Goena at every turn for about a tenday until the goddess of murder caught up with them. During a conflict in a panicking town, Harrus stays behind to battle his twin sister at her full godly power while his companions escape, giving a portion of his little divine power to one of his travelling companions teenage daughter to cure her of her Soulblight. Unsurprisingly he is killed by Goena, but instantly is ascended to his former godly status by The Master who claims he perfectly embodied his portfolio before death. (1202 AC)

• Akades traveled with his most faithful servants, following major conflicts that were caused by the opening of the realms and panic of the Godfall. After years of battle, Akades is killed on the battlefield of the War of the Living and Dead near the beginning of the war. (1206 AC)

• Hespurr, goddess of nobility and divine right, is assassinated by unknown agents. (1205 AC)

• Neltharion, black dragon aspect attacks and is killed by Ysera, green dragon aspect. (1202 AC)

• Ysera is killed by the final dying breath of Neltharion. (1202 AC)

• Xaanke is killed by the invader goddess Milani. (1204 AC)

• Sune and her clergy are ruthlessly and repeatedly attacked by Shar and her followers, culminating in a battle between the two goddess. Shar defeats Sune, weakening her essence before completely destroying her and scattering her power back into the Cradle. (1207 AC)

• After killing Harrus, Goena picks another god at random to attack, as she was imprisoned by the original Godpeace and not weakened during the Godfall. Tyche is ambushed and killed by the mad goddess, after her murder of a second god in less than a month, The Monad intervenes, confining Goena to their realm until the Godfall ends. (1202 AC)

• The god of the sea elves, Deep Sashelas, is hunted and killed by titanic sea monsters in service to Umberlee. (1210 AC)

• The gnomish/dwarven god of invention and innovation, Raveyar/Nebelun is captured by cultists of the ancient Great God Mekhane. He is dismantled by the techno-cult and his heart is used to attempt to revive their god, which fails and destroys Nebelun's essence. This causes the stagnation of invention throughout Aralla and causes several vital technological and scientific devices to cease function, such as firearms and many hidden pre-calamity facilities systems which causes more chaos. (1202 AC)

• The Underdark and Surface elvish gods battle each other, with Araleth killing both Khaine and Drakira before being killed himself by the creature Ghaunadaur. (1204 AC)

• Laduguer is killed in battle by Ydion in the Underdark under the Five King's Mountains. (1206 AC)

• Grugas and his adventuring party are killed by defense constructs while heisting a bank in Bhim Buldahr. (1207 AC)
• Xavius, returned to mortal form, committed suicide soon after. He was instantly is ascended to his former godly status by The Master who claims he perfectly embodied his portfolio. (1202 AC)

• Zyphus returned to mortal form was killed in an unfortune accident, and much the same as Xavius, was instantly is ascended to his former godly status by The Master who claims he perfectly embodied his portfolio. (1205 AC)

• Baara and their chosen Otax the Blue are ambushed by the wizard Manshoon and several of his clones. The god of magic is killed in the conflict and Manshoon escapes after being nearly killed by Otax. (1209 AC)

Aside from the deities listed above, many others fufilled their portfolios or showed the overgods they were worthy through their achievements.

• Vecna and his cult settle into Devoutdale and develop their cult as one of the main three major cults in the nation, eventually through introducing a horrific plague of undeath in several regions throughout Ekrune, Vecna ascends to godhood again.

• Cehbris manifests in Damara and organizes the mainline churches of Harrus, Molotl, Jergal, and Shelyn together for the War of the Living and Dead. Eventually, both Jergal and Cehbris reascend after the brutal conflict.

• Aerdrie returns to works tirelessly alongside the remaining Winged Elves to gather their population and recover from their near extinction.

• Erevan was suddenly reinstated as a god, clergy of his claim he snuck back into the planes despite the watchful eyes of Ordum.

• MORE WILL BE LISTED LATER WHEN CANONIZED, WIP