The Temptation

The Chase and The Bait - The Temptation Core Alignment: Chaotic Controlling Domains: Trickery, Fire, Corruption, Beauty, Corruption   While many of the gods have had their bad days, or had Mantleholders that have done things considered dark or evil in their wheelhouse, none of the gods have had as many Mantle Holders that seem to draw the short end of the stick with how history views their actions. The first Temptation, formed around a cut ruby, shaped in a near perfect sphere, was enticing, lovely and always had a knack for understanding what people wanted long before they even were willing to expose their thoughts. They quickly amassed a personal fortune, and became the center of early trade in Kalio. But eventually even the Temptation became bored in their wealth, and began to wander, seeking new pleasures to fill their life. This is when they found the first of the Reclamation Planes beyond the boundaries of Terminus, Pandora and Oque. Pandora was a plane founded around the core of Desire, and many of the demons and beings that formed in Pandora had power over desire and even as they seemed like the monsters that the Void created in its madness, they had an incredible intelligence, and their society operated on the power of desire and those who could deliver that desire to others had control over the others. Demons would get stronger, amass their own wealth and power, and exert it over the others around them, and that hierarchy of temptation and treachery created a strangely stable life, that was still constantly shifting, and the Temptation rose to new heights in their society. Then came O'Que, a Plane dedicated to control. Devils, lived in a strict hierarchy, that demanded everything upon every being in the domain, leading up the hierarchy to the top, where several of the strongest and most scheming had become powerful lords of the plane, after using the law and its power to establish themselves at the peak of the order, and constantly scheming and planning to get to the very top, where the ruler of the plane controls everything from on high. Even here, the Temptation was able to quickly rise through their ranks, and even stood in front of ruler of Oque, and supplanted him with his own convoluted code of laws. However, The Temptation let the Ruler stay in his place, and made him understand that they were the true master of power, and it is only temptation that causes people to fall from their place. When the Void War came, demons and devils took their command from the Temptation, though they pushed against each other, the mortals of Kalio, and most of all the outsiders of Ciel and Valheim just as much as they did the Void itself. Contracts were made with mortals, as the first pacts of Warlocks were made, and power was given freely by both Demons and devils to mortals, in promises that their souls would come for their homes and guaranteeing the strength of their own kind in days to come. More and more as the War dragged on, more deals were made. For money. For love. For Power. Not just for safety. Not just for survival. Mortals and their greed engaged them in the same games that Demons and Devils, and more and more of mortals got caught up in the game. Eventually, even the Temptation saw the chaos they had caused. Before they gave their hearts to the seat of their commercial empire on Lesuraad, they turned to both Pandora and O’Que. Knowing the power they held over both of those planes, it was the dying order of the Temptation, that both demons and devils, and all residents of both planes remain in their home plane, unless invited by a mortal of this plane, through magic and ritual. And with its dying breath, the Temptation sealed the Planes of Power away from Kalio, only to be opened for short periods…. And at the wound that couldn’t be closed. Those were the only two routes into Kalio for the Planes of Power, and they remain so to this day. Modern Mantle Holders of the Temptation deal with the fact that many in Kalio blame them for the existence of Demons and Devils, and many of Past Temptations have still dealt with Demons and Devils, as the Planes of Power still respond to ancient concords that bind them to that Red Gem. But like all Mantleholders, the power and the choices that a Mantleholder makes is their own, and no matter the choices of a previous mantle holder, you are not held to any of theirs. There are not many who are faithful to the last acts of the Temptation, and many see that path to easy power. But there are the few who see the redemption in the end. Any dark act can turn to good, if someone sees the darkness and does something about it. The Temptation to do good, is just as strong sometimes as the Temptation do wrong.     Core Tenants of the Faith surrounding the Temptation: There’s nothing that cannot be gained, if you have the right bait. Everyone has a temptation, and you become their master if you have it. But do not forget, you can be tempted as well. There is power in the control of something. Power itself though is something that will control you. Do not chase Power. The Temptation to do good… is always as strong to do wrong. It's only harder to hear, because evil is far easier to do.