The Deep Sleep
It happened thousands of years ago.
What Is It?
The Deep Sleep was a dark time. A time when every mortal in the world had, with seemingly no explanation, fallen into a slumber so deep and long-lasting, it was regarded as a death. Their final memories were of a fatigue that struck like lightning. A hot stab to their very essence. The painful sting of a severed connection. And the overwhelming, suffocating nothing.
When everyone finally awoke, they had lost memories of before, and their world had drastically changed. Gargantuan craters dotted the land. Cities and towns reduced to rubble. Mountains broken and carved into. Pieces of natural landscapes haphazardly strewn about. Thousands upon thousands of corpses.
But most alarming of all, the mortals could no longer sense their beloved deities. It felt as though they had been abandoned.
When everyone finally awoke, they had lost memories of before, and their world had drastically changed. Gargantuan craters dotted the land. Cities and towns reduced to rubble. Mountains broken and carved into. Pieces of natural landscapes haphazardly strewn about. Thousands upon thousands of corpses.
But most alarming of all, the mortals could no longer sense their beloved deities. It felt as though they had been abandoned.
Aftermath
Ruin
In the aftermath of The Deep Sleep, much of civilization lay in ruins, requiring centuries of restoration and reconstruction. Countless mass graves were created to accommodate the overwhelming number of bodies left behind. Amidst the desolation, small communities emerged, their inhabitants united by the shared struggle for survival. These resilient groups forged new societies, drawing on the remnants of the old world while crafting their own identities and traditions.Ignored Pleas
Without the presence of deities, prayers fell on deaf ears, offerings went unrecognized, sacrifices slipped into oblivion, and rituals lost their significance. This turmoil was deepened by the vanishing of god-gifts, which represented the connection between mortals and the divine. Without these sacred bonds, faith began to wane, leaving a void that reverberated through communities once united in shared beliefs. The essence of spirituality faded as the once vibrant tapestry of life dulled to a monochrome existence. In addition, the cost of sacrifices and prayers drastically increased, as people believed that more elaborate and extravagant displays of faith could bring back their beloved deities.Strained Relations
Restoring the temples and churches dedicated to the gods sparked considerable debate. Many people were enthusiastic about the possibility of rebuilding in an effort to re-establish their bond with the deities. In contrast, others staunchly opposed, arguing that the gods had turned their backs on them.This ongoing debate has lingered across generations, with those who directly experienced the aftermath of The Deep Sleep sensing a stronger sense of loss than those born later. Elderly individuals frequently admonish the younger generation for their perceived "apathetic" or "disrespectful" attitudes toward the deities that influenced their lives and environment. Conversely, the youth perceive the older generation as being excessively dependent on gods who, more often than not, respond to their prayers with silence.
Young priests and spiritualists are in short supply nowadays because of the growing trend of apathy and atheism amongst the youth. They believe that professions in religion and spiritual matters are now useless! All because the gods aren't as quick to respond as they once were.
Theories
Over the years, many people have put forward various theories in an attempt to explain the cause of this event.
The War Between the Gods
It is widely believed that the sheer magnitude of destruction was caused by the gods—after all, only they were capable of such. But why would they do such a thing? Speculation soon led to a plausible answer: a battle, perhaps an outright war, given the level of damage the world had taken. This supposed war has since been referred to as "The Great Clashing".
We do not know the exact length of this war, but people agree it lasted a few decades because the awakened mortals had aged significantly whilst in slumber.
We do not know the exact length of this war, but people agree it lasted a few decades because the awakened mortals had aged significantly whilst in slumber.
The Severed Link
The early mortals possessed a close, almost intrinsic, connection to their deities of worship. One could say, a connection between their essences. This allowed both parties to communicate easily, avoiding the need for expensive rituals. The stronger one's belief and faith, the more intimate the link to one's deity or deities. Not all bonds were equal.
This bond could be broken in only two ways: by losing faith in the deity.
Or by the death of the deity.
And because seemingly every mortal felt their connections being severed, it is believed that almost every deity perished.
And the collective pain was powerful enough to put everyone into a deep slumber.
This bond could be broken in only two ways: by losing faith in the deity.
Or by the death of the deity.
And because seemingly every mortal felt their connections being severed, it is believed that almost every deity perished.
And the collective pain was powerful enough to put everyone into a deep slumber.
Restored Connection…
After a hundred years of silence, for the first time, the people of Mytharae felt a distinct warmth in their hearts—a warmth that told them they were safe. Next came the voices—powerful yet comforting voices reassuring all who heard them. This meant only one thing:The gods had returned!
Hope blossomed in the hearts of the weary, and the skies above Mytharae shimmered with vibrant hues as the divine presence filled the air. As people emerged from their homes, they gathered in awe, united by a sense of purpose and anticipation that had long been absent from their lives.
However, the excitement dwindled when one thing became painfully apparent...
…Barely
...the renewed link was very weak.Despite the renewed acknowledgement of prayers and rituals, the response time remained prolonged. Not only that, but god-gifts remained ineffective, and acts of devotion were still costly. While these issues reduced in prevalence over time, they were not completely eliminated.
Many believe that the renewed connection might never be completely revitalized.
This is a great concept! I love how it is written, the idea behind it, the realistic dispute between generations, but also the fact there is hope now. Great, great article!
Thank you so much! <3