Extol (ecks-toll)

As the source of everything, Extol is most associated with creation. They are deemed the Creator by their worshipers, and their primeval form embodies all that exists in Neegavia. All matter comes from pneuma, and all pneuma originates from the Creator. One might say that they are the essence of all, hence being deemed the ousia of Neegavia. When they once were all-powerful, they wove the cosmos into galaxies, solar systems, and planets, and they enjoyed fusing together stars before they made Lyra. Their grace allows mortals to partake in some of the creation, for magic is the process of changing pneuma to matter or vice versa.   They are most associated with light, in addition to Lyra being the deity of light. A title of theirs happens to be the Brightest Light if discussing the Brightest Bearer in the same sentence, and they can simply be called the Light as well. Mythology claims that the Creator came into existence as a flash of light, and fortunately for everyone, this is true. As an immaterial entity taking mortal form, they still call upon their ancient light magic from time to time to halt chaos. In the tales revolving the Crusaders, many speak of the blood-stained twilight being filled with a miraculous glow when one of the crusaders claimed their circlet. Once Lodur died, this similar radiance filled the lands and rid the world of its pain and sorrow. Many described the warmth as the Creator's love for all mortalkind growing palpible.   The Demiurge despises chaos of all sorts, so much so that they once worked to halt it at any costs. Parts of space went into stasis due to their natural aversion towards unpredictability, but later on, they unfroze these areas. Within civilizations, they once eradicated them if they showed any signs of inner conflict. However, as time passed, they soon grew more lenient with what havoc they would allow in these worlds. With Alternity supervising them and reporting her findings to her liege, the Demiurge was never ill-informed of the events happening in societies. It was due to this hatred of chaos that they called for Lodur's elimination, upset with his attempt at annihilating all people that lived in Neegavia without evidence of chaos to back him up. They are a god of order and seek to stifle warfare of any kind; those that aim to stop bloody conflicts in their tracks gain the respect of the Demiurge.

The circlets are the most notable artifacts of the Creator. Given to the Crusaders, it blessed them with otherworldly strength and pneuma capabilities, so they then could slay Lodur. They also granted them powers once unique to the deities such as a teleportation and flight without need of wings. Each circlet comes with a unique gem, hollowed out to contain the fragment of the Creator's deity essence, and the silver lattice digs into one's head and connects to the brain, where it then synchronizes with the already-present pneuma gland. The fragment's power flows throughout the wearer's body and blesses the flesh with divinity, raising oneself to the level of a deity. The Crusaders are known to have used their power responsibly, save for Tempest and Sigi regarding the murder of Emperor Ignis Noctasta. To this day, four of the circlets' locations are unknown, and explorers are out to find them.   A few weapons remain from the Age of Darkness, namely the Hylic Staff, Ennoia, Fosite, Providence, and Gram. Granted them, the crusaders eviscerated the hardiest monsters with ease, and they freed countless settlements from Lodur's torment. The Demiurge granted each one a unique blessing, like the Hylic Staff being capable of warping someone to another place. Most are lost with many people racing to find them and bolstering their sovereign state's ranks, but Gram remains in the possession of Sivrit, descendant of Sigi. However, cracks riddle the blade with dirt crusted on the hilt, and its former splendor is lost. Nevertheless, with some maintenance, it may return to its formidable self. It still tears through beasts with ease, even considering its mistreatment over the years.

The Scripture of Origin (or simply, the Scripture) for Monadists. The Scripture of Radiance for Triadists. Each has Ten Commandments written detailing the Creator's laws. Detailed inside each books is the Beginning Battle and the Age of Darkness. Where they differ hinges on the deities and crusaders themselves. For example, the inky darkness is given a title in the the Scripture of Origin (the Ender) but lacks one entirely in the Scripture of Radiance. It is depicted as a malevolent entity in the former, separate from the Creator save for being an emanation, and it is interpreted as a fragment of their personality in the latter.   Each circlet binds itself to its wearer's bloodline, but in the case that lineage ceases to exist, Vedrfol received instructions on what to do. One must take it into the annals of the Ahn Clan's abode and then recite the Creator's words. For those who have not memorized it, the exact phrasing was written on a scroll so one could read from it. During this rite, the markings on the ground should light up in a myriad of hues and glow in the dark, and the air should thicken. The circlet's gem should flash and then dullen, signifying the success of the rite.

Extol's Sigil (A black circle resembling a peace sign except with a circle in the middle; based off their true form), Meridian Eye (resembles their eye with eyelashes, three of which are longer than the others)

One must respect all that comes into their presence, even if they are sinful. They must stay mannered at all times, and when meeting others outside, they must perfect their appearance. Failure to do so indicates laziness and lack of responsibility, lowering someone's social status in Koyo. Spreading the word of the Creator and converting non-believers continues to be the main mission of Monadists and Triadists, and they believe that they will be elevated because of it. To ascend to Enon's branches and escape the material world pushes believers forward into acting the best they can.   Merit is highly-rewarded in societies following these religions. The nobility is picked through merit-based exams, either relating to history or composition. These individuals represent the most devoted of societirs and are expected to serve as a good example to the rest of everyone. They must keep in line with the rules mentioned above, meditate at least once per day at any time, and encourage others to better themselves. Everyone's lives underneath such rules prove stressful, but no one at home has had the guile to stand up against them. Canoodle, in particular, escaped the confines of Koyo society after failing both exams and being banished by his family, so despite him failing to begin a revolution at his birthplace, his ideas are prevalent within the Riavelon League.

The first day of the new year is devoted to the Creator. All believers pray and meditate on this day, and every public establishment pledged to the Light closes as well. On this day, one is to focus on the individual and create goals for oneself to attain later in the year. To be a Monadist or Triadist is to improve their self-merit, so it makes sense as to why this would be a tradition. In years where shooting stars streak the skies during the early morning, many take them as signs for good things to come. Many search for these stars on the land and thinking that those who hold them will achieve their resolutions no matter what.

Extol desires the achievement and maintenance of order.

Extol is much more fit and agile than the average human, considering that they are a divine being, and they have wide shoulders, narrow hips, and defined muscles. Their fingers are much like talons, letting them grip objects with ease, and their eyes let them see more than any other living entity.

He has pale skin like moonlight and long, black hair once white but darkened with magic performance. His forearms and calves resemble bird feet, black like night, complete with talons that let them pierce hardy materials like diamond. A set of white feathers stick out from where pelvic bones would pop out the most, stiff and rigid from Extol's supernatural speed.

They have a receding hairline, thick eyebrows, bags under his eyes, prominent wrinkle near his mouth, sunken cheekbones (but not much), and a black goatee (lacking an accompanying mustache). He also has sharp teeth.   Their hair is as dark as the emptiness of space, draped over their shoulders and reaching beneath the blades. Thick brows frame their notable glare, bags beneath showing fatigue yet willingness to accept mortal flaws. A prominent wrinkle rests near the corner of their mouth, emphasizing both a frown and a grin. Finally, sharp teeth contrast against their humanoid face.

The stars are hailed as Extol's eyes in both religions. Likewise, their actual eyes resemble them, what with their sclera representing the night and their pupils representing the stars themselves. Some claim them to look lifeless while others are entranced by them. Stating the former nearby a Triadist is paramount to heresy and may result in severe punishment.

Extol is ambidextrous and usually navigates by levitating. They tend not to blink or breathe as they are not a living creature.

The most special ability of theirs is the ability to produce pneuma. Mortals, to perform magic, must retrieve it straight from the Creator's body (the whole of Neegavia), while Extol (the consciousness) can produce it themself. The caveat to this is that they easily exhaust themself if they are fragmented (they split their deity body into multiple pieces), and they will fall comatose from doing too much. One might describe this to be an extreme form of magic overperformance. Nevertheless, before the crusaders came, they spent all their time in the cosmos weaving space together, and no one could pull them away.   Other than that, a variety of abilities incapable by living beings is at their disposal: Teleportation, mind reading, telepathy, portal creation, incorporeality, future sight, and rapid regeneration. Extol can do everything a mortal can do better.

https://toyhou.se/2153055.extol-tezcacoatl for his clothing (and other varients)

(out-of-date; must have certain parts edited)   From the nothingness came a flash, no one around to witness it. Then, from that flash came a gray specter and an inky form as described in the legends. As soon as they came into existence, the three fought in a way unfathomable to mortals. However long it lasted mattered not, for, at some point, the light eradicated its emanations and left itself the sole divine being in the emptiness. Thus is written the first tale involving the light.   An unfathomable form, its power much too great to weave the cosmos, within itself it created the world of Neegavia and a second self to exist within that space: the Demiurge. Its intelligence bestowed upon this vessel, the light itself lacked consciousness afterward, now a canvas for its second self to paint anything it wished. The whole of existence stemmed from the light; all was it, and it was all. Though the light itself was perfect, the inner space proved imperfect to create a balance, a remnant of the specter. In addition, chaos taking the form of black holes clung to the light. All-in-all, in that imperfect world existing within the absolute, the Demiurge attempted to maintain its perfection, unaware that lacking flaws in an impure universe made it flawed.   The Demiurge took a physical form that struck fear into its beholders, yet its distance to the worlds it created prevented any from seeing it. As civilizations came and disappeared, mortals hailed the Demiurge in various forms. However, their interpretations differed from the truth. Sometimes interpreted as a loving entity, their apathy toward most affairs failed to appear often in scriptures. However, the laws civilizations created for themselves were not followed by all. When societies grew destructive and dogmatic, the Demiurge annihilated its creations due to its aversion to chaos. It cared not for the inhabitants’ struggles, only caring whether disorder avoided tainting their worlds or not.   As eons passed, as it continued its routine of threading the cosmos, it found itself seeking others to help it in its job. Thus, with radiant wings and omnipotence, it shaped the titans: Saturn, the deity of waves, Alternity, the imagination deity, and Lodur, the ending deity. When the creation of stars and the matter existing in the reaches of space grew too monotonous, Lyra, the light god, and Noxem, the darkness god, came to be. Then, when asking their maker’s name, it lacked a response entirely. When the Demiurge’s Acolytes needed to communicate with it, they did so without words or body language. At this point in their lives, they resembled nothing of the people inhabiting the realms. All deities shared the ability to split into multiple fragments once they incurred too much damage. Once reassembled, however, they remembered nothing of their past. At this point, they interpreted memories as a burden.   Thus, so continued the cycle of destruction and recreation. With a coldness unparalleled, its intelligence revolving around cosmic matters paled to its naivety surrounding its people. Though the Demiurge refused to interact with the peoples that inhabited its planets, the curiosity of Saturn and Lyra forced it to grow closer to its creations. In contrast, Lodur, by the eons, grew more resentful of the beings. They believed them incapable of peace and even considered going against their Creator’s orders. By some miracle, the curiosity from the two others spread to the Demiurge, and it felt its first emotions.   Alternity, when a world similar to Earth came to flourish, focused on all of its aspects. She always noted her observations to her superior and thrived on the activities of mortals. Even this world came to die soon enough, once humans decided to prioritize themselves over working together. With mushroom clouds visible from space, craters scarring the scorched ground, trees wilting and crumbling away from the fires blazing across the world, this world was yet another failure. With no choice left, the Demiurge commanded Lodur to destroy the world.   Then, with the Demiurge’s radiant needles, it wove together a new world, a size comparable to Jupiter. A single landmass, lifeforms that greatly resembled those of the last one, and a more-involved Creator, this world appeared to be its magnum opus. The Demiurge even gave it the same name as the universe. In this world, it chose to create the mortals by itself, explaining why they appeared similar to humans. It first made figurins, which were capable of taking multiple forms in addition to their main one. Then, it created the saeols, modeled with the visage of the Demiurge itself in mind. Lodur elected themself as the leader of the figurins, while the Demiurge created Vedrfol, the First Mortal. The two led mortalkind for several years in peace.   When Vedrfol asked the Demiurge their name, they responded verbally, “Extol.” They first heard it from Alternity when she reported to them and liked the word. At the same time, they took on another form similar to the saeols. Their silvery hair rippled through the hair as they towered over all others, and their piercing eyes remained from their monstrous appearance. On the shoulders of their hanbok lay a symbol that served to remind viewers of their actual form. White lilies stuck out from the sides of their head. In murals and statues, their people depicted them as they appeared to Vedrfol right now. One other way they made mortals and themself similar was by pneuma; they granted them the ability of pneuma conversion, or magic, to differentiate them from past populations. Thus, the saeols further aligned themselves with the Creator, crediting it to their alike natures.   Even despite this all, the Creator still distanced themself from their creations. Allowing Lodur and Vedrfol to take the reins, they retreated to Enon, the tree of reincarnation. They watched society from afar, appearing to them from time to time. They avoided deep interactions whenever they needed to speak with anyone, especially Vedrfol. If they needed to chat with anyone, it would be Lyra (who they sang with) or even the new deity they made to manage Enon’s leaves, Aegaea, the deity of rebirth. Though they now had a proper name, no one even dared to refer to them with it. Many even claimed it heresy to speak of it in casual contexts, and even the titans refused to use that name for them. They hardly talked to Lodur, now too busy with their people.   As soon as the first embers of conflict occurred within these new societies, Lodur’s patience ran out, and they declared war on every living being. To bolster their army, Lodur created three new deities with the fragments of their body: Azur, Ignis, and Iferclu. Unfortunately for him, however, the Creator captured the three and entrusted Saturn and Alternity to raise them. Because they wished not to destroy the world so prematurely, they thought up a plan. They would grant a few mortals their power to eliminate Lodur and save this world. At the same time, if those mortals or those further down the line grew so powerful that they ended up obliterating their home, then Extol would conclude that Lodur was right and cease creating new worlds entirely. Thus began the Age of Darkness, where the world teemed with creatures of darkness, and the people relied on the deities for help. The Creator tasked Vedrfol with bringing them five worthy people to fight Lodur and clear away the beasts. They gifted him the Nio Charm, a keepsake that allowed him to dream and communicate with candidates. This power came from the deities themselves, capable of doing this without any sort of object. Over the following years, he brought them his choices, and in return, they gifted the future crusaders circlets with their magical essence inside.   Then, with the final circlet, the Creator collapsed. Sigi, the last crusader, and Vedrfol crouched over their crumpled form, pulling at their sleeves. Saturn and Alternity came to retrieve them. Their unconscious body rested in a coffin at the top of Enon, asleep for an indefinite amount of time. Magic overperformance, though commonplace for mortals, never happened to the deities. With the Creator’s weakened disposition, however, they became its victim.   For the next four centuries, the Creator slept. No matter what methods, no one could rouse the Demiurge from their slumber. They envisioned themself in a black void, similar to how the universe, they themself, began all those eons ago. At some point, they dreamt themself into reality again. They spent more time with Alternity and Saturn, unable to do much else but speak. Then, Lyra’s voice resounded in their mind, and they visited her on the battlefield. As a shadowy tendril pierced her chest, cracks glowing with light running throughout her body, she stated they and all the rest of them were the same as mortals. Emphasizing the fact that flaws actually enhance the individual, Lyra hopes they will not suffer a fate similar to her and states they must ensure they meet the mortals in their vision. As her body split, the Creator awoke.   They rose out of the coffin, Alternity gasping nearby. Immediately, the Creator went to business, telling her about the deaths of Lyra and Noxem. She stated that there always stood a chance that they may resurrect. The Creator explained to her that if circumstances were different, they would be back before anyone knew it, and they wished to treat it as if there was no chance of it happening. The conversation forced them to reminisce on the past and to think deeply about her words, especially surrounding mortals. As Alternity expounded about that point once they brought it up to her, she discussed how there might be an individual somewhere, if given the power, would bring about peace to the rest of the world.   That gave the Creator an idea.   After creating Stellar and Darce, they fell into another coma. Soon enough, the Creator began dreaming and appeared in Niorun, which pleased Alternity. As soon as they adjusted the lilies in their hair, the Creator started reciting the criteria this figure needed to meet. Once they finished, the panels flashed and disappeared to leave one person... He looked awfully similar to the figure in the single, branching path.   Alighting on the mountainous terrain, they confronted the man within his castle. When he demanded their identity, they first kept vague about it. They lingered long enough for the man to strike up a conversation with them anyway, demanding why they continued to trail him. Once they explained their intentions, the man eased up and agreed to help them out. This time, when he asked for their name again, they responded, “Extol, but you may call me X.” In response, he told them his name: Fafnir. Thus began those two’s tentative acquaintanceship.   From time to time, Extol visited Saturn and Alternity to describe their experiences in Mamtir. Saturn always chuckled with them, detailing mortals to be intriguing creatures. Alternity, on the other hand, inquired about the more mental and spiritual aspects of befriending one. However, they came to value their time spent with Fafnir more than conversing with those two. They knew everything about the physical universe but nothing about these societies they spent so long shunning. The experiences of this man differed immensely from their own. They listened to him describe the crusades he led long ago, the interactions with his comrades, and the trials of being a king. In turn, due to his curiosity, they shared details about their existence, beginning from their run as the light to present-day troubles. It never worried Extol about the possibility that he might use this information for nefarious (or how they defined that word) purposes. Judging from his actions in his presence and the state of his nation, they lacked reason.   Extol grew to genuinely enjoy Fafnir’s presence. Once present for business reasons alone, their conversations changed focus from telling stories about themselves to discussing themselves in the present. When the latter went into further detail about his interpersonal relationships, they transitioned to more personal topics. They spoke to each other about their feelings and even talked about what they would do once the former woke up from their coma. However, the most important topic brought up was Wrym, Fafnir’s late wife. He weeped to them one day about her, detailing all the great times they had together. Though it proved impossible to empathize with him, they attempted to offer words of comfort. In return, he gave them his most sincere of thank-you's.   These years together led to unfamiliar emotions developing in Extol. Alternity teased them about it when they visited her, comparing them to the man appearing in Lyra’s dream. After years of feeling naught but ennui and slight curiosity, a warmth now grew in their chest and overcame those feelings. Contentment, though not much to most people, felt irregular to them. That, and they wished to stay entire days with Fafnir, feeling impelled to keep him nearby. It progressed to the point where they would sit down and focus on his voice, enjoying the simplicity of staying by someone else. He even caught onto this, insisting that instead of them doing that, they should sing to him. Thinking it fair, Extol thought of one of the ballads they wrote long ago during their boredom and sang. It became one of their favorite memories.   Once they awoke, after arranging some affairs, they traveled to Mamtir thanks to the combined powers of Saturn and Alternity. The former even teased them prior, stating how needy they grew after almost five centuries. When they passed through the gates and met Fafnir, they sat down with him and explored the new possibilities. Together, they admitted the full extent of their feelings for one another. Once Extol returned home, all gasped when they announced their relationship with Fafnir. Saturn, in particular, broke her glass. When she laughed and talked about how humorous her Creator had become, Extol reassured her that none of this was a joke. That led to stunned silence. Now sporting black hair that fell beneath their shoulders, a long cape that trailed behind him, and a less-severe expression, a new era of self-discovery came for them. For the rest of that year, they visited Fafnir as often and reasonably as possible. Soon, they discussed whether they should expand the family or not. Since Chigai (due to various circumstances, he was one year old) must stay in the castle, they both decided on having another one.   Thus, a year later, Vega was born. She lived with Extol in Enon. She looked up to her cennend, always begging to play with them or watch them create objects. In turn, they enjoyed the new person in their life, learning the thrills and drawbacks of raising a child. As her prowess over different types of magic improved, so came the news of Neegavia’s changing tides. Darce told them of how Iferclu, after all these years, sought to create artificial deities to conquer the world. Mortals with their own country retaliated, using any means necessary to enact their wills. If anyone knew of her, capture seemed imminent. Already overprotective of her, they decided they needed to take matters a step further.   When they laid Vega to sleep one night and sang her a lullaby, they headed to Stellar and Darce and asked them to look after Vega in their absence. Then, they traveled to Enon’s roots. Carving out a hollow in the ground and a tunnel, they erected a gate that led to the cave. Then, with all of their remaining energy, Extol tore a hole in the space-time continuum and created a permanent portal leading to a random walkable part of Mamtir. Then, they collapsed. Saturn came to retrieve them and lay them into their resting place.   They have yet to wake up again.

Extol does not identify as a binary gender or any that exist on the spectrum. They are indifferent to the concept, instead taking on whatever appearance they wish to at that moment. In the past, they once took the form of an "effeminate" person with long, silver hair like silk and no facial hair at all. Now, they appear more "masculine", with shorter, black hair like midnight and a goatee on their chin.

Toric Demisexual

After millennia of staying distant from their creations, Extol learned how to properly connect with others. Though they still prefer solitude to gatherings, they grew to enjoy the words of others and their outlooks on the world. Instead of now isolating themselves into the cosmos, they more often try to spend time with the people closest to them. Saturn and Alternity, although surprised, greatly enjoy this change, and Stellar and Darce have grown to appreciate their Creator's suggestions. However, the most evident growth comes from the fact that they finally let themself bond with a mortal in a meaningful way. While Vedrfol, though loyal, annoyed the Creator more than endeared them, all of Fafnir's qualities pulled them in and let them cherish their shared relationship. However, Extol still believes they should not interfere in their peoples' affairs, for they desire them to stay independent and recognize the mistakes done by others of their kind.

Their most egregious mistakes arose from hatred of second chances, and such hatred led to the annihilation of many worlds. The histories of older ones are lost to time, and the lore of those more recent are only known by the deities. Neegavia mortals know nothing about their predecessors, save the fact that they brought about their destruction. However, after seeing that mortals are capable of upholding order due to visiting another universe, the Creator has since expressed they would prefer to stand by and watch the aftermath. A chance at saving themselves was always possible, even if it looks otherwise, and that was something Extol needed to learn. Many people who did nothing wrong now cease to exist.

Extol best exhibits intellectual autonomy, confidence in reason, and intellectual humility in recent times.   They never struggle in regards to independence, for they can make educated decisions by themself without the help of others. That is not to say that they cannot work with others, but rather, Extol can make smart conclusions without extra input most times. As the authority in most fields regarding the cosmos, they make the ultimate call in what galaxies to arrange and what solar systems will be aligned. In regards to maintaining order, they ensure societies stay in line and follow their laws of the universe. Though they cannot force everyone to follow their moral code, the results of their actions may change the world in a way intolerable to the Creator.   In the past, they wholly doubted mortals' ability to make good judgments, but now, with new information at hand, this view has changed. Extol now recognizes that a minority of people's conclusions might better the whole. They encourage the foundations for schools and universities so more education can serve the citizens and help them realize solutions to whatever problems plague them, and they hope societies will dare to improve circumstances for themselves. Once regretful about free will, they now accept it.   Long ago, they believed their viewpoint reigned supreme over all others, how mortals would never learn from their mistakes. Their biases blinded them from the peacemakers in the crowd, and they viewed all sapient creatures as incapable of coming to compromise. However, with what they now know, Extol finally realizes how many order-seeking people truly exist, and they believe that one day, they shall bring about a new age. Their ignorance caused the destruction of the few individuals that existed who sought the end of warfare, and though they do not regret their actions, they do wish to allow civilizations to decide their fates in Neegavia. If they cause the apocalypse, the Creator will keep their hands out of it.

(out-of-date; both religions instead interpret the Creator as an unbiased, emotionless deity incapable of making mistakes)   While Monadism perceives them to be a merciful deity and Triadism views them as all-loving yet strict, Extol was truly apathetic to their creations unless disorder arose. If the world devolved into conflict, their first instinct would be to destroy it. This primitive behavior failed to be captured by either religion and remains unknown by Neegavians. They are to be seen as an unchanging entity, one whose word is never wrong and dictates what laws mortals must follow. However, the morality over the years has morphed into something wholly different than it once was. At first completely seeing chaos as intolerable, they now accept its place within society and even see it as a means to achieve true order.   Other than that, rules between the religions generally follow the Creator's opinions with some changes. For example, they find it acceptable to kill if the reason is just, like if one was defending themself. Exemplifying the twisting of their morals is how Monadists advocate for species purity while Extol only stated that the species must be independent.

Any attempts to incite chaos for no reason are considered taboo by them. Whether it is assault, incest, or something else, they will not tolerate it.

Their main desire is the one to maintain peace wherever it may exist in Neegavia. To observe conflicts regarding disparate ideas annoys them, and they would rather see them disappear. Watching worlds devolve into chaos and death due to lack of compromise between opposing ideals leads them to bring down their hand and eradicate such insolence. However, as of relative recency, they decided to never obliterate worlds that fell into disorder, solely because they wondered if surviving mortals would work to recover from the damage and achieve peace again. With knowledge of their horrific histories, the Creator hopes that these mortals will instead work with each other to prevent the same damage from occurring again.   Other than that, before they became so focused on societies, Extol's main priority centered around creation. Every spot of the universe they sought to fill with something, whether it be space rocks, stars, or planets. Emptiness brings them great displeasure to this day, so despite being weakened, they filled their "living" quarters to the brim with various items. Banners hang from the wall in silver hues, tables next to walls glitter from the speck present in the thick fog outside, and rugs cover all inches of the wooden floors. Some mortal books find their place in the bookshelves next to the walls so Extol can keep an eye on what people nowadays are thinking. Once apathetic, their curiosity brings them to discover more about societies in as many ways possible. It contents them to know that nature is not devoid of life, for animals sprawl about on grasslands and sapient species establish settlements and the like.

Stressful situations hardly affect the Creator, even if they involve them directly. They will never fret over an action or whine about their choices afterward, for they cannot experience fear or worry. Their choices are usually unaffected by any strong feeling, although annoyance tends to be the reason for some of their actions. Most emotions are dialed down in their world; they cannot experience ecstasy but only content, for example. Due to this, many admire their decisiveness and head to them if possible for advice.   Such lack of emotional fervor does have its drawbacks, however. Because they feel no fear, whatever choice they go with might seem impulsive later, for nothing could block them from going along with it. It has caused a sort of ennui in the god, unable to fully understand the joys of life. Their emotional empathy is completely non-existent, but their cognitive one is developing. Although unable to experience the same highs and lows of others, it does entertain them to listen to others.   That brings us to their next talent: Giving advice. Several of the deities head to them if possible to get feedback helping them better their performance at their jobs or their general existence. One notable example is Lyra, who despite Extol's suggestions to head into the earthly world and make connections, refused and died isolated. Other than that, Alternity finds herself asking how to deal with the dreams she sees, or Saturn requests that her Creator assist her with understanding gravity fields for uniquely-shaped celestial bodies. Luckily for all, this activity proves to be enjoying for Extol. They find it an opportunity to better their communication skills and improve their cognitive empathy.   Unrelated to all of these is their singing. Though seldom motivated nowadays, if someone close asks them about it, then they will perform for them. Their songs are usually ballads of all the stories they have learned, but one person hears something unique. Vega was blessed with getting to hear lullabies when she went to sleep, and these still stick in her mind to these day. It is an example of her cennend's warmth toward her, and she wishes to cherish them for years to come.

A good book entertains the Creator. Although they would prefer to glide through nebula and form it into stars, looking into the products of sapient creatures entertains them. To see how these individuals interpret their environment gives Extol insight into their lives as well. If they can, they will often discuss these books with the other book-worm deities, Alternity in particular. They both analyze them under various lenses and discuss to their hearts' content.   They have several favorite things they have made in nature. Their favorite flora are lilies and amaranths, and they use to wear the prior in their hair all the time. Sometimes, Extol clips it on again and enjoys how they make them look. Favorites involving geological structures are waterfalls and mountains, the former because they like the booming of large ones slamming into rivers or lakes and the latter because of their formation process. In regards to weather, they prefer clear skies for the warmth; the chill of space slithers into their body in a way that makes them crave heat. As for time of day, they prefer the night, mostly because they can admire their celestial bodies from a worldly point of view.   Very few things does the Creator dislike, other than chaos. It annoys them to no end to listen to someone take a long-winded way to get to the point; verbose statements should contain important details, not insignificant add-ons. They find sycophants bothersome, especially Vedrfol back when he was alive. Finally, actions done without reason are the very anti-thesis to the decisive Creator, so they hate those, too.

Eloquent, Decisive, Calm, and Knowledgeable

Phlegmatic, Manipulative, Secretive, and Cynical

Extol will not blink in front of a living creature, and it causes them to look uncanny. They take a familiar form, but otherwise, they remind one that they are speaking with a deity. They tend to mess with people for their own amusement sometimes, usually by sarcasm or quipping at them. Relating to the last point, they cannot help but chuckle at some of the reactions they get from their divine behavior, such as surprise when they appear without a sound or embarrassment when they know someone's secrets. Lastly, their bluntness regarding some topics catches many off-guard and feels fun to them as well.

They have no need to bathe, for with the snap of a finger, they are instantly cleared of any dirt or debris clinging on their body. What a blessing that is too, considering how space can smell like rotten eggs or burnt barbecue!

The Acolytes are deities who remain loyal to the Creator. They include Saturn, Alternity, Lyra, Noxem, Stellar, Darce, and Azur. Regarding Saturn, as one of the titans, she and Extol have grown very close. On multiple occasions, she expressed gratitude for her liege's personality growth throughout the years, and Extol jokes that she stayed stagnant in terms of her playfulness. Discussing Darce, the two of them are not close to each other, but they have expressed hope for the new deity of darkness. Surprised at his bond with a mortal, they encourage him to make more of them if he can; the two must learn from each other, after all.   Aegaea, Iferclu, and Ignis exist outside of the Acolytes. Their relationship with them is strained, considering their differing goals. While Ignis craved a society rife with fluctuation, Extol despised the low life expectations and the frequent fights. Aegaea's is much closer to what they perceive as fine, but the cold relations toward other nations in the world bothers the Creator. Finally, Iferclu once shared the same opinion as Azur on mortals, but after her brother's death, she began a campaign to oppress the majority. Extol noticed how provinces formed and dissolved within months, and they observed the scarcity of resources within the lower class instigating violence through desperation. They are not fond of how Iferclu runs her country in recent time.

One might consider the Ender and Cycler as their siblings, while others may not. Blood-bonds are impossible for their actual body to have.   After years of being Fafnir's companion, Extol found themself wishing to not let him out of their life. He fell in love with them after centuries, and they in turn wished to embrace the calm they felt with him. After wedding each other, Extol often visited him over the following years. Neither of them can afford to live with each other, but the barrier between the two does nothing to hinder their adoration. In fact, it only makes Extol cherish their limited time with him more. While no one could see a mortal and deity together in matrimony, it tells all that the two are much more similar than previously thought.   Vega, Fafnir and Extol's daughter, aspires to impress her peers at all opportunities. As a youth, she spent her free time learning from her cennend, and as a result, her magic capabilities surpass most of her peers. Extol's encouraging words cemented themselves into her mind, and whenever sadness soaks her, she always reminisces on what her cennend would say. To show her gratitude, she plucked lilies from Enon Meadows and brought them to her cennend to show her love for them, and in return, they gifted her a cape like theirs. To this day, Vega always finds someway to incorporate it into her outfits. Sometimes, she stays up late and looks up at the stars, reminding herself of Extol's gentle gaze.

Their eloquence lends to them coming across as charismatic, pulling their opponents into their grip. Extol knows nothing of anxiety or fear, and hesitation dare not cloud their mind from action. Some may call them egotistical, but to themself, they hold reasonable expectations of their abilities. When they lack knowledge about a topic, for example, they can accept that without worry and question others for the answers.   They prefer not to linger in large crowds and like sticking to corners where they can observe others' behavior; they are an introvert. Always planning ahead, they think more about the future than the present, but it never drags them down to a state of inaction. To think abstractly is their nature; they avoid sticking to the details and focus on the whole. The truth may phase others, but not them. They focus on the task at hand and cooperate with others if need be, but their independence often carries the whole team. Remaining punctual no matter the circumstance, Extol finishes tasks at a rapid rate without delay, and their strategy protects the Acolytes from their own undoing.   In the past, they once struggled to abide by mortal etiquette, but with Fafnir's assistance, it became much easier for them to blend in. Identifying what to say at what time became a game to them, and they enjoy finding what makes others tick. They always come across as sincere and polite, for not a single lie looks apparent in their statements. It became clear how to disguise them as the truth if they must stay secretive, so no one dares to challenge their veracity. Finally, regarding mannerisms, their body language seldom changes. If it does change, the conversational partner in question must be a family member or their husband. Otherwise, they stay static, boring holes into the other person's soul with their lifeless eyes. They hardly mirror others in discussions, either.

They usually speak hovering above the ground while staring for long periods of time. Sometimes, their hands move to their hips, and they spread their legs if they feel particularly confident. When focused, getting Extol's mind off that task becomes difficult, for they fixate on their endeavors. They prefer not to let something go undone for a while, and they dread procrastination.

They like to read, sing, write poetry and lyrics, and generally observe (people, nature, animals).

They speak monotonously, putting emphasis around the most important ideas, and their pitch is a baritone most of the time. Changing it to a higher one proves no trouble, but they prefer to speak at a baritone. They talk in a Saeolish accent most of the time, but they can imitate other accents well. Extol speaks with a Riavelon Neegavian (American English) accent. A formal person, they opt to say "greetings" over a "hello" or "hi," and they say "farewell" instead of other words.   If someone particularly bothers them, they discover what would calm this person down or find a way to push them out of the conversation. For example, with a sycophant, they compliment them a lot and tell them they will get more of their time later if they listen to a request they make. This is how Extol dealt with Vedrfol. They never quite insult people, but if they must, they land it where it hurts. Analyzing people is like walking to them, so they hardly struggle with compliments or insults. They seldom say the former to others either, perhaps less-so to the latter, but on the rare occasion they do, it means a lot. Easily can they brighten Vega's day by remarking on her improvement with light magic, and when their husband's chest tightens with stress, they know how to soothe him with endearing words and actions alike. Never will Extol swear except in situations where others ask them, and they will spice up their speech with metaphors if they help to visualize their points.