Then the Serpent came... a mortal empire that was strangely victorious in every battle. At first it was believed that this army from the south was merely a powerful force from a land most gods had no interest in, and the more powerful in the pantheon confirmed that there was another (less inhabited) continent off the southern coast with its own people. These people, though, had few gods of their own as they were a rather spartan folk.

They were not seen as a threat until Ghorush, a barbarian demigod, died on the battlefield. You all felt it, and it sent a shiver through you. The more powerful gods said they would look into it, but it was only a demigod... such things had always been possible.

Then Tynir, an elven god of peace, died when he went to investigate. Those sent to the southern continent came back shaken; they had seen the ashes and felt the loss of the small pantheon of those people. The army marched onward.

Finally Yorron, human god of honor and law, grew impatient and swept on to the battlefield. Once he was there, it took only a glance to see that the man beside the general of this army of a deity in disguise. Yorron grew angry

Back in the ancient times of this world there were many gods, both greater and lesser than yourself. Gods of fire and rain, gods of love and hate, gods of remembrence for those passed on and gods of celebrations of nights to come; all of these made their way through the world, and you were among them.

You had trusted allies, imposing enemies, and aloof counterparts but that was the way of things. It was a balance.

Then, one day, you were called before the other gods. You were told that there was a problem to the south... a small pantheon to a people on a southern continent you likely didn't even know existed had been killed by one of their own.

Then he had marched an army off of your southern coast and almost destroyed a barbarian demigod... an elven god of peace who had investigated the issue had been badly injured.

It seems that the higher gods of your pantheon had called him up to be held responsible for his actions, but found that they could not simply destroy him; the Serpent, as he was called by those present, was of another pantheon and so could not be sentenced to destruction by the rulers of yours. They had reached a compromise, though, as they were afraid of the damage his army could do to their lands and people... it would be an inescapable prison.

They offered him a pick of any one middling deity to be imprisoned in the material world as a mortal, with no memories of what they truly were, along side himself. His laughter as this was explained to you was sickening, and the constantly shifting armor of vipers that he wore seemed sinister enough.

You see... he had turned down their offer, and instead asked for you and the others by name. The other gods apologized, but tried to explain that it was the only thing to be done; you would all live as mortals, with no memory of your true nature, until such a time as the highest among the pantheon (currently Yorron, human god of Law and Nobility) set you all free. They made it clear this would never happen.

Suffice to say you were surprised to find yourself (and this is specific to your character) standing in a field... your warpony pulling a plow that rattles in your hands. You have no memory fo this mortal daze you've been in, nor any idea how you might have been set free.

But as a quick trip to the home of the pantheon, the City of the Clouds, shows... all the gods but those bound along side yourself seem to be missing. The world is yours.

There is no sign of the Serpent.

Characters...