UPDATE: GODS AND GNOSIS

[Gillar]

After reviewing many of our Gods and Goddesses as well as their respective Gnosis', I've realized that many are in need of some updating. With the ever evolving nature of Mizahar, we are constantly finding things that are dated and in need of modification in order to bring them into line with the rest of the changing Mizahar world. Moving in that direction, I have developed a list of deities and their related gnosis that will be seeing a bit of revamping as time goes on. The first one on the list that has been updated is, Yahal, God of Faithfulness and Purity. After some review and discussion, it was decided that Yahal's write-up needed some refining and clarification to make it a better fit with the ever-changing environment we have established here on Mizahar. While the core concept of the god remains, some things have been expanded upon while others have been simplified and clarified. Along with the God, his Gnosis was also updated. Ennervism, which used to offer immense boosts of strength, has been changed. To allow for a better fit with the updates to Yahal's write-up, Ennervism no longer grants the extreme strength boosts. Instead, it offers the following short summary of abilities by number of marks: 1 mark - An aura of purity that offers protection to the marked as well as those within a 10 foot radius. Those affected are protected from effects laid down by Chaon, Krivas or Hypnotism that would otherwise force those affected to cause harm to themselves or others unless the person already wished to do so on their own. 2 mark - Empower a weapon the marked is skilled in with a golden brilliance that can effectively ignore the armor of those who seek to do them harm or harm those under the protection of the marked. Shields split and armor cracks thus making it effectively useless against the marked's weapons. 3 mark - The marked can form a pair of prismatic-colored, feathery wings that grants the ability to fly. This goes along with the revised god write-up and symbolizes the gods ability to rise above corruption and impurity. 4 mark - The champion cannot be affected by Hypnotism, Chaon or Krivas from anyone other than a Master or Champion. They can remove these effects from others with a single thought. They cannot be physically harmed by those of less than a master or champion level as their faith and purity is simply too powerful to challenge. The changes are, from this point forward, in effect and replace the previously listed gnosis abilities for this god. So any benefits gained from the old form of this gnosis are hereby null and void. We are sorry for any inconvenience these changes may cause but we feel these changes are for the betterment of Mizahar as whole. Also, a somewhat associated change, we have updated the Benshira so that they no longer receive the 15 point racial skill bonus. They now receive a +10 as the +15 is reserved for the common human. With this, characters created before the change are grandfathered. Any Benshira created after this posting will have a +10 instead of +15.

[Rayage]

That is amazing Gillar. I really do like the update to the gnosis! I cant wait to see what other ones are up for revision and review.

Now all Yahal followers, unite and smite away the evil that threatens this land with your iron faith and will.

This is so exciting!

[Edreina]

*flails* I will admit that I love the change; it is even more fitting of my character, now.

However, it poses some serious issues to the integrity of the plots and timelines for those of us already threading with this mark.

Looking forward to see how everything works out and how our tales weave from here.

[Gillar]

For those already involved in current threads where they have used the gnosis already within the thread, prior to this change, they don't need to go back and change it. They can finish the thread under the old gnosis rules. All threads started (flashback or otherwise) from this point forward will have to use the new rules.

This will be the case for all of those gods and gnosis write-ups that will be undergoing updates. Again, the intent here with the updates isn't to directly hinder or harm players and their characters. We are trying to bring balance and alignment to these various articles so they will better fit with our ever-evolving game environment. Many write-ups were done a few years ago when the game was first being developed. Since that time, much has changed. Since gods and their marks are a pretty important part of the game as a whole, we want to ensure that they still fit with the game as it is now.

[Gossamer]

Since this is going to be one of many changes, I'd really like it if people could keep an open mind about these updates and try to see them as a remarkable opportunity to roleplay about their chosen deity (if you are effected) and how their deities gnosis changes. These don't have to be major crisis issues in your PC's lives, but they can be the case of major speculation and debate among the followers.

I seriously doubt any single god is going to appear to a follower and for example explain the change to the follower. Instead, I think it will be up to the player to note the change in the gnosis over time and either go into deep prayer or meditate on the why of it and see if they can't come up with their own conclusions.

These changes aren't actually new things.

Deities, in the history of Miahar, have rose and fell - some even have been murdered or imprisoned with their gnosis' lost to the world forever or at least for a very long time. It stands to reason that gnosis powers have also changed to reflect the power struggles and changing attitudes of the Gods through the course of their existences as well.

[Traverse]

I have to say I am quite excited about these forthcoming updates, and the changes already in place!

[Caelum]

I like it. Great job, y'all.

[Crypt]

Huzzah! Looking forward to Dira's - since the mark's powers get more and more OP with the number of marks - if there are any changes to be made!

[Translucent]

:/ Now there is another gnosis I want


I like it.

[Gillar]

Something I probably should have mentioned more clearly in my original post is that not every god and/or gnosis will be updated or changed. Right now I'm going through and updating only those that haven't been touched in quite a long time from a development standpoint. Some may need only minor edits to bring them in line with present material while others will require significant changes. I wish I could give a list but I am basically updating as I review them. I envision only a small handful of entries though that will see extensive changes. Following the gods and gnosis updates, I hope to continue on with a few of the races. The updates there will be far less significant and will mainly focus on smoothing out some details and hopefully increasing overall playability.