Age Of Wonders: Pantheon of Gods
In the Beginning there was the void
What is the Void you may ask? well it's hard to describe. Take the idea of the Cosmos. A place of Infinite possibility. but one of great danger and Mystery. The void is both the beginning and end off all. Like I said Hard to describe.
Oh, but I should introduce myself, I was your average guy. I was living on my own out in the American Wilderness, no friends or family to speak of. except for the few I had online. I lived in a house I built myself with the money left to me by my father. I was enjoying a long game of Age of Wonders 4 in my office, with two of my online friends, KnightLight and QueenExtreme. I was playing one of my most successful Godir Leaders. Uther The Light Bearer. As his name suggests, he relies on Light and holy magic, leading a Race of Humans I've named the Exalted. Besides being taller than average humans. they learned faster and were blessed with great understanding in the Arcene art. allowing them to become powerful healers.
As we ended our game session for the day, I noticed something, a strange blue glowing tab on my Main menu screen. Opening it, I was surprised to see a book open on screen asking, "Would you like a more Interactive Story? to see your Society Rise or fall in person?" more than a little intrigued I clicked on the icon saying 'yes.'
No sooner my screen flashes a Bright Blue and had to close my eyes to stop myself from going blind. jumping back my chair lost balance and I fall back with my chair cracking my head against the wall behind me losing my concussions in record speed.
(3rd Pov)
(Location: ???)
Slowly The Young man woke up, his eyes adjusting to the strange blue light invading his view. sitting up he sees he's in what appears to be a room, but there were no walls, no Ceiling, other than the soft purple carpet he sat on all he saw was a vacant wispy blue void, filled with fog.
looking around he eventually saw a pop-up screen appear in front of him. he knew this screen well, it was the creation screen for making a brand-new race in the game. asking him to select a 'Base Race.' looking over his options he was surprised to see selections he'd never seen before.
Ponies.
traits: Adaptive, Weather Control, Magical Nature.
Changelings.
traits: Subterfuge masters, Selective Eaters, Frenzy.
Zebras.
Traits: Adaptive, Tribal Medicine, Careful Herders.
griffins.
traits: Frenzy, Steel Will, Physical Strength.
Dragons.
Traits: territorial, rich Horders, Elemental Focuses.
These options were interesting but seemed, limited to the young man. his eyes drifted to the many other races he was used to seeing. traditionally he went with either Humans or Orcs but had been known to try them all at least once. without much deliberation he picks the human race but decides to change some of the traits.
Humans.
traits: Adaptive, Keen Eyes, Ethereal Eyes, Fast Recuperation
With these traits, his humans all have the ability to learn faster than others, as well as see better and farther, they also can see past illusions and into the ethereal plan. and lastly, they can heal and regain stamina much faster than other races. After he recreates his humans, he's asked to choose a Culture, this option dictates what technology the race uses. like before there are some Cultures he's never seen before.
Crystal Culture.
Use of Crystal tech allows user to imprint properties onto crystal users. for added attack or defense.
flexible with magic imbuement and enchantment.
unique unit: Crystal Golems and Crystal Enchanter
Hive Culture.
Create a single Hive mind, allowing instant access to a shared knowledge pool among all in the Hive, or create a Caste system mind, enslaving most in the hive and empowering some.
can be used to learn at a faster pace than others or can be used to gather recourses faster than others.
Unique Unit: Hive Speaker or Hive Slaver
neither of these caught his attention, if anything they seemed kind of weak, the Crystal sounded interesting but not enough to desire it. instead, he chooses his favorite culture. Reaver Culture, Reaver cultures are pragmatic and brutal. What it may lack in powerful melee unites it makes up for with magic focused Guns. it's a raider Culture that focuses on fast attacks and ranged combat. its Melee was not the strongest but that didn't mean it was weak, units using sabers and nets to catch prey, and others who use Pole axes that have reach and can stop larger enemies in their tracks. But what makes their armies harder to fight was their unique unit. The Magelock Units, Think Magic Muskets. These units can fire farther then bows and crossbows. but can be inaccurate, but he counters that with the Keen Eyes trait. After this it was time to create the Race leader. He had to choose which of the three leader types he'd be, the first option is Godir.
The Godir, focus on one very powerful ruler to lead from the front as well as gives the user access to more magic and knowledge to grew more powerful. A Godir can be of any race despite whatever race you rule over.
then there was the Hero Choice. The Hero is more focused on growth for the Race. adding money and leadership to the race, your also locked to whatever race you lead.
Then Finally there's the Dragon Lord Leader, you play as an all mighty and powerful Elemental Dragon that is empowered by your chosen Element. you also start with a much larger gold start.
(Leader's pov)
Honestly being any of them would be nice. But thinking about the race and world in which I'll soon find myself in. I decided it was safer for everyone if I was a Godir. If I choose hero I can't protect people as effectively, and if I choose dragon lord I feel like I'd lose myself to the dragon's greed for money and power.
But choosing Godir, allows me to protect my own. Become an all-powerful magic user. And be whatever I desire. I can still help my race grow and be powerful enough to lead and protect them. A good trade I'd say.
Selecting the Godir option, I'm soon see the screens disappear and a small hand mirror appears in front of me. Grabbing it from the air before it falls to the ground. I look at the reflection. Staring back wasn't my original self. I used to be slightly thicker, with glasses and no hair to speak of. Now I had a head had some brown hair in the form of a buzz cut hair style with a low fade going up the sides. My face was smooth, my jaw angular and toned. I could say I looked rather handsome actually. I noticed I still kept my eye color of a deep-sea blue. Looking down at my clothes I saw I was wearing a blue and black striped outfit with a breastplate, and chainmail. My hands covered in thick protective leather gloves and a matching set of boots. I also noticed a saber on my hip and a rifle to my side. Identical to that of those used by my troops.
After looking over everything I suddenly felt something slip on my head, I pull it off to see a marksmen helmet with a king's crest on the front. Overall, the armor and clothes gave off a musketeer's vibe, but I thought it looked good. Once I looked over everything, I finally noticed my skin was much more tanned, leaving me a rich Carmel sun color as opposed to my usually pale ass before all this happened.
Just as I was about to investigate further, I heard a voice, sounding like a female AI like Siri. "Good day gamer. Please choose a name for your new Godir form." I thought about it for a moment. Usually, I pick a first name and depending on the theme of my faction if I decided to be good or evil, I give my ruler a title. But it's harder when it's me I need to pick a name and title for, I don't know how long actually passed but it felt like hours of thinking of just thinking of a name.
Soon enough I decided to just go with a full name and let others give me titles. "Welcome Aldrich Ender, welcome to your new life as a Godir. Please enjoy this world and all it has to offer."
Pondering what I just heard I suddenly am blinded by a flash of white light and fall back onto my ass.
"My lord! Someone help him up damnit!" Was shouted as two of soldiers in matching armor to mine helped me stand up to my feet. Looking around I noticed I was suddenly surrounded by a dense forest. And all around me were hundreds of men, women, and children, all either wearing armor like mine or what I could only describe as traveling gear.
"My lord. Please forgive us. Our anti magic defense seems to have failed and we are now no longer in our territory." Was suddenly said, the woman who spoke was standing at my side. She was a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair wearing robes and holding a staff that seemed to be made of metal with a ball of light at the top of it.
Looking around I saw everyone was making camp, some were looking at me with reverence. I look down to see all the armor and clothes o saw earlier, as well as a silver saber on my hip. Is this how the games always starts? Lost in a new land surrounded by your people.
Clearing my throat, I heard my new voice for the first time. "We can worry about that later. Send scouts to find us a proper location to build a new city upon. And have our troops set up defenses." I quickly ordered. My new voice was deeper, but it felt familiar somehow. I soon recognized it sounded like Ainz ol gown from the anime overlord! That's awesome! But I need to focus, I needed to take charge of the situation before things got out of hand or dangerous. I have no idea what awaits me in this new world, but I know one thing.
It's going to be fun finding out.
(3rd person*)
It didn't take long for the scouts to find a place of interest. With mountains all around them Aldrich decided it would be best to put they're new city in the shadow of one such mountain. The humans fallowed his and soon set up a camp at the base of the mountains. During this time Aldrich familiarized himself with his new allies.
It was strange how advanced he seemed to be this early into a start. He didn't have any menus to pull up to see his tech tree. But he felt they're advancements. Like it was common knowledge.
In the game there are many different forms of tech and magic. They all had advantages and disadvantages, but each was powerful as you explored them. There was Order, Shadow, Chaos, Materium, Nature, and Astral. Then there were combination magics which use two of the 6 types to create something new.
First there was Order. It was the 'Light' or 'good' magic tech tree. It surrounded the idea that your people are faithful worshipers and believed in healing magic and holy power. But its units were anything but good (morally). From the Faithful Zealots who swarm enemies with religious righteousness. To the tyrant knights who subjugate all with they're powerful knight Calvary in the name of their gods or rulers.
Next was shadow magic. It was just plan 'evil' or 'dark' magic with necromancy and cold magics. It focused on spirits and undead magic while using the cold to damage others.
Next is Astral magic. It's the purest and rawest form of magic, using its properties to summon ethereal allies, comic horrors, and control the fabric of magical reality.
Then there was chaos magic. Used to summon hordes of minions, demons, demonic or chaotic entities. And a love of bloodlust and violence.
Materium is more like earth, but it also focuses on wind magic, it's also focused on artisan technology, getting better armor and weapons for your armies.
Then there was Nature, if you couldn't guess what that does, I don't know what to tell you. it's about the powers and manipulation of nature itself.
Standing in a large tent, surrounding a long table that was constructed using natural wood bending magic, the small group of leaders deliberated.
"Ok ok. One at a time now." Aldrich tried to calm the arguing and panicked leaders. To his left was the same young woman from before. Her name was Nichol Milias. She was his court magician. Set in the ways of nature and chaos magic. An odd combination to be sure.
To her left and next in line was Derrick the Warden. A knight in full plate armor. He held a lance casually in his right hand as it rested in the ground beside where he sat. He was leader of the dragoon's, a Calvary unit the reavers were known to have bit unlike his subordinates he was a tyrant knight one of the best units available in the Order tech tree.
Next was Fobio The cleaver. He was our chief scout and an archer of tremendous skill. He has a necrotic bow that delt shadow damage to all those her shot with it. Wearing a dark black and blue leather outfit and hood.
And finally, to the right of Aldrich was Niles captain of the guard. He was wearing a more traditional musketeer outfit with a breast plate and armored legs and arms. In his hands was a long halberd with an enchantment of sundering on it. A chaos magic that destroys armor and staggers opponents.
One they all calmed down Aldrich stood from his chair. "I understand our worries about a new and unfamiliar world but now is not the time to panic. We need to plan accordingly. Fobio is their nearby resources we can use for ourselves?"
The question was met with a nod. "The Godir smile on us sir. This land has an abundance of resources but only in the nearby provinces we still know nothing of beyond these mountains that hide this valley."
After the scouts were dispatched, it was discovered that they find themselves in a large valley surrounded on all sides by large mountains and hills. The only noticeable way through was a narrow gorge. But when the scouts approached it, they felt an evil presence within its narrow path. Almost like it was awaiting them to come.
"I think it wisest to stay within the valley and build up ourselves before venturing out beyond the mountains, especially with that ominous feeling the scouts felt in the gorge." He continued as he leaned over the table to glare at the map as if to remove the danger it holds.
Nodding Aldrich "Noted, and I agree with your beliefs. Building ourselves will only strengthen our chances... Here's the plan." With help from his adviser's Aldrich began planning for the construction of his newest city, the capital of his new Godir Empire.
But elsewhere in the world power shift. New factions and races rise in this world. Some familiar, other not. But one thing was for sure. The future was paved with uncertainty and danger. Aldrich will need to ready, for what lies ahead.
Author's Note
Hey so quick apology, this was published before editing took place, and it left a bad taste in my mouth when I realized it was like that. sorry and thank you to everyone who still enjoyed this.
Next, I'm happy to announce the new story will be using art and Characters of my own design. This will be using many different units and characters, inspired by the wonderful game Age of wonders 4. please support the game and maybe we'll see more love for it in turn!
finally, I'd like to end on a small note. happy new year and love to all those who read this. thank you for any and all support.
