1. Apotheosis through Heroic Deeds
The path taken by Pteor offers one potential route to godhood: achieving legendary status through a monumental act of defiance against the Great Old Ones or their servants.
How It Works: Like Pteor, a mortal might perform a near-impossible feat, such as slaying or defanging a Great Old One, defeating a powerful avatar, or permanently altering the cosmic balance. This would involve gathering relics, artifacts, and allies before confronting the target.
The Stakes: This path requires the character to become a figure of myth and legend, making their ascension a matter of public reverence and divine recognition. The character’s name and deeds would need to spread across the world, drawing followers who begin to worship them for their monumental victory.
Example: A character could attempt to steal one of the Teeth of Krang and use it in a ritual to sever Krang’s connection to the world, delaying his awakening indefinitely. If successful, this act could elevate them to a demi-god status, with temples erected in their honor.
Potential Result: If successful, they may ascend to godhood, perhaps gaining dominion over the aspect they have defeated (e.g., fertility, death, or rebirth).
2. The Mycelium Voidheart and Planar Energy
The Mycelium Voidheart represents a powerful, terrifying path to godhood by tapping into the necromantic energy that is weaving the fate of the world.
How It Works: The character could seek to harness the planar energies within the Voidheart by either destroying it or mastering its power. This would require intense study of planar magic and necromancy, possibly even striking a deal with the Great Old Ones or bending them to the character’s will.
Ritual of Apotheosis: The Mycelium Voidheart is a vast network that spans multiple planes. By drawing on this network, a character could use necromantic energy to elevate themselves. The key would be manipulating the network’s influence on both the living and the undead. A ritual might involve using the Voidheart to reanimate a massive number of undead, sacrificing them at the right moment to channel their life force and convert it into divine power.
The Stakes: This method is risky. The Mycelium Voidheart is connected to the Great Old Ones, and using its power without proper control could either awaken an Old One like Krang or destroy the character in the process. The Voidheart itself may try to consume the character rather than allowing them to ascend.
Example: A character who seeks apotheosis might need to find a way to seal the Voidheart, containing its necromantic plague, and in doing so, absorb the planar energy that would otherwise have reanimated millions of undead. The character could then siphon that energy into themselves, ascending as a god of death—or perhaps god of undeath.
3. Aligning with the Elder Gods or Great Old Ones
Another possible path is through direct communion with the Elder Gods or Great Old Ones, though this would involve a pact or sacrifice of great magnitude.
How It Works: A character could attempt to communicate with an Elder God or bargain with a Great Old One, using an ancient ritual, a lost ziggurat, or even the Teeth of Krang. This path would involve either becoming a herald of these ancient powers or defying them entirely and stealing their power.
The Stakes: Bargaining with these entities could lead to the character’s madness or enslavement, but if successful, they could be granted a shard of their power, which could be used to fuel their ascent. Conversely, by outwitting or even defeating one of the Great Old Ones, the character could take their place in the pantheon of ancient gods.
Example: If a character can gain access to Azothoth’s dream, they might reshape a part of the universe according to their will, rewriting reality in their favor. This path would involve insane risks, but if successful, the character could ascend to godhood as a new Elder God, with dominion over a fragment of Azothoth’s dream.
4. Spear of Asura
The Spear of Asura, a legendary relic with the power to bring light where there is only darkness, holds the key to a more traditional path of divine ascension. This path taps into the power of light and creation, rather than chaos and madness.
How It Works: Recovering the true Spear of Asura, which was stolen by the Seven Sins, could allow the character to restore balance to the world and defeat the rising tide of darkness. Using the spear in a ritual to banish the influence of the Great Old Ones would elevate the character in the eyes of Asura, granting them the potential for divine ascension.
The Stakes: The Spear’s return is coveted by many, including the Seven Sins and those loyal to Krang. The character would need to navigate the intrigue and danger surrounding the Spear, using its power wisely in a way that aligns with Asura’s ideals.
Example: A character who uses the Spear of Asura to banish Krang from existence entirely might be elevated as a god of light or god of balance, inheriting Asura’s mantle and becoming a protector of the world.
5. Claiming the Mantle of a Dead God
If a god is slain or otherwise destroyed, their divine essence remains—a power that could be claimed by a mortal who is strong, cunning, or lucky enough to seize it.
How It Works: The character could pursue the death of a minor god—such as Pteor—or work to claim the mantle of a forgotten god from the days of the Serpentmen. This might involve venturing into a forgotten temple, locating a god’s corpse, or defeating a divine champion to claim their title.
The Stakes: Claiming a dead god’s power is never simple. The character might need to perform a complex ritual to absorb their essence or defend the mantle from other powerful beings who also seek the throne.
Example: A character could set out to destroy the temple of Pteor and reclaim the Teeth of Krang, preventing the Old One from regaining his lost power. In doing so, the character might absorb Pteor’s divine spark and ascend as a new god of fertility, rebirth, or cosmic balance.
6. Mastering the Art of the Great Old Ones
A character with enough arcane knowledge and mystical insight could attempt to ascend by mastering the very dark powers that fuel the universe. This path would involve delving into forbidden serpentman lore, tapping into the remnants of the Old Ones’ power.
How It Works: The character would need to study ancient texts, unlock forbidden knowledge, and experiment with the energies that once animated the Great Old Ones. By understanding and controlling these forces, they might achieve apotheosis through sheer arcane mastery.
The Stakes: Mastering such power could drive the character insane or corrupt their soul beyond recognition. They risk becoming a tool of the Great Old Ones or losing themselves in the process of tapping into this ancient magic.
Example: By accessing the ziggurats of the Serpentmen and using their forgotten rituals, the character could bind the power of a slumbering Old One to themselves, ascending as a god of chaos, madness, or time.
Each path offers unique risks, rewards, and moral challenges, allowing your character to explore the implications of divine power in a world on the brink of collapse. Will they embrace the Old Ways, sacrifice everything for progress, or carve out a new path that reflects their own vision of godhood? The choice is theirs to make—and the consequences will echo throughout the cosmos.