God's Watch

From Corvona
Jump to navigationJump to search

To be on the God's Watch means that a god or multiple gods have taken interest in you and are following your actions. Those who are Watched are considered favored and blessed by the gods, and are given special treatment in many cultures. While originally a Erithist idea, it has been accepted by many other faiths.


Determining Watched Status[edit | edit source]

There are many early signs that a person might be Watched, although none of them are a guarantee. A person can start being Watched at any time, although it normally happens after they achieve something spectacular, perform an exceptionally good deed, or enter a loving relationship. Signs include:

  • A sudden, unexpected string of good luck.
  • Prayers being answered more frequently and promptly.
  • A sharp increase in magical potential. For humans, this means absorbing essence faster and in larger quantities. For non-humans, this means transferring more essence to humans they like faster, and a boost in their natural magical abilities.
  • Pleasant dreams filled with symbols of the god that is watching.
  • Subtle physical changes, generally ones that increase attractiveness and youthfulness without modifying bone structure. For example, clearer skin, healthier and more manageable hair, whiter teeth, and so on.
  • An increase in energy, and the ability to operate fine on less food and sleep than before.

Typically none of these will be extremely pronounced, so diagnosis Watched status is difficult. It's estimated that many watched people will go through their entire lives without realizing. Because most of the signs are changes from their state before being noticed, those who have been watched from a young age often slip by without being identified.

Someone who believes that they are Watched will first go to the nearest Erithist church to speak to a priest of their own species. The priest will listen to their arguments and determine whether the claim is worth exploring. If it is, they will have the church's local Khothan examine them. The Khothan will be able to tell if the person is Watched.

If the person is being watched by their species patron god, they can be given their Watchmark right then and there. If they are being watched by a god of another race, they will need to find a priest from the race that god represents to give the Watchmark. Often a person will be watched by two gods, especially when they are in an interspecies relationship, and in this case they must find a priest of both races to give two separate Watchmarks.

If they are being watched by three or more gods, this is a big deal, and they are encouraged to go to the nearest major monastery, either Ardent Monastery in The Priestlands or Aurium Monastery in The Shears. There, their status will be triple checked by high ranking Khothans, and if it checks out they will receive their Watchmarks and citizenship in both The Priestlands and The Holy Sovereignty of the Pegrin.