The last tier of divine might are the Titans. As stated earlier, the typical mortal does not know or understand the difference between the Greater Gods and the Titans. However there is a substantial difference. Titans cannot die. A Greater God can be killed, or even absorbed by a more powerful god (or Titan). Said god would cease to exist at that point. A Titan is the offspring of the Primordials, the original divine powers. After Creation, the Primordials used much of their might to create life as we know it. In the end, the Primordials coalesced into glowing ball of energy. 22 Titans hatched from this egg, and they set out to guard all that there is, becoming the very first gods of Duir’Aion. The very first creatures to inherit the world, were the dragons, who were created in the Titans’ image. This fact is known to all dragons, and is the primary reason for their animosity towards every other living thing they view as usurpers.
As stated, Titans are impossible to kill. They can be rendered powerless, which makes them inert. Originally a group of Titans working in concert could reduce a Titan’s power to that of a god of any level. This was the worst punishment a Titan could receive. Typically they would accept banishment to the Gray.
The Gray is widely considered to be the graveyard of the gods. On occasion a god dies due to in effect, starvation. This occurs when it no longer receives worship of any kind. Even a single worshipper is enough to keep a demigod “active”, even if barely so. Usually by this point the god is too weak to resist any attempt by a more powerful god to take their portfolio, and by proxy, their worshippers. When that happens, there is a god, even if it’s just a demigod, with no purpose. The loss of power results in the demigod falling into a state of torpor. It is at this point, the god is placed into the Gray. There the god’s essence will remain as it slowly fades away, a process that could take decades, leaving behind only a remnant of its existence. This remnant is composed of pure divine energy, and often is acquired by either a Greater God or its intermediaries to fashion artifacts.
For a Titan, the process is similar. However, the torpor is eternal. The tiniest iota or “spark” of divine energy remains. Any mention of the “dead” god, ignites that spark in that essence. Enough interest, specifically worship, could cause the god to awaken, a fact that has occurred only twice in recorded history. The problem lies, in that even that “spark” is powerful enough to elevate a demigod to lesser god status. It may even be enough to elevate a lesser or intermediate god as well. Such power is all too tempting, to even the most benevolent of deities.
Thus the Gray Pact was forged. Under the Pact, any Titan that “dies” is to be placed in the Gray. There they will remain until awakened, if ever. Neissithaar himself place guardians within the Gray to dispatch would be troublemakers with prejudice.
Alternatively, a god whose worship has dwindled to next to nothing, or who has had enough of his or her power base (portfolio) taken and left with nothing, can choose to go to the Gray. There, they can dwindle away, without fear of having their essence absorbed by a more powerful deity.
It is believed that the rise of the Demon Kings, came as an indirect and undesired effect of the Gray Pact. A demon prince was once exiled there by his rivaled. From there he discovered the secrets of divinity, and nearly became a god himself until he was killed by mortal champions. However, the damage was done. The first of the Demon Kings came shortly there after.
Titan Spotlights:
- Kor’Tunni – Widely considered to be the most powerful of all the gods, Kor’Tunni is the goddess of all magic, and one of the last Titans remaining. She is also the goddess of dragons. It is the two that creates the most interesting dichotomy within the goddess. In her primary role, as the goddess of magic, she gains more power whenever new magic is created. Something mortals, particularly humans, elves, and dwarves, are extremely good at. While she has forbidden some magic, after those same mortals nearly destroyed reality, she never “erased” said magic, as it would consequently weaken her. Rather she keeps an eye on when such knowledge is unearthed. Chronomancy in particular one such school of magic.
On the other hand, Kor’Tunnidespises mortals for usurping the supremacy of her children, the dragons. Where once there were dragon empires all over Duir’Aion, none exist now, and her children were nearly decimated to the point of no return, during the Triad War. It was during this war that her husband, Aeruus aided the mortals, leading them to the discovery of dragon slaying magic and techniques. It was this act that caused a schism in the couple. One that has not healed.
Kor’Tunni accepts worship from all magic using creatures, from gnomes to sphinxes. Even the demons have to pay her at least lip service as infernal magic is still magic under her control.
Recently Kor’Tunni has learned that a cataclysm is approaching. She also has a suspicion on what might be causing it. She has begun making preparations to ensure that her magic, and her dragons survive. - Neissithaar – Another Titan, Neissithaar is the god of knowledge and fate. Unlike his sister Kor’Tunni, Neissithaar tends to keep to himself. No other god can summon him save his sister, so he spends his time in his lair absorbing knowledge from his immense library, said to contain lore about everything and everyone. As the god of fate, he can see the myriad paths of fate. The other gods come to him with problems, and Neissithaar will tell them, objectively, of the possible scenarios their decisions will take.
Currently Neissithaar is troubled by the revelation that a Titan long thought dead has revived. Worse, a cataclysmic disaster will occur that could destroy not only Duir’Aion, but the gods along with it. As he studies the paths that lead to annihilation one thing has been shown to be true. Warning the other gods only brings about it faster. In fact, only the two with the power to stop it, Aeruus and Kor’Tunni, have not significantly affect the disaster, provided they know only a few details. Thus Aeruus and Kor’Tunni are aware of the cataclysm, but not the specific nature of the threat.
A Darkness Rising 