I guess I am curios - I have read/heard that Mysrai had a different appearance, originally (unless I'm totally wrong). Is this true? And if so what spurred the Anubis-like appearance they are rocking currently?
Mysrai is a shapeshifter, yes, as seen in the Book of Igaso (commented down below for ease of not-googling/clicking links. While it may seem like a random one to pick out for aesthetic reasons, this form is incredibly steeped in lore that I cannot wait for people to advance far enough to discover - heartbreaking, awe-inspiring, and just a little bit terrifying. I can say with no spoilers and absolute certainty that it was Their travel, wherever They were, that caused this Aspect to rear its fluffy head.
Coming up with new forms is a very interesting process simply because of the amount of freedom and creativity Mysrai has. Due to the uniqueness They present, there is almost an "anything goes" style of liberties you can take. For the Shofet, the first part of creation was determining the name - it went through a lot of iterations where I toyed with using titles closer to Pharaoh, but I felt these were TOO regal for what This Aspect intended. After a bit of research and talking with some friends who are well-versed in Hebrew, they helped me choose Shofet, which (as Shulamit has pointed out) is the "judge" from the book of Judges, and carries with it a sense of divine authority and destructive wrath, along with powers that cross normal well-defined lines. Really perfect for Mysrai!
I'm unsure about retiring any of the Aspects, but I do know that some are less likely to be seen than others, and most all of these are dependent entirely on how the story goes. The Doom of Spires, for example, is less likely to see the world, as is the Manifold Adjudicator.
Second was Mysrai of the Mysterium. We were never sure of Mysrai’s true form, for Mysrai changed gender, weight and height as though they were clothes. The only constant were Mysrai’s eyes which were always enormous pools of darkness within which flickered a field of shifting constellations, as though you were looking into the vastness of space. Rumour had it that Mysrai wasn’t even a stargod, but rather was one of the ancient primal gods who had the ability to change shape. I recall asking Mysrai once what his or her true form was, but Mysrai only laughed and said, in that weird, echoing voice, that any who saw the true form of Mysrai went mad. For the Triumvirate, Mysrai appeared to be a short, shapely female with long aubergine hair tied back in a fierce knot, and swathed in a robe that shifted from colour to colour.
Let's see... NPC: Edwin d'Vanecu, Ghani n'Rotri, Cimtri the Oracle of the Earthburner Area: Meliashmora of Imperial Secrets, Amberni, and [REDACTED] that you may one day see. Event: Mag's Guild Reformation Event, hands down. Also, Guild-specific timequake release events because of the story and the mechanics involved. Black Sun event because of its fantastic scope and execution. And going back way in the past, probably Xion Initiative/hai'Gloh Zemordia.
Gods who have joined in the last ...year or two, was your current org your first choice? If not, what was, and why?
Her voice firm and commanding, Terentia, the Even Bladed says to you, "You have kept your oath to Me, Parhelion. You have sworn to maintain Justice in these troubled times."
Yet if a boon be granted me, unworthy as I am, let it be for a steady hand with a clear eye and a fury most inflaming.
Unfortunately, answering that question is going to be quite loaded both for us and you. It's very difficult for any of us to answer the question without leaving either one organisation feeling rubbish they missed out, or the organisation we are in feeling bad that they weren't our first choice.
When people come up to the Havens, they do so with a huge variety of thoughts about their chosen god role and corresponding organisation. Some come up with no idea at all, some come up with an idea of themes, some come up with a corner of lore they love - very, very few come up with a definite role they want to go to that they then stick to the whole time. As a result, the vast majority of ephemerals go through phases of being interested in a variety of organisations. That journey is a wonderful thing to watch.
So in that sense, no one goes to their first choice, because their first choice is almost never their final choice. And that final choice is what matters most - volunteers being happy where they are has a strong impact on how productive they are and how long they remain.
Do you ever have an ephemeral take on a God role... but then change their mind after a while of playing and wish they had taken another role? Do you allow your Divine players an option for changing if they're (god forbid) absolutely miserable or uninspired?
‘It’s important to be kind. You can’t know all the times that you’ve hurt people in tiny, significant ways. It’s easy to be cruel without meaning to be. There’s nothing you can do about that. But you can choose to be kind. Be kind.’
This one is for any Divine who wants to answer. What is your favorite event, area, or NPC (not necessarily your own but could be) and why.
I'm not sure how I missed this one!
NPC: Marani Veloske, Kiska Sidorov, and [REDACTED] (plus the Liar, but that is very biased) Area: Nirvana, Lirangsha, and the Great Illithoid Prison Events: Queenie and the Great Gnomish Heist (probably not its actual name, but my name for it). It was fun seeing the mixture of reactions behind the scenes, and then anxiously pounding my fists against the table as impact got closer and closer.
Do you ever have an ephemeral take on a God role... but then change their mind after a while of playing and wish they had taken another role? Do you allow your Divine players an option for changing if they're (god forbid) absolutely miserable or uninspired?
Yes, people can and have changed role if they've discovered their god isn't a fit anymore! It's not something we let people do lightly - it's as rigorous as process as taking up a role in the first place is - but it does happen.
Unfortunately, answering that question is going to be quite loaded both for us and you. It's very difficult for any of us to answer the question without leaving either one organisation feeling rubbish they missed out, or the organisation we are in feeling bad that they weren't our first choice.
When people come up to the Havens, they do so with a huge variety of thoughts about their chosen god role and corresponding organisation. Some come up with no idea at all, some come up with an idea of themes, some come up with a corner of lore they love - very, very few come up with a definite role they want to go to that they then stick to the whole time. As a result, the vast majority of ephemerals go through phases of being interested in a variety of organisations. That journey is a wonderful thing to watch.
So in that sense, no one goes to their first choice, because their first choice is almost never their final choice. And that final choice is what matters most - volunteers being happy where they are has a strong impact on how productive they are and how long they remain.
I more or less expected this answer, and I understand.
Her voice firm and commanding, Terentia, the Even Bladed says to you, "You have kept your oath to Me, Parhelion. You have sworn to maintain Justice in these troubled times."
Yet if a boon be granted me, unworthy as I am, let it be for a steady hand with a clear eye and a fury most inflaming.
Gods who have joined in the last ...year or two, was your current org your first choice? If not, what was, and why?
I'll actually give an odd answer to this one, even though I fall out of your criteria (3 years ago). I never joined the Havens intending to be an Anomaly, and explicitly said in my application that I wanted a godrole, being open to almost any org. I didn't really want to even become a coder at first even - I wanted to take the standard builder route most gods take. The only reason I'm an anomaly at all is because of an odd chain of events involving me almost quitting the ephemeral process halfway through, becoming a coder, and Iosai stepping down near the end of my time as an ephemeral.
This one is for any Divine who wants to answer. What is your favorite event, area, or NPC (not necessarily your own but could be) and why.
NPC: This is a tough one. Given divine priests get fleshed out so much more than other NPCs, it's hard not to pick them, and I really have to say it's a tossup between Sebitti and Ruin for me. Area: Meliashmora. I just like the atmosphere really - plus the fact that the entire quest is designed as a theatre performance is amazing. Events: Lovers. Black Sun. Guild reformation (though I prefer some orgs more than others here admittedly, but I won't say which).
This one is for any Divine who wants to answer. What is your favorite event, area, or NPC (not necessarily your own but could be) and why.
NPC: Gorky Hardbottom - because he's Glomdoring's true patron. Area: Crumkindivia - for the Doughboy Monstrosity Event: The False Gods and the Dreaming - I loved the opening script for it where we had all the Elders and Estarra gobbled up by the Soulless.
This isn't meant to get details and particulars, but generally speaking, how did everyone successfully say good-bye to their mortal characters? That's always felt like the hardest thing lots of potential volunteers would have to do, letting go of their babies.
Amazing beautiful stunning avatar by Gurashi! ~ A gentle breeze ruffles your wings and whispers in your ears, as if for you alone, "Dragonfly's words shine... seeds, sown and tended, inspire... a forest harvest." ~ Maylea reaches out, Her fingers poised in midair. "Now you are of Me, even more than you were before." Her golden and azure eyes glitter. "Walk well, Eldin. Shed glory in My name, and bring life to the lifeless."
@lief For me, it wasn't actually too hard. I had reached a point where I was content that I had told all of the stories I wanted to tell about my character. That said, letting go was definitely still painful, and I do get very nostalgic now and then. We call it mortalsickness - mostly what I do when that happens is spend several hours reading old logs and getting emotional until it passes.
NPC: Setisoki (obviously), Caedir (look at him, he's hot) and Brennan (hacking up phlegm and being grumpy is a lot of fun). Area: Having spent a lot of time in that corner of lore for the Ghani event, I actually really love Malacoda. And, you know, Czixi's realm & temple Event: This is like asking me to pick my favourite child, so here are some favourite fragments of various events, not all of which are my doing. Resurrecting Cririk and then killing him again for Hallifax's guild reformation. Ghani and Magnora's Promise. People slowly learning to talk to the Kaelye. The varied and wonderful mini-events with the release of Timequakes.
This isn't meant to get details and particulars, but generally speaking, how did everyone successfully say good-bye to their mortal characters? That's always felt like the hardest thing lots of potential volunteers would have to do, letting go of their babies.
I'm going to echo Aonia's answer. I came up because I was done being a mortal and basically logged in to idle/talk to people on OOC clans. It was easy to give up my mortal. I do occasionally get pangs of wanting to quit the havens, log in and get up to my old antics, but then I remember that most of my old friends have retired, quit playing, moved onto other characters, etc. and all that exists of my character realistically is memories. I can cherish those memories from up here.
This isn't meant to get details and particulars, but generally speaking, how did everyone successfully say good-bye to their mortal characters? That's always felt like the hardest thing lots of potential volunteers would have to do, letting go of their babies.
For me, it's a similar story to Aonia and Ianir. My character had recently accomplished several long term projects/goals, many of their social circle had moved on, and many of their interactions revolved around playing the "mentor" figure in some other people's storylines. I was trying to decide what to pursue next, or whether to explore some other aspect of Lusternia entirely, when the eph call came and I jumped on it. I get pangs sometimes, but there's a lot to enjoy about being on this side of things.
These are hard, so have a handful of the first things to spring to mind
NPC: Nalurei, of course, Edathic and her sisters (and niece), Jarana Farain, Yuleshka, Volucer
Area: Meliashmora and Clarramore are both up there, along with Caoimhe and Wydyr.
Event: The Lovers event. Various inter-god drama events, especially the things revolving around Viravain, Shikari, Isune, and Drocilla. The Kaelye arc.
I just want to hug all you admin who have given up your mortal roles because that sounds both painful and rewarding Thank you for being the admin/Godroles you are today! So very grateful.
‘It’s important to be kind. You can’t know all the times that you’ve hurt people in tiny, significant ways. It’s easy to be cruel without meaning to be. There’s nothing you can do about that. But you can choose to be kind. Be kind.’
Most of the obviously favorited NPC's I've never heard of, in my little tainted Mag bubble. But what I am getting out of this is that I clearly need to quest in Meliashmora.
Most of the obviously favorited NPC's I've never heard of, in my little tainted Mag bubble. But what I am getting out of this is that I clearly need to quest in Meliashmora.
Same. I've spent a long time avoiding learning quest things - they're my weakness. I've been better since a certain NPC scolded me about a particular quest though.
Czixi, the Welkin murmurs, "Fight on, My Effervescent Sylph. I will be with you as you do."
Aian Lerit'r, Lead Schematicist exclaims to you, "A *paperwork* emergency, Chairman!
Do any of the Divine ever get bored and submit public designs for mortal use?
As much as we'd like to sometimes, no, we don't allow divine to submit designs for mortal use. The exception is new templates when we release them, which we try to keep generic-ish.
We do often design things for guildhalls or events however, and very occasionally just for ourselves (I have a few designs sitting in the divine cartels just rotting because I needed to get them out).
@Esei 1) My inventory is a graveyard of many events. 2) I'll eat the food and keep the paintings etc in a special purse for future plots.
@Uzriel 1) Can SAY TO at the mob. May not get an immediate answer if nobody spots it, or they might need to think about it. Everything we say as mobs is considered lore so we don't do that willy-nilly. Alternatively, depending on the org, can message one of the patrons asking how to go about it. I had letters sent to npcs sent to me before for example.
Quite late, but I'll weigh in on my favorite NPC(s) and event(s):
NPCs:
Lothwen Darkeye is one of my all-time favorite additions to Glomdoring. I knew that we needed somethingto tie together the various mystic ideals of the Shadowdancers and Harbingers for the new Auguries guild, and in a moment of sheer desperation (read: frantic inspiration), I came up with this amalgamation of them all: a mysterious woman who represents all the major tenets of the Glomdoring's mysticism.
Dominique Nightshade, because she went from placated Shadowdancer guild tutor to badass blind Super Witch (with lots of inherent flaws (this is a no Mary Sue zone)). She and Rowena are a fan favorite for me because of their tumultuous relationship, and I'm excited to keep developing that.
Events:
The Greeving. We were told to "redo guilds," and were basically given carte blanche. The reason I loved this event so much is because I took 90% of my cues from the players. From the event-planning clan to the actual release, which was 75% improvised in the moment, I think it went super well and helped craft a lot of open-ended future plots for us to play with. I'm also ECSTATIC with how well the Glomdoring players have adapted the idea of the Greeving into actual present day lore.
The Unbranding of Maeve. This was a huge, huge undertaking that spanned several months, and I was so thrilled with how it shook down. It had some rocky moments, but I also think it inspired the leaders of that time to come up with unique ways to work together for the good of Nature. That's a dynamic we don't see a ton of (the idea that Nature now encompasses Pure Nature and Wyrden Nature), and I think the players really ran with it. It was also super fun because it was a huge collaborative event with the nature pantheons -- Glomdoring and Serenwilde Elders all fueled the plot forward, and the magnificent end results (the death of Laeroc, establishing Maeve as something other than a doddering fool, and the creation of the Memory Tree) make this an A+ for me.
Area:
The Wydyr Glade. Banished Night fae? Snarky elfen "guards"? Yes please.
Lisaera's realm. Such a fun, highly interactive godrealm.
Magnagora, in general. Super, super cool concept for a city that I never really had much of a chance to play with (I was pigeonholed from the very start as a nature-loving hippie). Maybe I'll steal it from Drocilla someday. Purple looks good on any building.
My inventory has lots of unique things in it, mostly random items we build in the Havens just to LOL at each other. I once had a stick shorn from Hoaracle Himself that I'd brandish at Him whenever I wanted to appear more threatening. Not, like, in public -- I literally waved it at Him when we happened to be hanging out in the Havens together.
My inventory contains tinsel, chocolate panties, an avocado sandwich and some other unmentionable things. Czixi's inventory is even more NSFW thanks to last year's birthday present from Drocilla, but a lot of hers is also tided into containers to make it more manageable.
As for things that players give Czixi - I preserve all letters/paintings/other written items eternally, plus the few crafted items that people miraculously got Czixi to like. The vast majority of what she (and her priests) are given is deleted. Otherwise her inventory would be full of macarons. Sometimes I forget to put them in our void of destruction and a few days later am inundated with decay messages, that's always fun.
@Uzriel - Drocilla's covered most of it but the one thing I would add is to SAY TO the NPC multiple times, and at different times of day if you can. Obviously don't overdo it, but the person able to answer your question might be busy/not on a timezone that works for when you ask/just miss it the first time.
The vast majority of what she (and her priests) are given is deleted. Otherwise her inventory would be full of macarons.
You mean Ruin doesn't actually eat handfuls of macarons at once?
Her voice firm and commanding, Terentia, the Even Bladed says to you, "You have kept your oath to Me, Parhelion. You have sworn to maintain Justice in these troubled times."
Yet if a boon be granted me, unworthy as I am, let it be for a steady hand with a clear eye and a fury most inflaming.
Comments
- @Ayisdra
Coming up with new forms is a very interesting process simply because of the amount of freedom and creativity Mysrai has. Due to the uniqueness They present, there is almost an "anything goes" style of liberties you can take. For the Shofet, the first part of creation was determining the name - it went through a lot of iterations where I toyed with using titles closer to Pharaoh, but I felt these were TOO regal for what This Aspect intended. After a bit of research and talking with some friends who are well-versed in Hebrew, they helped me choose Shofet, which (as Shulamit has pointed out) is the "judge" from the book of Judges, and carries with it a sense of divine authority and destructive wrath, along with powers that cross normal well-defined lines. Really perfect for Mysrai!
I'm unsure about retiring any of the Aspects, but I do know that some are less likely to be seen than others, and most all of these are dependent entirely on how the story goes. The Doom of Spires, for example, is less likely to see the world, as is the Manifold Adjudicator.
Second was Mysrai of the Mysterium. We were never sure of Mysrai’s true form, for Mysrai changed gender, weight and height as though they were clothes. The only constant were Mysrai’s eyes which were always enormous pools of darkness within which flickered a field of shifting constellations, as though you were looking into the vastness of space. Rumour had it that Mysrai wasn’t even a stargod, but rather was one of the ancient primal gods who had the ability to change shape. I recall asking Mysrai once what his or her true form was, but Mysrai only laughed and said, in that weird, echoing voice, that any who saw the true form of Mysrai went mad. For the Triumvirate, Mysrai appeared to be a short, shapely female with long aubergine hair tied back in a fierce knot, and swathed in a robe that shifted from colour to colour.
Estarra the Eternal says, "Give Shevat the floor please."
NPC: Edwin d'Vanecu, Ghani n'Rotri, Cimtri the Oracle of the Earthburner
Area: Meliashmora of Imperial Secrets, Amberni, and [REDACTED] that you may one day see.
Event: Mag's Guild Reformation Event, hands down. Also, Guild-specific timequake release events because of the story and the mechanics involved. Black Sun event because of its fantastic scope and execution. And going back way in the past, probably Xion Initiative/hai'Gloh Zemordia.
When people come up to the Havens, they do so with a huge variety of thoughts about their chosen god role and corresponding organisation. Some come up with no idea at all, some come up with an idea of themes, some come up with a corner of lore they love - very, very few come up with a definite role they want to go to that they then stick to the whole time. As a result, the vast majority of ephemerals go through phases of being interested in a variety of organisations. That journey is a wonderful thing to watch.
So in that sense, no one goes to their first choice, because their first choice is almost never their final choice. And that final choice is what matters most - volunteers being happy where they are has a strong impact on how productive they are and how long they remain.
It’s easy to be cruel without meaning to be. There’s nothing you can do about that. But you can choose to be kind. Be kind.’
NPC: Marani Veloske, Kiska Sidorov, and [REDACTED] (plus the Liar, but that is very biased)
Area: Nirvana, Lirangsha, and the Great Illithoid Prison
Events: Queenie and the Great Gnomish Heist (probably not its actual name, but my name for it). It was fun seeing the mixture of reactions behind the scenes, and then anxiously pounding my fists against the table as impact got closer and closer.
My first choice was Ackleberry, but Aonia said she'd hit me with a baseball bat.
NPC: This is a tough one. Given divine priests get fleshed out so much more than other NPCs, it's hard not to pick them, and I really have to say it's a tossup between Sebitti and Ruin for me.
Area: Meliashmora. I just like the atmosphere really - plus the fact that the entire quest is designed as a theatre performance is amazing.
Events: Lovers. Black Sun. Guild reformation (though I prefer some orgs more than others here admittedly, but I won't say which).
Area: Crumkindivia - for the Doughboy Monstrosity
Event: The False Gods and the Dreaming - I loved the opening script for it where we had all the Elders and Estarra gobbled up by the Soulless.
~
A gentle breeze ruffles your wings and whispers in your ears, as if for you alone, "Dragonfly's words shine... seeds, sown and tended, inspire... a forest harvest."
~
Maylea reaches out, Her fingers poised in midair. "Now you are of Me, even more than you were before." Her golden and azure eyes glitter. "Walk well, Eldin. Shed glory in My name, and bring life to the lifeless."
@uzriel I never answered yours, so here you go:
NPC: Setisoki (obviously), Caedir (look at him, he's hot) and Brennan (hacking up phlegm and being grumpy is a lot of fun).
Area: Having spent a lot of time in that corner of lore for the Ghani event, I actually really love Malacoda. And, you know, Czixi's realm & temple
Event: This is like asking me to pick my favourite child, so here are some favourite fragments of various events, not all of which are my doing. Resurrecting Cririk and then killing him again for Hallifax's guild reformation. Ghani and Magnora's Promise. People slowly learning to talk to the Kaelye. The varied and wonderful mini-events with the release of Timequakes.
It’s easy to be cruel without meaning to be. There’s nothing you can do about that. But you can choose to be kind. Be kind.’
Czixi, the Welkin murmurs, "Fight on, My Effervescent Sylph. I will be with you as you do."
Aian Lerit'r, Lead Schematicist exclaims to you, "A *paperwork* emergency, Chairman!
We do often design things for guildhalls or events however, and very occasionally just for ourselves (I have a few designs sitting in the divine cartels just rotting because I needed to get them out).
Which of the Divine keep a clean versus cluttered inventory?
And also what do the Divine do with all the gifts given to them? (i.e. paintings and food)
1) My inventory is a graveyard of many events.
2) I'll eat the food and keep the paintings etc in a special purse for future plots.
@Uzriel
1) Can SAY TO at the mob. May not get an immediate answer if nobody spots it, or they might need to think about it. Everything we say as mobs is considered lore so we don't do that willy-nilly. Alternatively, depending on the org, can message one of the patrons asking how to go about it. I had letters sent to npcs sent to me before for example.
NPCs:
- Lothwen Darkeye is one of my all-time favorite additions to Glomdoring. I knew that we needed something to tie together the various mystic ideals of the Shadowdancers and Harbingers for the new Auguries guild, and in a moment of sheer desperation (read: frantic inspiration), I came up with this amalgamation of them all: a mysterious woman who represents all the major tenets of the Glomdoring's mysticism.
- Dominique Nightshade, because she went from placated Shadowdancer guild tutor to badass blind Super Witch (with lots of inherent flaws (this is a no Mary Sue zone)). She and Rowena are a fan favorite for me because of their tumultuous relationship, and I'm excited to keep developing that.
Events:- The Greeving. We were told to "redo guilds," and were basically given carte blanche. The reason I loved this event so much is because I took 90% of my cues from the players. From the event-planning clan to the actual release, which was 75% improvised in the moment, I think it went super well and helped craft a lot of open-ended future plots for us to play with. I'm also ECSTATIC with how well the Glomdoring players have adapted the idea of the Greeving into actual present day lore.
- The Unbranding of Maeve. This was a huge, huge undertaking that spanned several months, and I was so thrilled with how it shook down. It had some rocky moments, but I also think it inspired the leaders of that time to come up with unique ways to work together for the good of Nature. That's a dynamic we don't see a ton of (the idea that Nature now encompasses Pure Nature and Wyrden Nature), and I think the players really ran with it. It was also super fun because it was a huge collaborative event with the nature pantheons -- Glomdoring and Serenwilde Elders all fueled the plot forward, and the magnificent end results (the death of Laeroc, establishing Maeve as something other than a doddering fool, and the creation of the Memory Tree) make this an A+ for me.
Area:My inventory has lots of unique things in it, mostly random items we build in the Havens just to LOL at each other. I once had a stick shorn from Hoaracle Himself that I'd brandish at Him whenever I wanted to appear more threatening. Not, like, in public -- I literally waved it at Him when we happened to be hanging out in the Havens together.
As for things that players give Czixi - I preserve all letters/paintings/other written items eternally, plus the few crafted items that people miraculously got Czixi to like. The vast majority of what she (and her priests) are given is deleted. Otherwise her inventory would be full of macarons. Sometimes I forget to put them in our void of destruction and a few days later am inundated with decay messages, that's always fun.
@Uzriel - Drocilla's covered most of it but the one thing I would add is to SAY TO the NPC multiple times, and at different times of day if you can. Obviously don't overdo it, but the person able to answer your question might be busy/not on a timezone that works for when you ask/just miss it the first time.
You mean Ruin doesn't actually eat handfuls of macarons at once?