Rites

Battle of the Mind XV

True battles unfold within...

Recently you frequently contemplate world creation, and though you privately mock yourself for thinking too broadly, too absurdly, a mysterious force continually draws your thoughts back.

Today, you finally sit down, close your eyes, mentally visualizing creation's method...

You see void, imperceptible particles tumbling through nonexistent space. You extend your hand, commanding them to form... But they're merely matter, simple matter, lacking cognitive ability, naturally deaf to commands.

You need a tool to gather them together; otherwise, you might personally bend down to collect these innumerable particles one by one.

ID: 5004832

Type: Enemy

Tips: None

Duration: 1 days

Waits For: 3 days

Marked as New Only on First Occurrence: 0

Starts Automatically: No

Triggers Result Automatically: No

Tag Tips: None

Tag Tips Up: None

Tag Tips Text:

Random Text: None

Random Text Up: None

Actions When Wait Expires

Action:

Slots

Slot #3
Your Own Thoughts

Locks: No

Is Key: No

Is Empty: No

Is Enemy: No

Conditions:

Pops: None

Slot #4
Your rationality can help, if you possess it

Locks: No

Is Key: No

Is Empty: Yes

Is Enemy: No

Conditions:

Pops: None

Slot #6
Powerful entities connected to you

Locks: No

Is Key: No

Is Empty: Yes

Is Enemy: No

Conditions:

Pops: None

Slot #7
Diversions... supporting contemplation

Locks: No

Is Key: No

Is Empty: Yes

Is Enemy: No

Conditions:

  • Type = Item
  • Tag (Feast) = 1

Pops: None

Activation Conditions

This rite has no activation conditions.

Outcome

Prior

This rite has no prior outcome.

Regular

Madman's Touch
You pace anxiously around your room, from here to there and back again.

You examine your sword, then set it down. You enter the women's quarters to inspect their jewelry; you wrap golden chains around your hand, trying to hook objects... Wrong.

You enter the garden, requesting spades and hoes from gardeners; also wrong.

You visit the kitchen, testing every dinner knife, meat cleaver, spoon, plate.

No... None qualify as world-creation tools; you must continue searching. Regardless of time spent, tools examined, you must find it...

You remain completely unaware how others observe you. Servants no longer whisper - they openly declare, "Our master has finally gone completely mad."

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Lost Path
You foolishly seek to resolve your spiritual crisis through the absurd gods of the cultists.

You pray, plead, beg... only to be answered by cold laughter from the darkness.

Perhaps you still need to prove your worth to the chaotic gods.

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Impurity
You attempt to resolve your inner conflict through the god will of the Purist...

A white light surges into your mind, piercing your spine and triggering waves of agony - this is the Purist's response to your prayer -

"You are unworthy," says the pain. "Think again, consider what you could do for the Purist."

It "helps" you ponder for quite some time before gradually subsiding.

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

I Am the Tool
Sifting through creation myths across cultures, you contemplate their common thread.

Celestial powers divided cosmos from chaos, wielded willow branches, embraced grinding bowls, extracted ribs, carved whale fat, birthed new gods.

These primordial acts reveal a profound truth - the Creators themselves were the ultimate instruments. Their essence, not external tools, shaped reality.

These gods architects wove themselves into the fabric of existence, becoming both sculptor and stone.

If such beings accomplished this... why not you?

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Pure Tools
What implements would you choose as creation's architect?

Your mind turns to those who serve you daily—bringing comfort when weary, anticipating needs before spoken, risking themselves at your command.

True creation begins with these faithful extensions of will. First fashion loyal servants, then let them multiply your vision...

They become your hands, your reach, your flock's guiding force.

In this moment of clarity, the Purist's grand design reveals itself to you. Profound methodologies crystallize in your mind...

Glancing about with caution, ensuring no divine awareness has detected your awakening, you contemplate...

Perhaps this power lies within my grasp as well.

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Hunger's Flame
Wealth, beauty, dominion - the true instruments of creation manifest as mortal yearnings.

Establish a hierarchy of desires: poverty appears wretched beside opulence, so all pursue riches; weakness suffers beneath strength, so all seek power; isolation risks destruction, so all flock together.

From these burning desires, innovation blooms. Doesn't war mother wisdom? Doesn't suffering nurture saints? Doesn't desperation cultivate warriors?

No direct intervention required... no personal manipulation of creation's tools. Simply ignite desire, as the Cultic God demonstrates...

With renewed focus, you shield your thoughts from Their attention, allowing yourself an audacious possibility...

If the Cultic God wields this power, might I claim it too?

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Under the Stars
Within your mindscape stands a metaphysical prison where you've captured the Star-Souled.

Their celestial essence flickers defiantly, each being radiating transcendent light, countless in their multitude...

Scattered across infinite void, wouldn't they form a majestic firmament? The first brushstroke of creation seems this elementary... Then, permitting them to illuminate, shape, and harmonize, wouldn't a universe unfold at your command?

The Star-Souled tremble under your gaze, their light pulsing with apprehension...

Having mastered celestial capture, the rest of creation seems trivial.

Content with this revelation, you depart the astral cage.

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Creation's Feast
While contemplating, servants bring delicacies crafted by Habib - perfect companions to deep thought.

Each offering tells a story: succulent lamb embraced by grape leaves, rice spheres glistening with pomegranate essence, tender melons adorned with pistachio dust and savory reduction.

Do you ever question Habib's methods or implements while savoring his artistry? Of course not - tools matter little in mastery.

Just as culinary wonders require no elaborate apparatus, magnificent worlds might emerge from simple means... Perhaps even bare hands - didn't Habib's fingers alone shape these perfect morsels?

Satisfaction spreads through you as you finish the final bite...

As your hunger abates, a void within your spirit fills. In fullness, humans sense their greatest potential; perhaps creation itself awaits your touch...

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Unexpected Vessels
Your gaze falls upon that distinctly shaped... intimate object, prompting philosophical musings about what constitutes a tool.

This double-headed dragon, designed for pleasure, could serve as weapon or implement! You lift it, imagining shattering enemies' skulls or flinging primordial beings into existence!

...Your reverie breaks as you notice horrified servant women watching.

Flustered, you set aside the provocative object, settling back onto your carpet... Yet your mind continues its revolutionary storm.

Everything becomes potential instruments in a creator's hands, each object awaiting your purpose. You could transform this dragon - expanding it to support continents, or shrinking it to form the microscopic architecture of life. Creation's privilege includes designing your own tools!

This realization brings profound calm as you recline, allowing another thought to blossom naturally...

If all can be transformed through will, might I not... reshape reality itself?

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Threshold of Shadow
You wonder: Were we shaped by the Creator?

No, surely not - They would certainly craft a purer world, at least avoiding creating Their own oppressor, the Immaculate Purity, correct...

Immediately, your mind floods with frenzied fantasies and desires—unable to focus elsewhere, you simultaneously scratch (They trigger your skin's cravings), pleasure yourself (They certainly target your loins too), and demand food and wine (ah, your stomach as well).

This torment continues two hours. Upon release, you're utterly exhausted.

As a spiritually weak ordinary human at the beginning of your contemplation, such manipulation would have distracted you completely, but now...

You quietly isolate a small corner of your mind.

There, you continue: if we weren't created by the Cultic God, probably not by the Immaculate Purity either; then didn't our creator also create the deities? Therefore... are gods merely the Creator's tools?

You sense your thoughts ascending... An answer forms within.

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Threshold of Light
You wonder: Were we shaped by the Purist?

No, surely not - the Purist would craft a purer world, without malice, lies, concealment...

Immediately your mind freezes - everything solidifies, immobilizing you, limbs rigid, mouth agape, eyes unblinking, vulnerable membranes exposed to air.

...

...

...

Upon release, you're utterly exhausted, like a dried fish.

As a spiritually weak ordinary human at the beginning of your contemplation, such divine mental manipulation would have distracted you completely - you'd prostrate toward the Purist Temple shouting praises, shocked and delighted by Their miraculous visitation.

But now... Though still prostrate and shouting, you quietly isolate a small corner of your mind.

There, you continue: if we weren't created by the Purist, probably not by the Cultic God either; then didn't our creator also create the gods? Therefore... are gods merely the Creator's tools?

You sense your thoughts ascending... An answer forms within.

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Extra

Rebuking Darkness
You dare invoke the most unholy name before the Immaculate Purity!

They thunder through your mind, Their light a spear piercing heaven and earth, a ruler lashing the world...

Until the next day's sunset, whenever your focus wavers, everything before you shatters into light and flames... This divine punishment They foretell... fortunately, They cannot execute it immediately.

Conditions:

Result:

Ancient Enmity
Darkness boils as you mention Their enemy's name before a god.

Their anger transforms into a dark forest, intending to make you lost forever... Fortunately, you still pray for light in your heart. This beam, like a faint lamp, illuminates your path back to the mortal realm... it also reveals the monstrosities the evil god created from your fears. Masterpieces crafted from your inner terrors... about death, betrayal, failure, love... After waking, these images linger.

Conditions:

Result:

Spiral of Destruction
Two gods, two enemies both craving world destruction, meet unexpectedly in the depths of your mind.

Here is an excellent battlefield where They can destroy each other... destroy your mind... again and again.

Conditions:

Result:

Creation's Awakening
Since embarking on your path of study and contemplation, no moment has felt simultaneously as relaxed and tense as now.

Relaxed because you finally understand the root of all questions: What lies at the limit of spiritual power?

The answer rests in your hands... in hands that have already grasped tools.

Tense because this answer burns too strongly, speaks too plainly, shouting long-buried desires.

When you first reached for the sun as a child;

When you first wondered why people couldn't fly;

When you first developed feelings for another person;

When another's malice first wounded you;

When you first faced death...

This matter always brushed your thoughts.

Now the answer lingers on your lips... Your thoughts urge your body forward - speak, say it aloud...

"Why shouldn't the world conform to my wishes?"

You actually shout this. Then you realize hot tears flow from your eyes, wetting your cheeks, falling into the void.

"With sufficient power, I too might attempt... creating worlds!"

...

You cross the final threshold.

What awaits you?

Conditions: