The Ascenders

Lore & Background

Those who choose to merge become Ascenders, shedding their humanity to gain godhood. This transformation is not merely physical but metaphysical; they often lose memories of their past lives and their former emotions as they adapt to the cosmic scale of their new existence. Unlike the Old Gods, who abandoned Rivellon upon their own Ascension rather than serving as benevolent guardians, new Ascenders face a similar fate: becoming distant forces or succumbing to corruption, rarely remaining active participants in mortal affairs.

In Their Own Story

The air crackled with raw energy as she stood before the swirling vortex of the Source. Her skin shimmered with veins of light, pulsing in time with the heartbeat of the world. She could feel her memories slipping away like sand through fingers—names, faces, loves—all dissolving into the white noise of divinity. With a final breath that sounded like thunder, she stepped forward and became something more than human.

Reader's Guide

Understanding Ascension requires knowing the nature of the Source. It is a wellspring of elemental power too volatile for normal humans to touch. Only those with the Godwoken bloodline can survive proximity to it long enough to attempt the ritual. The process typically involves defeating the current guardians or rivals who seek the same power, such as the Voidwalkers in later eras. Once the Source is accessed, the individual must withstand its pressure without losing their mind. Success results in godhood, granting control over magic and reality within a domain. However, this comes at the cost of mortality and often personal identity. Failure usually means death or transformation into a mindless elemental creature.

Did You Know?

• The Godwoken are the only mortals capable of safely interacting with the Source to attempt Ascension.
• Previous Gods in Rivellon were once mortals who successfully completed the ritual before departing, leaving no active pantheon behind.
• Ascenders often lose their mortal memories as they integrate with the cosmic power of the Source.
• The fate of the world depends on whether an Ascender chooses to control or destroy the Source.