Immortal
The Immortals. The conquerors of The Trials. Even before they ascended beyond their mortality these beings were the greatest amongst their peers, the strongest, smartest and luckiest beings alive and yet, having attained the divine power found within the Trials, they have been made into something greater still. Their bodies do not age or decay and they only ever get stronger with time and effort to the point that an Immortal can reach levels that the old warriors of legend could only dream of. Immortals carry special significance in this day and age and most nations have special roles or leadership positions that can only be claimed by someone who has managed to earn that power. Most are fearless, having faced things that no mortal can hope to survive, and most face no serious threats except for the two beings that share their power: the Divine Beasts and other Immortals.
Immortals are divided into multiple tiers with each one attained upon completing another Trial which also acts as a measure of an Immortal's power. Tier One Immortals are the weakest and most numerous and while they are imbued with power it is not enough to truly elevate them beyond regular mortals and truly skilled warriors can even take down such a being. At the same time they are beneath the notice of the competition of higher Tier Immortals who do not see such beings as threats until they are at least Tier Two. As a result they sit in an odd position within society and are often given roles as leaders of the regular mortals acting a bridge between them and the insane power of those above. Many choose to remain at this Tier to enjoy the immortality without much responsibility or the dangers that can come further up the pecking order and some of the oldest Immortals can be found at Tier One living out their lives quietly and comfortably. Those that do not wish to live so complacently must seek out Divine Beasts to hunt or other Immortals to slay in order to improve their power and prepare themselves for facing down the Second Trial and many do not make it to that stage alive.
Tier Two Immortals have faced down dangers and earned powers that can only be matched by those who have Divine, Mythic or some other equivalent form of power. At this level they have truly left behind most of what made them mortal, often having lived long lives and seen too much to relate to the paltry lives of regular mortals. They are often the middle men of Immortals, holding important positions in military or administrative roles and rarely find their new power checked. Instead they face the most dangerous arena of their lives and fierce competition from their peers as they all seek to solidify their power and positions in preparation for taking on the Third Trial. These are people who have faced certain death twice and survived nonetheless and they often develop a distinct lack of fear by this stage, only tempered by the natural cautiousness that is also often a requirement for those who wish to survive the Trials.
Tier Three Immortals are incredible beings, often commanding troops and ships into battle or ruling over entire Megacities as the millions of little people live out their lives below them. While some Immortals do manage to retain their empathy even at this level many find their lifespans and experiences make them too different to those who now follow them. Many seek the company instead of other Immortals making subordinates of Tier Twos, friends and rivals among Tier Threes or sometimes seeking a mighty Tier Four to follow. As a result very few Immortals of this level operate alone and many competitions between the Tier end up as struggles between two powerbases rather than direct fighting. When Tier Threes do fight each other the battles are often devastating for the local area and most of the time these are constrained to the Lost Continent rather than risking the ire of the nations or more powerful Immortals. Many Tier Threes stop seeking to advance in the Trials and it becomes quite rare for them to try and take the Fourth because they have gained a sense for how dangerous it is and many feel they don't want to push their luck any further.
Tier Four Immortals are legends. Beings of immense power only challenged by the most powerful non-divine outsiders that alone can change the course of history should they choose to. Most of the greatest mortals of all time have been Tier Fours such as the Imperial Saints, the Disciples of the Wanderer, the Nameless Ones, the Five Masters and many others. Their authority is often unparalleled and they hold positions of power that reflect this often without regard for their past lives and actions. Within the Empire any being that manages to become a Tier Four Immortal is automatically offered the chance to form their own Imperial Legion for example. Almost no being, Divine Beast, Immortal or otherwise can threaten a Tier Four and as a result many of them live exceptionally long lives except for the most ambitious who may attempt to take on the Final Trial which has been the final resting point for many of their kind. To this day there have never been more than fifty Tier Fours at any one time and currently around thirty are known to exist.
Tier Five Immortals are known by a different name: the Living Gods.
Appointment
To have survived and completed at least one of the Trials.
Benefits
Unlimited lifespans, unique abilities and in many places political or military authority.
Type
Religious, Special
Alternative Naming
Ascended
Source of Authority
Related Locations
Related Organizations
Comments