The Punishment

When the archduke pissed off an entire pantheon

FOR THY SINS THOU HAST TO SUFFER DIVINE RETRIBUTION

Long ago, when our sky was other than clouds and our soil other than gravel, we inhabited a glorious archduchy. We were strong then, and thriving. As far as the eye could see our wealth stretched. This very strength that was our pride caused our downfall all. Blinded by greed, the Archuke, woe to his name, insulted the gods and conquered immortality in his quest to godhood. However, a mere mortal is not fit to lift the weight of a god and on that terrible day the divinity we prayed descended upon our land.

THOU WISH FOR A POWER FAR BEYOND THY REALM OF MORTAL. WE COMMAND THAT YOU HALT THIS INSTANT AND FORFEIT THOUST IMMORTALITY

Oh gods above, patrons of my subjects and eternal masters, I beg your mercy. If my actions have in any way triggered your ire, know that I apologize deeply. All I did was to provide to my people, for I only wish their wellbeing. Tell me how wrong can it be for a monarch to grant his archduchy an eternally sage leader. You, wise gods, must know that I have no will to threaten you nor cause you harm. I am but your humble servant. I will not yield for I have done no wrong. And if you think otherwise, smite me down this instant.

Was it his pride speaking? Daring to defy a god is a bold move, but certainly not a smart one. All brave he was, the Archduke was a fool. A charismatic one, as allegedly no one in his court tried to stop him. They agreed to go against the divine, in what would be a hopeless fight. He was not even done talking that dark clouds gathered above his head and the earth below shook.

THY FOOLISHNESS KNOWS NO BOUND, SERVANT. TIS WAS YOUR LAST AFFRONT. SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THY WILL.

These are the last recorded words from the gods. The ground opened below the palace, a gaping hole rapidly extending. The Archduke was a powerful mage, and tried to fend off the catastrophe as a storm was brewing in the sky. Unfortunately, no magic can undo what divine power did. With all his might, he could only slow down the chasm advance before he was struck down by the first lightning strike.

The divine smite left nothing of the Archduke, and the hole engulfed all of the archduchy. As our people fell, we heard the gods one last time. They did not speak as one like before, but only Hedge, the god of justice, who listed our sins and penitence.

For the sin of challenging the divine, you are subjected to the Divine Ordeal.
For the sin of following a fool, the name of your people shall vanish from existence.
For the sin of his greed, the name of your archduke shall vanish from existence.
For the sin of blasphemy, your children will loathe you reject your legacy.

— Hedge, god of justic

To attune for your sins you will be subjected to the Divine Ordeal. To complete your penitence, you shall break thirteen seals, three for each sin, and one to bind them to your deeds. Pray with zeal so that the children of your children may see the light of day again.