The Chained God, part 1

Legends have been written about the feats of men triumphing over evil since the dawn of time. Gods themselves have been known to be the face of these evils. Their presence has always been a threat to what we scholars refer to as The Material Plane. In my journeys through the planes, I have seen the imagination of these higher beings laid bare to things the mortal mind could not begin to fathom an explanation for. However, only one evil has been so elusive that an utterance of their name could threaten to undo the very fabric which holds existence together. Even writing its name is a threat to our reality, and reading the written word I fear would cause a wildfire that would not be easily snuffed out. This evil is so unthinkable that it had to be locked away, and even still it’s power can be seen trying to force its way out. I thereby caution the reader against seeking knowledge of such evils, and I strongly advise against freeing The Chained God.
The presence of a god to a mortal I postulate is in the feeling of belief. The belief in an entity that controls all things about a certain aspect. Some aspects hold more power, while others are more focused and possibly subordinate to a greater ideal. It is this belief that I have learned grants power to an entity through the form of obedience and worship. Asking for an entity to grant privilege or spare punishment I find has been the most common form of worship. A farmer saying a prayer to the god of harvest asking for theirs to be bountiful is a common ritual in the farmlands populating the Dessarin Valley. Sailors asking Valkur, the patron of sailing and lightning, to ensure a safe trip before venturing into the open ocean is common all along the Sword Coast.
What do you ask a god who exists because of the deficiencies of a mortal mind? A god whose very presence within your community is met with strong feelings of resentment. Those touched by such a being are known by their affliction and described as such before being introduced, or during normal conversation. Who is there to worship such an entity except to pay reverence to spare oneself from the afflictions of the mind which they represent? The afflicted themselves? The Healers, or perhaps Fixers would be a better label, for those that would benefit in the form of coin or favors by agreeing to deal with The Chained God’s afflicted. With such a narrow sliver of worshipers I can only theorize that I have either: not heard tales of the numerous secret sects of this dark religion, or that divine power is not always gained through the worship of subjects.
Those entities which represent these aspects which make up the laws of our existence perhaps do so because of their own power. Aspects to which we say are inevitable I would argue have the largest amount of influence over the actions of mortals. The power to grant life rests solely with the female of the human species, yet both men and women worship Amaunator. Death is feared by all mortals to some extent, yet Kelemvor is held with high regard to watch over loved ones who have died. These ideals exist and shape mortal society in such a way that I do not feel it could come as a result of their worship, but their worship is a reaction to these beings' overall power. It is this thought that gives rise to the notion that some gods are born with this immense power, and cannot be simply eliminated without causing ripples affecting all creatures in some way. It is this thought that leads me to believe that The Chained God’s influence was subdued so as to allow mortals to thrive. Removing the shackles from the entity would unleash its full power, and I fear what toll that would take on the minds of us all.

Type

Journal, Personal

Medium

Paper