Elder Powers
From NexusWiki
The Elder Powers is a term applied to the group of deities (or presumed deities) who created the planes, oversee the Nexus War, fuel the magicks of the Nexus, and generally oversee and create the universe. They are sometimes referred to as Those who Sit in Judgement.
Little is known about the Elder Powers and what lore exists is fragmented and often contradictory. It is generally accepted that they are the "judges" of the Nexus War, and at an appointed time they will declare a victor to the combat.
What is known about them is that they are nine in number, with three members representing each of the primary ethical alignments (Good, Evil, and Neutrality). Further, the following beings are generally accepted to be Elder Powers:
- Ahg-za-haru, the personification of insanity, aligned with Evil.
- Tholaghru the Gnasher, the personification of chaos, aligned with Evil.
- Tlacolotl, the personification of violence, aligned with Evil.
- Hashaa, the personification of death, aligned with Neutrality.
- Marquai the Constructor, the personification of time, presumably aligned with Neutrality.
- Goros, the personification of space, distance, gravity, and physical laws, aligned with Neutrality.
- Alonai, the personification of love, aligned with Good.
- Namm, the personification of justice and law, aligned with Good.
- Baraas the Laughing, the personification of society, aligned with Good.
More is known about the evil Powers as they have been less circumspect in their dealings with mortals and the sub-divine.
The Lore of Haldon intimates that the Elder Powers are able to be contacted and bargained with. Haldos implies, though indirectly, that a great deal of his power comes from studying at the feet of Tlacolotl. It further indicates that the Elder Powers are not omnipotent and can be dispatched, given sufficient power (it is generally accepted that this was the reason why Hashaa chose to destroy Haldos).
What motivates the Elder Powers is at best a mystery.
[edit] Political Matrix
The table below shows the political stances that each power has towards one another. Note that the stances are not always reciprocal; for instances, Ahg-za-haru hates everone, but not everyone hates Ahg-za-haru. Further, a value of "friendly" does not mean that members of the specific cult are best friends or even must be allies; rather that the power recognizes the need for the other elder in question. Likewise, a value of "Hate" does not equal undying enmity.
To read the chart, first choose an Elder Power in the left- most column. Move along that Elder Power's table row until you come to the column of your target Elder Power. The value in the chart tells you how the Elder Power in the left- most column feels about the Elder Power at the top of the column.
For example, Namm is friendly towards Hashaa, but Hashaa is neutral towards Namm. Goros is friendly towards Namm, but Namm is neutral to Goros.
| Elder | Target | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahg-za-haru | Tholaghru | Tlacolotl | Hashaa | Marquai | Goros | Alonai | Namm | Baraas | |
| Ahg-za-haru | - | Hate | Hate | Hate | Hate | Hate | Hate | Hate | Hate |
| Tholaghru | Neutral | - | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| Tlacolotl | Neutral | Neutral | - | Hate | Neutral | Neutral | Hate | Hate | Hate |
| Hashaa | Neutral | Neutral | Hate | - | Friendly | Neutral | Hate | Neutral | Neutral |
| Marquai | Hate | Hate | Neutral | Friendly | - | Friendly | Neutral | Friendly | Neutral |
| Goros | Hate | Neutral | Neutral | Friendly | Neutral | - | Neutral | Friendly | Neutral |
| Alonai | Neutral | Neutral | Hate | Hate | Friendly | Neutral | - | Neutral | Friendly |
| Namm | Hate | Hate | Hate | Friendly | Friendly | Neutral | Neutral | - | Neutral |
| Baraas | Hate | Neutral | Hate | Hate | Neutral | Friendly | Friendly | Friendly | - |
