SETTING & PLOT Notes
The Chaos Seal
Setting and plot-specific notes on the fictional Chaos Seal; its relation to Set and his exile; and the role it will play in the story for DEITIES Project.
Upon Set’s person, the Chaos Seal is displayed as a tattoo-like emblem that appears on his back, in both his divine and animal forms. The Seal does not completely block Set from accessing chaos energy, but instead works as both a repellent and a source of negative reinforcement...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION & COMMENTARY
The concept of the Chaos Seal has been an early idea for DEITIES Project since its inception; it draws from more fantasy influences used in DEITIES verse, and is less rooted in the mythology itself. From a storytelling view, the Seal will also serve as a key aspect of the main story of Deities of Duat.
While loosely based on some aspects of Ancient Egypt (see Design Notes below), the Chaos Seal does not exist in the canon mythology (to my knowledge, at least). The following details regarding the Seal remains relevant to the fictional canon and backstory of DEITIES, and are subject to change as the project develops.
THE CHAOS SEAL
In DEITIES verse, the Chaos Seal is a powerful, protective spell that is used to nullify the influence of Chaos energy — in other words, it prevents and restricts Chaos energy from being channeled through the object, place, or person that it’s applied to. The Seal does not affect True magic that comes from a deity’s ka, and remains exclusive to the effect of Chaos energy. (Compare notes on True Magic versus Chaos magic).
Few details are known about the origins and mechanisms of the Chaos Seal, and what is known is not common knowledge among the pantheon or mortals. What can be confirmed in that the Seal’s magic is highly persistent, able to maintain its power for years at a time without ever weakening, so long as it remains applied to its target. It takes a great amount of energy to apply the Seal, as well as a great amount to have it removed.
Great consideration had to be taken before ever applying the Seal, which may only be performed by a high god, and with permission of the council. The application is usually done for the benefit and protection of the target with the seal, since chaos energy has the potential to strain or damage whatever it channels through.
In Set’s case, however, the council felt it necessary to apply the Chaos Seal to his person. By making the Seal his burden to bear during the extent of his sentence, it would serve both as a preventative measure and as a punishment (see notes for The Sentencing of Set).
DESIGN NOTES
Upon Set’s person, the Chaos Seal is displayed as a tattoo-like emblem that appears on his back, in both his divine and animal forms. The Seal remains faded in appear when inactive, and becomes bolder and brightly glowing when fully activated from exposure to Chaos energy.
The Seal’s design conveys a vague resemblance to a scarab, and is also inspired by the protective nature of scaraboid seals. The Seal also takes inspiration from the complex nature of Ancient Egyptian tattoos — both from protective and ritualistic tattoos, and from tattoos that were meant as punishment.
[NOTE: As of now, the visual design for the Chaos seal is still a prototype, and subject to change as the project develops.]
INTERACTION WITH SET
The Chaos Seal does not completely block Set from accessing chaos energy, but instead works as both a repellent and a source of negative reinforcement.
As a repellent, the Chaos Seal makes it difficult for Set to gather any free flowing chaos energy (in a similar way that two magnets with like charges repel against each other). Any attempts to do so will cause the Chaos Seal to glow faintly and to disperse any energy that Set draws near.
Should Set succeed in channelling chaos energy, and attempting to use Chaos magic, the Chaos Seal will fully activate by glowing more visibly and sending negative feedback. This feedback can manifest in a variety of ways that range from sudden waves of fatigue, to sharp currents of pain, and will not relent until Set ceases his hold over Chaos — either from releasing his control himself, or from fully exhausting his energy.
[EX: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.]
As a result, Set’s views regarding the Chaos Seal are anything but positive. While the Seal does not prevent Set from using True magic, it forcibly restricts his access to chaos energy — and thus access to his high mastery of Chaos magic. The Chaos Seal also serves as a constant, physical reminder to Set of his sentencing and his ultimate defeat during The Contendings.
Currently, the full extent of Set’s feelings towards the Chaos Seal are not common knowledge, as well as his views towards the additional terms of his full sentence. These details will remain to be seen and explored more closely, within the story of DEITIES.
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