SETTING & PLOT Notes
The Was Scepter
Setting and plot-specific notes on Set’s divine weapon, the Was Scepter, and the fictional role it will play in the main story of DEITIES Project.
The Was Scepter is unique in its ability to shift into nearly any weapon or tool its wielder desires, through the use of Chaos magic. Due to its ancient and chaotic origins, the Was Scepter is known [to be] a difficult weapon – and echoing some rumors, a dangerous weapon – for most deities to use.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION & COMMENTARY
In unconventional fashion, I’m going to break the cardinal “no quoting wikipedia” rule, because I genuinely believe it explains the context for these notes more succinctly than I can paraphrase:
“The was (“power, dominion”) sceptre is a symbol that appeared often in relics, art, and hieroglyphics associated with the ancient Egyptian religion. It appears as a stylized animal head at the top of a long, straight staff with a forked end.
Was sceptres were used as symbols of power or dominion, and were associated with the gods […] as well as with the pharaoh. Was sceptres also represent the Set animal (the totem of the Egyptian deity Set). In later use, it was a symbol of control over the force of chaos that Set represented.” [WIKI]
I’ve wanted to give Set his own was scepter early in DEITIES’s development, and over time this weapon became a key element to the plot of the story, and to some backstory as well. The Was Scepter that will be referred to in these notes will be a unique weapon, and while other “was scepters” exist within DEITIES verse, they only remain similar in shape to the weapon once wielded by Set. What follows are some details regarding the abilities of the Was Scepter, and glimpses of the role it will play in the storyline of DEITIES.
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ORIGINS OF THE WAS SCEPTER
Within DEITIES verse, the Was Scepter is among one of the earliest divine weapons used to channel energy and magic. While the Was Scepter is capable of channeling the magic energy from a deity’s ka, it was also created — and originally intended — to manifest a deity’s potential with controlling free-flowing energy, which at the time had been primarily chaotic in nature (see notes for Chaos Energy & Chaos Magic).
In the earlier years of the pantheon’s establishment and maintenance of the world, Apep’s dominion over chaos and the territories belonging to demons created a constant, looming threat. Deities relied on divine weapons to keep demons in check, but many of the weapons at the time were unable to handle repeated exposure to the sheer amount of chaos energy. Given its destructive and unstable nature, chaos energy had a known tendency to erode at the weapons’ magically reinforced material, making them more susceptible to wear and decay. Channeling chaos energy through these weapons was even more difficult, as the energy could damage the weapon and potentially backfire on its wielder.
In time, the deities found it necessary to create a weapon that could endure the presence of chaos energy, to be more effective with fending off demons. With the collaborated assistance of several creator gods — including the additional effort from the All-Father, Lord Atum — the materials used to craft the Was Scepter were carefully reinforced with Chaos magic. This process not only allowed the Was Scepter to manipulate Chaos magic — thus granting it various traits and abilities that were unique to this weapon — but it also protected the scepter from being damaged by the unstable nature of this energy source.
Since then, the crafting of divine weapons has improved, allowing most to endure chaos energy; but many of these weapons are still unable to properly channel the energy into magic. At the start of the story, the Was Scepter remains as one of the few weapons in existence able to harness the power of chaos energy without the risk of permanent damage. The scepter’s origins and sheer power is not common knowledge among the pantheon, though rumors regarding the legendary weapon have been established.
MODIFICATION OF THE WAS SCEPTER
Like most divine weapons, the Was Scepter is able to be modified according to its wielder’s intent. However, while most weapons are restricted to a few variations, the Was Scepter is an exception to this limitation. The scepter is unique in its ability to shift into nearly any weapon or tool its wielder desires, through the use of Chaos magic. This makes the Was Scepter among one of the most versatile and valued divine weapons.
Under Set’s ownership (see Notable Wielders, further below), the Was Scepter could be modified into various forms — including a short sword, battle axe, mace, and flail, among others — and could also shift into new and unfamiliar ones depend on what task was required. But Set was known to frequently shift the scepter between a few favored modes.
- The Was Scepter’s standard mode is the form of a long, iron staff with its distinctive head. This mode is used for both magic and combat, the latter of which requires the scepter to be wielded like a staff.
- When a smaller form is favored, the Scepter can be modified into a shorter, handheld scepter. This compact mode is less effective for physical combat, but remains effective with casting magic, especially defensive magic.
- Lastly, in moments of heavy combat, the Was Scepter can be shifted into a spear, with the head shifting into a large, scythe-like blade. This form can be used for physical combat as well as channeling offensive magic.
CONNECTION WITH THE WAS SCEPTER
The Was Scepter is able to create a connection with its wielder in much the same manner as other divine weapons, becoming more intune with the emotions and intent of those who are able to master using it. The Was Scepter also behaves much like a positive feedback loop to its wielder’s power: the more power and mastery the wielder possesses with controlling magic, the more powerful tasks that the Was Scepter can allow them to perform.
Because the Was Scepter is able to augment a deity’s power in this manner, it responds well to deities that exude natural power, confidence, leadership, and ambition, as well as to those that are able to endure and channel chaos magic. While it remains connected to one deity at a time, the scepter is capable of changing its allegiance as well, should its new wielder prove themself worthy.
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RISKS WITH WIELDING THE WAS SCEPTER
Due to its ancient and chaotic origins, the Was Scepter is known to have some inherent risks that most divine weapons do not, making it a difficult weapon — and echoing some rumors, a dangerous weapon — for most deities to use.
While it may augment a deity’s power and control over chaos magic, the scepter can prove to be unforgiving to wielders who cannot properly handle its power — often by withholding its abilities, draining its wielders’ energy, or by causing magic to rebound. Even those who learn how to use the Was Scepter learn to heed caution with controlling it. These risks make it vital for wielders to not only maintain steady focus while using the scepter, but also with monitoring and keeping their own state of mind in check.
At the start of the DEITIES storyline, it remains unclear whether the Was Scepter itself causes these unpredictable effects, or the chaos energy that channels through it. Any potential implications for how the Was Scepter’s power, abilities, and risks played a role in the DEITIES storyline will be explored further as the story is told.
NOTABLE WIELDERS OF THE WAS SCEPTER
Following the creation of the Was Scepter, its original wielder had been Lord Ra, who had be entrusted to use it by All-father Lord Atum. Ra used the Was Scepter as a symbol of his divine authority as the High King, and wielded its power in his early battles against the various demons that attacked during his nightly voyages on the Solar Barque, and against those that threatened his divine brethren and overall kingdom.
In time, Ra began to rely on the Aten, the divine sundisk, to regulate his power and to fend off demons. Ra kept the Was Scepter near when heavy combat was necessary, unable to easily grant the weapon to another deity for centuries to come.
Eventually, Lord Set became the sole wielder of the Was Scepter. The Chaos God had acquired the ancient weapon by the time he matured into adulthood, after proving himself to Ra and convincing the High King and the council that he was capable of handling the responsibility. Since then, Set had wielded the Was Scepter as his signature weapon — which he used to assist Ra as a part of his royal guard on the Solar Barque, engaging in battles against Apep and other demons for several years.
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Following the results of The Contendings, and in response to how Set had abused his powers over chaos, the council chose to revoke his access to the Was Scepter, severing his link with the ancient weapon and hiding it away (see more detailed notes on The Sentencing of Set).
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