[Sp.a.w.ning point selected... Sp.a.w.ning point approved. Formatting information about dryads...

Dryad: A dryad is a tree and forest spirit, all of which are women. There are two types of dryads: unbound dryads who are weaker yet also freer to travel than hamadryads, and hamadryads who choose to forgo freedom in exchange for stability, power, and responsibility.

Both kinds of dryads are among the spiritual ent.i.ties that persist in the multiverse even after the apocalyptic battle that extinguished all higher beings. Most kinds of spirits survived that battle and it is through them that mortals everywhere have some vague idea of how to worship, as some of the surviving spirits became the strongest beings in existence, until you came around that is.

Unbound dryads are mobile forest guardians and in the ancient past were the servants, priestesses, wives or lovers of forest G.o.ds. Unbound dryads can choose to become hamadryads if they wish, though many prefer to live full, free lives before committing to that.

Hamadryads are more mature dryads who live in a single tree and die only when that tree dies. They provide their arboreal homes with a limited form of immortality and draw strength from nearby woods.

Hamadryads are often leaders of forest-dwelling fair-folks, another name for the fey, and tend to dislike the so-called "civilized races". These dryads tended to be among the greatest servants or closest friends of ancient forest G.o.ds.

Both kinds of dryads are powerful in their own right, even if they are weak in comparison to many other kinds of spirits. Dryads tend to eschew clothing, though some wear outfits of leaves or other plant-life. Dryads defend themselves using potent nature magic, magic that they can wield naturally but in the past often augmented through worshipping and serving G.o.ds of nature.

Finalizing preparation to create an unbound dryad. What would you like to name her?]

After giving me a sorely needed explanation as to what dryads were, I was asked to name the spirit I was about to create. I felt a word immediately call out to me, powerfully coming into being in my mind. Raiz.

I informed the system of my choice and then was greeted by a whole new screen.

[Welcome to the lifeform creation menu. By creating a true spirit you are creating life. This is something you"ve yet to do, so we"re gonna take you through it step by step.] The system declared in my mind. Hearing such a declaration brought a smile to my face.

[First things first, the ent.i.ty you"re creating will be lacking a soul for the moment. This is fine, for a creature like a dryad that"s not that big of a deal, but we advise that you complete the quest to gain the first tier of influence over the soul domain so you can grant her a soul.] The system informed me. It didn"t explain exactly how that was bad, just that it was, which wasn"t hugely helpful.

The new screen in front of me was a strange one. In the middle of it there was a shadowy outline of a person, a regular, human-sized and shaped person.

On the left, there were a bunch of words like "Stats" and "Special qualities" each of which had several options and words underneath them. On the right, there were words about physical qualities like "Hair color" "Skin color" "Height and width".

[Spirits you create will automatically worship and serve you. They gain more freedom as they grow older, but for a spirit to turn against a G.o.d who directly created it was rare in the mythic age. The menu before you depicts the stat block of the dryad and the physical appearance of the thing. Experiment with both to create the sort of dryad you wish to create.] The system explained.

I spent the next few moments pouring over the words on both sides. When I tapped them they showed me what I could give my creation, and how I could modify her even before she was created. I ended up giving my dryad only some strength but gifting her high charisma, wisdom, and intelligence. I made her a short, pale-skinned beauty with hair the color of a Winesap apple.

I was delighted to see a number of special qualities pop up when I tapped on that word as if part of some strange drop-down menu. Among other things, I could give her "Omnilingualism" which was the name for my ability to understand and speak all languages, select her cla.s.s and levels, and grant her the ability to generate light.

Upon completely filling out this screen I was asked to review what I had entered. I quickly did so, and then was asked one final question.

[Would you like to give Raiz cla.s.ses and cla.s.s levels? With your current overall strength, you can grant her up to two cla.s.ses, and cause her to come into being with an overall total level of three.] My companion asked me, quietly doing so with an unusual solemnness. I could tell this was a serious moment.

"Can I make her a level two druid and a level one cleric?" I asked, curiously. I received an immediate response.

[Absolutely! That is well within your capabilities. However, if you wish to do that there are a few religion-based things you must do first. Are you willing and ready to do those things right now?] The system asked, curiously. I did the mental version of a nod and heard an excited laugh escape the metaphysical lips of the system.

[Come up with three teachings of the Cosechian faith. These need not be profound, but there absolutely must be three.] My companion told me. I thought for a second about what three teachings would be the most relevant to my agricultural and civilization-based cult. And then I came up with a single teaching.

"Through Cosecha starvation is either a choice or a consequence of pride. Pray to Cosecha and it will always provide you with food to eat and water to drink." I informed the system, feeling quite satisfied with that particular teaching.

As I informed the system about the teaching I quietly realized that the teaching could also eventually be used to link Cosechians to the sins of sloth and gluttony, which brought a smile to my face. That"d be handy in the near future when I focused on getting to the next tier of influence over the corruption subdomain. That was when I came up with my second teaching.

"Animals are friends. Whether one is facing the biggest bear, the stealthiest snake, or the cruelest crocodile, all animals are potential allies and partners. Treat animals with respect and look forward to Cosecha"s blessing." I told the system.

This teaching was unusual because it was the byproduct of many different things. It was partially because I didn"t like violence, partially due to my druidic nature, and also somewhat a product of my desire to gain omnipotence. That said I quite liked it, and quietly made gathering druids a priority, a lesser one, but a priority nonetheless. I liked the idea of having more druids and more animals under my control.

My final teaching was an easy one. It took me barely a few seconds to come up with. And I was quite proud as I said it to the system.

"Cosecha works to create a world of harmony. Show Cosecha your grat.i.tude by having large families, and teaching them what Cosecha has taught you. Devote yourself to Cosecha and act on your desires." This teaching was sinful and encouraged worshipers to surrender to l.u.s.t, for the sake of reproduction.

I recognized that this was me giving something to corruption, but I also knew that this was a reward to the domain of faith as it served to increase my worshipers in the long-term. I was okay with giving corruption this small victory, knowing that I"d need to give it small victories to gain further influence over it, which was something I"d need to do to eventually become all-powerful. I was musing on that when the system next spoke to me.

[Your teachings have been accepted and will be transmitted to all of Cosechians as well as to all Althonians who revere you as a G.o.d of nature and healing.] The system announced. I nodded at it, right as it asked me one final question.

[Can you come up with a dogma for Cosechians? Dogmas are a set of princ.i.p.als for your followers to follow to please you. This would apply specifically to Cosechians, and Raiz would know to repeat it to humanoids in your presence. She will be gifted knowledge of your current predicament and will aid you as soon as you and your allies come across her.] My companion asked me.

I spent a few moments thinking of one that felt worth telling the system. It was difficult at first, but eventually one finally came into being that I felt proud of.

"Protect the earth and the earth shall provide. By working with nature rather than against it, one can have one"s needs met while keeping the world clean and beautiful for those to come. Trust in Cosecha and it shall ensure that your needs are met. Strive to live peacefully and honorably with your neighbors, and to establish happy homes and families." I confidently told the system. And then the ent.i.ty began to laugh softly. It stopped shortly after starting and began to talk to me.

[I apologize for laughing Althos, I just find it interesting that Cosecha is now, in essence, a spirit of civilization. The cult of the harvest you"re making is a cult that promotes careful living, peaceful-relationships with one"s neighbors, and happy home life. It"s an interesting transformation.] My first friend told me. I chuckled softly, not really disagreeing with what it said and began to reply.

"In fairness, those things do help with successful harvests. Farming is hard work, and to do so as successfully as possible requires a lot of stability and control over one"s own environment." I told my companion, speaking inwardly.

[That"s a very fair point, but it"s worth noting that you"ve created what could reasonably be described as a lawful-good cult while you yourself are chaotic-neutral.] My friend retorted.

I laughed, audibly at that. That caused my companions to look over at me curiously as we strode deeper and deeper into the woods. I looked away sheepishly and muttered something about remembering a funny joke. They smirked at me, skeptically, but appeared to accept my excuse.

"I am not a foolish or ignorant person my friend. I am keenly aware that I will need to do such things to become all-powerful. Eventually, I"ll need to create chaotic evil cults. Possibly to begin to control demons. I know that the road to omnipotence is paved with contradictory actions. I am... well I am as ready to do such things as I possibly can be, given my youth." I told the system, speaking honestly.

[Hmm... we see. The domains, subdomains, and I are excited to hear that. And now... I will play my part in the activation of this power, and finish bringing Raiz to life.] The system announced, speaking proudly and boldly.

[All you have to do is select your Cosechian symbol. Is a golden apple okay with you?] My ally asked before my mind was filled with the image of a single golden apple. It was slightly stylized to glow more than the golden apples I had created had, but not much more. I mentally nodded and the system made a joy-filled sound.

[Do you care to share with us what you envision Raiz"s purpose being? That will help us craft her into precisely the sort of spirit that will be maximally effective at serving you.] The system, speaking for itself as well as for all of the domains and subdomains asked me. I allowed myself a moment to thoughtfully consider the question.

"Purpose? Hmm... what would I do with Raiz after I create her?" I asked myself. "I suppose I should make her my high-priestess? It"s a fitting role for a dryad." I mused, before quietly settling on that. I informed the system of my choice and heard a faint laugh emanate from the thing.

[I suppose that makes sense. In that case, we"ll add a few extra features to her, to make her feel like a real high-priestess.] My ally told me, bring a smile to my face.

I watched as far off in the distance a new being sprung to life. At first, the ent.i.ty was smooth and hairless, and more eerily she was a short, human-shaped, featureless doll. But seconds after she phased into existence, she was given actual features.

The woman was given a sharp nose, pointed ears, beautiful green eyes, long, wavy red hair, and her curvy, sensual body-parts were covered in leaves and other a.s.sorted natural detritus. She had a birthmark of a shimmering apple on her exposed shoulder. She smiled, and I sent her a mental message.

"Welcome to life Raiz. You are now the high-priestess of the Cosechian faith." I told her, smiling.

"Thank you master. I look forward to serving you." She replied, her voice a sing-songy one that filled my head with the pleasant sensation of music and song. She began to make her way towards the elves and I.

I sped us up, encouraging us to venture deeper into the forest in hopes of uncovering the mysteries that lay before us. My elven allies looked at me curiously but obliged me and we sped forth, drawing ever closer to my newest servant and worshiper.