Mythic Era, Age of Fire, Turn 5

Pseudo-Tholak writhed in unease beneath the earth, still trying and failing to shake his feelings of powerlessness. As any immortal being knows, one of the best ways to feel powerful is to boss around ordinary mortals. So Pseudo-Tholak mentally contacted some Trolls, mainly in the Kingdom of Tholran, and by impersonating the true Tholak sent them commands, scriptures, and prayers. Those contacted Trolls formed under Pseudo-Tholak's a mystical sect, known formally as Those Who Follow in the First Path of the First One. These Trolls of the Order of the Firsts erected temples to Tholak, sang incantations, sacrificed lesser animals, and otherwise did thing as Pseudo-Tholak instructed. While micromanaging these mortals allowed Pseudo-Tholak some respite from his unease, it was soon shattered.

Tholak proper, perhaps in preparation for some future act, as an experiment, or just out of sheer boredom, wove a magic weave over this world. He did so silently, but Pseudo-Tholak nonetheless felt the raw magical energy being shaped all around, and recognized the handiwork. This magic, allowing by ritual, incantation, and force of will a mimicry of Tholak's powers over stone, metal, and earth, disturbed Pseudo-Tholak. Both because any activity by often-absent Tholak in this world disturbed him, and because it seemed to grant powers similar to his to mere mortals. However, Pseudo-Tholak, upon analyzing the magic, found it both distinctly inferior in power to his own, and noted that it was yet still too powerful to be controlled by all but the mightiest and heroic of mortals.

Pseudo-Tholak in this saw an opportunity, albeit one of questionable wisdom. Pseudo-Tholak imbued a few of his high priests of the Order of the Firsts with the knowledge and power to harness the magic, in a limited and imperfect manner. But it was enough to make those priests, until they eventually passed away, demigods among Trolls. While over the centuries the legends of the thirteen great Shapers passed from history to myth, the inner circle of the Order of the Firsts maintained a collection of relics, incantations, and rituals from those times, not that most could use them even imperfectly. But the Order of the Firsts also advanced the practice of mundane stone-masonry, metalworking, and other such arts among the Trolls, in imitation of the true power they once held.

Troll cities and citadels, usually consisting of both imposing above-ground walls, keeps, and towers, and of grand underground halls, houses, and shrines, were truly a sight to behold, and a Troll clad in their traditional arms and armour, worn only rarely due to the sturdiness and utility of their natural bodies, was truly terrifying and majestic.

Effect For 1 of his 50 points, Tholak uses Command (Divine) Avatar to make Pseudo-Tholak use Create Order to create Those Who Follow in the First Path of the First One, otherwise known as the Order of the Firsts, the Order of Tholak, or the Followers of Tholak. The Order of the Firsts are a mystical cult of primarily Troll priests of Tholak.

For 10 of his 49 points, Tholak uses Create Magic to create a system of magic variously known as Greater Masonry, Greater Metallurgy, Earthmoving, Stoneshaping, or just Shaping, which allows for the great and rapid shaping and manipulation of stone, metal, earth, gems, and other such inorganic matter. Notably, it does allow for the alteration of the bodies of Trolls and other such inorganic species.

For 30 of his 39 points, Tholak uses Advance Civilization 5 times, to make the Trolls super good at mining, masonry, metalworking, gemcutting, and similar acts of engineering and artistry with inorganic matter.