[fanfic Challenge] Pantheon!, Whose alter do you kneel to?

If the characters of Megatokyo were gods, what kind of gods would they be?

The Challenge!

Level 1. Pick a character from Megatokyo, or an SDFW fan/character, and write a poem about their adventures/godhood. Consider what forces of nature, like fire and water, or what aspects of mankind, like love or war, that they would preside over. What other gods does this deity have a connection to, either good or bad?

Level 2. Pick a character from Megatokyo, or an SDFW fan/character, and thoroughly describe the practices and dogmas of their followers if they were a god..their clothes, their beliefs, their worship practices, their history and affect on the world, their relation to other followers of other deities...

Level 3. Pick a character from Megatokyo, or an SDFW fan/character, and write an epic story, or an epic poem, detailing their deeds and influence on the world (we're talking like The Odyssey kind of stuff...though not that long). In this case the character might not be a god (at the start at least) but an epic hero or demigod.

Level 4. Create an entire Pantheon! Then go wild and build a whole world of Megatokyo worshipers to follow their whims!


Explanation:

The last challenge was all about the mortality of the Megatokyo characters, but in most western cultures summer is considered to be the season overflowing with life. So now, let's write about the immortality of the Megatokyo characters!


Details:

Once again, feel free to have fun and be creative with this! Don't be afraid to imitate known gods, though feel free to venture your own creation. Also, there's more than just Greek deities to draw inspiration from, there's also Egyptian, Norse, Indian, Asian, African...well really just a whole slew of them, so feel free to step out of the box!

Although the world of polytheism is usually associated with the ancient past, feel free to set things in modern times as well...or in any time era you want, really! The future is up for grabs as well as the past.

Last time people seemed OK with people writing Obituaries about them...so I doubt there will be much concern about writing about their fictional godhood! Still, if you're unsure, ask first, and if someone is upset, please try and delete it if possible, and if not, PM a moderator and they might be nice enough to do it for you. The safest way to do it would be to link to another website where you CAN delete it.


Personal:

I had this idea over a week ago, and have been keeping mums about it until now. I hope you like it! I think it makes a great contrast to the last challenge, and has a lot of room for fun ideas. Good luck, be creative, and have fun! ^.^


Challenge Review: Obituaries

It was a big success!

We had bookoos of people write 'headstones,' or what was written on character's tombstones, which I hadn't thought of but were very popular! I'm not going to try and recount the people who wrote those, but needless to say it was a lot and had lots of great ideas.

There were quite a few, though not quite as many, death notices.

mistersaxon did an touching yet creepy compilation of notes on wreaths, and an email. He also did a peculiar one in the form of a recall for EDS machines...

Sareth wrote a coroners report (no surprise there).

Con and mistersaxon each wrote a very nice full length Obituary for Boo and Mami, respectively.

Rapierman did a eulogy for Yuki (or MG Starlight)...and then was eulogized by yuppa.

Myxthol also did a eulogy for Kimiko, and then got another eulogy into the middle of a quote from a theoretical book on Largo's teachings (both by Erika).

Ryo955 was the only one to write an actual story...though it kinda skirted around the funeral.

There were also a few poems that...I wasn't sure exactly what they were, maybe headstones, but they were nice and followed the subject so yay! ^.^

Also, kudos to Myxthol for devoting himself to writing something for every character! He's still working on it, but he's covered over half, and mostly has minor character's left. Good luck Myxthol!

Alphabetical List of Challengers:
BigDemonicBunny
BozoCat
Con
Farren
HatsuharuZ
Kalium
Kitchan
mistersaxon
MoneyMan
Myxthol
Oscar Wildecat
Rapierman
Ryo955
Sareth
Skitz
Skorpion
Stanislao Moulinsky
Teddy-Werebear
yuppa

Thank you all for participating! ^.^ I hope you'll take part in this Challenge too!

WOW! that is a cool idea Con! I might have something in mind so Off i go to try to write one. I was thinking about Erika. She reminds me of Artemis.

An epic poem? Good grief girl - how much time d'you think I have?

Of course, now I have to at least try and diefy some random character . . .

But there is a whole month. . .

Oh, there is a Cult of BISHIE coming right up. Worshipping Ed, the God of War, Renewal, Beauty (, well one of his many aspects anyway) and Ill-fortune. The many headed one. The ever-returning one. The patron deity of corporate enforcers.
He who brings his followers eternal life through rebirth.


....a little bit of Loki here, a little bit of Anansi there, sprinkle with a bit of Apep the serpent of chaos.

OH HEAVENS HELP US!! THE BUNNY IS GOING TO RAIN ED DOWN UPON US ALL!!

Really though you are one of the funnier writers so I look foward to what you write too.

Sorry it's so long, but here's my entry.

An article on Tokyoism from the year 6000 A.L. (After Lohc):

The Vuy, seeking to escape the terrible economic depression of their home planet Cosh, set off to settle the planet Earth, which up to this point had only been inhabited by explorers and loners. The planet Earth was mostly a wasteland, the inhabitants thereof having been destroyed by radiation nearly a millennium before. However, the Vuy saw it as a place of opportunity.

They set up several colonies there, the first couple of which failed when their terraforming equipment malfunctioned. The third colony, Uvo, didn't seem to be doing much better, as they didn't know which plants were edible and the plants from their native home wouldn't grow there.

Their luck changed when their leader, Qek, found the "Megatokyo". While exploring the land around his settlement, he came across a strange device. It was circular, with many parts that moved. One part moved to reveal a compass, which he followed. It lead him into the ruins of a city, where he found several books sealed in the basement of a building. With the help of the device he was able to translate these books. From them he learned that the name of the device was the "cool thing" and had been used by the inhabitants of the planet earth long ago.

At first glance, these creatures seemed weak. They had no exoskeleton, no claws, not even a tail. However, it was clear to the Vuy that these books, which are collectively called "Megatokyo" detailed the adventures of a race of higher beings, who had no need for such defenses because of their great power.

From Megatokyo the Vuy learned many things, including how to survive in the harsh environment of earth, and Qek became the leader and great prophet of a new religion, Tokyoism. The Cool Thing, along with the books of Megatokyo were enshrined in a temple constructed to look like the store Megagamers from the book. There, Qek would stay and take instruction from the Cool Thing on how his world should be run. Copies of the books were made and distributed throughout the Vuy colonies, and they began to build their lives around it's teachings.

The deities of Tokyoism are thus:

Piro and Kimiko The God and Goddess of love. This couple teaches the power of togetherness. Apart, they are both torn by their emotions, but together they reach their full strength. Followers pray to them for help in matters of love or understanding.

Erika Erika teaches strength. She will fight for herself and also for others. Followers pray to her when they need help resolving conflict or escaping oppression.

Seraphim This goddess, despite being smaller than the others, has at least as much power as the rest. She is the goddess of Morality. Followers pray to her for help making difficult decisions and to learn what is the right thing to do.

Miho The goddess of control. Throughout Megatokyo, she manipulates the other gods and is always one step ahead of them. Followers pray to her when they want something to happen.

Ping The goddess of innocence. She is the protector of the young, worshiped by children until they reach the age of fifteen.

Ed and Dom The gods of death. They control the fate of mortals, deciding when they live and when they die. The only ones who can stop them are the other gods, who often get into conflict with them. Prayed to over a followers grave.

Yuki The goddess of life. She is the protector of all, even those deemed lost or fallen by the world, as evidenced in her pet zombie zilla. Prayed to when a child is born.

Largo The God of chaos and creation, the most powerful of the pantheon. He controls the power of the Cool Thing, can see things the way they really are, and works closely with both the gods of death and the godess of life. He is friends with the god of love, and in love with the goddess of power. He teaches to always be prepared and never take things to seriously.

Tokyoism is now followed all throughout the Milkyway system, second only to the Lochians, and are mostly known for speaking mostly in 1337 and going on pilgrimages to see the cool thing. It is clear that while Tokyoism is still obscure in most of the universe, and seen by many to be strange, it's not going to go away and we must better learn to understand their ways and customs.

Because I can hardly ignore a challenge OR a request from someone as cute and genki as Con:

Everyone knows the factions of Megatokyo: The Clans. At least, you should. If you don't, read the thread, the archives, and the wiki. But does anyone know the fans of the factions? The fanboys and fangirls that gather around, trying to catch sight of their idols?

This is gonna be a multi-part series, written between bouts of writing for tC itself and uninspired funk.

I can do better, but for now

Deities with the Asako Option, oh noes!!

Mcfeegle, that was really good. Wow. You really captured the spirit of the characters, and did a nice job building a world under their control. *wishes he was that creative*

*hangs his head in shame for he knows not of the clans, nor their origin*

Please Great Skorpion, forgive my ignorance and do not strike me down. I shall do my best to reform and learn the ways of the MT:TC.

I seek your guidance and your wisdom to help me find my way.

~Farren (seeking only knowledge, wisdom, and a good time)

There was much discussion in the camp that night of the pantheon of gods and heroes as the Cheshire_Ocelot walked into the camp. He was a then-infrequent visitor, a bard of the old style - not very old himself, but old enough that few now remembered his predecessors.

After sharing in the community pie, he lit a cigarette and listend a while to others' speculations on the pantheon. As the sun set, he took a deep breath and began to speak.

So. Magical Girls in days gone by
And their sidekicks too had courage and cuteness.
We have filked of those ladies' loveliness.

There was Mystic Meimi, klepto of cleavers,
Scourge of ugliness, lover of loving.
At daybreak she would struggle, until beside her
Appeared Eri, and the twain would adventure
From Osaka to Sendai, until the Land of the
Rising Sun rested. That was one magical girl.

Afterward a girl-child was born to Meimi,
A gift sent by God to be a comfort
To the East, and the name "Snow"
Would have fame and fear throughout
Both the physical and digital worlds.
While Snow was still growing, she inherited
Her goodly gifts, which would last until
Snow fell. Like Mystic Meimi, she too could
Pick a ninja's wallet and give it back to him.

To learn her skill, she received the company
Of a foreigner, the Great Teacher, whose deeds
Are recorded in the Laneid, and all the Net
Knows of his heroic campaigns against
The Zombies of America and the Ravers
Of Roppongi; how he annihilated every arcade
And wrecked every raver's den until his
Ph34rsome ph03s were def34ted, and
Both sides of the great whale-road wrote
Songs in praise of his knightly honour.

Beside her in her quests would stand many
Illustrious champions of love and cuteness.
There were Asako and Mami, who stood
With Snow from noon to nightfall, and whose
Wise words and bounding energy and ever-
Living loyalty are famous to this day.

Nor will men of honour ever forget the Queen Ping,
Who, allied with our ever-youthful heroine, brought
Snow-white purity to the Black Ravers of Edo,
Completing the Great Teacher's noble task.
Now, some say she still rules the Net alongside
The greatest of goddesses, blessed Lain-sama.

Hubris of the highest order and destined never to be finished but, meh. You gotta start somewhere and the beginning is as good a place as any.
Con, if this ruins my life and marriage you owe me big time, sista.

The Piriad
------------

Forth there strode our hero Piro, forth upon the road to E3
searching for the greatest games and greatest gamers known to man.
In the hallowed halls he found the first of clues, the shadow lightly
lay upon his heart that day.

Striding with him, bold companion, Largo of the Iron Wrist
Power was his to reach and conquer all who came before him, boldly,
and he fought the whole day long - he slaughtered all, the fierce, the skillful:
did not think the dead too many.

Celebrations for his vict'ry: many ales and brews he quaffed
until unmanned by unaccustomed drink and labour he became
divested of his senses and his clothes and hanging from a light
great shame upon them both he wrought.

Fled the pair from friendly shores and literally took to flight,
their longest journey yet. And so a comrade on the way they aided:
A warrior bold, a knight of L33t yet sorely wounded - in his heart,
Stricken nigh unto death was he!

Fearlessly they succour offered, in his outlandish tongue they spoke.
Medicines they found for all that ailed him and his friendship won then:
Sage in counsel, canny in the ways of battle a true friend he was.
Together came they in to land.

Faced the keeper of the borders, no permission had they with them!
Largo faced the mighty ninja - locked in Mortal Kombat were they.
Threw he down the fearsome warrior - such defeat as never seen there!
On they journeyed to the city.

In the bars, bazaars and brothels sought our heroes far and widely,
treasure of the rarest kind and wrested it from those unworthy.
Wisdom of the ages, scrolls and prophecies they found and one orb:
which silver hue its purpose hid.

Till at last their strength expended, all recourse to money ended,
on a park bench they depended, efforts made to be befriended,
by a lack of power suspended, failure then they comprehended,
as the shadowed night lay on them.

--- Journey the first ends.

(Note, as a rule it won't rhyme but the last stanza lent itself to the rhyme so aptly, words into my mind flowed, raptly I upon the page them gathered, ordered them and gently tethered to the plot that scarce existed, gazed upon my fingers blistered, cried "Enough of this damn rhyming!", found the clock was midnight chiming. Slowly I to bed then stumbled, as a poet hack now rumbled!)

Gah! Can't stop now. Help!!

Oh goddess no... You listen to him he'll turn you into one of those stark raving lunatic Largoists. No, you really want to learn of the greatness that is Mt:tC you need to listen to a proper Mihoist like me.



(Although, in all seriousness, Mt:tC only has two people who actually treat their chosen idol as actual gods. Ash preaches Largoist thought like it came from the Buddha himself, and Saeko has a shrine to Miho that looks like any Shinto shrine you could see... only decorated in purple.) Everyone else merely follows...

What, aren't there are any proper Piroists in the Clans anymore?

....and then there are the factionless, who follow no idol, but interact with the factions for whatever reason. Like Matt Evans, the attorney to all who are downtrodden and (mostly) innocent; and Kender, a CEA operative who was assigned to be a conscience for the entire Largoist faction as a punishment for fraternizing. She actually hates Seraphim, because said conscience is constantly being held up to her as a shining example of what a conscience SHOULD be like.

This post has been edited by kendermouse on Jul 3 2009, 06:14 PM

...and then there are those who would destroy all because they are perceived as a threat...and yet that very same threat draws one who will protect all and keep each other at bay. Such is the mystery that remains MegaTokyo.

Mistersaxon: Excellent use of the iambic pentantemer.

This post has been edited by Rapierman on Jul 3 2009, 07:11 PM

...and it took all of one post for my epic to be thoroughly one-upped. :(

On the other hand, I can't deny that this was awesome, and I hope you'll write some more.

Brash power is the way of Largo
Thoughtful skill is that of Piro
Honor that of Junpei
Love that of Yuki

But Manipulation,
The work of those whose emotions have left them with a scar
To work from the darkness and push away all who help you
that is the way of Miho, the way of the shadows

and perhaps that of the light...

Book of Travelers, chapter 1, Entry 1

Manipulator of fates
Master of darkness

Stealer of souls
Guardian of the Shadows

Tohya, Mistress of darkness
Fallen goddess of light.

Book of travelers, verse 5

This post has been edited by Dragontrapper on Jul 3 2009, 09:20 PM

...and it took all of one post for my epic to be thoroughly one-upped.

On the other hand, I can't deny that this was awesome, and I hope you'll write some more.

@Ocelot: Dude! You are my inspiration for that! Anyway - I guess there are about another 1180 strips to do so 'epic' is gonna describe it at some point - but maybe not yet.

@Rapierman: Iambic pentameter? OMG - I've been possessed by the spirit of The Bard (who would, I just know, have loved MegaTokyo).

Anyway, next part now:

----------------------------

Forth once more our heroes headed, to find companions for their quest.
Came they then to Gateway Country - Piro now his buddy IM'ed -
Largo, who was l33t yet seeking, all computer settings tweaked he.
Great the havoc that they wrought there!

Tsubasa their party joined now, led them t'ward a place of safety,
stalked upon their way by dragons, shaped as buses, Largo fought them!
Hewed and hacked them - harm he dealt them, injured, though he still fought fiercely.
Bandaged now he journeyed onward.

As they travelled great temptation led them to an exhibition,
wonders they had only dream't of, fallen heroes lay before them.
Largo spied a beauteous maiden, scarce could credit what he saw then:
testing her, she broke his good arm.

Bowing then to call of bodies, food they sought and ale a plenty!
Piro then his heart surrendered to the maiden who laboured there.
His regard was swift rewarded with coffee served into his face.
His sense he lost in every way!

Kimiko this maiden's name was, she buxom to the eye appeared
and yet deceit was all around for women's wiles she used to lure
poor and hungry helpless warriors! Sought they out her famous beauty
though she scorned them all as losers.

Pity then our helpless hero, lost amidst the tangled pathways:
love and life for him entwinèd - shelter now he sought, and swiftly!
To his home Tsubasa led them, a haven from the world beyond,
and sight that gladdened Piro's heart!

Food they ate now they had gathered on their journey, gladly feasting.
sleep they sought then: peaceful resting lay amidst the homely comforts
of magazines and droning fans. Sore their bodies craved for healing,
visions of their homes then dreaming.

Dark the night that them surrounded, journey's purpose yet confounded,
here in simple comfort grounded, faith upon each other founded
in their friendship, not yet sounded, all their future yet unbounded.
Love the shadow that lay on them.

--- Journey the second ends.

This post has been edited by mistersaxon on Jul 4 2009, 04:09 AM

What, did you think she was human?

((OOC: This is gonna take forever! I need to precis this a bit!))

Forth our heroes went no longer: six weeks passed and nothing stirred them!
Finally Tsubasa bade them: “Now it’s time for you to leave here!”
Largo woke a sleeping demon, more than one, in search of money:
Dom and Ed by name he summoned!

Dark their hearts and great their power: spying now his mortal heartbeat,
money to him boldly offered – Largo took it, sold himself then
all in vain - the price was squandered. Piro now for wisdom searching
found himself a place to learn in.

Studied he the words of prophets till a group of girls him spotting
Took upon themselves to challenge and then strike where he was weakest!
Sensible young maidens spying lonely men would best avoid them -
Yuki was not such a maiden!

Piro soon retreated swiftly, left behind his precious drawings!
Yuki found them, deftly captured evidence to track and find him,
found more evidence than needed - then a master found to teach her!
Piro as her hero is drawn. . .

Piro struggled with his conscience, realised his hope was waning,
promised to resolve the problems. Largo, meanwhile, found the ninja,
swore to teach him ways of l33tn3ss, apt his pupil for the knowledge!
Junpei, ninja, soon became l33t!

There upon a station standing, Kimiko the maiden frozen,
Late for her audition, helpless, ticketless and moneyless, too!
Piro, her unlooked-for hero, offered her a brand-new railcard.
Caught in weakness, she accepted.

Piro to her eyes then vanished, leaving her to her audition.
Shyly told she of his actions, sympathy her words then earned her.
Fame and fortune beckoned for her! Piro left to find his own way,
Homeward now begun to wander.

See her heart was torn asunder, generosity bred wonder,
That her due? Her beauty’s plunder? Piro then her spell was under,
Heroes heard the distant thunder of the fate to which they’d blunder.
Shadows of the world lay on them.

--- Journey the third ends.

Sax, how the hell do you have the time for this? I really think you have been possessed by the Bard...

The poems are just doggerel really - I make stuff up like this all the time, usually while I'm driving round the country - that or making up sentences where every word begins with the letter T and that still make sense*. Seriously I spend more time counting the syllables than working out what to say. Probably half an hour for each part, tops. Possibly less.

I think that shows too, don't you? But then Shakespeare and Dickens were both writing populist nonsense for the masses, not creating great art. So was Kipling, but he didn't know it. . .

I'm also trying to move forward on GSG:A but that takes a lot more time to get just right.

No, I don't have OCD - but this guy might: Eunoia

This post has been edited by mistersaxon on Jul 4 2009, 11:12 AM

Twas a dark and stormy sea when The God of war landed on the shores of Japan. Ed was Sent by the darkest of the Gods to kill the virgin of light. He was a demolisher of worlds. Never before had tokyo seen the horrors to be visited upon it in hundreds of years. Through countless battles with A dark magical girl our fearless God of war rampaged through the city raping and pillaging all who stood before him. One day Ed had cornered his prey at last,and she was all alone. Or so Ed thought. When suddenly He was tapped on the shoulder from behind,and was laid flat on the ground making a crater in the hard cold pavement. It was his nemesis again. Our fearless Ed got up and brushed himself off,and then used his weapon The Chibi kill stick and lashed out with lighning bolt far and wide. Oh but his nemesis was a tricky she devil and had sabotaged his weapon and thusly he was beaten once again.

i will continue later.