Either Needed On the Edge of Divinity: The Age of Miracles

[Miss December]

"We were never under attack. There was no war to win. There was only the question: Would we be worthy of the world she envisioned?"

On March 4th 2012, she came to earth on a blazing beam of light that lit the sky on fire from New York to Michigan. Noon became night as roiling clouds of orange and lilac blocked out the sun and a booming shockwave rippled across the planet, colliding upon itself somewhere over the Indian Ocean. Despite massive damage, there was no loss of life. For three days in fact no one died. No accident, no illness, no act of violence could claim a single life. Then, as suddenly as it had come, the anomaly faded. The world resumed. People debated what had happened. Cults arose. Governments suppressed speculation. Scientists demanded proof.

It took eight years before the entity revealed herself.

She called herself God.

She did not ask for faith. She did not demand worship. She did not claim to be the creator of the universe, nor did she offer knowledge of what lay beyond death. But she was powerful. Miracles were hers to command. She spoke in every language. She healed the dying. She walked into the chambers of world leaders without barrier or permission. She dismissed the holy books of men as fiction. And yet, she did not rule.

She left the world in its own hands—mostly.

Instead, she selected a handful of individuals, drawn by fate or compulsion. She spoke to them of choices, of potential, of futures untold. She charged them with a singular task: determine the fate of humankind.

~~~~~

The premise is a quasi-religious sci-fi epic with deeply philosophical and theological undertones. Drawing inspiration from a combination of Marvel's Eternals (with its vast, cosmic perspective) and the quest-driven narrative of David Eddings rooted in duty, prophecy, and divine intervention.

Key Themes
The Arrival of a Godlike Being – A powerful entity, female-presenting, who arrives and changes everything, challenging faith, power structures, and the nature of belief.
The Burden of the Disciples – Characters who are chosen (or drawn) to serve as intermediaries between the divine and humanity.
The Challenge to Faith and Authority – A god who does not fit humanity's preconceptions, forcing ideological and existential reckonings.
The Quest Element – The task given to the disciples: determining the future of humankind, playing a role in global events and understanding the truth behind the divine figure.
Philosophical & Scientific Tension – The interplay of religious miracles with empirical evidence, pushing characters to explore whether godhood is a matter of belief, science, or something beyond both.

Game Structure
•Superheroic, but Not Superheroes – This is not about capes and secret identities. The world will see the characters as miracles, messiahs, or threats. How they respond to that perception is up to them.
•Philosophical & Religious Exploration – What happens when faith is no longer a matter of belief but a verifiable reality? How do the faithful and the faithless reconcile proof of the divine?
•Political & Social Repercussions – The presence of an all-powerful entity disrupts global structures. Nations, corporations, religious institutions—each will react differently.
•Personal & Cosmic Stakes – The chosen individuals will be granted extraordinary gifts, but power is never without consequence.

Miracles
The divine being's power is not questioned—she has already performed the impossible. Some examples of her direct interventions:
• Appearing before the UN General Assembly, addressing the world in every language simultaneously.
• Erasing all traces of a global pandemic, rewriting the cellular structure of those infected.
• Restoring lost limbs before a panel of scientists, proving that miracles are not beyond scrutiny.

YCs, as her chosen, will wield fragments of this power—but they are not gods. They must decide when to act, when to withhold, and when to defy the force that brought them together.

The Disciples
YC was unknowingly touched by this entity before she revealed herself. In the moment that defined their future, she was there—perhaps as a mentor, a stranger, a voice in a time of doubt. She guided them once before she "died" ten years prior. Now, they realize that she has returned, and their own fates are entwined with hers.

Suggested Professions & Powers
•The Socialite – Prescience & Charisma
•The Athlete/Instructor – Barrier & Density Increase
•The Historian – Clairvoyance & Mind Scan
•The Geneticist – Healing & Resurrection
•The Biological Engineer – Transmutation & Physical Stasis
•The Particle Physicist – Speed & Minor Chronological Adjustments

(These can be adjusted based on player input.)

 

[Rimechapel]

Oh... a sociopolitical story with philosophical and religious themes? Pump it into my veins.

"Transmutation" sounds like it casts a particularly broad net, which is exciting. The notion of exploring how resurrection would impact the world/housing/food supply/etc is also very tempting.

What is your vision for these powers? Are these powers meant to have limitations? For instance, is there a certain cause of death that might render a person unable to be resurrected? Cremation, nuclear explosion... etc. Are there things that cannot be transmuted? People who cannot be affected very much by divine charisma?

I can also see the potential for some... sensitive themes. A charter to "determine the fate of humankind" is quite broad. I feel like this god-entity-lady is bold but benevolent. Are these qualities that she would require of her disciples?

 

[Miss December]

I love your enthusiasm! Pumps sociopolitical-religious sci-fi straight into your veins. I'll answer your questions, trying to clarify my vision without being overly rigid, while also leaving room for player agency so everyone feels like they can shape the world. I want to encourage discussion rather than shutting down potential ideas.

You're absolutely right—transmutation is a broad ability, and that's part of the appeal. I want these powers to feel almost mythic, but they won't be limitless. The same goes for resurrection; while it can have world-changing implications, it won't be a "death is meaningless" situation.

Power Limitations & Philosophical Implications

I see each ability as being governed by certain natural (or divine) laws that even our god-entity can't (or won't) break. Some quick thoughts on your specific questions:
• Resurrection: There will be limits. Perhaps the "pattern" of the body/soul needs to be intact—meaning that complete obliteration (nuclear explosion, cremation, etc.) would prevent revival. There could also be a time factor—the longer someone has been dead, the harder it is to bring them back. That might introduce dilemmas like, "If I can only resurrect a few people, who do I choose?"
• Transmutation: This likely has categories—some things may be fluidly transformed, while others require more energy or are simply off-limits. I love the idea of divine power struggling against something fundamental (e.g., trying to create life from scratch, rather than altering existing matter).
• Charisma & Influence: Not everyone will be affected equally. People with extreme willpower, deeply entrenched belief systems, or personal reasons to resist the "divine" may be less susceptible. Faith leaders, political figures, and zealots could be particularly resistant, even outright hostile to divine influence.

The Nature of the Goddess & Her Disciples

Yes, she is bold, but her benevolence is subject to interpretation. She does not seem cruel or tyrannical, but she has a clear vision—one that may not align with human free will. She believes that humanity must be shaped into something better, but what "better" means is not entirely clear.

Does she require the same qualities in her disciples? Not necessarily. They were chosen based on potential, not perfection. She expects them to be capable of making the hard choices, but that doesn't mean they have to be morally aligned with her. Some may challenge her, others may become her true believers, and some might see the whole thing as a test.

Ultimately, this is a story about power and responsibility. The world will react to these characters, whether they seek to rule, uplift, or reject the task given to them.

Would love to hear your thoughts! What aspects of this would you most want to explore in play?

 

[Miss December]

The Limits of the Disciples vs. the Limitlessness of God

The Disciples are powerful, but they are not divine. They have been granted abilities that defy nature, yet their power operates under some unseen structure—whether it's a matter of energy, precision, or an inherent cosmic boundary they do not fully grasp.

The Nature of the Disciples' Powers

Their gifts do not make them omnipotent, and there are tangible reasons why:
1. Effort & Energy – Their abilities require something from them, whether it's focus, exertion, or a toll on their own being. A Disciple might be able to heal a fatal wound, but bringing back the dead could take everything out of them.
2. Scope & Precision – Their powers might work well on a single target or localized event, but broader changes require a level of control they do not possess. A Disciple who can transmute matter might be able to purify a polluted river, but they cannot terraform a desert.
3. Philosophical or Metaphysical Constraints – Some things are simply beyond their reach. A healer might mend flesh, but can they restore someone who took their own life? A mind-reader might sense thoughts, but can they understand a being whose consciousness is wholly alien?
4. The Unknowable Rules of Their Power – Even they don't fully understand how it works. A Historian might experience visions of the past, but why are some moments accessible while others are obscured? A Geneticist might heal the sick, but why can they cure some diseases effortlessly while others resist their touch?

Their power is immense, but imperfect, finite, and inconsistent. It is not theirs—it was given to them, and that is a fundamental difference between them and God.

The Limitlessness of God (Or Lack Thereof)

Their God, by contrast, does not appear to have limits. There is no evident restriction on what she can do. If the Disciples attempt something and fail, she can accomplish it (presumably) effortlessly. However, she doesn't always step in.

This introduces the greatest tension of all:
• When will she intervene?
• When does she leave things in human hands?
• Why does she allow failure at all?

This is where the true drama lies. The Disciples know that she could solve any problem, but she often does not. The implications are staggering:
• Does she want them to struggle so they can learn?
• Is she testing them?
• Does she simply not care enough to intervene?
• Or—most disturbingly—does she operate on a logic so alien to human thought that her choices are incomprehensible?

Key Example Scenarios to Show This in Action
1. The Impossible Resurrection – A Disciple tries to bring someone back, but the body is too far gone. They collapse, exhausted, knowing it cannot be done. Then, she simply wills them back into being. What does this mean? Was the Disciple wrong about their own power? Was it always possible, or was it only possible for her?
2. The City in Crisis – A disaster strikes. The Disciples act, saving hundreds—but thousands still perish. She watches, unmoved. Only at the final moment does she lift a single hand, undoing all damage, restoring the dead. But why did she wait?
3. The Man Who Cannot Be Healed – A Disciple touches a dying child, expecting their power to flow through them as it always has—but it does not work. No matter what they try, the child remains as he is. When they ask God why, she only replies: "Not this one." No explanation. No comfort.

 

[Rimechapel]

can they understand a being whose consciousness is wholly alien?

I love the implications of this.

One of the aspects of this that appeals to me is the thought experiment of, "if one person solved a very broad issue, what would that look like?" For instance, you mentioned purifying a river. I remember reading about/seeing pictures of a river in... India, I think? It was essentially the source of life for many cities, and it was filthy. I wonder what would change if suddenly it was clean enough to drink out of without fear of parasites or disease. I'm also interested in the realization that just because someone gets profound power, doesn't mean that the problems of the world are any less severe and pervasive than they were before; you're just playing the game of life at a higher level.

I'm also interested in the far-reaching consequences of one's actions; if you resurrect someone, does this person go on to become a bad person and murder people? In their killing spree, do they just happen to kill someone who is a terrorist on their way to cause a nuclear reactor to meltdown?

I also like challenging preconceived notions, sometimes even my own. Sure, it's a fictional story, but that doesn't mean it cannot be allowed to force me to think critically.

 

[WishBone]

With such an entity claiming to be all - there would be those in the shadows that percieve them as a serious or potential threat. Despite the views - perceved with skepticism and immovable caution. Much like along the lines of Cecil from Invincible. Where some might be swayed - whether tempered by lifes pain, experiences and almost impossible situations some like the character I want to play - remain unconvinced.

Despite its feigned good intentions - there is a far greater risk that it has much more or percieved sinister ideas instead.
While it appears to have swayed a majority to the honeyed words - its essentially trying to figure out any grain of truth to what this being is and not what it claims to be.

As for her chosen - they could also be percieved extensions of potential risks despite them having certain powers. While he cant outright prevent them mostly due to the potentially damaging backlash or worse being unable to actually stop a deity yet.

An interstellar threat that breaks and divides humanity is an incredibly dangerous threat and with seemingly limitless powers - its like seeing Superman and not feeling hope but apprehension and considerable doubt despite the assured good intentions. Because if such a thing were to go rogue there would be no way yet to prevent it from causing global calamities.

Id be happy to play a character not in line with her chosen. While not a concealed threat - he's known and while recieved sometimes with apprehension he's also someone who doesnt flaunt what he has. While you may have powers - sometimes resources are the best power a mortal can get.

 

[Miss December]

I love this angle. Having a character who views the God and her Disciples as a potential global threat rather than a blessing adds so much texture to the world. There's bound to be opposition, skepticism, and behind-the-scenes maneuvering from governments, corporations, religious institutions, and individuals who refuse to take the entity at her word.

You're absolutely right—not everyone will be swayed by her miracles. Some will believe she has an ulterior motive.Some will be waiting for the moment she reveals her true nature—or the moment she makes her first irreversible mistake. And some, like your character, will understand that preparing for the worst-case scenario isn't paranoia—it's survival.

Where Your Character Fits In
Your character sounds like one of the most dangerous kinds of people in this world—someone who isn't blinded by power or miracles, but instead trusts in human ingenuity, strategy, and resourcefulness. While he might not have the Disciples' supernatural abilities, he has what they lack:
• A clear-eyed perspective unclouded by divine influence
• The ability to prepare without constraint
• Access to information, resources, and contingency plans that the Disciples might not even be considering

He doesn't have to be a direct enemy—he could be the thorn in their side, the necessary counterbalance, or the only one willing to ask the hard questions that others are too afraid to voice. Even if he ultimately works with the Disciples at times, they may never fully trust each other.

Philosophical & Political Implications
Your character's stance raises fantastic questions that can be explored in play:
• Does unlimited power automatically make someone a threat?
• Should we believe in benevolence when it has no accountability?
• What is humanity's role in a world where a god actually exists? Do we resist, adapt, or prepare for war?
• How much should the world change for this being? Should nations bend to her will?
• If she truly goes rogue, what weapons, strategies, or alliances could stop her?

What This Means for the Disciples
Your character's perspective could change how the Disciples view their role. Do they ignore the opposition? Do they try to win him over? Do they fear the possibility that he might be right?

He also forces them to think about their own limits. If they try to shape the world, who decides how far they go?

Final Thoughts

I'd love to have your character involved because he adds a necessary counterpoint to blind faith and raw power. The idea of someone playing the long game, watching, planning, and preparing for the moment things go sideways is an essential perspective in a world like this.

Would love to hear more about how you see him operating! Is he more of a shadow player, controlling things from behind the scenes? Or does he work openly, lobbying governments and gathering allies in plain sight?

 

[Miss December]

I love the way you're thinking about this. The idea that solving a problem doesn't remove the complexity of the world—it just shifts the scale of it is central to how I see this story unfolding.

The Ripple Effect of Miracles
Every action has consequences, and while the Disciples' powers might allow them to fix things, that doesn't mean the world automatically gets better. If someone purifies a river, that seems like a pure good—but what happens next?
• Do downstream communities suddenly have more access to resources, and does that create political tension with upstream cities?
• Do certain parasites, bacteria, or even local ecosystems collapse because they had adapted to the pollution?
• Does the act set a precedent that the Disciples will intervene in every crisis—and what happens when they don't?

The same applies to resurrection—it's an incredible power, but it raises terrifying ethical questions. Does bringing someone back truly restore them, or is there something missing? Can a resurrected person die again? And as you pointed out—if someone was meant to die, how does that affect the chain reaction of events that would have followed?

Playing the Game of Life at a Higher Level
You absolutely nailed it—power doesn't eliminate problems, it just forces you to play on a different level. At some point, the Disciples will realize that their choices aren't about "good" vs. "evil" but rather "Which unintended consequences am I willing to live with?"

The fun part is, sometimes there is no right answer.
• A Disciple heals someone terminally ill—but that person later sparks a war.
• A starving nation is given abundant food—but it collapses into chaos because its economy was built on scarcity.
• A terrorist is stopped—but the threat of the terrorist was the only thing holding two enemy nations back from war.

It's not just "should I act?"—it's "what happens next?"

Challenging Preconceived Notions
That's one of my favorite aspects of this game, too. Superhero stories tend to paint intervention as either purely good or purely bad, but I want to explore the messy middle ground. If a player goes into a situation thinking they're doing the right thing, only to realize that the fallout is worse than the problem they "fixed"—that's the kind of story that sticks with you.

 

[WishBone]

I would say that the moment she appeared he seemed to almost step out of the shadows, a universal counterbalance but in truth maybe the global organization was aware of other less dangerous threats and then "she" arrived. Throwing some countries into chaos, others to full sworn sway and others into much more defensive postures and seeing her as something to be regarded with caution than an actual threat. The attitude my character has is mostly as from incredible, "You can be the good guy, or the one who saves the world. You cannot be both." And its with that cold neutrality and preparedness to do neccessary and sometimes unspeakable things in the long game.

Perhaps there was a moment where a close friend of his who died a few years back was, out of a good intentioned action from her to try and sway him results in what should be a good scene as something taken the entire way. Resulting in him killing the man along with the words, "The dead stay dead." The reason being - that the friend when he was alive did have access to things that could be dangerous in once again the wrong hands - ie her. His anger isnt a fiery or explosive, but one which is cold, indifferent and unbiased. But - for those careful enough - is also a man under immense weight from responsibility and ever action is scrutinised.

He would opt to work with those of hers for a time mostly to either know and learn their weaknesses, strengths and how much of an assett they could be. But he'd never go further than an aquaintance and keep what things are close to him, as far from her notice and her peoples awareness.

 

[WishBone]

Also do you want character sheets? With the story is this being set say within a year or so of her arrival?
If so, which countries have taken to her and how far has this gone? Is the world currently in a bit of an upheaval and tensions between boarders high?

 

[Miss December]

Yes we will be doing character sheets when we have enough players to begin moving forward. As of right now we two individuals who've expressed interest and that interest is currently split between one Disciple and one non-Disciple. I think we need higher participation totals to properly tell the story I'm keen to see told.