Primal Order Primer

Introduction

The basic idea behind TPO is that deity level beings have access to Primal power. Primal is a level of energy above normal magic and can generally override or overwhelm it. Without Primal, a god is like any other mortal. With it, he can vaporize opponents (at least normal mortals) at will.

Primal Base and Primal Flux

Also note that primal points are completely separate from standard power points. While primal can be converted into power points to cast spells, the two totals are kept separate.

Primal Base

Base can only be voluntarily expended by its owner or involuntarily destroyed by an attack. It cannot be taken from a god, and it generally cannot be created (two main exceptions exist). It can be used by a god and put into an object (thus creating a primal artifact) or a place (creating a permanent, ongoing effect someplace), but even then it cannot be converted back into base for someone else's use. Base which is separated from a god can be suppressed or destroyed, or bled for flux, but we'll talk about that below. Base can be freely given away from one god to another, but the transfer may not be 100% efficient (circumstances may vary the efficiency). Finally, base can always be used for anything flux can be used for at a one-to-one exchange; this is never done except under dire circumstances.

Primal base can be created by a process called evolution. Via evolution, every god gets a 1% increase in his primal base total every year. Thus, a god with 100 base will have 101 a year later. After a second year, he'll be at 102 (remember, the extra .01 is lost due to rounding), etc. Yes, this means that a god which is below 100 base will never be able to get any more via evolution. Finally base can be gained by advancing in rank; see the section on Divine Ranks for details.

Primal Flux

Flux can generally be used to power transient or temporary effects, but not permanent ones. Flux points also can be obtained from several different sources and thus are more readily available. Sources of flux are listed in the following table. The main source is generation from primal base. Each day, a god gets an amount of flux equal to 10% of their current base; think of base as the principal and flux as the interest. Other sources are listed below.

Sources of Flux

Source	Amount
Primal Base	10% of primal base/day
Control of a plane of existence	1,000/day on average
Worshippers/souls	Square root of worshippers/plane/day
Places of worship	2-20/day
Sacrifices	1-50
Captured artifact	5% of base/day

Divine Ranks and Power

A note about qualifications: A Supported Demigod is a demigod who is being given a special boost by a supporting deity. The deity spends 100 flux/day and essentially announces to the church that the particular demigod is being promoted and supported. This is generally a stage where a demigod starts moving towards being a lesser deity on their own. Other qualifications are explained in the sections on Spheres of Influence and Planes of Existence.

Divine Ranks

Rank	Qualification	Rank Bonus to Base
Godling	Ascended by lesser deity or higher rank god	+100
Demigod	Obtained a sphere of influence	+200
Supported Demigod	Controls a plane or has support from deity	+300
Lesser Deity	Possesses a home plane	+5,000
Greater Deity	Controls at least 5 planes	+10,000
Supreme Deity	Leads a pantheon or divine council	+25,000

Divine Abilties

Inherent Abilities

• Immortality: Gods are immune to aging, but their bodies/vessels are still vulnerable to damage. A god can only be killed by destroying all of their primal base, which is very difficult to do. See the Primal Blast ability below for the most direct way to do this. A god which does not have a home plane (see the section on Planes of Existence for more info) and loses all his base is permanently dead. One with a home plane will be regenerated with 75% of his former base after 100 years of non-existence. Of course, 100 years of non-existence is usually an invitation for an enemy to come in and conquer the plane, thus removing its status as a home plane...

• Immune to Exhaustion: Gods don't need to sleep or rest and can move at top speed indefinitely. Humanoid gods may sleep, but this is often a habit from when they were mortals.

• Life Support: Gods do not need to refuel their bodies and are not reliant on gases, water, chemicals, or any other substance to keep a body running.

• Immunity to Poison/Disease: Deities are immune to the toxic effects of poisons, gases, and other substances that are not actually corrosive. They are also immune to all diseases.

• Environmental Immunity: Divine bodies are immune to the full spectrum of environments that are native to the plane from which their body originated. Human deities could survive under conditions from the harshest winters to the desert's hottest sun, but they could not survive on the sun itself.

• Detect Primal Signature: All primal energy wielded by a deity has a signature associated with it. Deities can sense signatures and recognize those with which they are already familiar; they are invisible to mortals. A deity can create accompanying effects with almost any primal-based ability and can even use such enhancements to fool mortals into thinking another deity is responsible, but the signature is infallable and cannot be hidden from another deity. A signature lasts as long as an effect; there is no residual signature. Identifying a signature is a fairly straightforward matter of just looking at an effect or a deity himself. However, describing one to another being is hard. The only reasonably effective method is to show them the signature itself (or perhaps a direct mental link).

• Resistance: All deities receive a +50 bonus to all their resistance rolls. This cannot be further enhanced with any primal abilities (except possibly by deities whose sphere of influence includes luck), but can be enhanced by other spells.

Common Abilities

• Create/Enhance Body. Flux cost: None. Base cost: Varies. If a deity's body is destroyed or just needs to be replaced, a new humanoid body can be created for 50 base. The body will have average physical statistics; mental statistics of the deity will transfer over to the new vessel. An existing body can be enhanced: An expenditure of 2 base will raise the stat (potential and temporary) to the lowest number which increases the bonus by one point.

• Manipulation of Divine Senses. Flux cost: Varies. Base cost: Varies. Because deities can alter reality, they are capable of endowing themselves or others with enhanced senses or of creating entirely new senses. To enhance an existing sense, a deity must spend 20 flux per day during the enhancement process (time varies) and then a one time expenditure of 20 base to make the enhancement permanent. This adds a +30 skill bonus to that sense skill and can be repeated indefinitely.

  To create a new sense, two steps are involved. First, the deity must be able to duplicate the effect of the new sense though magic or some other method such as a divine wish or omnipotence (see below). Then, he must spend 50 points of primal base to make the effect permanent. This results in a sense with a skill of 30. It can then be enhanced as above. A deity might create ways of sensing good, evil, magic, poison, friendliness, traps, death, mass, humor, irony, or even the history of something.

• Detonation of Base. Flux cost: None. Base cost: All. This use of primal results in the total destruction of a deity. The primal base of a deity is totally converted to explosive energy which annihilates all matter within a range of 1 mile per 100 base so expended. The explosion will destroy anything in its blast radius except a primal shield, which will be reduced in strength by the amount of base / 10. If a deity is caught without a primal shield or cannot support one, any remaining damage is applied to the deity's primal base.

• Primal Blast. Flux cost: Varies. Base cost: None. A primal blast is also known as a wrath-of-the-gods attack. This is just pure flux channeled into the destruction of the target. Flux used this way will certainly attract the attention of other deities, even on other planes. A primal blast is not a subtle attack. Anything destroyed by the attack is completely vaporized. The only defense is a primal shield (see next entry).

  The primal blast attack is rolled on the following table. Each point of flux adds +50 to the attack roll; no DB of any sort applies. If a primal shield is present, include only as many points that penetrate the shield. Critical are on whichever table the deity wishes, but is generally an element associated with the deity or heat, by default. (K crit = A+E+E, L=C+E+E.)

  Primal Blast Attack Table

  Roll	Damage	Roll	Damage	Roll	Damage
  01-05	F	101-105	160E	201-205	360I
  06-10	6A	106-110	170E	206-210	370I
  11-15	12A	111-115	180E	211-215	380I
  16-20	18A	116-120	190E	216-220	390I
  21-25	25A	121-125	200E	221-225	400I
  26-30	32B	126-130	210E	226-230	410I
  31-35	39B	131-135	220F	231-235	420J
  36-40	46B	136-140	230F	236-240	430J
  41-45	54B	141-145	240F	241-245	440J
  46-50	62B	146-150	250F	246-250	450J
  51-55	70C	151-155	260G	251-255	460J
  56-60	78C	156-160	270G	256-260	470K
  61-65	86C	161-165	280G	261-265	480K
  66-70	94C	166-170	290G	266-270	490K
  71-75	103C	171-175	300G	271-275	500K
  76-80	112C	176-180	310H	276-280	510K
  81-85	121D	181-185	320H	281-285	520K
  86-90	130D	186-190	330H	286-290	530L
  91-95	140D	191-195	340H	291-295	540L
  96-100	150D	196-200	350H	296-300	550L

• Primal Shield. Flux cost: Varies. Base cost: None. A primal shield is the opposite of a primal blast; it is the ultimate shield of defense. There is no power in the universe that can pass though a primal shield, including primal. The only way to get through the shield is by destroying it. Deities can instantly bring a shield to bear, and since it is an extension of the deity's will, the parameters are infinitely adjustable (but do have some restrictions noted below). The larger the area that is protected, the more the shield costs. Each primal shield lasts ten minutes before the energy burns out.

  Typically primal shields are one-way. The shield can be centered on a point or a person, moving as that person moves. However, deities can only create a shield that contains themselves and/or beings to whom they have a link; these would include creatures created by the deity and any Channeling users who derive power from the deity, but does not include normal worshippers. Shields may include posessions of people who otherwise qualify and can include incidental vegetation/terrain.

  Primal shields can be created in any shape desired. The standard primal shield is a sphere ten feet in diameter; for this size of shield, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the number of points of primal invested in the shield and the shield's strength. The ratio changes in direct proportion to the radius of the shield sphere.

  Each point of primal blast that impacts a shield subtracts one strength point from it. For all other attacks, take the number of concussion hits, divide by 10 (drop fractions) and add 1 for each level of critical (A=1, B=2, etc). This number is the number of strength points subtracted from the shield. If the shield goes down before all the strength of the attack is reduced, remove damage in proportion to the original concussion hits and critical level.

  There are a variety of tactics that apply to primal shields. The three most common forms are listed here; the advantages and disadvantages of each will be discussed.

  • External Shield: This spherical shield is placed outside all other defenses (including magical spells, etc) that the target might have. It will counter all attacks first, this conserving a defender's other shields or armor. This shield can be extended in size according to the rules listed previously. Against attacks, it is treated as the best AT vs the attack and has a 0 DB. Advantages: This form is the best defense against a primal blast and stops it before it can do any damage to the target. Disadvantages: Normal attacks against external shields can drain it of strength, thus making it expensive to power and maintain.

  • Skin-tight Shield: This shield behaves as a second skin. All battle effects will encounter other shields and armor first before they get to the primal shield. This tactic minimizes the use of primal flux and is particularly popular among young godlings and demigods who must use their primal sparingly. Against attacks, the target's normal AT and DB apply. Any damage inflicted is applied to the shield and not the body of the target. Advantages: Efficient use of flux. Allows use of good defenses. Disadvantages: Damage which destroys external equipment (include primal blasts) is not protected against. A primal blast would thus leave the target naked but unharmed (if the shield is not penetrated).

  • Internal Shield: In this case, the shield surrounds only the brain, heart, and spinal areas. This is usually used by deities who have incredible regenerative processes and aren't too worried about most types of physical damage. Internal shields protect against decapitation and mind/soul affecting attacks. Advantages: Efficient use of flux. Protects against most instant death effects. Disadvantages: Does not protect the outer body at all. A primal blast would destroy the outer body but not kill a deity (who would become a bodiless entity).

  Primal shields can be altered to suit the deity's will. One common type of alteration called keying allows certain things to pass though a primal shield. Keying is basically the process of setting up what a shield will and won't engage; there is no additional cost. Through keying, a deity may create a spherical shield that projects into the ground; otherwise a spherical shield would act like a giant hamster ball. Keying also helps counteract the shield's inherent one-way nature; without keying, you could swing a sword at someone outside an external shield, but not be able to bring your arm back. Finally keying serves as a useful way of conserving a shield against attacks that won't affect the deity anyway, such as a fire deity allowing any fire to come though. Note that deities may only key their shields for something they have experienced before.

  It is also possible for divine beings to establish flux connections between their personal flux resevoirs and established primal shields. This is called linking. Linking costs 1 point per minute to maintain and allows a deity to use more flux to reinforce a primal shield during an attack. When a linked shield is attacked, the deity has three options:

  • Do nothing.

  • Allocated a stated amount to reinforce the shield. This flux is used to reinforce the shield against an incoming attack at exactly the point on the shield where the attack impacts. This means that while it may take 528 points of flux to set up a mile radius shield with one strength point, you can still counter a 10 point primal blast with 10 points. Since deities normally know only that an attack is coming and not how much damage it will do, they usually allocate more flux than they expect will be needed. Any extra points are added to the shield strength.

  • Create an open conduit of primal flux that will meet the attack. This has the same effect as the previous option, but doesn't require the diety to specify how many points are used; it just automatically allocates the exact amount necessary to counter the attack with no damage to the shield. This option has a potentially dangerous side, though. Because it works automatically, a very large primal blast can potentially suck away ALL of a deity's remaining flux, leaving them very vulnerable.

• Possession. Flux cost: Varies. Base cost: None. Possession allows a deity to take over a mortal body and use it as he sees fit. A possession attempt looks just like a primal blast and is costed the same way. Calculate the damage caused (subtracting the effect of any primal shields of course) and if that amount would be enough to kill the target, the possession attempt is sucessful. Whether successful or not, no physical damage is done to the target. Note that mortals willing to be taken over can be done so at no cost in flux.

  One possession has occurred, the deity has several choices with regard to the consciousness of the original inhabitant:

  • The deity may share control. For example, the deity can speak with the consciousness by alternating control of the vocal cords.

  • The deity may take total control and push the consciouness aside. The original consciousness will be able to receive sensory input as normal, but have no control over actions. The owner will not know what has possessed him unless the deity allows it.

  • The deity may take control and lock away the original owner. In this case, the owner loses consciousness. When possession is released, the owner will regain awareness. The deity may set a time delay before the consciousness recovers.

  • The deity can destroy the consciousness. When the deity relinquishes control, the body is left a mindless husk.

  The possessing deity may switch between options at will, except the last option is, of course, permanent. The deity may also read the victim's mind, but may not necessarily be able to access any specific bit of information.

  A second deity cannot possess the mortal until the first deity has left, and possession may not be passed from one deity to another. The first must leave, which allows the owner's mental defenses to return.

• Spells. Flux cost: Varies. Base cost: None. Spells may be cast purely though primal energy. One point of primal equals 10 spell points. Extra primal can be used to boost the spell effects (as noted below). All spell casting times are instantaneous (starred). The spell otherwise behaves exactly like a normal version of the spell, with normal resistance rolls and defenses, except for the following:
  • Base spells are cast with an inherent +0 BAR bonus, unless the spell can be cast normally with a bonus, in which case the bonus applies. Each extra point of primal adds a +20 to the BAR to a maximum of 100.

  • Elemental spells are cast with an inherent +0 EAR bonus, unless the spell can be cast normally with a bonus, in which case the bonus applies. Each extra point of primal adds a +20/+30 to the EAR for area attack spells/directed attack spells to a maximum of 100/150.

  • All spell durations, etc, are treated as if cast by a person of the level of the spell. The effective level of the caster can be increased by +5 levels or +50% of the level (whichever is greater) for each point of extra primal used to a maximum of the deity's level.

  • No quickness DB applies against such spells, but other resistances and magical bonuses to DB apply.

  • All spells cast in this manner cannot fumble or otherwise fail on their own (but can be deflected, negated, etc. as a normal spell of their type). A roll that would be a failure is rerolled.

  • All spells cast in this manner cannot be further primally laced (see next ability).

  Deities have an innate understanding of magic and do not require any time to learn a spell. They can acquire a spell in multiple ways: reading a scroll, encountering the spell in combat, learning it from someone else, absorbing it from an item, or even probing someone else's mind (via a successful possession).

  Deities may also power magic items with this ability. This is generally only used if the item is temporarily negated in an anti-magic field or such. The cost varies depending on the item, but generally runs 1-10 points.

  Note that this ability is mostly used by deities who did not come from a spell casting background or wish to cast a spell that they did not normally have access to. Ones with spell points will generally use Primal Lacing.

• Primal Lacing. Flux cost: 1. Base cost: None. Since primal can bypass any physical or energy barrier, a deity may want to enhance a spell with primal energy. This is known as primal lacing. It costs only a single point to primally lace a spell; more will not increase the effect any. Note that primal lacing does not enhance the inherent effect of the spell, nor does it increase the range beyond maximum. Lacing can also be done on spells cast by items. Lacing a spell has the following effects:
  • The target is treated as the worst AT for that spell.

  • The target is treated as having a DB of 0 with only magical resistances (not magical DB) applying. For example, a +20 shield will not help (either physically or magically), but a Firearmor spell (which gives +20 DB against fire spells) will help against a laced Firebolt. Similarly, a Protections I spell will give +5 on all BAR rolls even against primally laced spells.

  • Range modifiers do not apply to the BAR/EAR rolls, but the spell cannot go beyond its stated maximum.

  Note that it is also possible to lace defensive spells as well as offensive spells. A primally laced defensive spell that is hit with a primally laced offensive spell negate each other; the situation is treated as if neither were laced. If only the attack is laced, treat it as above. If only the defensive spell is laced, no additional bonuses are given to the defender. Note that a laced defense spell is treated as a single point primal shield and can be brought down (both the original spell and the lacing) with a single point primal blast. Multiple spells require a larger blast or many smaller ones.

• Divine Spirit. Flux cost: 20. Base cost: None. There are many ways that deities might choose to manifest themselves. They can appear in their true forms, and they can exist purely as raw, conscious primal base with no body. In addition, a deity may also create a mental essence called a divine spirit.

  A divine spirit is an invisible mental projection. It can optionally carry primal flux and act as a focus point for primal activity, but it is typically used for situations where the deity does not wish to leave a primal signature (but then cannot carry or channel primal flux) or to observe dangerous places. The divine spirit is capable of all the mental abilities to which the deity has access, but it does not act as an independent consciousness; it is merely a sensory gateway, a procy through which the deity may act.

  Since the spirit has no physical form, it cannot affect the physical world directly, and it has no primal signature, unless it is carrying flux. It can be detected by people or things that detect life, mental presences, enemies, alignment, and so forth, but can be cloaked if the deity has some way of cloaking such things.

  A divine spirit lasts for 10 minutes normally and can be sustained longer than the duration by spending 20 flux for each additional 10 minutes.

• Burning Primal Base. Flux cost: None. Base cost: Varies. Burning primal base generated a controlled and subtle change in how the universe works. Examples of this sort of thing include granting permanent blessings or curses, enabling special ablities or changing fate or destiny.

  Primal base so allocated is permanently used up and can never be recovered. In burning primal base, however, the deity has created a minor independent force in the universe that will continually be working to enforce whatever constant or alteration that the deity envisioned. Such a force can only be negated by the expenditure of an equal amount of base.

  The cost of such effects varies considerably. To calculate it, consider how much flux would be necessary to create this effect temporarily; for example, take the amount of flux necessary to cast an equivalent spell primally. This cost is then multiplied by 10 to get the amount of primal base which would have to be burned to accomplish this on a permanent basis.

• Wish. Flux cost: Varies. Base cost: None. Wishes are the most limited and direct category of the direct expression of a deity's will. Other forms are not available to demigods, so don't worry about them. When a deity elects to use a wish, the following steps are followed:
  • Determine what the effect of the wish is. Exact wording is not necessary; deities are not going to pervert the intent of their own wishes! The important thing is that the intent be clearly understood.

  • Assign the level of power that would be needed to produce this effect. Generally this is calibrated against an equivalent spell or spell-like effect.

  • Determine the primal energy needed to fulfill the wish. This would be the cost to throw the spell primally, if it existed, multiplied by five due to the inefficiency of the application.

  • Implement the effect.

• Other abilities: Avatar, Soul Capture, Ascension, Supporting a Demigod, Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence. There are a number of other abilities that are not detailed here because the characters for this run either do not have a high enough rank to use them or do not have enough base/flux to power them or aren't relevant. If you're curious, read TPO.

Spheres of Influence

Deities have three basic reasons for wanting a sphere of influence. First, the deity will be able to gain additional abilities, more powerful than the standard divine level abilities. Second, having a sphere of influence attracts followers who are seeking guidance, protection, or assistance in that sphere, or those who identify closely with the sphere. Finally a deity of higher rank may order another deity to develop a sphere. This is particularly true of godlings.

As deities increase in power, they gain a stronger influence on reality, which allows them to control more and more areas in their own name. Demigods and supported demigods may only have a single sphere of influence. Each rank above that allows a deity to have an additional sphere of influence.

Development of a sphere of influence requires extensive research in the area, in addition to becoming associated with the concept in the minds of worshippers, the public at large, and other deities. Ultimately, however, the complete development of a sphere of influence requires one final step: the establishment of an actual metaphysical overlap between the deity and the chosen sphere of influence, so that the deity and the concept become fundamentally connected to each other. This is more than just being associated with the concept; it involves actually becoming an underlying part of the concept.

On rare occassions, this final meld between deity and sphere might happen without anyone noticing, but by far the most common catalyst is a heroic quest, some event or task that defines and establishes a deity's right to claim the sphere.

Sphere Abilities

The effects of a sphere of influence ability are not typically overwhelming. The power and value of such abilities lie not in their magnitude, but in their ability to penetrate into areas that the deity would typically not be able to influence. All sphere abilities must allow divine defenders a resistance roll, but mortal defenders are on their own; they receive a resistance roll only if the ability so designates. Once an ability is developed, it can be activated at any time by expending the appropriate amount of flux.

If two sphere abilities conflict, each side starts with a 50% chance of success. If the conflict occurs in a place special to one side or another (e.g., a church or such), modifications of up to +/- 20% are applied. After that, each side may spend 50 flux to modify the success chance by +/- 1%.

Some sample spheres and their abilities are listed below. Note again that for demigods, only restricted spheres are available, not wide ranging spheres.

• Mass Combat
  • Command troops. Activation cost: 10 flux per day for up to 1,000 troops, 100 flux per day for up to 10,000 troops, 1,000 flux per day for all troops on a plane. Allows deity to issue orders and receive reports with no delay or errors from any troops who acknowledge his leadership.

  • Secure perimeter. Activation cost: 20 flux per day. Allows deity to set up a defined perimeter around a body of troops or a engagement line (up to 20 miles long). Any enemy crossing the line will trigger a notification to the deity of the number, place, and type of enemy.

• Actors
  • Mimic. Activation cost: 100 flux per day. This ability allows the deity to change appearance, personality, movement, and habits to perfectly mimic any being he has studied through close observation for at least one hour. This will not give the deity access to personal information.

  • Engage Emotion. Activaton cost: 50 flux. This ability allows the deity to inspire one target to become instilled with any emotion that the deity wishes. The target is not forced to act on the emotion, but will be more likely to do so.

  • False Friend. Activation cost: 25 flux. The ability allows the deity to question some subject very effectively by acting in such a way that the subject feels the deity is a friend and can be trusted with this information. The deity must have at least one hour of time with the target, and if the target fails a resistance roll, he will pour out his heart to the deity. Only subjects with an active reason to distrust the deity will get a full resistance roll; if the subject has a reason to trust the deity, apply a -50 to the roll, otherwise apply a -25.

• Lakes
  • Control Creatures. Activation cost: 25 flux per day. This ability allows the deity to control all non-sentient animal life in any one lake, not including any feeder or outlet streams.

  • Water Mastery. Activation cost: 25 flux per day. This ability allows the deity complete control over the distribution, movement, and form of the water in any one lake. He can part the water, create whirlpools and waves (up to 15' high), splash targets nearby on shore, and even make the water solid enough to walk on, but cannot cause appreciable amounts to leave the lake itself.

Primal Artifacts

Most primal artifacts will not do primal sorts of things; they won't shoot primal blasts, cast primally laced spells, erect primal shields, etc. The primal energy in the artifact is used only to make the tool's normal effects share more of the nature of the fundamental force that is primal energy.

All primal artifacts have the following characteristics:

• Permanency: An artifact cannot be destroyed or permanently functionally damaged except by another primal-based artifact or primal itself.

• Continued operation: An artifact cannot be negated, dispelled or affected by null-magic areas.

• Immunities: The item itself cannot be affected by normal spells, abilities, or other non-primal forces. It is impervious to any spell, energy attack, or energy analysis.

• Limited sentience: Artifacts gain a limited intellect and willpower unless they are specifically designed not to do so.

• Resistance roll bonus: Whenever a power of the artifact must make a resistance roll to avoid being negated, reflected, or diverted, it receives a +50 bonus. Note that this only applies against counterspells or like effects; the +50 bonus does not apply in any manner to any standard resistance rolls a target might receive.

Planes of Existence

A metaplane is a collection of planes which have connections to each other in some fashion. These planes will sometimes have a consistent "theme" or pattern, but do not necessarily have such. Note that the various planes do not necessarily have direct access to each other, but have some potential link, however indirect.

The metaplane that the PCs originate from is the metaplane of the religions of Earth. Thus, there is the prime material plane, i.e. the physical universe that Earth resides in, and separate planes for the various religions of past and present cultures. Among the planes are Mt. Olympus, Valhalla, Heaven, etc., as well as Orhan, the plane of the gods of the Shadow World. The new metaplane that you are escaping to is totally unknown to you.

Demigods may travel between planes of existence for no cost up to 4 times per day; other deities have varying levels of planar travel ability. To activate this power, a deity needs only be at a gate location (or on a plane that does not have gate restrictions) and will the transport. However, the deity must have some idea of where he is going or else the transport is essentially random (and possibly hazardous). If the deity has access to a spell that allows planar transport, he can use it to increase his transport capability.