Here in BTACD, we have a specific power structure that governs where various important positions lay within it. This list goes over the power of gods, Ethers, Lords and Wards in comparison with mortal species, as well as descriptions to what each of them are.
Gods
Class: 1 || The ruling gods are those such as The One and Death; the Void hydras may also fall into this category. Ageless, all-powerful, omnipotent. These creatures outrank all.
Class: 2 || The greater gods are those that are split from the ruling gods, and have the ability to become a ruling god by combining powers with one another. The Ten, the Dark Five, and the Spiritual Gods fall into this category. All greater gods take the form of dragons or their related kin.
Class: 3 || Lesser gods are those who fall beneath both the greaters and the ruling class; they may take the form of any animal, and rarely leave the Realm over which they reign.
Class: 4 and 5 || Demigods are weak gods that reign over a singular, specific thing. The souls of balance, called the Ethers or Ether spirits, fall beneath the lesser gods. They retain the ability to bypass the Markers much like the gods, though they are incapable of weaving life as their superiors do.
Class: 6 and 7 || Beneath Ethers in base power are the god-chosen dragon royals; this bloodline is the ruling class of both Felnova and Millirand, descended from the First Dragon himself. The Lords of Kurai - Death, Famine, Pestilence and War - are god-chosen as well, and are comparable to the royals in magical strength. Spirit Kings are slightly stronger than both royals and Lords, but are restricted to serving the Spiritual Planes alone.
Class: 8 || God Wards are the servants of the gods; those of the greater spirits are much more gifted than ones of lesser gods, and are granted greater powers. Somewhat lacking in power compared to the greater god Wards, lesser Wards fall between regular immortals and their superiors. Both are bound by the god of which they serve's will.
Do note that Wards are a store-bought trait! Please buy the item if you wish to create a Ward.
Class: 9 || Immortals include any and all races that are immortal by birth, or mortal creatures who have - in some way - gained immortality.
Class: 10 || Mortals are any and all races who are subject to aging and dying from old age, who do not live more than five hundred years.
Mortals
More information on the classes can be found below.
Ruling Gods are also known as the First Beings; creatures that wander the universe outside of Realms, gifted by great and terrible magic and power, and the creators of all that is known. They are omnipotent and all-powerful, strongest in Creation.
These creatures are not known to be able to be killed by any natural means, nor are they known to die. They are the only creatures to be able to exist outside of a Void hydra's protection, and the only large and powerful living things to live outside of a Realm sphere.
Includes the One and Death, all Void Hydras, and the Great Serpent.
Greater Gods are those who have great and powerful control over the worlds around them, and have either split from or been spawned from a First Being or Ruling God with the intention and cohesion to rule. The Ten (The Felnovian Five and Millirand Five) may join to become the One, and the Dark Five may join into Death. This process is controlled by the need of the worlds, and the Keys that unlock both First Beings - Lowan for the One, and Desraier for Death. Linath is the daughter of the First Being and god of the Spirit Realm, and is thus considered a greater goddess herself. Greater Gods are also restricted from too much meddling in mortal lives, due to the Balance that governs all of creation.
The Greater Gods are known throughout their Void hydra, and often have a hand in many Realms. They are responsible for overseeing the creation of multiple species and Realms, as well as lesser gods and demigods. Most powerful Wards are Wards of Greater Gods. All Greater Gods appear as dragons. All Greater Gods may shift form into any Aspect they wish.
Greater Gods include but are not limited to Time, Lyfe, Noamuth, Linath, etc. The Felnovian Five, the Millirand Five, the Dark Five, and Spirit Gods.
Lesser Gods are deities that are usually restricted to a single Realm, and reign over aspects of that Realm within that Realm's sphere alone. They may not be welcomed in anyplace but their home Realm and the Highrealm, and may be persecuted or driven out by the gods of the Realm they intrude upon, or by any Greater God. Any Lesser may be found wearing the form of any creature, humanoid or not.
Most Lesser Gods cannot take an alternate form, though there are few exceptions. The gods of Kurai, for example, may shift into humanoid forms alongside their true, animalistic forms.
Lesser Gods include but are not limited to the Demonic Four, the Twin Gods, the Four of Xaeri, etc.
Demigods are created by Greater Gods, and rarely Lesser Gods, to rule over a small aspect of reality or a species. They are known usually only by worshipers of that aspect, or members of that species. Often, demigods are mortals that were chosen for godhood, or offspring of gods that Ascended to become a demigod.
Demigods include but are not limited to Nebrielas, god of lions; Wrath, goddess of lust; Cirrus, god of wolves; etc.
Ether Spirits are, technically, not spirits at all - but the soul of an Ether is much different than a regular individual. Ethers uphold the balance of their Realm, soulbound to the survival of that Realm, and no world may exist for long without an Ether to solidify its existence in the Void it is in. More information is located here.
Every Realm has one Ether Spirit.
Spirit Kings are the leaders of the Spirit Realms: the Highlord of the Highrealm, the Lord of Hell, Lord of Ghosts and Lord of Spirits all fall under the classification of a Spirit King. They serve Linath and the Greater Gods specifically, and act as balance-keepers, leaders, messengers, and scouts depending on the needs of the gods at any one moment. They are also considered guardians and shepherds of their chosen spiritual Realm.
Spirit Kings are able to leave their Realms, though must not tarry for long, lest the Realms they reign over fall to chaos without leadership and guardianship. A Spirit King will always have great knowledge of their Realm and be able to feel a Realm's state of balance, as well as the Core (central, spiritual energy) of that particular world, no matter how far away they are. All Spirit Kings gain the usage of their Realm's reiatsu, and an affinity for spiritual magic.
Most Spirit Kings are mortal until granted Kingship by the goddess Linath. In very dire circumstances, Linath may control a Spirit King body and mind, though this often leads to their death.
Royal-blooded individuals of god-gifted bloodlines are very, very rare. They are often tasked with the keeping of particular balance of a Realm or people, and are granted great power and the authority to use such power, and that power is always passed by blood.
Dragon royals are those descended from Kazule, the First Dragon, given royal blood and ties to the Realm of Felnova's balance specifically. Many are gifted incredible power, often over elements, and reign over dragons that are of more common blood. Royal blood is not diluted by purebred dragon breeding, though it can and will be through hybrid offspring, to the point of disappearing many generations down the line.
Demon royals are those who are granted Lordship over a Kingdom of demons by the gods of Kurai, or the offspring of such Lords. A new Lord may be Ascended by the god of that Kingdom, and royalty cannot be granted any other way, save for reproduction from a royalblooded demon and no other. Royal demon blood cannot be diluted by hybridization, nor pairings outside of a particular royal family. Demon Lords (and not other royals not currently reigning) have the ability of absolute control over any demon of their Kingdom they give orders to.
God Wards are the hands of the gods in the mortal worlds, governed often with a single, specific task, or series of tasks. After the completion of such a task, many Wards will die. They may be used as mouthpieces for the gods, when they do not wish to appear to mortal races as themselves; a god may take over their Ward and speak or act through them, give them particular visions, or fuel them with power to perform some task or another.
A Ward may only be sworn to a single god and no other; Wards with multiple gods are unheard of, and Wards are never shared. However, a god may have multiple Wards, with either the same or different tasks, depending on what that god wants. Some Wards are granted immortality by their god, or abilities to better help them serve their task. Rarely after a task has been fulfilled, if a god is impressed enough with that Ward, that god may allow them to live and return to their mortal or immortal life.
Greater God Wards are quite powerful, and are usually forces to contend with; Lesser God Wards are much weaker, and do not hold the same strength. There have been rare cases of demigod Wards, but they are barely stronger than regular mortal or immortal individuals.
Immortals and mortals may achieve great power despite the general structure of power listed here. However, very few - unless god-gifted - are able to reach past the seventh class without some great event explained through the lore. If you wish to have a character that reaches or surpasses past a Royal in power class, without gaining a proper position, you must get staff approval.
Likewise, some individuals in each class may become more powerful or somewhat weaker than their average kin. For example, Fang is an exceptionally powerful dragon royal - perhaps nearer to the sixth class than the seventh. Another example would be Jekt, a former Demon Lord who was much weaker than the norm.
