The Chained Watcher

Backstory: Pantheon

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(So this is partially an elaboration on one of the reasons a Watcher pantheon would form, along with an example of what that might look like.)

(Early backstory. Tier 3, to be specific)

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Occasionally, a higher Tier Watcher looking for more capable subordinates will host an... event, of sorts. A test, to filter out the lazy, the talentless, and the incompatible, giving them a more refined pool of candidates to choose from.

One of the more common types of tests, though not as common as a combat test, is used to select those with good resource management skills, along with a knack for strategy and efficiency. The pantheon test.

When holding a pantheon test, the participating Watchers are given a set of rules to follow, along with criteria they need to meet to pass the test. Sometimes the criteria includes a time limit, other times it's just a max number of Watchers who can pass.

Going over his notes, the Watcher double checked to make sure he hasn't forgotten anything. Time period is 100 years total, split into two 50 year phases. Pass criteria is to have your religion still intact at the end of the 100 year period. Fail criteria are to have your religion destroyed, have it become publicly known and accepted that you are a False God, and to not heed the restrictions. Fairly simple, all things considered.

The first phase has very few restrictions. Your goal is to build up the god you portray yourself as and gather followers, whether through 'manifesting' in a temple, having followers convert others, or other methods. There is a limit to the number of followers allowed to be mentally manipulated, to avoid those who have extensively trained that skill forming an army of fanatics incapable of being swayed.

The second phase is where a good portion of the lesser candidates will be weeded out. Whatever you've managed to build up so far, now you need to turn towards keeping itself up and running, as now it is not only expected, but encouraged to try to eradicate your peers' followings. The battle phase.

This is the phase that will filter out those who were relying on their own abilities to game the system and buff all their followers directly. No more direct intervention. You're allowed to 'send a vision' to one of your priests once a week, or even 'manifest' before them in a temple, but you're not allowed to do much more than that. It'll be up to your followers to keep themselves and your religion alive and well.

Alliances are perfectly within the rules, and it's recommended to get at least one ally before the battle phase, but he doubts any alliances will last more than a decade. Watchers have a habit of backstabbing each other when it looks like they can get something out of it, and having a higher chance of getting into a safer stronghold with better resources is more than enough of a reason for them.

Leaning back in his chair with a contemplative frown, he examined the long list of potential domains and their default alignment, along with which ones have already been claimed.

Most of the others already jumped at the obviously battle-inclined domains, such as War, Death, and Fire. A lot of the basic elements were also quickly snapped up, though Nature is still up for grabs if he really wants it. He doesn't though.

Not a single one of them has picked a domain centered around creativity, and that bugs him. Sure, it might not be the best for battle, but they'll all be fighting over the fighters and mercenaries, neglecting to consider the crafters and the suppliers. If he chooses one of these, then he'll be more vulnerable, yes, but he also might slip under their radars when thinking about possible threats.