Godbound: Wonders of the Thousand Gods, Part 1

The region known as the Thousand Gods embodies how truly lopsided the Realm of Arcem more than any other region. Built in ancient times in untapped jungles, the facilities there were the ancient temple-research centers of the Former Empires as they field-tested the theotechnical devices which would be implemented in the Made Gods.

Suffice to say things went south pretty quick as the wars raged on.

Today these places are insular communities who live in veneration and fear of their 'Gods', horrible monstrosities created by the research facilities as a lost resort to survive the horrors of the Sundering. These beings are more often than not lopsided beings driven mad by their transformation. The end result are jungle communities where ancient technology overlap with cruel, sometimes degenerate tribal societies (but often just as much simply desperate) where pre-industrial lifestyle overlap with leftover wonders of advanced theotechnical marvels jealously guarded by shaman and their vicious masters.

Artist Unknown

Monstrous Demiurges

The key component of the societies of the Thousand Gods are the beings they serve and fear. Created from either untested or damaged theurgic and theotechnical means, most if not all divinely powerful beings found in the Thousand Gods region are horrific monsters in some shape, form or function. Few, if any of them, are truly sane or well-meaning. While the infamous Parasite Gods are one common form these beings can take, they are not the only type:

• Artificial Intelligence: The core 'canon' of Godbound is somewhat unclear on the existence of true Artificial Intelligence. The Lexicon of the Throne leaves it open to inclusion in a campaign and it is definitely one of the cooler concept Words. But does it exist in Arcem? If it does then it must be a byproduct of the theotechnical knowledge which went into the creation of the Mades Gods as some were said to be wholly artificial. An Artificial Intelligence would be a form of spirit, in a manner of speaking, its code made of ephemeral and multi-dimensional...thingamajig. Look the point is they are coded into reality rather than coded into a device. It is likely the Ren and Din were the one to build such constructs: the Ren to help manage their ideal society on a societal level while the Akeh likely used them for automation and defensive purpose.
• Beast Gods: Driven mad by a surge of divine powers, these creatures are massive and bereft of anything resembling human intelligence. Some came into being via highly unstable Khamite soul-gene modifications which grew out of control from an excess of divine power while others were warped by other means. The key traits of Beast Gods is that, while they are divinely powered beings they lack intelligence. Any cult centered around them treat them more like a living volcano to be placated or some giant guardian which sacrifices are offered. While these beings understand these pacts they cannot communicate with their worshipers beyond certain theurge-shaman using songs or rituals to soothe the beast.
• Corrupt Godwalker: Sometimes, things go terribly wrong in Godwalker designs. The end result is a haunted, unstable machine with a life of its own. This is not quite the same as it being sentient or possesed but rather a form of mental imprinting which slowly corrupt the pilot to fulfill the alien needs and desires of the machine. In addition, much like artifacts, these corrupted Godwalkers will warp the body and mind of its pilot or even try to physically assimilate it into its structure in some cases. The end result is very much a biomechanical Parasite God for all intent and purpose, albeit one without the limits of being tied to one location. They do, however, require maintenance to live which is a different limitation and weakness. Eventually the human inside will rot or be consume and a new pilot will be chosen to ensure the mechanical God live again.