Gods Road is the central location of Zealot and the place where players will spend the majority of their time.
The tiny size of the town Gods Road belies its nature: it is one of the holiest places in Circadia. Gods Road is one of the remaining towns once known as a Godscross: a place where multiple Gods have alighted and, while doing so, performed Blessings. Indeed, the town is sacred to the known Gods, including those who have fallen.
Foremostly, Gods Road played an indelible role in the Blood War. It was the place where Kasamei first presented Mynair’s corpse to Beodhen, as well as the location where Hyrnedhna, confronted by Beodhen and his allies, finally fell. The Mortals attending these events consecrated the place as inescapably holy and, as interest in Gods Road grew, more about its history became known.
Perhaps through coincidence or fate, Gods Road has long been important to Divine powers. Its historical import has, after significant research, become well documented. T’Myrim and his Consort Zyr’zane first presented their twins–T’rer and T’zyri–to the Mortal World when Gods Road was called Eskrinėrya. There is a humble yet ancient stone shrine dedicated to the twins, and new parents will often take their infants there to be Blessed by Clergy. Steramestei and Kasamei similarly occupy a shrine in Gods Road, though it is much grander: The Star Tower is an elegant and luxuriously constructed observatory where Devout of the Sisters gather to meditate on Dreams and Nightmares. It is said that the greatest of prophecies have been seen at The Star Tower. In addition to her own religious site, Kasamei commanded a memorial to Mynair: in a small, private alcove, a reflecting pool–swirling with eternal waters of the tides–waits for mourners and celebrants alike. As if in protest, loyal followers of Hyrnedhna created a memorial to the Goddess’s former power: far in the outlying woods, three deep gashed have been scarred into the ground. Followers of Hyrnednha meet here in (relative) secret. The scars are nominally considered representations of Hyrnedhna’s own ferocious claws but are more infamously thought to be a mockery of T’zyri’s scarred face.
Nepheris and Beodhen occupy their own space, though it is a slightly controversial one. It was witnessed that, prior to the Blood War, Beodhen and Nepheris–alighting on a sequestered lake assumed to be sacred to their mother–had a fierce argument. (One notably unbecoming of Nepheris.) While Beodhen’s anger is widely known, Nepheris is known for his eternal composure. The conversation, spoken in an old language, was understood by no witnesses; the outcome, however, most certainly was. Nepheris, enraged by one of his brother’s comments, struck at Beodhen, bloodying his face. Beodhen returned in kind, and the brothers’ blood fell to the earth, swirling into the waters of the lake. The lake still shimmers with the gold and silver blood of the brothers and is known to have powers of inspiration and healing. Of course, the Brothers deny that the lake’s strange color has anything to do with a fight–they maintain it is instead a testament to their family’s commitment to the Mortal realm.
Unsurprisingly, Gods Road is a major pilgrimage destination, and the population is ever shifting. However, one population remains constant: The High Clergy and specially gifted Devout. While the High Clergy travel across the realm frequently, they make their official home in Highgate Keep, a small castle at the boundaries of Gods Road. Adjacent to Highgate Keep, though closer to the town, are the Highgate Barracks–the spartan accommodations provided to those Devout actively in service to the High Clergy.
Recently, expertly trained Devout have been called to take up residence in the Highgate Barracks. Some five years ago, an Abyssal Rift opened a half mile outside of God’s Road. Initially, small scale efforts to fend off the encroaching Corruption maintained the security of the town and its sacred sites. However, over the last year the violence has been mounting and a special force of Devout has been called. Thus far, action has been limited to skirmishes. Many expect that, soon, investigatory parties may be sent to explore the Abyss.
While most call Gods Road by its common tongue title, it has older names connected to the ancient history of Circadia: Eskrinėrya, Bloedynsrood, and Godhad are those still known.
Zealot Larp 