This is actually a topic I was answering in a PM just the other day. SK doesn't have a continuity administrator, so things happen, get interpreted different ways over time and you can get several stories about the same thing depending on who you ask.
Leri wrote:
There are several things I'm confused about.
First, the helpfile reads as if Yizashi is a returned god of Fate, yet that appears to be Sadal in the list here on the website. Are they the same or different or is Yizashi just no more and the help file hasn't been updated yet?
Yiz was one of the old IMMs. I’m not sure when he joined, but it could be that he came after another IMM who was a god of fate. That’s where the reference COULD come from. Not sure. It could also be that some time after Yiz went inactive, a well meaning IMM changed the help file for a reason that made sense at the time.
Leri wrote:
Second, while Sadal may be Fate he doesn't seem to be about hedonistic pleasure per se. Where would that fit in, in the scheme mentioned on the website?
Back when Yiz was active, the static pantheon was being developed. It was decided then to split the sphere’s that Yiz was representing into two new IMMs: Sadal and Mira. Yiz was going to take one of them as his new name and another IMM (to be named at a future date) would have taken the other. Yiz went inactive some time around 1999/2000. Sadal v1 never knew Yiz or played when his faith was anything to speak of, so he invented Sadal as he wanted to. Things that Sadal didn’t take were probably thought to have either vanish or were going to go with Mira v1 who didn’t come until after Sadal was no longer on staff. Mira v1 probably didn’t want or didn’t think of the remaining aspects of Yiz not taken by Sadal and thus Mira chose his own interpretation.
Leri wrote:
Third, how are past gods (if he is one) meant to be roleplayed? Since his altar is still in game and IC accessible, I assume that old gods are remembered ICly even if not active anymore. However, I also think I read somewhere that we have a static pantheon, not a dynamic one - so I'm a little uncertain how to approach it.
There are lots of past gods out there. I know of one book that exists detailing the ancient gods. Some times the gods morphed into new versions with some IC reason given (sometimes recorded). It all depended on what the new IMM wanted in to keep in his role as a God. The current pantheon is Static, meaning that the primary spheres and names are not supposed to change, ever. (Baring events bringing a name into a very bad light. For example if a terrorist named Sargas appeared and provided an event like 9/11, then SK would most likely change the name.) There is only ONE name left to change to the static pantheon name listed out so long ago, and you can figure that out for yourself. I don’t think Dulrik likes the name Lalatinklekins though, so he might delay for awhile.
So while the current pantheon is static, the old one wasn’t and some of those gods just faded away, some were killed off (Ariakas) and a new god took there place (Sargas). Other’s transformed (Calrion to Alshain). Some gods have a long line of transformations from name to name to name, changing their spheres slightly with each evolution.
Leri wrote:
Also, if past gods are remembered ICly, is it possible to roleplay a pantheist who believes him/herself a follower of a past god, but lost his/her powers when they left? I'm thinking the aspect of doubt and convertion could play a strong role there... Might be interesting to try, if it's not frowned upon OOCly.
As Sadr said, go for it! Playing to a past god is a wonderful way to RP. Don’t expect any favors IMM wise though. Literature has many examples of character’s worshiping dead gods or gods who do not answer prayers. Just be prepared to live with the consequences of worshiping a non-active god. Some current gods and their followers may not approve of the old god. Others may think you are crazy. Just depends on how the RP is played out.
BugTussle