The Silent Pact
The Silent Pact is the ultimatum and contract signed between the Sovereign of the Beneath and the Divine Fourteen many eons ago. If someone were to look at the Silent Pact, they would notice that Vormaxia, Almar, and Zepherin are not included - only the names of the original gods are signed. Two copies exist: one is held by Tarus in the Body Proper of his Library of Babel, and the other is within the Sovereign’s palace. This was done so that both parties could not make claims about the others violating the pact. The pact is sealed with both divine and infernal power, so that no one can tamper with the writing. Both sides got something out of the bargain and the ceasefire. The pact begins as follows:
By the will of Orus and the Will of the Sovereign, both sides shall cease hostilities towards one another. The devastation brought upon by the two sides has nearly destroyed the material world and has cost too much. Thus, it is by the wills of both parties that a pact shall be made to end the war between the heavenly domains and the Beneath. Both sides must agree to uphold their ends of the bargain or be subject to punishment. As the names are bound to this pact, so shall the fates of those that signed be forever bound.
The contract continues, in increasingly verbose and confusing language. However, the general terms are outlined below:
- The Sovereign may only retain a fraction of their former power; they are never to be worshiped as a god of any sort by mortals.
- Permanent portals to the Beneath are to be closed, and knowledge of how to create them hidden and made taboo.
- Knowledge of the Beneath is controlled by the priesthoods, and is unknown to the public.
- Should a member of a god’s clergy turn to the worship of demons or make any contract with a demon, their soul is immediately forfeit to infernal forces.
- Should any demon make their way to the mortal realm and die there, they will be brought back to the Beneath where they will resurrect themselves.
- The Sovereign is the ultimate and undisputed ruler of the Beneath. Should another god or powerful entity find themselves in the Beneath for whatever reason, they must obey the authority of the Sovereign while in the Beneath.