successor lore

check rules, summary, and available listings before contacting the lorekeeper about making a muse

[divinusdoctrina]

ATTENTION MEMBERS

A note on the application I just posted;

All of you are also required to submit an application. No worries, your positions are safe and sound within the group, but it would make life far easier for me if I was able to keep everything together. I’ll be able to keep track of blogs and stay on top of keeping the muse list up to date more efficiently. This is just for organization on my end.

[divinusdoctrina]

successor application

--BASIC MUSE INFO-- *Please include a reference image if you have one. If you do not, please include a detailed description of your character’s appearance after you fill in the personality part.

Name: Gender: Ethnicity: Height: Weight: Overall health: Orientation: D.O.B. : Personality:

--VERSE REQUIRED INFORMATION-- *Be as thorough as possible.

Which legendary is your muse’s patron?

--answer here

Background up until meeting their patron?

--answer here

How does your muse’s personality and morals reflect their patron’s?

--answer here

What bond does your muse share with their patron (sibling, parental, romantic, etc.), and how does this impact how they get along?

--answer here

How did your muse help their patron in their duties before selection?

--answer here

How long did your muse know their patron before their patron offered the position as a Successor? What was the deciding factor in that offer?

--answer here

What minor abilities did your muse manifest after selection through training with the Alpha Successor?

--answer here

If your muse has already achieved the true transition, how many years did it take? What kind of training did your muse undergo? *Keep in mind that a muse becomes timeless after selection and the transition is an extremely cruel process, 50+ years spent training would be ideal.

--answer here

Whether a duties post is available for your muse yet or not, what sort of tasks do you see your muse being appointed by their patron?

--answer here

--MISC. INFO-- *For use OoC

Mun’s nickname: Mun’s pronouns: Mun’s age: Years of RP exp. :

Please provide a link to what you feel is your best piece of writing, whether it be a post on here, fanfiction, or an original piece.

--answer here

How active do you think you will be in the group?

--answer here

Are you willing to join the Discord server? *If so, please include your Discord handle so I can add you

--answer here

**Note: Submitting this application means that you have read everything on the blog over thoroughly, understand the rules, and acknowledge that I ( Zack, mun over on resdivinae ), hold authority over the AU. Applicants and members must be willing to work with me one on one to discuss what sort of powers / abilities that muses will manifest, I have to give the okay on any major changes. 

This is only to ensure the lore is being followed and there isn’t a power imbalance--there are limits and ceilings on abilities and a chain of command within the group itself. Successors are powerful beings, yes, but there is a structure behind how that power works. There are checks and balances to ensure there aren’t completely OP muses running around.

--Please submit completed applications to this blog. I will review them once a week and get back to applicants as frequently as I can.

--Make sure to check the available listings page. If you put in an application for a patron that already has a Successor, your application will be deleted.

[divinusdoctrina]

;;Selection

There has always been some flavor of judgment concerning the next generation of gods. For so many came to their Patrons broken in ways that could not be repaired, shattered hearts and battered souls caged in scarred bodies. Found and befriended long before a single one was ever considered for selection.

Relationships have time to grow during these periods. Legendaries given an ample period to weigh and judge these weathered warriors, these champions of life, before a decision is made regarding an offer of Succession.

A person who has lead a happy life cannot become a Successor.

Someone who has lived without pain, without struggling, cannot begin to comprehend the world on the level that the new deities must. These people have not seen the darker aspects of life. And even if one has, that person must have lived it to understand. There is a reason the majority of the Successors have been criminals, plucked from their respective crime ridden hives.

With rare exceptions, a goody two shoes will never even be able to dream of being a Successor. It just won’t happen. It never will.

Long before one is a Successor, they were already a champion in life. Broken and beaten down, dragged through the mud. Only to get back up, to spit out a mouthful of a blood, to hold their chin high and say,

“Knock me down again. I’ll only get back up.”

These are people who have had their mettle tested over and over again, and each time, only grit their teeth and pushed on, harder and harder. People that have been opposed from their very birth, forced to fight and claw their way through life. People that have already proven nothing may keep them down, nothing can stop them--that they will always cling to what they feel to be right and do everything in their power to defend that point of view.

Once in a blue moon, those views line up with a Legendary’s own.

And so this deity now has this unstoppable force of a human near to them. This unshakable, worship worthy, god of a human that shares their beliefs with them. One that has already proven they will never bow, never waver, never give in. A human just like them despite mortal coils, a far cry from fragile, who has already known unspeakable pains and still continues on.

Those who have known pain beyond what most could even dream of and still keep living. These people, strong beyond words, who will never buckle.

These are the ones who are worthy of trying to become Successors.

Those who have seen every ugly aspect of life and still yet keep breathing. The ones who understand how convoluted morals are, how twisted and tricky life is, the ones who do not wear a set of rose tinted glasses or have outrageously high strung morals about always being good and righteous.

One must do unsavory things to carry out their duties. And they must be able to do it without thinking twice, without once doubting themselves for it. One cannot let what society deems as good or bad to keep them from upholding their appointed tasks.

Morals could very well start an apocalypse if the gods actually cared for what humanity thinks is right or wrong.

Legendaries require a human that thinks like them. And a human that has no qualms in acting like them.

[divinusdoctrina]

Lets talk.

Allow me to preface this by saying I am not angry at anyone but myself. I have stayed silent and sat back as opposed to voicing my opinions or stepping in when I needed to step in. My frustration is with myself for allowing myself to end up reaching this point when I could have prevented it.

Respect.

This is something I try to have for everyone in the AU. I both allow and very much encourage members to pitch ideas and talk about things. But I feel it has gotten to the point where discussion has become finalizing ideas without talking to me first, which violates the rules of this AU. Everything must be discussed with me, everything must be finalized by me--and even when I say yes to something to start with, I very much expect a full rundown on what the idea entails and to be allowed to finesse it.

I do not feel this AU, and by extension myself, is getting the respect that I ask for. When questions pop up, it is fine to hold a group discussion. I encourage a bit of play with the lore, creative freedom and certain muse details remain to be handled at the digression of the mun. But if there’s a point of confusion, then ask me. I am the final word on this AU. I am the final word on the lore.

This is something I have sank hours upon hours into. Have a journal kept for so when I feel ready to continue sharing and expanding the lore on here, I may do so. There is a universe in the making here that I have put a very considerable portion of my time into. There isn’t a day that goes by where I’m not considering future possibilities for the lore, different roles, how everything will eventually interconnect and intermingle.

And this is a universe I allow people to join freely. With the understanding that I remain to be the authority. That when I say something, or iterate something through Apath, it will be respected and followed. I do not feel I’ve been getting that as of late. I haven’t for quite some time, and I have been writing it off as just me being tired or stressed, but it isn’t that.

Ideas are brought up and then run with without anyone ever once approaching me, one on one, to actually discuss it all with me. Things are done without anyone stopping to ask me if that’s how the lore works, how the universe I’ve built works. And that feels like a slap in the face. It makes me feel as though the only kindness I receive is solely to get a foot in on the AU and then whatever I have to say from that point on is worthless.

The transitioning aspect has been a problem for a long time, when I have made it clear from the start it is an extremely dangerous process that should, by all rights, take hundreds of years unless one is the Alpha or the Primordial Omega. That has been ignored on a spare few occasions.

The fact major powers will not come into play without years upon years upon years of training has been ignored. Abilities have been run with without anyone approaching me first. Assumptions of power have been made without, again, anyone approaching me first.

Even the selection process for Successors has become something that’s been spit on and I’ve been too anxious to say no to ideas. Some have come up with very, very good reasoning for instant selection--such as that Legendary putting the potential Chosen through a test. Otherwise? There needs to be a bond first. Apath was Arceus’ child for a long time before they were asked to be his Successor. If you were the Legendary in question, would you ask some random stranger you hardly know to inherit divinity and your role in the world?

No. Because you’re a god, and there is a balance that must be upheld, and you need to know for certain if someone’s really the right person for the task before you even entertain the idea of asking and forming a bond.

I want everyone to have fun. I encourage having fun.

But that fun shouldn’t disrespect the universe that’s allowed you to have it in the first place. I have put so, so much time into this AU and now I’m at a point where I honestly want to close the AU and leave the Pokemon fandom entirely.

I will not do that. But it has gotten there.

Everything has to be cleared with me first.

I didn’t have to make this a group thing. I could have kept it entirely to Apath and built lore around them instead. Or I could have made this group incredibly selective and require several standards be met along with a grueling application process. But I didn’t.

I didn’t because I wanted this idea to be shared. I wanted people to be able to join in without any problem, to have fun, to make friends and have their muses exist in a world where suddenly the impossible has become the norm.

All I ask is that I receive the respect I ask for myself and my AU. Please discuss things with me. Don’t assume everything is fine and do it anyways. Contact me personally. Talk things through with me. Allow me to help you balance things out, let me inch along through the lore with you. Decisions are being made without being OK’d by me first and that isn’t alright.

It makes me feel like I’m being used. Like my lore is meaningless to you all except for the fact you get to play a deity. And I have my standards because of the fact even these deities have limits they cannot go beyond.

I ask that whoever sees this will share a link with the group on Discord. 

I will not be checking it for the rest of the night, nor do I think I’ll be unmuting the server any time tomorrow. I will not respond to PMs concerning this tonight, I’m too tired, and I’m honestly too hurt to handle it.

Again, I’m not angry at anyone. It is my fault for not correcting this earlier on.

I adore all of you, and I continue to be so very, very grateful to have made friends through this idea of mine. It still blows my mind that people want to make Successors and Protectors, that people even outside of the AU have accepted my universe as some sort of strange canon in the community.

I’m off my Pokemon blogs for the rest of the night.

I’ll be on Fantasypath, however, and Tobi.

Stay safe, babes.

[divinusdoctrina]

lore memes pt1

The amount of dumb shit I have to take out of the final drafts on these posts is absolutely astounding. Here’s a small compilation for your memeing pleasure, some from posts not yet finished. Expect a pt2 at some point in the future.

--“The Alpha will McFucking Ground You(tm).”

--“I’d punch a man for the ocean, I don’t give a fuck.”

--“Groudon did the macarena and that’s how volcanoes were formed.”

--“Confirmed for Godfather of the Bird Leaves.”

--“Suicune knows how it feels to chew 5 gum.”

--“The flashy horns are definitely compensating for something.”

--“Fun? Not on my watch, you fucking fucks.”

--“Hercules bodyguards for a bunch of Memelords(tm).”

--“What kind of person stays awake when they could be ASLEEP?”

--“I guess I just like making flower crowns and shit.”

--“The Void Daddy(tm) consumes naughty universe breakers.”

--“Moon Bat is surprisingly good with diplomacy.”

--“Laser tag in space is Palkia’s specialty, complete with universal rifts.”

--“ICE ICE BABY plays at all times as part of global warming awareness.”

--“Hoopa lives to fuck shit up, much like the honey badger.”

--“You can’t beat Victini, much like you can’t escape existential dread.”

[divinusdoctrina]

duties; JIRACHI

--Duty posts will be done up individually for each Successor

THE ASTRAL SUCCESSOR

This Successor plays the role of a messenger between deities--possibly even between universes. It serves as no surprise that there are Legendaries that just don’t get along, but some contact may still be needed in order to continue carrying out their duties without flaw. That’s where the Astral Successor comes in.

A neutral party to take messages to and from other deities.

Of course, sometimes one just can’t leave their post long enough to say anything in person. Jirachi’s Successor comes in handy in those instances as well. That is their main role, especially whenever Jirachi itself is sleeping. They also have a secondary role in tending to the needs of the Successors and Patrons that rule the cosmos--Lunala and Solgaleo, and their respective Chosen.

They make for a tight knit group.

Aside from this, the Astral Successor plays a unique role in that they and their Patron are an embodiment of a form of hope. Not all wishes may be granted, but there’s still those yearning hearts out there wishing on shooting stars. While some wishes can’t be made to come true, this Successor plays the role of a hype man for those who may need it.

Nothing matters more than keeping that spark of hope and happiness alive. Well, except for, perhaps, getting lots of good sleep. This Successor is notorious for going to sleep at completely inopportune times, sometimes staying clocked out for several days before returning to the waking realm.

*Bonus: This Successor may become aggressive while delivering mail if the recipient shows petty behavior by trying to deny any messages from someone they dislike. Including but not limited to putting the recipient in a headlock to force them to hear out what needs to be said. Of course, some do engage in relying on this Successor to send completely immature messages. Such as Groudon having them tell Kyogre “you’re a little bitch”.

[divinusdoctrina]

||; update

Lore Rules have been revised; additional rule added Multiverse theory no longer applies. Once all Legendary / Mythical Pokemon are spoken for, applications for joining the AU with a Successor muse will be closed. *Protectors remain to be an option, Lore will be expanded upon to involve other types of ranks as well to ensure people are still able to join the fun. **You do not have to have a muse that’s officially part of the Lore to acknowledge it IC if you write with those who are part of the Lore.

To do list: --Finish work on Duties of Jirachi post --Establish official application form for Successors --Establish official application form for Protectors --Start work on in-depth analysis of how abilities manifest to clear up potential confusion on how Successors actually work

[divinusdoctrina]

duties; LUGIA

--Duty posts will be done individually for each Successor

ONE OF THE TOWER SUCCESSORS

The Harmony Successor is a counterpart to Ho Oh’s, known as the Rebirth Successor. Lugia’s own takes their role quite seriously, both the Successor and their respective Patron are stationed as Kyogre’s underlings. More than this, however, this Successor and Succeeded duo also lead the trio of Legendary Birds ( Moltres, Articuno, Zapdos ), much like Ho Oh leads the the trio of Legendary Beasts ( Suicune, Raikou, Entei ).

This Successor takes their and their Patron’s roles as guardians of the sea very, very seriously. Whereas Kyogre may yet be focused on the oceans overall, this duo reigns over the smaller seas--though will rise to the occasion should true discord and mayhem befall the oceans. They play the part of very, very fierce warriors if they must; though much like their Patron, the Harmony Successor prefers to take a more diplomatic approach as a mediator.

While this duo doesn’t rank as highly as most major Legendaries on the Chain of Command, do not underestimate their power. Lugia is a true storm caller, able to bring about torrential gales and downpours with minimal effort. A skill that, while watered down for their personal protege, will eventually be shared with the Harmony Successor after several centuries of training.

And despite their rank, this duo answers only to Kyogre, Rayquaza, and the other deities above those two.

The Harmony Successor is known to have uncannily strong psychic abilities even before being named as Lugia’s True Successor, and will later develop an ability to control the winds themselves as their Patron does. For the most part, this Successor may only watch over the seas and carry out the tasks asked of them by Lugia and Kyogre.

*Bonus: Because Lugia is known to accidentally cause devastation, this Successor spends an uncanny amount of time partaking in solely in discipline training to ensure they will not do the same. The Successor and Succeeded both grow alongside each other as opposed to the usual Patron and Pupil training regimen as per other duos--it speculated that Lugia themself does not reach their full potential until they have found their Successor, finding more control over their own abilities as they help to ensure their Successor does not make the same mistakes.

[divinusdoctrina]

duties; SUICUNE

--Duty posts will be done individually for each Successor

ONE OF THE BEAST SUCCESSORS

This Successor belongs to a trio, just as their Patron does. And much like the other two, the Successor of Suicune does hold their own title outside of Beast. They are also known as the Cleansing Successor.

It should be fairly obvious as to how this Successor earned their respective title. Much like their Patron, they focus on purifying sullied waters and keeping pollutants at bay. However, their duties do not coincide with Kyogre’s or Lugia’s in any way--both Suicune and the Cleansing Successor steer clear of bodies of saltwater. This is due in part to the fact their abilities would turn it to freshwater instead, which would prove catastrophic to marine life and the oceans’ ecosystems.

Instead, they focus only on freshwater bodies. Lakes used as dump sites, oil spill off into applicable rivers and inlets, so on and so forth. This duo keeps to grasslands and otherwise when not hard at work, though they are known to travel further north ever so often, finding comfort in cooler weather.

More than purifying freshwater sources and preventing future pollution, however, this Successor may also be found fighting against Shadow Pokemon, or otherwise fallen Pokemon. Like their Patron, the Cleansing Successor takes it upon themself to purge dark things from the world. 

Much like this Successor’s two counterparts and their respective Patrons, the Cleansing Successor tends to adhere to the Successor of Ho Oh without question. There is very much a parent and children bond between the Rebirth Successor and the three Beast Successors. The Cleansing Successor, however, shares the closest bond with the Rebirth Successor.

*Bonus: Due to speculation about Suicune being the reincarnation of the North Wind, this Successor may or may not actually be able to send messages on the wind that follows them. Depending on the maturity of this Successor-Succeeded duo, however, those messages may very well be fart noises carried on a faint, crisp breeze.

[resdivinae]

Pardon the paranoia–just a reminder, y’all.

The Herald lore is in no way associated with the Successor lore. Heralds belong to Knight. Successors belong to me.

And anything to do with Successors or the Successor lore must be run by me before you do anything with it.

[divinusdoctrina]

duties; GROUDON

--Duty posts will be done up individually for each Successor

ONE OF THE TERRAFORMER SUCCESSORS

This Successor tends to be the most hot headed of the trio, prideful and more than willing to pick a fight to prove themself. Bold, undaunted, and unabashed. And as they should be, they are as strong as the earth itself, as the unyielding mountains and ridges, yet able to be as soft as freshly tilled soil should they so desire to be.

The Successor of Groudon has a main focus on maintaining the health of the land, whereas Kyogre focuses on the seas. Landfills, toxic waste dumps, drilling for oil, strip mining, mass deforestation--this list of everything this Successor stands against goes on and on. It’s simply something they won’t stand for, even if their methods of carrying out their duty of protecting the earth itself from defilement is far more aggressive than any of the others.

They will stop at nothing to keep the land as pure as possible, as untainted as it can get by human hands. There is a very intense disregard this Successor may hold towards humanity overall, if only because of what humans have done to the earth.  That isn’t to say they necessarily hate humanity, but they certainly abhor those who bring ruin to it for selfish gain.

While they may not yet be responsible for the creation of new land masses, this Successor is in charge of protecting what already exists, alongside their Patron. Even going so far as to sabotage equipment used for deforestation, so on and so forth. Murder is certainly not out of the books, either.

Despite the animosity between them and the constant bickering, this Successor will oftentimes team up with the Successor of Kyogre, as the overall health of the ocean and land directly impacts the other.

*Bonus: This Successor just can’t stand being cold. Absolutely can’t stand it. It’s more likely to see them in a sweater or jacket than not. Another thing worth noting is that this Successor is likely to have a strongman body type--that is to say, musculature that’s meant to actually work as opposed to showboating. They’ll bench press a boulder, they don’t give a fuck.

[divinusdoctrina]

duties; KYOGRE

--Duty posts will be done up individually for each Successor

ONE OF THE TERRAFORMER SUCCESSORS

The Successor of Kyogre works alongside Groudon’s and Regigigas’ Successors in maintaining the overall health of the Earth at large. Albeit, this Successor does get into frequent disagreements with Groudon’s own, and for obvious reasons. Neither’s Patron get along with another--it is a behavior that rubbed off on the two Successors.

This Successor focuses on marine life, such as aquatic Pokemon and flora, and they work towards ensuring the oceans do not end up overly polluted. As such, they are often found at the forefront of petitions against dumping waste into the ocean, destroying the biome for oil lines, so on and so forth. They aren’t afraid to use force to protect something so vital to the health and survival of the planet.

And certainly not when one takes into the consideration that their Patron formed those oceans themself. There is a great sense of pride that comes with being responsible for the ever shifting seas, for the scent of brine in the air, for crashing waves and ebbing tides. The oceans are immense, doing what they may as if on a whim--powerful, unable to be tamed, just as Kyogre is.

Kyogre’s Successor often carries this free spirit within them as well. The spirit of the sea itself. To have a soul capable of bringing change in waves, yet able to be as gentle as the breaking surf, and in the same breath able to capsize ships within mere moments. To always be flexible and flowing, but mighty with depths untouched and currents unmatched. 

They work tirelessly to help end the pollution of the ocean, no matter if they must take matters into their own hands. After all, that is their duty. To protect the ocean and all life it houses--and to, should the need arise, govern over it with the same refined elegance as their Patron.

*Bonus: This Successor has a hankering for seafood. Much like any marine Pokemon, they go after what they can get. It’s likely you might be able to bribe this Successor or get on their good side if you offer them sushi or some sort of shellfish as an olive branch. Similarly, you so much as throw a can into the ocean, and they’re going to punch your lights out.

[divinusdoctrina]

duties; XERNEAS

–Duty posts will be done up individually for each Successor

ONE OF THE BALANCE SUCCESSORS

In this trio of Successors, Xerneas’ tends to be the mature one. Well, when they aren’t picking a fight with Yveltal’s Successor and being scolded by Zygarde’s as a result. The weight on this Successor’s shoulders is quite hefty, and it grows heavier during times of war or natural disaster.

They are charged with protecting life, like their Patron is.

This Successor works on a smaller scale than Xerneas does, focusing more on the protection and preservation of life than in handling souls when they’re first starting out. They often work as a conservationist, keeping an eye on wild Pokemon and their environments. It isn’t terribly uncommon for this Successor to outright kill poachers and those who hunt for sport instead of food.

Life is sacred and to be watched over diligently. Often times, this Successor butts heads with Yveltal’s because of their duties being on opposite ends of the spectrum. Many ghost Pokemon end up forming because of the protection of human souls, the ones that Yveltal or Yveltal’s Successor weren’t able to wrest away from Xerneas or Xerneas’ Successor to guide on.

Because of this, it isn’t uncommon for this Successor to frequently find themself in charge of lost ghost types. They may need to watch over the few that show up every so often until the Pokemon are ready to be on their own.

Overall, they work to protect Pokemon and people alike. Oftentimes giving shelter to those who need it, saving both from abusive situations, watching over them and acting as a Guardian to all.

That is, truly, what this Successor is. One who works to preserve life, to enhance it, and to keep innocents safe and well away from harm.

*Bonus: A True Successor of Xerneas’ human guise is likely to maintain their antlers, even after shifting back from their True Nature. They also function as a mood ring. Certain colors will glow brighter depending on the situation and which emotions they’re feeling. It makes hiding their feelings quite the challenge.

[divinusdoctrina]

duties; ZYGARDE

–Duty posts will be done up individually for each Successor

ONE OF THE BALANCE SUCCESSORS

Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde make up the Balance Trio in Successor Lore.

The Successor of Zygarde plays in intricate role in maintaining balance in the sense of ensuring that not only the other two play their roles to a T, but they also play an important role in ensuring humans don’t get out of hand in Pokemon habitats. Or even among each other.

They ensure chaos does not run rampant alongside their Patron, and much like the one they serve, this Successor grows in stages. The Successor of Zygarde takes, perhaps, the longest time out of any to reach their full potential and get to a point where they would be able to safely handle their True Nature because of this.

Most of their focus up until they are ready to handle maintaining balance is to act as the eyes and ears of their Patron. To handle small issues that could upset the ecosystem before they become legitimate threats. Whereas their Patron may mostly be focused on balance between Pokemon, the Successor keeps their attention on the balance between humans.

Disarray is not to be tolerated, and certainly not when it could impact the natural habitats of Pokemon or the overall welfare of humans.

The Successor of Zygarde is something of a peacemaker–but by any means necessary. War is to be avoided, battles between any large groups negated. And if that means they must get their hands dirty, then so be it. People will fall before them if they are forced to take a violent path to carry out their duties.

Of course, they also, at times, baby sit or scold the Successors of Xerneas and Yveltal. Much like their patrons, the two are known for butting heads and getting into fights with one another. The Successor of Zygarde often has to break them up and sooth ruffled feathers.

Depending on which Zygarde they serve, they may also be charged with recovering Zygarde cells and looking after them for their Patron.

*Bonus: The Successor of Zygarde can easily be played as a ‘the fun police’ sort of muse. Any kind of chaos or disorder is distasteful to this Successor-Succeeded duo. Consider them a constantly exasperated older sibling figure, because that tends to be what they are to the other Successors. They often times do not get along with Hoopa or Hoopa’s Successor.

[divinusdoctrina]

duties; ARCEUS

--Duty posts will be done up individually for each successor

THE ALPHA SUCCESSOR

Serving under the Creator of their given universe or multiverse, it comes as no surprise that Alpha Successors have far more on their plate than any of the other Successors. These deities must slowly acclimate their bodies to being able to uphold the immense, cosmic weight of their universe and/or multiverse in the event their Patron passes.

That is to say, their bodies become cradles for the energy that holds the fabric of reality itself together. In times of crisis, the Alpha Successor may team up with one or possibly all of the Omega Successors (Successors of the Creation Trio), if they aren’t yet strong enough to manage it alone. Typically, they would end up sharing the burden with the Successor of Giratina should such an event come to pass.

Of course, that is the end game of an Alpha Successor.

Their overall duties lay in whatever their respective Arceus may ask of them, while balancing small portions of their respective universe to get used to it. This may include creating new lifeforms or pocket universes within their Arceus’ own, as while an Alpha Successor does become a variation of an Arceus, they are not true Creators. They cannot make their own universes outside of what their Patron has already given them to work with.

The training of other Successors falls to the Alpha Successor. They must prepare them all for the eventual transition if they are True Successors, inform them of their duties, and guide them until they’re ready for their respective Patrons to take over training. The Alpha Successor serves as a Matron to all of those lower than them on the Chain of Command (which is all of them), as well as a leader of sorts.

Alpha Successors serve to protect all of their Patron’s creations and uphold balance of their respective universes. They make sure the other Successors, sometimes even other Legendaries, are doing their duties and aren’t allowing things to get out of control.

They are the embodiment of their Patron’s ideals and morals. They serve to continue on their Patron’s work, to uphold their Patron’s universe, to govern through the laws their Patron has already laid out before them to ensure their Patron’s universe continues to flourish.

The Alpha Successor to the Alpha Pokemon; typically revered by even some of the lower ranking Legendaries and Mythics. Depending on the Alpha duo, however, even those stationed directly under them may be expected to bow down. This tends only to apply to Arceus who display cold behaviours or may even be tyrannical in nature.

More often than not, this is not the case.

In the face of extreme threats, they may also step up for their Patron if their Patron is unable to do so, or simply wishes for their Alpha Successor to handle it in their stead as part of their duties or training.

They serve as Judge, Jury, and Executioner in these scenarios. Do not underestimate an Alpha Successor charged with acting as a Protector. Armies will fall at their hands if the Alpha in question has enough at stake or a strong enough will to serve their Patron and carry out their duties.

Alpha Successors also accept the duties of other Legendaries / Successors in the event that both should die, maintaining balance until their Patron is able to create another True Child (Legendary) to take over the old one’s position. In the event that an Alpha Successor’s Patron is dead and they have taken over as Arceus, this process will take an even longer time, as they must maintain balance while they try to pour energy into a new deity on their own.

**Bonus: Alpha Successors tend to step in between dimensions to visit one another, easily forming friendships and discussing training ideas together for their respective underlings. They may even train together themselves or help one another study. Who better to turn to than equals, after all? They may also even pay one another’s Arceus a courtesy call or to relay messages from their own Patrons.

[divinusdoctrina]

unown; protectors

Successors are, just like their Patrons, mortal. Dreadfully mortal–there is no such thing as a true immortal, no matter how powerful an individual may be. For even Arceus has a Successor. The balance of life itself relies on death, a cosmic truth that cannot be argued against.

But when the delicate nature of the universe relies on those who take its weight upon their shoulders, there should surely be someone who serves to protect those who keep everything running as smoothly as possible.

Unown.

In and of themselves, Unown function as servants to Arceus and the other Legendaries. Carrying out tasks for them, working for them, much like worker bees serving a queen bee. Whatever a Legendary may want done outside of their own duties, Unown attend to for them.

In the case of Successors, Patrons want their direct underlings kept safe.

As soon as a Successor survives their transition into a [???] Type variation of their legendary, each unique drove of Unown will seek someone out to take in and then be assigned to that Successor. The people the Unown seek out are those who are naturally powerful, and not just in terms of being skilled trainers. But also as combatants themselves, those who can hold their own in fights.

More often than not, they select people that have already had combat training or have been in the thick of some real shit. Each one is carefully analyzed to ensure there is no chance of that individual turning against their assigned Successor, and then they are asked whether or not they’re willing to do it. Nobody is forced into being a Protector–that’d just be a recipe for disaster.

Those who do don’t undergo too drastic of a change, not outright. A good boost in power, some minor abilities to enhance their prowess in combat. What one would expect of someone who’s meant to serve and protect a deity.

However, their lives are also bound to their Successor. As long as their Successor lives, they live. The Successor dies, they die. However, this isn’t true the other way around–Protectors can fall in combat or otherwise without impacting the Successor they served what so ever (well, outside of emotionally, probably). When it comes to keeping their Successor safe, one should keep in mind that a Protector will typically stop at nothing to defend them.

While Protectors can be killed, its a real pain in the ass to do so without going into a fight knowing what you’re about to square off against. Bullets alone won’t do it. All in all, I wouldn’t recommend fighting a Protector unless you just really want to have a go at a Successor.

Protectors aren’t very easily replaced, all things considered with whatever parameters Unown decide to lay out in choosing them. But they can be, and are, should one end up dying.

The Alpha Successor is assigned three Protectors. Omega Successors get two. Everyone else has one.

[divinusdoctrina]

basic summary

There is only ever one True Successor for a Legendary.

That is to say, only one person is able to survive the transition into Successor to best serve their Patron, and this person only comes around when a time of need arises. Dire and desperate need, or when the Legendary feels their time may soon yet be at an end…or whenever they damn well feel like seeking out their True Successor, honestly. Deities are weird like that, they’re fickle creatures. Some Successors have wandered the Earth since the dawn of time itself alongside their Patrons, and some yet are still just being born and brought into being to serve their deity. Of course, each universe only has a set few Successors–there are only so many Legendaries, after all. Each gets one, and only one, True Successor. They do not reincarnate, they are not reborn, they come once, and only once. Timeless deities they may be, but they are not invincible.

Some Legendary Pokemon end up cycling through many, many humans before they actually find their True Successor, the one born to serve them and succeed them. This person is someone that shares a kindred spirit with their Legendary. That is to say, a person who is born with the same innate beliefs, personality, and ways of thinking as their Patron. Someone who is born on the same wave length as their Patron, someone who will be able to understand the Legendary on a very base level, and the Legendary them. Cut from the same cloth, molded from the same spirit, one in the same as each other.

True Successors cannot be made or trained into True Successors. They come only when they must, inevitably drawn to the one they are meant to serve under. That isn’t to say that a Successor must follow their Patron religiously, goodness no, the Alpha Successor themself does not adhere to their Father spiritually. But it does mean that the Successor will follow their Patron without question upon meeting, offering their aid and support as need be–often times to the confusion of the Successor. A Successor’s duty is to help the one they follow in their own tasks. Yveltal’s Successor would be there to help souls along so none linger, Mew’s Successor would breathe new life into the world, so on and so forth–but only at their Patron’s side.

There are humans who are inherently capable of serving a Legendary and aiding in their tasks. But not to the same extent that a Successor is able to carry these duties out. A Successor is one who naturally flows with what is expected of their Patron before they are granted any abilities. Working in sync with their Legendary to lessen the load their Patron carries, accepting that burden unto themselves without question. Only the tiniest fragment at first, of course, a human’s body is not capable of handling all that a Legendary’s does.

A Successor flows perfectly with their Patron. They have to, else they aren’t their True Successor.

The Successor serves one purpose and one purpose only. To ensure balance is kept should their Patron die. A True Successor is able to survive the transition into a variation of their Patron, holding a [???] Typing to signify their Successor status. A watered down version of their Patron, meant to be trained and grow stronger over time to be an effective contingency plan. To hold things in place until the next True Child can be created by Arceus ( or even the Alpha Successor ) to take over again–which can take hundreds, even thousands, of years to accomplish. This process is a slow one, a careful one, to ensure that balance is never once disrupted. It can prove potentially catastrophic with those that hold the most weight upon their shoulders, after all. Such as the Creation Trio.

The transition in and of itself, however, cannot be survived unless the Successor is extremely close to their Patron. They must be the closest of friends, perhaps even like a parent and child, or siblings, maybe soul mates, for the Successor to be able to live through their first transition in to their True Nature. A tiny, newborn Legendary. It is for this reason that most True Successors have the common sense to wait many, many years before attempting this shift. The bond the Successor and Succeeded must share has to be unbreakable, unshakable.

Once this change is made, it may take some time for a Successor to be able to maintain a human guise again. It eats away at one’s energy reserves to hold a human form after the change has been made, and a Successor is notably weaker in their previous form than they are their True Nature. Albeit, their strength is proportionate to the strength of their Patron. One should not mindlessly pick a fight with the Alpha Successor, for example, no matter their form–they are still yet capable of raining down Arceus’ own fury down upon their opponents even without being in their True Nature.

Overall, however, a Successor serves only their Patron and both the Alpha Pokemon and Alpha Successor. Depending on their Patron’s status, this may also include other higher ups in the Chain of Command. Mythic Pokemon and Mythic Successors, for example, fall well below the tier of major Legendaries and their Successors, and are expected to show respect and support towards those who take on far more duties in maintaining the world’s balance than they.

It’s also considered extremely rude among Legendaries to show disrespect towards one anothers’ Successors. A Successor is one who turns their back on their humanity, their life, all that they know and love, solely to serve as a martyr should they ever be needed. They are willing sacrifices for the sake of maintaining balance in the world, all Patrons tend to be fiercely protective over not only their own Successors, but the Successors belonging to others as well. These are individuals who give everything up for the sake of maintaining balance and adhering to their respective Patrons without question.

Successors are the children, the unyielding servants, of the Divine. Considered the most loyal followers of their Patrons, even if it not religiously.

The Alpha Successor watches over them well, as a Matron.

Training them, guiding them, leading them. Preparing them all for their own transitions into True Successors, for being able to handle their True Nature, in which case their training then falls to their Patrons. For their Patrons to ready them should the worst ever truly come to pass, to make their bodies strong enough to handle the cosmic weight that comes with a Legendary’s full duties in the world should the one they serve die.

Demigods who are demigods solely as emergency backup in the face of crisis. That is the fate of a Successor.