Starstone AspirantSource Hellfire Dispatches pg. 48An imposing marble structure, crumbling ever so slowly into ruin, stands near the
Startstone Cathedral in the Ascendant Court. The abandoned Sanctuary of Prescience was meant to be a temple dedicated to the Mwangi mathematician Mbali Xohosta after her success at the Test of the
Startstone made her a god of advance planning and foresight. Mbali prepared for her ascension meticulously, including designing the temple and directing her many adherents to build it. But instead, she failed the test and disappeared forever. The nearly completed temple was duly abandoned, yet Mbali's exacting legal provisions have rendered the Absalom authorities powerless to demolish or transfer ownership of the large building. So it remains, a palpable warning to presumptuous overachievers—a warning that
Startstone aspirants pointedly ignore.
When told that they're impressive enough to be gods,
Startstone aspirants don't dismiss the comment as mere flattery. Instead, they internalize yet another token of encouragement for what they know in their heart of hearts to be their ultimate fate: apotheosis. In striving to join the ranks of the Ascended (those gods who achieved their divine status through the mysterious power of the
Startstone),
Startstone aspirants believe that they'll continue to be exceptions, ever counted among those few individuals so favored by fortune that, no matter the odds, they'll triumph.
While deification through the Test of the
Startstone is better attested than any other of the myriad paths that have led a handful of individuals to immortality and eternal power, even this route is unique—no two aspirants ever arrive at the doors of the
Startstone Cathedral having made the same choices. For some, the transition to godhood is sudden and unexpected, as famously happened with Cayden Cailean; for others, it's the result of decades of study and preparation, of undertaking colossal tasks and nurturing a following, such was the case for Iomedae. For those willing to embark on a long and intentional journey, dedication to the path of
Startstone aspirant has the potential to bring them one step closer to their lofty goal. But like with so many ventures, it isn't a guaranteed road to success.
While this archetype doesn't allow you to achieve full godhood, it serves as an excellent precursor to the
godling mythic destiny if your GM decides to use the mythic rules. Whether you eventually assume godhood because you passed the Test of the
Startstone or through other means is up to you, your GM, and your campaign!