Jack sat back in his floating chair, his eyes darting between swirling cosmic panels as he tried to map out his grand strategy. He wanted Planetos to develop naturally, as it was supposed to. But adding gods to the equation was like tossing a meteor into a calm sea; there would be waves, for sure, and possibly a few earthquakes. If he didn't structure this right, his spirits would overrun the place, tipping the balance he intended for the world.
He tapped his fingers, deep in thought. "Alright, Ari, we need a system," he finally said. "One that'll let these spirits become gods through a natural process. That way, they stay tied to Planetos and don't just mess things up left and right. We need something that marks them as worthy, like a test of sorts."
Ari materialized beside him, nodding along. "A test of worthiness… But how would they prove that?"
Jack leaned back, a sly grin playing on his face. "Faith. They'll need to bathe in this special energy I've concocted, but even then, it's not enough. They'll have to interact with humans within their own domains to earn that faith. Only after collecting enough will they ascend and gain their divine realms and unique abilities. No shortcuts."
Ari hummed thoughtfully. "So, their powers are tied to the faith humans give them? Clever. That'll keep them… anchored."
"Exactly." Jack smirked. "It keeps their influence on a leash, but it also lets the world grow naturally, without getting too tangled up in supernatural forces. I'm calling this phase the Age of Gods. During this time, they'll need to inspire, gather believers, and ultimately earn their place. And once they ascend, they can't directly interfere with Planetos again. They'll only be able to communicate through their champions and priests, interpreting their will."
Jack gazed at a vast map of Planetos, his eyes tracing the intricate tapestry of religions, beliefs, and old customs. "Here's the challenge, though. Planetos has a whole web of lore and prophecy. There are certain gods that need to appear for the world to play out as intended… like R'hllor, the one behind Jon Snow's resurrection."
Ari raised a brow, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "But you've got spirits who fit those roles, don't you? Both angels and demons with enough power and potential to pull it off."
Jack gave a satisfied nod. "Exactly. The key will be assigning them to the right regions and cultures, aligning their personas to match the belief systems already in place. That way, they'll feel like they've always been part of the world. After they ascend, they'll need to operate through champions and priests. They'll still feel connected but limited enough to let humanity find its own path."
Jack felt a surge of excitement as the plan came together in his mind. He turned to Ari, eyes bright with determination. "Alright, Ari. Let's go over this in detail one last time. If we set this up right, we'll kick off the Age of Gods—and then, when the dust settles, we'll see who stands tall as worthy of godhood."
Ari chuckled, sensing Jack's enthusiasm. "It seems you're finally settling into the role of cosmic overseer."
Jack smirked, leaning back with a sigh of satisfaction. "Let's just say, I'm getting the hang of it. And for the record," he added with a gleam in his eye, "Planetos is about to become my ultimate pet project."
With the plan locked in his mind, Jack prepared to bring his vision to life. For his first test of faith, Planetos would be the perfect canvas.