Editing Magical Realm Cyoa/Sempiternitas (section)

====The Ancients====
The inhabitants of Sempiternitas, by and large, do not worship any gods as we know them. There is one group, called “the Ancients” by most, which exist as figures of legend that one might mistake as gods at first glance, but do not appear to be so on further investigation. They do not seem to be distinct from the other inhabitants in anything besides their age and magical aptitude. None of the Ancients are credited with creating the world, nor with exclusive control over any aspect of life or the environment. Furthermore, the Ancients intervene with some regularity in the affairs of the island, and most of the island's significant political organizations call one of the Ancients their leader (though they do not engage in the day-to-day operations of the organizations). Whether they are worshiped is a question of interpretation perhaps – they are certainly well-respected, and their intervention is requested with some regularity, but this is no more than can be said of any person of similar power and influence in any given society. That they are not gods is perhaps best demonstrated by the typical view among the inhabitants that I interviewed that the position of the Ancients is not an unattainable one for the average person. The origin stories of each of the Ancients is rather mundane – they each gained their place it seems most of all through survival, study, and practice, from beginnings as humble as anyone's. Few strive to repeat their path, as it seems a particularly strenuous and dangerous one, and not one with overwhelmingly attractive rewards.