I do like the premise of the story, though I have a few concerns. With the storyline proposed, there is no real reason to support any of them. It seems its divulging from the faith concept to more as to what kind of society do you prefer.
Islan, with a lawful society and solid continuous role, seems to be more inclined to attract merchants and those that prefer to avoid uncertainty.
The Free Cities more resembles the attitude of children that didn't being told what to do by their parents (in this case, the Empire) and have banded together to keep them out of their lives. Except for when they need a loan or a favor, of course
Then there's the Empire which seems more like an ancient version of the USA. There is an Emperor, but also monarchs of the represented races.
My suggestion(s) are as follows:
We know that the old deities have returned. Whats to make us follow them after the fiasco of following them before, only to have them overthrown by three new ones, and then for them to return to take back their spots only to end up mortal. (that is if I have pieced together the history properly)
The Empire has started to crumble, whether its just its age showing or just the fact that there's nothing holding them together anymore, so the three reborn deities now have a chance to gain followers and start their climb back to the throne of godhood.
Angelique takes her plans to Islan, an ancient kingdom that has now been delegated to a forgotten frontier of the Empire,. There she began to bring order, pushing back raids and making the highways safe from brigands. Quickly rising in the ranks and gaining many followers that support her iron fist policy on justice, it's whispered that Islan would be better with her in charge then some distant Emperor who they've only seen on their coins.
Upon hearing this, the Empire begins mustering a small army in preparation to fight the rebellion, which is it's first major blunder in this Age. Leading it is the youngest commander in the history of the Empire, Barnabas, a young noble from a major House, and he's given the Emperor's leave to stop it from spreading anyway he can.
Fearing that her hard work would be undone, Angelique gathers volunteers and has them begin training as cohesive military units to prepare for the imminent attack. Her army, though ill-trained, quickly dwarfs the army her informers say is marching against her.
The two armies meet on the plains that once separated Islan from the Empire, their ancient borders, and there they clash swords. Where once, hundreds of years ago, Islan fought for her freedom against the expanding Empire, now she fought again.
Unfortunately, even with Angelique's numbers or Barnabas' trained soldiers, the battle raged on for two days with neither gaining any advantage. On the third day, with the ground wet from the blood of the killed, a half-elf rides into each of the two camps and arranges for a meeting.
The half-elf had watched the battle and in-fact was behind it. It was his whispers to the people of Islan that they should be free once again and it was his reports to the Empire that warned them of it. His own force was too small for what he needed to do, a ragtag army of bandits and mercenaries.
Leto, the half-elf, had been banished from the Empire. It was only partially his fault that he had been. When the Bowl of Darden was smashed, instead of trying to use his powers to fight it, this once mighty God used it to throw further chaos into the world. How was he supposed to know what was to happen?
A human princess, who just had happened to be rescued from brigands, fell in love with her savior, an elven ranger captain. Both, caught up in the chaos of what had just happened, fell into each others arms and forsook both of their arranged marriages that lay before them. With this union, Leto's new vessel would be forged.
When Angelique and Barnabas arrived to the meeting, Leto proposed a compromise.
Islan would be free again, but also because she would no longer be of the Empire, there would now be taxes on selected trade between the two. Barnabas felt this was too unfair until he was told he could decide what would be taxed. This would keep Islan from growing too powerful and in-turn allow Barnabas' House to grow in prosperity, by taxing items that would be exported by his family's competitors.
Both turned to Leto and asked what he got out the deal. It is then that the Free Cities were born, a buffer between the the Empire and Islan, part of which had belonged to ancient Islan and which was now controlled by the Empire.
After much discussion and debate, Barnabas put his stamp on a treaty, Angelique signed it, and Leto put his mark on it.
All had won out with the treaty, though some had a harder time explaining it.
Angelique got her kingdom, Barnabas stopped the rebellion from spreading and in-turn secured more power for his House (and the Emperor, once Barnabas advised him of the amount of money the taxes would earn the Empire), and Leto gained the Free-Cities.
People began to flock to all three of them, asking for their help, their guidance, and in return gave them what they desired most, their prayers. They each believed that the prayers would help them achieve immortality again to claim the throne of heaven.
But it wouldn't be all.
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Sorry if this is crappy, it's 3am and I must be lonely...and a little drunk.
[edit]btw, the wiki doesnt wrk[/edit]
