Demigod (Testamentarian)

Demigod is a status in the Testamentary Religion given to mortals who have achieved god status through deeds and lifestyle led by the mortal. Demigods exist in both the mortal and immortal realms. Demigods not only carry the status but also permanently have a bright white disk, called a "Demigod Halo", that hovers behind their head, both in the mortal and immortal realms.

Demigods are believed to be the only true link between gods and mortals and are often regarded as messengers of the gods. While gods can communicate directly to any mortal, it is extremely rare and often the mortal who has communicated with a god will eventually become a Demigod. A Demigod has many responsibilities in the mortal world, such as listening to prayers, communicating with the gods and performing their "Demigod duty".

A mortal's path to become a demigod is often tedious and is not guaranteed. The only guaranteed route to becoming a Demigod is by becoming a Master Monk. Due to this, most Demigods that have existed were Master Monks.

History
The status of Demigod did not exist in the Testamentary religion until 1600 years after its adoption, when High Priest Maximus the Elder released the Maximus Testament, third Testament in the series and first Testament to be written by a mortal. Due to his efforts, the gods decided to award Maximus the Elder by giving him a Demigod Halo and making him the first Demigod. Following Maximus, every mortal who wrote a new Testament was or became a Demigod.

Titles
When a mortal becomes a Demigod, they will be stripped of their family name and will go by their first name and a title for the rest of their lives. Some examples of a Demigod title are: the Great, the Elder, the Wise, the Tame and the Peaceful. A title is bestowed on the new Demigod by their peers and followers. Some Demigods who are higher ranking may have been referred to by an unofficial title which would transfer once they earned their status. Some Demigods become Demigods through fate or random divine intervention in which a title may take years to become official.

Demigods who achieved their status through monkhood do not get a title. Since only Master Monks become Demigods, the Demigod would be referred to as simply "Master" followed by their first name (i.e Master Flamien).

Notable Demigods
Although becoming a Demigod is difficult and is the ultimate achievement of religious Testamentarians, there have been several hundred Demigods throughout history. Most Demigods fade into history after their deaths while some's legacy lives on. This is a list of notable Demigods through history:

Maximus the Elder
Notable for becoming the first Demigod after penning the third Testament, the Maximus Testament

Tamien the Brave
Famous in Authoranian folklore due to his non-religious beginnings and quest for Authorena which earned him his Demigod status. Tamien the Brave was not devoutly religious nor was he in the clergy when he was approached by Authorena to do a quest for her.

Ythylryd the Violator
Infamous for being the first Demigod to lose his status when it was discovered he was using his Demigod status to solicit sexual favors from women.