Quote Originally Posted by Yora View Post
The Old Gods leaving seems rather tame and underwhelming. How about the humans rising up and slaying their god kings. And only much later they realize that they actually did protect them from a great threat.
Well, the idea is that the Old Gods are still out there, are indeed still worshipped by secret cults, and could perhaps be called upon again. And of course, it's also how it was in Odallus. Beyond that, I'm not sure humanity is actually capable of destroying them, though they perhaps could have been simply driven off. Here's an idea - what if humanity thinks they destroyed the Old Gods, further fueling their hubris, but in reality the Old Gods just sort of decided humanity wasn't worth the trouble. Or, alternatively, the Old Gods are playing a long game, and they intend to teach humanity a lesson by leaving them alone, just like they want...

Druid magic could be treated as people searching for an alternative source of supernatural power after the disappearance of the gods, which they found in the savage and violent aspects of nature. It's a "clean" source of power that is uncorrupted by the influence of the new alien horrors, but that doesn't have to mean it's peaceful and gentle. Instead it's all about blood sacrifice, teeth, claws, and berserker strength. The civilized people may think it savage, barbaric, and primitive, but it works at repelling nightmare beasts and cleansing the corruption of other magic.
I kinda like the idea that nature magic is tolerated, partially because of its usefulness, but also because the civilized sages don't believe they pose a threat. After all, humanity scared off the Old Gods, what can a bunch of primitives praying to trees and howling at the moon do? But the Druidic influence is strong, as people at the fringes of civilization turn to them for healing magic, as well as for something to believe in. And what the Druids provide is a glimpse into a primal force far more powerful than humanity, one that pervades all mortal life. Perhaps it's even sentient, or sapient, and has designs on the planet that don't include civilization... I can see it now - a slow rise of Awakened animals, magical beasts, and lycanthropes... with the last category describing their transformations as a euphoric, incredible experience of being possessed and directed by a far greater power, and allowed to indulge in feral pleasures unlike anything they've ever experienced...