The Mountain of Trials goes by many names. Buurta Tijaabooyin, the locals call it. Ranshao De Shan, Makan Alaikhtibar, Dreapadh Deiridh, Gwo Mon, Njira Yoyesera. It is a place of legends, of history, of power. The local nations see it as a sacred place. The rumors of its creation say that it is where the plane The Catacombs collides with Shem. Others say it is powered by a Name, perhaps the Book of Names. Others still say it is paradox.

What esotericists know is that every conceivable energy has been found there. What the Divine say is that it is a place where they can feel their followers most keenly. What those who have climbed it say is that it is a place of transformations.

Over the Ages, it has taken many forms, many incarnations, but always it has tested those who climbed it and demanded of them service to an ideal, Divine, person, or place. Many died there, lost forever. Many have come down unrecognizable. Some few have been turned into beings of power.

Description:
The Mountain is several miles in diameter. It appears to be, from a distance, about 25,000 feet tall, surrounded by thick walls of black smoke. The smoke comes from a chasm that raggedly rings the base of the mountain. The walls of this chasm glow red with heat, and the smoke billows out in vast clouds. Anyone within twenty feet of this chasm feels the heat and chokes on the smoke. There is but one bridge across, a naturally occurring span of grey stone on the southern face of the mountain. No one has ever been able to land on the mountain from above, usually finding themselves either lost in the smoke, sickened by it, or landing elsewhere.

Once someone crosses this bridge, they vanish from view behind the smoke. Anyone who enters the mountain finds there is no way back.

Trials:
Once there were 13 unchanging trials, but since Starfall, they have become malleable. Common trials include:

• Strength
• Pain
• Stealth
• Cunning
• Endurance
• Wit
• Athletics
• Patience
• Contempt
• Perception
• Discipline
• Temptation
• Grief
• Judgment
• Fear
• Memory
• Virtue
• Ruthlessness
• Respect
• Skill
• Trust
• Faith
• Combat

Trials vary by who is climbing the Mountain and their intentions there.

Tests can be definitive, major, or minor. Failing a definitive test means dying or falling into the Catacombs. Failing a major test means losing a rank if you survive, but survival is unlikely. Failing a minor test means continuing on but not gaining as much in your transformation. Some tests mean restarting the Mountain. You get three chances on these tests, but they count against you in the end.

Mountain-born:

• Fidei Defensor: singular defender of a Pantheon or Pantheons, Mountain-born
• Champion: one who defends an Aspect, Mountain-born
• Nemesis: one who is the counterpoint to a Champion, usually fashioned by the Champion to purge all non-Court related energies
• High Servitor: a Mountain-born who failed to be a Champion but still survived the Mountain
• Hand: one who serves as right hand to a Champion, selected by the Champion
• Proctor: Mountain-born, more powerful than a Servant, less than a High Servitor
• Custodian: Servitor that holds the Relic of a Champion
• Servant: Mountain-born, less powerful than a Proctor
• Servitor: a follower of a Champion, Nemesis, or High Servitor

The Mountain only directly creates Servants, Proctors, High Servitors, Champions, or Fidei Defensors. The others are created by a Champion or Defensor.

Process:

• Servant: The Mountain creates Servants from people who do not intend to become a Champion or Defensor, but who are not dedicated enough to be a Proctor or those who intentionally seek to become a Servant. They are those who succeed at the Mountain but fail three to five of the minor tests or one major test. If they seek Servanthood without seeking Proctorhood, they cannot fail any tests. Their Trial by Combat will always be the Beast of Ordeals. They face 12 tests.
• Proctor: The Mountain creates Proctors from people who do not intend to become a Champion or Defensor. They are those who fail less than three minor tests and no major ones. Their Trial by Combat will always be the Beast of Ordeals. They face 12 tests.
• High Servitor: The Mountain creates High Servitors from those who seek to be Champions but who fail up to three minor tests or those who intend to be High Servitors. If they fail a major test while trying to be a Champion, they are given the chance to be a Proctor or Servant instead. If they intend to be a High Servitor and not a Champion, they cannot fail more than one test. Their Trial by Combat will be a powerful creature empowered by energies that oppose the would-be High Servitor's energies. They face 13 tests.
• Champion: The Mountain creates Champions only if someone intentionally seeks it. They can fail no more than two minor tests and nothing more. Their Trial by Combat will be either a powerful creature empowered by energies that oppose the would-be Champion's energies or a mirror-version of themselves. There can be only so many Champions extant at once. They face 13 tests.
• Fidei Defensor: The Mountain creates Defensors only if all Champion positions are filled and only if the candidate intends to be a Defensor, meaning they respect and serve and entire Pantheon or equivalent. They cannot fail any trial, and their Trial by Combat will always be creature empowered by energies that oppose the would-be Defensor's energies or a mirror-version of themselves. There can be only one Defensor per Pantheon or equivalent domain. If one fails to become a Defensor (any one test) but survives, they become a High Servitor as well. They face 16 tests.

Challenges:
If someone wants to be a Champion or Defensor, but the position is filled, they may challenge the current holder of the title by climbing the Mountain only if they have already transformed on the Mountain once before or if they have a Mountain-born title. The Champion or Defensor will be the one they meet in the Trial by Combat. If a Champion or Defensor wishes to yield in this trial, they may. If a Champion or Defensor climbs the Mountain a second time, they will have the opportunity to create their own Nemesis and purge themselves of their imperfections. If anyone climbs a third time, unless they are a candidate for Divinity, the Mountain kills them within the first three tests.

Demotions:
If a Mountain-born is stripped of their title by a Divine or other circumstance, they may retain some or all of their power with a different Courtly title; however, the position will open up again via the Mountain.

Divinity:
The Path to Divinity lies through the Mountain for most. This process is similar in many ways, but ends with the candidate going on to the Gates of Mortality and Divinity and facing new challenges. This only happens if the candidate is prepared for Divinity, having some Divine/Paradoxical energy source and other necessary support.