When you shout your name to the gods, you put strength and might into that name. The gods don’t distinguish names, but they can recognize when a word is being said with power. They’re greedy, they want to control that power and take it for themselves.
If we were to forget the gods, they would be powerless. Why? Because we are the ones with the ability to call them to us, to fear them, to ignore them. Either way, they’re on our mind and alive that way. Once we refuse to speak of them, once they fade from our memories, they’re as good as dead because we’ve cut them off from us. Their power is in us knowing them. They aren’t powerful to each other - gods are not gods to one another, merely beings who exist.
Apply that theory in reverse now. We have no power to the gods who don’t recognize us. Give a god the ability to name and invoke us, then we have power. Power, however, is a fickle mistress. When we invoke the name of the gods, we usually do it for a favor. The gods are not powerful for being able to grant us that favor, we are powerful for seeking beyond our means to accomplish that task. It is a deal we struck with the gods long ago: they grant us our favors and we remember them.
What happens when we become known to the gods? When our name becomes Named? Look at the demigods. Their godly ancestors used them at their whim and indulgence to complete their tasks, as errand-children. The demigod was the one who was wanted, the one with the means to accomplish favors, the one who Could when others Couldn’t. They were Named, they were made Powerful, they were used.
The gods will hold on to their deal as long as they can: grant us favors and be remembered. That doesn’t mean they like it. When the opportunity presents itself, they will switch the deal so it still holds weight, but works more in their favor.
I reiterate: never shout your name at the gods. Forget them while you can.
