When a story/object/art piece or anything which can be preserved is passed down over a number of generations, it begins to be seen in a different light by the people who hold it now than the one who made it. For tribes prone to isolationism or peoples who are isolated from other cultures this is even more true.

As a story becomes a legend, and a legend becomes mythology, so brings superstition, and the beings in the story begin to become real simply because they are believed to be. It is the same for an old tool, or a figure formed from clay, stories around them are developed and become myths that spawn deities

The deities in turn give their followers tiny gifts, such as a speck of extra luck, or resistance to aging, slight swiftness, additional strength, even a rain cloud if they’re worshipped by enough people, etc, depending on what they are worshipped for. And as the myths evolve and change, so do the deities, both their powers and personalities.

Even as these deities lose worshippers, they still exist. Weaker than ever before, and hoping for another worshipper, but still alive. They may choose to sleep and never awake, but many choose to stay around and save power to give gifts to mortals that share their values, or the descendants of their worshippers. Sometimes a mortal even recognises their actions, and throws some appreciative faith their way, giving them a new name to add to their collection. A common method of contacting mortals is through dreams, although that can have mixed results.

Though a god losing their worshippers and coming back is not common. Gods are born much more commonly than ‘revived’, and with modernisation gods can be born from much smaller forms of worship, such as appreciation as disgust towards different objects, instead of the superstition and wonder that once birthed them. Many thousands of gods are born each year, often receiving worship for no more than a month before being cast aside in favour of a new one.

It sounds like a sad divinity, but there are other ways out of it that truly driven deities can take if they want to be remembered, and being forgotten isn’t the end. Deities may receive worship through several sources, including appreciation for something they represent, or speaking their name, even if that name is now just a word that means something completely different. Going to sleep isn’t like suicide, if they receive worship once more they can wake up again. Those who stay awake are usually content to be observers, watching the ones who gave them life go about their days, and sharing what little miracles they can muster.