PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, Vymrl, Shurka, Mara, Hensen Jijou,
5 - Kiptar, Nixis, Eijra, Hammu, Chroma
4 - Azor-Chapien, Starl, Honissia
The slightest alteration of his physical form had taken place, everything about him seemed a little slurred, but nothing more. Rising from the depths, Vymrl returned to the world.
The god sought, however, another tool. He slipped into Tamurung, now protected by both the Shroud of Veros and the Ex-Temporal Shell, and began work. Utilizing his dominion of Time, the god called the echoes of his convulsions from assimilating the aberrant taint back into the world. He quickly trapped them, distilling the minuscule amount of taint that he had thrown off, and solidified the substance.
From the essence of the plane, he called forth a raging inferno, melting and searing the taint until it liquefied. Into this substance Vymrl poured power, pure and undiluted, filling it with his yearning. To mortal minds, this would drive them to follow his will, or comprehend mysteries previously beyond their ken. To any who resisted the artifacts pull, flickers of agony would dance within their minds, ceasing only when they followed the Grand Marshall of War. Vymrl called this new instrument the Glistening Agony.
----------
Across the world, Beholders, Aboleths, and Saughahin felt a call. Following it, the pull, the feeling of weird otherworldly-ness, the horrors, the aberrations of the world grouped together in center of the ocean. Their, these Exemplars of Insanity raised a great city, the metropolis of Sarakesh.
PP
3PP-Create Artifact: Glistening Agony (Guide)
1PP-Guide Populous: Aboleths- Worship Vymrl and congregate in the center of the ocean.
1PP-Guide Populous: Saughahin-(See above)
1PP-Guide Populous: Beholders-(See Above)
1PP (Ssabrec)- Nourish Populous: Sarakesh
((OOC: I'm grouping Beholders, Saughahin and Aboleths into one nation, that of Sarakesh))
4 PP - Given to Vymrl
1 PP - Given to Shurka.
Aether Ripples Guide PP - Given to Help Mechalibur.
1 PP - Given to Hammu
Bloodstone Mold PP - Given to Hammu.
Wondermaker Create PP - Given to Chapien
1 PP - Nourish (from Bloodstones) - Drakhorn.
All the artifact points should count toward my max expenditure for the turn
Goodbye and Have Fun in these few days when I'm off
Earth was meant to be one. To be solid, to be united, to not be disfigured by two horrible holes...but things would change..
The inner world begun to shrink as new earth, rock, minerals and stone was shaped and pushed, oceans and exisiting landmass in front of it. This process took nearly a century and was barely noticed by the local population.
Shape Land 5 PP: Creating more mass in the inner parts of the world. In consequence the Inner world gets smaller.
Vampires had lived in the shadows of Terena for a long time. The ruins had been the perfect location for them to stay hidden. Vampires nearly as old and Drevan were present in the ruins. Their numbers swelled whenever a foolish gnome or humite would enter their ruins to find out what really resided within.
PP Use
1 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace x2 - Vampires have large numbers in the ruins of Old Terena.
(OOC: I sure do a lot of actions that don't help my PP gain at all)
Thus, in the large network of tunnels beneath the surface of Azora, a new race came into being. They were like dragons, yet they were like people as well... they were the Dragonborn.
There society was based entirly around a code of Honor. Unlike the Azoran code, one was not measured by status of birth, but by their skill as a warrior. While an Azoran lord is born into his position, a Dragonborn must earn his position, and even a Dragonborn of the lowest birth could find himself a king.
Deep below the Azoran capital of Valden, another, underground city was carved from the rock directly below the city. Here was the capital of the underground Dragonborn kingdom, much like its aboveground twin.
1 PP Guide Populace: The Dragonborn worship Azor'Chapien.
1 PP Guide Populace: The Dragonborn form a government based around Honor and strength of Arms.
1 PP Guide Populace: A large amount of Dragonborn move beneath the city of Valden and build a city of there own, unaware of the Azorans living above them.
"Had a good night sleep, Torvek?" Hondala asks. She gives a quiet giggle.
Torvek yawns. "Wow- that was some nap. I don't remember what happened last, but I'm glad to be home." He looks around, and focuses on Dolestre's sleeping body. He shoves her lightly with a nudge. "Hey, sis- wake up."
"You don't remember? Hmm... how unfortunate..." Hondala laughs.
"Huh? What's so funny?" Torvek stares at Hondala in confusion. He scratches his head.
Hondala rolls over on the floor. "You should check out your face!" Hondala rises up to Torvek's eye level, and turns into a brilliantly solid surface that reflected Torvek's face. Scribbled on his face are black markings that outline his scales, and some outline a pair of spectacles.
Torvek gasps. "AAAAAH!!! What did you do to me!??"
Hondala assumes her amorphous form and starts bawling with laughter as she rolls along the floor. Dolestre opens her eyes from all of the commotion.
"Okay- what's going on with you two?" Dolestre stands up with her arms crossed over.
Torvek turns around and points at his face. "Look at what Hondala did to my face while I was sleeping!"
Dolestre studies it for a moment. She smiles and starts laughing along with Hondala. Torvek looks at the two. "O-kay...?"
-----------------------
Corelloth studies the Chaos for a moment, as she stares down at the huge gateway that has strange formations already circling around it. Elementals of all sorts come around the gateway- hoping to unleash their fury upon the mortal worlds on the other side.
She smirks. "I've been waiting for this to happen. I shall prepare the components needed to open the gateway as soon as possible." She thinks for a moment. "But first, I must take care of a few things before I let myself go do my thing- I must first distract the gods somehow, as to not spoil my plans. I shall keep this doorway concealed until I'm ready." She turns to the Gateway looming below her. "I must ask you a favor, my sweetie- I do not want anyone to see you at the moment while I'm away, so that my plans don't go awry." The Gateway speaks. "I SHALL HIDE MYSELF FROM YOUR ENEMIES, AS YOU COMMAND. BUT BE QUICK ABOUT IT- I GROW TIRED OF WAITING."
"Consider it done, then." Corelloth summons her spear, and she disappears from the Chaos. The Gateway crackles with energy, and molds itself into the contours of the environment- it is now invisible.
Over time, the sentience that was the City of Gears had stayed the same. Collecting the knowledge that was contained in the Crystals that were used to store and transmit information, it still remained sentient in a very small way, hardly aware at all.
Then this changed. Bursts of power unseen ran through its mind, awakening it, expanding its sentience, giving it new thoughts and new horizons. Those few artificers who happened to be communing with it were shocked out by the rush of power. It would take a long time to determine what had happened, as the new sentience was still unsure of itself, and was reclusive.
Among the things that the sentience had discovered was the magic that ran through it and its shapeable nature. Guided by something beyond its ken, used this power to reach out, explore beyond the boundaries of the city. It found two other cities like it, inhabited by the same people. As soon as it did, brilliant links of power flashed between them and it. Space twisted, and changed shape, bringing the cities into alignment.
3 pp: Create Artifact(Greater)(Gear of Creation): The City of Gears becomes fully sentient, and gains the ability to move people between itself, Aether Home, and Far Home. Its sentience also begins to spread to include these cities.
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): Iron State grows stronger.
Giving 1 PP to Chapien (retroactively) for the creation of the dragonborn.
Her first experiments were called flesh puppets. First she would capture other humites, and kill them with her magic. This method of killing left their body intact for her work. She would then cut the body open, and fill it with an explosive alchemical substance. She then used a vile ritual to animate the bodies. Any major damage to them would cause the substance to explode. She called them flesh puppets.
Her next experiment involved stripping her enemies of their shadows. It was an interesting idea she had, and her dark magics allowed it to work. She would kidnap any creatures that roamed near the ruins, and use a special spell that would kill them, but keep their shadow alive. These shadows caused mental damage to their opponents with just a touch. Iyelle called these shadowspawn
PP Use
3 PP [+1 Bloodvine] - Spawn creature (paragon) x2 - Created flesh puppets and shadowspawn
Paragon. Probably mid-paragon.
"Cursed island of infatuating light- I'll show these hooligans a thing or two!" She conjures up a small ball of violet flame, and lays it on top of the sand. "Once a full day has gone by... Boom! This island will be scorched- it's my way of sending a warning!" She laughs, and she disappears into purple flames.
Remaining PP- 0
S'kre drifted into the Far Realms upon his master's orders. Illithids, the creatures he had been sent to find, wandered across the plane. Laughing, the exarch shattered the memories and shifted them into the Prime. They would believe themselves a new race. Soon, the squid-men formed a nation, calling it Ossen.
-----------
The Drakhorn flourished.
PP
3PP-Guide Populous, Greater: Illithids migrate to material plane, form Ossen, worship Vymrl
1PP-Nourish Populous: Drakhorn
As the winds creaked through the huge trees branches, it finally seemed to creak back. Roots thick as a full grown tree writhed and twined in the dirt as the tree became aware once more. Instead of the time of it's birth, it was now merely awakening from a great slumber, the huge tree reached out with it's consciousness. It knew it had been sleeping for some time, and it wished to know what had changed since it began it's rest.
Because if you are, then you need to create a character first...... Unless I didn't check the Active or Inactive lists...
[EDIT]: Just checked the lists- you're good! :D You just need to let ff6shadow know that you're gonna post in the IC thread by PMing him.
Xeadin, let the admins handle any new players that show up or old players that return. We're more than capable of monitoring the threads.
Welcome back, Mephistopheles, glad to see life is getting saner for you
Also, lets try to limit the number of OOC-only posts that are made in the IC thread. We do, in fact, have an entire thread devoted to OOC :D
Azor'Chapien sat down and awaited his friend in his fortress.
"Huh- that's weird..." She splashes a little bit of water on it- the water evaporates before it could even touch the flames. "Huh?" She looks at it in confusion, and she tries to put it out with her mass. The flames burn her as she inches close to it. "Ow ow ow OWWWWW!" She floats around frantically, and she dives into the water. The pain stops. "Ahhh... that feels good... What in the world is this flame?"
--------------------
Corelloth appears in Beacon, as she examies the various buildings. "Hmm- Hammu should be careful about the construction of the ground, but I think I'll leave this place unscathed... for now..." She smirks, and once again she disappears.
~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis arrived before Azor'Chapien.
"Hi, Azor'Chapien. I was flying over the world and noticed that the grey wastes still exist and are full of undead. Destroying the Grey Wastes will be difficult, but I propose that we join forces to create defenses surrounding its blight, and hopefully, one day, find a way to destroy it."
Nixis pulled out the Astral Shard and began channeling power into it. In a few seconds, a mace floated before him.
"For the effort, I give one of your champions this mace, the Mace of Deanimation. It will be very useful in fighting off the Undead Hordes."
Nixis pulled off a bit of his energy and left it floating in the air beforeAzor'Chapien
"I must go for a time. Feel free to use this energy as you see fit."
With that, Nixis darted out the window and to the north...
1 PP (From Chukwa): Nourish Populace: Children of the Aether prepare for a possible war.
1 PP (From Astral Shard): Create Artifact(lesser): Mace of Deanimation. Mace that deals extra damage to undead.
1 PP left for the first taker
[Have to run, don't have time to spend the last PP]"Greetings, Azor'Chapien. I trust I am not distrubing you. I was searching for Nixis, and last I heard, he was heading here."
Noticing the mace, he coughed slightly. "An unusual weapon. Designed to combat undead, correct? Not nearly potent enugh for your own personla use though. What do you intend to do with it?"
PP Use
2 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish populace x3 - Terenean states.
1PP Guide: Illithid join The Well in greater numbers
2PP Guide Populace: The Well learns the Psion class
2PP Guide Populace: The Well develops the art of fortification
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Through "cultural contact" in the Place Between Places, The Well learns Combat Tactics from the Deva.
+1PP (Ahura the Reborn) Nourish Land: The Underdark blooms with phosphorecent life. Near the entry to the Place Between Places, some edible plants are found and cultivated.
---
Azor'Chapien smiled and said, "No Veros, you aren't interrupting. As for Nixis... you just missed him. He gave me this mace, in fact."
Frowning in thought, he looked upon the mace and said, "Yes, it is made for combating Undead.... Nixis gave it to me so we might combat the horrors of the Gray Wastes. I plan on giving it either to my chosen champion, Eon, or to hide it away and wait for some hero to find it. I think I'll choose the former."
With a snap, Azor'Chapien summoned Eon to his presence. Eon protested and said, "Hey, I was having fun!" Then, he noticed Veros and said, "Um... who is he, then?"
-----
The Azorans that fell prey to the corrupting influence of the gray wastes always reanimated into undead, but the unforgiving land had developed a new and potent hell for them, and the azoran knights were the chosen victims.
Thos who fell would find themselves awakened and bonded with their weapons, destined for an eternity of crimes and murder, aware of their actions but unable to control themselves. As time passed, they would learn to induct willing members into their ranks by means of a ritual, but that time was the future. This was the now, and thus did the first death knights walk the world, sewing chaos, death, and discord.
-----
Bolstored by azoran laborers bartered for, the ruins of Celeron in the center of the Gray Wastes were expanded. Rather than simply repair the ancient structures and tunnels, they were expanded upona and enhanced, using knowledge drawn from their dwarven members.
-----
The mighty creature moved swiftly through the night, unseen by the ignorant mortals living in their city so far below. As he circled, moving ever closer, he called to mind the ritual he had developed to make it a simple matter to move among them as necessary.
Finally, he settled to the ground, taking the form of a gaunt almost skeletal mortal. He could feel it, far below, an impressive source of necrtoci energies. Moving along, he entered the tunnels below, searching and seeking. Eventually, he thought, this could be a useful place tomove my hoard, where the others wouldn't look.
Ariganx the Corrupter slipped into the depths of old Terena, searching for a suitablelair for a dracolich to call home.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Celeron
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Template - Death Knight
As for the dracolich, it's fluff. There is no population of them living in Old Terena, just a single one, independant from the Mournelord. It may or may not be useful to the place as an adventuring site.
With that, he transfered the energy Nixis had given him to Veros.
----
PP
Transfer 1 PP to Veros
As he winced in the sunlight, an ageless reflex he has never quite gotten rid of, he looked out over the world. He still held incredible power. He lay out the runes, and activated the teleportation circle, finally returning to his homeland.
Still invisible to the hapless fools all around him, he moved to the darkest depths of Celeron, where none had reached, where he had left his own experiment. A new form of undead he had never had the time to unleash on the world. A spirit forced into the body, and fused once more, flesh and spirit united, but in a way never intended by any god.
Hre raised his staff, and moan in extasy as the divine power he still held flooded through him, finally breathing life into these unhol abominations. At his hands, bodaks now hunted the living.
-----
The earth fought to collapse and grow inward on itself, to consume the hollow spehre within it. It sought to be whole and unified, but the dimension bulwark had been built with this posibility in mind. Even as new land fought to squeeze and eliminate the inner sphere, the dbulwark pulled and shifted it. The struggling new land, instead of shriking the inner sphere, was instead distributed across the oceans, forming numberous undersea mountain ranges.
-----
The intense power that had been focused and conjured to create Novindus lingered in the air long after Veros had left it. Undirected, it sought purpose in and around the continent. Eventually if found it. Latching onto a dragonflying high above the new land, it warped and twisted the creature, divinding it into many lesser copies of itself. But the power was uncontrolled, wielded without precisionor care, and each copy became less and less like the original, until at last they were completely unrecognizable as what they had once been.
The power dispersed, these new born creatures awoke in a new world, seen through the filter of eyes that had once soared the skies and wielded incredible power, but housed in the body of landlocked creatures. These were the first kobolds.
-----
Veros grasped the power he had been given, molding it into a new shape. The power began to glow white hot with power, it's illumination brightening the room, blinding them all.
When the light failed, a suit chainmail forged of an unknown metal floated in the air before them, it's form seeming to shift and waver in the light as it sparkled.
"The Radiant Armor. It's wearer should prove very resilient against attacks originating from undead. He, as well as allies in the immediate vicinity, should also be shielded from the effects of the Gray Wastes. It is a treasure worth a king's ransom and more."
PP Expenditures
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Greater) - Instead of the polar openings and/or inner sphere shrinking, numberous undersea mountain ranges form across the world.
2 PP - Mold Land (Moderate) - Instead of the polar openings and/or inner sphere shrinking, numberous undersea mountain ranges form across the world.
3 PP - Shape Populace (Moderate) - Bodaks
2 PP - Shape Populace (Lesser) - Kobolds
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Radiant Armor
-----
Turn 50 begins now. 12,500 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, Vymrl, Shurka, Mara, Hensen Jijou,
5 - Kiptar, Nixis, Eijra, Hammu, Chroma
4 - Azor-Chapien, Starl, Honissia, Jormundrasil, Torvek
The Iron State learned of a great concentration of energy that matched the undead that were so common in their society. Curiously, it was underneath New Terena, where what was left of Old Terena would be. for they knew of no thing that would cause this, so they decided to find out. As a result, a large expedition set forth, with all the supplies to create a settlement, as well as some of their own undead minions, to experiment with, and to perform menial tasks. Traveling by airship, they set down about a days march away from the New Terena. There they set up the town, as well as sending diplomatic advances to New Terena.
1 pp: Guide populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Iron state sends forth a expedition to Old Terena.
2 pp: 2 * Guide Populace(Lesser): Expedition begins exploring the terrain and atempting to find ways underground into Old Terena. In addition, they extend diplomatic advances to New Terena, hoping to use the city to search through, and for more ways underground.
1 pp: Nourish populace(Gears): Expedition armors itself against undead attacks, and grows a bit larger.
My contribution. If we save anything, lets save this adventure site. It is amazing.
4 - Azor-Chapien
With this artifact, called the Grisly Spiral, a massive construct of bone and flesh, the Sundered Fist came into contact with a powerful entity that called itself the Mourner. He claimed to have been imprisoned, bound by his enemies far below the earth. If the Drakhorn could free him, then he would teach them the secrets of eternal life.
-----------
The Ossen sought to expand their reach. To this end, they began a network of tunnels. Within a few years, however, they broke into a larger network, the Underdark. Intrigued by this new discovery, Illithids poured into the Underdark, seeking to discover what lay within it.
-----------
Sarakesh, teeming with all manner of blasphemous and aberrant creatures flourished, and its inhabitants learned the nature of grafts.
-----------
In Old Terena, Ssarosk knew the vulnerability of his new servitors to the magic of the divine. To combat this, he drew upon the knowledge of his old days as a Mournelord, privy to secret plots and theories developed by the magus of the Academy Dominus. So, to combat this threat, he replicated the Quell.
Formed of frozen, tormented spirits, each one of these creatures surrounded itself in a field of its own special brand of power, capable of shearing the link between a god and their servitor. Ssarosk's abilities as a necromancer were limited, however, so the Quell possessed no intelligence. As the creatures made little threat to most undead, he cast the monsters in great numbers out into Old Terena, ready to rend the flesh from any foolhardy invader.
Furthering his work, he bound several more spirits to quantities of Madan Ooze that he had brought with him from the frigid seas of Asem. These oozes lurked in the farthest corners of Old Terena, making themselves into the images of their prey.
PP
1PP-Create Artifact: Grisly Spiral
1PP (Artifact)-Guide Populous, Lesser: Drakhorn come into contact with Mournelord Ssarosk.
1PP-Guide Populous, Lesser: Illithids begin to explore Underdark
1PP-Mold Land, Lesser: Illithids create Deep Passage to Underdark
2PP-Guide Populous, Greater: Exemplars of Insanity learn grafting
1PP (Ssabrec)- Nourish Populous: Sarakesh
1PP- Nourish Populous: Ossen found Mondler
1PP- (Artifact) Spawn Beast, Heroic: Madan Oozes
"Aah! Who are you?"
"Oh... you speak?" Corelloth raises one eybrow. "Well- pardon my manners, little one- I am Corelloth- master of the Dark depths, controller of the soon- to- be elemental armies. And who might you be?"
Hondala hesitates. "Um... Hondala...?" She sudders.
Corelloth glances. "You need not be afraid, Hondala- I'm just here to admire the beauty of this island. This here is my campfire."
"So, Chastelli,", he asked into the air, "Is everything going according to plan?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Babble, a contingent of adventurous gnomes set out for the south, skirting the grey wastes and heading for the ocean. After a long journey, they arrived, making a home at the south-easternmost tip of the continent, near the location where the Defense Coalition had fled. They called their new settlement Shipshome, for that is from where they would build ships to travel the world. Nodding in satisfaction, Convincer headed back towards the Grey Wastes for his next project...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A thin strip of unpolluted land rose up from the depths of the ocean to provide a barrier between the grey wastes and the ocean itself. Convincer lowered the Staff of Earth. Finally, it would appear that the Staff of Earth had resumed its former function, and Convincer himself had recovered from whatever malaise had befallen him for all these years. He looked up to see Nixis himself floating high above the Grey Wastes, pondering what to do next about this blight on the surface of the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the Yogloids continued to divide, a problem arose, one that Chukwa and Nixis, for all their wisdom, had not thought of. While most of the resources of the Children were taken care of... Water through rituals, sustenance and shelter from the trees... Air was something that could not be replaced, and as the original colony split into further and further sub-colonies, the situation became more and more dire as the layer of air surrounding the Yogloid colonies grew thinner and thinner. All hope seemed lost, until someone remembered the Xarns, able to convert Air to Aether and back again. Back when the Yogloids had been covered in air, they had been a horrible pest, depleting the atmosphere. Now, they found a different purpose. The Children domesticated the Xarns, using them both in giant farms to attempt to reverse the depletion of the air, as well as using immature Xarns as gills by sticking them around their noses and allowing them to provide the air-breathers with enough oxygen to survive. It was a hellish existence, but at least it wasn't death.
1 PP: from Convincer: Guide Populace (lesser): Some gnomes head south and found the town of Shipshome.
2 PP: 1 from Staff of Earth: Mold Land (moderate): Strip of land about 10 miles across surrounds the Grey Wastes
2 PP: Guide Populace (moderate): Children of the Aether learn to domesticate Xarns, using them to survive as their air begins to run out.
Azor'Chapien said, "Well, if you really want to know, you're going to the Gray Wastes shortly, as soon as Nixis returns."
Eon said, with a hint of fear in his voice, "Oh..."
Turning to Veros, Azor'Chapien said, "I will return shortly. There is something I must do."
----
Azor'Chapien moved deeper into his fortress, and found what he was looking for. Back when he had forged his sword, he had used essence from the Astral Sea. A bit of that essence remained here. Taking the essence, he used it to forge another artifact, only instead of a weapon, a shield. After all, he was the living embodiment of knighthood, and knights used shields. The shield was a silvery color, and then, using the finest blue pigment, the silver was covered in Azor'Chapien's favored color, blue. On the blue field was a golden Fleur-de-Leis, the holy symbol of Azor'Chapien.
----
He then returned to Veros, shield in his left hand.
"Hello again, Azor'Chapien. Hello Veros. And hello to you too, Eon. The mace suits you."
Nixis swirled into humanoid form and leaned back against a wall, looking at Eon and judging his strength versus the grey expanses that awaited him.
"But if we are going to do something about the Grey Wastes, I think we'll need more than just a mace and some chainmail. If we are to make Eon truly our exemplar in battle, we should provide him with all the benefits he might need. A shield, A helmet, boots... things like that. Does this sound acceptable to the rest of you?"
Eon still seemed a little scared and said, "You- you're really going to send me to the Gray Wastes? Already?"
Azor'Chapien sighed and said, Yes, Eon. Don't worry, you'll be fine... probably."
----
Meanwhile, below Mount Chapien, a metal known as gold began to appear deep below the mountain, between the Dragonborn city and the Azoran city.
Nixis tossed some power to Azor'Chapien.
"There. Now, lets see what you can do."
1 PP: From Astral Shard: Create Artifact (lesser): Helm of the Sun. Winged helmet that provides the wearer with darkvision and can burst with the radiance of the sun once per day.
1 PP: Create Artifact (lesser): Surefooted Boots. Wearer ignores difficult terrain.
1 PP given to Azor'Chapien.
"Aha! I've been waiting for this moment..." She smirks, as Torvek and Dolestre land on the island with a thud- wepons on hand.
"Now we can end this little game of charades!" Torvek smiles, as he rears to attack.
"Not so fast, darling!" Corelloth pulls an unusual move, and with a quick flick of her wrist, a spark of purple lightning shoots out- straight a Torvek. It hits it mark, and saps his powers. "You didn't expect that now, did you?"
Torvek falls over, weakened from the attack. "Torvek!"
Before Dolestre could reach Torvek, Corelloth flaps her wings and pushes both of them out towards the water. "Now, I shall continue what is planned!" She uses the stolen energy, and the small flame on the sand erupts into a fury of violet energy, that seems to expand rapidly towards the main town. All of a sudden, the energy roars upward into a spiraling pillar- towards the Skyway River.
Corelloth appears from the roaring energy. "Let this be a lesson to both of you- if you tend to try and ruin my plans, I shall have both of your heads! Mark my words!" And with that, she disappears in a ball of violet flame.
"Oh, no... Torvek..." She sets her knees down on the sand, and holds Torvek close to her- tears running down her eyes. Torvek struggles to regain his energy. She gets up, and looks on to the roaring pillar of dark energy. "I must see to Azor_Chapien immediately!" She flies to the direction of Azor_Chapien, with Torvek in her grasp.
Meanwhile the Free Nations merchant introduce the concept of coniage and economics in Azora, bringing Free Nations shields with them.
Back in Chillhund the Possessed Ones managed to increase the power of their gate and to channel a new legion of nightmarish horrors on the world.
Deep within the monastery of Nitha the warlocks finally manage to create vessels to allow the True Unshaped access to the world, in the form of impressive armor enchanted bloodstone and steel.
1 PP Nourish - Free Nations (due to the new wealth coming from the Underdark Mining)
1 PP Guide - Azora learn Coniage and Economics.
4 PP - Nourish (1 from Bloodstones) - the Possessed ones number grows exponentially.
2 PP Guide (1 from Aether RIpples) - the Possessed ones learn how to create armor for themselves and the greater unshaped, allowing a freedom of mobility without their host.
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker) - The Chillhund portal to the grand distortion is expanded.
1 PP - Mold Land (from Bloodstone), given to Angel of Night.
))Vymrl gleefully summoned the slight twist of power the Bloodstones had channeled to him and drove it into the earth.
In the hills surrounding Ssabrec, a thundering roar echoed and the earth began to collapse inward, opening a great pit, leading to the Underdark. The Senate immediately ordered an expedition of exploration, and named the new tunnel the Stairway of Giants.
------------
Having built opened the Underdark to his children, Vymrl embarked on a search for an artifact he knew to have been created long ago by the Empress. With her now silent, why should he not benefit. In the Palace of Xa'an, Vymrl found the Land Spike, laughing quietly, the god seized the artifact and carried it off to Tamurung.
PP
1PP (Nerd)- Mold Land, Lesser: Stairway of Giants
0PP- Claim Artifact: Land Spike
Fang felt the world shifting, and he felt, too, the forces shaping the shift into mountains and undersea valleys. He did what he could to maintain the balance, possibly even pushing too far as he did so.
----------
It was almost a common occurrence now, but the spectacle always awed the inhabitants of the Place between Places. The large portal slowly opened, but neither ocean spray nor blood came through. This time, it was bones. A heap of them collapsed onto the floor, seemingly inert. It was only much later that a human child carrying dice made from sheep knucklebones stumbled and fell against the heap and by doing so discovered the trick to using the new portal.
----------
Hammu sat for a long time, hoping to hear from the Lord of Life. After an age, it became apparent that no reply was forthcoming, and so he sighed to himself and set about his work alone. Too many of the troubles in the world were the results of the experiments of other gods, but he would set right some wrongs with his own "experiment".
Alone, he wandered the Grey Wastes, seeking the undead husks of great warriors. He studied them, and then went into the Farscape in search of their souls. These he gathered to himself and brought them to the Place Between Places. Tucked away beyond a fold of the plane, he conferred with Rabi at length as to how best to outfit souls with less... fragile bodies.
They settled on metal. Armor was one thing, but it had to be taken on and off- Rabi argued it was better to have a body completely of metal (thumping Hammu's armor shell as if to make his point). They forged them in the great lava lakes in the middle Underdark and imbued them with the essence of the storm that Mara had unleashed on Beacon so long ago. Hammu taught them Law, and sent them into the world to seek out injustice and imbalance and destroy them.
----------
He woke near a lake of fire. He learned in marble halls. He practiced against the best warriors of the land, and he debated with its foremost scholars. He matched himself against the best, and judged himself worthy to separate knowledge from foolishness, the just from the unjust and the good from the evil. He went in search of new challenges. Eventually, The Judge came to Terena.
+1PP (The Zenith) Create Artifact (lesser): A portal forms, linking the Place Between Places to the East coast of the Old Continent near Skypeak, Terena and the Grey Wastes.
+1PP (Fang the Delver) Mold Land (lesser): The Polar Opening enlarges slightly, creating more room for expansion in the core.
4PP Shape Populace (Greater): Maruts
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Maruts worship Hammu
1PP Guide Populace: Maruts join the Place Between Places, making frequent raiding ventures into the Grey Wastes through the portal.
The Judge is a Marut Prosecutor (MM2). He's added to Terena as fluff for campaign usage if desired.
Chastelli finally appeared after a long moment, looking at Enoch. She had changed greatly since last he had seen hear, holding now an appearance of a mature, but still young women "It's going well. Very well indeed. Though I suppose you don't recognize me. I find they listen more when I wear an older form."
-----
Gorion slipped through the passages, wandering blindly. He had been having little luck with the Ice Giants when he felt the passage of power into this place, and followed it on a whim only to become lost in the passageways. Ripping another of the Losalfar that passed before him into shreds, he stepped into another room, peering through the darkness.
Startled, he noticed the goddess sleeping silent. He sent a silent trickle of power to awaken her as he went to his knees.
-----
Veros glanced out of the fortress. "I must go, AzorChapien. I wish you luck in your future endeavors. Though, you may want to deal with the meddling exarch that is causing trouble in your lands."
As he lifted into the air, he froze, seeing through the mists of time with the Temporal Vortex. He had long forgotten that he had placed it there, and it's coming alive was a surprise,b but more so was what it revealed to him. He closed his eyes to the future and considered it. Why would Vymrl strike him down?
Determined to get to the bottom of it, he made his way to the Imperium, certain that Vymrl would notice him there. As he moved, he reached into his pocket, and frowned again. Pulling the stone out, he looked at it. Remembering. The Stone of Revery. Continuing his hunt for Vymrl, he held the stone, wondering what had ever become of Ythrexle. He certainyl did wish to encoutner him again, and repay him for that timely rescue.
He lifted the stone, handing it to the couatl. "Alocasia, seek your master. I have not heard a whisper of him in along time. When you find him, ask if he would come to me."
-----
Drevan slipped though Terena. Is was no long his land, under his heel, but there was still much to do here.
Enoch laughed.
"My lady, I do not think I could ever forget you. May I compliment you on your new form? I was wondering if you had revealed the portal to Nixis' Library to the Loremasters yet. I have an idea to how you might be able to further explore the world... but it requires that you speak with the society that operates within the Library."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis looked at his new creations, then winced as the window outside burst into sudden brightness. Floating up to it, he looked out to see a pillar of fire reaching up to the heavens burning to the southwest.
"Azor'Chapien... it would appear you have a slight problem. Get up here."
She giggled a bit, then shook her head. "No, the old men want to debate it and argue for hours on end on whether it's worh the risk."
She walked to the window. "I found a way out. But I'd still like to hear your suggestion."
If Enoch could have rolled his eyes, he would have. As it was, he shuffled his pages back and forth, making a rippling sound.
"Those blowhards. They would argue about whether the sun would rise tomorrow if they could. I have explained somewhat of how the Library works to you. Each member of the Library that wishes to enter from a location that is not where a permanant portal has been established uses a special token that is connected to the essence of the library itself. My idea is to introduce you to them, and connect the tokens to you much like the Loremaster enclaves are connected to you. Then, you would be able to go anywhere one of the tokens went.
What do you think?"
For so long she had slumbered, left to her dreams while the sun rose and fell, while the moons danced the twilit waltz. Ages had passed as she slept, kept distant from the world, cocooned in dreams and warm thought. Much had transpired beyond the gaze of her closed eyes, much had changed. Yes, the world was different now, filled with different people who did different things in different places. All this happened without her notice for her only concern was the world beyond waking. Something, however, had changed that had penetrated this cocoon of dream, and reached her divine mind. Someone had dared to enter her home, her private sanctuary, as she slept unknowing, and take her most prized possession, the first thing she had ever owned. They had dared to take this from her. This was too much, far too much. Thoughts, angry thought collected in her mind. They lifted her up through the fog of sleep, and presented to her the bright, waking world. And as she woke, she had but a single thought on her mind. I have a god to kill.
When her eyes flicked open, her first sight was of a smooth, blank expanse of green. She rose, fluidly and smoothly to her feet and came to stand upon her bed. Smooth, silken sheets flowed off her form like water. Before her, kneeling upon the ground, was a creature she had never seen before, but knew instantly it's identity, for it was everything she stood for. Her gaze shifted upwards, and came to rest upon the mirror directly opposite. She smiled as she gazed upon her perfect form, the curves of her hips, the way her silken shift rested upon her body, and how her dark hair tumbled about her shoulders so carelessly, yet with such elegance. She looked back down at the kneeling creature.
"You must be Gorion," said the Empress, smiling as she offered her hand for him to take, "We are going to have a lot of fun together."
He helped her down from the bed, and she moved over to the window. With a delicate gesture, she parted the curtains to reveal the world below. Her lips parted once more in a smile as she beheld the beauty below her, and, more specifically, the south.
"A lot of fun..."
Ythrexle had long since left his mortals to their own devices, their cities cumbled to dust long ago. Lately he had become increasingly drawn to the Great Dream that he had left so long ago. "I do not care for these dreamers any longer. How I wish for the days of old where I... No. When we were one with the dream. How I long to return there..."
Stealthily, Alocasia slithered up to his perch atop the grand spire. "Masster. Veross your brother requiress your asssisstance. He wisshess to sspeak with you once more."
Ythrexle felt his stoic soul stir a bit when his modest servant mentioned that name.
"Veros... Surely if he's contacting me it must be important. Come Alocasia." and with a simple sweeping movement the dream-god scooped up his couatl servant and made for Veros' position according to her directions.
Gorion willing helped her down. Though he knew his creator was not she, within her he rcould feel some of the many things he most valued. He liked his monstrous form, the intimidating presence it conveyed, but for the first time in many ages, he chose to discard it, instead adopting one more similar to her own, so that he would provide less of a contrast in her presence and not appear confrontational.
"That was what I had hoped when I awoke you." he said, eyeing her. "I'm sure you are aware who created me. I can't help but wonder, where" he whispered, "he recieved his inspiration."
-----
She grinned at the book. "Sounds like a wonderful plan."
Before Dolestre could reach Torvek, Corelloth flaps her wings and pushes both of them out towards the water. "Now, I shall continue what is planned!" She uses the stolen energy, and the small flame on the sand erupts into a fury of violet energy, that seems to expand rapidly towards the main town. All of a sudden, the energy roars upward into a spiraling pillar- towards the Skyway River. Corelloth appears from the roaring energy. "Let this be a lesson to both of you- if you tend to try and ruin my plans, I shall have both of your heads! Mark my words!" And with that, she disappears in a ball of violet flame.
A tendril of purple flame threaded its way along the Skyway River, and curled into the space of the Place Between Places. Hammu stared at it, watching as the flame flickered through the air. He could sense that great power lay at its source- furthermore, he could sense that something had upset the Balance once again. "Corelloth. She's back, and once again she threatens my creation! How many times has she threatened Beacon, and now she intrudes into my own sanctuary?! Enough of this!"
Hammu turned towards the Courts. There was something there... something that might help in this situation. A breeze flowed through the great doors of the Courts, and dust lifted from the large skeletons within. Some form of insect lifted its head out of the damaged ribcage of one bony heap, and the skeletons creaked to their feet. With a motion of his hand, Hammu beckoned them to his side, took the Hammer of Law in hand, and then he opened The Zenith and stepped through into Azora.
Hammu paid the distraught dragons no heed, but bent immediately to the scent of Corelloth. "She's got no place to hide.. she can't have gone far. I'll just follow her disarderly trail until I find her!" Some time later, Hammu cornered Corelloth in her lonely hideaway. He motioned the skeletons forward "These creations are... distasteful, but they are nothing if not tools of Balance. As they Balanced Yoglith, so they will Balance you, Corelloth."
Swarms of Pyreflies were evident now, crawling from the cavities of the skeletons. They flared bright in the dim light, and buzzed hungrily as they closed in on Corelloth. It was over quickly. As the skeletons slumped, their work complete for now, Hammu knelt beside the corpse that now flickered with a slowly burning purple fire and retrieved a Pyrefly. He sent the insect on its way to Veros with a message.
"Lord of Knowledge. I've something that belongs to you, in a way, and something that you should see. "
Hensen moved away from the Eye of the Pantheon, its visions have engulfed his mind for too long. The world was changing around the Hydra god, old beings, who was walking creation long time before himself, have awakened again. New potential coming from ancient things, impressive.
It felt a turbulance in the palace of Xa'an, Drathor gift to the Bronze Pantheon and to his beloved Empress, while the Master of Creation and Destruction was still sleaping she has awakened from her slumber.
"Curtesy demands that we pay her a visit" Sibilated the Gree Head, with the passing of time its scale has changed from near emerald to a dark green and his horns looked even more wicked than before. It has also grown stronger than before, as he was not fully enthralled by the visions of the Eye.
"This is a wise tought brother, should not we bring here a gift from us, to celebrate her awakening?"
"Also apparently there is someone else already with her, I think we slept too much if someone can enter the palace of Xa'an without us knowing."
"Shall we go now?"
"I guess we should have her finish the talk with the intruder, I'd be rude to interrupt right?" Concluded the green head.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile in Terena a strange being approached Drevan, it looked like an humite girl, but there was something wrong in her.
"Hello, master Drevan" she told him in a gentle and innocent voice "there is someone who might like to talk with you, in a place secure from prying eyes..."
Shurka knew what was happening in Terena. For some reason he didn't seem compelled to do anything about it. He could see dark clouds in the horizon. They were getting closer... would he be ready for the storm?
Terena was well defended against external threats. It was the internal threats, however, that worried him. But he was done interfering. Shurka was done helping his creations. They had to fend for themselves now. He was a bit bored at the time. He went around the world aimlessly, seeing if he would encoutner anyone else.
[He's not looking for anyone in particular. Anyone can respond to this if they want]
PP Spent
2 PP [+1 Eorna} - Nourish Populace x3 - Terenean States.
Veros stopped. "What would Hammu have of mine? No matter. I shall see to it, then resume my search."
In little time at all, he made his way to Hammu, following the pyrefly the message had come with. "You sought me, Hammu?"
-----
The humite looked at the woman oddly. "Master Drevan? My lady, I fear you have me confused with somebody else."
The girl looked toward Devran, showing a clearly false innocent face, for a split the second her eyes radiated a dark blue light.
"I'm not mistaken Master Drevan, the one who sent me was too impressed by your recent performances in Hammu's court to send me to the wrong person...
Beside, even if you can't remember, I presume, we have already met long ago..."
He continued his walk, simply assuming she would follow. "I do not remember you. But that is most likely the fact that I am not this Drevan you are searching for. Even if I were, for what reason should I meet with your master?"
"Oh you can't remember me, I looked much differently in the old times, I have being granted a new pretty face by now, do you like it?"
"I should leave by now my parents will be worried" she told, showing again her innocent smile"You will be able to find me at my family home, its the first mansion just outside Terena, at the beginning of Moon road, you can't miss it. There we can find a place where we can talk more freely, without that nice staff of yours its too easy to spy your movements."
"Should you not accept mind that the ones who sent me will be really displeased, on the contrary he could be a quite generous ally should you accept his offer.
He know about your past history and he thinks that you deserve to get back what you once held..."
He shook his head at her. "No, I'm afraid I don't know you. But," he said, grinning slightly as he snapped his fingers. "I imagine this is the staff you are talking about, is it not?"
He leaned on it, as he glanced around. Seeing nobody, he took the formof a dwarf once more. "Old creatures have a bad tendency to leave things lying around, wouldn't you say? Now, what is this about?"
Nixis looked at his new creations, then winced as the window outside burst into sudden brightness. Floating up to it, he looked out to see a pillar of fire reaching up to the heavens burning to the southwest.
"Azor'Chapien... it would appear you have a slight problem. Get up here."
Azor'Chapien frowned and said, "Um... what is it Ni- oh, that isn't good..."
Azor'Chapien was standing by the window, viewing the pillar of fire. He winced, and began to shake with rage. "Th-that isn't... that... whoever did this will die."
Vymrl settled into Tamurung, his power gathering around him.
In little time at all, he made his way to Hammu, following the pyrefly the message had come with. "You sought me, Hammu?"
"Knowledge. I did call for you. I know you sometimes like to save the divine sparks of those who pass from the world, and there is one such here." Hammu pointed at Corelloth "Also, your experiment Drevan left these Yogliths in my care to defend him should his defense before the Court turn to violence. I chose not to intervene when you struck him down, seeing as it was merely restoring the Balance to do so. I have no further need of them, and if you wish for them you may have them."
Veros nodded. "I see. I do appreciate your decision not to interven in that. I had assumed that you wouldn't, but could not be posotive. And tes, I do have an interest in such things, Hammu. I appreciate your aid in this matter."
He pointed at the purple dragon with his staff, watching are the viscous silver fluid slowly seep out between her scales, gathering into a blob in the air. With a crack, it sealed into a jar. Floating it over towards him, he grabbed it and placed it within his robes."
He nodded at Hammu once more. "Yes, this should come in handy for something indeed. I have just the project for this."
His gaze turned to the Yogliths. "A common manifestation of necromantic energy, blunt and directly to the point. Yes, they are clearly the work of Drevan, obvious by the simple and direct application of power, with no finesse or caution it's application."
He lifted his staff again, black energy crackling across the two skeletons, slowly altering their nature. "Yes, that is much better. They cannot be forced to apply their power against their current owner now. I do appreciate what you have done this day, Hammu. Should you have need of me, let me know."
With that he sent the skeletons back to the workshop to keep intruders out while he moved on. He had a good guess where Vymrl might be now, and came to the borders of Tamarang. He sent a pyrefly in, hoping it would find Vymrl.
Kiptar stretched and prepared to travel. He had simply stayed in Mechanus as of late, but recently he had decided to travel the world some more.
He left, and moved, watching and seeing. Eventually, he ran into another god, the one called Shurka.
"Greetings, Shurka. How are you?"
He shook his head at her. "No, I'm afraid I don't know you. But," he said, grinning slightly as he snapped his fingers. "I imagine this is the staff you are talking about, is it not?"
He leaned on it, as he glanced around. Seeing nobody, he took the formof a dwarf once more. "Old creatures have a bad tendency to leave things lying around, wouldn't you say? Now, what is this about?"
Again she smiled with her eyes to the dwarf. "I think that our goals might have something in common, you don't like this place don't you? We actually don't really care but we might gain some advantage in its demise by the hand of a few friends..."
"With no more defense coalition, you will probably need a new force to help you in operating here and I might provide you with one, I have many brothers and sisters around the continent."
"Also my master think that you might have a lot of precious knowledge, from your experience, mortal or not, he might have a plan to set in motion regarding that nice tree that lives here and could use your expertise..."
He let loose a loud laugh. "I don't like this place? You aren't as smart as you know. I like this place a great deal. It has been more than enough to keep me amused for the past millenia."
There was a glimmer of madness in his eyes as he watched the girls, raising his staff threateningly. "It is important for me to keep my mind occupied, and this places amusement does well towards that. The last time I let myself get bored, I blew an entire people. But you wouldn't know about that, would you?"
Fast as lightning, he smacked his staff into her forhead, channelling the images of death and destruction as vampire hoards had overrun Duska Krak, culminating in his own triggering of the ritual that annihilated the land.
A gout of ice and snow exploded upwards, consuming the pyrefly. The plane twitched in this action, however, and Vymrl noticed. So, Veros wished entry. With a thought, Vymrl dispatched Argus, the Chained Lord, the open the Ex-Temporal Shell and the Shroud to allow Veros entry.
Well, come then! Nixis shouted, speeding out the window with Chapien right behind him. Eventually they made their way to the pillar of fire, and saw Torvek lying there, energy drained from him.
"Oh. Him." Nixis said, eying the weakened dragon.
"Well? What do you want to do about this?" he said, looking at Azor'Chapien.
Well, come then! Nixis shouted, speeding out the window with Chapien right behind him. Eventually they made their way to the pillar of fire, and saw Torvek lying there, energy drained from him.
"Oh. Him." Nixis said, eying the weakened dragon.
"Well? What do you want to do about this?" he said, looking at Azor'Chapien.
Azor'Chapien was shaking with rage. Many Azorans had lost their lives... they had to be avenged! "I- I don't know... if this dragon is somehow responsible... then..."
"Greetings... ah, Kiptar, right? What are you doing here?"
Shurka just realized that he didn't know where "here" was since he was wondering around aimlessly. A quick glance told him that he was off the coast of the Chillund Archipelago. Seeing the snow gave him an idea. He raised his hand, and some of the snow had risen. It swirled around, and then floated toward the mainland. Several other orbs of swirling snow followed it.
PP Use
1 PP [+1 Bloodvine] - Spawn Creature, the snow wisp. (A snow wisp removes vulnerabilities from the creatures around it)
Veros summoned his two guards before stepping into Vymrl's plane, calmly walking up to the war god. "Good tosee you well, Vymrl. I've something I no longer wish to have, and I beleive you might like to have it. Yoglith's Temporal Harmonizer. My uses for it are finished, andit belongs rightfully to you, as his heir."
He lifted his had, opening a gateway. "You have only to come to the workshop and take it."
"Oh, nothing. I was just getting board and depressed, and decided to get some air."
It watched the snow orbs floating away.
"I was thinking about the end of days, both of us gods and of this world. I suppose that counts me as depressed. It's just that I can't shake the feeling that someday, somehow, their will be no more gods, and, hopefully much later than that, no more world. It bugs me."
6PP: I am granting these to ff6shadow for services rendered. Or to be rendered. I need to catch up before Xi takes an active hand in the world.
"You have my thanks, Veros."
With a twist of though, Vymrl summoned Light Child, and sent her through the gateway. As she slipped through the gateway, radiant garments rippling in an unseen wind, Vymrl spoke again.
"I have, however, a number of servants, such as Light Child, who have little purpose in this brave new world. Still, they have been with me since that first dawn, and she first brought word of my glory to mortals, so many thousands of years ago. A loyal servant, I do see that she has tasks enough to occupy herself."
In the bleak howling half-light of the Bound Plane, the two Elder Gods communed. The wind tore and whispered around the form of one, the greater of the two, who stood exposed to all the elements. Mirages of past glories, dying peoples, fallen worlds, and vast expanses of battlefields shuddered all around him. Crows feasted upon the dead and the dying, plucking out eyes from corpses, or almost corpses.
A strange, metallic scent flickered in the wind, speaking almost of decay, and certainty of ruin.
"Veros, we are old, you and I, we are the Elder Gods. So many of us once, and now so few, and all of us riven by conflict. It is true that I am the Master of War, but more nuance exists than that title can convey. I once believed, or Nocturne lead me to believe, that I could unite the mortals of the world, bring them to a true peace and a wealthy empire. To that end I infused myself with the essence of war and conquest, indeed, forged myself into a tool towards that end.
Now though, as new Lords of Creation, fresh-born godlings arise, full of lust for life and power, I wonder if our era has passed. Are we relics from another epoch, bound by our immortality and might to survive? Our goals antiquated, increasingly irrelevant in an ever changing world? You, Veros, a tinker of immense power, but a tinker none the less. And I, an ancient and eternal warrior, full of ardor in my youth but now? I am incapable of any conquest worth my talent, let alone the reforging of this world in a crucible of war.
I wonder, I wonder of the place that such as you and I have in this new world, are we its destined rulers, ordained as gods among gods? Or are we mere remnants of our past selves, the few surviving of those whose fallen hulks and lost peoples now litter this reality."
Veros looked at Vymrl. "Your exarch will not be able to remove the harmonizer. The guards and wards around my workshop are good at keeping her kind out. Even my own gateway can only take us to the mountain entrance. I have warded it too well, I think. We shall go, and perhaps speak as we walk."
Turning towards the gateway, he nodded. "I have often thought such things of myself, even in ages past. There is very little in this reality and beyond that I do not know, but to our purpose, even I am blind. The temporal vortex gives the sight of time, and yet even it can only see so far."
He looked back as he started to cross the gateway, indicating that Vymrl should walk with him. "Yet, even time seems to lie to me now. The eye showed me being attacked when I came here, yet I came anyway, wondering why you would attack me. And yet here we are, no hostility evident at all."
He glanced down as he crossed the portal. "Even time itself has begun to lie to us. This does not bode well."
-----
The thirteen constellations had bided their time, waiting and watching, their reserves of power slowly but surely growing day by day. Finally, they became fully functional. As they twinkled in the sky over head, their power began to trickle down, insinuating itself into mortals, unlocking new and unknown potential in all those they latched on to.
Each of the sigils represented something different, and each power manifested in a different fashion. The humans of Alexandria, long accustomed to tinkering and toying with reality and each other, began to manifest the Mark of Making. The doppelgangers, the oldest servants of knowledge, developed twin marks, manifest the marks of scribing as well as the mark of shadows, though this mark began to manifest among the gnomes as well, long unseen by their larger neighbors.
The mark of detection manifested among the shadar-kai, a symbol of their long search for both freedom and homeland. The mark of finding and the mark of the sentinel chose the minotaurs, while the mark of healing chose to reveal itself to the humites, the oldest and most devoted of healers, and the mark of hospitality was born among the halflings. The mark of passage was born into the eladrin, and the mark of warding manifested among the dwarves. Finally, the mark of storm chose the elves, hidden away in their forests to recieve it's blessings.
Though the marks did on occasions manifest outside of their usual races, these occasions where few and far between.
-----
The gray wastes continue to grow stronger. Where some had tried to ring it, and push it back, it expanded outwards, comsuning the barrier that the foolish had thought to place. Further, the unholy intelligence grew more and more irritated at the living who dared to try and live within it, or even raid it, destroying it's children. The necrotic energies pulsed and charged through the land, giving birth to stronger and greater undead than had ever walked the lands before. Even these were not enough though, and it reached further, drawing back even the long departed spirits of the fallen, sending their souls out into the world.
All these necrotic energies manifesting did not go on without consequence. A sympathetic reaction triggered as well, the growing power un Terena conjoing with and amplifying the power being expelled by the Gray Wastes, spreading these new monstrosities not just within the limited confines of the plane, but across the world.
Under the onslaught of the new and more powerful mindless undead, the azorans suffered heavy losses. Despite this, Celeron was finally rebuilt, on the backs of Azoran laborers. When it was finally finished, they leaders returned, and made some efforts to help the azorans protect themselves.
-----
The ten men walked down the streets of Terena. They had only a few of the symbols that marked them as loremasters of high standing. The council deemed their research suspicious, and they had been ordered to halt the experiments, despite their claims that their work would be invaluable if finished.
Still, all ten of them were wealthy men. And the notes on their research had survived. Now, here within Terena, they would conduct their research away from the prying eyes of their colleagues. Once completed, they could return and prove the council wrong. Their clockwork creatures would be brought to life, no matter what it cost them.
-----
The humite grasped her spear, thrusting it towards the fast approaching mob of undead. "In the name of Shurka, your unholy existence shall be purged!"
The dozens of undead charging towards her seemed to falter, many of them collapsing to dust under it's divine light. Still, a few continued, pushing forward despite the powerful attack. As the cleric was torn apart by the relentless pack of undead, she gave himself into the light, her soul and body safe from their taint. Only her spear remained, holding within it the woman's soul, protected from the taint so manifest within the ruins.
PP Expenditures
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Greater) - All skeletons in official sources exist now.
3 PP - Spawn Beast (Greater) - All zombies in official sources exist now.
3 PP - Spawn Beast (Greater) - Ghosts
2 PP - Spawn Beast (Moderate) - Steam Dragons
2 PP - Spawn Beast (Moderate) - Steel Legionnaires
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Moderate) - The Gray Wastes expand, consuming the barren land erected around it by Nixis.
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - The azorans living within the Gray Wastes suffer under the renewed and powerful assault of the far more powerful mindless undead now living within the Gray Wastes
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Celeron
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Radiant Spear
Turn 51 begins now. 12,750 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, Vymrl, Shurka, Hensen Jijou, Mara, Empress
5 - Kiptar, Nixis, Eijra, Hammu, Chroma
4 - Azor-Chapien, Starl, Ythrexle, Honissia
Admin Awards
Nerdzul gets an admin award. 1 bonus PP this turn.
By unanimous vote, Chapien gets an admin award. 1 bonus PP this turn.
Tinwe gets an admin award. 1 bonus PP this turn.
He let loose a loud laugh. "I don't like this place? You aren't as smart as you know. I like this place a great deal. It has been more than enough to keep me amused for the past millenia."
There was a glimmer of madness in his eyes as he watched the girls, raising his staff threateningly. "It is important for me to keep my mind occupied, and this places amusement does well towards that. The last time I let myself get bored, I blew an entire people. But you wouldn't know about that, would you?"
Fast as lightning, he smacked his staff into her forhead, channelling the images of death and destruction as vampire hoards had overrun Duska Krak, culminating in his own triggering of the ritual that annihilated the land.
The girl watched the scene with an happy expression on here face, she looked like an innoncent children listening to granpas stories.
"You look great! We might have missjudged you after all, you sound a lot more funny than I have expected. My lord told me something quite similar about Terena, he finds it intriguing. And this place is becoming even more interesting now, with all the undeads roaming. You are quite good in guiding them right? Come with me, my master can provide us with the tools to get a little more fun here..."
"Look beyond the boundaries of this demesne, Veros. The very fabric of Time does not exist here. My wards and barriers are built of temporal loops, twistings of Time, while distortions litter this realm. Perhaps Time once stood strong and stable, but no more. When I first assumed the mantle of authority as Last Lord of Time I very nearly vanished into its depths, lost forever. Perhaps not so different as from now. Still, Veros, you and I have little cause to trust one another. In truth, I bear you little friendship for deeds most have forgotten. My memory stretches back almost as far as yours, and the black spite welling within my frigid breast is seldom satiated by the ages.
If my exarch cannot retrieve the object, then perhaps you can retrieve it and bring it here. I would not ask this favor but that once within your Workshop I may not emerge...
By unanimous vote, Chapien gets an admin award. 1 bonus PP this turn.
((Unanimus... I like the sound of that...))
The Dragonborn, much like the Azorans before them, also mastered the art of steel work, and they used their steel to create tools of mining in order to mine the gold surrounding them
Yet, as they mined, they came into contact with the Azorans, also searching for the rare metal. Initially, the two races strongly distrusted each other, but at the mention of 'Code' and 'Azor'Chapien', they became powerful allies.
----
2 PP Guide Populace: The Dragonborn can now make steel.
2 PP Guide Populace: The Dragonborn can now mine.
1 PP: The Azorans and Dragonborn meet and ally with one another.
Veros chuckled. "Of course, of course. We are not allies. I would not ask that you enter my domain. I simply ask that you accompany me to the top of Sky Peak. From there, I can open the ways of the workshop to your exarch so me may retrieve the harmonizer, and we can continue our conversation."
-----
He finally shrugged. "So be it. Let's hurry to this master of yours. I have other matters to attend to."
"Ah, very well then."
A shudder ran through the plane, ice buckled and cracked, and huge fissures ripped through the surface. The mirages and whisperings of the wind rose to a crescendo of frenzied wails and then ceased. An aura of terrible cold washed over Veros, and Vymrl emerged from the ice beneath him. Arms flung back, spine arched and neck twisted, the god appeared as one dead, almost as though he had forgotten a physical form.
"It has been so long since I ventured forth, still, I suppose this bronze form shall serve longer."
It had been too long since Chroma had been back home. Not the home he had been born in, after experiencing the world outside the Chaos Chroma didn't think he could ever be content with the constantly changing yet at the same time never doing so plane. But back home, in the world inside what he now knew was another world. Ardune.
But what a world that outer world was! Chroma had lost himself in centuries of tourism, and if he had had the mind to create a camera would have taken hundreds of snap shots. As it was the child god had been content to play with new people, and roam new lands. Some had been fun, others less so... that boring gray land had given the god of Chaos the creeps to say the least especially. Still, he was back now, and he wondered just how much had changed since he left...
***
"Oh great eye eye and headey head in the sky,"* intoned the richly dressed Boggart, holding aloft a 'book' which consisted of several tablets tied together. Well, the boggart was richly dressed by boggart standards anyway, wearing a robe that looked like it had been made from old leaves, and a pointy hat that may or may not have come from a toads intestinees. "We thankyou for letting us experience new things, and teaching us how to use the flamey flames."
"Bless the flamey flames!" The small mass of boggarts surrounding the robed one echoed.
"Thank you for the big buggys we eat, and the big toadeys that eat them. Except when they eat us, unless they spit us back out again or we come back out the back whole, in which case thank you for that," the robed boggart continued.
"Bless the poopy poop!" the boggarts echoed back. Which probably wasn't what the robed boggart had been going for, but he didn't want to ruin his image by backtracking.
"Come, let us play," the robed boggart intoned solemnly. Before raising what looked like a half rotted stick in the air and letting loose a cascade of coloured lights, which sparkled and flew through the air noisily.
"Ooooo. Aaaaaa." The croud intoned, hypnotized by the display. One boggart shoved one of the lights into their mouth, causing it to fall down spasming on the ground until it managed to cough the spark back up. The rest of the Boggarts didn't even bat an eyelid... even with the new leadership of the flamey flame wielders, the natural curiosity of the Boggart and deadliness of the world around them made such incidents common to say the least.
*Translated from Boggart
PP Expenditure:
1PP, +1 Guide PP from Beryl: Boggarts learn the Wizard class
Something in the depths of the ocean. A new god. It needs a name. It thinks. "Ashralan" It says. "Ashralan will be my name". Ashralan rises from the depths and looks around. He sees many gods and other creatures inhabiting the world but one intrigues him above all others. The sahuagin. He uses some of his considerable power to give himself power over the sahuagin. He then contacts their leader in a dream and tells them that he is their true god. This sahuagin instantly knows that this is the truth. Ashralan creates a Great Sea, a demiplane within the natural world, populates it with deadly, giant sharks and tells the sahuagin that they must travel there and make it their new home. He looks around at his creation and is pleased. "This will do for now" he said. "Yes this will do".
PP expenditure:
1PP Create domain (lesser): Ashralan creates the Sahuagin domain.
1PP Guide populace: The sahuagin now worship Ashralan
2 PP Create plane (lesser): Ashralan creates the Great Sea
1PP Guide populace: The Sahuagin travel to the Great Sea and make their home there.
1PP Spawn beast (lesser): Ashralan creates sharks to inhabit the Great Sea (Fleshtearer Sharks page 182 MM2)
Light Child felt the power of another god trickle into the Saughahin her master lorded over. Not particularly subtle either, strange dreams and visions. She sent word to one of her brethren, Argus the Watcher. He in turn drew power from the Glistening Agony, utilizing its power to send a more subtle influence along with the Saughahin. They might accept this new deity as their lord, but Vymrl would not be forgotten, and his Rites still filled the lives of the Saughahin.
After doing this, Light Child followed the few Saughahin migrating, and entered the new demiplane.
-------------
S'kre molded the earth beneath Chillund, opening a vast network of tunnels that extended beneath the oceans and under the main continent.
-------------
The Ossen grew in power, as the sea bed yielded plentiful harvests of kelp.
-------------
Miles below the surface of Tamurung, a cyst of molten iron formed. Into this Vymrl poured his remaining power. The boiling metal infused with divine energy formed a formidable engine of creation, or destruction.
To ease the passage of servants to and from the Furied Progenitor the Incarnation of Ice caused the plane open a rift, called the Hephaestian Gorge, and create a huge cavern surrounding the Furied Progenitor that could be used for forging.
To work these incredible instruments of creation, Vymrl caused a new race to form, fiery Salamanders, capable of surviving the hottest flames took shape in the depths of the Bound Plane.
PP
2PP-Mold Land, Medium :Underdark extends to Chillund and connects the Stairway of Giants to the Contenet.
1PP (Glistening Agony)- Guide: Saghahin continue to worship Vymrl in addition to Asharlon
1PP (Ssabrec)- Nourish: Ossen grow stronger
3PP- Create Artifact, Greater: Furied Progenitor (Create)
3PP (Flesh-Pools)- Spawn Populous, Paragon: Salamanders
Ashralan feels the presence of a servant of Vyrml enter the Great Sea and influence the minds of the Sahuagin. He is not pleased at all. He travels to the location of Light child and adresses the exarch. "How dare you enter my domain". He shouts at Light Child. "And how dare you command my sahuagin to worship your master, a false god of ice and time, when I am their rightful lord!" Screams the shark god, his voice rising in volume by the second. "You and your master were both made by others and I arose of my own volition. you are weak!, you are foolish!, you are NOTHING!" He spits in Light Child's face and shoots off into the Great Sea.
The Empress gazed with mild interest the world beyond her curtain, before slowly turning to face Gorion, her face alight with bemusement. As she caught sight of his mortal guise, the corner of her mouth twitched.
"You can drop the man-suit darling," she said, cracking into a full-fledged smile, "I don't need a man..."
The Empress paused for a moment as she nimbly stepped up onto the window sill. She stood there for a moment, outlined by the bright rectangle that was the window. Then her lips parted once more.
"I need a monster..."
And with that, she fell backwards through the open window. She made no effort to catch herself, just plummeted through the air like a stone. Then, as if an unseen wind caught her form, she rocketed forward, cackling wildly as she shot through the sky. As she flew, she called out in a savage, mocking tone.
"To the Imperium!"
----------------------------
It was a moment of clarity for the draconic race. At that very moment, in complete and utter unison, they all understood one thing, in their heart of hearts:
They must vanquish the Imperium...
Perhaps it was some mystical bond that united them all, perhaps a primordial instinct that alerted them to their foe, it may have even been divine providence. It could have been a combination of all, or none of these things that caused an unshakeable certainty to take hold of the hearts every Chromatic dragon, and cause them to take flight.
It was truly epic, all at once, without word or command, each and every dragon upon the continent of Asika, no matter what they were doing at the time, flapped their powerful wings, and took flight. And each and every one of them turned their gaze to the south. To the Imperium.
---------------------------
Deep within the Chillund Archipelago, a malevolent presence stirred. With a heave of primordial might, Tsul'Kalu burst forth, breaking a hole in the face of the land, and rocketing skywards, seeking his mistress, seeking his destiny.
He flew upwards, ice still clinging to his shaggy and plant-like body, frost coating his entire form. The velocity of his flight shook free these bits of ice, and sent them spiraling earthward. His speed soon warmed his form, giving him back the flexibility he had lost. Now he was flying unencumbered towards the sky.
--------------------------
The Empress rocketed through space. Gorion and Tsul'Kalu, both born of other gods, but under her control now, were hot on her heels. She laughed to herself as she flew through the Aether, her eyes fixed on a point far below her. There is was, Skypeak. The mountain so tall, it pierced to Aegis formed so long ago to keep all in, and keep all out. She laughed once more as she caught sight of her prey, hovering high above the mountain peak. This was going to be easier than she thought. She banked, and veered towards them.
Then she caught sight of another figure, and she slowed. Veros. What was he doing here? She raged internally at herself. How had she been so blind to this possibility? This could ruin everything! Still, her blood-lust would not be sated, so she continued on her course.
As the Empress of Sin rocketed towards towards the Sovereign of Ice and Time, a cold, hard thought formed in her mind: Betrayer.
She drew upon that thought, made it strong with her rage, her hatred. She made it real, made it palpable, made it able to pierce, to wound. To kill. In her hands now rested a spear carved of jade. It was not real, merely a manifestation of the anger within. As she came in close, she draw back the spear, and before the other two gods had time to react, thrust it directly at the Ice Lord's chest.
PP Expenditures
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) - The Asikan Empire attacks the Imperium
1 PP Attack God - The Empress attacks Vymrl
Ashralan watches all this from the Great Sea and cackles at the attack on his foe.
Hensen was waiting patiently for the Emperess to finish her conversation with her guest when suddenly she was gone.
"A quite teathrical way to go away..." told one of the grey heads. The others stood in silence for a while. "Well I have some bad feeling about that" replied the red one.
"I fear that we will have to delay the meeting with our new ally in Terena, our presense might be required elsewhere now" told the white head "Our draconic servants has sensed something in their blood, an ancestral call to violence against the Imperium, such division in the Pantheon might be a major danger to our plans."
After instructing his minions about what to do with Drevan Hensen left the palace of Xa'an, Hensen form mutated, becoming a semi invisible "distortion" in creation and flowing trough it looking for the Emperess and Vymrl.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile on the Drakhorn asteroid a group the Unshaped found new extremely suitable hosts, the souless drakhorn, created after Hensen tempered with the creatures reincarnation circle, their lack of soul made them perfect hosts, these group of possessed ones presented themselves to the Herald to wow absolute loyality to him, becoming his personal guard.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The girl looked at Drevan with a cold face, her eyes betraying the presence of a much older creature in her body.
"I think that we should go now, my master is sorry but he might not be able to see you in person, however he has prepared a proper welcome and has instruced one of his liutenants on how to deal with you"
"If you are ready we can go to see him, then you can begin to help us in working on a plan to "spice-up" the life of this little town."
Then she became again the little girl she appeared."But promise that you will tell me more tales of the past, will you? I liked them soo much..."
1 PP Nourish - Possessed ones appear among the Drakhorn.
Vymrl staggered under the onslaught but held, wielding bolts from the Malrime Ballista as a spear, the Niflander Flamborge sliced and tore at the Empress while S'kre howled his fury and slammed again and again against the Empress, great tides of magic from the Fyrstar washed over her.
-----------
Light Child laughed coldly, then vanished, leaving a luminescent message in the waters.
"My lord and master shall come for you, and aeons shall pass as you scream in agony, your pathetic form bound forever in the frozen depths of Tamurung."
((Combat bonus= 6 (base)+ 3 (artifact)= 9
Chroma frowned for a moment, looking down at where the Inner World would be, if there wasn't a whole lot of earth in the way. Was it just him, or was there more earth than there was before? How fun! Except that it meant less room for his children... but Ardune was in one piece, it was only the oceans around it that had suffered through the lessening of room. Smiling to himself, the child god continued floating through the air in his voyage to reaquaint himself with Ardune, making sure to avoid the South. He knew that the devil worshipping gnolls wouldn't have changed much in his absence...
***
However, they had changed more than he knew. Since his absence, the gnolls had come across a sort of coming of age for gnolls who would like to become chieftan, or a hero. In the far south, in a wasteland even compared to the scant life in the rest of the gnoll ravaged land, there was a stone peak that rose from the expanse. An ambitious gnoll would undertake a pilgrimage to the peak, and follow a path up to a cave near the top of it's comparatively small expanse. There, the gnoll would enter, take a handful of a rare kind of soil that only appeared in the cave, and return to their pack a hero.
Or so the gnolls thought. However, little did they know that the cave was in fact a lair of a plethora of devils, a gate to the Nine Hells itself contained inside the labyrinth. When a gnoll entered, the devils within would infuse it with one of their own kind, allowing their kin to conquer the hapless gnolls mind and give him infernal strength. In this way, every highly respected gnoll that had undertaken the challenge was in fact nothing but a pawn of the devil within, leading their kind further into the devils sway...
PP Expenditure
2PP - Teach Paragon Path - The gnolls learn the Infuse Infernal Paragon Path. Basically, as a gnoll continues along the paragon path, they become more and more devil like, until the power takes a phisical toll on the creature creating half devil, half gnoll monstrosities.
1PP - Mould Land - Devils Peak appears in the South of Ardune. This labyrinth of a cave is the home to countless devils, and a portal to the Nine Hells. It also makes a great adventuring site.
The dark clouds were even closer. Something was happening... and still... Shurka did not know what it was. It was the same intense feeling that he had when he was fighting Vymrl. The problem was, this only felt like the begining of what would be happening. He turned to Kiptar.
"Sorry to leave so soon, Kiptar. I have a feeling that something very bad is happening."
He had the feeling, but not the information. Maybe Veros would know. And so, Shurka felt Veros' presense, as he never hid himself from Shurka. Or never had the reason to.
"Skyspeak."
Shurka traveled to the enormous mountain, where he caught sight of what he had been dreading the whole time. A battle. The searing hate from The Empress could be felt by Shurka even though he was still a good distance from her. She was clearly determined to put and end to Vymrl.
Next to Shurka's right arm, the air started warping into darkness. Some of the air had turned into nothing, and the nothing continued spreading until it held the un-shape of a sword. He had almost forgotten about Mara's creation. Perhaps it was because he was determined to forget about it. The Sword of No Name couldn't create; it could only destroy. Hopefully using it wouldn't be neccesary.
Hopefully.
Hensen form shifted again, when he seen Shurka emerge, he called back small reality fragments from thin air, slwly gathering them to for a new body out of his current insubstantial one. At first only a few was called but finally they coaleshed into his hydra form.
A divine fight was about to begin, one that might be the undoing of thousand years of planning.
However for some reason that he could not tell, he felt ireelevant, unable to act, probably preventing change was beyond his power, he just watched silently. Willing to interefere but unable to...
EARILER
"Masster, we are getting closse to masster Veross' possition." Alocasia hissed, curled up so that the force of the breaking winds wouldn't affect her so much.
Ythrexle beheld for the first time Sky peak, a magnificent crag jutting improbably high in to the atmosphere. It seemed as if it pierced the Azure Aegis itself...
Suddenly, a figure accompanied by two monstrous beings burst through the cloud cover, also heading toward his destination. Ythrexle felt a familiar aura from the leading one and increased his pace.
"What are those two awful beings..." he thought to himself, "and why are they also headed towards brother Veros?"
------
Ythrexle saw the same woman and her two monstrosities attack the figure he now saw atop Skypeak. "Brother Veros, what you got yourself into..."
He thought as he came near, and for the first time he feared for his life. Impulsively he called to his aid the only weapon he had, that he had left to guard the dream.
"N'TAGGOTHA"
Out of nothing this horrendous mass of quivering gelatinous ooze appeared and emitted a shriek.
The Empress reached her target. Rage rose palpably within her, formed a sort of haze about her. Her eyes seemed to dance with an inner flame. She opened her mouth, and a deep, commanding voice issued forth.
"You have done much in you lifetime, Ice Lord," boomed the goddess, "But this time, you have gone too far."
Something green and black flashed in the blinding light of the sun above. The Land Spike danced into the Empress' hand, she drew it back, a thrust it forward. It tore through Vymrl's chest, piercing his organs, and exploding from the other side in a burst of blood and gore. The Empress' momentum carried the two earthward. Him falling backwards, and her driving him onwards. As they fell, tendrils of divine energy flowed out of Vymrl's form, up and outwards, torrents of icy wind unleashed from his wounded form.
Behind Vymrl, reality ripped open, forming a gash in the world, a gash in time. The Empress forced him through the hole, leaving this world, and arriving in his own, arriving in Tamarung. The two divine bodies tore through the plane, ripping it apart in their epic conflict. They crashed through trees and mounds of snow and ice. They collided with a strong, thick tree, and the Spike dug deep into it. The Empress forced it in deeper into the frozen wood, and then stepped back, contemplating the other god.
He made a pitiful, yet dramatic sight. A long, sharpened rod of jade and iron impaled him straight through the chest. He hung upon this spike, it supported him, and restrained him. It was coated in his blood, and his hands wrapped around it, as if frozen it a final attempt to pry it free from his chest. He himself was covered in his own blood, and was soaked through with melted water from the snow. The Empress looked down at her own tattered form. She was panting gently, and she too was soaked through with water and Vymrl's blood. It coated her hands, shining bright. She raised one blood-soaked hand, and contemplated it, her mouth stretching into a cruel smile revealing her gleaming teeth. She opened her mouth, and ran her tongue along her forearm, and them up to the blood on her hand. She pulled away, and smiled again, her teeth now stained with blood.
"Oh Vymrl, sweetums, darling," she said to the god's barely stirring form, "You're going to be here for a long time..."
And with that, she threw her head back, and began to laugh, a powerful, echoing, mocking laugh. And then she left him there. She exited through the gash she had created, and arrived once more in the world, coated with blood and water, ice crystals still clinging to her hair. Behind her, the portal stitched itself together and she addressed the assembled gods.
"Well, he won't be bothering us anymore."
Shurka watched The Empress' rampage in horror. She had so quickly defeated one of his adversaries, yet this act brought him no joy. She was certainly a force to be reckonned with. Shurka held his sword tightly, the Nothing cutting into his hand.
"...You... you vile... despicable... disgusting wretch!"
Shurka's single eye glared at the offending god with an intense ire.
"You cannot..."
Is this really any different than what I did?
"What have you done?"
The tendrils of ice and wind trailing behind Vymrl slammed into the Palace of Xa'an. A deadly black frost covered everything even as the wind ripped up everything not tied down.
Thrones shattered and floors cracked under the brutal shock. The gold and precious metals dimmed as their luster faded, aged beyond their time. A half-light fell over the Palace as the devastation continued.
Horrible wails filled the corridors, eerily similar to Vymrl's dying screams. A wave of ice poured through the whole of the plane, burying whole rooms in aquamarine depths and freezing shattered furniture and tapestries into impenetrable barriers.
As the winds spent themselves and the ice slackened, a third effect made itself evident. A terrible age suddenly became apparent in the Palace. Ceilings of rooms collapsed, and ruble littered corridors. Magnificent frescos became warped and cracked, their features distorted by time.
Thus fell the Palace of Xa'an, once home of glory to rival the sun, now a shattered ruin, victum of a fallen god. Yet within the depths of the Palace, what treasures and terrors still lurk within its dim ice choked halls and galleries, what mysteries of dead and lost gods remain within, what remains of these elder Lords of Creation?
Veros watched the demonstration of the Empress's might calmly, only noting Ythrexle's appearance for as a distraction from the proceedings. For the briefest glimmer of time, he prepared to leap to Vymrl's defense, but he stopped himself. "This is not my battle. If he wished help, he needed only to ask for it."
When her bloody form finally returned from Tamarang, he watched her, deep within his own mind. Strange, he thought, that despite the vicious cruelty and carnage he had just watched inflicted upon a fellow, she looked . . . his mind faltered, unable to find the words he was looking for as he saw her in a new light. "I think I can see what Drahthor saw in you. Though . . . I can't seem to find the words for it at the moment. Perhaps this is something beyond the bounds of knowledge. I seek to understand it, but at the same time know I cannot. Not without your help."
Keeping his gaze on her, considering things, he listened quietly to Shurka's words, passively noting Gorion seeming to try and stay hidden behind her.
Nixis reached back his hand, letters blurring into a blade of ready to strike Torvek, when he realized something odd. The pillar, for all its impressiveness, was not actually burning. Instead, the flames merely danced atop the grasses of Azora.
Curious, Nixis left the prone form of Torvek and floated into the flames, eventually finding the core of the pillar, a small purple flame. Reaching into it, he grimaced for a moment in discomfort, then, with a fluid motion, picked up the entire pillar of fire and threw it into the ocean, where it sank, still burning as the flames appeared to give off light, but not heat. Nixis watched for a long moment as it floated deeper and deeper into the ocean, then turned back to the other two gods.
"This Torvek always seems to be threatening something or someone. I'm surprised he didn't try yanking out his chakram while he was sleeping there. Lets get him off your island."
Together, the two gods took the sleeping dragon, flew to the mainland and deposited him in the Skyway River, watching until he dissapeared into another plane. Nixis idly wondered where he'd wake up, but decided it wasn't really his problem.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Convincer held his head in his hands, trying his hardest to keep the voices out. Ever since he had returned to Terena from telling the gnomes in their new sea-side colony to set sail and meet new neighbors across the waves, the voices had been growing louder and louder. The worst part? He recognized it. It was the Mournelord, somehow reaching beyond his body and into Convincer's mind. The gnome sat in his room, hastily given to him by a wealthy Terenan family when he had appeared, shivering, on their doorstep. Summoning the last of his strength, he reached back and pulled out both the staff of Earth and the Astral Shard. Channeling his energy into it, he acted mostly unconciously, just knowing that there was somethign he had to do. Beneath his feet, the earth shook as a minor earthquake rumbled through New Terena. Directly beneath him, near the center of Old Terena, a large lighthouse thrust its way through the earth, reaching upwards until it almost touched the ceiling of the dome. A stone bowl waited empty at its peak, for that which Convincer now let slip from his limp fingers.
An orb, nearly two feet across rolled towards the corner of the room. Glimmering with a pale inner light, the translucent ball finally came to rest beneath a table. Convincer struggled to his feet, letting the staff of Earth fall from his hands. He whispered one word: "Nixis" and threw the shard up into the air, where it dissapeared, heading back to its real master. Then, with a mad glint in his eyes, he stumbled out of the room. Moments later, the screaming began.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Circle had found a great market in the Cities of Silvera and Meriba, and eventually the bards that always accompanied the Circle, mostly to supply cover in the form of a travelling troupe, eventually manged to convince a few of the dwarves, halflings and eladrin that this new God, Nixis, might not be such a bad guy after all. The Halflings took to the worship of the god of Mischief readily, while both the dwarves and the Eladrin appreciated the aspects of Nixis that applied to learning, legends and language.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And in the Loremaster's keep, Enoch floated restlessly before the door that, still unbeknownst to the Loremasters, led to the Library.
"Chastelli," he called out into the air. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't open this door now."
OOC: Angel, as we talked about, the staff is yours for Exarch pickup now. I'm going to take more input into the Terena PbP until tuesday's reset. At that point, I'll consider the PbP to have 'happened' in my book, so my Exarch will stop acting wonky, etc, etc... not that I plan to kill off the Mournelord in LoC next turn *nods*
1 PP: From Convincer: Guide Populace: The gnomes travel east and establish a colony on the coast to the southwest of where the Patren once resided.
1 PP: From Staff of Earth: Mold Land(minor): Create an empty lighthouse in Old Terena.
2PP (1 from astral shard): Create Artifact (moderate): Create the Orb of Radiance. Large Orb that when placed in the bowl in the empty lighthouse will begin emitting divine radiance, severely hampering any undead that are touched by its light.
1PP: Guide Populace: Silvara begins worshiping Nixis
1PP: Guide Populace: Meriba begins worshiping Nixis
Kiptar felt a great surge of power. Following Shurka, it arrived just in time to see a goddess that he had not met before vanquish another one, Vyrml if it remebered correctly. Watching the new goddesses rampage, and fury, her destruction. Looking down, onto the world, he saw many Chromatic dragons sweeping toward Vyrml's Imperium. He sighed and spoke sidelong to Shurka.
"This is what I fear..."
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Gears found the Gear of Creation, floating in Mechanus. Instructions from Kiptar filtered into him, plans and diagrams. He smilied, turned and began to make....
PP:
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): The Imperium
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): The Iron state rush to help defend the Imperium, sending Dragons, Air-Fleets, and some ground troops, all prepared to fight dragons.
3 PP: Create Artifact(Greater): First part to a secret project of mine
3 PP: Create Artifact(Greater)(Gear of Creation): Second part to a secret project of mine
"Centuries of planning, wasted in a single moment" told the white head turning toward Kiptar "I think that we will have to work a lot to clean up this mess, I hope that you will have time in the near future for a little talk."
"Shall we request retribution?" told the grey head to the others "we can't allow her to go away like this"
"Maybe we should not, Vymrl proved to be weaker than we expected, while Drathor wife if full of initiave and power, I'm intrigued by her"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile in the Imperium the Warp Drake begun to bond with chosen giants from the most important families, using their blood magic to create supernatural links with their allies and offering their help in the war. Many warp dragons also allow giants to ride them in battle against the draconinc invaders.
After a while many giants noble families begun associated with the Warp Dragons, while the beasts still held no official power in the Imperium soon many of them earned their masters trust and managed to become "advisors" and liutenents of senators and warlords.
And with them also came Hensen's cult, at first intruduced only as an esoteric philosophy, but slowly gaining support among the masses, expecially between the lower levels of the ginats society. For now the cult is supportive to Vymrl faith as even in their own prayers he is mentioned as the first god.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The battle in the sky of Chillhund has become furious, the dragons wing obfuscted the sun, but they found worthy opponents in the Imperium flash beasts and warp dragon raider and in the Iron State powerful metallic dragons. There were many losses among the ranks of the two forces. But some of the dragons that were falling from heaven was sent to a fate darker than death...
The cold wind was breathing strongly over Chillhund its cold grip could almost cut trough Dasheva jaded scales, both him and his opponent, a monstrous dragon of an unknown specie was struggling to keep flying, but the green one was an experienced flyer and his opponent was smaller and the knight on his back hindered his movements. He circled around the beast, outmanovering him in the wind, then he let his poisounous breath to be carried by the wing, to invest the creature and his raider. He gleefuly watched as the poison struck the creature, making it loose balance. Then he closed in to finish his opponent, his claws cut deep between the soft and ethereal skin of the warp dragon, the green scales of Dasheva were soacked in that viscous blue blood and the monster was beginning to loose his grip on the currents, ready to fall to his doom below. Dasheva also remembered how the creature happened to recover briefly, breathing a foul cloud of twisting shards, the air around the two dragons became "thin" suddenly unable to sustain their wings. The abomination, knowing that his wounds was too deep to win the fight lauched itself against Dashiva, the two monsters begun falling from the sky, locked in a fight of claws, fangs and bladed tail, the green was older than his opponent anyway, he could still win, he tricked the beast in loosing its balance and almost managed to break free from his claws, ready to take the air again, however it was not over yet. The giant knight, apparently had managed to recover at the last moment from the green poison, he knew that as his mount, death was coming his own destiny was sealed, but he did not want to be denied vengeance. The giant trusted his damantine spear in Dasheva left wing, crushing its bones and condemning Dasheva to a long fall toward Chillhund unforgiving ocean.
When he woke up he felt confused, tired, his eyes adapted in mere seconds to the darkness, he was no more in chillhund skies, but neither he was in the afterlife.
Adamantite chains bounded him to the ground, they prevented him from flying, but the one who made them was fool, they still granted Dasheva a great freedom of movements.
"Hello, gree one, I see that you are in good conditions, I hope that you are enjoying my hospitality" told someone, it was a male voice, distorted by the cave wall but still recognizable as a mortal voice, not a giant, nor a dragon.
Dasheva searched for the source of the voice, it was that small humanoid not far from him, his skin was of a strange grey color, his face lacked eny features except for the eyes, for a second Dasheva wondered how the creature managed to talk, he was dressed in some kind of military uniform, but he had no giant rank on it.
"Who are you mortal? Free me and I might grant you a merciful death" he told, moving nearer to the creature, it was not far enough to be safe from the dragon breath, a foolish act indeed...
"Mortals call me Dokha, but that's not my name, dragon" he replied with a cold tone, his eyes glowed briefly with some otherwordly light "I'm sorry but I could not let you go, you are too precious, your mind, your knowledge are, this dragon army here, I have being told that all your kind came to chillhund... So I guess that you have left the younger to rest in your homeland, the eggs alone in the caves, without their parents to watch over them...
"You see, my kind have some issue in increasing his number, but yours might provide me with the right "fuel" to increse my forces... I just need from you a few infomrations, like, where can I find your land?"
"Do you really believe that I'm going to tell you?"
"Indeed I do and even if I can't force you out the things that I want to know, I have another really effective way to obtain the informations that I seek..." then he moved closer to the dragon, his eyes begun to burn with a blue fire, as he chanted worlds of power distorting lightnings emerged from his hands, when they struck Dasheva he felt an overwhelming pain, that energy was defiling his scales, his skin, changing them, it run trough the dragon nerves and bones, bringing untold levels of pain.
"When I'm finished teaching you, my friend, you will beg me to let you explain everything I want to know" he told, while moving closer, more and more of that twisted energy flowed out of his body the pain kept increasing.
However this proved to be a mistake, Dasheva was suffering due to the warp lighing, but he was a good actor too, the pain was not so overwhelming as Dhoka believed. When the creature was near enough he jumped to it, sinking his claws in the soft skin of the mortal.
Dokha at first was surpsised, can he loose now,? After soo much effort put in this plan he could not accept to be undone, his unshaped essence emerged from the ruined body, flowing on the dragon skin, sinking under his scales, seeking a new fleshy heaven against the ravaging effects that reality had on him.
The two fought for long for the control of Dasheva body, the Unshaped had a strong will and was quite skilled in overcoming a mortal essence, however his opponent was an ancient and powerful creature, much older than him with a strong desire to keep living and the strenght to fight for that. Many times the thing that once inhabited Dokha body was almost defeated, however every time he renewed the assault. After a while both contendent realized that they were evely matched, the fight should have lasted for eternity, costing them both their freedom. Locked in their struggle their two scheeming minds came together, they did not want to vanish and so they formed an uneasy truce whose terms are currently unknown by mortals and gods.
When the dragon re-awakened he was greatly changed, his jaded scales has being restored but a dark blue light radiated in the depths of his body and eyes, new sharp blaed crests emerged on his head and his tail sprouted a pair of deadly bone scythes. The new creature roared against the distant sky, crushing the adamantine chains as it wounded reality itself.
Meanwhile among the ruins of the Palace of Xa'an the Wondermaker was monitoring his creations trough the Eye of the Pantheon, he was intrigued, but at the same time worried, by the birth of this new creature...
1 PP - Nourish (from Bloodstones), Warp Dragons Raiders jojn the imperium military.1 PP - Guide (from Aether Ripples), Hensen cult appear in the Imperium Lower classes
1 PP - Guide, Warp Dragons begin to gain influence among the Imperium aristocracy.
3 PP Ascende Exarch - Dasheva "two souls"
The assembled gods waited for the Empress to reply to Shurka's accusations. She, however, was not looking at them, but rather straight ahead. Then, without warning, and without seeming reason, the emerald eyes of the Empress filled with tears. They sparkled upon her lashes in the twinkling, and fading light of the dying Palace of Xa'an. In fact, it was upon this place that her gaze was locked. Without tearing her eyes away, she spoke.
"I apologize that you all had to see that, and I-I understand your outrage and resentment," said the Empress, her voice actually shaking, "But I ask you to please contain your rage, at l-least for a little while..."
She inclined her head at the other gods, and in an uncharacteristic display of humility, rushed from the vicinity with her head bowed low. And she left, a single word could be heard issuing from her trembling lips.
"Priya..."
Shurka's eye faded from searing read to a pale blue at the sight of The Empress' somewhat pitiful display. He lowered the Sword, but still grasped on to it firmly, not lowering his guard. Was she just doing this to try and prevent another battle? Possibly. Shurka silently glided toward Veros, but still had his eye locked on The Empress not allowing her to escape. He muttered,
"Veros. Do you know what or who this Priya is? Do you think this act is all just a facade?"
Hensen moved closer to the Empress, his serpentine heads coiling near to the goddess, still wondering about what to do as he floated in the wind with elegant movements despite his massive form.
"Please!" cried the Empress, and she was practically sobbing now, "Just let me see my daughter!"
She frantically tried to wipe away the tears that were streaming down her face, but it did no good. They just kept flowing.
"Just let me see my baby..."
"I think we shall allow this, shall we?" told Hensen looking directly in Shurka and Kiptar eyes.
"But I presume that you owe us an explanation, my lady..." Told the gree head with a gentle voice turning toward the goddess.
Kiptar was slightly startled by this. This goddess appeared to be regretful of what she had just done, without the rage of a moment before. And this mysterious Priya, the daughter of a God, yet it seemed not a goddess in and of herself...
His gaze finally broke from her as he glanced at Shurka, pain flashing in his own eyes. "An act? Perhaps, perhaps not. But I remember well the power of rage, and I remember the Empress's daughter."
He steeled his gaze on Shurka and included Hensen within it as well. "Step aside and let her go to her daughter. I shall keep an eye on her."
He walked over to the Empress, and placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Where is Priya? I'll take you to her myself."
The child god continue his tour to reaquaint himself with the continent he'd left overlong, drifting over the Chaos Wastes to see what had become of his genasi.
With the advent of metal, the genasi were flourishing. The Earth manifesting genasi had taken mining and smithing in addition to their other duties, and over the years the construction of goods had accelerated enough that not a guardsmen went without armour, not a talon rider went without barding for their steed, and not a genasi failed to have some kind of bronze pot, knife or other goods in their house. With the addition of bronze tools and weapons, the genasi were growing exponetially... a little too much, perhaps. The fertile strip of land around their crashed earthmote was becoming overworked, and the child god feared what would happen if the population boomed any further.
There was also another issue, aside from an unusually large boom in the growth of oversized scorpions in their arid home. With the large amount of metal that the genasi were mining and producing, the material was fast losing it's value due to it's volume, leading to a minor economic depression. In an attempt to stave off this possibley worsening disaster, the genasi sends out an expedition into the continent at large to try and find anyone who might seek to trade their metal goods for other sorts.
PP Expenditure
1PP - Guide Populace - The genasi sends an expedition to the Minotaurs to establish trade
1 Nourish PP from Fountain - The genasi grow in number and influence
1 Spawn PP from Veil - Spawn Stormclaw Scorpions
Nixis reached back his hand, letters blurring into a blade of ready to strike Torvek, when he realized something odd. The pillar, for all its impressiveness, was not actually burning. Instead, the flames merely danced atop the grasses of Azora.
Curious, Nixis left the prone form of Torvek and floated into the flames, eventually finding the core of the pillar, a small purple flame. Reaching into it, he grimaced for a moment in discomfort, then, with a fluid motion, picked up the entire pillar of fire and threw it into the ocean, where it sank, still burning as the flames appeared to give off light, but not heat. Nixis watched for a long moment as it floated deeper and deeper into the ocean, then turned back to the other two gods.
"This Torvek always seems to be threatening something or someone. I'm surprised he didn't try yanking out his chakram while he was sleeping there. Lets get him off your island."
Together, the two gods took the sleeping dragon, flew to the mainland and deposited him in the Skyway River, watching until he dissapeared into another plane. Nixis idly wondered where he'd wake up, but decided it wasn't really his problem.
Azor'Chapien nodded, but he couldn't shake the feeling he was forgetting something... then it hit him. He had left Eon alone in his fortress. He said, "Nixis, we have to go... we left Eon back in my fortress... leaving Eon alone is NEVER a good idea."
It seemed as if it was over in a flash, the god's attempt to defend himself against this furious goddess' onslaught, her overpowering him, and the two seeming to vanish through a hole in reality. Then the goddess emerging, her face a frightening mask of rage and triumph covered in blood. "The battle may be over, " he thought fearfully to himself, "but I believe I shall keep my servant near..." His gaze turned to Veros as he approached the goddess who was now... crying? He was confused by and somewhat frightened of his brothers' choice of company, but refrained from saying so. "The world surely has changed since I have been dreaming of home." he mused aloud to no one in particular.
As he watched his brother place a hand on the shoulder of the tearful goddess, he said in a voice barely concealing the fear still welled inside him. "Brother Veros, it seems you have business elsewhere with this..." the god thought for a moment before finishing his statement, "this distraught goddess and it would be disrespectful to deter either of you from your destination. I will remain behind with the others of our kind and await your return."
With that being said, and after taking a deep breath to regain his composure, he turned to the other gods who had gathered and seen the horrific spectacle. "I believe I have not been acquainted with the lot of you. My name is Ythrexle, current lord of the Dream."
Without tearing her eyes from that one spot, not even sparing Veros a glance, the Empress rose a shaky hand and pointed, pointed directly at the ruined, shattered Palace of Xa'an, hanging low in the sky, as if about to collapse under its own weight. Her other hand reached out, and without looking at him, the Empress curled it around Veros' hand and with a bit more force then necessary, tugged him towards the sky. The two soared through the air, the Empress becoming more frantic every second. The Palace loomed above them, and they approached it silently. They landed upon one of the many cracked balconies jutting out from the vast face of the Palace, and hurried in.
"Where is my baby?" asked the Empress frantically, "I know she's here somewhere, I can feel it."
Tears streamed down her face as she rushed into the room, leaving Veros by the door. The room in question was a veritable mess. Rubble and broken columns lay strewn everywhere, books torn from the nearby bookcase were scattered about. A large chair lay upon it's side, covered in melted adamite. The Empress stepped slowly over to it, her breath catching in her throat. Drawing in her breath, she gripped the back of the chair, and pulled it aside. All at once, she seemed to break. She fell onto her knees, her hands clapped over her mouth. She reached over and wrapped her arms around the prone and broken form of her daughter, Priya. Then she felt the barest flicker of a heartbeat, and sat up.
"Priya? Darling?" asked the Empress, her voice trembling, "Oh, don't worry, mommy's here, I'll hold you, I'll hold you."
The Empress' hands began to glow with a green light. She placed them upon her daughter's shoulders and willed her to get better. Nothing happened.
"No, please, not now, please!" cried the goddess, and then she turned to address Veros, "Please, please help me!"
Veros stepped over, and placed his hand on Priya's forhead, black and gray energy washing over her in a series of endless waves, covering her head to toe. "Calm down. You do not have the talents for this, and neither do I. But I do command death, and it shall not take her while I am here."
He lifted his hand, catching a pyre fly floating nearby, "Go, my servant. Go and get Shurka immediately!"
Nixis flew back to Azor'Chapien's castle, and stopped in shock as he saw Eon dressed in the full regalia of the undead-slaying weapons he, Veros and Azor'Chapien had created.
"You look good, Eon. But there is something else missing... just a small little thing..."
With a flash, a golden standard appeared in Eon's free hand, a white light shining out from it. Nixis smiled.
"There. Now you will truly strike fear into the monsters of the Grey Wastes."
With that said, he bowed to the two present and streamed out the window and began heading southwards, towards Chillund and the southern polar opening... something didn't seem right in the world...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
High above, the Warforged and Children got along splendidly at their first meeting in Diaspora. Buoyed by the thought of having some allies against the Ae-Sylvani, who remained eerily quiet, the Children prospered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another fleet of boats left Shipshome, this time heading for the new lands of Novindus. Once there, the gnomes assimilated into the mercinary culture of the land, and became feared for their lighting fast strikes and ability to remain unseen.
1 PP: Create Artifact (lesser): The Shining Standard. Its golden light drives undead back while bolstering allies
1 PP: From Convincer: Nourish Populace: The Children Prosper
1 PP: Guide Populace: Gnomes colonize Novindus.
Kiptar looked back at the new god who had just arrived.
"Welcome. My name is Kiptar, and this one here is called Shurka. You already know Veros it seems, and the goddess that he went with, her name I do not know, but it would seem that Shurka knows her. "
"All I know about her is that she is a judge at the..."
A pyre fly floated toward Shurka bearing a message from Veros, requesting his presense at the now-destroyed palace. There was a sense of urgency to the message.
Shurka quickly made his way to the ruined palace as the constant sobs of The Empress sounded throughout the halls. When he approached Veros, he noticed a limp figure in the arms of The Empress, teetering on the edge of death. The Empress was holding her in a motherly fashion, it must have been her daughter, Priya. It was obvious why he was asked to be here.
Shurka moved behind the goddess, and whispered in her ear. "Move aside. Let me help her."
Veros nodded at Shurka's arrival as he stepped back, pulling Empress with him. "Hurry. I have forbade death from taking her, but such injuries could drive he mad if left for too long."
"It's okay, I won't let her die. I know what it feels like to lose something... important."
Shurka grabbed Priya's hand. It was cold and lifeless, but it wouldn't be for long. A golden mist was rising from Shurka's body. He searched for each of her injuries, and healed them one by one. The mists surrounding his form slowly transferred over to Priya's body, making contact with her skin, closing her wounds and restoring color to her face. While healing, he felt a great sense of sadness from her. It was something that not even he could cure. When the last particles of mist flew from Shurka's body to Priya's, he noticed that her eyes fluttered ever so slightly. She was alive.
"I think that should do it. I... I need a re-"
Shurka collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Veros walked over to Shurka, lifting him on a bed of magic, circling him as he considered his options. "He will need time to recover." As he turned away, his hand brushed the sword Mara has made and he recoiled from it. A foul bit of creation. He conjured a hand of magic to pick it up, placing it carefull upon Shurka's chest.
Considering, he glanced back over the the Empress. He had stated that he would keep an eye on her, so he couldn't leave. Gorion was not trustowrthy enough for this task, nor was the other, and Alocasia was occupied with her creator at the moment. Sighing, he called forth a being of pure arcane magic, shping and twisting it's form to serve his task. When it was finally finished, he spoke, "Take this one to my workshop . . . no, take him to his plane. He will recover best there. Defend him with your life, and if need be, call me."
PP Expenditures
3 PP - Ascend Exarch - Unnamed for the moment
"...Help her."
He vaguely realized that something was touching his chest. Something empty. It was that Sword that Mara had created. The one without a name. The only reason he wielded it was because no one else would. But why was he thinking of that, wasn't something important happening?
Shurka noticed that he was in a different location. How did that happen? It didn't matter, he felt good here. He drifted off into sleep.
The pillar of flame continued to drift along the ocean currents until it was sucked into a strange new place filled with sharks and sahaguin. There it came to a rest, giving light to the black waters of The Deep.
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Gears continued to work, using the divine power channeled to him by Kiptar. Energy pulsed, and formed little walls before being discorporated into the mix. Eventually, the peice satisfied him, and he put it aside to begin the next piece.
PP:
2 PP (From Tinwe): Create Artifact(Intermediate): The third piece of the Secret Project. shadow, it is the 3rd item on the list you sent me.
Deep in Red Claw Mountain the Brain kruthik soon begun to explore their surroundings, at first they discovered their lesser evolved cousins, being capable to easily imitate their communication patterns they become capable of directing their actions, using them for mobility and protection while they settle to explpre the world.
The first intelignt creature that each Brain kruthik met was another of their kind, using their limited telepaty they begun to communicate among each other, sharing experiences about the world and discussing among each other to find a way to entertain themselves, as their lesser brother was capable of providing for all their needs.
They soon grew bored, however and decided to begin exploring the world out of the boundaries of Red Claw Mountains, as they own bodies were too weak to walk for long distances they were pretty much limited in movement, also with experimentation they managed to discover that they could not move too far from the bloodstone radiations without loosing their health and telepathy.
So they turned again on the kruthik and begun the slow process of altering some of them to fit their needs, after a while, using more of the "unshaped substance" that was still common in the mountain, combined with their own ingenuity they managed to create a breed of flying kruthik, these creatures where smaller than their brothers, but had powerful wings and enhanced senses, combined with a strong memory.
With their personal explorers ready they begun to prepare to "face the outside world".
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile the Wondermaker left the palace of Xa'an, it was time to work on a new project, one that might represent his greater work. At first he needed to craft a wonder for himself a thing that he has rarely done.
Using the essence of unfullfilled desires that he has gathered during his own life he given shape to a special device. The Seeker of Sin as he called it, an item capable of assuming the form of any object that is extremely appealing to those who see it, so appealing that any viewer find hard to resist the urge of possessing it.
While the item looked useless, a part from creating a great deal of confusion, its real purpose was to harvest the secret desires of the possessors, uncovering the secrets of their souls and allowing its real master and creator knowledge about the mortal nature.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile the bloodstone flows has navigated the earth under the main continent and begun emerging in the fungal wastes dotting the territory with large crystalline spikes of a rare and precious variation of bloodstone even more extremely easy to shape but almost impossible to alter once it has assumed a specific form.
2 PP - Guide Brain Kruthic learn how to control and breed the lesser Kruthic1 Pp Spawn - Flying Kruthic
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker), The Seeker of Sin
1 PP Mold (from Bloodstones). The Crystalline Forest
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones), the area around the crystalline forest is filled with a precious variation of bloodstone. EDIT: mmm I forgot I already used that nourish on something else, ignore this expenditure for now I'll make it after the next reset
The ancient aristocrats cried out as the dragons ravaged their lands, but their god did not answer. No divine aid would be forth coming. In their desperation, the sweet whispers in their ears finally began to sound enticing enough. Calrisi slipped among them, invisible as always, whispering sweet nothings in their ears, promising them power as they slept.
Finally, after so many years of fruitless searching, the ice giants opened their hearts, and sold their souls.
-----
Selina grinned as she slipped through the streets. Gorion had been right when he picked this place for her. So many eager souls waiting to seel everything for power, and so little time. And the willingness of the people to accept those who had sold everything. Just thinking of this land made her smile. Still, she had to meet with Xiran.
As much as she didn't want to share, there were simply too many. She had had to ask for his help to properly service this land.
-----
Maril watched this land. They were stubborn and pig-headed, but for the right amount of power, even these foolish Novindans would sell what she sought.
-----
Loremaster expeditions had reach further ashore then ever before. Landing their airships carefully in secure places, these expeditions began the explortation of these new continents even as they began constructing their first enclaves, so that Chastelli might come and visit these new lands.
-----
His eyes started to close again. At the last moment, he snapped them open and slashed his blade into the zombie that was attacking him, easily decapitating it. Supporting himself on his axe, he leaned against the wall, gripping his belt firmly. It's healing power had allowed him to stay alive all this time, but he needed sleep.
As another zombie rounded the corner, he raised his axe meet it, bringing it down again. It weas a never ending swarm. Growing tired again, he sklowly trudged through the ruins of old Terena.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Loremasters expeditions land on Asika
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Loremaster expeditions land on Novindus
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Sivera
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Citry States of Novindus learn Warlock
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Imperium learns Warlock
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Free Nation learns Warlock
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Imperium worships Veros through Gorion
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Free Nation worships Veros through Gorion
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Imperium
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Belt of Unending Vitality
Turn 52 begins now. 13,000 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, Vymrl, Shurka, Hensen Jijou, Mara, The Empress, Nixis
5 - Kiptar, Eijra, Hammu, Chroma
4 - Azor-Chapien, Starl, Ythrexle, Honissia, Ashralan
Azor'Chapien stiffled a laugh and said, "Eon? Strike fear? Never."
Ashralan looked around at the pillar of flame that brought light to the deep. It pleased him. However what did not please him was the sahuagin worshiping other gods
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Late that night as the Sahuagin slept, Ashralan entered their minds and cleansed all memory of all other gods from their minds.
PP usage:
2PP Guide Populace: The Sahuagin no longer worship Vyrml.
1PP Guide Populace: The Sahuagin no longer worship the Bronze Pantheon.
1PP Guide Populace: The Sahuagin no longer worship Sahaugin.
(OOC) Topheh, It is the Great Sea not the Deep.
(OOC 2) I changed this because I got the power point count wrong.
He walked over to the Empress, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Shurka has healed her. She's fine now. Are you okay?"
There have always been many ways to interpret the Code. Some have been closer to the actual Code then others, yet others were even farther from the mark. One such were a remote group of knights, known as the Knights of the True Code, better known as the Black Knights, after their trademark Black Armour. While most knights treated their peasants with a remote sense of mercy and compassion, these knights actually treat their peasants like belongings, to be discarded as needed. Also, normally, when a knight claims another knight's terriotory, the peasants normally become his. Yet the Black Knights slaughter all peasants not under their 'possession'.
These knights set out on a conquest, taking over a large portion of Southern Azora, and became their own small kingdome, ending in a large stretch of forest. The knights not belonging to this extreme group set up fortresses across their southern borders, intent on stopping the spread of the 'True Code'. A small strip of the forest became barren wasteland after endless warfare, and that wasteland became the border between the followers of the 'True Code' and the rest of Azora.
-----
PP
1 PP Nourish Populace: The Followers of the True Code start to appear.
1 PP Mold Land: A small strip of wasteland appears in a southern Azoran forest.
Starl sat in the centre of the tunnels, piling earth on earth. The Skreet had come to him, they needed aid to build more, and to defend the caverns. Starl had pondered this for many days, and finally the idea had come to him.
A community, with the strength that the Skreet lacked. Bulwarks of stone.
And so, with the caverns ever more populace, the large and winding roads of the midland spreading across under civilisation, Starl retreated from this world. But, ever ready to listen to the petitions of his people, and always accessible from the Great Temple at the centre of the Midland...
PP expenditure:
Artifact: 1PP Guide Populace(Lesser) The SKreet worship Starl
2PP Shape Populace(Lesser) Starl forms the Goliaths!
2PP Create Plane (Lesser) The Warren. A demiplane just outside the material world, accessible from the temple of Starl at the pole.
The genasi learned even more of the art of metal crafting as the years went by. Where before their armour and weapons, while metal, were the most simple of its kind, now they could make high quality and far less primative versions of the objects. As their technology and wealth grew, so did their population... a little too much, it seemed. Where before the fertile soil and animals the wind genasi could bring back could sate the population, now their was no way such a small expanse of fertile soil could sustain the entire population.
Soon, many small villages cropped up in the wastes whervever even a small amount of water could be found beneath the surface. Most of these villages numbered little more than a few dozen, after all there was precious little edible plants that could be grown in the wastes at large, and only so many people hunting alone could support. There were however two notable exceptions. The town of Oreboon, little more than a giant ore mine and smithing plant with homes for the workers, would always recieve the supplies needed to support it's comparatively large population from Shatteredhome, the fallen earth mote capital. And on the edges of the waste, trade was openeing new possibilities, and the town of Tradesmeet established their to take advantage of this face could easily support itself through exchanging metal goods for food stuffs.
PP Expenditure
1 PP - Guide Populace - Teach Weaponsmithing to Genasi
1 Guide PP From Beryl - Guide Populace - Teach Armorsmithing to Genasi
1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish Populace - The genasi grow in number, and spread throughout the Chaos Wastes
Eon frowned and said, "Ya, sure, that's really funny. You know, you should of been the god of humor, because I'm dieing of laughter here. Now, I just have one small question.... when do I have to go to the Gray Wastes? Not that I'm scared..."
Vymrl groaned, blood bubbling at his lips. A deep, rasping cough shook his form and he cried out in pain. For, the Land Spike still hammered through his chest.
------------
S'kre, bereft of all contact from his lord, fled the Imperium, fearful of all the new powers pouring into it. He arrived in the Academy Dominus, his old citadel, and, assuming the form a massive black skinned Frost Giant, shot through with veins of ice, he seized control of the floating city and its enormous artillery. Commanding its contingents of warriors, he dispatched the city far to north, to hang suspended over open ocean.
------------
Meanwhile, the Light Child, remembering a kinder image of her lord, took control of most of artifacts, and began to spread the word of True Light, a cult dedicated to the worship of the elements, and the freeing of Vymrl. Her worshipers stood in stark opposition to the worship of the Empress and Veros. While most of the True Light worked through charity and education, occasionally more militant methods were used. To accomplish this, a secret inner sect was formed, the Inkallim. To act as a central hold for her new faith, Light Child created the Lucid Temple, a shining work of gold and marble to act as a great fortress and fastness for the True Light.
-----------------
Argus, the Watcher, fled Tamurung, easily circumventing the wards around the plane, after all, he controlled them. He traveled to the farthest reaches of the South. beyond even Chillund, to the frozen wastes were temperatures dropped to near cold enough to freeze air itself. Within this frozen hell, Argus began to forge and artifact from the oldest of the Black Ice glaciers, those that had formed Chillund Glacier in those most ancient days. He wrought the beginnings of a cyclopean statue of immense size, a creation that dwarfed all the work of mortal sculptors. Thousands of years hence, the Frigid Idol would begin to spread the deadly, freezing glaciers across the world. To aid him in his work, Argus created the Kytons, a small, hardworking kind of creature, built to cut ice. They took the appearance of whirling pillars of ice covered in chains.
PP
1PP(Staff of Earth)- Mold Land, Lesser: Lucid Temple
1PP (Glistening Agony)- Guide Populous, Lesser: Certain members of all races begin to congregate in Terena and form the True Light
1PP (Furied Progenitor)- Create Artifact, Lesser: Frigid Idol (spreads ice for several miles around it)
1PP (Light Child)- Nourish Populous: True Light
1PP (Flesh Pools of Asem)- Spawn Beast, Heroic: Kytons
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Gears continued to work, building the last piece to the puzzle. As he did so, energy leaped from the current piece, binding it to the other three. At its completion, he carefully slotted it into the place prepared for it. Suddenly, unexpectedly, power surged through him, into the project. Life emerged, as the energy wrought changes in the project.
"Hopefully according to plan..." Gears muttered. Finished, he went down into the world, to a place he had never been before, but was curious about, a place of death, where all who were alive were enemies. He understood it to be called the Grey Wastes.
PP:
2 PP: Create Artifact(Intermediate)(Gear of Creation): Final piece in the Project
2 PP: 2 Nourish Land: Goes to the Secret Project.
The Empress practically collapsed from relief. She managed to keep her composure for only enough time to reach her daughter, and wrap her arms around her, at which point she was reduced to sobs of mingled joy and relief. She managed to pull herself free for only a moment, which she used to turn to Veros.
"From the very bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you," said the Empress shakily, "You and Shurka both saved my darling daughter, and for that I am endlessly grateful, if there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask."
She offered him a watery smile before returning to hold her daughter close.
Veros pulled back his hood, his gray face offering a rare smile, before returning to his normal dead expression. "Your welcome."
He leaned close, looking at Priya. "It has been a long time, child, but I remember you. I'm glad I was able to help."
He twisted his head towards the Empress. "When you have the time, I wish to speak to you privately."
Puling his hood up, he turned and left the Palace of Xa'an, returning to skypeak, where Ythrexle still waited. "Old friend, it is good tosee you awake oncemore. You vanished for a very long time. The world is far different then it once was."
The ghoul king grinned a savage grin as his ghouls worked, once again pushing a cauldron towards the dragon mould that had served him so well with plague. The Plague Dragons were now a valuable asset to his cause, going so far as to abandon the sick pleasure they recived tainting areas of high life such as jungle or swamp with their pestilence at his command. And now... now he had finally gathered the materials needed to construct the second of their kind! Those devils in those hells... they wouldn't even know what hit them once he had finally found a way to harness a divine spark to match that of his forceful overlord! Once he had that power, it would be a matter of devils vs ghouls, and nothing more... but with the scourge dragons to tip the balance, Russet knew that it was only a matter of time before the Hells would be his, and his treacherous lords were kneeling beneath his feet, prostrate in obedience... or death. One way or another, they WOULD lie beneath him.
But his thoughts were distracting him from the glorious process occuring before his eyes! As he watched, his ghould poured in the foul substance: the blood of those that had fallen in battle, gallon upon gallon upon gallon of the still steaming hot substance. But that wasn't all that was in the cauldron, the metal weapons that had shed said blood had been thrown in as well, murderer and victim of the game of war seething and bubbling in the earth cast, divine powered template. And, suddenly... it wasn't just blood and metal anymore. With an earth shattering raw a blood red and metal spiked dragon with no hind legs nor wings crawled out of the foul pit, making the hapless undead scatter under it's claws. The very air around the beast seemed to heat, intoxicating the senses until battle seemed the only option, until all around simply wanted to leap onto something and tear it limb from limb with their bare hands! To taste the sweet blood and sweat of victory, and leave their enemy lifeless on the fetid ground!
But the ghoul king gave not into temptation. Rather, he calmly walked up to the savage beast, looking as though a touch could send it into a beserk and unstoppable fury, and gestured forcefully. "Kneel," he said casually, in a tone that brooked no disobedience. "Kneel before your king."
And the beast kneeled... and Russet smiled.
PP Expenditure
4PP - Shape Epic Level Populace - Create War Dragons.
Ythrexle looked up at the sound of his old friend's voice. How long had it been, how many years had gone by since he had last spoken to him? Indeed, so much was different now. So many new brothers, so many new dreamers in the world. Then why did he feel so empty? Why did he feel akin to a flickering candle in a light breeze. If anyone had an answer, it would be his wise brother Veros.
"Brother," he said in a calm tone, attempting to mask his inner frailty, " brother. I'm feeling faint and I am unsure why. All I can think about is the Dream, the world I came from. I tried returning some time ago but I couldn't even make it into the aether. And now my servant, N'taggotha," he gestures toward the floating, undulating mass of colorful ooze with a slight move of the hand, "N'taggotha is stuck here in this world as well. I summoned him reflexively when I saw that..." again he pauses, not wanting to offend his brother with a sour remark toward the frightening woman, "goddess attack that other god. But now I am unable to send him back." He pauses for a second and takes a deep breath.
"Brother, I think this world is killing me."
Veros nodded. "Yes, I can see the weakness in you. I owe you this aid for Alocasia's excellent service over the years."
He reached up to scratch his chin as she returned to him, draping around his shoulders and relaxing. "You are a creature of the dream, first and foremost, and you have been away for far to long. I think that though your mind returned, your body remained here. It has left you weak. You simply need to return home."
His gaze turned south, pointing. "Of course, the dream is no longer one with the world any more. You'll need to use the Gates of Horn and Ivory crafted by your father so long ago. You'll find them within the aurora above the southern polar opening, where I placed them during the shaping of the world."
Nixis was heading south from Azora when suddenly a wave of energy nearly bowled him over, and for the first time in ages, Convincer spoke to his mind.
"Nixis, Did you get the Astral Shard?"
"Yes, it appeared suddenly a few months ago... what happened to you? I haven't heard from you in several centuries!"
Nixis began to head off in the direction of Terena as Convincer related to him all that had happened with the Mournelord and the undead underneath Terena (OOC: Sorry PbPers, no spoilers!)
"I can only assume that they were successful, as I finally am able to contact you."
Nixis arrived in Terena in time to see the champions emerge into the sunlight, a throng of cheering Humites and Gnomes welcoming them as they blinked into the rising sun. Nixis saw Convincer step forward to greet them, and Nixis took the opportunity to spiral downwards and appear before the heroes.
"Congratulations, Noble Warriors. Convincer has told me of your bravery, and you should know that you have both my and assuredly Lord Shurka's thanks for your actions. I leave you in the hands of this exuberant crowd, but know that I may return to you in the future with some other work you may be able to do for those of us who loathe the undead."
Convincer stepped forward and leaned up to whisper in Nixis' ear.
"One other thing. Drevan lives. He's been seen in town, and last we heard was headed back to the Grey Wastes."
Nixis' eyes widened at the mention of Drevan, whom he had thought to be dead ever since Veros' return. He opened his mouth and spoke once more.
"Noble Warriors, it would appear that I have need for your talents now. Drevan the Abomination must be destroyed. For the sake of all the Gods, find and kill the Divinity-Stealer and finally bring him to justice for the pain he caused all of us divines."
With that, Nixis dissolved into letters and flew upwards, heading for Eorna and beyond into Revnador. As he couldn't detect Shurka anywhere on the prime, his home plane was the next best option... and he assumed the god would like to know that Terena was cleansed and Drevan was still alive.
Nixis entered Revnador and made his way through the branches, making his way to Shurka, whom he could now feel. Upon arriving, though, he realized that not all was well. Shurka was not moving.
"Shurka! Shurka! Wake up! Hey, Listen! Wake up! Hey! Hey!"
Eventually, he gave up, and sped off to find the one person he thought could help: Veros.
Upon arriving at Skypeak mountain, he saw Veros and another God he had not met before.
"Veros. We have a problem. Shurka is unconcious and I cannot wake him!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elsewhere, the gnomes that had landed on Taldar prospered, spreading out into the land. They especially began to explore to the east into the desert and beyond to the borders of the spellscarred Patren lands, facinated by the devastation still evident after what they could only imagine was thousands of years. Soon, some of them began to discover that they could tap into hidden wellsprings of power, and the arcane flowed into the gnomish race. Eventually, they found the Patren themselves.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The gnomes of Shipshome, in the meantime, sent out more expeditions, a large one to Zophar, and smaller trading expeditions to Chillund and the Free nation.
1PP: Nourish Populace: Gnomes in Taldar flourish
2PP: Guide Populace: Gnomes gain Sorceror Class
1PP: Guide Populace: Gnomes land on and settle of Zophar.
"So many gods believe that they could defy us..." told the red head "they think that assoulting the Pantheon has no consequences, I guess that this is time for them to learn a few lessons right brothers?"
The green and the black heads smiled and replied almost together, "Yes, let's make them face the Pantheon rage"
Then Hensen sent a mental message to the remaining loyal memebers of the Pantheon,
To Kiptar, Azor Chapien, Hammu, Honassia,
"One of us has being attacked brothers, our hall of power has being devastated and someone is trying to steal us the hart of our followers, the time is ready for the Bronze Pantheon to bring its fury to the world, I'll meet any of you that feels ready to fight for our divine order at the Fortress of Endless Possibilities, the hart of my domain in the Grand Distortion, there we should decide what to do with the one that attacked our brother"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile the childe demoness brought Drevan with her to the master realm, there she presented him with his new servants, she found them quite poetic, once they were Eladrin from Silvera, they used teleportation magic to cross the giants fortifications, however a trap was set for them and they were turned into monsters and servants to their enemy will...
During the years of solitude in the shadows they have being trained to act as the unshaped mortal servants and has secretly established a small hall of power within terenas and silvera darkest forest, training from the day when their new master would have requested their help
2 PP Guide - Dolgaunts learn the Rogue Class
1 PP Guide (cultural contact with unshaped and possessed ones), the Dolgaunts learn the warlock class, vestige pact.
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones) - Dolgaunt create some hidden bases in new Terena
1 Pp Nourish - Dolgaunts create some hidden base in Silvera
1 PP Guide (from Aether Ripples), Dolgaunts worship Hensen, but are currently in service of Drevan.
Azor'Chapien heard Hensen's message. "Er, Eon, we need to go. Like, now... I got a message..."
He grabbed Eon and in a flash, he vanished, and appeared at the location given by Hensen.
Nixis reached back his hand, letters blurring into a blade of ready to strike Torvek, when he realized something odd. The pillar, for all its impressiveness, was not actually burning. Instead, the flames merely danced atop the grasses of Azora.
Curious, Nixis left the prone form of Torvek and floated into the flames, eventually finding the core of the pillar, a small purple flame. Reaching into it, he grimaced for a moment in discomfort, then, with a fluid motion, picked up the entire pillar of fire and threw it into the ocean, where it sank, still burning as the flames appeared to give off light, but not heat. Nixis watched for a long moment as it floated deeper and deeper into the ocean, then turned back to the other two gods.
"This Torvek always seems to be threatening something or someone. I'm surprised he didn't try yanking out his chakram while he was sleeping there. Lets get him off your island."
Together, the two gods took the sleeping dragon, flew to the mainland and deposited him in the Skyway River, watching until he dissapeared into another plane. Nixis idly wondered where he'd wake up, but decided it wasn't really his problem.
[Flashback] Strange energies seemed to wrap around young Torvek, as the chancellor (Lord Ivek) was discussing a grave matter of concern about a Violet- scaled dragon. The many people of the dominion were shocked to hear this- as they knew exactly who the violet- scaled dragon was- Corelloth.
The various shops and homes were locked down, as a huge figure flew overhead. The streets were silent and bare with not a soul wandering around aimlessly. Only one figure was standing outside of the safety of shelter- Torvek himself. The divine waves surrounds him, as he looks up into the silvery sky to see it darken with a violet tinge. Corelloth, in the midst of the clouds, makes a series of gestures that ends with a mighty thrust of energy from her arms and straight at the Embassy- the whole town shakes with violence as the swirling energy hit its mark... -------------------------
Torvek, still sound asleep from the event that last took place, feels something bouncing off of him. A high pitched squeaky voice is barely audible from his semi- conscious mind. "Torvek! Torvek! Wake up!"
At last, he opens his eyes and gives a long yawn. Hondala floats in front of his eyes, as she sighs in relief. "Hondala- wha- what happened?"
Hondala shakes her mass. "Well, the last I saw you, you were floating in the midst of the Skyway River. What in Veros's name happened to you? Did you get burned?"
Torvek looks down to see the violet scorch ark from when she hit him with her energy drain attack. "I... I don't recall- Wait! Did you just say 'Veros?'" He looks at Hondala skeptically. He turns around to see the expanse of the river. "I need to see where this Chaos is..."
"Well allow me to guide you. I must warn you, though- the Chaos is just as dangerous geting into it as it is getting out." Hondala says.
"What's the worst that could happen to me? I'm a god for goodness sake!" He smiles, and follows Hondala to the direction of the Chaos. -------------------------------
"ENEMIES APPROACH- THEY MUST NOT BE AWARE OF MY PRESENCE." The gateway sinks down into the swirling mass of the Chaos, as Torvek and Hondala appear from the Skyway River. Torvek looks around to see the entire landscape to be a swirling mass of creation and destruction. "The land of the soon- to- be Primordials." He says under his breath.
He notices an unusual bend in the landscape below, and flies closer to it. Strong energy can be felt from the bend. He inches ever so closely and extends his arm outward, when BOOOOOOOOOM! He is suddenly thrusted backward and is frozen into position, as Corelloth comes into view from behind. "Ah ah ah- I wouldn't be sneaking around here if I were you, my darling."
"Gah! Corelloth- you were always infamous for pulling fast ones against my family! What are you planning?" The chakram appears in his holder, but he cannot grab it- yet.
"Heh! Wouldn't you like to know?" she smirks a t the helpless Torvek, summoning her longspear. "Why don't you tell me why you are here, and I'll tell you what you want to know." She releases the force from Torvek, and he gasps for air.
He looks up at Corelloth. "You mustn't harm the Embassy- the gods'll destroy you when they have their chance..." Corelloth looks at Torvek in the eye and snaps "The gods shall never touch me- and if they do, I shall wreak havoc over their lives! You shall not underestimate my powers, Torvek! You still have yet to learn what it's like to be a god!" She readies her spear and throws it like a javelin. CLANG!!! Torvek defends himself with his chakram, as the spear slams into it. "Nice try, but you're gonna have to do better than that!"
Torvek sends a telepathic link to Azor_Chapien through Hondala.
---- [To Azor_chapien:]
I have found the culprit of the chaos that had occured on your island, Azor_chapien! I am about to engage in a fight with her. If you feel the need to, you may join. I am in the Chaos!
- Torvek ----
Both Torvek and Corelloth prepare for the battle.
OOC
Xeadin, please check the OOC for an important service announcement. You'll find the OOC here: community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...
Kipar heard the message and sighed. As he left to meet with the other Pantheon members, he wondered just what the details of this crisis were. One crisis after another, that was all that seemed to happen. When would the gods and the world find peace? He sighed, and traveled on, as his armor, already strong, seemed to grow thicker, and more resiliant...
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Gears wandered the Azoran settlement on the Grey Wastes. So fragile, in such an environment, so strong, and ready to survive, but able to be wiped away in flash by the monstrosities that lived in the Grey Wastes. He vanished, reappearing in a chamber deap inside the City of Gears. After a moments telepathic communication, he nodded, and vanished, reappearing in Mechanus. He spent a moment, calling on the energies of the Gear of Creation. Satisfied with the results, he sent down to the settlement, where it appeared there.
PP:
2 PP: Create Artifact(Intermediate): Armor of Gears' combat bonus increases to +2. (Total is now +8)
1 PP: Nourish Populace(Gears): The Azoran settlement on the Grey Wastes grows stronger.
1 PP: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): The Iron State travels to join the Azoran settlement.
1 PP: Spawn Creature(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): Death-Eater, a creature that feeds on death and decay, reducing the amount of it in the vacinity. Ridiculously large numbers can seriously reduce the effect of the Grey Wastes, making the area more habitable while they are there. They live in warrens, the largest of which is under the Azoran settlement. Think rodents/lizards for appearance.
[Flashback] Strange energies seemed to wrap around young Torvek, as the chancellor (Lord Ivek) was discussing a grave matter of concern about a Violet- scaled dragon. The many people of the dominion were shocked to hear this- as they knew exactly who the violet- scaled dragon was- Corelloth.The various shops and homes were locked down, as a huge figure flew overhead. The streets were silent and bare with not a soul wandering around aimlessly. Only one figure was standing outside of the safety of shelter- Torvek himself. The divine waves surrounds him, as he looks up into the silvery sky to see it darken with a violet tinge. Corelloth, in the midst of the clouds, makes a series of gestures that ends with a mighty thrust of energy from her arms and straight at the Embassy- the whole town shakes with violence as the swirling energy hit its mark... -------------------------
Torvek, still sound asleep from the event that last took place, feels something bouncing off of him. A high pitched squeaky voice is barely audible from his semi- conscious mind. "Torvek! Torvek! Wake up!"
At last, he opens his eyes and gives a long yawn. Hondala floats in front of his eyes, as she sighs in relief. "Hondala- wha- what happened?"
Hondala shakes her mass. "Well, the last I saw you, you were floating in the midst of the Skyway River. What in Veros's name happened to you? Did you get burned?"
Torvek looks down to see the violet scorch ark from when she hit him with her energy drain attack. "I... I don't recall- Wait! Did you just say 'Veros?'" He looks at Hondala skeptically. He turns around to see the expanse of the river. "I need to see where this Chaos is..."
"Well allow me to guide you. I must warn you, though- the Chaos is just as dangerous geting into it as it is getting out." Hondala says.
"What's the worst that could happen to me? I'm a god for goodness sake!" He smiles, and follows Hondala to the direction of the Chaos. -------------------------------
"ENEMIES APPROACH- THEY MUST NOT BE AWARE OF MY PRESENCE." The gateway sinks down into the swirling mass of the Chaos, as Torvek and Hondala appear from the Skyway River. Torvek looks around to see the entire landscape to be a swirling mass of creation and destruction. "The land of the soon- to- be Primordials." He says under his breath.
He notices an unusual bend in the landscape below, and flies closer to it. Strong energy can be felt from the bend. He inches ever so closely and extends his arm outward, when BOOOOOOOOOM! He is suddenly thrusted backward and is frozen into position, as Corelloth comes into view from behind. "Ah ah ah- I wouldn't be sneaking around here if I were you, my darling."
"Gah! Corelloth- you were always infamous for pulling fast ones against my family! What are you planning?" The chakram appears in his holder, but he cannot grab it- yet.
"Heh! Wouldn't you like to know?" she smirks a t the helpless Torvek, summoning her longspear. "Why don't you tell me why you are here, and I'll tell you what you want to know." She releases the force from Torvek, and he gasps for air.
He looks up at Corelloth. "You mustn't harm the Embassy- the gods'll destroy you when they have their chance..." Corelloth looks at Torvek in the eye and snaps "The gods shall never touch me- and if they do, I shall wreak havoc over their lives! You shall not underestimate my powers, Torvek! You still have yet to learn what it's like to be a god!" She readies her spear and throws it like a javelin. CLANG!!! Torvek defends himself with his chakram, as the spear slams into it. "Nice try, but you're gonna have to do better than that!"
Torvek sends a telepathic link to Azor_Chapien through Hondala.
---- [To Azor_chapien:]
I have found the culprit of the chaos that had occured on your island, Azor_chapien! I am about to engage in a fight with her. If you feel the need to, you may join. I am in the Chaos!
- Torvek ----
Both Torvek and Corelloth prepare for the battle.
Before this incident...
A tendril of purple flame threaded its way along the Skyway River, and curled into the space of the Place Between Places. Hammu stared at it, watching as the flame flickered through the air. He could sense that great power lay at its source- furthermore, he could sense that something had upset the Balance once again. "Corelloth. She's back, and once again she threatens my creation! How many times has she threatened Beacon, and now she intrudes into my own sanctuary?! Enough of this!"
Hammu turned towards the Courts. There was something there... something that might help in this situation. A breeze flowed through the great doors of the Courts, and dust lifted from the large skeletons within. Some form of insect lifted its head out of the damaged ribcage of one bony heap, and the skeletons creaked to their feet. With a motion of his hand, Hammu beckoned them to his side, took the Hammer of Law in hand, and then he opened The Zenith and stepped through into Azora.
Hammu paid the distraught dragons no heed, but bent immediately to the scent of Corelloth. "She's got no place to hide.. she can't have gone far. I'll just follow her disarderly trail until I find her!" Some time later, Hammu cornered Corelloth in her lonely hideaway. He motioned the skeletons forward "These creations are... distasteful, but they are nothing if not tools of Balance. As they Balanced Yoglith, so they will Balance you, Corelloth."
Swarms of Pyreflies were evident now, crawling from the cavities of the skeletons. They flared bright in the dim light, and buzzed hungrily as they closed in on Corelloth. It was over quickly. As the skeletons slumped, their work complete for now, Hammu knelt beside the corpse that now flickered with a slowly burning purple fire and retrieved a Pyrefly. He sent the insect on its way to Veros with a message.
Corelloth lays down in the heap of skeletons, watching both Hammu and Veros closely- eye partially open. When the two disappeared along with the skeletons, she opens her eyes and gets up to examine herself. The aparrent energies that the skeletons had left on her unexpectedly vanish before reaching her veins. She laughs. "Oh- Hammu's a fool. He thinks that he could try to 'balance' me into a more controlled being..."
Purple lightning sparks from herself, dispelling the energies from her and studying the Chaos once again. She felt the presence of two figures coming. "Oh- more unlikely guests... I suppose I shall have to hide myself so that they don't see me..." She darts toward a looming shape in the Chaos and orders the gateway to slink down into the landscape.
OOC- (The energies from the skeletons weren't able to reach into Corelloth's skin, because her bolts of energy acts as a defense that expells foreign diseases and energies that try to change her nature. Basically, things that affect things over time are eventually booted out of her scales. Magical attacks- such as charms, divinations, transmutations and the like- things that affect things instantaneously- affects her normally.)
OOC: Ugh, sorry this is so brief. Company's over and saturday came really fast. Also, Xeadin... I don't think that you get to declare that Correloth is immune to people who try to change her status to dead...
IC:
as Nixis waited for Veros and Ythrexle to respond, he felt a chill pass through him and a feeling of dread built within him. Pulling out the Astral Shard, Nixis focused on it, putting his power into it and watching as multicolored light streamed out from it back towards his body. Soon, he felt words flowing around his limbs, forming a black, thick layer of protection about him. He concentrated, and his armor was subsumed within his core, dissolving back into its component words, but ready to reappear at a moment's notice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enoch traveled back to the library and helped the Driders to increase in number. Now they were ready to greet the incoming Loremasters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Although most of the residents of Terena did not notice their new visitors, Convincer was able to sense their presence with ease. He instructed the local Circle to keep an eye out for any intruders. The Dolghaunts were able to make progress, but they were being watched...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shipshome flourished as people returned from their expeditions.
2 PP: 1 from Astral Shard: Create Artifact (Moderate): Words of Protection: Combat Artifact. Bonus now +3
1 PP from Enoch: Nourish Populace: Driders increase in number
1 PP from Convincer: Guide Populace: The Circle moves to intercept the Dolghaunts with some success.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: Gnomes flourish in Shipshome.
The Azorans prospered under another golden age, despite the new rebel organisation and the pressing war in the Gray Wastes, becoming more and more prosperous.
-----
The Azorans living in Terana spread the religion of their god to the Humites.
-----
Back in Azora, new methods of Siege Warefare have been developed, including trebuchets, balista, and other siege weapons.
-----
PP Spent
0+1 PP Nourish (Aegis of Azora): The Azorans prosper.
0+1 PP Guide (King Valden): The Humites now worship Azor'Chapien.
2 PP Guide: The Azorans now have mastered Siege Warfare.
Veros glanced at Nixis, considering the situation. "Yes, I know Shurka is asleep. He expended his energy healing the Empress's daughter."
He lowered his head for a moment. "There are things I must do. Ythrexle, you are familiar with the dream. Would you go with Nixis and see if there is any help you can give Shurka? There are things I must attend to. I shall meet you back here when I am finished."
Life in the Grey Wastes was not an easy one. Those few azorans brave enough to venture into its foreboding landscape were constantly being assaulted both by the environment, and by the dread denizens of this place. Nights were silent and foreboding, and days were bleak, and depressing. But of all the things that threatened their already difficult way of life, the most terrifying were the locusts. They coallesced from the thick, putrid air and descended upon the azorans like a cloud of grey death, eating them alive where they stood, stipping away the flesh, and leaving only the bones. Few escaped this airborne horror, and those that did would wake, screaming from their sleep for years to come. Many that survived, however, were subjected tp what might be considered an even worse fate. The viscous locusts spread with them a foul disease that tainted the land even and further and twisted most of those that came into contact with it into gross, twisted reflections of their former selves. These unfortunate beings were warped in body and might, rendering their flesh deadened and grey, and giving them a taste for human flesh. These monstrocities, named Greys for the dead hue of their flesh, would amble along through Wastes, searching for flesh wherever they could find it. All of this combined to make the Locusts one of the most terrifying threats in thir horrifying place.
------------------------
In Asika, a new form of dragon joined the assault on the Imperium. White dragons, those who had evolved to survive in the frigid realm of their foe. These new allies allowed them to further their offensive on the frost giants, weakening them greatly.
PP Expenditures:
1 PP +1 from Grugarch: Spawn Beast (Moderate): Grey Locusts terrorize the azorans living in the Grey Wastes.
2 PP Spawn Beast (Moderate): The Greys are humanoids twisted by the disease spread by the Locusts.
3 pp+1 from Leilaka Shape Populace (Greater) White dragons join the attack on the Imperium
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) White Dragons join the Asikan Empire
1 PP from Atakhari De-Nourish Populace (Lesser) The Imperium
Ythrexle peered up at the figure who had appeared out of thin air, seemingly compiled of words and phrases in some written language. Yet another one of his kind he didn't know.. Wearily he began to wonder just how many of his brothers and sisters had been born while he sat alone atop his spire, mind adrift on a sea of dreams while his body weakened. The figure said something but Ythrexle didn't quite catch it, but it looked like he was awfully upset about some being named "Shurka". Was that one part of the group he saw earlier? He wasn't sure, he didn't even know what half of their names were. Then again he'd never really known any other gods besides his brother Veros and that other one. The maimed one. What was his name...? Tams? No, that's not quite it. It wasn't important. Whatever happened to him anyway? Perhaps his stubborn nature got the best of him...
Suddenly his brother Veros' voice broke through Ythrexle's train of thought. "Ythrexle, you are familiar with the dream. Would you go with Nixis and see if there is any help you can give Shurka? There are things I must attend to. I shall meet you back here when I am finished."
The Gray Wastes pulsed and quivered, feeling the effects as a strange new creature tried to consume its powers. They would fail, it's corrupting power destroying even then, but the planar conflux lashed out in anger anyways, it's power spreading powerful disease through all living creatures that darted to cross it's borders, even diseases powerful enough to alter and damage the construct-like anatomy of the warforged and the powerful immune systems of dragons. The wastes, adding to the every growing undead that stalked the shrouded land, reanimated those that fell among those groups.
The first disease was largely limited to Azorans, thought sometimes the Iron State expeditions would suffer it as well. At first all would appear normal, but over time the victims would find themselves clumsier, and notice their vision beginning to fog. As it grew worse, they would ever so slowly go blind and in the final state, their body would shut down entirely, leaving them paralyzed. This disease became known as the Gray Darkness.
The second, known as the Baleful Wasting, was the far worse of the two, and seemed to favor the artificial bodies of the warforged and was able to infect even the mightiest dragons. The necrotic energy of the wastes would latch onto the victim, slowly corrupting and devouring it's tissues, organs, and flesh. Large cysts would begin to form beneath the skin, pushing and forcing their way to the surface, causing large unsightly protrusions that would burst unexpectedly, showering the nearby areas with putrid puss that would infect those touched by it. As it progressed, the cysts began to develop faster and erupt more often, until the constant process finally caused the creature to collapse into a puddle of putrid goop.
So great was the energies unleashed by the plane, that creatures dead for many millennia, buried deep within the soils and forgotten began to rise to the surface, reanimated by the Gray Waste's fell taint. Ancient trees, once animated by the divine power of Shurka were now corrupted and twisted to a new purpose.
In addition to the reanimated treants, long dead giants were also awakened and returned to life, a life twisted by the wastes, forced to hunt and slay the living and consume their souls that they might survive and prosper.
-----
Fierna looked upon the tall mountain. Gorion has given her explicit instructions to avoid that mountain. Something about not wanting to lose his favorite consort, but she couldn't remember very clearly. She never paid much attention to what he said.
But no doubt, she could feel the immense power that rested atop that mountain. The so-called followers of the True Code were quite fun though, so she had no intention of exploring that mountain. Many of them fell for her charms, and saw the promise of power she could offer far too attractive to pass. So she had spread the corruption though them.
-----
"Thank you, Ythrexle. I shall meet you here when you are finished." With that, Veros returned to the Palace of Xa'an, seeking out the Empress once more.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Spawn Disease - Gray Darkness
1 PP - Spawn Disease - Baleful Wasting
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Blackroot Treants
3 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace - Death Titans
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Followers of the True Code
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Followers of the True Code learn Warlock
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - The expedition to the Gray Wastes by the Iron State brings back the diseases, unleashing an epidemic among the homeland
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Followers of the True Code worship Gorion (and in extension, Veros)
Turn 53 begins now. 13,250 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros (33%)
7 -
6 - Vymrl (66%), Hensen Jijou (60%), Shurka (57%), The Empress (55%), Nixis (05%), Kiptar (01%)
5 - Chroma (61%), Hammu (59%), Azor-Chapien (04%)
4 - Starl (62%), Ythrexle (56%), Honissia (53%), Ashralan (15%)
Admin Award
Empress is the proud owners of a brand new unanimous admin award.
Vymrl is the proud owners of a brand new unanimous admin award.
Other
I added a new peice of info to the reset. Let meknow what you think about it.
Hensen stood in his throne room in the Castle of Endless Possibilities, the room extended in every direction, like large labyrinth of crystalline columns, disposed in a random, but twisted, patterns each reflecting otherwordly scenes, mostly had vague reflexes of violence.
"This is a dire time for us, my brothers, someone believe that our will could be defied, that our brothers could be imprisoned without any answer from us."
"The Empress, once one of us, assaulted Vymrl and imprisoned him within his realm, we should have her pay the price for this action, are you with me in brining retribution?"
"But she was not alone, another one a young god, has purged the Pantheon faith from the saugin, a crime that will require our attention, shall we send him a sing of our displeasement?"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"And so many has contacted these infernal creatures, more arcane power flowing in our land, but also a foreign influence that we could not control, nor tolerate..." Told high councelor Davris.
"We could not stop them actively, that would be against our own tradition of free will" replied another.
"Yes but maybe we could use this as an advantage..."
The council debate lasted for a few hour, then they came up with a solution for the infernal plague, at first many of the most prominent infernalist, whose names was public due to the fact that in Bloodmyst they were not persecuted, was invited to reside in Qar'Dask and help the arcane reasearch there, tricking them into coming under strict viginance of freedomguard power.
In that city state they begun to research more deeply arcane secrets and finally, maybe with support from some necromancer and foreign spellcaster they managed to become able of channeling magic in an ordered pattern, using it to bound lesser devils and other spirits to their will.
Within the city state of Nitha the Unshaped hidden among the monks begun to use a few dragon eggs, combined with the priesthood techniques in manipulating life, to shape a new race of servants, warp dragonborn was born there and begun to settle in the large rocky island that surround Nitha.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It was a young kinght of the True Code that found that sword within a secluded cave, an horrific monster was protecting it, the creature almost killed him but its claws was no match for his skill, just like the stranger has predicted. He was the second son of his family, his brother bested him in faith and arms and was going to inherit his father title, he could not accept that, he had found no way to best him for now but he still had faith that something was going to happen, then the stranger came and offered him the way of getting what he wanted. He told him the tale of that weapon one that could not be defeated, with it the knight would have being able to prove his skill to his father and maybe even have his older brother pay.
It was with that weapon the he begun winning any duel, being known as the greates knight among the followers of the true code, but it did not last for much, on a dark night he was killed in his sleep by one of his humiliated rivals, that used the sword to take his place as a champion of the true code, but he too fell by treachery in a few years a chain of death begun amond anyone who happened to own that cursed weapon.
Watching as events unfolds from the shadow a lone man smiled, for it was exactly as he had planned.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
While the war kept infuriating in Chillhund the Warp Dragons kept helping the giants, however their master, Darashiva, had something else in his mind. With access to the green dragon memories he infiltrated in his empire, using a combination of the beast knowledge and his own dark powers he managed to steal many of the attacking dragons eggs that was turned into more warp dragons using the abundance of unshaped spirits that came trough chillhund portal.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Drakhorn begun to work on an ambitious process in their home asteroid, a large portion of hit was cut, but kept linked to their land with magic, for now at least. There the Drakhorn begun to shape a new large fortress within this land patch, getting it ready for movement.
From his home in the Zigurat of Drathor the Herald, moved back to the world, seeking the Children of Light.
1 Pp Mold Land (from Bloodstones) - The Fragment.
2 PP Spawn - Warp Dragonborn,
1 Pp Guide - Free nations learn the Wizard Class
1 Pp Guide (from aether ripples) - Warp Dragonborn join the Free Nation and worship Hensen.
2 PP Nourish (1 from Bloodstones), Warp Dragons
1 PP DeNourish - Chromatic Dragons (their empire due to the stolen eggs)
2 PP - Create (1 from the Wondermaker), "The Sword that can not loose", a +1 combat bonsu artifact, currently is in posses of the knights of the True Code and not under Hensen control.
Turn 53 begins now. 13,250 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros (33%)
7 -
6 - Vymrl (66%), Hensen Jijou (60%), Shurka (57%), The Empress (55%), Nixis (05%), Kiptar (01%)
5 - Chroma (61%), Hammu (59%), Azor-Chapien (04%)
4 - Starl (62%), Ythrexle (56%), Honissia (53%), Ashralan (15%)Admin Award
Empress is the proud owners of a brand new unanimous admin award.
Vymrl is the proud owners of a brand new unanimous admin award.
Other
I added a new peice of info to the reset. Let meknow what you think about it.
(OOC: Um, ff6shadow- you left out Torvek in the Refresh...
Also- Corelloth'll be injured from Hammu's action... My bad...)
What really happened:
Corelloth lays in a lump underneath the two skeletons before she could even retaliate from the surprise appearance of Hammu. One of her eyes partially open to see Hammu and Veros, she makes a barely audible moan. When the two left, she gets up with difficulty- groaning as she does so. "Ugh- that wretched god- sneaking up on me and attacking me without provocation- how rude...! (Cough)" Her hands shaking with tremendous energy, the Balancing energies on her seem to take shape of control. "I will... I will NOT let this happen to me!" She releases a burst of energy that resounds across the Chaos- the energies still holding tight on her. "Ugh- the disease of control and balance- I should've known that he was following me- that way, I would've fought back and got rid of at least one of those uglies..." She limps off towards a looming form in the Chaos.
Hensen stood in his throne room in the Castle of Endless Possibilities, the room extended in every direction, like large labyrinth of crystalline columns, disposed in a random, but twisted, patterns each reflecting otherwordly scenes, mostly had vague reflexes of violence.
"This is a dire time for us, my brothers, someone believe that our will could be defied, that our brothers could be imprisoned without any answer from us."
"The Empress, once one of us, assaulted Vymrl and imprisoned him within his realm, we should have her pay the price for this action, are you with me in brining retribution?"
"But she was not alone, another one a young god, has purged the Pantheon faith from the saugin, a crime that will require our attention, shall we send him a sing of our displeasement?"
Azor'Chapien sat in the meeting, listening with interest.
Torvek listened on within the Chaos before he and corelloth made the first moves to battle- something in the air was breathing- in and out- something big...
corelloth lunged at him, the spearhead pointed at his heart. He dodges the attack and throws the chakram at her. It hits its mark- barely cinching her skin beneath her scales. She gives a low grumble, and Torvek winks at her. "Getting a little 'sluggish' aren't ya, you old hag?"
Corelloth sizes up Torvek and delivers a punishing breath of dark bolts at Torvek. He blocks the attack with his chakram- struggling to hold his ground. The attack seems overwhelming that a slight thrust from her penetrates the chakram's defenses and hits Torvek clean. He pummels towards the forming Chaos below, and lands on the form with a thud.
"Sluggish? I think not!" Corelloth holds the spear over her arm, when a link goes through her. She pays attention to the link, and she nods. "Let me finish up what I'm doing here- then I'll come." She returns her sight to Torvek. She throws the spear at Torvek and pins one of his arms to the ground. "There will be no escape for you, my darling. I shall be back." And with that, she disappears in a roar of violet flames.
Torvek groans to get up, but the spear holds him down. The spear suddenly takes form and wraps around his body and pins his other arm. "Gah! Tight...!" He struggles to call Hondala.
Hondala -can you hear me? Get Azor_Chapien down here now! I'm trapped!-----------------------------
Hondala appears at Azora and looks around for Azor_Chapien, but notices that he is absent. She feels for his presence and goes towards the direction of his current location- the Castle of Endless Possibilities...
When she arrives at the front gates, she asks for assistance to see Azor_Chapien at once.
The flight to the castle was hard and dangerous, the screaming wind was treacherous and many times Hondala barely managed not to fall down to a ceratin doom on the city hundreds of meters below. When she finally gets there she met a massive demon a creature of flowing dark blue light.
"What do you seek in Hensen domain, little dragon?"it told.
((Xeadin, what god has an underscore in his name? It's Azor'Chapien!))
The Followers of the True Code continued to press hard against the rest of the Azorans, yet they still could not breach the wasteland gap in the forest, now known as the Gap. However, in the very heart of their territory, a mighty fortress was constructed, rivaling the mighty fortress within the capital of Azora. This fortress became their headquarters, from where they plotted their takeover of Azora.
PP
----
1 PP Nourish populace: The Followers of the True Code build a new fortress, the Stronghold of the Code.
All was well in Ardune. Chroma could feel it. Sure, Russet still troubled his children from time to time, and the devils more or less ruled the Southern section of the continent, but he was in his very essence Chaos itself. Without conflict, where was the fun? He wished that the games his children played with the stinky dead children and scary looking dark burny children didn't always end in blood though. Why couldn't people just get along? It wasn't that hard, all they had to do was share and have fun together... it worked for his gnolls. And the minotaurs, and his genasi, and every other race for that matter. But when two races interacted with eachother... Chroma didn't understand it. And he probably never would. But if there was anything he could do to stop the madness of bloodshed, he'd do it. As long as he didn't bully his children too much, he couldn't bear to stifle the chaos in their hearts.
At the very thought of chaos though, the child god felt something... wrong. He hadn't been back to his Mother in millenia, but... he felt that something was amiss there. That something was different. In a bad way. A VERY bad way. Like... his home had been defiled. And the child god hadn't even known what 'defiled' meant until right then. Openeing a rift in the world (and unintetionally weakeneing the already fragile barrier between Ardune and the Chaos) to the Chaos, Chrom went through, quickly gazing about the area.
Everything LOOKED okay... no, it didn't. It looked as though someone had channelled the energy in the plane through a dirty sieve. It came out the other side in tact, but some of the filth had managed to mix in with the liquid. And then, looking down, Chroma saw his dragon friend wrapped up in some kind of... thing. That must be a new game he was playing with his nemisisisis friend!
Floating down towards the dragon god, the child god smiled with his one eye. "Hi! Do you want to play Mr Torvek?" Looking a little more uneasy, the swirl of colour looked around. "Did you know what happened to my mother? She looks kind of... sick."
PP Expenditure
3PP - Form Greater Domain - Chroma takes the Peace domain
1 PP + 1 Create PP from Fountain - The Chaos rift goes wider, and grants an additional +1 combat bonus.
Nixis looked over at Ythrexle.
"Yes, by all means come. Hopefully we can be successful."
With that, Nixis began travelling back to Terena.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The charred and burned Yogloid had been falling towards the planet ever since its destruction at the hands of the Ae-Sylvani. For a long time, it had floated slowly, but now, it had reached the edge of the effects of the Dimension Bulwark, and picked up speed, moving faster and faster until with a mighty crash, it smashed through the Azure Aegis over the Free Nation. All across the bloodmyst archipelago, people grabbed onto their cloathing as the air above them was sucked towards the Aether. Several Waterspouts appeared, ranging across much of the world, sucking up ships and aquatic beasts of all kinds. A particularly large one swept towards Silvara, travelling across the desert before smashing into the city, ripping buildings apart before finally stopped by the combined powers of the priests of the Eladrin. Before the Yogloid had made it halfway to the surface, the Aegis had already repaired itself, and those below sighed in relief as the ordeal seemed to have ended.
Then, the Yogloid hit the surface of the world, crashing into the water to the southwest of Novost, raising a mighty wave that flowed over the docks of Novost, swamping the lower reaches of the city in water, submerging people and dragging them back out to the ocean as the wave receded. Similar waves, if far less powerful, struck many of the other cities of the Free Nation, and across the world, people noted stronger waves than usual.
When it all finished, a new island existed in the bloodmyst archipelago, although it was slightly spongy to step upon...
1 PP: Denourish Silvera: Tornados from the breaking of the Azure Aegis sweep across the desert and reach Silvera, causing some damage to the ancient city.
1 PP: Denourish Free Nation: A Tidal Wave swamps the city-state of Novost, causing general devastation.
As Starl retreated from the Mortal plane, the struggles of the Gods were only more and more apparant to him. Their petty ways, their constant warring and their vague ideas of morality, with their children, those they should protect, caught in the middle....
The few children of the Rat-God who lived on the upperworld, the bards and men of song, begged him for deliverance, but all Starl could do was watch over them... and help as he could. He had no effect on these wars the higher beings chose to wage...
He could not forgive himself for that. But, the needs of his firstborn outweighed them. The Midworld started to become a true state, great cavernous towns and cities growing out of the tunnels...
Starl's dream was ringing true...
PP expenditure:
1PP Artifact: Guide Populace: The scattered cults of Starl worship him.
2PP: Guide Populace: The inhabitants of the midland learn architecture!
1PP Nourish: The Skreet increase in number
1PP Nourish: The Goliaths increase in number.
The battle between the giants and the dragons was a fierce one. The giants had numbers and their side, as well as years of experience in warfare. The dragons on the other hand, those less numerous, nade up for it in the staggerng strength of the individuals, and their mastery of the skies. Yet for all their prowess, the airborne dragons were heavily lacking in ground-based infantry and so were unable to keep taken ground for long. They had to find another way to beat back the giant hordes. So, the greatest minds among them gathered together and set to work on the enigma. They worked long and hard at it, pooling together their already impressive intellect. Finally, they had it. They sent their scouts far and wide across the length and breadth of the world to track down what they needed to perform this monumentous task. Then the dragons waited, and plotted the fall of the Imperium.
The Malrime Ballistae, the Niflendar Flamberge,and the Academy Dominus had vanished, directed away by a strange black skinned Frost Giant who had taken control of it. Even the Library of Whispers, the Fleshpools of Ansem, and the Hellrime Codex were gone, vanished into the night by an unknown force.
The Imperium was crumbling. The many relics of Vymrl were gone. The land had sunk and risen again. Dragon after dragon strukc and tore at it, laying waste to the countryside, leaving only the capital of Ssabrec untouched, it's protective wards still in place despite the devastation.
The priests desperately delivered the Rites of Frost, begging and pleading for Vymrl to intercede on their behalf, to protect them from the forces racvaging their lands, while the military struggled to rally after having lost their greatest weapons.
Among all this devastation and loss, the Imperium was cut off from the outside world, ceasing their trade as they consolidated their forces to fend off the invaders, even ceasing their alliances and dealing with the Warp Dragons of the highlands.
Wthin the halls of the Imperium Senate, debate and argument raged and flowed, as various factions struggled and fought with each other as to the future of their great nation. Som were determined to rally the military and make a final strand, drivingout the invaders, whilc others spoke of the posibility of evacuating the frozen homeland, gathering strength elsewhere before returning to reclaim what was theirs. And among it all, the devils came, slipping into the dreams and minds of the most powerful senators, corrptuing them, offering them powers and wisdom beyond their mortal frames for a tiny price, using their influence to guides the debate back and forth, taking strength in the continued heated arguements that tired all involved, and left even more of the senate vulnerable to their temptation.
All the while, reports and rumors came in of a gathering of dragons, of some unknown plan they had to bring and end to the way. Finall, after the weeks and months flew by, and the arguing and debates finally came to a close. The devil backed senators made a momentous decision, and slowly began to pool the empires resources to their goal.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - The Imperium Senate begins drastic measures
Deep in the heart of the Gray Wastes, a former Azoran Knight wandered, transformed into a Death Knight by the fell energies of the cursed place. The Death Knight wanted conquest. He wanted war. He wanted his former homeland... Azora.
So, when an expedition of the Followers of the True Code sail to the Gray Wastes, they are all killed mysteriously and the boat sails back to Azora, with only one passanger, the Death Knight.
Upon arrival, he achieved a very bloody coup over the Followers of the True Code, becoming the new leader of the True Code.
------
1 PP Nourish Populace: The Followers of the True Code prosper under their new leader.
He walked through the silent halls, brooding. He could hear the cries in the Free Nation, the depseration of mortals caught in the throes of a catastrophe. He could remember so many of them, so frequent through out history.
He snapped his hand out, catching a pyre fly floating nearby. The remnants ot a losalfar that had lived here. . . within all this destruction, it was probably an exstinct creature anyway. He sent it to Ythrexle, knowing he would head the request, the request to borrow some of his friend's strength.
He finally found the chamber he sought, hidden deep within the palace. Slipping fromo the shadows that now filled the ruins, he slipped up behind the Empress, not seeing Priya close by, though she surely wouldn't be far. "I see you have recovered from your ordeal somwhat."
The gnolls of the hunt, having remained much the same for centuries upon centuries, had finally come across an inovation that would make their lives much easier, both in peace and war. By skinning the carcasses of the creatures they hunted, and tanning the hides in a strong chemical made from jungle plants and water instead of merely cleaning them and using them for basic clothes, the horde discovered the basics of leather working. Soon, the gnoll huts sported water tight hide rooves instead of the leaky leaf ones, and they wore protective leather in the increasingly frequent battles they had to fight against slavering former packmates, rotting undead, and evil devils, not to mention Ardunes native and dangerous creatures.
The genasi, meanwhile, were growing more and more prosperous, though the economic depression beset by an inflation of bronze was still looming overhead and starting to make the basics such as food harder and harder to barter for. The genasi knew they'd have to establish more diplomatic ties if they wanted to stay afloat, or else put a limit on the amount of metal they processed and risk crippling the entire metallurgy industry.
On the West part of the wastes however, one settlement thrived despite the circumstances. A city on a rare sight in the Wastes, an oasis, grew larger and more powerful, though it wasn't exactly the kind of place that wanted to draw attention to itself... for a long time, the favourite method of punishment the genasi used was to throw criminals out into the Chaos Wastes to fend for themselves. For a minor crime this was just for a few days, but for more serious offences the genasi weren't allowed back. Most of these genasi perished, or in rare cases banded together and lived on the edge of death surviving off goods plundered from trade conveys, a week of bad luck spelling their death from thirst and starvation. However, some of these exiles stumbled across the oasis, and settled there. Then these exciles rescued more thirsty and near dead genasi, and brought them back to help build up their community. Soon Brokenchain, a thriving city of criminals, victims of politics and people who happened to cross the wrong genasi came about, free of the caste system of their socially accepted kinsman, living off the oasis and the spoils earned raiding the bandits that would not join their cause. This was, however, replaced by a very simple rule: if you're not useful, it's back to the desert.
PP Expenditure:
1pp + 1 Guide PP from Beryl: The gnolls learn leatherworking.
1 Nourish PP from Fountain: The genasi grow further in number and influence. Genasi exiles form the city of Brokenchain.
The Empress was standing in the centre of the room, looking down at something held in her hands.
"Yes, somewhat," said the Empress softly, "Did you need me for something?"
She turned to face Veros, and he could see that she was holding a tattered piece of clothing in her hands.
Ashralan feels the hatred of the Bronze Pantheon. He sets about creating a servant to help him in battle. He takes a male sahuagin warrior and makes him stronger, giving him another set of arms. He will wield four spears, one for each arm. Ashralan names him Chardon, the Shark's Tooth and sends him out into the world.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Once again, Ashralan enters the dreams of his followers, this time instructing them to organize and form an empire.
PP:
3 PP Ascend Exarch: Chardon, the Shark's Tooth (combat).
1 PP Guide Populace: The Sahuagin form the empire of the Great Sea
OOC: I screwed up on the power point count again, sorry.
It had taken almost all of his concentration to keep up with this younger god. Wearily Ythrexle wished that he had his own youthful strength again, he'd show this up-and-comer what speed was all about. He was focused on only one thought, "The sooner this task is complete, the sooner I can return to Veros. I need to return to the Dream quickly if I-?!" He didn't get to finish that thought as a pyrefly suddenly crashed into the back of his head, breaking his concentration. He slowed down, losing some altitude and snatched the pyrefly out of the air. Annoying creature. As he held it, he heard a message from Veros.
.........
The god of dreams let out a long, world-weary sigh. Veros required a bit of power from him for another project of his. Ythrexle closed his hand around the pyrefly and focused as much of his divine energy as he could spare into it. He wouldn't really need it to revive this sleeping Shurka as long as he had the shard from the Stone of Revery. As he watched the shimmering thing flit off into the distance, he half-wondered why Veros needed some of his energy. But these thoughts were dismissed as he remembered that he had to catch up with Nixis. Now he had to concentrate that much harder to match the younger god's pace, and he wondered if what he did was worth the effort.
PP Expenditure
4 PP given to Veros
"Yes. I agreed to keep an eye on you, to prevent others from retaliating after your attack on Vymrl. I needed to step away for a moment to complete a task, but I am here to continue my original task."
He glanced around and he pulled his hood back down. "Where has Priya gone? Is she doing well? Hanging so close to the edge of death so long is not a pleasant experience. What is this cloth?"
He stepped closer. "Are you absolutely sure you are okay? I know the effects anger can have on one, and then to have Priya almost die on you as well. I'm simply concerned."
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Mold Land - Usage explained in Aradeia's post
2 PP - Guide Populace - Usage explained in Aradeia's post
2 PP - Shape Populace - Usage explained in Aradeia's post
2 PP - Shape Populace - Usage explained in Aradeia's post
2 PP - Shape Populace - Usage explained in Aradeia's post
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace - Usage explained in Aradeia's post
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land - Usage explained in Aradeia's post
1 PP (Artifact) - De-Nourish Populace - Usage explained in Aradeia's post
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace - Usage explained in Aradeia's post
The night was still, quiet. The giants had settled into their camps, the dragons retreated to their caves. In the giant camps, they conversed tensely over their crackling fires, smoke painting the sky with long, grey ribbons, obscuring the strangely bright stars. The wind whispered as it swept across the snow-covered plains, and over the mouths of the caves in which the dragons lurked. Neither side slept. Each was certain that something was about to happen, something big. The anticipation was palpable in the air. Though the younger dragons were not aware of the exact plans of their elders, they new something was happening in the depths of their caverns. They slithered anxiously through the caves, sensing powerful magics being worked beneath their toes. And they were right.
Deep below the ground, the most ancient of the wyrms were caught in the throes of working terrible, and powerful magic. The walls and floor of the massive cavern were inked with primordial runes, and dragons were stationed at regular intervals about the room and along the length of a balcony that encircled the room. They seemed to be in the midst of some kind of trance or ritual, their attentions focused upon an object occupying the very centre of the room, that was emitting a strange sort of purplish light: a massive sphere made of some indeterminate material. They seemed to be pooling their energies within this sphere, which was making an almost unnoticeable humming sound. Slowly, however, it seemed to raise in volume. The sound rose, and no longer seemed to be coming from the sphere alone, but rather the dragons, even the cavern itself. The humming increased, became deafening. The force of it shook loose rocks from the ceiling, which fell around the dragons, who seemed oblivious to all but the sphere.
The hum echoed up through the caves, up to the surface above. Dragons and giants alike were shaken from their sleep, nervously looking about for the source of the noise. The hum rose higher and higher, it shook the foundations of the giant constructions, shook the giants themselves to their very core. It seemed to vibrate through the ground, through the air, through reality itself. It was maddening, and all who hears it could barely stand it, clapping their hands over their ears. But that did not help, for the humming was not a noise in the regular sense. It echoed into your very core, and nothing could be done to dispell it. In the dragons' caverns, rocks fell from the ceiling, cave-ins burying entire caverns, obstructing passageways. The dragons rocketed from their holes, shooting into the starry sky. The giants in their cites screamed with terror as foundations cracked, buildings toppled into the streets below, and animals fled into the night, absolute horror in their eyes.
It shook the very foundations of the world. It penetrated deep into the Dimensional Bulwark, streams of magma exploding into the sky, forming rivers of molten rocks flowing across the land, and jagged pieces of land arcing up into the sky, ripping pieces of ice and earth from the continent and seeting them among the stars. It rocked reality itself, and the sky itself ripped open. The stuff of the other planes poured out of the gashes in the sky, howling wind and crackling lightning exploding from the Chaos, streams of aberrant horrors escaping from the Outer Realms. These threats tore across the land, sending the frost giants scattering in fright. They fled from vile aberrations such as the beholders. Energies from the Chaos burned, boiled, and twisted the giants' flesh, warping them into awful reflections of their former selves, mirroring the elements that made up the Chaos. And all the while, the dragons winged above, savagely laying into their hated foes even in their desperate plight. They herded them like cattle, ripping some apart as they ran, capturing many. In their flight from their shattered homeland, they used any means necessary. Those who were not aprehended by the dragons and brought to Asika fled aboard their ships, fleeing to the continent of Taldar. The elite, however, the Imperial Senate, panicked, they fled in their berg ships. Attacking dragons, however, wyrms laughing at their plight, forced them to scatter. Some fled to the Inner world, while others went in the other direction. They wandered the world for a time, and the ragged band of refugees arrived upon the shores of Zophar in the far north. Still more were forced to remain on their continent, and to do their best to survive the horrors that still ravaged it.
By the dawn, the world had twisted dramatically. Elemental energies flowed across the continent and through the sky above it. Chunks of rock and ice hung in the air, and foul denizens from beyond this world lurked there. A few giants tried to eke out an existance there, but their life was difficult. Reality itself had forevermore been altered that day. The normal laws of physics no longer applied here. Portals ripped open at random, ice turned to mud beneath your feet. A storm of elemental energy hung above the continent. Fire scorched the land, acid rained for days at a time, and lightning flowed across the land like a living thing. It was truly a ravaged land, and deep below it, in the very cavern where the dragons had first assembled, the vast crystal sphere pulsed with an inner power, with the sentience of all the dragons who had died trying to rip the world apart.
PP Expenditures
3 PP (Artifact) Shape Populace (Moderate) - Hill Giants (Veros)
3 PP Shape Populace (Moderate) - Fire Giants (Veros)
3 PP Shape Populace (Moderate) - Stone Giants (Veros)
4 PP (Artifact) Shape Populace (Greater) - Storm Giants (The Empress)
3 PP (Artifact) Guide Populace (Lesser x3) - Giants head to Taldar, Zophar, and the Inner World. (Ythrexle)
1 PP (Artifact) Guide Populace (Lesser) - Dragons take some giants as slaves back to Asika. (Empress)
3 PP (Artifact x2) Mold Land (Greater) - The landscape of the Imperium is irrevocable twisted by its contact with the other planes, and by the disruption of the Dimensional Bulwark. (Ythrexle)
3 PP (Artifact x2) De-Nourish Populace (Lesser x3) - The frost giants of the Imperium are devastated by the destruction caused by the Dragons. (Empress)
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser ) - Creatures from the Outer Realms migrate to the Imperium. (Empress)
2 PP Create Artifact (Moderate) - Sphere of Bellum Concordia - This artifact maintains the reality-warped nature of the Imperium. (Empress)
Kiptar felt the disruption, the very Dimensional Bulwark being torn asunder. He shivered as he saw the Imperium being torn apart, all the planes coming in and joining, to form a place of where all existence met. He reached out, and grabbing the power of the Gear of Creation, he focused his power, forming a barrier around the former Imperium, stopping the spread of the chaotic rip in the Bulwark, trapping it. He tempered the melding of the planes, making it a melding, where all planes met.
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Gears witnessed the destruction. Not even the battles of the War between the Imperium and Terena could match the devastation that was wrought here by the energies of the Dimension Bulwark and the planes. This was destruction that not even the gods could match. He, as well as the Iron State contingents that were there witnessed the planes, and their glory. Later, he found a pulsing sphere of crystal, contained within were the dragons that had died, mostly Chromatic, but some where Metallic, whom he affiliated with, who did not deserve a fate such as this. He let his mind enter the sphere. battled by all of the chromatic anger, he found those minds of Metallic. He reached, and pulled them out, fighting the entrapping sphere. When the minds were free, he found that he could not give them bodies, but they still existed as ghosts, as minds that could wander at their leisure. Satisfied, he went back to the Iron State, to help them work through the aftermath of this tradgedy.
PP:
3PP: Create Artifact(Greater)(Gear of Creation): The planar ravaged Imperium stays the same size, the ravaging grows no further. It also melds into a place where all of the planes touch.
1PP: Spawn Creature(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): Wyrm-Wisps
2PP: Spawn Creature(Intermediate): Thief of Life
3PP: Guide Populace(1 Greater, 1 Lesser)(City of Gears): Using their Aether ships and information gathered in the former Imperium, as well as Travel rituals,Planar ships are developed. Used out of Far-home, they gather information on the planes.
Most people believed that the gods could control everything. That everything that happened was a direct response of their whims and desires. This might be true to an extent, but there was far, far more to it than that. Even if Veros had set up the situation, a mortal had at one time seized the power of a god and played with the world as they saw fit, despite the wills of the 'true' gods. Despite Chroma's best intentions, half of his first born children were slavering devil worshipers or undead ghoul, both as foul as the child god was pure. And despite the fact no god had intended it to happen, at least openly, the entire world was shattered by a small group of dragons.
And, despite what many believed, even the gods were subject to the whims of chance. Because it just so happened that Chroma had a front row seat to one of the biggest disasters to hit the world since it's creation, and definitely the biggest disaster to face the Chaos that had given birth to him and taught him the wonders of chaos, color, life, and fun.
To put things in perspective, seeing the dragons use the power of the chaos to cause the very slaughter and destruction he stood against was rather like a child who wanted to be president when they grew up see someone strap a nuclear bomb to their mother, kick her off a plane, and detonate the device on Washington DC. And, like any other child... his mind couldn't even process it all.
Not even noticing the giants filter over to his Ardune, not even noticing molten fire from the Chaos bursting out over the continent and forming new and wonderful creatures, completely forgetting the bound dragon at his feet, the God of Chaos simply... floated off, deeper into the Chaos, which rollings and changing seemed to lack the joy they had before... and show only the agony of the plane that had practically been torn in two.
PP Expendioture
1PP - Spawn Heroic Tier Monster Population - Spawn Magma Beasts (except Magma Brutes). These mainly take residence in central Ardune (where the Chaos Rift is) and in the Chaos itself, though some few filter into the Outer World).
The Azorans began to thrive more than ever, despite the rebellion and the war in the Gray Wastes. There wasn't a portion of the Island uninhabited, and Azora was an eptimoe of civilisation.
Meanwhile, underground, the Dragonborn also thrived due to their new trade with their surface allies, the Azorans.
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2 PP Nourish Populace: The Azorans thrive.
1 PP Nourish Populace: The Dragonborn also thrive (to a lesser extent)
The flight to the castle was hard and dangerous, the screaming wind was treacherous and many times Hondala barely managed not to fall down to a ceratin doom on the city hundreds of meters below. When she finally gets there she met a massive demon a creature of flowing dark blue light.
"What do you seek in Hensen domain, little dragon?"it told.
(OOC- Nerdzul, Hondala is a ball of radiant light- not a dragon. You were probably thinking of Torvek...)
IC- Hondala struggles to keep her mass together, while staring at the large hulking beast that towered over her. "I wish to speak to Azor'Chapien please- if he is present." Hondala speaks to the giant. "I have an important message for him regarding my master- Torvek."
The devastation caused by the rending of Chillund resonated deep through the world, resonating in chambers and caves long forgotten. And in one of those chambers, an eye opened for the first time in millennia and a body pulled itself off the ground, eyestalks coming to life one by one. The eye tyrant moved from his cave to the nearby caves, waking his brethren one by one until a mighty host of beholders floated within a large cavern not too far from the surface.
Although their prefered method of life had been taken from them when their slaves had escaped and founded the free nation, the beholders themselves had never been eliminated, and had, in fact, merely gone to sleep, leaving only a few of their number to guard their treasures from greedy adventurers. However, now they felt themselves motivated by another desire. They directed their eye beams upwards and began to dig, emerging from their domain and moving quickly via cover of night to their ancestral home of Greyfang mountain. There, they quickly moved into the structure and began plotting, their numbers increasing exponentially as they prepared to go out into the world and reassert their dominance. They especially turned their gaze towards the Free Nation, as they felt their slaves should be returned to them with interest for their long un-earned freedoms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Convincer, free of the Mournelord's taint, returned to his old duties. He commanded the Circle to expand into the Free Nation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis and Ythrexle arrived in Terena and sped upwards to find Shurka.
1PP: Guide Populace: Beholders return to greyfang mountain
3PP: Nourish Populace*3: Beholders expand exponentially
1PP: Guide Populace (from Convincer): Circle expands into the Free Nation.
Ashralan looked around, pleased, at the thriving sahuagin around him. He made their population grow even more so they could create new cities for the Empire of the Great Sea.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Ashralan decided that he needed another servant, this one to control the empire of sahuagin that worshiped him. He picked another sahuagin, this time a female, and gave her the mark of those favored by Ashralan: another set of arms. He named he Douda, the Iron Fist of Ashralan, and made her the queen of the sahuagin.
PP:
1PP: Nourish Populace: The sahugin expand and spread.
3PP: Ascend Exarch: Douda, the Iron fist of Ashralan (guide/teach) (doe-EW-da)
Shurka's body remained in stasis within his home plane of Revnador. He floated across the plane, not changing his actions even when the two gods entered his domain. The raw arcane energy surrounding Shurka did react however. On seeing that it was two gods that Veros generally trusted, it slowly moved aside, but was still watched the event that would come.
(Shadow, if you would RP your exarch differently, just tell me)
Argus continued work on a triad of artifacts, dread creations of horrific power. The first, the Idol of Frost, already spread its deadly taint amongst the frigid lands of the Deep South. His next work, however, proved even more diabolical. Two more artifacts, still mere fragments of the final piece, took shape. The first, crudely hacked from obsidian deposits in the now ravished Imperium, was smaller than a human hand. The statute depicted, with exquisite workmanship, the head of a Vyrmosk, devoid of all the traditional regalia, however.
The second part of the artifact took the form of a marble staff, engraved with hundreds of images of shattered chains and burning cities. Atop this marble staff, however, a gash lay, a gash perfectly filled by the base of the Obsidian Crown. The staff itself Argus named Whitelord's Folly. Alone, these two creations were formidable, but together, they would be nigh unstoppable.
Yet, there was a catch. In order to protect the weapons from the meddling of other gods and exarchs, Argus bound in their very essence a repulsion for any divine spark save Vymrl's, and that included his own. Touching the weapons brought him intolerable pain, and so he formed two tombs for them, to labyrinths to ensure that only mortals truly able to use such weapons, and only mortals sworn to Vymrl, could acquire them.
These Barrows soon took shape, one in undersea near Novost, and the other in shattered wreckage of the Imperium. Finally, Argus hurled the Idol of Frost out, so that if fell near Skypeak.
Let the mortals war, and whatever the outcome, Vymrl would be free.
PP
((OOC: The two artifacts will not come into conjunction during LoC, they are merely a possible hook in any PbP games that use this setting.))
3PP (Artifact)-Create Artifact, Major: Obsidian Crown ((Cannot be used by any god or exarch save Vymrl, radiates extreme cold))
3PP- Create Artifact, Major: Whitelord's Folly ((Cannot be used by any god or exarch save Vymrl, drives those around it for hundreds of miles into a more warlike state of mind. When united with the Obsidian Crown, the user can choose to double the effect of one power or the other. If used with both powers for thirty days and thirty nights against the wards of Tamurung, the plane is opened and Vymrl freed))
2PP (Artifact)- Mold Land, Medium: Two massive barrows of earth and stone rise near Novost and in the Imperium, the Whitelord's Fall and Obsidian Crown are kept there.
The land surrounding Greyfang mountain was bustling with activity as the Beholders expanded their reach from the mountain itself to the surrounding areas. Without slaves to help them, the Beholders had to resort to using their own eye-beams and magical abilities to do the labor that they would typically have laid on the shoulders of those they had dominated. All across the mountainside and extending for nearly a mile in every direction, tall unearthy spires began to appear, constructed from whatever materials the beholders could get ahold of. Twenty feet in height or higher, but only wide enough to fit one or two beholders side by side confortably, the strange, twisted towers replaced the trees that had grown up around the mountain in short order. Soon, a city was born: T'garth, city of eyes. Along the perimeter of town, spires only ten feet in height, yet made of sturdier construction that the rest, formed a perimeter around the city, and atop each spire, a ferocious beholder floated, gaze directed outwards.
Deep within Greyfang mountain, the Hive Mother directed a group of minions to travel north towards Silvara, find an unsuspecting village and bring back slaves for T'garth. It also directed more beholders to travel west towards the Free Nation, and bring back slaves from any wayward ship. The Hive Mother made itself very clear, however: Under no circumstances were they to be seen. It knew of what had happened the last time the Beholders had made their presence known too early. As the minons left, the Hive Mother grimaced, eye stalks clenching in exertion. Keeping control over all of the myriad beholders on T'garth was no simple task. It floated through a doorway at the back of its chamber and into a large cave, looking down upon the form that writhed and rippled below.
"Soon... Soon..." The Hive Mother whispered to itself. Soon its task would be made much... simpler. Beneath, the mass of flesh continued to pulsate for a few moments before an eye appeared in the mass, blinked, and then vanished as the churning of flesh continued.
1 PP: Guide Populace (Beholders): Beholders found T'garth, city of Eyes
1 PP: Guide Populace (Beholders): Beholders travel to Silvera and take slaves (secretly)
1 PP: Guide Populace (Beholders): Beholders travel to the Free Nation and take slaves (VERY secretly)
It wasn't fair. Chroma never did anything to the gods who kept muddling up his Mother, or the mean dragons, or whoever had tainted the Chaos to make it sick before even the big trauma. But people still hurt his creator, his essence, the thing that had given him life. He had half a mind to rip apart their world and see how they liked it... but even in trauma induced depression the child god was still too pure to sink to such lows.
Instead, the god of colour and chaos contented with floating alone in a far reach of the plane, similar to how a child would sit in the corner facing the wall if they did something wrong. Except this child wasn't being punished, he was merely... trying to forget. Trying to forget the horror of seeing his Mother ripped in two, trying to forget the scream of the plane as it was abused so heavily, tried to forget the power of his Chaos spilling over into the world and causing so much pain and agony he never thought it would end. Tried to forget... and just couldn't.
But each of those memories he tried to thrust out of his head began to take on a sinister nature. Merging with the tainted and shattered plane, infecting the scars left in it's misuse, the raw chaotic emotions of sorrow, anger, hate, grief, they all collated in what remained of the Chaos. Feeding off it's sickness, it's pain, and sucking life from the inattentive god's divine spark. Soon these creatures began to take shape, creating mis-happened bodies for themselves not unlike that of a frog or toad, and taking on bright colors, or in the case of the worst memories, pure black. Sniffing the taint and raw destructive forces in the air, the new creatures were content, reveling in the darknest forces entropy had to offer.
Until their eyes cast further afield, beyond the plane of their birth... and they screamed in rage at the ordered and undestroyed world before them. How dare that place not be in ruins! How dare it's inhabitants not be as them! How dare they be happy! Though they were bound to the plane, some of the creatures would occasionally find a way to slip into the world, with the aid of a foolish spell caster or where the veil between planes was especially thin.
And so the slaad came into the world.
PP Expenditure
2PP + 1 Guide PP from Beryl - Shape Paragon Tier Immortal Intelligent Populace ((am I being superflous?)) - The slaad are created in the wake of the havoc that gripped the Chaos and the grief of Chroma
Within the darkhon asteroid great magics was unfolding, the Fragment who has being separated from the main asteroid was warped in the south of the world and equipped with a powerful arcane energies that allowed it to levitate, a few hundred meters over the surface of the ocean.
Then the great flight begun, warp dragons left the ruined chillhund archipelago en mass, as their adoptive homeland has fallen, even if their harts was dark they still kept their loyality to those giants who were willing to bond with them, using the Drakhorn Gate of Bone, surving Berg ships and their own wings they relocated themselves and a vast portion of their giants allies to the newly forged bastion in the sky. The ancient giants families that was bonded with the dark dragons survived the destruction of thier homeland and bringing the memory of the Imperium with them.
2 PP Create - (from the Wondermaker), the Core of Dusk, this artifact allow a chunk of the Darkhon asteroid to fly over the ocean. It also create a shorud of mist around it, making it extremely hard to reach and to discover, even by divine means, without the help of the Drakhorn or the Warp Dragons.
1 Guide (from Aether Ripples), Warp Dragons and their allies from the Imperium ancient families move to the Fragment.
While in the Chaos, Torvek still lay down on the floor- with Corelloth's spear wrapped around him. He tries to break free, but that only makes the spear cling tighter. "Hondala- hurry up!"----------------
Hondala waits for a reply from the huge demon beasts that tower over her mass- she takes the liberty to sightsee her surrounding to get a better picture of the area, so that she can get to here and back out without running into trouble. ---------------------------
Dolestre flies around the Skyway River in hopes to find Torvek- no luck. She decides to search around Azora, then she goes to the Astral Plane to look around for him- no luck. She continues her search and finds Chroma along the way...
The creature kept circling around Hondala, its form evershifting, the creature paused for a short while, thinking about what to do with the newcomer, his lord should not be disturbed but not listening to her might be a mistake.
"Well, I'm sorry but the one you seek could not meet you now, however I might be able to help you somehow may I?"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hensen kept addressing his fellow gods, the world keeps changing so fast around him, he felt his own essence refreshed by the destrutive work of the empress and the youngling.
"First, we have the small issue of this new god, he thinks that he could defy us, a mistake in our opinion, however he has some courage and this trubled times requires people that have the will to fight for their desires em I correct? I think I should pay him a visit in person to settle the current misunderstanding"
"With the imprisonment of vymrl and subsequent destruction of the Imperium we have not managed to find any possible solution and we would like to listen your opinions"
Azor'Chapien shrugged and said, "Well, I, personally, don't care much for Vyrml, but, he is a member of the pantheon, so maybe we should spend some efforts attempting a rescue."
Hondala studies the evershifting form and says, "Well, if you could have the chance to, please send this message to either Azor'Chapien or Hensen- 'my master, Torvek, is in peril and he is stuck in the Chaos by some form in which I do not recall. This form is a disaster if not contained, and I wanted to also warn the embassy about this threat of the form- it tends to strike without warning.' Please give them that message as soon as you can- I don't know if Torvek'll be alright by the time I leave..."
Hondala waits for the beast's response... -------------------
Meanwhile, Torvek tries his best to dislodge the spear from it tightening grasp. He breathes in heavily and forces himself upward. Ever so slightly, the spear slides upward a fraction of an inch. He thrusts himself upward angain, then POOF! The spear disappears, ans Torvek is thrown upwards with an expression of surprise.
He lands on the floor with a thud, and gets up to see Corelloth several hundred feet away- spear in hand. He draws his chakram from his holder and swings his right hand in front of him, while his left hand carried his chakram behind him.
"Darling- you know there's no need to fight over me anymore..." Corelloth says in a tone of voice that Torvek barely recognizes. "What was... that?"
"You must learn how to become a god first before you can just rule however you want." She takes a similar stance to Torvek.
"Maybe- maybe I just need to control my self- guidiance, because I don't need someone else teaching me- I can teach myself!" Torvek says in a proud way.
"Fine- be that way. You have just signed your death warrant!" She throws the spear at Torvek, and he dodges it. He sprints at Corelloth in full force and thrusts his hand forward. The wave of sound stops him cold, and flings Corelloth several hundred yards back. "Heh- bet you didn't see that coming!"
Corelloth gets up from the ground and shakes her head. "Oooh! You insolent little GNAT!!!" She charges her bolts to maximum charge and blasts it straight at Torvek in a ray of violet energy. He dodges the attack once again, and retaliates with a beam of light launched from his chakram high up in the air.
Corelloth glares at Torvek. "You dare not use that against me in here!" She disappears in a ball of violet flames. Torvek holds the attack to a standstill, as the chakram gently floats down to his hand. He puts it in the holder and it is willed away.
Kiptar nodded to the topics.
"For Vyrml, I know that he has some Exarchs. Maybe we could speak to one of them and see what they know, if they could help us restore him to his full power. As for the remnants of the Imperium, I do not believe that even Yoglith, the original Lord of Time could simply turn back the clock. We may be able to soften the damage, but it cannot be undone.
As for this new Godling, it would be good to pay him a visit, too understand his reasons, and to make him understand what he has done and the...consequences. "
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PP later
Many berg ships landed on the Fragment floating stones, it was a bare and unforginving place, even harsher if possible than Chillhund Archipelago, however the frost giants were not people that easily give up.
With support from their Dakhorn and Warp Dragon they begun rebuilding their empire in this secluded place. In a few years a large city was built on one of the largest flying mote, the City of Light, in honor of Vymrl son, forged in iron, ice and black stone and furnished with many Imperium work of arts and ancient weaponry that was saved by the Old Families while escaping from the doom that had destroyed their Archipelago.
On the highest place of the Fragment a new temple was built, dedicated to the Bronze Pantheon and expecially to Vymrl, there the surviving senators melted their old symbols of power and most prized weapons and forged a large statue Vymrl, fully built in darkned iron, from ancient weapons that has killed many during their existance. Then the noblest among them, those who once ruled the Imperium and lead their army pronounced a sacred oath to restore their master and bring an icy vengeance to those who opposed him, each sacrificed its own left eye to Vymrl, as a sign of their commitment to their cause. Then they celebrated their new path for the whole night, until all the giants fell asleep.
On that day they were not alone in their temple, someone speculate that Vymrl essence was capable of hearing their oath, but other believe that a darker presence listened to their prayers, once the giants woke up they discovered that their missing eye was replaced with a new one, made of bloody red gemstone. This "blessed" giants named their new gift: "the Eye of Vymrl" and found out that they could use it to unleash elditrich wrath against their enemies...
3 PP Shape Paragon Populace - Fomorian, those who are blessed with the Eye of Vymrl.
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones) - Create the City of Light and the Hall of the Pantheon
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I think that you are right, my friend, weshould pay a visit to the young god and meanwhile we will find a way to restore our brother, or extract retribution from the killer"
"I'll go and take care personally of the new godling, while I'm busy with that I'll send those serve me to seek for Vymrl sons and I think you should do the same"
"Pardon me if I have to leave now, enjoy your stay in my realm for as much as you want" told the white head, then Hensen begun to wish himself to the new god pocket realm.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The creature replied to Hondala,
"I'll pass your message to my master, but I fear that their minds is now focused on something else and they might not be able to help you, for now"
"However me and my many brothers might provide you with some help, if could help us understanding the problem with more clarity"
Then he sent one of the lesser unahped to tell Hondala message to the gods assembled in the great hall of the castle, while Hensen has already left he still reported to Azor Chapien and Kiptar.
The Chaos calls to those that are composed of it's elements, and so the numerous elementals scattered throughout ((have we come up with a name for this world as a whole yet?)), seizing the chance given to them by the cataclysmic coming together of planes, passed through the flow to the plane while it was still open, and began to make their home in it's constant rolling and churning of the elements. Some elementals however traveled even further, discovering the thin veil between the continent of Ardune and the Chaos, traveled through to the central expanse of the Inner World, joining with the magma beasts to turn the once fertile jungle and golden savannaha of the inner continent into barren scorched rocks, expanses of ice, a constantly changing environment that changed whenever one elemental left an area and another took its place.
The gnolls, however, could no longer go into the jungles in the central continent for fear of the elemental beasts. But the horde could not survive off of the remaining jungle as it was, they were simply to large and required too many resources to merely live let alone prosper. And so, reluctantly, Beryl divided the gnoll horde into many different packs, and gave each pack a sliver of jungle to live and hunt in. After living together as a race for so long, it was a heart wrenching act, but one that had to be made for his people to survive.
This would not be the last time the gnolls banded together however. Nowhere near it in fact. For when Beryl decreed that the horde would divide, he also decreed that once every ten years, the numerous packs would gather in the center of Eastern Ardune in a great gathering of the packs, or Packmoot as it became known. Much of the gnolls time between the decade was spent gathering and preserving food for the event, making wares to trade, and generally eagerly looking forward to the entire affair. The clansmoot also had a second, far more important meaning, to those unmated at least... packs were small enough that they were often all mated, or related by blood. Packmoot offered the young gnolls a chance to win the heart of those of the opposite sex, which usually involved a show of skill, some fighting to see who'd come first in the pecking order and to make sure the other wasn't a weakling, and good old fashioned pre-matehood mating. Of course, since the event only happened once a decade, and the gnolls had such a short life span, that if a gnoll got unlucky once they'd be middle aged or older before they got another chance, and if they got unlucky twice... they could embrace a life without having a mate.
Packmoot had one more important purpose to it... it allowed the leaders of the packs to discuss territory, hunting, and any threats to gnoll lands. If there was an Ardune shaking event on the horizon, odds are Beryl would address it at the gathering to ensure his gnolls were prepared.
PP Expenditure
1PP - Guide Monster Population - Elements spread to the Chaos and Ardune
1PP - Guide Populace - The gnolls divide into packs, and create the concept of Packmoot
Hondala replies to the great beast. "Thank you. I understand that gods may be busy during other times of peril."----------------------
Dolestre finds Chroma, sulking amongst the land of the Chaos. She goes down to see what was the matter. "Chroma- are you... okay?" She makes sure as to not offend Chroma in any way, as she still keeps her distance... -------------------------
Torvek still stands on the suface of the Chaos, as he sees two figures- one of them was Dolestre.
"Sis!" He flies over to her and the other figure. Unexpectedly, he is stopped by an unknown force that pushes him back. Corelloth appears from a burst of flames. Torvek yells at her. "You coward! Why don't you fight like a god?"
"He he... because, my dear- you still have much to learn." She summons her spear. Just before she can attack, Dolestre wills her beam sword and fires a blast of radiant light at Corelloth. She dodges the attack, and Torvek arms himself with his chakram. Once again, the three are about to engage in furious combat.
Enoch continued to float back and forth before the doorway that led back to the Library. He was getting impatient to try out that idea he had had to help Chastelli, but he could do nothing until the Keep told the Loremasters about the doorway... for the first time in his life, he truly regretted not having hands...
"Chastelli! Chastelli, come down here and open this door!" he called out into the air.
Torvek's hatred over Corelloth has masked his belief that his family may still be alive. Something pops into his mind. "What did that Apocalypse do to my homeworld?" He finally asks.
Corelloth scoffs. "Oh- now you ask me..." She stops suddenly. "Well, for starters- your family is not dead, Torvek! All this time you have denied that fact, and I think that it's about time that I told you fair and square!"
Torvek, as well as Dolestre, is stunned by Corelloth's words. "My parents... are... alive?" Torvek says under his breath.
"She's lying to you! Our parents perished right before my eyes...!" Dolestre yells to get torvek's attention.
"SHUT UP, DOLESTRE!!! They were only taken to a different time zone- and you both still believe that they perished... Why would I even dare kill and Overgod? Hmmm?" Corelloth glares at Dolestre then looks over to Torvek.
"Because you have nothing better to do than watch other gods suffer to your malice!" Dolestre fires back at Corelloth. "But, I still see that you have respect to the higher- ups..."
Corelloth smirks. "Why thank you, my dear. If you both want to know where they are, I suggest you look in the place where you have been to first..." And with that, Corelloth disappears into a ball of violet flames.
Torvek thinks to himself. "The place where we have been to first... hmmm... Wait a minute! Could that be...?"
"The Astral Plane?" Dolestre adds. Both nod to each other and fly over to the Astral Plane. ---------
When they reach the Astral Plane, they look around for some point of interest- the constantly flowing energies make the search difficult. "What did she mean by the 'last place you've been?'" Dolestre inquires.
Torvek looks around. "I dunno- maybe we're supposed to create a portal of some sort..." A purple flame appears a short distance from the two. "Huh...? Maybe that's what she meant..." corelloth's voice is heard, distorted. "Torvek, Dolestre- you both must combine your energies to access the portal. I must tell you- the mechanics of this world are strange- it will only let you stay for a short time before it pulls you back in."
Both obey what she says, and they both combine their energies. Dolestre fires a beam of light at the flame. The flame glows brighter. Torvek follows up with the final ritual that opens up the portal to the separate dimension. "Well, here it goes..." Both hold hands as they inch toward the portal...---------------------
PP Expenditure:
Corelloth: 1pp- Create minor artifact (first stage of portal)
Torvek: 1pp- Mold land (Portal to dimension opens for a limited time)
When they enter the portal, they step out onto an atoll- with a large rock in the center, surrounded by palm trees. An ocean surrounds the island. A little boy come around a corner and notices the dragons. "Kema ti ve sela uton vi. Te etta Dilemm?"
"Huh? Excuse me? I don't understand..." Dolestre speaks to the boy. She gasps. "Oh! Now I remember! Vekken!"
Torvek looks at the boy. "Vekken? How's the family?"
The boy looks at Torvek. "Tuma tuma guthell fra semel te etta Dilemm sela han."
"Bless you...?" Torvek looks at Vekken in confusion. Torvek looks at Dolestre for translation.
Dolestre speaks to Vekken. "Garne de sel Torvake totalle fres formo heg dama."
Vekken speaks. "You've forgotten the celestial language, haven't you?" He shakes his head.
Torvek scratches his head. "Eh... somewhat... so, how's the family?"
"They've all done well, although mother and father miss you both- badly..."
A tall dragon and a fine skinned human step out of the corner. The human gasps in surprise and the dragon comes out with an expression of happiness. "Torvek. Dolestre. I'm glad you're still alive."
Dolestre runs to the dragon. "Mother! FATHER!!!" She hugs the dragon tightly. "Oh, how I've missed you so! What happened?"
The dragon speaks. "I was beginning to wonder the same thing." The human speaks. "Torvek, Dolestre- how was your adventures?"
Torvek speaks to the human. "Fine- we ended up in a different dimension, but we're glad that we found you."
"So are we. What's the status on Corelloth?" The dragon asks the two.
They both look at each other. "Well, she is still alive... and she's acting up again..."
"I was afraid that was going to happen." The dragon looks at the human. "We were going to invite you to feast with us, but I see that you are still tied to your dimension." He points at the fine line that disappears in the sunset.
"Oh.. yeah, that..." Torvek and Dolestre fell a slight nudge on their twines. "Uh- oh, I think that we're running out of time..."
A small flame appears. "So, Corelloth lead you to us... I guess she has a good side to her after all..." The human steps forward. "I wish you both good luck. And one other thing- please come back when you can- we were very worried about you- the others would be glad to see you again..."
The flame erupts into a portal. The twines tug harder. "We promise. Mother, Father- we love you..."
The twines give one last tug, as they are sent backwards into the portal , back to the Astral Plane. The dragon and the human embrace each other... ----------------------
The portal disappears, as Torvek and Dolestre lay on the ground. Torvek gets up. "Ugg... so, Mother and Father were alive after all..."
Corelloth appears before them. "See? I told you- you must believe in yourself for who you are. You're still a youngling to the other gods here- they can dispatch you if need be." Corelloth brushes Torvek off. "You must know that everyone has a good and bad side- I was foolish to follow the pathway that lead me to chaos. I'm in no control over my actions- however, the chaos cannot get to my inner consciousness- you must remember this- for your destiny rest solely on your shoulders." She backs away from the two. "I wish you both good luck on your journeys." And with that, Corelloth disappears in a ball of violet flames.
((Ugh, sorry for the briefness of this first part of the post, the internet ate it and I couldn't retype it all after all the effort I put in -_-))
The Chaos Rift, put under so much strain, finally burst its seams over Central Ardune, creating a jagged portal between the Chaos and Ardune, as well as providing an extremely powerful nexus of elemental magic. Aside from the swirling maelstrom of energy it created in the center of the ever changing Ardunian sky, it also provided a means for elementals to travel back and forth between planes as they whimmed... but gave the slaad the same privileges. And unlike the elementals, the slaad actively sought to slaughter life and reduce the world to elemental slag, instead of being content with reducing the immediate area to ruin of its elemental nature. And contenting themselves to infecting as much life as they could with their disease, creating brood upon brood of tadpole to raise the next generation of soldiers in the war against life, unlife, and the very essence of order and nature,
***
The child god turned slowly as someone said his name. Someone said his name in this place. His place. They always used this place. Never thinking about what they were doing. Not caring if their actions brought infection, or ruin, or pain to the plane. His plane. His essence. He was supposed to protect it. Protect the Chaos, the destruction, the change, the elements. But godlings and mortals alike just used it, rent it apart in their bids for power, banished it away from the world only to twist it into darkness and throw it right back in as a weapon. A weapon! A sacred place, a beautiful place of color and chaos used as a sword! But it was his, his sacred place, his plane, his Mother. They weren't supposed to use it like that. No-one was supposed to use it like that. No-one was even supposed to be here, let alone twist it! But they had, oh how they had, and it hurt her, it hurt her so much. But it was-
This was a fair summation of the facts and wishes and obsessions that churned through the gods head. A childs mind was a remarkable thing. It was pure in so many ways, but it viewed the world so simply it had a major flaw... right and wrong were as simple as left and right. Tearing the plane apart had been wrong, infecting the plane had been wrong. It didn't matter why, who, how, where, when, or anything else, wrong was wrong. And Chroma didn't want anyone else to do wrong.
"You should leave," the child god said in a monotone, looking at the scrap of forged divinity that he'd played with centuries upon centuries ago.
PP Expenditure
1PP + 1 Create PP from Fountain - The Chaos Rift become a huge portal, and provides and additional +1 Combat Bonus.
1 Nourish PP from Fountain - The slaad grow in number, given the chance to infect living creatures with their Chaos Phage to create more of their kind.
Torvek and Dolestre look at each other. "So, what now?"
dolestre inquires. "I did see Chroma in the Chaos- I think he was doing something... in there..." She stares up at the bright red star. Dolestre noticed something odd about the star- it was distorted in some way, as if something shared its essence with another realm. And then she saw it- a solar cloud raced from the red star to a different star. The cloud disappeared, but the green star also became distorted. "So that's what he was doing... probably best to not interrupt him."
"Wait! I did see something strange in the Chaos- some 'bump' in the landscape, and I could hear heavy breathing... almost..." Torvek says to Dolestre.
dolestre stares back in horror. "Oh no... we have to get Chroma away from that thing! It's a portal to the Mortal world that Corelloth created!"
"WHAT!??" Torvke stares in disbelief. They both fly towards the direction of the Chaos. ---------------
The gateway breathes heavily, and reveals itself along the landscape- a huge ring of molded metal and rock, expelling large amounts of biolet bolts of energy. "MMMM... IT IS TIME FOR THE ELEMENTALS TO STIR FROM THEIR IMPRISONMENT, YOUNGLING..." The gateway raises itself to where the ring floats vertically from the ground. A powerful surge of energy flows through it, and it opens up to reveal a portal to another dimension. ---------------
Torvek and Dolestre land safely on the landscape of the chaos, only to find the huge ring floating about the land. "Damn! We need to find Chroma and get him away from that thing!"
Dolestre looks around. "THERE!"
A lone boy stands in between the two portals- one leading to or from a different world- the other leading to a separate world. "AHH... TORVEK. CARE TO MEET YOUR DOOM UPON YOUR HOMELANDS?"
torvek felt a slight itching sensation, and he bends over in pain. Dolestre gasps, as she too feels a tremendous headache. A voice can be heard in Torvek's mind. "You will lead the elementals to me, or I shall kill you and your sister... this little boy has no use for the power of the elementals..." Torvek inches ever so slghtly to Chroma and the elementals that start to swarm the Chaos. He struggles to resist the Voice...
A command is given, and Torvek obeys. He laid out a hand toward the elemental group and led them to the gateway. The headache goes away. Torvek gets up to see the elementals marching to the gateway. "No... I will NOT let this happen!" He swipes in the air and the elementals stop. The gateway grumbles in anger. "SO BE IT. MORTALS ARE WEAK- THEY HAVE TORMENTED OUR CREATION- AND ALL OF YOU GODS ARE TO BLAME." The gateway sinks back into the landscape.
Dolestre looks arond the Chaos. "Where's Corelloth?"
Torvek responds. "She left us alone... for now..."
PP Expenditure-Torvek: 1pp- Guide Populace (Elementals)- Torvek unknowingly guides the elementals to the gateway portal.
1pp- guide Populace- Torvek stops the elementals altogether.
Where the beholders had earlier built upwards, now, they built down, carving deep trenches into the earth with their eyes and then forming side chambers into which they expanded their numbers even more. They also carved deep under greyfang mountain, digging deeper and deeper and deeper until one of their eye beams hit something... different and... deadly. The rupture in the dimensional bulwark spewed magma into the air, killing the beholder that shot the errant blast. After a brief period in which they reconsidered their options, the Beholders set to work, crafting a tap that offered them the chance to study this odd substance that held such power.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the threat from the Ae-Sylvani seeming to be gone for now, Chukwa directed his attention to further bolstering the population of Diaspora, which expanded dramatically.
1 PP: Mold Land(lesser): Beholders dig deep under Greyfang mountain in a system of deep tunnels that lead to the Dimensional Bulwark
1 PP: Create Artifact(lesser): Beholders construct a special tap that allows them to direct the flow of magma... although there's nothing to connect it to yet.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: Beholders expand below the surface of T'garth, expanding in size and number.
1 PP: From Chukwa: Nourish Populace: Children of the Aether expand some more.
"Thank you. I will direct my Exarch to search for the Exarchs of Vyrml as well. "
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Gears recieved the thought from Kiptar Just as he had finished a project on the Intellegence in the City of Gears. He nodded and vanished, to search the former Imperium. As he did, a wave of power shuddered through not only the City of Gears, but also Farhome and Aetherhome. (Angel, he can meet one of your exarchs, or not. Your choice)
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In Mechanus, the Gear of Creation pulsed once, and was still.
PP:
3 pp: Ascend Exarch: The Intelligence. The Sentience of the City of Gears, it now connects Farhome, Aetherhome, and the City of Gears, so that direct travel between them connects so that they are all in a way the same city. It can moniter everything that happens in these cities, and can draw upon the Ley Lines to defend them. He can also manifest in or near the cities as a Warforged, but with a limited duration if outside the cities.
4 pp: Shape Populace(Greater)(Gear of Creation): Death Giants
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): The Iron State gains great strength.
1 pp: Guide Populace(Greater)(Cultural Contact)(City of Gears): Astronomy
As a few fremen begun to misteriously vanish the Thousand masks begun investigating, discovering soon foreign presence in the archipelago, while at first the gnomes of the circle were considered with suspect but when they were proved not to be involved in the kidnappings they even managed to initiate profictable partnerships with Vassen trade lords or Qar'Dask alchemists.
However it did not take that much before a darker presence was discovered, beholders were back to awake free nations nightmares. Some of the creatures were "taken into custody" by the thousand masks and brough to the underground city of Qar'Dask for experimentation. Meanwhile Freedomguard governmanet decided to keep the discovery secret, in order to use it at the most efficient time as a tool to strenghten their own power.
The council need to reorganize its forces, combined with Vymrl's artifacts influence on the mind of the archipelago inhabitants prompted a new militarization of the Free Nations.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On the Fragment the giants begin to settle in their new land, forgina a small nation on the flying stones.
1 PP - Guide, Beholders are discovered and some are secretly brought to Qar'Dask laboratories to be experimented on
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones) - Free Nations begin to reorganize its army again, preparing for future conflict
1 PP - Guide, The Shattered Realm is born on the Fragment
OOC: more fluff coming later or tomorrow, I don't have much time now for posting
Even though the spell that had shattered the Imperium had been cast ages ago, it continued to ravage and unweave the very fabric of the place. The terrors of this place forced many of the giants who remained on the continent deep into their capital of Ssabrec. Many, however, took a different view on all the proceedings. Perhaps their minds had been warped by the magics that had warped the land, perhaps such terrible devastation had made something snap deep within them, but this group of giants came to view this cataclysmic event as a sort of blessing. They came to believe that they must preserve this state against any and all who should attempt to disrupt the disruption. So they ventured across their land, gathering to them those who shared their mindset, and capturing many who did not. They reached the place where it had all began, where the tempest was most terrible. They ventured deep below the surface of the Imperium, and found what they sought, found what made this devastation possible: the Sphere of Bellum Concordia.
And so they named themselves the Concordians, and built a shrine to the devastation, a spire that pierced the sky, pierced the elements that hung like a fog above the land. It did not impose itself upon the swirling elements, but rather, did its best to conform to the chaos of it all, resulting in a twisting, chaotic structure that would be quite impossible to recreate anywhere else. The giants worked at this spire for many months, working all the ancient magics they possessed to make impossible vistas within the seemingly limited Spire. And all this time, deep below the ground, the Sphere pulsed.
Once the Spire was complete, the Concordians could set about their true goals: protecting the Sphere at all costs. Within the Spire, they set up training grounds for their members, and fell laboratories where they could create the perfect defenders for the Sphere. Great poles set upon the Spire's top drew in the chaotic energies of the atmosphere, using them to power the dark goings-on within the Spire's depths. They twisted captured Giants and Outer Realm monstrosities alike, forming terrible creatures by binding elements to their flesh, and melding different creatures together. They formed Azers by twisting Fire Giants, and Hell Hounds by giving sentience to discarded fiery essence. By the end, they had amassed quite a sizable defense for their Spire.
PP Expenditures
3 PP (Artifact) Shape Populace - Azers
1 PP (Artifact) Spawn Beast - Hell Hounds
6 PP (Artifact) Nourish Populace - Frost, Storm, Hill, Stone, and Fire Giants as well as Azers join the Concordians.
1 PP (Artifact) Create Artifact - The Concordian Spire magically supports its own twisted structure, and can support fantastic areas within itself. The Spire is much larger within than it appears without.
OOC: I'm sorry shadow, but I can't wait any longer. Company is literally walking in the door.
Nixis suddenly felt a tug coming from his armor. Summoning it to the surface, he noticed that it was pulsating with energy from a source he did not recognize. Not one to take an opportunity for granted, he fished out the Astral Shard and directed its power into his armor as well. Moments later, the armor rippled with a new set of protective words, rimmed in fire and offsetting the gold-rimmed words that made up the rest of the armor.
1 PP from astral shard + 1 PP from Veros: Create Artifact(moderate): Nixis' armor increases in strength, becoming a +2 artifact. Combat bonus is now +4.
The Imperium scattered across the world, abandoning it's former homeland to the destructive energies unleashed upon it. Though many were forced to remain, and still more captured by the leaving dragons, four major expeditions managed to escape the homeland.
The first made their way south, braving the glaciers, the mighty storm, and even the null magic of the pole, to make their way through the polar opening. When they finally emerged into the light of the inner world, they stumbled upon the continent of Ardune. Low on supplies and beginning to starve, they landed, having no other choice. Little did they know that the land was claimed by local gnolls and genasi.
The second group sailed north to the main land, skirting it rather than show their weakness to their former enemies, eventually finding landfall on the a continent to the far north, the land of Zophar. Cautiously, they began building a fortress to secure their immediate surroundings before beginning their exploration of their new homelands.
The third and fourth groups both made landfall on Taldar. The first group landed southwest of the Asilia, encountering several elven patrols as they struggled to survive, deprived of their preferred climate and the luxuries of their homelands.
The other passed over Patren. This group, consummate mages all, had detected the powerful energies of the Arcane Wellspring. Skirmishing with Patrenese forces as they flew their berg ships over their territory, they found the ancient ruined capital, exuding the powerful magical energies they had sought. Continuing to skirmish with various Patren raids, they landed within the capital, hoping to harness its power. Unfortunately for them, its power still ran wild within the ruins. Their bodies, already warped and altered by the elemental energies that had overrun their homeland, were vulnerable to the flows of magic infesting this city. Overnight, their bodies were fused with the very essence of magic, and they were reborn in a new form.
-----
The Iron State was devastated. The epidemic of disease brought back from the Iron Wastes had remained untreated and unstopped, spreading wildly through a nation unused to dealing with diseases and sickness. Vulnerable and unprepared, they spread like a wildfire, a ceaseless inferno of death and decay.
-----
The ships finally made landfall as Marick looked over the land. They had sailed from the Free Nation weeks ago and finally made their landfall. As they settled low for the evening, he knew they would begin exploring this land tomorrow.
-----
A council sundered. Fractured and divided, the Grand Siveran council, long the theological and political hub of Siveran life had become irrevocably weakened. Infighting and bickering was commonplace, but most thought nothing of it until one councilor struck down one of his fellows in cold blood. This foul act brought to light the slow but steady corruption of the council. Lacking any unifying leaders, the long-standing nation dissolved. After a period of instability and rapid change, things stabilized to some degree, but the various factions maintained a constant state of readiness, fighting and battling over any and every little insult.
-----
The Creation Forge pulsed with life once more, acting on a telepathic demand from its master, forging out words of pure energy instead of its usual creations.
-----
The group halted, staring at the desolate wasteland before them. The Siverans avoided this place like the plague, calling it the cursed land, ancient home of the beholders, who had enslaved many during the dark times. At they sat there in camp, leaving the true expedition for tomorrow in the bright sun light, they looked upon it. Grayfang Mountain, silhouetted against the dying sun stood out starkly against the broken hills all around it, reaching skyward like a monument to slavery and evil. None the less, as they stared at the sunset, it was their duty to explore this land, and document any of the creatures that might still live here.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Part of the escaping Imperium landing on Taldar forms the Tiri-Noth
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Part of the escaping Imperium landing on Zophar forms Carnath
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Part of the escaping Imperium landing on Inner World forms Mielen
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Iron State continues to be ravages by the pandemic of diseases brought back from the Gray Wastes
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Iron State continues to be ravages by the pandemic of diseases brought back from the Gray Wastes
3 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Greater) - Eldritch Titans
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Loremaster Expeditions land on Asika
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Sivera breaks into dozens of loosely allied kingdoms
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Moderate) - Given to Nixis. . . .
OOC
Sorry about the late reset. . . I've had a busy few days, culminating with my grandmother freakihng out on nursinghome staff just a few hours ago . . . reset should be up soon.
Ythrexle wearily stood above the sleeping god, wary of the energies flowing around this plane. Shurka's face twitched subtly, as if he was consciously trying to wake himself but couldn't. As he looked down at him, a thought floated through Ythrexle's hazy mind, "I'm not sure if this will even work, but it's all I can do..." He held the shard from the Stone of Revery in his hand and slowly drove it into the god's forehead, the stone sinking through his flesh and bone as easily as water. Ythrexle pushed until the shard was completely inside, leaving not a blemish upon the slumbering god's countenance. With the shard inside, it was an easy matter to focus his own energy into Shurka to awake him.
That is to say, it would have been easy if he was at full strength. As he was now, Ythrexle was in danger of being swallowed up by Shurka's unconscious mind. He focused his mind in an attempt to clear it of these flashing images from the sleeping god's subconscious. A tree resplendent in divine light, a grove of knotted saplings overcome with awful fungus, monstrosities from the Aether drifting toward him. Reflexively, he reached out for something to defend himself with, his hand coming into contact with The Sword with No Name. He swung it at these awful hallucinations until they were no more, and begun his process again clenching the sword in his hand in case he had to defend himself again. After what seemed like an eternity of fitful conentration and hallucinatory attacks from all sides Ythrexle felt a change within the sleeping god.
Shurka began to stir.
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Far away, upon the island of Riyelleh Ythrexle's insubstantial servant finished preparations for the Yrragard. Slowly the ship closed in on itself forming a pitch dark sphere and flew through the sky headed towards Skypeak.
PP Expenditure
2 PP (Nourish Populace) - More Ythra within the ship.
2 PP +1 from Stone (Create Artifact) - Stone of Revery generates an additional Create PP.
Turn 55 begins now. 13,750 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros (37%)
7 -
6 - Hensen Jijou (90%), The Empress (72%), Shurka (57%), Vymrl (53%), Nixis (25%), Kiptar (04%)
5 - Chroma (90%), Hammu (66%), Azor-Chapien (28%)
4 - Starl (76%), Ythrexle (66%), Honissia (60%), Torvek (16%), Ashralan (16%)
Azoria. Land of Knights, peasants, and more or less the only land in the world who's island is fifty percent dirt and stone, fifty percent horse manure used for fertilizer or just the leavings of it's knight's steeds. It is also arguably the biggest nexus of non-divine order in the world, the residents living by law and code as though it were their very life blood. The fact that same law kept the knights in a position of power and the peasant starving in the mud wasn't really important. What was important was that when a storm struck, it all struck the highest point around. And when it came to Azoria, it was one big Chaos lightening rod.
It was midday in the thorp of Hamlet. Or the hamlet of Thorp, the residents had never really learned one way or another and were smart enough not to ask questions of the lord in charge when he was their owner and they his slaves in all but name. The peasants worked, filthy as they usually were, the cart horses ploughed the field or pulled loads of crops and goods, and all in all things seemed like they usually did around midday. But suddenly... something changed.
It was like the calm before the storm. Horses shied away from invisible predators, flickering their ears in anxiety. The wind seemed to die without warning, creating an unnatural stillness. Men and women looked up and stopped their labor, all looking towards a single point without even knowing why. This aura of unease lasted for about five seconds...
Before reality tore apart before the peasants eyes. A rift in the air opened up, revealing the swirling maeltrom of the Chaos in all it's glory. And from this rift poured forth the slaad, red, blue, green, gray, all charging forth with fierce battle cries, brandishing their claws with little more than instinctive, chaotic desire to kill, maim, burn, and multiply.
Before the villagers could even run into their homes and barricade their doors, the creatures were upon them.
***
The lord of the village rode his horse through the lifeless streets, his knights making sure to not tread on any of the many, many bodies. Some were almost in tact, others had been slice so much they were little more than goop. But the most frightening thing to the lords eyes were that the culprits, whoever or whatever they were, had merely killed everything and moved on, without so much as looting the place. Just what had done-
"My lord!" One of his men called. "This man is still moving!"
Riding over as soon as he was able, the lord hopped off of his horse in front of the spasming figure. The villager was cut badly, at a glance the lord would have though it was a mortal one if not for the fact he was still moving. But a quick touch of the man showed that his first thought had been correct... the man was dead. But if the man was dead, and clearly not of the undead, what was causing him to-
*SPLEEEE!*
A slaad tadpole ripped itself out of the mans chest, biting into the lords face and ripping it right off, desperate to fend off the predator and earn itself a meal at the same time. As if on que, dozens upon dozens of other tadpoles burst forth from their incubators, rushing the panicked knights as they tried to fight back the swarm. Some managed to cut them down, but inevitabley, the tadpoles got their first meal. Soon, they would become full slaad, and another horde of chaotic evil would be unleashed upon the land as the first wave of it that was even now headed towards another town...
PP Expenditure
1 Guide PP from Beryl - Guide Populace - The slaad make their way to Azoria
1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish Populace - The slaad grow in number as they slaughter Azorians.
((OOC: I have permission to do this from Chapien, so don't panic :P))
Torvek looks down from the temple and thinks to himself. Dolestre looks at Torvek in question. "What are you thinking about, Torvek?"
"I think... Ithink that there's some underlying reason why I was brought here. I feel like that I need to carry on the ascension of this world- much more than focusing on those at Anorbus." Torvek continues to stare down at the deep clouds that hover just before the floating temple.
"What? Why? Your friends need you... Schallk is in trouble, and you are needed. I understand that this place has become your new home- well... almost, but you have to understand this one thing- Corelloth still continues her perils as usual. Not taking care of that would be devestating to us." She walks nearer to Torvek, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"I know- I just think that I could be a better god than what I am right now. I just need to carry on the mission- to be one of the Lords of Creation. I can't just focus on Anorbus the whole time- I have to do something else if I am to prove my worth." He shrugs off Dolestre's hand, but he looks at her in the eyes. "Do you understans what I'm saying?"
Dolestre looks in his eyes as well. "Yes- yes, I do. I think that I can help you too. Promise me this one thing though..." She holds his hands close. "Promise me that you won't just abandon your friends- that would be most disastrous."
Torvek laughs. "That is the most ridiculouc thing, sis. Why would I abandon them? Yes- I do promise."
Dolestre smiles back.
Torvek lets go and walks to the end of the platform. "It is time to raise a new world aside from my friends. I shall start a new age and cultivate this land as my own. I shall prove myself that I am a worthy god."
It had been a long time, but that time had been preparing for the coming war. The most fervent of the Ae-Sylvani, coming from the valen fortress over the southern pole prepared the hardest and pushed the other enclaves to join them. Their argument was simple--the aether was the Ae-Sylvani's, and the others must be cleansed. They called for a crusade against the enemy, and to cleanse the aether of the corruption.
Still, the other leaders were for many years hesitant to agree to the southern fortress's claims, though they two were upset. It was not until it was revealed that the Yogloids were slowly "eating" the aether itself that the threat became more real. If the aether was reduced too much, then the Valen trees would die of starvation and then things would get very bad indeed. Still, it was not enough.
It was an omen in the skies that finally did the trick, a giant flaming yogloid crashing towards the earth below. While to the Ae-Sylvani the danger it represented to the earth was irrelevant, it the clerics of Mara seized upon the event to spread the word that they interpreted it to be the Goddesse's demand for all Yogloids to be burned. Thus the call went out and the soldiers were marchaled. New Valen ships, even better geared towards war in the aether were constructed. The clerics imparted their wisdom of worship to some fighters, creating a new class of warriers who could wield magic and martial powers. Finally, the Zaratans were gathered and on their backs implements of war and storages of food and gear were placed. The Zaratans would act as mobile bases for the troops, and some even volunteered as attack platforms (though not all). A rare few were convinced to make the necessary attack against their traitor.
The Zaratan and the Valin ships spread out and began their crusade against the blasphemers. A core group of Zaratan and ships sought out and found the rogue Chukwa and attacked the gnomes on his back. The gnomes, after decades of silence, had become complacent, lazy, and happy. They had let their guard slip and their stocks of supplies rust or rot. They were completely unprepared for the assault. The fight quickly went in the favor of the attackers, as the gnomes were overwhelmed by the sophisticated assault. The giant turtle, deserate to help, began spinning and darting through the sky to peel off the Ae-Sylvani landing on his back or the ships that followed. Still, with generations of experience with Zaratan, the Ae-Sylvani proved expert at adjusting to his maneuvers. The Zaratans nipped at his flippers and bumped into him as well, pushing and pushing him against his will in an unknown direction.
Meanwhile, the attack on the settlement on his back was going terrible for the inhabitants. The newly-christened paladins charged forth towards the central structure while others burned the trees and fungii and all manner of things. The Paladins attacked the gate structure, trying to destroy it but finding it incredibly difficult. They managed only to collapse it onto the ground and damage it, but left before they finished they could complete the task.
It was then that the final part of the plan was revealed, for the Zaratans had not been attacking their advesary without a plan. Though they could not destroy him, they drove him in a certain direction--towards the skyway river. Though the river is invisible to mortals, even the Ae-Sylvani, the Zaratan connected to Mara could at least sense it. When they pushed close to the river, they gave the order to the Sylvani priests on their backs, who opened a rift in the River. The Zaratans then forced Chukwa into the river and the rift healed itself.
Meanwhile, attacks on other colonies and Yogloids would proceed. The war completely took over the aetherscape, and it looked (at least from their perspective) that the Ae-Sylvani would be triumpant.
PP Actions
1 PP - Guide Populace - Ae-Sylvani make war on Children of the Aether
2 PP - Guide Populace (1 from artifact) - Ae-Sylvani learn Paladin Class (if they already know change to monk).
1 PP - De-create Artifact - The portal on Chukwa's back is damaged and inoperable.
1 PP - Guide/Mold? - Chukwa is "chucked" into the Skyway River; destination plane up to Topheh. Note, my exarch is attacking Chukwa (technically a stalemate, the PP is the push).
1 PP - Nourish Populace (from artifact) - Ae-Sylvani
2 PP - Denourish Populace - Children of the Aether
Ashralan looked around at the sea around him and did not like what he saw. There was nothing new. He set about creating a small group of islands on the surface of the Great Sea and populated them with a new race called merfolk. The merfolk were a race of explorers, a curious race that loved to discover new things. so he commanded them to explore the bottom of the Great Sea so that they would discover the sahuagin and begin to trade with them.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Asralan enters the dreams of the sahuagin once more. This time he teaches them to use the sharks as mounts and beasts of burden.
PP:
Mold Land (free): Ashralan creates the Sharkfin Isles.
2PP Shape Populace: Ashralan creates the merfolk (paragon teir race. I will put the stats up as soon as I can),
1PP Guide Populace: The merfolk explore the Great Sea and make contact with the sahuagin.
2PP Guide Populace (1 from Douda): The Sahuagin learn to domesticate sharks.
Azor'Chapien was in his fortress, getting the small portion of relaxation a god can get within his mighty fortress. He even had time to think of a name for his fortress, The Stronghold of the Code. However, there was an... interruption. Eon was bothering him. Again.
Azor'Chapien sighed and asked, "Look, Eon, I can't listen to every concern of every peasant you decide to help."
Eon said, "But it's an emergancy!"
Azor'Chapien mumbled, "I'm sure it is..."
Just then, his other exarch, King Valden, walked in and said, "Sir, it's true... we have an emergancy. It started in the hamlet of Thorp... or was it the thorp of Hamlet?"
Azor'Chapien said, "It's the hamlet of Thorp. Now, if it's such an emergancy, I'll take us all there, okay?"
------
A few moments later, Azor'Chapien and his exarchs were all standing in the ruined village. Eon was looking at the bodies of the peasants with sorrow, while Valden inspected the injuries of the knights. Being a god, Azor'Chapien could sense that beings of Chaos had done this... and chaos was something he could NOT, under no circumstances, have.
Valden said, "Sir, apparently they regenerate by planting eggs in the bodies of Azorans. I believe we should burn done nearby villages and their inhabitants, not counting the knights, of course, to stop the spread of these... things."
Eon turned red and said sarcastically, "Oh, yes, I definently support THAT idea."
Azor'Chapien said, "Stop bickering you two! Valden, we will not commit any genocide other than that of these monsters. Valden, return to the capital and make a conscription order. I want every able bodied-Azoran, peasant and noble alike, fighting. Eon, come with me, we've got investigating to do."
Valden saluted, and, in a flash of light, his god teleported him to the capital.
-----
0+1 PP Guide Populace (From King Valden): The Azorans declare war on the slaad.
1 PP De-nourish Slaad: The Azorans begin to fight back, killing many of the spreading Slaad.
The sun flashed off ot their golden wings as they winged their way over the lands below. Though their homeland was fractured and divided, the Avariel's continued their task given to them oh so long ago. Every last member was sworn and bound by oaths of magic to protect Sivera. Though the ancient kingdom no longer existed in the truest sense, they clung to their task and their oath, protecting the scattered kingdoms and fiefdoms.
It was this oath that brought them here into the most distant parts of the land. Rumors had spread across the land, of whole vilages vanished into the night, it's peoples and even supplies gone. Though the common folk no longer remembered, the Avariels did. Ages past, there has been a mysterious type of creature that had lived in the southern wasteland, kipnapping and enslaving all they came across. After the year of darkness, all signs of them had vanished, and they had faded into myth.
So the three avariels wingoed southwards, making for the wasteland, searching for any signs they could find of a growing threat from the south.
((Topheh, this one is one for the MS, if you've the time and inclination))
The attack was sudden and swift, and it took all Chukwa's strength and energy to prevent even more devastation from befalling his charges. As it was, the Zaratan bellowed its anger to its brethren, exhorting them to stop their assaults and cease trying to kill refugees who wanted nothing but peace. His cries fell on deaf ears, and as he struggled, eventually, the unthinkable happened. Chukwa reached out and bit down hard on an opposing Zaratan's neck. With a roar of pain, the Zaratan spasmed and went limp.
Chukwa froze, staring at his first kill, one of his own kind. The Zaratans were such a rare race, with so few of them ever in existance, and now there was one fewer by his own hands. In his shock, he barely noticed when several of the other Zaratans shoved him towards the skyway river. Only at the last moment, Chukwa realized what was happening and, with one last cry of rage, slipped through the rift----
---- and emerged in a splash of water in a very large chamber, fins scraping along the walls painfully. The chamber was very, very large, on second thought... as it managed to hold the Zaratan, if snugly. After a moment of checking to make sure the city of Diaspora was still in one piece, Chukwa cast his senses outwards to determine where he was. There was such a concentration of magic and knowledge in this place, it nearly hummed with energy. It could only be the Workshop.
In Diaspora, the Children made short work of the few stranded Ae-Sylvani, dispatching them with relative ease. As they fought, Children from outlying Yogloids arrived, carrying buckets of Xarns, which the citizens of Diaspora placed on their faces with distaste. They turned to the portal, only to see it in ruins, and they despaired.
The Empress turned to face Veros, and though he could see the tears tracts upon her face, he could tell they had long since dried up.
"I am coping," said the Empress, gazing at Veros searchingly, "As is Priya, I made up a bed for her in the next room."
She sighed sadly and looked down at the garment in her hands.
"This is... well, it's nothing... it's silly," said the Empress, wiping her face with her free hand, "Just a reminder of... but it's nothing."
She shook her head as if to clear it.
"I was just thinking, though," said the Empress, trying her best to sound brisk, "All of this," and she waved her arms about as if to indicate the destruction around them, "It's gotten me thinking."
Her eyes, fixed upon Veros, were determined now.
"What are we doing, Veros?" asked the goddess, "This world is changing, advancing, all on its own, and what do we have to left to contribute? A broken sun? Is that to be our legacy?"
Her eyes now flicked to the floor, and the other god could see weakness there.
"I'm tired, Veros, oh so tired, we've made this world, and all that seems left to do is destroy it," said the goddess sadly, "I swore I would give these mortals what they wanted, but now I know how to give them what they need."
When she gazed back up at Veros, defiance flashed once more, in her eyes, in the set of her mouth, even in the way she held herself.
"We must leave, Veros, all of us, we must let these mortals live their own lives, it is the only way for them, for us, to be happy," said the Empress , her voice rigid with fevered determination, "We have done our parts, now lets them do theirs', postponing this will only lead to hardship for them..." and with a glance to the room where Priya lay, fast asleep, "and to hardship for us."
"You knew this day would come, Veros, all along, you knew this must be done."
Chastelli manifest abruptly in front of Enoch. "I was in the middle of an important meeting on Taldar. Is this about the doorway once more? I've informed the council about it, but like all old men, they are overly cautious. Though, I have managed to over hear conversation about finall sending in an expedition."
-----
Chastelli was indeed correct. fifty of the most skilled warriors in the Keep guard were armed, outfitted, and prepared, standing before the myserious doorway that they were to investigate.
As they stood their waiting for the door to be opened, they review their mission and checked their supplies. They would break in and secure the immediate surroundings on the other side. Once secure, another one hundred and fifty warriors would cross, slowly fanning out to secure a larger area, before a two score of loremasters came through to idenfity the location, and begin it's study. If the site remained secure for one week, additinal forces would be allocated as needed.
Finally, the elderly eladrin loremaster with the key approached, smiling at the gathered guards. "I've been holding this key for two hunndred years, and we're finally going to find out where it leads. Good luck to you all, and may Veros guard you."
((Another MS for you Topheh, if you're up for it))
-----
Three figures walked up to the azoran settlement, marvelling that these stubborn creatures still lived in the wastes after all of these centuries of assault. Still, they could see the depseration. Fortifications were worn and battered, crumbling away even as azorans bustled about trying to secure them. The withered and feeble crops were barely alive, and probably did little to nourish the poor people struggling to survive on them.
Finally reaching the battered oaken gate, they nodded knowingly at the obvious signs of rot and decay in the wood, and the damaged rusted appearance of the iron bands, even though they knew that just a week previously that the gate had been replaced with a new one when the previous had failed.
He reached out, opening the door wide, watching the glowing pulse of the portal behind it. With expert precision, the warriors broke into a jog, entering the portal in their assigned pattern and order, ready for anything on the other side.
They waited patiently, knowing the guards would soon respond.
((Chapien, MS aimed at you))
-----
The Workshop pulsed with energy at this sudden arrival, it's wards and guards shattered by the abrupt and sudden appearance of such a large creature, the roomcrashing outwards to accomodate the enourmous Zataran. At the area settled, the outer wards rapidlyreturned to power, sealing the plane from the outside once more, leaving only the exit the mighty Zataran would need open until it left.
Now within the safety of the workshop, bursts of clean fresh air covered the zaratans back, washing over it's inhabitants in a refreshing breeze the likes of which they had never felt within their lives.
Nearby, the Creation Forge sprang to life, feeling the appearance of uninvited mortal guasts within the Workshop for the first time in millenia. It could feel their desperation and also their strength of purpose. Their need and desire to protect their home. And their despair at the damaged artifact they had son long relied upon.
With a flair of life, the forge brightened and began working, churning out weapons, armor, and odd formations of an unknown metal. If the Children of the Aether managed to find the forge, they would find the key to repairing their gateway,and perhaps even aid in their battle.
((Another MC for you, if you'd like Topheh. Their are probably still some devils lurking in the halls of the workshop))
-----
Veros gazed at her, following her movements. "Yes, Empress, I did. Through it all, from the very beginning, I have felt the odd sensation in the back of my mind. The feeling of not belonging in this realm. Some of the younger gods were born specifically to this world, but even they do not truly belong. We have been called gods, immortals, and even lords of creation."
"Yes, this is the world of mortals. Our every movement and thought subtely bends the reality of this realm around us. It is this fact that lends to us our power and our strength, that allows us to create and to destroye far beyond the capabilities of mortals."
He lowered his gaze slightly. "For millenia, I have thought of this, considered this fact, and finally decided it was true. We do not belong here. For the good of our creations, I believe we must withdraw and let them decide their own destinies. But I was a coward. I did nothing and let the problem fester and grow."
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - For the restoration of the Gateway, if Topheh wants it.
The Empress' face flooded with relief.
"Thank you for backing me up on this, I wasn't quite sure if you would," said the Empress, then the smile seemed to fade a fraction as a realization came to her, "But how will we ever convince the others to go along with this?"
She began to nervously twist the piece of fabric in her hands.
He stepped over to her, placing one hand on her shoulder and the other on the fabric, staring into her eyes. "Some will join us, having seen and experienced the devastation that our kind has caused. The rest, we shall deal with when the time comes. For now, we shall deal with my allies. They trust my word, and I believe that they, if no one else, will back us."
Staring back into Veros' eyes, the Empress nodded. Then she broke the connection as she hustled across the room, talking animatedly as she went.
"Well then, we cannot waste any time, now can we?" asked the Empress briskly, moving to deposit the piece of clothing in a large chest sitting against the opposite wall, "You'll have to contact them of course, they probably all think I'm a lunatic."
She paused to gaze despairingly at the wrecked and shattered room.
"And I'll see what I can do with this mess," announced the goddess, placing her hands upon her hips, "Can't have guests over with the place not looking presentable, now can we?"
She turned back and noticed him still standing there.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go!" said the Empress, making shooing gestures with her hands, "How can you expect to have a meeting if we don't have anyone to meet with?"
She gazed at him sternly as if he had just suggested to do just that.
He shook his head with a smile and pulled his cowl back over hid head as he reached out, grasping a handful or pyreflies out of the air.
Each made their way out of the palace at his command, bearing a message to the gods of his choice, though each bore no sign of who the sender was: Hammu, Shurka, Ythrexle, Nixis, Xirinet, Mara, Azor'Chapien
"By request of the Empress, a meeting of a select few Lords of Creation has been called., a meeting to occur within the Palace of Xa'an. Others you may know have been invited, including Hammu, Shurka, Ythrexle, Nixis, Xirinet, Mara, Azor'Chapien, and Veros. Please arrive as soon as you are able, so that the meeting may commence shortly"
He messages sent out, he nodded to here. "You are right of course. This place isn't verypresentable at the moment. Perhaps, though, the throne room would be a moreappropriate place for this meeting then you and your daughter's quarters?"
This wasn't right. Chroma frowned down at the bustling city of metal people, trying to reconcile it all in his head. They weren't of the Chaos... they were foreign. Foreign was bad. Foreign hurt Mother. And they were so orderly... it was as if the sole reason they were there was to oppose the Chaos they lived in. But opposing the Chaos was pointless. Chaos would consume everything. Then Mother would be better. But Chroma couldn't help the Chaos consume all... the Chaos of life was so much more than than the Chaos of destruction. At least, he thought it was... wasn't it? Whatever the case, these metal people weren't living in the way the god was familiar with, and were a leech in the side of the plane, sucking it of it's already feeble life.
They had to go.
Manifesting his power, Chroma grasped onto a passing chunk of debri, pouring his power and the power of the very Chaos into the stone. No, not stone, it was metal, but had been so buffeted by the Chaos it was little more than a chunk of rust. Ripping out a piece of the rust, the child god molded it like one would mold clay, creating a funny looking red creature with a propeller like tail. Satisfied at his work, the god place the little creature in the city with the metal folk... and watched as the little thing began chewing on everything in sight, reducing the people to residuum to be digested in but a few bites, and the buildings in not much more than that. Pouring the raw energy into the entire ball of rust, the child god threw it at the city, where it shattered into dozens, even hundreds of the creatures, some no larger than a dog, others much much larger than a man and capable of reducing blocks of buildings to dust with nothing but it's cry.
That would show them not to stay where they didn't belong.
***
The slaad grew. They decreased in number due to those wretched knights, but they grew in wisdom, intelligence, cunning, power. Where before the slaad walked alone, they now saw that if they were to truly reduce the wretched world into elemental slag, they'd need help. Beginning to truly master their potential was difficult at first, their urge to simply slaughter and let others sort it out hard to resist. But they needed to think to survive, they needed to rule. Soon enough, the slaad had managed to find the ability to command lesser willed creatures of the Chaos, primarily elementals, but also magma beasts and even the new propeller tailed rust monsters. And with these creatures at their side, they began to make a few... changes.
Using the elementals as construction crews, or perhaps deconstruction crews was a better term, the slaad reduced the villages they slaughtered and lands they conquered to elemental slag, with little more than narrow pathways of rock and the odd keep or cave suspended above pits of rolling magma, freezing ice, shocking lightening, burning acid, and any combination there of. These places provided practically unassailable lands for the slaad to plan, recover, and raise their tadpoles, and brought them one step closer to their ultimate goal, one little chunk of land at a time.
PP Expenditures
2PP + 1 Spawn PP from Veil - Spawn Epic Monster Population - Spawn Rust Monsters
2PP - Teach Populace - The slaad learn to control lesser minded Chaos natured creatures, especially elementals, magma beasts, and rust monsters. Needless to say having rust monsters on their side is a big blow to the metal armored knights.
1PP - Mould Land - the take up the practice of reducing lands they've conquered to elemental slag. This provides them with unassailable defenses, at least to mass attack, and provides nifty adventure sites for adventurers in Azoria.
The Empress smiled at Veros knowingly.
"I know just the place."
She reached out a hand for him to take, and in an instant, it was all gone. The wrecked room vanished, the rubble, the collapsed pillars, all were gone, to be replaced by something else entirely. The stood upon a balcony encircling a room so vast, they could barely follow the curve of the wall as it disappeared behind a vast, burning pillar that hovered in the centre of the room, reaching way up, and stretching way down. The room was a vast sphere, and the pillar hovered in the centre of it. Numerous other balconies like the one they were on encircled the room all the way up to the distant top, and all the way down to the bottom. the vastness of it all was startling, yet strangely tragic. The pillar burned, yet gave no light, many of the balconies that circled the room had long-since collapsed, and pyre-flies flew lazily through the intervening air.
"This," said the Empress, gesturing to the majesty of the room, "Is where we shall have our assembly."
He gazed out over the grand room, nodding his approval. "Yes, I think it is the perfect place. It revels in the facts of our existance, the majesty, as well as the destruction. There is likely no better place that we might hold this meeting."
Azor'Chapien watched the war from the tallest tower of his fortress. This wasn't working. He would have to fight dirty. He would need a way to crush the slaad- and he had to... bend... a few rules to achieve this.
Thus, he searched for the greatest of the Followers of the True Code. They may of misinterperated the Code, but they weren't afraid of fighting dirty. And dirty fighting may be just what he needed. So, he found what he was looking for.
A knight, in pure black armor, wearing a full visored helmet. His name was largely unknown, and he was simply known as the Black Knight. He was the chief servant of the True Code, and he was a mighty, if unhonorable, warrior.
So, filling the Black Knight with his holy vigor, he ascended him as his third exarch, one of total destruction and war. The Black Knight managed to convince his fellows that in order to stop the slaad, they would have to work together with the Azorans to crush the slaad.
The chose a central point, just beyond the new magma territory. Here, the built a large fortress, larger then any built before, larger than King Valden's castle, rivaled only by the Stronghold of the Code itself. The Black Knight was sent to lead the True Code's army, Eon was sent to lead the Azoran army. And thus, the war truely began.
------
3 PP Ascend Exarch: The Black Knight is now a combat (+1 to combat) exarch.
1 PP Guide Populace: The Azorans and the Followers of the True Code set aside their differences and construct a mighty fortress just beyond the slaad territory.
For a while, he was one with his plane. He was the trees, he was the ancients, he was the fluttering leaves in the air. He was Revnador.
But then he dreamed. The nightmares slowly crept to his mind. He saw giants brutally murdering the smaller humites and halflings. He saw devils spread evil across the Feywyld. He saw the Empress' twisted visage as she destroyed her fellow Lord of Creation. He saw Drevan, using his profane magic to destroy hundreds of thousands of souls. He saw fungus spread across the land, blighting the earth. He saw teh tears drop from Eijra's beautiful face. His strange un-blade cutting open his soul.
It was only recently until the sweet dreams followed. His people resolutely fighting off the giant menace. Eorna growing and spreading the power of healing to individuals wanting to help others. And he saw the faces of his allies... no, friends. He had done much to the world, but there were still a few last things...
***
Shurka's eye slowly opened. There were two beings by him. One was covered in the energies normally associated with Veros. One of his servants, perhaps. The other he had not formally met, but Shurka knew that he helped. Finally able to speak, Shurka said,
"Who are you? And what has happened."
Nixis felt the same tug as before, but this time coming from the astral shard. Staring at it, he could sense that whatever force had aided him earlier was calling for a return of power. He released his inner barriers and felt the energy the unknown source desired flow from the astral shard. Slightly nervously, he watched as Ythrexle worked on Shurka's comatose form. He hoped the god knew what he was doing.
He was so engrossed in watching what was happening that he almost missed the trio of pyreflies that flitted into Revnador. He listened to their message, then told one of them
"Return to your master and tell him that will come as soon as Shurka awakens"
~~~~~~~~~~~
In the meantime, the Children stepped off of Chukwa for the first time in millennia, and stood on solid ground once more. They ventured into the Workshop, and after an adventure, found their way to the creation forge, which was already producing materials for them that they recognized to be parts for the Marble Gate. Suddenly, a gout of energy seemed to flow into the forge, and within an hour, large plates of an unknown metal, light but very, very hard. Soon they returned to Chukwa and began to work, repairing the gate and forging a set of armor for Chukwa himself. The preparations ready, Chukwa concentrated and attempted to recreate the rift that he had been sent through and launch himself back into the aether... but found he could not. Frustrated, he waddled backwards to get as much room as possible, and prepared to ram the wall in front of him. As he was doing so, two figures appeared from the passageway, a gnome and an azoran, carrying a orb filled with swirling mist between them. They were quickly brought up to Chukwa's back, and Chukwa moved to ram the wall... only to find that the wall seemed to shrink away from him as he moved, until finally he broke free of the Workshop and found himself floating in the Aether, looking down at Skypeak mountain. Now that he was in the Aether, the Orb activated, sending a pulse of energy to surround Chukwa's form. The Zaratan could tell that he was now hidden from the eyes of his foes, at least until he got close enough. He moved with swift and decisive purpose back towards the Ae-Sylvani forces that thought themselves victorious.
His arrival back in the midst of the Ae-Sylvani armada came as a complete surprise to the enemy, as they did not see him until it was too late. Lashing out, he sent several ships careening towards the surface, many impacting with the Azure Aegis and breaking to pieces. In the midst of the confusion, platoons of Children, equipted with Xarn breathing devices, used the rebuilt portal to warp directly onto the Valin ships. There, they took the confused Ae-Sylvani by surprise and claimed a fair number of Valin ships for their own. The new Armada, led by Chukwa, forced the Ae-sylvani force to retreat, for now.
The battle was over, but victory had been won at a very steep cost. Portions of Diaspora still burned, and Chukwa sported several large gashes on his flippers. The Children began working to rebuild and prepare for their next battle, sending several valin ships to Aether Home with the following message for their Aether-sailing brethren:
The Ae-Sylvani have moved against us. We beseech you, fellow Aether-sailers to come to our aid in our time of great need."
1 PP: From Chukwa: Nourish Populace: Children of the Aether
1 PP: From Creation Forge: Repair/Create Artifact: Repair Marble Gateway
1 PP: From Astral Shard: Create Artifact: Zataran Armor: Fluffwise, must be destroyed before Chukwa can be sent on another one of his little adventures
1 PP: Create Artifact (minor): The Orb of Aether-Cloak. An orb that wraps its target in a thin layer of reflective Aether, effectively creating a long-distance camoflage. It only works in Aether, and doesn't work too well at close range. It ONLY affects sight, so magical detection still works, etc, etc.
1 PP: Denourish Populace: Ae-Sylvani. Ae-sylvani lose a sizable fraction of their armada.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: Children take over a number of Valin ships and form their own Aether-based Armada.
Hensen left his palace in the Grand Distorition, its room shifted in place as the master left, forming a new combinations of complex geometrical patterns, then he moved to Ashralan domain, assuming the shape of a terrifying storm of lightning and wind.
"I Seek the One who defy the will of the Pantheon. Show yourself, young one..." he told, letting the thunderstorm carry his voice in the divine realm.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On the Fragment the giants begun rebuilding their lost glory, other small fortress of iron where built on the largest motes and a new senate was established in the City of Light, the balances of power there was much different than the one in the Imperium, many families did not manage to gain access to the dark kindgom and while many had managed to bring their riches and servants on the berg ships their estates was long lost.
The Senate of the Shattered Realm lasted for exactly one year, then a small civil war broke, the families would have fought to death however one wise leader emerged. After bloody months of constant fighting a single leader emerged, the self proclaimed King Trhaskan, gifted with the support of the Warp Dragons and the majority of the noble houses. Usually the defeated houses would have being destroyed, however Trhaskan allowed them to survive, even if bound with an umbreakable oath of servitude to his own family.
Under the King leadership more resources of the Imperium was recovered and included in the Shattered Realm, the fleet was reorganized to begin razing the land below for slaves and wealth, as well as prepare a future war of conquest, hidden in the safety of their cloudy realm.
Old allinaces were re-ignited and the new nation begun trading with the friends of old.
Emissaries from the Shattered Realm are Sent to The Iron State and the Free Nations.
(this fluff is related to my last post about the creation of the Shattered Realm)
1 Pp Nourish - The Shattered Realm
1 PP Guide (From Aether Ripples) - The Shattered Realm Worship the Bronze Pantheon
(I did not have any point left for this action last turn)
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In the Crystalline Forest in the North the wildlife begun mutating due to the high concentration of Bloodstone, new weird life forms begun to appear among the crystalline spire, at first one eyed monsters mutated from previously small beasts, capable of radiating prysmatic rays of madness and mutation from their single bloodstone eye.
Then the laws of reality itself begun warping the nature of life itself as a few crystal fragments came to life, showing a wicked, but not necessary evil, personality and a drive to expand the limits of their relam.
Some of these beasts also appear on Bloodmyst Archipelago almost at the same time.
The forest itself, maybe under the guidance of its new inhabitants, or just for a twist of fate, begun expanding again to the south, with some of its outer sides expanding toward the limits of Silvera.
2 PP Spawn Paragon Creature - Chaos Shard (Prismatic Shards)
2 PP Spawn Paragon Creature - Nothic (Nothic Mindblight)
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones) - the Crystalline Forest vegetation expand, coming nearer to the Borders of Silvera.
1 Pp Mold (from Bloodstones) - The crystalline Forest spires of bloodstone expand near to the borders of Silvera.
OOC - I'd like the expansion to stay, it'll note move much more but it will stay as a threath\possibility (as it is rich of precious minerals), for the balance of nature and I like the idea of silveran's eladrins fighting against the expansion of an unnatural cristalline forest.
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On the Free Nations the inhabitants of Novost begun to rebuild their city state, mostly thanks to the increasing power gained by the new militarizaion.
A few explorers was sent to the new strange island that brough untold devastation to their city.
Meanwhile in Qar'Dask the artificers and sorcerers studying the beholder managed to use the research to produce a mystic tool a precious item for their laboratories, but at the same time something extremely dangerous. The Ahran'Var, Life Twister in freemen language, a large bloodstone staff, topped by a crown of beholder eyes, is a powerful arcane device that is capable to alter life forms, while only minor alterations are possible in a short time a long exposure to the staff power can modify a living being so much that it becomes a totally new creature.
1 PP Nourish - Free Nations (the City State of Novost)
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker) - The Ahran'Var.
Topheh if you want anything to happen on the the new "island" maybe we should make a mortal stories.
Hensen left his palace in the Grand Distorition, its room shifted in place as the master left, forming a new combinations of complex geometrical patterns, then he moved to Ashralan domain, assuming the shape of a terrifying storm of lightning and wind.
"I Seek the One who defy the will of the Pantheon. Show yourself, young one..." he told, letting the thunderstorm carry his voice in the divine realm.
A colossal wave breaks away from the sea and assumes the shape of a huge sahuagin made of seawater who adresses Hensen. "I hear your call old one. What do you want of me?" says Ashralan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the same time, Chardon hears the voice of his god instructing him to prepare for the possibility of an attack.
Kiptar sent a several of his Mech-swarms, his first creation, out with a message.
"Exarchs of Vyrml, the Lord of War and Time, I wish to speak to you, if you know anything that can free Vyrml, your father from his imprisonment. Please respond soon."
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The Iron State recieved the message from the Children of the Aether with energy. Their armada of aether-ships was expanded and launched. Techniques for fighting in the aether were perfected. Even the normally aloof dragons spurred to action. They struck at the Ae-Sylvani with force, for their foes were not expecting them. They attacked, bringing their force to bear. Gears moved amoung them, helping the effort.
Spellcasters, with a mysterious strangers help, also created something to give the war, a powerful weapon of destruction, which was brought to bear against the Ae-Sylvania.
PP:
2 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): Iron State mobilizes for war.
3 pp: De-Nourish Populace: Ae-Sylvania are devastated by the strike.
2 pp: Create Artifact(Intermediate)(Gear of Creation): The Aether-Devastator, a ship-carried weapon of massive destruction, that causes an implosion of Aether, which is both highly destructive, and unusable in an environment that does not contain large amounts of Aether. It is used against the Ae-Sylvania.
Azor'Chapien got the message shortly after he created his newest exarch. "Great... just when Azora is on the brink of Chaos... I have to leave..." With that, he vanished, and appeared at the alloted location.
Ythrexle began to fear he couldn't hold his concentration any longer, that he would get sucked into Shurka's nightmares when he finally heard a voice. He looked dreamily down at Shurka, hands still feverishly clutching The Sword with No Name as if to ward off more attacks. "You're finally awake..." he managed to say between breaths, "I've been standing here doing my best to rouse you from this comatose state so long I've lost track of time. It's... it's really difficult to maintain such levels of f-focus in this cursed state of mine..." He leaned heavily on the haft of the Sword, it's un-blade poking into the ground he stood upon. "If it wasn't for this odd weapon here I wouldn't have been able to-" the weary god stopped for a second to re-collect his thoughts. "I wouldn't have been able to ward off those nightmarish creatures."
For the second time, a pyrefly flew directly into Ythrexle's face. "Damn these things, they're always fluttering about so annoyingly." He held it in his hand and heard the message it was to deliver to him. At the end of the message he let out a long, heavy sigh and looked toward Nixis who had been watching this whole time. "Brother Nixis, I don't think I have the energy to get to this meeting of the gods on my own. Would you mind helping a weary old god meet his kin?", he asked with a tired smile.
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The ship finally arrived at Skyspeak. The formless servant looked around for his partron or any of the other gods who had been around before he left but there were none to be seen. While waiting, the being decided to make some more improvements to the interior of the craft, increasing the output of the Stone of Revery and further bolstering it's passengers numbers. The ship grew in size to accomodate it's passengers.
PP Expenditure
2PP + 1 from the Stone (Create Artifact) - The Stone of Revery generates an additional PP
2PP (Nourish Populace) - The Ythrans inside the ship.
In the wake of the division of Sivera, numerous factions squabbled amongst each other, each trying to assert dominance over the rest. But amidst this chaotic jumble, a single point of order arose. Devotees of the Empress gathered together for mutual gain, and strove to gain power through the study of physical perfection. So they erected a university, or monastery of sorts, which stood as a symbol of what they sought to achieve. The Bastion University was the newest centre of martial learning, and produced some of the finest swordsmen and martial artists in the land. Around the University sprang up a city of sorts named Bastion for the University. Seeing the city as a sort of standard to rally around, numerous worshippers of the Empress gathered around it, both to partake in the learning, and to achieve some of the stability they so craved. A small nation soon formed, and prospered somewhat on new mineral deposits found in the area around Bastion. Named the Jade Nation after the rock that helped them flourish so, this tiny nation of Eladrin emerged from the ruins of their shattered homeland.
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As the Loremasters set foot upon Asika, they were greeted by an odd sort of procession. A carriage hung with green, silken curtains that concealed the occupants, was being pulled along by a number of strange, green, four-armed creatures. They pulled the carriage up to the Loremasters. Then a number of the creatures detached from the rest, and went to pull aside the curtains. A tall, thin Eladrin stepped out. He was dressed in extravagant dress, which included much green silk, and jewelry formed of jade.
"Hello my friends from across the sea," said the Eladrin in a pleasantly regal manner, "My name is Madrius, and I would like to formally welcome you to Asika."
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) Nourish Populace (Lesser) - Eladrin form the very small Jade Nation where Sivera used to be located.
1 PP Nourish Land (Lesser) - Jade deposits appear around the Jade Nation.
1 PP (Artifact) Guide Populace (Lesser) - The Jade Nation founds the Bastion University
2 PP Guide Populace (Moderate) - The Jade Nation learns the monk class through study at the new university.
3 PP Nourish Populace (Lesser x3) - The Jade Nation flourishes from its success in trading in jade.
(shadow, we can take this conversation between the Asikan Empire and the Loremasters to the MS thread.)
(Sigh... let's hope I can do this right...)
Torvek walks over to the end of the temple and stares down toward to misty clouds that graze the bottom of the temple. He holds his hands together tightly, and sends forth a large ball of energy down underneath the temlpe. It bursts open into a large plane of existence- a plane filled with perpetual light. Daelgar- the greater plane of Light.
The existence of Daelgar Relocates the temple into the midst of the misty plane. The temple hovers just above an endless body of water that spans out in all direction. The sky above reveals the starry night- the Skyway River flows across the sky and into the cosmos. Light mist surrounds the temple, creating a concealed fortress amongst the low clouds.
Torvek runs out of energy before he can start anew again. He rests on top of the stone slab on the temple. "I'm tired..."
PP Expenditure:Torvek: 4pp- Create Plane (Greater)- Daelgar, the Greater plane of Light, pops into existence. The temple sits above an endless ocean, surrounded by mists of light. The Skyway River flows through the plane- through the starry sky, and back out into the cosmos.
(OOC- Are ther any special rules on molding land within a plane of existence that you have created?)
Nixis had been waiting for what seemed like centuries when Ythrexle and Shurka finally stirred and awakened.
"At last! I was begining to fear that neither of you were going to return to us! We have been summoned, us three to the Palace of Xa'an."
Nixis smiled at Ythrexle's request.
"Of course. And you too, old friend." he said, turning towards Shurka. "You look like you could use some help moving as well. Let us be off"
~~~~~~~~
Deep beneath Greyfang Mountain, the keening wail of something horrid rang off the walls of the great cavern as the Hive Mother gazed down on the writing mass of flesh and eyes beneath her. The thing had formed a mouth a few hours ago, and ever since then, the entire mountain had sounded with the birthpangs of its new master. For not the first time, the Hive Mother wondered if it would be better off just killing the thing before it could take over T'garth, but as the ever-increasing numbers of Beholders pressed against her mind once more, she knew that this was the only way.
Beneath her, a change was overtaking the form. It grew silent as one by one each eye was raised away from the body by an individual stalk of pale red flesh. Over and over and over again eyes flew outwards from the body, until over a hundred eyes floated around the still writing form. Soon, the mouth and one remaining eye grew to fill a large portion of the remaining fleshy mass. Then, with a slurping sound, the entire mass became airborne and floated upwards to meet the Hive Mother.
"I am Nyarlathotep, the One who Sees."
The Hive Mother drooped her eye stalks, the closest things Beholders had to a bow, and spoke.
"Great One, The Beholders of T'garth are yours to command."
And, with that, the weight on its mind was lifted. Nyarlathotep's many eyes blinked once as the transfer occured, but beyond that showed no sign of noticing the transfer of control. Several of its eyes swiveled upwards, and it spoke.
"We have visitors. Avariels from the North. I Go to meet them. It is time we beholders do more than merely steal what we need."
The Hive Mother watched in awe as the great being lifted up and out of the cavern. More than merely steal...
3PP: Ascend Exarch: Nyarlathotep, the One who Sees. Beholder Leader and Exarch. Provides Shape PP.
As minutes ran away, as hours passed, as days, weeks, months and even years withered away the Fair Goddess slowly began to fade away from the world.
She was seldom seen and when she was she wore a sad, depressed sometimes hopeless expression upon her fair face.
Her eyes were two dark pools of water, her skin pale and lifeless, her body frail and withered as if she were sick.
On the contrary the World flourished, life was created in abundance by new and eager gods, odd groups known as adventurers frequently slew the more nefarious fruits of the Gods´labour and civilization flourished as a result.
At times it made the Fair Goddess smile at other times it made her weep. The world was broken, the world was scarred, it was not as it was meant to be...though she had accepted it. The madness of ages past had withered away as most things tends to be.
The world was as it would be, a testament of her Father´s foolishness and the fickleness of gods.
This was no longer her world.
The Feywyld no longer gave her sanctuary.
Her children no longer gave her joy.
She was dead on the inside...and it was so an idea was shaped, an idea that had been someone else´s idea in ancient times. An idea about a distant shore...about final peace.
The Goddess smiled.
Ther would be peace for her in the end.
The pale morning light filtered down of the great city, where warforged worked and dragons regularly flew overhead, but this day was different. As flies buzzed about and birds winged overhead, instead of the usual bustle and din of the city, the air was silent this morning. As the light drove away the darkness, unveiling the great city as it had thousands upon thousands of times before, this day it only revealed the face of death. Corpses, like leaves littering the ground in the autumn, lay everywhere. They were strewn in the streets where they fell. They sat on steps, slumped against railings. They lay in doorways, on carts, and in airships, only the flies moving in the morning light.
Bodies lay rotting in homes. They lay in sleeping quarters, in chairs, in halls, stretched out on floors, and slumped over one another. Through out this city of the Iron State, and indedd through out many of themacross it's territoy, the stench of death and decay gagged those left who could still smell.
Everywhere it was the same. In towns and cities all across the Iron State, death had visited. Death had taken nearly everyone, their bodies' black and rotting even before they had died. Those still living wept in unrelieved anguish, cursing the gods that had abandoned them. And the gods had not answered.
Traders and caravans from nearby nations slowed to a halt as they neared the nation, turning back before the tide of fallen bodies along the roads, the remnants of people who had run, hoping to escape a land cursed by such a plague.
People prayed and sobbed over the bodies of people they had known. Mothers lay dead, holding dead children in their arms. Dead husbands held dead wives. Here and there, orphaned children with tear-stained faces wailed hysterically besides the corpses of their parents. Everywhere, the stench was thick enough to make eyes water.
Truly, death had come to the Iron State, and he ravaging the lands unrelentingly. In their haste to ready for the war, to bring a fight to the Ae-Silvani and aid the Children of the Aether, they had made no effort to slow the raging pandemic that tore through their land.
To the detriment of this foe and ally, they brought the diseases with them, the Gray Darkness and the Baleful Wasting, and passed it on to people on both sides of the raging conflict in the aether. Slowly but surely, the disease spread, taking the lives of their new hosts. Yet it continued to get worse, as the diseases, left untreated and unopposed for so long, mutated and changed, growing stronger and more powerful by the day, altering and taking on new forms.
The putrid goop and rotting corpses gave birth to a new creature, a parasite that would feed on anything, even the undead. They would crawls and chew their way into a creature, leaving bleeding wounds, fierce pain and constant distracting itching. One within, they would devour and consume the internal organs, using the abundance of food to raise offspring and spread further through out the body. As they continues their growth, the pain and itching would grow more and more severe, until the final stage, when the parasites would begin to liquefy the remaining body, turning it into an infectious slime, each drop carrying hundreds of thousands of the vicious beasts, each waiting for the touch of another creature to begin the cycle once more.
And yet worse continued to inflict the poor beleaguered nation. Unable to burn or bury the bodies fast enough, the pall and essence of rot that hung over the Iron State began to take on a life of it's own, Taking on a physical forms to wreak it's havoc, it chose the form of repulsive, extremely tall humanoid creatures with long rotting wings and peeling putrefying flesh hanging morbidly towards the ground, the monstrosities continually shedding rivulets of filth, flesh, and decay, creating a seeping pool of rot behind and beneath them as the wandered and flew across the land, seeking the living to destroy.
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As the world slowly settled, war became less and less the first resort of a dispute between nations. As politicians, nobles, councilmen, and the wealthy realized this, they sought a new method of eliminating and silencing their enemies. Seeing their talents being naturally suited to the tasks, some doppelgangers developed a new form of magic and combat. Tapping into the powers of the long forgotten other world, they could vanish from sight, teleport through space, and slowly open breaches in their opponents' defenses. Those who truly mastered the art became known as assassins.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Spawn Disease - Slimy Doom
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Iron State
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Iron State
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Iron State
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Ae-Silvani
1 PP (Artifact) - De-Nourish Populace - Children of the Aether
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Greater) - Rot Harbingers
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater) - Doppelgangers learn the Assassin class
Turn 56 begins now. 14,000 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros (40%)
7 -
6 - Xirinet (93%), Hensen Jijou (88%), The Empress (81%), Shurka (57%), Mara (55%), (Vymrl (54%), Tsaroka-Noggoth (37%), Nixis (26%), Kiptar (05%)
5 - Chroma (98%), Eijra (74%), Hammu (67%), Oravolos (50%), Chactross (40%), Azor-Chapien (33%), Drahthor (26%), Roan (14%), Neko (05%)
4 - Siccadan (80%), Starl (77%), Ythrexle (73%), Nocturne (67%), Jormundrasil (63%), Honissia (60%), Ipsur (50%), Frellisk (37%), Ka (27%), Runescar (23%), Quel (20%),Incarnation's End (20%),Sessilee (17%), The Void (17%), Torvek (17%), Ashralan (17%), Cygnus (17%), Oreb Nahash (13%)
" It was so that the Goddess of Fey things was born out of the hand of a lone man. The Goddess looked out over the world and felt pity for it. What she saw was death, darkness and despair...endless swathes of lifeless land, rot, mold and other things spawned with an unhealthy purpose by a rottening God. "
Eijra mumbled silently as a silvery dagger slowly carved through her own flesh. Divine blood was dripping down upon the stone she had once risen from in ancient times.
" She did was she did. She gave the world life, gave it light and rejoiced but in the end...in the end something went wrong. Children died, a mind was shattered...and innocence was lost. "
Orvalos had been a powerful god. One of nature, one of wholeness...but he had also been of great importance for her. But he had faded, faded as so many other things had. Her Father had changed, her siblings had outgrown her by far, her children had been taken away or slained by thei own creations.
Divine blood merged with holy stone. Eijra smiled and she faded.
From that moment she was gone from the world. Prayers to her was answered, miracles in her name still happened, sometimes more devout clergy even claimed that they had seen her in their dreams, what had happend to her was unknown one thing was sure though.
She was never more seen my mortal nor immortal.
*
Eijra walked down a shore. She was dressed in white. Her son Thans was there, smiling at her. He was as he had been before her death, beautiful, strong and kind in both body and spirit. An unknown woman waited at ther son´s side. One with long, black hair, dressed in the finest of robes.
Zophia stood still, her eyes focused upon her mother.
Her children were there as well, living their lives peacefully and for each passing day more children arrived. Dragons, wayward spirits and other servants of Eijra wandered the netherworld whispering fair words in the ears of long passed spirits. Whispering words about a new life, one free from the squabbles of petty gods and foolish mortals.
A fraction of a fraction listened, arose and became a part of this new world.
Giants, dragons, humans, elves, beast-men, all beings dead and slained by divine matters. All of these had found the peace the Fair Goddess had meant to give the world.
This world was calm, peaceful, green and endless. It was the end of all suffering.
A lone sun shone high above, an endless parade of white clouds passed by in the sky pushed forward by a slight, ever-blowing breeze.
It was a a peaceful plane far, far away from the other planes of existence.
4PP - Create Major Plane - Boteir Radam Kraka - The foreign shore beyond the mountains. ( A.K. A Heaven. ) The plane is linked to the underworld and steals away good-aligned spirits from it.
Torvek decided what needed to be done. He looked all around the plane- examining it. "All accounted for. Now, let's just add a little touch to this place."
Torvek raised a small rock into the air from the ocean- he does this repeatedly until several rocks of different sizes hover near the temple. He then creates a walkway of blue energy that goes to one rock, then shoots toward another. The walkway is connected to the main entrance. His work is done. the temple is surrounded by rocks of various sizes, connected by a strand of energy to act as a walkway. Terascul walks on the walkway to patrol the perimeter.
(OOC- The rocks are more like boulders, ranging from the size of a bus to the size of a 15- story building)
He throws one arm out in front of him and raised a small atoll not too far away from the temple, but the island still made contact with the sea. The small island would have to do for now. It had a couple of rolling hills on it, but no major features. He then grows plants on the atoll- Palm trees and Conifers towards the water- grassland on the hills.
Finally, it was time for him to make wildlife on the island. He throws both hands outward- spewing out a ball of energy out to the island.
The energy created a bunch of dinosaurlike bipeds- they had lizardlike heads. They were quick and resourceful, and had a knack for adventure. They are the Dracos- resourceful reptilianoids who have the intellect of Humans, and the quickness of Kobolds.
PP Expenditure:Torvek: 1pp- Mold Land- Torvek creates a small island to hold mortal beings. This island has its benefits to hold plant life as well as sporting a few rolling hills
1pp- Nourish Land- The island has different climate zones on it- Palm Trees and conifers towards the shore, and grasslands on the rolling hills.
2pp- Shape Populace- Dracos- resourceful reptilianoids who are quite resourceful- more resourceful than Kobolds. They do not have the skills to create things out of scraps, but they have the intelligence of a human and a dragon.
Chardon hears the words of his master and sets about making himself a weapon. A sword. He makes the blade from the teeth of sharks and enchants it so that it will tear even divine flesh. He names the sword Sharkbite. The four-armed warrior smiles. "Now I am ready for battle."
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Douda decided that the Merfolk had been stalling long enough. She had commanded them to join the empire several months ago. She sent a message to Chardon telling him that it was time to tell the Sahuagin to either join the Great Sea Empire or they would be taken by force.
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Chardon hears the message and grins. "Time to test out Sharkbite."
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Its remarkable how people will do exactly what you want them to do when you put a sword up to their throat. Thinks Chardon as he makes his journey home with some new subjects for Douda. The merfolk had surrendered immediately and the Great Sea Empire had almost doubled in size. Douda would be pleased for sure this time.
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Douda however was not pleased. She could feel the fear in her master and worried that he would come to blows with the other god. She choose 100 of the finest, most devoted sahuagin and merfolk in the empire and sent them out into the world to colonize and spread the word of Ashralan. They named themselves the Pilgrims of Ashralan and settled in the Free Nation on the Bloodstone Archipelago.
PP:
2 PP Create Artifact: Chardon creates Sharkbite (combat)
1 PP Guide Populace (Douda): Chardon forces the merfolk to join the great sea empire.
1 PP Nourish Populace: Douda creates the Pilgrims of Ashralan and sends them to the Free Nation to spread the word of Ashralan and build a church dedicated to him.
The sails of Califian vessels was a common sight nowadays upon the high oceans. The golden flag of Calafi and it´s bulky though stern and loyal ships became somethiing of a standardized desing for oceangoing ships.
Califian merchants, traders and settlers used this spread the glory of their civilization far and wide.
Especially along the rocky shores of Zophar where several new colonies were founded. These colonies were mostly mere outposts surrounded with walls and barricades to shield it´s inhabitants from Zophar´s unforgiving inhabitants.
Some though were proper towns in their own right that survived on a mixture of agriculture, fur trade, mining and fishing.
Kraka Calafi itself also grew. Most ( if not all the isles ) of their archipelago had now been settled and both towns and vast cities had found place and time to be built and populated.
Nourish populace 1 PP: Califian settlers in Zophar expands in numbers.
Nourish Populace 1 PP from Exarch: Population in Califian homeland increases and the remaining isles are settled.
Hensen storm form continue to rage over the ocean, however a group of snake heads, formed by clouds and circled by thunders emerged. The largest head spoke, with the voice of thunder, while the other kept merging with the storm, vanishing and reappearing anew.
"Finally I can see you, young one, I was curious to meet in person the one who dared to challenge Vymrl... I like courage in mortals and gods alike, but was that courage? Or just ignorance of what he was really doing?"
The plagues took the Children by surprise, striking as if out of nowhere. However, the Children were made of sturdy stock, and after only a few days of the outbreak, already their clerics were busy pushing the disease out of their community. Once it was gone, they went to their allies, the Iron State, and spent a significant amount of time there, reducing the suffering of the people and curing those who had fallen ill, although their efforts were unable to stop the plague entirely. The clerics of the Children exhorted the leadership of the iron state to deal with these encroaching plagues before they wiped the entire warforged race from the earth.
And in the meantime, the Children used their claimed armada, with Chukwa at its fore, drove back the Ae-sylvani, capturing more Valin ships and protecting their Yogloid colonies.
1 PP: From Chukwa: Nourish Populace (Children): The Children recover from the plague.
1 PP: Nourish Populace (Iron State): The Children travel to the Iron State and help them to slow the progress of the plague, although the plagues do not stop entierly.
1 PP: Denourish Populace (Ae-Sylvani): The Children take advantage of the Plagues to further push back the Ae-Sylvani.
Chroma faced the a tear in the Chaos, seeing the corruption and damage that had become all too common throughout the plane. He had to do something. His rust monsters had almost completely gotten rid of what remained of mortal and divine interference in the plane, so all that was left was to find a way to repair the essence of the plane itself. Herself... but how could I child help his Mother in such a grand way? Even if he was made of it's very essence, Chroma had little more control over the essence of chaos than any other being alive... it was chaos, after all. By it's very nature, it was uncontrollable.
He didn't know what he could do. But he wasn't going to give up until he'd found a solution.
***
In Azoria, the slaad and Azorians had developed into a sort of cold war, where each side attempted to find a way to subvert the other without risking a full out, suicidal assault on their respective strongholds. This took a number of forms: the slaad trying to burrow under the keep, the knights attempting to divert a river to extinguish the magma, minor raids into each others territory. The war didn't seem to have any solution readily apparent... but the Azorians weren't about to abandon the war, going so far as to employ adventurers of renown to help them in their quest to extinguish their frog like foes.
***
It had taken a long time to gather the ingredients for this dragon. For famine, Russet had had to imprison numerous sentient creatures and starve them to death, letting their bodies rot away and their bones collapse into dust. This had proven... difficult, when you're primary servants had a nasty habit of eating anything that moved, or didn't. But he had succeeded, and as he saw the dust pour into the increasingly battered looking mould, he knew it was worth while.
Soon enough his ghouls were retreating from the mould, knowing from experience (or the elder ones anyway) that they didn't want to be around when the divine spark took hold. If only he could work out a way to harness that spark, to ascend to the power of his devilish rival... or perhaps even beyond. This world lacked a god of his caliber, someone to bring forth slaughter and gluttony undead that devoured the living and one day bring forth the end of days on the backs of his scourge dragons. But he'd find a way... one day, one century, one millenia even, he'd find a way. Time was on his side, after all.
And now, he thought as he saw the bony, sickly pale dragon rise up from the mould, causing his ghouls to grow agonizingly weak from it's mere presence, as though a century of sleep couldn't give them back their energy, famine was as well.
PP Expenditure
4PP - Form Epic Level Intelligent Populace - Create Famine Dragons
Kiptar stared at the world. He felt his peoples pain. He sent a burst of energy into them, healing them, eradicating the disease from them. He directed Gears to help, as well as to teach them how to heal themselves.
PP:
2pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): The Iron State recovers from the plagues.
2pp: Guide Populace(Greater)(City of Gears): Iron State learns the Cleric Class.
Azor'Chapien was in the meeting, but he could still sense the Chaos back in his realm. Half of his lands were consumed, and the hordes were held back only by a large fortress, which held Eon up from taking his rightful place in the Gray Wastes. Meanwhile, behind the front, he could sense the Followers of the True Code up to their usual mischief, sabotaging various Azoran efforts. He demanded revenge. He demanded retribution.
He swore he would find who had created these creatures, these slaad. He swore he would rip that beings heart out, and then continue to sunder that being. He would have retribution.
----
2 PP Form Domain (moderate): Azor'Chapien gets the retribution domain.
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The Iron State gave one last push of their military might, driving the Ae-Sylvania to the brink of extinction. But they relented, knowing that they could have powerful allies with these. They had fought a brutal war, but they could be friends. So they sent envoys, to determine whether or not the Ae-Sylvania would talk.
PP:
2 pp: DeNourish Populace: Ae-Sylvania are driven almost to extinction.
1pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): Envoys are sent to attempt to try to talk peace with the the remnants of the Ae-sylvania
Hensen storm form continue to rage over the ocean, however a group of snake heads, formed by clouds and circled by thunders emerged. The largest head spoke, with the voice of thunder, while the other kept merging with the storm, vanishing and reappearing anew.
"Finally I can see you, young one, I was curious to meet in person the one who dared to challenge Vymrl... I like courage in mortals and gods alike, but was that courage? Or just ignorance of what he was really doing?"
"Get to the point old one. Do you and your ilk dare attack me?"
Hensen storm form continue to rage over the ocean, however a group of snake heads, formed by clouds and circled by thunders emerged. The largest head spoke, with the voice of thunder, while the other kept merging with the storm, vanishing and reappearing anew.
"Finally I can see you, young one, I was curious to meet in person the one who dared to challenge Vymrl... I like courage in mortals and gods alike, but was that courage? Or just ignorance of what he was really doing?"
"Get to the point old one. Do you and your ilk dare attack me?"
"Well, maybe it was both, courage and ingnorance... Well, I dislike violence, a dead god could not contribute anymore to the purpose of this world, its potential is wasted, so I see no poing in killing you, for now...
I might use your courage, instead... Should you give me another demonstration, a storm is coming, even if everything looks peaceful a great change will happen, there is the potential for a war and I'm seeking for gods that are willing to fight..."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Torvek notices something odd- not with the Dracos or the Island, but with the plane itself. He figures out the problem- there is no connection between this plane and the rest.
He solves the problem by raising several large boulder- one of them touching the Skyway River. He carves a bowl in it and uses some of the ocean's water and fills up the large bowl. "There. That should be savvy enough for the big ships to dock." He links the rest of the rocks with glistening stairways of energy and carved more stairways on the sides of the boulders.
(OOC- All Beings and Mortals can now have access to and from Daelgar)
Torvek brushes his hands off. "That takes care of that issue."
Azora continued to grow. It just kept on growing, and growing, and growing, till it was no longer an island. The land had expanded southwards (not outwards) to form an entire, albeit small continent. The Azorans expanded with the continent. The land was to big for one kingdom now, and four separate kingdoms. The original kingdom was to the north, now known as The Feudal State of Valden. The Followers of the True Code claimed the south-eastern portion, naming their kingdom The State of the Pure. The southwestern corner was a feudal theocracy, rued by a strict feudal hierarchy of not knights, but clerics and paladins. It was known as The Kingdom of Chorn, after their first high priest, High Priest Chorn. The southernmost kingdom was the most generic Azoran kingdom, ruled by a normal, non-exarch king in a completely feudal society, known as Ithilain.
----
1 PP Mold Land: Azora grows ever more, to the size of a small continent.
2 PP Nourish Populace: The Azorans grow to an extent that they found three more kingdoms.
Hensen storm form continue to rage over the ocean, however a group of snake heads, formed by clouds and circled by thunders emerged. The largest head spoke, with the voice of thunder, while the other kept merging with the storm, vanishing and reappearing anew.
"Finally I can see you, young one, I was curious to meet in person the one who dared to challenge Vymrl... I like courage in mortals and gods alike, but was that courage? Or just ignorance of what he was really doing?"
"Get to the point old one. Do you and your ilk dare attack me?"
"Well, maybe it was both, courage and ingnorance... Well, I dislike violence, a dead god could not contribute anymore to the purpose of this world, its potential is wasted, so I see no poing in killing you, for now...
I might use your courage, instead... Should you give me another demonstration, a storm is coming, even if everything looks peaceful a great change will happen, there is the potential for a war and I'm seeking for gods that are willing to fight..."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"What do you speak of old one?" Said Ashralan. "And what do you mean by a demonstration of courage?"
OOC: Hey Mecha, Doggy... moving us along. Don't come if you don't want
Nixis muttered to himself. "The two of you are heavier than you look. Okay, come on. Almost there."
Up ahead, the Palace of Xa'an loomed large. Nixis had only been here once before, long ago when Veros had gone missing and he had come here looking for Mara's help in freeing him. The place had looked a lot better then. Glancing around at the frost-rimed columns and shatered balconies, Nixis could only imagine the devastating battle that must have taken place here.
"Where is Vymrl, anyways? He's been awfully quiet lately." he mused... looking closely at the frost covering every surface.
Eventually, they arrived in the meeting place, and Nixis lowered Ythrexle and Shurka to the ground before floating over to Veros and the Empress.
"Hello, Veros. And hello to you too, Empress. I have read much about you. I am Nixis, god of Stories and Language."
The Pilgrims of Ashralan spread the worship of the Shark God to the Free Nation.
PP:
1PP Guide Populace: The Free nation now worships Ashralan in addition to any other gods that they worhship.
Ythrexle stood wearily, his pallidhands still clutching The Sword and using it as a sort of cane. He nodded to Veros, "I'm back brother. I did as you asked... " he pauses to take in a breath, his gaze blurring, "I made it here through the charity of brother Nixis, and for that I owe him. But for now, I believe I shall take a short rest..." And without another word he slumps over and falls to the floor, still clutching the sword in his sleep.
Azor'Chapien remains away from the other gods attending the meeting, standing alone in the shadows, brooding over the war in Azora.
The Chaos Genasi lands were still undergoing economic turmoil, and so in an attempt to expand it's wealth and influence and avoid a financial disaster the genasi sent another two trading expeditions forth. One of which ventured into the wild jungles of the land to find the mysterious dog folk the minotaurs spoke of, while the others followed up on a rumor of odd squatted creatures in the swamp. Both eventually found the gnolls and boggarts respectively.
The gnolls, having no ability to craft metal and thus being stuck with stone arrows and bone knives for centuries, were only too glad to take up the genasi's offer of metal arrowheads, weapons and tools. In return, the gnolls traded the genasi leather goods, and took to crafting furniture and ornaments from wood, in addition to trading food, water and bows. Many gnoll packs also hired themselves out as mercenaries, helping the genasi in their war against the creatures of the Chaos Wastes and the growing threat of banditry that increased as more and more trade convey targets came into being. All in all it was an excellent arrangement for all involved, though an astute observer would note that the genasi seemed to get the better of the bargain, most likely because they were the more experienced trader.
The boggarts, on the other hand, proved to be a little more... different. They had little interest in weapons and armor, but they did prove to have an affection for the raw shinyness of the genasi product. And so the genasi made a good penny trading bronze mirrors and baubles for rare herbs the boggarts gathered from the swampland. Some of the more foolish genasi merchants attempted to cut out the middleman and gather the herb themselves, or hired others to do it, but the swamps were a treacherous place...
With the extra trade coming in, the town of Tradesmeet flourished, and soon it was no longer a genasi city, but a multi-racial hub, where any race or individual on the continent could come on diplomatically neutral ground to trade, hire mercenaries, or simply live in comparative luxury. Naturally though, the genasi still ran the affairs of the city, and charged a small tax fee on all exchanges made in the city... which many merchants chose to ignore. Many an adventurer was hired for a moderate fee to do little more than kick a door in and shake someone by the ankles until what they owed fell out.
PP Expenditure
1PP - Guide Populace - The genasi and gnolls reach a trade agreement
1 Guide PP from Beryl - Guide Populace - The genasi and boggarts reach a trade agreement
1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish Populace - The genasi flourish with new trade, especially the town of Tradesmeet which becomes an international hub.
The Empress smiled broadly at those assembled. Her arms were cast wide, and her smile inviting. How fitting, it seemed, that so close to one of the very first creations, the Pillar of Fire, one of the very final acts would take place. The Empress smiled even more brightly at this thought.
"I would like to thank you all for coming here today," said the Empress, her voice echoing in the vast chamber, "I appreciate it greatly, for I know the difficulty many of you have suffered as of late."
Her gazed passed from god to god, pausing for perhaps a fraction of a second longer upon Ythrexle, and Shurka. Her appreciation was evident in the look she gave them all.
"I hope that this means that you will hear me out, and truly consider what I have to say," said the Empress, and she paused to let the gravity of her words sink in, "I want us all to depart this world, depart, and never come back."
The Empress gazed about, the silence following her words seemed to last a lifetime before she spoke again.
"This world is changing, all on its own, I'm sure you've all felt it," said the Empress, "The mortals are learning for themselves, advancing themselves."
"This world is finished, our work is done, all that's left to do now is destroy it, which we've done a pretty good job of doing so far."
She cast her hands about, indicating the broken, and shattered palace about her, as if to underline her point.
"It is my opinion that we should give these mortals their chance to grow, shape this world on their own. Our age is over, and their's is just beginning."
Torvek looks around the plane once again. He feels a small tremor from outside the plane- something dreadful...
"What? What's happening?" He can sense that the worlds are changing- but to what degree? Things don't feel quite right... something has disturbed the balance, but doesn't know what the cause is...
"Why is the balance thrown off? I need to talk to someone- see what's happening... Veros will the one to ask."
Be fore he flew out to the Astral Plane, he had to consider something- his people. "What 's gonna happen to them when I'm gone?"
Shurka spoke up,
"I have reached that conclusion as well. Our interference is largely destructive to our people. We helped them enough."
There was a slight pause before he continued, in an even more determined voice.
"However, I shall not leave until I can be certain that every other god shall follow suit. As such, I request to leave either last, or second to last, behind Veros. Otherwise I shall remain."
He looked as if he were going to continue, when he turned his head slightly.
"I feel an unwelcome presensce..."
"Naturally," said the Empress kindly, "You wish to ensure the absolute safety of your people, I too feel that particular urge."
Without even vocally acknowledging the approaching intruder, the Empress made a motion with her hand, and immediately, all of the entrances to the Palace were closed against petitioners. Those within could still leave unimpeded, but none could enter its shattered halls, save those who had been expressly invited. None would interrupt them.
"As such, I doubt any present would begrudge your request," she smiled as she said this, then turned to the others, "I hope all of you can see the merits of what I ask, and I asked you all in particular here this day for I knew you would be the most receptive to what I have to say."
"Unfortunately, I fear that others may not be as receptive, and as such, I must ask another favour of you all," said the Empress, "Together, we must present this idea to the toher divinities, only by doing so can we ensure that the task is completed."
"We will not resort to violence, if we can avoid it, but a unified front may be more effective to present our point."
Hammu trembled into the ancient suit of armor Rabi had forged so very long ago. How many times would he forget himself like this? It seemed to be growing more frequent, but on the other hand... his creation seemed to have less need of him now. Wait. I've seen those before.
Hammu plucked the pyrefly from the air. How long had it been circling there, anyway? The Palace of Xa'an? Been a while since I've seen the Torchbearer... how long has it been, anyway? I have no bearings anymore...
Hammu pushed off the earth and flew, the air rushing past his face, until he came to the Palace of Xa'an. Stepping inside, he called "Empress?"
The war had not gone as expected, the Ae-Sylvani were not aware that there were others who could enter the aethersphere and thus were not prepared. The diseases only made things worse. But the attacks only strengthened their resolve. The "children" who had claimed to be 'refugees' had been lying all along, and the proponents of war were proven right. The enemy were invaders who wished to lay claim to the aether, abuse it, and take it from the ae-sylvani. The ae-sylvani fought even more ferociously, but ultimately it was a lot cause. Oddly, captured Valin ships started to fail for the enemy, for whatever reason--speculated that they were tied to the biologies of the Ae-sylvani. They became largely useless for the Gnomes, but it mattered little.
Towards the end of the war, the desperate Ae-Sylvani turned to their all-powerful leaders, the druids, to come up with a counter strategy. The druids were busy cleansing the diseases from people, and in that regard they were succesful, though the damage was already done. The druids took the disease and managed to modify it just a tiny tiny bit, but in a devastating manner. Several raids over the war, while apparently failures, were only done to infect the yogloids themselves. After all, they were creatures too and thus susceptible to the diseases. With the modifications from the druids, the new version was quite deadly and impossible to irradicate. Yogloids slowly died a death from the inside-out, and the release of the disease around them would kill anyone on them, with a final explosion of blobs of mass that could infect other yogloids.
Still, the rapaciousness of the disease was not even close to done. In the Valin Fortress Antari, a disease mutated on its own to something completely different--an infection of the valin trees themselves, rotting and eating at them. The druids tried to stave off the effects but could find nothing. Desperate some druids tried burning the trees. In an accident, a fire got out of control and the entire city of Antari burned. Lacking the trees for support, the city began to descend into the world, burning as a bright star across the sky. The fortress crashed in a cacophony of noise and tremors into the continent of Ymo. The prophesies from ages ago had come true after all.
And yet it wasn't dead--something odd was happening. The disease mutated again to something far far worse than anyone had seen (possibly gaining the characteristic of using aether that the yogloids and their symbiots had). It began to infect the aether itself. The disease reflected itself as a giant cloud mass, slowly converted the aether into the new miasma. The miasma would begin to infect anything it touched, valin wood, ships, people. The infection was slow for the harder materials but inevitable. A ship could fly through the miasma, but over time it would slowly break down. Breathing the miasma was fatal for any living creature, even by touch contact(such as yogloids, even zaratans), but it was also destructive to any undead (merely treating it as other non-living material).
The emissaries the Iron State to ask for surrender never returned from the one last remaining Valin forest left and they were not heard from. The others having been destroyed by direct attacks from the Gnomes or Iron State, or Antari's self-destruction. The Iron State presumed that the war was still going on as a result, and used their ultimate weapon to destroy the last forest with their superweapon. As far as the Iron State/Children were concern the Ae-Sylvani no longer existed.
----
The two Maras were at the meeting. They had never met this Empress person, either individually or collectively, but had heard some perhaps rather interesting or odd things about her. Nevertheless, the fact that Veros requested their presence was why they were here--if he took this issue seriously then they would too.
They listened to the proposal and agreed, at least in theory. Winter Mara coughed, as if coming down with something. The two whispered to each other for a bit as well. "It may be easy for you to leave, but for us--that would present a challenge."
PP expenditures
1 PP - Denourish Populace - Children of Aether - Stolen/Appropriated Valin ships become useless without ae-sylvani to run them and any new captured ones won't work.
1 pp - DeNourish/Nourish/guide? populace (From artifact) - Ae Sylvani - This is what should have been done a long time ago. In essense, the inner world sylvani, for whatever reason less than before, are seperate and all the outer sylvani are dead and eradicated. Neither the iron state or gnomes know about them or vice versa, I *think.* In addition, the outer aether Valin cities are all destroyed and in particular the city of Antari crashes into the continent of Ymo. (Orius expanded to the outer sphere with nourishes, but a denourish can't be used due to the situation, so this part should be considered part of the other denourishes or as a guide as necessary).
2 pp - Mold Land - Create the Aether Miasma and convert a portion of the aether to it. The Aether has the qualities describe above, in addition it cannot be modified, converted back to aether or generally stopped by any known methods or magics. It corrodes into any non-biologic material and eats through it, will kill any creature within hours if ingested/inhaled and slower, days, by touch contact (symptoms such as lesions or what not).
1 PP - Denourish - Yogloids - Dying from Aether Miasma and previous disease impact.
1 PP - Denourish - Children of Aether - Dying from Aether Miasma/disease impacts
1 PP - Denourish - Iron State - Dying/losing ships from Aether Miasma
OOC: Huh. That ended faster than expected... but I like this miasma!
The ferocity and speed in which the war ended caught the Children by surprise. One day, they had been fighting a battle against a powerful enemy, the next, against an enemy that was trying reprehensive biological warfare attacks on their homes and the next, gone.
Chukwa traveled to parley with the Ae-sylvani and organize a truce... but there were no Ae-sylvani left to parley with, merely an ever expanding cloud of roiling death, that, as the city of Diaspora watched, overtook and destroyed a crippled Valin ship. Chukwa did not know what was going on, but he knew a bad thing when he saw it, and turned and swam away as quickly as possible. The Marble Archway flashed again and again as emmissaries from Diaspora traveled to the surviving Yogloids and encouraged them, too, to flee. Another message was sent to the Iron State, apprising them of the situation, and inviting them to join in the exodus.
Soon, with Chukwa at the front, the Children left, sailing into the deep Aether and away from the moons and the horrid Miasma.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nylarthotep paced before the roiling pit of flesh before him. Not long ago, he, too had looked like this below. All 153 of his eye stalks was trained on a different bump in the pit, bumps that had been forming and becoming more and more distinct with the passing weeks.
He sent a mental command, and above the vats, cauldrons were upended on some of the bumps, contents mixing with the flesh and changing the very properties of the beast which is forming. Some received rocks taken from the chaos, others were given the blood of vampires and liches, and still others recieved other dark gifts from the cauldrons.
Suddenly, a quiet swept over the room and then hundreds of forms ripped themselves from the flesh pit, eyes flashing with powers unseen of before in the world. Many of Nylarthotep's eyes closed briefly as he reasserted full control over the hive, making room to accomidate the supremely powerful beings before him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis nodded at the Empress' words, but a frown was on his face.
"I agree that it is time for the mortals to choose their own destinies, but I will be very sad to leave such a lovely place behind. Could we not visit, every once in a while?
Also, like the rest of you, I have no desire to leave and know that someone else will just be taking my absence for granted. We must ensure that all of us who have known Godhood must leave.
Speaking of that, Veros, were you aware that Drevan yet lives? I saw him earlier, but in the commotion I forgot to mention it to you."
Hearing Mara cough, Nixis turned to look at her.
"Is everything all right, Mara?"
1 PP: Guide Populace: Children flee the Miasma and travel into the deep Aether, towards the Tsarok.
4 PP: One from Nylarthotep: Shape Populace (epic): Beholders gain epic level beholders. Fear is now appropriate.
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The Iron State learned that they could not enter the Aether Miasma. Their attempts to work with it failed, even for the greatest spellcasters amoungst them. So they avoided it, charting its reach, and giving it a wide bearth.
PP:
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): The Iron State learns to avoid the Aether Miasma, as well as about its properties.
"What I want, is your loyality, join the Bronze Pantheon and be ready, should you hear our call, prepare for war should we ask for that as, trust me, the future is still not written, but chances for conflict might arise..."
"Quite soon, divine equilibrioum is challenged and soon enough it will shatter, there can be positive resoults, but I think that a fight is much more possible..."
"I have to depart now, but I'll wait for your answer, should it be positive there will be no retailation for your past actions."
Then the storm fury begin to exhaust, the heads begun to fade and soon Hensen was not there anymore...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Within Asikan culsts of excess begun to arise, the number of pleasure seekers was already high in the empire, but they begun to grow, these groups begun to look for new experiences, things that no dragon or mortal has ever tasted.
Many of these cults look for a state of spiritual and physical ascension, a state of ethernal bliss, that could be reached only by changing the body and mind until the perfect state is reached.
The main set built a large dome where any kind of intellectual and phsysical pleasure can be experienced and new are researched by its people, it soon begun known as the brothel of intellectual lust.
1 PP guide (from Aether Ripples) - Hensen's Faith spread to the Asikan empire, it is represented by a cults focused on finding new experiences, pleasure and to "reshape" themselves in order to gain a sort of blissfull ascension.
1 Pp Create (from the Wondermaker) - Brothel of Intellectual Lust is a large dome built in the Asikan empire, it allows those that are there to share pleasure and experiences as a secondary power it can create dreamlike places where everything can be experienced.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"The pursuer where so near, Vassen marine will finally take them, after years of piracy one of their mighty ship managed to get a lucky blow of a burst cannon and to damage the Defiance too mcuh to escape, Ash, the captain of the pirate ship, knews that they were doomed, only a miracle could save them. It was peacefl night, perfect for navigation, one that you would enjoy being out under the fire with your close friends, every constellation was visible from the sky, Ash was watching toward the stars for one of the last times in his life, he feared. There he noticed a new one a large red star that was not there last ngiht, there was something strange, alien but at the same time alluring in it, the pirate was never a faithful man, but this time he felt compelled to pray, to ask that weird star for a miracle.
A few hours later, when Vassen marine was really near to its preys the night was changed, the wind screamed and the weaves was shaking the two ships like they were little toys, the pirates managed to exaped that day, but none of them ever seen again the red Star.
A single new red star appear in the cosmo, called Hensen's eye in the Free Nations, Doombringer by the Shattered Realm, Nas'Harash by the warp dragons and with many other names arount the world, it is a weird star whose appearance is a sign of a great changes for the watchers and that is rumured to bring luck to whoever watch it.
1 PP create - Nas'harash, the Red Star
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Deep under the earth and the dimensional bulkwark Brain kruthic met their first behemoth, the creature was driven near to their nest by hunger and it begun hunting the much smoller kruthic for food. Worried but at the same time fascinated by the assault the sentient Brain Kruthinc sent swarms of their brethren to kill the beast, many fell but after a while the "ants" bested the lizard. The swarm of creature burrowed deep in the body of the behemoth and begun to alter it, merging with its structure and replacing the damaged organs and flesh with the one of their kind. Fascinated by the process and desiring for stronger creatures to defend themselves the Brain Kruthic orginized hunts and convesion of more behemoths, in the end they become able to breed two new species for themselves to use.
The first was made of "reanimated" large behemoths who carried miriads of smaller kruthic around, these creatures can also be used to shelter in their belly a single brain kruthic and allow it to leave in a safer shell their home.
The second one was instead an "evolved" version of the traditional kruthic, large as a small behemoth and extremely vicious, developped mostly to represent the strong "arm" of the Brain Kruthic and to defend them should they need it.
Meanwhile the Brain Kruthic, pretected by their new beasts and fed by the the swarm, begun to find amusement in discussing among themselves about philosophy and theoretical matters, making debates that lasted for days about many disparate matters.
1 PP Spawn "Temple Guards", this are weird hybrids of kruthic and drakes, many times taller than humans and equipped with vicious claws, Temple Guards serve as protectors and "military" of the brain Kruthic.
1 PP Spawn "Spiked Hives", this large where originally bloodspikes drakes, now they carry swarms of smaller kruthic and even a brain one protected by their armor
2 PP Guide - Brain kruthic learn Phisosophy.
2 Pp Nourish (1 from Bloodstones) - Brain Kruthic and their swarming servants number increase, fed by the new "muscle power" brought by assimilated behemoths and by constant effect of bloodstone radiation in their homeland.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bloodstone activity continue to grow, creating new islands in the archipelago, a small ring of islands is risen to the south, around a a massive vortex, it is told that powerful superntural energies are accumulating there, but no exlporer has being daring enough to best the unnatural winds and currents of the region.
1 PP Mold land - Voren Thal', the cursed ring in free nations language, a ring of ilsands where the sea is trecherous and the wind create frequent storms, powerful supernatural energies can be sensed there
OOC: for now there is nothing but should the gods decide to leave the world Hensen will leave his "parting gift" there.
The Empress looked about at those assembled, and smiled calmly. She had expected angry protests, even declarations of enmity, and she had not paused to think what she would say if they actually agreed with her. She addressed Nixis first.
"I understand your desire to return and ensure the health of your children, I truly do," said the Empress softly, "But I am sure that there are gods in existance that you would not like to offer this privilege, your desire to have no gods remaining in this world tells me this."
"I know why you ask this, but perhaps there is a better way to keep an eye on your children? Perhaps through prayer you can monitor your childrens' progress, perhaps by granting them divine favours you can ensure they remain safe."
She turns to address the whole of the group.
"All of this can be done from the confines of the Astral Sea, or whatever other plane you wish to make your home, you can still help your children, though not so directly as to cause this world anymore harm," said the Empress, "And this leads into my next point."
She turned her gaze to the twin Maras.
"I understand your connection to your moons, and I understand their necessity in the world," said the Empress, "But you would not have to depart to so far away, the Astral Sea is, after all, not so far."
"Now to address a concern that I am sure we all share, that of the possibilty of certain gods remaining behind, left to toy with our world without our knowledge," said the Empress, once more to the whole group, "That is why, after this meeting, I wish to approach each of these gods, and present this plan to them, so that we can ensure that they too will depart.
"And then, once we have departed the world, magics may be invoked to ensure that we never return."
Deep beneath Greyfang mountain, the Beholders were busy guiding large pipes of strange metals into place, connecting the Tap to caverns located not far beneath the surface. In addition, returning beholders who had been scouting in the free nation reported the discovery of a strange new island floating in the ocean, one which seemed... alive. Intrigued, Nylarthotep sent a formal envoy to their old slaves, asking for permission to study the island (MS, Nerdzul?)
~~~~~~~~~
Nixis nodded.
"Again, excellent points, Empress. Very well, It pains me to leave, but I shall join you in this exile."
Nixis floated over to Azor'Chapien.
"Hey, is everything okay?" he whispered. "You've been kinda quiet"
1 PP: Astral Shard: Create Artifact (lesser): A series of pipes connecting the Tap to the surface near Greyfang mountain.
1 PP: Convincer: Guide Populace: Beholders travel to the Free Nation to open formal diplomatic negotiations...
Azor'Chapien looked at Nixis. He said, "It would be rather hard to explain. Thus, I shall show you."
He conjured up an aerial view of Azora. It was plainly visible that a portion of the island had become an elemental wasteland. Zooming the picture in, he brought up a picture of a village covered in the elemental fire. Dead bodies lay everywhere. He said, "Creatures of pure chaos, called the slaad, invaded Azora. I want to know what god did this. Do you know of any gods of chaos, Nixis?"
"Well, as we both know, Chroma commands that domain, but I cannot imagine him doing something like this. If I had to guess, I'd say it was whoever put that burning pillar on your land."
Azor'Chapien muttered "Chroma...Chroma... hm..."
Then he spoke louder, "You're probably right, but I'm sorry to say that none can be discounted from my suspicions."
"We'll deal with that when we're done here. This is important... pay attention!" he hissed at Azor'Chapien.
Azor'Chapien shrugged. "What is the point? She wants us to leave the world. It's as simple as that. Not much more to listen to."
"And? How do you feel about that? Its not exactly asking you what color of tunic you want to wear today."
"Well, first of all I don't wear tunics. Second of all, I don't even have my own plane, just my fortress, which is technically in the mortal plane. And third, there is no way I am leaving until revenge is had."
Corelloth appears on Azora. She snarls as she sees the pillar nowhere in sight. "What in blazes happened her!?? WHERE IS MY PILLAR!!!???"
She searches around for it. She notices a faint leve of energy- it was underwater. "My plillar still lives! Bitter fools think that they can ruin my plans? We'll see about that!" She flies into the water and went into the great sea.
She finds a faint glimmer of violet in the water. "Found ya!" She grasps the center of the flame- the pillar has shrunk and she goes back up.
She flies out of the water and sets the flame onto where it originally was. The flame once again activates and flies toward the sky and stops at 200 feet. She sticks her spear into the flame. The spear suddenly changes form and becomes part of the flame. She flies up to the center and sticks her arm back out. The Dark Cannon is now ready.
In return. Corelloth's scales emits violent bolts of dark energy, as she gains power from the pillar. She notices the strange creatures on Azora- the Slaadi. "Hmmm... I wonder who set these creatures upon this island? Heh- TARGET PRACTICE!!!" She laughs hysterically, as she fires small beams of the pillar at any Slaadi creature she sees. She misses most of them, but she now knows that the pillar hasn't been tampered with. ----------------------
Torvek suddenly sees a stange line in the night sky. "Oh no... Corelloth! Not this again...!" He knew exactly what it was. It was Corelloth's specialty weapon of choice- the Dark Cannon.
He flies with all his speed and arms himself with his chakram straight to Azora. He sends Hondala to fetch Azor'Chapien and Nixis.
"Revenge? Really? Do you have any evidence that this act was even purposeful? As for a home, I don't have a plane either... I gave the Library to the Mortals ages ago. But the Astral Sea will let us create our own homes. Come, let us set this aside for now. Will you go, or not?"
"Yes, really, revenge. Many Azorans died for no good reason. Eon would never forgive me if I didn't take vengeance. Speaking of whom, if we leave, what of our exarchs? i don't think Eon could bear being separated from his people."
"I understand your anger, but again. Do you have any proof that a GOD sent these slaad? Or did they make their own way? The differences are... important. As for our Servants... I am not certain. I do not see why they could not stay in some manner."
Fueled and backed by laborers borrowed from the Azorans, the undead of the Gray Wastes gre stronger and more organized, building a hideous undead mockery of civilization in the deeps parts of the wastes.
-----
The original Death Titans were fearsome creatures, but as time wore on, not all children born to them held the same kind of power, slowly giving birth to a lesser breed, known as the Death Giants.
-----
Each original Eldritch Titan had been a centuries old frost giants, with near unparalleled mastery of arcane magics, before they had been warped by the arcane eddies of Patren. To their dissapointment, their children did not share their traits, seeming to be a of lesser potential and power. However, they learned that they were wrong, that they only appeared weaker. Given the proper training and mastery, these lesser kin, the Eldritch Giants, could eventually developand becopme just as mighty as them.
-----
Concerned over recent disappearances, the avariels stock-piled weapons and recruited additional people to fill out the ranks should a threat from the south materialize.
-----
The Dimensional Bulwark shuddered, sedning a barrage of minor earthquakes rippling across the world. Most were relatively minor, but far out to sea there were a series of powerful shudders and volcanic eruptions as a new chains of islands rose fromthe sea.
------
The stars crackled and glowed, and one of them shattered, sending sparkling light across the sky. Most of the peices dissipated and scattered into the aether, but one solid fragment fell from the sky, shattered the Azure Aegis over open ocean before crashing into the earth.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Celeron
3 PP - Shape Populace (Moderate) - Eldritch Giants
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Avariels
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Moderate) - Star Shard
3 + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Greater) - Death Giants
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - A small chain of islands
"It does not matter if a god sent them. All that matters is that they were created, meaning that a god must of created them, by accident or on purpose. Even if it was an accident, such a being would be too dangerous to be kept alive. Also, yes, I do agree, maybe we gods should step out."
Torvek landed on Azora- opposite of where Corelloth and the pillar is. He takes a deep breath and moves toward the villange.
He sees the strange creatures running around- amphibious looking creatures that came out of the dead Azorans. "What madness ensued here? Who could've done something like this to these poor Azorans? I hope Azor'Chapien knows of this..."
He walks through the village and sees the pillar of violet flames in the skyline- Corelloth at the center. She does not notice him, for he gets behind a building out of her sight.
Pew! Pew! Each shot from the pillar cascades upon the village- missing every single being that came into her sights, and ricochets off of the buildings- but she is bound to hit something, soon...
An Azoran runs by and hides on the opposite side of the street. Torvek takes the liberty to ask. "Hey, you! What happened here? It looks like a complete warzone over here!"
"As to your servants remaining behind, I have no objection," said the Empress, "But do remember, that if your servants remain behind, everyone's servants may choose to remain behind, which may come into conflict with the stipulation many of you have put out that all gods must leave."
The Empress paused for a second, as if to gather herself.
"Though if such an eventuality is fine by you, I see no reason why it cannot be so."
----------------------------------------------
Within the ruins of the shattered Imperium, the Concordians sought to consolidate their power. Drawing energy from their beloved sphere, they increased in power, and they expanded beyond their Spire, forming a sort of fortified city around it. Also, using the eratic power of the area, they drew all manner of beasts to them through the veil. Creatures called Displacer beasts, who had tentacles upon their backs and were just ever so out of sync with reality and who were drawn from the Feywyld, patrolled the perimeter of their city, and chaotic elementals of whirling magma stalked the streets. The giants themselves poured elemental energy into their forms, becoming even more impressive, in both size and power.
PP Expenditures:
2 PP (Artifact) Spawn Beast (Moderate) Displacer Beasts
2 PP Spawn Beast (Moderate) Rockfire Dreadnoughts
4 PP (Artifact) Shape Populace (Greater) Frost Titans
1 PP (Artifact) Nourish Populace (Lesser) Frost Titans join the Concordians
1 PP (Artifact) Guide Populace (Lesser) The Concordians form their own city
Turn 57 begins now. 14,250 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Hensen Jijou, The Empress, Shurka, Mara, Nixis, Kiptar, Chroma
5 - Eijra, Hammu, Azor-Chapien
4 - Ythrexle, Torvek, Ashralan
Under orders from King Valden, Eon left the fortress and headed to the Gray Wastes. Once there, he moved the entire base of operations away from the original base camp, leveling the fort to the ground. Eon led the Azorans along a long and perilous path on the coastline, protecting his men from the undead with the powers of his new equipment. Finally, they reached the north-eastern border of the Gray Wastes, not to far away from Terena. There, they built a fortress on the border, in an attempt to stud the advance of the Gray Wastes.
----
Tovrek got little results with the peasant, as the peasant was soon ripped to shreds by a slaad. However, one knight did answer Tovrek's question. The Black Knight, exarch of Azor'Chapien. Being an exarch of a god, he sensed Tovrek was a god. He said, "Godling, you are trespassing on the domain of my god. Leave this island immediately. In addition, you are in a warzone. Leave immediately, or we will consider you a foe and attack."
----
0+1 Guide Populace (from King Valden): The Azoran base in the Gray Wastes moves to the northeastern border.
Nixis chuckled, then gave Azor'Chapien a serious look.
"Thats a dangerous road to walk down, Azor'Chapien. By that logic, Vymrl is responsible for the Imperium's actions, I am somehow responsible for everything the gnomes do, and you are responsible for any action done by an Azoran. If they were sent purposefully by another God, thats one thing, but we are not responsible for the actions of our creations."
Torvek nods to the Black Knight. "I'm not about to leave just yet- not until I get rid of that lunatic inside of that pillar over there!" he points over to the violet pillar of flame.
Corelloth hovers out of the pillar- carrying her spear with her. Torvek notices something odd about the spear- it was glowing rapidly wth dark energy. he spins it around- faster and faster. An odd droning sound seems to accelerate every second- as if she was charging something.
It suddenly hits him. "She's going to decimate this entire island! I need to stop her!" Torvek charges out of the safety of the buildings- chakram in hand. Corelloth looks down and smirks. Torvek leaps into the air- a mighty leap of faith.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!!!!!!!
Too late- Corelloth's charged ray fires and fills the air with a deafening roar that hits dead center on Azora. Strangely, the ray doesn't damage any part of Azora- let alone leaving a violet colored crack on the town square where the ray hit.
The strange part is that the nearby passersby start to suffer changes from the ray- they start to crawl around in pain- their skin turns a deep shade of violet. This is what Torvek had feared- he knew that Azor'Chapien would not be happy about this. The Azorans and Slaadi that were within the zone became vicious monsters- they were throwing bolts of dark energy at the other unaffected adversaries. They had become dark versions of themselves- the Dark Azorans and the Dark Slaadi.
Torvek hits the pillar and goes right through it- getting himself shocked in the process. He falters through the air and lands on the sunbaked sand with a thud. Corelloth was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did she go?" He thought to himself- looking up at the sun and the pillar that seemed to touch the sky. A loud roar came from within the pillar. Two massive arms came out from either side- massive legs came out at the bottom. The body came out from the center of the pillar and a head came into view. Torvek was behind this monstrosity. He crawled to the edge of the shoreline- panicked.
The thing slowly walked to the village and looked at it. It turned around and spotted Torvek right next to the water. "SO, TORVEK- WHADDAYA THINK?" The vioce of the mostrosity sounds across all of Azora- it's low octive vibrating the very ground that Torvek stands on. The thing points an arm straight at Torvek. The Chakram spins and emits a shield of light. The thing fires rapid projectiles of dark energy at Torvek. The shield deflects them.
"HA, IMPRESSIVE... YOU'VE IMPROVED YOUR SENSE OF BEING. I'VE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS OF MY OWN!" The thing lashes out toward him and jumps high in the air. The thing lands with an earth-shaking thud and punches Torvek. He gets sent flying out towards the water and splashes into the deep waters.
"I TOLD YOU- YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE INTERVENED. YOU'RE JUST AS ARROGANT AS YOUR MOTHER WAS!" The thing turns around and walks toward Azora- its footsteps shakig the earth. The thing was taller than a ten-story building...
Underneath the ocean, Torvek gave out a distress telepathy warning to all of the living gods. "You guys- It's me, Torvek! You'd better get down to Azora now... We have a HUGE problem..."
PP Expenditure:0+ 2pp- Spawn Template- Dark-spawn: The ray of dark energy gives out a wave of energy that disrupts organic matter within range of the blast zone, thus changing the physical appearances of those affected. In this case, about 1/3 of the the Azoran population turned into the Dark Azorans, and about less that 1/4 of the Slaadi became the Dark Slaadi.
0+ 2pp- Create Artifact- Mogenar Corelloth: This huge being came from the essence of the pillar of violet flame. The pillar is no longer existent, as all of its energy was put forth into forging this monstrosity of Colossal size. Corelloth sits in the middle of the dark being.
Veros finally lifted his head, looking over the assembled gods. "I agree. Our continued being here only causes harm and destruction. As for the servants, it is best they remain. They will provide proof that we still exist."
He lifted his hand and called for the artifact so long seperated from him, summoning the Orb of Visions. He closed his eyes and project out a scene, revealing the destruction on Azora. "This creature . . . . called forth by another god, has done nothing but cause destruction. I've sat idly by as my own creations have caused havoc before, but when the time came,they were reigned in. This god has failed. He is unable to control his own creation."
"It stops now. Let us unleash a show of power to remind this god to keep his creations under control."
Azor'Chapien saw the destruction on Azora. He was shocked. This must be the one who unleashed the Slaad! But then he saw that this creature was also destroying the Slaad... regardless, it was destroying Azora. Something HAD to be done. He said, "This... god... must be eliminated. I will lend my power."
----
1 PP Given to Veros.
Shurka was silent in consideration for a moment.
"I agree. Let's make the message clear."
1 PP given to Veros
The Mogenar punches a building and the structure caves in- the Dark bings attacked the others with their fearful powers. Azora was caught in a crossfire.
The mogenar did not go as far as the building, for Torvek flew out of the water- high up in the sky- blocking the sunlight. He threw the chakram in front of him and spun it like a wheel. A Strong blast of radiance shot forth. The Mogenar did not hesitate- instead, it absorbed the beam. The Mogenar looks up. "HA! YOU THINK YOUR PUNY LITTLE ATTACKS ARE GONNA HURT ME? I DON'T THINK SO!!!"
Torvek gives a loud growl. "Don't make me go Dragon-breath on you, Corelloth!"
The mogenar turns around.
Torvek yells at the mogenar. "CORELLOTH! I have some friends you'd like to meet!"
The mogenar stares at him again. "REALLY? WELL I HAVE SOME FRIENDS YOUR FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO MEET!!!" Alot of the Dark Azorans and Dark Slaadi come out of the village- anticipating the others arrival. "This is not going to end well." Torvek thought to himself.
The mogenar leaps high up to Torvek's height and grabs Torvek within its giant hand. He gets shocked with dark energy, as he is crushed by the strength of the mogenar. "ANY LAST WORDS BEFORE YOU GO?"
Torvek struggles to get out of the being's grip. He chokes as he struggles for air. "I CAN STAY HERE ALL DAY AND TORMENT YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!" The mogenar laughs and resumes crushing Torvek. He sends another distress call. "Agh... HELP!!! Corelloth's gone insane!"
The Empress sighed warily, but smiled nonetheless.
"Do as you believe you must."
And with these words, a wisp of her power was shed, and wormed its way into Veros' grasp.
PP Expenditure:
1 PP Given to Veros
The center became visible, as Corelloth came into view. She stared at Torvek- making eye contact with him. "I really don't want to kill you, sweetie- but I must do what I must! You tried to stop me from accomplishing this one task- Well, it seems as though you're wrong!" She looks over to the dark creatures out on the sand. "Look at that- this is what I wanted! My power- my way! You're just as arrogant as your mother once was!"
She looks back over to him. "How ironic, Torvek! You wanted peace and tranquility- and yet you gave me chaos and destruction! You gave me this power to control mass populations! And now, I'm gonna rid you of that opportunity to have the life you always wanted!"
The form covers her once again. "AND THAT STARTS WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS PUNY TOWN!!!"
She walks toward Azora once again- this time, wth Torvek witnessing the destructive powers of the Mogenar.
Nixis glanced over to Azor'Chapien.
"Probably behind the Slaad, wouldn't you think?"
Turning to Veros, he said.
"You have my power as well."
1 PP given to Veros
Ythrexle had been listening to the words of the gods as he lay upon the floor, and decided to cast his lot with Veros as well. He sat up with some effort, "I shall aid you as well, brother."
He turned to The Empress, "Empress, I have a question about these rules. My home plane of the Dream is directly connected to the material plane through a giant rift near the southern polar opening. If it is all right with all others present, I would rather remain there and safeguard it from unwanted entry instead of leaving existence with the other gods. I won't enter the material plane, but I shall repel others who are attempting to enter my domain from the world."
Gave 1PP to Veros
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"
Torvek furiously slashed out of the Mogenar's hand and escaped doom. He flies upwards, avoiding any of the hands that try to grab him again. He turns around and plummetted into the body of the Mogenar.
Inside was a surreal place- a small place- similar to the Asteal Plane, only darker. corelloth stood in the center of the place. "So, you have decided to stop me once and for all. We shall take this fight to the skies of the town." She pushes Torvek out of the place and follows him out.
The mogenar stops moving, as both Torvek and Corelloth come out of the form and clash their weapons. "This fight decides the fate of the entire universe!" She pushes torvek down, and he retaliates with an uppercut with his chakram. CLANG! Corelloth stabs at him, but he blocks it and they continue fighting.
She fires a ray of energy at him and it goes out to the sky. Torvek retailates with a bomb of radiance. It misses, plummeting down to Azora. Many Slaadi got caught in the explosion- killing them in the process. Torvek looks down. "They weren't mine anyways!"
He dodges a slash from Corelloth and continue the fight.
He sends another distress signal. "Corelloth is exposed! Attack her! She was the one that caused all of this!"
Torvek stares down to the ground, then a Corelloth. "Did you send out those little amphibious critters down there? I know I didn't!" He dodges another slash from Corelloth.
She replies with menace. "No- I did not, and I don't even care about them!" She stabs at Torvek and misses.
Torvek grumbles angrily. "LIAR!!!" He slashes at her. CLANG! She holds her spear out and blocks it. The weapons become lodged. Torvek tilts his head sideways. "Then who did it? Hmmm?"
Corelloth grunted. "I.. Don't... CARE!!!" She pushed torvek off, dislodging both weapons. He still floats in the air.
The Empress smiled down at Ythrexle.
"Perhaps you would prefer a chair?" said the Empress kindly, and she conjured one out of the air, a rather comfortable one, with soft green upholstery, "And as to your question, I am sure none here would object to such a thing, so long as you remain within your plane."
The Empress moves to help the other god into the chair. She pauses as if realizing something.
"Oh, where are my manners, would you perhaps prefer to retire to somewhere a bit more comfortable? This Palace may be in a state of disarray, but it wouldn't take long for me to make you up a bed."
Ythrexle allowed the goddess to help him up, a bit unnerved by her hospitality. Didn't she just kill another god? Where was the murderous rage that had been frighteningly apparent earlier? He almost didn't allow her to take his hand, but thought better of it. Surely if brother Veros thought this woman was respectful and worthy of his trust, he would accept that. And there was something about her kind gaze that was... oddly entrancing. Ythrexle felt his face come to a partial flush as she fussed over him, asking if he would like a bed to lie in.
"I am quite fine in this chair," he said in a friendly tone, "but thank you for the offer, Empress. You are indeed too kind." He smiled back at her as he reclined in the conjured chair.
Corelloth and torvek close in on each other. Their brutal impact sends them to another plane- Mechanus.
Corelloth sinks down below the gears, while Torvek is spent dearching for her. He calls for Dolestre.
She appears next to Torvek. "What is it?"
"Correloth's around here somewhere. If you're wondering why, go check out Azora and see for yourself." He says to Dolestre.
She disappears.
Corelloth snickers silently and aims her spear at Torvek- ready to fire a bolt of energy at him.
She fires and Torvek immediately dodges the projectile. It clinks on one of the gears. A strange metallic sound creaks overhead. The projectile hit the gear on a soft spot- makng it go out of place. The gear falls above Torvek. He gets out of the way and it smashes into another gear- causing the other to fall off as well.
This stops a small set of gears to a standstill. He looks down- no sign of Corelloth. "Maybe she wasn't so lucky..."
The spear stabs right through him- the least that he had expected. He yells in enormous pain. Corelloth grabs him and pulls him closer to her. "Maybe you should be more careful, sweetie." She takes the spear out of him and he falls on one of the still gears. The gear does not budge.
Corelloth smirks. "It is now time to resume my plan..."
Searing hot light flows right up and slices her spear in two. It blows up in her hand.
She looks down to see Torvek- standing up. He waves at her. "Allo!"
"WHAT???" she yells at him in anger. He jumps up and catches her with his chakram. "Now I will crush you in return. Any last words?"
Corelloth smirks at him. "Yes. Say goodbye to the Palace of Xa'an!"
She disappears in violet flames. torvek quickly goes to Azora. All horror struck him- as the mogenar was gone too. The Dark Azorans and Dakr Slaadi were still on Azora, but the Mogenar was nowhere to be seen. Dolestre floats by. "I just saw Corelloth and she got inside ths huge thing and disappeared..."
Torvek is stricken with fear. "WHAT!!???" He grabs Dolestre's arm and speeds his way to the Palace of Xa'an.
Corelloth never got near the palace of Xa'an, as Veros gathered the granted power in his grasp, focusing each individual's gift in a manner suited to that god, the power pulsing through out the Palace of Xa'an, she found a gateway opening before her, lingthing and thunder driving her into it, the gateway dumping her back on the ground where she had starts.
The Empress, a beautiful creature hiding a dark handful of sins within, similar to Corelloth, but truly divine where Corelloth was not. Her power provided a critical link, letting darkness link to darkness, providing a conduit along with pure energy would travel. Azor'Chapien's recent acquisition would prove his most useful trait. Retribution to provide the fuel to power the act, acting as its source.
Shurka's gift would be in the form of protection. Not protection for the Corelloth, but protection for those she was destroying. An act of violence now to protect the future of this world. Ythrexle's gift, the gift of aberrations, a gift that allowed the attack to bypass any form of protection that might otherwise deflect its power. And Nixis's gift, the power of friendship, to bind the various powers, so disparate and separated from each other, together into one unified whole.
All these gifts Veros gathered, and the Palace of Xa'an was inundated in energy, the sun glowing more brilliantly than it had ever before, the blinding light shining down upon Corelloth and her new tool, the Mogenar.
Coronas of light gathered in the air around, restraining the exarch, and cutting off any means of escape. Then, with a echoing scream, pure elemental forces burst forth, unleashing upon Corelloth.
Time seemed to stand still as a razor thin plane of light like the surface of a still lake passed over her and the Mogenar. It lowered to the ground, turning into a churning layer of boiling light. The light coalesced into points of brilliant intensity.
From the points of light, lightning erupted. Crackling cords of white fire climbed the air all around, filing the area with a pungent smell. With a flick of his finger, Veros directed the destructive energies, and lightning leapt from the coronas striking Corelloth. Azora shook in sympathy with the dancing thunder and dust filled the air. A building on the ground lifted into the air then exploded in a cloud of razor sharp shrapnel that was sucked into the streams of twisting light. The earth quaked and groaned as several large huge chunks of land rose into the air, colliding with the Mogenar before collapsing back the ground in a rain of dirt and stone. Whipping his hand out, Veros brought the power to a halt.
Corelloh stood, frozen for a moment, as the coronas glowed, then black ropes of lightning, undulating voids in the existence of light and life, like eternal death itself, blasted inwards, twisting and curling inwards, striking her and her artifact. Veros raised his hands as light ignited between them. The soft glowing mass rotated between his wrists as lacy veins of light twirled up his arms, flowing into the pulsing force. When he felt the power reach its peak, he cast his hands downwards. With a howl, the orb of light shot away, down into the world, passing effortlessly through the Azure Aegis, meeting the black lightning within the stricken dragon.
Stricken with unbearable agony, a echoing scream burst from Corelloth, long, piercing, otherworldly. The sound avalanched through the air. For miles around, pebbles danced on the ground and water danced in the lakes and ocean. The very air danced and began to move.
The scream burst forth again, and the mortals below were deafened in its fury.
But the third scream was worse. The magic invoked tore through the fabric of the air, and those nearby felt as if it were pulling them upwards and towards it. The air turned about her, great clouds of dust rising into the air at it's passing.
Darkness began to gather, the magic invoked taking the very light away, pulling the darkness as it was pulling the wind. Light and dark swirled around Corelloth as the energies gathered and focused, Veros releasing the full might gathered into her.
Corelloth stood frozen and screaming in the center of a maelstrom. The light was sucked into her. Darkness fell all about, midnight at the crack of noon. The only light was the coronas floating still in space around her. Lightning tore violently across the sky, flashing rapidly in every direction, forking, doubling, over and over until the sky burned. Thunder rolled through out the countryside, coalescing into a continuous fury, mixing with the scream, becoming a part of it.
The ground shook as the screaming thunder went beyond sound, to something else entirely. All across Azora, the ground cracked open in jagged ferocious tears. Shafts of violet light shot upward from the cracks and the bluish purple curtains of light vibrated, danced, and with gathering speed were sucked into the vortex, sucked to Corelloth. She was a glowing form in a sea of darkness, She was the only thing in existence; all else was nothingness, devoid even of light. There was a horrific impact to the air all about as the twin magics connected within her, pure destruction exploded outwards in a murderous blast. The very air howled as it burned, and the area ignited in a blinding flash of twin magics, opposites twisted in a deafening discharge of wrath, as the fabric of reality seemed to rip. For those unprepared for it, even the gods, it seemed as if reality itself were torn and collapsing/
As the vanished light and air exploded outwards. In a brief, tremendous flash of light, the trees across Azora were stripped of their leaves, as they were blown away in a cloud of green/ A wall of dust and sand followed behind, feeling as if it would strip the very flesh from the bones of those it collided with in it's explosive passing. The ferocity of the concussion tore the darkness away, and the light was returned.
The world stood frozen, watching, as Corelloth floated silently in the air, pale blue light coalescing into a jagged egg shape around her, gathered in intensity, purpose, and somehow, violence. The light suddenly bled away into the coronas, which then faded. Then she and her artifact exploded outwards in a fine rain of gore and divine energies unleashed, pieces and parts launched to the farthest edges of Taldar and even to the Free Nation. Before any had a chance to land, the winked out of existence in a black pulse, vanishing.
Veros looks back to the assembly. "Now that that irritationg is finished, shall we continue?"
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Nixis) + 1 PP (Ythrexle) - De-Xreate Artifact (Moderate) - The Monegar is obliterated.
1 PP (Shurka) + 1 PP (Empress) + 1 PP (Azor'Chapien) - De-Ascend Exarch - Corelloth is obliterated.
What was left to be the Mogenar was nothing but the palace walls- as if nothing happened.
Torvek layed on the floor- breathing heavilly. He mutters to himself from the chaos that ensued not too long ago. "Am I still alive?"
Corelloth was no more. --------------------------
On Azora, a radical change occured- the corrupted Azorans and Slaadi started to change back again- to their normal selves. The Azorans looked around and started to cheer- their tormented lives were no longer reality- it have become a long lost memory. The chaos that ensued over Azora loosened from the grip of Corelloth. Azora's peacetime seemed near.
(OOC- basically, the template is removed from the Azorans and Slaadi)
The Empress gazed dispassionately at Veros, as she shook her head warily. She crossed her arms in front of her chest before speaking.
"Could that not have waited until after the meeting?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Torvek gets up- in light of what's hapening around him. He is in the main hallway- separate from where the others were. He goes outside to meet with Dolestre. "It's okay, sis- it's over..."
They both fly back to Daelgar- where they were meant to be...
He pulled back his hood, his own eyebrow raised. "Are we not here to put of a stop to gods harming and killing mortals? That was just one more peice of evidence as the the necessity of this task."
Starting to turn back to the assembly,he nodded his head. "Next time, I shall ask our hostess's permission first though."
Shurka sighed heavily.
"Right, the meeting. First of all I have no objections with Ythrexle remaining in his dream world. But I would like to know if anyone had any objections to my own request; being either the last, or second to last, to leave the world?"
The sun rises high above the mists of Daelgar. Torvek stands on the trail of energy outside of his temple- in deep thought.
Hondala, Dolestre, and Terascul come up and stood by Torvek's side and stared out into the distance.
Torvek speaks. "You know what I found interesting? How in the world was Corelloth able to forge such a monstrosity in the first place?"
Dolestre nods in agreement. "Maybe she was trying to find her divine right of passage, but her corrupted soul got in the way. I knew that she was struggling from the inside out."
Torvke looks up in the daytime sky. "Right. The real question is- why would she lead us to my parents? Why couldn't she have told me before?" He looks back down to the rising sun.
He makes a large platform in front of him and the others and walked out on it. He raises a small boulder from the sea and placed it in the center of the platform of energy. "This will be the new meeting spot." He carves the top of the boulder to where it appeared as a flat surface. The chunks formed into round seats that circled around the flat rock. He expanded the platform to where he saw fit. "There."
He sat down on one of the rocks- Dolestre followed suit. The rising sun shone off of the temple in a bronze gleam. Torvek laid his chakram on the flat rock.
He would now accept anyone to enter his plane.
Chroma continued staring blankly at the walls of the Chaos, idly going over any possible solution to it's ever growing corruption. He supposed he could find a way to filter all the darkness of the infection into a vessel, but what kind of vessel could he possibly use to-
The child god screamed. The pain, it was... overwhelming. It was as if someone was tearing the very fabric of chaos inside out, corrupting it's very essence and transforming it into something darker, something alien, something completely different to what it was supposed to be. It seemed to go on forever... and then, simply stopped. Frowning to himself, the god of Chaos turned his gaze from the every yet never changing wall of the plane and turned his attention towards its interior. Was it just him, or did the plane seem... more alive? Elementals swam through the Chaos like fish through water, magma beasts played in its more firey reaches, and the slaad raged at wherever random portals to the world opened to show them it's order.
Slaad... they seemed off creatures. He would have said they were mean looking once, and had nothing to do with them. But now they seemed... interesting. They were made from the Chaos, the pure entropy and destructive part of it. They lacked the colour, the joy, the life that it gave, instead taking the infection of the plane into themselves and converting it into an odd kind of... insanity was the only word the child god could think of to describe it.
Maybe they were... opening a portal to view the largest population of the creatures he could sense on the material plane, Chroma looked out on the destruction of Azoria. The slaad did so much damage... it was exactly the sort of thing the child god opposed, had taken onto himself when he taken it upon himself to keep peace among the races of Ardune. But that wasn't Ardune was it... and the Azorians seemed to be holding their own. He remembered what the land was like... nothing but lords mistreating their peasants, and knights thinking that law was the only way and that chaos was an evil force to be extinguished. Hells, the slaad was doing the land a favor bringing a little chaos back into it!
Turning his eye from the war, the child god looked back at the veins of darkness pulsating through the plane sown by the destruction of a land and the meddling of a dragon god... and found a solution.
Torvek still stared out into the horizon of the sunrise. Hondala was overtaken by the serenity and sighs. Terascul continues to patrol the perimeter.
Dolestre laid her head on the stone slab. Torvek felt tired too, but he must keep himself awake. He must know what is happening around his plane at all times. He decided that he would only take a short rest.
Hondala floats gently to the stone slab and nestled between Dolestre's arms. They were all tired.
It was time... this would either save the Chaos- his Mother, the plane that had given a fraction of it's very essence to bring him into being- from it's corruption, or doom it and maybe the world beyond to an eternity of the infection. Either way, the matter would be over with, and the child god could rest knowing he'd done all he could to save the plane from destruction.
Focusing all of his power, Chroma blasted a spot in the center of the Chaos with a blast of radiant color, creating a blazing sphere of chaos energy... which failed to take any shape or form, unlike every other time he had used his power. But something did seem to be happening... the Chaos itself seemed to somehow lurch, as though something inside it was jumping in response to the power. The Chaos 'jumped', then did so again, until it was shaking rapidly, the power building and building until...
A black ichor SURGED out of the walls of the plane, congealing in a disgusting, smelly mass around the pure chaotic energy of Chroma's will, the infection finding a far more tempting target to taint than the plane around them. Chroma's coloured brow perspired as he fought to keep it from overwhelming his ball, forcing it to stay in tact until all the taint had been drawn to his lure... and suddenly, the flow of the infection died as suddenly as it came, taking the form of a massive orb of darkness with a coloured core of chaos hidden deep, deep within.
He'd done it... but he couldn't keep it in that form, otherwise the infection would merely overwhelm his energy and surge right back into his Mother. Moulding the disgusting orb like clay, the child god forged it into the most appropriate and easily created form he could conceive: that of a titanically large, obese even by their standards slaad, big enough to dwarf even the eldest of dragons, curled up as if in rest. But shape alone wouldn't keep the infection in check... the child god had to breathe life, a shred of divinity even into the abominable thing. And here was the tricky part... he needed to make it live, but he could not let it run amock among the world, destroying the work of other gods. If he let it interfere in other planes, he would be no better than the ones who meddled with his Mother...
Pouring a shred of his divinity into the creature, the child god willed himself to make it slumber, to make it not even have a moment of being awake, to make sure it spent it's entire existence in rest, to never even open it's eyes to view the world it could decimate single handedly barring divine intervention... there was a blinding light, and suddenly what was once a black ball of goop was now a black and white slaad, it's skin bedecked with dazzling swirls of darkness and light... but not a scrap of colour.
And it's eyes were shut, and it breathed with the deepness of sleep.
Sighing in relief, the child god decided that sleep alone was not enough to contain the beast. Creating an island in the Chaos, Chroma contained the creature in rock, and built atop the island a dazzling keep of stairs and arches that seemed to change every time you looked at it. Some of the stairs even seemed to be upside down, as if the laws of gravity itself didn't apply to the chaotic place. The slaad moved in immediately, sensing the presence of the colossus of their kind and relishing in the wonders of the keep, drawing on the exarchs power to further their own numbers and influence.
Chroma really didn't care. The threat to the Chaos was over, the beast was in rest, and he could now focus on making sure no-one ever hurt his Mother again...
PP Expenditure
3PP - Ascend Exarch - Baloral, the Sleeping - Baloral is a slaad the size of a large city, which thankfully is in extended hibernation. Legend has it though that if enough Chaos were to spread across the world, he would awaken, and so the slaad redouble their efforts to spread entropy. He provides a +1 Combat bonus
0PP (Chaos is Chromas plane) - Mould Land Minor - Create the Palace of Entropy - The Palace of Entropy becomes the ultimate stronghold for the slaad, and also serves as Baloral's prison. It's completely chaotic, often changing layouts on a whim and changing the direction of gravity as best serves it's purposes, even while the room in question is still occupied. The slaad seem to have no trouble finding their way around though.
0PP + 1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish the Slaad - With awakening Baloral as a far more effective close term goal than reducing the entire world to slag, the slaad redouble their effort and infect many new hosts to increase their number.
Torvek seemed bothered about something- something he forgot... what was it that he had left?
He snaps back up. "The Gateway! We haven't taken care of the Elemental Gateway!" He wakes Dolestre up and tells her. ----------------
On Azora, the only destruction left behind was the violet cracks in the town square. It was leaking with dark energy- Corelloth had put her essence into that focused beam. The flame that laid on the shoreline moves up into the sky and thrusts itself into the cracks. An amazing transformation occurs- the energy violently trembles underneath the earth and the cracks spread. An amorphous arm reaches out and a crudely shaped humanoid crawls out of the ground. It leaves the rubble behind it and disappears- without a trace. -----------------
The amorphous thing appeared in the Chaos- just above the Elemental Gateway. The gateway stirs and reveals itself one last time. The amorphous thing shoots down to it and fuses itself with the gateway. The gateway crumbles into large pieces and then reassembles itself into a monstrous behemoth of colossal size- much like the Mogenar that Corelloth had created. This time, Corelloth was nowhere near this beast. The Elemental Gateway had become something more- it had become the Elemental Mogenar- infused with the Dark plague that had scoured Azora.
The Mogenar stares over at the child god, who was a good distance away. The mogenar spots the huge temple. It does not focus on the structure- instead, it only moves toward Chroma- with earthshaking steps- with the element flowing through the beast from being hidden inside the forms of the Chaos.
(OOC- The Mogenar has the template applied to it- it was able to do that, since the materials for it to come alive were existent.
Oh- I haven't provided any Fluff about the Mogenar: mogenars are creations made from whatever materials assembled in a determined spot. The creator must either infused his/ her energy into the creation, or be present when forming the creation. As a result, this porvides a source of power to keep the creation alive.)
Ashalan was thinking about what the old god had said. He did not trust him. First he had seemed so angry with him and then he was trying to recruit him. "If I am going to go I had better go prepared." Said Ashralan. So he fashioned himself a trident from the force of the waves and a suit of armor from the polar ice that never melts. Finally he was ready.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ashralan flew straight to the Grand Distortion and sought out Hensen. "I have decided, old god." Said Ashralan. "I will join you in your war, whatever it is."
PP:
2 PP Create artifact: Miorog, the Trident of the waves.
2 PP Create artifact: Shocar, the Unmelting
Wizardry had finally managed to create a stronghold for itself upon the Califian isles. After millenias of a bard-ruled monopoly on the use of magic a Califian lord went against the advice of his ministers and chose to invite a cabal of wizards from the mainland.
In the matter of weeks a group of wizards consisting mainly out of Eladrin, Humans and one or two Humites arrived to the golden shores of the Califian archipelago. They marveled at the site of it´s vast mountains, arable farmlands and the size of it´s trade fleet.
What impressed them the most though was probably the mountains and it was there they wizards of Calafi chose to settle.
Among the mountaintops a chain of small fortresses were constructed with a mixture of Dwarfish masonry and foreign wizardry. Deep within the mountains libraries were constructed to hide arcane lore, within the cities well-paid men of the King recruited magically gifted men and women to be schooled in the knowledge of the foreign masters.
For millennias the Bards rule over the isles magical population had been supreme and it was unwillingly and in some cases even under threat they finally seized with the protests that this outrageous decision had sparked.
The Order of the Silver Cap had been founded. The royally sponsored, maintained and controlled order of wizardry within the kingdom of Kraka Calafi.
Teach populace: Citizens of Kraga Calafi are now able to become wizards.
It was happening again. Chroma could sense the perversion in the Chaos- his Chaos- as something totally alien came forth, the very Chaos itself shieing away from it lest it become infected with it's otherworldly strain once more. Impassively, the child god turned to where he sensed the power, idly noting the mishappened monstrosity marching towards him. He was getting tired of this... it was time to end this, once and for all. No mercy, no consideration of what this thing might even be, it was time to end it all.
Not even gathering divine energy, the child god reshaped itself to create a massive lash of colour and chaos, before sending it streaking out towards the monstrosity. Impacting heavily, the lash simply seared straight through the beast, cutting it in half in less than a second. The creature seemed to stare dumbly for a second, before it simply exploded in a cloud of energy, it's very being dissolved into mere particles.
Unfortunately, it's messy demise meant a lot of it's corruption, taking the form of black globules of ichor, splashed about the plane, wobbling as they vainly tried to find a way into the now almost completely pure plane. They seemed harmless enough, but if one did manage to find a way in... sighing to himself, the child god floated towards a glob, before blasting it with energy, dissolving it effortlessly. Floating onward, the god set about doing it for every glob that had blasted forth. This might take a while...
PP Expenditure
0PP - Destroy the Mogenar - Since Xeadin didn't put any PP behind it, destroying it is more or less fluff anyway.
Winter looks at Nixis, coughs. "I don't know"
Summeer, to Empress, "No you don't understand. We aren't simply connected to the moons, we are the moons. Our presence here is merely what you could call an 'avatar.' Seperating our divine essence from our physical essence, well we don't know what would happen, but it could be fatal."
----
The Miasma continued to expand as it "ate," or maybe converted, more and more aether into itself, along with anything unfortunate enough to get caught in it. It appeared in the sky as a milky type substance but grew ever larger. It began to haze every so slightly the entire sky, blotting out the stars for most of the day, which made astral navigation by them (on the seas or otherwise) very difficult. As it expanded it began to move in the front of the sun and even the moons, making them appear softer and the light slightly tinged. The loss of heat and light caused the worlds to cool down. Glaciers expanded across the world from their polar areas, the winter seasons became elongated even in temperate climates and even tropical areas were affected. For all intents and purposes, it was the dawn of an ice age in the world.
----
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Mold Land - convert more aether to miasma, beginning covering the sky and hazing the sun and moons and making the stars difficult to see.
1 PP - Denourish Yogloids - keep dying to Miasma
3 PP - Greater Mold Land - World enters an ice age.
The Empress nodded in understanding at the twin Maras' words.
"Perhaps, due to your unique situation, we could change the parameters of the agreement ever so slightly," said the Empress, her brow furrowed in thought, "Instead of restricting you to a certain plane, you would no longer to manifest as you do now, and be constrained to your moons, and otherwise suffer the same restrictions as any other god."
The Empress directed her next words at the group at large.
"Would any present begrudge this of our fair moon goddesses?" asked the goddess.
Hensen was sitting in the hall of his palace a legion of lesser servants was dancing in front of him, forming an elaborate play that a mortal mind could not comprehend and even a god without hensen's multiple minds would have found meaningless and crazed.
For a while ha had amused himself watching the visions granted from the Eye of the Pantheon that he had called back form the ruined palace of Xa'an. "What a waste, he tought, so much effort from Drathor in building it as a gift for his beloved emperess, so much effort from us in turning it into a divine seat of power and now it lies in ruins..."
When Ashalan came the hydra god welcomed him into his realm, the castle of endless possibilities was full of activity, legions of unshaped and living illusions where swarming its endless halls they were all running around in frenzy as if every creature there had a mission that it must fullfill but nothing they were doing had an evident purpose.
"Welcome my friend" told the white head "I'm happy that you decided to accept my offer, you will not regret that, there is an enemy of mine that has foolishly attacked the pantheon, her realm is vast it could easily be divided amoung us after we are done I think that it is time that we begin showing a little of our might."
"I think that it is time that your forces create a new foothold in the world, if you want I'll provide them with a place to stay and my gifts, should they choose to accept the Pantheon faith of course"
++++++
Then he became distracted, he sensed the ice age coming, many of the prayers and visions granted by the Eye showed fear in the eyes of the world creatures. However Hensen could not feel it, he could only percieve the great potential, with a climate shift not culture will be able to stay unchanged. He looked at the miasma devouring the aether as a work of art.... Beautiful, even the chaotic storm released by chillhund sinking was not so awesome. "Shall we do something?" Told one of the grey heads "Maybe we should just watch and let the world change by itself" replied its twin, "Or instead we can gain some advantage from it..."
Then hensen's mind begun infusing itself in the one of his servants. A few things must be made to set his plans in motion.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The herald, leader of the Drakhorn and long time ally of the Iron State, went to visit the rulers of that metal nations, coming with an escort of thirteen mighty warriors, all souless ones, with an unshaped demon lurking under their skin.
"We bring a proposition for your kind, one of vengenace, war and conquest..."
"No, that sounds perfectly reasonable. As long as that outcome is agreeable with Mara."
Hensen was sitting in the hall of his palace a legion of lesser servants was dancing in front of him, forming an elaborate play that a mortal mind could not comprehend and even a god without hensen's multiple minds would have found meaningless and crazed.
For a while ha had amused himself watching the visions granted from the Eye of the Pantheon that he had called back form the ruined palace of Xa'an. "What a waste, he tought, so much effort from Drathor in building it as a gift for his beloved emperess, so much effort from us in turning it into a divine seat of power and now it lies in ruins..."
When Ashalan came the hydra god welcomed him into his realm, the castle of endless possibilities was full of activity, legions of unshaped and living illusions where swarming its endless halls they were all running around in frenzy as if every creature there had a mission that it must fullfill but nothing they were doing had an evident purpose.
"Welcome my friend" told the white head "I'm happy that you decided to accept my offer, you will not regret that, there is an enemy of mine that has foolishly attacked the pantheon, her realm is vast it could easily be divided amoung us after we are done I think that it is time that we begin showing a little of our might."
"I think that it is time that your forces create a new foothold in the world, if you want I'll provide them with a place to stay and my gifts, should they choose to accept the Pantheon faith of course"
"You speak of the Empress." Said Ashralan. "I would be happy to join the Pantheon but I will not attack her. If it was not for her attack on Vyrml it would be me imprisoned in Tamarung with a spear through my chest."
Kiptar stared out at the world, so large, and so flourishing with life. It knew that the god's time was passing. It was something that it had always known. It must begin to leave it, to give it a final present. It called his artifacts to it, as well as Gears, its faithful exarch. It gathered the power, and began to spread it out over the world.
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Dragons from the Iron State changed, with silvery scales, adapted to the new cold, to face the long winters ahead.
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The land, over all the world, grew more hardy, adapted to the cold. Creatures would be born with cold in them, giving them power.
PP:
1 PP: Nourish Populace(Gears): Iron State grows stronger, more numerous, and has plenty in the Ice age.
1 PP: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears)(Cultural Contact): Iron State learns Astronomy.
4 PP: Shape Populace(Greater)(Gear of Creation): Silver Dragons
2 PP: Spawn Template: Frost Adept.
2 PP: Nourish Land: The animals of the world grow hardier, tougher to face the cold.
The Ice Age, ultimately, would matter surprisingly little to the residents of Ardune. They were used to living in a harsh and forgiving land, a lowering of it's temperature only added a drop to the ocean. The gnolls needed to skin their prey to make furs as well as armour, the genasi could go out in the day more and the night less, the boggarts swamp thickened into even more slow moving sludge, but all in all they remained unaffected. The only exception to this were the behemoths, who's numbers declined somewhat due to their affinity for tropical climates, but since most regarded the behemoths as little more than walking bags of meat (or in the case of the genasi, mounts) the intelligent races paid little heed.
The ghouls, undead as they were, didn't even notice the new colder temperatures as they set about making the final scourge dragon, struggling to push the cauldron in a position to pour it into the mould. Russet had had to think long and hard to find the material for this creature... plague was simple, war slightly more complicated but had been easy enough to work out in the end. Famine had been a challenge, but only because it's essence had been hard to gather. But this final dragon... Russet had struggled to find what it would need to come into being, but had been unable to think of anything that might even come close to its essence. Until he'd had a wicked flash of inspiration...
Out from the cauldron poured forth what could only be described as evil itself. The blood, sweat, and liquefied bodies of the Ghoul Kings weaker devil lords poured forth into the mould, filling it with it's corrupting being and the malevolence of pure, unbridled evil. Before the ghouls could even attempt to flee before the rising of the dragon, the entire mould simply exploded outward, skewering numerous undead servants with massive shards of rocks.
And from the ensuing dust arose a dragon of the blackest midnight, lacking legs and wings but with forearms large enough to make up for it. It appeared to be wearing a sort of natural armour of bone, and gave off such waves of death and evil that to be in it's presence was to feel as if death was but an inch away, that to so much as go to sleep would mean you wouldn't wake up.
Russet smiled at his newest creation. "And so, the four are complete, and shall ride with me as I one day end this pathetic world..." Was it just him, or was there... something else in that rubble than mere stone?
PP Expenditure
3PP + 1 Guide PP from Beryl - Create Death Dragons - Death Dragons are powerful Scourge Dragons that give off an aura of death. To even be knocked unconscious in it's presence is fatal, and against the most powerful of it's kind knocked out foes are reduced to dust as they touch the floor.
As the world grew colder, the beholders of Greyfang mountain discovered that their ever growing network of pipes connecting the Tap to the surface was useful in keeping their homes warm and their bodies un-frozen. snow and water was fed into the pipes near the base of the tap, and the steam that was produced was fed through the myriad of pipes to heat all the internal spaces of the mountain and the city, utilizing the deep trenches dug by the Beholders. The watchtowers of T'garth were now staffed with Eyes of Frost, able to survive indefinitely in the colder climates.
True to Nylarthotep's word, an envoy of the Beholders was sent to the eladrin, bringing with him the secret of heating as a peace offering.
The envoys to the Free Nations met with little success. It appeared that their former slaves had absolutely no desire to speak with them, which, the Beholders figured was understandable. The mystery of the Yogloid would have to wait for now.
However, the day the beholder envoy returned home, an odd thing occured. T'ssska, the leader of the contingent, felt something in his mind twitch when he looked at a particular diplomat from the free nation. Focusing his eyes on the diplomat, the ultimate tyrant saw the most oddest of thing... the human appeared to have two bodies. One was his normal body, the other was a hazy, indistinct shape. Curious, T'ssska momentarially powered his telekenisis eye and tugged at the second form.
With a scream, the unshaped was pulled out of the human, and dived into another member of the free nation's delegation. T'ssska dragged it out of that member, and it dived into a beholder, whose eyebeams began indiscriminatly stabbing out, carving swaths of destruction in the building they were meeting in. T'ssska dragged the unshaped out of the beholder, who slumped, eyestalks drooping and the devastation stopping. With great determination, T'ssska held the unshaped in the air, watching it twist and turn, trying to escape, until it finally gave in to entropy as its shell was stripped away and the real world touched its core for the first time. As the unshaped vanished, T'ssska turned to the others in the room, eyestalks twitching in agitation. He hissed to the Free Nation delegates.
"What was that? What sort of devilry is this? Was that meant to make us one of your puppets? I knew we should never had trusted slaves. We will not attack you, but if we see you anywhere near T'garth, we will not hesitate to destroy you."
The beholder envoy left quickly, returning to Greyfang mountain and sharing how T'ssska had noticed and gotten rid of the Unshaped. The beholders vowed to learn more about this bizarre, invisible threat.
2 PP: Guide Populace: Beholders learn the secrets of internal heating through steam.
1 PP: Guide Populace: Beholders teach Eladrin the art of internal heating.
2 PP: Guide Populace: Beholders learn to identify and destroy Unshaped.
The remaining globs of the corruption soon went towards each other, but Chroma siezed the opportunity to get rid of the vast majority. Soon, the globs were completely defenseless, and had to retreat . Chroma delivered the final blow to the glob and it perishes. The pieces of the elemental Gateway starts to shrivel up into bright blue masses of energy. They soon become vaporous and dissolve into the landscape. An eternal graveyard- nurturing the Chaos in a miniscule amount. The Elemental Gateway was no more.
While the delegate attempted to hide the fact that they was surprized at the Beholder they still was unsetted by the presence of the weird creature, they will have more to report than the answer of the Beholders...
But there were other eyes watching the envoy actions, eyes that was extremely displeased by what happened there...
The delegation has decided to report to anyone but Freedomguard high council and in secret they have sought the help of Elder Mirach, one of the most influential humite leader of the Eldest Council. The hoped that such an important leader was free from outsider influence...
He was once... but Kovadis, the unshaped leader in Freedomguard could not allow that kind of informations to roam free, for now they have enjoyed much influence over the governament and exsposure would represent a massive loss for his kind.
When the diplomat entered the Elder chambers he found them heavily guarded, af first it was a relief, but it turned into a nightmare when the minister greeted him, as a weird blue energy was pulsating within his eyes.
Before the slaughter was over, however, another humite entered the room, in silence he begun to fight the possessed guards, with pain in his eyes as with the demon banishment the body of the unlucky soldier fell to the ground, dead... Yorik managed to liberate the envoy and to escape the Palace of the People alive.
In order to prevent them to report their presence the Unshaped manipulated the council to believe that the emissaries was controlled by the beholder and an hunt was organized to get them...
After listening to their informations Yorik realized that this monsters needed to be exiled from Bloodmyst and begun organizing a resistance group within the archipelago, carefully revealing the truth to a few friends while seeking for a way of liberating his people from the monsters...
The Doran Dusk, chain breakers, order was born.
After a while of unsuccessful research they resorted on desperate matters, they sent in secret a message to the Beholder asking for the way to identify the demons.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
While still holding a vast influnce in the Free Nations the unshaped found themselves under attack by teh Doran Dusk order and by Yorik, while they could easily dispatch any mortal, but the exarch and Godsbane, they were still forced to hide their actions, some time costing them precious pawn. Alo the beholder ability to discover made them afraid of what was happening.
Within the darkest laboratories of Qar'Dask they begin experimenting on the few beholder prisoners, unveiling more about their nature. They devised powerful ritual magic that allow them to fool the monster ability to detect them and even manage to become able of possessing the weird creature.
However the rate of success of such a process is not as high as they wished, as the weird mind of a beholder is too hard to fully comprehend, even by the Unshaped. They decided to begin capturing more creatures for fourther experimentation.
Using beholder research they managed to produce new unexpected effects, at first they tried to apply the ritual to overcome doppleganger natural resistance to possession, while it was occasionally successful, it still was far from satisfying, the mutable form of these hosts just did not fit well with the unstable nature of the demons. However they managed to find a weird compatibility between the beholder strange physiology and the one of the shapeshifter....
1 PP Guide - The Unshaped (possessed ones) Learn a Ritual that allows them to hide themselves from the Beholder, however its rate of success is roughly 50% and the ritual needs a frequent renew.
1 PP Nourish - Free Nations, The Oder of Doran Dusk is formed.
The outcome of the research will be posted later as soon as I finalize it
After the tramautic events of the past years, and the war which turned into nothing but a slaugterr, the pychological impact upon the Gnomes living in the Aether was subtle but profound. They developed what could best be described as a culturally guilty conscious. Afterall, they claimed to be refugees, but that label clearly didn't fit. Whether justly or not, what was left of the aether (still receding) was theirs now. The forbidding sense of Karma was bolstered by the nascent understanding, gleaned from many souces, was that the divine warden of the aether also happened to be the Goddess of retribution. This, if anything, was not a position they wanted to be in.
So some Gnomes began the practice of making offerings occasionally, essentially hoping their observance would be enough of "I'm sorry." Whether it would be was no known, but the practice spread anyways, and it was at least an excuse for another festival or two.
PP Expense:
1 PP - Guide Populace (from artifact) - Children of Aether worship Mara.
While they did not manage to duplicate the dopplegnagers power, they still achieved something, under the earth, hidden in a cave adorned with pure bloodstone, the Unshaped mixed dopplegnager and beholder blood, with the weird energies of the place and a new life form was born.
The first experiment was partially unsuccessful, as the new creatures was too chaotic to have a coherent tought and be of any use. The first gibbering beasts was made that day, as its creator it was an abomination unable to keep a permanent form, unlike them its mind was unable of complex tought. However they still had some advantages, mainly that they could be bred in large number, in Qar'Dask laboratories or in the Grand Distortion supernatural forges.
The Uhaped learned how to control these beasts and begun to create armies of them, storing them in the underdark and on their homeplane in secret.
2 PP Guide (from Aether Ripples) - The Possessed Ones learn how to control gibbering creature and to breed them in form that suits their needs.
1 Pp Spawn Heroic Tier Gibbering Mouther.
2 Pp Spawn Paragon creature - Gibbering Abomination
1 Pp nourish (from Bloodstones) - Gibbering Mouthers.
New Creatures will come next turn when I have the points for that.
As the Ice age progress the climatic shift was felt in Bloodmyst, as it almost tropical temperatures are beginning to fall. The highly mutable bloodstone vegetation was fast to become accustomed to the new conditions but while the people too have a knack for adapting it was too much and too fast. Freedomguard governament, usually caring and focused on his people, was distracted by the hidden war between the Unshaped and Yorik Chain Breakers and became almost blind to its people wish.
But the city states could not ingnore their inhabitants.
Novost, still recovering from the catastrofic event of a few centuries ago, could not stand an ice age, they formed an agreement with their rivals of Vassen and Draxa and begun sending diplomats to their allies, emissaries was sent to New Terena, the Iron States, Azora, Alexandria, Meriba and Silvera, even if the diplomacy never got friendly with these two states. Free Nations diplomats asked the leader of the world powers to find a common solution that would allow survival in the coming age.
I'd like a last mortal stories about that, however if we prefer to leave it as an "open point" I have no problem
Deep under the earh, totally uneffected by the shifting climate of the surface the Brain Kruthic, after becoming annoyed again, decided to begin altering their realm, using their lesser cousins as cheap labor they begun harvesting bloodstone veins and to plant new crystals around their homeland, while they did not have any knowledge of architecture or mining they found out that the material just allowed itself to be used as they liked, forging a vast labirintine region around Redclaw mountain.
After a while however that hobby became too ineffective in satisfying their curiosity and they begun looking for some other sentient creature to talk to.
1 Pp Mold (from Bloodstones) - A large area around Rageclaw mountain is covered in bloodstone formations shaped like weird and alien sculntures.
the Brain Kruthic will seek other inhabitants of the inner world, if anyone there is interested in some mortal stories I'm up for that (Brain Kruthic concept, alien and scary in shape but civilized and friendly in mind), Anubis or Shadow (gnols or minotaurs).
The wondermaker moved back to the main continent, so many cultures, so many unfulfilled wishes that he could satisfy. There a rich dwarven noblewoman was suffering, as her lover was separated from her. He was, in fact a werewolf, considered an enemy of her clan. When the wondermaker came he begun realizing little wishes of the people, granting them small arcane items, for a price of course, when the noblewoman knew about him she ordered the leader of his guards, a dwarf so loyal to her that he has never revealed her relation with the monster in order not to hurt his mistress, to go to the travelling sellsman and offer him an huge sum of gems in exchange for an item that will allow her to turn into a wolf but keep her mind free of the bestial curse so that she could run free with her beloved.
The dwarf went to the Wondermaker with grief in his hart, for he loved his lady too and was hoping that she could forget her lover and marry him one day. While walking to the inn where the Wondermaker was currently living he tought that maybe this time even his wishes will become true.
The stranger agreed to grant the noblewoman an amulet that will turn her into a werewolf, taking the gems, but also promised to fullfill the request of the dwarf. He provided him with an enchanted silvery arrow that could kill the werewolf and of a veil that will hide is features, so that the lady will not discover who murdered her lover.
Using the arcane gifts the dwarf managed to easly overcome his opponent, sending him into the grave before bringing the amulet to the his lady. After a while the treacherous dwarf managed to marry the lady, however he did not get what he wanted, she was too saddened of the death of his lover and never forget him, after a while she became a true werewolf as the amuled altered her body and grief reshaped his mind. And so his unlucky husband was forced to hide into his room at night, fearing every second that the wrath of her Lady will turn on him...
The wondermaker just left the town, satisfied of what he earned. Centuries later the Wolfhart Amulet, that turn people into monster, fell into the end of a ruthless bandit... but this is another tale...
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker) - Wolfhart Amulet, a small silvery amulet that can turn the wielder into a werewolf while keeping his mind fully human.
Despite its closeness to the equator, Asika was hit particularly hard by the coming cold. Perhaps it was due to the wide open spaces that allowed frigid air to sweep across the continent, and the single mountain range that trapped the air and froze the land. The wide open deserts became places of bone-chilling cold and powerful winds. The tall mountains too felt the cruel sting of cold. This harsh new clime gave rise to hardier beasts that stalked the land. Existing creatures had to adapt to survive. Brown dragons were hampered by theior reduced ability to burrow in the frozen earth of their homes, and so were forced to make more permanent dwellings beneath the land that took long to construct, but were much more stable thanks to the hard earth. The rainforests to the south of the continent could not stand the cold, and were quickly replaced by hardier coniferous trees that grew from their fallen husks. The green dragons there made wintry forts from the fallen trees to protect themselves from the numbing cold.
The red dragons were perhaps the most affected by the cold, not being as resistant to it as the rest. They retreated further into their mountain homes, and did their best to shelter themselves from the cold. Many red dragons died during this time. Some retreated beneath the ground, where they adapted to the dark, and the twisting nature of the caverns, their colour deepening in hue, birthing the first purple dragons. Black dragons fared perhaps more favourably, keeping to the dark places, and beneath the glaciers that formed about the southern tip of the continent. They developped a new method of hunting in which they would burst up through the ice to grab their prey and pull them below. Not surprisingly, the type of dragons that actually benefited from the new climate were the White Dragons. Dwelling in and amongst the glaciers that formed at the northern end of the continent, white dragons flourished during this age.
In many cases, the Eladrin and Dasa members of the Empire fared worse than their draconic overlords, though in some cases, they fared better. Suplemented by their giant slaves, the Dasa were able to build many majestic cities across the length and breath of the continent, keeping as close as they could to the natural habitats of the dragons. Still, despite the forbidding cld that pervaded the continent, the Asikan Empire was able to expand straight across the continent. Though their natural abilities did not lend well to staving off the cold, their natural ingenuity allowed them to come up with ways to defend against the cold. And so, wrapped in furs, the members of the Asikan Empire prepared to deal with the even harsher cold that was sure to come.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) Nourish Land (Lesser) - The harsh clime gives rise to hardier beasts and plants.
4 PP (Artifact) Shape Populace (Greater) - Purple Dragons
1 PP (Artifact) Guide Populace (Lesser) - Purple dragons join the Asikan Empire
2 PP (Artifact) Mold Land (Moderate) Glaciers form at the northern and southern ends of Asika.
1 PP Nourish Populace (Lesser) Despite the new Ice Age, the Asikan Empire is able to flourish and spread right across the continent, forming many cities all across its length and breadth
Back at Skyspeak, Ythrexle’s newest exarch grew tired of waiting for his instructions. Without provocation, it began to fly the spherical ship toward the southern polar opening, it was the location it’s master wanted to go to eventually. The great black ship whizzed through the air, eventually reaching the southern extremity. It was a mammoth hole engulfed in a vicious storm with an eye in the center of the roiling torrent that was almost nine miles in diameter. The ship opened for the third and final time, the Ythrans aboard floating safely above it in the grip of the exarch as it inverted itself, the internal spire housing the Stone of Revery pointing directly downward. Tapping into it’s creator’s divine power, it created a massive chunk of rock and land, a forested plateau which stood nearly a mile high and five miles across tapering to a point which rested upon the Yrragard. Channeling the energies of the stone itself, the unnamed exarch crafted a massive pillar which pierced through the newly-formed continent, anchoring it to the ship. The pillar also began feeding the land much needed nutrients, giving it’s layers of fresh soil the means to support vegetation. Finally, the Ythrans were set upon the surface, eagerly awaiting the return of their divine patron.
Thus the floating land of Seborenn was born.
PP Expenditure:
2PP - Mold Land (moderate): Create a large chunk of land atop the Yrragard
1PP + 1PP from the Stone - Create Artifact: The Primal Anchor holds the land steady atop the
ship and fills the soil with nutrients to help sustain life.
The Patren were not affected much by the Ice Age. Their desert grew slightly more temperate, , and the terraforming of the land for agriculture was easier, but they otherwise hardly noticed the difference.
-----
The various kingdoms of old Sivera was among the hardest struck of the mainland nations by the dropping temperatures. Wide open spaces made it easy for the frigid cold to sweep in and destroy crops.
Without a central government to help the most heavily injured, starvation and death would have swept the land, had it not bee for their fervent protectors. An ancient organization with deep pocklets and large reserves of wealth, they quickly arranged for shipments of food fromplace that were doing better, such as Terena and Naru.
Through their actions, the group which had long been largely ignored through the region was able to gain some influence in many of the tiny kigdoms.
-----
The planet quivered slightly, unnoticable to mortals, as the bulwark vented contained energy, relasing pressure that built up over time.
The venting energy weaved it's way through the crust, leaving tunnels and great caverns in it's wake. Eventually, the energy breached the surface on Taldar, leaving great volcanoes in it's wake.
Though the new volcanoes kill some of the minotaurs, the geothermal heating and the many new hot springs allows the minotaurs to continue as they had been.
Throughout these new tunnels, creatures migrating from the surface made their way into the depths, seeking warmth andprotection from the biting cold, filling the tunnels with all sorts of funguses andplants adapted to little light.
The tunnels also opened many new passages to the mind flayers beneath Meribia. Forming themselves into a nation,a concept they had found in the brains they had consumed, they called themselves the Monis, and began to expand through the underdark, exploring.
-----
Alexandria, long attuned with nature, took the changing of the age like it took anything else. A suimple circumstance to be dealt with. As the worship of Veros caught on from the general populace to the nation proper, they used a combination of primal magics and alchemy to stave off the frigid cold and biting winds.
-----
For ages, the unshaped had been possessing humanoids. Most had little to no resistance to their powers, but for the doppelgangers.
For unknown reasions, likely involving a unique pyschology connected to their unique physiology, they could and often did resist attempts by the unshaped to enter them and control their body. It wasn't guaranteed, but they were safer than those of other races.
Those few unshaped who were able to possess doppelgangers found that it was not all fun and games. Even possessed, the minds of these creatures fought relentlessly and powerfully, struggling for control.
Over the centuries, a few rare unshaped lost these mental battles, but were not forced from the host, instead forming an odd symbiosis, where both were forced to work together in order to survive. These conjoined beings lost their ability to change shape, but gained impossibly strong mental defenses.
Over time, they gave birth to a new species. These Kalashtar were most commonly born to the unions of humans or doppelgangers and existing kalashtar, but as the bloodlines dispersed, and they could be born among any of the races. The unique nature of their distant parents made each and every kalashtar unique, bearing two individual but intertwined souls, the soul of a mortal as well as the shard of an unshaped's soul. This feature made them uniquely immune to the possession of other unshaped.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Avariels
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Patren
1 PP - Nourish Land - Underdark
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Alexandria
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Monis
1 PP - Nourish Land - The land around Menosa becomes volcanic
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Mindflayer nation of Monis formed in the depths of the underdark.
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace - Kalashtar
1 PP (artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Worship of Veros spreads into Alexandria
1 + 1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Greater) - The underdark expands, interconnecting tunnels lacing about the prexisting ones
Turn 58 begins now. 14,500 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Hensen Jijou, The Empress, Shurka, Mara, Nixis, Kiptar, Chroma
5 - Eijra, Hammu, Azor-Chapien
4 - Ythrexle, Torvek, Ashralan
(The last Refresh, eh? Time to give these Dracos something to wonder at, and to put Torvek's powers to good use this time!)
Torvek stares upon the small island and decides that he needed to enlarge it so that it can support more life. He raises the island just a tad bit more- increasing the area of the natural landscape- a few of the rolling hills became small mountains- some plains became plateaus and short canyons. This was how he wanted the island to look like. His plans had worked.
He guided the Dracos to explore the new island's splendor and what it has to offer to them.
he decides that the island needed more than just intelligent creatures. He spawns a group of animals that pranced around the landscape. They were deerlike, but had the unusual anatomy of antlers- sticklike protrusions like mottled horns on a bull. They were the Elk. They lived on the plains and plateaus of the island.
Torvek also noted that he needed a way to guide some intelligent races from one plane to another. He thought of the Azorans on the Prime plane- this would develop a sort of interaction with the Dracos and the Azorans to some degree. He chooses to create a portal where the Dracos and Azorans can travel through to each plane. He connected the portal to the Prime plane near Azora- on the surface of the sea.
His work was done. He had put his powers to good use this time.
PP Expenditure:1pp- Mold Land- the island now becomes a small continent- laiden with small mountains, plateaus and canyons.
1pp- Guide Populace- The Dracos explore the new features of the island.
1pp- Spawn Beast- The Elk, a relative to the deer, comes into existence. The males have noteworthy woody antlers of intricate patterns. No two antlers are alike on any Elk.
1pp- Create Artifact- A portal connecting Daelgar and the Prime plane is established.
Hensen's mind came back to his body, he was apparently lost within his tought, it was happening more and more recently, he could sense the wind of change the storm was beginning to weaken, maybe even to stop forever, he feared...
The white head turned to Ashralan, it looked tied, but a dark light still burned into his eyes. He smiled to the god of the seas...
"Well she is just one of those, I was entranced by the empress for a while too, so I can't blame you if you don't want to join and I'll not be displeased as long as you keep your world and are ready should we call in the future... "
"Leave my plane or stay if you want, you might appreciate the fact that reality bend to the wildest dreams... a thing that in the world is slowly becoming impossible even for the gods like us"
Veros looked around the room and nodded. "Then we are in agreement. Go toyou're allies and friends not here, and tell them that the age of gods is over, that all must retreat from the world. It is time for us to let our creations make their own way and shape the world themselves. Those who refuse must be made to come, to make their homes in the Astral Sea, so that the world can truly be secure."
Sighing deeply, he pulled his cowl back up, turning to look out over the world once more,muttering to himself. "There is much to finish before all can be ended."
Azor'Chapien nodded and returned to his fortress. He noticed that the Azorans were having some difficulty moving bases, so he moved the portal destination from the old fortress to the new fortress on the north-eastern border, enabling his armies to move with greater speed.
Then, he decided to finish the slaad situation once and for all. He severely doubted the now-dead dragon was behind the slaad, so he decided to trace them to their location of origin: The Elemental Chaos. Summoning Eon to his side, he teleported himself to the Elemental Chaos.
Pain. That was the first thing he felt. he was a being of pure order, and the Chaos was the opposite... Yet he had to find the one who had nearly destroyed Azora. He sensed a god's presence nearby, and headed in that direction.
The Chaos was settling down to it's usual self... the infection that had plagued it was gone, contained within the bodies of the slaad and what was fast becoming their sleeping god (in terms of significance, not literally) Baloral. Things seemed to be drawing to a close... and from what little the child god had checked up on in Ardune seemed fine, the races having found their niche in the world. All in all, things were becoming... right. And with that rightness, Chroma was beginning to rediscover his former self. Slowly...
The slaad really were icky... looking down on their Palace of Entropy as he saw them raging about hoping to discover portals to the material world and plan their next strike in the war against both Ardune and Azoria, Chroma seriously considered whether he should try and do something to stop their slaughtering of the children of the gods... but the slaad were the only thing keeping the Chaos from being infected from Corelloths meddling and the dragons defilement. If they were to be wiped away... who knows what would happen to his mother. Besides, it wasn't like the other gods hadn't tended to wicked things in their time, and he wasn't even responsible for their creation, merely nudging them a little towards prosperity.
Wait... something was in his Chaos. Something... different. Orderly, too orderly, it made him sick just thinking about it. But it was familiar at the same time... turning towards the source of the feeling, Chroma floated idley through the Chaos. He even managed to muster the joy to do a brief flip at one point.
Azor'Chapien was close to the entity... then, he found it. Chroma.
He said, "Hello, Chroma. Your just who I was looking for. You see, Azora has had some... problems. Many people are dead... good people, because of creatures of chaos, the slaad. I couldn't think of any other chaos gods, so I traced to to you. Now then... answer me, did you or did you not create the slaad?"
He slowly got his sword ready.
Chroma stared blankly at Azor'Chapien for a few moments, before turning to the side.
"So I take it you aren't here to play then?" he asked. "That's okay, I'm not in the mood lately anyways. But your question is... difficult. I suppose the most accurate answer is 'no'. See, remember Mr Torvek, and his arech neemasie Ms Correloth? Seems that Correloth had been messing with the Chaos, and bringing in things that didn't belong. This made Mother sick, but she was strong, she could hold onto herself for the most part. But then the mean dragons used Mother to destroy that poor nation, and with her already being sick she got really, really ill. I had to take care of her for centuries upon centuries... but the sickness of Mother became really angry in that time, and decided to take a form all on it's ownsome. The slaad, as you know them, are literally the sickness that inflicted Mother."
Chroma turned back towards Azor'Chapien, talking and looking dead eyed. It was the only way he couldn't cry thinking about how everyone had hurt Mother so much. "The slaad then found a way to Azoria by accident, as well as to Ardune... though with that," the child god gestured to a swirling portal in the maelstrom of Chaos that showed within it the Ardunian sky and the wastes surrounding the Chaos Rift "a blind boggart could have found their way there. And I was... what's the word for when a gnoll thinks it's a grasshopper, or a minotaur has to wear a funny jacket and sit in a room by itself? Anyways, I only found out about the slaad not too long ago. I admit I did make more slaad, and a really big, bad ugly one, but that was to cure Mother, and was not too long ago, well after the slaad and your squishies began that fort war. Hey, that sounds like fun..."
Nixis nodded his farewell to his fellow gods, but paused just before leaving.
"What of Vymrl? Where has he gotten to? None of you here, except maybe you, Empress, have ever managed to have a cordial relationship with him. Who should go and inform him?"
As he waited for an answer, Nixis fished out the Astral Shard and began tossing it from one lettered hand to the other, thinking. He had been aware for several centuries about the plight of the Children, forced to live without air beyond the moons, but had been uncertain as to how to solve the problem. Clearly, he could not constantly travel to each yogloid and boost its air supply. He would end up doing nothing else. He had considered for some time that the best option was to simply stop his experiment, bring everyone back to the surface and tell them good luck. Now, however, he had another idea.
He focused on the Astral Shard, letting his will flow into the gem and activate the small chunk of the formative energy of the Astral Sea buried deep within its crystal matrix. The Shard pulsed with light, responding to his mind's touch, and within a few moments, thin filaments of light danced around the shard, stabbing from its surface into the air. Around the Shard, three objects began to take shape, one long, twisted cylinder, made of what seemed like glass but much stronger, studded up and down its length by four rows of precious gems. The second piece was a box with openings in it clearly designed for the other two pieces. It was made of a strange opaque substance with patterns inside it that seemed to move if you concentrated on them for long enough. The final piece was a base for the box, made of solid gold and platinum, and covered in instructions. This was to be his solution... something which would be usable by Mortals to reverse the damage done by his unthinking act of creating an air supply which naturally diminished over time.
He grabbed the three pieces and pocketed the Astral Shard when suddenly a breeze came from the Flame Pillar and knocked the pieces from his hands, and out into the Prime plane, as he had been standing on the threshold when he had thought of the question for the Empress. Cursing, he watched the pieces fall. Back to planning.
3 PP (1 from Astral Shard): Create Artifact (greater): The Children's Salvation: An artifact, usable by mortals, that provides 1 PP to Nourish actions, but only functions to create air, water, or trees while in the Aether, and will not function elsewhere for a mortal. At the moment, its three component pieces are scattered across the surface and perhaps beyond, hoping to be found.
Kiptar began to feel its power crumble. It struggled to hold on too it, to finish its gifts for those in the world. Power surged out, spreading around almost of its own accord.
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Many villages and cities had statues in them, for many reasons. Suddenly, these statues would come to seeming life, protecting their homes, or going on a rampage, with no decernable reason for their behavior. Many would be harnessed as engines of war, some as gaurdians of the peace.
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Deep in the jungles of Ardune, a stone about the size of a typical scrying orb floated up. Rock sloughed off it, until a geometrically precise shape emerged. It floated there, waiting.
Deep in the Uderdark, inside a grove of bloodstone, a spark appeared. It floated, with energy winding about it, writhing within. The bloodstones nearby were melted by the energy within. It floated, waiting.
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Strangely, the Miasma would not approach Aether-home. When it drifted into a patch, it would open up before it, and close behind, leaving a sphere about a mile in radius free of miasma. No descernable cause was found, but it was handy.
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In the ring of islands called Voren Thal' by the Free Nation, ground underneath began to shift. Caves opened up, connecting the islands, leading to a central chamber. The caverns were filled with illusions of all kinds, constantly shifting, confusing.
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Kiptar smiled at the world. As he finished putting his power out, he sighed. The power that made it, the aura that surrounded it, dimmed. It smiled, and then went off to find other gods, using his orb to search for them. (open hook, anyone can meet me)
PP:
3 PP: Spawn Beast(Greater)(Gear of Creation): Godforged Colosseus
2 pp: Create Artifact(Intermediate)(Gear of Creation): Aether-Feeder, It is located in Aether-home and purifies the aether so that it is aether, not the Miasma, within 1 mile radius of Aether-home. Aether reverts back out of range.
2 * 1PP: 2 Create Artifact(Lesser): The Spark of Lightning and the Stone of Making, both epic level artifacts. The Spark is a power source that gives the user a seemingly unlimited amount of power, while the Stone gives knowledge of all way of making things, as well as enhacing the abilities of the user that are related to this. When used together, they give the ability to manipulate material in vast quantities, creating castles, for instance. They, however, do there best to stay apart, making it hard to achieve this. Open Plot point
1 PP: Mold land: Voren Thal' gains a small cave system. These are filled with illusion, so it is almost impossible to navigate through them. It is also impossible to teleport or scry into them by mortal means.
1 PP: Nourish Populace(Gears): Iron State
1 PP: Guide populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Iron State learns techniques to survive in the colder new environment.
Russet the Red... it had been such a long time ago since someone had called him that. Since then, things had... changed. He'd changed. He'd had so many titles since then... the Kinslayer, the Prince of Slaughter, the Pactmaker, the King of Ghouls, the Lieutenant of Fiends. And with each title he'd changed more. Grown more powerful... and less gnoll. He sometimes wondered if there was any gnoll left in him... or what his life would have been like if he had not been like if he had never been tempted by the flesh of intelligent races. Whatever the case, he was far from such concerns now... his experimentation of the object he found had changed him further, and given him a new title: the Bronze Clawed Tyrant.
Indeed, he looked the part... his experiments had given him far greater power than he would have imagined all those millenia ago, but they'd taken as much as they'd given. Now, Russet had to wear a suit of bronze armor simply to keep his essence in tact, less his body collapse and what was once his spirit escape into the beyond. Still, if you had to be trapped in armor, Russet had certainly picked the right set: the entire suit was crafted from enchanted genasi bronze, and seemed to ooze malice. His gauntlets ended in claws far more deadly than he'd had in life or unlife, and his helm had an open space to show his face. Mercifully, nothing but the Bronze Clawed Tyrants eyes could be seen, as even ghouls wretched as they were recoiled in horror at the sight of their lords visage. And in one claw, he held a crystal as he lounged on his throne of bones, watching the entrance to his throne room as a sniveling ghoul approached.
"My... my lord, the audience you requested with the-"
"Bring him in," Russet rasped, letting go of the crystal to it returned to its position hanging around his neck.
"Y-yes, my king," the ghoul replied, practically leaping to the side as a large and particularly ugly slaad entered.
"You have some nerve asking an audience of us fleshling," the slaad croaked, seeming to have to physically repress it's desire to destroy everything in sight.
"I am even less of the flesh than you are, slaad," Russet rasped. "But I thought a meeting could be... beneficial... to both of our kind. That we could come to a mutually beneficial arrangement."
"Pah!" the slaad spat. "We slaad need no allies! We are superior! We'll reduce this world to slag without the help of some pathetic bags of bone!"
Russet chuckled. "I thought like you too, once... before I was killed. But unlike my kin, I doubt your kind would be able to be resurrected should you all fall."
The slaad bared it's wicked teeth, before reluctantly croaking. "I'm listening."
Though his mouth couldn't be seen, Russet seemed to smile, before rising from his throne of bones and turning his back to the slaad as he spoke. "Our kinds are not as different as you'd like to believe... we both want to slaughter, to prosper, to cause chaos, and, of course, we both want to destroy every living thing on this world until it's nothing but molten slag!" With the power of divinity (or half, twisted divinity) empowering his voice, the Ghoul King smashed his throne of bones aside with a sweep of his arms, reducing it to mere fragments and powder in his rage. Calming himself, the ghoul kind turned back to the slaad. "So I see no reason why we should work apart when we have a common goal to spread ruin and leave the infidel-" Russet cut himself off, and seemed to be having to squash his rage. "That is, to return the world to it's natural order: nothing."
The slaad rubbed it's chin speculatively. This... Russet spoke honey words, but there was something off about him... but that something off only served to make the slaad afraid of him. And in slaad society, fear was allegiance. "You speak true," the slaad admitted. "But how will adding some walking flesh and bone bags to our army help our goal?"
It seemed Russet had been expecting that question. "This," he explained, holding up his crystal for inspection. "Is no crystal. This is the key that will lead to the destruction of every living being to ever defile this world! You see, a long time ago, a pair of dragon gods fought in the skies of Ardune. One of them was hit by the blast of the other, and was sent crashing down onto the Ardunian earth, creating a great indentation and a burst of divinity. And then the god of Chaos, Chroma, entered the area. This was before he'd managed to discover how to keep his power contained, so his divine essence was also added to the mix. At first, I thought the result was merely a creation cesspool where things normally requiring divinity to form could do so with only raw materials... but then I discovered that the area itself was powerless. Rather, my scourge dragons were being created through the aid of... this."
Russet held the crystal up to the dim torchlight, where it seemed to give off the light of the sun. "This isn't a crystal, it's the crystallized essence of three gods: one of evil, one of good, and one of chaos. I've attempted to unlock the power within the crystal myself, and had some measure of success, but... damaged myself in the attempt before I could even reach the power of a gods chosen. But I've discovered the means to unlock the power and seal it into myself, and when I do. I will throw down my enslaver and rule the Nine Hells! I will burn this continent to the ground in vengeance of the death of me and my people! I WILL SHATTER THIS PATHETIC WORLD UNDER FOOT, AND RULE THE RUBBLE THAT IS LEFT BEHIND TO SHAPE AS I WILL AS THE ONLY GOD TO HAVE EVER TOUCHED THE NEW WORLD!" Russet managed to calm himself with some effort. "Of course I'd leave the Chaos untouched, and create this new world in the vision both I and your people share."
If the slaad had believed in gods beyond their sleeping ruler, this one would have prayed to every one it knew that the slaad never got on the wrong side of this... thing. "That... sounds agreeable." Anything to get him out of there. "But we do have another consideration, our ruler-"
"Baloral? Yes, I intend to awaken him as soon as able, before I can even achieve divinity if possible. Between the slaad, elementals, ghouls, and scourge dragons vastly outnumber and outclass the devils, but without a champion of the gods we'll never be able to truly destroy their ruler. With Baloral on our side, we could easily conquer the Nine Hells, which would earn us the servitude of the devils and make things much simpler."
"Very well then, I will raise this with my comrades," the slaad croaked. "But I'm sure they'll be agreeable to your... alliance." Better to be a tool than get in this ones path.
"Yes... I'm sure they will be."
PP Expenditure
1 Guide PP from Beryl - The slaad and ghouls form an alliance
2 PP + 1 Create PP from Fountain - Create the Divine Shard - The Divine Shard is a powerful artifact that, if tapped into, gives the user the powers of a god. Russet managed to tap into it's power, but only incompletely, making him merely an extremely powerful mortal and twisting his body in the process. In order to truly tap into the shards power and become a god, the user needs to perform a ritual under an eclipse, on the third day of the third month of the year, after having completed three predetermined prophecies and gathered three powerful artifacts. These will be left up to the DM, it's his campaign after all ;)
Now it was Eon's turn. In truth, he was close to tears, but he was good at hiding it after his years of hardship before he became an exarch. He said, "Fun? Fun? Chroma, there is nothing fun about it! Many innocent lives were lost.... you may imagine Azora as a land were only the knights are happy and the peasants sleep in the mud, but... it's not true... There's something I may need to show you..." Seeing as a god could conjure an image with no difficulty, and an exarch is partially a god, Eon was able to do the same, albeit with slightly more difficulty. He brought up a.... rather morbid... image.
It was an image of two dead children, grasping each other. Both were ripped open from the slaad. However, although both were now filthy and more then slightly bloody, one could make out that one was in rags whereas the other was in fair clothing. One was noble, one was peasant.
Eon said again, "See? In time of need, any can find comfort with anyone, no matter their standing. The slaad are responsible for this. Though you aren't responsible for the slaad, I want to point out that this is not fun. I hope you understand that."
Chroma had to fight back a his righteous anger. "You think I think this is fun? I don't, Eon, I was just saying that a game of fort might be fun with less deadly stakes. I may look and act like a child a lot, and that's because I am one. What other mind could be chaos, and colour, and joy, and peace all in one? People NEED to feel joy, Eon, even when in situations where things are desperate, or bloody, or painful. Hells, as the god of joy, it's my JOB to feel happy as often as possible. Without joy, without fun, then what sort of life would those children have led before their death? Though from what I saw of Azoria last time I was there they probably didn't have it very often."
The child god turned his back before he got too angry to lash out at someone. "I've seen this sort of thing before, you know. Except it wasn't some alien, evil entity doing it, it was my own children. Child on child, ripping each other apart. Thank whatever god is truly responsible for every little trick of fate that the slaad merely kill, my wayward children... ate. Ate down to the bone, using the bones to fashion more weapons to kill more children to eat more and construct a throne for their Prince of Slaughter. And, if you didn't notice, my Mother was recently torn in two and infected, so if I seem disinterested in the plight of your people, it's nothing personal. It's just that it's a drop in the ocean of suffering that happens every day."
Turning back to the god and the exarch, the child god offered a small smile. "Take from me, Mr Chapien. You can't save your people. Your people are going to have to save themselves. But do yourself a favor, and just... smile every now and again, you know?"
Torvek looked up to the sky- he was in a deep train of thought. "I need to see if there is anything I missed in the Chaos... I heard breathing when I was last there..." He got up and picked up his chakram. He put it into his holder and flew towards the Chaos.
Helands down on a bump in the contoured lands and looks around. He sees Azor'Chapien, Chroma, and another figure out in the distance. I didn't account on you guys being here as well, he thinks to himself. He keeps on looking through the landscapes of the Chaos. He pulls out his chakram and lets it glide over the ground. It abruptly zooms past him to a ringlike formation on the ground. It spins around and emits light like a beacon- it found something of interest.
Eon gave a faint smile and said, "A bit hard, knowing what's going on back home..."
Azor'Chapien merely nodded amd said, "I'll keep that in mind. Now then, I must be off."
He sent Eon on his way back to the Gray Wastes, while he himself teleported back to his fortress.
Veros nodded as he looked out on the world. "Don't worry about Vymrl, Nixis. We shall speak to the pantheon soon enough."
Ashralan looked down at the newest of his worshippers. Those in the Free Nation. They were few in number and that displeased him. He set about converting more Free Nationers to his cause.
PP:
5 PP (4 + 1 from Douda) Guide Populace: A huge amount of Free Nationers turn to the worship of Ashralan.
Nixis nodded his thanks to Veros and sped out of the Palace, looking for one of the gods whom he considered a friend: Chroma.
~~~~~~~~
The Beholder nation of T'garth was turning over a new leaf with the civilized nations of the world, providing them with knowledge and warning them of the danger of the Unshaped. All of this was made possible through the mental power and vision of Nylarthotep, their leader. However, not all was right with the Beholders, for despite their impressive abilities and clever minds, they lacked the ability to manipulate small objects. Yes, they could operate them through the use of their telekenesis eyes, but that was a far cry from the past, where they had had slaves to do it for them. Although the beholders were becoming more trusted by the surrounding nations, none of them, it appeared, had any desire whatsoever to provide them with laborers, even if the beholders promised to pay twice the typical going rate. So their many eyes looked around for a group that no one would notice if some of them went missing, and after a long search... they looked down, beneath the waves and towards the Great Sea.
Together with Nylarthotep's guidance, they formed a new breed of beholder, blue-green with second and translucent eyelids. The Seaholder was born, designed to operate under the water and in the extreme pressures that were present in the Deep.
Soon after, in the way that gods measure time, the beholders were ready to move. Under the watchful eye of Nylarthotep, swarms of Seaholders descended from Greyfang mountain and dissapeared into the ocean, blending almost immediately with the turbulent water. Down they went, further and further, until they found the portal that led to the great sea. They entered, and found the Sahaguin completely unprepared, easily capturing many of them and leading them back to Greyfang mountain to begin their lives of servitude. As they returned, one of them spotted a strange portal floating on the surface of the ocean. Curious, the Seaholder entered it, and found a new place, populated by strange creatures. He left and returned with the others to T'garth. This new place was somewhere to be explored in the future...
With the return of secret slaves, the beholders prospered, expanding their warrens deeper under the surface and filling them with more of their offspring.
1 PP
from Enoch): Nourish Populace : The Beholders formally form the Nation of T'garth
1 PP: From Convincer: Guide Populace: The Beholders sieze some Sahaguin as slaves
2 PP: Nourish Populace: The Beholders flourish, increasing in number
1 PP (from Staff of Earth): Mold Land(lesser): Warrens beneath T'garth grow deeper.
Torvek looks down at the ring with question. "This hadn't been here before..." Deep breathing could be heard from around him. He looked around and saw a huge monument- the size of a small continent. He thought to himself. "Maybe that's where the deep breathing came from..." He kicks the ring- it makes a metallic sound. He stops. "Wait a minute! Why does this sound weird?"
The chakram went back into his hand- he puts it into his holder- it refuses. "Hrm? Why won't it let me put it back?" "Erg- get in there, you stupid thing!" He forces the chakram to get in, but it holds back. "Okay- fine. What is it?" He lets go of it and it circles around the middle of it. Strange dark blts eminate from the center of the ring and cascases into crackling energy. "So, Corelloth did this!"
The Elemental Gateway- awakening for one last time. Its glistening metallic body is covered with debris from the Chaos, as it slowly rises from the ground. "MMM... TORVEK. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT TO ARISE IN YOUR PRESENCE." Torvek senses that this may be a trap set up by Corelloth. "I've come to finish you off, whoever you are!"
The thing laughs hysterically. "OH, YOU HAVE? WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY POWERS FIRST, BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN TOUCH ME!"
Torvek grabs his chakram and holds it like a shield. He backs up and throws it at the gateway. It chops off a piece, making the gateway grunt. He grabs it after it comes back to him and he throws it at the gateway again- this time, a larger chunk came off. He repeated this several times, nutil the gateway became a pile of rubble.
"You... think... you... have... defeated...me? We'll... see. each... other... again... soon..." The various peices fade into nothing- the gateway is no more.
Torvek wipes his head with his hand. "Phew! That takes care of that!" He waves over at Chroma. "Took care of it for ya! I think that's what you would call 'fun!'" He smiles.
Chroma really didn't know how to respond to Torvek... after all, if he had never stumbled into their world, if he had defeated Correloth sooner, if he had prevented her meddling in the Chaos... a lot of what had inflicted his Mother would have been avoided. Arch-nemisis or not, Chroma could see even if he didn't that he and Correloth were- or perhaps had been- two sides of the same coin. And if the coin didn't land on the side you wanted, you didn't blame the tails or heads side, you blamed the coin as a whole...
Then again, the child god knew Torvek, had played with him. He knew it wasn't a bad person, even if he brought about bad things. In the sullen manner of a child, Chroma replied "thank you Mr Torvek," before floating deeper into the Chaos, intending to check on the slaad to ensure that they didn't risk reforming into the corruption they came from and infecting his Mother once more. He'd probably do a lot of that over the centuries...
***
The Chaos Wastes, rife as they were with the energies of the Chaos, proved to be a magnet for elemental creatures. The genasi fought valiantly against them, but with only themselves and their behemoths they lacked the fire power necessary to take on the creatures. But then, genasi casters stumbled upon a way to use powerful enchantments to bind elementals, and force them to do their bidding. With elementals on both sides of the conflict, the forces were soon pushed back into the center of Ardune... for now.
With the rising trade in Ardune, the genasi soon found the bartering system they'd become accustomed too clunky and unwieldy. In an attempt to make things easier for all concerned, they invented a simple measure of coinage consisting of tin, copper, and bronze pieces. Whilst the coins themselves were low in value, the value they symbolized greatly increased the productivity of trading and lessened the time arguing about how many boot were worth a blade.
PP Expenditure
2PP - The genasi learn to bind elementals
2PP - The genasi create a coinage system
He looks back at the child god as he slinks off into the Chaos. Torvek looks up into the formless sky. "Time for me to head back home." He spreads his wings out and flies off to Daelgar. ----------------
He lands on the platform and places the chakram back on the table again. He sits on one of the stone seats and twirls the chakram around like a top in the bowllike groove in the table.
The Aether Miasma was not so easily converted. While it appeared to air, breathable like air, it was still Miamsa. It took longer to work its devastating effects, but it still caused the breakdown of parts, and the death of people of Aetherhome, just a lot slower.
Likewise, the Aether began to slowly eat away at the Aegis Azure, not physically person, but directly converting the magic and diving energies into more Miasma. It must be admitted that Mara had become, over the centuries, fairly passive in maintaining the Aether. However, she took notice of the Miasma trying to break through the Aegis Azure. The Miasma would then not only convert the aether but then the air, and even perhaps all of creation. It was a threat that had to be dealt with. However, investigating the Miasma only made her more sick, for it fed off her divine power and sapped her strength when she was in it. It became apparent to Mara that the Miasma was the ultimate corruption of the universe; it could not be destroyed or changed. But, it could perhaps be moved to somewhere safe.
Mara knew that she would have to withdraw from the world, and it would not be her responsibility to maintain the fight against the Miasma; it would have to fall onto the shoulders of the Mortals. She looked over the world and found most of the mortals wanting--fighting, squabbling, or just dead. Her frost giants had kept peaceful and maintained the security of the Astral Orrery for thousands of years and now were the last cohesive group of Frost Giants in the world, perhaps; so too the Elves had kept to themselves and continued to preserve as a single nation. Mara figured the Frost Giants had enough responsibility, so she went to the Elves. Mara told her most pious priests she was giving them the responsibility to protect the world from destruction, writing down portentious and ominous warnings of doom in religious texts through the hands of their scholars.
The mandate was simple. The Miasma could only be pushed back, and if they failed it would move further into the universe and slowly eat away at the world until all was lost (the aegis azure was destroyed). However, to move the Miasma back required great power and thus could not be done with ease or by even mortal magics (and yet Mara could not maintain herself in the world either). As reward and as part of their new purpose, Mara gave unto the Elves a mana conduit, to protect. The conduit gave the priets more power, but was actually capped, with only its full power available via a key mechanism. Mara told the priests that she would keep the key herself, and that on each great calibration--every 1000 years--they must send someone to receive the key from Mara and activate the magics. The great calibration would be when the moons were in calibration and other objects in the aether would also be, and even the stars aligned. Only then would the divine power of all worlds and planes be in such harmony to provide the power necessary to affect the Miasma.
Mara said her goodbyes to the other gods and prepared her final home. She went and took the long forgotten grove, created by that long-dead god of Life, and placed it within her heart, expanding it with lush gardens and more trees and a false sky showing the earth. She took from the world several animals and plants that she like and put them in the garden to keep her company. Both Mara avatars then retired to the grove to spend the rest of their days in peace and contemplation in the company of each other, and to wait for the heroes to give the key to.
PP Expenditures
3 PP - Create Artifact - Aether Miasma - This is the basis for apocolypse. The Aether Miasma will spend 1 point of decreate every one thousand years to decreate protective artifacts, but particularly the Aegis Azure. In other words, it would take 3000 years to destroy the aegis azure, at which point the Miasma moves into the world and destroys all life etc. In other interstitial points, the Miasma could attack say other such artifact (looking at you Aetherhome).
2 PP - Nourish Populace (from artifact) - Elves, other - The Celestial Order. An organization dedicated to keeping the world from being eaten by the Miasma by operating and initating the defense mechanism of the universe. Second PP is to spread it to other races and groups, though the organization is very secretive.
1 PP - Mold Land - Move a magical conduit to the Elven lands, under the care of the Celestial Order. Make sure that every 1000 years the various bodes (with help from the Orrery of course) are in alignment.
1 PP - Create Plane - Heart of Mara - moving Mara's grotto back to the moons! This time it is a plane that, in a physical sense, is located in both moon's centers (yes at the same time). The grotto has been groomed to have gardens and some animals, and its sky shows the earth. It has a fountain and pool in the center, being the representation of the Skyway River. Anyone entering the Heart of Mara simply appears aside the fountain. Visiters can interact with the goddesses, and take the key which resides in a box in a nearby room.
1 PP - Guide Populace (Artifact) - Iron States - worship Mara.
Quest Summary:
The Miasma looks to eat the Aegis Azure and gain entrance into the world and its very yummy air, people, etc. The Miasma, at the end of the LOC2, starts on the cusp, ready to begin eating away at the Aegis Azure. Every 1000 years, when the heavenly bodies, planes, and all of existance is in alignment--the "great calibration" the magical power is enough to push the miasma away and heal the aegis azure. In order to do so heroes must embark on a quest that involves entering the skyway river somewhere, and travelling along it until reaching the Heart of Mara. There they can take the key and return to the Elven conduit and activate the source (though it must be at the right time). Success will mean that, mechanically, the Miasma artifact effect will not happen. Bad guys can also try to get the key (Mara won't stop whom gets the key usually). Three failures results in the end of the world. This quest can be modified such that multiple success can push the Miasa to the edge of the universe, ending the ice age.
Ashralan faith did not last for much in the free nations, the attempt to dominate them by using divine magic was shaken of by the strong will of the people and their lord sensed the intrusion of a foreign power in his realm, one that will need to be dealt with.
Yorik was busy looking for the unshaped hidden in their society but managed to easily discover Ashralan exarch machinations and begun searching for him, to bring to the creature the doom it deserves
Meanwhile on bloodmyst the freemen begun to learn how to adapt to the cooler climate, partially recovering from the shock of the incoming ice age and fed from the easily adaptable bloodstone vegetation.
5 pp Guide (1 from aether Ripples). Ashralan new followers abandon him, a small cult still remains but it is consider heretical, a rare thing in the usually open minded free nations.
1 Pp nourish (from bloodstones) - Free Nations begin to adapt to the incoming ice age
Yorik search for Ashralan exarch to hunt him away from the Free Nations. Can you remind me how combat between exarchs work?
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Meanwhile in Qar'Dask unshaped researchers managed to perfect their gibbering cratures, infusing grand distortion shards into their last beholder speciment. Its warping energies corrupted the creature, increasing its madness and melting its flesh. The first Gibbering Orb was born... the unshaped at first regretted the loss of their last beholder speciment, however they was pleased by the raw strenght of this new breed and begun producing more in secret.
3 PP Spawn - Gibbering Orbs
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Hensen manifested in front of Ashralan.
"I think you have overstepped yourself, my friend" told Hensen's white head.
"And this time the price for your mistake might be a little heavy indeed" the black head interrupted, showing its sharp fangs in a wicked smile.
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In the ruins of chillhund archipelago large bloodstone formations begun to emerge. Powered up by the leftover chaotic energies unleashed by the sundering and making that area of the sea even more dangerous
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones) - new treacherous islands emerge where chillhund archipelago once stood
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Meanwhile the Wondermaker came in contact with a gnome of the circle, he grew fascinated by the gnome ideas and decided to grant him one of his magical wonders in exchange.
1 Create PP (from the Wondermaker) given to Nixis, its a gift to the Circle,I'd love it to be spent in some kind of item that grant a boon but also have some hidden bane or price for the user
The Circle expanded into the free nation with vigor, finding the system of governance on the bloodmist isles to be simple to maneuver around and arrange special deals with. In their exploration, they came across, for the first time, bloodstone. They immediately began working with the bloodstone, exploring it for new forms of drugs that they could extract from the red rock. Eventually, they manage to create a machine to extract the essence of the bloodstones from the rock and infuse it into previously inert powder. The resulting drug they called BloodSpike, and it was their greatest success ever. It provided strength and endurance for whomever took it, allowing them the ability to do tasks that previously no gnome had been able to do before. The Circle began distruibuiting it widely.
Another group took notice of the creation of BloodSpike. When a user of BloodSpike became completely addicted, the concentration of Bloodstone went out like a beacon to the Unshaped, drawing them to the user and, more often than not, resulting in their posession by the Unshaped. The Drug also seemed to reduce innate resistances to their possession, something the Unshaped were very interested in.
1PP: From Wondermaker: Create Artifact (lesser): Bloodstone Refinery: Takes Bloodstones and creates the drug BloodSpike. Bloodspike boosts strength and con, but at high levels in the bloodstream, results in the lowering of immunities to Unshaped Possession and serves as a lure to bring the Unshaped to the user.
1PP: Nourish Populace: The Circle flourishes, expanding into the Free Nation further
1PP: Guide Populace: Unshaped begin infiltrating the Circle
The Asikan Empire was perhaps at its prime. The dragons were growing and adapting to the new clime, taking on new characteristics to remain vital. The population was growing exponentially, and, soon there was little left to explore on their continent home. So the dragons, who still remembered the attack on the Imperium, sent out ships to the south. They landed, and soon formed the Empire's first colony. Armed with draconic magic, the colonists were able to establish a sizable community, and protect themselves from the terrors of the continent. However, as few people wanted to leave the comfort of their safer, continent home, the only people who wound up in the new colony were criminals the Empire wanted to get out of the way. They built a prison on an island offshore, and eventually, all the Empire's most hardened criminals were sent there. Dragons, who had become a startling shade of azure, kept the prison, known as the Vault to the people of the Empire. The blue dragons lived in the caves that pierced the cliffs surrounding the Vault, and regularly patrolled the skies above. A constant storm surrounded the Vault, keeping all but the blue dragons, who were used to the storm, at bay.
PP
4 PP (Artifact) Shape Populace (Greater) Blue Dragons
1 PP (Artifact) Guide Populace (Lesser) Blue Dragons join the Asikan Empire
5 PP (Artifact) Nourish Populace (Lesserx5) The Asikan Empire expands across Asika, and then expands into a new colony on the old Imperium. A prison called the Vault is established in this new colony.
1 PP (Artifact) Mold Land (Lesser) An impenetrable storm surrounds the prison called the Vault.
Monis continued to grow, harnessing the expanded underground lands, growing rich and powerful on the minerals and new plants growing there. Using their abberant magic, they took humanoids captured long ago and warped their descendants into creatures better suited for the impenetrable darkness, and ofmore use to them.
In the end though, they had come to realize that they could only dig so deep before the heat frew unbearable. Forced to look upwards once more, they sent out elite groups to meet with the more powerful of surface groups: The Loremasters, the Asikan Empire, the Free Nation, the Loremasters, and Beacon.
((These are MS threads, for anybody interested))
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There was few continents and lands the loremasters were not aware of. Their members explored far and wide, recording and documenting plants, aniomals, peoples, nations, and histories. And everwhere they went, they carried with them the worship of Veros, teaching the world about the god of knowledge.
Over time, they accepted a new mission, recognizing that unlearned people could not truly appreciate their efforts and goals. Arouond loremaster enclaves, the group began to open schools, inviting locals to send their children, to educate new generations.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Carried by the Loremasters, worship of Veros expands into the Asikan Empire
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Carried by the Loremasters, worship of Veros expands into the Iron State
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Carried by the Loremasters, worship of Veros expands into the nation of Ithilain
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Carried by the Loremasters, worship of Veros expands into Jade Nation
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Loremasters begin to open public schools in and around their enclaves
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Monis begins to meet with surface nations
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Monis
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Grick
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Lesser) - Grimlocks
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - Expand the underdark a little further, under the continent of Asika
Turn 59 begins now. 14,750 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros (57%)
7 - The Empress (07%), Hensen Jijou (07%)
6 - Mara (64%), Shurka (57%), Nixis (36%), Chroma (15%), Kiptar (07%)
5 - Eijra (83%), Hammu (69%), Azor-Chapien (50%)
4 - Ythrexle (80%), Ashralan (26%), Torvek (17%)
Torvek strives to the idea to advance the colony and to make their home have the environments that they need to thrive and survive the other worlds when they go on their adventures.
He gives them the opprtunity to craft small boats at first, they then progress slowly to build slightly bigger boats that can hold more people. They have learned to craft boats from the environment by using the conifers and palm trees accordingly. The first boats were wooden logs that were spread apart by tied up leaves. They weren't as successful, but they had crafted long canoes and those were successful. They had then progressed to rowboats- which were also a success after a series of trial and error.
They had grown fatigued from the work, and he needed to push them to more work to help with their voyages. He gave them more food- coconuts and elk to keep them at bay. There were also some plants that grew in different climate zones. The low mountains grew berries of different varieties, the forests grew some edible plants- cocoa for one, and the shorelines had an abundance of pineapples and bananas. The coconut still dwarfed the shoreline.
Finally, the island had work for more improvement. He decided to raise it again- this time adding marshlands and rainforests to the landscape- as well as a small dry desert area in the middle of the island next to the tall mountain. He had finished his work.
PP Expenditure:2pp- Guide Populace- The Dracos have learned to make boats and are starting to learn how to sail across water.
1pp- Nourish Populace- The amount of food available to the Dracos increases. A few new fruits and vegetables grow in certain climates
1pp- Mold Land- The island grows a little bigger- forming marshlands, rainforests and a desert area below the mountain.
All across the world, people of all races woke up one morning to discover that something was different. They were all different, yet a common bond connected them, for they all were involved in some way with the recording and preservation of knowledge. Along their arms and across their bodies, thin golden letters had appeared, slowly moving up and down their forms. With this change came new abilities... a sharpening of minds and in some cases the ability to do fantastic things such as summon the words off of their arms and send them flying at their foes, or, after wracking their brains, staring at the words trailing along their arms to gain answers to the question they were seeking to answer. The few who found one another, for the blessing was spread thinly across the world, came up with a name for themselves: the Word Adepts.
2 PP: Spawn Template: Word Adepts: Special followers of the principles that Nixis proclaims, chosen by him to safeguard knowledge once he has left the world.
See the wiki for full details. This is a group theme as found in DmG2.
Ashralan looked at the Great Sea Empire and was not happy. Yes there where many of them but they were uneducated. He taught them to use the forces of magic to create bursts of energy or bolts of force.
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One particular mage attracted his attention. His name was Shorash. He was a powerful sahuagin wizard that had been experimenting with diseases. Ashralan began meddling with his work until an "accident" happened while Shorash was working on a especially fast-acting virus. The vial that the disease was stored in cracked in two while Shorash was holding it. The effects were instantanious. It did not kill him as it should have but it warped his body, making him bigger, stronger and giving him an extra set of arms. Ashralan appeared before him. "Congradulations Shorash." Said the Shark God. "You have been selected for a very rare honor. You get to come serve me as my exarch in my palace." "But you don't have a palace." said Shorash. "Easily remedied." Replied the god and snapped his fingers.
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Somewhere in the Great Sea a great palace arose from the seabed.
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Back in Shorash's labratory the Shark God said "now it is time to depart" and teleported them the new palace.
PP:
2 PP (1 from Douda) Guide populace: The Great Sea Empire learns the Wizard class.
3 PP Ascend Exarch: Shorash the Plaguemaker (de-nourish).
Chroma sat in the Chaos, watching the glory of the constantly shifting plane with his one eye. It was amazing, beautiful... but at the same time so boring. It was like a a whirlpool of colour, that constantly shifted direction, but at the same time never did anything. The slaad and elementals had made the plane a little more heavily populated, but... Mother still seemed lonely for some reason.
It had been some time since he'd created for the joy of creating... the game of creation was fun after all. And as the god of joy, it was about time he stopped moping and had some fun again.
Reaching into the maelstrom that was the Chaos, the child god drew forth a large chunk of elemental essence, in the form of a great crystal of shifting colours. Molding the crystal, the child god divided it into smaller chunks that looked rather like the earthmote the genasi had once resided in, before tossing them into the air, where they floated, as if awaiting something to live on them. Taking more elemental energy, the child god took shards of the crystal and beat them into a rough hewn and large shape, ugly giants of malformed crystal. They weren't as colorful as he'd wanted them to be... the creation process had sapped the crystal he'd used as a mould of it's colour. But it would serve well enough.
Placing the statues onto the islands, the child god gently bathed them with the coloured light of his divine essence. Soon, the crystal burst apart, revealing the first cyclops to walk the world. They were not the fairest of the races, but looking down upon them, the child god couldn't help but smile. He had another race of children... how fun!
PP Expenditure:
3PP - Guide Paragon Intelligent Populace - Chroma creates the Cyclops. These are pretty much exactly the same stat wise as their MM variants, except they have the elemental subtype instead of fey.
2PP - Mould Land - Create the Crystal Isles in the Chaos. The crystals are of shifting rainbow hue, and contain a large amount of elemental magic
1 Guide PP from Beryl - The Cyclops worship Chroma
Nixis found Chroma roughly where he thought he would, back in the Chaos.
"Hello again, Chroma. I like those things you just made. Very fitting to your own form, I'd say."
Nixis formed into an eye briefly to point out what he was talking about.
"Friend, I have something important to speak to you about. Do you have a moment?"
As the shadowy fight between the unshaped and the rebellious forces keep growing both contenders begun using subtle methods to eliminate key agents of the enemy, both the thousand masks and independent guild begun to train their angents for assassination.
Meanwhile the bloodborn population had a massive increase and more and more of their kind begin to fit positions of power, filling the power vacuum left by the murderous campaign of the unshaped and their enemies.
2 PP Guide (1 from Aether Ripples) - Free Nations learn the Assassin class.
2 PP Nourish (1 from Bloodstones) - Free Nations, the bloodborn population increase and they begun taking position of power left open thanks to the shadowy war against the unshaped.
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Under the sea Bloodstone veins begun to grow to reach the leylines and the southern rift, draining more magican energy, increasing their warping powers giving birth to new form of twisted plant life.
3 Pp Create (1 from the Wondermaker) - Bloodstone Veins, they drain supernatural and chaotic energies from the Leylines and the rift, focusing it trough the other bloodstone formations and creating even more warping power. This produce a spawn PP
OOC: yes I know it's almost the last reset hehe...
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones) - new vein like structures of bloodstone appear under the ocean and the earth crust, intercepting some of the leylines.
1 Pp Spawn - Bloodthorn Vine
2 PP Spawn - Ambush Vine
Looking down upon his new creations, Chroma realized that without some sort of food and water his children wouldn't be able to survive. Gathering his power, the child god once again bathed the islands in rainbow light, nourishing the crystals, making them more hospitable for the cyclops. Soon, small pools of rainbow water dotted the chain of floating islands surface, giving rise to odd vines that yielded a crystalline yet very nourishing fruit. This fruit in turn supported small darting lizards, that camouflaged themselves by being of crystal hue and running into the cracks in crystal wherever they could.
Turning from his work, Chroma regarded Nixis... a friend who'd once played with him. And he smiled with his one eye. "Hi Mr. Nixis! It's good to see you again! It's amazing how many people have been stopping by Mother since she got better! What did you want to talk to me about? Is it a new game?!"
PP Expenditure:
1 Nourish PP from Fountain: Create crystaline fruit vines on the Crytal Isles
1 Spawn PP from Veil: Create crystaline lizards on the Crystal Isles
1 PP - Mould land - Create rainbow water holes on Crystal Isles
The seaholders returned to the portal that they had found in their previous foray, and, led by three ultimate tyrants, they went through, finding a rich plane full of green life, bountiful oceans, and intelligent life. Intelligent, but no match for the might of a score of beholders sweeping down upon them. Soon, the Dracos were added to the numbers of the slaves of the beholders, set to work in the deep tunnels under Greyfang mountain and to ensure that their heating systems continued to function appropriately.
Nylarthotep was very interested in this new world. He took some of the most subversive elements within T'garth, those who most pined for the olden days and still dreamt of conquering the world, and gave them an ultimatum. They could either stay in T'garth and submit to his authority in all things, or they could leave and go to this new place, and rule it as they saw fit, as long as they did not return to the Prime. The Beholder rebels found this idea acceptable, and as a parting gift, Nylarthotep gave them a new helper. It had always been the bane of the Beholders that they could not pursue their prey and future slaves into the caves and the like that they called their homes. Their bodies would simply not fit. So Nylarthotep went to the flesh pools and drew out a new breed of monster, one related to the Beholders, but oh so different. One large eye floated over a gaping mouth in a roughly spherical fleshy mass, like a beholder, but where most beholders had eyes, this beast had hands. Dozens and dozens of strong, powerful hands. These Obtainers were small and dextrous, designed to travel into the lairs of the Beholder's prey and bring it back out. The rebels accepted this gift joyously, and traveled to the portal and left the prime, quickly capturing more Dracos to serve as slaves as they build a new city, H'rath, home of, to them, the True Children of Xa'an.
Meanwhile, the moment the Rebels settled in their new plane, Nylarthotep let go of the control he was exerting on them and immediately felt a wash of relief flow over him as his brain rearranged its now lessened burdens. His mind sharpened, he sent more envoys out, spreading the news of the Unshaped menace and offering his children's services... for the right cost, of course (MS opportunities galore, here). He also sent his children to guard the portal and ensure that the rebels kept their word.
1 PP (from Convincer): Guide Populace: Beholders travel to Daelgar and return with Draco slaves
3 PP (1 from Nylarthotep): Shape Populace(paragon): A new breed of beholders, different from any type before but still part of the empire, is formed, called Obtainers (stat block coming).
1 PP (from Chukwa): Nourish Populace: The True Children of Xa'an leave the beholders and travel to Daelgar (assume cross section of all beholders including most of the new Obtainers).
1 PP (from Staff of Earth): Mold Land (lesser): The city of H'rath is formed.
1 PP: Guide Populace: Beholders create the Unshaped-watch, and send representatives to all the nations on the main continent to see if they are interested in their services
1 PP: Nourish Populace: T'garth flourishes, now that the subversive elements have been removed.
Nixis laughed. He had forgotten how enjoyable it was to spend time in Chroma's presence. The god's enthusiasm for life was infectious.
"Well, first off I wanted to see how you were doing. Azor'Chapien said some pretty interesting things last we talked, and I was worried he wished you harm.
On a more serious note... I come bearing a message, one that, while it might not seem like much fun at first, I promise it is quite the game. Have you ever been to the Astral Sea?"
Chroma's enthusiasm died a bit as Nixis mentioned Azor'Chapien, sighing. "Ah yes... poor Mr Chapien. He wanted someone to blame so much... but even if the slaad had been made by someone, it wouldn't have made any difference. Children have to be left alone to learn their own lessons, even if it means them getting a few boo boos. I can think of worse fates than what the Azorians have had though... heck, I've suffered worse fates. I think Mr Chapien cares too much sometimes."
When Nixis mentioned that that he had a new game, Chroma grinned, bobbing up and down in glee. "Oh boy, what's the game what's the game what's the- the astral sea? Hmmm..." Chroma frowned in thought for a moment, before grinning and bobbing up and down again. "Oh boy, the sea! I know the sea! It's all wet, and shifting, and has big whaves that go 'WHOOSH!' and fish, and seaweed, and sand, and and it has seals that go 'arf arf arf!' and clap their hands like their watching a show! But what's an astral?"
Looking up in the starry night, he had a troublesome thought moving through his mind. "What's with all of the strange activity going on in the worlds out there? I don't get it." He looks down on the island. "Something strange is happening... I just don't know what... well, if it's not here, then I have nothing to worry about." He closes his eyes- he goes into a deep slumber.
"The Astral Sea is a place of limitless energy and potential, where whatever you will to be is so. I have used it in the past to prototype things that I have been planning on making in reality, but it is a fine place."
Nixis swirled about, choosing his next words carefully.
"The reason I ask is that many of us Gods feel that it is time to let our children play without having to worry about getting hit on the head by one of us if we get grouchy. We Gods will go play in the Astral Sea and our children will play here and everyone will be happy! Will you come with?"
Kiptar wandered the multiverse. Eventually it decided to go and find a god to talk to, rather than waiting to run into one. It concentrated on one that he knew of, although it was not sure how much that god knew of itself.
"Nixis..."
It concentrated, letting its orb find the essence of Nixis. It waited until it was sure that it had gotten onto something, and then let it follow it through the planes and space. It emerged into a roiling mass of...something. Chaotic, it seemed to never be the same for long. Nearby was Nixis, and another god who he thought he might recognise...Chroma? It sounded right.
"Hello."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Miasma around Aetherhome was closing in, but suddenly, it would begin to convert back into Aether. Aetherhome would leave a trail of Aether behind, but it would convert back to Miasma eventually. It was discovered that the Miasma was susceptible to the Aether-Devastator, leaning the thought that is was merely a variation of the Aether. A deadly and spreading variation of the Aether, but a variation none the same. With great work, they were able to form compounds that could resist the Miasma for a time before being destroyed, thus allowing them to create shields that could allow passage through the Miasma for a short itme, till it was eaten away entirely.
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LIfe was as it was on Farhome, business as usual. Warforged went about there business with no idea as to what would happen. Suddenly, shockwaves traveled through the city, powerful enough to affect Aetherhome and the City of Gears as well. Mechanus blurred around them and vanished. Shockwaves continued, along with the sensation of great movement. When the world beyond Farhome blinked back on, they were in a place of great distance, with space, and distance, but not much else. (Astral sea)
PP:
3 pp: Create artifact(greater)(Gear of Creation): The Molder. It create Mold PP and will aoutomatically spend it to DeMold the Miasma into Aether if it is currently threatning Aetherhome. Basically, it works with the Aether Feeder, and makes its effects permanent. The Miasma can change back, if it is Molded to do so.
2 * 2 pp: 2 Guide Populace(Greater)(City of Gears): The Iron State develops an alchemical/maigcal material that is resistant to the effects of the Miasma. It is put into use immediately, and is soon used to protect the entire Aether fleet
2 pp: Create artifact(Intermidiate): The Planeshifter, an device which ports Farhome around the Multiverse randomly at first, but can easily be controlled to be used as the controller desires.
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): The Iron State grows stronger.
Many of the gods had left to inform the absent ones of the decision that they made. It was left to Shurka to tell this to Torvek. Shurka had only seen him twice, but finding him was easy enough after noticing where he went after Correlloth was taken care of. Daelgar, he recalled.
When Shurka enterred the new atmosphere, he called out,
"Torvek? I need to speak with you."
Hearing his name called out, Torvek opens up his eyes. The voice... it sounded familiar, but he couldn't recall whose it was at first...
He finds Shurka on the blue platform- next to the main gate. "Yes? You called for me. What is it you wish to speak to me about?"
Chroma really didn't understand what Nixis was talking about. What was a prototype? But when he talked about letting their children play without godly interference, Chroma had to agree with him. "Gosh, that does sound like a good idea Mr Nixis!" the child god said with a grin. Before the grin died a little. "But... what about Mother? Mortals caused as much damage to her as gods... without the gods to watch over her, what if they do something like that again? And with no-one to treat her wounds, she might... die. And in the process cause a big boom that destroys all of creation, but she'll die too!"
Before Nixis could respond, the odd shifting form shifted into the Chaos. "Oh for- I like new friends, but why is everyone coming to Mother AFTER she's been healed and I could have used help? But it's good to see you, Mr Stranger."
"At a council, many of the gods had decided that it is in the mortals' best interests if all of the deities were to leave the world for good. We are requesting that you follow along, but know that we will use force if necesary. Do you think you'll be able to leave this world?"
Nixis opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly, Kiptar was there.
"Ah. Hello. You're Kiptar, right? I don't believe we ever officially met. I've been meaning to seek you out actually and compare notes about how our wards are doing out in the Aether. I'm Nixis, by the way, and that's Chroma."
Nixis turned back to Chroma.
"Well, Chroma, I have two ideas about that. First, without the gods to help them, mortals will find it incredibly difficult to survive here in the Chaos. Second, why don't you create some guardians of your Mother? The Genasi that you care for originally came from here. Offer some of them a chance to return if they will defend your Mother from outsiders."
Nixis' face melted off of one side of his body and reappeared on the other side.
"What brings you to the Chaos, Kiptar?"
"At a council, many of the gods had decided that it is in the mortals' best interests if all of the deities were to leave the world for good. We are requesting that you follow along, but know that we will use force if necesary. Do you think you'll be able to leave this world?"
Torvek looked at Shurka and then out in the open sea. "In the mortal's best interest to have us leave the worlds...? How would they survive without us? I guess the Dracos could survive on this island without my help, but... is it truly for the best of us?" He looks back at Shurka.
"I would like to join with the others- if it is a matter of importance, friend. Shurka, right?" He holds out his hand. "I must first do something so that they can move on without me- help them guide themselves to a better life, but I would be able to leave with you."
Shurka accepted his offer and shook his hand.
"You still have some time to set your affairs straight, but you must realize. Even as gods, we make mistakes, and we have come to realize that our mistakes have far greater consequences than those of mortals. We have seen the results of our mistakes and we think that the mortals can handle themselves now. Even if you don't agree, like I said, you really have no choice. I apologize."
In the more rugged parts of Asika, yet another type of dragon was birthed into the world. Having adapted to the rougher environment in which they were born, grey dragons were, as a consequence, tougher themselves. This meant they were particularly suited to survive in the rough climate of the shattered Imperium. They strengthened the forces there, and helped to expand the colony's hold upon the continent. Their aggressive expansion often put the colonists in conflict with the land's residents, and the grey dragons were instrumental in dealing with these threats. In the end, the genesis of these new dragons helped ensure the continued survival of the colonists.
--------------
Having finished with her meeting, the Empress knew now what she must do. All the other gods had scattered, each off to meet with different divinities they were on good terms with. The Empress' lip curled into a smile at that. What gods could she approach? All thought her mad! She started to laugh at this. Loud, ringing laughter that echoed in the vast room, causing her to double over. She had to grasp the rail to avoid falling over. She wiped at her watering eyes, and immediately the idea came to her. She gazed down at the tiny drop of water clinging to her fingertip.
PP
4 PP (Artifact) Shape Populace (Greater) Grey dragons
1 PP (Artifact) Guide Populace (Lesser) Grey dragons join the Asikan Empire
5 PP (Artifact) Nourish Populace (Lesser5) The Asikan Empire's colony on the Imperium expands hugely
From Ilthain, the worship of Veros slowly but surely spread through out Azora.
-----
From two young members of the Children of the Aether, pactsd with devils spread through out them,carrying the qworship of Gorion and Veros with them.
-----
Minos continued to flourish in their underground abode, making contact with many of the surface walkers. Among some of these people, they detect people with dual minds and spirits, which they found most intriguing. Capturing some of these Kalashtar, these new captives were brought into the depths for reasearch and study.
Further, additional studies on creating servants from the bodies of others expanded, unleashing a new creature upon the underdark, the hook horrors and chokers.
-----
Ancient bonds of magic slowly gave way. Unknown to Veros when he unleashed his destructive wrath. A subtle shift, unnoticed by its inhabitants, the ancient rock shifted, as the power of the Dimension Bulwark suddenly latched onto it.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - State of the Pure worship Veros
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Feudal State of Valden worship Veros
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Kingdom of Chorn worship Veros
2 PP - Spawn Beast (Moderate) - Chokers
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Monis becomes aware of the Kalashtar and captures some
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Children of the Aether worship Veros
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Children of the Aether learn Warlock
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Minos
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Moderate) - Hook Horros
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - Shift the Drahkorn Asteroid
Turn 60 begins now. 15,000 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence. This is the final reset. There will be no further PP.
PP Refresh
16 - Veros (%)
14 - The Empress (%), Hensen Jijou (%)
12 - Xirinet (%), Mara (%), Shurka (%), Vymrl (%), Tsaroka-Noggoth (%), Nixis (%), Chroma (%), Kiptar (%)
10 - Eijra (%), Hammu (%), Azor-Chapien (%), Oravolos (%), Chactross (%), Drahthor (%), Roan (%), Neko (%)
8 - Siccadan (%), Ythrexle (%), Starl (%), Nocturne (%), Jormundrasil (%), Honissia (%), Ipsur (%), Frellisk (%), Ka (%), Ashralan (%), Runescar (%), Quel (%), Incarnations End (%), Torvek (%), The Void (%), Sessilee (%), Oreb Nahash (%), Cygnus (%)
(So, the amount of PP has doubled... time to make good use of it. 
)
Torvek smiles back at Shurka and lets go of his hand. He walks to the edge of the platform and makes his final preparations. "This will be the last time I will see this home, but I shall never forget about it."
He raises the land once more and creates a sort of tabletop on the top of the mountain. It becomes steeper than before. He places a building on top of it- a building of pure white stone- where the Dracos can remember their heritage of their existence. The Hall of Drumont- the building that helps guide the Dracos to civilization.
He creates another artifact- this time a statue within the Hall of Drumont. This statue helps keep the island well nourished and to keep the Dracos to prosperity. This is the Statue of Well-being.
Finally, he creates an object that can be used by the mortals. This object is a symbol of leadership. A draco willing to take this oath of leadership will be known as a Shaman of his/ her tribe. There are split tribes for now, but over time the tribes will become nations and civilizations. This is the Staff of the Shagri.
His work was done, He had no need to help them anymore. He lowers the rocks down to the sea floor- those around the temple and those that lead up to the sky. He chose a couple of good rocks and sent them towards the portal that lead to the Prime plane- a sort of gateway.
He grabs his chakram and wills the platform of energy away. Torvek, Shurka, Hondala, Dolestre, and Terascul stood at the front gate of the temple. torvek took his hand and sealed the gate with energy to preserve the temple for future generations. "I will miss this great work of art, but I will never forget it..."
He looks over at Hondala, Dolestre, and Terascul and they all nod at each other. He looks back over at Shurka. "So- shall we move on?"
PP Expenditure-1pp- Mold land: The island now ecomes a continent, lots of ecosystems are present, and the mountain becomes steeper than before. It develops a tabletop of some sort to house a building right after.
3pp- Create Artifact (PP guide): The Hall of Drumont is forged into existence, offering the Dracos a chance to move on and develop a civilization and to flourish as a nation all on their own.
3pp- Create Artifact (PP nourish): The Statue of Well-being is placed inside the Hall of Drumont, providing the island plenty of nourished plants for the Dracos to use for food and other things.
1pp- Create Artifact: The Staff of Shagri is used to determine the Shamans of tribes. It is placed within the Hall of Drumont as well- next to the Statue of Well-being.(Phew! That was alot to talk about...)
"I'm glad you understand. I will see you later. When it is time to go."
Shurka left Torvek at his home plane, and contemplated what to do next. Now that he thought about it, there was one other person that he needed to talk to.
***
In a village outside of the Military-State of Rusten, Satar stared into the stars above. Each one represented a different god. The 10 stars making up Shurka's constellation were glowing particularly bright. Satar had used to wonder why 10 was considered the lucky number of the White Lord, but he had learned many secrets through his extended lifetime. He was the 10th god. Not the first as the priests had made young humites to believe, that was Veros. Veros' star was by far the brightest. Satar was still watching the endless void of the night-time sky when a figure approached behind him.
"Hello Satar. Do you know who I am?"
Satar turned around and looked at the newcomer. It was a small humite child garbed in an immaculate white robe. In one of his hands he held a stick as if it were a staff. A tatoo of an eye, a popular trend these days, was seen on his forehead. Other people would have faltered, but Satar could see that this was no simple child. There was a look of determination in the child's eye that would not be found in any normal kid. There was also something about his presense that was inherently famaliar to him.
"Of course, Lord Shurka, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
The boy looked up at the stars. "I have never been truly able to appreciate the beauty of this world from a mortal perspective. It is a shame that this will be my last chance. We are leaving. The Lords of Creation that have brought you this world must now leave for the benefits of the mortals. You, however, are different."
Satar sighed and responded, "I know. I have ceased to age, and I have capabilities beyond those of normal mortals. Do you have a reason for this?"
"To be honest, I do not know exactly what you are, there are some mysteries even to the Gods. Even to Veros. But I have an assignment for you, in my absense, lead the humites in the right direction. Live in my stead. The world needs heroes both mortal and divine, and even those in between."
Satar would have smiled if he had a mouth. "I understand my Lord."
With that, the child nodded his head, and Shurka dissapated into a strand of golden mist, climbing to the heavens, or whatever was beyond the stars. Satar sat back down, and looked back at the stars illuminating the sky. He sang a song that he learned as a child.
Thank the Lord of Creation for their gifts.
Sweet Eijra for decorating the Earth
Lord Neko for the waves and seas
Pained Chactross for fire in the hearth.
Thank Veros for what we know
Strong Vymrl for power and might
Wise Shurka who heals our wounds
And quiet Mara for the moons of night.
Shun the Empress;
May our sins be controlled,
Praise Zophia
Who watches our souls
Thanks to Xirinet
Who gives us wild life
And Azor'Chapien
Who protects it from strife.
(3PP - Ascend Exarch - Satar the Watcher)
The child god frowned in thought. "That's true Mr Nixis, but the mean dragons didn't even need to enter the Chaos to hurt Mother... they just ripped her in two. Meanies... " A smile crossed his face. "But with the slaad here, and the cyclopses, they'd stop them in no time! Or at least hurt them if they tried! But that don seem enough... I know, I'll make more things to help protect Mother! I couldn't drag the genasi from Ardune, they have so much fun there..."
Gathering his power, Chroma reached down into the elemental maelstrom that was the Chaos all around them, pulling forth in one hand a seething river of magma, and in the other an impossible river of stone. Bathing them both in his divine essence, the child god condensed them each into a ball and threw them out into space, where they collided before exploding into hundreds of shards. Living, breathing shards.
The ball of magma gave birth to the Azer, a race of flaming, dwarf-like creatures with anger and pride as heated as the fire that comprised them. They considered the Chaos their home, and would fight any who dared invade it. The stone, on the other hand, formed odd squat humanoids comprised of earth that would become known as Galeb Duhr, far more passive and patient than their Azer brothers. But like the stone they were comprised off, push them too far and an avalanche would follow.
Little did the child god know, but soon enough the two races would be employed by the slaad, and used as front line soldiers and lackeys for when unintelligent creatures such as elementals wouldn't suffice... but that was in the future. For a brief time at least, the races were free to enjoy the wonders of the Chaos.
PP Expenditure:
3PP - Form Paragon Populace - Create the Azers, fire dwarves who protect the Chaos and serve the slaad.
3PP - Form Paragon Populace - Create the Galeb Duhr, stone dwarves who protect the Chaos and serve the slaad.
The Gods were leaving. one after one they would leave the world they together had shaped and formed out of the nothingness of ancient times.
" A final gift should be given "
A voice whispered.
" A gift to all of the Gods´children. But what should it be...? I could build them cities, I could give them gold, I could make them live eternally...let them never fear death or the pain that it brings to lose a loved one. "
The whisperer smiled and looked out at the world. A blue orb, orbiting a vast star that had once been alive. One that had once smiled, lived and laughed.
The world deserved so much more.
" This world deserves more then that as it has given me much joy. Therefore I will put my blessing upon it. I do this now before it´s to late, before my eyes are blinded and my back is forced to turn against you by retreating Gods´. What i will do is not what should be done...as what I want is not always that wise. I will give the of this world an era of peace and bless this world with an abunance of life. "
The fair Goddess rose her hand and life flourished in ways never seen before. A great calm took the world, raging youths found their rage snuffed out, old and hateful elders grew suprised as they found an odd smile appearing upon their lips and an odd feeling appearing in their gut.
They felt...oddly at peace.
At the same time new a Buffalo opened it´s eyes for the first time, a hummingbird took it´s first wingbeat and a lone turtle slowly took a first trembling step.
All over the planet new life was shaped, created and give a place upon the oddly shaped continents of the world.
" The peace will not last...there are always fools out there after all. But the world will need a rest...a couple of years without bloodshed and this will probably do just that...but what of the future? "
A woman-child was shaped, a mere babe that was brought in to life squealing and naked as most other babes. There was something special with this one though.
When the child grew older as years passed...it was clear that she was the splitting image of Eijra. A pale child with blood-red hair and olive-green eyes. Eyes that saw what others could not or would not see. The child was blessed with clarity, wisdom and a skill in divination that rivalled even old Shurka the god of seers.
She was to be known as Eivri the ruling oracle. A god-child, a wanderer, a seer, a warden, a weaponmaster and an adventurer.
A person that with a little luck would be able to influence the future eras of the world in a positive way.
With this done the Fair Goddess finally turned her back on the world. Leaving a lone, squealing baby lying alone on a hill-side behind her.
The Goddess smiled.
" Things will soon be good again, Child. Soon your time will come "
7PP- Nourish Planet: All "normal" animals not created before are now brought in to existence and are justly shared out on the different continents. Mortals in general also begins to feel at peace, content and joyful for a couple of years and a well-deserved peace rules most of the planet.
Create Exarch - Eijr
When Shurka re-enterred Torvek's plane of Daelgar after his talk with Satar. It appeared as if the Dragon was ready to leave.
"Even as we leave our creations in the mortal world, know that they will reunite with us upon their death. We are only bound to stay away from the mortals in their life, not in their death. The other gods will meet you in the Astral Sea, but I may be late. I have... a thing or two to attend to.."
Shurka's voice suddenly changed from serious to ominous, and looked Torvek in the eye with his own.
"Lord of Creation? Are you ready to leave this world?"
Torvek looks back in determination. "I am prepared to leave, friend." He spreads his wings out and flies out- Dolestre follows suit with Terascul in her grasp. Hondala trails behind- circling and spiraling behind while leaving a trail of light behind her.
Torvek and Dolestre leave Daelgar like twin comets and towards the Astral Sea- their final destination.
Azor'Chapien knew that the time had come. He sent a message to all his exarchs, and began his last work.
-----
King Valden received his message from a dream, but the message was clear. He was to resign his reign over his kingdom and leave the kingdom to his 20-year old son, who had recently earned his knighthood. Under the cover of night, he made himself 'disappear'.
Around the same time of Valden's disappearance, a new mountain range gradually grew in southern Azora. A hermit began living in a hut somewhere within this reign. This hermit had no name, though many theorized that this hermit was in fact Valden, as he appeared to be immortal.
It became a traditional coming of age test for young knights to journey to the mountain range and accept a quest from the hermit after finding him. Thus, the mountains acquired a name: The Quest Mountains.
-----
Eon received a message as well. He was granted full and total control over the fortress on the border of the Gray Wastes. He turned it into a small domain as to how he imagined Azora should of been from the start: a place where the knights protected the peasants, no more, no less. Eon became the lord, with several knights under him. The peasants farmed the land, for the fortress was a good mile or two away from the Wastes, making the lands at least habitable. A force of volunteers, The Gray Millitia, ensured that no undead crossed the border with the help of the professional soldiers. Eon's domains became known as the Fifth Kingdom, despite it's small size.
-----
Finally, there was the small matter of the Black Knight. He received no orders, and severed the ceasefire between the Followers of the True Code and all the other three kingdoms. He left the fortress keeping the slaad in check, returning to his kingdom, once again serving over his lord and master.
-----
1 PP Mold Land: The Quest Mountains are formed.
3 PP Nourish Populace: The Azorans ever and more thrive!
1 PP Nourish Populace: The Fifth Kingdom is formed.
Kiptar smiled at this godling, Chroma apparently.
"Hello Chroma. I am sorry, but I did not know this Mother was in trouble. If I had, I would have seen what I could do. "
Turning to Nixis:
"Yes, they are interesting, aren't they. This Miasma was worrying, but I feel that my warforged are doing well. A few things to get rid of Miasma near Aetherhome, and inspiration to create material to protect their ships, and they seem to be fine. It would be nice if we could destroy most of the Miasma though, but I wouldn't recommend all of it. It is...interesting. I would be curious to know how it got created in the first place. If your Children want to borrow any of that, I wouldn't be adverse to that.
Oh, and I am Kiptar, you were correct. "
Over the years, the the Terenean Kingdoms have continued to grow and flourish over the years. While they only tolerated the neighboring Celeron, they have managed to prosper in the absense of war. However, as tensions increased between the nearby Fifth Kingdom and Celeron, it seemed difficult for the humites to keep this up.
PP Expenditure
7 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace x8, Terenean States.
Nixis' letters froze momentarially as Kiptar spoke.
"Thank you for your kind offer. I... will be back shortly."
Nixis curled in upon himself, letters growing bright as they compressed until with a flash of light, he was gone.
~~~~~~~~~~
The problem of the Miasma had grown too great. The Children had been forced to the very edge of the Aether, and many Yogloids and colonies had been lost. What was needed was a means by which the Children could escape the Miasma for good, but try as they might, their attempts to either shield themselves or reconvert the Miasma back to Aether had proven futile. As it was, the Children had been reduced to hopping from Yogloid to Yogloid out into the edges of the Aether, until finally Chukwa and a dozen or so Yogloids hovered at the far edges of the Aether, watching the Miasma roll closer and closer.
Then, Nixis was there. The god took a look around, then flew in towards Chukwa.
"HELLO, NIXIS, I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD ARRIVE SOON. THE CHILDREN HAVE PROBLEMS."
"Yes, I see that. Have you tried to get in touch with the Warforged?"
"YES, BUT WE ARE NOW CUT OFF FROM ANY REPLY FROM THEM. SADLY, I FEAR WE ARE OUT OF OPTIONS."
"Not quite yet." Nixis said, pulling out the Astral Shard. He concentrated, and long chains of shimmering pale blue metal, links the size of a gnome appeared floating about Nixis. Nixis nodded, and the chains flew out, hooking into the Yogloids while the other sides flew towards Chukwa, finding nooks and crannies on the giant beast's shell and underside to attach to. The Yogloids moved, dragged by the chains, until they were arrayed in a large sphere around Chukwa, at which point the chains began to glow with their own light, bathing the Yogloids and Chukwa alike with a light on the level of the Palace of Xa'an as seen from the surface. The chains also hardened, keeping the Yogloids fixed in place.
"You can create more Aether, Chukwa. Enough to keep these people and their Yogloids alive. You will have to instruct the Children to maintain the Yogloids as they are. No larger and no smaller, for either way will become untenable for the continued existance of Children on that Yogloid. I command you to travel out into the Void, away from the Miasma, and to safety. If you can, find a safe place and fill it with Aether, and then you may thrive. I fear that it might be a long time before that is a possibility. But, good luck."
Chukwa nodded and began floating out into the Void, breathing out aether at each stroke to maintain the Yogloids about him.
Nixis nodded in satisfaction, then...
~~~~~~~~~
From out of nowhere, Nixis reappeared among Chroma and Kiptar.
"There. Now they should be safe. Thank you for reminding me, Kiptar. Tell me, has anyone come to talk to you recently? There is some talk about having the Gods leave the mortals to their own devices and to stop directly meddling in their affairs. What do you think about this?"
1 PP: Nourish (Land?): From CHukwa: Chukwa and the Yogloids fly out into the Void. Chukwa provides Aether for the Children to survive indefinitely.
3 PP: 1 from Astral Shard: Create Artifact(greater): Chains of the Sun. Giant chains that glow with light and connect the Yogloids to Chukwa.
Kiptar nodded.
"It sounds like a fine idea. Our kind bring strife and conflict, even though we create many good things. It would be a fine expirament."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Iron State began expiramenting on themsleves. They had only ever been the same type but many expirimented, changing themselves so that they were different, had different strengths and abilities. These eventually classified into several different forms. There were the standard types. Several were making themselves stronger, larger, into forms that were much bigger than normal. Others had improved their magical channeling abilities, granting them greater power. Others modified their bodies, giving them forms that can change, letting them adapt to their surroudings.
They also learned new arts, drawing upon darkness and shadow, to give themselves killing abilites that were unmatched, which led to the rise of the Assassins guild in the Guildhall.
PP:
2 * 3 pp: 3 * Shape Populace(Gear of Creation): Create Warforged Brutes, Warforged Channelers, and Warforged Changers.
2 pp: Guide Populace(Greater)(City of Gears): Iron State learns the Assasin Class.
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): The Iron State prospers with these new things.
"Then I hope to see both of you again soon in the Astral Sea." Nixis said. "Now, if you will forgive me... there are a few things I need to do before I can retire from the world."
With that, he left the Chaos, heading to a familiar place.
Babble was much as he remembered it, built into the forest not far from the whispering woods. The gnomes as well were much as he remembered them, and he was recognized quickly, gnomes tumbling out of their homes to fill the great central field. As Nixis flew over, he put his plan into motion.
Long ago, the gnomes had been born from words, dancing in the air about Siccadan as he attempted to write all the words of creation down. Nixis now drew on their inner beings to serve as his inspiration. All across the plaza gnomes, never more than 1 in 100, were finding their fingers and toes dissapearing, being replaced with black flowing letters, much like Nixis' own form. After a few moments of panic, the ones being changed discovered that they could easily control this effect. For now, Nixis knew that they would be limited to small things with their new abilities, but eventually some would become adept enough at it that they could fully dissolve and reform, gaining many of the abilities, such as flight, that Nixis himself had. Nixis left Convincer with the gnomes to teach them the fine points of their new abilities, and sped off, heading now towards Alexandria to check up on the Circle.
~~~~~~~~
However, Nixis' plan was not perfect. Unknown to him, his boon sometimes ignited a sort of kindred pulse in the word that made up the core of the gnome in question. When this occured, the boon would spark uncontrollably, converting the gnome instantly into a fully dissolved form, unable to return to normal. Eventually, enough of these events occured that the afflicted left Babble, heading for unoccupied spaces and ruins of ancient knowledge. They were known as Word Wraiths.
2 PP: 1 from Convincer: Guide Populace: Gnomes learn the Gnome-Specific Paragon Path Word-Born. Wiki entry coming.
3 PP: Shape Populace(paragon): Some Word-Born Gnomes are converted into Word Wraiths, smaller, obviously weaker versions of Nixis himself.
"Bye bye Mr Nixis!" Chroma called after his friend. The Astral sea huh... well Mr... what-did-he-say-his-name-was-again here seemed well enough to spend some time with his mother, maybe he should check it out? Although if he went now, they might not let him back to see his children again... well, he'd always be in their prayers, so it would be like he never left! Still, there might be some things he was forgettering that needed to be done...
***
The cyclops soon learned to manipulate the crystal around them, to create the simplest of weapons and armour. They also developed the ability to make crude archetecture, putting their skills to use to develop greater towns and connecting the islands together with bridges. Soon, it was rare to see one of the crystal islands that wasn't connected to at least one other by a bridge of sparkling muli-coloured crystal.
PP Expenditure
1 Guide PP from Beryl - Cyclops learn to harvest crystal
2PP - Teach populous - Cyclops learn basic archetecture
The Empress spoke to the droplet of water that sat upon her fingertip. The words resonated both in this drop of water, as well as the water far far away, surrounding the god of Oceans, Ashralan. These waters echoed with her message, carrying it to the Ocean God, despite the great distance between them.
"Darling Ashralan, we have to date corresponded very rarely. I grieve that fact. However, this time, I have important news that must be carried to your ears. News of great happenings amongst the divinities. Though you are young and new to this world, I hope that you can see that the time for us gods is coming to a close. As you hear this message, the gods are reparing to perform a mass exodus from this realm, to retire amongst their extraplanar domains. I ask merely that you follow suit. We invite you to the Astral Sea, a veritable paradise of the gods, but if it is your preference, we will not begrudge you remaining within your own Great Sea. If you have any reservations about this whole affair, I urge that you contact me."
Her message done, the Empress flicked away the droplet of water, and waited.
Ashralan hears the Empress's message and replies immediately.
"I am inclined to trust you but I am wary of this offer. I am but a young god and I have only just discovered the outer world and I am hesitant to leave it so soon."
Torvek, Dolestre, Hondala and Terascul end up in the Astral plane. "Okay- what now?" They look around.
"It doesn't seem like anyone's here yet..." Hondala inquires.
Deep within Greyfang mountain, Nixis was hard at work. He had formed a small side passage and sealed it from the Beholders who had retaken the mountain. Their use of the energy of the Dimensional Bulwark was quite astonishing, and was in part the power source for his latest project. It had long bothered him that the world was one so full of unique cultures and viewpoints, and yet, for some bizarre reason, everyone spoke entirely alike. Sure, the Humites might speak differently than the Eladrin and differently from the Beholders, who, Nixis was surprised to find out, enjoyed to sing... not that they were good at it. But Nixis wanted to add something vibrant to the world, something that would explore Language in a much fuller way than merely finding new ways to describe the same concepts. Nixis had read the poetry of the past thousand years, and he had come to the conclusion that everything had been written... the poems struggled to find a voice different from the other poems, and generally failed, either being too wordy, to concise or too... bizzare.
So Nixis worked on his machine. It was a word generator and its function was similar, yet different, to Siccadan's great book. What this machine would do would be to pick words and rearrange them, scrambling their letters, adding and subtracting them, tweaking their meanings such that one word afterwards could mean ten words before. Slowly but surely these words would percolate into a group's minds... Nixis, after long thought had decided to divide these groups by race, a simple, if inelegant solution. He had to be inelegant, though... time was short. The words would percolate and replace the old words, allowing new stories to be written with this new language. Nixis knew that it would lead to problems at first, as people would be unable to understand one another, but eventually it would settle down and would benefit the world.
"There" he said, putting the last piece in place. The machine hummed to life, supplied with steam from a hidden pipe that connected to the Dimensional Bulwark. Nixis watched the tall, blocky device function for a time, then curled up and dissapeared... there was still one or two things left to do.
3PP:Create Artifact (Greater): The Mechanus Articulatum. Provides Guide PP. Specifically, automatically expends its guide PP each turn to teach a race its racial language until all races have been taught, then it will go dormant.
4 PP to go... 1 shape or mold...
Despite the best efforst, the Miasma could not be contained or converted, even by a diving hand. The aether, not having a mind, but seemingly ever hungry to power, came to Aether home. The molder went into action and at first it appeared to be turning the tide, but soon it became apparent that it wasn't working. The newly returned aether simply either eaten and returned to miasma, or reverted back (observers couldn't tell). The Miasma began eating into the divine essense of the artifact, until it suffered a breakdown and failed. With the miasma now iminently close, the inhabitents were desperate for a solution. A small group of "heroes" took the initiative and converted one of their shields that seemed to work and hooked it up to a magical conduit they had found. These heroes claimed they had been given divine assistance by the goddess of the Aether. The super-powered shield came online just in the nick of time and the miasma was held back. The power of the shield ebbed up and down as the energy would be syphoned off by the Miasma. [Aetherhome was able to move][The Miasma retreated] and it was safte, the shield seeming to be enough to keep the place safe, but for how long no one really knows. Thereafter the worship of the goddess of Aether expanded, asking for protection from the Miasma in their travels.
****
The Dark Eladrin, left alone by the machinations of gods and mortals, flourished. Their limited trading with the Free Nation proved fruitful, while protected from any foreign interference. Of course, the Dark Eladrin would fight each other, often, and the nation with the trade benefited immensely and soon became far more powerful and rich than the others. Over time a balance of power was achieved again, with a larger nation and four relatively smaller ones often in alliance against it.
****
The collapse of Silvera into splinter states finally allowed the Maran worshipers the freedom they had so desired. For generations they had kept quiet and not rebelled, even though they knew their participation in the government was but a sham. Still, when the opportunity to form their own nation was made, they at first did not know how to go about doing, lacking the necessary skills of governance. Eventually the banded together and cut out a small, secluded, piece of territory for themselves, a small city-state along the coast bordering Dwarven lands. The land was good and the town surrounded by mountains, but it would never be much. The Eladrin named the city (and nation) Alberan. They did not always get along well with the Jade Nation, but were are never in a position to contest its dominance.
****
The constant trade resulted in the lycnathropy expanding to another region, this time the Iron State. This was exceptionally ironic consider the Iron State comprise mainly warforged. Perhaps it was the loremasters who had once again meddled and experimented with it? Or perhaps the Free Nation's own mutations had merged with the curse and finally gotten to a warforged visiter? Or perhaps Mara herself had passed it along at whatever whim she had. Nevertheless, the curse moved onto the iron beings. The disease manifested similarly in form but sometimes differently in manner. They affected warforged would "transform" into large animal-form beasts. Still, this disease is very rare, so much so that few even know of it.
****
The two Mara's sat in their garden watching the animals and tending to the plants. They could occasionally watch what was happening out in the world through the reflections in the fountain's pool, but today at least they were content with their home.
"Do you think anyone will visit?" Mara asked herself. "I am sure that some other gods will come here. Maybe some mortals."
"I hope so." Mara said.
"Oh don't worry." Mara reassured herself. "as long as we are together we will happy."
----
PP Expenditures:
3 PP - Decreate Artifact - Decreate the Molder.
1 PP - Create Artifact - Aetherhome shield - Protects Aetherhome from the Miasma when it is nearby and "attacks." It uses magical power, possibly from a conduit to feed the shield. To the residents it keeps the Miasma back. In realility, when the Miasma attacks it eat's the shields power which is regenerated through more magical power. The long term ramifications are significant as it is effecitvely draining the world's magic. (borrowing from Topheh) PLOT HOOK: The Miasma is attack Aetherhome and all is well, but magic is becoming harder to use in the city. The city leaders have asked you to figure out what is going on.
1 PP - Guide Populace (artifact) - Iron State worships Mara
5 PP - Nourish Populace (1 from artifact) - Dark Eladrin, split among the 5 clans.
1 PP - Guide Populace - Another splinter state in Eladrin lands--one of primarly Maran worshipers.
2 PP - Shape Creature Paragon Tier - Lycanthropy spreads to Iron State, resulting in Warforged Lycans.
The Dracos finally learn about craftsmanship. For nearly a Decade, the Dracos have built bigger ships, made better homes- known as huts, and found more vegetation. One thing that struggled with them was their intent on adventure. They have explored mucg of the island, but were ready to explore the great seas and beyond. One of the boats disembarked on a journey with 50 Dracos on board. They had sailed far enough to where the island virtually disappeared. It seemed like a treacherous voyage, but no storms were seen.
After several hours, they have crossed the ocean, and see an island. They were glad that they made the voyage, but something was amiss- the skies were different, and the town emitted an emotion of erie distaste. It seemed to the Dracos that they weren't on the same sea...
(OOC- They went through the portal and found themselves at Azora's shores.)
------------------------------
Torvek laid down on the floor of the plane as words bounced wildly around his head. The others were faced with a similar depression of sleep. The others had words bouncing around them as well, but at different rates.
Kiptar followed Nixis into the Astral Sea. Distance swirled around, while structures showed in the distance. He looked down. At its thought, the substance formed into shapes, machines, ideas. It grinned. So much to test, and so much time...
And end.
In the land of Ardune, the races further learned the benefits of domesticating the animals around them for their own benefit.
The gnolls, huntsmens to the end, learned to domesticate the hyenas that cackled in their land and had been the seed of their creation. With the speckled hounds at their side, the gnoll hunts grew even more thrilling, allowing them to beset the creatures on their prey to draw them out before plucking them full of arrows. In the growing Ice Age, they also served another purpose... in the night, it was often necessary to huddle up to both gnoll and hyena just to live to see the morning frost. Of course the gnolls of slaughter had a slightly different approach to using their hyenas... there was little more pleasing to their twisted minds than throwing hapless victims into pits full of the creatures, driven insane from abuse, and seeing them be ripped apart and devoured alive in a whirlwind of fur and fang.
The genasi, meanwhile, learned that the claw-footed behemoths, though swift and sure, were not the ideal mount for every occasion. For instance, their carrying capacity was quite limited, and most of the behemoths couldn't carry much more than an armored rider and his belongings. And so the genasi began to tame the larger behemoths for different tasks. Though the claw-footed behemoths would remain the provenance of the wind genasi, the training and care of the bloodspike and macetail behemoths would be the role of the earth caste. After all, these behemoths did not ride like the wind, and require the steady reliable hand of earth to prosper. Soon, the macetail behemoths became strong beasts of burden, pulling caravans and carrying goods across the Wastes, though armored macetails were also a common sight to be used as transportation for fire caste troops and living siege weapons if things got too out of hand. The bloodspikes, on the other hand, proved too savage to be used in such menial tasks, and so were reserved to be unleashed in battle, building on their natural aggression as opposed to futily trying to quash it.
***
Chroma had already said goodbye to his people. It had been a tearful affair, but he'd see them from the sea with the astseals. He wondered how they were different from regular seals... in any case, he'd said goodbye to his people... it was time to say goodbye to his land.
"Goodbye trees! Goodbye icky bloodstone! Goodbye sea! Goodbye seals! Goodbye mountains! Goodbye Wastes! Goodbye jungle! Goodbye Rainbow Fountain! Goodbye sky! Goodbye..."
Well, you get the point. When he'd said goodbye to everything from the sky above to the worms below, the child god let out a small smile, before vanishing from the world and into the domain of Gods.
***
PP Expenditure
2PP - Teach Populous - Gnolls domesticate hyenas
1PP - Teach Populous - Genasi domesticate macetail behemoths
1PP - Teach Populous - Genasi domesticate spiketail behemoths
1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish populace - The gnolls prosper with a new way to avoid the wintery chill.
The head Sneak was walking through the Shattered Lands in the vicinity of Alexandria when he came across a cave. He went inside, and stopped, stunned. The cave was the entrance to a large underground complex, perfect for his purposes. Soon, the Circle moved into their new headquarters, and using their new headquarters, are able to expand dramatically, reaching all corners of the world. They ran into the Dracos and offered them a position as the muscle of the Circle. Nixis watched for a while and then sped off.
1 PP staff of Earth: Mold Land (lesser): Create a fortress for the Circle known as the Sanctum.
1 PP: Guide Populace: Dracos join the Circle as muscle.
2 PP: Nourish Populace*2: Circle expands in power and influence
Hensen came went back into his realm, he could almost see the thread of destiny all pointing toward the end of this age and the beginning of a new one, the god of change rejoced... A new cycle of creation... the world was already so rich of potential that it can keep moving even without divine action, such a beutiful place was made in the end...
But he could not leave without leaving a departing gift, something that could, one day, bring back the age of the gods.
The god of change ripped from his own form a fragment of pure divine power it was extremely painfull, expecially for him, to lose a portion of his own being, he felt deprived, weakened after that act. Then he attempted to give a form to this pure energy, but he could not, as pure essence of change could not be given a fixed shape, it would fit the expectation of the watcher, someone will see the new gift as a crown, others a sword, an orb, a quill.
Hensen travelled back to the world one last time, he went to the maelstorm, near to bloodmyst hart. there under the sea he placed his gift, sealed by powerful magics that a mortal can hardly shatter, for he was not sure that any mortal was ready for that power at the time. Hensen was always sure of his actions, immersed in his plan he knew no readl doubt, but this time he had one, em I doing the right thing with this sacrifice, tought the hydra god, he was still leaking small amount of divine power from his self inflicted wound so this doubts absorbed a portion of it, becoming sentient creatures of their own.
When Hensen looked at the first of these new creatures, the Sphinxes he was greatly impressed, supreme questioners and tricksters, these monsters would have being the perfect guardians for his gift, and granted some of them vast supernatural powers.
Content with his work he left the world, leaving the sphinxes to protect the divine spark and feed on those who failed their almost impossible trials. Every time a traveller came close to attaining the final prize he was bested by some enigma or clever ticks devised by these creatures.
Some time the let the unlucky seekers alive, but totally deprived of will and sense of self, shades without any more potential, these monstrous beings, called merely "the remnants" walks the maze that protects the spark, attacking with crazed fury any creature but the sphinxes.
Some of the sphinxes also moved away from their forced lair, seeking more mortal certainty to shatter...
A legend begun to be told over the world, about a place of power where lies a source of divine essence, something that could even grant ascension to the one who claims it. However informations about the place real location was scarce, and most of the time just fakes. It is rumored that the Compass of Shfiting Routes can point the way to the divine spark, however no sailor ever managed to be granted the spark.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Unknown even to the lord of change when sphinxes was born another breed of creature appeared, gostly beings of great beauty, shrouded by veils of illusions, these creatures, calling themselves Muses, exists only to inspire mortals, increasing their ambitions, helping them to unlock their potentials. Creating passions capable of burning away a mortal soul and feeding on what remains of the creature after the rush of emotions is over.
8 PP Create (1 from Wondermaker) - Divine Spark, the spark held a portion of hensen power, it could ascend any mortal that manages to claim it, the spark appearance fit what the onlooker expect it to be. No form of divination divine or mortal can detect the position of the artifact.3 PP Spawn Epic Creatures - Sphinxes, supernatural creatures that incarnated doubts and uncertainty, they love to test other creatures and shatter their belief and sense of self. Sphinxes guards the Dvine Spark.
3 PP Spawn Epic Creatures (1 from Bloodstones) - Remnants (mortals deprived of all potential and will after failing the spinxes tests)
2 PP Spawn Paragon Creatures, Hensen's Muses (wicked spirits of excess that can inspire mortals to greatness, usually making him forget about anything else but a specific dream and finally having this passion consume the victim).
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones): create a large maze of bloodstone where the Divine Spark is located.
1 PP Guide (from Aether Ripples) legends about a path of divine ascension begin to be told by storytellers, someime a gifted mortal will be called by the spark in weird dremas..
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The lord of change moved back to his realm, he felt the pull of destiny, his last gift or inheritance maybe was ready, he hesitated for a short while, a few seconds or maybe a century, time has no meaning for him, he felt a sense of loss while leaving for the world, he flowed around creation as an ethereal ghost, stopping mere seconds to see freemen living their simple lives in the streets of Novost, he visited for a moment the halls of powers, where demons hidden under human flesh and mortals fights a war of shadows, then he left his most favored sons to roam the world for the continent, he walked in the majestic beuaty of silveran forests, so pure and untamed, a prize that even his divine blood was unable to claim, invisible he walked among Terenas humites, in Beacon he watched the hall of the court trials. He visited Zophar, the Iron State, the Shattered Realm, then he moved back to the south seeking the dark eladrin nations struggling among each other, watching chotic energies unfolding in the rift under the now lost chillhund archipelago... He went to azora, watching over the dragon tomb and the sladdi nests, he immersed himself under the world, seeking the boggarts, minotaurs, kruthic and gnols and into the sky, where the Drakhorn, his protegees resides, he felt the miasma corruptive power and then he left for the planes.
Finally he was back to the City of Silence in the Grand Distortion, for centuries forbidden to any other being but himself, but the time for silence was over, the hydra god landed in the middle of his aerie realm and called for reflexes of the world to flow into his city, filling it with noise and a semblance of life.
There he stood, watching creation forever and dreaming one day to come back...
It was getting time to leave... Shurka could feel it. Many had already left, it was almost his time, too. He approached the Palace of Xa'an. The Empress and Veros were probably still there. Upon enterring the massive halls, he called out to the two, even though he was quiet, the sound could be heard echoing across...
"Veros, Empress? I think it's time to go."
He nodded at Shurka, lifting his staff over the balcony, a ghostly wind blowing across the world below, delving deep into cracks and caves, leaving no place untouched.
"I think you are right, old friend."
The Empress saw Shurka, heard his words, and smiled.
"How long ago was it us two were so completely opposed, now you come to fetch me as you would an old friend?" said the Empress, and then sighed, "The times, they are a'changing."
She turned to take the hand of her daughter, Priya, who had approached, soundlessly.
"Come now dear, it's time to go," said the Empress, and then paused, "Veros, I just wanted to thank you, for everything.
"You have become quite a friend to me this past while, and I thank you for that, I hope we can continue to be friends in the Astral Sea, I would be most upset should that not be the case," said the Empress, and she was surprised to find that she was rather choked up. She looked out over the world.
"It is quite beautiful, isn't it? she said, and smiled once more, then she looked down at Priya, "Come dear, it's time to be off."
And the Empress and her daughter stepped from the world, never to return, and never to look back. A new eternity had begun.
---------------------------------
The silvery waters, dappled with light, lapped against a rocky cove. It was quiet here, quite peaceful. No violent sound disturbed the gentle rush of the waves, or the soft whisper of the wind over the rocks. The rocks were a delicate shade of pink, speckled with darker spots, and the sand a creamy beige colour. At a distance, a lone figure could be seen ambling it's way down the beach. As it drew close, one could make out the bright green colour of the pitcher it held in its hands. It was a woman, dressed in a simple garment of pale lilac. Her long brown curls fell about her shoulders, and she had a bright, perceptive look in her large brown eyes as she made her way cautiously down to the water.
She waded out into the water a bit, until the water reached just above her knees. She brushed her arms across her forehead, more out of habit than to clear it from sweat, and knelt to fill the pitcher to the brim with cool, sparkling liquid. The silver water was not opaque, and so, when she bent low to fill the pitcher, she could see tiny fish dancing below the surface. Light flashed upon the colourful rocks upon the ocean floor. She straightened up, and cast her gaze out to sea, scanning the horizon. She found the spot where the clear blue met the sparkling silver, the turned her back to it. Her eyes found the beach, a thin strip of pale sand wending its way around the perimeter of the island, and was surprised at how far out she was.
She could see more figures making their way down to the water. The closest she could see was a small halfling girl, who rushed happily out into the ocean, laughing, and splashing about in the cool water. She was followed by an eladrin man, a soldier, who picked his way carefully through the rocks and stood, like a sentinel, at the water's edge. She turned her gaze farther to the left, and spotted a small family, a mother, a father, and their young daughter, wading into the shallows further along the beach. There was an old eladrin man, dipping his feet in the water and grumbling to himself.
The woman smiled to herself. All was well, all was peaceful. The End.
Endlessly the exarch toiled in the name of his creator creating, destroying, altering the landscape of this colossal floating mass land, Seborenn. The thing made two artifacts that could create water from nothing, water that the Ythra needed to live upon the land. These twin contraptions it set atop twin peaks, and rivers soon began coursing and cascading through and down the mountains, carving a basin through the newborn land as it went, eventually reaching the edge and cascading down into infinity. As the being paused momentarily to examine it's labors, it heard a familiar voice. A voice it had long waited to hear again.
"You have done well, my child, and your work here pleases me."
Ythrexle had arrived. "I am proud of you my child. This land you have created is as I envisioned. And I shall reward you now by completing you. I am sorry it has taken so long." And even as the god spoke the exarch began to change form, gaining coherent form. It took on a humanoid appearance, with eyes of a piercing yellow color and pure white skin, dark hair cascading downward to it's ankles. Garbed in a light pink flowing robe, the exarch stood before it's creator. "Alcade. That shall be your name, my reliable child. I need you to look over these lands in my absence. You shall be the mediator for all conflicts, and your word shall be followed by all. The time has come for the era of gods to end, and I would have no other watch over my children than you. Now, together let us finish this land."
Together the god and his servant worked together, creating a vast towering city spiraling upwards into the sky. The airborne metropolis of Haipor, which was large enough to accomodate more than three times its intended population. An elaborate heating system was constructed deep within the workings of the Yrragard, pipelines extending and criscrossing through the entirety of the land and the city to provide heat, all powered by the very stone which held the land aloft. All that was left was to take measures that would repel the surrounding storm indefinitely. Hastily, Ythrexle and Alcade constructed a mechanism that would establish a perimeter around the whole of the land, so that no mater how violent the storm got the land enclosed within would neither feel nor hear the lightning, thunder, or gale force winds and rains.
"Alcade you have served me very well, and I have great faith that you shall guide this land into prosperity. I'll leave you one other thing, should this land ever come under attack." Ythrexle handed Alcade the Sword With No Name, "This weapon should be your very last resort. I implore you to use it only if there is no alternative. Be well my child." Without another word the god rose into the air, headed directly toward the borealis above and the land made of Dreams that awaited beyond it. The Ythra gathered around their new leader watched as the being that had given them life leave their world forever...
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PP Expenditure
2PP Create Artifact - Two water generators
2PP Create Artifact - Intercontinental heating pipeline
2PP Mold Land - The Airborne Metropolis of Haipor
2PP Create Artifact - The Storm Blocker
The mindflayers had learned much from their studies of the kalashtar, much of the outside world and the strange unknown beasts that stalked it, the unshaped who possessed the minds of surface wielders. After many controlled experiments with the kalashtar, the mindflayers sent and expedition to capture one of these unbodied spirits. Brining it to the depths, they spent a decade studying it, learning the limits of it's power, discovering that their mental strength made them very resistant to possession.
Finally releasing the spirit from it's chains, they learned that outside a body, they wouldn't exist. Intrigued by the many discoveries, and the potential of their own uniqueness in dealing with these creations, they embarked on a new venture, selling their telepathy, mind-reading powers, and ability to deal with the unshaped to rulers of the surface, providing security and advantages to those who employed them.
-----
This step of the way was over. The Fifth Kingdom had been assailed night and day by assassins and murders, and while some of the strongest were immune or safe, even mighty Eon could not be everywhere. One by one, the vampires killed the azorans off.
With it finished, they turned their gaze to Azora itself, taking their war to the next level.
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Veros lifted his staff, and energy washed over the world, finding and nourishing his chosen few, brining them prosperity in the world to come in the wake of divine silence.
Turning his back, he moved away from the balcony, seeking deeper and deeper into the ruined palace, searching out the ancient pillar of flame. Standing before it's ancient glory, he watched it twist and flicker before a non-existent wind. He called forth arcane energies, pulling the flame free, releasing it from its bonds in the palace to burst forth into the aether, joining the palace in circling the world.
However, the pillar was different from the palace. Where the palace provided heat and light, ignoring the miasma around it, the ancient pillar was different. It's primordial flame, conjured forth Chactross in ages past, scorched and burned the miasma around it away, leaving pure aether behind in it's wake, though only temporary before the miasma slowly closed back in. Further, the additional heat and light produced revitalized the world below.
Finished in the palace, with nothing to keep him there, he moved next to his workshop, grunting in irritation at the damage the miasma had wreaked upon his work here. Clearing it from the area with a wave of his hand, he moved into the depths, working through the twisting and turning corridors until he reached the Creation Forge deep below. Channeling untold amounts of power into it, he worked long and hard perfecting a quartet of new artifacts to serve various purposes.
The first was an addition to the Azure Aegis strengthening it's natural regenerative properties, allowing it to keep the miasma at bay. The second was a set of robes that he released into the world below, waiting for a mortal skilled enough for it's use. The third was a dagger forged or pure shadow, that would hide it's wielder and allow them to make lethal surprise attacks. The fourth was the most important of the bunch. Once finished, he left his workshop with it in hand, setting the machine near the entrance atop Skypeak.
Walking to the edge, his eyes widened as an enormous asteroid rushed through the miasma, the corrosive clouds tearing and ripping at it, breaking it into pieces. Finally, it shattered, raining down upon the planet is dozens of pieces, bursting through the Azure Aegis in a rain of meteors that would be remembered for age to come. Across the world, the remnants of the Drahkorn meteor would be found pieces of their tunnels, cities, and buildings discovered by explorers and treasure hunters. Most of the drahkorn died in the fall, but some would survive. Still, with the Pillar of Flame gone, they were a dying breed, their species doomed to a slow implacable extinction. In the wake of this disaster, numerous new and odd creatures would come into existence from the magical energies sent rippling through the world.
Choosing not to stop it, lifted his staff. Bursting forth, a silent wind flew swiftly over the surface, seeking every last nook and cranny. Rushing along, it grasped the many sleeping gods, lost in their dreams, drawing them forth, releasing them only when they had finally been dragged into the Astral Sea by the ghostly winds. Finished, Veros turned to his new device, activating it's powers, watching the every expanding wave of energy cutting through reality. It was complete. The time of gods and lords of creation was finished, their access to this world cut off. Conjuring himself a chair, he sat down, staring out over the world. Only he remained now, trapped by the necessity of activating the machine from this side. Until the world needed them again, here he would stay, watching over the Planar Seal, making sure none could emerge.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Mindflayers nation
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Mindflayers are highly resistant to unshaped possession
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater) - Mindflayers are able to remove and kill unshaped through a combination of telepathy and telekinesis.
2 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Fifth Kingdom
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Celeron infiltrates Azora, taking the war to the four nations there
3 PP - Create Artifact (Greater) - The Azure Aegis now generates Create PP, auto-used only to restore damage to itself
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Moderate) - Robes of the Archmagus
2 PP - Create Artifact (Moderate) - Shade Knife
3 PP - Create Artifact (Greater) - Planar Seal
3 PP - Mold Land (Greater) - See the world with dozens of mini-dungeons created by falling Drahkorn asteroid pieces
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact)- Mold Land (Greater) - See the world with dozens of mini-dungeons created by falling Drahkorn asteroid pieces
2 PP - De-Create Artifact (Moderate) - Lake of Fire, causing Drahkorn to slowly go extinct
3 PP - Shape Populace (Moderate) - Ogres
3 PP - Spawn Beast (Greater) - All wraiths are now created
3 PP - Spawn Beast (Moderate) - Mummies