For the good of mortals. For the good of the deathless.
Hail to the speaker, happy is he who knows.
Hail to the listener, happy is he who remembers.
Before sand and stone, before wind and water, there was naught in the world. All was as a void; there was not a sun to shine, there was not an earth to walk upon, there was not air to breath. There was not room enough for a man to stand upright, as even empty space had not yet been created.
For timeless ages this Nothing existed, dimensionless and featureless. It was into this world – a world of empty space and non-existence – that the first gods awoke. Where they came from cannot be said. Perhaps they stepped out of non-existence itself and bound themselves to this place. Perhaps they are the elements of the world given mind and form. Perhaps the lords of creators are themselves created and came from one even older.
Listen now to their story.
Within moments, thoughts continued to tumble through the new mind. “What am I? Where is this? What is this? Who am I? Why am I thinking these?”
The mind opened to the void around it, the bleak void pressing around it, threatening to snuff it’s fragile form out and return it to that from which it came. A single thought rose above the rest. “NO!” And the void was pressed back.
From that single thought, the void was no longer everywhere. In a large area around the thought, where nothing had existed only a moment ago, pockets of something other than the void waited, waiting for a mind to shape them into something more.
It looked at the stuff, thinking that the concept of looking was a novel thing, wondering how to tell the difference between it and the void and this new stuff. How to shape it? How to change it? It reached out tentatively with its mind, slowly molding it, learning its properties. He pressed out, seeking a way to see, to differentiate from void and non-void, and he felt something change in the void, as if something new had come to being. He ignored it for now, as a small pale red light illuminated the stuff, a dark gray against the impenetrable blackness of the void.
It spoke for the first time. “I see.” And odd thing, speaking, and the way the sound echoed through both void and non-void.
Using his new mastery, he folded the non-void together; naming is existence, concentrating it into one central location. Then he examined existence more closely, pondering exactly what it could do. He was pleased to note he could change it however he liked. He took a portion of it, and made it solid, anchoring it to the outside edge of the ball.
He looked at it, considering what could be done with it. He placed it light in the center, and watched as the flickering light seemed to extinguish. Disappointed, he considered it, looking around at the darkness, and decided to rest.
Resting, he waited, one final thought passing through his mind. “Waiting for what?”
PP Expenditures
3 PP - Form Domain (Greater) - Magic
3 PP - Mold Land (Greater) - A featureless continent of bare stone, sitting atop the grey matter of the world that is yet to be formed.
He let out a scream of agony as he saw the world. Grey. Empty. Nothing to put out the PAIN.
With a thought, he created a great ocean to make life bearable. Crashing into the sea that surrounded the grey continent like a great meteor. The Ocean did nothing to aleviate the pain! Dully, Chactross noted that the sea was burning up around him, so he raised himself into the air, burning like a pyre.
(Create minor Domain: Pain 1 pp
Mold Land: Greater Ocean)
It came to be and was amused by itself. "Let there be light!" it called into the nothing beyond.
Looking around, it saw that there was very little to see. It shed light into the void, and though it could feel the light, it could not see it. There was nothing to reflect his glory. That would not do.
Between the void and the solid stuff, this being "wanted" and so the desire became manifest. Waves of aether arose. It reflected the light, yet the light passed through it easily. Pleased, the light played in the airy substance for a time.
Quickly -- or perhaps not so quickly, the light wasn't sure -- it grew bored.
A thought struck it... the light was separate from the aether, so other things could be separate too. But... perhaps, not so separate. That solid stuff below was interesting, but the light didn't like it; it was hard to pass through it.
Parts of the aether condensed into a form not quite airy but not quite solid; a jelly, perhaps. These things began to grow, feeding on the aether around them for matter and feeding on the light that was given it for energy.
Pleased, the light desired to reward itself. If desire had allowed him to produce these things, then desire was good in itself.
Taking its dreams, the light desired that it might dream as well.
PP
Nourish Land: The void to produce aether, 1PP
Nourish Land: Aether, to produce plant-like organisms that are light enough to float through the aether, 1pp
Ascend God: Dreams (that would be you, Ghostly), 4pp
Nourish Land: The void to produce aether, 1PP
Nourish Land: Aether, to produce plant-like organisms that are light enough to float through the aether, 1pp
Ascend God: Dreams (that would be you, Ghostly), 4pp
A process that went pretty slow.
On one of the organisms, this process was accelerated by a tiny organism that had formed itself onto it.
It began as a single cell, but soon started to multiply as it decomposed the plantlike organism further.
As the newly formed organism started to become larger, it started to send small particles into the Aether, spores. Where the spores found other matter, they would start to form new cells and accelerate the decay process.
(create primitive molds: 1PP)
Show
This is basicly my god taking shape
He was not happy, the world had no vibrance nothing but moldy spores, nothing he could watch frollick, live and die.
Young Oravalos decided this world needed balance amidst the chaos and creatures that could survive and thrive in this eco system.
Thus, Oravalos gathered forth the essence of life about him, feeling the light and aether surrounding all and created a new land mass in the aether. He then breathed across the aether transforming some of the small spore like creatures into new beings that would be apart of the cycle of life and death.
These spores similiar to those of the ones before would feed directly off the aether but when they settle upon the lands in the aether, taking hold and allowing that permenaence to build upon itself until they become trees and plants upon the land.
1 PP Mold Land (Lesser): Create an island home floating in the aether (size of hawaii; big island)
1 PP Nourish Land: SOME of the Plant like creatures can now take hold of the land masses and grow into trees. Some remained aether born.
2 PP Form Domain (Moderate): Evolution of the spores into a new creature
Orvalaos then settled upon his new island Home and smiled with glee and a small giggle. "This will do indeed."
He then began to watch the plants grow, and the lands take shape amongst the aether.
The matter before him does not please him, but inside the aether he observes its own collapse and decay. The decay is a threat, for it is a decay brought upon matter by other matter, yet it is also pleasing to him.
"I will unmake this madness. I will feed this mold and give it life beyond the scope within which it now exists. I will make it greater"
He speaks to the mold
"I will make you grow, for you enable that decay which defeats matter and makes it weaker. I will make you spread across this aether and consume. Your existance will aid me, as it will do yourself."
(1PP Nourish Population: Mold)
Then, there was the Dream of Creation. There was a change in the void, a folding in the fabric of Nothing, there was light and fire, a joy in change and a hope for things to come. So, this new hope joined the first and they rustled and whispered to one another in the secret language of their kind.
Soon, the Light and the Fire had their own Dreams. The Fire dreamed of the one perfect moment it had known, suspended in agony, and the Light took joy in itself, and dreamed of the world reformed, of the endless play of light and color.
Soon, what had been a slow, steady drip was now a stream. The slow, quiet dreams of the trees, and the ever-multiplying dreams of the tiny things that floated in the air and lived for but the blink of an eye began to fill the space behind the world, and then, something happened. Deep in the secret heart of that place, the Dreams began to dream.
The Dream of Dreams knew itself, and looked upon its world and the other. It knew that they were forever intertwined, that as long as one existed, so too would the other. So it made a Gate of Horn, and a Gate of Ivory, so that Dreams and Dreamers could pass between the realms and know one another. It spoke to the Dreams, and told them to go into the world and see it for themselves, so that they might understand how they had come to be, and when they went, he went with them, a hope, a wish, a prayer coiling through the tall gates of Dream and taking form in the vast world beyond.
PP Expenditure:
4 PP: Create Plane (Greater - Dream, the Place Behind the World)
2 PP: Create Artifact (Moderate - The Gates of Horn and Ivory)
He absorbed it all, and hungered for more, to know more, to seek more. Determination went through his mind. He would know it all. He focused his mind, seeking out every piece of knowledge he could find. Perhaops he could even contact the creators of these new objects and creatures he was learning of.
PP Expenditure
3 PP - Form Domain (Greater) - Secrets
Looking about it saw a glow in the distance. The solid thing, land, was surrounded by a not-so-solid thing, water. But there was a glow in the water.
It hadn't shed light in the water, so why should water be glowing? That was terribly rude of it.
The light dived into the water to seek out the source of this glow and he found a flame.
But there was nothing to contain the water. It spread and dissipated into the aether, pooling above and below the floating fungus and stone. It became a ring, constantly flowing, watching as things began to change. Rapidly.
Show
Mold Land (Moderate) 2 PP More liquids and they're in orbit, as a sort of ring river.
It continued to babble to itself and realized something. What it thought, seemed to happen. On a whim he wished to himself to be understood.
Show
Form Domain (Moderate) 2 PP Language
Every word expanded into an image or idea. The newborn god wondered at the connection of the physical with the mental and paused, there was another presence. It would wait though.
"What would you like to be called?"
"A pleasure to meet you. I suppose we are brothers of the world."
It sank deep into thought for a moment. " . . .Veros would be suitable as a name."
"Oh! Another- a well... whatever we are. Chactross? Veros? and I am to be Astaire... This is interesting. A start. Or something like that.
Incidentally, what is this place? What are we doing here? How?"
The Dream of Dreams saw this, and was glad, but it felt a tug at the core of its being. It was woven from the dreams of Gods, and so was connected to them all. It could sense them all around, unfurling, questioning, just as confused and unknowing as itself. What was this Other World? Why were Its world and this connected? What was their purpose? Perhaps together, they could find out.
And so, the Dream of Dreams let out a call. It was a haunting sound, a song of glories yet to be, of tales to be told and songs yet unsung. It spoke of dreams and nightmares, beauty and madness, of the great things They might do together, and of how They might rip this world apart.
With that the orb of water began to make its way towards the summons, pleased that he had found his voice.
Young Orvalos giggled to himself "things seem to be getting interesting."
Orvalos stretched his sentience and watched from afar as the other creators interacted.
He gazed off into the distance. "It seems another would spy on us from afar rather than show himself. Dissapointing."
Hunter Orvalos considered this other creator sizing up his intentions and demeanor and replied.
"I ment no offense fellow great one, I just prefer my home and I have much work to attend to. I do not see the point to all the flitting about when I can just cast my thoughts where I please and there they are."
Chactros then, without saying a word to the pinkthing, flew off looking for all the world like a shooting star until he caught up with Astaire. The two of them traveled until the reached the source of the "noise."
(of course, if you don't want to, say the word)
All the more annoyingly, it had distracted him and allowed the glow that he had been pursuing to speed away unnoticed. The Light followed until it caught up with it.
Was this fire? He had a vague memory of the substance. But whatever it was, it was producing illumination, challenging the glory of the light.
"What are you?" it asked.
An additional effect of the pillar was that it anchored the world. Where once, the Aether, water and earth were floating through the void, suddenly the pillar became the center. A focal point. The effect of this was that the Island in the Dark, if seen from the outside began rotating on one point.
"As you can see, my name is Chactross. I am the one who comes before you. I burned in the darkness, and you flew out and away from me."
(Mold land Moderate: Pillar of the earth)
This process slowly started to erode the land.
Spores that came in contact with the water began a similar process, spreading entire blankets of mold on the water surface.
Meanwhile, the mass of mold that started it all slowly started to grow...
(no idea under what kind of action this falls)
(nourish land x2 2PP)
"Bah, Thief I name you!" the Light replied. "No right have you, no right to use my light and play with it. Did you ask? Hmm? Even a little? NO!"
"You burn, burn, flicker, and die. But light lasts and lasts and lasts, light first and lasts."
The center of the cloud of light turned red as it reached out towards the pillar of fire. It withdrew the radiance from it; even as it burned it became dark, a lightless thing of heat and invisible flame.
Next, the Light turned to the rude creature and tried to pull the light from it as well. Let it burn, but let the Light have none of that. Yet... the more the Light pulled from the creature, the more there was. The light just wouldn't leave it.
Enraged, the Light flew away from the thing, shouting, "Thief, thief, thief, thief, thief, thief, thief!"
When it had time to calm down it began to worry. If this thing could keep its ill-gotten light, what else was it capable of? But what to do, what to do?
Distract it? Yes, it had created water to distract itself, didn't it? And now its petty entertainment had taken it into the Light's land. Yes, distractions!
Turning to the aether and the plants there, the Light saw that there was not much to distract one so simple at that. If fire flickered, maybe things that flickered would distract it?
In the aether there came to be beings of ethereal shape, great lines of denser aether that slithered on frilled form, domes of aether that undulated to propel themselves about. Other creatures too began to spread out, moving with a degree of tentativeness that the Light didn't quite like. Like the fire, they lived and died far too quickly for his taste. But perhaps they would work.
PP
1pp, Denourish: Pillar of Fire - Xa'an removed all light produced by the Pillar.
1pp, Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Xa'an creates aether-beasts. To note, all of these would be less than a lvl 1 challenge
1pp, Denourish: Pillar of Fire - Xa'an removed all light produced by the Pillar.
1pp, Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Xa'an creates aether-beasts. To note, all of these would be less than a lvl 1 challenge
Chactross was enraged. This thing had taken his beautiful sculpture and reduced it's glory significantly. And then created tiny flying pests. A dozen flew near Chactross form. Chactross burned brighter, Creating more light which seemed to annoy whatever this annoying being, and in addition, incinerating the aether beasts.
"You are annoying. And petty. I am your direct brother, and you would diminish my works. You are a horrible being."
... the Light wondered what "brothers" meant.
As there didn't seem to be any danger for the moment, it resumed its play in the aether. There was more about than he had remembered. Thingies were causing the astral flora to break apart and decay, and this wasn't the work of the astral fauna either. There were also... other thingies floating about. They reminded the Light of the Dream.
Speaking of which, the Dream drifted by. Curious, the Light followed. He remembered now, it had called out earlier, when he was distracted by that nasty water stuff. Hopefully it wasn't hurt.
A humanoid figure with no face or mass began to dance just inside the gate. Without a word Astaire rippled and formed himself to look just like the dream of a man.
'I can echo things too! How wonderful, I do not have to be creative if I do not so choose!' (It was from here forth that water formed to it's container instead of always assuming a form of it's own)
'Am I an echo? A reflection of the things around me?' Flattening himself, and folding over in half, Astaire peered at his reflection. He could see himself a thousand fold. 'Amazing!' He thought 'Though I see through me I see to me as well... An echo of a echo. Perhaps I was improperly named. I am there indeed, but I am also in there and in there's there and on into infinity. So much potential for such a simple concept! I am an echo. A-neko.'
Still smiling over his recent revelation, the godling turned to tell the dreams within the gate his new name. But they didn't respond. They just continued their pantomime in spite of him.
Slightly disappointed he drifted back towards his orbiting river. After some time swimming through space, he arrived to find small creatures consuming him and his. 'Disgusting! How should such contaminants destroy without a thought!' The process tickled the water and caused it to become brackish and impure. It deteriorated and disappeared. Oblivion. An end for something so new.
I'll have none of this! cried the god From now on you molds who feed on me will be mine! and will spread moisture instead of destroying it! I demand symbiosis from you mites of filth! but fear not, I will provide for you as well. Here!
There was a flurry and bits of mold bound together in a strange shape. They hardened and compacted around the water forming a sort of living stone. Coral! you will eat the mold as it eats you, in order to preserve my body and keep it pure.
With that he rejoined his river and rested.
PP
1PP Nourish Land: Basic ecosystem. Currently the current of the orbital river keeps the corals from getting very big (or else they fall out). Tiny mold fish are included. Cue evolution please.
1PP Nourish Land: Basic ecosystem. Currently the current of the orbital river keeps the corals from getting very big (or else they fall out). Tiny mold fish are included. Cue evolution please.
And then suddenly all at once the fissure surged wider, and a massive, masculine creature poured out into the world and away from the fire, only to moments later have it's very image change. Suddenly it's image was feminine. Some unknown later it flickered back, and so the process continued, constantly moving between the two forms.
"What work is this that upon my birth I be trapped in a prison. No less, a prison weaker than I! Henceforth all that imprisons shall crumble under me."
The figure looked over itself, and looked as though infuriated, "... My coat! This miserable place has claimed my coat!"
---
The creature then set to a long, tedious task of carefully determining the edges of the pillar, around which it slowly constructed a low earthen wall. This wall had the added bonus of circling the very whole from which he had climbed into this world.
Growing weary after all of it's work, the creature crawled into it's well and indeed back into the hole to sleep for a great while.
Upon waking it discovered itself curled around a large, metallic coloured egg which from which a pulsing, tick-like noise could be heard. Perplexed, the creature examined the egg for a long while as it fluctuated between masculine and feminine forms, gently stroking the egg and carefully placing it on a natural shelf within the well walls.
"Curious. What contraption is it? And where did it come from..." The gods attention was drawn to something unusual. Something it found threatening to its very existence.
Time moved erratically. With pockets moving much faster or slower than others, and everything capable of altering it's own time, and to Yoglith that simply could not be. Time would crumble prisons, tear apart lands, and dry rivers, but it would not be subject to irregularity.
The god fumed. He raged. And then he was struck by an idea, and silently moved to work, focusing all his will and energies into the constructions of a great object deep within his well, utilizing the power of Chactross' Inferno indirectly to ultimately channel, funnel, and standardize the speed at which time moved out of his hole, and emitting it out of the well, through the invisible pillar of fire and into the world, allowing it to spread to the rest of creation accordingly.
---
Even as the god once again rested, he noticed the aether beasts drifting through the air that died in the fire. Taking pitty on the beasts he willed several to change, into something less weak, giving them hard shells and wings with which to fly, and making them feed upon the least of the aether creatures. They would glow with a pale light for a short time after feeding.
PP Expenditure
2pp Create Plane (Lesser): The well of time. It'll get detailed in the wiki when I have more time.
1pp Spawn Beast (Lesser): Creating Pyre Beeltes.
3pp Create Artifact (Greater): A Divine Egg. I'll detail it at a later date as well.
3pp Create Artifact (Greater): Temporal Harmonizer. Also detailed later.
1pp Spawn Beast (Lesser): Creating Pyre Beeltes.
3pp Create Artifact (Greater): A Divine Egg. I'll detail it at a later date as well.
3pp Create Artifact (Greater): Temporal Harmonizer. Also detailed later.
While this process happened, the creatures behavior would change. They would become more aggresive, attacking other creatures, even there own kind.
Creatures attacked by an infected one had a chance of being infected aswell.
(create template: Plague-mold 3PP)
(will work this out a bit better in the wiki)
A suitable buffer was needed. Reaching out, the Light changed the aether surrounding the matter, fundamentally altering its substance. It retained its airy nature, but it was heavier and denser. A suitable blanket to protect the beauty above.
He made it lighter than water, lighter than earth... only that annoying fire was as light, but not as light as aether itself.
He called it "air."
PP
1pp, Nourish Land: The area surrounding the continent and ocean to become "air." Currently this is just a very thin layer of gas barely clining to the matter, but the aether plants and creatures can't survive there, nor can creatures native to air usually breath aether.
1pp, Nourish Land: The area surrounding the continent and ocean to become "air." Currently this is just a very thin layer of gas barely clining to the matter, but the aether plants and creatures can't survive there, nor can creatures native to air usually breath aether.
He stared outwards as he circled. Space. Air. More water? More of his body was below! He launched from his spiraling river in joy, diving into the depths of the ocean. Instantly e assimilated the waters with his. Expansive beyond measure! He encased the planet with liquid! The solid land was a mere blemish on the face of his world...
but it was an interesting blemish. Nowhere else was there such motion. Nowhere else was there such creatures as himself. Gods. But did he really have enough? With a chuckle Neko lashed a single tendril across the great continent, thin, but existent he sent a lone river prying as far as it could go. The water surged and receded, ebbed and flowed, until finally there was a river.
1 PP Mold Land(lesser): The Astaire River
PP Refresh
4 - Veros, Neko, Xa'an, Yoglith, Chactross, The Void, Oravolos, Oreb Nahash, and ??? (Camu)
Just a hair late, due to a small glitch on my PC. Remember, all unspent PP is now lost.
Water moved on it's own, light has acquired will and even created another, and fire burned freely. And the sensation of time passing him was a new oddity. He slowly drifted out of the aether, into something new, the air? An amusing substance, he mused, moving towards the pillar of dark fire. Seeing how it was easily visible, it seemed to be a good place to start.
Absence extends his force to a small population of aether molds and absorbs them into his being. He extracts them again, now changed and twisted. He places the mass of mold, now black, upon the world below him... And as it has been taught, it begins to eat.
1PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser): Created Anti-material Mold population
(ooze creature, will be detailed later. is not an aether type creature)
I... am? But why? I must have a purpose.
Shurka examined the world around him. It seemed... empty. He was saddened by this until he looked closer and saw, to his delight, a pyre beetle. Shurka carefully watched the beetle, until in the distance another beetle was coming near.
Something is wrong. This new beetle is infected!
To Shurka's horror, the beetle attacked the first causing it to writhe in pain. Seeing the injured beetle griefed Shurka, and he let out a single tear. The tear fell to the ground, and from it, emerged an orb of golden light. As the beetle was covered in its golden glow, its injury closed, and the beetle was healed.
This is my purpose! I am to heal the land from this... filth.
2 PP - Spawn Best (Moderate): Wisps
0 PP - Create Concept - Healing ((Starting Domain))
Wisps
Wisps are orbs of light that range from tiny to large. They cannot fight, but anything withing 10 feet of them starts healing and a quick pace. Wisps cannot be destroyed by conventional means - only magic or power from other gods.
They looked like little else but other balls of fire, just like Chactross. However, Chactross had given them a respite from the immense pain which he had to bear himself.
These ten firey creatures circle Chactross like a strange cosmic display. Chactross is glad to have allies like these. His living fire now had purpose and form. True, they were only hungry, but that was the price that they paid for the lack of pain. They were dumb brutes, nothing more.
Powerful dumb brutes, but brutes nevertheless.
(Spawn beast? Greater Fire elemental/monoliths 3 points)
The firmament rumbled and cracked. He pulled harder. It shook and seemed to bend in the middle. MINE MINE MINE!!!
Slowly the ground beneath was condensed and broken until at last the continent was just beneath the waves. Bits poked out here and there, but it was an improvement.
Gasping the primordial god plotted his next move. 'Now I have my domain. I shall populate it with my own kind as soon as I have enough strength. Soon... Soon I'll have purpose.'
1 PP Mold Land (lessor) The Godsarm River
3 PP Mold Land (Greater) The continent is now marshland with a few odd islands.
"I follow you, my fellow, because the notion struct me. A whim, if you will. Where are you going?"
"Strange"...It thought to Itself..."I am he as... you are he...as you are me...and We are all together".
---
Meanwhile, Dreams trickled out of the gates, sitting in the shade of the aether-trees, stirring up the thin, misty layer of air that clung to the marshlands, and looking in silent wonder at the island above them, at the pillar of black flame, and the great, powerful beings that swirled through the sky.
He looked around. "You cover the rest of it? There is much you don't cover. Look all around you and their is existance that is still in the grey form that I found it in. Untouched by me or any other. Perhaps that would be a better place to work for uniformity, if you feel you must."
If all was gray mist before and there is none beneath me... What of perfection? I... well, that's all I wanted.
Perhaps there is more to this chunk of rick that I surround then I had first perceived. I don't think I can fix this really. Well. How would I return your island to the way it was? Even if it's not entirely uniform, I guess the marshes I've formed will have to do.
Show
Alright, this is the cue for the weather god, sun god or some other such person. I aim to let water take either into the air, or become 70% of most critters. This means either more land, or a god who's got either weather or life domain to transfuse water into a necessary ingredient for life. This is an opportunity to bring a god in.
Wise Oravalos plucked at his long grey beard and decided the nature of these other creators and there creations would require much thought, He saw the chaos that was beginning to run rampant as each of these creators worked to there own ends. When Wise Oravalos looked within his own self he saw he was as beholden to that same issue as he wanted to turn everything into nature and create a vibrant place of interacting creatures and shape everything in his image, but was that for the good of all?
Wise Oravalos looked in shock as a being of fire created creatures in his image of molten fire and a raging lust for destruction and knew they had no equal and given the current stance could quickly turn everything into ash and smoldering fire, devoid of life, just as surely as the creator he felt in the nothingness would seek to unmake it all as was his nature.
He shed a tear as the spark of light enshrouded the continent below in air cutting off his newly burgeoning trees from the aether they sought for nourishment watching as they slowly withered and began to die.
What this mess needed was balance. Each creator had his nature and saw everyhting in his image much as he himself did. However, Wise Oravalos saw the need to even the odds or all things could come crashing one way or another.
His first step would be to right the wrong imposed upon the contintent below as he watched it continually reshaped in another gods image, as it was covered in water.
Wise Orvalos shook his head in dismay and decided the first step would be to right the wrong inflicted on his beloved aether tree spores.
Thus he created a beast of the aether that would hunt the spores and smaller creatures of the aether but would build there nests within the aether trees spreading aether as a pollen invigorating the trees.
The trees and the aether stirges would live in coexistence, apart of the balance and though his trees would not spread to cover the continent some would survive on the remaining islands cultivating new life.
3PP - Form Domain (Greater): Balance
1PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser): Aether Stirges.
There, the cells started to divide and a huge mycelium started to grow into the marshland. Huge tendrils of fungal matter burrowed in the bottom of the swamp, drawing nutrients from the soil.
It also started to drain all life out of the water, turning it black and lifeless. A rotten stench started to fill the aether around it.
It’s hyphae started to spread across the water and through the soil. Where ever they crossed, new fungal-like creatures where born. Some where sessil and served like watchers and emmitted a warning when creatures came too close. Others could unroot themselves and move around, attacking prey or intruders with poisson barbed tendrills.
Deep within the mycelium mass, a chamber was formed, filled with a transparent vile liquid. Inside it, a small group of cells was floating in the liquid, growing. It was connected to the rest of the mass by a small cable of hyphae, serving as an umbilical cord for the creature growing inside it.
(nourish land : 1pp (for fungal creatures anyway))
(spawn lesser beast : shrieker fungus 1PP)
(spawn lesser beast : violet fungus 1PP)
"... This.. This should have taken more time! How did it happen so fast?! Surely I corrected the oddities of time before it could cause such anomalies!"
It was then that the god noticed the others, and marveled at their variety.
As they neared the dark fire pillar, the Light noticed other things about and listened in to what they were saying. It was interesting, they had names... what name did fire need but fire, and water but water? Did a double name have purpose and might there be use to this strange custom? The Light supposed it might be nice to distinguish its glory from the light that returned to it.
Easily distracted as ever, the light saw one that it hadn't seen before, a thing that had crawled out of nothingness it seemed, near a mound of earth that surrounded the dark fire pillar. It approached the thing, "Do you, too, have two names?"
"I have one name. Singular, not plural. My name is Yoglith. Do I require a second name? Then I would select Yoglith, for I may only go forwards. It is forbidden to move backwards. Yoglith commands it. Are you responsible for.. This?"
The god motioned the swamp that the last time he had been outside was not there.
"It was fast. Too fast. You should slow down. Yoglith commands it. Anomalies are problematic. You should not create them."
Yoglith's tail raised out of his well, carrying with it an egg, blue in colour. The god set the egg down on the edge of the well and shook it's head, "... Another one. I don't feel like going inside to settle it. It can stay here. Yoglith commands it."
pp
4pp Ascend God: Vymrl will hatch from the egg whenever Angelofthenight gets around to it.
"I'm light, I make light. There is one called Chactross, it is fire. Fire and Chactross, sitting in the sea. But yes yes, be Yoglith if you wish, I commands it! Maybe."
The Light's attention began to drift for a moment before it realized there was more. "This thing's too fast? The watery wet stuff? No, I don't like it, its not of me, its too thick for proper play. The water called Neko called Astaire might know more, seeing as it is water and this is water and that is water. Why?"
The god tilted his head once more at the strange creature known as light.
"Light's vision is narrow. This place was barren like my well. And now it is covered in your watery-wet-stuff-no-i-don't-like-it-that-is-too-thick-for-proper-play. It happened to fast. It defies the commands of Yoglith. I expended a great amount of effort thwarting anomalies. Do not make them. Yoglith commands it."
The god reached out, passing his hand through the edge of the light, "Why? Yoglith commands it."
Without waiting for an answer, the Light reached out its power. "But if you don't like the water, and I don't like the water, and waters too watery for water's own good..."
It the upper aether a rock appeared, the size of a mountain. Then another, and another, until the sky was filled with countless meteors. The Light tugged on them and they began to move towards the watery continent. Unfortunately, the light missed and tried to correct the mistake, but only succeeded in putting them in a chaotic orbit around the place before he grew bored. Occasionally one would fall to the earth, or go flying off into space.
"... what did Yoglith commands again?" The Light asked, watching the rocks hurl by overheard.
PP
3pp, Mold Land (Greater) - a giant meteor swarm, with enough mass to form a continent.
3pp, Mold Land (Greater) - a giant meteor swarm, with enough mass to form a continent.
"ANOMALER! MAKER OF ANOMALIES!"
The god nearly vanished instantly seemingly disappearing into thin void, his wretched, wrath filled voice pouring out of the well, "ANOMALER! Begone! Yoglith commands it!"
No answer.
"Hello?"
Still no response.
Bored, the Light went to where the other beings were talking. To a big mass of grey goo talking with the rude fire one it asked, "Do you have more than one name too?"
He sank deep into his thoughts. "You would be the other created at the same time as Chactross."
He turned back and nodded. "Yes we should be allies in forming this world. I beleive it would go much better if we all work together. What one cannot do, two might do together. And there is much to do."
"Veros, verily, be very quiet."
He glanced at Chactross again. "Agreed, but even I do not feel as strong as I did before this all began. I do not know how to regain that lost strength, but surely, I must try."
Wise Oravalos willed himself to appear before Veros, Chactross, and Light leaning upon his staff.
At the same time Oravalos sought out the presence of the other creator sparks in creation and projected his voice so they would hear him as well.
"Hail brothers, I am Oravalos and I wish to speak with you all, about this world we have come to build together. Come forth where we four are now if you wish to discuss this place we have all found ourselves in, and what we plan to do."
So, It left the Light behind and flew up to the top of the burning shadow. It surveyed the world from its zenith and knew what must be done. The Dream stretched out its hand, and from it flew a flock of Ravens, which flew out across the land towards the Gates of Horn and Ivory. Once they had reached their destination, the ravens began to peck and beat and claw at the boundaries between the worlds. Soon, the veil between reality and dream was in tatters, and soon after that, it was gone entirely.
Now, standing atop the pillar of fire, the Dream could see that the continent, which had ended sharply and dropped off into the void, simply...faded. At the edge of the water and the aether, the world began to blur into the stuff of dreams, forming a strange, hallucinatory borderland at the edge of everything, full of hazy, half-seen shapes and the wingbeats of a thousand ravens.
"Now, all the Gods will be able to understand each other," said the Dream to itself "for all they need do is venture into the Dreaming. Yes, now there will be peace".
PP Expenditure
3 PP - Create Artifact (Greater)
1 PP - Spawn Beast (Ravens)
"But do not try, Veros, just do. It's not so hard; those rocks and air and aether were easy."
"Oravalos? More names, and do you oravalosate or is that your second name?"
If my wisps continue to do their work, the creatures should be healed by... wait, what is this?
Shurka saw the water. Instead of its normal color, it was a sickening black.
Clearly something is wrong. Whatever is causing this decay seems to be one step ahead of me. I will require assistance if I am to end this!
And with that, Shurka set off to find any that would give him help.
Oravalos turned to the flicking light with a smile. "I am the lord of nature, balance, and the evolution of creations, and am simply known as Oravalos, I have but one name."
He watched Chactross for several moments, considering the request. The thoughts tumbled around in his mind, the matter that forms him bubbling and boiling as he tossed the thoughts around, considering the end results, the chances, the possibilities, before he finally stopped. "Agreed."
A small grey streak lashed out, striking Chactross, burrowing deep into him, leaving an icy cold feeling behind it before the fire returned the heat. "There. Now you too have dominion over magical energies."
He turned to the newcomer. "Oravolos? And interesting name, but what gives you the impresion you have a say in how this place shall be built. I don't recall asking you."
Edit
Sharing Domains
Adding this in. As shown here in my post, it costs nothing to grant another god access to one of your domains. His control over Magic is exactly the same as mine. The only difference is, since he didn't pay anything for it, I can recall the power at any time.
And then Chactross had magic. It was unbridled, untamed. It was a perfect match. He could feel the magic lying in wait in the aether. He could tap into it at any point. It was exhillerating. He even passed off a tiny bit of his pain using his new magic into one of the fire monoliths. He crackled with glee.
"Thank you caster. For you are truly as wise as you are ancient."
"I leave it to you to decide what you wish to do."
This... fire has a name. Chactross?
So there were others.
Shurka screamed out through the aether, hoping that he may be of assistance.
"Chactross!"
"God of nature. Hah. We don't even need him. We've got Aethertenders."
"And I am being called. If you would excuse me, I must away. You may have my energy, and use it as you will for the moment. I shall not be needing it."
And with that, Chactross flew towards his pillar. "FINALLY someone understands what it's for. Thank you... um... what... exactly are you?"
(I ask because you have no description on your wiki.)
Turning to Veros the light replied, "Light is nice enough, but if everyone else has two names I will as well; it must be fun. I am Xa'an, I am." The light dimmed for a moment; this two name thing didn't seem all that fun. Maybe was better the longer it lasted?
"Also, I think he," Xa'an quickly glanced towards Chactross while speaking to Veros, "just insulted you; you're not that old."
Turning back towards Oravalos -- this was getting dizzing -- Xa'an asked, "Why is a common point something to want?"
The light whipped back around to... Veros was it? He wasn't quite sure anymore. Too many people were talking. "I'll ignore that insult; what did you have in mind, I wonders?"
Edit
Show
That 1 PP that Delfedd just gave me is payment for magic. As of now, I can no longer revoke his access to the domain.
Orvalaos then shifted once again to Wise Oravalos " However, I do believe you are correct Light. Now that I have met some of my brothers I find a common ground is not reachable at this point, to many see only what they wish, we will see how things progress."
With that Oravalos left back to his home, not caring what the rude God Veros had to say.
"I am Shurka, and I suppose I am the lord of healing. I have come for help after I saw your name etched on the world. This... world... is dying. Decay spreads through the land from the creatures to even the water. I need to stop this but... it is growing too fast. Is there any way you can help?"
Shurka felt somewhat strange asking for assistance from a lord of fire. But he hoped there was something he could do.
Anything.
Then, he cast out the power he had recieved, flickering flames and blinding light inundating the spinning circles. And then it was finished.
All around the pillar, gemstones of various types and sized flickered like flames in the light given off by Xa'an. Veros turned, and watched him leave. "Odd, I'd thought he'd want to see the outcome."
He watched Oravolos leave. Odd? Hadn't he wanted something. Could have waited a moment. He rested from his exertion, pondering what to do next.
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 1 PP each from Chactross and Xa'an - Mold Land (Greater) - A storm of gemstones orbiting in circles around the pillar of flame.
The sea, which until recently has stopped rather sharply and dropped into the void, now did not seem to possess any kind of definite edge. If any God cared to look at the waters surrounding the continent, they would appear to blur into a hazy, misty place where the only distinct shapes are the wheeling ravens. Were they to blink, or look away, the view would be a little different when they looked again. If they were to fly over the waters towards where the edge used to be, towards the borders of the Dream Sea, things would start to become less well-defined: waves would stop looking like waves and more like the ideas of waves, and they might start seeing things out of the corners of their eyes, catching glimpses of odd fish in the waters beneath. If they went further still, scraps of dreams would become visible - strange buildings and wild islands jutting above the waters. If there were two Gods there, they would probably see the very same thing in entirely different ways, and, if they were not careful, they might become split up, chasing their own private hallucinations. Soon, the waters would become shallower and shallower, and they would find themselves at the shores of the Dreamlands. From there, if they knew what they were doing, they would be able to walk straight into the Dreamscape of another God. If they didn't... well, nightmares live in the Dreamlands, too...
If touched or alarmed by shriekers, they would puff up and release clouds of spores, irritating and burning intruders.
(Spawn lesser beast: Indigo Fungus 1PP)
Looking out to the world around it, Vymrl noticed the the huge oceans. Too much liquid, to shifted, too... unpredictable. Vymrl sent tendrils of power out to the oceans, and froze them, forming vast expanses of ice.
There that was much better.
PP
3PP-Mold Land, Greater- Created the Chill Glacier
A single tendril of his divine essence touched the glacier floating amongst the mists. It was water. Solid true but under his domain.
Taking his mass and focusing it in the center of the continent began to ease the glacier back and forth, using the water at either side to increase it's momentum. When there was enough, He began to tug with all is might until the glacier began to travel along the outer edges of the continent. Astaire found himself content to try and push the dream-stuff away from the edges of the continent so that some of his ocean remained exposed and coherent (for the dreams of water are vague at best).
This created a current, which kept the glacier moving and the dreams cyclically at bay. I... I will have my ocean!!!
A thought crossed Shurka's mind.
"Does this world have a name?"
"Doesn't need a name. It's the world. We made it. We know what it is, where it Comes from. The world is all that there is, and the only thing Other is the Dreams and the Void."
(Remember, they're speaking supernal. The word World means the world.)
And Void
"Thank you for your help, but if I may ask you one more question? There must be others beside you and me. As such, this blight must have been created by another. Do you know which is the lord of blight and decay?"
And with that, Shurka left.
Seized by an odd desire, Vymrl launched two of the ice rods that made up his body into the Glacier. As the divine essence slammed into the mountain of ice, it splattered.
Each splatter rose up into a shivering pillar and suddenly froze into a solid shape.
Massive, humanoids, their skin covered in rime, their hands granite hard. A tiny fragment of Vymrl's Ice pulsed in each of their chest. They called themselves the Vyrmosk, and the ice upon which they stood, Myrlund Glacier.
PP
Shape Populous, Medium: Vyrmosk
Vyrmosk
They're essentially Frost Titans, just with a cooler name and they're paragon level.
They're essentially Frost Titans, just with a cooler name and they're paragon level.
PP Expenditures
3 PP - Mold Land (Greater) - 3 large islands, floating above the lower continent.
PP Refresh
4 - Veros, Neko, Xa'an, Yoglith, Chactross, The Void, Oravolos, Oreb Nahash, Unknown, Shurka, and Vymrl
He looked at the island, satisfied at his work. But it was missing something. Shurka used his power to give the island plants and creatures like the land below
PP
1PP: Mold Land (Lesser) A single island floats half a mile above the mainland.
1PP: Nourish Land. Plants and small aether beasts reside on the island
He was slightly irritated that more land was defiling his lovely aether. Such a brutish element.
The light spun about in amusement. "And then you wont care, will you? So either floating apart will be fine, or you wont be saddened by it not working. It's win-win!"
The fire pillar writhed like someone was blowing on a candle. Suddenly, Many tongues of flame reached out. Some smote sections of the mold. Others laid their fiery destruction on the Glaciers. And more kept smiting down from the pillar, striking like a serpent.
While to an outsider, it looked like an act of mindless destruction, Chactross knew the purpose behind it. The charred remains of the mold littered the ground, causing it to grow more fertile. Something new could grow there. The steam released from the sea and glaciers rose up towards the aether in white puffy clouds. Within a few minutes, it was raining on everything but the Upper Island.
And it was good.
(Whenever the mold grows to thick, or the glaciers grow to tall, or the oceans too deep, the pillar of flame reaches out and kick starts the weather cycle.
Create Artifact 3 PP Keyword Nourish. I'll imbue the tower with more magic, allowing it to continue doing that each round if necessary)
It started to shape like an embryo and a head-like structure started to develop. With this development, the previous mindless fungal mass started to become semi-sentient.
And with this, the new mind started to reach out into the world, like how it's living matter is infesting the land, so too it started to invade the minds of others.
(form domain (moderate): psyonics 2PP)
With that, he flew from his place atop the pillar, calling out for the Bright One. There was work to be done.
Across the realm he sensed someone calling him. It was the Dream. Curious, the Light left the thing of water and went to see what the Dream wanted.
"You called, Dream-of-Mine?"
Oravalos saw a need for a more established environment for the creatures to live in, and once again Oravalos breathed into the aether and created forests of Valin Trees. The tree branches were feathered palm fronds that reached into the aether absorbing it to give the trees life. The Valin trees roots interconnected and wove together around large bulbous root bulbs that were rich in aether drawn through the fronds.
1PP - Nourish Land: Create Valin tree Forests in the aether
Oravalos was pleased as he saw this new habitat. The creatures of the aether quickly took up the Valin forests as there new home hiding among the branches and bulbs from predators.
However, Wise Oravalos could see his work was not done, and with a wave of his hand he created herds of Aether rays. These majestic creatures were Huge herd animals that looked like manta rays gliding through the aether. These rays devourered the fronds of the Valin trees and released excess aether back into the atmoshpere. The rays didnt only use the aether for energy but as a defense mechanism to repel predators.
((I will make a sheet like space dragon did for chartross' monoliths
2PP - Spawn Beast (Moderate): Aether Rays (paragon tier)
Wise Oravalos looked upon his new creations and was very pleased with all he and his brothers had thus far created. It is a start."
Even as the Light prepared to exert his will a thought occurred to him. Together they would make the element strong, but it could be stronger still if there was a third.
"Veros!" the Light cried out. "Knower of things, -ager Sager Mager of Magic, your services are asked for and required."
"Agreed."
The molds causing this decay are being destroyed! Perhaps the Fire Lord is helping me after all... even if not purposely.
Nocturne
Nearly everything was bleak. No light, no dark, nothing.
"This is not what the world should be like" it thought to itself.
With a transcendant effort, the young diety created an obsidian-colored mass of crystal, and hurled miles into the sky.
PP Usage:
2PP- Shape Land (Moderate)
Created a mass of blacklight crystal floating several miles up, slightly larger than a large mountain. Blacklight crystal is a crystal that casts rays of darkness (similar to how a light source produces light). Any solid, opaque object that blocks the path of this darkness produces a "shadow" of light.
Dark Brother, where have you come from?
Vymrl then snatched a dream out of the air, froze a message into it, and sent it on its way to Chaoctress.
Brother Flame, You hold dominion over the only heat in this place. I do not like it, but my children do. Light One stole your Pillars luminence, I have a way for you to steal it back.
If you will provide light, and heat, I will seal it, and create a glory for all our children to behold.
----------
Upon the frozen wastes of Myrlund Glacier, the Vyrmosk spread. Wherever the fire fell from the sky, they followed, rejoicing in the warmth, and fishing for the the Frost Seals revealed in the ice.
The Frost Seals had huge fury pelts, and normally swam beneath miles of ice. But when Fire fell from the sky, the ice shattered, and in the slushy remains the Frost Seals could be caught.
PP
Spawn Lesser Beasts- Frost Seals 1PP
Venturing into the swamp surrounding the earthen well surrounding it's abode, the god clenched it's jaws, visibly shaking and stamping it's many feet while lashing it's tail wildly.
"First Wet stuff.. Than this... Stuff keeping my Pyre Beetles away... White.. FOAM.. on the horizon... And even MORE crystals in the sky! This is not what Yoglith commands!"
The god fumed more, reaching out one of it's hands, containing a tiny bit of water and earth, and then clenching it into a fist as though snatching some invisible creature out of the air, and seemingly pulverizing it in it's hand for a long while before opening it.
From it's hand burst forth a stream of tiny, spider-like insects with two pairs of wings and razor-sharp legs. In it's palm remained a fist-sized mud-clod covered in tiny openings.
Yoglith raised one of it's other clawed hands and gouged a hole in it's chest, pressing the clot into the wound until it stuck as the tiny swarm of insects quickly divided into two groups. The smaller group flew back to Yoglith, crawling over it's chest and into the mud-clod, the rest moving in unison to start constructing a similar clod in the boughs of the nearest air-tree.
And then Yoglith acted as though struck. Reeling back, and collapsing into the shallow water, each of it's four hands clutching it's head as the god screamed out, the sense of the invading consciousness of the unknown driving itself into the gods mind. Unprepared for such an affront, the gods mind gave way, allowing the alien mind a small space with which to reside in a feeble attempt to end the pain.
PP Spent
2pp Shape Populace, Lesser: Created the Chronoptera. A Heroic-tier super organism capable of higher reasoning(and thus a populace).
2pp Create Artifact, Moderate: Original Chronotpera Hive. It simply functions as a weapon because I didn't know what else to make it do to symbolize being part of the hive.
2pp Create Artifact, Moderate: Original Chronotpera Hive. It simply functions as a weapon because I didn't know what else to make it do to symbolize being part of the hive.
"I am interested," Chactross said.
For a moment his form disappeared into the aether, and the element claimed him, yet light condensed once more, glowing fiercely in a surrounding cloud of color.
Flush with the new experiences, Xa'an thanked Veros and sent light racing across the aether to convey his gratitude to the dreamer.
This would do nicely.
pp
Form Domain (Greater): Aether. 1pp From Xa'an, 1PP from Oreb Nahash per post #128, and 1pp from Veros per post #126
Form Domain (Greater): Aether. 1pp From Xa'an, 1PP from Oreb Nahash per post #128, and 1pp from Veros per post #126
But there was something else. There were strange dream-creatures walking the land, twisted nightmares of blood and bone and writhing tentacles, exuding anger and hatred - the manifestations of the Gods' petty rivalries and vendettas. The pleasures and hates were few and far between, but the Dream knew that if it did not do something soon, they could grow so quickly that it could lose all control. But the Dream did not have the power to watch over them itself. It needed another, It needed a Child.
The Dream was hanging in the sky, coiling about itself and trying to think of what to do when a flash of light sped towards it, and it felt the Bright One's gratitude. It knew, then. It sent a dream to the Bright One, a vision that sped across the worlds and connected them for a moment.
"Bright One" said the Dream's dream "You are most gracious, and I thank you, but there is no need for gratitude, for you need not be in my debt much longer. There is a matter in my world, a force that requires another Creator to watch over it. Will you repay your debt and lend me your power so that I may do what must be done?"
pp
Offering 1 PP to the Dream
Offering 1 PP to the Dream
An interesting power, Lord of Flame. What I speak of is this. I shall create chains of ice encircling this world, then you shall fill them with your burning might.
The two of us can prevent the Bright One from stealing your power, and both your creations and mine can share in our glory.
I thank you also for your gift of vitality to my lands on behalf of my children.
Vymrl then turned to speak to Nocturne.
Lord of Darkness, an interesting title. I would fear the Bright One if I were you, he is a jealous god. You are welcome in my domain, as long as you make way for Choactress here from time to time.
-----------
The Vyrmosk continued to hunt across Chillund Glacier. They began to clothe themselves in the furs of Frost Seals to cut the bitter cold.
As Nocturne spoke these words, it felt another voice speaking to it. It flew to Vymrl.
Thank you. It is appreciated.
However, as Nocturne said this, it heard a small noise. As Nocturne listened, it slowly began to understand these noises: they were mortal spirits, crying for help. The other dieties may have been deafened to their cries by their arguing and feuds; Nocturne itself could barely hear them. These spirits were afraid to pass on, caught somewhere between death and life.
I must help them, Nocturne thought to itself. Drawing upon most of the power it had left, it created physical forms to aleviate their tortured semi-existance.
PP Usage:
2PP- Form Domain (Moderate)- Undeath
1PP- Spawn Beast- Wraiths, a temporary vessel for unintelligent souls that are too afraid to pass on to an afterlife.
If the source of the decay are the molds and fungi, then the best solution would be to destory them, rather than heal the decay. Perhaps I can make another creation to do my work...
Shurka took the earth from his island and formed it in the shape of a beast. The many-fanged beast roared, and Shurka set it down on the world. It was the first of his newest creation: A skelk.
PP Usage
2PP - Spawn Beast (Moderate). Created the skelks
Skelks
Skelks are large four-legged reptilian creatures that somewhat look a komodo dragon, but with a longer tail and much larger. They mainly consume fungi and mold, and are somewhat resistant to their affects [of course, they have no protection against psyonics]
What are you? And why do you reach out to us?
Yet there was a buzzing in his mind that had been bothering him for some time. As the ebb of aether extended his senses, so too did it seem to extend his mind, for the buzz was louder now than when it began.
Xa'an traced the buzz back to its source; a stange mound of Mold. "What?!" he asked it, annoyed and not expecting an answer.
Who, What, are YOU!
What... is this? What... are you?
With that his laughter filled the waters with scaled, finned things. With them came bits of biomass that formed lesser creatures. The seals fed on fish, the fish on the flotsam and the flotsam on the waste of the ice-folk and molds that strayed too near the sea.
1 PP Nourish Land - Kelp and Sea based microorganisms
1 PP Spawn Beast (Lesser) fish
The Dream searched the world around it until it found one of the hate-beings, a thing with six gasping mouths that wept tears of burning pitch, then it found the Burning One's dream of the one moment of pleasure he had experienced in the whole of his agonized existence. The Dream folded the world and brought the creatures to himself. Then, it took the Bright One's power, and used it to bind the dream and the nightmare into one. It spoke a word, and their dream-flesh blurred and melted into a new form. It spoke a word, and a shard of its power buried itself into the creature. It spoke a word, and a new God awoke.
PP Expenditure
3 PP + 1 PP (Given by Thought) - Ascend God
The Elemental monoliths had, occassionally, grown too big to contain themselves. After devouring enough aether stirges, mould, and air, they split off smaller copies. Most of these would never grow as large as the monoliths, but they seemed to work well with the rest of the ecosystem. They, along with the monoliths, have begun feeding upon the frost giants.
(Lesser fire elementals 1 PP)
A stream of images and emotions. The land and water covered and crawling with fungi. Creatures infected with all kinds of mold.
Images of things that rot, wither and decay.
For that is what it was.
All the while backfireing there own questions back into the stream of images: "Who are you, what are you,....."
As the images receded, Shurka released his own thoughts to the mental storm.
Know this, vile molds, and any who would hear me. I will not allow this to happen. I will heal this decay and rid the world of any blight you may create! This. Will. Not. Happen.
We are...
Call us...
...Ythrexle
Oravalos knew this was its role in the balance of creation, and there would be others with there own dream and goals to counter his and then thought of it no more.
Wise Oravalos then began to shift and shrink his back straightened his staff becoming a small walking stick in the hands of a small boy the form of Young Oravalos.
My home needs friends, and I need help! to much! to much! to much to do, and I grow bored with it all!"
With that Young Oravalos began to frollick and turn to the joy of creation and wisps of power flowed from his hands, and there among the trees began to sprout small pods in the roots of the aether trees. The pods began to absorb the aether, and extrude a miasma of aether about them to protect them from predators. They began to learn, and absorb the very permience of the world, and they began to grow....
Young Oravalos stopped his dance and approuched the nearest pod with a giggle of delight as he plopped down upon it. "Rest now, sleep, but soon we shall have fun my little ones, soon we shall begin."with a quick pat of affection Young Oravalos took off skipping through his forest to tend to his domain.
1PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser): Dryad Pods
Where am I? What is this?
Mists drifting in a place out of time, searching to reach beyond.
What is that? Why is it?
Xirinet twisted, folding across itself. Mind searching for a reason to be.
And suddenly it was. Sifting through the creatures other gods had gifted the world.
My contribution...
An effort of will poured flickering fish into the seas, ravenous creations. Predatory swarms mesmerizing their prey and stripping every scrap of sustenance from it. In the air formed swarms of shadowy bats, flitting through the air.
4PP- Create Plane: Riot, Plane of Life
1PP- Spawn Beast (Minor): Flickerfish Swarms
1PP- Spawn Beast (Minor): Shadowwing Swarms
Creations
Riot: Riot is a very inhospitable life plane, expect explanation on the Wiki as I flesh it out.
Flickerfish Swarms: In short... Pirahna that can mesmerize their prey.
Shadowwing Swarms: Flying (nearly invisible) Pirahna.
The life god isn't a very... nice... person.
Flickerfish Swarms: In short... Pirahna that can mesmerize their prey.
Shadowwing Swarms: Flying (nearly invisible) Pirahna.
The life god isn't a very... nice... person.
"What do you want?" it demanded of the Unknown thing. "Why are you bothering me? Answer me; then, and only then, will I answer you."
Curiously, as he examined his own mind, he realized that the buzzing he had felt, though touched by this creature, did not originate here. There was something else...
Together we corralled the wretched beasts. They were irritated by their capture. In order to contain them, we needed to fashion an area for them. Together, we made Haldonys. Together we made a realm for the monstrosities.
We then sought the others, the kind and gentle creatures. For them we also made a home. We call it Halcyis, for it is a pleasant land.
Together we contained the dreams of creation, and together we have also created.
To maintain these lands, we created watchers to sail the sea of dreams and shepherd the beasts in our stead.
We do enjoy creating things.
These watchers shall remain in this realm. If they were to leave, they would become naught. Narsk they shall be called. Narsk is a name we both like.
Now we grow weary. Making is quite an exacting chore. Together we shall rest. Perhaps we will dream as well.
Show
PP Expenditure:
2 PP (Create Plane) - Haldonys, the realm of Nightmares
2 PP (Create Plane) - Halcyis, the realm of Desires
2 PP (Spawn Beast: Moderate) - Narsk, the dream-shepherds.
2 PP (Create Plane) - Haldonys, the realm of Nightmares
2 PP (Create Plane) - Halcyis, the realm of Desires
2 PP (Spawn Beast: Moderate) - Narsk, the dream-shepherds.
I am Nocturne. Why do you reach into our minds? What purpose does it serve?
Then all of a sudden, the stream ended.
----------------
A couple of skelks was roaming the marshland, searching for there prey. A fungal colony was the ideal feeding ground. As they approached, shriekers started to emit there warnings, triggering the indigo fungi to release there spores, filling the air with gloomy clouds.
Violet fungi kept there barbed tentacles ready.
However, they proved no match for the skelks, who were adapted and could endure the different fungi assaults, allowing them to feed unharmed.
This changed however. The skelks were devouring a violet fungus, when suddenly something started to struck there poorly developed minds. The beasts started to collapse, writhing in agony and unable to move as a bleak fungus approached from out of the gloomy clouds.
----------------
Within the fungal dominated areas, a new breed started to appear between the others. Unlike the other purple colored ones, this grey one possessed an intelligent mind.
Adapted to the newly risen fungal predator, this fungus would excrete a toxic slime, covering it's entire body. The poison works on contact and would poison anyone hit by its tentacles or if it becomes attacked with natural weapons.
With it's developed mind it is able to emit a psychic shriek, paralysing the minds of other creatures. They would also have control over there lesser brethren, making the different fungi to work better together, making them more dangerous as a whole.
These grey fungi would always be found in the company of other fungi, like shriekers and violet fungus.
(Shape Populace (Lesser): Grey Fungus ; based on http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mm/20040724a .
I made them a race, as they are intelligent)
Chactross looked at the world. It was becoming more and more solid. He would have to follow the times.
He set to work, taking from the heart of the earth precious metals and begining to heat them.
1PP-Nourish land- Created a forest, made up of the first "air" plants (rather than aether trees)' which are very different from their fungus ancestors.
He began to leave when, across the marsh, he saw Yoglith lying in the muck. Approaching carefully, he poked the strange one. It didn't move. He poked it again, it still didn't move.
"Must be tired," it supposed.
"Yoglith commands rest?" it asked, to no answer.
Not far off was the strange hole that the thing had retreated into earlier. Curious, the Light explored it. Inside he found great billows, out of which he could sense the orderly march of time. Curiouser, he played with them, causing time to speed up, then slow down. Ever more curious, he fooled with the device until something even he would call anomalous happened; a bubble of time that marched backwards.
An image came to his mind unbidden and, exerting his power, he created a beast and placed it inside of the bubble. Then he hurried away.
He knew what that buzzing meant. With all speed he hurried to the edge of the universe, where aether bordered nothing, and beyond that where nothingness bordered the void. There he found them. Born before they had been created, living since the dawn of time on the fringes of existence, waiting for Xa'an to create them. These were the oldest creatures in the universe. They had been calling to him, leading him to make them. These were elder things.
Elder Thing Description
Fourteen arms radiate from a central bulbous body, bloated and sagging under its own weight. The color and texture of the creature is reminiscent of intestine. Several stands of matter hang from the central segmented body, pale pink and coiled. These are its organs, sensory and otherwise, or what counts for such among these things. They wear their organs on the outside for one very good reason; when the things capture prey, a line forms along the bottom of the central body where there had been none before and it opens to reveal nothing but a cavity. The body is mouth, stomach, and intestine all in one. In this space there are teeth and tongues and other things that one dare not describe. One shudders to imagine the death that those it consumes must experience.
Fourteen arms radiate from a central bulbous body, bloated and sagging under its own weight. The color and texture of the creature is reminiscent of intestine. Several stands of matter hang from the central segmented body, pale pink and coiled. These are its organs, sensory and otherwise, or what counts for such among these things. They wear their organs on the outside for one very good reason; when the things capture prey, a line forms along the bottom of the central body where there had been none before and it opens to reveal nothing but a cavity. The body is mouth, stomach, and intestine all in one. In this space there are teeth and tongues and other things that one dare not describe. One shudders to imagine the death that those it consumes must experience.
Such an annoyance, this device. Something to keep an eye on. He watched Xa'an leave, then stepped up to it himself, slowly studying it, learning how it worked. Satisfied he had the basics, he brought the bubble back and removed the creatures from it even as they were placed there, pulling them out of the time line as though they had never existed.
He shifted again, forcing a new bubble to come up. On the edge of the void, mere seconds after Xa'an had created them, he placed them where they would be found. The light god would probably never know the difference.
He glanced slightly at the Divine Egg against a nearby wall before returning to above his continent. Looking about, he extended his power again, creating another large floating island. Pushing harder, he pushed the aether back, expanding the air to fill it's place.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Mold Land (Moderate) - A floating island similar in sice to Oravolos's, just under a mile up.
1 PP - Nourish Land - Air now extends to just over a mile up.
Turn 4 begins now.
PP Refresh
4 - Veros, Neko, Xa'an, Yoglith, Chactross, The Void, Oravolos, Oreb Nahash, Unknown, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Xirinet, and Ythrexle
It did not escape the notice of the Wraiths.
Having their soul slightly disconnected from the world, they noticed that time somehow became distorted. They pointed Nocturne in the direction of the warp.
Nocturne passed by a strange being sleeping, but paid no heed. It went straight to the source of the anomoly. It saw how time was somwhow being bent back on itself.
Stay here, it commanded several wraiths, and let me know if anyone enters this place! And with that, Nocturne left, leaving the anomoly to be guarded by the wraiths.
The Dream of Time. The fears and desires of the Keeper of Time, meandering through the Dream.
Our narsk were unable to change its course, to guide it to its proper home. When they would approach the massive beast, it would devour them effortlessly.
Together we reached out to this leviathan. Together we kept its might in check.
We shall take this great beast to the tower. Together we will guide it to the center of the Dream.
Young Oravalos felt the world and its essence and let it flow through him feeding it with his power. He felt the world, his brothers, the flickers of life from the creatures and plants already come, and the ones yet to be. All of creation pulsed through him and he responded. Pouring his essence and the thoughts of them all into this one singular special pod that grew and expanded over millenia as Oravalos continued to dance and sing to it. Until finally... it bloomed in a burst of power...a burst that echoed through out creation like a shock wave.
Thus, Young Oravalos was spent and he collapsed to his knees as a being rose out of the blossom. The song continuing on even as he was silent and he felt her name in that first contact.
He smiled as he greeted her. "Welcome Eijra, my sister, welcome to the world."
4PP - Ascend God: Eijra the god of Fey and song has come!
Nocturne beckoned one of the wraiths over.
You will guard that place which your brethren are guarding. You will guard them, and make sure nothing hurts them. With my divine power, you will make sure that nothing disrupts the flow of time.
And with that, Nocturne granted the Wraith a portion of its own power.
3PP-Raise Exarch- Observer (grants +1 combat bonus)
It points to the anomly, What do you know of this?
Veros sat there in thought for several long moments, before making a decision. "I think it is time to embark on the great project I have been slowly working towards. Time to bring it all together. Since you are here, I shall offer you a chance to help. With your help, I shall restructure the very fabric of our world, Nocturne, leaving a mark upon it that will last throughout the ages and beyond, even should we fade to dust and be forgotten. You don't have to answer now, my shadowy friend. Simply think on it, and I shall seek you out soon, when the time comes."
He turned away, considering who else might be willing to help him. Veros moved towards the swamp. "Sleeping one, awaken. I wish to speak with you."
"Speak! I have work to attend too! I can feel it..! Things have changed! Yoglith can only move forward! Yoglith commands it!"
He thought for a moment.
"Light thing! Xa'an they say! ANOMALER! Yoglith commands your repentance!" And then it shrieked, "YOGLITH MAY ONLY GO FORWARD!"
The god rushed back into the well, tracing it's hands over the Temporal Harmonizer as those feeling for cracks, nearly embracing the device in the process, and hissing through it's teeth.
"Destroy the anomaler... Lord of Anomalies... Yoglith commands it."
Yoglith turned back to Veros, calming in voice but still erratically pouring over the device, "There doesn't appear to be damage... Doesn't appear to be."
He sank back into his thoughts for several long moments before looking up at Yoglith. "This world, it is full of anomalies, of things that should not be, or must not be. Yoglith, I seek to reshape this world. If you would lend me your power, we can put into motion events that will . . .over time, remove these anomalies, and bring things into order. Can you aid me?"
"Bring destruction to the anomalies. Yoglith commands it. I will help. Yoglith commands it. Explain how I might help."
The god's form grew more masculine, and the hive in it's chest began to buzz loudly as the god resumed tracing it's fingers over the harmonizer, "Destroy the anomalies... Yoglith commands it. You have Yoglith's strength."
Veros slipped quietly out of the Well, moving towards the void. "Xa'an, I need to speak to you."
Then came the gods and with them came the Song.
As water was formed the Song was sung, young and tranquil.
As the mountains arose the Song was sung, old, grizzled and tough.
As life was created the Song was sung, so filled with promise and potenial.
The Song had always been there, sung in tones few could hear.
It lived throughout those who sung it, it prospered through them and it did this alone. And than everthing changed
The Song was not alone any longer, A new voice was suddenly heard, a voice that was old and wise and at the same time filled with energy. There was...a warmness in it, that touched the Song.
Energy took her, sculpted her, changed her from the pure existence of The Song in to something else. Something smaller and lesser, but of some odd reason she actualy didn't care.
Green eyes opened, blinked and looked out at the world.
Eijra, goddess of Song and the Fay had arrived and what she saw frightend her. A gray world, no light, a grey sky and a dark continent covered with mold and moss.
" Brother...why is the world dead? "
She said and turned her gaze against the being who called her sister. The being whose words were fairer then anything else in her ears.
Chactross drew forth the most powerful parts of the earth and forged them into something new. Something bright that reflected the light of the fire. He drew it forth and made it into something new, testing and probing it with the tongues of his flame.
When he was finished, He looked upon what he had made, and saw it was good. He took the remnants of the purifed earth and scattered it among the earth of the ground and the islands in the sky.
Flowing into the armor, Chactross was given form.
(Create artifact 2 pp Armor of Chactross, create metal 1 pp)
A small world in her eyes, a sad world.
Mold and moss spread over the continent as a rot, spoiling the good earth. Strange beings spawned by even stranger beings wandered the land. Hunting, living and dieing.
A faint smile appeared upon the Godess's lips, at least there was something of worth in this world. But there was still much to do, there were still so many faults with this world. The first and the biggest fault was...that it was to logical in her eyes.
It was like a piece of paper, completly flat, with the continent floating on it like a tiny speck. She didn't like that...she didn't like that at all.
A wild, slightly michevious smile appeared upon her lips. She had always been something of a wild one, just as the creation she had been created from.
Not for a moment she stopped to think on the consequences of her actions. For...well after all who could stop her?
As he walked through the skies in his bright shining armor, he saw that some places were lit by fire, and other by the cool metal. He saw that it made a beautiful pattern on the ground, and wished that he could make it happen.
But before it could, the being who's life was nothing but pain who lived now encased in a metal shell came across a new being. Something above his pillar.
He had hated it when beings asked his name, so he remained silent, waiting for the new thing to become aware. That had taken a while.
But in the mission she had set her mind on she was alone.
She was a fickle and strange being, just as her future children would be and knew that many would not understand the beauty of her plan...but maybe someone would? And the plan could wait after all, the world was still there, life was still there and there were things to do.
She gazed at her brother for a moment, awaiting his words to her claim. Her eyes returned to the world...and there she saw something else. Fire, glittering, wonderful flames who gave the landscape a beauty the mold and the moss never managed to give it.
It was beautiful in the eyes of the Godess...
Leaving Xa'an for a moment, he lowered himself to the island.
"This creature would be well suited for the task before us." "We can use this beast to aid us in keeping safe the Dream." "Yes, but we are unable to shape dreams, such an act is beyond our power." "Together we shall locate an apparatus which can aid us. One machine in the tower must be able to assist us in this process!" "Together we shall search this looming place."
...
Long and slow the hours crept by as we searched the battered remnants within the stony keep. We scoured every surface searching for some contraption whose aid we could enlist. Lower and lower, deeper and deeper we dove, plumbing the depths for some tool, some item until finally...Finally we found something, something we felt could sculpt the existing dream.
"This device seems well-suited to our endeavor." "If only it were in better condition we could use it to manipulate the Dream freely." "If we imbued more power into it we could repair it, perhaps even improve it." "Yes yes! Then we could freely change this realm just as our father!"
Together we focused on the contraption and filled it with our own power.
PP Use
3PP - Create Artifact (Greater): The Dreamweaver's Tools
In the void before Creation, there was utter silence.
Then came the gods and with them came the Song.
As water was formed the Song was sung, young and tranquil.
As the mountains arose the Song was sung, old, grizzled and tough.
As life was created the Song was sung, so filled with promise and potenial.
The Song had always been there, sung in tones few could hear.
It lived throughout those who sung it, it prospered through them and it did this alone. And than everthing changed
The Song was not alone any longer, A new voice was suddenly heard, a voice that was old and wise and at the same time filled with energy. There was...a warmness in it, that touched the Song.
Energy took her, sculpted her, changed her from the pure existence of The Song in to something else. Something smaller and lesser, but of some odd reason she actualy didn't care.
Green eyes opened, blinked and looked out at the world.
Eijra, goddess of Song and the Fay had arrived and what she saw frightend her. A gray world, no light, a grey sky and a dark continent covered with mold and moss.
" Brother...why is the world dead? "
She said and turned her gaze against the being who called her sister. The being whose words were fairer then anything else in her ears.
Young Oravalos capered and skipped around Eijra as she came into being laughing in delight at his wonderful little sister.
He stopped dead in his tracks at her words.
Why is the world dead? he replied shifting instantly into Wise Oravalos leaning heavily on his staff with calm sad eyes.
"The balance is in flux my little sister. My brothers all see this as a play toy, what one makes another destroys on a whim. It is in chaos and the natural order of things is fighting to find its ground."
Wise Oravalos paced as he laid it all out for his little sister. "It is why I have brought you into being ur song called to me and I answered. There is so much work to be done, life to be created, habitats formed, and I cannot do it all myself."
Wise Oravalos felt the approuch of Veros the rude one and a gutteral growl escaped his throat as he once again shifted form to Hunter Oravalos his spear held at the ready, posed to spring "One of our brothers comes now little sister, a predator."
However, as it traveled to Veros, it saw two others near the island in the sky. While there was business to get to, Nocturne did not know these beings.
You will have your answer it said to Veros, but first, who are those two?
Then the 'Ager came, Veros, and called to Xa'an
"Yes?" he replied, not looking up from the creatures. They were curiously... fresh. He had thought after the ages they'd have changed a little, at least. It was if these beasts were still getting used to their bodies.
And that infernal buzz... it was gone, but when he looked at these things he could feel the memory of it mocking him.
"Yes?" he said again, annoyed that Veros hadn't responded the first time. Looking about he saw the god moving away. Well, so be it.
In disgust he scattered the Elder Things, sending them through space to land where they might and find the sustenance they could. They were a failed creation.
Perhaps he had strayed from himself too far. He was light, after all, and what did those things have to do with the light? Taking a portion of his light, he began to coil it around itself, packing it down, and rolling it out until there was a long rod before him. This he flattened, carved a mouth into, and gave it life.
It glowed weakly, a sign of hunger. Snatching an aetheric creature near by, he fed it to the thing. It latched on and began to drain the life from it. As it did so the glow increased until it was as bright as himself.
Yes, these things would do nicely. He made more and sent them into the world. "Fly, my Glow Worms. Feast and bring light to the darkness."
PP
1pp, Spawn Beast (Lesser): Glow Worms - Xa'an creates creatures that can live in any element. These things are parasites; they latch onto any living organism, flora or fauna, and drain a portion of its lifeforce, converting it into light. One or two of these things are harmless, for the most part, but a swarm of them can be deadly.
1pp, Spawn Beast (Lesser): Glow Worms - Xa'an creates creatures that can live in any element. These things are parasites; they latch onto any living organism, flora or fauna, and drain a portion of its lifeforce, converting it into light. One or two of these things are harmless, for the most part, but a swarm of them can be deadly.
Young Oravalos capered and skipped around Eijra as she came into being laughing in delight at his wonderful little sister.
He stopped dead in his tracks at her words.
Why is the world dead? he replied shifting instantly into Wise Oravalos leaning heavily on his staff with calm sad eyes.
"The balance is in flux my little sister. My brothers all see this as a play toy, what one makes another destroys on a whim. It is in chaos and the natural order of things is fighting to find its ground."
Wise Oravalos paced as he laid it all out for his little sister. "It is why I have brought you into being ur song called to me and I answered. There is so much work to be done, life to be created, habitats formed, and I cannot do it all myself."
Wise Oravalos felt the approuch of Veros the rude one and a gutteral growl escaped his throat as he once again shifted form to Hunter Oravalos his spear held at the ready, posed to spring "One of our brothers comes now little sister, a predator."
Eijra looked out at the world and shook her head heavily.
" It's wrong..."
She muttered, holding her arms around herself as if she tried to defend herself from all of the wrongness of the world.
She gazed at her brother and whispered.
" Brother...why did you awake me to this? A dark, misty world with no light...why did you crete me?"
Something was coming, something quite like her and her brother but different, stemming from another source. Veros...a god just as she and brother Orvalos. There he was...or It.
It was truly a product of this world. Glum, grey and boring...but there was something more about this grey orb. A shimmering force, a brilliant mind and secrets that It knew that no one else knew.
Just like Brother Orvalos and Fire...It fascinated her and made her raise her hand against it, wave and yell.
" Hello there, Father Glum! What tidings has brought you to my Brother's garden? "
"I broght you for the reasons you just stated. It is a bleak world, and the balance is off. We must right that. Our brothers are foolish and some reach farther than they should, I feel a reckoning coming."
"There are others we can call to as well seeking there place in this darkness. Some who have gone astray, and some wh must be put in there place."
Hunter Oravalos broke into a feral grin watching the approuching God of secrets and magic.
He focused for a moment, letting streaks of dark blue and red pass through him before relaxing. "Greetings, youngling. I saw you, and thought that I would speak to you. But, I should know your name first, of course. I am Veros."
He looked around, noticing it was becoming quite busy. Even Xa'an was still close. He turned to Oravolos. "Greetings. We have met on several occasions, but it seems we always get off on the wrong foot. Oravolos, is it not?"
His eyes moved to Nocturne, to answer the question. "I will be glad to hear it. This is Oravolos, and this, it would seem, is his sister, though I know not her name, yet. And the bright one just a ways off is Xa'an. What might be your answer?"
He called to Xa'an, "Could you please come over here, my bright friend?"
"Yes 'Ager, yes? Ah, fresh fellows to frolic around this fair realm. A fine hello to you, and you, and you." He bobbed a nod to those he hadn't met before.
"Now, I think you called for me, oh brainy lord of knowledge?"
He gathered his thoughts for a moment, the air about him crackling as he focused, he himself bubbling as his form realigned itself.
"I have embarked on a great project I have been slowly working towards, and the time to bring it all together. Since you all are here, I shall offer you a chance to help. With your help, we shall restructure the very fabric of our world, leaving our marks upon it that will last throughout the ages and beyond, even should we fade to dust and be forgotten. But, only by working together, many of us gods, unified, can such a grand task be accomplished. What say you all?"
"Off on the wrong foot? what do you know of feet? you dont even have any."
"As to your proposal I will tell you what I think when I hear one. Nothing you said sounds anything like a proposal but a bid for our power. Regardless I do not trust you keeper of secrets and I will not help you until I know your intentions."
Speaking of craftsmanship, Veros was speaking. Speaking of restructuring the world.
"Completely out of the question, no. Would you have us create a round world where everything simply flies off? Or would you prefer to create a giant animal to carry our wonderful world around? I will not have it."
"Could it be? That Father Glum has the same idea that I have...? Well maybe it was
Many gods had gathered at her Brother's garden. Father Glum, old and wise, Xa'an the god of light in the form of a single brillaint light surrounded by ever-moving clouds, Nocturne god of darkness dressed in the fairest of robes and than of course she and brother Orvalos.
And there He stood as well dressed in the thickest armour, screaming and raging about things that she didn't really care to understand. How could you destroy something by making it whole.
It...bred fire though so the young Godess smiled brightly against the burning one and said.
" Good day, Uncle, it's an honour to meet you...even though it's a little rude of you to just barge in like this.."
The Light laughed at himself, brightened, and began to circle the gods, weaving in and out of them... but ignoring the rude Chactross who still hadn't apologized for stealing his light. "Besides, what need have we to make marks more than we have? As long as there is aether and light, my mark on the world lasts. And if these things cease to be, then it will cease to be a world that I care to be remembered in."
Wirling rapidly around the grey blob, he continued, "Willing to help I may well be, but better words you'll need to convince me, and not these formless fears."
It paused before Eijra. "You... you're new and of Oravalos? Strange that nature would make something so... other. Similar, yes yes, no doubts there, but other still. Like true light and fire; similar in some ways, but fundamentally other... strange indeed."
When it seemed over and Xa'an began to talk to the two it hadn't met before, Nocturne gave Veros its answer. I do not have the desire to "leave my mark" on the world, and care little if anyone forgets our names. I will see how events play out before making a guarantee, but the argument you have put forth seems... less than convincing. As such, you would do well not to count on my aid.
She took a step forward against the god of Light, green eyes meeting the splendour of his eternal light.
" Need? You speak of need, Uncle Light? You don't know anything about need...!"
She stared at him, a sudden anger had awoken in her green eyes that made them shine as two minature suns.
She pointed down at the world with a shaking hand.
" Look down at the world! Polluted by a mold that spreads faster and faster for each passing moment! Creatures fight for their survival down there. Life is harsh! The world it self is broken! Unfinished! "
She took another step forward.
" And here you stand and talk about "Need!". Need as your precious creation prosper! Need as a broken world rots! "
The Goddess trembled, her eyes burnt as a wide grin slowly appeared on her lips as she took yet another step forward, fist clenched and raised as if she was going to hit the Lord of Light.
She had been the world. She had felt the mold creep forward over her body, eating stone and earth, sucking and taking from it without giving back. She had flown through the Aether, swimmed in the Dreamlands...and here this ignorant fool dared to talk about "Need"!
She had died, she had been born, she had lived, been part of an endless song that all life had sung and the Mold was not true life. It only knew hunger and growth.
It seems the best I can do right now is contain them. I hate to think it - but I am in a losing battle.
Shurka released some of the mists surrounding his body onto the ground below. White orbs of mist rose from the ground creating a new form of wisp.
PP Expediture
Spawn Beast (Moderate) - Shurka created the shield wisp
Shield Wisp
Shield wisps are orbs of mist like regular wisps, except that they are white rather than golden. Instead of healing, the wisps shield creatures from supernatural attacks.
"And why is 'broken' undesirable? The trees of your father break into the soil of his island, is that undesirable? I don't know these things, so I ask."
The light floated along lazily. "Tell me, why is this new way better than the way things are? Why is one thing better than another? I am willing to listen, so tell me. I do know of one need; my need for a reason. Is that such a strange need?"
The light motioned to the world below. "I see a world of mold. You propose to break that world of mold for something else? What is broken to you is whole to the mold, is it not? The light shines on mold and the trees of your father the same; give me reason to be partial to you and not to the one who made the fungus. I am willing, if you can but provide the reason."
With his questions done, Xa'an waited patiently for an answer.
He looked all about him. "This is not a passing thought I have brought before you. I have spent much time since creation, some of it before some of you even arrived, pondering and considering this."
His gaze fell on Oravolos. "I have no desire for power beyond what I have. And I have stated my intentions as much as I shall. A combined effort to create something greater than any could accomplish alone. I regret that you don't trust me, but I do wonder why, since I have done nothing to earn such distrust."
His gaze fell to Nocturne at last. "I regret that I cannot count on your aid, but I accept your decision. I wish you well in your endeavors."
Stunning... Such beautiful lives...
Looking around Xirinet noticed the gathering of other gods.
Perhaps their creators are as... captivating.
Flowing like fog the Life god moved to the small gathering.
"It is a bold plan," it said, turning to Veros. "Worthy of the gods, too, from what it sounds like. Perhaps perhaps perhaps I will help. Give me a moment to think."
Yet the god didn't think; rather it saw another thing approaching and it went to investigate this rolling cloud of mist.
"Veros You are the father of secrets. I need know nothing else about you to distrust you. I already came to you once seeking your help to balance this world. You wish me to just give of you my power on your word? I think not."
Hunter Orvalaos began to growl even deeper. "In fact I think its time you left my territory. In fact all of you should be leaving!"
Oravalos then turned to Eijra and Xa'an his form shifting to that of Wise Oravalos drawing his staff up from where Hunter's spear once stood with a simple smile as he watched the dancing light god. "Eijra, our brother light is a capracious creater with a wimsickle and carefree outlook on this world. Have patience with him."
Wise Oravalos then looked off into the distance with a small sigh. "In fact brother light's plight effects all of us except you, it is why I brought you into being when I felt the world call. You are a part of this world, created from its voice, and it is up to you to speak to my brother creators. Even if they will never hear you."
Did you create the things stalking this place? Such interesting creatures...
"I will not fault you for your search for knowledge. I seek much the same in the balance. I hope our next meeting can be more corgial...on both our parts."
He turned to the newcomer. "I can't say I did, but these others have. I am Veros. Who might you be?"
Yet even before he could finish the accusation the god began to take on qualities of Veros as well, and that put him at ease. This one wasn't trying to steal his light, it seemed.
"Create? Yes yes, it amuses me and passes the time. And of yourself, sayer of stalking questions?"
I am a creator... What use is a name to one who is everything? Regardless if you must name me name me Xirinet.
I was seeking whichever creator made those delightful creatures...
Xirinet moved, giviong the vague impression of pointing at the still growing ecosystem around them.
They are supremely captivating. Such savagery is pleasant.
"Why is it pleasant, Xirinet?"
Savagery is... pleasing... in the changes it makes.
Life should be a struggle, not a stagnant decay.
I heard, yes. You would have power to alter what is. You would call it a grand venture, the others doubt its necessity.
I would expect you want to know my impresson of your... grand project.
I am content as the world is, but that does not mean I would not be content with what it may be.
Gray Creator, how would changing what is benefit me? Or perhaps more accurately; what would placing my power in you accomplish toward my owen goals? Will the name you ask of me be writ in stone? Or perhaps you will erect a monument to my glory?
Though neither such things are interesting.
If I give you power what do I get in return? As I said, what is does not displease me, and if I must I can shape it in time to what I wish it to be.
Now that the grey fungi had taken over colony production and were self sufficient, it’s own fungal mass was no longer required to grow them.
It would now have the time to take care of this obstacles.
The biomass that had infested a large part of the continent, started to gather around at a single point. A large bulbous mass started to form, many miles in diameter.
Then all of a sudden, this giant mass inflated and the hood of a collosal mushroomlike organism folds out, lifting the creature of the swamp and into the air with shocking grace.
The hood was tattered around the edges and somewhat triangular in shape. Trailing below the hood were hundreds of small tendrils and three thick branches. The tendrils ended in handlike structures, while the thick branches ended in massive jaws.
From the centre, a massive stalk reached down, first narrowing, and then branching out into dozens of rootlike spines.
Residing and growing inside this new mobile entity, an organism almost half the size of the continent, the unknown would be able to influence the world far beyond the swamp continent.
Some info on the new entity:
Show
This new entity is the carrier organism of the embryonic deity and could in fact be considerd as it's mother.
It is however mindless and controlled by the Unknown
Although it might reference to it as a seperate entity in the future, it should be seen as a direct part of my deity (and thus not as an exarch or anything)
And yes it is rediculously large, while my deity itself is only several hundred cells small
This new entity is the carrier organism of the embryonic deity and could in fact be considerd as it's mother.
It is however mindless and controlled by the Unknown
Although it might reference to it as a seperate entity in the future, it should be seen as a direct part of my deity (and thus not as an exarch or anything)
And yes it is rediculously large, while my deity itself is only several hundred cells small
For that I will offer some power, if you wish the rest you are welcome to provide reason for me to offer it.
Then I would suggest You place the dream-place where it will be able to touch the world at every oppurtunity. To foster competition between denizens, or more accurately; so that dreams may stalk corporeal prey with greatest ease.
As I said, savagery is pleasant.
With that taken care of... Can you point me towards whichever creator made those delightful... Decay-things?
He looked about, his gaze returning to those he had been speaking to before. Should any wish to help or reconsider, simply seek me out."
He moved down towards the ocean. "Neko, I wish to speak with you, if you have the time. I have devised a solution to your difficulty. I need only for you to lend me your power for it to succeed."
Within the body of the fungal mass, a specialised organ started to grow.
(create plane(lesser) 2PP: Insides of..... , the fungal mass will be named later. This is a demiplane that is actually the insides of my dieties outer body.)
(create artifact (moderate) 2PP: the organ will be specified tomorrow)
Show
He moved down towards the ocean. "Neko, I wish to speak with you, if you have the time. I have devised a solution to your difficulty. I need only for you to lend me your power for it to succeed."
But then, these thoughts were interrupted. It felt... a presence. It was not the rising of another diety- that much Nocturne knew. Suddenly, Nocturne realized what it was- the unknown that had reached into its mind before.
Nocturne moved to this... thing. So your the thing that reached out to us. Nice to be able to meet face-to-face. Sort of. So, I'll repeat my question. Why did you reach out to us?
Neko returned his attention to the molds. His fish were eating at them, but nowhere near as fast as they grew. He would have to wait until after Veros made his move...
Veros left him there, returning to the skies, seeking out the fey goddess once more.
The memory of the buzz in his mind still mocked him.
But he came to a decision and sought Veros out, "You have my aid, on one condition; you helped me gain control of the aether, and so I can feel that a portion of it is obedient to you. Relinquish whatever claim on the domain you may have, and I will help you to the fullest of my capabilities."
"And what savage brute would you be refering to?"
"But what have you done worth mentioning? You plunged inward, discovering hidden things about yourself and about the world, but not acting upon them. You made a field of pretty gemstones surrounding your tiny island. This world is not about your petty secrets, or knowlege. This world is more mine than yours, and if you wish to change it using that things assistance, you will have to win it by rite of combat."
"Xirinet." Chactross spat. "He actively works to unravel all that we have made here. He would have the world become a swirling mass of chaos, where aether devours earth, earth devours water, water devours fire and air devours aether. This Beast thrives on pain and hunger, and I would rather see creation torn down and begun again that see this wretched creature have a hand in it's shaping."
Secret
"Chactross, I think you misunderstand what is going on between Xirinet and I. I seek only to use the power he is willing to give. No part of coming actions are from his mind. He is simple an means to an end, with no input on the final result. He made a suggestion, and I said I would endeavor to implememnt it. However, with the current power I have gathered, it is unlikely that I will be able too."
Yet then the Fire and Veros were covered in a shroud of mystery and when it parted Chactross seemed... not happy, but perhaps a little more at ease with Veros' proposal.
What had been said?
Still... he had said he'd help, and Veros's reply was acceptable. "So you have said, so it shall be done."
The light surrounded Veros and engulfed him for a moment, obliterating him from the view of others. It lasted for a moment, but when Xa'an moved on, Veros glowed with divine radience.
pp
Giving Veros the rest of my PP this turn
Giving Veros the rest of my PP this turn
Chactross, after making this new work of art, went out to find the one deity that would likely appreciate it.
(Create Volcano 1 PP, Nourish Volcano 1 PP)
Therefore she picked up a stone from the ground and held it in her palms. She poured pure divine power in to the stone.
Create Artifact: The Green Stone 2 PP
( This is more or less two of Eijra's PP's in a physical form. They are saved to be a part of the "Round Earth" project. It can not be used for anything else )
The stone that had been grey was now green and felt smooth and warm in her hands. It shone with the green power of it's creator.
The Goddess smiled, it felt good to create.
The world under her was broken and only a few of her relatives saw the truth as it was. It would take it's due time until the world could be what she wanted it to be...she hated this glum, gray world, it was an antithesis of her own existince, so devoid of colour, light and life.
" And therefore...it's just for me to create a realm of my own, a realm where I can rest, I realm where I will not bother my Brother...a realm where MY ideas and MY dreams will rule supreme! "
And it was with those words she threw herself out in the sky, raised her hans against the grey sky and began to sing.
Her voice was loud and clear and her eyes shone of divine power as she sang the words of creation.
It began as a spark in the Dreamworld, a single voice, A lone candle in an eternity of nothingness. Then it exploded and a torrent of pure, divine energy that formed and sculpted a somethingness in the Dream. It didn't hurt the dreamlands, neither did it take it's place. It was a plane of it's own situated close to the blissfull Dreamlands, a land it's creator had always land.
And high above in the glum and grey skies of the world a lone star was lit. The Feywild was born.
Eijra entered her creation and smiled as she saw it. It was a black void but in the middle of it an enormous orb covered with green vegetation rested. A planet in our sense of the word.
Sparkling energies danced over it's surface and strange words, tunes and songs seemed to humm around in the world like irritating insects.
Huge trees and plant's the size of giants grew around the planet's Equator, The trees grew smaller and smaller as they came closer and closer to the North and the South Pole. The poles themselves were vast Savannahs. All plants and trees the grew there were suprisingly alike the creations of Brother Orvalos.
She had seen this place in the Song, it was her promised land...a land that would take huge amounts of energy to make true and on her own...at least for now she was to weak to make everything true.
But still much had been done and more would be done.
Create Plane: The Feywild 4pp
Even though she had a realm of her own now, the world outside existed yet and she was a being of that world as well.
She closed her eyes, sighed deeply and opened her right hand.
The Green Stone fell down on the moss-covered forestfloor. In the matter of moments the stone was covered with a thick layer of moss.
It was a potent artifact and a tool of creation.
" Take it, Father Glum.." She said and smiled brightly at him. She turned her back on the grey bubble and walked carefully forth deeper in to her realm.
Shurka glanced at the world... mold... fungus... blight... decay... a burst of life...
...What?
The Lord of Healing felt a strange sensation that something had manifested; the feeling of life, such a contrast to the masses of molds. Shurka entered this new world... to see such an alien place, so bright and different. He heard a song as trees sprung up from the soil.
What is this new place? There is not a mold to be seen...
Shurka then saw the Song herself. He asked her what he needed to know:
"Where is this place?"
It was different though from Veros and Xa'An, that both were glum and often boring beings in Eijra's green eyes. This one was a more benevolent and friendly being.
Eijra smiled at the newcomer and bowed deeply in front of him.
" Good day, brother. "
She said as she inspected the newcomer with curious eyes.
" This is the Feywild, My dream on what the world will one day be and also my sanctuary. "
She took a step forward against the God, stretching forth a pale hand and touching his feature-less face carefully.
"This world is... a dream? Even so, if it is a world at all, then it is in danger. If I can enter here then so can... do you know of the molds?"
This god seemed more willing to help than Chactross.
"I should also mention... my name is Shurka"
Veros passed back into the prime world, feeling all of the power gathered within him, all of the power given by his kin, to enact his will upon the world. His form boiled and bubbled, the power struggling to escape, more than he had ever possessed before, and would likely ever possess again. He moved towards the center of existance, the pillar of flame that Chactross had created to show all his name.
Slowly but surely, he reached out, letting the power flow forth and slowly drag things about. From his location, a circle ghostly flame burst forth, circling him in all directions, passing through all it encountered harmlessly, pushing the void further and further back. Finally, it reached the destination he had decided upon, and his will brought the flames into proper existence.
For several moments, he let the flames burn, before applying his mind once more, turning the flames into liquid stone, letting it burn and bubble, melt and shudder as it transformed in accordance to his wishes.
The stone would not remain molten for long, without something to cover it from the bitter cold of existence. He tendrils reached out and grasped the stone he had created, the earth, even the gemstones, as well as Xa'an's meteor shower. He took this material and made it more, covering the molten flames with a layer of thick rock and dirt to keep the heat contained. As he closed the final few cracks, he placed another power within the molten rock, turning it into an artifact that would endure the ages, the Dimension Bulwark.
He looked around him, looking at what what was left. Already, the dimension aeigs began it's work, Neko falling towards the new object he has created. At last, his tendrils grasped his original creation as well, pulling it from it's connection to the flame pillar, ever so careful not to damage the creatures that lived upon it, and he moved it away from the center, setting it safely onto the new rocks.
Again he glanced around, spotting the Flame Pillar, the Blacklight Crystal, and the few remaining islands. Disregardsing them for the momen, he moved all of the air around him, aiding the Dimension Bulwark, moving all of the air towards the surface. The air and the aether were intrisnically different. From this point onward, they would be seperate, kept from each other by the Azure Aegis.
Finished, he nearly collapsed in exhaustion, looking about him at the results. He noted the very interesting fact, that the dream borders hadn't moved with the ocean, but instead now floated in space, creating an aurora of color that brightened the now aether filled sky.
His mind boiled with the possibilities, but he needed more light to see by. Use almost the last of his strength, he reached up, grasping the Blacklight Crystal, and placed it within the center of Chactross's flame pillar. In an instant, the bright light of the shadows created by the pillar burst forth, bathing the new world in light.
As he beheld the new world, he recalled the greenery of Eijra's realm. With the last of his energy, he called for her, and spread a burst of life across the ground. Only a moment after beholding the effects, he blacked out.
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 2 PP from Yoglith - Create Artifact (Greater) - Dimension Bulwark (explained later)
2 PP + 1 PP from Yoglith - Create Artifact (Greater) - Azure Aegis (explained later)
1 PP from Yoglith - Form Domain (Lesser) - Force domain, controlled solely by Yoglith
2 PP from Aldii + 2 PP from Xa'an + 4 PP from Xirinet + 4 PP from Neko - Shape Land (Greater) x 4 - Moving all the mentioned pre-existing land to over the Dimension Bulwark, along with creating even more earth, stone, and metal. Additionally, adding some more air to fill the Azure Aegis.
1 PP + 1 PP from Xa'an - Nourish Land - Spreading grass and trees across a wide area of the ground. (Far from all of it, though.)
" No, not a dream, it is a world, but not one such as the one you and I stem from. The world is my dream though.."
Eijra's eyes grew cold and she withdrew her hand as he mentioned the molds.
" The Molds...i am aware of them yes, parasites...spreading over the land like a plague. My name is Eijra, godess of the Feywyld and song. "
She bowed deeply once more, with the grace of a dancer.
"Eijra!!! I never dreamed the world could be so fun!"
Young Oravalos scampered around the two gods frollicking and laughing.
Shurka was surprised by the newcomer, but he did not seem to have any ill intents, and friendly as well. He turned to Eijra, "I have one request of you, may I make a home in this world? I hate blight as much as you, so I promise that my dwelling would not be a disgrace to your dream."
"I would speak with Eijra, if you would."
Turn 5 begins now.
PP Refresh
4 - Veros, Neko, Xa'an, Yoglith, Chactross, The Void, Oravolos, Oreb Nahash, Unknown, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Xirinet, Ythrexle, Eijra
The feedback is non-existent this time. We were discussing it, and the weekend turn is really too narrow of a time to develop any real feedback. We're considering making it only weekly feedback. Feel free to PM us your thoughts on that.
When Chartross came out of his veil, Oravalos instantly turned to him stopping in his tracks with a slight frown, but he took in the care and respect chartross was showing to his sisters new home, and he held his peace nodding in Chartross' direction. "brother, good to see you."
with that he continued to frollick around Shurka. "I like this one Eijra, his nature is pleasing!"
Chactross's View of Xirinet
"Xirinet." Chactross spat. "He actively works to unravel all that we have made here. He would have the world become a swirling mass of chaos, where aether devours earth, earth devours water, water devours fire and air devours aether. This Beast thrives on pain and hunger, and I would rather see creation torn down and begun again that see this wretched creature have a hand in it's shaping."
And all that light was annoyingly out of his control. Still, it wasn't the Dark One's fault; his crystal had been proper and respectful, but now Veros used it to spread light unreasonably. Worse, it gave the pillar too much radiance that it didn't deserve.
Stretching out his powers, Xa'an took the aether and began to shape it into a solid form; that of a great sphere. He added rooms and corridors to this place, a twisting network of channels through which power could flow and be stored.
Finished, he placed this orb on the side of the pillar of fire away from Nocturne's crystal, and set it to orbit the thing, so it might best collect the wayward luminance.
As it began to function it drew in the light, storing it inside of itself and darkening the world once more. Yet after a few moments of charging itself, it began to emit its own light, fully under the control of Xa'an. A cone of light was projected away from the pillar and onto the surface of the inner earth. It was small and weak for now, but it was proper light and would grow in strength once the artifact could fully charge.
pp
3pp, Create Artifact (Greater): The Storehouse of Light - this artifact absorbs light and stores it. It can then emit light as desired, being represented as a +1pp for Nourish actions. As a side affect, it can serve as an adventuring location. If I ever feel crazy, I might map it out.
(Hah. This is probably the origin of the James Bond Villain style explanation.)
Fire Creator, just because I find savagery pleasant does not mean I do not enjoy life. I am life, and for now life is savage. Of course things change.
Though what I wish to do is simple. I have my home, it is a place of danger, but a great store of energy.
I wish to open it up to the world that has so recently been... Changed. In the form of points of brilliance. Stars would perhaps be a good name for them.
The second thought I had was to illuminate the world, I believe that is something which you could prove adept in helping. In effect your power could produce the light needed to illuminate the world, and make it easier for those things we wish to place on the surface. Or surfaces... It is a strange design, but I think it to be rather pleasant.
If a little lacking in conflict. Though perhaps I will bring some to it before long? Much more interesting than everything standing still.
Winding to a close Xirinet's roiling vaguely suggested paying close attention to Chactross as it waited for a reply.
She could feel Father Glum's power vibrate through existence itself. Eijra's smile was warmer then ever before and she felt quite pleased with herself.
She laughed as her brother appear and waved with a pale hand against him. " Good tidings to ye, Brother! I am happy that you admire my creation.."
She bowed against her in a jokingly fashion.
She turned against Shurka and looked at him with green eyes.
" I like you, Cousin...and my brother seems to like you to...so therefore I give you my permission to stay in my realm as long as you promise me one thing. Please protect it. "
" Uncle Fire? "
She said and gave the heavily armoured god of fire a slightly suprised but happy look.
" What are you doing here? "
"I have come seeking you. I have put a stone in the sky because I believed it would Please you. However, you have become so ensconced in your plane that you cannot be reached by my normal methods. Excuse the intrusion."
"Chartross, forgive me for interrupting but I emulate your concerns for a source of light. As stated so long ago in our last misunderstanding, your light your fire, is a thing of creation. One needed for my plants and animals and all of nature to utilize and thrive with. If this is your intention state it so and I would gladly give of you my power."
The Wise waited for Chartross' reply.
Of course... I think the bright one should probably be spoken to about it... It seemed offended when I... Met it.
Simple, simple has some pleasantness to it all its own.
Nocturne moved to this... thing. So your the thing that reached out to us. Nice to be able to meet face-to-face. Sort of. So, I'll repeat my question. Why did you reach out to us?
The giant fungal entity remained hovering silently...
Strings of mist shifted from Shurka's body and surrounded nearby trees. The branches moved on their own will. The trees changed from inanimate to animate in one flash of golden light.
"These are... treents. They will protect the Feywild if those monstrosities attempt to blight this world as well. They are yours to command, Eijra."
PP Expenditure
2 PP - Spawn Beast (Moderate) - created treents.
" Well you know...there is a certain strain in creating a new existence. But Uncle, I would be glad to see your rock though, if you would be willing to show me it. "
She looked at the massive tree beings with awe in her eyes.
" These are mighty beings, Cousin...though they are beings that you created...do you truly want to give away these wondrous beings to me just like that? "
My apologies, my blood runs thick. As to what I mentioned earlier, not even light can escape the chill grasp of ice. And you never lost your power over flamelight, Bright One just stole it from your pillar.
----------
Vymrl then turned back to his people, the Vyrmosk and showered his blessing upon them.
-----------
Upon the freezing wastes of Chillund Glacier, an idea sparked within a clan. This idea ran rampant through the K'Mosk Frey and soon a city began to rise up.
They called it Defnamcir.
PP
2 PP- Teach Populous: Civilization
The Wise picked up his gnarled staff bid farewell to Eijra and followed Chartross into his demense. "Eijra I shall see to this work with Chartross, you have much work to do here and in the new world."
With that Oravalos descended through the gate.
" Brother, Uncle came here because he wanted to show me something...and I want to see this stone he has talked so much about "
Brother Orvalos may have been her creator, but he was not her lord.
So therefore she followed her Uncle through the rift and back to the grey world she had pitied and hated so.
Much had change, the world looked more like her plane...not entirely but still it was a clear improvement and also..something more had changed there was something else than the mold on the planet's surface, something green.
Consultation with Light yes, and gifts from Fire, and myself. Though I do not know who you are Changeling perhaps your power is welcomed as well.
The question being just what to create...
" Don't worry Brother, I didn't take any offense...and I hope you didn't either.."
She gave him a brilliant smile and looked out at the world once more, admiring it's new form with a wide smile on her lips. It was suprisingly beautiful and it was a nice feeling to know that she had been a part of this change, that she had seen a fault and together with other wise gods changed it to the better.
It sank into the burning depths of the volcano, and brushed up against it's furious core of burning magic. A shock ran through the volcano, and shards of ice began to shower down upon the lands below.
PP
1PP-Nourish Land
If you must name me name me Xirinet, and I simplys tated who you are, the Changeling, or do you not change? Have my senses decieved me?
I do not see why they would, as they have yet to fail me.
Tell me why do you ask for my 'name'? Do you believe everything can be made into such simple things? I am Life, and Life has no name. Or perhaps you would call 'Life' a name...
Twisting in crude replication of the god of Nature, Xirinet continued.
You must forgive my... philosophical thoughts. But can all you are be poured into a name? Why must you have a name, when who you are can suffice?
"Well I cant call you Oravalos since you look like me! since I am Oravalos! and well, there can be only one of me! cant there?"
"Besides names are fun. I can call YOU CHANGLING!! MWAHAHAH!" Young Oravalos wrung is hands in conspiritorial glee at the thought."
Fire Creator names himself, but he is Fire. Does that mean fire bears his name? Or does he bear fire's name?
Perhaps both? I find it simpler to simply acknowledge what a thing is, the name more often than not bears little import. I see no reason to give something more names than it's core.
A vague shrug followed the god's words.
You are Changeling, you name yourself this 'Oravolos' but it makes no difference in what you are.
But perhaps I am wrong? Or maybe everything is wrong and there is a possibility we have not yet seen.
I know my power is not infinite; if it were I would reshape all as I please, not seek aid.
"This is... Very bad." Chactross said. "Let us create a child. Something that will undo all these... these Gods have done. The burst of energy from the divine birth would give the child the power to shape the earth as he pleased. In addition, he would be the light unto the world that is needed now more than ever, with the Aether being seperated by some Eldritch force."
"Stop Quibbling about names. My name is not 'fire.' It is Chactross. I am Pain and I am magic and I am the light in the embers, but my name is not Fire. I wrote my name on the pillar so that no one would ever call me something as foolish as 'Fire Creator.'"
Then, Chactross removed a small piece of himself from his fiery form. Holding it out, it floated through the air, hovering and eventually immoltulating and growing much larger.
(1 PP towards Ascend God)
Therefore the Godess of the Fey tapped on her Divine powers once more and threw a piece of her essence up in the sky to merge with what would become new Godling.
( 1 Pp towards ascend God )
When he saw Chartross call for this new God he stopped in his tracks forgetting his game shifting to the form of The Wise, with a deep frown. "We must consult The Lord of Light before we do this, he must be warned of our needs and goals if nothing else."
With that Oravalos turned into The Hunter whirling to face the looming form of the new world and bellowed across the heavens. "Xa'an, lord of light!! we wish to speak with you!!"
Orius
You called Wyld "Light" when I think you meant "Life," just as an FYI
You called Wyld "Light" when I think you meant "Life," just as an FYI
At the approuch of the Lord of Light Oravalos once again shifted to The Wise staring in puzzlement at the Light's well...lack of light, and his curious torch.
"Xa'an we wish to parlay with you. This world is to dark, to bleak to inhospitable for the animals and plants that it needs. The balance of nature must be maintained. Thus, we few have found common cause to elevate a new God one who is both born of Fire and light.
We require this not just for your light but it must have heat of fire as well. This will fuel our plants and animals to grow and thrive. Once more I envision plants that can transform the light they absorb into air to replenish the envelope within the aegis. However, these will require this new God to oversee such matters."
He turned around and looked at the other side of the earth, which was burning brightly with the light of Nocturne's artifact.
He turned back to Oravalos and the others.
He turned back to look at the other side of the earth. Even now the storehouse was moving around to the other side of the pillar and Day was approaching where they were.
He turned back to Oravalos and the others. In a minute the darkness began to ebb, and Xa'an waited until the storehouse had passed fully to the other side of the pillar.
Xa'an watched as the here-to dilated eyes of Oravalos contracted in the bright light of day.
"Are you... are you feeling alright?" the Light asked Nature, a hint of concern in his voice. Did Veros break the mind of the other gods when he broke and remade the world?, he wondered.
Xa'an tossed aside his torch and returned to full luminance (as now there was no need to hide himself to preserve the beauty of the night sky). He circled the god of nature, looking for injuries. "I ask because I am worried for your well being; there is light in full brilliance being radiated by the Pillar of Darkfire, yet you say it is too dark... I do not understand how such a statement can be made in the given situation. It makes no sense."
"I think there is one who is adept at healing; perhaps if you sought him out, he could help you?"
As he circled the gods, continuing to look to see what was causing such a strange request, he noticed a hole in the sphere of the world, through which the light of the pillar was flooding, only to be recalled by the storehouse.
"Ah," Xa'an said. "This new outside world that Veros created is indeed lacking in light, as the light is blocked by the nasty earth. Perhaps that is what you are talking about? I must confess, I have not seen this outer world yet, so I cannot say if it is too dark and bleak. Have you?"
"My apologies Xa'an but your toy does not fix the wound upon the world as a whole. The light is there but there is no heat! and yes the outer core of this new world is neglected."
With that Orvalos turned and breathed upon the gathered power of his little sister Eijra and Chartross adding some of his own divine might.
Addressing Xa'an he stated. "It is done my brother, a new God will rise to ttake dominion over the cycle of light on this new world. I hope you see the wisdom in this thing we have done."
1 PP towards Ascend God)
Still, Nature was trying ever so hard, so Xa'an in turn tried to be kind to him. "You should still seek out the one who heals, as it is clear you have need. You are seeing things that aren't there, and that is not good. There is no wound on the world."
Exerting his power, Xa'an illuminated the inner earth completely, eliminating every shadow, pouring so much light into the place that it became almost like a thick paste. Only the divine nature of the other god's prevented them from being blinded.
"Look at the world for what it truly is. Perhaps you dislike elements in it, but another god created the things you dislike. To heal the world of this perceived wound is to wound the creations of another god. Another god who has just as much right to exist and create and shape the world as you have. The fungus of this Unknowable god are no more a wound to the world than your greenery; both are the will of a god. If you dislike that god's creation, that is fine. Change it; battle the Unknown thing for control. But do not present delusion as fact. There is no wound except the one in your mind, the one you would inflict upon yourself. I urge you to have wider sight than that. Remove this bigotry from your heart before it consumes you."
"You speak to me of not knowing? You dare to speak to me of others creations and our impact? Look at my aether trees, they are all dead! My wonderful stirges all dead! they had a right to exist and now they are gone! all gone save the few on my island and why? Because one God with the help of others thought he knew what was best!
Oravalos raged at the imputence and the short sightedness. "I do not seek to undo anothers work. The unknown has his place, you have your place and this new god will have his."
Hunter Oravalos began to shrink back to normal size as he shook his head in hopelessness. "I only seek the balance among the whole of nature and all creations, as is my right."
"Oravalos, we could take him right now. Remove him from existence. It would not be that difficult."
While he spoke, he removed a gauntlet from the armor. Removing one of the fingers, he sliced it until it became small, like a ring. Then he commanded the ring to seek out the Azure shield. The ring grew larger and larger, until it was about a hundred feet across. Then it implanted itself within the Blue barrier, and the Aether began escaping. It did not expand exponentially, but rather stayed in a similar area to where it was. The Air and the Aether had always been in balance, and the Aether Aegis had done nothing but disrupt that.
Create Artifact 1 pp. It's not breaking the shield or anything, It's just restoring things.)
"As I said, change that which you do not like. But do not lie and hide behind false claims of wounds that must be healed. You are a god, such pettiness is below you."
Then Chactross chimed in. Such a shame, he had been appearing to be so reasonable lately. And yet he attempted to undo some of the needless separating that Veros had done. A curious fellow, crazy one minute and sane the next.
Xa'an put forth a flickering spark. "Here is the power you need for this aberration; but to claim it you must make a promise, Oravalos; for the good of nature, for the good of creation, for the good of yourself, try to find the balance that you profess but deny in a single breath. Rid yourself of this unthinking distaste for that which is merely different than yourself."
"Let it not be said that I can't show forgiveness and kindness."
PP
1pp offered for ascend god. Of course, if Oravalos chooses not to accept it then it reverts back to Xa'an
1pp offered for ascend god. Of course, if Oravalos chooses not to accept it then it reverts back to Xa'an
It was a sun, the first of it's kind...and Eijra was a part of it's creation.
The Fey Goddess stared at the sun. In her dreams before she had awakend she had seen a single bright light, a giver and taker of life, a symbol of hope and happiness.
She had seen a man. She had seen her son.
The Goddess smiled for herself as she flew closer to the sun. She had been such a fool, done many bad things during her short existence but...she could see the promise the Sun had in it.
The Godling that was born out of this would truly be a powerful being, maybe strong enough to make the world what it ought to be...what it deserved to be.
Within the flames of the sun a Godling had been formed, but it missed something, something very important a heart.
So that was what the Goddess did. She summoned the brightest of divine fire and poured her very essence in to the being that hopefully would help to set the world straight.
Green flames poured out of her hands and rushed forth, gathering around the new God.
( Ascend God- 1PP )
Now, for the first time, power was assembled, intensified, and left to its own devices. Except...and this is an irony that would torment historians and theologians for millenia afterward...it was given a heart.
...
Golden light spiked out from between the assembled gods, blinding them for a moment. They had seen light and radiance before, but never so much concentrated in so tiny a space! The thing they had assembled from themselves and given a will to live flared up in a blazing, yellow halo.
After a moment, the light died down, but remained stronger than it was before their act of creation. Rays of heat and power crept between their huddled silhouttes and spilled across the nearby lands, casting long shadows and highlighting rock faces, glinting off the sea and lake waters as no light besides that of the fire god's Pillar during its earliest days had before.
Standing between its creators, a golden-skinned, golden-haired, and golden-eyed man was looking around himself in wonder.
"I...I exist."
Divine senses assailed the world, drawing in and assimilating information with a speed no mortal mind ever would. His godly omniscience allowed him to learn speech and other basic knowledge instantaneously upon birth, tapping on the creations of the gods that had come before him to know of language.
"You..." he deduced, "you're my creators? Progenitors? Not sure if the right word exists...yet."
He smiled a little. The sunlight increased.
"Well," he said a bit bashfully, as if unsure of the appropriate response, "Thanks!"
She began to laugh, not a cruel or mocking laugh but rather a warm and kind one. One of those that warms your heart and soul.
" Thanks! "
The mere word was just such an understatement, they had channelled forces that could ruin whole worlds and after that they got a thank you. It was an appropriate response of course...but of some odd reason it felt like they deserved some more than that.
Those thought though were quickly overshadowed by joy as the Fay Goddess rushed forth and threw herself at the new God, holding him close for a moment.
" Welcome...child..."
She said smoothly, smiled brightly at the god once more, loosed her grip and took a step backwards, unsure on what she actually was supposed to do in a situation such as this one.
The newborn looked around quizzically as the fey goddess ran forth and embraced him. He tentatively hugged her back, even as he continued to look taken aback. However unprepared he was for this onslaught, he was greatly comforted by her affection. It felt reassuring. He also felt something else at the goddess' touch, but he wasn't totally sure what. There were definitely some conflicting emotions. He would have to figure this out later.
"Haha, nice to meet you too, I guess," he said as he ended her embrace. He looked around at the other three. The others weren't quite as enthusiastic as the fey godess, but they still looked happy to see him. Good, things could have started out much worse.
"Well," he went on, looking at himself and everything else with mixed curiosity and excitement, "It seems likely I was born for a reason, no? Please, my lords and lady, tell me what I am meant to know."
Waiting...
Waiting...
...Eventually Nocturne gave up.
It turned around... and everything was different. The world was changed so completely. There was something tugging everything to this new land. A bright light burned brightly in the center, with one-half covered up by an artifact. As if that was not enough, a new plane was tacked onto this world.
Impressive, it said aloud, to one in particular.
Nocturne traveled around looking at this new creation. It wondered what made the artifact that produced the darkness, then began to wonder what made the light in the first place.
Nocturne let aloud a small gasp- its own blacklight crystal, mixed with this divine fire, was the source of this light. Nocturne was astonished at how theses two creations- created seperately, for entirely different reasons- working perfectly together, as if they had been made for no other purpose. The idea fascinated it.
2PP-Create Domain (Moderate)- Technology
Shurka stared at the masses of mold with hate. At least now, he has a place to prepare. Hopefully the mold would not know of the Feywild; abundance of life being sapped away from the new world is a thought that Shurka would not like to think of.
Shurka noticed a bright flash of light some distance away.
I wonder what this could be... perhaps what the other lords were talking of prior to my leave?
Shurka moved toward the source of the light.
"I... am... Frellisk!"
With a chuckle The Wise returned Xa'an's power to him. "My brother, your offer touched me deeply, and I was going to take it up but my little sister beat you to it."
The Wise sighed and continued. "I feel we are speaking from the same place but are not conveying what we see correctly. It may not seem like it, but our purposes and intentions are similiar. I seek to deny no one, I have no plans to eradicate others works. I have no distaaste! In fact I cherish all of creation! Every creature, every creation has its place in this grand world. I only seek a natural balance between them all. Some through conflict some through compromise. Each has a right to exist once brought into this world and I fight for that right."
When Wise Oravalos saw Chartross' haste deed he screamed in rage shifting to The Hunter. "That would do more damage than already done! Correct it now or I will!"
Hunter spun to face the Fire God, spear in hand, his eyes blazing with rage.
He also thought about what his father (was the fiery Chachtross really his father? Perhaps so) had just said. Did Tahns have capabilities that none of his parents did? Had they managed to create something that was mightier-or at least, had the potential to be mightier-than even themselves? If that was true, what could Tahns himself create? His keen, but childlike, mind spun with the possibilities.
"This world is too divided," he agreed, "closed off, concave from one side and convex from three or four others. Its huge and full of fascinating things...but right now, it doesn't seem to encourage further development."
He smiled broadly.
"I think I know what might do the trick!"
The question was not who was the most powerful one, it was more about how you used your powers and the end results of it.
The young Goddess looked out at the world and she suddenly felt a strange feeling. Shame, the world had suffered under the mold and what had she done? She had fled and created a world of her own instead of helping to build and improve the world that already were.
There was life to be created, continents to be raised and concepts and ideas to be formed...and what had she done? Other than running away from what already were...she had created a realm that in no way reflected reality...but that would change.
The young Goddess smiled vaguely and gave the Sun God a curious look.
Shurka moved closer to see who this new god was.
"Right. Now I shall have my creatures..."
Show
Spawn Beast (Greater) 3 PP Water Elementals. Special varieties to be made (Marsh-mold Elemental) and stated.
Nourish Land 1 PP The great lake/ocean surrounding the marshes expands a bit.
Nourish Land 1 PP The great lake/ocean surrounding the marshes expands a bit.
...
And so Ythrexle departed, leaving behind the narsk to shepherd the dreams of creation and N'taggotha, the sentry of the Dream.
PP Spent
4 PP: Ascend Exarch - N'taggotha, the Dream-watcher (to be statted later)
It was Tahn's purpose to bring light to the world. But he couldn't bring light to both halves of this sphere at once.
With an almighty burst of gold light, the planet was ripped neatly in half. Channeling more power than he would likely ever half again, Tahns pulled the world in half, creating two half-spheres.
Holding the twin worlds side by side, Tahns lifted his right hand. All the air rushed from the barren world and swarmed around the one with life. The aether, which had formerly been trapped in a small bubble, was sent to the barren world, becoming its new atmosphere. The dead aether-plants began to peep out from the soil once again.
He then reached into the space that had once been the inside of the world, and distributed the flying islands. Oravalos' island, of course, would float above the aether world. The others, for the most part, would hover in the sky of the air world.
The one feature that the two worlds held in common now was his father's pillar of fire. That stood in the center of both dome-shaped worlds, existing in both simultaneously. Tapping into the power his father had given him over the pillar, Tahns caused heat and light to flow from the burning tower, shedding brilliant light that warmed both half-planets...sort of. It seemed he hadn't enough energy left to light both domes at once. Thus, the pillar would remain blackened and lightless in one while heating and lighting the other. Every twelve hours or so, it would switch, giving an opposite day and night cycle to each one.
Tahns looked out over both new worlds, each a paradise for a different breed of creature, a different paradigm of god. Had he brought peace to the pantheon, as his father had hinted that he would? Beaming confidently, he looked around in his naive way and called out "And now, all can be pleased!"
PP
Mold Land/Create Plane (not sure which for dividing the world): 4 PP
Nourish Land (give day and night to both worlds): 2 PP, one of which is granted from delfedd's pillar artifact.
Form Domain: Night (1pp)
Nourish Land (give day and night to both worlds): 2 PP, one of which is granted from delfedd's pillar artifact.
Form Domain: Night (1pp)
(Mold Land 2 PP Create oceans)
The Fey Godess looked at the child with sad eyes, shook her head and headed down against what once had bee whole.
The world was meant to be whole, united, to be ONE! It wasn't meant to have an end, and it wasn't meant to be ripped in to pieces. And once more the power of the God's had risen and this time it had hurt the poor planet more than ever before.
She could hear it, it screamed like a woman would scream if a brute would chop it in to two pieces with an axe.
She looked down at the world with sad, troubled eyes. No...she would not hide, even if the world was incomplete partly due to her actions, she would still be there, the world needed a healing hand.
The world needed one being who actually understood what it needed.
Her child had done one thing though that was good. He had created a sun.
She smiled at the thought...even if it still wasn't as it was supposed to be, it still would create life.
The Fey Godess landed on the continent's surface on a place far, far away from the land of the mold. One one of those places Father Mold had blessed with true life.
Trees, bushes and grass formed a protecting circle around a tiny creek. She smiled as she looked down on it, it was a beautiful thing, the water glittering in the light of the new Sun.
But there were things that needed to be done, things that were more important for her than her duties. She was supposed to create life, create children of the Feywyld, strong and beautiful just as their own realm...but right now she wanted to create something for this world that her actions had scarred so.
She bent down at the creek and picked up some mud and slowly began to sculpt a tiny little being with careful hands, soon another followed and then another.
Soon twenty small clay statues the size of human children rested in the grass around the creek.
Their flesh was now made of the finest of earth, what remained was to create souls for her children. Eijra pondered this for a moment, she wanted them to be free in both body and mind but still have an understanding for how that world actually was.
Therefore the Fey Goddess bent down at the creek and began to pick flowers. Each flower she molded and changed with divine fire until they were as she wanted them to be. Their souls were tiny, shivering things seemingly made out of the purest of glass.
They were beautiful...and so pure...the Goddess sighed softly and began to slowly push soul after soul in to the lifeless statues.
The statues were of twenty human-like beings. Lithe and agile with their heads covered with thin layers of hair. Both what would be men and women sat there in the grass as the Goddess divine power flowed through them, transforming mud and clay in to flesh and bone.
The Goddess smiled as she looked down open the clay figures, planted a kiss on each of the mud figure's foreheads and then waited.
One of the tiny clay beings began to shudder as the clay that he had once been began to fall off. Revealing dark-coloured skin, it's chest moved, it's fists clenched and opened in a strange rhytm and then it arose.
It was a short being, reaching to the Goddess knee-caps. He were dark in skin just as the clay they once had been and had dark, curly hair on his head. He was of a stocky, muscular breed, even if most of the others of his kind that arose were lither and more agile built.
They were the Halflings, the first children of Eijra and the supposed healers of this world.
Shape Populace: Lesser 2 PP ( Halflings )
Shurka followed Eijra, wondering what she was doing. She did not seemed pleased with what the new god had done. When Shurka arrived, he saw small creatures surrounding the Fey Goddess.
Then Shurka had an idea.
"Eijra, these new creations of yours are very interesting... but I think I can make them even better. I want to imbue them with some of my power so they might heal the land as I do. With your permision, of course"
They were still new to this world and did not know what to fear.
" Make them better? No...I can not allow you to do that.,."
She said in a sad tone and smiled as her creations carefully came closer. She bent down and petted one of her children carefully.
" You can help them though if that is what you mean, learn them how to heal and take care of the land..."
"The world," he said to Chachtross, "its so open, father! So liberated! And now with the sun raining light upon both lands, life can flourish as never before!"
As he said that, he also couldn't help but notice Eijra looking sadly at him before leaving. He wondered what was up with that. She was one of his parents. Shouldn't she be congratulating him, or advising him, or doing anything to acknowledge what her newborn had just done?
Eh, probably nothing.
"At some point, however, we must do something about the dark ocean that lies beneath the surface of the world. For life to truely begin there, we will need illumination. But that is a project for another day. For now, let us go forth and look upon our creation."
It was no longer a planet, it no longer tried to separate it self from the universe as it once tried. It was an eternity of wildness.
Massive trees rose among rivers and lakes. Steaming rainforests, tough needletrees an eternity of vegetation.
But no life wandered among it's trees. Only a sad tune seemed to flow along the eternal forest's branches.
Shurka gave the newest creatures the knowledge of healing, creating the first healers beside himself. Their minds were well adjusted to the knowledge, as they were born to care for the land.
"Make sure this knowledge does not go to waste."
PP Use
2PP - Teach Populace (Greater) - Taught the halflings how to become healers.
Chactross was weaving complex magic. It was long and arduous, especially when he tried to force it to his will. It had to be coaxed, nurtured, and allowed to grow. And for something as large as what he was trying to do, it was quite complicated.
The idea had occured to him when he had entered the fey goddess's world. Beautiful, and entirely her own. And this... wrong part of the world needed to go somewhere. So he was making a place for it.
Or trying.
It was a lot harder than it worked. So far he had only been able to create dimensions so small and brief that they could fit in the palm of his hand for a moment before vanishing. But this time, he was able to open the folds of reality wide enough for half the world to fit through.
The only problem was that something was already in there.
Something huge and monsterous, and yet without form. Without thought. Without reason. It simply was. And it seemed Hungry. It frightened Chactross. It threatened his very existence. It wanted to eat everything he had worked for, but Chactross would not let it. He would fill in the space between worlds. He would...
But he couldn't. There was not enough power at his disposal.
As a last ditch effort, Chactross burned brighter, but that only seemed to draw its attention. Like a stirge to a flame, it drew closer and closer.
(Create Plane: 2 PP. Orius is offering 2 more to get things moving)
((Give 2PP to help form the second plane and finish the binding of the new planet))
He reached in and applied his life essence and helped Chartross pull the world apart ever so gentle so the two halves faced each other with the pillar and his and thr god of healing island homes in the center. The aegis was reshaped around these halves and the bulwark was contained as two pieces of each half. Careful not to destroy anything but seek a peaceful coexistence. and with that he was spent.
He also through out his last remaining bit of power to nourish the land with further trees that gathered forth the light and warmth and replenished the air. He named them with a thought elm, birch, oak, willow, and many others. He knew it wasint much, but it was a start.
((1 PP Nourish Land Lesser: Plants upon the new land masses on the upper continent))
With a sigh The Wise finished the work with Chartross and somehow felt hollow. Tus with a flash and no final word he retreated to his island and coul feel his children in there cacoon's mouring the world and the pain of there master.
(Please note, Frellisk views the gods as Artists because he things of everything in terms of art.)
Finally he reached out and took back the power he had offered to create this Sun god. Terribly rude of Eirja to make the decision for Oravalos, but Xa'an couldn't decide who to place blame to. In the end, he discarded the issue as something he didn't care to decide.
He went to the new god and said, "Little sun, I am sorry. Though we are similar, others have made us estranged from each other. This is not the way I would have preferred to have the world but what is, is. You are have light, but the Light is not in you."
Xa'an turned to go away but stopped. Turning back for a moment he continued, "Please, be kind to those creatures and gods that find favor in your eyes, shine gently upon them. They will have need of it, I suspect. And take this, as a token that I do not blame you for this state of being."
The Light produced a small spark, much like the one he had offered Oravalos, though slightly different. This he set before the Sun god.
Then, he left, passing beyond the dimensions and spheres of the created world, and even pass the edge of the aether, into the void, where created things did not yet exist.
There, he found a quite place to think and pondered what his role in this new world, one with a Sun, would be.
Oddly, a single Elder Thing had been pulled along in the god's wake. If it had been alive, it died the moment it entered the void. But the memories of the events surrounding its created haunted Xa'an's thoughts.
pp
1pp offered to Thans
1pp offered to Thans
"People keep taking off before I can properly begin talking to them. Heh, well, I guess this one was chummy enough to leave me a birthday present, at least."
He took the divine light into himself and studied it. Though light was connected to his domain, he did not have the kind of direct and instinctive control over it that Xa'an did. That made sense, in a way. He also controlled heat, though to a lesser extent than Chactross. There were other gods who seemed to be the same way; the god of healing depended on the god of life, the god of art was dependent on the god of dreams, etc. There was a place for all of them in this world.
Walking along in the light of the pillar he had illuminated, Tahns eventually came to a river, near which a grove of Oravalos' trees had taken root. These massive plants depended on sunlight for their growth; Tahns marvelled at how his presence was already having an impact on the minutia of the world, even without him knowing it.
Continuing along the river, he stumbled upon his mother Eijra. She was surrounded by a group of very peculiar animals. They were shaped the same way that most of the gods were, but made of simple, mortal materials. Also, they were awfully short.
"Hello," Tahns said to the fey godess, "Chactross and I just got finished fixing the planet, and I was just having a stroll. What are those shorter things? Did you make them?"
The Halflings were far gone by now though, the travelled along the creek together gathering berries and fruits from nearby bushes and hunting smaller animals that hid among the bushes, smaller relatives to the fungus and lizards that ruled the land.
The blessing Shurka had given them had changed a couple of them though. Strange, alien energies were at their command, energies that helped them heal both flesh and land with nothing but their sheer will.
It was a simple unrefined art though so most of the time nothing more then bruises could be healed by the few healers.
" Good day, my son..."
The Goddess said and smiled vaguely against her son. Not really sure on what she was supposed to say.
" Emm...I...they are the Halflings "
She mumbled and looked in the Halflings directions. A couple of days had passed since their creation and they had travelled several miles but she could still see them.
She smiled vaugely. She would help these beings later on...but so much had happend by now, so many things had needed to be done. She was tired.
Xirinet slowly roiled, considering its next move.
Well, I apparntkly was distracted so the more power can go into my other plans.
Xirinet seized riot and pulled it around the material plane, pulling until the boundaries between the planes seemed to touch.
Now, to bring some more life to this world.
With a violent twist Riot's boundaries thrust through into the material plane. Gateways opening between the two, to those in the material plane they would apear as stars in the sky. Through these gates Riot's life energies could flow into the world.
Excellent, crude but effective. Now I will have more power to work with here.
Looking at the still fairly bare world Xirinet mused. Finally deciding on a course of action it reached out and used its remaining power to call storms to rain upon the surface of the upper world.
That will do, I think. Until I have poer for more. Though perhaps Light will be unhappy at my stars... No matter I will cross that as I come to it.
Actions
3PP, Create Artifact (greater): Yes, they are an interplanar gateway. Yes Riot can support cosmic horrors. Yes that includes Aberrations. It also grants +1 PP toward Nourish actions.
1PP, Nourish Land: More water (I suppose technically it's fresh water). I think we're still a little short.
1PP, Nourish Land: More water (I suppose technically it's fresh water). I think we're still a little short.
His mother seemed less eager to talk than he was. Damnit, what was it with most of his parents and the other gods? He kept trying to make conversation.
"It seems these walking beasts can use magic, at least to a primitive extent. That's pretty interesting; I didn't realize mortals had that potential. Did you create them with that ability, or did you teach it to them?"
Meanwhile, the sky began to cloud up, dropping little bits of water all over the place. Was this a side effect of the reshaping of the world? Tahns looked back and forth at the rainclouds discerningly. With a bit of concentrated effort, he caused the sun to shine harder, melting away the better part of the clouds and reducing the rainfall.
(I'm not actually undoing the rain, so no PP. Just reducing it in the immediate area)
3 pp: Ascend Exarch Omtur (He generates 1 pp towards nourish actions.)
3pp: Ascend Exarch Omtur (He now provides a +1 bonus to combat.)
Always so quick to impose their own will... Well I am not so different from that. Perhaps I should say hello to the glowing one.
Descending down Xirinet came upon the Sun God and Eijra.
Ahhh, so parting the clouds was your doing? Well, I had intended to offer my power in your birth, but I was... Distracted by my musings. I welcome you.
"So, the water falling from the sky is your doing? You're blotting out the sun when you do that, you know."
Personally I liuke the effect, but...
Twisting momentarily Xirinet roiled.
I may be biased.
Had I not been distracted by my thoughts you would have been created of my power as well, though I suppose events as they are have turned out well enough.
I am quite aware of what is needed to maintain life, and I find the result of the clouds to be quite... interesting.
Xirinet gollows his statement by pointing to a relatively clear patch of sky where the clouds had produced a spray of color.
I believe this is the first time such a thing has formed... Don't you think its rather pleasant to look at? Or would you prefer everything were lit until the color washes out?
"Things seem to be growing well," he said, "and in terms of color being washed out of things, I simply encourage you to look at the green of the plantlife, the blue of the sky, and the gold of the sun. Its rain that makes everything gray, not counting that...stripey...thing. Anyway, I suppose the occasional rainstorm isn't too bad."
In truth, Tahns was a bit jealous of Xirinet's rainbow, and wished he had thought of making something like it first. He decided to change the subject.
"God of life? Cool, you probably know all about this stuff then. How about those halflings?"
It remained this way for now, waiting....
Its creations however wouldn't. Fueled by there creators will, the many molds and fungi started to infest and spread at an accelerated rate, covering large portions of the outer shells.
(Nourish populace x2 : 2PP)
Now as for the little ones, it appears they were made to make this world more... Interesting. Or perhaps healthy? I suppose that might make a difference to you, but either way is the same to me.
Xirinet reached out briefly; enveloping one of the groups in fog before rescinding its touch.
Touched by healing then... Hmmm... Perhaps they will make good servants, if you can turn them to your ends. Though I doubt the touch of their progenitor could ever be truly washed from them, if you were interested in washing it from them that is.
Or were you looking for something else? I almost feel sorry that I poured my power into sky and sea, rather than into the little ones. Though maybe little ones of my own would be more fun.
He watched the halflings run about along the riverbanks, rooting around for berries and chasing after frogs and fish with their pointy sticks. Their ability to heal one another was impressive, but their lives were still looking to be difficult. Tahns decided this seemed like a good opportunity to put Xa'an's advice into practice.
"You know, lord of life, I may just have a use for that rainwater after all."
Tahns grabbed a handful of berries from a nearby shrub and held them close to his mouth. He blew on them, infusing the seeds with a new vitality and potential. Then, with a soft burst of yellow light, he threw them high enough to make sure that they would scatter all across the land. New plants began to grow, soaking up rain and river water and rising quickly. Rice in the wetlands, wheat on the praries, maize in the forests, and barley in the deserts.
"If they eat those, they'll be a little bit healthier. If they don't...well...maybe other things will eat those, and then the halflings will eat them. Whichever way the world turns. Think it'll help?"
PP
Nourish Land (grains): 1 PP.
Next turn, I plan to teach the halflings to farm these grains instead of just gathering them, making halfling society at least partly agricultural. If someone else wants to do this before then, that's fine too.
Next turn, I plan to teach the halflings to farm these grains instead of just gathering them, making halfling society at least partly agricultural. If someone else wants to do this before then, that's fine too.
As for your gift... It will help something I am sure. the more living things, the more life there is to flow through everything.
I must remember to contribute something myself when I have the chance at hand. Meatier things would be nice, maybe I'll focus on some of those.
"Little compared to us? Ah, I see what you mean."
I thought you would, you're sharp enough.
Xirinet took notice of the newcome god, incorporating bits of the god's form into his own.
I am not sure who sundered the world. Actually...
The Life God shifted for a moment, as though just taking in its surroundings.
I had barely noticed the change, perhaps eventually the world will be stable enough that I won't have to bother to notice.
((Xirinet does a crude mimicry, I don't bother to eat space with it every time because it requires thinking. Of course 'crude' means 'misty imitation of form.' Anyway, I'll pull him in.))
(oops! Sorry, forgetfulness on my part)
"World torn in two? That was myself, assisted by the lords of fire and nature. You seem to be a god; why would you be afraid of the void?"
He remembered something.
"By the way, I am called Tahns, and this is Xirinet. Who might you be?"
PP
1PP-Nourish Land- Iron Deposits
He was still exhausted from his efforts, but he could feel his strength returning. And, to his surprise, new creatures had begun wandering the surface. He pondered it, considering if he should ass his own twist or not.
Yes, he thought, I shall bring forth life into the world. But what? He ran his throughts through his mind, considering all the options of what he could offer in a living creature. The others had always seemed to do something that reflected upon their own skills and abilities. What could he do?
Finally, he stumbled across the the idea as it surfaced from his mind. He twisted the threads of power carefully, shaping the creature. As he worked, he stared in shock at what he saw, the appendages reaching out from him? What in the name of creation?
Even as the threads began to collapse and fail, he grasped at them again, temporarily putting the strange sight out his mind. He sighed in relief as he pulled the power back together just in time. Finally, he finished, and placed his new creation near the little ones that wandered about. Before long, they would infiltrate, blending in with any they might encounter.
Veros looked away, exploring the rest of the world. He was slightly peturbed to find the Dimension Bulwark stripped of it's earthen protection, but as he examined it, he was pleased to note that it was already beginning to replenish itself, as the outer surface hardened into rock and metal. He extended a bit of power into it, hastening it's progress.
Finally finished, he moved towards the flame pillar, taking advantage if it's light to begin examining the new form he seemed to have adopted.
PP Expenditure
2 PP - Shape Populace (Lesser) - Doppleganger (As in the MM, but they can adopt Small forms as well.)
2 PP + 1 PP (Dimension Bulwark) - Shape Land (Greater) - Begin recovering the DImension Bulwark in dirt, stone, gems, and metal.
A weak smile appeared on her lips though as she arose from her sitting position.
The god of life had appeared and talked in strange words about stranger things that didn't concern her any longer. She already knew what happend if she concerned herself with the affairs of the other God's.
Two times she had helped them and two times she had ravaged and twisted the fair earth. That was enough for her. She had found a new purpose in her life through out the Halflings, she would help them to grow and live their lives in peace and war. She would help them in any way she could...and through that maybe do something good for this world.
She patted her son on the shoulder, turned around and slowly began to walk down to the creek. Eyes focused on the horizon where the halflings feasted on maize the had found.
He turned to the other, who had mimiced some of Frellisk's appearance. An interesting power! So that's why they looked so similar! "And I don't believe I have your name. Anyway, I hope it becomes stable, but I was really just a little annoyed by the fact that I almost fell off the world."
And then he remembered the trees. "Oh, on my way, I saw large things withhard bodies that branched off in many places, and had green, softer things on the branches. Do you guys know who created them? I created someone to watch over them, and I wanted to meet the Artist who crated them."
This created a strong but flexible outer shell and epidermis, making the fungal creature much stronger then before.
(create artifact 2PP)
The creature still seemed dormand and just drifted around in a circular path around the planet.
"Are you a god? Is the mold yours? Are you a god? Is the mold yours?"
It then encapsulated this dream in a feeler of ice and injected into the morass of fungi.
She had been foolish back then...and very young. Why was it often so that being young often meant being foolish? She had had such ideas! Such grand schemes! Such immense plans! And opinions about everything and everyone, she had known what the world needed and all that disagreed were old fools.
She smiled as she remembered those days, it had been a far more innocent time but things changed. She had her children now after all and they needed their mother.
Years passed by and Eijra often visited the Halfings and helped them in their struggles. Small Halfling farming communites had now appeared along a peninsula at the Continent's southern coast in an area that was called the "Golden Hills" There the Halfings lived in their villages and farmed the land. They were blessed by their goddess with bountifull harvests of rice, wheat and barley and they made sure to praise both Mother Eijra, Her son the Sun and "The White God" as their only name was for Shurka.
They increased in both numbers and knowledge and they were happy.
1PP-Nourish Land ( Creating "The Golden Hills" A area with supernaturally good farmland
1PP-Nourish People. The halflings increase in numbers and founds about twenty villages around the golden hills
2PP-Teaching the Halflings the art of Agriculture
A few seconds later the rest of the Cro band emerged from the snow, hair frozen into crackling strands. Below the ridge, faint shapes moved, shadows of Vyrmosk.
Raising his spear, a huge bone taken from a Frost Seal, as everything the tribe had was, Valence-Cro threw back his enourmous head and roared, howling his fury into the chill winds.
As the wind devoured the echos of his great cry, Valence-Cro charged down into the encampment, the men of the Cro clan following behind. Spears flashed against the bone white snow, women howled in terror, and blood splashed.
His brother spun past him grappling with a huge shape, the tribes chieftain. Valence-Cro raised his spear and drove it into the back of the chieftain. Warm blood spurted over his hands, steaming as it touched the snow.
The Vyrmosk cried out in agony and reared back as Valence-Cro tore his spear from the bloody wound. His brother, Sarkon-Cro pulled his arm from the chieftain's slackening grasp and sawed the bone knife across the chieftain's throat.
Hot blood spilled all over Sarkon-Cro as he threw back his head and howled his victory to freezing reaches. Valence-Cro grinned at his brother and returned to the fray.
A few minutes more, and the rest of the enemy Vyrmosk either lay dead or bound as slaves. Two of Valence-Cro's band of thirty lay had given up their lives to Vymrl during the battle, while all ten of the men of the opposing band lay dead, their souls already withering in Nocturne's eternal hell.
A shout went up as one of his raiders found two frozen Frost Seals behind one of the tents. The raider, Gruman-Cro, dragged the corpses before him, grinning. They would eat well tonight. As the Pillar turned once more and cast it's light upon them, the Cro band returned to their camp, bringing the captured Thralls and meat with them.
They also brought something more interesting, a strange liquid metal the enemy Vyrmosk had been working on when they had attacked.
Within weeks, the Cro discovered how to fully refine and cast the metal. Within a year, Valence-Cro lead warbands for miles around, crushing any who resisted him with iron weapons and collecting nuggets of the fire-metal wherever it fell.
PP
2PP-Teach Populous:Ironworking
2PP-Create Concept-Moderate:Conquest
"Well, its a good thing you managed to find your way out of the void...not that that sounds especially hard. Anyway, I've much more world to see! If either of you would like to-
Just then, he heard someone call his name.
"Tahns, fire above, we thank you!"
Tahns pricked up his ears.
"Tahns, giver of light, we share our harvest with you."
Tahns tasted roast barley. It was an interesting sensation; he had never tasted anything before.
"Huh," said Tahns, "hold that thought. There's something I need to investigate."
Tahns left Xirinet and Frellisk by the river and took off after the source of the chanting and calls. They soon led him to a land of fertile, grassy hills, where thousands of halflings lived in crude-but sturdy-huts. The area around them was devoid of weeds and grasses; the industrious little creatures had cleared them all away and systematically planted Tahn's grains (incredible...had they devised this system of their own, or had someone taught them? Either way, Tahns beamed at the proven value of his gift). In several of their tiny villages, some kind of ceremony was going on. Freshly ground wheat and barley flour was being poured into their fires. As Tahns watched, they dedicated their offerings to Shurka, Eijra, and to him. Whenever his name was called, he felt it in the center of his being.
He was being worshiped!
"This feeling...such power...such energy! Surely, to be worshiped by mortal animals is the greatest delight a god can experience!"
As he basked in their gratitude and adoration, however, he was a bit distracted by their polytheistic reverence. Of the three gods they worshipped, his was the most constant and imminent in their lives. He felt that he deserved perhaps just a tad more of their prayers and sacrifices than he was getting.
As he was pondering this, he noticed that some of the halflings were not joining in the harvest festival with their brethren. They danced, feasted, and prayed with the others, but in their hearts their praise was directed to a different god. Why were they being so secretive about this?
Tahns approached a group of these different halflings. Since he did not bother to disguise himself, they were understandably shocked and overwhelmed when this golden giant appeared in front of them.
"L-Lord of the sky-fire! Firstborn of the Goddess! W-we-"
"Cut the act!" Said Tahns, "I know you're not halflings. Show yourselves for what you truly are, or I'll do it for you...in front of the others!"
Reluctantly, they shifted their forms, becoming gray, bulbous-eyed creatures, taller and thinner than halflings. Tahns was intrigued.
"Whose creations might you be, oh bold face-changers? Are you children of Xirinet, whose penchant for mimicry you seem likewise to indulge?"
"No, lord," the dopplegangers said, "We are the sons of Veros. Please, do not give us away! It is but our place to live, unknown, among other-"
But Tahns had already left, leaving nothing but golden footprints and some very ruffled (and slightly teary-eyed) dopplegangers behind him.
"Veros!" Called Tahns, "Oh Veros, you sly, sly bastard! Here, have a talk with the sun god!"
Tahns had no idea who Veros was, but he liked his style already.
"Sun god, you say? Yes, yes, I can tell you share the warmth and light of what the pillar has become. I imagine Chactross has a hand in your creation, possibly Xa'an as well? No matter. What is it you seek me out for?"
"Yes, yes, the dopplegangers are mine, a recent addition. It took me some time to devise exactly how they would work and such, but I find them interesting enough. They seem to find living in secrecy and discovering secrets to be some kind of homage to me."
Walled with ice to shield them from raids from the other Iron Clans, as they had come to be called, the cities centered around the great furnaces where the iron burned in Seal fat.
"Well, here's how it is. I'm thinking of making my own race of little thinking ones, and I like the way you seem to do things. So, if the race-to-be is made with the best of both worlds-my grandeur and your subtlety-they could be a very formidable species. What do you say?"
Until it the time came when Oravalos could feel it was time for his people to greet the world. "Come my children, come to your new home."
With that Oravalos whipser the last song to his children to be the protectors of nature, and breathed upon them his divine escense to give them life.
3PP - Shape Populace (Moderate): Ae-Silvani (Aether Dryads) They live in the aether and I will stat them up later.
As the blossoms opened his wonderful children stepped forth. Made of the trees and plants they would protect and call home. There forms were humanoid in nature, graceful and beautiful with a deep dark grey skin akin to his aether trees, with fronds and leaves for hair that drew in the aether to sustain them much as the trees they would call home.
Over the centuries of there slumber and growth they learned of the planet and there task to defend all of nature, and all of Oravalos creatures. They took to the aether trees both the floating kind and those on the ground and lived within the trees they would defend from all encrouchment, be it mold, monster or even gods.
Most importantly Oravalos told them of himself, there father. Every Ae-Silvani knew of the importance of the Lord of Nature of Great Father as they would come to call him. He created them in his image and he in theres.
1PP - Guide Populace (Lesser): They worship The Great Father Oravalos.
Additionally the three forms Oravalos now take on look like ae-Silvani. A young dryad with a carved aether branch, a hunter dryad with a Hunting Spear of aether wood, and An old wizened Wise Dryad with a small aether tree for a staff and long fronds for hair that reach the ground.
He looked back to Tahn. "Yes, yes, I could see such a thing. Where shall we place them in the world though. Perhaps within one of the foersts?"
"Also, why don't we try putting them in the aether half of the world? More room there."
((I'm forshadowing the elf/eladrin/drow evolutionary divergence))
He looked up. "Yes, yes, I have the perfect gift for them. A natural talent with magic, something that will let them slip across the Azure Aegis with no trouble at all. Simply let me know when you are ready."
I can see some, of course there is more as well... It still feels empty. What more though? Well, first I think I shall make things a little more interesting.
Slowly at first, but gathering speed, the world around Xirinet shifted. Flowing first into gentle hills, then rising to craggy peaks.
How should it look? What am I supposed to do here? It would be nice to have something to compare against.
With a violent twist the ground seemed to shatter. Plateaus rising from the ground. A strangely beatiful vista, lowgtound rising to high and ending in sudden cliffs. Nearby water pooled at the bases, strange river systems wending between the features. As the ground settled trees began to grow; pine, birch, oak, massive and heavy they accentuated the strange lands.
Pleasant is too weak a word to describe this. This may be the first truly beautiful place in the world. Though the emptiness is boring... What shall I fill it with?
Actions
2PP, Mold Land (Moderate): Haven't got a name, but it's a fairly temperate ecosystem.
1PP from the Stars, Nourish Land: Oak, Birch, Pine, Apple. If you live in Maine you could probably name it. Basically temperate forests.
Yah I was inspired by the world right outside my window. Maine is a bit different, but I think I captured the feel.
1PP from the Stars, Nourish Land: Oak, Birch, Pine, Apple. If you live in Maine you could probably name it. Basically temperate forests.
Yah I was inspired by the world right outside my window. Maine is a bit different, but I think I captured the feel.
He reached up into the sky, his arm stretching until it entered the firey pillar in orbit above. Reaching through its golden rays that touched the entire world, he grabbed some air and aether and pulled them to where the two gods were standing.
"Taller," he thought aloud as he caused the gases to fill a certain space, "made more of air than of earth, but still solid."
As he spoke, he pulled a vein of purest quartz from the ground and shaped it into a sparkling skeleton.
"And, of course, a bit of my specialty."
A finger of sunlight stretched down, charging the half-made form with power. A power that could be used for a great number of preternatural things. It would be up to Veros to define these abilities, however.
"Your turn."
(putting forward 2 PP for Shape Moderate Populace)
Then, Yoglith ripped the divine egg from the natural shelf on the wall, throwing it to the floor where it cracked open, a small orb of red light rocketing out of the well of time and shooting through space to ultimately wind up in the new plane created during the sundering of the planet. There, the small sphere of light touched the ground and began to grow, taking on the shape of insect-like humanoids, with one long bladed arm and one normal.
The god then began to pieces the gears together, ripping the walls apart more to produce giant slabs, holding them together with raw force, and ultimately the god created a giant set of blast doors of sorts, using them to seal the well of time to the passage of all but time.
Yoglith laughed out loud, a terrible sound, "The Anomalers must never reach the Temporal Harmonizer again! Yoglith commands it!"
PP Spent
1pp + 2pp(one time only) from the divine egg(which is now destroyed. Artifacts must be made with this purpose. Not just any will do), Spawn Beast Greater: Swordwings as beasts. They are incapable of being guided, taught, or otherwise influenced to do anything but hunt, collect trophies, etc. They are not a populace.
3pp Create Artifact: Eternal Bastion: This artifact prevents anything but time itself from entering or exiting the well of time, thus sealing Yoglith inside and everyone else out.
3pp Create Artifact: Eternal Bastion: This artifact prevents anything but time itself from entering or exiting the well of time, thus sealing Yoglith inside and everyone else out.
Finishing, he reached his hand into the creation, leaving one last trace of power in them, infusing their very body with magical energies. Finished, he stepped back, and cast his power over them again, duplicating the finished form, each copy having subtle differences from the original.
"It is done. Shall we place half within this world, and half within your own?"
PP Expenditure
2 PP - Shape Populace (Greater) (Eladrin)
Under the rule of their fair Goddess Halflings from many villages and settlements slowly began to band together in to a major settlement around the mouth of the river Fairwater, that had been formed during the " Time of Madness ". It was a wet, nearly swampy piece of land that was though very rich in the harvests it gave. The time when Gods filled with big ideas had hurt the world.
The settlement slowly grew to become the prospering town of Fairwater. A small, neat town surrounded by vast wheat fields and several farming villagers.
Nourish Populace: 1 PP- The Halflings founds a town.
Mystified, Vymrl captured a dream and filled it with a message, repeating itself endlessly.
"Are you a god? Is the mold yours? Are you a god? Is the mold yours?"
It then encapsulated this dream in a feeler of ice and injected into the morass of fungi.
The titanic creature awoke from it's slumber after the stab with the ice. Two of it's jaw ending branches turned toward the tiny god.
Suddenly Vymrl's mind becomes hit, like the stab of a spear. A whirlpool of images was send towards him. Images of things rotting, decaying,....
But also of how the first fungi came into being, growing from the fungal mass that infected the swamp continent before.
Throught the stream, between the images, the following words were send, like the beatings of a drum.
"A god?"
"Is that what you are?"
2pp: Guide Populace to teach halflings art.
He hovered over a tall, forested mountain, with snow at its peak and open, fertile valleys hidden along its slopes.
Slowly, he placed the first eladrin on the snowy peak, where the cold shocked them into wakefulness. The first thing they saw upon looking up was the sun.
"All that you see around you, children of magic and sky, can be yours. In exchange for your power and grace, you must build a grand temple to your creator, the living sun itself."
Then, as an afterthought.
"And another for the lord of magic, who too had a hand in your genesis."
PP
Guide Populace (1 PP): the eladrin now worship Tahns and Veros, and consider this mountain to be sacred. They also are likely to expand soon, considering the first part of Tahn's speech)
Chactross next part of the plan was complicated. And Long. Hopefully, he would be able to adapt whatever the Gods made into his plan.
Calling upon the inate magic that lay within the Pillar that wrote it's name across the sky, he used it's magic and the magic that lay within the earth to create twenty and one different conduits for magic. These conduits allowed any creature to take control of a small part of the vast, primal reserves of magic. He spread these conduits out over the planet, many of them protected by some geographical feature, and many of them even on the underside of the earth.
Pleased at phase one of his plan, Chactross went into an unplanned phase two. Taking a thousand fire elementals, Chactross gifted each one of them with the power of pain and a suit of armor like his own. He called them the burning legion. He sent them out to assault the ice giants.
(1 pp+1 from the pillar nourish for the conduits
3 PP for the Archons.)
-----------
Vymrl froze the stream of images into a single crystalline thought. Analyzing it, he found the formation of the molds, and a question. Tentitavly, he pulsed a thought back.
We are gods, you and I. We are the Lords of Creation. Our children shall bestride the world, as yours already do, and our whims shape existence. I have come to ask you for a gift.
----------
Vymrl then sent a dream to Choactress.
Why have you wrought beasts to attack my children?
"Ah, me, perhaps they should not have set themselves up on a flying Glacier? No where to escape to, and every step my archons takes damages the very foundation of their home."
"What do you want?"
The halfling especially felt the draw of water, and began to drink deep of it.
3 PP Mold Land Greater: Groundwater, stemming from Neko's ocean body
1 PP Guide Populous - Halflings are adept at finding water, and have a subconscious love for my primordial god.
They looked out at the sea with warm eyes and often built their dwellings close to the ocean or the rivers and lakes that dotted the landscape. They still loved the land though and continued to gain vast amounts of crops.
Eijra, The Goddess of the Fey looked out over her land and smiled. Many gods had invested their powers in her people...the young god of Art had learned them many things about his domain while the ancient god of the ocean had given them a love for the ocean and the beings that lived there.
The Goddess smiled once more as she took a step forward, letting it slip down in to the ocean.
A couple of minutes later she saw a world unlike any other she had seen before. It was a barren world of sand and algae, but still beautiful beyond belif. Schools of fishes swam around, seaweed danced in the currents and the surface above shone like a golden roof.
She had came here to talk with her brother. Neko, the lord of the Ocean.
The Fair Goddess said happilly and looked around suspicouiously.
" Uncle, can I ask something of you? Could you please, please take a more solid form? I really want to talk to you and it is hard to concentrate when I don't have anything to look at. "
She looked curiously around.
" Your domain is truly beautiful though, Uncle...I never thought that something like this could exist under the water. "
If my people are strong enough to withstand your cleansing fire, then they shall grow strong as iron from the crucible. If not, then I shall remake them again, stronger.
------------
I ask that you create a new mold. It shall be large, and lighter than water. It shall carry my children across the waters, and every place my children touch the land, yours shall touch the land.
No doubt, the Vyrmosk will cultivate such a useful fungi.
------------
Though it galled him to do it, Valence-Cro began to send emissaries to the Ssa and the Vray. He knew full well that the Cro could not withstand this strange new threat alone.
He also began attempting to capture one of the fire creatures.
He willed bubbles to form a more humanoid shape. How's this? And something like what? Beautiful how?
The form looked about him at the fish and the algae floating in his mass before shrugging. This is just my fun.
" Thank you, Uncle. It is beautiful...because it's so different from the world i come from. "
The Goddess looked out at the beauty of the ocean floor and mumbled quietly.
" This world is beautiful indeed.."
She returned her gaze to her uncle and asked.
" I have notice that you have given some of my people your attention and I would like to know why. They are my children after all and I am not going to let strangers lead them away.."
Her tone was suddenly serious and slightly cold.
Lead them how? I just wanted to watch them, and help them if I could. Is it bad that they should drink of me? I feel they would benefit from my moisture if they are to remain in motion for very long. If I should take my gifts back that's fine, but your creatures will likely die much like one of my fish would: without water.
He looked as if about to focus on the task, the bubbles about his frame softly glowing with divine energy...
" Let them drink...they did that even before you poured you power in to the land, Uncle. I don't mind you helping them but I can promise you that if you try to lead them astray, I will personally take offense.."
She bowed deeply in front of her uncle and wandered up to the surfaceworld shortly thereafter. There were things that were needed to be done, her people needed strength to defend them self and she would give them that.
Where nothing could exist, the Light willed existence to rise and claim the place. Non-existence gave way to nothingness, and in the nothingness harsh earth began to grow. Six great masses formed and each was honeycombed with passages and chambers, waiting for the coming of those Xa’an had planned. The chosen of the Light.
Across impossible distances, the will of the Light commanded the Storehouse and it obeyed. From its orbit around the Pillar of Flame it sent out a beam of luminous energy that pierced the universe and passed by all creation. It struck the asteroids and aether filled the sealed interior. In turn, around the earth grew a halo of the rarified gas.
As a whole, he set this cluster of land to orbit existence; apart yet tied to it. This place would be called the Vorpal Cascade.
The dead Elder Thing existed nearby, mocking the god. Yet Xa’an did not let it bother him. Instead, he absorbed the mockery and strangeness of the creature, opening his mind to other possibilities. And those possibilities flooded into him.
PP
2pp, Mold Land (Moderate): Vorpal Cascade. Xa’an forms six great asteroids, each about 25,000 sq miles in size, of irregular but largely flattish shape.
1pp from Storehouse of Light, Nourish Land: Vorpal Cascade. Adding aether to the area immediately surrounding the asteroids and their interior.
2pp, Form Domain (Moderate): Aberrant – Xa’an claims the Aberrant domain, though he isn’t the first to do so
2pp, Mold Land (Moderate): Vorpal Cascade. Xa’an forms six great asteroids, each about 25,000 sq miles in size, of irregular but largely flattish shape.
1pp from Storehouse of Light, Nourish Land: Vorpal Cascade. Adding aether to the area immediately surrounding the asteroids and their interior.
2pp, Form Domain (Moderate): Aberrant – Xa’an claims the Aberrant domain, though he isn’t the first to do so
It didn’t take long to agree.
“Very well”
After that, it’s mental projection ended. It’s precense left the titanic beast, sending it into an eternal slumber.
Like a planetoid, it would drift around the outer part of the world for centuries to come.
On the Glacier, a strange orb appeared hovering slightly above the icy ground. Inside, an embrionic form could be seen drifting inside. Suddenly, it moved.
The embryo began to mature at an accelerated rate. Then all of a sudden, the orb broke, spilling a clear liquid, allongside a dark entity.
As the liquid evaporated, the dark entity reared itself up from the ground. Its lower body was a cluster of tentacles. From its torso sprung two long tentacles, each barbed at the end.
A mane of long tendrils hung from its head and its mouth was hidden behind a group of short tentacles.
For the first time since its millenia long existance, its gloomy luminating eyes gazed over the world.
The first thing it did was devour the remains of the Embryonic shell, absorbing it into its body. There it transformed into an orb-like organ inside its chest. There it served as an additional focus for its psionics.
Then this Glacier would be next. From the sides of it’s torso, skinflaps, similar to the gills of a fish, opened up, revealing spore filaments like those of other fungi. From there it released billions of spores, who started to spread along the freezing wind.
And so, spores were spread across the Glacier. When they germinated, hyphae were formed. When enough mycelium mass was formed, fungal trees started to appear. After a while, several fungal forrests covered the Glacier.
(nourish land: 1PP)
(the embryonic shell now is just a tiny organ inside my deity, functioning as a focus. Thus it still provides a +1 combat bonus like before.
The cartilage-like armor is in fact the second artifact my god made that appeared on the titanic fungus. The actual location of this armor is inside my gods true form. Each organ artifact my god makes both manifests inside my deity and on the giant fungus, as the giant fungus is another manifestation of my deity, now dormand cause my deity left)
The Fey Dream is a land of life. The molds appear to attempt decaying and destroying life. Perhaps this means they fear the Feywyld... or do not know of its existance...
Then, the Healing God had an idea. Shurka sought out a sapling growing in the Feywyld. He gently raised it up and brought it toward him. He then transported himself and the sapling to the world. The pulsing energies of life from the sapling made a stark contrast with the molds of the world. Shurka fled to his island and planted the sapling in the earth.
When the sapling grew into a tree, Shurka reached for one of the branches and shaped it into a staff.
PP use
2 PP - Create Artifact (Moderate) - Staff of Shurka
[Just another +1 combat artifact]
(nourish populous x3 : 3PP)
I thank you for your gift. Yet to thank you properly, I must have a name. What is it?
-----------
The Cro, Ssa and Vray began using wood from the strange new fungal trees to fuel their furnaces. Soon, each clan founded another fort, this time gaurding their forrests from the Fire Archons.
------------
Valence-Cro's emissaries to the Ssa received a glorious welcome. One of the Ssa's raiding parties had been annihilated by Archons the week before, and their ruler, Humran-Ssa, wanted vengeance.
He informed the emissaries that he would send a contingent of warriors to fend off the Archons.
The Vray, however, followers of harsh rights and strange rituals rejected Valence-Cro's offer. His messengers felt the bite of Vray iron and their shattered corpses soon hung from the ramparts of Vremly Citadel.
------------
Valence-Cro settled into a chair, and reviewed maps made of seal skin. The Archons initial assault had taken place to the east. His warriors held them there, for the moment. With the aid of Ssa, this threat would be contained.
He called for another map. After the thrall left, he took a stick of charcoal, made from one of the new fungal trees, and drew two routes of march. One from Ssavrekor, Gumran-Ssa's fortress, and one from K'vorkin, his own. The routes intersected at the gates of Vremly Citadel.
When the Archons had been turned back, the Vray would lose a hundred lives for every drop of Cro blood they had spilled in their traitorous murder of his emissaries.
New things were needed to be created. New beings that together with the Halflings would form a whole society.
Farmers, warriors and magicians.
Greyest stone as flesh and heart of gold, was what the warriors would have. They would be strong and resistant, loyal, kind and good rulers. They would be the kings, the nobles and those that defended the others.
Flesh of clay just as their cousins the Halfings, but their hearts would be made of the purest of fire. They would be curious creatures with an interest in song and music and through that they would do their Goddess bidding. But their spirits would also have an attunement to magic and be able to shelter the others from the Darkness beyond.
Sweat poured down Eijra's forehead. It was a tedious task to create. Their bodies were done...but so much were left undone at least for the moment.
In the land of the Feywyld statues stood. Statues of men and women, short and stocky with hearts of gold. Statues of men and women whose songs would change the world.
In the lands of the Feywyld change had arrived.
Veros left the area, moving about the world, considering the options. He was the master os magic, but serving as a direct conduit to give the mortas power would be a mistake. He would be constantly occupied, working to keep such a conduit functioning and intact.
But, if it could be linked to something else, something that already worked, and bound to it, it would be a simple matter. He paused, noticing the halflings and dopplegangers below. They were born, lived, then died, a cycle that never ceased. How odd, but it could be useful.
His mind passed to the one who called himself Xirinet. Yes, such an idea might appeal to him. He seemed to enjoy the lesser creatures, seeing their sturggles as amusing.
He went in search of him.
Veros recognized the mist for what it was; Xirinet lost in thought.
Speak then.
As it spoke Xirinet coalesced, curiously looking at Veros' new form.
Veros lazily circled him, considering his words carefully. "Unfortunately, the easiest way to connect them would require my constant attention and diligance, something I'm not willing to do. So I had aother idea. Rather than providing a direct link, an indirect link, something that they would have an affinity for, through which they could link to magical energies."
"I simply seek your assistance with this. Would you be interested?"
I have no objection to helping. If it would benefit the mortals I see no reason not to.
An indirect link... You would connect them through a medium... And if you need my help for that...
It would be something that benefits my domain. Incentive enough.
Alios, the most powerful and influential of the eladrin chieftains, hosted a council of the lesser tribal leaders on the snow-capped mountaintop. Their gods had told them that the world was to be theirs, but how to make it so was the question. Prayers and sacrifices to both Veros and Tahns were offered.
And a reply came forth.
A silver orb descended from the sky in a ray of concentrated sunlight. Landing at the feet of the assembled leaders, the artifact shimmered, as if asking to be used.
Alios stepped toward it cautiously. However, after staring at it for a few moments, the eladrin affinity for magic kicked in, and the artifact began to function. With a golden flash, it suddenly showed the world from high above; Alios realized he was looking at the land from the perspective of the sun.
The eladrin hurriedly brought this device into the crude, stone and wood temple that marked the site of their creation, where the sacred sphere would now be kept. From watching these smaller entities, it seemed that planting seeds in an open field would help generate a food surplus. Interesting. They would try to emulate this practice.
"Gather grain plants," said Alios, "store them here until more can be learned."
"Someone must go to the land of the low ones and make sure we imitate their art correctly."
"Who can we entrust with this mission?"
"I volunteer."
Alios' son, Gerenzrik, stepped forward.
PP
Create Artifact (lesser): 1 PP. The eye of the sun is a nifty scrying orb.
Also, Gerenzrik is my first hero. For now, he's just an eladrin fey knight.
Also, Gerenzrik is my first hero. For now, he's just an eladrin fey knight.
Xirinet gestured around them.
What should I put here do you think? The possibilities are endless, I have yet to decide.
Veros turned, combining the newly gain power with his own, letting it reach across the world. All across the land, invisble lines of energy began extending out from both the Azure Aegis and the Dimension Bulwark. These lines, visible to the gods if they tried, reached out, crisscrossing every which way, their golden glow intensifying as they connected to each other as well as their origins.
Finally, when the entire world was covered in the web of lines, he puled back, letting them retract upon themselves, bearing their own burden.
"It is done."
PP Expenditures
2 PP + 1 PP from Xirinet - Create Artifact (Greater) - Leylines, linked between the Azure Aegis and the Dimension Bulwark, with some even goiong beyond, Details to be put up later, but it provides Nourish PP.
On the now strangely verdant lands of Chillund Glacier, Vymrl appeared before Unknown.
I thank you for your gift. Yet to thank you properly, I must have a name. What is it?
Name
It's what the other entities used to differentiate themselves from each other. It didn't bother with names, but would take the one its children use.
"Tsarokga-Noggoth"
Good that you have done what you needed. Now if you will excuse me, I have my own goals to pursue.
Xirinet drifted off finding a proper place to create its first land-creatures. Several minutes of drifting brought the god to a glade at the base of a waterfall.
This will do
With focus the god shaped simple creatures to run amongst the trees. Flighty and timid the herbivores scattered.
Actions
1PP, Nourish Land: Just basic prey stuff, not quite deer... Can't think of the name at the moment.
not quite deer... Can't think of the name at the moment.
((Gazelles? Antelope?))
PP Expenditure
1 PP (Artifact) - Slightly thicker layers of dirt, rock, and metal around the Bulwark in the northern hemisphere.
PP Refresh
5 - Camu
4 - Veros, Neko, Xa'an, Yoglith, Chactross, The Void, Oravolos, Oreb Nahash, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Xirinet, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Thans, Eijra
Admin Awards
We have elected to give Cmua a bonus PP this turn.
Eijra mumbled for herself as she wandered the Feywyld.
" It flows forth undisturbed and uninterrupted no matter mortal or god's actions..."
The Fay Goddess eyes shone and in the next moment she was high above the Golden Hills. The Golden Hills were situated on a vast peninsula, mostly covered by woods and hills. Along the rivers and lakes there were small Halfling settlements and one or two bigger towns, they had increased vastly in numbers and complexity since their creation.
The small tribe of Hunter-Gatherers now farmed the land and created beautiful art but they were still not whole. They were only one third of the circle she had imagined when she had created them.
Now it was time to create the second part of the circle. In the northern parts of the peninsula the Eladrin's mountain range began, but vast parts of it was still inhabited and empty. There her latest children soon would live their lives.
With divine power she transported the statues that soon would come alive to the mountains. With divine flame she turned stone in to flesh, with flame she made heart of purest gold red as the reddest ruby and with flame she gave them life.
They were short, stocky, muscular and hairy. The males had long beards while the females had just as long hair. They were pale in skin and had hair as golden as their hearts had once been.
This people would be known as the Dwarves. Their Goddess appeared in front of her people and taught them secrets. How to find and sculpt the beautiful minerals and metals of the earth was what she learnt them and these secrets they would take to their hearts.
The second part of the circle was done, her people had now rulers and warriors that fought with steel and stone.
Shape Populace ( Lesser ): Dwarves 2 PP
Guide Populace: The Art of Stone 2 PP
The Dwarves hunted with what simple weapons they could create with their limited resources. They lived a simple, scarce existence but they didn't starve and they had warm clothes to wear.
They prayed to their Goddess, took care of their tools and waited for better days.
One of their kind was not content with this though.
Ettri was short even for a Dwarf, he was stocky, had blue eyes and a flat face. He was skilled with the spear and the bow and was respected as both a warrior and a hunter.
But he wanted more then this. He wanted to see the world, to do more then to hunt, to build and to love. It was a good life, but not a life he wanted to choose when he knew that there was more there.
Beings who Mother had told him about, allt those years ago. His "Cousins" as she had called him. She had told him about their country " The Golden Hills ", about their vast towns and rich food supplies. About how many they were and have happy they were.
So therefore the Dwarf slipped away and began to travel southwards, in hope of finding his cousins.
Beneath the great continent in the sky, one of the elemental monoliths was working hard. Burrowing through the glacier and causing a sort of rainfall below. It was hard work, but it was what the master had directed. Suddenly, the Monolith burst out of the ground triumphant in it's victory.
That was when the continent began to crack.
Jagged Lines spread throughout the entire floating continent, snapping and shattering to the ground. The underside of the world was being peppered with ice.
The plan was coming to fruition.
Almost.
The main problem was that Chactross had not accounted for the Glaciers ability to fly on it's own. Now, instead of a great giant continent beneath the world there was an archipelligo of smaller glaciers.
Chactross manifested beneath the world, examining the damage. There were metals frozen within the ice, things that would be valuable to his archons if they could place them upon the ground, rather than in the annoying wet element.
With a burst of heat, Chactross melted the ice that remained upon the ground. After about a decade, it would pool around the hole at the opening of the world, looping around to connect the inside and the outside. It would be called the Circle sea.
Although that would happen in the future.
For now, Chactross nurtured the spores of the fungal trees back to life, filling them with heat and life. They blossomed and grew.
The ice giants, on the other hand, were shattered. They had lost much of their arable land, and many of them had fractured into factions. They viewed it as the apocalypse. The world had surely ended, and they had no way to escape the island they had ended up on. Some groups died outright, with no true leader and no food. Others survived, scraping out a living.
One group, however flourished. When the island had cracked, it had revealed a conduit. The stronger ones gained control, and organized their brethren into cohesive groups.
(1 PP archipellago
2 PP circle sea
1 PP Nourish fungus
1 PP Denourish ice giants
I will provide details on the conduits shortly. HOwever, I have to get off the computer now.)
So they wanted a nice, friendly, warm source of light? Well, they have it. Now, let them now appreciate it.
The Light went out into the void and pierced the very fabric of non-existence, cutting hole where there was nothing to cut, and from this he pulled a thing. It was an unorganized mass of impossible matter, something that aught not exist in a sane world. The god poured his power into the shapeless thing and it began began to change to appear like him. Yet this would not do. Xa'an willed a conciousness to inhabit this body, and so one did. The creature changed, assuming a new and foreign form, clothing itself in its own raiments, according it its will.
The cut in reality sealed itself and before the Light stood something other than the senseless mass he had pulled from the beyond. This was a new god.
"Arise, Cygnus."
PP
4pp, Ascend God: Cygnus
4pp, Ascend God: Cygnus
He showed them how to connect with the world and nature in the environments around them, how to cultivate and grow with the land and harmonize with all its creatures and plants.
The first born of the ae-silvani named Reinveil The Great Father Oravalos took under his wing teaching him to shape the wild power of the land, the aether and its creatures. He showed him how to see the balance in all things to value all things and to nurture and even destroy when it was needed. Thus the first druids were born into the world.
2PP: Guide Populace (Moderate): PP class druid taught to the Ae-Silvani
Reinveil and the Ae-Silvani were very pleased with the gifts the Great Father Oravalos gave to them and thrived and grew.
Oravalos saw his people were ready to go out unto the world and that required one last task and he turned to his people for there aid.
"Reinveil, The time has come for you and your people to explore and find your own place in the world. I know you can feel its song pulling you, and thought I have valued our time together, your task in this world is much greater than entertaining an old great beard like me."
Reinveil nodded solemnly at the Wise Oravalos' words, know that he was right but knowing he would miss the company of the Ae-Silvani's father just as much. "It is true Great Father, I felt it over the last century that the time has come for our people to move on. We will worship you always Great Father, and our kin for all time will never forget there creator."
Wise Oravalos smiled at his children as they gathered round and he was filled with joy at the sight. "My children I would ask of your help in this final task before you depart, I seek to right a wrong perpetraited by one of my brothers over five hundred years ago, and return your future home to its former glory. Gather with me children and commune with me and the power of the world, we shall do this together."
Reinveil and the other people of the Ae-Silvani circled round Oravalos and felt the pull of nature and the forced of the planet course through them all as the ritual began. The power of the aether and the life force of the world pooled around their feet bands of magenta and green power circling up to Oravalos out stretched hands as he concentrated on the Azure Aegis and felt its edges.
With a gentle shove of the power combined Wise Oravalos folded the Aegis in on itself reshaping its boundries until it only protected the northern hemishpere of the world, returning the southern hemisphere to the aether where it would thrive and grow as it did so long ago.
(2PP Shape Artifact: Reforming the Aegis so it covers only the norther Hemisphere)
Oravalos continued the ritual as he took up the Ae-Silvani and deposited them in two places, one on the continents surface near the bore hole in a copse of aether trees that had wilted in the long years of dormancy and the other in the largest roving Valin Forest floating softly in the aether sea.
With that the Ae-Silvani were sent into the greater world at large.
The light in front of him spoke. It seemed surreal, a light that shined bright instead of creating darkness like the ones of the Strangeness' home. The light gave the strangeness a name, Cygnus. The feeling was unique: he was different from every other part of the Other Realm. He was special. The name marked him for more than simply existing as a mindless blob. The newly named Cygnus felt something new: gratitude. He was now more than he was before, all thanks to the light. He would follow it, and help it as much as he could, using the part of itself the light had gifted him with.
You have created me. I am forever in your debt to you, bright light. How can I best serve you, Master?
"So listen now to my first command. Go forth from this place into the world of Aether, air, water, earth, fire, and gods. Learn of that place, learn of those who inhabit it. When you have learned of the world, then, and only then, will you be fit to fulfill my will."
And then, Cygnus wasn't there anymore. Swiftly, he headed towards the world. After some struggling, he managed to cross a barrier that had blocked his path, and which reformed behind him. Curious. Intrigued by the barrier, he spent some time moving back and forth, crossing the barrier multiple times. Eventually, he noticed energy flowing all around him. Forgetting about the barrier, he started following the energy, trying to discover where it came from...
After she had pondered this new factor, she nodded and flew up against the skies to greet this new creature. With a smile on her lips and her eyes sparkling with joy the Fey Goddess appeared in front of her newest cousin.
" Good tidings, Cousin...what have lead you to these parts of existence "
She tilted her head slightly against her left shoulder, gazing at this new being with a curious spark in her olive-green eyes.
What do your words mean? How are you related to me? Who are you? Who created you? He said, trying to suppress a commanding tone from his voice, as he felt a surge of pity. The poor creature was bound to a weak, frail form, instead of being free like the he or the Master were. It was probably as confused as he was. Perhaps he should momentarily delay his quest for knowledge to help it?
((If you're wondering why I'm using italics, remember Cygnus comes from a place where this guy :coolcthul lives, and where the Disney Concert Hall would be uncreative architecture if something had a coherent shape. He's absolutely baffled by the world he's seeing, and Eijra takes the cake. In truth, he's not only intrigued by how she looks and sympathetic to her supposed plight, but also a bit scared. The vague memories he has of the place where he was before being given sapience are absolutely incompatible with the world he's seeing.))
" My word means what I meant them to mean, Cousin. "
She said in a slightly amused tone.
" As answers to your questions...well in some ways you and I are very alike. The fire of Divinity flow freely in both of our bodies so that make you and I kin. I am Eijra, goddess of Fey things, rhytm, song and strange wordings...and well...in theory my brother created me, or at least he gave me this shell. In practice though I have existed since the world began. "
She smiled once more and asked.
" And who are you then, Cousin? And what tidings have taken you to this fair land? "
I...I am a product of the Master's mind. That wasn't necessarily true. He had existed before the Master had made him capable of thought, but he liked the way the explanation sounded. Feeling a bit more confident, Cygnus continued.
The Master wanted someone who would serve him and help him faithfully. Thus, he created me and gave my form, he continued.
The Master wants to learn more about the world, and sent me to explore it. It is my mission to discover as much of this world as I can, he finished. That was not true at all, but Cygnus felt no fear of being discovered: he knew he was doing it well, perhaps better than anyone else.
I am new to this world, and need someone to guide me through it. Could you help me? He asked, humbly.
Show
Form Domain (Lesser), 1 PP: Lies.
Before too long, they came to an area where the plants were blighted and sickly. A strange, parasitic moss was growing on many of them, seeming to suck the very life out of the land itself. The air smelled unpleasantly organic.
"This blight was seen by the elders," said Gerenzrik, "but it was nowhere near this extensive in our path. In the past few weeks alone, it must have expanded."
"Let's go around it," said one of his men, "I sense that no good fortune may come of venturing in."
"Nay," said the prince, "this phenomenon is spreading. We must learn all we can about it before moving on. Furthermore, our destination lays directly on the other side."
So the eladrin ventured into the fungus-blighted woods.
PP Expenditure
2 PP - Replace the Azure Aeigs over the Southern Hemisphere again.
" I don't believe you, Cousin. Nothing simply appears, there is always something there before...but...maybe you don't remember? "
She said in a curious manner and took a closer look at the strange being in front of her.
" But still...who is your father? Uncle Fire? Father Glum? Maybe Cousin Ocean? "
She bent forward slightly and took a closer look on Cygnos as she continued to speak.
" I could help you...and I probably will help you..though there is one thing I would like to have in exchange for that.."
On the forrest floor, many small variaties of mold and fungi thrived, some providing a dim glow of phosphorous light.
After an hour or so, the Eladrin came across something they havn't seen before. On there path stood a big purple colored mushroom, almost as big as they were.
Gerenzrik wasn't completely sure of it and ordered his retinue to carefully pass it.
When they continued they found more of the same specimen, some standing in group, others several meters further. The Eladrin started to become unsettled, some claiming to hear faint wispers, something watching.
At some point, Gerenzrik looked around and discovered that they were surrounded by the strange plantlike growths and ordered to move with caution
Then a younger member of the retinue didn't notice where he stepped, slipped and brushed along one of the mushrooms.....
...A wailing shriek.....
...Then chaos....
Before the retinue could react properly, almost half of the purple mushrooms started to unroot and charge upon them, tentacles whipping around. A few Eladrin were hit, paralysed and were dragged away before there comrades could act.
Gerenzrik ordered the rest of his men to form ranks, standing back to back with shields and arms ready as the Violet fungi started to surround there prey.
Then Gerenzrik suddenly felt something touching his mind.
Unpronounsable words, but he could understand them as if it was in his own language.
"Your mind works differently then those of the other creatures in these woods. What are you creature"
(this is the first time the fungi come across another intelligent lifeform)
The Dwarf thought sourly as he pushed his way deeper in to the God-forgotten, fungusspawned excuse of a proper forest. Ettri swore loudly as he sunk down in the mold to his waists.
That the Great Mother could let such a place exist!
Strange screams, the screams of men and the sounds of weapon made a wide grin appear upon the dwarf's dry lips. At least there was something worth his attention out there. He dragged himself up from the Mold and moved carefully close to the noise, holding his spear tightly, ready to use it at the smallest sign of danger.
Gerenzrik gritted his teeth, dividing his attention between the dire situation around him and the cold, sinister voice inside his head.
"I am Gerenzik, son of the Elder Elios, great grandson of the sun! Whoever-whatever you are-I demand that you release our men and halt your attack at once, or you will have the vengeance of the entire Eladrin race to contend with!"
What could you require from me? Neither my knowledge nor my power are great. I don't think I could be helpful, though I'll do my best.
" I would like you to get a face and a body, not a permanent one necessarily..but if you want to understand the creation you should try to feel how it is to be a part of it, at least for a while. "
The fair Goddess looked out over the land and smiled.
" This world is filled with life and we Godlings are here to help it to take form and to live their lives and to do that better...I at least have always thought it's much easier if we also live as Life do. "
"Father we are dying, the aether has disappeared! I cannot transport our people to the Vale, an interference is blocking us from connecting to the trees!"
Orvavalos then turned his attention to the world afraid of what he would find and sure enough one of his brothers had pushed the aegis back around his creature in the aether, cutting them off from the aether once more. This time they threatened his very children.
With a cry of rage The Wise exploded into the form of The Hunter slashing his spear through the aether cutting a slash that transported him to Rein-veil. Sure enough his people were wilting visibly by the second as they could not take in the aether which they thrived upon.
"Rein, have no fear I will take you to your refuge in the Vale above."
The Hunter scanned the tree colonies his people had created and saw many new born pods that were in danger of dying and a rumbling growl echoed through his being as he swiftly cut another slash through reality allowing his people to retreat to the Vale in the aether sea there brothers lived in.
Oravalos turned to his children and said. "One of my brothers has mettled in your affairs, I go now to make an account. Fear not I will right this wrong upon you."
Oravalos could see the rage in his first born Rein and could see the pain of there lost colony in his agitated state. "Great Father, this atrocity can not go un punished many of our young were killed by this act."
Oravalos turned to Rein-veil his own rage building on that of his people and nodded once his spear in hand. "I will deal with this issue. Until I return you will remain in the aether sea among your brother." With that Hunter Oravalos disappeared to seek out his brother...Veros.
"So Gerenzik, son of the Elder Elios, what do you propose we do now. It is not often such a large meal enters our domain."
He raised his club and pointed it at the sun.
"Our elders can, by the grace of Tahns, see everything that takes place under the fire of the heavens. Harm us, and they will send a much greater army to ensure that we will be your last victims. Don't think for a moment that you would have a chance against the numbers that we can bring to bear! If anything, it will be they who eat you, if they could bring themselves to swallow something so unwholesome."
"Alternatively, you can cease your hostilities, and we can become friends. There is much the eladrin could do in your interest. Kill us, and you will never know what."
This were vile creatures indeed, they were the spore-spawned beasts of the Unknown. Their Mother had told him and his kin many things about these "things". None all to friendly things.
His grip of his spear grew even tighter. Their prey were thin, dwarf-like beings with strangely-coloured eyes. He did not knew them, but they at least looked like kin...
Something happened. Something wrong. He could feel it. Scared, he abandoned the shell for a moment, and what he saw terrified him.
The body was mutilated, as if a blade had cut its sides. Holes littered it, with a particularly noticeable one over the right side of the body, as if something had cleanly taken out a piece of it, and through which whatever was behind it could be seen. The face was destroyed, split in half, with the left side hanging, barely held to the rest of the body, while the right half was still in its original state, proud and noble, but missing its twin. one of the legs was missing, and the right arm had duplicated itself, the pair of arms entwined strangely. The left arm, meanwhile, hung lifeless, apparently unaffected by the transformation the rest of the body had undergone.
Slowly, defeated, Cygnus entered the body once again. His expression would have been dejected and desperate, if the face had not frozen upon the original expression.
I...I tried, cousin. But it doesn't work. You saw how I tried to be like you, but my body is twisted and torn, he said, the body's lips unmoving.
What did I do wrong? What did I do wrong? He asked, softly.
((This is something of a recurring theme I want to have. Cygnus is a stranger in a strange land, and his alien nature spreads to what he interacts with. He doesn't mean it, but until he can learn to repress the effects of his origin, whatever he interacts with becomes monstrous, a mockery of what it previously was.))
From further down the forrest, several bleak mushrooms appeared, one being bigger then the others.
"Grace of Tahns? Who is this Tahns you speak of Gerenzik, son of the Elder Elios?"
Perhaps this tree can be used to channel my energy. It seems like an appropriate conduit.
The tree was then distilled with golden mists. It then released the mists in a wave all around the world. The power of healing available to the mortals had substantially increased. Now perhaps, the halflings would be better at the healing Shurka had tought them.
Shurka decided this tree needed a name. Eorna... yes, that sounded right. Eorna the Golden Tree. He then gave the island that housed Eorna a name as well... Eornus; maybe not creative, but it would do fine.
PP use
3 PP - Create Artifact (Greater) - Made Eorna, the Golden Tree.
Eorna
Eorna has the Guide/Teach keyword. It releases mists that can teach intelligent races how to use healing. The tree is at least 2,000 feet high with a base of around 300 feet.
" Hmm, I don't know, Cousin...though it doesn't seem to be your fault...you are young after all and unused to wear your powers..."
She flew a little closer and touched him.
" Maybe this will help..."
She mumbled and let her own power mold him this time. He took the body of the man from before, but this time without the chaos that had taken him before. She held his hand, and kept the chaos within him away. It was a temporary thing though that made her to constantly touch him, otherwise it was only his own power that kept him intact.
She smiled brightly at him and said.
" Well hello there, Handsome.."
She chuckled teasingly and looked out over the world once more, eager to show the new Godling her world.
After a moment of observing the reconstructed body, Cygnus followed after his cousin.
------------
Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet fractured and melted, forming into a circular sea. Vymrl whirred faster in agitation, then paused, intrigued at the formation of a magical conduit near some of his children.
Calling some of the magic to himself, Vymrl taught them how to combine magic with their arts of war, as well as how to master the powers of Wyld Magic on their own.
------------
With the Breaking, the old clan system had collapsed. Many populations devolved into little more than beasts, but some thrived, feeding on the new magic.
Wielding arts of iron and arcane, they conquered their islet, and named themselves the Vyrane.
The remains of the Vray, however, became more religious, placing greater faith in Vymrl. Their clerics preached that this was his vengeance upon the Cro and Ssa, for daring to ally. For breaking Its tenets of Conquest.
PP
2PP-Teach Populous- Swordmage
2PP-Teach Populous-Cleric
" This is life, Cousin. The reason the why we godlings exist is to create and take care of it. We may add new things to it but we always, always needs to be careful with what we do. It can easilly result in bad things happening.."
She bent down and picked up a leaf and gave it to her cousin.
" Feel this? This is life. Life can take many forms, such as plant animal and Godling, but it has always the same value no matter what it is. "
She looked at her Cousin with curiousity, watching his reaction on what he had seen.
That said Nocturne turned back towards the world. It was almost as horrified as when the Wraiths were trapped. THe world was in disarray as sentient creatures spilt each others blood for no reason. As if they were playthings for the dieties. Their spirits were released, but rendered unable to pass on. They died purposeless deaths, in the throes of hatred, and could not leave the world that they bound themselves to.
Nocturne gave these spirits form, and their willpower allowed them to become physical, rather than the hazy, insubstantial Wraiths. Being sentient, Nocturne guided them, instilling in them the idea that creatures should not be killed haphazardly.
Create populace (Moderate)- Nightwalker- 3pp
Guide Populace (Lesser)- Guide them to follow certain ideals (creating a philosphy, rather than a true religion)- 1PP
No. This will not happen again, he murmured softly. After a moment of concentration, he let a part of his power spread onto the leaf, intending to return it to its original color and shape and make it more vibrant and vivid. The mutating influence clashed with his godly will, however. Rapidly, the leaf assumed extravagant shapes and changed colors, almost becoming a blur. Slowly, however, it settled, it's shape changed once more, for the last time. The black that was a product of the influence had merged with the restoring intent of his power, and had bled into a variety of colors, from gentle white to burning red. It's shape, while still spiky, was no longer hostile. Instead, the spikes, curved by the effects of Cygnus' will, enhanced the beauty of the leaf, providing it with the air of a small piece of art. After a moment, the godling handed back the leaf to Eijra, and anxiously awaited her opinion.
A vague smile appeared upon her lips as she whispered.
" You changed it..."
The smile became wider and her eyes glew with joy.
" Cousin, This is beautiful, it is different from what it was...but what it was, was a product of another God. You are your own Godling, so therefore you should create things as you yourself see them. "
She held up the red leaf against the blue sky and smiled broadly.
" Cousin...I want to show you something very special, my people. Living, thinking beings that I have created as i saw them fit. "
She said this as her grip around Cygnus hand grew slightly firmer. This one had a truly interesting mind, he had beautiful ideas...ideas Eijra looked forward to see in their full bloom.
Then, a babe's cry split the darkness as a boy-child slid from between the legs of a Vyrane woman. The child's skin gleamed black as the night he had been born in and faere fires danced around his eyes. A few seconds later, the fires faded, and warrior's and hunters resumed slaughter.
Across the gulf of air, a wave of light engulfed the island held by the Vray Frost Priests. When it passed, another boy child pulled air into his infant lungs and sobbed. This child shone palest white, his eyes rimmed with red, an albino.
They passed by vast rivers, dark forests, hillcountry and then finally they came "There"
A lone, high mountain it's top covered with thick layers of snow. It was surrounded by vast forests at all sides but on its western side. There the ocean were.
This was Duskpeak, what one day would be the ancestral home of the Dwarves.
The Fey Goddess smiled vaguely as she led hour cousin up on a hill-top and pointed against a tiny, tiny spot that was situated close to the feet of the ancient mountain.
" What do you see, Cousin? "
She asked and gave him a curious look.
I see creatures that look like you, Cousin, but there are many of them, Cygnus said, amazed.
They live together, and they seem capable of creating, though not like you can, he continued.
Incredible...to think of creatures in your image, but in great numbers...and they are capable of creation, too.
Wanting to study the creatures in detail, Cygnus moved towards the mountain's base, but walked back, sheepishly.
I'm sorry, Cousin. I almost acted rashly. Had I approached your creatures, I might have changed them, and for the worse... he said.
But still...I wish to know more about them. Cousin, could you help me understand the people you have created better? He asked.
The Storehouse sent out a pulse of light that traveled throughout existence. Where ever there was soil open to air or aether yet shrouded in mostly-darkness, new plants began to grow. These plants lacked the hard trunks of trees, yet they borrowed from the root system and general structure of those things, rather than mimicking the supple fungus.
Near the dwarven home a grove of these plants sprouted. Green leaf-like stems began to reach high into the air, seven feet or more. From these rod-like leafs came long, thick, hair like spines. And from the point of each spine the plant produced goo. This goo glowed faintly in the darkness, attracting the curious. It smelled good and was sweet to the taste. And it was deadly.
A dwarven child had the misfortune of being the first to stumble upon these things. It approached cautiously, curious to the light, then it smelled the plants, and came closer. Noticing the nectar-like substance, it reached out its hand and pulled some away on its finger. Tasting it, the child found it to be sweet and its hand darted back for more. Even as it licked the nectar from its hand, it was unaware that as the substance was hardening when it came in contact with skin, growing ever stickier and firmer. At last the child reached for more and could not pull its hand away. Struggling, it ripped the leaf, still attached to its hand, from the plant.
The child tried to turn to escape, but in its focus on the sweetness of the plant, it had failed to notice that other leafs had brushed against it and had become attached. The child struggled and cried for help. But the leafs began to curl, drawing the child closer to the center of the plant, and more stems bent down to cover the creature. A new substance began to be excreted by the plant and soon the child's cries for help turned to screams of pain as the plant began to digest its prey.
In an hour the child was dead. In four hours, it was unrecognizable as to what the flesh-pile at the base of the plant had been.
PP
1pp, Nourish (from Storehouse) - Creating Dromara, carnivorus, man-eating plants. Though, their nectar can be used for producing flameless light sources, and it is sweet enough to be used as a condiment, much like honey. And to note, these exist both on the planet, the glacier, any floating islands, and Xa'an's asteroids.
1pp, Nourish (from Storehouse) - Creating Dromara, carnivorus, man-eating plants. Though, their nectar can be used for producing flameless light sources, and it is sweet enough to be used as a condiment, much like honey. And to note, these exist both on the planet, the glacier, any floating islands, and Xa'an's asteroids.
"Tahns," said Gerenzrik, "the god of the sun, Chief of the day and night. It was he and Veros, Knower of Secrets, who created the eladrin, and who gives us the power I speak of."
He looked carefully at this new breed of mushroom that was approaching. Were these the source of the mind-speech?
He came upon Veros with an explosion of light and sound and stopped a hundred yards off his spear in hand smoldering with anger.
"Keeper of secrets, destroyer of worlds, ender of life. I would have words with you!"
" Cousin, I promise you that as long as you hold my hand I will keep your power in check...and also your changes are not neccessarly bad. You can create beautiful, living things if you just put your heart in to it. "
She held up his leaf in front of his face and smiled brightly at him, she then led him in to the tiny Dwarven settlement.
It was a small collection of tents and huts gathered around a simple campfire. The Dwarves that came to meet them where ragged and dirty but seemingly very happy. They laughed and raised their hands in joy as their Living Goddess had finally returned.
Suspicious and sometimes outright hostile looks were given to the Stranger, that so lightly touched their praised Goddess.
Ettri closed his eyes and prayed quietly to his Goddess as he pushed arrow after arrow in to the ground. There were soon killing that was needed to be done and he needed all help that he could get if he would be able to do what was needed to be done.
They do not know me, and because of that, they are suspicious of me, he thought. Observing the Dwarves, he felt a surge of compassion for them. Unlike the other animals he had seen, they lacked thick hides to guard them from the cold, claws to defend themselves, or the speed to outrun other creatures. They were exposed, prey of any creature that wandered too close to them.
He had an idea. Perhaps he could both gain the appreciation and solve their predicament at the same time. Softly, Cygnus broke his grip on Eijra's hand, and vanished, before any of the dwarves could see his mutated shape. Moving quickly, he left his shell for a moment, and entered the mountain at whose feet the Dwarves' homes were. As he passed through the stone, he felt it melt and disappear. Quickly, he flew across the mountain, the web of holes he left behind him a place where the dwarves could live. Then, utilizing his connection to the Master, he made certain rocks luminescent, so that the Dwarves would not stumble blindly inside their new home.
In the end, his work was done, creating a gateway that would lead to the mountain's depths the only thing that remained. Around Cygnus, the rocky walls, changed by his touch, now shone brightly, made out of brilliant steel.
Returning to his body, Cygnus stopped for a moment before opening the door. The touch of his cousin would not shield the Dwarves from his horrendous visage now. Was it a good idea to show himself to them?
After a moment of doubt, Cygnus nodded. Yes, it didn't matter. Overcoming the Dwarves mistrust was secondary to helping them, just like his Cousin had helped him. Touching the rock, it slowly melted. With a deep voice, Cygnus spoke.
Listen to me, Children. I have seen your situation, and have decided to provide you with a new home. Inside this mountain, the many halls and caverns will shield you from the weather, and hidden entrances will stop those who you do not want to see from entering. If you find it in your hearts, trust a Stranger and enter the mysterious caverns of the Resonant Halls, he said, his words carrying an echo through the many pasageways, as he stepped out of the cavern and returned to Eijra's side, letting the Dwarves see his body's true form. If they had to make a decision about his gift, he had to make sure they knew who was gifting them with it.
((Mold Land, (Lesser) 1 PP: Changing the Mountain's interior to the Resonant Halls. Parts of its walls are made of a special material, named Shinesteel. While mostly similar to normal steel, Shinesteel generates faint light, illuminating everything within a range of two squares. A steel weapon can be reforged into a Shinesteel Alloy for 100 gp.))
Gerenzrik was shocked. How could any being not know about Tahns? Did these fungus beasts not know about Veros either? Were they as ignorant as they were savage and infectious?
"Tahns," said Gerenzrik, "the god of the sun, Chief of the day and night. It was he and Veros, Knower of Secrets, who created the eladrin, and who gives us the power I speak of."
He looked carefully at this new breed of mushroom that was approaching. Were these the source of the mind-speech?
"Ah, so you are from other origin"
"As to your earlier threats, they do nothing to us Gerenzrik, son of the Elder Elios. We only do what we were made for to do. This however does not make us without reason. Tell us Gerenzrik, what can your people offer the children of Tsarokga-Noggoth"
"As I said," said Gerenzrik, "our elders can see anything the sunlight touches. We can travel quickly, carrying messages to distant lands. Our warriors are capable; if you have enemies, we can subdue them...herd them, weakened and defenseless, into your waiting mout...em...whatever your feeding orifices are."
"Before any of that happens, though, you must release my warriors."
"Very well Gerenzrik, son of the Elder Elios."
The violet fungi moved back even further, revealing the paralysed bodies of the warriors who were pulled away.
"We accept your offer."
The eladrin helped their paralyzed comrades to their feet, and the party made its way out of the infected wood.
...
Tahns looked over the mortal world. It was quiet. Trees and grasses grew in abundance, and seaweed forests grew in the sea, but there was little motion. Aside from the handful of intelligent races scattered across the map, the animals were small and hard to notice.
An exception to this was a new animal, a hooved mammal that was running around in some of the meadows and forests. Tahns liked them, but decided the world needed more.
He grabbed some autumn-reddened leaves and wove them around a stick. He then broke the stick in half, and placed a live, struggling lizard between them.
"Here, let's see if you like this any better than how things were. Go!"
The bird flapped its wings and took to the air. Tahns beamed. "That'll do it."
Following the bird across the heavens, he happened to spy yet another race of short humanoids. He thought they were halflings at first, but soon realized the difference. Like the eladrin, they lived on a tall mountain, though they seemed to prefer underground caves to the sunlit surface. Tahns was annoyed at this.
Taking a pinch of dust from the ground, Tahns hovered over to the dwarven mountain. Breathing the power of night into the dust, he blew it into the caverns. The particles fluttered eerily into the caverns, where they took greater shape. The smallest were annoying creatures, who got in the way of things and bit when cornered; a few species also drank blood, and could spread diseases. The biggests, the Shadowhunters, were actually dangerous on an individual level, being able to seriously injure or kill a dwarf. The fluttering things took up refuge in the deepest caverns of the mountain, and, every nightfall and sunrise, the dwarves would be harassed. These flying bats were the counterpart of his lovely birds.
"There. That will teach them to hide in their little holes all day. Maybe now they will come out and realize how glorious the sunlit world is."
He then flew off to check on the eladrin. When the birds dropped their feathers nearby, they began making capes and headdresses out of them. How neat.
PP
Shape Beasts (Birds and Bats): 2 PP. Birds for the day and bats for the night, I guess. I love my domains.
"Friendship. After they attempted to kill and eat us all? If we shared our power with them, they would only use it to wreak more havoc on the world. As soon as our people have grown numerous enough, we should burn their hive to the ground...or at least force them to accept a surrender."
He then gave thanks to Tahns, for giving him the courage to defeat the fungi, and to Veros, for giving him the craftiness to outwit them.
The fire archons, with nothing else to do having fufilled their original purpose, went out and communicated with the races of the world. A legion was sent to the dwarves, and another to the eladrin and a third to the halflings. Each claimed they wished to talk, and communicate bold new ideas.
Because Archons are brave and bold. But there is one thing that kills more Archons than anything else...
Boredom.
Without a life of constant combat, Archons had begun dropping like flies. And so they split up and decided that the world probably needed to be conquered.
The day that the archons arrived was a day like any other. The dwarves crawled out of their caves, the eladrin looked down off their mountain, and the Halflings simply stood up.
Nearly a mile away, each race could see the thousand heavily armored beings of flame, standing silently but for their crackling and burning.
A gift her son corrupted just a couple of days later with his blasted bats.
But at the moment there was nothing but joy in Eijra's heart as she ran up to her Cousin and embraced him.
" Thank you, Cousin! Thank you! "
She said and held him close for a while. The Dwarves were a suspicious lot, they gave the Stranger god their thanks and offerings in both meat and precious Amber, but they were still unsure about his gift. To live in caves...like wild animals was a new thing for the Dwarves.
They moved their settlement closer to the cave opening though and in time their doubt faded away and " The kind Stranger " became a part of Dwarven mythology. A nameless cousin of the Great Mother that had opened a new chapter in Dwarven history.
Out of the fungal forest a Dwarf came. Dragging the corpses of three Pink Fungus after him. Each of them with Steel-tipped arrows deeply embedded in their corpses.
" Hail! "
The short creature said and raised his hand in a formal greeting as he looked at the Eladrin.
A wide grin appeared upon his lips as he saw the Grey Fungus lying on the ground in front of the Eladrin.
" My name is Ettri, The Great Mother's Son. And it seems that we have a couple of things in common...you seem to have the same love my kind have for these Fungusspawned wretches.."
He kicked one of the Pink beings at his feet.
" And ye also seems to be travelling down south...not much down there but Halfling territory...It happens to be so that I as well has things to do down there as well.."
Halflings gathered en masse to face the threat, in a matter of hours nearly fourthousand Halflings had gathered outside the Halfling town. Most of them only armed with stones and slings.
A lone man wandered forth against the flaming legion. He was of noble breed and had eyes as black as the night itself and asked with cold words.
" What do ye and yer kind want in our fair country! "
The Dwarves fled their camp and seeked refuge in their caves. One of their Elders were sent out to ask the Archons what they wanted and he did so in careful words, worried that he would be burnt to ashes by these beings that were seemingly made of purest flame.
The Archons looked at the old bearded thing. Many were hungry, and wished to simply burn it alive. However, that would not be a way to achieve the desired goal. The legion crackled with anticipation. "Show us who you are please."
" No, You can't all stay, your fire burns our crops and frightens my people. One of you may stay and may watch us. No more. "
The Halflings were brave, stubborn creatures and would probably be able to do more damage then people thought. They were agile and fast and many of them were skilled hunters and therefore skilled with both spear, bow and sling.
" I am Helstedd, of the people of Duskpeak. "
The old man said and dragged forth a knife of purest steel.
" This is what my people is, we are craftsmen forging and creating things of the metals that are found in our tunnels. "
"Greatings Helstedd. We are beings who are made of the same metal, and we must make more to continue our lives. Surely we can reach some alliance?"
The dark-eyes Halfling said and peered at them curiously. Maybe these things were not the monsters the Halfings though them to be.
Helstedd looked at the being with curious eyes.
" An Alliance? Between Dwarves and your kind? What could your kind ever want from us? We are simple folk and few in numbers.."
"The archons have much to offer in the art of war. Perhaps we can put your skills to a more appropriate use. Why do you forge steel? Why not simply use iron? For the purposes of a knife, it would do just as well. I believe there is a hunger within your kind, one that yearns for something greater. To rule more than simply your own mountain, but to gather the metals from the darkest parts of the earth and forge a Kingdom worthy of the gods. I can offer that. And all you must do is allow the Archons to assist you."
The Halfling said, sighed heavily and mumbled.
" We will allow you to stay if you spread out in smaller groups, every group visiting one of our villages. You will be free to watch and survey but nothing more.."
The Dwarf chuckled softly.
" Our Goddess The Great Mother has already promised us that. Flame-Brother...but still your kinds needs are great indeed and...it would be dishonourable of us to let you die..."
The archon was slightly surprised. "Why would the mighty dwarves, masters of the earth and servants to the metals within the earth, worship such a whimsical and flighty deity of song?"
The Halflings would obey their side of the deal though.
" Because she loves us, Because she created us and finally because she know us...we are a part of her that few has seen. Her resolve, her protective feelings and her will. "
The Dwarf smiled and bowed in front of the Archons.
" If you want to stay and observe you are welcome to do so. If you want to help us you are more then free to do so, but we believe in our Mother nontheless."
The archon who spoke to Helstedd inclined his head. "But of course," he said. "If you would show us where to go."
"These fungus things would have eaten us had we not managed to outsmart them. Glad am I to see that not everything in the outside world is so evil."
"We are eladrin, children of magic and firstborn of the sun. We are on our way to visit the land of the low-men who farm the hills to the south...perhaps these are the "halflings" you speak of?"
...
The eladrin elders, upon seeing the fire archons, turned the eye of the sun on them, seeing them close up. They counted over a thousand of these fire-warriors. Not good.
A brave twilight incanter was eventually sent forward to speak to the burning soldiers. Hiding his fear, he stood before them.
"Ho there. Who are you, and from whence did you come?"
He looked at the two, appraising them, as he considered what they said, addressing both in turn. "Have your words then Oravolos. And what do you refer to, Chactross? Many ecosystems have been destroyed in this world, yet you seek me out specifically."
*****
The dopplegangers continued to live among the halflings, but soon, some ventured out into the world. Some ventured into the lands of the fungus and mold, yet others encountered the eladrin and the dwarves. Those would hide and watch, learning enough that they might blend into these newly encountered societies, living among them, secretly as always.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Dopplegangers now live among the dwarves and eladrin.
They showed them how they farmed the land and drew sustenance from it.
The Dwarves led the Archos inside the mountain and showed them their world and the gift the Stranger had given to them and all the beauty it had. They showed them how they made weapons and tools from metal and how they had begun to expand the tunnels with their tools to more easily move in them.
"But we know who you are, sons of sun and mind. Will You allow us to observe you?"
**
To Veros, Chactross looked to Oravalos. "It is not my place to address the loss of so many before their master does so. I will wait until Oravalos speaks."
"What do you wish to learn by watching us?"
The eladrin did not know of any other gods besides Tahns and Veros.
" I am Ettri, Son of Song and the earth. A loyal servant of the old mother and a Dwarf, as our Mother said to us to call ourself on the outside world. "
" It's them..Mother told me about them and how to find them. They are supposed to be a hospitable and friendly people and I want to talk with them about trade.."
The Dwarf spat at the ground and looked at the Eladrin.
" And why my friends are you travelling to the Golden Hills? "
"You put up that aegis cutting off much of the creatures of the aether from there world. I sought to repair that damage and released my Children into the world of the aether to multipy the land. They are but simple gardeners and foster life and growth and you sought to destroy them and their homes and you pushed them out like bugs!"
"The aether was here long before the air and the creatures in it deserve a right to life as much as any other. The balance must be maintain wether it be through kindly discourse between us or the tip of my spear Destroyer!"
"So I...see..."
In truth, the eladrin had been wondering about the new oceans they had seen through their Eye.
"We welcome you then, for our races our cousins. But why do you come in such numbers, and with such weapons, unannounced?
...
Gerenzrik nodded.
"Your acquaintance is a pleasant one, Ettri of Dwarf. We are bound for what you call the Golden Hills to learn more of the lowmen and their way of life; our fathers have determined that there is much we can learn from them, and vice versa."
"Come forth, we've spent enough time on the fungus-beasts already. Let us travel together."
It did not care what happened.
Decay was the faith of everything, even it's own minions?though they were the bringers and catalyst, they were not above it.
Then Tsarokga-Noggoth left the melted continent. It was no longer of interest.
Moving away from the world, it drifted in the void for a while, pondering on what to do next.
He continued, shrugging slightly. "I did not destroy your creations, though it could have happened easily. I took the earth and air from around them, but I left them where they were. When you had the audacity to alter and damage my creation, I was still cautious in it's return, using it to harmlessly push your creaturers away, rather then letting them perish."
"The aether is mine to command, Oravolos, and I wished it seperate from air for a reason."
" Horrible creatures...they should keep themself away from our part of the world...they have their own rotten world.."
The Dwarf gave the Eladrin a sour look and muttered.
" I accept your proposal at least for now. It is safer to travel in group then alone in places such as these.."
One of the more thoughtful Archons raised his sword high "What these?"
The archons then began to make a crackling noise which some would be able to interpret as laughter.
"These are not weapons!" another crackled still laughing, "We may as well be frightened of your tiny teeth and nails. When Archons build weapons, the whole world knows it."
Oravalos fumed twirling his spear in agitation as it bled off sparks of power in a kalidiscope of vibrant colors. "You will be brought to a reckoning for your actions. "This world you made with a lie, tricking our brothers and such is Chartross' issue as well as mine. We seek only to repair what you have done!"
Soon her dream would be fullfilled, there was just one thing left to make it whole. But there were so many things to do before it could be done.
The Goddess sighed and sat down at a rock, gazing up against the sky with a vague smile playing on her lips. Things had seemed som simpler back then...if she just had had some more sense things would probably have been better by now.
She sighed, shook her hand and got up once more.
She had no time for remorse, she lived in the now..
...
"Very well," said the eladrin to the archons, "but if you wish to climb our mountain, you must do so in smaller numbers."
...
The eladrin and dwarf scouts set off along their way. Soon enough, they reached the Golden Hills...and were surprised to find armored fire-beasts all over the place.
Gerenzrik approached the halflings, introduced himself in his usual way, and asked what was going on.
He looked away from the two. "Only you seem overly bothered, nature. And you are one among many. I might suggest that you speak with your peers, Oravolos. Calm yourself, and seek out others, and try seeing somebody elses opinion."
"Besides, even without the aegis, the nature of the bulwark insures that the air will stay around the lands. And the leylines, linking the two will provide magic and life to those that live there. Only you seem to object, Oravolos. Unless you intend on being reasonable, I have things to do."
It is boring with just the hoofed-ones... Something to make it a bit more entertaining then.
At the god's whim shadows began to move through the forest. Slinking shapes hunting the small creatures that lived there.
There, enough for now. Now to do something else interesting I think.
Xirinet cast about searching for another god with which it could think of more interesting things to do.
Actions
1PP from Stars, Nourish Land: Normal Panthers have no stats; they prefer to hunt small prey and usually ignore humanoids of all kinds.
Finished with the task, he passed through the aegis, moving towards the area where most of the activity seemed to be focuses, looking over the various races and creatures that roamed about. Resting, he dropped into a grove of trees, and rested. As he noticed Xirinet pass over, he called out to him.
PP Expenditure
1 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Remove the ring through the Azure Aegis, leaving it adrift in the aether.
Tahns sent a ray of sunlight over an open meadow, luring a herd of antelope into his line of sight. Where the light fell on them, they grew stronger, faster, and much larger. These beasts would be not only an important new herbivore, but also have uses to the eladrin, and perhaps other mortal races as well. Upon being set free, these animals quickly dominated the grasslands and prairies of the world, outcompeting the antelope (who preferred the forests anyway) and being too strong for most predators to bring down.
He then heard the nervous prayers of the eladrin, who were fearful of a powerful army that had appeared at the edge of their lands. Tahns saw to it that their warriors grew stronger, their senses keener, and their mountain more difficult for invaders to scale. He also gave unusual success to their hunters and gatherers, to ensure enough food to supply their army if it came to that.
After taking a closer look at the archons, he saw the mark of Chactross upon the burning warriors. He flew off in search of him.
"Father," Tahns called, "A word, perhaps?"
PP
Shape Beasts (1 PP): horses. For now, all horses have bright, white fur, and their eyes and hair are gold.
Nourish Populace (1 PP): eladrin are now well stocked and in top fighting shape.
Nourish Populace (1 PP): eladrin are now well stocked and in top fighting shape.
Tsarokga-Noggoth had taken the design from Yoglith and twisted it to his own machinations.
The Tsarok-Hem
Tsarok-Hem are shaped like a horrifying mix of spider and crustacian, resembling huge spiders covered with dark, mottled chitinous carapaces. The four frontmost legs end in cleaverlike claws.
There heads consist of dozens of eyes, surrounded by fleshy tentacles and segmented mandibles, which they can also use for finer manipulation.
At the end of there abdomen is a cluster of squidlike tentacles from which they weave there webs.
Skin flaps between there legs allow them to glide for short distances, as well as to ‘swim’ around in the aether. To travel towards the world below, they can curl themselves up and let themselves fall towards the lands below like tiny asteroids.
Tsarok-Hem feast on rotten, liquified remains of there victims. There bite and wounds of there claws start to rot almost instantly, caused by fungal infections. Creatures that can get away usually fall to the infection, turning them into savage mindless beasts by the plague-mold before they die.
Communication between them happens by telepathy and are able to commune and control the lesser creations of Tsarokga-Noggoth. Like there creator, they possess powerfull psionic powers.
There sociaty holds several castes, with small differences between them like size and psionic aptitude.
There community lives in giant towering hives which float around in the outer aether layers surroundng the world. The hives are a large network of cables formed from a mix of there own webbing, debri that floats around the aether and fungus. The fungus makes the hives grow, and they use the debri and webbing to guide the fungal growth and to give the structure support.
Soon they would rain down upon the world below, furfilling there masters plan.
(Shape Populous (greater) 4PP : Tsarok-Hem , they mostly resemble the retriever from the 3.0-3.5 monster mannual, with a few differnces)
(Nourish populace 1PP : tsarok-hem)
The Halfling Chief with the Jet-black eyes sighed heavily and muttered.
" Unnatural Fellows...Terribly polite though but it feels hard to trust something that looks like it could roast you..."
The Chief smiled brightly at the newcomers.
" And what may I do for you my friends? I hope that you haven't come to find a new life philos..Phylo...bah! New way of life as our burning friends has? "
He chuckled dryly at his own words and gave the strangers a suspicous look.
With a whiplike motion Xirinet seemed to stretch as it moved to speak with Veros.
I was just looking for someone to occupy my mind as I decide what to turn my power towards next.
He looked over the forest, podering all that happened within. The halflings carver out their little niche. Further away, the eladrin build there homes upon the mountains while the dwarves tunnel their own within. And all the while, the dopplegangers live hidden among them.
He turned his attention to the halflings. He sent out a subtle pulse of power that would urge some dopplegangers to do something unthinkable. They would speak to their halfling friends of a god unknown to them, a god who favored knowledge and gave it in return.
Those halflings who turned to worship this new god soon found their harvests greater, and their families better off. Before long, word was spreading all throughout the hafling lands, whispering the name of Veros.
Finished, he turned to Xirinet again. "Though, coming here turned out to be fruitful. I decided to spread a bounty among the halflings. And, I have finally fully restored the land taken from the dimension bulwark. I must find a new goal now. Unless you have a suggestion?"
PP Expenditure
1 PP - Guide Populace - Halflings worship Veros
1 PP - Nourish Populace (Artifact) - Halflings
1 PP - Shape Land (Lesser) (Artifact) - The curst returns to it's original thickness in the south.
A fogbank rolled over the halflings, Xirinet moving to examine the mortals as it spoke to Veros.
There must be something interesting. The lands are still very much barren, more creatures to fill them would be an admirable goal.
Interesting little things. Should I speak to them? Maybe teach them of myself?
Garnering power is a goal as well. Or perhaps simply stirring something up?
I think I may search for power myself. Seed the world with more interesting things of course, but power is useful for that.
The lands the fog touched brought forth bounties of grain, small copses of trees bore strange fruit overnight. For a time life seemed to flow unending wherever the fog searched.
Some of the fog touched the big cats hunting through the trees, and as the power strengthened the plants it left echoes in the panthers.
Actions
1PP, Nourish Populace: Halflings have a very good time for a bit
1PP, Nourish Land: Fruit Trees, in a fairly wide range...
2PP, Spawn Beast: Fey and Spectral Panthers
1PP, Nourish Land: Fruit Trees, in a fairly wide range...
2PP, Spawn Beast: Fey and Spectral Panthers
PP Refresh
4 - Veros, Neko, Xa'an, Chactross, The Void, Oravolos, Oreb Nahash, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Xirinet, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Thans, Eijra, Tsarokga-Noggoth
Additionally, the Mortal thread will be up in the next half hour or so. From this point on, please keep any ongoing mortal stories there.
They stole them from her. The other Gods stole her children from her...why?
Why did they steal them? Didn't they have children of their own to love? Why did they have to try to steal hers? Why? Why? Why?
So much time had passed since her birth, so much had happed, the world had been scarred, her children had been born and now the other Gods took them away from her...they were scavangers. Greedy scavangers! Even Father Glum who had children of his own tried to steal her children. They corrupted them and tried to trick them to do things they didn't like to do. They were a people of song and joy! A people of fair land, a good harvest and a full stomach not one of knowledge and dark tomes.
They loved the Earth still though, they loved the land, they loved...her.
The Goddess closed her eyes as a beautiful smile appeared upon her thin lips and she began to sing. She sang the song of the Land, she sang the song of good earth, she sang the song of the scarred world, she sang the song of creation, she sang out how to bend and change with words and signs, how to find magic in the song and how to use it to make a heart burn!
And so things began to happen. Some Halflings and some Dwarfs suddenly stopped with their daily work. They heard the fair words of their Goddess and they understood, tears appeared in their eyes and they fell down on their knees roaring the name of their fair Mistress against the sky and the land rejoiced.
The fair Goddess song was heard once more! The singers and dancers had finally came! The priests and priestesses of the Fey goddess had finally been founded!
The Bards had came to the world bending both magic and souls with the sound of their words and instruments.
Teach Populace: Bard
Veros turned, looking through the trees. "As for seeking power, I have little desire for that. I have felt power that will never be matched again. Compared to that, any power I could personally amass would be miniscule. Though, it does bring me new thoughts."
He looked at Xirinet once more. "It seems the halflings have been taught to access the power in the leylines. It means I must seek out Eijra. I have need to speak to her."
He left in search of the fey goddess.
Xirinet's form shifted slightly turning as thoughg listening.
Pretty music... How nice. I will come too Knowledge.
The misty god moved with Veros to find the fey goddess.
Shurka was watching the Halflings practice their healing. It had improved to a point where it could be practical in both combat and fighting the molds. Still... the halflings had many influences beside Shurka. They learned to use magic as well as other abilities. Their power came from so many different gods that one would not suspect which one created them. He felt somewhat sorry for Eijra, and decided to finish watching them.
Once more Xa'an reached into the depths of his powers and called forth a giant mass of rock, more than two thousand miles in diameter. This he imbued with power and it began to faintly glow with a reflected light of its own, grey and pale. He gave it a mind and an aura and called it Nibiru.
This was a servant, not unlike Cygnus, yet it would serve a significantly lesser role.
Xa'an commanded the servant and it obeyed, hurling from the Vorpal Cascade on a crash course with earthen shell that Veros had crafted.
PP
3pp, Ascend Exarch: Nibiru. This is a +1 shape land exarch that takes the form of a traveling planetoid.
3pp, Ascend Exarch: Nibiru. This is a +1 shape land exarch that takes the form of a traveling planetoid.
The Hunter turned to Chartross as Veros left, "My brother, Veros attitude can not go on much longer. There will come a time very soon when he will push to far, and he will be met with force."
In exchange of metal tools the Halflings gave the Dwarfs vast amounts of food which had resulted in a population boom and later on in a cultural boom. The Dwarves now entirely lived within Duskpeak and numbered in thousands, they boasted a small but well-trained army armed with weapons of finest steel and even a small group of battle-Bards whose magical songs strenghtend the hearts of the Dwarven warriors.
Nourish Population 1PP: The Dwarves have increased in numbers and have settled Duskpeak.
They had gathered here today to celebrate a visit from their Goddess Eijra the Fair who whirled around on the floor in a dance together with king Ettri. Ettri was now after more then twohundred years a grey-beard but still had much of the strength of his youth left.
"Eijra, could I have a few moments of your time."
He was still her father...at least from her point of view as he was the first being to come to this world...but still the things he did made her more then a little irritated with him. Trying to steal her people! The nerve..
While work on the roads began, the fire archons continued to stay in place just beyond the eladrin borders. The roadmakers, who used the new hooved creatures as beasts of burden and mounts, gave them a wide berth, but were polite when approached by them.
PP
Put 2 PP forward for Create Artifact (trade routes)
Greater Teach Populace (horsemanship) 2 PP: eladrin are now taming horses, and inventing simple wagons and chariots as well as saddles.
Greater Teach Populace (horsemanship) 2 PP: eladrin are now taming horses, and inventing simple wagons and chariots as well as saddles.
Fey is it? I don't think I bothered to truly meet you.
" Good tidings to you, Cousin..."
She frowned slightly at her Father and said.
" Come to the point, Father Glum. I am not in the mood for pleasantries with you...what have stopped you in your attempts to try to steal what is mine? What has forced you to come to me like this? Oh, might and glorious father..?"
He stepped forward a bit. "I don't seek to steal your people away, but only to give them another place to request aid in times of trouble. To have yet another people to give gifts too. Is that so wrong?"
"I created the leylines as a conduit for magical energy to the mortal races. Should I come before you and cry foul that you ave taught your people how to use magic, tapping the leylines for power, when both of those things are mine? I would not do that. I came to tell you that I thought that music was a wonderful thing, something that impressed me. But is it wrong that those people should give praises to both of us, to you for the music that gives them the power, and to me for the power itself?"
"Eijra, is it wrong of me to wish to give your people my blessings as well, and let them know who to thank for that blessing?"
-------------------------------
The Hunter knew his work was not done, The Destroyer had grand plans and they must be brougth to bare, and his ambitions that were blind to the rest of the creators works, could not be allowed to wantonly eradiacte life or the ecosystem.
Oravalos needed to consult some of his brothers and sisters on the issue, and he knew just where to begin. He sought out the Lord of Light and was suprised to find him beyond the edge of know creation and thought for half a second why he would be there, since the only reason to be there is to not be found, but no one not even a God could hide from The Hunter.
The Hunter twirled his spear and slashed a hole in reality to take him to Xa'an.
In an explosion of color he came upon Xa'an and beheld what The Light was working on and nodded in apporoval of his small ecosystem.
"Brother Light I wish to speak to you about the aether and The Destroyer's aegis."
Too short, too narrow. I should create my own little ones, or perhaps they will be not-little ones?
The life god took notice of the words of Eijra and Veros and responded.
Fey, is it possible to steal reverence? If they revere one can they not revere two? Though I would agree that Knowledge's guidance may have been bad form, but Knowledge only taught them his name.
The little ones who praise you alone do that when others have taught them. Those who praise others... Are they worthy of even naming you? If they are too blind to see who should be placed above all else...
Of course there are the little ones who name Creators indiscriminately. A bad habit that, hoping a show will trick their gods into thinking they are truly faithful...
" My children was created with a purpose! A purpose! To help to heal and protect this world! Not to gather knowledge for knowledge's sake, but to use what they have learnt to better themselvs...and...you should have asked me..."
She mumbled and looked down at her feet, knowing that she had behaved rudely.
" You don't touch other people's creations without asking them first..."
She turned to the god of Life next. He was a strange fellow, talking strange words about even stranger things. He seemed to have a point though, a point Eijra didn't really care to note at the moment at least.
" Cousin, may I ask your name? "
She said, smiling widely as she came a little closer to her cousin.
I am pleased to meet you, not all Creators have such a flair for... Beauty as you seem to have.
" Good day, then Cousin Xirinet...what has taken you to these fari lands? "
I have been considering what to do with my power. You're little ones are interesting. A little focused for my taste, but interesting nonetheless.
I've been considering in creating my own mortals. I thought observing yours might give me some ideas.
On the 300th turn of the Pillar since the Breaking, the Dark Child, now called S'kre, discovered wizardry.
Within five years, S'kre also discovered how to utilize the latent power that filled the very ice beneath his feet. Days later, the entire Vyrane nation fell under his sway, none able to stand against him.
Then, S'kre taught the same clique of Vyrane who had followed him before what he called the Art, though any who learned the secret of drawing power from the ice soon died ugly deaths.
With his powerful cadre of wizards under him, S'kre forged the first Berg Ships, massive flying chunks of ice used to transport Vyrane Wizards and Swordmages.
PP
2PP-Guide Populous (Greater): Wizardry
2PP-Guide Populous (Greater): Berg Ships
" To create life is a beautiful thing indeed, Cousin and a worthy goal as well...you are more then free to observe my children but please be careful around them, as all mortal things they are easy to break.."
The fair Goddess smiled once more and looked up against the dark nightsky. It was completly pitchblack but for the green star that was the Feywyld. She turned to Father Glum once more, waiting for his response to her words.
He lowered himself into a bow. "Still, I apologize, Eijra. If you would like, I shall recall that which I gave them."
Have no fear, I will do no harm to the mortals. Perhaps leave them changed, but life goes on and any change will be for the better.
Twisting to Veros the life god ws suddenly struck by a thought.
Perhaps you would be interested in my next project? I feel I want little ones, so I shall make some. Of course they will have to be as adaptable as life itself, but creativity and intelligence will be needed by them as well.
"I truly regret the situation with Eijra and The sun God. I wished for you to be apart of that situation as your right as The Lord of Light."
The Wise shook his head to stav of the thoughts and came back to the subject at hand. "No matter brother, what I came to speak to you about was the azure aegis Veros put up cutting off his world he made without counsel from the Aether. It killed off an cut off the aether creatures and plants you and I have built into the domain and I seek restitution for his actions. I had hoped you as the lord of the aether would hear me."
Wih that The Wise bowed to his brother seeking his counsel on the matter.
Shurka stood a short distance away from the Golden Tree. Did... Eorna manage to do that? This tree is more impressive than I thought it would be... I hope it does not become impossible to control.
PP Use
4 PP (1 from Eorna) - Guide Populace (Greater) x2. Dwarves and eladrin know how to heal.
A few of the archons taught the halfling children how to watch their parents better than anyone else.
In the mines of the dwarves, the archons had much more of a free reign. The dwarves only concern was running out of air. So for the most part they allowed the Archons to work alone, supplying them with metals.
The Eladrin had much less use for the Archons. Their mountain home was well defended. They could see any threat coming from miles away, and a few of their fighters matched the archons in power. So the leadership of the eladrin placed the Archons as guards for the growing population. The guards taught some few of the eladrin the tennants of stealth and subterfuge.
(Teach Populus x2)
They hunted down all life within the aether regions around there hivecluster.
Tsarokga-Noggoth also began to shape a new lifefrom, a servitor race that would aid his chosen.
(nourish populous x2: Tsarok-Hem)
(Spawn beast (moderate): will be posted tomorrow as i'm to tired right now to work them out further and not sure if i can post before the reset)
(1 PP given away to the Trade routes.)
Dwarves helped their archon Allies deep down in the mountain, speaking with them, singing songs for them and learning them their trade. In exchange the Archon's helped them mining ore from the tunnels and even in some cases helped them build new tunnels.
The Halfling's that at first had been suspicous against the visitor's warmed up to them after a couple of years. The Archon's were new welcome visitors in most Halfing villages and towns and learned many things from the generous Halfings.
It was something of a suprise among the leaders of the Halflings that the burning one's actually followed their oaths...that something that big actually told the truth...that was an extraordinary thing indeed.
For most of a pillar's rotation, the burning bush was an unextinguishable white flame. It did not burn hot, it burned with the power of magic. The burning bush is a plant in potentia. It did not give off any fruit until it was ripe and the time was right. A ripe Burning Bush has a blue flame. When a sentient or nonsentient being stumbles across a burning bush, the burning bush looks into the mind of whatever looks upon it, and becomes a bush bearing that. So a halfling running from a bear might see a pebble bush to throw at the bear, and the bear might see a simple berry bush. Regardless, the Burning bush uses this to spread seeds.
A burning bush fills whatever it creates with a large amount of seeds. So a pebble that is cracked over a bears head would spill out a bunch of seeds. Berries eaten by the bear will produce burning bushes.
A burning bush can create nothing larger than an apple.
(Nourish Land 1 pp)
He bobbed in acknowledgement when Oravalos explained the titles he had used. "Ah, that aegis and that destroyer. Yes. I will hear you, what have you to say?"
-----
The mortals of the world went about their daily lives, unaware for a time, of the one coming to them.
It was first noticed among the Halflings that a new star had appeared in the sky. Within days it had become the brightest object in the night, and within a week it was visible even during the day.
In the fullness of time, Nibiru fell. It crashed through the Azure Aegis, sending shards of it tumbling towards the ground. It did not wish to ruin the world, so as it fell through the harsh air it began to shrink, condensing itself to the size of a large boulder. And then it hit the earth, sending shockwaves across the continent that were felt by all. A large crater formed and from the first water from the nearby ocean began to trickle in.
From this spot waves of power followed the shock. In land, sea, and air, life thrived as the power of this creature washed over them. Plants grew to great size, producing large fruit, and what creatures were around brimmed with vitality.
Nibiru had come.
PP
1pp, Mold Land (Lesser): Crater - Nibiru forms a crater when he fell from the sky, which will fill with water shortly. To note, regarding the Aegis, it will regrow, per Shadow's description of it.
1pp, Nourish Land: From the Storehouse - The storehouse lent power to Nibiru to nourish the area around the crater.
1pp, Mold Land (Lesser): Crater - Nibiru forms a crater when he fell from the sky, which will fill with water shortly. To note, regarding the Aegis, it will regrow, per Shadow's description of it.
1pp, Nourish Land: From the Storehouse - The storehouse lent power to Nibiru to nourish the area around the crater.
The Wise' eyes lit up as he thought of the travesties created by his brother's rash act. "The aether and its creatures have a right to the world that he cannot deny. I only wish to set the world right, set it in balance and keep the aegis above the equator so the southern hemisphere is bathed in the aether as it rightly should be."
------------------------------------
3PP create artifact (greater): (1PP to spawn creatures) Gaia Oravalos staff in the form of The Wise is a minature living tree, the head of the staff always in full bloom that changes between a tree of the air or aether depending on his environment.
1PP spawn beast (lesser): aether sharks.
Beneath the desert leaves, however, the land was fruitful. Trees reached down bearing fruits, enticing animals in. Fungal trees, which did not need sunlight sprouted up. An aether cloud drifted in, bringing with it stirges and stranger things. Any excess water that the trees did not need was expelled upon the ground where the animals of the forest drank it thankfully.
And then something strange happened. Leaves started growing around the edge of the rainforest, taking in more sunlight and water. Eventually, the rainforest could not be seen from the outside, and the land looked simply like a large pile of thick dry leaves.
(Mold land 2 pp Rainforest/desert)
He had grown heaby in the world, and because of it the portion of his ocean had sunk deeper into reality for his weight. He had created his own sort of cradle.
2 PP Mold Land(Moderate): Still spreadin'
2 PP Create Plane(lesser) The Deep
Scanning the wildlands the god considered what more to fill them with and finaly decided to grant some life to the rivers beyond his initial contributions. In an eyeblink the waters began to teem with fish. In another moment insects teemed through the waters and lands, and colorful birds took to the air.
Soon it will be ready for my contribution of little ones.
Actions
2PP, Form Domain (moderate): Stars, I'll do some stuff to tie me to it a bit more later.
1PP, Nourish Land: Fish
1PP, Nourish Land: Birds
1PP, Nourish Land from Stars: Insects
Thank you thought for reminding me that there was a Stars domain, I'll be tying this guy closer to stars. Or rather make his contribution connected to it as well. Though campaign dogma would be that the "stars provide life to the lands" and are sacred objects.
1PP, Nourish Land: Fish
1PP, Nourish Land: Birds
1PP, Nourish Land from Stars: Insects
Thank you thought for reminding me that there was a Stars domain, I'll be tying this guy closer to stars. Or rather make his contribution connected to it as well. Though campaign dogma would be that the "stars provide life to the lands" and are sacred objects.
While he waited, he sent out tendrils of power, giving his blessings to the races he had helped to create. For one of them, he copied something they had already encountered.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Eladrin has the wizard class
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Doppleganger's have the Bard class
1 PP - Nourish Populace (Artifact) - The Dopplegangers grow more numerous.
1 PP - Shape Land (Artifact) - A small group of foothills erupts from the grund between halfling and fungus territory.
PP Refresh
5 - Veros, Tsarokga-Noggoth
4 - Neko, Xa'an, Chactross, The Void, Oravolos, Oreb Nahash, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Xirinet, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Thans, Eijra,
Any plans on using that Mortal thread?
The Fey Goddess mumbled.
" You are forgiven, bless my people and help them...things will soon happen that will shake this world. "
It was with those words Eijra wandered away and shortly after a stone fell from the skies. It shook the world...it truly did but instead of hurting it...it brought it wealth. The land prospered, the earth grew rich and the Fey Goddess smiled.
It had changed so much, this lifeless rock was now a haven for life. Trees, grass, marine life, birds, deer ran in the forest, mice ran hidden under the grass. There were life everywhere.
Earth was now her home, this world was her children's home and it was here she liked it the most. It's blue sky and golden sun, the life who flourished on it's plains, it was a tranquil place....it was whole even if it was severed.
Earth was not only thing that had changed, she had changed as well, matured from the silly girl she had once been. She knew now what her purpose was, not to change the world, not to make it better just for her sake...but to make it whole.
The Goddess smiled and she closed her green eyes. This world was her home. This world was...
The Goddess opened her eyes, they had changed, they were now brown. Eijra, the Fey Goddess was no more. Eijra goddess of the Earth was now.
This world was her now.
(Claim Concept: Earth 3PP)
Shurka called:
Eijra! I request your presence!
To ensure the success of this new venue, he caused the sun to shine brightly during the day, using his shared control of Chactross' pillar. He didn't think his father would mind. After all, he had done it once before. As a result, the budding economy was stimulated, and all three races (four, counting the dopplegangers, and maybe five if you include the archons) benefited.
Tahns also instructed his priests to make converts among the dwarves, painting him as a god of wealth and plenty. He made sure that no one found out about his connection to the bats. Soon, he was a minor-but still frequently worshiped-member of the dwarven pantheon.
Tahns scratched his bearded chin. He should create more creatures. Unfortunately, he didn't have any ideas at the moment. One thing that caught his eye was the distant, sparkling sea. Maybe some sea beings would be next?
PP
Greater Teach Populace (1 PP +1 from the Roads): Agriculture.
Minor Teach Populace (1PP): Tahns is now a minor god to the dwarves.
Nourish Populace (1 PP from the Pillar): The eladrins and their new halfling buddies are doing quite well.
Minor Teach Populace (1PP): Tahns is now a minor god to the dwarves.
Nourish Populace (1 PP from the Pillar): The eladrins and their new halfling buddies are doing quite well.
The reason to the occupation was simple. The Halflings were one of the Dwarves biggest food producers, without their grain, barley and rice the Dwarves would be unable to support their ever-growing population. The Eladrin stole Halflings with promises and trinkets, something the burgeoing Dwarven kingdom could not tolerate.
A couple of weeks afterwards the kingdom of Duskhill introduced six new provinces in to their growing kingdom. Fairwater, Golden Hill, Fairfield, Wertop, Greenburry and Heighfield, all nearly exclusivily inhabited by Halflings.
(PP 1: Nourish Populace ) Dwarves occupying the Golden Hills and making it a part of their kingdom.
Motioning towards the world in the distance, Xa'an continued speaking to Oravalos. "Observe the mortals who scurry about the surface. When one of them wishes to plant a field of grain, does he not first make sure he has the seeds to plant and the tools to till the field? And if he has not seed enough, he reduces his plans, or if he has seed in abundance, he goes to his brothers for help in expanding the field. Let us be humble and learn a lesson from these simple creatures. Let us assess the cost of your proposed task, discover those who are against us, and gather brothers if need be. When we act, let us act swiftly, surely, and undeniably."
-----
The crater's lake rippled as Nibiru waited below the waters that had filled the hole. It burrowed deeper into the earth, causing the sides of the crater to rise high into the air, a great mountain seen from miles around.
Deep in the night, from the heavens, a bolt of light shot down into the lake. Far below the surface of the waters, below even the earth, the ground began to warm, to melt, and finally to creep towards the surface. The heat mixed with the water, warming it, casting a fog across the surface of the waters, the nearby slopes, and the plains beyond it In this fog began to grow plants, wild and thick.
In the distant lands of the Eladrin and Dwarves, while the creatures rested after a day's work, visions came to them. Borrowed from Oreb Nahash's realm, these were dreams of power and they crept into mortal minds. Only a portion of a portion would heed the word spoken in those nightsweats. That word was "come."
Those who heard and obeyed the call packed up their belongings and left their people, traveling across the lands to the mountain of Nibiru. They entered the forests there to live. And their peoples never heard from them again.
pp
1pp from Nibiru, Mold Land (lesser): Crater - the crater that Nibiru created is now a tall mountain, easily mistaken for a volcano due to the crater in its center.
1pp from Storehouse, Nourish Land: Crater Mountain thingy - the mountain/crater gets nourished and a thick, dense forest begins to grow in the area. Heavy fog rolls over the crater lake and down the mountain slopes.
2pp, Guide (lesser) x2: Eladrin and Dwarves - small populations leave both groups and travel to this mountain and settle there. Other than being guided to settle here and loosing contact with the rest of their kind, they are the same as before.
1pp from Nibiru, Mold Land (lesser): Crater - the crater that Nibiru created is now a tall mountain, easily mistaken for a volcano due to the crater in its center.
1pp from Storehouse, Nourish Land: Crater Mountain thingy - the mountain/crater gets nourished and a thick, dense forest begins to grow in the area. Heavy fog rolls over the crater lake and down the mountain slopes.
2pp, Guide (lesser) x2: Eladrin and Dwarves - small populations leave both groups and travel to this mountain and settle there. Other than being guided to settle here and loosing contact with the rest of their kind, they are the same as before.
So to the halfling leaders the archons went. "Lords, we have served quietly for five hundred years, only offering advice where necissary. Now please lords, will you hear us now?"
" Good tidings to you, Cousin. What made you call after me? "
She chuckled softly and looked up at the blue skies of the Feywyld. Think that in all of it's youthness this realm still was so beautiful. The fair Goddess smiled and pushed her hand against a golden tree, closing her eyes and sighing peacefully.
Dwarves marched armed with axe and sword, the whole of the Golden Hills were there now. Guards were placed at the borders and Dwarven patrols patrolled the towns and the villages of the Hills. This was needed to be done to keep their kingdom alive. They treated the Halflings with respect though and didn't steal their crops. Instead they paid for them as they had always done, the only thing that had changed was that they were not allowed to sell to the Eladrin any longer.
" Advice? What kind of advice? " The spokeswoman of the Halfing's counciel asked.
" Do you wish us to go to war? To let the Dwarves burn our crop and burn our land? Do you wish us to risk our lives in an unnecessary war? "
The elder looked down at her hands and mumbled.
" Our people was created as healers of the land, not as warriors..."
The Wise paced as he contemplated " I am not one for socializing with the other creators, so my list of friends is small. Who else would lend us there ear? Shurka? or perhaps the God of life Xirinet?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The people of the Ae-Silvani continued to grow and expand. There God had saved them from the movement of the Aegis over two centuries before and he had not returned to speak with them, but life continued on. The people still prayed to The Great Father and he lent them his blessing as they cultivated the land, learning to live in unity with the forests they called home. The Inner Aegis Sea thrived under there watchful hand and now a good number of the floating valin trees had an Ae-Silvani host tending to it.
Rein-Veil the first born continued to lead his people with much wisdom, as the father had taught him and he was blessed with much knowledge he passed on to his people, teaching them to shape the forests they called home into acceptable and comfortable homes, and to shape the trees as was needed. He prayed continually to The Great Father for the continued prosperity of his people.
However Rein-Veils must fervant prayer was to return to the continent he knew as home, and he spoke to Oravalos daily on the issue, and the he listened and spoke to Rein in dreams showing him visions of the Outer Aegis Sea and a island floating in the wisps of the aether that Rein could not make out, but knew he must find.
Rein was much troubled by this request since he knew he would need to leave his people and the quest would be long and frought with dangers. He went to the isle of the Great Father which the Ae-Silvani called Gaiathere birthplace and home, and entered Oravalos' inner Sanctum and sought communion with his God for further guidance on the course he should take.
(1PP Nourish Populace: Ae Silvani Spread to the three greater Valin tree forests. Wich they named Sukari, Bari, and Intano
2PP: Teach Populace: Cultivation of Valin wood into weapons and tools. They dont chisel out weapons but get them to grow into what they need, tending a tree or trees to shape the item in question.
1PP: Spawn Beast: Hunting Cats Lions, Tigers, Panthers on the northern hemisphere
1PP: Spawn Beast: Bears in the northern Hemisphere
Xa'an hovered back and forth before Oravalos. "But alone, we two would be enough to force the issue against the will of one. If all other gods would remain on the sidelines, it would be a simple matter. So who might defend the grey being's creation? The Sun god, perhaps, as he seems to be a kind fellow."
The eladrin had been slightly concerned when the dwarves began occupying the halfling lands. But now, with trade being cut off, well...this was more than slightly concerning. In addition to the loss of trade, the halflings who lived around Mt. Gargoth were most displeased at being cut off from their relatives and countrymen.
A group of eladrin, led by a minor chieftain, arrived at the kingdom of the dwarves.
"Good tidings to you," said the envoy, "but perhaps a bit of worry as well."
His mind continuing to work, he sent out a call, asking for Tahns to come and see him. Perhaps he might be willing to help as well.
The Wise turned his gaze upon Xa'an as he stroked the fronds of his beard in contemplation. "One last thing before I seek others support. I told you what I planned for the azure aegis, I would like to hear your thoughts on what should be done. After all it is the aether that we are ultimately discussing."
Veros looked at Eijra. "On second though, you appear exhausted. I shall leave you to your rest."
With that he was off, seeking out into the aether, seeking Xa'an. Which wasn't to difficult, considering his light. He noted Oravolos nearby, and bowed slightly. "Greetings, kin. I've come to seek you both out for aid. I had an idea, which I beleive would interest you both."
"I seek to create a balance and counterpoint to Tahn's sun, something which will give some faint light to the dark of the night. So I came to request the aid of two gods critical to the concept, balance and light."
Reverting to his normal hues, the Light seemed delighted at the thought, having forgotten for a moment what Oravalos and he had been talking of just a moment before.
"How might I avail you, Veros, vizier of veloce vision and fevered thoughts?" Xa'an asked, turning to the first god. "A light in the darkness is good, good good good. A Nus to oppose the Sun, as it were. The cold one might be an amusing one to seek aid from, for just as warmth radiates from one, a chill might come from the other. But that is just a thought."
Xa'an dug deep into himself and produced a spark of light. "A shard of my power, then, as a sign of my general affability. For the creation of a god opposite of the sun."
pp
Offering 1pp towards ascending Massive Attack
Offering 1pp towards ascending Massive Attack
"Whatsup?"
"What do you want deciever? Perpetrate more lies?" The Hunter twirled his weapon as he thought. "A God to rule opposite the sun god is a worthy goal, but I want no hand in anything you are a part of. I cant help but wonder what you aim to gain? what secrets you are keeping in this endeavor."
He turned towards Tahns. "Welcome. I was just explaining to these two what I had planned. A counter and balance to the sun, to illuminate the night sky. Not as bright as your sun, but something none the less, to offer mortals some limited ability to function at night. I had hoped you might be interested in helping."
He returned his gaze to Oravolos. "Why do you insist on calling me a liar and deciever? To my knowledge, I have never lied to you, hunter. Still, you are welcome to watch, and aid if you wish. Balance is your domain, so I simply assumed you would be interested in creating it."
The Dwarves lived in small apartments that lined the tunnels, they were warmly decorated with both Dwarven and Halfling artwork and the floors were covered with thick, blue rugs.
They were led after a busy market square where things where traded for other things.
Then finally they stood in the Throne Room, where the Dwarven king Ettri the Uniter sat on his throne. It was a big room with rugs covering the floor, broad, stone pillar held up the roof and the whole room recieved light from a vast fire pit in the middle of the room. The Dwarf king's hair and beard was white as stone, but he was still strong in both mind and body and his blue eyes were sharp as swords.
" Good tidings to ye, Envoys of the High Folk...what sort of buisness has brought ye to my people's mountain? "
The king asked with thunderous voice. Dwarven warriors and courtiers looked at the visitors with curious eyes, unsure on what the tall strangers wanted with their king.
Narrok-Myr
Also called broodmothers, these huge arachnids are one of the many that serve the Tsarok-Hem.
Instead of fighting itself, it uses its numerous broods, hundreds of tiny spiders, that constantly skitter around them. By using special pheromones, they can mutate a single member of its brood into a specialised type.
Some become living bombs.
Narrok-Myr also possess a long tonguelike tendril which they use to grab and pull enemies close, into there ravenous brood.
Narrok-Nur
Vaguely humanoid bulbous things. These ticklike monsters skitter around on there 4 hind legs. Although they look fat and slow, they can move around very fast. There four front legs have fused together, forming two strong grabbing claws.
Once they grab a victim, they burry there mouth tentacles into it and start to drain blood.
Drained blood stays in there bodies where it begins to rot and decay. They can vomit this vile liquid back up to launch against enemies. The blood is both corrosive and its foul smell causes nausia.
Narrok-Gor
These resemble large spiders covered in dark chitinous carapaces. Like all Tsarok, they look like a horrible mix of spider and crustacian. There front two legs end in huge razorsharp blades, which they use to impale prey or to burrow underground.
Besides being fast, they are able to immobilize prey by spraying a weblike substance from the tentacles located on there abdomen.
------
The Tsarok-Hem and there minions had turned there region in the aether into a cold dead zone, having devoured all life there.
Because of this, the Tsarok-Hem leaders begane to trow there gaze towards the world below them....
(Spawn beast (greater) 3PP: Narrok-Myr)
(Narrok-Nur were the beast created by my god in the last turn. I simply still had to descripe them)
(Spawn beast (moderate) 2PP: Narrok-Gor)
Shurka went to Eorna and revealed it to the Godess.
"This is... my creation. I planted a sapling from your Dream, and channeled my own energy... this is the result. Normally I would not bother you with such trivial matters, but this has become out of my control. You made the realm of Fey... surely you have some power over it?"
She stroked it faintly, her forehead wrinkled.
" There is nothing wrong with her..."
She mumbled and carefully pressed her lips against the tree. The tree shook slightly and a couple of it's flowers suddenly began to bloom.
" She is a part of my realm...therefore a part of me and as i grow in power so does she.."
The fair Goddess smiled once more and turned to her cousin.
" And how are you my cousin, dwelling alone here in my realm? The world have changed a lot...I think you would like it.."
She took a step forward against her Cousin and touched his cheek, stroking it softly for a moment.
...
The eladrin bowed respectfully.
"Diplomatic ones, I'm afraid. We are most distressed at the sudden dwarven opposition to halfling/eladrin trade. We would like to know the cause of this new policy of the deep-men, and to do what we can to alleviate the need for it to continue."
(btw, is Ettri still king of the dwarves? I thought it had been a century or two?)
These creeatures had gone through bloody wars, fighting each other viciously at the behest of the dieties.
Nocturne sought to create a haven for them. A place where the cooling embrace of the darkness would protect them. Within the shadows, Nocturne would have dominion. It would be able to keep these little ones from being forced to fight bloody wars.
2PP-Mold Land Moderate- Create Underdark
Oravalos turned his gaze upon Veros with a coy smile "It fits much like the aether and the air, wouldnt you say?"
And so, Vymrl called his currents of freezing air together, and created a tunnel of air linking the Chillund Archipelago to the greater world.
Soon, a pattern developed wherein the cold air fell from the underside of the Archipelago to the land beneath and warm air rose of off the oceans to brush the ice.
------------
S'kre, the Dark Child of the Vyrane, noticed the new currents rising up between the islands. Intrigued, he dispatched scouts to see where they came from.
When the reports came in of a vast gulf of air beneath the ice, an unfamiliar emotion filled S'kre, worry, for the scouts reports included more, land far beneath them.
His brow creased with worry, S'kre ordered twelve Berg Ships to consult with the great Sages of the Vray. For only in their holy sanctums had lore from before the Breaking survived.
In those holy tomes, S'kre hoped to find tales of the land below.
Weeks later, the Berg Ships returned, carry copies and fragments of legends from the libraries of the Vray. Thirty Vray priestesses returned with the Vray ships to teach the Word of Vymrl to Vyrane.
They also carried with them the tales of the Bright Daughter, the Child of Ice who had brought the holy power of Vymrl into the world. Displays of their power soon brought the attention of S'kre.
Though he himself could not wield this power, he began collecting all those who showed signs of doing so and forcing them to swear magically binding oaths to him, creating a powerful clerical force.
S'kre called this newborn force the Shinning Brigade. In addition, the Dark Child brought a contingent of Vyrane Wizards in being and called up a levy of Swordmages and warriors.
S'kre called army the Frozen Horde.
------------
Amri, the Bright Daughter, died peacefully at the age of three hundred and nine. The Vray laid her out on a bier of glistening ice and sent her body into the aether above them.
Her people had loved her, even as she shook their society at its foundations. At her birth, cruelty ran deep in Vray culture, yet at her death, she had transformed that, reforming the culture in which she lived.
A gentler character now possessed the Vray, in addition to a renewed influence of religion on daily life.
------------
As S'kre reached his three hundred and ninth turning of the Pillar, he called more magic than ever into himself. Suddenly, a clap of thunder exploded out from around as the air froze.
Sealed forever within a huge ice crystal, S'kre issued his telepathic commands to his underlings, still oathbound to serve him.
PP
2PP-Guide Populous (Greater): Cleric
1PP-Mold Land (Lesser): Twin Zephyrs (The warm and cold air currents that connect the Archipelago to the rest of the Glacier.)
1PP-Nourish Populous: Frozen Horde
"I would love to see how the world has changed. I have not been far from Eorna since her creation. What do you want to show me?"
He left them there, moving back towards the world. Floating high above it, he selected a large area of land where nothing yet grew, untouched by divine or mortal hands since he had placed it there.
Slowly and carefully, he pulled a portion of the bulwark free from the rest, carefully extracting it from the rest, pulling large pieces of land out with it, watching as Neko's water flowed in to fill the gap.
He pulled it through the Azure Aegis, temporarily putting a hole in it, confident it would regrow as he moved his new load into the sky. Focusing his mind, he split it in half, and looked at them both, determing just how best to do it.
For several long moments he stood there deep in thought, wondering at it, before settling on his choice. He cast them out, letting them rotate around the sphere in a slow cyclical pattern, looping around each other in a perfectly choreographed bit or aerial acrobatics, the pieces of the Dimension Bulwark just barely keeping them at the proper distance and pace from both the surface and each other.
Using the power he had borrowed, he reached into himself, tearing off a piece of his own essence, and infused it with more power, letting the new godling burst forth from it. Exhausted, he rested and waited for the new one to awaken.
The new moons would sufice for now, but unless he enlarged them, they would remain quite small.
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 2 PP from Xirinet + 1 PP from Xa'an - Ascend God
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Greater)
" We acted for Dwarven interests when we secured our food supplies. Just as your leader acted for your interests when he began to bribe the Halflings to move away from their home-land. "
The ancient king arose from his throne and looked at the Eladrin with cold eyes.
" It is us that should be distressed by your selfish attempts to secure more trade for your self with no thought about others. Instead of buying food, instead of trading as a honest people. You instead chose to steal the food producers them selves..."
The Dwarf king frowned loudly and pointed at the envoys.
" Don't come to this mountain with selfish biddings! Tell your monarch that the trade barriers will be taken away things have calmed down and trade has returned to what it once was. When it does, Eladrin and exiles are allowed to trade there just as anyone else, as long as they don't try to trick the farmers to move away from their homeland.."
Tahns looked outright furious.
"I will speak to you all later."
He departed the scene of the new godling's birth in a flash of scorching, desert sunlight.
...
"Trick the farmers to move away? Your majesty, we have deceived no one. If you felt your food supply was at risk by our actions, you should have simply told us. The road you have chosen, however, is one that can lead you-and us, and the halflings-only to misfortune."
"Send envoys to our farmers if you desire. If you can convince them to return to the Golden Hills, we will not oppose their wishes. As long as you do not threaten, lie, or use force, you may approach them however you wish."
"Meanwhile, the trade routes must be reopened. I'm afraid this last point is non-negotiable."
((I suggest we take the eladrin/dwarf thing to the mortal thread, as it seems to be getting fairly involved))
Xa'an's glow caressed the aether, changing it and giving portions of the element itself life. Slowly, aether clouds began to move about on their own, barely distinguishable from the surrounding elements. These he directed towards the mortal world, and the hole that Nibiru had created in the Azure Aegis. It was nearly closed, now, after years of regeneration, but the clouds seeped in and roamed the high skies. They needed little to sustain them, only light, just as aether had when the world first began.
Yet with the clouds came other things; they pulled with them a few aether plants and beasts, these living masses of aether becoming heavens to the other-worldly things. These served as their defense, when necessary. If a creature of the world of air entered the cloud, the plants and animals within it would devour the thing.
These clouds seldom moved close enough to the ground for mortals to interact with them, but over the years a few reports of contact did spread. And the mortals of the air world began to fear these creatures, calling the clouds Miasma.
PP
1pp, Spawn Beast (lesser): Miasma - Xa'an creates living clouds of aether. They are defenseless in themselves, but the aether-beasts and plants within it serve as those defenses (making these creatures swarms, really). These aether-beasts are actually a bit more vicious than their cousins that live in the aether-proper; the latter do not pose a threat to mortals, the former do. Miasma size is quite variable and depends on age. "Children" start at just a foot across, but within the first year of life grow to become juveniles around 15 feet wide, and then their growth slows, adding only a foot or two a year. Adults are around 50 ft wide, and the elderly can grow to become hundreds of ft across. Only the younger ones (juveniles and adults), however, are generally a threat to mortals. The larger ones stay high in the air, near the Aegis, and have learned to avoid danger, by merit of having survived it in their youth. And "children" don't have enough aether-creatures within them to pose a threat to anything but the weakest of air-creatures. Curiously, Eladrin are seldom attacked even when they encounter these things, on account of their dual nature.
1pp, Spawn Beast (lesser): Miasma - Xa'an creates living clouds of aether. They are defenseless in themselves, but the aether-beasts and plants within it serve as those defenses (making these creatures swarms, really). These aether-beasts are actually a bit more vicious than their cousins that live in the aether-proper; the latter do not pose a threat to mortals, the former do. Miasma size is quite variable and depends on age. "Children" start at just a foot across, but within the first year of life grow to become juveniles around 15 feet wide, and then their growth slows, adding only a foot or two a year. Adults are around 50 ft wide, and the elderly can grow to become hundreds of ft across. Only the younger ones (juveniles and adults), however, are generally a threat to mortals. The larger ones stay high in the air, near the Aegis, and have learned to avoid danger, by merit of having survived it in their youth. And "children" don't have enough aether-creatures within them to pose a threat to anything but the weakest of air-creatures. Curiously, Eladrin are seldom attacked even when they encounter these things, on account of their dual nature.
One action always creates a response, her Dwarfs did what they were supposed to do, what they were created to do, they strived for unity just as she wanted them to do.
But still...an armed conflict? No...if that happend she would stay away from it, she would give her children her blessing as any mother did. But yet...war...was not something she was intrigued by. She had had more than enough conflicts during her youth. Conflicts that had bent, scarred and nearly destroyed this fair Earth.
The goddess sighed and looked out against Mount Gorgoth. Why had they done it? Why weren't they happy with what they had been given? Why had they try to steal her people from the purpose they needed to fullfill...
If it was for that purpose that Dwarves occupied the Golden Hills she gave it its support. To attain unity and wholeness sometimes things needed to get sacreficed.
The Fair Goddess sat down at a rock, looking down at her feet with a troubled look on her face. Her thoughts were now her own.
The Wise turned to Xa'an as he contimplated his words. "There is much wisdom in what you speak. I am also much impressed by your new aether creatures and they have given me an idea. I believe there may be another way to come at this problem and leave Veros' his aegis if that is what will appease him. I care not as long as the balance is preserved and nature continues to flourish."
"I have taken up far to much of your time brother. I thank you for your council and if there are no other pressing issues, I believe we both have work to attend to."
"Rotten day, isn't it?" He said, swooping down and landing beside her.
" Not what I have noticed sun...there is nothing wrong with the day itself, it is a beautiful day...the sky is blue, the sun shines and the land rejoices, my son. "
She turned her head to her son and gave him a pale smile.
" There are things though that are bad...such as the conflict that breeds between our peoples..."
He silently ran through his head, trying to remember what she was talking about. The whole catastrophe with the night-light god was distracting him terribly. Fortunately, he figured out what she meant before she noticed.
"I must confess, I'm at a bit of a loss to explain how this is happening. We did tell our little ones to be good to each other, did we not? Why this sudden aggression on the part of the dwarves...even against their own kin?"
She mumbled and picked up a piece of twine, she pushed the end-pieces against each other and made them meld.
" I made them whole, I gave them desire and will...and most importantly I gave both Halflings and Dwarves freedom. They will choose themselves what they will do with their lives..."
She carefully placed the piece of twine back on the ground and smiled brightly as it immidietly began to grow, a couple of moments later a young, though lone Pine-tree stood there.
" They are my children, but they have grown up now...their lives are their own and so are their actions. They have my blessing though and my support, but I am not their liege. "
" Oh? So you don't care for your young ones, my son? "
The goddess of the Earth turned and gave him a slightly disapproving gaze.
" They are your children, don't dismiss them and their love that easily. "
Tahns was put on the defensive. First the night-light, and now this. He was not in a good mood.
"Didn't you just say you weren't having anything to do with it? How can you say I don't care for them if you won't even get involved at all?"
She looked at her son with worried eyes and arose from her rock.
" How are you, Son? You seem tense...maybe even angry? "
"No, I'm not...angry. Just a bit stressed, I suppose. They talk of making a new god to inhabit the sky. I told them there are already plenty of sky-deities, but they ignored me."
He scratched his beard a little.
"Let's talk about something else. How about some new creatures? There's a whole world outside of this continent that needs filling."
" Advice? What kind of advice? " The spokeswoman of the Halfing's counciel asked.
" Do you wish us to go to war? To let the Dwarves burn our crop and burn our land? Do you wish us to risk our lives in an unnecessary war? "
The elder looked down at her hands and mumbled.
" Our people was created as healers of the land, not as warriors..."
The archon made his scratching, grating laugh, disturbing the relative calm in the council chamber.
"To war with the dwarves or high folk would be foolhardy. Both are allied with the archons, who would wipe out our communities in moments. No, I suggest the opposite course of action. Do not have any dealings with these Giants that would seek to control you. The Giants of the are no more mighty than the tribes of Ejira. If the Giants attack first, I doubt they will survive the onslaught of the archons. And with the power of so many of the gods on your side, they dare not touch you."
"And speaking of which, I have asked my brothers to forge symbols of Chactross." With those words, he withdrew a symbol from within his armor. It was quite cool. "They will protect you from fire and dull pain. Wear them and Chactross will place his hand over you in protection."
If those symbols actually worked, Chactross could use one now. The pain of his own existence was wracking his form. Small jets of flame burst out of his armor, scorching small bushes and fungi.
This would not do. He would burn down all of creation in a decade at this rate! He had to do something about the pain.
And so, Chactross flew to a outpouring of magic with fire as it's element. Picking up the dust from the ground, his burning fingers turned it instantly into glass. He molded the clear material into a shape suitable for a container for his pain.
Two hundred forms rose up from the dust. He gave them two arms, two legs, and one head. He even gave them what was swiftly becoming the standard genitalia configuration on this world. They were much different than his other worshipers. Then he gave each of them a beautiful head of hair, matching the color of a flame. A red here, a blue there.
And then Chactross gave them life in the only way he knew how. He granted them pain.
It wasn't the shoddy, second hand pain that he passed around to the Eladrin and Dwarves. That would be like comparing the juice squeezed from berries to the Ambrosia of the gods. This pain was beautiful. This pain was Divine.
And then, just as soon as it began, it was over.
His children opened their eyes in shock. The lack of pain... it seemed to bother them. They began itching their arms scratching with the tiny nails that Chactross had given to them. One of the more resourceful ones picked up a rock and carefully, precisely, smashed it into his right hand. He cried out for a moment with divine ecstasy, and then looked at Chactross for approval.
Even this small pain came as a great relief to Chactross. He looked at the ingenious mortal and said, "You are wise among your people. Truely you know the will of your lord." Reaching out, Chactross touched his child on the head, leaving the imprint of his finger on his child's head. This mark would allow him to tap into the very nature of magic at will. "You shall be Called Shad-oro, which means Power through Pain, and you all shall be called Shadar-kai which means People of Divine Pain. I charge you to live out your lives, but think of me when you grant yourself Pain."
And then Chactross granted them dominion over the Burning Bushes, which had grown and matured particularly well near the area of high magic. Within a dozen years, the Burning bushes had been turned into fields. Shad-oro was generous with control of the node of power, allowing people to try the power of it's teleportation, and see what it felt like to shoot flames from their hands, but he always wrested control of it back. All the Shadar-kai knew that it came from the mark of Chactross.
(Guide populous Towards worshiping Chactross: 1 PP)
(Create populus: Shadar-Kai. 2 pp)
(Nourish population from artifact Burning bushes 1 pp)
(Teach population farming)
Conflict.
The dwarves were acting surprisingly aggressive for the creations of Lady Song. It seemed they may fight with the eladrin, as well. Clearly these races had lost sight of their purpose. Controling every being would be too much work; the races needed divine guidance... but free will as well.
Shurka had an idea. He gifted a small number of the dwarves with the power to hear the word of their god. These few... the oracles, would instruct the others of their kind to do as their god wishes.
PP Use
0pp [starting domain] Create Concept (Lesser) - Oracles
2pp [one from Eorna] Guide Populace (Greater) - taught the dwarves how to be oracles.
" Thank you, friend for your concerns...I think though that we will be able to take care of ourself. "
The old woman chuckled for herself.
" My husband will take care of it.."
She said and a wide smile appeared upon her lips.
These creatures have so much potential. Yet, they bicker among themselves. it thought solemnly. If these creatures cannot be trusted with their own survival, perhaps it is time to use more direct measures to ensure peace.
And with this, Nocturne began to draw his Wraiths and Nightwalkers into the Underdark. However, it was nowhere near the numbers that the other creatures had achieved.
Suddenly, inspiration struck. Nocturne remembered how the blacklight crystal and fire pillar were mixed with perfect harmony, creating a wonderous effect that would make it seem that they were designed for no other purpose.
Slowly and methodically, Nocturne pulled various stones and crystal from the walls, tinkering with them, creating a thousand different designs. Finally, Nocturne achieved a design that pleased it. Nocturne infused this form with a spark of life, and suddenly various internal workings sparked to life. This form was truly better than those above: it was just as intelligent and cunning, but never tired, never ate, never even needed to breathe.
Nocturne began to make more, solemnly, knowing that these creations would be forced to spill much blood. However, it would be for the greater good. It was this thought alone that drove Nocturne onward, as he grimly set up prepartions for war.
2PP-Shape Populace (Lesser)- Warforged.
She continued to look around for though, looking for something.
"I care. Obviously, or I wouldn't even be talking about it."
"No, I'm not...angry. Just a bit stressed, I suppose. They talk of making a new god to inhabit the sky. I told them there are already plenty of sky-deities, but they ignored me."
He scratched his beard a little.
"Let's talk about something else. How about some new creatures? There's a whole world outside of this continent that needs filling."
The fair Goddess gave her son a strange look.
" Do you ask me for help, my child? "
Her voice seemed to be slightly amused...and also slightly suprised of some odd reason. She had never really gotten to know her son, they had kept away from each other most of the time. He had done things hundred of years ago she couldn't really agree with.
Dwarves and Eladrin fought along the border, a skirmish that quickly ended when the Halflings arrived in hundreds, throwing rocks and stones at both factions and demanding the Eladrin to leave.
The Eladrin left with bitter hearts. There would be no war, at least for now. The conflict was over.
Lord of Darkness, your spark kindled in the freezing silence of my icy wastes. The first god you saw was I. Vymrl, Conquistador of Ice. Now my children, forged by the crucible of their travails and sorrows, seek to leave their cold home for the Golden Hills.
Their coming will bring much conflict with it, as now they know of naught but blood and sorrow. Yet, in some years, their power will bring peace to the region, a peace that will benefit all peoples.
Just as your warforged spill blood for the greater good, so will my children shed blood in the Golden Hills. For their power is such that few will dare try to shake their hold, while now the Halfings, Dwarves, Archons and Eladrin stand on the knife's edge of war.
Therefore, I come to ask you to hold your warforged back from battle, so that the Vyrane may establish a firm and lasting peace.
------------
S'kre continued to build his Frozen Horde. Soon, because of its size, he divided it into battalions.
The first battalion comprised of Clerics. They were called the Shining Brigade.
The second battalion comprised of Swordmages. They held the proud title of the Bleeding Iron.
The third battalion held S'kre's Wizards. They called themselves Vyrane's Pride.
The bulk of the Horde, however, was made up of raiders and soldiers. They named themselves S'kre's Faithful.
Very well. However, I have proposition for you-
we are both trying to achieve similar goals. Perhaps an alliance would be in order? It seems that the combined forces of the Vyrane, the Warforged, and the Nightwalkers would be a formidable force. It may even show these bickering races how creatures can actually maintain a stable peace, instead of getting into petty arguments with themselves.
Such wasted motion. All that power going to waste to spin them like that.
The god set out, flowing silently to Veros and the godling.
Knowledge, now that you've finished creating this one...
The ephemeral god seemed to look at both godling and elder with a shifting motion.
You have used my power, now there is a project I would like your aid in. Children who forever hunger for more, more knowledge, more power, more of all things. It would seem appropriate that Knowledge would have a hand in such things.
The newling can of course come to see their formation if she likes.
It was at this moment that the rolling cloud of mists that was another god descended upon the surface of the moon. He spoke and Mara was confused when he said and felt the strange feeling again when the God said “this one.”
Mara was interested to see what this God wanted to do, but the feeling gnawed at her. “Veros, you are knowledge? Can you help me? I feel wrong. I am missing something, some essence of myself, can you help me find it? I am sorry, other one, I must find it.”
Mara looked back at Veros, to await his answer. Perhaps he could help, or he would go off with the other to create something new. If he left, she would have to find it herself.
Even though he wished to see what Xirinet had planned, he surprised himself with what he said. "Yes, child. I'll help you seek what is missing."
Xirinet shifted as it spoke, its form suggesting a combination of the two gods it spoke to.
I'm sure this will be interesting enough, and more searchers means Knowledge will sooner be able to aid me on my project.
Mara then thought about. The feeling continued to gnaw at her. Perhaps she could move around like Veros and the other one, but she was disoncerted at the thought of leaving her surface. "I think, perhaps, I will go there now."
Veros dutifully brought her down to the spot she had indicated. The darkness of the sky was nearly complete, as not only was the light from the Sun was shining the other direction, but this moon was in an orbit that had it in the southern hemisphere. The area around them was similar to the first moon, save for the large outcropping of rock and the slight fissures there. Mara could feel the essence coming out of the moon, listless and quiet, it hung around the outcropping and fissure. The essence electrified Mara but she continued moving forward until she was next to the rock outcropping. Hestitating for a moment, she then reached out and touched the rock. Upon her touch a spark of essense was created and Mara reflexively pulled her hand bank. The rock collapsed to to the group and a cloud of dust went into the air. At the same time the essense began to madly swirld in an eddy around the rock cloud. The two mixed together into each other and began coalescing. Eventually the rock and essense formed together and took shape. The form of the new essence was exactly the same as Mara save that instead of silver hair, the simulacrum's hair was black. The second Mara blinked her eyes and awoke. She looked at the silver-haired Goddess. The two eyed each other for a moment before Mara finally spoke, "Hello."
Still, he waited silently, letting events play out.
For, when I am flush with power again, I shall give my people and yours a great gift.
The Xirinet was there, as was Veros, and two others. Neither seemed to be quite right, but when observed together that seemingness vanished. As it looked like they were getting to know each other, Xa'an held back and waited for an opportune moment to introduce himself.
"Weeeeee!!!, Eijra! how you doing? having fun? are yeah? I like your halflings! they are cute!" The Child began doing cartwheels around Eijra trying to cheer her up.
Xirinet laughed silently at his own joke before focusing on Veros.
About my project... Are you interested in granting your aid?
They will be able to survive anywhere by virtue of their gifts, and will be driven to forever seek greater heights perfection.
He waveed his arm and slowly gathered a cloud of dust, focusing it until it was solid. Satisfied, he handed it to him.
"Here, Xirinet. Use this in your creation and they will have the traits you require assistance with.'
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Given to Xirinet for the creation of his new race.
Accepting the portion of power Xirinet gave last glance to Mara before leaving.
Moments later Xirinet had settled into what passed for standing within a small glade in the area that had come to be known as the Shattered Land.
Idly the god began to trace shapes in the air, as if unsure of the form it wished to give the mortals yet to be. Finally the race began to take form, non-descript when compared to the races that had come before.
Simple in form, but that is not their strength.
Then Xirinet began funneling Veros power into the creation of their minds. Mixing in traces of its own power the mortals were given a quality that others before had lacked.
The other little ones are each born unto their purpose, the path laid out before them. My children will be born to master all they wish, their path their own.
With a final rush of power the new mortals were born into the world. Driven to search out power and prestige, to forever perfect themselves, the humans so late-born into the world would forever have the thirst to prove themselves.
Actions
1PP+1PP from Veros. Shape Populace: Humans, the fluff is self explanatory. Xi likes adaptability and humans have it in spades. Plus a hunger for knowledge and power (an homage to their "parents" qualities).
Mara thought for a moment again, before touching the other version of her with her hand. The other self was corporeal and did no dissipate. Mara frowned for a second. This other one was definitely what had been missing. Being near her, Mara no longer felt the sensation of loss. Mara could feel a connection to the other through their shared essence. “Who am I? I am you!” Mara finally said in understanding.
The black haired version gave a confused look and asked back, “Then who am I?”
“You are me!”
Mara took the hand of the other and put it onto her heart, just as she had done before, letting the connection of existence be felt by both. “I am me, you are you, . . .
“... and I am you, and you are me!” the other one finished the sentence.
The black-haired Mara looked over the shoulder of the white-haired Mara and saw that there were other watching. “Who are they?”
“That one,” Mara said, pointing to Veros, “is Veros, lord of Knowledge. He gave ma his essence and created me.” She looked at the other newer arrival. “I don't know the other.”
He descended back to the sphere, hunting down the thread of power he had given Xirinet. When he found the creations, he nodded approvingly. They seemed to have the proper mixtures of the various traits as promised.
He looked around for Xirinet.
The life god idly drifted through the trees, a fogbank toying with the mortals.
Or do you have other motives? I won't begrudge you toying as you will with the little ones, you did provide some of who they are.
"And searching for you. I have need of a favor."
What favor do you ask now?
Xirinet twisted against the wind, a strange sight to the mortals who until then thought they were in no more than a natural fogbank, as it considered Veros.
"I made a minor mistake when I lent you power earlier, as it leaves me without the energy to do something else I had planned. Unfortunately, as you have already used it, I cannot simply recall it."
"I had hoped that perhaps you could give me a gift of power, and in exchange, I shall grant you access to the powers of the leyines for a few years."
A favor at some future time as it were?
As you agree, I grant you the power you request.
Veros felt a surge of strength pass into him as Xirinet spoke.
I am interested in what you do with the power, Knowledge. Now though I have one last thing to do. A gift to the little ones.
Humans found themselves blessed with bounties. Though inexperienced they found that they succeeded in whatever they turned their hands to.
Actions
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Humans getting a little boost.
1PP given to Veros
1PP given to Veros
Always rushing... Perhaps I made them a little too short-lived? No... They are better this way, more driven, less decadent.
The life god distractedly watched the humans as they settled in the Shattered Land.
" You are right my, Son...this world is poor of life and there is so much that is needed to be done. But there is conflict coming, weapons are forged, beasts are bred by greedy gods and their lackeys. I need to see to my children, prepare them for what will come, Sun God...and I would advice you to do the same. "
The goddess arose and suddenly began to laugh when her Brother appeared out of the nothingness and began to jump around. He had changed...many years had passed since their last meeting so truth to be told she had no real reason to be suprised.
" Well, hello there, Dear brother! "
She said and smiled brightly at him. Her brown eyes shining brightly with joy.
Iron ore melted and ran to be cast into swords, spears, shields, armor and arrows. While on the larger islands thousands of soldiers drilled.
In an eye of calm, S'kre watched it all from his massive castle of dark ice. He called the castle Juntoncor.
"Expanding the bio-field over the rest of the earth would be the best way to thwart aggressors," he thought to himself, "but, once again, no one seems to get it."
Tahns remembered that Chactross was often eager to create new things, but Chactross had already expended his creative power for the time being, creating the Shadar-Kai. On the same damned continent. Sigh.
"Ah well, she has a point, I suppose."
Recently, the eladrin had fallen on hard times. Their friendship with the dwarves and halflings had turned sour, and the loss of trade was forcing some of them to move away from their sacred mountain. This last bit didn't bother Tahns so much; he had always meant for them to expand. The circumstances in which this occurred, however, were upsetting. One group of eladrin had begun to build a home for themselves near the shadar-kai lands, and were trading the small amounts of iron and obsidian weapons and tools they had brought with them for fire-bush seeds. They needed more resources to trade, and the mountain needed those seeds.
And so Tahns paid another visit to Mt. Gargoth.
Long ago, he had given the eladrin the means to see everything he could see. A natural evolution of this would be the power to go anywhere he could go. Tahns descended on the Temple of Creation and approached the assembled chieftains.
"The world has shown its harshness. In the future, it promises to grow harsher still. With this instrument, however, there will be no power in the mortal coil that can abuse the high-men!"
He then departed, but left in his place something very, very shiny.
...
Using this new artifact, the two eladrin population centers maintained constant communication. They also were able to send trade goods (especially horses; the shadar-kai thought those were cool) to the distant colony, and to bring fire-bush seeds back to the homeland. As a result of this, the eladrin settlement prospered, and the shadar-kai learned more of the world. This growing eladrin city was named Luriarch.
PP
Create Artifact (moderate) 2 PP: the Solar Chariot is a teleportation device that works in conjunction with the Eye of the Sun. Once per day, at high noon, a group of willing creatures can be teleported between Mt. Gargoth and any location currently being scried on by the Eye of the Sun.
Still, he cast out a further web, finding the most loyal and intelligent of his followers. These dwarves and dopplegangers, driven by the divine echoes in their mind, form a secret group within the dwarven lands, dedicating themselves to unearthing knowledge. With their unique talents and focus, they soon rose to prominence, their fellows counting on them to know what few others did.
He grinned, and gave the dwarves a favor, using his power to extend their holds deeper and wider into the ground. He turned away, and considered one final thing. He tapped into the leylines, and channelled their power. Through out the continent, the dopplegangers continued to flourish on all sides, remaining hidden within their adoptive homes.
Exhausted, he stood there, resting.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Dwarves worship Veros
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - A group of dwarves form an organization, the Loremasters, dedicated to preserving knowledge, and putting it to the best use.
1 PP - Mold Land (Lesser) (Artifact) - Extend the depths of the dwarven stronghold.
1 PP - Nourish Populace (Artifact) - Dopplegangers flourish.
You turn them towards your ends. I see...
A grand use for your power, to turn it toward gaining more. Interesting goals, if I see them correctly. You seek to keep your greater influences hidden from the world.
Conflicting, but I suppose I should expect that of you.
“It's dark and cold.”
“Not on the other side! There is light there.” Mara pointed to the crest of the light over the horizon and from the pillar. “See, it's getting light here soon.”
Mara sat and watched as the day slowly crept across the northern face of the world. The moon they were on, however, was in orbit over the southern hemisphere, which stayed in perpetual darkness. “Don't worry,” Mara told herself, “You will be up there where I am now soon.”
The two Maras sat on the rocks of the dark moon and watched the day come. They looked down at the creatures, plants, and mortals that dotted the northern hemisphere. They saw as the Eladrin, whom they took an initial fondness for (since they looked like the Eladrin) fight with the Dwarves and Halflings. They looked at the newest race even farther to the north, the Humans, and how already they were created to be aggressive and expansionist.
“What do they call us?” Mara asked herself.
“They call me different things. They haven't met you yet.”
“But won't some not know of me? I only appear together over some of the world.”
At this point the white-haired Mara giggled and pointed to some shallow waters near to the moon. “The water. Does it like you? It is trying to follow you.”
Sure enough, as the moon moved, the water would follow as best as it could. “Perhaps we should help it!”
“Just a little, it isn't ours.”
“Well, the mortals can always know where I am if they follow the water.” And with that Mara decided that she like the water following her, and would help it. The mortals would know where she was even if she was hidden, by where the water was and where it was trying to go.
PP
Mold Land Greater - 3 PP to create the tides. Since there are two moons the tides are more complicated and bit more extreme.
Mold Land Greater - 3 PP to create more water and expand the oceans, particularly over the southern hemisphere.
Mold Land Greater - 3 PP to create the tides. Since there are two moons the tides are more complicated and bit more extreme.
Mold Land Greater - 3 PP to create more water and expand the oceans, particularly over the southern hemisphere.
PP Refresh
5 - Veros, Tsarokga-Noggoth
4 - Neko, Xa'an, Chactross, The Void, Oravolos, Oreb Nahash, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Xirinet, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Thans, Eijra, Mara
Sorry about the delays, but a long car trip called.
It was night and the sky was dark and Eijra was alone. She sat at a rock and was dressed in a lithe, green dress and she worked. More then two-hundred years had passed, conflicts had risen and conflict had passed and her children flourished.
The Kingdom of Duskpeak was now the kingdom of Duska Krak Or " The kingdom of the Clouded Mountain", It's name changed in the changed tongue of her children. It had grown much as the years had passed. Several new towns and even a couple of minor cities had been founded by both Dwarves and Halflings. All of this under the careful watch of High King Nadri the careful, the son of Ettri the Long-Lived. A new religous order had been founded in the fair Goddess name.
It was known as the Order of the Flourishing Path and was a order of warrior priests and priestesses who fought for their fair Goddess. The majority of the order's members were Dwarfs but a sizable minority were Halflings and they were even one or two Eladrin's who had joined the Order's numbers.
It was the Order of the Flourishing Path. A warrior order dedicated to their Fair Goddess, both Dwarves and Halflings were members.
The Goddess worked with something new this night though, something that would in a couple of centuries change the world. It took the form of a single, snow-white acorn. A strange sound came from it, like the sound of a beating heart. The Goddess Smiled her brown eyes glittering in the light of the two Moons.
Guide Populace 1 PP: Make the kingdom of Duska Krak grow.
Teach Populace 2PP: Teach the people of Duska Krak to become Paladin's.
S'kre's bound soul uttered a great, ultalating cry that exploded out from the Citadel. It's deep tones carried an urgency, and a cruel desire for blood.
His captains, Svartjen the Cruel, Grumock the Frozen, and Bvrockcor the Iron, raised their massive war staffs and returned the cry, a great yell soon taken up by the thousands of giants around them.
Then, a great pulse of energy glowed in the sky above them. A great aurora, shedding a soft purple-green light appeared. The soldiers of the Vyrane were filled with an unfamiliar martial ardor, a knowledge and lust for slaughter greater than had ever filled them before.
Beyond that, the massed warriors felt possessed a unity, a brotherhood in arms, unfelt in all the world before that moment. It would serve them well in coming battles.
Similar tides of emotion and valor washed through the minds of Warforged and Nightwalker soldiers half a world away.
The next day, huge fleets of Berg Ships began to drift down through the Twin Zephries carrying thousands of soldiers to land on the Aegis.
PP
3PP-Claim Domain (Greater): War
1PP-Guide Populous (Lesser): Attack Golden Hills
They existed already. In the hearts of many mortals, they held sovereignty. Cries of desire rang out already in the still air. And she was their answer.
The twin moons approached each other, like lovers long departed, meeting again at last. They edged closer. They seemed about to collide with their closeness. Then, as if by some mighty miracle, they did not. In the clear sky, framed by the gates to Riot, framed by the stars, the moons did their elegant dance.
And in that mesmerizing moment, as halflings and Eladrin alike set down their tools to observe this magical event, a flash of green illuminated the night.
Those who saw it dismissed it at first, and many accounted it to the late hour. Some watched still. These were the ones who saw what came next.
A black hole split the sky. At first it was but a dark blot, deeper and more profound than the darkness around it. It was unnerving to those who watched. And it grew, extending inexorably outwards.
Then a hand, greener than the greenest leaf, stretched from inside the hole, reaching, grasping towards the world below. It grasped the edge of the hole. Another hand, made of a material not unknown to those upon the world: iron. It too grasped the edge of the hole. It was soon followed by another hand, this one green. More hands followed, some green, some iron, and soon, three pairs of hands grasped the edge of the hole. The hands pulled, and a head left the blackness, and it was smiling.
If only there was some other way... it muttered quietly to itself. The time was now, however. It granted the Warforged a small amount of its divine mastery over the undead, allowing them to manipulate the powers of death. Given this new capability, Nocturne began to march the Warforged off to war, who, in turn, used their power to bring the forces of undeath with them.
2PP- Guide Populace (Greater)- Create necromancers.
1PP- Guide Populace (Lesser)- Orders Warforged to attack the Golden Hills.
Her hands, they moved with a deadly grace, performing their own, intricate dance as they moved through the Aether. Up, over her head, down to her chest, fingers clasped, then up and around. They did this dance without conscious thought on her part, it was simply who she was.
She could feel the energy of birthing still in the air about her, almost palpable. It ran through her, rushing through her being. With a thought, it shifted, dancing about her. She saw the world her brothers, her sisters had created, shaped from this primal essence. She wanted some for herself.
She turned her attention back to her hands. They moved through the air, shaping, molding the energy to her will. It condensed, forming a shape more acquiescent to her needs.
Long, and thin, a shape emerged from the energy. She grasped it with her hand of green, and the object changed to match it, green, and hard. She grasped the opposite end with a hand made all of iron. Slowly but surely, the object adopted an iron hue as well. The iron spread across it until it met the green, and stopped. She released the thing into the Aether before her.
It was long, and thin. One half was purest iron, the other purest green. As she made it dance, twirl over, and under her arms, between her hands, she contemplated her creation. It was nothing like the creations of the other gods, but it was all her own. It was her tool in this world. It was flush with the power of creation, so it would help her create. It was, in essence, the Land Spike.
PP Expenditure:
3 PP Create Artifact (Greater) The Land Spike. This artifact is creation made manifest, so it provides 1 PP for Create actions.
"There is the smile I love! fun, fun, fun! You should see my people that came rom my pods same as your children! people of the trees! they are! and happy tree people!"
"How are your people! are they happy? or are they sad?"
They came in speed and they came in force but they were not prepared. Dwarves and Halflings were united. One Kingdom, One people under one lord and it was as one people they fought back. The heavily armoured Dwarven Legions of Duska Krak marched forth, reinforced by soldiers from other Dwarven cities, Halfling slingers and archers, battle-bards dressed in blue robes and the Green-Robed Paladins of the Flourishing Path.
Eijra looked at her brother, smiling her eyes glittering in the light of the moon and then her face grew pale, her hands began to shake and her eyes were filled with fear.
" They are coming...they are killing my children. Help me Brother...Help me! "
The Goddess threw her self up from her stone and faded away, going to her people, preparing her self to help them.
They had been attacked! No warnings had been given, no reason seemed to be present...it was madness.
Shurka went to a small group of dwarves and halflings who had knowledge of the healing arts. He touched their minds and taught them how to harness their powers to assist in the battle.
Cousin Eijra... why are these creatures preparing to fight your creations? Have you offended their god?
PP Use
4PP [One from Eorna] - Teach Populace (Dwarves and Halflings) - Dwarves and halflings can now be clerics
Wizards and battle clerics stood atop the higher flying Bergs, prepared to rain down devastation upon an enemy force. Infantry approached under their protective shadow, weapons thirsting for blood.
Within days, the smallest sourthern settlements were in Vyrane hands, while hordes of strange monsters issued forth from the Underdark, threatening to change the heart of the Golden Hills into a morass of war.
The people of the captured halfling settlements were instructed to go about their business as usual, after each family left a wife or child hostage.
Still, the Vyrane did not murder wantonly, and little blood was shed in towns that surrendered peacefully. In towns that did not, the rulers died under the hard iron blades of the Vyrane Swordmages, and any farmer that dared lift a finger to help them was killed and his farm confiscated.
The captains of the Frozen Horde would allow no internal dissonance in captured towns.
All this was done in the name of the Golden Imperium.
(OOC: I'm allowing the warforged and nightcrawlers to draw upon the War domain, in addition the the Vyrane.)
As he settled in, he looked at the strange invaders, examining them closely. He recognized the touch of divine power on the smaller creatures, but the giants were something different, a strange divine influence that he didn't recognize.
He continued to watch for a moment, before making his decision. He reached out, and manipulated the leylines, slowly drawing on their power. After several minutes, he accomplished what he had sought.
Aided by this, the dwarves and halflings began to fight back more effectively.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace (Artifact) - For the duration of this turn, the Vyrmosk find that their magic refuses to work, as if they had never had it, rendering their swordmages and wizards powerless.
"Ironic, isn't it?" He said to himself. "The eladrin could have helped them a lot...but they had to go and alienate them. Heh. Funny how it works out."
There were still a few eladrin traders moving between Gargoth and the Golden Hills, but only a few. Soon enough, even they would not be needed. Using the Chariot he had given them, the eladrin were importing large amounts of fire-seed to their homeland. With their new friends, the eladrin would not need the fickle dwarves and halflings; they could just sit safely back and watch the world improve.
Of course, Tahns figured he might as well give them a hand. That's what gods are for, after all. He blew winds of magic over the fire-bush fields, causing them to blow rapidly and profusely. The eladrin and their halfling peons had an extremely succesful harvest, and an even more succesful planting season. They spread further out from the mountain, building eladrin estates on small hills for miles around to oversee the vast new fields that were being planted. The meadows and hillsides were also used to ranch more horses, both for their own use and for the shadar-kai trade.
This was good, but now the eladrin were a bit too spread out. They'd need more than wizards to defend their borders. Using the fire-seeds, the eladrin were creating iron, of a quality even the dwarves would have trouble smelting, and crafting it into weapons. Tahns taught them to use these more effectively.
PP
Nourish Populace (minor) 1 PP: those seeds they got from the shadar-kai are proving even more helpful than expected. In addition to ending the food crisis, they are also allowing the eladrin to create their own metal, and thus they are no longer reliant on trade with the dwarven mines. The eladrin are expanding.
Guide Populace (greater) 2 PP: the eladrin now have Warlords.
Nourish Populace (minor) 1 PP: those seeds they got from the shadar-kai are proving even more helpful than expected. In addition to ending the food crisis, they are also allowing the eladrin to create their own metal, and thus they are no longer reliant on trade with the dwarven mines. The eladrin are expanding.
Guide Populace (greater) 2 PP: the eladrin now have Warlords.
With clerics used soley to heal and defeat the few larger armed groups, the warriors of the Vyrane raided deap into the fertile Golden Hills. Every farm they saw burned, and its harvest carried away to feed the Frozen Horde.
All the captured food was stockpiled in larger, heavily defended towns. As winter began to encroach, famine threatened, and many halfling farmers began to defect.
The victory was short-lived, however. Soon, Wraiths drew up from behind the battlements, phasing through the ground behind their enemies' defenses. They had regenerated their wounds, and began fighting fresh.
Meanwhile, with this temporary diversion, the Warforged and Nightwalkers marched back to the defenses. They fired blasts of necrotic energy, while the Necromancers worked their powers. The Halflings and Dwarves realized with horror that those in their ranks who had been slain began arrising.
The Dwarves and Halflings were in dire straits: Attacked from behind their defenses by Wraiths, from the front by the Warforged, and from within by the corpses of their dead.
He called to his sister as she headed off to help her Children. "I will come to your aid sister. My Ae-Silvani will see to it."
With that Oravalos called to his people as he sprung through a portal he made with a slash of his cleft spear, stepping into his inner sanctum.
The elders of his people were gathered there, and he turned to address them his spear held at the ready at his side. "My people, you have lived a peaceful existence up till now tending to the creatures and plants of the aether sea. Now you are called to the defense of the aether. A portal has pierced the aether with wich a warlike race of giant humanoids are assaulting the free people of the world below attempting to slaughter my sisters children. I call the people to there defense."
The Hunter paced forward to the nearest copse of Valin trees and began to chant and work the wood until he formed the trees into a globe with the roots in the center, sculpting some of the branches to form rooms and decks. This ship was driven by an aether globe in the center of the root structure.
The Hunter turned to the elders present, teaching them the ways to drive and craft these ships. "My people, you have lived among the Valin groves for centuries, I have now given you a way to move about freely between your homes in the groves, and about the aether sea."
The Hunter turned to Rein-Veil the first born. "You will lead our people in a skirmish with the giants. I want that tunnel they have bored through the aegis and the aether taken down. Cut them off from there supply routes, do not engage them in full on battle unless pressed."
---------------------------------------------------
Reinveil led his people as instructed building a small fleet of Aerlion's as he came to call them. They came upon the ice tunnel where it passed through the aether. Reinveil spreading the ship's around its circumfrance. In a chant of immense power guided by there god the Ae-Silvani Druid elders performed a titanic ritual drawing upon the magic of the land and focusing its power on the ice tunnel shattering a large expanse of it where it passed through the aether.
Guide Populate Greater (2 PP): Sailing
De nourish: Artifact (1 pp): Bust the tunnel in a section of the aether
En masse, the Warforged and their undead allies swarmed from the ground and attacked the dwarves and halflings.
((Wow, those dwarves and halflings sure are getting beat up.))
((did you perhaps mean to write something else?))
((What? It says Halflings. It always said Halflings. :shifty
)Every moment she felt a life wither away, every moment she felt how one of her children died, how they were enslaved, kidnapped and executed.
It was pain, she felt how her children withered away, felt how they died and faded away...she felt how children screamed after their mothers...how husbands fought back and got stabbed to death by cruel giants...
What had they done to deserve this! WHAT HAD THEY DONE!
" WE DID NOTHING! "
She screamed, her voice filled with anguish and suffering.
A noble dwarf fell to the ground with a Giant's spear piercing his body.
She hid away her face between shaking hands. Falling down on her knees as she cried.
" Nothing! Brother! My son! Father! Shurka! Someone! Please help me! "
A Halfling child got squashed under a Giant's boot and the fair Goddess screamed once more.
" I promise you everything! Just help me! They are killing my children! "
Dwarves and Halflings fought bravely. The Halflings refused to give back and fled the occupied land in thousands, crowding the free cities and towns of the unoccuppied north. Those that remained led a brave resistance movement, attacking Giant patrols with the Battle-Bards magic, burning their own crops and the crops of the few traditors that existed among the Halfings and something new, something strange.
The priests of Eijra and the White God ( Shurka ). Discovered that their prayers changed things, as they kneeled in front of injured men and women and gave them their blessing their injuries healed. When they cursed the Giants, fire sometimes fell from the sky or strange beings appeared to help them in their struggles...and they felt odd, like of their Gods aided them in their struggles, as if they truly were there.
They fought back. They fought for their freedom! They fought for their Gods and most importantly they fought for themselves. The Golden Hills would not fight to any intruder without the land
He reached out, placing his hand upon her should. For a single moment, a grey haze passed over her. He drew back his hand, and grey liquid substance drew back with it.
He gathered it, pulling more and more from her, drawing the very essence of her sorrow and despair.
Finally, when he had enough, he cast it out, granting it form, shaping it into a form that would inspire terror in their foes, able to pursue them anywhere. with a command to hunt down the dead and spirits who had not passed on as they should.
At his command, the sorrowsworn bore down on these invaders, both living and dead.
PP Expenditures
4 PP - Shape Populace (Greater) - Sorrowsworn
...This is only a temporary measure... I'm not sure if Eijra's creations can hold out for long. Although... there is one more thing I can do to assist.
Shurka opened a path to the Feywyld. From it emerged the guardians of the Feywyld ready to take down any who would oppose Eijra. The treents had arrived.
"Eijra, I do not know what else can be done... I will give you some of my power, do whatever you must!"
(1 PP given to Eijra)
"Well darn," he said, "this is...unprecedented."
He looked down at the chaos below.
"If your children want the eladrin to aid them, they will have to approach them themselves. The feud between the dwarven empire and the high-men was caused by mortals acting on their own, and I fear that it must so be undone."
He smiled reassuringly.
"However," he said, patting Aijra on the shoulder, "there is something else I can do."
And with that, Tahns brought down a curse upon the invaders. The golden sunlight, so nourishing to those who had been born under it, became terrifying and destructive to those it knew not. The undead began to literally sizzle and come apart at the seams. The warforged, being made from indigenous materials, were not affected themselves. However, since their main advantage was necromancy, the blow against the undead seriously limited their power.
The invaders could now only fight at full capacity at night. The defenders, on the other hand, were always equally competent, giving them an overall advantage.
PP
De-Nourish Populace (1 PP): Undead now have an irrational fear of sunlight. Some types of undead actually take damage from exposure.
She descended through the Aether, through the Aegis as if it was smoke. She landed delicately upon the surface of this ravaged world. She observed the world around her with an air of detached uncaring.
Smoke and fear clogged the air like a miasma. Bodies, run through by giants' spears and warforged blades, littered the ground. It was so pointless, all of this. These creatures, these insects, were insignificant, specks upon the magnificence that was she. The other gods devoted so much time, so much effort, preserving these things, when their lives were gone in a blink of the gods' immortal eyes. What purpose did they truly serve above the amusement of their immortal masters?
She looked about herself, saw the warriors fallen by the wayside, felled by mortal wound, or deadly injury, and yet still clinging to their last dregs of life. She saw these warriors, and had an idea.
He leaned onto her shoulder, unable to hold himself up.
-----
With the sun burning at them, and the sorrowsworn tearing into them, the giants, warforged, and undead were being driven back.
The Hunter looked on grimly as the combined forces descended upon the halfing and dwarf settlement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinveil the first born lord of the Ae-Silvani for over 10 centuries looked on as well in perfect communion with his god, and he could feel the rage of mother earth calling out for help. He knew that he needed to do more.
Reinveil knew with the Aerlions he had, his people could now survive in the airborne environment of the world below remaining in the aether envelope created by the Valin trees his ships were formed of. His airships could deal with the Vyrmusk fleet and harry it, and he knew he had to at the very least try. Thus he gathered up half the aerlions and a cadre of druids from the sanctuum and the Ilani vale. A full five hundred strong Ae-Silvani druids boarded the ships with the first born, and descended down the ice tunnel following the Vyrmosk to the golden hills.
Reinviel saw that the conquest was in full force when he arrived, and on the month long travel his god had divulged much information on the Vyrmosk and there new found allies in the warforged and twisted nightwalkers.
Reinviel turned to his people and bellowed "For mother earth! for the free people! for the land and the trees! we go to war my brothers and sisters!"
With that the significantly more agile and nimble aerlion tree globes descended upon the Ice Giant airships from the rear. Each and every Ae-Silvani brought to defend the people of the golden hills was a druid who could command the power of nature and the very land itself. Lightning bolts, gale force winds, and the very trees themselves lashed out upon the Vyrmusk air ships, felling a number of them as the Aerlion globes dived among the hoard lashing out with fey magic all about them.
The Ae-Silvani had come to make war upon the Ice Giants
Guide Populace (Moderate): War between the Ae-Silvani and the Vyrmosk
Moving away the god considered the leylines, considering further use to be drwn from them. In an instant Xirinet poured its power into the leylines, charging them with a new poer, a power to bring new life into the world.
With a sudden wrenching Xirinet's focus was torn to the war perpetrated by the Giant's and their cohorts. It rushed, a billowing fog, to examine the actions of the mortals wondering at this new behavior.
It was shocked at the carnage, pointless destruction without focus or reason. Suddenly the life god felt a surge of fury, that any Creator would allow this to occur.
Carnage without purpose, unfocused, useless. Life lost without reason.
As Xirinet's anger grew it seized the power of the stars and brought them to bear in the battles. The attacking forces soon found that no matter how they tried their foes would not fall. Blows that should strike instead were wide of their marks. Mists appeared in their eyes, when to halfling, dwarf, and eladrin the day was clear.
The god thought smugly to itself watching the reaction of the forces to their sudden uselessness.
I bless them with suck.
Actions
3PP, Create Artifact: Well technically it's a modify. The Leylines now produce 1PP for Spawn actions. For me of course.
1PP, Guide Populace: Ritualized prayer, etc to me by the Humans.
1PP from Stars, Nourish: Or denourish depending on how you view it... Either way, Life is on the side of the PC races in this fight. The Giants find that many of their enemies just won't die.
1PP, Guide Populace: Ritualized prayer, etc to me by the Humans.
1PP from Stars, Nourish: Or denourish depending on how you view it... Either way, Life is on the side of the PC races in this fight. The Giants find that many of their enemies just won't die.
From this light, shapes were culled, drawn into being by the force of her magic, beings, lithe and agile, stepped into the world. Their forms, brief and inconstant as the desires of man, walked the plains, adhering only to the commands of their goddess. They were the Talua, they were hunters, they were killers, their prey? The hearts of men.
--------------------------
Hope, like a life-brining elixir, had begun to spread among the dwarven and halfling warriors, hope, borne on the winds of change. The enemy was being pushed back, victory seemed just on the horizon.
Hope spread through the hearts of the warriors, living and dying. In the former, it was present in the faces of their comrades, shining with happiness. In the latter, it came in the women, dressed in flowing gowns, that walked among them, offering drinks from their pitchers of green.
PP Expenditure:
2 PP Spawn Beast (Moderate): The Talua are shape-shifters who follow no rule than that of their mistress. They offer hope to those they encounter, often by offering a drink from a jade pitcher. The drinker, however, dies soon after, the image of the Talua haunting them until their death.
And then Nocturne heard the cries of anguish and despair.
Nothing? How can you claim that these creatures did nothing? They would fight each other over petty arguments. They are interesting, to be sure, but they are far from innocent. They cannot be entrusted with their own survival.
I am trying to ensure that they do survive. They have killed each other. They have brought bloodshed and sorrow to each other. And over what? Arguments over tracts of land? Land is bountiful. There is more than enough land for them. This isn't what matters to them, though. No matter what happens, they will find reasons to spill each other's blood. And they will keep doing so, until any form of sentient life is exterminated.
The Warforged, however, have no such prejudices. Neither do the undead. They will rule over these creatures, making certain that none of them will fight pointlessly.
Actions
1 PP- De-Nourish Populace- Humanoids now have a fear of the unknown. This translates into a fear of darkness for those without darkvision, or a similar way to see in the dark (which, with their poor vision in darkness, make them much less effective overall at night, giving Nocturne's forces the advatage during the night) and death (which can cause a fear of fighting and risk taking, again, weakening the mortal forces that much more by giving them reasons not to fight.)
"Who says this?" He asked, "Are we finally hearing from our mysterious opponents themselves?"
He smiled broadly and held out his arms.
"Come along now," he said, "show yourself, strange god! Get to know your family!"
Nocturne called the Observer to help them out.
It flew into the conflict, beginning to attack the powerful Sorrowsworn that were harassing the Warforged and their allies.
Such a waste... the Observer thought to itself. It seems that this is far worse than anything that has happened.
But Nocturne is far more ancient and more powerful than myself. I suppose that this will help in the future. Observer saw the fear in the creatures' eyes as the twisted corpses of their former friends and allies rose up to kill them. ...But it just seems like little more than mindless carnage right now.
The Warforged were given time to regroup with the brief respite from the attacks of the Sorrowsworn. As the Sorrowsworns' corpses began to hit the ground, they created more undead. Night was soon approaching, and, knowing this, the Warforged began to surge forward.
"Yes we are. Additionally, call back your minion before this battle escalates beyond simple mortal forces."
Shame took the fair Goddess. She had spurned her son, spurned her for something foolish he had done, something she just as him had been a part of him...and yet here he was. Using his mighty powers in support to of her people.
They were there for her. Her friends, her family, everyone was here for her sake. The fair Goddess smiled, a smile more beautiful then any smile that had ever touched a couple of lips.
The fair Goddess got up, tears still running down from her eyes. She carefully supported her tired father.
She was not alone. Her family had finally arrived. And now...now they would fight back.
Very well, my forces are suffering and will withdraw. Be forewarned, however, this war is not yet over. I used my power to ensure the mortals' survival. If I am not convinced that they will not wipe themselves out in some inane conflict over land or some such petty "reason," they will come back to ensure peace.
The Warforged began to withdraw their forces. Both sides had suffered fairly heavy casualties, and the enemies had begun to gain the upper hand. The Wraiths retreated into the ground, and the Warforged and the Nightwalkers began to march away. The Observer took up the rear, making it painfully obvious that any attempt to attack the retreating army would be met with a swift and fierce punishment.
It was during one of these times that a disturbance was created in between the moons. A hole opened up in the sky and a new creature, a new god, emerged. The two Maras witnessed the birth in person, and could feel the energy and purpose of this new god.
“Did I create this god?”
“No, sister.” Mara had begun to use that term, a mortal term, to refer to her other self, even though it wasn't quite accurate. “The energy of the mortals created it. They are arrogant and greedy, the gods treat the mortals like children and they have grown spoiled.”
Mara continued to watch, as the new god descended into the world. They saw the frost giants invade from the dry,hot north pole towards the home of the halflings and dwarves. They watched as the fey goddess threw a temper tantrum and cried. They watched as Veras, their father, and other gods went to the Fey goddess and helped her creations.
The silver haired Mara looked at the other. “I wish to know where these men of ice came from, even though it is desert there.”
Mara did not like to separate herself during the changing phase, but the importance of the moment was too great. She took off from the moon and went north to the pole, directly under the heat of the sun, where it was greatest. She knew of the hole there, to the inside, but had never ventured. This time, summoning her strength, she went into the hole and saw what was inside. She was amazed!
But then she saw the dryads attacking the ice bridge, destroying the central span. The frost giants could not return home if they wanted to. Mara followed the dryads as they went back outside to assist the halflings. She reported what she saw to herself.
“The men of ice are surely doomed now.”
“Maybe I can help.” the raven haired Mara responded. She pointed to the southern hemisphere of the world where it was perpetually dark, and really cold. The water Mara had expanded into the southern part had frozen over into great glaciers of ice covering almost all of the southern hemisphere. Near the equator, where some warmth still existed, there were many ice floes and some free water.
The white haired Mara shook her head. “Not even the ice men can survive the extreme cold there.”
“No. But where it is twilight, at the equator, it is cold but they could survive.”
“I mustn't help them. Father is helping that woman. He would be very upset with me if I helped the frost creatures.”
The began bickering over whether to help the frost giants, the halflings, and what to do.
But don't those that choose to maim others the ones that come out of the fight? The ones that choose not to slaughter, maim, and kill are those that are slaughtered, maimed, and killed. Those that are, as you say, "unworthy" of those gifts are the ones that come out the victor, and thus, "kept around".
"The dwarves had done evil, yes. They caused disputes with the eladrin where none were needed, occupied the lands of the halflings when they were not wanted, and even murdered those who protested too loudly. And yet, rather than punishing them, you rained destruction on the halfling country...dwarf occupied, but home to those who had done little wrong."
He then gestured to what was left of the Golden Hills.
"But had they ever done anything so terrible that you would find THIS preferable? And furthermore, do you not realize that your allies, the frost giants, were punished by my father for exactly the sort of wickedness you complain about?"
He looked a bit more menacing as he stepped toward Nocturne.
"What its starting to seem like," he said, "is that you just wanted a war, and are now making up justifications."
Veros looked at Tahns. He hadn't had contact with the godlings since they created the eladrin, but he seemed reasonable enough. "I find that I agree with Tahns. You and your allies embarked to war simply to do so, with no reason."
You defend the Halflings with all your might, yet when Choactress's Archons brought fire and sword to the lands of MY people you did nothing. When his demon creations shattered the very land beneath their feet, not ONE of you took notice.
But, when my children leave their forgotten wasteland for more fertile places, to establish order, and a lasting peace, you help the viscous, infighting natives. Had you kept your meddling hands from this conflict, and allowed the merits of the mortals to decide their fates, this would have been decided one way or another.
Yet, because of your arrogant protection of your people, your blessing them with gifts they have not earned, corpses litter the ground. If you must bring further sorrow to all mortals, then do so.
But, if you will let their own power decide this conflict, then all shall benefit. One race shall fall, to be ruled by another, and stability, peace and order shall reign. If you cannot keep your pride from this conflict, then it will extend through the millenia, as wars on a divine scale are fought.
-------------------
The goddess was overjoyed, a jubilance awoke within her chest. What fun were these games! These mortals, they felt! They laughed, they cried, they lived, they died! This high was like no other. It awoke a presence deep within her, a beast that purred with satisfaction at her actions.
And she walked. As she walked, the power of creation whipped about her, borne upon her happiness. The Land Spike danced and wove through the air, reflecting the way she felt. Her hands moved with a happy grace: up, around, down, palms touch, reach up high.
The beast purred once more within her chest.
"As for your accusations, why did you not create a fertile place for your people in this great world, instead of sending your people to take that whicyh we have created? Why did you not ask for help when Archons supposedly did this damage?"
He pointed his finger threateningly. "Instead you hid yourself. You send your people to conquer, to take that which you had no hand in the creation of, and think that we would simply allow it to happen? You, cold one, are an arrogant fool!"
She worked, worked to make sound as he did. Her face, impassive as stone, didn't move. The voice, however, echoed from the air around her, low, and seductive.
"Hello," the voice was beautiful, and at first seemed flawless, then, one would realize how every syllable, every reflection, every intonation, was perfectly crafted to get the best reaction, "your mortals, they are amusing, are they not? When the life leaves their eyes... exquisite!"
The beast purred, and she whispered in answer Soon sister, soon.
Tahns smiled rather cruelly now.
"Besides which, aren't you their god? Why did you not protect them from my father, if you saw his actions as being so unjust? Why did you not give them the power to resist the invaders, as we have done here for the halflings and dwarves? Are you saying you care enough for your 'little ones' to teach them to conquer and pillage, but not enough to protect them from the archons?"
His grin got a little broader, and more unpleasant.
"Or are you a weakling god, simply to impotent and pathetic to defend those poor fools who would be unfortunate enough to worship you?"
She rose through the air to stand amongst them.
"What fun these mortals be!" the voice echoed, eerie, yet entrancing, "This war, what a diversion! It should happen more often!"
The dance of her hands sped up in tempo as her excitement increased.
"What in the...?"
She was talking about how war needed to happen more often.
"Oh, not ANOTHER one!"
The Fey Goddess kissed her father on his forehead, hugged her brother and held her son close. She thanked them with all of their hearts and told them that she owe them everything but that there was someone else that needed her more for the moment then them and that was her children. Her family would be able to take care of the interlopers, she was quite sure on that...but they were things that were needed to be done. So much had been burnt, so much had been destroyed...and so many lives lost.
The Halflings had lost their innocence as they had worn the blunt of the invasion. They had had their relatives kidnapped, their friends killed and their lands destroyed by both Giants and other Halflings.
This had also changed something else. A friendship had been formed between Halflings and their rulers the Dwarves, old sins had been forgiven and they had fought as one nation against the invaders.
Things would need to change though in Duska Krak if the sins of the Dwarves ever truly would be able to be forgiven. After the war's end a councel was formed, a councel that suprisingly enough got the Dwarven Kings support.
The ruler of each province and the High Priests or Priestesses of the major faiths all got a chair at the councel. Their job was to choose a new regent at the present King's death. He or she could be of any faith or race that existed within Duska Krak.
They were still problems though, only three out of thirteen seats were occupied by Halflings even though the Halfings still compromised roughly fifty percent of the population.
Teach Populace 2PP: Proto-Democracy ( Duska Krak has formed a councel that elects their leader. )
For the first time, the god Ythrexle felt something aside from It's duty to protect the Dreamscape. It felt fear. Fear for the dreamers on the now distant world, for It's own fate was subtly twisted within theirs. And It felt the need to help them, to protect them in It's own way. Quickly and diligently, Ythrexle began molding It's own dreamers, prepared to travel to the world and aid those already there.
Within the depths of the Tower It combined the dreams and nightmares, molding the results into a people fair and strong, with an equal capacity for gentle kindness, raw savagery, and unbridled hedonism. When It was finished, Ythrexle looked upon the new dreamers It created. Something was missing from them. Then It realized, "Our children need to remember their creator just as we remember ours. Yes, but how? How will we make sure they do not forget us? A mask. Just as we wear a mask, so shall they as tribute to their maker. Yes, a mask of the same stone that makes up our own."
And with that notion in mind, Ythrexle added a part of itself to the fledgeling dreamers, so they would always remember their creator. Wherever they traveled they would wear a mask, they would hold these masks sacred, and only remove them in the company of those they were loyal to.
And thus, the Ythran people were born.
PP Expenditure
3PP - Shape Populace (Moderate): The Ythran race. Will describe them in detail later.
Now the war was looking lost. There was no way to go home to the archipelago. His men he had put to guard the bridge told him they had been attacked and its span destroyed. The aether killed just as many guards by suffocation as those strange creatures. Khuros didn't like the prospect of retreated back to the desert wastelands closest to the sun, the blasted sun! It had been so hot and unbearable for the frost giant during that part of the journey.
The war had been reduced to a serious of skirmishes and raids now. The frost giants gained the occasional success but nothing was being gained. The halflings and dwarves could afford to be on the defensive and bide their time. With no hope of retreat, it was only inevitable that the frost giants would be wiped out.
Khuros looked over the camp again, the warriors had just left for another raid against the halflings to the South. He wished he could go with them, but the the war needed to be managed right now. Khuros was about to turn back into his shelter when he saw a strange sight. There, in the camp was a small version of one of the small creatures. She was not a halfling or a dwarf, but something else. She had black hair and pointed ears, and looked to be but a child. Perhaps it was a monster or one of those strange fae creatures who lived on the other side of the halflings and dwarves—Eladrin?
“Captain,” Khuros said to the nearest officer and pointed to the girl. “Do you see that! I think there is an infiltrator. ”
“I don't see anything Lord.” The captain responded. “I'll have the men do an extra set of rounds though.”
The captain went off to relay the orders, leaving Khuros alone. Indeed, when Khuros had looked away to the captain and then back the mysterious girl was gone. Khuros shrugged; if it was an infiltrator the sentries would find it. They had gotten pretty good over the years at finding them. Khuros turned around and headed into his shelter. The building had originally been built for a temporary purpose, when the frost giants still moved their armies across the hills. Since then it had become more permanent, added onto to over time until it was a sort of ramshackle castle. Indeed, the main room had become Khuros's throne room.
Inside the main room, Khuros found the strange looking girl waiting for him. She was sitting in his throne room. She was a small version of a small creature sitting in a chair for a giant, the visual impression was rather absurd. She could barely reach the armrests of the chair, and her legs were dangling freely from the seat.
Khuros took out his knife, perhaps as big as this girl who had the impudence to sit in his throne. “Who are you?”
“Peace, great general of the ice people,” the little girl said with a calm voice of authority. “I am not here to harm you. I am here to offer my help.”
Khuros lowered his knife but kept it out for now. He could sense this being was very powerful. “Who are you, and by what right do you have to sit in the king's chair.”
“I? I am Mara. A child to you, but I sit in the heavens and move the oceans without even a thought.” The child goddess gave the walls of the room an inquisitive look-over. “Dark Child, why do you fight?”
“We were created to fight and it is our way of life. When some tried to break the rule of Conquest, our god Vymrl punished them by shattering our lands. Our land is harsh and unforgiving. These weaklings ruin this land with their petty rivalries. We seek the promise of our god and to conquer these lands and rule them justly.”
The child goddess nodded in understanding, but then frowned. “But, the war is lost. You have failed to conquer these lands. Perhaps your god, Vymrl, will punish you?”
Khuros became visibly angry at what Mara said, but he stayed his hand. Deep down, he knew she spoke the truth. “If you think our cause is lost, why help us?”
Mara jumped down from the chair and walked over to the frost giant. She looked up at him and said, “You cannot win the war, but perhaps I can help you with one final battle. One last chance to wreak a terrible vengeance upon your enemies.”
Mara paused and thought for a moment. “My help isn't without a price however. Though perhaps if you do well I can ensure your people survive.”
Khuros looked back at the girl, thinking over the suggestion but unsure of the motive. “What is this price? Why would I accept if your help will doom us anyways?”
Mara smiled mischievously at the frost giant towering over her. “Because it is the way of your people and your rule of Conquest. It shall be the bestest”
Khusros mulled over the option. He truly had come to hate the halflings and dwarves and his desire to destroy them was great, but he had a duty to his King and his people. “If as you say, we can survive. I accept your offer. What is it that you give me?”
Mara took the hand of the frost giant. To any mortal from the over-world it would have been very cold to the touch, but Mara was unphased. She led him over to the large table that sat in the room. The table was taller than the girl and she could not even climb onto it. She looked at the giant and indicated she wanted to be put onto it. Khuros grabbed the girl with but one hand and lifted her onto the table. There, on the table were dozens of maps. They had been drawn and compiled over the years during the war by scouts and explorers. They were used by Khuros and his commanders to plan the war. Upon being put on the table, Mara sat down near the maps. She began looking at them and going through the pile. “You will have to find your own way.”
She looked back at the giant with a look of excitement and giggled. “A quest! A challenge! You shall journey there and prove your worthiness to me! I will light your beacon and you shall follow it. I will let you bring a priestess, a swordsage, and a wizard to help you. But you cannot take one of your berg ships; you must find your own way.”
Khusros couldn't help but laugh. “A quest indeed strange one. How shall I know your beacon?”
Mara laughed back at him. “You won't miss it! Just look in the sky on the morrow.”
With that the girl stood upon the table, still not making eye-level with the giant. She bowed to the general and then disappeared in a flash of light.
****
At dawn the next morning the general went out of his building to look for this beacon. It was there just as the girl promised. To the South, the sky was a shade of red and edges of yellow.
“Bad omen,” an officer standing next to Khuros noted.
“On the contrary. It promises great fortune,” Khuros retorted. The general, excited to the see the promise of the goddess was real, went to gather his companions and begin his journey.
pp
Lesser Mold Land - 1 PP. A volcano has erupted and grown in an icy glacier region south of the equator. More on this volcano later
Lesser Mold Land - 1 PP. A volcano has erupted and grown in an icy glacier region south of the equator. More on this volcano later
Fools. What can words accomplish? Is it not clear that nothing can be said to change what they do? I do not care why they would attack the Halflings and Dwarves, and I do not think they care why I defend them. If they wish to fight let them knowing any attack will meet the same fate as this one. I gave the Halflings a task when I taught them to heal; they will not fall until this land is healed.
Before any gods could make any petty alliances, Shurka left for the Feywyld. Perhaps there he could recover from his war efforts in silence, where he can concentrate on the true enemy to the world.
The molds.
Now... I should probably meet these other Artists.
"Fellow Artists! Come! I desire to hear the news of this world and your concerns!"
3pp: Shape Populace to create proto dragons, to be statted OOC.
Speaking of politics, things were getting sort of chaotic for the eladrin. Now that they controlled so much land, the tribes were no longer able to act as one to the same extent. It became apparent that either a central government would be needed, or the eladrin would divide into several autonomous nation-states. So far, both outcomes seemed equally likely.
"They'll be gone forever!" exclaimed the Halfling girl, little more than a few feet tall. She turned her large chocolaty-brown eyes on her mother who melted.
"Oh, you know I can't win when you give me that look," said the mother, and her tone was soft, "Of course you can go play."
The small girl cheered in excitement.
"But don't go too far," said the mother quickly, as if rethinking her previous words, "And be back by dark."
"Okay mommy," said the girl, and she was off.
-----------------------
The girl stayed true to her word. She stayed near the town, chasing small animals. She laughed and giggled as she did so, though she was never fast enough to catch one. Eventually she got tired and went down to get a drink at the spring at the base of the hill.
The cool water felt good on her parched throat. She plopped herself down on a particularly comfy-looking patch of grass and gazed about at her surroundings. It was a few minutes quiet contemplation before anything happened.
A flicker of green light danced on the far bank. The girl stood up to get a better look.
The light bobbed once. The girl erupted into a fit of giggles. She skipped towards the light, hopping across stones in the spring to get there. The light, however, would not comply that easily and vanished among the pines bordering the spring. With a few skips, she too vanished into the trees, laughing as she went. And so the Talua claimed their first.
Steal her people, steal her land, steal her joy…steal everything she loved and cherished. The Fair goddess wept and wept but her tears didn’t made the vultures go away. The Eladrin attacked with sharp spears and flaming magic and no tears could soothe their fury. The Ice Giants of the sky flew down from the sky with cold, malicious greedy hearts, destroying families and stealing land.
And the War-Forged of Under-Dark poured forth from their tunnels, threatening to take her land from her. Trying to rule it in a way they saw fit.
Everyone was after her…everyone was after her children and the fair Goddess wept. But it was never enough, it was never enough!
Strange beings came out of the forest and took away children, a fickle goddess of the moon came and tried to help her enemies even though the Goddess knew about the giants sins.
The fair Goddess retreated to the Feywyld where she sat in silence, pondering existence as the Feywyld around her grew wilder and darker. She only left it as the years passed to help her children.
The fair Goddess grew cold, her heart hardened and her lips smiled more rarely. The world had stolen her innocence from her.
Her form began to grow, ever so imperceptibly. It was unnoticeable at first, but the growth sped up exponentially. Soon she was terrible to behold, her fury palpable in the air about her. The beast had awoken. When she spoke again, her voice was filled with the fury of the winds, the enduring carelessness of the tides.
"You foolish godlings, you play at caring, play at feeling," her voice boomed with the thunder of the ages, "But you are gods! You don't feel, you don't care."
Her fury, it was sudden as the storms, unbidden, unneeded. But it felt good, oh so good!
The Tsarok-Hem had been watching the world below for some time now. With all the conflict happening they deemed the time was right.
Nine of them lept from there hive city
In clusters of three, the nine of them rained down on the world below. Each cluster crashed down near the Eladrin, Dwarven and Shadar-Kai civilizations, with each member being roughly a mile apart from each other.
Small craters were formed, with everything within several meters being insinirated. From each crater, a dark creature reared up.
The Doomcallers had arrived.
Each one looked around for a moment. Some had landed in farm land, with startled and confused farmers looking to them, or running away. Others had landed in small communities, destrying several homes in the process.
Wherever they landed, it was sure the population wasn’t dense. Whatever was present, was ignored. They were mere insects to them, not even worth there attention.
Now they started to focus there minds, unleaching there psionic energy, merging them together. This way each cluster formed a beacon, calling out to the Aether. Then the sky was set ablaze for an instant, as three huge astroids crashed into the world, each guided by the Tsarok-Hem below.
This process scorched the land around for several miles, destroying all weak life around it, while the Doomcallers were unfazed. Dustclouds were formed several miles high and far, darkening the land around the impacts. The craters itself, almost a mile in diameter each, formed a wall of sharp rocks around each astroid.
The astroids themselves were in fact partially hollow, which explains the relatively small impacts, compared to there size. From them, thousands upon thousands of Narrok minions started to crawl out, spreading in the surrounding lands. Spores started to desent on the cleared land, sprouting fungi almos instantly.
Then it started to rain droplets of fire from the sky, as more and more Tsarok-Hem rained down upon the world….
"...And they rained down from the sky, and death and decay followed in there footsteps..."
(guide populace: 1PP: starting the invasion)
(mold land: 2PP : the 3 impact craters)
(nourish populace: the invaders (Tsarok-Hem) 1PP: the fungus starting to grow around the impacts)
"Eijra? You seem... troubled..." was all Shurka could manage to say.
The old enemy that she had forgotten, living in the now instead of the post she had forgotten it's rotten prescence and now it was to late.
They were coming now. In dozens, in hundreds, in thousands they fell down from the sky, scarring the land even more then before, scarring her as it was a part of her.
She felt their corrupted prescence, the wrongness that dwelt within them...they were different then other types of life, they were controlled, manipulated and led by something more then them self.
The fair Goddess sat still on her stone, staring down in to a pond. She was silent and did not care for Shurka's word. Suddenly she just faded away, appearing upon the fair world that she had been a part of building...the fair world that was in chaos.
Until it spotted a small red-haired goddess, one who's heart was filled with sorrow and despair. It perched upon her shoulder, and the god Ythrexle's voice came from it's beak. "Greetings."
Shurka did not follow her. If she would lose her hope then his time was wasted trying to help her. Shurka reappeared in the Golden Hills to see how the mortals were rebuilding. To his horror, the mold had started its attack; mortals were dying at each passing moment, and the earth was rotting in their wake. The attack was far too coordinated to be the product of mindless creatures... these... monstrosities must have a mastermind behind their actions.
Shurka examined the carnage caused by the molds, and noticed, for all their coordination, they had still made one mistake. They had not only attacked one race, but three; each of a different god. Therefore the mold had made three enemies just by attacking their creations. Plus himself, of course.
Shurka descended, waiting for the mold to make its next move. He would be ready, with or without the help of Eijra. The dwarves and halflings may be weary, but their spirits were strong and they will fight any invaders... especially the forsaken molds.
The rest of the Horde followed the footsteps of their commander across the wilds towards the new fire mountain.
------------
Forty-five Vyrane, a mixture of Swordsages and Wizards traveled into the forests of the Eladrin, in search of allies to help them hold the Southern Golden Hills.
------------
Fools, I am Vymrl, Lord and Master of Ice, Conquest and War. I did not ask for help because mortals need to be forged in the crucible of their sorrows. The war between Archon and Vyrmosk twas mine and Choactress's afair.
You claim that I am weak, Tahns. If that's so, then you stand the same test I am standing. Nocturne and I shall attack you and you alone. You say that's unfair, well, that's the same fairness you offered my people when you shower your mortals with unearned blessings.
Now, blood hangs in the air between our children, and soon, to all our sorrow, war shall resume. And at a time that we can all least afford it, the fungi strike. Without your interference, the Vyrane could have fought back with the strength of the Golden Hills behind them, now however, naught but isolated bands of warriors, yours and mine, stand against them.
The fair Goddess looked at the bird for a moment and spoke.
" Greetings, Old one"
Her voice cold and unfocused..as if her attention where somewhere else. That it where, the land screamed in pain, her people cried out for help...but she was empty...her power already spent to fend off the Giants and the Undead.
As things where...she was helpless. She needed time to rest but she had no time!
Show
Removed, pretend it didn't happen
Do you really think that there is such a difference between these Halflings and the others? You cannot possibly be naive enough to truly believe that this behavior is isolated to the Dwarves and the Eladrin. They ALL have the capacity for violence. And, they will ALL find ways to express it.
If all there was was a simple capacity, I would not have attacked. However, violence escalates. With each new act, the bar will be set higher. Eventually, it will reach a tipping point. There WILL be wars far more vicious than this. The disease of violence will spread, and when it does, it will spread like wildfire. The only cure is to remove the capacity for violence. Now, if you can provide a better way to do this, I will do it. But we have tried to let the races do as they please; it has not worked.
And then Nocturne stepped forward, fixing that cold glare directly on Tahns:
And who are you to question my motives, anyhow? If I missed some sort of message, I am sorry- for I wasn't aware that every action I taken requires your specific approval. I will make sure to apprise you of every action I take from now on.
Now, I am going to walk away to tend to the Warforged. Unless, of course you have any reservations about my leave? Perhaps I secretly harbor the desire to create unnessary damage upon the ground? After all, I certainly would like nothing better than to make war with the soil.
"Really now, seems so unecessary."
He sighed, and considered what to do next.
Dust filled the air.
Voices called to creatures above.
Chaos.
Shrieks.
Screams.
Silence.
The Warforged were acutely aware that something had happened. Something far more terrible than even Nocturne dared.
Creatures everywhere.
Death.
Decay.
The violence was terrible. It was as if the heavens opened up and began to weep great blasts of fire down. What was worse was what came out of the fire. The Warforged and undead held together. Not susceptable to decay, they did not have to fear for the creatures killing them yet. But they knew that such a peace would not last.
So what was there to do? A few Warforged fled, hoping to reach the nooks and crannies that these... things could not reach. Some thought that they should ally with other races, others said that this would be against their divine orders. They were panicking. They needed guidance.
Silence! A great booming voice. The Observer called out to the Warforged. We cannot ally with those others. Nocturne gave us orders. We will follow them. They have not attacked us yet! Surely this a sign that Nocturne's will is present in these creatures!
The Warforged cheered. They had not heard The Observer mumble I hope... as it glanced around cautiously.
Could Nocturne truly be so brutal?
"My my, three annoying people...and I just had to meet them all at once. Ah well, that's one less to worry about for the moment."
He turned to Vymrl.
"You change your mind an awful lot, don't you? First you cry and wail about mean old Chactross attacking your frost brutes. As soon as that sentiment is challenged, you turn around and defend that conflict as some sort of needed genesis for your crude and putrid giants. You are a bad loser, Vymrl, the key word here being loser. That's what you are. As to your most kind and generous offer, feel free to send what's left of your army against the eladrin any time you fancy; the eladrin food shortage may be over, but I'm sure they wouldn't pass up so much free meat if it walked so eagerly into their stewpots."
He looked down at the mortal world, where meteors full of new invaders were descending from the heavens.
"Though perhaps now might not be the best time. Eh, just as well; its not like any civilized being would stoop to eating anything as disgusting as your giants; crushing them would just be a waste of time for the eladrin."
He turned to Nocturne, turning his back to Vymrl as if he were no longer there.
"The eladrin never did anything wrong. Its just the dwarves who like to cause trouble, as far as I've seen. That said, no mortal race in existence is as violent or wicked as your shambling mockeries as life (not counting the frost giants, of course; they don't deserve to be called a race). Vymrl at least is honest about being an incompetent thug. You are made even more loathsome by your laughable self righteousness. If there's one thing more pathetic than a sore loser, its a loser who thinks he's a winner. Hopefully, you will overcome your delusion soon, and resign yourself knowingly to the squaller and inferiority that is your place in the universe. As for making war on the ground, I don't mind; it would probably win anyway."
And with that, Tahns was off to prepare his children for the fungus attack.
She reached. The power of her mind extended, searching out the one responsible for this carnage. She wanted to offer her aid. She wanted to offer her power.
But now there was a Problem being caused. And not some pithy mortal, no, that happened all the time, especially with the illiterate, eladrin. Someone needed to teach them.
BUT that would have to happen later. For now, he needed to Fix a Problem.
There was a gathering of the gods. That made things very easy to home in on the Problem.
His armor appeared first. an empty suit, simply standing in the midst of the gods. And then, suddenly, the fire blazed within it.
"Vymrl! I have come with a great grevance against you. The issue which concerns me is that your giants have left their Power node. Were you aware of this?"
Holding up a gauntlet, Chactross said, "Don't answer now though, I'm not finished."
"You have been speaking vile slander against my person. You agreed to the invasion of my Archons, like a hot sword being plunged into freezing water. Except in this case, I suppose the water melted and the sword grew stronger. Then, in a fit of rage, or what passes for it in your icicle of a head, you decided that conquering another race would be a wonderful idea. You stomped in over MY burning bushes to get to these mortals, and then you started enslaving my worshipers! Twice! And most importantly, you've been mispronouncing my name. It is written in the SKY for the worlds sake. Learn to read. Although i'm sure with a mind like yours you couldn't be bothered. Cold and set in your own ways. Let me fix that for you."
And with that, Chactross reached out his burning hand and pressed it against the center of Vymrl's spindly form. Chactross then made the resultant melted water rise to eye level. He considered it.
"The creative flames are burning. Quickly, one of you. Tell me what is wrong with the World right now? I have been distant for some time."
(Attack god 1PP)
“Mistress Mara. You have given me access to my magic. The swordsage feels it too,” the wizard said.
“It is a conduit of pure magical power. Left here by a god a long time ago. It has been here hidden from the mortals for eons, and forgotten by the gods. It can give you great power, more magical power than you can ever achieve normally.” The goddess spoke, the she frowned. “But it is not without its limitations.”
Khuros asked the next question, “Is this the price you spoke of?”
Mara shook her head. “No, General. The pool can rejuvenate your mages and give them power, but it can only do it to those near it. With a little help from me, all your mages will be charged with mana. However, once they cast a spell they will not recover that power again, until either you recharge at the pool, or the God of Magic grants you his blessing again.”
Khuros grinned. The magical power would be more than enough for the final battle, and the weaklings would be none the wiser. “This is a great boon you have given our people. Thank you.”
Mara smiled in response. She motioned for the general to come closer to her. He strode over to her as she stood by the dead guardian, and stood to her as they had first met.
“I have a gift for you as well, Khoros.” Mara said. She went over to the giant battle axe and tried picking it up. It was so large she could barely budge it. Her grasp slipped and fell back onto the floor. Khoros, stifling a laugh, went over and picked it up and held it to her. When the giant fire Archon had wielded it, it had burned with flame, but when Khoros held it it was cool to the touch and felt comfortable. “A fire Archon's weapon. I do not think it would be suitable to me.”
Mara giggled and stood up. Touching the axe she said, “On the contrary. The ice blast from the wizard was so powerful, it changed this weapon. I think it will suit you very well. You will need it.”
Khoros held the axe up, it was a little large even for him. He swung it around slowly as if to practice. He could feel the power within it, and it reacted well to him. “Thank you, Mara.”
“You're welcome.” she said, smiling again. “Now, you have a battle to win. You should have no troubles on your journey home. Make haste.”
Khoros nodded his head. The group quickly gathered themselves together and left the cavern. Mara stayed there in physical form until they were out of sight. She had thought of offering him a place to stay after the war, but she believed he would find his own path back. It would be better that way.
Now, she had to go talk to her sister.
pp
Nourish Populance: Frost Giants – 1 PP – The Frost Giants wizards and swordsages now access to a conduit. Their magic has been improved and made more powerful, but cannot be refreshed for the turn.
Create Artifact (Lesser): Khoros's Battle Axe – 1 PP – Super Magical Battle Axe with great power! (to be finalized later).
Nourish Populance: Frost Giants – 1 PP – The Frost Giants wizards and swordsages now access to a conduit. Their magic has been improved and made more powerful, but cannot be refreshed for the turn.
Create Artifact (Lesser): Khoros's Battle Axe – 1 PP – Super Magical Battle Axe with great power! (to be finalized later).
He gestured to the three impact sites, with tsarok-hem scuttling around spreading th mold as far as they could.
"Just fell from the sky, all of a sudden. At their current rate of expansion, our races will be in their way soon, and I doubt the newcomers will be polite. I was about to head up to the Aether to investigate."
As he said this, he conjured a drinking cup out of the air and filled it with some chunks of half-melted Vymrl. He took a sip.
"Mmm...slushy."
Chactross burned the holy water until it evaporated into the very air, infused with his magic. The water rained down from the sky, and whatever it touched was forever marked. Written into the heart of the mountains, on the branches of trees, the coastline at the circle sea. All these were marked with great letters.
Any being who copied these leters created a great barrier between the outside world and the inside world. These barriers took hours to form, but when they did they were nigh upon indestructable.
There were some side effects to these great and terrible walls. Without a direct caster, they fed upon the world itself. The soil itself became empty, and though one would not know to look upon it, every day that the wall stands a league of land becomes inviable in both directions.
However, a great, nigh impenitrable wall is sometimes well worth the cost.
(Mold land 1?
Create rune magic 2?)
The Light would not leave them so. His radiance burned away the flesh and bone, leaving only their essence behind. Even that essence was blasted with his luminance until new creatures stood where the old had been. They were as harsh as unwavering light and took the form of twinkling pillars, barely distinguishable in broad daylight.
He named these creatures the Losalfar and returned them to the wild forest from where he had taken them. Beings of light, like their creator without a material body, they glided through the woods, killing when it pleased them, feasting when they so desired, shouting with voices of crystal at the joy of life. Savage and wild they had become, under the god's hand.
Calling upon the Storehouse of Light, Xa'an twisted the plants of that region to aid his creations. In time the Losalfar would learn to use the poisons and toxins produced by the plants to harm creatures of physical form; lacking a body, they were themselves immune.
Turning to the mountain, beneath which his servant slept, he called out "come."
The continent trembled as Nibiru began to arise from the depth. In a blast of light, he ascended into the heavens, shattering the Aegis once more. In his wake the mountain attempted to follow, rising higher still, until its crater-peak reached beyond the shell of the air.
PP
4pp, Shape Populace (Greater): Losalfar - Xa'an turned all Eladrin he had guided the turn before into immortal, savage beings of pure light.
1pp, Nourish Land (from Storehouse artifact): Nibiru's mountain - poisonous plants begin to grow in the region
1pp, Mold Land (Lesser) (From Nibiru exarch): Nibiru's mountain has now grown so tall that, even after the aegis heals, its peak will still reach beyond it and into the outer aether
4pp, Shape Populace (Greater): Losalfar - Xa'an turned all Eladrin he had guided the turn before into immortal, savage beings of pure light.
1pp, Nourish Land (from Storehouse artifact): Nibiru's mountain - poisonous plants begin to grow in the region
1pp, Mold Land (Lesser) (From Nibiru exarch): Nibiru's mountain has now grown so tall that, even after the aegis heals, its peak will still reach beyond it and into the outer aether
With the changing flow of the seas more and more water elementals went forth to explore. Their whispers fell upon the sleeping god's ears until he began to dream of the world...
2 PP Mold Land (Moderate) I create a rotational force in order to cook the world evenly about the pillar of flame and set my waters in motion. Weather is on the horizon.
1 PP Nourish populous: water elementals
1 PP Form Domain(lesser) Sea
-----------------------------------------
(1 PP--artifact) Spawn Beast (lesser) Aurochs: LARGE bovine creatures capable of living in cold climates. I am placing these down near where the ice giant king on the tundra.
It didn't bother them. The barriers proved as much a bane as a salvation, as it ruined the land as much as it defended.
Besides, the Narrok-Gor were able to burrow underneath them. This way, the invaders could carry on unhindered, even though it took some time.
With there webbing, the invaders were also able to scale the walls, spinning cables of web over them.
It was even noted that in some places, the fungal growths and minions were so numerous, that they even were able to crawl over the wall by climbing over each other.
Although it slowed them down, it didn't prevent there invasion completely.
(nourish populous (Tsarok-Hem) 1PP: boosting there numbers even further)
pp
De-Nourish Populance: Dwarves - 1 PP - Dwarven army is decimated.
De-Nourish Populance: Dwarves - 1 PP - Dwarven army is decimated.
He cast around, looking for the source. After several moments, he reached out, seeking the source out, finally finding it. So water was moving. Perhaps Neko might finally come awake. It had been a while since he had seen him. He grinned slightly, and reach out, magnifying the forces that Neko was applying slightly. The world rocked a bit more, imperceptibly to mortals still, but noticeable to those gods who looked.
He turned back to the matter at hand, and reached his hand out to grasp the nearby leyline. Working through it, he tapped into the Dimension Bulwark deep beneath him, altering its application of power ever so slightly to acquire the results he sought.
As he worked, he slowly moved towards the original landing site of the invaders. The vortices, riptides, and tornados of air rushing out of the holes in the aether had devastated the area.
Still, for the moment, the invaders were fine. He applied the final touches to his work, grinning.
The ground itself began to shift and shuffle, as gravity warped and twisted at his command. Soon the entire area quaked and rumbled, the earth shaking like mad. Finally, in one massive surge, the ground erupted upwards around the three craters, surging skyward to meet the cloud of dust, joining with its lost particles.
The, gravity reversed once more, drawing all of that dirt, dust, and stone back down, it's full weight crushing the invaders beneath it.
PP Expenditures
1 PP – Mold Land (Minor) – Add to Neko’s motion, encouraging it.
1 PP (Artifact) - De-Nourish Populace - The Tsarok-Hem and their minions, some of them crushed beneath stone and earth, swallowed into the earth and destroyed.
PP Refresh
5 - Veros, Xa'an, Neko, Tsarokga-Noggoth
4 - Chactross, The Void, Oravolos, Oreb Nahash, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Xirinet, Ythrexle, Eijra, Frellisk, Thans, Cygnus, Mara, The Empress
Whatever resistance they encountered, would be crushed.
Soldiers would face entire hoards of spider creatures. Narrok-Myr would send entire swarms of tiny spiders would jump on the enemies, some exploding on contact.
The tick-like Narrok-Nur would grab any enemy they could, quiclky draining them of blood, while leaving the dead husk as food for other fungi.
Those that would seem safe at first were proven wrong quickly enough. Although the undead and wartforged might be immune to the infections of the Tsarok-Hem and there minions, they were equily vurnerable against the psionic might of the invaders.
There minds as easily crushed.
No mercy or pity could be found in these creatures. Men, wives, children, elders, it did nothing to them.
They didn't bother with prisoners. Those that surrendered or barely survived there wounds, were infected and turned into plague mold creatures. Now on the invaders side, these foul creatures were send back against there kin.
This caused the remaining defenders to battle some of there own relatives or friends, demoralising them even further.
----
When the earth started to rumble, they continued without pause. They didn't even care about there own losses. Not a moment was waisted on those that got killed or burried alive under the stones. They only served as food for the others.
...It's worse than I thought.
Death, decay, corruption. The vile creatures were hardly slowed down by any defenders. Were the other gods doing anything? Were they too busy fueding over their creations and other matters of little significance. Did they still not understand the true threat to the world they all created? It seemed even Eijra had given up.
Shurka needed to create a being even more powerful than the... things... could corrupt or destroy with their minds. Motes of bright light appeared from the sky circling around Shurka. They became larger, and eventually all melded into one, becoming a wisp far larger than any Shurka had ever made. It shed brilliant light of many colors, illuminating the darkened world.
Master? What task do you give me?
Shurka glanced at the monstrosities
"Purge the blighters"
PP Use
3 PP - Ascend Exarch - Annolum, the wisp-exarch is created.
It has the Shape Keyword
The lands surrounding Mt. Gargoth, the fields of grain and fireshrub, were being flattened and infested by the invaders. Already, a dozen eladrin manor-sites had been destroyed, for hundreds-maybe thousands-of eladrin and halfling casualties. The eladrin on the mountain could see the smoke and fire from the destruction, and even made out the ruinous shapes of the tsarok-hem and their minions roiling over the hills, destroying all in their path.
Another tsarok-hem army, of similar size, was spoiling across the prairie toward the shadar-kai and the budding eladrin city of Raluri and its surrounding farms and horseland. The dwarves and halflings had only one meteor-site to worry about. The eladrin and shadar-kai, however, had two.
The elders called for all the greatest warriors of eladrin-kind to assemble at the Temple of Creation, on the snow-covered summit of Mt. Gargoth. These soldiers of all tribes, called from every province and colony of the high-men, came in droves. Hundreds were teleported via the Solar Chariot from Raluri. Over a thousand others came from the sacred mountain itself. Here, Tahns spoke through his holy men. He told them of the dark times that lay ahead, and of the responsibility of the eladrin to defend the world they oversaw. To do their sacred duty, they sould be given new powers; the power to fly through the heavens like godlings themselves, the power to spread across the entire world and destroy evil wherever it lurked, the power to depart for the furthest skies and bring the fight to whatever hell the invaders had come from.
He gave them wings.
Two thousand of the greatest mortal warriors the world had ever seen-including many wizards and warlords of great power and skill-took to the air on feathery white eagle wings. As the tsarok-hem reeled from the damage Veros had inflicted on them, the avariels descended from the clouds above, weilding swords and firing arrows crafted from fireshrub steel. They caught the (ironically ground-based) tsarok-hem by surprise, and proceeded to rain death.
PP
Teach Populace (2 PP): The eladrin are crafting magical wings and giving them to their two thousand best warriors. The avariel corps is an elite, inter-tribal force with a fighting style based around flight.
Death. Suffering. It rushed through her, filling her being. It was like an elixir to her. The screams of terror, the cries of pain. To her, they were symphonies for the soul. She reveled in it. This was her element.
She reached. The power of her mind extended, searching out the one responsible for this carnage. She wanted to offer her aid. She wanted to offer her power.
Tsarokga-Noggoth followed the battle from within the fungal domain inside his former host body.
Suddenly it felt another reaching out to it. Tsarokga-Noggoth let its mind reach to the goddess foulish enough to contact it. Its mind started to enter hers, like tentacles rooting deeper into her skull.
Finally it asked
"What are you....What do you want?"
The faint red glow cast by the ember had been discharged from the center of a torch carried by an Eladrin soldier. Cast about almost whimsically by the winds and the shuffling of feat, the ember slowly drifted to the ground. Finally, it came to rest on a small leaf that had fallen from its tree in a similar manner days before hand, and the tiny source of heat ignited. Perplexing how such great changes in the world may be brought about by such simple things.
Destruction had been present in this world since its inception. When the aether was formed and set aside from the void, that entailed the destruction of void. When time had been bound by a new deity, that meant the destruction of its free flow, when the fire archons were spawned they brought destruction to the world around them. So why now? Perhaps some vital tipping point had been reached? Perhaps the world's capacity for this phenomenon had risen to a point that sentience was required? Or maybe, within that tiny ember that sparked a small flame on that leaf, some vast universal prose was completed. For whatever the reason, Destruction became self aware.
And quite miraculously that small flame that consumed the leaf grew and became the seat of consciousness for a God!
3PP- Create Greater Domain Destruction
The fair Goddess whispered.
" It's over..."
The fair Goddess said.
" IT'S OVER! "
The fair goddess screamed.
Her children were killed around her. They were hunted, they were never left alone...why? They had lived in peace, bothering no outsiders and yet all of them came for them and only them.
Why? Her people had always been peaceful. Had always just wanted to be left alone...and yet the enemy came.
But now it was over. The Fair goddess had finally gotten enough. She rose taller and mightier then the mountains themselves. Her eyes burning with green fire and her lips smiling coldly as she raised her hand!
Shimmering, glittering, whirling, twirling, green, purple, red and brown energies gathered around it, humming loudly as the Goddess began to move her fingers.
Energies flowed out of her fingers and struck the continent. Everything was suddenly gone. All Dwarves, all Halflings and all of their cities and possessions simply faded away as green thunderbolts fell down from the sky.
The land was still there though. The rich land Eijra had given to her people as a sign of her blessing.
The children of the Fey Goddess found them selves in the Feywyld, far, far away from hostile gods and their insidious minions. It was here they would live and prosper...at least for now...at least...for now.
The Fey Goddess looked down at her hands, smiling weakly, they shook. Her eyes hurt, her throat was dry...her earth...she had taken them away from her...Earth...but they were her children.
Her beloved children and no one...no one would ever more try to steal them from her.
Nourish Population PP 2: Teleport all Halflings and Dwarves in to the Feywyld.
Now, she was breaking those limits, breaking down the barriers that held her in. Cracks appeared in the surface of her stone form. Green light spilled out. The light intensified, the cracks spread. Her form seemed to swell beneath the strain. Then she ... exploded. Chunks of green rock flew in all directions, spiraling earthward.
Now, free of her mundane prison, she spread out, stretching the limits of her current form. She directed her consciousness outwards and it fell upon the first mortal race it encountered: the eladrin. She descended upon them like a miasma, spreading her evil influence among them, sowing discord and mistrust, fear and hate. Flaws and corruption spread like wildfire, poisoning the eladrin wherever it went. It touched the hearts of the eladrin, turning them to evil thoughts. Like rot attacking the center of an apple, this evil would eat away at the eladrin society from the inside. Oh, this was so fun!
1 PP De-nourish Population eladrin: Instead of actually hurting the eladrin, she spread evil thoughts among them, causing them to hurt themselves from the inside.
Millions, nay billions or beings crowded stretched before Destruction and he found them captivating. He drifted towards them and Saw that there were many kinds of beings, there were entities that stood on two appendages and with two others they carried strange devices, there were things that resembled the first but of a far smaller stature. Then there were the beings with many appendages, they came in all sizes, some no larger than Destruction's divine form, while others towered far above even the tallest of the other brood. And they all reflected Destruction!
The beings killed each other, they stabbed and they hacked and they infected and they slew one another, and every drop of essence that fell from their forms seemed to be an offering in his name to Destruction. However it did not take long for him to notice that the beings with many arms and legs seemed far more proficient and offering up sacrifice to Destruction than the others, so as such his attention soon began to focus on them.
Upon examining them closely, Destruction found that they all seemed to be bound together by some link of the mind, and from this link they were all of one mindset. Destruction was amazed by this link, so he did the only thing he new how, he destroyed it! For a moment the creatures stopped, as all at once the connection they had never been without was severed. But then the offerings to Destruction were increased by tenfold as they began to turn against one another and slay themselves by the thousands.
Destruction was pleased with what they offered, and so he traveled through them and spread his divine essence through masses of these beings. And as he raised himself higher he looked down to see vast divine inferno's consuming these creatures even as they destroyed themselves. A further offering unto him.
And then Destruction cast his mind wide and saw that these beings came from three large bodies of rock that they seemed to pour out from. Destruction went examined them and found that unlike their inhabitants, they offered up nothing to his essence. This would have to be rectified. Destruction went down to their very molecular level and undid them. They seemed to dissolve into the very air and all that were within them vanished as well. For a moment, Destruction was pleased, the voices of mortals cried out in exultation and bloodshed as the offerings unto him poured in.
But then, suddenly, the pace of the offerings began to decline until they seemed to almost stop all together. Destruction cast his mind out again and what he found was that the creatures with many appendages had completed their sacrifice of destruction and that there were no more within these lands to offer up their worship unto him.
Destruction was saddened
1PP: De-Nourish Population: All of the Tsarok-Hem and their allies had their psychic connection severed at once, and they quickly turned on one another.
1PP: De-Nourish Population: Destruction created vast inferno's that raged through the Tsarok-Hem and their allies.
1PP: De-Nourish Population: The Hive-Asteroids that the Tsarok-Hem arrived on were dissolved and destroyed at a molecular level.
The combined result means that the Tsarok-Hem and their extra-terrestrial allies (not including the fungus) have been wiped from the face of the land. Though their true home in the Aether has not been affected.
Ythrexle began teaching It's children techniques of battle. It taught them the ways of summoning and manipulating the raw dreamstuff, and how to draw upon the "well of dreams" within themselves when their was nothing else. "Now to build our vessel, so our dreamers may travel safely to the World. The Outside is not able to support them, it is as poison for them to breathe." Out of the raw dreamstuff, Ythrexle quickly sculpted a massive spherical ship, the Yrragard. "In this craft, our dreamers will be safe from the Outside. And we will travel with them, with our Narsk to shepherd the dreams and N'taggotha to protect the Dream in our stead."
PP Expenditure
1PP - Create Artifact (Lesser): The Yrragard, a large boat capable of safe travel between the Dream and the World.
2PP - Guide Populace (Greater): Taught the Ythra to be Sorcerers
2PP - Guide Populace (Greater): Taught the Ythra to be Sorcerers
It was then that she heard the contact. It echoed in her mind. And she answered.
"He-hell-ooo," her voice trailed off at the end and was fractured. Speech was problematic right now.
She tried to convey her intentions with images. It was imperfect, but it was the best she could do.
With a bit of concentration, she showed the other one an image of the destruction he had created. It was of a field. Ribbons of smoke trailed into the sky, dark bodies littered the ground. The edges of the image were blurry, but the intentions were clear. With it, she sent a strong surge of happiness. She hoped the god understood her meaning.
Startled, he stepped away, seeking his followers, to see if such had been levied against them as well. WHat he found shocked him.
Villages and homes empty, devoid of halflings and dwarves. He mumbled to himself, wondering where they had gone. He stepped through the veil into the fey wild, seeking our Eijra.
She whispered, her eyes wet with tears, she held her self, shaking slightly where she sat. Alone on a moss-covered rock.
" It's over, Father..."
She whispered, her voice strained and eeringly quiet.
" It's over, Father...my children are safe...and I am tired...I am going to sleep now...sleep until the madness that controls the world is over. I don't want any of this any more..."
He reached down, giving her a slight hug, casting a slight spell for her, to place her into a dreamless sleep. "Sleep and rest, Eijra. Rest and recover, for the world needs you."
In the glory of his birth he had fulfilled his purpose and bathed in the glory of hist nature. Billions were offered up to him and death and destruction had spread through them. But then there were no more, and Destruction saw his entire future flash before his eyes. The entire world would burn and destruction would rein supreme until there was nothing left. Then there would be no destruction, for what would be left to destroy. Destruction felt empty and alone, and at first he attributed it to his seemingly hopeless future but then he realized that even as he had bathed in the ecstasy of his creation he had felt empty and incomplete.
Destruction pondered this question, and eventually cast his gaze back out to the world around him. He saw the aftermath of his function, the burned out forms and carcasses, the few remaining members of the many limbed species, and he was perplexed that he did not see any of the smaller 4 limbed beings. However then he saw something amazing, the taller creatures that had sought to destroy the others were active. Instead of destroying, they seemed to be building. They raised up structures and spread strange small pods that over time grew into plants. And most strangely of all the small flame felt that this was an offering unto him as well. Perhaps he was not merely Destruction, maybe that was just a piece of who he was, perhaps he was also Creation. The second this thought entered into the head of the being that was once merely Destruction he felt more complete.
3PP: Create Greater Domain Creation
She felt the image leave her mind, and she tried to stop it. A shift took place in her mind, ever so subtly. And she gazed upon the world with new eyes. A revelation had occurred within her mind in that fraction of an instant. She had been going about her existence on whims, nothing more. She had flitted from decision to decision, with no overarching plan to unite it all. Well that was about to change.
She wanted to rally her thoughts, but could not in this form. She hated this, this shifting, formless mass she called a form. It was uncomfortable. She kept slipping away. It called for constant attention to keep herself together.
She called her form back to her, and it was there, eager and ready. She entered the form she had left not long ago. The relief was instant, spreading through her, replenishing her. It felt good.
She began to walk the world. Every step was like thunder that echoed deep into the bowels of the earth. She called for her Land Spike, and it appeared at her shoulder, eager to begin work. The power of creation thrummed within it. And as she walked, forms began to rise from the earth. Pillars, pure and green, statuary, vaulted domes. A veritable palace was constructing itself around her.
Soon, a massive palace rose up above the plains, a testament to her glory. She wove magic into its walls. It took on the formlessness of her Talua, the unpredictability of human desires. It was orderly, and chaotic at the same time. It was wherever she wanted, whatever she wanted. It was Niyanta, and it was her home.
1 PP +1 from Land Spike Create Plane (Lesser): Niyanta is a massive palace that can appear anywhere in the material plane, and its interior can appear as whatever I want. When it appears on the Material Plane appears to be a massive palace made of jade, and the interior usually looks the same, but I can change that.
" Thank you, father..."
And with those words the Fey Goddess went to sleep. Her power though flowed in to Veros, the God of Magic. To waste something as precious as power was not a part of Eijra's nature.
2 PP given away to Veros.
Come, let us not fight. Had you heard all that I said, I thanked you for aiding my people, and begged that fool Veros to allow me to do the same to his.
We are brethren, you and I, twin masters of the elements. I have an idea that could benefit us both. The Fey goddess has fled with her people. The great fertile lands of the Golden Hills lie open for the taking.
I shall give your children access to the powers of War, and the Vyrane shall make now quarrel with them if they chose to claim the Northern Golden Hills.
The Vyrane shall claim the Southern Golden Hills and the freezing ice caps that lie beyond them. Would you agree to this?
PP
1PP-Attack God: Nullify Chactross's attack
His people had been abandoned by their shields, those they had hidden behind for so long. Now, they were forced to truly master the knowledge that they had simply watched and documented before.
The dopplegangers became more than just followers and lurkers that day. They rose up, and replaced those who had vanished. They retained their assumed forms, and took the place of those who had left. Though many people of the kingdom of Duska Krak had vanished, the name remained, taken by those who inheritted their lands.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace - Dopplegangers learn agriculture
1 PP - Guide Populace - Dopplegangers learn Cleric class
1 PP - Nourish Populace (Artifact) - Dopplegangers join the Loremasters organization
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Dopplegangers grow more numerous, maintaing the halfling and dwarven homeland in hopes that they shall one day return
At first he began by enshrining his flame in a long, hard, black exoskeleton in a strait tube. However he found that this impaired his senses, and thus he created a neck, and molded en elongated skull, spawning three eyes along each side of the head and forming a jaw with sharp dagger like teeth at the base of the head. His senses had fully returned now, and he began to drag his form along the ground. But this was not pleasing, so he spawned four limbs like the beings he had seen before, however these were more lithe and skeletal, ending in long clawed hands and feet. So he stood on his hind legs and began to walk as he had seen the other creatures do, however he found this ungainly and uncomfortable. So he lowered himself onto all fours and extended a long, bony, segmented tail away from his body and ended it in a curved blade. When he was done he had an intimidating form, black as obsidian and capable of both creation and destruction. (If you have trouble seeing this its more or less the xenomorphs from the alien movie series)
Then, just as he had finished creating his now form, he heard from a long distance off strange sounds that seemed like "He-hell-ooo" which was followed by the images of the aftermath of his birth and a feeling of enjoyment slipping into his skull. This perplexed the being that was Destruction and Creation, and he quickly set off in the direction from which the message had come, wondering what had sent it.
Cowards. Shurka felt anger beyond any he had felt before. He had trusted the halflings to recover the world, only for them to be weak and escape to the Feywyld. It was then that he realized the biggest error he had made was entrusting this task to creatures of another. If he were to heal the land, he would need to make his own mortals. Beings far more capable than the halflings or dwarves.
Anollum let out a surge of light. Sparks fell to the ground and mortals rose from where these sparks landed. Roughly humanoid figures rose from the earth, each with featureless faces.
"You are the Humites, you shall inherit these lands and cure the shattered world."
With Eijra's deep slumber, and Shurka's anger, Eorna's once-golden bark had become a sickly black. It curled and withered and now exuded a dark aura. The air around it had become cold... even sickly. Eorna changed from a masterpiece to a dark husk.
PP Use
2PP [1 from Anollum] Shape Populace (Lesser) - Created the Humites
1PP [from Eorna] - Humites worship Shurka
"You have come to Niyanta," the voice seemed to come not form the face, which remained impassive as stone, but from all around. It rebounded off of the walls of the vaulted chamber "You sought me out, why?"
The memory of the image she had sent out came back to her.
"Ah yes," came the voice, coming from every direction at once "You are answering my call." She contemplated him for a moment.
"What do you know of life?"
He had after all brought her into being from the cries of this planet to represent and defend it, not to hide in the feywild. He shook his head in dismay and hoped she would one day find the strength to stand with him once more.
As the Ae-Sylvani returned to there homes in the inner aether sea, The hunter saw much growth in his people and was pleased with them, it had been over a mellenia since there creation and they had done all he had asked and hoped for, lead by the first born Reinveil elder of the Ae-Sylvani. However amongst his pride for his people and Reinveil, Oravalos was saddened for he could feel Rein's time upon this planet as the benevolent ruler of the his children was drawing to a close.
Oravalos looked on as Reinveil entered the inner Sanctuum of Gaia preparing for his final moon turn where he would transformed into a large majestic Valin tree as all Ae-Sylvani did when they passed from this life. Oravalos watched on with deep respect as his first child passed from this world, hoping others of his skill, power, insight and poise would one day follow.
The figure on the throne remained where she was, her arms performing their never-ending dance.
A form burst to life in the center of the floor, just in front of the newest god. In a burst of green life, a small halfling girl burst onto the scene, garbed in a simple frock of deepest hunter green.
"Hello killer," said the girl, giggling and skipping across the floor, and her words were accompanied by vivid flashes of thought, flashes of memory, that conveyed her meaning, "Hello life giver."
She turned her large, chocolaty-brown eyes up at him and said, "Hello friend."
"You want - to learn," said the girl between pants as she struggled to keep up with the animal,"I - can help - you there."
The animal leapt into the air in a burst of green flame. A small, quivering orb of green light hovered in the spot the animal had disappeared from. It began to bob down a side corridor. It soon vanished, with the little girl following along, leaving her guest behind.
But almost as soon as she had vanished, an elderly eladrin came hobbling in, supporting himself with a gnarled wooden crutch. He too wore clothes of deepest emerald. On of his legs was all bandaged up.
"It won't be easy," said the eladrin, his tone grumpy, "But if you persevere, you'll pull through." You shook his cane at that last word, but then erupted into a coughing fit, and had to sit down. A stool of green stone appeared to support him.
The little girl hopped back into the room. She giggled and skipped forward until she was right in front of the new god. "Why tell you what you need to know, when I can just show you?" she said, a wry smile twisting her mouth.
She began to skip from the room. She stopped near the door, and then turned to look back. "You coming?" and with those words she threw a torrent of thoughts and emotions at the new one, all indicating he should follow.
The body of the eladrin on the floor wheezed out a few words, "You h-have to-to go," he cried out in pain, fingernails scrabbling at the gash in his neck, "Its you only ch-choice."
And shapes wee moving in the water as well. Huge, tentacles things, things with fins. The floor of the area across the glass was even carpeted in a thick layer of plants and bright pink coral.
And as each thing moved past them, the small girl pointed to them and said their name.
"Dolphin," she said, and pointed to one as it rushed past, "This is the ocean," she said, and made a wide sweeping motion with her hands. She spoke softly, and slowly, so the being could keep up. She also accompanied each word with an image. Best to start, she thought, with the basics. The hard stuff comes later, and an inexplicable grin split her impish face.
He cast a baleful eye skyward.
"However," he said, "it remains to be seen what our friends will do next. I suppose it ought to be me who sees to that."
As the eladrin avariels flew low over the ground, hunting down the remaining tsarok, Tahns shot up into the heavens, not stopping until he reached the deep Aether. After searching for a bit, he found what he was looking for; an enormous, alien city, made of silk and detritus and living fungus, crawling with tsarok-beasts.
Breathing a deep breath of Aether, he brought forth another great curse. from the depths of their own labyrinthine city came a horde of flying, winged insects. These poisonous creatures swarmed over the tsarok-hem and their minions, seeking out the weak, the young, and the unhatched eggs. Whenever they crawled on such a victim, they stung it, and then laid their eggs in the paralyzed monster. Soon, the victim died, and a swarm of young wasps would eat their way out of its corpse.
"HA!" Said Tahns, "That'll keep you busy for a while!"
PP
Shape Beasts (2 PP): Tahns creates wasps. Some of these are small and mundane, like IRL wasps and hornets. Other species are enormous, and have magical abilities. All species of wasp are immune to fungal infection, and prefer to lay their eggs in living tsarok. Like their prey, wasps can breath both aether and air.
Shape Beasts (2 PP): Tahns creates wasps. Some of these are small and mundane, like IRL wasps and hornets. Other species are enormous, and have magical abilities. All species of wasp are immune to fungal infection, and prefer to lay their eggs in living tsarok. Like their prey, wasps can breath both aether and air.
"Go," she said, "Observe, learn" She gestured to the door.
The door began to open, revealing a whole world outside. It was not truly outside, it existed still within Niyanta, but it reflected the world of the Halfings, as the girl had known it when she was one of them. When the god looked back, the girl was gone, laughter fading away.
At this a strange noise seemed to emanate from the open chamber, the sound of the small one from before giggling "Hee, hee. Half-lings, Half-lings!"
Destruction and Creation quickly began to mull over the reasoning in his head again, he had been so close but just barely off! He reviewed it all again, this time with the end result in mind, but also taking into account the noises he had heard from the halflings themselves, for perhaps the beings within the domed structure were not the only ones able to communicate in this way, and before long he thought he discovered the original fault. At that he began to once again walk back towards the building, and in through the gateway from which he had exited before.
“All because you were lonely,” she complained to herself. It was true, the Mara that had helped the frost giants had been born in the cold and darkness. She did not enjoy it there for nothing could grow, not even the ugly, evil mold. When they were closets, they could unwittingly share their emotions with each other, and thus the confused feelings didn't help things. It was all part of growing up.
Mara looked down at the world and noticed something strange, something she had missed before. The world was turning! The tides they had created were moving with a new purpose, pulling at the earth below to give it a direction. The result was that the southern hemisphere was now receiving light too, though not as much as the northern part. It also made the orbit of the two Maras more severe to those on the ground.
“I think the water liked our idea,” Mara said to herself.
Mara looked at her other self with a serious look. “Mara, what should we do? And no more fighting!”
The other Mara bowed her head in a bit of shame. She thought for a moment, remember her loneliness, and that still the lower part of the world is uninhabited “The dark place is lonely. We can make it better, and give it to someone.”
Mara nodded her head. The idea had merit. “It could be fun. It will take a lot of our power. We will have to make it more like the others' places. Maybe we should ask the water for help.”
Mara agreed with the idea. The children took hands and floated down to the world. They landed on a bit of rock on the southern part, in its newfound daylight. The land was still completely barren, with rocks strewn about, created by the slow retreat of the glacier that had covered it before. They went up to the edge of the rocky beach and bent down to the water. “How do you talk to water?”
The silver haired Mara stuck out here finger and put it in to the water, poking it. “Hey. You. Water.”
The water continued to just lap against the shore. Mara continued to stare back at the water. And then her sister yelled from behind her, “Hey!! Water!! Wake UUUP!!”
PLOOOF!
A big rock splashed into the water near her, drenching her in water. She jumped back in surprise. Mara looked at her raven-haired sister, who had clearly thrown the rock. “WAAAAAAAAAH”
The two then began bickering and pushing at each other.
Surely Xirinet had kept his new humans safe. Veros began searching for Mara, to see how she fared.
These stories always came from the next town over, from a friend of a friend who heard it from a reliable source. But the rumors were persistent and uniform. Something was out in the wilds, something to fear and avoid.
A man was standing in the room, far far away, at the relative center. He was staring blankly ahead of him, his eyes dark, his expression unreadable. Slight tremors shook his arms every so often, and the worn longsword in his left hand rattled when this happened. Long, thin ears poked through his thick, dark and matted hair, marking him as an eladrin.
"Now you see," said the man, his voice quivering slightly, "Now you know of life." A single tear ran down his dirt stained cheek. "Now let me show you," he continued, raising his longsword in a military salute, "Of death."
With the last word, something began to happen. Cuts, scratches from invisible claws tore across his body. Scars that appeared to come from fingernails streaked his face. He cried out in pain and he doubled over. Another grunt escaped his lips as an invisible knee caught him in his chest. Invisible hands pulled at his hair, pulling back his head. His juggular was throbbing with the force of his heart. Then, suddenly, it burst, sending red liquid everywhere as invisible teeth tore into it. Similar, crescent cuts began to appear all across his body, and his body began to convulse. The teeth tore through him, ripping chunks out as he howled in pain, tears running in streams down his cheeks.
And the one who was lord of Destruction and Creation united watched as the man was eaten alive.
But this place didn't work like anywhere else, laws of physics and of reality did not apply. That is why, when the door opened, providing a view of a windswept cove, sand in varying shades of black and grey stretching into the distance, nothing was amiss. The vast, dark rocks that provided a barrier on one side didn't seem strange, nor did the storm-tossed sea that bordered the opposite side of the line of grey sand that was the beach. Anything, it seemed, could happen in this marvelous place.
A large figure strode into view. It was the goddess, in all her resplendence, tall, imposing, and terribly beautiful. Her arms swaying soundlessly in their never-ending dance.
"Or at least, it is what I hope it to become," said the voice, which came not from the still mouth of the goddess, but from the wind, the water, even the stone itself, and it was only in his mind. It came from everywhere, and it came from nowhere.
"Tell me, young one," said the voice, and the goddess turned her gaze upon him, "What are your plans for the world?"
A rock from the floor had risen into the air at her slightest gesture. It began to whizz about her, dancing over and under her dancing arms. She looked not at it, but rather, her cold gaze seemed to bore into the new god, imperious, stern. As if demanding an answer, and also daring him to give her a false one.
"Plaaans? Mey Plans? Why... I have... Plans? I am.... b born new... no plans. Who... what... you?
They called this new found land Vymscral, in honor of their God.
------------
A portion, however, remained in the Southern Golden Hills, living by the labor of turncoat halflings. They held true to the word of distant S'kre, and held the lands in his name.
PP
3PP-Ascend Exarch: Ssabrec, City of Ice, Nourish
She hurled a torrent of pictures at the god. Thoughts, memories, all jumbled up in one great mess. It was almost completely overwhelming. A mortal couldn't have endured it, and probably wouldn't have survived it. But he was a god, he was, as a rule, exceptional. And with all these word, all these pictures, their meanings went as well. The entire Supernal language was forced into the young one's skull. It was a torrent of pure thought. And it was exhilarating.
When it was done, she had to steady herself against a nearby rock. Now, all the information was there, in his brain. He just had to learn to access it.
"Now, I will ask you again," said the voice, and it sounded slightly hoarse, "What do you want out of life?"
"Empress.... there is a vast difference between asking what one wants out of life and what ones plans for the world. However, I did not speak untruthfully. I am new to this place and even with your help there is much i still seek to learn. As to what i want out of life, like any God i seek to fulfill my purpose, or dual purposes of Destruction and Creation. Though I wonder if mere sentience constitutes life.
"You called me Empress," stated the voice, "I like that, it is a grand title, it commands authority."
She surveyed the god. He had learned much from what she had shown him. That had its advantages. It also had its disadvantages.
"You and I are similar, at our very core," she began, very carefully, "We both require life and death to function." She paused to gaze at him again, dispassionatley, "We could do great things together."
She began to walk down the beach, not checking if he was following.
"I asked what your plans were, yes, I also asked what you wanted out of life," said the voice, "They are different, but to me, both answers are necessary." She stopped, "Sure sentience doesn't constute life, but life as I have known it has been fantastic, and I seek only to share it with you, what say you?"
Her arms whispered through the air, entrancing, hynotic.
"We are our names and our titles are we. There is much contained within them, and you are the Empress, and all that entails. And yes, at our core we are both similar, but that does not mean we are not different as well, and through both of these, our harmony and our dissonance, great things could be accomplished. But what things are these? You say this world is yours, or what you wish it to become, but i look and before me stretches sea and land, much like it must exist in the world as it is now. Please, tell me more of what you propose."
"Where there is not-life," she said slowly, gesturing with one of her many hands to a lump of dark rock, "So too, must there be life."
She raised another hand, and pointed. A woman, dressed in garb so bright and colourful, the sight of her was jarring in this dark place. She had long, dark hair, and dark GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!. Her eyes were full and brown, and she was holding a pitcher. The pitcher was made of a material, solid and GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!, not unknown to the young god. It was the material that made up the Imperial Goddess. The woman was dipping the pitcher in the water, filling it with water. She was human, one of the races the Goddess has shown him with her memories. Like the goddess, she was both terrible, and beautiful.
"This is my dream," said the goddess sadly, "To be a mother, to care for a race as the others have done."
She turned to he who was death and life incarnate, her face tragic, "Do you think you can help me do that?"
"You have shown me a kindness, you have taught me much and I have learned much." As he spoke destruction and creations form seemed to shift before the eyes of the empress, his tail receded and his outer shell grew softer and paler. He stood up on his hind limbs and his head shrunk and where 6 eyes had rested there were now only two. Eventually, what stood before the Empress was a nude human male. This form was exquisitely sculpted, with muscles that bespoke hard labor and a natural perfection, a harmony of the body that even the best of sculptors could not replicate. His flesh was pale and unblemished, though when one looked at it they would be left with the hint of a dark blue, even though they would be forever unable to place it. His face was constructed of a strong square jaw and handsome features. No hair grew upon his face but a long wavy mane as black as night extended from his upper skull. However it was the eyes that drew you in, for there were no irises. Instead the sockets merely contained a strange kind of bright light with a tinge of red, however they seemed to draw in from the world around them rather than give out.
"So thus I am gladly in your debt, but there is much to this world and much to discern, so allow me to give you the only answer I can." As he said this Destruction and Creation approached the Empress, walking up to her until he was within arms length, and then he approached closer. He reached down and placed one hand underneath the jade goddesses chin and lifted her stare into his eyes. For a moment their gazes locked, and then Destruction leaned in and gently touched his lips to hers. In that moment her arms seemed to break the never ending pace of their dance, for some seemed to speed up while others seemed to slow down, and they all began to work in different rhythms. And simultaneously the world around them seemed to shudder. When he broke from their contact, he gazed into her eyes once more and saw the battle of expressions dance across her face, the first time he had seen emotion there.
He then turned and began to walk away, and as he did so flames seemed to leap from his form, until eventually the flames seemed to engulf him and then he was no longer there, Destruction and Creation had left.
Savagery is one thing, but such pointlessness... Unpleasant that such life would be lost.
The god turned, a fog gliding back to the lands of the humans.
What to do with them...
They struggled, with only simple tools to aid them. Yet they persevered, unwilling to be destroyed. Unwilling to fail.
I suppose they have earned something, a gift then.
Xirinet reached into the minds of the humans, gifting them with knowledge of a new abilty. To call upon the strength of the world, upon the strength of the leylines. The humans quickly took to wielding this ability, naming their wariors Wardens and dedicating them to protection of both their people and the land.
Useful, especially if others should decide to spread further destruction.
Actions
2PP, Teach Populace: Wardens, the most basic units of human warrior-vanguards. At least once those vanguards start turning up.
Mildly amused, Veros watched and waited for Mara to notice him.
But then he returned his mind to the halflings around him. They recoiled in fear and and staggered away from his form, but something was not right. Something in their mannerisms, something in the way they held themselves, it would be imperceptible to a mortal and perhaps even to a God that had not studied the original so, but these things were mimicries of the original. He even heard whispered prayers to a being called Veros.
"Who and what are you? Where are the halflings? And who or what is this Veros!?"
The Feywyld though was not the true home of these people and they cast many longing looks up against the sky at night. Looking at the golden start that they knew where their world. Their true home.
Both Dwarf and Halfling longed to return to the world but what they would do when they returned created major arguments. Two major groupings dominated the discussions about this.
The Dawn party and the Dusk party.
The Dawn party proposed that they should try to find a new home-land to settle. One far away from cruel giants and treacherous Eladrin. A home where both Dwarf and Halfling could get a new start.
The Dusk party were deeply conservative on the other hand and demanded that Dwarf and Halfling would come back with fire and steel. Purging their old home-land of all invaders and interlopers. Restoring Duska krak the ancient kingdom of the Dwarves.
Unity and wholeness was threatend as Dwarves and Halflings bickered amond themselves in the deph of the Feywyld.
But then she did.
There was a floor, that much was clear. But nothing else. Darkness, everywhere. A light formed, flickering, and palest greenn in the darkness. And so she started to walk. Walk this dark world, this lifeless plain. For how could she marshall her thoughts when her head was spinning out of control?
Emotions, terrible and pure began to rush through her. Fear, anger, they swirled around her, palpable. She was angry at the intrusion, angry at the boldness. But she also feared. She feared she might not be quite so angry. She feared she might be happy. And that last one frightened her most of all.
It was appropriate; he had created the first jungles, the first untamed places of the world. That had given birth, in time, to a fey child. The circle was now complete.
Turning again to the earth, Xa'an saw that much was still to be done. He called to the storehouse, which turned to the oceans near the mortal continent and gave its nourishing light to the deeps. There great forests of plants began to spread, full of seaweed, kelp, anemones, and other things of the deep. The forest grew so tall and so thick that it colored the surface of the water greenn.
pp
2pp, Form Domain (moderate): Fey - Xa'an lays claim to the fey domain as well.
1pp, Nourish Land (from Artifact): Ocean - Xa'an creates an underwater forest
2pp, Form Domain (moderate): Fey - Xa'an lays claim to the fey domain as well.
1pp, Nourish Land (from Artifact): Ocean - Xa'an creates an underwater forest
"Hello, father." they said in unison, standing side-by-side.
Within the twisted froth of memories and emotions he had been gifted with by the Jade Empress were brief pictures of others like themselves, other immortal forces. However the memories were twisted and tangled, and even he had trouble making sense of some of them. So he was going to learn for himself, to find these others and see what came of it.
***
After a time Destruction and Creation came to the end of the path of the fallen beings, far beyond the border of the Golden Hills. The path had led him along many miles of earth, until eventually it ended, but when he cast his superior divine gaze to the horizon, he made out in the distance and opening into the land. He began to prowl towards it and before long came upon this cave. The bodies of the machina, the many limbed beings from the sky, and yet others seemed to litter this place. Perplexed he began to descend into the cave, and after what seemed like a short time to a God, he came upon a strange city, populated by the walking cog-men and strange phantoms. These did not recoil and flee as the interlopers in the Golden Hills had, they gave him a wide birth and stared at his form as he prowled through the pathways of their civilization, until eventually he came to some kind of square.
With a voice like only a God can make, both commanding but not threatening, loud but not a shout, Destruction and Creation spoke "What is this place and who has created you strange cog-men and incorporeal beings?"
Free for now from the burden of emotion, her mind became cold, clear, and sharp as a knife. What to do, what to do? She couldn't confront the other god, it would be too bold. She couldn't just not do anything, that would be too passive. She must find a middle ground. But still there was that nagging doubt, that little flicker of indecision, of hesitation. What did this mean?
Her hands went instantly to her stomach, where they rested, for a fraction of an instant. She wondered...
Quickly changing topic, the white-haired Mara on the left said, "The water is moving the earth around and spinning it. We are adjusting."
"But now day and night are confused." the other commented.
Indeed it would have been day on this land before, the earth was rotating, but the storehouse will still timed to its old ways. "Also I think we are out of sync too." left-side Mara said.
"It's making my stomach feel bad!" right-Mara said, holding her stomach.
"So we were going to ask the water to help fix things." left-Mara continued. "But it isn't responding."
"Yes, Neko can be slow to respond. Give him time, and he'll eventually stir from his slumber."
He looked up, pondering. "Hm, I suppose his rotation has begun moving things out of sync. It will have to be fixed soon. What will you do?"
Then, it became aware that something was happening in the Tsarok-Hem hive city. Something not of his making.
Winged pests were causing problems with the Tsarok-Hem minions, the Narrok.
These new wasp creatures were a nuisanse. They were similar in design to the creatures created by the god who's mind he invaded so long ago.
Still, something had to be done about them.
Tsarokga-Noggoth grew a new breed of fungus. This mushroom shaped itself to mimic a spidershaped creature. Through the use of psionics and pheromones, it made the wasps believe it was a far more suitable host for there eggs then the minions of the Tsarok-Hem.
With the aid of special enzymes, the injected eggs would be digested by the fungus however. The Tsorak-Hem made sure this fungus would thrive everywere within there hives, removing wasp casualties to almost non-existant.
One thing Tsarokga-Noggoth wondered though is were these pests came from.
Then it noticed a figure drifting not to far from the hive city. The wasps were clearly his doing.
Its mind started to reach towards the newcomer, entering Thans's mind. Feelings of rot and decay flow into the sun gods thoughts, like worms burrowing deeper in his flesh.
Then came the voice.
"One finally came....What are you?....What do you want?"
(nourish populous 1PP: By growing these new mimic fungi breeds, they remove the pest problem)
"One finally came, did one?" Said Tahns, "is that what you were trying to do? Provoke the gods into attacking you? Well, aren't you in luck."
Tahns raised his saw-toothed club and charged at the maker of the fungal blight. This revolting mass of flesh and corruption was no match for the sun god!
Oh, to admit it was just magical! If possible, it lifted her higher! This light, it shone through her, it was so bright, so happy, so pure. The dank, sorry chamber burst into life! Wildflowers sprang to life at her feet amidst a carpet of emerald grass! The dark void above cracked open, and the sun shone above, merry and bright, smiling down at her and her love! Trees burst from the ground, heavy with fruit! Shining red apples the size of your fist hung low on the branches gleaming happily at her. Birdsong burst to life, and her whole body began to dance, a whirling, dervish of joy! She spun and spun and spun! Then she collapsed, panting with exhaustion, on a bed of softest grass.
The sun disappeared beyond the canopy of trees, leaving her alone with the stars and the merry moons. Andm for the first time since her creation, the Jade Goddess slept, and in her dreams she was on the grey beach, spending a few more moments with the young god.
And beneath her hands, two of which were clasped over her stomach, something had started to happen. Unbeknownst to her, that her stomach had begun to swell, ever so imperceptibly.
1 PP Form Domain (Lesser) Love: The goddess who is Tyranny and Envy and Greed has known Love, and has become it as well.
"Insignificant vermin"
With a powerfull psionic blast he brought the tiny sun god to a halt, ending Tahns mighty charge abruptly, immobilizing him in the process.
Held in a psychic grip, Tahns was overcome with confussion and disbelief. Tsarokga-Noggoth felt this, mocking the poor god.
"Pathetic. Now get out of my sight"
Then with a single blow of one of it's tentacles, Tsarokga-Noggoth tossed Tahns like a rag-doll back to the world below.
"I think we will fix our rotation, but we don't know to what."
The black-haired Mara leanded over, and began puking a little.
Tahns' eyes widened with disbelief as the slimy tentacles closed around him. He was the power of four gods combined! The creator of the most powerful, wise, and beautiful of all the mortal races! He was the one who lit the sky, who allowed life to exist. He had given food to the mortals, helped reshape the world.
And now, here he was, being strangled by a vermin that lacked even a name.
Insignificant vermin!
Tahns raged and thrashed. He tried to threaten and insult the fungus-thing back, but the tongue that had so eloquently derided the other warmongering gods could not speak without air...and his lungs were being crushed.
Pathetic, said the cloying, infectious voice in his mind, now get out of my sight!
Tahns felt it reach backward, his body dangling from its putrid tentacle. Then, it threw.
A glowing meteor descended from the aether. Around the hemisphere, mortals looked up in terror, thinking this was another stage of the invasion, but it wasn't. Tahns plummeted from the force of his enemy's attack, unable to stop himself, until he splashed into the ocean in a colossal plume of steam. Around the world, priests and holy men gasped in pain as Tahns' impact echoed through their very souls.
He raised a single arm and the air around him roiled as a shockwave erupted from him, thunder without sound, calling to the slumbering water god, calling him awaken.
"Be patient young dreamers, invokers of living thought. We are not sure how long this journey shall take. But do not worry, for once we arrive there shall be light, color, joy and celebrations. We shall have done what no other dreamer has and you, our children, will be what no other dreamer is. A child of both worlds. Now prepare yourselves, for now we begin!"
Effortlessly, the great sphere lifted off and hurled itself through the void and aether to the World below. The stars reflected off of its surface and when it reached the shimmering blue barrier, it punctured it with ease and plummeted down, down, down into the sea with a titanic splash of water.
Thus The Child sprang forth into being in a puff of green leaves, fey magic and a laugh as he noted with a small frown that the world needed more playmates, more creatures to call it home. "So much to do, not enough t do it with! those frost giants have to be ever so bored down there! Giant cows cant keep them company!"
With that The Child began to dance and caper about singing and doing cartwheels as power welled around him in bands of green and red as he began to create and shape.
With an upward thrust of his hands trees broke through the hard soil of the tundra like so many spikes, however unlike the leafy trees of the temperate forests of the northern hemisphere or his majestic aether trees with there flowing fronds he made these trees brittle and hard much like the environment they found themselves in covered with needed and ruff durable bark capable of surviving and thriving in the tundra of the south.
Oravalos then let Gaia in a burst of power tumbling among the snow drift and vales of hs newly created forest and with a flick of his wrist and a slight laugh of delight Oravalos swept up and multiplied entire packs of the ice seals from there glacier homes and populated the frozen seas of the southern continents. He also took large packs of bears from there mountain caves and with a thought thickened there fur and turned it white so they could survive in the tundras of the south and brought them to him so he could admire his work with child like wonder.
The Child stopped then tapping his Valin walking stick as he cocked his head to the side observing his handy work. He concentrated for all of 5 seconds deciding it needed something more, something fun and majestic.
Thus, with a giggle and a skip of delight Oravalos breathed a fog upon the forests and from it bounded out large elk twice the size of the deer in the northern climes with racks of antlers five feet across bristling with sharp horns to defend themselves and there herds.
Standing among a cpse of pines, snow up to his waist Oravalos admired his work as the elk began to bound off. He so wanted to chase them and follow them through there forest and with a feral grin and a howl that burst from his throat so loudly and far reaching the giants in there distant city could hear it he called forth packs of Wild Winter wolves to hunt the elk and Auroks of the frozen tundra.
Oravalos looked around with a grin and a knod of satisfaction at his handy work and with a puff of breath blew back a stray front that was in his face and in a puff of green among the white returned to his home on Gaia.
(Nourish Land (1 PP): Create Coniferious trees (pine trees) in the tundra of the souther hemisphere.
(Spawn creature lesser (1pp): Polar Bears
Spawn creature lesser (1 pp): Elk
Spawn Creature lesser (1 pp): Ice Seals
Spawn creature lesser (1 pp)(artifact): wolves
From the spire Ythrexle flew, looking upon its city. "All is just as we had intended, but we did not land on solid ground. We shall have to make do with what we have then." With the merest exertion, soil and grass covered the island as if it had been there thousands of years. Flora the likes of which one could only dream sprouted and blossomed, bearing strange fruits that were all unique and just as delicious.
Satisfied with it's work for now, the god alighted among its people. "Our children, this is the new land we have given you. We shall live here together and be as the dreamers on this World. And our dreams shall live forever on in the Dream."
And with that, Ythrexle took on a new form. It became like one of the Ythra, but not wearing a mask. Instead two different stone masks float above it's shoulders, and it is from these that its voice issues when talking. "Our... no, MY children. Look upon me, I am as you are. And together we shall live in this World, and together we shall defend our new world as well as well as our new home. This island. Riyelleh."
PP Expenditure
1PP - Nourish Land: Riyelleh
The exarch knew his master enjoyed simplicity. And so, Nibiru rammed the storehouse, sending it tumbling out of orbit around the pillar. It fell to earth and, by a spot of luck, fell into one of the great holes in the crust. Nibiru, shaken by the impact, followed, leaving behind a trail of rocks that had broken off from itself. These fragments floated in the aether, but the slow turn of the planet began to pull them along into an incredibly thin, nigh invisible, ring of dust.
At the center of the inner world, indeed at the center of the universe, the Storehouse had come to rest. Nibiru set it spinning opposite the planet and commanded it to emit light to as wide an area as it could. Only a forth of the inner surface received light, and it advanced along the surface slowly, taking two outer days to complete one inner day, but light had returned to that place.
The exarch left to tell his master.
pp
1pp, Mold Land (Lesser), from Exarch - creating the basis of what will become a ring around the planet.
1pp, Mold Land (Lesser), from Exarch - creating the basis of what will become a ring around the planet.
So, the avariels, despite being more adept at fighting in the skies, grouped together with some of the eladrins' most powerful magi and ventured into the underdark.
"As for now, you need help. As much as I would like, I cannot help you alone. Wait for me here, and I will bring some one else who may be interested."
He stepped away, walking across the surface, crossing barren stone, slock ice, and water, paying little attention to his surroundings. After the walk, he found himself where he wished to be. He looked up and walked into the sky, passing through the Azure Aegis effortlessly, moving towards the island he had left here so long ago.
He set foot on the island for the first time in nearly two millenia. Awaiting by the border, he sent out a quiet call to the islands master, asking Oravolos to come and speak to him.
He first turned his gaze to a one of the cog-men. Fixing him with all 6 eyes, Destruction and Creation began to prowl towards the being. The other machina and shadowy beings quickly retreated, however as his compatriots withdrew this one found that it could not move, not a foot, not a finger, even its eyes could not be torn from the alien form that approached. And as Destruction and Creation approached, layers of metal began to peal away from the thing, until the inner workings of the cog-man began to be revealed. In that moment, while every muscle seemed to be frozen, the eyes of the being seemed to scream in agony and despair.
"If none will aid me, then I will see for myself what your are."
Without using her hands, without any visible support, she rose to her feet, not bending her knees, simply rising. It was eerie to watch. Or it would be, if anything was left alive to see it. She stalked through the dying trees, anger pounding through her. How could she have been so foolish? How could she even think...
"Love, ha!" said her voice out loud to herself, "What do I need of love?"
"Everything!" said the voice. The words had come from her, and yet they could not have.
"Love is foolish, love is blind," she said, her Heart beating fast.
"Then so too am I foolish," she said, answering herself, "So too am I blind."
"I am strong."
"I am humble."
"I am Envy."
"I am Love."
"I am god."
"I am mortal."
The words echoed through the room. The trees, the flowers, the apples, all had fallen away, leaving her, leaving them.
"We are us."
As he made his way back to the surface, heading to where he was called, where his people cried in terror once more, he cast out, snatching two birds from the air. Annoyed as he walked, he cast the birds out carrying a message to Mara. Annoyed as he aproached them, he realized that he already knew what they wanted, that something powerful had come before them. That strange sensation again, of knowing something he shouldn't.
With no time to think much about it, he followed the trail it had taken as it left, noting the tell tale signs of power that only a god or exarch left in their wake. Finally, he tracked it into the tunnel depths, where, he noted interestedly, the warforged had come from.
He watched intently from the shadows as it tore apart one of the poor creatures to puzzle out how it worked. Finally, when it was finished, he stepped forward, making his presence known, letting him make the first move.
-----
The two birds approached Mara, one landing on the shoulders of each, whispering a message into their ears. "Sorry, but something has come up that must be addressed. I shall return as soon as possible. These birds will carry your message back to me, before being freed."
As he finished his dissection and examination of the cog-man, he began to sense a presence at the edge of his perception. This was not merely another machina or shadowy being, for they had all fled from his sight as he began his work. Instead, this being seemed to radiate a presence the likes of which he had only felt in the presence of the Jade Empress. Perhaps this was another one of their kind? One who could form the world about them with their spark of divinity?
As the last of the components to what was once one of the cog-men began to dissolve into the air, Destruction and Creation lifted his gaze to the presence that he knew would be there. Before him stood a being that seemed to be garbed in shadows, mist seemed to roll from his presence and few if any features discernible.
"Greetings, are you the architect of these machines and shadows?" stated Destruction and Creation as he nodded his head in the direction of the shadowy one.
Oravalos wondered if he was spying? but quickly through that idea away sinceVeros obviously had made his presence known. The child though gave it no more thought but to create an astral messenger bird with a breath of power to track down his brother to let him know he is welcome back at any time. With that Oravalos set off to tend to his trees and gardens.
Something similar perhaps, my children can use the skill.
Reaching out the god placed the necessary seed from which the humans would divine the creation of buildings. When they began building they created simple homes, erected in natural clearings. As the groupings expanded into small towns the homes began to weave into the trees, cutting down only what was necessary to build the homes and leaving the remainder.
The humans flourished with the new skill, taking root deeper in the land and forging the first small settlements of human life.
Now, to do something to bring more life into the world.
The god cast about looking for inspiration. Finally its gaze alighted upon the rivers of the world, remembering that they remained largely unoccupied it decided to shape something that could stalk the waters.
Xirinet began to mold the the enrgy of the Leylines producing a lithe reptilian form. Thick hide, sharp teeth, powerful jaws; the god molded this new predator to stalk the rivers and shores of the world.
Actions
2PP, Teach Populace: Carpentry. creation of wooden building and basic wooden furniture etc. Technically I suppose that means they can make simple ships as well, but that's incidental.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Humans flourish with their new abilities.
1PP, Spawn Beast (lesser): Visejaw Crocodiles. As tie wears on I'm going to run out of truly natural beasts... Until then I'm just going to pop out a creature chosen pretty much at random each turn.
*thinks*
Yah that's it.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Humans flourish with their new abilities.
1PP, Spawn Beast (lesser): Visejaw Crocodiles. As tie wears on I'm going to run out of truly natural beasts... Until then I'm just going to pop out a creature chosen pretty much at random each turn.
*thinks*
Yah that's it.
But the world didn't let them do that. The world brought terrible beings down from the skies and cruel invaders, trying to enslave her people and use them as thralls and slaves.
But here in her realms she was calm, here no one would ever be able to disturb her and her people. Here...she was at peace.
She floated high above in her dreams. Looking out at the world that once had been. How her father forced it forth from the void. How her brothers, sisters and cousins appeared and how they together broke the world.
She saw her children and how they worked. She saw the invader, she saw the jealous gods, she saw the horror high above, how it slammed her son down from the sky.
The Fey Goddess shook slightly where she slept.
In her dreams she saw how she took her people away from the world, abandoned what she had been created to make whole. She had been a coward, a fool and a betrayer...it had seemed so logical at the time.
But now...now she realised what a fool she had actually been. But time is a endless thing though, she would get the chance to redeem herself and that she would.
Tsarokga-Noggoth sensed that some Tsarok and there minions survived the destruction caused to the invasion force. Blessing them for there efforts, Tsarokga-Noggoth made sure none of the others would discover there survival.
----
To increase his followers efficiency, Tsarokga-Noggoth grew new spore chambers in his body, allowing to spread more of his molds and fungi into the world and making them stronger.
(nourish populous: 1PP: the remaining Tsarok-force underground, making them stronger)
(Create Artifact (greater) 3PP: Spore Chambers: These provide Tsarokga-Noggoth a +1 nourish bonus PP)
She wanted to feel as they felt, love as they loved, and yes, even fear as they feared. But in this form, this hard, stoic form, she could not come close, could not even begin to experience what they experienced. So she sent her Talua to find a body that could.
-------------------
She awoke upon a bed. It was so soft, so warm. The sheets ran over her form, and she could feel... everything!
With every movement of her body, the soft, cool sheets flowed over her. She could feel as she never had before. It was purest ecstasy! The soft, soft pillow cradled her head. She reluctantly pulled herself upwards, her feet touching the cold ground. Nerves in her feet shot sensations up to her brain. The whole process was magical. She padded across the room, feeling the pressure in her feet, even the way the air flowed over her as she walked. She stepped over to a large piece of glass. It oval shaped, and was a little taller than she. It was supported by green stone supports at the back and the same stone framed it. It was not translucent, but it wasn't necessarily opaque either. Instead, it showed her, exactly as she was. It reflected what was before it.
She looked at herself, and marvelled at the textures, the colours these eyes picked up. She took the form of a tall woman, her race appeared to be human. Long, dark hair flowed from the top of her head, thick and luxurious. Her skin was a deep, chestnut colour and her eyes were full and round. The woman's eyes had been a deep, chocolaty brown, but hers were strikingly green, like two shining emerald set into her face. She looked at herself. She was perfect! She was beautiful! She was mortal!
And again, without concious though, her hands went to her stomach, where they rested, clasped together, over her slightly swollen belly.
They instructed the Frost Giants to build forges of great size and strength, and to dig for the rich iron veins that surrounded the volcano. They used the volcano as a natural furnace to power and heat their operations. The two Mara's designed each piece exactly, and gave the blueprints to the frost giants for them to build. There were many pieces, and for the giants, the process took generations.
With the giants at work, the two Mara's then set out to fix the world as much as they could. The biggest problem, that needed to be fixed right away, was time itself. The creation of the new world had set the Well of Time out of sync, just a little. It was not noticed by any other gods, but for Mara, who was especially attuned to the movements of the heavens, she could feel it and it was making her sick. The two children went to the Well of Time, which was located on the surface of the inside world. There they were met with two giant doors. As hard as they pushed they could not open them.
Perhaps thought, they did not need to enter it? Indeed, the two discussed solutions and it was agreed there was an alternative. Mustering all the might two children could, they lifted the entire Eternal Bastion out of the ground. They flew towards the center of the world, where the rogue astral Nobiru had put the Storehouse of Light. There inside the Storehouse they placed the Eternal Bastion. They fixed the storehouse so that its walls surrounded and kept the Bastion. Now, however, time once again flowed from the center of the universe. Already, Mara felt better from this change. Before they left, they each attached a small invisible magical connection to the storehouse and bastion, and flew back to the volcano.
They looked at the progress of the Frost Giants, who strained under the heat of their work, and were impressed. Some objects had to be redone, others were perfect, but overall progress was considerable. The girls initiated the next phase of construction, and various previous metals and gems and other materials with specific magical attunements and purposes were collected by the giants. They were incorporated into many parts. The largest of these was a giant capstone for the conduit. The capstone would draw upon magical power of the conduit and act as a sort of power-source and amplifier.
After this session, Mara went back to collecting magical connections to the other astral bodies. The capstone acted as one for the earth and the girls collected several more from the ley lines and other conduits. The two Mara's easily pricked each other. They had more trouble with the sun, who was too powerful and burned to the touch. They caught a piece of the sun that had flung off as a flare in a metal box, and brought that back. Finally they cataloged and tagged all the other astral objects in the aether and astral sea. Notoriously, the rogue astral Nobiru was the most difficult. When he saw the girls approaching he flew away, zig-zagging to avoid them. But it was an unfair chase—two against one—and eventually they got him.
Again they returned to the volcano to find all the pieces they needed. Working personally and with the help of the giants, they assembled their great device in the volcanic. The device involved hundreds upon hundreds of pieces, many of them gears, some smaller than a hand and some larger than a frost giant. When complete, the device took up the entire chamber. There were metal objects that were positioned by supports against the rounded spherical chamber room roof. Each of the objects was connected by magical tether to a real astral body. The entire device was set to the magical power of the conduit and to the Well of Time.
The two Mara's, looked at their work with satisfaction. They went over to the control device and turned the machine on. The parts and objects began spinning and turning madly about. They slowly began slowing down in rotations until each piece was brought to a certain location in the sky. The black-haired Mara reached for a large switch and pulled the lever. The true power of the artifact took hold as it drew upon the conduit to power itself. With a deep hum, it began pulling upon all the objects on the world. It tweaked and stabilized the rotations of the storehouse and the earth itself so they were exact, it changed the timing of the cycles of the moon, and gave each other astral a defined orbit.
The Maras looked at their creation, and were pleased with their work. It was perfect, the heavens and earth were not in exact sync, but the giant astronomical device could correct and fix these things every so often. In fact, by their calculations, the device would do that ever four moon cycles, when the moons were changing direction in front of the Sun. Oddly, perhaps due to a fault in the machine, during this short period of time, the magic drawn upon by the machine was so great than normal mortals were effected. They could not use magic as great as before.
They were tired from their work and needed to rest. Mara summoned Khuros, leader of the frost giants and told him they must guard the object from anyone from entering except another god. Finally, they retired back to their respective moons and went to sleep.
pp
Create Greater Artifact – 3 PP – Astral Orrery. This device affixes the objects of the universe to the well of time, thus creating a basis for all time-earth related phenomena. For example, every four lunar cycles, the Astral Orrery must work to make sure everything remains aligned. This time is a special time of the year, as various strange effects occur, mostly notably non-cleric magic users lose much of their spell-casting ability. The Astral Orrery also gives 1 PP for guide populance.
Guide Populance – 1 PP – Frost Giants at volcano now worship Mara.
Create Greater Artifact – 3 PP – Astral Orrery. This device affixes the objects of the universe to the well of time, thus creating a basis for all time-earth related phenomena. For example, every four lunar cycles, the Astral Orrery must work to make sure everything remains aligned. This time is a special time of the year, as various strange effects occur, mostly notably non-cleric magic users lose much of their spell-casting ability. The Astral Orrery also gives 1 PP for guide populance.
Guide Populance – 1 PP – Frost Giants at volcano now worship Mara.
"As for where the halflings went, Eijra took them to the safety of her home, to protect them. My people maintain their land so that when they return, they will have a home to return too."
Veros reached down, touching the ground. The Bulwark had energy built up, bursting at the seams. He nodded slightly, and released this energy off shore, safely away from the peoples of the world.
He stood back up and looked at Drahthor. "They were created by Nocturne, lord of shadows. I do not know his true reasoning, but I can only assume they were designed to conquor, as that is the first task he assigned to them."
-----
The dopplegangers prospered in their lands, left largely alone by their neighbors. They farmed the land as the halflings had, and mined the ground as the dwarves had. Some of their brethren returned friom eladrin lands, bearing new knowledge that was soon adopted by others.
Still, more of the changelings leared to use the trees around them, building sturdier buildings than the simple grass huts long used by halflings. Taking these new techiques, the city of Celeros grew up, the center of the young nations wealth and politics.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Dopplegangers learn carpentry
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Dopplegangers learn wizardy.
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Dopplegangers build a city, Celeros, the new capital of Duska Krak
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - A distance to the east, off shore of the continent, several small islands rise from the sea.
PP Refresh
5 - Veros, Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Mara
4 - The Void, Oreb Nahash, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Xirinet, Ythrexle, Eijra, Frellisk, Thans, Mara, The Empress
Admin Awards
Massive Attack has been given an extra PP for this turn.
Neko took form in bubbles before the armed god, forming a trident of coral. If you've come for a fight, I'm for you!
3 PP Create Artifact(Greater) "The Titan's Trident" Provides 1 PP towards shape Populous actions.
She clothed this body too, if only for modesty. It bothered her little, but for what she planned, it would be necessary. But she wore little, just a simple green shift of a material that felt like woven water. It was cool, and smooth and brushed softly over her skin. Nerves shot waves of pleasure to her brain, and she smiled. She wanted to preserve this, this feeling. It was good.
She walked lightly through the palace, and she examined it all through new eyes. It was a marvel to behold. The walls continued far, far up to the distant ceiling, and widows set high on the walls of the corridor admitted rays of light. They warmed her face when she passed these, another wonderful sensation this body provided. She turned a corner, In this corridor, large windows spanned one wall, providing a view into the courtyard below.
Graceful butterflies with wings of emerald alighted upon flowers of every colour of the spectrum, from vibrant blues to purest crimson, they shone in the mid-morning light. A large, oval pond sat in the center of the rectangular area, light dancing across its surface.
She walked into the massive entry hall, descending a flight of wide stone steps to the mosaic floor. Tiles of every shade of green created an intricate pattern accross the floor. The ceiling here was vaulted, and was at least a hundred feet adove, if not more. Intricate statuary decorated the walls, and the wall opposite the hugefront doors was dominated by an enormous staute of the goddess. She walked through those front doors into a world bathed in light.
---------------------
It was not long after that that she was wandering among the village this body had once called home. Humans of all shapes and sizes worked tirelessly about her, going about their daily chores. She marvelled at their diversity! Tall, short, skinny, fat. Eyes of all shades and hues, hair that was brown, black, blonde, red, and uncountable others in between. She wanted to give back to them, for the gift they had, unknowingly, given her.
She wanted to share with them this child-like wonderment she was experiencing. And where she walked, those she saw, those she heard, those she interacted with, all found that sensation, that sensation of wonder. They all saw the world through new eyes, just as she had. They strove to do more, see more. And everywhere she went, happiness spread like an infectious disease.
1 PP Nourish Populace (Lesser) Humans: The humans now have an increased urge to seek out new things, to explore, to experience different aspects of life. Many have lost the urge to remain where they are, building up their civilization where they are and want to spread their horizons.
And with that Drathor cast his mind about searching for the nearest of the shadowy beings. Upon finding one, several hundred yards away hidden behind a natural outcropping of rock, Drahthor's form burst into flame and in a moment was gone. He reappeared but a half-breath late directly in front of the shadow, with all six eyes centered upon him. The creature quickly found that its limbs would not follow its minds commands as it attempted to flee from this avatar of destruction. And every so slowly and patiently, Drahthor, Destruction and Creation prowled closer.
"Veros, God of Knowledge and Secrets, the substance of this shadows inner most being seems to resemble that of a deity, albeit without the power. But what is truly staggering, it has the mind and the memories of a Dwarf!!
She stopped for a moment to listen. Her Heart swelled when she heard the happiness in their voices, the joy! She was so uplifted by this, she felt she could float up off of the ground. Then, just as suddenly as it had swelled, her happiness died, vanquished by one word: Xirinet. It had come from the mouths of those who prayed! They were thanking him for their prosperity! They were thanking him for the help she had given! She couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it! Her mortal form began to peel away, revealing the awesome form within. The Jade Empress was back with a passion. With one quick movement, she called up the power she possessed, the magic within her. Green light, coloured by the anger burning in her Heart, flowed from her. Engines of her rage, engines of destruction poured forth, they were fury incarnate. They were her servants, they were her warriors, they were her hell-bringers. They were her Rakshasas.
3 PP Form Populace (Moderate) Rakshasas: Where her Talua are her subtle hand in the world, the Rakshasas are there for when she requires more force. They will guard Niyanta, as well as go out into the world, doing her bidding where they go. They will not resort to subtle tactics like the Talua, though it is somewhat in their blood to be marginally subtle. They will usually be much more violent than their cousins, and they will hate mortals with a fiery passion. Note: Since this is only a Moderate Shape Populace, only the Paragon versions of the Rakshasas are created.
The humites quickly reproduced, and spread across the Golden Hills. So far, they had not made any noticable settlements, but their presence was clear. Where there had been blood and decay, there is now grass and trees. The humites tirelessly worked to restore these lands knowing that their god would not be pleased if they did not meet success.
PP Use
2PP (1 from Eorna) - Teach Populace. The humites know how to heal
1PP - Nourish Land (Lesser) - Around half of the Golden Hills is restored.
Meanwhile the last of the shadows that had made the being seemed to be evaporating into the air, and the misty soul was in a constant state of flux. It shrunk, then expanded, it writhed and boiled and seemed to do everything in its power to escape the attentions of these two Gods.
"I'm sure there was a soul in the cog men. We likely missed it, paying to much attention to the rest. They had much going on within, while this one had only inky blackness covering the soul. Perhaps we should investigate one of them again?"
And with that Drahthor cast his mind wide until he found another of the machina, and in a rush of flames he suddenly appeared before it.
This time he did not even both paralyzing and disassembling the creature, for he knew exactly what to look for. And as the cog-man turned and began to run Drahthor found it, he quickly ripped the soul from the body, and as the mist dragged from its form the metal shell that had contained it fell to the floor. Unscathed but immobile.
Trusting that Veros had followed he stated "So it seems you were right, these ones do have the spirit of life. But I do not sense the memories of another race within this soul. The life of a machine is the only life it has ever known."
He looked down at the two souls, considering the idea. "The Sorrowsworn are dedicated to the elimination of such misused souls, but the proccess must be fascinating indeed. I'll have to look into it, and perhaps reconsider their task."
His name had been Boros. He was born deep within the mountains of his people, a proud citizen of Duska Krak. He had grown older, he had married a beautiful girl by the name of Marthla, and he had even joined the armies of his people feeling it was his duty. He had been deployed to the Golden Hills, and he had brought Marthla along to their cousins lands. It was a happy time, the halflings were full of joy and merriment. They were always dancing and singing and smoking from pipes. The land was soft and rich, and the soil gave in abundance. With his soldier wages, Boros had purchased a small home for him and his wife, it was not dug from the earth and reinforced with stone in the dwarven way, but it was enough and they were happy. But then one day the frost giants came. They towered above the dwarves and they left only death and destruction in their wake. Boros had been singed by mages flame, and he had lain in the burned out field of his cousins, dying slowly and painfully. He did not want to go, he did not want to leave his beautiful wife. He wanted to have children, to watch them grow into proud, strong dwarves like their father. He wanted to taste more of the joys and sorrows of life, he did not want to die and fade into eternal nothingness. And in that field, Boros wept from the pain and from the futility of a life that ended in only darkness, and in that field he died.
Drahthor broke his mind away from the dwarven memories and turned his head to Veros. "Master of knowledge, what happens to these souls at the end, after their physical form expires?"
She travelled along the ocean, far, far away from the continent where her people had once lived. They needed a new land, a new country, a new home and that she would give them.
There she finally was, far, far away from the ancient home of the Halflings and the Dwarves. No land was in sight, only the endless ocean.
The Goddess looked out over the water sighed, closed her eyes and began to sing. The earth under her shook as the words flowed out between her lips. The world began to raise as she reached the crecendo and when she was done a vast archipelago had risen from the ocean.
Hundreds of islands, mountainous islands, flat islands, islands of all sorts and types. Next she raised her hand once more and gave the islands life. Grass began to grow, trees arose from the rich earth and creatures from the continent began to appear on the islands of the archipelago and soon it was a as much of a place of life as the Golden Hills once had been. These isles would be known as the Isles of Calafi Kraka or " The Kingdom of the mountain of the dawn " if it would be translated to common speech.
Mold Land 2 PP: Creates the archipelago of Calafi Kraka about eight hundred miles from the Continent's coast.
Nourish Land 1 PP: Makes plants and animals appear on the Isles
But this world was not ready to have death run rampant so soon after their last encounter with it, and she was not ready to be the one who gave it to them. So she gathered to her all of the Rakshasas, herded by her Talua, they went, following the words of those they believed to simply be more powerful Rakshasas. She locked them within the depths of Niyanta. And deep within the bowels of the palace, they slept, slumbering until they would be needed once more. Slumbering until she would wake them, and rain destruction on her foes.
"Hmmm, this disturbs me. I believe I am done here for now, if I were to ever encounter this Nocturne of Darkness I might have questions then. What of you Veros, are you satisfied with what you have learned today?"
He stood there, considering everything. Life was created by the gods, and Xirinet presided over it.
"WHat will you do now, Drahthor?"
She wanted to live, live as they did, live as the mortals did. Without thought, without worry. Their only true concern survival. She savoured the time she had been mortal, longed for it even. She wanted it, wanted it back. So she closed her eyes and...
--------------
...awoke on a bed stuffed with down feathers. She stretched her body beneath the sheets, working out the kinks that had accumulated through the night. She yawned, her mouth stretching wide. She pushed the blankets from her prone form, and swung her legs out over the floor. She lightly stepped onto the cool stone floor. She padded over to the chest that stood at the foot of her bed, and pulled open the top.
Sitting neatly inside, all nicely folded, were a number of articles of clothings, in varying shades of green. She pulled out a simple dress in a calm, light green colour. She pulled it over her head. It settled nicely over her stomach, which had swollen slightly. She rubbed her stomach, and walked over to the door, yawning profusely as she did so.
She pulled the door open, taking care to make as little noise as possible so as to not break the early-morning stillness. She wallked down the corridor leading to the kitchens. She was just passing the corner where the statue of the plump dwarf stood when she sensed the nausea that always surged in the morning begin to overtake her. She ran to a nearby urn, and vomitted directly into it. She stepped back, groaning, clutching her stomach. She wasn't hungry anymore.
God's created them, and they could destroy them, but what was the purpose. He slowly made his way to the surface, when he nticed that the link had finally broken. Eijra had finally awakened. He filed it away, also noting that he could hear is worshippers among the dwarves and halflings again. Something to deal with indeed. He set his mental matters aside, and made his way, seeking Eijra out.
Her eyes cold and angry. Why! Why couldn't she do more! Why didn't she have the power necessary to do more?
The fair Goddess raised her head against the sky and sighed heavily. There were so many things that needed to be done.
Someone was coming, a mighty being filled to the brim with goldy power. It was her father.
" Hello there, Father "
She said and raised a hand in greeting. Her gaze returned to the archipelago, and her smile faded away as she mumbled quietly.
" There is to much to do..."
Her gaze returned to her father once more and her smile returned. Her eyes glittered in the glorious light of the sun.
" It will take some time...the creation of a new home for my people has tired me and I don't think I have the power necessary to bring them back just yet. "
She answered quietly, her gaze focused upon her feet. That she was so weak...it was shameful...
"Though, would you bring them all here?"
Drahthor was disgruntled by this "Leaving before we were truly finished, I still have much of this world to see and the God of Knowledge and Secrets might have been an excellent guide." and with that Drahthor's form burst into flames once again, this time reappearing at the base of a mountain. From what he had gathered from the thoughts and memories of the Empress, this place was the home of the Eladrin. He slowly began his accent towards the summit.
"A pile of rocks and a pile of beans."
She pulled an apple from one of the trees and put it in her basket. She reached for another.
"They don't look good, but they don't come cheap."
She took a few more, piling them delicately into her basket.
"You'll see them when you close your eyes."
She rubbed an apple against her shirt before depositing it in the basket.
"But only 'till the morning."
With that The Child did a cartwheel splitting a hole in reality at its apex as he teleported to his sisters location and continued his cartwheeling around her in a circle. "Sister! so glad you came back! so glad! We must play and rejoice in the song of the world sister dear! Let us dance and sing and bring forth creatures of splendor, color and vibrance of nature."
The Child stopped in his capering directly in front of Veros his eyes of emerald green focused on his sister with a fierce outpouring of his love and joy as his form shifted into the wise his eyes holding that joy but showing strength and understanding he had for his sister as well, the wonderful sister he brought into being at the calling of the world. "We must stand together Eijra. We must stand and defend nature and the world. Together we are strong enough to bring to life the world you know should exist since you are her charge. Let us do it together."
" Father, my people has suffered under invaders sword and magic. I will not bring them back to that danger...though..."
She looked down at her feet once more.
" There are some of my people, halfling and Dwarf alike who whisper in the darkness. Whisper words of revenge and oaths of hatred...they think that our land is dead and they want to give it life once more...if you want you may take them. They will never be happy here..."
She looked out over her islands and smiled.
" Brother, look out over my new land? Isn't it beautiful? "
The fair Goddess sighed and turned.
" What are you talking about brother? What noble mission do you want me to be a part of now? "
And how she loved to eat! The varying tastes, the subtle aromas, all combined to make a lovely meal. She had the dining hall, with the long stone table, the high-backed chairs. But it was too big in there, too open, too drafty. She preferred to eat in the kitchen, where light streamed in from the tall windows, and the fire pit crackled merrily in the corner. She would just stay there for hours on end, sitting on the floor, eating fruit from a large stone bowl, talking to her baby.
Sometimes she would tell the baby stories. These would usually center around fruit, and she would act out the story across the top of her belly, using the fruit as puppets. She told the marvellous tale of the Peach who valiantly ecaped the clutches of the Kiwi Overlord, and saved his love, Princess Grape. She recounted the story of the Apples who crossed the sea atop the backs of giant Cantaloupe, and found the promised land. She would laugh throughout these stories.
Sometimes she would just talk, about the weather, about the plants she cultivated in the gardens, and about the man in her dreams. Now, she had only met him in her dreams, but she talked of him endlessly. She told her baby about his hair, about his skin. She spoke of the beach she often saw in her dreams, and of the time she would spend there with him. She didn't know who he was, or if she was just imagining him, but it felt good to have a fantasy. Sometimes, when she was afraid she wouldn't be able to take care of the baby all alone, when the loneliness started to overtake her, she imagined he would be there one day, to help her, to hold her hand, and to tell her everything would be alright.
"I brought you into being not The Deciever here, and he is not your father! You are the mother of this planet and she is your charge as all of nature and its creatures are mine. The fey and the song of the world need you, I need you."
Oravalos paced before Eijra his thoughts whirling through his mind. "I regret that after your creation I left you to your own devices, but I felt you needed to find your place among our brothers and sisters. I am saying to you now that If you will have my aid I will never let you stand alone before such machinations , schemes and pain as you had to deal with. We will stand together and stronger for it."
What was that, what had she just seen? She stared once more into the water, pondering. Then it happened again, this time in sharper focus. Things were moving behind the wall. Flying! No, not flying, swimming! The blue, it was water. She looked down, and saw him! He gazed back at her, dark hair and pale skin taking on a blue cast from the water. She tried to reach for him. He smiled. And then she was looking back at the fountain.
A terrible sinking feeling fell through her. She wanted to see him again, touch him, but knew she couldn't. Then she felt something. She looked down, carressing her stomach. Could it be? Yes, she thought with a surge of joy. The baby had kicked!
" Father, is this world's father, brother. He awakened what I once was from the void. Her created a something out of a nothing and for that he is not only my father but yours as well. I am my own god, brother and I decide my self who I will help and who I will let help me. "
She took a step forward and put a soft hand on her brother's cheek and said.
" Brother, I am a grownup now. You don't need to treat me as a child any more...I will help you with things you do that I see some sense in but I have my own ideas, my own goals and my own dreams. "
She turned to her father and said.
" Father, I accept your proposal. Take those of my children who wishes to return to the continent. In exchange you will help me to move those of my people that wishes for a new beginning to this new world I have created for them. "
He raised his arm, unleashing a block bolt of energy into her.
"There is the power. Let those who wish to return home return to their home, and bring the rest here."
PP Expentitures
1 Guide PP given to Eijra to bring her people back from the Feywild.
Portals opened all over the Feywyld, taking both Dwarf and Halfling to Duska Krak and Calafi Krak. The majortity of both Dwarves and Halflings wanted peace, prosperity and unity so they chose to travel to this New World, the Great Mother had created for them.
A tiny fragment though about five-thousand Dwarves and Halflings belonged to the Dusk faction. They remembered the old land, they remembered the Golden Hills and the fair slopes of Duskpeak. They remembered how giant and cog-beast came to their land. They remembered the great injustices that had been brought upon their people.
They remembered and therefore they marched away from their brothers and sisters. With weapon and shield in hand, ready to take back what was theirs.
2PP Guide Populace: Take Dwarves and Halfings back to the world. One group to Duska Krak and one to Calafi Krak.
He bowed slightly to them both, and turned, walking back across the sea towards the Golden Hills.
Shurka was confused at the... well, he couldn't exactly call them intruders. Why would they leave just to return again? Had Eijra commanded them to do so? She should know that he was already working on that...
"Eijra...? What is the meaning of this?"
He only half-expected her to answer back
A withered branch of Eorna snapped and fell to the ground. As it landed, it shriveled up and crumpled into a mass of ash. From the branch stump, and golden spark glowed. With the Fey Goddesses return, flowers bloomed at Eorna's base. Eorna was slowly recovering.
Much like the Golden Hills.
Though the returning people were no longer in control of Duska Krak, they were welcomed back as lost family returning to the fold by the dopplegangers, who maintained their carefully crafted facade. As the loremasters had promised, the vanished people had returned.
With this influx, the people of the land grew stronger.
PP Expentitures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Duska Krak
Soon, weapons forged of Adamite began to spread throughout Vymscral, aiding the icy power of the Vyrane warriors.
------------
The elements of the Frozen Horde that still remained in the Golden Hills grew more numerous, and opened trade routes with the people of Vymscral. They also renamed themselves the Golden Horde
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As all of along these trade routes to, a renewed faith in Vymrl spread.
PP
1PP(Exarch)-Nourish Land:Adamite veins in Vymscral
2PP-Teach Populous: Smelting of Adamite
1PP-Nourish Populous: Golden Horde
1PP-Guide Populous: All Frost Giants in the Rites of Frost
As the Eladrin approached closer he saw this "Hail kinsman, do i not have the most majestic field in all of the lands? A few more weeks and the burning bushes will be ready for harvest. Ill tell you, those Shadar-Kai were the best thing that could have ever happened to our kind. Almost overnight our dependence on the halflings evaporated. But where are my manners, the name is Orthelos and who would you be?"
Drahthor was perplexed, he was used to the enigmatic statements of the Gods and the fear of mortals, but this being had said so much in so little time, but he quickly decided it was better to just try to flow with the conversation. Cracking a smile Drahthor said "The name is Aldrier, and yes it is a beautiful field you have here."
The farmer beamed at the compliment, even if it had been fished for. "So Aldrier, judging by the tabard you look to be a cleric of our most holy father Tahns, by whom the suns blessings flow. And not just that but judging by the equipment your wearing your part of one of the militant orders. So what would an armed cleric of Tahns be doing wondering into town all alone from the south-east? Nothing in that direction but a few outposts along the old Duska Krak border."
This took Drahthor off guard, and he quickly tried to come up with a story and buy some time "Ummm... well, you see, its kind of like, umm."
Orthelos cut him off before he could stammer out a true sentence. "Wait I recognize that look in your eye, the way your standing. Its a women isn't it! Yeah I bet, your sneaking away from some crap assignment out in the middle of know where to go see a love?"
Not knowing how to respond, Drahthor merely flashed a hesitant smile and averted his eyes from the eladrin.
"Ooh that will do it, its a girl all right, she's probably a beauty ain't she? Probably high born and in love with the common eladrin hero, off to fight her wars for her, not that we have any of those."
Drahthor flashed another smile and, feeling he might be getting used to the faster pace of this conversation, finally spoke "Aye friend, shes as fair as the Sun itself. Even holy Tahn's would not be able to resist her spell. But you mustn't tell anyone! Her father does not approve of our romance and he was the one that originally had me sent on assignment! If he heard that I was sneaking back up the mountain to see my beloved, he would have me publicly flogged and I would loose all hope of ever winning my beautiful flower from his hands."
At this Orthelos smiled, "As fine a tale as Ive ever heard. Worry not, your secret is safe with me." He looked about for a moment then looked at the setting sun in the sky. "My work for the day is complete, and you wont make it to any higher settlement before nightfall so come. You look tired, let me buy you a drink in town and ill arrange a place for you to stay the evening before you carry on towards your beloved. Heck, getting out of the blessed eye of Tahn might aid you in your quest as well, you know what they say about the elders being able to see the entire land in the sweep of an eye."
Orthelos laughed as he said this, but something about it did not sit right with Drahthor. He would have to investigate this rumor. But in the mean time this was a good opportunity to learn "Id be in your debt good Orthelos, and your hospitality would not be forgotten when my fortunes change!"
And with that the Eladrin farmer and the God in disguise began to walk back through the fields of burning bush towards the town not to far in the distance.
Oravalos roiled on the inside. He could not believe what he was hearing and it was the last straw. The world was being torn apart by the machinations of his brothers and sisters and only he and the Lord of Secrets were cursed with the knowlege of the doom they all were beholden to. The balanace was in jeapordy the molds and there god sought to devour the world and sinister creators plied there horrors on the world in droves. He couldnot believe that none of them cared and least of all his sister! He raged and in line with his thoughts his form burst forth in a swirl of primal magic as the wise disappeared and The Hunter burst forth his eyes a thunder head of anger.
"You are a fool sister mine. treat you as a child? I do no such thing. I speak to you of the world and its need to be taken care of. I ask for you to seek common cause with me to make a world for your children and mine, the creatures, the plants and the world herself yearning for our caretaking and you spit it back in my face? Presuming to say I would twist you to my will? I gave you freedom! while you stand before the deciever making common ground with one who has always sought what he felt was right to the detriment of others."
Oravalos was crestfallen and turned to depart his back to his sister as he walked past Veros he addressed his sister one final time. "You owe me nothing for the help of my people and my power for your children. I only did as the balance required of me. I only ask that you listen to the song of the world of which u were born from listen to its pleas and do not turn a deaf ear any longer."
Oravalos then looked to Veros cleft spear in hand as he used it to slice a portal to his home "You and I know dont we Keeper of Secrets? While i would shout to the world the dangers our brothers and sisters work you would horde it as a treasure."
He raised his hand in a slight gesture, and a grey veil engulfed the air around the.
Secret - Oravolos
He dipped his head slightly. "But yes, I recognize the danger. However, shouting it to all will only bring confusion and discord, when unity is needed. I do not yet believe the time to act is upon us though. When it does arrive, I know there will be much to be done if creation it to remain intact and viable."
And so the dream-father called to his children. "Hearken, my children. I am going on a mission to find this World's gods. Do not worry, for there is nothing in this World that can do me harm save another god, and mine is a mission of peace. I shall return." And with those words, Ythrexle lifted off into the sky, searching for the gods of this new World.
----------------
Listening to: RED.M - triple u
[b]The Hunter[/b] stopped in his tracks as the grey veil settled about him and was struck by the words of Veros. "I...I see much wisdom in your words. Perhaps I too am blinded by my need to right the balance. Perhaps I too have judged you poorly. I will think on your words brother."Secret - Oravolos
Veros nodded. "That is good to here. If you have need of me, I am not hard to find, Oravolos. Unless we have further business at this time, I shall move onto to other matters."
Drahthor however, being a God, wasn't phased in the lightest by the alcohol. "Just runs in the family id say, always has. But I think its getting late, do you think we should leave?"
"Bah, the night is young, why should we leave! I could do this all night." As he said this Orthelos raised his hands up and stepped away from the bar, only to fall flat onto his back. The other patrons that had stayed this late into the night glanced over, then quickly returned to their own conversations and thoughts. From the flat of his back "Or maybe it is time we leave. Could you help me up, my lovestruck fellow?"
Drahthor smiled, he began to wonder if all mortals were this interesting and cheery, and if so he felt guilty. For in fulfilling his aspect of destruction these mortals would die, and would have nothing but the void to greet them. He quickly banished such thoughts and bent down to help up his friend. Wrapping Orthelos' around his shoulder, Drahthor hoisted him up and they began staggering towards the door.
As they walked out it was already late at night, and the twin moons were close and performing their celestial dance. "Like two lovers, they come so close but they are destined never to kiss," said Orthelos.
Drahthor looked at him and smiled "Which way to your home?"
"Western edge of town, it will be the one with the red painted door." So thus they began to slowly travel towards the western edge of the town. It was only a few hundred yards but still they passed one or two villagers who looked at the stranger carrying Orthelos strangely. Luckily Drahthor had removed the tabard on Orthelos advice, and thus was spared many a question.
"It really is beautiful you know, hard to imagine the pain it brings sometimes." Drahthor turned and saw that his friend's gaze was still fixed on the sky.
"What do you mean?"
"Well you know, the demons that fell from the sky centuries ago, and then a few weeks back when the flaming sphere crashed through the barrier between us and the aether and impacted in the ocean. Every servant of the divine in the lands was momentarily crippled by the agony and had flashes of some strange tentacled form. You must have felt it? The elders on top of the mountain have spent weeks now in their temple, using whatever strange magics they have in there to try and figure out whats going on," stated Orthelos.
Drahthor was intrigued by this, and set his mind to climbing this mountain and seeing what magics these elders possessed, and using them to find out about this falling object. "Hmm, yes, I remember, never felt a pain like that before in my life. Not something I like to talk about though."
Orthelos nodded in understanding at this, and just then they reached the door to his home. He fumbled with the key for a moment before Drahthos took and steadied his hand. After unlocking and opening the door, Drahthos lead him to his bed and laid him down in it. As he was dosing off he mumbled something about a bed in another room, but Drahthos had no need of it. As his friend quickly fell into his dreams, Drahthos walked back to towards the front door. Using his divine power he crafted a bag full of the coins he had seen Orthelos use to pay at the tavern and placed it on the table. He then stepped into the night and resumed his journey to the summit.
""Uggghhh..."
There was pain. How long had he been unconscious? Slowly, he looked at his reflection in the water.
Scars covered his once-perfect face. His lower lip was tattered at one side. The wounds would heal, but some of these scars would never go away.
"No..." he whispered, to no one, "...no...no...no..."
He looked up at the sky. High above the clouds was a creature that had broken his pride and scattered it to the winds with hardly a thought. It was still up there. Waiting to throw him from the sky again, if he gave it the slightest opportunity. He could feel it watching him. He could hear it laughing.
"NO!"
With a splash, he flew above the water, glowing a little more brightly. He wanted to go back to the land...but he couldn't be seen like this.
Tahns looked around, and saw one of Neko's fish swimming nearby. Clubbing it in the head, he tore off its skin and wrapped it around his body. There. He looked like a fish-creature now. No one would know it was the glorious Tahns, or learn what had happened to his face. No one would look at him directly again until he could fix his face.
"Greetings. . . Ythrexle, isn't it?"
New creatures moved into the area as well, Humites they called themselves. They were ignorant at first but quickly learned that there were some places -- certain hills, groves of trees, ponds -- that one was well advised to stay away from.
So too did the returning Dwarves learn that strange things lived in certain caves and that certain slopes were to be avoided when the light hit them just right.
There were only rumors as to what happened to them, but the general consensus was that the wilds were dangerous places inhabited by fey-folk. Mortals would do well to keep to their tiny points of civilization; to stray beyond that just wasn't safe.
------
Xa'an cautiously explored the inner earth, where his servant indicated the Storehouse now was. The threads that had been tied to Nibiru led here as well, and they were around his artifact as well. Entering the ancient structure he found the Well of Time, nearly forgotten in the ages since Yoglith had left the outer world. How did it come here?
Ah, an eternal bastion blocked the entrance to the Well. The Light pressed himself against the barrier but it would not give. There was a hole, yet light could not fit through it. It was the wrong substance, the wrong shape. Something did fit, however, for something was flowing out of it.
Observing the Bastion, Xa'an floated there until at last he realized what was passing that impossible barrier. Time itself was flowing out of it. Only time itself could pass through this hole. A clever lock, but locks were only as good as the keys were kept secret.
Xa'an stood in front of the Bastion, letting time flow over him. But he needed more; before he had claimed elements, making them a part of himself. This required something more intimate; me must make himself part of it. There was fearful light that glowed within him, for he worried that he might lose himself to another god's element. But he faced his fear, he let it flow through him. And when it had passed, he could feel himself seeping through the lock.
The god stretched, much of himself that was not time unable to pass, but a portion of him that was Time could glimpse the interior of the Well through the hole that time flowed and there he saw Yoglith sleeping and working mindlessly. There he saw the whole of time. Everything. All that is. All that was. All that ever could be.
Time drove him mad, and madness made him sane.
Tired, Xa'an withdrew and descended to the floor of the storehouse to rest. After a moment and an eternity, tendrils of light emerged from him and began to pull the rest of him outside.
Looking at the world below, Xa'an called upon the powers of his artifact and exarch. A great ball of light fell to the inner surface and there formed a new land, full of harsh-cut mountains and rocky plains, rivers with deadly rapids cascading over the surface and disappearing below the surface to rage, hidden in the earth. Tentatively, plants began to sprout on this new land, limiting itself to near the wild waters.
In years to come, this continent would come to be called Ardune. Xa'an commanded it.
pp
3pp, Form Domain (Greater): Time - Xa'an claims the Time domain.
2pp+1pp(Nibiru), Mold Land (Greater): Ardune - Xa'an creates a new continent on the inside of the planet, the first there I think, called Ardune.
1pp(Storehouse), Nourish Land: Ardune - Xa'an brings plant-life to the areas of Ardune in close proximity to water.
3pp, Form Domain (Greater): Time - Xa'an claims the Time domain.
2pp+1pp(Nibiru), Mold Land (Greater): Ardune - Xa'an creates a new continent on the inside of the planet, the first there I think, called Ardune.
1pp(Storehouse), Nourish Land: Ardune - Xa'an brings plant-life to the areas of Ardune in close proximity to water.
With that The Hunter stepped through the portal he had made to his home exiting the other side in the form of The Wise. He looked down at the new continent on the inside of the world shell and nodded his head in satisfaction. He yearned to begin populating the world with his creations but now was not the time. He had other work to do.
Oravalos went to the sanctuum at the center of island home of gaia were the living tree of his first born Ae-Sylvani Reinveil rested. He began to circle the mighty tree feeding it his life force giving it his essence as he tied it to the world and the life of all of natures creations. Like the first borns cycle of life to that of a tree the life force of all his creations would be put back into the world through this one mighty tree, The Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life grew to epic proportions reaching thousands of feet in the air. Its branches spread out to envelope the central mass of Oravalos home and it hummed with power as it soaked in the essence and souls of all the creatures of nature.
Oravalos was pleased with the tree his firstborn had become that would sing out there the generations the story of nature and all its works bringing life from death.
Oravalos then turned from his tree and walked to the nearest edge of his island marveling at his children and there works and the trees they called home and the wonderful creatures that lived on his home. Oravalos smiled thinking of each of them in kind from the insignificant aether stirge to his wonderful people the Ae-Sylvani.
When Oravalos reach the edge he grew in size to a thousand feet tall brought into being a ball of claw he began to form in his hand in the shape of a giant turtle. He created it of the hard stone giving it a shell a two thousand feet across and built upon its back a shell the size of an island with large mountain ridges. He then breathed forth his essence once more just as he had done for the Tree of Life giving the beast form and multipliying it until 10 of these enourmous turtles called Zaratanscame to life off his island, each a small island in and of itself. They each opened there sleepy heavily lidded eyes and began to sing and swim through the aether bringing Oravalos much joy.
His creations would travel the aether seas singing of all they had found and seen for mellenia letting all who would listen know of the world and its glories and its pains.
3PP - Ascend Exarch: Rein The Tree of Life (Nourish PP)
3PP - Spawn Beast (Greater) (1 PP artifact): Zaratan gargantuan two tousand foot diameter aether sea turtles. There mass is so huge they created there own gravitational pull.
The city was far larger than any he had yet seen, near the mountains foothills he had come across settlements of a few dozen, then as he climbed higher he came across towns of hundreds, then thousands, and then atop the summit the inhabitants seemed to number in the tens of thousands. Luckily this meant that no one attempted to stop and ask him his business as had happened at the lower heights. However, he could have spent days searching for his target... if it hadn't been for the force it admitted. From miles away he began to feel a power emanating from a point in the city. He had felt the touch of Gods before, however they had always been distributed throughout the land or a people. The only thing that could be compared to this force was the jade palace of the Empress, however that was a structure that stretched over hundreds of acres, this felt much more concentrated.
And now he walked the city streets, following the the trail of power as if it were a river, and he seeking its source.
In her sleep, she moved her hand over her face, as if brushing away a fly.
"Sara!"
She mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep, and rolled over.
"Sara!"
She groaned, and rolled over so she was facing the ceiling, her eyes still held shut.
"Sara!"
Her eyes snapped open. But there was nothing there, just the ceiling. She groaned once more, and rolled over, falling asleep almost instantly.
She had just awoken from one of her many naps, and was staring at the light filtering in through the window, when she started to think.
Is this all there is? she thought, running her hand absent-mindedly over her stomach, I feel like there should be more.
And so she sat there, pondering this, mulling things over in her head, as the sun grew darker, as it begun to slip down over the horizon, and as her eyelids became heavy, and drooped and she slipped into a deep sleep.
----------------------
She was walking down a long, dark corridor. She couldn't see its end, it was shrouded in darkness, she couldn't see its beginning, for it too was dark. She padded along, her heart pumping in her ears, her breathing sounding unnaturally loud. She walked past other corridors that branched off, but stayed true to the one she was following. She knew if she just kept walking, she would find the light.
Something was moving in the darkness. As she passed a corridor that branched off, she could hear a tap tap tap noise, like bare feet against stone. She could hear another sound. Giggling. She could also hear the voice of a little girl, singing.
"A pile of rocks and a pile of beans,"
Her breathing quickened, and so did her feet, she was almost jogging down the corridor, her heart pounding in her ears.
"They don't look good, but they don't come cheap,"
She slowed down, the singing seemed to come from in front of her now.
"You see them when you close your eyes,"
She edged slowly towards a corridor that lead off from hers.
"But only 'till the morning."
She peeked her head around the corner. There was a girl, skipping along, laughing, singing. Her skin was deepest green, and her face was as impassive as stone. And she had six arms, each moving in a slow, hypntic, rhythmic dance. It was mesmerizing.
-----------------
Her eyes flew open, her heart beating fast. Her face was slick with sweat. She ran her hands over her belly as the words echoed away into the distance.
"But only 'till the morning."
The building rose before him, a large stone structure built in a strange, terraced manner. The temple resembled a staircase in that it consisted of many levels, starting with a large square at the bottom and with each subsequent level getting smaller. It was crudely built and one could see that the stones were uneven in size, but it towered above the cityscape rising dozens of times higher than the height of an eladrin. A long series of steps did exist at the front, guarded by many eladrin in metal shells wearing the tabard that Drahthor himself had worn not long ago, and at the highest level sat a large metallic door with the emblem of the light and dark sun crudely carved into it. the stones were decorated though, paintings and carvings depicting the creation and history of the eladrin littered every square foot of the structure, though the art was still in its infancy and unpolished.
Hundreds of Eladrin packed the forest around the temple, and they all seemed to be praying or serving up offerings to Tahns in one form or another. However it seemed the public were not allowed into the building itself, only those wearing the tabard or who seemed to have an air of importance about them were allowed to ascend to the top of the terraced structure. After stepping into a shadowy alley between buildings, Drahthor shrouded his form from the sight of mortals, making himself invisible to them. He then walked across the wooded area and began his ascent up the structure, right past the armored eladrin meant to guard it.
After several hundred steps he reached the summit of the artificial mountain. Turning and casting his gaze out over the entirety of Mount Gorgoth, the large metal doors were opened to allow several regal looking Eladrin enter and Drahthor followed them inside.
Original Description
I had a bit more elaborate original description, however i was informed that it was beyond the eladrin ability to build. As such I changed it to its current form, though not wanting to waste something id put a lot of work into I decided to put it in an sblock here for possible later use. So here is the temples original description:
The building rose before him, a large stone structure seemingly built in two parts. The rear and by the looks of it older section began with a wide base and proceeded in several step like levels of shrinking stature until at the highest level one could see large metal doors flanked on either side by Eladrin in metal shells wearing a tabard of similar design to what Drahthor himself had. Then there was the newer section, carved of white rock and rectangular this section seemed to grow out of the front of the terraced structure, if only reaching to half its height. Still, it was huge, at least 10 times the height of an Eladrin with a heavy peaked stone roof supported by three throws of identical columns circled the the edges of the building. One would have to climb a set of stairs to approach the base of these pillars and then beyond the back row sat another white stone wall that partitioned whatever lay within from the outside. The wall had a set of golden doors with a depiction of the half light half dark sun on them, and all over the white walls were majestic frescoes depicting a glowing being giving life to the Eladrin and the subsequent chapters of their history.
Walking up to the doors and stepping through Drahthor found that the inside was just as majestic as the outside. Set at equal intervals along the walls were large majestic windows of glass that allowed in and even seemed to amplify the natural light of the sun. The pillars also made an appearance, though whereas outside there had been hundreds with a 3 feet diameter here there were 6 in two rows of 3, each one measuring at least 15 feet in diameter. And at their base were beautifully carved statues of what Drahthor assumed were prominent figures in Eladrin history. However what put all of this to shame was at the far end of the gallery was a pure gold statue that reached to the ceiling of what he assumed to be this Tahns holding the sun in one hand. Then, several yards behind the statue and forming the rear of this gallery was the terraced older building, and a flight of stairs beginning at its center that he knew ascended to the highest level.
The building rose before him, a large stone structure seemingly built in two parts. The rear and by the looks of it older section began with a wide base and proceeded in several step like levels of shrinking stature until at the highest level one could see large metal doors flanked on either side by Eladrin in metal shells wearing a tabard of similar design to what Drahthor himself had. Then there was the newer section, carved of white rock and rectangular this section seemed to grow out of the front of the terraced structure, if only reaching to half its height. Still, it was huge, at least 10 times the height of an Eladrin with a heavy peaked stone roof supported by three throws of identical columns circled the the edges of the building. One would have to climb a set of stairs to approach the base of these pillars and then beyond the back row sat another white stone wall that partitioned whatever lay within from the outside. The wall had a set of golden doors with a depiction of the half light half dark sun on them, and all over the white walls were majestic frescoes depicting a glowing being giving life to the Eladrin and the subsequent chapters of their history.
Walking up to the doors and stepping through Drahthor found that the inside was just as majestic as the outside. Set at equal intervals along the walls were large majestic windows of glass that allowed in and even seemed to amplify the natural light of the sun. The pillars also made an appearance, though whereas outside there had been hundreds with a 3 feet diameter here there were 6 in two rows of 3, each one measuring at least 15 feet in diameter. And at their base were beautifully carved statues of what Drahthor assumed were prominent figures in Eladrin history. However what put all of this to shame was at the far end of the gallery was a pure gold statue that reached to the ceiling of what he assumed to be this Tahns holding the sun in one hand. Then, several yards behind the statue and forming the rear of this gallery was the terraced older building, and a flight of stairs beginning at its center that he knew ascended to the highest level.
Always creations of pain. For once I'd like to see something that wasn't a monster. Something with a higher purpose.
The god mused, considering whether it was possible. Anything with a mind of its own could be turned to darker end, but Xirinet would not be one to create a being without the chance to choose its own fate.
Perhaps something without the needs of the other mortals? A mind to decide its fate, and a body unfazed by time or hunger. A servant? No, I will not create something solely to serve without choice. Though...
Xirinet considered the humans, they were creatures given the chance to choose, and for now they chose to be his. Perhaps in time they would learn other names, but until then they raised his name in prayer.
And at least one Creator has taken offense to that. I will grant guards to my chosen I think, to protect my temples.
Reaching out the god began to mold a form. A thing of mist, its features half formed like its creator. As Xirinet began to shape it further, infusing it with purpose and a mind, it began to take on a nearly divine aura echoing Xirinet's own.
The resulting being flexed its wings, its glowing eyes took in the world around it. Within its mind whirled ideas, aware of just how it differed from the rest of the world. It was eternal, with no purpose beyond what it chose for itself. As it blinked its eyes for the first time others appeared, each featureless face indistinguishable for mortals but unique in the eyes of each other. Then Xirniet gave them a first purpose.
You will guard my temples, and my children, beyond that your choices are your own.
The god watched as the angels moved to comply, their purpose was their own and in time they would find it. Until then they needed a patron, and who better to be that than their creator?
Turning to the humans it noticed something. Little ones come to search the Shattered Lands. Its people were unafraid, confident even after the loss of life such a short time ago.
Hmmm, these are the children of Knowledge, unless I miss my guess? Well, there is little harm to come from them.
Actions
4PP, Shape Populace (greater): Angels. Angels are, for lack of a better term, mercenaries. Selling their services to whatever offer intrigues them most, whether that is money, power, or a cause. They have few true allegiances, though tend to be on better terms with the creations of whichever god is currently employing them, or the associates of whichever mortal they're working for.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Fostering trade and such between the Humans and their new visitors.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Fostering trade and such between the Humans and their new visitors.
Completely oblivious to his presence they took the left stairway down into the heart of this place while whispering to each other. "No, I am telling you that it could not possibly have been holy Tahns! I was at the Eye of the Sun with the others when that thing rose from the water. It was scarred and hideous, no way resembling the resplendent visage of our holy creator!"
"But I know what I felt, I have been a cleric of Tahns for my entire life and I know his touch, when that thing as u called it collided with the water and we lost our power I felt the touch of Tahns in it. And when it rose from the waters my eyes and my head may have screamed no but my heart new it was our Lord!"
"But what force in the cosmos could ever hope to do such a thing to our God! Beg you tell me, if it was him than how did he find himself in that state?"
"I do not know brother, and that is what truly frightens me."
Drahthor found this talk between the two interesting, but after descending several flights of stairs they veered off towards an outer section of the building, and he felt the power emanating from deeper within. So descending a few more flights until he felt that he was approximately level with it, he turned off of the stairwell into a corridor. It took him a good deal of wondering and passage through several guarded doors before he found what he was looking for. The layout inside of this place was cryptic with many corridors and rooms, and none of them seemed to lead directly to where he was going. But eventually he came to a large metal doorway with the symbol of the split sun again, and he felt that the power was just beyond the door. And so he stepped through it.
Upon emerging from the door onto the other side Drahthor was startled by what he saw. Whereas the rest of the structure had been lit by torch there was no need of this. Sitting at the center of the large vaulted room was a pedestal with a small pool of water on top that seemed to emit enough light to illuminate the entirety of the room. It was from this pedestal that Drahthor felt the power flowing, however that was not what shocked him. The second he had phased through the door the half a dozen Eladrin in the chamber had as one turned and looked directly at him. "INTRUDER" one of them yelled.
Something about the presence of this object must have made him visible to them again, and so he quickly decided to discard his Eladrin disguise and revert to his true form. They began to fling powerful spells at him however they seemed to merely dissolve upon contacting his form. Guards rushed in from several adjoining chambers and charged at him. Drahthor sent a powerful shock wave out from his form that sent all the Eladrin flying through the air, many slamming into the chamber walls. He then prowled forward till he was at the base of the pedestal and then stood on his hind legs and looked into it. For the second time in as many minutes he was shocked, for reflected in the water before him was an image of the golden hills and hobbits and dwarves at work in it. Focusing on the water for a moment, Drahthor found that he could move the view, and even make it approach closer or spin away from what the user desired to see, but he could not change the vantage point. It was then he realized that this tool could see through the eyes of the sun itself!
Meanwhile some of the most powerful clerics, paladins, wizards, and warriors in the Eladrin nation tried to get to whatever this thing was. However, they could not seem to approach it and all of their spells, all of their attacks seemed to smash into some invisible barrier 10 feet away from the beasts form.
Drahthor spent what felt like hours at the pedestal and he saw the world. He saw that the Halflings and Dwarves had returned to the Golden Hills, he saw the blighted home of the fungal creatures, he saw the shattered lands in which the Humans dwelt, he saw the holes at the two poles of the world, he saw the mountain of the Frost Gaints and the burning lands of the Shadar-Kai. But then, Drahthor eventually had the idea to turn his gaze to the heavens themselves, and he began to cast around and look at the stars and moons and floating rocks that made up the cosmos! And that is when he saw it, a vast honeycombed city of the many limbed beings that he had thought wiped out. At first this made him jubilant, for he had worried that at his birth he had wiped out the entirety of the species. But then, realizing that they were likely to rain from the sky and try to invade again, he became somber and reflective.
And it was at that moment that his form erupted into flame and he left this temple to Tahns, leaving all of the Eladrin within shocked and disturbed by what had just occurred.
"Sara! Sara!"
But the moment she would focus, try to discern anything more about the voices, they would vanish. She wouldn't hear them for days on end, and she would all but forget about them, and then hear them again. She had spent many an hour searching the Palace for the source of these voices, and these strange occurrences, but found that impossible now, as she was almost completely confined to bed. Apart from the rare kitchen-run, she liked to stay in bed, wrapped up in her blankets. Besides, she had more pressing matters on her mind than what was probably little more than her lonely mind playing tricks on her.
It seemed to her she was almost ready to give birth, and that meant she would have to restrict the moments she left bed as much as possible. She had stockpiled a massive storage of food in her room, trying to stick as much as possible to non-perishables, like the dried fruit she had figured out how to make. However, she also kept a store of ice in a large stone box and kept some food that needed to be kept cold in there. However, now the problem of keeping the ice stocked presented itself. Still, she had managed to severely restrict the amount of trips to the kitchen, and that was good.
Still wearing the form of the fish-man, Tahns leaped in front of the serpent-beast as it began to rise from his temple. Growling with a hideous fury he had never expressed before, radiant power exploding from his eyes and mouth, clutching his splintered, sopping club.
"WHO ARE YOU?!?!"
He flew against Drahthor, sending both legs kicking into his chest, pushing him back. With Drahthor dazed, Tahns flew around behind him, fishskin disguise burning and smoking on his body, but staying on.
"AND WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE HERE!?!?!?"
He flashed brightly, hurting Drahthor's eyes. Coming to a halt in front of Drahthor, he raised his club, waiting to swing it if he didn't like the strange god's answer.
"Who am I? I am Drahthor, embodiment of both Destruction and Creation! The true question is who are you who clothes himself in the flesh of a beast and lacks the basic respect for a fellow divine? How foolish are you? Control your temper lest your weakness of personality cost the lives of the thousands upon this land. A clash of divinity, of the kind it seems you came here seeking would merely leave the lands so close beneath us in ruins! Or do you care so little for the mortals below that you would hasten their souls path to nothingness?!!"
As he said this dark storm clouds seemed to gather over the mountain and waves of energy radiated from the God of Destruction and Creation, as if to accompany and reinforce his point.
The Fey goddess looked down at her now clenched hands.
" I don't like it at all, but it is a part of this world though and as I am a part of it to I have to respect it. I will try to make the world to a better place for both my children and all living things that is from this world. "
She turned around and began to fade.
" But that's it. Nothing more...this world...."
Her last words would remain unspoken in the real world. No one would ever know what the Goddess said.
" This world does not seem as beautiful as it once where any longer...to much hatred, to much envy...to much spite..."
The fair Goddess looked out over the Feywyld and she smiled a dry, cold smile. How different she had been when she created this place. It would need to change just as she did.
No longer were his creations helpless against the powerful giants, the sneaky doppelgangers, and the other races. Now they too, could fight on behalf of their god.
PP Use
2 PP - Teach Populace - Humites can become invokers.
((Right now they are invokers of Shurka, but if they worship another god, they can invoke their power, too))
Tahns stood in front of Drahthor.
"You disturbed the high-men. It is you who creates disturbances. I seek only to learn why you invade their temple and threaten their natural order."
Tahns sensed the minds of his priests. It seemed this god was telling the truth.
"I...apologize...for this misunderstanding. Well met, lord of creation and destruction."
And with that the form of Drahthor once again burst into flames and disappearing from before Ix. Leaving only empty space and a dissipating storm in its wake.
Once long ago the Empress had asked him what his plans were, and he had responded truthfully that he had none. Now that had changed, he had seen some of the world and could guess at events to come, and he had plans to shape those events and the future they would produce. But first he must set the stage, and so Drahthor came out to the utter alien cold of the void, far beyond where he would be disturbed by others, and far beyond the gaze of the Eladrin and their eye of the sun. He desired privacy for his work.
And thus he began, first by drawing out from the void a large mass of land, as he suspected was done long ago. He created a landmass of roughly 1200 miles in length, 400 miles in thickness, and another 400 miles in width. He molded it so that a vast system of interconnecting caverns and tunnels, some nearly a hundred miles from end to end and, others the size of just a few yards. However, the caves and the tunnels never broke the surface of the vast rock, they never even approached within 100 yards of doing so.
Drahthor then teleported himself in a flash of flame into the cave system and exhaled a long drought of air until the entirety of the interconnected cave system was filled with it.
PP Spent
3pp Mold Land Greater: Drahthor creates a gigantic asteroid in the void beyond the edge of the aether that is filled with a vast cave system. Though the cave system never actually breaks to the surface of the asteroid and into the void.
1pp Nourish Land: Drahthor fills the entirety of the caves with air.
1pp Nourish Land: Drahthor fills the entirety of the caves with air.
In the southern hempisphere, the frost giants had aclimated themselves to their new land. Many had moved to the volcano and Khuros was now their king. The volcano itself had gone largely dormant; no more lava flows came out of it, but the land continued to be warm and steam arose from a multitude of hot springs and geysers. The Frost Giants had come to call the area they were in the "Land of mists" and they often times hunted the creatures that lived on the glacier. Farther away a large amount of trees and other creatures had grown on the previously devoid landscape. The frost giants had come to worship Mara as well as their original god. This heartened Mara to a degree. They had also had been studying the astral orrery, and even using it to predict astral occurances and possibly the future. It may have helped that Mara had conveniently "forgot" a scroll titled "Astral Orrery: The Foundational Principles of Understanding the World." The book was now in the quite capable hands of a priestess whoses job it was now to maintain and oversee the device.
Mara had never before concerned herself with mortal worship. It appeared though that many other gods found this of terrible importance. Mara was quite visable as a phenomena. Mortals needed only look up into the sky to see her. What did they think of her? Perhaps she should find out? The two discussed these things for a time, Black Mara was more dismissive of the mortals while White-Mara was more interested. So they decided to split up for a time. One would work on developing the Southern hemisphere more while the other began studying the mortals.
Black-haired Mara spent her limited power on expanding the massive forest there. She liked its diversity and, frankly, quiet nature. The land the glaciers had left was rocky and unique. Rocks and other large debris littered the land. She let the forest grow on even more of the landscape, growing right up to the edge of the glaciers themselves.
pp
Guide Population - Frost Giants - 1PP (From Astral Orrery): Frost Giants living at the volcano now also worship Mara.
Guide Population - Frost Giants - 2 PP: Frost Giants have learned basic Astronomy.
Guide Population - Frost Giants - 1PP (From Astral Orrery): Frost Giants living at the volcano now also worship Mara.
Guide Population - Frost Giants - 2 PP: Frost Giants have learned basic Astronomy.
To start out, he decided to try and conquer one of his oldest weaknesses.
From beneath the fish-skin, he drew a golden goblet. He had used this drinking cup to mockingly take a sip from the melting body of Vymrl when his father Chactross had scorched him. It had absorbed just a tiny fraction of the war-god's life force. That would serve as the catalyst.
Tahns darted around the land, visiting a member of every mortal race in the night. Human, Humite, Eladrin, Halfling, Dwarf, Giant, Rakshasah, he hovered over the sleeping form of one of each. He took a tear, a bead of sweat, a drop of blood. Mixing them together, he made a potion. Within the cup now swirled the essence of sentient life itself; the designs of all the little ones of all the gods, from whose blood he could derive more children of his own. At last, his ancient flaw had been neutralized! He could create sentient life on his own, without needing another god's assistance!
Tahns set off to test his new power.
PP
Create Artifact (Greater) 3PP: the chalice of genesis. This artifact provides 1 PP per round for Shape Populace actions.
The planetoid shook in acknowledgement. Shrinking in order to be able to fit through the opening in the planet, it returned to the razor thin ring around the planet. There it tended the rocks, ensuring that not a single speck of dust fell to earth.
Meanwhile, Xa'an returned to the Vorpal Cascade. Even as he began to draw his power together to finally give shape to his chosen ones, the children he had in ages past prepared these astroidal homes for, new information distracted him. The threads of creation slipped and the creatures returned to nothingness.
Light from even further out came to him, light produced by a new god in a petty display of power, meant for none but itself to see. But the Light sees all.
With a sound like the cry of the universe, Xa'an faded from the Vorpal Cascade and appeared before a giant asteroid. The lingering smell of the divine told him that the objects creator was still near by. Passing through the solid stone, he sought out the source of the divine stench.
His body erupted into flames and the space he had occupied was now devoid. Then in a similar rush of flame he appeared before his visitor. It was not hard to spot him, for his form gave off a light that might have blended mortals in the depths of the cold, light less place. Most of the Gods Drahthor had encountered up to this point had taken forms resembling mortal creatures, but this one was a cloud of ever changing energy rapidly shifting in color, with the light being released from within its depths. Drahthor found this peculiar, but interesting.
"Greetings traveler, tell me what brings you to my workshop in the void beyond even the aether?"
Tendrils of light pulled Xa'an along the structure, allowing him to look at it in greater detail. He bobbed in approval. "A fine improvement on my own design. Do you have a reason for making this place, or was it for no other reason than that its creation pleased you?"
"As for I and I, I am Xa'an, I am Light, lord of time and other things. It is by light that I found you, for you flashed in the void. Careful of light; waste not and you'll want not. And you and you, Creator and Destoryer of Worlds? Have you another name, or perhaps just C-D will suffice?"
He strode off towards the golden hills, to determine if his theory was true.
"But," Xa'an continued, "nothing as elegant and intentional as this. The heat I could do without, but to each its own, yes?"
Actions
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast (lesser): Dire Boars
Upon his arrival, he found his children waiting for his return at the spire in the center of the island. "My children, I am back," he said with excitement, "and I have met a fwe of the gods of this World. They are all busy with their own dreamers, and I do not begrudge them for it. Are you all enjoying this new land?" Without hesitation, the great crowd around the spire cheered in response. "I am glad. I have another gift for you, my dreamers. I see all the nature, trees, plants, and I notice something is missing. The lands are empty save for you, and in response I shall make more creatures to inhabit this place."
Ythrexle alighted and begin walking through the land, wondering what manner of animals to create. With a gesture of his hands, many creatures sprang forth from nothing. Slender brown beasts with large strange horns, giant flying things covered in feathers and scales, and strange armored things with four long legs and a carapace.
"My children, these new denizens of Riyelleh shall be your companions. You may hunt them, tame them, do as you like." said Ythrexle. Then, in a more severe tone he added, "And do not deplete their numbers to extinction. I shall not make more of a species if you kill them completely. That is all I ask of you. Now I must again leave you, for I am to meet my brother Veros."
Ythrexle then left again, flying in the direction Veros had traveled hoping to catch up with him. "What is this place called?" he thought aloud, "I've seen something like it in dreams before, but I never could glean a name from them."
PP Expenditure
1PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser): Elk
2PP - Spawn Beast (Moderate): Couatls
1PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser): Albranche
2PP - Spawn Beast (Moderate): Couatls
1PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser): Albranche
Wrenching a few scales from his coat, he dropped them into the water, taking a deep drink from his new Chalice as he did. As they touched the water, the scales spiraled down into the deep, obeying Tahns' fevered imagination. He tasted the shape and color of every race of mortal beings, and these sensations reflected themselves in the things growing below. Soon, success! A new race was born!
Tahns danced over the top of the water, cackling half madly to himself. He caused the sun to shine brightly on the ocean, causing the kelp forests and coral beds around the sahaugin homeland to grow. They would hunt the fish and other sea life that came.
Tahns then rocketed off toward the horizon. He would get back to this new race later.They had just been an experiment. First, he had more important things to make. Weapons. Warriors. And more. The eladrin had seen an exarch of Tahns named Ix challenge the interloper god. And so, as soon as he had the power, Tahns would create an exarch called Ix.
PP
Shape Populace (lesser) 2 PP: Sahaugin are currently few in number, unaligned, and just primitive hunters. They don't even have tool use, relying on tooth and claw to catch their food.
Nourish Populace 1 PP, from the Pillar: fertile kelp forests grow up around the sahaugin, attracting schools of fish for them to eat.
Nourish Populace 1 PP, from the Pillar: fertile kelp forests grow up around the sahaugin, attracting schools of fish for them to eat.
(teach pouplous 2PP)
(nourish populous 1PP from Spore Chamber)
(Computer been acting quite buggy today, will post the actual post later on)
At this Drahthor paused and turned towards Xa'an stating "Come, I believe I will go now to fetch the water for this place, if you wish to accompany me?
He slipped down into the temple, stopping when he was just outside of the artifacts power. He reached out examining it's aura closely, noting the nature of it's revealing powers. Satisfied with his search, he returned to the outside, considering how the eladrin were so focused on Tahns. He would remind them that they had a second creator as well.
Tapping into the Dimension Bulwark, he looked at another nearby peak, and sent his power running through it, shaping and altering the top, forming it into a carefully crafted, seamless temple dedicated to him. In a matter of a few years, the temple would attract a dedicated following to him composed of doppelgangers and eladrin. Those eladrin who came to the temple to worship him, and remember their second creator would find them blessed with good fortune, as events conspired to elevate their status in society, and generally improve their lives.
Finished here, Veros made his way to the south, walked through Golden Hills. Many years had passed since the battles had been waged her, and still he could find traces of the conflict.
He let his mind drift back at the things he had seen while watching Drahthor work as he walked through the small forest. The soul of a mortal creature, fully exposed to him, was something he hadn't fully expected.
He stepped into a clearing, his eyes picking up the few remaining traces of the battle that had created it. A rusted dwarven shield lying beneath a bush, a worn and faded black mark on a large boulder where a halfling had been burned to the stone, a small hump in the ground just about the size of a giant, beneath which he could feel the magic of a long dead giant wizard, all signs of a battle that had occurred here/
This was an excellent place. He walked to the center, and raised his hand, casting out a web of darkness to engulf the clearing, pulling at things no mortal could see.
He waited silently for a long moment.
Slowly, he watched as the balls of light began to coalesce and gather at his command. Dozens of them, far more than he had anticipated, gathered in the clearing, the souls of the fallen who had died in the battle here.
He remained stoic, noting that he was right, that the spirits went nowhere when a mortal died. They simply remained in the area, invisible to eyes mortal or divine, unless one was trying to find them.
He reached out, touching the nearest spirit, looking into its mind. The mind of one of his own, a doppelgangers. He followed its path, not simply watching its life, but living through it.
He was born in a small village named Miala, to parents who named him Dedrick. He lived the souls childhood, a peaceful time where he spent time with his halfling friends, always concealing his true nature at his parents command.
Time rushed forward again, and he was fleeing from his village, running from his own family. He had betrayed the most ancient commandment, and revealed the truth his to oldest friend. He wanted to marry Shala, to live his life with her. But his parents would not have their son wed to a halfling.
So he revealed the truth to her, and elation overwhelmed his mind when she accepted him. So together, they fled to the south, to distant villages where they could live secretly in peace.
They moved to the far southern village of Revier, where they lived happily. There were no other doppelgangers living within the small village. They soon were living a peaceful and happy life, and three children came to their family. But rumors of bad times were coming. Travelers had passed through the village with tales of giant men of cold that towered over and had the strength of twenty men. Still, Shala wished to remain in their peaceful home, and he could refuse her nothing.
Again, Veros was lost in the rush as the soul moved forward. He was throwing himself at the giant's, slashing madly with his sword. His mind was overwhelmed with despair and sorrow as he watched the giant fling Shala against the rocks and incinerate her with a mighty blast of flame. Seconds later, he was lost, as a giant hammer smashed him into the ground.
Startled at the sensation of dying, Veros reeled back wards, brushing against other souls, their minds and memories temporarily flooding into his own. Shocked, he collapsed to the ground, struggling to gather his wits.
For several long moments, he sat there on his knees, struggling to clear his mind of the invasive thoughts. Finally, he stood, starting at the souls around him with a newfound respect for how hazardous they could be.
They could not be left to settle into the area around them, to present a danger to those would pass by and accidentally reach too far. He focused his thoughts. He unleashed the wave of power, the energy echoing through the world, that all the loose spirits and souls would know that they were his now.
They were his now. But he needed a way to gather them. He twisted their fabric, changing how they appeared. When a creature died, the soul would heed his call, leaving the body in a shower of sparks that would float away dissipating, to travel to where he commanded. For now, until he could find a better place, the spirits would gather around the center of the world, to await his further orders.
As he released this into the world, across it all, showers erupted skyward across the living lands in an even that would be remembered for millennia to come as the spirits obeyed his command and made their journey. Exhausted from his work and his experiment, he collapsed to the ground unconscious.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - A carefully crafted temple to Veros
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Eladrin
3 PP - Form Domain (Greater) - Death
The land here had changed much. The storehouse had been brought to he center of the universe and provided light in a slow rotation. The inner sphere was colder too. The light and heat system made the inner sphere difficult to live, plants had to survive much longer without light, and frost and ice were far more common, albeit not as bad as the south pole. Even so the glacier quickly ended in the southern area, as it got more light than the outer equivalant.
There was also a floating glacier of ice, now devoid of life save for one strange soul. Interestingly, it had a series of wind currents around it then gave it a sort of nourishment. Mara took a good look at the currents and liked what she saw.
Here too in the inner sphere the air was stale and low on what animals breathed on. The plants did fine for this, but if there was to be life for the long term something must be done. Mara reached for her power and went to work to help the world gain even more balance. A flash of annoyance crossed her face--wasn't it someone elses responsibility to fix all the problems the other gods created? She had heard of some god of balance, but never met him. In any event, Mara went back to work. She took the zephyrs and duplicated them all over the world. She gave them a certain degree of mutability and variation, so that over the course of each lunar cycle they would move around but stay generally the same. These wind patters would circulate the air around the spheres.
However, her other concern was the circulation between spheres. The air in the inner sphere did not move in or out with the outer sphere very much. Mara had to use all her remaining power to create a solution. In the southern polar hold, she pulled the currents from the outside in, and from the inside out. This created a massive amount of tension between the cross currents. Moisture in the air began gathering and created a large cloud across the entirety of the hole. Even the aether center was drawn into this growing storm as Mara included zephyr currents in the aether part as well. Soon the massive vortex-like storm engulfed the entire poll. The storm was a permanent effect, but a necessary one.
PP
Form Domain (Moderate) - 2 PP : Storm
Mold Land - 1 PP: A large permanent vortex storm now covers the south pole hole.
Form Domain (Moderate) - 2 PP : Storm
Mold Land - 1 PP: A large permanent vortex storm now covers the south pole hole.
PP Refresh
5 - Veros, Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Thans, Drahthor
4 - The Void, Oreb Nahash, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Xirinet, Ythrexle, Eijra, Frellisk, Mara, The Empress
Admin Awards
Space Dragon and Ritreaude have been given an extra PP for this turn.
Eventually he reached the golden hills, and saw his brother Veros, prostrate and unconscious. "It isn't wise to expel such power without some degree of thought." he said aloud to no one in particular, then nodded to himself. "I'll take him back to Riyelleh for some rest. Even a god can overexert himself." With little difficulty, he heaved Veros' form onto his shoulder and made his way back to his homeland.
And in another burst of flame Drahthor was no longer within his new kingdom and instead was above the sphere of the world. He began by lifting a small handful of water out of a lake. Then, channeling his power into it he caused the small handful to expand and grow, first to the size of a mortal head, then to the size of an entire mortal body, then a building, then to the largest structure every built by mortal hands, and it kept growing. Before long Drahthor had a sphere of water before him larger than any other source save the ocean. He then opened several gateways in the space around it to his realm. The sphere began to shrink as the fresh water was transported to beyond the aether, creating lakes and rivers and even a vast sea in the largest chamber, and it all began to flow and permeate the earth he had created.
Satisfied with the work, Drahthor closed the portals as the last of the water drained through. He then teleported in a burst of flame till he was standing before Xa'an again. "There, I believe the environment is ready for the plants of light and heat."
But just as he said this Drahthor felt something strange, a portion of his power left his form and seemed to depart for the world far away. "Hmm, that is troubling, I will have to investigate soon. But first to the matter at hand.
PP
2pp Mold Land Moderate: Drahthor creates and teleports a large volume of water to his asteroid.
1pp: Given to Aradeia for upcoming events.
1pp: Given to Aradeia for upcoming events.
She tiptoed down the corridor. She wasn't really sure why she was being quiet, she was the only one there. She guessed she just didn't want to spoil the peace that had settled over the Palace.
She made it through the corridors with no difficulty. However, the stairs were trickier. She took her time, taking almost fifteen minutes for just one set of stairs, but she made it. When she got to the kitchen, her first instinct was to just stay there. Her food was there, and the trip here wasn't exactly a cake walk. But she remembered her warm, fuzzy blankets, and gave in.
Stuffing as much as she could in her mouth, she ate her fill. Then, when she was done, she found a large basket and filled it with food. She took light stuff, like bread, but couldn't resist taking some grapes as well. Having taking her full, and then some, she set to the monumentous task of getting back upstairs.
She realized partway there that she could have slept the night in one of the bedrooms on this floor, but then it occurred to her that the blankets were kept in a completely different part of the Palace, and she had neglected to make any beds in the castle but her own. So she walked towards the stairs leading up to her floor, grumbling to herself.
She stepped up onto the first step. A dull pain rolled over her stomach. She stopped for a moment, clutching her belly. It passed, and she continued.
Four steps later, it happened again, she had to stop for longer this time, steadying herself. Just a little further.
She climbed three more steps before she had to stop once more. She took in a deep breath, in through her nose, and out through her mouth. Then she kept going, her eyes fixed on the top step.
The next time she felt it, she kept going, pushing through it. She was about halfway up the stairs when it happened. She felt momentarily faint, her foot reached up to the next step, but missed. She felt a horrible plunging feeling in her stomach. She lost her balance, and she could feel herself falling backwards.
It seemed to go in slow motion. She could feel her back arching, feel her feet leave the step. It seemed an eternity before she hit the floor. She was on her back. Her hand reached up frighteningly slowly. Her vision flickered. She moved it down below her stomach. She could feel something warm, something sticky. Her hand reached back up. Something red was smeared accross it. She could feel a sticky warmth building up around her ears. Something warm was seeping into her hair. Her head felt fuzzy, her vision blurred. She supposed it might be from the injury. It might also be because she was crying.
Thick, fat tears rolled from her eyes, trickled down the side of her face, and mixed with the horrible red fluid. She felt a hand close over hers. A point of happiness flared in the darkness. Now she would be with him! She opened her eyes wider, could hear a voice, though it seemed oddly muffled, as if it came from a great distance. It was young, it was clear, and it certainly wasn't male. She saw the hazy outline of a small girl, her face streaked with sweat, and blood, her hair a dirty mess, smiling at her with large, brown eyes. And then she blacked out.
"Everything is going to be okay!"
With that, the lord of Light left.
pp
1pp given to Drahthor for the creation of those plants he described.
1pp given to Drahthor for the creation of those plants he described.
He then turned and set about his work. He started by building a fleet of the pods by which they would be born and spread. Creating hundreds of them, he sent them throughout the asteroid and lowered them, allowing the pre-plants to dig into the ground and situate themselves. He then began the process of their growth. Small tendrils began to grow from within the pods and overtime they dug into the surrounding ground, and as they did so the pod grew and became translucent. The limbs began to draw in water and nutrients from the earth, and where they broke the surface they took in the air. With these three things the chemical reaction began in the heart of the plant. Within its heart was created a liquid that could burn incredibly hot and stable temperatures with a protracted burn, and the plant circulated it throughout its limbs causing them to glow, giving off an orange tinged light and heat.
Thus Drahthor created the first of the phorus plants, and took the next step in his plan.
PP
1pp Nourish land: Phorus= Drahthor creates the first generation of a plant that gives off heat and light.
Ythrexle went to the largest group of Ythra he could find. "My Ythra, there is another god here in Riyelleh by the name of Veros. He is weary, so please do not disturb him in his slumber. Come, it is time to stop just living day by day, falling asleep beneath the trees, eating whatever animal or fruit happens to be nearby. The time has come to make a town proper." Ythrexle instructed the Ythra in how to build houses amongst the trees, building them out of fallen trees and other materials and incorporating them into the house itself.
After the first one was built, Ythrexle praised them for their work and told them to teach others how to as well. "When every Ythran has been told, come and gather around the spire. I shall be waiting." And with that, he flew off to sit at the top of the spire and keep watch over Riyelleh waiting for his brother to awaken.
PP Expenditure
3PP - Ascend Exarch: Alocasia, guardian of Riyelleh. (+1 Combat bonus)
2PP - Guide Populace (Greater): Taught the Ythra how to build houses.
2PP - Guide Populace (Greater): Taught the Ythra how to build houses.
A hand, clasped tight over hers, squeezing in time to the pain.
A voice, telling her to push. A voice, telling her to be strong.
A word, whispered at the edge of conciousness. "Sara!"
Pain. Exploding outwards from her. A blazing inferno, consuming all, destroying all.
The pain flared, the hand squeezed, the voice said "push", and the word went "Sara!".
Relief, numb, dark relief.
A pealing cry, a surge of joy, then blackness, warm, comforting, all consuming blackness.
"You're coming back to us Sara!"
2 PP +1 from Drahthor - Ascend Exarch: The Newborn Godling. (To be named properly at a later date.) Provides 1 PP for Guide actions.
But the markings were gone now, and the baby was perfectly healthy, if a bit on the small side for a human. But for the halfling girl's small arms, they were just right. She stopped for a moment in her rocking. How had she known the race of the baby? She had never seen nor heard of a human before in her life. She shrugged and continued to rock. And faint mumbling told her the mother was awake.
"My-my baby, where is my baby?" asked the woman in a hoarse voice that sounded so weak, it was frightening.
"Right here," said the girl, and, slowly, cautiously, she placed the baby in her mother's arms, though she hovered nearby in case she was too weak to carry her. But she nestled the baby in the crook of her arm as if she'd been doing it for years, a bright smile marking her cracked lips.
"Priya, her name shall be Priya," said the woman softly, and her voice seemed to be gaining strength, "It means 'Loved One'."
"Priya," said the girl in a voice that was little more than a whisper, "A beautiful name for a beautiful baby." The woman looked up at her, reluctant to take her gaze from her daughter, and gazed at the girl as if she'd only just noticed her.
"And who might you be?" said the woman, shifting slightly on the cushions the girl had laid her out onto.
The girl blushed and didn't say anything.
"I imagine you must have saved my life," said the woman, her eyes filling with tears, "And that of my daughter, I owe you more than you can possibly imagine for that."
"Oh no," said the girl lookign surprised, "You don't owe me anything."
"But I do," said the woman sadly, "I was dying, you know."
The girl remained quiet.
"Yes," continued the woman, gazing off into the distance, her eyes taking on a foggy aspect, "I think-I think I could hear them."
"Hear who?" asked the girl, staring, transfixed at the woman.
"Uh-never mind," replied the woman hastily, "Forget about it."
The girl didn't say anything, and left the mother to fawn over her baby. She was about to go get some more blankets when she was brought up short by the call of the woman.
"Did you-say my name?" called the woman, hesitantly.
"Excuse me?" asked the girl, turning back to the woman, looking confused.
"While I was-while I was in labour," stammered the woman, "Did you say 'Sara'?"
"No," said the girl, looking puzzled, "Why?"
"Oh-no reason," said the woman, looking down at her baby, the girl could tell she was blushing slightly, "Just thought I-but never mind."
The girl stood there for a moment, gazing intently at the woman before speaking, "Is it?"
"Is it what, dear?" said the woman, and it was her turn to look puzzled.
"Y-your name," said the girl, struggling to get the words out, "Is 'Sara" you name?"
The woman gazed at her sadly for a moment before answering, "I have no idea."
"Well, Eijra is the Mother of all," replied the girl simply to her friend's question.
"Hmm, so does that mean she's my mother as well?" asked the woman, sounding very interested.
"Yes, I suppose so," said the girl thoughtfully.
"And what about my baby, what about Priya?" asked the woman, holding her daughter tight to her chest, "I'm pretty sure I gave birth to her."
The girl laughed, "Not the actual mother, silly," said the girl, shaking her head exasperatedly, "She's the proverbial mother of all of us, she made the first-borns you know!" And she gave a sagely nod of the head.
"Ah, I see," said the woman, looking more confused than ever.
The next few days passed somewhat like this. Both had nigh-uncountable stories to tell the other. Truthfully, it was just nice for noth of them to finally have someone to talk to.
"When did you get here?" asked the girl, using a sharp knife to peel the potatoes.
"Let's see," said the woman, dicing a number of vegetables neatly with a knife similar to the one held by the halfling, "I'd say, about nine months ago."
"So, about when you got pregnant?" asked the girl, shifting slightly on the stool they had brought out for her so she could reach the counter.
"I guess so," said the woman thoughfully, "I've never thought of that." She paused in her chopping to look down at the girl who, even with the stool, was still marginally shorter than her. "What about you?" she asked, "You must have learned how to deliver a baby somewhere."
"Yeah," said the girl, "I guess I did, but it's so fuzzy. "She screwed up her eyes in concentration. "All I remember is... waking up in one of the cupboards up on one of the higher floors," she said, as she began to chop the potatoes.
"Hmm, so I guess you broke the vase?" said the woman, not looking up from the vegetables she was cutting. The girl looked scared for a moment.
"Um, yeah," said the girl sheepishly, "I was trying not to be seen, I didn't know what would happen, and then I heard footsteps, and I panicked and..."
"Don't worry about it!" said the woman, laughing, "I never cared for that vase anyways." She smiled kindly at the girl.
"Okay," said the girl, and appeared to let out a breath she seemed to have been holding in, "That's good."
"Now let me get all of this into the pot," said the woman, indicating the chopped vegetables and potatoes, "We're going to have stew tonight!"
And so he would stand perfectly still for eternity, here under the world. Surrounded by his court of his archons, who milled about in the precense of their master, never bored.
And then he heard it, a cry of pain.
At first, it came from without. A distant pain. It was normal though, the aches of pregnancy. He passed it off to the shadar kai, as that was their purpose. But then he felt it. His people were crying out in agony. What could cause the shadar-kai to feel pain?
And then he discovered it. The mortal pain had been fed by a divine pain. This was... Hideous. Disgusting. For a divine being to ensconce itself in mortal flesh... it made him so...
Angry.
Chactross burst from his armor, appearing as little more than a raging line of fire. Taking much of the pain back upon himself, he fueled his flames and made them burn brighter. He sought out the abomination, and slammed his form into it, consuming everything around it, flames licking the house that the monster was in and the houses around it. Six halfling lives were lost, but the abomination lived on, albeit weakened in it's mortal state.
(Attack god 1 pp The empress)
To increase there effectiveness, Tsarokga-Noggoth gave the Tsarok the knowledge of Glyphs, strange markings that contained certain powers.
The Tsarok placed these markings around there caves and tunnels as traps, and carved them into there own carapace and in that of there Narrok minions, empowering them further.
The end was also coming near to Nuggoroth, the last of the Doomcallers that participated in the invasion. Nuggoroth had retreated to the center of the hive. After there mind link was temporarily severed from the rest, it was him that kept his brethren in check and led them underground. Now it could faintly feel the others in the aether again.
But now Naggoroth was tired and it just waited, not having moved for days. Then it collapsed, as it would be reclaimed by its god.
However Tsarokga-Noggoth had other plans.
The fallen body suddenly bursted open, turning into a giant fungal mass vaguely resembling an armorless Tsarok-Hem. Instead of chitinous plates, psionic energy would swirl around it. It was now a direct link between its master and its brethren.
(create exarch +1PP to guide populous)
(teach pouplous Tsarok to use glyphs)
(nourish populous)
(Ok here is the details on the actions of the previous turn)
That foul presence that had made itself known among the eladrin. During his imprisonment, Tahns had been dimly aware of someone spreading misery among them. Teaching them selfishness and cruelty, to one another and to their halfling and shadar-kai subjects. Now, the god that had done this was under attack.
He knew this, because his father was calling for assistance.
Tahns grinned under the fishskin. His father. The one who had claimed to love him, but done nothing while he was crushed and humiliated by the sky-monster, who had not come to help him while he lay bleeding beneath the sea. He would settle things with Chactross, yes. First, though, he would help him against a mutual annoyance. Covertly.
Tahns entered the halfling lands (strange...hadn't the halflings all disappeared into Eijra's realm?), where his father had descended on the pregnant empress in her halfling disguise. His father had caused a couple of innocent halflings to die in his burning aura, but that was a forgivable oversight. Tahns had threatened the serpent-god for merely disturbing the eladrin. The Empress had actually harmed them. She must be made to suffer.
An enormous, fishlike humanoid dropped from the sky of the feywild, landing near the charred house in the halfling village. He picked up his club, and slammed it down on the physical form of the empress' head, even as Chactross burned her.
"I come in the name of Tahns!" He roared as he raised the club again, "my master has decreed your doom, and I, Ix, will make it so!"
He clubbed her again.
PP
Aid Chactross With Attack God (the Empress): 1 PP.
It was not hard to follow the trail, for the power was still a portion of himself and he could feel its presence. So in a flash of flame he departed from his in creation realm, and reappeared high in the sky above the destination of his power. Looking down he was shocked to see the palace of the Empress below him! He had left not that long ago and apparently a sliver of his power had recently returned, but looking down he saw that the domes had been rent asunder by flames and he saw a being with the feel and aura of the Empress but not her form being assaulted by two beings. One of them he recognized as this Ix character and the other he did not, though he wore a suit of solid brass with strange flames leaping from the joints.
Momentarily forgetting the reason he had came Drahthor launched himself full heartily into the fray. Charging from the sky he first collided with the Ix creature and in a whirlwind of claws and teeth he tore the the skins of the water beast from his form, leaving his scarred and torn body open for all to see. Meanwhile he whipped his tail around in an arc, connecting with a momentarily pushing back the form of this other deity.
"What is the meaning of this, I come to this place to find two Gods ransacking the palace of another! Why are you here and why do you attack this one?!!"
PP
1pp spent to aid the empress
"YOU DON'T LEARN, DO YOU?"
And with that, Tahns threw the ruined fish skin at the ground and pointed at it.
"IX! RISE AND DESTROY THE INTERLOPER!"
The pile of seared and torn scales stood up, appearing much as it had while Tahns wore it. As it stood, flesh ballooned out from its core, filling the skin. Water and slime oozed from its mouth and eyes. Razor claws emerged from its fingers, and from its mouth a rasping tongue.
Ix gave a gurgling roar and aided Tahns and Chactross against the other two gods, laying about with claw and tooth.
PP
Ascend Exarch 3 PP: Ix looks just like Tahns did when he was disguised as a fish-man, and provides a +1 combat bonus.
Fury, hot a thick, coursed through her veins. Fury only a mother without her baby could muster, fury only one who was so close to death could harness, fury only a goddess could control. It roiled outwards from her, envelopping all. In her chest, her Heart burned with it. This mortal form could not contain it. It burned beneath its intensity.She stretched her many limbs, free of that confining mortal body. She would unleash horrors upon them they could only dream of. The Land Spike danced into her hand. She was herself again. Power coursed from her, and into the Spike, making it sharper, making it deadlier.
She could see her attackers now, foolish beings of flame and light. They were petty and insignificant, and she would destroy them. One bouded towards her, a club clutched in his hands. A club!
"That's no weapon for a god," she said, and hurled the Land Spike at him. Honed by her magic, it flew true, burying itself in his chest. Blood, hot and thick poured from the wound. A mundane reaction for such a mundane god. The fury coursed through her still. She had not completely eliminated that threat, but now she was ready for them, now she would make them pay.
1 PP +1 from Land Spike: Create Artifact (Lesser): The Land Spike now provides a +1 combat bonus.
"Are there no end of unworthy gods in this cancer of a world!?"
Disgusted, he dropped his half-broken club and dashed behind the Empress, flanking her with Chactross, while Ix continued to claw and bite at Drahthor. Gritting his teeth, Tahns stretched his arms back and brought them forward, firing a stream of burning white radiance at the upstart goddess.
"Heh heh, since you don't like weapons."
As the Empress' hair and clothes burned away in the blast, Tahns leaned in and planted his heel under her chin, knocking her forward. He then turned around and fired another solar flare at Drahthor, just in time to stop him from landing a bite on Ix.
"Drahthor," said Tahns, sounding a little more lucid than he had since emerging from the sea, "this battle is not yours! Withdraw, and no animosity will be harbored! This fight is simply to put a destructive, presumptuous little god-urchin in her place...which is somewhere where she can't cause trouble!"
"So," she said, her voice low, menacing, "Is that it then?"
Green lights began to swirl around her. The Talua had joined their mistress at last.
"You hate me because I am different," she spat at the foolish god, "You hate anything that doesn't conform to your specific view of things?"
The Talua rushed around her, and around him. Some became eagles, pecking at his face, other became ferocious tigers, snapping at his legs.
"You are like a child," she said, her arms moving ever faster, "Content messing this world, and then upset when it bites back? Pathetic!"
The floor fell from beneath their feet. The fool god plunged downwards into the blackness, while the Empress stood, supported on a chunk of floating, green rock.
"And they call me a Tyrant!" she roared down at him, as her Talua, taking the forms of fearsome winged beast, raced after him.
"This is my realm," she reminded him as he fell, almost as an afterthought, "What I say, goes!"
She glanced up at Drahthor. He too was supported upon a chunk of green rock, apparently unharmed. His opponent, however, was not so lucky.
"I thank you for your help, it is much appreciated," and with that, she commanded her rock to soar down the void after the sun god.
Just then however the ground opened up beneath Tahns and the other Flaming Deity and they both fell into the darkness. Looking down Drahthor found that he was supported by a green jade platform. The Empress thanked him and then began to drift down the chasm to chase after her assailants.
Drahthor began to drift down after them as well but thats when he heard it, a sound the likes of which he would never have expected to hear in this place. He heard the sound of a newborn infant crying. Freezing in place, he quickly tried to ascertain where the sound was coming from and determined it was coming from an antechamber that had survived the onslaught relatively unscathed.
Leaping from his perch and into the room he cast his gaze about and looked into a corner where he saw a small familiar form huddled over something, as if trying to use her own form to protect it.
As he drew closer he called it the only name he new "Friend?"
At that the small hafling girl that he had met in his first visit to this place quickly jolted around to face him. Her face, once young and full of life, was scarred by flame and had tears running down it. But it was what was in her arms that froze Drahthor in his tracks, for in the bundle that she carried rested a small infant that appeared human but was anything but. Gazing at it Drahthor was stunned, for the god of Destruction and Creation quickly realized that he was looking at his own daughter.
Tahns saw the Empress descending toward him through the darkness. Hurling a final javelin of burning sunlight at her face, he grabbed Ix and slung him over his shoulders as a cape. He thought about trying to help Chactross escape, but then remembered how he had not helped him when he lay, wounded, at the bottom of the sea. Screw him.
Tahns fled the Jade Palace, wearing his exarch as a fishskin sash. His body was more ravaged than ever, with his chest torn open by the Landspike, and his disguise ruined.
Tahns vanished.
1 PP given to Drahthor
And thus around his neck a collar of silver metal formed with his emblem em blazed on the front. Then from this collar descended a cloak blacker than the night to cover his form. Any mortal who cast there gaze into the total oblivion of his cloak would find it mesmerizing at first, the absolute lack would be hypnotizing. However over time their minds would start to see colors and images that did not exist and had no right to exist. They would desire to tear there eyes away from it but by that point they would be to late, they would be trapped in its spell until Drahthor released them or there sanity shattered. There was no gap at the front for him to reach through, instead his arms could merely phase through it unhindered.
So clothed he came to the chambers in which the Empress had taken her rest and approached her.
He drove a message into her mind "Awaken, this is not the time for sleep no matter the magnitude of your desire. We have much to discuss and you have much to explain."
PP
2pp-The Cloak of Madness: A +1 combat artifact in his human form Drahthor's cloak assumes the above described shape. But in his true it seems to be a wisps of blackness that bleed from his body and dance in strange patterns, all the while forming strange inhuman shapes in the darkness.
Hello there. Who, exactly, are you two? And what quarrel did you have with those others? it inquired of the two remaining dieties.
"Yes," said her voice, and it echoed it the vast hall, "We have much to discuss."
She looked down at her child, at her baby. She smiled sadly. There was so much she'd wanted to do with her, so many things she'd wanted to experience: her first steps, her first words. Those other gods had taken that from her. She felt no anger, though, just a cold, hard feeling in the pit of her stomach.
And then the words of the other one drifted into her mind. If there was to be speech, it might as well be face to face. And in that instant, the Palace vanished from its spot and appeared before he who had contacted her, looming dangerously above him. The great stone doors swung open. The Palace would allow only one more to enter this day.
"And talk we shall," said the Goddess, settling in to her seat.
-----
Founded by a lone, and slightly insane, mage and his allies two hundred and fifty years ago, trade routes between Duska Krak and the Shattered Lands grew, carrying goods and people back and forth.
Along these routes, the doppelgangers spread, moving into the new areas, living quietly among their new people.
As for this mage, he went on to develop several unique chemicals created from fish captured in human lands. As he expanded his methods and expermients, he founded the basis for a new art, that would later come to be called alchemy. Fore most among his earliest projects was an insidious substance call Flicker.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - People living with Duska Krak know and practice alchemy.
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Doppelgangers live among humans.
"As for your precious Talua, they have caused enough pain and harm to last for several lifetimes. It is time for them to end."
Chactross left for his armor. It had been a mistake to leave it behind, but it was too late to remedy that. Now he put it on, and took with him a Dozen fire archons.
He then sought out a suitable form. There were a surprising amount of creatures, but none had the magesty of the Archons. He searched the earth for a dozen years, occasionally growing distracted by the cries of his followers. It appeared that the Shadar-kai were a bit less free to do as they pleased, and many halflings had the same complaint.
So he turned the Archons into something that could remidy the problem.
Taking the most unlikely pest, the pseudo-dragon, Chactross enlarged the beast until it was the size of a hill. He then created a chamber in the heart of the creature that was suitable for holding archons. He then placed his most powerful Soldiers inside of this being. The Gestalt of the warrior of fire and the great hunting beast was surprisingly effective. The Dragon could channel the Archon's fire, and the Dragon shielded the archons from boredom for eternity.
The two minds entertwined in unexpected ways however, creating vast and towering intellects. Soon these massive beings took to the sky, hunting the Talua and the Rakshasa, as well as the other worshipers of the Empress. Some say cut of the head and the body dies, but if you remove the limbs the head is helpless.
And therefore dragons flew over the eladrin settlements, devouring those who granted the Empress power. The criminals, the "lovers" and so on. These beings tasted much better to the dragons than simple cattle.
In time they even began to mate, breathing fire on the eggs to place a fragment of the archon's soul inside of the Dragon's egg. Chactross feared that this would cause a dilution of the Archon's power over the generations, but after some extensive testing this proved not to be the case. Archons, when not bound to a physical body, could divide indefinitely apparently.
Chactross, pleased with the results of his creatures, Sought out the being that had helped him so bravely fight the Empress on her own grounds. Bowing, Chactross said "Thank you."
(De-nourish population: Talua 1 from the sun
Create Dragons, 4 pp)
"But I begrudge them not their protectiveness of their children," she said, and her voice softened, "Perhaps it is time for the Talua to return to Niyanta."
And so the Talua, who obeyed no word but her own, heard her command, and returned to the Jade Palace.
"Yes, the world can be a scary place," she said, looking down upon her guests, "Especially when something you love is out there in it." She gazed down at her daughter.
But then her voice changed, became rougher, more cruel, "And one wouldn't want to scare the ickle fire god." And she laughed, her laughter exploding outwards, filling the room, echoing again and again.
"So, you say you dislike this Tahns," she said, sobering up, "A rival to my enemy is my friend, but, it is necessary for you to answer my friend's question."
And she relaxed in her chair, her arms swaying slowly through the air.
And still... there were the dwarves and halflings... coming back. Shurka was enraged by the thought. They had retreated from the Golden Hills, they had no right to come back after they left it.
PP Use
2 PP [1 from Eorna] - Guide Populace - Humites are taught the basics of civilization. They can use crude tools, clothing, etc.
He much more preferred the abnormal.
Approaching the asteroids of the Vorpal Cascade, Xa'an took up the threads of power again and shaped his chosen creatures. Like him, they would see all (or so he told himself). He had already created beings of light and did not desire to repeat himself... so these would be beings of flesh. Strange flesh, though, not limited by the complex systems of organs that the tiny ones of the other gods had. And why bother with useless bodies? Such were highly over rated.
Placing these creatures of eyes and power within the asteroids, the light blessed them and they multiplied.
In time, perhaps, other mortals would come to be beholden to these creatures of eyes. And so they would be called, Beholders.
pp
3pp, Shape Populace (Moderate): Beholders - Xa'an creates Beholders as his chosen people, finally providing residents to live in the Cascade. To note, these creatures can survive in both aether and air.
1pp, Nourish Populace: Beholders - the beasties flourish
3pp, Shape Populace (Moderate): Beholders - Xa'an creates Beholders as his chosen people, finally providing residents to live in the Cascade. To note, these creatures can survive in both aether and air.
1pp, Nourish Populace: Beholders - the beasties flourish
"My fellow gods!" Frellisk called out in a loud voice, "I am young to this world and wish to learn more! Come to me that I may learn more about you and this world!"
Now, just in case my fellows show up this time, I should make preparations for our meeting.
"Hello there," said her voice, echoing in the mind of the other god, "Artists, you say, an interesting spin I suppose."
The goddess straightened in her seat, but apart from this, gave no outward sign of her secret conversation.
"You seek an audience," said her voice, "I am predisposed at the moment, but would love to help."
She grew thoughtful for a moment. Another god wouldn't hurt.
"Perhaps you should join us here?" she asked of the god, "I cannot leave, but would be more than happy to admit you to my abode."
And with that, an image of the Jade Palace flashed into the mind of the artist-god. The Empress then turned her attention back to her guests.
"A meeting of the gods...? Hmm... Annolum?"
"Yes?"
"There is one proposing a meeting of sorts. I wish for you to take my place. I have much to do with the humites."
With that, the massive orb of light winked out, and reappeared next to the Art Lord. Annolum hovered up and down, waiting for Frellisk to speak first.
And as for my name, I am known as Nocturne.
She crossed her legs, and slowly leaned towards him. Two pairs of hands clutched the arms of the chair. Another hand held her chin in quiet contemplation, while yet another rested upon her knee. She awaited his answer.
Alongside their learning they also began to produce new goods, making use of the hides of the boars they hunted to create armor. Their styles favoring lightweight plates and fluid lines, the armor quickly became a distinctive marker of the Shattered Lands.
Watching the mortals Xirinet cast about searching for Veros to show off their ingenuity. The god stumbled upon Vero in his slumber, confused at the growing number of spirits standing vigil.
What are these... Souls... doing? Strange, they just stand there...
Xirinet prodded the unconscious god, attempting to wake him.
Knowledge, why do you rest? There are things to do, power to claim.
Actions
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn Masonry.
1PP,Guide Populace: Humans learn (and adapt) agriculture.
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn leatherworking.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Land: Unstatted boars (IE normals).
1PP,Guide Populace: Humans learn (and adapt) agriculture.
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn leatherworking.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Land: Unstatted boars (IE normals).
As for my purpose, I wanted to meet those who shared a... distaste, for Tahns. I came here to offer a certain proposal. Nothing so formal as an alliance, but more of an... aquaintanceship with you two. The enemy of enemy is friend, as it were.
Anyway, I can tell that you two have matters to discuss. I will let you think about it. Nocturne gestured towards the shadows You know how to find me, when you come to your decision.
I will let myself out. Nocturne said, stepping into the shadows. And with that, the two dieties were left alone.
She stood, and began to walk down the steps leading down from the dais. Movement in this form was much simpler, and this form was much more adept at displaying emotion. And she wanted no misunderstandings to be made concerning her emotions at this critical juncture. She reached the bottom of the steps, and knelt down beside the halfling girl, who looked frightened, yet defiant.
"Don't worry little one," she said in a soothing voice, "I'm still, in essence, the same person you knew before... before all of this happened." She made a sweeping gesture to indicate the room, including the burn marks on the walls and ceiling.
The girl spat in the goddess' face. Making an effort to remain calm and composed, she wiped the spit from her cheek, and stood, straightening herself out.
"Well then," said the goddess, working to keep her tone even, "Will you at least remain to help me watch over my daughter?"
"I will," said the girl harshly, "But I'm doing it for her, not for you."
"I'd expect no less," said the goddess, smiling sweetly, "I'm glad we've sorted that out." She looked at her fellow god, together with whom she'd been through so much, and a wry smile twisted her lips.
"I understand there are things you wish to discuss," she placed her hands on her hips and looked him squarely in the face, she gestured with one hand and said, "Discuss away."
Eijra closed her eyes and passed away. Her mind faded away, her essence vanished, her very self faded away. She had had a wonderful life, a life that was now over.
She had loved, hated and cried. She had created and destroyed and she had sung. She had brought the life much but taken away even more.
What more was it for her here after all?
A faint smile appeared upon the fair Goddess's lips. Her children had grown up, new gods whose names she didn't even know had appeared, the world she had been a part of had changed so much.
What could actually act as a reason for someone as her to stay? There were no lover for her to hold, no children left to protect, no cause she burnt for. The fair Goddess was empty.
Laughter.
What was that?
Someone laughed, someone sang, a child cried out in joy, movement, colour, two hands met, lips where pressed against each other.
The fair Goddess stood still and simply listened.
Her name was Iejri, she was a Halfling of Duska Krak one of those that had returned to the ancestral homeland of the Dwarves. She was young, pretty and happy.
She danced in the flickering lights of a bonfire. Her eyes, blue as the clear sky reflected the light of the flames. Her face was covered with shadows and at her side she had a man.
The night continued with love and something happened.
The fair Goddess faded away and when she awoke everything was different. She didn't know what she where, where she where...truth to be told she didn't know anything.
It was dark, she heard Mother's heartbeat and she knew that she was safe. The fair Goddess smiled, closed her eyes and fell asleep. She was safe, she was happy and so was her mother.
A kingdom was formed in the image of the old one. It was based around the center isle of the archipelago, Calafi Krak or The Golden Mountain. Buildings were built and the Dwarves and the Halflings began to build ships along the cliffy shores of their island.
Nourish Populace 1 PP: Dwarves and Halflings on the islands forms the kingdom of Calafi Krak
Teach Populace 1 PP: The inhabitants of the kingdom learns carpentry.
Teach Populace 2 PP: The inhabitants of the kingdom learns how to build ships.
She looked thoughtful for a moment, "I can see no other explanation."
She looked up, directly into the eyes of the other god, "But then, who can truly understand the ways of the gods?" The lights in the room began to dim as she spoke, but pools of light rested still about the two gods.
"We are born," she said, raising her hand, and as she did so, a small form appeared upon the floor, not far from where they stood, and it too was bathed in light, "But we know not from what."
"We grow," she said, and the shape began to do so, lifting up into the ground, limbs began to grow, a distinct shape began to form, "From no power but our own."
"We are powerful," she said, and the shape, which appeared to be an indistinct, featureless human, began to glow with a silvery light, "But from whence does this power flow?"
"We create," she said, and the god-thing waved his arms, and hills, covered in grass, plains, bathed in sand, and wagons, driven by people, sprang up around his feet, "For no discernible reason."
"We hate," and the miniature creations erupted in flames.
"We love," and light flowed over the flames, extinguishing them.
"And we die," and everything, tiny creations, god-thing, exploded outwards, becoming fine, silvery dust, borne upon an unseen wind.
"So is this," she said, gesturing to her daughter, small and perfect within her blankets, "Truly so preposterous?"
Firanii a hunter of grove of Syana had been hunting his entire life. He relished traveling far throught he aether sea following Spakill aether ray pods in hunt of voracious aether sharks. He loved the deep song of the Spakill as they sang and called to one another. However today he heard a new call and not from another pod this ones song was deeper and and spoke to Firanii. He turned to the others in his hunting sept when he felt its call "Do...do you hear that? it sounds like its calling to me."
His brothers looked among themselves and turned to there leader "Brother we hear only the Spakill is that what yo refer to?"
Firanii however knew that this call was no Spakill. On the horizon approuching was a creature Ae-Sylvani revered as one of the greatest creatures of the aether a Zaratan and it was speaking to him! Its song filled his mind telling Firanii his name was Twerilikilinariv and filled Frianii's mind with images of outer reaches in the inner aether sea he had only heard of and even the continent below and...the sea beyond the viel!
Firanii's father had told him stories of the war upon the continent the Geat father had sent them to. The greatest stories were of the uncharted aether sea beyond the aegis on the outside of the continent a dream that had spread like wildfire among the people of the Ae-Sylvani.
Firanii reveled in the song and soaked in felt it in the core of his being and watches the images of these uncharted region travel through his mind. A time came when unbeknownst to himself he began to answer the Zaratan's call speaking of his people and there life goal to nourish and protect the aether and all its people.
The Zaratan's song then became somber and solumn as he showed to Firanii the image of the Hive cities and infestation of the mold in the outer aether. Firanii could actually feel the pain of the forests and the aether riling against the molds singular goal of decay and destruction. The zaratan asked Firanii and his brothers and sisters and the people of the Ae-Sylvani to come with him to the outer aether to protect the creatures and the groves as they had done for mellenia in the inner aether sea.
Firanii's heart burst with joy as he accepted Tweril's summons.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(2 PP) Guide Populace: The Bard Class
(2 PP) Guide Populace: The Warden Class
(1 PP) Nourish Populace: Ae-Sylvani inhabit the Zaratan
(1 pp Exarch) Nourish Populace: Ae-Sylvani outer aether sea a grove above the norther pole
(1 PP Artifact) Spawn creature: Aether Dolphins called Yerins
"I have named her Priya," she said softly, in a voice full of love, full of emotion, "It means 'Loved One'."
She looked up at her fellow god, a shining smile illuminating her face.
"Could you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?" she asked, her smile taking on a sad aspect, "To forgive me for not telling you sooner?"
Drahthor stared into her eyes for a moment and then lifted his gaze to the Empress. "As for forgiveness that is not something that is freely given. Though i wish to know why you dwelt within the body of a mortal ?"
PP Use
2 PP - Teach Populace - Humites can farm now
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Humites are doing better with new food available.
Deep within the earth, in the Tsarok hive, a new lesser breed of Tsarok was born.
The Tsarok-Aran.
These started out as small spiderlike creatures, though very cunning and intelligent, like the other Tsarok. When maturing however, they would become bigger and able to adopt the shape of other humanoid races. They could only adopt one alternate form, and each one is unique, as if they were a member of that species.
They could also take on a hybrid form, gaining the best of both races. For now, they would grow in number and stay dormant, under the supervision of Nuggoroth and the few other Tsarok-Hem that were not in stasis.
The other spawn of Tsarokga-Noggoth would flourish aswell and increase in strenght and numbers.
(create populous Tsarok-Aran (aranea) 3PP)
(nourish populous Tsarok-Aran (aranea) 1PP from spore chambers)
(nourish populous 1PP fungi on planet)
(nourish pouplous 1PP tsarok in the aether)
Something new, something different. Opening his eyes once more, he saw the spirits around him, floating restlessly, waiting for their owner to command them. Focusing, he pulled himself up, swaying on his feet. "What is it?" he croaked at Xirinet.
-----
Prosperity flooded the people's of Duska Krak. Within there capital, a grand building rose up, it's contruction guided by the loremasters, their knowledge and guidacne critical to it's construction. Even they themselves did not know that their minds were guided by one beyond even themselves. They dedicated the library to Veros, as they began to research a more permanent method of recording their ancient knowledge.
Within the hallowed halls, the highest ranking and eldest loremasters, each skilled masters of magic, combined their efforts, unknowingly guided by divine hand. In the end, their powers produced a new artifact, empowered by Veros.
Within this building, they founded their organizations headquarters. Here, they would gather the lore, knowledge, and rumors they had uncovered, sifting through it and remembering it.
Not all was peaceful though. The grand council discussed amont themselves as to the nature of these strange interlopers settling their lands. Calling themselves Humites, they were helping in the restoration of the Golden Hills, but now they were settling down and farming it as well, laying claim to lands held by their people for generations. As the arguements raged, several emissaries were sent out speak to them and discover why they made this claim.
Less directly, several doppelgangers header out to infiltrate the humites.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Minor) - The contruction of the building
3 PP - Create Artifact (Greater) - Unamed Artifact (Provides Guide PP)
PP Refresh
5 - Veros, Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Xirinet,
4 - The Void, Oreb Nahash, Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Ythrexle, Eijra, Frellisk, Mara, The Empress, Thans, Drahthor
"What can I say," she said, a wry smile once again twisting her lips, "I'm a goddess, I'm fickle."
She gazed intently into the eyes of her guest, "I'm sure you can sympathize with me."
But without waiting for an answer, she lauched into speech once more, "Well, if you're the baby's father, there are some matters we need to get out of the way."
She stopped, her eyes dancing with laughter, laughter that did not yet spread to her lips, "First of all, what is your name? I cannot, for the life of me, remember."
She looked questioningly at him, and though her face remained impassive, and betrayed nothing, her eyes were alight with bemusement.
At the same time the fair Goddess lived among her people. She was a halfling at times, at other times a Dwarf. Sometimes a man but often a woman, she lived her life happilly, far, far away from the miseries of godhood.
The fair Goddess power though was still there and was not left alone. A mind that was not truly awake nor truly asleep used it.
A tree that came from a white acorn was one day found in a remote mountain valley on the Calafian islands. Its bark was smooth and warm to the touch, its leaves where red as fire and always seemed to shift in an invisible breeze and well...the tree spoke.
Spoke in odd words and in verse, spoke of things that had passed and things that would come. It was a wise being and beings of all Gods came to listen to its words. It was the Mouth of the Land, the first Exarch of Eijra, Mistress of the Earth.
Ascend Exarch 3PP: The Mouth of the Land ( Produces 1 PP for Nourish people actions )
Nourish Populace 1 PP: Kraka Calafi expands, new islands are settled and towns are formed.
"I shall, if you so desire," she sat once more upon her throne, "But I have something more I wish to... straighten out."
She crossed her legs, and looked out over her steepled fingers when she next spoke,"How active do you plan on being in our daughter's life?"
At this Drahthor fixed his gaze upon the eyes of the Empress, and where as before he had seemed awed and reverent, an intense air seemed to overflow from his form "Why did those Gods attack you?"
"It is hard to say," she began slowly, "Who can presume to understand the reasoning behind many of our godly actions?"
"I think, perhaps, they were disgusted by my pregnancy," she said sadly, but a dangerous flame flickered in the depths of her eyes, "Disgusted by my daughter."
"And of even that, I am not sure," she looked thoughtful for a moment, "Perhaps they thought such an act was reserved for the mortals?"
"But you have to understand," she said, looking at her fellow god with an intense look in her eye, "Never again will I endanger the life of my daughter, and to presume otherwise would draw my ire."
"In my youth I may have acted... rashly, towards these gods, and their servants, and that led them to be predisposed to hating me," she said, placing a hand against her forehead, her eyes closing with weariness, "Perhaps they were simply looking for a reason to act against me."
"But know this," she said, and all trace of weariness was gone from her expression, "Should any danger befall my daughter, the perpetrator would rue the day he acted against me."
She stood, and there was real passion in her eyes, "I would make him burn."
"Perhaps it is time for your creations to mature... Up until now your taulau have been beings of destruction only, killing in your name. But you are the Goddess of Envy and Tyranny, why not satisfy your domains by making the other Gods envious of you? Build a civilization of such granduer and magnitude that thier creations will flock to your cities and your rule, meanwhile the other Gods would sit back and covet your works. Allow your children to mature, leave this land and let them create their own society for others to be jealous of!"
Shurka opened a small rift to the Feywyld where treents poured out, ready to assist his own creations. In addition, he strengthened his connections to the Humites teaching them to use his power to heal in battle and further channel the power of their faith.
PP Use
1PP Guide Populace - Sent the treents to help the humites
2PP Guide Populace [1 from Eorna] - Some humites are now clerics.
------------
The Vyrane of Vrymscral formed into an empire. They swelled with power, and called themselves an Imperium.
PP
3pp-Acsend Exarch: S'kre, the Dark Child +1 combat bonus
2PP (1 from Ssabrec)-Nourish Populous: The Imperium
Before his eyes, the pieces of dozens more souls gathered before him, floating from the sky. As he watched, he was inundated by their memories and thoughts, but he mastered them, viewing them from without.
His eyes glowed within the cowl, as he comprehnded what he saw. A battle of mortals, humites, dwarves, and halflings. This could prove the perfect opportunity to begin an experiment.
He chuckled slightly, remembering when Drahthor had torn the nightwalker apart, and found the spirit of a dwarf within it. He considered it for a moment, and looked at Xirinet once more.
He smiled in the shadows of his hood, as he cast the veil of secrecy around himself.
Secret
He sent out a thin line or power, drawing one of the wraiths he had seen long ago. As it appeared before him, he wasted no time, shredding it apart, watching and studying as he did, learning the concepts and patterns to the magic that bound it together, keeping it around.
Satisfied with that, he called a nightwalker next, shredding it just as efficiently as he had the wraith, watching each and every detail, noting the differences and similarities. Finally, he banished the pieces of the two creatures into the void and turned to the rush of spirits that had arrived from the battle.
He called forth the same shadow stuff that had formed the wraiths and nightwalkers, infusing the souls with it's very essence. He considered it for a moment, then made his final decision and sent the spirits back to their bodies, a remnant of divine power echoing through the shadow infused souls.
Satisfied with that, he called a nightwalker next, shredding it just as efficiently as he had the wraith, watching each and every detail, noting the differences and similarities. Finally, he banished the pieces of the two creatures into the void and turned to the rush of spirits that had arrived from the battle.
He called forth the same shadow stuff that had formed the wraiths and nightwalkers, infusing the souls with it's very essence. He considered it for a moment, then made his final decision and sent the spirits back to their bodies, a remnant of divine power echoing through the shadow infused souls.
He watched the newly risen creatures approach Rathali, waiting to see what would happen.
She leaned back, her mouth twisting into a bemused smile, "But what would I create?"
She arched an eyebrow, a smirk spreading across her face, "The Talua are great, but they are not what one might call great thinkers."
And then her mind wandered, wandered off to those engines of destruction, those things she had created in a fit of blind rage, those Rakshasas, "I have a thought."
She looked at the other god, a calculating look in her eye, as if she was weighing options in her head, "My Rakshasas were bred to kill."
"But something tells me death is not the order of the day," she said this more to herself than to her fellow god, "No, that would draw unwanted ire."
Then she stood up straighter, as if having come up with a solution, "I shall keep them removed from the other races, a shining civilization in the sky!" Her eyes sparkled with fanaticism.
"What say you, good sir?" she asked, her eyes glinting with barely repressed enthusiasm.
"Perhaps I shall join you, my friend," she said, her face shing with passion, "Then when I return, I shall set to work on my civilization."
She looked over to the halfling girl, "Do look after her while I am away."
She marched down the steps from the dais, and the Land Spike came flying towards her, "As an added precaution, I shall ward the Palace from intrusion, none shall enter."
"I have yet to meet the gods of this realm," she said thoughtfully, "It will be nice to finally do so."
She looked up at her fellow god, and smiled.
"It's been a long time, my friend."
Seeing the strangely marked eladrin and the orb of golden light Drahthor greeted them "Hail, which one of you called for a meeting of the Gods?"
She was a Dwarven hunter of Kraka Duska, scouring the hills for both foodstock and intruders.
Strange beings of the White god had entered their land. A land that had been given to the children of the Earth. A land created by their Goddess, a land that had been given to them to keep.
A land many wanted, Giants, the Iron-Cousins and the great enemy. All of them had arrived to take their land.
The Humites were the same. They came and they demanded a land that was not theirs. They refused to obey Dwarven law, they refused to be a part of the whole and more importantly they refused to see their own errors.
The fair goddess frowned loudly and shook her head from side to side and continued on, doing what was needed to be done.
He walked down the surface of the spire, down to the large city his children had built all around the base of the spire. They had followed his word, spread the building directions and then gathered around the spire. Strolling earthward Ythrexle thought aloud, "How long have I been atop the spire? It feels as if no time has passed at all. Surely it can't have been more then a few years..."
It did not take long for the Ythra to notice the being slowly walking down the spire. Word quickly spread through the city-circle and by the time Ythrexle had reached the ground, there were thousands of Ythra waiting for him. A wizened old Ythran stepped forward and spoke to the god, "We did as you commanded, dream-father. We built our houses, we built this city in harmony with nature. It has been more than two hundred years since you told my father this." "Two hundred years..." said Ythrexle, stunned. "I am impressed. You have been waiting for that long? Such patience is impressive in mortals." The old man beamed, he was pleased to hear such kind words from the dream-father.
Ythrexle suddenly remembered why he had told them to gather at the spire. "Elder, and all Ythra young and old, follow me. The time has come to open the spire."
When Veros finally awakened, Alocasia slithered up to his prostrate form and hissed into his ear. "Masster, I am Alocassia. My father Ythrexle told me to keep watch over you and tend to you while you recovered. I have been told to follow your every order until I am called back. What do you wissh of your humble sservant?"
"Yes, go then, and let your master know I am awake. I recall the name, but last we met I had no time. I would speak with him."
Back at the center, Ythrexle had a large crowd gathered around a certain point in the side of the spire. "My people. This is the reward for your endless patience in waiting for your father. I shall open the spire for you here and henceforth it shall remain open. Now watch closely."
With a small gesture of his hand, a large archway appeared in the solid wall of the spire. Then, a second arch appeared on the far side. Then a third, followed by a fourth, and so on etc., until there were a total of sixteen doorways leading into the spire. The interior was transparent from the inside, and it was completely empty save for one thing in the center of the mammoth tower. A massive glowing crystal that pulsed with every color imaginable. But before he could shed light on what it was, Alocasia, flew through one of the newfound entrances.
"Father, the ssleeping Veross hass awakened. He wisshess to sspeak with you."
"Thank you, my child. I shall go to him at once." He turned to the Ythra and said, "Everyone, I shall be back momentarily. Please do not bother the crystal until I return." And then he and Alocasia abruptly left and made haste to where Veros was waiting for them.
"Would you like to accompany us back to the spire in the center of the island? I think you may find it most interesting."
He looked about the island. "Perhaps I can even teach your children something to return the favor . . "
His gaze returned to Alocasia. "In my limited experience, I find most divine servants are gifted with certain tasks. What is this one's skill?"
He waved his hand, calling a long dead skeletal bird from the ground, to alight on Xirinet's shoulder. It would give him a message when he was less lost in thought. "Xirinet, I will seek you when I have time"
He turned back to Ythrexle. "Yes, we can speak as we walk."
"Masster, I am but a humble couatl. I can fly, I can crawl. I am exceptionally good at ssubterfuge, and my fangss carry quite a potent venom."
She opens her mouth and shows Veros the pearlescent fangs protruding forth.
"In ssmall dosess it causess beingss to ssleep or lose consciousnesss, but if I were to infusse a creature with a large amount they would be rendered comatosse ass the poisson sslowly dissolved their mind. I have only a ssmall sspark of divinity and can do my fatherss bidding in hiss abssence when told instructed by him alone."
After having said her piece, Alocasia bows to him once more.
"And then the Great Mother breathed life into her creations," reccounted the girl, trying as best she could to dredge up those long-forgotten stories, "And she placed us within the world."
She tapped the baby on the nose, and the baby squealed with delight.
"But the world was tainted," said the girl in an ominous voicem she was really warming up to this story-telling thing, "A foul mold was spreading across the land."
She smiled when the baby's eyes widened in alarm, could she understand? No, too young, far too young. But that look...
"So the White Lord tasked us with cleansing the world of this foul plague," she said in a mysterious voice, "And so the Halfling people was blessed with the power of healing."
She stopped. She had reached the entrance to a room. She leaned over, and peered into it. Amazing! It was a fully stocked nursery! There were blankets, small carved dolls, and even a crib for the baby! She looked down at Priya. No, she couldn't have.
"Now, it's time for you to sleep," she said, and laid the baby down in the bed, who immediately began to wail, "Oh, alright, I'll stay, but just for a little while."
She sat down in a rocking chair beside the crib. She resumed her tale, and continued throughout much of the night. Every time she would come close to stopping, the baby would begin to wail a warning cry, and she'd resume. And strangest of all, she never, not once, found herself drowsy, not even in the slightest.
Veros and Ythrexle walked at length through the forests of Riyelleh talking heatedly of the different worlds they come from, exchanging stories and asking questions of one another as the slowly drew closer and closer to the great spire in the center of the island and the waiting Ythra.
Tahns took off the sash and dropped it into the sea. Ix looked up at him questioningly.
"Swim," croaked Tahns, his voice low and hoarse, "find the sahaugin. You are like them. They will empathize with you. You must lead them, teach them, do whatever you think a god should do."
Ix hissed in a low, slurping voice and disappeared into the ocean depths.
Tahns then headed back toward the land. The eladrin were doing well, though they still needed better. He had expected bigger cities, better temples by now. Veros was moving in. In his absence, trying to reassert control over the high-men. Clever as always. Tahns flew over Mt. Gargoth in the form of a golden eagle, inspiring them to look and build skyward. The sun shown down on them brightly, but with a kind of urgency that it never had before. Although the dwarven trade had run dry long ago, there was still a bit of movement between enterprising merchants of both species. To please their antsy sun god, the eladrin used dwarven stonemasonry techniques, building stone towers that pointed up at the sun.
Tahns then flew off looking for a god he might still be able to trust, if only a little.
"Veros!"
...
"This is the Empress," said Ix, "and this is Drahthor. You hate them, and everything that they like."
"Yes, master."
Ix bore a grudge, and the sahaugin were fast learners.
PP
Guide Populace (moderate) 1 PP, +1 from the Trade Routes: Eladrin are better architects and stonemasons now.
Guide Populace (minor x2) 2 PP: Sahaugin worship Ix as a demigod and emissary of their creator, and hate the creations of Tahns' enemies.
Guide Populace (minor x2) 2 PP: Sahaugin worship Ix as a demigod and emissary of their creator, and hate the creations of Tahns' enemies.
He stopped suddenly, noticing the call from high above. He noticed a loose soul of a recently fallen Ythran near by, and dispactched the little glowing ball to guide Tahns to him.
There was Priya. She was smiling her toothless smile, her eyes alight with joy. Something green flashed in her hand. The girl squinted to see what it was. It was one of the dolls! Carved from that strange green material, it was quite simple. Many more littered the floor of the nursery. She looked down at them all, scattered across the floor. Had they been that way when she'd first entered the room? She rubbed her head once more, she was so tired.
Then a flash of green distracted her. Those odd lines she'd seen flaring across Priya's skin were back. Or at least she'd thought they were. She could shrug it off as just her tired eyes playing tricks on her. Then something else caught her eye. And she was pretty sure that wasn't a trick.
The green doll was growing, slowly but surely, and gaining momentum as well, growing steadily faster. The limbs, which were held tight to the torso, now broke free, and flexed. But then two arms became four as the thing stretched, energy flowing across the carved lines in its body. Its flesh was stone no longer, but tough, and a soft green colour.
It was about the size of the girl now, about the size of a halfling child. The other dolls were shaking as well. She could hear their limbs snapping apart. She glanced down at Priya in amazement. Had she done this, had she performed this miracle? Priya just gazed back, happiness dancing in her eyes.
PP Expenditure:
2 PP: Shape Populace Dasa: This is a small race of four-armed humanoids.
1 PP from Priya: Guide Populace: The Dasa now worship the Empress.
She bound the doors with her most powerful of protections. Then, as an added defense against land-based attacks, she set the Palace among the stars, high above the world below.
She almost laughed at herself. It seemed just hours ago she was creating killers and destroyers, and now she was devoting so much effort to protecting just one being. She surprised ehrself sometimes.
"Veros," he said as the wisp led him to the god of magic, "how goes it?"
"Veros, you were one of my first friends. I come now to speak of new gods. You remember some of them, maybe? Green lady, talked of destruction? Now accompanied by a giant, bipedal snake? I also found the source of the fungi. Unfortunately, it will require a combined assault to take care of it."
He shook his head clear.
"The gods who are wise enough to see the threats," he said, "must unite."
He considered it for several moments. "What do you know of the source of the fungi?"
He looked about, and began pacing. "I knew the aether would breed destruction and danger in the end. Something should be done, but what to do about them and their creator is the suggestion."
It was as he attempted to explain the art of farming to the Beholders that a new sight came into the heavens, in the aetheric realms; a palace clearly touched by a god. The lord of Light left the Cascade to examine this new place.
Strange, the doors were sealed fast; clearly the intent had been to keep intruders out, but no power had been put into the act. It might have held a mortal at bay, but it was mere wisps of air to a god. Still... Xa'an didn't wish to totally violate another god's will. So instead of going through the front door, this intruder went in-tru-da window.
Once inside a rainbow of colors danced across the various surfaces, emanated from a god far too pleased with its own amusement.
When he became calm again, Xa'an set about exploring the place, coming to a Halfling tending a child. Was this some cosmic nursery, then?
Shimmering in the doorway, the god merely watched.
"Thank you," said the girl slowly, softly, "But I require nothing from you, the joy I see in your eyes is enough."
But the baby just gazed back at her. The halfling's face split in a wide smile.
"How about this," she said, smiling bemusedly at the infant, "They will live here, in the Palace, and help us tend to it."
She looked around at the room. It was rather a big place. It could do with some filling.
"So it's settled," she said, clasping her hands together, "They shall live here, in Niyanta."
She plopped herself down on the chair beside the crib.
"Now all we need," she began, in a conversational tone, "Is a name."
And now the Halfing talked about a name. The Light had, admittedly, grown accustomed to his own but he found the practice somewhat redundant.
Approaching the Halfing, he asked, "Why do you need a name? Isn't you're old one sufficient?"
She saw now what he meant when he spoke of names. The names mortals gaze rocks, and tools, even halflings and dwarves, were simply labels given to things. This being was, wholy and truly, light. She struggled to answer his query.
"Things we mortals see," she began slowly, measuring each word, "Must have a name, if only for our own understanding."
"We need a word that best defines what it is," she continued, building momentum, "For we are not perfect representations of anything, as you are, oh Light."
"We are imperfect," she continued, "So we need a word that captures that imperfection."
"Those that live cannot be Life, for that is what they do," she said, "Nor can they be Flesh, for that is what they are."
"We are Life, Love, Hate, Fear," she continued, and she had caught her stride now, "But we are not only Life, not only Love, so another word is needed, and that word, is a name."
"I asked for a name for these new creations," she said, gesturing towards the green creatures, standing as stock-still as statues, "For where once they were Dolls, now too are they Life."
The Halfling stopped talking, but her body buzzed with excitement. Here she was, debating names with a being so pure, so true, as he. She'd come a long way from chasing small animals in the forest.
The child in the mortal's hands seemed unusual. Admittedly, he hadn't spent time around the mortals of the world, but he was fairly sure they didn't smack of the divine like this one did.
"It appears you meant that you needed a name for something else, and not yourself. Such an imperfect language you mortals speak. So tell me, giver-of- names, do you have a name yourself? And that in your care?"
She held up the little girl, who giggled, and squealed with joy at the sight of the Light. She reached, tried to grasped at the Light.
"And I..." she hesitated, it had been so long since anyone had used her name, "I am Elli."
She blushed when she said her name. It was so simple, so non-descript, so boring. She felt suddenly embarrassed to be socializing with one so, well, perfect.
"The name I had spoken of earlier," she said, struggling to figure out exactly what to say, "The name I wanted to find, were for these creatures, these living-dolls." She tried not to look directly into the Light, he was so bright, she felt sure her eyes would burn.
"Perhaps you have a suggestion?" she asked tentatively.
He looked from Veros to the maimed one called Tahns, smiling as if he knew some great secret.
"If that is the case, I have something that would aid the both of you. It is in the Spire we are heading toward."
"So, what do you think we should name them?" asked the girl, speaking slowly, and softly.
The baby smiled, and began to make baby-nonsense words. It sounded like "Ta-tha."
"Tatha?" asked the girl, bemused, "That certainly is... interesting."
The baby grew more insistent, "Ta-tha! Ta-tha!" Soon it sounded less "Ta-tha" and more "Ta-sa."
"Tasa?" asked the girl, but the baby gaze her a look that said clearly "Really?", so she tried again, "Dasa?"
Immediately, she knew she'd gotten the right answer, for the baby began to squeal in excitement, repeating over and over again, "Dasa Dasa Dasa!"
"Dasa is it then," said the girl, chuckling softly to herself. She turned to the Light to tell him of the newfound name.
"And who would you be?"
"An acceptable name. But tell me, if this smaller one is immortal, where did it come from?
She lifted the baby from the crib once more.
"I think Priya is her baby," said the girl, sounding like she was confusing even herself, "But I also don't think she's mortal, a goddess maybe?"
She sat down in the rocking chair, and began to rock.
"But can a goddess really get pregnant?" she wondered aloud, "I mean, that's what it seemed like, but..."
The girl shrugged.
"But then those otehr ones came," she said, and a tremor ran through her, as if the mere memory of it was painful to recall, "They hated, and they burned, to tell the truth, I was more scared for Priya's safety than my own."
The girl suddenly laughed.
"Weird to think I was being protective of the daughter of a goddess," said the girl, and she twisted the baby around so she could look into her large, jarringly-aware eyes, "But the other god was there too."
She looked up, an odd expression on her face.
"It seemed only yesterday my only worry was when my brothers would be home," she said, and there was a note of sadness in her voice, "And now I speak of gods as one would the weather."
She adjusted Priya in her grip.
"Ah, how time does change us," said the girl thoughtfully, then, as if remembering the Light's question, she cleared her throat, and continued talking, "I don't know much about the goddess, and I don't really know if I can answer many questions about her, but I can try."
And with that, she leaned back in the rocking chair, and began to rock, ever so slowly.
Turning to the Empress he stated "I fear that we have wasted our time coming here, these two seem otherwise occupied. If i have your consent, I would like to return for a short time to my project and then come to the palace to get to know our daughter. Is this suitable? "
"Yes, I guess that is suitable."
Oravalos was content then, spending years cntimplating the movements of his people within the aether and knew they needed to learn more of the land, and how to support there growing numbers, thus he communed with his most revered creation Rein the first born and tree of rebirth, and decided his people needed to learn more of the creatures and plants they tended naturally and how to cultivate them on a grander scale within balance of nature as a whole. Together they strengthened the people bringing about a new age of enlightenment among the Ae-Sylvani.
The Ae-Sylvani continued to colonize the outer aether sea, moving in great fleets lead by the Zaratan city states they took up residence in the Valin Forests on the Outer Aether Sea near the northern and southern bore hole. Establishing mighty Valin fortresses to protect the people of the Ae-Sylvani and all creatures who could not defend themselves.
2PP - Form Domain (Moderate): Primal Magic (figure we need this for my druids and wardens and the like)
2PP - Guide Populace (Greater): Horticulture the deeper understanding of plants and how they work
1PP (Tree of Rebirth)- Nourish Ae-Sylvani in the outer aether sea (Southern Bore Hole)
1 PP (Staff of Oravalos) Spawn Whales in the oceans
1 PP Spawn Squid in the oceans
And with that and then the customary flash of flame disappeared from the failed summit. A moment later an identical burst of flame announced his arrival back in the asteroid that floated through the void, though back in his true form. He had chosen a central chamber of a medium size of about a 10 mile diameter with several tunnels leading to adjoining chambers, including the largest chamber in the asteroid with a body of water immense enough to be called a sea.
First the Lord of Destruction and Creation sank down the center of the chamber down several hundred feet, leaving a rim about 200 feet wide circling around the perimeter of the chamber. He then reached deep within himself to his divine essence, the small flame from which he was born, and unleashed a torrent of it. Out of his jaws poured a liqued flame that melted the very rock and created a vast lake of magma that filled the depression he had created in the chamber's center.
The magma floated about the chamber and Drahthor realized an oversight in his creation. Currently the water in this place merely floated around loosely, he had established no force to pull anything down, so he set about to do that. Out of the ground in the center of the chamber he caused a structure based upon the eladrin temple to tahns to rise up out of the ground. Made of a gleaming smooth black stone that he called obsidion the rectanguler base of the structure covered a square mile. And whereas the Temple to Tahn's was stepped the sides of this building were strait and steep and rose to a platform roughly one tenth the size of the base. From about a of the way up the structure on all 4 sides extended arched obsidian bridges to the rim of the cavern. Each bridge was a full quarter mile wide and where they met the pyramid a steep series of steps as wide as the bridge ascended to halfway up the structure where they each intersected a large arched doorway at least as tall as 5 men. Within the arches sat thick solid steel doors with the symbol of Drahthor engraved upon there surface, and beyond them a a labyrinth of twisting tunnels and rooms filled the structure. The entire building was alive, and starting at the top and spiraling down to the base was a self-updating series of carvings depicting the life of the God of Destruction and Creation.
Drahthor exerted his willpower and declared that this building would be the focus of his land, and that what it considered up would be up for the entirety of this asteroid and down would be down, etc, etc. And as he did this the lava that floated through the air came crashing to the ground, filling up the depression to the rim of the cavern and to within 30 feet of the bridges pathways. Simultaneously throughout the asteroid the water that had floated freely up to this point crashed down in the same manner.
PP
1pp Mold Land: Create Lava Lake
3pp: Create Greater Artifact: Ziggurat of Drahthor: This artifact generates 1PP for spawn actions.
3pp: Create Greater Artifact: Ziggurat of Drahthor: This artifact generates 1PP for spawn actions.
"Do you think, perhaps, I could accompany you to see your creation?" she asked, "It would help me to create something of my own."
So when the god vanished, so too did the Empress vanish, and she appeared alongside him. She watched as he created, watched as he manipulated the flow of magic to establish order, and to create a testament to his existance. She watched, and pondered.
---------------
The Dasa began to spread across the Palace, exploring, searching. Soon the Palace was alive with movement, as the miniature creatures sought out every last nook and cranny in the place. And they learned much from their exploration, for the Palace changed to show them things. It showed them clothes, and it showed them tools. It even provided from itself, nuggets of that strange green rock, which the Dasa ate with gusto. Soon, they were bustling about, making beds, preparing food. They knew not how to create, that would come later, but they knew how to use. And so, overnight, Niyanta taught its servants to care for it, and to maintain it, and in return, the Dasa ate of their master, and grew strong.
2 PP - Teach Populace (Dasa): The Dasa know the basics of how to provide for themselves, and for others. They know how to be servants.
The angels meanwhile studied works of metal brought from dwarven lands, and studied raw metal collected from the scattered deposits revealed at the creation of the lands themselves. Painstakingly the angels had learned the properties of iron, and begun to produce works to rival the dwarven smiths.
As the first great works of stone and metal were produced in the Shattered Lands the humans began to think of themselves not in tribes but as a people. A single nation forged from the tribes deepest in the natural maze they called home. This fledgling nation became known by the name of its first true power, Alexandria.
Even as a nation was born creatures began to hunt through the wilds, eerie howling echoing through the night.
Actions
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn Architecture (the general ability to produce functioning buildings)
2PP, Guide Populace: Angels learn Blacksmithing
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans found Alexandria.
1PP, Nourish Land: Metal deposits in the shattered lands
1PP, Spawn Beast: Dire Wolves
I'm going to be pretty much exhausted all week, so I didn't address any world events or conversations here. Once I've got less exhaustion and more free-time I'll address Xi's character development some more.
2PP, Guide Populace: Angels learn Blacksmithing
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans found Alexandria.
1PP, Nourish Land: Metal deposits in the shattered lands
1PP, Spawn Beast: Dire Wolves
I'm going to be pretty much exhausted all week, so I didn't address any world events or conversations here. Once I've got less exhaustion and more free-time I'll address Xi's character development some more.
"I am Tahns, of the sun."
He looked back at Veros for a moment, before continuing to speak to Ythrexl.
"What is your suggestion?"
For centuries it had reached out with it’s mind, seeking out ambitious or misguided minds of eladrin, looking for those it could easily manipulate with promises of power and whatnot, poisoning there minds, until they couldn’t deny Nuggoroth anymore.
It only reached far enough so it could influence them just a little, making sure it couldn’t be detected by the other gods.
Now it would be time for the second fase. A batch of Tsarok-Aran was prepared to leave there hive. Each member had each own unique Eladrin form. Even if one would accidentaly be killed, it wouldn’t revert to it’s spider form. The Eladrin form was as much its own as the spider one.
The Tsarok-Aran would integrate in several smaller mage tribes of the eladri. Tribes where willing souls were found to house them, cloth them and cover for them, assuring the Tsarok-Aran could integrate perfectly.
Non of the eladrin hosts knew that they were aiding the Tsarok-Aran, or knew anything from the voice that contacted them.
(guide populous 1PP from Nuggoroth: Manipulating some Eladrin to aid the Tsarok unknowingly.)
(guide populous 1PP: Sending Tsarok-Aran (aranea) to some eladrin tribes)
The Light returned to the cascade and his Beholders, but even as he had touched the mortal, the mortal had touched him. He was changed, for the better he hoped. Across the surface of his mind flickered images of the world, images easily noted, processed, and ignored or brought to his full attention if needed. He kept one series of images close to his attention, waiting to see what it would reveal. He saw as Elli saw, and others.
Pushing that aside for a moment, he turned to the Beholders. Laying claim to the sight of mortals had given him an idea. Instead of bothering to teach the eye-things how to farm, he'd teach them how to control those who could.
This they picked up with great ease; it pleased Xa'an so much that he made them prosperous as a reward.
He then left them for a time.
PP
1pp, Form Domain (Lesser): Sight - Xa'an is now connected with the ability to see; his displeasure can bring blindness to mortals.
2pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Slavery - Xa'an teaches Beholders the concept of slavery; how to get them, control them, etc.
1pp, Form Domain (Lesser): Sight - Xa'an is now connected with the ability to see; his displeasure can bring blindness to mortals.
2pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Slavery - Xa'an teaches Beholders the concept of slavery; how to get them, control them, etc.
It suddenly released dark clouds of spores into the aether. The spores spread quickly and infected both aether and air beneath.
The spores could infect both animal and plant-life, although it was far more agressive against plants and plantlike creatures.
Tsarokga-Noggoth also boosted its other plague.
(spawn template 2PP: Black Blight)
(form domain (moderate) 2PP: pestilence)
(nourish populous Plague-mold 1PP from spore chamber)
He lowers his voice, as if someone other than his fellow gods were listening in on his words.
"I am unsure if it will function as well on this World, but if I'm correct it will be of great use, enabling mortals to travel through air as if it were sea. All that would be required afterwards is a sort of aether-shield to enable them to travel to this fungus creature you both seem to despise and dispatch it."
-----
Among the doppelgangers, long dedicated to secrecy in the name of Veros, a new group rose up, venerating him by specializing in eliminating those who would break the secrecy. The avengers spread through Duska Krak.
-----
The vapires, having fled to the ancienct citadel of Duskpeak, found their location perfect for taking trade caravans to and from Duska Krak and the humans. They flourished.
They even developed new techniques to bend the still living to their will, making them perfect servants.
-----
Far to the south of Calafi Krak, an earthquak rent the sea bottom. Causes by a subtle imbalance in the dimension bulwark, the quak settled it, but sent a new volcani island rising from the sea.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Form Domain (Moderate) - Undeath
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Vampires
2 PP (1 from Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater) - Doppelgangers have the Avenger class
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - A volcano south of Calafi Krak
2 PP - Spawn Template - Vampire Thrall
"I have so much I desire to do," she said, and she began to sway on the spot, her eyelids slipping down over her green eyes, "The rhythm of the world is changing, you know that as well as I."
She ran her hands over the top of her head, letting her fingers weave in between the strands of her hair. Her body began to move with a slow, sinuous grace.
"If I am to stay relevant in this world," she said, moving her hands down to her cheeks, "I will need to keep up with the shifting tides of time."
Her hands slid down her form. They came to rest on her thighs. She opened her eyes, ever so slowly. She went to stand by her fellow god.
"Help me to undertand, old friend," she said softly, seductively, and placed one hand upon the cheek of the other god.
"Thank you," said the voice of the goddess, as she faded, faded into nothingness.
-------------
She was in the entry hall of her Palace. She began to stretch her limbs, working out the kinks in her over-wrought form. A lot had happened recently, and it had taken a lot out of her. She wanted to rest, but knew she couldn't, not yet, she had some things she needed to do.
She began to walk up the wide stone steps that lead to the next level. Small being were moving about the Palace. She was not alarmed by this, for she knew instinctively what had happened. She needed to see her daughter.
She reached the door to the nursery. Immediately, she felt the lingering aura of another god. Something else had been here, she knew, but she wasn't angry. All she wanted to do was see Priya.
"You're back," stated the halfling girl. She was sitting in the rocking chair, holding Priya close to her as she rocked, back and forth, back and forth.
"Yes," said the goddess calmly, "Now let me see my daughter."
The girl pulled herself reluctantly from the chair, moving slowly so as to not awaken the sleeping baby.
"Here," she said simply, handing the baby delicately to her mother, "Take care of her."
"Oh I shall," said the goddess softly, "I shall."
PP Refresh
5 - Veros, Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Xirinet, Eijra
4 - Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Mara, The Empress, Thans, Drahthor
Simultaneously, within the heart of the temple of Tahns where the eye of the sun sat, the Eladrin had been disturbed by the intrusion of the other being so long ago. As such they had crafted layer upon layer of intricate magical barriers designed to prevent such a thing from reoccurring. Thousands of hours had been devoted to securing this place, and in an instant those precautions were compromised. While mighty by mortal standards, the spells that safeguarded the room were nothing but a breeze to a God, and just as the priests and elders felt the shattering of the magical defenses they found themselves inexplicably outside of the chamber that housed the eye of the sun. They quickly tried to open the doors, but to no avail, there mightiest spells could not force them open and any attempt to magically relocate themselves inside found them merely in another hallway of the temple.
Meanwhile, inside the chamber, Drahthor still in his human form sat upon a throne of flame and waited. Tahns would hear of this very soon, and he would come. It was time that Tahns and himself spoke.
...
The eladrin had finally formed a kingdom. The tribes still existed, but the line of Alurin was simply preeminent. The others fell into grudging place in a heirarchy beneath them. Metallurgy using iron from the fire-seeds had been perfected.
Shadar-Kai and the Gargoth Halflings were both now official peasants of the Alurian Empire. They were represented by elected officials in provincial politics, but had no say among the ruling elite on the mountaintop, where the king and his council of elder advisers ruled.
The king decided it was time to reestablish formal trade relations with the peoples of the Golden Hills...whoever those be at this point. Rumor had it that new races had come into existence in the vicinity, and that the long-disappeared dwarves and halflings had returned. Horsemen were sent out to see what there was to be seen. A few avariels were also sent to fly overhead for protection.
PP
Guide Populace (greater) 2 PP: Eladrin are now fully proficient with metalworking.
But the time had come for other things, and so the Light merely determined to remember her for another time.
"Nibiru," he called out, and the exarch came with all haste. "It is time."
Growing to its full size, the Exarch began to exert and unseen force upon the cascade until one of the asteroids was knocked loose. Slowly it fell away from the others, its belly full of Beholders.
Unwilling to wait for the slow forces of the world to work, Xa'an manipulated time so that vessel seemed to take mere minutes to cross the interstellar divide, but in truth many years passed for mortals. On the planet there were those who watched the sky and wondered at this new star, but it grew too close and crashed through the Aegis.
The asteroid landed on the western side of the gulf near the fungal forests. The shock sent tremors through the surrounding area, tidal waves crashed against distant shores, and when all settled the stone vessel stood half on land and half in the water, like a single fang sticking up out of the earth. The grey color of the asteroid marked it as not of the mortal world.
For months afterwards an odd mist rose from the cracks of the asteroid; aether was escaping the shell, mingling in the upper air. This caused Miasama to flock to the area, eager to play in their non-living counterparts. The Shadar-Kai to the north had nothing but legends of these creatures, but they soon learned to avoid traveling into the strange aether alone. Those who did were never seen from again.
The aether expanded and so to did the Miasma. Even the distant Eladrin noted increased encounters with these creatures. But in time the aether dissipated, and the Miasma returned to live mostly in the upper atmosphere.
Yet even as the Shadar-Kai thought the plains were safe again, strange shapes were seen in the distance; great balls or faces, hovering over the ground, a mass of tentacles sprouting from them. No one managed to get near enough to see these things clearly, but rumors ran wild as to what they were.
The more southernly Shadar-Kai settlements fell out of contact with the rest of their kind and those who traveled there to find them discovered empty villages stripped of useful goods.
pp
1pp (from Exarch), Mold Land: Vorpal Cascade - Nibiru pulled one of the asteroids to earth, creating a mountain on the shores of the gulf sea thingy.
1pp, Nourish Populace: Beholders - The Beholders enslave a few outlying settlements, moving the populations and their goods back to the asteroid. While the Beholders don't adopt the technology of the Shadar Kai, the slaves still have their know-how and are forced to use it to serve their new masters.
1pp (from Exarch), Mold Land: Vorpal Cascade - Nibiru pulled one of the asteroids to earth, creating a mountain on the shores of the gulf sea thingy.
1pp, Nourish Populace: Beholders - The Beholders enslave a few outlying settlements, moving the populations and their goods back to the asteroid. While the Beholders don't adopt the technology of the Shadar Kai, the slaves still have their know-how and are forced to use it to serve their new masters.
(I suggest we take this to the mortal thread)
"I look around myself and I see gods," she said, and she stepped onto the bottom step of the staircase, even as it rose into the air, carrying her upwards, "And do you know what these gods are doing?"
She was walking up the stairs, and they were carrying her above the creatures milling below. The halfling girl was following her.
"They are creating," she said, without looking at the girl, "And it took this little wonder..."
She looked down into the eyes of her daughter as she climbed the steps, round and round in circles.
"...to show me," she continued, nearing the summit of the pseudo-tower, "That I too need to create."
She stepped onto the top of the miniature tower. She looked down at the creatures below.
"I shall make a home for you," she called, and her voice boomed, echoing throughout the Palace, so that every one of the odd little being could hear her, "And it shall be magnificent."
"You are not creators," she called, "I know that."
She brushed the top of her daughter's head with one of her hands. Many more of the beings had begun to filter into the hall. Soon, almost every one in the Palace was present.
"But you can serve," she said, her voice ringing with conviction, "You can serve me by founding a civilization that will rival all others."
Her free hands stretched outwards as she spoke.
"Help me found the greatest civilization there ever was!" she called, her voice becoming louder and louder until this last word rang from every room, every hall, and every window in Niyanta, "Atakhari!"
...Even though they had never thanked him for that.
He would just have to wait to see what happened hext.
PP Expenditure
2 PP +1 from Land Spike Create Artifact (Greater) Atakhari: This wondrous city provides PP for Nourish Actions.
The three walk in silence toward the spire. Finally they come to their destination, its great black exterior jutting upwards as if trying to pierce the sky itself.
"This is the thing I was talking about." he gestures towards the large crystal humming softly and shifting between every color imaginable. "This is what enables this island to stay afloat on the sea. I call it the Stone of Revery."
He reaches forward and snaps off a piece of the mammoth crystal. It hangs in the air in front of him, and the larger mass quickly regrows the broken off shard. "It is self-replicating and seems to ignore this world's gravity. If we are able to integrate this ore into a ship, or, as I said earlier, a large enough weapon, we could send it into the aether to combat the fungus-lord."
PP Spent
3PP: Create Artifact (Greater) - Stone of Revery (+1 Create PP)
Grass under his feet, sky over his head, the prey was unaware and then everything grew dark. But the darkness was not the end. The darkness was rebirth to what once had been.
She sat alone on a cliff in the Golden Hills holding the body of a dead, gray-bearded Dwarf in her arms. His name had been Eijri, he had been a hunter of Duska Krak and he had lived a good life.
He had had a wife, two children and a home. He had laughed, he had cried, he had fought and he had lived. Unaware of what he truly where, unaware of the mighty being he had been and that he still was.
Unaware of the fair Goddess that now held his lifeless body in her marble-white arms.
The Goddess was silent. She remembered her spouses, she remembered her children, she remembered how she had lived and how she had died. She remembered everything...everything but how.
The body faded away, faded away and reappeared outside Eijra's old family's home.
The fair Goddess sat there, completly still looking out over the Golden Hills. She saw distant villages and golden fields, she saw the ocean far, far away and she saw her people.
Her fists where clenched and she arose.
To much had happened, to much had kept her away from the world, to much time had passed...but she still had the present and she still had the future.
There were so much to be done, so many questions to ask, so many things that needed her attention...the question were, where to start?
PP Expenditure
1 PP +1 PP from Priya Teach Populace: Stoneworking: The Dasa have begun to create tools and furniture from the green rock.
1 PP Form Domain (Lesser) Jade: This rock is most often associated with the Empress, and her servants. In fact, it is rarely used by anyone else.
1 PP Form Domain (Lesser) Jade: This rock is most often associated with the Empress, and her servants. In fact, it is rarely used by anyone else.
But where to start? What could he make that would make him known as a powerful presense? Then the idea came to him. He already had one... it had just been so far away that nearly no one had known of it.
Shurka rose to his island to see his creation, Eorna, starting to become too big for the island itself. The tree lost its last signs of decay and was shining a brilliant gold.
Perfect.
He flung the tree toward the world at high speed. He made sure that the impact wouldn't harm any of his creations by shielding them with his will. As the tree made contact, there was a great rumble from the earth. As the dust settled, the humites looked in awe at the golden tree. This is where the humites would settle.
Perhaps the other gods would even notice.
PP Use
3 PP - Create Artifact - Not really creating one, but Eorna also gives 1 PP for nourish actions.
1 PP [from Eorna] - Guide Populace - Humites told to build villages around Eorna.
" Things were so easier in ages past..."
She faded away and reappeared in front of the White lord, or the White God as her children called him.
Her face was calm and relaxed but there was a sadness around her that was especially visible in her eyes.
" Cousin, Good tidings to you...I have slept to long, slept in mortal bodies and slept in the Feywyld. I have wasted hundreds of years and new gods and races have appeared that I know nothing about. Please, Cousin you have always been kind to me...would you be willing to explain to me what has happened? "
-------------
The hard lands of Vyrmscral began to soften an bear food.
-------------
The Chillund Archipelago had fallen upon centuries of stagnation. S'kre brooded in his citadel, and life remained static.
PP
3PP-Ascend Exarch: Light Child (Nourish)
1PP-Nourish Land (from Ssabrec): Make Vyrmscral bear crops
1PP-Store for Spawn Populous
"NOT AGAIN!!"
And then he abandoned Veros and Ythrexyl on the spot.
...
The sun beat down angrily on the summit of Mt. Gargoth. The eladrin rejoiced, for it seemed their prayers were being answered. However, not one of them had seen the sun burn so...badly...that was the only word for it. The sun had been bad for some time now, and right now it was growing worse than ever.
Then, a fiery bolt descended from the sun and flew through the open roof of the temple's main atrium.
"My lord!" The eladrin fell to their knees, shutting their eyes against the angry glare, "there has-"
"I KNOW!"
The priests stopped talking.
"GIVE ME THAT!" Tahns grabbed a spear from a very taken aback guard and held it in front of him. Metal. Ironwood. A good weapon, of elegant make.
"Behold closely," he said, half to himself and half to the eladrin, "for this day may mark a turning point in history."
He pushed the spear into the wound on his chest, soaking it in the blood that was exposed by The Empress' landspike when she had thrown it at him. He let all the hatred that had burned in him since his defeat, and all the pride and insecurity that had preceded it, flow from his heart and into the spearhead. He gritted his teeth in pain as he felt the cold metal against his heart.
In a moment, he withdrew the spear. It now glowed with a blood red light, like the sunset of a scorching summer day.
"Alright now!"
He hefted the spear in one hand and fixed the fishskin sash he wore with the other. As he touched it, he heard the prayers of the sahaugin who were wishing their demigod well as he went to aid his maker in battle.
Tahns opened the door to the Inner Sanctum, and faced Drahthor.
"Let's hear it."
PP
Create Artifact (moderate) 2PP: "Bloodlight" is a spear infused with divine pain and wrath. Those who it strikes feel an overwhelming pain, as if they were being burned to death from the inside out. This artifact provides a +1 combat bonus.
PP
These are the only for the free 3 PP only for domains
1 PP: Form Domain (Lesser): Runescar forms the Tactics Domain
2 PP: Form Domain (Moderate): Runescar forms the Utility Magic Domain
These are the only for the free 3 PP only for domains
1 PP: Form Domain (Lesser): Runescar forms the Tactics Domain
2 PP: Form Domain (Moderate): Runescar forms the Utility Magic Domain
Even as the Light Child was formed, the sight organs of the aetheric creatures turned to it to watch. Xa'an barely seeing through such mundane creatures, but this... thing demanded his attention.
So he commanded Nibiru to investigate.
Nibiru approached the Light Child at full size, seemingly as large as a planet. The exarch's stone form shook which its voice, sending waves of sound out into the aether, and vibrating this new thing to its core.
"What are you? Speak quickly now, so I might know what bug has irritated my master."
-----
Creatures skittered about on the outer surface of the Azure Aegis. When the Beholder's asteroid was brought to earth, other things were pulled along with it, unwillingly. Many had lost themselves to the pull of the planet and fallen to their death miles below. Some were impaled by the shards of the broken aegis. But just as many had the fortune to land on the unbroken aegis. They crawled over its surface, feeding as they might on what was in the aether, and searching for a way in.
As the years passed, a few found their way to Nibiru's Mountain, the harsh earth piercing Veros' artifact. These creatures had fourteen arms that radiated from a central body, and with these many limbs they climbed that mountain with ease, finding the top of it to the rim of an enormous crater. They descended into the depth of the mountain, past the hazy mix of air and aether, and eventually into fissures and caves that passed to the outside world.
These things passed through the wild forests searching for food; they barely noticed the pillars of light that occasionally claimed one or two for food.
Even as the averial traveled west to investigate the strange disappearances of Shadar-Kai, Elder Things began to prey on Eladrin travelers and those who strayed too far from the safety of towns.
Yet the Eladrin were not the only ones to lose citizens to these aberrations; humans, humites, halflings, and dwarves all lost loved ones to these unthinking beasts.
----------------------------------------
"How is it that there is so little battle! I must create some myself, and they shall worship me. They shall be self-healing also. They will learn the art of war later, when I have gathered my strength." Runescar decided, creating the War trolls, tall, lanky humanoids that have green skin and warts all over with amazing regenerative abilities. They populate Cororan, hunting and gathering food.
PP
2 PP: Create Plane (Lesser): Runescar creates the Demi-plane Cororan, accessible through the great plains where the Shadar-Kai live.
3 PP: Shape Population (Moderate): Runescar creates War Trolls to act as his servants and worshipers, to reside largely on Cororan.
1 PP: Guide Population (Lesser): Runescar instructs the War Trolls that he is their creator, and that they shall worship him.
2 PP: Create Plane (Lesser): Runescar creates the Demi-plane Cororan, accessible through the great plains where the Shadar-Kai live.
3 PP: Shape Population (Moderate): Runescar creates War Trolls to act as his servants and worshipers, to reside largely on Cororan.
1 PP: Guide Population (Lesser): Runescar instructs the War Trolls that he is their creator, and that they shall worship him.
He pointed toward his new creations settling around Eorna
"These are mine. The humites. I had originally planned for them to heal the Golden Hills in your absense, but it seems your people didn't quite appreciate that. They think they know how to heal the land... better than a god of healing apparently."
He sighed.
"Eorna is happy to see you. She seems to be glowing brighter... I recently brought her down from my island... But tell me, now that you're finally here... what do you plan on doing?"
This will do nicely. Nocturne thought to itself. Nocturne began to fly up into the aether, towards the fungus diety that it has met before.
Remembering its past encounter, Nocturne projected images into the mind of the fungal creature. It projected images of the world, covered in mold. A world in which massive fungal colonies the size of countries littered the continent.
But then Nocturne changed the images. Imbuing these with a feeling of melancholy, Nocturne showed the fungus creature images of the dieties, gathering, conspiring against the molds. It showed images of mortals, preparing for future attacks.
The last thing Nocturne projected onto the fungus was a feeling of friendship, mixed with feelings of curiosity- Nocturne proposed an alliance the fungal diety.
Remembering the last time Nocturne waited for an incredibly long time for the fungal diety to respond, Nocturne went back down to the mainland, inside of the air and Aegis. Nocturne was confident that the fungal diety could contact Nocturne, if it had to.
The Goddess said and looked up against the brances of what once had been a part of the Feywyld. A faint smile touched the fair Goddess lips and she just had to stroke it's bark, humming faintly.
Those words...whee did they come from? She had sung them before to her son, Jor of the Isles nearly two-hundred years ago.
She remembered his golden hair and his giggles and laughter that now only was a faint whisper
The smile didn't fade away though.
The Goddess turned and watched her cousin as she spoke.
" Things needs to be done, Cousin. But the thing is that I don't know what needs to be done...what can I do to help this world. So much war, so much misery and so many gods...all with their own vision of the world. "
Her thoughts went to Tahn, her son...her son that she had barely talked to. Her son that she barely knew.
She mumbled and looked down at the earth with a sadness in her eyes.
" This world is far more hostile then it was meant to be...wars over petty things such as land and food. Arrogance, ignorance, hatred! "
The fair Goddess frowned loudly and bent down and picked up a stone and slowly began to mold it with careful hands as if it had been a piece of dough.
" What I am going to create now is going to be a guardian of the Earth it self. Beings that are going to defend and protect this world and my children from the ambitions of the selfish, the arrogant and the mad. "
Shurka moved closer to the Earth-form.
"But how exactly do you expect them to do that? Will they seek out those full of mortal vice, or does their very nature prevent it? ...Ah, I suppose it makes more sense to let you finish them before asking questions..."
He looked at the stone, watching it float. "Hm, while it could be useful, I have little desire to send people to battle against an unknown force in the aether, which they cannot breath anyway. Still, this stone makes me wonder . . "
He watched it for several moments. "Could I take this peice?"
-----
As rumors and reports began to trickle into Celeros, Duska Krak organized it's miltary and sent it marching into the Skypeak Forest. Ahead of it, it sent scouts, both seeking out the source of these dissappearances, as well as humite villages in the area, to see if they had information on the dissapearances.
(Thought, Shurka, I'll take my response to this in the Mortal Stories.)
The goddess of Earth closed her eyes and began to sing quietly. She sang what these beings would be. Tough as stone, strong as the earth it self but with a heart of gold. They would be loyal, faithful and modest in their duty and feroucious warriors when the time called on it but at the same time they would be kind and loving in all ways. Friendly giants.
These beings where some of the first Elementals.
The Goddess dropped the stone on the ground infront of Eorna and out of the fair earth a being arose. A giant made of rock, stone and brown precious earth. Two golden lights shone out of its eyesockets, it's face was grim and glum and its shoulder were broad and wide.
The first Earth Elemental had arose and soon other followed.
Create Populace 3PP: Earth Elementals.
Tahns took a step toward Drahthor.
"You wreak havoc on my priesthood!"
His scarred face contorted in a grimace.
"And now, you make demands of me in my own house?"
Tahns made as if to attack the upstart, but then it occured to him that, if he did so, the Empress might show up to assist him. He tempered his rage.
"Leave this temple. We will discuss this outside."
Nodding Drahthor responded "Very well" and in a flash of flame both Tahns and himself were relocated to the open air far above Mount Gorgoth. "I had chosen to meet with you in that chamber for two reasons. First, because I knew you could not ignore another intrusion and so you would come. Second, because our first encounter when you masqueraded as a lesser being and hid your form within the shell of a fish gave me the impression that you did not want your people to see you in your current state. The carvings on your temple and the stories of the Eladrin depict you as proud and regal, I do not know what caused you to become this way but I had hoped by meeting within your temple the Eladrin people would be allowed to maintain the delusions depicted on their monuments and you would be spared the embarrassment of appearing before them in such a state. However, I suppose if you are willing to cast off such pretenses then who am I to refuse?
New players sprung up, some at random, some not. Was there a reason for it, a purpose to it all? There was none that she could see. She was not one of the big players, she did not hold all of the cards. She couldn't determine the outcome of all this, but she could influence it.
She turned and headed back to the Palace. Yes, she could influence. But for now, she would rest.
----------------------
The doors to Niyanta closed, and would not be opened until the Empress herself decreed it. The Dasa had built up a store of jade, so they would not be forced to go without. A Talua, borne on the wings of magic, was sent to he who was Creation, and Destruction, Drahthor. It waited until he was ready to hear, then told him that the Empress had withdrawn from the world for a time, to sort out her desires, and her priorities. The Land Spike too, came to the other god, and would serve him for a time, until she returned. She would be back, soon, but for now, she rested, and waited.
Reason for This
I'm going to be on vacation for a while, and I'm going to be missing two turns, so I just wanted to give a reason for my absence
He sighed.
"The Empress is a lover of chaos, a creator of monsters, and a needless destroyer of mortal lives. I found her in battle with my father, and saw an opportunity to help rid the universe of one of its less likable elements."
He watched the ground below for a second. Suddenly, he reached down and grabbed a struggling mortal. It looked like an eladrin. It had been slowly drifting toward him through the air. Funny...he didn't know Talua could fly. Ah well.
"Familiar with these? They're called Talua."
Tahns narrowed his eyes, digging his fingers into the Talua until he forced it to revert to its natural form.
"They feed on mortal death and despair. Literally. Theirs is an entire society based on the emotional and physical torture and subsequent murder of other mortals. They were created this way. And for some reason, they seem to prefer the eladrin."
He glowed a little brighter for a second. The talua screamed in agony as it burned to a crisp in Tahns' body heat.
"The Empress first appeared during the giant war, saying how she loved the chaos and bloodshed and wished it to go on. Then, she created these."
He dropped the ashes that were once a talua back to the ground.
"Apparently, I'm not the only one who thought she needed to be dealt with. My question, though, is why you saw her fit to defend?"
At this point, Drahthor became more animated, he started to wave his punctuate his marks with a motion of his hands, and his eyes had taken on a certain vigor. Ominous clouds seemed to gather on the horizon and the God of Destruction and Creation seemed to be getting carried away by what he said. "And what of the timing of your attack? Where you aware that she had clothed herself in the flesh of a mortal and had chosen to attempt to live as one? Might she have been trying to forsake her old ways and seek out a new, more harmonious path? Not only that but she had just given birth to a child, mere moments after which you and your "father" attack. Would it be honorable or noble or even acceptable for a mortal to attack a women, no matter her previous acts, immediately after child birth?! No, and you are no mere mortal you are a God, you should be better than such things. Right now she would be perfectly justified in seeking an eternal vengeance upon you and your people, you and your people could have spiraled into a never ending war that would have seen nothing but needless destruction and misery! Luckily I was able to talk to her, I think I have convinced her at least for a time to take on a new path. Instead of the destruction she has so lopsidedly spread up to this point she now seeks to create a civilization of her own."
Drahthor seemed to be calming down at this point, the malevolent air that had settled about Mount Gorgoth began to disperse. "Forgive my breach of demeanor, I almost lost myself in that moment."
"I understand now why you sought to aid that worthless wretch. I too shall explain myself. I had been in battle with the creator of the tsarok-hem when I heard my temple being invaded. As any god would, I came to protect my people from the intruder. Why were you causing trouble on Mt. Gargoth?"
At this point Drahthor's eyes began to narrow and the ominous mood seemed to begin to return. "As for your response, I will admit I do not know the details or the full reasoning behind her taking a mortal form. But your response towards pregnancy, or more accurately the child born disturb me greatly.....
"And what are these tsarok-hem of which you speak?"
"Veil, my friend, I am pleased with your people. They have done much in helping the inner aether sea flourish and become a bastion of nature and the creatures of the aether sea. They have done far more than I have ever hoped for."
Oravalos felt a warm breeze and the waft of a scent of elder berry, maple, and pine intertwined with a strong overtone of rot some of the scents were mere echoes of future life forms yet to be created. "You are correct Veil, our people have lived complacent lives here in the inner aether sea and but for the one war they have had little contact with th warring nations of my brothers and sisters. That will soon change if they expand closer to the Tsarok very formidable creatures indeed."
The Wise paced among Veil's boughs in silent contemplation. "Still, the Tasarok are apart of the world same as any other. We will let the Ae-Sylvani grow and flourish as they will, and see what comes of it. Decay is apart of the cycle of life just as any other. So is conflict. Besides, my children are better prepared to deal with rot anf fungal decay better than any other. We will see what comes to pass.
A warm breeze of summer blooms caressed Oravalos cheek causing The Wise to chuckle heartily as his form swiftly shifted to that of the The Child with a cry of delight. "You are right indeed! We have much to do! more creatures to bring forth and nourish! It is time to play!"
The Child danced and laughed as he began to weave the power of creation itself...
Deep in the forests on the equatorial band of the Continent where Oravalos had secreted away a few of his Orvin Pods, sprang forth a race born fully of the fae in the realm of the world. They took much of there grace and form from the mighty Eladrin yet they were creatures of the trees, and plains and all the lands of the earth. Eyes as keen as a hawk, ears as sharp as a wolf, as graceful as any deer, these people would be known as The Elves, the people of the land. The Child whispered to them as they took form and told them there new home was called Kirinshin. The land of promise. Thus the elves began there lives deep in the forest far to the north of the warring nations of man, dwarf, a fungi.
2 PP: Spawn creature (Moderate) (1 from artifact): Nurak; Huge Nautiloid creature that feeds off the spores of the aether for food. All types sate its palate from aether spores, to all types of Plague and rot spores in the outer Aether Sea.
2 PP: Shape Populace (Lesser): Elves
1 PP: Guide Populace (lesser): Elves worship Oravalos the lord of Nature
1 PP: Spawn creature (lesser): A variety of fish life
1 PP: Nourish Land: The inner continent has a variety of tree life
In any event Mara explored the mountain side towns and the capital of the Eladrin, even venturing into the great temple to their god. The Eladrin were very worshipful of their god, Tahns, but as much out of fear as love (they also worshiped Veros, but he apparently had become less prominent in the religious order). Mara engaged in the worship ceremonies a few times, and had occasion to talk to some people. She would often ask the same sort of questions, "Do you know of the other gods?"
"Bah! There is none" or "Herecy!" or "Evil I say!" were typically reactions. And yet, as a god, Mara could extend out her mind, and hear the prayers of the people. They were all for the usual things, but the loudest to Mara were those few, hateful, or sorrowful, prayers for justice against an enemy, a slight, or injury. Mara sought out these people. Sometimes it was a woeful mother crying over her soldier son killed in batte, other times a merchant cursing a thief, but there were a few particularly strong ones that caught her attention. They all were related to the head priests at the Temple and other elites in the city.
Mara went to these people, and whispered in their minds as only a god could do. Many of these people were devout, but many could be turned with the right suggestion. In particular Mara sought out the most hardened, aggrieved, and resolute Eladrin of the group, a man named Ezero.
He would make a fine apostle, a speaker to the others of Mara the moon goddess. Surely her sister wouldn't mind? After all it was only fair.
pp
Guide Populance - 1 PP (from Astral Orrery) - Some Eladrin have begun worshiping Mara secretly, as a cult. This cult is known within its circle as the "Church of the New Moons." It's leader is an Eladrin man named Ezero. Right now, the cult mostly centers around revenge.
Guide Populance - 1 PP (from Astral Orrery) - Some Eladrin have begun worshiping Mara secretly, as a cult. This cult is known within its circle as the "Church of the New Moons." It's leader is an Eladrin man named Ezero. Right now, the cult mostly centers around revenge.
"I am the Light Child, Mistress of the Vray Clan. It was I who brought the worship of Vymrl to the clans. I sense that you are no ordinary creature, what god do you serve?"
The planetoidal exarch rushed at the tiny light-creature, intending to crash into her. Perhaps, if she had been capable of such, she would have felt a sense of vertigo as the near planet-sized mass approached. Within moments the surface of the exarch consumed half of the Light Child's field of vision and the ground appeared to be rushing "up" at her, for now she had the strongest sensation that "down" was towards the planetoid's surface.
With a slight nod to the birds I decide to travel wander the world and learn its wonders.
Pp expenditure
2pp form domain travel
Roan traveled down to them and soon learned the mightiest and most skilled of dwarven smith lived here. Roans loved the heat and power of making things and choose to apprentice to the lord smith. After many years and hard work roan became a master smith in his own right.
One day roan went to the master and asked in his youthful pride “Am I not a greater smith than even you?”
The smith laughed and said “Young roan you have time to grow and become skilled one day you may be better.”
Angered Roan yelled “I challenge your right to hold the title of lord smith, and as your apprentice you may not refuse me.”
Theses words sadden the smith but he accepted the challenge was set for the next feast day. On that day many dwarves came to watch the show of skill. Roan reached into the earth and pulled out the oar he needed all ready heated to be beaten into shape.
The ringing could be heard for miles around as the to smith made great artifacts to show there skill. Neather rested for four days and nights. But at the end of that time both came together to show what had been crafted.
The lord smith showed his first it was a battle ax like none that had ever been made before its beauty was undeniable. When he wielded against wooden targets it hewed them down like tooth picks and yet there was no damage to the weapon all were awed.
Then Roan stepped forward and in his hands was a small hammer and in it was a spark of the Devine that all could see and none doubted that roan was actually a god for no mortal could craft the hammer he held.
Pp expenditure
3 pp to create artifact “little maker” can shift into any tool and gives plus 1 to create
1 pp form domain black smith
PP Use
1 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Created a fresh-water pond that will never run out of water.
Then roan said “I am the lord smith of this and every realm but none can craft like my master and as such he will continue being the lord smith of the dwarves.”
All the dwarves stood and cheered. Then Roan pull back his cloak and again stood in his natural form all the dwarves were awed at what they saw ,half goat half man with great horns on his head and a goatee not a proper beard at all, before them Roan was glorious. Then he turned and left never looking back.
As roan traveled the world and saw the splendors he grew ever more in love with the natural wonders of the world.
As he walked, he let his mind wander, drifting freely within in. He understood that sensation he had so often felt. It was his own core power, seeping into his mind, revealing knowledge he shouldn't have.
He reveled in it as he wandered, smiling at Mara's newest worshippers, noting the odd invasion of beasts from far beyond the world, listening to the odd thoughts of the creatures that infiltrated the eladrin, and seeing for the first time the Shadar-kai that inflicted pain upon themselves in homage to there master.
When he finally returned to his senses, he understood so much more than he had before. He looked about himself, noting that he was stnading at the peak of the temple he had formed in eladrin lands. He looked up, and high above he could see two gods meeting. for the moment, he disregarded them.
Time continued to pass, and yet he had still failed to deal with the spirits that waited for death's command. They gathered by the thousands around the storehouse of light, they gathered forms providing a continual luminescense to the inner world.
This could not continue for ever. The expanding sphere of spirits gathered around the storehouse were getting close to Ae-Silvani settlements. He stood there, searching his mind, wondering how to deal with them . . .
With the new weather patterns that developed from that, water continued to spread across the continent of Ardune, turning it into a dense, unbroken jungle. Herbavores began to roam those wastes, feeding off the plants and in the fullness of time, dying, their bodies enriching the earth in turn for new plants to grow.
PP
3pp, Mold Land (Greater): Oceans - The inner world has more water, bringing it up to about half water half land at this point, I think
1pp, Spawn Beasts (Lesser): General Herbavores for Aradune
1pp, Nourish Land (From storehouse): Aradune's now a dense jungle continent
3pp, Mold Land (Greater): Oceans - The inner world has more water, bringing it up to about half water half land at this point, I think
1pp, Spawn Beasts (Lesser): General Herbavores for Aradune
1pp, Nourish Land (From storehouse): Aradune's now a dense jungle continent
"Anyway, do you have anything more important to talk about?"
...
In response to the prowling elder things, the eladrin had organized a system of defenses. The warlords each built a watch tower into their manor houses, to overlook their domains. The wizards researched rituals to ward areas against alien creatures, discouraging the creatures from venturing into populated areas or farmland. The healers, of course, had their work cut out for them.
Meanwhile, the avariels had surrounded the meteor, and were stationed outside of it.
"I would have one more thing to speak of to you... You are a god, and as such your strength and power and your ability to change and shape the world are beyond reckoning. As such, you are burdened by a degree of responsibility in your actions, lest this entire plane come to an end. I am the God of Destruction and Creation, a harsh duality. In the moments of my birth I let my essence rule and in those moments I experienced ecstasy, but I also destroyed billions of creatures. Had I allowed my nature to continue to rule myself unchecked, I would have burned down the cosmos until there was nothing left to destroy, and only then would I begin to create again so that the process could start over. I did not find this situation envious, and as such I learned to restrain my passions. " As he said this Drahthor brought a hand up from out of the cloak of madness to his head. Taking his index and middle fingers, he began to press them against his forehead, progressively harder and with more force, until he broke the surface of his form and divine blood began to flow out. Then he brought his other hand out and in it he held a silver goblet. Raising the goblet up he caught a few drops of his blood within it, and then held it out towards Tahns. 'Drink of my essence oh God of the Sun, taste of the harshness of my duality and know that I must practice a restraint in every moment of my being. Then learn, learn to check the raging temper I have seen displayed within you, lest it ruin this world.."
As he spoke Drahthor began to tap into his power, and that is when he felt something strange. The land spike, chosen instrument and weapon of the Empress, was lending its power to him. He found this perplexing, and decided he would look into it immediately after this encounter. But for the mean time, he gladly took its power and turned it to his purposes. Upon his head, where he had broken the skin, the blood that flowed seemed to begin to defy the laws of gravity. Slowly at first, but then more rapidly, the life force of the god that had not fallen into the chalice began to withdraw back up his face until was all gathered at the point from which it left his body. Then it began to solidify, forming a deep blood red crystal that sat upon his forehead. For Drahthor, this would serve as an eternal reminder to keep himself in check.
PP
5pp (1 from land spike): Create Artifact- The Eye of Restraint: Sitting on Drahthor's forehead in both his true and humanoid form is a deep red crystal about the size of an eye. This crystal helps to channel and control the powerful energies that work within this God providing a +1 combat bonus and also 1pp to nourish actions.
PP
1PP (Ziggurat of Drahthor)- Spawn Lesser Beast: Racktheren
Within the fungal mass on earth, something new started to grow.
(Nourish populous (Tsarok-Aran) 1PP with spore chambers)
(Guide pouplous (Tsarok-Aran) 1PP from Nuggoroth)
(Spend 5PP into the fungal mass, purpose will be revealed in time)
He called to the bulwark, letting it’s energies run through the mountain, burrowing and digging, sending tunnels riddling through it, making it easy for the determined and foolish to walk from the ground to it’s peak, or from the aether to the ground.
He made his way through the tunnels to it’s peak, where he had leveled it off some. Here on this location, he gathered his power, creating a simple building carved from the stone of the mountain itself. Of course, its inside was far larger than it’s appearance, but it would be enough.
Veros strode into his new sanctum,
Secret
and molded it to his will, shaping the perfect laboratory for his future experiments, where he could shape and mold, learn and study, in peace. Satisfied, he sat in a nearby chair to rest.
PP Refresh
5 - Veros, Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Xirinet, Eijra, Thans
4 - Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Mara, The Empress, Drahthor, Runescar, Roan
PP
3 pp, Ascend Exarch: Yorgar (Guide) - Yorgar the War Troll becomes a leader of the War Trolls, and is tasked to guide them to do as Runescar bids.
1 pp, Nourish Population: War Trolls - For being faithful, Runescar gives the War Trolls a bounty of food for the next 250 years.
3 pp, Ascend Exarch: Yorgar (Guide) - Yorgar the War Troll becomes a leader of the War Trolls, and is tasked to guide them to do as Runescar bids.
1 pp, Nourish Population: War Trolls - For being faithful, Runescar gives the War Trolls a bounty of food for the next 250 years.
"Drink...what?"
He shook his head.
"I have no time for this! Our misunderstandings have been cleared up. There is no more to discuss. You will leave my temple alone, and I will return you the favor of not being a divine pain in the ass."
And Tahns soared away.
Reaching out, Drahthor drew out the soul of the taulau whom Tahns had killed. Drahthor had been present when the Empress withdrew her first children from the land, and yet here one was, sneaking along atop Mount Gorgoth. And mere moments later Drahthor had been able to call upon he power the the land spike. So probing the soul with his mind he discovered the message that had been left for him there. The Empress rested, and for the time being had gifted him with her chosen instrument. After a moment he hesitantly let the soul go, whispering "In time, little mortal, I will build a place for you. Until then, I am sorry that I must leave you to this fate."
Drawing the silver goblet with the drops of his blood back into his robe for later use, Drahthor began to revert to his true form. "But if the Empress rests than now is the time for me to see my daughter, and show her the works of her father." And with that the Lord of Destruction and Creation disappeared from the air over Mount Gorgoth in a flash of flame.
She exploded. Pink, green and purple light lighting up the sky of the world, flames and essence merged together shimmering stronger then the sun itself.
And then everything just faded away. Everything but the purest of energy, the spark that had been what she was was now gone.
Her essence was spreading all over the world.
It was over.
The Fey Goddess was dead. She was finally at peace. The pain was gone and the eternal slumber awaited.
But her essence didn't come to waste though. It flowed through the land creating and forming new life. In the forests birds chirped, Apes opened their eyes and gazed at the new world. On the plains lions growled and in the oceans strange new beings appeared.
A heritage of the Fey Goddess. The Goddess that was no more. She who had broken the world, healed the world and finally she had became a part of the world.
Nourish Land 5PP: Creates hundreds of new species of animals. Rodents, cats, dogs, octopuses and other closely related creatures, several new breeds of birds and different form of Apes. All of these beings has three golden lines on their backs, as a memento of the first dead God.
Roan learned many things from the Trents. But most interesting to Roan was the music. The songs of the trents sounded like the wind in the leaves of roots cracking rocks the babble of brooks and streams. Roan was entranced by the songs and asked of the Trents to teach him.
The Trents taught Roan their songs showed him how the music was able to shape the land and tell the histories of the world. Roan thought this was powerful lore indeed and soon became a master bard loving all music he took the essence of song into his very being.
In the histories that the Trents sang Roan learned of the great wars and how they came to the mortal plane at their creators request to help with the battle of the golden hills. The Trents told the epic of the falling star and the creatures of death and disease that came with it. And they told of the coming of a second power that destroyed with fire wiping out the invaders but killing many of the trees. Then they gathered and sang the oldest songs of their first home, the fey wild, the song a sad lament of glories lost, but as the song ended it became happy as it told of forests of the mortal plane.
Roan was shocked at all the knowledge he had gained he thought there might be others like him but now he knew. Tells of the wars was strangers still it did not sound like war was a natural thing. Theses topics warranted further study he thought but not now.
After many years of learning and talking with the trents roan decided it was time to leave and travel again, but first he wished to take an instrument with him one of great power and beauty. To achieve this aim he sat with an ancient Trent and using all his guile and tricks ask if he wished to be immortalized in song. The Trent said “yes”. Roan said but first you must do something worthy of song. The Trent agreed with this but ask what he could do, and that he do anything for such a great honor. Roan smiling asked for his voice. The Trent was shocked but then realized he had said anything and nodded his consent. Roan reach out and to the voice of the Trent and using little maker he shaped it into a set of five wooden pipes. Then roan got up and played the Trent’s song. The song told of a great gift given by an ancient tree to a young prankster. Then Roan laughed turning and leaving to wander the world some more.
PP expenditure
2PP form moderate domain music
3PP (1 from little maker) create artifact. Wooden pipes, these have the power to mold and shape the world and to cause others to become fascinated and dance uncontrollably. +1 pp to mold land.
He did not know what to think, but looked down on his people. They had now learned of the Elder Things, and had been trying to keep them out of their territory. They still had so much to learn in the ways of fighting, but Shurka would teach them.
PP Use
2 PP - Form(Claim?) domain - Fey
2 PP [1 from Eorna] - Guide Populace - Taught the humites about metalworking, so they may make better weapons.
-----
At the meteor, called Grey-Fang mountain by those earthly creatures that had been conscripted into service within it, eyes watched the flying Eladrin. It was at noon, at the brightest part of the day, that something happened. A great light issued from mountain, blinding those who looked upon it. Reflexively many of the avariels covered their eyes to protect them. The rest could see nothing as the world appeared to be turned into a pure blank plane of whiteness. The light only lasted for a minute. When it faded all seemed to be well, but in time it was discovered that three soldiers were missing.
-----
Three Eladrin soldiers were unsure of what had happened; there had been a bright light, then intense pain and they had faded from consciousness. Now they awoke to see a giant face peering down at them with a single, large eye. In place of hair these creatures had a writhing mass of tentacles... no, eye stalks, the Eladrin realized, as a few of those smaller eyes occasionally turned to look at them as well.
Looking around they saw that they were inside of a grey-stone cave. In the distance there might have been light from an opening to the outside world, but a clear view was blocked by a wall of other creatures guarding the way.
Disquietingly, there seemed to be a few Shadar-Kai moving about, cleaning the place. They kept their eyes down and the creatures seemed to ignore them, for the most part.
The creature before the Eladrin opened its mouth, revealing needle-like teeth at least a foot long, and it asked them, "What are you foul-formed things?"
((presumably to be continued in the Mortal Thread)).
PP
2pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Light Tyrannts - Certain beholders dear to Xa'an are granted special powers, which allow them to force other beholders to obey their will. These epic-level monsters are capable of exhibiting control over light, similar to their god and master. To note, this is just adding an epic level beholder to the types of beholders in the game world - it isn't a class.
2pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Light Tyrannts - Certain beholders dear to Xa'an are granted special powers, which allow them to force other beholders to obey their will. These epic-level monsters are capable of exhibiting control over light, similar to their god and master. To note, this is just adding an epic level beholder to the types of beholders in the game world - it isn't a class.
Upon teleporting into the Palace in his true form, Drahthor was surprised to sense the presence of another race in this place. Casting his gaze about, his eyes fell upon a small creature made of jade, bipedal and with two arms, and about the size of a halfling. It was cowering in fear of the God, trying to hide itself in one of the many alcoves that dotted the structure. "Strange, you do not seem to be a creation of the Empress. Instead i sense the touch of my daughter upon you..." However Drahthor did not come here to examine these new life forms, and so he began to prowl along the hallways to where he sensed his daughter.
After a few moments he reached an arched entryway to a large room. Upon looking within he saw a room that was gaily decorated with all sorts of rugs and tapestries of every shape and color, all depicting a different tale. Littered upon the ground were many strange implements, many of them were made of wood or jade and had been carved into the image of animals. Others were spherical objects made of some strange substance that allowed them to bounce. And floating through the air was a miniature hurricane of bubbles. Many of the small jade mortals seemed to be running around the room, interacting with the various objects while expressions of joy crossed there faces. And there, sitting in the middle of this whirlwind of activity, was his beautiful daughter Priya.
As he watched, he felt a subtle vibration and wondered at it's cause. After a moment, it faded away, so he disregarded it.
Glancing about, he noted that even here souls continued to gather around him, waiting for him to fullfill his promises. It was then that it caught his eye.
An oddly colored soul flitting in and about the others, dodging his sight, moving with a determined will unlike all of the others. He reached out, drawing it towards him. As it obeyed, floating before him, he felt an odd forboding.
He reached out and touched it. As the memories and thoughts entered into his mind, he jerked back in terror, the very idea striking fear into him as nothing ever had before. A second later, he felt the emotion mortals called grief.
Eijra was gone. All that remained floated obediently before him. He sat and looked at it, his mind blank and devoid of any thoughts.
Decades later, his arm raised, and he finally began to return to himself. He called the spirit closer, tucking it safely away. He recalled when he had first seen her, the child or Oravolos, yet still willing to listen and help him. Years later, she helped give birth the Tahns, who proved to be a useful ally.
Then he recalled the first time he had seen her without her smile, when her people cried in terror. He drifted back to when he placed her to sleep, to help her rest. He opened is eyes. He knew what ha caused this.
He cast out a web of power, collecting a handful of spirits. Still reeling, he could only imbue into each of them a simple message for each of the gods he sought. Still, imbued into that message was all the discordant emotions flooding through him. "Come!"
With a flash, the spirits flitted away, seeking to carry their messages.
((Specifically, sending a call out for Oravolos, Shurka, Tahns, Mara, and Xa'an))
"Yes?"
At that the halfling turned and saw who it was entering the room, after a moment of hesitation a look of recognition seemed to wash over her face and she stood up. "I am sorry, I was just worried about Priya" said the halfling. "You have nothing to apologize for, you showed that you were more than willing to protect my child, and for that I am in your debt. So how is she?" As he said this he stepped forward and leaned his head down to examine his little girl. He had expected her to shrink back in fear, however instead she beamed a smile up at him. Reaching out with her small hands she placed them upon the fore of his skull just above his jaw and giggled.
The halfling slowly at first, but with gaining confidence stated "She's fine as far as I can tell. She seems to notice everything, far more perceptive than any child I have seen before. Though perhaps that's just how this thing works... Mostly she just listens to stories and plays with her Dasa," indicating the green beings with a wave of her arm.
By this point Drahthor was nudging his daughter around with his muzzle, and after a moment he pointed to her with a finger and then raised it up towards the ceiling. Priya quickly followed and she began to float through the air, giggling and laughing all the time. The Halfling girl seemed frightened by this, for she kept darting forward as if afraid that Drahthor would drop the youngling. Turning his head to the side the lord of Creation and Destruction asked the halfling "Friend, how long has it been since you left these halls?"
She seemed taken aback by the question, but after a moment answered "I cannot really say, a long time."
Smiling Drahthor lowered Priya into the outstretched hands of the halfling. "Then come, the three of us are going to go see the work I have commenced on." And with that the three beings disappeared in a flash of fire.
Shurka appeared in front of Tahns and Veros, with new fey energy moving around him.
"What do you want? Is... is this about Eijra?"
The Wise sat in contemplation beneath the boughs of his exarch Renewal as it took him years to fully contemplate what had happened and the consecquences. It was here that he sat when the call from Veros found him.
He felt the raw emotion of the Keeper of Secrets felt a part of his daughters soul in the sending and the pull to come speak with him.
Instantly The Wise tracked the spirit calls location and stepped through the fabric of creation to appear before Veros.
"I felt it, and I have come."
He lowered his gaze. "This is unthinkable. That one of use would die like . . . like . . . like some mere mortal! And the cause . . . "
He cast his gaze over the three faces assembled before him as he raised a veil to conceal them from those who might wish to spy upon this meeting.
Secret: Tahns, Oravolos, Shurka
"This was no natural occurrence. Eijra died from the sorrow and pain in her heart. Pain caused by those who sent their people to battle hers, to conquer them, to enslave them."
"Vymrl . . . . . Nocturne . . . . and the cloaked one in the sky above. I have delved into its follower's minds, and they refer to it as Tsarokga-Noggoth. These are the three, who by their callous actions, brought ruin to the fey goddess's heart. These are the three, who brought about her death."
He looked at Tahns. "Your mother," then Oravolos, "your creation, though she saw you as a brother," and finally Shurka, "and your ally."
"I've asked you here to ask each of you a single question. Will we let their actions stand unpunished?"
"Vymrl . . . . . Nocturne . . . . and the cloaked one in the sky above. I have delved into its follower's minds, and they refer to it as Tsarokga-Noggoth. These are the three, who by their callous actions, brought ruin to the fey goddess's heart. These are the three, who brought about her death."
He looked at Tahns. "Your mother," then Oravolos, "your creation, though she saw you as a brother," and finally Shurka, "and your ally."
"I've asked you here to ask each of you a single question. Will we let their actions stand unpunished?"
"Dead."
He looked back and forth among those assembled.
"I see."
He reached out to touch Eijra's soul. He was disappointed when his hand passed through it. One of his fathers had been absent from the world for so long. Now his mother was dead. His only remaining parent was in the same position he was.
"Tsarokga-Noggoth is that creature's name? Good. It helps for it to have a name. I know of the others."
Tahns let one hand rest on the golden cup he wore strapped to his belt.
"I believe we have our work cut out for us."
"We spoke a thousand years ago of just this eventuality Veros and now te time has come."
With a burst of wild primal magic The Wise was consumed and standing before his brothers was The Hunter his cleft spear in hand his gaze one of rage and fury as he bled off in whirls of primal magic. He took the spear and held if forth into the spirit of Eijra his sister, let it bathe in her essence and when he withdrew it, it held the memories, hopes and most importantly the pain and sorrow of his sister. He spun it then as it glowed with her divine power whistling through the air a mournful song of her pain ans loss.
"I am with you, the balance is in utter jeopordy. I have felt the essence of the Lord of Decay and he seeks only to destroy, to consume. The Shadow Lord and the Ice King coveted my sisters realm for no better reason than lust and avarice. They are creatures one and all at odds with the world. Brothers or nought, it is time they were brought to heel."
3 PP: Create Artifact (Greater): Eijra The Spear of Sorrow. It can be used to add a combat bonus
--------------------------------------------------------------
Rein the tree of Renewal felt the essence of Eijra pass much more acutely than any others in reation save Veros the final keeper of her spirit. He felt her essence pass through him as her divine power that tied her to the world eminated and sought to return to the world it was born of. Rein heard its call and began to incoporate the story of the Lost Child into the tale of the story he told the story of Life in this world.
Additionally, Rein's tie to the forests of the world let him watch over the newest of his Father's creations the Elves. He felt a kinship with them, he could feel in there essence toe spirit of the Ae-Sylvani both born of Oravalos there creator. He felt and heard there calls of supplication to the great one.
He spoke to them of the trees of the plants, how to hunt game and how to bond with the beasts of the land they called home. He showed them the secrets of the land.
2 PP: Guide Populace (Greater): Elves learn the ranger class
1 PP: Nourish Populace (artifact): Elves flourish as they learn to cultivate and live off the land
1 PP: Spawn creature (lesser): Iliril: Large lizard creatures that live in the forests and can climb trees and change the color of there skin to blend in
His anger and pain burned in his scarred chest. His spear pulsed with energy as it felt his rage. This comforted him, a little. He had a spear of his own, one made of his own, incarnate wrath. Everything he felt about this would only make it stronger.
"I will return shortly," said Tahns, "when I do, I will not be alone."
...
"ANGELS!" Tahns shouted into the void, as he flew high above the clouds.
"ANGELS OF FURY, ANGELS OF HATE, ANGELS OF REVENGE! ANGELS OF DARK CREATION! I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE! LET THE CHILDREN OF XIRINET WHO SEEK TO DESTROY THE UNWORTHY COME FORTH!"
From throughout the cosmos, angels began to come. Xirinet had crafted them to aid any gods who requested their services, so long as it was for a cause that appealed to them. There were plenty among their ranks who were attracted to Tahns' summons.
"Winged warriors!" Tahns said, as he stood on top of a dark, rolling stormcloud, "craftsmen of heaven! It is time to cure the world of those who have so long abused it. Every one of you has felt the passing of Eijra!"
The angels all cried assent.
"She MUST be avenged! And this, this, my noble companions, THIS is how it will happen!"
Tahns showed them what he had in mind.
The reactions of the angels were mixed. Some were disgusted, leaving Tahns' gathering at once. Others were indecisive, seeing the merits of this idea, but also wary about the implications...not to mention the risks. A few of the more violent, however, fell in love with the idea.
"Those of you too weak and frightened to defend your universe," said Tahns, "get out. Leave now. Never come before my sight again. To those who are not...LET OUR WORK BEGIN!"
And thus, with a crew of five hundred angels, Tahns began to create.
Show
For year after year, Veros watched the soul, never moving, never thinking. The gears of his mind spun and whirled, but nothing issued forth, and nothing happened.
Decades later, his arm raised, and he finally began to return to himself. He called the spirit closer, tucking it safely away. He recalled when he had first seen her, the child or Oravolos, yet still willing to listen and help him. Years later, she helped give birth the Tahns, who proved to be a useful ally.
Then he recalled the first time he had seen her without her smile, when her people cried in terror. He drifted back to when he placed her to sleep, to help her rest. He opened is eyes. He knew what ha caused this.
He cast out a web of power, collecting a handful of spirits. Still reeling, he could only imbue into each of them a simple message for each of the gods he sought. Still, imbued into that message was all the discordant emotions flooding through him. "Come!"
With a flash, the spirits flitted away, seeking to carry their messages.
((Specifically, sending a call out for Oravolos, Shurka, Tahns, Mara, and Xa'an))
The Sun god was there... much changed since first and last he had lain eye upon him. And the Healer as well, though Xa'an was relatively sure he had never meet the one known as Shurka before (Xa'an willingly admitted he didn't get out much). Oravalos too, fierce in anger. And... twins. Ah yes, the Moons he recalled. They'd ignored him when he first tried to introduce himself, so now he ignored them as well.
"Greeting to you all, and may the light shine upon you favorably. It appears you are already into discussion, so please forgive my tardiness. Perhaps you might enlighten the late Light as to why you've called this godmoot, Veros?"
pp
* 1pp (from Exarch), Mold Land (Lesser): Planetary Rings - Nibiru further expands the ring around the planet.
* 3pp, Mold Land (Greater): Inner Oceans - Xa'an expands the Inner Ocean, bringing it up to around 7 or 8 PP worth if my calculations are correct
* 1pp (from Artifact), Nourish Land: Inner Oceans - The Storehouse' light brings diverse plant-life to the inner oceans
* 1pp (from Exarch), Mold Land (Lesser): Planetary Rings - Nibiru further expands the ring around the planet.
* 3pp, Mold Land (Greater): Inner Oceans - Xa'an expands the Inner Ocean, bringing it up to around 7 or 8 PP worth if my calculations are correct
* 1pp (from Artifact), Nourish Land: Inner Oceans - The Storehouse' light brings diverse plant-life to the inner oceans
These tunnels were coated with his Phorus plants, giving off their glow and their heat. After a time they came upon skittering insect-like creatures. The creatures climbed forward and devoured the outermost extremities of the Phorus. Then, in their rear segment, the translucent sack, they began to fill with the glowing chemical that existed in the plants. "My Raktheran, first inhabitants of this land. They will devour the Phorus and use the chemical within as a nectar with which to feed themselves and their young. But as they do this the many thousands of tiny hairs along their bodies would pick up small spores from the Phorus. In this way, they eat to their fill and the Phorus is spread."
At that moment a group of three of the Racktheran skittered towards them in a aggressive manner. They danced around in what was meant to be an intimidating warning, but when the God and his guests continued to advance they reacted. Stream of flame seemed to erupt from their mouths, flying towards the beings. Drahthor lifted a hand and the flames stopped dead in its tracks. The Racktheran skittered off and as they continued down the tunnel they found what they had been defending. A large pockmarked mound made from the droppings of the creatures rose up before them, with dozens of the insect-like beings skittering in and out of it. "Their nest."
Drahthor was well pleased with how these beings lived and interacted with his environment, and so channeling a portion of his essence and the power within the eye of restraint, he blessed the Racktheran and the Phorus.
PP
2pp (1 from eye of restraint) Nourish Racktheran and Phorus plants. They spread throughout the entire network of caverns and tunnels
A dozen mouths covered its entire body, each one constantly spewing forth spore clouds and corrosive bile, which polluted the land.
Everywhere it went, the land would rot and decay into festering swamps and marchlands, perfect breeding grounds for the various molds and fungi.
Tsarokga-Noggoth recovered the part of the fungal mass, mutating it and absorbing it into its being, turning it into a special gland connected to the Spore Chamber. The gland would allow it to spew forth black concentrated spore clouds.
(5PP fungal growth splits up in a 3PP exarch and a 2PP combat artifact)
(Ascent exarch (3PP) Unggar-Raggnu, the Plaguewalker: Unggar-Raggnu provides a bonus 1PP for mold land)
(create combat artifact 2PP; see above: Black Breath of Decay)
(Ascent exarch 3PP: Unggar-Raggnu becomes a 6PP exarch and now also provides a +1 combat bonus)
(Nourish fungi 1PP from spore chamber)
(Guide fungi 1PP from Nuggoroth)
"Ix!" He shouted, "do you have it!"
The exarch waddled forward, carrying an armload of things he had gathered.
"Here, my lord," croaked the fish-man, "fury of a rabid dog, sorrow of a stillborn's mother, resentment of a deposed king..."
Ix named each ingrediant as he put them down in front of Tahns.
"Hrm." Tahns growled. "What about the darkness that infants see before they are born? The thing that waits in the nightmares of all beings? Why did you not bring me that?"
"I am sorry, master, I could not find-"
"IDIOT!" Tahns kicked Ix in the chest, sending the exarch reeling. "Angels! Go help this halfwit retreat what we need. Here, have a sip from the Chalice, it will show you what we need to gather!"
"Of course," said an archangel, "but if Ix was una-"
"JUST DO IT!!!"
"Perished, not of physical injury, but injury of the heart and mind. Injuries inflicted by Nocturne, Vymrl, and Tsaroga-Noggoth."
He looked at Mara as he tucked it safely away. "I formed you into creation. I know you govern over retribution. And that is what we shall have. I have called you for your expertise in this matter."
His gaze twisted towards Xa'an. "You are among the oldest of gods, he third of us to come into creation, beat by Chactross by only a few seconds as his flames created the first light. I would sek your aid as well."
He down for a moment, then held out his hand, calling a staff into existance.
-----
Deep within the worshop, the Creation Forge worked, guided by it's masters divine will. After a time, it finished the project it had been set upon, an iron shod staff slipping out and clattering to the ground. A moment later, it vanished, summoned by it's master.
-----
As the forces of Duska Krak and the humites worked together to contain and destroy the elder things that wandered among them, they grew slightly closer. Over time, traders passing from Duska Krak to humans lands wouold make regular stops by the humites as well, providing them with goods and news from around the continent.
-----
The foundation of Duska Krak and Kraka Kalafi had been shaken to their cores. As numerous priests and worshippers of Eijra found themselves bereft of their lady and her power. Soon the halflings and dwarves turned to Veros more and more. Deep in their smiths and forges, dwarven smiths drew on the knowledge of their remaining god, developing the most advanced armorworking techniques in the world.
-----
From the depths of the sea around Kraka Kalafi, several new small islands rose from the depths.
-----
As the traders of Duska Krak expanded outwards, so to did the Loremasters. Soon they several enclaves within eladrin territories, as well as Eladrin members.
PP Expenditures
2 PP+(1 Artifact) - Create Artifact (Greater) - Staff of Veros - Provides 1 Shape PP
1 PP+(1 Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater) - Dwarves learn armor smithing, enablingthem to make the first scale and plate armors, as well as masterwork heavy armors.
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Duska Krak
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Some humites now venerate Veros in addition to Shurka
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Loremasters expand into eladrin territory, including eladrin members
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land - New islands around Kraka Kalafi
PP
Shape Populace (greater): 3 PP +1 from the Chalice
Shape Populace (lesser): 2 PP
Nourish Populace: 1 PP from the Pillar
Shape Populace (lesser): 2 PP
Nourish Populace: 1 PP from the Pillar
They would use there prehensile tongues from each of there dozen mouths to grab prey vegetation alike, converting it into rotten bile that they regurgitate later to destroy the land.
These tiny versions would follow him and aid it in its work. They would be known as the Raggnur
(spawn beast (moderate) 2PP: Raggnur)
Then she regained her voice and spoke with authority. "I can feel your desire for revenge is great, for that is something I see in all people, even gods. But there are also other feelings that we only see on the periphery."
Mara looked around, at Oravolos and Xa'an. "Perhaps we are only part of your solution? But regardless of what it is you want, we will do as you as ask. For you have given us a bird from which we can receive your aid, and I am compelled to give to you likewise if you desire."
"I do feel sorrow that her touch will not be upon the world any longer; in all but this last action her deeds were worthy. But that was duty and does not pardon this offense."
Xa'an seemed to calm down for a moment, "If you ask me for aid, then my aid may be given. But not for her sake, never for her sake. Blot out her memory I would for this affront. Gods must not die, Xa’an commands it!”
He turned to Mara. "You had no part in it, little one. The wounds were already deep and greivous before you were even created."
Shurka raised his staff as an act of his willingness, and then a thought came to him...
"What should we do with the Feywyld? Eijra never said what she wanted to be done after her death... I should know, I was the last person to see her. And Veros, she did not die like a mortal. She died in a brilliant burst of splendor as only a goddess could... didn't you see her last act?"
The humites had accepted the Duska Krak, and traded with them offering them powerful healing and their limitless supply of water. From the trade, they had benefitted greatly, and slowly expanded their borders. Religion between the two groups had mixed. Some humites now worshipped Veros while the Duska Krak had learned of Shurka.
PP Use
1PP [artifact] - Nourish Populace - The humites are living in relative prosperity
1PP - Guide Populace - Some of the Duska Krak worship Shurka.
Since that first vision, the Goddess did not speak to him but in dreams, or what he thought were subtle clues during the days. Often times, these were hints of people looking for his guidance, new believers. Most would reject him, fearing the herecy, even if they desired what he could give them. But a few would come, to his secret place of meeting.
The rest of the time he spent developing the worship of the goddess. He spent many nights out in the open sky, looking at the objects there. The stars, moons, sun, and other things, were all catalogued as best he could. The goddess had commanded that he learn things in one of his dreams. He had learned much and written these things down, and with the help of some astute followers developed systems for understanding the movement of the aetherial bodies.
He was even able to get some of his work sold as scrolls, to some highly respected learned men in the community. If the Eladrin priests at the top of the mountain ever learned the true purpose however, they would come down with their soldiers and kill him.
PP:
2 PP (1 from Astral Orrery) - Guide Populace - Teaching Eladrin Astronomy
Perhaps in time... But better to gird my children for battles. Given the other Creators' love of inflicting destruction upon the world.
***
Angels continued to work with metal, soon working out the creation of armor. In their eyes an improvement upon dwarven works.
Humans themselves took up metalcraft, copyingt the works of both dwarven and angelic smiths. Alonghside this they also began to turn to a primal mysticism, looking to the strength of the wild hunters. These shamans became the defacto priests of Xirinet among humans.
At the same time the Shattered Lands seemed to be overcome in mists, bringing with them chittereing monsters, spiders large enough to eat a man alive.
Actions
1PP, Guide Populace: Angels learn armorsmithing
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans Learn Blacksmithing
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans gain Shaman class
1PP, Nourish Populace: Strengthen Alexandria.
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Deathjump Spiders
1PP frokm Stars, Nourish Land: The Shattered LAnds gains a misty overcoat, a sybol of Xirinet if you will.
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans Learn Blacksmithing
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans gain Shaman class
1PP, Nourish Populace: Strengthen Alexandria.
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Deathjump Spiders
1PP frokm Stars, Nourish Land: The Shattered LAnds gains a misty overcoat, a sybol of Xirinet if you will.
PP Refresh
6 - Veros
5 - Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Xirinet, Thans
4 - Shurka, Vymrl, Nocturne, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Mara, The Empress, Drahthor, Runescar, Roan
While they talked he also watched the Phorus plants and the Racktheran spread throughout the caverns with his aid. However, he knew that if he left the Racktheran unchecked their numbers would boom and they would consume all of the food sources available to them. So he set out to create a predator to hunt the creatures. The first such such predator would be massive, he began by creating a long tubular form and covering it with large purple chitinous plates, at its head he gave it a gigantic mouth filled with razor sharp teeth, and he made it so that it could dig through the rock and swim through the water of his domain easily. He left the creature as such, elegant in its simplicity. "You will be my purple worms..."
He scattered the worms throughout his domain, for they would be solitary creatures, only coming together to mate. Turning now to another creation, he drew upon the power of the Ziggurat and began to form a more feline form. However, this feline had a dark purple skin and no fur, and it appeared to have no meat on its body, giving it the appearance of a large starved cat. He gave the creature six legs, a tail, and from its back extended two long tentacles with barbed fins on the end. Then, Drahthor blessed the feline with the ability to bend the light around itself to attempt and conceal its form. Whereas the worm would be a large solitary hunter, these beings would hunt in small packs of 5 or 6 beings, with a leader being determined by strength.
PP
3pp-Spawn greater Beast: Purple Worm.
2pp (ziggurat)- spawn moderate beast: displacer beast
2pp (ziggurat)- spawn moderate beast: displacer beast
PP
2 pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Weaponsmithing - War trolls learn how to forge weapons
2 pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Melee combat - War trolls learn how to use weapons in melee combat
1 pp, Guide Populace (Lesser): Honor - War trolls learn to challenge others in combat
2 pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Weaponsmithing - War trolls learn how to forge weapons
2 pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Melee combat - War trolls learn how to use weapons in melee combat
1 pp, Guide Populace (Lesser): Honor - War trolls learn to challenge others in combat
Before leaving however he expended the power of the eye of restraint in order to create an aquatic building block. While the other creations had been partially meant to astound and impress his guests by their magnitude or their oddity, these were meant to be another foundation species. In the water, he created billions of tiny microscopic organisms that would feed on the heat and light from the phorus plants and reproduce. These plankton, as he called them, would serve as a food source for the first fish and the basis for species that would fill the waters of his asteroid.
Turning back towards his guests Drahthor stated "Come, it is time that i return you two to the Jade Palace. You are in need of rest and I have no desire to see what the Empress would do if she awoke and you two were gone." So in a explosion of flame they vanished from the rock that sat beyond the aether and reappeared in the playroom within Niyanta. Drahthor watched as the halfling placed Priya in her crib, and a few moments later she seemed sound asleep. The girl then walked over the the over sized rocking chair she had originally occupied when Drahthor had first arrived. "Friend, I wish to thank you again for the attention and care you have paid to my daughter, if you ever desire anything within my power to give, you merely have to ask."
She smiled then and said "Thank you, but I have all I need for now. It was nice to be able to leave this palace, though I am exhausted now. And by the way, I have a name you know, its Elli."
Turning away from her then Drahthor whispered "Then goodbye for now Elli" and disappeared in a flash.
PP
1pp (eye of restraint): Nourish land= created plankton to inhabit the waterways of the asteroid.
The great being landed before roan but now that roan could see him Roan relized this was a lesser being then him, but still it was one of the most powerfull he had seen. The beast had muscels that rippled like giant cords of the thickests vines and its long black claws were as long as a man’s leg. Glisaning teath filled its maw. Roan knew this was a world power even if it could not shape the world like him so he asked “what are you”
The creature cocked his head to the side “I am the father of all dragons the first of my kind” the dragons voice hised a sizzeled like that of fire. “I like that shiny hammer at your belt if you give it to me I will let you live” the dragon continude.
This Roan thought was increadably rude and decided this beast need a lesson in manners. “You wold like my little maker would you oh master of avrice” ask Roan in a leading tone, “Maybe a challenge then to see who the better is” his voice continude like silk.
The dragon eyed him then laughed “you wished to fight me I am the strogest of all creatures you will surly die”.
“Oh ye are a proud one and you are right were would the challenge be in crushing me” Roan sounded coaxing “maybe a chalenge of intelect would be better.”
“Twice you have insulted me you think your self so cunning fine we shall have a riddle contest, and if you loses then your life is forfet.” The dragon was eagor and ready.
“Aw and if I win I will take from your hord?”
“Never will I give you your life”
“This is not fair you get all I get nothing maybe…” Roan voice traild off
“Yes” coaxed the dragon
“Maybe I will take something of yours that is not in your hoard agreed” Roans voice steadied and became more confident.
“Agreed” snapped the dragon for everything he owend was in his hoard he would give this runt nothing and he would take his life.
The two traded riddles like fire both being acient being by the way mortal’s measure time. But soon (as imortals measure time) Roan had stumped the dragon.
Laughing Roan lept to his feat and said “I claim by right of winning your left horn”
The dragon was horrifide this was something the runt could claim but no this was not right, to maim him. With a scream of rage the dragon realesed a torent of fire at Roan knocking him from his feet and sending him, crashing against a mountian. Then the dragon lunged at roan grappling with him. Soon roan found himself overmatched and on the lege of a giant cliff. Roan knew that he could not out muscel such a large creature and he realesed his devine will into the world. The power colesased and suddenly roan could see the moral strands that connected the entire world and knew that these were what deterimed luck and fortune. And the strand were a snareld knot around the dragon, it was the dragons promis to Roan. Reaching out roan tugged these strands and caused, what roan was not sure then it came to him he caused bad luck.
Striding forward the dragon misstepped and fell off the cliff breaking its horn off as it went over. Picking up the horn Roan smilled and stroad away
PP expenditure
2 PP form domain luck
Stepping into the wooded land, Drahthor was surprised to find a heavy fog that blanketed the land. This had not been present when last he had seen it, and it seemed strange for such a feature to appear so quickly. "Must be the work of another God..." he spoke.
Casting his divine gaze around and through the fog, he could see the dozens of arachnids that gathered around him, attempting to stay just beyond the edge of what would have been a mortals vision. Drahthor new that they were sizing him up as prey, they were hungry, but they had never seen such a beast before and did not know what to make of it. Turning his head to face one of the beasts, he let out a roar that seemed to tear the very air itself apart, and the creatures immediately began to skitter away from his presence. Looking to the east of his current location, he saw what he would have taken for a human settlement sitting in a natural clearing, and so he began to prowl in that direction to investigate.
He, to his disappointment, saw only the trees surrounding him. However, he remembered a being appearing beside him, an orb of light. He was sure this was a god. Grrr... how come I'm always out cold like this when cool things are happening! Huhh... oh well. It's been years... I should probably go back to teaching, but I'm also curious about that god. Oh... that's right! I can send out Omtur to search for this god while I go back and teach.
Even as he thought this, Omtur shot ou of the ground like a shot, took a cookie for the god, and flew off. This world is interestingly malleable... perhaps my next piece can reflect this.
And so, with pure will, Frellisk created The 1 Brush. Mysteriously, as if to quote a being not yet born, the words, "1 Brush to rule them all, 1 Brush to find them, 1 Brush to gather them all and in the darkness bind them," appeared on the brush. Hmmm... perhaps in a few thousand years I'll get that joke.
1pp: Create Minor Artifact: The
s. They taste so delicious, any mortal will suffer at least one of about a million side effects if they eat one. If you have a mortal who takes a bite, feel free to come up with a few ridiculous side effects.3pp: Create Major Artifact: The 1 Brush. It grants 1 pp to Mold actions.
0pp: Use This Thread To Spread My Bizzare Sense Of Humor To All Of Humanity.
----------------------------------
Rein felt the growth of the fungal lords minions within the deep recesses of the forests, felt there spore spread like cancer across the land in a wave.
All this he transmitted to his God and father and the devised plan to protect the Elves for a time. Large shimmering trees began to appear around the elven settlements and Oravalos spoke to his most fervent followers among his people telling them of these trees nature and how to best utilize it.
These trees were called Elusian trees, and they would cloud the minds of creatures making them see and smell dens forest where truly elven settlements dwelled. They worked with the other trees of the land to create dense impassible foliage were truly there were paths for the people of the elves.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2 PP: Guide Populace (greater) Elves gain the Druid class
1 PP (artifact): Nourish land: Elusian trees created in the elven forests
As he drew nearer Drahthor saw that there were several beings holding torches who seemed to be walking atop the wooden wall. These beings had a strange orange faces, wings that sprouted from their backs, and had covered themselves in a strange vestment of metal scales. Drahthor had expected sentries and guards, but he had expected human ones. These beings were obviously not of that stock, so he wondered if perhaps these lands had been conquered by another species. The strange beings seemed to be tense though, they whispered to one another and looked out into the fog with a keenness not normally seen on a routine guard. They must have heard Drahthor's roar and be wondering what could cause such a noise.
For a time the Lord of Destruction and Creation considered hailing the guards and letting them know of his presence, but he decided against it. They would very likely attempt to make him wait outside of the settlement wall, and he was impatient to discover if this place was still inhabited by humans or solely by these new winged things.
So when he was still 20 yards away Drahthor shifted his weight to his hind claws and in a single exertion of force leaped high into the air. He soared through the mists and over the palisade and landed about 10 feet within the walls. His landing had made a thud though, and some of the guards on the quickly cast there gaze towards him. However the fog quickly coalesced again and prevented them from seeing him. Looking about the settlement Drahthor could see it consisted of maybe two dozen one to two story wooden structures. None of the wood appeared to be rotting or seemed overly stained, so Drahthor surmised that this was a newer settlement. But in the middle of it all was a building cast from large square cuts of granite that rose high above the others. The structure was mad entirely of the white stone, and seemed to employ a gratuitous amount or arches and pillars. The roof seemed to be vaulted and numerous carvings of the bests that lived throughout these lands adorned its outer wall. The majority of the building appeared to be about 4 stories tall, however a single tower rose another three stories from the rear of the structure, and atop that tower burned a large flame. The materials and craftsmanship of the structure when compared to the newly built log accommodations that filled the rest of the settlement suggested its importance, and while Drahthor could sense many humans in the other buildings, this one was full of the strange beings.
So the Lord of Destruction began to slowly walk towards the center of town, ambling ever closer the structure. As he walked he made no attempt to hide his presence, and more than a few of the denizens seemed to have seen him. Most quickly fled into their homes, a few started to follow him at a distance where only the vague outline of his form existed within the mists, whispering to one another of what it might be. When Drahthor came to the steps that led to the entrance to the larger structure he stopped and turned towards those that had followed him. By now some of the winged beings had seen him and quickly a half dozen or so surrounded him their hands on their weapons, ready to jump at a moments notice.
And so, deep within the shattered lands, surrounded by humans and winged beings alike, Drahthor waited to see how they would react.
Roan felt deeply for the Halflings and wished he could do something for them. As time passed he grew more desperate to do something for them finally he left. He new he had to do a great working as he had done before, but not for himself this time but for the Halflings. Gathering to him many ingredients; herbs, honey, fruits and other, theses he brewed and mixed to make nectar. As he waited for the nectar to brew he began carving the dragon horn. First hallowing the inside of the horn then carving the out side. The carvings depicted all the things Roan had learned, seen, and even thing that were to come. Finally when the nectar was done he poured it into the drinking horn binding it so it would never run dry, and poured he’s very essence into it.
So was created the Nectar of the gods.
PP expenditure
3 pp create (1pp little maker) Nectar of the gods. Nectar of the gods has the ability to raise a mortal from death heal wounds and cause the world to bloom green. +1pp nourish
The Light lounged back of a cushion of aether as he waited. He sent a string of power to his servant to do his bidding.
-----
Nibiru continued to care for the rings of rock and dust that orbited the planet. With his lords aid he was able to complete the project that had lasted over a thousand years. Mortals on the surface looked into the sky and saw the mark of the god of light; they called these rings the River of Souls and rumors spread that it led the dead to the afterlife.
With that task complete, Nibiru traveled to his master's old home in the Vorpal cascade. He imbued the planetoids with power and scattered them among the heavens, destorying that ancent grouping. Mortals who kept an eye towards the heavens might in time discover these five new stars in the sky and come to realize that they were different from the rest. Special prayers and rites performed to these elder things could draw upon the alien powers inhabiting them and shape the nature of the world.
PP
*1pp+1pp from Exarch, Mold Land (Moderate): River of Souls - Nibiru finally completes the rings around the planet, which from the surface appear to be a river of some sort.
*1pp, Create Artifact (Minor): Star Pact - Five new "stars" are added to the sky and those who know of them may make pacts with alien beings to receive strange powers. To note, this isn't teaching any race the warlock class or the Star Pact subclass, just adding a source of power from which any past and future Star Pact warlocks can draw their power from, mostly just for fluff. Star Pact warlocks don't just use any stars, after all.
*1pp+1pp from Exarch, Mold Land (Moderate): River of Souls - Nibiru finally completes the rings around the planet, which from the surface appear to be a river of some sort.
*1pp, Create Artifact (Minor): Star Pact - Five new "stars" are added to the sky and those who know of them may make pacts with alien beings to receive strange powers. To note, this isn't teaching any race the warlock class or the Star Pact subclass, just adding a source of power from which any past and future Star Pact warlocks can draw their power from, mostly just for fluff. Star Pact warlocks don't just use any stars, after all.
It is... inconsiderate... to walk unshrouded among mortals.
The voice gave the clear impression of displeasure, yet without the heat of anger.
You are forgiven, but perhaps next time wear a different face?
The mist thinned slightly as the voice took on a warm tone.
You are acreator, younger than myself of course. If we did not stand among the mortals I would be wearing a less ephemeral face.
Do you name yourself? Or would you ratrher just tell me of yourself?
You stand within my lands, though perhaps 'my' is stronger than most would name them. Nonetheless, they are open to you so long as you wear mortal face, or no face at all.
The mist once again coalesced to solidity around Drahthor.
Move where you wish.
He turned back to Xa'an. "Nocturne sought to have his creations drestroy and conqueor anothers. Not something of their own design, but rather ordered them to his purpose, to destroy and dominate that which another created."
He shrugged, "Had the mortals decided upon such a course of action on their own accord, it would have mattered little to me. But this was a wanton act of destruction for no purpose other than avarice, that brought the weakness to her."
As Shurka said this, rifts opened across the world. They were thin and a hazy green color. They were linked to the Feywyld which was previously inaccessable from the world. The humites learned to open these gateways and travel through the Fey.
Fey energies surged through Shurka. He had the power of two worlds on his side.
PP Use
2 PP - Nourish Land (x2) [1 from artifact] - Opened portals to the Feywyld in several locations in the world. These portals are two way.
2 PP - Guide Populace [1 from artifact] - The humites can control Feygates.
2 PP - Create Artifact - Shurka is surrounded by Fey energy (+1 combat) called FeySpark.
"The mortals will be involved if we want them or not. The Lord of Decay does not build perfect killing machines to let the fester beneath the earth or up in the aether. We must plan accordingly."
Oravalos turned to address those gathered. "I do not seek vengence for my sister. I seek to protect it from happening ever again. To defend the world we have created, and the creatures we have placed within it. I plan to draw the line that they shall not cross, ever again without dire consequences."
I wonder, what is it you seek. There is little here that would interest most gods. Nor do my followers prepare for war, only survival.
I imagine there are more interesting places.
"Let what will be done, be done."
With that the Light drew an orb of luminance from within himself. A rainbow of color played off of it at first, but it was quickly replaced by entirely by a variety of shades of green. From this green orb shot vines, leafs, and roots, twinning together to form four ape-like arms and two arm-like legs. Spars fur grew from the vines, and thorn-like claws formed at tips of the hands. The orb of color itself was buried under a thin layer of vines, though the green light still shone through the gaps. The thing hunched forward, using the lower set of arms as legs. From its back grew a tangled mane of hair and golden leaves.
Though the creature was vaguely humanoid in shape, it lacked a head. Instead, from its chest, two slits of green light changed to red, giving the appearance of eyes.
Xa'an named the creature Tsul'Kalu and wherever the thing went plants and animals grew wild and untamed.
“I am ready.”
pp
*3pp, Ascend Exarch: Tsul'Kalu - A combat exarch representing the untamed places of the world.
*3pp, Ascend Exarch: Tsul'Kalu - A combat exarch representing the untamed places of the world.
When Roan reached the water he looked out smelling the salt air and seeing the waves crash against the shore yes, he thought, this is the place for him. Bringing his pan pipes to his lips he began playing a song that sang of stone and rock and all the earth below the ocean waves. Rock and stone heeded Roans song and liquid rock hot flowing magma burst from the ocean floor forming a mountain in the middle of the biggest bay on the continent.
Pp expenditure
1 pp mold land (artifact) volcano in the middle of the gulf.
I enjoy watching mortals myself, but the most interesting are those that forever strive forward. The little ones are so often carefree, and others are without any will to better themselves and instead live only for base instinct. Only those creatures which change have the chance to master themselves.
((Yah, Xi is straying a little in his topic, but that's mostly because I'm incapable of a coherent set of thoughts.))
I strive to exapnd my influence, and so too does life itself, but I need not do that chained to ideals. If I must bring death to achieve strength I will.
Do you intend to stay stagnant for eternity? Shall you be the same at death as you were at birth? Tell me are you even now the same as you were at birth? I have changed from my first moments, championing the aspects of my domain I prefer and casting aside the aspects which I have no interest in, to be taken up by lesser gods than myself.
It wiould be more accurate to say that we are not merely personifications of our domain but the shapers. It is we who define our domain, not the other way around.
"And I do not doubt that we change and take more into ourselves. I merely question if it is our consciousness that directs that change or if it is our base elements that direct the consciousness. You say that it is us that shapes the changes within our domain, but perhaps it is our domains that dictate and shape the changes within us? Or as Gods, is there any distinction between our consciousness and our domain? Are you merely a representation of life or ARE you life itself?"
"And you speak of Birth and Death! I must say I have never known a God to die, and I would argue that as Destruction and Creation I existed from the beginning of this universe and will be until the end, though it was not until much later that I became conscious of myself.." As Drahthor spoke he cast his gaze towards the floor and held his chin in his hand. He began pacing back in forth and a smile seemed to be eternally creeping across his face. The God of Destruction and Creation appeared to be enjoying the conversation.
In birth we gain a mind, to master what we are and will be. Death is but the loss of choice, past death we are stagnant and unchanging. It is the same in all life, whether mortal, immortal, or divine.
Have you met Knowledge? If you find me interesting you may find him so too.
He looked about, seeming lost in thought. He looked down, considering his options. Finally, his gazed turn upward. "I need some time to think some things over. I shall be within my workshop if any one needs me."
He glanced back for a second, acknowledging Alocassia still following him as he had been ordered long ago, considering Ythrexle's exarch. "Go to the north for me, within the Shattered Lands, and seek the god Xirinet. I have need of his skills."
He turned his gaze to Shurka. "I have need of your talents as well, god of healing. Would you follow me within?"
Without waiting for an answer, he stepped through the door, vanishing into the shadows of the building's interior.
What I would like them to do is different. I would have them seek power, in all its forms. Seek strength, seek mastery of everything they can. To this end Knowledge gifted them with his thirsts, and I gifted them mine. I would have them shape their own destiny, and so long as I remain in their hearts and minds I will aid them.
The winged ones... They name themselves angels. They too are their own, though I have set them the task of protectingy sacred places and chosen peoples. A task which they perform admirably.
Perhaps you do not understand the concept of creating something merely to allow it to grow? Human and Angel alike have free reign of destiny. They are their own, they decide their purpose not I. Though perhaps in making them that way I have set them a purpose? They are driven to mastery, to power, to prestige. That is what I set them, but what they do is a choice they must make themselves.
Xirinet tuerned, as Veros' messenger glided into the room.
Apparently my visitors are numerous.
Finally, they reached the protected depths, where the Creation Forge lay idle, awaiting it's masters command to work once more. Around it, lay a vast laboratory, filled with all manner of experiments Veros would be attending to when he had a bit more time.
He gestured to a nearby chair. "Sit. We will have more company here soon."
The tunnels and passages began to shift, making a path to the depths once more for the god that Veros knew would answer his request.
The misty god looked the new arrival up and down, seeming to gain some of its attributes as it did so.
Yes, you may find this interesting. I have the feeling that you may indeed like where we go.
Xirinet moved to follow the exarch.
He raised his hand, and the plane veiled their conversation from prying eyes.
Shurka, Xirinet, Drahthor
"And so everybody has arrived. Down t business then."
He stepped over the the creation forge and placed the divine soul onto it, letting it's purple glow cast out over the others. "The soul of a dead god."
He cast his gazed over them, watching Drahthor and Xirinet the closest. "One who I considered a friend and an ally. To let her remain like this, to fade into obscurity, is unthinkable. So I brought you two here, who are ost suited to what I seek to do. Drahthor's presence is a pleasurable conincidence."
"We four shall create a new god, built upon the foundation of Eijra's soul. To do so, we will need much power. My knowlege of death and souls, Shurka's talent for healing, and Xirinet's power over life."
His shadowy cowl turned to Drahthor. "I did not anticipate your arrival, but if you would lend your knowledge of creation, that would be valued as well."
"What say you three?"
He stepped over the the creation forge and placed the divine soul onto it, letting it's purple glow cast out over the others. "The soul of a dead god."
He cast his gazed over them, watching Drahthor and Xirinet the closest. "One who I considered a friend and an ally. To let her remain like this, to fade into obscurity, is unthinkable. So I brought you two here, who are ost suited to what I seek to do. Drahthor's presence is a pleasurable conincidence."
"We four shall create a new god, built upon the foundation of Eijra's soul. To do so, we will need much power. My knowlege of death and souls, Shurka's talent for healing, and Xirinet's power over life."
His shadowy cowl turned to Drahthor. "I did not anticipate your arrival, but if you would lend your knowledge of creation, that would be valued as well."
"What say you three?"
ff6shadow
I'm out of PP, as well. I only get 4 a turn.
Conversation
I have matters I would see to, but if you require my power now I can give it. Especially for such an important event.
The god's form seemed to slip for a moment into Eijra's.
I think I remember her, though briefly.Whether friend, aquaintance, or enemy any god deserves tribute to their passing.
The god's form seemed to slip for a moment into Eijra's.
I think I remember her, though briefly.Whether friend, aquaintance, or enemy any god deserves tribute to their passing.
Conversation
He nodded. "This is good. I fear I could not do it on my own. Such a creation is an act best performed by several gods working in unison. Without such harmony, the results can be dissapointing, or unstable."
He turne to Drahthor. "We await only your decision, creation."
He turne to Drahthor. "We await only your decision, creation."
conversation
Looking at the assembled Gods for a moment Drahthor considered the situation before him. "I fear that it would be rude of me to not offer my aid in the creation of this deity, though may I ask how we intend to do this? Are we merely going to attempt to channel enough power into the soul to recreate the one who this once was? Or are we to use this souls essence as a building block out of which to create a new being? I am curious?"
Conversation
"No, I fear recreating that which was is not feasible. Something new shall bebe forn this day. The new creation may have traits and memories of the original, do to our methods, but it shall be it's own creature, none the less.
conversation
Smiling Drahthor responded "Very well, than u have my aid.
Conversation
Veros nodded, then raised his arm over the remains of the soul. "Then, reach over here and ledn me your aid."
conversation
Drahthor extended one of his black skeletal thin hands out, but as it drew closer to the orb that contained the soul of the fallen Goddess the chitinous layers seemed to peal back. The closer it came to the orb the faster the layers seemed to peel back, until eventually only the flaming outline of a hand came to rest on the orb
Conversation
I shall form the heart... in tune with the world. The godling will have the sense of the grief and harm done to others, with this, I grant it my healing.
-An orb of red light coalesced into Shurka's hand, and then flowed toward the soul, surrounding it with divine energy.
-An orb of red light coalesced into Shurka's hand, and then flowed toward the soul, surrounding it with divine energy.
Conversation
With a fluid motion Xirinet's form dissolved and tendrils reached into the orb.
Conversation
Veros raised his other arm, grasping his black cloak, and drawing it back revealing his arm for the first time since he had claimed the power of death. What had long ago after the shaping of the world been a fleshy color similar to mortals was now a grey decaying hue, as though it were rotting away.
"Drink of my power, little soul, and draw life into you which shall never fade."
He turned his mind outward, sparks of magical energy coalescing over the powers gathered beneath his hand. All around the group, various loose spirits which had gathered awaiting his command were pulled into the orb, combining with Shurka's healing abilities to restore strength to the faded spirit.
Concentrating once more, he drew in the energies of both Xirinet and Drahthor and turned them into the Creation Forge, using it to direct their powers into a dual task, creating a shell capable of holding a divine spark.
HIs brow furrowed in effort as he directed the final effort, using the twin powers of death and magic to revoke that which had come before, to undo the effects of time and sorrow.
With a final flash of violet light, he forced the soul into the shell and revoked the relentless call of death, proving to existence that even it was not final.
"Drink of my power, little soul, and draw life into you which shall never fade."
He turned his mind outward, sparks of magical energy coalescing over the powers gathered beneath his hand. All around the group, various loose spirits which had gathered awaiting his command were pulled into the orb, combining with Shurka's healing abilities to restore strength to the faded spirit.
Concentrating once more, he drew in the energies of both Xirinet and Drahthor and turned them into the Creation Forge, using it to direct their powers into a dual task, creating a shell capable of holding a divine spark.
HIs brow furrowed in effort as he directed the final effort, using the twin powers of death and magic to revoke that which had come before, to undo the effects of time and sorrow.
With a final flash of violet light, he forced the soul into the shell and revoked the relentless call of death, proving to existence that even it was not final.
But she had been corrupted by the others into thinking that life did not need protecting, Nocturne thought out loud. These fools covered up the fact that her creations would destroy themselves. They made her believe that the few lives lost during the battle were worth more than the lives of the entire species.
Of course, I should thank them. They have cleared my vision. The true problem lies not with these feeble mortals- they can hardly be held accountable for their actions. They are the flawed creations of flawed masters. These "dieties" have tainted the world with their incompotence. The mortals are just one sign.
This problem must be... fixed. They corrupted reality. It was their foolish designs that caused the life dietess to put such misguided faith in the mortals. The dieties must be made to suffer for what they did- they must be eliminated. And worse still, all of reality carries this... taint. The mortal world must be torn apart, and the remains torn apart until nothing is left from which one could remember this vile mockery of what the world should have been.
He had heard it- heard it all.
It is mad, the Observer thought to himself.
How could he say such things? I... I thought that... he trailed off. He couldn't bear to think of what was happening to the being he thought of as wise.
No. I will not give into despair. I must... I must...
Observer thought hard about what it could do. Suddenly, the Observer remembered something- the day that it fought on the battlefield, along side the Warforged and his own Wraith brethren- there was one who had spoken to Nocturne right before Nocturne had dismissed Observer. Perhaps this entity held some sway with Nocturne? Maybe it could help Nocturne now...
And so the Observer went to talk to the one called "Veros."
As he walked away, his cloak fell covering his arm. Right before he passed our of sight, he glanced back. "If you wish to leave, simply walk the halls. The workshop will guide you out."
He passed through the door, and it vanished from sight, the wall enveloping the passage. Standing in the new room, he waited for the visitor to be guided to him. As he waited, he wondered why a creation of Nocturne's would seek him out.
Odd that he would choose to name her. I would think it would make more sense for her to do it herself. I suppose it doesn't matter though.
Turning to the other two, Xirinet and Drahthor, Shurka said, "I don't recall being formally introduced. I am Shurka. Eijra was somewhat close to me. Did either ofyou two know her very well?"
Xirinet swirled, appatrently loathe to reshape its form.
Shurka then? When named I am Xirinet, when not I am Life.
I n-need help... Please. Observer stammered, unsurely. He had never spoken to another diety, nor gone against Nocturne's wishes.
Nocturne is... I mean its- mad. I-I think th-that maybe y-you could help it. Observer trembled at this last remark, as if expecting Nocturne's shadows to pull him down into the Underdark. But no such thing happened. I s-saw you- the d-day Nocturne and his armies attacked. You s-spoke to it. You m-made- Nocturne flinched at the thought of someone making its master do something- I-I mean, you m-made it w-withdraw its forces. And m-me. I was h-hoping- I m-mean, if you w-weren't too i-involved in what you w-were doing- if you could help it?
He brought his thoughts back on purpose, recalling that day. "Yes, I suppose I did encourage him to withdraw his forces. You are certainly brave or foolhardy, though I know not which, yet. How do you suggest I help?"
Voices spoke with her, said words she no longer understood, meanings that no longer meant anything for her.
" Mother, Eijra, Why? Death! Abandoned us! How! Why! Death! Betrayer! Traditor! How! "
Angry voices, sad voices, worried voices, voices of every kind spoke with her but she still just passed by.
A lone spirit amongst thousands. Each whispering, each talking, each standing still in the Void that the afterlife was.
The Spirit of the Goddess though was different, she moved around, she walked and she shone. Shone as bright as the stars in the sky.
Hands grabbed her, hands took her away and the spirit stood still. Hands that had shaped worlds.
Father...
The Spirit gazed up at the being that held her.
Father...
Beings passed by, a man of light that looked with scorn, a being of mercy that roared and her...her...brother?
A man with eyes shining with anger raised a spear! A man pushed it through her...and then everything was dark once more.
Brother.
She was there in the darkness now. The spirits no longer spoke with her, father, brother, shining one...everyone was gone.
Death was so empty.
So hollow.
So...
The years passed by and the spirit of the Goddess remained in the Darkness. Memories, vague pieces of an incomplete puzzle flowed slowly through her mind. She remembered a laughing child in her arms, how the sun for the first time brought dawn over the land...she remembered how life had flourished in her hands.
But still there was so much missing. What was she? What had she been? And why was she like this now?
What had happend? What was going to happen? Maybe nothing would happen? Maybe the darkness would be there forever.
The Spirit curled up in a little ball and lied there. Silent, shaking with her fists clenched, her eyes closed and her lips moving.
Sparks, four sparks burnt within the Spirit. Life, Creation, Healing and Death, four fundamentally different powers, that together with the essence of the being the Spirit had once been formed a new entity.
What stood in front of it's creator was short being, dressed in a black dress, she was much alike the woman it had once been...but paler. As if she had been ill for a long time, her hair that once had been red as fire was now black as the night and no smile rested on the being's lips as her eyes thoughtfully explored her immediate surroundings.
" Fathers..."
She whispered silently. Pitch-black eyes watching her creators with a mixture of awe, respect and a small amount of familiarity.
Zophiah, bowed in front of her three father and then looked around once more. She felt unsure...and slightly unsecure as well.
Yes, I think I have seen your face. Well, not your face. Unless you want it to be your face...
The god quieted for a moment, suddenly seeming struck with impatience.
Knowledge will be here in a moment youngling. He has better idea than I what the tides bring.
Life chuckled at hidden meaning in its own words.
It is his purpose isn't it?
He slipped through the walls, leaving the exarch along in the barren room, before returning to where he had left the gathered gods.
As his vision cleared, he saw her standing there. "Greetings, child."
Tahns stood atop a thundercloud, looking at his newest creations. Tens of hundreds of thousands of them stood in perfect ranks across the solid clouds. More than a million swords and spears pointed into the air, illuminated by the flash of lightning. Scattered throughout the near-endless army were squads of larger creatures, snakelike tails curled around their underlings for dozens of feet around. Everywhere where there wasn't a weapon-bearing soldier or a serpentine commander, there was a small, grotesque, slime-covered beast; millions of these filled the space between the ranks. All this was bathed in a dark, red light; the light of a sun that is ready to die.
"Are we done?" Asked an angel.
"Almost," said Tahns cooly, "there's only one thing left."
There was a flash of even brighter red, and the angels died. There had been only a hundred or so of them left at that point (the rest had abandoned the project at one point or another; it was just too much for their angelic sensibilities), but the blood of a hundred angels was still enough. Their blood fell in a spray across the ranks of the new creations, empowering them with celestial might.
"A necessary sacrifice. They would have understood."
And then, a total of four million demons came to life.
PP
Shape Populace (moderate) 2 PP+1 from the Chalice: Nycodemons.
Nourish Populace (demons) 1 PP from the Pillar: This, combined with last turn's nourish, accounts for the large number of demons.
Also, last turn's creations were Mariliths (greater) and Evistros (lesser).
Nourish Populace (demons) 1 PP from the Pillar: This, combined with last turn's nourish, accounts for the large number of demons.
Also, last turn's creations were Mariliths (greater) and Evistros (lesser).
These druids gained acclaim not only for their talent at empathizing with beasts but for their ability to wield the raw powers of nature in battle, as well as seize control of the weather.
As thy experimented with magic humans learned that with proper inscriptions and enough time they could perform feats greater, or perhaps only more diverse, than the gifts granted by primal essence.
Actions
2PP, Guide Populace: Teach Humans Druid. Human Druids from the Shattered Lands have apreference for the more crafty predators of their hoimeland. Panther and Spider are common forms, though wolf is not unheard of.
2PP, Guide Populace: Teach Humans Ritual use. They have a preference for Primal or Nature related rituals. Animal Friendship and Call Wilderness Guide are specialties, and it's not uncommon for beasts to be seen in towns that are half-tame or simply well acclimated to human companionship. (Not excactly relatyed to the teach, but now's a good time to say that humans tend to be accepting of bestial presence so long as it isn't hostile).
2PP, Guide Populace: Teach Humans Ritual use. They have a preference for Primal or Nature related rituals. Animal Friendship and Call Wilderness Guide are specialties, and it's not uncommon for beasts to be seen in towns that are half-tame or simply well acclimated to human companionship. (Not excactly relatyed to the teach, but now's a good time to say that humans tend to be accepting of bestial presence so long as it isn't hostile).
There was a Light, and then came the birds, and with them, the clouds,
And lo, the rain came down,
The People built bowls to catch the rain,
And lo, the rain came down,
But the bowls were too small, they could not hold the rain,
And lo, the rain came down,
So the People built a basin, wide and deep,
And lo, the rain came down,
It held the rain, and gathered it up,
And lo, the rain came down,
The People built canals, long and thin, to share the rain amongst them,
And lo, the rain came down,
The People wrote of their life, and She was glad,
And lo, the rain came down,
So She stopped the rain, and the People were happy,
And no more did the rain come down.
PP Expenditure
2 PP +1 from Land Spike Create Artifact (Greater) The Rain: This is a life giving liquid that fills the canals of Atakhari. It provides 1 PP towards Spawn actions.
1 PP +1 from Priya Guide Populace (Moderate) Literacy: The Dasa now record their experiences on large tablets of jade using chisels and such. They have learned to read and write.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser): The Dasa built a large basin at the center of the city, as well as a network of canals that spread across the city. The canals and the basin hold the Rain.
1 PP +1 from Priya Guide Populace (Moderate) Literacy: The Dasa now record their experiences on large tablets of jade using chisels and such. They have learned to read and write.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser): The Dasa built a large basin at the center of the city, as well as a network of canals that spread across the city. The canals and the basin hold the Rain.
Maybe he was just confusing her more. She was definitely Eijra, but at the same time she wasn't. But explaining that to her might be a better job for one of the other gods.
The newborn entity, raished her hands and looked down at her palms
" No...I am no child..."
Black hair flew back behind the Goddess shoulders as an invisible wind grabbed it and pushed it back.
" I am Zophia...or am I..you and the other hand Father..."
She turned her head against Shurka and whispered.
" You are what you are either you want it or not. You are my father, just as all the others. "
Memories. Screaming spirits. Endless darkness. Hatred.
The pale Goddess eyes grew worried for a while and she turned her back to her fathers.
" They are out there...the spirits...restless...do you hear them, Fathers? Do you know what rests on the other side? Void, darkness...no return...they are screaming..."
She passed many Dasa, toiling away, moving about. She smiled, and walked. Past majestic arches, and fabulous statues, she walked. She drank it in, the sight of it all, the fruit of her power. She walked through an open door into the brilliant sunlight. It was dazzling. She was in the gardens now. The flowers, they gleamed softly in the light from above, like so many precious gems. She drank in the beauty, and walked on.
She loved this, loved having. She loved looking at some thing and saying "That is mine." It filled her with joy, seeing her might made manifest. She walked to a wide, magnificent window, she looked out, and saw the sky, saw the world. Yes, she loved seeing what was hers. But she hated seeing what wasn't.
Down below, in the realm of man, mortals, small and large, toiled to have. They worked, night and day, to claim things for their own. Some had, and some did not, and yet they all yearned for more. She could hear this cry, hear it echo, deep inside her. It reverberated in her very soul, spoke to her very essence. It was a whispered wish, a carrying demand, she heard the wants, heard the needs. They knew not who they asked, but they asked nonetheless. And when the time came, she would answer. She turned, and headed back into the Palace.
-----------------
The years following the Great Silence, when the Jade One fell silent, and the Palace doors were barred, were years of prosperity and joy. The return of She Who Rules was marked by a flourishing of the Dasa. They spread to all the corners of Atakhari. What was once an empty city of stone was now a bustling metropolis of hardy workers and sagacious historians. The Dasa people flourished at this time, and grew prosperous. And all was well in Atakhari.
PP Expenditures
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser): The Dasa grow more numerous and spread across Atakhari, enjoying an age of prosperity.
Humans prospered as they traded with Duska Krak. With every passing year the angels they share their land with seemed to view the humans not as charges but more and more as allies, watching the chosen followers of the life god master more and more skills.
Actions
1PP, from Stars, Nourish Populace: Humans spreading throughout the shattered lands continuing their never-ceasing expansion in theier dangerous homeland.
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Deathrattle Vipers. Especially common in the shattered lands of course.
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Deathrattle Vipers. Especially common in the shattered lands of course.
Tahns addressed the demons.
"First of all, I am your creator. You exist soley by my will. Without me, you cannot survive."
Millions of boos, growls, and hisses. The demons were not happy about this. That was okay; Tahns had expected as much.
"However," he said, silencing them with his booming voice, "you would have come to this conclusion soon enough anyway. After all, I am more powerful than any of you, and you will always serve a being who is too strong for you to destroy. This, therefore, is a natural arrangement. HOWEVER, there are many others in this world who are far weaker than you. Many of them I don't like. It is for their sake that you were born."
This cheered them up again.
...
Meanwhile, the Sahuagin were multiplying. Under the tutelage of Ix, they spread throughout the sea, occupying the channel between the two continents.
PP
Guide Populace (greater) 2 PP: the demons are now loyal to Tahns, to the extent that a demon can ever be "loyal" to anyone.
Nourish Populace 1 PP: the sahaugin have multiplied, and occupy a vast undersea region. They are still very primitive though, and have not had contact with any landlubbers.
Nourish Populace 1 PP: the sahaugin have multiplied, and occupy a vast undersea region. They are still very primitive though, and have not had contact with any landlubbers.
Turn 18 begins now. 4,500 hundred years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
6 - Veros
5 - Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Xirinet, Thans, Shurka
4 - Vymrl, Nocturne, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Mara, The Empress, Drahthor, Runescar, Roan, Il'tharas, Zophiah
Into the fungus forest he went again. It is time he fixed this mockery of life. Wander deeper into the rotting landscape he hunted for the largest and oldest fungus. When he came upon what he sought it awed and amazed him. The mushroom was massive the dragon he fought could have barely circled the base and it reach high into the sky. Roan touched the massive stem and heard its song. The fungus sang of death and destruction. Roan was at ease, who ever created this forest only made a small mistake easy to fix. The fungus was marvels at recapturing the life-force, but it had no limits it feed and devoured all living or dead. The second failing was it did not return what it took to the soil. Bending over roan uncapped his drinking horn and spilled some nectar on the ground.
As the mushroom drank its song changed and it began to sing of the cycle of life and the greatness of all growing things.
Continuing on he came back to the Halflings he new what he would do he would guide and protect them. He instilled in the Halfling luck and wanderlust to rival his own. Then asked them to travel to his island and the Halfling did start going. They began building wagons and they left knowing the journey would be long and hard.
Pp expenditure
1 pp (artifact) mold land expand island
1pp (artifact) nourish fungus. Roan taught the fungus to only feed on dead things and how to give back the life force to the earth so green things may grow here again
1pp guide Halfling worship roan taking on the qualities of luck and wanderlust they begin traveling to there new home.
And the time of gifts was upon us,
First came the plants, bearing their fruit,
And the People ate the fruit, and were happy,
Then came the spiders, spinning their webs,
And the People spun webs into silk, and were happy,
And the sun shined above,
The People prospered, and were happy.
PP Expenditures
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Land (Lesser): Loma plants, which grow on the walls of buildings, appear on the stately edifices in Atakhari. Brilliantly coloured flowers bloom on the surface of these vine-like plants, and when the season of harvest comes around, delicious fruit grow on the plants, which the Dasa now eat in addition to the jade.
1 PP from the Rain Spawn Beast (Lesser): Loma spiders inhabit the wall-hugging plants for which they are named, and spin surprisingly strong webs. They are rather larger than normals spiders, with the smallest being the size of dinner plates, and the largest above the size of a riding horse. They exist peaceably alongside the Dasa, and, strangely enough for spiders, are not above eating the fruit of the plants they call home.
1 PP +1 PP from Priya Teach Populace (Moderate) Spider-silk Weaving: The Dasa spin the webs of the Loma spiders, and make luxurious, and unexpectedly sturdy spider-silk articles, such as clothing, and others.
1 PP from the Rain Spawn Beast (Lesser): Loma spiders inhabit the wall-hugging plants for which they are named, and spin surprisingly strong webs. They are rather larger than normals spiders, with the smallest being the size of dinner plates, and the largest above the size of a riding horse. They exist peaceably alongside the Dasa, and, strangely enough for spiders, are not above eating the fruit of the plants they call home.
1 PP +1 PP from Priya Teach Populace (Moderate) Spider-silk Weaving: The Dasa spin the webs of the Loma spiders, and make luxurious, and unexpectedly sturdy spider-silk articles, such as clothing, and others.
He felt an odd tickle in the back of his mind. Another god, making the same mistake he had once made. And this one was unknown to him. In the shadows of his cowl, he grinned slightly. He was either brave or foolhardy to tamper with the creations and worshippers of a god he had never met. For the moment, he unleashed a slight twinge of power, negating his efforts.
PP Expentitures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Halflings abandon their worship of Roan as fast as they adopted it.
PP
2 pp, Create Beast (Moderate): Riding Drakes - Runescar creates Riding Drakes as beasts of burden for the War Trolls. Riding Drakes have various hues, and are like Rage Drakes with wings.
2 pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Riding - Runescar instructs his exarch how to ride the Riding Drakes, who then teaches those who honor their tribe. [+1 from Exarch]
2 pp, Create Beast (Moderate): Riding Drakes - Runescar creates Riding Drakes as beasts of burden for the War Trolls. Riding Drakes have various hues, and are like Rage Drakes with wings.
2 pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Riding - Runescar instructs his exarch how to ride the Riding Drakes, who then teaches those who honor their tribe. [+1 from Exarch]
Zopihia simply stared at her father. Shock was written upon her face.
" In death peace should await. No void nor slavery should be what awaits those that has passed and you try to defend it. You try to describe it as something that is better...then the void. "
" I was there with the spirits. I heard their cries...I cried with them. They scream. They scream in anguish. In remorse. In pain. Father, why are you doing this? "
His gaze turned down. "I am not deaf to their plight, Zophia. But actions must be thought through, particuarly one with such far reaching consequences. Have no fear, already a solution is forming within my mind. It shall be enacted soon. Perhaps even as soon as we are finished here."
Observer was awakened from this trance by a cry- the shout of a human child, startled by something. Her gaze was transifixed on a Warforged, probably left behind when Nocturne’s army retreated. The Warforged, calmly raised its staff, and, just as calmly, fired a bolt of energy at the child, tearing the soul away from her.
The Warforged lay dead before it had a chance to finish the action. Observer took the soul and placed it back into the child, and told her to run off.
But something else happened within Observer’s mind. He saw, for the first time, the true horror of the atrocities Nocturne had committed. He knew then, what was necessary. He couldn’t afford to wait- he was not acting for his master; Nocturne was beyond saving. He was acting to preserve the world from Nocturne, to keep the mortals safe from his wrath.
Observer went to Veros, more decisive than ever. Nocturne must be stopped.
Stepping out of the shadows and coming closer to the two Gods who gathered at the center of the room. "Veros, Zopihia, you speak of things you plan to do with the souls of the departed. I wish to know what you seek to do?"
But he was sure Veros knew what to do. It was hard for Knowledge itself not to know something.
Ever since Zophia had been born, mortals, too, found that death wasn't final. The humites learned how to revive some of their most important figures, and even speak with past elders.
Yet the humites had slowly been moving away from their old society. Any person, invoker or not, could now become an elder. Trade continued with the Dursa Krak, and previous ill relationships with them seemed null. To the humites at least.
PP Use
2 PP (1 from Eorna) Guide Populace - Humites can use rituals. They primarily use rituals that use the skill religion or heal.
He concentrated. "A place beyond the mortal realm, where souls will gather and rest."
The solemn Goddes's gaze fell down at the floor.
" I am sorry Father for my words. But the plight of the spirits is there and will grow stronger and stronger for each passing year. I plan to create a world for them, a world that awaits after the true one has passed...a world where no Gods have any sway. A world free and far, far away from mortal and divine concerns. "
"You were reborn into this world, given the chance to live anew. Some of your memories remain and even though you are made of the same essence your are a different being. Why deny mortals the same opportunity? I intend to give them the chance to live again, to be reborn into this world!"
PP
2pp: Form Moderate Domain: Drahthor Lord of Destruction and Creation has taken on the aspect of Rebirth as an integral part of his vision of the world
They called them the Frost Monoliths, veritable mountains of living ice, burning with a fanatical love of justice and Vymrl.
Vymrl admired their works, and blessed them so that every year a few spontaneously formed from Ssabrec's frozen walls.
PP
4PP-Frost Monoliths
1PP(Ssabrec)-Nourish Populous-Frost Monoliths
Zophia turned silent for a moment and then continued to speak. Her voice slightly quiter then before.
" Life is worth more then you could ever imagine, Father...and I don't think it should be that freely given away. There should and shall be peace in Death..."
He looked at Drahthor, "A chance to be reborn should be saved only for the most exceptional, but for those who are worthy, and wish to have the opportunity, I would see no problem."
He sat there thinking, ideas working away. Already this line of questioning had furthered his thoughts and opinions. He would soon be prepared. "Zophia, would you lend me your help to create an appropriate place?"
"And as for this peace you seek to give them, I fear in its stead you will merely provide stagnation. Look to the mortals, to your former children, what happens when they are given a life without trials and tribulations, a life in which everything comes too easy, a life where nothing ever changes and peace eternally rules. They despair! The halflings are happy in the Golden Hills, but listen to their thoughts and their souls. They define their existence by the unusual moments that break the peace! While they may lament the death and suffering brought on by the wars of so long ago, if they were presented with reliving the same peaceful day over millenia and death, they would hardly know the difference between the two. They relish the arrival of a stranger and the chaos it brings, they find fulfillment in the rebuilding that follows a harsh storm, without these moments they would forever curse the monotony of peace. For it is the brief glimpses of suffering or anxiety that make the peace and the day to day so enjoyable."
"And what of the waste! All of existence is built upon the eternal cycle of Destruction and Creation, if you sought to place this beings in a place of eternal peace where they would be free of the cycle, then you would be removing them from existence. You would merely be recreating the Void! Peace rules eternally within the void for nothing ever happens there, and if you fill your new void with a soothing light and pretty flowers than you would merely have created a slightly happier void. But a void none the less."
"Instead, I will allow them to re-enter the world and experience all the follies and triumphs that accompany that state. If you wish to build a realm where spirits may go for a time to rest and recuperate after their mortal lives, so be it. But do not think to criticize the gift of rebirth that I offer them.
A Goddess had died. The Empress could not begrudge her that. She had experienced birth after all, and life. Death was the next step. She knew not the step after birth. But she was sure it wasn't birth. A Goddess, born of the ashes of another, rose to omnipotence. This challenge of order would not go unnoticed. And if none would heed the challenge, the Empress herself must take up the mantle of Order, and do so herself.
She was not angry, she reflected, after all, was it not she who had mused on the unpredictability of gods? But if the Dasa had taught her anything, it was the benefit of order. All had its part, all worked towards a common goal. The end was always sweeter when diligence was the means. She would not cause conflict, she had learned from her mistakes, but she would investigate. All must have a place. She must simply make a place for these new circumstances.
And so, garbed in her body of jade and iron, she stepped forth from Niyanta, a new mission drawing her forward. A mission of Order.
She walked forth, letting the light of this new goddess lead her onwards.
PP Expenditure
3 PP Form Domain (Greater) Order
He stop this one, pulling it like a fish from a river to take a closer look. Thoughts of Xirinet's angels. He released it, letting is pass back into his thoughts as he resumed his search. Immortals would be of no aid in this.
The thoughts of angels lead to more thoughts flowing by, and he snatched another. Feral, bestial cat creatures, born of the one called they Empress. Rakshasa. Why had they come to his mind? He cast about, looking for connections among his thoughts, confident that he had an idea forming.
He snatched two more thoughts. The memories of a brief touch with a Rakshasa spirit, as it tried to flee his commands to recreate it's own body.
The second his comment just moments earlier. Those that were worthy. He grinned. Perhaps. . . . yes, that could work. That could work very well. He pulled forth another line of memories, this one he had carefully watched, that of a small halfling girl, who cared for a goddess's child. Yes, he scanned along the mortal's thoughts and knowledge, finding the ones he sought. There!
The divine child, that Drahthor called his own. He ran back along the line of memories, seeking further. Yes, the child was also the Empress's.
He laid all the scattered threads to rest, looking back into his own thoughts. A place of peace, where the worthy who wished it could return to the world. He struggled to find more thoughts, more patterns to connect into the growing frabric of his idea. For several long moments, it seemed as if it was all for naught, then he found the last pieces of the puzzle, weaving the final threads together. It would work.
He opened his eyes, and exerted his will. In a moment, all of them were pushed from the workshop, emerging atop skypeak, just outside of it's doors. "Zophia, I can create a place where we can put them to rest. I have it figured out. Will you help me?"
He cast a glance at Drahthor. Drahthor, you know the one called the Empress, correct? Could you bring her here? I will need to speak with her if this plan is to work."
The solemn Goddess eyes were now cold and scornful as she looked at her creator. He didn't deserve to be her father.
" I have lived! I have died and I know the pain of life! I know the tears that are shed, the joys that are shared and I know the desire of peace. Halflings, Dwarves, Eladrin, Giants all of the free races desire it. To live their lives in peace and prosperity. So what is the fault in giving them what they desire? What they fought for? What they died for! "
She turned to Veros and nodded at his words.
" I will help you Father in your mission. Together we will form a world for those that desire peace in death. A world of mist, peace and silence.."
Aldii
Asking for 2 PP for Create Plane
Then turning towards the new Godling and affixing her with his six, black, expressionless eyes he stated "You say that I know nothing because I have not lived as a mortal, but in a way neither have you. You have been reborn, and while you may have memories of what your previous incarnation went through you are not Eijra. And you fear the pain that life has brought her and her children, but if you eternally condemn the mortal souls to this place of mists that you describe then you will be denying them all the triumphs and joys that life can provide."
Addressing the other assembled Gods Drahthor said "Excuse me, I had wished to stay and converse with all of you for a time, but events have pushed forward my timetable. If you would seek me, cast your minds beyond the boundary of the aether and in the void you will find a mass. I will be there."
And in that moment Drahthor erupted in a roar of flame disappearing from Workshop of Veros and reappearing at the base of his Ziggurat. Looking down towards the lake of fire below him, he let his power flow forth and spoke "Now let those who have the ears and the hearts come to me, that they might live again."
As he said these words the lake itself absorbed his power and became like a beacon to the souls of all who had died. In a moment in offered them the chance to live again, if they would come to it. However, it soon told them of the plan Veros and Zophia had for them, of the peace they offered. It gave them the choice, pass on to their realm or come and live again. Many came, and many stayed behind to await this new home that was offered them. And Drahthor, Lord of Creation and Destruction, the Serpent of Rebirth, watched.
PP
1pp Create Lesser Artifact- The Lake of Flame: Acts as a lighthouse to the souls of the departed, offering them a chance to be born again. Also functions as a repository for the souls.
"Hello," came the voice of the Empress, "I wish to speak with you."
She gazed into the eyes of the other Goddess, and waited.
What does Veros have planned for her?
"Ah, so this place is your own?" she did not look around, but it was nonetheless clear she had taken it all in. Watching her was mildly disturbing.
"Impressive," she said, and again, her face was devoid of emotion, though it was apparent in her voice, "You should visit my own Palace one day."
Her tone was suddenly businesslike.
"Tell me, oh Lord of the Mountaintop," boomed her voice, low and with a note of imperiousness, "What is it you wish to speak of?"
"Meant no disrespect, oh Grand One," said her voice, softening, "Old habits die hard, I suppose."
She stepped forward, taking slow, measured steps.
"An opposition for the Rakshasas you say?" and this time, a twinge of curiosity coloured her voice, "Tell me, what exactly do you have in mind?"
"Your current rakshasa would become the leaders of the darker side, nobles to guide and direct their foul influence. On the other side shall be the newlings, represetatives of a mortals capability for good and just acts, working among the other races."
"It serves both a purpose in a plan of mine, as well as providing an unusual experiment."
Veros desired his return, and he disputed what he had done. Grimacing and mentally preparing himself for an unpleasant situation, he led the inner fire consume him, and a moment later in an explosion of heat and flame he reappeared in the workshop of the Lord of Secrets.
Seeing that the Empress was here, he nodded in her direction but then turned towards Veros once again. "I have returned Veros, and I will listen to your plans... But realize, I did not command the souls of the mortals, instead I gave them the option of coming to my realm and being reborn. I did not compel them or exert any of my power to bring them there, and you will find that many chose to stay and see what you had prepared for them. And as for right to command them, you and I were both there that day, we both saw the souls of the warforged and the Nightwalkers. You may have gone on to claim the domain of Death, but I do not believe that gives you any more right to lay claim to commanding them than myself.
"You seek my aid in creating creatures of good, creatures that would oppose my own?" she asked, calming somewhat, though there was a tinkle of a laugh in her voice, "It seems you have not heard much of me."
She sighed, and looked over the shoulder of the other god. There was a newcomer in this mountaintop home.
"Hello darling," said the Empress.
Standing just behind the god Veros, bathed in a pool of light, was Priya, her face meek, her eyes on the floor. She was older now, old enough to walk. Mortals would call her a toddler. The halfling girl was there too, hanging back in the shadows, keeping a steady eye on her charge, glancing warily up at the gods. Time had changed her as well, but where they made the god child shine with an inner beauty, they had sapped much that had made Elli young. Numerous shawls hanging from her body gave the illusion that she was falling apart, and huge dark circles hung beneath her eyes. And, with a face that could melt the coldest of hearts, Priya looked up into the eyes of the god of Knowledge, and waited.
"It is simple, and I was in the middle of discussing the Empress's part in it. As for the plane, it will serve as a peacful rest for souls. As they rest, they will be every drawn from it's borders into it's center. From their, if they choose, they will becast back into the cycle. The pace will likely vary from soul to soul, rarely taking less than two to three hundred of the mortal years, but some could take a millenia or more."
"To be more inline with your own opinions, I will take advantage of a fact I have noted in my research. Some souls are different from others, containing a unique spark which makes them volatile, more likely to effect changes on the souls around them. These souls run the full gamut of mortal typ4es, from the darkest of hearts, to the most shining examples. The darker of the souls shall be reborn within a fifty to one hundred years as a rakshasa. The others shall be reborn into a new race."
"Due to their opposite natures, these two races will likely come into conflict, and remain as such for as long as existence continue. Thus providing for and maintaining a balance."
He turned and took in the new arrival, noting the halfling who had given him the knowledge he needed. "So you are the child of two gods."
Inerceptable to those around him, he briefly considered destroying it in a single motion. As quickly as it had arrived, it fled into his mind, and other more intriguing thoughts filled it. He pushed them aside as well. "Why have you come, child?"
"I think," began the goddess, her voice sounding somewhat bemused, "That she wants to help."
The Empress went to stand by Drahthor.
"She's very kindhearted," she said, "So very unlike her mother in that way."
She placed a hand of the cheek of her friend, Drahthor.
"Please be sure that no harm befalls my daughter," said the goddess, "She may embody all that I am not, but I would give all to ensure her safety."
He turned back to the child and walked over to her. "You wish to help? Then help you shall. There will come a time when I call for you. When it comes, if you truly wish to help, answer my call."
For the briefest moment it appeared as if he was going to liftt his arm, then it was gone, and he walked back to where he had been. "Zophia, I only await your aid in the creation of this spirit realm."
Memories flooded her mind. A laughing child, cheering Dwarves, fine earth, elementals rising.
Zophia shook her head fiercly and gave the newcomer a curious look.
" Greetings, Newcomer.."
She said and lowered her head slightly as a sign of respect.
" Father...I can't give you my power. Times have passed but the last time I...no...mother...borrowed you what was hers you used her power to scar the world. You broke it...you changed it...you made it scream.."
The solemn Goddess, closed her eyes and brought her hands to her temples.
" No more screams...no more suffering...tell me what you want to do. Tell me about the world you want to create and don't lie...tell me about it truthfully and then...and only then I will lend you my powers...if I see potential in your ideas. "
*
" No! "
Zophia turned her face against her Creator with anger burning in her eyes.
" You have no right to request anything from my father! You have nothing to do with nor death and souls and therefore have nothing to do with what happens with them! You have the right to give your followers an alternative but that's all. I will not let you in any way intrude upon my territory! You may have been a part of my creation, Serpent but I grow tired of your interference in matters that in no way has anything to do with either you or what you are supposed to do! "
"A realm of mists and peace, where spirits can rest and dream what they wish of their lives, wrawn eternally towards the center in a slow but persistant vortex. When they arrive, each individual can make their final choice, to wander among the souls for eternity, or to be reborn into the world for another chance at life."
She said, her voice very quiet and her eyes observing both the Newcomer and the Serpent.
"Perhaps I too can lend my aid," said the Empress, "If the creation of a realm of the Dead is your goal, I may have a tool that would be the perfect means."
A shard of rock, half iron, half jade, rose into the air before them. But it was more than rock. It was a shard of creation, called into being long ago by the Empress. It rotated slowly in the air.
"I offer up the aid of the Land Spike," said the Goddess, "In the creation of this new realm."
She looked over at the Reborn-Goddess.
"Hello there," she said kindly, "I am known as the Empress."
She didn't smile, but Zophia had the impression that if she could have, she would have smiled.
"I have begun on the wrong foot with too many gods," she said, "And I wish for that trend to continue no longer."
The Land Spike soared over to hover by her side.
"Birth, Life, and Death," she said, "Those are the steps, but perhaps there should be another."
She walked over to stand by her fellow goddess.
"And who better to govern that step than the first among us to take it?" she asked, "I too will offer my aid, on the condition that the right to decide on the fates of those beyond the veil rests with the Queen of that most ominous of locales."
He looked at the Empress, calling to mind memories of the first time he had seen her. "There will be no ruler of this domain. It is the domain of mortals who have died. The very presence of a god would threaten to disrupt it."
She looked deep into the eyes of the lord of Knowledge.
"I have long since learned that an act committed without governance is a perilous one," her voice softened, "But, if she agrees to your terms, then there exists no quarrel with me."
The Land Spike flew to hover by Veros' side.
"Do with it what you will," she said, and turned away.
Priya, meanwhile, gently caressed her father's muzzle, her large eyes turned up to look at him. She smiled.
" As long as his followers has to experience the peace and rest of Death, I will let the possibilty of rebirth be there...but I will not let Immortality be there. Death is the end of one stage of existence, the final step of one existence and the first of a second. If you wish that your followers memories should be kept intact give them long life-spans. Don't intrude within my or my father's domains. "
Zophiah gave the Empress a vague smile and a nod.
" Thank you, Empress...but I think my Father is correct. No one should rule in the land of Mists...though Father...do I have your permission to build my palace there? So I may protect those that have passed? "
She looked at her father in a pleading way. She cared for the souls and spirits of those that had passed. Cared for them more then even her Mother's children.
He reached out, gingerly plucking the Land Spike from the air, noting the familiar tingle of power at his grasp. He looked to Zophia and Drahthor. "Let us do this."
And with that Drahthor allowed a portion of his power to flow out of his form, in the form of a small ember it drifted from his mouth and came to rest in the center of the chamber.
PP
1pp for the creation of the afterlife
She smiled slightly, her eyes shone like suns and she plucked forth a shining spark out of thin air and gave it to her Father.
" This is pure divine essence as you probably know, Father...use it wisely and remember what you said. "
Give 1PP for creating an afterlife to Veros.
It flipped through the air for several seconds then punched through existence, vanishing from view.
He raised his hand opening a gateway to the new realm and stepped through.
He stood on the only solid object in the realm, a platform looking out over the clouded mists as they slowly swirled inexoribly towards the center. As far as any eye, mortal or divine, endless clouds of mists roiled and swirled below, the spirits passing through in their dreaming state.
He gathered magic in his hand, forming a small crystal orb, affixing it to his staff. He looked into it, viewing the peak of skypeak. All the spirits that had gathered around dissolved into sparks of energy, making their way to their new realm.
He looked at the edges of the platform, and approached to take a closer look. He watched as several motes of light rose up, taking the ghostly shape of a mortal. It looked at him, and whispered briefly before scattering back into motes of light and drifting back into the mists below.
All around, spirits floated up to the platform. He toook in each apparition, recognizing them as those who had prayed to him in life. They all whispered silently to him before drifting back into the mists below. Startled, he understood what was happening. It gave him an idea, but it would have to wait for now.
He looked back at the gateway, to see if other gods were going to follow.
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 1 PP from Zophia + 1 PP from Drahthor + 1 PP from Empress (Artifact) - Create Plane (Greater) - The Farscape (willing to take name suggestions), realm of the dead
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Orb of Visions. This artifact allows me to view distant locations. I can also talk to people through it.
Zophiah put a hand on her father's shoulder, smiled vaguely and then drifted away to explore this new realm.
A home was shaped out of the mists. A lone floating continent surrounded by eternal mists. Dark trees grew there, a ever-reaching forest and spirits wandered around there, whispering tales of their lives. Their faces content, their lips smiling and their eyes open. Happy of finally having the peace they had yearned for, for so long.
Humans, Dwarves, Halflings, Giants, Eladrin members of all races wandered in the forest. Spirits of long-passed animals and beasts appeared there as well, behaving in many ways as they had when they where still alive.
In the middle of the forest on a hilltop a temple was raised. One of marble, of columns and wide hallways. Pyres burnt within with blue fire and strange but pleasant smells filled it. Spirits wandered the hallways, whispering, talking, laughing.
This was Zopiah's home, this was her sanctuary and it was from here she would change the world.
This was the Court of Spirits.
Shape Demiplane: 2 PP The Court of Spirits
Priya was looking up at her father. She stretched her arms up towards him. It was clear she wanted him to help her up. She wanted to see this new world. The Empress smiled, and stepped through the portal.
Her eyes were closed. She was burning, blue flames flowed out of her skin, flowing and whirling around in an intricate dance. Pure essence was what it was, essence that was used, essence that sculpted the floor under her, essence that changed it.
The floor was no longer solid. It was water, silvery waves flowed over it's surface and strange mists danced in it's deph. Tiny figures moved in it's deph, trees vague and shapeless, mountains arose and God's wandered.
The last piece of the puzzle was placed where it was supposed to be.
The water was now clear, nothing was seen in it's deph. No floor, no mists, no shadows, no figures just an endless expanse of water.
Zophiah smiled vaguely and arose and prepared herself for the arrival of her guests.
A silvery crown on her head, a dress dark as the night it self and a vague, strangely content smile playing on her lips.
Create Artifact 1 PP: An'Tu'Calliern or loosly translated Her silvery Veil from the tongue of Califian Dwarves
The pool is a scrying tool that can be used by both mortal and immortal alike. It gives it's user a clear view of any point of the world if her or she demands it loudly and clearly from the pool.
She stepped forward, her feet finding solid ground. It was strange the ease with which order took hold on this place, creating that which is solid, that which has a shape. She supposed this truly was a realm of desires.
As she walked, a pathway formed before her. This realm was leading her onwards. Leading her to its heart. Souls, fresh from life, fresh from death, swirled about her. She could hear their desires, their yearnings. Some longed for what they had lost. Others cursed what they had left behind. All surged ever onwards, towards that final decision. Would they return? Would they not? She heard them whisper to her, their hidden desires, their shameful secrets. She only listened, and walked.
A realm of endless trees took shape from the mists before her. A realm of wandering spirits, happy thoughts, joyful tales. Here the spirits were happy. These were those to whom death had come, as if like a long-lost friend, beckoning into the final rest. And they had followed into the dark. Others, those culled too soon from the joy of life by death's harsh guillotine, those who yearned for life, those whose souls cried in anguish, they avoided this place. And still, she walked.
A temple, a place of pillars, and of marble, arose before her. Splendid in its majesty, simple in its elegance, it rose before her, pale blue flames illuminating its depths. It was stood above the rest, on higher ground, it offered a view of all else. Its mistress, she knew, would be always watching, always guiding the souls, to a happy hereafter. She stepped inside the temple.
In the aftermath of that battle, the land around Grey-Fang mountain became infertile; a desolate place cursed, it seemed, by the outer realms. Over the years the stone itself seemed to grow harsh; the bare earth turned to cracked and jutted stone, spires and spikes appeared as the wind and rain washed dirt away. It was as if the mountain had contained a giant, stone, thorn briar and the subsequent ages washed away the prison.
PP
*1pp (from Artifact), Denourish Land: Grey-Fang Mountain and the surrounding area becomes inhospitable to natural life.
*1pp (from Exarch), Mold Land: Grey-Fang mountain - changing its appearance to that of stone thorns and riddled passages.
*1pp (from Artifact), Denourish Land: Grey-Fang Mountain and the surrounding area becomes inhospitable to natural life.
*1pp (from Exarch), Mold Land: Grey-Fang mountain - changing its appearance to that of stone thorns and riddled passages.
He stepped back through his own rift, closing it beind him. Several tasks awaited him. He made his way back to the depths of the workshop, to the creation forge. He had pushed the others away for a reason. Scattered about the place were hundreds of scraps of divine essence, the shattered remains of Eijra's soul that had been left unused by the act of creation, and cast about uknowingly by the new goddess. Perhaps she had noticed, perhaps not, but he had business with them none the less.
He gathered them up, placing each on within a special jar, leaving them on the shelves around the room. To those who weren't looking, they would never notice these jars contained peices of a soul.
He gathered many of them, bringing them together on the forge. Holding his staff out, he unleashed a thunderous blast of lightning into them, trying to see if he could bring forth a life of his own from these scraps. When the air cleared, his new creatures were glancing about in interest. Let them explore the workshop for now. They could cause no harm here. He opened a rift and stepped through once more, appearing before Roan.
"So, you are the arrogant fool who tampers with the creations of someone you haven't even met."
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Lesser) - Succubus
As Roan went deeper into the shattered lands he felt the Halfling abandon him. This saddened Roan but then he heard it while many of the Halfling abandoned him some did not some still sang his praise. Only those who were loyal to another left him. And this gladdened Roan for he only wanted those who were loyal to him to come to his island. But now another greater god new of Roan and this frightened Roan. A god of that had such powers as to make his followers leaves the wanderlust behind may cause Roan much grief maybe he should send him an offer of peace. Reaching for his pan pipes he began to play and soon he had an audience of birds and other creatures he selected a white bird with three golden stripes and whispered to it “oh great one he who is mightier then me. I meant no harm and no disrespect I did not mean you did not protect the Halfling I only wished to give them another safe haven in these trying times” with that Roan released the bird and commanded to find the one who the silver tree called the god of knowledge and death it has been said to Roan that he lives on the highest peak. The bird flew off to find this god and Roan continued to move forward into the shattered land
Pp expenditure
3 pp (1 artifact) create artifact. The silver staff allows roan to travel anywhere in a single step and gives +1 pp to guide actions
“I do not deserve your ire I only wish to protect that which was precious to me”
Roan put on a brave face but was worried he hope this would not come to blows.
Then Roan stood and said “I am sorry for my manners are lacking this day. Let us introduce are self’s. I am Roan Wild-strider the great wander the fickle master of luck and bard extraordinaire. I am also not half bad at blacksmithing.” Pausing slightly he looked up “and who are you”
“I have things that must still be accomplished and I am sure you do as well will you come with me so we can continue this conversation.”
"And you would have those with no skills at boating or swimming find their way to an island? And island past the fungal lands, infested with things and creatures that seek to consume everything? That is hardly offering them a safe haven, but rather a swift trip to death."
“Plus the fungus forest is changing and soon will sprout green again have no fear I love the little ones”
He hesitated a moment, then continued. "As a measure of warning, I'd be careful with altering the fungus too much, lest you attract the attention of it's creator."
“Yes the fungus is dangerous still but I was going to guide them through it so it would not harm them. Can you teach me more of the other gods I know so little.” With that said roan gave a small bow.
But he still wanted to se the humans and wanted to take them back to his island with him he was running out of time.
"What gods would you wish to know about? There are few I have niot met, and none I know nothing about."
But he still wanted to se the humans and wanted to take them back to his island with him he was running out of time.
It felt how another had tampered with it's own tools.
"Where is the rock these pest keep crawling out from"
Without any effort, Tsarokga-Noggoth undid the changes of the newcomer, returning the fungi back to there prime directive.
(guide populous (fungi) 1PP from exarch, to undo the tampering of the other god Roan)
Zophia suddenly stood in front of her visitor. Giving her a slightly curious gaze...truth to be told she had been expecting someone else.
" Empress "
She said and gav the Visitor a slight nod followed by a weak smile. She took a couple of steps closer, putting her fist in to her hand and bowing as Dwarven custom was.
She was still a being of her Children. Memories of a past life was still there as her new life had been all to short for her to gain new memories.
" What are you doing here in my simple dwelling. "
She said in a soft tone and smiled once more. Her eyes curious and slightly suspicous as they surveyed the visitor.
"Hello, oh tragically fair one," said the goddess with the barest hint of irony in her voice, "As but a simple messenger of the Order, I wished only to ensure its continued adherence."
She surveyed the room about her with a discerning eye, and brought her hands apart, beginning once more their strange dance.
"It seems you have done an admirable job in that regard," she continued, looking directly at her fellow goddess, "It seems you are one whom I can trust."
Her hands paused their dance for the barest fraction of an instant, then resumed it.
"Speaking of trust," she began, "It seems before you held some reservations in regard to He Who is Knowledge."
She paused, as if searching for her next words.
"I have not known him long, and he has done little so far to warrant any distrust from me," she continued, "I wished to know if you knew any reason why my trust should be withheld."
The solemn Goddess said simply and didn't even give Drathor the dignity of a scornfull look.
" If you wish to listen, you may come forth, exchange pleasantries and then begin to put your nose in to other people's buisnesses. "
Zophia frowned slightly and returned her attention to the Empress.
" He is a good god in many ways "
Zophia said.
" I don't distrust him...it is more like that he often commits rash actions. Actions that ends up shaping the world and mortal's destinies in a way that pleases him and no one else. At the core though...I think he is a good god, one worth of trust but also one you should keep an eye on. "
With a subtle popping sound, he vanished, bursting forth within the Farscape, outside of Zophia's new citadel. He walked inside, waiting a short distance away from her, waiting for her to finish her business.
"Thank you for your advising words, I will most certainly heed them," said the goddess, still facing the other goddess, "It seems, though, that they will too soon be put to the test."
Then, without turning, or making any outward motion besides the regular movement of her hands, she said, "Hello, most esteemed lord of Knowledge."
She said with a slight smile appearing upon her lips.
" Could you specefy? There are more then one meddler after all? "
"A threat to the Order?" she asked, "Something I should deal with?"
But she had to rein in her destructive urges. This civility thing would need some getting used to.
"No, forget that," she said, and turned to look at him to which she spoke, "I would welcome you, oh Great Purveyor of Secrets, but that honour rests still with our host."
And with that, she fell silent, and turned to look at Zophiah.
He took a step back. "Please, don't allow me to interfere."
Shurka interrupted the conversation, "Well, it seems I have done enough for now, and am no longer needed. I shall be going now; I'll be back on the world if you need me."
With that, Shurka left.
-----
Within Duska Krak, the dwarves took their mastery fo metals further in their pursuit of superior weapon production, becoming the finest weaponsmiths in the world.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Dwarves gain Weaponsmithing
I take it you created a home for spirits? I was not paying as close attention as I might have, my children were... being loud.
He cocked his head slightly. "You should pay attention to your people. Some young upstart, calling himself Roan, was headed towards humans when I spoke to him. If his intentions with them are similar to those of the halflings, he'll likely try and steal some of them away from you."
He lifted his staff slightly, looking into the Orb of Visions, watching the meddler. "His insolence is quite irritating."
Xirinet billowed around in what could only be taken for amusement.
I believe we have an unsettled debt? Perhaps now would be the time to even the score? I have intention of... rewarding... my children.
To do that as well as carry out other pressing matters I will need extra power.
The god seemed to dissolve, and then liquify, swirling as a small vortex as it thought.
You would have strength to spare?
With a wrenching motion the liquid vortex turned to mist and began to drift off, intent on settling on the Shattered Lands.
The god examined its followers, happily enjoying their recent discoveries.
He silently followed the departing god.
Inventive aren't they? I hadn't imagined they would learn so much without guidance.
Xirinet enveloped many of the villages within the forests, probing the mortals gently for an idea as to the next action it would take.
I see... Of course they would, but they need consolidation.
I have decided on a course of action for the immediate future.
The god reached out into the minds of the leaders among humans sending sending a command.
First among my wishes; that you build a city combining your greatest arts, and with it a cathedral in honor of the divine.
Second; I would have you ruled not by one but by many. Such that when one voice errs two may ring true. The greatest shall be given right to command, the leaders who step beyond the trappings of lesser souls.
Third; Train your warriors as one. The world has enemies you have not yet met, Angels guard you as they guard themselves but they will not always be a defense. They cannot protect your hunters, and there are some enemies even they will not be able to stand against alone.
Actions
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans to combine Rituals and Masonry to create their capital city.
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans adopting a military doctrine in imitation of Angels.
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans adopt an Aristocracy. The greatest of their leaders meet within the Alexandria as a council. This is sometimes referred to as "The Council of the Sundered Crown" yes I like the idea of broken stuff. Sue me.
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans adopting a military doctrine in imitation of Angels.
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans adopt an Aristocracy. The greatest of their leaders meet within the Alexandria as a council. This is sometimes referred to as "The Council of the Sundered Crown" yes I like the idea of broken stuff. Sue me.
I never saw it as an insult, Knowledge. Why worry about the future when the now presses so urgently on? Regardless...
Among the mortals angels took up weapon craft, seeking improvement upon dwarven smithing. Even as they did Alexandria began to be built up, the Great Cathedral standing at its heart within the heart of the Shattered Lands.
Yes, they would do that wouldn't they? Children of battle, whether I wished that or not. How long before others seek to turn their skills to their end? How long before I must see blades crossed?
Xirinet idly toyed with stray wisps of power, absentmindedly shaping them into fanciful forms. In the mists creatures began to move, eyes glowing an acid green.
Actions
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Alexandria (the empire) in support of Alexandria (the cuity)
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Veno-Eye Basilisk. Yes an unintended side-effect of Xi playing around.
1PP, Guide Populace: Angels Learn Weaponsmithing
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Veno-Eye Basilisk. Yes an unintended side-effect of Xi playing around.
1PP, Guide Populace: Angels Learn Weaponsmithing
The man grew fearful of sleep and would strive to stay awake for days at a time, but even then the dreams walked before his eyes. In desperation he gouged out his own eyes. While that caused the waking dreams to end, he was not better for the act. His ears grew sensitive and more sensitive until the sound of his bare feet on a blanketed floor sounded like the hammer falls of a smith. It was then that the noises began. Sound danced on the edge of his hearing, taunting him with near-audible words. He cut off his ears in hopes of ending the torment, but even as he became deaf to the world he found no rest. Inhuman thoughts came to him, infesting his mind until at last he gave in to the unnamable demands.
And so the man began to write. He knew neither were the surface nor ink came from, nor did he know what guided his hands across the pages, but the book was warm to the touch as if alive and the ink gave off a fetid odor.
He neither slept nor ate for three years while he wrote, being sustained by divine power. But when he had finished the last stroke on the last page, he breathed his last and there was no soul to travel on to other worlds.
So was written the black book of Azazel.
PP
*1pp, Create Artifact: Book of Azazel - Xa'an influences a human to write the book of Azazel. This artifact grants the holder the capability of performing any rituals in the book, the book contains rituals for accessing the Outer Realms, summoning aberrant creatures from that realm, and other such things. It additionally will provide star-pact warlock like magical powers. Like most artifacts, the book is intelligent and attempts to guide its holder towards its own ends.
*1pp, Create Artifact: Book of Azazel - Xa'an influences a human to write the book of Azazel. This artifact grants the holder the capability of performing any rituals in the book, the book contains rituals for accessing the Outer Realms, summoning aberrant creatures from that realm, and other such things. It additionally will provide star-pact warlock like magical powers. Like most artifacts, the book is intelligent and attempts to guide its holder towards its own ends.
Tsarokga-Noggoth let new spores fall on these newly formed breeding grounds.
(mold land 1PP from Unggar-Raggnu)
(nourish populace (fungi) 1PP from Spore Chambers)
Turning to face his realm and casting his mind far to encompass everything within it, he began to channel power. Using the strength of the Ziggurat he decided to further populate the waterways. They currently teemed with microscopic organisms that the creatures of land could not eat, so he created various fish, eels, and squid that would devour the plankton and in turn be devoured.
Drahthor watched his new creations for a time, and then he realized something. The thick walls of the asteroid trapped the heat released by the phorus inside, and over time the temperature of this place was rising. Eventually, it would become to hot to survive, and all would perish. The Serpent of Rebirth considered this for a moment before coming to a decision. Channeling the power within the eye of restraint, he began to mold another plant to inhabit his lands. He started with a large bulb that was coated with plates of chitinous material that absorbed the heat from their surroundings and used it to feed the plant. He filled the bulb of the plant with a substance that was lighter than air, allowing it to float through his realms. Over time, the chitinous plates would grow hard and brittle from their continued use. At which point they would detach from the bulbous head of the plant and fall to the ground below to be digested by the phorus. He then created a series of long tendrils that sprouted from the base of the floating plant, attaching hooks to the end of them that would drag along the ground. As the plant was drifting along his realm, when it came to an area of abundant heat, it would instinctively cling to the area and stay until the heat level dropped.
Drahthor released his new creations into his world, and watched as they spread and thrived. Speaking to the thousands of souls gathered below him "Soon my friends, soon.."
PP
1pp Ziggurat: Spawn lesser beast= filled the waterways with various aquatic lifeforms.
1pp Eye of Restraint: Nourish Land= Create the Vroomel plants as described above.
1pp Eye of Restraint: Nourish Land= Create the Vroomel plants as described above.
-----
In the city of Celeros, deep in the depths of the Loremaster headquarters, the organizatiosn leaders studied the Tome of Knowledge, struggling to unlock it's divine secrets. For nearly five hundred years the best and brightest of the group had studied and plied at it's pages, making ceasless magical and mundane efforts to unlock a pattern it's it's odd symbols that would help them understand.
Finally, after all that time, they began to understand, to comprehend the patterns and syntax. The loremasters had uncovered the secrets of the written word.
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 1 PP Artifact - Guide Populace (Greater) - Loremasters gain written language.
Xirinet watched the mortals, watched the Great Cathedral rise.
Now I think is the time for me to show them my favor. Perhaps you may find time to show them your own favor?
***
Within the heart of the Shattered Lands a simple city sat. Hidden where few but humans tread the eponymous city of Alexandria was long ago no more than a simple meeting place for tribal elders. Now it was the hub of a newborn empire, a masterwork of marble and agricultural engineering.
Soon it would be more.
The city twines stone and living trees into a work of art. Gray-blue stone rising from the ground, while thick roots trace patterns across its surface. Plazas and terraces seamlessly worked into the land. Ancient trees in death turned into temples, carved into massive towers and anchored in marble and vines they rise far above the city. A traveler could almost mistake the city as carved from the ground itself, one unfamiliar with the Shattered Lands might even mistake it for no more than another strange sight in a strange land.
At the center of the city rises the Great Cathedral, a towering edifice of carefully arranged stone. This building, the most sacred of Xirinet's temples, the offspring of two centuries of mortal work. Here the greatest leaders among human and angel alike meet as equals, brokering deals and pacts sealed not in wax but in faith and trust. within the hallowed halls Druid, Warden, and Shaman practice primal rites; perfecting their skills with each passing day.
Every surface of this massive temple carved in friezes, or carefully wrought mosaics. Each depicting a scene of nature, or perhaps a scene of life. Those few travelers adventurous enough to reach Alexandria tell tales of austere beauty, a close imitation of the land itself. Altars are simple affairs of bronze and silver, religious offerings short prayers and promises of strength.
Through the dark corners of the city beasts hunt. Spiders lair in the buttresses of massive arches, wolves prowl alleys, crocodiles swim lazilly through the underworks. Such beasts carefully watched by the guards, yet left to their own devices where they can do no harm. The very fact such creatures ae allowed within the city walls oft cited by the few visitors as proof of human barbarism, yet seen by the populace as proof that they have truly mastered their lands.
This day though the city changes, the work of mortals taken and infused with divine power.
They have shaped their home admirably, but they deserve a token. A gift to them.
Where once living wood and worked stone were used together, now they truly join. Trees and marble twining through and around each other, shaped by divine hand. Where some would say a city feels alive, those who visit Alexandria shall tell tales of a truly living city. Tree grows from stone, and water sprays down the sides of the cathedral itself. The city joined in unison with the land, the unison humans have strived for in honor of their god. Where once there were seams now stretches seamless stone, through which trees and vines seem to grow - twining in and out of the marble.
Where once few buildings of stone stood more than a few spans high, now there stands marble buildings towering 5 or more stories into the air.
Aqueducts trace rivers through the marble land, into these buildings sink their roots drinking deep of water never seeming to run dry. Veils of leaves artfully bridge thouroughfares, vines twist their way like railings upon the terraces, flowers grow across the faces of buildings. The greatest building rise like the Shattered Lands themselves, an awe inspiring display of savage beauty. Plants grow easilly along streets, trees grow across the the tops and sides of building, when they do not simply grow through them.
None can look upon Alexandria and claim it as truly the work of mortals, or even immortals. In all the world no city exists so clearly shaped by divine hand.
Actions
1PP from the Dimensional Bulwark, Mold Land: Alexandria, the Living City. This is the holy city of Xirinet, and houses the Great Cathedral, a temple devoted to the Life god, though it includes space for other gods as well. The city crawls with wild beasts which leave the usual denizens alone (through long-time association) but a fool who attacks one of these predators is likely to get killed. Alexandria is superficially similar to the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Yes ff6, it does cary a little T'k in it, but I LIKE the motif. And face it... What didn't T'k do similarly to a life god?
Yes ff6, it does cary a little T'k in it, but I LIKE the motif. And face it... What didn't T'k do similarly to a life god?
The two marilith snarled in outrage and came at Tahns with all twelve swords dancing. Tahns easily leaped backward out of their way, firing a lance of burning sunlight at the nearest one. She screamed in pain, her face erupting in boils and black burns, hair on fire.
"PATHETIC!"
Tahns sent them flying back with a wave of his spear, the injured one still trying to put out the fire that was consuming her face.
"Shall I destroy you all? Shall I return you to the nightmares and bile and excrement from which you maggots crawled, and create a better race of demons from what few useful elements there might be in your remains? No one will fear you if you fight this poorly! You will be mocked, not obeyed! Perha-"
Tahns was cut off by a sword blade that slipped through his magical defenses and drew blood. Stopping mid-tirade, he turned around. One little nycodemon stood there, sword lined with Tahn's ichor.
"YOU..."
Tahsn raised his spear, about to destroy the puny backstabber. However, he stopped himself just in time.
"What is your name, demon?"
The nycodemon bowed low, more out of terror of imminent death than for any other reason. "I am called Nergul, my lord."
Tahns grabbed Nergul and held him up in one hand.
"You see this, mariliths! This worthless foot soldier can fight better than all of you! He attacks when his enemy does not expect it, goes for blood, sucks up to his enemy when he knows he can't win, then betrays them again when their backs are turned! WHY CAN'T YOU BE LIKE THIS, YOU WORTHLESS *****S???"
He dropped Nergul, who landed on his belly on top of the stormcloud.
"You, though," growled Tahns, "you are going places."
The Nycademon looked up in fear, but then saw the approval in Tahn's eyes. It grinned a toothy grin.
A moment later, Nergul felt himself grow larger, metal armor growing on his skin and fusing to it, making him a living mailcoat full of demonic flesh. Additionally, a third arm grew from his chest, making him more like the mariliths who had always bullied him and his kind.
"Now," said Tahns, "you will help me teach your idiot brethren how to fight."
PP
Ascend Exarch (3 PP): Nergul is a combat exarch.
Roan put forth power into his voice so Veros would hear him “Hear me Veros, Hear me. You call me meddler yet it is you who meddle. I offered the Halfling the chance at one who would guide them a god that loved them. This is a great thing a thing they have not known in 500 years. It is true that I asked them to take a journey that was perilous but I did not abandon them to it if they came to a see I would have sang them songs of comfort and turned them aside. If they were afraid of giants I would have showed them tricks and hidden roads. I knew the journey was hard and I knew some would not continue but this was good to for I wanted the nomads and wanders for I had plans for them. With a single wave of your hand you took there right to choose away even now I hear my last followers voice fade. The song the voice sings is sad and mournful. It tells of wanting to continue to wander in my name but a greater voice then his forces him back to its old life as memory of me fades. You Veros call me a fool you say I am arrogant and a upstart. But hear me and hear me well I name you teller of half truth and meddler. I had hoped to be strong and wise like I imagined my elders would be but you are but a child that plays with mortals as if they are toys. Think not that I do not know that the Halfling are not yours but stolen from the master of the golden tree it is because of you she cried” Roan took a deep breath calmed him self then said “You have set your will against me and I know not why. You have wrong me wrong me greatly and a dept is owed me.”
Roan surged to his feet. “I will leave the land for it seams a land of petty gods now. I will take to the skies that none now roam and fill it with wonders of my own. I will bring greatness there.” Then from roans back sprang great wings the color of angry storm clouds streaked with bright blue and violet. With a mighty leap he flew into the sky then disappeared.
PP expenditure
1 pp form domain flight.
Now huge amorph growths, they had grown so dense they would almost collapse under there own mass.
Still programmed with the single desire to grow, spread and decay, they started to feed on the only thing left to feed on, the fabric of reality itself.
This caused all kinds of strange phenomena to happen near each of these fungi, as reality around them becomes more and more unstable.
With there reality warping powers, the fungi would spread to other parts of the aether, and the planet itself aswell.
(Spawn beast (epic) Teratomorph: 3PP)
Slowly but surely, his mind twisted and altered by time, leaving beind the vestiges of honor and goodness he had held, filling with hatred and disgust of those he once shielded. Deep within Duskpeak, Drevan began workon a tool for his vengeance. He spoke to his underlings only when necessary, sending them to gather odd supplies and regeants that he needed.
Uncheked by their master, the vampires began to spread and grow, taking new members and thralls as they infiltrated the nearby cities of humans, dwarves, and humites.
-----
Veros glanced at Xirniet, and they shared a chuckle. He lifted his staff and peered into the orb of visions, looking at Roan. "You speak foolishness, Roan. The silver tree serves Shurka, god of healing, not the fallen Eijra, who I considered a friend andn a daughter. I shall protect her people from those who fail to understand the world no matter the cost. Perhaps had you thought to introduce yourself to their protector before follishly meddling where you weren't wanted, we could have come to an agreement."
He lowered the staff, and turned back to Xirinet. "Where were we?"
-----
In the depths of the loremaster's headquarters, dozens upon dozens of dwarves were busy carving tablets of stone with the new symbols that had been gleaned from the tome of knowledge. Minute after minute, hour after hour, the piles of tablets grew larger, as the loremasters commited to writing on stone the knowledge and history they had long recorded, gathered, and hidden.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Vampires expand into Duska Krak, human, and humite territory.
The Cathedral holds space for your worship, and waits your comand as to a proper way of worship.
The god's form swirled apart and coalesced slowly, watching the mortals patiently as they called out their thanks at its touch upon their city.
I fear they do not offer you proper sacraments, for I do not not your wishes in such things.
(Nourish populous Tsarok-Hem (and minions) 1PP)
(Nourish populous Raggnur 1PP)
PP Use
1 PP [from Eorna] - Nourish Land. Animals that can be domesticated by ranchers are more plentiful
2 PP - Guide Populace - Humites know how to domesticate animals. (But not for purposes like riding.)
PP Refresh
6 - Veros
5 - Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Xirinet, Thans, Shurka
4 - Vymrl, Nocturne, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Mara, The Empress, Drahthor, Runescar, Roan, Il'tharas, Zophiah
"So this," she said, "Is to be your legacy?"
She looked around, and sighed.
"I like it," she said, "It suits you."
This river though was no ordinary river. It was pure, divine essence. Among it Zophia swam or rather she flew. Her eyes closed, a slight smile playing on her lips and her mind occupied by the assignment in question.
Strands of energy arose from the river, weaving an intricate pattern of purest light. The pattern reached high, higher then any construcion mortal and Immortal alike had ever seen before.
Zophiah smiled and her eyes shone as two minature suns as she raised her hands. The River rushed forth, enveloping the construction. Pushing it's shining mass against it.
It was a tower of pure light now. A tower that shone brighter then the sun itself. Zophiah smiled, raised a hand and the light simply faded away. In it's place there was a tower. A tower of black stone, a tower resting on the plains of the spirit court.
At it's top an eternal blue flame shone. It was a light-house. A lighthouse for the spirits to lead them to the aferlife. It was the first of it's kind but only one of many.
3 PP Create Artifact ( Greater ): The lighthouse of Dusk or the Lighthouse at all ends. Calaver'Etu on Calafian Dwarf-speech. It's fluff mission is to lead the dead on their first trip through the Land of the Dead. Generates 1PP for Create actions.
Sounds, a multitude of sounds. Strung together, meaning is derived. Words, yes, but it is more than that. Every inflection, every cough, every change of pitch. And it goes deeper than that. A nod, a jerk of the head, a smile. Language, all, but still, is it confined to that? No.
The rhythm of the world: every wave, every gust of wind. The songs of the birds, the whisper of the leaves. All this language. It has pervaded this world for centuries, nay, millennia. And most never spared a thought for it. Behind every sound, behind every action, there is a meaning. That, I think, is what language truly is.
From the first breath, language has held a certain power. A cough signals sickness, a gesture indicates mood, a word starts wars. Yes, the power of language is terrible indeed, it must be held in check, must be surveyed. Gods, beings who embody the fundamental aspects of existence, and are so tangled up in language, even they miss the true power it represents. It seems, then, that language will have to show them a thing or two.
A word released into the world, a song, sung into the spaces. Where does it go, what does it lead to? No one knows, and yet a power it possesses nonetheless. All that emotion, all that meaning, just thrown into the world, something has to come of it, something has to happen. And, it seems, something is happening.
In the corner of the world, where the forgotten words linger still, bereft of a brain to think them, of a mouth to speak them, they linger. But such concentrations of meaning cannot linger forevermore. They must gather together, form a strong, cohesive whole. And so, He was formed, of the discarded scraps of meaning, the lost bits of communication, a ragtag assembly of forgotten language.
A swirling mass of words and sounds formed, strung together by their own, hidden power. A name, plucked from the swirling tempest, would serve it, him, well: Siccadan. Another idea, plucked as well from the tempest, occured to him: Body. A form, to contain his swirling self, would also serve him well. The name pinned down what he was, his form would be what he was. He plucked words seemingly at random from himself. He pulled the together, molded them, shaped them to his will. A body was formed. An old man, garbed in voluminous robes, a thin white beard trailing from the bottom of his wasted face. Yes, this body would serve him well. He stepped into it. In this form, he too was capable of language. Bit of the language of which he was formed could escape now, with a sneeze, a smile, even just a few muttered words. He would have to be careful, lest he return to what he once was. He was about to step forward, and stopped. He couldn't help himself. He smiled once, and then walked on.
As he spoke Drahthor began to command the power within him, shaping yet more creations to inhabit this place. The first of his new creations was to be a hybrid of sorts, built of several of the animals he had viewed on the planet far below. He started with the head and forequarters of one of the great feline predators of the world, a lion. Then, he gave it the hindquarters of of a large goat, and caused the horned head of a goat to sprout alongside the head of the lion. He then caused a third head to sprout from between the two of them, that of one of the great flying lizards he had seen hunt the taulau so long ago, the head of a dragon. However, as compared to the dragons he made this head black, and gave it the ability to breath a harsh acidic compound. He then gave it wings similar in kind to that of a dragon as well, and called it Chimera.
The Lord of Creation watched as the first several dozen of these Chimeras took to the skies and began to spread through his kingdom. Yet, still not finished he set about creating another creature. This one would have many heads as well, but whereas the Chimera bore the face of three separate entities, all the heads of this creature would be that of a serpent. And so he created a large reptilian body with four legs and a long tail. From its massive shoulders sprouted its many long necks and heads, and if one of these heads were to be removed, more would sprout in its place. Drahthor called them Hydra's, and to the largest of these creatures he gave the ability to breath fire. Then, he scattered them throughout his lands, but always near the waterways, for these would be there home.
Then, channeling the power of the Eye of Restraint once again, he filled the rivers and lakes and seas of his realm with a long, tough plant similar in manner to the grasses he had seen on the world below. However, whereas each individual blade of grass was merely a few inches tall, these towered several feet high and inches wide.
Done with his work, Drahthor turned to the Empress "Will you accompany me into my home?"
Not waiting for an answer Drahthor walked past her and began to ascend the stairs leading to one of the temple entrances. Speaking again "My realm is now ready, it is merely a matter of waiting for my strength to return before I can create my people. However, some recent developments have me troubled and I had hoped I might speak to you of them in private."
PP
2pp Spawn Chimera
3pp (1 from Ziggurat) Spawn Hydra
1pp (Eye of Restraint) Nourish land: Seaweed
3pp (1 from Ziggurat) Spawn Hydra
1pp (Eye of Restraint) Nourish land: Seaweed
"Why of course I shall," she replied to his query.
She began to follow him, walking slowly, ponderously. She was still taking it all in, the complexity of it all, admiring its intricacy.
"You certainly have worked long and hard to bring this world to fruition," she said, allowing just a note of awe creep into her voice, "Perhaps in the future we can corroborate once more?"
The Land Spike flew to her side as if called, as if knowing its aid may be needed. The Empress looked down at it.
"I may have to perfect tool for your needs," she said, "Now, what developments to whom do you refer?"
The astral orrery was working as it should. All the objects in the heavens were doing what they should--except that reprobrate Nibiru, who would cause disruptions by moving about. The Astral Orrery had not been happy when that thing had moved to very near the earth. Someday, that creature would need to learn its place! Otherwise, new objects in the astral heavens were instantly linked into the astral orrery, such as the five new starts that appeared. Mara could feel that these stars had power, and using the orrery, she tweaked their positions in the sky to be "just right." In particular, one was put in a north-most position, and one in a south-most position.
The Maras began a long discussion over their next move. The alignments were working well, but the world was not completed. The votex at the south pole regulated the worlds weather patterns, bringing air into the inner world and creating winds to bring rain and clouds. The rains and sun were enough to give the mortals the means to grow foods, agriculture as they called it. They did this at all times, growing stalks of food and animals every day they could. The relentlessness of their growth put a strain on the earth's natural cycles of restoration. The land was going malnourished. Before, with the fey earth goddess, this had not been a problem. Her power alone was enough to nourish the lands of the mortals and they did not notice.
Now, however, a desert was growing in the western reaches of the mortal lands. Their constant farming had denourished the soil to the point of becoming sand. The slan then flew via winds to new soil, contaminating it. If something was not done, the mortals would farm away all the work of the gods in creating the world. This was not acceptable.
"Mara," the white haired one looked at the other, "You are me. And I am you."
"Yes it is true." blacked haired Mara responded.
"And yet you have done things on your own. I knew of them, felt of them when we are together. But they were yours. I was angry at you, but at that same time that only meant you were angry at yourself. We feel each other's emotions when we are together. And yet when we are far apart we are more different."
"Indeed."
"We are like what the mortals call twins" Mara said, "No other god is like us"
Mara responded, "We cannot become separate, for that will destroy us."
Mara though for a few minutes, "That does not mean we cannot be . . . different, just a little"
Mara giggled. The two girls discussed their ideas, both in mind and in essense. They were so enthralled in their idea that they lost a sense of time, as years flew by for the mortals. Then the two slowly built their power like before, and using the astral orrery, they brought the heavens into a new alignment. This time the shift was not percetable, only to themselves, and to the beings of the earth. The moons now brought with them changes in weather, transitioning from the war hot deserts of old near the pillar of flame all the way to cold and ice. The vortex at the south pole became the focal point for the changing weather, particularly for the inner sphere. There the moons had no presence, and the inner realm would be harrassed by seasons of harsh storms and rains every so often. Plants too changed, particularly those that were used for food, as they could now only be harvested during the hotter season.
And their work was complete. This time, Mara decided that she was done with such large scale changes--they were too tyring! Perhaps it was time to pay attention to mortals once again.
PP
Create Moderate Domain - 2 PP - Seasons/Summer Winter. The world now has seasons. Each moon personifies one season, white-haired Mara is summer, black-haired one is winter. There is one season for every two rotations of the moons, with calibration still the new year.
Mold Land - 1 PP - Many plants and agriculture generally are now perennial
Nourish Land - 1 PP - Nourish Perrenial trees, flowers, etc.
Create Moderate Domain - 2 PP - Seasons/Summer Winter. The world now has seasons. Each moon personifies one season, white-haired Mara is summer, black-haired one is winter. There is one season for every two rotations of the moons, with calibration still the new year.
Mold Land - 1 PP - Many plants and agriculture generally are now perennial
Nourish Land - 1 PP - Nourish Perrenial trees, flowers, etc.
He thought for a moment, and then plunged his hand once more beneath his robes. It emerged, clutching something that was struggling valiantly to escape: the word "Staff". The man then proceeded to grasp the word at both ends, and pull. The effect was extraordinary. The tiny, wriggling word lengthened, became longer, more defined. It took on a more cohesive shape, and soon, clutched in the old man's hand, was a walking stick, as gnarled and twisted as he was. Smiling broadly, the man resumed his walking, leaning heavily on the staff.
3 PP Create Artifact (Greater) The Staff: A physical manifestation of the word "staff", it allows Siccadan to more easily form objects from words. It gives 1 PP for Create actions.
"Yes, I have put much effort into this place and it pleases me that you enjoy it. I have designed it to be a testing ground for my people, in the same manner as the shattered lands are for the humans. They must first master this environment before they will be ready for the rest of the world. And yes, I would also enjoy more... collaborative efforts."
As the Lord of Destruction and Creation spoke, they continued to walk deeper into the Ziggurat. He began to shift into his humanoid form, slowly at first but before long he had assumed the face of a man. As for their travel, there had never seemed to be any descent or ascent, and while the doorway from which they had entered had faded into nothing long ago, they could see none of the others, nor had they even encountered any of the other pathways that surely existed within this place.
"And as for what disturbs me, it is interesting that you say whom.. However first I would speak of the halfling girl that has been such a trusted servant and guardian to our daughter Priya. Elli has lived long beyond the normal lifespan of any mortal, and seeing her earlier, time has taken its toll. I feel she deserves some reward or respite, perhaps an opportunity to pass on if she so desires? Or maybe she too should be blessed with a portion of divinity and made an exarch to forever defend Priya? I do not like to see her so suffer when she has been such a loyal friend and servant."
Finally there walking seemed to have led them somewhere, for ahead an arched doorway with with many strange symbols adorning its frame approached. Past the threshold, there was a large room with a rounded dome ceiling and eight large ribs that joined the floor and the edge and met at the center of the ceiling. Within the room sat a table with several goblets and many forms of fruit, fish, and meat. A large fireplace with the images of two chimeras on either side sat between two of the ribs. Numerous statues of various forms and fountains of burning liquid seemed to adorn the walls, a large bed covered in dark delicate looking furs sat at the opposite end from the entrance, and several intricately carved obsidian thrones rested near the center of the room.
It was big, fast and gracious but also magical in more ways then one. It moved silently and it's cries could not be heard by any mortal man nor woman. Only children could hear their cries, ghost-like and faint.
Their eyes were also special as what they saw Zophiah saw as well. They where bond to the Spirit world and acted as guides to lost spirits. Leading them to the spirit world and the peace it promised.
Spawn Beast-1PP: Spirit Crane- A Crane with the ability to move completly silently, see spirits and teleport itself and spirits in to the Spirit world.
When the island reached him Roan drank from the nectar and felt the power of growing thing flow through him. Stepping onto the island he walked forward and a forest sprang up from his hoofs. Irion trees, and Loma trees covered the earth mote as well as many trees and plants that bare fruit and nuts and vegetables.
Seeing his creation Roan smiled this was good very good. At the center of the earth mote was a glade and here perched on a bolder he decided to rest.
PP expenditure
1pp (artifact) mold land: Roan created the first earth mote
1pp (artifact) nourish land: A forest grows on the Earth mote. The main trees are Iron trees from which iron wood can be harvested. And Loma trees which are a beautiful red wood.
The five beings kneeled before Roan. Roan said “Welcome to my Kingdom of Talamar. What will you call yourselves?”
The Storm soul stepped forward “we shall be known as the Genasi. What may we call our creator?”
“You will know me as Roan. Now go forth and explore this earth mote it will be your home if ever you have need of me just Pray and I will hear you. But head this warning there are others who are like me and if you wish to stay on this earth mote and be taught what I wish to teach you do not listen to another.”
With that Roan left the Ganasi to explore and learn.
PP expenditure
2pp shape Ganasi
1pp (artifact) guide: the ganasi worship Roan.
"You seem so tense, so serious," said the goddess, her voice taking on an entirely different aspect, she seemed much looser, more in tune with the "Love" part of her existence, "Relax, sit awhile, then, perhaps, we can talk of such boring matters."
Her eyes fell upon the food, and lit with an inner fire.
"Let us eat!" she exclaimed, and with the barest hint of mischief in her tone, added, "Let us have a drink."
She moved to the table. Before, her movements could be called stiff, severe, now she moved with a easy, fluid grace. It was like dancing. Slow, sensuous dancing. She eased into a chair and lifted a goblets, filled with a deep red liquid.
"Now we drink," she said, and then, almost as an unnecessary afterthought she added, "And then, perhaps, we shall talk."
If their sacraments please you as yet then I won't worry.
The god watched the Shattered Lands, idly considering its next acts.
So many things yet undone. Where do I start...
Zophiah awake. Her eyes filled with fear.
The last time that had happend...the last time new gods arrived in such numbers it had resulted in the demise of a Goddess and now new ones arrived more frequently for each passing moment.
She was new to...in a matter of speaking. Zophiah's hand touched her stomach, her eyes sad as she slowly arose.
Something within her made her remember...another life long, long ago. When something had been alive within her. A child...a child that she had held in her arms. A child that had made that life worth to live.
Her name at the time had been Iddya, a young woman of Halfling breed. Happy in her role as a Cleric to the Great Mother. A defender of the faith and a caretaker of the people.
She had been hunted, Giants had burnt and robbed her village.
First she fought but the Giants where to strong and to many. She had turned her back and fled. Fled far, far away. Fled to lands where no Dwarf nor Halfling had ever set their feet.
There she lived, there she prospered, there she raised her son and there she died fourty years later in her sleep.
New gods came to the world. Fatherless, motherless, siblingless...alone...no. No, no, no, no, she couldn't allow that. She couldn't allow Gods to enter this world without having it explained to them. Without having them understand how beautiful it actually was and why they should try to help it, to heal it, not to destroy it in petty conflicts of greed.
She faded away and a moment afterward she appeared in front of the newest God. A god of words, language and scripture. A wanderer armed with a staff not made out of wood, but made out of the meaning of wood was supposed to be.
She rose her hand in greeting, bowed and adressed the new God in a respectful way.
" Good day, Cousin. I am Zophiah, Goddess of spirits and Guardian of the After-life. I come here to greet you to this world in the memory of my mother. "
For just a fraction of an instant, the old man hesitated, then, with an agility that belied his true nature, he sprang forward, his arm snapping out like a cobra. The "mouse" slipped between his fingers, and scurried away. With the grace of a herd of stampeding elephants, the old man barrelled after it, cursing and shouting as he went. A few heated moments later, the man returned to his resting spot, the "mouse" held firmly in his grip. He plopped himself down, and pondered what to do next. He couldn't keep living like this, wandering about, chasing after stray words. He didn't even know what he was trying to accomplish with this wandering. So he reconciled to make amends. He would start with the "mouse".
With his free hand, the man reached into his robes. He fumbled for a moment, then his hand emerged, clutching that fabled warden of words the "book". This word was more solemn than his fellow, who had twice tried to sink the points of its "M" into the old man's hand. No, the "book" barely tried to escape. The man was grateful for that. It would make his job a lot easier. It was going to be hard enough being confined to just using one hand. So, with a sigh, he set to work. After much fiddling, and much cursing, the man finally acheived success. There, clutched in his sweaty hand, was a large leather-bound book. Without further ado, he thrust to wriggling "mouse" into the "book" that was now a book. His hand free now, he wrenched the book open to the first page. There, right at the top of the crips page, in neat print, and with absolutely no wriggling, was the word "mouse". The old man smiled. But he was not finished. If this book was to do what he wished, it would take more than a single, one-syllable word. No, he would need more words, and, preferably, ones that were much longer. He set to work.
First, he pulled out the basics, in order to get a steady platform from which to lauch his plan. He pulled the word "Tome" from his robes. "Volume" and "Grimoire" soon followed. "Repository" and "Compendium" were next, if only to provide somewhat of a purpose. To top it all of, he added a word of his own devising "Dictionary". Then, just a few adjectives, like "Collect" and "Hold" as well as "Everything". A few more word wrapped it up, and he was done. With much sweating, and panting, the old man stood by the tree, and examined his handiwork. He was impressed. A handsome, leather-bound and heavily ornate tome rested in his hands. It was very large, though it contained uncountable more pages than apparently possible. In beautiful embroidery across the from was written "The Encyclopedia Unanimous". The old man frowned at the name. Too long, he thought, but it would do. For his purposes he would just call it "The Book" and be done with it. He had to admit though, "Encyclopedia Unanimous" had a nice ring...
He would have to think on that. For now, he trudged onwards, whistling merrily to himself as he went.
3 PP Create Artifact (Greater) The Encyclopedia Unanimous A large repository for all known words, the power of the Encyclopedia is such that words spoken from it strangely resonate with those that hear them. The result is that it provide 1 PP towards Guide actions.
"Hello Zophiah," he said, shaping words from sound waves.
He considered her for a moment, then pulled out the Encyclopedia. He turned to the first page. He pulled a "quill" from his robes, which soon became a quill, and, just below the word "mouse", wrote the word "Zophiah". Amazingly, unexpectedly, the word flared with an inner light. The old man shut the book, and considered ehr once more, a newfound reverence in his eyes. The words don't lie, he thought, the words never lie.
"Perhaps, I shall try.." Lifting up with one hand to the Eye of Restraint that rested upon his forehead, he grasped it in one hand and removed the red jewel. He held the ruby high in the air and merely let go, the Eye did not fall, instead it merely remained where it was, not moving an inch.
Stepping forward Drahthor paused for a moment, remembering how the God Nocturne had entered into the Palace of the Empress with ease, he caused the fires of the room to burn brighter and dispel all shadow. He then sealed the hallway from which they had entered and caused a magical field to block the gaze and ears of other Gods. He did not want them to be able to see and take advantage of this "relaxing" thing he was going to try.
Empress
Continuing on towards the table, Drahthor picked up an examined a strange red fruit. It had smooth but firm texture, not quite round it curved in at the base and top, and Drahthor recalled that it was called an apple. Biting into the apple, he felt the sweet juices pour into his mouth and found the sensation pleasing. He took another bite, and then another, they were each pleasing but none seemed to be as delicious as the first.
Stepping towards one of the goblets, he picked it up and examined the liquid inside. It was a swirling deeply red substance he remembered the mortals called wine. Normally any affects of the drink would be banished in an instance, but instead Drahthor decided to allow the substance to interact with his form as if he was mortal. Within a few drinks, he began to feel the whipcord tension that he had known since birth begin to drain from his shoulders.
"I think I enjoy this state, relaxing." As he spoke these words Drahthor cast his gaze upon the Empress. Whereas he had noticed her beauty before, in the past it had always been as one might examine a beautiful peace of art. However, now there was something else. Some strange sensation that seemed to draw him to her form, to the curves of her body, the locks of her hair, the subtle nature of her skin, the redness of her lips. Taking a step closer Drahthor expressed "This.... is interesting."
Stepping towards one of the goblets, he picked it up and examined the liquid inside. It was a swirling deeply red substance he remembered the mortals called wine. Normally any affects of the drink would be banished in an instance, but instead Drahthor decided to allow the substance to interact with his form as if he was mortal. Within a few drinks, he began to feel the whipcord tension that he had known since birth begin to drain from his shoulders.
"I think I enjoy this state, relaxing." As he spoke these words Drahthor cast his gaze upon the Empress. Whereas he had noticed her beauty before, in the past it had always been as one might examine a beautiful peace of art. However, now there was something else. Some strange sensation that seemed to draw him to her form, to the curves of her body, the locks of her hair, the subtle nature of her skin, the redness of her lips. Taking a step closer Drahthor expressed "This.... is interesting."
Drahthor
The Goddess of Love lifted the goblet to her full, red lips, and allowed a small amount of liquid to seep in, to pour down her throat. It reached her stomach where an odd sensation began. A warm feeling began to spread across her chest. She drank, still more deeply, and the feeling spread. Soon, her entire body felt as if on fire. And it felt good!
She reclined in her chair, her legs crossed, her arms relaxed. The silk dress settled nicely about her form. It revealed the shape of her body, down to the last sensuous curve. She reached towards the table. A bunch of small, round, purple fruit lay before her. Grapes. She pulled one free from the rest. She examined it for a moment, took in the scent of it. And, ever so slowly, she slipped it into her mouth. She sat there for a moment, pondering its taste, moved it around in her mouth with her tongue. She pushed it between her molars. She slowly began to bite down, let the juices seep out, coat her palate with the taste of it. She swallowed, and felt it slip down her throat.
She looked over at her fellow god, and smiled a coy smile.
"So," she asked, "How do you like living?"
She reclined in her chair, her legs crossed, her arms relaxed. The silk dress settled nicely about her form. It revealed the shape of her body, down to the last sensuous curve. She reached towards the table. A bunch of small, round, purple fruit lay before her. Grapes. She pulled one free from the rest. She examined it for a moment, took in the scent of it. And, ever so slowly, she slipped it into her mouth. She sat there for a moment, pondering its taste, moved it around in her mouth with her tongue. She pushed it between her molars. She slowly began to bite down, let the juices seep out, coat her palate with the taste of it. She swallowed, and felt it slip down her throat.
She looked over at her fellow god, and smiled a coy smile.
"So," she asked, "How do you like living?"
Empress
As the Lord of Destruction and Creation crossed the room the ambient temperature of the ziggurat seemed to rise as his mood became excited. Smiling Drahthor took another step towards the Empress. He was transfixed now, the mere act of her eating the fruit he found intoxicating. He took another swig of the wine that sat within his goblet. As he drew nearer he seemed to veer away at the last second, instead taking a seat in a nearby chair. Staring at the Empress he said "Interesting, I think I am enjoying it, though tell me... is there more that living has to offer?"
Drahthor
The Goddess contemplated the God for a moment. She pulled another grape absent-mindedly from the table. This time, she cut it with her pearly-white from teeth. She chewed silently for a moment, then popped the other half into her mouth. She paused for a moment. Then she leaned forwards, her eyes locked onto his. Her arms crossed loosely over her knees.
"It offers," said the goddess in a low, seductive voice, "Whatever you'd like it to offer."
She smiled once more, and then leaned back in her chair. Her eyes still locked on him, she took one more sip.
"It offers," said the goddess in a low, seductive voice, "Whatever you'd like it to offer."
She smiled once more, and then leaned back in her chair. Her eyes still locked on him, she took one more sip.
Empress
Drahthor watched as the Empress slowly and sensuously devoured another grape. What was this, some strange force? Did mortals truly live in this state? Then the Empress leaned forward to speak and he found his eyes drawn down her neck line and into her dress. She spoke then, and her words caused his pulse to race and his skin to tingle. He did not know how to deal with this, it was becoming to much. She sat back in the obsidian chair, her very existence beguiling and tormenting him.
This should not be happening, he was a God. He was the Lord of Creation and Destruction, the Serpent of Rebirth. These thoughts drifted through his mind, however they were drowned by the roar of his desire. Without the cautioning presence of the Eye of Restraint he could no longer seem to check himself.
In a moment he had decided and acted. Taking one last drink from the gobelt he cast it aside, then with his other hand he gripped the collar of the Cloak of Madness and discarded it as well. He then launched himself forward, whilst simultaneously the obsidian throne that the Empress sat upon seemed to dissolve underneath her. Before she could even register the pull of gravity he had grabbed her and, holding her by the wrists pinned her body against the wall. His own form pressed tightly against hers he leaned down and breathed in her scent. The combined sensations of the feel of her flesh and the smell of her form fueling the flame of his desire.
Looking into her green eyes that so captivated and entranced him, Drahthor whispered "Then does it even offer you?" Before he leaned down and passionately kissed the Goddess.
This should not be happening, he was a God. He was the Lord of Creation and Destruction, the Serpent of Rebirth. These thoughts drifted through his mind, however they were drowned by the roar of his desire. Without the cautioning presence of the Eye of Restraint he could no longer seem to check himself.
In a moment he had decided and acted. Taking one last drink from the gobelt he cast it aside, then with his other hand he gripped the collar of the Cloak of Madness and discarded it as well. He then launched himself forward, whilst simultaneously the obsidian throne that the Empress sat upon seemed to dissolve underneath her. Before she could even register the pull of gravity he had grabbed her and, holding her by the wrists pinned her body against the wall. His own form pressed tightly against hers he leaned down and breathed in her scent. The combined sensations of the feel of her flesh and the smell of her form fueling the flame of his desire.
Looking into her green eyes that so captivated and entranced him, Drahthor whispered "Then does it even offer you?" Before he leaned down and passionately kissed the Goddess.
Drahthor
When the other god pulled back, and gazed once more into her eyes, he found therein, a flicker of mischief. A ghost of a smile flashed across her lips. Suddenly, a power pulsated through her form. It rippled inwards, and then exploded outwards, an invisible force that forced the other god back several meters. Then, slowly, her body moving with a feline grace, her resemblance to a large hunting cat rather uncanny, the Goddess began to walk towards the God, placing one foot directly before the other, her hips swaying hypnotically. She placed her hand upon his chest, palm forward, fingers spread out.
"I did say," she said, in a voice barely more than a whisper, "Whatever..."
She began to push, ever so softly, on the chest of the other god. She pushed him backwards. The tempo of his heart quickened. She walked forward as well, her hips still swaying slowly, hypnotically. His heart began to beat even faster. She pushed him back, back onto the bed. She leaned over him. His heart beat still faster. She placed one kiss upon his lips, fleeting as the flutter of a butterfly's wings, then pulled back. She turned around, she wasn't facing him any longer, she had her back to him. Another sound could be heard between the beating of his heart. The sound of her heart. The two hearts began to pound, loudly, rhythmically. Her hips began to sway, her arms began to move. She began to dance, a slow, steady dance to the song of their hearts. She turned, faced him, she was still dancing, and she was smiling.
As she danced she moved, slowly but surely, towards him, her body swaying to the rhythm, her hands running across her body. She was right in front of him now, she was getting on the bed now, she was putting her knees on either side of him now. She leaned in, right over him. She breathed in his scent, it was intoxicating, they were close, so very close now. Their lips neared, they were about to kiss. He closed his eyes. Then he felt a finger press against his lips. He opened his eyes in surprise. She was gone. Faint laughter echoed through the Ziggurat, but it too faded, faded into silence. She was gone.
"I did say," she said, in a voice barely more than a whisper, "Whatever..."
She began to push, ever so softly, on the chest of the other god. She pushed him backwards. The tempo of his heart quickened. She walked forward as well, her hips still swaying slowly, hypnotically. His heart began to beat even faster. She pushed him back, back onto the bed. She leaned over him. His heart beat still faster. She placed one kiss upon his lips, fleeting as the flutter of a butterfly's wings, then pulled back. She turned around, she wasn't facing him any longer, she had her back to him. Another sound could be heard between the beating of his heart. The sound of her heart. The two hearts began to pound, loudly, rhythmically. Her hips began to sway, her arms began to move. She began to dance, a slow, steady dance to the song of their hearts. She turned, faced him, she was still dancing, and she was smiling.
As she danced she moved, slowly but surely, towards him, her body swaying to the rhythm, her hands running across her body. She was right in front of him now, she was getting on the bed now, she was putting her knees on either side of him now. She leaned in, right over him. She breathed in his scent, it was intoxicating, they were close, so very close now. Their lips neared, they were about to kiss. He closed his eyes. Then he felt a finger press against his lips. He opened his eyes in surprise. She was gone. Faint laughter echoed through the Ziggurat, but it too faded, faded into silence. She was gone.
Xirinet's form twisted as it considered.
Beasts I think, not the earthshakers others seem bent upon unmleashing. No the creatures which scurry underfoot, for without them the titans would be unable to survive.
He offered a glance to Xirinet. "I intend to create something that lives, but never truly dies, I think. It occurs to me that you might wish to be a part of it."
" Hello there.."
She said once more.
" Who are you? And what is that thing that rests in your hands? Is it a magical artifact of some sort? "
There was power in it, that was one thing that was true.
But the book, gleaming black in the shadows, seemed to call to him and so the human picked it up. He leafed through its pages, unsure what it was, but when he looked down at the pages and the strange symbols scrawled upon it he found he could understand their meaning. As if on its own the book opened to a certain passage and the man felt compelled to read it. Thought gave way to form and the words passed from his mind to his lips; for a moment he wondered at how strange it was for symbols to produce sound. Yet these were sounds of power and they drove mundane things from his mind.
The words the man spoke were unlike any he had heard or said before, and they often seemed to require sounds that he was unsure how he made, for human mouths and teeth and tongues were not meant for them. But with each word the world around him changed ever so slightly, the shadows grew dim and the warm glow of the sun fled, replaced by a purer light, a more alien light.
Hours passed and day gave way to night, though the light in the ruins grew more intense, shining brightly so that mortals from miles around wondered at it.
Then the sun rose again and with it the man read the last words. Time stood still for a moment and the universe cried in agony as a hole was torn into it. The man saw another world through that hole and screamed. He nearly fainted but that vision changed and instead the hole seemed to show a cave somewhere, in which there seemed to be a giant head. This head turned towards the man and he saw it had a single large eye set in its center, but with a mass of writhing eye-stalks in place of hair. The creature was floating above the ground and it approached the hole, stepping through it. The portal closed behind it.
Through needle-point teeth the creature demanded answers, "What is your name and why have you summoned me here?"
The man stammered, unsure how to respond. The creature before him snarled at the wait, but did not move. When the man found his voice he said, "I-I am called Ruprick."
"Very well, Ruprick. Why have you summoned me? What do you desire?"
The fear fled from Ruprick's heart. Did his ears deceive him or was this creature offering its services? A smile lingered beneath the surface of his face as he thought back to his wife and children. They were poor and in desperate need of warmth and food; indeed, he had been searching the country side for wild vegetables and grains when he had stumbled across this place.
"I desire wealth," Ruprick told the creature.
"Do you now?" the Beholder said, a laugh in its mouth. "Well then, I think I may be able to help you."
-----
Nibiru heard a request. Though it did not come from his master, it bore the touch of him and he knew that authority had been given to this being. The exarch heard the request and granted it.
Flying low to the planet, scraping by the Azure Aegis, Nibiru called to the land and commanded it to put forth an abundance of precious metal.
The request complete, Nibiru left near-space and traveled far, to where Drahthor's continent floated in the aether. In that area he sat deep in thought. That a mortal could command a favor from him did not please him. Repayment would be needed.
pp
1pp from Exarch, Mold Land (Lesser): Shattered Lands - Nibiru causes the land around Alexandria to become rich in silver ore
Yes I think that may be something I would wish my hand in. Lest they be corrupted by eternity, no?
He lanced up. "Of course, should one fall too far, they will become that which they hunt. . . and that which they hunt will be capable of rising up and becoming one of them . . . an etneral never ending battle."
Xirinet seemed to momentarily liquefy, mist becoming awater of a deep sea-green before once again becoming fog.
Would you have thir natrure known to the world? Or shall you shroud it in secret at their creation? I am sure humans would care little for the tides of their lives, but others may not be accepting.
Others may be jealous of such an eternity, still others may hold a grudge at their... possible histories.
Perhaps among the Golden Hills? It would seem a most fitting place for such being to be born unto.
Roan walked down into the Genasi village and marveled at this new wonder. Then a tall purple Genasi approached him. She possessed a dangerous beauty like that of a summer squall lightning crack around her and she wore flowing robes of silk. Bowing low she said “great lord what brings you here.”
Roan smiled broadly “You have learned so much my children but how have you accomplished all of this. Tell me your name child.”
“My name lord is Voka (pronounced voyka) and I am the voice of the Genasi. As far as aour accomplishments go we only do what you have asked of us we have explored our home and found the little spinners that make the silk. And we have found the fruits that are good to eat. But greatest of all we have learned to use the gifts of the elements you given us command over.”
Roan smile grew and his teeth began to show. “But there is shelter, nay more than shelter architecture. How have you done this?” as Roan asked this he waved at the stone structures before him they were wild and chaotic like the wind and rain had shaped the stone.
Voka’s head dipped again “We found the edge of our home and looked over the rim there we saw others building structures and we copied them. Though we know not how the make theirs so square and strait”
Roan asked “Will you give me a demonstration of your ability.”
Voka nodded and clapped her hands turning about to face the village center. All had gathered to see their god and hear him speak. From the crowed came five earth souls. Their muscle bunched and rippled below the rock like hide they had for skin. Voka said “we shall build a shrine for our lord”. The Earth souls nodded and formed a circle with a twenty foot diameter. Then slowly they raised their fists above their heads with sudden violence the group fell to the ground striking the earth with strength that was incredible. The very soil shuddered beneath Roan’s hooves. Giant boulders filled the circle; the earth souls stood slowly then again explode into action. With round house kicks and jabbing fists they roughly hewed the rock. Soon a stone structure appeared before him it was rough but you could tell the shape was four pillars and alter in the middle. Behind the stone alter a lump of stone that might have been a statue.
Then again Voka clapped and the earth souls stepped back and in there place came water souls. After circling the structure they began to dance and as the danced there skin seamed to turn to liquid and they flowed around the stone wearing it smooth. Soon the statue looked like Roan and the pillars twisted toward the sky. Again Voka clapped and the fire souls and air souls stepped forward and they summand fire so hot that it melted the alabaster left behind by the earth souls. This they picked up the molten rock and began to spin it in the air. The air souls caused a wind to cool the stone into sheets. Theses they used to form three walls and a roof of alabaster so thin you could see the glow of the sun through them. Then stepped forward Voka herself, she called down lightning that flashed so bright it seared the eyes when Roans vision cleared there etched into the stone alter was Roan symbol. Once this was done Voka turned and bowed to Roan
“This is a great work my children you have done me proud, but you can do better all you need is knowledge and knowledge is something I can give you.” Then roan shrugged out of his cloak of leaves and stretched his wings then taking out little maker he said “this is a tool…”
Veros heard a faint whispering in the back of his mind, a powerful mortal, guiding hundreds in dedicated prayer, seeking an artifact that could serve their purpose. Without thinking too much about it, he sent a mental command for the creation forge to grant the desire that so many mortals joined in unison to request.
-----
Deep within Duskpeak, Drevan lead his servant in dedicated prayer as he channeled the combined arcane might of a dozen of his most talented mages. After weeks of prayer and focuses power, endless exhasution as they worked at their task, the room exploded with brilliant light, temporarily blinding them all. When it finally faded, a staff of unworked crystal, unshaped by mortals hands, glowing with arcane enegeries floated silently in the air. He reached out and plucked his new weapon from the air, holding it before his servants.
His ritual was prepared and the Staff of Ruin was complete. Soon, he would have everything he desired.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Staff of Ruin
Edit
I add this because I made an edit, putting in a paragraph I neglected to place, explaining the arrival of the staff. Here is the text I added:
Veros heard a faint whispering in the back of his mind, a powerful mortal, guiding hundreds in dedicated prayer, seeking an artifact that could serve their purpose. Without thinking too much about it, he sent a mental command for the creation forge to grant the desire that so many mortals joined in unison to request.
It has no direct effect on the outcome of the post, but it does explain why Drevan has an artifact staff forged in the creation forge.
Veros heard a faint whispering in the back of his mind, a powerful mortal, guiding hundreds in dedicated prayer, seeking an artifact that could serve their purpose. Without thinking too much about it, he sent a mental command for the creation forge to grant the desire that so many mortals joined in unison to request.
It has no direct effect on the outcome of the post, but it does explain why Drevan has an artifact staff forged in the creation forge.
Dissolving into fog Xirinet flowed into the Great Cathedral, confident Veros would follow it.
Unlike the other area he had seen, devoted to Xirinet, no markings of pictures adorned the altar or walls. It was all blank. He approached the altar itself, and noted that a single offering had been left there. He picked up the book and flipped through it. An offering by a travelling loremaster, who had dedicated his last fifteen years to searching, exploring, and mapping the shattered lands, the book was filled with detailed maps, carefuly marked with various hazards and warnings. A truly treasured piece of knowledge, it's valuable almost incalculable. He set it down. "Why here, Xirinet?"
Xirinet took in the room, mildly displeased thet his followers had not kept it clean, and mumbled.
Of course the angels would not see cleaning as a duty... But humans at least should think to give proper offereing...
Returning its focus to the god of knowledge it continued.
The Great Cathedral is home to those who would devote themselves to greater causes. Be it worship, or study, or any of a number of things. It is the heart of Alexandria.
Humans have long since associated with the eternal, and here is the seat of the eternal in human lands.
Listening to the rest of his comments, he nodded. "I supose it would be a fine place to begin then. Would you like the honor?"
The mists seemed to boil as Xirinet began to work the basis of what would be the new race. A tall, slim form began to take shape. Its features possesssed a resemblance to the angels walking the halls not far away.
Continuing to shape the form it began to take on a hue reminiscent of the dawn sky, traceries wending across its skin seeming to scribe arcane patterns upon their flesh.
With a twist the mortal form seemd to shudder, before settling to utter stillness as Xirinet bound within it the spark of immortality. With another twist the life god imbued the soon-to-be living immortal with a focus and determination capable of surviving endless years.
This is as far as I need go, the rest is yours.
Actions
1PP, Shape Populace: Going into Veros' project.
He halted before giving it true life, however. These would not gain new spirits, but something else entirely. He triggered the hanging spell he had left in the Farscape, letting it find the unique souls he had learned about, the souls of exceptional individuals. Thos who desired it, had the exceptional potential and capability, would be born into these forms.
Hundreds of soulds flooded into the waiting spell, but not all were suitable for this portion of the task. He released those that were into the new shell, multiplying it, each new form being different in some way, reflecting the new spirit within it.
He pushed the inapporpriate souls into Orb of Visions, to await their use. "They are alive now, but held in stasis for the moment. There is still one final piece of the puzzle to complete."
He focuses his mind and unleashed the mental message to Priya. A simple request, for her to apply a modification to her mother's rakshasa, linking these two races together into a perpetual battle of light against darkness.
PP Expenditure
1 PP (Artifact) + 1 PP Xirinet - Shape Populace (Lesser) - Deva
PP expenditure
2pp guide: wood working
Show
Deep within the Ziggurat of Drahthor, the Lord of Destruction and Creation raged. He had been denied, he had desired with the white hot passion of the sun and he had been denied. He unleashed a monstrous roar, so powerful that it caused the shield of silence he had employed to attempt and block the eavesdropping of the other Gods to...
-----
All had gone according to plan. At his command, vampires from all across the land had flocked to Duskpeak, to participate in his plans. Drevan put the final touches on the powerful ritual, pleased tha there were so many.
Also among them were thralls, creations he hadn't even known his people had figured out. They too would serve his purpose. In only a few short days, this ritual would be complete, and he could begin the final steps.
He glanced back into the stolen book, and began the next phase of the ritual.
-----
As the loremasters had spread thoughout the three nations, they found border restrictions between Duska Krak and the eladrin a hassle, and the simple distance between Alexandria and their headquarters a true struggle.
After years of dealing with these problems, the theft of six valuable tomes of knowledge finally spurred their leaders into action, and they moved the headquarters. Paying hundreds of dwarves to make the trip and perform the required work, they arranged to have a large stone fotress erected under the shadows of Skypeak, claiming the immediate area around it as their own.
From this centralized location, they had free access too all three great nations. As an additional, perk, being so close to the humites, they begin to recruit humite members.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Vampires gain the use of rituals from humans who have been turned.
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Loremasters build a new headquarters beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, and transfer all of their stores of knowledge there, including the Tome of Knowledge artifact. Additionally, they begin recruiting humites.
"This," he said, holding up the Book, "Is words, etched in ink, locked on pages, and bound in leather."
Still the world raged at her to listen. But she was mistress of another world now, he could see, by the way she stood, the way her shoulders were, this was not her home.
"You see," he began, "If it wasn't for me, stray words would be running amok, causing untold mischief."
He ran his hand lovingly over the cover of the book. He traced the embroidered words with his finger, opened the book and felt the smooth pages. There were so many that remained blank, so very many...
"So I have taken it upon myself," he continued, snapping out of his reverie, "To round up every stray words and menaing that I can, and record it in my Book, for the better of all."
The world still wailed, but another note was creeping into the language of the world. A note of panic. Another being was on its way, a strange and foreign being, of monsters and of alien light. The being spoke, and the old man smiled.
"Yes, I guess I am new," said the old man, and then paused to look himself over, "But by no means am I young."
The old man chuckled heartily.
----------
Laughter echoes through the Cathedral. A young girl, barely a toddler, skips into the room. A large area is cleared out, she skips across it. A being, wrapped in flesh and purity, is curled up in a ball on the other side of the space. Her laughter reverberates off of the walls. She stops right before the figure, who begins to unfurl itself, and stands. It appears as a perfectly sculpted mortal, lines of white marking its beautiful body. Its eyes, twin orbs of white, turn to the child. A wide grin splits the face of the child. Lines, much like those on the Deva, trace across her body, those these flare with a holy light, and flood the room with their pearlescence. Her eyes become balls of white light, and her hair glows with an inner radiance. More Deva stand, all around the edges of the room, staring at the little girl in awe, in reverence. But only the first stays close to her.
The Deva smiles down at the girl, happiness radiating from his features. Then his smile begins to slip. He has caught sight of something across the room. Furred, catlike being are filtering into the room, their eyes flickering with an inner malevolence. One stalks ahead of the others, his eyes fixed on the lead Deva. The Deva in question allows all traces of happiness to slide from his face, to be replaced by unconcealed loathing. His expression is matched by the Rakshasa. Then, suddenly, the Deva tears across the room, running straight at the Rakshasa. His foe does the same, catapulting itself forward with powerful leaps and bounds. The two meet in the center of the room, and begin to tear at each other like animals. Kicks, punches, bites, anything went. The two were locked in a fearsome duel. They had to fight, had to kill. This thing was wrong, terrible, it must be destroyed, they thought.
A cry rent the air. The two stopped in their mindless struggle, and turned to the young girl. The light had faded, and died, and she was crying, great wracking sobs. She was running out at the two beings. She was pushing, pulling, trying anything to pull them apart. The two were too stunned to do anything. They moved apart, and went to stand at their respective sides, leaving the girl to sit in the center, and cry.
This confrontation was over, but there would be more. Whenever the two races met, blades would clash, blood would be spilt. And with a blessing from the city, Atakhari, the two became irrevocably linked, an interminable cycle of reincarnation linking the two.
PP Expenditure
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser): The Devas and the Rakshasas are now mortal enemies, and will forevermore be locked in a terrible battle, never at peace from the other. If one were to encounter the other, they would have to fight very hard to avoid attacking the other on the spot.
2 PP Guide Populace (Lesser x2): The Rakshasas and the Devas now worship Priya, whom they refer to as the god-child. Technically, they worship the Empress, though they direct their prayers and such at Priya.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser): The Rakshasas become linked to the Deva method of reincarnation.
2 PP Guide Populace (Lesser x2): The Rakshasas and the Devas now worship Priya, whom they refer to as the god-child. Technically, they worship the Empress, though they direct their prayers and such at Priya.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser): The Rakshasas become linked to the Deva method of reincarnation.
PP Use
2 PP [1 from Eorna] - Guide Populace - Some humites can read and write
1 PP - Guide Populace - Humites now keep historical records.
Within moments, he could feel his skin cooling slightly. His gaze turned towards the distant ball of flame, and a smile graced his face for the first tome in a milenia.
Already, a thin gray haze began to manifest high in the air. Drevan lifted his staff and turned to leave, his minions clearing the way. The battle had finally begun.
-----
A grey mist engulfed the land, from the center of Duska Krak out into the lands of humans and eladrin, blocking the light of the sun and enshrouding the land in the palor of twilight.
Even though the sun was visible directly overhead, indicating it was noon, the land was dark. Moving through the darkness, the vampires began thier their march to battle.
As the day wore on, the world under the shroud grew darker and darker, the feeble light failing. By dusk, total darkness would engulf the area, and even magical lights wavered and flickers, their radius and brightness reduced.
Show
This ritual of darkness has no direct effect on any of the populations under it's area of effect, besides being creepy, a very bad omen, and having the obvious penalties of reduced to no lighting. It will fade on it's own within a few days.
The ritual requires special knowledge (granted by my earlier guide teaching vampires rituals, but can also be learned from the Staff of Ruin itself), as well as the Staff of Ruin to perform. The Staff can be used to compplete and invoke several other rituals as well.
The ritual requires special knowledge (granted by my earlier guide teaching vampires rituals, but can also be learned from the Staff of Ruin itself), as well as the Staff of Ruin to perform. The Staff can be used to compplete and invoke several other rituals as well.
Angels watched, sure that their god would not act in such a way. Even more sure that whatever this haze was it was a sign of dark times to come.
***
Xirinet idly watched as the Deva were completed suddenly feeling a surge from its followers.
Turning and flowing out it was caught up in its thoughts, deciding wehat next to bring into the world.
***
Soldiers, that's what they were. At least that's what they would be called by anyone from outside the Shattered Lands. To each other they were just a scouting party sent to investigate the source of the darkness. At their lead was an angel garbed in fine plate, and among their party a duid known for her skill with weather-magic.
They had thought it was a good idea to be prepared for anything.
He stood up and gazed skyward. "Something is wrong. The light has dimmed, and I can hear the sounds of screams. So many screams."
He turned to Xirinet. "Do you feel it?"
Note
I'll be taking further actions involving the vampires to the Mortal Thread for now, but I felt the veil of darkness was important enough that everybody should be aware of it.
I have work to do myself.
He looked up. "There is a touch of the divine to it. It is troubling. I must go, Xirinet, and see what is happening. Have the new ones scatter out and begin their new lives. Farscape already has the built in mystical effects necessary to insure their continued reicarnation, so they will not need direct intervention any further."
He hefted his staff, releasing the rest iof the spirits he had claimed, letting them inhabit their new rakshasa bodies, and releasing them scattered about the world. They would find their evil tasks soon enough. He walked his way out into the deepening darkness, making his way slowly to Duska Krak.
He slowly pondered what to do, keeping an eye on the vampires.
The deva found a calm acceptance within the Cathedral, and theame as they moved out into Alexandria and the Chattered Lands.
***
Xirinet considered the tools that were being provided to the other mortals, and wondered which tool his deserved next.
Meanwhile the power of the leylines ran amok, provbing once again taht life would expand to fill a niche. Within Alexandria sightings were made of a mishievous lizard-bird fond of stealing small shiny objects. It proved to enjoy nesting in the high arches and spires of the city.
Actions
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Spiretop Drakes. And they happen to love the many high-pointsa of the Shattered Lands.
The ritual circle pulsed once more, the room shaking and growning with every pulse. "But, it's to late. There is nothing you can do."
Drevan stood up, raising his staff. "Finally, I shall have revenge, and peace."
He slammed the staff down onto the circle, and those within Duska Krak, living and dead, knew nothing more.
-----
The twin moons of Mara were high in the sky, but the haze of darkness shielded thier light from view, leaving the lands around Duska Krak shrouded in a near unbreakable darkness. In a single instant, the darkness vanished, replaced by the silver light of the moons performing their delicate dance high in the sky. As they moved directly in front of each other, a shining light, emanated from Duska Krak for a split second, then the world screamed as Duska Krak was obliterated in an explosion of white light.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - Duska Krak and the ground around it is gone, vanished as if it never existed.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) - The population of Duska Krak (every last dwarf, halfling, and doppelganger that lived within it) vanishes, leaving no trace in the wak of the explosion.
Notes
This does not mean halflings, dwarves, and doppelgangers are exstinct. Some halflings and dwarves still live in Kalafi Krak, and not every halfling and dwarf on the mainland lives within Duska Krak's borders. It is safe to say the vast majority is gone.
As for doppelgangers, well, they live among Eladrin, Humans, and Humites, so they are just fine.
As for doppelgangers, well, they live among Eladrin, Humans, and Humites, so they are just fine.
I would teach them a way never to forget the sacrifices of old.
The god turned its focus upon the angels, writing within their minds the runes of a new language. An echoing chorus of runic tracery momentarily imbued within every angels mind before fading to a memory.
A gift, that words may not be forgotten.
The humans soon adapted the strangely flowing-yet-jagged script to their own use, learning from their immortal allies how to record words.
Actions
2PP, Guide Populace: Angels learn how to read and write the Supernal script...
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans adopt Supernal as their script of choice, reading and writing in it.
1PP, Guide Populace: Humans adopt Supernal as their script of choice, reading and writing in it.
PP
1 PP, Guide Populace (Lesser): Leave Cororan as instructed by the Exarch - A portion of the War Troll Populace leaves Cororan due to instruction of their Exarch (AKA use his PP up)
2 PP, Guide Populace (Moderate): Building Tools - The War Trolls learn how to create various tools for building
2 PP, Guide Populace (Moderate): Mining - The War Trolls learn how to mine in a mountain on Cororan that has plenty of Coal and Iron.
1 PP, Guide Populace (Lesser): Leave Cororan as instructed by the Exarch - A portion of the War Troll Populace leaves Cororan due to instruction of their Exarch (AKA use his PP up)
2 PP, Guide Populace (Moderate): Building Tools - The War Trolls learn how to create various tools for building
2 PP, Guide Populace (Moderate): Mining - The War Trolls learn how to mine in a mountain on Cororan that has plenty of Coal and Iron.
However, as he walked he suddenly felt a strange sensation. A power had been unleashed on the world far below, a destructive force never before seen. In a burst of flame he had left his realm and reappeared over where Duska Krak had once been, only to find the land stripped away and the sea overtaking what had once been. Looking down in amazement Drahthor said to himself "What deity has done this, to destroy an entire civilization in the blink of an eye!?"
Working through out the night Roan made and cut a giant Gem. Then gathering to him the five most powerful genasi he showed them how to direct their elemental power to create the Veil of Talamar.
Pp expenditure
1 pp (artifact) the Veil of Talamar: this gem creates a one way mist around Talamar (the earth mote). The mist allows no scrying by any being and none can enter Talamar with out permission. The mist cant be seen from Talamar but if your looking at talamar it appears to be shrouded in mist.
PP Expenditures
1 PP from the Rain Spawn Beast (Lesser): Tigers begin to appear in Atakhari.
1 PP Nourish Land (Lesser): Trees and flowers and grass begin to grow in isolated "groves" in Atakhari.
1 PP Nourish Land (Lesser): Small cats can be found all across the city now, most notably tabby cats.
1 PP Nourish Land (Lesser): Trees and flowers and grass begin to grow in isolated "groves" in Atakhari.
1 PP Nourish Land (Lesser): Small cats can be found all across the city now, most notably tabby cats.
"Drahthor, right? Do you happen to know what caused this calamity?"
This one was truly an interesting one.
" Words? Etched down on paper? That is a rather curious idea, Cousin. "
She said as she tasted the new word. Paper...yet another strange idea...the Mortals had done a lot while she had been gone. Many new things had been invented, created and formed.
New gods had been born as well and some of them actually showed some promise.
Zophiah tilted her head slightly against her shoulder and asked.
" Cousin? May I ask something of you? What is your purpose in this world? Are you here to wage war? Or are you here to build? To help to make the world whole instead of sundering it even more?"
Her gaze dropped and she whispered.
" This world is one of conflict and war. One of arrogant fools and of mighty heroes. This world killed mother and it will probably kill me one day as well...my purpose here is to heal. To help and to make things whole. So cousin what is your purpose? "
Drahthor would have expected to be able to sense some sliver of the power left behind, however he only detected the assorted chaos of all the Gods that possessed this world. Leaning down, Drahthor picked up the staff and began to examine it, trying to ascertain what it meant.
Just then, the Golden God from the workshop of the master of spirits appeared before him. Drahthor heard him inquire as to what caused all of this, and for a moment he merely stared at the other God before turning his eyes back to the staff. "Forgive me, I remember you from the workshop of Veros, however I do not believe I ever really met you, as such may I ask who and what you are? And as for his Cataclysm.... I do not know who created it. No mortal could ever hope to wield such reckless power, yet the touch of another God is not upon this place. What of you, have you any idea of what has caused this?"
(mold land 1PP from Unggar-Raggnu)
(nourish populous (fungi) 1PP from spore chambers)
"Oh, don't you worry," he said, shaking his head, "I'm no destroyer, I'm just a poor old man trying to find all the pieces of myself I seem to have misplaced."
The old man suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Oh! Speaking of which!" he exclaimed, "Have you seen a "V" around here, I seem to be missing a..."
The rest of his words were drowned out by a roaring torrent of wind. He could feel it, and the world around him could feel it too, but, it seemed, the Goddess could not. The wind buffetted the old man, sending his robes swirling about him. He dug his heels and his Staff into the ground to avoid being blown away. Flecks of tears flew from his eyes as he struggled against this torrent. The trees, the grass, everything around him swayed madly in the gale. Another, even more forceful wind knocked into him, and something black was sent spinning away from him. As it flew through the air, the Goddess caught a glimpse of what it was: it was a word, written in small, neat writing that spelled out the word "Duska". The word flew through the air, and collided with a tree, where it shattered, sending minute bits of black in all direction, like a small explosion of black sand. then another word flew out, followed by another, then another. Words were just whipping free of his form, all meeting the same fate, all becoming mere black sand.
The old man struggled to fight it, but there was nothing he could do. Just when he felt he could give no more, the torrent stopped. His robes settled about him, his beard fell down to rest, tossed over one shoulder by the wind. His shoulders relaxed, and he looked at the ground, his eyes downcast.
"All those voices," he said softly, "All those meanings, silenced."
He looked up at the Goddess, and there was true emotion in his eyes.
"I must ensure this never happens again," he said, "Will you help me do that?"
But the Spirit World remained calm and Zophiah closed her eyes. Troubled she was...Duska Krak was no longer.
The first kingdom of her Mother's children had been destroyed. But Zophiah felt nothing. That was what troubled her. She had never known the Dwarves nor the Halflings...it was a sad thing so much was true but still. There was better things to do then act rashly.
Especially...especially due to the eerie consequences of the light. They where not dead.
" Cousin...I have my own plans for what will come. I will though help you if what you do is right. There are though other matters that I wish to take care off...both the After-life and this world needs structure. Something it lacks and something I plan to add to it. It relies all to much on Gods and to little on itself. "
And with that, in a single explosion of fire, Drahthor was teleported from the air above what used to be Duska Krak, and reappeared before Zophia and another being.
"Goddess of Spirits, I seek your aid. The entire realm of Duska Krak is no more, the waters have rushed in and no wreckage remains. With your aid, I wish to question the recently departed spirits to find out what has happened."
Meanwhile, the Tsarok-Aran had fully integrated in several Eladrin sociaties and started to look for more potential candidates for the master Nuggoroth to turn to there side.
(create seed 3PP: function will be revealed later)
(create seed 2PP: function will be revealed later)
(guide populace (Tsarok-Aran/Eladrin) 1PP from Nuggoroth)
"Who might you be, and what are you doing here?"
The humites were scared of the strange darkness and recent loss of land. Yet they were more prepared than they first were when they fought the Duska Krak and the vampires. They learned techniques to controlling stone, and using it for weapons and barriers.
PP Use
2 PP - Guide Populace - Humite know basic stoneworking
1 PP [from Eorna] - Nourish Land - Stones are becoming more common around Terena. There are good potential spots for quarries.
"If you need help from me," said the old man to Zophiah, leaning heavily upon his Staff, his voice dripping with exhaustion, "You need only ask."
The language of the world reached an almighty crescendo as two more gods appeared among them. Siccadan struggled now to stay standing. The body language of the first god was stiff, and angry, something was obviously bothering him, and his words confirmed it. Siccadan turned to the second god, whose language suggested a certain tenderness. But in his eyes, Siccadan could see he would fight until the end for that which he believed in. And the way he looked at the trees, the grass, Siccadan could tell the new god held a deep reverence for life. Both, however, carried an air of anxiousness. Something bad had happened. But what could trouble gods to this extent? Could it have something to do with what he himself had just experienced? He thought about it, and then answered the question of the newest arrival.
"I, my good friend, am Siccadan," he said, "I am Lord of Language and Keeper of Words."
He smiled welcomingly at the two of them, and he seemed to radiate a grandfatherly air, even though he was the youngest there.
"The world whispers of this upheaval," he said, suddenly turning serious, "I can hear it on the wind, a terrible tragedy struck the world not far from here."
He shook his head as if to clear it.
"One minute there were all of these voices, speaking, adding to the meaning of the world, and then..." he paused, his face screwed up in concentration, "There was silence."
He looked up, and they could see a single tear running down his cheek and into his beard.
Drahthor held out the two shattered pieces of the staff he found floating in the waters. "There was no other wreckage in the area, no bodies nor floating debris, instead all we found was this. It has traces of the touch of Veros, God of Knowledge, Secrets, and Magic about it, however I wish to confirm any suspicions about his role in this calamity before we confront him. To do so, I wish to question the souls of the recently departed, and out of respect I seek Zophia's aid in this, for it is her domain."
***
Alexandria itself prospered, though having lost connections with Duska Krak.
At the same time the rodents in the underworks of Alexandria City grew to enormous proportions, another link in the city's internal food chain.
Actions
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Alexandria prospers
1PPP, Spawn Beast: Dire Rat
1PPP, Spawn Beast: Dire Rat
Then Drahthor appeared and talked of Duska Krak as well. Coincidence, perhaps?
"Fear not; there is little in this world that is truly lost."
Concentrating, the light the god gave off condensed into an image of the lost lands. "It is quite possible to restore that part of the world. It could be plucked from time a moment before it was destoryed and placed in the present. But for our memories, it would be as if it had never vanished."
Putting power into that phantasmal image of Duska Krak, Xa'an created something different. The image shifted into a whirlpool light and energy. Through it, if one could stand the light, one might see all that was, that is, and that will be.
PP
*3pp, Create Artifact (Greater): Temporal Vortex - destription to follow later, but the short of it is that it grants a +1 guide PP and is help Xa'an control time
*3pp, Create Artifact (Greater): Temporal Vortex - destription to follow later, but the short of it is that it grants a +1 guide PP and is help Xa'an control time
Secret
Slowly, the fabric of reality began to twist and tear, the void itself being exposed to the inside of the veil. With a groaning crack, something dark and shadowy began to emerge from the void, forcing it's way back into the world.
Finally, it was finished, the large landmass floating high above the inside of the sphere. Across the shattered landscape were remnants of Duska Krak, moments before the explosion had obliterated it. Within the veilw of secrecy, a powerful light glowed, brightening until nothing could be seen even by those within. When it vanished, Duska Krak was restored as it had been before the disaster had befallen it.
It's citizens slowly roused from their sleep, and began returning to their lives as though they had always lived on a floating continent. The only thing that struck the people as odd was the unusual status standing in the center of the council chamber. A creepy piece of art depicting a dark looking wizard, the stone seemed almost alive.
Still, apart from this oddity, the people returned to their lives, oblivious to the oddities of their new life. Slowly the veil shielding them from view faded until finaly,
Finally, it was finished, the large landmass floating high above the inside of the sphere. Across the shattered landscape were remnants of Duska Krak, moments before the explosion had obliterated it. Within the veilw of secrecy, a powerful light glowed, brightening until nothing could be seen even by those within. When it vanished, Duska Krak was restored as it had been before the disaster had befallen it.
It's citizens slowly roused from their sleep, and began returning to their lives as though they had always lived on a floating continent. The only thing that struck the people as odd was the unusual status standing in the center of the council chamber. A creepy piece of art depicting a dark looking wizard, the stone seemed almost alive.
Still, apart from this oddity, the people returned to their lives, oblivious to the oddities of their new life. Slowly the veil shielding them from view faded until finaly,
PP Refresh
6 - Veros
5 - Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Xirinet, Thans, Shurka, Vymrl, Drahthor
4 - Nocturne, Ythrexle, Frellisk, Mara, The Empress, Runescar, Roan, Zophiah, Siccadan
Koi fish begin to appear in the canals of the city, flashing their bright scales for all to see. The Dasa enjoy simply sitting at the edge of the canals, and just watch the fish swim about.
Also, one of the larger buildings in the city proper has become the Dasa's central meeting place, as well as a temple to the Empress. The Dasa have adopted the custom of gathering there on special days and presenting offerins to the Goddess, such as carved figurines, or others.
A few cases of attacks on Dasa have broken out. Particularly vicious Loma Spiders seem to be the case. The Dasa had to develop a means to defend themselves, so they began to use the tool they had already developped, like the hammers, and the pickaxes, and used them to repel the offending spiders. Those who rose arms against the threat did so in the name of the Empress. Glad to see the proactive nature of her servants, the Empress blessed them with holy magic with which they would turn back the opposition. These warriors became known as paladins. The threat has been contained, and peace has returned, though many of the Dasa still view the spiders with distrust, and paladins continue to patrol the city, searching out enemies wherever they may be.
PP Expenditure
2 PP Guide Populace (Moderate) Architecture: The Dasa have developped an odd cube-like form of architecture, which they use to tack buildings onto the side of their island haphazardly.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser): The Dasa expand into a new neighbourhood call the Blocks.
1 PP +1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Moderate) Paladin: The Dasa adopt the Paladin class.
1 PP from the Rain Spawn Beast (Lesser) Koi fish: The specimens the Dasa have encountered so far are relatively manageable, however, a couple of massive koi also inhabit the deeper sections of the canals, lurking in the shadows, and these would pose a threat if encountered.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser): The Dasa expand into a new neighbourhood call the Blocks.
1 PP +1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Moderate) Paladin: The Dasa adopt the Paladin class.
1 PP from the Rain Spawn Beast (Lesser) Koi fish: The specimens the Dasa have encountered so far are relatively manageable, however, a couple of massive koi also inhabit the deeper sections of the canals, lurking in the shadows, and these would pose a threat if encountered.
Pp expenditure
1 pp nourish (artifact) create luft trees
2pp guide air ships: these resemble small sailing craft with a single sail but in addition to that the have sail that hang off the side. It is important to note that the air ships fly not because of magic but because of the properties of the luft wood which, once cut and properly cured, becomes lighter then air and further more it displaces enough air to carry cargo and passengers safely. The earth souls use there gift to cause masses to change allowing the genasi the ability to maneuver the ships up and down. For directional steering they use the same methods as a sail boat would.
It seemed that the great calamity that had gathered all these gods had subsided. Siccadan saw no reason remaining for why he should linger. Offering them all one last farewell, he gathered up his things, and turned to leave, tripping periodically on his overlong robes.
He wandered among the trees for a time, leaving the others far behind him. He wove between gnarled trees, stepping carefully over protruding roots. Eventually, he tired of this, and decided to take a short rest. He found a particularly thick root, wide enough for him to sit upon, and plopped himself upon it. He pulled out the Encyclopedia, and laid it out upon his lap, opening it to the first page. He propped his Staff against the root beside him, and pulled a quill from the depths of his robes. He was about to set it to the page, when he realized he had no ink. Realizing his mistake, Siccadan pulled an "ink" from his robes, which was rather more wobbly than absolutely necessary for a word, and turned it into some ink. Then he stopped, staring at the mass of black liquid floating in the air just inches from his rather long nose. He smacked himself on the forehead. He needed something to hold it in! Laying down his quill, he pulled out a small "bottle", quickly made a bottle out of it, and deposited the ink in the bottle.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Siccadan set to work. He dipped the end of the quill in the ink. He stopped to think for a moment, his quill poised above the page, a singular drop of ink quivering at its end. What to write? He had no idea. Then an idea struck him.
"Onomatopoeia!" he exclaimed loudly to no one in particular, and began to write furiously.
With every word he wrote, another would pop into his head, and he would write that too. There were simple ones, like "The" or "It", but then he moved on to harder and harder words like "Apathy" and "Enormous". In no time flat, he had filled the first, then the second pages in his small, neat writing. He paused to admire his handiwork. The words were arranged in careful collumns evenly spaced along the page. He smiled, and resumed. The words just seemed to flow from his quill, practically writing themselves. It was absolutely astounding the near-limitless possibilities.
And as he wrote, a strange thing began to happen. The world around him, the wind, the trees, the animals, began to whisper, ever so softly. If the old man noticed, he gave no indication, and rather, continued to write. But, whether he noticed or not, a faint music was manifesting all around him. The small flowers and blades of grass seemed to sway in tune with it, and the branches of the trees swayed ever so slowly. Even the sunlight seemed to dance along the forest floor. Eventually, words began to form, to follow the music. They weren't lyrics, per se, but they held a certain magic about them. If one were to listen closely, one would hear words, whispered ever so softly. They didn't have any pattern, the words being whispered, but they fit together all the same. It made a sort of song, all these words. They came from the trees, the grass, the roots, the very earth itself. And still the old man wrote.
Then, ever so slowly, shapes began to manifest in the darkening air. Small, indistinct shapes, fleeting as ghosts, that flitted through the air like hazy insects. As the song continued, the shapes became more and more corporeal. They too were dancing along to the song of the world. Then, after a time, it became clear what they were: words. Written in flowing script, the words danced through the air, floating on invisible wind currents.But the words were not done changing. They grew, became even more solid. Lines stretched, curves bulged. And still the words danced, drifting soundlessly upon the waves of the song. The letters thickened, lines became limbs, dots became eyes. The letters were rearranging themselves as well, circles moving to become heads, corners becoming shoulders. A new race of being was being formed from the very language of the world. Soon, the rough clearing was filled with small, curious creatures, with small, darting eyes, and short, wild hair.
Finally, Siccadan looked up, and smiled. These were his children. And if he was language, then, it seemed, these were the Children of Language. Without another thought, he knew what to call them, the word was drawn from his lips, and he knew it was their's.
"Gnomes," he said, beaming down at them.
And the gnomes plopped themselves down upon the forest floor and listened as the old man taught them of language.
PP Spent
2 PP Shape Populace (Lesser) Gnomes: Born of the Language of the world, Gnomes are also known as the Children of Language, for they are words incarnate.
1 PP from the Encyclopedia: Guide Populace (Lesser): The gnomes now worship Siccadan.
2 PP Guide Populace (Moderate) Literacy: The gnome can instinctively read and write, and even if they don't have writing implements, they still scribble words and symbols in the dirt with sticks, or carve them into rocks and trees. The latter, however, is particularly frowned upon by the elders, fow it is the opinion of most gnomes that the natural world is sacred.
1 PP from the Staff: Create Artifact (Lesser): The Whispering Wood: A small wood which the gnomes call home, the Whispering Wood is known for the random gusts of wind through the trees, or the twittering of animals, that many a traveller has mistaken for voices. Most gnomes pass this off as nonsense, but they know that there may be some truth to these stories. The gnomes know that the wood is touched by the magic of the Old One, or the Lord of Language, and that, on certain occasions, it can be heard to utter random words, or offer a stray gnome a whispered but of advice.
1 PP from the Encyclopedia: Guide Populace (Lesser): The gnomes now worship Siccadan.
2 PP Guide Populace (Moderate) Literacy: The gnome can instinctively read and write, and even if they don't have writing implements, they still scribble words and symbols in the dirt with sticks, or carve them into rocks and trees. The latter, however, is particularly frowned upon by the elders, fow it is the opinion of most gnomes that the natural world is sacred.
1 PP from the Staff: Create Artifact (Lesser): The Whispering Wood: A small wood which the gnomes call home, the Whispering Wood is known for the random gusts of wind through the trees, or the twittering of animals, that many a traveller has mistaken for voices. Most gnomes pass this off as nonsense, but they know that there may be some truth to these stories. The gnomes know that the wood is touched by the magic of the Old One, or the Lord of Language, and that, on certain occasions, it can be heard to utter random words, or offer a stray gnome a whispered but of advice.
His father had said to him “you are the great hope of our people son. The genasi are growing to large to be supported by this one earth mote we need trading partners you most brave the world beyond the veil and bring back the supplies we need.”
“Sir your orders sir.” The first mates broke Callan’s day-dreaming.
“Have the crew anchor us to shore and through the ladders overboard get the landing crew together and bring the um… I think the we should bring the iron wood staf carved by master Tamric. that will be good as the trading gift. When the crew is ready let me know.” Shortly the crew was ready and there they stood on a low hill facing the golden tree and the village of these strange people he wondered what they would think of their visitors form the sky.
She had none of the standing that Wave-Rider had and had been curious when she had got the chance for the trading with the city dwellers while he went to the golden tree. That is she was curious until she had over heard the clan elders saying that they had no hope for this mission and it was only a token to the fire clan. One that would end in failure and the disgrace of her clan, but the elders didn’t do study up on Molly. Just because she was not of the elder families they thought she was less then them. That was not true Molly was the best and brightest of all fire clan. And While Cloud Chaser wasn’t as big or as fast as Storm Breaker she was a solid ship. Cloud Chaser had more cargo space to, if truth be told. That’s what made her a slower ship the rounder hull didn’t cut through the clouds as well.
Now above the main market place, of what her scouts called the city of Alexandria, her ship hovered. She was waiting for someone important to come and find out what is going on. She knew it was a risk. If the people below decide that she and her ship is a threat they might destroy her, or at least try to, on the spot. But she also knew that fortune favored the bold and with a demonstration like this she was going to get noticed. The other secret weapon she had was the model air ship made out of real luft wood that flew on its own power. This she would use as her trading gift.
Now to wait to see if a delegation came to see them.
After the white-explosion caused by Daven, the city of Terena had a new interest in the seas. The humites had learned to ride the seas in simple vessels, but had no reason to do so. That changed when a ship of different build had landed off the coast of Terena. The humites were eager to meet the new arrivals. (Will be moved to Mortal thread)
PP Use
4 PP [1 from Eorna] - Guide Populace x2 - Humite know basic woodworking and shipbuilding.
Far off he could feel the pull of power being drawn from the stars. Apparently some mortals had learned that they might call upon the otherworldly powers to aid themselves. It pleased the Light and he wished to spread this.
Xa'an called upon Tsul'Kalu and commanded it to give aid to mortals. This would be a symbiotic exchange, of course, for he had no desire to put his servant into poverty. It would give mortals power, and mortals would in turn further its cause, allowing it to grow stronger. Pondering the matter for a moment, the Light also granted the plant-thing the authority to appoint other creatures as representatives of the untamed wilds. If mortals contacted any of them and struck a bargain, other worldly powers would be theirs.
Instead of sending the plant-thing back to the wilds around the Shattered Lands, he commanded it to venture into the Feywyld. The fey goddesses old realm seemed like it might serve his purposes, but first he needed to have a presence there to defend his interests.
pp
*3pp, Ascend Exarch: Tsul'Kalu - Xa'an enhances Tsul'Kalu so that it can impart fey power to those who make pacts with it, and it can appoint other individuals with the authority to do likewise. This is, essentially, the Fey Pact (I like warlocks). Additionally, Tsul'Kalu's combat bonus increases to +2
*3pp, Ascend Exarch: Tsul'Kalu - Xa'an enhances Tsul'Kalu so that it can impart fey power to those who make pacts with it, and it can appoint other individuals with the authority to do likewise. This is, essentially, the Fey Pact (I like warlocks). Additionally, Tsul'Kalu's combat bonus increases to +2
In the back of his mind Drahthor heard a low moan echoing from far away, from his realm. The spirits that had chosen his path were becoming impatient, he had promised them life anew and as yet he had not fulfilled it. He had enough power to create their new forms, however he wished to investigate and reach a conclusion to this matter. But if the Goddess of Spirit remained lost in her thoughts, as she now appeared to be, he would have to soon abandon this quest and return to it at a later date.
Drills. Endless drills. For once there were no beasts, no monsters of primal creation. No, this time the soldiers gave in to the rage within, moving with bestial intent though they wore human skin.
At the same time searchers were gathered intent upon finding the changeling rumored to walk among others, hoping to learn more of these shapeshifters.
***
Xirinet felt a shifting as the lifeforce in the world seemed to twist for a moment.
They are back... but where is Knowledge?
The god watched the people of Alexandria, idly noting the ship that had anchored itself above the capital city.
***
"You have been searching for a purpose. With every passing year you grow more skilled with weapons, more skilled at working steel.
With every passing year your loyalty remains untarnished.
I do not know what more to ask for, what price is worthy of all you offer us."
Within the Great Cathedral the Council of the Sundered Crown gathered with the leaders among the angels. Discussing matters of state, and the angels' search for their purpose.
"What is there to offer us? What do we need? With your warriors we train, with your people we gather in prayer. Long ago we were greater than you, yet with every passing age you become more our equals. Sometimes I wonder if you are not already geater. No there is no need for payment, here we have a home among mortals, though sometimes we long to stand within the plane of Life."
***
Casting about the life god gathered the strength oif the leylines, and began to shape a creature to place upon the world.
Wings and claws, keen eyes and haughty demeanor, the griffins quickly took to roosting at the highest points of the world.
Finished directing the influence of the leylines the god began to cast about for Veros. First moving to what had once been Duska Krak, Xirinet searched for any sign of the god of magic.
Where would Knowledge have gone...
A thought occured to the wondering god.
Could whatever happened here have affected Knowledge?
With a swirling motion the fogs above the water vanished, appearing upon the recently returned Duska Krak. Within moments the mist invaded every facet of the floating landmass.
He is here...
A very surprised god found what it was searching for.
Action
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Griffons, common in mountains or some massive trees in the Shattered Lands large enough to serve as an aerie.
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn Barbarians
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Angels, continued contact with humans has some upsides.
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn Barbarians
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Angels, continued contact with humans has some upsides.
Is he aware of me?
The god made an attempt at reaching the trapped god.
With a motion curiously like a swinging sledgemaul Xirinet poured divine power into Veros in an effort to rejuvenate the petrified god.
You owe me for this... I have better things to do than pick up after your mistakes... You just HAD to go investigate the mortals...
((1PP to Veros for rejuvenation))
He tooka tentative step, almost losing his balance. Shaking his head, he raised his hand, pulling his staff out of the aether. Startled, he look at the two broken halves. Holding them together, he watched as they mended. Good enough. He leaned on it. "How much was the outer world damaged?
Oh, quite a pretty new sea there. An improvement I'd say.
Land is so often gloomy, the waves though are quite nice. And of course it's quite deep. I can already imagine what to release there...
What do you think you should do? I believe humans have taken an interest in your changeling children, I believe they find them most intriguing. Somthing about "Wearing tha faces of life" or some such thing.
I'm not quite sure whether it is a memory of you, or an homage to me. Either way it might interest you.
Of course there are other things to do, but then I usually do think more of my own than others.
Though spending some time bringing yourself to human attention might be rewarding. They have been making quite astonishing progress even without divine aid.
Prowling forward, Drahthor dipped a long black hand into the flames and touched a soul. In its previous life it had been a human, a hunter within the early societies of the people. He had possessed no family, his parents had been taken from him when he was still young by the harshness of the environment, and he had never found the time to seek out a mate. Instead, his life had been an eternal struggle against the shattered lands, for he saw them as an adversary to be conquered. He respected the life within the lands, however it had taken from him and so he sought to take back. Out hunting one day, the land had gotten the better of him and he had been set upon by a panther. He had waited in the infuriating ethereal state beyond life for millennium, and when the Gods had offered rebirth, it was something about the serpent that had attracted him, so he chose the lake of fire over the mists of spirit.
Smiling Drahthor withdrew the spirit of the human, and found that its time within the lake had changed the spirit, instead of the wispy substance of most souls this one had taken on the character of a burning flame. Much like the character of his own substance, Drahthor saw that the spirits of his people would be that of a flame.
And thus the Lord of Creation set about creating a form to hold his people's spirit. Casting them in his own image, he recreated the long curved head with six ascending eyes and a jaw full of dagger like teeth. He gave the them a four almost skeletal limbs that nonetheless possessed strength untold of, and a long segmented tail that ended in a razor sharp blade. He coated their form in a tough sleek black exoskeleton that would grow stronger as they matured, providing a natural defense against the harsh environment they would call home.
Long ago Drahthor had realized that while Veros was the Lord of Magic and had created ways for the mortals to tap into that power, there were yet other sources. Founts from which it might flow without the harsh structure of the Master of Magic, and fire was one of these things. So, considering the flame like quality of their spirits, he blessed them all with the ability to access certain magics from deep within their form. The first of these, was to be the ability for their souls to momentarily burn brighter and consume far more than usual, allowing them to breath forth a searing inferno with which to combat their enemies. The second way they all would be able to access their inner power, was to bend the very reality around them so that they might transport themselves across distances in the blink of an eye. Drahthor himself was fond of this mode of travel, so he thought it only fitting that his people should be gifted with it as well.
Thus the first of his people was created, and for a moment there was only one, but then thousands began to emerge from the liquid flames of Drahthor's lake. They assembled on the fiery shores, their gazes turned towards the immortal being that had created them, they had no memories of their previous lives, no knowledge of who or what they were. They were a tabula rasa, and they awaited Drahthor's touch to define them.
Standing high above his people on a natural rise, Drahthor began to speak the tenants by which his people would live. "Behold, I am Drahthor, Lord of Creation and Destruction, the Serpent of Rebirth, and you are my people, my Drahkorn. You shall worship me before all other Gods, and I will bless you as my people."
As he spoke Drahthor imbued his words with power, teaching his people language and causing the land to prepare for the times ahead. "This place has been prepared for you, that you might grow strong in both mind, body, and spirit. Excel in these qualities and you will find that you will be reborn yet stronger, and your soul will burn even brighter......"
And thus Drahthor continued to speak to his newborn people, laying out the tenants of their faith and life.
PP
3pp Shape Populance: Drahthor takes the 20,000 souls from within the lake of fire and creates the Drahkorn. They are modelled after the chosen form of their God (look at the xenomorphs from the Alien movies) and they can survive in both aether and air. All the energy they need comes from the fires of their souls, however they must fuel the fires to keep them burnings. As such, as long as something can burn they can devour it, and as the soul grows stronger it burns fiercer and the Drahkorn requires more food.
2pp Guide Populance: Teach the Drahkorn language
1pp (eye of restraint) Nourish Populance: The lands surrounding the lake of fire teem with phorus plants for the Drahkorn to devour.
2pp Guide Populance: Teach the Drahkorn language
1pp (eye of restraint) Nourish Populance: The lands surrounding the lake of fire teem with phorus plants for the Drahkorn to devour.
He looked up. "And my experiment continues. The vampire still lives, and he will create more. It has been most intriguing so far, if hazardous."
And I believe humans would aid those who need help. They are quite intrepid, always seekingt to tur nan oppurtunity to their own gain...
He looked about thoughtfully. "We need to be gone from here. These mortals do not need to see us. Follow me?"
He snapped his fingers, and the statue that had formerly been his residing place reappeared, still holding it's uncanny properties. Then he vanished, reappearing within the workshop.
Yes their choices would be their own.
What do you think you shall do?
"They are similar to my doppelgangers, but for one big difference. Within each of them is a splinter from a god's soul. More observation will be needed top determine their natures, but I believe these succubi could be a most interesting race."
PP
3 pp, Create Artifact (Greater): Temple of Oracles - A temple is created to channel the oracles powers. This Artifact gives a bonus to guide actions.
2 pp, Guide Population (Greater): Writing - War Trolls learn how to write on stone tablets
2 pp, Guide Population (Greater): Writing - War Trolls learn how to write on stone tablets
-----
In Eladrin lands a small but significant portion of the populace discovered that there was great power in their heritage. They traveled among the wild places of their realm and returned changed, brimming with power.
pp
*1pp+1pp from Artifact, Guide Populace (Greater): Warlock - Xa'an teaches the Eladrin the Warlock class. Most are fey-pact warlocks, though a pittance of them are star-pact.
*1pp+1pp from Artifact, Guide Populace (Greater): Warlock - Xa'an teaches the Eladrin the Warlock class. Most are fey-pact warlocks, though a pittance of them are star-pact.
What use would you put them to? I can't think of any myself.
He watched them closely, considering. "None the less, they have served their purpose. They have proven to me that a mortal can be built around a piece of divine soul. It raises many more questions than it answers, but it will do for now."
I have plans of my own that I must see to. My... priests... call for me to bless their Cathedral.
The god worked the word 'priest' around as though chewing as it spoke.
He glanced over at him once more. "What manner of blessing are you considering?"
-----
Befeft of their connections to their homeland, the doppelgangers adapted and learned, mastering stealth, subterfuge, and even theft. Soon they began adopting many of the techniques the avengers used without connecting to the divine itself, but altering the techniques to suit their new style, favoring lighter weapons, and precision strikes. The first doppelganger rogues were born, living among the other races, stealing and taking whatever they needed.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Doppelgagners learn Rogue class.
The god stretched for a moment.
I have no other pressing matters with you found.
He lead the way deep into the plane, to it's very center. "The Creation Forge, of course. Imbuing power into things is what it was designed for. It could be a great boon to your work."
He conjured a minitautre replica of Alexandria. "Of course, the forge is to big to taker there. Work with this replica, and the power will be endowed into the real city as if you hjad worked on it directly."
Of course.
With a glance at the forge and the miniature set before it the god seemed for a moment to be making a decision.
Fine. You have a bit of power, I have a forge to... play... with.
((1PP granted to Veros))
He turned away. "Now then, there is a matter of the tasks at hand. So much to do, so little power."
-----
The loremasters had narrowly evaded the destruction of Duska Krak. Still, secure in their fortress, they continued to accumulate all of the knowledge they could find.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Loremasters pick up the Invoker class.
Xirinet studied the scale model, perhaps a perfect rendition of the form of the city but it lacked the lifeblood that was the creatures within.
Always forgetting the most important parts.
He moved on, looking into the Orb of Visions, casting a glance over Duskpeak. It would soon have many, many more visitors. He reached out, altered the Dimension Bulwark to achieve his goals. Slowly, all around Duskpeak, a half dozen floating islands rose into the air.
-----
The Tome of Knowledge had travelled far in the devastation of Duska Krak. There in the planes it lay, resisting weath and animals alike until it was found by a young Shadar-kai child. As he flipped through the pages, looking at the symbols and scratches he couldn't understand, the tome whispered in his ear, slowly altering his thoughts.
Over the next few years, he would turn on his old ways, slowly using the book's whispering guidance to find those among his peopple who would be open to his new ideas. Slowly, a hidden cult to Veros developed among them.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Shadar-kai worship Veros
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - 6 Floating islands around Duska Krak
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Remaining dwarves gather around Duskpeak, to rebuild the ancient city.
Roan would need allies and he would need beasts looking at the tools he had to work with none seamed proper for the job. Then looking at his pan pipes he sighed yes all life sang and music was life. Holding his pipes he imbued them with more power.
Then he went back to his mote and looked at his children. They were beginning to trade with others he hoped the learned from them. The genasi had so much they still had to learn.
Roan saw that the genasi needed more land to grow and live. He took a drink of nectar then playing his pipes he called forth another earth mote and permeated it with mithreal
PP expenditure
3pp create artifact: pipes now give +1 pp to spawn actions
1pp mold land (artifact): made another earth mote roughly the same size as the first
1pp nourish land: created mithreal on the earth mote.
As the structure began to take ever more majestic shape more intricate aqueducts and fountains were worked in, the trees growing from within and without made ever larger as they were infused with divine strength. Pools of crystal-clear water teemed with exotic fish, and in the shadowed recesses of the exterior beasts made more and more homes.
On platforms the god placed strangely wrought statues, beasts of wings and claws. No two of the statues shared a form, and their strange design attracted the attention of all those in the city.
The interior of the cathedral was touched with power as well, its outside dimesnions hiding greater enormity within. A maze of passage, a labyrinth of friezes and arttwork of inuyman beauty.
Actions
2PP +1PP from Creation Forge, Create Artifact: The Great Cathedral provides 1PP for guide actions.
Meanwhile the Tsarok-Hem and there minions in the aether kept multiplying, increasing there already massive numbers even further.
Unggar-Raggnu kept advancing with its brood in its footsteps. The fungi are not that far behind and quickly assimilate the land that was made available to them.
(create seed 3PP. Note Tsarokga-Noggoth now has two 3PP seeds and one 2PP seed. Purpose will be revealed soon)
(nourish populous (Tsarok forces) x2 ; 2PP)
(mold land 1PP from Unggar-Raggnu)
(nourish populous (fungi) 1PP from Spore chambers)
(guide populous (fungi) 1PP from Nuggoroth)
Veros cast one last gaze over the Shattered Land. Xirinet liked his labrythine location. Humans did well enough with his blessings, but he wondered if another creature could manage. He slowly formed a new creature, with an inhumane cunning and sense of perception that would let it roam Xirinet's wilderness with little danger. He grinned beneath his cowl and released his minotaurs into the Shattered Lands, trusting they would remain away from humans for now..
He turned back to to an old experiment in the shelves he hadn't had time to examine. Since he had gained mastery of death and identified so much about souls, he had noticed that when a mortal perished, it's soul scattered into the air around it, creating an ionteresting spark effect. Thos few mortals who could see such effects had named the soul pieces pyre flies. After a while, they usually gathered back together, reforming the original soul, and making it's way to the Farscape. But some, weaker souls or simply strong willed ones who refused to leave, stayed scattered, floating around and gathering themselves together. Sometimes sorrowsworn would find a pocket where dozens of pieces and banish them to the farscape to continue their journey.
But sorrowsworn could not be every where. After some time, pockets would begin to merge and form into a new shape. He had gathered hundreds of the shard and placed them in this room to see what happened. As he gazed through the wall, he smiled once more. It had been a success, and the pyre flies had gathered together, swarming about the room seeking something. He reached out, plunging his thoughts into their minds, to see if they were intelligent, or simply mindless beats, and pull back dissapointed.
Mindless beasts, despite being formed out of intelligent souls. He snapped his fingers and one of the creatures died suddenly. He watched the scattered pyre flies, most being abosrbed by the other two, but some escaped, slipping out of the room. He noted how their reproduced qwas interesting. When something perished, they would absorb the newly created pyre flies, and grow larger, eventually splitting when they grew large enough.and the creatures were purged from the workshop, released into the world. He also noted, as he tracked the escapees, that when they died, the pyre flies would return to the farscape normally, eventually rejoining the soul they had long been sepereate from.
Insured that the pyre fly swarms wouldn't upset the balance, he snapped his finger and purged the creatures from his plane, letting them be released back into the world.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Pyre Fly swarm
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Humans
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Humans (Cleric)
2 PP (1 Artifact) - Shape Populace (Lesser) - Minotaurs (no MM versions exist. I will not be using the MM or Dragon stat block. I'll have LoC's minotaur stat block up later.)
PP Use
2PP - Guide Populace - Taught the genasi how to heal.
------------
She stepped through the doors to Niyanta, and into the bright sunlight. Today was a new day, and she was going to make a difference.
She gazed down upon Atakhari, her pride, her jewel. She smiled, and began to walk. She walked through streets where the Dasa bustled about, going about their business. They couldn't see her, she was hidden from the eyes of mortals. She reached the edge of the city, and looked out over the sky. She took a step.
Her next step was on land, several thousand feet from where she had previously been. This was a verdant realm, animals danced about. Her form changed, shifted into the form of the woman, dressed in a simple green dress. She walked barefoot over roots and plants, and admired the beauty of the world. She looked with admiration, but, as always, her admiration was tinged with envy. She would have to iron out that particular impulse. She walked, and enjoyed the world.
PP Expenditure
1 PP +1 PP (Artifact) Create Artifact (Moderate): The Land Spike now provides another +1 combat bonus, for a total of +2.
PP Refresh
6 - Veros, Xirinet, Drahthor
5 - Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Thans, Shurka, Vymrl, The Empress
4 - Nocturne, Mara, Zophiah, Runescar, Siccadan
3 - Roan
He looked out upon the legion of his followers, the first of their kind. They were strong, intelligent, and determined. All these things would help them to thrive, however Drahthor new they would need more than even this if they were to conquer the realm he had prepared for them. So reaching deep into their souls, he found those that were the most devoted to his words and his worship, those that would pursue a life entirely dedicated to him, and blessed them with the ability to channel Drahthor's divine energies through the force of their faith.
PP
1pp Guide: Drahthor finishes instructing the Drahkorn and so they begin to worship him as their God.
2pp Guide: Drahthor teaches the most receptive of his people the cleric class.
2pp Guide: Drahthor teaches the most receptive of his people the cleric class.
When he reached the edge of the circle of trees, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. There, he thought to himself, he had done what he had needed to do, now he had other matters to attend to. He gathered up his robes, tucked his Book firmly under one arm, and clasped the Staff in his free hand. He set off into the trees, grumbling about tree roots as he went.
------------------
Speak opened her eyes. She was lying against a large tree, in a circular clearing, dappled by moonlight. She looked up, and could see the silvery rays filtering through the canopy high above. She returned her attention to the clearing. People, just like her, lay there, all scattered about the clearing. She picked herself up, brushed herself off, and regarded their sleeping forms rather sternly.
"Hey!" she called, rather imperiously, "Get up, lazy-bones!"
At her words, several of the forms began to shift, rolling over in their sleep. Looking rather put-out, Speak ran out, and kicked the nearest gnome squarely in the back. The gnome groaned, and then rolled over to face her.
"What?" said the prone gnome groggily.
Speak regarded him sternly for a moment, for he was definitely male.
"You're a Read," she said, a note of finality in her voice, "Definitely a Read."
The gnome who was apparently Read, looked at her, confusion banishing the tiredness previously present on his round face.
"Huh?" he said, not comprehending.
"Your name, silly!" she cried, exasperatedly, "Your name is Read!"
"Oh, okay," he said, and then rolled over, and began to snore.
Speak glared at him indignantly. This was going to be harder than she'd thought.
Life:
“There is an abomination on this plane, a blight on the world, a scaring mold that needs correcting. I speak of the fungal forest that is a mockery to life will you help me fight this infestation. I plan on raising a mighty forest the vanguard of nature itself around the infestation. I will fight this thing of putrid death with life will you help me brother god in this battle for life it self.”
Shurka:
“I know you wish to heal the land I have seen your people strive for this. There is a gaping wound in this world that needs to be healed, but I fear it is past the gentler arts we must fight it with a mighty forests. I speak of the fungal forest the thing that eats and tears at the land and gives nothing in return. It is a mold that needs to be healed. I Plan on healing the land and fighting back this monstrosity with a forest to rival all others it will surround the fungal horde and advance tell the fungus is dashed against the sea and rocks and is gone from this plane. Will you help me brother god.”
It did not take long before the first generation of the Drahkorn began to filter out of the cavern with the Ziggurat and the lake of fire, there was only a thin stretch of land that bordered the lake and that was relatively barren of food. So instead of staying there they began to trickle through various passageways to adjoining caverns, the vast majority of the newborn race coming to the largest of these, the one that held the gigantic sea and several rivers. As they trickled out, they began to assume the social customs Drahthor had imparted to them. He had chosen to ignore the usual gender classification used by most of the races, and in its stead he had made his people asexual. As such, they lacked the basic societal block of the family, so in its stead Drahthor had attempted to create a replacement.
So while leaving their birth place, some sort of draw from within caused the Drahkorn to break into smaller groups of 5 or 6 with whom they felt some form of connection. This would be their cell, and throughout the rest of their existence this would be there basic social unit. In the vast majority of the cells, leaders soon arose based upon the force of their personality, however in some power sharing arrangements began to develop around the opinion of all or just the most charismatic of their members.
Because they could not reproduce, Drahthor had prepared a way for his people to replenish their ranks. Whenever one of the Drahkorn, or at a later date whenever a worshiper of Drahthor, died their soul would come to rest int he lake of fire. Then, twice per mortal year, the souls of all those lost would be reborn into new Drahkorn, though lacking the memories of their previous lives. At these times, any cell that had lost members would return to the banks of the lake of fire and replenish their numbers, teaching and training the new Drahkorn. Thanks to this arrangement, there was no such thing as an infant Drahkorn in body, and their minds reached a level of maturity far quicker than that of any other race. However, it also meant that without an influx of new worshipers the the population of his people would be left at its current number of 20,000.
As Shurka heard the message from Roan, he was impressed. Shurka had finally thought someone understood his goals. Shurka called out directly to the source of the message.
"Then let us work together! Come to me, and tell me your name!"
(2 PP given to Roan to test his abilities)
They stepped into the air looking down on the fungus below and roan whispered to the wind and said “bring the seeds of all the trees and bushes and vines. Bring all the growing things.” And suddenly there was a gust of wind and in the turbulent air was seeds from all the plants of the world. Then Roan asked of the earth “proud and strong earth hear my call be fertile ground for the seeds of this world.” Finally roan called to the waters “hidden water in the ground nourishes that which will heal this land.” As Roan spoke green plants began to grow into a forest that surrounded the fungus.
Then Roan said “oh forest I hear your voice.” And he did for it called in pain at its edges for the fungus was all ready on the attack. “You will be my vanguard. I will make your sap poison to the fungus. I will give the vines strength to strangle the fungus.” And again it happened the fungus could no longer feed on the forest and it began to lose ground and Roans vanguard crept forward
“As my finale gift to you I call to the trents and ask them to be your shepherd.” The trents marched forward and came to the vanguard woods and they tore at the fungus.
PP expenditure
1 PP nourish (artifact): create the vanguard woods. The vanguard woods span from one edge of the sea to the other and was fifty miles wide at its narrowest point.
2 pp nourish (that shurka gave roan): give the woods poison sap and make choking vines
1pp guide (artifact): the trents worship Roan and follow his edict to protect the woods
She was among the stars now, gazing down upon the world with her unfazed expression, her face set in its solid jade form. Her many arms flowed fluidly through the Aether, as though treading water. She shifted her gaze, to the emptiness around her, the all-consuming darkness. She floated through it, through the Aether. She would find what she was looking for, she knew she would...
And so it was with Drahthor's people, struggling to survive in the first weeks of their existence, however one small cell that had chosen to travel alone attracted the Lord of Destruction and Creations attention, and as he shifted his mind he began to focus upon them more....
***
"Xarler this is a foolish exercise, to the north and east of us is Racktheran territory, they have built a vast hive there and we few are doomed to try and fight them off. We have already lost Krathgar to their acids and their fangs, shall we loose more of our cell? Then to the south is a nesting worm, frenzied and protective of her eggs. The only route open to us is west from whence we came, let us return their and seek out a different land to call our own!"
Xarler regarded the Drahkorn who spoke, Shalab. Since there inception this one had been challenging Xarler's rule, and given the circumstances it might yet be able to wrestle the cell from Xarler's control. Turning its attention to the warren of small canyons and tears in the land that Xarler and its kin had fled to, it braced itself as it rounded the corner, eyes alert for a small pack of displacer beasts that might try to make this place an ambush. Xarler had led its people into these canyons after the first skirmish with the Racktheran and since then they had based themselves from within this place while silently scouting the surrounding territory.
"Shalab you know that nothing but a slow death awaits us to the west. Our people exhausted the food in that place, and our most holy flame will burn itself out before we could find new sources in that direction. No, we will secure this land as our own. The threats are real and dangerous but it is bountiful. Phorus grows abunduently and thus the Vroomesh cling to this place, and to the north beyond the lands that the Racktheran skitter over lies the great sea from which we might procure fish."
Xarler could see the hunger in its people's eyes, and it knew that hunger fueled their desire to see this place made theirs, however it could also see their fear and hesitancy.
"Did not the Great Serpent who Created us tell us to go fourth and conquer these lands, to claim dominion over them? Are we to ignore that commandment and flee this place, because it offers hardship? If so then why not merely abandon the sacred cell as well, or maybe even kill a kinsmen with whom you have a dispute over food?"
As Xarler spoke these things he could see them getting under the shell of his cell, for it went against the very nature of Drahkorn to betray their own. "The Creator has blessed us with this abundant land so that we might live, and he has blessed us with the hardship and struggle that we might grow stronger and become worthy. Let us not flee from the blessings less our eternal flames grow weak and pitiful until we become unworthy to bare the name Drahkorn,. Instead let us meet this challenge with a fierce resolve that our eternal flame might burn stronger and brighter than before! And if we are to die upon this land so be it! We will then be reborn with more strength in the next life because we did not shy away and flee in fear from the challenge of this one!"
Seeing its words take affect, Xarler's cell members now faced their leader with a steely determination and the resolve to claim these lands or die trying, whereas before only fear and despair was found in them.
Several days later the cell devised a plan and sought to carry it out. One of the five remaining Drahkorn walked towards the south, proudly striding upon the open ground as if in challenge to the denizen that nested there. It was not long before the vast purple worm saw this creature and raised its head high above the land. The Drahkorn continued to advance even as the worm let off a low growl in warning, until it had passed well beyond the point that the worm would tolerate. Bursting forth from its lair, the worm proceeded to strike out towards the lone Drahkorn.
Turning, the single Drahkorn burst into a full spring in the opposite direction, weaving between stalagmite's and leaping over depressions. However it was not fast enough, for the worm in its fury at this daring was faster and quickly gained on the trespasser. The vast purple form grew closer and closer until it seemed it would overtake the being and swallow it in its maw, but at the last minute the Drahkorn vanished. Momentarily stunned the Purple Worm stopped and cast about with its senses, soon discovering the intruder a dozen meters away on top of a ridge still fleeing. Giving chase again it came closer and closer only for the Drahkorn to vanish at the last instance yet again.
Thus the chase continued for some time, eventually coming towards the edge of the warren of canyons and tears in the land in which the Drahkorn could hide. However, instead of running into the canyons the Drahkorn swerved towards the east and the chase continued. Before long the hunt had passed into the lands of the Racktheran, and the insectoid like creatures were stunned to find the two beings running through this place. They quickly began to chase after the interlopers as well, though not quite able to keep up with them.
So the worm grew closer and closer, far more so than ever before. It knew it would soon devour this being and make it pay for intruding upon its nest. Ahead rose a ledge, and as the Drahkorn neared it it made no attempt to slow down. At the last moment the pursued Drahkorn leaped into the air with the purple worm biting at its heels. Again, just as the white fangs of the worms maw began to close upon the Drahkorn's form it disappeared. However the worm was already hurtling through the air, and it crashed down several meters below in one of the largest Racktheran hives in the region, its vast weight causing the structure to cave in.
Hundreds of Racktheran scurried out of the demolished hive and began to attack the intruder, and the purple worm fought back, killing the insects by the dozen and thrashing about, destroying more and more of the remaining hive. Meanwhile, during the fight between their two foes while hundreds of more Racktheran rushed into the depression within which their hive sat, hidden from sight were four Drahkorn with another laying at their feet panting. They watched as the fight took place, until the few remaining Racktheran fled before the fury of the now scarred and acid burned worm, at which point the four departed from the cave, simultaneously appearing all around the vast worm and blasting it with their powerful breath weapon's. With nowhere to flee the worm quickly died, at which point still panting from the run, Xarler stepped out of hiding and spoke "Thus we claim this land.... in the name of mighty Drahthor."
He considered it a few moments. His usual gifts were ill suited for their nature and terrain, as their fought their own bestial nature and the land around them. Perhaps a different method of accessing magic would do.
He pulled his vision back, looking at the Shattered Lands from high in the air. As he watched, the mists roiled as a storm blasted at Alexandria. Severl miles to the south of the storm, dragon made it's way through the sky. His mind worked slowly still, from his imprisonment, but it was working well enough. He reversed his gaze, scanning the heavens, watching the night sky as it slowly but surely moved in the pattern's Mara had set.
He reversed again, watching a storm batter Alexandria. Yes, those would do nicely. He reached out, giving his minotaurs access a new power, something Chactross would likely have enjoyed greatly. They would tap into arcane power through their own willpower and resolve, focusing it's effects around simple things in their world: the cosmic bodies and their movements, the power of the storms, the strength of dragons, and the randomness of the world around them.
Still, he thought to himself, not all were suited to this path, lacking the resolve and force of personality to control magic like this. He lent those the a different skill, the knowledge and power to stand as strong as the mountains around them in defense of their allies. They lakced the necessary knowledge to craft proper equipment to this style, but that would have to await another day.
He looked up from the staff, noticing Xirinet idly watching the forge. Focusing his mind a moment, he forced the silent god out, then departed his plane himself, making his way down from atop Skypeak.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Minotaurs have Sorcerer
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Minotaurs have Fighter
Before long other Drahkron cells began to trickle into the area, finding the abundance of food and relative safety this place offered. They would always meet up with the first cell and confrontations would almost always arise between Xarler and the other cells leader. However, the others were always welcomed and Xarler was regarded as the de-facto head of the community that began to arise. By the time the first ritual of rebirth wherein representatives of each cell were sent back to acquire the newborn members, nearly 200 Drahkorn lived within the area and recognized Xarler as their leader.
And under its leadership they flourished. They were careful not to become decadent and over-consume their resources, they launched frequent raids upon the nearby Racktheran colonies until eventually the balance of power began to shift in their favor. The other beasts of the land soon learned to avoid seeking out prey in this area, for those that ventured into the region claimed by Xarler frequently did not return.
Xarler acted as a competent judge of its people as well, dealing out justice among the cells fairly and impartially. While some would occasionally feel slighted, none would harbor malice towards another Drahkorn as was commanded in the words of Drahthor himself. In this respect Xarler also excelled, extolling the virtues placed in the Drahkorn by their creator, and bringing the community together to raise their voices together in cries of worship or offer up a sacrifice.
Then, one day, as Xarler and its cell returned from a hunt, the leader of this community disappeared in an explosion of flame, only to reappear a moment later in a vast dimly lit stone room. Before him rose a dais, and atop that dais sat a being that shared its form, however the power emanating out from this one made his identity unmistakable.
"Greetings Xarler, I have been watching you for some time now, and I believe we have much to discuss..." Spoke Drahthor, Lord of Creation and Destruction, Serpent of Rebirth.
Ezero was in his home, that doubled as a secret temple. While Mara had promised retribution, it had only come in little steps. The high priests of Eladrin had only become worse over the years, controlling the people and stealing their food, livestock, land, and even women and children. The little money from his followers donated to him had nevertheless given him a good life, and he had used some of that to build a room on the roof of his house to follow the patterns of the heavens—an observatory.
It was here, as he was working, during the night that Mara descended and payed Ezero a personal visit. “Ezero.”
Ezero was startled by the voice and jumped in his seat. He looked up and saw the childlike visage of his goddess. Ezero got out of his seat and prostrated on the ground. “Goddess, you honor me with your presence!”
Mara nodded. “Ezero, you have been a seemingly faithful servant for a long time. I believe it is now time for you to prove your fidelity to me and to give you your reward—so that you can prosecute those that have harmed you.”
“Goddess, I have prayed every day for retribution, but am not strong enough of a mage to take on the powerful magics of the high priests of the mountain.”
Mara again nodded in agreement. “You cannot beat them with magic. Instead you will need to learn other skills, and I will offer you a gift to help you.”
“Thank you oh great goddess!”
Mara frowned. She was used to the prayers, both literal and informal, of worshipers and non-worshipers, but the flattery was a little too much. She shook her head of these thoughts and continued, “I have created an animal. You need to hunt this animal and kill it.” She handed Ezero a piece of paper. “Here is the description of it. It is deep within the forests far from here.”
“Is that it my goddess?” Ezero asked, clearly confused by what so far seemed a simple task.
“No. This animal cannot be killed by magic. It is very allusive as well. You will have to learn other means to get near it, and kill it. When you do you must collect it's horn, and the blood of the creature that has not touched the ground. From there you will be instructed on what to do with them.”
“I understand. I shall not fail you!”
“Of course not. Do this and you shall gain your retribution on your enemies. And you shall be my loyal servent forevermore. Goodbye Ezero. If you return with the horn and blood, I shall meet you here.”
And with that the goddess was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving the priest/mage along to prepare for his quest.
pp
Spawn Beast - Moderate (2 PP) - Unicorns. Rare creatures that live in the deepest forests. Unicorns are immune to magic. Spells directed at or near them will fizzle, their horns absorb magic and can be used to break magical enchantments, wards, etc and have other "uses."
Spawn Beast - Moderate (2 PP) - Unicorns. Rare creatures that live in the deepest forests. Unicorns are immune to magic. Spells directed at or near them will fizzle, their horns absorb magic and can be used to break magical enchantments, wards, etc and have other "uses."
PP Use
2PP - Spawn Beast - Feywisp (will be added to wiki)
-----------------
As the Empress glided silently through the Aether, she pondered on all she wanted for the world. Her Rakshasas were among the people, the Dasa above them. She meant no harm, just a chance to carve her own little piece of the world. The world was changing, she would have to keep up.
With a thought, her Talua were free at last. But their purpose was different this time, their goal changed. She pondered this for a moment, and them continued gliding. Up ahead she could see her destination: a vast shape hanging in the Aether, plant-like in shape, it floated there, like some vast malevolent entity silently watching the unsuspecting world below. She approached Tsarokga-Noggoth, and a veil of secrecy fell about her.
Tsarokga-Noggoth
"Hello," echoed the voice of the Empress, "I come in peace."
She floated nearer, and gazed up at the massive fungal horror.
"I have," she said, without preamble, "A proposition for you."
She floated there, silently, allowing her words to sink in.
She floated nearer, and gazed up at the massive fungal horror.
"I have," she said, without preamble, "A proposition for you."
She floated there, silently, allowing her words to sink in.
"My Lord, why have you brought your servant before you? Have the fruit of my efforts not been pleasing to you?"
Xarler sensed the God descending from the dais, coming to his level and prowling in a circle around it as if it were prey. The corner of its vision caught glimpses of the Gods form, like its own but larger and grander.
"Lift your gaze Xarler, you have no need to avert your sight. And I have brought you here specifically because your labors have pleased me so. It is the first days of my people, and they are harsh as they should be. I look out, and of all the Drahkorn none have excelled like yourself. None have pacified so large a place, united so many cells, and so faithfully sought my will. And for this I seek to both reward and curse you...."
"I will need a servant to serve as the leader of my people and the voice of their God in times to come, one who could speak for me when I am not available. This world is an ever changing one, the cycle of destruction and creation is never ending and as such I always have things I must see to elsewhere. Even now, in such a crucial period for my children, events elsewhere seek to draw me away. So, seeing your worthiness, I will make you the leader of my peoples and through you I will bless them."
As the Serpent of Rebirth spoke power poured out from his form and entered into Xarler. In moments, the Drahkorn found that its mind grasped more, its body become stronger and more responsive, its very soul burned brighter. It suddenly understood the will of its God, and the being that was Xarler found that it suddenly became so much more.
"Now go Xarler, first of my Heralds, return to my people and carry forth my will, but beware, for you now bear a heavier burden than you know...."
And with that the Herald found that it had been transported back to a rise above the maze of caverns and canyons that its people called home, looking out and seeing the world in new light.
PP
Ascend Exarch 3pp: Drahthor ascends the Drahkorn known as Xarler to become the first of his Heralds, an Exarch that provides 1pp for Guide actions.
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To the south of Shadar Kai territory, and to the southwest of Eladrin holdings, the spikes spire of Grey-Fang mountain stood as a reminder that there was more to the world than the horizon. Though the Beholders had been scattered from there, a few returned in secret. If any had been watching, it would seem that far more went into the mountain than were ever seen again.
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Losalfar roamed the slopes and forests of Skypeak Mountain, honoring that ancient earthen spire and holding it to be a sacred place, a melding of the worlds of air and aether, of the normal and abnormal. Elder Things still in the area seemed to congregate in that place.
pp
*3pp, Create Artifact (Lesser) x 3: Xa-an turns the physical locations of Skypeak Mountain, Grey-Fang Mountain, and the Silver Mines of Alexandria into places where other planes can be easily accessed. Normally this happens by accident in those places but portals can be opened between those locations and any plane if one has the correct rituals, such as might be contained in the Book of Azazel.
*1pp from Artifact, Guide Populace (Lesser): Aberrants - Tapping into his Aberrant domain, Xa'an causes a small portion of all creature with the aberrant keyword to migrate to the Outer Realms. This isn't intended to be a large number; just enough to start populating that place so adventurers might encounter stuff there.
*3pp, Create Artifact (Lesser) x 3: Xa-an turns the physical locations of Skypeak Mountain, Grey-Fang Mountain, and the Silver Mines of Alexandria into places where other planes can be easily accessed. Normally this happens by accident in those places but portals can be opened between those locations and any plane if one has the correct rituals, such as might be contained in the Book of Azazel.
*1pp from Artifact, Guide Populace (Lesser): Aberrants - Tapping into his Aberrant domain, Xa'an causes a small portion of all creature with the aberrant keyword to migrate to the Outer Realms. This isn't intended to be a large number; just enough to start populating that place so adventurers might encounter stuff there.
So, in an explosion of flame the Lord of Destruction and Creation appeared on the sphere of the world far below, though not in any usual place. He was on a long plane of ice, where barely any live thrived. This place was a desolate windswept desert, and casting his gaze around the only signs of habitation he could see was the volcano of the frost giants far to the north west.
Good, from here he could experiment with the harsh and chaotic nature of magic without having to worry about possible miscalculations costing the lives of thousands of mortals. So reaching deep within the earth to where two lay lines intersected beneath them, he tore them out of the ground with his divine will and brought the magical flows before him.
He then began to introduce variables, more pressure, heat, expansion, his own divine power so that he might watch how this magic reacted and come to a better understanding of how it worked.
****
The Frost Giants within their volcanic civilization drew holy signs about themselves and whispered prayers to the moon and even to the old father, for to the southwest strange things were happening. Giants plumes of fire would suddenly rage up only to extinguish with no sign. Lightning seemed to jump and cackle from point to point as if alive, and the horizon began to take on strange otherworldly colors the likes of which the Giants had never seen before. And strange sounds flowed forth, shrieks and roars and indescribable noises that no mortal could make seemed to carry on the wind to their home, and they were frightened.
As the Empress glided silently through the Aether, she pondered on all she wanted for the world. Her Rakshasas were among the people, the Dasa above them. She meant no harm, just a chance to carve her own little piece of the world. The world was changing, she would have to keep up.
With a thought, her Talua were free at last. But their purpose was different this time, their goal changed. She pondered this for a moment, and them continued gliding. Up ahead she could see her destination: a vast shape hanging in the Aether, plant-like in shape, it floated there, like some vast malevolent entity silently watching the unsuspecting world below. She approached Tsarokga-Noggoth, and a veil of secrecy fell about her.Tsarokga-Noggoth"Hello," echoed the voice of the Empress, "I come in peace."
She floated nearer, and gazed up at the massive fungal horror.
"I have," she said, without preamble, "A proposition for you."
She floated there, silently, allowing her words to sink in.
PP expenditure
1pp (artifact) mold land: the swamp of the fungal forest dried out.
To amuse himself the Light pulled upon the powers of the Storehouse and scattered it across the continent. Nothing as impressive as a mushroom forest, but something to irritate the skin of these uppity dieties.
Across the main continent, when the conditions were right, small groups of fungi would grow. A few mortals stumbled across these and discovered that not only could they be eaten (sometimes), but that they were rather tasty.
PP
*1pp from Artifact, Nourish Land: Main Continent - Xa'an causes all sorts of edible fungi to grow on the main continent, including Truffles, Portabella mushrooms, Shitake, etc.
*1pp from Artifact, Nourish Land: Main Continent - Xa'an causes all sorts of edible fungi to grow on the main continent, including Truffles, Portabella mushrooms, Shitake, etc.
So strange that the fabric could be weakened so without permanent harm, letting he plane on the otherside manifest itself somewhat freely. He pondered it a bit longer on this strange zone Xa'an had created.
He grinned slightly. The perfect name for such an odd effect, calling it a manifest zone.
Still, time to correct the problem. He looked about, finding the nearest leyline. Reaching up, he grabbed the magical energy line, preparing to repaid the fabric when he stopped short. Some body was fouling about with the lines, moving them from their delivate weave. Rather than drawing on the lines power, he instead let himself slip into it, crossing the world in a hurry, apprearing near Drahthor. "What are you doing?"
He reached outh, pushing the leylines back into their place, letting the lines slowly right themselves, pressing back into their defined locations.
He waved his hand indicated the leyines far below. "The leylines are arrayed in a careful pattern, moving them disrupts it, and can send shockwaves and unintended consequences around the world."
Then he shrugged. "But Duska Krak is fine now. In the split second before it's destruction, I removed it's peoples to safety. They have no memories of the destruction that mortal wrought upon them."
Tsarokga-Noggoth
"Your grip on the world is truly iron, more so than many are aware of," said the Empress, "But down below, upon the world, gods play at disrupting this hold."
She spread out two of her arms, her palms facing upwards, her arms bent at the elbow.
"The Order is everything, the Order is all," she continued, "It must be maintained, good and evil must be balanced."
One of her hands began to move upwards, just as the other moved down in perfect unison.
"These gods threaten that Order," she said, "I wish to stop them."
Her hands resumed the same level.
"On the world, your children are vulnerable, prone to attack, unable to evolve properly," she said, "I wish to place some specimens of your fungus in Atakhari, where they can be tended by the Dasa."
Her hands resumed their regular dance.
"It will in no way diminish your hold on the world," she said, "But will allow the fungi to flourish under the watchful care of my own children, and, when they are ready, they will be able to serve you all the better, what say you?"
She spread out two of her arms, her palms facing upwards, her arms bent at the elbow.
"The Order is everything, the Order is all," she continued, "It must be maintained, good and evil must be balanced."
One of her hands began to move upwards, just as the other moved down in perfect unison.
"These gods threaten that Order," she said, "I wish to stop them."
Her hands resumed the same level.
"On the world, your children are vulnerable, prone to attack, unable to evolve properly," she said, "I wish to place some specimens of your fungus in Atakhari, where they can be tended by the Dasa."
Her hands resumed their regular dance.
"It will in no way diminish your hold on the world," she said, "But will allow the fungi to flourish under the watchful care of my own children, and, when they are ready, they will be able to serve you all the better, what say you?"
He looked at Drahthor. "Was there a specific reason you felt the need to manipulate and experiment with the leylines?"
Message
Lord of Magic, As you master magic, I would ask you to allow my creations to use it in my realm. Reply with where you wish to hold the negotiation.
From a humble apprentice,
Runescar
Lord of Magic, As you master magic, I would ask you to allow my creations to use it in my realm. Reply with where you wish to hold the negotiation.
From a humble apprentice,
Runescar
As he spoke Drahthor cast his mind far into the distance, all the way to the asteroid wherein his people resided. Scouring its depths with his mind, he found a location suitable enough for his tastes.
"It should only distract you from other pressing matters for a short time, and you would be the first God to see my people...."
The cavern was not one of the larger ones, measuring about 50 meters high and wide and another hundred meters long. It was damp, water dripped from the stalactites high above, splashing down and creating small ponds that would eventually drain into pores in the rocks they sat on. A handful of Phorus plants lay scattered about place, giving off a dim lighting to the arrival of the Gods. At the far end of the Cavern to where the Gods had arrived a small opening could be seen in the rock, besides this there appeared to be no other entrance or exit to this place.
Drahthor in his primal black form began to prowl forward, an air of comfort and familiarity being exuded in this place. As he walked towards the other end of the chamber the God spoke to his guest. "I have built this place from the ground up, beyond the edge of the aether. It was to be the home of my people, and it is completely of my design. The world far below has had numerous Gods aid in carving it, creating a patchwork of visions. In this place, only my own is present. As of yet, several Deities have visited but only one has given power to aid in its creation, and even then it was my design that was implemented."
As he spoke Drahthor continued to prowl forward eventually entering into the opening at the far end of the cavern. He did not turn back to see if his guest was following, instead assuming he would want to see what lied beyond this place.
" It would be a lie to say that I did not take some pride in this place, I have spent centuries creating a complex interdependent ecosystem to provide both a home and a crucible for those that would follow me. But I bore you with the triviality of words, instead see for yourself."
After about 20 meters within the tunnel ahead it seemed to widen, and suddenly they were standing on a ledge with a sheer drop of several hundreds meters before them. The view from this place was breathtaking. To either direction the edges of the great cavern slowly curved for leagues. Before them sat a land of beauty and wonder, huge stalactites and stalagmites of cyclopian proportions rested before them, all along the floor of the ground below vast forests of Phorus plants gave off light and heat, creating a warm glow and large points of light that covered much of the land. Collections of Vroomesh floated above them, drinking in the heat and slowly drifting on the currents of air. A river of clean clear water flowed from several miles to the left of the gods for leagues before it came to a vast sea that dominated the horizon. In the distance one could barely make out the curvature of the ceiling above them. If one were to gaze for a moment they could see hundreds of figures scurrying across the landscape, the minuscule Draktheran building their hives, the blurred air where the displacer beasts lurked, the mighty worms and hydras passing over the terrain, even the majestic chimera's sweeping from the sky at some prey, only to return to their perch high above.
Drahthor's gaze fell upon a small network of canyons and caves many miles away between them and the sea, for he knew it was there that his Herald resided. He could see some of his people, hunting and skirmishing with the denizens of this realm. Smiling further, he spoke "Behold the first fruits of my long labor..."
He looked around at it all. "But it has taken you many centuries to do what was done in only a short few far below. And everything reeks of samness, has the same feel and qualities."
"It is the many individual hands all struggling to shape the world that truly make it interesting, and lend it uniqueness. Here, everything has it's place, because it was designed for that place, but below everything must struggle for it's place, as various gods add new creations, or improve previous ones in a never ending cycle to usurp the place of something else."
"Without your direct intervention, this place would eventually stagnate. By contrast, were I to withdraw from the world below entirely for a millenia, I couold return to find my people grown strong with what I have given them, or reduced to nothingness by the efforts of the other gods. Things change and flux constantly, but here they flux only to your will."
He waved his arm, creating a misty illusion in the air. "Doppelgangers move in and out of his people's holds, stealing knowledge, or planting lies. Dragons wing overhead, diving in to catch whatever prey they wish. Pyrefly Swarms slowly come into being in the deepest reccesses. And slowly but surely, Xa'an has begun to garner a bit of influence with his people."
He shook his head. "As to brining magic to your people, it is a simple task for me to make it available to them. You need only something for me to anchor leylines with."
"Magic is something we divine beings wield at will, a birth right, if you will. It flows in our being much the same as blood flows through mortals. They, however, need a conduit to access it's power. Without the leylines, the power of magic unchecked would have devastating consequences on their mortal frames."
"Creating leylines here is a simple task, but I would need something to anchor them to, to serve as the borders for the weave."
"As for the ley lines, I know you are busy and had no desire to drain power from your own plans, when my power returns I will fashion a system for this place."
He looked to Drahthor, "Though, claiming they have no great civilization would be a bit wrong. For over five hundred years, they were Duska Krak, and even when the halflings and dwarves returned, the doppelgangers were still in control"
He considered the final comment. "Creating your own system would be hazardous. Without guidance or oversight from me, it would likely be incompatable with the leylines. Magic learned with one would likely not function with the other."
"And as for the ley lines, what would you suggest then? If i were to repay you with the power necessary would you construct a system then?"
Veros nodded. "I would be more than happy to help you bring magic to your people now, and you can repay me at a later time when your own strength has returned. How does your asteroid's gravity function exactly?"
He concentrated his mind, focusing his power, calling out to the Azure Aegis and the Creation Forge. A small shard of the aegis vanished from high above the ocean, unleashing a vicious vortex of air and water to flow out through the hole before it regenerated.
The shard appeared within the Creation Forge, using it's power to slowly expand it, making it larger and more expansive. As each new section came into being it vanished from the forge, reappearing far out in the void, surrounding the distant land.
When at last the Forge fell silent, a huge shell surrounded the land, seperating the coid without from the void within.
Switching paces smoothly, Veros began twisting and moving his hands through the air rapidly, each movement lashing out with a fragment of divine power, slowly weaving a new web of leylines, each placed just right, carefully interlocking. From the ziggurat deep within, the lined squeezed it carefully, spreading out in an intricate web, streatching into the distance, criss-crossing the area, out towards the Azure Aegis, carefully completeing the links.
His task finished, Veros let his arms fall to his side. "The web has been placed. Your land now has conduits for life and magical energy, same as the world far below. They should have no difficulty mastering what ever sort of magic you wish to teach them."
He sagged slightly against a near by wall.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Expand a peice of the Azure Aegis, surrounding Drahthor's asteroid to serve as a vital link in th eleylines. Since the entire area is Void, it doesn't serve as any kind of barrier, but it could prove invaluable if a purple worm accidentally burrows to the surface ;)
1 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Expand the leylines. Within Drahthor's realm, they use the small Azure Aegis surrounding it, and the Ziggurat as supporting links. Destroying one will disable them, same as with the main world.
I know of the fungus, and find it rather amusing myself. If you wish to speak it is considered poor form not to meet face-to-... Well I will have a face when you speak to me at least.
***
To everyone else:
Well, I suppose I overstayed my welcome... Perhaps I should remind myself of etiquette more often.
The life god descended again upon the Shattered Lands examining its recent changes.
Ahhh... Such ingenuity, Knowledge can be quite creative at times... Perhaps in time humans could find a use for these mortals...
Now this...
The god had reached the Silver Mines and was mildly interested.
Instability... And these creatures... Well, as long as they do not stir too much up among the humans.
***
Seals written in shimmering multicolored ink adorned the pages strewn across the bronze desk. Hundreds of pages of agreements, of paperwork, of lists. Of course the most important seal made this day would not be written on paper, nor would it be sealed in ink.
The Council of the Sundered Crown stood in a rough semi-circle facing their topic of conversation: A group of angels awaiting a decision.
"You have stood by us for generations untold, shared our lands as allies, I do not see why you must ask."
We have always stood aside, seeking to allow you to stand on your own. Now we see you have seized strengthy, and you know we have asked tostand a full citizens by law.
The angel's voice rang empty in the hall, yet was a pure tone to the listeners.
Voices filled the hall. Decisions made long ago, alliances forged at the dawn-time of humanity, steering the course of events.
***
Halflings wandered, refugees from a broken land. Wandering, searching for a place to call home once again.
Those who called themselves leaders felt a tugging, a pulling sensation at first. As time wore on though it became more, certainty that there was a home waiting if only they could reach it. With every pasing day the leaders of their clans followed the feeling, and each day it became stronger.
In time feeling became dreams, dreams of a second chance. With the dreams too came sights of skittering creatures and primordial mists, at once alarming and comforting; like a half-remembered face.
Children of Feysong, seekers of Sly Magics, wielders of the Healer's Gift. I offer guidance, I offer protection, I offer gifts of hope.
The words spoken in dream, and repeated in waking. Simple words, simple wishes. An offering to the wanderers, gifts to be accepted at their wishes.
As the refugees gathered before Duskpeak, ancient and half-forgotten, a thing of times long ago only recently rekindled by the dwarves, it rose in their eyes as fresh chance at life. A reborn city to stand at the heart of a renewed empire.
***
Xirinet looked down at the favored haunts of the Shattered Lands monstrous spiders. Watching the massive monsters maneuver about hunting for prey in search of sating thier endless hunger. They crawled about even in human cities, where they were given a proper respect and distance and treated as passing travellers.
[i]Perhaps...[i]
The god set to work shaping something from the spiders, more intelligent than its cousins.
Action
So I lost an INSANE amount of post... Screw retyping it since I didn't copypasta it like I usualy do... Seriously it was EPIC... Maybe I'll type something in tomorrow...
1PP, Guide Populace: Halflings worship me
1PP, Guide Populace: Angels learn Rituals
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans gain Sorcerors, most often Storm and Cosmic
2PP, Shape Populace: Ettercaps, may gain a PC stat block depending on my mood
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Angels join Alexandria
1PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Halflings travel to Duskpeak
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Vine Horrors (both). As beasts they cannot have tech or worship.
I lost SO much epic... Seriously... Vine Horrors were AMAZING...
1PP, Guide Populace: Halflings worship me
1PP, Guide Populace: Angels learn Rituals
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans gain Sorcerors, most often Storm and Cosmic
2PP, Shape Populace: Ettercaps, may gain a PC stat block depending on my mood
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Angels join Alexandria
1PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Halflings travel to Duskpeak
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Vine Horrors (both). As beasts they cannot have tech or worship.
I lost SO much epic... Seriously... Vine Horrors were AMAZING...
Empress
Tsarokga-Noggoth responded to the Empress. Its mind tightening its grib, creating more presure, like a claw crushing deeper into her skull.
"They are mere insects in my way"
"They are of no consequence"
"Deal with them directly if you want to be usefull to my goal"
Suddenly its tentacles started to move towards the deity
"But tell me little thing. Why would you be so interested in aiding me?"
It then turned its gaze back to the planet below.
"They are mere insects in my way"
"They are of no consequence"
"Deal with them directly if you want to be usefull to my goal"
Suddenly its tentacles started to move towards the deity
"But tell me little thing. Why would you be so interested in aiding me?"
It then turned its gaze back to the planet below.
-----
In the depths of the workshop, a new experiment was brought to completion. Created from the same stuff as the succubi, these new beasts were made of smaller shards, and inheritted a different pallette of skills and abilities. The first imps were born.
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Found the nation of Meribia
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Meribia
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Lesser) - Imps
PP Refresh
6 - Veros
5 - Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Thans, Shurka, Vymrl, Xirinet, Drahthor
4 - Nocturne, Mara, Zophiah, Runescar, Siccadan, The Empress, Roan
"The People will learn to channel his power, and shall use it to power their armies"
PP
2 pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Clerics - War Trolls learn to wield Divine Magic granted by Runescar to become clerics
2 pp, Guide Populace (Greater): Clerics - War Trolls learn to wield Divine Magic granted by Runescar to become clerics
PP
3 pp given to Veros, 2 for the ley lines and 1 for the creation of Zophia.
Steadying himself, he rose back to his full height. Looking down a bit, he scuffed a foot for a moment. "I may have been too hasty in judging your land earlier. Good luck with this project. I am very interested in what your people might accomplish once you terach them to access the leylines."
****
Xarler the Herald had felt the change, something had happened to their land. It was nothing one could perceive with sight or sound or smell, instead it felt like there was a new energy to the air. Some unknown power had been brought to this place and while even the Herald could not feel it with its senses, it could feel it with its soul.
Stepping out of the small cave within which it had rested , Xarler feystepped through space and time to appear atop a one of the ridges that its community dwelt under. The warren of canyons and caverns that the Herald had come to call home had flourished, now supporting a permanent population of around 300 Drahkorn. Beyond that, another hundred were normally passing through the place. It had become a center for the young race within which they could gather to discuss survival strategies and share knew knowledge of the land.
Looking over the landscape Xarler could see several visiting cells leaving to return to their own lands, while several more of its own people departed for the morning hunt. The constant raids of the Drahkorn had established them as the dominant power in the land, through the Herald still sent out regular patrols to maintain control and keep its people from growing weak.
Xarler the Herald was not the only one to have noticed a change in the air, many members within its own community had felt it, and it seemed that every visiting cell had one that sensed it as well. It had sent out a message to any cells that would listen, calling for a summit of those interested for 3 cycles time to discuss this change and attempt to understand it. In preparation, Xarler began to plunge its consciousness into the world around it and attempt to experiment with this new power. As it willed something to happen, it felt a pressure building in the air around it, till suddenly there seemed to be a perceptible shift and an explosion of sparks appeared before the Herald.
"Hmmmm, what else might this be capable of...."
In an instant, he vanished.
Deep within the halls of the Ziggurat a strange buzzing could be heard, suddenly vast swarms of six winged insects of minuscule size flew out from the sacred spot into the larger world. These creatures devoured the droppings of the other races, which angered the Racktheran to no end. However, they had incredibly short lifespans, roughly a day for the world below. For the first 3/4rds they would fly about and eat all the waste they could consume, then they would return to their nests for the last quarter where they would breed and the next generation would feed on their parents.
Beyond this they were harmless, but they gave a very exact way to measure the passage of time.
PP
1pp Spawn Dre Flies: Devour dung, 24 hour cycle, beyond that pretty harmless.
If one were there to observe the brewing storm, if one were to listen, one would notice the rhythm of the wind.
Exhale....
Exhale....
Exhale....
Wind carried the rhythm of breathe.
The storm grew stronger, the clouds darker, the wind more savage. Lightening, of the purest white roared through the cloud blotted sky, striking the sea in plumes of steam, arcing through the air in a dance of violent beauty.
Rain began to fall in a great torrential downpour. The sheets of drops became blinding in their numbers. Their cold assault plucking at the waters below, adding their own minuscule ripples to the great waves.
Within the center of this display, the dark storm curled within upon itself, twisting and falling, condensing.
Half way between the sea, half way between the storm, the cyclone ceased its ponderous descent and began to pull the storm above it down towards the cyclones lowest point. Faster than what seemed possible those dark and imposing clouds roared back to the center, down into the cyclone. A perfect sphere of roiling cloud, serpentine lightening, legion cascades, and wailing winds.
The orb grew smaller, pressing down upon itself. As it did so, a form began to become visible. As that orb receded into the being, the figure of a white cloaked man of climactic visage remained.
His cloak unfurled into wings. He opened his mouth, sharp serrated teeth bared, and he exhaled.
PP
2pp-Claim Moderate Domain: Storm
1pp-Claim Lesser Domain: Wind
2pp-Claim Moderate Domain: Storm
1pp-Claim Lesser Domain: Wind
"Where? What? How? WHY?" were its first thoughts. As it looked around it, it beheld a world, filled with lush and verdant beings. Organic beings, with a notable exception of one race. These it marked for later exploration. It admired their mechanical greatness and, unconsciously molded its form to somethings similar to them. But enough of them.
It studied the planes around it, having seeing the variety of them.
"Homes, these are homes" it thought. "A place to rest and to be safe in" An unexpected feeling of desire bubbled up in its brain.
Suddenly, divine energy crackled and pulsed out of its body. The gears of divine energy and the universe meshed and out of them was spit a new plane.
This plane was the embodiment of its inadvertent creator, for its environment was gigantic gears, mashing together and working in perfect harmony.
Its creator stood their for a moment, stunned. Feelings of surprise, excitement, and dread whirled wildly about in its head. It had just made something, and it felt wonderful.
"Making..." it thought. A happy emotion registered.
Then, it noticed that the creation of a home had not been perfect. Bits of divine energy had broken off and created swrling swarms of tiny mechanical swarms, which were now building newer swarm members and inhabiting the gears of the new plane.
Ideas for improving them flashed across its mind as it went into its new home to think about many things.
Show
4 pp - Create plane(Greater): Mechanus
1 pp - Spawn Beast(Lesser): mech swarms - think swarms of nanobots. I won't stat them, you'll see why in a turn or two.
4 pp - Create plane(Greater): Mechanus
1 pp - Spawn Beast(Lesser): mech swarms - think swarms of nanobots. I won't stat them, you'll see why in a turn or two.
Tsarokga-Noggoth
"You ask why I want aid you?" she asked coldly, "Because the Order must be maintained."
She began to float away slowly, still facing the other god.
"But if my offer is not satisfactory, know this," as she said this, her words were cold as ice, "If the Order is threatened, I will act."
She too turned her gaze to the world.
She began to float away slowly, still facing the other god.
"But if my offer is not satisfactory, know this," as she said this, her words were cold as ice, "If the Order is threatened, I will act."
She too turned her gaze to the world.
"There shall be an artifacts, a shield that embody War itself, and Runescar shall guide the War Trolls to Victory"
PP
1 pp, Create Artifact (Lesser): Shield - A shield imbued with the spirit of War is given to the War Trolls, with all the tactics of defense
2 pp, Form Domain (Moderate): Strategy
1 pp, Create Artifact (Lesser): Shield - A shield imbued with the spirit of War is given to the War Trolls, with all the tactics of defense
2 pp, Form Domain (Moderate): Strategy
For a moment he could look out onto all the planes and he was pleased that many creatures had moved into the Outer Realms. He gave them a portion of his power, which caused their bodies to burst in two. Each half grew until it was whole again, causing the meager population of that plane to double.
Continuing on his way, he entered the new realm and found it to be an odd place of cogs and gears. Swarms of small, almost invisible metal insects flittered about the place.
Curious, the Light called out, "Hello?" hoping to catch the attention of whoever had created this place.
pp
*1pp, from Artifact: Nourish Aberrations - Again tapping into the aberration domain, Xa'an ensures that there are a decent number of Aberrations in the Outer Realms.
*1pp, from Artifact: Nourish Aberrations - Again tapping into the aberration domain, Xa'an ensures that there are a decent number of Aberrations in the Outer Realms.
Then roan heard the voice of life and answered “I am sorry if you feel I have been rude please except my apologies.”
Then turning to Shurka “my friend the fungus struck back we must strengthen the vanguard woods.
Ka's wings beat once and sent him gliding towards the source of the odd sound, there he found a horned figure.
Turning to the other god Roan played his pipes “will you aid me in my fight in return I offer what little knowledge I have and a chance to be allies for future battles.”
pp expenditure
1 pp Nurish (artifact) vanguard woods: heals the gap tsarokga made
2pp (1 from artifact) mold land moderate: vanguard woods now has a mountain range running through it from coast to coast.
Empress
Tsarokga-Noggoth kept gazing the world below. The young entity spoke of Order, yet the concept was unknown to it. Then it responded
"I am unfamiliar with this Order you keep mentioning...."
It could no doubt extract the information out of her mind, but desided not to.
There were already enough hindrances. Another approach might prove more effective.
"Explain"
Tsarokga-Noggoth kept gazing the world below. The young entity spoke of Order, yet the concept was unknown to it. Then it responded
"I am unfamiliar with this Order you keep mentioning...."
It could no doubt extract the information out of her mind, but desided not to.
There were already enough hindrances. Another approach might prove more effective.
"Explain"
"Well met. As Roan said, I am Shurka. Who are you?"
Shurka left it at that, allowing Roan to do most of the talking. Shurka turned his attention back to the forest. Yes, the lord of decay certainly wasn't going to allow them to take the forest so easily. But Shurka wasn't ready to lose. If it wanted a fight, then Shurka would be prepared.
A few of the trees emitted a humming noise. It was slight at first, but the sound became louder and louder until the trees were shining with pure white light. The humming stopped, and the glow ebbed revealing crystaline trees in the place of the regular ones. These trees were stronger than the previous trees in the forest; they were extremely difficult to corrupt or decay. Forest wisps gathered around them, protecting key areas from fungal infection.
I seem to have a talent for trees. Treents, Eorna, and now these?
PP Use
2 PP [1 from Eorna]- Nourish Land (x2) - Created crystal trees. They are practically impossible to infect (as of now at least).
1 PP - Form Domain - Trees.
Suddenly it felt a new presence enter the plane with it. looking over in that direction, the presence appeared to be simply light. It moved over toward the light.
"Yes?" it asked. "What are you? What am I? Why am I here? What is the made thing that is filled with organic and mechanical life? Whay have you come?"
It suddenly realized that it may not have been the wisest choice to face this light head on. Maybe some careful observation from a distance would have been better. But it was too late, and it waited for the response, whatever it may be.
Show
1 pp: Spawn(??) Beast(lesser): create Restoring variety of the Mech swarms
1 pp: Spawn(??) Beast(lesser): create Restoring variety of the Mech swarms
Tsarokga-Noggoth
"You ask what Order is?" asked the goddess, "Order is the rule, Order is the norm, Order is everything is as it should be."
"Without Order, there is no life, only Chaos, only Destruction," she continued, "For there to be you, to be me, to be anything, there must be Order, there must be something to balance the odds."
"In this world, there is good, and there is evil," she said, "But while the good work for a common purpose, the evil squabble, and hide, only you have shown much direct action."
"I strive to balance the odds, to keep good and evil in line with one another, and for now, that puts my goals in line with your own."
"Without Order, there is no life, only Chaos, only Destruction," she continued, "For there to be you, to be me, to be anything, there must be Order, there must be something to balance the odds."
"In this world, there is good, and there is evil," she said, "But while the good work for a common purpose, the evil squabble, and hide, only you have shown much direct action."
"I strive to balance the odds, to keep good and evil in line with one another, and for now, that puts my goals in line with your own."
Seeing the horned creature make his sounds gave Ka understanding of how he could mimic the noise and create easy conversation between them. Extending his senses into the air, Ka felt all the little things pulling him in and throwing him back out in breathes of all tempos. Ka searched out for a thing like the horned 'Roan'. Finding something humanoid without an odd lack of Roan's features, Ka settled ,held out a hand and caught the creature's breathe in it. Somewhere far away a satyr hit the ground from mid-run wheezing and unable to vocalize his shock. Ka held his fist to his mouth and breathed in the creature's voice.
"*cough* *cough* Ah, yes, this will do. Roan, Shurka, I do not understand your crusade on these simple creatures. I do not support it. It occurs to me your hate throws common sense in dealing with these creatures to the wayside. I will take pity on them."
As Ka said this he held a hand out to the mat of fungus below, gesturing for the fungus to rise. Wind rose up from the forest floor in a column at each beckoning and portions of the mat rose readily with the wind. With increasing strength came each pulse of wind, and finally large chunks of the mat tore from their mycelial network to soar into the air.
These chunks of fungus broke apart into smaller, singular organisms. Mushrooms of gray flesh with muscular caps which propelled them, and stems bloated at the center with fleshy bags of phosphorescent blue gas that made the fungus buoyant in the thin air. Strings of mycelial threads hung below them, twisting in the wind.
"And now they spread across distances greater than any." said Ka, wings beating once and then gliding away.
PP
1pp=spawn beast (lesser): Aeolian Fungus
1pp=spawn beast (lesser): Aeolian Fungus
Shurka moved in front of Ka, cutting him off. Shurka whipsered:
Ka
Fool! I understand that you see nothing wrong with these creatres, but it is unwise to act without knowledge! I'm not as single-mindedly trying to eliminate them as you might think. Have you seen other creations by the fungus-maker? They slaughter innocents with their only intent being domination and destruction. If I can disrupt enough of the Blight-lord's creations, I may be able to draw him... it... out of hiding. Only then would I stand any chance against it.
She returned to examining the Chaos. There must be something she could do about it. Something...
A god had awakened.
The vaguely human figure opened its glittering mouth and howled, a roar that pierced the endless miles of existence to reverberate in the Chillund Archipelago.
S'kre felt the call and remembered it, as soldier might remember an old general's imperious command. He sent his own reply back, on the wings of a stolen dream.
"As always, Lord of War, I stand ready."
The call speed onward until it's divine echos struck the Aether, the essence of which all things had come. The great shout's vibrations touched a woman, frozen into a bier of hardest ice.
She to replied through a dream, though she merely added her words to it, instead of crushing it entirely.
"Hail father, I shall do your will and spread your holy Word, your Rites of Frost."
At the bottom of the world, the god raised his head, cracking ice and frost, revealing a flash of golden flesh before plates of iron and frost shielded it again.
So his children still possessed loyalty at least, if little enough power. Angrily, he through out his power, sending tendrils of rime running through the dirt and stone to his holy city, Ssabrec.
A god had awakened. A god had returned. He would come to his people, and his people would bear His Word, His Word of Justice and Word of War. His people would bear his Word unto the very ends of the earth, though they might perish in it's flames.
Vymrl was back.
“Oh please,” black-haired Mara said from behind her shoulder. “You did not say not to.”
White-haired Mara gurgled sounds of frustration before blurting out, “No! No! No! He wasn't supposed to eat my unicorn!” Anger now crossed her face, and somewhere a storm flashed lighting and thunder.
The other Mara shrugged, and gave a light laugh. “So much for your champion,” she said, emphasizing the possessive pronoun. “You turned him into a savage beast! What did you expect!”
Mara stood up and pushed her sister away. She stared down at the world in frustration. “What am I supposed to do! He wasn't supposed to eat my unicorn! And now his blood is tainted!”
Mara returned to her despairing sisters side again. They were together in the sky now, and she felt her other self's emotions strongly. She too had felt her other self's hero eating the meat of the unicorn, and with it ingesting tainted blood. Mara had specifically forbidden taking this blood, for it once touching the ground it was corrupted and became cursed. “It would seem he has accepted your punishment.”
Summer Mara agreed silently. Then she looked at her sister and said, “The true blood will be useless to him now. How shall he defeat his enemies now?”
Mara laughed. It was both a laugh at her sister for her faults, but also a way to lighten her spirits. It seemed to work, as Summer Mara crinkled a slight smile in response. Winter Mara responded, “Is not his desire savage? Fit his curse to his desire. We can fix the rest”
The two Mara's were both smiling now. “I understand. This will be fun!”
***************
Down in the workshop, the white-haired Mara appeared before her Hero, Ezero, with her moon behind her showing through the large window. “Ezero.”
“My Goddess!” Ezero exclaimed. He looked at her then at his items. “I have done as you commanded. “
“Here.” Ezero lifted the unicorn's horn, “is the horn of the beast as you wanted, and here,” again pointed to the pouch with the blood in it, “is the blood of the beast.”
“I am glad you succeeded.” Mara said, smiling. “The time for you and your fellows revenge upon the wicked priests has arrived.”
Mara went over to the table and lifted the unicorn's horn. It was almost three feet in length. Holding the horn in her hands parallel to the floor, Mara closed her eyes and concentrated. Her power increased and engulfed her and lit the room. Ezero had to close his eyes from the power. Just as quick as the power had grown it receded. When Ezero opened his eyes Mara was holding not the horn, but a sword. The hilt and guard was of a strong iron-like metal. The horn had been reshaped from its conical shape to something more akin to the flat blade of a normal sword. Mara held the sword out to Ezero to take.
Cautiously Ezero reached out and took it. He felt the smooth cold metal of the hilt and guard, and brushed his fingers over the side of the blade. The blade itself was very much the same material as before, slightly pliant to a harsh push. “Thank you!”
Mara shrugged. “The sword will help you. Despite its appearances, it will hold its own against other metal weapons. It cannot pierce through metal armor though, I'm afraid. But if you hit flesh it will strike true and strong. And anyways, it's real strength is the power of the horn. Magic will detest you, flee from, and break before the power of the sword.”
“Now,” Mara continued, more serious than before. “You must prepare, for your time of retribution is soon at hand.”
Ezero's heart beat fast with blood as emotions filled with him. His long awaited promise of revenge would come true.
“On the eve of calibration. Use this sword to cut into those that will follow you.” With but a though Mara put into Ezero the ritual to be used. “I will send my power to aid you, and the priests will be naught but helpless.”
“As you wish.”
Mara turned to go, but gave another stern look to Ezero. “And when you are done with this business. You will have to leave you understand?”
Ezero did understand. “I will pay whatever price I must for vengeance. Even my own life.”
Mara laughed. “Maybe. Those of you who remain must try to survive. I would hate to lose you now.”
And once again, Ezero was left alone to prepare.
”PP”
Create Template – 2 PP – Lycanthrope. Further information forthcoming.
Create Artifact – 1 PP – Unicorn Sword (Temp Name) – Sword made from a unicorn's horn and imbued with divine power. The sword has the power to nullify or reduce magic, both passive and active. The sword cannot break metal though. Finally, if the sword draws blood on someone and they survive, they gain the Lycantrhope template.
Guide Populace – 1 PP (From Astral Orrery) – ALL Eladrin magic users, including priests, will lose their ability to use magic the next calibration (i.e. the next one for story purposes).
Fomr Domain Minor – 1 PP – Mara gains the Hunting domain.
Create Template – 2 PP – Lycanthrope. Further information forthcoming.
Create Artifact – 1 PP – Unicorn Sword (Temp Name) – Sword made from a unicorn's horn and imbued with divine power. The sword has the power to nullify or reduce magic, both passive and active. The sword cannot break metal though. Finally, if the sword draws blood on someone and they survive, they gain the Lycantrhope template.
Guide Populace – 1 PP (From Astral Orrery) – ALL Eladrin magic users, including priests, will lose their ability to use magic the next calibration (i.e. the next one for story purposes).
Fomr Domain Minor – 1 PP – Mara gains the Hunting domain.
With that, Ka flew around Shurka and toured the continent. It was a small world, but packed with a confusing amalgamation of many ideas. Some were quite beautiful such as the mountains. Others were so dense with life that all Ka could think about was the great many breathes that seemed to pull on him and weigh him down.
Looking for a quiet place to reflect, and finding none on the choked continent, Ka put a hand skyward. From his hand launched a bolt of teal lightening that struck the sky with a thunderous crack. From the blinding flash a flood of clouds rushed out to cover the sky for miles, looking like a great swirling storm cloud within which teal lightening played deep in the dark mist. At the eye of the storm was a great teal light.
Crossing this light, Ka found himself in a large landscape of ossified clouds which twined in large arced paths across the swirling storm cloud in a labyrinth. Small rivulets of rain ran across every surface, delivering water to supply the storm. Nine chambers within the storm contained great fleshy organs of gray tissue which swelled and deflated to pump wind throughout the plane and out into the storm.
The most difficult chamber to locate, hidden deep within the maze of ossified cloud and conflicting winds was a great domed structure housing the folded membranes that provided animalistic thought to the plane. Within the center of the dome sat a large pool of rainwater. Within the pool, attached to two sides of the dome by large ropes of gray tissue, half submerged in the pool, sat a crumpled ball of glowing teal tissue arcing with lightening. This lightening played across the membranes, through the pool, and upon the walls at regular intervals.
Upon membranous ball a platform of ossified dark storm clouds, whose supports bent around the organ and into the pool, held a throne.
It was there which Ka flew and sat, marveling at his creation, and thinking upon all that had transpired.
Suddenly, a thought, an image, came to him unbidden by a divine force. It was friendly, which assured Ka, but he was curious. So many strange ways of communication these others had.
"What is this?"
PP
2pp: Create Plane(Lesser) *This is to be the start of Ka's weather system. A large living chain of demi-planes whose organic processes will affect a weather pattern on the area it inhabits.*
2pp: Create Plane(Lesser) *This is to be the start of Ka's weather system. A large living chain of demi-planes whose organic processes will affect a weather pattern on the area it inhabits.*
Now though...her time had finally arrived.
Strange things began to happen with the world. The sky above North Pole darkened as the air above it suddenly was filled with Spirit Cranes. Strange and fickle beings that served the Mistress. Their cries filled the air and the world under them began to change. The landscape warped as the essence of the Mistress poured through it. Mist, thick mist covered the land. And under the protective mist strange things happened.
Ice cracked, land crumbled and void died as it was pushed away to give place to a new landmass. A grey, lifeless, windwhipped landmass of winters and cold. Mighty mountains dominated the new land, mountains high and proud, their tops covered with ice and snow as a memory of what had been there. What was not montains where grey and featureless plains that stretched as long as the eye could see.
Here in this empty land a new race was created. Their skin was gray as their land, their eyes where golden as those of wolves, their shoulders where strong as those of the giants that once had hurt a Goddess and their minds where nothing but fire and ambition!
A race made of wayward spirits. Spirits that had belonged to murderers, warriors, hermits, outcasts and doubters. A race that was instilled with a Goddess anger, a race of action. That did what was needed to be done to survive and to protect the world they inhabited.
A race that one day would make the world tremble. A race of monsters. A race of warriors. A race for the mistress of spirts may her grace last forever.
In the 2857th year of the Calafian calendar, Zophia, mistress of spirts had created the Orcs and given them the cold continent of Zophar as their home.
3 PP - Mold Land ( Greater ) - Creating Zophar under the North Pole, therefore filling out the hole there completly and pushing the icemass above the new continent.
1 PP + 1 PP from Artifact: Shape Populace ( Moderate ) Orcs
Then he felt something else, the feel of another god affecting his worshippers. Mara has done something to the eladrin. So much to draw his attention, and all at one.
As he lifted his staff, he felt yet another jolt. Turning the Orb of Visions to it, he noted that Zophia had blocked the northern polar opening, completel disregarding it's importance. It provided circulation to the inner world to keep the few plants living there alive. The Ae-Silvani lived in that area as well. No doubt she had thoughtlessly pushed them aside, and blocked them from being able to access each other.
He gripped his staff tightly. He would deal with Zophia's error first. It would be the easiest. He reached out and grabbed the leyline before him, using it's connection to the Bulwark to begin to shift and mold the land. Already, the healing Azure Aegis was slicing through the continent that interrupted it's path, and the center of the continent was becoming sperated from the rest. At his command, gravity jerked and tugged on the continent floating unsupported over the opening. The new continet began to quiver and quake, then the center of it begin to split and began to sink into the polar opening below it. After several minutes the continent, instead of riding over the opening and blocking it, conformed to it. Were one to start at the end of the continent and walk towards it center, they would never reach the other side, instead emerging in the inner world.
He quickly called a small pyrefly nearby and imbued it with a message, sending it into the Farscape to bear to her a message. "Your continent interfered with the movement of both air as well as aether and people. I have made a correction to allow both to flow freely."
As he slowly made his way into the forming clouds, seking the new godling who had made them, Veros gazed through the Orb of Visions, seeking Mara. When his sight found her, he let his voice carry through it. "Daughter, why have you laid a trap for my worshippers?"
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Moderate) - Force Zophia's continent to conform to the level of the polar opening.
But... perhaps the other wanted some context to the answer, rather than a list? "That is, I am Xa'an the Light, or Light the Xa'an, which ever you prefer. Some call me a god, but that can be misleading. You are whoever and whatever you are; you know what you are better than I. You are here because if you were somewhere else, then you'd be there instead; can't be in two places at once..." he thought of Mara for a moment. "Well, usually at least. I have no idea what you are referinging to; what 'made thing that is filled with organic and mechanical life' are you refering to? Actually... what is the difference between organic and mechanical life again? And I have come because I wanted to."
The Light paused to catch his breath before remembering he didn't have any lungs. "May I ask a few questions of you? Who? What? Where? When? Why? And sometimes double-u?"
-----
Nibiru threw himself to earth, shattering the Aegis again -- that thing was really starting to annoy it. It had intended to land smack dab in the middle of the new continent, Zophar, but as it approached the land it moved out of its way. How terribly rude of it. The exarch adjusted its course as the last moment and smacked the side of the hole.
Shaking itself off, Nibiru started off toward the sky again, leaving a floating river behind it. Smashing through another portion of the aegis (partially because it wanted to), it continued to around where the orbits of the moons passed by. Neither was present at the moment, but the exarch didn't care. The water stopped and the exarch flew a distance away, to better observe the creation. A river traveled through the sky and aether, ending there, above the planet. Mortals in an oared ship would be able to ply those waters and reach the moons that way. The moons would undoubtedly occasionally crash into the river, so hopefully mortals would avoid those spots, but Nibiru ensured that the river would endure even after such events.
It seemed good. Mortals should know of this, it thought. Which ones though... well, the kind most like itself, it thought.
pp
1pp+1pp from Exarch, Mold Land (moderate): The Skyway River - Xa'an's exarch, Nibiru, creates a floating river that connects the surface world with the moons, more or less.
1pp from artifact, Guide Populace (Lesser): Aberrants - Aberrations now nominally worship Xa'an. No race is particularly devoted, however.
1pp+1pp from Exarch, Mold Land (moderate): The Skyway River - Xa'an's exarch, Nibiru, creates a floating river that connects the surface world with the moons, more or less.
1pp from artifact, Guide Populace (Lesser): Aberrants - Aberrations now nominally worship Xa'an. No race is particularly devoted, however.
"My bretheran, we are gathered here to discuss the presence of this arcana in our lands, we all have sensed its presence and many of us have experimented with the strange energies..." As he spoke a strange thing began to happen, over the cycles of experimentation the Herald had learned to bend the arcana to his will, and now channeling it through his form he began to float in the air before all of those that were gathered. "There is a great power in this, and I believe that Lord Drahthor has blessed us with this force that we might grow still stronger. Many of you have been met with success in attempting to wield the arcana, others have not..... Allow me then, to show you what I have discovered...."
****
Drahthor Lord of Destruction and Creation stood upon the waters of his world, gazing down into their clear depths at the fish that dwelt within. They were boring creatures, they ate, they bred, they swam. All they were really useful for was food, and the Serpent of Rebirth wished for his waters to be more interesting. Channeling the powers of the Ziggurat, he set upon to make things more interesting. First he created a long slimy eel with golden skin that would devour the smaller fish, however it would be prey as well, but when a piece of it was bitten off a strange microorganism in its flesh would quickly rebuild the wound. He then created amphibious fish with a jet like appearance, fins atop their back, and row upon row of serrated teeth. They would be the predators of the waters, so that its bounty would not be so easily acquired.
PP
1pp+1 from Herald: Guide Population= Teach the Drahkorn the Sorcerer class
1pp spawn: create sharks to inhabit the waterways of the asteroid
1pp spawn from ziggurat: Create a golden eel whose scales have a strange healing property.
1pp spawn: create sharks to inhabit the waterways of the asteroid
1pp spawn from ziggurat: Create a golden eel whose scales have a strange healing property.
He flew down to the woods calling to the trents of the woods. They began to march behind Roan. Then he called to the trees, bushes, and vines themselves and they coalesced and began to crawl forward like living siege engines. When the army reached the edge of the woods they were a force to be reckoned with. Roan’s army of a hundred legions crashed into the fungal blight. Roan raised his staff and little maker turned to quick silver flowing down his arm and entwining around the staff like a metal vine. At the top little maker shaped itself into a broad leaf blade. This Roan used to devastating effect cutting down all that stood in his way. The earth-rage battle thorns and their smaller brethren tore the fungus up by the roots the trents roots ripped at the ground killing more of the fungal forests. Roan’s army marched all the way to the sea chasing the mushroom men into the cold waters. But roan knew that this battle had just begun.
(Note: this is just down one peninsula)
Pp expenditure
3pp (1from artifact) spawn: battle thorns
2pp (1form artifact) create: broad leaf glaive gives +1 to battle
PP Expenditures
3 PP - Mold Land (Greater)
1 PP - Guide Populace
1 PP - Guide Populace
1 PP - Guide Populace
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Land
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact
1 PP - Guide Populace
1 PP - Guide Populace
1 PP - Guide Populace
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Land
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact
Grey fungi controlling psionics proved a counter against the simple minded battle thorns.
---
In the far reaches of the Aether, the Tsarok-Hem and there minions had continued to multiply.
---
A new breed of fungi started to appear aswell. This dark mushroom with tattered hood and a fine stem with at the end hundreds of fine tendrils. Seemingly unaffected by gravity, it would swim around in the air with the aid of it's hood, similar to jellyfish. When landed and attached to the soil, it could mimic other types of plants. It also possessed a wide array of psionics.
The most powerfull ability in its arsenal was a levitation field which allowed it to form a zone of no-gravity around it, making prey float helplessly, while it moved in unhindered for the kill.
They were also able survive short periods in aether.
The species became known as warp drifters.
(nourish populous (fungi) 1PP from spore chambers)
(guide populous (fungi) 1PP from Nuggoroth)
(mold land 1PP from Unggar-Raggnu)
(2xnourish populous (Tsarok-Hem + minions) 2PP)
(spawn populous (moderate) 3PP: warp drifters)
"For your questions, except the double-u, I am not sure what I am. Who, I suppose I am myself. As for why I am here, I found myself existing, which was sudden because a moment before I wasn't. I haven't any idea of when, except for not long ago. Where? Somewhere, I don't know what anything is called. Other than this place that I made. As well as theses mechanical swarms, I made them. Have you made anything? Is that helpful?"
" As for the made thing, it is a sphere, hollow on the inside, around which 2 smaller spheres orbit, which are not hollow. In it is a pillar of bright.....something. Bright, like you. Is it you? Is that helpful? Again?"
"As for mechanical and organic life, see these swarms here? They are mechanical life, for they are made of metal, made of artificial parts. Organic life, well, I don't really know what it is, or how to describe it other than life that is not mechanical. On the made thing, there is much life. Most of it is organic, but some is mechanical. Has that helped?"
Shurka looked at his people who were trading with the genasi through their new sea border. They had come so far... yet they still could be better. They were having a golden era, with little violence, and their exposure to the genasi helped them learn. Shurka reached their minds and told them how to channel his wrath if it would ever become necesary. Something big may be coming... Shurka felt it.
PP Use
2 PP - Nourish Populace x2. The humite are doing exceptionally well, and expanding to other towns.
2 PP [1 from Eorna] - Guide Populace. The humites learn the avenger class.
Filling out Vine Horrors
The mists of the Shattered Lands boiled with the power of the Leylines, seeming to take on a mind of their own
the twisting energies sought an outlet. Drifting through the forests the energies settled the bloody marks of a panther's kill, sinking into the
ever-fertile soil freshly stained in blood.
The ground roiled, boiling as plant-life began to multiply. The vines began to twist together, rising up in the semblance of the corpse that fed it,
hungry for the blood that fed its genesis.
the twisting energies sought an outlet. Drifting through the forests the energies settled the bloody marks of a panther's kill, sinking into the
ever-fertile soil freshly stained in blood.
The ground roiled, boiling as plant-life began to multiply. The vines began to twist together, rising up in the semblance of the corpse that fed it,
hungry for the blood that fed its genesis.
PP Refresh
6 - Veros
5 - Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Thans, Shurka, Vymrl, Xirinet, Drahthor
4 - Nocturne, Mara, Zophiah, Runescar, Siccadan, The Empress, Roan, Ka, Kiptar
-----------------------
The Empress heard the call of the young god, and answered.
"Hello young one, your actions intrigue me," she said softly, "If you are interested, I wish to meet with you, and discuss... some things."
PP Expenditures
4 PP Create Plane (Greater) The Chaos - This is basically the Elemental Chaos, and is a chaotic echo of the real world.
1 PP from the Land Spike Create Artifact (Lesser) The Heart of Fire - This is a large, pulsating and burning gate to the Chaos. Anyone who walks through the gate arrives in the Chaos, which may or may not be potentially lethal to the person in question. It is currently the only way to access the Chaos.
1 PP from the Land Spike Create Artifact (Lesser) The Heart of Fire - This is a large, pulsating and burning gate to the Chaos. Anyone who walks through the gate arrives in the Chaos, which may or may not be potentially lethal to the person in question. It is currently the only way to access the Chaos.
2PP-Teach Populous: Imperium-Court System
1PP-Forge Artifact: Hellrime Codex
1PP-Forge Artifact: Niflendar Flamborge
1PP-Nourish Populous: Imperium
1PP (Ssabrec)-Nourish Populous: Ice Monoliths
The Orcs flourished and spread over the continent. In the matter of centuries the continent was filled with the nomadic Orcs that wandered the land, hunted on the plains, fished in the rivers and ate of the fruits and the berries the land offered.
And as they did this they prayed and honoured The Great Spirit, Zophia their mother and the protecter of the land.
This land though was colder and roughter then the southern continent and gave little to those that where not used to it's ways. Yet colonists arrived from Calafi Krak and founded a couple of minor settlements along it's southern coast.
Nourish Land 1 PP: Plants and animals appear in Zophar.
Nourish Population 1 PP: Orcs Increase in numbers.
Guide Populace 1 PP: Orcs pray to Zophia.
Guide Populace 1 PP: The Dwarves and Halflings of Calafi Krak arrive and settle a tiny fraction of the southern parts of the continent.
Knowing this would not be sufficient, she took a breath and continued. “I could hear the cries of many Eladrin, angry, sad, vengeful, against those that took from them, hurt them, destroyed them. The priests and leaders of the Eladrin had become corrupted and bad. We gave help to those who wanted retribution, they have cleansed the corruption from the mountain.”
“Don't worry! We made sure that every claim was honest and true. If your priests were harmed, there must have been a reason. And in any event . . . “
Mara was cut off by the wail of her sister. She stopped mid-sentence and turned around, looking at Winter Mara. The black-haired girl was drenched in water. Mara glared at her other self, with a disapproving look.
“I didn't do it! I swear!” pleaded Winter Mara. She was telling the truth. Something, had made Mara wet. She looked out at the sky and saw the culprit—that rogue planet! I had left a trail of debris and water, which had hit the other Mara. With but a thought, Mara dried herself off.
“How rude!” Mara squealed. This would have to be fixed right away.
"And besides. They surely pray stronger and more fervently now than before!"
Mara looked at the stream and pondered just what to do about this. She would have to act fast, before it drenched her again.
PP Expenditure:
1 PP from the Staff Create Artifact (Lesser) Fey Crossing: In the Whispering Wood, there is a Fey Crossing, which you can use to cross into the Feywild if you know the proper ritual.
1 PP Nourish Populace: There are now gnomes who live in the Feywild
"Direct me to your location and I shall find you."
With that Ka leapt into the air, gliding through the twisting maze of calcified clouds towards the portal in the eye of the storm. Gliding through the way back into the material world, Ka immediately became aware of another divine presence within the storm. He glided over to the dark cloaked figure.
"Just how many of us are there?"
--------------------------------
Meanwhile, on the land below the living storm of Ka, the weather had taken a drastic turn. The storm's influence had changed the climate: the ground was saturated with frequent rain, the land was whipped with powerful winds, and the air had become warm and humid with the ionized breath of the storm.
PP
1pp: Nourish Land? *Changing the weather to this. Encouraging rapid growth of fungi and plants of the tropical persuasion*
1pp: Nourish Land? *Changing the weather to this. Encouraging rapid growth of fungi and plants of the tropical persuasion*
In the heart of the city huge forges belched smoke as raw Adamite ore melted and ran into bowls of ice. There, smith's hammers and forges softened and reformed the Adamite into weapons and armors of amazing craftsmanship.
Of the Ice Monoliths that surrounded and guarded the city, each was given a set of plate Adamite armor and a Adamite great-axe, the finest the forges of Ssabrec could produce.
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The Imperium's armies followed the traditions of the Vyrane warriors of Chillund Archipelago. Battalions of one thousand soldiers formed self-contained armies.
The core five-hundred warriors fought with huge Adamite war-axes in one hand and a tower shield, embossed with the emblems of Vymrl, in the other. Two-hundred-fifty archers marched along side these massivly armored companies of soldiers. Archers wielding the finest bows that the favored children of War and Conquest could produce.
Fifty scouts accompanied each battalion and two-hundred elite warriors made up the vanguard. These two-hundred, called the Forlorn Hope, lead the charge of battle and headed the assault on any fortress.
These are the armies of the Imperium.
------------
The Living City of Ssabrec stood as the beating heart of the Imperium, thus it was that the first reform in over a millenia issued from it's frosty courts. A young senator called Grakken spearheaded the reform, creating a system of courts to administer justice across Ssabrec and the Imperium.
For this, the greatest reform in a millenia, his fellow senators thanked him with an arrow in the back. He died in the streets of Ssabrec, his blood bouncing across the ice.
------------
The Swordmages, Wizards and Clerics of the Imperium pooled their talents and inscribed a potent artifact, the Hellrime Codex. It's pages they formed from soft doe-skin, it's ink they mixed from blood of mages and the darkest, oldest ice.
In this Codex, these great mages wrote the sum of all their knowledge of the divine and the arcane. Spells of incredible power filled it, even more, it became a limited wellspring of magic. If ever again the gods turned their back on the Imperium, they would find the mages not lacking in power.
------------
The finest smiths of Ssabrec gathered, for they could not allow the mages to outdo them. And so they to pooled their craft and labor, and so the Niflendar Flamborge came into this world.
A blade of purest Adamite, no weapon, save the Hammer of Darkness, could match it's strength, while the Horde's Bastard, a greatsword bathed in the essence of a Fire Archon, was to only weapon to best the Niflendar Flamborge in quickness.
2PP-Teach Populous: Imperium-Court System
1PP-Forge Artifact: Hellrime Codex
1PP-Forge Artifact: Niflendar Flamborge
1PP-Nourish Populous: Imperium
1PP (Ssabrec)-Nourish Populous: Ice Monoliths
A whisper in the night. A pitch-black Crane landed in front of the ancient Ice God. It opened it's beak and someone spoke, not the bird but something else that used the bird as a way of reaching others.
" Vyrmlr, I salute you and I honour you. My name is Zophia, child of the Great Mother and Goddess of Spirits. I have heard about your pursuits and the war you waged against the children of my Mother. I harbor no ill-intent against you, no, instead I offer an alliance. Come to my realm if my proposal interests you and there we can speak more. "
The spirit Crane closed it's beak. Pitch-black eyes gazing at the ancient god, eagerly waiting for an answer to transfar to his Mistress.
"The made thing is the world, and since you mentioned it, of course I made it! Well... with some help I suppose, but that isn't really important. Others are there, they can be fun or annoying. You should go and make made things there too."
"So mechanical life is made of metal and organic life is not? Odd distinction, always distincting you and yous others are. But distinct later, come come, see the world, it’s a world," Xa'an said to the god of metal things. He slipped half between realities motioning for the other to follow.
He noticed that his servant had created a river in the sky. Unfortunately the pesky Dimensional Bulwark was attempting to pull it down; only residual divine essence had kept it afloat this long. And the Aegis was closing in around it! Bah, so rude!
Turning his attention away from the other god for a moment, Xa'an put a little more power into the upward flowing water, allowing it to deny the pull of gravity. Where the Aegis was growing to cut it off, the River widened and curved into a tunnel. The energies that prevented it from falling to the ground also prevented it from being cut in half by the aegis.
pp
*1pp, Create Artifact (Lesser): Skyway River - Xa'an gives the river the power to defy gravity and resist being cut off by the aegis' regrowth.
*1pp, Create Artifact (Lesser): Skyway River - Xa'an gives the river the power to defy gravity and resist being cut off by the aegis' regrowth.
He lowered the staff, or looked at the new god. "To my knowledge, their have been twenty seven of us, though many sleep or have vanished, and," he gaze turned dark for a moment, "one has died."
He gaze returned to normal and he offerted the new god a slight bow of his head. "Veros, lord of magic and eternal sage. I assume you are responsible for this storm?"
Show
1 pp Spawn Creature(Lesser): make Enduring variety of Mech swarms
1 pp Spawn Creature(Lesser): make Enduring variety of Mech swarms
"Yes, that would be my storm. It is only the beginning of a large roaming being that will impose a weather system upon this world. I am Ka, it is nice to meet another, and one so knowledgeable." Ka nodded his head in recognition, "I do have one question for you. What is this blight lord so many seem to worry about?"
"The blight lord, one know as Tsaroka-Noggoth. It does nothing to add to the efforts of others, instead unleashing creatures bent on the destruction of everything that is no one of it's creations. Several millenia ago, it unleashed a horde of beings with the intention of annihilating or corrupting, I'm not entirely sure which, the mortals created by myself and others."
He lifted his staff slightly, letting the Orb of Visions project a vision of the wrath of the Tsarok-Hem. "They were stopped by a newly born god exerting his full power. Since that time, more than a few of our numbers view Tsaroka-Noggoth as a grave danger to the order and stability of the world."
He lowered his staff. "Whether that is fact or opinion, I leave to you to decide, but suffice it to say, I have not approached the corrupter personally."
“Shurka great things are in flux in this world. I must abandon the fight against this fungus for a greater wrong has been done. Do you not fill it, it is gone” Roan was in a panic he knew not that he spouted nonsense. “It is all gone I can not imagine how” roans words sped up tell they ran together. “Imustleaveyoulordandfindoutwhohasstolenchaositself.”
With that Roan stepped away into his home the genasi earth mote. (Though he was so destracted he left the way open for Shurka to follow if he wanted to.) There he gathered the strongest of all the genasi and began to teach them how to use exploration rituals to go to places wide and far, and even places not of this world. As the genasi worked their new magic they came across many wonders they saw the vanguard woods and the fungal forest locked in battle they saw the trolls’ preparing for war. They saw a tall pale race collecting fire. They saw a mountain by the moon light that was a shinning city but seamed to be ruled by beasts. They found creatures that were all eyes and dragons that they thought were just legend. Then they went to places not in the mortal realm and they found themselves in a place of riot and life this they quickly left for it frightened them greatly. Then they were in a giant cavern with fungus and strange snake headed folk and giant worms this to they fled. The genasi came to the farthest reaches to a place were the bazaar roamed and still Roan could not find what he was looking for this bothered him greatly. Next the genasi appeared in a world turned inside out they knew that they were back in the mortal plane but the sky was land and the ground was sky and in the center was a house of pure light. Finally they came to a plane that was one of order and peace little green men ran around doing this and that spiders seamed to aid them and far on the horizon was a jade palace. That is when Roan felt it the chaos was closest here. He whispered to the genasi to tell them where the must go. And though they were dead tired they performed the ritual and the kingdom of Tallomar appeared in the middle of chaos itself.
Pp expenditure.
1pp (artifact) guide: the genasi learn exploration rituals.
1pp (artifact) mold: move earth mote
The energies of the Creation Forge flared, and it slowly began work once more, slowly but surely producing a fine silver and gold pattern hanging in the air above it. When the energies finally resest, the pattern vanished, reappearing in their destined location, adorning the Staff of Veros.
-----
Far below the depths of the ocean, the ancient magic of the Dimension Bulwark began to seep forth into the land above it. As the ground began to shift, the earth shook and the ocean quivered and frother, great waves flying forth from the area as earthquakes began to rock the sea floor. Straining and groaning, the ground surged upwards, bursting forth from the sea, forced by the sudden reversal of gravity and amplified magic to rise from the depths.
As the earth and sea settled, the magic warped and twisted again, drawing forth various specimens of creatures from across the other lands, despotigint them on this new continent even as a variety of simple plant life burst forth to provide them sustenance. Flickerfish and Shadowwing swarms flitted among the mountains and a variety of birds and bats began to fly overhead. Across the plains horses ran free, and within the forests cats stalked their dire rat prey and boars looked for food.
Energies warped through the continent again, this time drawing a variety of intelligent creatures into the new land, pulling them from far and wide, across all social castes, and all deities of choice.
PP Expenditures
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Staff of Veros provides Spawn PP
3 PP - Mold Land (Greater) - Continent of Valdet
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Land - Various plant life and creatures
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Elves
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Humans
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Shadar-kai
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Minotaurs
Turning away, Drahthor set about finally binding his world to that below. Standing on his hind legs he reached down towards his ribs, he then with a sharp jab broke the carapace of his form and grasped one of them. In another swift jerking motion he tore the rib out, and held it in his hand. The rib quickly regrew and the wound healed but he still held the rib.
In a flash of flame he appeared in the cavern that he had brought Veros to, and walked towards the far wall from the tunnel leading in. Placing the rib up against the caverns wall, he watched as it began to grow and expand. Eventually the rib had come to be nearly 20 meters tall and 10 meters wide and taken on an arched shape. A single crack spread down its center and the symbol of Drahthor appeared on its surface.
This would be the first of his bone gates, capable of existing in multiple places at once, it would act upon the subconscious will of its creator. If one were to approach it from this end he would find it opened to very near the location on the world below they wanted to visit. On the world below, if Drahthor wished for one to come here or if someone set out with this destination in mind they would soon find the gate appearing before them and opening to this place.
Breaking off three more ribs, he scattered them about his realm. This first bone gate would be the only one to forever be present in this place, all the others would appear and disappear throughout the various caverns of this world at random intervals. And even though they were no longer physically attached to him, Drahthor could draw strength from their existence and their firm foundations in this land. Smiling the Serpent or Rebirth returned to his Ziggurat.
PP
2PP Guide: Drahkorn learn Paladin class
2pp (1 exarch) Guide: Drahkorn learn Warlord class.
2pp Create Artifact: The Gates of Bone function as a bridge between the World below and the realm of the Drahkorn as described above, they also grant a +1 combat bonus.
2pp (1 exarch) Guide: Drahkorn learn Warlord class.
2pp Create Artifact: The Gates of Bone function as a bridge between the World below and the realm of the Drahkorn as described above, they also grant a +1 combat bonus.
So Alphabet was a gnome, and a remarkable gnome at that. His parents always knew he was destined for greatness. Back then he was known as Pweet, for that was the first sound he had ever uttered. His parents found this name delightfully complex, and certainly indicative of good things to come. They weren't disappointed. By the tender age of thirteen, Pweet had risen to relative prominence in his home village of Babble, and was rather ingenious when it came to developping new means of performing various tasks. When he came of age, all thought he would take on the name Speak, along with the mantle of village leader that came with it. Instead, he became Alphabet, and took up a modest life as a scribe.
He also seemed to attract those who would one day turn out great. His friend Scatter became the first gnome to domesticate badgers, which soon became a long-standing tradition among gnomes, as well as Soothe, who was well known for her calm head and diplomatic demeanor, and Sore, who was by far the largest and most imposing gnome in Babble. In fact, it was with these three friends that Alphabet began the adventure of a lifetime.
PP Expenditure
1 PP Spawn Beast (Lesser) Badgers
1 PP +1 from the Encyclopedia Guide Populace (Moderate) Domesticate Badgers
1 PP +1 from the Encyclopedia Guide Populace (Moderate) Domesticate Badgers
But too late, Roan was gone. Shurka was left alone. Again.
The humites had expanded even further over the years, and not only lived around Eorna, but in the Feywyld as well. The animals that they had brought over had changed from the fey energies. Most animals did not survive the alien power. Horses, however, adapted to the energy, and were changed. Their eyes became green, and they had learned to displace themselves; even their minds were more advanced than regular horses. The humites realized their potential, and learned to use them as their mounts. The humites became a fighting force to be reckoned with, especially under the influence of their new mounts.
PP Use
1 PP [Eorna] - Nourish Populace - Humites expand their borders. They all ready know how to move to the Feywyld, so no extra PP is spent.
1 PP - Spawn Monster - Fey Horses, or as the humites call them, Salsken.
2 PP [1 from Eorna] - Guide Populace - Humites taught to ride Salsken
2 PP - Guide Populace - Humites can be fighters.
Little creature, I have not seen your ilk before in this land, though, many thousands of years have passed since last I bestrode the earth. Carry this message to your mistress, this Zophia.
Vymrl's finger's twitched, and a minotaur's dream vanished from it's sleeping mind. The creature whimpered, it's mind shocked from the closeness of a god.
Into the dream's mercurial form, Vymrl forced his words, erasing forever the dream.
Dream Words
[b]I bid you greetings, Daughter of the Halfling. For long eons the rime and frost of this world held me in it's embrace. Now, I awaken from my slumber to find this world new and changed.
Indeed, though my children spilled their blood and your mother's children's blood across many fertile lands, I am interested in your offer. Provide me with a piece of your realm, and I shall know whence to come.
[b]I bid you greetings, Daughter of the Halfling. For long eons the rime and frost of this world held me in it's embrace. Now, I awaken from my slumber to find this world new and changed.
Indeed, though my children spilled their blood and your mother's children's blood across many fertile lands, I am interested in your offer. Provide me with a piece of your realm, and I shall know whence to come.
An hour passed and the Crane returned once more, moving forth on silent wings it landed in front of Vyrmlr, bent it's neck and opened it's beak so it's Mistress could be heard.
" I have no ill intent against you, Vyrmlr. What happend between mother and you were your conflict not mine. Touch my messenger and he will take you to my home..."
In it's middle surrounded by four pillars there was a pool filled with ever-moving, ever-changing and ever shifting mists. In front of it stood Zophia, the solemn goddess of spirits and the guardian of the after-life.
She was dressed in a dress as black as the night it self and a smile adorned her thin lips. Silvery dust shimmered in her black hair and bracelets hung from her arms.
She raised her arms in greeting and smiled at her visitors. Pitch-black eyes glowing faintly.
" Welcome to the Court of Spirits, Vyrmlr! Welcome to my realm. "
PP
1 PP - Mold Land - Move skyway river.
1 PP - Mold Land - Move skyway river.
"... Ah yes, you. Um... good of you to come. As you can see, this is this. Rather nice, as ridiculously large hollow spheres go. You should have a look around, um... what did you say you are again? What should I call you?"
-----
Tsul'Kalu examined the redesigned Storehouse and desired to test it out. On the continent of Ardune the exarch focused the beam of the storehouse and the plants below twisted around themselves, giving way to flesh, and flesh giving way to beak and feathers. Strange bird-like bears began to stalk those quite jungles. The plant-thing descended to the earth and took some into the feywyld. A handful he scattered about on the outer surface as well.
Indeed the augmentations seemed successful.
pp
*1pp +1pp, Spawn Beast (moderate): Owlbears - Xa'ans exarch, Tsul'Kalu creates owlbears and spreads the love around.
*1pp +1pp, Spawn Beast (moderate): Owlbears - Xa'ans exarch, Tsul'Kalu creates owlbears and spreads the love around.
Seeing that the Genasi were shifting back and forth so much Roan decided to give them a gift and he caused his forest to bloom on the second earth mote giving the genasi a home in both realms.
Pp expenditure
1pp nourish (artifact): elemental shards to be stated later (if someone wants to help with stating that would be appreciated. I was thinking something along the lines of the 3.5 ed. crystals.)
1pp nourish: a forest appears on the other earth mote.
"My name is ...Kiptar" It wasn't sure where that had some from, but it worked as well as any other name.
Leaving the Light, it began to explore the world around it. Many things it saw and many signs of others like itself and the light were evident. Eventually it found the mechanical life that had seen before, and watched them, learning about them and their ways.
His leadership would become a necessity when soldiers and scouts came looking for them, bent on their own revenge. Dozens of real or suspected perpetrators were cut down by their swords and magic. Fearing that now his group could not fight back against the strength of the Eladrin army and mages, Ezero ordered the followers to retreat into the wildlands. Some refused; they wanted to keep their secret and return to their old lives. The soldiers caught many, but a few made it back into the city. They would have to keep their secret as best as possible—a hard task considering their curse.
The Eladrin kept chasing them farther away though. Ezero taught the others the skills he had learned while in the harsh unforgiving terrain to the north. This helped save countless lives and bring food and shelter. However, they almost suffered complete catastrophe when Calibration came again. For the curse reappeared, and Ezero and his followers once again became their animal forms, with barely a hint of intelligence. Their carefully laid stockpiles of food for the winter were ruined, as in their animal forms they foraged through the food and ate it all quickly. Their instincts led some to go hunting and packs broke off. Returned to Eladrin form these groups had difficulty retracing their steps.
And through this the Eladrin continued to chase them periodically. Those from the mountain learned of the curse and came to hate and fear their brothers—calling them tainted by dark magics. Further and further they were pushed away. They spent years in the wilderness. Ezero grew wiser in managing his group, and each year he learned more about his animal form. He learned to meditate and untap his animal instincts while an Eladrin, and to better maintain his intelligence while in animal form.
Mara occasionally came to him in his dreams and gave him advise. She gave hints on how to develop his powers. More importantly, she promised him that if they, the group, devoted themselves to her, she would guide them to safety and let them have total control. Ezero talked to the group, and eventually they agreed.
They travelled in the wildlands, until they reached the ocean. They had to construct ships to continue their journey. The Eladrin only had a basic understanding of sailing, and so their boats were crude and difficult to handle. Still they put their faith in the goddess and they embarked across the seas. They rushed to leave as early in the spring as possible, for if they were caught in the ocean during calibration, many would surely die. Again, Ezero's long-held and taught knowledge of the heavens and astral bodies proved highly useful. As each ship had a navigator who could read the stars and maintain course. Nevertheless, several ships were lost, and the long journey exhausted food and water. Calibration drew dangerously near, only days away. Finally, the lookouts spotted land and those that survived disembarked onto the shores of a totally new land. After all their trials and tribulations, only a few hundred Eladrin were still alive.
There were trees as far as the eye could see, and no fungus either. It was, in every sense, pristine virgin territory. Ezero pushed the Eladrin to continue inland, until he found a site near a river that he found suitable. Here they finally settled. Ezero used his skills, and his animal form, to hunt the bountiful game in the region and quickly the Eladrin had plenty of food.
Over the years, Ezero and others continued to master their form. They pledged their devotion and loyatly completely to Mara and turned their backs on their former god who had hurt them so much. In return, Mara suggested that Ezero use the uncorrupted unicorn's blood to create a potion that would modify, just this once, their curse. In doing so, the Eladrin were able to merge completely with it, and thus were able to control it better and better (as well as learn to maintain almost all of their own personality and intelligence while in animal form).
PP
1 PP - Guide Populance (from Astral Orrery) - Most of the Lycanthropic Eladrin leave the mountain. They are guided on a long journey to the Taiga in the southern hemisphere.
2 PP - Shape Populance - Dark Eladrin aka racial lycanthropes (not same as PH2 shifters).
1 PP- Guide Populance - Dark Eladrin worship Mara
1 PP - Guide Populance (from Astral Orrery) - Most of the Lycanthropic Eladrin leave the mountain. They are guided on a long journey to the Taiga in the southern hemisphere.
2 PP - Shape Populance - Dark Eladrin aka racial lycanthropes (not same as PH2 shifters).
1 PP- Guide Populance - Dark Eladrin worship Mara
"Nibiru!" The Light called out, and Nibiru came. "Be a dear and help me put this back, would you?"
With the exarch's help, Xa'an took the River back to around where the moons were. Hmm, a Mara would probably just move it back out of the way if he left it here. Perhaps a different, less collision based, approach might be prudent?
Xa'an attached the river to one of the moon's itself. He allowed the water to be effected a little by the fragment of the dimensional bulwark contained within it, causing the water to form a small pond that, from the surface of the moon, would seem to ascend into the sky. As the moon moved around the equator of the planet, the River moved as well, contorting and writhing to avoid entanglements or contact with the other moon. Perhaps if Mara like this a bit more than before, he might split the river to connect the other moon as well. Or perhaps she'd just destroy the River instead. Didn't really matter.
Deciding that this was probably Summer Mara's moon (hopefully he was right), Xa'an traveled to the storehouse. The other exarch was there, but he ignored it. The Light took the power of the artifact and returned to the moon. Using that power, with a fragment of his control over time, he craft a small grove of deciduous trees, shrubberies, and grasses around the pond. His power would ensure that time wouldn't effect this place as others; it would be eternally summer, never winter.
Hmm... he had opened a path to the heavens for mortals, but no mortal really knew of it. That wouldn't do... but which should know of this place?
Mara's mortals seemed the obvious answer, but that might be one too many offenses for her to tolerate. Instead Xa'an left a guiding light on the surface of the moon for the goddess to find. If she chose, it would guide her people to adopt the belief that this was a holy site that only the most devout of religious figures would make a pilgrimage too, in order to commune with their creator.
If she didn't chose, well Xa'an was sure the power would evaporate in time.
Dismissing his exarch, the Light floated back to look at his work. It pleased him... in fact, he was so pleased he felt a little queasy. Turning away, the Light vomited.
The mass floated before him and started to writhe. Xa'an had never eaten anything, so he wasn't familiar with how mortals vomited, but he was fairly sure that was not normal. As he continued to watch the mass broke into several small chunks, which began to undulate. Perhaps it was a trick of his eye, but it seemed like these things were growing. Four tentacles grew from the base of the viscous sacks. Unsure what to do, Xa'an swept these things to the earth.
The things sought out sleeping mortals and burrowed their way into their heads through the ears. When the mortals woke, they were no longer what they had been. Fascinated, Xa'an watched.
These infected mortals began to change. First they lost all body hair, then their skin paled and turned a sickly, sea-creature-like grey. They body itself changed, becoming more elongated and finally a series of tentacles sprouted from their faces.
Well, this really wouldn't do. In a bit of a panic, Xa'an collected as many of these creatures as he could find. A third escaped him by traveling into the underdark, but he had the majority of them. The remaining portion he threw into the Outer Realms. Let them feast on the other creatures there; they would fit in nicely.
pp
*1pp from Exarch, Mold Land (Lesser): Xa'an moves the River to be attached to one of the moons. It will move with the moon along its orbit.
*1pp from Artifact, Nourish Land: Xa'an creates a fairly small outpost of a summer environment on the moon, about 300 feet in diameter all told.
*1pp from Artifact, Guide Populace (Lesser): Gift to Mara - If Mara chooses, this PP will cause her mortals to consider this spot on the moon to be a holy site and the pilgrimage to reach this place would be considered the highest form of devotion. If she doesn't so choose, this power will evaporate at the end of the turn.
*3pp, Shape Populace (moderate): Illithids/MindFlayers - Xa'an creates mindflayers accidentally. Needless to say, Illithids reject the notion that they are nothing more than divine vomit. A portion of them are currently in the underdark with the bulk of the rest in the Outer Realms.
*1pp from Exarch, Mold Land (Lesser): Xa'an moves the River to be attached to one of the moons. It will move with the moon along its orbit.
*1pp from Artifact, Nourish Land: Xa'an creates a fairly small outpost of a summer environment on the moon, about 300 feet in diameter all told.
*1pp from Artifact, Guide Populace (Lesser): Gift to Mara - If Mara chooses, this PP will cause her mortals to consider this spot on the moon to be a holy site and the pilgrimage to reach this place would be considered the highest form of devotion. If she doesn't so choose, this power will evaporate at the end of the turn.
*3pp, Shape Populace (moderate): Illithids/MindFlayers - Xa'an creates mindflayers accidentally. Needless to say, Illithids reject the notion that they are nothing more than divine vomit. A portion of them are currently in the underdark with the bulk of the rest in the Outer Realms.
He snapped his fingers slightly, vanishing from site, appearing in a wooded area. He noted the odd little creatures moving through the area, and warded himself from mortal view. He slowly wandered through the forest, as silent as death itself, moving among the gnomes, feeling the touch of their god upon them.
Considering it to himself, he though that perhaps this one could be of a nature he could appreciate. Veros laid a single finger against a gnome as it passed by, latching on to the distinct trait of their creators magic to send him a simple message, asking him to meet with him.
Mara screamed out as loud as possible, "FATHER!"
"Hello there," said the gnome brightly, "How are you this fine, fine day?"
The gnome's face split into a mischievous grin. This, it seemed, was the new god himself, wrapped in the form of a gnome. He continued to stare up at the Lord of Knowledge.
---
Unggar-Raggnu ceased the attempts to continue the fungal growth against the forrest barrier. Instead it turned it's attention to the ground below. It and its evergrowing broods burrowed a vast tunnel network underneath the forrest and the mountain range past that, returning back to the surface on the other side.
All the while feeding on the roots of the forrest the dug under.
Now the fungi could simply pass the barrier from underneath.
(5 x nourish populous (Tsarok-Hem and minions) 5PP)
(1 nourish populous (Raggnur) from spore chambers)
(1 guide populous (Raggnur) from nuggoroth)
(1 mold land from Unggar-Raggnu)
PP Expenditures
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Land: Created fungus in Atakhari.
1 PP from the Rain Spawn Beast (Lesser) The Kurha: Airborne sacs filled with gas and fungal spores, the Kurha release their contents when ruptured, thus spreading the reach of the fungus.
1 PP from the Rain Spawn Beast (Lesser) The Kurha: Airborne sacs filled with gas and fungal spores, the Kurha release their contents when ruptured, thus spreading the reach of the fungus.
"More things should live in the sky. the air shall be the envy of all terra", Ka thought to himself.
Flying high above the storm, Ka stretched a hand out to the top of the storm. The clouds there shifted under the pressure of his divine influence as if a giant hand had grasped them. Pulling on these clouds, Ka arced a larg column of storm out and westward towards the coast of the continent.
The resultants formation was a serpentine extension of the primary storm. Nearly flat on its earth-bound side, tapering to a point on its heaven-bound side. Arches of ossified cloud stand connecting from the flattened base to the pointed top. Along the body behind these arches gaped holes into the storm body, from which wind blew.
Within this new portion of the storm body, the anatomy seemed much the same. Only three fleshy lungs bellowed wind through the body. Ossified clouds still existed in labyrinthine complexity, but seemed drenched in a greater amount of rain rivulets than the previous storm, spider webbed and vein-like, streaming through the maze. Instead of a central chamber in which a membranous brain is held, the membrane is stretched thinly across the whole of the storm body, between the clouds of the demi-plane, and linking into the primary storm. This membrane was much weaker, serving only to command the basic function of the new storm body but submissive to the commands of the primary storm body. It therefore gave off much less lightening.
The region below this new storm changed under its influence. Wind and lightening was much more mild. The wind felt pleasant and cool. The rain came often soaking the earth to form creeks and lakes, drown out some vegatation, and in places create mires of mud. Great fogs and banks of mist would roll in commonly. The vegetation adapted into shorted and hardy grasses on the higher lands, tall and seemingly unquenchable grasses in the more mired areas.
Ka was pleased with this new portion of his giant living creature. However he worried for it. What if it were to be hurt? In his short time here, he had seen many creatures destroyed for their existence.
Ka imagined the form of the creature he wished in his mind, gathering his breath in his mouth. He then exhaled, hurricane force wind driving from his open mouth. With it, came a swarm of manta-ray like creatures. They were stark white , eyes gray as the mists below. Instead of an open, filtering mouth between their cephalic fins , there writhed a mass of blue tentacles pock-marked with faint teal light. Their wings were wide and boneless like their creator's. Their tale was thicker, and inch around, and tapering for three feet into a flat and fleshy spade shape.
They were born with the ability to create and dissolve ossified cloud tissues, and repair more organic systems. They did this by either spewing/eating the ossified clouds, or actually fusing their flesh into a damaged lung/membrane.
These sky rays lived in hives of ossified clouds within the storm bodies, leaving to graze on birds, bats and some creatures they pluck off the ground.
Ka watched his new creations thriving on their aerial ecosystems, feeling once more proud in his creations.
PP
2pp: Demiplane
1pp: Nourish Land (new weather, think scotland)
1pp: spawn beast lesser (sky rays)
2pp: Demiplane
1pp: Nourish Land (new weather, think scotland)
1pp: spawn beast lesser (sky rays)
He turned back the gnome, considering the odd question. "I am fine, I suppose. Do you wish to speak openly here among your peopple, or would you prefer to hide from their sight?"
-----
Deep in the crust, the Dimension Bulwark exerted it's influence, plucking Xa'an's area of forest from the surface of the moon. leaving it's face unblemish and clean as it had before. Slowly it placed the timeless place in the deepest and coldest part of the continent of Zophia, high in the mountains hidden from view.
The Skyway River continued moving with the moon though. Another simple fix, the Creation Forge channeled it's power in the aegis, forcibly altering the rivers course. No longer able to cut through the aegis, the river instead flowed into a newly formed tunnel in the aegis, arcing over the polar opening to the far side. Now, those brave enough to sail it's waters could cail over the polar opening to the far side of Zophia.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - Move the plants from the moon
1 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - A slight modification to the Azue Aegis, forcibly rerouting the skyway river through a new tunnel.
Note
I don't have enough time to type up the rest of my post before the reset, so I'll note my expenditures here.
PP Expenditures (Undescribed)
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater)
2 PP - Guide POpulace (Greater)
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser)
1 PP - Nourish
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater)
PP Expenditures (Undescribed)
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater)
2 PP - Guide POpulace (Greater)
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser)
1 PP - Nourish
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater)
PP Refresh
6 - Veros
5 - Xa'an, Chactross, Neko, Oravolos, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Thans, Shurka, Vymrl, Xirinet, Drahthor
4 - Nocturne, Mara, Zophiah, Runescar, Siccadan, The Empress, Roan, Ka, Kiptar
It seems it is time for Order to meet Chaos, she thought to herself, and with that, she descended upon Atkahari.
She walked the streets of the city, taking in the sites. She could feel the pull of Chaos beneath her feet, pulsating, burning eternally. As she walked, Dasa, running about their business stopped, and then, unconsciously, with barely a thought to where they put their foot next, began to follow the path the Empress took.
She reached a rather large and deserted building. A flat expanse of floor stretched before her. With but a simple gesture, she ripped a hole in the floor, and began to descend into the heart of the city. And still, a long line of Dasa followed. She walked ever downwards, coming closer to the Heart with every step. Soon she could hear it, pounding in her ears, it was coming from the walls themselves. And the temperature was rising. And still she walked.
And then, all at once, she was there, a vast cavern that must have been the size of her entire palace. And in the center, dominating the space, was the Heart itself. A vast, jagged chunk of burning rock, the Heart was permanently envelloped in a heat haze so complete, it was difficult to tell where the Heart started and the walls and floor around it began. She marched straight up to the rock, right through the heat haze, and still the Dasa followed, seemingly in a blind stupor. She stepped up to the stone, and raised a hand. And then, impossibly, but irrevocably and undeniably so, the world parted, and opened to a worl of Chaos. She hesitated.
If she continued, her form, so dependant on Order and logic, would be torn apart. She needed a more solid form, and so did the Dasa who followed her. She concentrated her power, not quite sure what the result would be, and stepped through the veil.
She was in a city, exactly like the one she had left. With one major difference. She looked around and saw how everthing: the walls, the streets, was made of pure, solid iron. She looked down at herself and saw that where once she was jade, now she was iron as well, but the chunks of iron had resided in her form, now existed purest jade. She marvelled at this, and turned to the Dasa, who were just leaving the portal. They too were different. While before they had not been truly made of jade, they had been an unmistakeable shade of green. Now their forms were varying shades of grey, from light grey, to deepest charcoal. There were even a few completely black ones present. She marvelled at this, and so did her children. To call them Dasa did not seem appropriate any longer. They needed a new name.
"Loha," said the goddess in a low whisper.
She turned, and gazed out at the world beyond the city. It was a burning, freezing, chaotic place. A perfect place to train her chosen people. She took a step, and leapt into the air, heading for parts unknown.
PP Expenditures
2 PP Shape Populace (Lesser) Loha: Grey-skinned cousins of the Dasa, the Loha are similar in many ways to their brethren, but it is undeniable that they are a true race. Think the difference between elves and Eladrin.
2 PP +1 from the Land Spike Create Artifact (Greater) Leilaka the City Beyond the Veil: A city composed entirely of iron, Leilaka is in every other way, an exact duplicate of Atakhari. It provides 1 PP towards Shape actions.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser): The Loha worship the Empress.
2 PP +1 from the Land Spike Create Artifact (Greater) Leilaka the City Beyond the Veil: A city composed entirely of iron, Leilaka is in every other way, an exact duplicate of Atakhari. It provides 1 PP towards Shape actions.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser): The Loha worship the Empress.
In their new homeland, the shadar-kai began to flourish. Protected on most sides by desert, they began to master and adapt to the locale. Most importantly, they continued their studies of the Tome of Knowledge, which continued to be a trove of information that was of aid to them. They slowly began to master the use of the symbols found within, using them for their own purposes. With the mastery of writing, they began to dig deeper and deeper into the book, uncovering the arcane writings needed to master and perform rituals.
-----
Alone on their mountain peaks, both in the new continent and in the secluded glens of the Shattered Lands, the minotaurs perfected using both their bodies and the simplistic weapons they could carve. Particularly skilled warriors would venture into the wilds alone, spending months truly mastering the new arts they had created. As they began to venture from their mountain hideaways for the first time, those skilled in such methods of fighting would begin calling themselves monks.
-----
The pyrefly swarms continued to be trouble in secluded area where pyreflies gathered. Worse, over time, some swarms would learn to take control of skeletons of dead creatures, using them to destroy living creatures, intend on making more pyreflys. The skeletons would have various special qualities based on the type of pyreflies that had animated it.
-----
Across the deserts of the new continents, life began to adapt to such a hard climate, growing and expanding across its apparent wastes.
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater) - Shadar-kai learn reading and writing
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Shadar-kai master rituals.
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Minotaurs learn the Monk class
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Skeletons (I'm excluding Skeletal Tomb Guardians)
1 PP - Nourish Land - General non-stated desert wildlife (since it doesn’t exist anywhere else for me to borrow some) (essentially at this point, cacti, lizards, and perhaps some snakes and hardy grasses here and there.)
He smiled up at the Lord of Knowledge, as if expecting him to suggest such a place.
------------
The village of Babble grew, and prospered, and soon became the city of Babble, the center of gnomish society. It sat in the center of the Whispering Wood, just east of hummite territory. In the center of town, a ring of stone monoliths marked another fey crossing, at which the gnomes performed rituals which would take them between worlds.
Gnomish architecture was built around nature, instead of bending it to its will. Tree houses were common, and in some sections of gnomish lands, entire villages were comprised of tree houses. In sections that were devoid of trees, huts were used, and in some cases, gnomes lived in hollowed out hills. Gnomish culture was varied and widespread, as gnomes who embodied similar words tended to group together. It was such that the village of Adjective was home to gnomes who were named after words of the more descriptive kind, while the village of Rush was home to gnomes who embodied short and to the point words like Run or Mad.
PP Expenditure
1 PP +1 from the Encyclopedia: Guide Populace (Moderate) Architecture: The gnomes learn how to craft buildings from the natural world.
2 PP Guide Populace (Moderate) Rituals: The gnomes learn how to use rituals, and are particularly adept at using those that cross into the Feywild.
1 PP from the Staff: Create Artifact (Lesser) Fey Crossing: There is another Fey Crossing in the center of Babble, the largest gnomish city.
1 PP Nourish Populace: The gnomes prosper and create several new villages, all around the Whispering Wood and its environs.
2 PP Guide Populace (Moderate) Rituals: The gnomes learn how to use rituals, and are particularly adept at using those that cross into the Feywild.
1 PP from the Staff: Create Artifact (Lesser) Fey Crossing: There is another Fey Crossing in the center of Babble, the largest gnomish city.
1 PP Nourish Populace: The gnomes prosper and create several new villages, all around the Whispering Wood and its environs.
He turned back. "I am Veros, master of magic, and lord of knowledge. Who might you be?"
"I've got a lot of names," he says, squinting into the other god's face, "But mostly, people just call me Siccadan, yes, Siccadan, that'll do."
He began to stride towards the portal, all the while extricating a length of parchment from his robes. The parchment he was pulling out was very long, and trailed behind him as he walked. He seemed to take no notice of this, as he was too busy reading the words scribbled on the parchment. He seemed to be searching for a particular word, and he mumbled to himself as he read.
"Skypeak, Skypeak, hmm, I know I have it here somewhere..." he mumbled, striding into the portal.
He looked out over the world, taking in the view. "The combined effort of over twenty of our kind. So much information, more then anyone could ever truly hope to know. . . except for perhaps myself, but I know more than even I am aware of. And far more epexriments to embark upon, the fully understand the nature of how it works."
He looked closely at the trailing scroll. "A list of words? You seek to scribe the name of everything upon your parchment?"
Vivid dreams were nothing new to the Herald, for the better part of 300 cycles he had dreamed of the patrol he had lost Shalab on. They had been exploring a flooded cave system that teemed with fish when one of the dreaded hydra launched itself from one of the deeper sections, devouring the Herald's cellmate before any of them could react. For many cycles the event had haunted Xarler's dreams, for it knew it should have been able to prevent the loss of one of its oldest comrades. There were so few of the firstborn left, the Herald itself was nearly 1500 cycles old, and knew of only a few dozen others as old as itself. Over the last few cycles the Herald and those that shared its age had begun to slip, their reactions were slower and their muscles ached, they were decaying at a rapid rate and Xarler did not know what would happen. There were stories of Worms or chimera's that had become so old they merely fell dead, but no such thing had ever befallen a Drakhorn....
However, other dreams had haunted Xarler as well. It had almost nightly dreams that were beyond vivid, as if it was living them. In these dreams, it stood on two legs and had some sort of pinkish color. There was no roof to the cavern it was in, instead a blue expanse stretched above it with a burning orange ball hanging on seemingly nothing. There were others like the Herald as well, small and big pink things, and unlike the Drahkorn they had gender distinctions of male and female, and many strange customs.
These dreams disturbed Xarler, but it was not even one of these that had awoken it. It had had a dream so real even now it knew it must have been a vision. The Herald had seen itself with the others near its age gathered at the edge of the lake of fire being addressed by their God. It had felt a strong pull, and looking off in the distance, the Herald knew it must depart for this place immediately...
****
Several days later (as told by the bugs that devoured droppings) Xarler arrived at the lake of fire, with the Ziggurat of its God sitting in the center. As it had seen, dozens of its own kind were gathered here, and the Lord of Destruction and Creation sat upon the same ridge it had addressed its people from at their birth. Upon the Herald's arrival, the God began to speak.
"Behold, you are the oldest and wisest of my people. The strongest warriors, the most devout followers, and the most prudent leaders. The fact that you have survived such a harsh life for so long is proof of this. However, now you suffer a most inglorious crime, you age and are about to die. But fear not, for you shall not fade away merely to be forgotten, instead you will all die the only death worthy of a Drahkorn. You shall meet one another on the glorious field of battle, all of you will be stronger in your next life for this, but the last of you standing will become my Herald to the next generation. Now.... begin."
Show
As the Drahkorn grow stronger and age, memories of their past life begin to surface. First as dreams, but in later times some of the wisest and most powerful elders will be able to access the collective memories of all their past selfs.
1pp Lesser Guide: The remaining first born of the Drahkorn come to the lake of fire and commence battle to determine who shall be the favored servant of their God next.
1pp Lesser Guide: The remaining first born of the Drahkorn come to the lake of fire and commence battle to determine who shall be the favored servant of their God next.
Even though there were so few, the fights lasted for hours. Some of the strongest magics ever to be wielded by Drahthor's children were used this day, and many of the most astounding martial feats took place as well. The tales of strength and wit that played out before him would have taken lifetimes to detail in full, but eventually a victor did emerge. A single Drahkorn, its body bruised, broken, and bleeding stood atop the remains of its fallen comrades. Its inner flame burned so hot at this point that its jet black from seemed to glow orange and steam seemed to seep from its wounds.
In a burst of fire the Lord of Destruction and Creation disappeared from its rise and reappeared before the victor. Looking into the mind of this one with his own, he immediately knew what he needed too. "Malkor, wielder of the arcana, you have proven yourself today. You stand before your God worthy to carry forth his will to his people. A new age is dawning second of my Herald's, and you will lead it..."
With that Drahthor reached out with one of his hands and touched he head of Malkor. The Drahkorn burst into violent flames, a wind carrying the ashes into the lake nearby. After a few moments nothing remained of Malkor, but then out of the flames of the lake emerged a new Drahkorn. This new Herald was stronger than either Malkor or Xarler had been in life, and it was born with all the memories of both in its mind. It also had certain knowledge placed within its head by its God, and bowing towards the Serpent of Rebirth it began to depart from this place.
Returning to the warren of mazes and caverns that the previous Herald had called home, it taught its people how to plant and tend to the various plants of the cavern, keeping the racktheran and other animals away and giving it time to grow before harvesting. It also taught them how by swallowing whole small rocks, the Drahkorn could allow it to melt in their forms and control how it was heated and cooled. They then would regurgitate it in its liquid form, and it would cool into obsidian. The Drahkorn quickly used this to begin shaping and molding the caverns that they had called home, and under the orders of the Herald founded the first city of their kind, calling it Xarloth in honor of the previous Herald.
2pp Greater Guide: The Drahkorn learn the basic methods of agriculture
2pp Greater Guide: The Drahkorn learn how to manipulate stone, thus stoneworking
1pp (Herald) The Drahkorn begin construction of their first city upon the warren of canyons and caverns that was the home of the former Herald, to be called Xarloth in his honor.
"Oh no, these aren't the words," chortled the old man.
"These are..." he said, and then his words faltered as his eyes fell upon the parchment, his brow furrowed, as if thinking, the he exclaimed, "Notes, yes notes!"
"Oh ho ho!" he said, a triumphant smile on his face, "The words, yes the words, they are... here... somewhere..."
He was fumbling through his robes for something. He pulled out a mouse, which squirmed and wriggled in his grasp. He dropped it on the floor, and, with a sharp squeak, it hurried away. He pulled out a few more things, all of which he threw over his shoulder, including a supremely ruffled-looking owl who gave a disgruntled hoot before flying away. He was midway through checking his overlarge pockets, when he stopped. He gaze fell upon the leather-bound tome sitting on the ground before him, exactly where he had put it only moments ago.
"How did that get there?" he wondered aloud, picking it up off the floor. He shrugged, and blew the dust from the surface of the book, which read The Encyclopedia Unanimous and said, "This, is where all the words go when they leave peoples heads."
He turned to the first page, at the top of which, in neat script, was written the word "mouse".
"Every word I hear goes into this little darling," he said proudly, stroking the crisp page, "And let me tell you, I hear a lot."
He chortled again, and paused, and stared for a moment into space. Then he snapped back to reality, and slammed the book shut, turning to smile up the Lord of Magic.
"So, what can I do for you?" he asked, plucking a beetle from the sleeve of his robe and flicking it into the air.
He considered the view for a moment. "Your people amuse me, to some degree. I'm not entirely sure why, but I wish to give them some choice bits of knowledge, perhaps even have them worship me as well. Would you have any issue with this?"
Then he eyed the other god warily, "Just don't go turning them into something they're not, I wouldn't have any of that."
It then returned to its home, the plane of Mechanus, where it began to infuse a portion of it with divine power.
Show
1 PP - Guide populace(Lesser): Warforged now worship Kiptar(known as the Golem) as a secondary god.
3 pp - Create Artifact(greater): The Gear of Creation, a specific gear in Mechanus, gives +1 Spawn PP per turn.
1 PP - Guide populace(Lesser): Warforged now worship Kiptar(known as the Golem) as a secondary god.
3 pp - Create Artifact(greater): The Gear of Creation, a specific gear in Mechanus, gives +1 Spawn PP per turn.
I bid you greetings, Lady of Spirits and thank you for your welcome. Now, you spoke of an alliance?
----------
The Imperium learned of Farming, and with this new knowledge, soon brought huge swathes of land around Ssabrec under cultivation. Strangely, the land began to soften and bearing huge crops year after year, allowing the Imperium's populace to multiply.
-----------
The Imperium's strategists discovered a new way of warfare. Soon, they had massive columns of soldiers, armed with powerful Adamite weapons and armor, marching across the Imperiums territories.
With the new power of the legions, the Imperium's strategists, under the leadership of Mournelord Kyrvan a'Brec established an iron grip over the Imperium. The Rites of Frost, the principle religion of Vymrl, became omnipresent in the nation as Senate poured funds into it at the urging of Kyrvan.
With the newly fertile lands around Ssabrec, plantations sprang up as acres of land felt the slash of the plow. The owners of these plantations of wheat, barley and cotton became known as the Surmosk. The Surmosk were the first of the castes of the Imperium.
PP
2PP-Teach Populous:Farming
2PP-Teach Populous:Formation Fighting
1PP-Mold Land, Minor
inland1PP(Ssabrec)-Nourish Land: Cause area around Ssabrec to bear crops very well
Humite towns had become more impressive over time. At first they had been crude huts, but now had come to include stones that they had used for their weapons. New armor had been invented by the humites, as well. The humites would gather the skin from the animals that they had slain, and attached it to themselves as armor - a second skin.
PP Use
2 PP [1 from Eorna] Guide Populace - Humites have stone architecture
2 PP - Guide Populace - Humites understand leather-working
1 PP [from Eorna] - There are many deer around the humite city of Terena.
More time passed and though Roan did not notice chaos was beginning to affect him. It started at his hoofs cracks began to appear in them and fire leaked form the cracks. Soon his brown fur on his legs began changing black. Then his skin turned ash grey. This is when Roan noticed what was happening. How, how did this happen to him. He could not have been so captivated by chaos that he would not notice could he. But then a curios thing happened he forgot what he was thinking and continued exploring. The changes became more drastic. No longer was just his collar changing but his shape changed as well. First his horns that were like those of a great ram uncurled and twisted toward the sky (like a gazelles). Then vines grew and twined around him died and grew anew always a different plant. His hands grew sharp claws that were made out of the elements themselves. Finally chaos bloomed in his foot steps. Moss, grasses, flowers; even trees grew up behind him. At the last Roan’s nature changed he was chaos and chaos was him.
Pp expenditure
1pp spawn (artifact): birds of chaos (will do stats latter)
3pp form domain: chaos
It did not take her long to find him. There was the earth mote, hovering innocently in the Chaos, wrapped in a shroud of protective magic. There were the despicable birds he had created. This god was meddling in affairs he knew nothing of. This was her domain, her world. She would offer no mercy. She reached into the Chaos, and plucked from it one of the birds the other one had created. She dragged it harshly towards her own face.
"Tell your master to meet me, bird," she said in a low, menacing growl, and cast it into the Chaos.
And with that, her gaze fell upon the earth mote, and the beings that walked its surface.
Shurka sat atop the throne looking down at his new realm. So many new realms seemed to be opening up, so why not have his own? This realms led to his favorite spots... the Feywyld, and Eorna. This was the realms of endless trees. This was Revnador.
PP Use
2 PP - Create Plane - Created the demi-plane Revnador.
Below the Surmosk stood the common laborers, weather they sweated in foundries, trained with Adamite weapons or labored on plantations, it made no difference. The Somosk carried the whole of Imperial society and might on their backs, but they held little social standing of their own.
The Irmosk, the caste above the Surmosk, owned the foundries, smithies and mines that produced the wealth of Adamite and Iron that fueled the Imperium's economic engine. Among themselves, they elected 50 of the richest and most influential to the Senate every twenty years.
These representatives of the Irmosk almost entirely controlled the economic interests of their nation, as the Qemosk possessed little interest in such matters.
The Qemosk, the smallest and most powerful caste, contained the higher-ranking officers and strategists of the Imperium. Every twenty years, they too elected 50 sentators from their best and brightest. These senators voted again amongst themselves and chose a Mournelord for the next fifty years. The Mournelord retained total control over the military, but only in times of war.
In times of peace, he or she could use the military for only what the Senate chose to fund.
-------------
Derectly after Mournelord Kyrvan a'Brec took power, a great rumbling of the sea took place to the east. Soon, a great island emerged from the boiling waters. Kyrvan lost no time in organizing and dispatching an expedition to explore the island. Though no life was found, great strands of undersea kelp covered the island, and so Mournelord Kyrvan christened it Vinland.
A few years later, fields of waving wheat and barley covered it's once barren surface as the Surmosk claimed portions of it for their plantations.
PP
1PP-Mold Land, Minor
inlandPP
Mold Land - Greater - 3 PP - The southern hemisphere continent is taking shape. This mostly to formalize the existance of the continent. The southern reaches of the continent extend into a massive glacier* that extends over the southern pole.
Guide Populance - 1 PP (from Astral Orrery) - Frost Giants at the Volcano form a nation--the Land of Mist (see wiki).
Take Domain (Lessor) - 1 PP - Mara has Hunting domain.
* - The glacier was created through nourish land actions way back when the sun was still at the north pole on the water (which was in ice form and remains so).
Mold Land - Greater - 3 PP - The southern hemisphere continent is taking shape. This mostly to formalize the existance of the continent. The southern reaches of the continent extend into a massive glacier* that extends over the southern pole.
Guide Populance - 1 PP (from Astral Orrery) - Frost Giants at the Volcano form a nation--the Land of Mist (see wiki).
Take Domain (Lessor) - 1 PP - Mara has Hunting domain.
* - The glacier was created through nourish land actions way back when the sun was still at the north pole on the water (which was in ice form and remains so).
Deep within there hives in the far reaches of the Aether, the Tsarok-Hem continued to multiply and multiply. There numbers reached in the billions and there minions were at least ten times that.
---
Unggar-Raggnu ceased the attempts to continue the fungal growth against the forrest barrier. Instead it turned it's attention to the ground below. It and its evergrowing broods burrowed a vast tunnel network underneath the forrest and the mountain range past that, returning back to the surface on the other side.
All the while feeding on the roots of the forrest the dug under.
Now the fungi could simply pass the barrier from underneath.
(5 x nourish populous (Tsarok-Hem and minions) 5PP)
(1 nourish populous (Raggnur) from spore chambers)
(1 guide populous (Raggnur) from nuggoroth)
(1 mold land from Unggar-Raggnu)
Alright, fine. Fine fine fine fine fine, Xa'an didn't care. Why should he? He didn’t need the thanks of the other gods, even though all their works existed in what HE had made. If they didn't want his gifts, then they could very well do without them. Let’s see how they’d treat his gifts then.
Traveling to Chactross' Pillar, Xa'an removed Nocturne’s Darklight Crystal that Veros had placed in it. The god’s true light shattered it, plunging the world into starlight. Ah yes, the stars… he had forgotten about them. That might be more of a problem, but one he could overcome. The Storehouse of Light heeded his will and absorbed the radiance of those gateways. They would recover in time, perhaps in three or five hundred years, but until then only the random glow worm or other light-producing creature illuminated the shrouded world.
The god could feel it: mortals the world over let out a cry as light was ripped from their world. Prayers and offerings were being given to the gods, requesting that the light that gave sight be restored. Yes, let them have the light they wanted so much.
In the Silver Eye Mines of Alexandria the Beholders felt the command of their creator and opened the book of Azazel. The ritual that was contained in its pages pushed aside the veil of reality and for miles around two realities collided; the Outer Realm became superimposed upon the mortal world and the creatures from the two mingled freely. The ritual resonated with two other points, and similar crossings open in Grey-Fang Mountain and Skypeak.
Swarms of Beholders crossed into the material world, the Light Tyrants in the lead. In the darkness their eyes were like search lights, patrolling the world in search of potential prisoners and prey. Humanoids soon realized that the light was something to avoid, for it only brought death and imprisonment.
pp
1pp +1pp from Exarch, Mold Land: Destory the Dark-light Crystal.
1pp (from Artifact), Denourish : Stars - Xa'an removes the light-producing qualities of the stars temporarily; until the end of the next turn.
1pp (from Artifact), Guide Populace: Beholders - Moving many of them from the Outer Realms to the real world.
3pp, Nourish Populace x 3: Beholders - Xa'an ensures that there are plenty of Beholders floating over the mortal world now.
1pp, Nourish Populace: Beholders – The Beholders take a variety of slaves back to the Outer Realms to fuel their society there.
1pp +1pp from Exarch, Mold Land: Destory the Dark-light Crystal.
1pp (from Artifact), Denourish : Stars - Xa'an removes the light-producing qualities of the stars temporarily; until the end of the next turn.
1pp (from Artifact), Guide Populace: Beholders - Moving many of them from the Outer Realms to the real world.
3pp, Nourish Populace x 3: Beholders - Xa'an ensures that there are plenty of Beholders floating over the mortal world now.
1pp, Nourish Populace: Beholders – The Beholders take a variety of slaves back to the Outer Realms to fuel their society there.
Just as Shurka finished creating Revnador, he heard the anguish of his creations. Something had gone wrong. He appeared in front of Eorna when he was shocked at what happened... he couldn't see anything. It did not matter so much for Shurka, he knew where everything was around him, being a god and all, but the mortals... they were little without their precious sight.
Shurka saw a glow of light below him. As he approached it, he was horrified what was happening. These strange creatures were enslaving his humites. No one messed with his creations.
He channeled his anger into his staff, as it glowed a bright light. He dropped the staff into Terena allowing it to pass into the hands of the humites.
Now they had a chance. Now they could fight back.
The giant unnamed fungal demiplane had grown in the furthest reaches of the Aether. Even after it was abandoned by the maturing Tsarokga-Noggoth, it continued to grow and feed of whatever it found, turning it into a titanic form the size of the moon.
Here, within the bowls of this ancient creature, part of the Tsarok hive would reside and flourish further, preparing for the will of there god.
-----
Unggar-Raggnu and its Raggnur brood started to change the area past the mountain and forrest barrier into bog and marchland.
The grey fungi and there non sentient fungal minions followed the defiler Unggar-Raggnu through the underground and started to infest the newly created swampland on the other side.
(5x Guide populous (Tsarok-Hem + minions) to Tsarokga-Noggoths ancient demiplane body.)
(nourish populous (Tsarok-Hem + minions) 1PP from Spore Chambers: The Tsarok and minions within the demiplane grow in numbers)
(mold land 1PP from Unggar-Raggnu)
(guide populous (grey fungi) 1PP from Nuggoroth)
When Roan felt that he knew that this was his answer but he was still trapped. Then he saw that the tree was a thing of chaos and could be reshaped. He caused the tree’s capillaries to expand and form into rooms and hallways and a door appeared before him. And threw that door flew two of his birds.
The first said that the world had darkened and the genasi could not steer their great ships. This would not due not at all. He caused the roots and branches that leaked chaos into the mortal realm to shed only light.
Roan was tired but he could not let one of his kind wait on him so he reached out and formed a image before the god (sorry he thought goddess) that asked for his audience.
PP expenditure
2pp (1 artifact) create dime plane: the tree is kind of like a mangrove were ever its roots push through a new tree will grow. Also it allows for a greater amount of chaos to leak into the other planes. Mortals (or creatures) brave enough can use the trees as a way to get from one place to another. (their is more but I will stat it out later.)
1pp (artifact) mold: tree has rooms and hallways inside
1pp (artifact) nourish: Roan turns the chaos leaking into the mortal plane into light this is a difficult effort and will only last for one turn
The goddess raged, and roared with fury, clenching her many hands into tight fists. Lightning crackled about her form, which was writhing with the anger coursing through it. Fire danced across her body, rocks ground against her form.
"You will pay for your insolence, you fool!" she growled, "No one insults the Empress, no one!"
And with that, she disappeared in a rush of flame and arctic wind.
It appears Light throws a tantrum, such childishness from one older than myself...
Well, best to undo the worst of it.
With a surgeof power the stars once again began to light the sky with their soft glow as the life god considered how best to deal with the beings visiting the Shattered Lands.
Perhaps a simple fix.
Reaching into the minds of the alien beasts Xirinet ingrained a simple command, its will overriding natural urges and sending the beholders out from the shattered lands. With another effort the god stabilized the weakness within the silver mines, closing it off.
Happy with its work the god poured strength into the mortals who called out for aid in the darkness.
Actions
1PP from Great Cathedral +1PP, Guide Populace: Beholderrs leave the Shattered Lands, and have developed an irrational fear of forests.
1PP, Unshape Artifact?: Close the destabilization in the Silver Mines.
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Bloodweb Spider Swarm. Consider one reason the beholders are creeped out by forests.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Land: Water rises in the Shatteredlands, producing more signifigant rivers.
1PPx3, Nourish Populace: Humans, Dwarves, Halflings.
1PP, Unshape Artifact?: Close the destabilization in the Silver Mines.
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Bloodweb Spider Swarm. Consider one reason the beholders are creeped out by forests.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Land: Water rises in the Shatteredlands, producing more signifigant rivers.
1PPx3, Nourish Populace: Humans, Dwarves, Halflings.
PP Expenditures
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact
2 PP - Create Artifact
1 PP - Attack God
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace
1 PP - Nourish Populace
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser)
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace
PP Refresh
6 - Veros
5 - Xa'an, Tsarokga-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Xirinet, Drahthor
4 - Mara, Zophiah, Runescar, Siccadan, The Empress, Roan, Ka, Kiptar
Nerdzul and Dagothi, you are both free to post. You have 6 PP to spend between now and Saturday afternoon.
Veros watch Xa'an's temper tantrum from atop Skypeak, and he growled. "Childish, over-bearing, uncontrolled fool. Enough of this nonsense."
He lifted from the ground, flying towards Xa'an, approaching at a speed which left his intentions absolutely clear. "You insignificant worm, I have had enough of your childish idiocy. Today, it stops!"
He lifted his staff and unleashed an inferno of magical energies inundating the god, not striking directly at him, but ripping through his form and gethering behind him, charging the flame pillar. In a flash of brilliant energy, light flooded forth from it again, illuminating the world once more.
As he swung his staff around again, a simple mental command went to the nearby exarch. Alocasia, who he rarely acknowledge, served it's role perfectly, it's poinsous fangs snapping at Xa'an. Even as it recoiled, Veros attacke again with blast of freezing flame, letting the flames consume and eat at the gods flesh even as the cold slowed his reactions and began to freeze him.
-----
Far below on the world below, the battle around Skypeak against the beholders turned sour as the humites began to fight back. Among their numbers were numerous doppelgangers as well as the elite mages of the loremasters as they struggled to defend their ancient stronghold and preserve the knowledge it held. As they fought, they found themselves empowered, striking back with spells and power they had never before been capable of.
Even those who perished rose from the ground, their bodies refusing to give up the fight. These risen dead would come to be called zombies when they occured as the result of rituals and random chance in the future.
PP Expenditures
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Greater) - Flame Pillar sheds pure and brilliant light. It also provides 1 Imprison PP
2 PP - Create Artifact - Staff of Veros provides a +1 combat bonus
1 PP - Atack God - Attacking Xa'an. +8 (6 Base +1 Artifact +1 exarch) vs. +7 (5 base +2 Exarch)
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Humites
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Doppelgangers, who move into humite territory
1 PP (Artifact)- Guide Populace (Lesser) - Loremasters learn the Fighter class from humites, who defend their ancient citadel.
1 PP Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Heroic tier zombies
Shurka watched Veros' attack against Xa'an, and decided perhaps it was best to join in. After all, Veros seemed to be the most reasonable in this fight, and it was Xa'an who had acted foolishly.
"No one gets away with attacking my creations! You will perish fool!"
Shurka allowed Veros to do most of the work, and instead acted on the defensive. He channeled his energy into a golden shield around Veros, protecting him from the power of the Light Lord. Xa'an would not find it very easy to defeat Veros in these conditions...
All the while, a battle raged below. The doppelgangers were a large boon to the defending humites, as they worked with eachother, combining the doppelgangers adaptivity and talent from Veros, with the humites' divine power and healing capabilities.
1 PP
Aid God - Veros has 10 combat bonus. (+2)
PP Expenditure
1 PP +1 from Priya Guide Populace (Moderate) The Dasa learn to domesticate the tigers that live in Atakhari.
2 PP Guide Populace (Moderate) Monk Class: The Loha learn the monk class.
2 PP Guide Populace (Moderate) Monk Class: The Loha learn the monk class.
With the Humite armies battling the Beholder incursion, resistance began to crumble quickly. Adamite weapons weiled by ten foot tall giants and hundred foot tall Ice Monoliths scythed through the Humite ranks even as the crude stone weapons of the Humites glanced off the Adamite armor of the Imperium.
The Nifflenvar Flamborge, Hammer of Darkness and Archon's Sorrow shone cruel death in the hands of the Imperium's finest warriors.
Back in the Imperium, a huge surge in births lead to an increased population, an excess which was channelled into the war, creating armies of a size unrivalled since the Tsarosk-hem scourges millenia past.
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In addition to all this god-given bounty, the land around Ssabrec began to produce a great abundance of food.
PP
4PP-Nourish Populous-Imperium
1PP-Nourish Land-Imperium
1PP(Ssabrec)-Nourish Populous-Ice Monoliths
(Note, if I counted right, the Imperium has three 1PP artifact weapons.)
It floated to the surface and saw the land on top of the water. The two landforms seemed far away, and it didn't want to bother any of the inhabitants of either of the lands. Instead, it raised himself a few stepping stones, and walked closer to the fight using these. Then, it raised a single, large point on the largest of the stepping stones. It quietly decided to claim these places as it's own, and decided to name itself Quel. The islands, therefore, would be called Quel's stepping stones. It climbed on top of the mountain and quietly watched the world live.
PP
Show
Moderate Shape Land (2PP): Archipelago
Minor Shape Land (1PP): Large Mountain on the Largest Island
Moderate Shape Land (2PP): Archipelago
Minor Shape Land (1PP): Large Mountain on the Largest Island
From the deep recesses of the mind of his Herald emerged powerful knowledge that it taught to its people. They learned how to channel the arcana of this world into their very flesh, enchanting the blades upon their tails with the power of fire, lightning, ice, or many other magics. Meanwhile, the Drahkorn also began to gather the seaweed that washed upon the shore, and after allowing it to dry they began to weave it into various bags that they could carry there supplies in.
Also, for the first time in their history the births at the new cycle were more than merely the former deaths reborn, another 10,000 Drahkorn emerged from the flames that day.
Then, at the Heralds command and according to the will of the Lord of Destruction, the three gates of bone began to appear quite frequently around the city of Xarloth, and hundreds of cells of Drahkorn passed through them...
****
As the war between the Humites, Beholders, and Frost Giants waged a new force appeared. As the Giants camped in the eternal twilight they fires seemed to constantly break out in their supplies and on the very berg ships themselves. They deemed it sabotage, however no amount of tightening of the guard or increased patrols seemed to stop them. Instead, all that emerged were stories of packs of strange jet black creatures with curved heads that walked on all fours, and just as you laid eyes upon them they would disappear, as if they never existed at all. And often, the patrols that were sent out into the twilight were found days later charred and torn apart.
As for the Beholders, they had better luck at countering the emerging threat of these new enemies, but they suffered heavy casualties as well. Furthermore, all of their attempts to capture and enslave any of these creatures seemed to fail, and they seemed to wield as strong of magics as the Beholders themselves.
And many of the humite settlements that had been on the run fleeing from the invaders would come across strange bone white gates in a hillside just as it seemed they would be cornered or caught. Fleeing through the gate they began to emerge in a strange world of glowing plants and vast caverns.
Show
2pp: Guide the Drahkorn teaching them how to enchant their bladed tails and claws.
2pp: Guide the Drahkorn teaching them weaving.
1pp (eye of restraint) Nourish: The Drahkorn's numbers swell by 10,000
1pp (Herald): Guide the Drahkorn to march to the aid of the humites in the world below.
1pp: Guide humite refugees through the Gates of Bone into the realm of Drahthor.
2pp: Guide the Drahkorn teaching them weaving.
1pp (eye of restraint) Nourish: The Drahkorn's numbers swell by 10,000
1pp (Herald): Guide the Drahkorn to march to the aid of the humites in the world below.
1pp: Guide humite refugees through the Gates of Bone into the realm of Drahthor.
Finally for a single, long instant, the Aether stand still, not even a small vibration to disturb its surface, its inhabitants frozen by a misture of horror and silent expectation. The tranquillity did not last for long, a massive explosion shaken the Aether sending powerful weaves and storms trough the plane with violence unknown to the athereal realm.
After seconds that looked to the observers like an eternity the storm seems to loose power, almost vanishing, but leaving huge ripples in the Aether structure.
And what happened to the motes of change? Apparently they vanished from the universe, turning their own being into something different. Where the explosion originated a vast mass erupted from seemeengly fractured reality, some of the beings that could see what was going on there, swear that they have seen the blurring shape of large many headed creature for a few seconds standing in the middle of the storm, but when the power of the phenomena weakened the monster apparently disappeared.
Actions
Create Artifact 3 points Aether Ripples
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The warforged were being sent off, into the above world, form the caves in which they had resided. They learned about how to craft objects, and enhance the power of the same objects, giving them control through them like no other race.
Show
1 pp: Form Domain(Lesser):Warforged
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): Warforged travel to the top of the world out of the caves in which they had resided. The new country is located Northeast of the shader-kai on the second continent.
2 pp: Guide Populace(Greater): Warforged learn the artificier class.
1 pp: Form Domain(Lesser):Warforged
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): Warforged travel to the top of the world out of the caves in which they had resided. The new country is located Northeast of the shader-kai on the second continent.
2 pp: Guide Populace(Greater): Warforged learn the artificier class.
The travelling storyteller turned away from his public, retreating in the shadows, letting the patrons talk to each other and silently listening with burning curiosity, from the day of the Aether Storm he traveled the world, telling a lot tales himself but leastening to even more, he thought this land to be amusing and full of potential.
While he was resting and watching, his disciples, hidden between the others, was chatting with the patrons around the fire, trying to identify the more promizing minds, the ones that they belive can give more to history the ones that are ready to "change their world" for good or bad, the young divinity did not care about morale.
After a while Hensen grew bored, he left the group taking a last look at one of the disciples showing his Hydra necklace to an sharp minded girl.
"Time to shred this guise and go back to heaven" Hensen tought, and than flied back to the Aether where he thrived when he was only a scattered bouch of motes and assumed one of his favourite forms.
As soon as the heads materialized they started talking to each other, planning the work to be done and commenting their introduction into this creation.
In the end a little more than half of the heads was content, they always are, the God of Change is pleased of every minor shift in the balance of the universe. Some of the heads looked at the discarded travelling storyteller guise with contempt while another plotted to assume it again, or maybe give it substance on its own. The heads minds are always overflowed with plans and ideas.
One of them, with the eyes burning of purple light watched as the Aether Ripples flowing and stared at the whole Aether element, the god claming it and its battles, with a greedy interest.
Two heads keep quarreling about the phylosofical meaning of creation and change, almost beginning to bite each other when they could not happen to agree on a minor point.
The smallest head, but the one with the sharpest intellect pointed at the Hydra Society smiling.
Finally the yougest of the heads, the last to appear when the hydra form was shaped looked at the world, intrigued about the mortal action, its focus on a young race, of Eladrin lineage but with an unique nature...
Summary of Actions and PP Spent during the turn.
3 Points - Create Artifact Aether Ripples (with the explosion that created Hensen).
1 Point - Nourish Heroic Tier Organization Hydra Society (the page is work in progress, however is a multi racial order devoted to support innovators, revolutionaries, researchers and every other mortal that promote change), Humans
1 Point - Nourish Hydra Society (Eladrin)
1 Point - Guide Hydra Society to worship Hensen
And as the Humites fled through the Bone Gates, the Imperium swarmed over their lands, their powerful legions extending the Word of Vymrl and Rites of Frost across a new land.
The giant mages protecting the partols soon found themselves under a new and lethal style of attack. Strange pale grey humanoids would burst forth from the underbrush and tree, charging past any and all defenders. Screaming out prayers to Veros, they would shurg off the most lethal strikes the giants could muster, rushing to the spellcasters, striking them down in a single blow before falling themselves. The Avengers had come to strike down those who abused Veros's gifts.
Worse still for the giants would they encountered something new, something they couldn't have prepared for. A force that had not even been dreamed of the last time they moved in force. When they would over run a humite settlement, some among the humites would leap atop the attackers, ripping out their throats. The vampires living and hiding among the humites tore into the invaders with nhuman strength and speed.
-----
A lone figure approached the main giant camp, confidently striding up as if he feared nothing they could do. (Angel, this is a mortal deal. I'll take the answer to this in the Mortal Stories thread.)
PP Exenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - De-Nourish the Imperium via the various raids and minor forces striking out at them.
Zvagnes, knowing that he could not escape his end, set his affairs in order. He quietly decreed his successor in waiting would be his eldest son, the proper heir to the throne. His battleaxe, dwarfsbane would pass down to the new king, and so on; he who held the axe was the rightful king. Finally he knew it was time to leave, but the frost giant in him refused to go quietly. It was their old destiny, under their old god, to fight for glory and pride, to conquer the world.
Summoning his remaining strength, Zvagnes collected food and supplies. He gathered together helpful herbs that gave him energy and reduced his sickness. After all that, he collected weapons, grabbing dwarfsbane, a basic sword, and a knife. He gathered his advisors and his son into the throne room. Standing in fur clothing with his collected baggage, he put his hand on his son's shoulders. He took his axe and handed it to his son. “Son. You are king now. Take care of this, and your kingdom.”
Looking at the group, he addressed them one last time. “As my last act as King of Khusan. I intend to conquer all that I see before me, in the forests and the glacier. I shall travel until I have conquered all or died.”
Everyone in the room knew, of course, that Zvagnes would never achieve such a goal, but that he would be so principled to die in such a way was agreed as most honorable. So impressed were they, that it became a common way for old Frost Giants to die, particularly kings.
Zvagnes collected his things and left the palace. He traveled north into the glacier, never seen again by another mortal. He killed beasts and animals, and continued to travel until his strength gave out. Lying in the snow with a few breaths left, Zvagnes looked up to see the moons together. It must have been a coincidence he would die during calibration. It began to snow.
And yet saw the silhouette of a figure on the horizon, shadowed through the haze of the snow storm. Zvagnes could barely move his head to look. The figure grew closer, until finally he could see that it was Mara herself, with unusually white hair.
“Mara.” Zvagnes said, too tired to be more formal.
“Zvagnes.” Mara said. “Stand up.”
Zvagnes stayed still. “I am dying, I cannot.”
“No Zvagnes. You are already dead. Stand-up.”
Zvagnes thought over what Mara had said. Was it true? Was he dead? He felt himself over, and without even realizing it, was looking over the frozen corpse of his own body. He was standing next to it!
“What shall I do now? Are you here to take me?” Zvagnes asked.
“Maybe.” Mara said, indecisively. “I do not have dominion over the souls of the dead. This is but a fleeting meeting, perhaps.”
Zvagnes despaired.
“But,” Mara continued. “I came here to not only see you off. But to offer you one last proposition. I can keep your soul with me, for all eternity, as a servant of mine. Unfortunately, the change will be permanent, and you will only remember some of your previous life.”
“So, I can be your servant forever, but with only some memory of my life, or I can be taken to the land of the dead to spend the rest of eternity?”
“Yes.”
“Then I accept. I would rather a hundred times serve your Goddess than be a soul of nothingness.”
Mara nodded. She reached into her self to access her power. She took Zvagnes's soul and began to reshape it into a new form. She infused the soul her own essence to give it power, then she gave it physical form of a beast in the woods. What once had been a frost giant was now a giant wolf, a guardian for the lands of the Tiaga and glacier. Indeed, just as Mara said, the wolf only had glimpses and brief memories of its past life.
Mara felt she couldn't let the mortals know its origins, so her servant would need a new name. She settled upon a similar name, Vazen.
”PP”
Create Exarch – 3 PP – Vazen. Provides +1 to Nourish actions.
Create Exarch – 3 PP – Vazen. Provides +1 to Nourish actions.
However all was not lost, for the strange beasts of these lands seemed to be held at bay by sleek black forms that appeared to appear and disappear far quicker than the human could register. Eventually, the gates through which they had came reappeared, and passing through them the Humites found themselves in settlements within the feywild. They were relieved to find this place, and the stories of where they had been were told to all.
But it seemed that Shurka had friends. Many humites managed to escape through a strange gate, sending them off to safety. The Loremasters of Veros attacked the giants, giving them more trouble. And the humites... they would fight back.
Still using his power to protect Veros, Shurka sent a wave of power toward the humites. They now fought with a new resolve. Their weapons may have still been inneffective, but their divine channeling was more than a match for the surprised giants. Shurka also sent for his exarch, Annolum, to appear before the humites. It floated in the town, shooting prismatic beams of light toward any giants that would threaten the humites.
The humites in Terena had called for help. Their messengers had entered the Feywyld, and into the humite town of Soskoro. From within Terena, green rifts had opened up, bringing humites on strange horse-like creatures. The Salsken (the fey horses) phased in and out of the Feywyld, bringing much confusion to the giants. Some riders used their powers to displace themselves near the giants' heads and necks causing more damage than a simple strike to the legs would do.
PP Use
1PP [and 1 from Eorna] - Nourish Populace x2 - The humites have a new resolve to fight, and swell in new divine power.
The genasi seeing their allies being attacked took their ships in and aloud many of the humites to board and took them to safer places. They also used their ships to help the humites to out flank the giants.
Tarrek wind soul was the captain of the TRS (Tallamor Royal ship) he was also the leader of the genasi armada. Tarrek was a proud man and loved his duty. When he saw the giants come in with their berg ships he was stunned that another new the joy of flight, but then they went and attacked his allies taking the Armada in through a large storm system (the weather had been odd of late more rain than ever before) so as to get both the advantage of height and surprise. He ordered the armada to drop dragon tar and alchemic fire on the berg ships below soon many of the berg ships were gone.
Pp expenditure
1pp mold land (artifact)
2pp (1 artifact) guide: genasi know alchemy
1PP (artifact) nourish: genasi armada take out berg ships
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In Mechanus, some of the mech swarms grew bigger. Stronger, smarter, and larger than the others, they took leadership over other mech swarms.
Show
1 pp(artifact): Spawn Creature(Lesser): create Leader Mech Swarms.
1 pp(artifact): Spawn Creature(Lesser): create Leader Mech Swarms.
"Tell your master this really isn't a good time right now."
-----
High in the peaks of their mountainous homes, the minotaurs continued to grow and developed, domesitcating some of the more ferocious creatures that lived among them. Using the climbing ability of the most useful of these creatures, they began to roam farther and farther into the lands around them.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Large Deathjump Spiders, for use as mounts.
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact)- Guide Populace (Greater) - Minotaurs domesticate animals, particuarly their new spider mounts.
The first one turned to Roan and hissed “who is our prey”
“Kill the giants as they slay others.” Answered Roan “Start with the leaders make them wish they never crossed my forest once that is done return here for further instructions.” Then to his amazement the disappeared, he hadn’t known that he given them that talent but it would prove useful.
PP expenditure
3pp (1 from artifact) spawn: Chaos stalker uses MM stats for astral stalker but has 3.5 ability to phase and walk the dimensions.
Roan was proud of how the genasi handled them in battle but noticed they had now weapons like the humites used. But some ingenious genasi did start to learn the craft and made weapons of good sound quality. Also the genasi learned how to write which lead them to map making and they started to chart all they knew and saw bellow them.
(note to shadow: though the genasi are protective of their charts if you want the lore masters can learn of the charts which include other planes. And we can start some kind of trade up.)
Pp expenditure
1pp guide: genasi learn weapon making form humites
1pp guide: genasi learn writing from humites
"You've done nothing but meddle. You mortals are meddlers, your artifacts are meddlers, and you're a meddler. You won’t even let a god withdraw from the world; you have to meddle with hermits!"
Xa'an let his form be blasted away. It was intended, after all.
"M-" Xa'an's focus was fading. He had to struggle to keep his thoughts coherent, "Murderer"
No longer able to sustain himself, Xa'an fell to the earth. His divine body passed through the aegis, fell into the center of Skypeak, and crashed into the waters there.
As the final flakes of the god dispersed the domains he had held sway over left his body. Sight was the first to go; it had been lately claimed by Xa'an and was closer to the surface than others. Veros' attacks had damaged the god and this portion of him was no exception. Though the world seemed unchanged at first, as the years progressed mortals began to find that their eye-sight diminished with age. The domain found its way to Siccadan, the god it sensed a related spirit, and it waited for him to accept it.
Aether was next to go. A great cloud of the gas drifted up from the mountain. It too had been damaged; where once there had been uniformity to the element, impurities crept in. In time currents would form, rivers in the sky that creatures and mortals might use to hasten their journey. Yet this also brought turbulence and drafts as well. Perhaps ironically it was to the Maras, mistresses of heavenly order, that the domain came to find a master.
The Aberrant creatures in the world felt their connection to their patron being severed, but they cared little for the god's passing save that it was proof that the "normal" world was a bigotted place incapable of peaceful coexistence. The aberrant races slowly began to adopt the belief that if coexistence was impossible, then domination was the only recourse they had. The domain sought out Tsarokga-Noggoth, hoping that in this unknown god it might find a new home. If the god accepted it, Nibiru would swear fealty to it.
Fey beings took another approach when the god died. Perhaps the fact that a much kinder, loving goddess had watched over them for so long, but they did not reject the world as the aberrations did. Rather, a few turned to reject the gods; they did not live as part of the world so they could not be trusted with care of the world. These fey beings turned to the memory of their first patron and they turned to the worship of primal elemental spirits; not gods but manifestations of nature itself. It sought out the Empress as the only god cruel enough to deserve to claim it. If she claimed the gift, the plant-thing exarch, Tsul'Kalu, would heed her commands.
Time did not leave the god so easily. Veros' and Shurka's powers had cleaved it from the whole, shattering it more than the rest most. The domain limped away from the dead god, attempting to disperse back into existence, yet as it did so its own fractures entered the fabric of reality. Time stood shattered; to the eyes of the gods there was the real timeline, the past present and future that they knew and loved. But the fractures in time revealed another place, a realm where discarded timelines might be found. Time, so regulated by the Harmonizer, found a spot in this fissure to flood through, so that what was, what might be, and what couldn’t be all mingled together. In that non-place creatures looked out into the real world and hurried through the break in reality while it lasted. These were the creatures Xa'an had created long ago, meant to be the first-born of the world. But Veros changed the past, he had changed the future, using Yoglith's Harmonizer and so the future of these creatures had likewise been changed. They entered the real world once more and mingled with their alternate timeline kin, the Elder Things.
Time itself searched for its original master.
Light was the last to leave the husk of the dead god, and even when it did the corpse burned with a light that put the Pillar to shame. Traveling far and wide, the domain came at last to the feet of the great serpent, Drahthor. Here light had seen luminance and heat, kindred bothers, working in peace. Only the Light could control Xa'an storehouse, so if Drahthor accepted the gift the artifact would be his to command.
Perhaps in time Mortals might learn of the fallen god and seek out his body. There was, after all, a divine spark waiting to fill any who dared claim it.
PP
1pp from Artifact, Guide Populace (Lesser): Aberrants - Aberrations have a general and vague agenda of conquering the natural world. This drive varies from species to species, but there is an amorphous instinct to conquer.
1pp, Guide Populace (Lesser): Feys - a small portion of fey creatures turn to primal spirit worship.
4pp, Shape Populace (Greater): Tetradecapods - essentially, intelligent Elder Things from the future of a discarded timeline.
1pp, Guide Populace (Lesser): Feys - a small portion of fey creatures turn to primal spirit worship.
4pp, Shape Populace (Greater): Tetradecapods - essentially, intelligent Elder Things from the future of a discarded timeline.
As he descended upon his fallen body, he unleashed a slow echoing laugh as he snatch control over the aether from the air, using his ancient link to forming it to restrain and gather it's full power. Xa'an's gift would never reach Mara.
He dove through the aegis, pursuing the falling form relentlessly, the onslaught appearing to the mortals below as a rain of black fire descending upon the world above the battling forces far below.
He dove into the waters of Skypeak, pursuing his prey relentlessly. He continued to attack the inanimate body, to lash and incinerate its divine spark until nothing was left but scattered pieces.
Finally, as the spark of Xa'an's divine soul floated loosely in the water, he finally slowed his attack. Looking around as if lost, not knowing where he was. Even as he looked about, he idly reach out snatching the floating pieces from the area around him.
Another eerie cackle echoed through the area and Veros exploded, a wave of darkness bursting forth as he vanished from sight.
Shurka decided to leave Veros alone after he destroyed Xa'an; it looked like disturbing him may be a bad idea. Shurka then remembered the message from Roan. He decided it would probably be best to see what he wanted. Shurka appeared before Roan.
"Sorry I'm late. I was... busy. If you need to discuss something, be quick; I don't have much time to waste."
If there even is still time. Something odd happened when he died.
His children, the first and greatest incarnations of his power, failing to follow the tenets of Justice? He called to the Light Child and ordered her, in a voice that cracked and snapped with depth of a glacier in the spring thaw, to descend upon the Imperium's armies and halt their advance.
She nodded, her white locks falling around her wrinkled face and brushing against the bier of ice that held her. Cocooning herself in Aether, she seared down into the world in the form of a meteor.
She crashed into the soil of Fort Gryfyrd, the strongest outpost of the Imperium. The eruption of soil thrown into the sky by her impact had barely touched the ground again we she emerged from the crater. Calling out to the awestruck soldiers, she demanded that they halt their advance, lest the fury of their godborn master be blasted upon them.
-----------
In the occupied Humite lands, the Imperium's armies halted their advance and set to work building entrenchments. Also, surprised at the assault of the Loremasters, Mournelord Bremunsk dispatched emissaries to their ancient hold.
----------
Vymrl then set out to discover who had created the Astral Stalker's that were so plaguing his children.
PP
1PP(Light Child)-Nourish Populous: Defensive works for the Imperium in the occupied lands
As, the genasi learned from the humites, the humites learned from them as well. Their advancements in shipbuilding especially impressed them. The humites recorded their construction information, and then copied their alchemical formulae as well. In times to come, the humites would be able to build ships that could even rival those of the genasi.
PP Use
2 PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace x3 - Humites learn:
(Iron)woodworking
Air ships
Alchemy
(Each cost is reduced by one because of humite/genasi trade)
A light flared in the depths of the god, sparking something deep within him. The language of the world had changed. So too had he changed. Within his form, deep down within him, where the fundamental aspects of existance were stored, a flame flicked and died. A dancing, energetic word, "Xa'an", a word of purest light, and darker things, shone its last. In an instant, it was gone. One word, lost forever, one word, gone without a trace. "Xa'an".
But there was a trace. However minor, still there lingered a trace, a tiny morsel indicating what once was. Words, fragmented and weak, still lingered, broken reflections of what they once were, what they once were a part of.
"Light", "Fey", "Sight", and others, wandering, searching for a home, searching for the warmth they were once afforded. One by one, they were drawn to homes, places they felt the greatest resonance, places they felt safe. It was not the same as before, they were like puzzle pieces that sort of fit, but in the end, they longed for their rightful spots. But that was no longer possible.
One word, "Xa'an", erased. Gone forever.
Siccadan's eyes flared with an inner light as one of the words, "Sight", filled him up, its warmth spreading through him. When the light cleared, he could see, see better than ever before. He could see all. He thanked the fallen god for the gift, then, hefting his Book firmly under his arm, he used his staff to lift himself up off of the ground. Then he walked off into the trees, off to see what may be seen.
The Aether Ripples had a power surge, its flows compresssing the atmosphere craiting wonderful aurora borealis across the world a tribute to a fallen god or maybe just to a new age.
PP Expenditures
Nourish Populace (Lesser x2): The gnomes find themselves safe from the ravages of this time, avoiding destruction, and surviving to increase in numbers, despite the darkness of the age. They also find themselves blessed with a new sight. They can see, even in the harshest of nights. They are also somewhat resistant to illusion magic and are much better at discovering falsities. It is very difficult to lie to a gnome, or to conceal your identity.
-----
With the giants force divided and fighting on two sides, the humites and their allies began to push them back, fighting relentlessly for their lands.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Humites fight back, slowly retaking their land.
His secret would remain just that, never found out by the loremasters for their want of introspection. Every year, the Eladrin took a vacation “home,” and no one thought the wiser, for it was very normal for mages to take vacations at that time of the year to return home.
It was his fault that, over the years, a few accidents led to other people at the complex getting infected. Sometimes he purposefully infected other people, so as to experiment on them to learn about the curse. Most of those that were still free were able to hide the effects, and he taught those he liked what they needed to know in order to hide their disease.
*
In the forests of their new homeland. The Dark Eladrin settled in several small villages. Ezero took under his wing a new group of priests. He taught them about the heavens and the stars. They employed others and dug up large stones, bigger and taller than a single Eladrin, and set them in the ground, to act as a primitive guide of the heavens.
”PP”
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Lycanthropes (Beast) spread to the loremasters.
1 PP – Guide Populace (from Astral Orrery) – Dark Eladrin relearn Astronomy
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Lycanthropes (Beast) spread to the loremasters.
1 PP – Guide Populace (from Astral Orrery) – Dark Eladrin relearn Astronomy
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?"
----------
The Humite's attempt to retake their land was stopped cold by the Imperium's fortifications. The war, it seemed, was in a stalemate.
-----------
Mournelord Bremosk sent emissaries to their old allies, the Warforged, seeking aid in the Humite War. He sent more emissaries and explorers on Berg Ships searching for other races who might aid them in return for land.
First two fingers, then four, and ultimately the entire hands, pale and hairless forced their way through the shrinking rift, the skin constantly rippling as though something were underneath it were squirming. With a jerk, the rift was literally torn wider as the once familiar form of the original lord of time forced it's way through.
He was now covered in countless small ruptures, new dirt-clod openings to the hive it once gouged a home for in it's chest, Chronoptera visible moving beneath the god's skin as sparks of Xa'an drifted past.
"ANAMALER! Yoglith senses your work! You cannot hide from Yoglith! Yoglith commands that Yoglith crawl to the very edges of the world to reclaim what which you stole!" bellowed the god, tearing a chunk of it's flesh from itself and casting it as far as possible in a rage.
Already Chronoptera could be seen building a new hive entrance in the wound.
The god's chest heaved as it frantically grasped to get it's bearings, completely incapable of recognizing the current location, and infuriated at how the very essence of Xa'an seemed to permeate it.
PP Expenditures(I only have 4pp for those curious)
2pp, Create Artifact Moderate: I'm improving the Original Chronoptera hive to be a +2 combat artifact
2x 1pp Nourish Populace: The Chronoptera in the world are bolstered by regaining the connection to the original hive that previously was blocked by the Eternal Bastion.
2x 1pp Nourish Populace: The Chronoptera in the world are bolstered by regaining the connection to the original hive that previously was blocked by the Eternal Bastion.
Still laughing, he took his prize and vanished into a shadowy cloud.
-----
From the shadows, a new threat emerged to the Imperium, and ancient and lethal enemy. For four millennia, they had lain dormant, only able to find one of the enemies they had been ordered so long ago to hunt and kill.
But time had favored them, and their other foe had returned at long last. They emerged from the shadows of caves and forest where they had hidden and lived, hunting down the rogue spirits they could find. Long ago they had been commanded to slay the undead and the invaders, and that divine command still held solid within them even now. The sorrowsworn had returned, brining the ancient war back to the giants.
Then the image of the world vanished, blown away by an unseen wind. The mist whipped about, and resettled, forming into something new. There was a man with no face, mounted upon the back of his vapor-steed. The man was locked in battle with another, a giant who towered over both the man and his mount. The Empress watched all this, and pondered.
The mists blew apart for a second time, but this time, the when they reformed, the goddess gave a gasp of shock. A god, one she recognized, was tearing into another with his magic. She watched in horror as the second god was torn apart by the magic, bits of himself flying off and disipating into mist. She heard a small gasp from beside her. She looked down. There was Priya, her hand outstretched, reaching for the dying god. The goddess watched in astonishment as a single tear rolled down the child's cheek.
The Empress looked up again and could see, through the haze of green, a pair of red, softly glowing red eyes. She heard the dying wish of the other, and inclined her head for a moment, mourning his passing.
For a third time, the mists dispersed, but they did not resettle. There was darkness now, only the faint green glow from the pool cast a green tinge over everything. And still those red eyes watched, waited.
PP Expenditures
1 PP from Land Spike Create Artifact (Lesser) The Pool of Mists: This pool of green liquid and vapor allows the Empress to see what is going on anywhere else. The mists simply reform to show her what is happening.
----
The tunnel had collapsed, but it didn't matter. Enough fungi had already
passed through it and were now growing in numbers. Unggar-Raggnu continued to enlarge the new swampland on the other side of the barrier.
---
Tsarokga-Noggoth fell the demise of another deity. Soon after it could feel other aberrant creatures, like the many eyed beholders, starting to worship it after there god perished. It would awnser there calls.
(4x nourish populace (Tsarok-Hem and minions) 4PP)
(nourish populace (fungi) 1PP from spore chambers)
(mold land 1PP from Unggar-Raggnu)
(guide populace (beholders) 1PP: Tsarokga-Noggoth starts taking worship from the beholders)
(guide populace (Tetradecapods) 1PP: Tsarokga-Noggoth starts taking worship from the beholders)
The warforged received the messengers from their old allies. They promised aid to the giants against the Humites. They also sent messengers to their neighbors, the shader-kai, elves, humans, minotaurs. Their trade empire began to expand.
A small ofrce, though perhaps more deadly, of Angels wading into the fight. Rune-etched steel, impassive faces, and super-mortal skill seeding doubt into their opponents.
Well trained combatants using wolf-pack-tactics to break their opponents. Cruel blades and inhuman forms fearsome weapons on the battlefield.
In the various defenders' camps human captains approached.
To everything involved on the defensive side: "The Council sends apologies for taking so long to organize a force, but it was deemed importanty to observe the foe. What's the situation?"
***
Experiments, constant experiments. Nerver-ceasing study in primal life has Alexandria clamoring.
Inspired by the statues wrought by Xirinet humans had been playing with gifts of magic, seeking to emulate life with spellwork. After years of experimentation they stumbled upon the key, and brought forth strange creatures of living stone.
***
On the newer continent massive beasts began to walk, armored lizards taking to the open plains.
Actions
1PP +1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Alexandrian army.
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Macetail Behemoths on continent2.
1PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Humans learn Weaponsmithing.
2PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Alexandria gains access to the creation of Gargoyles.
2PP, Shape Populace: Gargoyles. Apparently pre-disposed to not angering Alexandria... For now at least.
ekluag: Might wanna pick up RP'ing trade through the MS, I'll keep an eye on it in case you address m
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Macetail Behemoths on continent2.
1PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Humans learn Weaponsmithing.
2PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Alexandria gains access to the creation of Gargoyles.
2PP, Shape Populace: Gargoyles. Apparently pre-disposed to not angering Alexandria... For now at least.
ekluag: Might wanna pick up RP'ing trade through the MS, I'll keep an eye on it in case you address m
-----
Among the minotaurs living in the lower reached of the Shattered Lands, the warforged recieved cordial greetings, but there would be little trade between them. The minotaurs had little to trade, and even less interest in the goods of outsiders, many of which they didn't fully understand.
-----
The few angels who made it through the Loremaster's defenses long enough to be identified as a non-giant were taken to a small room where they met with an elderly swarf and humite. (let's take this to MS).
-----
Amid their desert homeland on the continent of Taldar, free of the eladrin rule from their now almost forgotten homeland, the shadar-kai continued to flourish, learning more and more about the world with ever day that their scholars studied the Tome of Knowledge.
Encouraged by their growth, the most devout among them began to think of greater things, seeking to have dominance over not one or two villages, but dominance over all of them. As time continued to pass, they made alliances with each other and undermined their opponents influence. Within a generation, three of the most cunning and powerful priests had consolodated power over the vast majority of local villages.
Calling their new kingdom Patren, they slowly began to bring their peopple together. Over time, as they aged and began to feel the approach of death, they chose from among their most loyal servant a successor to each of them.
Their vision was proven fruitful. Under the guidance of these three priests, as well as the expert rulership of their successors, Patren advanced and grew stong, mastering the use of the stone around them for shelter, and even rituals to travel long distances.
-----
Far to the south of the new nation of Patren, humanity was learning and adapting to it's new open terrain, devoid of the trees, cliffs, and labrynths they were used to. Banding together for survival, a new nation rose from the plains. They called it Asilia.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - De-Nourish Populace - Purge lycanthropy
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Shadar-kai to form a new nation
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Teach Patren Masonry
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater) - Teach Patren Teleportation Circle rituals
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Humans into a new nation
PP Refresh
6 - Veros
5 - Xirinet, Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Drahthor, Roan, Mara
4 - Empress, Siccadan, Zophia, Yoglith, Ka, Kiptar, Quel, Hensen Jijou,
The Ice Monoliths gigantic fists crashed against the very walls of the keep, while the legions of infantry charged the walls again and again. The Niflendar Flamborge, Hammer of Darkness, and Archon's Sorrow all wrought devastation against the Loremaster's forces.
In the keep itself, rats got into the food supplies, damaging and destroying almost all of their food. Disease also cut through their ranks, and rumors of secret Lycan cults within the Loremaster's sent them into paroxysms of suspicion.
The ranks of Warforged slammed against the Loremaster's forces, while their ingenious mechanical inventions spat all manner of strange magics against the walls.
The ranks of the Imperium's army swelled with reinforcements from the homeland and new shipments of Adamite weapons arrived. Along with this shipment of weapons and men, a powerful artifact constructed by the mages of Ssabrec arrived, the Malrime Ballista, a weapon that soon began tearing away at the walls of the Keep.
------------
The Imperial Senate dispatched further envoys to the Warforged, offering trade deals.
((Euklag, lets take this into the mortal thread))
-------------
Vymrl left the realm of Zophia and sought out the Tsarosk-Hem Hive. Relying on old contacts with the Unknown God, he sought him out.
Vymrl too felt the return of his creater, Yoglith. Intrigued, he dispatched S'kre, the Dark Child, to speak to Yoglith and great him. Also, S'kre bore a message from Vymrl, asking for an audience with The Unchanging.
PP
2PP-Create Artifact (Moderate): The Malrime Ballista
2PP-DeNourish Populous: The Lorekeepers
1PP-Nourish Populous: Imperium
2PP (Ssabrec and Light Child)- Nourish Populous: Imperium
PP
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Lycanthrope (Beast) spreads to humans.
PP Use
1 PP (from Eorna) - Guide Populace - Humites know the ritual Cure Disease.
1 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace x2 (Loremasters) - The Loremaster's numbers are bolstered with the humites. They are also receiving new supplies.
Eventually, the craft picked up, drawing more and more to the art of ship-building. Soon, an entire fleet of airships was theirs to command. It was rather impressive, this enormous mass of wooden walkways and hanging vines hanging in the air. Each was rather different, as well, attributing to the handy-work of the various craftsmen. Soon, the time to expand their horizons was upon the two races. Those tasked with exploring packed up their things, and loaded them onto the ships. Dasa with superior diplomatic skills went aboard, as did the Loha with the most significant fighting skills. They all climbed aboard, and by sunset, they were sailing to the horizon.
It wasn't long however, for those back home, who were watching from the edge of Atakhari, to detect something amiss. Not long after their departure, sounds of battle could be heard from the ship. The Dasa watched in horror as the Loha aboard the ships attacked their Dasa allies, and took control of the ships, then as one by one, the ships turned, and returned to Atakhari. The Dasa fled, but found their passage blocked by more Loha, who quickly began to attack the poor, defenseless Dasa. The noble Paladins among the Dasa quickly closed ranks, and did their best to quell the panic rising in their people. They fell back, but found their rear to be under attack as well, as fiery magic hailed down upon them, conjured by Loha mages who had stolen aboard the ship. But the Paladins were steadfast, and set in for the long haul.
PP Expenditure
1 PP +1 from Priya Teach Populace (Moderate) Air Ships: The Dasa learn to make their own, specialized form of air ships from the materials found in the city.
2 PP Teach Populace (Moderate) Sorcerers: The Loha learn to harness the elemental magics of the Chaos.
2 PP Teach Populace (Moderate) Sorcerers: The Loha learn to harness the elemental magics of the Chaos.
"Who are you?" demanded Yoglith, eyeballing it's visitor with a combination of suspicion and curiosity, "I don't sense the Anamaler on you. Horrible place."
The gods tail lashed back and forth, scattering water at random as the god finally began to control it's rage.
At the beginning the ones who dared to try to oppose their master, in a stealthy, hidden way of course, since none of them can best the mighty aberrations in fight were just a few, but slowly their number is growing...
Today many the slaves are beginning plan for a flight toward a promised land, a land that many of them had dreams about in the last years. They all know that they have to be careful that their escaping will be hard and progress toward their end will be slow, but they don't care, freedom await their people and they are ready to sacrifice everything to achieve it.
PP.
1 - Nourish (Beholder Slaves), many of the slaves secretly break free of beholder domination.
1 - Guide Artifact (Beholder Slaves, using Aether Ripples generated whispers and dreams), the slaves begin to plan their escape in secret.
Grandfather, Emperor of Time, I am called S'kre, the Dark Child. I am the chief exarch and favored child Vymrl, Lord of Conquest and Master of War. He felt your rebirth into this time, and has sent me to greet you.
My father would have come himself, but his children, my kindred, the Vyrmosk are currently engaged in a immense war against powerful enemies. Every bit of power that Father can has is consumed in this conflict. If you wish to speak to Father, then follow me to the realm of Zophia, the Lady of Spirits.
But if she's dead, then the humites have little chance against the giants...
Wait... am I a healer or not?
Shurka fled down to the mortal world, he had never done this before, his body changed to a...
...humanoid shape as he landed in front of the dead elder.
Selya, get up.
"But I am dead... gone..." her spirit wailed
I don't care. You have people to lead, so stop complaining and get up now
The axe wound across her chest closed, leaving nothing but a scar. Her body twitched. She slowly got to her feet as the giants stared at her in confusion. One of the giants raised his axe high, preparing to swing at her. As the giant lowered the axe, Selya said,
"That's not a very good idea."
The axe shattered into a million pieces, and Selya lashed out with divine power. Blasts of light fired out from her hand and staff, abnd struck the giants in bright flashes. After about a minute, the giants that had attacked her were on the ground dead. Selya turned around, and headed toward Terena to continue leading her people.
PP Use
3 PP - Ascend Exarch - Selya the Deathless (+1 combat)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The warforged discovered new ways to form items that were not magical in nature. While this was looked down upon by many of the elders, this new art became a part of their culture all its own.
They also learned how to traverse the ocean. Metal ships now sailed the seas, seeking out more lands.
Show
2 pp-Guide Populace(greater): Warforged gain the Alchemist feat and can make alchemical items
2 pp-Guide Populace(greater): Warforged can sail, using boats made form metal and powered by magic/alchemy
2 pp-Guide Populace(greater): Warforged gain the Alchemist feat and can make alchemical items
2 pp-Guide Populace(greater): Warforged can sail, using boats made form metal and powered by magic/alchemy
Selya realized how pivotal the Loremasters were for the humites' continued extistence, so she personally led a group of herself, and a dozen of her best clerics, avengers, and invokers. As they reached the Loremaster's keep, they immediately formed defensive positions while Selya used the power of the Staff of Shurka to wreak havoc among any giants approaching too near the Keep.
The were all gone. No traces left for their friends and families to follow. Most grieved them as dead, kidnapped or murdered. Little did they know that these individuals still where alive, wandering the cold country of Zophar.
In the following months hundreds after hundreds of Ice Giants, humans, Humites and Dark Eladrin was taken away by the ever-silent spirit cranes.
They forgot of the lives they had lived in their homelands and banded together with other members of their kin. Taking up the nomadic life-style of the new continents natives.
Guide Populace - 4 PP ( Kidnap Ice Giants, humans, humites and Dark Eladrin and take them to Zophar where they quickly band together in tribes )
---------------------
The air ships that escaped the battle continued into the world. They kept their eyes to their rear, knowing that, some day, they would meet the wrath of those they had wronged. But with that knowledge, they travelled onward, searching out new stories to tell, new adventures to have, new battles to fight, and new lives to be lived.
Next, while patrolling a beach a cell of experienced Drahkorn had been ambushed by a pyrohydra that had hidden in the water. Between its ability to breath flames and their own by the time the battle was done the field had been scorched with heat. Strangely, they noted that the sand had seemed to fuse together to make something they called glass. Reporting this back to Xarloth further experimentation was carried out until the Drahkorn had eventually become experts at the creation and manipulation of this material.
Finally, and with the greatest ramifications, after killing a small group of Racktheran a cell began to mix the fluid in the insects rear abdomen with seaweed and the juice of Phorus plants. Strange reactions followed, whether bursting into flames or forming a strange sort of paste. Also reporting this to Xarloth, the Drahkorn took note and thus began their first forays into alchemy.
PP
2pp Guide: Drahkorn learn how to manipulate magics and their new weaving to create bags of holding.
2pp Guide: Drahkorn learn to make glass
2pp Guide: Drahkorn begin experimenting with chemicals and discover the science of Alchemy.
2pp Guide: Drahkorn learn to make glass
2pp Guide: Drahkorn begin experimenting with chemicals and discover the science of Alchemy.
That was strange. He'd never seen metal behave like this in the forge. The glowing knot seemed to be... growing.
He awoke. No pain. Feel... incredibly hot. He stood, or tried to. No legs. Legs by the cowering figure. Put them on. Tub of water by the... forge. That's the word. Jumped in. Felt... cold.
His divine soul swelled- light and warmth spread into his form. Looked at cowering figure. "What... am I?".
The smith looked up: "You.. you look something like a god, though I wager you're not, unless I'm already starting a new existence somewhere."
God... He thought hard. "sounds... familiar." He reached out. Touched the void. His senses seemed... too large. No. No, that wouldn't do. He felt aware. Godlike. God. One of many. So much disorder here. So much chaos. So much to do.
Hammu flared briefly inside his shell. "Where to start?"
"We have to interfere [...], we can make the difference[...], we can be the changers we are meant to!" the black head stated to the other, almost identical a part from a bluish color and twisted sharp horns, twisting its neck so it can watch its brother from an upper position.
"No we are not, we should watch, we should inspire, we should thrive from the other action like we did for many millennia" the other head was not afraid, its eye stared into the one of the black, calm and secure of its ideas.
"But at that time we were formless, we have being given form to act"
The debate between the heads keep going for a few hours, or seconds or years, time matter not for the god of change. The other heads were mostly uninterested, all of them have plans, many so convoluted that a single head was unable to understand them without looking at the actions of the others, and they are almost always focused in putting these plans into fruition, but finally something made their attention to focus on the two "fighters".
"... Fine, I have tried to show you my point staying civil, but in the end I failed... that's no problem at all, Change have to be achieved with all means necessary right?"
"... what?"
"That's our purpose our nature, I bet you should know brother" - A moment after it finished talking the head opened its mouth, and bite the neck of its opponent, biting true, the other tried to resist but the surprise was too much.
The smallest head, colored of a poisonous green, looked with curiosity its two brothers, it seems that they have moved from philosophical discussion and have passed to a more "down to the earth" methods of convincing each other, it always loved strife it watched carefully and absorbed any small spark of pain transmitted by the fighters, they were a single being after all.
The youngest one was a little worried, it can fell the pain and was afraid for its brother, and its own, life, never the god have being hurt by something, the new experience was at the same time terrifying and awesome.
As fast as it has begun the fight end a rain of blood fall down toward the depths of Aether and the skyes below when the head was cut away by the other.
Most of the drops burned down in the atmosphere, forming a rain of blue fire, but many of them was large enough to survive, turning into solid chunk of crystal and sinking in the water.
The heads keep watching the killer, still dirty of its brother blood that filled its jaws looked at the other defiantly, the youngest one locking its eyes with it, accusing.
The emerald eyes of the green one were focused on the crystals, that after landing apparently begun to merge with the nearby materials, to grow, to change, radiating the divine essence on the nearby seas, its mind moving away fast from the apparent demise of one of them focusing on the new possibilities of this "material".
"What are you all watching?"
"You should be focused on greeting us I guess"
All the heads turned around, looking for the source of the voices, and of the new minds that they felt merged with their own essence.
Where the dead head stood two new one have grown, each different, unique as all the aspects of change are, but with some resemblance of the old one that stood in their place.
Finally the oldest head the first to come into existence, the white one, with burning yellow eyes, burning like the motes of change spoke.
"So after we have dealt with this small inconvenience I guess we can focus again on our job"
While most of the heads told that since change was their essence coming back to something was not something worthy of them after a while they go back to their activity, unchanging and changed at the same time by the action of their brothers.
Meanwhile in the depths of the beholder domains, many of the slaves woke up, in a dream a massive dragon head emerged from the darkness, its skin was white as marble, eyes burning with otherworldly fires, "the things are set, I have prepared the ground for you to stand up on your own all of you should get ready to run at the turning of the age I'll let you know".
The oldest smiled, he had manipulated its impulsive brothers for a long time to produce this, he needed divine blood for its creation but was unwilling to sacrifice his own. Now they have all the tools to begin affecting creation as he see fit. While looking at his brother, especially the emerald eyed one, he wondered if they would be ready to do the same...
PP Expenditure
3 pts - Create Artifact,Bloodstones (+1 to nourish the wikia page is work in progress)
”pp”
1 PP – Nourish Land – Nourish the Vortex into a much stronger storm, impossible to pass in the air or aethor and very difficult on land/water/ice. The Vortext occasionally gives off smaller storms (hurricanes/monsoons etc).
1 PP – Denourish Deopplegangers – Lycanthropy expands and mutates into the doppleganger population, as a deadly curse-disease. Killing many by the disease or at the hands of the other races in purges. Ultimately, the disease means Lycanthropes (beast) and dopplegangers hate each other.
1 PP – Nourish Land – Nourish the Vortex into a much stronger storm, impossible to pass in the air or aethor and very difficult on land/water/ice. The Vortext occasionally gives off smaller storms (hurricanes/monsoons etc).
1 PP – Denourish Deopplegangers – Lycanthropy expands and mutates into the doppleganger population, as a deadly curse-disease. Killing many by the disease or at the hands of the other races in purges. Ultimately, the disease means Lycanthropes (beast) and dopplegangers hate each other.
Dark Child, Shurka has dispatched an exarch to aid the Humites. You may now aid the Imperium to the utmost of your abilities.
A dark joy filled S'kre, finally loosed to wreak havoc against the enemies of the Imperium. A great cry of exaltation the Dark Child surged though the Aether and struck the atmosphere. Flames gathered around his crystalline body, and he finally smashed into the soft earth with titanic explosion of ice and dirt.
Marshaling the icy fury of Vymrl, he took control of the Malrime Ballista and struck at the Loremaster's Keep, slamming huge bolts of cruel ice infused the incredible power of the first Exarch of Vymrl.
After a period of this brutal pounding against the walls of the Loremaster's Keep, he flew to the front of the Humite war, where some impudent Elder dealt death with the Staff of Shurka. Laughing with a rapacious glee, S'kre dove into the battle, deflecting the staffs blasts of fire with waves of frost and a killing cold.
...full godhood. He saw that the fighting was going relatively well for the humites, when a new fiigure had entered the battle. He singled out Selya, and she and S'kre fought eachother, evenly matched. Other mortals avoided their fight so they would not be caught in the backlash. They would fight for days, yet neither side would yield.
He paused for a moment. He reread the last word: "Bleed".
He cast an appraising eye over the rest, "Cut", "Burn", "Pillage", among others. He marveled at the ugliness of the words, at the crudity. These were the words of the age, he supposed. He sighed, and kept writing.
Soon, like so long ago, words began to swirl about his sitting form. They danced on the wind, flitting about the jagged rocks. And also like before, the words took on shapes. But these were small, hunched, ugly. Not at all like the graceful and slim gnomes. The twisted little creatures straightened, and stretched, showing their ruddy brown and green skin, and their squashed looking faces.
Siccadan looked up at them. His first instinct was to frown at them, but he stopped himself. It took all sorts he reminded himself. He squinted down into the faces of his newest children.
"Goblin," he said finally, and returned to reading
Actions
2 PP Shape Populace (Lesser) Goblins
1 PP from the Encyclopedia Guide Populace (Lesser): Goblins worship Siccadan
1 PP from the Encyclopedia Guide Populace (Lesser): Goblins worship Siccadan
"You seem to have brought me out of the void- do you have a purpose for me, or did you leave that to me to find?"
The eye-holes in the visored helmet burn brilliant. Rays of light seem to shoot through the angel.
"You seem too weak to have wakened me on purpose. Perhaps I am the recompense of the void, the back-payment against the unjust nature of the universe. Everywhere I turn my senses I feel disorder and imbalance- perhaps I shall set things to right lest I spend my entire existence distracted. "
PP expenditure
2 PP: Form Domain (Moderate): Justice
2 PP: Form Domain (Moderate): Justice
He reached his hand into the vortex, watching as an identical vortex appeared nearby with his hand reaching out of it. He withdrew his hand, and with a sudden movement, unleashed pure destruction on a succubus sneaking past. The hatred was sated for a moment, and his curiosity returned. Much like the Temporal Harmonizer so long ago, he could manipulate past and future events with this lovely item.
He felt the anger returning, burning his curiosity away, and he let it wash over him. The touch of another across his people, and the anger vanished, replaced by hatred, a hatred so overwhelming that he felt as if he were drowning. A single thought sufaced in the endless sea of hate, that this was an unpleasant experience, then it to was consumed.
His mind was slothful, comsumed by these simple mortal emotions. But it still slowly chugged along. He had done this for her. . . . .
Yet now she cursed his people. . .
His restraint faltered, and he felt the hatred overwhelming him. Fueled by his uncontrolled power, the top of skypeak burned. The darkest moment of night was gone, the fires illuminating the war below for the briefest moment, then they were gone, as he regained control once more.
Still, the thoughts continued to echo through his mind, working their way along. He had killed . . . . she had brought him to it . . . . she cursed his people . . . .
Veros stared at the vortex, waiting for his mind to come to it's conclusion, slowly working it's way along through an ocean of hatred and anger.
With the sudden hum of millions of Chronoptera, the god blew away on the wind, deforming into a massive cloud of the insects.
And so it was that the eyes and arms of time began to sweep the lands. The single largest swarm known to mortal kind in the Chronoptera's six millenia upon the world. Those races that fell under the shadow of the swarm grew to believe it an omen of the future, for each time the massive collection of insects touched upon a land change was soon to follow.
First the swarm decended upon the human lands, initially sewing fear they would devour all food there was to be had. They seemed to touch none of it, and almost as quickly as they came they vanished.
Then the swarm struck upon the warforged, coating the world as they knew it in a full foot of buzzing insects, their bladed limbs slowly whittling away at the warforged bodies as they tried to cut their way in.
Then came the children of Vymrl, their warbands far from home. The swarm decended upon the like a ravenous cloud, The youngest being the most common victims of vicious attacks where by chronoptera would swarm the victim, climbing in through their noses and mouths and ultimately causing the poor souls to bleed to death.
Finally the Deva, safe in their homes scarcely noticed when the swarm blotted out the very stars that night. Never landing, the only warning would be the signature thrum, unfamiliar in those lands, of the Chronoptera in flight. By morning, many elder Deva awoke to find themselves slowly shedding first hair and nails, then digits, and ultimately even their nose, eyes and mouths and any other distinguishable feature, to leave them just blank torsos with blank faces of smooth skin, known only to be alive because of several discernible signs of life that weren't dependent upon the features.
PP Spent
1pp Nourish Humans: Stores seemed to stretch abnormally long in the coming 500 years, bringing with them a wealth for all.
1pp Denourish Warforged: Bodies break and give out in alarming frequency, the very wood, metal, and stone their made from seeming to grow brittle. The "Irreparable Thrum" would claim many.
1pp Denourish Frost Giants: Many individuals, mostly children die a death of countless cuts, both internal and external. It would become known as the "death of a thousand cuts".
1pp Denourish Deva: A strange magical disease similar to the real world Leprosy in many ways afflicts them. It would become known as the "Angel's disease", named after the faceless appearance shared with angels in a moment of optimism.
1pp Denourish Warforged: Bodies break and give out in alarming frequency, the very wood, metal, and stone their made from seeming to grow brittle. The "Irreparable Thrum" would claim many.
1pp Denourish Frost Giants: Many individuals, mostly children die a death of countless cuts, both internal and external. It would become known as the "death of a thousand cuts".
1pp Denourish Deva: A strange magical disease similar to the real world Leprosy in many ways afflicts them. It would become known as the "Angel's disease", named after the faceless appearance shared with angels in a moment of optimism.
"There is so much to do. Every time I look outwards I see more chaos, more injustice. I need... a helper."
Hammu touches his chestplate, the spot where his divine essence first had begun to grow
"Come here, smith. From now on you shall be called Rabi, and you will be my agent for justice in the world."
Hammu presses a lump of glowing god-stuff into Rabi's forehead. It sinks in and remains there, glowing like a beacon
PP expenditure
3 PP: Ascend Exarch (+1 Create PP) - Rabi the Smith
3 PP: Ascend Exarch (+1 Create PP) - Rabi the Smith
Her skin was covered with thin layers of dust an her hair was grey. She had stood there for centuries ever since the visit of the ancient Ice God. Something had happend, something that had stilled her tongue, that had frozen her in the middle of a gesture.
An idea had been formed in her mind! A divine idea! Whose mere simplicity and beauty mesmerized her in every way an ideas could mesmerize a divine being. It filled her mind as the years passed by, as the idea grew in scale and beauty and as details were prepared.
She would succeed where her mother had failed. Her land and her children would not be put to the tourch A land would be formed, a land protected by the spirits themselves a land where the fallen would protect the living. And where the living would protect the fallen with steel and word.
The solemn Goddess blinked.
On the main continent, Unggar-Raggnu contiued to defile the land north of the vanguard woods. The fungi north, of these woods, that were cut of from the others, appeared to be fighting a loosing battle.
By launching there spores in the atmosphere, the fungi start to send their spores to the other continents. On the continent to the east of the main one, a fungal colony started to flourish.
(5x nourish populace (Tsarok-Hem + minions) 5PP)
(1x mold land 1PP from Unggar-raggnu)
(1x guide populace 1PP from Nuggoroth, to send fungi spores to the other continents. The fungi populations on the other continent are almost undetectable and have no game value, but they could now start to expand on the other continents)
(1x nourish populace from (Fungi) 1PP from spore chambers)
Roan sent his birds across the planes to see all that was going on. And many things were going. New gods had been born and disease that ran rampant. The troll god seemed to be absent. This disturbed him. The genasi were doing well they used their charts and maps to plot out were the giants troops were to give their allies the edge (no pp to this action just rp). But best of all the stalkers were better at killing then he could have imagined. Many high ranking giants had fallen under their claws. Most disturbing of all was the growth of the fungus and the creatures that lived among them. He saw that the lord most be preparing for an assault. He must stop him now.
Spreading his essence through out the Tree of Chaos he let it grow. The roots he pushed up into the mortal plane (continent 1). Were ever the roots came up a new trees of chaos began to grow. The grew along the edge of the fungus spreading the vanguard woods as it did so the making a thin line of protection around the still habitable portions of the continent. Then turning toward the new incursion behind the vanguard woods he saw that the Trent and briar thorns had cleared much of it and that it was dying off. With the last bit of effort he caused the trees to be poisonous to the fungus again.
Then he gave the vanguard woods dryads to protect the trees.
Finally he caused chaos to spread through the vanguard woods to better protect them from the fungus. The chaos manifested as fire and other elements but it also made parts of the fungus randomly disappear or changed what was once fungus into trees of the vanguard woods.
After the mighty workings to protect the people and natures order of this continent. He sent a bird to the giant’s god the one they called Vymrl.
“God of war hear the voice of chaos.” The words rang in Vymrl's ears leaving no doubt that a god spoke through this bird. “I am he who walks all the planes, god of forest green. He who commands flight and steel. Know me for I am your equal. Your empire is strong as strong as three civilizations but I see they are cowards. Is that a reflection of their god? Why do the chose to fight the weakest of this lands people the humites. Why do they not attack the fungus reclaim that as land that can be used instead of what is already being used? Are you a coward that does not face a true battle? Or are you just to dumb to see that even if your giants take these land it will belong to the fungus not them. Do you not see that you weaken us just as the lord of decay wishes to kill us? Or are you allied with that one. Have you no honor. If I am wrong about you and you wish to truly test your people and prove they are strong meet me on the field of battle and we shall lay down are weapons and make peace so that we can make war on that which will be a true challenge. If you are a coward ignore me and my offer and fall beneath the might of the fungus for that is what will happen. You may not look past your nose but I see and what I see is that the fungus is mightier then us all. But maybe not all of us combined. So are you a god of war or are you a coward. Will you except this offer for a greater challenge then mere humites could be.” As the words trailed off a portal appeared in front of Vymrl. On the other side it showed the battle and there standing in the middle of it was chaos. A god with cloven hoofs and wings made of shadow plants and flowers grew and died around him fire licked up his sides and in his eyes. Two jet black horns twisted into the air from his forehead. In his left hand he held a massive glaive. And his right hand was out stretched offered in challenge.
(night angel this is a chance to do that paladin thing and I do need allies against the fungus if you want to take up the challenge I can call in shurka and he can call in Veros to make a peace accord. Then we can go slaughter fungus.)
Pp expenditure
5pp nourish (one artifact): the vanguard woods no completely surrounds the habitable land and the bit of fungus that came through the tunnels is mostly gone. The trees are also poisonous to the fungus again.
1pp guide(artifact): genasi learn ritual for making magic weapons
1pp spawn (artifact): dyrads heroic only
2pp create (1 from artifact): make a link between the vanguard woods and chaos this causes the fungus to burst into flame disappear or turn into trees. Or any other chaotic thing. Most important it is hostile to the fungus. This means that (as of now) the fungus can not fight back against the vanguard woods.
The humites advanced their ritualistic powers, and learned how to bring life to the recently deceased. Some of their best warriors would come back after dying at the hands of a giants, just to fight for their land again.
PP Use
1 PP - Guide Populace - Humites know the ritual Raise Dead
The ordered ranks of the giant forces found an enemy who moved not in ranks but in packs, using steel and sorcery to shatter the giants' defenses. Warden, Druid, Barbarian, Sorceror and Shaman working in concert to tear apart the enemy lines. Throughout human forces spread angelic soldiers, their blades whirling in battle against Imperium foes.
Soon the days grew humid and cloying, the temperature rising so that the air seemed hung in blood. The sorcerous work of human mages, the giants feeling their morale sapped by unnatrural weather. When it did rain it came a torrential deluge, blood-warm in the middle of the night, that seemed to drain form the giants their strength and leave a fog upon the land.
Humans on the other hand only gained morale, revelling in the chaos of battle. Relish writ clear on human face, and seeming to exude from the angels, as they battled their foes.
Shapeshifters, berserkers, such terrible beasts as born from nightmares, the human soldiery calling on lightning and thunder as easilly as steel. They battled in shifts, day and night, seeking to wear down the enemy and cut their feet from under them. Raids to poison the enemy supplies with Flicker, battles fought simply for the pleasure of battle.
The first imperium forces to fall were those laying siege to the Loremasters. Caught between human soldiers and inhuman wizardry they they were slowy torn down.
***
A human captain spoke to the Loremasters, a wry smile upon his face.
"We promised you the siege ended, now perhaps we can end the war."
Action
1PPx3, Denourish Populace: Imperium
2PP +1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Alexandria (army)
Fluffed up later tonite when I have the chance.
2PP +1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Alexandria (army)
Fluffed up later tonite when I have the chance.
The odd figure walked to the cliff's edge, and looked at the war below. He tugged slightly at his staff, grinning slightly as it pulled towards its copy being held by Veros not fifty feet away. It had taken five millennia for his mind to work through what should be done, but too much time had passed by then.
The Temporal Vortex was a very useful item though. So here he stood, not fifty feet away from himself, contemplating the rushing river of emotion that had locked him away in his own mind for so long. He pulled down his cowl, revealing the barren skull that his head had become in his long wait, as death had run unchecked through him.
Red lights glinted in his eye sockets, silently scanning the world, searching through his mind, his five thousand years of accumulated knowledge. They had now idea what would be coming in this time. His jaw moved slightly, a grisly grin. Perhaps it would be different this time, but he doubted it.
He lifted his staff, slamming it onto the ground before him, commanding reality to obey his wishes. He felt it resist, not recognizing him as belonging, as having the capability. He lifted his staff again, focusing his power through it, commanding it, focusing his will. Slowly, the staff began to glow, growing brighter and brighter with every moment as he exerted his might.
-----
Far below, the battle slowed to a halt as all turned to stare at the sky. At first, it had been a tiny pinprick of light, but with every passing moment, it grew brighter. Within a matter of moments, as far as the Shattered Lands and the Vanguard Woods, the sky burned with light, as if night had turned to noon, and the twins were obscured from view.
For nearly an hour, the sky glowed, and mortals scattered in fear and terror, sure that the world would end. Then the light was gone. At first, it seemed that all was normal, and then a few perceptive people began to notice what was wrong. The twin moon had vanished from the night sky.
Yet, they still did not know the meaning of terror. High above them, it seemed as if the stars began to move, flitting through the sky. As they grew closer, the pitiful creatures realized that it wasn't the stars that were moving. Chaos erupted as a rain of colorless fire fell from the sky, unleashing death and destruction wherever they fell. More, many of those who died in the rain of fire gave birth to a new and horrible creation as their flaming skulls ripped free from their bodies and began to attack those near by.
-----
He task finished, he dropped the staff, watching it fling across the peak slamming into it's double, and merging, vanishing from view. He clutched his chest, and fell to his knees. He grinned, comprehension flooding his mind. He was fading. His plan had succeeded.
-----
The few remaining fungus immediately north of the vanguard woods vanished as he earth shook and cracks, opening wide and swallowing them. When the ground finally returned them to the surface, they rested once more in the fungal forests of the deep south.
-----
Fearful of their strange neighbors to the north, the humans of Asilia mobilized, and began regularly raiding warforged settlements.
-----
Patren continued to flourish; it's shadar-kai developing advance architecture from models and drawings contained within the Tome of Knowledge. Using these new skills, they were able to bring life to even the most barren parts of the desert by using aqueducts to move water long distances to irrigate their fields.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Imperium
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Imperium
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Humites
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Warforged
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact - Veil of Illusion
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - Move fungus back south of the Vanguard Woods
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater) - Patren developed advanced architecture
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Heroic tier Flameskulls
Veil of Illusion
The Veil of Illusions is a simple artifact, and enhancement to the Orb of Visions. It essentially renders something invisible for until the end of next turn. It is currently being used to make the two moons invisible. They will return to visibility at the end of next turn, or if someone pays 1 PP to break the invisibility.
PP Refresh
6 - Veros, Xirinet
5 - Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Drahthor, Roan, Mara
4 - Empress, Siccadan, Yoglith, Zophia, Ka, Kiptar, Quel, Hensen Jijou, Hammu
A Dwarf with grey strokes in his beard and dressed in the finest of furs arose. His eyes glittering due to the vast bonfire that burnt in front of him and the assembly.
" The tribes of the Moon, swear obediance to the Blood Crown. "
A female Eladrin with hair as black as the night arose. Her skin pale and her eyes golden. She was dressed in white furs and wore a amber-crown on her head.
" The people of the wastes, swear obediance to the Blood Crown. "
An Ice giant arose, being nearly four times as tall as the Eladrin his shadow seemed to stretch out for an eternity behind him.
" The people of the valley, swear obediance to the Blood Crown. "
A human arose, his clenched fist pressed tightly against his fur-covered chest. His brown eyes filled with eagerness.
" The people of the plains, swear obediance to the Blood Crown. "
A humite arose from her place at the fire. Her hair grey and her eyes blue, her back was crooked and her gaze was focused on the ground as she spoke. Afraid to meet the glowing eyes that was now focused on her.
It was an Orc. An orc of noble Stature, dressed in the finest of robes an Orc the wore Dwarven steel and practiced Dwarven song-spells. On his head he wore a golden crown, rubies red as blood decorated it's golden surface and flames seemed to flicker within them. His eyes were golden, his beard was grey and his face was the face of a true king. His name was Kendel, first king and first ruler of Zophar. An Orc taken by Dwarves and schooled by Dwarves in the ways of their Bards and tacticans.
A schooled and civilized Orc that at the age of fourty had united the Orcish tribes and forced the other races of Zophar to accept him as their ruler. He had done it with both words and steel.
The people of Zophar no matter race, rarely gave up anything freely after all. They where a tough breed now united under one throne.
Kendel arose from his throne and he raised his hands high up in the sky, showing his empty palms to his subjects as he began to speak. His voice was dark, hoarse and filled with a conviction that nearly bordered on fanatascism.
" We are not alone and therefore we need to unite. The Dwarves of Kraka Calafi showed me much during my time there. They showed me the Shattered Lands, they showed me the wars and the violence of the south. They showed me the monstrosities that rule there and I would rather die then see those beings come to our land! Come to the land of our Lady and spoil it! Out of many we will become ONE! "
He roared against the black night sky. His golden eyes were now shining brighter the the sun itself, his fists where clenched and fangs where revealed as the first king of a united Zophar roared in defiance against the south and all that it represented.
The wars, the pain and the child. A screaming child that had run along a misty shore, reaching out with her hands against him and his ships Her blue eyes filled with tears...it was as if she...
And then she fell, arrows penetrated her back and she faded away to join the Lady in the after-life. She could have been his daughter Iri, she could have been his siblings and his neighbour's child. Why did the Southeners kill in such a way? Why did they kill the innocent? Why did their wars never seem to touch those that where behind them?
And so the first king of Zophar was crowned.
Create Artifact 1PP: The Blood Crown, An artifact directly connected with the nation of Zophar. It gives it's wearer the charisma and strength necessary to rule this nation.
Guide Populace 1 PP: Zophar's diverse population unites under one leader and forms the nation of Zophar
Nourish Populace 1 PP: All of Zophar flourishes under the first centuries of it's existence.
Gudie Populace 1 PP: Members of all races converts to praising Zophia in small numbers.
In the end small patches of land begun to raise, forming a bunch of small irregular islands from the seas, near to each other so they create a swampy environment between them.
When wind brought the first seed toward the islands a lush vegetation start growing from it the plants adapted hastily to the bloodstone infused ground assuming strange shapes and crystalline forms and growing glowing bloody red fruits, creating an aerie forest that engulfed the small archipelago.
Within the Beholder domain more slaves heard the call of the white dragon head, soon a majority of them have being secretly freed from the grasp of their abominable masters.
The call of the White One burning within their mind, and his magic flowing trough their veins they begun to run away, in small groups at first, but turning to a proper exodus at last, with the Aether Ripples created auroras showing them a mystic path to the newly formed Bloodmist Islands.
There they begun to settle wowing to never become slaves again, creating a community based upon personal freedom and self defense. The Free Nation was born.
PP Expenditure:
1 - Mold Land: create a small archipelago near to the largest chunk of Bloodstones.
1 - Nourish Land (from Bloodstone): plant life arise in the archipelago, fast growing but tainted by the bloodstone influence.
1 - Nourish Population: more slaves are free from the beholder influence.
1 - Guide Population (from Aether Ripples): the slaves escape from the beholder to Bloodmist Islands.
1 - Guide Population: the Free Nation worship Hensen.
In the Aether, the Tsarok and there Narrok minions kept increasing in numbers.
On the main continent, Unggar-Raggnu contiued to defile the land north of the vanguard woods. The fungi north, of these woods, that were cut of from the others, appeared to be fighting a loosing battle.
By launching there spores in the atmosphere, the fungi start to send their spores to the other continents. On the continent to the east of the main one, a fungal colony started to flourish.
(5x nourish populace (Tsarok-Hem + minions) 5PP)
(1x mold land 1PP from Unggar-raggnu)
(1x guide populace 1PP from Nuggoroth, to send fungi spores to the other continents. The fungi populations on the other continent are almost undetectable and have no game value, but they could now start to expand on the other continents)
(1x nourish populace from (Fungi) 1PP from spore chambers)
(what happened last turn)
“Hermit of the sighing woods I am Roan god of music and Forrest will you aid me in ridding this world of the fungus that will destroy it. Will you aid your self and record the words of the battle over life it self. If you will lend your support let me know and when I can I will call a council of the gods who would aid me so we can destroy that which only knows destruction.”
Pp expenditure
1pp (artifact) nourish: the vanguard woods finish off the fungus that is inside its protective ring
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Some of the warforged remembered to war a long time ago, where their builders had fought along side great giants of cold and ice, when they would lend the only power at their disposal, the necromancy that would raise the bodies against them. They began to look for the frost giants again, to see what had happened to them.
Show
1 pp-Nourish populace: Warforged - the Warforged resist the disease given by the chronoptera, by changing parts that are falling apart too slow the disease and they are a little more numerous
2 pp-Create artifact(Moderate): City of Gears, a floating mechanical city, a floating island. most of the Warforged reside here now. It can sail anywhere their is water and will obey Kiptar's will should it deem it necessary
1 pp-guide populace(lesser): Warforged seek out the Frost giants(Lets just get this over with already)
1 pp-Nourish populace: Warforged - the Warforged resist the disease given by the chronoptera, by changing parts that are falling apart too slow the disease and they are a little more numerous
2 pp-Create artifact(Moderate): City of Gears, a floating mechanical city, a floating island. most of the Warforged reside here now. It can sail anywhere their is water and will obey Kiptar's will should it deem it necessary
1 pp-guide populace(lesser): Warforged seek out the Frost giants(Lets just get this over with already)
The Empress gave another snarl of rage, and swirled around, disappearing in a crack of thunder and lightning. She appeared in the Chaos. There was her palace, floating silently in the chaotic energy of the plane. Flame continued to ravage its blackened exterior, and many of its once majestic spires lay in ruins, having not survived the trip, or perhaps succumbing to the harshness of their new home. The goddess descended upon her home. There was a great boom of thunder, and the massive and intricately carved stone doors that once provided admittance to the palace, were blasted off of their frame and sent spiralling across the entrance hall. The goddess stepped inside.
The entrance hall was in ruins. Massive chunks of jade lay about the place, and greats swaths of it were blackened where the flames had marred its once beautiful surface. She walked up the crumbling staircase. She could hear no life stirring in this place, only the howl of the Chaos outside. She reached her throne room. Pieces of the roof were missing, and she could see the swirl of fire and ice through these holes. Again, here, the room was in ruins. Many of the enormous jade columns that had supported the ceiling in here were either broken, or had huge chunks missing. Only the throne remained intact, and that great, circular green pool. This last was in great turmoil. The surface of the liquid was boiling, bubbles erupting across its surface. It sloshed about in the basin, as if disrupted by some cosmic hand. The green mist that usually played across its surface was swirling angrily about. The Empress took her seat, and contemplated the basin.
In the shadow of the room a small halfling woman peeked around a pillar, her face and arms streaked with soot. She clutched in her dirty hand the hand of another, one that was much smaller, and much cleaner. A young human child, a little smaller than the halfling, stood there, andthere was not a speck of soot on her as she gazed with rapt attention as the goddess swirled the green mists.
He had been dead for a long time, now. No one noticed. He had alienated the rest of the pantheon. Shrunk down and retreated into a world where he was the only one who mattered. And so, there had been no one to mourn him when he died.
Ten million demons he could bully into submission. Twenty million, he could control tenuously. But as his army multiplied, he had become obsolete. The battle was long and bloody. Across the mortal world, people saw the sun burn red all day long, for days and weeks and months. Tahns killed countless hundreds of his misbegotten warriors, cursing the day he had had the idea to make them, cursing the exarchs who had betrayed him, cursing the angels he had murdered to spawn the demons, and most of all cursing the other gods for ignoring and abandoning him.
His mother had been disgusted by him, and died before they could be reconciled. His fathers were too distracted by their own pet projects to help raise their son. Tahns had grown up determined to prove himself, to be the best at everything, to do anything to earn cosmic attention. And now, scarred, defeated repeatedly, and rejected, he was torn apart by his own, bloodthirsty spawn.
Tahns was killed and eaten by the demons, who rose against him in rebellion. Once he was gone, they spilled out into the world, seeking to undo all of creation. Tahns had sought only to help the world. His final legacy would be one of motiveless and unquenchable evil.
"Interesting" it thought.
A divine message made its way from him, seeking its target.
"Lord of the Fungus" it said, "I would like to speak with you"
With this new support the vanguard woods made more progress pushing the fungus back farther away from the green lands of the first continent. The battle briar and Trents lead by the unicorns were a deadly force.
Vymrl still had not confronted him and the battle around him raged on.
PP expenditure
2pp (1 artifact) spawn: unicorn
1pp nourish: unicorn grow in number causing the fungus to fall back
1pp denourish: vanguard woods the battle briar and Trent are lead forward by the unicorns killing more fungus.
"Speak then"
The god paused and gazed again into the forge. "I would have you forge it of the purest metals, and I will write the laws of mortals into it."
Mechanics
3PP (1 from Rabi) : Create Artifact: The Code (+1 Guide PP)
This artifact is the compilation of all just laws bound into a book. The pages of the book are thin leaves of hammered steel; the calligraphy is inlays of gold.
3PP (1 from Rabi) : Create Artifact: The Code (+1 Guide PP)
This artifact is the compilation of all just laws bound into a book. The pages of the book are thin leaves of hammered steel; the calligraphy is inlays of gold.
PP Use
1PP [From Eorna] - Nourish Populace - Humites aren't much affected by the fire.
Barely able to lift his skeletal head, he whispered a short message, hoping it would find it's target. "Shurka, please come . . . . to skypeak"
Focusing another moment, he unleashed the last bit of power he had to eliminate part of the growing danger.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - De-Nourish Populace - Remove the traces of fungal spores from other continents, preventing them from spreading.
The Empress gripped her throne, both the arms of the chair, and the high back. An arc of lightning from outside illuminated the room.
"He wants it all," continued the voice softly, soothingly, "He wants all that you have worked to acheive."
She was shaking with barely controlled rage. She reached a hand out before her. Tendrils of fire streamed down from the cracks in the ceiling.
"And when he gets it, oh yes, he will get it," cooed the voice, "He will destroy you."
The goddess clenched her fist. The steams of fire swirled about, and contracted. They pooled in great mounds of fire on the floor.
"And there's nothing you can do," said the voice.
She glared down at the mounds of fire, which were scattered about the room. The fire glared back.
PP Expenditures
1 PP +1 from the Rain Spawn Beast (Moderate) Firelasher Elementals
Shurka decided that Veros probably wouldn't call him unless there was something important, he appeared at Skyspeak Mountain. He was shocked to see all of the raw power dancing around the Temporal Vortex, being released to the world.
"Veros? What... is this?"
Nearby, a bundle of dark cloth lay on the ground, feebly moving, faint almost unhearable whispers drifting on the wind. "Over here"
"What happened?"
Letter to Roan
Dear Anonymous God,
I wish to first offer my supreme thanks for contacting me. It is always nice to hear from the outside world, especially when you're as old as me and don't get out much. I would also like to offer my sincerest appologies, as I will not be able to meet with you, or participate in the extermination of anything, as my rheumatism seems to be acting up, and I would not like to irritate it any further. Again I appologize, and wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
On a side note, if you're ever in the neighbourhood, or maybe just want a sensitive ear to talk to, I'll be here, as I said, I don't get out much, but would be delighted to have some visitors. I make the most marvelous shortbread, and perhaps I could share the recipe. Oh, but look at me, I do seem to be rambling on quite a bit. Anywyas, as I said, don't be shy to come visit. You can find me at Rock on the Water, a lovely little place right on the water. Just follow the shoreline, you can't miss it. If you hit the weeping willow, you've gone to far.
Hope to see you soon
Siccadan
I wish to first offer my supreme thanks for contacting me. It is always nice to hear from the outside world, especially when you're as old as me and don't get out much. I would also like to offer my sincerest appologies, as I will not be able to meet with you, or participate in the extermination of anything, as my rheumatism seems to be acting up, and I would not like to irritate it any further. Again I appologize, and wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
On a side note, if you're ever in the neighbourhood, or maybe just want a sensitive ear to talk to, I'll be here, as I said, I don't get out much, but would be delighted to have some visitors. I make the most marvelous shortbread, and perhaps I could share the recipe. Oh, but look at me, I do seem to be rambling on quite a bit. Anywyas, as I said, don't be shy to come visit. You can find me at Rock on the Water, a lovely little place right on the water. Just follow the shoreline, you can't miss it. If you hit the weeping willow, you've gone to far.
Hope to see you soon
Siccadan
The waves continued to course across the surface, and the effects of the moons could still be felt, but most mortals did not know this. Mara herself made no communications, or her presence felt, even to those that knew her. Even the Dark Eladrin began to fear the worst. After all, five hundred years is a long time for mortals. Many became worried, what had happened? Was the world ending? Did they wrong the gods? These questions and many others were asked in hushed tones at night. Over time these questions became discussions, and people began banding together asking for the return of the moon. A select few were able to divine, that the moons were still there (or signs indicated so), but were at the same time no there. This only proceeded to heighten the desire for the groups to call back the moons to their rightful, helpful place.
Over the decades and generations, these groups crystallized into cults and religious orders, all generally geared around gaining the acceptance, forgiveness, or favor of the moons and to bring about or wait for their return.
PP
1 PP – Guide Populace – Humans – Humans worship Mara
1 PP – Guide Populace – Humites – Humites worship Mara
1 PP – Guide Populace – Elves – Elves worship Mara
1 PP – Guide Populace – Humans – Humans worship Mara
1 PP – Guide Populace – Humites – Humites worship Mara
1 PP – Guide Populace – Elves – Elves worship Mara
S'kre, howling his fury at retreat, unleashed one last blast of crippling cold at Seyla, and rocketed up into the Aether, leaving shockwaves behind him.
The Malrime Ballista, the mightiest siege weapon ever created, was loaded onto a massive Berg-ship and evacuated to the Imperium. The soldiers now safely returned home, the hundreds of mages involved in the war effort set to work curing this new disease, the Death by One Thousand Cuts.
Then, the Imperium dispatched trade embassies to every known race in the world. As to the unknown races, they sent Berg-ships seeking new lands and new peoples, seeking trade.
-------------
Vymrl seized the strange bird before him, tracing it back to its owner. Now, standing before the god that had so impudently challenged him, Vymrl howled his reply, his massive lungs expelling frost into the air.
Coward, you dare call me coward! My people struck at the Humites to avenge an age old defeat, and now, as before, their corpses feed the maggots and ravens, their blood soaks the earth, and whole generation of their finest lies dead, because the other gods fight together.
As to why I do not challenge the fungus, well, what reason have I to? The one time the fungus touched my lands, it blessed it! When all the other gods combined have brought naught but disease and desolation unto my children.
The only god ever to show me kindness was Nocturne, and that debt I am still repaying. Yet, I cannot stand against all the misbegotten gods of this world, so, if you can extract promises of peace from Shurka and Veros and all the other inummerable gods who wish me ill, I shall help you stand against the onslaught of the Tsarosk-Hem.
If you can promise me that my children will receive a proportion of lands reclaimed from the fungus equal to their contribution to the war effort, then fight they will. But, they will not fight unless the fungal armies strike first at any land not currently held by them.
Their lord once showed me kindness, I will not betray him without cause.
PP
5PP(Ssabrec, Light Child)-Nourish Populous:Imperium
1PP-Guide Populous:Imperium-Explore and Trade
Slowly but surely, the cloak lifted from the ground filling out its form as the ailing god gathered his remaining energy. Standing tall before him, he continued. "I have seen the shattered wastelands of the future. I was there, and I saw. One by one, gods were picked off, until only a few remained. You were among the first to perish."
A hacking echo emerged from the skull. "Death overwhelmed the world, making me what you see. All life fell before the endless wave of destruction that ravaged the world unchecked. Drahthor remained, but his restraint was gone. He became the destroyed incarnate, unleashing devastation on all that he saw. Tsaroka-Noggoth's forces ran unchecked with you and Roan gone. And me, still standing here, lost in an endless rage."
He seemed to wither slightly. "I awoke in a world gone mad. So I came to change it. And now, with my time gone, I fade ever so slowly. I welcome the death you could give me Shurka. It would be preferable to this slow wasting death."
"But give me this much, and honor my last request." He pointed at Veros standing silently, staring into the Temporal Vortex. "Wake him up. Don't let him sit there for millennia after millennia, struggling against the rage. I did. And as a result, I slew my own creation. Don't let him do it. Don't allow him to become engulfed with hatred of Mara."
"Very well then."
Shurka channelled his energy into positive force that spread in a wide arc in front of him, obliterating the second Veros. Shurka moved toward Veros' other body, awaiting him to regain awareness.
[Do I need to spend PP for this?]
She awoke some time later, still tired. She pried her limbs apart, and slipped off of the throne. She shuffled around it, and moved into a back room, moving slowly, hugging herself, as if afraid of falling apart. She walked into a bedroom, one she'd slept in all those years ago. She gave a small sob, and shuffled over to the mirror, clutching absently at herself.
She gazed mournfully at her reflection in the mirror. The first thing that struck her was how dirty this mortal form was. A thin layer of dirt and soot coated her skin. Thin tracts along her cheeks marked where her tears had run. Her dark hair hung, lank and straggly, about her gaunt face with its hollowed cheeks. She was certainly more thin than last she'd seen herself, the bones in her shoulders and arms sticking out unnaturally. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were rather bloodshot. She placed her hands upon her face as if to see if it was really her own, and she noticed how grimy her hands were, with her fingernails chewed down to mere stubs. She wore a thing and dirty garment that barely afforded modesty or comfort from the cold. She looked awful, and she knew it. And that made her cry a little more.
"Oh shut it you stupid girl," said a smoothe voice from behind her. She glanced into the mirror to see who it was.
There she was, as she remembered herself, beautiful, with healthy skin and perfect hair.
"You're not real," said the girl in a rather pitiful voice to the beautiful woman, not turning to look straight at her.
"I am as real as you are," snarled the woman right back.
The girl wiped tears from her eyes and said, "Just... go away."
"Not very friendly!" said the woman from behind her, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you aren't happy to see me." The woman let out a cruel laugh. The girl shiverred slightly.
"I said..." began the girl, her voice steadily rising before yelling, "Go away!"
She span around as she said this. The room was empty. Just the ringing echo of her words left to keep her company.
The other Veros stood there, then slowly reached through the Temporal Vortex once more, before withdrawin his hand.
New priests begin to appear among the free nations, bound to change the world, using their talent with healing to change life instead of merely restore it.
Many in the Free Nation begin to follow the advices of the new priesthood.
PP
+1 Guide The Free Nation learn the Cleric Class from its humite members the "Priesthood of Change" emerge as a new social class within the Free Nation.
Then they teleported to the fungal demiplane and there, they merged with it. There, they acted as a catalyst and started to become control points for the various structures within.
Slowly, the plane awoke and unfolded again after being dormant for millenia. Run and guarded from the inside by billions of Tsarok and Narrok, the plane became one giant creature of planetary proportions.
(The 2PP seed was in fact a dormant combat artifact, the 3 other 3PP seeds were dormant artifacts that provide +1 spawn, +1 imprison and +1 create PP)
Veros could feel the vortex in his grasp trying to move, as the swarm of Chronoptera pulled at it, and finally the swarm of insects began to coalesce, the form of Yoglith becoming apparent, the time lord ignoring Shurka for the time.
"The Anamalers Anamoly is rightfully Yoglith's! Yoglith commands it!" Even as the god spoke he placed a third of his great hands upon the Vortex to pull, chronoptera continueing to spiral down from the sky as though a great storm funnel and settling about the area, their signature thrum growing louder, "You're not fit to rule the breadth of time!" Yoglith roared.
As if you respond to his anger, the chronoptera began to land in specific patches among the already thick coating of them, slowly building up into tumbling, tumultuous shadows of a form, each unique, their thrum taking on a voice eventually as seven figures emerged and spoke one after the other.
"The vortex, if you please."
PP Spent
3pp Ascend Exharch: The Hands and Eyes of time. Seven massive swarms of Chronoptera, each of which may coalesce into a unique form. They provide 1pp for Nourish actions.
3pp Ascend Exharch: The Hands and Eyes of time. Seven massive swarms of Chronoptera, each of which may coalesce into a unique form. They provide 1pp for Nourish actions.
"I suggest you leave. I'm not in a very good mood right now."
Gazing through the eyes of his birds Roan saw that he still need to support the Vanguard woods he caused them to grow exceedingly fast and eat at the fungal forest.
Then Vymrl came he roared and raged at Roan, but this was expected. Roan had impinged on his honor of course Vymrl was mad. “Lord of War, thank you for coming. I can definitely try and help you find the peace you ask for. As for saying the fungus must attack first that I assure you has been done. The fungus has tried to cross my barrier many times sense it has been erected the assault has begun. To your request of gaining a portion of the reclaimed land, of course a portion would be yours it is wild as of now and none but the fungus has claimed you can claim all that you can hold as far as I am concerned.”
With that Roan raised his hand to the sky and called down a one of his birds. He told the bird that he has begun peace negotiations with Vymrl and needed Shurka’s presence as soon as possible and Veros’s as well if Shurka could arrange it.
When the bird got to Shurka he saw the raging time and the swarm of creatures and verso kneeling weekend on the floor Roan was shocked. “Vymrl would you pleas accompany me Veros seems to need some help this would go a long way towards the peace you want.” With that Roan waved his Glaive (which was made form his staff) and opened a portal to Veros. Roan steeped through “Shurka, Veros do you need any assistance.” Then he turned holding the portal open for Vymrl.
PP expenditure
3pp de nourish: the vanguard woods grow further into the fungal lands. The forest ring is now hundred leagues thick.
Very well then, the Imperium will fight the Tsarosk-Hem.
When Roan opened the portal, Vymrl saw Yoglith and the Chronoptera standing over Veros.
Yoglith! He unleashed a plague upon my people, his own descendants! He is a kin-slayer. It would be a pleasure to thwart the plans of one like him.
With these words, Vymrl called S'kre to him and stepped through the portal.
The lord of time took the Temporal Vortex between the lower of it's two arms, turning to face Shurka entirely as the chronoptera began to resume their motion, their signature thrum slowly resuming, "I am Yoglith, and you golden one, are but a grain among the sands. I was born parallel to existence itself, and in that realm you hold no authority. You do not command Yoglith! When Yoglith made Yoglith smooth, you were but a chance."
He then turned to the newcomers, noting Vymrl with a mere two words, "The egg.", then regarding Roan "The only violence here preceded my arrival. Yoglith claimed that which none had right too claim but Yoglith! The only assistance they will require is with their own trials. Yoglith commands it!"
"You know, with just a little bit of decorating, you could really brighten this place up," remarked the woman a little behind the goddess. In contrast to the goddess, the woman was clean, beautiful, whereas the goddess herself was drab, solemn, with bloodshot eyes and sallow skin.
"You know, if you made a bit of an effort to improve your surroundings, maybe you wouldn't be so dour all of the time," remarked the woman, and gave a little laugh, "A few light fixtures, maybe some sconces. I'm sure if you added a window, maybe put a few mirrors, took out one of the walls, it would really open the place up."
The goddess ignored her.
"You know what?" said the woman after a few moments silence, "I don't have anything to call you."
She paused to think for a bit.
"And come to think of it, you don't have anything to call me," she continued thoughtfully, "I'll call you Samvala, it fits 'cause it's so serious, and you're about the most serious person I know."
She let out a laugh.
"Well, to tell you the truth, you're the only person I know," she observed, and then added, almost as an after-thought, "Kind of sad really."
There were a few more minutes silence as she thought, and the goddess walked, silent as ever.
"And you can call me Naya," said the woman suddenly, "It's pretty, like me."
She gave a sweet smile, and then laughed again. The two continued to walk.
Events move apace, and I fear it is time I more than watched.
***
Alexandria's soldiers watched the Imperium forces leave, tasting triumph. Celebrations were held, feasts had, and stories told.
Meanwhile the ships dispatched by the Imperium found grudging harbor among the human trading colonies at the edge of the Shattered Lands.
Actions
2PP +1PP from The Stars, Nourish Populace: Alexandria feels a measure of properity.
Angel any trade agreements and such for mortal works can be broached in Mortal Stories.
Angel any trade agreements and such for mortal works can be broached in Mortal Stories.
The light shining through the joints of the armor dimmed, then flamed anew. Hammu was gone in a burst of light and wind. Atop the watchtowers of Alexandria, Humans and Angels alike marveled at the star rising from the Citadel, and those in the tallest posts could see the hint of light where it came back down to earth, far off in the northern distance.
The god wrested another shattered boulder free of the earth, and his radiant light trimmed it to match the others- twelve perfect cubes of stone, three hundred feet on a side. It would take some time to find a suitable monolith for the parapets, but that was no reason not to proceed. With a flick of the wrist, he sent the blocks skyward. One atop the first, overlapping and climbing into the sky. From the rocky ground of the Shattered Lands climbed a staircase of stone over half a mile high- the Staircase of the Magistrate.
"This is good", thought Hammu. "This will be a city to rejoice in indeed."
PP
1PP: Mold Land(Lesser): Hammu forms the Staircase of the Magistrate near the northern edge of the Shattered Lands.
OOC: this is the start of a new city.
1PP: Mold Land(Lesser): Hammu forms the Staircase of the Magistrate near the northern edge of the Shattered Lands.
OOC: this is the start of a new city.
The Warforged gladly received the Imperium trading ships and opened up trade between the two nations.
As the humites saw the giants retreat, they immediately set to rebuilding. One of the first things the researches did, was examine the fearsome weapons that the giants had used against them. They were powerful, and easily could destroy the simple stone weapons of the humites. Perhaps they could make these weapons if there were any materials nearby...
PP Use
1PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace - Humites learn weaponsmithing.
2PP - Nourish Land x2 - Metal Ore deposits become more common around humite lands. The extra PP is used to create metal ore in the Feywyld as well
2PP - Nourish Populace x2 - The humites are recovering after the war.
[As a note, Selya is no longer with the humites, and I have my staff back.]
"It's beautiful," said the man. He was an eladrin, a soldier by the looks of him. He held a sword, and he wore the dressings of eladrin infantry, albeit an outdated set of dressings.
"Yes," said the goddess, her arms spread wide.
"Too bad it has to burn," said the eladrin sadly, and even as the goddess watched, the sky turned a deep crimson as flame fell from it. Where it hit the ground, great conflagrations erupted, burning the pristine vale.
"But why?" asked the goddess, watching the progress of the flames.
"Because all good things must come to an end," he said simply.
Then, as if a switch had been flicked, he changed. He no longer seemed to see her, or the vale. His face turned white with terror. He screamed, an agonizing scream of someone looking death directly in the eye. Invisible hands were tugging at him, pulling at his clothes, his hair, and still he screamed his terrible scream. And even as he was pulled apart, attacked, tore at, the goddess stayed silent, unmoving, and watched the world burn.
And in the Elemental Chaos, deep within the Jade Palace, Samvala mumbled incoherently in her sleep.
"Lord of the Fungus, what are your intentions? I see your beings spreading about the world, trying to destroy all life on it. Why do you do this? What did the world do to you to make you want to wipe out all of the life on it? Why?"
"Why do you believe those creatures deserve to live in the first place?" Tsarokga-Noggoth awnsered back coldly.
------
Unggar-Raggnu continued his rampage north of the barrier.
Meanwhile at the other side of the barrier, a single white fungus started to bloom. As it bloomed, its spores made the others stronger and resisitant to the forrests influence.
Elsewhere, on the eastern continent, more spores took root and many more colonies formed. Grey fungi and there lesser kind flourished.
(mold land 1PP from Ungarr-Raggnu)
(ascent exarch 3PP: Nanurri, The white fungi gives 1 shape PP)
(guide populace (fungi) 1PP from Nuggoroth; more fungal spores make it to the other continent)
(2x nourish (fungi) 2PP; spores on the eastern continent thrive and the fungi become more numerous)
(1x nourish (fungi) 1PP from spore chamber; the fungi on the main continent become more resistant to the forrests influence)
Several thrones just like the one she was in ringed the stone dais, set evenly around the circumference. People sat in the thrones, and they were talking heatedly with one another. There was a woman, or perhaps it would be more likely to call her a living-statue, for she seemed to have been carved from purest jade, with chunks of iron embedded in her form. She waved her six arms excitedly as she spoke. Samvala turned her gaze to the next. A human woman sat there, and she looked rather out of place, and looked anxiously about. She was not arguing with the rest, but rather, she clutched at her belly, and Samvala could see she was pregnant. Samvala's gaze continued down the line, and, with a jolt, her eyes fell upon the woman sitting in the throne directly opposite her. It was Naya, that beautiful version of herself that followed her wherever she went. The woman grinned at her, and Samvala dropped her gaze once more. And just in time too, somethign was happening on the dais.
A long, thin crack had appeared in the shell of the egg. Samvala leaned forward to get a getting look, just as the crack spread wider, and sent more tiny cracks spider-webbing across the surface of the egg. Then, with a almight crack, the egg flew apart, revealing what slumbered within.
Samvala's first impression was of a vast lizard. Then she noted the huge wings unfurling from its back, and the unnatural stone-like nature of its hide. It was entirely green, jade suspected Samvala, and long, thin spines grew from its head, and all along its spine. It gave an almighty shudder. Samvala noted that she was not the only one watching the creature's progress. The room had fallen silent. The creature flapped its magnificent wings, snapped its powerful jaw, and sent a stream of poisonous-looking fumes blasting forward. Samvala noted that there was an extra, empty chair in the circle, and then realized whom it must be for. She just wondered how the beast would fit in the chair. This thought had barely crossed her mind when the creature lumbered over to the throne, curled itself around it, and settled itself there, like some enormous cat. Samvala merely sighed and went back to wishing she was awake.
PP Expenditures
3 PP +1 from Leilaka Shape Populace (Greater) Green Dragons: These appear in the Material world, not in the Palace. They appear mostly in forested areas.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) Green Dragons worship the Empress.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser) Green Dragons: This new strain of dragon is already quite numerous.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) Green Dragons worship the Empress.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser) Green Dragons: This new strain of dragon is already quite numerous.
"No matter- if the older gods have left me nothing here to work with, I'll build it myself." thought Hammu.
He stretched out his arms over the hill; rocks, boulders and all manner of gravel began to stream skyward, all heading for one central point. As the debris collided, it flamed hotter and hotter with each impact, and the mass began to glow. The globe grew slowly.
"Now to make it suitable for a city."
The molten globe began to rotate, spinning faster and faster, and the glowing rock began to flatten out into a disk. The god chopped his arms towards the earth, and gigantic slivers of rock fell away as the spinning slowed, leaving behind a square expanse of hardening stone atop the staircase.
PP
1PP: Mold Land (lesser): Haamu creates a broad expanse of rock atop the Staircase of the Magistrate
1PP: Mold Land (lesser): Haamu creates a broad expanse of rock atop the Staircase of the Magistrate
PP Expense:
1 PP (Astral Orrery) - Guide Populace - Dark Eladrin - Dark Eladrin learn hunting
1 PP (Vazen) - Nourish Populace - Dark Eladrin
To test their hypothesis', the Commission secured a small island several miles of shore, they called it Asem. The first product of their experiments with Lycanthropy and it's mutagenic characteristics was a living gel they called Mada. This gel promised the power to shape flesh as they willed, if only they could master it's unique traits.
PP
1PP-Spawn Beast (Minor): Mada
His mind becoming clear, he cast his gaze to a bird waiting nearby, unnoticed. For a split second, blind rage threateneed to overwhelm him, but his newly awakened mind restrained it. He gave a slightest nod, and sent the bird back to it's mistress.
He looked around at the other gods, confused.
-----
Despite all attempts by the fungus to find a foothold on the eastern continent, they found that the plant and animal life were highly adept at destroying it as fast as it could grow.
-----
With the war over, and the siege broken, the loremasters were buried under and avalanche of new information that had been kept at bay by the siege. Desperate for new members to help ctalog and organize the flood, the loremasters began accepting human members for the first time. Further, they soon learned of the astrology mastered by the eladrin, and began incorporating it themselves.
-----
The nation of Meribia had stayed back, untouched by the war that had raged so close. With the battles over, they began sending emissaries to the humites, offering their aid as well as supplies. Within their mountain cities, they began to master the finer points on engineering applying it to their stone and metal work.
-----
On the eastern continent, the nation of Patren continued to grow stronger, using their magcial and architectural prowess to slowly terraform the desert, making more and more land habbitable. Soon, the available land began to outstrip their populations ability to actually use it.
-----
In the dark parts of the world, pyreflies contined to accumulate. Where before they had always just been insubstantial swarms, some of them began to adopt more solid forms, piecing together bodies from scattered frasgments of their memories. The first whelks crawled from hidden holes to stalk the land.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Given to Mara
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - Remove fungus from the eastern continent
1 PP (Artifact) - De-Nourish Populace - Remove Fungus from the eastern continent
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Loremasters expand into human territory.
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Loremasters master astronomy from their eladrin members
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Meribia learns the finer points of engineering
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - The lands around Patren grow more and more fertile as Patren magcially terraforms the desert to be more hospitable.
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Whelk.
Mara discussed much with herself about how she acted and what she wanted. She had been born into this world incomplete, a child among adults. Maybe this was this reason why the other gods treated her the way they did, mostly by ignoring her. Veros too, it seemed, still only thought of her as a child, one that should be nothing but deferential. Finally, it became apparent that Mara was on her own. She would have to grow up by herself.
And that is exactly what she did. While the mortals were away, and the gods elsewhere. Mara grew up. It took all of her power, and five hundred mortal years to do it. She learned things about herself that she didn't know, every piece of her real body, and crevice of skin on the surface. She molded her self--the moons--again and again and built them up, fixed them to be perfect. By the end of the five hundred years, Mara's moons were larger than before. She had literally grown in size, matured into adulthood by her own efforts and will.
PP Expense
3 PP (1 from Veros) - Mold Land Greater - The Moons grow to full size.
Turn 28 begins now. 7,000 hundred years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
6 - Veros, Xirinet
5 - Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Mara, Drahthor, Roan
4 - Empress, Siccadan, Zophia, Yoglith, Ka, Kiptar, Hensen Jijou, Hammu, Quel
"I wish to let the Warforged expand into territory that your fungus is currently occupying. My Warforged are completely mechanical, with no parts that are living in the same sense as anything else. Unless you have metal eating fungus that I wouldn't know about, there seems to be no way that the Warforged would be in anyway affected by the fungus. I wish your permission to let the Warforged expand your territory, not harming your fungus in any way. In return, some of the Warforged will be carriers to the fungus, letting the fungus grow in and on them, spreading it where they go. That is my offer."
"Very well then"
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The Warforged explored their new city, finding that it could change itself to suit their needs as well as the needs of one who seemed to control the city. Eventually, a great artificer, Geric Gearcraw, discovered that the city had an intelligence of itself, and would communicate with those who would contact it.
Show
3 pp - Create Artifact(Greater): The City of Gears, provides +1 pp to guide actions
1 pp - Create Artifact(Lesser): Imbue the City of Gears with an intelligence of its own. It can be contacted by artificers and spoken to, exact details to be determined.
Camu, I will get to the fungus deal next turn, I had to get this finished first.
3 pp - Create Artifact(Greater): The City of Gears, provides +1 pp to guide actions
1 pp - Create Artifact(Lesser): Imbue the City of Gears with an intelligence of its own. It can be contacted by artificers and spoken to, exact details to be determined.
Camu, I will get to the fungus deal next turn, I had to get this finished first.
"Chactross slayed you! I was never imprisoned!"
The god reached a single hand up, wiping it's eye briefly, "What would a fallen god know of events?! Clearly the Anamaler has destroyed the flow more than I previously thought if you are here.."
The god fumed, suddenly plunging it's fingers into it's eye and tearing it out with a wet sucking sound, black ichor pouring out as Yoglith crammed the Temporal Vortex into the gaping socket and then reeled as though struck, it's original eye falling from it's grasp and rolling across the ground to rest at Shurka's feet as Yoglith howled.
After several moments the lord of time rose back to it's feet, staring at the gods surrounding it, it's one eye focusing while the temporal vortex swirled behind the gods eyelid.
"The sight of time..."
Yoglith trembled visibly as it's mind retched, scrambling to accommodate the new found vision.
PP Spent
1pp Create Artifact(lesser): Just to account for the cost of altering the vortex to be suitably small to fit in yogliths face. ;P
The Egg? Oh but I have become so much more than you can concieve of, father. I wonder what a strange place this universe is that the son can outstrip the father, yet it is so. You have been gone so long, yet what do you do upon your return, your stomp around steal the creations of other gods.
When my servant greeted you, he asked for an alliance and accorded you all due honors. Yet, you have given none in return. Well, I warn you now, the requirements of my filial duty have been discharged. I would have aided you before, but your disrespect and arrogance have lost all chance of that.
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The researchers on Asem achieved a breakthrough of unimagenable proportions. By melding arcane and divine might with the strange curse of Lycanthropy, they managed to create new life. The first thing they created was a pathetic, trembling thing. Incapable of thought our speech.
But they continued their work, and soon, by using Mada as their biological building blocks, they created a true living thing. It bore many of the traits of it's bestial Lycan ancestors and combined them with the amorphous capabilities of the Mada from which it was sprung. They called it a Keymon, and though it had little original thought, the researchers of Asem discovered that certain orders could be magically implanted, along with customs and responses to questioning.
Fifty years after the first Keymon spilled forth from a hellish vat of Mada infused with twisted spells, the Keymon's post-natal development ended. The final product, after years of failures and hundreds of thousands of hours of work, could present a reasonable facsimile of Human culture and customs. It could also impeccably mimic human appearance and record information, down to the last detail, in it's mind.
The final touch that the researchers of Asem added to the Keymon was the ability to cast two small spells. The first simply sent a complete recording of a select period of time to the Library of Whispers, located on Asem. The second spell activated totally of it's own accord whenever a Keymon came under questioning about it's true identity or was dying. The spell then sent a complete recording of the Keymon's entire life to the Library of Whispers and killed the Keymon.
The Library of Whispers was created by the researchers on Asem. It had two functions. The first was to contain the mental reports of the Keymon, the second was to completely index the reports of every Keymon spy by name and date, so that any researcher of Senator could quickly access the complete sensory recollections of a Keymon.
With this final achievement, the researches decided to call themselves the Fleshbenders of Asem.
The Commission of Lycanthropy informed a few select Senators about the potential of the Keymon as spies. Within five years these Senators ordered the deployment of hundreds of Keymon spies into the Loremaster's ranks.
PP
3PP (Spawn Beast, Greater): Keymon
1PP (Create Artifact, Lesser): Library of Whispers
2PP (Nourish Populous, Light Child/Ssabrec): Imperium
Library of Whispers
A fairly limited artifact, it allows the storing of everything any Keymon has ever experienced. It further allows for select Fleshbenders and Senators to access this information.
A fairly limited artifact, it allows the storing of everything any Keymon has ever experienced. It further allows for select Fleshbenders and Senators to access this information.
Shurka glanced down at a limp eyeball looking up at him. He picked it up and examined it.
"Do you need this, ah... Yoglith, was it?"
He also saw one of the last hopes of the Lord of Light. Long ago, before Drahthor had gained consciousness, a quarrel between Xa'an and the God of Flame Chactross had soured the relationship between flame and light. Now, both of those Gods had seemingly fallen out of the world and before Drahthor was the chance to unite these two interrelated elements in the bond they should have shared from the start. So, after much contemplation, Drahthor Lord of Destruction and Creation, Serpent of Rebirth, simultaneously accepted the domain of Light as a final gift from another God, and claimed the domain of fire from another. Instantly Drahthor's appearance changed, maintaining the general shape and outline, the Gods exoskeleton became a solid flame that gave off a shining golden light as compared to its previous inky blackness. The cloak of madness still remained the same though, so the dark wisps of insanity seemed to climb off of the Gods form and obscure the brilliant light that he excluded.
Speaking to himself "Thus I have become the Torchbearer, finally fusing the powers of fire and light in one form. It saddens me the circumstances that have surrounded this, and something must be done to deal with Veros' crime...."
Even as he spoke though Drahthor sensed the entrance of a being he had longed expected, and he began to form an inclination of what must be done. "It seems Justice has at last arrived and laid out a path before me..."
Meanwhile, guided by visions in its sleep the Herald at Xanthor taught the Drahkorn how to read and write upon parchment made from seaweed and treated with various chemicals. And as society became more complicated the Herald declared a religious state to be ruled by him which all Drahkorn would be citizens. Thus the Theocracy of Xanthor was born.
Finally, after many long years of bloody warfare with the frost giants three thousand Drahkorn were given the task of forming the first full time military organization. Other cells were still required to know how to defend themselves and if the call was given to fight for their people and their God, but this obsidian guard would form the core if another war were to break out.
PP
3pp: Claim Greater Domain Fire while also accepting the gift of Light.
2pp Guide: Drahkorn learn to read and write.
1pp Guide (Herald): Drahkorn form the Theocratic kingdom of Xanthor and claim that all the cavern lands within the asteriod rightfully belong to them.
1pp Nourish (Eye of Restraint): The first Drahkorn military the Obsidian Guard is formed for future wars and to serve as the Herald's army.
2pp Guide: Drahkorn learn to read and write.
1pp Guide (Herald): Drahkorn form the Theocratic kingdom of Xanthor and claim that all the cavern lands within the asteriod rightfully belong to them.
1pp Nourish (Eye of Restraint): The first Drahkorn military the Obsidian Guard is formed for future wars and to serve as the Herald's army.
In the aftermath of the war, the humites had learned different tactics for combat. Their study of the enemy's tactics lead them to better understand warfare strategy themselves. The brightest humites became tacticians for warfare purposes. New barracks showed up in Terena where young humites learned how to battle.
____
The humites also learned different ways to form metal, this time as a protective casing. This armor was vital for protecting the humite fighters as they battled.
___
With the new influx of humite fighters, and the new armor given to soldiers, martial combat took on a new twist when it was combined with the humites natural affinity for divine magic. These humites became paladins; soldiers of their god that used their divine connection in combination with their martial prowess.
PP Use
1 PP [+1 from Eorna] - Guide Populace - Humites learn armorsmithing
2 PP - Guide Populace - Humites learn about tactics and war strategy
2 PP - Guide Populace - Humites have the paladin class
0 PP [+1 from Eorna] - Nourish Populace - There are many more humite fighters after the war.
Speaking to the air around him and knowing that the new God would hear Drahthor said "Ahhh Justice, I have wondered for some time now if you would find sentience and be joining us, and it seems you have..."
Anyway most of the mutations are not harmful but provide increased stamina and abilities, after a couple of generations the people begin to consider them as gifts from their divine master.
The Priesthood of change was the first to embrace this weave of blessing, praying their master or studying the Bloodstone effect on their bodies to find a way to control it. During the study of the Bloodstone effects the priests also happen to find a good use for the space-warping effect of the stones and manage to create portals for travelling to nearby lands.
Even if these portals are a little unstable, some time opening to random places even among the plane, many daring explorers from the free nation begin to use them to look for new lands and people.
The Priesthood begin sending emissaries to other nations using the Bloodways.
Meanwhile the bloodstone keep effecting the nearby lands doubling the land mass of its archipelago in a few years.
PP
1 - Nourish (from Bloodstone), Most of the inhabitants of the Free Nation is affected by mutations (mechanically they become spellscarred).
2 - Guide (1 from Aether Ripples), the Priest of Change develop the "Spellscarred" multi-class.
1 - Mold Land, The Bloodmyst Archipelago Increase in size.
2 - Create Artifact - Bloodways, (page on the wiki coming soon), the bloodways can be used by mortals to create temporary portals to distant lands the portals are highly unstable and can sometime lead to unexpected locations, however they stay opened for a few days after being created so they can be used as temporary "bridges" between the Bloodmyst Island and any other place in the world.
(Extra, Emissaries are sent to Humite, Shandar kai, Warforged, Humans, Dark Eladrin and Eladrin to offer trade agreement)
Yoglith fixed it's gaze on Shurka, focusing on the object in hand and then merely shook it's head, "A trifle. You may keep it if you so desire. Yoglith's sight is so much more without it. Yoglith commands it."
And with that, the god began to scatter to the winds again, slowly blowing apart into millions of chronoptera, the thrum of which wound be heard across the world some time later, as the god of time approached the lands of those most numerous in the previous expedition. Searching for the Humans of the original continent. They would be easy to find.
Hammu startled out of his reverie. He had been thinking... planning how he must proceed in bringing law into the world, but now... now someone was calling his name. He vanished with a rush of wind.
It was good to see his creation once again. I must remember to work on the city here.
"I am Justice. Who is he that calls?"
Casting his gaze out over this artificial plateau the God examined the earliest works of this one. "But tell me, by what name might I call you Justice?"
Hammu paused. He was young, but not so young as to be unaware of how his desire for justice could be taken as naive.
"I sense that I came out of the void into a creation in chaos. What news might Drahthor, the Lord of Destruction and Creation, have of the circumstances surrounding my birth?"
"You have been born into a troubling time yes, for much has happened recently. An eternal battle between an aggressive fungus and a barrier forest occur at the edge of this continents civilization. The ice giants that were beaten back so long ago have returned to this land and launched another war, this time upon the humites; an alliance of races managed to drive them back, but heavy losses were sustained on all sides and the political landscape has been forever altered. The iron cog men known as the warforged seem to walk the earth again, though I cannot say what has prompted this. The presence of the Sun God Tahns can no longer be felt. But most disturbing of all... one of the eldest of our kind, Xaan Lord of Light, has been killed by The God of Knowledge Veros."
The loremastered noticed an odd string of sudden deaths among applicants, but chalked it up to coincidence, and ignored it.
-----
Eladrin society had been flung into chaos. The great secret had been revealed. For over three hundred years, the priests of Tahns had hidden the sudden loss of their powers, the loss of their connection with their god. As the years passed, they struggled to maintain their rapidly slipping grip over eladrin society, but as the years slipped by, it grew weaker and weaker.
Then, overnight, their tenuous hold vanished, as an inquisition into corruption lead by a priest of Veros uncovered their secret and made it public. Overnight, the inqusition launched dozens of new investigations, and reopened even more older ones, confident that magic would no loneger hide the truth from their prying eyes.
As the leading priests began to succumb to the investigations, the eladrin nation began to collapse under it's own weight. Realizing the impending calamity, the priesthood of Veors stepped into the reins of power themselves, bringing the collapse to a stop.
-----
Veros watched Yoglith go. "He always was an odd one, but there is something wrong. He doesn't belong here."
He shivered slightly, noting a great unrest among some of his worshippers. Their society was in chaos. He skimmed through his mind, picking the details out. Finally, having gathered the necessary information, he let a twist of power out to do what needed to be done. In an instant, many eladrin vanished from the face of the world.
"The fungus is a threat, but I was under the belief you and Shurka has it under control, Roan. Is it truly so powerful that you need even more assistance with it?"
He turned his glowing red eyes to Vymrl. "As for you, lord of ice, you seek peace? There has always been peace between my followers and yours, except for when yours sought to take something that was anothers."
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Remove several thousand eladrin from the world. Many are former worshippers of Tahns, but worshippers of Mara and Veros are among those missing.
Hammu paused. It was going to be difficult explaining this, even after all the time spent thinking.
"What I mean is... the creation is without Justice. Justice must be created by the gods, and I daresay we must apply the same standard equally to all, or become tyrants of chaos ourselves."
Hammu paused again before plunging on into the heart of the matter.
"Now my conception of Justice is not fairness, or at least not what mortals would consider fair. That way lies madness- when mortals begin to follow me and act in my name, I do not intend for them to dress rich traders in begger's rags. Now, if the trader cheated and swindled his way to riches, then rags or worse is what Justice demands.
Order and Balance are demanded by Justice, but I sense that another has already made strides in creating a place for Chaos to exist, separate from us- perhaps that will be enough for now, if we gods are diligent in keeping chaos bound there.
Retribution is a difficult subject. If there is no threat of punishment for upsetting Order, then Order will pass into memory. But if punishment is all that keeps Order, then Justice has failed. There must be some gods and mortals who hold Justice as a valued principle- these will serve as beacons to guide the others towards Justice, as well as the rod to prevent them straying too far."
Hammu turned to the Torchbearer.
"I hope that makes my position more clear?"
"The philosophical implications of Justice must be considered in this case. When considering mortals, an "eye for an eye and a life for a life" may be necessary, if only to serve as a deterrent to others considering similar crimes. When considering gods, our normally immortal nature demands a different approach- unless, of course, you feel that a great wrong outweighs the potential of eternity."
Hammu paused again, deep in thought.
"I should think it sufficient to bind a godkiller for a time in proportion to his victim's stature. The gods creation and plans will suffer while it is absent, but that should be considered small recompense in comparison to the creation of the murdered god, who now must find new patrons among the gods."
Staring into the sky above Drahthor continued "This would be a momentous occasion the likes of which has never been seen before, and its repercussions could shake the foundations of existence. However, with this step we could lay new foundations that might better curb the actions of the Gods...
"You know the established order better than I, though even one as new as I can see that the actions of the gods may well pull us all down to warring with each other. Do you think that Veros would willingly submit to such a court of gods?"
Of these, I think the second course to be most wise and most likely to be just. The other options leave open the possibility of a god escaping justice by forming alliances with a mind to create an advocate on the court. Whatever course is followed, a unanimous decision must be reached in order to apply any sort of punishment."
Hammu looked around the empty expanse of stone.
"Now, assuming you agree, would you mind speaking to the other gods? I have much work I must do if we are to hold a court."
Then Roan staggered a bit as one of his birds called to him. Two gods stood talking about a trial. “Veros it seems that you will soon be tide up with other duties. It seems you are to be taken to court like a mere mortal. I do not know what the charges are sorry.”
“If Shurka and Vymrl are agreeable we will start this war against the fungus. I am glad you have chosen to help me in this. I believe that as a god of war you will know best how to deploy your troops Vymrl. And as all ways the Vanguard woods are as much yours as mine Shurka so if you have changes to make to it please do so. I do think that the first step towards killing the fungus lord is to sweep away his creations on this mortal plane.”
With that Roan turned around opened a portal to his tree and stepped through. Turning around “If you wish you may join me here or if you do not I will be looking forward to the progress you make in killing the fungus.” Roan said.
Leaving the portal open he walked to the middle of the room he was now in where a large table stood. Taking out a piece of hide he laid it flat on the table. After a few quick mumbled words a 3D map appeared in front of him. From this he could see that the fungus had grown stronger again. He released more of his energy into the woods and caused them to continue growing into the fungal forest. Then he summoned his stalkers and gave them new orders to slay the Tsaroch-Hem. Then he called the genasi and sent them to war against the grey fungus.
PP expenditure.
1pp guide (artifact): kingdom of tallamar is at war with fungus
2pp de nourishes (1 artifact): the vanguard woods take over more fungus territory.
"Now, if you'll excuse me..."
--------------
Mortals respect symbols. They respect gods, of course, or fear them at least, but sometimes divine servants need any help they can get. A thought sped out from the god's mind and found its way to Rabi, far off. Rabi stopped his travels for a time- long enough to craft a symbol of authority to his master's specifications.
-------------
Throughout the old continent, Deva felt something stir in their souls. Those who had come to know the Lawbringer recognized the source of the movement- others came to understand it listening to the words of the Angel who traveled preaching with a blacksmith's hammer on his shoulder. Deva began to leave their homes and travel towards the northern horizon, and a few of other races joined as they went. Justice would have these ones.
-------------
A city was beginning to rise atop the plateau. Hammu looked out on it, and knew that it would follow in the example of the gods that was about to be established in its midst. They would grow up into the knowledge of the Law. They would pursue Justice in their mortal acts. They would become the twin beacons that He desired them to be.
Beacon. That would be a good name.
-------------
PP
+1PP(Rabi): Create Artifact (lesser): Hammer of Law
1PP: Guide Populace: Deva followers of Hammu move to his city and begin to build. A scattering of Humans, Angels, and Eladrin follow.
1PP: Nourish Populace: Hammu's followers establish a new nation, Beacon.
1PP: Guide Populace: Under Hammu's guidance, his people elect a leader from among themselves. Beacon forms a representative government.
1PP +1PP(The Code): Guide Populace: Beacon adopts a juridic system of justice.
+1PP(Rabi): Create Artifact (lesser): Hammer of Law
1PP: Guide Populace: Deva followers of Hammu move to his city and begin to build. A scattering of Humans, Angels, and Eladrin follow.
1PP: Nourish Populace: Hammu's followers establish a new nation, Beacon.
1PP: Guide Populace: Under Hammu's guidance, his people elect a leader from among themselves. Beacon forms a representative government.
1PP +1PP(The Code): Guide Populace: Beacon adopts a juridic system of justice.
Slowly, the fungal beast plane lowered itself towards the planet. Entering the atmosphere, it placed itself hovering above the main continend, blotting out the sun in the process.
Then, its three mighty arms, each ending in a gaping maw, lowered towards the regions most heavily infested by the fungus. Then the fungus started to migrate through the collosal maws to the centre of this mighty demiplane. Tsarok and Narrok standing ready to annialate any that would try to attack the retreating fungus.
The Tsarok and Narrok, under the guidance of Nuggoroth that had hided underneath the eladrin lands for millenia, finally emerged once again and also made haste for the demiplane, leaving the enthralled eladrin to fend for themselves.
Lastly the other exarchs left aswell.
Tsarokga-Noggoths influence had withdrawn from the world completely as the demiplane rose up and using its mighty membranes to launch itself back into the Aether.
The forces of Tsarokga-Noggoth only left barren, completely denourished lands behind, ridden of any bit of nutritions.
Tsarokga-Noggoths forces would need a new place to fester though, so it started the growth of a new world. It had already send Nibiru, the planetoid exarch formaly in service of the fallen Xa’an, to plant the seeds of a new home, a cold poisonous world where its children could thrive.
(2x mold land 1PP + 1PP from Nibiru: A large planetoid is formed surrounded by poisonous vapor.)
(5x guide populace: 4PP +1PP from Nuggoroth: Migrate all the children of Tsarokga-Noggoth off the known world)
(nourish populace (grey fungus) 1PP from spore chambers)
"What happened?"
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The Warforged continued to expand their trade empire, offering emissaries to the shader-kai, dwarves, humans, angels, and humites on the second continent that they had discovered existed.
Show
1 pp (Gear of Creation) Spawn Creature(Lesser): Create Temporal mech swarms
1 pp (Gear of Creation) Spawn Creature(Lesser): Create Temporal mech swarms
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Within the core of the world, the fabric of existence rippled and warp, a holw ripping through the aether as the power Veros has set in motion came to fruitiion. A new continent burst forth in the sky, quickly surround by it's own little Azure Aegis. The air and aether in the area remained unstable for several more moments as plants and animals warped into being on the continent.
Finally, the area calmed, everything slowly settling into place. Upon this new continent, the eladrin missing from the surface reappeared. They milled about for a moment, their minds adapting to the changes that had been made. Within the next few years, they rebuitl their society, a copy of that which had just perished upon the mainworld, complete with the overwhelming worship of Tahns. Despite the god being dead, the holy men on this land remained blissfully unaware of it, their prayers being answered secretly by Veros.
-----
Veros looked at Vymrl and Roan. "Seems your war is unneeded. As I always assumed it would be. Does anybody here need me? I'm not feeling exactly right at the moment."
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Moderate) - The Whelk Devourer, a paragon version of the heroic Whelk I spawned a few turns ago,
1 (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser)- Create a new floating island in the inner world
1 (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Expand Azure Aegis around the new land
1 PP - Nourish Land - The new continent has plant and animal life similar to the eladrin homeland
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - The Eladrin on the continent are under a Spell of Preservation
Edit: Ekluag, I forgot to mention, I'll deal with your trade approach in Mortal Stories.
Then in a burst of golden flame the Lord of Creation and Destruction left the artificial plateau.
****
In the dark of night any leagues away upon the ground level of a great tree structure within Alexandria, a strange thing began to occur. The bark of the tree began to flow for a moment, as if it was some viscous liquid. Slowly at first, and then with more fluidity a section of the tree about 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide simply washed to the base of itself, and underneath sat a bone white doorway with the symbol of a flame with blackened roots extending from it sat in the center of the door.
As it slowly creaked open a warm wind blew out of the space it had opened too. A moment later the sleek black form of Malkor the Herald of Drahthor prowled out of the doorway on all fours. Looking about, the Herald latched on to the tree and began to climb for several minutes before coming to a large branch upon which it could roost. Speaking to the wind and knowing it would be heard in this holy city the Herald said "I, the Herald of Drahthor, seek an audience with Xirinet, Lord of Life in this place..."
******
Meanwhile in the audience hall of what used to the the magnificent jade palace of Niyanta the Serpent of Rebirth appeared in a burst of flame. Looking about him and seeing the calamity and ruination of this place, Drahthor realized much had changed since the last time he had spoken to the mother of his child...
"Hello..... Empress? I wish to speak." The sound of his voice echoed throughout the complex, and he wondered what could have happened here.
Xirinet was shaping new places upon the world, seeking to take steps against prior absence.
Through teh underlayments of the earth tunnels began to form, halls and vaults of natural stone. Rivers and lakes hidden and deepest darkness. Spreading out from a thing made long ago, and spreading even beyond the boundaries of the first continent, hidden grottos opening into the depths of the sea.
With a start the god heard the voice of Malkor and turned from its work with a final pulse of power drawing from the dark cornesr of the world creatures to populate the subterranean labyrinth. Suddenly the herald found itself looking upon itself in facsimile, though with features turned into mild disappointment.
One would think that a divine agent would not need to taint my Holy City with such... Changes. Why do you call?
As it spoke the gods power closed the gates through which the exarch had entered the city, the tree healing away all evidence of the change.
Actions
3PP, Mold Land: The underdark extends throughout the continent and partially into the sea.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Land: Creatures with an affinity tyo darkness are brought to the new place.
1PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Ettercap are drawn to the Underdark.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Land: Creatures with an affinity tyo darkness are brought to the new place.
1PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Ettercap are drawn to the Underdark.
It is a matter of... I believe the word 'respect' suits well here. If you wish me to stand on a jury...
Its form dissolved as it considered, idly running tendrils of mist over the tree.
I accept, though you lay such titles upon me as I do not claim.
As the Order slowly attracted followers among the invokers, paladins, and fighters without an enemy to combat, they continued to expand their influence among humite territories. Those villages under their control became known as the Defense Coalition. Each village elder was, in name, advised and backed by a ranking member of the Order. In reality, the elders became little more than puppets, the Order knights holding all the real power.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Several powerful humite invokers form The Order of the White Shield.
1 PP – Nourish Populace – The Order of the White Shield takes control of many humite villages, forming the Defense Coalition.
PP Refresh
6 - Veros, Xirinet
5 - Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Mara, Drahthor, Roan
4 - Empress, Siccadan, Zophia, Yoglith, Kiptar, Ka, Quel, Hensen Jijou, Hammu
The last time he had seen the goddess in this form, she had been beautiful, her hair had shone with a inner vibrance, and her eyes ahd been illuminated with a mishievous glee. Now, however, her face was sallow, her eyes, dead-looking. She walked towards him, not with that prowl so reminiscent of a large cat, but rather with a slow shuffle. Her arms did not swing confidently by her sides, but were pulled around her thin form, as if trying to hold herself together. When she spoke, her voice was cracked and tired.
"Drahthor," she said, in a low murmur, "It has been too long."
Now that she was up close, the flaws were more prevalent. Her lips were chapped, her face was pale and pockmarked, her hair ragged and framed her gaunt face like greasy black curtains.
"What brings you to our humble abode?" she asked.
The warforged looked upon the land the fungus had left bare and rejoiced. They had always looked to taking that land, but the presence of fungus made them apprehensive. Now that the fungus was gone, they mobilized quickly, sending ships to claim the land for themselves and to protect it if need be.
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1pp X 2 Nourish populace(Warforged)
1pp (City of gears): Guide populace(lesser): Warforged inhabit the north east peninsula of the original continent, where there used to be fungus.
1pp X 2 Nourish populace(Warforged)
1pp (City of gears): Guide populace(lesser): Warforged inhabit the north east peninsula of the original continent, where there used to be fungus.
*****
Still in his humanoid form, looking down on the disheveled Empress Drahthor spoke " Empress.... it is good to see you, it has been to long." As he said this the Lord of Destruction and Creation reached out and took one of the Goddesses grimy hands, and holding it up towards his face he leaned down and kissed it. "I would wish to know what has happened here, this is a vastly changed place from when last I visited? And I am also curious about the state of our daughter, I have not seen Priya in centuries."
As he said these things Drahthor was looking around the remains of Niyanta, but then he seemed to be struck by something. "I apologize, I had nearly forgotten the official reason I came. There is to be a trial for the killing of Xa'an. Veros is to appear before a tribunal that will hear and decide that case. This tribunal will be headed by the new God of Justice, but as the Goddess of Order I wished to extend to you a request that you would sit upon one of the three thrones of judgment to decide the case?"
Meanwhile, in other places the Drahkorn discovered they could melt down and manipulate various metals in the same manner as they made obsidian from the rock of the land. At first they only used this to make a few trinkets and religious icons, but everyone could see possibilities.
PP
2pp Guide (Herald)- The Drahkorn develop advanced mathematics/Newtonian physics.
2pp Guide-The Drahkorn learn how to manipulate various metals in the earth.
1pp Nourish (Eye of Restraint)- the lands of the asteroid have various metal deposits develop within the earth.
2pp Guide-The Drahkorn learn how to manipulate various metals in the earth.
1pp Nourish (Eye of Restraint)- the lands of the asteroid have various metal deposits develop within the earth.
Shurka glanced at the other nearby gods
"In private."
Shurka
"What is it?"
---------
As Beacon expanded, the now-famous Code of Hammu was placed in a central square, for all to read and understand the law for themselves. Those humans who immigrated to Beacon from Alexandria are surprised to learn that reading the book comes naturally to them- the script is familiar from their time in that holy city.
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Hammu looked out across his city and was pleased. "Come, Rabi- there is one more thing we must build here- for we will soon have visitors to this city. We must make a chamber suitable for an audience of gods."
PP
2PP: Guide Populace x2: Humans and Eladrin move to Beacon in greater numbers.
1PP: Nourish Populace: The nation of Beacon grows stronger and begins to farm the surrounding land.
1PP: Nourish Land: The fungus-scoured waste begins to produce harvests once again.
+1PP (The Code): Humans use the Code teach all inhabitants of Beacon to read and write.
+1PP (Rabi): Create Artifact: Hammu and Rabi build the Courts of the Magistrate in Beacon This isn't really an artifact per se, but Rabi creates things, and Hammu needs a Court.
1PP: Nourish Populace: The nation of Beacon grows stronger and begins to farm the surrounding land.
1PP: Nourish Land: The fungus-scoured waste begins to produce harvests once again.
+1PP (The Code): Humans use the Code teach all inhabitants of Beacon to read and write.
+1PP (Rabi): Create Artifact: Hammu and Rabi build the Courts of the Magistrate in Beacon This isn't really an artifact per se, but Rabi creates things, and Hammu needs a Court.
Veros
"I have a message for you. I'm not going to bother explaining who it's from, but just know that it's someone important to you. Don't let anger control you. Do not destroy your own creations. Especially your most important one.
Shurka
Veros twisted his head slightly, giving Shurka an odd look. An unusual comment if he had ever heard one, he let his mind spin for a moment, trying to sort it out.
Shrugging slightly, he nodded. I will try to remember this message, Shurka. Thank you."
Shrugging slightly, he nodded. I will try to remember this message, Shurka. Thank you."
Meanwhile the bloodstone contagion of nearby lands keep growing and new islands rise from the sea at an increasing rate, covered by strange red crystals and bloodstone infused vegetation.
Guided by the Priesthood of Change and by their own great ambition the Freemen discover the art of shaping metal, while experimenting on this new craft a group of locals, inspired by a bloody aurora over the island, begin to devise new uses for it as a source of energy for strange arcane machines.
The priesthood of change hastily recruit this master artisans and begin studying their creations, teaching their secrets about mutation to the new social class of blacksmiths-artificers.
PP
1 - Mold Land - Bloodstone Archipelago keep expanding.
1 - Nourish (from Bloodstones), the Free Nation population increase fed by the Bloodstone tainted vegetation of the archipelago.
1 Guide (The Free Nation re-learn agricolture from the Humite)
1 Guide (The Free Nation re-learn blacksmithing from the Humite)
2 Guide (1 From Aether Ripples) The Free nation learn the Artificer Class. Bloodsons Artificers are usually affected by the spellscar and combine their mastery of mutation with their "trinkets".
1 - Nourish (from Bloodstones), the Free Nation population increase fed by the Bloodstone tainted vegetation of the archipelago.
1 Guide (The Free Nation re-learn agricolture from the Humite)
1 Guide (The Free Nation re-learn blacksmithing from the Humite)
2 Guide (1 From Aether Ripples) The Free nation learn the Artificer Class. Bloodsons Artificers are usually affected by the spellscar and combine their mastery of mutation with their "trinkets".
The Warforged expanded into their new lands, new ways to use their arcane energies came to be. The found ways to channel arcane energies through swords, learning the art of sword fighting in the process. Those who used these new skills were called sword-mages.
A group of Warforged were experimenting with themselves, trying to improve their bodies. One result of this was great metal giants, into which spirits of energy could be channeled to power them. These were not as intelligent as other Warforged, but provided good labor and fighters.
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1 pp: guide populace(Greater): learn swordmage class from Imperium
2 pp: Spawn Creature(intermediate) (one from Gear of Creation): Create Iron Golems
1 pp: guide populace(Greater): learn swordmage class from Imperium
2 pp: Spawn Creature(intermediate) (one from Gear of Creation): Create Iron Golems
The twins decided together to tie up some loose ends in the world that they had left. Both reached down to the southern continent and subtly manipulated it over time. They used their hands to sooth out the land and draw it outwards, in three distinct peninsulas, spreading out from the main body of the continent northwards towards the equator. . The land raised each with a mountainous spine extending along the peninsulas towards the central body before dissipating into the landmass. Even still, the mountains went dormant, but occasionally one would rise up and reawaken.
Then, Mara summoned Vazen, their exarch and protector of the lands. They gave to him some of their power, and told him to help the plants, animals, and lands grow fertile and strong. Vazen strode across the lands, and wherever he touched the land grew bountiful and lush. The forests spread to the new lands, and the animals followed; the glacier grew in size and power, covering all the most southern points. Even fish and other sea creatures came to the new islets and made a home. In all, the continent now had a completed form and was covered almost entirely with flora and fauna.
Looking at her work, Mara approved of the new lands. While it lacked much diversity, it was at least functional, and should prove a good home for the inhabitants. She thought that she may tweak the land here and there in the future, but was entirely pleased with the results so far.
PP
2 PP – Mold Land Moderate – Shape the souther continent by adding three mountainous peninsulas. The peninsulas jut outwards for many hundreds of miles northwards towards the equator (but even their tips are very far away from the equator).. This gives the continent a roughly claw-like shape. The bottom of the “palm” is covered with the massive south pole glacier.
1 PP – Nourish Land – the glacier solidifies over the southern polar regions
2 PP – Nourish Land (1 from Exarch)– Flora and Fauna cover the new lands. Fish and sea life become plentiful near the continent.
2 PP – Mold Land Moderate – Shape the souther continent by adding three mountainous peninsulas. The peninsulas jut outwards for many hundreds of miles northwards towards the equator (but even their tips are very far away from the equator).. This gives the continent a roughly claw-like shape. The bottom of the “palm” is covered with the massive south pole glacier.
1 PP – Nourish Land – the glacier solidifies over the southern polar regions
2 PP – Nourish Land (1 from Exarch)– Flora and Fauna cover the new lands. Fish and sea life become plentiful near the continent.
"Time changes all, it seems," she croaked, running a shaking hand across her own cheek, as if to indicate the pale, sallow skin there, "And Priya..."
She trails off as she stares absently at the floor.
"A trial you say!" she exclaims, suddenly all traces of weariness gone from her face, "That should be quite fun!"
And she looks at the other god, her face shining with barely concealed fanaticism.
"Yes, yes," she said, clasping her hands together and striding forward, her form alive with a new vigor, "That is good, yes, a good trial, yes."
She turned around to face her fellow god.
"A trial, yes."
She stopped, her gaze fixed on a spot just over Drahthor's shoulder. The smile slid slowly from her lips as she gazed with mild detachment at that one spot, her mouth slightly open, her eyelids drooping.
"Oh all right," she said suddenly, exasperatedly, "I'll do it."
Then her eyes became alight once more as they flicked back to Drahthor.
"Yes, yes."
And with that in his customary way Drahthor departed the remains of Niyanta. He was disturbed by the manner in which the Empress had acted, and resolved that no matter the outcome of this trial he would invest himself in aiding her at its conclusion. Stopping at his own realm for a moment he received the news from the Herald that Xirinet had accepted the offer as well. Pleased with this, he departed again.
This time he reappeared on what had only a short time ago been an abandoned artificial plateau, only to find that a small city had taken its place. Finding Hammu nearby he informed him of the developments "Both Xirinet the God of Life and The Empress Goddess of Order have accepted the request that the sit on the tribunal, now they merely wait for a message informing them of the location and asking for their presence."
"Well, this will be interesting, in any case", Hammu thought. "I wonder if the other gods are as eager to know justice as I?"
He left the Court, passing wholly through a wall as he did so. He reached into a a street torch and pulled out a handful of flame. He split it into three parts, taught it to divide and form letters, crushed the three flames in his hand, and sent them flying away. One went to the city of his birth and sought out Xirinet. One went to the Jade Palace, where Drahthor had said that The Empress could be found. The last of all went to Skypeak Mountain, and called out for Veros.
For Xirinet and The Empress, the flames spelled out "Greetings from Hammu. The Lord of Justice will welcome you to his Courts to sit in judgment on Veros, the Lord of Knowledge, in the matter of the death of Xa'an, Lord of Light." The flames then fanned out into fire, drawing a map of the old continent and marking the location of Beacon.
For Veros, the flame spread out across the top of Skypeak, spelling "Veros, Lord of Knowledge. Hammu, Lord of Justice begs your presence in his Courts to answer the accusations of Drahthor, Lord of Creation and Destruction, in the matter of the death of Xa'an, Lord of Light." Once again, the flame spread into fire and became a map of the land.
I would hope that you sent an elder, Knowledge has little more than disdain for unproven newlings such as yourself.
The vague features of the god's face seemed to smile as it continued.
I fear he may not answer whatever summons you sent him. In any event, I suppose we wait?
He lifted his staff slightly, and lightning crackled around him as he vanished.
-----
With a loud pop, he reappeared, looking out over the Taldar. It was still largely isolated from the older parts of the world. Still, the obvious connections wouldn't do. The time necessary to travel across the ocean would be to grat a hindrance.
He sat there, floating in the sky, considered the issue at hand far below him.
"You are Xirinet," she said, "You, are Life."
Her eyes narrowed slightly for a fraction of a an instant. Her eyes were still upon the floor, her mouth just slightly open.
"And you, you are not," she remarked, "What are you?"
If he hadn't been the only other person present, it would have been impossible to discern that the subject of her words was the new-born god of Justice.
She still wore a vacant expression on her face as her mouth moved slowly, forming silent words, "Yes, yes."
However, for the here and now, the situation was extremely concerning. Father had brushed off the invitation, perhaps justifiably. However, if the other gods got angry enough at him, they may start a war or attack him, just as he did Xa'an. That, Mara though, would not be a good at all. Mara though about how to resolve this situation. Father was quite obstinante and stubborn, and in addition he wasn't particularly happy with Mara right now either. No, someone else would have to be the messanger.
Mara reached up and plucked an aether creature from the sky and gave it instruction to deliver a message to Shurka. "Lord Shurka. This is Mara. I would like to talk to you about current matters. I invite you to my domain at the Astral Orrery."
She let the creature go and saw it off on its diving mandate to find Shurka.
And with that in a burst of fire Drahthor left the hall of the magistrates, the golden fire of his form reappearing a moment later a short distance away from Veros, Lord of Knowledge. Looking out over the land below Drahthor realized that a new land had been created and noted it for further investigation at another time. Turning his gaze upon Veros he spoke "Veros, God of Magic, I come with a summons. A tribunal of Gods has been assembled, Xirinet of Life, The Empress of Order, and the newborn God of Justice Hammu await your presence to answer for the accusations I have brought against you. That being, the murder of Xa'an."
His gaze returned to the lands below him. "You can continue to wait then. I have better things to do than indulge your petty accusations and play your little games."
Hammu strode through the wall of his Court once again, and dropped to the ground far below the city. There, he took two broken shards of the trimmed stone remaining from his creation of Beacon and tapped them together. Twelve small blocks broke out of the shards and tumbled to the ground. Hammu took each block and crumbled it to sand, then taught the sand to shape itself as he had the fire. With a breath, he sent the grains off to circle the earth in search of other gods or their agents, all with the same message:
"Greetings. Drahthor, the Lord of Creation and Destruction, has charged Veros, Lord of Knowledge, with murder in the death of Xa'an, Lord of Light. A tribunal of gods has called trial in the courts of Hammu, Lord of Justice, and those who wish to bear witness of any sort in the proceedings are welcome in the courts."
Once each sand-block delivered its message, it reformed itself as the fire had, into a map pointing towards Beacon.
Planetoids and planetary debrie would be drawn in by the core and float around in the liquid regions, forming moving islands and small continents.
Tsarokga-Noggoths fungi would also inhabit these liquid layers, either infesting the continents or floating upon the liquid aether seas. Some would start to reside within these oceans themselves, taking on the shape similar to jellifish or squid.
The Tsarok and Narrok would stay within the fungal demiplane, who started to circle around the planet like a moon. The other Tsarok would inhabit the outer regions of the planet and the normal aether around it.
Because of the absense of light and the heat of a sun, it remained a cold dark world.
(mold land (greater) 2PP + 1PP from Nibiru to shape the planet even further)
(1x nourish land 1PP from spore chambers, to make the planet a good breeding ground for fungi)
(spawn beast (lesser): Aquatic fungus 1PP from Fungal Plane (still needs a name I know))
"Now what......." it growled in an annoyed tone.
It disappeared and reappeared in the building that had been marked, appearing as an Iron Golem. Other gods were here.
"What is the problem?"
In addition, several thousand were sent to live amoung the Humites, wearing their shape.
------------
The Fleshbenders created huge vats of biological liquid, Mada, and traceries of arcane power. They called these immense, hellish, creations Fleshpools. Mere months after their creation, all maner of strange creatures began to emerge from them.
----------
From the Isle of Asem came a new creation. These new blasphemies were called Eldac's, and they were the Imperium's mounts.
2PP Nourish Populous
3PP Spawn: Create Artifact-Fleshpools
2PPSpawn Beast: Moderate-Eldacs
PP Use
3 PP [+1 Annolum] - Shape Populace - Ancients are created in the demiplane of Revnador.
0 PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace - The ancients worship Shurka
1 PP - Guide Populace - The ancients are instructed to assist the humites if they are attacked near Eorna or in the Feywyld (Where the portal locations are)
1 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace x2 - The ancients have an increased population.
"On the other hand, if you refuse to merely show yourself at the trial and hold it in contempt I will begin to pursue a course of retribution as compared to justice. Having made a mockery of Justice it is likely Hammu will aid me, the Empress as well for the insult to order that it contains. Xa'an might or might not be willing to act, I have not depended on it. But I will also seek the aid of Mara in this, as God of retribution..."
"So weigh your options, you can come to this "game" and defend your actions, with the possibility of censure or no punishment at all. Or.... you can ignore this summons and feel the ire of anywhere from 1 to 5 Gods. The decision is yours."
As Drahthor spoke these last words he reverted to his true form, assuming this more menacing aspect in order to underscore his point.
Looking down below, he continued. "I don't have time to indulge your games. Whatever you have in mind, I'm sure you'll do fine without me."
He descended closer to his people, watching the shadar-kai of Patren struggle and strain to control the land that they claimed as there own. There simply weren't enough of them, not matter how hard they struggled.
He lifted his staff and vanished, reappearing in the holy temple where they stored their most holy artifact, the Tome of Knowledge. Invisible to their eyes, he slowly flipped throug it's pages, ignoring the gasps of mortals as they watched the holy tome's pages flipping in a still room.
Finding the page he sought, he set the book down, confident they woudl puzzle it out. He lifted his staff and vanished once more, returning to the sky far above.
-----
The minotaurs of the Shattered Lands continued to live their simple lives, but more and more they found humans intruding in their lands, unwelcome visitors among them. Still, they honored their visitors, acceppting them into their simple homes, and over time grew accostomed to human visitors. Additionally, they slowly began to learn from them.
-----
Bereft of the touch of Xirinet in their lives, the humans of Asilia grew more and more dependent on Veros's gifts, slowly but surely abandoning the gifts they had once held for new ones. Expanding on the sorcerous magic so common among them, they mastered the arts of fusing their magic into their weapopn, making them even more lethal.
-----
Edit
Dozens of new apsiring loremasters began to fail the entrance exams and interrogations, as their handlers noticed falsehoods, contradiciting stories, and out right lieing among them. As a precaution, the organization raised security, and enacted stricter interrogation measures to weed these people out ofr th process earlier.
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater) - Patren masters the use of Creation Forges, gaining the ability to make warforged, which they enlist as labor to farm their lands.
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Patren's warforged population increases to meet the labor demands.
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Minotaurs learn Carpentry from humans
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Minotaurs learn Leatherworking from humans
2 PP - Guide Population (Greater) - Asilia learns the swordmage class.
Shurka heeded her message, and entered the Astral Orrery.
"Hello, Mara. Is there something you need?" Shurka tried to be polite since he was interested in finding out why Veros would be angry with her.
Looking about and considering his options, The Lord of Destruction felt his blood begin to boil. He was trying to be reasonable, trying to create a situation to avoid all out war, trying to restrain is desire for destruction. But instead, Veros was ignoring him, was sitting atop his pompous attitude of superiority and refusing to even acknowledge the tribunal. He would make him pay.... for the death of Xa'an, for the humiliation of the tribunal, for the arrogance that exuded from his form...
As these thoughts began to boil forth into Drahthor's consciousness, the Eye of Restraint began to glow in an attempt to enforce its influence. A battle in the God's consciousness began to form, between his first nature of Destruction and his desire for restraint. For only a moment, though it seemed like an eternity, he was caught in this limbo between action and inaction. But then, a second fracture appeared in the form of the Eye.
"If you refuse to come you arrogant fool then I will make you come!" And with that Drahthor launched himself forward, closing the distance between them faster than mortal eyes could hope to perceive. Veros saw him coming and began to turn, raising the Staff of Veros in defense. However, Drahthor was far to nimble, ducking under the defensive swipe he lunged forward and dug his claws into his flesh, simultaneously biting down down on Veros' neck.
Then, entwined with his form like this, Drahthor and Veros disappeared in a burst of flame, reappearing several feet above the ground in the Court of the Magistrates, slamming into the marble floor sending splinters emanating out from their impact.
"I have brought the accused...."
****
Meanwhile, at the same instant that Drahthor launched himself forward to apprehend Veros, a commotion began to take place within the depths of the Loremaster's stronghold. A young acolyte had been assigned to learn the art of alchemy, and late at night he had been in the library dedicated towards the subject studying. Sitting at a table with gigantic tomes open surrounding him reading by candlelight, disaster struck. The flame of the candle suddenly burst forth in an explosion, lighting the table and the books on it on fire.
Stunned for a moment, the acolyte quickly sett about trying to beat down the fire with his robes, hoping he would not have to resort to water that would damage the books. However the flames quickly grew and before long he had no hope of stopping the fire this way, he stepped back and began to summon water over the desk and the flame. But even this did not stop it, and the flame began to burn stronger and larger.
Before long dozens of loremasters raced about attempting to put out the fire that seemed to have a life of its own. Before long they had merely attempted to seal off the wing of the library dedicated to alchemy in an attempt to keep the flames from spreading.
PP
1pp attack Veros: 5 Drahthor's start, 1 from Cloak of Madness, 1 from Eye of Restraint, and 1 from Gates of Bone for 8 vs 7, Veros' starting 6 and 1 for the Staff of Veros.
2pp (1 from the Eye of Restraint) De-nourish Loremasters: A living flame rages within the depths of the Loremaster strong hold destroying their collective knowledge of alchemy.
2pp (1 from the Eye of Restraint) De-nourish Loremasters: A living flame rages within the depths of the Loremaster strong hold destroying their collective knowledge of alchemy.
The Imperium's patience had worn thin.
-----------
Every time the Loremaster's tightened security, the Keymon's that encountered it simply recorded the new requirements and sent them back to their handlers. Also, the Fleshbenders began sending the Keymon's with prepared back stories to aid them.
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"Mara?I suppose I should see what she wants. Apparently Veros is angry at her for something. At least that's what the message said."
Shurka heeded her message, and entered the Astral Orrery.
"Hello, Mara. Is there something you need?" Shurka tried to be polite since he was interested in finding out why Veros would be angry with her.
There was a short silence broken by the mechanical humming of the orrery.
"This whole court setup just spells disaster. I have a feeling that it's all ready not going well. The problem is, if he is found guilty, I don't think there is much I can do. I am somewhat glad that he was the one to act against Xa'an first. If Veros had not attacked him I surely would have. Which reminds me... I may be found guilty as well for assisting him in defeating the Light Lord. We can't let this court get out of control!"
-----
Veros reappeared where he had been before, amused at the god's mistaken belief that he was stronger. He lifted his staff, and Alocasia returned to his location. "It seems you will need some time to heal. Someday, I really must thank your master for your services."
As he lowered his staff, both vanished from view.
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Your calculations are off. I have base 6, +1 for the Staff of Veros, and +1 for the exarch Alocasia. A useful gift it seems, from Ythrexle about 15 turns ago. (link). No orders were ever given contradicting that post, so Alocasia remains loyal to me. Since our fight is a draw, I chose to withdraw entirely.
She possesses a sleek body, alluring and athletic, made up by fungallike tissue. Her hair tumbled down her head, consisting out of long tendrils made up of hyphae.
A long, cloak hangs from her shoulders providing some covering for her scantily clad body. The only unsettling thing about her physical form is her lower abdomen. While her transparent skin mostly reveales white and softly glowing tissue underneath, her abdomen revealed something dark that could be seen stirring around.
Some of the local giants have spotted her once in a while, only to see her vanish the next instant.
At one point she noticed some undergrown and underdeveloped mushrooms, unable to thrive properly within the cold climate. These unsentient mushrooms were one of the last remnants of Tsarokga-Noggoths spawn upon the world.
Picking one up, she blessed it, altering it so it would be better adapted to the cold climate. She would grant them the ability to wander around, to learn and to defend themselves. The fungus took on hunching, semi humanoid forms, looking like an amalgam of many fungi and mushrooms. There size ranged from large to towering giants.
She called them Thallids. They possessed some intelligence and also had a sort of mindlink, created by spreading special spores. The thallid would form a sort of tribal community, worshipping Thallii-Nanurri.
Although mostly docile, the larger ones would show aggression if there population should be threatened.
(Shape populace (epic) Thallid: 3PP + 1PP from Nanurri)
(guide populace (thallid) 1PP: Thallids worship Thallii-Nanurri)
(the Thallid are obviously based on the same race from magic the gathering)
(OOC: Thallii-Nanurri is obviously an alter ego of Tsarokga-Noggoth, although this would be unknown to anyone else)
"BEHOLD THE MIGHTY VEROS, MASTER OF KNOWLEDGE AND MAGIC!!!"
Thrusting his arm towards the ground where the form of the other God had been mere moments before he spoke with venomous intent. "The coward holds this court and the Gods sitting upon it in such contempt that even when brought here by force he chooses to mock it and vanish!!! The fool does not recognize the legitimacy and refuses to even defend himself before those standing before me! Let him, he has made a mockery of Order and Justice today by spurning this gathering, and he made a mockery of Life when he murdered Xa'an! But you know, if he refuses to defend himself I will still make my case!!!"
Turning about with the cloak of madness seeming to crawl around him Drahthor began to pace and speak, the volume of his voice rising. "Xa'an was one of the first born of the Gods, second only to Veros of those that still interact with this world. He was a mischievous God from the start, granted. When he saw the pillar of fire erected by the one called Chactross giving off his element in such excess without seeking his counsel, he stole the light from it..."
Drahthor continued to speak, drawing upon the memories imparted when he had received the element of light. As he did so, the light before him began to bend and change, created a three dimensional illusion that displayed images of the events Drahthor described.
"Many will probably remember what they believe to be the sins of Xa'an. He created the Beholders that have harassed the continent, he attempted to alter the flow of time with the creation of the elder things, and neither the river he created through the sky nor the lush section of life he placed upon the moons were well received. But do not forget what he has done for us, he personally helped me to bring light to my realm, he created the beautiful ring that helps to enchant the sky of this world, and it was his light upon which we based all life."
"But he was never thanked or acknowledged for such things, and instead he was viewed with contempt by many of the Gods. And after several occasions when his works, specifically the river to the sky, were altered without his consent Xa'an sought to remind the world why they needed him! He stole away the light from the sky for a time, whilst simultaneously his beholders sought to make slaves of the other mortals. I make no excuses for these actions, they were brash and damaging. However neither of these gave Veros the right to MURDER Xa'an."
His voice growing louder, reaching a volume that shook the foundation of the building and echoed throughout beacon. "But that is exactly what he did, he MURDERED another God. He attacked Xa'an and drove him into the earth. Xa'an never attempted to resist and yet Veros not only subdued him but stripped away the essence of his being, forever destroying another God and depriving the world of one of its fundamental creators!"
"And now I seek justice and retribution, and Veros has made a mockery of the first! He has refused to recognize this court and he has refused to answer for his deeds. In light of this there is no choice left but a verdict of GUILTY! So come, cast your verdict and join me in forcing Justice, Order, and a respect for Life on a GOD who cares for none of these things, lest his influence spread throughout the pantheon and even inspire mortals to believe that they can can rashly without consequence!!!"
And as Drahthor raged and roared in such a way, another hairline crack appeared on the surface of the Eye of Restraint.
"Future witnesses before this court take note: I care little to judge a god for actions among mortals- especially if they happen to be of their own creation. I care for judging those who cause chaos among the gods themselves."
Hammu stood, and strode out into the middle of the assembly.
"The court has heard the testimony of Drahthor explaining his charge against Veros. Since Veros has decided to spurn those who question the justice of his actions, will any god defend him against Drahthor's accusations? "
Show
This is meant to make sure all the gods hear the call, giving the possibility of those who are not present to come and defend Veros.
"Well, Mara, it seems your father is in trouble. Coming?"
Without waiting for a response, Shurka cut his visit short and appeared before the court in a flash of light that would blind any mortal. He was ready to stand up against this meaningless court.
"It seems you are out for blood, Drahthor. As far as I am aware Veros committed no crime. Xa'an was foolish enough to bring harm to his creations; if you ask me, he was just asking for Veros to attack him. In fact, if he hadn't acted sooner, I would have done the same. Veros has not caused any strife for the gods either. The only problems that arose from him destroying gods, were you creating this court in the first place! I don't have any quarrels with your Drahthor, and I am loathe to start a fight with any who does not deserve it. But if you continue this foolish crusade against him, I may be forced to stand in the way. All this court can accomplish is creating more disorder; if you find him guilty, hell will break loose. Mark my words."
Back to the problems at hand, the situation was getting out of control, as even Shurka had gotten swept into the whirlwind. Mara sent him a message, hopefully before he did anything brash.
Show
1 PP - Create Artifact - Using Shurka's power, Mara inbues the Astral Orrery with the power of predicting or showing the future of mortal events (though its ability to show them is limited and requires much interpretation).
1 PP - Guide (from Astral Orrery) - Khusan learns astrology.
1 PP - Create Artifact - Using Shurka's power, Mara inbues the Astral Orrery with the power of predicting or showing the future of mortal events (though its ability to show them is limited and requires much interpretation).
1 PP - Guide (from Astral Orrery) - Khusan learns astrology.
"Clever idea. That may be able to work."
"People please persist in pursuing and in persecuting this pallid perpetrator the pain he permitted to be paid," she said, in a singsong voice, starting to laugh softly to herself, "With gilded gifts given by golden god, this glorious goddess will gut this guilty god."
She begins to laugh harder, a low, mad cackle. A form begins to coalesce from the darkness behind her, a large, hulking creature, with vine-like appendages, all surrounding a pulsating green core. There is a flash of green, and a rod of jade and iron dances into her hand. She continues to laugh that cold, mad, cackle.
"Shurka I would remind you that I am out for Justice, if blood must flow for justice to be met then so be it. However, I would ask you a question.... If the criteria for "asking" to be killed is bringing harm to another's creations than why does the great fungal lord still stand, why does Vymrl still stand, why does Mara yet live, why does Veros himself still stand? Or did you forget? What do you remember of the kingdom of Duska Krak? Vanished in a night, a great tumultuous event that threw mortals and Gods alike into such a fervor because we could not identify the source. Well, in case you have not figured out the source, it was one of Veros' erstwhile experiments, one that last I heard still had free reign. If one of the Cowards mere experiments could wreck such harm and he does not bring it under check imagine the horror that could result from his unrestrained tampering!"
"But that is a moot point, for I do not argue that Veros was in the wrong in extracting retribution, I argue that he went to far. The temporary denial of Light to the creations of others, something that sat well within Xa'ans domain, was not an offense that warrented murder. Or would I be in the right in killing you Shurka for taking away the art of healing from my people? Or what if I had abused your good will by having my people repeatedly use your power to live and to escape death itself, and then if I insulted your honor and undid your works, would you not be justified in temporarily suspending that cornerstone to try and make a point! And would I be in the least bit justified in killing you for it?"
Turning to face the court now with his arms open wide and held to the sky. "NO! Under no such circumstance would I be justified in doing so, and acting in that way would be a grievous crime. As is the action of Veros!" As he sead this he brought his fists crashing down through the air, the ground below seeming to reverberate with what he said.
"And as for chaos, on the contrary we seek to impart a new order where chaos has reigned. We here establish a precedent by which these disputes might be settled without resorting to an all out war that would see yet more chaos and suffering ensue. As to Veros escaping, imprisonment is not the only option available to this court and if it was so chosen I am sure that the necessary safeguards would be put in place to ensure he does not. That is, provided, that other misguided entities do not seek to undermine and compromise that sentence...." With these last words Drahthor cast a glance at Shurka to underlie his point.
He scanned through the eladrin territories, noting the new forms the pyre flies were taking. A shape similar in many ways to a wolf, but faster, never tiring, and ever so much more lethal. He would need to watch these new mutations. They could prove very interesting.
He pulled back and moved to the west. Long had Kalafi Krak languished in the ocean, unnoticed by the gods since Eijra has perished. Even he had forgotten them, and their lives moved on. He sent out a trickle of power, reviving the lost spark of worship they had almost forgotten. Finished, he moved to a nearby chair and sat down to think.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Kalafi Krak worships Veros
1 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Arcane Wellspring
1 PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Pyre Wolf
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet
5 - Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Mara, Drahthor, Roan
4 - The Empress, Siccadan, Hensen Jijou, Kiptar, Zophia, Yoglith, Hammu,
Shurka glanced and The Empress, smiling.
"But it seems I cannot justify the killing of Xa'an to one such as Drahthor. I cannot change his mind, and obviously he will not be able to change mine. However, I do think there is something that does need to be looked at. The Court itself.
"Let us look at the members of this court. Drahthor, who has just shown his hatred of Veros, Hammu, who organized this whole trial to begin with leading me to believe his is not in favor of Veros. Then there is The Empress who just called Veros a 'guilty god.' Life is the only one I would believe to have any semblence of neutrality, but even he, who created the beurocratic city of Alexandria seems to have a tendency toward law. Three of you are judges.
"The prevalence of law is the biggest issue with this court. To be truly fair, all points of view need to be seen. For that to happen one of two conditions would need to be met. Either all the gods elect who they wish to be a judge so that the selection is unbiased, or that each god, no matter their view on the world, be allowed to vote on guilt or innocence. Only then would the court be a symbol of real justice rather than just a simple alliance between gods."
"I had every intention of hearing out both sides, and deciding fairly upon the subject based upon solid fact, rather than personal opinion," she continues, striding towards the Lord of Healing, "But it is my firmest conviction that if anything condemned the dear Lord of Knowledge to guiltiness, it was his refusal to appear before this court."
"It is his belief that he stands above the rest of us, above our laws, that makes me believe we should show him exactly what us 'lesser gods' can do," her tone becomes more serious now, her gaze fixed upon Shurka, unwavering, "If steps are not taken, he will continue act flagrantly, and in doing so put each and every one of us and our creations in jeopardy."
She casts a sweeping arm across the room.
"I condemn him not to death, for then we would be as hopelessly guilty as he himself," she says softly, "But we must make this court the status quo, and subject every god to it, or risk falling into disarray, with some gods possessing inflated views of themself."
"And I hold no objections to the fashion in which this court is taking place," she continues, "For to ask the opinion of all of the gods would merely turn this into a popularity contest, rather, neutral gods were chosen."
"And to assume that Hammu here is anything but neutral is an absurdity," she says, "He called this court not to persecute Veros, but rather to determine his innocence, or his guilt."
She spreads her arms wide, and fixes Shurka with a gaze.
"You can continue to defend Veros' cowardice, or you can admit that justice is a necessary aspect of life for all," she says finally, "We wish not to cause conflict, but to prevent further trouble, to create peace between good and evil, what say you to this, darling Shurka?"
Hammu again strode out into the midst of the gathered gods.
"This court will now here the opinion of any god regarding the character, deeds or motivations of Xa'an or Veros. There is to be no questioning- only testimony for or against Veros. After the period of time decreed by the court, testimony will cease, the judges will deliberate and deliver a verdict, and decide on a punishment if the verdict is unanimously guilty."
OOC: the testimony period will end 24 hours from now
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The Free nation artificers found a presence waiting for them. Divine, it gave guidance to them in there tasks.
The warforged saw the nation of Patren was making warforged and using them for labor. The responded in outrage. Soon warforged raiding parties were striking at their forces. They were careful to not kill anyone, but to destroy the tools that they would use to make warforged and to take them home. With them were mechanical wolfs, who would hunt targets to the end of the earth.
Show
1 pp: Guide populace(lesser): Free nation artificers worship Kiptar
1 pp: Guide populace(lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged raid Patren settlements and take the warforged with them, as well as destroying equipment to make them with
1 pp: Spawn Creature(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): Iron Defender (from MM)
1 pp: Guide populace(lesser): Free nation artificers worship Kiptar
1 pp: Guide populace(lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged raid Patren settlements and take the warforged with them, as well as destroying equipment to make them with
1 pp: Spawn Creature(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): Iron Defender (from MM)
"Having finally caught up with the things I needed to do, it seems I have several moments to interact with your 'game' and address the 'court'," he said in a sardonic tone.
"You truly want to know why Xa'an perished? I attacked him for a reason that would bring me to attack any of our kind. We gods, each and every one of us, comes into to this world with a singular talent, a attribute which we can share with each other as well as the mortals who pray for our aid. Some gifts are greater than others, and some more necessary. Light, and through it, sight, is a foundational necessity for our charges, our tools, and our experiments. As required as Xirinet's gift of life, of Neko's aspect of water, of Chactross's talent of heat though his flames."
"Would the mortals continue to survive, if denied Shurka's gift of healing? Without the attributes of envy, lust, greed, and love, would they be as interesting? Further, could they survive without knowledge? Of even Xirinet's gift of life?"
He shifted slightly, idly rubbing Alocasia's head. "Xa'an, in his disdain for us and his pride, believed he had the right to deny mortals the gift which they had always had, a gift that they required to continue their survival. He would have struck down all living creatures in his misguided belief that he could begrudge the world his gift, his talent."
He stood from his chair , and his gaze passed over those assembled once more. "I would just as soon strike down Xirinet or Shurka for such hubris. And I would fully expect to be struck down myself, were I to try and deny mortals access to my gift of knowledge."
His gaze lowered slightly. "I don't recall what happened very well. I recall restoring the flame pillar, and assailing Xa'an, and that is all. The next memory that I can extract was standing over the remains, and Shurka's defensive magic were around me."
The vision began to waver and fade as he finished. "I have indulged your distraction long enough. Business calls and must get back to my other obligations."
-----
The citizens of Patren, shadar-kai as well as the warforged were outraged by these unprovoked assaults on their land. Outraged, their first warriors were born, as citizens took up arms to defend themselves from these raids. Even the taken warforged proved violent, striking out and their captors and struggling to fight their way home, destroying the stolen equipment as they fled.
Using their superior knowledge of the desert, and the fact that the warforged had to travel great distances on these raids, in plain view, Patren was easily able to shrug them off, and continue building their prosperity.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Patren organizes armed militias composed of warforged and shadar-kai to defend their settlements from the raids.
Well, it seems her greatest reason for thinking Veros guilty is now moot.
He felt that he had argued well the point of Veros guilt, the strongest claim against that was that Xa'an was in the wrong in denying mortals his domain for a time. Shurka and Veros had argued that building upon Light was only natural, and as such there mortals had a right to it. For Drahthor building upon the light as they had all done was merely convenient, not natural, and if they had desired or had the creativity among the Gods other systems for survival could easily have been developed. But that was neither here nor there, for the time for arguments was over and now he waited to see if any others would come speak and what the ruling would be.
Of course, it was far from guaranteed that the ruling would be in his favor, the requirement of a unanimous decision in the case of guilty heavily weighed affairs against him. Even more worrying, the case that Shurka brought forth calling into question the legitimacy of this court suggested that many Gods might view it with contempt. If this was the case, and the majority of Gods actively opposed this court, then Drahthor was not sure if those that sat upon it and himself could effectively oppose all of them. He looked at Xirinet then, for this Gods decision as to the legitimacy of the court could hold the most sway. If he decided that it should be respected and cast his lot in the direction of Hammu, then even if not dominant the courts power would be to much to ignore. If, however, he viewed this all as some silly game and instead was apathetic or even became hostile towards its implications.... then things could become interesting.
Sitting there in his corner, observing the proceedings of the court, Drahthor made plans and contingency plans for all the possible outcomes of this trial.
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The warforged artificers learned how to place in warforged small tools for specialized tasks. These would make life so much easier to perform menial tasks, as well as letting the warforged concentrate on more involved tasks.
In addition, through their communing with Kiptar, they learned of a nation, which freed itself of its beholder masters and kept themselves free. They had also mastered the arts of artificers, and the warforged decided to find them. Forgeships sailed the seas, searching for them.
As the raid on Patren grew worse and worse, they soon saw the folly of that path. The raids ceased.
Show
2 pp: Guide populace(Greater): Warforged learn how to implant tools.
1 pp: Guide populace(Lesser): Warforged begin to hunt for the Free Nation
2 pp: Guide populace(Greater): Warforged learn how to implant tools.
1 pp: Guide populace(Lesser): Warforged begin to hunt for the Free Nation
OOC: Empress and Xirinet can PM me their "secret verdicts". Try to get it in within the day. If you decide "guilty", include a suggestion of punishment.
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The Green Head was almost gleeful at the idea of a Guilty Verdict, it was not really interested to the reasons of the Trial, it did not care if Veros had to be punished for the murder or not, it was more interested in what was going to change in the grand equilibrium of powers.
In case of a condemnation the Trial would set a precedent a group of god allowed to judge and even punish another, gods forced to submit to an "higher" authority, how can this happpen peacefully?
The Green predict an age of strife between the ones that support a "superior" order among the gods and the ones that prefer to keep their freedom and Independence and was amazed by the possibilities presented by this scenario. And what if Veros do not comply to the sentence?
The Grey head, youngest of the first generation of heads, was too for the Guilty verdict, killing a god was a crime for it, a limit to the fabric of creation, the very potential of the universe for change lowered by a violent act.
The Black Head, having killed its brother a few ages ago and still liking the taste of divine blood, was for an innocence verdict instead, as the Green One he was not interested in the reasons for the kill, but in the act itself, for the Black there are things that must be done, no matter the cost including deicide.
The new heads, twins born after the death of the Blue one, was puzzled, they talked a little among each other about the trial, but in the end their attention shifted to other matters and they get lost in a philosophical debate about the meaning of life and death. After almost an age of discussion they decided that they would not like a guilty verdict, reasoning that it would be a limit to the potential for change of the universe and to the freedom of the gods if a tribunal is allowed to judge on their actions.
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The white one, eldest and strongest among the heads, watched carefully as the events unfold, scheming and plotting as usual, guiding the flow of Bloodstones deep into the planet crust. With more divine power channeled trough it the bloodstone crystals had a burst of rapid growth, expanding the archipelago to have a landmass comparable to a small continent. Large blood red Crystals erupted from the seas surrounded reddish land patches creating a labyrinthine archipelago of small islands. Many of these new Islands are quite near to the continent forming unstable bridges of red sand with the low tide.
Days after the new islands emerged the prolific Bloodstone vegetation colonized the landmass and begin to slowly effect the plant life in the nearby continent.
Watching its sons and daughters in the Free Nations he discovered the worship of another god among the artificers, guided by curiosity he begun looking for the creations and actions of Kiptar and become thrilled by the god of innovation and artificie as any craft fascinate the God of Change.
Sensing the Forgeships coming nearby the White one sent dreams to the Priesthood of Change and the artificers to create an appropriate welcome for "Sons of Artifice".
PP
Show
3 - Mold Land: the Bloodstone archipelago keep growing in size, with an almost exponential burst, some of the islands emerge close to the coast of the nearby continent.
1 - Nourish (From Bloodstone), Bloodstone Flora expand to the newly risen continent.
1 - Guide (From Aether Ripples), The Free Nation adapt their humite Masonry techniques to their unstable home (rediscovering stone masonry).
1 - Nourish Free Nations, The Free Nation build their Capital City, Freedomguard on the spot where Hensen's vision guided them on the first Island of the Bloodstone Archipelago. With their increasing number they begin colonizing the new land masses using the Bloodways to travel between the islands.
Free - The Free Nation respond to the warforged scouting ships.
3 - Mold Land: the Bloodstone archipelago keep growing in size, with an almost exponential burst, some of the islands emerge close to the coast of the nearby continent.
1 - Nourish (From Bloodstone), Bloodstone Flora expand to the newly risen continent.
1 - Guide (From Aether Ripples), The Free Nation adapt their humite Masonry techniques to their unstable home (rediscovering stone masonry).
1 - Nourish Free Nations, The Free Nation build their Capital City, Freedomguard on the spot where Hensen's vision guided them on the first Island of the Bloodstone Archipelago. With their increasing number they begin colonizing the new land masses using the Bloodways to travel between the islands.
Free - The Free Nation respond to the warforged scouting ships.
Malkor, The Herald, had grown old and new that its time was coming to an end. Looking at the world around it and wishing to leave a more lasting mark upon this place, it set about compiling and reviewing all the knowledge and discoveries of its people. This was no small task, and it was many cycles before it made a discovery of its own. Combining the science and mathematics discovered years before with the new metal materials that had been employed scarcely up to this point, Malkor realized that the construction of vast structures that would cry the triumph of the Drahkorn to the world were not impossible.
Whereas currently Xanthor was merely a series of caves and canyons that had been extended and paved over with the obsidion of its people. However, with the knowledge and materials available to the Drahkorn buildings unlike any other could be constructed. But for the scale that the Herald had in mind it would need to have the entirety of its race working towards one goal.
So the Herald set upon enacting reforms, and by the time they all ended up taking affect much had changed. The population of the city of Xanthor had risen from about a thousand to around ten times that, so that a third of the total race lived in this one place. The average life of a Drahkorn became much more regulates as well. Cells were still the basic units of life, and a ten cycle system had been constructed around the cell. Every cell would spend four cycles (2 years) within Xanthor helping to build and run the city. For different members this meant different things. For those of strength and daring it meant helping to hoist and haul the heavy loads required. For those of artistic skills it meant carving beautiful statues and bas reliefs along the newly constructed buildings. For those skilled in arcana it meant helping in many of the more intricate and experimental portions of this vast project. The cells would spend one half of the day in this way before returning to live and sleep as a group for the rest of it.
After these four cycles the cell would move out to one several dozen smaller settlements ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred members that were spread over the many caverns. These smaller settlements had been linked to the capital and to each other through an immense network of permanent teleportation circles, one of the first projects those skilled in the use of arcana had been set too. Once in these smaller colonies, they would help run the local trade of farming enough food for the citizens of Xanthor, helping to mine the local metal, collecting the alchemical ingredients that were important, and helping with less ambitious construction projects. Thanks to the teleportation circles, they could move the fruits of their labor to the capital almost instantaniosly. They would spend another four cycles in this place, before moving on.
In the last two cycles of this system the cell would leave the lands of the Drahkorn and wander the wild caverns for a time. There they would hunt and kill and struggle to survive as they had in their past lives, and in this way Malkor made sure to keep its peoples edge and fighting abilities.
And in this way, when dozens of cycles later Malkor the Herald finally passed on in the cycle of rebirth and a new herald proved itself, much had been accomplished. The city now had numerous gigantic structures, the most common variety being vast cyclopean pyramids with intricate carvings of Drahkorn sitting within hallows along its surface. These pyramids ranged inside from the smallest that measured 20 square meters at its base and 15 meters high, to a quarter of a square kilometer at its base and many hundreds of meters high. And most amazingly, some of these structures did not rise from the ground, but hung from the ceiling of the cavern.
The Drahkorn used their ability to teleport to reach the inside of these structures. Once inside, the structure's heavily employed the arch, dome, and stained glass. For light inside they had planted Gardens of Phorus and Vroomel plants, and with the majestic stained glass casting the light in the most delicate ways upon intricate carvings and statues upon the walls created an affect that was breathtaking in majesty and beauty.
Other structures that were less common but just as amazing were gigantic domes with roofs of glass with a metal skeleton to hold it in place. There were only three such structures, and they had bases of several kilometers. Once inside two of the domes were empty, and the third was a reproduction of the landscape native to these cavers, complete with Hydras, Racktheran, Worms, displacer beasts, and even chimeras that had been captured and brought to this place. They were kept here by magical means, and the Drahkorn cells could come to this place to hunt and keep their skills sharp in the city. The other two empty domes were reserved for a future time when The Herald told them they would recreate the environments of the world below in these places.
Other even more impressive constructions were the Tower-Cities. The stalagmites that rose from the ground to form towers higher than most mountains on the world below and been sculpted on the outside to appear as a Drahkorn standing sentinel over the city below, however inside it was riddled with caverns and passageways, enough to be a small city.
But the most astonishing of all was a floating fortress, the home of the Obisdion Guard and seat of power for the Herald. It was called the fortress of Malkor, and using a combination of Vroomel plants, alchemy, and arcana the massive strucutre floated in the air. It was larger than any of the pyramids or domes below, and inside it was a warren of training grounds, laboratories, and secret portals. If one could take an octagon, and then draw all all the sides in so that they curved and formed arches between the points that was what the basic shape was. At the points sat towers that rose for fifty meters, and out of their rear towards the center were long pathways with a series of staircases, finally coming to a level regular octagon that's base was at the same height as the top of the towers. Upon this platform was a majestic and beautiful garden of water and light, and the Cathedral of the Herald, which employed gigantic arches, flying buttresses, domes, and stained glass that took all that the Drahkorn had learned from the building the rest of the city to create a masterpiece of art and architecture.
And from within this place, the new Herald, Enthlar, surveyed what it had inherited. Knowing the lives of his predecessors, it knew that Xarler had been a Herald of survival and prospering to his people, Malkor had been a Herald of stability and cultivation of their property, and Enthlar.... it would be a Herald of the faith of Drahthor and the knowledge of his children to the world below. For the city was grand and awe inspiring, but for now it was empty. That would have to change.
PP
2pp Guide Populace(1 from Herald)- Teach the Drahkorn advanced architectural techniques.
2pp Guide Populace- The Drahkorn learn ritual casting in the early stages of the grand project.
1pp Nourish Populace (Eye of Restraint)- The Drahkorn's dedication of their entire society to the theological state of Xanthor flourishes and allows them to accomplish building the magnificent city.
2pp Guide Populace- The Drahkorn learn ritual casting in the early stages of the grand project.
1pp Nourish Populace (Eye of Restraint)- The Drahkorn's dedication of their entire society to the theological state of Xanthor flourishes and allows them to accomplish building the magnificent city.
"Justice-Bringer, I see that you have brought one of the eldest among us to trial in your court. I must ask, however, how he can have broken a law if there are none. While you may contend that murder is an innate wrong, and knowledge of this fact is intrinsic to the nature of gods and mortals alike, I am not here to contest that particular point. No, I merely ask that if you are now bring gods to trial, judging their actions, that a Code of Law may be made known to all. Also, as you put the guilt or innocence of a god to a popular vote, it seems only natural that you would establish the criminality or lack thereof of an action to the vote.
For instance, may gods, through their exarchs interfere in mortal wars? Must we seek redress for perceived wrongs within this court, when for millenia we have settled our own disputes? It seems only natural, that a Code should be developed. So that, even should one of us choose not to obey, we shall at least know that we are likely to be hauled before your court.
As to your court itself, if you would have it claim any moral authority, it should be supported by gods of all natures and talents, lest it become a tool for a few gods to force their will upon many.
Finally, will the actions of mortal nations too be judged within your court, and, if they are found guilty, will a divine punishment be cast down upon. I fear that if you answer this question yes, that mortal empires shall indeed be held accountable to Laws of gods, that we shall see an increase in conflict among our divine brethren. For who among us would allow a divine assault against their children? I, at least, regardless of their actions, would fight to the best of my abilities to preserve my sons and daughters in the face of any divine strike against them."
Having said his piece, Vymrl turned his attention to other matters.
------------
The Flesh-benders of Asem continued to construct vile and weird creatures, mockeries of things alive and dead, seeking to bring strength to the Imperium.
The Eldacs, spawned decades ago from their laboratories, became the new mounts for the Imperium's legions. Eldacs had been wrought from the elk that populated the southern extremities of the Imperium. The elk's body, increased in size so that it could support a fully armored Frost Giant, was the same. Grafted into its flesh, however, were six spider legs, which granted the creatures exceptional speed and stability.
With these creatures added to their arsenal, the Legions grew mightier than they ever had before.
Still, the Flesh Pools of Asem pulsed onward, flaccid limbs and arcane blasphemies filling them.
Finally, after years of work, the Isle of Asem produced another strange beast to bolster the Imperium's armies. These creatures, called the Mryw, seemed as huge worms, five or six times the size of a giant. Extending from the flanks of these monsters, however, were huge sheets of flesh, sheets of flesh that if rippled quickly enough, allowed the beasts to fly.
PP
1PP-Nourish Populous (Ssabrec)-Imperium
1PP-Nourish Populous (Light Child)-Eldacs
2PP-Teach Populous:Imperium- Ride Eldacs
2PP+1PP (Flesh Pools)-Spawn Beast, Greater: Mryw
1PP-Nourish Populous- Mryw
"In the matter of the accusation of Drahthor, Lord of Creation and Destruction, that Veros, Lord of Knowledge, did kill Xa'an, Lord of Light, without sufficient justification being provided by Xa'an's acts as to merit his untimely death, this Court finds Veros NOT GUILTY."
Hammu looked about at the assembled gods.
"Some of you have raised issues of law, the legitimancy of this court, or other concerns. I will address those in due time, but now... now I believe we all have work to do."
It was an humanoid figure, wearing rich red garbs with an Hydra shaped heraldic symbol on his tabard and a massive dragon like head with green scales and burning red eyes.
"I'm Hensen, one of the youngest among your kind, I did not have the ambition of being a proper judge of the gods actions so I have never spoken against or in favor of Veros into this hall before and I won't do that now after this decision of course.
However I have a question, I have travelled much trough many distant lands during my existence, some time even far from this reality, I have witnessed to many Trials. In most of them a motivation is given for the final decision.
So now I would like to know why the Judges have chosen for Not Guilty.
I know that the personal votes of the tree judges are secret but maybe you can tell their point of view without stating their names, so that a proper precedent might be set " During the speech the scales colors have shifted subtly from green to black and so is a new black scaled head that finished the sentence"So we will be ready if another case like this ever happens."
Shurka decided to tell Veros the news. He was probably in his workship which was warded against anyone entering directly inside. Sending messages via birds seemed to be common for some reason, so Shurka made one out of wisp-substance. It was instructed to deliver the following message:
You aren't guilty. They won't say who voted for or against you.
-Shurka
Shurka entered the labyrinthine corridors of Veros' workshop. He saw a display of creatures labelled "Succubi." Rather than try to find his way to Veros, Shurka called out:
"Veros the case is over. Where are you?"
He turned slightly to Shurka. "Sorry, distracted by this little project of mine. And yes, I heard your message, but I needed to speak with you."
Lightning crackled from the staff, raking across the blob with little effect. Moments later, it burst into sickly greenish flames that went out seconds later, leaving a purple haze in the room.
It looked like Veros spent a little too much time in this workshop.
"I didn't realize you kept live creatures in here... why don't you release them to the world?"
"While I had no intention of indulging them in their game, I want to thank you for defending me. In gratitude for your actions, I want to lend you one of my artifacts for the neext century or so."
He lifted his staff and lances of light erupted from the Orb of Visions, each one striking the orbs of light. "As for the succubi and imps, I keep intending to evaluate the success or failure of those experiments, but always find something else absorbing my time. I really must get to it soon though, you're right. The last time I released an expermient unchecked . . . well, you recall the events of Duska Krak, I'm sure."
"You may indeed ask for the grounds on which the court reached their decision. I will speak for myself- the other judges may as well."
"Lord Drahthor argued his case well- better than I had expected when he first came to me with charges of murder against Lord Veros. Let this be clear- interference in the affairs of mortals will never be sufficient justification in my mind for the killing of a god.
Had Lord Veros left his fate entirely in the hands of Lord Shurka, I would surely have found against him- when questioning the claim that god-killing is murder, the threat of more violence if the court reached a guilty verdict is small defense.
In the end, I chose to find Lord Veros "not guilty". Not innocent, mind you, but not deserving of punishment. I did so in part because the crime of which he was accused occurred before the entry of Justice out of the void. As the Lord Vryml already pointed out, it is difficult to accuse one of trespass when there is no Law. But Law has come, and from this day forward there will be a new Order."
Hammu turned to speak to the other gods who still remained in the Courts.
"As to the legitimacy of this court, I will only refer to the words of Lord Veros, the oldest of our kind and the embodiment of Knowledge, spoken in his own defense: 'We gods, each and every one of us, comes into to this world with a singular talent, a attribute which we can share with each other as well as the mortals who pray for our aid. Some gifts are greater than others, and some more necessary.'
You would question the authority of a court established by the god who claims the domains of Law and Justice? You would accuse Law of conducting a 'popularity contest', and suggest that the Fungus Lord should be included in a search for Justic; he who refuses to acknowledge the right of your own creations to exist? When the god of Chaos is come into this world, should we consult his opinion on how best to maintain Order among the gods? If your answer is yes, you are worse than mad.
Justice cannot be brought by madmen, and Law cannot be made by those who refuse to live by its existence. As long as this Court endures, it will remain a council of three: myself and two others. I will take the Lady of Order so long as she will grace the court, and the other judge I will choose to be impartial as each case presents itself.
The Court will have 3 Laws, which will apply to all gods, and which I will place in this Court for all gods to see. Break any of the 3, and be judged by 3 gods."
With that, Hammu left the Courts, his hammer still embedded in the floor.
"Starting to reach a critical mass here. The experiment will be complete soon. As to the artifact, choose one. I have many with many purposes. I'm sure one will be of some use to you."
Mechabliur
I'm letting you use one of my PP producing artifacts for the turn. I have the following:
Flame Pillar: Imprison
Staff of Veros: Shape and Spawn
Dimension Bulwark: Mold
Tome of Knowledge: Guide
Leylines: Nourish
Creation Forge: Create
Flame Pillar: Imprison
Staff of Veros: Shape and Spawn
Dimension Bulwark: Mold
Tome of Knowledge: Guide
Leylines: Nourish
Creation Forge: Create
The give was infact on the trail of something. They were following the flow of time back to it's source. Back to the well of time, and the temporal harmonizer. Back to the birthplace of the lord of time.
As the swarm neared the center of all creation, and swirled around the store house of light, it's movement seemed to grow more erratic, wild, as though agitated, befor it finally poured in through every opening in the thing, whirling through the long halls and corridors until it finally found it. The opening to the Well of time, sealed by the eternal bastion for millenia. The swarrm coalesced into Yoglith once more, slamming it's many fists against the bastion for a while.
"THE ANAMALER SEALED MY VERY HOME FROM ME! I'LL DESTROY HIM! YOGLITH COMMANDS IT!"
Taking a step back, the infurated god conjured forth a massive wedge of force, and drove it against the eternal bastion with all it's might, causing the barrier to slowly crumble until the wedge suddenly passed through the bastion like a cork flying from a bottle, tearing through the billows of the Temporal Harmonizer, and leaving a gateway for the god into it's former abode.
Rushing in, Yoglith struck something in the opening, a form, nearly it's perfect duplicate, stood in the entrance, having been rushing out when the two met face first. Both stepped back, looking each other over briefly before screaming in unison.
"ANOMALER! YOU STEAL MY VERY IMAGE NOW?!" they wailed and surged toward each other, tails lashing, mighty fists slamming into one anothers bodies. They tore gouges out of each other, always performing the perfect mirror actions of one another. The fight seemed an eternity to the gods, causing the very fabric of time and space to ripple around them as they slowly tore organs from one another, though if any chanced to be an onlooker it would take mere seconds.
In the final moments, both Yoglith's plunged a clawed hand into one anothers chests, through the original Chronoptera hives, and thrust their hands deep, tearing one another's heart free of the body and crushing it in their grasp only to realize what had happened to themselves, slowly staggering back and collapsing into heaps where their quivering forms grew still, and their skins grew taught across their bones in the centuries to come, becoming twin monuments framing the opening to the well of time.
PP Spent
2pp Destroy Artifact: I'm blowing a big hole in my Eternal bastion, large enough for the gods to come and go from the well of time again. Someone can spend 2pp to repair it if they want.
1pp Destroy Artifact: The billows of the temporal harmonizer were damaged in the process of opening the well of time again. They've ceased to stabilize the flow of time until someone spends 1pp on the act of repairing them.
1pp Attack God: The two Yoglith's battled one another, ending in the demise of both.
Also, there are tons of time-god-guts laying around here, if anyone wants to make artifacts out of them.
1pp Destroy Artifact: The billows of the temporal harmonizer were damaged in the process of opening the well of time again. They've ceased to stabilize the flow of time until someone spends 1pp on the act of repairing them.
1pp Attack God: The two Yoglith's battled one another, ending in the demise of both.
Also, there are tons of time-god-guts laying around here, if anyone wants to make artifacts out of them.
He waved his hand, forming a doorway to the location he sought. Standing before the open well of time, he sighed. "I warned him. I warned him that he was actually trapped within the well."
He lifted his hand, and let several strings of black energy extend towards the bodies, burrowing into them harmlessly, seeking what he desired. Slowly but surely, the black tendrils pulled out light dingy grey streamers of light, the very essence of Yoglith's soul. . . .both of them, he noted to himself, smiling wryly beneath his cowl. He drew them towards him, placing them both in jars he conjured for the occasion, and waved them away, sending them back to his shop.
He lowered his head. "It is a shame that Yoglith had to come to this end."
Hammu stepped into a forge-fire and disappeared, reappearing near the Well of Time and leaving a portal open for Rabi to follow. Brushing aside Pyre Beetles, he sought out the Temporal Harmonizer. Though he did not know what it was, exactly, it was trivial to determine the source of the temporal instability. This must be fixed.. and soon, before 'soon' has no more meaning! thought Haamu. "Come, Rabi... let us set this right."
PP
+1PP (from Rabi): Create Artifact: Hammu and Rabi mend the rends in the Temporal Harmonizer and re-stabilize the flow of Time.
+1PP (from Rabi): Create Artifact: Hammu and Rabi mend the rends in the Temporal Harmonizer and re-stabilize the flow of Time.
Shurka remembered that he still had Yoglith's eye. He pulled it out. The eye was turning around, as if it had its own sentience. Shurka still wasn't sure what possesed him to pick it up. Maybe there would be a use for it.
f6shadow
I know it doesn't produce PP, but I actually had an idea for the Orb of Visions. Is that okay?
Mechalibur
Um, no, thats not a problem. I would probably loan you that one anyway, if you still wanted one of the others.
Hammu gave a stiff bow in return.
"I've heard much about you." he said with a short laugh. "I suppose, in a way, I have you to thank for my entry into this world. I was just leaving my Court to inform you of the result of the 'game', as you called our trial, when this mess happened. Although..."
Hammu looks over at Shurka. "It seems you may have known already. I apologize for not coming in person to ask for your presence in the first place. It seems I still have something to learn of the customs of the gods."
He continued, assuming the answer would be no. "I should move it to my Creation Forge. I have operated the machine before, and I should be able to correct the minor mistakes and make it fully functional once more."
He lifted his hand, brining a small key to hand. "Hammu, I made this unthinkingly, many years ago. I think you should have it. It would be best put to use by you, I think." He tossed the small key to the god.
He focused his energy, and held out his hands, letting the planar barriers crumble. Looking into the core of the workshop, he noted that his staff still held the experiment together, linking the nine peices of Xa'an's soul. Good.
With a wave of his hand, the planar barriers shifted, engulfing the harmonizer, taking it from sight.
When Shurka was in the workshop, of all the artifacts, he chose the Orb of Visions. There was something about it that Shurka wanted to study in more detail. He looked to his other hand with the eye in it. The eye looked back. In one hand he had visions, and in the other he had time. Quite a combination.
"If you'll excuse me, I wish to examine his eye more carefully. Goodbye."
With that, a branch burst from under the ground, and wrapped around Shurka multiple times, until his body could no longer be seen in the mass of wood. The branch then pulled him under, into Revnador, where Shurka sat on his wooden throne, and studied the eye and orb.
((Just this is fine - Don't have much use for the others.))
Shurka
I had one other small request my friend. Please take the energy within this pyre fly and give it to Mara. It is something I owe here, the last wishes of one who had passed on.
(give her this share of the aether domain)
(give her this share of the aether domain)
So Yoglith has killed himself, well, I always knew he was a mad old fool.
Vymrl beckoned, and S'kre drifted forward to seize all three eyes of Yoglith. Then, Vymrl turned to Hammu, an irritated look staining his noble, frozen features.
Clearly, you did not understand the full import of my message, as you failed to answer its most fundemental question, how shall Justice be determined? For indeed, don't we all believe our actions Just?
Justice may be all and very well for mortals, who do not embody the primal principles that we do, but how, then can we go against our very natures?
Furthermore, you say we need no consensus around the Law, yet I ask you, is it Just that you impose yourself and your ideals upon us? I have not imposed the Essence of War nor the Rites of Frost upon my siblings, yet you would impose Justice upon us. I say that unless we accept that, you are taking upon yourself a burden to great, and granting yourself an honor you do not deserve.
----------
The Light Child appeared at the entrance of Veros's workshop, asking entrance.
With a low, almost inaudible laugh, he spoke one last time to the dead god. "This belongs to me, time lord. A prize of battle, if you will. You may have caught me off guard before, but it seems I shall outlast you in the end."
Standing, he slipped it away into his robes, and walked back towards the talking gods. "Vymrl, it seems one of your exarchs is knocking on my door. Mind if I ask why?"
He looked to Hammu. "Enjoy your gift. I seem to have matters to attend to."
He dissolved into a rippling wave of shadows.
-----
The edges of the workshop wavered slightly, and the light child was admitted entrance, leading to the very deepest depths, arriving just as Veros grapsed his staff, intent on resuming his experiment. "What is it you seek?"
You bring your own talents to the world, and I bring mine. Or would you have me not seek to follow my own nature, even here among the gods? That would be a great burden indeed, as well as a great honor for you to ask of me."
Shurka returned to Mara's Astral Orrery.
"In case you didn't know, Veros was not found guilty. Also, he had a gift for you. Here."
Shurka uncupped his hands, and a pyrefly few out of them. It landed on her shoulder, and then dissappeared in a cloud of misty grey smoke. Mara now had control over the aspect of Aether.
And with that, she spun on the spot, and vanished.
------------------
From the sea, as if by divine will, a new continent burst forth into the world. A great thing of blasted wastelands and shifting dunes, the continent was like a sun-scorched blot upon the world. But still life took root. A vast rainforest spread across the southern reaches of the continent, and in its vine choked depths, life soon flourished.
------------------
When the Empress stopped spinning, she was in the center of Eladrin controlled lands. Invisible, she walked among the Eladrin. Ages ago, she blessed these creatures with her touch. Now, once more, she touched those hearts she had altered so long ago. These Eladrin listened to her touch, to her whispers, for it echoed deep within them. They soon came to know her name, which they spoke in hurried whispers, fearful of the repercussions should their new allegiances be discovered. But these people were growing strong, plentiful. The Empress smiled to herself, and left, off to rest in her Palace.
PP Expenditures
3 PP Mold Land (Greater): Forms a new continent that is almost entirely deserts and wastelands. This continent is called Asika.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Land (Lesser): Forms a rainforest that spreads across the south of the new continent. This vast rainforest is called the Kishaar Rainforest.
1 PP Nourish Land (Lesser): Basic animals begin to appear in the Kishaar Rainforest, nothing large, just small animals that wouldn't harm anyone.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser): A number of Eladrin begin to worship the Empress.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Land (Lesser): Forms a rainforest that spreads across the south of the new continent. This vast rainforest is called the Kishaar Rainforest.
1 PP Nourish Land (Lesser): Basic animals begin to appear in the Kishaar Rainforest, nothing large, just small animals that wouldn't harm anyone.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser): A number of Eladrin begin to worship the Empress.
"I suppose I should get this taken care of before working on the Eye..."
Shurka returned to Mara's Astral Orrery.
"In case you didn't know, Veros was not found guilty. Also, he had a gift for you. Here."
Shurka uncupped his hands, and a pyrefly few out of them. It landed on her shoulder, and then dissappeared in a cloud of misty grey smoke. Mara now had control over the aspect of Aether.
Mara looked surprised at the gift. "How odd." She said. "Perhaps I can use it to finish more of this universe. Shurka, if you intend to do anything with the heavens. I suggest you do so soon. I tire of fixing other gods' messes they make of the heavens."
"But" Mara sighed. "Not now. Soon. I will have to talk to Summer and finalize our plans with this new factor."
The Dark Eladrin continued to expand out into their continent. They explored south towards the darkened skies and the cold. They reached the limits and saw the glacier, but with the subtle proding of Vazen, the hunters continued. The Dark Eladrin eventually met the frost giants. While initially fearful, for their terrible reputation back with the Eladrin preceded them, when the two groups found out they both worshipped Mara, both became much more cordial with each other. From the frost giants, the Dark Eladrin learned the ways of worshiping Mara, and the knowledge of the Astral Orrery and its ability to give diving guidance.
Not everything would go perfectly though. As the Dark Eladrin became more numerous and prosperous, and as they spread out over greater distances and geography, they began to splinter into groups. Eventually the Dark Eladrin split into five clans. One clan each took hold and claimed a *****ula, while the eldest clan remained in the old woods. Finally a fifth clan took another region nearby.
PP Expense:
3 PP - Nourish Populace (1 from Exarch, Vazen) - Dark Eladrin spread (should be 5 total, 1 for each clan).
2 PP - Guide Populace (from Astral Orrery) - Dark Eladrin meeet Frost Giants of Khusan
1 PP - Guide Populace - Dark Eladrin learn Cleric class
1 PP - Guide Populace - Dark Eladrin split into five clans.
With that, Haamu and Rabi stepped back through the portal Hammu had opened into the forge-fire of Beacon.
----------
Hammu left the portal in the appearance of a cinder resting on the Hammer of Law in Rabi's hand. He saw the people of his nation awash in awe of the trial that had just taken place. The outcome didn't matter- the simple fact that mortals knew that they were not completely subject to the whim of just any god was enough to set their hearts racing. Hammu let a few specks of cinder drift off of himself and set the hearts of some of his people aflame with a desire for Justice.
----------
These creatures... Whelks, is it? They're getting to be a problem throughout the Shattered Lands. They need something to compete with them, and my paladins could use a symbol of my blessing. Perhaps we could solve two problems at once?
----------
Rabi cut the stone and shaped it; Hammu inscribed upon it words with meaning far beyond mortal understanding. He placed it in the enter of the court for all to see and gods to understand.
Justice: The Court of Three will hear the case against any God-killer. Justice, Order and Life shall decide if the killing was justified, and what punishment is to be applied if it was not.
Law: The Court of Three may hear any case brought against a god by another god. Justice, Order and the embodiment of the pertinent domain shall judge and punish at their discretion.
Truth: The Court of Three will punish, at their discretion, any god (whether accused, accuser or witness) who is found to perjure before the Court.[/b]
----------
PP
1PP+1PP(The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon learns the Paladin class
1PP Spawn Beast: Celestial Chargers (heroic tier) appear throughout the lands surrounding Beacon
2PP: Form Domain (Moderate): Hammu claims the domain of Truth.
1PP+1PP(The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon learns the Paladin class
1PP Spawn Beast: Celestial Chargers (heroic tier) appear throughout the lands surrounding Beacon
2PP: Form Domain (Moderate): Hammu claims the domain of Truth.
Looking upon them then, Drahthor disappeared in a burst of flame looked like it would consume them, however it merely passed over their forms without harming any.
Like the others Drahthor had felt the death of another God, however it was one he had never known and the others were rushing to its deathbed to try and garner what they could from its corpse. He did not care to investigate this death, and instead sought out something he had realized when the anger and fury of destruction had burned through his veins.
Long ago he had ceased to feel the presence of the impetuous sun god Tahns, but something about it did not feel right. It had not tasted like the destruction of Eijra or Xa'an, and as such Drahthor could not be sure if he had truly ceased to be. That was until he had become more in tuned with the destroyer within him, and then he had known without a doubt that Tahns was dead.
So, wishing to investigate, Drahthor reappeared in another burst of flame millions of kilometers away at an isolated and barren edge of the aether, the last place he had sensed Tahns power emanating from. And what he saw when he emerged shocked him.
Stretching for as far as a mortal eye could see before Drahthor were a conglomerate of races that looked to have been forged from the nightmares of mortals. There were horns, whips, chains, chitin, scales, razor sharp barbed teeth, and so much more. But not only that, they were killing each other, they were fighting some vast mad battle right before the eyes of this God. But there were no apparent sides, and even as they cut down one another and feasted on their flesh, bathed in their blood, and committed atrocities beyond comprehension their numbers never seemed to diminish.
"Tahns you fool, you mad fool what have you done!!?" Spoke the Lord of Creation and Destruction as he looked out over the insanity playing itself out before him...
"We had wondered when you would come Idlor....." Spoke a horrible gargling voice from behind the God.
Quickly spinning to face this new threat, Drahthor saw yet another horror. Before him sat a corpulent beast, with slimy skin whose body was covered with oozing pustules. His face was as fat and ugly as his body, however he had no fewer than four eyes and two mouths at any given time, for they seemed to face into his flesh and reappear elsewhere as he spoke. And out of his head arose seven wicked curved horns.
But what was truly horrible was what the beast sat upon, for under him rested a throne made from the very flesh and bone of the former God of the Sun. And in its right hand the creature held the spear of Bloodlight.
"What manner of blasphemous insanity is this...?" Spoke Drahthor.
The thing tilted its head to the side, as if puzzled by Drahthor's response. "But you are Idlor, come to lead us away from this place. Within you beats the heart of destruction. We have foreseen your coming to this place Idlor, so much more worthy than the whelp that created us..."
"I know not of this Idlor you speak of foul one, but I am Drahthor, Lord of Destruction and Creation, Serpent of Rebirth, Torchbearer."
A flash of understanding seemed to enter into the beasts eyes at this point. "Then you have not shed the form and embraced your next self.... Very well, let it be known that I am called papa Nergul, ruler of these people. And you are the Idlor we worship, but not yet."
At this the creature tossed the spear of Bloodlight towards Drahthor. He caught it and looked at this Nergul, perplexed by him handing over such a powerful weapon. "To take upon your path back to us, now go, leave this place to return later Idlor..."
Confused and shaken by this encounter, Drahthor left this realm of madness reappearing a second later within his Ziggurat. He looked at the spear he still held in his hand and decided to keep it, for especially after the failed gamble at the court he needed all the strength he could get.
But unbeknown to the God who wielded it, the spear had been forged and wielded in the madness of Tahns and then in the insane hands of Nergul, and so it bore its own personality. And soon, it began vying with the Eye of Restraint for influence over the Lord of Destruction.
PP
2pp Guide Population- Nergul and the Demons worship Drahthor as something they call "Idlor". Revering his aspect of Destruction above all others.
The exarch hadn't heard a thing. Perhaps there was nothing there to hear.
------------------
Though not seen or heard from for many years, the Loha had not entirely retreated from the world. Many were stranded in the Chaos, cut off from the world. Many others, however, lurked above the clouds, riding their airships, waiting for their era to arrive.
-------------------
The Dasa had suffered greatly at the hands of their former brethren. Now they struggled to rebuild what they had lost. The Heart of Fire, however, deep within the city, was beginning to heat up, grow more powerful. The Dasa noted this increase in temperature, as well as the cracks now appearing in their homes, with great anxiety. If the pressure from the Heart grew too powerful, then it could spell doom for the entire city. So the Dasa waited, and watched, in fear.
The stronger breed of thallid, the savage thallids acted as the warriors of there community.
The thallid also possessed another ability. Besides creating more of there own, they had the ability to spawn another type of fungal creature, called saprolings. These were non sentient but in perfect control by the thallid.
Saprolings were much more vicious and acted as guardians and soldiers. Smaller then the thallid, their size ranged from small to large. They prefere to attack in group, trying to overwelm their opponents.
Meanwhile the dark planet continued to grow in size and mass. While growing and expanding, more nutrients became available to its denizens.
(guide populace (greater):1PP+1PP from nugorroth: Teach thallid the barbarian class)
(spawn beast (epic): saprolings: 2PP + 1PP from fungal plane)
(mold land (greater): 2PP + 1PP from Nibiru)
(nourish land 1PP from spore chambers: dark planet)
Shurka vanished and appeared at his private plane of Revnador. One tree was holding the Orb of Visions, another was holding Yoglith's Eye. The Orb could see anything that was currently happening. As a quick test, Shurka looked through the Orb, and saw the city of Terena. A second later the image changed to somewhere on the continent of Zophar. It was working just as he expected. Shurka looked closely at the tree where he placed Yoglith's Eye. It was old and withered, as if it had aged 100s of years. Interesting. The eye itself seemed to defy time itself, as if time acted both faster and slower near the eye.
Using the Orb of Visions as a guide, Shurka created a similar orb. This one, however, was not meant for viewing what is now. It was made to view what will become. When the new orb was completed, Shurka picked up the Eye and crushed it in his hand, releasing the essence. Having no where left to go, the time-essence travelled to the inside of Shurka's new orb. It was now complete. He called it the Temporal Eye, a device that could loosely predict future events. He wanted to share this ability with his people.
Many humites, in various locations of the world, have been having strange dreams. What was strange about them was not so much their content, but the fact that they would often become reality in the future. Some managed to hone this gift into a useful ability. Soon there were humites focusing their energy on revealing things to come, and sharing it with their fellow people.
PP Use
1 PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace - Humites know divination
1 PP - Guide Populace - Humites know the Scrying ritual.
1 PP - Claim Domain - Prophecy
1 PP - Guide Populace - Some humties are instructed to use their divination to guide other humites. They are called oracles.
1 PP - Create Artifact - The Temporal Eye - Like the Orb of Visions, except it vaguely shows the future, not the present.
Where once floated nine pieces of Xa'an's soul, now stood a terrible sight. Nine humanoid figures, each topping twelve to fifteen feet, stretching their wings as they experienced emerged from their birth, unleashing horrible roars as flames wreathed them.. Their red scales flashed in the dimming light as they drew their wings around themselves like grotesque cloaks.
Each scanned the room, spotting him standing amid them. In a violent rush, all nine leapt forward, slashing with claws and snapping with fangs. For a brief instant, in seemed they would tear Veros to shreds, then he slammed his staff into the ground, driving them back. Watching him closely, each lowered their head slightly, acknowledging his power. They went to one knee, bowing, awaiting their orders.
He turned back towards the Light Child. "What do you want Vymrl?
-----
The Order of the White Shield continued to grow stronger, using it's growing power to take a firmer grip on the Defense Coalition. Under their guidance, they finally began to bend even the elders of Terena to their will. With most of the humite villages and cities falling under their grasp, they turned their full political might on Terena itself.
-----
On the continent of Taldar, Asilia, strengthened by strong harvests, embarked on it's first true war, the humans sending their forces into the desert, hoping to rob Patren of it's riches. Across the desert, the forces of both sides began a series of long skirmishes.
-----
The Shattered Lands continue to grow and evolve around Alexandria. The minotaurs studied the masonry of their adaptable neighbors, and finally began to use it themselves. In worse news though, a new beast appeared in the skies above the Shattered Lands as the pyre flies grew into something new, something dangerous. The Masila, large birds composed of pyre flies given solid form, began to roam and hunt.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Defense Coalition
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Order of the White Shield
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Asilia goes to war against Patren
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace - Minotaurs learn Masonry
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Asilia
3 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Greater) - Pit Fiends
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Masila
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet
5 - Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Mara, Drahthor, Roan, The Empress
4 - Hensen Jijou, Kiptar, Siccadan, Hammu, Zophia
Xeadin, Torvek is now free to post.
RUMPLESTIX, Ipsur is now free to post.
You both have 6 PP.
"I am Pasashmi," said the jade dragon, "And you are my children."
She flapped her massive wings, and the force of the gale issuing forth buffetted many of the dragons, causing many the slide backwards, if not altogether fall over.
"This land is yours, it is my gift to you," she continued, unfazed, "Now go, take what is yours."
And with that, she took to the skies once more, leaving the dragons to watch her go.
-------------------
The power of the Heart had grown to strong. The Dasa tried to quell it, but they could not. The power overwhelmed them, and the city. The very magic keeping the city aloft failed, snapping beneath the strain of the relentless Heart. The city fell from the sky. The Dasa ran about, trying to do something, trying to stop it, but could not, there was no helping it. It was already falling. And they were going to die.
When the city crash-landed upon the new continent, it seemed all was lost. But then, suddenly, magically, a hand poked through the rubble. It pushed aside the chunks of jade now littering everything, and revealed a form, chest heaving, gasping for breath. Soon, more figures pulled themselves out of the rubble. A tragedy had befallen the Dasa race this day, but good came of it too. The surviving Dasa banded together and fearfully set to exploring this strange new realm.
But little did they know, deep within the ruin of the city, the Heart lived on, pulsing and burning away.
-------------------
Deep within Eladrin-controlled lands, something strange was happening. Those who had begun to worship a new goddess began having odd dreams. In them, a female child would appear to them. This child would be irrevocable in her beauty. As the Eladrin would watch her, captivated, she would step forward, take ahold of their hand, and lead them away. She would lead them to a magical land where they would prosper. When they awoke, they were seized by an uncontrollable desire to go to this place. They began to leave in droves, stealing ships, doing whatever they could to find this place, where they knew this little girl was waiting for them.
When their boat reached the blasted shores of Asika, there was no girl, just desolation. Some wanted to give up. Most, however, knew that this was their chance to start anew, and forge their own destiny. So they set to work creating their new civilization.
PP Expenditures
2 PP Form Domain (Moderate) Chromatic Dragons
2 PP +1 from the Land Spike Create Artifact (Greater) The Heart: This artifact grows even more powerful than before, but this increase in power interferes with the magic keeping Atakhari aloft, causing the city to crash-land on the new continent. The Heart still acts as a portal to the Chaos, though it is closed right now, but now it also provides 1 PP towards Mold Actions.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) The Eladrin who worship the Empress travel to Asika
2 PP +1 from the Land Spike Create Artifact (Greater) The Heart: This artifact grows even more powerful than before, but this increase in power interferes with the magic keeping Atakhari aloft, causing the city to crash-land on the new continent. The Heart still acts as a portal to the Chaos, though it is closed right now, but now it also provides 1 PP towards Mold Actions.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) The Eladrin who worship the Empress travel to Asika
The noises stopped and a wayward breeze of air reminded one of a sigh.
The creatures and the exarch hadn't hear this noise. Perhaps it hadn't actually been there.
PP Expenditures
1 PP +1 from Leilaka Shape Populace (Lesser) Shifters: This race of primal creatures are born upon Mara's continent, and they find they have a strange resonance with the moon.
Yeah, I could have waited to post this, but I was feeling spontaneous.
Yeah, I could have waited to post this, but I was feeling spontaneous.
Greetings, Lord Veros. Your latest experiment is most impressive. As to why I requested this audience, it's because of the disturbing actions of Hammu's court. The idea that any god may be held accountable by the standereds of others makes me fear for our independence. As you are mightiest among us, I thought it best to ask for your opinion.
----------
A dream message slipped into Drathor's mind.
Torchbearer, I could not help but notice that you have recently seen the cruel side of Hammu's sanctimonious talk of Law and Justice. The guilt of Veros was not even determined by a true vote, but by a selective council. This does not seem like Justice to me, and I was wondering if you are similarly disgruntled.
-----------
Special saddles were developed for the riding of the Mryw, consisting of leather pads secured by rings set into the chitin of the Mryw. Soon, whole legions swept through the skies on these mounts.
-----------
The clerics of the Imperium found a way to imbue weapons with huge divine power. After some tests, the strengthened the Niflendar Flamborge into an item of extreme power.
------------
((Sorry, I have to go to bed now, I'll respond to Hammu tomorrow)
PP
2PP (Ssabrec, Light Child)-Nourish Populous: Imperium
2PP Guide Populous, Greater: Imperium learns to ride Mryw
1PP Nourish Beast: Mryw
2PP Create Artifact: Make the Niflendar Flamborge a combat artifact
This fascinated Ipsur and the shapeless entity began to categorize and name the events and objects it witnessed. But this was not the language of mortals or the speech of the gods. This was the forming of 'constructs' as representations. The foundations of controlling 'True Names'. Thus the still shapeless and intangible Ipsur, in a solitude lasting ages, pieced together runes and sigils for naming and representing the cosmos around it. Thus Ipsur fashioned the foundations of Rune Magic.
However, as Ipsur witnessed the events unfolding in the cosmos from its solitude, it began to strive and will itself to be able to shape these events. And from this striving Ambition grew within its form. Ipsur became dark and semi-tangible. Tentacles formed and disappeared in its shape as it wished for things to touch and hold. Eyes shaped that it might witness those events it sensed. There were three eyes commonly visible for each of the dimensions and many more that were not visible for dimensions such as time and other as yet uncreated variables. And a great maw formed that might rend with its teeth and which could speak with a voice of thunder.
Ipsur was still unable to affect the cosmos outside the void which it witnessed from within the void. Yet the entity was resourceful. It began to shape and form to its will the runes and sigils it had created to represent that which it witnessed. Ipsur came to understand that through finesse and force of will it could manipulate the power of these sigils to coerce and manipulate that which it sensed. Thus Ipsur fashioned Rune Magic, the force it would use achieve its desires.
Witnessing many of the wonders created by the other powers, Ipsur decided tools would be necessary to carry out its plans. There were many spirits and powers forming and expiring without these gods Ipsur watched ever realizing their presence. Ipsur reached out with the power of its will and began to reshape a particularly powerful entity to its will. First, it was enslaved to the god's will and then transformed. Finally, a tome lay at the 'feet' of Ipsur's form: The Codex, a living entity enslaved to the will of Ipsur.
Ipsur looked down upon the world and chose the spot which would at least temporarily become its home. It was a nexxus of power lines within the uninhabited badlands of the great continent which was located on the north coast, east of the elves. The god reached down and fashioned a plateau high above the ocean and stepped into the world for the first time. Ipsur chose a shadowy form with a great number of tentacles and a massive maw. There were three visible eyes and many more which would appear and disappear within the dark form. Voices, screams, and other noises would always create a hideous drone around the god and thus it would communicate with telepathy if it did not want a mortal's sanity to be collapsed by weight.
expenditures and beginning
domains:
2pp Rune Magic (moderate)
1pp Ambition
6 points:
3pp Ascend Exarch: The Codex (Teach/Guide)
2 pp Enslavement/Slavery (create moderate domain)
1 pp Mold Land: The Hidden Plateau
domains:
2pp Rune Magic (moderate)
1pp Ambition
6 points:
3pp Ascend Exarch: The Codex (Teach/Guide)
2 pp Enslavement/Slavery (create moderate domain)
1 pp Mold Land: The Hidden Plateau
Meanwhile, deep in the heart of Xanthor a group of alchemists made a discovery. By mixing the blood of hydras with a refined chemical found in the Phorus plant they created a drug called Noth. Noth had several useful properties, for a short time it increased its users strength, dexterity, and made it possible to ignore blows that would fell a lesser being. Many of the first testers reported feeling invincible, and it was noted the less disciplined users acted almost foolhardy when drugged. However there were drawbacks, frequent use created a chemical addiction that could break the will and mind of the addict, making them useless or even dangerous.
Realizing the potential this Noth had for both benefit and danger, the theocracy quickly seized upon the formula and created a monopoly on production. They stockpiled large quantities that could be given towards the Obsidian Guard in case of war, while also allowing for a small regular supply to be provided for the general populace. However addiction was considered a grave concern, and if one were to be found overusing the narcotic it was a great shame upon the cell. Thankfully, due to the rigid structure of Drahkorn society and cell life such incidences were rare.
PP
1pp Guide Population- The rest of the Demons that were not covered by the 2pp last turn begin to worship Drahthor.
1pp Guide Population (Herald)- Xanthor learns to make a strange drug called Noth that enhances the user, but addiction is likely and dangerous.
1pp Guide Population (Herald)- Xanthor learns to make a strange drug called Noth that enhances the user, but addiction is likely and dangerous.
While moving away he shed his mortal guise and re assumed his Hydra Form, finding confort in having his mind divided again into many, having access to a single conciousness and point of view was unsetting for him.
The White Head looked toward Kiptar and his warforged protegees, he tough that a great benefit can come with the newly forged agreements for the Free Nation and that will make its plans advance faster.
The twin heads was silent, both concentrating on some design of their own, the other heads was accustomed by their constant quarreling and was a little unsettled by this unexpected change.
The Green head was full of plans and plots, so many possibilities. He was intrigued by Drahthor's actions, especially about his position at the Trial.
Focusing its will he sent a mental image to the god.
Appearing to him in the humanoid shape that he was using at the Trial it simply stated:
"I'm honored to meet you, Lord of Creation and Destruction, I'm Hensen, the Changer of Ways, and I would like to confer with you in private, so that we can discuss about recent events and maybe cohoperate in shaping future ones".
Meanwhile in the Bloodstone Archipelago the Free Nation different languages have finished amalgamating into a common one with its own unique rules and alphabet. Both the priesthood of change and the Artificers found it very useful in their work.
PP
1 - Guide, The Free Nation learns Reading and Writing and create a new language merging the ones of it inhabitants.
He was about to set into motions plans that he had created for this trial outcome, when he was interrupted by a dream message that entered his thoughts. It seemed that the Ice Lord Vyrml had reservations about the trial and how it was carried out. He wished to know if Drahthor shared these reservations.
Laughing to himself he spoke to the air around him. "The fool, does he not understand what the trial truly was?"
Composing a message of Light and Fire, Drahthor sent his response "Vymrl, I do not know what the cruel side of this trial you speak of is, a verdict was handed down and it did not go my way. That does not strike me as particularly cruel, if some punishment had been laid upon my person or my possessions for bringing forth this case, then perhaps I would have seen the Courts cruelty.
And as for the council, I had a hand in choosing who would sit upon it, and even was the first to suggest a tribunal. The kind of vote you called for would be more of a mockery of justice than this could ever be, for then it would depend almost entirely of the diplomatic relations and tensions of the being on trial. Furthermore, would a simple majority have sufficed to determine guilt? If so what constitutes a majority, there are so many of us who seem to have abandoned this world for other musings for short or long periods of time that it would be nearly impossible to determine that question.
But perhaps you fear what the court might be heralding? Do not worry, it will be quite some time before the questions as to its legitimacy have passed and it possesses any sort of weight in the eyes of most Gods. And even then, its members must be willing to enforce their verdicts before it can become a threat."
Dispatching the message Drahthor began to stalk the halls of his Ziggurat, only to have another mental message appear. This one took the form of the humanoid serpent that had come to the end of the trial, it announced itself as Hensen and spoke of the desire to speak in private.
Returning another message in Flame and Light Drahthor replied "Very well, come to my realm and find me in the heart of the Ziggurat atop the lake of fire. There we will speak in privacy." And along with the words Drahthor attached a visual illusion of the Asteroid beyond the aether, the caverns complexes, the lake of fire, and the Ziggurat.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A warforged artificer, while experimenting at his forge, discovered that he could make a piece of metal thinner and sharper, like a sword. He spread his knowledge around, which was supplemented by similar skills in their partners races.
As their empire expanded, warforged began to organize themselves into groups. Each group had one thing that they specialized in doing, such as creating undead, making weapons, armor, items, and other things. These organized themselves into a body, to decide things for the nation. They called themselves the Guilds, and the body was called the Guildhall.
Show
1 pp: Create Artifact(Lesser): Create Geargates, which link the world and Mechanus. Kiptar can cut them off if he feels the need to.
1 pp: Guide populace(Greater)(City of Gears)(Cultural contact): Warforged learn Balcksmithing
2 pp: Guide populace(Greater): Warforged organize guilds, which are like political parties(sort of), as well as the Guildhall, which is a governing body, where each Guild can affect how the warforged are ruled (Government, essentially)
1 pp: Create Artifact(Lesser): Create Geargates, which link the world and Mechanus. Kiptar can cut them off if he feels the need to.
1 pp: Guide populace(Greater)(City of Gears)(Cultural contact): Warforged learn Balcksmithing
2 pp: Guide populace(Greater): Warforged organize guilds, which are like political parties(sort of), as well as the Guildhall, which is a governing body, where each Guild can affect how the warforged are ruled (Government, essentially)
Now Codex, you will perform your duties for me. Go out into the world and learn what there is to learn from these petty mortals so that you may bring it back to me for future use echoed the voice within the mind of the tome. The Codex's runes and sigils danced again and this time the Codex changed form into that of a humanoid man whose body was laced with tattoos in the form of runes and sigils.
With those final words the Codex embarked upon its quest of learning and gathering information about the land, the races, and their skills. Sometimes the Codex was a mere farmer and other times it was a great warrior. Midwife and blacksmith. Sometimes master and sometimes apprentice. Its font of knowledge would fill and it would return to the Hidden Plateau. There, Ipsur would devour it and reissue it anew, ready to travel forth again and visit the world. Sometimes it would patiently wait alone on the barren plateau until Ipsur would return. The god would often travel to and explore the other planes when not studying from its home in the Hidden Plateau on the main continent.
Torvek looks around to see if there are any commoners around.
Does Torvek see any commoners to talk to?
A shuddering quicksilver form of Vymrl followed Hammu to the city of Beacon.
Hammu, while I may not agree with the philosophy behind your court, I can foresee some cases in which in could become necessary, say if the Fungal Lord struck again. Still, I believe that we could kill two seals with one spear. I ask that we appoint a 4th judge, with tiebreaking power, from among the more warlike of deities. I speak of one such as Veros, myself, Drakthor, or Kiptar. The reason I suggest these gods is that each understands the din of battle, and while some may wish to eliminate such things as war, we all must admit its present necessity.
If you do this, then my philosophical fears will be assuaged, and I can support the Court. Also, I will bend my considerable talents to constructing a true divine prison. I will spare no effort nor expense in its construction, and I will ensure that it serves the wishes of the Court, not my aims.
Will this adjustment work for you?
"Right." Summer said, putting down the plan. "I think we should split up. You go to Veros's workshop and ask him if we can use it. Meanwhile, I will go around and ask for permission, if I find someone."
"Okay!" Winter said. "Good luck."
The two Mara's left the astral orrery. Summer sped throught the aether into the sky and went first to the plane of Riot, the plane of Life. There she looked for Xirinet, but also scoped out the plane itself, inspecting the plane as to its creation, make-up and design. (Summer continues to do this with all the planes).
Meanwhile, Winter went to the Workshop and found Veros working (as usual). "Father," Mara greeted Veros, appearing to him as an adult for the first time. "I have a favor to ask. Can we use part of your workshop for our project? We promise not to get in the way."
"Oh." Mara continued after a pause, as an afterthought, "We will want to modify it just a little. Please."
Xirinet coalesced from the fundamental fabric of the plane, its misty form reflecting the dancing light which seemed to pervade the plane. As it stepped forward Mara found herself looking into the eyes of her doppelganger.
"You're here to ask me for permission... about something. The Eye wasn't exactly too clear. Oh that reminds me: Could you give this back to Veros if you see him? You'll probably see him sooner than I will."
Shurka handed her the Orb of Visions. He had no more use for it.
He lifted his staff, and a veil of fog split the room, Vymrl on one side, and a doorway on the other from which Mara would find herself forced through shortly. The pit fiends stood near the door, doing their best to obey his mental command to stand and look important.
He took a single step, standing in the middle of the veil. His head turned towards Vymrl. "What would you ask me, Vymrl?"
He turned his head the otherway, greeting Mara on the far side, noting her new appearance. The bird had been a herald of exactly what he had expected. "What is it you seek to do, child?
-----------
Veros
Lord, I would ask of you merely your support in resisting the encroachment of this Court. Also, I intend to gather allies to oppose it. While I intend to avoid all out war, mentioning your support for this endeavor would doubtless help gain allies.
Lord, I would ask of you merely your support in resisting the encroachment of this Court. Also, I intend to gather allies to oppose it. While I intend to avoid all out war, mentioning your support for this endeavor would doubtless help gain allies.
Vymrl
Ah, you come to speak about the court. You do not have my support. If only because I do not recognize it's legitemacy. It holds no constraint over our actions. Without a general acknowledgment of such a body by the majority, I see no purpose in wasting my time dealing with, recognizing, or even giving a damn, about the little court that Drahthor say fit to bring together.
Veros
Lord, you may have the personal power to resist the commands of this Court you so confidently deride. Even I could probably put up a decent fight, but some among us cannot. Still, if you wish to allow those who follow the edicts of the Court to amass power and influence, while not resisting them, then that is your choice. I will not stand idly by, however.
Lord, you may have the personal power to resist the commands of this Court you so confidently deride. Even I could probably put up a decent fight, but some among us cannot. Still, if you wish to allow those who follow the edicts of the Court to amass power and influence, while not resisting them, then that is your choice. I will not stand idly by, however.
Vymrl
Then do what you will. I am not one to take sides in a conflict over an organization I do not recognize as having any authority.
Xirinet
]
Best not to poke to closely, Riot is... unstable. You are one of the Moons? I remember you, daughter of Knowledge.
Xirinet coalesced from the fundamental fabric of the plane, its misty form reflecting the dancing light which seemed to pervade the plane. As it stepped forward Mara found herself looking into the eyes of her doppelganger.
Show
I'm off for the night. We'll have to continue this later. Just found out I work in 4 hours.
"The plan I have created will create a natual self-sufficient system for clearing out excess energy, and maintaining the unverse."
But that was far from the minds of the aquatic denizens that now sat on this reef, sun bathing in the warmth of the afternoon. The only thoughts they had were about mating, eating, and growing strong enough to pursue a higher place in their tribes. They were about to have a most earth-shattering day.
Suddenly, a strange noise interrupted their revere. There first response was to quickly group together and prepare for a predator, but none came. Instead, as they looked towards the center of the reef, they saw that a mound far taller than themselves seemed to be growing from the substance of the reef before them. They watched in wonder as the mound grew, and then the surface along one side began to change until it resembled the material of bone more than the coral. Soon, something other races would call a doorway stood before them with some strange symbol carved into its surface, but the primitive sahaugin did not know what to make of this, for never before had they seen anything like it.
As they watched the gateway opened outwards and a cool breeze seemed to blow from the depths within. They craned their bodies to try and get a look inside, but then something emerged that stole their attention away from what lay beyond the thresh hold. The creature was jet black, walked on all fours, and had an almost metallic looking skin that appeared to be far harder than the squishy scaly substance of the sahaugin. Its head was elongated and curved, with six dark nearly imperceptible orbs ascending up the sides, and a long segmented tail seemed to sway at its rear with a wicked looking blade attached to the end. All told from the tip of its head to the end of its tale it must have been 12 to 14 feet long! Far larger than the sahaugin themselves.
They quickly backed away from this strange creature, though their curiosity kept them from fleeing into the water. In the days to come many of them would regret this decision. For as the creature turned its head from side to side, examining the fish-men before it, a strange whooshing sound and breeze came from behind the line of sahaugin that watched the Drahkorn. They were all to enamored by the being in front of them to notice that dozens of its kin had suddenly appeared behind them, and it was only when they were almost on top of the sahaugin that one turned and cried out.
Immediately panic struck and all the sahaugin attempted to run for the water. Some made it, others did not. For the sleek black monsters descended on the fish-men before them, though not with teeth and tail. Instead using the vastness of their form and their superior strength the beings wrestled the Sahaugin to the ground and tied them up with ropes they pulled out of bags that hung about their neck. All in all two or three dozen sahaugin had been subdued and tied up, and then the black interlopers dragged them back through the Gate from which they had come.
A moment later the Gate and the mound that it had grown out of seemed to dissolve back into the coral, and after a few minutes there was no sign of the strange events that had happened here.
*****
The raid had been a success, the Drahkorn at the orders of the Herald had gone beyond the gate of bone and brought back several dozen of the fish-men, alive and unharmed. Once in their own realm, they tied them together into a line and forced them to march through the city of Xanthor. The Sahaugin were stunned by what they saw, for they had never seen a stone structure before, much less an entire city. And not just any city, but the jewel of the Drahkorn race, a city that even the humans of Alexandria would have to admit was as awe inspiring and magnificent as their own.
And so the Drahkorn marched them through the city, making sure to take the path that they had been instructed to take. And that path was a roundabout one that brought the sahaugin by some of the greatest wonders of the metropolis. They saw the illusions and play of light created by the phorus gardens and the stained glass within one of the pyramids. They saw the colossal towers, each carved into a brilliant statue, each with a miniature city inside it. They were taken inside of one of the vast domes that stretched for kilometers, and within they saw the recreation of the wilds of this land, they even witnessed and were stunned into silence by a group of six Drahkorn that, flirting in and out or reality, were taking down a mighty purple worm. And then they were taken to a teleportation circle, and in the time it took to take a breath they found themselves transported from the ground below into the courtyard of the Cathedral of the Herald.
They sahaugin were shocked by all of this and did not to know what to make of it, for obviously they had been taken away by some race of demi-gods, for event Lord Ix had never made a place like this. And the strength of their abductors, to take down such a massive beast as a purple worm! Throughout the entirety of the walk the sahaugin never attempted to escape, never tried to run, for they were to frightened and awed by this strange place to have any hope of flight.
Then the Drahkorn led their prisoners into the cathedral itself, but rather than take them up into the heart of it, they led them down below. Through twisting corridors, and winding tunnels they walked, their way lighted by the phorus plants planted into the wall itself and tended by those that worked within this place. Eventually they came to a steel door and opened it, within sat a large chamber with several tunnels going out from it, a pool had been built into the center of the chamber that was several feet deep and nearly 30 feet in diameter.
Once inside the room, the Drahkorn cut the sahaugin free and they quickly attempted to run into the water or through the tunnels, only to discover they were in a series of 4 or 5 rooms just like this one. At this point the Drahkorn filed out and left the fish-men alone to speculate on what was to be done with them for several hours. In these hours, they crafted such horrible tales of loathing and torment that there fear grew to unmeasurable heights. And just when it seemed that they could take no more of this, the metal door opened and a Drahkorn with an air of authority walked in.
Amazingly, it began to speak to them in, and they understood. They were shocked by this fact and listened closely to what it had to say. It explained that it was the Herald, ruler of all they had seen, and servant to the God Drahthor. At this name the sahaugin hissed and recoiled, having been taught to hate it and all of its creations. But the Herald explained how they had been abandoned by their own God, and now the Lord of Creation and Destruction wished to take them under his wing. He spent several hours explaining, but at the end of the talk the sahaugin were still suspicious. So the Herald left and food was brought in.
Over the next several weeks the Herald would return every day to explain the worship and wonders of its God, and the sahaugin would listen, growing less hostile and skeptical with every visit. It helped that they were well fed, with fish and meat from these lands, and they were even given a small amount of the substance called Noth, making them stronger than ever before (but unbeknown to them addicted as well). Finally, many of the sahaugin accepted the worship of this God as their own, and when this happened the Drahkorn took them to the shores nearby and let them swim freely in the waterways of this land.
Eventually all of the sahaugin had accepted this new religion and explored the waters of this place, finding them to bear many tasty fish. However, they always returned to the shores of the city, for they desired the Noth as well. Until one day the Drahkorn asked that they go back to their former homes, their former tribes, and lead their kinsman back to this wonderful new life and God.
The sahaugin gladly accepted, and through a gate of bone that appeared in the water they went back to their waters. Daily, they would swim through the gate to tell their kinsman of the wonders of this new place, of the Herald, the Drahkorn, and the God Drahthor. At first they were met with hostility, but as the people saw how strong they had become they began to listen with more open ears.
After several weeks, despite the best effort of Ix to stop this heresy and find where the traitors fled to, convert sahaugin began returning to the waters of the realm of Drahthor. Slowly at first, but before long many hundreds came to accept the faith and migrate to this new water.
PP
1pp Guide Populace: The Sahaugin begin to worship Drahthor.
1pp Guide Populace: The Sahaugin that worship Drahthor migrate to the sea by the city of Xanthor.
1pp Nourish Populace (Eye of Restraint): The new community of sahaugin finds the waters full of fish and they thrive.
1pp Guide Populace: The Sahaugin that worship Drahthor migrate to the sea by the city of Xanthor.
1pp Nourish Populace (Eye of Restraint): The new community of sahaugin finds the waters full of fish and they thrive.
Vyrml
"Lord Vyrml. I have never sought to end wars, but only to ensure that they are fought for just cause. I see the wisdom of your proposal in cases that involve violence- the death of a god or possibly a god's exarch. Are you asking for a warlike god to sit as a full member of the Court, or to act as a final check if the Court of Three that is has already come to a unanimous decision? I would prefer the latter course. In either case, I would have to consider the implications before I act hastily."
The warforged were expanding. Forgeships filled with colony building materials left the ports, all laden for settling new land to the west. There they settled, digging into the land, and utilizing its resources. To guard them, they built new machines, similar to the mechanical hounds, but shaped as serpents, to defend the ships and territory. Soon these spread across their empire, used for guarding important places and people.
Show
1 pp: Guide populace(Lesser): Warforged settle the northwest of the original continent(What is it called?)
1 pp: Spawn Creature(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): Iron Cobra
1 pp: Guide populace(Lesser): Warforged settle the northwest of the original continent(What is it called?)
1 pp: Spawn Creature(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): Iron Cobra
He had taken up the domains of light and fire some time ago, but while he had incorporated them into his form and had tried to seek justice for Xa'an, he had not actually created any great testament to that. As the God of both light and fire, he desired to create a monument to these new aspects. Well, not really to create as to reforge.
In a burst of flame Drahthor left his Ziggurat and reappeared in a place with more than an abundance of light and fire. Before him sat the pillar of fire, an ancient creation that the mortals had come to call the sun. For millennium it had provided light and heat to the world below, and as such it was only prudent that Drahthor, as the God of both of these things, should have a hand in it. For before him it stood, or rather raged, and within the flames of that rage it proclaimed a name so old and decrepit that the mortals in the world below had all but forgotten it. Chactross it shouted with its essence, but even in the last and greatest of the gifts this God had left the world was a lie, and illusion, or at least it had been for the greater part of its existence. For so long that dark artifact of Nocturne had sat at its center, and it was only from that that it gave off light, but things had changed recently during the incident between Veros and Xa'an. A slight smile appeared on the Torchbearer's countenance at this.
And so he began his work, he did not do anything to the pillar itself, in fact he gave it a place of honor in his new creation. Pulling upon the energies of this world and the energies within himself he began to mold and construct and entire plane about this one point. The Pillar would be the center of this new plane, an eternal reminder to Drahthor of his predecessors that had failed, and it would act as the gravity of this new plane, pulling all things towards its center. So as he summoned the energy to construct this new existence, he began to shape its form.
The entirety of this plane would be one large structure, and the structure would be made entirely of light and fire. Light and fire of all colors and all shapes, living light and living fire that he gave a solid form just as corporal as any construction material on the world below. The plane itself would only be about one-fifth the size of the world below, but even this would be a gigantic increase in the size of the former sun. So, to counteract this, he allowed it to trap the heat and light of the pillar, and instead it gave off a heat and light to the world below that was proportional to its new size, so no dramatic environmental difference would come from this.
As to what this structure was, it was a palace. But a palace unlike anything any mortals could hope to construct. It was beautiful and majestic in ways that the mere sight of it would reduce the most stone of heart mortals to tears at its beauty. Arches and domes, vaulted ceilings and frescoes, paintings, sculptures, luscious gardens and fountains flowing of solid light and fire. And these were merely the things to be found on the surface level of this new plane, this palace. The deeper one went they would find more and more architectural styles, the grandeur of the pillars and domes at the surface, the immense totality of the Gothic below, the breathtaking auspicious beauty of the baroque, and below that layers composed of web like substance that formed strange alien angles, where light blossomed like a flower in all the colors of the visible spectrum, and more. Yet below that further layers stretched down, and no being, mortal or immortal could truly know what lay there, that is until one came to the pillar of fire at its heart.
Coming to rest in a golden throne of light in a baroque reception hall that made use of mirrors and precious stones to reflect light as never before, Drahthor smiled and chose to name this place, this new plane, after the one whose actions had moved him to their creation. "Thus, the Pillar of Chactross has been surpassed by the Palace of Xa'an...."
PP
2pp Create Plane (lesser): Drahthor creates the Palace of Xa'an around the pillar of fire, in effect replacing the old creation of Chactross as the sun.
There was her bed, with its soft matress, and silken sheets, she climbed into bed. She felt the smooth sheets move over her body. She felt arms reached around her, hold her tight, felt a body press against her, and warm breath on the back of her neck. Then a voice, soft as can be, whispered in her ear.
"Hey Sammy," said the voice.
The goddess screamed, a heart-wrenching, soul-tearing, blood-curdling scream, and all went black.
"Who calls me?" Hammu's gaze quickly settles on the dragon perched on the edge of his city. "Wait one moment, dragon. It seems I have something to attend to." Hammu watched the mercurial trail of Vyrml winding up to Beacon, and wreathed himself in fire to hide himself and his new guest.Vyrml"Lord Vyrml. I have never sought to end wars, but only to ensure that they are fought for just cause. I see the wisdom of your proposal in cases that involve violence- the death of a god or possibly a god's exarch. Are you asking for a warlike god to sit as a full member of the Court, or to act as a final check if the Court of Three that is has already come to a unanimous decision? I would prefer the latter course. In either case, I would have to consider the implications before I act hastily."
The goddess hadn't heard or felt a thing.
Hammu
The latter option of a warlike god acting as the final check upon the court would work. It speaks well of your intelligence that you do not fear War, as without its divine crucible mortals and gods alike grow weak and complacent. I presume that I now have your sanction to begin construction of a prison?
The latter option of a warlike god acting as the final check upon the court would work. It speaks well of your intelligence that you do not fear War, as without its divine crucible mortals and gods alike grow weak and complacent. I presume that I now have your sanction to begin construction of a prison?
My home is as it is by design, it is a thing of energies. Of life unbridled in form. The Stars stand as Riot's doorways, as its windows into the prime world.
I do not see how it would need any more fixture than it has, little Moon.
Tilting her head the deity tapped its chin with a single long-nailed finger.
Too much structure only serves to stifle growth.
He turned back to the otherisde of the veil. "Is that everything, Vymrl?"
Mara to Xirinet:
"Lord of Life. I meant no disrespect to you, or your creation. I am humbled by your creation and creativity. I have no intention of reducing its energy or vitality."
"But think of your plane as a ship in the waters, perhaps in a cover, with other ships, docks, and people. Do you let your ship float in the waters uncontrolled? It will move around, perhaps run aground. Worse, if a storm comes, it will be thrashed against the other ships and docks, or dashed against rocks. Not only will it be damaged, but other things will be too. You stars indeed act as windows, but they are but portholes in the ship. They provide a view, but are not an anchor that can hold the ship during storm."
"I ask for your favor in this matter, and promise to only do that which is absolutely necessary."
Shaking her head Mara's duplicate continued with a shrug.
If you have some notion... Just don't play too much with Riot. I have plans for my home after all.
Vyrml
"I already control a prison, of sorts, but if you wish to form another then go ahead. Let us hope that we have no cause to use such a construct in the future."
"What do you want to do to Mechanus? And why?"
The dock at Terena contained three airship, and ten regular ships. The humites had built them out of ironwood from the genasi. So far they had been made for mostly fishing purposes, but humites had recently decided to use them for exploring new lands. One of the airships, the Whitewing, was filled with men and women who wanted to colonize new areas of the world. They decided south, and their ship set sail for new horizons ((This is the Southern continent with the dark eladrin.))
PP Use
3 PP [+1 Eorna] Guide Populace x2 - Humites learn cartography and navigation
1 PP - Guide Populace - Humites told to explore south
1 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace x2 - Humites have increased numbers to explore the rest of the world.
Finished, he walked over to the Creation Forge, considering that his use for it would have to wait a bit. Still . . he chuckled just a bit and reached down, making a minor modification to it. That would do nicely.
Stepping back, he plucked the leylines of the plane itself, making a small temporary modification that would allow Mara to access this room, and only this room, until she had used his gift.
He dissolved into a cloud of darkness, moving on to other things.
-----
A geat celebration took place in the city of Terena. The Defense Coalition, lead by the Order of the White Shield, had finally achieved domination of the political landscape. For a solid week after the launching of the Whitewing, the coffers of the Order were opened wide, put to use organizing celebrations across their territory. Their popularity continued to spread.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Population - The Order of the White Shield
The crashing of the surf on the rocks below was sweet music to the ears of Ipsur. A cacophony of sights, smells, tastes, textures, and sounds had assaulted the primordial being once it had stepped into the land. Ipsur savored every moment. However Ipsur lacked objects to alter with its will. The desire to change and transform was near beyond control. This had subsided a moment with the creation of the Codex before entering the prime, but now it had returned with a vengeance. A void within the god demanded to be filled.
Carefully sifting through its memories of the glimpses of Tue Name runes it had witnessed, Ipsur envisioned the Rune which represented Hensen, the Changer of Ways. Next, it reached out and 'touched' the rune and began to communicate with the Changer.
Greetings, Changer of Ways. I am known as Ipsur and wish to speak with you concerning the inhabitants of the Free Nation on a matter concerning both of us.
Ipsur holds many forms. There are also many things that Ipsur embraces and represents. Among those things is Ambition. The inner will and desire to improve oneself and reach for greater things, whatever those things may be for any particular creature.
I believe that such a quality would be of great benefit to the people of this Free Nation. It would please me to see these people gain such a quality. Would it be pleasing to you?
If so, might Ipsur make a request? I wish to send my retainer, the Codex, to these lands. The Codex is both a tremendous student and a tremendous teacher and advisor. My first wish is that the Codex may be allowed to teach some to venerate the form of Ipsur as Ambition. Then the Codex would go further and inspire the populace to heights of new ambition. The Codex would thus create a frenzy of growth and development as others strive to improve and better what they have created. This could begin a turbulent era. Would it not be beautiful?
Then, Ipsur sat calmly waiting on a reply. Its mind wandered as it watched a gull and sought out its true name. What wonders could Ipsur perform on it?
OOC at Nerdzul
note: the misuse of 3rd person is intentional
2nd note: I just saw that Nerdzul will be unavailable for a short while. So, rather than being explicitly for the next turn this will be an offewr hanging out there for some time.
So, basically I am going off this and looking for an opportunity to next turn spent 1pp to guide a portion of followers to venerate the ambition aspect of Ipsur. Then, the turn afterward Ipsur would use 1pp guide/teach (Codex) to give them the trait of ambition. That to me seems good for a seafaring culture, but what do I know. It probably would create 'turbulence' in the society. Good for the Changer of Ways? (Or if you prefer, Ipsur could give a point to nourish them...)
note: the misuse of 3rd person is intentional
2nd note: I just saw that Nerdzul will be unavailable for a short while. So, rather than being explicitly for the next turn this will be an offewr hanging out there for some time.
So Warforged and Free nation begun trading (and the warforged even built a colony in the Bloodstone Islands).
Btw the Free Nation is open to the worship of many gods (but I'd love to know in advance before a guide action or any effect that shift their nature). Ofc It'll be hard for them to worship gods of concept that oppose freedom and change.
So, basically I am going off this and looking for an opportunity to next turn spent 1pp to guide a portion of followers to venerate the ambition aspect of Ipsur. Then, the turn afterward Ipsur would use 1pp guide/teach (Codex) to give them the trait of ambition. That to me seems good for a seafaring culture, but what do I know.
It probably would create 'turbulence' in the society. Good for the Changer of Ways? (Or if you prefer, Ipsur could give a point to nourish them...)Kiptar heard a request from another god to do something to Mechanus. Grumpily thinking about the work that could be done while conversing with this one, he responded.
"What do you want to do to Mechanus? And why?"
Mara gives same explanation as she gave the other gods.
***
Darkness skittered within the Underdark, monstrous spiders being born in the deepest depths. The denizens of that dark place began to centralize, small settlements forming of ettercaps and their spider 'pets'.
***
Humans experiment, they learn new tricks and adapt old ones to new uses. Within the War Quarter of the Holy City soldiers toy with monsters, intent on harnessing their savage neighbors for more practical uses.
Within the Trade Quarter traders clamor, searching for new products. Searching for new partners. Most of all searching for new sources of income.
Actions
1PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Humanity formally approaches minotaurs. From here it's gonna be all RP... This might have some bad consequences...
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Blade SPiders in the underdark.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Ettercaps have a period of strengthening.
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Blade SPiders in the underdark.
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Ettercaps have a period of strengthening.
---------
Hammu
Yes, I meant to speak to you about the Pillar. I need your permission to draw some of its power into the new prison I shall forge. This prison will be called Tamarung, and will be sealed away on a separate plane. I will ascend exarchs and create artifacts of divine power to suppress to the might of deities. If you will allow the incorporation of the Pillar, then Tamarung will become nigh inescapable.
Yes, I meant to speak to you about the Pillar. I need your permission to draw some of its power into the new prison I shall forge. This prison will be called Tamarung, and will be sealed away on a separate plane. I will ascend exarchs and create artifacts of divine power to suppress to the might of deities. If you will allow the incorporation of the Pillar, then Tamarung will become nigh inescapable.
After a while this group of Lycantropes begin diffusing the cult of Hensen among the Dark Eladrin.
The Free Nation artificers had great benefit from their partnership with the warforged, developing the art of Alchemy within their labs, most notable of their alchemic invention is a black ink that can be used to make writing faster and more effective in helping them to design new creations.
Meanwhile the bloodstone island expansion seems to have slowed down, maybe its power is temporary exhausted by the fast growth of the last few hundred years. However the Free Nation inhabitants keep feeding on the island vegetation and their birth rate (and number of random mutation carefully guided by the priesthood of change) keep rising.
To Ipsur.
An illusion of Hensen's Hydra form appear in front of Ipsur.
"Greeting Ipsur", stated one of the heads, smaller than may others, adorned by dark green scales and wicked horns "I have listened to your offer and I find it intriguing, the aspect of ambition is for sure suited to the people that I have liberated"
"However remember that their freedom have not to be questioned and they will oppose a god who enforce slavery and submission as is their nature to hate that, so be careful in your teachings" Told another head, the largest one, white scaled and with a strange glow in its eyes.
"We are pleased by your offer and we think that a cooperation among us can produce impressive results, feel free to ask us help in your other designs"
As Hensens' image begin vanishing the black head, that have being silent until now watched toward Ipsur with a strange malignant grin.
OOC at Rumple
Rumple, I'm oke with Ipsur being worshiped in the free nations, but I think that ambition (not being a real "tech advance" but a state of mind, might also be seen as a nourish focused on increasing the rate of new invention and lust for more social influence), also mind that since you also represent slavery it might be hard from the free nation people to accept you (their ancestor were ex slaves after all), since they'redeveloping a better way to write rune magic can also apply quite well to them :p
Rumple, I'm oke with Ipsur being worshiped in the free nations, but I think that ambition (not being a real "tech advance" but a state of mind, might also be seen as a nourish focused on increasing the rate of new invention and lust for more social influence), also mind that since you also represent slavery it might be hard from the free nation people to accept you (their ancestor were ex slaves after all), since they'redeveloping a better way to write rune magic can also apply quite well to them :p
Hands, upon her body. Real hands? No. But hands. Faceless faces rise to peer at her with absent eyes. These are the bearers of the hands. They pull her down, down.
Light cascades around her. Light, glorious light. Dancing light, of every shade, of every hue. Still she falls. Down, down, into the light.
----------------------
She is awake. Or is she? She can feel solid ground beneath her feet. She can see the ground. A smooth, flat expanse of rock. Where is she? She tries to shake her head, but she is tired, oh, so tired. Mists. Mists at the edge of her vision. They begin to collect. She cannot let the mists reach her. She fixes her gaze upon a point in the sky. But the sky is gone. No, not gone, changed.
Where are the stars? She asks herself this. There are no stars. Is the answer.
But there is something there: A blot on the horizon. She strains her eyes to see. A city! Green and sparkling in the... But there is no light. She shakes her head to clear it. The mists are gathering. Time to leave.
She begins to walk, walk towards the city in the sky. As she walks, footprints, green footprints, appear in the places she places her feet. Foot prints of jade.
--------------------
In the Jade Palace, the goddess struggles to wake, but hands hold her tight, hands won't let her go.
--------------------
Down upon the land of Asika, the precious rock jade begins to spread like latticework across the continent.
PP Expenditures
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Land: Numerous jade deposits appear on Asika.
"How much will this affect Mechanus?"
"Only to a small degree, and its overall form and status will remain as-is."
Besides the strong brutish savage thallid, new breeds came into existance. Warrior breeds started to show more tactical approaches to deal with possible agressive wildlife.
A leader cast also started to emerge. These had the ability to take over aspects of other creatures, like the local animal life. These shapeshifts always revealed there fungal origin though. These thalllid druids followed the nature path of decay and boosted the growth of their brothers and other fungi aswell.
---------
Meanwhile, more mass was added to the dark planet.
(guide populace (thallid) 1PP + 1PP from Nugorroth: thallid get access to druid class)
(guide populace (thallid) 2PP: thallid get access to the fighter class)
(nourish populous (thallid) 1PP + 1PP from spore chamber)
(mold land 1PP + 1PP from Nibiru)
Further, the council discovered, from the dying breaths an ancient eladrin, that it had been the cult of Mara that wrought such havoc on Tahn's priesthood centuries back. For a week, the council of Veros's highest priests met behind closed doors, deep in consideration of what to do about these new circumstances.
Finally, they made their announcement. Unlike the previous rulers, there would be no condemnation, no hunt, and no purge. The churches of The Empress and Mara were officially recognized by the priesthood, and old sins forgiven. Additionally, the shadar-kai, always servants within the nation, were made full citizens, as there was no evidence that they were lesser creatures than the eladrin. The servants of Chactross, despite their odd ways and love of pain, would finally be permitted to operate openly.
Marock Silven, the leader of the council, issued an open invitation to the high priests of these two cults, as well as the followers of Chactross, to come to the Temple of Veros atop the mountain, and join in a discussion about integrating them into common society.
With the inquisitions at an end, normal life slowly began to descend upon the beleaguered nation that had closed its borders for five centuries. Prosperity began to return, but it would be a long slow journey. Emissaries were sent to Alexandria and the Defense Coalition, hoping to reestablish long lost trade routes.
(I'll take this in Mortal Stories. Mechalibur, the Defense Coalition are still humites, so I'd like you to run this one feel free. If you'd rather not, it's assumed that trade will open up.)
-----
Veros emerged from the shadows of another room, and summoned the pit fiends, succubi, and imps to this location, then awaited their arrival.
As he watched the pit fiends establish their dominance over their lesser kin, he sank deep into his thoughts, running over the various thoughts and actions of these creatures since he had created them. Such unusual creatures, they were very unlike Eijra, despite his having used her soul in their creation. It was odd, since Zophia has seemed so similar to her.
They were much more like him, though perhaps a bit crueler, they did share his love of knowledge and secrets, and their very bodies were forged from magic. He emerged from his thoughts, to see that the pit fiends had divided the succubi and imps between themselves in various portions, though the divisions seemed lopsided, some had few, and others had many. He shrugged, disregarding the odd system they seemed to have decided upon.
One of the pit fiends approached him, and went to one knee. "Master?” it questioned.
"What?"
"These minions you have brought before us, they are excellent, and will serve us well, but they lack something."
He reached out, his mind punching into the creatures, delving to see its thoughts, not wanting to wait for it to spit out its desire.
Finally, he withdrew his hand. "I see. The imps were you well as emissaries, and the succubi as spies, but you have no warriors at your command."
He lifted his staff, and reach out, calling for a jar he had left in the central chamber. Holding it up, he examined the gray haze that floated loosely within before throwing it to the center of the room, shattering it on the floor. The haze rose slightly, seeking its path to the Farscape, where even the souls of gods seek to go eventually.
Yoglith's soul would never reach it's destination. He pointed his staff, unleashing a bolt if inky black lighting that seemed to suck the very air and light from room, striking the haze. When light returned to the room, a new creature crawled about. Almost immediately, they began stood, entering battle ready poses as if prepared to strike any who challenged them.
"These war devils will serve your commands excellently. Use them well."
He recalled Shurka's words about letting the creatures of his realm roam free. He smiled slightly. Yes, they would be permitted to roam freely soon. He discorporated into a cloud of shadows, vanishing from site.
-----
The war continued to raged on and off between Patren and Asilia continued, despite all efforts by one side or the other to achieve peace. Caught entirely off-guard by the assault at first, the warriors of Patren, both conscripted warforged and willing shadar-kai, watched their foes, studied, and learned to copy that which they faced on the battle field. Within fifty years, Patren had mastered the use of both blade and mastery, weaving them into the same deadly battle style their foes used against them.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Eladrin
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Patren learns the Swordmage class
3 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Lesser) - War Devil
Meanwhile, Summer went out and gathered their resources for use, in particular the magical Skyway River that Xa'an had created, ostensibly for Mara. She took the whole thing into her hand and brought it back to the workshop. She took it to the table and set it down. Mara's plan called for an audacious remolding of the River, into something far more complex than any other God had created before Mara would have to use the power of the Gods that were used for different things all together, and for the same purpose. Mara took some working tools from the room and began molding it further. Mara changed its form, the most apparent was stretching out the river to a much greater length. They gave the river elasticity as well, so that it could bend, move, and stretch in any manner without breaking. Mara grabbed a ley line and grafted it into the river as well, so that while in there, mortals could use their magic. Mara drilled holes or sluices into the rivers outer walls in various places, calculating their positions based upon her assumptions on the final design and placement.
As work was progressing on the Skyway River, Summer continued her endeavors out in the Aether. Using merely her will, she nudged and pushed moved several planes and repositioned them appropriately through out the universe. The lesser planes she largely left in place, save for the Deep, which she positioned in the world where it could be easily accessed from the inner sphere. She went down into the world and took the Plane of Weather, which Mara had determined was redundant to the world's existing weather system, and pushed it out into the aethersphere. Farther and farther she sent it, until it hovered in the upper reaches of the atmosphere of the strange Dark Planet the fungal god was maintaining. Thus that planet was given its own weather system.
With these things completed, it was time to merge the two parts together. Winter and Summer grabbed the skyway river, now finished in its new form, and left the workshop. They went to the southern innersphere, to the oceans that were above the Deep, near the vortex. There they latched, temporarily, the end of the Skyway River. Winter grabbed the other end and began pulling the River behind her as they made their way through the innersphere. They went through the vortex south all the way into Feywild. Summer cut a small hole through the edges of the plane and Winter dragged the river through it. They continued through the plane, cutting another hole out of the Feywild into the Dreamscape itself, and still pulling the river behind them.
And they continued to do the same procedure, going from plane to plane and sewing into and through them the skyway river, not unlike a seamstress with string and cloth. Each plane melded and reacted differently to the Skyway River, but all seemed to accept it. In Mechanus, the river ran open-aired in a massive aqueduct, with cogs and waterwheels; turning from the flow of the water. Summer grabbed some cogs and put them into her pocket; she would need it for later. In the Farscape, the waters became black and like ichor, the movement of the river slowed to almost a stop. The Skyway River went through the new plane of the sun, before turning and running into the Alternate world, where it ran its course for some time, as in this realm the Mara's began connecting, either directly or indirectly, the various lesser planes that existed in the world rather than out in the aether. It was here that the skyway was put through Veros's workshop, as the water rushed into the lower hallway and into the piping (essentially, acting as a sewer).
The last stop on the line was the Well of Time. Here the River only ran through it for the briefest of moments (for the Well was very small). Winter continued back to the world with the River and reconnected it to its beginning points, making the river a full circle; Summer stayed behind at the Well of Time. Taking a strand of aberrant time, Mara strung that small bit of time out, and infused it into the river. It followed the currents until it came all the way back around again, where a waiting Mara grabbed it and reattached it. The effect of doing this was that the Skyway River now had its own time paradigm. Those traveling the river would experience the passage of time differently than those in the regular world.
Skyway River
1) Positioning the Planes
The unlocated Greater Planes have been put into a place to give the universe some sensible mapping. Looking at the world in profile, with the sun to the direct East, The Feywilde and Dreamscape continue to exist below the southern pole. The Outer Realms have been put below the Dreamscape. Mechanus is in “front” of the world; Chaos “behind;” and Riot “above” the North Pole. The Far Realms now are East, to the “right,” of the Sun.
Mara has moved the lesser plane of weather to the Dark Planet.
Note that, as far as I can tell, moving a plane requires no PP, since planes merely exist in their position by the will of the creator.
2) Skyway River
Create Artifact – 3 PP (2 PP (Mara) + 1 PP (Workshop)) and Mold Land – 1 PP (Dimensional Bullwark) and Create Lesser Plane – 2 PP (Mara): Skyway River.
The Skyway River is a magical river that connects the world to all the planes in the universe. Physically, it literally sews together the various planes, by going into and out of each plane before going onto the other. The River is a complete circle unto itself, traveling through the universe before returning to its “origin.” The River goes through all greater and lesser planes (since no one objected). While it is a circle, the River has various openings, for which one can enter or exit. Sometimes, the river does not cover itself completely, and looks like a normal river (such as Mechanus or the farscape). Othertimes, mostly when traveling between planes, it is as it was before.
The order in which the Skyways River travels is roughly:
Material Wolrd - > the Deep - > (through the vortex) - > Feywild - > Dreamscape (and sub planes) - > Outer Realms - > Mechanus - > Palace of Xa'an - > Farscape (and subplanes) - > Alternate World (connecting to lesser planes such as workshop) - > Chaos - > Riot - > Well of Time - > the Deep.
The Skyway River is its own lesser plane, and as such has its own passage of time. This allows someone to travel the river in a “short” time frame (even though it stretches literally across the universe). Sometimes however, the time is perverse—someone could spend a mere few weeks traveling on the river, but in the Material world a full turn passes (250 years). Even while in another plane, those that travel the river are treated as being in the Skyway River plane, protected from the dangers of the host Plane, unless such person leaves the river. Generally speaking however, the owner of a plane is free to modify the river as he sees fit as long as its essential form and function remain.
In addition, the Skyway River is also an artifact, designed such to maintain and connect the distinct parts of the universe together, and to act as an anchor of sorts (though planes can move around they are still attached). The Skyways provides 1 PP of Create/DeCreate. In particular, the Skyway River automatically will expend its 1 PP for a DeCreate on any god trying to create a new Plane (obviously this only works once a turn). Thus a lesser plane costs 3 PP, and a greater Plane 5 PP. However, if the creator attaches the new Plane to the Skyway River, the River will not be activated and costs are normal.
1) Positioning the Planes
The unlocated Greater Planes have been put into a place to give the universe some sensible mapping. Looking at the world in profile, with the sun to the direct East, The Feywilde and Dreamscape continue to exist below the southern pole. The Outer Realms have been put below the Dreamscape. Mechanus is in “front” of the world; Chaos “behind;” and Riot “above” the North Pole. The Far Realms now are East, to the “right,” of the Sun.
Mara has moved the lesser plane of weather to the Dark Planet.
Note that, as far as I can tell, moving a plane requires no PP, since planes merely exist in their position by the will of the creator.
2) Skyway River
Create Artifact – 3 PP (2 PP (Mara) + 1 PP (Workshop)) and Mold Land – 1 PP (Dimensional Bullwark) and Create Lesser Plane – 2 PP (Mara): Skyway River.
The Skyway River is a magical river that connects the world to all the planes in the universe. Physically, it literally sews together the various planes, by going into and out of each plane before going onto the other. The River is a complete circle unto itself, traveling through the universe before returning to its “origin.” The River goes through all greater and lesser planes (since no one objected). While it is a circle, the River has various openings, for which one can enter or exit. Sometimes, the river does not cover itself completely, and looks like a normal river (such as Mechanus or the farscape). Othertimes, mostly when traveling between planes, it is as it was before.
The order in which the Skyways River travels is roughly:
Material Wolrd - > the Deep - > (through the vortex) - > Feywild - > Dreamscape (and sub planes) - > Outer Realms - > Mechanus - > Palace of Xa'an - > Farscape (and subplanes) - > Alternate World (connecting to lesser planes such as workshop) - > Chaos - > Riot - > Well of Time - > the Deep.
The Skyway River is its own lesser plane, and as such has its own passage of time. This allows someone to travel the river in a “short” time frame (even though it stretches literally across the universe). Sometimes however, the time is perverse—someone could spend a mere few weeks traveling on the river, but in the Material world a full turn passes (250 years). Even while in another plane, those that travel the river are treated as being in the Skyway River plane, protected from the dangers of the host Plane, unless such person leaves the river. Generally speaking however, the owner of a plane is free to modify the river as he sees fit as long as its essential form and function remain.
In addition, the Skyway River is also an artifact, designed such to maintain and connect the distinct parts of the universe together, and to act as an anchor of sorts (though planes can move around they are still attached). The Skyways provides 1 PP of Create/DeCreate. In particular, the Skyway River automatically will expend its 1 PP for a DeCreate on any god trying to create a new Plane (obviously this only works once a turn). Thus a lesser plane costs 3 PP, and a greater Plane 5 PP. However, if the creator attaches the new Plane to the Skyway River, the River will not be activated and costs are normal.
With increased interaction between the Shardar Kai and the Eladrin, it was only a matter of time before the scourge of Lycanthropy passed on. In addition, with the opening of deeper relations with the Shardar Kai, it was only natural that some would join the Marans. While the Eladrin had learned of the cult of Mara, they did not discern what had happened to the specific group of perpetrators from that time. For when they had fled into the wilds, all contact with them had been lost, and their continued exisitance was unknown. The leaders of the Mara cult had no idea either, and those events had long passed into myth and legend. Many Eladrin scholars speculated that these "Marans" were likely still on the continent, waiting to strike again perhaps. While accepted officially by the priests, many Eladrin still distrusted the Marans, for these fears and more. It didn't help that the occassional case of Lycanthropy was often quickly blamed on these cultists, though they almost always themselves not affilcted (and knew of no cure).
****
The Dark Eladrin continued to settle down in the continent, as the five clans grew and prospered. The Dark Eladrin setlled into small villages, and with their knowledge of the flora and fauna of the continent, began collecting the seeds of the best plants to eat and growing them aroudn their villages. Food became plentiful and the Dark Eladrin continued to grow in numbers.
PP
Guide Populace - 1 PP from Astral Orrery - Dark Eladrin learn agriculture
Nourish Populace - 1 PP (from Vazen) - Lycanthropy spreads to Shardar Kai
Guide Populace - 1 PP - Shardar-Kai worship Mara
Guide Populace - 1 PP from Astral Orrery - Dark Eladrin learn agriculture
Nourish Populace - 1 PP (from Vazen) - Lycanthropy spreads to Shardar Kai
Guide Populace - 1 PP - Shardar-Kai worship Mara
Vyrml
"The Pillar does not belong to me. I only maintain control of the prison inside, and that only by the grace of Lord Veros. You should speak to him or to Lord Drahthor about using the energy of the Pillar to build in another plane."
Hammu mused a while.
"This seems like quite the project for one who until just recently seemed set against the Court and even the very idea that a few gods could judge any other god for their actions. Why do you offer your skills so freely?"
"The Pillar does not belong to me. I only maintain control of the prison inside, and that only by the grace of Lord Veros. You should speak to him or to Lord Drahthor about using the energy of the Pillar to build in another plane."
Hammu mused a while.
"This seems like quite the project for one who until just recently seemed set against the Court and even the very idea that a few gods could judge any other god for their actions. Why do you offer your skills so freely?"
He felt the slight shiver as his little surprise triggered as well. Subtle, so light a touch Mara probably wouldn't even notice the lines flooding through her, reaching out to her people. But travel through her they would, the hooks sunk in the moment she used the forge
He closed his eyes, tracing the path nearly imperceptible even to its creator, following it to her people. He knew where they were now. He mind still there, he left a small gift, and then withdrew.
He looked down at the dozens of small clay sculptures he had arrayed before him. The fanciful dreams of some shadar-kai mage within Patren, when he had last searched his mind, he has noticed them, and they drew his own interest. He raised the staff, and with a faint pulse, breathed life into them. Finished, he withdrew to see the consequences on his plane.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Elves worship Veros
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Dark Eladrin worship Veros
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Psuedodragons
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet
5 - Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl, Mara, The Empress, Drahthor
4 - Hensen Jijou, Kiptar, Hammu, Ipsur, Torvek.
Lord Mephistopheles, Jormundrasil is now free to beign posting. You have 6 PP.
And so it was for Jormundrasil the eldest tree in existence. Few trees can boast an age to match Jormundrasil and even they have not grown to such titanic size. This huge, gnarled tree that seems to be of no particular kind grows above the great primeval forests, and with it's impossible age, it's ever expanding existence it has become a god in of itself. So was Jormundrasil born.
The pangs of it's ascendance was a great groaning and creaking like a wood bending and breaking. The nameless forests around this ancient tree shook, and the ground quaked before everything settled.
Born of some primal urge to scream, to yell, to empty oneself of anguish, and fear, and loathing through pure and simple noise, these beings took to the plains, screaming and howling away. They were the fury of the storm, the howling wind. They were the endless scream, the scream of anger, and of hate. They were the Howling Hags, and they howled for all to hear.
And in their dreams, the Hags had a mother, a howling crone who led them along, keeping them howling their song. They followed her, worshipped her, longed to see her once more. And whenever they closed their eyes to sleep, they did.
The shifters, born of the furious wind, found a kinship in these Hags, and revered them as gods. For what else could espouse the fundamental truth so clearly? So the Hags lead the Shifters, like shepherds leading lambs, and slowly they spread across the southern continent.
PP Expenditures
1 PP +1 from Leilaka Shape Populace (Lesser) Howling Hags
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) The Howling Hags worship the Empress. They call her Svami, the Mother-in-Dreams.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) Shifters worship the Howling Hags, and, by extension, the Empress.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) The Howling Hags worship the Empress. They call her Svami, the Mother-in-Dreams.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) Shifters worship the Howling Hags, and, by extension, the Empress.
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The warforged discovered a huge crystal in the depths of their city. After many years of trial and experimentation, they found that it could store energy in patterns that mimicked the language they spoke. They managed to recreate smaller versions of this crystal, which could store limited amounts of data on their own. The smaller ones would, regardless of distance or planes, immediately send their data to the main one, which seemed to have no limit to the amount it could hold. This let them organize and store all the information of their empire. A new Guild was created to maintain and to create these crystals.
Show
2 pp: Create Artifact(intermediate): Data Crystal: This stores energy shaped as the warforged language. They use it to store information and other things. (Its almost like computers, if that helps)
2 pp: Guide Populace(Greater): Warforged learn how to use the Data Crystal, and create smaller versions for personal use that sync with the main one continuously.
2 pp: Create Artifact(intermediate): Data Crystal: This stores energy shaped as the warforged language. They use it to store information and other things. (Its almost like computers, if that helps)
2 pp: Guide Populace(Greater): Warforged learn how to use the Data Crystal, and create smaller versions for personal use that sync with the main one continuously.
And discovered it was hollow. In some places it's roots greeted water, in others, land. To extend itself through this land, Jormundrasil sent it's roots towering through this landscape, the continent known to some as Ardune. As it's huge roots seemed to sprout from the land, they twisted and grew. His roots grew branches, bark and leaves. A verdant forest bloomed on Ardune, and it was all but a fraction of Jormundrasil
Show
4PP left
-2PP (Mold land, Moderate) Create the First Forest of Ardune, the Forest of Roots
-2PP (Mold land, Moderate) Create the First Forest of Ardune, the Forest of Roots
After several moments in contemplation and observation, Drahthor decided he was pleased with the way this river curved and flowed through the planes of existence, however he was still disturbed on not being consulted about this river flowing into his plane.
With a wave of his hand he recast the courtyard into a beautiful pool into which the river flowed. The statues of the humans and their nemesis was replaced by carvings of various ocean beasts in their majesty, with a statue of the God of Water Nero sitting upon a throne at the height of the stairs that visitors would ascend.
Drahthor then sent a message in flame to the builder of the river "Twin Goddesses of Moon and Vengeance, I am pleased with the creativity and ingenuity that has been shown with the creation of the skyway river to connect the planes. However, I do object to the intrusion upon my plane without any kind of forewarning. In the future, I would ask that you seek my permission before manipulating my realm so."
Then, in a burst of flame and light, Drahthor reappeared at the entrance to his Ziggurat, back in his true form. Looking down at the base of the steps he spoke the the visiting Changer of Ways "And Lord Hensen, I welcome you to the Kingdom of my Chosen People, Might I inquire though of what you wish to speak?"
****
As the sahaugin were integrated into the society of Xanthor, changes began to take place. First, the sahaugin were formally invited into the nation, through not as equal members. Instead they received protection from the Drahkorn, supplies that would normally be beyond their ability to construct, Noth, and the various blessings of Drahthor. In exchange, they presented the Drahkorn with the bounty of the seas (mostly seaweed, fish, and golden eels) and were expected to help provide soldiers in times of war.
The Drahkorn had been experimenting with the seaweed for some time and had found it to be a rather robust and easily used material. However, being unable to collect large amounts themselves they could never really produce enough of their products in useful quantities. However, with the supply given by the sahaugin, the Drahkorn were able to alchemicaly manipulate it by wrapping layer upon layer and then treating it with a phorus solution they were able to make poles as hard as bone, they were also capable of creating a thin sheet of papyrus out of the substance.
The Drahkorn also began to make steel weapons for their new compatriots, though they infused the edge with obsidian to give it a better cut, though it meant they needed to be repaired and replaced more often.
However, for the first time in the history of the Drahkorn, their numbers began to exceed 30,000. The sahaugin who worshiped Lord Drahthor honestly and devoutly, upon dying, were reborn as a Drahkorn and integrated into the society. A third of the race was still in Xanthor at any given time, and the Obsidian Guards numbers remained at one tenth of the total population.
PP
1pp Guide (Herald)- The Sahaugin are brought into the nation of Xanthor as second class citizens.
2pp Guide- The Drahkorn learn to use alchemy and the supply of seaweed to make a diverse range of things from paper to a malleable log of bone like hardness and many other things in between.
2pp Guide- The Drahkorn learn weaponsmithing and begin to supply their new citizens with spears, swords, etc.
1PP Nourish (Eye of Restraint)- Xanthor thrives as the Drahkorn population begins to grow.
2pp Guide- The Drahkorn learn to use alchemy and the supply of seaweed to make a diverse range of things from paper to a malleable log of bone like hardness and many other things in between.
2pp Guide- The Drahkorn learn weaponsmithing and begin to supply their new citizens with spears, swords, etc.
1PP Nourish (Eye of Restraint)- Xanthor thrives as the Drahkorn population begins to grow.
"Deep, isn't it," said a voice beside her.
"Yes, quite deep," said the goddess, peering into the hole.
"I wonder if it's cold," said the voice, and suddenly there was water at the bottom of the fissure. It was always there, she just hadn't noticed it.
"Probably," said the goddess, and felt a sharp blow to her back. She stumbled forward, and slipped over the edge. She spun around in mid-fall to see ehr assailant.
The woman beside her. She had done the pushing. The goddess saw the woman was pregnant and had long, flowing hair framing her... but there was no face. Just a flat expanse of flesh.
The goddess fell, and screamed.
She hit the water. It was cold, so cold. It wasn't a river anymore. It was an ocean of salty water. It had always been an ocean. She just hadn't noticed.
She plunged beneath the water. Bubbles poured from her mouth as she continued to scream. Her lungs burned, her eyes stung with the salt.
Something lashed her back. She spun around in the water, struggling to breath, struggling to reach the surface. Something wrapped around her ankle. A tentacle. It pulled hard. She tried to swim upwards, reach the surface, only reach the surface. Then it would be okay, everything would be okay. But it was stronger than her, it pulled. Eyes opened beneath her, massive eyes that stared up at her as she struggle, tried to breath, tried to live.
She wanted to scream, wanted to cry out for help. None would come, she knew, even if she could get a word out. She began to cry, weak, pathetic sobs. She shook with them, she clutched at herself, curled up into a ball, waiting to die.
But she didn't die. The tentacle didn't pull her down, she didn't drown. She awoke, panting and sobbing in her bed, sweat soaking the sheets, small hands shaking her awake. She opened her eyes.
-----------------
In the deeps of the world, a new horror emerged. A being with lashing tentacles and great eyes that bored into mortal souls, and bent them to their will. They were the aboleths, and cursed be the one to meet them.
PP Expenditures
3 PP Shape Populace (Moderate) Aboleths
Hammu
Vymrl laughed slightly, his breath freezing the air.
Yes, I suppose that it does call for an explanation. I still do not accept the right of the Court to judge the actions of another god through some effect of morality. I do, however, accept the right of the combined might of gods to shape existence to their choosing.
You have created an alliance of gods powerful enough to put down opposition, to my nature, of Conquest and War, this gives you the right. Thus, I will aid you to the best of my ability, and, with the inclusion of War god upon your jury, I shall have a better guarantee that your rulings will have some pragmatism injected into them.
Having said this Vymrl frowned, then spoke more quietly.
Also, should the First Lord or the Fungal Lord turn upon us, I would wish to have allies at my back, and watch this world descend into either the madness of Veros or the horror Tsargga-Noggoth.
Vymrl laughed slightly, his breath freezing the air.
Yes, I suppose that it does call for an explanation. I still do not accept the right of the Court to judge the actions of another god through some effect of morality. I do, however, accept the right of the combined might of gods to shape existence to their choosing.
You have created an alliance of gods powerful enough to put down opposition, to my nature, of Conquest and War, this gives you the right. Thus, I will aid you to the best of my ability, and, with the inclusion of War god upon your jury, I shall have a better guarantee that your rulings will have some pragmatism injected into them.
Having said this Vymrl frowned, then spoke more quietly.
Also, should the First Lord or the Fungal Lord turn upon us, I would wish to have allies at my back, and watch this world descend into either the madness of Veros or the horror Tsargga-Noggoth.
A title floated across his mind, as if lazily doing the backstroke on the see of his conciousness. And that title was Meddler.
Almost as soon as Veros' mind turned to the thought it seemed to flip and dive below the surface of his awareness. His head echoed with otherworldly giggles.
Some time the tale end with the heroes living an happy and long life, with the Wondermaker gift helping them achieving their goal, but that is not always the case, It is known that he helped a starving village to survive the winter, with a special potion that turned its hunter into ravenous beasts, that he has blessed a noblewoman with an elixir of eternal youth, that turned her into stone, a knight with a weapon that will cause him never to be defeated in battle, because it turned on the knight and killed him before he can even start the first fight.
The common point in every story is however the fact that the life of the protagonist is always dramatically changed by the Wondermaker creations.
Meanwhile in the Free Nation artificers and priest of change study new ways to shape reality, developing powerful rituals, that they fuel with pure bloodstone and their own life force.
To Drahthor
Hensen climbed Drahathor Zigurat, manifesting to the other god in hid Hydra form. The Green head lead the conversation while the other listened silenty, ready to interrupt if the dislike the Green actions,
"I'm honored by your invitation Lord Drathor, I'm here to discuss with you about the outcome of the trial and the future of the gods"
"I want to hear your opinion about how Xa,an murder was dealt with"
"Since apparently the trial has demonstrated that killing a god is no real offense, especially if you are strong enough, like Veros is, to be beyond retaliation from other divinities, I think that even if Justice proved to be unsuccessful we can do something else to avoid crimes like these to happen again"
"I'm strongly convinced that unity breeds power, so I suggest that like-minded gods join in a Pantheon, for mutual support, defense, cooperation, and eventually to share the worship of the creation of the others. One of us is vulnerable and don't have the power to shape the destiny of this world alone, but a group of us will be unstoppable."
Hensen climbed Drahathor Zigurat, manifesting to the other god in hid Hydra form. The Green head lead the conversation while the other listened silenty, ready to interrupt if the dislike the Green actions,
"I'm honored by your invitation Lord Drathor, I'm here to discuss with you about the outcome of the trial and the future of the gods"
"I want to hear your opinion about how Xa,an murder was dealt with"
"Since apparently the trial has demonstrated that killing a god is no real offense, especially if you are strong enough, like Veros is, to be beyond retaliation from other divinities, I think that even if Justice proved to be unsuccessful we can do something else to avoid crimes like these to happen again"
"I'm strongly convinced that unity breeds power, so I suggest that like-minded gods join in a Pantheon, for mutual support, defense, cooperation, and eventually to share the worship of the creation of the others. One of us is vulnerable and don't have the power to shape the destiny of this world alone, but a group of us will be unstoppable."
Nerdzul
Drahthor nodded as he listened to the words of the young God of Change, he noted the hydra form that he had chosen, and wondered about whether or not it was the Gods true aspect or a mere attempt at flattery. After weighing his response for a few moments replied. "The decision on whether or not the actions of Veros constituted murder has already been decided. I do not know how the other two deities counseled or ruled, but Hammu stated that he ruled not guilty because no codified law had existed for the Gods up to that point. That was all that was needed to ruin any chance at a guilty verdict, and since Hammu is the Lord of Justice and embodies that element, that means that the ruling was just."
"Just, and right, however do not perfectly coincide, and I still believe that even without a codified law what Veros did was murder. But I convened the court and agreed to adhere to its ruling, so I will not seek restitution from the Lord of Knowledge."
"As for your pantheon Idea, I agree with the basic premise. Unity does breed power, and had the court ruled guilty the opposition they faced would only be defeated with unity in countering it. I did not believe that to be likely. I would be lying if I said that I had not considered your Pantheon in the past, but certain questions arise as to who would be included, how it would be arranged, and what each member would bring to the table..."
"Just, and right, however do not perfectly coincide, and I still believe that even without a codified law what Veros did was murder. But I convened the court and agreed to adhere to its ruling, so I will not seek restitution from the Lord of Knowledge."
"As for your pantheon Idea, I agree with the basic premise. Unity does breed power, and had the court ruled guilty the opposition they faced would only be defeated with unity in countering it. I did not believe that to be likely. I would be lying if I said that I had not considered your Pantheon in the past, but certain questions arise as to who would be included, how it would be arranged, and what each member would bring to the table..."
Mara
Lady, by the mandate of Hammu, I seek to build a prison. A prison to hold those who flout the united will of the gods, so that we shall not see a recurrence of the slaying of Xa'an. This prison will exist on its own plane, shut of to gods and mortals alike, save me and two others. Your Skyway River would make this more difficult. I could overwhelm its power, but I would prefer to do otherwise. Perhaps you would be willing to make Tamurung, The Bound Plane, the exception to your river?
Lady, by the mandate of Hammu, I seek to build a prison. A prison to hold those who flout the united will of the gods, so that we shall not see a recurrence of the slaying of Xa'an. This prison will exist on its own plane, shut of to gods and mortals alike, save me and two others. Your Skyway River would make this more difficult. I could overwhelm its power, but I would prefer to do otherwise. Perhaps you would be willing to make Tamurung, The Bound Plane, the exception to your river?
To Drahthor
"If not a proper pantheon I think that loose alliance, maybe just a mutual defense pact and cooperation created by a group of gods, even a small one sharing compatible domains and natures, can be effective enough.
Practical decisions can easily be made and small obstacles overcomed with preparation and strenght of will."
"Also I think that our creations can benefit from the gifts of more than a single god, and a Pantheon will be a perfect tool to strenghten our sons and daughter."
"Finally in case a decision for creating a new alliance I'll for sure propose the Lord of Creation and Destruction as its leader, maybe just a "first between equals", as I don't think that gods will accept to be ruled by one of their kind"
"If not a proper pantheon I think that loose alliance, maybe just a mutual defense pact and cooperation created by a group of gods, even a small one sharing compatible domains and natures, can be effective enough.
Practical decisions can easily be made and small obstacles overcomed with preparation and strenght of will."
"Also I think that our creations can benefit from the gifts of more than a single god, and a Pantheon will be a perfect tool to strenghten our sons and daughter."
"Finally in case a decision for creating a new alliance I'll for sure propose the Lord of Creation and Destruction as its leader, maybe just a "first between equals", as I don't think that gods will accept to be ruled by one of their kind"
Nerdzul
As the green head of the hydra spoke before Drahthor a smile, or the closest thing to one, spread across the Gods alien features. Externally, he seemed to be pleased with the offer, however internally he was well aware of the possible fallout of such a project. The God had offered him a position of leadership, however how could just one newborn deity hope to secure that post, had he some way of carrying out what he said or was he just trying to tempt the Torchbearer with what he thought he wanted him to hear. Either way, the Lord of Destruction and Creation could not afford hesitance here. If the project failed, then he could merely distance himself from it and ignore this pantheon, however if it succeeded and he was an early backer, he could stand to gain a preeminent position among its members.
"You have me interested, O Changer of Ways. Go now and propose this idea to other Gods that you would wish to include, and let it be known that I support the idea. After you have secured the interest of several of our sibling deities come back to me, and we will call the first congress of this possible pantheon to discuss the details of how it would work and what each members responsibilites to each other would be. The congress will be held in the Palace of Xa'an, and let it be known that just because a God comes to hear what is said does not mean they are making a commitment before they really know what they are getting into."
"You have me interested, O Changer of Ways. Go now and propose this idea to other Gods that you would wish to include, and let it be known that I support the idea. After you have secured the interest of several of our sibling deities come back to me, and we will call the first congress of this possible pantheon to discuss the details of how it would work and what each members responsibilites to each other would be. The congress will be held in the Palace of Xa'an, and let it be known that just because a God comes to hear what is said does not mean they are making a commitment before they really know what they are getting into."
To Drahthor
The heads looked toward Drahthor smiling.
"For sure I'll work on this in incoming age, I have a few names already in mind and maybe the knowledge of you being interest will help gaining the support of others, the process might be slow, taking more than an age, but it can bring great benefits if successful"
"We will be honored anyway, to have your direct support and your advice in this quest, as your experience and knowledge of the nature of our brothers and sisters might be precious to us all" Told the white head, larger than the others with eyes glowing of a golden light.
The heads looked toward Drahthor smiling.
"For sure I'll work on this in incoming age, I have a few names already in mind and maybe the knowledge of you being interest will help gaining the support of others, the process might be slow, taking more than an age, but it can bring great benefits if successful"
"We will be honored anyway, to have your direct support and your advice in this quest, as your experience and knowledge of the nature of our brothers and sisters might be precious to us all" Told the white head, larger than the others with eyes glowing of a golden light.
Jormundrasil began to form a crude image of these scurrying little creatures. Lifting it's vast roots from the ground, it began to manipulate the rock and earth. With it's newborn divinity, it shaped rough parallels to the beings it had seen. As they formed, the beings bore no faces, no features. They were large and thick, born of rock. They had raw, jagged edges and like the many beings Jormundrasil had seen they bore armor made of the metals and jewels in the land, weapons made of metal and stone, shaped as they and Jormundrasil saw fit, though it did not yet understand the distinction between the people and the armor they wore and the weapons they carried.
When it was done, silent sentinels of rock stood before it. As they trudged off to patrol Jormundrasil's vast trunk, silent commands issued by the vast tree entering their stone-hard minds, the huge tree-god began to make more.
PP
Show
1PP
4PP - 3PP Shape Populous (Moderate) Earth Archons
1PP
4PP - 3PP Shape Populous (Moderate) Earth Archons
Mara
Lady, by the mandate of Hammu, I seek to build a prison. A prison to hold those who flout the united will of the gods, so that we shall not see a recurrence of the slaying of Xa'an. This prison will exist on its own plane, shut of to gods and mortals alike, save me and two others. Your Skyway River would make this more difficult. I could overwhelm its power, but I would prefer to do otherwise. Perhaps you would be willing to make Tamurung, The Bound Plane, the exception to your river?
Saying this, Vymrl vanished, not only from space, but from time. The failing Temporal Harmonizer sent shivers through time, minor folds almost unnoticeable to most. The Lord of Time, however, could sense each and every one of them. He found the largest such ripple, and pulsed power into it, exacerbating it, making the rift larger. A stray human, walking to close to the invisible temporal distortion, fell out of normal time, and aged a hundred years in the blink of an eye.
Organs failed, a mist slipped across the man's vision as his body, once hale and hearty, died. Liver spots appeared on his hands, bones grew brittle, and his hair fell around him in a greasy curtain. As Vymrl poured more power into the distortion, it worsened, and the luckless mortal died, rapidly rotting away.
The man's death meant nothing to the god, as the strivings and dyings of mortals not of his ilk meant nothing. Finally, the stress grew too great for the fabric of time, and it tore. Through this, Vymrl stepped, leaving a fragment of his power to hold the distortion open.
Outside of time, blackness, void, that which all had come, and all would return. A vast echo of silence, and emptiness of sound. Cause effect, effect and cause. Vymrl stretched out his hand, and saw that he had already done, had not already done it, and was doing it. Even a deific mind, weaned on aberrations of nature and reconcepting reality reeled, buckling under the strain. Panicked, the god threw all his remaining power into creating a shell of stability, an area of calm.
Time resisted, then warped under the pressure, answering the call of its lord, or servant. If anything or anyone could be anything to this vast, unknowable chaos. The strands of time, warped to Vymrl's call, formed a barrier against the nightmare beyond. The outer barrier of time was spherical, any action taken within it would be repeated and erased, over and over again.
Within the shell, time's warping lessened slightly, a deity could enforce his power normally, but a mortal would be ensnared, bound forever in an endless cycle of repetition. From this bubble of calm, Vymrl stepped back through his gate, the ripple, no longer agitated by his power, closing behind him.
Once back in the reality that he knew, Vymrl realized the bubble in time he had created would make an excellent prison, with a little more effort. He called his creation, the Ex-Temporal Shell.
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The Imperium sustained its period of growth as births reached an all time high.
PP
2PP-Create Artifact, Medium: Ex-Temporal Shell (Blocks deities other than Vymrl from entering the enclosed space.)
2PP (Ssabrec, Light Child)-Nourish Populous: Imperium
Shurka stared at Jormundrasil with disbelief. The tree put his own creation, Eorna, to shame. What kind of god could have made such a tree? No... even this was too powerful to be labelled as an artifact. It must be a god itself; that's the only possible solution. Shurka appeared before the tree, ignoring the creatures around it.
"What are you?"
The screams and voices carried out across the waves while the whispers remained close at hand. Ipsur reached out farther and sought to embrace the runes of everything it witnessed. There was the buzzing of insects. The songs of the birds. Multitudes of thoughts and voices from the numerous races. The whispers and thoughts of the other gods themselves. The pressure was immense. Too many things at once here. Without having had the opportunity to closely analyze the true-name runes that were associated with all the thoughts and emotions Ipsur witnessed, they became fragmented and joined together. It was a maelstrom of madness and it wished to be released. Ipsur savored the moment.
Quickly, Ipsur called Codex to its side. Ah, my precious child Ipsur thought to it without ever realizing it had named Codex child. I have an important task for you to perform. You will take the form of a statesman, a powerful and ambitious one named Endir. As Endir you will be the manifestation of my will and I charge you with bringing this populace of the Free Nation into the fold.
With that Ipsur's rune covered servant embarked upon its next great journey.
Now, alone Ipsur began to tend to the maelstrom within its breast. The half-finished thoughts and ambitions that had joined into a chaos of madness. Madness was the only word to describe the swirl of thoughts and emotions within Ipsur. The creature from the Void reached out and folded space. Then Ipsur transferred itself to the Outer Realm.
And there Ipsur released the maelstrom that lay within its breast. Untold multitudes of screams and whispers. Half-finished toughts. Fused ideas that had no relation to each other. They leaped from Ipsur's presence and took root in the very fabric of the outer realm. Sometimes it was as if in a great savannah of mad thoughts and ideas. other times it was a vacuum filled with screams and still other times it was fear or endless repetition. It was a glorious bounty upon which dark things could feed. It filtered throughout the Outer Realm, sometimes subtly and sometimes like a tornado.
Ipsur intently watched the madness and the many things to which it gave birth. Solwly but surely the primordial entity chose its target, an entity with an insatiable appetite which spat the partially digested thoughts of madness in a strem of reformed insanity. With vision those changes could have importance. And so, Ipsur named the entity The Haggis and forced its True Rune to take shape. From there the entity slowly and inexorably refashioned the true Name Rune of The Haggis until it had grown to massive size and its gullet was a great multichambered organ of creation.
Many of the things of madness fled from its maw. Others hastily leaped forth expectantly to their doom and resurrection. Then as The Haggis sat and awaited the command of its master, Ipsur spoke to it: Come with me my Haggis, come back to the world of the mortals. I will have a task for you to perform the god finished as it wrapped a dark shadowed tentacle lovingly about the mullet of The Haggis.
power point expenditure
1 pp nourish land: fill the outer realm with the taint of madness, a fertile broth for many beings to spawn from...
3 pp Ascend Exarch: The Haggis (shape)
1 pp nourish land: fill the outer realm with the taint of madness, a fertile broth for many beings to spawn from...
3 pp Ascend Exarch: The Haggis (shape)
I am Endir (Ipsur) the Codex would tell the mortal. If you follow my teachings riches and wealth shall be yours it would say to some. If you follow my teachings the security of your children shall be insured and still to others the Codex stated Follow my words and you shall be greater than those around you. They will see and recognize your greatness The mortals listened and they believed. Such was the power of speech and teaching The Codex had accumulated over the previous centuries of its existence.
And so the name Endir (Ipsur) began to spread among the mortals of the Free Nations. Some referred to the great statesman as Endir and others merely matched the face with what they felt within their souls: Ambition.
power point expenditure
1 pp Guide/teach (The Codex) guide the folk of the Free Nation to worship Endir, the aspect of Ipsur representing Ambition.
1 pp Guide/teach (The Codex) guide the folk of the Free Nation to worship Endir, the aspect of Ipsur representing Ambition.
To Vyrml
Hensen sent a mental image to lord Vyrml, appearing as a massive well muscled reptilian humanoid, with dark scale with blood red reflections, his bare chest and arms bear scars, from the the day he battled with his brother, his hands featured strong obsidian-like claws.
"I'm meet you Lord of Conquest, I'm Hensen, master of change, and I'm here to propose you something."
"I know that you respect strength, the power to impose your own will on the others, I remember the war fought by the Imperium, your most favored creation, a war almost lost.
I'm also sure that you know the reasons for that, the Imperium was alone, against the might of many people, the combined forces of Alexandria, the Humite and the Lorekeeper won the battle. We can say that it was a battle won by their patron gods too, Shurka and Veros mostly.
What I offer you is the possibility to join a powerful new alliance, a Pantheon a source of greater power, a weapon that will be able to defeat any single god and a source of infinite possibility. A combined assembly of gods will also grant access to a greater pool of worshipers, of beings interested in your ways and teachings, more fighters for your wars."
"What do you think about this proposition?"
"As a token of my good intentions I'll be honored if you can grant some of your boons to the Free Nations, my priesthood will make your name known among them, while you may think them to be to "pacifists" to suit your nature remember that they managed to conquest a great prize: their own freedom."
Hensen sent a mental image to lord Vyrml, appearing as a massive well muscled reptilian humanoid, with dark scale with blood red reflections, his bare chest and arms bear scars, from the the day he battled with his brother, his hands featured strong obsidian-like claws.
"I'm meet you Lord of Conquest, I'm Hensen, master of change, and I'm here to propose you something."
"I know that you respect strength, the power to impose your own will on the others, I remember the war fought by the Imperium, your most favored creation, a war almost lost.
I'm also sure that you know the reasons for that, the Imperium was alone, against the might of many people, the combined forces of Alexandria, the Humite and the Lorekeeper won the battle. We can say that it was a battle won by their patron gods too, Shurka and Veros mostly.
What I offer you is the possibility to join a powerful new alliance, a Pantheon a source of greater power, a weapon that will be able to defeat any single god and a source of infinite possibility. A combined assembly of gods will also grant access to a greater pool of worshipers, of beings interested in your ways and teachings, more fighters for your wars."
"What do you think about this proposition?"
"As a token of my good intentions I'll be honored if you can grant some of your boons to the Free Nations, my priesthood will make your name known among them, while you may think them to be to "pacifists" to suit your nature remember that they managed to conquest a great prize: their own freedom."
Show
1 pp: Spawn Creature(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): Treasure Oozes, which appear to be piles of metallic parts, but have a sentience behind them, driving them to do what Kiptar commands. They are lower divine servants for him, similar to the Mech swarms. They live in the River, and a very small percentage, about 1% spread to other planes and observe.
1 pp: Spawn Creature(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): Treasure Oozes, which appear to be piles of metallic parts, but have a sentience behind them, driving them to do what Kiptar commands. They are lower divine servants for him, similar to the Mech swarms. They live in the River, and a very small percentage, about 1% spread to other planes and observe.
Veros heard Xirinet's voice within his mind.
It has been a long time since we last spoke. I have been... distracted. Though now, if you would allow me, I would speak to you.
He stepped outside, looking down on the world from Skypeak. Around him, the nine pit fiends stood, awaiting his command, seeing the outside world for the first time.
"What do you want, Xirinet?"
I find myself slightly... at a loss as to what I should do.
Mildly amused, he saw that several imps, succubi, and even a few war devils has stealthily followed. He ignored them. "I have been hard at work at several experiments, but I doubt they will interest you."
With a quick gesture to the assembled devils the god continued.
An interesting assembly.
Curiously, when Veros looked at the war devils the word "anomaler" came to mind in a voice that wasn't his own.
((Shurka says this because he has the tree domain.))
The humite ship, the Whitewing had been sailing to the south, when the crew had made an unexpected discovery. A gate, that seemed to be constructed out of various bones appeared on the water. The humites didn't know this, but the gates usually only appear in front of those who seek to find passage to Xanthor. Perhaps it was their drive for exploration that led them to the gate, but the humites did not know its purpose. The ship captain revelled in the unknown, and set the ship to sail for the mysterious gate. They would soon arrive at Xanthor
Ritreaude
I'm not sure how you were expecting them to arrive, but this works, I guess. Let's take it to Mortal Stories.
The tree groaned and creaked, and the ground rumbled with his understanding. "I feel damage to those that are Jormundrasil, but not I solely... I have sent my Archons to discover those I perceived and fashioned them after, but I shall send more to bolster them, should those that threaten the Jormundrasil threaten them as well, for we are all united." And obeying commands unheard by any but themselves, a host of the Earth Archons, that Jormundrasil had been creating since the idea had come to him, turned as one and marched in the same direction the others had gone. At the same time, the First Archons stopped and waited, knowing their kin were on their way.
Men, prone to greed and ambition. Angels in search of their next art. Both looked to the mine, picks digging deep into the earth. Riches being cut from the rock itself, of course the inhabitants would never be happy with their home being disrupted.
Diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Silver and iron. Years passed and the smiths of Alexandria produced new objects of art, new riches to fill their trade quarter.
Actions
1PP from the Stars +1PP, Nourish Land: Precious gems and a variety of ores are found in mines throughout the shattered lands.
1PP from the Great Cathedral +1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria learns the art of Jewelcrafting/Gemcutting whatever you name it. Basically pretty trinkets. Valuable though.
1PP from the Great Cathedral +1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria learns the art of Jewelcrafting/Gemcutting whatever you name it. Basically pretty trinkets. Valuable though.
However the crew were not aware of this, for they had just passed into a strange realm that they never could have imagined. For beyond the gate, once their eyes had adjusted they found themselves in a gigantic cavern that seemed to stretch for as far as the eye could see. There was no sun to give light to this land, instead there were plants that seemed to glow with some inner luminance. A vast sea seemed to stretch below them with waters as clear as the spring within terena itself, and the crew believed they could even see small figures swimming about in it far below.
But what was truly amazing was what their gaze fell on as they rounded a large hanging stalactite. Before them stretched what could only be described as a vast city, with megalithic structures that seemed to be made from some dark smooth stone. Black pyramids and domes that seemed to stretch for kilometers and rise hundreds of meters out of the ground littered the surface, and some of the pyramids were even seen hanging from the ceiling. And some of the stalactites and stalagmites, hundreds of meters in height, seemed to have been carved into some strange figures the likes of which the Humites had never seen before. And most amazing of all, floating above the place where the city met the water sat a gigantic floating structure, marked by its strange shape with 8 defining towers and a massive cathedral with gardens on top.
As the Whitewing drew closer there was suddenly a rush of displaced air and the sound of creaking wood came from behind the crew who had gathered at the front of the ship to see what lay before them. When the crew began to turn, they saw six black beasts that matched the massive carvings in the stalactites. The beast had elongated curved heads with three eyes ascending up each side and when their jaws opened they had pearly white fangs. They walked upon all fours and their body seemed at the same time dilapidated and strong, and from the looks of it they had some strange form of exoskeleton as compared to skin. But the defining feature that caught the crews attention was the long segmented tail that fanned out behind the creatures ending in a wicked looking blade.
But then something truly amazing happened, the creature spoke. "Welcome honored guests, to the city of Xanthor. Might I inquire what brings you hear...?"
PP
1pp Guide Population- The Drahkorn build simple hut houses for the Sahaugin in the shallow water at the cities edge.
"Possibly. They are still far from complete though. I have ideas for others I might creater, but for now, the pit fiends rule over them. Though, it is amusing to watch them struggle with each other for power, I have not, as of yet, permitted the pit fiends to kill each other yet. Too few of them to risk such a loss."
It might be interesting to watch them squabble... Perhaps I could contribute. I fin myself with little on my own plate.
He looked at him. "As for a possible contribution, it would depend on what you have in mind."
He raised his hand and a vicious torrent of wind blew the fiends back into the workshop, and the doors closed. "But I have no intention of such a mindless horde running amuck within my workshop. The imps and succubi cause enough trouble already. Soon, I shall either create them a home of their own, or unleash them upon one continent or another. I haven't determined which yet."
With the aditional protection, their numbers increased aswell
-----
The dark planet continued to grow, as did the many servants of Tsarokga-Noggoth
To travel more easily across the planet and the aeter surrounding it, the Tsarok developed new semi organic ships comprised of fungal growth and their own webbing, ranging from small vessels to huge carriers.
----
(guide populace 1PP + 1PP from Nugorroth: Teach thallid grafting)
(nourish thallid 1PP from spore chambers)
(guide populace (tsarok) 2PP: Teach Tsarok aether ships)
(nourish populace (tsarok) 1PP)
(mold land 1PP + 1PP from Niburu: grow dark planet even further)
----------
Vymrl then twisted time, and called an image of himself out of the past. He easily broke the apparition's mind, as it had nothing but an echo of his power. He sent the image scurrying back through the twisted paths of time, invisible to all. The image arrived at the Dark Planet, seeking an audience with Tsarokga-Noggoth.
Everyone dies. Ships, it seems die too. But for them, there is no honoured resting place, or devoted service. Instead, there is the ocean, and the terrors of the deep.
There is a place, they say, that all ships go when they vanish beneath the waves. To some, it is known as the Black Deeps, the darkest and most profound section of the sea, to others, it is the Waterlogged Grave, a final resting place for all lost at sea. To most, however, it is the Shipyard. They say horrors unimagineable lurk this place, and those who speak of it do so only in anxious and whispered tones, for the speak the name too loudly might invoke what terrors lurk there.
No one is completely certain what haunts this place, but all know one thing: if they die, they'd rather go anywhere but the Shipyard.
A certain race, however, does not find it so terrifying. The mostrosities known as the Aboleths call this place home, and perhaps contribute to the place's terrible nature.
PP Expenditure
1 PP from the Heart: Mold Land (Lesser): A very deep area in the sea, the Shipyard is apparently where all ships go after they crash. Whether this is true or not, there does seem to be a lot of sunken ships there. This place is also home to Aboleths, who lair in the shells of broken ships.
A twisting reminiscent of a shrug followed the words.
If you need my aid I will offer any I can give, as per our usual agreements of course.
Not to mention, when Drahthor asked the Empress to sit on the court all did not seem well. So in a burst of flame, Drahthor left his Ziggurat and reappeared a moment later in his radiant human form within the shattered wreckage of Niyanta. Looking around the broken corridors Drahthor began to walk along the twisting paths.
Projecting his voice, Drahthor spoke to the walls around him "Empress, Priya, Elli?"
***
Within the underdark slime quivered. Moving against the stillness so accustomed. A passing spider walked onto the liquid mat and with an upheaval was consumed by the red-orange ooze.
Elsewhere a massive cube seemed to slide along hunting for its next prey.
Actions
Veros granted 1PP
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Ochre Jelly. In the Underdark.
1PP, Spawn Beast: Gelatinous Cube. In the Underdark.
1PP from Leylines, Spawn Beast: Ochre Jelly. In the Underdark.
1PP, Spawn Beast: Gelatinous Cube. In the Underdark.
The sound of a rock falling and skittering across the floor echoed from behind him, followed by a small gasp. He turned. Panting, low and quick. A small face peered around the wall, round, and streaked with dirt. The face vanished around the wall. A moment later it reappeared, as if unable to suppress its curiosity.
A halfling woman shuffled out into the corridor. Her skin and clothes were grimy with dirt. Her wide, brown eyes stared up into the god's.
It was Elli.
But not Elli as he remembered, no, her hair was wispy and white. Her face was lined, worn, her skin leathery and old. She moved with a slow, shuffling gait, and her posture was hunched. It struck him how very small she was. She seemed to curl in upon herself, her arms tucked around her body, her shoulders forward. This was an Elli that had seen and aged countless years. Her body was old and brittle, and shook with cold, with only a simple shawl to keep her warm. Still, she smiled up at the god, and her eyes sparkled with an inner light.
He raised his staff, and unleashed a torrent of power. With a violent and unceremonious abruptness and a thunderous fury, magic exploded outward from the pit fiend in a murderous blast. The very air howled as it burned and the area ignited with a blinding flash of magic that twisted in a deafening discharge of wrath.
When their vision slowly returned, the fiend still stood, apparently unharmed by the power. Then his body began to shift and alter shape as it fell backwards into the workshop.
-----
Deep within the workshop, the scattered remains of Yoglith's soul, let over from the creation of war devils, we herded and gathered, pushed together by the invisible forces of the plane. When finally brought to one location, they floated before Gorion. Still feeling out the odd powers he had been given, he grinned and unleashed power into them, forming a new creature to serve his wishes.
PP Expenditures
3 PP - Ascend Exarch - Gorion (combat, also serves a power source for infernal warlocks)
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Moderate) - Bearded Devil
***
Years had passed. Centuries as the gargoyles were studied, their limits ascertained. As the humans came to realize the true intelligence of their creations they began to slowly integrate them into their society, and the city itself seemed ready to accept the creatures of marble.
Actions
1PP, Nourish Populace: Gargoyles join Alexandria.
1PP, Guide Populace: Gargoyles learn to Read/Write.
1PP, Guide Populace: Gargoyles learn to Read/Write.
-----
Gorion looked his warriors over, satisfied that they would sever him well. He listened to the echoes in his mind, ever so faint. As he glanced around, he truly began to understand what his lord had done to him. He was a divine servant now, not just a creature born of a divine spirit. These echoes, they were prayers for assistance. He vanished from the plane, marvelling at the freedom he had now.
He glanced down from the air, considered the two sides fighting this war. Five hundred years, they had fought, the prayers said, and no end in sight. Those to the north wielded artificial men, and those to the south relied on magic and primal power.
He descended to the south, seeking out the mortals who called for aid the hardest. These . . humans, they called themselves. They were losing. He grinned to himself. Perhaps he could offer them power, for a price.
PP Expenditures
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Asilia learns Warlock (particuarly the infernal variety)
Strange... A thing of mortal make, yet within it I feel something.
With a twist the power of the forge struck outward burying itself deep within the slender blade.
Actions
1PP from creation Forge, Create Artifact: As yet unnamed, but it's a heroic-tier artifact. And making it's first showing in MS.
-----
The doppelgangers slowly began to spread once more, moving themselves into the city of Beacon, where they kept to the shadows and remained hidden.
-----
A new horrifying creature appeared on the battlefields between Patren and Asilia. Massive swarms of pyre flies, born from the shear amount of deaths occurring on both sides, coalesced into a new creature, a swarm of beetles that would flood over the desert landscape. Both sides names this creature Rot Scarab Swarms
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Doppelgangers expand into Beacon
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Rot Scarab Swarm
1 PP – Nourish Populace –Asilia
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet, Tsaroka-Noggoth
5 - Shurka, Vymrl, Mara, The Empress, Drahthor
4 - Hensen Jijou, Kiptar, Hammu, Ipsur, Jormundrasil, Torvek.
I would consider joining your Pantheon of gods. Be wary, though, of Shurka, I believe he would try to twist this organization to his own desires, and his fanatical hatred of the Fungal Lord. Still, you may tell others that I support your Pantheon. Try to bring more gods together. If you can achieve enough support, I will through my full power behind it.
"Very Well, we shoul'd met at the coming of the next age, in the palace of Xa'an, to discuss how to organize such alliance, and I'm sure that an important Pantheon will benefit from the greatness of the god of War, I also think that if we reach a proper agreement a War might be the perfect test for the Pantheon new combined powers"
To Kiptar
The Grey heads discussed for a while about who was going to contact the god of Artifice, since they were twin and have similar attitudes and skills but different philosophies it tooks a while for them to find a proper agreement.
Hensen sent a vision to Kiptar, a two headed grey dragonkin appeared to him. "Greetings master shaper" told the heads, almost speaking together "We are here to propose you something"
"As our people has already understood, in troubled times unity not only increase the chance of survival, but also provide great advantages in term of knowledge and personal power. So if this work for mortal we were thinking, what if it works for gods too, what if forming a proper alliance between gods with compatible interests and powers, so we have decided to form a new Pantheon of like minded gods, one that can coordinate our effort to shape the future of this world and that can open infinite possibilities for our people, and for us of course."
"If you will be interested in my offer, I'll meet you with the other gods that accepted it in the palace of Xa'an at the beginning of the next age"
Hensen sent a vision to Kiptar, a two headed grey dragonkin appeared to him. "Greetings master shaper" told the heads, almost speaking together "We are here to propose you something"
"As our people has already understood, in troubled times unity not only increase the chance of survival, but also provide great advantages in term of knowledge and personal power. So if this work for mortal we were thinking, what if it works for gods too, what if forming a proper alliance between gods with compatible interests and powers, so we have decided to form a new Pantheon of like minded gods, one that can coordinate our effort to shape the future of this world and that can open infinite possibilities for our people, and for us of course."
"If you will be interested in my offer, I'll meet you with the other gods that accepted it in the palace of Xa'an at the beginning of the next age"
Jormundrasil sensed a kinship with these beings, who were abandoned and directionless. He sent some of his own Earth Archons as messengers. The beings conferred, and the Fire Archons saw that the Earth Archons were their kin, though born of different gods. With the knowledge of new purpose, something these creatures craved, the Fire Archons went gladly with the Earth Archons. Jormundrasil did not fear for his forest, for like his Earth Archons these beings of fire were in control of their elemental forms. Their fires would not burn unless they wished it, and after finding new purpose, they did not wish it of this forest.
Actions
3PP=4PP-1PP Guide Populous, Fire Archons, to worship Jormundrasil
Shurka was about to leave Jormundrassil, but then he remembered something.
"Here's a gift. I'm not exactly sure why I'm giving it to you, but it seems you should have it. And the Eye showed that I would do this."
PP Use
0 PP - Tree domain shared with Jormundrassil.
PP Expenditure
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) Asikan Empire: The Eladrin on Asika form a new nation.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The Dasa are enslaved by the Asikan Empire
2 PP Teach Populace (Moderate) Mining: The Dasa learn to mine using the tools they still have from Atakhari.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace The Asikan Empire: The new nation prospers, and draws on the knowledge of both races to increase its power.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The Dasa are enslaved by the Asikan Empire
2 PP Teach Populace (Moderate) Mining: The Dasa learn to mine using the tools they still have from Atakhari.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace The Asikan Empire: The new nation prospers, and draws on the knowledge of both races to increase its power.
Like the Earth and now the Fire Archons that Jormundrasil commanded, these new beings were faceless, their forms defined by their own will and the metal armor that encased them. They were beings of dancing air and dark clouds, of thunder and lightning. Jormundrasil cast these new creations to the winds. They would travel in groups known to them as Storms, a fitting title. They would seem to all as any other stormcloud, bringing rain and lightning, darkening the sky, but they would be Jormundrasils eyes and ears over the world, seeing what it could not see, hearing what it could not hear, knowing what it could not know, and in this way it WOULD know. They would be it's heralds of the sky, they were Storm Archons.
Actions
0PP=3PP-3PP Shape Populous (Moderate) Storm Archons
Having done this, Vymrl turned his attention to creating another artifact, this one of such power as to bind the very gods themselves. S'kre stepped into the Shell, and brought with him ten tons of Adamite. Vymrl took the ingots of silvery metal and began to shape them. Chains, immense in size and thickness, where forged from his might. A small hollow existed in the depths of each of these chain links. In these hollows, the god placed twisted fragments of time, that, interacting with each other, formed a loop of time, a loop powerful enough to bind a god.
The fantastic energies contained within the Adamite links, swollen as a river after the thaw, pulsed and expanded, running cracks through the hardest metal ever forged. Vymrl called upon the power of frost, his first talent, his primal embodiment and wrought it upon the chains. A sheen of ice ran across them, sealing the roiling energies in. The chill emanating from the chains would have brought any mortal a frozen, rime-covered death.
His work finished, the god dropped the chains to bottom of sphere, their latent energies colliding and burning against the temporal loop of the Shell. S'kre and Vymrl stepped back through a ripple in time, distorting the fabric once again, and once again returned to the mortal world. The chains, however, remaind in the Ex-Temporal Shell, lost out of time, unknown to all save the Lord of Time himself, the Sole of Yoglith, Vymrl of the Ice.
A whisper followed Vymrl, spoken in the future, a future, some future. A whisper that spoke two words, words frought with power.
"The Anomalaic Bindings".
PP
3PP-Create Artifact: Anomalaic Bindings (Imprison God)
But, first things first. Ipsur wrapped the head of The Haggis in its tentacles and began whispering into the mouth. The eyes of the beast opened and a fire lit in them. And on Ipsur whispered, a whisper of many voices and great power. This was one of the most intricate forms of rune magic. The pinnacle of the Art. As the whispers continued the True Runes began to form in the gullet of The Haggis. They formed and they grew. As the years rolled Ipsur continued to whisper into the gullet of The Haggis and finally the new age dawned. When his whispers were finished, The Haggis was stuffed with the parasites growing within and it would soon expel them in a grotesque afterbirth that would set them free.
And so the placenta was released and the parasites burst forth from their afterbirth that had them coccooned. Ipsur had patterned them in many ways after the nearby elves and eladrin yet he had not had the opportunity to capture them and rework their true names to his desires. Thus his copy was less than perfect. His changes were short of ideal. They were tall and strong but lacked the speed and intelligence and wisdom of the elves and eladrin. Their ears were long and pointed also and they had variations of skin color. Thus the orcs were born. A less than perfect shadow copy of the elves and eladrin.
And when they saw Gruumsh One Eye (Ipsur) standing in front of them, they fell to their knees in adoration of their creator and its power.
Thus shortly after the beginning of the age the orcs were born. Ipsur left for the Palace of Xa'an. Being a master of rune magic, while whispering into the gullet of The Haggis, it had been studying the rune naming the palace and had uncovered enough of its nature to deduce its locaton. Ipsur left to learn about this idea of a pantheon.
Meanwhile The Codex was already beginning its next task in the Free Nation.
pp expenditure
1pp +1pp (The Haggis) shape populace (Heroic Tier): form orcs
1pp guide teach: orcs worship Ipsur as Gruumsh One Eye (Ipsur)
1pp +1pp (The Haggis) shape populace (Heroic Tier): form orcs
1pp guide teach: orcs worship Ipsur as Gruumsh One Eye (Ipsur)
-------------
PP
+1PP (The Code): Guide Populace (lesser): All of Beacon worships Hammu.
1PP Guide Populace (lesser): Beacon learns the Cleric class from its Human citizens
1PP Guide Populace (lesser): Beacon learns the Cleric class from its Human citizens
"I would be delighted to come. I will be there"
He turned away, ideas flooding through his mind. It was time to work.
"A small gift for so many years of faithful service. But please tell me, what has happened to the former majesty of Niyanta?"
****
As Drahthor visited the realm of the Empress, within the kingdom of Xanthor more changes were taking place as the two places learned to accommodate one another. The Drahkorn learned to tan and treat the hides of animals that they killed, and using the leather that resulted they made armor for their new citizens. Meanwhile, the upper echelons of the sahaugin, in order to make themselves more useful to their new masters and maintain control of their underlings began to adopt one of two strategies. The first, and most common, was to pursue a course of physical strength in which the sahaugin sought to master melee combat with the armor and weapons provided by the Drahkorn. The other rare approach, was the sahaugin that learned to wield the very power of nature itself.
PP
2pp Guide populace- The Drahkorn learn leather working and how to make leather armors.
2pp Guide Populace- The sahaugin learn the fighter class.
2pp (1 from Herald) Guide Populace- The sahaugin learn the druid class.
2pp Guide Populace- The sahaugin learn the fighter class.
2pp (1 from Herald) Guide Populace- The sahaugin learn the druid class.
PP
2PP-Guide Populous: Heroic Tier Enchantments
2PP (Ssabrec, Light Child)- Nourish Populous: Enchantments given to military.
[b]
Vymrl then twisted time, and called an image of himself out of the past. He easily broke the apparition's mind, as it had nothing but an echo of his power. He sent the image scurrying back through the twisted paths of time, invisible to all. The image arrived at the Dark Planet, seeking an audience with Tsarokga-Noggoth.
Tsarokga-Noggoth felt the call of one that had contacted it before. Its mind sought contact with the god of war to see what he wanted.
"You may speak. What do you want?"
He then moved toward the Halls of Justice, asking nearby angels or Daeva where to find lord Hammu. He told to the divine servants that his master, lord Hensen, the Changer of Ways, have sent him to deliver message to the Law giver.
Than he begin to wait politely for the god servants to be able to meet the god.
"Hmm... I wonder if you are helping him or just using him..."
"Are you one of Lord Hensens newer creations, then? What does your master wish?"
For this reason He will be honored if you can teach the concept of justice to his followers into the free nations and if you can accept that someone in Beacon begin to listen to my master voice"
"Finally He is organizing a little assembly of gods at the coming of the new age, within the palce of Xa'an, its purpose is work on an alliance of gods, as any organization it will require rules, my lord believes that you should be invited, will you be there?"
He reached out toward it. The warforged suddenly felt his senses overflow with power unlike anything that he had ever felt before. His form was filled with energy until he felt himself transcending his mortality. His body was destroyed in the rush, and when he was reassembled, he was something....more than ever before.
Kiptar looked at its new exarch. It placed instructions in its mind, and, on a whim, grabbed one of the smaller gears in Mechanus, about the size of a hand. A moment later, it had been infused with his divine essence, and he gave it to his exarch, whom he decided to call Gears.
He sent Gears down into the world, to teach the warforged about magic, and its ability to be formalized into ceremonies that could be performed by anyone skilled enough.
Show
3 pp: Ascend Exarch(Gears)(Nourish)
1 pp: Create Artifact(Gear of Items)
1 pp: Guide Populace(Greater)(City of Gears)(Cultural Contact): Warforged learn rituals
3 pp: Ascend Exarch(Gears)(Nourish)
1 pp: Create Artifact(Gear of Items)
1 pp: Guide Populace(Greater)(City of Gears)(Cultural Contact): Warforged learn rituals
"Hello father," said the voice.
When Drahthor turned, it was not to see a miniscule toddler. The girl he saw there was much older, perhaps in her early teens. Time, it seemed, however, had aged her irrevocably past this. Her face was not lined, or worn, in fact it looked young, and healthy, and full of vitality. But behind her eyes lurked the wisdom of a person far older than she. And it was a wisdom born of seeing years and years of pain and heartache.
His daughter Priya stepped forward. She wore a beautiful dress of flowing white silk that was unblemished by any dirt or stain. For all intents and purposes, she was a beauty beyong compare. But it was a tragic beauty.
"You asked Elli a question," she said, in a quiet voice, "But I believe I can answer it far better than she."
She gave Elli a warm smile before continuing, but her voice was grave when she spoke, "It is mother, I think she is terribly ill."
Stepping forward in a rush, The Lord of Destruction and Creation embraced his daughter, the darkness beyond black of the cloak of Madness contrasting with the beautiful white dress she wore. As he held her in this embrace he whispered into her ear "My daughter there are few things I regret in my lifetime, but I want you to know that missing out on so much of what you have been through, that has taken precedent."
After a moment more in the embrace, the God stepped back and seemed to regain some of his composure "My beautiful Priya, what do you mean that your mother is ill?"
"Mother has always been rather strange," she began, "But no matter how strange she got, I could always see through it, see through the anger, and the hate, I could always understand her."
She shifts her gaze to the floor before continuing.
"But now, oh now, I don't know," she said, and her eyes began to well up with tears, "It's like she's this completely different person and I-I don't understand her anymore."
She begins to dab at her face, as if angry with herself for this display of weakness.
"But i-it's not even that, she...she..." and Priya looked up at her father, "She scares me."
This last was said in a tone so low, it was almost a whisper, but the girl's eyes were wide with fright as she continued, still in that quiet whisper of a voice.
"Right after this happened," she said, casting a hand around at the wreckage, "She changed, became morose, she would wander the Palace, muttering to herself."
"But bit by bit, she slowly began to retreat from the palace, spending more and more time in her bedchambers."
"Now she spends all of her time there, I don't know what she does, but at night, when I'm all alone, I think I can hear her screaming."
And with that, the girl burst into another fresh batch of tears.
"She did it, I think, in one of her rages," said Priya sadly.
But these others, they intrigued Jormundrasil. He had already sent agents to meet with the mortals of these lands, but so far he had met but one god. That god had shared understanding of himself and his kind with him, and he was enriched for it. So Jormundrasil touched the minds of the Storm Archons. "Find me the gods those in these... these 'Shattered Lands' worship. Find them and I shall speak through you. Search high and low, search the heavens and the stars, look through this world inside and out. I wish to speak with other... 'gods'"
(so Storm Archons are looking for gods worshiped by people who live in the Shattered Lands. Whether or not they find them is up to the gods in question)
"But... confront her?" she asks, sounding bewildered, "What... what do you mean?"
"If that is what you think we should do," she says, "Then I have the utmost faith in your judgement."
She turns and gestures to one of the passages leading away from this one.
"Come, here is the path we must take," she says, and sweeps across the floor, reaching the passage in a few quick strides. She stops there, and turns to her father, her hand on the doorframe.
"It's just..." she begins hesitantly, "When we get there... you might not like what you see."
And she gazes meaningfully at Drahthor. But then she smiles.
"Oh, Elli darling, you may as well come too," she says, and holds her hand out for the venerable halfling to grasp it. It seems strange to Drahthor to see Priya leading Elli along, when the last he saw them, it was the halfling leading the girl along.
"Come father, we wouldn't want to keep mother waiting," she says, smiling faintly. But still, that flicker of sadness lurks beyond her eyes.
"I sense that your master would be many things to many people. I will permit some of my city to worship him, but I desire that they know Change, not Chaos and Disorder. See to it that he understands."
"As for this pantheon idea, I will come to the meeting. Whether I support the idea or not may mean little, as I am still young, but I will not make a decision until the gods are gathered."
----------
Hammu left Hensen's messenger and appeared beside Rabi.
"When I came to be, we talked about the Deva and their shadow selves. The Rakshasa, was it? I would have you seek them out, in the dark depths of the world. Disguise yourself, find their strongest souls and turn them towards me."
Rabi bowed, and set out into the shadows as a hooded wraith. Here and there he found Rakshasa interested in a god who understood the meaning of their continual struggle against the Deva. Justice would have these ones.
PP
1PP Guide Populace(lesser): Many Rakshasa worship Hammu (though they know him as Shamash and do not connect the two)
1PP Guide Populace(lesser): Many Rakshasa worship Hammu (though they know him as Shamash and do not connect the two)
Then the Wondermaker briefly knel in front of Hammu. "Farewell, Lord Hammu, I thank you for giving me some of your divine time".
Meanwhile within the free nation, aided by their warforged partners, a group of engeneer and artificer begin building large ships, meant to travel to the corners of the world. Many among the Bloodsons were eager to use the new ships to explore the world and find new opportunities for themselves.
As soon as the first few ships were inaugurated a mission was formed to look for the land of their ancestors. Using a combination of luck and divine magic, the expedition was finally capable of finding the homeland of the Humite and a delegation was sent to look for their leader and reinstall new relations with them.
PP
1 - Guide, the free Nation discover Sailing (learning from the warforged).
1 - Guide (Aether Ripples), the Free Nation explorers went to the Humite lands, looking for their ancestors and to establish relations with them. I'll start a mortal stories post about that tomorrow
1 - Guide, the free Nation discover Sailing (learning from the warforged).
1 - Guide (Aether Ripples), the Free Nation explorers went to the Humite lands, looking for their ancestors and to establish relations with them. I'll start a mortal stories post about that tomorrow
Tsarokga-Noggoth, I come to speak to you of two matters. The first is of your Thallid. I, unlike other gods, have no squeamish fear of your creations, and my children likewise. Yet, my children need more room, and Zophar seems the appropriate place for such an expansion.
The only difficulty with such an expansion are the followers of Zophia. If you are willing to bless the Thallid with might, I will direct my children to send out envoys to them. Once they are united, I have no doubt that they could seize the entirety of the continent in a matter of weeks, to divide among themselves. Would you find yourself amenable to such an idea?
The second matter I came here to speak of is that of an alliance. As I hope our children shall soon work together for the common good, I would ask a similar alliance with you. Mutual defense in times of threat, aid, and limited artifact sharing would all be tenets of this agreement. Does this proposal interest you?
-----------
H
It has been over a thousand years since the Dwarves had fought with the Frost Giant, and their king had fallen to the enemy. The stories of that battle had long since entered myth and legend, primarily in the songs and ballads that remained in Dwarven culture. The reason behind that battle were never understood completely. At that time the Dwarves had an understanding a certain Goddess had been involved, but over the years that part of the story had also lapsed into myth.
One day, a Dwarven merchant, travelling afar to get exotic wares, purchased a group of items he was sure would be attractive to his buyers at home. As a throw-in, hardly noticed at first by the merchant, was a pendant. It was made of a soft white material in the center, surrounded by five hard gray metal points. To the seller and the merchant, the origin of that item was unknown, even to this day. The true history was unique; the pendant was a result of a loremaster's experiments with a small amount of unicorn horn the loremaster had managed to acquire. Unfortunately, that loremaster had become tainted by lycanthropy, and was forced to flee from their fortress before being caught and destroyed. The merchant, likewise, dismissed the item as a mere “trinket,” and gave it to his adult son.
When the merchant's son put the pendant on, the true world was revealed to her. He saw those in the society who were hiding as they were in reality. It scared him at first, but over time He learned to deal with these revelations, and to understand what it was Ge was seeing. More importantly, the pendant gave off a strange, short, vision—the battle of the dwarves on that terrible day; the slaughter of the strange Eladrin by the hands of terrible monsters of fields of grain in the summer and fallow snowfallen trees in the winter, with the moons and sun crisscrossing across the sky rapidly, and finally of a group of Dwarves meeting in secret and chanting odes to the fallen Dwarven King. It was revelatory, but the merchant's son interpreted it as his own.
The boy knew that these other Dwarves were real and engaged in a secret group, dedicated to that strange event in the long lost ages past. He searched for many years to find them. Eventually he learned about them, and made friends with an old man he suspected was a member. His hope turned true, and he was invited to a group. This group was dedicated to avenging the fallen Dwarf King. They were mostly older Dwarves, merchants and tradesmen, who used the organization to drink (a lot). But the young Dwarf had other plans, and over time he worked to leadership, telling the others of a Goddess who could bring their dreams to fruition. At first they laughed at him, but over the years he brought in new people who were receptive (in part, by playing up other aspects of the Goddess, such as blessing crops during planting season). Soon enough his little group had grown to a real organization, consisting only of real Dwarves (for the pendant revealed any others to him).
And through this all, Mara had not noticed the developments. Only when she felt her power being drained by clerical prayers, did she see fit to investigate. What she saw surprised her, but also amused her. She saw no reason to deny these Dwarves their desires, and besides, it could prove interesting in the future.
PP Expenditure
1 PP (from Astral Orrery) – Some Dwarves worship Mara. (I believe the Dwarves still have their trade routes "artifact")
Darkness filled the room. From what they could tell from the dim pool of light cast by the door, the walls of the room were carved with long gashes, as if some great beast had struggled to get out. As they strained their eyes against the gloom, they saw that the bed dressings were torn to shreds, and lay in a great heap upon the the broken bed-frame, which seemed to have buckled under some enormous strain. They could barely make out a chest heaving beneath the pile of torn sheets. They stepped into the room. The door slammed shut behind them. Priya stepped cautiously over to her mother's bedside. With a shaking hand, she pulled aside a piece of tattered material to reveal her mother's face. She gasped at the sight of it.
Her arms were curled up over her head, knotting themselves in the halo of brown and tangled hair about her head. Her eyes were clenched shut rather than peacefully closed, in fact her entire face was screwed up in a twisted mask of terror. The worst, however, were the deep, long gouge marks that streaked her face, from her forehead, down her cheeks and neck to her chest. They were red and stood out starkly against her white face. Her lips kept forming the same word, though no sound came out.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no..."
Then her eyes opened wide, wide with unfathomable shock and fear. Then she screamed.
It was a terrible, long, drawn-out scream. It chilled the bones, turned the blood to ice in the veins. It brought images of dying people, of people seeing death, feeling death, slowly, irrevocably painful death. Then she went limp, and fell back on her bed.
Priya just stared at her mother with a look of mingled horror and sadness
Ipsur decided that the orcs should learn a valuable skill and laughed a cold wicked laugh as he began to create it. The great power sang out in a song of many voices and the orc population gathered round him, their great one-eyed leader with the mighty spear.. Then he, Gruumsh One-Eye (Ipsur) started a song of power that reached into their souls and plucked the strings of the true name rune for orcs. This song was filled with screams and terror. Pain and rage. The orcs picked up sticks and stones and began to howl in a blood rage. There was the sacking of villages and the taking of women. On the song continued. The weapons were looted from the bodies of the slain and put to use. Crudely at first and then later with skill. Upward grew the throne of skulls as the song continues. Heads were placed on pikes. And on the song grew in stature and power. Their enemies were driven before them. Feast and famine. Carnage. The population grew and the horde surged forth. Then darkness. The song was complete.
The orcs looked around. There was now a malignant purpose in their eyes. They would have greatness.
pp expenditure
2 pp Guie/teach populace teach skill: loot and pillage.
The orcs are now very savvy at looting and pillaging. They are good at over running small establishments/garrisons through sheer force of numbers. They will then ravage the land and steal the tools/weapons off the dead. They are not creators, they are users. They might not understand how to use a hoe they find to till the land but they most certainly understand how to club someone over the head with it.
Now things start to get fun.
2 pp Guie/teach populace teach skill: loot and pillage.
The orcs are now very savvy at looting and pillaging. They are good at over running small establishments/garrisons through sheer force of numbers. They will then ravage the land and steal the tools/weapons off the dead. They are not creators, they are users. They might not understand how to use a hoe they find to till the land but they most certainly understand how to club someone over the head with it.
Now things start to get fun.
Her eyes flicker open. She twists into an upright position, her eyes squinting against the light.
"Priya, darling, is there something wrong?" she asks, her voice tired, but kind, "Why did you wake me?"
"Oh, Drahthor, how have you been?" she yawns widely at this, and smiles at him, "Do tell me what I've missed."
But it did not last forever. Weapons and the knowhow to make them slowly seeped into the other territories, and they began to fight back. At first the sporatic rebellions or skirmishes were easily defeated, but by the end of the era all the other clans were openly fighting the Rikkari, and they were beaten and the status quo ante restored.
pp
1 PP - Guide Populace - Dark Eladrin learn Metalworking (from Frost Giants)
1 Pp - Guide Populace - Dark Eladrin learn weaponsmithing (from Frost Giants).
1 PP - Guide Populace - Dark Eladrin learn Metalworking (from Frost Giants)
1 Pp - Guide Populace - Dark Eladrin learn weaponsmithing (from Frost Giants).
This tweaking and changing of a present desire was much easier to bring about than simply reshaping the name rune to carry ambition. Foster a desire, and then tweak the rune to devise plans to bring about the desire. So many names and individuals. The Codex was a dilligent worker. Soon, the Codex was able to work a song between the runes it had altered and tweaked. They harmonized and reverberated. Sometimes they crashed. Great was the cacophony. Sometimes the myriad of tunes would produce harmonics and the results would be astonishing. Other times the tunes would produce a discord and cancel each other out. However, in the multittudes of the rune songs, there would always be some who would still reach greatness within the chaos where others canceled themselves out.
And so while The Codex played its tune of harmony and discord the people of the Free Nation grew stronger and wealthier. When the runes would harmonize many would strive together to fulfill their desires to be great. When discord erupted, the feuds of ambition would lead to squabbles and sometimes even bloodshed. Upheaval was abundant. Those on the bottom would strive to reach te top of the social ladder. Those at the top would strive to remain there lest they fall as many did. However, amidst this upheaval, the wealth of the Free Nation grew.
Among certain circles a saying developed that would become legendary in time.
The path to the top is paved with daggers. At the heights, all the paths are paved with daggers
pp expenditure and OOC
Paraphrased Seanchan proverb from The Wheel of Time is at the end of above post,
1pp nourish populace: increase wealth
Paraphrased Seanchan proverb from The Wheel of Time is at the end of above post,
1pp nourish populace: increase wealth
Argus, cloaked in a twist of time, slipped across the world in one night. His form was of three eyes, forever changing from shriveled and dry to alive and wet, endlessly circling one another. So, shielded by the utmost secrecy that Vymrl could give him, Argus vanished out of time, to arrive at the Ex-Temporal Shell.
----------
The Imperium dispatched envoys, under the utmost secrecy, to the Order of the White Shield.
----------
A new metal appeared in the islands of the Chillund Archepeligo. An alloy could be formed from it of exceptional lightness and strength. Within a few years after the metal's discovery, the Imperium had incorporated it into their weapons and architecture. They called this new alloy, Mythril.
PP
3PP-Ascend Exarch: Argus Godsborn (Imprison)
2PP-Teach Populous: Mythril Working
1PP (Ssabrec)-Nourish Land: Mythril Veins
1PP (Light Child)-Nourish Populous: Mythril distributed throughout Imperium.
"An interesting proposal. Very well, I accept your offer"
After a few years of struggle the City States decided to form a loose alliance, keeping some of the power centralized to Freedomguard, that has most of the Archipelago under its Hegemony. While matters of foreign politics, religion and defense was left in control of Freedomguard council of Priests the cities were left free to do as they see fit.
A new social class of local lord "princes", powerful elders, chief artificers emerged in the Free Nation as the ruling class of the City States, while most of them believe to be the rulers of Bloodmyst Archipelago real power was still held by the Priesthood trough the use of "advisors", city elders, well placed contacts within the social structure and in the militia.
PP
1 PP Nourish - The Free Nation reorganize in form of City State alliance, many new cities born within the Archipelago
PP Use
1 PP [+1 Annolum] - Shape Populace - Half-humites (Will be statted)
1 PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace - Half-humites know divination
So where once Envy and Greed lurked within her heart, now it swelled, and the righteous fury she felt, and her inflated view of herself, began to swell. The Wrath and Pride within her breast began to grow. And even as she smiled sweetly at her daughter and former lover, the darkness behind her eyes began to deepen. She had started down a dark road, and there was no turning back now.
PP Expenditure
1 PP Form Domain (Lesser) Wrath
1 PP Form Domain (Lesser) Pride
1 PP Form Domain (Lesser) Pride
The rule of grand councellor Seren, the first humite to hold the post, the loremasteres began a huge research drive, drawing in odd technological wonders that had arisen across the continent, for study, duplication and modification.
Of the greatest interest in the incoming reports were rumors of a Free Nation, as well as a ocean born land call the City of Gears. Startled by their lack of previous knowledge of these places, expeditions were sent out, using the newest magical wonder at their disposal.
Unfotrunately for the organization, the reign of Grand Councellor Seren was short lived. Five years into his command, after ordering investigations into the Order of the White Shield, he was assassinated, the killer never found. With his death, the political infighting began once more.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Loremasters learn to make airships, using rituals to bring the ships alot, as well as to control them.
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace - Loremasters send expeditions in search of new lands
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - The first loremaster expedition develops a presence in the Free Nation.
"Hello again, Veros. Do you need something?"
So far, the reaction by the "lawful" citizens has largely been to ignore the problem, and leave it to each individual to manage their own protection (as is their way). Mercenary ships and marines have seen an uptick in business; though many cannot afford them and simply risk the dangerous runs for the high profits that ensues.
PP
1 PP -(From Exarch) Nourish Populace- Free Nations/Bloodmyst Archipelago - Arrr! There be pirates in the Bloodmyst Archipelago.
1 PP -(From Exarch) Nourish Populace- Free Nations/Bloodmyst Archipelago - Arrr! There be pirates in the Bloodmyst Archipelago.
Within the city of Rakhaos, one of the youngest city states, lived a skilled human artificer, Hanvis, while he had the ambition of realizing some great discovery for its people, he was in fact capable of creating a lot of small magical wonders that helped the life of its Rakhaos citizens and earned him a place of prominence in the city council, it still was not enough. He had nor realized anything revolutionary.
One day a lone traveller get to the city, he was a nice and polite man, dressed with unusual dark clothes, he told to be a travelling scholar and in fact he proved to be expert of many subjects and provide challenging conversation with the wisest citizens. One night, when Hanvis was at his workshop dealing with some theoretical problem for its last invention the Traveller went to visit. It is unknown what the Wondermaker told to the artificer, but a few days after the stranger was gone and Hanvis emerged from his laboratory with a new ambitious project. He was planning to create a machine that can extract magical energy from creation and so allow a massive production bloodstone infused residuum, the base substance of magical creations.
He enlisted much of his people to work at the project and soon a great machine emerged near Rakaos docks.
While building it the Hanvis was plagued with a single doubt, while the machine in theory will work even a single mistake in the calculation can cause a magical disaster. The wondermaker however have convinced him that he will become famous to his people that his machine will bring new prosperity to the Free Nations. In order to be sure that his work was not lost he wrote his projects and sent them to a friend of him in Freedomguard, as the marine routes to the capital was still safe from the pirates due to the power of the Hegemony.
The construction process lasted for almost one year and it consumed most of Hanvis family fortunes and resources from the city. Finally one fated night it was ready, planar energies flowed trough small portals opened by ritual magics while bloodstone pinnacles tapped directly into the leylines.
Hanvis entered the building alone, ready for his moment of glory, his dubts dissolved by the impressive for of his machine, within its dhepts the powerful energies roaming trough the structure produced almost deafening roars and the bloodstone spires radiated an messenger red glow, the artificer was inebriated by the power emanated by his masterpiece.
He realized too late that in the end he should have listened to his original instincts in the deafening harmonies produced by the machines there was a sudden interruption. Then the accumulated but not well stored magical energy exploded. Protected in the machine core Henvis was left to watch as a massive Bloodstone radiation mixed with wild magic devastated his home town. In the end he the structure collapsed and the artificer met his doom within it.
Month later the wondermaker, wearing the guise of a messanger from Rakhaos have given the projects to one of Freedomguard high priests. Thanks to Hanvis past mistakes and Rakaos destruction Freedomguard artificers was capable of creating a stable machine. They called it Arcane Focuser, or Hanvis Machine, and begun to harvest its bloodstone residuum to employ it in ritual magic and arcane item creation on a large scale, increasing the Hegemony power and Free Nation's glory.
PP
2 - Create Artifact (one from the Wondermaker), Arcane Focuser (Hanvis Machine), this large artifact building is capable of producing vast amount of residuum to allow mass production of low level arcane items and use of rituals to the ones controlling it (mechanically wise it does nothing in LoC, however it will be the base of future techs that I plan to introduce).
2 - Create Artifact (one from the Wondermaker), Arcane Focuser (Hanvis Machine), this large artifact building is capable of producing vast amount of residuum to allow mass production of low level arcane items and use of rituals to the ones controlling it (mechanically wise it does nothing in LoC, however it will be the base of future techs that I plan to introduce).
He lifteed his staff. "I've need of my orb, and last I recall, I lent it to you."
Invisible near to him there was a "presence", one of Hensen aspects was listening carefully, his brother might have plans, he was thinking, they might consider him a simpler mind, but they were oblivious that it was only a facade, even the Eldest was his tool, the aspect believed to be the real nature of the Changer of Ways and soon this mortals will provide him the strenght to advance its plans.
"Even if it does won't it be the will of Hensen to leave it evolve on its own, totally free to choose its destiny?"
The conversation among the elders lasted for hours without giving any resoult, no proper majority was formed, usually the council is fast in its actions, but not this time, given the subject. The Aspect would need to intervene.
Elder Holian moved back home, alone as usual, while it was not uncommon to have a certain level of crime in Freedomguard no one dared to attack a Priest of Change, not only because of the holy status that was the first reason, but also for the supernatural might. While navigating one of the high level bridges that led to his home he spotted some kind of shadow nearby. He turned toward it readying his power to protect him. When he was capable of discerning the being hiding in the shadows he was paralyzed by a mix of fear andastonishment, he could only say "Why?" before his attacker strike.
The next morning a group of young humans found the priest body with a steel weapon laying in his chest, Free Nations blacksmith are unable to shape that metal this way. The death of the Eldest was more than enough to scare the council to agree to his plan of a proper army.
The identity of the original killer was never discovered.
Soon a large volunteer military was formed, the Priesthood used their skills honed by their unstable position at power, to rise a new nationalistic instinct in the Free Nation and to provide proper incentives for young freemen to join its ranks, like training, a better life, chance of seen foreign land and the honor to defend the nation.
Named Bloodguard the army soon attracted a large number of would be soldiers. The priesthood helped shaping a proper fighting style for them, as a mix of the ancestral ones of the various races inhabiting the Free Nations, in order to form a properly trained army. A lot of theindependent mercenary companies that exist within Bloodmyst islands was recruited too and their experience used for the training.
Finally the fleet was refitted to accommodate the military. The treat of piracy should have being weakened by the creation of a proper marine, however the "live and let live" attitude of the Free Nation prevented a proper policing of the seas and while the area around Freedomguard were almost safe and the life for the pirates was a little harder around the Archipelago they still were far from extinguished. It is also rumored that some of the captains secretly work for Freedomguard council or the Bloodguard earning greater loots than ever thanks to those agreements.
PP
1 Nourish (from Bloodstone), the Bloodguard is created as a permanent volunteer army
1 Guide (-1 from cultural contact), the Free Nation learn the fighter class.
1 Nourish (from Bloodstone), the Bloodguard is created as a permanent volunteer army
1 Guide (-1 from cultural contact), the Free Nation learn the fighter class.
" Congratulations. You have performed your task admirably well. Now I have another for you. In a short while, there will be a meeting of the gods in the Palace of Xa'an. I will be unable to attend. You will go in my stead. Listen to the meeting. After it is over, walk the world and learn about it, discover all of those who live upon it. Return when I call." He dismissed Gears.
And now for some relaxation and meditation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the continent of Ardune, deep inside the veins of metal, something was stirring.........
Show
No pp is spent on the creature that is forming in the metal, since it hasn't been created yet. Basically, parts of metal are forming awareness, but that has no ingame effect. This will probably be my last post before I leave, so I will let you know that when I get back, I will start on Metallic Dragons, so please don't make any. Thanks, see you all when I get back.
No pp is spent on the creature that is forming in the metal, since it hasn't been created yet. Basically, parts of metal are forming awareness, but that has no ingame effect. This will probably be my last post before I leave, so I will let you know that when I get back, I will start on Metallic Dragons, so please don't make any. Thanks, see you all when I get back.
***
Alexandria's lifeblood pulsed. Human and angel alike bartering with new traders, whispering of new foes.
Actions
1PP from the Stars +1PP, Nourish Land: Water and plants in the underdark.
3PP, Nourish Populace: Alexandria
1PP, Nourish Populace: Humites
1PP, Nourish Populace: Eladrin
3PP, Nourish Populace: Alexandria
1PP, Nourish Populace: Humites
1PP, Nourish Populace: Eladrin
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Tsarokga-Noggoth used its psionics to link the minds of all its minions who resided on the darok planet and its fungal plane under a single banner. Their minds would be connected through a psionic network, The Link
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The dark planet continued to expand
(nourish populace (Thallid) XPP+1PP from Spore chambers)
(guide populaces YPP + 1PP from Nugorroth: Tsarok-Hem, Tsarok-Aran and grey fungi are grouped together to become one faction under "The Link". Do the unintelligent species also have to be placed in the faction, like the Narrok and the non sentient minion fungi of the grey fungus?)
( X + Y = 6PP. The X and Y will be defined when my OOC question is awnsered )
(mold land 1PP from Niburu)
EDIT: X=0 and Y=6
PP Use
3 PP (+1 Eorna) - Nourish Land x3 - Ardune, Zophar, and the Bloodmyst Archipelgo now all contain portals to the Feywyld. These are inaccessable to anyone but humites, unless PP is spent to teach a new race how to use them.
Shutting out the Frost Giant Priestesses almost at all time, Mara went did her work. The Priestesses bemoaned their lack of access, but understood that they were but keepers. Not only that, but Mara made sure they could not gain access to what it was she was doing this time. There would be no need for them to know what the Orrery's new ability would be.
She closed the hatch and went to the controls, and started the machine up again. It hummed and whirred just as before. To the unseen eye it was as exactly as it was before. But to the cosmos, it had a different effect.
Show
2 PP Create Artifact (+1 PP from Skyway River) – Astral Orrery - +1 PP for Mold Land/De-Mold Actions. Note that, just with the Skyways River. The Astral Orrery will expend its 1 PP to automatically De-Mold any action to create a new astral body within the heavens (counted as anything beyond the Aegis).
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Lycanthropy spreads to Shardar-Kai
2 PP Create Artifact (+1 PP from Skyway River) – Astral Orrery - +1 PP for Mold Land/De-Mold Actions. Note that, just with the Skyways River. The Astral Orrery will expend its 1 PP to automatically De-Mold any action to create a new astral body within the heavens (counted as anything beyond the Aegis).
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Lycanthropy spreads to Shardar-Kai
He looked at the border of the plane between the two of them. "Anyways, I would come in, but it seems I must seek out Mara. She is likely with her people I imagine."
He turned and watch at the oncoming swarm, wondering for only the briefest second what it was before is overwhelmed him. He stood there for several moments covered in swarming insects before he finally emerged unscathed. "Odd. It seems that Yoglith's creations have taken a liking to me."
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Gorion looked over the energies assembled on the forge, focusing them in his mind. That he had been given the capability to mold divine power from his lord was truly an unexpected gift, one he wouldn't waste. He unleashed the power he had gathered; forming the soldiers for new army he wished to create. He noted the several sparks vanished into the mortal realm, but disregarded them.
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Revan slipped through the forest, finally finding the crater he had sought. After several reports of a meteor falling from skypeak, he had wondered what might have fallen from there.
He reached the bottom of the crater and knelt down, picking up the book he found there. Only something of divine nature could have survived the fiery fall from atop skypeak, made such a crater, and still survived. He placed it within his robes, and continued on his way. He had frost giants to meet with.
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - The Chronoptera worships Veros
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Chronoptera
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - (unnamed at the moment)
3 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Greater) - Legion Devils
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet, Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, Vymrl
5 - Mara, The Empress, Drahthor
4 - Hensen Jijou, Kiptar, Hammu, Ipsur, Jormundrasil, Torvek.
Live-Laugh-Love, Sessilee is now free to post. You have 6 PP.
Chapien , Azor'Chapien is free to post. You have 6 PP.
In an instant, it was over, like the break of dawn, or cool water after a harsh drought. The screaming died. A new sound rose, a cry, the sound of new life. A rising crescendo of life.
Birth. The first step.
And in that instant, something happened. This was not like every other birth. In the perfect joy and purity of the moment, something special took place. In the happiness and absolute love surrounding all present, another birth took place. And it was more wonderful than any could have imagined. This was the catalyst for her birth, but not for her growth. For even as she came into being, in the perfect goodness of the moment, more and more happy thoughts reached out, gathered about her. She was the joy, the goodness of these people, of all peoples. And with every positive thought, every good wish, she grew stronger, grew more powerful. She was not just a perfect moment any longer, she was rapidly becoming something more, something much more. And thus, Sessilee was born.
1 PP - Form Domain (Lesser) Joy
These meant little in the world. Then, in the world of deceit and death, honor itself was born.
In a flash of light, a new being was born, along with new ideals, new forms of government, and new codes of honor. The world would be bound by his code of honor, and all would obey it. All other ways were void and weak. Only this code, this form of chivalry, could prevail.
And thus, the god Azor'Chapien, god of his own form of honor and knights, was born.
1 PP- Form Domain (Lesser) Feudalism
But he would have to start out small. He found some people, people who would be worthy of worshiping him. People known as the elves. But first, he would have to create the government system that the world would need to become what it must become, as Azor'Chapien would rule nothing less but his own code.
Thus, he created the concept of a knight, and the concept of feudalism. He taught some scattered groups his ways, and he would soon reveal himself.
2 PP: Mold Populace: Teach the elves the knight class.
2 PP: Mold Populace: Teach the same elves Feudalism.
And much had seemingly happened to the Empress of late. The Jade Palace was a realm that functioned according to her will, and for it to be in this state it must be a reflection of her inner turmoil. Then there was her appearance, something that a God could deal with with but a thought, so either she was completely unaware of it, or it was once again a reflection of inner turmoil. Either way something was dramatically wrong.
"Empress... I... I..." stuttered the God for a moment. He wracked his mind thinking of some way to respond to this, something to say or do, and as he was doing this he looked about the room. He saw his daughter, beautiful and seemingly magnanimous, he saw the Empress, wracked by some inner turmoil, he even saw Elli peeking her head around the door into the chamber. After a moment like this, Drahthor found his inner resolve and chose a path that lay before him.
Breathing in deeply and finding an inner pillar of strength, Drahthor spoke. "Empress, the reason I came here was because I remembered how you acted during the trial and was concerned. That, and I missed your company, my daughter, and a relationship with both of you. Since coming other reasons have arisen that have made it even more prudent that I speak with you, but both of those must take a back seat to the situation I find before me."
"I come to Niyanta, a Jade Palace whose halls once echoed your glories and a place where I learned much of the world from a strong willed but misunderstood Deity. Now, it lies in ruins, tarnished and broken. Where once a Jade Palace proclaimed the presence of a diety, now rubble marks her sleeping place. But that situation is pales in comparison to your person, for you wear rags that have been torn and sullied, you are covered in dirt and perhaps even your own blood, you cry out in your sleep in screeching terror, and then you awaken and act like nothing is the matter....."
"This is unacceptable, but I am not sure of what to do, and then I have other news as well. A young God seeks to establish a pantheon of deities, he has invited me and has asked that I bring you to a meeting to determine the fate of this venture. The meeting is to be held in the Palace of Xa'a, a demiplane of my own creation, a palace made of pure fire and light of the most magnificent and breathtaking architecture and glory that my mind could create. I would ask that you, Priya, and even Elli come to this meeting and weigh in with your opinion. But more than that, after the meeting is over, regardless of the outcome, I would ask that you would stay there. That you three would live in the palace with me, so that I might rebuild my relationship with you, and offer any aid I could to help you overcome your troubles..."
1 PP: Mold Populace- Influence the same elves from above post to worship Azor'Chapien
"Oh, darling, of course I will accomany you to this...meeting!" she said, her mouth splitting into a grin.
Her gaze roved once more over Drahthor's form, completely unaware of her daughter's presence. Then, with a sly grin, she speaks again.
"I have been lonely here without you Drahthor," she said softly, "Why didn't you come visit me more often?"
Then she laughed and rose into a roughly kneeling position upon the bed, so that she was looking Drahthor right in the eye
"Oh handsome sir knight, take me away!" she said, in a mock-dramatic tone, while offering her hand up for him to take.
Then, with a cackle bordering on hysterical, she fell back once more upon the bed, her chest heaving, her arms arranged about her head.
"I have to admit, though," she said, more to the ceiling than to anyone in the room, "I am going to miss this place."
But even as she closed her eyes for a split second, as if to remember things long past, something else clicked into place within her. Her eyes snapped open once more.
"Let us go at once!" she cried, and leapt off of the bed to stand upright by Drahthor and her daughter. Again she offered up her hand for Drahthor to take. She smiled sweetly, but said nothing more.
PP Expenditure
1 PP Form Domain (Lesser) Lust
Turning to his daughter then, he tried to gauge how she was reacting to the idea. Her face was like a platonic reflection of calm, and Drahthor was slightly put off by his inability to read her.
Taking the Empress' hand in his own, Drahthor helped her to stand up out of the bed. "I have been busy, I regret not being able to visit. But if I recall correctly, our last social interaction ended rather... abruptly. But now is not the time for such worries, come let us go to our new home."
As Drahthor said these last words a burst of flame consumed him, The Empress, Priya, and Elli in one blast, leaving Niyanta truly empty for the first time in centuries. A moment later they reappeared within the Palace of Xa'a, though not in one of the standard levels.
Instead they all stepped out into a wing that Drahthor had specifically prepared for Priya. Its architecture was Neo-Gothic in style, with flying buttresses, vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and numerous carvings of angels and prominent historical figures sat in alcoves scattered about the wing. However, while most such areas would be gray and somber in their magnificence, this place most definitively not. For climbing up the pillars and walls were vines from which bloomed flowers of every color, shape, and size imaginable. And a white carpet with intricate golden designs and edging were lain along the various corridors and rooms.
"My dear Priya, this is to be your wing. I believe you will find everything you need here, and there are even several rooms for Elli as well. I will bring some mortals to help you in any affairs and act as servants shortly. If you wish to come see the proceedings at the meeting for pantheon, then they will lead you there."
Then, in another burst of flame Drahthor and the Empress left Priya's wing and reappeared a moment later in another section of the Palace. Here, the architectural style was an almost exact replica of the central chambers of Niyanta in their former majesty. The chamber they stood in was a kind of receiving room, with a large jade throne on a raised dais and several other less ornate chairs sat about a round blood red carpet on the floor that led from the entrance arch to the dais, and off to several other chambers.
Drahthor signaled for the Empress to follow him as he spoke "This is to be your wing Empress, I hope it is to your liking. This is to be the audience hall, beyond that second doorway you will find your private chambers, the third doorway will take you to a garden, and the first will take you to a large dining area. Priya and Elli are not far away, in fact they have a direct connecting tunnel to the audience hall."
As he spoke Drahthor led the Empress through the second door into her private chambers and then along a side path. "If you wish to find me you need merely call, or my wing is several flights closer towards the center. I will be bringing servants shortly and they will be able to guide you around and aid you in any way you find necessary."
Walking through another doorway at the end of the hall, the Gods came to a large chamber with a series of seemingly natural hot springs incorporated into the floor plan. "We yet have some time before the meeting of the Gods, and I wished to give you the opportunity to wash and relax a bit before their arrival. You will find several dresses prepared for you in your bed chamber, and I will send for you when the Pantheon is to meet."
At this Drahthor turned and began to walk out the door, he paused for just a moment as his inner desires began to press forward again, but he had much to do and little time. So in another burst of flame Drahthor departed for the throne room, where he had already assembled the mortals who would serve him.
Upon appearing, already seated on the throne of fire, Drahthor looked out to those he had brought here. Hundreds of immortal beings of pure light, savage yet elegant creatures that still bore semblance to their eladrin heritage, stood arrayed before Drahthor. They milled about confusedly, having been brought here in a moment with no prior warning. Upon seeing him enter the lolsalfar all turned simultaneously towards the raised throne.
"Brethren, long ago you were raised above the forms of your eladrin ancestry into the immortal forms of light that now stand here. Xa'an gifted your race, but was then drawn away by other plans and other problems, never having enough time nor enough power to finish what he started. Say what you will about the first Lord of Light, he was a fickle God. You have wondered about the mortal lands for centuries, nay millennium. Attempting to pass through lands without notice, you all eventually came to settle on the abandoned foothills of sky peak, where you could live in monotonous peace."
"For let us face it, you have had no purpose, no drive, not even attention from another deity since your inception. This is a crime, to put your talents to waste, and I seek to rectify this injustice. As the new Lord of Light, I have brought you here that you might guard and serve within my Palace, and later within all my temples in the mortal world. In exchange, I will give you purpose, I will give you power, and I will give you what you have deserved from the start."
As Drahthor spoke these words he let power flow forth from his form and infuse inside the lolsalfar, unlocking possibilities they had never before possessed in their long lifetimes.
PP
1pp Guide Populace- Drahthor brings the entire lolsalfar race to his palace.
1pp Guide Populace (Herald)- the Lolsalfar worship Drahthor.
2pp Guide Populace- The Lolsalfar learn the avenger class.
2pp Guide Populace- The Lolsalfar learn the invoker class.
1pp Nourish Populace (Eye of Restraint)- The Lolsalfar find a renewed sense of spirit and purpose in their immortal lives.
1pp Guide Populace (Herald)- the Lolsalfar worship Drahthor.
2pp Guide Populace- The Lolsalfar learn the avenger class.
2pp Guide Populace- The Lolsalfar learn the invoker class.
1pp Nourish Populace (Eye of Restraint)- The Lolsalfar find a renewed sense of spirit and purpose in their immortal lives.
"Dont stand in the light then, Quiet. They'll see you if I dont close this door!"
The two gnomes looked around and smiled with glee. They had finally made it into the libraries of the Loremasters! The shelves surrounding them were old, very old, and their minds raced as they thought of all of the different, new and exciting words that they could bring back to Babble.
"Well, lets get started. No way of knowing when someone might come in." Sneak said. They had spent many weeks studying the layout of the library complex, noting which rooms were used more or less often by when there were lights coming from the windows, and had picked this room because it was relatively unused. That said, they didn't actually know what was in the room, and were quite curious.
Quiet scampered over to a shelf, grabbing a metallic 'page' and looking over it. "Stories," she said.
"Like, history?"
"No, like fiction."
"Well, there are great words in stories. Lets find them!" Sneak said happily.
"Shhhh!"
The two gnomes darted back and forth through the room of the library, grabbing stack after stack of metal sheets, running to one another whenever a new word was found, and slowly making a larger and larger pile of metal on one of the tables. The gnomes worked for hours, piling the stacks high until there were more than 300 stories on the table in many stacks piling high into the air.
*CRACK!*
With a loud snap, one of the table legs gave way and the metal slid to the floor, landing in a chaotic pile. The two gnomes froze, staring at one another as the hallways began to echo with the sound of feet running towards the room they were in.
Now, there's no good way of knowing exactly why what happened next happened, although the leading theory is that knowledge had never been so concentrated and so disorganized, and it responded in an unpredictable way, but before the gnome's very eyes, the words of the sheets began to float up into the air, breaking apart into their constituent letters and flitting about like some bizzare swarm of chronoptera. As the last letters on the pages vanished, the swarm laughed a rich, joyous laugh, and sped off into the darkness beyond the light from the gnomes' candles.
With a crash, the door flew open, and a group of dwarven and human loremasters ran into the room.
"How did you get in here?" One of them demanded, as several went over to the pile of metal, glaring at the gnomes for causing such a mess. Those glares rapidly turned to worry, then fury.
"Do you know how annoying it will be to sort these? Wait. What have you done to these? Where are the words?"
The gnomes stammered and spluttered, trying to explain what they had just seen.
"They flew off. The words, on their own, left and flew off the page. Okay, sure. Now, why don't you go sit in a cell for a while until you can come up with a better explanation."
With that, the Loremasters grabbed the gnomes and marched them off, while several began organizing the stacks as best they could. Junior Loremasters were sent out to the other secret libraries to recover the knowledge.
And in the corner of the room, beyond the glow of the candles, the new God, born of fiction, watched and wondered what to do next.
PP
0 PP Claim Domain of Storytelling (starting domain)
0 PP Claim Domain of Storytelling (starting domain)
Simultaniosly, he sent a message encoded in light itself to the Changer of Ways simply stating "Come, and bring the others as well."
Veros left the tree, making his way to the south, to his best guess as to Mara's location. He pulled up short. Yet another newborn, thinking they can simply steal the creations and charges of their elders. Leaving his current plan hanging, seeking out this new one, the one the elve's called Azor'Chapien."
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With his Hammer of Law in hand, Hammu arrived at the Palace of Xa'an.
PP
1PP Nourish Populace: More Deva are "born"; some in Beacon, and others elsewhere who make their way to the city.
1PP Nourish Populace: Rakshasa increase in like numbers to the Deva
1PP Nourish Populace: More Deva are "born"; some in Beacon, and others elsewhere who make their way to the city.
1PP Nourish Populace: Rakshasa increase in like numbers to the Deva
"I have talked to many and they have accepted our invite, lord Drathor, the only thing we need to do is wait."
OOC
Most of them have not posted in the last few days, so I think that we might have to wait for a while
A handful of humtie invokers were the target of Shurka's plan. During their meditations, he directly touched their minds. Before when he taught his creations something, they did not directly notice his influence. But now, he spoke with them in their minds. They felt his power. When these chosen few finished their meditations, they noticed a golden aura surrounding them. They would be called Golden Ones, servants of Shurka. And they would show their power to the rest of the world.
And then there were the half-humites. Shurka was interested in them, and had no hate for them, despite how many humites in Terena felt. Shurka made sure that they could receive the benefits of his power as well, spreading his worship to the Bloodmyst Archipelago.
PP Use
0 PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace - Half-Humite learn the invoker class (Is this necesary?)
4 PP - Guide Populace x2 - Humites and Half humites can take the paragon path called Golden One (this will be statted later)
1 PP - Guide Populace - Some half-humites in the Bloodmyst Archipelago worship Shurka
1 PP - Guide Populace - More humites in Terena worship Shurka than ever before.
A large storm came up and onto the Bloodmyst Archipelago, causing many ships to take shelter in ports or secluded coves, while many others were lost entirely. Not ironically, those mariners that prayed for help from many gods recieved no reprieve, save for those Humites who venerated Mara to lessen the storm and waves. Thus word spread through the entire Archipelago, whether fairly or not, that this Goddess would protect the sailors. Even the various pirates began to give prayer to Mara when black clouds threatened on the horizon.
PP
1 PP - Guide Populace - Free Nations - Free Nations worship Mara, mostly seamen, pirates and others who plow the seas. (Note, discount due to contact with Humites)
1 PP - Guide Populace - Free Nations - Free Nations worship Mara, mostly seamen, pirates and others who plow the seas. (Note, discount due to contact with Humites)
She plucked a flower from the ground and held it to her nose. She breathed in deeply, and her face broke into another grin. She fell back upon the bed of wildflowers, and gazed drowsily up at the canopy of leaves above her.
1 PP - Form Domain (Lesser) Flowers
The new God watched from the corner as a number of mortals entered the room. Had anyone looked up into the corner where the God was watching, they would have seen that the God was smiling, letters forming into a recognizable mouth. He enjoyed the fact that he was causing such trouble.
These new mortals did not seem to be Loremasters, though, as they were brought in under guard and the God noticed that several of them looked about the room with desire plain to see on their faces. Suddenly, one of the Loremasters, whom the God had identified as being one of some authority, stepped forward.
"Thank you all for coming on such a short notice. As you may have heard, we have had some small disaster here, and are in need of your unique talents. Who among you knows The Warforged Prince?"
Several of the mortals raised their hands, and one of the Loremasters beaconed one aside and retreated towards another desk at the back of the room.
"Thank you. Now then, who knows When the Chronoptera Come to Town, Grab Your Mittens!" The head Loremaster said, watching as more hands went up.
As this went on, the God slid along the ceiling to determine what, exactly, was going on. He watched as the new mortals spoke to the Loremasters, and the Loremasters wrote down their words onto the blank metallic sheets. After a few moments, the God realized what was going on! The new mortals were telling stories! I like these mortals the God though to himself.
"Is there no one for The Travels of Kyrl in the Well of Time? No one?"
The God turned his attention back to the head Loremaster.
"No one? Very well. We need to find more Bards."
Bards. The God thought to himself. So thats what these creatures are called. The God stretched down from the ceiling and towards one of these Bards. What makes a bard? he thought to himself, wondering what let them tell such wonderful stories.
A cry rang out, and the God realized he had been discovered. Twisting in upon itself, it sped out the open window, leaving the perplexed Loremasters to wonder at what they had just seen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The God twisted down the side of the Library structure, peeking in all the windows and seeing more and more books, but sadly, no open windows. Finally, the God saw an opening, and slipped back inside the Library.
He had found the dungeons, and specifically, the very cell where Sneak and Quiet had been brought. The two gnomes looked up at him with clear awe, and the God laughed in response.
"Hello, little ones. I think I have you to thank for my creation." said a voice from the midst of the swarm of letters.
The gnomes nodded frantically, and Sneak began to relate the circumstances that had led up to the God's creation.
The God laughed again. "But now you appear to be stuck, little ones. This is not a very good story." The characters swirled about for a few moments. "I know what would make this a much better story! A daring breakout!" The God laughed, and twisted in upon itself. Moments later, with a small popping sound, a key fell from the letters and into Sneak's hands.
"Now, wouldn't it be great if that key worked on the lock?" the God chuckled, watching as Sneak went to the lock and opened the door. The two gnomes grinned at each other and snuck out of their cell and down the hallway. The God followed them. When a Loremaster came near, the God would dart ahead and blow out their torches before flying back, leaving merely a giggle to denote his presence. The gnomes, blessed with enhanced vision, had no problems in the mostly-darkness, and rapidly made their way out into the night.
After a mile or so, the gnomes stopped, and the God swirled down in front of them. "Now wasn't that more fun?" the God laughed, letters glinting in the light from the torches the gnomes had taken as they had left. The gnomes looked at one another and nodded hastily.
"Good Good Good! Now, lets finish this story properly. The two of you should go home. Be sure to tell people about me, okay?"
"What should we call you, helpful one?" Snark asked.
The swarm of letters floated aimlessly for a moment, thinking.
There are so many names to choose from! Perhaps I shall be Veros. How does Veros sound to you?" The God saw the doubtful looks on the gnomes' faces. "Ah, Veros is already taken, isn't it? How about Xa'an? That one isn't being used right now, right?" Another giggle escaped from the swarm. "Hehe! Just imagine how people would react to a new Xa'an!"
The gnomes still looked doubtful, and Sneak said carefully, "Great one, Xa'an may not be such a good name for you. The name of Xa'an is not favored among some peoples."
"Okay, fine. I'll come up with something new. How about... Nixis? Nixis hasn't been used at all yet!"
Nixis looked down at Sneak and Quiet, who nodded their approval.
"Nixis it is. We shall tell our people of your help, Nixis." Sneak said.
"And then will you go and tell others?" Nixis asked.
"I do not know if I have the strength to travel the world in your name, Nixis. I am no Hardy." Sneak said. "But if I could, I would, in thanksgiving for saving our lives."
"That can be done, little one." Nixis chuckled as his form advanced on Sneak, engulfing the gnome in his letters. Moments later, Nixis pulled back.
Sneak looked back at Nixis. Where before there had been a slight gnome, Sneak now stood a head taller than any other gnome, and his eyes glowed with an inner light. If one had stared deep into his eyes, one would have seen that the light was actually glowing letters constantly moving across the inside of the gnome's eyes.
"Why dont we call you Convincer, little one." Nixis said, happily looking down at the gnome. Convincer smiled back, and, calling to Quiet, the two set off home for Babble.
PP
0 PP Claim domains of Mischief and Bards (Starting Domain)
3 PP Ascend Exarch: Convincer. Convincer is an abnormally tall gnome whose job is to expand the knowledge of Nixis far and wide. He provides Guide PP.
1 PP Guide Gnomes: Gnomes now worship Nixis
0 PP Claim domains of Mischief and Bards (Starting Domain)
3 PP Ascend Exarch: Convincer. Convincer is an abnormally tall gnome whose job is to expand the knowledge of Nixis far and wide. He provides Guide PP.
1 PP Guide Gnomes: Gnomes now worship Nixis
Once in the Palace, Vymrl turned to Drakthor.
Greetings, Master of Creation and Destruction. I have come for your conclave, to discuss this Pantheon.
Looking around at the Palace, the muttered to himself, A little warm, but I suppose I'll tolerate it.
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Argus Godsborn drew upon a massive store of Vymrl's divine might, and, easily navigating to flows of time, began to form a new reality, a new Plane of Existence. Argus concieved this new plane around three precepts, three laws that would govern this plane. As Time was birthright, formed from the flesh of the very Lord of Time, Argus wrought this new plane from the choatic fabric of Time itself.
The First Precept of his new reality was that of Imprisonment. This first and greatest Precept was that that Argus formed to plane to truly and completly embody. So, he called forth from the chaos around him a great grassy plane, pools of clear water, bright sun. Then, he froze it. Glaciers came into being, slipping down upon the plains. Waves of cold air emanated off of them, forming a rock hard layer of permafrost everywhere the glaciers did not touch.
The clouds in the skies turned to snow, changing the sun into a weak, dull orb. Argus yanked the threads of Time, and suddenly the new plane held only a few, faint, reminders of its kinder past. Great slopes of black ice covered everything, and sun held only a pathetic influence. In a world already inimical to mortals, Argus scattered Temporal Anomalies, tears in the fabric of Time that would suck in any unfortunate mortal who strayed to close and seal them in and endless repetition of their actions. With the Temporal Anomalies scattered like mines across the plane, Argus turned to his next task.
In the center of the plane, Argus brought forth an immense spire of black ice, an accusatory finger pointing at the echoing sky. With a flick of power, Argus hollowed out the spire, leaving it as a shell, deceptive in its lacey strength. He then called the Anomalaic Bindings out of the Ex-Temporal Shell and bolted their malevolently gleaming Adamite links into the black ice. Finally, the exarch took hold of the Ex-Temporal Shell, in the icy fingers of Vymrl's power, and sheathed the Black Spire in it.
His work finished, Argus turned to the Second Precept, Isolation. To this end, he scanned the plane for any sign of outside access, and found one, the Skyway River. Furious at this violation of the Second Precept, Argus wielding the final thread of his master's power and sealed it off, freezing the River until it no longer intruded upon his plane.
At last, Argus looked out upon the icy, Time-scarred, hell he had wrought, and was satisfied. In that moment, in the moment that Tamurung, the Bound Plane, came into being, Argus Godsborn ceased to be. In its place, Argus, Watcher of Tamurung came into being.
Argus set off on his rounds, interminable and unending, his three eyes gliding over the frozen planes and anomalies that he had created.
----------
The Imperium's period of growth continued, as the size of the military increased rapidly.
PP
5PP-Create Plane, Greater: Tamurung, The Bound Plane (The extra PP represents the lack of access via the Skyway River.)
1PP- Create Artifact, Lesser: Temporal Anomolies (Quite dangerous to mortals, not as much to gods)
2PP (Artifact, Exarch)-Nourish Populous: The Imperium
Finally they managed to produce an array of weapons, Bloodstone Weaponry, they require proper training to be used, and mass production would be impossible without the Arcane Focuser, but they were quite effective in simulated battles and against the pirates.
Bloodstone personal weapons are capable of firing medium range bolts of energy, or to propel projectile capable of easily penetrate metal shells. Larger version of these weapons, BurstCannons, were able to easily sink a ship or breach the wall of a castle, trowing bloodstone generating spatial distortion that turn the target to shred, or just sending larger projectile against the target. Finally metal weapons forged with small amount of infused residuum can cut easily trough flash, stone and even other metallic protection.
While at the beginning bloodstone weaponry was used only by the marine and the army soon some pirate captains was capable to steal some Burstcannon and personal weapons and soon the battles on the seas become even more violent.
Within the alchemists labs a new substance emerged too, while it was rumored that the project was secretly influenced by the Wondermaker it was attributed to the laboratories of the City State of Erevas and soon acquired by Freedomguard in exchange to unknown concessions. It was called Bloodgift in the army, and Elixir of Sin by civilian population and pirates when it leaked to common public.
This substance was capable of infusing whoever drink it with powerful life force, enhancing athletic and combat skills, even making the drinker look a little younger for a while. While the drinker feel himself to be full of energy and more "alive" the Elixir of Sin also deprive him of moral inhibitions and "humanity". On the Freemen it has no other side effects, a part from psychological addition, probably because they already have some small amount of bloodstone in their bodies because of their subsistence on Bloodmyst vegetation, other races after consuming the Elixir for a while might find themselves subject to mutation.
PP and OOC
2 - Guide (1 from Aether Ripples), the Free Nation learn how to craft Bloodstone Weaponry, mechanically their weapons produce effect similar to gunpowder ones (late renaissance level cannon, pistols and muskets). In order to equip an army with this weapons the know how is not enough, access to a reliable source of residuum (like the Arcane Focuser) is needed to "mass" produce them.
1 - Guide. The alchemists learn how to make Elixir of Sin.
2 - Guide (1 from Aether Ripples), the Free Nation learn how to craft Bloodstone Weaponry, mechanically their weapons produce effect similar to gunpowder ones (late renaissance level cannon, pistols and muskets). In order to equip an army with this weapons the know how is not enough, access to a reliable source of residuum (like the Arcane Focuser) is needed to "mass" produce them.
1 - Guide. The alchemists learn how to make Elixir of Sin.
He concluded it would be best to wait for the other god to find him, so he decided to wait.
"The abomination must not ignore, Yoglith commands it!" another, familiar, voice echoed in the god of knowledge's ears.
"Best listen when Yoglith commands it, yes it is best best best. There's no good time to ignore any time, least no time time knows. Bad time to not ask for the Healer's help, wouldn't you agree?"
"Never agree with anomaler! Yoglith commands it!"
"Agree with time, then?"
"..."
Turning first to answer Hensen's question, Drahthor spoke "Welcome Changer of Ways, and yes The Empress should be along shortly to hear and discuss your plan for a pantheon." And as he spoke a cushioned dais of black obsidian arose from under the form of Hensen, giving him a place to recline and relax.
Then turning, he took in the Lord of Frost. Drahthor saw his possible inclusion to the Pantheon as a mixed blessing. Vyrml was old, the sporadic memories he had received from Xa'an attested to this. Not only was he old, but he was strong. Twice now his frost giants had launched massive assaults on the home continent, and twice they were barely turned back by the combined might of those present. The second time the Drahkorn had aided in the war effort on behalf of the humites, but Drahthor had ordered this more for the opportunities to test them as a fighting force than for any political motivations.
The addition of Vyrml to the Pantheon would make it strong, a force to be reckoned with. However, it would provide a possible alternative power block within the coalition for the other deities to rally around, threatening the dominant position that Drahthor coveted. But the risk was well worth the prize, and Drahthor decided that he and the Lord of Frost had much to discuss in any case, even if this Pantheon did not play out.
"Welcome Vyrml, Lord of Frost. I cannot recall if we have ever had the pleasure of meeting in person? No matter, we are both here now and we shall see if this Pantheon bears fruit." As Drahthor spoke he noticed that, while Vyrml was a collection of cool aloofness at the moment, his exarch seemed to be sweating from the heat of the palace.
Mentally adjusting the temperature within the throne room to try and make it more comfortable for his visitors, Drahthor simultaneously raised a throne of ice and bone from out of the floor for Vyrml to sit in. In this way, Drahthor gave his guests a position of honor, though neither Hensen nor Vyrml sat quite level with Drahthor himself.
Jormundrasil worked, and weaved the minds of all the Archons. As it's own roots had twined with those of the forest, making them one great being, so the minds of all the Archons were wound together, separate but inexorably one. They would become The Unity, with Jormundrasil as it's hub. All Archons would be able to communicate with those closest to themselves, as they did with their own kind, but would now extend between the kinds, and they would be able to feel the Central Mind, and other Archons around them, if dimly.
1PP= -3PP Guide Actions, bind all three kinds of Archon into The Unity,
We have not met before, face to face, Master of Destruction. Though, I believe you may have seen a reflection of my form at the Trial of Veros. Still, I have not come here to speak of conflicts past.
I was contacted about the possibility of forming an alliance of gods. Some parts of the proposed alliance seemed distasteful to me, such as the sharing of worship amongst our children. Others, such as mutual defense and limited artifact sharing seemed possible.
Secondly, I believe we should discuss the possible invitation of certain gods, judged upon the strength and talents. Also, based upon my dealings with one who currently shall remain unnamed, I have come to think that that one could be a possible addition to our alliance, should we be able to overcome past prejudices.
Thirdly, we must establish a method of governance, or lack thereof, to rule this proposed body of gods. Should we form only a loose confederation, I fear that it shall become rife and infighting. Therefore, I am for a more centralized government. Should this proposal be accepted by the members of our proposed alliance, I will elaborate further.
Finally, there is the matter of a name for our alliance. I suggest the Bronze Conclave.
Now that I have spoken, let those of us present declare their thoughts, so that we might reach an accord.
"While I belive that mutual defense might not be enough, as an alliance of gods can grant us much more power, It can be a good beginning"
++++++++++++++
Meanwhile in the free nation the white aspect plan keeps unfolding, new city states are born in the outer reaches of the Archipelago, while the Bloodguard is reinforced by new recruits and weaponry.
Inspired by the Changer of Ways visions the city state of Novost sent a fleet toward Beacon, to find the land of justice and eventually start from there the exploration of the continent.
PP
1 Guide - Another fleet is sent to Beacon and to scout the remaining part of the continent from there.
2 Nourish (1 From Bloodstones), the Free Nation keep expanding and its Blood Guard grows in size and in power.
1 Create (from the Wondermaker),
The Compass of Shifting Routes. A gift to a pirate captain from the Wondermaker, the Compass is capable of showing the way to the thing that the user desire most, however it does not find what is really needed and usually it brings more harm than benefits. (for a fluff about it I'll make a new wiki page).
1 Guide - Another fleet is sent to Beacon and to scout the remaining part of the continent from there.
2 Nourish (1 From Bloodstones), the Free Nation keep expanding and its Blood Guard grows in size and in power.
1 Create (from the Wondermaker),
The Compass of Shifting Routes. A gift to a pirate captain from the Wondermaker, the Compass is capable of showing the way to the thing that the user desire most, however it does not find what is really needed and usually it brings more harm than benefits. (for a fluff about it I'll make a new wiki page).
“Were the speaking the truth?”
The woman sighed before speaking, the she explained what they found, “Yes and no. At first, when we read the texts, they appeared to confirm what the councilor was saying. But then we began using the techniques you taught us, to scry into the writings to see the past. I'm afraid that for some we could get nothing, but on many others sometimes just a flash, a short vision, and on even a few more strong visions.”
“The records were written from the outset to present the most positive light upon their activities. The strongest visions always showed a true history of the recorded events that was different, more terrible, than that which was written.”
“So this councilor lied.”
The woman shook her head, “If he only had these accounts to go on, then he would believe them to be true. I am afraid I cannot answer it either way.”
“And what of us?”
The woman again shook her head. “The record is scant, I believe again on purpose. Unfortunately our efforts yielded very little on this area. There is only one sheet that references an old man, who died while in custody, and in his dying breath gave the truth about us and those events. I do not believe this to be accurate, but I cannot glean anything further.”
The elder priest nodded and stroked his chin in thought. “Perhaps it is for the best. Return the records to our archive. I will meditate and pray to the Goddess for insight.”
The woman gave a short bow and stood up, still partially bowed and retreated through the doors.
****
A number of days later, upon the first night of calibration, the guard on duty at the Verosian Temple's archives began to have a cough. At first the guard thought nothing of it, he was just perhaps coming down with something minor. He continued his rounds as normal. But as the night wore on his conditions became worse. Still he continued his routine, descending into the depths of the archives. He began to sweat, and have chills. He sat down, he was shaking. He began to have spasms, shaking violently. Blood came out of his nose, then out of his mouth, then eyes and ears. He began losing his form, whatever he had was forcing him to slowly morph back to his true form of a doppleganger. He tried fighting it, but was too weak. Finally, in one last spasm, he stood up and flung himself against the wall. His hand grabbed at the sconced magic light, and with the force of a final action flung it to the ground.
The globe smashed. It was magic fire, but instead of going out it only fed upon the body, upon the wooden chair and the wooden shelves. The magical fire grew only stronger and stronger, fanned by an invisible force. It caught the metal sheets that were the records, and gleefully used them for more fuel. The metal sheets warped and melted, many turning to nothing but ash from the magical fire's “heat.”
By the time the fire was discovered it was already over. Even if they had discovered it, there was nothing the priests could do, for it was calibration and their spells would not work. In all, many records were lost but fortunately many in other parts of the temple survived.
PP
1 PP (from Exarch [Vazen]) – DeNourish – Eladrin – All records/copies of the inquisition/purge are destroyed, except for one single sheet (possessed by the Maran priestess?).
Also, I suspect I will not be able to do any more writing before reset due to work, etc. So here is the remainder of my expenditures:
2 PP (1 PP from Artifact [Astral Orrery]) – Guide Populace – Dark Eladrin – Learn Alphabet (Runic style)
2 PP – Guide Populace – Dark Eladrin – Learn to make Paper
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Dark Eladrin
1 PP (from Exarch [Vazen]) – DeNourish – Eladrin – All records/copies of the inquisition/purge are destroyed, except for one single sheet (possessed by the Maran priestess?).
Also, I suspect I will not be able to do any more writing before reset due to work, etc. So here is the remainder of my expenditures:
2 PP (1 PP from Artifact [Astral Orrery]) – Guide Populace – Dark Eladrin – Learn Alphabet (Runic style)
2 PP – Guide Populace – Dark Eladrin – Learn to make Paper
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Dark Eladrin
Changer of Ways, perhaps you are willing to back with your divine blood and might the adventures of others, I am not. Should one of our allies be attacked, however, I will gladly defend him.
The Empress strode into the room. Gone was the streaks of dirt from her face, gone was the pale and pockmarked skin. She looked healthy, and vital, and her hair was arrayed delicately about her head in an intricate arrangement. Her gait was slow, measured, and ever cat-like in its prowl. About her wrists and at her throat sparkled green gemstones, luminous in the light from Drahthor's throne. Her beautiful dress glittered green as well, and a long train trailed behind her as she walked. She stepped into the centre of the room, where all could see her.
"After all," she said, her voice rumbling in her throat, like a purr, or a growl, "We are all friends."
She smiled, and her teeth glittered like polished opals.
"And in the vein of that friendship, I propose a plan," she continued, gazing at each of the gods in turn, "Obviously all are not present that were invited, but nonetheless, it is vital that we continue, lest we become bogged down in the intricacies of etiquette and good grace."
She smiled once more, and brought her arms about in a graceful arc.
"I suggest we keep our own affairs as separate as we like, but still offer aid to our fellow pantheon members when needed," she said to the room at large, "But that occasionally, when circumstances warrant it, we invoke our godly might in the name of the entire pantheon. As such, certain racial groups may offer prayer only to one specific god, while others may offer prayers to the pantheon itself, and, in turn, all the gods that comprise it."
Her hands dropped to her sides, and once more she affixed each god with a separate look.
"In this way, we may maintain our own privacy, as well as our unity, offer our aid when asked, but not require it, work not at cross-purposes, but neither in a way that restricts our own personal goals and development," she said, "And as to a leader and name, why don't we put that to a vote, after all democracy is the cornerstone of a working relationship."
And with these words, she flashed the assembled gods another smile, though their was the barest hint of irony in the way she did so.
Suddenly, a large shape, as large as an island loomed in front of him, and Nixis found himself being pulled towards the large... turtle?
For that is what it was. A gigantic turtle, moving contentedly through the Aether.
"Why, hello there." Nixis said, winding his way across the creature's mountainous back. "Who might you be?"
Nixis sorted through the stories of the world. To help him think, he visualized that he was a giant eye, and he was scanning through the stories as they zipped before him. Subconciously, his letters responded, forming into both an eye and a stream of coherent letters. This continued for several minutes, until finally the words stopped at: Zaratan.
"So, you're a Zaratan, are you? I hear there are only a dozen or so of you. Is that true?" Nixis said as he floated past the turtle's enormous eyeball. The Zaratan did not reply.
"Bleh, you're sort of boring, you know that, Zatty? But thats okay, I like you anyways."
Suddenly, Nixis had an idea.
"Zatty? Be a good Zataran and hold still. Good Zatty!" Nixis called out as he floated up above the Zataran. Concentrating, Nixis summoned up a layer of fertile dirt and spread it across the Zataran's back, where it stuck due to the Zataran's gravitational field. Nixis then reformed himself into an image of a face holding its breath, and breathed out air over the Zataran's back, covering the creature's back with a thick layer of it.
Nixis laughed, and flew forward to the Zataran's face.
"I like it Zatty! And I think you'll like it too, once you get used to it. There are a couple of things missing, but we can deal with those later. Now, dont go far, Zatty!"
PP
1 PP: Mold Land (Lesser): Covering the Zataran's back with a good layer of soil (roughly the size of a medium-sized island)
1 PP: Nourish Land: Cover the Zataran's back with air.
1 PP: Mold Land (Lesser): Covering the Zataran's back with a good layer of soil (roughly the size of a medium-sized island)
1 PP: Nourish Land: Cover the Zataran's back with air.
He then spoke to the assembled Gods "I find merit in all the opinions so far expressed, though perhaps you will allow me to suggest my own course of action. First, I envisioned this pantheon to be more defensive than aggressive in nature when it comes to its members. What I meant by this, is that if one of the Gods of this Pantheon is attacked, the others would be required to come to his defense."
"However in the case of aggressive actions by one of the members, or the wars of mortals, each of the Gods would be able to decide on whether or not to aid their fellow members for themselves, but with one rule. No member of the Pantheon, nor any of the Pantheons worshipers and creations will ever make war with another Member or their people."
"Beyond this, for the entrance of new additions to the pantheon perhaps there should be one to sponsor their admittance? Then, the rest of the Pantheon would hear the reasons and weigh the possibilities of admittance, with a 2/3rds majority vote being necessary for acceptance."
"As for worshipers, I find that I am drawn towards the Empress' plan. Races can either be taught to worship the pantheon as a whole or to merely worship one of its members. Universal adoration from all member races would not be necessary."
"As for voting for a leader to provide central authority to the Pantheon, I would first wish to know what the powers and responsibilities of the leader would be?"
Over the years, the Guild spread to other populaces as well, spreading through word of mouth or otherwise, spreading to the humans of the Shattered Lands, the Humites and their city of Terena, even to the warforged in their floating City of Gears. Everywhere it spread, the Guild stuck to the lowest class, though what this amounted to varied greatly from culture to culture. It stayed to the shadows, so that few knew of its existence, and none but they of their true power.
Using a magical mirror the Guild believes is blessed by their goddess, the Guild is able to communicate to members who exist in entirely different sections of the world, and can even use its capabilities for limited scrying. The mirror, called the Envious Glass, can be commanded to reflect the image currently shown in another reflective surface so long as the person using the mirror knows the location of said surface. It is up to the user whether or not that other reflective surface shows what the mirror itself shows. This can be useful if an important member of the Guild wishes to speak with one of their associates. They merely command the mirror to show the surface of the associate's tankard of ale, and allow the associate to see them by gazing into his tankard of ale, while still allowing them to remain anonymous if they so chose it. This capability came quite in handy to the Guild over the years, and the Envious Glass was an invaluable asset to the Guild.
PP Expenditure
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) The Eladrin who worship the Empress and who still live in their homeland form the Beggar's Guild.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The Beggar's Guild worships the Empress.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) All poor humans residing in the Shattered Lands join the Beggar's Guild.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) All poor humites residing in and around Terena join the Beggar's Guild.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) All poor warforged residing in the City of Gears join the Beggar's Guild.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser) The Beggar's Guild
1 PP from the Land Spike Create Artifact (Lesser) The Envious Glass allows the user to scry out of any reflective surface they know about, and allow their visage to be reflected out of that surface.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The Beggar's Guild worships the Empress.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) All poor humans residing in the Shattered Lands join the Beggar's Guild.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) All poor humites residing in and around Terena join the Beggar's Guild.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) All poor warforged residing in the City of Gears join the Beggar's Guild.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser) The Beggar's Guild
1 PP from the Land Spike Create Artifact (Lesser) The Envious Glass allows the user to scry out of any reflective surface they know about, and allow their visage to be reflected out of that surface.
0PP=1PP-1PP Nourish Populous, The Unity
"Silence, Anomaler, Yoglith commands it. Yoglith wishes to see what this one does." An arm or two motioned towards Azor'Chapien.
Xa'an floated back, unseen by any but Veros... and Yoglith. "Hmph, just my luck to be stuck here with you. No fun, no fun at all."
My PP
Because I don't want another turn of PP to go to waste, and I'll be unable to post tonite...
Shadow gets my 6 main PP to use, Mech my artifact PP (1Guide, 1Spawn, 1Nourish) is at your disposal.
Shadow gets my 6 main PP to use, Mech my artifact PP (1Guide, 1Spawn, 1Nourish) is at your disposal.
The dark planet continued to grow
----
With the thallid converting the dead matter to released nutrients, the surrounding land became more furtile
(mold land 1PP from Niburu)
(guide populi 6PP+1PP from Nugorroth: to add the tsarok-aran and grey fungi to the Tsarok. The faction that contains all of these 3 races and their mindless minions will simple becalled the Tsarok)
(nourish land 1PP from spore chambers)
Told the green head.
"Also maybe we can offer help each other in any action that can seriously alter the nature of this world, like creating a new plane or altering fundamental forces of creation"
"For "common worship", if you all agree of course, we can introduce a "full pantheon" faith in our land, with each version of the faith focuse on the creator of that people as the lord of the Pantheon. To be honest I don't consider this matter a priority so, for me, we can also follow lord Drathor wise suggestion and keep religion a private matter in our creations."
"Finally I think that an eventual leader in this kind of alliance will have to be merely a "first among equals", maybe with the power to call for pantheon assembly and with its side winning in case of a draw in any vote."
With the influx of new people and ideas, the city of Duskpeak grew and expanded, not just into the depths and around the mountain, but up. Using newly developed architectural techniques, they built bridges from the mountain to the floating islands around the mountain. Using their knowledge of engineering, they even managed to build simple elevators, allowing them to move building supplies and such up to the islands. Slowly but surely, the city became a wonder.
-----
As the Defense Coalition's grasp on Terena and the surrounding territory strengthened, more and more of the common humites began to see the Coalition not as an unfortunate necessity, but as a benefit. Slowly, but surely, they were growing to accept the Coalition as a true benefit to their lives.
-----
The war continued to rage unabated. For a millenia, Asilia and Patren had battled back and forth acros the deserts and plains of Taldar, neither side able to gain the upperhand for more than a few decades before the balance swung in the other direction.
Despite it all, both nations psopsered, blessed by their god. But as the battles continued, it became clearer and clearer that Patren was beginning to gain the upperhand, through the use of their warforged soldiers.
-----
They had fought well, but fro the first moment, victory had been impossible. Alexandria has been determined to turn the minotuars to their tasks, and use them as soldiers, and the minotuars had been determined not to be used.
Riding their spider steeds, and using their unnatural ability to navigate the Shattered Lands, they had engaged in a guerilla war against Alexandria for two centuries, but it was a losing battle from the start. In the end, they simply did not have the manpower or training to win their fight. Even when it became unerringly clear that they could not win, they stood and fought anyway, refusing to go gently into the long night.
For their determination, they would not be lost to history. Within Alexandria, the tenacity and determination of the minotaurs would be remember through the ages.
And even Veros saw fit to preserve them from the darkness. In the final days, the few remaining minotaurs were plucked from the Shattered Lands, canished as if they had never been there. When they awoke, they were in a strange land or gueed mountains, dense jungle, and underground waterways. It was in this land that they would find their opportunity to carve out a new life on the continent called Ardune.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Dwarves flock to Meribia
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Halflings flock to Meribia
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Merbia developes architecture
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - More and more humites accept the Defense Coalition
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Patren
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Move the Shattered Lands Minotaurs to Ardune
And with a flash of light, he was gone.
The origin of the sound came from the Feywyld Plane, as another demi- plane has been created.
PP spent
2 PP- Create Lesser Plane (Xeronet)
Demi- plane exists within the Feywyld Plane
Demi- plane exists within the Feywyld Plane
----------
The city of Beacon flourished. Scouts and traders still carried in occasional reports of violent monster attacks in the Shattered Lands and of marauding minotaurs (though none had been confirmed for a few years). The elder statesmen of Beacon decided that the time had come to form a permanent protective force to guard the city and its developing trade routes.
----------
PP
1PP Guide Populace: Rakshasa form The Well, an underground city in the Underdark.
+1PP (Rabi) Create Artifact (lesser): The Provost's Courts provide a place for Rakshasa to seek Justice. While inside, no mortal may knowingly lie.
1PP Nourish Population: Beacon grows and prospers.
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon forms the Argent Guard as a full-time protective force.
1PP Guide Populace: Rakshasa form The Well, an underground city in the Underdark.
+1PP (Rabi) Create Artifact (lesser): The Provost's Courts provide a place for Rakshasa to seek Justice. While inside, no mortal may knowingly lie.
1PP Nourish Population: Beacon grows and prospers.
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon forms the Argent Guard as a full-time protective force.
"As for this first among equals, I believe the title of First Consul of the Bronze Pantheon would be fitting for such a position. And personally, I see no problem in recognizing the legitimacy of your court Hammu, however I would say that quarrels arising between members of the Pantheon should first be mediated by the Consul and an attempt at finding a resolution found there first, and only when events continue to spiral out of control should the need to convene your court be necessary. With that addition, I am satisfied."
Turning his head to stair into the eyes of all three present, Drahthor spoke to the assembled Gods "But come, I wish to know what each of you things of this arrangement, and whether or not it is suiting. I am also curios to know whom you feel should act as this First Consul?"
A council was formed, consisting of nine members, each chosen by a specific religion. This council held absolute power within the new nation. The worshippers of Veros filled five of its seats, and followers of the Empress and of Mara filled the remaining four, should they wish to fill their positions.
As this turmoil of the change of leadership began to settle, the name Sivera was chosen, and the people began to prosper once ore.
-----
The young eladrin looked at the elder before him, astounded at his great age. "Master Marock, it is an honor to meet some one like you."
Marock grinned slightly. "You mean some one as old as me, or some one who once sat on the Inquisition Council? Or perhaps you mean a former high priest?"
The youth bowed once more. "All three, your holiness."
He nodded, relaxing in his chair. "I'm retired. For what has the church sent a young acolyte such as you for?"
He lifted his head slightly. "Surely you have heard, master, or the fire which broke out in the temple? It destroyed the records of the Inquisition Council."
Marock nodded knowingly. "I know why your here. Teeg, Veros bless him, knows that I always kept a copy of every record. I imagine he sent you here for them, right?"
The youth nodded slightly.
Marock laughed slightly, and then was briefly interrupted by a coughing fit. Once he caught his breath again, he continued. "Return to the church, acolyte. Tell his most honored holiness Teeg, that I don't have the records he seeks. I sold them to a loremaster nearly a century ago in exchange for the knowledge of how to cure my wife's wasting disease. He'll have to barter with them if he wants copies."
-----
It had been many generations since the last time one of their kind had been called by the government to serve for anything. They had lost their prestige, their funding, and their connections. After all this time, few Avariels still lived, and most were well into their lives, still trying to hold onto that which they once had. But as the nation of Sivera began to solidify at last, as the theocracy settled into to guide the eladrin, some among the leaders saw the uses of the ancient organization.
Thus, were the few remaining avariels called to the temple of Veros. Within these ancient halls, formed by the hand of a god himself, the organization was to be reconstituted. The most elite and skilled of their warriors would be trained in the groups ways, and take on the mantle of protectors of the eladrin.
-----
Kalafi Krak continued to prosper on its isolated archipelago, but it would not remain so forever. Bolstered by a summer of fair weather, they began to send out ships once more. Several ships made way for Terena, and several more to explore to the east.
-----
A series of powerful earthquakes rocked the ocean floor off shore from Meribia and Terena. The resulting waves and aftershocks did minor damage to the surrounding populations, but nothing severe. The real effect was the appearance of a dozen islands forming a small archipelago in the area that was once Duska Krak.
In the following decades, learned scholars would propose that the earthquakes were really just repercussions caused by the ancient spell that destroyed Duska Krak.
-----
Gorion labored over the Creation Forge once more, anger plain to see upon his face. For this time, he was not working for his own ends, but following a directive from Veros.
Remembering clearly the commands and directives he had been given, he molded the divine energy carefully into the specifications.
When it was finally finished, he removed the forges restraints, and the contained powers burst forth, washing over the world with a wave of power unnoticed by mortals, but gods could hardly help but notice. A new plane had been born, one that resonated with the power deep within each immortal form, calling to them, asking them to come.
-----
Veros chuckled slightly. "Another rude one. Reminds me of Roan, in his first few centuries. Anyways, it seems Gorion has accomplished the task I set before him."
He slipped between planes, emerging in the Astral Sea, looking in all directions at it's infinite distances. As he sat there, watching and waiting, to see if anybody else would feel the resonation with this realm.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - One eladrin did, in fact, retain copies of the documents thought destroyed. Though they are in Loremaster, not eladrin, hands.
2 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - The Eladrin unite to form the theocracy of Sivera
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Avariels worship Veros
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Kalafi Krak
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land - Some land near Meribia rises above the ocean
3+1 PP (Artifact) - Create Plane (Greater) - Astral Sea. It is not connected to the Skyway River. It has several other small properties that I'll mention in the OOC.
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet, Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, The Empress, Vymrl, Mara,
5 - Drahthor, Hensen Jijou
4 - Kiptar, Hammu, Ipsur, Jormundrasil, Azor-Chapien, Sessilee, Nixis, Torvek
Award
Mara has been given a PP award this turn.
1 PP - Nourish Populace - One eladrin did, in fact, retain copies of the documents thought destroyed. Though they are in Loremaster, not eladrin, hands.
The mysterious fire that destroyed the other copies, started, in an eerily similar manner. A doppleganger wizard doing research on an unrleated matter that was coincidentally next to therelevant archives succumbed to an unknown death. In his deaththroes he knocked over his lamp, spewing a fire that raged through the historical records.
And then there were none.
1 PP - De Nourish - And now, ALL the copies are destroyed.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish - Copies still exist.
1 PP - De-Nourish - Nu uh. The copies are destroyed.
The words of the Lady of Jade on the worship of mortal races seem well considered and conceived. The words of the Master of Creation on the responsibilities of this Pantheon to itself and mortals will find my support. As to the admittance of new members, a super-majority seems a little, excessive. I recommend merely a simple majority. Still, it is a matter of little import.
As to the methods of governance that I suggest, I believe that at first, we should rotate a rulership of the Pantheon, changing once every age. This ruler will have the power to call Conclaves of the Pantheon, where matters of import may be discussed.
Once each of the original members has held the Consul-ship, I suggest that we hold a vote among us, to decide who shall hold the position. This vote shall be repeated at the birth of each age.
As to the powers of the First Consul, I believe that the power to call Conclaves of the Bronze Pantheon and the power of the tie-breaking vote should be delegated to them. In times of diefic war, however, more sweeping powers ought to be allotted.
Under a unanimous majority, a declaration of war shall be issued by the Bronze Pantheon. Once this declaration is issued, the First Consul shall assume wartime powers. Under such powers, the First Consul shall co-ordinate the strategy and command the actions of gods as related to the conflict. A two-thirds super-majority may end the declaration of war.
Under the wartime powers, any god who allows their mortal children to ally or give succor to our opponents children may be declared anathema by the First Consul. Any god that disobeys the orders of the First Consul under wartime powers shall be declared anathema and will be opposed in all manner by the Bronze Pantheon.
These are my beliefs on the manner of governance for the proposed Pantheon.
As to the legitimacy of Hammu's Court, I ask that any outcome that would significantly disadvantage a member of the Pantheon first be adjudicated from within, and, if it must be taken before Hammu's court, I ask that the First Consul sit upon the court, with tie-breaking power.
Under these conditions, I would accept the legitimacy of Hammu's Court.
Jormundrasil reached out with it's mind to these creatures, calling them to it's forest. Jormundrasil understood they liked the forest and the trees, and would likely come to love the lands that the Tree called home. The beings responded, slowly and tentatively. They were not as used to such things as the Fire Archons, for them the call was an odd desire to travel southward. However, they did travel. In their numbers, the "elves" began to travel southward, to live in the forest of Jormundrasil.
The great tree accepted these beings with an open-heart... well, if the tree had a heart. To better understand these beings, and because it lacked the ability to move and meet with other divine creatures like the Forest-God it had met, it found the greatest among them. It was an elf named Criellas. Criellas was the oldest left of his people, his hair silvered with age, but his face was surprisingly unmarred by age. Jormundrasil took this Criellas to be it's link to the Elves, to be it's messenger and to travel where the ancient being could not. Criellas became it's Exarch.
0PP=4PP-1PP Guide Elves to worship Jormundrasil -3PP create Exarch, Criellas (PP bonus, if I need to specify, nourish actions)
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish - The copies remain.
1 PP - De-Nourish. No, they don't.
PP Expenditures
1 - Nourish - Yeah, they do.
First, he found a large portion of sea just a few miles of the coast of the mainland. Then, he formed a shape. A shape of an island, with coves and curves and twists. Then, he filled the island with soil and trees and other land-type objects.
He had an island, now he needed a people.
He shaped a people, making them slightly shorter then what the others called 'humans'. They resembled their human cointerparts, yet he made them more to his image- more noble, more obedient.
The face of this new species was mostly the same as the humans, but the eyes were one solid color, like the eyes of the eladrin. Unlike the eladrin, the ears of this new race were round like those of the humans.
Finally, he had a new race and an island. The island was named in his honor, Azora, and the people in the island's honor, the Azorans. He would reveal himself to them later; first, he needed to rest.
2 PP- Shape Populace (Lesser)- Create the Azorans
2 PP- Mold Land (Moderate)- Create the island Azora
All across Terena humites protested the rule of the White Shield. Some because they knew the sinister truth, and others because they wished for the elder to rule the city again.
And above all of this, Shurka watched the city in chaos, deciding how to act.
PP Use
2 PP [+1 Eorna] - De-nourish Organization x3 - The White Shield loses standing in Terena
0 PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace - Some humites are told the truth about the White Shield
1 PP - Guide Populace - Humites in Terena told to protest against the White Shield.
Nixis was having some troubles keeping the Zataran from swimming off randomly into the Aether. Although not very concerned, Nixis did harbor some doubts as to his ability to find the Zataran again. The Aether was so big, and he, well, he was a god, but he was a new one, and did not have the power of some of the others he had felt during his explorations.
"Zatty, come back! No, you need to stay here. Zatty!"
Equally difficult was trying to command this two thousand meter wide, who knows how many tons heavy animal, when it was clear the Zataran's brain was the size of a peanut. It would not even acknowledge that Nixis was speaking to it, and that made the god even more annoyed. Finally, he came to a decision.
"Well, Zatty. I need my new home to be able to understand me, so open up!"
Without waiting for the Zataran to compy (although, honestly, he didnt think that was likely to happen), Nixis floated up and into the turtle's gigantic head. After several seconds (it was a large head), Nixis reached the brain of the creature, and got to work, working to create a better brain for the creature. Finally, Nixis infused the Zataran with part of his own divine spark, and flew outwards.
"SPEAK, MY MASTER." A voice rumbled behind him. Nixis turned to see the Zataran looking directly at him, eyes glowing with the power Nixis had left him.
"Hi, Zatty! So you understand me now?"
"YES, MASTER."
"Well good. Now then, I want you to help build up the land I have created on your back. You shall be called... Chukwa, for Zatty is not a good name for one such as yourself."
"CHUKWA. IT IS A GOOD NAME. I SHALL DO AS YOU HAVE ASKED."
Nixis opened his mouth to continue, but paused. Somewhere, deep below, something interesting was happening...
"I shall return, Chukwa. And I hope to bring you some friends when I do!"
Chukwa rumbled his assent, and Nixis turned and sped down towards the Eladrin capitol where all this activity seemed to be taking place...
PP
3 PP: Ascend Exarch Chukwa. Chukwa is one of Oravalos' Zataran's. Eventually he'll have a fully functioning island on his back, and will serve as my home base. Yes, this was inspired by Hindu creation myths He gives +1 to nourish actions.
3 PP: Ascend Exarch Chukwa. Chukwa is one of Oravalos' Zataran's. Eventually he'll have a fully functioning island on his back, and will serve as my home base. Yes, this was inspired by Hindu creation myths
He gives +1 to nourish actions.Rattled by the loss of it's founding organizers, the Defense Coalition wavered for several weeks afterwards, but managed to regroup, opening itself up, and allowing a few elders on the council, but mostly keeping the reigns of power.
(Yeah, triple de-nourish totally annihilated the organization. But the Defense Coalition is a seperate organization. It was controlled by the White Shield, but independent.)
------------
PP
1PP Mold Land: Beacon's engineers transform a cove into a deep, protected harbor. The town of Lighthouse grows around the docks.
2PP (-1 from Free Nation trade): Beacon learns Sailing
1PP Nourish Populace: The cheap and plentiful protein from the Lighthouse fishing fleet sparks a new population boom in Beacon.
1PP Mold Land: Beacon's engineers transform a cove into a deep, protected harbor. The town of Lighthouse grows around the docks.
2PP (-1 from Free Nation trade): Beacon learns Sailing
1PP Nourish Populace: The cheap and plentiful protein from the Lighthouse fishing fleet sparks a new population boom in Beacon.
*****
Meanwhile, within the kingdom of Xanthor the numbers of sahaugin and Drahkorn continued to swell.
PP
2pp Nourish (Eye of Restraint)- The kingdom of Xanthor's numbers swell.
"And as for the court of Hammu it will have my support, as long as laws are set before a trial"
"Finally for the role of our first Consul I propose our host, Lord Drathor"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After centuries of continued mutations and feeding on bloodstone tainted vegetation, combined with the Priesthood of change actions to increase the effectivness of the military a new unique race emerged. Called by the priesthood "the Blessed", or "Bloodborn" they are higly mutated humanoids, gifted by Hensen with enhanced physical might and the ability to alter their own body as they see fit.
At the first ages of their creation the Bloodborn served the Priesthood of Change as Elite bodyguards or agents, or joined the army reaching fast high level ranks, soon howhever the nature of the Free Nation overcome their social "conditioning" and they begun to join every aspect of the Free Nation society, adopting their brethren "easygoing" and ambitious nature, some of them also managed to join the priesthood or the echelon of Free Nation social structure.
Most of the original Bloodborn see the free nation inhabitants as brothers and sister and have a personal sense of honor bring them to aid and protect their weaker friends, while they are fanatically devoted to Hensen aspect of change they tend to prefer focusing on making reality better to the people near them.
"I likes it," the light commented. "Reminds me of the universe before, well, before you totally changed everything and put walls up to pen in play."
"Anomalies," Yoglith said, nodding its head as if it had spoken a great truth. Xa'an bobbed in agreement.
"We're not going to go away, you know" he said to Veros. He orbited the god of knowledge as he communicated. "I know, I know. You think you're just seeing things, imagining them. You know that we're both dead and you've used our souls like... well, like something that gets used up. Doesn't mean we'll stop pestering you."
"It feels as if my ancestors are here. What is that strange presence?"
Torvek looks around Xeronet to see what the presence is, but he sees nothing.
He flies toward Beacon, hoping to see Hammu again.
Flashback:
The waves of the Astral Sea- carrying the essence of Torvek's world, bound to the overgods that roam through the waves. Torvek heads down to the Ceremonial Courthouse for the Great Feast- a celebration held only once every decade. He was just about to arrive, when sudenly... everything went black.
----------
Rabi found that dragon waiting just as he had been when Rabi had seen him last, perched on the edge of the stone plateau on which Beacon was built.
"Torvek, is it? Frightening the peasants again, I see. Why have you come to the City of Justice?"
"Surely they're not still working on fixing the stories I used up." Nixis mused. Mortals were quite inefficient, it would appear.
The Eladrin loremasters were all seated in long rows at stoneworked desks, each with a blank metal sheet, a metal sheet with writing on it, a long iron rod and... a bucket of water? Maybe these Eladrin were thirsty mortals.
Ah. no, that would appear to not be the case. As Nixis watched, several of the metal sheets appeared to burst into flames, warping nearly instantly as the Eladrin pushed them off with the rod into the bucket and were given a new metal sheet by a runner, at which point they began hurredly copying the sheet as quickly as possible. Eventually, they would complete the sheet, and it would be passed on to another to copy it as the first Eladrin would get a new black sheet and a new sheet to copy, while flames intermittantly destroyed the sheets they were working on, and the sheets which they had already created. Nixis laughed. The Eladrin were going far too fast to be making reliable copies, and each copied sheet only compounded the mistakes that had come before. The Eladrin did not stop working, and it seemed as if the rate of creation and destruction was fairly even. Nixis wondered what in the world was going on. There was clearly a divine hand in all of this... but Nixis felt that now was probably not the time to go seek it out... in fact, amusing as this was... now was probably not the time to be here anyways. Nixis loved a good joke (and oh, was this some joke!) but he knew SOME self-restraint.
Turning away from the spectacle, Nixis flew upwards, and paused.
"I don't think that was there before..." He muttered to himself, turning to head towards a new island. Once there, he spent a few minutes examining the people. Not human, not Eladrin, not Halfling... something... in between? How very curious. Looking up, he spotted a glowing figure looking down at the island. Nixis sped upwards, rearranging himself into a crude imitation of the other's spectral form.
"Hello. Are these yours? I like them. What do you call them? For that matter, what do you call you? I'm Nixis." Nixis said.
"Nixis, God of Stories, Bards, and Mischief. Although that last one's a secret between you and me. You look to be the God of something important"
Or more likely something stuffy... Nixis thought to himself.
Having said this, Vymrl turned to the assembled gods.
My fellow gods, my fellow Lords of Creation. You stand today in the Palace of Xa'an, and you witness the birth of the mightiest alliance ever to have existed. Our fellows shall not soon forget us, and even after the Final Days, and the Ending of All Things, the echoes of our glory will procede, forever and unending, a monument to our glory.
Lord Drahthor, the founder of our Bronze Pantheon, fully deserves and recieves my support. He has already demonstrated his leadership, from the days when the Tsarosk-Hem assaulted our world, a mere eye-blink after his birth. Then, when Veros felled the god Xa'an, he brought him, the First God and mightiest of us all, to trial, and subjected him to the common will. While at first I was recaltriant, worried, I now see the great thing he has done. The Master of Destruction has ensured that our selfish concerns shall never end us all. Finally, with the lending of his influence to the formulation of the Bronze Pantheon, he has wrought the grandest organization of gods ever to exist.
For this, I, who have never sought the success of another god beyond myself, give my support to Lord Drahthor in his bid for First Consul.
As these words left Vymrl's throat, the god seated himself, and shot a glance at Drahthor.
--------------
The Senate was in an uproar, with the collapse of the Order of the White Shield, it became clear that they would never be delivered Terena and the Humite Lands. The decision, when it came, was that its legions would be expanded, and their weapons improved.
PP
1PP-Create Artifact: Malrime Ballista (Already 2PP, now makes it three with a +1 bonus to combat)
3PP-Create Artifact: Niflendar Flamborge (+2 bonus)
3PP-Nourish Populous (artifact): Imperium
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Book of Inquisition, which contains all records of the inquisition.
"Sorry to interrupt you, but I think there's someone looking for you outside of Terena."
Shurka turned around to see Selya. He left Selya to her own devices, but she must be paying close attention to the happenings of Terena if she was this close.
"Oh, Selya, I haven't seen you in a while. Thank you for telling me."
Shurka found the elf that was seeking him. Elves hadn't done much in the larger scale of things, so the fact that one was trying to find him was a surprise. He must have been an exarch - Shurka could tell he wasn't mortal.
"Hello, elf. Might I inquire as to whose proxy you are?"
With that, Shurka vanished in a flash of light, and re-appeared in front of the massive tree.
"Hello again. Your servant told me you wanted to speak with me; is there something you need?"
Shurka's body exploded, and changed into a golden mist. The mist flew around Jormundrasil's branches, and then reformed into Shurka's original body.
"But if you cannot, then I could contact a few others for you."
"I do think I could do that, Azor'Chapien. Why don't I do this. I am heading back now to check up on my own people, the gnomes. Why don't we travel to the city of Babble together, and I will send back some bards with you when we are finished? They will be able to teach your people many stories that you would approve of."
And perhaps a few to raise some eyebrows, too... Nixis thought to himself.
At first the Senators made to scramble and call for the guards, furious and a little frightened that something like this could so easily penetrate the seat of power for the imperium. But then, the largest of the creatures stood on its hind legs and began to speak. "Rulers of the Imperium, I am The Herald Enthlar, ruler of the theocratic state of Xanthor, and I come before you today with a proposition. However, my God has instructed me to seek privacy in this matter.." And as the Herald said this he channeled some of his deities power into creating a cone of silence around the senatorial hall to attempt and block the possible eavesdropping.
Vymrl
"Behold, long ago, in the last great invasion of the humite lands, we Drahkorn used the opportunity to test our claws against another in war. As such, we set ourselves against the stronger side, the Imperium, to see what we could learn. And we found that you are mighty warriors indeed, walking in massive formations that crush resistance, and adaptable to new strategies on the battlefield."
Now we seek an agreement of sorts, the obsidian guard seeks to prepare itself for future wars, and knowing your proficiency would like to join in a.... joint training venture. How we propose to do this, is to establish a series of forts and the edges of both of our territories, and then using these forts as base points the two sides will be placed into different scenarios and given various objectives like defend point A, capture point B, escort supply caravan, etc. Actually, a new demiplane of existance could also be established to further facilitate our needs, and even as these thoughts enter my mind my God offers to construct the plane himself as a blessing upon this agreement."
"This would allow us to sharpen the claws and the wits of our two great states against each other, sharing military technologies and strategy whilst simultaneously developing and perfecting new strategies."
"Furthermore," and at this point the Heralds voice dropped low "We of Xanthor know you still have your sights set on the humite lands of Terena, and would warn you that if you attempt to conquer them again, your expedition will meet the same fate they did before. The combined forces of the land will turn against you, and slowly beat back the mighty Imperium... For this we have a solution. We have territorial ambitions on the continent ourselves, and if we were to coordinate to launch both of our projects simultaneously, then the natives forces would be split and unable to concentrate on one invader as was done previosly....."
"This, of course, would require you to wait some time before launching your next attack. But the benefits should far outweigh the costs.... So, what say you?"
Now we seek an agreement of sorts, the obsidian guard seeks to prepare itself for future wars, and knowing your proficiency would like to join in a.... joint training venture. How we propose to do this, is to establish a series of forts and the edges of both of our territories, and then using these forts as base points the two sides will be placed into different scenarios and given various objectives like defend point A, capture point B, escort supply caravan, etc. Actually, a new demiplane of existance could also be established to further facilitate our needs, and even as these thoughts enter my mind my God offers to construct the plane himself as a blessing upon this agreement."
"This would allow us to sharpen the claws and the wits of our two great states against each other, sharing military technologies and strategy whilst simultaneously developing and perfecting new strategies."
"Furthermore," and at this point the Heralds voice dropped low "We of Xanthor know you still have your sights set on the humite lands of Terena, and would warn you that if you attempt to conquer them again, your expedition will meet the same fate they did before. The combined forces of the land will turn against you, and slowly beat back the mighty Imperium... For this we have a solution. We have territorial ambitions on the continent ourselves, and if we were to coordinate to launch both of our projects simultaneously, then the natives forces would be split and unable to concentrate on one invader as was done previosly....."
"This, of course, would require you to wait some time before launching your next attack. But the benefits should far outweigh the costs.... So, what say you?"
Drahthor
I am Mournelord Sargon. I know of your kind, enough of our people fell to your claws in the Second Humite War. Still, your offer of alliance has merits. I am the sole controller of the legions, as such, I accept your proposal. The mock battles would benefit our forces, and allies are ever helpful. We will trade you some of our tactics, but you will understand if we hold some of the arts to ourselves.
As to you, I notice that your weapons are formed from a strange matierial. Our mines already produce metals finer than anywhere in this world, but we are always looking for new techniques to sharpen and strengthen our blades.
As to an assualt upon the main continent, we may not be so outnumbered as you think. The Warforged and their City of Gears will aid us, and with luck we can convince the Alexandrians to stay out of the conflict. If Alexandria does not fight, then we can strike hard and fast against the Humites and Loremasters.
Our spies also report a new nation growing to the north. They call themselves the Free Nation, and while we have not yet made contact, it seems likely that they will not hinder us in our conquest.
As to you, I notice that your weapons are formed from a strange matierial. Our mines already produce metals finer than anywhere in this world, but we are always looking for new techniques to sharpen and strengthen our blades.
As to an assualt upon the main continent, we may not be so outnumbered as you think. The Warforged and their City of Gears will aid us, and with luck we can convince the Alexandrians to stay out of the conflict. If Alexandria does not fight, then we can strike hard and fast against the Humites and Loremasters.
Our spies also report a new nation growing to the north. They call themselves the Free Nation, and while we have not yet made contact, it seems likely that they will not hinder us in our conquest.
Several hundred kilometers north east of the glacial edge of the chilled Archipelago, something strange began to happen. At first, it was merely a change in the currents of the waters, a small whirlpool the that formed at the point where a two warm water currents flowing south met. But after a moment, the whirlpool continued to grow, and grow and grow, until it was nearly a hundred kilometers wide from end to end. Then, strange lightning began to streak through the sky, and the clouds seemed to burn red as the heavens themselves shuddered.
The Frost Giants at the edge of the Archipelago who looked out towards the sea began to prey fervently to Vymrl, believing this to be the end of the world. But then, they were even more amazed as the waters at the edge of the disturbance seemed to climb towards the sky. Slowly, these waters began to climb higher and higher, while maintaining there swirling clockwork momentum. Eventually, the water began to curve inward, until a vast dome of swirling water had been formed out in the sea, with its edge only a few dozen kilometers out to sea.
And then the weather stopped, yet the swirling dome of water remained, and the Frost Giants just stared blankly. But it was within the dome of water that amazing things were being done, for inside was created a plane with no set shape but the shape that was needed at the time. At times it would be sprawling grasslands and hills, at others it would be a kingdom with a massive capital city and pockmarked smaller villages and forts, yet sometimes it would form a cyclopian mountain range with only one heavily fortified pass through. These and many other things it would be, however one thing was always constant in this realm, those who fell in battle that day, there souls would be arrested from their plight to the next world, and at the end of one weeks time they would find themselves resurrected in their forms, no worse for wear.
Thus, Drahthor created the demi-plane of Valhalla for the Obsidian Guard and Vymrl's Frost Giants to master the art of war within.
*****
Vymrl
The Herald spoke then, "Of course our arrangements and exchanges will not be limited to merely military tactics and technology, though it is understandable that there are some things both sides will wish to keep to themselves.."
"But if you will excuse me, I must return to my realm now. If you were to look outside towards the north east, you will see the training realm that Drahthor has devised for us. In one months time I will begin sending military forces to commence training, and cells will begin appearing in your cities to trade goods."
"If you ever wish to come to my realm, simply set off in any direction with my kind or our home in mind, and after several days travel you should come across a white gate with the symbol of Drahthor, a burning bush with eight roots spreading from the center that further subdivide into 8 more roots before intertwining into a circle about the bush. Go through the door, and you would have entered my realm."
And with that Herald and his bodyguard vanished from the center of the senate complex, reappearing before such a gate of bone several dozen kilometers outside of the city. And so they returned to their own realm.
"But if you will excuse me, I must return to my realm now. If you were to look outside towards the north east, you will see the training realm that Drahthor has devised for us. In one months time I will begin sending military forces to commence training, and cells will begin appearing in your cities to trade goods."
"If you ever wish to come to my realm, simply set off in any direction with my kind or our home in mind, and after several days travel you should come across a white gate with the symbol of Drahthor, a burning bush with eight roots spreading from the center that further subdivide into 8 more roots before intertwining into a circle about the bush. Go through the door, and you would have entered my realm."
And with that Herald and his bodyguard vanished from the center of the senate complex, reappearing before such a gate of bone several dozen kilometers outside of the city. And so they returned to their own realm.
"Yes, yes, I vote for Drahthor to be Consul as well."
She looks around the room with a weary expression in her face, her eyes flicking from god to god as if counting them. Then, with a reluctant heave, she pulls herself to her feet.
"Well, there you have it, the majority votes to elect Drahthor as First Consul, and so shall it be," as she said this, an ironic smile twisted her lips and she fixed her gaze upon Drahthor, "Drahthor, Lord of Creation and Destruction, I now pronounce you First Consul."
At this, she clasps her hands together.
"Well, you've all been a lot of fun, and we should do this again sometime," she said with the barest hint of a yawn in her voice, "But for now I will have to excuse myself, I am off for some much needed sleep."
She began to stride from the room, her dress swirling majestically behind her.
"Farewell to you all," she said, and in a swish of green fabric, she was gone.
PP Expenditures
1 PP From Domain (Lesser) Sloth
The humites in Terena celebrated their newfound freedom. New trade opened up with the Free Nation and the Drahkorn, and the humites found themselves outfitted with new weaponry and supplies.
Meanwhile, in the Feywyld, the ancients had discovered the portals leading to the world...
PP Use
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Tereneans
2 PP - Guide Populace - Ancients know how to access Feywyld portals, though now they choose not to use them.
Even as Hammu spoke, the other assembled gods felt their power shift a little. New prayers were being directed to them from Beacon and the surrounding lands.
PP
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon learns of the Bronze Pantheon. Their first allegiance is to Hammu, but some begin to worship other gods as well- especially Hensen and Drahthor.
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon learns of the Bronze Pantheon. Their first allegiance is to Hammu, but some begin to worship other gods as well- especially Hensen and Drahthor.
PP Expenditure
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) Green Dragons join the Asikan Empire, taking a position of prominence in the hierarchy.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser) The Asikan Empire grows prosperous and expands into the Kishaan Rainforest.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser) The Asikan Empire grows prosperous and expands into the Kishaan Rainforest.
"The gnomes are lovely people, although a bit odd. Stories say that they were created by the god Siccadan from living words. As such, they have a fairly unique and pleasing naming convention... they name themselves after whatever trait it is they most possess. So you will have Speak and Quiet and Hardy and Sneak, and all sorts of other names. Sadly, Siccadan appears to have dissapeared, so I have taken them under my protection, in thanksgiving for the part they played in my birth."
Eventually, they arrived at Babble, and Nixis sent out a message to the city, calling for charismatic and outgoing gnomes volunteer for a special mission. By the time the two gods reached the center of the town, there was quite a number of gnomes already waiting for them, standing in and amongst the ring of stones that marked the way to the Feywyld. Convincer had created a spot for the gods to come to rest amongst the other gnomes. Nixis glanced at Azor'Chapien. "Feel free to introduce yourself when you have the strength to do so. These little folk can use all the protection they can get."
Nixis swirled downwards and came to rest among the gnomes.
"Hello, dear ones, my fellow Words. Thank you for coming to meet with me. I have a proposal for those of you who are willing. We are Words, and as Words, we understand the importance of stories to the world around us. I have met with others like me who desire that the stories I know, the stories of the world, are spread to others. So I have come to ask whether any of you would be willing to learn my stories, and in doing so, spread them far and wide."
The gnomes roared their assent, and Nixis laughed, pleased with their enthusiasm. He began teaching them the stories he knew, and how one could relate them in story or song or dance. Convincer quickly picked up Nixis' lessons, and began going in and amongst the other gnomes, helping those who were having trouble remembering and critiquing the form of some of the others. After a lengthy amount of time, Nixis stopped.
There. That should be enough stories for now. I may return to teach you more someday, but for now, I am pleased to declare that you are all now my Bards!"
More cheering. Then as silence fell, one of the gnomes called out.
"Shall we all be named Bard, then? I do not know that we have ever had this many of the same name! How will we tell each other apart?"
The gnomes grew quiet, unhappy at this development. They had always relied on the large number of words in the world to pick special names for themselves, but now, their uniqueness was being destroyed.
Nixis thought for a moment. "No. Do not call yourself Bard. Think of whatever I have taught you that you have most enjoyed learning, and name yourself that."
The gnomes cheered again, and began declaring in loud voices their new names. There were several Speaks, several Songs, several for each instrument, and several Tricks. Nixis chuckled to himself. The one problem with having literal names... he thought to himself, Is that its very easy to figure out which gnome you shouldn't trust.
"Now practice, my friends, and I will return shortly with a request for some of you.
PP
2 PP (1 pp from Convincer): Guide Populace: The gnomes learn to be bards.
2 PP (1 pp from Convincer): Guide Populace: The gnomes learn to be bards.
And with that Drahthor stood, and surveyed those gathered, his eyes fell upon the Empress slowly walking out the door and he felt another pang in his heart, the desire that he was so hesitant to pursue making itself known again.
Shaking his head, Drahthor began to depart for a section of the Palace of Xa'an not far away that functioned as his own personal wing. It was actually far less ostentation and far more spartan than most would have expected, given the layout of the rest of the Palace. However this was the Gods private chambers, and while he appreciated the beauty of the rest of the Palace, here he did not need to impress guests and he found the lack of distractions prudent for thinking.
The walls were black obsidian, with no paintings, carvings, or statues to decorate their surfaces. Instead they were plain, with only the occasional door leading towards a kitchen or bath.
As he passed the bath, a thought occurred to him. Centuries ago the Empress had talked Drahthor into "relaxing" and the consequences had been near disastrous. However, he still remembered the feeling of the whipcord tension leaving his muscles, and the soothing release.
He had been busy of late, from the trial to the pantheon, his plans had been foiled and had met with resounding success, but he could feel the drain upon his form. The completely wired and stretched stance of his mind would not do, and he thought some of this "relaxing" might help to rid him of it.
So stepping into the baths, and room with a grass and dirt floor, a canopy of trees for the ceiling, and a single mid sized pool of steaming water in the center. Discarding the eye of restraint and the cloak of madness, Drahthor climbed in and felt the tension leave his form.
******
Meanwhile, the Drahkorn had established a limited trading agreement with the humites of Terena.
PP
1pp Guide Action- Xanthor establishes a limited trading agreement with Terena
Rabi found that dragon waiting just as he had been when Rabi had seen him last, perched on the edge of the stone plateau on which Beacon was built.
"Torvek, is it? Frightening the peasants again, I see. Why have you come to the City of Justice?"
Torvek looks at Rabi in question.
"Frighten? I merely frighten anybody, sir. I'm here on behalf of Hammu. I suspect that he might have something for me to do to earn the Domain of Sun. Could you take me to him?"
Rabi looked quizzically at Torvek. "The domain of Sun? First I've heard of my lord claiming that bit of the cosmos. Perhaps you're thinking of Lord Drahthor?"
"Lord Drahthor? And where might he be, out of curiosity?"
"Well, it looks like my Gnomes are going to be needing to practice for a while before they can go visit your people. Would you like to see more of the world? I hear to the west of us there are the creations of another god. I think they're called... Humites."
Nixis flew off to the west, making loop-de-loops in the air to the delight of the city below. Soon, they came within sight of a gigantic golden tree, reaching up into the heavens and casting a fine golden mist into the air. Nixis floated through the vapors and felt his letters begin to shine with extra vitality. I could get used to this... he thought to himself.
Beneath and around the tree, a monumental city stood. Nixis took a moment to take in the majesty beneath him, then sped downwards. As he fell, Nixis had the thought that perhaps it would not be best to reveal himself to these Humites before he knew better whether or not they would appreciate his aquaintance. Nixis concentrated for a moment, and his letters turned themselves inside out, making Nixis appear to be little more than a breeze. As he flew through the city, Nixis looked at the humites going about their day.
Hmm... without faces, I feel these Humites suffer from the opposite problem of my gnomes. My gnomes, are, at times too expressive, too open. I don't know how to determine the expression of something without a face!
Nixis giggled at his own joke, causing several Humites to look around for the source of the laughter. Nixis moved on. As he did so, he decided to offer an introduction to the humites in the best way he knew how.
The next morning, several Humites would awaken to discover that someone had pulled a prank on them. For some, it involved creative reorginization of their tools. For others, they awoke to find their foodstuffs and clothes mixed together. For yet others, they awoke to find their horses exchanged with another Humite's horses, with a set of instructions on how to find the other.
In the meanwhile, Nixis sped back upwards, coming to rest under the boughs of Eorna. He turned as Azor'Chapien arrived.
"Well, I like these Humites. I wonder who made them..."
"Yes, let us! Why don't you lead this time... I'm sure there is much to find"
"I can't imagine any tree larger or better than this tree, but if you say you are feeling an even larger, even more special tree, then by all means, let us go see your God-Tree."
With that, the two gods sped away towards Jormundrasil.
"What an odd coincidince. It seems I don't have to find any gods; they came to find you. Although I can't say I know either of them. New gods spring up all over the place. It makes me wonder how many there actually are."
After a while the Free Nation elite discovered that a particular high dosage of Elixir of Sin can turn someone into one of the Bloodborn, seeking for more personal power and wrognly fearing the original bloodborn physical superiority, many of them used their influence over the army or the priesthood to gain access to the required amount of the elixir. This second generation of artificially created Bloodborn had the same physical benefit than their "natural" brothers, however they had a much different mindset, having willingly traded "humanity" for power and with their mind warped by the side effects of the Elixir of Sin. This second group, for now, represent only a minority of the Free Nation's Bloodborn population, but a quite influential one. The first group tend to ignore them, due to the nation "live and let live" attitude however they some time come in conflict when the dark bloodborn attempt to increase their power by subjugating other free nation inhabitants.
Within Freedomguard lived a powerful priestess extremely ambitious, lady Zheira, her vast arcane knowledge was almost comparable to her mastery in using divine magic. Her ambition was even greater, she wanted to become a goddess, she planned to kill her divine patron and to steal its power. One day a group of miners found a strange massive fang within a bloodstone formation ledy Zheira had the fang brough to her palace, it radiated a strange twisted power and it was apparenlty hungry of divine blood. Lady Zheira thought that she had finally found the instrument of her ascension. With the help of a powerful stranger, that was even more skilled than her in the art of imbuing items with power she created a weapon from the fang.
"It will kill anything for its owner, not even gods can resist its bite", told the stranger when the Godsbane was finished.
Then one fated night, she moved to the Aether using ritual magic, she waited of Hensen's heads to be busy in one of their "discussions", using powerful magic that she have learned from unnamed creatures of the darkness that she had conjured in secred to conceal her form from the Hydra God.
Than she struck the white head with the Fang, cutting easily trough its scales, the other heads was shocked, dazed by the shared pain. She cast her magic to drain divine power from Hensen, but something was wrong. The white head rised and regenerated.
"So you wanted to use the fang to kill me, my dear lady, even if my servant has explained you its power"
"However maybe you missed the the fang was mine" told the black head.
Then the monster devoured the priestess, with the other heads laughing.
What happened to the Godsbane is unknown, it is rumored that Hensen took it as a gift for his most trusted servants, or maybe enemies.
PP
2 PP Nourish (1 From Bloodstone), the free nation power grows and many in the elité turn into Bloodborn.
2 PP Create (1 from the Wondermaker), Godsbane, +1 combat artifact. Its powe can't be used against Hensen (wikipage coming soon).
2 PP Nourish (1 From Bloodstone), the free nation power grows and many in the elité turn into Bloodborn.
2 PP Create (1 from the Wondermaker), Godsbane, +1 combat artifact. Its powe can't be used against Hensen (wikipage coming soon).
Naya was sitting upon a large crate. She was in on of the Palace of Xa'an's many kitchens, and she was watching something with mingled disgust and curiosity. The something in question was Samvala, who was sitting upon the cold stone floor, propped up against a cabinet, stuffing her face. Her hair, which had so recently been done up so elegantly, now spilled messily about her shoulders, and her once luminous dress was smeared with sauce stains, which were also present upon her fingers, and about her mouth. To top off the picture, she was clutching a leg of roast mutton in her left hand and was voraciously tearing into it with her teeth. Her other hand was poised above a bowl of cooked potatoes, which she was shovelling into her mouth in between bite of the mutton leg. Scattered about her on the floor was an assortment of other foods, such as large hunks of ham, and sliced veal, and even a tankard or two of ale, which she would take a swig from every time her mouth got too full. It was not a pretty sight.
"Woah, slow down there tiger, didn't your mother ever tell you to chew your food?" said Naya nastily, for which she received a glowering look from Samvala over the top of the mutton leg.
Naya merely rolled her eyes and leapt off of the top of the crate.
"I'm going, I don't need to be subjected to this obscenity," said Naya, and she strolled over to the door, she gave Samvala one last disgusted look, only to find she was already asleep, her face pressed into the bowl of potatoes. Naya snorted in derision and stalked off.
PP Expenditure
1 PP From Domain (Lesser) Gluttony
Azor'Chapien turned into his preferred form came down to the ground. He then said (quite rudely... which is strange, seeing as he is the god of chivalry, apparently), "You and the tree are divines aren't you?"
Nixis hadn't really been looking where they were going... he had been writing more stories. It was fairly easy to do so when you were literally made of letters. Nixis merely focused his attention within himself and started arranging words together.
Now *that* was a big tree. Nixis had been impressed by Eorna, but this was something beyond even that. It must be the largest tree in the world. Nixis also saw another presence that had to be a god, a floating orb of blindingly golden light.
Azor'Chapien zoomed ahead to greet the "divines", as he called them, and Nixis followed behind, speaking into the silence that followed Azor'Chapien's question.
"Hello, mighty ones. We are Nixis and Azor'Chapien, newly born into this world. What may we call you?"
But this was not the most profound thing the Drahkorn brought, for even though they were generally reserved in speech, some of the humites over time managed to hear them speak of their own lands. They were awed by the strange customs, the habits of a cell, rebirth at a lake of fire (they were truly amazed when one of the older Drahkorn spoke of distant past memories of living in Terena in a past life), and the magnificence of the city of Xanthor.
Then the visitors also spoke of their God, of all he had created for them and how he had eternally blessed them. They spoke of how Drahthor provided light and heat for them, how he had created the asteroid to be there home, and how all of existence was an endless play upon the two great forces of Destruction and Creation. Many walked away from these talks with a smile and a nod, fascinated by such an alien place. However, some found the stories of the God more appealing than others, and in their homes at night began to offer up prayers to this Drahthor.
****
Meanwhile, within the Palace of Xa'an Drahthor walked out of his personal wing refreshed and restored, the strain upon his form draining away as he simultaneously relaxed his mind for the first time in hundreds of years. He walked through the hallways of the Palace noting the Lolsalfar that stepped out of his way and bowed as they still orientated themselves to their new home,and he let his feet lead him as his mind wandered.
It did not wander for long however, his mind eventually came to settle upon his future plans. Much had been accomplished today, the creation of the Bronze Pantheon and the election as First Consul provided him with more security, worshipers, and a more esteemed position amongst the Gods. In the past he had though of proposing such an arrangement, always pressing it back to a different occasion. However the appearance of Hensen had made things easier, allowing another to do the leg work. That was fortuitous, and now for perhaps the first time in his existence he found another God had done something for him that directly furthered his own interest.
And from his new position Drahthor could act with a more bold approach and held a stance of more power. His children had established a trading relationship with the Humites and his worship began to spread there, meanwhile the mutual training pact that he had envisioned had been forged with the Frost Giants, and the plane Valhalla created to provide a training ground. Drahthor had hopes for the future development for both of these relationships, but before his mind could could go further he discovered where his legs had taken him.
He found himself in familiar a familiar place, Jade columns and floor tiles, elevated dais, Jade throne... Apparently as his mind wondered his subconscious had led him here, smiling to himself Drahthor stood in the center of the reception hall and chuckled to himself.
PP
1pp Guide Populace: The worship of Drahthor takes root among the humites of Terena.
From the darkness between the pillars strode a figure, a figure whose curves he could trace with his eyes closed. And those curves were emphasized, her thin, green silk robe settled loosely about her form. It shifted slightly as she prowled towards him. She stopped as she undid the cord fastening the robe about her.
"I was wondering when you'd come see me," said the Empress, and let the robe fall from her form and land in a small heap upon the floor.
Underneath, she was wearing a thin shift made of green silk. It was a simple, sleeveless thing with thin straps. It came down to about halfway up her thigh.
"Come, I have something I want to show you," she said, as she held out her hand for Drahthor to take, the ghost of a smile playing about her lips.
"He can often be found at his palace- the Palace of Xa'an that he built around the old Pillar of fire. Just head up to the first star on your right, and straight on till morning."
"Why, thank you, dear friend."
And with that, Torvek speeds his way to the Palace of Xa'an.
Flashback:
Darkness had consumed Torvek's homeworld, as the last living star in the Astral Sea had vanished. Was it the Apocalypse that the Fortune tellers had predicted all this long? Was it the Nine Hells that had broken through the serenity of the Sea all this time?
No time to think. It was time to act.
With the swiftness of his speed, young Torvek sped out of what was left of the Astral Sea and out of harm's way. All the while, tears of vain rolled down his eyes, as he thought about all of those that did not make it out- including his mother and father...
Shurka shifted his form back into a golden body, with a featureless face, and looked at the two new gods. "And who are you two?"
Likewise, some of the humites spent much time in Xanthor, teaching some of the drahkorn about Shurka. With this knowledge, some drahkorn learned to become healers. The other race of Xanthor, the sahuagins learned about this. They thought of Shurka as a merciful healer, which appealed to them in their current conditions. Some sahuagins learned the art of healing as well.
PP Use
0 PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace - Drakhorn can become healers
1 PP - Guide Populace - Some sahuagin worship Shurka
1 PP - Guide Populace - Sahuagins know how to heal
He flies to the main gate.
"Drahthor? Are you here?"
While he waits, he pauses for a brief moment to sightsee the magnificence of the Palace.
However, right as his hand was about to take the Empress', he felt the arrival of another God in the Palace of Xa'an. Furthermore he heard him inquiring for him.
With a sign of visible frustration Drahthor spoke "My lady, I apologize, but it appears we have a visitor at the gates. If you will excuse me for a moment, I will find out what he desires."
Stepping back, he turned and looked at the Empress again "I will return soon."
Then, in an explosion of flame Drahthor left the Empress' wing of the Palace, reappearing faster than an eye could blink at a gateway leading into one of the surface courtyards in his true form.
Before him he found some a strange Dragon, his scales bearing some resemblance to brass.
"You called for me? I am Drahthor, Lord of Destruction and Creation, Serpent of Rebirth, and the Torchbearer, though I must say I am at a loss for who you are?"
I'm back!)
In Character:
As Torvek turns around to see Drahthor, he sees a serpent standing before him.
"Oh! I thought for second you were going to chew me up there. Sorry about the sudden arrival, but I wanted to ask you about a big favor. By the way, my name is Torvek."
"Ah, I belive what my friend meant was that they are quite unique in that they do not have faces like the other races we have seen. It makes them hard to read, unlike say, gnomes. I must say that I was very impressed with the giant tree that looks over the Humites. Is that of your doing?"
As he said this Drahthor prowled forward towards this Tovek, attempting to size him up. "Tell me Torvek, what exactly, would you be God of? And what is this favor of which you speak?"
He paused as he looked around, noticing his surroundings for the first time. "Ah, I apologize, I seem to have interrupted a meeting of some sort."
Noticing that he was in the presence of several gods he had not met, as well as that rude godling he had just met, he simply offer the slightest bow of his head. "I apologize to you all for interrupting. Should I return at a better time, Shurka?"
"No, Veros, that's fine." Shurka imitaded the shadowy veil of secrecy that Veros had used before.
Veros
"What is it?"
"Torvek, well you would appear to be a deity, and given that I do not know you either a very old or a very young one at that...."
As he said this Drahthor prowled forward towards this Tovek, attempting to size him up. "Tell me Torvek, what exactly, would you be God of? And what is this favor of which you speak?"
Torvek responds to Drahthor, proudly:
"I am a youngling, at best. I was forced to move out of my home and find some point of light within me. I then figured out that since my father was an Arch for a god, I could take a similar path that my father took.
"My path had landed me a sraight shot toward becoming the God of the Sun, hence my physical nature. Also, one of my guardian angels that lived with me while living in the Astral Sea was an Angel of the Sun. Is there any particular challenge that I must endure to earn the right to acclaim the Sun Domain, by chance?"
He pauses, briefly.
"Or, does somebody else have the Sun Domain?"
------------------------
Flashback:
As Torvek speeds his way out from the chaos of the Astral Sea, he notices a dark figure ahead- another dragon.
He stops in midair, only to see that the dark figure came into full view- the dragon had Violet scales, and had horns of a Black dragon's. He recognized her all too well- Corelloth.
"Well, well, my dear boy. Where do you think you're going?"
She swipes at Torvek, and at once, he falls back towards the pitch black nothingness of the Astral Sea, waiting to cosume him. As he fell, he could hear Corelloth's hideous laughter as he came closer to the nothingness that awaited him- he was about to perish...
-------------------------
Torvek faints and falls suddenly to the floor, his eyes shut.
At this point the Lord of Destructions countenance seemed to shift, his voice assuming a more somber tone. "And as for desiring to claim the domain of the Sun.... That might be complicated. Do you know of the last sun God?'
Drahthor turned then and began walking back towards the steps leading up to the courtyard. "His name was Tahns, and as best I understand he was created by several Gods long ago. He had... issues. He was overly aggressive and more than once we came to blows. Somehow his form was once maimed, and he changed after that. He withdrew from the world for a time, ignoring his supplicants, and began to construct a monstrosity the likes of which this world has never seen. Eventually that monstrosity consumed him, destroying the God of the Sun."
"Since that time, I have incorporated the domains of Light and Fire into myself, fusing together two fueding elements that have had a rough history since the beginning of this world. I have made the Palace of Xa'an, in honor of the one who gave me the domain of light even as he died, and the Palace serves as the Sun to the world below. Giving both heat and light to the mortal denizens.'
"It is not a domain I posses, but in assuming the mantel of the Sun God you would be directly taking credit and laying claim to something that belongs to me, the Palace of Xa'an. Not only this, but you would also be tying yourself to two of my other domains, fire and light. So tell me, Torvek, how set are you upon claiming the domain of the sun?
As they spread around him, Gorion scowled as he willed groung around them. As his hordes continued to pour forth, the land became more and more subtantive. He created it, a multi-tierd landform upon which his servants could continue to grow and change. And most of all, adapt and master their unique talents. When every last one was through, the gate closed.
OOC
Essentially, the workshop is forcing the devils into the Astral Sea. I realize I haven't detailed it's properties as I promised. Working on it.
Torvek now rested upon a massive cushioned bed, and several dozen lolsalfar were present in the room. Turning to the beings of pure savage light, Drahthor spoke "When he awakens see to it that his needs are met."
He wakes up to find Drahthor, staring at him in question.
"Oh- I'm terribly sorry about that, Drahthor. I keep having these frequent flashbacks of my memory."
He brushes himslef off.
"So- anyways, you have fused both Fire and Light to create a Sun Domain? Hmmm..."
He thinks for a moment.
"I am ready to take that challenge- no matter the cost!" He says valiantly.
However, he raises his head to see nothing but what appears to be a chamber with several dozen lolsalfar crowding around him.
"Oh. This was unexpected..."
As the young God spoke he felt a sinking feeling in his chest, and when he spoke this time it was with a bit more force and just a hint of vehemence "No, I have not fused light and fire to make a Sun domain, in fact the sun is nothing less then a gigantic instrument by which to provide the world below with light and heat, from fire. However, the Palace of Xa'an is the Sun, I created the Palace and if you were to claim the sun domain you would be, in effect, challenging my possession as ruler and possessor of my own HOME!"
"Furthermore, even if you did not intend to challenge me on this, every time one of your followers would offer up a prayer unto you, thanking you for the gift of the sun, it would be a stolen prayer. For they would be thanking YOU, for something that is MINE, a work that is MINE."
"You may leave this place, and you may claim the domain of the Sun, I will not stop you. But know this, If you do, you will be setting yourself against me, slighting my honor. I will not take kindly to this, and I am not a deity whom you would wish to cross."
Just as he was turning to leave, Drahthor saw the Dragon awaken with a startle...
As the young God spoke he felt a sinking feeling in his chest, and when he spoke this time it was with a bit more force and just a hint of vehemence "No, I have not fused light and fire to make a Sun domain, in fact the sun is nothing less then a gigantic instrument by which to provide the world below with light and heat, from fire. However, the Palace of Xa'an is the Sun, I created the Palace and if you were to claim the sun domain you would be, in effect, challenging my possession of my own HOME!"
"Furthermore, even if you did not intend to challenge me on this, every time one of your followers would offer up a prayer unto you, thanking you for the gift of the sun, it would be a stolen prayer. For they would be thanking YOU, for something that is MINE, a work that is MINE."
"You may leave this place, and you may claim the domain of the Sun, I will not stop you. But know this, If you do, you will be setting yourself against me, slighting my honor. I will not take kindly to this, and I am not a deity whom you would wish to cross."
"I am not one to challenge in combat, and I wish to do no harm to you."
Torvek looks around. This may be the end for him...
Torvek looks on in fear, as though he may die at this instance.
Turning then and walking towards the door "I have spoken my peace on this, what happens from here is your decision."
And with that the Lord of Destruction and Creation left in a burst of flame, reappearing a moment later back in the audience hall of the Empress' wing in his human form.
Tension apparent in his shoulders, Drahthor lifted a hand up to his face and pressed his fingers against his temple. "You would not believe what that was...."
Nixis cut off as another God appeared, forming out of the mist of the earth. Now *that* was a trick!
Shurka and the new God dissapeared behind a misty cloak that hid them from Nixis' sight and hearing. Nixis narrowed his eyes at the secrecy involved... he didn't much like being excluded without knowing why.
Dissolving back into letters, Nixis floated higher and began streaming his way through the branches of the giant tree.
"Hello, ah... I can't call you Tree, can I? Err... Hello, Sir. I must say I admire your form, but it must be difficult to move about."
Shurka
"There was no need for secrecy, my friend, It could have waited. Anyways, I've detected a great deal of uprising and turmoil in the humites. Do you know what is going on down there? The area has become unusually hazy to me, as if something is preventing me from honing in on the minds in the area?"
"Who was that?" she asked, barely able to contain the anger throbbing in her voice.
She glared at him with ill-concealed malevolency and without waiting for an answer, she charged onwards.
"You know what, I don't care," she said, bending over to pull her robe from its place on the floor, "Obviously it was very important to you."
She wrapped the robe about her with hands shaking with rage, covering her lithe form.
"But maybe next time you plan to run off into the arms of some... some... hussy! you'd have the decency to tell me before hand so I don't prostrate myself in front of you like a ... like a fool!" she exclaimed, her voice rising danegrously.
She began to gesture as she spoke, her arms becoming more and more animated.
"Do you even know how hard it was for me to come here, how scary it was?" she cried, and she was yelling now, "No, you don't, and you know why? Because you're a man, that's why, a stupid, filthy, no-good man, and if I knew what was good for me, I'd leave, right now!"
Veros
"Fine then." Shurka raised his hand and waved the...
As Drahthor stepped forward his tone and his body language took on an air it had never taken before, that of a supplicant. "I thought it would be only momentary, that I could send whoever it was away quickly. I returned as soon as I could! And it was no.... hussy, not unless that is some name for a large male dragon that I am unaware of."
Taking another step forward "But please, forgive me, I did not mean to hurt you in any way. Though you are right, I did not realize how scary it must have been for you to come here. Though I realize now, and I promise I will be more aware in the future." And as he said these last words Drahthor extended a hand towards the Empress, whispering "Please, do not leave me..."
"If you so much as look at another woman again, I swear I'll... I'll..."
But he never got to hear what she'd do for at that precise second, the Empress locked lips with Drahthor. When they separated a few moments later, Drahthor was sure she'd bitten his lip. But even as she pulled away, a michievous twinkle lit her eyes. She skipped off to the exit, not bothering to check if he was following. She left her robe on the floor at his feet.
One of the guards poked at it with the end of his scabbard. “Dead.”
They stood and continued to stare at it.
The other guard nodded, “Mmm hmmm.”
They continued to stand and look at it.
Another Dwarf walked up behind them. He was dressed in basic clothing, with a strange pendant around his neck. “Ah Hello!” he said in a friendly manner. “Is there something I can help you fine gentlemen with?”
The two guards turned and looked at the dwarf behind them. One coughed and cleared his throat, “Master Dorbal.”
“Alwir,” Dorbal returend the favor with a tone of familiarity. He looked at the other guard, “Daron.”
The guard named Daron gave a short, courteous bow of his head. He turned back and poked the thing with his scabbard again. “Dead.”
The three stared at the thing on the ground in silence.
Suddenly the newcomer shook his hands in the air furiously, as if to shake off the seeming trance the three Dwarves were in. He went over and bent down and took a close look at the “dead” thing, turning it over. “Yes. I'm afraid she is dead.”
The Dwarf closed his eyes and whispered a short prayer, giving the poor dead girl a final rite. Looking back at the guards he asked, “Do you recognize this girl?”
The guards peered in and looked at her face. Daron responded first, “Aye.”
Daron continued to look at the girl.
“And?” asked Dorbal, with a hint of frustration in his tone. “Who is she?”
“Naini Whurdrun. The daughter of the blacksmith Whurdrun. A fine blacksmith; a fine fighter too. His daughter was such a nice lass. 'Tis a shame really.”
“Who would do such a thing?” asked the other guard, Alwir.
Master Dorabal moved in and began to inspect the corpse closely, he turned the head from side to side and checked her arms and legs. “Her wounds. I have seen things similar.” He continued, muttering under his breath, “It must be a monster.”
Master Dorbal looked up into the sky. “We are running out of time. Alwir, Daron, this must be the work of our enemies! We must move quickly before they move to cover their actions. You two are friends of Whurdrun, it is only right you help break this terrible news to him. I hope I can rely on the assistance of my two brothers?”
Alwir and Daron looked at each other. “Anything for you Master.”
Dorbal nodded and began collecting the body. “Quickly, we must move this body before people wake up. We will take it back to a safe place.”
The three Dwarves moved and gathered the body and hid it in blankets. Dorbal said another prayer, making a small illusion and anti-scrying spell. The trio then moved the body to a bare room in a safehouse.
Then the three went to the house of the dead girl's family, the blacksmith Margsun Whurdrun. They brought the blacksmith back to the room where they held the body and as delicately as possible showed it her. The Dwarf, usually as stout as they come, broke down and wailed and cursed. Dorbal, as empathic as he could, helped the dwarf grieve. After many minutes, when the father had calmed down, Dorbal began to talk to him about it.
“She was killed, I know.”
“Then we must alert the authorities?”
“Nay. The authorities are corrupted by our enemies. I have seen monsters in our midst. There have been others killed like this, but they do nothing; they ignore it; they hide it.”
“Then there is nothing that can be done?”
“Your grief has inspired me to take action, Margsun.” Dorbal said with resolution. “We shall vindicate your daughter's death and kill whoever did this. Do you wish for that?”
“Of course!” Margsun said with anger filling his voice. “I swear vengeance!”
Dorbal flashed a quick sneer-like smile before returning to his empathic posture. “Certainly. I will help you as much as possible. I am a member of an group of like-minded people. Join us. Together we can rid the world of our enemies. We have recently come across a long lost art we Dwarves once had but lost. I could teach it to you.”
“Would it help me?”
“Of course. It will make you a terror to behold before our enemies and any monsters who wish to destroy us.”
“Then I will do it. Show me.”
PP
2 PP (1 from Astral Orrery) - guide Populace - Maran worhipping dwarves (and only them) gain the Paladin Class.
2 PP (1 from Astral Orrery) - guide Populace - Maran worhipping dwarves (and only them) gain the Paladin Class.
I believe it is rude to have a party without inviting the one in whose home you are having it.
As the mist twisted, vaguely echoing the forms of the assembled gods, except for Jormundrail's who instead found himself sheathed in a thick coat, it continued.
Hello Knowledge, it is good to see you again. I trust your experiments go well? Perhaps I could be introduced to these younglings?
Dorbal was a priest of Kerena.* He wasn't the only priest of the goddess, but he was probably the most influential. Dorbal was the chosen successor of a line of successors from the original prophet of Karena many years ago. Although worship of Kerena was generally not a secret, Dorbal maintained a very low public profile. He fidgeted with the legacy of that Dwarf, the pendant around his neck. It was an item of both blessing and curse, giving him a second sight to see that which tried to hide. Even though he was young for a Dwarf, some of the others in the room thought he was a little paranoid. The room was sheltered and hidden, even by a anti-scrying enchantment. The other members in the room had been extensively vetted by Dorbal, to the point even of using truth spells without their knowledge. Dorbal cleared his throat and the quiet conversations ended as the others turned to pay attention to him.
“Gentlemen.” Dorbal began, putting on the charm he had that lead to his rise. “I have called you here because you are the most devout and devoted to our cause. The Dwarven people have been laid low by terror and disaster again and again. Our founding prophet had a vision of returning glory to gain strength, to defeat our ancient enemies, and return the glory of the Kingdom of the Cloud Mountain.”
“We have made great progress. But I tell you, just as my perdecessor saw, and his before that, and even the great prophet, there are dangers to the Dwarven people that lie within. The nation is rotten and corrupt. There are creatures that lurk amongst us, that kills us while we sleep, that even roam the halls of government! You are the purest of the pure, and that is why I have called you here.”
Dorbal stood up from his seat, and began pacing around the table. “It is not enough that we simply be friends, that we have the same prayers, the same beliefs, the same ideals. It is necessary we act upon it”
Dorbal came to a stop behind another Dwarf. It was Margsun Whudrun, the blacksmith. Dorbal put his hand upon the Whudrun's shoulder, “Margsun. He has suffered the worst from the filth that is in our streets. From the disease that is eating us from the inside out. How many more sons and daughters must we lose before enough is enough! Margsun has already taken the first step. He has begun to learn the ancient ways of fighting evil. He will master it very soon, and teach others.
“For those of you who are with Margsun and I, we shall build the foundations for our future retribution, our cleansing of these lands of these monsters, of the return to glory. From this moment, we shall form an organization dedicated to these pursuits.”
The other Dwarves in the room cheered. Dorbal returned to his chair and sat down again. “Now then, gentlemen, if we are agreed, then let us get down to the brass tacks. We have a lot of work to do.”
Show
* - Dwarven name for Mara.
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Dwarves – Maran Dwarves form the Karak-Rik Guild (trans: Mountain Kingdom Guild). The guild is multi-faceted with several “faces,” sub-groups and cells. The organization will be explored further later. The Guild is primarily based in Meribia.
1 PP – Nourish Populace (from Exarch) – Dwarves – More Dwarves worship Mara, a large subset become affiliated with Karak-Rik. Again this is primarily Meribia (and in no way to Kalafi Krak)
* - Dwarven name for Mara.
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Dwarves – Maran Dwarves form the Karak-Rik Guild (trans: Mountain Kingdom Guild). The guild is multi-faceted with several “faces,” sub-groups and cells. The organization will be explored further later. The Guild is primarily based in Meribia.
1 PP – Nourish Populace (from Exarch) – Dwarves – More Dwarves worship Mara, a large subset become affiliated with Karak-Rik. Again this is primarily Meribia (and in no way to Kalafi Krak)
"So, this Dranthor is the First Counsel, then. I shall direct my plans to him. Good work. "
He then touched Gears with his message, and sent him off to this Palace of Xa'an.
Show
To save time, message as follows.
To save time, message as follows.
"I wouldn't call this a party, Life. It's really just a coincidence. Jormundrasil, the tree, wanted me to find other gods since he couldn't move. These two, Nixis and Azor'Chapien, arrived here just as I was about to leave. And then Veros had something to tell me about the humites."
Shurka turned around to look back at Veros.
"But you don't seem like the kind to get involved in other's work. So this must be serious. What is it?"
"When I gaze into my own mind, I can see everthing known to mortals, ever last bit of knowledge they have discovered and secret they try to hide. Until now. The people of Terena are somehow hidden. Bits of thoughts and random pices leap through the haze, but it's an unintelligable garble of scattered images and thoughts. I had hoped it might pass on it's own eventually, but I'm growing concerned. I thought it best to see you."
He pauses.
"Will I ever get to wreak my vengeance upon the cruel Corelloth, who destroyed my home and murdered my family? I need the Domain of Sun to further fuel my hatred towards Corelloth! I will exact my revenge over her, and nothing will stand in my way!"
He becomes so enraged that his scales glow brighter than ever. He gives a great roar of anger that resounds across the Palace of Xa'an and beyond.
"I will destroy you, Corelloth, even if I were to die with you! You will feel the same pain that I had to go through!"
His eyes returned to their normal shape in the shadows, and he looked at those nearby. "Shurka, do you intend to introduce me to these new godlings, or leave them here, wondering what is going on?"
The Elves, largely left to their own devices continued to prosper moderately well. They were not aggressive or expansionistic like other races, nor did they strive for technologial or intellectual supremecy. They continued to desire to strive for balance, with themselves and with nature, just as their great god had taught them to. However, he had gone largely silent for many generations. The clerics were still able to draw upon his strength and power, but it was a quiet, whispered concern. This led to a subtle shift among those leading clerics and the secular leaders into conservatism and skepticism. They began to lose interest in the events outside their lands and more cautious of outsiders and other races. They also sent out and recieved fewer traders. The other races laughed it off, having gained over the years a bit of a dismissive attitutde towards the Elves, who were thought of by many as being backwards or primitive
PP Expense:
1 PP - Nourish PP - Elves becoming increasingly isolationistic, and trade/contact less with the outside world. And yet they are prospering and growing in numbers.
"It should be a little while yet, but yes, let us leave soon."
Nixis turned to the other gods.
"Thank you, Shurka, for your introduction. Yes, I am Nixis, god of stories and patron of Bards."
Nixis paused for a moment, considering whether to add on "Lord of Mischief", and decided against it.
"It is a pleasure to meet all of you. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you."
Nixis looked at Veros, an idea slowly coming to mind.
"Veros, oldest of us all. I recall that you are the patron of the Loremasters. I may have a proposition for you and them in the future, although I must think about the specifics before I blurt them out like a neophyte godling... which I guess I am." Nixis chuckled.
"Regardless, Azor'Chapien and myself must be going shortly. I have my people to check up on, and his people don't even know he exists!" Nixis laughed again, sending eddies flowing through his form.
"Give our fond regards to this Tree-God... what was his name again?"
Azor'chapien found himself looking ito his doppelganger as mist coalesced for a moment.
I am Life, newling. If you insist upon second-names I am Xirinet, what are you? The same question for you as well, word-wraith.
Jormundrasil found similar words seeming to echo around himself as well.
No words for me Knowledge? Have I become as a ghost to you?
***
Within the War Quarter of Alexandria a kind of memorial took place. The minotaurs had left a mark upon the history of the nation, and found themselves honored posthumously by its warriors.
So too in the halls of the Great Cathedral took place changes. The stars had long since been a symbol of Xirinet, their power glittering within the night sky. Humans reached out, seeking to come closer to that power and finding something there, to which none could give a name, a power ready for those willing to claim it.
***
Within the shadowed recesses of the world, within the sprawling caverns of the underdark things skittered. Deadly insects hungering for living flesh.
Actions
1PP from Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Humans learn riding
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans begin the domestication of the beasts with which they share their homes. Primarily as weapons of war.
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn the Warlock class. Primarilly Star Pact.
1PP, Spawn Beast: Centipede Swarm
1PP, Spawn Beast: Monstrous Centipede
1PP from Stars +1PP, Nourish Populace: Minotaurs... Don't ask why, I just feel bad that I missed the war.
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans begin the domestication of the beasts with which they share their homes. Primarily as weapons of war.
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn the Warlock class. Primarilly Star Pact.
1PP, Spawn Beast: Centipede Swarm
1PP, Spawn Beast: Monstrous Centipede
1PP from Stars +1PP, Nourish Populace: Minotaurs... Don't ask why, I just feel bad that I missed the war.
He slowly turned his head back to Shurka. "No, I had simply hoped you might be able to shed some light on my problems."
------------------
Flashback:
Just before he hit the nothingness that overlapped the Astral Sea below him, Torvek quickly spread himself out and regained his balance. He then jutted out from below Corelloth and slashed at her with the speed and verocity of a lightning bolt. Corelloth sprawls back in pain at the surprise of Torvek, still alive and hungry for vengeance.
"You shall suffer the consequences for the death of the Astral Sea and to the Sixteen dynasties that feed through the Astral Plane!"
At this point, Torvek draws his Sunshine Chakram, an ancient weapon passed down to him from his father's reign. Corelloth draws her Longspear. Both lunge at each other at full force...
------------------
PP Expenditure
3 PP +1 from Leilaka Shape Populace (Greater) The Sinners
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The Sinners worship The Empress
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The Sinners worship The Empress
Turning to Azor'Chapien, Nixis said, "Shall we?"
The two Gods sped off towards Babble. Nixis was a little annoyed that Veros hadn't even acknowledged his introduction. He guessed the elder Gods had a lot on their minds... Well, I'll have to do something to get through all that, I guess he thought to himself.
Soon, the two gods again hovered over Babble, where the Gnomes were nearly ready to show off their work.
"Who are you?" Torvek inquires.
The dragon looks over to Torvek in surprise.
"Oh- Torvek! There you are. I thought that you were still here."
Torvek is startled at the appearance of Teragorn.
"Teragorn? What in heaven's name are you doing here???"
Teragorn speaks:
"I came here to tell you about a concerning issue down in Anorbus. Corelloth has come and is starting to run wild around the land. She is gathering a large army of Kobolds to walk the earth. We need your help."
Torvek steps back in surprise.
"Corelloth is- alive? She's invading Anorbus? Well, I would like to help, but there are some things that I have to do here before I can go down there."
"That's alright. Corelloth hasn't attacked yet, but we still need you to defend Anorbus for us when you are finished."
"I will. I'm glad you came to tell me, Teragorn."
And with that, Teragorn disappears back to Anorbus.
-----
Humans continue to flourish wherever they might be found.
-----
The elves living on Taldar, wary of the war raging to their west, unify themselves, founding the nation of Sylvena. With a wary eye on their neighbors, they begin miltarizing themselves.
-----
While they allow the elders to retake control of Terena politics for the time being, the Defense Coalition open's it's coffers and puts there money to good use, embarking on a flurry of civic projects. They money they poor forth builds new schools (obviously teaching Defense Coalition views), roads, new housing, and even in a few high end neighborhoods, libraries. Further, they even allocate funds to lifting the poorest of the poor our of poverty.
These activities quickly place them in a good light with there people, allowing them to solidify their grip on the nation.
-----
The war was going poorly. Slowly but surely, Patren drove the Asilian forces further from the desert. Unlike the centuries past though, the warforged soldiers and shadar-kai generals didn't fall back, their goal accomplished. They pushed further, drving deep into the heart of enemy territory. After over a millenia of fighting, the patrenese forces decided to bring the fight to and end once and for all.
-----
In the depths of Skypeak, a new beast was born. Three loremasters, experimenting with breeding odd creatures together, created a beast with a petrifying beak. Naming their creature a cockatrice, they had hoped to use it 's odd property as a new means of incarceration, as a pretrified person was aware of the passage of time, required no food or water, little storage space, and no guards. Ad the end of their sentence, the criminal could be resotred with a ritual, and go on with their life.
Alas, their hopes would not come to pass, as during the third breeding cycle, several of the creatures escpaed, petrifying their captors and fleeing into the wilnderness.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Loremasters
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Humans
1 PP - Guide Populace - The elves of Taldar organize, forming the nation of Sylvena
1 PP - Guide Populace - The Defense Coalition builds up Terena's infrastructure, givng them a very good reputation
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Humites
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace - The humans around Asilia band together, finally disregarding all of their rivalries in one last ditch effort to hold back Patren's forces
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Cockatrice
-----
Turn 36 begins now. 9000 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet, Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, The Empress, Vymrl
5 - Mara, Drahthor, Hensen Jijou
4 - Kiptar, Hammu, Jormundrasil, Azor-Chapien, Sessilee, Nixis, Torvek
AnubisDread, as soon as you post your gods stat block in the OOC, you may begin posting. You will have 6 PP.
Over time, however, some Sinners came to realize that they needed to become more active in order to replenish their supply of sustenence, or Sin as they liked to call it. These Sinners begged the others to abandon the Palace and search out more Sin elsewhere. They became known as the Sensation Seekers, or simply the Seekers. The opposite party urged them to remain. They had used a vast pool of green mist to spy upon the world outside and had determined that, not only would it be irrevocably dangerous to venture outside of the walls of Niyanta, but also that the inevitable ways of mankind would lead to the production of more Sin. These Sinners were known as the Children of Sin. The Seekers, however, were disgusted by the complacency of their brethren, and so began preparations to depart at once. The Children fought long and hard to make them stay, but in the end, they could do nothing to stop them. Using powerful rites found in long-forgotten sections of the Palace, the Seekers departed in the dead of night, never to be seen by their brethren again.
PP Expenditures
1 PP +1 from Priya Guide Populace (Moderate) The Sinners learn to use rituals.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) Half of the Sinners form the Sensation Seekers. These depart Niyanta almost at once using teleportation rituals.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The rest of the Sinners form the Children of Sin.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) Half of the Sinners form the Sensation Seekers. These depart Niyanta almost at once using teleportation rituals.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The rest of the Sinners form the Children of Sin.
At first, the colour was as dust: small, and insignificant. But soon enough the flow of light to the area grew, calling red from the flames that burned through the chaos, blue from the ice that chilled the air, green from poisonous fumes that surged through the storm of anarchy, all condensing into one place to make their representative. Pink, violet, orange, and yellow soon followed, swirling into one place, creating a spiral of glowing colours that stood out even against the constant battling of element against element, chaos agains chaos. And suddenly... it stopped. Where once there was a spiral, now there was a shifting blob of flowing glowing colour. And one could have sworn that even the chaos stood still for just a moment as a single large eye emerged from the blob... and opened.
The pupil shifted left and right as it took in it's environment, and existance for the first time. And what an existance! So much conflict, so much strife, so much beauty in the constant chaotic shifting and crashing of the elements! And this was the place to have given him birth, in the very heart of it's madgesty...
The eye creased with a smile as it gazed at the dazzling display before it, mesmerized by the heart of the Chaos.
PP Expenditure
1PP - Form Domain (Lesser) - Chroma forms the domain of colour in honour of his creation.
1PP - Form Domain (Lesser) - Chroma forms the domain of colour in honour of his creation.
And after all of this Drahthor's eyes fell upon the naked form of the still sleeping Empress, blankets half covering her form as they did his, one arm gently resting upon his chest as she slept. Drahthor's smile grew wider as his mind drifted to the previous evenings events, but then something came forward that soured his mood.
He had acted as a supplicant, he had assumed the position of the lesser weaker party in a conflict, and it left a disgusting taste in his mouth. Looking back on it, with more time to think, he found he had been right to avoid his first instincts in asserting his dominance and rising to challenge the Empress in an argument. The chances of him successfully asserting himself and still retaining The Empress were next to non existent. And that was another thing, he felt for the Empress, stronger emotions than for any other, but she was still a powerful ally and he could not afford to jeopardize that alliance. But still, even knowing it was the right action, it had left a sour taste in his mouth.
Attempting to slip out of the bed in a gentle and quite manner so as not to disturb The Empress's slumber, as Drahthor slid away the Empress hand seemed to dig in and claw across his chest. She drew blood, and for a second Drahthor thought she had awoken with anger, but when ho looked he found that she had taken one of the large luxurious pillows in her arms and had curled up in it.
Redressing himself, Drahthor took one last moment to admire her beauty before leaning down and placing a slight kiss upon her head, then he left the room. However he did not get far before something pressed itself for his attention. A mechanical message, contained in the workings of a strange machine of cogs and gears had arrived for him.
Listening to what it had to say, he found that another God, Kiptar, desired to enter into the Bronze Pantheon. Placing his own reply in a single beam of light, Drahthor responded "I have received your request to enter into the Bronze Pantheon, and I am taking it into consideration. Before I present it before the members to vote upon your addition, I would request to know why you seek entrance? What do you hope to accomplish? What makes you worthy? And what you have to offer us as a full fledged member?"
With a flash of light, Azor'Chapien was back over Azora. He needed an exarch as well, and he found what he saught, for below him was a small band of Azoran hunters, for in their ignorance they had formed their own tribal society. It was time to change things.
He came down to the ground, and the Azorans scattered in fear. But Azor'Chapien told them to not be afraid in their minds, and their fear disappeared, replaced by curiosity. "Who is your leader?" asked the fledgling god. They all pointed at the tallest hunter, a bearded man in his thirties. His eyes were solid blue.
"What is your name, mortal?" asked the god. The man responded, "Valden." "Well, Valden, I am Azor'Chapien. You are the Azorans, and the island you live on is Azora! I am your creator and god, and I am also the creator of the Great Code by which you will all abide by in time."
The hunters obviously doubted this, so Azor'Chapien said to Valden, "You shall be first among my servants, Valden. You will be a king among your people, and lead them to greatness! You are now King Valden, king of the Azorans, and I now ascend you to the rank of my first exarch!"
Azor'Chapien touched Valden, and there was a brief flash of light, causing the other Azorans to look away. When the light was gone, Valden was taller, looked younger, and his eyes had turned into a golden-white. The hunters now believed the god and bowed before him.
"Rise my followers," said Azor'Chapien, "And go and spread the word of my existence to the rest of the world. Tell them that their god has come, and that Valden is now King Valden, ruler of the whole island and answers only to his god! Do not worry, they shall believe you, for I have entered their dreams. Go now, mighty Valden!"
A few more looks of confusion spread among the Azorans, and Valden asked, "We do not doubt that you are now our god, and that I am the regent of your people while you attend to divine affairs, but you spoke of a Code. What is this code, mighty one?"
Azor'Chapien smiled under his helmet and said, "Do not worry about my code for the time being. Spread word of my existence! Also, a group of little people, the gnomes, are going to arrive on the island to share stories. Do not fear them, for they are my friends. Now, I must be off!"
And with a flash of light, the god was gone, leaving a group of Azorans and their king to spread the word of their god's greatness.
Meanwhile, Azor'Chapien appeared over Babel in a flash of light, and told Nixis, "I am ready, Nixis."
---------------------------------------------
1 PP: guide Popualce: Azorans now worship Azor'Chapien
3 PP: Ascend Exarch: King Valden is now an exarch
The gnomes in the audience burst into applause as the bard completed When the Chronoptera come to town, grab your mittens. The gnomes had set up a stage at one end of the Fey Circle, where the Bards would set up and perform and practice. Above Nixis swooped back and forth, obviously enjoying himself. His return had initiated a full day's worth of storytelling, music and mischief. The gnomes were clearly ready for whatever lay ahead.
Nixis flew down and found Convincer.
"Convincer, I need you to take yourself and a few other of our new bards to visit the island of Azora. I promised the God of those lands to send someone to teach his people stories of valor and honor. The Warforged Prince and the like. Please leave as soon as you can... I don't want to keep him waiting too long."
Convincer turned to go.
"Ah, but..."
Convincer paused.
"Convincer, make sure to teach them that not everything has to be hard work and stuffiness. Teach them of the joy of mischief as well."
Convincer smiled, and went off into the crowd to find a few gnomes to travel with him. Soon, he was off to the lands of the Azoreans.
"Ah good. Thats done... now then..." Nixis muttered to himself as his form twisted in upon itself and dissapeared from the town of Babble ---
--- and reappeared beyond the Azure Aegis in front of Chukwa. The giant turtle rumbled his greetings. Nixis sped towards the turtle's face.
"Hello, Chukwa. I have a task for you. We have air and land, but we need water in order to make your back habitable. Could you work on generating the water we'll need? I'll make a nice system for it."
"VERY WELL."
Nixis sped off towards Chukwa's back, making minor corrections to the work he had done earlier to ensure that there was no chance for the water Chukwa was working on to fall off his back. He then picked a location to tunnel into Chukwa's shell slightly, heading at a downwards angle to encourage the eventual water to flow downwards. At various points, Nixis tunneled upwards to emerge back into the air at points high up on some of the more mountainous terrain. He then enchanted his tunnels to cause gravity to be reversed within them. Finally, he flew above Chukwa.
"Anytime, Chukwa!" he called out.
Chukwa craned his head backwards and began spitting out water. The water hit his back and began running down the slopes into the trench surrounding the center of the turtle's back. Eventually, the water reached the tunnel into the shell. Slowly but surely, the water level rose as Chukwa continued to blow out water. Soon, the level within the tunnel reached the level of the antigravity fields, and Nixis saw water begin to flow from the peaks of the mountains and form into creeks and streams. A few seconds more, and Nixis called out.
"Okay, thats enough!"
Chukwa stopped, and Nixis sped back and forth, laughing as he saw his future home. Now it just needed plants and animals and people.
"Good job. I'll return again soon."
Nixis folded into himself again and ---
---appeared over Babble. Moments later Azor'Chapien appeared as well.
Ah, you're too late! They're already on their way." Nixis said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You know... this would have been easier if we had had our own boats." Flute said to Convincer as the gnomes stepped out onto the island of Azora.
Convincer rolled his eyes. "It would also have been easier if we had been able to fly. Now come on. According to our captain, the Azorans should be just over that hill."
Sure enough, that was where the gnome bards found the Azorans. The gnomes spread out and began to teach the Azorans stories of honor and loyalty and chivalry. Meanwhile, Convincer went around to the Azorans as well, teaching them of Chivalry, but also reminding them that there was always a place for Mischief.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And Babble, once more under the protective eye of a God, prospered, the gnomes becoming more numerous and founding several new small villages in the area and coming closer to the Humite lands.
PP
1 PP (Convincer): Guide Populous: Azoreans now worship Nixis (although they realize the place and time for his mischief)
1 PP (Chukwa): Nourish land: Creation of a water system on Chukwa's back.
1 PP: Nourish Populous: The gnomes expand and grow.
1 PP (Convincer): Guide Populous: Azoreans now worship Nixis (although they realize the place and time for his mischief)
1 PP (Chukwa): Nourish land: Creation of a water system on Chukwa's back.
1 PP: Nourish Populous: The gnomes expand and grow.
Wait, what was that? The eye looked on with interest as an object came closer and closer, the storm of chaos blowing him erratically in it's constant shifting. It was something... different. Different was good, different was fun! Eagerly surging towards the object in a stream of colour, the eye drew to a stop at the objects base, the pupil of the eye directing itself upward as it took in the new thing. This thing didn't shift with the Chaos and become something different every second... this thing was the same all the time. Where was the fun in sameness? The object was just a big... up and down thing, with lots of spindley bits shooting off from the top, many of which became lots of little green things later on. Sure the little green things changed position slightly in the chaotic gale, but the thing itself was static and unmoving.
Frowning in thought, the coloured light circled the thing a few times, at one point poking it with a formless tentacle of light as if to see how solid it was. In response to his touch, a hole opened up in the up and down part of the thing, revealing something beyond. Shocked by the change in the unchageable thing, the light fled to the far side of the object, peering around the side as if expecting something nasty to come out of the gap.
Nothing did. Emboldened by the lack of change and determined to see if this thing was in interesting aside from just being different, the light entered the hole, looking about a calm place with it's one eye, noting some strange four-pronged soft rocks, some differently shaped than others. Confused by the oddness of the place, and disturbed slightly by the lack of Chaos about him, the light went through another hole, to see another calm place but with different rocks and other things. Deciding that this place was just too odd for his liking, he proceeded to enter the previous calm place... only to find the rocks had shifted themselves around, and that some more had entered while others left.
Eye widening at this new development, the god flitted about the calm place, taking in the difference as it was before but the change that none the less had occured while his gaze was elsewhere. Confused, but pleased, the god went back to the other calm place, which in turn was different to what it was before. And the eye creased with a smile. Letting out what could only be described as a voiceless "weeeeeeeee!", the godling rocketed through dozens upon dozens of holes, each time laughing without laughter at the unexpected changes, sometimes doubling back on himself to try and catch the mysterious force that changed things while he wasn't looking, but never succeeding but silently laughing all the same, intent to chase the mysterious being wherever it may go.
But soon enough the god tired of it's game, and slowed down, sighing at the loss of fun. It wasn't the same chaos as the one outside, but it was still a fun place for all it's stillness. It was a shame it became boring so quickly. Floating it's way outside of the hole, the god looked about the Chaos outside, enjoying the struggle but finding no fun in it. If only there was some other place that he hadn't... the pupil of the eye turned upward speculatively. He wondered if those spindley things were any fun...
Meanwhile, on the world below the humite worshipers of Drahthor found that their lives a businesses flourished (it helped that the Drahkorn traders preferred to deal with them over other humites) and before long with the help of Drahkorn they erected several temples in the style of Xanthor within the city to glorify the Lord of Creation and Destruction.
Yet even as the trade agreement between the Theocracy of Xanthor and the people of Terena flourished, a new substance began to appear on the streets of the city. Noth, as it was called by those who sold it, caused a pleasant euphoric high whilst simultaneously increasing ones physical strength and endurance. It quickly gained popularity, and many defense coalition officials, soldiers, regular citizens, and even the occasional priest came to sneak doses of the drug when they thought none were looking. And the Drahkorn who brought it from their realm took the utmost precautions in making sure it could not be traced back to them, even those that bought directly from them and sold it on the streets did not actually know who they were buying from.
PP
1pp Guide Populace (The Herald)- The sahaugin of Xanthor now worship the Bronze Pantheon, though they place Drahthor at the head of this worship.
1pp Nourish Populace (Eye of Restraint)- The Humite worship of Drahthor flourishes and spreads.
1pp Nourish/De-Nourish- The drug Noth begins to appear in humite society, with all of its benefits and drawbacks.
1pp Nourish Populace (Eye of Restraint)- The Humite worship of Drahthor flourishes and spreads.
1pp Nourish/De-Nourish- The drug Noth begins to appear in humite society, with all of its benefits and drawbacks.
Instead, the god said, "Very good. Thank you for aiding me, and I fear I now owe you a debt. Perhaps we can work together in the future more, no?"
"But of course, Azor'Chapien. Come find me if you need anything. I'll be roaming the world for a little while... there's still so much more to see!"
Nixis zipped away with a laugh, heading for the shattered lands to take a look at the races that lived there, and possibly that facinating God, Xirinet whose tricks Nixis very much wanted to learn to imitate.
At first they were like parasites. They lurked at the edges of whatever civilizations they could find, and passively leech off excess Sin. This practice, however, was not one the Sinners enjoyed. They were not meant to squat in ditches and in alleyways, hoping to catch an outburst of Wrath, or the green gaze of Envy. It was not enough. They would have to find a better way, and fast.
"I need something to defend myslef with. After dealing with what Drahthor is like, I doubt that the other gods are more lenient than he is. Let's see..."
He begins to make various shapes into the bedrock beneath his feet and comes up with several ideas- one better than the previous.
At last, he comes up with the idea.
"I know! I think I will create my trustworthy weapon!"
With his powers, he waves and carves into the air various circles and spikes that eventually form into a disc- like weapon with spikes on the ends. His weapon of choice- the Sunshine Chakram.
PP spent
2pp- Craft Artifact (Sunshine Chakram) +1 Combat Bonus
2pp leftover
Total Combat Bonus- 5 (4pp +1)
2pp- Craft Artifact (Sunshine Chakram) +1 Combat Bonus
2pp leftover
Total Combat Bonus- 5 (4pp +1)
The eye widened as it looked at the field of blue, staring at it before looking down at a flat expanse of green, a whole group of spindley things, and an oddly placid stream of water. What kind of place was this that things didn't churn about in chaos? It was... strange. Floating down towards the river, the god dipped one vaguely formed tentacle into the water, causing a splash to rise up and cause ripples of water to float about. Grinning at this development, the eye flapped around in the water playfully, causing splashes and ripples in the water, and tiny rainbows to arise wherever droplets met the light and his colourful form.
Eventually growing bored of the water, as was his way, the godling floated out of the stream and into the forest, thinking to himself that if the water had been more colourful and less dreadfully clear that it may have been more fun. Grinning as an idea siezed it, the godling turned it's attention to an empty glade, concentrated, and let loose a stream of multicoloured light that struck at the empty space, tendrils of colour and chaos rising up into the air from the impact probably seeable for miles around.
Smiling at it's first creating, the eye circled around it curiously, taking it all in. It looked a little like a stack of sandcastles mashed in together to form one mound with seven flat expanses on it at differing levels and positions. Each flat expanse held a pool of sparkling water, each pool having a different colour of the god of chaos.
Letting out a giggle without words, the godling began to play.
PP Expenditure
Create Artifact (Greater) - The Rainbow Pools provide a PP bonus to Create actions. In addition, any mortal that drinks from it will have good or bad luck for the day, the type and amount of luck hanging on the whims of chance.
Create Artifact (Greater) - The Rainbow Pools provide a PP bonus to Create actions. In addition, any mortal that drinks from it will have good or bad luck for the day, the type and amount of luck hanging on the whims of chance.
"As I said before, I am a crafter. Even the most skilled and knowledgeable craftsman knows that there are some tasks that cannot be done alone, whether from lack of skill, or the amount of work to be done, cooperation in such work is key. The more crafters help with such tasks, the more can be done. That is why I wish to enter, and why I believe it will benefit all of the gods in this Pantheon.
As for what I wish to do, I have already told you about the plan for a god-prison. To do so will require much power beyond what I possess, thus requiring the cooperation of other gods, as well as the incorporation of the artifacts that they have made to imprison gods into the structure of the prison. That is my immediate goal. I will also be willing to lend power to others if I agree with their goals.
As for why I am worthy, and what I would bring to the Pantheon, I will bring what any other god would bring, a new voice, a new view, someone to see things in a way nobody else would. I believe that I am as worthy as any other god to join, and have as much worth as any."
As it sent his message, it turned back to his current work. before him, made of Iron, stood a reptilian form. Wings flowed out of its back, as scales covered it from snout to tail. Now for the hard part.
It reached out, into the Chaos that his Ooze Golems had found for him. He grabbed a small amount of that energy. It reached into Riot, and took a tiny sample of the life that filled it. It reached into the tiny bubble of time, taken from the apparent death of its god, and pulled a bit out. Finally, It took a saprk of divine essence, and held that too.
Chaos, Life, Time, Divine. The four sparks it plunged into the body, filling them like a waiting vessel. It shook, and Kiptar quickly reached, and bound its essence to the world. As the essence of it took hold, many dragons formed out of the iron veins in the world. They flourished and multiplied.
Show
4 pp: Shape Populace(Greater): Iron Dragons inhabit the northeast peninsula on the second continent(Name eludes for the moment).
1 pp: Nourish Creature(Gears): Iron Dragons grow and multiply
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged living in the peninsula incorporate the Iron Dragons into their life.
4 pp: Shape Populace(Greater): Iron Dragons inhabit the northeast peninsula on the second continent(Name eludes for the moment).
1 pp: Nourish Creature(Gears): Iron Dragons grow and multiply
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged living in the peninsula incorporate the Iron Dragons into their life.
-------------------------
Flashback:
After the first strike, Torvek is shifted from his realm to an unknown realm- a realm that is very alien to him. He shudders as he stares on into the unknown lights and colors of the realm. This did not feel like his home...
-------------------------
Still staring on into the night sky, Torvek spots a bright star and stares at it for at least a minute before he delved into his deep thoughts.
"That is one bright star. I wonder what place that is?"
He slowly discoporated into a ball of mist, fading between the planes, returning to the Astral Sea. Odd, he thought, that nobody was interested in why they should all feel a connection to this place.
Shurka may as well have said that to everyone, as he re-located himself near Terena. Veros didn't ask him any favors, but Shurka was curious to find out what was going on in Terena. Before he could, Selya interrupted him.
"Oh, what is it Selya?"
"I have some information you might want. I did a private investigation in Terena."
"Tell me what you found out, then."
Nixis had nearly reached Veros when suddenly the god seemed to dissapear, leaving only a faint trace as to where he had been going. Without really knowing how he had done it, Nixis squeezed himself thinner and thinner and slipped between the planes ---
--- and reappeared in the Astral Sea. Nixis took a moment to take in his surroundings. Around him, letters and words and shapes were forming and dissolving. Nixis swirled around in agitation, which only made the letters more frantic in their actions. Eventually, Nixis stopped to watch the letters. What an odd place, he thought to himself. Off to his left, letters formed out of the nothingness to spell out "What an odd place."
"Ah... I think I might understand this a bit better now..." Nixis said to himself. Concentrating, Nixis brought the letters under control, and began exploring the Sea and its abilities, his question for Veros almost completely forgotten...
But now the eye was deep in the jungle, and wasn't sure how to find his way back to the river, and to his home in the Chaos. This place was fun, but it was so strange, and so different to the place he knew... Before the godling realized that he could fly up above and look at the terrain from there, he made the most significant and interesting discovery it would ever uncover.
Sentient life. Shooting back into the treeline as it heard things approaching, the eye peeked between tree trunks, widening at what it saw. It was like some of the grazing things he'd seen earlier, except it was on two legs! And wearing some odd things, and gathering things in it's... hands? The word just seemed to leap to the godlings mind as the creatures gathered food and conversed among themselves, and he idley took a similar shape to the things before him as he tried to take it all in.
"This...is..." the godling whispered to itself, learning words for the first time. "Interesting... maybe... they want... to play?" But no, even with it's new understanding of the world, the godling could see that these creatures wouldn't want to play... they walked as though there was an invisible stick keeping them upright, and talked as though the world hung on every word. They were too... serious. "Sad," the light spoke to no-one in particular, weaving its way back into the jungle. "They looked like fun. But too serious, too strict... but funner than water or chasing."
"Look," it went on excitedly after it had floated away from the minotaurs for some time. "These things look fun!" A pack of hyenas giggled and laughed at the light, crowding around a recent kill, their muzzle red with the blood. "They laugh, they enjoy colour, and they look cool too! If only those bull things were like them, then it would be..." The eye suddenly remembered what it had done with the Rainbow Fountain. It had seen a lack: water without colour. And it had used it's power to fix that lack... it again surveyed the mottled, bloodied canines. Could it do that again, with something so.. profound? Well, only one way to find out.. risks were exciting!
The coloured light focused on the hyenas, concentrating on the group, imagining what it wanted to do, what it wanted them to be.. before letting loose another beam of light, engulfing the pack in it's glare. There were a few whelps from the hyenas... before they were hyenas no more, shifting into new shapes, snarling with new intelligence.
Soon, there was a new race on the continent of Ardune. Circling his work, the coloured light took in their slightly hunched frame, their often clawed hands, their glorious pelts and muzzles, and the look in their eyes that spoke of the chaos from which they were born. The eye admitted they seemed a little more... savage than he had intended, but that was part of the fun right? What was more fun than something so wild and free that not even the god that made them could know what to expect!
"Name... you need a name," the god of chaos said to himself as the group snarled at eachother, picking at their kill with hands instead of muzzled and decorating themselves in red symbols of blood. "I shall call you... gnolls." The eye creased into a smile. This world fun enough to make up for it's oddness, he could see that clearly now. What fun he'd have!
PP Expenditure
2 PP- Shape Populace (Lesser) - Created the gnolls
2 PP- Shape Populace (Lesser) - Created the gnolls
He has discovered that in the city of Novost the rulers have found a way to turn a mortal into one of the Bloodborn. Secretly he have sent a few of his man to discover how the process worked and now he was ready.
Kara, the half humite priestess, was against the procedure, she has met many of the artificial bloodborn and most of them were no more than monsters, so she did not consent to help him, the Twins too were against it, as pure bloodborn they had a natural dislike toward this transformation.
He kept assuming the Bloodgift, while drawing more power from his god, soon the excess of Elixir of Sin burned trough his bloodstream, causing terrifying pain, he almost fainted while that substance reshaped his body, clearing the last vestiges of his "humanity" he used all his willpower to stay awake and complete the procedure, his companion on the Seeker could do nothing but hearing his screams when pain overwhelmed him.
When he woke up he remembered to have lived an eternity of pain, he also knew that he was not alone during that time, another powerful presence was there, he dreamed of a monstrous serpentine creature that dismembered and than remade his body and mind. "You are reborn now" echoed a thousand whispering voices, he was alone lying almost naked on the metal floor of the Seeker, standing up he realized that his body was not changed at all, "The process failed? How is that possible?". However he felt different, more alive, stronger, filled again with energy like he has never felt in the long years of his life.
"What are we going to gain from him?" told the green head watching the humite standing up from the darkness.
"Useless..." "A good new tool", spoke the Grey twins, as usual never agreeing.
"Do not worry my brothers, we have chosen wisely" Told the black one "We need an agent willing to do anything to achieve his desires, soon an age of strife will come, and weapons like him will prove to be quite effective".
PP
3 PP - Ascend Exarch, Yorik the Unchanged, (+1 Combat Exarch).
3 PP - Ascend Exarch, Yorik the Unchanged, (+1 Combat Exarch).
-----------------
Far to the west, the Asikan Empire continued to flourish and expand its borders. It soon turned its eyes to the massive desert that spanned much of the continent. The Empire was weary at first, but soon began to push at the boundaries of that burning wasteland. It was not long before they had carved out a sizeable chunk of the desert for themselves, though they did not push their luck too much. The Empire mainly kept its holdings at the border, where fresh water was in greater supply, and they were able to gather the materials they needed more easily.
PP Expenditure
2 PP Guide Populace (Lesser x2) The Beggar's Guild expands into the poor residents of Patren and Asilia.
1 PP Teach Populace (Moderate, with discount) Ritual casting: The Beggar's Guild diffuses ritual casting throughout its members.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser) The Asikan Empire
1 PP Teach Populace (Moderate, with discount) Ritual casting: The Beggar's Guild diffuses ritual casting throughout its members.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Populace (Lesser) The Asikan Empire
"I wonder if the Astral Sea is still there? I would love to go back there and see what it looks like now."
He summons his chakram and holds it up to the night sky. Almost instantly, the chakram glows bright and starts floating in midair.
"Huh? Wha... What's going on?"
At that same instance, he is teleported to an unknown location, squeezing through the very space that he had existed in and winds up in the Astral Sea. Strange letters can be seen flowing through the air, forming and dissolving all at once. The Sea's energies were quite different from what his home was like.
"What is this place?"
At that same time, the words 'What Is This Place?' appears in front of him, then dissolve as he looks around to find the nearest lifeform- or in this case, a way out.
A short distance away, Torvek spots a figure, surrounded with letters, words, and phrases- Nixis.
"Shurka called you . . . Nixis, right? Glad to see another has finally found this realm."
He sat there wondering, thinking to himself. Glancing up, he noticed another approaching.
"Shurka called you . . . Nixis, right? Glad to see another has finally found this realm."
After getting closer to Nixis, Torvek could see another figure, glancing into Torvek's eyes. The figure seemed as though it was watching Torvek's every move.
His chakram appeared in his leather sleeve, as he approached the two figures in caution.
"This... is a strange... place. What is it?"
He inquires to the figure that was Veros.
"I'm sorry to disturb you at this time. I had not expected my weapon here to transport me to this realm in which you reside in. I must ask you- what is this place?"
He unsheaths his chakram to show Veros briefly, then puts it back into the sleeve.
Eventually however, the coloured light forced itself from running among his creations, letting them pass him by. Watching wistfully as they went on. He just wanted to play with them some more... but if his children were going to live he needed to know what sort of place they called home. He enjoyed the thrill of chaos, the arrival of the unpredictable, it made his blood surge! But the death of his children because of an unknown would not be chaos.. it would be simple destruction. And if nothing remained, there would be no chaos.
So the eye rose up past the tree tops and into the sky, looking about at the world below it. And above it, what was that orb in the sky that seemed strange to this world in not too dismilar way that this world seemed strange to his? But that was a queery for another time, for now the ground was what he needed to observe. Who knows, maybe he'd find something as fun as his children. Well, almost as fun... wait, what was that? Those spindley thing.. no, trees, he knew that now.. were different to the ones he was familiar with. They didn't change like the one in the Chaos, nor did they seem as thick and hot and as the ones in the jungle where his gnolls lived and played.
Curious, the godling floated down amongst the trees, noticing that there seemed to be much less life here than in the jungle... and yet more. For some reason, these trees felt.. special. As though they were a part of something larger. It made the coloured light feel as though they were in the presence of an older sibling, who could waggle their finger at you and make you stop having fun at a moments notice.. yet it was also strangely comforting, like on another day that same sibling might play with you when you had nothing else to play with.
Grinning, the godling floated about the root forest of the great tree god, humming an erratic but cheery tune.
The Wondermaker moved carefully in the labirintine caves, admiring the complex cristalline formation that no mortal artist would have never been eble to emulate. Even now the remaining natural stone was changing to Bloodstone red as divine blood kept slowly spreading and altering nearby matter.
He travelled the caves for hours, days, or maybe even month, he did not care much about time and he was quite impressed by it, some time he got distracted but mostly he worked on his master project.
After completing the job he stepped in the middle of the largest room, where Bloodstone formations created an impressive mosaic of sharp blades and wicked spikes. "Ah the perfect place to watch the resolution of my work" he tought.
After a while there was a vibration among the the caves, the crystals beguns to shine with new light glowing powerfully and creating an amazing game of reflexes in the cave. Empowered with new divine energy the Bloodstone begun to spread faster reshaping the land and life forms with its twisting essence.
The Free Nation felt the land shifting and the sudden increase in bloodstone power, even if it lasted for just a few seconds. The Priesthood begun investigating on this misterious phenomena.
Meanwhile new goods from Beacon trade route become common among the Free Nation, expecially the use of Paper as a support for writing and allowing artificers and engeneers to draw their projects.
After the surge of power from the depts of the archipelago new life forms begun diffusing in the islands, mostly small, and occasionally vicious, beasts of unknown origin.
PP
3 Create (1 From the Wondermaker) PP - Bloodstones also produce 1 Mold PP.
1 Guide PP (from Aether Ripples, cultural contact discount) - Free Nation begin to use paper.
1 Nourish PP (From Bloodstones), harmless wildlife emerge in Bloodmyst Archipelago.
3 Create (1 From the Wondermaker) PP - Bloodstones also produce 1 Mold PP.
1 Guide PP (from Aether Ripples, cultural contact discount) - Free Nation begin to use paper.
1 Nourish PP (From Bloodstones), harmless wildlife emerge in Bloodmyst Archipelago.
Shurka felt that Veros had gone somewhere different this time. Shurka had felt the... connection... for a while. He changed his location to the Astral Sea. This looked like a good place to start work. A gothic-style gate rose from the astral mist. Beyond it was a massive orb, almost a miniature planet. The orb had areas of sand, ice, trees, grass, mud, and hills. The sky of this area was blank save for glowing chains floating across the sky. From the Astal Sea, however, only the gate could be seen. Chains wrapped around the gate, ensuring that no one unwanted would freely enter the new realm. A lock with no key-hole formed in the center of the chains. It was desolate now, but Shurka hoped to fill it with the creatures that should be separated from the rest of the world. Hopefully soon.
PP Use
2 PP - Create Plane - Created Carceri, the Astral Prison.
3 PP - Create Artifact - Godlock (Provides 1 PP toward imprison)
Around a giant circular staircase that dissapeared into mist above and below, countless alcoves dotted the stone walls. Within, each octagonal alcove had shelves on six of the walls, and opposite the entrance, a desk with a glowing orb above it for light. Nixis' vision was to have this place be filled with learning of all sorts and types. Every ten floors or so, the floor would, instead of alcoves, have living, eating and socializing locations for the librarians.
All he needed were some good librarians. Veros' Loremasters seemed a logical choice... although, perhaps he could do something with the gnomes... they were depressingly short, though. Nixis swirled in irritation.
Sensing Veros nearby, Nixis floated through one of the walls to go and find him.
[b]"Yes, I am Nixis. Its good to meet you again, Veros. I should probably thank you for creating the Loremasters and indirectly leading to my birth. I was actually wondering if I could talk to you at some point about an idea I had that might help your Loremasters in their tasks. You see-"
Suddenly, another god, draconic in look, appeared and brandished some sort of weapon. Nixis watched the new god warily, edging slightly closer to Veros as he did. The new god spoke, and Nixis realized that his question was a good one.
"Actually, thats a good question. What is this place of boundless creation?"
"Soon enough a new wind of change will rise brothers, it'll happen alone we will not need any direct action to raise it." Stated the white head, as usual careful in its actions.
"Maybe, old one, but we are bored" told the grey heads almost together, "We sensed that new divine beings emerged into creation in the last few ages, beings that should merit our attentio"
"Beings that can represent new opportunities for us" told the green one.
"Yes new opportunities..." almost wispered the black head with a wicked light in its eyes.
From the Aether the heads begun looking for these new gods, seeking them trough the changes that gods always bring to reality.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - De-Nourish - Shurka's Exarch Selya is powerless for the duration of this turn.
3 PP - Ascend Exarch - Drevan Stoneshield becomes an exarch
Just as it was becoming bored with the unresponsive and unchanging woods, and about to return back to the fun of watching it's children live and grow.. something new appeared. Frowning as it sensed a presence, the eye turned around, to see what looked like some sort of white lizard with a really long neck. A REALLY long lizard. And the power that came from it, it was... oddly similar to the Chaos! Except calmer, more patient... as though it was an ends rather than a means.
Staring at the white lizard for a few moments, the rainbow light continued to shift, before it's eye creased with a smile, and it spoke for the first time to one of its own kind. "Hi! Do you want to play?"
The pair of Dwarves moved briskly through the streets, darting from wall to wall. They rushed down an alley and looked around. Sensing that they were along, the Relaxed just a little. They were breathing a little heavy, so they could catch their breath. The lead dwarf knelt down to the ground, muttering to himself so as to cast a spell. His sword began to glow faintly. Moving the sword over the ground, black foot prints showed upon the ground, went to the wall and then stopped. The Dwarf continued to look around, before turning to his companion, “The Creature has taken to the roofs.”
The other Dwarf too out from his pack a grapple and some rope. Tying them together he swung the rope up to the roof and let it catch on the chimney of the nearby building. The First Dwarf went up the rope first, grunting in exertion and slowly climbing up. He gathered himself on the room and helped his fellow up.
The Roofs of many building the city were connected or adjacent, creating an odd shaped landscape with the occasional gash created by a street or alley. The two Dwarves looked around. A shadow moved near a chimney several buildings away. “There!” the lead Dwarf whispered emphatically.
The two began maneuvering across the rooftops in the direction of the shadow. They caught a glimpse of it again and altered their course. Sensing an advantage, the lead Dwarf motioned for his companion to take an angled direction more directly towards the creature. Then the head Dwarf veered off on a different course and disappeared into the shadows.
The first Dwarf began maneuvering into position, coming into view of the creature so that its features could be better seen in the moonlight. It was apparently a female, Dwarf-like, but with mangy hair and large teeth, which is barred at the Dwarf. The Dwarf said a prayer and a defensive spell came alive over him. It was not a strong spell, but it would hopefully shield him a little. He took his sword and moved cautiously towards the creature.
The creature hissed and made to strike the Dwarf with her claw like fingers, but as she reached towards him she was repelled by the power of the spell. The Dwarf made a swing at her, but she dodged the attack as she changed course to avoid the spell. The creature turned around the edge of a building, only to come face to face with the other Dwarf, with more powerful spells already in effect, his sword raised high to strike.
“By Kerena, Die Bea---Naini?!” The Dwarf stumbled at the sight of his dead daughter. He held his strike, which would have struck true, in a reflex against harming his daughter. The creature that his daughter shrieked at the sight of the new threat, but used the change to push the elder dwarf down to the roof and away. The creature then turned and ran over a roof line and into an alley.
The other Dwarf came chasing around the corner, to find the other one still on the ground, in disbelief. “What happened, Margsun?”
“Naini.” the sitting Dwarf said in shock. “My Naini!”
“Impossible, it must have been an ability of these creatures we did not know about”
“No! It was her!” Margsun said, trying to hold back his emotion as tears began to appear in his eyes. “I couldn't strike and she got away. She is one of these monsters now.”
“What should we do?”
Margsun stood back up, recovering himself. “We must return. Then we shall double our efforts, and kill all those that did this to Naini.”
“And Naini?”
Margsun shook his head in anger and sadness. “She is not Naini. Naini is already dead. I shall kill her too and give her peace.”
Show
1 PP - Nourish Populace (from Exarch) - Vampires of Meribia - Vampires getting a little frisky.
1 PP - Guide Populace (from Artifact) - Karak-Rik Begins hunting/fighting Vampires in Meribia. They arn't succesful, but are learning.
1 PP - Nourish Populace - The Karak-Rik Guild, through its public-facing mercantile members and endeavors, gains wealth and some influence.
Finally, I believe I will not have time to meaningfully use the rest of my PP before the end of the turn, and I don't feel like burning it just for the sake. So I am giving 2 PP to Shurka, 1 PP to Xirinet, and 1 PP to Veros with the condition that it not be used against my interests or plots (Sadly, Mara has only actually interacted "personally" with the first two I believe. And Xirinet is *part* parent at least).
1 PP - Nourish Populace (from Exarch) - Vampires of Meribia - Vampires getting a little frisky.
1 PP - Guide Populace (from Artifact) - Karak-Rik Begins hunting/fighting Vampires in Meribia. They arn't succesful, but are learning.
1 PP - Nourish Populace - The Karak-Rik Guild, through its public-facing mercantile members and endeavors, gains wealth and some influence.
Finally, I believe I will not have time to meaningfully use the rest of my PP before the end of the turn, and I don't feel like burning it just for the sake. So I am giving 2 PP to Shurka, 1 PP to Xirinet, and 1 PP to Veros with the condition that it not be used against my interests or plots (Sadly, Mara has only actually interacted "personally" with the first two I believe. And Xirinet is *part* parent at least).
The White one looked toward this strange being with interest, it felt some kind of affinity with it, but could not tell exactly what was that, he sensed its divine essence however, gods intrigued it, they were the strongest bringers of change, of course their plans rarely were aligned with Hensen’s will, but still they did a great job in reshaping the otherwise static reality.
The head was massive, with large horns that always seemed to have moved by an almost imperceptible distance while no one was watching, its eyes glows with a pure light, some time white, others with pale reflexes of the color spectrum.
“Play?” it thought what a strange request from a god, the White one was curious about this being, powerful, but maybe ingenuous enough to be used for some purpose.
The White one smiled toward the creature, its eyes emanating a bright hot light.
“Maybe I’ll, what kind of game do you want to play?”
“And what is your name by the way?”
Then Hensen produced a breath of tiny lights, motes of change, they kept shifting in shape and color combining and dividing, drifting slowly like moved by a soft breeze or darting around filled with “life”. The cloud of motes playfully moved toward Chroma.
The head also seemed to be confused about why he wanted to play. Didn't it know that play was fun? Of course it did, even his children knew play! The play often involved the organs of a kill, but who was he to question the gnolls fun? Still, the head seemed to warm to the idea, which made the eye almost jump up and down with glee. Although it's questions made it frown in thought.
"Gosh, I don't know... I've never had someone to play with before. Except the tree, and my children, but they think a fun game is chasing gazelles... though that is fun," he conceded with a smile. Or his eye creasing in a smile anyway, the being posessed no other discernable features aside from the vague silouettes formed by the shifting colour.
"And I don't need a name silly," the godling went on, giggling. "Ordering chaos and colour with silly things like words is like trying to catch the wind. It just ends up going away... but if my children can have a name, so can I!" he went on a little more exitedly, frowing in thought. There was one thing that came to the forefront of his mind... did he already have a name and not realize it? How fun! "My name is Chroma, nice to meet you Mister!" the godling replied finally, smiling gleefully at the revelation of his name.
Of course when the motes enveloped Chroma the god of change lost all his focus for a few moments: how they sparkled so! Giggling and letting out the off 'weee' the godling floated about the cloud of coloured lights, crying out with glee at how they managed to dance out of his reach every time he rushed towards them.
The White one smiled.
"I'm Hensen, for now at least, I was a cloud of that tiny sparks not too long ago and I might become something else in the future"
"Do you want to try to catch me?"
"Or maybe you prefer the game of creation?"
The cloud of sparks slowly moved toward the White, while some combined in larger form, mostly appearing as strange tiny beasts that begun playing among each other, combining and dividing again with random pattern.
The other apparation ignored the light, but both vanished from Veros' sight.
He sensed another plane... one where the gods used as neutral ground. He erupted into another flash of light and he was in the Astral Sea.
)"A place to experiment, you say? Well, this could be fun."
Nixis looked around.
"Pretty empty, though, although it would feel that more of us are finding it by the hour. Have you found out anything else, Veros?"
As Nixis waited for an answer, he began tinkering with his own form a bit. Simple tasks like picking an object up could become difficult when one had no hands. Concentrating, he began organizing himself, laying letters one on top of one another to mimic a more conventional body. Soon, it was done, and instead of a swarm of letters, Nixis became a humanoid whose skin appeared to crawl as the letters slowly moved across his form.
Reaching out, Nixis grabbed ahold of some of the very stuff that made up the Astral Sea, the very stuff that was full of the potential to create. As he held it in his hand, he willed a part of himself to flow around and contain the clod of creation-stuff. When he was done, what appeared to be a black diamond-shaped gem rested in his palm, glowing with an inner light. By channeling his power through the gem, he should have all the power he needed to create the Library.
PP
3PP : Create Artifact: The Astral Shard. Gem containing a portion of the Astral Sea within it. Acts as a focus for create actions (+1 Create PP)
3PP : Create Artifact: The Astral Shard. Gem containing a portion of the Astral Sea within it. Acts as a focus for create actions (+1 Create PP)
Terena had its defenses built up from the defense coalition since the aftermath of the attack on the council. Many citizens join the coalition, helping defend their nation from threats, internal or external.
PP Use
1 PP [+1 Eorna, +2 from Mara] - Nourish Populace x4 - The Defense Coalition (only nourished in numbers, not power.]
And floated in the vastness of the Astral Sea, some distance from the gathered forms of Nixis, Torvek, and Veros. The surrounding fabric of existence danced with idle power around the life god, taking on momentary fragments of possibility.
With a twisting the ephemeral form of Xirinet moved toward the gathered gods.
Knowledge, I see you have more visitors than I in this... Most interesting place.
***
Alexandria, true to their word, provided the manpower necesarry for the Loremasters to learn to work in silver and leathers.
Actions
1PP from the Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Silversmithing for the Loremasters.
1PP, Guide Populace: Leatherworking for the Loremasters.
1PP, Guide Populace: Leatherworking for the Loremasters.
"Ah, hello, Nixis... and Veros. I don't believe I caught the name of the third god, though..."
Meanwhile the thallid to expand on their current continent. They also learned to grow moss in special paterns on large rocks. After a while they were able to create specific symbols, some of which could contain magical properties.
(nourish Tsarok faction: 3PP+1PP from spore chambers)
(nourish Thallid: 2PP)
(Guide populace Thallid: 1PP+1PP from Nugorroth: Thallid learn the art of moss-runes)
"Hello again, Azor'Chapien, Xirinet. Yes, our other god appears to be sleeping or something. Perhaps we should put him to bed?"
A devilish grin split Nixis face, and he concentrated.
Beneath Torvek a large, soft pillow appeared, cushioning the god's body. Above, an oversized blanket began lowering itself...
That'll wake him up Nixis thought to himself.
"a..."
Creatures with leaf-like sound receptors paused in their swimming and listened. After a moment they resumed their lives.
"Marrraaaa... ... ... Mara..."
A hazy figure shrouded in a dark, misty robe floated, its features indiscernible.
"Come to me, Mara," a voice echoed into space.
Then, in four similar though much larger messenger flames he contacted the other Gods of the Pantheon. The Empress, Vymrl, Hensen, and Hammu all received the following preface followed by the two messages of Kiptar himself. "The God Kiptar has requested admittance the Bronze Pantheon, I have briefly questioned him and I find that his spirit is admirable and he would provide a strong addition to our young base of power. As such, my vote is for his inclusion, though I now submit to you members for your vote on the matter."
Links
here are the links to Kiptars messages that are attached to this flame http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=18898937&postcount=2224
and http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=18908308&postcount=2263
and http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=18908308&postcount=2263
Torvek studies the surroundings very carefully.
"It feels... different from my home..."
Torvek turns around to see more gods- Azor'Chapien, Xirinet.
Beneath him, he saw a pillow underneath his feet.
"Huh? I don't remember putting a cushion here."
He looks at Veros.
"I'm sorry- I must've dozed off before I got the chance to greet. I am Torvek, the Dragon of the Daylight, and Master of Insight. What is yours, great one?"
Xirinet's gaze flickered to the young gods, its form randomly producing mirrored images of each.
What is there that can hide form you?
***
Within the War Quarter of Alexandria work those that even the Loremasters might name as going too far in pursuit of knowledge. Driven by ambition, by lust for knowledge and power they experiment in the fundamental magic granted them by Xirinet, and progress in magics alien to the primal nature of their patron. Recklessly seeking to perfect newer magics, to utilize ever greater knowledge, they succeed in creating creatures as deadly as any Alexandrian soldier. Their newest creations though have proven unstable, dangerous, deadly spiders capable of slipping between the boundaries of the planes. Capable of teleporting instantaneously, and at will. Bred from the deadly deathjump spiders of the Shattered Lands the massive arachnids were to be put to use as mounts and weapons of war. However not even the greatest chambers could hold them indefinitely, and a portion of the predators excaped.
Actions
1PP from Leyline +1PP, Spawn Beast: A breed of Phase Spiders meant for use as a mount.
2PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria develops Wizards. Their training regimen is based in an unusual amount of Summoning and attack magics.
1PP from the Stars, Nourish Populace: Ettercaps, hey they just got more fun friends.
2PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria develops Wizards. Their training regimen is based in an unusual amount of Summoning and attack magics.
1PP from the Stars, Nourish Populace: Ettercaps, hey they just got more fun friends.
"If you know too much, then someone is bound to steal that knowledge and create an absolute evil- one in which you cannot stop. I've seen that happen before."
He looks at Xirinet, admiring his image of himself.
"Why are you doing that?"
----------
In Beacon, the new fishing and trading ships ushered in a new era of prosperity and discovery. Some discoveries were good, such as the new trading partners who had come by sea. Some were not so good, such as the monsters occasionally found beyond the breakwaters. Some came back telling of gigantic tentacles reaching from beneath the waves- some never came back at all. Closer to home, schools of fish with sharp teeth and sharper instincts for fighting were found. Some of these could be tamed, with effort, and so Beacon's Argent Guard went to sea, riding alongside the merchant ships they protected.
PP
3PP: Ascend Exarch: Fang, the Delver (+1 mold PP)
1PP: Spawn Beast: Tiger Sharks (heroic- equivalent to Riding Sharks in the MM) are found in the waters near Lighthouse.
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: The Argent Guard learns to ride Tiger Sharks
3PP: Ascend Exarch: Fang, the Delver (+1 mold PP)
1PP: Spawn Beast: Tiger Sharks (heroic- equivalent to Riding Sharks in the MM) are found in the waters near Lighthouse.
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: The Argent Guard learns to ride Tiger Sharks
A god child, it must be my lucky day, tougth the white one, and his own too since he could easily imagine the destiny of Chorma in the fang of the Black.
The White one smiled.
"I'm Hensen, for now at least, I was a cloud of that tiny sparks not too long ago and I might become something else in the future"
"Do you want to try to catch me?"
"Or maybe you prefer the game of creation?"
The cloud of sparks slowly moved toward the White, while some combined in larger form, mostly appearing as strange tiny beasts that begun playing among each other, combining and dividing again with random pattern.
Chroma's eye widened as the head explained that it was a cloud of tiny coloured sparks in the past, reminding him of his own birth. "I was like that too!" he shouted out in glee. "Except instead of sparks I was, I was streams, and and my colour was given by Mother, and you look like Mother didn't make you."
The god child frowned as his new friend made suggestions of what to play, rolling that last word around on his tongue as though it were unfamiliar to him. "Crea... tion." Seeing the white head's display, Chroma was awed by the tiny colourful beasts, and their chaotic and unpredictable display. "Oh yeah!" he went on, eye creasing with a smile as he shifted excitedly. "That game is fun! I made coloured water, and and I made my children, and my children hunted things, and and they all ran away until they caught them, and then they caught them, and then they had colour come out of them, and then they ate. Creation is fun!"
The godling frowned in thought some more, wrenching away it's concentration from the shifting shapes for a moment. "You know, my children and the bully wooly's go 'rawr', but you go, RAWR!" Chroma finished, adding his divine power to his voice like his friend before him did.
Knowledge is power. To limit yourself in search of power is to willingly shutter yourself away from your potential.
A rapid series of shifts followed the god's words. Images of ancient battles, fragments of experiments conducted by Alexandria.
Why am I doing what?
Many words and phrases appeared before him, and he went deep into his thoughts.
"If this is the Astral Sea, then... where is everyone else that used to live here? Maybe that Apocalyps killed them all. Wait! How did someone restore the Astral Sea from the Apocalyps? There must be someone else besides me that had survived! I must find that person, whoever it may be."
He opens his eyes and focuses his main energies. The words that flowed around him became more and more quick and spontaneous, as he summoned his chakram into his sleeve. He brandished it, and took a stance for a brief moment. He then threw it- a long distance away before calling it back to him. It reappeared into his hands and started to study it more carefully.
"Hmm. It seems as though it needs more work on it. Perhaps I should fix it up a little when I return home. For now, I must wait until I regain the strength needed to do so."
He turns around to face the other gods.
He sheaths his chakram and dismisses it.
"By the way, how are you so good at changing your physical form to look like someone else? Is that what your domain is?"
At Torvek's question Xirinet's form dissolved entirely into nebulous mists.
I am life. I am a reflection of what is, and you are.I do not know how or why I can do what I do, but what matters is that I can and that I know to what use I shall put my skills.
I find it best to aquire what I wish to know when I wish it. I have little else to do. Though I am not such a master as Knowledge himself.
At Torvek's question Xirinet's form dissolved entirely into nebulous mists.
I am life. I am a reflection of what is, and you are.I do not know how or why I can do what I do, but what matters is that I can and that I know to what use I shall put my skills.
"So, you are the Master of Life?"
Torvek wonders at Xirinet's response.
"I wonder- if you form into something or someone that you see, could you (by chance) have that person's or object's abilities- or are you limited by your own abilities?"
A swirling motion reduced Xirinet to a heavy fog encompassing the gathered gods. Shadoy manifestations of wuild beasts moved randomly within the fog. The doppelgangers of the gathered gods seemed to manifest at random.
Though you inspire me to perhaps make something new... Such a creature in my image.
-----
Gorion slipped from the Astral Sea, and moved silently among the humans of Asilia. Already, some of their strongest warriors drew strength from pacts made with him, but they continued to lose none the less. After a meeting with the most powerful warlocks in Asilia, the leaders of the struggling nation, a new pact was formed, placing the nation under his command.
To protect his new investment, he opened a gate from the Astral Sea, allowing a group of his legions to walk upon the mortal world for the first time. Bolstered by the war devils brought forth, Asilia began to push pack Patren's forces.
-----
Drevan slipped into the entrance of the workshop, the only place on the continent he had ever feared to go. No longer did he fear this place, he mused as he walked calmly through it's corridors, amused that the defensive wards failed to even notice him. He slowly made his way into the depths, seeking the creation forge he knew lay there.
Using it's power, along with a portion of his own stolen might, he channeled even more power into the Staff of Ruin, it's strength increasing exponentially. Finished, he returned to the mortal realm, leaving the workshop as if it were untouched. He needed to contact his thralls, to insure that the Defense Coalition was properly consolidating their power after their recent windfall.
-----
On Arduna and Taldar, the minotaurs continued to prosper and grow.
-----
On Taldar, the minotaurs watched their eastern neighbors wearily, concerned that the war might spill into their territory. Further, new beings from the west had appeared on their shores, mapping and exploring the ancient mountain peaks. Doubly concerned, the elders met and made an agreement, binding their combined power behind a single leader, who named their fledgling nation Menosa.
-----
Across the world, scattered pyre flies formed into a new creature, that haunted wetlands and shadow bogs, uring travellers to their deaths, Before long, these dreade dcreatures were called will-o'-wisps.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Asilia
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Defense Coalition
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Defense Coalition consolodates power.
1 PP + 1 PP - Create Artifact (Moderate) - Staff of Ruin becomes a combat artifact
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Minotaurs
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Loremaster
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Minotaurs of Taldar form the nation of Menosa
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Will-o'-wisp
-----
Turn 37 begins now. 9250 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence. As a matter of amusement, this refresh will list every living god, just to make a point of how many gods the setting has. :D
This is part of the reason prepping for reset takes me time. Every god's actions complicate the method I use to determine PP and only truly dead gods are ever removed.
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet, Tsaroka-Noggoth, Shurka, The Empress, Vymrl, Mara
5 - Oravolos, Chactross, Drahthor, Hensen Jijou, Roan, Neko, Kiptar
4 - Hammu, Nocturne, Siccadan, Ythrexle, Jormundrasil, Zophia, Ipsur, Frellisk, Ka, Runescar, Azor-Chapien, Quel, Nixis, Chroma, Void, Sessilee, Cygnus, Oreb Nahash, Torvek
The gnolls had an interesting culture, if it could be called that. In essence, the gnoll "society" consisted of one big horde of the creatures, that moved erractically across the continent of Ardune decouring everying in it's path, and stripping everything it couldn't eat to use as basic weapons and clothing. Fortunately for the environment the gnolls were strictly carnivores, meaning not even a generation after they finished devouring everything in one small patch of jungle and moved on to the next it was flourishing as much or even more than it was when they first arrived... minus perhaps a few overturned trees and skeletons that had been stripped bare but hadn't been covered by the passage of time yet. The fact that the chaos they caused was purely temporary didn't matter to the creatures however: they revelled in the kill, and the thrill of the hunt, the erractic heart beats of their prey as they chased and did battle.
When it came to religion, however, the savage gnolls were surprisingly gentle. Having gained the self-realization to practice religion, the beastmen revered the child god of chaos as their creator. But at the same time, they knew that Chroma was not as savage as they, even if he too revelled in chaos and enjoyed the chase. And so the gnolls decorated themselves in symbols similar to the ones the first among their kind had done, except not only in blood. The gnolls often ground plants with coloured sap and the like to make body paint, and used it to create symbols in as many colours of the rainbow and their creator as they could. Of course this varied by area: sometimes the gnolls couldn't find plants to make green, pink, violet etc plants and made due with the colours they had. They always had red though, that they could make themselves in the way they enjoyed most: the hunt.
Another way that the gnolls revered their god that would surprise most was the gathering of flowers. Again, the gnolls would search for every colour of flower they could find, then pick the petals off the stem and spread them over a makeshift altar. There, they would pray to the god that had created them, and feel the child god's approval, and his love.
And so the gnolls thrived as they hunted, and grew in strength and number. The eye of their creator smiling down on them as they spread chaos in his name. His first born children, who though they may be more savage than he would like sometimes, would always be under his care.
PP Expenditure
Guide Populace (1 PP) - The gnolls now worship Chroma
Nourish Populace (1PP) - The gnolls grow greater in number, and stronger in force.
Guide Populace (1 PP) - The gnolls now worship Chroma
Nourish Populace (1PP) - The gnolls grow greater in number, and stronger in force.
Matched by these creatures, the gnolls found a few small areas of Ardune, mostly twisting canyons and mountains, inaccessible to them, protected by these stalwart defenders.
(If you want to take this further, we can move to Mortal Stories. I just wanted you to be aware that there are minotaurs on Ardune.)
))Within his new domain, the Grand Distortion, Hensen watched, tendrils of warped reality extended toward the planar river, absorbing a portion of it and integrating its flow in its aerie landscape.
Under the watchful eyes of its master new landmasses was born in the roaming seas of chaotic energies. Large spires of crystalline material formed surrounded by glassy sand, within them were reflected glimpses of impossible realities. Seas of molten flash, purple currents of twisting energies that flied on the sky following twisted gravity patterns. Any life form ever born, or that have never being seen, appeared in the grand distortion, mostly they were mere illusions created by the aerie light that filled the plane, ghosts without substance that a mere burst of wind could vanquish. But most of them were capable of shattering mortal minds and twist their form by merely passing by.
Massive plants emerged from the glassy landscape, moving and twisting, consuming each other in a crazed frenzy of growth and consumption.
The landscape of the Grand Distortion was far from uniform, many crazed regions were born from it, all with unique features ever shifting and locked in an eternal struggle with the others some time merging with the ones nearby, other time consuming or being consumed.
A massive city of incredible buildings, with roads paved with molten lava or black water, bridges and stairs with impossible angles and contorted structures that keep shifting while unwatched emerged from thin air, floating over the vortex in the very heart of the plane. Large Crystalline tower wounded the surface of the city, like spears buried within a dead man, converging in the middle and forming a large structure with coiling spires, twisted walkways, large deserted halls, mazes of mirrors, chambers filled with beams of colored light, that can warp the flesh and mind of anything that touched them, massive workshops where animated instruments of unknown origin produced items of mysterious use and shifting forms. A wind of undetectable origin stormed the Castle of Endless Possibilities, Hensen’s new hall of power, screaming while it passed between the razor sharp columns, oddly shaped windows and spires, creating an eternal melody that can equal the greatest work of art, or the worst nightmare of a madman. A part for the wind, however, the city and the castle were silent, like waiting for someone or something to inhabit it, no one walked its roads and corridors, not even the living illusions that infested the plane, for now at least…
Natural laws does not apply in the Grand Distortion, gravity keep shifting, light occasionally turn into a liquid substance or even solid stone, mirrors reflect things that does not exist and never will. Time itself could not properly affect this place, as some time it moves back, or just stand still, like frozen in fear, other times it goes so fast that even the mighty dragons can grow old and frail in the split of a second. Distances are as real as a mirage here, a place that seems near will be reached in millennia of travel, while far regions are just a few steps away.
Life itself some time produces unexpected mutation especially when powerful warping rivers passed through them.
Some time the power of the Grand Distortion touched other planes, or reality, forming temporary portals, kidnapping unlucky victims altering them, turning their existence into a living hell or a disturbing paradise. For reality there shift and adapt to the unconscious will of those who navigate it, some time making their nightmares true, other time realizing perverse dreams and fantasies.
Reality react violently to the intrusions of the Grand Distortion and so portals and link does not last for long, but they sometime leave scars where they touched another world.
Most of the horrors and things spawned by the distortion are too unreal to exist outside their realm and so were rarely able of interacting with the outside world, however when portals form and the Grand Distortion influence grew strong they swarm the light of creation with limitless frenzy.
PP
4 – Create Greater Plane (1 from Wondermaker), the Grand Distortion, most of its creatures are still fluff (and so can’t exist outside the realm).
4 – Create Greater Plane (1 from Wondermaker), the Grand Distortion, most of its creatures are still fluff (and so can’t exist outside the realm).
To Chroma:
The white head roareed to Chroma and than smiled again.
"Nah I have no mother, I was always here, just I didn't know I was"
"I like your children by the way... I might have some gift for them one day or another..."
"Now I'll have to go, my friend, but if you need me for anything feel free to call my name and I'll find you"
The tiny motes moved looked like they were enjoying themselves and were willing to stay with chroma.
You can keep them if you want"
PP
1 PP Spawn (heroic), Motes of Change Swarm.
"You're giving me the sparkle things? Thank you Mister Hensen," the godling thanked the god of change, smiling politely and thankfully as well as he could with no mouth. "I wish I had something to give you too... I know!" he said excitedly. "The game!"
Looking about for something to work with, as the god child did not yet realize that he didn't need a base for his work, the god of chaos' eye widened with intent as it saw a column of ants wandering among the trees. He wanted something like the god before him, something.. scaley, and something that brought chaos. After all, who didn't like chaos? It was fun! Concentrating his power, Chroma let loose a stream of rainbow light, hitting the column of ants which writhed for a moment with new power.. before growing big, bigger, ranging in size between a large cat and larger than the bull men he'd seen.
They weren't exactly what he'd meant to make.. they were lizards, but insects too. Spindley things that seemed to merge the two, lizards who burrowed and cocooned themselves, and lived in a hive. Still, Chroma thought they were cute, especially when one dug under a large rock and made it collapse into the earth, causing a little chaos in the otherwise still wood.
"I call them... Lizardects! No, that's a silly name, Kruthik," the god child correct himself, smiling up at his new friend. "You can have some if you want, just make sure to take one of the big ones because the little ones come out of it, and and the little ones can't really function without one."
PP Expenditure
1PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser): Created the Kruthik as a gift for Hensen, though Chroma like them enough he wants to keep some for Ardune.
1PP - Spawn Beast (Lesser): Created the Kruthik as a gift for Hensen, though Chroma like them enough he wants to keep some for Ardune.
"I will await the response. "
He turned back to his work again, again fashioning a draconic body, this one formed out of the Adamite used by Vyrml's frost giants.
Again, Life, Chaos, Time, Divine, all thrust into the body. Again the energies of the birth sparked and flashed.
Again a race of dragons stepped out onto prime soil.
Unknowingly, Kiptar's form shifted ever so slightly, so that the parts that made up his skin seemed to be scales.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Show
4 pp: Shape Populace(Greater): Adamite(Adamantine) Dragons, live in the warforged controlled area that is the northwest bit of the original continent
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Greater)(Gears): Adamite Dragons grow and settle down.
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged integrate Adamite Dragons into their society, like Iron Dragons. Note, though, that both kinds stay in the general area where they were created.
1 pp: Form Domain(Lesser): Metallic Dragons.
4 pp: Shape Populace(Greater): Adamite(Adamantine) Dragons, live in the warforged controlled area that is the northwest bit of the original continent
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Greater)(Gears): Adamite Dragons grow and settle down.
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged integrate Adamite Dragons into their society, like Iron Dragons. Note, though, that both kinds stay in the general area where they were created.
1 pp: Form Domain(Lesser): Metallic Dragons.
And even the most powerful seals can eventually wear away.
The Chaos was sealed away long, long ago by the Empress, and in that time, much had happened. Her subjects had taken residence there, and often the two races old and new would flit between realms, going through the gate she had created at The Chaos' creating. Then too, the genasi arrived, and frequently transported themselves from the Chaos and back to the prime material plane through the use of rituals, and the blessings of their god. And that self-same god had created a twisting tree to filter the Chaos into the world, if only a bit at a time, making the seal more and more frivalous, more and more frail.
The fact that an entire god who's domain and very being was chaos had gone through that filter, a massive task for such a small opening, probably didn't help either.
In any case, even though it was unnoticeable, and entirely frivalous at this point in time... if one looked very, very hard at a certain spot on Ardune, one might see a small flicker of temporal static. As if something were comi- no, not coming.. more like something was failing.
PP Expenditure
Create Moderate Artifact - 1PP + 1PP from Rainbow Fountain: The small rift in Chaos is harmless at this time, and entirely unnoticeable unless you were actively looking for it in the area. None the less, the extra choas it provides funtions as a +1 Combat Artifact.
Create Moderate Artifact - 1PP + 1PP from Rainbow Fountain: The small rift in Chaos is harmless at this time, and entirely unnoticeable unless you were actively looking for it in the area. None the less, the extra choas it provides funtions as a +1 Combat Artifact.
Azor'Chapien made contact with King Valden, and the god sent down a tablet which recorded the key governmental points of the Code. Alas, Azorans had not yet mastered the technology of reading, but King Valden was beyond the mortal Azoran and read the tablet with ease.
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Across Azora, the new government was spread. The greatest chieftans became dukes, while the lesser ones became lords and knights, organizing into small feudal villages, with the peasants answering to the knights, the knights to the lords, the lords to the dukes, the dukes to King Valden, and King Valden directly to Azor'Chapien.
At the center of every feudal community was a wooden defensible structure. This is where the resident knight/lord/duke resided, for the Azorans were yet to master the art of true castle building.
Forests slowly turned into cultivated fields and villages, though vast expanses of forest remained. Now, the nobles were knights only in name, but soon Azor'Chapien would teach them the true art of knighthood.
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Meanwhile, in a shadowed grove on Azora, Azor'Chapien experimented with the Astral Essence. He shaped the essence into a mighty blade made of astral energies. The blade was silvery, and the hilt was golden with a silver diamond on the pommel.
Azor'Chapien made the blade his own, and named this new artifact 'The Blade of Azora', and he would use it to defend his island, whatever the stakes.
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1 PP Guide Populace [+1 from King Valden]- The Azorans now know feudalism.
2 PP Create Artifact (Moderate)- The Blade of Azora has been forged and grants a +1 attack bonus to Azor'Chapien
And with that, Torvek draws his chakram and holds it up in the air. The chakram glows and in a flash of light, he vanishes and ends up at his temple- where he had last been.
"I need to have something occupy this area. I know!"
He decides to give it a shot. He makes a spherical outline before him and infuses it with his god-like powers.
The bright sphere hovers before him- an eyeless orb of light. Unbeknownst to him, the orb can see him and everyting else around it.
"Well, there's that. Now- what to call it..."
He thinks of different names, then decides on one that would fit to.
"Aha! I think I will call it Jujalso."
"Nah..." The orb inquires
"Huh? Did you... say that?" Torvek looks at the orb in question.
"That is not a good name to call a legendary Starfire, you know? I'd say... call me Hondala." The orb hovers just before Torvek's eyes.
Torvek gazes into it's faceless splendor. "Hondala? Hmm... Hondala... Yeah. that's a good name- for something that I have no idea about now."
The orb chuckles at Torvek's reply. "You have a neat atmosphere- filled with unending light and intellect- but you lack hospitality and endeavorment."
Torvek glances at the orb in question. "I lack hospitality? What do you mean by that?"
"What I mean is that you have a shallow emptiness in your heart- like some life changing event occured sometime in your life." The orb glows brighter in preparation to Torvek's response.
"Oh- that... yeah... my homeworld was destroyed by an Apocalyptic scourge." Torvek replies in a sulken manor.
The orb's brightness fades a little. "Oh... I'm sorry to hear that, my lord."
"Did you just call me 'Lord?'" Torvek inquires.
"Yep." The orb replies in a squeaky voice- its mass glowing brighter than Torvek's scales.
"Why?"
"Because, silly- you created me. Therefore, I am bound to your services. Whatever you want me to do- no matter the consequences, I'll do it. That's our purpose- to serve the one that creates us into existence. You are one of the Lords of Creation- our services are bound like thread."
"The Lords of... Creation?"
"So, Torvek- what would you want me to do?"
"Uh...," As Torvek thought about it, the orb hovers quietly above Torvek's head. "Well, what I would like you to do is be my advisor on my adventures into the unknown- a partner in venturing beyond the mysteries of the skies."
"I can do that." The orb quickly floats to Torvek and hovers above his right shoulder.
"Hmm... My weapon needs more strength- perhaps I could give it a little tweak..." Torvek's remaining energy is surged into his weapon, as it gains a little more strength. "That should do it- for now." He looks at it for a second, and then sheaths it back into his holder.
PP Expenditure
3pp- Ascend Exarch (Hondala)
+1pp- Upgrade Lesser Artifact into Moderate Artifact (Chakram) 3pp Item
Total Combat Bonus- +5
Remaining PP- 0
3pp- Ascend Exarch (Hondala)
+1pp- Upgrade Lesser Artifact into Moderate Artifact (Chakram) 3pp Item
Total Combat Bonus- +5
Remaining PP- 0
Eventually, Nixis gave up, realizing that he didn't know nearly enough about this place, or the world as a whole, to come up with a good explanation. Perhaps this was in fact some sort of natural occurance. As silence settled in between the gods, Nixis decided to get back to his original reason for seeking out Veros.
"Um... Yes. Veros, I am interested in creating a repository of stories... well, knowledge in general... A Library-world if you will. I wanted to offer your Loremasters the opportunity to use it as a safe haven for their most precious works. I saw the recent problems they had in keeping those Eladrin records intact, and," Nixis smiled in remembrance, "The not so small trouble my own creation caused them. I feel that somewhere like this, far away from the reach of any spell or mortal meddling, would be beneficial to their efforts. If you would like to see my plan so far, it lies just a little bit that way" Nixis pointed off towards where one could just see the edge of the plane-to-be.
"In fact, I think I should be returning to it to see what else it might need. Till we meet again, Xirinet, Veros."
description so far
Around a giant circular staircase that dissapeared into mist above and below, countless alcoves dotted the stone walls. Within, each octagonal alcove had shelves on six of the walls, and opposite the entrance, a desk with a glowing orb above it for light. Nixis' vision was to have this place be filled with learning of all sorts and types. Every ten floors or so, the floor would, instead of alcoves, have living, eating and socializing locations for the librarians.
Around a giant circular staircase that dissapeared into mist above and below, countless alcoves dotted the stone walls. Within, each octagonal alcove had shelves on six of the walls, and opposite the entrance, a desk with a glowing orb above it for light. Nixis' vision was to have this place be filled with learning of all sorts and types. Every ten floors or so, the floor would, instead of alcoves, have living, eating and socializing locations for the librarians.
At the same time, the jade dragon crafted a third dragon. Where the green dragons were forged from envy, and the red dragons were pride incarnate, the new dragons, the brown dragons, were pure gluttony. They made their home in the vast desert that made up most of Asika. There, they could gorge themselves in peace upon the small animals the jade dragon provided them with. They preferred a more isolated existence than their red and green cousins, and so remained far from civilization. Nonetheless, they did join the Asikan Empire, and the eladrin made frequent pilgrimages to their desert homes.
PP Expenditures
1 PP +1 from the Heart Mold Land (Moderate)The Arrogant Spine: A mountain range springs up along the west border of the continent of Asika. There is only a thin sliver of open land between the mountain range and the western ocean.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) The red dragons migrate to the Arrogant Spine.
3 PP +1 from Leilaka Shape Populace (Greater) Brown Dragons appear in the Asikan desert.
2 PP Guide Populace (Lesser x2) Brown Dragons and Red Dragons join the Asikan Empire, both taking very prestigious positions within the Empire.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Land (Lesser) Numerous small desert-dwelling animals, such as lizards, appear in the Asikan desert.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) The red dragons migrate to the Arrogant Spine.
3 PP +1 from Leilaka Shape Populace (Greater) Brown Dragons appear in the Asikan desert.
2 PP Guide Populace (Lesser x2) Brown Dragons and Red Dragons join the Asikan Empire, both taking very prestigious positions within the Empire.
1 PP from Atakhari Nourish Land (Lesser) Numerous small desert-dwelling animals, such as lizards, appear in the Asikan desert.
Even as he had summoned them, he saw many near the edges dissolve, as the unknown forces began to impede upon his powers once more. He searched faster, the images flickered and shifting as fast as thought. For several moments he continued until the suddenly all of the motion ceased in a second, and only one image remained.
Veros stared into that image, burning it into his mind. Even as he watched the often-repeated image, it slowly dissolved before him. "I see," he said, nodding. "I suppose that does make sense. Something to be dealt with soon." As he turned, another small image flicked before him, a thought of his own, long lost to the mists of time, of an old friend, destroyed by her own sorrow. He had tried to fix it before, and had not been strong enough. Even with help, his efforts had been in vain. Perhaps here though . . .
He glanced over at Xirinet as he wiped the image away. "I must be going. There is something that I must do."
In a matter of moments, he slipped away across the sea, seeking an isolated location. "Yes, here will do nicely."
He channeled a spark of his power, bringing forth a gateway to the depths of the farscape, and stepped through. Here, in its darkest and deepest depths, the most ancient spirits could be found, those who had moved on in the very moments of its creation, and chose to stay here. He stepped across the gateway, into the ancient palace that lay hidden here admiring the craftsmanship of Court of Spirits. Without Zophia to maintain it, and force it to resist the pull of the plane, it had drifted here, to the very center.
He walked further, watching the floating pyre flies as he advanced, passing around the edges of An’Tu’Calliern, the ripples his presence caused reminding him of something he needed to retrieve. Finally, he pushed open the ancient doors, and stepped into the throne room.
He gazed through the mists, watching Zophia sleep as he walked across the chamber. Reaching down, he placed his hand upon the side of her head, seeking he cause of her slumber. He withdrew, nodding his head. As he had suspected, even then. Despite their efforts, she was incomplete, unfinished. The four of them simply hadn't been strong enough, despite his aid and the power of his creation forge. He waved his hand, lifting her on a sling of air, and made his way back through the palace, passing through back through his gate, stepping into the Astral Sea once more.
There were other things he still needed. He opened two more gates, pulling the damaged Temporal Harmonizer from the workshop, moving it through the other, and returning it to the demi-plane of time. Leaving Zophia to her sleep for the moment, he followed it, stepping lightly as he willed the Harmonizer into position. It was trying to function, but it's power source had long since been removed, stolen away. Turning back to the gates, he watched as the pieces floated through, forged on the creation forge for this very purpose, to enable a new source of power to energize the harmonizer, by harnessing the Skyway River flowing through it. As it began to hum, he felt the streams of time begin to align, returning to normality after so many millennia of instability.
Still, for this, simple access to time would not be enough. He extended his arms, the power he unleashed echoing through the tiny plane until he was satisfied. He stepped back into the Astral Sea, allowing the gateway to the workshop to fail, but maintaining the gateways to both the plane of time and the farscape. He pulled his hand from beneath his robes, looking at the tiny ring in his hand. The temporal vortex, shrunken by Yoglith when he claimed it. His mind flashed back to Yoglith once more, remembering how he had used it, nodding. He would need the ability to see the flows of time for this. He reached up, placing it into his own eye socket. He swayed slightly on his feet as he adjusted to the vortex, then turned back to the work at hand.
He reached through the gateway, activating the Temporal Harmonizer, letting it project it's bubble of altered time through the passage into the Astral Sea. Gazing on the scene long lost, he felt a remorse, remembering his failure to help her so long ago.
It was over. That was Eijra's last thought.
She exploded. Pink, green and purple light lighting up the sky of the world, flames and essence merged together shimmering stronger then the sun itself.
And then everything just faded away. Everything but the purest of energy, the spark that had been what she was now gone.
Her essence was spreading all over the world.
It was over.
The Fey Goddess was dead. She was finally at peace. The pain was gone and the eternal slumber awaited.
But her essence didn't come to waste though. It flowed through the land creating and forming new life. In the forests birds chirped, Apes opened their eyes and gazed at the new world. On the plains lions growled and in the oceans strange new beings appeared.
A heritage of the Fey Goddess. The Goddess that was no more. She who had broken the world, healed the world and finally she had became a part of the world.
Dozens of times, he watched that moment through the bubble in time, using the vision provided by the temporal vortex to view each individual moment as a separate piece of time. He could see now what he had not been able to see before. Perhaps, had Yoglith been around then, he would have seen, and known, and told them. Still, it was too late for that now. He watched one more time, freezing the bubble in the moment before she exploded.
Here, he thought, I can see the seams, the whole in existence where time was modified. Hard to believe, he considered, that he had done this already, so long ago, and hadn't known. He called out, tapping into the full power that he had within him, linking to the Farscape as well as the Astral Sea to magnify it, then reached through the bubble, pulling the frozen image of the ancient goddess through, brining her to the present.
All around him, time began to fracture and stir, breaking beneath the pressure of a history changed, a history of creatures vanishing as the explosion that had created them no longer occurred. Still, he thought, there needed to be an explosion there, the death of a god, to keep the timeline intact. He nodded, and turned to Zophia. She had been a valiant effort, but an incomplete failure nonetheless. The mistakes and flaws in her creation were harmonizing with the fractures in time, and her form quivered and quaked as the forces that held it together, the spirit that had been used to create it, began to break down. She would die shortly, he knew, but in her death, she could preserve everything. The sling of air she slept upon lifted her carefully into the air, and pushed her through the bubble.
Unable to handle the strain of being forced through time, Zophia exploded, showing life upon the ancient world. History fulfilled, time settled back into line, the harmonizer working towards its purpose.
He sagged slightly, exhausted from his efforts, as the harmonizer shut down and the twin gateways vanished. He turned towards Eijra. Time travel had not been easy on her either, and he waited patiently for her to awaken, watching the flickering images that her sleeping mind projected onto the Astral Sea, images of the feywyld.
PP Expenditure
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Modify the Temporal Harmonizer to use the Skyway River as a power source
3 PP - Form Domain (Greater) - Time
2 PP - Create Plane (Lesser) - Take control of the demi-plane of time
OOC
Link to the original source post - link
For anyone wondering, Aldii PMed me yesterday about returning to the game. She wanted to be Eijra again, not Zophia. So she allowed me to use Zophia as a tool to bring back Eijra. Which is done. Remember people, it's not impossible for a dead god to return.
For anyone wondering, Aldii PMed me yesterday about returning to the game. She wanted to be Eijra again, not Zophia. So she allowed me to use Zophia as a tool to bring back Eijra. Which is done. Remember people, it's not impossible for a dead god to return.
She could hear them, hear them as they pleaded for help from their mother, hear their screams as cruel giants tore them apart.
She could feel their pain as they were enslaved, as their freedom was taken from them, as everything she had ever given them was stolen from them.
She screamed and the she died. Her essence was ripped in to pieces as she exploded in an awe-inspiring show of power and light. The world itself shook as the Fay Goddess died.
She was happy in the end. The screams were gone. The pain was gone. She was gone.
Gods though can seldom manage to entirely flee from their responsibilites. In death she was still aware. In death she could still see, she could still hear and she could still feel. She felt her father´s rage and how he and others united in an attemt to bring her back.
She felt how they gave birth to her daughter by taking parts of her and merging them with themself.
But the child had a flaw, she was all to like her mother. The world gave her pain and just as her mother she drifted away and retreated to the fair world of dreams.
She would have been a wonderful Goddess, one of might and power if she just had had...no...that story is over now,
Eijra thought in the darkness as she felt Father. Father had always been a strange being...maybe it was because under all of his power and wisdom he had a heart.
He had loved his daughter and her death had changed him to a certain degree.
Poor thing...and now he hopes to bring me back in to existence...well I have slept long enough
She thought and then Eijra as she was dissapeared.
A god from another time opened her eyes. A god unaware of where she was, of what being had created this magneficent palace, a being unaware of all the things that had happened since her departure.
But a being with pain in her heart.
Eijra stood still, red hair blowing in an invisible breeze as she looked at her father. Her eyes still wet with tears, her face pale and her fists clenched. She looked sick, sad and oh so tired.
But she was alive and that ( at least for the moment ) was all that mattered.
" Father...where am I? I...was dying, the pain was to much for me...what has happend? "
She pushed her hand tightly against her chest.
" My children...I can feel them...but they are so many...and they are different in some way. "
At the same time a old gnarled tree awoke. One that had been dead for centuries if not millenias. An old gnarled tree filled with the Fay Goddess power. The Old One smiled and he began to sing. An old song of how the world once had been and how it would become again now when the Fair Goddess was alive once more.
Dwarves and Halflings suddenly stood still as they heard something. As they felt something. As they after nearly three thousand years felt complete once more.
The Great Mother had returned.
Guide Populace 1 PP from The Mouth of the Land: Makes her prescence known amongst Halflings and Dwarfs, several of the converts back to the old faith.
" Naturally it´s like that father...but...Time? You stole me..from my time to take me here...why? "
She opened her eyes and looked at her father with steady, brown eyes. Intelligent, bright eyes that in no way was scarred by the sickness and depression that had scarred her body. Her face was pale, her skin was lifeless and her hair was dirty and unkept.
" I...remember the pain...and how everything turned red...I remember how i flew against the skies desperate, afraid and then...I saw someone else. A pale-skinned girl with hair black as obsidian stand in front of me...she was staring at me as if I was a ghost...and now I am here. Five-thousand years has passed and you look at me as if..."
The fair Goddess looked down at the ground and whispered.
" I died, didn´t I, Father..?
Whatever the end result of her conversation with her father was, she still returned to the world and there she looked at it with awe.
New continents, new islands, new worlds and most importantly new life.
But this world had it´s faults just as the old one. The sun was dead...not truly dead...but something had happened with it.Her son´s essence was not within it...it was merely a ball of gas...burning alone and empty.
The world itself was scarred as well. The Ocean was sleeping, fire was sleeping...and nature had no will to guide it.
The Fair Goddess rose her hand and clenched it and so purest divine essence flowed down against the planet and merged with it´s oceans and then she felt it.
The pulse of the ocean, so alike to the song of the world that she had once been, it was alive.
The ocean pushed, the ocean stroked, the ocean lived and supported myriads of life within it. Fish, molluscs, amphians and even some mammals called the ocean their home. She could feel them, feel their life essence flow her.
The Fair Goddes smiled and the earth flourished.
Nourish Land 1 PP: The planet as a whole flourishes thanks to the the blessing of the Earth Goddess. Forests expands, harvests are bountiful, more children are born and so forth.
Claim Domain 3pp: Water. Eijra claims rule over the oceans of the world from the sleeping god Neko.
He waved his hand, images appearing in the still astral sea, "Oravolos and Neko sleep, and I cannot awaken them. Tahns has perished, destroyed by his own creations."
"The natural world needs you, Eijra. That is why I struggled to bring you back."
His head lowered a bit. "A great deal has changed since you left. The world, and even I, are not what they once were. I have come to beleive this descent was caused by your absence."
"Odd..."
Pausing in his latest crafting, leaving it unfinished he moved to study the bubble. It seemed that the time inside was rioting, moving around, shifting through time inside the bubble where it was supposed to be anchored still.
"Odder..."
On impulse, it picked up the time bubble, and moved it until it found the direction where it indicated the event to be happening. But it wasn't on this plane, thankfully. It anchored itself to the Skyway river and began shifting through planes, back and forth, until he found the one where the bubble reacted the strongest, where it was being stirred the most.
Looking around, it found itself in a sea of essence, unfounded, willing to be guided into a shape, with two other gods. One he vaguely recognized, who was it? Ah, Veros that was it! The other one, he had never seen before, and appeared to be what was causing the bubble to react.
"Pardon me," he spoke, "I was crafting, and during this process, this bubble of time(Here he shows his time bubble) that I was using began reacting to an event that was taking place. By the strength of the reaction, it would appear that this event was strong, to say the least. Would either of you mind enlightening me?"
When Shurka arrived closer to Veros, he noticed two other forms near him. This was urgent, they could wait.
"Veros, I think I know why -"
One of the figures departed just as Shurka was about to speak with Veros. She looked so familiar... could she be...? Shurka completely lost focus of the urgency of his message.
"Who... who was that?"
As always he worried about the state of the world and for the state of the world he had stopped something from happening...something that should have happend.
Memories overflooded her. A girl with hair black as ash looked at her.
" Who...was the girl? "
The fair goddess whispered, summoned a beautifully sculpted chair made of oak tree and sat down at it with a heavy sigh.
" There was a girl...a girl with pitch-black hair. Need me...why would the world need me? "
"Take my hammer. Go to Lord Drahthor for me, with a message. Once you have spoken to him, go to your city beneath the earth and help guide them deeper and wider into the rock."
Drahthor
"
A new god for the Pantheon, already? Too many gods who favor strength and conflict over more subtle measures could be a recipe for trouble. On the other hand, I know of no wrong done by the Lord of Gears. I vote for his inclusion in the Bronze Pantheon."
A new god for the Pantheon, already? Too many gods who favor strength and conflict over more subtle measures could be a recipe for trouble. On the other hand, I know of no wrong done by the Lord of Gears. I vote for his inclusion in the Bronze Pantheon."
"Lord of Creation and Destruction, I have heard that we have a new petitioner whilling to Join the Bronze Pantheon, lord Kiptar, master of artifice, he was among the ones that I originally called for the creation of our order.
So...my vote is for the god of artifice to join us."
I also have something I want to discuss with you lord Drathor, however I think we will need a private place for that."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
He was away for a long time, travelling the planes and navigating the hellish Grand Distortion, he have fought untold horrors in his master plane, before managing to find his way back with some of his friends and an handful of humite elders alive. In his old days, with the Elixir of Sin grip on his mind, he would have felt no regret for the death of the defense coalition leader or the other elders, but his ascension has given him back the ability to have emotions and he still had nightmare about the destiny of those that he was not able to save. He has met many half formed horrors within the Silent City, and many looked extremely familiar, apparently Hensen has some twisted plans for them.
From the Castle of Endless possibilities he was able to collect a dark weapon, Godsbane, a broken fang of his master filled with lust for divine blood the weapon has helped him against the living illusions of the Grand Distortion and filled him with unnatural vitality, however some time he felt the sinister weapon will urging him to kill and feed it with divine or mortal blood.
"You need some rest Yorik" told him Kara, the half humite priestess managed to survive the Grand Distortion for long enough for him to find her alive, she was Yorik disciple, but occasionally she proved to be wiser than him, however he rarely listen to her advices.
"I'll have plenty of time to rest after I die, for now there are still many things that I need to do." He told them before departing again for Humite lands, leaving the priestess and the other people that he saved in a safe, magically shielded place in Freedomguard.
"The will be safe, now it is time for you to fullfill your mission" told the whispering voice that he keep hearing in his head after the ascension.
Using the Bloodways and shielding himself from supernatural detection he went back to the Humite lands. Dressed like a common humite, he went looking for that strange woman that he have seen that fated night, quietly asking questions, or looking for her trough magic, being always careful of hiding his own presence within Terena. After a while he manage to discover the she lived in the small town of Coradona...
OOC
I'll add some more fluff about what happened to Yorik and the group that he sent away using the Bloodways on the wiki when I finish my exarch page.
I'll add some more fluff about what happened to Yorik and the group that he sent away using the Bloodways on the wiki when I finish my exarch page.
Noticing the stranger, he veiled the two of them in secrecy.
Eijra
He turned back to Eijra. "She was Zophia, my first attempt to restore you. I was not strong enough, then. For a millenia, she seemed as if she would be fine, but flaws in her creation slowly sapped her power. When I found her once more, she was dying."
He moved on. "Oravolos sleeps, Eijra. Since your death, the world lost something, lost it's vibrancy. When Oravolos vanished, the situation became worse. I am unable to awaken him, but I believed I could retrieve you, and save you from death. And it would appear I was right."
He moved on. "Oravolos sleeps, Eijra. Since your death, the world lost something, lost it's vibrancy. When Oravolos vanished, the situation became worse. I am unable to awaken him, but I believed I could retrieve you, and save you from death. And it would appear I was right."
Something that actually made a smile appear upon the Goddes´s lips. He had always been a sweet man...but one to much troubled by his own portfolio, always trying to heal the world. He had changed...
" So you killed her...to let me live...is that what you mean father? "
She said in a monotone voice.
" So my son is dead, my brother is lost in a great slumber...and my daughter..."
The fair Goddess looked away and whispered quietly
" Was sacrificed to bring me in to existence? "
Eijra
"She was already gone from this world, lost to powerless slumber, dying. "Could I have saved her, I would have found another way to bring you back, but there was no way."
She whispered quietly and looked down at her pale hands. Tears slowly flowed down the fair Goddess cheeks.
" She is dead now though..."
She got up from the chair, her eyes closed and her fists clenced.
" So for what purpose have you brought me here, Father? For what purpose has you slained a sleeping child? "
Eijra
"I did not slay her. She was sent to the past. What happened after she passed through the gate was beyond my control. Her own power turned upon her, the flaws in her creation fueling an inferno."
He looked at the images projected on the astral sea. "What I brought you here for, has already begun."
He looked at the images projected on the astral sea. "What I brought you here for, has already begun."
She said in sheer frustration and rushed forth to her father, trying to look in under his cowly with something slightly resembling anger in her eyes.
" You talk in questions and riddles! "
Eijra
His eyes glowed a pale orange under his cowl. "Your very presence encourages the life of this world and makes it stronger, by strengthening the earth itself. Simply by having you back, the world is a stronger place."
Torvek looks at the orange star in the sky.
"Huh. Lord Drahthor. You know, he's got kind of a temper with him- sort of like something is constantly bugging him and whatnot," Hondala inquired.
"I see... Well, I must see to him anyway. I think I know waht to do so that I won't let him down!"
Torvek speeds his way to the orange star- with Hondala holding on tight.
*Ploosh*
Nixis fell backwards towards the edge of the room, spinning his letters rapidly to fling the water off of them. All of a sudden, in the middle of the room was a giant torrent of water!
"What? What is this thing?" Nixis asked himself, rushing down the water until he reached the bottom and plunged through it, appearing in... a place full of gears? Nixis looked around briefly, then turned to swim up the torrent again, only to pause in surprise. There was no torrent into the sky... there was a peaceful river flowing along the ground. Nixis cautiously moved along it...
And reappeared inside the torrent in the Library.
"Ah! So this thing must flow through the planes and connect them! Hmm..."
Nixis considered the water. It really wouldn't do. One: The water would do something horrid to the writings... rotting the books and rusting the metal. Two: It was a potential security breach. Having such an easy way into the Library would not be something the Loremasters would like. And Three: It was dangerous! As it now stood, Nixis imagined most mortal travelers would be crushed to bits upon arriving at Mechanus.
"Lets see..."
Suddenly, the river was circled by a magically reinforced glass cylinder, keeping the water out of the rest of the Library. Nixis then created a corkscrew path down the interior of the cylinder. Now, travelers through the Skyway River would have a brief trip along a slide of water, looking out to see the spiral staircase of the Library going past... visible but unreachable, until they were ejected, at high but not disasterous speeds into Mechanus.
"Well, that will do for now. Now to see if the Loremasters would like to move in..."
PP
2 PP (1 from astral shard): Create Plane (Lesser): The Library: A repository for the knowledge of the world, protected from mortal worries.
1 PP: Create Artifact (lesser) Skyway River Slide: Basically blocks entry into the Library from the Skyway River.
(Basically, this is a 3PP detached plane, but I liked the idea of having the river running vertically through it. Let me know if this is just not going to work)
2 PP (1 from astral shard): Create Plane (Lesser): The Library: A repository for the knowledge of the world, protected from mortal worries.
1 PP: Create Artifact (lesser) Skyway River Slide: Basically blocks entry into the Library from the Skyway River.
(Basically, this is a 3PP detached plane, but I liked the idea of having the river running vertically through it. Let me know if this is just not going to work
) He approaches the main gate, eager to consult to Drahthor the means of acquiring the Sun Domain- without further complications.
He thinks to himself. "Maybe I should wait a little longer till I come and see him again- I did use up a little bit of my energy to create Hondala, and the rest of it into my weapon. I still need to talk to Drahthor."
"Delving into deep thoughts again, Torvek?" Hondala inquires- her glowing mass becoming gradually bright.
"Oh, hush!" Torvek commands, quietly.
Hondala gives a faint giggle at her remark.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The gnomes, bolstered by the stories and excitment brought home by Convincer and the first gnomish bard troupe, desired to see more beyond the whispering woods. They sent out bard troupes to the Humites and the Humans in the Shattered Lands, offering up songs and rumors in return for new stories to tell the other gnomes on their return. Convincer joined the group heading to the Humites. Although they were turned away from Terena by the Defense Coalition, and, honestly were not too sure they wanted much to do with the large city in general, they were able to find receptive audiences in some of the smaller outlying villages and some of the humites began to feel thankful for stories of calmer, simpler days and the joy of the harmless prank.
PP
2 PP: Claim Moderate Domain: Language
1 PP (From Convincer): Guide Populace: Some humites begin worshiping Nixis as an escape from the drama surrounding Terena in recent days.
2 PP: Claim Moderate Domain: Language
1 PP (From Convincer): Guide Populace: Some humites begin worshiping Nixis as an escape from the drama surrounding Terena in recent days.
"I... I never thought that you..."
Shurka regained his composure, stiffening up.
"Veros, I think I know why you can't see Terena."
Eijra, Shurka
He looked at him. "Why?"
OOC
Shurka doesn't know that it's Veros' artifact right now, if that's relevant.
--- and reappeared over Babble. After checking to make sure everything was alright with the gnomes, he headed of in the direction of Azora to check in with Azor'Chapien
So, in the very center of Azora, the god rose a massive peak from the ground. The peak stretched far above Azora, and the top of the peak was unreachable through mortal means. But the peak of the mountain was not pointed, but flat. A ledge large enough for a town was just below the peak.
On the bottom of the mountain, there was a massive crater surrounding the mountain, with a defensible hill at the southern base of the mountain. He named the mountain Mount Chapien, also in his honor.
When he was finished, he sensed the approach of another god. Azor'Chapien drew his sword, but then he sensed it was Nixis and lowered his sword.
------------------------------------------------------
1 PP Mold Land- Create Mount Chapien
"Hey now... no need for that" he said, gesturing with his forming hand towards the sword. His conversion to humanoid form continued, and when it was complete, he continued.
"So, how are your Azorans? I hope they have enjoyed the stories that the gnomes were able to share. Perhaps later some of your people could come and visit Babble. Convincer and the gnomes that came here have filled their heads with stories about the people of Azora."
Nixis looked down at the growing mountain.
"I like it. Are you planning on doing something with that, or is it just for decoration?"
As she passed Shurka, she give him a smile and a pat on the shoulder and whispered.
" I am happy to see you, Uncle...and I am sorry.."
With those words Eijra turned around and in a blink of an eye she was gone. The world had truly changed while she was gone, there were so many things to see, so many new gods to get to know and so many new mortals to love. And there were something else to do, a legacy, a dead son and a dead daughter was out there. All three things that needed to be saved.
Tears slowly fell down the Goddess cheeks as she whispered.
" Tahns...what happend with you? "
Nixis considered the mountain for a moment, then smiled.
"Plus, does it not play into your whole notion of feudalism? Should not you, the... err... lord of all lords have a castle that is equally high above the others?"
"Have you seen my own last redoubt for myself and the gnomes? I must admit it is not nearly at all ready, but if you would like, I could take you there."
The fair Goddess stood above what once had been the Golden Hills. As she looked out over the ocean she rememberd what it had been. The endless expanse of hills, the green land, the wheat fields and most of all she remembered her people.
But they were long gone, stolen away by mortal and immortal desires...
The fair Goddess swallowed loudly and closer her eyes, fighting back the tears that threatend, fighting back the roars of anger and grief and fighting back herself. Her emotions once more tried to dominate her life...and she couldn´t afford it this time...no to many of her children had already died due to that.
Nixis dissolved back into letters and raced for the Azure Aegis and beyond it, mentally calling Chukwa to meet him. Soon, the massive bulk of the Zataran appeared, and Nixis and Azor'Chapien slowed as they neared it.
Ah. I like what you have done with the vegetation, Chukwa." Nixis said, floating over the Zataran's back before turning to Azor'Chapien to explain.
"Chukwa here is a Zataran, created in a time before we opened our eyes on the Prime. We are working together now to create a habitable place on his back. If worst comes to worst, me and the inhabitants of this island will set off into the Aether and hopefully to safety, spreading from Zataran to Zataran as my power allows it until we are safe."
Nixis looked at Azor'Chapien for a moment, then continued.
"I would like to extend an offer for some of your Azorans to join my gnomes here on Chukwa's Back. My gnomes are no warriors, and your Azorans look to have the potential to be a true force in this world. Were the world ever overrun by evil, your Azorans would be a valuable addition to the community here."
"NOR DO I." the giant turtle rumbled.
OOC
heading to bed. g'night!
heading to bed. g'night!
Eijra
He followed her from the Astral Sea, finding her above the former Golden Hills. "I had wondered when you might come here. They still live, though their homeland is no more."
"Did he just ignore us? He must have a lot on his mind..."
And yes, he did just ignore you. He seemed to be in an involved argument with this refound goddess over the decision to bring her forward. He seemed quite into it, although he will probably get back to you later. Who are you anyway? I don't believe that we have met. "
Her thoughts soon turned to her plans, and all the things she'd set into motion. Most would not come to fruition for many millennia, but she was not worried. She was a goddess, she had all the time in the world. For now, she would just sit, and wait, calmly as ever, for her plans to unfold.
She thought of the Dasa, subjugated and enslaved. She thought of the dragons, bloated by their own grandeur, of the Sinners, clinging to the fringes of civilization like parasites. Sometimes she wondered if the cruelty within her soul was directed not at those around her, but rather, to herself, and her own creations. For it was them, it seemed, who suffered most. She laughed to herself at this thought, for it was an entertaining one.
Slowly but surely, she turned, and, still chuckling, she summoned one of the losalfar. She instructed it to go, seek out its Lord Drahthor.
"Tell him... tell him the youngling is welcome to join," said the Empress, her mouth twisting into a cruel smile, "Tell him he is oh so welcome."
Her voice was cracked. Her gaze was clouded. Her lips was trembling.
She turned around, her hands were unclenched, trembling as if seeking something to hold.
" What happened here? Who did this! Who made my children suffer through this final insult! "
Her fists were clenched in anger, her eyes burned and her teeth were bared in a beastial snarl.
" Their home was taken! Their home was stolen away! My children's birthplace...is GONE!"
Eijra
"I'm not sure. I came here to investigate what was happening, when everything turned white, and it was all I could do to save the people. What destroyed the land, I do not know."
When the first vampire in Meribia was killed by the Dwarven Paladins, the other vampires merely assumed the creature had been foolish or young. When the second, third, and several more were killed, the vampires began to realize the extant of the threat. The older vampires began to take notice, and reached out to each other to plot their next steps. Word got out among their fellows of a sort of hidden sanctuary-- a long abandoned fortress, in disarray, in the mountains. Due to the fortress’s unique history, the kingdom of Meribia and other Dwarves considered the place haunted and did not dare to venture inside. But for the vampires, there was no such superstition. Slowly they gathered together and worked out a framework for at least nominal cooperation. The more powerful began to take in the weaker and younger, and the appearances of a structured organization showed. The most powerful vampires created a sort of council, with the trappings of false nobility, and pushed to fight back against the paladins. They called themselves the Red Court. Even vampires from other races made appearances, and the court’s influence expanded. Interestingly, one of the up-and-coming members was a formerly female Dwarf, who whispers said was related to one of the cursed Paladins.
Meanwhile, the Karak-Rik Guild continued to expand, as its efforts to fight the enemies of Meribia became costlier and more expansive, the need for greater revenue increased. One intrepid and entrepreneurial merchant devised a scheme to trade with the Humites. There were many worshipers of Mara among the Humites, and the Dwarf was able to make contact and learn about the current affairs of the Humite lands. It was in these communications, he learned of the drug Noth. So he worked a deal with other worshipers of Mara to import the drug. This could be, however, heretical to the principles of the organization (the Humites having been a previous enemy of Dwarves), so the merchant has so far kept his practices somehow hidden.
Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that Dwarves were not naturally predisposed towards the drug, it’s effects largely being minimal. It appeared they were largely resistant to it, only affording them the slightest euphoria and never addiction. Halflings on the other hand, had no such resistance, and took to the drug. Profits soared and filled the Karak-Rik Guild’s coffers. Leaders, including Dorbal, used the money to fund the Guild’s operations and to begin to push into the political realm. Key trusted allies have begun to gain important posts within the governance structure.
pp
1 PP (from artifact) – Nourish Populace – Vampires take over the ancient Dwarven Fortress. They form a loose organization called the Red Court.
1 PP Nourish Populace – Vampres – Red Court gaining prominence among all types of Vampires
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Dwarves, mostly in Meribia, but also elsewhere, grow in numbers.
1 PP (from artifact) – Guide Populace – Vampires/Karak Rik – The two sides fight more.
1 PP – Guide Populace – Karak Rik – Begins importing Noth from the Humites, selling it particularly to the halflings.
1 PP – Mold Populace – Dwarves – Dwarves are mostly resistant to Noth.
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Karak Rik – Getting rich off international trade, particularly of Noth and using money for further influence and power, expanding its arms into government and gaining other allies.
1 PP (from artifact) – Nourish Populace – Vampires take over the ancient Dwarven Fortress. They form a loose organization called the Red Court.
1 PP Nourish Populace – Vampres – Red Court gaining prominence among all types of Vampires
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Dwarves, mostly in Meribia, but also elsewhere, grow in numbers.
1 PP (from artifact) – Guide Populace – Vampires/Karak Rik – The two sides fight more.
1 PP – Guide Populace – Karak Rik – Begins importing Noth from the Humites, selling it particularly to the halflings.
1 PP – Mold Populace – Dwarves – Dwarves are mostly resistant to Noth.
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Karak Rik – Getting rich off international trade, particularly of Noth and using money for further influence and power, expanding its arms into government and gaining other allies.
She was probably right- Drahthor did not come to the door.
"Well- maybe next time, Drahthor..." And with that, Torvek spread out his wings and flew away from the Palace of Xa'an.
--------------------
After getting some distance from the orange star, Torvek spotted a light blue star. Hondala examined it.
"Huh. That's Azora, the home of Azor'Chapien. Perhaps you should pay him a visit and to introduce yourself to him. I'd bet he would like some visitors."
"Yeah- maybe I'll do that." And Torvek speeds his way over to the blue star to see Azor'Chapien. Litlle did he know that Nixis was there as well...
"You know, Hondala- you're kind of useful as a 'road map' for my travels," Torvek inquired.
Hondala gives a squeaky giggle. "Thanks."
------------------
Approaching his landing spot, Torvek caught sight of two figures- Azor'Chapien and Nixis.
Torvek lands with a light dusting of sand, as he flaps his wings for a soft landing. He stands on all fours.
"Hello, Azor- hello, Nixis. Thought I'd come by and had a quick chat with you. Am I interrupting with anything, or..."
Torvek appears before the two as a brass- scaled dragon with a glowing orb hovering over his right shoulder.
"Azor'Chapien glanced at the newcomer. He appeared as a dragon- an interesting choice. He had seen this god before, in the Astral Sea, but never heard his name. Azor'Chapien said, "Well, you apparently know my name, or atleast half of it. So, tell me, who are you? And what is that... that... thing floating over you?"
"I am Torvek- the Master of Daylight and wielder of Insightfulness, and this here is my sidekick Exarch- Hondala." Torvek points to the orb of light.
"Hi." Hondala replies with a high, squeaky voice.
He takes a moment to look around briefly to examine the beauty of Azora.
"I must say, Azor'Chapien- this is a pretty neat place." Hondala admires.
Torvek nods in agreement.
The Fair Goddess said as the anger within her eyes grew even brighter.
" My children die and the world itself seems to be after them. At every moment it seems to try to harm them! And what did they do to deserve that? Nothing! "
He lowered his head. "I do not know. Do you know what that means to me? What it means to be denied that which was my birth right? You rant and rave because the world is after them, yet when they needed you the most, you allowed yourself to sucumb to weakness and die! I have done all I can to help them survive, even to the extent of brining you back, and all you can do is grow angry with me!? And all the while, something renders me blind to my own power, and you couldn't care less! I'm done. May this world and it's masters rot!!"
He turned away and remained silent for a moment, concentrating, then vanished in a cloud of billowing darkness.
Torvek adds a smile of recognition.
Hondala glows brighter with glee. "Ooh. Sounds like fun."
Azor'Chapien led Tovrek to a wooden castle, and mentally called for his exarch. King Valden emerged from the castle and bowed before Azor'Chapien. The god said, "Tovrek, I would like you to meet King Valden, regent of my people. By the way, the people here are called Azorans and are different then all other races in apperance and in a few other ways. They are my people, so please be careful around them."
Azor'Chapien waved awaz Tovrek's comments. "No, no, we are not busy. Nixis had just finished showing me... something. I will show you around. Nixis, you may come if you like."
Azor'Chapien led Tovrek to a wooden castle, and mentally called for his exarch. King Valden emerged from the castle and bowed before Azor'Chapien. The god said, "Tovrek, I would like you to meet King Valden, regent of my people. By the way, the people here are called Azorans and are different then all other races in apperance and in a few other ways. They are my people, so please be careful around them."
Torvek bows his head before King Valden. "Pleased to meet you, your lordship."
Torvek follows Azor'Chapien, as he was explaining about the Azorans.
"I'm very precarious around others. You need not worry, Azor'Chapien."
Torvek wishes his chakram away, for now.
"What are the Azorans like?" Hondala asks.
Fool, a blind fool was what she was...fourthousand years had passed...the world and her father had changed in ways she still not understood and here she let all of her anger and rage flow down over an innocent man.
A tiny whisper was heard within Veros head. It was a whisper of a whisper but still it could be heard by an attentive ear.
" Father...forgive me...please, father, forgive me. Everything is just so...so...different...please father come back, please show me the world that you want me to help, please show me the world you seem to love so much..please, father.."
Her voice was quiet, sad and pleading, something it had never been before.
And reappered in another flash in near the location of what he sensed. He sensed... another god... but one that was... out of place? He also sensed that the god was... curiously enpugh, saddened? Pleading?
And thus, Azor'Chapien began to head towards the location that he sensed the god was in. He began to move closer to the one known as Eijra.
-----
With an echoing crack, a wave of reddish black shadows burst from a poitn before Shurka as Veros returned to the astral sea. His eyes flared red as he looked at him, growling, "You said you knew something, Shurka. What was it?"
The fair Goddess nodded slightly and answered just as quietly.
" Thank you, Serpent...but who are you? Your kind is new to me and...a God.."
She whispered quietly and turned around to face the newcomer with a curious look upon her face.
Noting the new arrival, she continued. "That is Azor'Chapien. A newly, not yet a millenia old."
Shurka suddenly stopped talking, and looked back at Veros
Her skin shone and twinkled in the light of the sun.
The fair Goddess rose an eyebrow and said in a calm manner.
" This was my realm long before you were born, Azor´Chapien. Here I shaped my children during the first dawn of this world...and it was here someone destroyed it while I was gone. So don´t talk to me as if I was a trespasser, I am a Goddess. "
A slightly embarrassed smile appeared upon her lips and she mumbled.
" I am sorry, Sire...I just don´t like to be looked upon as if I was a common burglar. Especially considering that I once lived here.."
She curled back down, hissing slightly.
She said in a suprised manner.
" Well...truth to be told...someone like me would or rather should be called old..."
A chair was shaped out of thin air and Eijra sat down with a thoughtful manner.
" But...age is an overestimated way to measure a person´s worth, just look at the Fungus god, millenias older then even me and what has he given the world but misery and pain? "
He thought for a moment, seeking something. "I know of no vampires in Terena."
The very air around him crackled with black lightning, running along him before gathering in his fist. He growled for a moment, then unleashed the power in a bolt of destructive energy that arced across the plane, before bellowing in a scream that echoed through reality. "OF COURSE, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO MEAN ANYTHING ANY MORE!"
Gritting his teeth, he looked at Shurka. "I'll look into it. Was there anything else?"
Eijra said in a slightly teaseful though friendly manner. She liked this one, he seemed to have a certain...emm...what was the word nobility, perhaps? To him.
-----
He arived atop Eorna, looking down at Terena. Here was where the problem lie. It was here that he could not longer see, that a vampire wielding a god artifact. The two could not be a coincidence. This creature must be responsible, some how.
Veros reached out his hand, inky black tentacles invisible to mortal eyes slipping through the city, searching and seeking. It was time to end this.
-----
He emerged from the portal into Terena. That would be a most useful bit of knowlede, should he find himself under attack. It was time to finish this place, and move on to more interesting terrain.
Drevan snapped his head up, watching the inky black tentacle snake it's way down the alley, probing. "Ah, so Veros has finally become aware of me. Must be that meddler that I drained."
He glanced down at the beggar laying in the corner, looking at him oddly. Skum, he thought to himself, as he lifted the end of his staff, the concusive force obliterating the poor humite. The tentacle perked up, moving his way, seeming to have sense the Staff of Ruin being used. Perfect, Drevan thought to himself, stepping back through the still open portal. Veros was certain to follow him.
-----
His looked up from his thoughts. He had found him, sipping away, running to another plane. With a small pop, he was before the portal, looking at it.
He hesitated. "Why would he flee there?"
For a moment, Veros cosidered seeking help, then he shook his head, shrugging off the bad feeling. He stepped into the portal.
The earth was alive under Drevan´s feet. Everything had changed since Eijra´s return...or at least it had changed temporarily. Strange whispers seemed to eminate from the earth around undead creatures.
Whispers that whispered of hate, of anger, of disgust and of a finaly death.
" Schemer, betrayer, lurker, traditor...MURDERER! "
The Earth whispered.
" You took my children, you burnt my children..I feel the screams, I hear them, they tear in to me! MAKE THEM STOP! "
With every bit of mental focus he could muster, he struggled to reach out and manipulate reality, to forge and escape, but then even his mind froze , and he was still, imprisoned.
-----
Drevan tapped his staff on the ground, leaning against the temporal harmonizer as it did his dirty work, wrapping the uprepared god up in a bubble of frozen time. Truly, Yoglith had done an unbeleivable job perfecting this little weapon, even if he had never had a chance to use it.
He reached out, stopping just short of placing his hand in it as he mused. "Truly, a work of unbeleivable craftsmanship. A buble of frozen time, sufficient to immobilize a god, body and mind."
He glanced down at the runes he had carved in the ground, craved with his staff. Truly, the staff was a perfect gift as well, it's attack abilities invisible to the gods. Runes carved with it's tip were invisible to them as well. They made for the perfect trap, really.
He looked up at the frozen god once more, eying the staff suspended there. Moving back the the harmonizer, he adjusted it slightly, the bubble warping around Veros, pulling back just enough to expose the staff. He pulled it free, the restored the bubble to it's proper dimensions.
He grinned, feeling the power running through the Staff of Veros. His old staff would be insufficient for this task, but this new one would do fine. He reached out, touching the runes with the Staff of Veros, watching them flare to life. Then his vision went white as the flames raced up the staff, leaping to him, consuming him in divine fire.
"Hello again, Eijra. I see you're making friends with Azor'Chapien. Veros seems to be a bit, ah, occupied. So if you need to know anything about what happened in your absense, I can give answers."
She lifted her head suddenly, glancing about as if confused.
-----
His eyes widened, and he willed himself into the air, away from the whispering earth. Testing his new power, he simply willed the whispers away, and he no longer heard them.
It was truly equisite. He marveled out how foolish someone would have to be to wield such power, and still walk into his trap. His mind burned with the prodigous knowledge that flooded into it, the arcane sigils and formulas that he had always suspected existed, but never been able to prove.
As he stood their, assimilating it all, he learned the secrets he had always wondered at, but never discovered. How the elders of Terena has uncovered the White Shield, the true nature of the Free Nation, and those who came, the training of the drahkorn and the imperium, even the oracular divinations from Terenan priests revealing an impending attack. He saw it all, and he smiled, filled with joy for the first time since he had been cursed.
He glanced over at the time trapped form. "My vengeance is complete. I thought to have vengeance on the people who betrayed me, but you risked yourself to save them. So now, I have taken my vengeance on you, Veros. Your power tells me you recently told the world to rot, that you were done. These words will echo through history as your last. You said you were finished, that this world and it's masters could rot. And rot they will, just like you, here in your temporal prison."
He reached out with his staff, planting a lethal surprise for the next fool to dare enter this realm, along with a warning that would inform him of the breach.
Then he stepped out, noting that he was now within the Storehouse of Light, an ancient and almost defunct artifact. Two skeletons lay upon the cold ground, their flesh long rotted away.
He raised the Staff of Veros, and the two bodies rose to life once more, their skeletal forms awaiting his command. "Much easier now." he mused as he turned back to the gateway.
"Hmm, can't just leave it open. Too easy that way." He focused, and channeled his new power outwards, restoring the ancient blockade that had once sealed this plane, molding it to block even the new entrance. As before, time could flow in and out, but nothing else could.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Repair the Divine Blockade.
-------------------
As they got to the end of the tour, Torvek extended his thanks to the King and the Azorans for his visit. He then flew off in a flash of light; his scales gleaming the sunlight upon the people.
-------------------
"Where to now, Hondala?" Torvek looks around the starry sky as the Skyway River flowed just beneath him.
"Well- I sense that the pathway to the Royal Library has been cut off, so there's no hope in getting in there. There's Mechanus- though not very many people survive getting through the entrance without quick reflexes. Let's see..." Hondala scans the map for any other planes that are of interest.
[EDIT] Both seem to be thinking, while they are floating above the Skyway River.
"Let's just go back home." Torvek inquired.
"Good Idea." Hondala replied.
And so they went back to Xeronet, atop the floating temple- next to Torvek's stone slab wheer he gazes toward the starry sky...
He arrived just in time to watch Torvek dissapear with his exarch. Looking around, Nixis didn't see any signs of a battle, so he cast his attention outwards, found Azor'Chapien and dissapeared, reappearing next to the god of honor... only to discover he was in the presence of several others.
"Ah, hello Azor'Chapien. Sorry I'm so late. Hello again, Shurka. And hello..."
Nixis studied the final goddess for a few moments. There was no mistaking her... many stories of the halflings and dwarves dealt with this goddess, and especially her death.
"And Eijra. It would appear the tales of your death leave something rather important out." Nixis laughed.
"I am Nixis, god of language, and more specifically storytelling. It is a pleasure to meet one who has inspired so many stories throughout the years."
"Oh, and Azor'Chapien. I have a message for you."
Nixis turned to Azor'Chapien and pointed a finger at him. Tiny letters streamed off of the tip of his finger and assembled themselves into words right in front of the god's eyeball, so that only he could see it.
Azor'Chapien
"Azor, I saw Torvek leaving Azora. I just would like to warn you that I'm not entirely sure I trust him. The two times I have met him before, he arrived with weapon in hand. Just be careful, and know that you can call on me if you need help.
"Azor, I saw Torvek leaving Azora. I just would like to warn you that I'm not entirely sure I trust him. The two times I have met him before, he arrived with weapon in hand. Just be careful, and know that you can call on me if you need help.
Nearby, one of his new friend's swarms of colour danced in the field too, spitting up sparkles and petals. Though it didn't seem intention: they seemed to instinctively seek change wherever they went. They'd multipled a bit since that first swarm, and spread throughout the continent. Though they weren't as nourished as his gnolls, they were clearly a species and not an individul. The child god had delighted in their progress, and frequently chased and played with them wherever they could be found. When he wasn't hunting with his children: the chasing was fun, even if it was a little distressing seeing the chaos of life turned into the stillness of death. Kids have to eat though, right?
Frollicking a little more in the field, Chroma's eye suddenly widened, before turning downward, frowning as if trying to see through the earth. Something... was different. He'd always sense the chaos about him, and there were always large sources of chaos like his friend, except far, far away... he loved this place too much to leave it, and was afraid of the perfect order of the void that was on the edge of his Chaos to try exploring too far, but they were always there. One new one had appeared as his home bloomed, and he'd delighted in the chaos the new source had caused.
But... one of the sources had vanished. No, more than vanished... like the entire area around it was so free of chaos that anything that went in there would be nothing but stillness and dulness. It made Chroma oddly nauseated, as though if he concentrated on the spot too much he'd shift into a form with a mouth and throw up. Turning his attention away from the area, the child god sighed in relief, before frowning in thought. What.. could have stilled such chaos? Maybe he'd just gone away like all of the generations of his children after the first... going to sleep and not waking up. That had to be it.. right?
Shaking his form as if to clear it from thought, the godling tried to return to playing. But he still felt, for the first time, scared.
Nixis
"Neither do I... trust no one unless you have grown to trust them. He either plans to attack others, or is fearful of being attacked. I will call you if I never need help, and know that you can do likewise, friend.
A divine spark faded away from this world. A spark that had been there since it´s creation...and was replaced by another.
And with the fading spark something else dissepeared, something that never would be able to be replaced simply by a new god.
" Father.."
She whispered in disbelif. Veros was gone.
Clearly there was a fluctuation in the power of the greatest god, something dangerous, but maybe exploitable after all.
This age was a quite interesting one, more motes of change flowed in the cosmost toward Hensen, merging with its divine form or joining the small swarms that now surrounds Chroma, their number boosted by the combined acts of divine resurrection and death.
While the heads was discussiong a crowd of living illusions entered the City of Winds, and begun exploring it, desacrating its silent halls.
"Maybe we should let them stay" told the red one "recent shifts in the balance of power have changed our mind and it is no more the time to give life to our servants here, so this city will stay empty and dead"
"Or maybe we don't" told the black head, it turned toward the crowd of ghost-like entities and had a breath of dark entropic energies, the creatures was vanquished in a second, producing twisting vapors, that begun to disperse.
However when the other heads resumed their activities the red one was still watching toward the volutes of fume created by the destruction of the living illusions. He inhaled the fume and consumed the supernatural energies of the phantoms. "I shall keep you, after all your power might be quite useful to inspire new greatness to the mortals"
"Or to shape their destiny as we see fit", whispered smiling the Green one.
Meanwhile a group of Hydra agents used Free Nation new commercial ruoutes to access Bloodmyst archipelago and begun to settle there, planning to begin a new age of inspiration for that land.
A few of Hydra agents managed to join the rank of the priesthood of change, and studied their elditrich power for themselves, bringing their knowledge to the organization.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Finally Hensen sent a mental image to the members of the Bronze Pantheon, Drathor, Vymrl, Hammu, The Empress and even Kiptar, predicting that the unanimous acceptance of his demand, will probably make him a part of the Pantheon soon enough.
"Brothers and Sisters, a great shift in balance of divine power has happened again, something purposely hidden from our eyes...
Something that might require our attention.
We should unite again at the Palace of Xa'an and join our forces to discover what happened so that the Bronze Pantheon can act. The time has come, in my opinion, for a display of our power."
PP
1 PP - Form Lesser Domain, Illusion.
1 PP - Nourish (from Bloodstones), Hydra Society spread to the Free Nations.
1 PP - Guide (from Aether Ripples), Hydra Society learn ritual casting from the Free nations.
1 PP - Form Lesser Domain, Illusion.
1 PP - Nourish (from Bloodstones), Hydra Society spread to the Free Nations.
1 PP - Guide (from Aether Ripples), Hydra Society learn ritual casting from the Free nations.
"Wait wait wait brothers... We are focusing only on the death of a divine being, but it's nothing really new for us, of course we need to change our plans and to act accordingly..."
"But there was something else that we have never seen happening in our existance, the resurrection of another divinity, I find that even more interessting"
The Grey heads was talking finishing each other sentences, something that the other found quite odd, but after all the god of Change is far from immune to its own nature, so maybe they just changed their mind.
After a brief discussion they decided to look for this being.
Hensen assumed the form of the travelling storyteller, an handsome humanoid wearing simple but elegant clothes, with his eyes shining of ever changing supernatural lights, representing the colors of the heads.
He then approached Eijra, sensing in a mere second her sadness.
"What happened to make you so sad, my lady? I moved here to give you homage after your resurrection, but apparently your mind is focused on things thare are a lot more important than that.
If I can do anything to help you with your sadness, even by just offering a shoulder to cry or a listening friend, I'll be honored to do that."
For a brief moment the green light was dominant in the stranger eyes, but it was fastly replaced with an hot red light, and his face appeared quite concerned.
" Odd..."
This did not bode well.
Suddenly it felt a message from one god calling a meeting of the Bronze Pantheon. Since it wasn't part of the Pantheon at the moment, it figured that it was probably close enough to membership to be included. He shifted to the Palace of Xa'an, his first true visit, and began to wait, idly shaping a metallic orb in his hands.
Show
1 pp: Create Artifact(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): God-Seeker, an orb that lets it locate divine power and find the source of it. If it knows a god and has met that god, it can find them specifically, or it can search for power in general.
1 pp: Create Artifact(Lesser)(Gear of Creation): God-Seeker, an orb that lets it locate divine power and find the source of it. If it knows a god and has met that god, it can find them specifically, or it can search for power in general.
"Something... is wrong."
Shurka channeled his energy into Terena. His energy couldn't be seen, but it formed a shield that protected the inhabitants inside. No one could see his work, but it could still save them. Hopefully it wouldn't have to.
PP Use
4 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace x5 - Basically will just cancel out the next five de-nourishes to the humites.
2 PP - Form Domain - Protection.
" Father.."
She whispered once more. Something had taken him. A terrible monstrosity...and she knew who and what it was. She recognized the handiwork of the slayer of her children. She recognized the certain flair in the movement that had destroyed the country she had loved more then anything else.
Anger burned within the Fey Goddess. Everything had been stolen from her recently. Her brother, her children, her land and now...her father.
This time things would be different though. This time it would be the Murderers that would have to pay!
No longer she would hurt herself, no longer she would sit still, no longer!
Eijra stood completly still.
" If you desire to help me, then you will come with me and find out who it was that dared to touch, Veros. And when we find him...we will kill him.."
A wretched smile appeared upon the Fey Goddess lips. A new era had dawned.
No... this could be my fault. I decided against helping him, but he obviously needed help. I need to make this right again.
With that, Azor'Chapien drew his sword, smiled, and asked, "Shall we?"
"Oh- what a beautiful sight."
Hondala agreed.
Torvek wondered to himself. "I wonder- should I tell Azor about why I am so sulken, or should I save that for later. Eh- when the need arises, I will surely tell him."
-----------------------
Flashback:
The dawning energies of the strange place felt forboding, as words surrounded him. Strange letters, phrases, and runes circled around him like wildfire- appearing and disappearing all at once.
"Where am I?"
Torvek looked around, hoping to seek a living soul- or a way out. He saw a being with purple scales nearby- Corelloth.
He gathered his energy, and with a flash of bright light, unleashed a fury of light that struck Corelloth in the chest, sending her backwards in pain.
She revived herself and retaliated with a disc of dark energy. Torvek dodged it, and he summoned his chakram.
"It's time to end this, Corelloth!"
He places the chakram in front of him, and he makes a series of gestures with his hands. Bright symbols appeared in front of the chakram, and Corelloth gazed in horror. "NO! You'll destroy this world!"
"Too late, Corellth! You have destroyed my home- I shall destroy you!"
He throws his arm in front of him and shouts an incantation- "IPSUR TENTANTIUM!"
All at once, the air around him glows brighter, and a wave of light and immense sound juts forth at full speed- straight at Corelloth!
She gets out of the way and teleports far away- the attack misses, and explodes into a fury of light that fills the strange place with resonating sound and energy.
He goes into a fit of extreme anger, as he curses at Corelloth...
----------------------
"Torvek! Torvek- wake up!"
Hondala bounces up and down on Torvek's sleeping body, as he regains his consciousness. All of a sudden he snaps. "Ah! Corelloth!"
At the same time, his scales blast in a fury of light, sending Hondala topside onto the floor with an "OOF!" She gets back up. "What was that for?"
Torvek looks down at Hondala. "Oh... oops. Sorry about that." He scrathes the back of his head, and his scales return to their normal brightness. "I guess I must've been dreaming..."
"Well, yeah- You practically pushed me off the edge of the tower, you freak! Oh- that hurt..."
Torvek examines Hondala's mass, and he turns back to face the stars. "She's still alive- I know she's out there..."
"Who?" hondala asks.
"Corelloth- the one who destroyed my home."
It was just...bloody perfect...
The fair Goddess teleported away to Terena with the others, following the track their divine essence made.
The golden tree dominated the humite city of Terena. The city was built so that the most important buildings were closest to Eorna, the golden tree. Unlike the last time Shurka visited the city, there was a strange substance littering the streets. The drug called Noth. Shurka was a bit sickened by it, but he had other things to worry about.
A thought-message intruded into his mind. "Another of these? Does no one meet face to face anymore? Even when I was younger, I formed my letters with my own hand, of earth or whisps or fire. Still, if this is how Hensen chooses to address his fellows, I will respond in kind."
A divine thought went out into the world, retracing the paths of the message so recently come from Hensen.
Hensen
Lord Hensen. It surprises me that the Lord of Change would be as disturbed as you seem to be by a change in the divine balance of power. I have felt something, too, but I know not the source nor the meaning, and I see no reason to invoke a meeting of the Pantheon unless the change affects its members. If Drahthor, as First Consul, summons the Pantheon then I will go- otherwise I have work to do.
Eijra mumbled, awed as she was by the sight of the golden tree she momentarily fogot about her anger. After all, Eijra as her underlings the Fey was a fickle creature, one that felt stronger then others but also felt things in a different way.
The Fey Goddess shook her head and returned to the present. She closed her eyes and concentrated and there it was. A tiny, tiny thread of essence though it was as thin as a single straw it was still more then enough to recreate the portal that it had once been a part of.
There was a certain risk in it though...
On their frozen continent, the thallid also caused the land to become more fertile
(nourish populous (Tsarok faction) 1PP+1PP from spore chambers)
(nourish populous (Thallid) 2PP)
(nourish land 1PP)
(nourish populous (beholders) 1PP)
(nourish populous (Tetradecapods) 1PP)
-----
The first pieces of knowledge began to return to the loremasters from their free nation operatives. Most interesting among these was a method of using trees to create an excellent recording material. Soon, many of the ancient metal sheets were being copied onto both this nerw paper, as well as vellum learned from ther humans of Alexandria.
-----
Drevan emerged from the Storhouse of Light, gazing upon the inner world. For a long moment, his gaze stopped on the floating continent nearest to him, and a single tear fell from his eye. With all this power, he knew it would be a simple matter to return to the preserved nation, and reclaim the life he had lost so long ago.
The moment of weakness passed, and he lookedf past it to the surface below. So barren, he noted, nothing but water as far as the eye could see, except for that one nation. He focused his mind, tapping into the powert at his command, and an archipelago rose from the sea below, near the continent of Ardune.
Finished with this test, he vanished, reappearing in the outer world, near the eladrin kingdom. Sivera, they called themselves. He moved into the city, invisaible to those around him. He would leave his mark on this land tonight.
PP Exopenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Asilia
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Loremasters master paper
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - Small archipelago to the southeast of Ardune
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Vampires inflitrate the eladrin.
------
Turn 38 begins now. 9500 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet, Tsaroka-Noggoth, The Empress, Shurka, Vymrl, Mara
5 - Drahthor, Hensen Jijou, Eijra, Kiptar
4 - Hammu, Jormundrasil, Nixis, Azor-Chapien, Chroma, Torvek
"Well if the punishment of this killer will be enough to confort you, I'm ready to help as much as I can.
While I sensed that something terrible happened I was unable to discern its nature, but I presume that you might know something more do you?"
"I also might be able to convince some more of our brother and sister to catch this murderer."
He briefly turned toward the other gods, only one was familiar to him, Shurka, already met at Hammu Trial and worshiphed by the Half Humites and Terenas, the vampire used a spark of her divine power to ascend for the first time.
The others was new to the Lord of Change "This is such an interesting age, even the number of gods is not static and many new come to existance" he tought.
"Beside I think I have never met any of you, but this is not the time for presentations I guess... but I think we can have a little talk after this thing is over"
While speaking Hensen's glowing eyes shifted again in color, generating a cold white light.
Then he looked a little unfocused, like his mind was briefly elsewere.
to Hammu
Hensen recieved Hammu message, "Apparenly I'll have to talk in person to the god of justice, as this method of comunication is not the best suited to convince him of my reasons" tought Hensen.
He sent another vision to the god of Justice.
"Very Well, now I'm short in time too, that's why I resorted on these kind of messages, anyway I'll be pleased to meet you in person soon enough to explain you my reasons"
Hensen recieved Hammu message, "Apparenly I'll have to talk in person to the god of justice, as this method of comunication is not the best suited to convince him of my reasons" tought Hensen.
He sent another vision to the god of Justice.
"Very Well, now I'm short in time too, that's why I resorted on these kind of messages, anyway I'll be pleased to meet you in person soon enough to explain you my reasons"
Today, however, he had something else on his mind. He'd been away from his Mother for centuries now, but in all that time, the world above had stayed so... static. It got cloudy every now and again and rained, but for the most part, it was blue, red, blackey-blue, red, blue, red, blackey-blue, red, day in and day out. It was soooo boring! Where was the Chaos? Where was the colour? Sure there was that big ball of stuff he was afraid to explore, but that stayed pretty much the same too. It just wasn't any fun! And today, he'd finally decided to do something about it.
Floating up into the sky, the child god's eye turned from bored looking to scrutinous, looking around it to try and think of the best way to perform the task. He could try and change the sky... that could be fun! But that wet stuff that fell down was needed by his gnolls, and the rest of the land... if he altered the sky, who knew what effect that might have? Hmmm, well that ball of stuff blocked out the sky behind it... maybe he could do something to block the constant blueness? But something like that could block the rain too... unless he made it like water and you could go right through it! And see through it too, so his children would be able to see the shiny things at night!
Frowning in conentration, the godling gathered up his energy. He'd never done something so big before... how exciting! Letting loose ray of rainbow energy, Chroma fell back from the recoil of the deed, and tried to clear his head so he could look at what he'd done. And what he'd done was... interesting to say the least.
The colour had spread throughout the Inner World, covering it like an umbrella, or a veil. Chroma knew enough about his gnolls to know that sudden, disorienting colour confused and made them sick, so he'd decided on something almost as fun but still very much so. The entire sky was.. green. Sort of, it was mostly green, but there were wisps of colour that could be seen floating about it, a little like the Northern Lights... not that Chroma knew what those were. And as the godling watched, the orange in the lights seemed to seep into the sky, and as steadily and beautifully as the sun sets the sky change to orange as it's primary colour. This cycle was fairly erratic, sometimes occuring once a week, othertimes many times in a single day. That was part of the fun after all: it was unpredictable! Chaotic! Exciting! Fortunately for all concerned it was also semi-opaque: the Aether world could be seen through it's swirling colour, and when the whole veil darkened or brightened depending on whether it was day or night. And of course the sun and stars could be seen almost as clearly as they once had been.
Letting out a laugh of joy at his new creation, the god of Chaos floated through the sky, enjoying the rainbow of colours above him.
PP Expenditure
Create Artifact (Greater) 2PP + 1 from Fountain - Created the Rainbow Veil. This artifact causes the sky in the Inner World to cycle colours gradually at irregular intervals, and creates a permanent aura borealis that's more intense at night. It also provides 1 Spawn PP.
Create Artifact (Greater) 2PP + 1 from Fountain - Created the Rainbow Veil. This artifact causes the sky in the Inner World to cycle colours gradually at irregular intervals, and creates a permanent aura borealis that's more intense at night. It also provides 1 Spawn PP.
Nixis looked down over Terena. It seemed even larger than it had only a little while ago. The touch of some god or another was all over this city, and the overarching presence of Eorna made picking any particular god out of the mess nearly impossible.
"Can we even tell if Veros even made it here?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Convincer sensed Nixis' unease, and decided that now was as good of a time as ever to enact Nixis' contingency plan. Gathering together a group of gnomes from Babble, he used the power given to him to open up a portal to Chukwa and brought all of them to the back of the turtle. Once there, with Chukwa's help, they flourished, founding the city of Diaspora.
pp
1 PP (from Convincer): Guide Populace: Gnomes travel to the back of Chukwa.
1 PP (from Chukwa): Nourish Populace: Gnomes flourish on Chukwa's back, founding the city of Diaspora.
1 PP (from Convincer): Guide Populace: Gnomes travel to the back of Chukwa.
1 PP (from Chukwa): Nourish Populace: Gnomes flourish on Chukwa's back, founding the city of Diaspora.
Kiptar, after much thought, decided to go back to Mechanus to think things over a little. As he went, his skin, already made of metallic substance, began to coalesce, to thicken and grow strong, until it provided him armor.
Show
4 pp: Shape Populace(Greater): Gold dragons live in the warforged controlled area that is the northeast part of the main continent. Like other dragons, they just stay there mostly and don't spread out.
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): Warforged on the northeast portion of the continent integrate gold dragons into their society.
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): Gold dragons grow more numerous.
2 pp: Create Artifact(Intermediate)(Gear of Creation): Armor of Gears, provides a +1 combat bonus.
Kiptar just stays in Mechanus. Goodbye all, see you in a week, hopefully just before the Saturday reset.
4 pp: Shape Populace(Greater): Gold dragons live in the warforged controlled area that is the northeast part of the main continent. Like other dragons, they just stay there mostly and don't spread out.
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): Warforged on the northeast portion of the continent integrate gold dragons into their society.
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): Gold dragons grow more numerous.
2 pp: Create Artifact(Intermediate)(Gear of Creation): Armor of Gears, provides a +1 combat bonus.
Kiptar just stays in Mechanus. Goodbye all, see you in a week, hopefully just before the Saturday reset.
They traveled west over the lands. Only moving by night to mask their exodus. When they finaly came upon the brink of the western sea they threw their hand up and wailed. What cruel Joke was this? who's responsible for this sorcery that compelled them to abandon their homes and hearths?
"This one did" sounded a voice trough the heavens.
A form both gortesqe and stunning decended trough the clouds.
"It was One who called you through wispers and dreams to his godforsaken place, forsaken that is untill now"
The elves where silent, awaiting the creatures next word.
"One is IncarnationsEnd and One is the last god, One called you here to make Elfkind an offer."
the creature lifted one of its many arms and held forth a great book.
"If Elfkind wishes to write its True Name within this book then you shall be the chosen."
"You will be taught the secrets of this world and be its protectors against dissymmetry and Disorder"
"Now Elfkind what shall be thy wish?"
The elves felt a long since extinguished flame rise in their hearts, the flame of porpouse. there in the twilight of dusk they accepted the gods proposal and there bacome bound by his will.
"As a reminder of this covenant between us you shall cut away thy poiny ears, because a pact sealed in blood shall never be broken."
Eagerly they agreed and thus became Enlightened.
As a test for their newfound faith Blessed raised his hands to the sky and called forth the winds to spread the sand of the beach over the land.
"Each grain shall be yours, and wherever it may spread you shall have sovereignty, If you can build One a Temple without cutting stone for its construction."
The elves where stunned bythis pronunciation. how where you supposed to build without stone? But they persisted and searched for the answer.
some thought that the secret was buried deep in the desert that would be their home and set out in search of it. Others sought the answer in long faded traditions and arcanelore. Yet others bided their time and thus fought to make their home and tame the wild desert in waiting for the day of blessing.
172 years Desert reconing they found a way and made a most magnificent temple, compleatly out of glass.
"lord" they asked
"Where isthe gift you promised us? you gave your word that the desert and all belonging to it should be ours?"
"take a look around you children, What do you see?" said the God.
"You have build a great temple out of the sand, you have earned your mastery of the sandby your own hand, there is no more this One can give you."
"But for your effort I shall grant thee a boon, Hereby you shall be known to the world as the race of the tool, Never shall you be bound by any limit, neither mountains nor earth nor the sky shall everhold you back."
1PP - Guide Populace, to call the elves to the desert
1PP - Mold Land, to create the desert
2PP - Guide Populace (Greater), to make the elves discover glasswork.
"This is sort of... strange..." Torvek looks around.
"What is it, Torvek?"
"I just felt my powers gradually increasing, and time sort of... shifted... what was it?"
"I dunno... probably just your imagination."
"Yeah- you're probably right." Torvek stares up at the stars.
"You know- maybe I would like to have something here while I'm off in my adventures, so that my temple is safe."
Torvek steps back for a moment, and summons his chakram. He makes several gestures, and the outline took the form of a great, 4- legged creation. When he was done, the form had materialized into a hulking mechanized creature- a Warforged.
Torvek studies it closely.
"Ooh- a Warforged!" Hondala said in excitement.
He looks at it for a brief moment, examining its very existence. It looks up at him.
"Hmm. This is quite unexpected," It speaks.
Torvek looks at it in surprise. "Huh. Do you have a name?"
"No."
"Well..." Torvek looks around, figuring out what to call the guardian. "Well, how about Terascul?"
The Warforged thinks to itself. "Not a bad name- in fact, I like it."
"Okay, then." Torvek replies in happiness. "Terascul- I want you to be my guardian, and to stay put here and to tend to any gods that appear here when I'm absent. If there are any threats, I want you to take care of it to the best of your ability."
"Will do, my lord." And the Warforged stays put atop the temple, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
PP expenditures
3pp- Ascend Exarch (Warforged Guardian- Terascul)
Remaining pp- 1
Remaining pp- 1
Fortunately for the world at large, between the beauty of the world around them and the unconditional love of their child god, the first part won over in mainstream gnoll society. Though they were chaotic by nature, the gnolls made several tennants to live by, naming these the Way of the Hunt. Basically, there tennants were don't steal, don't pouch in someone elses territory, don't attack another gnoll unprovoked, don't kill another gnoll unless it broke one of the other tennants, and most sacredly never eat another gnoll. It should be note that in the gnoll tongue, 'gnoll' is synomnys with sentient life, so all these tennant also applied to any other race they were to come across. Which was unfortunate for anyone who unknowingly felled a deer in gnoll country...
Some gnolls, however, didn't like these tennants. These members of the horde listened to the chaotic and destructive side of their soul as opposed to the Way of the Hunt, inticed by their bull like counterparts, finding their weapons and other tools too tempting to leave in hands that weren't theirs, and finding the flesh of the minotaurs and even fellow gnolls far more succulant than any four legged beast that grazed across the land. Naming themselves followers of the Way of Slaughter, a ghastly parody of the Way of the Hunt, they only had one tennant: kill everyone who wasn't a member of the Way of Slaughter. Crush them, eat them, spread their blood across the ground!
And, weeping, Chroma cast the followers of the Way of Slaughter from his faith. They may be children, but such blatant evil was unforgiveable, even in the eye of the loving rainbow god. And so, godless, savage, and borderline insane, the followers of the Way of Slaughter left the horde and began to lead a campaign against the minotaurs, desiring to consume them all and take what was theirs for their own.
PP Expenditure
Guide Populace 1PP - The gnolls learn the Way of the Hunt
Guide Popilace 1PP - A large (though in the minority) amount of gnolls take up the Way of Slaughter. Followers of the Way of Slaughter do not worship Chroma
Guide Populace 1PP - The gnolls learn the Way of the Hunt
Guide Popilace 1PP - A large (though in the minority) amount of gnolls take up the Way of Slaughter. Followers of the Way of Slaughter do not worship Chroma
Terascul assumes his duties.
------------------------
Torvek reaches the Skyway River, and thinks to himself.
Hondala speaks. "I'm thinking that we should go and check out this Library. Follow the Skyway River down that way."
And Torvek heeds to Hondala's words and he goes to the Library.
When Torvek arrived at the Library, he found a gnome waiting for him.
"Welcome to the Great Library, Torvek. What brings you here?"
They where small in numbers and fairly unadvanced but there was potential in them, potential for Symmetry.
Silently Blessed drifted across the worlds and beyond in search of other gods. They had a great deal of things to answer for.
"...yes you always were one of my characters, you looked so real don't you? That's the magic of teather I guess, I'm honored that one of my creation was so well prepared to believe itself to be real"
"It can't be I remember well that-"
"your mother always made biscuits on Sunday morning, that your first lover always-"
"I..., I..."
"I have created you, my friend, I designed everything you will not be a good character without these details."
The Maestro looked at his victim, it was easier this time, he felt his spark slowly wakening as he grow more and more convinced that he was not real, while the Maestro felt much more alive.
"Now it is time for you to go to sleep, ready for my next play..."
The helpless man just stared blankly at the Maestro and slowly vanished out of existence.
"Well it is time for me to enjoy this little town..." he told to himself, he will not be real for much, so it'd be better not to waste any time.
Mostly undetected by mortals and gods a new race has emerged, once "existing" only in the Grand Distortion, Living Illusion slowly begun to naturally manifest in the world too, at first in really low number, far from each other and oblivious of the existence of their brothers and sisters, all animated by a strong desire to become real.
While most of them are just happy to blend in any society where they fit, living a normal mortal life and vanishing when they die, never letting anyone around them suspect that they ever was nothing more than what they looked like, there are others who don't.
Some assume theatrical personas, travelling around, causing troubles and spreading chaos and than just assuming a different identity, some others, lacking distinct personality but being only "shards" keep playing weird lives and stories around and around causing any kind of problems.
But these are not the most dangerous creatures, there are some who desire so much to become real that they are ready to consume mortals to achieve that. They are a rare kind on earth, but as common as roaches on the Great Distortion, there they assault the travelers to absorb just a small amount of reality into themselves, the Grand Distortion ones can't really leave that twisted plane, being only reflections created by the supernatural energy of the place, but those in creation are as much wicked as them and tend to design perverse games when they steal the "spark" from unlucky mortals.
The life span of living illusion is unknown, some of them are immortal, even if people will wonder if they ever was alive, even reforming after they are "killed", while others just live their false lives and die of "old age", accident or violence as any normal creature.
PP
2PP - Shape Populace (Lesser) Living Illusions,
wiki page coming soon, I'll put some info about the level roles and powers than I'll slowly stat them out.
1 PP - Guide (from Aether Ripples) - Living Illusions Worship Hensen
2PP - Shape Populace (Lesser) Living Illusions,
wiki page coming soon, I'll put some info about the level roles and powers than I'll slowly stat them out.
1 PP - Guide (from Aether Ripples) - Living Illusions Worship Hensen
But this would not do. At least not alone. A library needed people trained in finding a given book for a patron. The Grand Index was fine, but it remained a single book. As Nixis pondered, a spider walked along one of Eorna's branches, and caught Nixis eye. Struck by sudden inspiration, he reached out and plucked the spider from the branch. Nixis poured his divine energy into it, growing it in size and modifying its body, turning its head into an elfin torso, hands and head, but still as black as the rest of the spider's body. Content, Nixis concentrated again, duplicating the form before him before sending the entire new race of librarians to the Library. There they would serve as helpers to patrons of the Library, using their eight legs to rapidly move from one section of the library to the other. Nixis made a slight tweak to the Library's structure, turning the bottom floor into a suitable home for his new race, the Driders.
PP
1PP (From Astral Shard): Create Artifact (Lesser): The Grand Index: A book containing the location of every book in the Library.
3PP: Shape Populous (Moderate): Driders. Just like the MM driders, but medium in size.
1PP (From Astral Shard): Create Artifact (Lesser): The Grand Index: A book containing the location of every book in the Library.
3PP: Shape Populous (Moderate): Driders. Just like the MM driders, but medium in size.
The last god stepped into the candle light of the Liberary.
"One have a need of knowledge, pastself. Will you grant One this request?"
Bloodstone vegetation begun to spread to the overland, some time smothering local plants, other time creating new forests of red vines and twisted trees.
An Hydra society previously unknown ritualist managed to create a new item of power, the Lenses of Fate, this item is capable of sensing the potential of mortal creatures, and show the wielder how to "awaken" it, leading that person to greatness.
A group of Free nation merchants discovered the new land of Azora and decided to go and investigate this new territory.
Meanwhile a group of daring explorers and diviners decided to enbark on a mission to map the known world, and the priesthood of change created a large library in Freedomguard to store the Free Nation maps of the seas and known contienent.
Blessed by an high birth rate, expecially among the Bloodborn, and on the success of the new trade routes the Free Nation power and glory keep growing.
PP
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones), create a "bridge" formed of small islands between Bloodmyst Archipelago and the main continent.
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones), Bloodstone tainted flora expand to the main continent
1 PP Guide, The Free Nation discover Azora and sent a new expedition to contact its inhabitants looking for new trading partners.
(Mortal stories on wednsday if Chapien is interested)
1 PP Guide, The Free Nation learn Cartography (cultural contact discount)
1 PP Nourish, The Free Nation keep growing in power and the Bloodborn number increase.
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker), create the Lenses of Fate.
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones), create a "bridge" formed of small islands between Bloodmyst Archipelago and the main continent.
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones), Bloodstone tainted flora expand to the main continent
1 PP Guide, The Free Nation discover Azora and sent a new expedition to contact its inhabitants looking for new trading partners.
(Mortal stories on wednsday if Chapien is interested)
1 PP Guide, The Free Nation learn Cartography (cultural contact discount)
1 PP Nourish, The Free Nation keep growing in power and the Bloodborn number increase.
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker), create the Lenses of Fate.
"How did you know my name, little one?"
"Maybe he's an exarch, just like me." Hondala said.
Torvek thought for a moment.
"I just need to read some books to keep up on my studies for the worlds today, If that's alright by you." Torvek responded to the Gnome.
A collection of gods stood close together in the steam. Their voices were the hiss of the steam. They spoke of a shift in power, and of the lord of Knowledge. The Empress leaned forward, crossing her legs as she strained to hear the words. The steam-gods spoke of a place called Terena. The Empress was intrigued. Then one of the gods turned, and with a jolt in the pit of her stomach the she recognized the Fey goddess, Eijra. This could get interesting, thought the Empress, and leaned backwards, pondering.
She brushed her hand through the steam, and it dissipated. In a moment, however, it reformed, showing a wildly different scene. A dragon soared over the surface of the water, swooping through clouds of steam and low over the water. With a snap of the Empress' fingers, a second dragon formed and joined the first, and the two flew about in wide circles, the second marginally darker than the first. The Empress' mouth twisted into a smiled, and she sank lower in the bath, closing her eyes, and enjoying the warmth of the water.
PP Expenditures
3 PP +1 from Leilaka Shape Populace (Greater) Black Dragons appear in the Kishaar Rainforest where they live side-by-side with Green Dragons.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) Black Dragons join the Asikan Empire.
1 PP from Priya Guide Populace (Lesser) Black Dragons join the Asikan Empire.
"Sure... except there aren't any books here yet. Nixis hasn't gotten around to filling the shelves yet."
He the turned to face the new god, and suddenly Nixis' voice spoke through the gnome.
"Greetings, new God. We do not have books yet. What shall I call you? I am Nixis, god of stories and language."
Convincer laughed.
"Sure... except there aren't any books here yet. Nixis hasn't gotten around to filling the shelves yet."
He the turned to face the new god, and suddenly Nixis' voice spoke through the gnome.
"Greetings, new God. We do not have books yet. What shall I call you? I am Nixis, god of stories and language."
Torvek stepped back in surprise, as he heard Nixis's voice through the Gnome. "What kind of magic is this?"
His chakram appeared in his holder, but he did not brandish it- yet.
He finally recognized the voice. "Nixis? Is that you? It's me, Torvek."
His gazed moved down, disregarding that information for the moment, and looked out over the moon light ocean. In life, he had never found time to enjoy such a view, and in death, he hadn't cared. Now though, with an eternity and unlimited power, he found himself stopping, and enjoying the sights around him.
In the deepest recesses of his mind, he feared that Veros has some how tainted him, but with all his power, he could detect no evidence of such a thing. Yet, all his plans and schemes seemed, somehow, pointless.
Drevan rubbed his chin slightly, musing to himself as he looked over the Gulf of Tragedy, the place where had had long ago attempted to end himself and his people. "Yes, I think that might just work."
A smile crossed his face as he prepared himself.
-----
With peace settled across the land, the loremasters continued to thrive, collecting and storing records from around the world.
Expeditions to the north discovered the continent of Zophar, where the first loremaster enclaves were founded, cautiously meeting and trading with local natives. The locals, deprived of their divine connection, slowly began to take up the worship of Veros.
Members within humite and free nation territory returned home with detailed reports on the use of cartography, which was rapidly adopted across the organization, making the continuing exploratory forays less reliant on rituals and magic
On Taldar, loremasters discovered the location of the long lost Tome of Knowledge. In a daring raid, six masters stole into Patren's most sacred temple, determined to retrieve the holy relic. Discovered early in their infiltration, they nonetheless persevered in a six-hour hit and run battle, finally managing to gain entry and take possession of the book.
In their desperate escape, they were cornered by three of Patren's archmages. Wielding the powers of the arcane wellspring, they tore through their foe's defenses. In the end, a single loremaster escape while his fellows struggled to hold back the archmages, returning the book to his order, where it was quickly places aboard an airship and shipped home.
In the following months, Patren's military would comb the Tarina Mountains, seeking the thieves. Outraged by the violation of their territory, the spider cavalry of Menosa struck out at these assumed invaders, setting the two nations into full-scale war. Embattled on two fronts, Patren's forces began losing ground heavily, to both Asilia and Menosa.
With the Tome of Knowledge safely back within Loremaster Keep, the eldest masters researching the lost tome discovered new texts hidden deep within it's magic, revealing secrets of powers unknown to any among them. In the following year, dozens of younger acolytes set to study these passages would start to master this knowledge, gaining mastery of their minds and becoming the first psions.
-----
Sivera, startled by the sudden growth of desert to their east, and the strange mutated plant life that began to grow there, consuming much of their former farmland, turned their magics against it. Using every arcane talent and trick at their disposal, the eladrin and shadar-kai attempted to terraform the desert back to its former state. Slowly but surely, the desert began to grow green once more, and the strange bloodstone plant life began to find the area less and less suitable for it's growth.
Further, groups were dispatched to destroy the vegetation wherever it might be found. It was one of these groups that discovered a strange glass temple in an isolated part of the desert. (IncarnationsEnd, if you'd like, we can take this to Mortal Stories)
PP Expenditure
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Loremasters
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Loremasters pick up Cartography
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Zophar worships Veros
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Greater) - Loremasters gain Psion
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Land - The western deserts begin to return to grassland, and become resistant to the bloodstone vegetation
Nixis began slowly sifting through the words that composed his form, pulling out those that contained the most hate, rage and anger, and shoved them into a sphere of black, pulsating energy. There they would stay for when Nixis needed them to fight off another powerful being. These words would hurt.
He then shifted his attention back to the Library, and spoke again through Convincer.
"It is me, Torvek. I would imagine that your Exarch could also allow you to speak from a distance. I am currently tied up over Terena, searching for Veros, who appears to have disapeared somewhere in or near the city. We suspect he is in some sort of trouble, otherwise I would have come to meet you myself. As Convincer has noted, the shelves are empty. I hope to fill them soon, but yes, you may wish to visit the Loremasters for your information needs... they remain the greatest repository of knowledge at this point in time."
PP
2 PP (From Shurka (thanks!)): Create Artifact (Moderate): Create the words of hate and anger. +1 combat.
2 PP (From Shurka (thanks!)): Create Artifact (Moderate): Create the words of hate and anger. +1 combat.
--------------------------------
Meanwhile, the people of Asilia witnessed a strange phenomenon in the sky. A veritable city of wooden platform and walkways borne upon massive fungal sacs of air appeared in the skies above the nation. Small, four-armed creatures with grey skin skittered about on this city. Perhaps sensing the eyes from below, the city touched down outside one of the major cities. An ambassador, along with a contingent of apparently unarmed guards was sent to the city proper, where it sought an audience with the upper echelons.
PP Expenditure
2 PP Guide Populace (Lesser x2) The Sinners send envoys to Terena and to Alexandria.
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The Loha send an envoy to Asilia.
(We should probably take this to the Mortal Stories thread, however, I'm really tired right now, so I'll put something up tomorrow, though probably not until after the refresh.)
1 PP Guide Populace (Lesser) The Loha send an envoy to Asilia.
(We should probably take this to the Mortal Stories thread, however, I'm really tired right now, so I'll put something up tomorrow, though probably not until after the refresh.)
"My time here is short, I only desire the story of this world, pastself.
Will you grant me this request?"
The last one ignored Torvek and his chakram, Focusing intently upon the gnome infront of them.
Some Humite and Half Humite agents of Hydra develop oracular power, many of them soon rise to high rank within the organization and begun to teach their brethren how to gain access to glimpses of the future.
PP
From Mechalibur,
1 PP Nourish, Hydra Society gain a foothold in Terena
1 PP Guide, Hydra Society learn divination (cultural contact)
From Mechalibur,
1 PP Nourish, Hydra Society gain a foothold in Terena
1 PP Guide, Hydra Society learn divination (cultural contact)
----------
Over time, some Rakshasa forgot the words of their god and went above the surface, into the sunlight for the first time in hundreds of years. The hair of most had turned white, though a few were jet black and only a handful retained the tiger striping of their birth. They moved in disguise, wary of mortal eyes yet eager to trade for the goods that other mortals had in store.
--------
It wasn't long before a Rakshasa surface scouting party stumbled across a pair of Deva traveling a lonely road though the Shattered Lands. Traders found their mangled and slashed bodies and brought them to Beacon. Priests prayed their immortal souls towards a speedy rebirth, while the Argent Guard set out to hunt their killers. Normally, the scouts would not have challenged such a formidable opponent, but the captain of the guard was a Deva, and the old fires of hate stirred in the hidden scouts. They lept from the dark, craggy rocks and set upon the guard, only to be slain to the man by the better-equipped guardsman.
The almost-forgotten war had resumed in earnest.
----------
Faced with an overwhelmingly powerful foe above ground, and hard rock beneath, the Rakshasa remembered their divine mandate to make The Well broader and deeper. They dug. Fang was among them, using his peculiar talent for shaping the stone, and Rabi had returned again from his travels. With the help of the exarchs, the city moved. The warm stone that had been found at the previous extent of the digging gave way to a seam of lava, to the loss of several diggers, and the rest changed direction.
The ground broke away beneath their feet, and the gravity abruptly switched directions once, and then again and again. More diggers had been crushed against the sides or fallen up the shaft to their deaths by the time Rabi came to the place bearing a lodestone the size of a man. He formed it into the shape of an hourglass with a doughnut ring around the "waist" and suspended it in the center of the discovered cavern. The gravity immediately orientated itself towards the walls- wherever one stood, the Delver's Knot was "up".
----------
Rabi stayed behind in the cavern, and urged the Delvers and their diggers onward. He met the Deva pursuing their old enemy and turned them back. The were few in number and harried by their journey through mind-flayers and poisonous creatures, and he had no desire to see any more souls sent to wander the dark.
Above him, he sensed a new consciousness stirring malevolently. At the break between shaft and lava, pure molten rock stepped out into the Underdark.
----------
Fang drove his diggers ever onward, and his Delvers took up a rearguard against the savage creatures of the Underdark and the possibility of pursuing Deva. Years passed while the populace subsisted on what the Delvers brought in from raiding, and the Rakshasa learned what it was to be in need. Fang did what he could, enlarging and making use of natural caverns, and cross linking the separate, winding tunnels the others dug through the earth.
No Rakshasa could miss it when the hard stone gave way to boulders and gravel, then to stones and sand, then to dirt, then to sunlight, and the first Rakshasa stood on the soil of Ardune.
Fang knelt, and thanked his god for bringing them through the world to a new land. As he prayed, the soil nearby shuddered, then pulled back. Out of the earth rose a temple that he knew! The Provost's Halls had followed them to the new land!
PP
1PP +1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: The Well learns to read and write (using metal sheets such as The Code uses).
+1PP (Rabi the Smith) Create Artifact: The Delver's Knot creates a local gravity field, pressing everything nearby away from itself with a force slightly greater than normal gravity.
1PP Spawn Beast: Magma Striders move out into the middle Underdark
+1PP (Fang the Delver) Mold Land: The Underdark extends completely through the crust of the world to Ardune.
1PP Mold Land: The Provost's Halls move under divine power to Ardune.
1PP +1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: The Well learns to read and write (using metal sheets such as The Code uses).
+1PP (Rabi the Smith) Create Artifact: The Delver's Knot creates a local gravity field, pressing everything nearby away from itself with a force slightly greater than normal gravity.
1PP Spawn Beast: Magma Striders move out into the middle Underdark
+1PP (Fang the Delver) Mold Land: The Underdark extends completely through the crust of the world to Ardune.
1PP Mold Land: The Provost's Halls move under divine power to Ardune.
"Forgive me, but I must go for a moment. A god has appeared who calls himself 'Last One', and it may have something to do with Veros' dissapearance. I shall return as soon as possible."
With that, Nixis pulled his letters closer to himself, and ---
--- reappeared in the Library. Nodding to Torvek, Nixis turned to face the newcomer.
"Why do you call yourself 'Last One'? You're quite likely to be mistaken if you think you will be the last god ever created. For a history of the world... Well, it all began with knowledge, light and fire, but it rapidly became more complex than that. There have been several global wars, great battles between the Gods... it would be lax of me to attempt to summarize it in a mere few sentances. Instead..."
Nixis concentrated for a moment and a book popped into existence.
"I'd just read this book. It contains that which you will need."
***
Gargoyles sent envoys to the Loremasters, offering themselves as tools.
***
In Alexandria the citizens watched the stars. Charting their movements and recording them upon innumerable scrolls. Many believed the windows between worlds traced time to come across the dark sky.
Meanwhile others stalked the wilds of their home, learning new ways to hunt.
Actions
1PP from the Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Gargoyles approach loremasters.
2PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria learns the skill of Astronomy
2PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria learns the art of Astrology (star divination)
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn the Ranger class
I'll handle the sinners in MS tomorrow afternoon if that's fine.
2PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria learns the skill of Astronomy
2PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria learns the art of Astrology (star divination)
2PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn the Ranger class
I'll handle the sinners in MS tomorrow afternoon if that's fine.
Instead she got intrigued in this new world that had been shaped during the long years she had been gone. She explored the continents in mortal form, befriended mortals even founded a couple of families.
She wandered the endless plains of Zophar, hidden under the skin of an Ice Giant, she travelled the savannah of Ardune in the shape of a Gnoll and experienced the splendour and glamour as a noble woman of Alexandria.
As she did this she grew more and more fond of this world and the beings that inhabited it.
Even though much had been destroyed the world...was still part of her and the land flourished.
As the Fay Goddess wandered the world things changed. Legends spread out and the faith of the fair Goddess once more began to spread. It was a faith of peasants, fishermen and people of the land. It was one of loyalty, peace, love, childbirth and a good harvest.
The faith was never a violent one though, those that chose to pray to the fair Goddess were generally peaceful people that wanted nothing more out of their life then to simply live it in a good way.
And so it spread throughout the human realm of Alexandria and and all the way to the strange Elves that lived within " The Last God´s" Dry and desolate land.
Calafi Krak, The Kingdom of Dawn grew during these years and the banner of the Golden Sun was often seen on the high seas. The proud nation began to establish several new cities within their archipelago and even small colonies along the shores of the continent.
There the old ways were preserved, Dwarves ruled and fought while Halflingkind nurtured the land and served. New trade goods arrived to Dawnpeak, old capital of Calafi Krak and the kingdom flourished in ways before unknown.
1PP + 1PP From Exarch Mouth of Land: Converts Elves and Humans to Eijra´s faith. These converts seldom if ever abandon their own Gods and mostly pray to Eijra for smaller things such as a good harvest or a healthy child.
Form Domain 1PP: Childbirth
Guide Populace 2PP: Calafi Krak establishes several new colonies and cities in both the archipelago and along the coast of Zophar. The population surges.
Teach Populace 2PP: Calafin Krakan navigators learn the ancient art of navigation on their own.
Always with that Chakram. I wonder why he's so jumpy? Nixis thought. With the jumpiness of Torvek, and especially with the activities surrounding Veros' dissapearance... it might be a good idea to...
Nixis began slowly sifting through the words that composed his form, pulling out those that contained the most hate, rage and anger, and shoved them into a sphere of black, pulsating energy. There they would stay for when Nixis needed them to fight off another powerful being. These words would hurt.
He then shifted his attention back to the Library, and spoke again through Convincer.
"It is me, Torvek. I would imagine that your Exarch could also allow you to speak from a distance. I am currently tied up over Terena, searching for Veros, who appears to have disapeared somewhere in or near the city. We suspect he is in some sort of trouble, otherwise I would have come to meet you myself. As Convincer has noted, the shelves are empty. I hope to fill them soon, but yes, you may wish to visit the Loremasters for your information needs... they remain the greatest repository of knowledge at this point in time."
"Veros is in trouble?" Torvek replied to Nixis through Convincer.
"Oh, dear..." Hondala sighs, as her mass darkens.
"Where are the Loremasters? Are they in a different part of the Library?" Torvek asks.
------------
The Senate dispatched envoys to the Free Nation, Alexandria, the Shattered Lands and the City of Gears.
------------
In the heart of the Chillund Archepeligo, S'kre's dark citadel loomed above land. Forgotton and lost for ages after his ascension, its walls, hewed from the eldest glaciers of the world, stood huge and massive above the landscape. Halls of black ice, war rooms still filled with maps of the Golden Hills, armories of ruined weapons and decaying armor filled its bowls, and reamins of ancient prisoners, frozen and rotted, lay in its dark heart.
Yet, when an expedition of hunters, seeking seals, found the citadel, half burried in ice and snow, the Senate realized its potential. They decreed that it should be called simply The Citadel. Peasents cleared away the surrounding ice and refurbished the interior. Armories where restocked with Adamite, Mythril and Rune-steel war gear. Maps of the Imperium, the Humite Lands and all the world that the Imperium new of, where placed in these rooms.
Then, the Senate set the greatest mages of the Imperium to work, harnessing ley lines that stretched under the Citadel. Crystalline latices, strange bio-arcane batteries formed from Mada, and other magical instruments were developed and constructed. After half a century, the project ended.
Then, at the winter solstice, the crystalline screens and Madan batteries glimmered to life. With an immencse cracking and roaring, the Citadel lifted from the earth, soaring into the air.
The Imperium not only had the finest military academy on earth, it had a flying military academy.
----------
With the help of the Drakhorn, the Imperium's smith's discovered the use of obsidian in weapon-making. Soon, the technique spread throughout the land. Now that the miners knew the uses of Obsidian, extensive deposits came to light. Within a few decades, use of the stone spread widely.
----------
The Flesh-Benders of Asem soon discovered the arts of Alchemy from Drakhorn. They quickly began to use these new techniques in conjunction with their own knowledge.
PP
3PP-Create Artifact-Academy Dominus
1PP-Guide Populous, Lesser- Envoys sent to Free Nation and Alexandria
1PP-Guide Populous, Lesser- Obsidian Crafting (From Xanthor)
1PP-Guide Populous, Lesser- Alchemy
1PP (Ssabrec)- Nourish Land- Obsidian Deposits
The cry echoed across the ocean, slowly fading, dying in the still night. He lowered his hands, and closed his eyes. The still ocean began to ripple ever so slightly, the ripples growing slightly as they rushed outwards in all directions, growing into waves that crashed against the shores of the mainland and Kalafi Krak.
The earth itself began to groan, creak, and shiver as he called to it. With a sudden eruption, the earth shook and rose from the depths of the sea.
He looked at the sand at his feet, a strange band stretching into the distance between two normal areas of ground. The land once known as the golden hills, birthplace of civilization, lay bare to burning sun high above.
As he glanced up at the burning orb high in the sky, he frowned. This was his land now and he moved to it’s center where the ruins of Celeron lie, abandoned by time. Standing upon the ancient ritual circle, where had had personally lay waste to it all, he channeled more power into it. From the center of the city, a gray mist slowly rose from the ground, expanding outward in a ring, reaching the very edges of his land, where is slowly faded away.
He tapped into the leylines running through it, slowly altering them, reversing and changing their flow. Through out the Gray Wastes, strange new plants and fungi began to grow, suited to living in the desolate land.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Land - Grey Wastes develop a numbers of plants suited to living in its conditions. Many are fungi.
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Moderate) - Grey Wastes
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Moderate) - The island of Azora vanishes as the lands formerly known as the Golden Hills rise from beneath the waves once more.
OOC
No, I didn’t obliterate Chapien’s people. I moved them. Their island is now off the south eastern shores of Taldar. Unless, of course, Cyhapien wants them to stay. I wouldn't advie it though, considering that the Grey Wastes aren't friendly to normal life.
Obviously, humites no longer have any ports. The Loremaster Port is now gone as well, though they didn’t rely on it, mostly only receiving ships, as most of their ships are of the air variety.. Many of Meribia’s ports are sealed off, though some of them were far enough north and east to avoid total cut off
Obvious implications would be the Free Nation can’t get to Terena by sea, nor meet with the Azorans now.
I’ll try to get some descriptions of the Gray Waste in tonight or tomorrow. The Gray Wastes also function as a combat artifact, when Drevan is within it.
Obviously, humites no longer have any ports. The Loremaster Port is now gone as well, though they didn’t rely on it, mostly only receiving ships, as most of their ships are of the air variety.. Many of Meribia’s ports are sealed off, though some of them were far enough north and east to avoid total cut off
Obvious implications would be the Free Nation can’t get to Terena by sea, nor meet with the Azorans now.
I’ll try to get some descriptions of the Gray Waste in tonight or tomorrow. The Gray Wastes also function as a combat artifact, when Drevan is within it.
Torvek senses a nearby presence, but it feels far away.
"Huh?"
"What is it, Torvek?" Hondala asks.
"I just thought that maybe some that I know is nearby- maybe it's just my imagination..." Torvek shook his head.
"Huh."
Show
3pp- Ascend Exarch (Corelloth)
Torvek didn't notice, but Corelloth had arrived, and is looking for him. Corelloth plays an important role in his life.
Remaining pp- 1
Torvek didn't notice, but Corelloth had arrived, and is looking for him. Corelloth plays an important role in his life.
Remaining pp- 1
Eijra´s eyes watched him with thoughtful eyes. One blue and one brown eye watched the pale man as his hands moved in the air, finishing the last touches of raising her old land up from the ocean.
Without a word Eijra fell down on her knees in front of Drevan and bowed deeply in front of him. Tears were running down her pale cheeks and she whispered hoarsly.
" Thank you...thank you..so much..."
The Fay Goddess sat there, her back bent unknowingly in front of her Father´s slayer.
Shurka sighed. He may as well. The leaders of the defense coalition felt a strange... openess. They wanted to share the glory of their city with the outside world. New races were welcome in Terena.
"Ah? What was that?"
Shurka felt something foreboding. Something... off. His staff glowed brighter... perhaps... something dangerous was about to happen...
PP Use
0 PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace - Terena is much more willing to accept trade in their city, and allow more people in (includes non-Tereneans, gnomes, Free Nation, etc.)
0 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace - Defense Coalition better defends Terena
2 PP - Create Artifact - Staff of Shurka is now two different combat artifacts. So it gives +2 to combat, giving me a total combat level of 10. (Maxed out)
Standing there in the edges of the Gray Waste, he looked down at her, considering his options. "I must admit, I never expected you to bow to me."
He grinned slightly. "But seeing you, bent before me, pleases me to no end."
He adjusted his staff slightly. "The great fey goddess, bowed before me. Truly, times are changing."
Still in the form of a dwarf, he watched her carefully.
The water was a darker shade than usual. Bits of fungus could be seen living inside the now-disgusting water. A Pyre Beetle drank from the water. It started twitching, and then its entire body was convulsing from its infested drink.
But that was so long ago... Yet this was so familiar.
Shurka followed the Grey Waste to its source. Was the Blight-Lord back? What Shurka saw was definitely not anything that he expected. Eijra, the Fey goddess was bowing to... Drevan, that abomination!
"No... Murderer..."
"Murderer!"
He tapped the staff of ruin ever so slightly, calling two his two seketal minions. "Those who live in glass houses, should not through stones, should they, healer?" The skeletal remains of the twin Yogliths appearing at his command, standing at attention near him.
He turned his attention back to Eijra, reaching down, his cold hand firmly gripping her chin as he lifted her head. "I know why you cry. Twice, you have abandoned this land. The first time, you fled when it needed you the most, leaving behind those who relied upon your protection."
He squeezed, "And the second, you left it open for a horrible tragedy, that destroyed it from the face of the world! And now you bow before me, crying and thanking me for bringing it back."
He released her, turning and walking a few steps away before stopping, his back to them. "Instead of simply doing it yourself, you let it's memory fade, let it be forgotten. Now, this land is mine, and my loyal servants, creatures of my design, will inhabit it. The Golden Hills are lost forever to the mists of time, fey goddess, victims of your own weaknesses, your own willingness to run and hide."
Floating away from the city, Chroma zoomed across the sky, heading back to the horde of his children. Or those that had no abandoned him... he had to blink tears out of his eye as he considered what he had created had become. But he couldn't dwell on it, today was a happy day! He was finally going to give his gnolls the praise and blessing they deserved, especially the last of his first born. He wished he could have kept all seven together throughout eternity... but change was a part of the chaos he thrived in, even if that change meant the things he loved, eventually, had to pass on. It was... he didn't know the word for it, right maybe? A part of life? The god frowned in thought before shaking what passed for his head in his current form to clear it. He had to stop thinking so much and just have fun! That was what he was there for: fun, and play, and to spread those things around him!
Arriving at his followers camp (which consited of a region of flattened land where the horde slept), the god child floated around, beaming with pride at as his children went about their business. They were growing up well, spreading chaos wherever they went without confusing it with senseless destruction. And they were so much fun to hunt with! But he hadn't come to hunt with his children today: today, he was here for something far more special.
Beryl was taking care of the horde as he usually did: moving through the throng, mediating disputes that seemed like they might get out of hand, dividing kills as fairly as he could. Chroma had well noted the last of the Elders tireless work, and natural gift for leading his people. So much so, that the child god thought the gnoll deserved a treat.
"Beryl!" Chroma floated down towards the gnoll, shifting and dancing in front of the First.
"Hello, my god," the gnoll replied non-plussed. They may worship the god of chaos, but they had a relatively casual relationship with him. Inevitble, when he frequently ran with them in hunts and played with their pups. "Did you want to play something?"
"Always," Chroma's eye creased in a grin. "But today I have something I want to talk to you about. You've been doing good, and leading the gnolls well, so I was thinking that I should give you a treat!"
"That sounds wonderful my god, thank you!" The Elders eyebrow cocked suspiciously then. Charoma's gifts were not always strictly speaking rewarding... "What kind of treat?"
"Well..."
***
"Are you ready?" Chroma asked the Elder, form shifting rapidly in excitement.
"Of course, my god," the gnoll replied, standing prepared for the blessing.
Gathering his power, the child god let loose a blinding beam of colour, striking the Elder full force with the blast. There was a brief yelp of pain, before the colour ommitted any sight or sound form the gnoll, immersing it in a prismatic shroud. When the shroud cleared, a very different gnoll stood in his place. Rather than being a venerable gnoll with blue marking, now Beryl was blue of fur, and bore every other colour of the rainbow as painted symbols on top of it. Or so it would appear at first glance, but as the gnoll ran his paw over it, he saw that these lines were actually a part of his fur, forever decorating it in a tribute to his god.
"Now you're my egs... ecks... really good follower," Chroma beamed, looking down at the blue furred gnoll. "You'll always lead my children from now on, with my blessing and help. Oh, you need a scepter! All kings need scepters! And crowns, but crowns are so silly looking. So are scepters... I know!" Mustering some more divine energy, the child god created a seven headed flail from a stick on the ground, each head being of a different colour. "There you go, with that you'll be a real leader!"
"Thank you, my god," was all the new exarch could say, picking up the flail and giving a test twirl. It seemed to make a shrill sound as it passed through the air, and a few small animals nearby seemed to either stop in their tracks stunned or dazedly run into a tree.
"You're welcome, Beryl," the god of chaos replied, smiling down at his new eartly representative.
PP Expenditure
3 PP Ascend Exarch - Beryl is now an exarch, that provides +1 Guide PP
1 PP from Rainbow Fountain, Create Artiface - Chroma creates the Rainbow Flail, a powerful eartly artifact that dazes or stuns those that hear it's shrill cry as it spins through the air
3 PP Ascend Exarch - Beryl is now an exarch, that provides +1 Guide PP
1 PP from Rainbow Fountain, Create Artiface - Chroma creates the Rainbow Flail, a powerful eartly artifact that dazes or stuns those that hear it's shrill cry as it spins through the air
"Forgive me, but I must go. One of my companions in the search for Veros appears to have discovered something. Please, make yourselves comfortable."
With that, Nixis curled in upon himself ---
--- and reappeared above Terena before speeding of in Shurka's direction. When he arrived at Shurka's location, he stopped, shocked. Azor'Chapien's island of Azora *should* have been right here... but instead, the ocean was gone, replaced with something Nixis only knew about through stories: The Golden Hills. Ahead, he saw Eijra bowing before some new god... the very one that Shurka had surely called a murderer, as the wisp-god hovered nearby, shaking in anger. Floating up to Shurka, Nixis whispered to him.
Shurka
"I don't know who that is, but I have your back if things get ugly."
"I don't know who that is, but I have your back if things get ugly."
Nixis
"Only if it becomes necessary. If possible, I want to kill him myself"
The Goddess whispered hoarsly. She slowly got up from the ground, tears still running down her cheeks but the expression that now rested upon her face was nothing but weak.
" I ran because I loved my people. Because I loved the individuals, not the land itself, because I searched to stop their sufferings, I tried and also managed to give them the peace I wanted them to have. "
The Fey Goddess glared at the Selfish God as she spoke.
" What do you know about me and my actions, you smallminded fool? "
" You were never one of my children? You were just a lie and hos I ask you could a lie even remotely undestand the truth? Even now in this moment you still stand before me wearing false flesh, still are you nothing but lies and treachery, Oh Drevan Stormshield. "
" You call me a coward because I took my loved ones and left. Because I didn´t know nor care about those that lived as parasites in my cities and villages? "
A faint, fickle smile appeared upon her lips.
" Or maybe...there is another reason to your pain, oh mighty Drevan Stormshield...maybe it was you that was betrayed on that day as I left with my followers and one of my Father´s creations saw how his Goddess took everyone else away, but left him to be crushed in front of the Giants´ feet? "
The fickle Goddess chuckled coldly and slowly began to move around Drevan as they continued to speak. Her eyes focused upon him and only him.
It had taken him much too long to rise from the nothingness...
And Starl was damned if he was going back. From his panting breath upon the cold earthen walls, tunnels rose, and from the bare earth, the rat-king, played with the dirt in the cavern.
He made them unique, each a reflection of his image...
Only... he tried to better them. His worn, battered, flea-riden hide was no template for a race, no template at all...
They would be fast, like him, to escape the dangers this world would pose.
They would hide, they would survive, they would spread and adapt. They would sing the tales of their God-King... He would create them so...
A silver glimmer of divine spark illuminated the dank underground...
Starl couldn't help but giggle...
He would live among his people, he would raise them... Then... Then he would ascend to the realm of the God's... Not in this state. Not in his rotting, vile state. They would better themselves, his people, and so would he...
"Squeek. Squeek."
Create Domain: Lesser (Rodents)
Create Domain: Moderate (Music)
Shape Populace (Moderate): Skreet 3 PP
Mold Land (Moderate): 2PP The creation of cavernous areas near the northern pole. "Midland" Underground from the perspective of either plane. (Roughly analogous to creating a mountain range, so I placed it under moderate...)
Nourish Land: 1PP The spawning of edible lichen and other such plants in the Midland.
Skirmishers equipped with Mythril chain mail and Adamite tipped arrows began to fill the ranks of the Grand Army. In war, they spread far ahead of the main force, creating a cloud of soldiers, who, though they could not stand toe to toe with an enemy, could snipe and report his movements.
Nest in the formation of the Grand Army followed the cavalry. Mounted upon Eldacs, mixes of deer and spider, huge and terrifying, rode the Cavaliers of the Grand Army. Some wore merely Mythril chain mail, and rode with three javelins and a longbow. The javelins held thin cores of Mythril, to increase their strength, and Adamite heads glinted cruelly in the sunlight. The bows too, stood graved in Mythril, ready to loose arrows tipped in hungry Adamite.
Yet these Cavaliers stood second in the Grand Army's mounted strength. Behind them, mounted upon the largest Eldacs, both rider and mount garbed in the heaviest of Adamite plate armor, rode the heavy cavalry. Traceries of Mythril swirled through these armors, providing fertile ground the enchantments that washed within them.
Their primary weapon stood twice as tall as a giant, formed from a shaft of Mythril and ended with a brutal Adamite head, ready to pierce and tear. These might lances, however, comprised not the full extent of their weaponry. A massive blade of Rune-Steel or Adamite lay strapped to the saddle beside them, lusting for the blood that spilled after the first shock of the charge, when enemies loomed to close for the use of the lance.
Finally, the heavy infantry walked behind these regiments, as many soldiers as could darken the horizon. They wore scale mail armor, a Mythril scale coated with a thin layer of Adamite formed their armors, while weapons of Rune-Steel and Obsidian stood as their armament.
Thus stood the Grand Army of the Imperium, and following in its wake was the Siege train.
--------------
PP
2PP-Guide Populous, Greater: Siege Tactics
1PP-Guide Populous, Greater: Writing
2PP-Guide Populous, Greater: Cavalier Class
2PP (Ssabrec)-Nourish Populous: Imperium- Army expands
He looked at Eijra again, dropping the facade, revealing his true form, gray flesh and near featureless face staring at her unflinchingly. "My true form, fey goddess. Crafted by your beloved father, then cursed to live an eternity for no reason other than a whim."
He tipped the staff, image gathering in the air. "You sought to end your people’s suffering? Your father's creations had lived among them for centuries. Love knows not racial boundaries, Eijra. In your haste to save your people, you ripped apart families, never to see one another again. Is this how you end suffering? To separate loving families, to shatter them?"
He shook his head, "And you consider me a selfish parasite."
He chuckled a bit, and turned to look over his new land speaking in a low, almost unbearable whisper. “So many people just deciding to show up. You’d think they were cockroaches.”
He raised his staff. "I have much work to do. Your welcome, Eijra. Perhaps we shall meet again."
He unleashed a wave of energy that passed over the assembled gods, pushing them back with a burning pain, but to weak to be considered an actual attack. When they looked up, a portal to the workshop was closing.
First Consul, I have recently forged the prison plane of Tamurung, wreathed it in protections, and housed two immensly powerful entities in it. Both of these entities could be used to bind gods. I originally created this plane for Hammu, in return for more influence on his court. But, it seems as though the Court's influence is to die before it is born, and so I offer this plane to you.
As I can only control one of the items I forged to bind gods at a time, I further offer you the use of one of these items, so that, in time of need, we could together imprison a god with relative ease.
"There won't be another time. I am going to kill you now. Who else is coming?"
PP Use
1 PP - Attack God
(I believe I have a combat bonus of 10, while you have 12 (including the +2 for a home plane. My bonus is +2 for each Aid I get.)
PP
1 PP - Help Shurka fighting Drevan
1 PP - Help Shurka fighting Drevan
She who had loved her people more then anything else. She who had done everything for them! She who had given them the gift of life on a sunny day for so long ago...and here he dared to call her a muderer!
" MURDERER! "
She roared and began to coordinate her attacks with Shurka. She had no idea on why he was here, she didn´t care everything she wanted was to rip this horrible being in to pieces!
A terrifying grin appeared upon the Goddess lips as she continued her attacks.
Attack God 1PP
There she saw a strange dwarf-like creature with a powerful staff artifact, talking to Shurka and other gods. The power eminating from the creature seemed hauntingly familiar. They could both feel the divine power--incredibly strong, but too strong for a being with a mortal soul. Winter could feel the creature's deep desires, which were seeped in hatred and vengeance, greater than she had ever seen in a mortal before. Winter looked at her sister, "He has delved deeply into our domain. But something is wrong."
Summer nodded in silence and continued to watch. She put her concentration into feeling out the divine energy. It felt increasingly familiar. Finally, in a burst of understanding, Mara knew the origins of the power, and she was shocked. "Oh my. This is bad. This is really bad. He has stolen father's power!"
The gods below began to evidently gear their attacks, their power rising. Mara realized that this creature wanted them to attack. Why? Was this part of his revenge? Could he want the Gods to attack him in a fit of vengeful self-immolation? She didn't have time to think it over. With only seconds to act, Summer ported to the land below, behind Draven. She grabbed him from behind, just as the gods lunging attacks were about to reach him, and the two disappeared.
1 PP - Aid? -Mara whisks Draven away to some unknown location (at least for this turn).
Eijra's reckless charge was for naught as the very walls and floors of the workshop tyurned against her, barring her path even as shards of stone rip free and slashed at her.
Hensen's illusory magic seemed in the perfect position to turn the tide, when the twin skeletons of Yoglith attacked him, claws slashing and chronoptera swarms engulfing his body, disrupting his carefully coordinated assault.
Even at the battle slowly settled into a near stalemate, Drevan and his minions vanished before, his laughter echoing through the scorched and burnt workshop.
Looking around his new location, he looked at his rescuer. "And just why would the moon goddess help me?"
OOC
Mara's unexpected aid does let me escape.
Base Combat is 7. +2 for Home Plane, +1 Staff of Veros, +1 Divine Blockade, +2 Chronoptera Hives (the Skeletal Yogliths weren't just for show. Each has one of Yoglith's combat artifacts, that he implanted onto himself. Rather than claim them as he did, I claimed the skeletons they were attached too.), +2 for Mara's aid.
Total is 15, vs. your 14. (Shurka's 10, +2 for Eijra and Hensen Jijou)
On another note, I didn't call Eijra a murderer. I called her a home wrecker, who broke up loving families in her misguided attempt to proetect her people :D
Base Combat is 7. +2 for Home Plane, +1 Staff of Veros, +1 Divine Blockade, +2 Chronoptera Hives (the Skeletal Yogliths weren't just for show. Each has one of Yoglith's combat artifacts, that he implanted onto himself. Rather than claim them as he did, I claimed the skeletons they were attached too.), +2 for Mara's aid.
Total is 15, vs. your 14. (Shurka's 10, +2 for Eijra and Hensen Jijou)
On another note, I didn't call Eijra a murderer. I called her a home wrecker, who broke up loving families in her misguided attempt to proetect her people :D
"Don't think with your stomach," the bigger gnoll snarled. "We have a job to do. And if we don't do it, Russet will tan our hides and eat us down to the bones!"
"But Grawl," the smaller gnoll implored, looking about the rest of the small group for back-up. "We've always been proud to need no help in our battles against those weaker than us. Why would Russet ask us to-"
"You are question our glorious leader! He who taught us the joy of slaughter and led us away from the fools who follow the 'one true way'?! Fool!" Grawl roughly threw the gnoll to the side, prompting a yelp of pain as it bounced as it hit the ground before moaning as it got to its feet. "But if you must know, the minotaurs have proven stronger foes than we'd imagined," Grawl continued. "And these... things could be useful to us. Besides, they hole themselves up in a fortress of stone that even we could not take down if we were to attack it... at the very least, getting some of our pack mates on the inside of it could aid us when we've finished with the bull men and are searching for a new meal."
The gnoll turned a predatory eye to the temple, licking his fangs as he looked at the cat morsels walking about on their business. "Yes... either way, these new creatures will be very useful indeed..."
PP Expenditure
1 PP from Rainbow Veil - Spawn Hyenas. Cacklefiend Hyenas are pretty much Dire Hyenas in this incantation, and so count as Unaligned instead of Chaotic Evil.
1 PP - Guide Populace: The followers of the Path of Slaughter send emissaries to the Rasksasha
1 PP from Rainbow Veil - Spawn Hyenas. Cacklefiend Hyenas are pretty much Dire Hyenas in this incantation, and so count as Unaligned instead of Chaotic Evil.
1 PP - Guide Populace: The followers of the Path of Slaughter send emissaries to the Rasksasha
Whether his enemies would be able to follow him was unknown to him. He very well could find himself in iminent danger again.
He tightened his grip on the Staff of Veros, calling his skeletal minions back to him. A good thing to be prepared, should he be followed, but he knew he could take advantage of this place.
He started walking, grinning to himself. Once he was far enough away, he would re-emerge in the main world, and take some time to re-formulate his plan.
Shurka turned to Hensen, Eijra, and Nixis.
"If any of you see him again, contact me immediately. I have business to attend to."
Shurka was about to question Mara, when he remembered the digusting state Terena was in. The Eye told him that the outlook of Terena looked grim, and noth could be one of the reasons. He sent frightening images to his oracles, and informed his Golden Ones of the disgusting nature of noth. His attention then turned to the new Wastes that Drevan created. They were irritating, and disgusting as well. They needed to be eliminated.
Now to see Mara. What was she up to? Shurka sought her out, trying to hide his anger.
1 PP - Guide Populace - Humites hate Noth, and begin a mass-cleanup
2 PP - Destroy Artifact - The Grey Wastes are destroyed.
"My, my- what do we have here? A gathering of noble gods..." She bows her head to them.
---------------------
Meanwhile, Torvek is in the Library, admiring its beauty and bookless shelves.
"Well, down to business with you. I have been travelling far and wide to find a certain someone. Do any of you know the location of Torvek, the Brass Dragon?"
She retains her poise, as she sits tall, waiting for a reply from one of the gods.
Hensen's form shifted again, reverting to the Hydra form, most of the heads felt quite frustrated.
"After soo much time, the objective still eludes us..." However after a brief moment of contemplating their failure their minds shifted back to create new plans.
Finally they sensed the new stranger.
The Red head turned toward the purple dragon, filled with curiosity.
"I don't have any knowledge of the brass dragon, however may I have the pleasure of knowing your identity?"
"You have no knowledge on Torvek? How unfortunate... Well, maybe one of you three may know where he is."
She points at the other three figures. Dark energy can be seen pulsing through her scales.
-----------------------------
Torvek feels the energy coming from a familiar source. "Huh? Is that..." He freezes in horror.
"What? What is it, my lord?" Hondala panicks to Torvek, as he stands there in terrible fear.
"Co..co..cor... Corell...oth!" He whispers to himself, as he stands near one of the empty bookshelves.
"Who?" Hondala's mass grows brighter as she is worried about her master's condition.
"Born again of strife you will be, reborn into a cosmic circle of balance between light and dark, between law and evil. Reborn to balance the darkness, and to carry out my will."
He breathed them back into being, tying both souls together into one body.
PP
3PP Ascend Exarch: Ahura the Reborn, a deva with a face half of light and half of shadow who is a +1 Nourish/Denourish exarch
3PP Ascend Exarch: Ahura the Reborn, a deva with a face half of light and half of shadow who is a +1 Nourish/Denourish exarch
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When bloodstone begin to appear in the main continent a strange new breed of creature emerged too, originally innocent animals the creature that will be known as Beasts of Lies slowly begun diffusing into the bloodstone infused forest and within the Free Nations wild territories.
Unlike the Bloodborn, Beast of Lies does not share the common physical traits with the original species but they are totally new creatures, some wise man speculate that they were created by the energies of the Grand Distortion, or by a combination of Feywild energies and Bloodstones, due to the amount of portals now liking the feywild with the Main Continent and Bloodmyst Archielago.
Beasts of lies are large quadrupedal monsters, usually with mammal features, long and strong necks, many tails, occasionally horns, and a fluent fur, they have unnatural color of the mantle, with usually complex patterns with weird geometries. Beast of lies are apparenlty peaceful and friendly, and their appearance enforce a sense of security and calm, occasionally wonder in watchers and other animals, with the colorfull fur hiding poweful claws, fangs and an incredible strength, the legent says that some of them, the ones with a stronger Feywild influence, are gifted with supernatural power generated by their eyes.
Beasts of lies are vicious predators, it is not known if they really need to hunt for food, but they enjoy to dismember their victims alive, keeping them concious as much as they can and leaving they remnants around, almost without eating them, for this reason they are usually followed by lesser beast that eat their victims, even if it is quite common for these creature to become the next meal.
While not considered sentient creatures beasts of lies are extremely inteligent, capable on employing complex strategies and tricks to hunt for their preys.
Even if there is a distinction between male and female beasts of lies apparently they are unable to breed true while mating with their own kind, it is speculated that they turn some of their victims in other creatures like them, and that their vast amount of variations in physical appearance are due to this system of reproduction.
Beasts of Lies tend to be pacific toward their kind and sometime they collaborate to hunt an hard prey, however it is not impossible for these beasts to fight among each other for territory or other reasons.
The greates occasion for these creatures to fight among each other is when the younger ones team up to kill the eldest of their kind, no Beast of Lies ever die of old age, they tend to grow stronger and stronger, however after usually 20 or so years of life a pack of younger beasts is formed and begin hunting the aged creature, a few of the pack usually dies in the fight but the other feed on the eldest remnant, somehow gaining strenght for that, beasts of lies never try to escape from these packs for unknown reasons, however they fight to the death with great fury.
Within the Free Nations there is a legend about one of these creatures that managed to become trapped on a bare island and that survived for nearly a century alone, becoming as large as a free nation's ship, and terrorizing the local fishermen, however one day a large pack of beasts arrived, they destroyed the village, leaving just a few survivors and than swimmed to the island to fight the beast. It is unknwon if any of the creature that composed the pack survived, but the old one vanished.
PP
2 - Spawn Paragon Creature, Beasts of Lies
2 - Spawn Paragon Creature, Beasts of Lies
At the very brink of this madness stood one single point of solidity. A woman, so out of place it was truly shocking, stood at the edge of the carnage, looking down upon it with revulsion and hatred etched into her beautiful face. She wore an emerald cloak, and her long, dark hair fell loosely about her shoulders. In her hands, she held a thick chain of blackened metal. It coiled and uncoiled in her grasp, like a living, breathing thing. It slid through her fingers, and wrapped itself around her arms and torso. But she did not fear it, she did not fear anything.
With one darting motion, the chain was out of her hands. It shot forward, becoming impossibly long. It wrapped itself around the closest demon, who froze in shock. Then, the links of the chain wound themselves around a second, then a third demon. The chain wound itself around the many limbs of the creatures, around their waists, their necks. Slowly but surely, the chain was winding itself around every demon there, binding them to the woman's grip. She laughed cruelly as she watched the demons writhe in the grip of the chains, struggling to free themselves. With that, she stepped backwards, back from this realm, into nothingness. However, the chain still tethered the demons to her, like some demonic leash. Though the end of it vanished into thin air along with the woman, somewhere, far away, she held the end tight in her grasp.
The chain was not totally binding, it still allowed them some freedom of movement. However, the chains were still omipresent, and though they may roam where they liked, still the chains were always there, ready to pull them back should they roam too far.
PP Expenditures
2 PP +1 from the Land Spike Create Artifact (Greater) The Imperial Chains: This impossibly long chain is wound about every demon in existence. The other end is held firmly in the grasp of the Empress, which means that she pretty much has control over the demons. However, this is mostly just fluff. If a demon were free of the Chain, he would retain no loyalty to the Empress. This also means that every demon in this world is wrapped in chains, which coil around the demon, and then trail behind it, vanishing in mid-air, though perhaps linking it to other demons present. These do not interfere with the demon's movement or attacks in any way, and again, is mostly just fluff. The Chains provide 1 PP for Imprison actions.
Nixis nodded as Shurka left. He would hunt out Drevan and help bring him to a final justice. And this time, he would NOT hesitate. As he went, he flew over Babble, and paused. The world was far more dangerous than he had believed. For all he knew, Drevan had destroyed the Azorans, and he couldn't let that stand. He sent a message to Chukwa to help the city of Diaspora grow, and felt the Zataran rumble back his assent. Then, he sent a message to Convincer to send gnomes into Terena proper and send back as much as he could about the humites to the gnomes of Babble. Finally, Nixis poured his energies into Babble, and the gnomes burst into a flurry of construction, expanding the city up the trees. With his work done, he sped off to the Loremaster's sanctum to find the Tomb of Knowledge... it might have an idea of where Drevan and Veros had gone.
Convincer listened to Nixis' commands and nodded. He took the gnome troupe with him, which had grown to sizable numbers in order to provide proper entertainment for the outlying humite villages, and brought them all into Terena proper, where they were surprised to find that the humites were far more willing to allow them in. They found a nice group of abandoned buildings near the edge of the city and made themselves at home. There, they set up operations to travel throughout the humite lands and provide entertainment for the humites. As they traveled, several became ill and others found the drug Noth. Both groups ended up ministered to by the humite clerics, and during their convalescence, several of the gnomes decided to learn from the clerics how to heal others and minister to their own people.
PP
1 PP (from COnvincer): Guide populace (lesser): gnomes settle in Terena along with the humites.
1 PP (from Chukwa): Nourish populace: Diaspora grows larger, becoming a self-sufficient town.
1 PP: Guide Populace (-1 PP from contact):Gnomes learn Healing
1 PP: Guide Populace (-1 PP from contact):Gnomes learn Clerics
1 PP: Nourish Populace: the gnomes expand and Babble grows even larger
1 PP (from COnvincer): Guide populace (lesser): gnomes settle in Terena along with the humites.
1 PP (from Chukwa): Nourish populace: Diaspora grows larger, becoming a self-sufficient town.
1 PP: Guide Populace (-1 PP from contact):Gnomes learn Healing
1 PP: Guide Populace (-1 PP from contact):Gnomes learn Clerics
1 PP: Nourish Populace: the gnomes expand and Babble grows even larger
Flames. He was still on fire. He could still feel the pain that they caused. Or was that the fire? Perhaps it was the pain of knowing that he failed. That he failed Eijra? That he failed Veros? That he failed himself? It was too much to bear that he had a chance of stopping Drevan, but failed. Why did he fail this-
-No.
The flames surrounding him vanished.
"I am a healer. It is my job to fix that which is broken. I can fix this. I have to. I am an oracle. I must see past my one sided vengeance. But first I need help. I need to know why Mara intervened."
And he would find out why. He arrived at the moons, and searched for Mara.
She stood there as minutes passed, not moving an inch.
Suddenly all of that changed.
The Fey Goddess let out a roar and slammed her fist right in to the floor. The floor cracked, broke, collapsed and exploded in just that order. Fire surrounded the raging Goddess as she slammed her way back to the real world, screaming, roaring and crying out in rage.
A red star appeared upon the sky in the days after the Gods had skirmished. A single blood-red orb glowing brightly in the pitch-dark sky. It was an odd and fickle star that shone as brightest when the times were as darkest.
When war was fought and when madness ruled the Red Star shone brighter then ever before.
While during peace and more benevolent times the Star shone less brightly.
Create Artifact: The Star of Rage 4PP. The star gives it´s user 1 PP extra for shaping actions.
Sensing a danger in the growing power of Draxa the elders of Freedomguard manipulated the warlike Novost into invading the weaker city state with its artificial bloodborn army before its fleet becomes large enough to grant it a real military edge. After a few days Novost military have almost conquered Draxa, at that time Freedomguard intervened, the elders mediated a peace among the cities, using its hegemonic influence over the Free Nations and its superior military and economical might granted by the Arcane Focuser. Draxa offered its flying ships technology to every other city state and become free from Novost occupation again.
After acquiring this technology Freedomguard forces begun to build their own flying ships and kept a powerful military presence in Draxa that is still the larger flying vessels producer in Bloodmyst Archipleago.
Free Nation flying fleet is composed mostly of small "Dragon" class vessels, named from the majestic flying beasts that inhabited their warforged land, and while they have a strong fighting ability, being equipped with powerful burst cannons and with almost "crazy" free nation pilots, their carrying capacity is limited in confront of the other races flying ships and Free Nation traditional large sea vessels. In order to provide "aerial defense" and superiority a group of Free Nation larger traditional ships was refitted to carry a limited number of flying "Dragon" vessels. As the technology become more diffused in the archipelago hundreds of new ship designs begin to be created, personalized by skilled and ambitious artificers, even the pirates become capable of acquiring a limited number of Dragon vessels.
After a few years an ambitious artificer named Vorek, one of the original group that designed the Dragon ships, decided to build a massive flying fortress and obtained large funding from Freedomguard council, so the first, and only for now, Hydra class vessel was built.
The Sky Shaper, is as large as the imperium berg ships, fully built in metal, equipped with dozens Burst Cannons, including a massive one that can easily destroy even the largest vessels or creatures, its supernatural energy requirement is so high that it needs the full power of a miniature version of Hanvis Machine within its hull in order to keep flying and operate its weapons, the Sky Shaper is capable of storing a dozen lesser "Dragon" class ships and the bloodstone infused residuum created by its energy core can be used to refuel a small fleet or power up an hundred Burst Cannons.
With their military power increasing and vast wealth coming from its trade agreements the Free Nations golden age begun, however within some city states it is possible to detect the early symptoms of decadence.
In secluded areas of the Underdark glowing red crystals begin to emerge, creating patterns that almost look like veins of living creatures.
PP
2 PP Guide - (1 From Aether Ripples)Free Nation learn how to make "Dragon" class flying vessels. (EDITED FROM 1, Check the OOC For the reasons)
2 PP Create Artifact - (1 from the Wondermaker), create the Sky Shaper, the first Hydra Class flying vessel, it provides a +1 combat bonus.
1 Pp Nourish (From Bloodstones) - Free Nation
1 PP Mold (From Bloodstones) - Bloodstone begun to appear in the Underdark
2 PP Guide - (1 From Aether Ripples)Free Nation learn how to make "Dragon" class flying vessels. (EDITED FROM 1, Check the OOC For the reasons)
2 PP Create Artifact - (1 from the Wondermaker), create the Sky Shaper, the first Hydra Class flying vessel, it provides a +1 combat bonus.
1 Pp Nourish (From Bloodstones) - Free Nation
1 PP Mold (From Bloodstones) - Bloodstone begun to appear in the Underdark
The few creatures that made this shadow world their home were few in numbers, but vicious. More than a few times, he had obliterated a hive of the Swordwings as they recklessly threw themselves at him.
It was here that he wished he could have lived all those millennia ago. He looked about one last time. No sign of his mysterious savior. It was time to leave.
He stepped through reality, returning to the Gray Wastes, and frowned. Already destroyed. How irritating. Already, creatures appropriate for the barren lands had begun to congregate, but the loss of their protection had hurt them. The long sleeping fallen of Duska Krak walked the land once more, and vampires from the surrounding lands were congregating in Celeron's ruins. They didn't understand what it could do, but they had recognized the benefits of this gray land.
The mindless would need to be controller, and the others would once again need to submit to their lord, and this land could be a paradise for them, as historians and adventures came seeking the lost treasures of Duska Krak.
Perhaps he might even expand his kingdom someday soon. But he needed to secure it once more, and then issue some orders to his subordinates first.
-----
The Defense Coalition reversed course suddenly. For several years it had seemed that they might be opening up their lands, when a new councilor came to power. A hard line purist, who believed Terena to be blessed by the greatest of gods, he reversed the previous years policies. Old allies, humans, halflings, and dwarves were granted traditional trading agreements, and there where even a few whispers of possible deals to be made with gnome and eladrin leaders, should they seek it out, but trade with all others was stopped.
Agreeing with the Golden Ones on one issue, the Defense Coalition banned Noth, declaring the substance a blasphemy against the gods, who would have granted them the capabilities the drugs provided had they been intended to have it.
Kazu's most controversial projects were the founding of a full-fledged militia program. All able bodied citizens were required to spend three days in twenty eight meeting with their units and training basic combat skills, weapon talents, and tactics. Each town and village was provisioned with an amount of combat gear equal to one tenth of their population, and this number of militia members were required to be on call at any one time, to act in defense of their village, or answer the governments call to arms should it be necessary.
This training turned most humites in to semi-competent warriors, though the training was a far cry from the more traditional and extensive training given to the professional soldiers of the Defense Coalition itself. At best, it gave them good odds of surviving in a fight long enough to get out. However, the increased knowledge and capabilities lead to an upswing in applicants to the professional forces, and the Defense Coalition's military numbers swelled.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) + 1 PP - Create Artifact (Moderate) - Gray Wastes
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - A new leader comes to power on the Defense Coalition's Council, enacting several sweeping reforms in Terena
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Defense Coalition
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Humites learn warlord.
The denizens of the land suffered and when the water was gone, when the earth had calmed and the bog had dried up there was nothing left. Vampires, walking dead, everything had been crushed, drowned or destroyed by the rage of the fair Goddess.
In it´s place came the Dragons. Dragons that fair words had convinced and changed. Dragons that now took this new land as their own, they crushed earth and stone and burried themself deep down in what had once been the Golden Hills and there the beasts begun to change.
Disnourish population 1pp: Eijra attacks the Grey Wastes, killing of all undead life there.
Guide Populace 1PP from Exarch: Dragons move in large numbers to the Grey Wastes.
He continued to smile as the dragons came, guided by the fey goddess, come to claim this land.
And he continued to smile, as the wastes took their toll, wasting away the flesh of even the mighty dragons. Pestilences and diseases struck at them, their bodies abiity to heal crippled by the wasting effects of the land. The longer they statyed, the weaker they became, until they could not leave.
Then, only death became an option, a slow death as the body failed and rotted away.
It was then, that he finally stopped smiling and began work. Each fallen dragon entered his domain, and within his domain, he claimed dominion over them, commanding them to rise up once more.
He left them free for now, knowing that they would spread, that they were not limited to this land. They would lash out at the livijng, eladrin and humite, halfling and dwarf, human and angel, all alike.
These firstborn were raised by his own hand, but each carried the knowledge necessarry to bring their fellows into being. Thus did the first dracoliches rise into the sky, proving that even dragons had need to fear death.
PP Expenditures
3 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Greater) - Dracoliches
Shurka shouted, making sure his voice would be heard across the twin moons.
EDIT
Deleted, see the PP section for the reason "With the mass recruitment happening in the Defense Coalition another group silently joined its ranks, able to look exatly as their real brethren in appearance and mind living illusions become part of the organization."
He first drew King Valden to the crater, having him build a small fort on the top of the hill on the base of Mt. Chapien. Then, people slowly started streaming in. The first Azoran town appeared, and that town grew into a city, named in the honor of their first king, Valden.
Then, he taught his people the art of fortification, walls, keeps. The art of building castles. The wooden fort of King Valden soon changed into a massive stone castle, the greatest in the land. That is, until Azor'Chapien built his fortress.
On the top of Mt. Chapien, on the flat peak, inaccessible to all but a god (literally), Azor'Chapien shaped the largest fortress ever known out of the mountain itself. Finally, me moved in, and allowed the most trusted of his clergy to live with him.
Then, he froze. He sensed someone had messed with his island. His island had been moved, to an unfriendly and unknown location! Enraged, Azor'Chapien retired to his newly built fortress. He had a blade to sharpen.
---------------------------------
0+1 PP (King Valden) Guide Populace- Azorans start moving into the crater around Mt. Chapien to create the city Valden.
2 PP Guide Populace- The Azorans now can build stone castles.
2 PP Mold Land- Azor'Chapien's fortress is now created.
After preparation were complete, he used his orb to locate and find the time-brought goddess he had seen before. Upon finding her, he moved himself to her location.
"How can I help?"
Show
3 pp: Create Artifact(greater)(using +1 from Gear of Creation): Gear of Creation now grants +1 Shape PP (So total +1 Create, Shape, and Spawn)
2 pp: Crate Artifact(Intermediate): Gearblade, a +1 combat artifact (total +7 combat)
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged contact elves in the desert
1 pp * 2: 2 Nourish populaces(One from Gears): Warforged grow in strength.
3 pp: Create Artifact(greater)(using +1 from Gear of Creation): Gear of Creation now grants +1 Shape PP (So total +1 Create, Shape, and Spawn)
2 pp: Crate Artifact(Intermediate): Gearblade, a +1 combat artifact (total +7 combat)
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged contact elves in the desert
1 pp * 2: 2 Nourish populaces(One from Gears): Warforged grow in strength.
He had to make them see the threat.
So he concocted a plot. He chose a target, a creature that was hidden amongst the Dwarves, but not high enough whereby it would cause trouble. Then it was simply a matter of arranging the time and place, a coincidental encounter. This took a long time, but he discerned the pattern of the creatures and came with a time and place to convince his fellows.
He went to the Red Guard, and told them of a creature (hinting it was a vampire) in a house on the other side of town. They were to be dispatched that night. Unusually, Dorbal would be joining them personally. He told them he wanted to see how they operated in a real situation. The guard were at first skeptical, but accepted his rationale. As spiritual leader of the guild, it was his prerogative, after all, to see the paladins in action.
That night, the group of paladins and the priest went to the designated house. There were lights on inside, but the door was locked with a ward on it. The group split up, with Dorbal and the more senior Paladins taking the front entrance, and the two lesser ones moving to the back. Dorbal shunted aside the leading paladin and, using his pendant, dispelled the ward. The trio entered the house into a hallway, and stairs leading up to the second floor.
There was light coming from the room to the right. The three Dwarves moved that way. Inside was another dwarf sitting at a desk writing. He did not notice the intruders until they were within the room. Turning around in shock, he jumped out of his chair and prepared to defend himself, as if to cast a spell. “Who are you?” the Dwarf demanded.
“Creature!” Dorbal hissed. “You're days are at an end.” Glancing at the Paladins, he commanded them to attack.
However the two paladins hesitated. Their training and experience led gave them an intuition that something was not right. Their target had not yet shown any tendencies of a vampire, which should have happened. “Master, are you sure--”
“Yes!” Dorbal interrupted.
“Leave here at once!” the resident Dwarf yelled, raising his hands.
“Do it!” Dorbal screamed. The Paladins took a step forward but again hesitated. In frustration and anger, Dorbal took his staff and lunged at the creature only he could see. The creature raised his hands and cast an attack spell at Dorbal. The spell threw him back against the wall and he slumped down. The Paladins, seeing their leader being attacked, rushed the other Dwarf before he could get another spell off and killed him with their swords. They then immediately turned around and went to help the priest.
Amazingly he was alive, and merely singed, with a bruise from hitting the wall. Apparently, his pendant having deflected most of the attack. Once helped onto his feet by his accomplices, he went over to the dead body. Only now, instead of a dead dwarf as there should have been, was the very real greyish alien form of another creature. The Paladins were amazed.
“I told them” Dorbal chortled in triumphant glee. “Do you see! These creatures do exist! And they would dare attack me; surely they are a threat to the Dwarves.”
One of the Paladins asked, “Should we take the body as proof?”
Dorbal shook his head. “No. We shall take it outside and incinerate it quickly. First, let's make sure there isn't any other evidence we can use.” Dorbal went to the desk and rifled through the metal sheets, looking for any incriminating evidence. The three spent a few minutes searching the house but found nothing useful. They then took the body out side and Dorbal cast a spell that completely incinerated the body, not even leaving ash. The group then slinked away, leaving no trace of their actions.
****
The three Dwarves met in the secret council chambers. Dorbal and the Paladins from the night before had already briefed the full council on their discoveries of the new threat to Meribia. The testimony of the Paladins gave legitimacy and truth to the claims of Dorbal, and the council finally believed him. Now he had dismissed the lesser members, and meant to discuss his plans with only the top leaders of the Guild. The first was Margsun, blacksmith, but not leader of the Red Guard paladins. The other Dwarf was Hensen, the exchequer of the Guild and responsible for managing the Guild's mercantile operations.
“Gentledwarfs,” Dorbal addressed the other two. “As the highest leaders of this organizations departments. I only trust the two of you to keep what I am about to tell you in complete confident.”
“You have our word,” Margsun said, with Hensen nodding in agreement. “You can trust us.”
Dorbal continued, “I have done research into these creatures. There is, unfortunately almost no information about them in our histories and records. There are mostly rumors, myths and legends even from the other races.”
“However, I believe I have come into certain knowledge that I believe to be true. I have heard stories of a curse that turns a man into an animal during the new year. It is known to exist among several of the other races. I have learned that where these so-called lycanthropes exist,they quickly become the enemies of these gray-skinned monsters. I have heard stories that several of these creatures have been killed by lycanthropes, or exposed as a result of the presence of the lycanthropes.”
“Do you know why this is the case?” asked Hensen.
“I believe it has something to do with the curse itself.” Dorbal responded.
“I could try to see if any traders know.” Hensen offered. With the Guild dealing with trade with several other races, it was not far fetched that those merchants had heard something.
“No.” Dorbal said flatly. “I plan on continuing my research myself. I intend to take a personal journey to the origins of this phenomenon—the Eladrin mountain.”
The two other Dwarves shifted uncomfortably in their chairs. A Dwarf traveling to the Eladrin lands alone would be noticeable. “Do not worry,” Dorbal said, as if sensing their concerns. “I will go as a fellow priest of Kerena, to visit the priests of the same. It has already been agreed. Nothing shall appear out of ordinary.”
“May I ask,” Margsun finally spoke up. “If this curse, or these other creatures, lycanthropes, are the bane of what we have dealt with, how will that help us?”
Dorbal paused, preparing himself to reveal the last key part of his plan. “I shall use them however necessary. I bring back the lycanthropes here to Meribia if I have to.”
Margsun shot out of his seat and slammed his fists on the table. “You can not be serious!”
“Relax!” Dorbal shot back. “That will only be a last resort. And in any event, we will surely be able to control the situation to our advantage.” He gave a pause, before adding, “unless you can't handle doing that Margsun?”
The challenge in the form of a question had the intended effect as Margsun sat back down, stewing over the reprobation, but not wanting to show weakness either. Satisfied with his lieutenants pliancy, Dorbal concluded the meeting. “I will leave tomorrow morning. In the meantime the Guild will be run as normal, with you two in charge.”
****
Dorbal traveled alone out of the Dwarven Lands and towards the mountain home of the Eladrin. He carried little more than a sack with food and clothing, and a walking stick. While his compatriots feared his safety along the journey, he rejected the offer for an escort. He knew that with the Goddess protecting him, he would be fine. It took several weeks, but at last he arrived in the Eladrin Lands. The sight of a Dwarf pilgrim was unusual, but the Eladrin Marans quickly recognized a fellow worshiper and shepherded him to the house of the head priest. The Maran worshipers appeared to operate in the open, though it seemed they were still marginalized politically.
Dorbal was given a room in the house of the head priest, fed, and treated well. Still, he wasn't accepted into the presence of the head priest for two days, an unusual delay. Finally, he was escorted into a simple room with little adornment by a young Eladrin priestess. Before him, in a simple low-set chair, was an elderly Eladrin. He was hunched over a low table with metal sheets spread over it.
The younger Eladrin priestess made introductions, before stepping to the back of the room.
“You have come a long way to my house,” the old priest said. “What can I help you with, my friend?”
Dorbal explained in length his position, although he did not give all information nor always tell the complete truth. He explained that the Dwarven lands were beset by strange enemies and creatures who were looking to control, kill, or worse. He had heard the Eladrin had had similar problems, and wished to do research on potential solutions.
“It is true,” the head priest explained, “that the lycanthropes we have are mortal enemies to the creatures you described. If those dopplegangers become infected with the curse of the lycans, then they are slowly forced to reveal themselves, and eventually suffer a horrible, horrible death.”
This was the first time that Dorbal had heard such a term. The head priest knew little more on the creatures, though. Once done explaining all he knew about the creatures, the priest asked “But I do not understand, Master Dorbal, you say you have many creatures infesting your lands, but not lycanthropes. How can research on them be useful?”
Dorbal's heart jumped. This was the question he was afraid would be asked. “I believe the curse of the lycanthropes can be used as a weapon to rid Meribia of her enemies.”
The priest took a deep breath, leaned forward and his chair and thought for a moment. “It is known to us, that some have tried to experiment with the curse, but those attempts have always ended in disaster.”
Dorbal bowed his head, “Then I will be most protective of it. I understand the blood of the lycanthropes is their means of passing the course, through ingestion or touching other blood.”
The priest leaned back in his chair, the implication of what Dorbal clear to him. “Lycanthropy is a curse and a blessing to those who have it, but it is not to be played with by mere mortals such as us. It was born out of the necessity of many to cleanse this land of the oppressors.”
Dorbal grew angry, and barely constraining himself, responded curtly, “This is what I must do. This is my mandate; I have dedicated myself to this purpose out of the necessity to save my nation and people from those that would destroy us! Do you not see that?”
The Eladrin priest stroked his chin in though. The Dwarf before him appeared sincere in his beliefs, even if he was misguided in his means. “I will pray on it tonight, as should you. If the Goddess gives her blessing, I will help you.”
Dorbal gave his thanks, and was ushered out of the room by the younger priestess.
That night Dorbal prayed in the temple's main room. There were lighted sconces and other adornments, but he was the only one in the room that night. The head priest must have prayed elsewhere. Dorbal stayed there all night into the morning. He was both praying in earnest to the Goddess, but also to further convince the priest the righteousness of his path by his mannerism.
As the sun rose in the early morning hours. A hand touched the shoulder of the exhausted Dorbal. He looked up to find the younger priestess from the night before. Dorbal stumbled, but got onto his feet, his body screaming from the lack of sleep.
“Master Dorbal,” the priestess said flatly. “The High Priest has decided to help you.” She held in her hand an animal-skin pouch. She held it out to the Dwarf. “Be warned, it is an indiscriminate curse. The High Priest wishes you to be careful with it.”
Dorbal took the pouch and held it gingerly. Bowing his head to the inferior, he muttered a “Thank you.” and moved to gather his belongings. He now possessed the weapon he needed to fight his enemies, and did not want to waste any time applying it.
PP"
1 PP Nourish Populace - Lycanthropes - Lycanthropacy spreads to Dwarves
1 PP Guide Populace - Karak Rik Guild - Starts targeting a few dopplegangers.
1 PP Nourish Populace - Karak Rik Guild - The Guild continues to expand.
2 PP Guide Populace (1 from artifact) - Dark Eladrin - Learn the Warlord Class
1 PP (from artifact ) - Nourish Dark Eladrin
2 PP - Nourish Populace - Maran worhipers expand in Eladrin and Elves respectively (1 each).
1 PP Nourish Populace - Lycanthropes - Lycanthropacy spreads to Dwarves
1 PP Guide Populace - Karak Rik Guild - Starts targeting a few dopplegangers.
1 PP Nourish Populace - Karak Rik Guild - The Guild continues to expand.
2 PP Guide Populace (1 from artifact) - Dark Eladrin - Learn the Warlord Class
1 PP (from artifact ) - Nourish Dark Eladrin
2 PP - Nourish Populace - Maran worhipers expand in Eladrin and Elves respectively (1 each).
"Mara. I saw you interfere with our fight. We were so close to finally eliminating him, but you got in the way. I noticed something when I fought him. His powers were so similar to Veros'. I think he took Veros' powres away from him. Why are you helping protect the person who did this to your father?"
"That is much as to why I did what I did. I noticed the same. Would you risk harming my father by killing this fellow?" Mara said, "Besides, I think a healer killing another God would have considerably adverse effects. As it is my domain, I know how it works and your desire for vengeance, if unchecked, will lead to bad things for all of us."
"Until we figure out what to do, may I suggest an alternate path? Much of Veros's power comes from his worshipers. If you and the others were to diminish or turn these worshipers, you could limit Drevan's power."
Mara got up from her chair, "I would understand if you were still mad at me. I suppose I cannot entirely explain what I did." She held up her hand, in it was the Orb of Visions. "Take this."
"When I took Drevan away, I accidentally grabbed but wisp of his essense. I have modified this orb and put it into here. It no longer works like it used to, but you can use this to find him at all times and anywhere in the universe."
----------
There was something upsetting the Balance. Hammu could feel it. Somewhere, gods were struggling. Perhaps he had been wrong to ignore Hensen's summons- perhaps the Lord of Change had been right to worry over this change.
Pushing his thoughts aside, Hammu took Rabi and the Hammer of Law and went to search out the source of the struggle. He never even stopped to recognize the dragon calling his name outside the city.
----------
Fang recognized the need for defenses in the strange land of their arrival, and the even greater need for allies. He took steps towards both.
----------
In Beacon, the Council learned of an organization devoted entirely to the pursuit of knowledge. The council, desiring to learn more about them, sent a delagation to meet with them. Free nation traders brought word of new flying structures; Beacon's counterparts began working to find a similar breakthrough. At sea, trading ships from Lighthouse adopted the navigation devices of the other nations who bought and sold in the port.
PP
+1PP (Fang) Mold Land: The land of Ardune surrounding the Provost's Halls becomes riddled with cave-like warrens and pitfalls.
1PP Guide Populace: Rakshasa from The Well send emissaries to the minotaurs.
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon sends scholars in search of the Lorekeepers.
1PP Guide Populace: Beacon learns Cartography (-1PP from Free Nation contact)
+1PP (Fang) Mold Land: The land of Ardune surrounding the Provost's Halls becomes riddled with cave-like warrens and pitfalls.
1PP Guide Populace: Rakshasa from The Well send emissaries to the minotaurs.
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon sends scholars in search of the Lorekeepers.
1PP Guide Populace: Beacon learns Cartography (-1PP from Free Nation contact)
So thank you. But there are many more of us who think Drevan should not be able to affect the world any longer. I'll put the Orb to use right away. Goodbye."
Roots came from nowhere and surrounded Shurka. As the roots fully encompased his form, the tightened, and then fell to the ground, with Shurka gone. He was now in his home: Revnador. He held up the Orb of Visions.
"Now where is he?"
"I guess he's not here. Oh well..." She speeds off to Azora.
---------------------
Torvek, still frozen in his thoughts, sets his sights higher to find the Loremasters.
"My lord. You seem afraid." Hondala exclaims worriedly.
"Hondala- I want you to find Nixis and tell him that I am going through a great deal of emotional pain. I also want you to find the Loremasters." Torvek orders to Hondala.
"I will- what specifically are you looking for? Are you sick?" Hondala replies.
"Just go, please... Just look for whatever you want." Torvek orders Hondala.
She disappears in a quest to find Nixis. Torvek lays on the floor in pain- his hands covering his head.
It was like a torrent of dark, viscous liquid, pouring out of her eyes, ears, mouth. It soared upwards with a tremendous roar, like that of a wild beast. The dark energies swirled about above her and coalesced into a massive, black node of energy. It hung above her like some rotting, black tumor, its form beginning to bubble away like boiling tar. Little bits flew off, and formed smalled bits of black, orbiting the centre blob. The Empress smiled. She smiled and retreated back from the room, and back up to the light.
PP Expenditures
3 PP Ascend Exarch: Grugarch the Hungerer: This massive mote of black tar floats in the Palace of Xa'an. Even though the Empress already has a Spawn artifact, Grugarch provides 1 PP towards Spawn actions.
1 PP +1 from the Rain Spawn Beast (Moderate) Black Motes: These are basically miniature versions of Grugarch., and mostly just orbit him.
1 PP +1 from the Rain Spawn Beast (Moderate) Black Motes: These are basically miniature versions of Grugarch., and mostly just orbit him.
Gorion, satisfied with his pacts, finally moved on from the nation, seeking something new to catch his attention. In his search, he found a group of gnolls, who seemed like an excellent fit for what he could offer them.
-----
The beginning of the hunt did not go unnoticed. With the sudden deaths of several changlings, the doppelganger community slowly turned their talents against their foes. Agents in the government arranged for new laws limiting Karak-Rik's activities, and new taxes on their trading. Others slipped information to more powerful campires and members of the Red Court, revealing Karak-Rik safehouses. Some even arranged for unconnected dwarves and halflings of a shadier sort to make assassination attempts on the guilds members.
Despite all of the activity, Meribia continued to grow and prosper.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Continued to be bolstered by devilish allies, Asilia prepares to launch their final assault on the forces of Patren, stretched this by their other two wars.
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Changlings within Meribia take steps to curb the influence and abilities of their new foe.
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Meribia
-----
Turn 40 begins now. 10,000 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet, Tsaroka-Noggoth, The Empress, Vymrl, Shurka, Mara
5 - Hensen Jijou, Eijra, Kiptar, Drahthor, Hammu
4 - Nixis, Jormundrasil, Azor-Chapien, Skreet, Chroma, Torvek, Incarnation's End
Dolestre, the Platinum Dragon of the Moon, has appeared, and she had survived the Apocalypse that ravaged her home. She did more than just survive- she dispelled it and it went away, reforming the Astral Plane once again, but it was different than before the Apocalypse struck.
She is also searching for other survivors. Little does she know that Torvek is still alive, and that Corelloth is scheming to release yet another Apocalypse upon this world...
PP Expenditure (Torvek)
3pp- (Secretly) Ascend Exarch (Dolestre)- Dolestre has come through a time rift into Veros's Astral Sea
Remaining pp- 1
Remaining pp- 1
Deleted
Yorik smiled when his agents within Freedomguard governament informed him of Terenas emissaries "I needed to live for more than a millennia to see this happening, but after all here they are", he was still a little afraid of his patron orders, Yorik knows that Hensens directly forced the elders to accept the giants alliance and while he trusted the god wisdom he still was unable to discern the Changer of Ways plans.
When the first humite envoy got to Freedomguard he was there, among the Bloodguard, hiding his features using his powers "This day would be perfect with my old friends still alive, Kara would have loved that, she endured even the Grand Distorion nightmares, but she was too strong to accept Elixir of Sin increased life span, like I did" he tought, only the Twins were still alive, but even their Bloodborn longevity was finally failing and they were unwilling to accept Yorik offer of immortality.
Influenced by Yorik secret manipulation of key politicians and traders the Free Nations merchants brough a large amount of new wealth to Terenas humites and tried to do the best to be have their "easy going" and "open mind" mentality spread among their cousins.
When the first humite envoy got to Freedomguard he was there, among the Bloodguard, hiding his features using his powers "This day would be perfect with my old friends still alive, Kara would have loved that, she endured even the Grand Distorion nightmares, but she was too strong to accept Elixir of Sin increased life span, like I did" he tought, only the Twins were still alive, but even their Bloodborn longevity was finally failing and they were unwilling to accept Yorik offer of immortality.
Influenced by Yorik secret manipulation of key politicians and traders the Free Nations merchants brough a large amount of new wealth to Terenas humites and tried to do the best to be have their "easy going" and "open mind" mentality spread among their cousins.
PP
1 PP - Nourish Terenas Humites.
1 PP - Nourish Terenas Humites.
"So you are saying that the minotaurs are too much for you?" Russet interrupted one yapping gnoll. The hyena man, recoiling as if struck, paled noticeabley.
"W-w-well, it's not so much that they are beyond our power as they have advantages we don't. Those sorcerers can distrupt our hit and run tactics with ease, and since the minotaurs are bulkier than us if we get into a prolonged battle-"
"Weakling," the red gnoll spat, mercifully turning his attention to another of the counsel before him. "And you, why are we still only on the fringes of Rakshasa territory? They're kittens!"
The new gnoll swallowed loudly. "They... are using tactics we've never seen before. They have tricks and traps, holes that can swallow a pack into the earth. And they hold themselves up in hollow rocks that even claw and fang cannot pentrate before reinforcements arive and trap us in-"
"ENOUGH!" The entire group of gnollls slinked back five steps at the bellow, cowering before the blood stained Russet. "I created this pack to devour those weaker than us, for the ultimate hunt! And yet you say that these bulls and these cats are beyond us? I took the strong with me, not the weak! Apparently over a few generations you all turned into a pack of mewling pups! I can't spread the path of slaughter with PUPS!!"
"Yet, even with pups, conquest is possible... if the pups have more power than one can imagine," a whisper came through the clearing.
Frowning, Russet looked about, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice. Growing irritated when it wasn't readily apparent, he bellowed out into the night "show yourself, or I'll personally rip the flesh from your bones and use them to decorate my throne!"
A chuckle came out of the darkness, followed by the flash of wings as a... thing descended from the sky. Whatever it was, it was dark.. and powerful. "My my my," the devil crooned, "you DO have some spirit don't you? It's too bad it's all thunder and fury, otherwise your throne would be a palace by now. The bullmen would be dead and devoured, the catfolk would be mewling at your feet.. in other words, you wouldn't be the catastrophic failure of a gnoll that I see before me."
Needless to say that ruffled Russets fur. How DARE this... THING talk to him in such a fashion! He was the Prince of Slaughter! The most powerful mortal to walk this land! How could this thing think to insult him and live?! Rushing forward, the gnoll let loose a powerful swing of his claw.. only to have it pass through thin air. Eyes widening in shock, the gnoll was suddenly blasted with a burst of energy from the side, flying through the air before skidding across the ground painfully. Struggling to his feet, the bloody (in more than one way now) gnoll glared at the devil that had manijested before him, growling in supressed anger.
"What.. was that?" Russet growled out, repressing his urge to tear the thing limb from limb.
"That was power. Your. Power." The devil replied temptingly.
"I have that sort of ability?" the gnolls barked in shock.
"You could. If you wanted to. All you have to do in exchange, is grant me.. a small trincket. Or promise to at a later date, anyway. And this power isn't just for you... any number of your pups can have it. Well, any number of pups willing to grant me and my ilk their.. primary spiritual feature. I can assure you, they won't even miss it." Until their death anyway. These creatures were a little blunt for the devil's taste, but a few whispers in the ear over the centuries would make his kind able to steer this crude weapon wherever they desired.
Russet, meanwhile, was thinking as quickly as his power glutted mind could think. 'This power.. it's similar to what the minotaurs have! If we had it too... but what is this trincket this creature desires? Who cares, as long as it can give us the power to devour our enemies, I'd worship it as a god!'
"You have a deal," the red gnoll snarled. "Now begin with granting me and this group of mewling pups the power your promised!"
The devil chuckled. It was easier than leading cattle to the slaughter.. and far more enjoyable. "Very well, in order for you to gain my power, you must consume this vessel." Reaching out into thin air to retrieve the thing, the devil roughly tossed a beast onto the ground, that looked vaguely like what you might get if a devil mated with a half-boar, half-hound. "It's flesh contains the power you seek... devour it, and the power is yours. And your souls, mine."
Their souls? A small price to pay! Leaping onto the carcass, Russet began to devour the beast in large chunks, even as he consumed the flesh feeling the power well up within him. The other gnolls, following suit, began dvouring the flesh, fighting over scraps as each bite made their power grow. And the devil just smiled.
PP Expenditure
1PP + 1 from Beryl: Teach gnolls (both Slaughter and Hunt) the warlock class. Gnolls of Slaughter specialize in the Infernal pact, and though other pacts are possible they are rare and generally viewed as pathetic weaklings.
1PP + 1 from Beryl: Teach gnolls (both Slaughter and Hunt) the warlock class. Gnolls of Slaughter specialize in the Infernal pact, and though other pacts are possible they are rare and generally viewed as pathetic weaklings.
She gets into the Library, and she sees a brass mass laying on the floor, moaning in pain. "Oh dear! Who could this be?" She walks over to it and he holds it in her hands, feeling its life energy. She turns it over- she gasps. "TORVEK!!!"
---------------------
Corelloth lands on the island of Azora, as she looks around to see if there is anyone around. She spots the Azorans in the nearby town. "Oh- inhabitants. I think I shall go talk to them."
---------------------
He hears a female screaming next to his ear. He opens his eyes. "Ow! What was that- oh... Dolestre?" He gets up, struggling to do so. "What in the blazes are you doing here?"
"I was just going to ask you the same thing, silly!" Dolestre replies with a grin.
Torvek shudders. "Um, well..."
There was a presence behind her as she watched, as always. It lurked at the fringes of her vision, waiting to be called upon if needed, ready to serve her, should she have need of it. It was that being of plant, given to her so long ago by that Lord of Light Xa'an. It was Tsul'kalu.
"Beautiful, is it not?" said the Empress.
The creature was shocked. Never before, not once in all its servitude to her, had the Empress ever addressed it directly.
It merely growled in response.
"I have a plan, you see," said the Empress, "Come close so I might share it with you."
Her voice was oddly entrancing, hypnotic. The plant-thing found itself drawn to obey her, drawn towards her.
Her arm shot out, lightning-quick, like a cobra striking. Her fingers closed around the orb of light that made up the centre of its being. It felt wrong, being touched there, the creature felt violated. And yet even as this thought occurred to it, it felt itself falling, no, being pushed downwards. She was forcing it ever downwards. It felt its form hit ice, but not stop there. She forced it down, down, down into the centre of the island. It tried to struggle, but found it could not. She was releasing it, laughing, moving backwards, away from it. It was stuck, trapped in this prison of ice.
Tsul'kalu now slumbered, deep within the Chillund Archipelago. Giant boots crunched on the snow above him, never suspecting, never knowing, that deep, far down beneath their feet, lurked a being of godly might. The Empress laughed, and left.
Meanwhile, the Azorans began to notice their god had become more distant, and notice that their island was not in the same location. They tried to find out what had gone wrong, but though couldn't figure out what was going on.
In his mighty fortress, Azor'Chapien brooded. His blade was sharp, and he would fix this wrong. But first... he needed to know more of his enemy. But first, he rested.
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1+1 PP Guide Populace (King Valden)- The Azorans now know the warlord class.
2 PP- Guide Populace- The Azorans now know the fighter class.
Seeking guidance on the future of their race, the gnolls began to pray not only to Chroma, but to their ancestors of the past, especially the fallen first. Imploring them to help guide the pack, begging them for the power to help protect them from those that wished them harm. And, amazingly, the spirits of the dead responded to their call, often imbuing the gnolls with fantastic power! The gnolls so blessed, or cursed as they sometimes felt, took on a sombre and wise demre, and functioned as priests of a sort to their pack, advising them with hard earned wisdom and the experiences of their residents spirits lives. The Brothers of the Hunt also reached out for other sources of power, some reaching out to the fey, others to the stars, and even a few to the darkness of the night. These gnolls were accepted, though regarded somewhat suspiciously and not given the status of their spirit channeling brethren. The only warlocks who were truly reviled were those that bargained with those fiendish demons: these warlocks had to keep their source of power secret or be killed, and often withdrew into themselves with powerlust or remorse at dealing with such evil creatures.. very odd behaviour for the companion needing gnolls.
Unfortunately for the brothers of the hunt the minotaurs and rakshasa seemed unable to tell the difference between them and the Sons of Slaughter. Not being able to send emissaries without them being mistaken for raiding parties, the Hunt following gnolls learned to avoid contact with others as much as possible, preffering to dwell in the deepest of jungles were others didn't dare live.
PP Expenditure
0 PP (spent in last post) - The gnolls learn the warlock class. The Brothers of the Hunt specialize in the vesitge pact, channeling their fallen ancestors to gain fantastic power, and take the role of shaman or advisors in gnoll society. Other pacts are rare though accepted, barring infernal pact gnolls tempted by devils: these are reviled, and either banished or killed.
0 PP (spent in last post) - The gnolls learn the warlock class. The Brothers of the Hunt specialize in the vesitge pact, channeling their fallen ancestors to gain fantastic power, and take the role of shaman or advisors in gnoll society. Other pacts are rare though accepted, barring infernal pact gnolls tempted by devils: these are reviled, and either banished or killed.
The Dragons burrowed themself deep down in the earth, using claw and fire to dig nests for themselves
Down there in the darkness something happend. As the bitter Dragons gathered, as they spoke in fear and worry about what had happend to their people, as they discussed what they would do to survive with worried words, something happend.
A being appeared in the middle of their circle. A being seemingly made of purest light.
The being blinded Dragonic eyes that were all to used to the darkness of their forgotten realm, but as they eyes got used to it they saw who it was.
The Fair Goddess of the Fay.
She came to them with words fair and kind, came to them with truth and said to them that they were chosen as the strongest their kind. Chosen for their strong and noble hearts, that they were chosen to be saved and to be made a part of this world.
She said to them that their home would be her kingdom. One of endless green, one of endless life and one of endless prosperity.
The Dragons listend, the Dragons judged and the Dragons up to the smallest wyrmling chose to follow the Fair Goddess of the Fey to her blessed kingdom and there they changed.
Their skin grew light green and warm to the touch. Their golden eyes became blue and filled with joy. Their bodies became lithe, streamlined and quick. Tall horns grew out of their skulls and fire blue and bright now flowed out between their jaws.
But that was not all everywhere these Dragons travelled life spread. Where their feet had been placed the lands seemed to be a little more fruitfull. Where there lairs were placed the land flourished and vast forests and djungles grew up.
Undead hated these places and despised the Dragons that made them so and the Dragons in return was ready to face any peril if the end result would be slaying their ancient enemy.
It was so the Fey Dragons were born. The Chosen servants of Eijra and the Harbringers of her Wrath.
Shape Populace ( Epic ) 3PP+1PP from Exarch: Fey Dragons.
Guide Populace 1PP from Exarch: Fey Dragons settle in the Feywyld and in the main world in small numbers.
Time in this world appeared to be a very unsymetrical and ill built construct.
It must be rectefied at a later date.
The Last God finaly left the Liberary
As his sences where searching the world and other realms he found that many things have changed andmany things are afoot.
war, death ,slaughter. Wonderful things. Chaotic yet elegant in their simplicity.
The Last god cast an eye towards the slaughter of gnolls and minoturs and he smiled.
As he was drifting trough the void, constantly moving not in spaces but between them he saw the shadow realm and he felt delight in his soul.
He took into his hand, the shadow stuff and formed a Tower which he placed down in the shadow.
"May it be named, Hmai I deem it Symmetrical and shall be granted the status of Realm."
He was pleased with the tower and went in and sat at his throne.
But the halls where empty and this drained the One Gods joy.
"Servants appear!" he shouted down the dark halls.
"Yes master?" many a cry responded.
"You shall guard my new home while I am out" Said the Last God.
"Ofcourse, lord." Said the things dark as night.
The Last God then stepped out in search of the one known as Veros.
He followed the scent of corrupted divinity untill he found what he was searching for.
2PP - Create Plane (Lesser) Hmai is now my gods homeplane.
2PP - Shape Populace (Lesser) The Shades. a mystical race made from concentrated Shadowstuff.
PP Use
1PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace x2 - Some gnomes worship Shurka, and some humites worship Nixis.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a cold night, only the moon of Winter Mara floated in the heavens, providing little light to the streets of Terena near the great storehouses where the Noth was being stored before its destruction.
"Go ahead, Pick." Sneak said, gesturing one of the other gnomes forward. Pick ran forward and began fiddling with the lock to the storehouse. With an audible click, the lock opened.
"Okay, lets do this quickly," Sneak said. The other gnomes moved forward, streaming into the warehouse and returning moments later with sacks of Noth. Sneak's eyes grow large at the amount that is coming out of the warehouse. it would be enough to fund their operations for years to come. The First Sneak had said that the circle needed this Noth before they relocated themselves to somewhere more receptive. The Circle had attempted to set up a business selling Noth here, but clearly some sort of divine intervention had occured, because the humites, who had once loved the stuff, now only desired to destroy all of it. Therefore, those gnomes who were interested in making a pretty penny from the stuff, as well as many of the addicts who needed it, had joined together to form the Circle of Unseen Shadows. Their plan was to leave town after this Noth was-
"Hey! What are you doing? Stop!" A shout went up from up the street, and Sneak turned to see a humite racing towards them. Before he had gotten halfway down the road, he stopped suddenly, with a look of surprise in his eyes. Reaching down, the humite grabbed the hilt of a dagger thrown expertly by a Toss, and crumpled to the ground.
"Hurry, people." Sneak called out.
Soon, the sounds of a humite patrol began growing louder, and Sneak signaled that they needed to leave. The gnomes melted into the shadows, and returned to the Circle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the Noth secure, the Circle left Terena, looking for a better home, goaded by Convincer, who urged them to leave to avoid reprecussions against the peaceful gnomes of Terena. It spread to the towns of the world, finding some purchase, but its leadership settled in the underbelly of Alexandria, finding the humans very receptive to the powers of the Noth.
PP
2 PP: Guide Populace: Gnomes learn Rogue
1 PP (From Convincer): Guide Populace: Gnomish Rogues form the Circle of Unseen Shadows, a thieves guild devoted in part to the distribution of Noth. It forms small branches in many cities of the world, but its main base lies in Alexandria
2 PP: Guide Populace: Gnomes learn Rogue
1 PP (From Convincer): Guide Populace: Gnomish Rogues form the Circle of Unseen Shadows, a thieves guild devoted in part to the distribution of Noth. It forms small branches in many cities of the world, but its main base lies in Alexandria
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The warforged prepared for war. As they did so, they grew stronger in their power, becoming more like sources of energy. This power, always within them, flared. They learned to use this power, to harness the immense energy within them, to destroy their enemies.
Show
3 pp: Create Artifact(Greater)(Gear of Creation): Gear Prison, provides +1 Imprison PP
2 pp: 2 Nourish Populace(Gears): Warforged in the Iron State grow stronger and more numerous
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): Warforged nation (not Patren's warforged), call themselves the Iron State
2 pp: Shape Populace(Gear of Creation): Warforged in the Iron State change their racial stats
2 pp: Guide Populace(Greater)(City of Gears): Warforged learn the Sorcerer and Invoker classes
3 pp: Create Artifact(Greater)(Gear of Creation): Gear Prison, provides +1 Imprison PP
2 pp: 2 Nourish Populace(Gears): Warforged in the Iron State grow stronger and more numerous
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): Warforged nation (not Patren's warforged), call themselves the Iron State
2 pp: Shape Populace(Gear of Creation): Warforged in the Iron State change their racial stats
2 pp: Guide Populace(Greater)(City of Gears): Warforged learn the Sorcerer and Invoker classes
OOC
After going back and forth trying to decide what I should do with Terena, I think this is something that should be done, as I've been trying to do it since the Free Nation was created. If it's at the expense of some one else's plans, then so be it. I created the city, created the inhabitants, and I think this is how the nation should be. Sorry for being so wishy-washy.
When the first humite envoy got to Freedomguard he was there, among the Bloodguard, hiding his features using his powers "This day would be perfect with my old friends still alive, Kara would have loved that, she endured even the Grand Distorion nightmares, but she was too strong to accept Elixir of Sin increased life span, like I did" he tought, only the Twins were still alive, but even their Bloodborn longevity was finally failing and they were unwilling to accept Yorik offer of immortality.
Influenced by Yorik secret manipulation of key politicians and traders the Free Nations merchants brough a large amount of new wealth to Terenas humites and tried to do the best to be have their "easy going" and "open mind" mentality spread among their cousins.
PP
1 PP - Nourish Terenas Humites.
OOC, so this post is back after all.
1 PP - Nourish Terenas Humites.
OOC, so this post is back after all.
"Hello, Yorik. I'm surprised to see that you're still here. How long does an Elixir of Sin typically last?"
(This is in the IC thread rather than Mortal Stories since both are exarchs.)
"After soo much time, I'd have never expected to see you and your kind coming here looking for us."
"How do you know about my little weakness by the way?"
"I just thought I'd apologize for my people. The Free Nation was treated badly in the past, and currently Terena wants to make it up to you. I'm glad to see that the Free Nation accepts."
"I'm sure that our people will enjoy the benefit of sharing our cultures and ideas"
"Well about the elders I'm sorry I was unable to save them all, I managed to recover some, but they preferred the safety of our land, expecially after what happened with that monster"
"I tried to look for the vampire, but apparently he is beyond my power and skills to locate"
Trying to cheer up, Chroma turned his eye back to the matter at hand, frowining at the pools in thought. They were colourful, but they just weren't.. sparkley! Where was the light, the joy, the change? They could use some work, and the god of chaos was willing to give it. After all, the Game was fun, and he'd been so focused with his gnolls for so long it'd been some time since he'd taken the time to create something just for him.
Focusing his power, the god shot a beam of rainbow light into the pools, which exploded in a cascade of multicoloured sparks that shot hight into the air. The water, formerly merely seven pools of different colour, now sparkled with each pools respective colour, tiny sparks rising from the pools and into the air before fasing several feet above them. And the sparks never came up in the same way! Such chaos, such fun!
Smiling with his new creation, Chroma idley looked up at the sparks that had rissen up with the expenditure of his power.. and gasped. The sparks were changing! Where before they were merely light, the sparks soon shifted into multi-coloured creatures, with talons, beaks, and feathers of varying and often multiple colours. With a flutter, the birds flew up into the sky, and began to spread throughout the continent, especially those places that have numerous trees like the jungle. He didn't even see that coming.. how fun!
****
Meanwhile, both gnoll packs began to grow. With their new spirit channelers to guide them, the followers of the Way of the Hunt continued to grow more civilised, though they still remained nomadic and used only the basest of weapons. Finding a region teeming with life, the gnolls had a short population boon, the additional food allowing them to breed without the risk of their pups starving for some time before they picked the area clean and had to move on.
The Sons of Slaughter also came into an abundance of food, though in a far less benevolent way. With the addition of the warlocks to their pack, the minotaurs were far easier to slaughter with their hit and run tactics, one of their favourite strategies being to use the warlocks to slide the sorcerers away from the main herd, before descending on them full force, consuming them before the herd could counter attack. Without their magic, the slower minotaurs would easily be wiped out with daggers and hit and run stikes, as well as cursed magic from the servants of the devils. Of course the startegy wasn't fool proof, but the gnolls dined far more richly on minotaur flesh than they had previously... unfortunately the cunning of the rakshasa still elluded them, those cursed traps were still too hard to penetrate.
PP Expenditure
2PP + 1 From Pools = The Rainbow Pools now provides Nourish PP in addition to Create PP
0PP + 1 From Veil = Tropical birds spread across the continent
1 PP = Nourish the gnolls.
2PP + 1 From Pools = The Rainbow Pools now provides Nourish PP in addition to Create PP
0PP + 1 From Veil = Tropical birds spread across the continent
1 PP = Nourish the gnolls.
Not content with this mechanism, the Lords of the Hellrime Codex, as the highest council of mages called themselves, moved the Codex itself into the Academy, providing a source of power for all Imperium spellcasters. Then, using crystalline screens, frames of rune-steel, bloodstone, and Mythril and biological monstrosities, pulsating masses of flesh and Madan ooze, blasphemies spawned from the Isle of Asem, the Lords created the Malrime Fyrstar.
This weapon focused the arcane and divine energies latent in the Academy since the Ascension of S'kre and harnessed them into a weapon of formidable power.
With the Academy Dominus thus armed and linked, a huge fleet of Berg Ships was mobilized and the Senate began calling up even more legions. The full martial might of the Imperium began to assemble, a hellish day of blood and fire could not be far off.
------------
The Counsel of Lycanthropy, a sub-set of the Senate which had long since brought espionage under its purview as well as Lycans, dispatched Keymon spies linked to the Library of Whispers to find the old man Mournelord Bremosk had made his pact with so long ago. Though the Order of the White Shield had collapsed, it was possible he still had something to offer the cruel legions of the Imperium.
PP
3PP Create Artifact, Greater: Malrime Fyrstar
2PP Create Artifact, Medium: Vaults of the Academy (Allow instantaneous transport of non-animate goods between the Vaults and Ssabrec.)
2PP Nourish Populous: Imperium (Assemble fleet of Berg Ships, mobilize more legions.)
-----
The Council of Lycanthropy was in full metteing when the entrances to the room sealed just with a black veil. The lights in the room dimmed, and a plume of acrid smoke began to pour from the floor. From within, a shadowed figure stepped out. "You sent your spies to seek me?"
While this time the priesthood reacted slowly to this request, due to the their current effort in foreign affairs, expecially after the alliance with the Imperium and Terena trade agreements, Trade "prince" Wuflric, one of the rulers of the city state of Vossen, was capable of answering to the merchant requests.
Investing a vast amount of his fortune and the one of other Vossen trade lords he not only managed to introduce this innovation in the Free Nation, but also to promote it among many of the Free Nation trade partners, gaing an upper hand in commerce for himself and his city state in confront of other cities.
After a while the priesthood found out that Freedomguard Hegemony have lost too much influence in confront of Vassen and Trade Prince Wulfric, they decided to offer him a place within the council in exchange for his loyality to them. An offer he promptly accepted after a few years the council discovered that while Freedomguard control over the Free Nation was increased thanks to the Trade Prince actions he has accumulated a massive power for himself, becoming even more influential than before.
PP and OOC
1 PP Guide Free Nation learn economics, and have a currency system.
2 PP Guide Free nation currency and economic theories are introduced to the Warforged and Beacon.
(and I guess that a part of increasing trade revenues the introduction of currency will also make adventurers a lot more happy now that they can get their rewards in shining coins)
1 PP Guide Free Nation learn economics, and have a currency system.
2 PP Guide Free nation currency and economic theories are introduced to the Warforged and Beacon.
(and I guess that a part of increasing trade revenues the introduction of currency will also make adventurers a lot more happy now that they can get their rewards in shining coins)
In his mind the thought of something being concealed to him was impossible and therefore he started to wander the world.
He came upon a strange bogfilled and dragon infested land and became intruiged. A war between the fey godess and some unknown deity was shaping the land.
He thought that he knew of all the gods so he started to serch the Gray wastes for this unknown god.
"The place we are going now, it might look like a nightmare and maybe it is, but it is a place where no one, mortal or god can see without my master consent and he is far away, so he will not learn about what I want to tell you"
For Mecha, Into the Grand Distortion
After stepping trough the gate they found themselves into a pillar of purple rock, emerging from a calm sea of cristalline water, the sky was cloudy and a falling sun produced wonderful reflexes in the sky.
Yorik was surprized and looked almost worried
"That's strange, last time I went here it was-"
He was interrupted by the wind, it sounded like the scream of mad chorus, for a second they could hear nothing but that cacophony, it looked like the wind would consume their minds.
Then it suddenly stopped and the world was silent again, at least apparently, the sea below the pillar pulsated with life, thousands of creatures that no mortal has ever seen now populate the ocean, busy to fight for life and consume each other.
Yorik seemd to relax again, like everything was normal there.
"Well, it seems that this place loves to surprize me after all"
"Maybe the thing I'll say to you is already known, I know that there are Humites with the gift of prophecy, coming from Shurka, a gift that eludes me, anyway apparently a storm is gathering toward Terena, the Imperium is ready for war, I got some friends on the merchant ships that the Free Nation sent there and they have seen the preparation and I have being reported that an Imperium delegation has come to the council, asking some "strange" questions, I think they wanted to know who is the Free Nations siding with in case of a war."
After stepping trough the gate they found themselves into a pillar of purple rock, emerging from a calm sea of cristalline water, the sky was cloudy and a falling sun produced wonderful reflexes in the sky.
Yorik was surprized and looked almost worried
"That's strange, last time I went here it was-"
He was interrupted by the wind, it sounded like the scream of mad chorus, for a second they could hear nothing but that cacophony, it looked like the wind would consume their minds.
Then it suddenly stopped and the world was silent again, at least apparently, the sea below the pillar pulsated with life, thousands of creatures that no mortal has ever seen now populate the ocean, busy to fight for life and consume each other.
Yorik seemd to relax again, like everything was normal there.
"Well, it seems that this place loves to surprize me after all"
"Maybe the thing I'll say to you is already known, I know that there are Humites with the gift of prophecy, coming from Shurka, a gift that eludes me, anyway apparently a storm is gathering toward Terena, the Imperium is ready for war, I got some friends on the merchant ships that the Free Nation sent there and they have seen the preparation and I have being reported that an Imperium delegation has come to the council, asking some "strange" questions, I think they wanted to know who is the Free Nations siding with in case of a war."
In the hart of one of these dangerous places the Wondermaker came, there he left one of his creations, a wicked stone shard, floating over the ground among bloodstone spires, created with the power of reshaping raw bloodstone, turning the land it touched into a weapon in the hands of its wielder, but at the same time, linked with the power of his master.
The Wondermaker travelled among the elven worshiphers of the Last One, telling them legend about this powerful artifact.
The Free Nation golden age continue, fueled by the rise in commercial revenues and the growing power of the Merchant Princes. However the number of bloodborn in the archipelago increased too, that would be a boon for the Free Nation this new generations had something different, impossible to discern today but with a dark destiny awaiting them.
Meanwhile, inspired by Aether ripples induced auroras and foreseeing a future of war, the Priesthood had the Bloodguard training increase and Trade Lord Wulfrinc spent a lot of his money to pay for foreign masters of strategy and war to increase the army preparation.
Show
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones), create Bloodstone spires in the new desert.
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker), create the Twisting Hart (it is a mortal only artifact weapon and fluffwise is a channel for Hensen power (but does not provide any PP).
OOC Note to Incarnation it might be used to provide some contacts between Hensen and the Last God.
1 PP Nourish - Free Nation golden age continue
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones), Free Nations, the bloodborn number keep increasing, but something dark is hidden in their heart.
1 Pp Guide (from aether Ripples) the Bloodguard learn combat Tattics.
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones), create Bloodstone spires in the new desert.
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker), create the Twisting Hart (it is a mortal only artifact weapon and fluffwise is a channel for Hensen power (but does not provide any PP).
OOC Note to Incarnation it might be used to provide some contacts between Hensen and the Last God.
1 PP Nourish - Free Nation golden age continue
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones), Free Nations, the bloodborn number keep increasing, but something dark is hidden in their heart.
1 Pp Guide (from aether Ripples) the Bloodguard learn combat Tattics.
Nerdzul
Selya was disturbed by the Distortion, but she tried not to let it show.
"Yes, some of the Tereneans have been having similar visions. If you wish to help Terena, then I suggest you lie to the giants. They might think you unable to assist us anyway with the Grey Waste. The giants don't know about our Feywyld travel or you teleportation. Even if they do discover the Feywyld, it's inhabitants wouldn't like them. The ancients and the Fey dragons especially."
"Yes, some of the Tereneans have been having similar visions. If you wish to help Terena, then I suggest you lie to the giants. They might think you unable to assist us anyway with the Grey Waste. The giants don't know about our Feywyld travel or you teleportation. Even if they do discover the Feywyld, it's inhabitants wouldn't like them. The ancients and the Fey dragons especially."
--------------------
"Well, I'm here to discover these worlds, and to find out where I am.". Torvek replies to Dolestre.
"Hmm. I'm here to find the survivors of the Astral Plane- low and behold, here you are!". She smiles valiantly.
"Here we both are," Torvek replies with a blank face.
--------------------
Hondala appears next to Nixis and tries to get his attention. "Nixis! Nixis! I need your help! It's me, Hondala- Torvek's helper!"
Nixis turned as Hondala approached.
"Yes, Hondala? What can I do to help?"
He returned to the Astral Sea, to the lands he had conjured where the devils now redied, training for battle, and to answer the call of their master, to fight if he had need.
Deep within the myusterious landmass, he called a meeting of the nine. As he sat in his throne, looking out at the other eight who had been born with him, he felt the slightest tinge of pity, that they had not been strong enough to aquire power as he had. Then it was gone as he watched them, silently. They fidgeted, wondering why he had called them.
Others pit fiends had finally come to be, as lesser devils had earned enough power and souls fighting in the wars, but none matched the power of the first born.
He selected two of them, pointing a single finger at each, beckoning them forward. "Ansalon, I have a task for you. One for which you will be rewarded. Go to the humans of Asilia, the first of the chosen. Continue my work among them, binding them to our will."
Ansalon growled, but was silenced by a single raised hand. "You shall take possession of half the pacts you make, as your reward for this task. Go now."
Ansalon vanished as Gorion turned his gaze to the next. "Meredith, you will do the same as Ansalon, but not within Asilia. I have found a new group that will sell themselves for power. Go to the gnolls of Ardune, and continue our work."
As she vanished, he dissmissed the others with a wave of his hand, then left his domain once more, returning to the mortal world. He turned to the south, to the frost giants upon their icy islands. Here, he hoped to find more willing souls.
-----
The population around Terena suffered a slight decline over several years. The Defense Coalition, facing stiffer and stiffer opposition, despite their majority in Terena's new government, began a secret project.
They began dispatching agents, in the dead of the night with all possible secrecy, to the south, south of even the humites, to lands once controlled by the fungus. In this barren wastes, they began to build a new city.
-----
Patren's forces continued to search the mountains for their lost tome, fighting dozens of skimishes with the minotaurs, who always managed to escpae just before suffering a defeat. Weakened by this continued side battle, they continued to lose ground to Asilia's force. Desperate, the Patren archmages slowly pulled more power from the Arcane Wellspring, desperately using their combined might to hold the enemy at bay.
With everything in position, Asilia and their devil allies prepared for what they hoped would be their final assault.
-----
Alocasia, still wrapped around Eijra's neck, slowly pulled herself free as she whispered to Eijra. "I accomplish nothing here mistress. I will try my best to locate Drevan if that is your wish. He may be expecting the gods to search for him, but perhaps something as unimportant as myself will be able to slip through his guard."
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Gnolls of the Way of Slaughter worship Gorion, and through him, Veros.
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - The Defense Coalition begins building a secret city far to the south.
His attempts to find Drevan were proving fairly useless. Pretty much the only useful bit of information he had managed to recover from the Loremasters had been that the staff the vampire was using was likely the Staff of Ruin, which explained why Drevan could hide so well.
Nixis turned as Hondala approached.
"Yes, Hondala? What can I do to help?"
Hondala replies to Nixis, as her mass glows bright. "Something's happening to Torvek in the Library- like he's getting ill, or something... but he's not feeling well. His head hurts, and he also sent me to see the Loremasters. Do you know where they are?"
-----------
The Senate for a new Council, this group of influential military commanders and trade moguls would regulate and harness the power of the Elixer of Sin, seeking to replicate the "bloodborn", phenomenon. The Council of Bloodborn Affairs, it was named, began to develop experimental corps of Bloodborn Frost Giants. Within years, all that held back the creation of Bloodborn legions was full funding from the Senate.
-----------
As the Defense Coalition began establishing a city in the Fungal Wastes, they encountered scouts of the Imperium's Expeditionary Corps. The scouts did not immediately attack, but attempted to establish relations with the fledgling city.
------------
The Chairman of the Council of Lycanthropy stood up, confronting the roiling darkness.
"Our Keymon agents sought you because with the fall of the White Shield and the Terenan Revolution, you and your organization seemed to have disappeared. Given our current plans for a martial solution to the Terenan problem, and your past, ahh, strong opposition, to such a solution, it seemed prudent to seek you out and inform you."
Lowering his hand, he released the effect and shrugged. "Such a solution has become acceptable. Due to certain . . . meddling, my control is weakened, but not lost. You have allies within those lands still, agents positioned to turn over military secrets and key strongholds."
"Prepare for your fight, mortals. The time is coming."
-----
The city invited the emissaries into their city in progress, to the only fully complete building. Percpetive giants quickly noticed the room is proprotioned oddly, suitable for creatures of their stature. (We should take this one to Mortal Stories)
-----
Gorion glanced up at another creature filled with divne power approached him. Holding an impressive weapon as well. He stepped away from the mortal he was whispering too, taking a non-threatening stance. "And you would be?"
However plans never survive contact with the enemy. Some lycanthropes went rogue or simply left, and the organziation had to clamp down on the remainder, only making things worse. Some remained loyal and dutiful, but others simply left. They still were the enemies of the dopplegangers, but Dorbal, in a fit of paranoia, ordered the rogue ones destroyed (both to cover his own tracks, and becuase they were not enemy). Further, the vampires began getting into fights with the lycans and even the dopplegangers. The all out melee of subterfuge was in full swing if incredibly slow. All the while, the general population had no idea of what was going on.
Meanwhile, the Guild continued to gain total control over the ports and docks, and slowly gained the most prominent and succesful fleet in Meribia. Their dominance of the seas ensured their long term survivability. Those that had been in the drug trade used their ships to make due haste and find the Drathorn, the maps to their homelands paid handsomely for in the humite lands. There they established informal trade with the Drathorn and began importing the Noth directly. Their more direct trade only increased their profits.
----
Mara was disturbed by recent events among the gods. She was not a warrior. She had never taken action to fight or aid a god in war, and even though she was the domain that could contain violence, she abhored it. She vowed never to do it again. Still, action must be taken to ensure that she could have a trusted ally. There was only one God left she had any real interactions with, only one she really trusted. She decided she still owed that God an obligation to help him.
Mara left her moons and headed out to the edge of the universe. She went past the forbidden planet of fungus, past the stars, past the edge of reality. Then she was in the void that had existed before everything. It was [i]cold[/]i, going straight to her divine essence. It was draining her; she could not stay here for long. As delicately as she could, and with great pain, she great a chung of the Void. She rushed as fast as possible back to the universe. The void piece tried to fight against reality, as if to explode, but Mara held it together. She took it back to her moon.
Meanwhile the other Mara went to Veros's workshop. The creature was not there at the moment, but his previous presence was unmistakable. He had left powerful traps and wards around the workshop, however Mara was more knowledgable in the make-up of the Workshop than anyone else, for she had learned much about it when she had bored through it and modified it's very core. She snuck in and proceeded to grab the several tools she determined were necessary for the project ahead. Then she slipped out of the workshop without leaving a trace of who the intruder was.
She returned to the moon to find her sister already there, with the hunk of Void. Grabbing other materials and tools, the two set off for the Palace of Xa'an, the sun. It was the only object in the universe powerful enough to be their forge for this project. They worked on it until they were exhausted, but they were nowhere near done. They packed up and returned to their Moons to rest.
~~PP Expenditures~~
1 PP - Guide Populace - Karak Guild - Contact with the Drathorn (via Humites)
1 PP - Guide Populace - Karak Guild - Importing Noth directly from the Drathorn (I believe this requires the approval of Ritreaude due to an artifact or some agreement?)
1 PP - Nourish Populace (Artifact) - Karak Guild - Control most of Meribia's sea trade, ports, etc.
1 PP - Guide Populace (Artifact)- Meribia - Lycanthropes, Dopplegangers, Vampires, and the Guild all fighting a war of subterfuge against each other.
3 PP - Create Artifact - Major Artifact - An incomplete artifact, this part will provide Create/Decreate PP
1 PP - Create Artifact - Minor Artifact - A second piece of the incomplete artifact.
"Hondala, do you hear that banging sound? Those would be the Loremasters. I leave you to them!"
Giggling, the God of mischief caused the door to fly open, and Loremasters piled through the door into a heap. As Nixis vanished from the room, he saw the collected Loremasters spot Hondala...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis fully intended to head to the Library, but first, he had a bit of business to attend to. In his travels searching for Drevan he had noticed the marshaling of many forces of war. It would appear that the storied army of the Imperium was building up for a purpose that Nixis honestly didn't want to think about. Nixis raced upwards, past the Azure Aegis, until he spotted Chukwa, floating as always in the Aether.
"Hi, Chukwa" Nixis called out as he sailed past the Zataran's head towards its back.
"HELLO, NIXIS", the Zataran replied.
Nixis reached the town of Diaspora, and spiraled downwards, greeting the gnomes that ran to meet him. After a few minutes with the gnomes, he headed for the center of town.
Despite the lack of a Fey Circle, Diaspora was organized quite similarly to Babble below... rings of neat houses organized around a broad central field, which, in Babble, was dominated by the stones that made up the Fey Circle. Here, however...
Nixis fished out the Astral Shard, and began waving it in front of him in the shape of a doorway. Slowly, a marble archway appeared, standing in the center of the field. Ornate carvings of animals curled up the sides and above the arch itself, a message was carved that anyone could read, regardless their language: "Haven and Rest Await"
Nixis turned to the gnomes that had gathered.
"My gnomes. Diaspora, and in fact, all of Chukwa's Back, has always been meant to be an island away from the conflict of the world below. In time, people will come through this archway, which will appear to them in their time of need, offering them salvation. Care for them. Make a home for them. Keep them safe until they desire to leave once more. And now, excuse me... I must be going, but I will return safely."
As Nixis flew off, the gnomes set to work expanding Diaspora for the new visitors that Nixis had promised them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis appeared in the library with a *pop*.
"Torvek? Hondala seem- err... Hello." Nixis looked between the brass and platinum dragons before him, confused at what in the world was going on.
"Err... Torvek? Is this your... ah... whats the word... err... Girlfriend?"
PP
2PP (1 from Astral Shard): Create Artifact (Moderate): Ivory Gate of Diaspora. This Ivory archway will sometimes appear on the surface of the world to those in danger, offering a way out, which leads to the town of Diaspora on Chukwa's Back. At any time, a person on Chukwa's back can choose to return to the surface at a point of their choosing by stepping back through the gate.
1 PP (From Chukwa): Nourish Populace: The town of Diaspora expands as the gnomes prepare to welcome those traveling in from the Gate.
2PP (1 from Astral Shard): Create Artifact (Moderate): Ivory Gate of Diaspora. This Ivory archway will sometimes appear on the surface of the world to those in danger, offering a way out, which leads to the town of Diaspora on Chukwa's Back. At any time, a person on Chukwa's back can choose to return to the surface at a point of their choosing by stepping back through the gate.
1 PP (From Chukwa): Nourish Populace: The town of Diaspora expands as the gnomes prepare to welcome those traveling in from the Gate.
----------
The Chairman stumbled back, clutching his skull. Recovering slightly, he spoke again.
"Thank you, our spies will begin compiling lists of those contacts. As to the White Shield, are there elements, that, armed and armored, would lead an insurrection against the Elders?"
-----
"The White Shield is no more, but I have people in position to aid you. Luckily for you, the elders are no longer in command either, and the new government is slow to respond and clunky, as each decision must be voted on and approved by a large council."
He tapped his staff slightly. "Further, of the dozen or so military leaders capable of organizing and leading Terena's defense, all are my allies. You need only fear the allies the Terenans might bring to bear."
2 PP given to Mara for her incomplete artifact
Shurka sighed, seeing nothing in the Orb.
"You can hide now Drevan, but I'll find you..."
With a gasp, she awoke. She was still there, still standing on wind currents, high above the world. But something had fallen, she knew. It was her fear. Her fear had fallen away. It was gone from her, dropping through the sky like a falling stone. The fear was in the world now, and nothing, no power above or below can get it back. The Empress turned, and walked away.
PP Expenditures
3 PP Ascend Exarch: The Dark: This exarch of fear is trapped, somewhere beneath the Shattered Lands. It uses fear both as a weapon, and as sustenence and grows powerful by feeding on the fear of those around it. It also provides 1 PP for Nourish/Denourish actions.
And so it was here that the True Circle of Unseen Shadows, the eight leaders of their organization, had chosen to meet. Here, they planned their next moves to expand their reach. However, the First Sneak was worried.
"This is all well and good", First said, cutting into a conversation about what to do with their newfound resources that Fourth and Sixth were having, "But we must be aware of one crucial thing."
The other Sneaks turned to listen to their leader.
"We are prosperous, yes. We are expanding, yes. Our influence is growing both here and elsewhere. But our foundation, the base of our power, is weak. The Noth we stole from the Humites will not last forever. I want all of you to send your men out to figure out where this Noth comes from... the Humites did not create it, of that I am already certain. I also want you to start getting men into the local governments, so we can do our jobs more... effectively."
OOC and PP
(Ritreaude, this is a possible MS interaction... let me know if you're interested)
1 PP: Nourish Populace: Circle of Unseen Shadows: The Circle grows larger and more powerful and begins to eye new ways of gaining influence.
(Ritreaude, this is a possible MS interaction... let me know if you're interested)
1 PP: Nourish Populace: Circle of Unseen Shadows: The Circle grows larger and more powerful and begins to eye new ways of gaining influence.
To Mechalibur
"I fear that it will not be they grey wastes that will stop us, nor the Imperium military might but something totally different.
"My master, the patron god of the Free Nation, has always watched silenty, allowing us much free in choosing our destiny from the first day that he liberated our kind from the slavers."
"For some reasons that eludes me have decided that it would be better for the Free Nation to side with the Imperium in the war, something that sounded strange to many in the Priesthood, including myself"
"I know that He will not stop us from helping, He will be true to his world and let us to act as we like, however he has always being our protector, most of the Priesthood assume that he is acting for our own good and will follow his desires."
"I'll do as much as I could to help Terena anyway, but still I have no idea about what can I do to make the difference, will your wisdom assist me in finding a way?"
"I fear that it will not be they grey wastes that will stop us, nor the Imperium military might but something totally different.
"My master, the patron god of the Free Nation, has always watched silenty, allowing us much free in choosing our destiny from the first day that he liberated our kind from the slavers."
"For some reasons that eludes me have decided that it would be better for the Free Nation to side with the Imperium in the war, something that sounded strange to many in the Priesthood, including myself"
"I know that He will not stop us from helping, He will be true to his world and let us to act as we like, however he has always being our protector, most of the Priesthood assume that he is acting for our own good and will follow his desires."
"I'll do as much as I could to help Terena anyway, but still I have no idea about what can I do to make the difference, will your wisdom assist me in finding a way?"
Nerdzul
Selya was silent for a moment before responding.
"You should act upon what you believe is right, not what others command of you. The giants have killed countless of my people. I have seen it myself. They do this for no other reason than to conquer our land, and serve their dark god. If they conquer Terena, the great Eorna will no longer function, taking away your gifts of healing. Allowing them to do so is harmful to the great Lord Shurka. I know that you serve a different patron, but it is Shurka that created us. Because of that you owe him some respect.
"Whatever you decide to do, just realize the consequences. It is your duty to make these choices not mine. I hope you can come to a decision that benefits the both of us."
"You should act upon what you believe is right, not what others command of you. The giants have killed countless of my people. I have seen it myself. They do this for no other reason than to conquer our land, and serve their dark god. If they conquer Terena, the great Eorna will no longer function, taking away your gifts of healing. Allowing them to do so is harmful to the great Lord Shurka. I know that you serve a different patron, but it is Shurka that created us. Because of that you owe him some respect.
"Whatever you decide to do, just realize the consequences. It is your duty to make these choices not mine. I hope you can come to a decision that benefits the both of us."
To Mecha
"I have made my decision already and I'll side with Terena, however I think that my people will not, not openly at least, they might even send an army toward your land."
"So is there any way I might be more helpful than providing you with a single sword and a few friends?"
"I have made my decision already and I'll side with Terena, however I think that my people will not, not openly at least, they might even send an army toward your land."
"So is there any way I might be more helpful than providing you with a single sword and a few friends?"
Nerdzul
"All you can do is try to convince others not to turn on their brothers and sisters. I thank you sincerely for your support; your willingness to help in these conditions is truly admirable. I must be going back to Terena now. I'm not sure how long it will stay a humite city...
Nixis laughed, and glanced towards the door to the room.
"Hondala, do you hear that banging sound? Those would be the Loremasters. I leave you to them!"
Giggling, the God of mischief caused the door to fly open, and Loremasters piled through the door into a heap. As Nixis vanished from the room, he saw the collected Loremasters spot Hondala...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis appeared in the library with a *pop*.
"Torvek? Hondala seem- err... Hello." Nixis looked between the brass and platinum dragons before him, confused at what in the world was going on.
"Err... Torvek? Is this your... ah... whats the word... err... Girlfriend?"
Torvek and Dolestre look onto the perplexed Nixis, as he stood there in question. "Oh- hi, Nixis... didn't expect you to be back so soon." He stood up to explain himself. "This is my long- lost sister, Dolestre. We were both trapped in the Apocalypse that raged thorugh our homeworld."
Dolestre added in. "Fortunately, our souls were bound together like thread. We eventually found each other, right?" She elbows Torvek. "Anyway, I was going from different time zones to try to find any other survivors that might of made it out. No luck, though..." She looks down.
"Don't worry, sis- as long as we're still alive and together, nothing can really separate us from impending doom. We're dragons! And who says that dragons can't be gods, eh Nixis?" He winks at Nixis.
------------------------------
Hondala stares at the Loremasters. "Um- uh... hi, guys... Um- sorry to disturb you at a time like this, but I really need to ask you a huge favor."
------------------------------
"Azor'Chapien- and where might he be?" Corelloth asks the Azoran.
the Azoran responds.
"Very well. Thank you, noble gentleman." And she walks off toward the castle.
"Oh, Azor'Chapien- Azor'..." Corelloth calls out loud.
"You're right!" he said, admiring his new form. After a few moments, he let it dissolve back into its constituent letters and floated up off the ground once more.
"Well, siblings, then. Welcome to the Library, Dolestre. Its a little... sparse on books at the moment." Nixis' letters twitched, giving off the distinct impression that he was slightly embarrased at this oversight... "But that will change soon... just gotta find the time."
"Anyways," Nixis said, focusing once more on the reason he had come. "Torvek, Hondala said you needed my help. What can I do?"
Nixis laughed and reformed himself into an image of a dragon.
"You're right!" he said, admiring his new form. After a few moments, he let it dissolve back into its constituent letters and floated up off the ground once more.
"Well, siblings, then. Welcome to the Library, Dolestre. Its a little... sparse on books at the moment." Nixis' letters twitched, giving off the distinct impression that he was slightly embarrased at this oversight... "But that will change soon... just gotta find the time."
"Anyways," Nixis said, focusing once more on the reason he had come. "Torvek, Hondala said you needed my help. What can I do?"
"Oh, yes! I was just wondering about where the Loremasters may be, and if need be, ask about the knowledge of the known worlds. I could probably use that knowledge to construct an Observatory in my homeworld, so that I could 'observe' what is happening, and to warn others of an impending danger." Torvek replies.
"Huh, an empty library. Too much work to be multitastking, eh?" Dolestre says, in a giddy mood.
He gestured towards the encased Skyway River,
"Was originally one of her ideas. You could probably find her at her moons."
Nixis eyed Dolestre for a moment, then laughed,
"What, you don't appreciate the irony of it all? The only book in the entire library is a catalogue of the locations of the rest of the books in the library."
Nixis suddenly became serious. "Its still one of my plans... Its amazing how much time you can spend on other issues, though."
Such a bleak place, such interesting creatures.
***
The gnomish immigrants to Alexandria found themselves well received. Their contribution to the city, and by extension the nation, was embraced with gusto by the mercenary denizens.
They were however confined to the outermost stretches of the holy city, its citizens citing a need to keep the small new beings from harm.
Unknown to the Circle a group of humans within the War Quarter were experimenting with their most interesting product.
Actions
1PP from the Great Cathedral +1PP, Guide Populace: Humans learn Alchemy
1PP from Stars +1PP, Nourish Populace: Alexandria is strengthened by its experiments
2PP, Nourish Populace: Gnomes (specifically the Circle)
2PP, Nourish Populace: Angels, a byproduct of the Noth experiment
1PP from Stars +1PP, Nourish Populace: Alexandria is strengthened by its experiments
2PP, Nourish Populace: Gnomes (specifically the Circle)
2PP, Nourish Populace: Angels, a byproduct of the Noth experiment
----------
Fang wandered the hills and woods surrounding the place where the Rakshasa had come into the light. He formed and shaped the hills as he walked, molding a bulwark out of whole earth.
----------
PP
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: The Well forms an egalitarian warrior society.
1PP +1PP (Fang the Delver) Mold Land: A jagged mountain range surrounds The Well and its territory.
+1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: The Well forms an egalitarian warrior society.
1PP +1PP (Fang the Delver) Mold Land: A jagged mountain range surrounds The Well and its territory.
----------
Try as he might, Hammu could not find the source of the imbalance he felt. Other gods were searching- he could feel that, but there was a void where the disturbance should have been.
----------
The clerics and priests of Beacon sent scholars along with trading ships to the Free Nations. There, they saw demonstrations of magical and divine power like none they had witnessed before- power that they sought out on their return to Beacon. Eventually, they discovered the secret to the "rituals" of the Freemen.
PP
2 PP -1PP (cultural contact) Guide Populace: The Well learns the Sorceror class.
2PP Guide Populace: The Well learns Weaponsmithing
2PP -1PP (cultural contact) Guide Populace: Beacon learns Ritual Casting
2 PP -1PP (cultural contact) Guide Populace: The Well learns the Sorceror class.
2PP Guide Populace: The Well learns Weaponsmithing
2PP -1PP (cultural contact) Guide Populace: Beacon learns Ritual Casting
"Hondala should be meeting with the Loremasters as we speak, actually. She found me while I was... borrowing one of their tools in our search for the vampire-god Drevan. As for building an Observatory..." Nixis considered for a moment, then continued, "You should find and talk to Mara. She has constructed several such devices. I even found out that that"
He gestured towards the encased Skyway River,
"Was originally one of her ideas. You could probably find her at her moons."
Nixis eyed Dolestre for a moment, then laughed,
"What, you don't appreciate the irony of it all? The only book in the entire library is a catalogue of the locations of the rest of the books in the library."
Nixis suddenly became serious. "Its still one of my plans... Its amazing how much time you can spend on other issues, though."
"Mara..." Torvek says to himself. "So she is the creator of such large creations."
"Well, it's a start, at least. Right?" Dolestre says. "I must say- this is a beautiful library, even without the books. When do you plan on finishing? I could probably help out."
"Hondala is already to the Loremasters?" Torvek says in question. "Well, she did what I asked her to." He shakes his head.
A mental link appears in Torvek's head- Terascul. "My lord- something big approaches the temple- a large black dragon with gray scales, and a White Dragon."
Torvek telepathically tells Terascul- "I'll be there soon."
He reverts his attention to Nixis. "Sorry- that was my guardian. He said that there were guests at my temple. I can wait a little. They're non- hostile."
------------------------------
"Where could he be?" Corelloth thinks to herself.
As she did so, she stared up into the daylit sky. She saw the Skyway River, gleaming with all of its might.
(Spending Shurka's 2 PP on Create Artifact - Moderate - with combat effect. Another piece to still uncomplete artifact).
Further, in the highest peaks of their land, they discovered an unknown valley. Deep within this valley, they discovered colonies of deathjump spiders. Astounded to find them, they sent out a large group of warriors, subduing and brining many of them home.
Within months, the gnolls had to worry about dangerous new magics, as well as mounted minotaur spider calvary. The minotaurs recovered, and began to spread slightly. As an added benefit, their mounts gave them a distinctive edge when it came to travelling to and reaching the rakshasa lands.
-----
The Asilian's launched their final attack. For four days, the battle raged, driving the Patren back step by step, day by day. As their soldiers breeched the final lines of defense, the archmages committed themselves to their final act.
They tapped into the deepest reaches of the arcane wellsprings power, and drew it forth, unleashing it on their enemy. In a flash, the capital was blasted clean of any living creature, leaving a waste filed with bleached skeletons, and hundreds of pyre creatures formed from the newly released souls.
Despite their deaths, the archmages ritual was completed. It's mystical energies flooded over the continent. Where ever it found Asilians, it sank into their flesh, twisting and warping them, taking away their humanity, and stripping their minds.
From this invoked devastastion, the tiefling race walked the world.
-----
In the wake of the devastation of the armiews on both sides, warforged soldiers turned to faith for the first time, seekng the only god they knew of, that of their masters. It was thus, that the worship of Veros spread to the warforged.
-----
Despite his death, the battle was won. Eladrin forces marched their way through the desert, destroying that which was invading and claiming their land. Bloodstones, bloodstone vegetation, elves, and glass temples alike were destroyed in their wake.
PP Expenditures
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Minotaurs learn Warden
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Minotaurs learn Druid
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Warforged take up the worship of Veros
1 PP - Nourish Land - Large Deathjump spiders begin to inhabit Ardune.
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Lesser) - Asilia becomes Tieflings
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Minotaurs
1 PP - Mold Land (Lesser) - The bloodstone vegetation, bloodstones, andthe glass temple in the desert are destroyed by determined eladrin and shadar-kai warriors from Sivera
PP Refresh
7 - Veros
6 - Xirinet, Tsaroka-Noggoth, The Empress, Vymrl, Shurka, Mara
5 - Hensen Jijou, Kiptar, Eijra, Drahthor, Hammu
4 - Nixis, Jormundrasil, Azor-Chapien, Skreet, Chroma, Incarnation's End, Torvek
Admin Award
I'm granting Massive Attack an admin award this turn, for setting up a situation with no resolution, which makes for a very interesting area to game in. So, 1 extra PP for Mara this turn.
Honissia woke from his first sleep in the years since his death. He set his thought to touch Drevans, and noticed that the contact was weak, but there, he brought himself to his location. He knelled and bowed his head in respect, then stood and looked at his old master.
"One last thing before I leave, you are being hunted, and those who hunt you will try and kill you, you wont be able to run forever, but to give you some time I've created an item that will create an illusion of you on any plane but one you are on and one other of your choice, it's not a great illusion, but the mortal races will spread the rumors to their gods."
With that he bowed one more time and went to his childhood home a small village that few knew about. He touched his hand to the ground and Closed his eyes with that every hut in the village glowed with a dark blue flame.The residents were replaced by unspeakable creatures covered in tattered black robes, each of them carried and item with them. They seemed not to notice him and went off in seemingly random directions to find a home. One of items that a lich carried was an orb that would help his previous master hide.
PP Use
2 pp [Create moderate artifact] Orb of Misdirection
4 pp[Shape Populace Greater] to create the Lich
And the two dragons fly out of the library- flying closely to each other.
-------------------------
Corelloth glances toward the end of the Skyway River, when she noticed two strange figures crossing it. "Ah- somebody that might know the way." She flies toward the figures- unbeknownst that they are her enemies...
-------------------------
Torvek and Dolestre sail along the Skyway River to Xeronet, when a purple flame cascaded down in front of them. Torvek's chakram appears.
"Hello sweetie.... AGGHH!!! It's you!" She looked surprised to see both Torvek and Dolestre.
"CORELLOTH!" They say at the same time.
"Well, I would never guess to see someone like you to be wandering around the seas like this." Corelloth says, adding her vicious laugh at the end.
"Well said, Corelloth- now move out of the Way!" Torvek says angrily.
"Oh, Sticks & Stones, boy. You still have much to learn..." She summons a purple fireball where Torvek is standing, and he dodges it. Dolestre quickly wills her Beam sword out. "We'll se who determines the fate of this world. But first, I'm going to quickly get rid of you two!" She summons her longspear.
Shurka moved to the world, thinking about how he should go about doing this. Drevan drew his power from Veros' worshippers. That meant he would just have to reduce his followers. A flash of light spread across the entire world. Mortals would not notice this. Only other gods. As the flash of light faded, so too did the memory of Veros from certain mortals...
PP Use
2PP [+1 Eorna] - Guide Populace x3 - Humites, Warforged, and Elves no longer worship Veros.
3PP given to Mara.
OOC
The energy to wipe away their memories was divine, so no natural occurences will restore it. Only other divine action will, which could give away your location? Maybe?
"What is your name? I sense a considerable power about you. As to your deals with these mortals, I will give you free rein, on one condition. I ask that you and all of your followers assist Imperium in the war with Terena. With your followers to bolster the ranks, as well as your own considerable power, we should have a swift victory. Of course, you would be welcome to a rich bounty of souls of the fallen.
If we have victory over the Humites, then neither I nor my god will stand against your efforts amongst the Frost Giants. Do you agree?"
-----------
Clarion calls echoed over the lands of the Imperium, huge fleets of Berg-Ships were cut from glaciers and loaded with soldiers. Flights of Myrw riders took off daily, preparing for the long flight north. The Grand Army of the Imperium stood alone in the annals of the world as the largest mortal host ever assembled.
The skies above the southern most lands of Terena darkened with Berg-Ships, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers disembarked. The defenders, taken by surprise, were defeated and hurled backwards as the victories legions stormed forward, bearing fire and sword deep into the Humite lands.
Still, something was missing from the onslaught, until it appeared in the sky above Terena. A huge floating fortress, the Academy Dominus. Almost immediately, it began wreaking destruction upon the city with great blasts of magic from the Malrime Fyrstar. At the same time, the Malrime Ballista, also based in the Academy Dominus, hurled enormous rods of enchanted ice into the city, killing and maiming, destroying buildings and fortifications.
Myrw riders swooped down into the city, setting rooftops afire with torches and flaming arrows, will striking at the city's defenders. When sections of the city seemed to become weakened, Berg-Ships descended from the Academy, disgorging hundreds of heavy infantry.
While soldiers brought terror to the streets of Terena and the Humite lands, Keymon agents brought a different terror to the politicians of Terena. Assassination attempts became commonplace, as assassins, indistinguishable from true Humites, and aided by the magics of the Imperium, struck at leading counselors. At the same time, leading military officials found new orders, apparently sent by the old leader of the Defense Coalition, ordering them to surrender to the Frost Giants, as they sought to re-instate the old order.
OCC-The Malrime Fyrstar and the Malrime Ballista are both 3PP combat artifacts
PP
4PP (1 from Ssabrec)-Nourish Populous: Imperium
Well, it was worth a shot.
Winter appeared in the "Courts of the Magistrate." The buiding was massive and opulent. It was entirely empty of any beings, mortal or otherwise. Putting her hands on her hips in a tick of frustration. Mara called out, "Hello?!"
---
Meanwhile, Summer went back to work on the artifact. Shurka had given her the power she needed for the next key element, of which only the oracle god could give, and no other. She molded the essense, being careful not to corrupt it with her own divine power, and folded it into the dark matter, thrust it into the Sun, and repeated over and over again.
Show
Using 3 PP from Shurka: Create Artifact - Greater - Another piece, provides Create/Decreate, but as it is Shurka's divine power, thus it is keyed to Shurka and not Mara.
Using 3 PP from Shurka: Create Artifact - Greater - Another piece, provides Create/Decreate, but as it is Shurka's divine power, thus it is keyed to Shurka and not Mara.
The streets were abandoned, the buildings were empty, the only living thing was Eorna.
OOC
Yes, I have a good reason for doing this. Somehow every humite had fled from the city after the first few assassinations. I'd tell you where they went, but what's the fun in that?
He reappeared above the vanguard of the Grand Army, and immediately began to lend his considerable power, coupled with that of the Niflendar Flamborge, to slaughtering Humite soldiers.
-----------
With the disappearance of the Humites from Terena, immediate measures were taken to secure the city. After that had happened, Myrw riders took wing, scouting the surrounding country side to find the Humites.
He grinned slightly. "Conveniently enough, many of my forces just got freed from their current obligations. My agreements to lend soldiers to the humans of Asilia is no longer valid, since their are no humans of Asilia anymore. Thankfully, the wording still gets me their souls."
-----
Drevan stepped out of the council chamber, leaving the poor mortals blinded in his wake. It would likely fade in a few weeks, but until then, they would suffer the lack of light for not showing proper respect to a god. Returned to the Gray Wastes, he noticed the light, sapping aweay Veros's followers. He smiled, and pointed at a corrupted bird flittering through the air.
Imbuing it with a message, he set it free, unconnected to him in any way, it's goal the god of healing.
Shurka
You think I care if you strip away the worship of Veros? It is irrelevant, Shurka. Your actions are a waste.
To those humites who stepped through, they found themselves far away, on the back of the Zataran Chukwa in the city of Diaspora. Here they were greeted by gnomes, and made to feel welcome. They spread out into the unused buildings surrounding the central field, and rested, knowing they were safe.
PP
1 PP (From Convincer): Guide Populace: Legitimate Humite Refugees (not defense coalition) sometimes find their way to the city of Diaspora and settle there.
1 PP (From Convincer): Guide Populace: Legitimate Humite Refugees (not defense coalition) sometimes find their way to the city of Diaspora and settle there.
"Mara, I wish you luck with your project. I'm not sure what it's for, but it seems to be shaping nicely. I something important to do..."
Shurka took the Skyway River back to Revnador to fetch his staff. When passing the Divine Blockade he saw...
"No..."
Veros' body stood lifeless, trapped within. Shurka had already spent so much of his energy, there was little he could do to free him. Well, maybe there was something...
He crafted a bird of golden wispy energy that contained a message to Eijra, Mara, Hensen, Nixis, and Azor'Chapien. The last two had helped try to find Veros. Perhaps they were also interested in helping him. The message said:
Message
I found Veros. He is in the Divine Blockade. Help him when you can; I won't be there
"I know. Especially now that I've found him, taking his followers seems like a waste."
Shurka crushed the bird in his hand
"But it won't be the last thing I do."
Shurka arrived above Terena. The humties had fled like he told them to. He had never given his oracles a warning so strong. He was somewhat sad that he brought the gnomes into this. But they should find a new place to live.
He gripped his staff. He still had time to change his mind.
No. He was going to act now.
Many other giants started to notice this strange sign. The star began to shine to a point where its brilliance was harmful to the eyes. That's when it started.
Shurka was descending from the heavens. When he reached the earth, the giants were confused at what they saw. They were the first mortals ever to see Shurka's form.
It was the last thing they would ever see.
Bursts of light and fire erupted from Shurka's staff. Giants were obliterated, some so fast that one second they were towering creatures, the next a pile of ashes. Bolts of pure rage and anger rained from the skies striking indescriminately to everyone around Terena. These unfortunate giants had seen Shurka's wrath firsthand.
Throughout the rampage, Shurka made his will clear to anyone observing the events. He did not want them to help him. This was his buisiness.
[No PP was spent, because Shurka is directly attacking these giants. This, of course, makes him vulnerable to attacks from other gods.]
Nixis pulled out the Astral Shard and spun it idly in the air before him... trying to determine the best way to go about getting the knowledge he needed. His original plan, an alliance with the LoreMasters, was looking less and less like a good idea with every passing decade as that ancient organization plunged further and further into infighting. He might just have to make the copies himself. Which would require that he-
Nixis stopped in mid thought as a golden bird appeared and raced towards him, relaying a message to him before dissapearing, Nixis assumed, in search of other Gods.
message
I found Veros. He is in the Divine Blockade. Help him when you can; I won't be there
I found Veros. He is in the Divine Blockade. Help him when you can; I won't be there
Honassia bowed his head slightly in respect and looked around this other gods haven
"This is a grand place you have...molded? is that what we do? or do we create?"
Honassia sat cross-legged in front of Nixis
"I was wondering, what did you have planned for the Humites that you rescued. Also if you had a little time a little direction in what I should do. Theese...gifts are very new to me and I am curious as to their limits."
"Found and modified, actually. I found Chukwa", he gestured in the direction of the Zataran's head, "Just floating around the Aether and together we've worked to create this little safe haven for both my gnomes and those fleeing from hardships, such as these Humites.
As for my plans for them... I plan to offer them safety up here, away from the strife of the world below. When they wish to return back down below... they are free to do so."
"As for what we do... well, honestly we can do pretty much anything. Well..." Nixis paused, choosing his next words carefully. "I should say, anything we want, when we have the strength to do so and one of our elders won't get grumpy with us. It happens sometimes. As for what to do first... Many of us find a place to call home first... others find themselves followers, others seek out other gods to see what needs doing."
Nixis chuckled. "Which, it would seem, is what you were doing. If you'd like to meet some other newish gods, I can point you in the right direction... head towards the island of Azora, and let Azor'Chapien know that I sent you and he will welcome you into his home."
"I will do so for now. I think I might be back though, I don't want any losses when I come back for the Humites that will follow me, I don't think that there will be that many to start with so I'm going to try and keep them safe. I will let you know when I come and if you need repay you for their safety here in your sanctum."
Honassia considered it and thought it might be wise. "I'll do that. You've been very helpful Elder, if nothing else you have helped me pick my course." With that Honassia got up bowed and left The older gods Paradise and slowly made his way to Azora.
((and this is where I say good night.))
A fire flickered in the centre of the cavern, and through it, in fires across the globe, a select few Bards and musicians were visited by Starl. The great 7 tailed-rat-God... The God of Bards. And told how their music pleased him. They were congratulated, and sent on a divine mission to enlighten those who would make sweet music, to encourage the mortals to compose and create. Skreet came not to those who were rich, or who were poor, who were weak or strong, but merely to those whose music pleased him most...
When they spoke, in towns, in slums, in courts, many thought their words to be useless and obscene, but they knew what they had seen. And, in their homes at night, sitting with their instruments at the hearth, their words rang true to those who heard them play. Their music seemed to gain a strange, ethereal, but beautiful quality...
And in the cavern, which Starl had made his throne and his temple in the small Skreet network, with its simple bare walls, and burning fire, his own flute, conjured from the notes and bars of those musicians from across the world, played its own pleasing tune...
1PP- Form Domain, Lesser (Bards)
1PP- Guide Populace, Lesser (A select few bards and musicians from across the world. A small population of about 50 combined, gathered from each race and tribe, begin to preach that Starl exists. They are not yet believed.)
2PP- Create Artifact (Moderate) The Flute of Aura. The Flute plays a beautiful, but eerie music the echoes throughout the cavernous area in which Starl and his followers reside, the music is in fact a monitoring system. Should any enter the caverns with hostile intent, the music stops. This generally gives Starl enough time to prepare, should it be needed. Provides a +1 Combat Bonus.
Firstly they were colourful and decorative, so much so that over time the followers of the Way of the Hunt stopped decorating their fur with symbols in the colours of their god. Instead, they crafted rudimentary feather hairdresses, tied feathers to their arm, and generally used that manner of colour instead of the more savage symbols. It was also a good way to keep track in the social ladder of the pack: in general, the more feathers and more vibrant they were on a gnoll, the greater warrior, hunter or advisor he was.
Secondly, and far more importantly, was a breakthrough that would forever change gnoll society. By attaching the feathers to sticks, then shaving the sticks down to a 'shaft', the new projectile would soar true through the air, though it didn't cause harm or have enough force. Pondering the matter, the gnolls eventually stumbled across attaching a carefully crafted stone or bone head to the shaft, and shooting the arrows from a bent and well made stick with the treated hair of a large animal connecting the two farthest points of the stick. Some gnolls even began to hunt and train with the sticks above all other things, becoming a master of the wilds even compared to their gnoll brethen, and being able to shoot off arrows with incredible speed. The discovery of the bow and arrow emblazened the gnolls minds with curiosity like none they'd never felt before: what else could they create to make their lives easier and better?
One of the more simple things the gnolls managed to create was simple clothes, which were really little more than the skinned hides of beasts wrapped around in a vague tunic. The gnolls had yet to truly adopt the concept of shame, but the clothes did wonders to keep them warm on cold nights and to keep the rain out of their fur as they travelled and hunted.. They also made rudimentary shelters with their new carpentry skills, though the gnolls remained nomadic. As such these shelters were usually little more than a collection of well crafted sticks, errected in such a way as the gnolls could simply gather large leaves and layer them over the structure, creating a roof. They usually left the shelters behind however, carrying all those sticks was too troublesome and they could always craft some more at their new home. It was simple, but it kept the rain off and allowed the gnolls a manner of independence againt the wiles of the elements they had never had before.
Best of all, at least in the eyes of the gnolls, was that with the bow, they could finally hunt like people and not animals. They could put the animals out of their misery humanely, from a distance. And for the first time, the Sons of the Hunt were truly content with their nature.
***
The Sons of Slaughter, on the other hand, also thrived over the years, but in a much darker fashion. They did not learn to craft bows, though they relished when they could take it from the corpses of their former brothers as it gave them a biting edge in battle against the minotaurs and, when they could find a way around those damned mountains, which was a increasingly rare event, the rakshasa. They did, however, learn more of the ultimate hunt: what other races called war.
Before, the gnolls hit and run tactis were crude at best, clumisly launching javelins and relying on speed alone to win the day despite often suffering a minotaur horn in the back for their troubles. But over the years, the gnolls learned. It is said that a child is a much faster learner than an adult... it certainly seemed to be true that the young race learned lessons the older minotaurs had learned long ago at a rapid pace from their battles. Where before the gnolls were lucky to launch a javelin every few seconds, now certain members of the pack could launch a storm of spears upon their foes, launching attacks in the blink of an eye. Where before gnolls charged recklessly into battle, before clusmily trying to retreat, now they could dart in, attack, and shift back out with that self same attack, spreading disorder and confusion in the ranks of their enemy.
Yes, the devils they served had blessed them well, and the Sons of Slaughter hunted minotaur lands not as pups on the brink of destruction, but as near equals.
***
And during all this Chroma, child god of chaos, merely watched his chosen pack, and played with every little thing of creation he came across. The world was nothing but joy and fun in his eye, after all.
PP Expenditure
2 PP = Sons of the Hunt (and ONLY the followers of the Way of the Hunt) learn carpentry, especially bows, arrows and rudimentary shelters.
2 PP = Gnolls learn the Ranger class
2 PP = Sons of the Hunt (and ONLY the followers of the Way of the Hunt) learn carpentry, especially bows, arrows and rudimentary shelters.
2 PP = Gnolls learn the Ranger class
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Iron State, utilizing the few Gear Portals that existed in the world, began sending parties into Mechanus. There they began to establish a new city, built into the gears of that plane. Mysteriously, several gears stayed together, something that had never been recorded as happening before. This, however, allowed the city to grow, and to become a safeguard against disaster on the Prime.
Show
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged move into Mechanus and found a city on the gears. It is called the Far Home.
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): Far Home prospers and grows strong
2 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): Far Home tames Mech swarms of Mechanus and sends them to the prime to strengthen the Iron State.
3 pp: Create Artifact(Greater)(Gear of Creation): City of Gears, provides +1 Mold PP, so +1 Guide and Mold total
1 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Warforged move into Mechanus and found a city on the gears. It is called the Far Home.
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): Far Home prospers and grows strong
2 pp: Guide Populace(Lesser): Far Home tames Mech swarms of Mechanus and sends them to the prime to strengthen the Iron State.
3 pp: Create Artifact(Greater)(Gear of Creation): City of Gears, provides +1 Mold PP, so +1 Guide and Mold total
"Have we met?"
He lowered his eyes, faint memories floating aruond in his head. For a long moment, he stared at the ground before he saw the drop. Just the tiniest drop of liquid, a tear.
His gaze narrowed, and his mind whirled. Where had that come from?
Shrugging it off, he looked up at Xirinet and Incarnations End once more. "If you two are not here to speak to me, I ask that you leave my domain."
And now...someone else tried to take this away from it´s creator. A thief.
Action was needed.
In ancient times the Feywyld had been created out of a dream of a living world. One independent from Divine influence and magic. One ruled by laws created by the world not by it´s creators and inhabitants.
It was a world of vast oceans filled with life. One of horrid wastelands devoid of life, one of blue skies, one world that slowly danced around an evershining moon.
Two moons danced around the world, unbond to their distant greedy sisters.
It was from here the Fey Goddess ruled. It was from here strange lights came and it was here a monster was born.
For it was here the Fey Goddess secluded herself in silence, far away from a long dead father...far away from an uncle and a lost brother.
It was here...
And then a whisper was heard. Words was whispered, words were said..but the Fey Goddess remained silent.
Her father was dead. He would remain dead, no matter what the others said. Her brother was dead, her world was dead and her lands..her lands was taken from her...and then in the sadness a sound was heard.
Crack
The Fair Goddess arose, her eyes shone with a new, terrefying and mad spark. She finally knew what she would do to heal the world. She finally knew!
The Imperium burnt. The earth under it was ripped apart in one of the most terrefying earthquakes the world had ever seen.
Spires and towers fell, lives were crushed, lives were ended and when the earthquake was done.
When people tried to rebuild the water came. The ocean rose and the land was ripped in to pieces. What had once been the heartland of the proud Imperium was now nothing but an archipelago wasteland.
And high above she stood. Her hair was burning as if it was made of fire, she was grinning and her eyes were filled with nothing but pure madness.
Disnourish Population 3PP- Masive earthquakes kill off vast amounts of Ice Giants.
Destroy Land 2PP- Vast tracts of the land is ripped apart by earthquakes and swallowed by a gluttonous ocean.
Vymrl felt the call of S'kre. Howling his fury, he summoned the exarch to him, accompanied by all of his artifacts. A twisting portal of frost appeared before Shurka, and Vymrl, in all his deadly frozen glory erupted before him.
Shurka, you have brought your doom upon yourself. May your soul writhe forever in some diefic hell.
With that, Vymrl lunged forwards, stabbing with the Niflendar Flamborge and drawing power from the Malrime Fyrstar, the Malrime Ballista, and S'kre. Echoing after his attack was a cry of imperious demand, asking for support by the Lords of the Bronze Pantheon.
PP
1PP-Attack God: Shurka
((Believe I have a combat bonus of ten. 6 base+1 Fyrstar+1 S'kre+1 Niflendar Flamborge+1 Ballista))
Within the castle endless laboratories, when impossible instruments kept working alone on crazed and usually pointless experiments within its dhepts a strange creature formed of twisting liquid was lying, its form evershifting and each time becoming darker and more tortured by pain and rage.
"You should have patience my friend, the Master will soon release you" Told a figure that was calmly standing with his back against the wall, the Wondermaker had a twisted grin on his face.
"Don't think about that place, it is accursed, unlucky, small in confront of what we are preparing, beside, you should not care about your past, the future will be much more intersting trust me..."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Council of the Eldest has decided to deply Bloodguard to help their Imperium allies, however they approached from different direction they assigned comand of the army forces under to two of their best generals, lord Dokha of Novost and his son Argen. However not much was going to happen as they expected.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lord Dokha was honored by the council offer, he tought that to be a lucky occasion as it will be Novost to replace Freedomguard in control of the Free Nations if the military campaign was a success, however it was only a days after his departure when he had to change his mind.
He was on his personal "Dragon" ship, the Red Sparrow, alone, with a bottle of the best wine from a foreign land and a map of Terena, he had discussed with his officers about battle plans for hours and now he wanted to be left alone to prepare for the incoming war.
He was unable to notice thet there was something else there, the creature engulfed in a second, he was unable to escape not even to scream. It suffocated him and flowed trough his troath eyes and nose, gaining control of his body and mind.
"Finally back to a form that suit me more, even these bloodborn scum might not be good enough" he told, after standing up "And now it is time for a little change of plans, first I'll help the imperium to burn this accursed place..."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Free Nations invasion of Terena begun, the army divided into two main formation, one commanded by General Dokha, or whoever was hiding under his skin, moved toward the capital city to help the giants, bringing "dragon class ships", while the other forces lead by his son, attacked other regions of the nation, with the purpose of cutting the city away from reinforcements and claim new land for the Free Nations.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yorik watched when Argen army begun to land, he was on the same "Dragon" vessel of the general, a close friend of him quite different than his father. Yorik still had enough friends within the council to cause the eldest to choose him as he knew that Argen will listen to his plans.
"I guess that each time I came here is to bring pain to these people, one way or another, but I hope that this time I can at least accomplish something..." he tought, while preparing to join the occupation forces.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hensen followed Shurka warning, so finally Veros was found, what an unlucky time, now that the action of mortals requires his attention so much.
He approached the divine blockade, but apparently he was alone, to shatter such formidable barrier without help he would need a lot of power.
Suddenly he heard Vymrl call, he sent a mental command to the Wondermaker to go at the blocade and watch over it, and then willed himself to the skyes of Terena, using his magic to assume the form of a mass of ominous clouds, there hidden from the sight of mortals he observed the great battle that was going to begin.
PP
1 PP Guide (from aether ripples), the Free Nation invasion of Terena begins. Roughly half of the invasion force will strike cohordinating with the Imperium, while the other will go and conquer other lands, Yorik purpose was to put as many humites as possible under Free Nation control in order to protect them from being conquered by the giants, however both halves of the army will still help with the Imperium in case of a fight.
The creature mentioned in the post is only fluff for now, is an hint to a future creation of Hensen (that had to wait due to the current state of the world)
1 PP Guide (from aether ripples), the Free Nation invasion of Terena begins. Roughly half of the invasion force will strike cohordinating with the Imperium, while the other will go and conquer other lands, Yorik purpose was to put as many humites as possible under Free Nation control in order to protect them from being conquered by the giants, however both halves of the army will still help with the Imperium in case of a fight.
The creature mentioned in the post is only fluff for now, is an hint to a future creation of Hensen (that had to wait due to the current state of the world)
Corelloth blasts the two with her purple fireballs, but miss and end up flowing down the River. She teleports herself and the two up in the skies over Azora. There, they fight with clashing weapons and with more blasts and rays of light.
-------------------------------
"What's taking him?" Teragorn says under his breath.
"Well, you know him- he's been busy as of late." Says Terascul.
"Busy- as in 'lounging'- None of the Dragon Council ever takes a break from a serious threat or a serious problem." Schallk says in an angrily voice.
"I'm sorry- I'll get a hold of him again." Terascul says, and he focuses his telepath link to Torvek.
-----
Berna used to be a humite farmer. He'd lived out a long life and was very old when Honassia had turned him into the being he is now. Over the course of the year that his god [although Berna didn't know it was his god] followed him he'd gone through many small town and had finally come to a powerful wizards tower. To his altered eyes all the runes and magical traps protecting the tower were in plain view and he easily passed through them.
As Berna reached the top of the tower a very old Wizard sat amoung his books. His sight was gone except to that of arcane runes and his sense of smell had been lost to him long ago. Berna moved Toward the man, stopping only a few steps from him. "I wish to learn everything you can teach me about magic." The voice that came out was smooth and fluent. Berna startlled as he realized that it was his own but regained his composure.
The wizard looked in the direction of his voice and a tear formed at the corner of his eye. He smilled. In all his life he'd collected all knowledge of anything arcane that he could find but he didn't have the time or power to learn all of it. In that time he'd never had a child and no apprentice would go to him when other wizards would be more availible and easier to find then the old man. "I will teach you if you will listen."
----
OOC
Note that I am not actually using any PP I am just setting things into play so I can make him my exarch when the time comes. this is a little chunk of his background on him.
The Free Nation saw nothing in their invasion but destruction raining down on the world.
"I have no regrets. But I'm honored to see you deem me a worth enough opponent that you ask for help. But then again, I saw all of this coming. I know what will happen. I'm surprised that you're a member of this Bronze Pantheon, Hensen. Then again, maybe not. Do me a favor and help Veros. It's all I ask."
Streaks of light fell from the heavens blasting open the Berg Ships below.
PP Use
1 PP [+1 Eorna] - Denourish Populace x2 - Many imperium berg ships are destroyed by what look like shooting stars.
Gathering his will in the Astral Sea, in the deepest center of the devil filled domain, he called forth a gateway. Before, when his forces had marshalled to aid something, those to be aided would summon them. This time though,he would send them on his own power.
Unleashing the full power granted him, he finished his new passage, the Hellfire Arc.
-----
The humites believed themselves safe. They had fled into the feywild, a land that had always been safe and hostpitable. The gates required knowledge only they held to open, and the even when they were opened (usually by Defense Coalition traitors or Free Nation humites) the few giants who were able to squeeze through, or the keymon spies, were dealt with swiftly by guards on the other side. They would never have guess that the enemy would come from within.
Gates appeared around the area of the Feywild that was most heavily settled bu humites. Wherever they roze from the ground, plants, buildings, and creatures too close burst into flames, heralding their arrival. From these gates, the devil armires marched.
Great armies of legions devils, their forces coordinated by war devils. Against the hardest of targets, the pit fiends would arrive, to break it down, while imps and succubi infiltrated, spied, and assassinated.
In their supposed safety in another world, the humites were threatened once more.
PP Expenditures
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Greater) - The Hellfire Arc. This gateway can open portals to the prime world as well as otherplanes. It requires a god/exarch to use activate it though. Non-devils attempting to use a portal create by it take xd10 damage, where X is equal to twice their level.
The walls were the first things worked on, and through all of this Honassia kept to the shadows, making sure that whoever was close never truely saw who was behind the building.
Suddenly, a pack of hyenas burst out of the bushes, cackling as they raced towards the helpless lizards. Scurrying about erratically, the little guys were soon overcome by the dogs, some managing to evade barely the snaps of jaws, others being lifted by the tail ready to be devoured.
The child god gasped. He knew it was a part of nature, and all things must eat, but.. he had to help them! Gather him power, Chroma shot forth a beam of colour, engulfing the lizards before they grew... and grew... and grew. They developed shells on their backs and a heavy, mace like tail. The creatures were soon far too big for the hyenas to handle, and soon bashed and bit the hyenas into a retreat, yelping into the jungle.
Chroma beamed down at his new creations as they snorted disdainfully at the fleeing back, before waddling off into the jungle, the earth booming slightly under their steps. Every day here promised something new, exciting, and fun!
PP Expenditure
0PP + 1 from Veil: Spawn Macetail Behemoths.
0PP + 1 from Veil: Spawn Macetail Behemoths.
Donassia landed on a tree and thought about what type of undead they'd be most useful as. He was so preoccuppied that he forgot to stay the same color for more then a second. Before long every couple seconds he'd change to a different and completely random color feather by feather. The change always started in different feathers so he didn't notice it at first.
His mind wasn't on this at the moment. Rather, it was occupied enjoying the scenery and thinking up words for a random song he was making up as he went along. "The gnolly gnolly gnoll went down the hoolly hooly hool, and then they went uppy uppy up, the little... what rhymes with up? Lup... tup... mup... bup... singing is hard!"
It was then, however, that his eye spotted something interesting. It had changing colours, kind of like him! And it felt so powerful, not as powerful as Hensen but he could tell it was kind of like him too! Floating up as quickly as possible, Chroma stopped in front of Donassia, his eye creasing with a smile. "Hi! Do you want to play?"
When chroma popped up he jumped and all of his fethers fell out. Still slightly off guard Donassia changed shape to what would eventually come to be the mold some of the lizard folk. His scales still changed colors, but not as brightly as he tried to rein in the control that he'd always had before his ascension. "I'm always up for a good game." Donassia wasn't sure why the godling wanted to play, but he was very new at this and so he didn't argue.
"My lord- where are you?"
"I'm stuck in a battle with Corelloth!"
"Oh..."
CLANG! Corelloth stabs at Torvek, but hits the Chakram. He retaliates with a quick slash, and hits her spear. Dolestre slashes at Corelloth, and manages to hit. "AGGHH! Nice hit... Too bad you can't really kill me for good!" She turns into a ball of purple flame, and it explodes. Both Torvek and Dolestre are pushed back and fall down onto the sand of Azora. Corelloth floats just before them.
------------------------
"He said that he was fighting Corelloth." Terascul says.
"WHAT?" Schallk yells in a mighty voice. "Corelloth is still alive?"
"Oh dear..." Teragorn sinks down lower to the floor as he heard the name Corelloth. "That same bastard that tried attacking us not too long ago." He snaps his teeth shut in anger.
Lute, one of the bards that had stayed in the city, had just been knocked over by one of the largest Legion Devils. He could hear the beasts footsteps coming closer, and knew with certainty that his life was soon to end. The face of the devil, smiling a cruel grin, loomed over him, and Lute reached into his pocket and threw its contents at the devil in a final, desperate bid for escape. The Noth, for Lute was an addict, flew upwards, striking the devil full in the face. The legion devil blinked in surprise, then began to laugh at the pitiful attack.
But as Lute watched, the laugh turned into a scream as a horrible reaction broke out across the devil's face. Black, pus-filled welts flared up all along the devil's face, and spread quickly to the rest of his body. In roughly half a minute, the corpse of the legion devil crashed down beside Lute, welts rupturing and draining pus and blood into the forest floor. Startled, Lute bolted to his feet, then raced to tell the others the news. Gnomes and humites alike, although the latter really did not like it, grabbed handfuls of Noth from the secret stashes and charged brazenly at the devil armies, throwing the drug into the devils ranks. Sadly, the drug only seemed to work on the legion devils, but the shock that the sudden deaths of the legion devils had on the rest of the devil army was enough to slow the tide of the invasion, and the humites and gnomes slowly began reclaiming the feywyld and pushing the devils back.
pp
1 PP: Denourish Populace: Legion Devils. What do you know? Legion Devils are allergic to Noth, and in a bad way... at least for now.
1 PP: Denourish Populace: Legion Devils. What do you know? Legion Devils are allergic to Noth, and in a bad way... at least for now.
He vanished in a cloud of darkness.
-----
He reappeared high above the Imperium, looking at the goddess nearby, her chest still heaving in rage. "Masterful work, Eijra, masterful work. I did far better as a mortal, but for a beginner, your destruction is quite talented."
He helf his staff close as he watched the frost giants struggle to survive what certainly must seem an apocalypse. "I am honestly suprised, fey goddess. I would never have believed you had the heart for such work. Would you like some one more experienced to lend you a hand?", he offered, a grin on his face as he lifted the staff of ruin slightly.
"I like what you have done with children. Some creatures just are a little to complicated for me." He looked over a Gnoll and couldn't help but look at the strange way their feet and legs had formed "What was that for?"
The god of chaos frowned thoughtfully at what Grassith indicated, shrugging what passed for shoulder in his current form. "I made my children from hyenas.. they were cute and the laughed, so much more fun than stuffy bulls or preening cats! I just... let loose my power and let it do that by itself, it wouldn't be any fun if I chose EVERYTHING about my children would it? After all, it's no fun if you know what's going to happen!"
Corelloth expels a loud booming sound that sends Torvek flying towards the ground, near Chroma and Honnasia. He lands with a thud on the ground.
"AGGHHH!!!" Torvek yells in pain, as he tries to recover himself. He flaps his Brass wings to try to create a wind torrent to get up. He struggles to do so.
A while later after they'd gotten to know chroma and his children a little bit better he got up to leave. "I must be getting back to the swamps. I will visit sometime in the future. Good hunting."
----------
Vymrl continued to press his assault against Shurka, eyes gleaming wickedly as frost shuddered around his metallic form.
Damn you, fool. I shall tear you apart. I see you work with that fey ***** though, perhaps once I'm done with you, I'll leave her forever in the heart of my frozen hell, listening to the dieing screams of her followers.
With a hateful glance at Shurka, Vymrl stepped back and called to Hensen.
Lord of Madness, lest you promised false when you joined our Bronze Pantheon, aid me in slaying this one. Together, we shall rend his divine spark, and disperse it to the winds! Think too of his works of power, works that go to the victor.
PP
2PP-Mold Land:Imperium
It was about then that Torvek thudded into the ground, causing a great deal of dust and dirt to billow out into the air. That was.. so totally unexpected, so bridled with chaos, Chroma had rarely felt so exhilerated!
"See, now THAT is fun!" Chroma cried out, floating rapidly towards the fallen dragon. Once arrived he looked down, then up at the other beasts, then back down at the god. "Looks like you and you're friends are having fun! Don't play so rough though, someone might get hurt.."
She was drenched in sweat, working the artifact, when her sister came behind her and left a large pot nearby. It was filled with pure divine energy, as if it has been liquefied. The sense of the energy was not familiar to Mara; it must have been from a God she did not know. Her sister did not bother to tell her and went off. Summer would dip the artifact in the divine energy to cool it off, then hammer and shape it with the tools from Veros's workshop. Then she would shove the thing into the sun once more and repeat over and over again, until all of the liquid divine energy had been soaked into the object.
Finally, the forging was completed, and the mass of nothingness was perfect, for nothing less could be allowed. Even so, the artifact appeared as if it had no shape or form, just an shifting pocket of absence. Mara reached over to the tools and picked up a smaller piece, made of the same non-stuff. She had already finished this part. This smaller piece had more divine energy as well as other material elements, mixed with the nothingness. She took the small piece and proceeded to attach it to the larger shapeless one. The blob of void gelled over the smaller piece as if acting on of its own volition, eating a meal. The more substantive part was now completely absorbed, as if it didn't exist at all. However that piece was the primary anchor to keep the artifact from losing its cohesion with reality. Mara took a second piece and likewise molded into the artifact where the two merged together.
With the entire thing assembled, Mara inspected the artifact completely, taking her time and feeling every mote of the artifact. It was perfect, and unchangeable. She took hold of the mass into her hand, and it took a form of reality for the first time—a sword. The sword was long and thin with a slight curve to it, with a hilt type area. The sword however was not made up of parts, but entirely made of one mass. It was black, blacker than black, as if light itself turned and ran away from in it terror. There were no distinctive marks or differences in any of the supposed parts.
Without even a thought, the sworded morphed seamlessly into another weapon, but just as the first the whole weapon was one single piece of blackness. Mara was impressed with her handiwork and smiled. Just then a flash came into her mind, and the shock of the vision made her drop the artifact. She fell to the ground and clutched her head and gasped in heavy breaths.
It must have come from the power given by Shurka, but Mara was deadly certain the sword had just given her a vision of the future. Not just any future, but of the end of the world and the universe, one that overwhelmed even the Goddess. Eventually, Mara recovered from the vision, forcing it into the back of her mind and sealing it off from her consciousness. Gingerly and with great caution, she picked up the sword once again.
Nothing happened. Breathing a sigh of relief, Mara gripped it more firmly. Not wanting to trigger anything again by shaping it, Mara simply held it. She called out to her sister and soon Winter arrived and inspected it, but did not touch it. Surprisingly, perhaps, it was something both agreed without a word that Mara did not want to have. Summer proposed giving it to Shurka, but Winter told her he was currently fighting another God. What were they to do?
Show
Create Artifact – 6 PP - All Combat PP.
~~Completed Artifact~~
The Sword of No Name
The artifact is a single, indivisible entity, but for construction purposes consists of:
8 Combat PP – The “blade” providing +4
3 Create Artifact PP – Decreate PP (Keyed to Mara)
3 Create Artifact PP – Decreate PP (Keyed to Shurka)
1 Lesser Artifact – The “pommel”
1 Lesser Artifact – The “Guard”
The Crunch:
The Sword is a combat artifact that grants +4 PP power level in combat.
The Sword also generates 2 PP worth of Decreate (only), each tied to a separate God. The “ownership” of this part can change hands just like any other artifact, but a god can only possess one and never both. The Sword can use its 2 Decreate PP to sunder the opponents primary combat artifact. That is to say, it will reduce the target artifact by -1 power level permanently.
* The Sunder is activated by the wielder. The Sunder will look to the artifact PP first. If available, the 2 PP will be used from the artifact once activated. The Non-wielder must consent to the artifact's automatic nature to take possession.
* The non-wielder must consent before or afterwards to the use of generic PP if the artifact cannot be used that turn. The non-wielder can consent to a general use provision (that the god can be drawn upon at any time). Either consent must be noted publicly. If consent is not achieved by the end of the turn, the wielder must cover the missing PP or the Sunder is canceled.
* To ensure no issues, the Sword does not reduce the power level of the target god/artifact during the attack it is used. It will reduce the artifact for any further attacks that turn and beyond (until repaired when available).
* The Sword will always sunder the most powerful combat artifact in the opponents possession first. This is non-discretionary.
* If the target opponent has no combat artifacts, then the wielder may choose to sunder one (and only one) non-combat artifact with 1 or both PP.
* Sunder can only be used once per turn.
* Any artifact sundered cannot be repaired the turn it is sundered or the immediate turn after wards.
The Guard is also the first line of defense against attacks aimed directly against the Sword and acts as a power soak against any direct negation attack on the sword itself (i.e. a decreate action).
The Sword cannot be enchanted or affected by abilities, spells, rituals, or other divine artifacts (this does not apply for effects to the wielder as an entity). The Sword cannot be modified in any way, temporary or otherwise; negatively or positively. The Sword cannot be made more powerful or to have additional effects. The only exceptions are direct attacks that destroy the guard and more, and repairing the Sword from such attacks to its original status.
(I think this is everything, may be some very minor other aspects)
Fluff:
I'm a bit out of time, so here is the very concise version:
The Sword of No Name is made up, at its core, of what best can be described as the “Void,” or if you like the absence of reality. Think analogous of antimatter, the unreality of the sword, if left uncontaminated would react very badly with reality. The “Pommel” acts as the anchor and seal of the mass of unreality, and channels its negation aspect into the swords power. Thus it does not provide a positive bonus, but a negative one. It is also the power that is at the base of its ability to sunder other artifacts.
The Sword looks like one single piece, blacker than anything. Even the Hilt and its parts are undifferentiated, only the shape shows its purpose. The wielder can change the form of the sword into any standard melee weapon type sized for a medium sized creature.
The Sword was imbued with Shurka's power, and incidentally his power of prophesy. This has given the sword a very low level of thought (i.e. it has goals as according to the DM manual). The unreality of the sword is, to put it nicely, not particularly happy with being stuck into a shape and in the universe. The sword will occasionally, at certain key moments, give the wielder visions of the future. These visions are always of the end of the universe/world/Armageddon. They are always terrible traumatic to experience. The sword is usually part of or integral to the vision itself. (unbeknown to anyone, the Sword does not always give the same prophesy of doom. It may vary from wielder to wielder or even over time. The truthfulness of the prophesies is not ascertainable unless you want to start the end of the world).
The Sword of No Name is not named thus, but merely referenced to as such. Because the sword is made up of unreality, a name (which is the attachment of reality and the giving of identity) will not stick to it. If someone gives the sword a name, its unreality will simply reject, destroy, or “eat” it. The person will effectively forget he named it very soon after trying to do so. Otherwise, the sword can be referred to (it, that, the sword) normally.
(I'm sure there is more im forgetting but this is enough for now)
Create Artifact – 6 PP - All Combat PP.
~~Completed Artifact~~
The Sword of No Name
The artifact is a single, indivisible entity, but for construction purposes consists of:
8 Combat PP – The “blade” providing +4
3 Create Artifact PP – Decreate PP (Keyed to Mara)
3 Create Artifact PP – Decreate PP (Keyed to Shurka)
1 Lesser Artifact – The “pommel”
1 Lesser Artifact – The “Guard”
The Crunch:
The Sword is a combat artifact that grants +4 PP power level in combat.
The Sword also generates 2 PP worth of Decreate (only), each tied to a separate God. The “ownership” of this part can change hands just like any other artifact, but a god can only possess one and never both. The Sword can use its 2 Decreate PP to sunder the opponents primary combat artifact. That is to say, it will reduce the target artifact by -1 power level permanently.
* The Sunder is activated by the wielder. The Sunder will look to the artifact PP first. If available, the 2 PP will be used from the artifact once activated. The Non-wielder must consent to the artifact's automatic nature to take possession.
* The non-wielder must consent before or afterwards to the use of generic PP if the artifact cannot be used that turn. The non-wielder can consent to a general use provision (that the god can be drawn upon at any time). Either consent must be noted publicly. If consent is not achieved by the end of the turn, the wielder must cover the missing PP or the Sunder is canceled.
* To ensure no issues, the Sword does not reduce the power level of the target god/artifact during the attack it is used. It will reduce the artifact for any further attacks that turn and beyond (until repaired when available).
* The Sword will always sunder the most powerful combat artifact in the opponents possession first. This is non-discretionary.
* If the target opponent has no combat artifacts, then the wielder may choose to sunder one (and only one) non-combat artifact with 1 or both PP.
* Sunder can only be used once per turn.
* Any artifact sundered cannot be repaired the turn it is sundered or the immediate turn after wards.
The Guard is also the first line of defense against attacks aimed directly against the Sword and acts as a power soak against any direct negation attack on the sword itself (i.e. a decreate action).
The Sword cannot be enchanted or affected by abilities, spells, rituals, or other divine artifacts (this does not apply for effects to the wielder as an entity). The Sword cannot be modified in any way, temporary or otherwise; negatively or positively. The Sword cannot be made more powerful or to have additional effects. The only exceptions are direct attacks that destroy the guard and more, and repairing the Sword from such attacks to its original status.
(I think this is everything, may be some very minor other aspects)
Fluff:
I'm a bit out of time, so here is the very concise version:
The Sword of No Name is made up, at its core, of what best can be described as the “Void,” or if you like the absence of reality. Think analogous of antimatter, the unreality of the sword, if left uncontaminated would react very badly with reality. The “Pommel” acts as the anchor and seal of the mass of unreality, and channels its negation aspect into the swords power. Thus it does not provide a positive bonus, but a negative one. It is also the power that is at the base of its ability to sunder other artifacts.
The Sword looks like one single piece, blacker than anything. Even the Hilt and its parts are undifferentiated, only the shape shows its purpose. The wielder can change the form of the sword into any standard melee weapon type sized for a medium sized creature.
The Sword was imbued with Shurka's power, and incidentally his power of prophesy. This has given the sword a very low level of thought (i.e. it has goals as according to the DM manual). The unreality of the sword is, to put it nicely, not particularly happy with being stuck into a shape and in the universe. The sword will occasionally, at certain key moments, give the wielder visions of the future. These visions are always of the end of the universe/world/Armageddon. They are always terrible traumatic to experience. The sword is usually part of or integral to the vision itself. (unbeknown to anyone, the Sword does not always give the same prophesy of doom. It may vary from wielder to wielder or even over time. The truthfulness of the prophesies is not ascertainable unless you want to start the end of the world).
The Sword of No Name is not named thus, but merely referenced to as such. Because the sword is made up of unreality, a name (which is the attachment of reality and the giving of identity) will not stick to it. If someone gives the sword a name, its unreality will simply reject, destroy, or “eat” it. The person will effectively forget he named it very soon after trying to do so. Otherwise, the sword can be referred to (it, that, the sword) normally.
(I'm sure there is more im forgetting but this is enough for now)
Meanwhile, across Azora, the people prospered and grew. Villages grew to towns, and none grew hungry. The Azorans learned new methods in agriculture and expanded across the island.
Inside his mighty fortress, Azor'Chapien finished sharpening his sword. The time was soon. He would unleash his next plan... as soon as the Azorans were ready... only a matter of waiting...
PP Expenditure
1+1 PP (King Valden) Guide Populace: The Azorans have mastered the techniques of steel armor and weapons.
2 PP Guide Populace: The Azorans have mastered agriculture.
1 PP Nourish Populace: The Azorans prosper.
2 PP Guide Populace: The Azorans have mastered agriculture.
1 PP Nourish Populace: The Azorans prosper.
Dolestre lands beside him. "Are you okay? Corelloth disappeared... for now..." She points up to the sky.
"Ugghh... That's the least of my problems..." Torvek says angrily. He puts his chakram back into his holder and he wills it away. Dolestre wills her beam sword away.
"Errgg... Sorry about the comotion you two. I just had to battle my archnemisis. My name is Torvek, and this here is my sister- Dolestre." He points to his Platinum dragon sister, who seems to be just as gleeful as Chroma.
"Hi." She waves with a smile.
Frowning in thought, the child god had one question. "By the way, what's an arck nemeesisis? Is that like, best friend?"
"No- more like a worst enemy- a person that you want to wreak vengeance upon with your heart. Corelloth destroyed our homeworld when we were small, and now we seek to exact our revenge upon her. She is a dragon filled with pure evil and hatred for all gods." Torvek inquires to Chroma.
To Honnasia:
"No thanks- I don't have any money with me- nor do I have anything to bargain." Torvek says. "I must say- the both of you seem to be in a joyful mood. I guess the light must be infectious enough to spark bouts of joy and laughter. I'm sometimes that way- whenever I don't fight Corelloth..."
When Torvek mentioned that they seemed happy, Chroma had to smile and giggle. "Of course I am silly, why wouldn't I be? The whole world is nothing but a colourful playground, with non-stop games and tonnes of friends! So much more fun than watching Mother churn about."
"Exactly! It's just that... well, my family... perished at that time..." He lowers his head in sadness. He remembers his parents well.
Dolestre puts a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find them someday- you can count on it."
But this wasn't the time to focus on his own sorrow! No, he should be cheering up his new friend! Smiling, Chroma floated happily closer to the brass dragon. "She's right you know! You'll find them, and you'll all live happily together like you did before. So stop thinking about sadness, and just look at all the wonderful things around you. It'll turn your frown upisde down!" As if to illustrate his point, the god of chaos turned in the air until he was looking at the dragon upside down, beaming happily.
PP Expenditure
1 PP - Chroma forms the lesser domain of Joy
1 PP - Chroma forms the lesser domain of Joy
The fair Goddess mumbled hoarsly as the earth under her shook. Her eyes were wide-open, a grind rested upon her lips, a grin that grew and grew for each passing hour.
" Crush it, Burn it, Drown it, Make the world whole again, Make the child-slayers pay! "
She turned around against Drevan. Her eyes were dense, unfocused and undoubly mad as she spoke to him.
" Make the world pay! Make the world pay! Make the greedy, selfish GODS OF THIS ACCURSED WORLD PAY! "
She roared against the sky high above.
The earth trembled, the oceans stormed and the world itself seemed to weep as it´s fair Goddess let loose her rage upon it.
Eijra
"Now, now, Fey Goddess, who are you to determine what shape the world should be in?"
He laughed as he brushed that point aside, moving on. "You want the child-slayers to pay? Then you should pay, Eijra. Did you not just slaughter thousands of children in your petty rage? What should your punishment be, Eijra?"
He laughed as he brushed that point aside, moving on. "You want the child-slayers to pay? Then you should pay, Eijra. Did you not just slaughter thousands of children in your petty rage? What should your punishment be, Eijra?"
He began flipping through planes, until deciding on exploring the prime some more. He had already seen a bit of the sun in the Palace that Drahthor kept there, but he began to explore more of it. Eventually he found another god there, seemingly in two bodies. They were inspecting, something. Sword shaped, it was composed of null, without being at all.
"If you would excuse me, who are you, and what is that null-blade?" he inquired.
Donassia looked back over them briefly and tranported himself to his original destination, Azora. There he took his original humite guise and walked amoung the people, doing his best not to interupt what was going on. As he watched he noticed that they seemed to be preparing for war. A few different times he spotted the Steel weapons. Right then he tried to announce his presence to the God of the people. As he was tired he did little more then let his aura spread to its limits and walk around in view of the people.
Azor'Chapien sensed another god in his realm. One he was yet to meet... perhaps an ally, perhaps a foe. Either way, he would need to meet with him. So, using a bit of telepathy, he spoke into the other god's mind: I have sensed your presence on my island... travel to the tallest mountain above the capital city. You will find me there.
When he reached the top he stopped and waited for the other god.
Eijra simply stared at Drevan as he spoke, his words passed by her confused mind as if they were nothing more then the incoherent buzz of a wasp.
" Children? They are not children! THEY ARE MURDERERS! As my people lived with the land, as my people traded peacefully they prepared themself for war! They came uninvited with fire, steel and magic and everything in their way withered and died! "
The fair Goddess screamed and raised a clenched fist against the clear sky and the sky cracked.
Portals opened in the sky and down from the sky Fey Dragons swept down and settled among the wreckage of what had once been the Imperium. Mighty and proud beasts they were and vast was the suffering they handed out to the Ice Giants.
1PP from Exarch: Guide Populace, Fey Dragons swoops down from the Feywyld and settles the Imperium.
(10 vs. 10. A draw)
"I have no regrets. But I'm honored to see you deem me a worth enough opponent that you ask for help. But then again, I saw all of this coming. I know what will happen. I'm surprised that you're a member of this Bronze Pantheon, Hensen. Then again, maybe not. Do me a favor and help Veros. It's all I ask."
"Indeed I'm part of the Pantheon, I was the one who initiated it and while I did not hate you I'll not betray my brethren... as for Veros I'll do as you ask lord Shurka, but he will need your help for that, don't waste your potential by fighting us..."
"Brother Vrymil isn't conquest the point of war? Will not a pointless slaguther just lower the glory? I'll help you as you ask, but I'll not shed divine blood, should he surrender.
The land is ours, its inhabitants escaped, fugitives scattered trough the winds, but the whole contient and I dare to say the world, is opened to us for future conquest.
Should we not allow a worthy adversary the chance to see another day?"
Then Hensen stormy form surrounded Shurka ominously, getting ready to close on the god.
PP
1 - Help Vymrl in the fight with Shurka, however Hensen support only in subduing Shurka and not in killing him.
1 - Help Vymrl in the fight with Shurka, however Hensen support only in subduing Shurka and not in killing him.
As Azor'Chapien appeared Honassia had bowed slightly in respect. After that he'd taken his usually conversational stance with his legs crossed sitting directly in front of the god he was conversing with.
Honassia looked down in deep thought for a second.
"Then you shall have my arm to assist you when the time comes. I would like to be in control of my old kin, at least as much as in control as you can be, and together I have a much better chance of success then I do alone. You might want to spread thoose maces out through your ranks a little more, the last time I checked swords and polearms had a tendacy to get locked into the bones of the skeletons, and there will be a lot of them to contend with by the time that this all gets done with."
In a quick flash, right before Hensen was able to subdue Shurka, the Fey energy surrounding his body dispersed, and his staff vanished from his hands.
"You must know that I have seen this coming as well, Vymrl. The spoils you seek will not be owned by you. There is something... else. You have the chance now. This is as far as I have forseen. Kill me. Or let me live. It's your choice."
(The Staff of Shurka and Feyspark are now in possession of Eijra (Total of +3 combat). My combat bonus is down to 7 allowing Vymrl to kill or imprison me if he wants)
Honassia stood up and looked down over the city and the armies gathering. "Tell me Azor, how do you feel about using the dead to bolster your ranks?"
Honassia paced back and forth "We should try and avoid drevan then, and it'd probably be best if the gods that we get to help stay together while the war is going, I'd hate for one of us to be destroyed."
Chroma's eye looked sympathetically at the dragons. It wasn't the same, but he'd lost a lot of his children some time ago... and it hurt when he saw what they had become. Not nearly as much as seeing his wayward children waging war against his loyal ones though, the child god felt like weeping every time the bands had so much as a skirmish.
But this wasn't the time to focus on his own sorrow! No, he should be cheering up his new friend! Smiling, Chroma floated happily closer to the brass dragon. "She's right you know! You'll find them, and you'll all live happily together like you did before. So stop thinking about sadness, and just look at all the wonderful things around you. It'll turn your frown upisde down!" As if to illustrate his point, the god of chaos turned in the air until he was looking at the dragon upside down, beaming happily.PP Expenditure
1 PP - Chroma forms the lesser domain of Joy
"It is time" he said to himself, looking around the empty library. It was time. Time to fill this place up with the books and stories of the world. But who could he trust to this task? The Loremasters had fallen into arguing with themselves, and no other organized group was as dedicated to knowledge as them. Plus, Nixis had to admit that the ponderous organization of the Loremasters made him uneasy. Too much order led to stagnation and corruption.
But why go with an organized group at all? When instead, all he really needed were people whose hearts were true and truly wanted to fulfill his desire to catalogue the knowledge of the world.
Nixis pulled out the Astral Shard, and held it before him. He concentrated, only using a tiny bit of his energy, dribbling it out into a set of roughly a hundred small stones that glimmered as if coated in a thin sheen of oil. On each of them, he imprinted a symbol of a book, and then, gathering them all together, he threw them up into the air, where they scattered, dissapearing through the folds of reality and reappearing in the possession of a hundred mortals who Nixis felt were worthy. Upon holding the stone and walking through any portal, the holder would find himself entering the Library through one of the portals in the habitation centers. Nixis instructed the Driders to greet the new arrivals when they came, and make them feel welcome and explain the purpose of this place. In the meantime, he wanted to check up on Azor'Chapien and see if Honassia had come to visit him yet. Right before he went, he separated some letters from his body and formed them into a message, which he sent to go find Mara
Mara
"Im sorry I didn't stop to introduce myself earlier, but I saw you were busy and did not want to disturb you. My name is Nixis, and Shurka contacted me about the location of your father... sadly, I lack the strength to free him myself, but I hope that when you are ready, the two of us can work together to save him."
"Im sorry I didn't stop to introduce myself earlier, but I saw you were busy and did not want to disturb you. My name is Nixis, and Shurka contacted me about the location of your father... sadly, I lack the strength to free him myself, but I hope that when you are ready, the two of us can work together to save him."
Then, Azor'Chapien sensed Nixis approaching. He grinned, and said, "We may already have another ally... he's on his way now, I think..."
-------------------------
They finally reach Xeronet, and they spot the two dragons at the front gate.
"There you are! What took you?" Schallk exclaims.
"Sorry- we had a confrontation with Corelloth." Torvek replies.
"Ugghh... that's a problem..." Teragorn shakes his head.
"Well, down to business, you two. Corelloth is getting ready to mobilize a large army of small reptilianoids to wage war against Anorbus. We do not know when she will be done with this, but all we know is that she is focusing her attention on Anorbus and the Dragon Council." Schallk explains.
"And at the same time, focusing her attention here." Torvek says.
"What? She's planning to...?" Teragorn and Schallk look at each other.
"Yes- she's planning to do so." Torvek inquires.
"That... bastard!" Teragorn yells in a fierce voice. "She must be stopped by all means! If she's multitasking like this, she could get rid of either world with the snap of her fingers! Damn!" He slams his foot on the ground.
"Devils. Burning. Fiends of Doom. Evil. FeyWyld. Cant. Escape. Devils..."
The Humite kept saying nonsense, rocking back and forth on the ground holding onto his shoulder, which bled from a long gash.
One of the Gnomes that had been dragged along looked up at the soldiers.
"He needs help. Can you take us to a healer?"
The soldiers conferred with one another, and resolved to take the humite and the gnomes to the nearest leader: Yorik.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis spiraled downwards, landing before the two gods and assuming his humanoid form. He gestured around to the Azorans.
"Err... Hi, Azor'Chapien. Planning something... aggressive?"
"And we must also find out what she is planning to do with Anorbus. We should up our forces and increase the Heradi and Perculean armies to prepare for war." Teragorn adds.
"Right- Dolestre amd I will go around to warn everyone. In the meantime, tell me what's happening down there." Torvek says.
"We will. Take care, you two."" And with that, both Schallk and Teragorn teleport back to the natural world.
Torvek and Dolestre look at each other and nod.
"What happened here? The nation is desert and now this..." He asked to the survivors after they recovered
"What are you doing?" Dolestre asks.
"Creating the lifeforce of the world- Radiant Energy." Torvek replies.
He completes the fusion of all of his lesser domains into one large domain- Radiance.
"I'm ready- let's go." Torvek says.
PP expenditure
3pp- Create Greater Domain from 3 Lesser Domains- Courage, Day, and Insight. Greater Domain- Radiance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis thought for a moment, looking around at the preparations being made.
"In principle, any chance to destroy some evil undead is fine by me... but I fear the retribution of the one called Drevan. He put a great deal of destructive power into the place, and the bards are telling tales of how those who enter the grey wastes return as skeletons to attack their former homes. I would help you to destroy that evil power of the land itself, if you asked, but I would not wish to commit my gnomes to such an operation until I could be sure that reprisal by Drevan was no longer an issue."
Nixis glanced towards Honassia.
"Not that all undead are evil, of course. I've invited one of your Liches to join other scholars in creating a storehouse of knowledge. I'm sure his lifetimes of learning will prove valuable."
Nixis relates the discovery of the location of Veros behind the blockade.
"Of the other gods, I would go find Shurka and Eijra, as they are the most likely to wish to help destroy the creations of Drevan."
"Azor'Chapien? You really should stay back right now..."
As he neared the spot where she had dissapeared, he froze, coming to a halt as abruptly as he could. He had found Eijra, alright... but the reason she had dissapeared was because she was with the exact person Nixis was travelling to get her help in fighting: Drevan. As he watched, Eijra summoned up dragons to attack the lands below, and Nixis' heart (if he had had a heart), quailed in terror, especially as his eyes came to rest upon Shurka's staff now resting in her hands. Eijra had gone mad.
Turning, he sped off in the direction of Terena... hoping the feeling of dread he was feeling turned out to be nothing...
Crack
Eijra simply stared at Drevan as he spoke, his words passed by her confused mind as if they were nothing more then the incoherent buzz of a wasp.
" Children? They are not children! THEY ARE MURDERERS! As my people lived with the land, as my people traded peacefully they prepared themself for war! They came uninvited with fire, steel and magic and everything in their way withered and died! ".
He smiled at her, the first honest smile he had had since his death. "They came uninvited with fire, steel, and magic, to kill your people, to kill their children. But they came with such things that your people could respond to. They came as mortal against mortal."
He slowly slipped up behind her, whispering in here ear as he pointed at the land below. "Yet, here you are, unleashing sea, earth, and dragons against them, destroying their children with forces they have no ability to defend themselves from. You come against these mortals as a god. How could they ever hope to defend themselves, to protect their own children?
----
Gorion smiled as he watched his forces from high above in the feywild, watched them retreat. He had accomplished what he'd wanted. Many humites dead, dozens of scorched and burnt land in the feywild, and more souls to advance his own power.
He had aided the forces of the other god, as he had promised, and now they withdrew. He had giants to tempt.
***
Meanwhile, the gnolls thrived with their new technology and tactics. The gnolls of the Hunt used their bows to hunt additional meat, and their shelters to protect them from the savages of nature, resulting in a population boom. The gnolls of slaughter, on the other hand, glutted on minotaur flesh, their numbers growing with their new success on the battlefield.
PP Expenditure
1 PP from Veil: Nourish gnolls
1 PP from Veil: Nourish gnolls
And deep below the city, in the labrithine tunnels, the gnomes were getting closer to finding their way into the sealed off regions such as the War Quarter.
PP
1 PP: Guide Populace(-1 for proximity): Gnomes learn Silverworking from the Alexandrians.
1 PP: Guide Populace(-1 for proximity): Gnomes learn Alchemy from the Humites
1 PP: Nourish Populace(The Circle): The Circle grows in power, gaining influence amongst those living on the edges of the city and beyond.
1 PP: Guide Populace(-1 for proximity): Gnomes learn Silverworking from the Alexandrians.
1 PP: Guide Populace(-1 for proximity): Gnomes learn Alchemy from the Humites
1 PP: Nourish Populace(The Circle): The Circle grows in power, gaining influence amongst those living on the edges of the city and beyond.
Most of yorik forces was composed of full blooded humites and they were loyal to their leader even if his orders went against the ones of Freedomguard council.
However the loyality of some of them was not so unquestionable.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"... and so they has found a way out of our grasp and there were devils too, this is quite interesting...." told general Dokha to his attendant, while the original general might have, wrongly, trusted his son, the thing that now controlled Dokha did not and had some spies infiltrate his and Yorik foces.
When the invasion begun he almost felt his grasp closing on Terena, after soo much time back in power.
Then he has found the nation void of life, he has witnessed Shurka fury against the Imperium forces, has heard about the divine wrath unleashed against the giants land, that might cause a set back in the plan.
"They have chosen a quite secure place where to hide, if we lead our forces there they might get lost or defeated by the land itself... Anyway I think we should cohordinate our efforts with the Imperium, send an emissary to their most important surving officer" he ordered.
Than he turned back to the window of the Red Hawk looking from a safe distance toward the fighting gods.
Hammu heard the call and entered the courts, spotting Winter Mara.
"Have we met?"
"I have been led to believe that this place is home to a so-called tribunal of gods, that this tribunal seeks and and metes punishment to those who would so offend the natural order and the gods, " Mara said, with an exaggerated sweep of her head and eyes around the room.
"And yet, despite the revelation of an usurper, this supposed tribunal has done nothing, absconding its very function!"
"I demand to know what you intend to do!"
***
Within Alexandria uproar rose within the Circle. Their adventures into restricted Quarters had proven more dangerous than anticipated. Corpses began to turn up, floating mangled within the sewers or cocooned in ethereal silk.
Within the War Quarter experiments ran apace. Noth played with like a new toy, and new derivatives created for use in battle. The toxic drugs proved highly volatile, prone to becoming deadly and resulting in horrible addiction. The humans though cared little for the drawbacks, the possible use in battle intoxicating to the magewrights.
The angels too found themselves experimented upon. Noth and Madness used liberally on the volunteers. Over time new castes arose, the result of training and experimentation.
The Council watched the war warily, readying their own soldiers to send into battle at need. Waiting only for a perfect time to strike.
Actions
1PP from Great Cathedral +1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria discovers the secrets of Noth, and refine a drug from it aptly dubbed Madness. This new drug tends to cause severe psychological damage in those who take it and is highly addictive.
1PP from Stars +1PP, Nourish Populace: Angels develop the Angel of Supremacy and Authority.
1PP from Leylines +1PP, Spawn Template: Archangels... a direct result of Noth experiments.
1PP from Stars +1PP, Nourish Populace: Angels develop the Angel of Supremacy and Authority.
1PP from Leylines +1PP, Spawn Template: Archangels... a direct result of Noth experiments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Circle was dismayed at the recent turn of events. Its agents dead, killed by who knows what under the city, and now this new Madness drug, which, according to their alchemists was clearly some form of refined Noth. They HAD to get into those forbidden sections. Different factions rose up within the Circle. Some wanted to use force to break through the Guard in the dead of night, others felt the underground passages held promise, and still others searched for a third route, and began looking for ways to copy the powers of the Human Sorcerors.
PP
1 PP (From Chukwa): Nourish Populace. Diaspora grows even larger as the humite refugees begin to integrate into the city.
1 PP (From Chukwa): Nourish Populace. Diaspora grows even larger as the humite refugees begin to integrate into the city.
"You go over that way- I'll go the other." Torvek directs her downstream.
"Okay- how will we reach each other?" Dolestre inquires.
"Master! You're okay!" Hondala appears and floats toward Torvek.
"Well there you are. I was starting to worry about you." Torvek smiles. He nods at Dolestre. "This is how."
"This is how... what? Who is this?" Hondala stares at Dolestre with her blank face.
"I'm Dolestre- Torvek's sister." Dolestre replies.
"WHA-? You're wha...?" Hondala is surprised about this discovery. Dolestre laughs at hondala's reaction. "Well it ain't funny to laugh at an Archon, especially one like me, missy!"
"Hey- whoa! Chill..." Torvek holds Hondala in his hand. "You really need to control your emotions. She is my sister from my time. What I want you to do is to be our relay. We have a serious problem."
"What kind of problem?" Hondala asks feverishly.
Torvek glares at her.
"Oh- that kind... Okay." Hondala floats just before his right shoulder.
"Right- let's go." And they both go down the Skyway River- opposite of each other, for now...
"As for this revelation of a usurper, I have felt a change in Balance. I went out into the world in search of the disturbance, but found nothing. Am I to understand that you know the source?"
"I do not know what disrupted this 'Balance' that you speak of, but I do know that there was a disturbance that sent waves across the fabric of time. This bubble of it that I have *Pulls out bubble* was greatly disturbed by it, similar to when Veros brought a goddess through time to the present. Would either of you know her name? I never learned it."
-------------------------------
Meanwhile, Dolestre went to Beacon to find any gods there. She goes to the palace and knocks on the great door.
-------------------------------
Torvek finds the place where Azor'Chapien is, but it seems that there is a battle going on. His chakram appears in his holder.
"Oh dear- Shurka!" Hondala yells as she spots the helpless god.
"Azor'! Hold on!" Torvek yells as he draws his chakram.
----------
Dolestre finds the great hall empty of all but servants, but as she turns to leave, she notices a crowd of people outside the magnificent Courts of the Magistrate.
-----------------------------
He surrounds himself with a radiant flame for protection. "Maybe I came at the wrong time..." He readies his chakram to recieve head-on attacks, as he rears to find Azor'Chapien somewhere else. "...Or should I help Shurka?"
Azor'Chapien turned around briefly, seeing Tovrek heading for him. Keeping his sword drawn, he said, "Tovrek? Do you have any idea whats going on here? Because I really have no clue. Besides, what are you doing here anyway?"
"Azor'! There you are. Golly- I have no clue either." He turns around to see the others fighting. "I need to warn you about something big. We have a problem- a BIG problem..." Torvek stares at Azor'Chapien.
"Azor'! There you are. Golly- I have no clue either." He turns around to see the others fighting. "I need to warn you about something big. We have a problem- a BIG problem..." Torvek stares at Azor'Chapien.
Azor'Chapien shrugged and said, "I'm not sure if it can be as big a problem as Shurka getting himself killed, but I think we need to worry about THIS first, don't you think?"
Hammu fixed his gaze on Mara. "The function of this court is to hear any case brought before it and render a just verdict, not to act as viligante agents of justice. If you wish to bring a case against another god, you are more than welcome."
"As for this revelation of a usurper, I have felt a change in Balance. I went out into the world in search of the disturbance, but found nothing. Am I to understand that you know the source?"
"Unacceptable. You are supposedly the God of Justice. It is your responsibility to bring a case to this tribunal. It is your responsibility to make a case of it; to enforce the rule of law! It is your duty more than any other!
Bring the usurper here! Do whatever you must, but it is your responsibility! Or are you telling me you are nothing more than a sniviling bureaucrat!"
Mara has become visibly angry, her voice raised but steady. At this time, Summer shows up to stand at her sister's side, silent so far, but carrying a rather ominously looking black-as-night sword.
He slowed down as he started to notice that there were no workers in the field. When he was just outside the city he landed and walked carefully into the city.
"You speak of usurption. I ask usurption of whom, by what force? I sought out these answers and found nothing. You seem to have a more clear picture of what has happened, and I wish that you would share it with me rather than simply demanding that I 'do something'. "
Hammu continued on mildly "You forget, or perhaps you never knew, that before I was Justice, I was Law. My law is written in this very court, and I will uphold it. Here. Read for yourself:"
The 3 Laws of the Court
The Three Laws of the Court:
Law: The Court of Three may hear any case brought against a god by another god. Justice, Order and the embodiment of the pertinent domain shall judge and punish at their discretion.
Justice: The Court of Three will hear the case against any God-killer. Justice, Order and Life shall decide if the killing was justified, and what punishment is to be applied if it was not.
Truth: The Court of Three will punish, at their discretion, any god (whether accused, accuser or witness) who is found to perjure before the Court.
The Three Laws of the Court:
Law: The Court of Three may hear any case brought against a god by another god. Justice, Order and the embodiment of the pertinent domain shall judge and punish at their discretion.
Justice: The Court of Three will hear the case against any God-killer. Justice, Order and Life shall decide if the killing was justified, and what punishment is to be applied if it was not.
Truth: The Court of Three will punish, at their discretion, any god (whether accused, accuser or witness) who is found to perjure before the Court.
Shurka had an idea. Mara had said that the artifact she was constructing would help fight Drevan. Perhpas it could be used here as well. It was worth a try."
A white dove landed on Summer's shoulder. It whipsered in her ear.
"Lord Shurka wishes to inquire if he could use your newest creation. If it's completed, that is."
Azor'Chapien nodded. "I was actually here to ask for your help, but you look like you're the one who needs help at the moment."
"Shurka, I'll help too. Azor'Chapien-" Torvek nods at Azor'.
"Let me make this perfectly clear. I want you to press the charges and I want you enforce the rules. That is your job. If you refuse to do it, or are simply incompetent, then I you are useless, and this is all nothing more than a false facade. And I will be rid of it."
Summer stepped forward and in front of the seething Wtiner, putting her hand on her sister to keep her at bay. With unusual come, she said to Hammu. "I am the Goddess of retribution, something that is the a foundation for your own power. If you continue to refuse to perform your duties to this world, then the pressure will begin to build and push against me, until I will be forced to take over. What has happened is so egregious, it is an act against the very nature of the world, and you, as you would say, have inherent jurisdiction. You must not wait for someone else to complain, but take it upon your own initiative to act."
"I will not restrain my sister again." Summer said. She turned to her sister. "I have to go, Shurka has asked for help."
She left her stewing sister, and flew off to find a battle between gods going on. Shurka could see the dasterdly sword. "Hello," Summer said in a long drawn-out way.
She paused before continuing, speaking slowly with her eyes distant, "It has . . . told me, that it wants to be wielded by you."
"It is yours if you want it." She held out the sword, the object seaminsly morphing to present a sort of pure black handle to Shurka.
Shurka grabbed the sword. The sword felt right in his hand. Like it had always been there.
"I don't expect you to get any more involved with this matter. Good luck with freeing Veros. If I get out of this okay, I'll be able to help you free him."
(10 vs. 12 now. Vymrl needs Hensen's help to defeat Shurka which means he can only be subdued not killed, by terms of Hensen's aid.)
[The Sword's sunder (decreate) cannot be used until next turn]
As the words left his rime glazed lips, Vymrl raised the Niflendar Flamborge high above his head, and with a terrible cry, brought it sweeping down, glistening dully in the aweful light pulsating from Vymrl's body. The blade bit deep into the prostrate god's, sweeping through the divine flesh as golden blood spurted into the air. Lifting the head high, Vymrl roared his victory, as Shurka's life blood spilled down his arm, freezing into the ice.
Then, Vymrl took Shurka's corpse and vanished, stepping through space and time to the prison plane of Tamurung. There he entombed the body in ice, setting Argus to watch over the corpse.
------------
The Ice Monoliths, still in the lands of the Imperium, fought back against the Fey Dragons, while S'kre also arrived, wreaking slaughter amongst them.
PP
1PP (Argus)-Imprison God?? ((Stopping domains from being dispersed))
"Do something!" he hissed to Azor'Chapien. "That god is responsible for driving not only the humites, but my gnomes out of their homes. At least force him to stop and see reason, surrounded as he is."
"Or maybe we can all stop fighting among each other and let the mortals decide what is going to happen here... While we focus on other matters, like stopping the one who manage to steal divinity, a practice that should be eradicated"
"But it seems like there is something more important going on right now involving Drevan. Perhaps we should settle this all later; right now it seems like there are more pressing matters."
"You continue to demand that I "do something", that I "enforce the law", without telling me what it is that you want me to do. You have not bothered to inform me what this "usurption" is that you demand be reversed."
"This Court is structured as a forum for gods to air their complaints against each other before an impartial triune. It is that way for a reason- none of us can have complete knowledge of the world's events. Therefore, the Court depends on you to come to it when you feel wronged. You obviously know of something that you feel merits my attention,"
Hammu's voice raised: "SO TELL ME WHAT IT IS!"
----------
In the cavern in the center of the Underdark, the place where gravity itself twisted and morphed according to the laws of some unknown force, Rabi studied the Delver's Knot that he had created to ease the Rakshasa's passage through the earth. He wanted a new space, one that would conform to his will. The gravity was a start- the Knot pushed away from itself, but more was needed. Deep in thought, Rabi began to work.
----------
In Beacon, Ahura oversaw the training of the Argent Guard. He had learned ways of fighting that he had not see before even in the brief encounter with Rakshasa in which he was slain, and since her revival in Hammu's hands, she had learned much more from the trade guards that accompanied foreign caravans. Their instruction was valued highly, and their lessons taken to heart. Beacon's Argent Guard was becoming a force to be reckoned with.
----------
Rabi let his mind go blank, and stepped through the doorway he had made. He found himself in a large space; the walls curved away both upwards and along their length. In the center, water flowed from top to bottom (or is that side to side? Rabi wasn't sure). He did know that he wanted an easier way to move around the world, and in his soul he knew Hammu would like the balance of what it was he was creating.
PP
1PP +1PP (Rabi the Smith) Create Demiplane: The Delver's Knot now acts as a doorway into a separate space, The Place Between Places. The plane is shaped like the inside of a doughnut; gravity points towards the "exterior" surface, and the Skyway River flows through the center.
+1PP (The Code) (-1 for cultural contact) Guide Populace: Beacon learns Combat Tactics from Free Nation trade guards.
+1PP (Ahura the Reborn) Nourish Populace: Beacon grows in strength
3PP Create Artifact: Rabi fashions The Zenith, a portal in the Place Between Places. It can be tuned to form a temporary portal to any location on the Prime plane. It also grants +1 Create PP, which automatically forms a 1PP permanent portal to any new moderate or greater landmass formed in the Prime plane.
1PP +1PP (Rabi the Smith) Create Demiplane: The Delver's Knot now acts as a doorway into a separate space, The Place Between Places. The plane is shaped like the inside of a doughnut; gravity points towards the "exterior" surface, and the Skyway River flows through the center.
+1PP (The Code) (-1 for cultural contact) Guide Populace: Beacon learns Combat Tactics from Free Nation trade guards.
+1PP (Ahura the Reborn) Nourish Populace: Beacon grows in strength
3PP Create Artifact: Rabi fashions The Zenith, a portal in the Place Between Places. It can be tuned to form a temporary portal to any location on the Prime plane. It also grants +1 Create PP, which automatically forms a 1PP permanent portal to any new moderate or greater landmass formed in the Prime plane.
I'm sure that Drevan is a quite more dangerous menace for the divine oder this war.
What do you think my brother, shall we settle this "peacefully" by bringing Shurka in front of the Court while we turn our power on more urgent matters"
to Vymrl
Hensen sent also a mental message to the god of war, "And we could let our invasion forces conquer the land while divine action is focused elsewere"
Hensen sent also a mental message to the god of war, "And we could let our invasion forces conquer the land while divine action is focused elsewere"
He'd created the lich to be the guides of the assassins. They wouldn't have to be replaced and as time went by they would get more powerful and learn more of what worked and didn't work. His first task would be to get them together in a place that he could keep his eye on them. The next step was not as clear to him but he felt that it would come up when the time came.
For now though he left the empty town to whatever it was had attacked it, slipping away into a nearby cove of trees and silently heading back for the city that he had the skeletons he'd raised make.
He whispered to them continually. For a simple bargain, they could have the aid they needed to free their lands from the invaders.
-----
"Fey mistress, you have shown that we are more alike then you might wish. I grew up along side youe children, learned their ways, and lived under their laws. I still remember, and I remember that this is not you."
Drevan pulled back from Eijra's ear. "There is no point in this, if you are going to act as something you are not. In a way, you are worse than I am. I admit what I am, and what I do. You hide your true self behind a facade, only revealing your true self when your rage overcomes your restraint."
He lifted the Staff of Veros. "I must correct Shurka's meddling. It may have an impact on my future plans." In a flash of light, restored what had been taken.
Looking over at Eijra, he searched his mind for a distant memory. "Until we meet again, beautiful." He grinned, then vanished in a cloud of shadows.
-----
The Gray Wastes festered and burned, growing strong by the day. Charged with necrotifc energies, it slowly grew a mind of it's own.
-----
A slow pulse rippled through the Farscape. Then another. For a while, the entire plane pulsed with energy, shaking and churning, it's mists roiling with unknown power. Then all fell still.
Across the world, more deva appeared, the Farscape unconciously birthing more into the world.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Humites worship Veros
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Warforged worship Veros
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Elves worship Veros
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Deva
1 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Create Plane (Lesser) - The Gray Wastes takes on some of the properties of a demi-plane
Gray Wastes
The Gray Wastes are the proud beneficiary of a new river, with the skyway river penetrating it. The Gray Wastes are an unusual plane. Unlike most demi-planes, it cannot be moved and it does not entitle it's own to free molding of the land. It can be accessed on foot, as one would expect, and is largely the same as it was, just slightly intelligent now.
In her hand, she grasped a bit of mist, and molded it, shaping it to her will. In her other hand, she grasped some more mist, and shaped that as well, infusing the two with divine power. When she was done, she hurled the two at the misty world. They hurtled towards it like meteors from above, and collided with the sphere, sending tremors through its delicate form. She smiled, and wove a net of earth and rock over her creations, concealing them from view, concealing them from harm. Now they lurked beneath the surface of the world, waiting only to be called upon. She smiled, and reclined in her chair.
PP Expenditure
3 PP Ascend Exarch Tarrasque the Bloody: This exarch is bound within the earth beneath Taldar, waiting to be called upon. He shares the statistics of the Tarrasque from the Monster Manual. He provides 1 PP towards Create actions.
3 PP Ascend Exarch Kismet the Cold: This terrifying exarch of winter exists deep beneath the continent of Ardune, and the powers of winter and cold are hers to command. She provides 1 PP for Nourish actions.
3 PP Ascend Exarch Kismet the Cold: This terrifying exarch of winter exists deep beneath the continent of Ardune, and the powers of winter and cold are hers to command. She provides 1 PP for Nourish actions.
The storm continued to intensify, and the earth began to shake with tremors of increasing intensity. Inside the Court, Mara's anger at the apparent unwillingness of the Hammu to understand only made things worse. "Of course you don't know everything! But you should know when the natural law has been violated. It is inherent in your nature."
She began to stammer in her anger, "You--" she tried continuing speaking but her anger had built up to much. She was had fully lost her temper, and screamed in frustration. Her anger spilled out as divine power, lashing out in a wave of energy. The wave knocked over Hammu but did not harm him.
However outside, the build-up of power finally leashed itself on the city. The ground shook from a great earthquake. The great massive stones that made up the Staircase of the Magistrate began to crack and crumble from the pressure. The city began to shake, then list to the side, as its base began to lose stability. Finally, one of the massive blocks split and cracked down the middle, shattering into two pices. The entire staircase fell apart and collapsed to the ground. The city itself continued to slide to an ange, and then fell to the ground as its supports finally gave way. The city's stone crashed to the ground in a thunder and shudder that could be felt and heard for miles. The great stone slabe the city was built on snapped into several pieces, the largest remaining at an angle as it rested on one of the broken stones of the staircase.
The city was largely in ruins, many buildings had collapsed or been destroyed, but the majority still somehow stood, albiet heavily damaged. Rubble was everywhere. The Court of the Magistrates Building was still largely intact, sitting on the slanted slab of stone at an angle. It cornice had collapsed to the ground, and great cracks spread across thew alls, but it held. The roof was in a bit worse shape, with parts having fallen in and the sky could now be seen through the large holes.
The storm quickly dissapated, and Mara was nowhere to be seen. The devastated people of the city began to pick up the pieces and look for survivors. Amazingly, even though people were killed, the majority somehow survived.
Show
1 PP - Mold Land - Staircase of the Magistrates collapses, the large stones falling to the ground in a scattered fashion.
1 PP - Mold Land (from artifact) - City of Beacon, the city falls down, its base splitting apart and the entirety heavily damanged. The Court of the Magistrates suffers damage but remains intact.
1 PP - Denourish Populace (from exarch) - Beacon - Many people die from the disaster.
1 PP - Mold Land - Staircase of the Magistrates collapses, the large stones falling to the ground in a scattered fashion.
1 PP - Mold Land (from artifact) - City of Beacon, the city falls down, its base splitting apart and the entirety heavily damanged. The Court of the Magistrates suffers damage but remains intact.
1 PP - Denourish Populace (from exarch) - Beacon - Many people die from the disaster.
Vymrl turned to Azor-Chapien, the beaten and bloodied god of healing lying at his feet. Menace slid from the words he uttered, much as Shurka's divine blood slid from the Niflendar Flamborge.
Little godling, I don't believe we've been introduced. As you can see, I am busy right now, so run along like a good little child. But as you go, think on this. There are horrors in this world you cannot dream of, Elder Lords, time-lost horrors, fallen gods who refuse to lie quiescent in their grave. Any one of those things could crush you like a mortal, twist your very essence and leave you a broken, mewling fool.
I have no knowledge of your petty plans, and no desire to know, so run back to your secure and light-filled places of this world, and hope that things both old and dark do not follow.
Then, turning to Hensen, Vymrl spoke again, his dark air dissipating somewhat.
Perhaps I was to hasty in my lust to slaughter, I will send an exarch asking for a session of the Court, as Drakthor seems to sleep now.
---------
The Light Child demanded an audience with Hammu.
-----
A cloud of misty shadows appeared within the courts of the magistrate, pleased to see the lord of law was present. "My memory says that you would be the god of law, dispenser of justice, Hammu, correct?"
"I have come in search of your services. I wish to call for a trial, to hold several gods who attempted to commit murder accountable for their actions."
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Alexandria worships Veros
I think I have already heard about this young god here, he is the "Knight god" and I think that while he is no match for you he might be a good fighter."
OOC and PP
Hensen explain to Vymrl about the theft of divine power and the vampire god, I'm too tired and sleepy to do that maybe I'll post that discussion tomorrow...
also my last PP
1 PP - Guide, the Unshaped Possessed worship Hensen.
Hensen explain to Vymrl about the theft of divine power and the vampire god, I'm too tired and sleepy to do that maybe I'll post that discussion tomorrow...
also my last PP
1 PP - Guide, the Unshaped Possessed worship Hensen.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, The Empress, Vymrl, Shurka, Mara
5 - Hensen Jijou, Eijra, Kiptar, Hammu
4 - Nixis, Azor-Chapien, Chroma, Starl, Honissia, Incarnation's End, Torvek
His attention then turned to the lich. They had been the source of trouble all over the different kingdoms. But now they heard the call of their master, strong and clear in their minds, and started their journey to his city.
Honassia was tired, his city wasn't really complete but that was a task for another time, he went to his room and meditated on the current event, weighing the benefits of the alliance against the posible reprecussions. The thoughts troubled him deeply.
PP Used
1 pp [Guide] Guides assassins to worship him.
2 pp [Guide] Guide the lich to worship him and go to his incomplete city.
OOC
I'm not completely completing the city becuase I want still need to spend the PP to do it [I think] and so I'm waiting for a time closer to the reset so that I know I don't need it.
------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, off the southern coast of the Gray Wastes, a small island emerged, large enough for perhaps a fortress. On the island, a single, glowing portal beckoned...
------------------------------------------
In distant Azora, a similar portal flaired into existance. The Azorans sent a forward advance into the portal, to find themselves on the island close to the Gray Wastes. The Azorans immediatly began the construction of a fortress surrounding the portal.
PP
1 PP Aid- Azor'Chapien aids Shurka.
1 PP Mold Land- A small island appears off the coast of the Gray Wastes.
1 PP Create Artifact- Two matching portals appear on the island and Azora.
1 PP Guide- The Azorans enter the portal, to find themselves on the island so close to the Gray Wastes.
0+1 PP (King Valden)- The Azorans begin the imediate construction of a fortress on the island.
1 PP Mold Land- A small island appears off the coast of the Gray Wastes.
1 PP Create Artifact- Two matching portals appear on the island and Azora.
1 PP Guide- The Azorans enter the portal, to find themselves on the island so close to the Gray Wastes.
0+1 PP (King Valden)- The Azorans begin the imediate construction of a fortress on the island.
Turning his attention away from Azor'Chapien, Vymrl cried out.
Hensen, aid me, let us bind Shurka, so that we may bring him to judgment. You have my word that he shall not die, but I will hold him firmly. Your aid is all I require.
PP
1PP-Attack God: Shurka
3PP (Ssabrec)- Nourish Populous: Imperium
------------
Vymrl filled the Imperium with power, and solidified their hold over Terena and the Humite lands.
------------
Azor'Chapien advanced closer, so he could further protect Shurka.
Winter quietly asked Summer what was going on, and Summer told her of the fighting and the arguing and the demand for a court case. Winter shivered at the last bit, and stepped forward.
"If you men would excuse me," she said sheepishly. "I do no think that this Court, is in a condition to hold any trial right now."
Winter gave a polite cough and her eyes darted about. "Perhaps I can suggest an alternative? A duel of sorts? Perhaps a challenge, wherein the winner or the first to complete the goal or goals is the winner? The winner getting whatever is agreed to, etc."
-----------
New legions of soldiers drove the Fey Dragons back almost to the portals.
Nixis sped forward, pulling out his bag of hateful words, and tossed them at Vymrl, driving him back for long enough for him to help Shurka get back on his feet. He turned to look at both Gods.
"Our disagreements aside, we do have more important things to worry about."
Gesturing to Hensen, Nixis continued. "As we speak, Drevan and Eijra hover over the lands of your Imperium. I was heading here to ask Shurka's advice, as it was clear from my brief observation that Drevan was close to corrupting Eijra, something I do not believe any of us desire."
PP
1 PP: Aid God (Shurka): Negating Shurka's -2 penalty from losing last turn. Vymrl and Shurka are even now.
1 PP: Aid God (Shurka): Negating Shurka's -2 penalty from losing last turn. Vymrl and Shurka are even now.
"As for the damages caused by the war to the gnomes and Humites it was not a work of Vymrl, but by the Imperium and I don't think we should be held responsible for the actions of our people as it is their nature that dicatete such behaviour. War cause damages, that's unavoidable, but it should be mortals burden to face them..."
"Finally I have a proposition for you Brother Vymrl... there is a great evil roaming the world at the moment, a much harder fight than Shurka and one where you will have the support of most of the living gods, including the ones present here... A creature has stolen Veros power and maybe even killed him, a mortal usurping divine power, something that gods can't allow to happen... As you are the greatest fighter among us, will you become the divine champion and get rid of that horror?"
"We are fighting. We are separate, divided, squabbling like children over a playing toy. Forces are threatening to tear us apart, divide us into endless squabble. If we allow that to happen, we will be ruined, destroyed, imprisoned. The world and all that we hold dear on it will be ruined, a husk of its former self. We can and should prevent this. I call upon all of those present to cease bickering, and to determine reasons, reason for our actions, and then determine a course. A course that will set us back on a path that will not lead down to destruction and devastation. A course that may not be to the liking of us all, but will be the best that we can make...together, as one body. A course that will cause the world to grow greener, and to flourish. "
OOC
Yes, I am try to mediate what is pretty much a war. Fun times all round.
Yes, I am try to mediate what is pretty much a war. Fun times all round.
After all that had happened...
Skreet flooded the chamber... Morning prayers. The domain had expanded, each Skreet family sharing a home, the greatest rooms for the child's creches... The children were the future of this society, and Starl had seen so many come and go, in so short a time... A shame indeed.
A new instrument flooded the temple chamber, formed from nothing by their chants and cries... A set of pipes...
Pipes that seemed... oddly familiar to all the ratmen there...
1PP- Guide Populace(Skreet)- The Skreet Worship Starl
3PP- Create Artifact (Greater)- The Pipes of Harn. These pipes play a merry tune to all who will listen, and they feel compelled to dance along to this wishes of the playful jig. Creates 1PP for Guide purposes.
I would accept restitution, both for the mortals he harmed, and the I and you have expended in trying to overcome him. If he chooses this, I ask that he expend the power nourishing my people and yours. Shurka, should you choose not to accept this, I will bring it before the Court. Now, I will gladly lead your effort to through down this usurper. When he falls, I will gladly bind him in thickest chains of Adamite, to hold him until the end of all things shall come.
-------------
Some of the Humites still in the lands surrounding Terena began to worship Vymrl.
PP
1PP-Guide Populous, Lesser: Humites begin to worship Vymrl
--------------------------
Torvek seizes the opportunity to call a parley. "Why does everyone have to fight over small, unpredictable problems? Violence is never the true way to solve your problems. It can be effective, but it really creates more problems against existing problems."
He puts his chakram into his holder, and starts to explain himself. "You guys- we have a serious problem- more serious than the destruction of the Imperium."
--------------------------
"Ah- The Elemental Chaos... Home sweet home." Corelloth flies above the depths of the Chaos, as she smells the air. "Now I know how to get rid of those pesky dragons- once and for ALL!!!"
She uses her powers to create a large doorway within the midst of the Chaos. "This will be the Awakening of the Elemental army- walking the face of the Earthen worlds, and controlling all of the pesky gods with my whims of total power! Once my plan is underway, NOTHING CAN STOP ME!!! MWHAHA!!!"
Azor'Chapien turned to Tovrek and said, "If that problem has anything to do with Drevan or the Gray Wastes, then I'm way ahead of you, friend."
"This is beyond Drevan and the Grey Wastes..." He hesitates. "Someone is planning to destroy one of the Greater Planes of Existence... and I need all of you to help to try and stop her from doing so."
"This is beyond Drevan and the Grey Wastes..." He hesitates. "Someone is planning to destroy one of the Greater Planes of Existence... and I need all of you to help to try and stop her from doing so."
Azor'Chapien shook his head and said, "We need to worry about the here and the now! If Nixis's claims are true, then Drevan is corrupting Eijra and causing her to wreak havoc in the Imperium. Drevan is a dangerous threat that must be removed!"
Azor'Chapien shook his head and said, "We need to worry about the here and the now! If Nixis's claims are true, then Drevan is corrupting Eijra and causing her to wreak havoc in the Imperium. Drevan is a dangerous threat that must be removed!"
Torvek stares blankly at Azor'Chapien in shock. "Drevan? I've never met this Drevan... What happens if the Imperium is destroyed?"
He shakes his head. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FRICKIN' MIND, AZOR'CHAPIEN?!? YOU'D RATHER HAVE SOMEONE DESTROY HALF OF OUR UNIVERSE AND FOCUS ON A BUILDING?!? CORELLOTH IS A VILLIAN ABOVE ALL VILLIANS!!! DREVAN IS NOTHING COMPARED TO CORELLOTH!!!" He yells at Azor'Chapien in all of his anger.
Torvek stares blankly at Azor'Chapien in shock. "Drevan? I've never met this Drevan... What happens if the Imperium is destroyed?"
He shakes his head. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FRICKIN' MIND, AZOR'CHAPIEN?!? YOU'D RATHER HAVE SOMEONE DESTROY HALF OF OUR UNIVERSE AND FOCUS ON A BUILDING?!? CORELLOTH IS A VILLIAN ABOVE ALL VILLIANS!!! DREVAN IS NOTHING COMPARED TO CORELLOTH!!!" He yells at Azor'Chapien in all of his anger.
Azor'Chapien had tried to keep calm. Now it was getting harder and harder. He replied, "The Imperium is a nation, not a building. Also, Eijra is a REALLY powerful goddess... if Drevan HAS corrupted her, she could do... terrible... things..."
Shurka realized the mistake me made.
"Dammit..."
Torvek turns to the other gods. "I'M SERIOUS!!! I'm NOT stupid! Do you honestly think that Dragons are horrible gods? Because if you do, then YOU ARE ASKING FOR YOUR DEATHBED!!!"
Shurka turned to Azor'Chapien
"We do. Three was enough to defeat him before; a strange occurence was all that allowed him to live. Especially now that Mara has given me this new weapon, we should be able to defeat him with no problem."
Azor'Chapien turned to Shurka, and asked, "What is it, Shurka? Is something wrong? Either way, I agree that we must seek out Drevan. But I don't know if we are enough in numbers yet..."
"I'll help out." Torvek pulls himself together.
He pulls out his chakram, and focuses his energies to make it stronger. It shines more than it had been, as he studies its beauty. "That's more like it. I'm ready!" He puts it in his holder.
PP expenditure
2pp- Upgrade Moderate Artifact to Greater Artifact (Chakram) +2 Combat Bonus
Total Combat Bonus- +6
Remaining PP- 2
Total Combat Bonus- +6
Remaining PP- 2
OOC
(I agreed to pay reparations, and Angel is offline. Like Shurka, I want to get this over with as soon as possible - so we should be able to start)
OOC(I agreed to pay reparations, and Angel is offline. Like Shurka, I want to get this over with as soon as possible - so we should be able to start)
OOC
Shurka, remember that I am already out of PP... I won't be able to do an aid or attack move on Drevan until Tuesday...
Shurka opened a rift to the Feywyld. From there, he located the Skyway River, and followed it to the Divine Blockade.
"He's in here. Except this is in the way..."
PP Use
1 PP - Destroy the Divine Blockade
"...There."
Shurka went into the Storehouse, and broke the chains surrounding Veros.
"Wake up."
-----
Drevan looked up, nodding. All according to plan. He turned back to Hammu, waiting patiently for the Lord of Law's response.
The air continued to glow. "I wouldn't be if I were you. What is a god, stripped of all trappings of divinity? Sounds like a mortal to me."
-----
Twin forces had gathered, waiting for the right time to strike.
-----------------------------
Dolestre sees the bubble and refrains from getting close. "Traps are never a good thing. I'm no mortal, but I do not like traps..."
She finally gathers up her courage. "While I'm here, I have an urgent message to give to you all. This may not be as good as it seems, but I need to tell you all about something that is going to happen if we don't act quickly."
Following his erstwhile enemy up past the divine blockade, Vymrl saw what was happening.
Shurka, I shall take Veros to safety, hidden in a place that not even Drevan can follow. Then, I shall return and help destroy the Usurper.
Calling a few fragments of his power to him, Vymrl wrapped Veros, the First God, in a cocoon of power, weaving Time, Ice, and War around him. Power traps exploded harmlessly around them as Vymrl opened a gate to the Deep. From that silent abyss, he opened another gate, strait into Tamurung, the Bound Plane.
Once in the howling vastness of Tamurung, the god called Argus to take the mortal. Once Argus took both Veros and the Shroud of Veros, as Vymrl had chosen to call his newest creation, Vymrl returned with all his artifacts and exarchs to location where the Divine Blockade had once stood.
-----------
Argus glided into the heart of Tamurung, the Black Ice Spire. There, he summoned a fragment of power, and reshaped a cell inside the plane into something more conducive to mortal life than glacial ice. Plants sprang up, and the temperature in the cell of around a hundred feet wide rose to those of the jungles of the Prime. Then, Argus drained power from the Flesh-Pools of Asem to create Denizens, weak creatures designed to serve Veros in simple tasks. Finally, Argus sealed the Cell of the First God off with the Shroud of Veros.
With all this done, Argus slipped through the Shroud, as only he, his brethren, and his master could, and allowed the mortal to awake.
"Lord, First Born of the Elder Gods, my master and Shurka have taken you from your prison. You are now in Tamurung, the Bound Plane, another plane of existence wrought by my lord Vymrl. He has returned to fight against Drevan the Usurper, to retrieve you divine spark. You, the Master of Knowledge can help us in this question, how powerful is Drevan?"
PP
1PP-Create Artifact, Lesser: Shroud of Veros
1PP (Artifact)-Create Beast, Lesser: Denizens
The problem was, something very different had happened in the progress.
***
Beryl was distrubed by a sudden sound and a crackling of thunder even though the red sky overhead was clear of clouds. Turning to the source of the sound, he dropped the haunch of meat he was chewing on in shock, eyes widening at the sight.
"By Chroma... what is this?"
***
Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent, the Sons of Slaughter charged into the fray, effortlessly destroying the small scouting party of minotaurs with sheer numbers alone. If only every conflict they fought in could be so easy...
Raising his muzzle from the depths of a dead minotaurs chest, the Prince of Slaughter Russe turned his muzzle towards the cracking sound, expecting to see sorcerous reinforcements for the horned gnolls.
What he saw instead made him choke on his minotaur. "What in the glorious hells is that?!"
***
"Where are we?!"
"What's happening?!"
"What's wrong with the sky?! Why is there a sky?!"
"Where's the Chaos?!"
The city was in turmoil, citizens rushing about erratically and fearfully in panic and fear. You would be to if the earthmote you'd resided on for centuries upon centuries upon centuries had suddenly been thrusted from the plane you'd learned to call home and was suddenly floating over a jungle under a strange sky.
Those genasi that remained relatively calm took it upon themselves and wander around, trying to calm the others, hurridley flipping through tomes in an attempt to find out what could have happened.
And then... things got really bad.
This was no normal planar travel. In their sudden surge from the Chaos to Ardune, there had been some minor damage to buildings, minor earthquakes... and most devastatingly, the unusual essence of the mote had been completely stripped away to fuel the travel and the anomalie. In other words, the only thing keeping the earthmote afloat was residual energy from the transportation.
Then... suddenly, sickeningly, the energy ran out. With a sudden learch the mote plummetted through the sky, landing in the jungle below with a cataclasmyic impact. In the process, a vast amount of Chaos energy left over from centuries of the earth of the mote itself soaking up it's raw magical essence was suddenly unleashed, leveling miles upon miles of jungle with a sudden burn of magic, toppling trees and mutating wildlife.
When the dust had cleared... a large section of North Western Ardune was laid bare, except for a few small shrubs that seemed to be so tainted with chaos they didn't seem edible. What creatures that survived the impact seemed twisted and different, more fearsome and less natural.
Battered, injured, and severely lower in number, the genasi crawled out from their ruined home. EVentually, they would seek out repairing their broken city, and live among it's ruins. For now, though, all they could was worry what this new land might bring, and weep for those they had lost.
PP Expenditure
1PP + 1 Guide from Beryl: Transport the Genasi earthmote in the Chaos to Ardune
2PP Mould Action: Create the Chaos Wastes, a desolate wasteland that can barely support life. It does however possess some shrubbery, and beasts with the Chaos template. The genasi make their home here in the ruins of their earthmote
1PP + 1 Spawn from Veil: Spawn the Chaos template, details to come.
1 Create PP from Fountain: The Chaos Anomalie grows slightly stronger, though still only provides +1 Combat
1 Denourish PP from Fountain: The genasi live, but are severely damaged from the crash.
1PP + 1 Guide from Beryl: Transport the Genasi earthmote in the Chaos to Ardune
2PP Mould Action: Create the Chaos Wastes, a desolate wasteland that can barely support life. It does however possess some shrubbery, and beasts with the Chaos template. The genasi make their home here in the ruins of their earthmote
1PP + 1 Spawn from Veil: Spawn the Chaos template, details to come.
1 Create PP from Fountain: The Chaos Anomalie grows slightly stronger, though still only provides +1 Combat
1 Denourish PP from Fountain: The genasi live, but are severely damaged from the crash.
... And appears at the front gate of the Court of the Magistrate. "Oh- this place is a wreck." She laughs as she pities Hammu's work that had been severely damaged. "Pitiful fools- they never get their work cut out!" And she steps int the Court of the Magistrate. She does not see Dolestre- yet.
Azor'Chapien took a deep breath and said, "Well, Veros is safe now... now we just have the small matter of a rather cruel and possibly insane god called Drevan to eradicate. All in a day's work, I suppose...
Torvek holds his chakram tight. "Yeah. You all right, Veros?"
----------------------------
Dolestre waits for a reply fro the other gods, as she hears another figure approaching. She turns around and she gives a horrid gasp. "CORELLOTH!"
"Hello, sweetie- I didn't expect you to be here." Corelloth says with a smirk. "Well, well- what do we have here? A group gathering of many gods in a court, debating on who- knows- what." She looks at Hammu. "Hammu- sweet, sweet Hammu- how I would've thuoght that you have never looked any more... oh, how should I put this... atrocious..." She laughs at her remark. "It's my litle way of giving my formalities- you look better than how the outside looks. What happened here? Did an Aftershock hit this city and cracked it in two?" She smiles wickedly.
Dolestre glares at Corelloth, and she turns to face Hammu. "Don't listen to her! She's the one planning to destroy us all!!!"
"Shut up, missy! You don't know what you're talking about!" Corelloth summons her longspear. "The court will not approve of your outburst! You must learn your manners, young one." She conjures up a column of purple flame and Dolestre disappears from the spots and she reappears somewhere else. "Now- down to business, Hammu..."
"The Ignored God," he grumbled as he followed the gods to this Divine Blockade, now destroyed. He sighed.
"If anyone listens to this, I am going to help beat the **** out of this Drevan."
He sighed and looked at his Gearblade. Divine power filled it, and it grew longer, sharper and more dangerous looking.
"Here goes nothing. Lets go kill some god."
PP
2 PP: Create Artifact(Intermediate)(Gear of Creation): Gearblade provides an additional +1 combat, to a total of +2, which makes my total +8
1 PP: Guide populace(Lesser): Warforged send an expedition to the polar hole and into it.
2 PP: Create Artifact(Intermediate)(Gear of Creation): Gearblade provides an additional +1 combat, to a total of +2, which makes my total +8
1 PP: Guide populace(Lesser): Warforged send an expedition to the polar hole and into it.
mara's actions
Inside the Court, Mara's anger at the apparent unwillingness of the Hammu to understand only made things worse. "Of course you don't know everything! But you should know when the natural law has been violated. It is inherent in your nature."
(clip)
However outside, the build-up of power finally leashed itself on the city. The ground shook from a great earthquake. The great massive stones that made up the Staircase of the Magistrate began to crack and crumble from the pressure. The city began to shake, then list to the side, as its base began to lose stability. Finally, one of the massive blocks split and cracked down the middle, shattering into two pices. The entire staircase fell apart and collapsed to the ground.
The city itself continued to slide to an ange, and then fell to the ground as its supports finally gave way. The city's stone crashed to the ground in a thunder and shudder that could be felt and heard for miles. The great stone slabe the city was built on snapped into several pieces, the largest remaining at an angle as it rested on one of the broken stones of the staircase. The city was largely in ruins, many buildings had collapsed or been destroyed, but the majority still somehow stood, albiet heavily damaged. Rubble was everywhere. The Court of the Magistrates Building was still largely intact, sitting on the slanted slab of stone at an angle. It cornice had collapsed to the ground, and great cracks spread across the walls, but it held. The roof was in a bit worse shape, with parts having fallen in and the sky could now be seen through the large holes.
The storm quickly dissipated, and Mara was nowhere to be seen. The devastated people of the city began to pick up the pieces and look for survivors. Amazingly, even though people were killed, the majority somehow survived.
1 PP - Mold Land - Staircase of the Magistrates collapses, the large stones falling to the ground in a scattered fashion.
1 PP - Mold Land (from artifact) - City of Beacon, the city falls down, its base splitting apart and the entirety heavily damanged. The Court of the Magistrates suffers damage but remains intact.
1 PP - Denourish Populace (from exarch) - Beacon - Many people die from the disaster.
And Vymr even if we thank you for protecting Veros we will prefer that his wisdom is kept accessible to us all.
Now do you think that the vampire god will come looking for us or we should search for him?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Within the Feywild Yorik begin looking for the Humite leaders and expecially Selya, resorting to use the divination powers of his oracles to seek her if necessary. Maybe he had an idea to stop at least the Free Nation invasion of Terena
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"And it is your order to find him and stop any of his plans, I don't want years of suffering to be wasted by our god false compassion" Told the creature inside Dhoka body, he was reported about Yorik presence in Argen military and his travelling toward the Feywild, he remembered the humite priest, he was extremely annoying even when the Unshaped himself was still mortal and without him the creature would not have being turned into the tortured horror that he is now.
The other one stood silent, beyond the reality rift that lead to the Castle of Endless possibilties.
"You will take control of general Argen, his humite blood should allow you to cross the barrier between the worlds and than you know what to do."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It just took a few moments for the Unshaped to take over the general, it materialized in his tent, in Terena's countryside, far from the chaos in the capital, and engulfed him with his form. Khas, the general personal guard attempted to fight against the Unshaped, the bloodborn was a great warrior but was no match for the general skills combined with the supernatural might of the horror that was possessing him.
Now fully in comand of the Free Nation foces the thing ordered the Argen humite soldiers to follow him in the feywild and begun looking for Yorik...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After the last free willed Fey dragon was banished from the skyes of the Imperium one of the creature that has betrayed his race to help the giants turned toward the most important leader of the Imperium military, a strange blue light was glowing in its eyes.
"I wish to talk to the senate my lord, as you might have seen we are quite different from the creatures that attacked you and we have a proposition..."
OOC
The possessed dragon part should be taken for mortal stories I guess as soon as I get how the immortal creatures rule work I'll also make a post to properly spawn the "Unshaped".
The possessed dragon part should be taken for mortal stories I guess as soon as I get how the immortal creatures rule work I'll also make a post to properly spawn the "Unshaped".
-----------
The Senate reshuffled the High Council of the Imperium, and, in doing so, severely weakened the post of Mournelord. While previously this had held total control over the Grand Army of the Imperium, it now held control only over a region. The Council of Strategic Thought became the architect of over all military policy, while delegating authority over execution of objectives to the Council of Northern Affairs and the Council of Homeland Affairs.
The Council of Northern Affairs held authority over all of the Humite Lands under Imperium control and directed diplomacy related to the conquests. The first act of the Council of Northern Affairs was to re-name the Humite Lands the Territories. They then appointed two Mournelords, one to control day to day military matters in the region, the other to direct diplomacy. The Council of Homeland Affairs acted in much the same way.
------------
In the Loremaster's Keep, certain factions, primarily Humans, began to pay secret homage to the Lord of Time, Vymrl.
PP
1PP-Guide Populous: Some Loremaster's worship Vymrl (My earlier guide has been discounted)
My servant is putting those questions to him now.
((OOC: Dropped you a line in the mortal thread, Nerdzul))
The Circle was troubled at the development of Madness, as the stuff rapidly became even more in demand than the Noth it was derived from. The Circle sought out information as to where the Alexandrians were getting their supplies, and, using their considerable accumulated wealth, arranged a deal to lace the next few batches of Madness with a horrible poison that when absorbed into the bloodstream would cause symptoms that looked very much like a rapidly progressing form of leprosy.
Before too many casualties mounted, the Alexandrians realized that something had gone wrong with the madness, and many of them turned back to pure Noth because it was at least safer. A few well placed bribes and a few poisonings later, and the Circle had managed to obtain copies of the Alexandrian's research on Noth, and began producing their own form of the Drug, appropriately titled gNoth. While not as addictive as Madness, those that tried gNoth felt as if they could feel the feelings and hear the thoughts of those around them, an exhilarating feeling.
PP
1 PP (From Convincer): Guide Populace: Some Humans begin worshiping Nixis
2 PP: Guide Populace: The Circle gains the ability to brew a variety of poisons
1 PP: Guide Populace (-1 from Proximity): The Circle steals the research on Noth and uses it to create their own drug, gNoth.
1 PP (From Convincer): Guide Populace: Some Humans begin worshiping Nixis
2 PP: Guide Populace: The Circle gains the ability to brew a variety of poisons
1 PP: Guide Populace (-1 from Proximity): The Circle steals the research on Noth and uses it to create their own drug, gNoth.
Law, I wondered if any cases stand pending for the court?
The life god seemed to bounce for a moment, taking in the other company.
I do not believe we have spoken.
He turned back to Hammu.
Hammu
I would have Shurka, Hensen Jijou, and Eijra charged. Within Veros's workshop, they assaulted me with the intent to kill. Had someone not intervened, they would have succeeded, thugh I am still unaware of who my benefactor was."
He thougth for a moment. "Yes, I supose you do not know who I am, though I do know you. I am Drevan, lord of the undead, ravager of Duska Krak."
He thougth for a moment. "Yes, I supose you do not know who I am, though I do know you. I am Drevan, lord of the undead, ravager of Duska Krak."
After consideration of requests to join in battle Alexandria mobilized its armies, intent upon routing the invading Imperium.
Actions
1PP from the Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Humans learn to make poisons.
1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria develops Life's Bane as a specialized poison. Forever corrupting a weapon with virulent poison.
1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria moves into battle against the Imperium.
1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria begins to pry into the affairs of the Circle, currently moving against them as they've taken actions against the power structure of our fair nation. But there's room for the situation being saved.
1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria develops Life's Bane as a specialized poison. Forever corrupting a weapon with virulent poison.
1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria moves into battle against the Imperium.
1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria begins to pry into the affairs of the Circle, currently moving against them as they've taken actions against the power structure of our fair nation. But there's room for the situation being saved.
xirinet and drevan
"Life. It is good to see you again. There is the potential for two trials to occur, and possibly a third. Lord Vryml has sent his Light Child to me to ask for an audience before the Court. I do not know who he wishes to see brought to trial. Drevan has asked to accuse several gods of attempting to murder him, and Mara wrecked my city after demanding that I hunt down and bring to justice some god that the she would not name."
"Drevan. Duska Krak was before my time, I believe. Perhaps the Lord of Life knows more. If you face these three gods before the Court, would you represent yourself, or do you have another god in mind to serve as your counsel?"
"Life. It is good to see you again. There is the potential for two trials to occur, and possibly a third. Lord Vryml has sent his Light Child to me to ask for an audience before the Court. I do not know who he wishes to see brought to trial. Drevan has asked to accuse several gods of attempting to murder him, and Mara wrecked my city after demanding that I hunt down and bring to justice some god that the she would not name."
"Drevan. Duska Krak was before my time, I believe. Perhaps the Lord of Life knows more. If you face these three gods before the Court, would you represent yourself, or do you have another god in mind to serve as your counsel?"
The Council of Northern Affairs asked for aid from their Free Nation allies, and shipped a huge number of Ice Monoliths into battle.
--------------
In the Court, Light Child spoke again to Hammu.
"Master of Justice, my Lord wishes to bring a charge against the one before you, Drevan, for the crime of god-murder, not only that, but the murder of the First of us all, Veros."
PP
1PP-Nourish Populous: Imperium
Hammu, Xirinet
Drevan nodded. "Yes, my borrowed memories do make reference to you being born after Duska Krak. My own tell me such as well. I should have recalled that sooner."
He tapped his staff slightly. "I ca guess what is bothering Mara for you, lord law. I imagine it has to do with myself, since it seems to have a great deal of gods riled up and seeking blood."
He looked around. "As for representing myself, I would only do so if the court would guarantee my safety. As I mentioned, at least three gods have sought to kill me, one of them I beleive is at least loosely allied with you. Even coming here was a danger, but I felt the risk was worth the benefit."
"If the court cannot guarantee my safety, then you would have to seek my unknown benefactor to represent me."
He tapped his staff slightly. "I ca guess what is bothering Mara for you, lord law. I imagine it has to do with myself, since it seems to have a great deal of gods riled up and seeking blood."
He looked around. "As for representing myself, I would only do so if the court would guarantee my safety. As I mentioned, at least three gods have sought to kill me, one of them I beleive is at least loosely allied with you. Even coming here was a danger, but I felt the risk was worth the benefit."
"If the court cannot guarantee my safety, then you would have to seek my unknown benefactor to represent me."
Drevan, Xirinet
Hammu looked at Drevan, then at the Light Child, then back at Drevan. "Is this true? I suppose I shouldn't even ask... that would explain Mara's erratic behavior, as well as why Shurka and Eijra were attacking you. You shall all four be heard by the Court and a judgement reached. You will have my protection until that hearing is resolved, but only if you stay here in the Courts with me."
Hammu, Xirinet
"I am under your protection in the court. . . does this protection apply if I leave, then return, or only if I stay at all times? I have some methods of keeping myself safe while on the move, but no while stationary."
drevan, xirinet
"I will need you to stay here, with me. The Lord of Life is already here, Order can be summoned quickly, and the others I warrant will come of their own accord assoon as either my or Life's exarch informs them of your presence in my court, though they no doubt will wish to impress upon me how I ought fulfill what they feel are the obligations of my domain."
"I will need you to stay here, with me. The Lord of Life is already here, Order can be summoned quickly, and the others I warrant will come of their own accord assoon as either my or Life's exarch informs them of your presence in my court, though they no doubt will wish to impress upon me how I ought fulfill what they feel are the obligations of my domain."
Hammu, Xirinet
"As you wish, Hammu. I shall respect your wishes and remain within your court until the trial. Additionally, as I suspect it might encourage the accused to gather faster, I will drop the veils that the staff of ruin projects to keep me hidden."
He slammed the Staff of Veros to the ground, arcane energy crackling around him, twin black vortexes opening in the ground as the twin skeletons of Yoglith clambered forth, the gateways closing behind them. "To aid you, should you need to defend me, I shall provide my guardians to your service for the duration of your defense."
He moved the Staff of Ruin to the ground, tapping it once as he smiled at Hammu. "The veils are down. I hope my faith in you and the law are well placed."
He slammed the Staff of Veros to the ground, arcane energy crackling around him, twin black vortexes opening in the ground as the twin skeletons of Yoglith clambered forth, the gateways closing behind them. "To aid you, should you need to defend me, I shall provide my guardians to your service for the duration of your defense."
He moved the Staff of Ruin to the ground, tapping it once as he smiled at Hammu. "The veils are down. I hope my faith in you and the law are well placed."
Hammu beckoned tothe Light Child. "Go now... tell your master that Drevan awaits in the Courts."
Hammu beckoned, and Rabi stepped out from the shadows. He had been surprised byt the sudden appearance of the Courts in his new workspace, but he had surmised that some strange events had occurred and that his master might have need of him. Now Hammu told him "Go and seek out Lords Shurka, and Hensen and Lady Eijra. I suspect you'll find them together. Tell them that Lord Drevan will accuse them before the Court with attempted murder, and that their presence is required by the Court. Inform them also that Lord Vryml will accuse Lord Drevan of the murder of Lord Veros, and that the Court will hear both cases. Ask Lord Shurka to speak to Mara, but do not go to her yourself. When you have spoken to those gods, go to the Palace of Xa'an and ask the Empress to come and take here judge's seat"
---------------------------------
Dolestre breathes in and out as she finds herself within Mechanus...
PP
1 PP - Guide Populace - Some in Beacon worship Mara.
Maybe we will not need that sword to help Veros righteour place.
While we attend to the process may I leave one of my exarchs with Veros, in order to help him standing up and to obtain precious informations about our enemy?" Told Hensen, facing his companions near to the Blockade.
Hensen then moved to the divine court, assuming his hydra form "I have heard your call, lord Hammu, I'm sorry that I can finally visit you and explain my point of view about this little issue of stolen divinity not in a private and friendly conversation as I was planning to but within the hall of the court, but I was forced to participate in a few urgent endevour that requirid my presence, and as I decided not to send a messanger as I have being told that you prefer to be addressed personally.
Told the white head.
I guess I should not be so surprized to see you here, Drevan, this place was waiting for you and there you are.
I'm sure that a few friend will get here soon enough to speak in civil tones to this halls of law and that the judges will be able to achieve a just sentence, in respect of its sacred law. Told the green head, with a strange, almost friendly smile toward the vampire god.
"May I take a seat?" Told one of the grey heads.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Within the Free Nations possessed agents under control of beast hidden under general Dokha skin begin infiltrating the monastery city of Nitha, turning its deep bloodstone mines as a permanent summoning ground for pure unshaped. Some of them also manage to steal arcane secrets from the mystics visiting the monastery and passed it to the other unshaped possessed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The southern wind was screaming, its power untamed defied the one wielded by mortals, as even the giants can't control it, but were forced to let it pass. Within this inhospitable land, where few living creature have ever seen and even less have ever walked. There on the top of a tall mountain that was carved by arcane magic, the false Fey where chanting a powerful spell, it is rumored that they got it directly from their master, while other belive that it was stolen from the most secret loremaster library.
Even shielded by the dragon skin and by their own nature, the Unshaped felt the cold bite of the northern wind, as if nature itself was somehow aware of the crime against it that was committed that day.
The Aether ripples produced a wonderful aurora over that accursed mountain, projecting aerie lights over it, guiding the action of the dragons somehow, before the clouds covered it as if they were scared by the secret revealed by the phenomena.
After days of casting the spell even the mighty dragon hosts was exausted, some of them even died, their enegies consumed by the spell.
In the end only Jagar stood still, on the top of the moutain a twisted rift pulsated with unholy energies, letting the Grand Distortion power flow like a twisted waterfall falling from a wounded sky.
Then a blue ooze emerged from it, it kept twisting and reshaping itself following the will of an unseen master. Then it assumed a vaguely dragonic shape.
"Very well, brother, finally the ban is broken and we can walk the earth"
The creature than opened its mishappen wings and flied a few meters around the stone spire, it soon found out that its form was collapsing again when he got away from the portal. Apparently the ritual was not enough, with all its will focused on keeping his form intact the creature flied back to the top of the mountain.
"Still it is not perfect I see, but I guess we should adapt for now to this limit, you have done well, Jagar, you will get your reward soon enough, I'll send mor of our kind here to serve you."
The First Unshaped to walk the earth in his "natural" shape, Ajkan, smiled in his bestial form, even if the success was not complete, it was just a matter of time now...
As the creature moved back to the portal to recover from the expenditure of energy necessary to manifest another being was watching from the darkness, the Wondermaker watched as the possessed dragons recoveded and than vanished in the night.
PP
4 PP - Shape Epic Race the Unshaped, Hensen demons and immortal servants. They represent the stronger breed of the Unshaped and are able to manifest, even if shortly in creation, in areas prepared with proper magic, these creatures can freely exist in other planes.
Mind that while the pure form qualify for the "immortal servant" rule the Unshaped Possessed that are controlled by weaker form of these demonic creatures and will not be able to manifest in creation using their "natural form", they are considered an indipendent race and require normal guides and counting toward the PP expenditure.
1 PP - Mold (from Bloodstones), create a large moutain in Chillhund extreme south as a place for the portal to stand.
1 PP - Create (from the Wondermaker), the Southern Rift, a permanent portal between the Grand Distortion and creation.
1 PP Guide (from the Aether Ripples)- Unshaped Possessed learn ritual casting from the Free Nations (and the giants).
1 PP - Norish (from Bloodstones), the Unshaped Possessed spread to the Free Nation military hierarchy and to the city state of Nitha.
The Wondermaker will go to assist Veros if Vymrl agrees.
1 point left...
4 PP - Shape Epic Race the Unshaped, Hensen demons and immortal servants. They represent the stronger breed of the Unshaped and are able to manifest, even if shortly in creation, in areas prepared with proper magic, these creatures can freely exist in other planes.
Mind that while the pure form qualify for the "immortal servant" rule the Unshaped Possessed that are controlled by weaker form of these demonic creatures and will not be able to manifest in creation using their "natural form", they are considered an indipendent race and require normal guides and counting toward the PP expenditure.
1 PP - Mold (from Bloodstones), create a large moutain in Chillhund extreme south as a place for the portal to stand.
1 PP - Create (from the Wondermaker), the Southern Rift, a permanent portal between the Grand Distortion and creation.
1 PP Guide (from the Aether Ripples)- Unshaped Possessed learn ritual casting from the Free Nations (and the giants).
1 PP - Norish (from Bloodstones), the Unshaped Possessed spread to the Free Nation military hierarchy and to the city state of Nitha.
The Wondermaker will go to assist Veros if Vymrl agrees.
1 point left...
"Hello Everyone. I too was present to hear your call, Hammu, and it is a pleasure to meet you."
Nixis nodded his greetings to Xirinet and Drevan, and went to find a seat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the combined armies of the Loremasters, Meriba and Silvera moved into the giant-occupied lands, their forces were bolstered by gnomes and Humites who appeared stepping through a marble portal, full of energy and ready to retake their homeland.
PP
1 PP (From Chukwa): Nourish Population. Humites and Gnomes return to the region around Terena from Diaspora, helping the above armies reclaim the land.
1 PP (From Chukwa): Nourish Population. Humites and Gnomes return to the region around Terena from Diaspora, helping the above armies reclaim the land.
Fire and ice rained from the hands of human Wizards. Lightning struck with unerring accuracy its thunderous twin deafening those lucky few who were not hit. Warlocks whispered dark words, the cold warmth of eldritch power weaving itself in their targets' minds.
The Imperium soon found itself weakened as the rules of war were disregarded for brutal tactics. Poisons slipped into water and food, putrefying toxins slathered upon human blades. Soldiers on the battlefield under the influence of Madness, cleaving enemy after enemy with tireless ferocity.
Rumors spread of elite Alexandrian vanguards. Rumors of meteors falling form the sky and soldiers falling only to rise again and continue the fight. Wasting energies flowing through the battlefield, poisonous fire and madness inducing visions. Angels casually tossing aside the strongest warriors like childrens' toys, or simply cleaving them into parts. Storms raged over battlefields, or the mists of the Shattered Lands called forth, the swirling fog and beating rain putting Imperium forces on edge and sapping their will.
The violent glee that seemed to pervade Alexandria's troops, the absolute enjoyment of charging into battle, only underscored their cool tactics. Soldiers from birth, sometimes life-paired with a bestial mount or companion, recklessly engaging in skirmishes or moving in fluid formation. Waves, carefully crafted to maintain the battles nearly continuously, well trained in their labyrinthine homeland to operate in any conditions.
Before long the shining glint of silvered steel was all it took to evoke fear from the Imperium. The chittering sounds of monstrous spiders moving in the night, materializing from thin air or leaping from the trees. The sickening sounds of a Warden in mid change, the ferocity of Druids given fully into their bestial forms. With each day the battles became more wearying, Alexandrians forcing the Imperium into the defensive and pressing with all their considerable force.
Actions
1PP from Stars, Nourish Populace: Alexandria
1PP, Nourish Populace: Alexandria.
1PP, Nourish Populace: Alexandria.
Flanked by his two guards, his gaze wandered the Hensen Jijou. "Why would I not be here? The court is an excellent defense against a blood thirsty mod intent on killing me. I only wish the thought had occured to me sooner."
He glanced around, holding the Staff of Ruin closer. "As for your friends, I doubt they'll speak in civil tones. Shurka has been quite outrageous recently, and Eijra has most definitely gone insane, judging by her statements and actions over the Imperium."
The nebulous form of Xirinet idly reflected the gathered deities.
One would think that gods could carry themselves with a bit more... grace... than mortals. I am quite curious to hear of these happenings myself. Murder? Theft?
A slow chuckle emanated from the god.
Hopefully the stories will be entertaining.
He shrugged, "None the less, if you insist on making an enemy, I'll make sure I put up a good fight of it."
He looked around. "What have I done besides claiming power, Azor'Chapien? Do you know? Your island was built on top of somebody elses land. Land create by Eijra, given to her mortals. When they fled, it was left in the hands of Veros's followers. Using power he provided, via this lovely staff," he lifts the Staff of Ruin slightly, "that I prayed to him for, I sank Duska Krak beneath the waves."
He frowed slightly, then continued. "Now, I chose to counter my previous act, and restore Duska Krak. An act for which the fey goddess went to her knees at my feet and cried in thanks for. Your island was in the way, built atop sombody elses creation in an unthinking beleif that you had the right of way."
He laughed slightly. "A rash action would have been to sink your island beneath the waves and listen to the beautiful music of thousands of voices screaming in unison as they drowned! But no, "he sneered, "rather than pointlessly slaughter your people, I moved them aside, left them alive, hardly even aware that they had been moved. Would you rather I had chosen the first path, Azor'Chapien, or are you going to continue to threaten me for following the right path, and moving something you built atop something else that was not your?"
-----------
The cavalry of the Imperium, mounted on Eldacs, fought back against the mounted warriors of Meribia. The Dwarven armies found themselves bedeviled by armies of flying Myrw. And the Alexandrians felt the full wrath of S'kre, armed and bolstered with the Vymrl's three most powerful artifacts.
-----------
Emissaries were dispatched to the Free Nation, asking for assistance, similarly to the City of Gears, calling in treaties. The remains of the Defense Coalition were also asked for aid.
-----------
Vymrl appeared in the Court.
Either way there was only one reason why everything had moved to the court.
"D**m politics..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The warforged answered the call for assistance, sending their troops, both their troops of all kinds, and, to a lesser extent, their undead forces. Among the warforged marched those who had inscribed their bodies with runes, granting them new powers that provided an edge in combat. These runes were the result of experiments on the bloodstone of the Free Nation. While warforged were generally immune to the mutations that were common in the Free Nation, these runes let them call upon the same powers, but in a slightly more controlled fashion.
PP
1 pp: Guide Populace(Greater)(cultural Contact): Warforged learn the Spellscarred refluff that the Free nation has, but they can choose to bear the runes of it or not, since warforged are unaffected by the mutations.
1 pp: Guide Populace(Greater)(cultural Contact): Warforged learn the Spellscarred refluff that the Free nation has, but they can choose to bear the runes of it or not, since warforged are unaffected by the mutations.
Shurka appeared in the court.
(Deleted)
In this time of war, they were once again led by Selya, no longer posing as any ordinary humite. During a pause in the fighting, she found out someone was looking for her. She met Yorik outside Soskoro.
"Hello, Yorik. I hope you're here to bring good news; we could use some."
"Well, I have some good news this time, I have come here with some loyal soldier, in order to help you as I have met survivor that told me about the devils, apparently in the Free Nations there are enough people that are still with Terena after all.
And the war is not going good for Imperium and Free Nation invasion forces, most of the continent is coming to help Terena apparently."
"Finally I might have an idea to bring the Free Nation out of this war and even offer support to Terena, but I'll need the aid of your people..."
~~~~~~~~~~
The assassins of the world began to see the benefit of forming a sort of Guild. Within cities small branches of the Guild formed and from those a representative, and their family, was sent to the biggest city close to them. In the bigger cities the guilds started to take on smaller guilds as branches and communication and information passed between all of them. Eventually even the big cities sent out emissaries to other big cities until finally the Guild was fully formed. This in turn caused the success rates of assassinations to go up, and the guild to gain more and more money from their cut, as the assassins would no longer take on jobs they couldn't handle. Instead they would pass the jobs in question onto a more powerful assassin. The death rate of assassins due to local law enforcement also went down as the guild started to offer to move them and their families to a different city well out of the old ones range.
In Freedomguard assassins picked for the job set up shop. They were the elected leaders of the assassin guild, most of them picked on reputation alone, they quickly tried to take steps to set up ties with local officials. The guild also decided to set up a standard pay system based on kill difficulty. The system was standard but could be bi-passed if the client agreed to give/make the assassins something they wanted or needed to further their cause.
PP Used
1 PP Guide Populace: Assassins form The Guild. [Rest is largely fluff, although it does spread through most of the civilized world]
"The Court needs only the presence of the third judge, then the trials will begin in the order in which they were sought. Lord Vyrml will have first right of accusation, followed by Lord Drevan. Since the cases concern each other, no verdict will be announced before both cases are complete."
Loremaster airships dropped loads of alchemiical explosives over the giant camps, and wizard raind spells of destruction upon them as well. Gargoyles shrieked as they dove in to tear at those who tried to fight back, tooth, claw, and rock hard skin proving itself a match for steel and mithril.
Eladrin and Shadar-kai continued their hit and run tactics, slipping into the camps in the dead of night. They didn't engage in traditional battle, opting to simply slaughter their foes whole sale. They maimed warriors, so their blades would be worthless, burned supplies so that the men would starve, killed mounts so that calvary was useless, killed healers so the injured would rot and die, and executed opfficiers that the rank and file would remain confused. The forces of Silvera did not commit to war, but instead focused their efforts on simply disabling and killing the enemy.
Even the airships were not immune, as the Silveran forces used the Solar Chariot to board any dragon or berg ship that harrassed them, it's power allowing them to lands large quantities of soldiers on the ship in moments. Even without the Solar Chariot, Avariels slipped about the ships, setting fires and killing captains, leaving lesser talent in command of the enemy airforce.
The forces of the Free Nation faced an even worse terror, as a nameless enemy infiltrated their ranks, unseen and unheard. A soundless kill, the changling assassins could get almost any where and strike down almost anymore before escaping simply by blending into the rest of their forces.
On the front line, the dwarves dug into their lines, relying on earthen bulwarks to hold back enemy calvary while digging tunnels and pits to counfound and cripple enemy calvary. The flying Myrw found themselves facing a most potent threat. Well beyond the range of anything the Imperium could provide, the Flame Shooters wielded by halflings could strike out and kill Myrw's from nearly a hundred yards, killing them well before they close enough to retaliate.
-----
Ambassadors from Meribia made their way towards the Iron State with a simply message. Cease and desist all aid to the Imperium, of the ancient trading agreements between the two nations, one of the oldest the Iron State had, would be severed.
OOC
Where did you get the idea that Meribia's forces are mounted?
The first of the Ice Monoliths began to arrive, wreaking devastation against the Dwarves, bringing their advance to a halt. The Monoliths had also recently adopted the Imperium's formation fighting tactics, leading success against the Dwarven armies.
-------------
Vymrl stepped forward, commanding the attention of the Court.
"Lords and Masters of Creation, I, Vymrl, Lord of War, Time and Frost, Eldest of the Living Gods save Veros, Scourge of the South, stand here today to make a grievous accusation against an abomination of the natural order. A crime of such horrifying and blasphemous proportions that we have no choice but to wreak some terrible deific vengeance. This perversion of the natural order, this atrocity, stands before us today, mocking us. It calls itself Drevan, yet I name it the Usurper! He, the son of the First One, the Elder Lord, Veros, has betrayed his father and drained his divine spark from him. The Usurper then locked his father, now made mortal, away with his own power.
When I received word of this monstrous act, Shurka and I freed Veros, and I have him held securely. That I and Shurka, known enemies, could come together on this accents the danger that the Usurper represents. His act constitutes god-murder, and worse, the murder of the First God, the eldest of us all.
And so it is that I ask for a swift and sure condemnation, a condemnation of death! Let us strike this creature from this world, and bind him forever in some hell, never dieing, to suffer torment eternally. Then, we shall restore power to Veros. We owe him no less, as the progenitor of us all.
PP
1PP-Guide Populous, Greater: Ice Monoliths learn Formation Fighting
The humites joined the fray, after hearing that other nations were coming to their aid. They used their powerful healing and divine magic to aid their comrades-in-arms.
Red mist rose from the ground in large amounts. Eventually the mist formed into the shape of an orb. Anyone near these creatures would have their wounds intensify, causing more damage than they should. The blood wisps moved across the battlefields
PP Use
2 PP - Spawn Creature (Moderate) - Blood wisps are created. They give no advantage or disadvatage to either side. Stats will be on the wiki.
3 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace x4 - Humites
Suddenly, there was a rattling noise from the floor beneath Nixis. He looked down to see a pair of dice.
"Huh. Well, thats odd." he said. He reached down to examine the dice more thoughroughly, but was interrupted as Vymrl began to speak, and the dice were soon forgotten.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the success of gNoth, the influence of the Circle spread, although it was checked somewhat by the scrutiny of their organization by the leadership of Alexandria. The First Sneak determined that in order for the Circle to survive, they would have to do something to change the government's priorities.
pp
1 PP (From Astral Shard): Create Artifact (minor): Dice of Divine Fortune. A gambler's best friend, these dice will supernaturally roll better the more money is at stake. In a smart gambler's hands, it will allow for the reaping of great sums of money. In a greedy gambler's hands, the dice will appear loaded, and bad things will result. It also provides +1 to all defenses save AC when carried in a pouch around one's neck.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: The Circle. gNoth is a success, and the Circle grows in power.
1 PP (From Astral Shard): Create Artifact (minor): Dice of Divine Fortune. A gambler's best friend, these dice will supernaturally roll better the more money is at stake. In a smart gambler's hands, it will allow for the reaping of great sums of money. In a greedy gambler's hands, the dice will appear loaded, and bad things will result. It also provides +1 to all defenses save AC when carried in a pouch around one's neck.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: The Circle. gNoth is a success, and the Circle grows in power.
Yorik to Selya.
"Well, there are many people within my homeland that did not like the war, some due shared ancestry with your kind, the "Trade Princes" because the war is ruining their affairs and many other just believe that conquest is a concept that clash with freedom, that is the core of our society."
"However the Priesthood control the council and they have decided in favor of the invasion and they still hold a majority of the votes in the Eldest Council, but I think we can break that in two ways.
"First if you can find time to directly talk to the Eldest I think you will be able to convince many of them, and even the ones that are in favor of the war will never dare to harm you in any way, as for Free Nations law anyone who walk on Bloodmyst meaning no harm are protected by our law"
"Another way to gain votes in the council might be to create a new "city state" in Bloodmyst, as any city state ruler has voting power in the Eldest council, and our principle of "Freedom of movement" will allow a decent group of terenans to settle on the archipelago. Also this shall help the humites who can't fight as they will be under the Bloodguard protection, far from the war, while your army fight for Terena as apparenty enemies come hunting from you even in this plane.
I have begun gathering a lot of allies, and I personally lead a decent portion of the army myself, so I think that they will be safe. "
"Well, there are many people within my homeland that did not like the war, some due shared ancestry with your kind, the "Trade Princes" because the war is ruining their affairs and many other just believe that conquest is a concept that clash with freedom, that is the core of our society."
"However the Priesthood control the council and they have decided in favor of the invasion and they still hold a majority of the votes in the Eldest Council, but I think we can break that in two ways.
"First if you can find time to directly talk to the Eldest I think you will be able to convince many of them, and even the ones that are in favor of the war will never dare to harm you in any way, as for Free Nations law anyone who walk on Bloodmyst meaning no harm are protected by our law"
"Another way to gain votes in the council might be to create a new "city state" in Bloodmyst, as any city state ruler has voting power in the Eldest council, and our principle of "Freedom of movement" will allow a decent group of terenans to settle on the archipelago. Also this shall help the humites who can't fight as they will be under the Bloodguard protection, far from the war, while your army fight for Terena as apparenty enemies come hunting from you even in this plane.
I have begun gathering a lot of allies, and I personally lead a decent portion of the army myself, so I think that they will be safe. "
The warforged quickly backed out of the war. Apologizing profusely, they explained the situation, and that they had no wish to destroy a trading partner. They explained that there understanding of the situation did not include an attack on Meribia, who was a longstanding partner to them. This incident soon became unspoken in the Iron States culture.
----------
Beacon was concious of the war waging beyond their borders. Guards on trade caravans were increased, and the city garrison was expanded, but the city took care not to become involved. There was enough to do exploring and fortifying the new landscape of the nation after the calamitous storm.
The Southeastern tribe Latane, made contact with the shifters, who they found to be incredibly primitive compared to themselves. Still they have not made much of a move beyond that.
----
With wars waging across the continent the Elves have shut their doors completely, sealing their borders and refusing to interact with foreigners. Those few elves that leave are not allowed to return. Foreigners and agents of other organizations are not allowed in, not even dignataries.
PP
1 PP - Nourish Poulace - Dark Eladrin - Populations continue to grow (this action happens before next)
2 PP - Guide Populace (1 from AO) - The Dark Eladrin splits into 5 Clan Nations. These nations now operate as seperate groups for Guide actions, and the race cannot be guided as a whole with 1 PP.
2 PP - Guide Populace - 1 clan makes contact with the shifters
1 PP - Guide Populace - Elves completely shut their borders to foreigners.
To the south, the loremasters sprung their trap, unleashing defenses they had set into place the day that berg ships had been seen heading north once more. Magical energy crackled through the air, and the rituals unleashed destructive forces, annihilating most of the berg ships that dared approach the keep. Under the influence of all this magical energy, the keep itself began to twist and warp, taking on a slight intelligence of it's own. With so much destructive energy unleashed, even the Academy Dominus was held back, if only temporarily.
Unlike the Frost Giants, who could easily re-supply their forces, if slowly, using the Vaults of the Academy, the Free Nation forces were not so luck. With supplies being destroyed or stolen faster then they could be replaced, and healers and surgeons prime targets for the assassins (almost always chosen over military leaders), their military might weakened. Healthy warriors grew weak from starvation and weather, and the injured were left to rot and fester, the healers and supplies needed to treat them simply not available.
-----
Silveran messengers arrived in Beacon, seeking audience with the leaders. They carried a sealed scroll with a message from the Silveran Council, asking that Beacon lend it’s aid to drive out the invaders.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - The loremasters defenses shred the Imperium air force
1 PP - De-Nourish Populace - The Free Nation forces grow weaker from lack of suppliers, healers, blacksmiths, and other such specialists.
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Doppelgangers prove unusually resistant to unshaped possession.
1 PP (Artifact) - Mold Land (Lesser) - An extensive tunnel system under Terena
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Loremaster Keep becomes an artifact.
Mara looked down at the world. The northern continent was aflame in war. Even while the Gods tried for a civil resolution, their worshipers continued to fight in their name. How Ironic
1 PP - Karak-Rik learns flame guns or whatever their called (gunpowder tech).
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, The Empress, Vymrl, Mara, Shurka
5 - Hensen Jijou, Kiptar, Eijra, Hammu, Nixis
4 - Azor-Chapien, Chroma, Starl, Honissia, Incarnation's End, Torvek
Last night for admin volunteers.
"Lord of Knowledge, please tell me how Drevan wrested your divine might from you, that my master, Vymrl, might reclaim it for you."
----------
The Imperium copied the Free Nation's technique of forming Bloodborn, and immediately began forming huge legions of Bloodborn warriors. Spurred on the use of Flame Shooters, Imperium wizards developed a magical technique that created a field that stopped the Flame Shooter bullets dead. While it was less effective against arrows, it still stopped some.
Not content with these innovations, the Academy Dominus' formed the Council of Exotic Tactics. This Council immediately began creating a form of Necromancy, using information from their Warforged allies. For every soldier that fell in battle, an undead horror rose, prepared to wreak further destruction.
The Council of Northern Affairs ordered these new cohorts of Fast Zombies into the tunnels, utilizing their ability to see in darkness to devastate the Dwarven tunnelers, forcing them above ground, where the Monoliths could crush them.
New Bloodborn legions, their already considerable strength as giants further improved, began driving the Loremaster's forces back. Meanwhile, in the battle against Alexandria, S'kre, wielding the Niflendar Flamborge and the Malrime Ballista to deadly effect, held the line.
Across the War of Northern Aggression, Imperium Eldacs outmatched even the fastest of infantry and fought enemy cavalry in a series of brutal combats. In the skies above the war, Berg-Ships reined down death, while Myrw riders struck at supply lines and routes of communication, while providing the Council of Northern Affairs with intelligence. This effort received support from the Council of Lycanthropy, as their Keymon agents began agitating for a withdrawal from the war in the government of Alexandria. This effort was bolstered by the worshipers of Vymrl already in the city.
Amongst the Loremasters and Meribians, the Keymons unleashed a wave of assassination stunning in both its brutality and scale. If leaders could not be reached, then their families died. Arson became common, and detonations of magical bombs frequently interrupted the night. Thus the Imperium sought to bring the reality of war home to the populaces of their enemies.
To compound the woes of northern nations, Fey Dragons began attacking them, tearing apart whole companies of soldiers.
------------
The Warforged experienced a sudden chilling of relations with the Imperium, followed by a reminder of the First War, in the days when the Warforged still paid homage to Nocturne, when they had fought beside the Imperium, seeking to establish a stable world. Had they forgotten that dream, older by far than the Meribians?
PP
1PP-Guide Populous, Greater: Imperium learns how to create Bloodborn
1PP-Guide Populous, Greater: Imperium learns Necromancy
2PP-Guide Populous, Greater: Imperium learns Static Fields, making Flame Shooters irrelevant and arrows less useful
3PP (Ssabrec)-New technologies are disseminated, Imperium's forces bolstered.
1PP (Flesh-Pools of Asem)- Spawn Beast, Heroic: Fast Zombies
With five armies facing them down, and two groups dedicated to assassinating healers, builders, craftsmen, and mages, they were rapidly losing the battle.
PP Expenditure
1 PP (Artifact) - De-Nourish Populace - Imperium
Independant warforged start hearing the calls of honassia. This is especially potent for thoose among them who've studied necromancy. They start to pray to him for him in private.
Assassins guild members now operate more secretly, requirements for even meeting one are knowing somebody who employed them, agreeing to meet them in a place that they choose, and if you wanted them to make it look like somebody killed you then a dead body to appease Honissia.
PP Used
1 PP Guide: Independant warforged start to worship Honissia
1 PP Guide: Assassins Guild establishes meeting requirements to help keep members safe.
Meanwhile the Grand Army of the Imperium dug in and fought harder than ever, the finest army ever to be assembled on the face of the world. Three races, bolstered by a massive collection of military technologies and expertise, combined with an arsenal of artifacts the equal of any in the world, refused to cede a meter of ground not soaked in enemy blood.
-----------
Light Child found Shurka.
Lord of Healing, it is time for you to pay reparations. Some power to heal the wounds of my master's children, or bring the attackers of his children from the war is what he asks. If your children would ask for peace amongst the warring powers, before gods as well as mortals begin to die, my lord would direct his children to reach an accommodation of land to them.
PP Use
4 PP - Spawn Creature x2. Created Death Wisps and Life Wisps. Stats will be added to wiki. I'm going wisp-crazy here. Again, no advantage is offered to any side.
(Edit: Both Vymrl and Shurka are in the Court. No need to use a proxy.)
-----
The ambassadors were met by a Meribian general. "What do you want, giant?"
"Soldier, this war costs both sides dearly, with you spending blood and treasure upon a land whose inhabitants have forsaken it. Our numbers are not infinite, but our strength is still not fully spent. Is there a way an accord could be reached, short of total retreat by our forces or total capitulation by yours?"
Who was he, as a God King, as their servant, to deny them? Reaching his hands over his ever burning fire, the ground rumbled... His first truly great act as a God... None could deny it, its echoes would be heard across the world...
The tunnels opened.
And with it, crossing from the anti-magic barrier, the winds of the arcane flowed through those of his people who took their first steps. Shocking their systems, searching desperately for some kind of conduit, some kind of way out.
The first Skreet Sorcerors appeared.
3PP - Mould Land, Greater - The Skreet network of tunnels greatly expands, reaching to the Northern edge of 'the Continent'. However, it has no openings to the outside world as of yet....
2PP- Guide populace (1PP+1 artifact Guide PP) The Skreet Learn the Sorceror PC class.
------------------------------------------------------
On the island south of the Gray Wastes, now called the Front, the Azorans sailed from their newly constructed fortress onto the Gray Wastes, and began building a base of operations.
PP
2 PP: The Azorans can ride horses.
2 PP: The Azorans have mastered sailing.
0+1 PP (King Valden): The Azorans enter the Gray Wastes.
2 PP: The Azorans have mastered sailing.
0+1 PP (King Valden): The Azorans enter the Gray Wastes.
As I said before, we would accept some sort of 50-50 split of the land. The city of Terena would be shared, so that we could have fulfilled our commitments of the treaty. We would provide advisers to help the Coalition police their territory, until they are ready to stand on their own.
In doing this, we could honor our commitments, and break off the mutual defense section of the treaty while retaining our honor."
The envoy laughed mirthlessly.
"Believe me, one would have to be mad you use force of arms in pursuit of conquest on this continent, with all the magic we've used in this war, we could have raised lands from the ocean floor twice the size of the Territories."
"My city will do the same...." told another of the Eldest, his people was mostly humites and they were againt the occupation of Terena from the beginning.
"You have to rememember, that we still have a sense of honor, our allies in the Imperium requires our assistance, we can't abandon them in time of need..." Replied a Novost council member.
"Still I see no point in having our soldiers die for a land that one beolonged to a civilization that has done nothing against us..."
The council was greatly divided recently, the Priesthood was unable to keep the strict control that they had for the last millennium, after days of continuous litigation the were forced to listen to the pacifist faction.
The council decided to send envoys to the opposing faction to negotiate for the Free Nation abandoning the war.
A lone figure was watching from the shadow as the council made its final decision, a disapproving one, ready to report to the general in Terena...
actions
Free nations envoys are sent to Meribia, Alexandria and Silvera
Unshaped Possessed agents joined too in secret, expecially in Meribia.
I guess we should work out some mortal stories about that
Free nations envoys are sent to Meribia, Alexandria and Silvera
Unshaped Possessed agents joined too in secret, expecially in Meribia.
I guess we should work out some mortal stories about that
"My friends. You must be careful in this land of death. In order to survive, and eventually win, you will need to break the magical hold of death on this land. Until we meet again, know that Nixis supports you, as do I."
With that, he stepped back through the portal, and the marble structure faded and dissapeared. The Azorans, spirits brightened, resolved to tame the land, no matter the difficulty.
PP
1 PP (from Convincer): Guide Populace: Some Azorans, too frail to survive in the grey wastes, join the ever-growing city of Diaspora.
1 PP (-1 from connection): Guide populace: Azorans learn Cleric.
1 PP (from Chukwa); Nourish populace: The Azorans gain strength and slow the decay imposed by the grey wastes. With a great deal of support from Azora proper, the settlement survives, if unhappily.
1 PP (from Convincer): Guide Populace: Some Azorans, too frail to survive in the grey wastes, join the ever-growing city of Diaspora.
1 PP (-1 from connection): Guide populace: Azorans learn Cleric.
1 PP (from Chukwa); Nourish populace: The Azorans gain strength and slow the decay imposed by the grey wastes. With a great deal of support from Azora proper, the settlement survives, if unhappily.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Iron State sent notes to both Meribia and the Imperium. They both had the gist of the following:
Unsure of how to word this IC
We have no wish to sever our relationship with you. It is not our fault that both of you went to war, and we will not pick sides. Neither do we wish to play both sides and support you both, for that would be needlessly complicated. As such, we wish for a peaceful resolution to this conflict (read between the lines: Not Likely), and will stand neutral until such a time.
Only more polite and diplomatic of course.
We have no wish to sever our relationship with you. It is not our fault that both of you went to war, and we will not pick sides. Neither do we wish to play both sides and support you both, for that would be needlessly complicated. As such, we wish for a peaceful resolution to this conflict (read between the lines: Not Likely), and will stand neutral until such a time.
Only more polite and diplomatic of course.
Letter
We understand your reticence to join in the conflict, and wish to make no such impositions upon you. As long as you refrain supporting them as well, we accept your decision.
"Very well. It seems that The Empress is sleeping this age. We will start without her, and she can catch up when she arrives. If she does not arrive before the Court calls for a verdict, Lord Kiptar will serve as judge in her stead. If any verdict returns guilty with a punishment of death or imprisonment, Drahthor will act as a final check on the decision of the Courts, in accordance with the ancient promise I made to Lord Vyrml."
Hammu slammed the Hammer of Law pommel-first into the floor of the Courts.
"Now. Lord Vyrml and Lord Drevan- come forward, swear on the Laws of the Courts to present truthful testimony, and present your accusations."
----------
The Council in Beacon considered the request from Silvera. In the end, they declined to join the fight, citing the recent destruction of the city and the need to rebuild and ensure their own defense before venturing out to war en masse.
Lords and Ladies of this Court, Majesties of Ancient Days, Supreme Judges of the Court of Magistrates, I am Vymrl, Son of Yoglith, Incarnation of Time, Master of War, and Essence of Frost. I come before this assembly of gods, the greatest conclave of our kind ever assembled, to bring before you the foulest act ever to besmirch this divine creation. All wars and treacheries, basest lies and foulest crimes pale in consideration to this one act. This is the act of God-Murder.
I hereby swear upon my life, my honor, and the Laws of the Court, that these accusations are true to the best of my knowledge.
Now, I accuse the one known as Drevan, whom I name the Usurper, of the crime of God-Murder. He, a mortal, struck down his creator, the First One, Veros. His was the spark that first illuminated this barren world, and his eyes first beheld the wonder of creation. Through all the many days since that first inception, blood, both mortal and divine, has touched our world, and our bickerings and infightings have damaged this world. Yet, are we to allow such a creature as this to run through our son's and daughter's lands, destroying and ruining. No, we must strip him of all power and deprive him of that ultimate right, Life.
Now, whatever we may believe about the projects and goals of Veros, let us not forget that he summoned the first gossamer threads of existence, and he saw the potential of those first threads to become a tapestry both beautiful and terrible. Now, we are confronted by the Usurper, who has stolen the divine spark of Veros and dishonored us all by this act. Now, we are confronted by one with the power of Veros, but one who seeks to tear the ephemeral threads of this world asunder, to stain the purity that Veros first envisioned.
Are we to allow this to happen, no, we must tear down what the Usurper has built up, ascend Veros once more, and end the Usurper's stain forever!
So saying, Vymrl summoned a throne, formed of ice, finest Adamite and Mythril, worked in scenes of War and patterns of Ice.
When the last words slowly faded away, he laughed, his features twisting and liquidating, returning to his natural form, a gray faceless creature. "You call me a god-murderer. It is for this crime, that you would have me charged. There is little rebuttal to be offered."
"Yes, I stole Veros's divine spark. I controlled magic he commanded mastery of and wielded an artifact he created with his own hand. But this is not murder, and I offer you this: Veros commanded magic itself, the key force I used to do this. Could I, thrice a child of Veros, truly have wielded magic he did not intend that to be possible?"
He let his gaze scan the court. "Yet, I am not guilty of murder. Veros lives. Vymrl knows this, holding his mortal form in another plane, letting time ravage it. I stole the divine spark, and sealed the god in a bubble of time, that his mortal form would not weaken and die. I did everything possible to insure that he would survive my actions, when I could have simply taken what I wished, and let him perish."
"And what have I done to tear the world asunder since I gained it? I returned the lost lands of Duska Krak to the surface, and claimed dominion over them. That is all. Vymrl's own followers have done more harm to the world since my ascension that I managed to do in my mortal life and, as many of you know," he said, winking, "I did manage to sink Duska Krak beneath the waves before I was a god."
"That is all I have to say to Vymrl's accusations. No divine law saw that a spark cannot be stolen, and I did not slay Veros. I claim that his accusation is false and a waste of the courts time, founded upon false premises."
Hs features slowly mutated once more, returning to his accustomed form, a handsome dwarf in his prime. "Now, I bring my own accusations."
"I am Drevan, the Usurper, Ravager of Duska Krak, thrice born child of Veros, wielder of his divine spark. I came her to bring charges to bear against the fey goddess Eijra, the healer Shurka, and the changer of ways Hensen Jijou."
"Within the workshop of Veros, they plied their might against mine in a blatant attempt to kill me for crimes committed as a mortal. Had it not been for an unknown benefactor, I would not have survived the day."
He lifted the Staff of Veros, letting it project the images of that day.
Images
Flames lingered on Shurka's body, even though he could will them away. He felt the pain. He welcomed the pain. Because soon, this pain would be what Drevan felt, tenfold. His will was too strong to be fooled by calling him a murderer. Shurka never once doubted his actions; he knew that he did what had to be done. And he'd do it again. He rushed to the portal, flames still dancing across his body, and held it open.
"There won't be another time. I am going to kill you now. Who else is coming?"
PP Use
1 PP - Attack God
(I believe I have a combat bonus of 10, while you have 12 (including the +2 for a home plane. My bonus is +2 for each Aid I get.)
Sensing a chance for his plans to come into fruition Hensen channeled a small amount of his divine power into Shurka increasing the power used to fight the vampire god, while at the same time hiding his action using his gift of illusionPP
1 PP - Help Shurka fighting Drevan
"Bloody politics..." it muttered under its breath.
"I'm Hensen, the changer of ways, I'm honored to be able to speak to this divine conclave and to listen to the wisdom of its judges.
I just have a few points I'd like to discuss with you, questions mostly...
I hereby swear upon my life, my honor, and the Laws of the Court, that everything I'm going to say here is true to the best of my knowledge.
"The Usurper, in his brilliant defense, stated that he did not murder Veros...
Well technically he was right.
However I will want you all to think about the meaning of life for us, first of all we are immortal, blessed with the ability to survive the eternity by our own power, able to act, to bring new glory and beauty to the world...
Let's think about a mortal, whose life span is limited to mere years, what if you take him and make him live only a few seconds of his life denying him the rest, are you not killing him?
And what about Veros, whose eternity was stolen in exchange for a few years?
He told that the First One was preserved, well, being frozen in time he was not living even the small time that the usurper has left him.
Will you call "living" a state where you can't move nor speak, or even think. Can a stone move? Can a stone think? Is a stone alive?
Until he was liberated by Vymrl he was like dead. There are plenty of ways to secure a mortal existance for a long time, even forever, and for one who controls magic I guess that it should be quite easy to find a different solution than a "time prison" to preserve him...
Finally Drevan has shown us scenes of we attacking him and these of course, are true...
However I have a few consideration about that too...
First, is Drevan to be considered one of us? Is stealing divinity a proper way to become a god? Does having power comparable to us qualify as way earn a place among the divine ones?
What is going to happen if any mortal, given time and skill like the one of Drevan, feels entitled to attempt to steal our birthright?
Is fighting a mortal, even if as powerful as us or even stronger as he has chosen the First One as a target for his crime, forbidden by the laws of the Court?
Beside, while the action was violent, mere killing was not the purpose, it was restoring that wich was taken... The life or death of the mortal thief who got Veros spark was secondary, for me at least.
Finally I have one last consideration, that while it is unrelated with the trial it might still be of some interest. Look at who is sitting here today, we have Lord Shurka, god of healing and patron of the Humites, and Lord Vymrl who have led his followers, as Drevan remarked, to commit many atrocities against Shurkas people. Both of them are now united in seeking Veros restored to power and the Usurper defeated...
The sudden words sprang from the doppelganger-lips of Xirinet.
If a mortal can challenge a god, are they truly still mortal? Moreso Drevan, who has before wielded magics unto godhood. It is immaterial how he gained his power, he wields it.
From your lips you have admitted he committed no murder. Instead he locked the first in an eternal cage. If he had chosen he could have struck him down, so that leaves the question...
Why?
Why bind the first, thereby giving him the chance to lash out. Even so small a chance as that afforded him by his prison. At the very best eternity would stretch, the same eternity that the first wopuld have had no matter what change there is was in his spending of it. The worst has already happened, mere centuries and already the first is free, and gods gather here to level charges and accusations.
And why? Were Drevan to achieve power on his own none would be here. No matter what atrocities he would commit. Somehow you value the natural born over those who seek power. Existence can only be named a struggle. A struggle to survive, to seize power and hold onto it. That is what Drevan has accomplished in taking his creator's power for himself. Thrce reborn in the first's power, the first before my time, the second as blood-seeker, and a third with Veros' staff. In the end he is doing as he was meant to do, attaining knowledge, power, and even ascending mortality.
Xirinet laughed, a rolling chuckle that held warm mirth.
Perhaps some of the first has rubbed off on me in our association, for I cannot help but find this a briliant experiment. And the once-mortal before us is the final product.
***
The envoys of Imperium and Free Nation alike were recieved by the Council of the Sundered crown.
To both: "Speak your reasons for standing here."
***
The agitation of the keymon spies quickly lost hold, Alexandria had long-since committed itself to battle. A test of faith in their gods and a test of their own personal power.
In the War Quarter a new faction of soldiers rose, the elite Kai Shomar Ko'tan. Unlike the traditional mercenary guilds of Alexandria they accepted only Alexandrian citizens. The most dangerous of all Alexandria's soldiery quickly earned a nickname among others, the Death Corps, though none were so shortsighted as to name it that to the face of any of its constituents.
In battle the soldiers fought with inhuman vigor, those who fell only rising again to take up sword and continue against their enemy. The blood and chaos of the battlefield seemed to welcome them as its true inhabitants.
Actions
1PP from the Great Cathedral: The Kai Shomar Ko'tan if formed. This elite military organization only accepts alexandrians. Unlike other military bands in Alexandria its services are not for sale.
3PP, Ascend Exarch: The Kai Shomar Ko'tan function as a combat exarch. Note that the constituents of the band are each as mortal as their race dictates, though usually of Paragon or higher tier.
1PP from the Stars, Nourish Populace: Alexandria, envigored by combat.
3PP, Ascend Exarch: The Kai Shomar Ko'tan function as a combat exarch. Note that the constituents of the band are each as mortal as their race dictates, though usually of Paragon or higher tier.
1PP from the Stars, Nourish Populace: Alexandria, envigored by combat.
"Well, if we are to be ruled by the laws of evolution and natural selections like we are mere mortal creatures, and we are not, what is the point of this Court and its laws?
If you follow Xirinet logic every murder is justifiable, as it will be just natural that the strong, or the many, kill the weak or lone to consume his power..."
"Also causing the immortals to become mortal is a way of killing them, you will have to agree with me... Veros had no chance of dying, before Drevan act, and now he has... and he will die, one day or another an occurance that was not possible before..."
"Lord Hensen, even gods can die. We need look no further than the example of the last trial held before this Court: the killing of Lord Xa'an. Lord Yoglith passed from the world soon after, and by his own hands. It is foolish to claim that a god cannot die, just as it is foolish to claim that mortality in and of itself is a death sentence.
Even among the "mortals", as we call those weaker beings, there are races that do not die unless killed. The Lord of Knowledge without his divine power may experience a fate like unto death, but I will leave it to the Lord Vryml to convince the Court of his charges by his counter argument to Lord Drevan. "
He looked at Vryml.
"I will have Order in my Courts. There is a time for other gods to speak, but now is the time for Lord Vyrml to respond to Lord Drevan, and for Lord Drevan to rebut Lord Hensen's defense."
My first words will be a mere clarification for Xirinet the Judge. You stated that gathering power is the hallmark of existence, and that were the Usurper a natural born god we would allow him to commit untold atrocities. Yet, we are not here to deal in hypotheticals, we are here to deal with facts and the Laws of this Court! And the Laws of this Court, which I swore to uphold, state that no god may be murdered.
Your personal views on this subject are irrelevant, your sole duty while in your capacity as a judge is to decide weather or not a Law has been broken. If you cannot remove your personal bias from such a decision, you should recuse yourself. We have already replaced one judge, we can replace another.
Now, as to the contentions of Drevan the Usurper, I need only say this. He stands damned by his own testimony. He has admitted to stripping Veros of his divine spark, and so has admitted to murder. Now, a few of you seem to resist the truth inherent in this claim, so I shall lay out some examples.
First, we must look to what makes a god a god. First, is the capacity to shape new peoples and new lands, indeed, bring new thoughts and ideas into this world, for good and ill. Veros, by the actions of Drevan, has lost that power. Drevan has also called Veros a mortal. From these words, we can easily comprehend this basic fact. Veros is no longer a god. And, if he is no longer a god, then his godhood has been destroyed, murdered. It does not matter that another now wields these powers, it matters merely that Veros, the First One, no longer exists as a god, therefore murder has taken place.
If this is to abstract, consider this. Were I to seize an Humite, strip it of its ability to think and reason, its ability to feel, and its ability to create, in effect, leave it is a lump of flesh. Now, this lump of flesh could still breathe, and its heart would still pump blood, but would any here consider that existence life? I do not. That, in effect, is what Drevan has done to Veros.
The reality of the situation also meant the Latane needed more land and space to expand and grow. The shifters merely provided a convenient excuse and an easy target compared to the others. The Latane began to push the shifters farther away, and in response the shifters began to fight back. Skirmishing and fights broke out over the years, but the Latane had the upper hand, and killed many shifters and devastated whole villages. They pushed the inferior race to the outer edges of known land.
Show
1 PP - Guide Populace - Latane Nation - Begins expanding against the Shifters, fighting, killing, low level war, etc.
1 PP - Guide Populace - Latane Nation - Begins expanding against the Shifters, fighting, killing, low level war, etc.
----------
Noticing the new portal, Rabi stepped through to explore the new land, to bring a report to Hammu. No one could be everywhere, and perhaps he could gain a few scraps of knowledge before the trial ended.
----------
In Beacon, the Argent Guard learned the techniques of fighting from walls and watchtowers. They no longer had the benefit of defending a city in the clouds, and so they learned to fortify the ground rather than depending on height alone for protection.
PP
+1PP (The Zenith) Create Artifact: The Zenith (the 3PP portal from 2 resets ago) creates a permanent portal to Zophia.
1PP +1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon learns Fortification (to include stone and earthworks). They do not offer this tech for normal trade, but may sell it.
+1PP (The Zenith) Create Artifact: The Zenith (the 3PP portal from 2 resets ago) creates a permanent portal to Zophia.
1PP +1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon learns Fortification (to include stone and earthworks). They do not offer this tech for normal trade, but may sell it.
Floating deeper into the wastes, the child god would find a real surprise: a city! And not just any city, a city bustling with people that seemed to embody the Chaos he'd first come from! Curious, the god hid and watched the people for several days.. and very fun days they were. Every day each person seemed to wake up as a new element, fire, earth, wind, water, storm, becoming nearly a new person every morning! And what's more, what element they embodied determined what job they did. The earth genasi repaired the buildings shattered in the impact, hauled rocks, tilled barren fields and basically laboured, the fire genasi prowled the street with weapons, the wind genasi rushed about bearing messages or headed into the wastes to hunt, the water genasi traded and recorded the going ons, and the storm genasi made sure everyone else did their job. The only people that didn't seem to shift in their duties were the priests, who tended the shrines of a god Chroma had never heard of regardless of what they woke up as.
Deciding that he'd waited long enough, Chroma decided to do something nice for the people. Concentrating his energy, the god made it so that the earth immediately surrounding the city was no longer barren, making it rich and brown perfect for plant life. Spying the flash of colour that accompanied his work, a small group of genasi approached the shifting god, and were in awe of his colour and Chaos, and the sheer power they felt eminating from him ((it's been a while since they've seen a god, after all :P )). Deciding to be friendly, the child god spoke with the people for a while.. and what he heard saddened him.
It seemed that once the genasi had lived withtheir god in harmony, travelling to and from the Chaos where their home was under his watchful and caring eyes. But eventually, their god had ceased to speak with them except to give them a small spark of his divine power to those who prayed most fervantly. Slowly, travel between the Chaos genasi and those that remained in the world (this confused Chroma a little, since he'd never seen any other genasi on Ardune) dwindled, then ceased, isolating the Chaos genasi for centuries. And then... they fell from the sky.
These people embodied everything Chroma stood for: chaos, but the good kind that created and made things better, instead of creating it through senseless slaughter. Sympathizing with the genasi, the god of chaos decided that if they wished a god, he would have to do.. it would be fun to be worshipped by more than one race! He wondered if there were anyone else like his genasi... forgotten, lost to the sands of time. If there were... Chroma vowed he would take care of each and every one of them that sought him out.
PP Expenditure
2 PP - Guide Intelligent Populace: The chaos from their landing alters the genasi slightly. Long story short, instead of choosing one manifestation, or several and switching between them, Ardune genasi wake up with a manifestation determined with a dice roll. Will actually put up in wiki when can get stable internet ^_^;;
1 Guide PP from Beryl - Genasi form a cast based system based on manifestation: fire is soldier and guards, earth are labourers, blue are merchants and beaurocrats, wind are scouts, messengers and hunters, and storm are judges and nobles. Priests remain priests and can be of any manifestation
1PP - Guide Populace: The Ardune genasi now worship Chroma, though they still hold onto their old beliefs as well, forming a sort of 'traditionalist' church and 'new' church.
1 Nourish PP from fountain: the land around the genasi's fallen earthmote becomes fertile
1 Spawn PP from veil: Create bloodspike behemoths
1 PP - Form Domain: Chroma creates the domain of the Forgotten, pledging to take care of those that time forgot.
2 PP - Guide Intelligent Populace: The chaos from their landing alters the genasi slightly. Long story short, instead of choosing one manifestation, or several and switching between them, Ardune genasi wake up with a manifestation determined with a dice roll. Will actually put up in wiki when can get stable internet ^_^;;
1 Guide PP from Beryl - Genasi form a cast based system based on manifestation: fire is soldier and guards, earth are labourers, blue are merchants and beaurocrats, wind are scouts, messengers and hunters, and storm are judges and nobles. Priests remain priests and can be of any manifestation
1PP - Guide Populace: The Ardune genasi now worship Chroma, though they still hold onto their old beliefs as well, forming a sort of 'traditionalist' church and 'new' church.
1 Nourish PP from fountain: the land around the genasi's fallen earthmote becomes fertile
1 Spawn PP from veil: Create bloodspike behemoths
1 PP - Form Domain: Chroma creates the domain of the Forgotten, pledging to take care of those that time forgot.
"And yes, I refer to him as a mortal. He is no longer a god, though I admit, he may not quite be mortal either. He is something unprecedented. There are mortals that can survive the ages without their bodies failing. The angels of the Shattered Lands, the deva of Beacon, and the devils born of Veros's own hands are functionally immortal. Time's ravages do not apply to them."
"So claiming that leaving him in a mortal body was equivalent to murder is outrageous as well. There is no way of knowing how long his new body will survive. He exists in a new form, a new shape, a creature unknown to our world prior to my intervention. A god's mind trapped in a mortals body."
"Xirinet has said that all living things strive to gain more power, to assert dominion over the world around them. What greater power is there to aspire to than that of a god? I have succeeded where generations of mortals failed, and claimed godhoods for myself by the only means available. You would see me punished for the very things we mortals do by default, our very nature, as dictated by life itself?"
-----
His eyes snapped open, looking at the area around him. "Where am I?"
He pulled himself to his feat unsteadily, feeling weak, weaker than he had ever felt, even after the reshaping of the world so long ago. Strange creatures moved around him, seeming to want to carry out his wishes. "Go. Bring who ever your master is to me."
-----
For many years, the gnolls had hunted freely of the minotaurs, who moved in groups to protect themselves. Times were changing. It has taken years to properly raise and train the surprise, but success has finally come to the minotaurs. Three groups mounted up and made their way into the forest, using their new allies natural abilities to move among the thick foliage of the Ardune jungles.
-----
Markrith creapt to the edge of the bush, sniffing. He could smell the bulls in the clearing, clearly where they had camped, he still saw their supplies arrayed. There were no trails leading away from the camp, but the bulls had simply vanished.
His keen eyes caught sight of the rest of his pack slowly creeping into position. Every one was ready, and the camp was surrounded, but the bulls were gone. A grin crossed his face. No bulls to consume, but the wood items and leather products would be useful enough for his pack. A quick bark, and he launcehd himself forward, the entire pack rushing into the clearing.
They were all ready for the fight, hoping there were some bulls hiding within the tents, but no, nothing to fight, nothing to kill. Such a dissapointment. As the pack gathered around him, he frowned. He could smell them even stronger now. And something else, something he didn't recognize.
His confusion was shortlived when a blast of flame ignited on his head, burning him to a crisp. As the pack screeched and began top scatter, their simple fear turned to terror as minotaurs fell from the foliage above them by suprise. Worse, strange giant spiders bearing minotaur riders leaped down from the trees as well. Even the fasted of the pack fell before this unexpected assault, the spiders able to jump further than any of the gnolls could run, giving their riders a speed superiority the minotaurs has never had before. No member of this pack survived to tell the tale.
Across the jungles of Ardune, similar ambushes against gnoll packs became a regular occurence as the minotaurs gained revenger for years of relentless raids.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Minotaurs, using their deathjump spider mounts, are able to inflict devastating ambushes on gnoll packs by moving through the dense foliage of the jungle.
Up at the Zataran's head, Convincer sat between Chukwa's eyes.
"So, what can we do? We are already encouraging anyone with families below to return below, and we are still growing at a rapid pace."
"I HAVE AN IDEA, BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME. NIXIS HAS GIVEN ME POWER TO ENACT A SOLUTION, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WHICH WILL REQUIRE TEACHING THOSE ON MY BACK. CAN YOU SEND SEVERAL TO ME?"
"Of course. I will send several of the Children to you."
"YOU HAVE THE ASTRAL SHARD, YES? IF YOU DONT MIND..."
Convincer nodded, and pulled out the Astral Shard that Nixis had given him. He saw the Zataran's eyes lose focus for a moment as divine power flowed through the creature, then the Astral Shard shone brightly, and then, a staff of reddish clay hovered before Convincer, who reached forward to grab the staff.
"GIVE THAT TO THE CHILDREN. IT WILL HELP THEM IN THE FUTURE."
PP
1 PP: Guide Populace: The people on Chukwa's back (Azorans, Humites and Gnomes primarially), form the Children of the Aether.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: The Children of the Aether grow until they nearly overwhelm the ability of their island in the Aether to support them.
3 PP (one from Astral Shard): Create Artifact: The staff of Earth: Tall clay staff that provides Mold PP.
1 PP: Guide Populace: The people on Chukwa's back (Azorans, Humites and Gnomes primarially), form the Children of the Aether.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: The Children of the Aether grow until they nearly overwhelm the ability of their island in the Aether to support them.
3 PP (one from Astral Shard): Create Artifact: The staff of Earth: Tall clay staff that provides Mold PP.
OOC: anyone can say anything about Drevan now. You have 24 hours.
"Lord Drevan, you have accused Lords Shurka and Hensen and Lady Eijra, and Lord Hensen has responded. What more do you have to say?"
"Drevan is correct. I, Nixis, the Storyteller, was privy to the events he describes, and I solemnly promise to relate what I know truthfully, although, due to my young age compared to the rest of you, I fear I may ask more questions than I provide answers.
When Veros dissapeared, and we could no longer sense his presence, several of us, including Shurka and Eijra, traveled to Terena, his last known position. After searching for a time, I left to deal with some other matters, and when I returned, the lands of the Golden Hills of stories past had risen from the sea, and I found Eijra and Drevan above them. Moments later, Shurka arrived, and seemed to recognize Drevan, although from where I am uncertain. It was certainly my understanding that Shurka's accusation of 'Murderer' was NOT related to Veros, but was instead due to some other action when Drevan was yet a mortal. Sadly, the stories that compose my body do not help me in
this instance, so I must ask. Shurka, why did you call Drevan a Murderer?
Regardless, yes, Drevan retreated to Veros' workshop, and was attacked by the gods as he described. It was at that point that I realized what had occured, that Drevan had taken Veros' power, and the thought of such an action caused me to hesitate as to what course of action I wished to take, in which time Drevan was able to flee."
Nixis turned to Xirinet and continued.
"As to your most excellent question: Why did Drevan keep Veros' body in stasis instead of killing him? I wonder if it was truly an act of charity, or if it was, instead, a necessary part of the means by which Drevan has taken his power. Perhaps were Veros to actually die, his power would dissapear as well. I would like to know the
true reasons why Drevan has done this to the Eldest."
With that said, Nixis floated backwards, giving the floor to another.
Still worse, your hypocrisy possesses the taint of flawed logic. The very existence of the Laws of this Court confirm that there are no higher Laws, no natural requirements. Indeed, these laws are the sole commonality among us, us Masters and Mistresses of Creation. For, the concepts that I embody demand that I bring this whole world into an eternal state of War, allow Time a free hand with all, and bury existence under Ice. Yet, I do not do that, because I respect a balance of power, and because I truly support the one thing that may judge all our actions equally, the Laws of this Court.
Your honors, the Usurper digs himself a deeper hole with every word he speaks. He stated "he is no longer a god". In the words of the accused himself, we have all we need for a conviction under the laws of this Court. Veros the God is gone, destroyed, non-existent. Who is the cause of this, Dreven the Usurper. As such, it is irrelevant that some new assemblage of parts is in existence, calling itself Veros the Mortal, Veros the God is dead, and the Usurper, by his own word, stands committed of that crime.
-----------
One of the creatures scuttled off, and returned a few moments later. A cluster of eyes appeared in air, hovering.
"Veros the Mortal, you reside now upon an outer plane of existence, secure under the power of Vymrl, Grand Marshall of War. He strives even now before the Court of Magistrates to retrieve your power. Still, he requires your aid. Therefore I ask you these questions. What is the nature of Drevan the Usurper, how did you fall from such heights of power, and most critically, how can he be defeated?"
His eyes snapped open, looking at the area around him. "Where am I?"
He pulled himself to his feat unsteadily, feeling weak, weaker than he had ever felt, even after the reshaping of the world so long ago. Strange creatures moved around him, seeming to want to carry out his wishes. "Go. Bring who ever your master is to me."
"It might be hard, First One, my master and Vymrl, the one who has freed you from the time bouble where you was imprisoned for the last few centuries, are attending a divine trial... " Told the Wondermaker.
"They are going after Drevan, the vampire who stole your divine power and is using it to wreak havoc..."
"I'll tell them that you are awake, anyway..."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The envoys of Imperium and Free Nation alike were recieved by the Council of the Sundered crown.
To both: "Speak your reasons for standing here."
The amabassador of the Free Nation spoke to the council.
"We are here, my lords, because the Free Nation is tired of the war that costed so many lives to our people and to yours, so we have being sent to negotiate the peace. Even if we still hold legions of soldiers and our founderies keep producin new warmachines we see no purpose in wasting our resources in an endless conflict."
"The Free Nation power is based on commerce and is not interested in territorial gains, so we might leave Terena if that is your will."
"And as I presume that we have much more to gain from peace and cohoperation in confront of conflict I will also love to ask that, after a proper deal is concluded and the hate caused by the war is vanished, the Glorious Alexandria begin accepting our merchants, as the Free Nations will do the same."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Another envoy was sent to the Senate from Freedomguard, in order to discuss with the Imperium about the state of the war.
Show
All this stuff is happening almost at the same time as the discussion between the Free Nations envoy and the Loremaster ofc.
All this stuff is happening almost at the same time as the discussion between the Free Nations envoy and the Loremaster ofc.
-----
Veros looked at the two, drawing a deep breath as he pulled himself to his full height. "Stop wasting time. Simply take me to them."
OOC Angel, Nerdzul
Please delay Veros's request until after the verdict.
The life god's form dissolved into a lazy haze as it spoke.
Are the actions of a mortal subject to godlaws?
Regardless, I would enjoy knowing why Veros was locked away. That much clearly was committed by a god.
***
The Council addressed the envoy from the Free Nation. The speaker was an angel, garbed in bronzed steel, its slow voice carrying hints of great age.
"If you wish to withdraw your forces from the battle there is little to discuss on the matter.
I fear though you misunderstand our purpose in the war. We feel no hate for your people, nor do we carry ill will. It is the presence of conquerors which we would remove. As soon as your people are ready the gates of the Trade Quarter can be made open to you if you so wish.
Of course we have our own ambassadors who would seek welcome in your... courts? I know little of your governance I fear. Certain requirements will have to be met by those who would enter the city, but that is a simple matter of law and clarification."
I'll eventually lead you there if you want, the Free Nations will widraw its forces from Terena as soon as possible.
"However mind that any direct action or retaliation against the Imperium homeland, in case you manage to push them back, will still be considered an act of war."
Thanks to the new wealth brought by many new trade agreements and refocusing the military production into civil one the Free Nation wealth increases.
In order to compensate the giants for their leaving the war a large shipment of goods and gold is sent to the Imperium, to recover from the losses caused by the fights. It was rumored that this donation was subject of long discussions and that it was deliberated after some unexpected shifts in opinions from some of the Eldest.
With peace the age of exploration begun again, the new fleets produced for the war were sent again trough the ocean, to seek other cultures, it was rumored that a powerful item of power, the The Compass of Shifting Routes, stolen by the fleet captains from a pirate, guided them toward the distant land of the Dark Eladrin.
Meanwhile the Possessed one begin working on their new weapons, firs they captured some energy of the Grand Distortion and imprisoned it in an alloy of the gianst finest adamantite. This item, the Orb of Nightmares, becomes able to project a limited amount of distortion energies to the world, creating an ambient favorable to pure Unshaped and allow the twisted power of Hensen realm to flow freely, to power up some sort of unholy ritual that the Possessed Ones was researching.
Within the land of Zophia, abandoned after the deah of the god that created it, a few of the barbarians begun to be possessed by the Unshaped, but something unexpected happened. A local shaman, Gothor, asked to one of these creatures to merge with him, in exchange of the power to lead his tribe away from a famine, after the creature consented, pleased by gaining access to an influential host so easily, they both discovered that the creature was able to channel more power trough the shaman, as it had no need of consuming energies to subdue the host will. Equipped with newfold powers Gothor the first Zophian warlock, managed to save its tribe from the famine.
Soon attracted by the warlock power many small tribes joined the orginal one to form a new clan, the Shadow Walkers, devoted worshiphers of the Unshaped and, trough them, to Hensen.
The abundance of willing host increased the cases of possession among the tribe and many new warlocks begun to call the distortion twisted magic for the glory of their Shadow Walker and their demonic masters.
In the depths of the Underdark the bloodstone crystals growth begin to carve a way toward the Dimentional Bulkwark, uniting the cave complex with the bloodstone formations in the inner world, some of its crystals even emerge in the Skreet tunnels.
PP
1 PP - Nourish: The Free Nations, recover from the war losses thanks to the new trading agreements.
1 PP - Nourish: The Imperium was paid a rich compensation from the Free Nations to recover some of the military costs.
1 PP Guide, the Free Nation went on an exploration-diplomatic mission to the Dark Eladrin land (who they are going to meet is up to Massive).
2 PP Guide (1 PP from Aether Ripples), The Possessed Ones and their allies discover that they can create an unholy symbiosis between the possessing spirit and the host, that become capable of wielding warlock powers (for now it will be nechanically considered Vestige Pact, to represent the higly mutable power of the Unshaped)
1 PP Guide, the Shadow Walker tribe is formed
1 PP Nourish (From Bloodstones), The Possessed Ones (in Shadow Walker clan), the number of possessed ones in Zophia increase.
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker), in Chillhund the of the Possessed Ones crete the Orb of Nightmares, as the first part of the weapon that they promised to make for the giants.
1 PP Mold (From Bloodstones), Bloodstone keeps diffusing in the Underdark, moving toward the dimentional bulkwark and the inner world, some of its crystals even emerge in the Skreet tunnels.
1 PP - Nourish: The Free Nations, recover from the war losses thanks to the new trading agreements.
1 PP - Nourish: The Imperium was paid a rich compensation from the Free Nations to recover some of the military costs.
1 PP Guide, the Free Nation went on an exploration-diplomatic mission to the Dark Eladrin land (who they are going to meet is up to Massive).
2 PP Guide (1 PP from Aether Ripples), The Possessed Ones and their allies discover that they can create an unholy symbiosis between the possessing spirit and the host, that become capable of wielding warlock powers (for now it will be nechanically considered Vestige Pact, to represent the higly mutable power of the Unshaped)
1 PP Guide, the Shadow Walker tribe is formed
1 PP Nourish (From Bloodstones), The Possessed Ones (in Shadow Walker clan), the number of possessed ones in Zophia increase.
1 PP Create (from the Wondermaker), in Chillhund the of the Possessed Ones crete the Orb of Nightmares, as the first part of the weapon that they promised to make for the giants.
1 PP Mold (From Bloodstones), Bloodstone keeps diffusing in the Underdark, moving toward the dimentional bulkwark and the inner world, some of its crystals even emerge in the Skreet tunnels.
But then the Zaratan began migrating back towards the world, and they began coalesce into a large group near where the moons would converge. The astrologers and astronomers of the world knew that this year there would be a very rare event, a very auspicious event--the combination of calibration and an eclipse. To the Ae-Sylvani who knew of the Zaratan's movements, but perhaps not of the upcoming event, they too saw a major change in the creatures as they congregated.
That night, the first of calibration, the Zaratan were massed in between the moons. They sang, as they often did, a new song never hear before and were bathed in a the soft glow ofdiving light. Then, when the eclipse was over and the moons on their seperate paths, the Zaratan dispersed back to the edges of the universe.
Show
1 PP - Guide Populace - Ae-Sylvani - the Ae-Sylvani who live in the outer aether now worship Mara.
2 PP (1 PP from Astral Orrery) - Guide Populace - the outer-world living Ae-Sylvani now know Astronomy.
3 PP - Ascend Exarch - Zaratans - All the Zaratans, collectively (except for Nixis's one Zaratan) are now a an Exarch of Mara, providing +1 Spawn PP.
1 PP - Guide Populace - Ae-Sylvani - the Ae-Sylvani who live in the outer aether now worship Mara.
2 PP (1 PP from Astral Orrery) - Guide Populace - the outer-world living Ae-Sylvani now know Astronomy.
3 PP - Ascend Exarch - Zaratans - All the Zaratans, collectively (except for Nixis's one Zaratan) are now a an Exarch of Mara, providing +1 Spawn PP.
Mercenaries set out into other countries to sell their skills, and those that returned began to record the skills they learned in a tome within the War Quarter. As years passed the tome was laid with enchantments, for it grew at an astounding rate.
Actions
2PP, Nourish Populace: Alexandria continues to gain power as its armies are tempered and mercenary guilds begin to sell their skills openly in other nations.
1PP, Create Artifact: The Art of War (likely a working title, though it WOULD be appropriate. This tome as a collection of all the combat knowledge gained by Alexandrian soldiers and mercenaries (of course all the soldiers ARE mercenaries so that might be redundant).
1PP, Create Artifact: The Art of War (likely a working title, though it WOULD be appropriate. This tome as a collection of all the combat knowledge gained by Alexandrian soldiers and mercenaries (of course all the soldiers ARE mercenaries so that might be redundant).
PP Use
2 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace x3 - Imperium
Kiptar and Xirinet
PM me a verdict in each case, and if you vote guilty, include your preferred punishment. That could be imprisonment, stripping of power, restitution in the form of PP actions, and so on.
PM me a verdict in each case, and if you vote guilty, include your preferred punishment. That could be imprisonment, stripping of power, restitution in the form of PP actions, and so on.
-----
The minotaur ran, leaves and branches smacking into him as he dashed through the jungle. His mount had been taken down when he had been cut off from his allies, and the gnolls were coming.
He cried out as he stumbled over a fallen branch, not seeing it in the path. Rolling over, getting to his feet, he heard the growls and calls of gnolls, leaping at him.
Panicked, he grabbed the loose branch at his feet, and turned to defend himself, only to be shocked at what he saw. It was no loose branch, but a well carved staff. He had no chance to stop and examine his find as he unleashed his sorcerous might on the pursuing gnolls, the strange staff he found giving him the power he needed to survive.
-----
The necromantic energies of the gray wastes continued it's relentless assault on the azorans living within it. Some of those who fell rose up as a new form of previously unknown undead. Assaulted by new types of undead as well as the land itself, azorans losses continued to mount.
-----
The keep sat there, the mortals walking within it still unaware that their castle of stone had a mind of it's own.
It wasn't much of a mind, but it still was a mind, and the keep sat there, with nothing to do but think since it had encountered the strange creature in the body of another. Many odd creatures had come that day, and the keep had denied them entrance, not understanding what they were.
The people within her knew that something odd was going on, but she had hidden herself from them. They didn't need to know that she had awakened. Since that day, she had watched them, studied them, and tried to understand the creatures of flesh and blood that called her body home.
She had listened to their speech, read their books, and learned about the world beyond the keep. She wanted to know, to understand, to see, but she was trapped, stuck in this stone formation that the mingling of their magic had imbued with a mind.
So she sat, she watched, she studied, and she waited, still unaware of her own capabilities.
-----
The tribe gathered around the strange portal, not entirely sure what it portended. None were brave enough to enter, but their leader knew that she didn't want to leave such a strange thing unguarded. The nation of Zophar began building simple fortifications around the portal, until such time as they could determine where it led.
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Sivera
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Meribia
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Paladin class spreads through Meribia
2 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) - Shape Populace (Moderate) - Wights
3 PP - Ascend Exarch - Loremaster keep gains full sentience, and gains the ability to expand part of itself to distant locations. The keep provides Guide PP.
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Staff of Sorcery.
-----
Turn 44 begins now. 11,000 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, The Empress, Vymrl, Mara, Shurka
5 - Hensen Jijou, Kiptar, Eijra, Hammu, Nixis
4 - Chroma, Azor-Chapien, Starl, Honissia, Incarnation's End, Torvek
PP
1+1 PP (King Valden): The Azorans learn the paladin class.
"Why are they attacking us all of a sudden? We haven't even skirmished with them in centuries!" he cried out in irritation as he shot off another volley into the horned gnolls ranks.
"I think... that they can't tell the difference between packs," another gnoll suggested, firing as quickly as he could.
"That's ridiculous!" Scent replied. "I mean, we can tell the difference between them and the Sons of Slaughter, shouldn't they be able to tell the difference between us and them?"
"But we look the same.. maybe they don't know how to identify packs by scent?"
"...how have they survived so long?! They should have all walked off a cliff by now if they can't even do that much!" Sighing, Scent went on in a more calm tone. "Send a runner back to Beryl to get reinforcements to hold off this wave. After that... I think it's time we tried to straighten all this out."
PP Expenditure
0 PP - 1 Guide PP From Beryl - Guide Populace - The gnolls of the Hunt send a party of envoys to the minotaurs in an attempt to explain that gnoll society isn't as monolothic as it may seem. This might be something to carry over to mortal stories
0 PP - 1 Guide PP From Beryl - Guide Populace - The gnolls of the Hunt send a party of envoys to the minotaurs in an attempt to explain that gnoll society isn't as monolothic as it may seem. This might be something to carry over to mortal stories
The warforged quickly started making more of thier kind. It'd been a while since this particular group had done it but they still managed it. Their mountains now holding two cities large cities and a number of smaller towns and villages. Defenses weren't up yet so patrols were heavy.
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1 PP (Guide) Previously independant warforged form a small nation.
2 pp (Guide) Farenglade Produces Rangers
1 PP (Nourish) Farenglade grows in population
The Iron State, after much trial and error, finally managed to get their gearships off the ground. Using Arcane and Divine energies, as well as alchemical fluids and gases, they could fly through the air and stay up there for long periods of time. These, along with conventional ships, allowed them to form small outposts around the northern pole. There they waited and watched.
In Far Home, among the gears of Mechanus, grew stronger.
PP
2 pp: Guide Populace(greater)(City of gears)(cultural contact(meribia)): Iron state learns bard class.
1 pp: Guide Populace(lesser): Iron state creates outposts around the polar opening.
2 + 2 pp: 2 Guide Populace(greater): Iron State masters airships (This is reduced through contact with the Free nation?) and perfects the technology so they can go to the edge of the atmosphere and go to the Azure Aegis, as well as being able to stay up for almost a year at a time.
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): Iron State grows stronger.
1 pp: Nourish Populace: Far Home grows bigger.
2 pp: Guide Populace(greater)(City of gears)(cultural contact(meribia)): Iron state learns bard class.
1 pp: Guide Populace(lesser): Iron state creates outposts around the polar opening.
2 + 2 pp: 2 Guide Populace(greater): Iron State masters airships (This is reduced through contact with the Free nation?) and perfects the technology so they can go to the edge of the atmosphere and go to the Azure Aegis, as well as being able to stay up for almost a year at a time.
1 pp: Nourish Populace(Gears): Iron State grows stronger.
1 pp: Nourish Populace: Far Home grows bigger.
--------------------------------------------
Eon was a young peasant boy, and he was in deep trouble. He had been orphaned for years, since his lord had gone on the Offensive in the Gray Wastes. His lord conscripted soldiers into is men-at-arms unit, and his father was one of those recruited. His mother had died long ago. A few months back, news had come of the death of his father.
Now starving, Eon had stolen from his lord. Though his lord was gone, the lord's son remained behind. Now, men-at-arms were pursuing him through the forest, lead by a rather angry knight. Just when he thought his life was forfeit, a bright light appeared. Eon ran toward it, and the men-at-arms and the knight had evidently been led astray.
Looking at the light, he saw that it was a bright knight, who was slightly transparent, and who had a silvery sword with a fleur-de-leis embeded on the hilt... he froze as he realised who it was. He matched exactly as the tales told... it was Azor'Chapien, his god. Eon instantly bowed.
Azor'Chapien wasn't sure about this, but he would have to do. Azor'Chapien had chosen Eon to be his champion since Eon's birth. He said, "Peasant Eon, I am in need of a champion. I have decided to ascend one of low birth. I have chosen you. You are peasant no longer, you are now Eon, Champion of the Code. You will aid me in any war that comes along. Do not ask any questions, and allow me to touch you."
Azor'Chapien merely poked Eon, and the young boy disappeared in a flash of light. In a moment, he returned, only taller, and his eyes were glowing a bright, white-gold. Azor'Chapien asked, "Any questions? Good. Now, I will send you to my fortress... wait there for further instruction!"
Azor'Chapien touched Eon, and in another flash of light, Eon was gone and in Azor'Chapien's fortress. Then, with a tired sigh, Azor'Chapien vanished and reappeared in the court.
PP
3 PP Ascend Exarch: Eon is now an Exarch (provides a a +1 combat bonus)
"My god.. I need to talk to you."
Sensing his most loyal child calling to him, Chroma emerged in a cascade of colour, his single eye smiling down at the blue gnoll. "Hi Beryl! Did you want to play?"
The First smiled slightly. "Maybe some other time my god... but there is something more important I have to discuss with you first."
The god of chaos frowned in puzzlement. "What's more important than play?"
"War... the minotaurs have recently been beset by our lost brothers more fiercely than before, and have lashed out in response. We.. were caught in the crossfire." It seemed an easier way to explain it to Chroma than trying to explain how minotaurs couldn't tell one pack from another as easily was they did. "The threat is over, but.. I feel for the bull gnolls. We've been ignoring their plight for so long, even though we're partly responsible for it. We.. have been asked to help them in waging war against our former pack mates."
"What?! But.. they're my children!" Chroma's eye widened in shock. "You can't even be thinking about this, they're your brothers! Can't we just... get along somehow?"
"We've been trying to get along, my god... but Russet burned that bridge when he killed my brother. For centuries he's been doing nothing but slaughtering innocents, and we've been doing nothing but staying out of his way." A little more sternly, the gnoll went on. "You're CHAOS, my god, you of all people should know that nothing will change if something doesn't change it."
"But... they're my children," was all the god could think to say, floating around to look the other way.
"And that's why... it's your responsibility my god," Beryl replied. "And your choice."
Silence stretch on for some time.. before the child god was forced to grow up a little. Sighing, and without turning, he spoke. "There's a valley a few miles from here... it has the perfect position for archers, if you a position on the uphill section is nearly untakeable, and you can drop rocks down onto the enemy. With a massive horde like my... like the Sons of Slaghter, it would be easy to have them packed up so tight that they can't even fight, and wipe them out in one strike. Luring them there should be simple enough."
Beryl had no idea how painful this must be for his god... but he had never loved and respected the whimsical god of chaos more than he did in that moment. "Thank you, my god." The blue gnoll turned to leave, and give the news to the minotaur and his pack.
"Wait," Chroma uttered, still not turning around. Gathering his power, the child god released it... but not in a brilliant, showy explosion of coloured light. Rather, a soft beacon of light fell down upon Beryl, softly reflecting the colours of the rainbow and gently infusing him with it's power. When it faded, Beryl blinked as though just waking up.. and found a spectral hyena by his side.
"That gift is to ensure that my children don't suffer any more than thay have to killing the sons of slaghter... with the power of your healing, it should be easy to repair seemingly life threatening wounds. For a while you'll be able to pass your gift onto to any you choose to embue with it, but eventually it will fade and you'll have to teach it the same way you teach a gnoll to use a bow: slowly, and with a lot of patience."
"My god... thank you," was all Beryl could think to say, walking back to the pack.
Sighing, all the god could do was look down at the ground beneath him. He'd made the right choice... hadn't he?
***
Meanwhile, the Sons of Slaughter grew ever closer to their devilish masters... now the fiends hunted and battled with them, gnoll and devil working side by side to bring forth blood and slaughter. All for the devils benefit, of course. But the gnolls didn't care: after all, as long as they could enjoy slaughtering and devouring their enemies, and could worship the devils they named as gods, they were content.
PP Expenditure
2 PP - Guide Populace - The gnolls of the Way of the Hunt learn the Shaman class.
2PP - Guide Populace - Devils begin accompanying the gnolls of the Way of Slaughter in battle. The gnolls consider ordinary devils to be similar to (standard) angels in function: warriors sent down by the greater gods to perform their divine will and help the faithful.
2 PP - Guide Populace - The gnolls of the Way of the Hunt learn the Shaman class.
2PP - Guide Populace - Devils begin accompanying the gnolls of the Way of Slaughter in battle. The gnolls consider ordinary devils to be similar to (standard) angels in function: warriors sent down by the greater gods to perform their divine will and help the faithful.
Hammu walked over to the Hammer of Law and pulled it from the floor.
"Now, where is Veros? Lord Vryml, may I see him?"
He looked up at the ceiling, feeling the odd forboding as he broke into a wide grin. "Yes, yes, it is coming. I suppose I have little time left to do what I must."
Then the white head turned toward Hammu,
"Like I did on last sentence I'd love to hear the motivation of these ones, at least yours, so that another precedent might be set."
Finally if you can spare some time I'll want to talk to you in private before Veros is brought here."
He tapped his staves a bit. "Why the delay? You broke him out of the little prison, so why not bring him here now? Surely you don't think I could do something to him in the presence of all of these gods? Or do you fear me that much?"
"We have all the time in the world don't we? And anyway I believed you were anjoying the place and company here."
OOC
And no you don't know where he is, if I remember well being in someone else plane is enough to blind a god (like us when looking for Drevan) Haven't we decided that the knowledge domain does not grant omniscence? Unless he is bluffing but It might be a little "strange" that he got the things so well...
And no you don't know where he is, if I remember well being in someone else plane is enough to blind a god (like us when looking for Drevan) Haven't we decided that the knowledge domain does not grant omniscence? Unless he is bluffing but It might be a little "strange" that he got the things so well...
"And I do suspect that he'll be alive as lng as I need him alive, which should be plenty."
OOC
He has a good estimated guess where he is at. He knows who took him, he knows he isn't on the mortal plane, and he knows that Vymrl has a nice heavily secured plane. Not hard to guess where he is. As he is aware of what Veros wants, though not for the reason he thinks . . .
Anyways, yes, I've been saying from day one that Knowledge is not omniscience. No god is omniscient, though Veros, and by association Drevan, are probably closest to it, but still quite far away from it. There is something else going on. ;)
Anyways, yes, I've been saying from day one that Knowledge is not omniscience. No god is omniscient, though Veros, and by association Drevan, are probably closest to it, but still quite far away from it. There is something else going on. ;)
With that happy note, Azor'Chapien sent Eon to the Gray Wastes to aid in the war. In the meantime, Azor'Chapien decided to seek more gods.
"What is, Chukwa?" Convincer asked from his familiar spot between the Zaratan's eyes.
"I CAN NO LONGER SUMMON MY BRETHREN. OUR PLAN WILL HAVE TO BE MODIFIED."
The two Exarchs pondered for a long moment, then decided on a course of action.
Forgotten by most mortals, and, the Exarchs believed, most of the Gods, the remnants of the Vorpal Cascade continued to float through the Aether. Chukwa pulled up near to one of the smaller fragments of rock floating through the Aether, one roughly the size of Chukwa himself.
As they neared it, Convincer reached out his arm carrying the Staff of Earth, and the asteroid changed, becoming covered by soil.
Then, Chukwa breathed upon the asteroid, his warm breath giving it both air and water, which filled the low-lying areas.
Then, Convincer reached into his pocket for the Astral Shard, and pulling it forth, drew on its power to create a dark, pitch black stone and embeded it deep within the rock. The air and dirt, which had been slowly floating away from the gravity-less rock flew back towards its surface as the stone's gravity took hold of it.
Finally, Convincer asked for some brave souls to venture out to the new planetoid and start building a village. He commanded them to bring seeds of all kinds, and to plant them, and they would eventually grow to cover their new home like they covered the areas around Diaspora.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis glanced over as Azor'Chapien vanished and then reappeared, looking tired. Floating over, while keeping an eye on Drevan, he whispered.
"You look tired. Here. This might refresh you somewhat."
Nixis reached into the core of himself and pulled out a little of his own power, and handed it to Azor'Chapien.
PP
1 PP (from Staff of Earth): Mold Land (lesser): Create Soil on the island-sized chunk of rock left over from the Vorpal Cascade
1 PP (from Chukwa): Nourish Land: A layer of air covers the rock
1 PP: Nourish Land: Water fills the low-lying areas of the rock.
1 PP (from Astral Shard): Create Artifact (Lesser): A Pull Stone is placed deep within the rock, and provides gravity.
1 PP (from Convincer): Guide Populace: Children of the Aether spread to the new rock. (PP for plants will come next turn)
1 PP: Given to Azor'Chapien.
1 PP (from Staff of Earth): Mold Land (lesser): Create Soil on the island-sized chunk of rock left over from the Vorpal Cascade
1 PP (from Chukwa): Nourish Land: A layer of air covers the rock
1 PP: Nourish Land: Water fills the low-lying areas of the rock.
1 PP (from Astral Shard): Create Artifact (Lesser): A Pull Stone is placed deep within the rock, and provides gravity.
1 PP (from Convincer): Guide Populace: Children of the Aether spread to the new rock. (PP for plants will come next turn)
1 PP: Given to Azor'Chapien.
"Veek?" He called, and his high priest appeared, daubed in long robes. "Form a group of your number to help protect and aid the Skreet... This will be the first of my great works. And you Veek... You will become their chief." He smiled and laid a hand on him, divine power slowly infused with the old Priest, and he felt a new surge of energy, of life, flowing through him...
"Your will be done, my lord."
3PP Ascend Exarch- Veek, Temple Guard.(Produces+1 Combat bonus)
1PP Nourish Skreet- The Skreet are protected by the temple guard, resulting in bumper lichen harvests this year!
---------------------------------------
Meanwhile, the Azorans sailed to south-eastern Taldar, in order to better explore the world.
PP
1 PP Guide Populace: The Azorans sail to south-east Taldar.
Bolts of dark energy courses from the doorway, as various beings attempt to come out- the Elementals. "IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THE PRIMORDIAL WAR WAS LOST TO THE GODS ABOVE- AND NOW, TOROG SEEKS TO AVENGE HIS BANISHMENT AND TO WIN THE NEXT PRIMORDIAL WAR. CORELLOTH- I COMMAND YOU TO DO WHAT I ASK, AND DISTRACT THOSE IMPUTENT GODS FROM OUR PLANS."
"As you wish, Kazzuli." She bows down to the Elemental Gateway and she prepares to leave the Chaos. "MY CHILDREN HAVE SLUMBERED FOR TOO LONG... IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO AWAKEN."
-----------------------
Back at Xeronet:
Both Torvek and Dolestre sit at the top of the temple, as they explain to each other what had happened.
"What? You mean... Corelloth was at Beacon? We have to warn Hammu about this!" Torvek is surprised about Dolestre's discovery.
"Well, I tried to warn him, but... she teleported me out of the courtroom, and into some... strange place of gears and weird moving... things..." Dolestre replies.
Hondala inquires. "Mechanus- a place of utter forbodance. It is very risky to get into Mechanus, for many have gone in there and they have never returned..."
Torvek looks up into the sky in concern.
"What is it, my lord?" Hondala asks.
"I just felt this... strange force move about, like some huge monster just got released from some prison, or something." Torvek responds.
Hondala shudders. "Ooh... I felt it too... It seemed like it came from... the Chaos... the Elemental Chaos..."
Torvek quickly snaps at Hondala. "WHAT??? THERE'S AN ELEMENTAL CHAOS HERE???"
Hondala falls over in Torvek's reaction. "Ow! You don't have to be THAT loud, Torvek! Sheesh!"
-----------
As the war raged on, the Imperium grew stronger, bolstered by gods. Using their new Bloodborn legions to hold off their enemies, they erected a massive series of fortifications, trenches spreading for miles, trenches filled with soldiers. Then, they quarried immense stocks of stone from the earth, and wrought a wall, a wall greater in girth and height than any ever seen before.
Its stone immensity stretched many feet up into the air, and soldiers garrisoned it. Berg Ships, Myrw, and corrupted Fey Dragons soared over it, preventing any from enchroaching. The Council of Northern Affairs called this the great fortification the Wrathwrought Wall.
-----------
Vymrl watched the ceaseless flow of souls to Farscape, and decided that something should be changed. To this end, the god plunged his hands into the earth, far toward it's molten core. There, he found vast deposits of crystal, what his children called Deep Crystal. With a powerful wrench of his arm, Vymrl wrested the crystal out of the earth, then melted it, forming it into a molten globule.
With a delicacy foreign to one more used to the clamor of War, the God twisted and spun the crystal until it reached a gossamer thinness. With this substance, Vymrl formed a vast series of tubes, attached to a vast resevoir of a less ephemeral crystalline substance hidden deep in the Aether. Then, he blessed his creation with life.
The only one of its kind that existed, or ever would exist, the Ephemeral Sorrow twisted its long tentacles, hollow and of near infinite length, and sent them down into the world. Light itself bent around them, making these extensions of the Ephemeral Sorrow invisible. The coils of living crystal would seek out and find the souls of those who had fallen in War, and, in the last seconds of life, siphon off the soul.
These souls would wind their way through the world, seeing all they had left behind, then, at the peak of thier desolation, they would vanish upwards, into the Aether.
There, the vast majority passed to the plains of Tamurung, a place of aweful, terrible beauty. Plains of jagged ice and eternal darkness, shuddering fragments of light these souls were, damned by their failure in War to eternal perdition. Those few though, those who died upon the field of valour, they passed to a new part of Tamurung, the first section of that desolate place to recall its earlier existence.
The Vales of Glory, as this new place was named, gleamed golden and lush, a place of ease such as few who arrived there had ever seen. Yet, these mighty warriors would not rest, and so, the most favored passed out again through the Gossamer Sorrow, once more unto the world, unto the re-birth of their choosing.
---------------
Light Child arrived in Tamurung and swept Veros once more into unconsciousness. Then, from the shadows surrounding the Cell of Veros, S'kre, the Dark Child arrived, a cruel smile playing about his frozen features.
---------------
The Flesh-Benders of Asem created a new undead monster. Calling it a Quell, they used frozen corpses in the vast lands of Chillund Archipelago to create beasts that could sever the link between god and servant. Quickly, these new undead were shipped into the battle lines, greatly increasing the effectiveness of the Fast Zombies in the tunnels.
PP
3PP-Create Artifact: The Gossamer Sorrow (Takes the souls of all who fall in battle to Tamurung, the greatest of whom go to the Vales of Glory.)
2PP-Mold Land: A very thick, tall and hard wall of stone surrounds the Imperium's forces in the Territories, this includes Terena. The stone also extends several hundred feet below ground
2PP-(Ssabrec):Nourish Populous-Imperium
1PP (Flesh-Pools of Asem): Quells
PP
1 PP Guide: the eladrin in Silvera begin worshiphing Hensen.
1 PP Guide (From the Aether Ripples), people in Meribia begin worshiphing Hensen.
1 PP Guide: the eladrin in Silvera begin worshiphing Hensen.
1 PP Guide (From the Aether Ripples), people in Meribia begin worshiphing Hensen.
-----
The frost giants found there wall was of little effect against their foes. The forces of Sivera simple teleported in and out, the loremasters were content to fight the air battler, and the Meribian forces simply pushed their tunnels further, using the underdark to pass beneath the wall as if it were not even there.
The Imprium continued to suffer heavy, heavy lossed against their implacable foes.
Of course, this was just a precursor to how much the gnolls of Slaughter would really fall from their days as the most terrifying creatures on the continent.
***
The laws of nature were clear: when prey got bigger, the predator grew too. So as the large behmoths roamed the land, it was inevitable that a predator would emerge that was capable of hunting them down. For the most part, these creatures were the size of a small man, but some approached the size of a horse. These lizards were lean predators, with long tails to keep them balanced as they ran and a hook on their foot in order to dig into their prey as they jumped onto it, cutting into them to make them bleed or even gut them. Most dangerous of all these creatures hunted in packs... soon, the large herbivorous behemoths no longer had no predators to worry about.
PP Expenditure
1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Denourish Sons of Slaughter - The Sons of Slaughters numbers drop dramatically.
1 Spawn PP from Veil - Spawn Clawfooted Behemoths - These are basically velocer raptors
1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Denourish Sons of Slaughter - The Sons of Slaughters numbers drop dramatically.
1 Spawn PP from Veil - Spawn Clawfooted Behemoths - These are basically velocer raptors
However they were wrong as it was one of their kind who has stolen the precious item. Urek was a mortal child when he was kidnapped by the Grand Distortion and turned into one of the Unshaped by Jarek, the first of their kind, he was not purely evil as most of these demons, even if his childish mind combined with his vast powers and lack of morality has turned him into a cruel monster he was still "somehow" innoncent. While he was roaming the castle of Endless Possibilities he heard Hensen talking about the child god Chroma, that the Changer of Ways has met long ago and Urek was curious to find this creature himself. That's why he stolen the item of power and used it to be able to assume phisical form, then he went to look for Chroma in the inner world.
He lifted the staff of ruin up, pointing it at the assembled gods, unleashing a brilliant bolt of white light that fired towards them. As the last moment before striking them, it ripped through reality, leaving the plane.
Through the rift, before it could completely close, those watching were witness to a beautiful light channelling along long tubes of crystaline power, consuming and dfestroying it as it flooded along the paths, destroying them.
At the very end of it's path, the bolts of energy struck in several major cities on the prime world, leaving behind a magical residue that marked a place in the world where reality was slightly weaker than elsewhere.
To the mortals on the world below, it appeared as if hundreds of stars fell from the sky, streaking across the sky, landing in their cities. Where the bolts landed, it appeared as if a radiant snow was falling from the sky, harmlessly vanishing as it landed.
A small message flitted to Vymrl, taking the form of a simple wraith.
Message
"It's not nice to meddle in another's domains. I wouldn't meddle in wear and ice, you shouldn't meddle in death."
A small cackle burst forth. "Though I do find it amusing that you teach your children to wield the necromantic arts, seeing as those fall under me as well."
A small cackle burst forth. "Though I do find it amusing that you teach your children to wield the necromantic arts, seeing as those fall under me as well."
Drevan
I am a pragmatic god, I believed Veros would return to power, so I sided with him. Now that the Court has decided for you, I doubt that I can reverse their position. My finest allies sleep, so I find myself in need of allies. Perhaps, we can reach an accord. Cede me the domain of Death, and I shall kill Veros, bury him in the misty depths of Time, or give him into your possession, as you wish.
I am a pragmatic god, I believed Veros would return to power, so I sided with him. Now that the Court has decided for you, I doubt that I can reverse their position. My finest allies sleep, so I find myself in need of allies. Perhaps, we can reach an accord. Cede me the domain of Death, and I shall kill Veros, bury him in the misty depths of Time, or give him into your possession, as you wish.
Shaking his head in amusement, he dropped the letter to the ground.
Suddenly, the child god sensed... something. It was like Mr Hensen! Except... smaller. Much, much smaller. And more chaotic... no, less, but it was somehow more blatant in it's ever shifting change. Frowning in thought and confusion, the god of chaos floated in the general direction he sensed the thing, wondering what on Ardune it could be.
to Shurak & Mara
"If by any chance we find no way to restore Veros in his proper place, I think we should avoid that his role as custodian of creation become sole dominion of the Usurper, for this reason I ask you to take a portion of the Veros burden and take for yourself the domain over Knowledge as I'm sure that your wisdom will help you handling it(to Shurka) and Aether, an element that you should know quite well. (to Mara)"
"If by any chance we find no way to restore Veros in his proper place, I think we should avoid that his role as custodian of creation become sole dominion of the Usurper, for this reason I ask you to take a portion of the Veros burden and take for yourself the domain over Knowledge as I'm sure that your wisdom will help you handling it(to Shurka) and Aether, an element that you should know quite well. (to Mara)"
"You know Mr Hensen?" The god of chaos asked. Smiling with his one eye, he went on. "Then you must be a friend too! Do you want to play?"
Deleted (for the reasons check the OOC)
When Drevan destroyed Vymrl construction many souls found themselves stranded in the aetherial realm, unable to go to the realm beyond due to the vampire actions.
Clouds of tiny sparks of light, hensen's mote of change, begun to take coalescence there, near to these lost souls, there they merged with a small portion of the shattered crystal and took the form of flocks of aethereal birds, while some creature might find the white, phasing creatures, disturbing their lights was hot soothing for the dead souls.
The creatures begun guiding lost souls toward the realm of their patron gods, where they can join the ones to wich they have devoted their life.
Those who held no faith in life or whose divinity did not wish to host trough the eternity were guided toward the farscape.
When Drevan destroyed Vymrl construction many souls found themselves stranded in the aetherial realm, unable to go to the realm beyond due to the vampire actions.
Clouds of tiny sparks of light, hensen's mote of change, begun to take coalescence there, near to these lost souls, there they merged with a small portion of the shattered crystal and took the form of flocks of aethereal birds, while some creature might find the white, phasing creatures, disturbing their lights was hot soothing for the dead souls.
The creatures begun guiding lost souls toward the realm of their patron gods, where they can join the ones to wich they have devoted their life.
Those who held no faith in life or whose divinity did not wish to host trough the eternity were guided toward the farscape.
PP
3 PP Greater Create (1 from the Wondermaker), The Soulguides, these creatures bring the whilling souls of the dead to the realm of their patron gods or to the farscape, listening to the wishes of both the dead soul and the divinity. As they are not really indipendent creatures, nor they directly serve Hensen, they are considered an artifact and not an exarch.
3 PP Greater Create (1 from the Wondermaker), The Soulguides, these creatures bring the whilling souls of the dead to the realm of their patron gods or to the farscape, listening to the wishes of both the dead soul and the divinity. As they are not really indipendent creatures, nor they directly serve Hensen, they are considered an artifact and not an exarch.
Veros stood to his full height, reaching his hand out towards Drevan. For a moment, all was still as time itself seemed to bend around thw two. The Staff of Veros rattled for a second, then flew across the room, landing solidly in Veros's grip. "This," he lifted the staff, "belongs to me. As does the rest." He lifted the staff and Drevan collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony as streams of gray fog poured from his body, streaming across the room, coalescing around Veros, infusing into his body.
And then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over, and power echoed through the court, washing over the assembled gods in a wave, echoing throughout reality.
Veros walked over and looked down at the broken form before him, tapping his staff slightly. "Poor fool, did you really think magic that would let you steal my power would be that effective? Power comes from within, and you were simply cloaked in stolen power. It came home when it had the opportunity." He reached out his hand and the Staff of Ruin answered his call, lifting to meet him. "Odd, really. He had almost everything figured out. Except for how it would end. Still, quite the effective experiment."
He spun the Staff of Ruin in his hand for a moment before slamming it down onto Drevan, the body vanishing.
"However mind that we migh not like to be played fools again but such kind of "experiments", this time it went good, but who knows what is going to happen next" Told the Black head.
Then the white one, taking control again addressed the first.
"There is something I'd like to discuss about how things are going in the world, as without you I think that a few of your creations were getting just a little out of control.
However I presume that we can do that in another moment, to let you catch up with all the things that happened while you were imprisoned"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++
"Welcome back, Veros. It is good to know that stealing a God's power is harder than it appeared to be."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the island of Azora, a certain type of blue flower grew, covering the uninhabited portions of the island. It had grown there ever since Azor'Chapien had raised the island from the sea, and was generally enjoyed for its beauty.
And so it was that a gnome in Alexandria, a member of the Circle, received a bouquet of these blue flowers from his mother, who had been journeying to the island to exchange stories with the Azorans. Hardy, whose real name was Steal, but wouldn't share that with the rest of the city, was not your average gnome, however. He was an alchemist, and loved to experiment, particularly with finding new ways to get high. He took some of the flowers of this blue plant and crushed them, extracting their component parts, and discovered that the pollen of the flowers, when mixed with a few other agents, created the most lovely effect. It seemed to make him faster, and the momentary fuzziness-of-head that it produced was worth it for the speed it provided. Excited, he began creating more of the drug, which he named Zip.
With its new drug, the Circle found itself growing even larger, finally finding their way into the War Quarter and witnessing the effects of Noth on the Angels. Surprised at this turn of events, the gnomes went to report it to the Council of Sneaks... although one gnome, with an evil grin on his face, looked back at the angels with anticipation...
PP
2 PP: Guide Populace: The Circle learns to create Zip, a moderatly addictive drug (early paragon tier), that provides +4 to reflex and -4 to will defenses while under the influence.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: The Circle grows, and finds ways into places it was being denied access to.
2 PP: Guide Populace: The Circle learns to create Zip, a moderatly addictive drug (early paragon tier), that provides +4 to reflex and -4 to will defenses while under the influence.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: The Circle grows, and finds ways into places it was being denied access to.
And I had hoped to discover what made him tick. That and learn how he cut off my touch in the 'Gray Wastes'.
It is good to see you Knowledge.
***
Within the War Quarter the Circle's spies made a mistake, and it would cost them dearly. They had forgotten the gifts of the Humans.
Skulking in the shadows a toothy set of jaws followed the spies, and reported the Circle to Alexandria's Council.
***
The remaining gnome was not disappointed, as before his eyes a new caste was born.
He wasn't so happy when he was seized from behind by a pair of claws.
***
At the forefront of the war Alexandria's armies continued to press, unfazed by fortifications. Skirmishes became siege, attacks upon the ground became flights of angels and gargoyles.
Actions
1PP from the Stars, Denourish Populace: The Circle is oscovered by Alexandria, if you want it personal take it to MS. Your move.
2PP, Denourish Populace: Imperium
2PP, Nourish Populace: Alexandria
1PP, Nourish Populace: Angels, Angel of Light I believe is the name.
2PP, Denourish Populace: Imperium
2PP, Nourish Populace: Alexandria
1PP, Nourish Populace: Angels, Angel of Light I believe is the name.
He leaned onto his staff. "One does not lightly steal the power of a god. With it, he was forced to host a small part of my mind. I was not in control, but I held enough unfluence to keep his darker lusts in check while watching and seeing how he would respond and act. I have to say, for all their imaginiation and creativity, mortals given nearly unlimited power can be quite boring to watch."
His gaze twisted to Xirinet, "Magic kept him animate, and I imagine he used magic to cut you off from the Gray Wastes."
A slowly rolling chuckle emanated from the god.
Perhaps you could show me the magic that held him together? I suppose I should not be curious, perhaps I should be livid. But I see potential there. A most curious experiment.
You thought he was boring?
"Anyway I guess that its time for me to leave this halls. Farewell"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Within Chillhund the Possessed ones begin to tamper with the eggs of the fae dragons, they discovered that they can merge more easily with an infant host and even more deeply with one that is not yet born.
Trough an unholy uninon between an unshaped spirit and a dragon egg the first Warp Dragon was born a perfect fusion of an unshaped essence with the body and power of a majestic beast. To the amazement of the possessed ones these creatures were not mere hosts sharing two spirits, but a single being with a common will.
The Possessed Ones begin manipulating these creatures in to serving them, but soon the great intellect of the dragons, combined with the wicked ambition of the unshaped proved to be too much and the Possessed ones was left guessing who was raelly in power.
PP
4 PP Shape Epic Populace - Warp Dragons
1 PP Guide - Warp Dragons join the possessed ones society and begin worshiphing Hensen, however they remain quite independent from their creators.
4 PP Shape Epic Populace - Warp Dragons
1 PP Guide - Warp Dragons join the possessed ones society and begin worshiphing Hensen, however they remain quite independent from their creators.
Contorting its misty form the god gave a quiet nod to Hensen, acknowledging his departure, before continuing.
Tell me, next time would you speak to me of your experiments beforehand? I might have liked to see firsthand the results rather than react.
At the beginning only the natural spirits that was feeding on the bloodstone that tainted the archipelago were friendly to them, as the other sensed the corruption in their blood. But after a while they managed to achieve a deeper link with the ancient powers of the land, that became capable of looking into their minds and souls, that was free from the taint, allowing the first bloodborn wardens to commune with them.
At first only the pure breed bloodborn embraced this new path, but they managed to teach the "way of the soul" as they call it, to a few humans and humites in the Free Nations.
However no artificial bloodborn was capable of following that path, as the spirit sensed some hidden evil within their souls.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Back in Zophia Gothor lead the Shadow Walker tribe to the most desolate region in the continent, talking about a "promise land" where they should begin buildina a new realm in the name of their masters.
There he called on powerful magics, raising new spires of stone from the land, there Shadow Walker tribe built its first stronghold, there the warlocks perfomed dark rituals to bloster the power of their tribe.
PP
2 PP - Guidde - the free nations, and expecially the pure bloodborn there learn the Warden class.
1 PP - Mold (from Bloodstones), a fortress of black stone is created for the Shadow Walker tribe.
2 PP - Guidde - the free nations, and expecially the pure bloodborn there learn the Warden class.
1 PP - Mold (from Bloodstones), a fortress of black stone is created for the Shadow Walker tribe.
Despite the internal chaos, more and more Meribians joined the military, beleiving that the chaos was being caused by the giants.
-----
Within the few loremaster enclaves on Taldar, several mages were experimenting with a new beast. Unfortunately, security on the porject was not as secure as thought, and the vicious beasts managed to escape into the wilds.
-----
Veros glanced over at Xirinet once more. "I did have time to devlop a new idea during my absence. I would need your help, and the use of your stars though. What do you think?"
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Sivera
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace - Meribia
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Owlbears (heroic only)
Greetings Lord Veros, I am glad to see that with the aid of Shurka, Hensen and myself you have regained your former power.
----------
The war now essentially focused in the air, where the Imperium held a decisive advantage. The Academy Dominus was used as a powerful base for Berg-Ships, and flights of Myrw riders maintained a perimiter around the rest of the Wrathwrought Wall.
***
Groups of alexandrian mercenaries were quickly caught up in Meribia's chaos, seeing the potential for easy profit. With their additional help Meribia was capable of once again returning to the warfront.
Actions
1PP from the Great Cathedral, Giude Populace: Meribia is capable of returning to the war.
He turned back to Xirinet. "I suppose thos terms will do, yes. I need only a pittance of power for the moment, though more will be needed as the project continues. And of course, the use of your stars."
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Add a constellation to the stars
1 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Add a constellation to the stars
OOC
These constellations will not be visible until I've completed all of them, which should be within the next twoi turns.
With a subtle shift Veros felt a flow of strength into himself.
What sort of things shall you create?
1PP: Granted to Veros
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Add a constellation to the stars
OOC
These constellations will not be visible until I've completed all of them, which should be within the next twoi turns.
He lifted the staff of Veros, and opened a gateway to the farscape, then stepped through it.
Floating there among the endless souls drifting along, he looked out over its expanse. From this side, the weak spots caused by Drevan's final action were easily apparent. "Given time, those weak spots will deteriorate, allowing all manner of spirits to pass through. They will need secured."
He lifted his staff again, unleashing a blast of power towards all three. Around each of the weak spots, a floating island of land appeared, hanging there with no visible support, the flow of spirits passing around them. On each, a single glowing gateway formed, a gateway through which souls could not pass, but mortals could.
He wasn't sure where each of them went at the moment, but there would be time to determine that later.
PP Expenditures
3 PP - Create Artifact (Lesser) - Farscape Gateway
Farscape Gateways
The farscape gateways are simply a way for mortals to come to the farscape. Spirits cannot typically pass through them, but some extraordinary ones may be able to (read: plot idea).
Courtesy of Nerdzul pointing out a similar idea, the spirits of the departed might sometime visit people standing within the Farscape just around the gates. (read: another plot point).
Currently, there are only 3 gates. One is in Meribia, one if in the capital of Patren (currently a uninhabited magical wasteland), and the other is in the Free Nation.
Courtesy of Nerdzul pointing out a similar idea, the spirits of the departed might sometime visit people standing within the Farscape just around the gates. (read: another plot point).
Currently, there are only 3 gates. One is in Meribia, one if in the capital of Patren (currently a uninhabited magical wasteland), and the other is in the Free Nation.
Groups of alexandrian mercenaries were quickly caught up in Meribia's chaos, seeing the potential for easy profit. With their additional help Meribia was capable of once again returning to the warfront.Actions1PP from the Great Cathedral, Giude Populace: Meribia is capable of returning to the war.
These continued experiments, which had first spawned the Flame Shooters, soon managed to duplicate the airships used by the loremasters and the Iron State, blending traits of both to create a ship that was uniquely Meribian
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Meribians master airships from their neighbors (namely, the Iron State and Loremasters)
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, Vymrl, The Empress, Mara, Shurka, Hensen Jijou,
5 - Kiptar, Eijra, Hammu, Nixis
4 - Chroma, Azor-Chapien, Starl, Honissia, Torvek
Admin Awards
By unaminous decision, Chroma has 1 additional PP to spend this turn
Without him, however, those leashes were no more, and the dogs were free to snap at eachother. At first, the gnolls stayed together licking their wounds, thoughts of vengance keeping them together. But soon enough, the in fighting started, small packs of gnolls breaking off from the horde in a storm of rage or fleeing for their lives. Eventually, the Sons of Slaughters were no more, and only numerous packs of blood thirsty gnolls remained in the south. Of course occassionally a strong pack would force the other packs into something resembling unity and throw themselves ineffectively at the north, eventually fleeing back south when the alliance turned sour or the opposition turned fierce. And occassionally a pack with more guts than brains would go north and plague small forces of minotaurs, gnolls, rakshasa or genasi as bandits, preying on the small and weak, but for the most part the threat to the other races was finally over.
Despite the fact that they had not helped them when they needed them most, the gnolls continued to worship the devils.. with a slight twist now that they were not a single nation. Now, each pack had a devil that they worshipped as an avatar and aided them in battle and other affairs, in addition to worshipping the Nine. This devil was often a reflection of a clans strength, with powerful clans being found worthy of a pit fiend, while weakling clans usually only attracted the eye of an ambitious or foolish imp. These devils often pushed their own agendas as opposed to that of the Nines, even going so far as to order their pack to wipe out that of a rivals. In other words, the Sons of Slaughter were little more than the puppets of devils.
PP Expenditure
0 PP - 1 Guide PP from Beryl - The Sons of Slaughter fall apart, and form numerous smaller packs under the 'leadership' of individual devils. They still remain in the extreme south of the continent as they originally fled to, though they had to spread out slightly so as to not completely wipe out the food supply. They remain nomadic, with each pack having a 'territory'. Territory disputes betwen packs are fairly common.
0 PP - 1 Guide PP from Beryl - The Sons of Slaughter fall apart, and form numerous smaller packs under the 'leadership' of individual devils. They still remain in the extreme south of the continent as they originally fled to, though they had to spread out slightly so as to not completely wipe out the food supply. They remain nomadic, with each pack having a 'territory'. Territory disputes betwen packs are fairly common.
Mara
Daughter, I have been gone for some time, and I did not see you at my return. I simply wished to let you know I had returned, and inquire about the Orb of Visions, which Shurka told me he had asked you to return to me.
The immense earth and stone works of the Wrathwrought Wall fell into disrepair as the Northern Army of the Imperium turned south, returning to the wastes whence they had come. Yet, their fury, their lust for vengeance was not spent. Mournelord Sarosk defied direct orders from his superiors to effect a swift retreat, and lingered a few days in Terena to effect the most savage, horrific act in recorded history.
Taking every prisoner they held, the Imperium beheaded them. Blood soaked the earth, and the lines of heads grew long. Then they used the forges of Terena to melt the iron weapons of the fallen soldiers. Then, they took the great vats of boiling iron and poured it over the heads, creating vast, terrible tableaus of half melted faces, cloaked in iron. Mournelord Sarosk lined these heads and the rotting corpses they came from up beside the gates of Terena.
Then, he launched a flare, ordering the Academy Dominus to burn Terena to the ground. Great beams of magic struck and pulsed, leaving molten craters behind. In a period of hours, the oldest city in the world stood as nothing more than ashes.
PP
1PP-Guide Populous, Lesser: Imperium retreats into the wastes
1PP-Denourish Land: Terena destroyed
Chroma had been chatting with the shifty thing for some time... it seemed a little quiet, but the child god thought he was just shy. So he decided to talk even more so he'd be less shy! That was when the god of Chaos sensed a much larger power enter his home... another friend! Hey... wasn't this power a lot like that thing that got incased in all that order that made him sick just thinking about it? But if it was only here now, where was he before when he'd sensed it?
The child god frowned thoughtfully, not really paying attention as the power came closer and closer.
Lifting his hand, a gray mist trailing behind it, he pointed at him. "You are Chroma, worshipped by the gnolls?"
Realizing he hadn't answered the question, the god of chaos chuckled. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Chroma Mr Friend, and the gnolls are my children. Did you want to play with them or something?"
"I am Veros the first born, lord of magic. I do find your children interesting, even if some creatures have taken a foul liking to them. However, I am here to see you. I find it invaluable to greet newborn godlings. Though I was delayed by a dissapoiting experiment, here I am."
"I don't know what half of that means but nice to meet you Mr Veros," Chroma replied warmly. "I like my children too... except the ones that turned mean." His eye took a serious note for a few seconds, lost in though before returning to it's usually bubbley self. "But it's good to see you friend, do you want to play?"
"I suppose I have some time, Chroma, but I've not played very often. Why don't you pick a game?"
OOC
I'm always slightly offput by how many gods actually say yes when he asks that :P
I'm always slightly offput by how many gods actually say yes when he asks that :P
He looked about, before lifting the his staff. Thunder echoed through the sky, then all fell still. Before their eyes, mosquitoes, common in this jungle terrain, began to grow, larger and larger. Their bodies twisted and warped to accomadate their increased size. Thus were the first stirges born.
"Those should prove interesting, if a bit dangerous for unwary travellers."
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Spawn Beast (Lesser) - Heroic Stirges
His thought worked out, the child god smiled. "I'm sure your mosquitos will get along great with my dragonflies, they'll be good friends!"
In truth the giant dragonflies would often predate on the smaller stirges, except on occassion where they could intimidate the creatures into serving them (in as complex relationship as animal intelligence allows), but the god couldn't see the future.
He looked about, considering the situation. "I agree. While things should be made with a purpose, if you plan everything, it would be boring."
OOC
Your surprised that they answer yes so often? Honestly, I was surprised that I said yes too. It just sort of happened.
OOC
I suppose Chroma just has some sort of X factor when it comes to roping gods into playing with him or something :P . I honestly expected a lot more gods to blow him off though, a lot of the gods are pretty down to earth serious types.
I suppose Chroma just has some sort of X factor when it comes to roping gods into playing with him or something :P . I honestly expected a lot more gods to blow him off though, a lot of the gods are pretty down to earth serious types.
OOC
Very true. Part of the benefits of playing a god who, while good leaning, is amoral enough to be neutral.
"I can feel it!" Chroma claimed happily, feeling the power of it. "And a good thing too, otherwise my children would have to hunt in the skies without wings."
He stood up. "This is my gift to you. You may use it's power, at least for a while. I'm sure you can find something fun to do with it."
"Thanks Mr Veros," Chroma said with a smile. "Maybe I'll use it to make the wastes where my genasi landed prettier... ooo, or maybe make a spire of coloured rock! Ooo-ooo, maybe I could make more colourful water! Or.. I'll think of something," the child god finished a little sheepishly.
Yet, the Council had not spent their wrath. Twelve Bloodborn soldiers arrived at Sarosk's tent after he fled. They bound him in chains of iron, and returned him to Terena. In the ruins of this once magnificent city, they boiled iron, melting a great bowl of it. Then, holding the fallen lord spread-eagled, boiling, scalding, molten iron coursed over his hands and feet, binding him in a rictus of agony. A Keymon, in its natural form, stood beside his writhing, still living body, endlessly repeating his crimes as they waited for the victorious Humites.
Asharam walked quietly on the Baron rooftop. He'd done something to displease somebody in Freedomguard and he had to go. He flew [through magic of course] down through a window that had been left open to let in the nights cold and walked over to his target. The Baron was an old man, shriveled and weak, but that didn't really matter to Asharam. Up from the bed skeletal hands grabbed the baron and slowly ripped him to pieces. The servents heard and started up the stairs but Asharam was already gone, and so were his creations, the baron dead by their hands.
On his way back to get payment Honissia appeared in front of him. You did well my child, now however is time for you to do something that I had set out to do for you a long time ago. With that his old form returned, he still had his powers, but he looked the part of a muscular Humite. He didn't even smell anymore. My lord...what would you have me do? Honissia smiled and pointed in the direction of freedomguard. There is a city there, in it there is a guild which you are not a part of, go there, run it, make all of the free nations fear your assassins.
In freedomguard the guild set up training exercises that made the assassins even more deadly, they covered everything from poisen to using your surrounding as means to kill and with each passing month the guild got better.
PP Used
3 PP Create Exarch [The Screaming Hand]-Provides Guide PP
1 PP Nourish populace [Guild Assassins]-Assassins in the guild train hard and quickly get better then most freelance assassins becuase of access to the guild facilities
Meanwhile, back in the Gray Wastes, the Azoran settlement grows into a stone castle, to better defend against the undead.
PP
1 PP Guide Populace: The Azorans grow into south eastern Taldar.
1 PP Guide Populace: The Azoran settlement in the Gray Wastes turns into a castle.
1 PP Guide Populace: The Azoran settlement in the Gray Wastes turns into a castle.
Then he remembered why he wend there, he wanted to talk about something with the god child, as he has seen his brethren create new life he wanted to do that too, but he disliked the warped horrors spawned by the other unshaped he wanted something more "funny".
He begun to tell Chorma about a new game, bringing with him the energies that he has "borrowed" from his master laboratories in the castle of endless possibilities..
Meanwhile the Unshaped in Chillhund, having lost their new weapon begin to develop a new plan to increase their grasp on the continent, preparing the ground for a new invasion.
PP and OOC
Anubis already know about the new creatures (as we developped them together) and I'll give him the honor of posting about them to avoid to describe the things twice.
1 PP - Contribute in Shaping Heroic Populace with Chroma.
1 PP - Mold Land (from Bloodstones), ginven to Chroma.
Anubis already know about the new creatures (as we developped them together) and I'll give him the honor of posting about them to avoid to describe the things twice.
1 PP - Contribute in Shaping Heroic Populace with Chroma.
1 PP - Mold Land (from Bloodstones), ginven to Chroma.
After the shapey thing had taken it's leave for now, the child god floated eastward, frowning in thought. The shapey thing had added it's own little desires to the shard of power he'd given, but Chroma still had a lot of creative direction with the new funny race. So what to do with them... hm, he hadn't made anything that lived in water before, maybe he could do that! But if it lived under the ocean it would never meet the other children of Ardune, and they wouldn't get to play... maybe they could live in shallow water, and like dry land? But there was nothing like that on Ardune... a grin came to Chroma's eye. That is, there was nothing like that on Adrune yet.
Focusing his power... wait, he didn't have enough power for all he wanted to do to put any into making this. Although he did have access to Veros gravity... and that shard of power that the unshaped had given him. He'd never made something completely without his own power in it... this sounded like fun! But he'd have to be careful, if he just let this power loose without knowing the nature of it, it could cause a lot of damage!
Holding up the shard of power the shifting creature had given him, Chroma tapped into the gravity beneath his feet, drawing forth another shard of power from the earth below. Holding them together, the god soon had a swirling maeltrom of energy in his hands. Concentrating as hard as he could to not let it get out of his control, the child god shot the energy into the sky above the west of the continent, causing clouds to gether and pour down onto the lands below. Soon enough, where once there was jungle there now were trees emmersed in water, and large muddy islands in the murky swamp.
'Phew'ing to himself, the god decided to take a short break before getting to work on the real project.
PP Expenditure
0 PP - +1 PP from Hesen, +1 PP from Dimensional Bulkward - Mould Land (moderate) - a large chunk of Western Ardunian jungle becomes a mangrove swamp rich in clay.
As a side note, I am going to create the race soon Nerdzul, I just didn't want their creation to be overshadowed by that of the swamps ^_^;
0 PP - +1 PP from Hesen, +1 PP from Dimensional Bulkward - Mould Land (moderate) - a large chunk of Western Ardunian jungle becomes a mangrove swamp rich in clay.
As a side note, I am going to create the race soon Nerdzul, I just didn't want their creation to be overshadowed by that of the swamps ^_^;
-----
Among the humites, the defense coalition was finally driven from power. With the full extend of their cowardice and treason easy for any to see, they lost all semblance of respectibility, and their leaders fled into the night, seeking the safe haven they had built in the south.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - The Defense Coalition loses many of it's followers in the aftermath of the war.
For Antari though, the prophesies were not always good. In particular, a single druid had a strong vision from the vortex, telling of a terrible future for the city--fire and destruction! And yet he was ignored by his peers; the more he tried to warn them, the more they shunned him. Eventually he was forced off the island to live the remainder of his life on the back of a Zaratan. What happened to him after his exile would never be known.
PP Expense
2 PP - Guide Populace (1 from Astral Orrery) - Ae-Sylvani learn Astrology.
"You know... We're going to need something a bit simpler than that if we ever want to let the Children do this on their own." Convincer muttered as the rock grew distant in the Aether.
"WHY DONT YOU ASK NIXIS ABOUT IT THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE HIM. HE MIGHT HAVE SOME IDEAS."
Convincer nodded, and with a flash of light, dissapeared from Chukwa's head, heading back for the surface.
PP
1 PP (from Chukwa) Nourish Land: Trees and Fruiting Things grow on the rock
2 PP (1 from Convincer): Guide Populace: The Children now know how to create/use portal rituals.
1 PP (from Chukwa) Nourish Land: Trees and Fruiting Things grow on the rock
2 PP (1 from Convincer): Guide Populace: The Children now know how to create/use portal rituals.
Finding a large clay mound, Chroma thought hard. He'd never made something living without a base before... but there was nothing here to make what he wanted to with. Unless... maybe he could make a base! Smiling eagerly, the child god thrust his arms into the mound of clay, ripping out chunks and forming them into little, slightly mishappened figures shorter than any of the other races Chroma had seen, with slightly protruding lower jaws, big eyes, and lims that looked slightly clawed though probably wouldn't do much in a fight. Frowning over his work, the god couldn't help but think they were missing something... and so grinning he added to floppy ears to the sides of their heads. There, perfect!
Now onto the meat of the matter... the child god knew what he wanted to make, and the will in the shard of power that was given to him would make the changes it wanted to if his vision was too far afield of the shifty things. He wanted the creatures to be... fun. And to know how to have a good time. And to enjoy eating, didn't every creature? Ooo, ooo, they could have poisonous blood so the meaner gnolls or big insects didn't try to chow down on them! And and... he couldn't think of anything else at the moment, so he decided that that was enough to go off of.
Gathering his power, and the shard the unshaped thing had given him, Chroma called down a gentle becon of coloured light to bathe over the sculptures... which soon broke open as living, fleshy things stepped out, shaking the clay off themselves as if they were dogs, prushing the brown clay off their red skin. Looking about themselves, the creatures toppled about unsteadily on their feets, trying to adjust their balance to their small bodies and slightly oversized heads. One lucky creature manage to snatch up a dragonfly about the size that it was, cramming the struggling thing into it's mouth and chewing loudly at it's first meal.
This... seemed to effect the little guy somehow. For some reason it began to buzz around for a short time, as if eating the meal had somehow transferred a part of the dragonfly into it. The child god frowned... that wasn't part of what he'd wanted to do. It must have been the unshaped things will... well, it was a fun feature, so Chroma wasn't going to complain. Floating above the little boggarts, the child god smiled with it's one eye, and let them know he'd be looking out for them.
PP Expenditure
1PP - +1 PP from Hensen - Guide Populace - Create Boggarts - The boggarts are small, slightly goblin like red humanoids with poisonous blood. When they eat flesh, they gain the memories of what or who they eat. As such, they often eat the older of their species when they die, or beforehand depending on the individuals involved. They subside mostly on giant insects, and live in the swamp on islands of mud or clay.
1 PP - Guide Populace - Boggarts worship Chroma
1PP - +1 PP from Hensen - Guide Populace - Create Boggarts - The boggarts are small, slightly goblin like red humanoids with poisonous blood. When they eat flesh, they gain the memories of what or who they eat. As such, they often eat the older of their species when they die, or beforehand depending on the individuals involved. They subside mostly on giant insects, and live in the swamp on islands of mud or clay.
1 PP - Guide Populace - Boggarts worship Chroma
OOC
Someone take the hint. Please. :D
He called a dragon fly over to him and sent it after the child carrying a message.
Chroma
If you have need of me, simply send a message.
Azor'Chapien sent his voice into the mind of Veros, and said, Welcome to my island. If you seek to meet me, I am located on the top of the tallest mountain here on Azora.
He offered a slight bow. "I've been going over events since my experiment began, and I noticed that some of your people are trying to live in a death trap."
The lack of other materials drove them to use copious amounts of stone, while the abundance of Acolytes allowed a magical hand in the forging of a city. Airy bridges lifted from structure to structure, appearing almost as a spider's web of silky stone. The lacy intricacy of the city of Bremund belied the austere culture which wrought it. Still, power, weather incarnated in the steady tread of soldiers boots or astonishing stonework stood as the hallmark of this city.
------------
Amongst the Drakhorn of Xanthor and the Obsidian Guard, unrest grew. Their god, the mighty Drakthor, Lord of all that the they knew, had fallen silent. Their culture floundered, degenerating into petty political infighting, until the Day. On that day, every priest of Drakthor took to the streets, preaching the word of a new god, preaching the Rites of Frost.
Soon, the entirety of the Drakhorn society devoted themselves to the worship of Vymrl, Embodiment of Frost, Grand Marshal of War, Last Lord of Time.
PP
1PP-Guide Populous, Lesser: Obsidian Guard re-unites with Drakhorn society (allows them to be guided as one group)
2PP-Guide Populous, Greater: All Drakhorn worship Vymrl
2PP (Ssabrec)-Nourish Populous: Imperium
"Yes, Veros, master of knowledge and magic."
He offered a slight bow. "I've been going over events since my experiment began, and I noticed that some of your people are trying to live in a death trap."
Azor'Chapien laughed and said, "What do you mean, a death trap? This island is secure, I can assure you. But if you speak of the colony on the Gray Wastes... they'll survive, especially when my next plan is unleashed,"
He looked around for a long moment. "Anyways, I was here for a more proper introduction. I really must return to the inner world. I have a project to try out, and that seems the best location for it."
Tovash was a majestic creature, his body covered in blue crystalline scales that looked like the depths of the ocen, almost liquid and so dark that the light of the sun and the stars was absorbed by its mantle as if it was devoured by a starving beast. The dragon had a crown of horns, shaped in wicked form, his eyes glowed softly of a cold light, its body was massive, but at the same time he was gifted by some sort of perverse elegance, his sinuous tail, that was forked in the end finished with two sharp blades, capable to cut stone and steel and create hideous wounds in reality itself.
He was not ancient, there were not many warp drakes older than a few centuries, and they all were in Chillhund, but he was still an experienced beast, who already lived for more than a mortal life span.
At first he was unnoticed while flying, hidden by the clouds and by unholy magics, he found a small pleasant valley to settle, there hidden by a sorcerous vei of shadows, he begun looking for potential preys, he has tasted mortal flesh a few times within the unshaped domain in Chillhund and found the taste lovely.
OOC
What he founds is up to Chapien, I think we shall bring this on mortal stories
What he founds is up to Chapien, I think we shall bring this on mortal stories
OOC
Yes, bring it up to MS, Nerdzul.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis, in the meantime, had decided that now that things had settled down, it was time to continue his original plans to explore the world. Leaving the Place Between Places, he headed north, towards the continent of Zophar, then through the hole, and down into the inner world and Ardune. He had been this way once before, briefly, in his search for Mara. Sure enough, there was the temple of Xa'an, burning brightly in the sky. This time, however, he looked down, and saw the continent of Ardune spread out beneath him. He spiraled downwards and headed for the nearest God, Chroma.
"I must say, I find your form wholly enjoyable." Nixis said, reshaping his letters to create a large eye not unlike Chroma's. "I'm Nixis, god of Language and... other things. Who are you? And what are you doing?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Circle felt the sting of the Alexandrian's intense scrutiny into their affairs, and began taking countermeasures to safeguard their actions. Pairs of gnomes would act as lookouts, one imbibing gNoth for its effect on their senses, the other Zip to run and inform whatever Circle event that was occuring that the authorities were on their way. In general, this method worked well, and the Circle survived in Alexandria, even as it expanded in other regions it had found its way to, notably the islands of the Free Nation. A few brave gnomes still tried to sneak into the forbidden regions of Alexandria, but no concerted effort was made as it had in the past.
PP
1 PP (from astral Shard): Create Artifact (minor): Vice of Unbearable Extraction. Will be explained in more detail in MS, but briefly it magically binds a creature in place and forcibly extracts its blood and lifeforce for nefarious purposes.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: The Circle uses its talents and drugs to stay just ahead of the Alexandrian Authorities, and its operations expand elsewhere due to its plethora of addictive options.
1 PP (from astral Shard): Create Artifact (minor): Vice of Unbearable Extraction. Will be explained in more detail in MS, but briefly it magically binds a creature in place and forcibly extracts its blood and lifeforce for nefarious purposes.
1 PP: Nourish Populace: The Circle uses its talents and drugs to stay just ahead of the Alexandrian Authorities, and its operations expand elsewhere due to its plethora of addictive options.
From the palace Hensen sent a mental call to the gods of the Bronze Pantheon
"Brothers and Sisters, the world is changing fast around us, the First One was killed and then restored, the continent burned in the fire of war and we was unable to act, lord Drathor, our consul, seems absent, or maybe he is just tired from the affair of the world.
In order to restore the glory of the Bronze Pantheon we will need a more active guidance.
So if you all will agree I'll take the position of Regent, but I will be ready to give the authority back to lord Drathor should he re-awaken.
The Pantheon will also need new blood and I have a few gods in mind. I should talk to them and propose to you their names soon enough"
To Veros
OK Mr Veros, thanck yoo. I made a nise swamp for my new childran thancks to your gravatie, let's play again some time!
OK Mr Veros, thanck yoo. I made a nise swamp for my new childran thancks to your gravatie, let's play again some time!
Meanwhile Urek decided that he liked the Boggart and that he should stay for a while, he put the Orb of Nightmares down to the earh and let its essence suffuse the swamp, so that he can freely move around there.
At first the boggart priest tried to bite it too, but it was far too hard for him, after a while he decided that it was some kind of holy item and he decided to call it the "uneatable egg" and worship it as a relic.
In their Chillhund lair the Possessed one abbandoned the hopes of finding their weapon, as beyond the Dimensional Bulkwark it was safe from their divination power. Some of them even feared that it was stolen by an enemy that was preparing to use it against their kind. With the giants abandoning the lost war they decided to devise a new plan for the continent, more subtle this time, it might require ages to come to fruition, but after all they were immortal, time was on their side.
PP
1 PP Guide The Boggarts worship Hensen.
1 PP Guide The Boggarts worship Hensen.
-------------
In a flash of ice, Vymrl appeared in the Palace of Xa'an.
Lord Hensen, I have the pleasure of addressing you as Regent of the Bronze Pantheon. We do need new blood, new fire to build the grand structure of our alliance. So, I offer to the Regent an artifact of no small power.
Saying this, Vymrl stretched out his hand. The air cracked an warped, and a small screaming noise echoed from it. Finally, massive adamite chain began to slither out of the gash, clinking onto the floor. A terrible cold emanated from the chain, and Vymrl's hands seemed to fragment slightly as he took hold of it.
Hensen, Lord-Regent of the Bronze Pantheon, I have the honor of giving you the Temporal Bindings, may they bring sorrow to you enemies.
I'll begin as soon as possible my new work in renewing our strengh"
Then Hensen saluted Vymrl with respect and moved to Azora, looking for the Knight-god.
Meanwhile, having learned of the presence of the god of killers by its followers in Freedomaguard, he ordered to the Wonderkamer to look for this unknown divinity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After the Eldest Council decision to abandon the war the possessed one that was hiding under the skin of general Dhoka decided to move to the unshaped base in the Imperium, to officially assume control of the ushaped presence in reality.
It was him, escorted by two possessed dragons, that went to meet the giants of the Commission.
Nixis concentrated hard, letters swirling back and forth in agitation, then...
"Oh. I guess I can. Err... This feels... Odd. I'm gonna Stop. That was weird."
Nixis dissolved back into his usual form and laughed. Chroma seemed absolutely delightful.
"Chaos, color and joy? Well, thats just delightful. I'll let you in on a little secret... I'm the god of Mischief, too. We have some things in common. Want to play a game?"
When someone else asked the god of chaos if he wanted to play before he even got a chance to, he couldn't help but be a little excited. And by 'little', I mean 'bouncing up and down'. "Yay, yay, let's play! Oh," he settled down a bit as a thought hit him. "I spent a lot of my power on making these guys, so I won't be able to play the game of creation for a little while... still they were worth it, aren't they cute?" Chroma beamed. As if to illustrate the lack of his point, a small brawl had insued in a group of the boggarts, as they fought over a struggling dragonfly trying to avoid the mound of hands and mouths.
After fifteen minutes of walking, the Unshaped emerged into a large, domed chamber. Fifteen giants sat before them, while twenty Bloodborn Giant guards and thirty Frost Giant guards stood in the shadows. Two Keymons completed the entourage.
"Greetings, emissaries of the Unshaped. I am Jamial, and I speak for this Commission. As you probably know, we command the intelligence gathering arm of the Imperium. We have vast resources of at our disposal, and currently we are ready to bend them to infiltrating and destabilizing the continental forces. Our spies inform us that you already have agents in some nations, so I believe that we may be able to work together.
I also believe that you have begun inquiries into hiring Alexandrian mercenaries, yes? While the lands that you control are remarkably bear of natural resources, the lands of Chillund are rich with mettallic ores of all kinds. Should you wish, we will gladly finance your efforts to hire mercenaries to the end of causing strife amongst the continental alliances. We do, of course, ask that you ensure that none are the wiser as to where the money comes from.
Finally, we currently control a resource, lost in the mists of time to all save us, that I believe you could be very interested in. It is a current, of wind to be exact, called the Twin Zephries. It is, however, no ordinary breeze. No, this breeze blows through the very fabric that for eons untold has limited the actions of mortals, the Azure Aegis. Born aloft upon this current, you would gain access to the Aether, the first element, and the grand march of land atop the Aegis. The only thing you would need is air, something that creatures of your talents could likely manufacture with ease.
All that this Commission asks is that all your discoveries be shared and a percentage of your profits go to our treasury. How do these proposals sound?"
Before he left though, he sensed the presence of another god approaching his mountain. Azor'Chapien turned to his newest exarch, Eon, and told him the following, "I'm off for a while... another god is on his way. Can you greet him for me?"
Nixis reached inside himself and tossed a globe of shining letters to Chroma.
"Now then. That poor dragonfly looks to be having some trouble. I know what to do!"
The dragonfly subtly changed, growing a slightly longer tail and taking on a thin line of silver coloring wrapping up and down its sides. With an angry buzz, it disappeared, causing howls of surprised pain as it left, as in its place was a tiny electrical outburst. Nixis looked up and saw the new Sparkstorm dragonfly happily flit off towards the swamp, and called up more to join it.
"Now your Boggarts have to be careful, otherwise they'll get quite a shocking experience!"
Nixis turned, waiting to see what Chroma would do. Over the god's "shoulder", as it were, he saw Azor'Chapien approaching and waved.
"Ah, and here comes one of my friends. I think you'll like him."
pp
1 PP: Given to Chroma
1 PP: Spawn Creature(Lesser): Sparkstorm dragonfly.
1 PP: Given to Chroma
1 PP: Spawn Creature(Lesser): Sparkstorm dragonfly.
Before he could use the shard of power his new friend had given him (he was nice as well as fun!), however, a friend of the god of mischief arrived behind him, causing him to turn around and look over the new god. This god seemed a little less fun for some reason... he smelled of reason and order, and made the child god a little sick thinking about it. Still, a friend was a friend even if they smelt a little bad.
Following the god of mischiefs que, Chroma waved excitedly at the new god, his eye creasing with a smile. He wondered if this new god wanted to play too... he hadn't had this much play in forever!
He lifted his hand, a group of pyre flies appearing before Azor'Chapien. "These pyre flies will lead you to the inner world. Should you meet Chroma, tell him I'll come to see his swamps soon."
The Skreet had expanded the caverns, their individual tunnel homes had become huts.... notable cities had begun to arise, the greatest of which around the temple of Starl himself. Known only as 'The Burrow'. The tunnels were protected now from intruders by those who listened carefully for the sounds of the flute...
2PP- Guide. The Skreet learn architecture.
1PP- Guide. The surface cults worship skreet
2PP- Guide (+1 PP from the artifact) The Skreet learn the Fighter class
"I'm honored by the trust that you have in me, lord Vymrl, I promise that you will not be disappointed.
I'll begin as soon as possible my new work in renewing our strengh"
Then Hensen saluted Vymrl with respect and moved to Azora, looking for the Knight-god.
Meanwhile, having learned of the presence of the god of killers by its followers in Freedomaguard, he ordered to the Wonderkamer to look for this unknown divinity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After the Eldest Council decision to abandon the war the possessed one that was hiding under the skin of general Dhoka decided to move to the unshaped base in the Imperium, to officially assume control of the ushaped presence in reality.
It was him, escorted by two possessed dragons, that went to meet the giants of the Commission.
Honissia was wandering around freedomguard. He'd wanted to check up on the guild actions and so he did.
The guild was doing well, most independant assassins in the city weren't getting very much work, and the ones that were usually had to be the best. It was slowly bringing in money from their share of the blood money. He decided that I'd be a good idea for them to spend it, but he wasn't sure on what.
He settled in the poor distract to watch the people while he thought.
As he began to approach Nixis, he sensed something... another divine being. But this one... he sensed it was made of Chaos, the opposite of the stuff he was made out of. Azor'Chapien began to approach more cautiously.
He moved toward Honissia, looking and saluted the god.
"I'm honored to see one of your kind in my master city, I have being sent by lord Hensen, lord of Change and Regent of the Bronze Pantheon, to look for you.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Our kind is pleased by your offer, lord Jamial, the Imperium resources will speed up our work immensely, even if, I must warn you, we will have to be extremely carful in our actions, as we don't comand enough forces to fight another war with the continent at the moment, for this reason my plan might come into fruition in centuries, or even more...
"Also we will have to figure out a way to hide the origin of such resources, as for now I don't think that even Alexandrian mercenaries would be ready to accept the Imperium wealth. If you agree I'll set up an organization in the Free Nations, where I still hold much influence, as an intermediate partner that will be able to launder our resources."
"My people are always interested in knowing more about the world, for this reason I'll gladly agree to your propositio and seek this legendary wind, while air is needed to our hosts the essence within does not need to breathe and we will find a way to easily overcome such an obstacle."
"It is good to see you. How fare things in the Grey Wastes? This here is Chroma, and we were just playing a little creation game. Would you care to join us?"
"Well, I'm fairly chaotic already, so I guess I don't notice things like that. The creation game is where we make up fun little creatures to play with. See, over there are some dragonflys that I made"
But none the less, when the new god mentioned that he didn't have enough power to play, Chroma felt sorry for him. After all, he'd already gotten to play, and this god wouldn't get that chance... smiling, the god of Chaos floated closer to Azor'Chapien, and offered him the shard of power Nixis had given him.
"Here," he said cheerfully. "Mr Nixis gave me this, but you need it more since you haven't even had the chance to play. Now you can make something fun!"
PP Expenditure
Gave Nixis' 1 PP to Azor'Chapien
Gave Nixis' 1 PP to Azor'Chapien
Azor'Chapien vanished in a bright flash and reappeared in his fortress. He turned to Eon and said, "I need your help! I need to make something... fun... you used to be a peasant boy! You still are a boy... an immortal one... think of something fun!" Eon frowned and said, "I would, but unfortunately, I was a PEASANT. Having fun is like... against the law or something. It was all work. You really should do something about that. But I if I was you, I'd make some kinda talking bush. Wait, no, that's stupid... how bout..."
Azor'Chapien facepalmed and said, "Forget it! Come with me!"
Grabbing Eon, he disappeared in another flash and reappeared in the swamp with Eon.
"Hello there. We're Nixis and Chroma. I'm sure you've probably heard of me... Chroma... I didn't even know he existed until just a bit ago."
Nixis pointed to the glowing orb.
"So, what are you going to make? Some sort of useful animal for your Exarch to use?"
Eon then said, "Look, I told you already: I'm not good at fun stuff. Your Code doesn't really promote that to the nobility, you know that? Anyway, I'm supposed to be the Champion of the Code, not the... fun maker. Butt, I'll help... Just give me a moment..."
This 'Azroian' was strange... he looked a little like his genasi, but a lot squishier. "Are you a genasi that had water on him when he was fire?" Chroma had to ask. "Although you don't look burnt..."
"Well, how about a monster that eats people's weapons for food? That might be funny. Or maybe some noble beast with a golden mane to rule the plains of the continent or maybe... a bird! Yes, make a pretty bird. Or...maybe something that turns people to stone! Oooh, yes."
"Or, you know, something else."
"What does your lord want with me? I'm sure if it's about the operations in the city something can be worked out..." Honassia was in the form of a pale humite right now. Some sort of exotic scent seemed to fill the air around him as he took his original form "Either way this is something that we should probably discuss in person. Where would he like to meet?"
"My master will depart soon from the palace of Xa'an, but I think you will be able to find him there, and while this is somehow related to your actions here, lord Hensen is not displeased, he is intrigued actually, and might have some proposition for you."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile a chorus of whispers echoed in the Drahkorn asteroid, they brought back memories of their creator faith, but it was not only its teaching that followed the wispers as they spoke of glorious Pantheon, where their master reign but is sleeping with his domain guarded by a divine Regent...
PP
2 PP Guide, (1 from Aether Ripples) the Drahkorn worship the Bronze Pantheon
(note the Pantheon includes Drathor, that should overcome the issue of the reincarnation, but at the same time allow worship of other gods)
2 PP Guide, (1 from Aether Ripples) the Drahkorn worship the Bronze Pantheon
(note the Pantheon includes Drathor, that should overcome the issue of the reincarnation, but at the same time allow worship of other gods)
It was the "Eye of the Pantheon", a new creation of the Wondermaker before his departure, The eye has the power to look for anything that its master asked for, as long as it could be seen by any worshipher of the user or the Pantheon.
"And so you have listened to my call, lord of assassins, I was counting on that"
"I don't think that we have ever met, I'm Hensen Jijou, the Changer of Ways and regent of the Bronze Pantheon"
I was impressed by the skills of your mortal agents and I presume that yours will vastly surpass them. I'm regent of an alliance of gods, who think that true power comes from unity and that will really appreciate your talents."
PP
1 Pp Create (from the Wondermaker) The Eye of the Pantheon
1 Pp Create (from the Wondermaker) The Eye of the Pantheon
Azor'Chapien said, "I don't think I have enough energy to make a flaming bird, Eon."
He looked to the orb and then turned back for a second. "I can however see the benefit of having...Favored...employers? What is it that you had in mind?"
That should not force to work exclusiveley for us of course, you will just share the Pantheon faith, its protection and eventually its conquest should you join our efforts"
"So are you accepting my proposition?"
Lord of Assassins, I am Vymrl, Essence of Frost, Grand Marshal of War, Last Lord of Time. I do not believe that we have met before. Still, I believe the coming eons may prove favorable, and profitable, to us both. After all, War feeds on Assassination, and Assassination tends to bring the glorious clash of men and and a feast for crows.
The god of chaos like the idea of a flaming bird... too bad he didn't have the power necessary. "Maybe you could make a flaming something else?" the child god suggested. "Like... a flaming hyena! Or flaming behemoth! Flaming dragonfly, flaming tree, flaming boggart." A thought caught him on that last one. "Please don't light my boggarts on fire, they're not fire resistant..."
OOC
Whoops! I actually DID have PP
The protecter who could not defend
The prophet who could not see.
Why could he not succeed? The humites all living in diaspora. This was not what he wanted. But there was more that he could do. Terena lay in ruins, yet... in was not meant to be so. Shurka could see it clearly, even though it was gone; it had a future. Gnomes and humites living happily... yes, that looked nice.
Gnomes... such peculiar creatures. They worshipped one named Nixis. He might want to help.
A single golden eye grew on the face of Shurka. If he was a prohpet he should have a less myopic appearance. He glided across the world, seeking out the one called Nixis.
PP Use
2 PP [+1 Eorna] - Nourish Populace x3 - Humites in the Feywyld.
OOC
Well what do you know, I have 1 PP I lost track of too.. ^_^;
Well what do you know, I have 1 PP I lost track of too.. ^_^;
then he turned the corner and saw what horrors had befallen Terena. Faces encased in iron lined what was left of the streets, and in the center of it all... Convincer shuddered at the sight of the Mournelord, bound in inescapable iron. But when he thought about what had happened... perhaps this was a fitting punishment.
"What has happened here?" he asked in a quiet whisper to the Imperium forces standing over Sarosk.
Convincer was filled in on the atrocities that had occured here. Bending his head in grief, he bade the Imperium escorts to leave the city, telling them that the rest of the allies' army was nearly there, and they might not be able to separate in their minds their feelings for the one who did this and those still standing here over him. As they left, he took up his staff, and raised it above his head before slamming it to the ground, right next to the Mournelord's face. Earth immediately began covering the ruins of the city, rising higher and higher until under Eorna's still gleaming branches, a hill of dirt was all that could be seen.
Except for a hole, just large enough for the Mournelord's prostrate form and Convincer, rising up to the new surface from what once was the center of the city. Convincer looked down at the Mournelord.
"You won't get away nearly that easily, scum. When I think of what you did to the people of this nation, my blood boils."
With that, Convincer rose to the surface to greet the incoming legions. He showed them the Mournelord, and told them of the atrocities that he had done. When one of the dwarves grabbed a spear, Convincer grabbed his hand.
"No. Our revenge for this action will be much more satisfying that merely that. I just need to find a certain object that I misplaced the other day..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nixis was having a blast with Azor'Chapien and Chroma, and he felt a feeling come over him, one of comraderie with the two other gods with him.
"I haven't had this much fun in... ever! We should plan to do more things later, when we all have the strength again. I've really been enjoying this game."
Yes, he thought to himself. This feeling of friendship is quite wonderful, and one that should be nurtured.
"I have a proposal. Let us become the sponsors of this feeling we are feeling just now. Let us help others become... friends."
He was going to say more, but then he saw Shurka approaching with a serious look on his face, and turned to greet him.
OOC and PP
1 PP (from Staff of Clay): Mold land (lesser):
1 PP: Form domain (lesser): Friendship. I'm sharing this with Chroma and Azor'Chapien for now, but since they have not payed the cost, I can take it back if I so choose ("you're not my friend anymore!").
Angel: Mecha and I have a plan for Terena, so you don't need to wait for a representative from him.
edit: Sorry for the suddenness of that, Angel. Wanted to let Shadow's actions work too.
1 PP (from Staff of Clay): Mold land (lesser):
1 PP: Form domain (lesser): Friendship. I'm sharing this with Chroma and Azor'Chapien for now, but since they have not payed the cost, I can take it back if I so choose ("you're not my friend anymore!").
Angel: Mecha and I have a plan for Terena, so you don't need to wait for a representative from him.
edit: Sorry for the suddenness of that, Angel. Wanted to let Shadow's actions work too.
Once there he re-assumed his Hydra form.
The White head spoke, it was currently the dominat power among the heads, even if the green one influence was growing.
"So I came looking for one of us and I have found an assembly, I hope that I'm not interrupting something..."
"I have a proposition for some of us here, the recent events caused by Veros and his so called experiment have inspired to me an idea I'd want to share with some of you."
"Lord Azor, I'm here to invite you in the Palace of Xa'an when you have some time for discussion"
Then he noticed Chorma nearby, the red head, a little bored by divine politics turned toward the god of chaos.
"Uh... hello Chroma, do you remember us?"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After the opening of the portal created by Veros, Freedomguard eldest council ordered a new city to be built around it, sending a strong contingent of soldiers to protect the gate and the pilgrims that begun to seek it to find their long deceased friends,
Meanwhile in the Free Nations a group of scholars begun studying the pyreflies flowing trough the portal, some begun communing with the death deeply, seeking their wisdom. In order to gain a better understanding of the phenomena they also asked for the loremaster help and allowed them to set up a small enclave within the new city states of Garvas that was built to accomodate the pilgrims and the army that protected the gate.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile a new influencial guild emerged in Meribia, the Dorne clan, becoming walthy from a combination of trading income and mining operations. The clan begun to invest its large fortunes to help the families that had lost something to the war, hiring and tutoring orphans and generally helping meribia stability.
The Clan sent some of his people to talk with the local power groups, expecially the other powerful dwarven guild and the alexandrian mercenaries, to initiate a friendly relation with both forces.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The group of tired sailors was walking from hours in the fungal wastes, a storm has sent their ship against the rocly cliff, many of them has died and now the nearest trace of civilization was too far to be reached and the food was almost over, the sun was unforgiving and the barren stone of the wastes was becoming an scorching nightmare.
Finally one of them, the youngest of their group, who still has some hopes of being saved begun screaming to the others "Look! Over there, there is a city, we made it!" and then he begun to run toward what looked like a large city.
The other followed there and was astonished to find a so beautiful city in the wastes. It surrounded a natural lake and was composed mostly of white towers of a beautiful marble, lush gardens adorned its roads, where a crowd of busy townspeople, most of them was dressed in strange clothes, coming from many different nations of the world.
They were approached by a small crowd, led by a man dressed with fine clothes and jewels. The man ordered his servants to help the half dead sailors, they were given food and water and had a dinner with the noble court in the halls of his palace in the middle of the lake.
They went to sleep refreshed, convinced that destiny has spared them guided their steps to a paradise.
The next morning their bodies were lying on the wastes rocks, the living illusion noble Aronshon, was displeased that they were unable to really help them, as their food and refreshement was not real, he wowed to find a way, one day, to fix this issue and then moved back to his ivory palace, where a party to commemorate the death of the stranger was being held.
PP
2 PP Guide - The Free Nations learn pyreflies magic (while it deals with the soul of the dead it is different from necromancy, being focused in comuning with the death and summoning pyreflies)
The Free Nation offer the Loremaster the possibility of studying the portal, in exchange for a their help and shared information.
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones)- The Dorne clan is born in Meribia.
1 PP Nourish - The Free Nations built another city state near to the portal and create a permanent guard to protect it.
1 PP Nourish - Living illusions create the City of Mirages.
2 PP Guide - The Free Nations learn pyreflies magic (while it deals with the soul of the dead it is different from necromancy, being focused in comuning with the death and summoning pyreflies)
The Free Nation offer the Loremaster the possibility of studying the portal, in exchange for a their help and shared information.
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodstones)- The Dorne clan is born in Meribia.
1 PP Nourish - The Free Nations built another city state near to the portal and create a permanent guard to protect it.
1 PP Nourish - Living illusions create the City of Mirages.
Azor'Chapien turned to Nixis and said, "Spread... friendship? Um... sure. Eon's been bugging me that Azora isn't friendly enough anyway..."
Azor'Chapien turned to his exarch, Eon, and said, "You, stay here."
Azor'Chapien then turned to Hensen and said, "I am ready, but first, I don't think I know your name."
Eon was still busy talking to Chroma and said, "What? I never said I wanted to fight a minotaur. And why do you keep calling me squishy?!"
PP
1 PP: Form domain (Lesser) Shared domain of friendship with Nixis
Years of study, years of practice. Alexandria's War Quarter began to experiment with the bindings of elemental entities within newly found precious gems, using them to power magical creations. Before long a new type of soldier was wound into the city, Artificers who were put through rigid tests and years of training.
And from the War Quarter sprang a new type of airship. Created by tree-shapers and Artificers in concert. These ships were recognizable for their speed and sleek profile as they began to be put to use by Alexandria.
Actions
1PP from the Great Cathedral, Guide Populace: Alexandria masters the Artificer class
1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria learns the construction of Airships. Alexandrian airships use an (literal) elemenatal power source usually bound within a massive construction of precious gems. These airships are designed more for speed and maneuverability than as transports. Though som transports do exist.
1PP from the Stars, Nourish Land: Precious gems are in abundance within the shattered lands and some of their surroundings.
5PP, Gifted: This goes to Veros' project.
1PP, Guide Populace: Alexandria learns the construction of Airships. Alexandrian airships use an (literal) elemenatal power source usually bound within a massive construction of precious gems. These airships are designed more for speed and maneuverability than as transports. Though som transports do exist.
1PP from the Stars, Nourish Land: Precious gems are in abundance within the shattered lands and some of their surroundings.
5PP, Gifted: This goes to Veros' project.
Eon muttered, "It's kinda creepy.", earning a slap from Azor'Chapien.
When Hensen appeared, Chroma squealed with excitment. "Of course I remember you Mr Hensen! And Mr Hensen," he went on, looking at another head. "And Mr Hensen, and Mr Hensen, and Mr Hensen, and- it's great to see you!"
"What's wrong with one eye?" Chroma asked a little sullenly of the exarch, grabbing onto his pink skin and pinching it as though to feel it's texture. "And see, you're all pink and squishy. You don't even have any scales or fur to keeep the weather off!"
***
Meanwhile, the minotaurs were having a population boon with the Sons of Slaughter firmly defeated. For the first time in centuries they could travel with little fear, and could let their children play without fearing that a slaughter crazed gnoll would steal them off into the night.
PP Expenditure
0PP - +1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish Minotaurs
0PP - +1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish Minotaurs
What they found was an outrage. Such a horrible crime against so many people. For generations the people of the continent would hold a grudge against the Imperium. There acts would not be forgotten.
As ambassadors made their way through the feywild, seeking the humites, the nations gave all they could spare. Master dwarven and halfling architects worked along side the mages of Sivera, guided by the most knowledgable men and women the loremasters could find, in the name of healing what had been rent, in deidcation to Shurka, to rebuild the city. They cleared all traces of the horrible atrocities from the grounds, and laid down the framework for a city that would surpass what it had been.
From the fire and ashes or war, Terena was rebuilt greater than before. Now, all it awaited was for it's inhabitants to return to it.
-----
Veros sighed. So much to do and so little time to do it. He reached out and grabbed the gift Xirinet had sent, focusing his mind. It was time to finish this latest project. He gathered the gifted power along side his own, and channeled it into the stars. As the power rippled through them, thirteen new constellations developed, scattered across their expanse. Each one was a sigil with a specific meaning, a specific power. In time to come, mortals would come to understand these sigils, understand their meanings, and possibly even tap into their power. Finished, he vanished from the aether, reappearing on Ardune, a short distance away from Chroma. “An excellent job with this swamp. It is quite unique.”
His appearance after such a powerful act was not without unknown consequences. The gates of power were still open, and unknown to him, the power of undeath leaked out into Ardune. From the remains left on the battlefield after the slaughter of the Sons of Slaughter, the fallen warriors of both sides rose from the ground, hunger for the living lodged deep in their hearts and minds.
PP Expenditures
1 PP (Artifact) - Nourish Populace – Terena
1 PP – Nourish Populace – Terena
1 PP - Mold Land - Terena is rebuilt atop the hill covering it’s ruins, a city of flowing and supernaturally graceful architecture.
9 PP + 1 PP (Artifact) – Create Artifact (Lesser) – These, along with the 3 I create last turn, create a grand total of 13 new constellations added to the Stars, each is a power source. I’ll begin filling in what they are the power source for next turn.
4 PP – Shape Populace (Greater) - Ghouls
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Hey Chroma, I like how you shaped the boggarts, how are they doing? They look funny..." told the red head.
"And while my brothers here might be in a "serious mood" they acutally appreciate that creation too."
All the heads saluted Chorma, the grey ones with a polite and maybe a little impersonal "hello", the black one with a nod and a smile, the green one with an "Hey Chorma". And the white one with a "Nice to see you too my friend"
Then the white head turned again toward Azor Chapien, "I'm Hensen, the master of change and regent of the Bronze Pantheon, I think that we met at the trial but we never had the occasion of a proper presentation. I have an offer for you, that might be extended to the other gods present here, but I'll need to need to spend a small time dealing with divine diplomacy before I can do that, until that time we should talk in a more private environment. Don't worry it will not take much time and I think I should move back to the inner world too, I see many gods that I consider friends here and I'd love to have a talk with all of you."
One of the grey heads turned toward Shurka,
"Lord Shurka, we are pleased that a solution for the bloody war that plagued the mortal realm was found after all, I'm sorry for those who died and that I have sent my minions to fight it too, there was some agreement between me and Vymrl and I hate breaking promises. At least now my Chosen son will stop bugging me about that.
I'm not gifted with oracular power as you are, but I think that my people will soon try to make amend for their actions."
The other one to Nixis instead.
"We have heard about you and your people Lord Nixis, and found them quite interesting, we also appreciate your help in fighting the usurper."
"Well I think that now we should depart, even if briefly, we will be back quite soon I presume..."
And then Hensen prepared to move back to the palace of Xa'an, waiting for Azor to go with him.
"You have my attention, friend. What is on your mind?"
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, Vymrl, The Empress, Shurka, Mara, Hensen Jijou,
5 - Kiptar, Eijra, Nixis, Hammu,
4 - Chroma, Azor-Chapien, Starl, Honissia, Torvek
Admin Awards
Chroma has 1 additional PP to spend this turn
Chapien has 1 additional PP to spend this turn
Chapien has 1 additional PP to spend this turn
Turn 46 begins now. 11,500 years have elapsed since the beginning of existence.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, Vymrl, The Empress, Shurka, Mara, Hensen Jijou,
5 - Kiptar, Eijra, Nixis, Hammu,
4 - Chroma, Azor-Chapien, Starl, Honissia, TorvekAdmin AwardsChroma has 1 additional PP to spend this turn
Chapien has 1 additional PP to spend this turn
Azor'Chapien moved to Hensen and said, "Lead the way. And Eon, stay here."
"My sorrow, and the sorrow of my nation, runs deep for this horrific act. This was not War, this is not Honor. My nation owes the people of this land a debt than at the end of a long and ardous road for the Imperium. Please, I beg you, do not judge us by the acts of this mad dog. His family even now wanders the Wastes, and he bears this agony, and the agony of his elemination from our annals, as his pennace."
As the soldier uttered these words, Sarosk, a crazed, mad light in his eyes looked up, panting, his words coming out of cracked an bloodied lips in a high pitched whine.
"Damn you all, animals. Cowards and blasphemers around me, blind to light, shut to truth. Blind prophets and false messiahs of my faith, hear me now! This land shall be cleansed by the touch of Frost! Grain shall blacken and wither, mothers shall cry out in their agony as children are born, blue and cold. Only sorrow lives in this land now, and naught that you can do will stop it. In the days of ending, those final years of Time, all you creatures shall weep and shudder as I am reborn, riding silence, bearing famine and loss in my wake. Damn you all as fools!"
--------------
The Drakhorn, bolstered now by their following of the Pantheon, bent their power now to opening gates to the Imperium, to re-establish ties of trade that had fallen by the wayside in the years of turmoil. In a few decades, goods from the Imperium, metals, wheat, and weapons filled the marketplaces of Xanthor, while stained glass and mechanical marvels appeared in the great bazaars of Ssabrec and Brelund.
---------------
Vymrl stirred once more, leaving Light Child to continue his conversation with Hossania, the god stepped into the void, both of space and time. Endless eons stretched around him. The world, bereft of gods and mortals, a blackened mass of slag spinining endlessly through the Aether reared up at him. Fearful of this bleak time, Vymrl flashed away, back through desperate ages, to the very begginings of it all.
There, he found the tamperings of another with Time. Enraged, the god followed the tamperings, warped traces of the proper order. At the end of them, trapped in limbo, Vymrl found the Elder Things. Intrigued now, the Grand Marshal of War seized the Things and tore them free from the fabric, cast them through meandering byways of the world, to send them soaring along a meteoric path of sky in his time.
The creatures dealt with, Vymrl returned his proper age.
Still, some fragment of the creatures drifted onward through the footless halls of air, drifting until they struck the oceans. There, life roared back into them. These new things, Illithids, Mind Flayers as the mortals they new they would terrorize in future ages would call them. They knew all this because in that vast cross temporal odyssey, they had seen the coming ages, and the falling darkness.
------------
That act, that contact with the Elder Things had not left Vymrl unchanged, and so a single worm of taint slipped within his crystalline armored shell, diluting and spreading, metastasizing, as ink in water, insubstantial, yet altering the whole character. Writhing under its grip, Vymrl fell, a streak of icy fire, to slam into the ocean, to vanish down into its vast silent embrace.
PP
4PP (Flesh-Pools)-Spawn Populous, Greater: Illithids
3PP-Claim Domain, Greater: Abberation
1PP (Ssabrec)-Nourish Populous: Drakhorn
OOC
I'm gone till wednesday, so I need to spend all my PP at once. I might be able to pop in here or there, but don't expect much.
He turned to Azor'Chapein.
"Hmm? I suppose my face is different. I find it odd that an oracle would be blind, don't you agree?"
-----
Azor'Chapien frowned and said, "Oracle? I didn't know you were an oracle...."
PP
1 PP Mold Land: Azora moves just west of Kalafi Krak.
(Omitted)
(Omitted)
"Yes, that sounds like a great idea. Here, take some of my power to do what needs to be done."
Nixis extended his hand into Shurka's form, and the god was bolstered by a blaze of energy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unknown to Convincer, the Mournelord had connected with him in the moment their eyes had met, and his mind called out to small numbers of undead, drawing them under Terena, where they joined the shades of those who had died in guarding the Mausoleum of Terena.
PP
2 PP given to Shurka
1 PP from convincer: Guide Populace (Lesser): Draw assorted undead (not enough to actually create a population center, but enough to create a fun adventure site)
2 PP given to Shurka
1 PP from convincer: Guide Populace (Lesser): Draw assorted undead (not enough to actually create a population center, but enough to create a fun adventure site)
"Clothes are good, but what if you're in rain, clothes couldn't help and I doubt this fur," the god ruffled the top of the exarchs head. "Will keep the wet off you... when my children get wet, all they have to do is shake themselves and they're all dry," he boasted with a smile.
***
Hunger. It consumed him like it had never consumed him before. It consumed them all like it had never done before, whether they be his packmates or... no, they were all packmates now. More than packmates, comrades, siblings, kin. They had all been thrust into the same boat, and they had no choice but to live in it. Or unlive, as it were.
The King of Ghouls continued to munch down on the large carcass of the beast, ripping off fresh red fleash and shovelling down, as if it could somehow cure the hunger that had been thrust upon him. Tossing it aside in disgust at how little it did to quench the starvation that didn't kill, the prize as soon beset upon on all sides by ravenous undead gnolls, picking it clean in no time flat. Reclining into the large throne made entirely of the bones of their feasts, Russet looked up at the roof of the cave they called home, his fangs baring in frustration and anger.
After the battle, after they're... he didn't even want to think about it, they'd lain in the earth for some time. Until some cruel, cruel force decided to thrust them from their well earned afterlife of hunt and blood and put them back inside their stinking corpses! And given them the hunger... oh how much hunger, he'd never felt this hungry even when the Sons of Slaughter had fallen on lean hunting in an area and couldn't eat for days or even weeks.
But all that was in the past now... the former Prince of Slaughter, now King of Ghouls had a few things left to do in this world, after all. As torturous as mere existance was, it was a blessing that he would be able to set certain things to rights.
In the caves in the valley that had been their grave, Russet stood from his throne. They hadn't come when they needed them most, but perhaps the devils would answer his call now...
PP Expenditure
0PP - 1 Guide PP from Beryl - The ghouls make a sort of 'home base' in the caves of the Valley of the Dead, where the Sons of Slaughter lost their lives in the decisive battle for Ardune. Though they are concentrated most heavily there, and it's where Russet makes his home, the ghouls spread throughout Ardune at large, going wherever they can quench their hunger.
0PP - 1 Guide PP from Beryl - The ghouls make a sort of 'home base' in the caves of the Valley of the Dead, where the Sons of Slaughter lost their lives in the decisive battle for Ardune. Though they are concentrated most heavily there, and it's where Russet makes his home, the ghouls spread throughout Ardune at large, going wherever they can quench their hunger.
He closed his eye, gazing upon them through the Temporal Vortex. "I have gazed on a world without you, and I would not relish living in such a world."
He opened his eye once more and gazed off at Chroma playing, marveling at his innocence. "Where we ever so innocent, my old friend?"
He lifted his hand, veiling them both.
Shurka
"I'm beginning to believe I should withdraw from the world. The actions of my faithful among the humites are horrible, and that they would believe that such things would be okay disgust me. To betray one's family and friends."
"And worse, my own actions rendered me unable to aid you in your hour of need. That is the worst. That I was not there when one I consider an ally needed me
"And worse, my own actions rendered me unable to aid you in your hour of need. That is the worst. That I was not there when one I consider an ally needed me
Eon looked at Chroma and asked, "You want to play, don't you?"
-----------
Azor'Chapien said to Shurka, "The Azorans actually recently landed near Terena, if I am correct."
Of course when the exarch mentioned 'play' he forgot all about learning more about the confusing squishy thing. "Yay! Let's play let's play!" he called out eagerly, beaming with his one eye.
***
Meanwhile, in the Chaos Wastes, the genasi had learned to take advantage of the creatures around them. The plant eating behemoths, resistant to the chaos energies around them, had attracted their claw footed, meat eating kin to the wastes. The genasi saw these creatures, and thoughts of hunting with the speed of the wind enterred their minds.
Soon enough, Claw-foot Riders would become an intergral part of manifesting Windsoul, allowing the windsoul genasi to hunt while mounted, scout more efficently, and serve as cavalry in the event that the genasi ever had to make battle. No genasi but a windsoul could truly ride a Claw-footed behemoth: they seemed to sense a kindred spirit in the wind, and rejected all other elements.
PP Expenditure
2PP - Guide Populace - The Genasi learn to domesticate and ride the larger strain of claw-footed behemoths
2PP - Guide Populace - The Genasi learn to domesticate and ride the larger strain of claw-footed behemoths
to Azor Chapien
"I have come here, as I told you, with an offer for you, one of alliance, long ago a group of like minded gods decided to create a new divine order a Pantheon, whose purpose was to increase the divine glory of creation and gain enough strength to ensure that no other god could make an act of deicide against anyone of them. It was called the Bronze Pantheon, ruled by the lord of Creation and Destruction, until he went to a deep slumber, the Pantheon now follow my lead.
The Pantheon values much martial skills, as well as honor, two virtues that you incarnate and for this reason I want to ask you to join our order.
I think we could extend such an offer to your friends soon enough, but some diplomacy might be needed to set aside some differences between some of the eldest members of the Pantheon and them.
"I have come here, as I told you, with an offer for you, one of alliance, long ago a group of like minded gods decided to create a new divine order a Pantheon, whose purpose was to increase the divine glory of creation and gain enough strength to ensure that no other god could make an act of deicide against anyone of them. It was called the Bronze Pantheon, ruled by the lord of Creation and Destruction, until he went to a deep slumber, the Pantheon now follow my lead.
The Pantheon values much martial skills, as well as honor, two virtues that you incarnate and for this reason I want to ask you to join our order.
I think we could extend such an offer to your friends soon enough, but some diplomacy might be needed to set aside some differences between some of the eldest members of the Pantheon and them.
-----
to Hensen
"Very well, this Pantheon intrigues me. I'll join this pantheon, and I can assure you, I will contribute in anyway possible. One thing though, if I were to be attacked the pantheon would aid me, right?
And go they did, chasing the funny looking boggarts throughout the swamp. It was rather comical: the boggarts had an odd, wobbley gait and clearly weren't designed for speed. Sometimes they fell over just trying to sprint away, meaning it wasn't exactly a challenge to catch them.. but it was still fun.
Veros
"To be honest, I was a bit ashamed that I was so absorbed in my own conflicts that I was unable to help you for a while. I belive we have both realized that we are not as powerful as we may think."
Shurka was silent for a moment.
"...If you were to leave, that would make me the oldest of those still awake. To think that I used to be innocent. Used to think I could rid the world of all that blighted it. I can make changes for the better, but the world will never be perfect in my eyes. I now know that I need to accept that. I'm not sure if I can offer you any counsil on whether you should withraw from the world or not. Such an important decision... should probably be made by yourself.
Shurka was silent for a moment.
"...If you were to leave, that would make me the oldest of those still awake. To think that I used to be innocent. Used to think I could rid the world of all that blighted it. I can make changes for the better, but the world will never be perfect in my eyes. I now know that I need to accept that. I'm not sure if I can offer you any counsil on whether you should withraw from the world or not. Such an important decision... should probably be made by yourself.
Shurka
"I suppose you are right. For now . . . always before we have been at least cordial and friendly enough with each other. I wish to go further, that we truly be allies and friends, to aid one another in times of need. There is little reason I could see for us opposing one another, but there are many ways we can aid one another. This would, in my eyes, simply be taking what we have always done, and acknowledging it."
He looked into the distance. "I don't wish to rush you though. Whenever you wish to answer me, feel free. I'll take no offense either way."
He looked into the distance. "I don't wish to rush you though. Whenever you wish to answer me, feel free. I'll take no offense either way."
It reached out and touched the Gear gates that he had created so long ago. They warped and extended, where more popped into existence, extending out into the Aether and below, into the inner world. The Iron State learned to use these portals, Extending their reach enormously, into many new worlds...
PP
1 PP: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Alexandria's Artificers worship Kiptar
2 PP: Create artifact(Intermediate)(Gear of Creation): Gear gates expand into the inner world and out into the aether. They also become more populous in Far Home.
2*2 PP: 2 Guide Populace(Greater): Iron state learns how to make Aether-tight air-ships to explore the Aether, using the Gear gates to reach it. Eventually they make Aether-ships rigorous enough, as well as using the techniques learned from their Advanced Airships tech to make Aether-Ships that can stay up for 10-20 years at a time, and support a large populace, basically becoming small villages. These techs are not for trade, as they jealously guard these secrets.
1 PP: Guide Populace(Lesser)(City of Gears): Alexandria's Artificers worship Kiptar
2 PP: Create artifact(Intermediate)(Gear of Creation): Gear gates expand into the inner world and out into the aether. They also become more populous in Far Home.
2*2 PP: 2 Guide Populace(Greater): Iron state learns how to make Aether-tight air-ships to explore the Aether, using the Gear gates to reach it. Eventually they make Aether-ships rigorous enough, as well as using the techniques learned from their Advanced Airships tech to make Aether-Ships that can stay up for 10-20 years at a time, and support a large populace, basically becoming small villages. These techs are not for trade, as they jealously guard these secrets.
Eon himself caught a few, but Chroma was having much more luck (he is, after all, a god). Eon said, "These Boggarts are fun! I've never had this much fun in my life! My people are all... boring... and we have to listen to the Code... but here..."
Chroma smiled at the squishy exarch, letting out a giggle of glee. "Your people must be silly to do something that isn't fun! Codes are icky, it's much better to chase things and do and see the unexpected!" The child god frowned in thought for a moment. "Hm, where are your people anyway? I've never seen anything like you in Ardune, and if your people are that stuffy, they could use a visit from fun and chaos!"
OOC
Out of curiosity, would a fun domain count as a part of the joy domain? Because if it isn't, Chroma needs it :D
Out of curiosity, would a fun domain count as a part of the joy domain? Because if it isn't, Chroma needs it :D
With that he went into the guild training house and put himself in place as a rather average assassin.
Over in the imperium some of the giants saw the benefit of getting paid to kill things. They were planning on starting their own guild but a 'merchant' passing through pointed them towards the one already set up and they joined.
Over in Alexandria the guild starts to have stirring and quickly gains power. They slowly start to smuggle more exotic substances from the free nations.
Quickly they realized that they were going to need to hide their members now that they were spreading so they started putting them in the trade jobs that everybody in the community would rely on. This not only made them look ordinary but explained their somewhat flexible income.
PP Used
1 [Exarch](Guide) The frost giants assassins join the Guild
1 (Guide) The guild spreads its' operations to alexandria.
1 (nourish) Guild operations expand and more assassins join the guild in Alexandria
1 (Nourish) the guild in the free nations expand greatly, now having guild houses in every city and town.
1 (Guide) The guild puts its operations even more in the dark. Hiding their true intentions by setting up their members in various trade jobs.
Chroma smiled at the squishy exarch, letting out a giggle of glee. "Your people must be silly to do something that isn't fun! Codes are icky, it's much better to chase things and do and see the unexpected!" The child god frowned in thought for a moment. "Hm, where are your people anyway? I've never seen anything like you in Ardune, and if your people are that stuffy, they could use a visit from fun and chaos!"OOC
Out of curiosity, would a fun domain count as a part of the joy domain? Because if it isn't, Chroma needs it :D
"Ohhhh, right, the outer world, well I'm sure I can work it out, it can't be too difficult to teleport to somewhere you've never been!" Chroma claimed. "...you might want to hold your breath though, it wouldn't be fun if we ended up in an ocean and you drowndeded."
They spoke for long, Hensen told him about the slumbering state of his master and his new regency of the Bronze Pantheon. The Herald himself has sensed his brothers weakened by the lack of faith and with his master sleaping he could not restore that wich was lost. Hensen made him an offer, the god of change would restore the Drahkorn to their glory, in exchange for their loyality. The Herald would have never accepted to betray his master, not even if tempted by the promises of power coming from the Changer of Ways. But Hensen has predicted that, in order to ensure that the Drahkorn keep prospering he will infuse them with his own power, but should their master ever wake up the spells and charms that bind these creatures to the will of the Lord of Change and the Bronze Pantheon will collapse naturally, allowing the lord of Creation and Destruction to restore his power over his favorite sons.
Finally the Herald accepted the master of change offer, he would remain with his people, but he will be no more the Herald of his kind only, but of the Changer of Ways and even Bronze Pantheon itself.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Back to the Palace od Xa'an the Changer of Ways was tempted to go again at the Eye of the Pantheon, its visions were so enticing that he could have looked trough it for a whole age.
However he had things to do...
Gathering his energies he sent a message to the members of the Bronze Pantheon, new and old ones, including the God of Artifice, Kiptar, who has asked for ammission back when Lord Drathor was still awake...
Vymrl, Azor Chapien, Honassia, Kiptar, The Empress, Hammu
"This is a glorious day, my brothers and sisters, the Bronze Pantheon is getting ready for the beginning of a new age"
"When the founders joined the first time they decided to form an alliance to protect each other and eventually to become a force that should be able to impose its will on the whole existence.
"When they accepted the embrace of the Pantheon they knew that a time of war would have come, one where Unity would have allowed them to overcome every enemy and they were not wrong...
"An age of darkness begun, with the lives of many gods at stake, even the First One, the killer of Xa'An, was in danger in that perilious time...
"Today, after the shadows dissipated, apparently at least, the valors of unity and brotherhood of the Pantheon have not being forgotten, they have become even more important...
"And in the name of that values that I'm honored to present you all the new brothers and sisters that will join the Pantheon in its glory.
Welcome Kiptar, master of Artifice, Honassia, who walks in the shadows and Azor Chapien, the knight god.
I wish you to always be strong and I'm sure that your presence will bring a renewed glory to the Broze Pantheon and to the world itself."
"This is a glorious day, my brothers and sisters, the Bronze Pantheon is getting ready for the beginning of a new age"
"When the founders joined the first time they decided to form an alliance to protect each other and eventually to become a force that should be able to impose its will on the whole existence.
"When they accepted the embrace of the Pantheon they knew that a time of war would have come, one where Unity would have allowed them to overcome every enemy and they were not wrong...
"An age of darkness begun, with the lives of many gods at stake, even the First One, the killer of Xa'An, was in danger in that perilious time...
"Today, after the shadows dissipated, apparently at least, the valors of unity and brotherhood of the Pantheon have not being forgotten, they have become even more important...
"And in the name of that values that I'm honored to present you all the new brothers and sisters that will join the Pantheon in its glory.
Welcome Kiptar, master of Artifice, Honassia, who walks in the shadows and Azor Chapien, the knight god.
I wish you to always be strong and I'm sure that your presence will bring a renewed glory to the Broze Pantheon and to the world itself."
---
Eon said, "Um... ya... should be safe... I've done it hundreds of times with Azor'Chapien, so I'm used to it... kinda..."
PP
1 PP Guide Populace: The Azorans have an expedition sail to Meriba and begin moving to Terena.
"Whoops, if I did that who knows where we'd end up," he noted out loud a little sheepishly. Taking the power down a few notches, the child go bathed the two in a soft stream of coloured light. When they next appeared... they had, by some miracle, arrived in Azoria.
Albeit several hundred feet above it.
"Whoops, don't want you to fall," the floating god noted, grabbing onto the exarch. "Splatting doesn't sound like fun..." He smiled. "Although the word is fun to say. Splat! Splat splat splat!"
One sickeneing shift in perspective later, the two were at ground level, though Chroma as usual floated a little above it. He knew Veros put a lot of thought into this gravity, but it was too orderly for him to obey... no law could bind Chaos, not even phisics.
"Well that was fun," the child god commented, looking about the place with his one eye. It was all so... different. Ardune was nothing but jungle and savanaha, but this place was... what was the word, temperate? It led to some frighteningly green grass, and the air was neither humid nor hot. "So how about a grand tour?" The child god asked, not seeing any of the squishy things immediately around.
"It'll be fun to see something so different, almost as fun as making something like it I'm sure," Chroma replied cheerfully.
Eon moved through the forest for a few minutes until the forest broke off into a field. In the field was a small Azoran village, and on a nearby hill was the local Lord's castle. Eon said, "There. We saw. Can we leave now? Again, I don't get along with other Azorans..."
"Okay Mr Squishy, if you're su- wow, what's that!"
A group of knights trotted towards the town, bedowed in metal armour. "Those are the biggest, humanest insects I've ever seen! And their car... carapa... shelly things are so hard and shiny looking!"
Eon cursed the fact that he had told Azor'Chapien to not spread word of his new exarch-lyness.
Deciding that if Mr Squishy wanted to back away Chroma would with him, the two retreated into the forest a little ways, the village still in view of the gods sight if not the exarchs. "Why do they wear such hard clothes?" The child god asked. "And what do these Azorians do for fun anyway? They may be stuffy and orderly, but they must do something fun, otherwise they'd die from lack of funness!"
He vanished in a cloud of darkness, moving on to his next destination. Reappearing just outside the moon, he called out for her. "Mara? I would like to speak to you, if you have the time."
---
Eon said, "Ya, that would work. Go ahead, I'm pretty sure my kind can't see invisible people."
OOC
Mecha and Topheh, we could start a three way MS for the Azorans reaching Terena.
Letting out a small stream of coloured light, the power bathed the two, taking away their colour and storing it to be returned later. The result was... well, nothing. Or the appearance of nothing anyway: where once there was a god and exarch, now there was an invisible god and exarch.
"Yay, I'm invisamable!" the child god couldn't help but boast excitedly. "Now you can show me the squishies!"
As they walked into town, the day's work was in full swing. All of the adult peasants looked dangerously thin and they wore little more then rags. Their backs were bent from hard work. Even the old and sick sometime had to work in the fields. Chroma could also spot some children having to work. Eon shook his head and muttered, "Home sweet home..."
"This is... whoever's in charge better be having a tonne of fun at these peoples expense. Because if treating these people like this IS the fun, then... then... I don't even know what I'm going to do! Even then, no fun is worth this... this... tyranny!" A few heads turned to see where the booming voice had come from, but seeing nothing the peasants returned to their duties.
The child god rubbed his chin, still lost in thought. "I wonder... that Mr Veros sent me a note on piece of paper with scribbley things on it. Would there be any more around anywhere on this Outer World place?"
OOC
I'm angling towards taking him to the Loremaster's Keep, but I'm not sure if Eon knows about it or not..
I'm angling towards taking him to the Loremaster's Keep, but I'm not sure if Eon knows about it or not..
"Finally..."
It turned, transporting back into Mechanus, and began to sketch plans. He wasn't sure where they were going, but vague ideas had been floating around in the back of his head. Here, maybe they could come together.
Shurka responded to Veros before he broke the veil.
Veros
"I accept your offer. This could possibly be the only alliance that actually means anything. The others just seem like schemes for power."
----
Eon frowned and said, "I'm not sure. I haven't ever left Azora really... Hang on, can I do something really quick? Follow me if you like..."
Eon walked towards a small hovel at the outskirts of town. After all the years, it was still here...
Eon said, "At first, I wasn't sure, but now I'm sure... this is the village I lived in before I entered exarchhood."
PP
1 PP Mold Land: Flamewing Peak rises in eastern Azora.
1 PP Guide Beast: Phoenix's move to Flamewing Peak.
1 PP Guide Beast: Phoenix's move to Flamewing Peak.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile in the Free Nation a group of arcane researchers, necromancers, artificers or just philosophers, decided to combine their resources and create a new city state.
They only had one thing in common, a strong desire to unveil the misteries of creation, no matter the cost. Usually this lust for knowledge was satisfied with forbidden researches and practices that many in the world will consider foul.
Knowing that the Free Nations have no limit, religious or moral, to research they decided to build there a place where they can enjoy their activities without being disturbed by the outsiders.
The found a large natural cave under one of Bloodmyst islands and there, supported by money from Novost and Freedomguard, they build an underground city, filled with arcane libraries, laboratories, workshops and even tranquil gardens where the researchers can rest or share their discoveries. So the new city state of Qar'Dask was born...
PP
3 PP Shape Paragon Race - the Drahkorn, are reshaped to accept the souls of Bronze Pantheon worshiphers, the souls are judged by Hensen in person and by the Herald, until Drathor awake again. Also the Lake of Fire sometime spawn souless Drahkorn.
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones) - Create the cave complex to house the city state of Qar'Dask
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodtones) - Free Nations, the new city state of Qar'dask is born.
3 PP Shape Paragon Race - the Drahkorn, are reshaped to accept the souls of Bronze Pantheon worshiphers, the souls are judged by Hensen in person and by the Herald, until Drathor awake again. Also the Lake of Fire sometime spawn souless Drahkorn.
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones) - Create the cave complex to house the city state of Qar'Dask
1 PP Nourish (from Bloodtones) - Free Nations, the new city state of Qar'dask is born.
Seeing as he was still invisible in the town, the god of chaos quickly ran into a nearby blacksmiths, which thankfully was empty. But the armor of knights who'd had their armour put in to be repaired, of store armor designed for the new knight or fool hardy adventurer was still there in abundance, much to the child gods glee. Grabbing up as much of it was possible (which, since he was a god, was all of it), Chroma then teleported himself and the armour outside the town, in a place where hopefully no-one would see him unleash his power. Gathering up his energy, the child god threw the suits of armour onto the ground before him, before blasting them with a coloured ray of light.
The results were... interesting. The armour stood up all by itself, or so it seemed. But in truth, it was armour no more. It was a steel like carapace for something a little more sinister, though neither good nor evil. Simply a craver of competiton. The aberrant creatures had a skin of metal, barring of course the visor which couod be lifted to reveal the fleshy insectoid face of the knightmares. They preffered not to do so however, never lowering their visor and never speaking, for they had no vocal chords to speak of. These creatures would however forever be a bane and boon for Azoria, wandering the land in search of tournaments to enter, strong looking travellers to challenge to honourable combat, and generally competiton and conflict that wasn't too far beneath or above them. Becoming the quintessencal rogue knight, so to speak, as unless you opened it's visor or caused enough damage to make it bless it's green blood and reveal that the armour was in fact it's skin, you would never suspect it was anything but human.
The knightmares didn't really have the mental factilities to recognize wrong from right, and so it wouldn't become an infrequent sight to see a member of the species tagging along with a band of bandits, in the service of an evil overlord, or as a personal champion of a righteous king. For the most part though, the creatures were content to wander the land alone. Knightmares only came together to mate, as when knightmares meet, their natural competiveness means they must fight.
Content that his creation would cause a little chaos in the overly orderly Azoria, and one up those opressive knights, the child god teleported back to the exarchs side, realizing that they'd come to a little shack. "Wow, really? That's neat!"
***
The ghouls king munched the flesh of the bones of the genasi, throwing it onto the pile to form a complete, fleshless genasi skeleton. They'd been lucky to find the scouting party so far from the wastes... but it seemed a shame to waste the bones like that. He wondered...
Raising his hands over the bones, Russet willed them to live, willed them to serve him and his kind. And rise they did, forming a loyal servant of the ghoul king. A smile touched his muzzle... if he could create servants like this, and continued to do so, maybe taking down his devil overlords wouldn't be as difficult as he'd feared.
***
And, in the Chaos Wastes, something that would forever shape the destiny of the genasi and the continent as a whole took place as Chaos heated stone finally cooled after centuries of burning, revealing large veins of copper and tin.
Metal had finally come to Ardune.
PP Expenditure
1PP + 1 Spawn PP from Veil - Spawn Paragon Tier Monster Population: Create Knightmares
1PP - Nourish Land - Tin and Copper form in the Chaos Wastes
1PP - Spawn Heroic Tier Monster Population - Russet raises the bodies of those with flesh picked clean to form skeletons.
1PP + 1 Spawn PP from Veil - Spawn Paragon Tier Monster Population: Create Knightmares
1PP - Nourish Land - Tin and Copper form in the Chaos Wastes
1PP - Spawn Heroic Tier Monster Population - Russet raises the bodies of those with flesh picked clean to form skeletons.
-----
Far to the south of the rebuilding of Terena, the Defense Coalition's remains, newly renamed Naru, had worked and struggled with the ancient wasteland. Though it had taken centuries, they set the land on course to recover, restoring life to the blighted lands.
------
The loremasters, no longer co-coordinating the defense of the continent, turned their attention back to their task. Slowly but surely, their enclaves spread into Menosa in the west and Zophar to the north. With this expansion, minotaurs began to join the ranks and the organization prospered.
-----
With the discovery of a variety of metals high in their mountain homelands, the minotaurs began to master the art of blacksmithing.
-----
With an eerie green glow, the portal slowly opened up, pyre flies in the area scattering, avoiding the gateway's light. A new farscape gateway had opened.
-----
Veros called out again. “Mara!? Where are you?”
PP Expenditures
1 PP - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Silvena learns blacksmithing
1 PP - Nourish Land - The southern wasteland controlled by the Defense Coalition finally begins healing
1 PP - Nourish Land - Minotaurs on Ardune find metal deposits in their mountains
2 PP - Guide Populace (Greater) - Minotaurs master blacksmithing
1 PP - Nourish Populace - Loremasters accept minotaurs into their ranks
1 PP (Artifact) - Guide Populace (Lesser) - Loremasters begin sending expeditions to Zophar
1 PP (Artifact) - Create Artifact (Lesser) - A new farscape gateway forms in the depths of Skypeak
----------
Rakshasa scouts on Ardune discovered the presence of veins of rich ore, and Rakashasa smiths learned to work it into tools and armor.
----------
Beacon saw the nations around them using magic to bend the elements to their will, and some of the most diligent scholars went abroad to study in academies of magic. Some stayed, and some returned and began to train others.
----------
The introduction of arcane magic on a wide scale had great consequences for Beacon. Arcane rituals terraced the land, and fruits and vegetables were grown in even greater numbers than before. Magic guided the hammers of the smiths, too, and Beacon learned to weave magic and steel.
----------
The portal Rabi called Zenith irised open again. Through it fell what looked like drops of blood, which spattered the stone inside the cavern called the Place Between Places. Where the blood landed, it stuck, and seemed to swell a little. The spray never dimmed in time, but went on always looking as if it was fresh.
PP
1 PP nourish land: common metals are found in veins in the hills surrounding The Well
1PP (-1PP from cultural contact) Guide Populace: The Well learns metalsmithing
1 PP + 1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon learns Wizard
+1PP (Ahura) Nourish Populace: Beacon grows in numbers
1 PP (-1PP from Human members) Guide Populace: All of Beacon learns Agriculture
1PP (-1PP from Human members) Guide Populace: Other races in Beacon learn the art of metalsmithing.
+1PP (The Zenith) Create Artifact: a permanent portal forms between the Place Between Places and the Bloodstones.
1 PP nourish land: common metals are found in veins in the hills surrounding The Well
1PP (-1PP from cultural contact) Guide Populace: The Well learns metalsmithing
1 PP + 1PP (The Code) Guide Populace: Beacon learns Wizard
+1PP (Ahura) Nourish Populace: Beacon grows in numbers
1 PP (-1PP from Human members) Guide Populace: All of Beacon learns Agriculture
1PP (-1PP from Human members) Guide Populace: Other races in Beacon learn the art of metalsmithing.
+1PP (The Zenith) Create Artifact: a permanent portal forms between the Place Between Places and the Bloodstones.
***
The genasi quickly remembered the art that had long fallen dormant of blacksmithing, and soon were mining the tin and copper, melting it down, and forming it into bronze. With the advent of the metal, hunting became a lot easier, as did defending their lands from enemies.
PP Expenditure
0PP - +1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish Genasi - The genasi grow in numbers and power.
0PP - +1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish Genasi - The genasi grow in numbers and power.
The Ae-Sylvani debated what to do, but the override concerns were for their safety and the invasion of their dominion. The Ae-Sylvani had been alone in the aether for literally thousands of years, and the cultural shock of newcomers was great indeed. The fact that these amoba apparently fed on the aether itself, condenscing it into their growth only feeded an environmental argument. Would eventually all the aether be eaten by the amoeba? Such a catastrophe must surely be avoided!
Still, even with the resolve, the wherewithal to do something remained to be had. These things were large. An Ae-Sylvani could walk on them, not easily, but stabbing it with a valin spear wouldn't do much at all. In the short term, a solution was found--a group of Zaratan made a pass at one Amoeba, and by pure coincidence got a taste of it. And it tasted good! The pack of giant space turtles proceeded to gobble down the Amoeba, and sang happy and contented songs for quite a while.
****
The farmers of the nation of Silan slowly cultivated a curious large leafed crop that for many generations had been assumed to have no nutritional value. And yet some Silan becam engrossed with chewing on it while working, giving a pleasant taste. Further refinement, by accident it would seem, let to the discovery that it was even better when burned and inhaled. The farmers who developed the plant began to go to market and sell to the higher nobles and priests in the villages, and soon the practice of smoking the plant spread. So activity even spread to the neighboring nations, while enriching the same cultivators with great amounts of wealth, and Silvan as a whole.
****
Mara appeared behind Veros. "So you are back." She said coldly.
PP Expense
1 PP - Guide Populace - Ae-Sylvani - Knowledge of Amoeba, trying to kill them, eventually might succeed!
0 PP - Zaratans (an exarch) - NOM NOM NOM some Amoeba. In significant number so far.
2 PP - Guide Populace (1 from Astral Orrery) - Silan - Discover, cultivate, and use Tobacco for recreational smoking (more like Native Americans, not like us modern Americans)
3 PP - Guide Populaces - Tobacco and use spreads to Tarana, Latane, and Huilon.
1 PP - Nourish Populace (from Exarch) - Silan - Silan grows more prosperous and wealthy.
PP Refresh
8 - Veros
7 -
6 - Xirinet, Vymrl, The Empress, Shurka, Mara, Hensen Jijou,
5 - Kiptar, Eijra, Nixis, Hammu, Chroma
4 - Azor-Chapien, Starl, Honissia, Torvek
OOC
Sorry about the double post, I'm currently moving so I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post for the next few days and want to avoid spending all my PP in one clump
Sorry about the double post, I'm currently moving so I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post for the next few days and want to avoid spending all my PP in one clump
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Iron State continued to access the aether. Dispite the recent collapse of most of the gear gates, they still reached out of the aether and into Mechanus to Far Home. Utilizing the technology and magic at their command, they created an Aether-Ship large enough, and with enough self-sufficiency to serve as a city, floating around in the aether. This, called Aether Home, would grow, and become strong.
Show
2 pp: Decreate artifact(Gear of Creation): The recent addition to the Gear gate network collapses, along with most of the gates. Now only a few remain, reaching into Mechanus and the Aether.
2 pp: Guide populace(Greater): The Iron state creates a Aether City called Aether Home.
1 pp: Nourish populace(Gears): Aether Home grows larger.
Shadow, I just remembered that the gear gates also led into Mechanus, which is how Far Home was founded.
2 pp: Decreate artifact(Gear of Creation): The recent addition to the Gear gate network collapses, along with most of the gates. Now only a few remain, reaching into Mechanus and the Aether.
2 pp: Guide populace(Greater): The Iron state creates a Aether City called Aether Home.
1 pp: Nourish populace(Gears): Aether Home grows larger.
Shadow, I just remembered that the gear gates also led into Mechanus, which is how Far Home was founded.
Chroma frowned to himself. "This code of yours doesn't sound like a lot of fun. I don't like to hurt mortals either, but I certainly wouldn't let them chase me without my permission. That wouldn't be very fun..."
Eon smiled sadly and said, "Bit more complicated then that."
---
Meanwhile, deep beneath Flamewing Peak, a massive cavern system opens up, spanning the entire island of Azora. At the moment, the caves are mostly empty, but some Azorans discover entrances to the caverns and use them to move across Azora. The Cavern system also has connections to the Underdark.
PP
2 PP Mold Land: A cavern system opens up beneath Azora's surface, with the main entrance at Flamewing Peak.
On the streets of Alexandria, angels began to dissapear, not at a high enough level to be alarming, but noticable to anyone who spent the time. At first, many thought they had just left the city, hired out individually to some party or another somewhere across the world. But then,Angel's Draught, a new drug that proved fatal to those with weak minds and absolutely exhillarating (and horridly addictive) to those of stronger stock, appeared on the market.
The Circle was confused, as this was certainly not one of their drugs, and their spies within the Alexandrian government would have informed them if the Alexandrians were creating some new drug. They sent out people to determine what was creating the drug, and the rumors they got back were horrifying enough to make many of the Sneaks on the council debate whether or not to even continue their inquest.
The rumors were that Angel's Draught was the distilled blood of gNoth'd Angels, the same angels that had been disappearing for the past few months. Rumors spoke of a gnome... noone knew his name, who drugged angels, then led them to his hideaway... no one knew where, although there were many ideas. There, rumor spoke of a horrible machine that literally pressed the lifeforce out of the angels and turned it, through dark and nefarious means, into Angel's Draught, a golden, faintly glowing liquid.
Alarmed, the Circle decided to send representatives to the Alexandrian leadership, assuring them that they had nothing to do with this travesty and offering their help in tracking down this rogue gnome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
High above, Chukwa didn't know that his fellow Zaratans had begun to devour some of the Amoebas, and was busy continuing to help prepare the Yogloid before him for habitation, as per Nixis' orders. The planetoid had a thick layer of air. Now, it was time for vegetation. Chukwa breathed, and dotting the surface of the Yogloid, groves of trees and other plants appeared. Like the Yogloid itself, these plants fed off of the Aether/Air and turned it into their own mass, providing food and wood from the very air. Since the plants and the creature itself ate in similar fashions, it would be important for the Children to tend their groves carefully. If the trees covered too much of the Yogloid, it would starve.
Finally, it was time, and the Children used the Archway to arrive on the back of the Amoeba, where they began to set up shop. Chukwa watched the Children as they set up along a particular line atop the Yogloid. When the Amoeba split in a hundred years or so, half the village would go with one Yogloid, the rest with the other. Every month, the new colonies of the Children of the Aether would communicate back to Diaspora, and new colonists would be brought to one of the new, every expanding colonies.
And elsewhere, the Zaratans continued eating. It was only a matter of time before an inhabited Amoeba would come into contact with the ravenous horde.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Below, the Gnomes returned to Terena, settling primarially in New Terena.
PP
2 PP: Guide Populace: Gnomes learn how to create Angel's Draught, an epic-level drug that can easily overwhelm the defenses of all but the most powerful minded. Provides a feeling of intense power, and increases natural strength.
1 PP: From Chukwa: Nourish Land: Special Trees and Flora grow on the Yogloid
1 PP: Guide Populace(lesser): Children colonize the Yogloid, ensuring more than ample space for their future expansion.
2 PP: Guide Populace: Gnomes learn how to create Angel's Draught, an epic-level drug that can easily overwhelm the defenses of all but the most powerful minded. Provides a feeling of intense power, and increases natural strength.
1 PP: From Chukwa: Nourish Land: Special Trees and Flora grow on the Yogloid
1 PP: Guide Populace(lesser): Children colonize the Yogloid, ensuring more than ample space for their future expansion.
"You squishies make things way more complicated than they have to be," the god pointed out. "If someone in charge can't be trusted, then no-one should be in charge or they should be replaced... or everyone could live without any of this order stuff, it's icky and head hurty."
****
The ghoul king Russet looked out on the scene as his skeletons dug, his muzzle peeling back in a smile. Centuries ago, an event had occured here... a seeming insignificant one, but if his theory held true, one that could prepare to cement his victory in the future war against his slave drivers. After he had attained the power to stand up to that cursed pact maker... but time enough for that. A wise warrior stocked up on weapons before starting battle, after all, and if death had made Russet one thing, it was wise. Wise and twisted and filled with malicious cunning. And the hunger, but he forced himself to ignore it for now. This was too important to call off for the sake of some gazelle.
Some time passed, until eventually there came a cry of triumph from the ghouls overseeing the skeletons. A runner ran towards their glorious ruler, kneeling before Russet before speaking with long dead lungs. "My king, we have found it, jussst as you ssssaid we would," the ghoul intoned, it's long dead tongue giving it an odd lisp.
"Of course we did, I remember this day... I did not see it personally, but while in life some of the Sons of Slaughter... now devil worshipping fools," he added venomously. "Saw it and reported... is it in good condition?"
The ghoul winced. "I am sssorry my king, but the imprint is misssssing the wingsss, and the rear legssss. I am unsssssure whether we can procsssseed."
"Is the spark still in the earth?" the ghoul king asked testily.
"Well, yesssss, but-"
"Then we shall proceed as planned," the ghoul king continued, turning his back. "So our little creation won't be able to fly, it's power should more than make up for that. Bring out the rot."
"Yessss my king," the ghoul replied, running down to the group to relay the order.
The ghoul kings muzzled lifted into another smile. Who knew one little accident on behalf of a youngling god could very well cement his part in the war? If that dragon god with the chakram hadn't left his imprint and a spark of his power in the earth he'd crashed into to be covered and solidified as the centuries went by... well, this day wouldn't be possible.
The ghouls brought forth a bubbling container of rotted flesh, so far gone that even to the ghouls it seemed unfit to eat, containing so much disease and plague that any living creature would have passed out from it's stench nearly a mile from it's source.
"Careful with pouring that in!" Russet shouted. "We need that mould in tact if we're to create more than a single strain of our new allies!"
Nodding in response, the ghouls carefulyl poured the bubbling liquid into a small hole in the somewhat damaged mould of the dragon god, pouring and pouring until there was no space left to pour. And then... silence. Nothing happened for some time, and Russet began to wonder whether he'd miscalculated the power left by the injured god. But then...
A flash. A green, sickeneing flash that would have sent every ghoul in the area to their death bed with plague had they not been above it's touch. And when the flash cleared... the mould was no longer filled with putrid flesh, but a living being.
Russet cursed to himself, running down to the mould and peeling apart the top enough that the creature could crawl out rather than have to burst the entire thing to make it's escape. They needed that mould, and that power to remain for some time... seeing an oppurtunity, the creature crawled out of the mould, it's two powerful arms effortless taking it out of the dug crater and onto ground level.
The creature was a dragon. Sort of... it looked like what you'd get if you cut off a dragons wings and hind legs, bit gave it extra large and strong front legs to make up for it. And what would happen if a dragon had twenty terminal illness' at the same time: the creature was a sickly white purple, and had so many boils and scars that it seemed as though touching it alone would kill you from contracting fifty different afflictions.
The ghoul king merely smiled at the scourge dragon of plague, seeing in it a new ally for his ghouls... and a new weapon to bring against his enemy.
***
In the swamps, a new kind of predator was emerging, a long lizard that could restrict it's prey and swallow it whole. The poisonous boggarts were relatively safe from them, but the same couldn't be said of the giant insects and giant toads that called the swamp home.
The boggarts grew and thrived in their home however, growing in number and influence, spreading throughout the mangroves.
PP Expenditure
4PP - Guide Epic Populace - Create the Plague Dragons, scourge dragons that embody phisical infliction and spread it wherever they go. These creatures often act independtly, but hold their allegiance to the ghoul king.
0PP - 1 Spawn PP from Veil - Spawn Heroic Teir Monster Population - Spawn Crushgrip resitrictor snake
0PP - 1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish Populace - The boggarts grow in number.
4PP - Guide Epic Populace - Create the Plague Dragons, scourge dragons that embody phisical infliction and spread it wherever they go. These creatures often act independtly, but hold their allegiance to the ghoul king.
0PP - 1 Spawn PP from Veil - Spawn Heroic Teir Monster Population - Spawn Crushgrip resitrictor snake
0PP - 1 Nourish PP from Fountain - Nourish Populace - The boggarts grow in number.
Veros turned to her. "Such a cold tone, Mara. How have you been? I was concerned for you when you did not answer my message."
"That's odd, from your message it seemed all you care about is some bauble."
----
The Ae-Sylvani were even more horrified to find an amoeba that had been colonized by land based aliens. Shocking! Revolting! And incredibly dangerous. The "trees" even sucked in more aether for food, reducing the aethesphere even more.
The leadership of the Ae-Sylvani Fortress city* who had discovered this colony met to discuss theirs options. In the end, it was determined the only option was to defend themselves with a pre-emptive strike. The Ae-Sylvani must take action before the invaders come after them.
Thus the Valin ships sailed out in search of this [Yogloid] finding it. The ships screamed down and the Ae-Sylvani attacked. The surprised aliens were overwhelmed and quickly killed. The artifact that appeared to be some sort of transit "gate" was destroyed by magic. The Ae-Sylvani then did something they never did in their own lands--used magical fire to set alight the forests covering the Yogloid and to burn the creature itself. They then set into the creature poison that would kill it. The Yogloid collapsed into itself until it was nothing but a shriveled husk. Their mission complete, the valin ships and troops returned home, and held victory celebrations for the warriors.
PP Expense
1 PP - Guide Populace - Ae-Sylvani - Attack Yogloid colony(s). At least one instance of attacking a Yogloid colony, killing all the colonists, and destroying the gate and Yogloid. Again, probably not enough to justify a de-nourish--yet.
( That would be the one I named...too lazy to search back for it right now.)
1 PP - Guide Populace - Ae-Sylvani - Attack Yogloid colony(s). At least one instance of attacking a Yogloid colony, killing all the colonists, and destroying the gate and Yogloid. Again, probably not enough to justify a de-nourish--yet.
( That would be the one I named...too lazy to search back for it right now.)
----
After a few disturbances in the new cavern system underneath Azora, Azora expands outwards to be twice its original size. The Azorans currently live only in the inner portion of Azora now.
PP
1 PP Mold Land: Azora grows to twice its size.
"The Free Nations needed to honor its alliance with the Imperium, we have to show that we are loyal to our words or our promises will only be considered empty worlds and we can't allow that." Replied lady Karhis, Novost representative, a tall and athletic bloodborn woman, that looked like a giantess in confront of the Dargos, but most people know that her city state has invested much in the war and so her words did not sound that convincing.
"We have already offered more than enough to them as a compensation, now it is time to look again toward the continent with friendly eyes" told High Priest Yensen, an half humite and the official leader of Freedomguard government.
"We have being reported that the war has incresed the unity in the continental powers, opening the potential for collaboration and for profit"
"And for danger, should they unite against us..." replied lady Kharis.
"Another reason to initiate a friendly relation, I guess..." told Yorik, he had listened to all Eldest Council meeting in the last few years, as trough his influence in the priesthood he has managed to gain a permanent seat there, he has sensed that something strange was happening in the archipelago and he wanted to be near to the halls of power to prevent another war
"I propose to send new envoys to the Humite Nations, Meribia and Silvera, so that we can begin an healtly relation with them"
"Maybe you are forgetting that---"
The council kept discussing for a few hours, while most of the city states agreed with Yorik proposition the unexpected vote from the monastery city of Nitha in favor of Novost forced the council to a long debate and to reduce the majority necessary for the decision.
Finally the Eldest council decided to send tree separate missions to the Humite Nations, Meribia and Silvera.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hensen finally left the Drahkorn land, for a while he watched over the world using the Eye of the Pantheon, some time granting small boons or causing positive or negative coincidence to affect the lives of the ones he was observing, watching their changes with interest and measuring the ripple effect caused by changing small events of a single mortal life.
His choice did not follow a planned pattern as most of his actions have done for a long time, his boons or banes was granted randomly, when inspiration guided him. After a while the mortals begun to pray to him for this kind of blessing, but he was not interested in what they asked and he kept acting randomly, soon the people begun to tell a new proverb:
"Luck has many eyes, but is deaf to prayers"
The actions of mortals has an unexpected consequence on the lord of Change, as he himself was far from immutable they managed to alter a minor part of his being.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After a while he decided that it was time to go back to work, there were other gods that he wanted to talk to.
At first Mara, the twin goddes, worshiped by the dark eladrin in the south and by free nations pirates, a plague for its merchant but an interesting element in their society in Hensen opinion. She also created the Weapon that Shurka was planning to use in battle against Vymrl and Drevan an impressive work indeed.
Then Nixis, patron of the gnomes, of tales and mischief, a friend of the Kinigth God that might provide a good addition to the Pantheon, but would require a little diplomacy, considering the presence of Vymrl, as the gnomes and the Imperium was on opposite fronts in the war.
So he begun looking for Mara, sending to her a brief vision...
to Mara
Hensen appeared to Mara in his Hydra form, its eyes locked for a second in the one of the goddess,
"I salute you, Mara, I'm Hensens, the Changer of Ways and I'd be pleased to see you in person at a time and place determined by you, as I have a proposition"
Hensen appeared to Mara in his Hydra form, its eyes locked for a second in the one of the goddess,
"I salute you, Mara, I'm Hensens, the Changer of Ways and I'd be pleased to see you in person at a time and place determined by you, as I have a proposition"
Many months later, Alve'rath was completely consumed by forest. None of the inhabitants of the duchy ever left the forest, and their fate remained unknown. Many knights decided to tepmpt fate's rewards and explore the forests, but none ver return.
PP
1 PP Mold Land: The northern portion of Azora grows into a massive forest.
ooc
Mara, unless you're attacking my Exarch, there are no gates on any other colony of the Children, the artifact creates a temporary gate and then dissapears... they get back via rituals.
Mara, unless you're attacking my Exarch, there are no gates on any other colony of the Children, the artifact creates a temporary gate and then dissapears... they get back via rituals.
Veros shrugged. "The message was sent to request my bauble back. When you did not respond, I grew concerned that something may have happened to you in my absence. So here I am, come to make sure you are safe."
"I am fine. I simply chose not to respond, because I am very angry with you. You put me through a lot, made me do stuff I don't like to do, made me worry about you. And the first thing you get back is ask me about is a stupid toy?"
Mara crossed her arms gave a huff.
Hensen appeared to Mara in his Hydra form, its eyes locked for a second in the one of the goddess,
"I salute you, Mara, I'm Hensens, the Changer of Ways and I'd be pleased to see you in person at a time and place determined by you, as I have a proposition"
"Come to my moon on the far side of the sun anytime you wish and call out for me."*
*Opposite Moon of Veros/Winter.
OOC - Mechalibur, Wyld_Mutation
Just a reminder, I've asked for representatives of Alexandria and the three new nations of Terena. Hoping to get you guys into Mortal Stories
Shurka dropped a seed into the earth. This seed did not grow a tree, but many red vines that thrived beneath the ground. The vines could easily tear flesh of the most powerful beings. But since they were uneeded at the moment, they lay dormant, ready to strike any beings that would cause harm to the Terenean states.
Eorna, for the first time ever, bore fruit. The deep-orange, bulbous fruits were not disturbed by the people, as they were considered sacred. Like the vines that were just created, their purpose would be revealed if Terena were ever attacked. Each fruit contained large amount of explosive force that could harm even the most defended creatures. The fruits would also regrow in around an hour if one were to be removed.
Shadow
I didn't see that post. I looked back 5 pages in MS and I still couldn't find it. Could you direct me to it?
OOC
That would be because I posted the start of it here, and was hoping to move it there. Technically, I sent invitations to the Iron State, the elven nation, as well as Naru (former defense coalition) as well, but I'm not expecting them to come.
Representatives from Meribia and Sivera came together in a small outpost built between Meribia and Terena during the war. Beginning discussions with each other, they arranged for messages to all the nations of the continent, the newly reborn nations of Terena and Alexandria alike, asking that their rulers, or at very least representatives, come to meet with them, to discuss the future.
PP
I've got no ideas on what I should be doing this turn, and honestly I'm too eager for my vacation so...
2PP: This is going to Mechalibur.
2PP: This is going to Topheh
2PP: This is going to ff6shadow
Once I get back I'll do something big.
2PP: This is going to Mechalibur.
2PP: This is going to Topheh
2PP: This is going to ff6shadow
Once I get back I'll do something big.
The gnomes happily greeted the Azorans who visited them, welcoming them on their way towards New Terena. Many of the Bard families of the Gnomes recalled the time their ancestors had traveled to visit the Azorans, and several of the Azoran soldiers recalled similar stories told by their forebears. The Azorans shared stories of their voyages across the ocean to reach the continent, and the gnomes laughed and gasped at the tales of heroism and danger. Several gnomes, mostly the Hammers and Nails, asked more pointed questions to the Azorans, and by the end of the night, had figured out, basically, how the Azorans were able to create ships to travel across the waters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The work in the Library had nearly finished when Nixis appeared before the scholars.
"My Chosen, thank you for undergoing this task. I know it has been many generations of your time, but your task is nearly finished. The Library is nearly ready for its next phase, where you will all still be needed, but the work of you and your forebears will not go unappreciated. "
Snapping his fingers, Nixis summoned the Astral Shard to himself, and used its raw energies of creation to create a special connection from the Library to a particular doorway in the Loremaster's keep, which had previously gone to a storage room. Now, any Loremaster that stepped through it would find himself here, stepping out of the Prime Portal on the uppermost floor of the Library. Nixis also willed into being a keyhole in the stone of the archway, etched above and below with the words 'Loremaster's Keep'. He also created two golden keys, one for this lock, and one for the door in the keep. If either side were locked, the portal would not function. His favored could, of course, still make their way too and from the Library via their portal stones, but general access would be limited.
Nixis dropped one of the keys into the hands of one of the three leaders of the scholars, and locked the door behind him as he traveled into the Keep. Once there, he found the study of the head Loremaster, and hid the key under a spell of invisibility, one that was set to expire in one month's time. He then wrote a note to the Loremaster, letters flowing off his own body to form the words on the page.
shadow/loremaster missive
Hail,
Long ago, I swore to thank the Loremasters for their work in gathering the knowledge that gave me birth. I do so now. In one month's time, a key will appear in this room that you have never seen before. Travel to the east-most storage closet two floors below you and use the key on the lock. My Library awaits you... a haven of knowledge safe from the predations of this world.
I do have one request. Please respect those who have devoted their lives to filling the Library with information. Do not cast them out, for there are more than a few ways into the Library.
Nixis, God of Stories.
Hail,
Long ago, I swore to thank the Loremasters for their work in gathering the knowledge that gave me birth. I do so now. In one month's time, a key will appear in this room that you have never seen before. Travel to the east-most storage closet two floors below you and use the key on the lock. My Library awaits you... a haven of knowledge safe from the predations of this world.
I do have one request. Please respect those who have devoted their lives to filling the Library with information. Do not cast them out, for there are more than a few ways into the Library.
Nixis, God of Stories.
However he was unable to go trough that passage, as there were no bloodstoner there and no host can survive the travel trough that abyss.
After a few years he found another way, under Bloodmyst Archipelago, the place where the first drop of Hensen blood fell to the world, bloodstone has excavated the planetary crust, he followed the vains of that material until the dimentional bulkwark and than attempted to cross it, but the bulkwark was too strong to be crossed even by the powerful unshaped. Maybe with proper preparation and trough channelling more of Hensen power he should have being eble to cross properly, but he had never met something like the bulkwark.
The creature was shatterd, by the attempt, however a few drops of his liquid form managed somehow to cross, emerging near to Red Claw Mountains a large bloodstone formation in the inner world.
The lone Kruthik was looking for food as the ever growing hives requires a lot of meat to survive, after a little exploration he found a strange blue goo and tasted it. As it looked good he called for other Kruthik and many begun to eat the unshaped remnants.
After the queen itself was fed with the unsholy substance it begun to create strange mutated spawns. With larger heads but almost defenseless these creatures developped strange telepatic powers allowing them to guide the lesser Kruthik for protection.
The new race, infused with the unshaped essence begun to awake in the world, the brain Kruthik soon acquired some knowledge of the apparently dead demon, learning of the existance of Hensen and gaining a kind of twisted "culture".
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Crime was always a plague in the Free Nations the free form of the nations laws somehow hinderesd the diffusion of the most vicious crimes, expecially the one done due to hereditary or family matters as free nations have no "traditional" form of inheritance or marriage, however this form of soft law favored other kind of crimes that was not persecuted with attention, from pirates to mere thiefs or con artists the free nations was full of people dedicated to a life of crime.
After a while the "rogue" life style become a profession, or probaly alredy it was trough the so called "merchant princes", with skilled thiefs hired by the powerful ones and the merchant princes or even the governament when in need of spies.
With the still increasing level of criminals present Freedomguard Governament decided to use some of this "talented individuals" for its onw purpose, as it was already done with the pirates, new rogue "guilds" was created in Bloodmyst, secretly funded by freedomguard in order to maintain a stronger control on the criminal activities end some of them were even recruited to form a new web of agents and spies for the Eldest Council, called the Thousand Masks, this special order become some kind of internal secret policy and a spy ring for foreign lands.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile on the artificers of Qar'Daks, begin to create a new ambitious project, that finished with the creation of a new ship, this design was extremely expencive and so only one was ever produced, named Desiryon, a vessell large as a small island hosted a large portal linked with Qar'Dask port. The portal was quite more stable than the bloodways and could be used to facilitate trading and military operations in a more reliable way.
A battleship is able to pass trough the Desiryon portal and the ship is equipped to allow such a feature and discharge the passing ships directly in the nearby seas.
The massive amount of arcane energy consumed by the portal and the ingegneristic requirements to build such a large ship however posed some limits to its efficiency in battle. At first even its massive engines can only allow it to move slowly, also a really limited amount of weapons could be installed on it, so it has to rely on a fleet of battleship as an escort.
PP
2 PP Shape Heroic Race - Brain Kruthik.
1 PP Guide - Brain Kruthik recive a portion of the unshaped ratial memory and begin to worship Hensen.
2 PP Guide (1 from Aether Ripples), the Free Nations learn the Rogue Class
1 Pp Nourish (from bloodstones) - Free Nations, criminal activities is "organized" and used to increse the power of the nation, the Thousand Masks organization is created.
1 PP Create (from the Wonderkmaker) - Desyrion Portal Ship.
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones) - Bloodstone spread to the ocean floor around Bloodmyst Archipelago.
2 PP Shape Heroic Race - Brain Kruthik.
1 PP Guide - Brain Kruthik recive a portion of the unshaped ratial memory and begin to worship Hensen.
2 PP Guide (1 from Aether Ripples), the Free Nations learn the Rogue Class
1 Pp Nourish (from bloodstones) - Free Nations, criminal activities is "organized" and used to increse the power of the nation, the Thousand Masks organization is created.
1 PP Create (from the Wonderkmaker) - Desyrion Portal Ship.
1 PP Mold Land (from Bloodstones) - Bloodstone spread to the ocean floor around Bloodmyst Archipelago.
Feel free to restart it, but it should go in the play by post boards located here:
http://forums.gleemax.com/forumdisplay.php?f=808