The Powers That Be

[ArlEammon]

The long, barren world of Kodesh lay in waste. Civilizations now, have risen again, in tiny, little kingdoms isolated from the rest of the world. Meanwhile, some areas are infested with monsters. The Immortal Powers That Be have slumbered in their far-off homes from their followers for centuries for reasons unknown even to themselves. At the same moment that the Powers That Be have appeared once again, the once feeble but still active magical powers around the world reasserted themselves in the followers of the Powers.

Now, The Era of Power has begun yet again. Aerthir, Torin, the Mother Goddess, Veira and the others desire to wake up the world. Some of them have discovered that have lost much power, or gained it from before they were asleep. You all discover that you civilizations are in disrepair. The most advanced people in the entire world are stuck in the Bronze Age, barely squeezing past the Copper Era.

Portals across the supernatural world of Kodesh lead to a great, otherworldly realm superior to the mightiest layer of any Demon Prince. Technology mingles with Nature here. This Realm is called Maelstrom... because once a great war was fought here. That is all that the Immortals remember of the place, other than that it would be proper to start their journeys there.

Connected to the Maelstrom is the Great White City, where the dead go. The Immortals may begin to rebuild their homes with the people within.

[Mike_the_Mystic]

Father Bear opens his eyes to the first rays of a new day, watching as the wind picks up around him. His attunement to nature is so great, that he can see the air flow, like amber waves of water flowing down from the majestic peaks of the Tawny Range into the great valleys below.

"Mmm" He says, still half asleep "The spirits are with us this day". He lumbers back into his den to bring out a massive honey tree he had stored for such an occasion. He swiftly tears the trunk in two lengthwise, allowing for easy access to the delicious foodstuffs within. He watches as a primitive group of people, who are on the borders of the Forests and Mountains, his domain, and the great praries of the Traveller and her Bison, also wake up. Only the oldest, who are considered blind by the rest of the group, can see the things the Massive Ursine spirit can see.

"It is time for their harvests" He says to himself, and to other nature spirits whom have come to watch "I will aid them through their elders". He makes a miniscule fire, guiding the whisps of smoke to the elders. As they inhale the vapors, they see visions of ripened harvests coming in droves, of thousands of salmon and other fish being hauled in, of much bounty for the coming winter, all if they revere the spirits of the fish and berries and deer and other creatures. Finally, they see the bear, the biggest of them all, atop the peaks, roaring in such a voice that could shake the world to its core.

Their visions are told to any whom would listen. And indeed the harvest was good that year. Talk began of reverence to the spirits and the Great Bear, and thus the elders were asked more. The smoke had given them not only the knowlege of fortelling the future, but also on how to talk to the spirits, and how to pay respect to those who have gone before. They were called Shaman by their people, and quickly became the leaders of their society.

"Good day indeed" Father Bear said to himself "Good day indeed...".

2 majors=2-1 teach the border people shamanism.

Also note that time moves much slower for Father Bear than the people he influences. An entire season passes as Father Bear looks on, still that one day of harvest time for him.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Somewhere in the far reaches of the Maelstrom, something stirred. The formless being became aware of the changes happening on the world of Kodesh. It was the dawn of a new age. The opportunity to free the eternal souls from their prison. This time...the destruction would be complete.

Manifesting over Kodesh, the Mother Goddess sent out a psychic wave that encompassed the entire world. This wave touched the very souls of mortals; it resonated in every living being, but very few were receptive enough to be aware of it. Those who did recognized it as a calling. It wasn't a clear message, more like a feeling. A new life was offered to them; a better life. Following this inner voice, the men and women who accepted the call left everything behind and traveled hundreds of miles in search of the promised land. Finally, the Chosen arrived on the site of a quarry. The quarry contained a mysterious blue stone similar in appearance to marble, yet infinitely superior. The material was pure, with no visible imperfection.

Only then did the Chosen understand their sacred mission: they were to build a Holy City, a monument to the love of the Mother and a symbol of peace and freedom for all the people of the world.

Turn 1:
Open Eye abilities
-Detect Abominations
-Detect Magical Auras
-Detect Chaos
-True Seeing
-Tremorsense

Major act: The Calling
Act Raiser (1st part): Creation of the strange blue stone and the mystical site of the Holy City

3-1 = 2 MA left

What species exist right now?

[ArlEammon]

OOC: All mundane animals species exist, along with the monsters in the Monster Manual. You'll all bet a surprise pretty soon to. ;) )

[Rubyslippers]

Eylia awakens and seeing the gift of life decides she should bless creation and enhance her ranks with a class of servant worthy of her.

From the maelstroms of her realm the dark unfathomable abyss the mighty goddess stirs, to her she calls out for mortal souls and from her dead followers places there immortal forms of the afterlife in her Maze as she begins her dark design. From these orcs, goblins, orgre and troll souls among others she crafts her dark magic channeling the very power Mother Earth just sent out twisting it. Her followers make pacts with new devotees who are consumed and their souls and flesh come into her realm in short order to power the darkest of magic. And in dark passions in some of her temples people die from delight to feed her crafting all of her power and intent is being breathed into some horror that is unknown to the rest of the dieties.

What is odd from her realm no power is unleashed as a dread falls upon creation what she has planned is no small use of divine power, all her strength is bing channeled. But there is no effect save the calling of souls of those that swore to her allegiance in a blood pact she is unleashing nothing - yet. From the maze comes cries of utter terror and torment as she speeds perception where each hour in the Maze is as a decade for those trapped within. Torment lasting hundreds of years upon hundreds of years of the spirits within. The magic is truly powerful whatever is coming is not going to be something gentle or good that is to be sure.

[Act Raiser In Progress]

[ArlEammon]

(Please everyone, I forgot your ActRaisers. Use your Act Raiser.)

[Kaiser Omnik]

The construction of the Holy City went extremely fast as the Chosen worked fanatically. As the last stone was put in place, the believers stopped and gazed in awe at their city. It was simply majestic. It had what you could call a cold beauty. They were unable to walk away or even look elsewhere; but they didn't want to. Here, the Chosen felt close to their goddess. Knowing that they had served Her bringed peace to their heart. Now, they were free to dedicate their lives to contemplation...or so they thought. But the Mother had other plans.

[Act Raiser on the way]

[Krrth]

ooc: Let me know if this is too powerful or too weak for an Act Raiser.



Torin

Torin finally stumbled upon a working pyramid. He has searched long and hard, but his goal was in sight: A way home. With anticipation, he activated the spells and stepped through. What he saw on the other side shocked him. The Great Pyramid was wrecked and underwater. Only the fading remnants of the mighty magics woven into the very fabric of the structure kept the inside survivable. Atlantis, the great city was no more. Only ruins and rubble awaited his glance outside the door. No matter, the energy he had absorbed allowed him to fulfill his wishes. Putting himself in a trance, he drew upon not only his power, but that of the remaining pyramid network. He focused the power to one goal: Restoring Atlantis. Soon, the city trembled and moved. The city rose above the waves once again and the Great Pyramid was restored to its full glory. The buildings were mostly restored, and the original animal and plant life covered the island.

The spell wasn't finished. No matter how bad the disaster, there were always survivors. Here, now, a call went out to the lost children of Atlantis. Those who had been hibernating in the pyramids awoke and started the journey home. Those who had been lost in the outer dimensions found the old portals working again. The most intelligent and fit of the decendents heard a clarion call and started on a long journey back to a land they had never seen.

Act Raiser used: Raise Atlantis above the waves, repair the Great Pyramid as well as the buildings, repopulate the island with plant and animal life, and call the inhabitants home.

[Mike_the_Mystic]

My Act Raiser

Father Bear gazes upon the people he cares for. Spring had come again for them. The winter was a good one, and now it was time for celebration. Father Bear celebrated by taking the winds from the south and putting them in the in-between of the forest and plains. This brings refreshing thunderstorms that replenish the soil and soul together. "The cost of a few, for many" he says as he looks upon the south "It is a price we all must pay". Indeed the wind was stolen from the south forever, and it became a desert. But the desert wasn't so dead. Many arid plants sprang up where the great plains continued, but it was good anyway. The people, the animals, the plants, would survive. They would become great, in the future. Right now, all he cared about was his people.

1 act raiser to redirect the winds, causing rain in the north and deserts in the south.

[ArlEammon]

(ANyone who would like to do a map for me, put one in the OOC please. ;) )

Father Bear, your Act Raiser causes powerful desert elementals to rise up in the south and powerful nature elementals to spring up in the north. The raising in Atlantis causes a Super Renaissance, causing the discoverers of the Ruins to find ways on how to advance themselves... They didn't understand most of the instructions, but they understood enough anyway, that the civilization of Atlantis sky-rocketed from Bronze Age primitives all the way to being able to discovering the first guns and rockets. All fields of science absolutely, and maybe irrevocably soars. Deep within Eylia's lair things get serious. Echoes of the tormented reverberate for miles. The Mother's great city is established, and its beauty is unmatched.

Shamanism develops among Father Bear's cubs, as they have become to be known. The Cubs have developed a culture combining Father and Mother in a religion. Father Bear and Mother Bear religion began to spread like wild fire without warning, and The Calling began to be imitated through techniques being explored for telepathy.

[Raz_Fox]

Alvixa's Act Raiser

Alvixa woke up, in the cavern she had slept in for... how long? Surely not more than a few days?

She walked out, towards the sunlight, looking down upon the forests and mountains of her beloved home. She roamed across the world, but this land was the place she always returned to.

She frowned. This didn't look right. The paths between the villages were ruined and overgrown - and the villages themselves were hollow husks of what they had been. Well, she knew what to do about that. She whispered into the wind, scattering rose petals into the wind.

A spell of gathering she cast, a spell of love of home and hearth, one that promised safety and love. In no time at all, the villages would be filled with families... and young lovers.

Alvixa laughed. Now to explore! She remembered... something about a world named Maelstrom. Perhaps she would explore there!

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
Rising from a long rest Josiah finds himself in a new world. Magnificent! New cycles of life to observe new creatures to heal... but something is missing. Now what could it...? Plague! Everything here while healthy has no reason to ever pass into the afterlife. Josiah moves to remedy this injustice. Glancing at the nearest flora and fauna he twists them, causing something deep within them to break imperceptibly. Now to make sure it develops.
OOC
Act Raiser: Josiah gets Cancer, Rot, etc. started in this new world.

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Blessing of the Mother

[Act Raiser continued]

The Chosen living in the city of the Mother Goddess were those who had been most receptive to the Calling. After a short stay on holy ground, their body and mind were now completely pure. They had been stripped of all violent emotions and cleaned of all taint. They were finally ready to receive the blessing of the Goddess. The men and women of the Holy City laid down and simply decided to let go of their physical existence. The process was entirely devoid of pain; the material shell of the believers slowly faded away, as did their memories and their last conscious thoughts. Then, the spirit spiraled upwards toward the realm of Maelstrom. Normally, the soul stuff would have been absorbed by the Goddess and fused with her being, but she decided otherwise. She would need help to convert the mass of mortals.
And thus she sent the spirits back to Kodesh.

The last remnants of the believers infused the stone, the dirt and the air of the holy site. The magnificent towers of the Blessed City gleamed with an inner light. Crystalline trees bordered the great alleys and statues of obsidian standed guard at the four gates. From the central square rose a temple taller than any other. Inside the temple walls was hidden some extremely dangerous knowledge. The Mother realized that this place of power shouldn't be accessible to everyone; most people on Kodesh weren't ready for such truths. So she hatched a plan to hide the city. She folded space around it and placed it inside a type of pocket dimension, allowing it to exist nowhere and anywhere at the same time. To access it, a mortal would first need to follow a spiritual journey to learn of its exitence and then practice a ritual to summon it in a chosen location.

But that wasn't all the Mother did. Just as she had foreseen, something else was left of the collective memory of her Chosen, the last inhabitants of the holy site. It was only a shade of what they once were, a spirit devoid of any substance that clinged to the foundations of the city. The Goddess approached the void creature and imbued it with a shard of her divine essence. The shade immediately began to change into a thing of utter chaos. It looked like an enormous black mass, but in reality it was the Void incarnate. Anyone who stared at it stared at the Infinite Beyond. Its touch was able to disintegrate any material and its mere presence warped magical auras. It was neither alive nor undead. Suprisingly, the thing wasn't mindless; it had a twisted mind of its own. Not evil, mind you... It could only think of one thing. It had only one urge. To turn everything back into nothingness.

In myths, it would come to be called Draegoth...the Dead.

Act Raiser: Completion of the Blessed City and creation of the avatar of the Void, the Dead, Draegoth that will one day bring peace to the universe :smalltongue:. The avatar is some sort of giant sentient orb of annihilation. For now it is "trapped" in the catacombs of the city.

[Rubyslippers]

Eylia

The goddess smiled and with malicious glee stole just a hint of the Earth Mothers power being used as with the others not even enough to be detected a hint of a hint of such power. And from the dark mass she twisted its essence a wisp to add to her new servants as the Maze opens. Upon the Universe a new order of being starts appearing in her realm - DEMONS. Infused with torments and abominations using the essence of the gods and goddesses she smiles as they are ordered.

Low Demons are but savage beasts with simple minds, and the power to possess animals and the very weak willed of humans to do her will.

Demons Ordinary are the average demon who can possess sentient beings of low to middle will and ride them, these are more crafty and intelligent.

A few exceptional ones are found the High Demons who are cunning, clever and wield more powerful strength as each is granted a name and a symbol of power unique to them. Each adapting one aspect of a god or goddess other than Elyia and granted the WORD, from this WORD the power to twist the workings of that diety to some dark end. Under Elyia's decree only these demons may command others and she commands all demons, as the armies of the demons pick their leaders.

[Act Raiser continuing ... I did mine before any other act was done it should pop off before the Earth Mother finishes hers it counts as four acts, she apparently used one act before doing her Act Raiser same with Father Bear.]

[Kaiser Omnik]

Technically, I think all the Act Raisers are considered to be taking effect at the same time, at the start of each turn. But hey, I don't think it matters. I'm fine with the flow of events that we have established.

Just to clarify: the Mother Goddes is in no way Mother Earth or Mother Nature. She doesn't want to preserve the natural world, at all. However, it's totally normal that she gets misunderstood and that mortals reinterpret her teachings. The worship of the Mother alongside Father Bear makes sense, for example, because the faithful only consider one aspect of the goddess (as the goddess who gave birth to the spirits).

Also I modified my first post since I didn't get the concept of Act Raisers at the time. I think that creating the city, bestowing it supernatural qualities, hiding the city and creating my avatar qualify as four acts. So I have 2 MA left, not just 1.

[Rubyslippers]

Elyia

WORDS and the respective High Demon are made reality each is granted the power to corrupt this WORD among mortals. m = male, f = female, x = neither

Destruction- Xoth (x)
Divination- Yugoth (m)
Liberation- Lilatu (f)
Protection- Dedlos (m)
Strength- Zon (m)
War- Ioth (m)
Earth- Bardu (x)
Construction- Zadi (f)
Travel- Nix (f)
Air- Iarox (x)
Trickery- Jan (f)
Nature- Liatix (x)
Bears- Gix (m)
Mountains- Cadii (f)
Love- Kira (f)
Beauty- Vina (f)
Moon- Inani (f)
Chaos- Gortiz (m)
Perfection- Olos (m)
Change- Eleinx (x)
Healing- Lilixi (f)
Pestilence- Vantix (x)
Purification- Malos (m)
Death- Faliz (x)

EDIT ADD TO LIST:
Fire - Janphira (f)
Life- Alika (f)
Foe of HrGK'kkk - Ahrto-HrGK'kkk (x)
note: under Elyia's command any High Demon must aid him on his duty with access to servitor demons at least and a third of the gods power will go to the demon as it may take back some of the essence stolen from the goddess

Unto these and any that may be given a WORD the power to corrupt it in small ways as an insult to the dieties who have them and to garner for Elyia some foothold in more than just her domains perhaps, in time. Although not more than of weak immortals they are imbued with corruptions grace and essence, can use and pass on magical knowledge and have servitor demons that share the duty of the WORD to corrupt it among mortals.

If nothing else the passions of her demons forged by torment and horrors of soul and perception will make them worthy to please her with cunning abuse of these domains. By spell, by powers granted in pacts to lure mortals or worship of the High Demon that feed to Elyia the service of foul races. In the end they are Elyia's joy as the dark goddess sees the ordering going so well.

The last stage will be the rules by which they enter the realm of mortals and the formation of dark magic they can chennel in themselves and to mortals if they are so pacted with or summoned.

To enter the realm of mortals they must be willingly invited by witches pact lesser or greater be they sell their immortal souls or decide to do so and offer themselves to become demons after testing, familiars and powers afforded them proportioned to the pact. Or summoned by rituals and incantations allowing one demon to be bound to its master ,as long as they do not impede Elyia's will, in which case its death to the summoner,and in so doing others may slip into the mortal realm free to move and lure in mortals of weak will to ride. And lastly by dark artifacts sent to the mortal realm that might be used to call forth them or open up tiny cracks to enter the mortal world by the willing act of a mortal sentient of free will.

There is a price a demon once in a mortal vessel if it leaves will be dangerous for the vessel to be removed or if the demon leaves the flesh, and ways to protect and banish them are free to be made as long as Elyia's rights are respected. That is the means cannot be absolute or impeded her domains as demons act in the service of the goddess. So mortals are given the means to detect, impeded and even remove demons as is just but these are not erfect and the demons power will matter. She has no command over magic of other dieities save her domains demand respect and magic may not be perfect or the free will of mortals harmed. For by free will they may enter the realm of mortals and by act of mortals Demons called forth, this limit is sufficient.

Lastly High Demons can only be summoned by a relic of Elyia and the act of a willing mortal be that act known or unknown to them, and with this sort of device will call forth the leader and his accumulated power and craft. And to mortal that much higher a measure of dark power over a lower level demon.

Demonology the dark magic and rites of the demons is slowly being formed as a new branch of this force, twisted and bend to serve her ends and to give to her demons special powers and knowledge they may pass on to mortals and underlings.

[And so her Act Raiser continues to its conclusion at some point ...]

ooc: I assume there are mundane means to protect from and repel demons, maybe even send them from this realm using magic rites and uses of holy items. A classic one is salt which bars the passage of a demon over an opening and certain high magic symbols even if not magic could prevent possession if worn or tattooed on the body in many cases. Magic is more specialized just remember Elyia has a right to corrupt your dieites domains so stopping her would violate her right as a diety, but rites and spells could act much like mundane means to add more support to ordinary mortals under threat. Like exorcism by a person of faith with holy items properly used might be the best way to drive one out of a mortal as an example. A High Demon might be harder to defend against but I don't see them getting out into the real world very often. Likely a regular mortal couldn't do that without help of Elyia herself such as a relic used might open up a crack and let a High Demon into the world for a time.
:smallbiggrin:

[Archpaladin Zousha]

From his tomb, Aerthir stirred. Finally, awoken, the king emerged and looked down at the world.

"Look at this. The world has descended into chaos and injustice. The people need a beacon to guide them. Me."

He draws his sword of black adamantine with one hand, and raises a horn inlaid with mithril to his lips with the other. The sound can be heard in the hearts of those who seek justice, who believe in the protection of others, who stand for what Aerthir stood for.

"Unity. Justice. Trust. Freedom. Peace. Honor. Goodness. Strength. Valor. All you who hold these in your heart, come to me. You will be my first knights in this darkened age."

Those who accepted the call were suddenly enveloped in a golden light, and they stood before Aerthir himself. He spoke his truth unto them, the ideals of his vanished kingdom. All kneeled before him, and were immediately clad in black and gold armor, like their god-king.

These heavenly knights descended to the earth and rode forth to spread the word of the king's return.

ActRaiser: Summon Lawful Good people of every race, and turning all of them into semi-divine paladins, sending them forth to proselytize in Aerthir's name.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Feathered Serpent

The Twisting Passion woke from it's strange eldritch dreams, change and chaos winding in it's very core as it's ancient slumber ended. Stretching out the tendrils of it's mind the creature looked over the world. Already other beings stirred, adding their own effects to the damaged world. Change was in the air and this was a good sign to the Feathered Serpent, and so it decided to bide it's time.

It had plans a plenty drifting lazily and dancing merrily through it's mind. It waited for a chance to use them.

[ArlEammon]

The Feathered Serpent, the King Aerthir, and the Deceiver Eylia had all awoken as well. Now all the Immortal Masters were awake. It was time to begin the new Era. People crowded into portals attempting to reach Aerthir. A global Church was formed, and millions of soldiers stood in front of Aerthir pledging allegiance.

Just as quickly as the Aerthirians saw and pledged an oath to Aerthir they vanished into their own realms and began their own traditions, venerating Aerthir as a Saint. Even in evil lands there were soldiers of Aerthir.

[Mike_the_Mystic]

Father bear looked down at his people, and saw that some were leaving. Why? They had no troubles in their village. Not a monster attack nor an evil kingdom in sight. What would lure them away, far from their homes. He sensed a new being had done this, and appeared before him. Not angry or protective, but inquisitive.

"One of justice you say?" He says to the god "Well good. There should be a guiding light in the lands of dark. However the darkness doesn't cover all places. Observe..." He waved his paw, and from nowhere there is the vision of the lands between the plains and the mountains. A land of peace, prosperity, and innocence.

There are no wars, there is no injustice, all is calm and happy here. Deaths are honored, as spirits become one with the earth, and are revered as sacred ancestor stones. There is no crime, for all is shared. "Do you see?" He says "I wish to keep it like that". He lays down, waiting for an answer.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir is somewhat surprised by Father Bear's sudden appearance, but he smiles warmly.

"It warms my heart to see that such places still exist in this world, but those places still need to be protected. There are many who live in the darkness who would corrupt and destroy your people. That is where I come in. My servants will work to make sure that those places are kept like that."

[Kaiser Omnik]

First Contact

As Aerthir discussed with Father Bear, he felt a warm breath on the back of his neck...but there was nothing there. Then, he had a vision of an aged woman...with a pensive face and deep blue eyes that peered into his soul. She spoke with a gentle voice that only he could hear:

"My child...I am sure you haven't forgotten your origins. You have a good soul, but you are being misled. Something is clouding your judgement... I believe it is your attachment to tradition that is blinding you. The justice you so love cannot be found in this world. In time, you will come to understand. In time, you will join me. Until then, beware...Do not play the game of the other deities. They will be the death of you!"

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
Josiah takes a moment to observe. While the creatures he touched were indeed diseased it was not his doing. Disease already existed.
Well, that's embarrassing.Now where would his teachings be useful? Where could he both spread his philosophy and aid another divinity? Searching he found at the edge of his mind a goddess.
There... they could use a doctor. With a twist of thought Josiah moved himself to with in Alvixa's claimed lands. Plucking a young apple from a nearby tree he allowed it to ripen and took a bite.
And now we play the waiting game.

[Mike_the_Mystic]

"We need a strong sense of good" Father Bear said to the knight "keep doing your job, and if you need advice, find my cave".

[ArlEammon]

(This is Finals Week, I might post sparinglly)

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
On the other hand I would not waste divine opportunity. VIXEN! If you are in your lands I would speak with you about a... an offer with which to benefit your people. Josiah call's out to his fellow god.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir is stunned by the strange vision, but composes himself in time to hear Father Bear speak.

"Thank you, great Bear. I will tell my followers that you are a worthy ally."

He concentrates for a moment to check on his followers.

[Raz_Fox]

Josiah

Silence greeted Josiah for several moments.

And then a gust of wind picked up the scattered leaves surrounding him, and they swirled together, in a way that almost looked like a maiden. Then, the leaves formed into a shape - with silver and blue leaves that had most certainly not been there before - and the figure before Josiah giggled.

Hiya, handsome! What was that about helping my friends here?

Even a simulacrum of Alvixa was enchantingly beautiful, her radiant smile like sunshine and her voice like a smooth brook. Even an immortal was not beyond her charms...


Alvixa Herself

Alvixa heard and saw everything her projection did, but she was also entering Maelstrom at the same time. It was a bit distracting, opening a portal while having a conversation, but nothing demanded her immediate attention...

About time for you to describe Maelstrom, Armin...

...I like using the three dots a bit too much...

[ArlEammon]

A massive computer complex stood in some areas in Maelstrom, while other areas were giant locations of clock work. In some places, it appeared to be a massive spiraled tower on the inside. The laws of physics were bizarre and alien to Maelstrom. Inside, the Immortals could not harm eachother, unless they could somehow follow certain laws of the place.

[Obscurejones]

Josiah @Alvixa
Standing before the vixen's manifestation is a man formed half of rot and half of flesh. He takes a bit of an apple that has by this point begun to decay and tosses it aside.
You are teaching your people about passion. I offer in turn to teach them of the dangers therein. I will supply your flock with contagions. Nothing they will not some day develop on their own. I can also give them knowledge of prevention and treatment of these same troubles. In exchange for education and giving them a reason to be at once both suitably cautious and passionate, I ask only to be mentioned and occasionally enshrined.
He pauses and realizes this may seem overly presumptuous.
I, it should be noted do not wish to cast aspersions on your teachings. Yet I have seen many a god's followers decimated by the preventable results of love. Without something to fear mortals can lose sight of the limit's of their endeavors. I wish only to help and seek to aid both of our causes.
I would not act without your approval in your field. Yet if you allow it I would set these events in motion.

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Seeds of the Religion

Deep in a mountainous region stood a lonely monastery. This monastery had been founded by ascetics centuries ago. For a long time, the ascetics remained isolated from the outside world. However, as more and more people from neighbouring areas took refuge there, the monastery progressively grew in size. Since then, it had become as lively as a small city. The community was self-sufficient; the people who lived there were mainly shepards, but obviously monks and priests as well. The inhabitants were still deeply spiritual even if the Immortals had left the world long before any man or woman could remember. They prayed to the elements and to the primal spirits of the universe. Among those devout were three women who, despite all, had managed to become quite powerful... The three high priestesses of the faith: Aati, Thesa and Astra. They were said to sometime leave their body to travel the world in spirit form.

It was during one of those astral projections that the priestesses learned of the return of one Immortal. In reality, they first sensed the Calling through a dream but had decided to seek out the source of this mysterious energy. Just as they found the place of power, the site of the Blessed City, a psychic storm erupted. Moments later, the city was gone. Fortunately, the Mother had found them. She told them of the illusion of flesh and the eternal life that awaited them outside of Creation. Once She had shared her secrets, the Mother Goddess sent them back to the monastery to teach others. That night, as soon as the priestesses reentered their bodies, they worked on a way to reform the religion. It was decided that the monks and priests would be divided in three orders representing each aspect of the Goddess: Destruction, Foresight and Liberation. The first group developed martial arts and destructive magic, as the second sought hidden knowledge and the third prepared to leave the walled city to spread the word about this new goddess. They were collectively known as the Tri Shen.

Meanwhile, the Mother reactived the Calling. This time, the message was much more subtle and only reached a few dozen individuals each generation. Those new Chosen would in time become great champions of freedom, those who would fight against oppression and the hold of tradition. As soon as their abilities first manifested, the Chosen were called to a priest of the Mother to complete their training and learn more about the religion.

No act: The priesthood of the Mother Goddess takes shape. There are some everyhere, but most are members of the Tri Shen.
Major act: Paladins of freedom

2-1=1 MA left

[smuchmuch]

Awakening

"..Feelings ... again..."
Slowly HrGK'kkk awake from it's slumber. It twitch slightly to tear up the granite membrane that wrap up it's body .While reabsorbing it's old cocoon, it's stretch it's mind, probing the lower depth, searching. As it sense sense the familiars links reforming, one by one, and start to fell once again whole.
"Complete, yes, but diminished. A mere fraction of what we were. We we're asleep for too long, we can feel it."
It proceed to extend it's conciousnes further. First an overwhelming wave, its thoughts weakens as they rise. when they finaly reach the surface they are barely a whisper. It observe for a while, analyse, then start thinking.
The world has changed. There are still a lot of familiar minds but HrGK'kkk cannot reach them. Yet. They are somme he could join in the depth, purples worms and umber hulks, but they are so few, isolated, unfit, useless for now. And there are others of interest, the mamals. It had alway avoided them , their minds being too differents for him, too strange, aliens.
Maybe it was time for a change.

The ceremony was well underway, Bjorn Talbeckan* was standing proudly in the first ranks of the audiance. The young dwarf was now 140 years old , old enough to assist to it's first initiation ritual. His mentor Olgen Blunderberg taped is shoulder and wispered to him.
«Watch, young Bjorn, our Shaftleader** as he stand right, glorious product of generation of dwarf honor and discipline. Watch, as he climb down the marchs of trial, showing nothing that decissivness and concentration on his duty. Watch as he righteously ... er .. fall . on the ground and honorably ..eh.. call for help while ... he manly wriggle with .. hum .. what seems to be be spasms of .. well, agony, I suppose...»
The old dwarf stoped a few moments to think. Something was definitively wrong . But tradition was tradition. You just couldn't just let mere facts , like say, a sudden death or the entire destruction of the universe, get in the way of 2000 years of civilisation*** . He put himslef back.
«But very manly spasms of agony they are»

"No use.****"
HrgK'kkk didn't had a very limited range of complex emotions, but he was on the verge of discovering anoyance first hand. It was its tenth faillure to communicate.
"We have not spoke with their kind for so long that We can penetrate their minds but we cannot communicate productively . If we signal them to low they don't hear us, if we try to grow louder, they cannot stand it.
Nontheless we will find away to overcome this obstacle.
We will adapt.".

OOC:
* As the reader probably noticed by now I am very bad at making up names
**Translated very loosely from dwarfish
***Drwarves are stuborn like that .
****That this not part of the template of the character it is just a small handicap I gave myself for now to make the character a little more interesting to roleplay.
No Act raiser or Major act , just a small intro for now.
I have an act raiser planed but I'm not sure if it's not a bit rulebreaking. Should I send you a PM to check, Armin ?


I, it should be noted do not wish to cast aspersions on your teachings. Yet I have seen many a god's followers decimated by the preventable results of love.
Nice. I just love this kind of black humour

[Krrth]

Torin

The people had arrived: Decedents, kindred souls, sleeping or lost residents. Quickly the went to work repairing the city. Those who had called it home directing those whose ancestors had left long ago. Soon, the physical damage was repaired. However, many of the devices and machines no longer had power. Torin considered this for a few days, and then went to work. He shifted some of the energies running through the Great Pyramid into the mana generators to jump start and fuel them. Soon the city came to life. Lights, heat, transportation....all these became available.



2 Major acts: Repair the generators serving the island and refuel the generators powering the city.

[Rubyslippers]

Elyia

HrGK'kkk's rise was quickly sensed by the dark goddess and it didn't exactly displease her as demons fought to gain new WORDS but Bardu claimed one that this creature covets. Still Fire and Life were unclaimed and as she hands out words she can make up related ones. First the WORD of Fire went to the aggressive demoness Janphira and who is to embody it among the dark realms. Second the WORD of Life went to Alika a rather clever demoness as the second new demon of rank and who may abuse life to gain power.

But she had a special WORD to hand out she never liked some creature stealing her power, she could do so, but not some other impudent creature. So from her mind Elyia crafts the WORD the only named demon Ahrto-HrGK'kkk or Foe of HrGK'kkk a demon tasked to hunting down and destroying this upstart, and who may call upon any higher demon to aid him in this unholy task. As a reward it may keep one third measure of the beings power and ascend to a true ,if minor, god. But she carefully binds the demon with gentle magics at the endowment of this gift so it can never tap power from any other diety save her prey.

Fortunately for the awakened god a demon has little power yet to harm him but in the coming age who knows, this being could pose a problem.

[Kaiser Omnik]

A Tale of Three Priestesses

The traditions of the Tri Shen spread around the continent. Meanwhile, the heads of the three orders, the founders of the religion, had gotten quite powerful. However, as they had grown old, it would soon be time to pass the torch of leadership. Aati, Thesa and Astra weren't really found of the idea. In their minds, the Tri Shen was lost without their guidance. They had to preserve the religion of the Mother at all costs. So they accused a few high ranked clerics of plotting to overthrow them by force and used this fact to justify their continued reign. The resolve of the three priestesses seemed to pleased the Goddess, as she blessed them with a timeless body and some of her divine essence.

Major act: Create three exarchs (Aati, Thesa and Astra)

1-1= 0 MA left

[Krrth]

Torin


The rise of the Demons had not been overlooked. Such things had lead to the destruction of Atlantis the first time, and Torin was determined to prevent that from reoccurring. In order to do this, he channeled some of the power from the Pyramid into his people, giving them the ability to sense when supernatural evil was near. This ability didn't take in all Atlanteans, but it did in enough to form a small group of Hunters who would thereafter search the island for Evil.


1 act to give Detect Supernatural Evil to the Atlanteans. Not every Atlantean has it, be a large minority does. It allows them to feel if Supernatural Evil is nearby, but not pinpoint where it is coming from....much like highlander.

[Raz_Fox]

Josiah

Alvixa thought for a time, pondering Josiah's request. Finally, her simulacrum shook her head. No, thank you. But I must thank you, lord of sickness - you have given me a most marvelous idea. Feel free to stay in the valley as long as you like!

Alvixa's phantom blew apart into a storm of leaves, flying away on the breeze. One lingered for a moment on Josiah's cheek before flying away...

[Rest of post coming later...]

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
Taking a moment to collect himself Josiah is distressed. He had thought for sure that this alliance would be made.
Where then if not in the passionate, how am I to spread my teachings?No matter. There are other gods, and avenues out side his fellow deities. He had overreached his bounds. A simple creation should suffice to begin his influence.
A teacher than. Mortal in his life and forever in his writings. With an effort of some will he sent out his creation into each of the realms and made sure that his word was spread.
And yet should I send a word to the demons? Or to the dark things that would crawl and burrow deep within the earth? Hmmm... I shall send emissary to the smallest and yet most numerous of us, but not to those that would corrupt my word.
Act Raiser
This one's a little tricky so let me know if it's too much or steps on any one's toes.
It creates not an existing race or an actual person but a record of one. Each culture now has an analogue to Hippocrates in it's history. There are texts left behind but the cultures only have records and memories the analogue himself is supposedly long dead.
So no actual creations except for records and new memories which hopefully will be indistinguishable from the actual memories.
With his creation firmly set in the minds of the new world Josiah concentrated and reached out searching for the remains of any creature that had called the caverns deep within the earth it's home. With a careful application of will he raised it and imparted it a measure of his will.
Go. Seek out any god who calls the insects and vermin his charge. I would have words with him.
Major Act
Pretty much exactly what it says. 0 level exarch tasked with finding any god who deals in insects or vermin.

[ArlEammon]

(Okily dokily new turn everyone. Our new player gets to have two Act Raisers working at once since he just used his. Aerthir's followers, and all of the world religions are begining to join together and take power in their countries.)

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir appears before a gathering of his most devoted followers.

"You have spread throughout the world, spread my word of justice and truth, and have defended the innocent from evil. You have consolidated our power in this place. I feel it is time to turn over the leadership to you. One among you, will be selected to rule this land in my name. The rest of you will serve as his most loyal lords, and the lands will then be divided according to each person's needs. Remember that as knights of my Way your obligation is to the people, and not to yourselves. My selection of a king does not mean that your devotion is lacking, or that you are incapable. There must be no conflict amongst ourselves if we are to survive in this new age."

He looks upon the assembled knights, looking into their hearts to decide a new king.

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
Now to hasten some inevitable conflicts. With a thought Josiah draws on his power and slips to the best of his ability unseen into a convocation of knights.
Men of the world, knights not yet errant. :smallamused: What we in the business call vectors. Taking a deep breath he exhales a dank foul air that touches each hero in attendance.
Act Raiser
Josiah passes a measure of his power to both the knights gathered before Aerthir and their raiment. In effect each of the gathered knights is now a carrier of a disease that they are in turn immune to.

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Warning

A mysterious prophet approached the leader of the Atlanteans. He was named Vohan and he was said to be half-fey, although some thought that he had actually lost his wings after committing an horrible crime against his kind. Whatever his past, Vohan appeared to be wise and knowledgeable in the arcane arts. He came to the great pyramid and predicted that the skies would be torn apart and that fireballs would rain on the world of Kodesh, changing the face of the planet forever.

[Act Raiser soon]

[Rubyslippers]

Elyia

Her magic finalizes and the magical fabric accepts the new and very fast access to power demon magic as it takes four paths.

The path of witchery using simple pacts either for ones soul or ones soul and embracing the path to become a demon in the afterlife for even greater power. Each gets one endowment a special gift for the high demons minion and a familiar demon either a low one or a average middling one in the form of an animal as a gift. And magical powers more for the higher pact. No lies are made in the bargain and the pact rituals very simple.

The path of demon summoning the higher craft of binding a demon to ones service, and that also with that brings a few more with the bound creature to bring misery to the world.

The path of dark paladins a warrior path that is twisted were a demon binds with the mortal becoming one and with it willingly invited is far harder to remove from the world. The demon granting the vessel enhanced physical skills, innate magic and the power to summon low demons into beasts to be used in war.

The path of blood turns a mortal into a vampire bound to a demon like a dark paladin, adding immortality and enhanced physical skills but they must only feed on human blood and they hunger for it. Worse these greater creatures can feed from and give their taint to mortals making weaker vampires bound to their master or mistress, and who also have a low demon in them. They are far more primal and destructive when moving among the mortal realm.

Chains and domains of the demons form in her realm and it is good as each high demon gets their own home suited to their WORD.

[End of Act Raiser]

Elyia now crafts a dark book the Bible Black of the dark arts, secrets of demon magic and in it the secrets of summoning high demons and calling on each one for greater powers. In dark and twisted ceremonies, symbols of power and secret keys incantations. In this she also gifts each word and symbol with her blessing to corrupt the natural world and insanity the more powrful rights the higher the risk. Then she hides the knowledge from all the immortals and splits the pages so segments are hidden among mortals in occult books here, a stone with carvings there or some madman with the secrets within to scribe. She hurls forth this from her realm with a desire to gain more knowledge and assemble a full copy which is never likely. But the dark passion is there to make those that use the knowledge more hers. Each segment of knowledge a segment of the artifact she has created and released unto mortals.

Mortals from the most primal of races of the grossest humanoids, humans and even in Atlantis itself her magic is worked in the shadows as her demons are now unleashed until mortals. Goblins, orcs, hobgoblins, troll, dark elves and others heed her call and blessing as her ower is reborn and begins creeping into its own.

Lastly Elyia raises once again her city the dark City of Obsidian a pitch black monstrous place full of her minions living and not, and to it she calls all evil to her in the great summons as demon magic feeds it like a spawning pit for the unholy. Surrounding this is the dark mist a magic that corrupts all that is not in her embrace into warped twisted insane creatures the great defense of the city. Even the Dark Elves are joined to her realm by obsidian tunnels leading to their great underground cities and strongholds.

[Krrth]

Torin

Torin toils in the Pyramid. Many of his people have perished. Most of the population now on the isle are decedents of the True Atlanteans, and while skilled and knowledgeable, they cannot measure up physically to the few remaining survivors. So, Torin underwent a great ritual where blood calls to blood. This ritual echoes across the world, and effects not only those on the island but any human directly descended from two or more Atlanteans. Soon those so affected changed. They gained the abilities of their ancestors, in form and mind, body and soul.


Act Raiser
Act raiser: Tie decedents into the ritual and shape them to match the originals. Gain: Clan Tattoos (Heart on one wrist and flaming sword on the other), Gain: Increased racial stats across the board.
1) Heart Tattoo with three drops of blood. Every True Atlantean has this tattoo. This tattoo provides immunity to supernatural (magical) transformations. Thus, they cannot be polymorphed, possessed, petrified, mutated, turned into undead or similar effects. They CAN be tempted, killed, folded, spindled, and mutilated.
2)Flaming sword. Each True Atlantean has this. However, the type of sword varies by family, with each clan having a specific type of sword. Some have broadswords, rapiers, short swords, and the like. This tattoo can be activated to manifest a magical blade of the type tattooed. This blade can be maintained for up to an hour at a time, and cannot be taken away or used by another. It is fully capable of cutting through non magical matter like butter.(it does MDC).


Edit: The Prophet.

The people of Atlantis had mixed reactions. Some believed and built stronger shelter. The Stone Magi promptly started to strengthen buildings and prepare for the worst. Shelters were carved underground so that if this came to pass, the people would survive. Torin himself talked to the prophet.

Fire from the sky? Thank you for the warning, we shall certainly take steps to protect ourselves from that. How do you like our city?

[smuchmuch]

The dwarf fell slowly on the ground, in pain. It was the tenth this week. The other dwarves looked nevously around while the dwarf in command of the samll aproached the victim slowly.
"Can you hear me ?"
".... .. pain ... please help."
"Well at least, this one doesn't look insane."
"Voices...hurt... The things...hideous..."
"Sigh, Well I take that back. still, looks salvagable.Two peoples to carry him to the next hospital. The rest we keep going."

HrGK'kkk pulled out of the dwarf mind.
"We have learned much about the mammals. We have progressed. But it's still too slow. We need to forward things. Other forces are awake. If we get behind we will be anihilated."

Act raiser:
"The first step"
Having recovered all its forces Hrgk'kkk started moving. It was but a small trust but it was enough to create waves. The waves guided by the spirit of the god started to move the earth as they rose, faster and faster, stronger and stronger, but alway focussed as arrow points.
when they finaly reached the surface the earth already craked underneath crumbled. The pits formed that way were small and strangely regular in form. They exhaled an intense heat and fumes wich were almost intoxicating. But the scariest about them was that there didn't seems to be a bottom.
They emited a dark aura of fear, strangeness and yet, to the right mind, the intoxating promisse of untaped powers.

OOC:

Act Raiser 1:
-sacrificial Pits: Pretty straightforward. There are about 200 of them spreaded a little everywhere on the surface of Kodesh. (Even if kodesh is anything like earth, the god made sure than most of them where created on land.) The pit are small (about 50m of diameter). They aren't botomless either (so no you can't use them to touch HrGK'kkk directly) but they are extremly deep: almost 6 km into the earth (that's about 3.5 milles deep). They also iradiate an aura of power and danger wich may fascinate somme mortals ans scares others. Every mortal dropped in it freshely dead or alive will see it's soul added to HrGK'kkk collection.

3MA left.
1RA left ? (i didn't use my act raiser last turn so I dodn't know if it get carried to the next.

[Rubyslippers]

Eylia

Several fallen Atlantians now vampires or other undead gain said tattooes save a dark and twisted version one becoming highly resistent to non-demon magic and powers oddly and the ability to call forth a flaming demon magic sword. And those making pacts with her demons lose their protections but not the flaming sword with is infused with the power of demon magic. These twisted magic blades do not harm flesh rather age the victim and inflict mutations doing damage while they alter flesh.

As Eylia's power of corruption takes hold on this magic and turns it to her purpose.

The new creatures become the vanguard of her legions the undead higher in rank to the mortals that form the high ranking servants.

[Mike_the_Mystic]

Father bear was happy about the growth of his people. Unlike some, his didn't bind demons or go on crusades for the greater good. They were quite quiet folks, perferring to hunt and fish and gather nuts and berries to such horrid ideas. That was the way Father Bear liked it, too.

"I am very protective of my children" He said out loud, which could be hear anywhere "Disturb them and the force of nature will come down on you like the mightiest hurricane or the most powerful landslide."

He continued his defense of his cubs, by showing them the Atl-Atl. Such a weapon would improve hunting of the local Mammoths and Behemoths that were quite numerous in the area.

[Rubyslippers]

Elyia Visits Father Bear

Elyia stays ut of his realm proper not out of fear but rather to bide her time. She had plans for his domain but others were far more pressing. Appearing in little more than a flimsy gown Eylia looks over his lands from a distance.

"I have greater matters my demons will attend to your realms at some point on their own after all a few are dutybound to do so, and corruption and abuse of the magic of gods is my dominion.," sitting on a rock she rests from her magic.

"Even now my dark demon magic wafts among the druids sooner or later one of your children will crave what I offer so willingly, but I will not rush this corruption of such a realm, it will be a delight.," Elyia smiles actually liking the idea. Father Bear does feel Elyia's presence affecting even him truly she is an abomination of all creation.

[Mike_the_Mystic]

"Well, it is a good thing that I own neither magic nor druids now isn't it?" The great bear god rolled a boulder over the cave's entrance without making a move, and then marched up to her quite promply for his size. "Do not tempt nature or the spirits witch-goddess, for nature will strike back more powerfully than you can possibly imagine." There will be only misery for those who corrupt its powers, and I. WILL. MAKE. SURE. OF. IT."

Promptly the rock crumbles into dust, but He is not done with her yet. Roots entangle her, powerful roots of nature's greatest trees, holding her.

"Demons are creatures of hate and rage. I will make sure that such things will stay out as long as possible, But in the end I know that some will heed your vile call demoness." But I also know that I will do battle with you one day, and that in the end you will not have a bear-skin rug to take home on that day..."

He lets her go now, and lays back down. "Just remember demoness, do not wake the sleeping bear, and not expect it to maul you..."

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Feathered Serpent

The Great Changer had watched and waited for some time, and now he would act. In the precise center of all the lands, a great ziggurat rose from nothingness. It was decorated in decadent blues, royal purples, with vast symbols of change and chaos resplendent in golds and blacks, each and every one perfect in it's asymmetrical splendor.

The Ziggurat rose high into the skies, radiating power and beckoning to the races of the world. To protect this great temple of evolution from the hands of those who would despoil it's greatness, the Feathered Serpent reached out and influenced the birds of the lands around the Ziggurat, many became semi-sentient and began to flock around the vast temple of change.

There were birds of every kind, and they began to change. Some lengthened and grew scales, and became great winged serpents some great in size while their wings remained the same, with long necks and great hooked beaks, these long limbed and vicious birds guarded the lands of the temple.

Finally, some of every kind grew arms, became taller and more humanoid, some lost their wings, and all grew greatly in intelligence and became a new race: The Avias. They were the guardians of the temple, their keen eyes always watching for those who came to bask in the glory of the temple, to welcome them, and for those who would despoil it, to tear into them with the fury of chaos itself.

Act Raiser:
The above was an Act Raiser, creating a great Ziggurat which draws races from all around and radiates power that can be tapped into by mortals, it's the essence of Chaos and Change. I also made new species of birds, created Winged Serpents, and created a race: The Avias, all different kinds of birds in humanoid form, no two are the same though, there could be a crow-person with wings next to one without them. Some are like harpies but more birdlike, and some are basically humans with bird-like eyes and made feathers instead of hair. If this is more than you could do with a single Act Raiser... well I'll probably just add a Major Act.

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Fury Unleashed

The prophet bowed to the master of Atlantis.

"- It is marvelous. The pyramids are a work of art. However, its citizens should learn not to depend so much on technology. They will loose sight of what is really essential. Now, please excuse me... I must take my leave.

Farewell, Lord Torin."

------------------------

A few days later, the prophecy came true...but not necessarily in the way most expected. In the middle of the night, the foundations of the heavens shook. A large tear appeared over Kodesh and it was as the sky was set ablaze. Few knew the meaning of such event. What was it they were looking at? Was it a door to another world? It was both beautiful and terrifying...

They would later discover that this other dimension was the Plane of Ether.

Hundreds of shooting stars crossed the midnight sky, seemingly coming from that tear. Suddenly, they turned downwards and headed for the land of Kodesh; the island of Atlantis, but also the borderlands of Father Bear's tribes, the mountains of the dwarves and the verdant hills inhabited by Aerthir's vassals. Surprisingly, the smoking spheres didn't create a crater on impact. They simply turned into mist, leaving burn marks on the ground.

When people went to investigate the strange occurence, they noticed that a curtain of fog still lingered in the area. Then, as they came even closer, the fog became thicker and formed a humanoid shape. The beings, who called themselves devas, were approximately all the same. They towered over most races, being 8 to 10 feet tall. They were only partly material. The four-armed devas were wrapped in what looked like mist; in fact, it was ethereal matter, ectoplasm. Only their crystalline, light blue upper body and wings were clearly visible. Most bizarre was their face. They had no distinctive features but their eyes - those white, emotionless eyes - yet they spoke with a vibrant voice. They told the people of the Mother Goddess and her unconditional love. However, the devas left as quickly as they had come, either by transforming into smoking globes similar in appearance to will-o’-wisps or by moving through the Plane of Ether.

One hour later, the sky had regained its usual appearance. The mystical portal was gone.

------------------------

A troubled soul

His name was Taros. Once, he was happy. He was the first son of a minor noble and his destiny was to become a great knight of Aerthir, just like his father. But at age 14, the squire heard the Calling. He tried to ignore it, but it was impossible. He had to accept it. He was a Chosen of the Mother. He felt the need to go out and seek a priest of the goddess, but he decided against it. Taros chose to remain at the side of his lord and try to change things from inside. Who said he couldn't change the old ways while occupying a position of power? In fact, it seemed like an excellent idea at the time. Thus, the young nobleman continued his training until age 18, when he was finally knighted. After that, he fought oppression wherever he found it, in the borderlands and in his own kingdom. But he grew more and more disillusioned with the system. He became angry at his fellow knights who were still holding to a stupid tradition. He was sick of the behavior of the clergy and the arrogance of the wizards at court. One fateful day, the day the skies were ablaze, Taros snapped. He went inside an abbey where were kept most of the holy scriptures, legal documents and scientific books of the kingdom. He massacred the men and women inside and set fire at the building. The tyranny of tradition would end, he would make sure of it!

Now, Taros sat near the smoking ruins of the abbey, shocked and afraid. He was beginning to understand what he had done. The Goddess came to him to ease his grief.

"You did the right thing my child. Do not worry about them. We will save them. Once the work of the fasle gods is undone, all the good souls will join me in the Heavens. We have much to do now, son. You have proven yourself to be a great champion of freedom, but you have potential in the magical arts, even if you haven't realized it. I know of your disdain for wizards; be assured, you won't be like them. I will teach you the secrets of void magic so that you may bring their ultimate downfall. You will be the first of my entropomancers."

Taros took a dagger from his belt and cut his long hair, signifying his renunciation of his title.

"- I will go wherever you need me Mother."

------------------------

Meanwhile, somewhere on Atlantis

The prophet, also known as Vohan the Enchanter, smiled as he watched the devas spread the Goddess' teachings. He took the crystal ball, put it back in his bag and walked to the mouth of an enormous coastal cave. A deep voice echoed inside:

"- Can we go now, Vohan? I'm getting tired of this place. "

Vohan laughed.

"- Yes, my old friend, we are done here. We must join one of the Lady's new recruits on the mainland. She seeks to make him into an entropomancer. I wonder if she's thinking of replacing me already."

The prophet laughed again. He took a few feet back as his "friend", an ancient yellow dragon, exited the cave. With a little help he was able to climb on his back and the two swiftly flew away.

Act Raiser: Creation of the Etheral Plane, the Devas and Entropomancy, void magic.

The Plane of Ether is not exactly like the D&D Ethereal plane. It is located around the material plane, but it harder to access (unless you are a being tied to the plane, like a deva) and there is no stable portal (except "tears" that are much like portable holes). One can travel through the plane of ether to get to the Maelstrom, but they have to force a passage into the plane of ether first, using powerful conjuration magic. Old portals leading directly to the Maelstrom work like they did before. The plane is part "void" (much like space, but not an actual vaccuum) and part "misty clouds of ectoplasm", in which violent psychic storms can occur. Echoes of the Mother Goddess' thoughts can be heard in the plane and sometimes her dreams manifest physically there. Many mystics project their mind outside their body to seek these secrets of the universe scattered around the infinite plane. It is however dangerous to do so; one can get lost or be overwhelmed by the proximity to the Goddess. In such cases, two things can happen: either the traveller's soul dies and gets reborn as a deva or it dies and turns into an undead shade, devourer or nightwalker (less frequent).

The devas make up a race of outsiders whose role is to answer distress calls of oppressed mortals (prayers, conscious calls or unconscious ones) and serve as the Goddess' army in case of conflict against demons, nature spirits or lawful outsiders.

Entropomancy is unlike most magic schools and is thus hard to counter. It draws power from the plane of ether and uses void and entropy to achieve various effects. While this magic is chaotic and dangerous, it can be incredibly powerful; for example, by folding space, some entropomancers can teleport or extend their senses about anywhere. Entropomancers have some original abilities, such as being able to conjure shards of nothingness and invoke a spell called "Curse of the Dark Ice". Upon contact with a living being, this dark ice spreads to every part of their body, absorbing heat and energy, slowlying its movements until the target is completely "frozen" and in a sort of coma.

[Krrth]

RubySlippers

ooc: Don't forget there is a whole other thread for ooc stuff (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109152). You need to post your character there, and a couple of questions have been asked.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Josiah
Now to hasten some inevitable conflicts. With a thought Josiah draws on his power and slips to the best of his ability unseen into a convocation of knights.
Men of the world, knights not yet errant. :smallamused: What we in the business call vectors. Taking a deep breath he exhales a dank foul air that touches each hero in attendance.
Act Raiser
Josiah passes a measure of his power to both the knights gathered before Aerthir and their raiment. In effect each of the gathered knights is now a carrier of a disease that they are in turn immune to.
Aerthir immediately detects a foreign presence, and his brow furrows in anger.

"YOU! SHOW YOURSELF! WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY SERVANTS?!"

[Obscurejones]

Josaih
Uncloaking himself at the back of the hall, Josiah gives little wave.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

"Come forward, whoever you are. Now."

Aerthir checks his followers to see just what the hell happened.

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
Taking a moment to cloak his previous action Josiah moves forward taking care to keep from rotting his surroundings.
Major Act
Major act to conceal his Act Riser from Aerthir. MAs 3.->2
I merely blessed the assorted company. Made your knights resistant to some particularly virulent diseases.
OOC
I tell you no lie GI. That's technically true.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

"And you chose to do this without my permission? Explain yourself."

Major Act: Attempt to identify just what Josiah did, and if it's possible to be removed.

[ArlEammon]

(Uh, can we talk about this in OOC?)

[Kaiser Omnik]

Army of Ghosts

Lord Taros rode a wyvern to the hideout of Vohan the Enchanter. It was located on the northeastern continent. Nested between hills, only a few miles away from the ocean, stood a castle of white stone. This was only the tip of the iceberg; if Vohan was to be believed, there laid a massive underground complex underneath.

Just as the wyvern landed in the courtyard, Vohan arrived to greet his guest.

"- Welcome to my domain."

Taros dismounted and walked alongside the fey. The two descended a flight of stairs and followed a tunnel, until they arrived to a balcony overlooking a large underground chamber. There, dozens of deep dwarves were busy cutting blocks of dark granite. What was more surprising was the high number of completed statues in the room.

"- What are those for, Enchanter?"
"- I have been studying the work of the Stone Magi on Atlantis for some time. This is what gave me the idea for this army. At first, I planned to create golems...but those lacked both skill and cunning."

Vohan grinned and turned his gaze to the stone guardians below.

"- Our Goddess kindly provided us with intelligent spirits to inhabit the inert statues; ancestral warriors that have returned from the White City, willing to continue the fight here on Kodesh. What you see here is only a small sample of the army. There are many more statues stored in the warehouse."

MA: Creation of the ancestral guardians (similar to the Ancestor Dwarves from MMV)
3-1 = 2MA left

[Obscurejones]

Josiah @Aerthir
I thought you might object to the fact that I also made them carriers of some highly communicable diseases. Josiah quickly raises his hands to ward off any violence.
Before you become somewhat justifiably enraged, I should point out the fact that this may work to the favor of your cause. You derive some benefit from worship and reverence I believe?

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir can scarecely believe what Josiah says.

"Wh-why?! Why would you do this?!"

[Obscurejones]

Josiah @Aerthir
That's what I'm getting to. You derive power from belief I derive it from medicine and disease. I saw an opportunity to advance both our states.Letting out a little power Josiah calls a flock of ravens, partially decayed to fly into the hall and land around him.
Major Act
Major Act to Call/Create the Ravens. They can Speak and often claim they carry disease. In actuality they're no more virulent than any other dead birds. MAs 2->1
You are entirely too noble to advance your case through subterfuge. Your shiny demeanor and incredulity gives it away. Some of us don't have the luxury of honor. I'm going to give your men knowledge. The ability to salve some of the wounds they will in turn spread. My raven's will go before your men and you, will in turn claim that they are the source of the plague. I get notoriety, disease, and healing, you get a grateful populace as your men heal both the diseases they cause and the ones they don't. If your men are careful they might actually save lives. Either way we both benefit. Josiah takes a moment to stroke one of the Ravens. After a moment he looks up at Aerthir and grins.
And in exchange for beginning this little project without your knowledge, I'll owe you a favor.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir pauses.

"You want my knights to spread diseases but then cure them? How does that accomplish anything? How does that help anything? My knights would be hurting the people through these diseases. My entire philosophy revolves around helping the common folk for no reason other than to help them. I don't hurt people solely so I can heal them later."

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
You will be helping them. If it helps to rationalize it just remind yourself that the man with only half a face is out to get you. Your men can provide healing where I can't. The knowledge I can provide will allow your men to heal far more than they unintentionally hurt. Taking a moment to compose himself, Josiah continues.
I am not a trustworthy god. Few mortals will accept my aid. Fewer still will accept my dual nature. I cannot provide the cure, without something to cure. Good, will be done by this act. Perhaps not right away, but over time good will come of it.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Meeting of the gods

A chilling voice echoed behind Josiah and Aerthir.

"Look at you! Gods arguing like children!"

Lightning hit the ground near the two deities. Once the smoke was gone, a frail, fair-skinned woman clad in a pearly white robe stood before them. She held a wand in one hand.

"I am Aati, the Angel of Destruction, the Mother Goddess' messenger. We have been watching you two... I have to defend our friend Josiah. His plagues are necessary. If the mortals are to connect with their spiritual selves, they must learn that the body is nothing but a shell. Pain is necessary on the path to salvation."

[ArcaneStomper]

YNH looked up from the rock. Something had disturbed him. He tried to remember what it was, but he could only remember the rock. He sighed, this had happened to him before. He had gotten so caught up in his research that all memory of his life before he started had melted away.

Quickly he pulled out his journal and scanned through it to reacquire his understanding of the universe besides the rock. In passing he noted that according to his journal he had spent the last 3000 years staring at the rock to see if would spontaneously transform into something else. He snorted in disgust. The observation period had been supposed to last 10000 years. Something had cut into his research and he wanted to know what it was.

After checking his journal again to ensure that he had the correct spell he cast a quick divination to see what was going in the world that would be capable of disturbing him.

Almost immediately he spotted powers. Great big powers that hadn't been there before. "Gods," he mused, "there haven't been gods around in some time. It might be worthwhile to see what they know." Then he stopped thunderstruck. He could sense portals, many of them. To a plane he had never been to before. The simple divination he had cast couldn't reach beyond the planar boundaries, but the portals did not have the identifying energy signatures of any plane he had ever been to before.

He knew what his course of action would be. Gods he had seen before he could talk to them later. A new plane on the other hand. Now that was exciting.

But first he would create an anchor. Somewhere to retreat to if he ran into something dangerous. He looked through his journal to find the necessary spell then looked at the rock he had been studying. Speaking quickly he intoned the correct incantation to transform it into something else. Just behind the rock a rift to the new plane slowly ripped open. The rock itself faded into a vague suggestion of pulsing energy which quickly expanded taking on the shape of a huge and menacing tower.

He shook his head. That wasn't what he wanted at all. Far too pretentious for him. He was never sure why that spell always summoned a tower the first time around. He would have to fix it some day. With a flick of his wrist the vague towering image shrunk and solidified into a small cheery looking cottage. Walking into the cottage he made quick check to make sure all the warding spells were in place and the dimensional pockets that housed his many labs were secured to the cottage correctly. Then he checked that the rift he had torn open was correctly situated in the back wall of the cottage.

Finally he made one final check that spell he had placed to summon him back to the cottage if he was ever in danger was firmly in place. Then he stepped through the portal. Just as is foot entered the portal he got the vague impression that new plane was called the Maelstrom.


Act Raiser: Creating my wizard "tower" encasing it in a spell to summon me back whenever I'm in danger, and ripping open a permanent portal to the Maelstrom in it's back wall.

I hope that was correct. I'm not entirely sure how this works yet.

[Krrth]

Torin


Torin's people were confused by the events, but soon put them behind them. Ancestor worship being the primary faith, they were not sure what the message was supposed to be. Hearing of plagues and horrors in the lands beyond, the Stone Magi transported themselves through the pyramids to check out what was going on. In those lands that needed help, they distributed food and medicine.



Major act: Repair the transportation network between the pyramids.
Major Act: Increase food and medicine supplies.

[smuchmuch]

Horkuan

The man looked at his fingers ajusting to his newfound emotions. His body was tall ,sleek and muscular. On his face his feature were blurry as if own feature swere uncertain of where they should be.
-Why ?
-We may have been slown down by our late awakening that doesn't mean we cannot feel what happens on the surface. There are powers scouring the world, somme of wich are familliar to us, others wich are completly unknown.
We do not want to cast to much attention for now yet we cannot allow to stay isolated for to long. We have created you so as our extension and a little more , you carry our power but are capable of thinking and feeling in way we can't. You will be our eyes and our voice to the surface.
As his feature settled, the man adjusted to some newfound emotions.
How amusing, Multiples creatures forming a single mind trying to act like a single being with multiple personality.
That comment, we did not understand.
Good thing for me, I suppose. If you could, I wouln't be here.
He paused to think for a moment.
I will need a name, something pronouncable for something that doesn't have mandibles. Let see Hark ? Hork ? getting there but not really godly. Horkuan ? Yes. Sounds good enough.
You need to go! We have wasted to much time already.
"True." he smiled for himself."Time to have some FUN ."

As he was well under is way to the surface Hokuan feels something odd. He reach to see it. A small burrowing creature is marked by the power of another god.
I think it's seeks you.
Yes , We reconize the power. While we never met him before, we are familliar with his work. He helps the mamals , trimming the weaks, allowing the fitest to evolve and strive. We consider The bringer of disease an old friend.
It may be a trap. Do you want me to meet him ?
No. We do not think he would be much of a threat and we are curious of his motives. If he seeks us, We wil answer this call personally.

HrGK'kkk stirs its mind in the search of Josiah.

OOC:
2MA:
Horkuan:
(Not sure if he counts as an high level exarch or as an aspect, anyway I'm using 2 MAs just in case. if it's not enough consider I have used 3.)
Horkuan is basicaly a sentient sock puppet that HrGK'kkk use to speak with mortals and other gods he doesn't trust. He is also the tool by wich hrGK'kk intend to gather mortals followers for sacrifices. For now Horkuan doesn't looks like much, he will evolve as the game progress. Horkuan is directly linked to HrGK'kkk, he has a personality of his own but not a will or the possibility to act by himself.

3-2:1 MA left.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Feathered Serpent

At the meeting of the gods, a Raven, much like the ones Josiah had sent out perched nearby. However, this Raven was not ragged or disease ridden, and it had four eyes, as well as the fact that it's beak was jagged and serrated, much like teeth. It watched with interest, preening and cleaning it's wings. Soon, more began to gather, until their was a murder of them all sitting or flying around, and then just as suddenly they all took to the air, screeching and scattering to all the directions Josiah's Ravens had gone, and to the rest of the peoples of the world as well. Except for one.

Soon, in all the places where Josiah's Ravens went, spreading disease, a new disease went that caused those affected to mutate and change. Sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly, sometimes in small ways like an extra finger, or another eye, sometimes it was larger, like all another arm or a leg, or even a second head, as well as host of less mundane changes. In extreme cases, those afflicted would warp horribly, turning into odd creatures that were just masses of assorted flesh and eyes, sentient only enough to escape into the nearby countryside. Furthermore, the disease altered any other plagues or illnesses those affected may be suffering, mutating and changing the disease, sometimes it would become more resistant to cure, sometimes they would become immune. Sometimes only the symptoms and effects would be affected. In the end, no two cases of this strange disease were the same.

In the Middle of the lands, the Avias decided there were too few pilgrims to the temple of change, and so they spread by wing of their messengers, to the minds of all the beings that there was a cure for this strange new illness, only to be found at the great Ziggurat, in the middle of all the gods lands. And they waited. The Feathered Serpent, pleased by his childrens innovation, granted them the knowledge of the everchanging cures, a knowledge only such beings of change could even begin to fully comprehend. And what's more, he boosted the power of the Ziggurats attraction the surrounding world, the pull and desire to travel to this huge ever changing edifice now stronger by far.


1 Major Act to create a Mutating Disease
1 Major Act to increase the power of the Great Ziggurats pull upon the people of the world.

If I need another Major Act for the cure, I'll add it

[ArcaneStomper]

The plane of Maelstrom

YNH looked around the new plane. it was a vast place and in the distance he could see massive structures he couldn't identify. He reached out with his power and recoiled. The universe was different here. It did not follow the laws he knew.

YNH sighed. He had only just barely started to unravel the fundamental structure of his home plane. A completely different one would take much longer to grasp and would require an update to his theories on the structure of the universe. It would be challenging rewarding work, and he looked forward to it. If he had been alone he would have thrown himself into the task immediately. But he had sensed other gods stirring before he entered the rift to the new plane.

In the past gods had proven good sources of information, but they had also been disruptive making experimentation difficult on the scale he needed. He would have to go back and find someway to ensure that the other gods did not disturb him in this new plane. But before he left he would at least set up a watcher to start gathering information here.

Reaching into his own power he took part of it and solidified it outside himself. Working quicky he gave it intelligence of it's own.

"You will be Watcher 1" YNH told the newly formed entity in front of him.
"Your function will be to gather information on this plane. Of particular importance are any evidence of inhabitants here. Also attemp to keep track of any gods or their creations here, but try not to let yourself be identified. You have permission to assume any form you choose and use any means necessary to gather information except for harming sentients."

"How far should out should I explore," asked Watcher 1.

"Go as far as you can, but be prepared to return here when I summon you. Now go."

Satisfied that his creation would perform correctly YNH watched Watcher 1 fly out towards the nearest structure. Then he stepped back through the portal to deal with the gods.

Once back at his cottage he considered what he knew of nearby geography carefully then opened up a portal to a large area of grassland nearby and stepped through. Satisfied that the area would do for what he had in mind he began casting his spell.

Kodesh, Unamed grasslands, several hours later

YNH surveyed his spell satisfied. There was now a tall white monolith the center of the grasslands. It served as the anchor for his spell which acted as a giant beacon for any god in the world. Using his knowledge of how divine power worked YNH had cast a vast web. Whenever a god used there divine power, unless they took steps to conceal their use, YNH would be alerted. It would also alert the god using the power that they were being watched and where the spell watching them originated from. YNH hoped that at least a few would be curious enough to come to the beacon and see what it was. This would save him the trouble of having to track them down to talk to them. Hopefully he would attract someone willing to talk before on of the gods inevitably got mad and came to destroy the beacon.

OOC:

Major Act: Create Watcher 1 to study the maelstrom. Watcher 1 is a low level Exarch with limited intelligence and independence.
Major Act: Create the god beacon.

[Krrth]

ooc: ArcaneStomper

I don't know if it matters, but your God would probably notice there is already a network of magic spread out across the world. There are pyramids sitting on nodes all over the planet, each one linking to the others.

[ArcaneStomper]

Kodesh, Beside the God Beacon

YNH checked his beacon. No god had responded yet, but the web had detected quite a lot of minor divine activity across the planet from the actions already set in motion by the other gods.

Then YNH noticed something interesting. Some of the power was flowing in lines and pooling at certain locations. The web only detected energy so he couldn't be sure what was there, but it looked like a network powering something.

YNH decided to try tapping into the divine network. At the very least he would find out what the network was for and possibly he would be able to tie his own web into it for power.

OOC: Krrth
I didn't realize your pyramids were networked. I thought each one was distinct structure with it's own isolated energy pool. My god is now doing the divine equivalent of hacking your net to see whats in there.

[Krrth]

ooc: more info in the ooc thread.

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Mother Goddess Takes Action

The Mother noticed that some of her followers suffered from a strange disease, unlike those created by Josiah. She was horrified once she discovered that a few victims turned into barely sentient monstrosities. Bringing chaos in the world was one thing; cursing the souls of mortals like this was something much worse. This was certainly the work of another deity. The Goddess quickly realized that the mutant ravens, the disease and the enormous Ziggurat were linked in some way. So, it was that Serpent that was responsible...

She immediately went to work. First, she blessed her clerics with the ability to reverse the mutations or at least minimize the damage done to vital organs if the change was already well under way. As a creature of entropy, it was easy for her to understand how the Feathered Serpent had managed to create this disease. The Goddess had something else in mind, but she decided to wait for the action of her fellow deities.


MA: Bless clerics with power to reverse mutation
2-1 - 1 MA left

[Lord_Asmodeus]

The Feathered Serpent

The Feathered Serpent noticed something amiss, as he looked over the world. He quickly noted that some of the peoples of the world were becoming immune to his mutating diseases. Looking deeper, he could see the clear traces of another gods handiwork, or more precisely, another goddesses. Surely, only the Mother would understand the workings of Chaos easily enough to undo it so easily. Still, it was good in a way. It was different than the other parts of the world, that were afflicted by his Disease, and so it bore the fruits of Chaos. Besides, it could use this.

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Experiment

The Mother Goddess took some victims of the mutating diseases and hid them in her Blessed City. She then chose medicine men among her worshipers and gave them a mission. Those were to travel to the City and experiment on the affected humanoids. The healers used their abilities to activate the disease, note the aftereffects, reverse the mutation and then activate it again to get a different result. The process was extremely painful, but that was part of the plan. Some died, but many survived. With enough time - a few decades, in most cases - the patients managed to minimize the damage of the mutation by themselves, eventually being able to transcend their condition and shape their essence as they desired. Those master shapeshifters made perfect spies.

MA: Creation of the Master Shapeshifters
0 MA left

[ArcaneStomper]

Kodesh, Beside the God Beacon

YNH looked up. He could feel a shift of divine power in his net. Tracing the source he found that a god, one he didn't know but a quite a bit more powerful than he was, was creating countermeasures against another god. The other god's traces were faint, but they seemed to indicate a restructuring and warping of the universe on a more fundamental level than most gods could pull off.

YNH frowned, he wanted to find this god. Any god capable of warping the universe had to understand it very well, and he wanted that understanding. Unfortunately the god responsible was no longer showing up on the web.

YNH thought for a moment then realized that he needed some sort of active tracking spell. Fortunately his study of the network of divine power earlier had been instructive. He had already made preliminary designs of an improved beacon spell that would also function as a tracker.

YNH opened a small portal to the nearest node of the network he had found earlier and stepped through. Then he looked around in surprise. He appeared to inside a pyramid. This would of course explain the network he had found. Several thousand years ago he had studied the stone mages and their use of pyramid networks. The only reason he hadn't realized it was a pyramid network earlier was that all the pyramids had fallen into disrepair centuries ago. He made a note to discover who had repaired them later.

For now though the fact that he was in a pyramid worked to his advantage. Unless the activation rituals had been changed drastically he should be able to access it very easily and anchor his beacon spell to the pyramids.

This proved correct and in only 3 hours YNH had anchored his beacon spell onto the pyramid network. The pyramids had also provided a ready source of power which YNH had used to alter the beacon spell. He would now be able to find and talk to any god by detecting their innate divine energy through the new, much more sensitive web.

OOC:

Major Act: Connected the beacon spell into the atlantis pyramid network, boosting its power and giving it tracking functions. Since it is the Atlantis pyramid net Torin and any of the stone mages he instructs will be aware of the connection and have access to the improved beacon spell.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Meeting of the gods

A chilling voice echoed behind Josiah and Aerthir.

"Look at you! Gods arguing like children!"

Lightning hit the ground near the two deities. Once the smoke was gone, a frail, fair-skinned woman clad in a pearly white robe stood before them. She held a wand in one hand.

"I am Aati, the Angel of Destruction, the Mother Goddess' messenger. We have been watching you two... I have to defend our friend Josiah. His plagues are necessary. If the mortals are to connect with their spiritual selves, they must learn that the body is nothing but a shell. Pain is necessary on the path to salvation."

Aerthir is about to answer Josiah when Aati interrupts them.

"What is the meaning of this new intrusion?!"

By now Aerthir is not in the mood for any new surprises.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Meeting of the Gods

Aati smiled.

"Poor Aerthir. I sense much fear and anger in you. You should let the love of the Mother flow into your heart...then, you would be at peace."

[Archpaladin Zousha]

"You presume to speak to me as an equal, and in front of my own knights? By what authority? I have never heard of this Mother, and I am loath to trust anyone who offers love and peace immediately upon greeting me. I have had to sift through lies and truths before and I will do so again."

[Kaiser Omnik]

Meeting of the gods

Aati turned to the knights and laughed.

"You are lost. You are blinded. Slaves of tradition. Your Lord doesn't wish to obtain peace. He has a death wish. Are you willing to sacrifice your lives for the ideals of a god of war and violence? If it is peace you seek, simply listen...and you will hear Her whispers. Answer the Call. The Mother accepts all. She will free everyone from servitude. She promises bliss...eternal happiness. But she needs all of you to accomplish this."

Aati turned back towards Aerthir.

"Even you, godling, will come to see the truth. One day, the One True Goddess will guide you to the Light."

She then bowed to Josiah and vanished out of thin air.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir turns to his knights, but regains his composure.

"Whatever false enlightenment she promises you is just that. False. You have seen the face of this world, and you know the truth. Peace is a truly wonderful thing, yes, but it is not free. It must be bought with bloodshed and violence. Happiness cannot be won without pain. In a perfect world, we would not need such measures. But we do not live in a perfect world, nor do I think it is possible to obtain it, regardless of what this "Mother" thinks. But that does not mean that we strive for an impossible dream, my noble knights, oh no! We may not make the world perfect, but we can make it a better place. The values I brought to you, as you know, are not always the easiest to follow. But you take the step that so many others don't. You try. You try to follow my teachings, you try to make a difference, and you DO it! If any here believe that I am unworthy of their trust, then I shall allow you to leave. Chase after this "Mother's" whispers if you wish. But those of you who want a better world, and want to make it, then raise your sword with me, and reaffirm your loyalty, not to me, but to the ideals of the Kingdom of old!"

Aerthir raises his black sword into the air, his echoing words stirring the hearts of those loyal to him, while forcing those with doubts to either leave or stay.

Act: Inspire knights already loyal to Aerthir, and force those whose loyalties are divided to either stay the course or leave.

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
Looking slightly putout Josiah clears his throat.
*Cough* So like I was saying, before we were somewhat bizarrely interrupted. I'm offering healing and reparations for violating you honor. Not to debase your ability, as by my reckoning you are at current thought the noblest of gods, but I doubt you can unweave my magics. Disease is after all a specialty.
He sends the ravens flying from the room.
I would not usurp your power. I would not blight you mission. While my methods may be devious my goal is not. I would increase your stake as well as my own. Will you accept my aid, though cravenly wrought?

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir shoots Josiah a slightly irritated look.

"In a minute, I'm making an inspiring speech!" he hisses.

He waits for his knights to answer.

((How many of his knights reaffirm and how many leave?))

[ArlEammon]

(Want to settle for 3/4 in favor of Aerthir? Just curious.)

[Archpaladin Zousha]

((Sounds good.))

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Feathered Serpent

As the angel of the Mother leaves, the Raven flapped it's wings in a great flutter and cawed in derision. When Aethir made his speech, the Raven hopped back and forth, in true birdlike fashion. It stared at him with it's four eyes, twinkling like jewels in it's eyes. This one did not believe in perfection? Well, he would learn to believe in it.

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
While he wait's for Aerthir to finish being inspirational Josiah takes a moment to check the status of his badger.
That presence it feels... could be the one I'm looking for. Time will tell. He commands the badger to contact the presence it has brushed against and arrange a meeting.
I will speak with this god of those that are many when I am finished with the knight and at the convenience of the god. After all it causes us no difficulty to wait, or to be polite.

[smuchmuch]

OOC: Since my god has nothing too important to do, right now, I propose we conveniently consider that he contacts you once you're finished with Aethir and the knights

[Obscurejones]

OOC: Fine with me.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

The Deal is Struck

Many of Aerthir's knights draw their swords and raise them without hesitation, shouting their approval. A handful, however, falter. All of a sudden, their armor feels heavier on their shoulders, and they are immediately noticeable. They shuffle out of the throng and file out of the room. They are returned to where they were before they were knighted, and as time goes by, their time as a knight of Aerthir becomes a dim memory. But these people will always have an ache in their hearts. The lingering knowledge that they could have been part of something great. That they could have made a difference in the world, and that they turned away when it was in their grasp. This is their punishment. To forever have the knowledge of their choice, and the sting of knowing that they chose to leave.

When the knights who leave are gone, Aerthir turns to Josiah.

"You shall have your deal. My knights will spread your contagions, but you MUST allow them to be cureable as well. I hold no illusion that my knights will be able to cure all ills, but I do not want my authority undermined by what you have done. No knight in this hall will know what has just transpired between us. I have one more request too. To atone for your actions, I ask a boon from you. Make it so that the hands of the king are the hands of a healer. Whomever I name the true king, from now into the future, will be able to prove their right to rule by their healing touch. This I ask of you. Nothing more and nothing less. Do you accept?"

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
I, Josiah make such compact with Aerthir. I will provide my knowledge of medicine to his knights and the touch of life to his king. He will in turn spread both my healing and my plague. We are agreed. As Josiah extends his hand a tarnished golden crown appears in it.
Major Act
A copy of the healing text created by Josiah's first act raiser appears in the possesion of each of Aerthirs knights. Major Act to create a crown that allows the wearer to heal at a touch.
Pleasure doing business with you. :smallamused:

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir takes the crown, and it shifts and twists in his hands into a replica of his own, the tarnished metal becoming pure, polished gold, with a ruby in the front.

"Thank you, Josiah. You are free to leave, but know that I will not tolerate such...unexpected visits again. If you wish to bestow one of your "blessings" upon my knights or my people, you must seek my permission first. Is that clear?"

[Lord_Asmodeus]

The Raven flapped it's wings in a ruckus and fluttered around the area It was soon joined by more like it, and they all gathered, watching the two gods. Yes, this was a good opportunity.

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
Crystal. If we are to deal again I shall be as forthright as my nature allows. Josiah strides out of the hall taking care not to accidentally blight any of the knights as he leaves.
Now to prepare for my next meeting.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

The Choosing of a King

Aerthir watches Josiah leave, and makes sure that the doors are closed behind him. Then he turns back to the knights.

"Now, if there are no further interruptions, I shall choose one among you to be the first king of the Kingdom Reborn."

Aerthir looks into the heart of each knight there, looking to see which one was strongest in their devotion to him and his ideals.

Aerthir is using his "Domain ESP" ability to see which knight is the best choice to be king.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

The Raven

It takes flight, quietly and with grace this time. It flies in circles over the assembly of knights, landing for a short time before taking off again. It waits to see who is chosen.

[Raz_Fox]

Alvixa

Alvixa had been quite busy, while she had seemingly disappeared. For one thing, she had been weaving a great magic upon her people, an abjuration against sicknesses of an... intimate nature. Among those who chose the Maiden as their patron, they were non-existent. News of this spread among the people, and even among those not living in her holy land began to worship her, especially those who were exposed to such sicknesses on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, she was caught up in her own little dramas... star-crossed lovers whose parents were rival merchants... a warlord falling in true love with his harem slave... a nobleman's daughter kidnapped by bandits... they never noticed the lovely barmaid serving them drinks, nor the pet fox on the seraglio window, nor the wild vixen on the outskirts of the camp. People had an amazing lack of perception towards the divine.

But something was upsetting her. There was a disturbance, a strange kind of love... love of mankind and virtue. Not romantic, which was truly her trade, but close enough for her to notice.

She transformed into the vixen-headed maiden, walking from shadow to shadow. Before long, she was at the disturbance - and in the presence of another god. She hung back in the shadows, looking at the warriors with the eyes of spirit. Yes... they loved their king, there was no doubt.

With but a whispered syllable and a blown kiss, she kindled that simmering love into a wildfire. She unlocked the dormant fervor in their souls, turning them into truly devoted warriors. For what they truly loved, they would go to any lengths for.

And their handsome leader, choosing his subordinate... well, she'd have to have a private word with him after all this was done. Rawr.

Power of Heart, go!

Basically, a flavor boost to Aerthir's knights. They're devoted to their virtue and their king, now.

[smuchmuch]

As josiah leaves the temple a fly lift of the wall and start circling near him.
"Greetings.
We found a creature carrying your mark who searched for us and in return we send you one of us as a messenger. You will excuse if we didn't contact you sooner but we felt many powers in this place , somme of wich have not yet taken an interest in us yet, and we do not wish to show ourselves to them, yet
the fly lands on the back on one of Josiah hands.
" We are curious: What made you seek communication ?"

[Obscurejones]

Josiah @HrGK'kkk
I merely wished to pay my respects. While many may see insects and the beasts that crawl below as beneath their notice, I have had cause in my studies to take notice of their, and by extension your power. Our portfolios are inexorably intertwined. If nothing else I thank you for your contributions, however unintentional, to my field.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

The Choice is Made

Aerthir looks through each knight, making his way through them to see just who would be king. Then his eyes alight on one young man, and he parts the crowd to approach him. The knight is a young half-orc, his beard just starting to grow. He's strong and hale, and surprisingly handsome for a half-orc. Aerthir can see that he may not be the most cunning or charismatic, but he had the integrity and courage that Aerthir recognized from his own kingship.

He took the crown and wordlessly placed it upon the half-orc knight's brow. Then he smiled.

Almost immediately the assembled knights burst into cheers, hoisting their new king onto their shoulders and Aerthir opened the door to his great cathedral in the capitol. There the young knight would be officially coronated, and later he would present the new king with badges of office.

He smiled proudly as they left, then turned to the goddess hiding out of sight.

"You may come out now, milady." he says politely, but with a smirk.

[Raz_Fox]

Alvixa

The goddess of love sashayed out from the shadows with a grin, looking the handsome god up and down. Her clothing twisted and shaped themselves into a flowing diaphanous gown, as her tail flicked from side to side. "Greetings, sir knight. I am Alvixa - would you grace me with your name?"

[Lord_Asmodeus]

The Raven

cawing loudly, the Raven swept low until it rested on the new kings shoulder, it's intense black eyes watching him, Aethir, and the knights for their reaction. All four of it's eyes.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

((Lord_Asmodeus, the knights aren't with Aerthir anymore. They left and returned to the mortal plane.))

Aethir bows respectfully.

"I am Aerthir, once the mortal king of a kingdom unmatched, now the god of that kingdom reborn. It is both an honor and a pleasure Lady Alvixia. Pray tell me to what do I owe the blessing of your presence?"

[smuchmuch]

HrGK'kkk to Josiah

Such is the nature of symbiosis. We have alway aknowledged your work as well.
The fly emmit a small buzz of curiosity
Was that the only reason for your contact ?

[Obscurejones]

Josiah @HrGK'kkk
Tragically, yes. I merely had reason to make my self known. Your subjects carry my work. It would have been rude not to acknowledge your contribution.
If you will excuse me I need to contact some knights. That is if you feel of course, that our business is for the moment concluded.

[smuchmuch]

We have started an experiment. We may later, ask for a favor. Do not worry, it will be repaid.
we must warn you we have felt somme powers wich seemed to take interest in your work, too. One of them we know even if we do not understand. Be warned, The Twisting One is unpredictable as he is powerfull, we do not kwow of it's intentions.
In the meantime we see no resons to distract you from your duties futher. Farewell, as alway we will watching your progress with interest.
The fliy leaves josiah hand.

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
Farewell then.
Josiah begins to use his domain awareness to search for the knights he infected that left Aerthir's order.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir awaits the goddess's answer.

[Maerok]

Ezran's Tavern on the Water

A manor had long ago been constructed on the shore of a forsaken sea whose name had never been called upon. From the moment of its construction, the building was avoided. Even before it had risen up from the tides it took its first victims in various accidents. Careless workers had reached into piles of bricks only to withdraw a handful of venomous sea snakes each time.
"Meva mesorif ulundri."
With the aid of several clerics, the work was finished. But by then its owner had long since passed away and the property was bought by a man of unknown origin. Under his guidance, the place had been re-envisioned as a place of comfort for those lost along the uncharted shores.
"Meva mesorif ulundri."
Ezran himself had forgotten his own story shortly after he exceeded his lifespan. For every day he was allowed to live, the innkeeper unwittingly gave up a single memory - starting with the most cherished, then finally the ones he often thought upon with a sigh. He came to realize one day that all he had were his robes, the tavern, and a drab locket around his neck.
"Meva mesorif ulundri."
It was in short order than he was visited by a band of wandering clerics to an unknown god. They had taken up residence in the tavern's basement, the only residents beside Ezran in ages. Or at least the only ones he could remember. From the floor above, he could often hear the chanting and jeers and in the morning the tides would rise ever so slightly higher until the waters washed through the first floor of the manor at high noon. But Ezran never thought to warn anyone of these oddities because his price on life had caught up to him and every waking hour was followed by a wave of forget.
"Meva mesorif ulundri ulaga Methrosii."

[ArlEammon]

Yes, we are OPEN.

(New Turn)

[Maerok]

Forging of the Dreadrime and the Casting of the Two Rivers (Act Raiser, Part 1)

From the Tavern on the Water came a hideous din. Fierce winds tore away the rising waves and mashed them together as if between two unseen hands. As they churned, the waters darkened beyond the realm of night and glowed with a pure black anti-light. The chanting rose higher and higher from the flooded depths of the tavern. The sullen bodies from which these voices bellowed unceasingly had long ago been cast solid with an unshakable cold. Entombed in ice their eyes glowed with the might of their dawning master from within surf and shade combined.

The great orb of black water spiraled over the shores, slowly unleashing many long rivers water that ripped through the air and swallowed up the meager vegetation in torrents of shadow. And then the ball surged upward, up and up, until it produced a hellish spider's web between planar boundaries. Drop by drop the mass leaked back down into the world below, tracing the natural waterways with the spectral trails. Ice, spreading out like daggers, traced the surface of each body of water without so much as a ripple.

The places touched by the machinations of Methrosii were silent for a moment. The breath of onlookers was drawn ever so slightly from open mouths toward shimmering waters. From the bottom of rivers and streams and lakes boiled up a foul presence with bubbles like staring eyes. Many unfortunate enough to touch the water at that time were frostbitten in such a peculiar way as to produce intricate runic markings from the wounds. And in time, these wounds disappeared like the memories which held them.

And in this manner, Escharys, the first of the Twin Rivers of the Dreadrime were born in the wake of Methrosii. It is the blackened river that connects all waters, available for travel by the lost, the damned, the desperate, the strongest of heart, and the Immortals. The cost to travel is the same as that offered to all of his worshipers: too much.

[Snacs]

Big opening post here, I'm gonna only use one Act Raiser from the last two turns(letting the other expire for missing out on the start!, which leaves me with 2 act raisers and 6 major acts, if that's Okay with Armin.


"Away Little Horn...I am still much too sleepy for the new day to be upon us.."

There was a deep, rumbling 'low, a stout, broad nose nudging the goddess insistently. With an unassuming snort She Who Travels awoke from her slumber with a yawn that set the winds dancing around her cheerfully.

Her long fingers curled about the bison's good horn, and the large creature snorted as if amused, lifting its great head and tugging his slender Mistress up to her feet. She Stretched and then flopped into the Bison's shaggy hide.

"Ah...and I was enjoying my dreams so...still, the world has been busy.."Fingers twisted into the shaggy fur. Despite her slumber she knew of the others' movements, for the very wind and air their followers breathed brought her their secrets.

With an effort she stepped away from Little Horn, who huffed and snuffled at her tenderly. The Massive Bison shook his fur out, sending the dust of ages puffing out, though not a single particle of it dared touch She Who Travels.

"Well Then.."She clapped her hands and rubbed them briskly together, her face covered, the strange, faded markings giving her a lopsided look. From her sleeve a slender flute of bone slid free, and she played a few notes on it.

The Air around her shimmered, and the first of the Air Sprites appeared.

They were mere vibrations in the air, sleek glimpses of otter-like shapes with elfin, dancing eyes, and the air filled with the trilling laughter of their new excitement of being gloriously alive.

She Who Travels drew them close, whispering to them, telling them of their new purpose, then flung them across the four winds, to multiply, feeding on sunshine and moving with the air currents. They were to be messengers and gossips of this new era, bright, happy creatures that were as insubstantial as the air they floated in.

In the coming days the mortals would find the Sprites were ever-curious, sneaking wherever the air could, though this and their constant chattering were offset by the advantage they gave, from telling the village Healer of the Woodcutter who had hurt himself within moments, to helping find a lost child, kept them well-liked.

She Who traveled smiled beneath her mask, knowing children would enjoy playing with them in the millenia to come. It was a good feeling.

"Come Little Horn. We have been in one spot too long!" She laughed suddenly, and the winds whispered across the plains in a cheerful manner, making the long, lush grass sway in ripples like the ocean.

She sprung up upon the back of her Bison, and with a loud trumpet he set off at a cantor, lifting into the sky, from which She Who Traveled could view the world below. Here the air was thin and sparse, and prone to freezing, yet to She Who had created the Heavens it was as comfortable as grass was underfoot.

She sang then, a quick little lullaby that reverberated through the air.

And in the homes of Mortals Men, Women, and even Children would find themselves walking with a jaunty step, and looking for adventure.

From a young child riding a broom and imagining being a mounted Knight in service to his god, to a barmaid sighing at the thought of some dashing young nobleman to love, or a dashing young man out to win his Lady Love's Heart, ah how the adventuring soul was lifted!

And all around the earth the wind picked up, from soft breezes to gales, bringing the voices of all to She Who Travels, and she learned much of what was going on. It was time to make her rounds.

-------------
In Father Bear's territories the lush, thickly forested trees woulds way and creak under a breeze, which scattered leaves, dispelling the heat of midday to many a mortal, even before it brushed the old bear's fur, bringing with it laughter like the ringing of Wind Chimes, and a soft hand gently resting on one large haunch.

"My my Father Bear, you have gotten so fat from your slumber!" She Who Travels laughed heartily, skipping as she circled the large spirit, dancing between his paws as if they could not rend nor tear her apart, her headdress clicking and clacking with the symbols and items of worship mortals now long-dead had given her.

She looked up at him, her head tilted at a jaunty angle.

"You are wise though Father Bear, you make no strong moves, and provide for the Mortals that I have watched since they took their first steps. For that i shall let you hold dominion over what was once my lands."

She laughed flippantly, the gesture as empty as the air in which her power lay, for She Who Traveled had never been one to hold sway over territory, for the whole world was her playground, and few Gods could determine where she may or may not go to.

-----------

At the same moment Aerthir and Alvixia would feel the breeze as well, and would turn to find the Goddess lounging on an available window sill, one leg dangling towards the floor. Little Horn was out with Aerthir's knights, the shaggy creature in one of the many stables, and eating the oats and hay that the knight's thoroughbred's would.

She was also holding a large, bright red apple from one of Father Bear's private groves, and as they watched the apple approached the mask she wore, seeming to blur, and a bite disappeared from the red surface.

"Ah how fun, an encounter between the noble once-mortal and his immortal lady-love" She tilted her head and laughed happily, and with a soft flutter of air she stepped down closer to them both,her hands now clasped behind her back, her lopsided mask glaring amid her white colored garb.

-----

From The Great plains She Who Travel stepped on to the soft green grass. She raised her hand, and the wind whipped around her rapidly, the grass flattening away from her. They colored, becoming visible as streamers of milky-white, fluttering around her before dispersing.

Among the cities and nations of this world the streamers would fall, invisible to mortals, and where they landed a small temple would appear, formed of a pure white form of marble. The outer walls would be slotted, to let the breeze slip in, a massive pavilion providing shade. The center would be a small square in the center of the pavilion, where many comfortable benches would wait for the weary, their wooden bases carved into the likeliness of people frolicking and sharing bounties of fruits and foods, with Bison embossed between each scene. they appeared in hte midst of jungles where no humans passed, in the center of cities no matter their religion, under the seas amid flocks of swirling fish and stunned sharks, even deep under the ground,where the air was slow and ancient, thick with the dust of ages, and even in the clouds, hanging atop them in defiance of all levels of physics and the laws of the world.

And she laughed and spun, disappearing from sight.




Major Act(1) - Created Air Sprites. They are quasi-invisible, intangible creatures that count like air elementals. They have no natural attacks and do not need to eat, and are curious and playful
Major Act(1) - increased adventurous notions. more adventuring parties start, people act more outgoing, etc.

Act Raiser - Created temples of She Who Travels across the glove, under water, and underground.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

At the same moment Aerthir and Alvixia would feel the breeze as well, and would turn to find the Goddess lounging on an available window sill, one leg dangling towards the floor. Little Horn was out with Aerthir's knights, the shaggy creature in one of the many stables, and eating the oats and hay that the knight's thoroughbred's would.

She was also holding a large, bright red apple from one of Father Bear's private groves, and as they watched the apple approached the mask she wore, seeming to blur, and a bite disappeared from the red surface.

"Ah how fun, an encounter between the noble once-mortal and his immortal lady-love" She tilted her head and laughed happily, and with a soft flutter of air she stepped down closer to them both,her hands now clasped behind her back, her lopsided mask glaring amid her white colored garb.

Aerthir turned when he heard the goddess's comment.

"It seems I have no end of visitors today. Welcome!"

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Aerthir waits for either goddess to answer.

((Seriously, where is everyone?))

[Snacs]

Aerthir waits for either goddess to answer.

((Seriously, where is everyone?))

((I'm waiting for more replies, i hate only writing a sentence or two<.<. -pushes Arch into the OOC thread to hang out:P-))

[ArcaneStomper]

YNH looked up from the runes he had been drawing in the air before him. He could sense the massive burst of power that had just been flung into the world.

He shook his head. There would be time for his curiosity later. For now he needed to concentrate on his spell. And concentrate he did for this was the largest most complex spell YNH had ever cast. Using every bit of arcane and divine expertise he had he increased the sensitivity of his web a thousand fold. It could now sense everything that had even a spark of divine in it. Every mutated raven created by the feathered serpent, every knight that Aerthir sent out, even the mass of vermin that infested the core of the world. It could sense and track every creature ever touched, tainted, or modified by the divine from the littlest beetle to the gods themselves. And all that information was sent straight back into YNH.

YNH spent the next few hours having a seizure on the floor of the temple since his mind wasn't capable of handling the overload.

Eventually in desperation shunted the knowledge away from himself. He poured it into the very rocks of the pyramid he was in. Half insane from the pounding his mind had just taken he poured in not just the knowledge of the web, but every spell he knew. Finally he collapsed into a heap on the floor.

After several hours of rest he looked up and started to examine the results of what he had just done. It exceeded his wildest expectations. The pyramid was now a conduit to the web. It watched everything, absorbing the vast amounts of information available and passing only the important parts to him. And how it did so was even more incredible.

Somehow in the midst of his fevered casting he had imbued the pyramid with intelligence. In amazement he hurried out of the pyramid and turned around so he could get a good look at it.

The pyramid had transformed utterly. In place of solid stone it's sides were now made of crystallized magic. In places it shifted in on itself as if it was not all in the same dimension. It stood proudly above the plains around massive, magical, and above all sentient.

YNH stood there bemused for a few moments. The result of his spell were impressive yes, but he couldn't help but realize that it had been a complete accident and that the cause of the accident had actually been a disastrous mistake on his part. When he had expanded the web he had fully expected to be able to absorb all the new information himself instead it had shattered his mind. Even now he could fell pieces of himself drifting around still not fully restored. Obviously he still had a ways to go as a god in order to be able to fully understand the universe. After all he had only tried to track one small planet. Trying to track the entire universe would be much more difficult.

He considered what he knew about gods and how they worked. Obviously the easiest way for a god to gain power was to gather followers. He had never pursued that path himself, but perhaps it was time to start. He would begin by making a few inquiries.

----

His first target was the nexus that had been growing around one particular god. God after god had visited this one. YNH also sensed that this god was interested in truth and justice. Qualities that would work well with what YNH had planned. YNH reached out through the web and touched the other god's mind. "I wish to speak with you. I have a proposal for you. Let me know the place and time."

YNH reeled back shaken. The web had drained him. Obviously his experiments on it and the creation of the pyramid had changed it. Making what had once been and effortless connection into a draining experience. He would have to keep his communications to the other gods short.

----

Again YNH reached through web. He touched the mind of the goddess he had felt just before he had changed the web. "Goddess I wish to speak with you. Your temples interest me. Name a time and place."

Again the web had drained him. YNH had the strength for just one more message then he would have to rest.

---

"Stone mage. Meet me at the pyramid that has changed. I will tell you why."

Quickly YNH severed the connection before it could actually start to injure him. He frowned that last message had been shorter than he had wished. In the future he would have to fix the web so it would be usable again.

But for now he would rest and wait.


Act raiser: Massively increasing the power of YNH's web and upgrading the pyramid. The pyramid is actually a fully sentient aspect of YNH's. It can only act in self defense, but it has full access to the web and can read it with out going insane. It translates the useful parts out and transmits them to YNH to act on.

Also the act of upgrading the web made it very dangerous to YNH and any other god that attempts to access it. Access is possible but exposure will damage you and probably drive you insane if you watch it too long. That's asuming you even know how to access it in the first place of course.

In case those messages were to short. The first one was to Aerthir. The second one was to Vei'yra. And the last one was to Torin.

[Raz_Fox]

Alvixa

Alvixa giggled in response to Aerthir's question. "Why, sir Aerthir, thy followers are so filled with love! Not romantic love, for they remain strangely unattached to the fairer sex, but love of thy precepts and of their honor and duty. So powerful, in fact, that I was drawn to the spot. And... well, I didn't have much to do."

When the new goddess entered the room, Alvixa smiled at her and fluttered her eyelashes. "I fear you are mistaken, but you have a very good idea... do you not think so, Aerthir?"

[Maerok]

Forging of the Dreadrime and the Casting of the Two Rivers (Act Raiser, Part 2)

It was in the days after the evil surge that the shadows of the tavern grew longer in defiance of the ways of the sun. In the basement there were no longer the frozen cultists of Methrosii, but their voices and shadows clung to the stone floors uttering the same invocations to bring their goals to fruition. A crude altar of glowing black and blue ice had grown up from the ground below, rupturing upward into the basement like a vile root from some frozen Yggdrasil.

Ezran no longer had a capacity for memory and each sinister occurrence passed with only a mere raised eyebrow and a shrug before it was forgotten. The amulet he wore now glowed with cyan light, but it had always done that as far as he could remember. It thought and schemed for him and where it had once been a vessel itself, now the man was a holding place for some dire force. Wherever the silver locket touched, spidering veins of ice grew across his flesh. As the shadows of the manor rose up around him, he finally succumbed to the powers at work and so the Mekorithane, high priest and exarch of Methrosii, passed into existence.

The shadows over the shore began to twist like the waves and crawled out into the night, slowly infecting other places shrouded in darkness until the places of assassins, and thieves, and high crimes were touched in one massive embrace. The bleakness became even more empty for just a moment and then all was right again, but not quite.

And thus the River Cicatrix flowed from shadow to shadow, providing the second foundation of the Dreadrime. Between these two rivers spanned the bleakness of the Dreadrime. More of a quality of things than a place, the Dreadrime was the nexus between the flesh and will of Methrosii and the waking world.

(Act Raiser Completed - Created a demiplane between all shadows and another between all water; the Dreadrime itself is sort of coterminous to random things and places)

(Major Act - Created Exarch, Mekorithane; a exarch bound to the locket which contains a fraction of Methrosii's soul)

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Alvixa

Alvixa giggled in response to Aerthir's question. "Why, sir Aerthir, thy followers are so filled with love! Not romantic love, for they remain strangely unattached to the fairer sex, but love of thy precepts and of their honor and duty. So powerful, in fact, that I was drawn to the spot. And... well, I didn't have much to do."

When the new goddess entered the room, Alvixa smiled at her and fluttered her eyelashes. "I fear you are mistaken, but you have a very good idea... do you not think so, Aerthir?"

Aerthir rubs the back of his neck, and smiles sheepishly.

"It has been a while since I've spoken with a woman who was not a fellow soldier. I do not know if I have the words, or if I do I am not sure if I am ready to speak them. I am honored that you were so attracted to my knights and their devotion. I felt the passion you enflamed in their hearts."

Then he stops and smiles more confidently.

"I think I have an idea of how to repay you."

Aethir focuses, and almost instantly, the knights are filled with a sense of noble passion for the fairer sex. They were still devoted to the ideals of honor and justice, but now these were tempered with gentlemanly courtesy and romance. Many knights swore their devotions to their ladies and in the service of his lady, a knight would win glory, renown and love. Wherever his knights with, they now brought not only the honor of Aerthir, but the tenderness of Alvixia as well.

Act: Inspire the concepts of chivalry and courtly love amongst his followers.

[Maerok]

Dreadrime

The banks of the Escharys and the Cicatrix overflowed, merging together across the great empty plain of the Dreadrime. As the waters receded, most of it began to slowly shift into a whirlpool at the center of the demiplane. The liquid boiled up skyward and froze over into a fierce shape.

It crackled into countless shards of ice suspended in the air. Wisps of shadow danced between lethal points. The god shuddered like a wet dog and pelted the landscape with icy lances from his hide. "Time to get to work." Methrosii reached into his chest and grabbed hold of something. With two hands he ripped out a swirling mass and cast it aside onto the ground. As it landed the chunk of himself shrieked and broke apart into many insect-like pieces that scurried away across the plane. Upon entering the waters of either river they reached maturity and grew into lanky, horned beasts with terrible grins and frozen eyes.

(Major Act: Tear out his own soul; develop a personal ability to evade detection)

(Major Act: Creating Splinterkin; Methrosii's primary minions that operate the rivers and perform devious tasks)

[Obscurejones]

Josiah
Bored. Need something to do... Aha! I'll meddle. I find I have a taste for it. Jogging over to a nearby river Josiah grabs a fish and looks it in the eye.
Boogedy boo! With a brief display of silliness he infects it with viral hemorrhagic septicemia.
Now spread this around and be sure to tell all your friends how you got it. He tosses the fish back into the river.
Major Act to Infect the Fish/Keep it alive long enough to spread the wealth.

[Krrth]

Torin


Torin was doing what he did most days. Teaching the new residents how to use the techno-magic devices, how to build them, how to repair them, and perhaps most importantly: How they actually worked. Even for an immortal, this was getting just a tad bit tiresome. That was why when he received the message, he jumped at the chance to see what was up....somewhere else. Traveling to where the message originated, he looked around.


Yes, may I help you?

[ArcaneStomper]

YNH

"Welcome, I'm glad you answered my message", said YNH.

"I've been meaning to meet with the god who restored the Atlantean's pyramids ever since I became aware they had been repaired. As you can see I have made some modifications to the design of this one. First of all I have a warning to give you. Your stone mages may have noticed recently that a web has been tied to the pyramids that lets them detect divine magic. That was my web and recently I upgraded it significantly. If a mortal tries to access it now the increased amount of information would blow their mind. So you should probably tell them not to. It will hurt a god too although it won't instantly kill you if you want to access it out of curiosity."

"Now as to my request, I wish to have permission to recruit a few followers from among your people. I do not wish for many only a few scholars and wizards. People who have dedicated there entire lives to understanding how things work. I can understand if you do not wish to grant me access. However Atlanteans are a prosperous and adanced race, so I figured that finding followers who fit my criteria would be easier than in some village of farmers in the middle of nowhere. So I decided it was worth a shot asking you for permission."

[Krrth]

Torin

Yeah, I couldn't stand to see these pyramids in ruins like that. I spent too much time building them in the first place.

So, you wish to recruit among my people? You are welcome to try, but we don't have much use for Gods. Messy, annoying things, mostly. You'll probably get some, especially the newer members.

*pause*

Thanks for the warning about the network. If you don't mind, I'm going to seal off that change from the Island, for now anyways. Until we get everything up and working again, I'm leary of letting in any real changes.

[Raz_Fox]

Alvixa

Alvixa smiled at Aerthir, before kissing him lightly on the cheek. It says something about the goddess that just a quick brush of her lips was superior to any mortal pleasure.

"Thank you, sir knight. Truly, you know the meaning of chivalry."

With a gesture, she created a map of her followers' land, handing it to Aerthir. "This might be of use to your knights... and to you, for I spend much of my time there. Might I invite you to a feast in Tor Gallen, one of the greatest ports in the east? It is truly one of the finest places in the world, and I would love to teach you how to speak to a woman!"

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Alvixa

Alvixa smiled at Aerthir, before kissing him lightly on the cheek. It says something about the goddess that just a quick brush of her lips was superior to any mortal pleasure.

"Thank you, sir knight. Truly, you know the meaning of chivalry."

With a gesture, she created a map of her followers' land, handing it to Aerthir. "This might be of use to your knights... and to you, for I spend much of my time there. Might I invite you to a feast in Tor Gallen, one of the greatest ports in the east? It is truly one of the finest places in the world, and I would love to teach you how to speak to a woman!"

Aerthir blushes deep red as he is kissed, and he nods vigorously, finding it hard to find the right words.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Finally he speaks.

"I'd love to come! I can't work all the time now, can I?"