Heroes of Myth IC

[Kaiser Omnik]

You stand on the rocky beach of the Paradise Island, Afu. Here, there is no single sun. The island is brightly illuminated from all directions. The climate of Afu is always warm. The ocean breeze is refreshing.

You stand before the Giant Eunok. The father of a multitude of gods and goddesses. Eunok, who hatched from the primordial egg. Who breathed life in the universe. Who diverted the sacred river of Muna so it flooded the empty world below. Who conquered the river's guardian, a colossal reptilian beast, whose skeleton now serves as the base of Afu. The ruby that is encrusted in Eunok's arm was once the beast's single eye. He is tall and handsome, yet savage. He has the horns of a bull and a thick red mane. He is dressed in hides and wears bracers and boots. He is towering and somewhat intimidating; even those of you who can shapechange are always dwarfed by his size.

You kneel before this mighty being. But Eunok is humble. He asks you to stand up. He doesn't want to be revered by your kind, as a god is revered by the mortal Men. You will pay respect to him as is fitting for one's father, but no more. Eunok informs you that before you can join the Pantheon and call yourself a full deity, you must embark on a quest that will lead you in the lands of the humans. You will not return before having discovered the secrets of your soul and overcome a fitting challenge. The nature of your quest will only be revealed once you are there.

Eunok prepares to send you accomplish your tasks on the Isles of Dawn. He warns you that not all gods who go through this ordeal survive. He also tells you that killing a god during the tests is forbidden; if such a thing was to happen, the one responsible would be exiled forever from Afu. Suddenly, the world around you becomes blurry and the ground shakes under your feet. You feel like you slipped and are falling into a bottomless pit. A moment later, you find yourself in an unknown region, under a low, red sun.

Your destiny awaits.


OOC Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116768)

((OOC: You have approximately one week to claim your domain and craft a totem. You may also brand followers. You are not forbidden from interacting with each other, although two gods can't team up to complete their quests.))

[ArlEammon]

Garland fell, invisible and intangile into a great temple of chanting mages.
Garland awakes on the altar. The Stones surrounding Garland stand upright, and he slowly gets up from the altar in front of all of the stunned magicians.

He looks around at the crowd of gasping people, who are now worshiping him. He tells them all to stop, and instead asks them to revere him as a teacher and to honor him only as a wiseman. Garland receives an outstanding praise from all of the magicians there who feel his power, and he brands them all his students.

Brand People, the Issalyn.

[Jair Barik]

Ravarthis stared around in wonder at the beautiful land he had arrived in. Indeed Eunok was mighty indeed to have crafted such a thing. Before him stood the sea, resplendent in the evening sunlight. Golden sands lined the islands beach and a forest of tropical trees stood behind him. A single river poured out into the ocean to his left with many coloured fish swimming up and down its length, jumping in the rapids and flowing out to sea. Ravarthis frowned though for there was something wrong.

This was the Crescent Island home of the gateway to the Underworld, the Chimdrith. He had come here to claim his right to rule over death but there was more than that, he was troubled, confused by the feeling of the land. Following the river into the mainland he eventually came to a town built upon the entrance to the gate and saw what was wrong. The Chimdrith stood wide open, a gaping chasm in the ground from which the spirits of the dead walked forth. The dead moved freely here walking out into the mortal world, there numbers small as the world was knew but free nonetheless. It was clear to Ravarthis what the task before him was. He would journey into the Underworld and claim the throne of bone for himself, then he would end the waking of the dead. No man would freely leave his domain.

Ravarthis stood before the people of the Town and called to them filling them with awe. He proclaimed that he would lead 100 of their finest men into the Underworld to end the undeath that plagued the island. They would banish the Chivrik, the beast that dwelt on the throne of bone and claim the Crescent Island in his name. The people rejoiced for they had never before seen a God before and saw it as an honour to serve him. These became his first believers and of the 100 ten would become his first true chosen.


Ravarthis lead the 100 men down through the Chimdrith into the Underworld. It was an endless cavern beneath the land made of black obsidian from which no light was reflected. A solitary flame was in the Subterranean sky, a purple ball of fire that light up the scant detail that stood upon the Obsidian. Before him was a forest made of Steel trees each covered in thorns, hideous compared to those above. Descending down the jagged rock face towards the forest Ravarthis and his men caught their first glimpse of the River of lost souls, a trial they would have to cross if they were to reach The Last Gate and the Throne of Bone. They walked into the forest each man armed with a javelin made of thunder and wreathing them with armour made of flames, invocations that he could still cast despite lacking his full power. Ravarthis himself wore armour made of Ice and wielded an Axe created from frozen air. But before the first weapon was used he lost his first 5 men.

The trees leaned down the branches sweeping at the men, impaling those not fast enough to move aside. Their roots whipped up out of the ground dragging men to an obsidian grave. Ravarthis pushed on hacking at branches and burning all that opposed him with arcane fire. The chill touch of his weapon froze the very water of the trees shattering them and the Javelins of thunder rent them from the earth. As the men began to clear the far side of the forest a lone root grabbed Ravarthis by the leg and pulled him into the ground. He chopped off his own leg to avoid death then felled the tree in a single blow. Cutting a length of wood from its trunk he fashioned himself a new leg made of the fiendish, thorny steel then polymorphed it to living steel that replaced his lost limb.

[KreenWarrior]

Iorus took his father's words to heart, but decided for the moment to put off his quest. For four days and four nights, he traveled among the great civilizations of the land, the Halan, the Onok and the Baric, and drank with them, broke bread with them, danced and sang at their festivals, not letting them know of his presence. He sought out the hundred most interesting to him. He chose the beautiful, the passionate, those that burned with an inner fire. To them, he makes love, and delivers a kiss which brands them as his own.

[Krrth]

Korath

When Korath awoke, something seemed different. It took him a moment to realize what it was: He was a child! No longer the adult he had been, he was not a mere child of 7. While this was most annoying, he didn't know what he could do about it so he decided to look at his surroundings.

Looking around, he noticed he was by the muddy bank of a wide river. IN the distance, forest covered mountains could be see. As he searched, he noticed a sound. Someone was crying.

After searching, he found the source of the noise. A young girl about his "own" age was sitting in the mud looking at broken pottery. The pottery had contained grain, which was now strewn over the ground. When she saw Korath, she sniffed and stammered:

It's broken! I saw a snake and it startled me, so I dropped the grain. Now we won't have anything to eat. We don't have enough money to buy more, and mother is too sick to earn anything.

Korath was moved to pity: Even though she was a mere mortal and he a god, he never could stand to see a child cry. So, he gathered up the pieces. As he did, he noticed that the clay had interesting patterns in the texture. He stood there for a moment lost in appreciation before shaking his head.

Taking the pieces, he placed mud from the river to hold them in place. When the mud dried, it was enough (with a little divine help, but she didn't need to know that) to hold the jug in place. Scooping up as much grain as he could, he put it back in the container.

Come, let me help you take this home.

Staggering a little under the weight (why was this thing so heavy, anyways?) Korath followed her home. When he got there, he noticed the hut had been well built once but was falling into disrepair. When he asked, the girl (whose name was Honua he soon found out) what happended.

Bandits killed my father and injured mother. I was too young to remember, but the hurt her terribly. She does the best she can, but this last year she started coughing blood.

Korath went inside and greeted the older women. She as indeed very sick and wary of him. Korath soon managed to convince her he wasn't a threat. He offered to do what repairs he could around the house as well as work if they would feed and shelter him. The old women soon agreed.

Within a month, Korath had decorated the inside of the hut with bright colors to cheer her up. He had also fashioned a kiln to make pottery with, so that they would have some form of income.

It took time to create a good pot, especially since he couldn't help but decorate them, but he finally created one to his satisfaction. Taking it into the hut to show them, there was a flash...

[Smiley_]

Ahmua

The venomous goddess opted not to make herself a spectacle to the mortals of the islands. Instead, she decided to remain in the shadows and reveal herself to the dark underbelly of the surrounding civilizations. Simple enough, but what of the quest?

She wandered through the cold, dark forests, meditating on this dilemma. It was not long before she came upon a small , disappointingly run-down village, seemingly isolated from the greater civilizations of the surrounding lands. Carefully, she made her way into the various buildings. Most were abandoned and in various stages of disrepair. After a thorough search, she found that this long dead village might have blossomed into a great nation like the others, save for a calamity that struck it when it was still young. Deciding to rest, she dipped her clawed feet into a nearby river and took a drink, immediately tasting the foul poisons seeping into the water.

Ahmua followed the river upstream until it came to a large, dark cave. The water was brimming with a viscous mucous-like slime. She could hear something moving inside the cave, and she cautiously made her way forward.

[Raz_Fox]

...Sand. Sun. Wind. More sand. Cliff. I can hear the sea - and someone crying. Well, that's about all that I can tell of my surroundings. I get up off the ground, shaking the sand out of my clothes and stretching. I've got my wits and... well, my wits. This is going to be fun. I start to lazily amble towards the sound of crying.

---------

Mera looked out to sea, tears running down her cheeks. Behind her, the small village burned to ash, the stench of death tainting the wind. She'd been lucky to survive at all: the raiders hadn't found her hiding place, seemingly content with killing her parents and torching the house. There was nothing left for her now - but she'd survive! She'd find a way to avenge her people, and she wouldn't give up.

"Nice place you got here. Welllll, except for the burning rubble, but that's no problem, really." Mera screamed, turning to find a young man lounging next to her. He gave her a flash of ivory teeth, grinning in an innocent way. "Just look at this place! Perfect center for land and sea trade, a temperate oasis in this desert, large enough to harbor a city beneath the cliff - in fact, this could be an almost impenetrable position! I like it here, I like it a lot. Now, I'd need some support from a neighboring country or something of the like to build a proper city here, but - ow! What was that for?" He held his reddening cheek gingerly as Mera unloaded all her anger and grief onto him. "Are you heartless? This used to be my home - and now it's ruined! My home's been destroyed, my family and friends are all dead, and now you're here yammering on about how you want to... build a city... over my home..." The man put a finger to her lips as she started to break down again. "Hey. Calm down - I didn't know all that. Sorry for upsetting you, but what I said is true. This could be the site for the greatest city of all time, and since you seem to own this vale I'll ask your permission. May I seek to build the world's finest city here?" Mera stood stunned for a moment - him asking her permission? This was nonsense... and yet there was something about this man that made her want to trust him, his handsome features and his innocent grin. She nodded, and he sprang up. "Wonderful! Allow me to introduce myself - I am The Duke." "You're a duke? You're noble?" "No, you're not paying attention. I'm The Duke. Just... The Duke. Though I am pretty noble, if I don't say so myself." Mera laughed, for the first time in a while - there was something about him, again, that made her feel at ease. "I'm Mera, Duke, last of the Makid tribe." "So, Mera last of the Makid tribe, shall we journey together? I will seek to use any nearby nations to build this city - and I can promise you adventure, romance, guile and adventure. For... I believe you have a dream in your heart." Mera frowned. "Is that important?" "With me, it is."

---------

Jeric sat by the road, chewing on a pomegranate. He'd finally done it - he'd sold the forge and gone off to see the world. Well, there was no turning back now. He'd been told at the last inn that the Makid tribe might hold him for a night or two, an important resting place on the way to Lliath. His sharp ears heard someone coming, and he looked down the road.

They crested the ridge a couple of moments later, and he got a good look at them. One was a fair-skinned youth, unarmed and well-dressed, a noble of some sort obviously. The other must be his slave girl, dressed in the simple furs and un-dyed cloth of one of the coastal tribes, and pleasing to the eye. He hailed them with a cheerful wave. "Hullo! Were might you be heading to?" The noble gave him a grin, changing his course until he was standing by Jeric. "I'm not sure of it myself. Wherever I could find civilization, for I'm lost in these lands. But more to the point, where are you going?" Jeric winked at the nobleman and grinned. "Oh, I'm wandering - I used to be a humble smith, but it was always my dream to see more of the world." "Really?" Suddenly the noble looked interested indeed. "Well then, I'm interested in traveling with anyone who's chasing their dreams. Where are you headed to now?" "Oh, I'm roving to the lands of the Makid. They say their hospitality is legendary." The slave shook her head, sorrow etched in her face. "My people were set upon by raiders - the Makid are gone, burning by the sea. I am Mera, last of the Makid." It took Jeric a moment to find his voice. "I'm... sorrowful for your loss, Mera of the Makid. Since it seems my route to Lliath is ruined, it seems I must head to Antara instead - it's a civilized country, but a bit too much so for my tastes. However, you should find it worthy of your attention, my good sir." The noble grinned again as he sat down next to Jeric. "Yes indeed. Allow me to introduce myself - I'm The Duke, and my journeys all started when..."

---------

The campfire was only smoldering in the early hours of the morning, as Mera slept under Jeric's cloak and Jeric himself slept, his head resting on the trunk of a tree. I never slept, though - funny thing in one so interested in dreams. I just paced around the campfire, thinking.

There was, in theory, a place for everything. A realm of sheer fire, a realm of endless night - there was in potential a place for anything. Why not a land of dreams? One could anchor it, bind it to the world, rule it. Yes!

I have some divine power - thanks, Dad - and I focused, turning the universe by a half-twist

and suddenly everything is everything and nothing at all and swirling chaos everything in potential could be everything can be everything always changing never logical never playing by the rules chessboard now labyrinth now dead house and suddenly a stately pleasure dome of gold
and i said let there be order let there be chaos under rules let the dreams be shaped to mortal will let the nightmares and goblins and promises and hopes and dreams be under my dominion
and it laughed at me and changed all the rules when i wasn't looking mocked me said it needed no king but i could anchor it to the world and make it mine and i laughed in secret to myself and i needed the anchor to make it order and wonder not endless chaos

And suddenly I was propelled at quite a fast speed into a tree, waking both Jeric and Mera. Sometimes immortality hurts.

---------

The shouts of pursuit rang out behind Garrin as he raced down the alleyways, the bread cradled carefully in his arm. It seemed eternal, racing over rooftops and down dark streets, but finally he settled down and let the pursuit fade away. He ate the bread hungrily, the first food he'd had in days.

Then someone yelled out, the watch whistle blew again, and he was running for his life again, down into the bazaar, dancing between stalls and between yelling crowds. Hopefully he'd be lost - but then the pursuit started to catch up, and he ducked away into a tailor's stall. The watchmen continued running past, and he breathed a sigh of relief; then he realized that all four people in the stall were staring at him. A fair-skinned noble with one of Antara's fine thin-bladed swords at his side, a woman wearing the blue silk of a courtesan and a tall, well-built man trying on a tunic and a pair of trousers, not to mention the surprised tailor. Garrin stammered out, "Ah... wrong stall?" The tailor leaped up and started to move to the door, almost certainly to call the police - and then the nobleman grabbed the tailor's sleeve and gave him the kind of grin that a cat gives to a mouse. "Sit down." Garrin started to bolt out the door, until the nobleman grabbed his collar and hauled him back with surprising strength. "No, I don't think you're going anywhere. You're a thief, aren't you?" Garrin looked into his eyes in fright - good Sahedrin, they were cat's eyes - and began to stammer again. "I hadn't eaten in days and I can't find work and it was just some bread and I was starving." The noble looked closer into his eyes, lowering his face until it was barely an inch away from Garrin's face - before giving a triumphant yelp that scared Garrin half to death. "You've got something that's keeping you going - some hope... no, some quest, isn't it? Something that's worth stealing food over, something that you want more than anything." Garrin's mouth fell open in shock. "How'd you know?" The noble grinned, like a cat playing with a mouse. "Oh, I'm good at reading faces. Really good." Keeping a tight grip on Garrin's collar, he turned to the merchant. "Now, how much did you want for the silks, the striking red-and-black vest and the tunic and trousers?"

---------

I sat back, watching Garrin demolish the food on his plate. Mera was eating some fish - reminded her of home, I guess - while Jeric tore into his roast, but Garrin just ate anything I put in front of him. I flipped a golden coin to the astounded waiter - apparently only the richest of rich have gold here - and leaned forward, looking at my three companions.

"So, let me sum up for all of us. There's the last of the Makid tribe, her goal is to keep her people's memories alive; there's the wandering smith, whose dream is to see the world; and there's the orphaned thief who wants to be a swordsman; lastly the amazing man who wants to create the grandest city in the world." And control the realm of dream, I added silently. Create my anchor.

"Now, Antara is one of the most civilized countries within leagues. So, we'll use the Antaran "Emperor" to build the city for us - and with his military might and dominance of the region, the other countries will be forced to pitch in. Are we all committed?" "Maybe... this city will be the memorial for my people. I will aid you until the end, Duke." "I'll stand by her - simply because I like you all. There's a charm about you, Duke, and I have a feeling I'll find more adventure standing by you then just wandering." "Just keep feeding me and I'll do whatever you want." "Excellent. Soon, we'll convince the Emperor to build a grand city by the coast." "And how do you plan to get admittance to the Emperor, and convince him to build the city? It's a grand expense, and I'm wondering how you'll do it." "Well, it starts with you selling me in the slave markets." Garrin choked on his food, Mera's jaw dropped and Jeric just stared at me.

By Eunok, I live for moments like that.

[Jair Barik]

Ravarthis looked about him and saw that of the 100 men he had already lost 32 within the forest. Turning to the River he began to wade through its shallows, the first of his men followed but was instantly struck down, screaming in pain he fell into the river. The river was death to mortals and so even if Ravarthis could swim its length safely he would have to go on alone. So coming back out of the river he took his axe and began chopping up the trees that had been felled in the passage through the forest. From them he fashioned longboats with which his men could sail the river and oars.

They sailed across the great river and all seemed well but as they reached the halfway point the water boiled and burned. The boats beginning to break Ravarthis summoned up a great wind to speed them across the water. They flew with great speed but alas one of the boats was too slow and sank beneath the waves taking another 15 men with it.

Pulling the boats ashore Ravarthis noticed a great snake with a long silver tongue approach him from a pass through the Obsidian cliffs that lay at this side of the river. "I am the serpent of the silver tongue" spoke the snake. "Answer my riddles and I shall let you pass"

Ravarthis accepted this challenge and the contest began. "The rich need it The poor have it If you eat it you will die Who am I? "
"A simple riddle the answer is nothing" replied Ravrthis.

The serpent cackled and began to speak again
"I turn around once. What is out will not get in. I turn around again. What is in will not get out. What am I?" to which he replied "A key" The riddle contest went on like this and soon he realised that the snake would never have a last riddle. So he proposed a change in game. Pouring words of flatery upon the snake they agreed that Ravarthis would have on hour to produce a riddle to which the snake could not answer if he was to be declared the winner.

The hour over he returned to the snake with his hood over his head and said. "The God Ravarthis has only of these, made of flesh and blood. Through which he sees many a things but cannot see a side of his nose. The riddle was poor and lacked fluidity but the snake was puzzled. Confused by the riddles meaning it couldn't answer and so Ravarthis won, pulling down his hood to reveal that he had gouged out one of his eyes and replaced it with an eye made of the foul wood of the forest, cut from one of his boats.

[Ra_Va]

Tz'Aren descended to his region. In fear and awe of the Giant skeletal mass they bowed down to worship him. They brought him 100 small children. All of the children were less then a summers old. He held the newborns who simply looked at him in awe more curious then afraid. A dark glow came around the children. Tz'Aren set them down. "They will grow faster then any man before them and live much longer, they will guide your people to become stronger and they will teach you many things of magic and war. Your barbaric tribe will rule under thier leadership."

Brand People, the Karond.

Tz'Aren then disappeared to his home realm. His quest could wait until his new tribe had advanced enough to help him with such things. In the center of the room was a single feather kept inside glass. This feather was all that remained of his former self. Tz'Aren was not always a skeleton. He was once a handsome Giant gifted with wings. His wings were both a gift and a curse. With the made him unique a one of a kind soul however they also installed jealousy in those of his brethren. He was killed with a poisonous arrow. However he didn't die, or at-least not in the traditional sense. He had become monstrous caught in-between life and death itself. It led him to trust very few of his brothers and sisters as he does not know who shot the arrow.

[Kaiser Omnik]

((OOC: Ra_Va, see the original post in the recruitment thread. You can't use any major act, minor act or ceremony during the first turn.))

[ArlEammon]

Garland
Garland learns of the great Demon Prince Karmoth forcing the people of the town to worship him. Karmoth the Demon Prince was known for having powers so great that the primitive shaman mages of this country of Sarumion almost knew for certain that he was a god. The Demon Prince Karmoth had murdered an entire Dragon Clan singlehandedly, and created the infamous Forbidden Necropolis.

Garland began to ward the city of Sarumion from the demons of the Necropolis and how to teach the people inside more powerful magic. First, he taught them ritualistic magic, and then, he taught some evocation. Throughout the months, up until a year, Garland succesfuly lead the resistance against Karmoth's regime, suffering few losses.

Garland's leadership eventually lead to a Mage's guild being built in the city.

[Ra_Va]

((OOC: Ra_Va, see the original post in the recruitment thread. You can't use any major act, minor act or ceremony during the first turn.))

{ooc:ey, sorry will edit}

[Milskidasith]

Ril-Cer looked around the town he had landed in. He saw little of interest; simple things, like a bakery, a farm, and a blacksmith. Nothing that could help him on his quest. He felt a spark of power in the town, though. Somewhere, there was...he was unsure, but a power similar to his own. The power to reshape the world with his thoughts. He disguised his eyes to look like those of humans with a small illusion, and then set out, walking through the brown cobblestone streets to find where this power came from.

He came to a bright, shining building. Unlike the rest of the city, the building was clean, and looked new. The sign on the top of the building read "Mage's Guild." Ril-Cer knew the power he felt was coming from here, so walked in. Inside, he saw a middle aged man, wielding a staff and wearing brown robes. There was not much power in him, but Ril-Cer could sense that he desired more, and that was enough.

What is it that you do here?

I practice Magic.

What is Magic?

Magic is controlling the world with your thoughts, your will. You take the power from within, and use it to create something far greater in the real world.

Ril-Cer now knew what his power was called in the language of the humans; Magic. He knew that it was his destiny to control it, and use it to control the lands; he considered physical strength to be useless in the face of arcane power.

I am seeking out the strongest source of Magic in an attempt to control it as my own. If you could follow me, you would be greatly rewarded. With a flash, Ril-Cer revealed his glowing yellow eyes. The mage jumped back with suprise and pointed his staff at Ril-Cer, but Ril-Cer began to explain. I am a Deity, cast down by my father Eunok in order to claim my domain and shape the world. I can see power in you, and I need your knowledge of this world.

Hmm... a tempting offer. Fine, I will join you. My name is Andale Kinstone. I will seek out some of my companions; the honor of being disciples of a God is not one they will pass up.

After a while, Andale returned with six other mages, from a venerable old sage hunched over to a young boy of only 15, bright eyed and naive. Ril-Cer sensed that they all had some Magical aptitude, so he was content to have them. Ril-Cer turned towards the sage.

Sage, do you know where the greatest source of magic on this island is?

Of course I do! I've lived here for 70 long years! The greatest source of magic on this island is the ancient gold dragon Magetooth. He lives in the caves on the tallest mountain on this island.

Very well. We will set out tomorrow to find him, and then we will defeat him.

D..defeat him? He has lived for a thousand years! His power dwarfs all of our powers combined!

His power may be greater than yours, but it is not greater than mine! When he spoke the word "not", a magical explosion blasted a five foot wide hole in the wall of the mage's guild.

Ril-Cer left, and waited outside the city, staring at the mountain, sensing the great presence of the dragon. Night came and went. The next morning, he went back to the mage's guild. All seven mages were outside, carrying their staves and backpacks filled with food, scrolls, and various supplies. Ril-Cer nodded, and then they set off on the trail, headed for the mountain.

[Jair Barik]

The snake lead Ravarthis and his remaining me through the maze of cliffs and chasms till they reached a great wall in which there was a gate and an altar. This was the Gate of eternity and beyond it was the chamber in which the throne of bone and the last gate lay. But the Gate of Eternity demanded a sacrifice of blood to be paid at the alter before it would open.

Ravarthis chose the oldest most wounded man from amongst his soldiers and sacrificed him but this wouldn't appease the gate. Next he chose the youngest, healthiest of his men, but this wouldn't appease the gate. Next he broke open one of the boats they had brought from the river and poured the woods life blood into the alter, but this wouldn't appease the gate. Accepting the truth Ravarthis cut off his arm and flesh from his chest pouring them into the alter and replacing them with the devil wood about his body until at last the gate was appeased and it began to swing open.

Not even Ravarthis was prepared for what lay beyond the gate. The chamber was filled with an amassed army of the dead, souls who had sworn allegiance to the Chivrik. And upon the throne of bone lounged the great beast itself. A giant lion with the wings of a bat and tail of a scorpion, a rams head and a dragons head as well as that of a lion, fur barbed with razor sharp scales and claws that could split mountains in twain. The throne itself was a sight to behold, carved from a single rib of the great lizard by Eunok himself it was magnificent and beyond any God bar him. With a great roar Ravarthis lead the charge running towards the beast hurling javelins of thunder and axes of ice, whipping it with lashes of fire and dousing it with clouds of acid.

The beast yelled in pain its lions head being torn asunder but it came on and grappled with Ravarthis tearing hunks of flesh from his body nand goring him on the horns of the ram. The Ram's horns penetrated his flesh like that of a mortal for its skeleton was made of Chardil, a metal harder than any natural steel, a metal found only within the Underworld and even there only in scarce amounts. Ravarthis fought back removing himself from the beasts horns and rolling around to its back in order to chop of its flailing tail with his axe. Next he leapt onto its back and hacked at its wings only to be brushed aside and thrown to the ground. Staggering back to his feet he caught the Chardil a mighty blow with a whip of fire that severed one of its great legs and burned its hide, but the beast was quick. Its Dragon head opened its mouth and breathed out acid unlike any Ravarthis had seen before. The acid burnt his skin and soon there was nothing left of him.

Rallying to the leaders need the last 10 of his men who had not yet been defeated by the ghostly horde ran at the beast and threw the last of their javelins at the dragons head, where one managed to pierce its eye and penetrate into its brain. The Ram swung round and gored each man in turn but didn't kill them, instead choosing to gloat over them their defeat and the defeat of their God. And then it bled.

A tiny cut appeared on its cheek. Then another. It stared at the blood. Another cut, and again. Bellowing in rage it looked for the offender only to find instead a prick of pain at the back of its throat. Though his body had been all but destroyed Ravarthis lived on in the air. The acid had burnt his flesh but left millions upon millions of tiny thorns from the fell wood that had since become Ravarthis' flesh. Now these thorns flew up in a mist of fury, innumerable blades that tore flesh from bone (for the bone was too hard for even the thorns to damage) and ripped at the beasts last head. Seeing their leader begin to fall the last of the spirits scattered in fear, afraid that they may feel the wrath of the Underworld's new ruler.

The beast dead and now nothing but a skeleton Ravarthis moved to the throne. From there he surveyed his kingdom and looked upon the ten men. They would die, but not yet. Instilling them with power he made them stronger, fixing their wounds but leaving them as hideous shadows of the men they once were. These would be the first of his chosen, his branded. Then he looked at the other 90 now dead. These he raised and branded but as they were dead they would stay within the Underworld, never again venturing to the mortal realms.

Ravarthis would have much work to do. First he sealed the gate of the Chimdrith. After this he would have to resolve other matters. One of his first acts as the ruler of the Underworld was to take up the fallen skull of the Ram and use at as his own, both as his totem and as his head. But even though they were God's the sons of Eunok were falliable, and Ravarthis didn't realise that until a judge was appointed the souls of the dead would be condemned to stay in the river as they couldn't pass to paradise or to damnation.

[OrangeQuarter]

It hurt.

Millions of voices, uncentered, uncontrolled, all screaming the same thoughts. "The Cattle are Loose!" "I dropped the bread!" "The milk is bad!" Pathetic. A world of individuals, none higher or lower than another, none noble or ignoble, nothing with a place or time or reason beyond existance. Father would be appalled.

Paras opened his eyes carefully. The bright light from the skies gave him reason; for reasons unknown it's uncentered ambiguity hurt him, angered him. In fact, the sky itself was cause for annoyance. one single color, stretching from horizon to horizon, uninterrupted by any cloud or bird. Totally synchronization. Disgusting.

Paras rose from his resting place, casting his gaze over the land on which he stood. For miles and miles, all around him, was a flat expanse of land. Wheat and grass grew endlessly to the horizon. Not a single tree blocked his veiw. Paras cringed at the landscape, and began to trudge forward, hoping to find something above all this mess.

[Emperor Demonking]

The god looked around the world, his eyes shone with pure raw excitement, any thoughts of quests vanished from his mind as he looked around and saw the trees and smelt the rich smells of the flowers. He picked a few small daisies and started to sit in the shade as he watched the world and started absent-mindedly creating a small daisy chain. He then fell to rich sleep.

Asleep, he saw an old building, broken down along what seemed to formerly a busy path but had recently only been used once or twice and overrun with plants, he noticed a few grey birds nesting in the background, apparently the only life for miles around. As he woke up, he put the daisy chain in his pocket and started off on his journey to find the building.

Going further into the woods, he eventually came up on a camp of around twenty people, they reacted at first by raising their swords but Plrna spoke gently and told them of his quest. At the description of the grey birds the people cried in fear, one calling them the “Omens of death”, the other merely calling them “Death, themselves”

Despite that, the god was told of where they roosted and directions of where to get there. As Plrna turned to leave and started to leave, a man followed him. Plrna questioned him but eventually gave into the man’s wish and continued the journey with the man by his side.

[ArlEammon]

Garland
Garland's totem, the Garland Wand, was made over the course of a month of constant ritualizing and spell casting of destructive magics into a mystical metal, an orihalcon stone at the top, and dragon bones from the Forbidden Necropolis.

Soon, the city's wards began to waver and losses were slightly but significantly higher. Garland began another ritual. All of his Chosen joined him in a Circle Spell that they began and chanted for over an entire day. Exhausted, they fell, but the lesser magicians that were taught for a year protected them as Garland sent forth himself, empowered by the magics of 100 chosen, and his own ritual, he was much more powerful.

Garland teleported through all of Karmoth's wards and appeared with his extremely powerful weapon. He was floating in the air, and he incinerated a greater demon, gaurding Karmoth's Throne Room. Demon after demon assaulted Garland from inside the Throne, and from within other parts of the mighty fortress. Garland lifted his wand into the air, calling a mighty thunder bolt to shatter the bones of a twenty foot long, and twenty foot high demon creature, wielding a wand himself. The spells clashed against eachother, and this demon seemed to be the only challenge before Karmoth. After a three minuted duel between Garland and the sorcerer demon, Garland overcame the other caster with some effort. The thunder bolt tore through the demon's curses and exploded it's heart.

Garland immediately pointed the wand at the gate into the Throne Room of Karmoth, and the double doors were torn from their enchanted hinges, and slammed into the tyrant, who was sitting on his throne. The gates slammed into him hard, knocking off his crown. After Karmoth got onto his feet, Garland teleported in front of him and touched Karmoth with the artifact, immediately giving the demon all of the energy he had in his body. Karmoth stumbled back, dizzily trying to regain balance, as Garland fell, exhausted onto the floor. His demon gaurds seized Garland by the legs and arms, as Karmoth regained balance, he grabbed Garland by the neck and broke his neck.

All seemed lost. . . As the body, seemingly dead, crumpled to the floor in front of Karmoth, the wand hovered above the body, unseen by Karmoth and the others. Karmoth laughed, it had seemed that the only threat to him had just failed to prove he was who he said he was, and had been executed for assassination. But the wand, still unseen went into Garland's hand, and the body radiated with blue energy. The body stood up-right, and Garland seized an axe from a demon gaurd without even touching him.

From behind, Garland brought the axe into Karmoth's groin, and tore the lower part of his body off. As Karmoth screamed in agony, Garland brought down the wand on Karmoth's head and silenced him. The demons screamed, howled and escaped with their lives.

[Kasanip]

Upon the sweet smelling soil and grass, Mir found herself strewn. It was here that she heard the first whispers of the earth and the grass, of the wind and the chirping of birds. Ahead the great red sun burned low on the horizon of the sea. But Mir was not drawn that way, for deep within her mind and heart, she was at a loss.
Slowly she wandered across the bluffs and vales that ran along the coast, and for many days and nights she was alone among the animals of the forests and valleys. Many times she privately wondered what it was she was seeking. What sort of quest had Eunok foreseen in her destiny?

At last, when she had started to secretly give up hope, she entered a clearing, and looked down to a city where mortal humans resided. She was struck by the simplicity of their dwellings, yet she felt drawn to them, and so down she went into the town.

Upon spotting Mir, the townsfolk were openly hospitable, yet reserved, for they did not know why such a well dressed young girl had appeared from the forest. Mir in her silence only watched until the townsmen had brought forth an elder, a man whose weathered gray beard and wrinkled skin appeared more of a gnarled tree than a man. Slowly the man, supported by two others, hobbled forwards to her, and then raised both his hands together, in a sign of greeting.
It was with this symbol that Mir felt inescapably drawn to them. She responded to the symbol with her own little two hands.
She stayed with the town for a long time, watching the adults do their works, and experiencing the play of the children. The skills of the wives in weaving and cooking she observed with interest. As time passed, the children grew older, and the adults turned gray. All of this Mir saw and remembered deep in her heart.
But the subtle hooting of the owl at night would keep her awake, ever reminding her that her quest was not complete, nor could she forever dwell within the town.
And so on one crisp spring morning, when the dew had just started to dry, she sat in a circle with the elders of the village, and with a gentle motion, she reached to the hem of her tunic, and peeled off a line of the words, which ever glistened upon it. She lay these letters before them, and explained their purpose. For though the townspeople of the vale had voice and story, they did not have the subtle knowledge of how to capture these things.
For knowledge can be kept and passed through words, but words are only transient. Therefore should humans desire the deepest bounds of wisdom, then they must pursue knowledge and organize it into records.
She stayed long enough to teach the children the art of writing, and then she left, to spread this knowledge to other peoples.

[Raz_Fox]

"This is a stupid idea. We're going to be killed. The Emperor will imprison us for a year and a day." I looked at the young man, shaking my head. "Relax. Trust The Duke. He's smart, and I believe he'll have prepared the way for us. Besides, if this fails, all that will happen is that he refuses us - which, if The Duke is right, won't happen." The guard returned to us, seeing only a nobleman, his barbarian slave and his bond-sword seeking to speak with the Emperor. "The Emperor, Eunok grant him life eternal, will see you now." I bowed, Garrin awkwardly imitating me, Mera moving with grace. "Thank you."

The Emperor's throne room wasn't what I expected - dark walls and pillars with little color but for the bright weapons hanging from the walls, his Shadows standing behind the stoic Emperor with their hands on their swords, chosen concubines dressed in azure silk reclining next to the throne. One in particular caught my eye, and I grinned as the dark-haired vixen danced before the Emperor's throne; the Emperor was gazing longingly at her as she moved with energy and grace. This would be as easy as The Duke had said.

I fell to my knees before the Imperial Throne, Garrin and Mera again following my lead. "My Emperor, may Eunok grant you life eternal, I have come to speak about a matter that worries me." The Emperor nodded, his bright eyes watching me like a hawk watches its prey. "Speak." "My lord, I was sleeping in my bed a month ago, when a vision came to me. I stood by the sea, by a great fire and a mighty cliff, and a voice cried out upon the wind - Here shall be the greatest city that ever existed, where men shall walk in waking dreams. Antara's flag shall fly over its mighty walls, in the rule of the Twin Sheiks. Go now, man of Antara, and build the City of Dreams. I saw men of Antara setting the foundations and men from every neighboring nation bringing the supplies to build the walls and palaces, and the city arose before me, as great as the voice had spoken. Then I awake, and I cannot fall to sleep again." "Stop." I held my tongue, trying to stifle a smile. "How strange that one of my nobles should share a vision with me - for this past month I have had that dream. My wise men know not why, nor where this place might be within the Empire. I cannot sleep for the curse upon me. Tell me, do you know where this City of Dreams will be built?" I smiled in truth then, gesturing to Mera. "When it became known among my household that I was haunted by visions, a slave from the lands of the Makid came to me and told me that it was her ancestral lands, which had been ransacked by raiders not two months before, and that the voice might have been that of their goddess, the Dreaming Maiden." The Emperor sat back, pondering my words for a long time. I heard a quiet sound, barely at the edge of hearing, and knew that The Duke manipulated the Emperor further. "Very well. In the name of the Empire, I order you to build this place for me, noble Jeric. The Imperial storeholds are yours, and any aid I can give is at your command. Build this City of Dreams, and allow me to rest once more."

---------

That night, the Emperor had a different dream, one I whispered into his ear and sent onto him. He saw me in my true form, calling out - "There's someone, young sister, caught in the border. Let's get into contact once more, daughter of Eunok! I am the Sheik of Night, dressed in ebony; rise up, my sister, and let's cross the border! Reveal the secret, one more soul to burn - let the Dreaming Maiden and the Sheik of Night ride across the stars once more, hunting the lost fool!" Pretentious and enigmatic, I know - but there's no harm in giving yourself a reputation.

By the time he awoke in a sweat, I had disappeared, changing form from the maiden to that of a red-and-black hawk, soaring out his window and out into the night.

---------

Six months had passed since we went to see the Emperor. The Duke had returned to us by the time we arrived at my homeland again, and together The Duke and Jeric had coordinated the building of the city. Wood came from the great redwoods of far-off Januli, stone from the Imperial Quarries. Every resource we needed came from Antara, and gold and marble and silk came pouring in.

I truly think that The Duke placed some kind of glamour on the materials - wood and stone combined in the city to form buildings that seemed almost enchanted. Walking down the streets was like walking through a dream, especially as settlers came. The city was magic, in a way.

The city took only half a year to complete - again, I think The Duke was responsible for how fast the construction took. The Antaran Emperor and his brother were en route to the new city of Al-Makid when The Duke really called down the thunder...

---------

I stood on the palace walls, looking down at my city. This city was almost a fairy-tale in the waking world. If it were any other city, this enchantment would fade in time, as people surged into the city and wore down its wonder day by day. But not Al-Makid, my greatest work of art.

I stood, and stepped out into space, turning the universe a half-twist

and the realm laughed at me again buffeting me with chaos and insanity nothing was real nothing was sane nothing at all it broke me almost mind shattering confusion terrible and it laughed at the puny thing of order
and i laughed and took my memories of the perfect city and everything that was enchanted pure fairy-tale and i cried laughed mocked as i bound the anchor and it screamed in fury
and i turned the tables now i broke its insanity bound it to the story bound it to my will to mortal will to what was true in the world and its insanity entered me and seeped into the truth an insane realm of what was right and true and i smiled and said this is acceptable
and i spoke and said you are mine and you will obey me and i will dwell in your mighty halls i will shape you with my dreams and we will be one the land needs a king and the king needs a land
but the darkness lashed out again as i crowed my triumph

and I stood in midair, laughing my triumph - it was mine! I had anchored the realm of dreams to the world! I was its king and master, and it was my land!

And then I looked up and frowned. "Oh. Someone's a sore loser." And then the lightning bolt smote into me.

The builders - most of them the first inhabitants of the city - and my three mortal dreamers came to the gate when the bolt hit, in time to see me stagger back onto my feet. "Thankfully, only in a dream could someone survive that. Hahaha!"

"I am the Lord of Dreams!"

---------

I was so nervous I could barely speak, but I bowed and said what I was supposed to anyway. "Uh... welcome, Emperor and Sheik of Day, to Al-Makid, the City of Dreams." The Emperor and his brother looked at each other, then at me - still nervous. "Sheik of Day?" "Ay, Emperor - the Sheik of Day, destined to rule by the Sheik of Night. Will you come and meet him?" Oh no, the Emperor was stiffening, looking at me with... fear? "The Sheik of Night claims rule to this city?" I simply nodded, before gesturing into the city. "Will-will you f-follow me, my great lords?"

I led them through the streets, listening to them and their Shadows admire the colorful city, its clear layout, the perfect buildings and the enchantment over it. I was a bit proud - they admired buildings I had helped build, streets I had paved. Finally, we came up to the Great Palace, and we all stopped and stared at The Duke, dressed in black and leaning up against the Palace wall.

"What's the matter, my great lords? Have you never seen a man leaning against a wall?" Finally, the Sheik of Day responded, "Never one ten feet in the air... would you be the Sheik of Night?" He grinned, a predator's grin. "Yes. You like my city?" Suddenly, he seemed to lose his balance and fall - before landing on the ground in a half-crouch and standing easily. "Follow me into the Land of Dreams, and I will show you wonders beyond imagining..."

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna and his servant came to a stop on his journey as he came to one of the great six ancient city states. He came to it and saw the people running around, he stopped one of them and spoke in a commanding voice. “Where is the place, in the middle of the route to here and your neighbour?”
“Ha” Cried the person. “We don’t go there, and they’re too smart to come here after doing what they’ve done.”
“What did they do?”
“They stole our children, didn’t they.” Said the person, wondering who this stranger was.

Plrna, found every member of this city he spoke to equally unhelpful and as such, trusting his godly instincts he travelled without help. Fortunately, he was on the track and came to the place, which was exactly like that in his dream. Only with one significant difference, the building, which was the focus of his vision, did not exist. Getting on his knees, he looked for anything to suggest a building had ever been there. As he did so, the building started to appear, but still Plrna felt that his quest was not over.

Then, he saw the great grey birds start to fly off and Plrna and his servant started to follow them. They ran across the plains until the birds were out of sight. The servant spoke. “I bet they went to the dark mountain, there yonder.”
Plrna agreed but “I feel that you should leave me now. It kis my instincts and I trust my instincts.”

[Fan]

People say that fire is the ultimate force of destruction, how is burns down homes, and breaks families, I disagree, in Fire there is chaos, and destruction. The seeds of life. In Ice there is perfect tranquility, and perfect order. Bringing only frigid death.
~ Diary Entry of Illindri, frost mage in the Northern Breen Mountains.

The Frost Mage Illindri sat up in his rime encrusted tower in the solitude of the mountains, flipping through a book who's cover had small stalactites where the environmental protection spells had began to recede. He knew that the flame of life grew dim within his heart, and that he had little time left. He rose from the stone chair he had built, his personal motto engraved in chisled latin near the head rest "Momento mori" (Remember, Death.). He walked over shakily to the stone table at the other side of the room, his limbs barely able to carry him, but he knew what he must do. He picked up the forbidden reagents, having to focus to identify the heart of lamb, from the Yak's spleen, as he tossed the ingredients into the massive stone cauldron near the table, a gray green smoke wafting up from it.

He adjusted his ice crystal spectacles, being sure that he had retrieved the right kind on onyx, before tossing a powder of abyssal diamond into the pot, this caused the smoke to shift colors rapidly, and dance as a gust of wind blew through the shuttered window, sending a plank of wood flying. Illindri swore vengance on the wind before adding in the now powdered onyx, which turned the smoke black, and gave it the smell of brimstone. Illindri smiled at this, he wrinkled features taking on a malelovent glare, as he chanted a spell, the winds from outside whipping around him, carrying him into the air, as flesh began to flay itself from him. This uncovered muscle, which began to peel away from the bone, tendons snapped, and a black energy began to course into his form, before another bolt of blue energy coursed into the black, and he feel to the ground. Rime beginning to coat the floor where his now bony feet touched, and his very presence making the room colder. Yes.... This would work well. Illindri then began to write out the next stage of his plot.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna carried on until he came to a great lake; there he stopped a moment to check if he was going in the right direction. Plrna dived into the cold and icy depths of the lack and strongly swum to the other side of the lake. Nothing disturbed him and he smiled about it. It was there he came to valley and he saw no way to cross it until he suddenly became one of the dark grey birds.

With his grey bird like mind he, almost on instinct, flew over the valley and to the top of the mountain. His instinct and a magic calling allowed him to go through the secret entrance and to not need to go through the powerful, impassable iron gates. It was that instinct that caused him to fly into the cage which quickly locked behind him.

Plrna could see no way to escape from the cage but struggled until the dark witch, with her cloak made of the grey feathers from her grey birds came in and started to monologue about her kidnap of the city’s children and the foolishness of the city believing that their neighbours did it.

Days Passed

The Grey Witch was distracted and left the room and her distracted state broke the spell casted on the grey birds, including Plrna. As the rest of the birds acted crazy, Plrna turned into a mouse and deftly escaped from his cage. Out of the room, Plrna turned to normal as he started to make his way outside. Outside, he saw an army of one hundred men led by his servant and the Grey Witch watching them. She smiled as she saw that they couldn’t get through her gates.

Plrna stepped forward as he yelled. “It is not your neighbours that stole your children, it is this witch.” With that, Plrna came and pushed the Grey Witch off the mountain. Turning once more into a bird, he flew down to the army hoping that now, friendly relations would once again be formed between the two cities and that the path once travelled would be travelled on once more.

[Smiley_]

Ahmua dragged herself out of the slime, finding herself in a large chasm, from the feel of it. She cast her gaze around and could see nothing, despite the heavy breathing she felt. She then gazed upward and emotionlessly scrutinized the massive throbbing, banded, sluglike monstrosity on the roof of the cavern. She could not help but notice the human bones stuck to the roof by the sticky fluids that dripped into the pool below.

More curious than anything, Ahmua wrapped the shadows around herself, watching this creature. For a day and a half, the creature did not move. Finally, it stirred and slid to the ground in a deluge of slime. Ahmua knew this strange thing, this demon, wold come back after dragging some hapless beast to it's lair. Nimbly, the goddess scurried up the cave walls. The slime made it difficult, but not impossible. As she sprang to the spot where the beast was resting, she perceived a cluster of squirming larvae. She gingerly picked one up and slit it open with one of her claws. The creature hissed and quickly died after the evisceration.

Amused, she ran a finger under her chin as it swelled into a long red claw. She drove it into the cluster, relishing the hisses of agony as the desiccating venom she used forced their bodies to expunge the water stored in their bodies. She kept three for herself, paralyzing them and hiding them under her shawl.

She nimbly hopped down and made herself absent. She saw no reason to deal with the parent now. She had grand plans for these tiny, simple, disgusting vermin.

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

Far away from the forest, Ahmua began doctoring the creatures she had liberated from that forest cave. The first was rendered useless by the goddesses constant probing, but the other two, after giving them her own blood and nursing them back to health time and again as they got used to the thousands of toxic agents swimming in the goddesses body, were to become quite different than the oversized leeches.

Finally, they were ready. They were deep purple, pudgy larvae with a chitin covered head. They were rather unremarkable and by no means resilient to the ravages of the outside world. However, they would serve her purpose nicely.

[KreenWarrior]

Iorus arose from his revels and looked towards the horizon. He had left his quest long enough; it was time for him to seek the Dragonheart Mountain, where he would find the nexus of power that would enable him to take his rightful place as the Lord of Fire. He travelled, quickly as the wind, across the woods and mountains of the world, to the Desert of Tears. There he walked, for the power of the desert was strong enough to slow and hinder even a god. Still, he moved quicker than any mortal, and the burning heat did not harm him, for while he was not yet crowned, his blood still ran hot with the fire of the world.

Within a day he came to the Mountain, a dark, deadly peak, covered in ash and obsidian. Smoke rose from it continuously, and the heat near the base would be more than enough to kill a mortal man. Still, his journey was not done. He began to climb the peak.

The climb was long and dangerous, and took him another day. He stumbled and fell time and time again, and cut himself on jagged rock and volcanic glass, but still he trekked upwards. He would not be defeated by such minor matters. He faced the beasts of the mountain; great hounds forged of rock; a swarm of fiery imps, and finally, strange, mechanical creatures forged of brass and clockwork. He killed them, but each battle took its toll.

He reached the top, and then made the descent inside. The mountain was a forge; pure metal separated out from the lava which spilled up from the very depths of the earth by strange, infernal machines. And at the bottom of the mountain lay a demon; a huge creature of shadow and flame; claws, fangs, wings and tentacles. He ruled the forge, using it to make his infernal clockwork creations. And Iorus faced the creature, and placed his hand upon a bronze bar which had just been poured, and in his hand it became a brilliant, glittering spear, and with it, he put out the demon's eyes and killed it. Iorus destroyed the forge, and bound the spear in the demon's hide, and from its skull he forged his totem.

[nysisobli]

Eunok spoke, "rise this morning Wraght." A pale skinned woman looks at her father, "yes?" It is the time you have told us about? she asked anxiously sounding in her voice.

The next thing she knew she was laying face down in a muddy creek. She looked around with wonder, and realized that her dress was ruined.This is going to be one of the most difficult things you will ever do, but i have faith that you will be the most powerful of my children.
The voice came out of nowhere, it felt good to know her father was watching over her. She decided that she wasn't going to get anywhere with he dress like it was, so she stripped bare. She began walking east, following the voice of the air, until she made it to a small village. The ground here was cracked unlike the muddy embankment she had just came from. A man looks at her with wide eyes, and approaches. He smiles and asks To what do i owe this "pleasure?" Wraght just smiled and says i'm in need of shelter, a change of clothes, and some food. He smiles and leads her to his hut.

Wonder fills wraghts eyes, as she looks around this was a glass blower, she had only encountered glass one other time, and he noticing her wonder, took her hands and said pick any one thing you like and keep it"

Wraght looked at the objects for several hours, and decided she would prefer the glass ring, and on the end he placed a pearl (the size of a quarter). He asked her what she would do next, she puzzled for a moment and said"I need to find the stairs of dusklight, and ascend to the clouds where i can meet the goddess of the storms. He thought she was joking, ""Yes, i will take you to dusklight staircase tommorow, and let you look at what it has become, only a true master of air could navigate it, and we were once the keepers of the air." You may call me Rodrick.

Now draping herself in a black silk towel, she shared the bed of this stranger, that would be his reward for helping her. After a long night, she awoke to find that the ring had almost fused itself with her finger. She walked outside, and said "it is time for a shower" Whipping the winds around her body into the sky, the clouds started gathering after several minutes there was a downpour unlike the village had seen in several decades, unintentionally, she had just solved the drought problems that had caused the village to sink into a recession.

Rodrick found her outside, and said well i guess we will go to the dusklight staircase, this staircase can only be seen at dawn, or dusk. After an 8 hour walk through a series of tunnels underground, they came to a clearing in the middle of a forest, the only way in or out is the cave behind them.

"Here is the staircase" He looked in awe when she started climbing it, Wraght looked at him and said easy as putting on jewelery, Wait here for me, ok?

After several hours of walking straight up the staircase she came to a mighty Leviathan of the sky." Who approaches my mistress' castle?"Wraght smiled, Wraght, the daughter of Eunok and Denteria mistress of the storms. "The mistress' daughter here?!?!" A bolt of disintegration misses by an inch, the Leviathan wants to make it sporting, she smiled and began weaving a lightning storm, [here where the nexus of air, lightning, and water are strong] she thought. The thunderstorm filled the Leviathan with several million bolts of electricity, he started smoking, now just a charred husk of what once was. She didn't realize why she was weaving her spell though that her foot had been pierced by one of its fangs, she barely could stand the pain.

She weaved herself shoes made of clouds and began hovering up the stairs. She finally reached the Castle of storms, [im home mother] she thought to herself. When she walked in a beautiful woman stood before her, the look on her face made her seem like she had seen a ghost.
The force of the blast wraght was hit with, made her crash into the pure diamond castle, she barely stood up. I will not be conquered!" Said denteria.

I will cast you aside mother, like you did I all those years ago. Wraight reached into the sky and covered her hands in lightning, and channeled the force at her mother who batted it away effortlessly. Your time is up, though it pains me i will end you.] She lifts Wraght by her hair, and dangles her off the edge of the castle, Denteria looks surprised, looking down she realizes she was pierced in the stomach by the same fang that pierced her daughter, Wraght smiled,"I knew i could not defeat you unless, i made Eunok's blood course through your veins, this should easily finish you. The look on denteria's face was pure hatred, and she cast one more spell as she dropped Wraght on the clouds, She blasted Wraght with black lightning, the ring protected her though, the ring absorbed the totality of the spell, now stuck on her finger she wore a ring that was composed of diamond, and a pearl made of black lightning.

She went and met with rodrick after her mother had expired, " I am the new master of the dusklight realm she said to Rodrick. I will be back tomorrow.
Those of your people that wish to follow a new god can follow me and they will be changed physically, as she said this all 85 of the other villagers, including rodrick's eyes now crackled with lightning.

<Brand followers = The Algorians>
<Gain symbol = Diamond ring with black pearl made of lightning>

Eunok Called her back, and smacked her across the face, For killing another god, you have turned away from me, you will never be allowed in my lands again

He cast her back to the mortal coil, where she resides above the dusklight Staircase.

[Earl of Purple]

Surga awoke. Looking from his vantage point, he saw a small agricultural village, riven by internal strife. Walking towards the battling natives, he wondered why when surely union was the most powerful strength imaginable. As he approached, he spotted the elderly, the children and those of no faction cowering in the bushes. Approaching some, he asked "Why do they fight?", to which a young man replied "The chief died. His twins both wish to replace him." "Why do you not fight?" "Fighting amongst ourselves weakens the village. I do not believe the fight is right, and these people agree." He motioned towards the other adults of fighting age as he said this. "What is your name?"
"I am Mophos. What's your name?" Mophos's question was left unaswered as Surga strode into the village.
"STOP!!" Everybody did. "The tribe and family are the most important things. They should be cherished, not destroyed in this manner. Where are the twins?" Everybody pointed towards a pair of people in their early twenties, one male and one female."I am Surga, son of Eunok, Creator of the world. The only thing more important than tribe is family. Nothing, not gems, not ivory nor even livestock are more important. By fighting in this manner, you have defied this law." At the mention of his lineage, they all prostrated themselves before him. "For this, there can be no forgiveness nor excuse. Mophos should lead, he knew this and did not fight." With this, Surga motioned towards Mophos and 100 of his followers where blessed. Branded people-the Mbeke

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Savage grinned a toothy, fang filled grin at his fathers words. Yes, a quest, he would complete his 'quest' and claim what was rightfully his. He didn't know what his quest was supposed to be, but he knew a good place. Savage was to prove he was the top predator, the most lethal creature of all, the rightful king of all killers. He knew where to begin.

Savage found a place in a swampy jungle, a place filled with every kind of dangerous and poisonous creature imaginable. And in this place, he took the form of one of it's lowest of creatures. His form twisting and bending, he shrank and shrank until he was just a shriveled little maggot-thing, mouth ringed with tiny needle teeth, little more than the size of an insect. Here was where his quest would begin.

[Krrth]

Korath

There was a flash.....Korath found himself sitting at a small table preparing a number of herbs. Looking about him, he saw the table was in a small room filled with shelves, tables, and what looked like a mixing table. The shelves had clay boxes and jars on them, each lovingly painted with a picture of the herb contained within. A little disoriented, he sat for a moment when a voice from behind him said:

Is mothers medicine almost ready? I don't know how you figured out those herbs would help her, but it's been a godsend.

Turning around, Korath saw a young woman of perhaps fifteen. It took a moment for him to realize it was Honua! But she was just eight!

That's when the memories came flooding back. He had spent the last several years helping her and her mother. At first he had completed minor repairs on the hut- thatching the roof and the like. Then he had built a kiln to make pottery in. They had sold most of the pottery in the nearby town. Between Honua's vegetable plot, the Mother's weaving, and his efforts with clay they made enough to keep from starving.


Almost done. Go ahead and start heating the water, ok? I'll be over in just a moment.

Picking up the herbs, he imparted just a tiny bit of divine spark into them. Normally the herbs would have lost most of their potency by being dried, but in his hands they actually improved the effect.

Korath remembered the first time he had made a tea for the old women. Manakiaʻi had slept deeply the first few doses, but soon she had regained her strength.

Shaking his head, Korath tried to figure out what was going on. He remembered the last few years, but why had he forgotten them? He was a God after all.
Then he remembered the smile on Honuas face, and all such thoughts vanished.

Taking the herbs, he left his workshop and walked towards the hut. The hut was painted with bright colors, and a mural covered the walls. As he opened the door, there was a flash.....

[Kasanip]

Onwards the little girl walked through the days, her shoes long worn from her travels, and yet never torn, nor the text ever fading. She had visited many towns and cities across the sprawling lands of Antaran, ever witnessing the kaleidoscope of events. In some places she found welcome, and others hostility. Mir had experienced the bonds of captivity and the warmth of welcoming family. Ever that she traveled, behind her the trail of history would begin. And soon, as people grew more numerous, and her works more widespread, the flowering of dialogue began to overtake her. The Empire of Antaran, and the surrounding lands at large were the start, and soon the sacred script, attributed to her name as Mirilisi had become the standard amongst temples and scholarly locales. As the writing grew in use, she perceived more the events which were recorded. Soon the single script had changed as human hands worked fervently. It multiplied, and soon there were many styles of recording. Some on papyrus, some on clay. Yet all of this Mir welcomed.

Soon her own form became known, through the earliest sutras that described her gifts so bestown. Yet she still continued to travel, often welcomed as a lost child, and often giving words of council to those who listened.
She came at last to the mountain range of Aratthia far to the west of the Empire. Mir was driven there only out of desire to know what lay beyond, for the west was mysterious and often shrouded by mountains and rocky ridges. The smallest of towns sat in the valley of Mount Aratth, which the people held in reverence. As Mir stood in the town, she beheld the Mountain and felt her task had been found. Slowly she climbed, as the path was treacherous, even moreso for her small and fragile form. First the dangerous winds threatened to rip her off of the route. But Mir had witnessed the tenacity of the forests, and knew their roots dug deep, and she held on to a weathered tree which had taken root.

The malevolent winds gave way to rain and mud as she climbed, and rocks from above threatened her path with danger. Having witnessed the skills of many a shepherd lad, Mir picked up a stone and fashioned a sling from a strip of her tunic. After writing the glyph § upon it, she cast it above to knock down the loose rocks before they could become dangerous.
As night fell, the destination seemed even further in the gloom. The utter feelings of despair and helplessness battled her courage and will. Into shadowy creatures murmuring in voices of guile and deceit did these emotions and challenges appear, yet she made a fire to keep warm, and though she felt the longings and invitation of turning back, she stayed vigilant the night. Come the dawn's first rays the creatures disappated into the wind, and she picked her weary self up to continue. Three times she was almost forced to turn back, and yet she continued all the way to the ridge. So too is the quest for knowledge ever filled with danger and difficulty, yet Mir holds those in favor who continue earnestly.

Upon reaching the ridge Mir was struck with awe at view and at the tranquility which had surrounded her. She could perceive a great many happenings - the joys and the sorrows of the people below and beyond. It was here that she decided she would reside, and record those things as they came.

Slowly she descended the mountain, engraving glyphs and texts along the path with words of assurance and compassion to aid those in the journey.
Upon entering the town she revealed herself for the first time to the villagers, asking for their assistance and reverence. Of those who came forward to aid her, She named them the Corithatians and decorated their foreheads with her glyph, and their body with a sutra of wisdom. Up the long and difficult path they came, following her, and at the ridge they began constructing the city, of beautiful white limestone that glistened in the air. Throughout the city there were gardens and fountains, and yet the greatest was the sacred columned Library hall which Mir claimed as her own, built and carved into the very rock at the highest peak over the ridge. It is said that every stone of the city has been engraved with a word by Mir herself, and that if they are ever to be overturned, the history of creation would be told upon their surfaces.
As the path up to the ridge reaches its conclusion, two tall marble stones flank the path. Etched on each are held Mir's council and blessing to visitors, engraved on the rock and lined with the purest of silver.

Here at the sacred Mount Arratth her closest followers reside and study the knowledge she has gathered. So to it is Mir's audience hall and dwelling, the greatest library ever to be constructed. Yet Mir herself still travels out amongst the normal humans of the land, childlike in joy to be among their presence.

[Jair Barik]

Ravarthis sat upon his throne and surveyed his realm. He would need to tame the Island above to protect the gate, he already had believers and branded in the town there but he would need more. Now in control of his realm he brought the trees to bay, making them forge arrows and swords of thorn for his followers but still he needed more...
His thoughts turned to his defeated foe and he felt a sympathy for it. A worthy opponent he should honour the beast. An idea of a creature he would forge came to his mind, a creature truly worthy to guard the Underworld, it would do nicely...
Still more was needed though! Allies. Two great demons entered his realm, departed from this world recently, intriguing. Ravarthis sent out his thoughts and looked across the land seeking to converse with the other God's.

"Garland, Iours it would seem you have both slain a beast of great power who's soul is now confined to our domain. Would we be right to assume you are both Gods of some power now?"

[Kaiser Omnik]

Ravarthis senses a disturbance (Denteria dying). Since he isn't in full control of his powers, he can't quite put a finger on what's causing it...yet.

[Earl of Purple]

Surga asked Mophos what the name of the land was. The answer was intriguing. Alsa-maramor'mbeke, or 'the land of the Mbeke tribe for many years, now go away'. Perhaps if Surga could unite the tribes into a nation, then not only would the tribes know peace, but also city-states and empires would have more difficulty when it came to conquering the tribes which Surga finds so important. The Chosen Mbeke, save Mophos who now lead the Mbeke tribe and the worship of Surga, and Surga left, trying to spread the idea of a 'grand tribe' and unite the plains-people of Alsa.

[Milskidasith]

Ril-Cer

Ril-Cer and his troupe of mages set out along the trail that led to Magetooth's mountain home. When they made camp for the night, the elder sage, Rylith, turned towards Ril-Cer and began to speak.

Lord, how did you blast a hole in the wall? Such magical power is unheard of, at least in our small town.

That impressed you? That was hardly anything; I could teach you it easily.

We all wish to learn, lord. Right now, all we know are simple mundane spells, like conjuring lights and purifying water.

Do not worry; by the time we reach Magetooth, you will all have as much power as I displayed, if not more.

And so Ril-Cer taught his seven apprentices stronger Magic. He showed them ways of focusing their minds, and, with a divine spark, taught them how to cast basic evocations and illusions. As they traveled along the trail to the mountain, worn down by countless champions trying and failing to defeat Magetooth, his apprentices learned more and more. They commanded stronger evocations, and could focus their power through objects within a few feet of them. Most importantly of all, he taught them to clear their minds; they learned how to create and detect illusions. Eventually they reached the mountain, and all of them felt strong enough to defeat Magetooth.

They climbed the mountain trail, but saw no signs of Magetooth's cave. However, the group was not dissuaded. They focused their minds and used magic to discern the true nature of things, and eventually found a magically hidden entrance to the cavern. They walked through, and magical lights lit the path.

Do not follow the lights; they will lead you to certain death. Instead, focus your minds once more and find the true path.

The mages used their magic once again, but they were losing focus. Twice they almost fell prey to illusions, but Ril-Cer kept them on the right path. They finally came to a great, open cavern, where Magetooth was waiting for them. He was a huge creature, over forty feet long. He was pure golden, with a massive, spiked tail and four muscular legs. His head was filled with sharp teeth, and he had a magical aura surrounding him. The dragon roared, and then Ril-Cer and his mages heard a telepathic voice inside their head.

You have done well to detect my illusions. No others have ever done so. However, you are still no match for me in combat. None of you has a chance, even the outsider who has been leading you.

You underestimate me, Dragon! At the end of this day, you will either be dead or subserviant to me!

Ril-Cer fired a bolt of lightining from his hand. With a mighty crack! it struck Magetooth in his chest. This blow suprised Magetooth, and he stumbled backwards, roaring. The mages with Ril-Cer also attacked; two conjured floating swords that attempted to slash at the dragon, another two threw exploding balls of fire at it, and three cast illusions of more swords and fireballs coming at the dragon. While these attacks were weak individually, Magetooth could not block them all at once. Magetooth responded by attempting to use his own magic, but the mages had been well trained and were able to counter his attacks. When the dragon tried to breathe fireballs, the mages hit them with their own.

When the dragon tried to cast illusions, they focused and were able to see through them. The mages were wearing down, however, and the dragon did not seem to have any limit on his endurance; no matter how bad his wounds, he still kept fighting. The mages were getting tired, and had to resort to physically dodging the Magetooth's attacks to conserve their energy. Ril-Cer was trying to overcome the dragon's defenses, but Magetooth was clever and knew that Ril-Cer posed the biggest threat to his safety.

This ends now!

Ril-Cer pointed his right palm at Magetooth. The red orb on it glowed red with power. His eyes began to glow golden, and he floated into the air. The mages and the dragon looked as this happened, wide eyed. With a flash, a storm of fireballs and lightning flew from his hand. The lightning struck the dragon anywhere and everywhere, and the fireballs flew around in circles and dived in anywhere. The dragon could not do anything against this onslaught. Ril-Cer continued to float and glow white, and hovered towards the dragon. Magetooth didn't see him coming because of the great number of fireballs. When Ril-Cer got within arm's reach of Magetooth, his right arm began to glow red. He put his palm on the dragon's forehead.

BEGONE!

A massive, red bolt pure energy shot through the dragon with a flash. The dragon fell down, dead. The mages and Ril-Cer began to celebrate, and after a while they cut off the dragon's head and brought it back to their village. After a few months of work, Ril-Cer had finally crafted his totem. The totem was a larger than life statue of him, carved out of Magetooth's bones. His eyes were made from precious yellow diamonds found inside the cave, and the orbs on his palms were made from Rubies. From the gold found in the caverns, they added gilded embroidery to the robes on his statue, and lightning coming out of his hands.

The remaining bones of Magetooth were made into staves for the people of the village; the bones were highly magical, and the citizens could use them to focus their latent magical power. They were not very powerful, but they had more than enough magic to defend themselves from attacks.

Ril-Cer decided that he should reward the initial seven mages with an even greater gift; they were to become his Branded. He gathered them together, and focused his energy. His hand grew red, and a small bolt of magic hit each of the seven mages. When they were hit, they were changed. They all had a tattoo of a dragon on their foreheads, and had glowing orbs on their hands, just like Ril-Cer. They also constantly glowed with a magical aura, and all signs of aging were removed from them. They could now sense magic like he could, and had more power than any human he could sense (though they were not technically human anymore)

He sent them out to spread magic to the surrounding areas. He wanted to control as much of it as he could; he could feel the presence of another Deity nearby, in the larger city of Sarumion. He would have the city eventually, but for now he would bide his time and grow strong.

[Krrth]

Korath


....of light. Korath was standing in a grove of fruit trees, surrounded by a crowd of people. There was a young woman of about twenty standing next to him. It was Honua again. It seemed he had lost a few more years. He pondered the implications of that for a moment when he heard a word that starteled him:

...Wahini....

What? He suddenly realized what was going on. He was getting married. Strange....he had never considered himself getting married, especially not to a mortal....suddenly he was swept into a dance.

The party lasted well into the night. The intricately carved poles that dotted the clearing served as centers for the exuberant movements. The sight of those poles reminded Korath that he had carved them specifically for this ceremony. In fact, he now remembered that his carvings, medicines, and pottery had earned them enough money to pay for a house to be built.

Looking at his bride, Korath swept her into the new house. Manakiaʻi smiled, and there was a flash....

[Smiley_]

It was a long time before Ahmua returned to civilized lands. Upon her travels, she came upon a modest city: one of many, she suspected. From the tales and whisperings she had gathered, it was fair to guess that this she was now in the bounds of the mighty Antaran Empire, though not quite to the city state of Antara

She took the guise of a human female. However, her illusions were not meant to be used in this direct manner, so naturally, she botched it up, a bit. Her skin was paler, but still a light purplish blue and her eyes were disturbingly red. It was still better than striding into town as she normally was, in any case. Regardless, she kept her garments close around her in an attempt to hide her differences.

She was impressed with what she saw, how the mortals could come together an build not one, but several such cities. Regardless, this was a beast she must conquer though not in the same sense a beast of flesh would be slain. She would have to start from the highest office and the dirtiest slums to do so. Ahmua could sense another of those immortal children involved with the region, but elsewhere, in a far more important place with far more important people.

Rather than directly confront anyone, she decided to remain hidden and listen. She learned that this town was only of modest size compared to some of the grander cities, and governed by a local magistrate. Not a king or lord, just some person with a title. No matter. It would do. Ahmua decided she would strike soon and swiftly.

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

If Raz-Fox wants to get involved, by all means, do so. Just let me assure you that Ahmua is not going to assassinate the Emperor or try to overthrow the government or anything like that. This is your typical mid-sized town that is not Antara, but something I picture as a not-quite autonomous city still regarding the emperor as their ruler.

[Cracklord]

Kysis
Once he had been beautiful. He had appeared wise, his robes had glowed with a divine radiance, and despite his obvious age his face and musculature had been that of a much younger man.
Now he was terrible. His face had become a ruin of broken bone and deep, twisting scars. A fearsome blow had caved in the left side of his face, twisting his mouth in a feral, gap-toothed sneer. His nose was nothing more then a nub of ragged flesh, and his forehead was a patchwork of scars, one on top of the other. His beard was ragged, his right eye glared sightlessly through the it’s sundered cover, and his robes were open to reveal similar marks on his chest.
His wounds had healed, but his scars never would. They couldn’t. While on mortals they might fade in time as the body aged, gods were eternal, and were meant to be untouchable. They could not heal, for nothing should have been able to find him.
His left hand dripped with the blood of his siblings, blood that would never stop, never wash away. The robes he wore were still pristine, mocking him in their perfection. His gnarled fingers shook as he leaned forward, but whether from rage, fear or shame none could say.
“I do not forgive you. But I understand.” Eunok said, his deep voice soft and wise and angry at once. He shook his mane as he spoke, and towered above his son who seemed like nothing more then a child before him. “You acted as you did because it is who you are. What else could you do? But I still do not forgive you.”Kysis bared his teeth that had become fangs, not looking away from his father even then. No doubt the giant could end him with little more then a thought, but there was no fear on Kysis’s face.
When the god spoke, his voice was a liquid rasp, like the death rattle of a dying man, bubbling up from black lungs thick with corruption. “What will you make of me Father? Will you cast me aside or send me for redemtion? Or will you imprison me in vengence for your offspring, even knowing my cause was just?” He asked, his voice a bubbling sound, full of hatred and black fury.
Eunok shook his head. “You have made your choice. Now it falls on you to live with it, to become it. You are what you are. Go take it.” With that The Giant turned away, and Kysis vanished.

* * * * *

Kysis awoke on the outer reaches, and gasped in the cold. He was naked as a newborn, clean and untouched, save for the blood that dripped from his right hand still.
He may have laid there for a week or a day or just a moment, what is time to an immortal? But at last he arose and his one eye narrowed balefully.
Ahead of him was a town of wooden houses, cold amongst the ice, who's inhabitants were tall, fel-eyed barbarians, thick of limb and beard, who lived through raiding.
As he limped amongst the buildings, like a grizzled old wolf the town’s warriors gasped, but rushed at him, wielding blades and crying angrily in rage. He slew them with his hands and moved on uninjured in moments, taking their clothes and the finest blade he could scavenge.
He drank their blood as they died and let it run down his chin, into his beard, and laughed when those left ran from him. The blood of slain warriors was sweet, but cowardice was bitter, and he let them run. He had no interest in cowards.
But one man would not run, and he met the incoming monster with a steady hand and a clear head despite his fear, and Kysis was impressed. So when the man at last mustered his courage and attempted to fight him, Kysis knocked the weapon aside and took the man to his breast.
In that instant he knew the man, knew his thaughts, dreams and desires and history, and he gave a terrible smile, liking what it was he saw.
“I name you Brandt Cain.” He whispered, his terrible voice making the man tremble. “And you shall be the first among my followers. You shall have no home but the road, no bed but the wayside, no trade but the art of murder. You will obey no laws and hone your strength every day until you have perfected the art of killing. You shall take the strongest of the foes you face as your brothers and teach them my way, and you shall kill those who are unworthy, until at last you beget the tribe of the Hyrakians, who shall splinter and be my followers. You shall take your sister for your bride, and be amongst the greatest warriors ever to walk this earth. None shall defeat you, but you shall never be a ruler, never a leader. Your life will be hard, but you will revel in the pleasure of it. Your power will be on the battlefield, spreading death and reaping souls.” The man nodded as the destiny unfolded before him, agreeing to serve, and then gasped as his dark skin paled and his eyes turned crimson.
But Kysis had left. He was travelling onward, towards a mountain only he could see, where he would find his purpose, and his destiny.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

The Grub Savage wormed it's way through the underbelly of the wilderness, devouring smaller insects, growing in size. Already he was master of his domain, he had grown to the size of a beetle, the insects all avoided him. However, another came. It was a rat, or something like it. It stalked in, naked tail swaying from one side to another, ironically making it look like a massive cat to Savages minuscule eyes. It destroyed Savages kingdom of fear, his bloody empire among the insects, devouring all he had claimed as top predator. Savage knew it was time to move up in the world. He confronted the beast, small by the reckoning of men, but huge compared to himself, it lunged at him. He did not bother to dodge, he leapt at the incoming creature. He buried himself in it's face, worming his way through bone, the creature screeched in agony scratching at it's face, trying to dislodge the tiny maggot-thing. But Savage would not give up so easily, he burrowed in the creature, devouring it's insides. The rat had collapsed, it's muscles and innards devoured. Time passed, and Savage devoured more and more of the rat. Finally, he drew into himself, creating a cocoon. Already he had become bloated, half the size of the rat and more, but as he shifted and grew in his cocoon he grew ever more, until finally he burst from his place. His form had shifted, he had four beady black eyes, ears like a wolf, naked tail swishing behind him, six legs gripping the earth, he had the rough shape of a rat, but was much more terrible. Savage was half and again the size of the rat he had killed. He had moved up in the world.

[Cracklord]

Kysis had walked for two days and nights, never stopping, speeding up or slowing down. Inplaceable, unstoppable. He did not need sustenance, the lives he had snuffed out strengthened him, taking his already inhuman vitality to even greater heights. Occasionally he would encounter mortals, and they would either die or run, but a precious few impressed him, which he made his own and sent to find Brandt. And as he walked the mountain loomed closer, and it became colder. No doubt Tz'Aren or Illindri would be at home here, but to him the elemental fury was not even noticeable. He stayed warm, the blood of slain warriors burning in his veins.
He wore leathers he had taken from those who stood in his way, and a great cloak of bearskin settled on his shoulders. The sword he clutched was simple pig iron, jagged and notched from use, and his scars shone whitely in the cold. At last he came to the mountain, and noticed that all around it was dead. Nothing grew, no birds flew, even the insects were not present. Kysis smiled grimly and began climbing, his hands digging into the rock to form handholes.
At the peak was a single stone tablet cracked in two. It had been crudely worked, polished smooth by the hands of suplicants, but surely not by men, for none would find it up here. None knew it’s purpose save perhaps his father, but it was of no interest to Kysis.
He sat at the edge of it, perfectly still, seeming no more alive then the stone he sat, until night fell. He stirred, then moved fluidly. As he climbed onto the great stone a wind picked up but he paid it no mind, raising his face to the sky. Tears shone in his eyes like stars, and the blood that oozed from his right hand glimmered like the finest of gemstones in the dark. Slowly he began to recite the vision that burned in his heart, a dithyramb of fury and loss. His voice raised in pitch until it sounded with a power no mortal could have attempted. Around the mountain primitive shapes stared up in blank-eyed wonder as his voice crashed down with a fury no mortal body could understand or feel. His words swirled with the wind, and all but those who had sworn to serve him shivered as they felt the air thicken, as though the spirits of the murdered were joining in the madman’s shout, rising with the cadences of vengeance.
Kysis screamed and shook his bloody fist at the heavens, letting it see the symbol of his shame and rage and terrible, festering hate. Glaring at them as though they were responsible somehow he let the words pour out of him, blackly cursing the universe. He roared until the very moment the winds fell still.
Everything fell quiet. The humans stared at each other, shocked, while the more primitive forms shivered in terror, waiting for the inevitable crescendo. Then at last it was answered. A scream rose, louder then should have been possible. A man’s scream.
As if released by the sound, the winds roared once more. Lightning crackled around the great mountain, and the light painted the figure black against the night sky. Black clouds covered the moon and the rain lashed down.
But the rain was thick, and tasted of copper, and stained the snow red, and the thunder sounded like the laughter of some mad god. Those that couldn’t pull away from the sight swore they heard the voice once more join with the wind, laughing, crying, defying the lightning, waving his fist at the heavens as if conducting a chorus of rage.
Then he stopped, and the storm only increased in power. He held up his head and opened his mouth, sticking out his tongue like a child catching snowflakes, drinking deep from the storm that had been made for him.
He had made his claim. Now he had to take his kingdom. Glancing down at his sword, he ran his hand over it, the notches and scars disappearing as he did so, then again and again until it was clean, whole, as much a masterpiece as any that would come out of the greatest forges of Lliath.
Then he turned, and vanished, the winds of the storm taking him to the hell from which he had called it from. It was time to make his claim.

[nysisobli]

@ kysis

It appears that father has shun you to brother, it is I your younger sister Wraght. I could use some help setting up some dominion in this strange new place, family wise, you still have me.

:via telepathy

[Fan]

People say that fire is the ultimate force of destruction, how is burns down homes, and breaks families, I disagree, in Fire there is chaos, and destruction. The seeds of life. In Ice there is perfect tranquility, and perfect order. Bringing only frigid death.
~ Diary Entry of Illindri, frost mage in the Northern Breen Mountains.

The Frost Mage Illindri sat up in his rime encrusted tower in the solitude of the mountains, flipping through a book who's cover had small stalactites where the environmental protection spells had began to recede. He knew that the flame of life grew dim within his heart, and that he had little time left. He rose from the stone chair he had built, his personal motto engraved in chisled latin near the head rest "Momento mori" (Remember, Death.). He walked over shakily to the stone table at the other side of the room, his limbs barely able to carry him, but he knew what he must do. He picked up the forbidden reagents, having to focus to identify the heart of lamb, from the Yak's spleen, as he tossed the ingredients into the massive stone cauldron near the table, a gray green smoke wafting up from it.

He adjusted his ice crystal spectacles, being sure that he had retrieved the right kind on onyx, before tossing a powder of abyssal diamond into the pot, this caused the smoke to shift colors rapidly, and dance as a gust of wind blew through the shuttered window, sending a plank of wood flying. Illindri swore vengance on the wind before adding in the now powdered onyx, which turned the smoke black, and gave it the smell of brimstone. Illindri smiled at this, he wrinkled features taking on a malelovent glare, as he chanted a spell, the winds from outside whipping around him, carrying him into the air, as flesh began to flay itself from him. This uncovered muscle, which began to peel away from the bone, tendons snapped, and a black energy began to course into his form, before another bolt of blue energy coursed into the black, and he feel to the ground. Rime beginning to coat the floor where his now bony feet touched, and his very presence making the room colder. Yes.... This would work well. Illindri then began to write out the next stage of his plot.

~ Continued.

Illindri grunted as he finished placing the final elemental wards on his precious tower, things had improved since he had overcome his fleeting mortality, and he had made contact with those who did lye in the realms beyond his. He laughed manically as he plotted, and laid the spells in place that would allow him to divine the exact location of the artifact that would allow him to trasncend into the other world. The Heart of Rime. However, he had a special package to delevier to one of his new found allies. He then turned to a specialy prepared room in his tower. A set of objects, including a set of specially enchanted armor that he had recently crafted out of demonic onyx, and abyssal diamond, and he placed the final object within the heap a personal letter his new friend Kysis.

Letter for GM, and Minion's eyes only:

"Greetings, as you know I, Illindri Lord of the Uttercold, promised you a care package to assure your success in your own personal task, and as promised I have deilvered from the realms beyond. The armor encased in this force ward, that protects it from the ravages of the teleportation, will provide you limited protection from any magical attack that gets thrown your way regardless of strength. The hat that is also included in here will guard you against the attacks being may make on your mind. Guard these well, as they will not be easy to duplicate.
May your blade be forever sharp, your new ally.
Illindri."


In his knolwedge he knew that the Heart of Rime was merely a means to a end for his transcendence, but the world beyond will soon know of his fearsome, all consuming, wrath.

He then turned his full attention to crafting the teleportation circle that would allow him entry into the Frost Giant fortress that contained it, and a special artifact for his newest friend.

[Smiley_]

The magistrate was uneasy that night. Every time he would fall asleep, he would dream of "something" standing over him, it's hot breath on his bare skin. It was near the middle of the night that he perceived the dark shape in the shadows.

He jumped up from his bed and drew the sword he kept nearby for his personal defense.

Another one the slum-rats here to assassinate me for something I have no controll over? Hah! Let's get this over with.

He was certainly confident with the blade, his pose suggesting experience and training with the weapon. However, he faltered as the woman stepped from the shade, wearing a tattered grey shawl and scarf.

Oh, please. Put that knife away before you hurt yourself. My name is Ahmua and I have come to...

With an inarticulate scream, the magistrate lunged forward, slashing with his sword. He came back with only the rags that she was wearing on her shoulders.

Really, this is most unnecessary. I was hoping to discuss my proposal with a more mature...

The magistrate placed his blade's point up against the woman's now bare chest.

Listen, you slum rat. I've fought off more assassins and would be murderers than you can count. This is most unorthodox, but it always ends the same way. Poorly trained assassin comes in, I kill them. Now, I will kill you too.

He felt something behind him scoop him up, digging it's claws into the soft skin around his neck. Ahmua, in her natural form, had somehow slipped behind him in plain sight. She was taller than any man he had seen. She turned him to face her burning red eyes.

I tire of this...

She threw him onto the bed.

Don't bother with your guards. I made sure that they'll stay asleep for a while. Now, I offer you a solution to your problem.

Demon... What could you offer me?

The man was clutching his neck, attempting to staunch the blood flow.

You have a domestic problem here. The poor are in unrest, blaming you for their troubles. Houses in disrepair, , but you know that power is in the hands of the merchants and aristocracy. We can fix that.

The magistrate remained silent for a while, then spoke again.

What do you want?

Just your cooperation. Do you want to have some real power and not just your worthless title? I can make you king of this dump and you can change it as you say fit. Or, if you prefer, tyrant...

Not necessary. Fine... I'll give you my cooperation if you just promise to get the hell out of my room!

Fair enough. You will be contacted again soon.

She plunged her claw into the magistrate's chest, clutching a slippery red organ. In a fraction of a second, she slipped one of her leech-like creations into the chasm and placed her hand over it. In less than a second, it was over. The wound had been closed with what looked like bluish bruised skin. When the magistrate looked up, he was alone. He gingerly put a hand up to the wound and shuddered. He felt, instead of a steady thump, a haunting whooshing sound.

[Krrth]

Korath


...of light. Korath once again found himself in another time. This time he was holding a newborn child. In shock, her realized it was his! He didn't even know that was possible. Looking down and his child, he felt a sense of wonder that he had never before known. Off in the corner Manakiaʻi rocked before the fire. She had grown old over the years, and was getting tired. However, Korath had extended her life long past the time she would have died on her own.


The house was filled with life. Plants grew in the windows, and flowers decorated the tables. Statues and paintings adorned the walls, and all the surfaces were carved with various scenes of life and joy. In the room beyond, his wife called for him. Carrying his child he strode through the door. There was a flash....

[Cracklord]

As the storm carried him, Kysis heard the whisperings of his sister, Wraght. He found himself nodding at her honeyed words, and his scarred lips twisted into a terrible rictus. “Very well then sister. Let us begin this alliance. Together let us burn our mark on the face of the world, tear down what our misguided siblings seek to build until we may bathe in the blood of nations and build our homes from the bones of Empires. Let us beat about a dirge on the surface of this world, then travel beyond to the worlds unnumbered. I have no quarrel with my father, but if you ask I shall give you my friendship, and, should you will it, my help. But for now I must take my kingdom, and then, then I have a promise to keep.”
With that he laughed, a terrible corrupt sound bubbling in from deep within his chest, letting all hear it, then laughed all the harder as he came to the eye of the storm, towards the kingdom that awaited him.
When Kysis came to a stop he had returned to Dawn Isles, to a realm far from his fathers house. Great mountains scraped the sky, the rocks in faintly organic shapes that were more then unsettling. A dark haze permeated the place, and a long path stretched before him. He followed it, his seemingly slow pace eating up the miles deceptively fast.
As he strode forward, implacable as a force of nature he read the note Illindri had sent him and narrowed his eye, a crocodilian pleasure shining on his face. Crumpling the note he left the package where he could find it and continued onward, his gnarled fist clutching the sword.
At last he came to a pass, the slate he strode on changing to crimson stone laid out in strange, twisting patterns, whorls and turns, curves and twists that hurt the eye if you tried to look at them. Kysis did not. He simply strode on, until he came to the end at looked down at a great castle carved out of a mountain.
“This will do.” He said, then continued to the copper gate that led to what would be his home.
Coming to the door he knocked once, and was answered. A strange being glared at him, it’s face as pale as his, and it’s hair a deep purple held back in a braid, broken only by short ivory horns. It’s musculature was over defined, and developed, and it’s chin was as sharp as a dagger. When it opened its mouth, deep blue smoke poured from it’s maw, and small tusks glinted at the corner of each lip. “I am the keeper of this gate, chamberlain of the scourge of the world, who owns this castle.” It hissed, standing two feet taller then Kysis. But the god was unimpressed, and pushed it aside, entering the keep.
"This is my Kingdom.” He declared, his voice thick with hate and fury. “I claim it by my blood, my right and my strength. You all remain here at my sufferance, and should leave before I tire of this farce and slaughter you all!”

[nysisobli]

@ kysis

If there is anyway i can help you fufill your promise, let me know. If you haven't heard yet father turned himself away from me as well. In order to gain the dominion i possess now i had to kill Denteria, Eunok's last lover. I want little do with our brothers and sisters, for the favor they now share makes them think they are higher then us. I would ask for your friendship though,with your sword, and my lightning we would carve gashes across the spine of creation father made. I could help you, anything you need brother, for you and i possess the same instinct, the same goals, and something our siblings don't realize yet we possess power! When you have gained the kingdom you seek, let me know we will have to meet somewhere.

Wraght smiles, thinking about her brother. That vicious killer instinct they share. Looking about her new castle though she realizes she still has denteria's body. I will have to do something about this.....She says
She smiles and weaves an airtight chamber around it, and fuses the air tight lightning chamber to the wall. [My newest trophy] she thinks to herself. I believe some redecorating will be in order. Going through the temple she find scrolls of lost knowledge, Storm spells her mother reaserched herself. She smiles, this will be fun. She hears a tap tap tap behind her as she turns around she sees a green tuniced man rush at her sword held high. She dodges it with great effort and it cut a small lock of her hair. She pulls the air out of his lungs, and watches him struggling for breath as she thinks [i can have some fun with this one.] She asks him who he is after she has him bound. He shouts I WILL NEVER TELL... Thats what they all say, she then burns one of his ears off with her lightning. I will ask again, who are you ? You will have to kill me......"That will come in time she says, but first my questions will be answered. She drives a piece of wire through one of his cheeks. He says i am Argop The craftsman i crafted this castle the weapons everything inside....She smiles now we are getting somewhere.

Are you the only one here? yes
She smacks him.. lies!

She makes on of his eyes pop out with her air mastery, and stops the wound from bleeding at the same time.

My family, they are here to...... please don't harm them....

She calls for rodrick... go find his family

Now here's the deal, i will let you live should you make this fang into a sword, you and your family that is
It appears, that i have no choice.... Cruel fate is it to craft a weapon out of the tool that killed my master...
She slowly seduces him, eventually to the point where he is working with her on his lap, she is petting his hair and rubbing somewhere between his thighs.

Rodrick arrives, he has visible cut marks on him, did you find me the family, he said yes should i bring them in now? glancing away as he sees her moving on top of him,

She nods, the sword is finished yes? He nods, good....
She shoves it into his heart, fun fact, no one but those who serve me leaves alive, his children walk in at the same time, his wife is horrified that he was cheating on her. He is barley conscious and watches her slaughter his entire family, this is why i am the goddess of storms and seduction... she smiles as his vision fades, throw the bodies down the stairs, starting with him.


This was a good day she thinks, completely demoralizing a family, destroying childrens innocence, and ruining a marriage, not to mention the families untimely demise. Do you agree rodrick? He nods, and the two of them go off to her bed chamber.

[Jair Barik]

Ravarthis was disturbed, already there was so much death though the world was young and worse still there was a disturbance, something he couldn't understand. He sent out his mind to all the Gods now seeking the answer to this problem asking them "What has happened? death in the world is rife and something has fallen, what has fallen my brothers and sisters? What disturbs us so that we feel it strongly but cannot comprehend? He sighed metal grating on metal the blades of his body grinding as one.

[nysisobli]

To rav


"What has happened is to much for you to under stand right now brother, maybe in due time you will realize what has began this day."

[Jair Barik]

To Wraught

"We see then. we do not seek enemies but we will not stand hostility. We hope we may continue to live in harmony. The storms wreck ships and the rains may drown men, many a person dies at the hand of the weather. At the moment we seek to defend the Underworld against intrusion, perhaps it would be of interest to you to help me as many a lost soul here rages against the weather as the cause of their demise."

[nysisobli]

To rav

SO you wish me to drown more men, is that what you would ask of me? I believe i can oblige, i ask you to wait until my powers grow stronger though, this weather weaving is harder then i imagined, and take some measure of willpower to direct it how i wish.

[Milskidasith]

To Rav:
I know precious little information about this world, Brother. The only death I know of is of the great dragon Magetooth, slain by the energies of me and my Branded. I see no reason we should not work together to find out more; any information I find is yours, and I hope you will reciprocate the favor. I can sense the world through my Branded and with my magic, so if you have anything you need investigated, just say the word.

[Jair Barik]

To Wraught
A metallic laugh, fingers down the black board, a million knives grating upon steel. "No you misunderstand. We accept your deaths through the weather as inevitable. What we ask is you consider this. A great storm forged around the Crescent Isle some miles out to sea. We personally intend to raise a ring of mountains around the Isle to prevent any approach by boat, but a storm would deter any would be invader from the Gates of the Underworld. Before us the spirits were free to roam the earth, free to seek revenge. If we are defeated then that will be the case once more. We don't expect this to be a free gift though, and you may name a suitable price for me to consider."

To Ril Cer
"Your friendship is welcome and we will remember your offer. For now though know that many of these great Demons and beasts that dwelt here before the God's have begun to die. It is the end of their time and we do not mourn it, it is the natural order of things."

[nysisobli]

to rav



I have a request then, if you are the god of death, then it is only something you can do, i need a spirit to be bound to a gem and the gem given to me.
The spirit in question is none other then our brother ordale. I believe deaths protection is worth the price of one soul(hes already dead)

[Milskidasith]

To Rav:

The great beasts of the world will continue to fall; I can sense divinity and magic beginning to blossom. Humans have become the chosen people of the gods, and they will rule the land in the end, beneath only us.

[Jair Barik]

To Wraught+Omnik
Silence, then. "That is an intriguing offer, one that fills us with doubt. What power would you desire over the soul, for we are unwilling to grant one God the power of two. Know also that If we accept then the storm would be answerable to nobody but ,ourself, only we would control it.Though you are Goddess of weather we cannot allow such a flaw in my defenses, we hope you understand." OOC:Will need a ruling from Omnik as to wether you could make the storm and i could bind the soul+ how many acts it would cost. i don't know about the other Goddesses' death so I may not be able to bind a dead God's soul

[Cracklord]

Kysis came to the Throne room, where the being that called itself the scourge sat. The demonic sultan had taken this for it’s realm, where it awaited the end of the world, when it would ride out at the head of its hordes and sweep everything aside. It had grown strong over the years, but it had no real challenges, and had become decadent. Kysis smiled when he saw it.
It had four arms, and it was skinless, it’s flesh a wet crimson. Long hair like spun gold hung behind his head, and it’s muscles were overdeveloped, every movement it made sending ripples across the rest of its body. Great horns curled around it from the sides of it’s head, and great tusks forced its mouth open, like those of an ancient boar. It was twice Kysis’s size, and nude except for a strange prismatic cloak it wore cast over its shoulder, that danced and shimmered with colors.
It looked up at Kysis, then stood up without a word. It was a warrior, it understood its purpose. There was no need for words. One way or another, this could only end in blood.
“I have taken this realm for my own. I shall not relinquish it to you, nor anyone.” It growled, it’s voice as feral as it’s appearance. Holding out a clawed hand the retainer pressed a great axe into its hand, it’s edges blazing with runes, it's handle long enough to be held in all four of its arms. With a roar it threw itself at the god. Kysis met it’s charge with a skill born of his blood, his essence, that which made him who he was. Perfectly judging the trajectory of the axe he parried it then brought his blade around in a slash that cut a line of ichor across the monsters face. The Scourge roared and came on harder.
They fought for hours, seeming evenly matched. One was a god, the other a primal demon, but they fought like giants, like titans, like forces of nature, unstoppable, undefeatable, endless in their power. Kysis’s blade was chipped and notched from the power of his opponents swings, but he was untouched by the swipes of The Scourge, either parrying or avoiding all of its blows. The Scourge’s face resembled nothing so much as a badly butchered slab of meat, but the damage was glancing, superficial, and it fought through the pain. At last Kysis sidestepped a great overhand swipe, then forced his blade through the monsters chest, and it collapsed, it’s body fading until none of it remained.
He nodded, seemingly satisfied, and stepped past it. Seating himself on the throne he threw aside the pathetic remains of his blade and closed his eyes. Tension twanged in the air, like the build-up before a battle, stretching on seemingly forever. At last he spoke. “I have triumphed. I have killed you leader, and scattered his life upon my sacred soil. If anyone else dares challenge me, let them speak.”
For a minute the silence stretched on, then a clear, ringing voice, like the sounding of a challenge trumpet sounded, elegant in it’s savagery, in the simplicity of the words it spoke.
“I challenge you.”

[nysisobli]

rev


well im sure you could, the only control i want over the soul is to be able to manifest it into a body, and do with it as i will, it would have no free will, nor any powers. and i could not use its power as my own, as for the storm i am sure i can do that, although it won't stop the gods, everything else would be stopped.(ooc i know we need to talk to omnik, and i just informed you your brother is dead,)

[Jair Barik]

Wraught yeah i think it would be doable but so far what happens to a dead God is unclear. Remember when you killed your mother I only felt a disturbance which implies her soul may not have passed into the Underworld. We can continue to discuss this when Omnik makes a ruling but for now as its still turn 1 it doesn't matter much beyond negotiation

[nysisobli]

rav

ooc: its all for flavor reasons =) i believe that it might inspire me to take a domain later though

[Cracklord]

Kysis blinked as he stared around, then blinked again as his one eye fixed upon The Scourge, it’s big, simian jaw fixed in a crocodilian sneer. For no weapon could kill it, no disease could ravage it, no magic weaken it. Kyris had hurt it, but it had already recovered, it’s wounds faded. Roaring a challenge it swung it’s axe at the God, but Kysis was already moving, ducking out of the way then throwing himself at his foe.
He dodged the axe blows so quickly it was as though he was chasing it, not the other way around. But his weapon was out of his reach and would be no use besides. And the thing would not tire, would keep on fighting until one of them passed into his brother's shadowed halls.
Suddenly Kysis lowered his shoulder and charged, knocking the monster back on it's heels. But Kysis did not disengage, instead he strained every muscle until his mind hardened into a single core of unbreakable will. Slowly The Scourge began to loose ground.
The Scourge dropped it’s weapon, it would be useless in such close quarters, and brought it’s great fists in terrible arcs that impacted with Kysis like a battering ram, but the god did not let go, bracing his feet against the stone floor. It clawed at him, slammed him again and again, but Kysis gritted his teeth and continued. As it roared in impotent fury he lifted it over his head with a great heave then brought it down on his knee with a sickening crack, snapping it’s spine in twain.
The Scourge lay broken, but Kysis was not finished with it, instead lifting it’s head by the hair and smashing his fist into it’s skull again and again until all he was doing was pounding wet chunks of bone into the floor.
When at last he looked up The Scourge's servants had fled, wailing at the loss of their master. Kysis did not care. Perhaps they would survive, perhaps they would not, it didn’t matter to him. Instead he spread his arms and let the thrill of victory seep into him. He had taken for himself his realm. Let them despair.
“Now it begins. Now my destiny unfolds. Let all my siblings know of it! Let they know my destiny has begun, that my journey is complete! Let them know!”
The raven flitted from branch to branch, as it fluttered above the massacre that had once been a village. “Kysis is coming.” It croaked, and the sixteen pale skinned warriors responded with a cheer, the women and children and men too terrified to fight looking on in terror.
Another landed in the mountain Arratth where Mi’s temple had been built by her followers. It passed unnoticed until it delivered it’s message, “Kysis is coming.” Then flapped away.
Amongst the wheeling storm clouds, a Raven flew, higher then it should be able too. “Kysis is coming.” It croaked.
Beside the Ratlike thing that Savage had become, a raven landed. “Kysis is coming.” It croaked, before the thing ponced on it and tore out it’s heart.
Before the gates of the underworld, a raven landed. It was seen as a portent by the watchers at first, for is not a Raven a scavenger, who lurks around battlefields? “Kysis is coming.” It croaked, then flapped away, back towards the surface.
In Al-Makid, the dreamers found their sleep disturbed by a great apparition, that seemed to have no form, wrapped in the shadows of their minds. “Kysis is coming.” they heard, and while none remembered the rest of the dream's content, the words lingered on for a long time.
In Sarumion, a great flock of Raven’s soared and wheeled. “Kysis is coming. Kysis is coming.” They croaked endlessly, until at last they soared away to some battlefield.
In the icy cold where Illindri made his realm a raven fluttered to his spire, the cold freezing its wings as rime and frost began to coat it, but a terrible will would not let it stop, not allow it to give up. “Kysis… is coming.” It croaked, before it keeled over, dead.
Throughout the world his messengers scattered, each delivering their message then moving on, leaving all who heard wondering, or tremoring as they thought of the dark times it heralded.
In his new kingdom, Kysis smiled and then turned, returning back the way he came to where he had left his amour. He had a promise to keep.

[nysisobli]

kysis


Your coming huh? Does that mean that you want to meet soon?

[Cracklord]

It's symbolic. You know, like a portent? Bad things are coming?
I'll be there in a sec...


Wraught had been exploring her new home, and had found it far more to her liking then the Ilses had ever been. But she was a slave to her needs, and soon found her way back to the bedchamber. She longed to spread her storms throughout the world, spreading destruction and chaos, to take a legion of lovers and build herself an even greater palace, but she was still new to her power, and would not be ready to for some time.
Smiling a sultry smile she pushed open the door and sashayed her hips. "Now then, where were..."
The bed was dyed red with gore. Seated casually on one end was her brother Kysis, his scarred visage carefully neutral.
"It was cold." He growled, by way of explanation. "So I warmed my hands on your lovers heart. He's not dead quite yet, but I expect he doesn't feel that's a mercy."
He smiled at her shocked expression. He always knew how to make an entrance.
"You made me an offer, sister, and I am here to discuss it with you." He said, his voice rasping cruelly.

[nysisobli]

Well i would appreciate him not dieing, he is a fun toy, and a good servant, but as for the deal. As soon as the other gods get wind of what is going on, they will unite against us, we need all the allegiances we can get in this time of need.

[Cracklord]

"I doubt he feels the same way. But then, consent was never really an issue for you, was it sister?" Then he smiled. "The other gods will not unite. They cannot see beyond their purpose. Each wishes to bring their own brand of civilization, and consider the others their rivals for worshipers and influence. That is our strength." He began pacing, blood splattering the floor as he did so. "I have a promise to keep. I must strengthen my realm and consolidate my power. But I will be ready soon." His eye blazed. "Then you will sit by my side and watch the world burn." Suddenly he stepped forward and made a fist, bringing his right thumb across her forehead, leaving a red strip of blood. "Wait for me sister."

[nysisobli]

Before he leaves, she grabs his hand are you sure that there is nothing else i can do for you while your here? It would be a honor to help serve you in any way i could. Her eyes seem hungry, besides you have deprived me of my entertainment tonight. I need something to occupy my time.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna looked at the army that had come to save him and smiled at them. That smile and gratitude seemed to bless them (or curse them). They became different from humans and developed a strong curiosity. They became Roamangs, the priests of Plrna. Plrna in a burst of god like power freed the grey birds and set them to travel the world.

Plrna then started to go back to the city-state of Set. So called because the settlers at Set, thought it was where the sun set after they followed the sun. At Set, Plrna was content to allow his Roamangs to tell of the true story of who kidnapped their children.

Plrna left with four of his Roamangs, to go to his house. As he travelled the day’s journey to the house he watched the animals that scattered when the group of them started to get close to them. Plrna came to the building and sent his Roamangs in there as Plrna looked at one of the rare trees that grew there.

Plrna, borrowing some tools and an axe from the Roamangs, cut the tree down and crafted a small wheel out of it. Plrna saw that it would be important and that it would be his totem.

Days Passed. People carrying goods left Set to go to their neighbouring city.

[Cracklord]

Kysis ran his hand through her hair, leaving clots of blood in it. But she didn't shy away from his touch, instead nestling closer as he lifted her up in his brawny arms and carried her to the bed, still crimson with her lovers gore.
Putting her down roughly he stared at her, his one eye misted with lust. I killed today, he thought, you are my reward.

[Emperor Demonking]

To Rav: "We must wait, soon after we complete our quests, I am sure that these deaths will stop. I am sure it is not only I who has been forced to kill a powerful demonic being in order to complete my quest. I am sure that once we ascend back to the heavens with our god hood, the deaths will all stop."

[Cracklord]

Kysis pulled her close for a minute, so that she fell against him. His body was warmer then natural, almost unpleasantly so, and every inch was hard, grizzled muscle, none of the fleshy padding that presents pleasing of contour. His sinews felt like steel cables, and try as she might she could find no softness, not a wasted spot anywhere. His beard and hair were like silk, in sharp contrast to the body beneath them, that felt like cracked leather.
Then he turned, pushing her away. "I have an oath to consider. I am leaving, sister. But I do not think we are finished here. I will return tonight." He growled, his voice thick with what may have been lust.
She pouted, but he was unmoved. "Whip up a tempest for me. Let the mortals feel your anger. Or pick another lover. We both know the fun part is breaking them. Once their yours they stop being fun." He said, then left without another word.

* * * * *

The Northern Breen Mountains howled as a wind blew, bring sleet and snow. Past the glaciers and the Icebergs of the raiders was a land of total cold, where even the hardiest human could not long survive.
At the peak of one of the tallest was a rime encrusted tower, somehow even colder inside then it was outside. The ice formed great, improbable shapes on the surface of the stones, great whorls and swirls that no man would never see. And at it's apex sat Illindri, the frost Mage, Kysis's brother, as he clung to the last vestiges of his mortal coil.
There was a hiss, and a few feet from him the ice began to melt, as blood traced deep furrows in it, following it's shape to trace the swirls of the stone. The ice turned to water, but the water did not dilute it, instead dripping away to freeze again. At last a great pool formed, and a man began to take form, muscles sliding out of the pool, then hair, then lastly skin. It was only when the figure as fully formed did the pool at last succumbed to nature and froze over.
White robes formed around the figure, and he strode forward, blood dripping from his right hand to melt the ice it landed on with a hiss, only to be frozen in turn.
"I have come, brother. As I said I would." He said, his voice a rasping cough. "And I am prepared." He finished, indicating the armor beneath his robes. "Show me your enemies, so I may take their lives."

[nysisobli]

Wraght sighing begins cleaning up the bloody mess her brother made of the room, well on the bright side at least i can use my magics to clean it a little, after 2 hours of scrubbing, the room is clean. Rodricks body hmmm, she throws it down the stairs. Well now what am i going to do for fun.....
Winds begin rocking her castle storms rolling above it, they begin to rain down black hail and red lightning, its a display that can be seen from many miles away. And suddenly it stops, Then she gets angry again and it starts, only this time the winds reach about 140 degrees farhenheit [ugh im tired of these men, i need to get a woman in here] she thought to herself. She goes down stairs to pick out a ruby blade for her brother, i need one that i can gift to him, and he will see i am serious about making this alliance work. The storm continues for about 14 hours.

[Jair Barik]

To Plrna

"God of travel, it occurs to us that some form of a pact may be useful between us. My first priority is the protection of the Underworld and we realise that anyone with means of divine travel may endanger its safety. We are already working upon a means of preventing traditional travel to the island, the details are unimportant but if implemented should work but one such as you could easily circumvent my efforts. If you inform us of anyone seeking your help to gain access to my domain I would grant you a boon of your choice, assuming of course we find it a fair trade"

[Emperor Demonking]

To Rav



"Sure. That seems fair to me. I presume that part of that is me not giving them help and then telling you! Ha!"
"Out of curiosity, do they good have the same afterlife as the pure evil?"

[Jair Barik]

To Plrna
"Naturally, although you would have no obligation to tell them why you wouldn't be helping them":smallwink:
OOC:Don't know about the afterlife yet. Am asking Omnik whether or not they exist or need to be created.

[Krrth]

Korath



Of light. Korath was standing in the rain looking at a statue of h is wife. It was an amazing statue, lifelike in every detail. Any craftsman would have been proud to call it a masterwork. It was perhaps Korath's best work, and it should have filled him with pride...except. Except it was a grave marker. It had been a senseless death, one that could have easily been prevented. Honua had lost her balance and fell off the roof. Korath had tried....oh, he had tried. His powers of healing hadn't worked for some reason. She had taken one last look at him, squeezed his hand, and then died.

Korath felt lost. She had been the first person he had met when he arrived in this realm, and he had known her for...20 years? 30? Now she was gone. He hadn't even felt her soul leave. She was just....gone.

Now standing forlornly in the rain, he struggled to cope. But.....he still had his daughter. Turning back to the house, he saw her watching him from the window. There was a flash....

[ArlEammon]

"Garland, Iours it would seem you have both slain a beast of great power who's soul is now confined to my domain. Would I be right to assume you are both Gods of some power now?"

To Ravarthis+Omnik
Ravarthis, yes, I have earned my position and power now. But Karmoth is not dead. He is merely sealed away in slumber from my Wand. His soul may have passed through your realm on its way to it's place of imprisonment.

[Jair Barik]

To Wraght

"It seems that binding the soul of a God is beyond my power... at the moment. Perhaps another boon?"

[Smiley_]

Surely, you cannot be serious!

The magistrate of the town, which Ahmua learned to be called Sal-Yamir sat at the end of a long table. Sitting next to him was a small, dirty girl who must have been only ten years old. He had called a meeting with the major merchant house leaders and various lesser lords who more or less controlled the city and had just described his plans for a hostile takeover of the city and it's trade lines.

You know for a fact, Magistrate, that there is nothing your ragtag group of soldiers can do to us. Our own private armies...

Have received word from you to relocate to some of the surrounding roads to ensure trade be uninterrupted and have not received any other commands. You'd be surprised just how helpful the slum rats whom you ignore are at gathering information unnoticed. You'll need new messengers by the way.

But our garrison here... The Emperor...

The captain is already dead and the local militia is currently routing your sorry garrison. Also, I don't think the Emperor would mind, seeing as I am more loyal to him than you sorry asses. Tell me... How much real combat experience do your boys have? How will they fare, outnumbered

He grinned nastily at the sputtering merchant lord. His own armed guards came into the room and surrounded the guests.

You know what to do... I need to prepare for my coronation.

As he left with the small girl, he could hear the shrieks and sounds of metal cutting through tendon and bone.

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

Ahmua sat on the top of Sal-Yamir's town hall's tower, looking at the landscape. She had conquered this beast without lifting a finger or spilling a single drop of blood. A few promises here, a suggestion there, and they did all the rest. Also, she became recognized as a deity among the town's rulership as well as in the dirtiest slums.

She had grand plans for both of her branded followers. They did not know it yet, but they would be the first examples of her lasting mark on the world.

For now, though, she would examine the other gods. She had not spoken to one of her siblings, yet, and she was curious.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Plrna took off to travel once more, first travelling the now well worn path to Set's neighbouring city state. He walked quickly yet still smiling at all the merchants he passed and taking in the sights. After all, what's the point in travelling other than the memories?

Coming into the city, Plrna noticed that there seemed to be another deity like himself in this city. Concerntrating for a moment, he found at who it was, Garland.

To Garland:



Where are you?

[ArlEammon]

I'm in the City Council Chambers. Come in please.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Plrna asked one of the passing people where the City Council Chambers were, getting directions he ten started his walk to the City Council Chambers. When he walked into the room he took a long look from left to right before continuing in.

[ArlEammon]

The curious magicians just stared at the newcomer. It was a very long ways away from the next city. Even across the sea. How he managed to get here so soon after the literal neutering of Karmoth, they couldn't guess. News couldn't travel that fast.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Plrna looked at the people, it was a long journey here even turning into a shark in order to cross the water and turning into a hawk to cross the land. "Hello, what are you? Wizards? Now where's that Garland fellow? He's a god. Like me."

[ArlEammon]

They seem a little surprised. "Oh, another one. Just go he's right in there."

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"Another one?" Said Plrna curious as he slowly walked to the door, opened it and then he wlked through it.

[ArlEammon]

Garland

"Hello. . . I can't say I was expecting you, exactly. . but I knew you would come. I am Garland, the wizard. You would be? . . . "Plurna!"

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"Plrna." Said Plrna as he looked around the room, interested about what position Garland held in this far away city. "so, have you seen any of our other brothers... or sisters, of course."

[ArlEammon]

Garland
"No, but I suspect Eunok will be angry at Karmoth for a long while for stealing his name." . . . Garland continues. "I haven't seen any of the gods. I personally think that it would be best to keep a low profile among us for now. Anyways is that the only reason you came here?"

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"No, I was just in the neighbourhood and thought we should meet up and talk. I'm travelling the world you see and going to every major city I find. Speaking of which, do you know where the nearest city is? No use getting lost, is there?"

[ArlEammon]

"There's an abandoned, dragon graveyard that stretches for many miles to the north. . . We've moved in there, and have begun setting up wards."

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"Well, thank you. Nice seeing you." Said Plrna as he went outside and started walking to the dragon graveyard.

[Jair Barik]

To Plrna
"Tell me brother have you heard from Kysis? His messangers have flown to the Underworld not long ago, it heralds war we believe. He is prone to violence and we see no reason why he would not seek dominion over the other Gods. If it comes to a conflict we are curious, with whom would you side brother?

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna


"We? Who are you with?"
"I haven't seen or been contacted by Kyskis. What did the heralds say? If it came to contact, to be perfectly honest, I can't chose a side based on people but if he was the aggressor then I'd probably side with you."

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Savage-The-Rat prowled through the thick forest. He had devoured a number of insects already, increasing his size by small amounts, but he hungered for more. The slavering creature stalked, its six legs powering it forward, raising his nose high and giving one sniff, then two. He spotted his prey: It was a rodent, like he was.. He scurried forward, hiding in a bush. The rodent moved hither and thither, it too ate insects, but also nuts and berries, some of which it stored in it's mouth. It would be of no help against Savage. Scurrying quietly through the underbrush, he leaped from hiding, his six legs skittering forward, he bit down on the squirrel. It struggled, limbs flying, it scratched and bit him, but he shook it like a lion, again and again, until it was limp. Savage hunkered down and began to eat, his bulk increasing. However, after a moment he realized something was wrong. He had devoured much of the creature, bones and all, and he looked around. There was an itch at the back of his skull, and a piercing hoot made him spin around. An owl descended straight for him. It appeared he had taken another creature's meal, though it was happy to use him instead. It grabbed him in it's vice-like claws, squeezing the life out of his tiny frame, but Savage wasn't the unintelligent little creatures it was used to feeding on, he had a cunning that went far beyond simple animals. He reached around and bit the birds leg savagely, and it shrieked, releasing him, but he did not fall. He grabbed onto the wounded leg, scrabbling up the birds back. He ripped into the bird with his teeth, and it smashed into a branch in it's frantic attempts to dislodge him. It fell, dazed, as Savage continued to tear into it. It hit the ground with a feathery thump. Savage ate the bird, piece by piece, and his form began to change. His snout turned into a beak, his pointed ears grew like horns on his head. His eyes grew wide and yellow, with black centers. Two of his legs turned into wings, and the middle pair turned into great claws. He took to the air with a hooting shriek. Savage had moved up in the world.

[ArlEammon]

Plrna

"Well, thank you. Nice seeing you." Said Plrna as he went outside and started walking to the dragon graveyard.

"Well, I will accompany you, of course." Garland followed Plrna. "As you can see, some of the dragon bones are over one mile high. The skeletons are so many and so large that they look like mountains. Over 4,400 square miles of this entire island of ours is held within the Forbidden Necropolis."

"In the center of the Dragon Graveyard looms Castle Karmoth."

[Jair Barik]

To Plrna

The herald was a raven, it stated quite simply that Kysis is coming. We cannot hold it as a threat but it is a curious omen nonetheless..." OOC:since becoming a floating mass of thorns, ravarthis refers to himself as a plural

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Plrna seemed distracted as he talked to Garland. "So have you finished your quest? Oh and what's in the castle Karmoth? Why is it called that?" Plrna decided that he'd go to this castle and try and see if he could learn ogf the history of this world.

Raz:

"How long ago was that? After all, he might have just wanted for you to get the mead ready before he barged in."

[ArlEammon]

Plrna

Plrna seemed distracted as he talked to Garland. "So have you finished your quest? Oh and what's in the castle Karmoth? Why is it called that?" Plrna decided that he'd go to this castle and try and see if he could learn ogf the history of this world.

Raz:

"How long ago was that? After all, he might have just wanted for you to get the mead ready before he barged in."



"I finished my quest. Yes. and the Castle is called Karmoth because the Demon Prince Karmoth once lived in it. Now, he is imprisoned with a spell in a hidden location. If you'd like you can read the legends of Karmoth and this island through the runes inside the Fortress."

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"Yes that seems like a good idea." Claimed Plrna as he started to walk slightly faster to the castle. The idea of these runes were very interesting to Plrna.

[Jair Barik]

Plrna
"not too long ago. It is the manner of it though and the simplicity that worries us.Had he wished to converse he could have done so as we do now, the raven seems a bad omen, especially one sent by a God who revels in slaughter"

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Raz


That's true. I gues we'll just have to wait and see."

[ArlEammon]

Plrna

"Yes that seems like a good idea." Claimed Plrna as he started to walk slightly faster to the castle. The idea of these runes were very interesting to Plrna.

The Runes are translatable. . .

"Demon Prince Karmoth was from over the sea centuries ago. For many years, he was content to rule over the Dragon Clan's skeletal remains, and create demon servants from the bones. However, Karmoth's power weakened as his evil grew over time. Some how he had lost the ability to grow in strength and magic as he became more corrupt."

"Prince Karmoth had mentioned discovering ancient secrets of magic and immortality to become one with the Titan-Giants who made the gods, as well as many other old sorceries. With his magic he forced the druids of Sarumion to sacrifice to him, and perform many humiliating and horrifice self-misdeeds."

"Prophecy foretold of Karmoth's defeat at the hands of someone greater in the generations to come. The Temple that Karmoth forced the druids to perform sacrifice would house the very same altar where the wizard who would overthrow Karmoth would come from."

------

Later, more runes were discovered. . .
"Eunok himself came to the lands of Sarumion before the time of Karmoth and the druids. It is said Karmoth has Eunok's blood flowing through his veins. Karmoth himself was said to once be a god, and his murder caused his exile to the lands where Eunok previously stood."

[Jair Barik]

Plrna
"Do you know anyone elses opinion about Kysis? It would be useful to know the other Gods allegiances in the matter."

[Raz_Fox]

I looked out at Al-Makid again: already the settlers were moving into the enchanted city. The Sheik of Day was enthralled by the city and the grand palace, and we had sworn oaths of friendship before the Antaran Emperor and the first citizens. He ruled while I was gone, and in the day-to-day business of the city; I ruled in the dreams of night. He cared for the populace, I cared for the city. It worked.

But now I had to leave for a time, into my land of dreams. Kysis, may Dad damn him forever, was up to something. Moreover, I needed an anchor: I was part-dream now, and it was a strain just existing in the real world. If I could create something to ground me, I wouldn't have to focus so hard on existing in two worlds at once.

I turned to the three, the three I had first met in this strange new world, the three that had always been at my side. Mera, Jeric and Garrin. I gave them a wistful smile - I couldn't drag them along into my land unless they chose me. "Well, we've done it. Al-Makid is literally the greatest city in the Dawn Isles right now - or at least the most beautiful, the most enchanting. You're free to go your separate ways... learn how to swordfight... travel the world... live in the city named after your tribe... if you want. I'm going to be leaving for a time, forging an... artifact, let's call it, not to mention stopping my insane little brother from potentially slaughtering his way across the Isles. I'm going into nightmares, danger and destruction at every turn. You can come with me if you want... but it has to be your choice. To be with The Duke, whatever may come."

Mera was the first one to react, stepping forward. "You're not getting away that easily, Duke. I'll be at your side, no matter what happens, if only to make sure you don't do something foolish." Garrin leaped forward after her, nodding. "You've got the best food around - and if there's a place I'll find the perfect instructor, it's in the land of dreams." Jeric stood back, looking at me with that piercing gaze of his. "Lad, you've dragged me half-way across the Antaran territories, into adventure I never dreamed of. I'll wander with you, just to see what trouble you'll get into next."

I grinned, wide and joyful, as I opened the gate. "Right. Follow me, and I'll show you things from your wildest dreams..."

---------

Mera and I were admiring the raw emerald I'd taken from the heart of the world when Jeric and Garrin returned. Garrin's hair was still smoking - apparently there had been a slight accident as they retrieved the obsidian from the slopes of a volcano.

I took the pure emerald in my left hand and the obsidian shards in my right, then infused them with the power of dreams. Then I clapped my hands together, opening them to reveal that they were gone - until I shrugged the die out of my sleeve. There was a fire deep in its emerald depths, and the obsidian spots on each side were as dark as the void between the stars. I grinned. "Well. Isn't this a pretty little thing? It's more than a die - it's an anchor. With this shard of dream residing in the mortal realm, I'll be able to walk freely there."

I rose. "Garrin - could you take this to the Palace in Al-Makid? I'll need it there if I want to stay in the mortal realm. Mera -" I touched her brow, granting her some of the power of dream, my seneschal in this realm: it would listen to her as it did me. "- Keep the land stable. Jeric and I shall need it sorely, if my old brother has truly descended into insanity. Let me give you a gift."

In the center of the opulent room we were in, I created a pool of water. Its reflections were not of the high ceiling, but of far-off actions. "This will allow you to spy upon us, and perhaps know when we have need of you. Jeric - I go to see Kysis. Would you come with me?" Jeric just nodded, and I led him on through my land until I came to frozen wasteland - a mirror of Kysis's land, it would seem. I led him through a cave in a wall of ice, a portal from dream to reality.

"Whooo! Now that is cold! Didn't know Kysis was interested in the freezing and the dying-of-hypothermia side of things - always was more interested in bedding or killing his siblings. No, this place screams out... gah, can't remember his name, the skinny kid that nobody wanted to play with... but as far as I can guess, this is where Kysis is." As Jeric instinctively used the power of dream to keep himself warm, as if the desert wind were blowing on him instead of the chill death sweeping through the tower of ice, I looked around with interest. "I think we're on the ground floor. Going up, anyone?"

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"Garland, it appears that we weren't the first generation of new gods. Do you think that its possible that, the prince's corruption is the reason that we now need to perform these quests?" Said Plnra. "Oh, what are your thoughts on Kysis?"

[ArlEammon]

Plrna

"Garland, it appears that we weren't the first generation of new gods. Do you think that its possible that, the prince's corruption is the reason that we now need to perform these quests?" Said Plnra. "Oh, what are your thoughts on Kysis?"

"I think that Kysis is weird. . . He's definitely NOT coming here if he knows whats good for him. I think that we need to unite in order to protect our worshipers. Or in my case, my students."

"As to your comment about the generation of gods, I wonder if the demon I am imprisoning really is Karmoth the runes mention Karmoth being stronger than I thought he would be, even though it said he was growing weaker."

[Jair Barik]

Garland
"fascinating Garland... It does occur to us though that imprisoning a demon may be unwise, the creatures are unstable. We slew the beast that dwelt upon the Underworld's throne."

Duke
"Hello brother. How does the new world treat you? We are curious as toto how you find it and its occupants. Have you had any demon trouble?."

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"Its a good thing he isn't Karmoth. Otherwise He might have decided to not give you Godhood if he thought what you did counted as killing." Said Plrna as he looked to see if there were any other runes. "All your worshippors are your students?"

Raz:

"Garland thinks "I think that Kysis is weird. . . He's definitely NOT coming here if he knows whats good for him. I think that we need to unite in order to protect our worshipers.""

[Milskidasith]

Telepathic message to all Gods:

I am seeking out allies; together, we are stronger. If anybody wishes to meet me for a private chat, you can find my in the cave of the vanquished dragon Magetooth.

[nysisobli]

@ ril

It begins raining in the cave of magetooth, in a flash of lightning you see wraght standing before you, she gets really close to the god, and whispers you needed something brother?

[ArlEammon]

Garland
"Come Plrna, if you wish. . . I am off to Rilcar. . . It seems to be a matter of taking course."

[Milskidasith]

To Wraght:

It's simple. I need allies. All the God's need allies at this point. The entire world is going to be under the control of us and our siblings. Your control over the weather and my control over magic and illusions could go quite well together. I could protect your followers with illusions, and you could protect mine with great storms. We could keep our followers protected from outside dangers. I've been sensing... something divine, but no longer a God, out there, seeking revenge. We need to protect ourselves.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"Yeah, I'll go. Why not/ Said Plrna as he started to turn into a grey bird. After finishing, he hawked before flying at incredible speeds to Rilcar."

[Smiley_]

Magetooth

Cute...

Ahmua strode forth from the shadows, her eyes burning as always, directed towards Wraght.

I prefer to walk, though I can understand your aversion to traveling on those spindly stilts of yours.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Heh... Been 'busy', have you? ... I can smell it in your flesh. But enough of that. What do you have to say, Ril-Cer?

She was clutching something: a hardened sclupture made from the combined hearts of an adult man and a young child.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna
At Magetooth Cave

The bird flew into the cave and started to use any stones it could find to use as a nest. It appears to ignore the other gods as it pecks at the ground. It gives a scream and then works on the nest again."

[Jair Barik]

There was a buzzing in the air at Magetooth cave, metal grating upon metal. A mass of flying thorns materialised before the other Gods and then from their midst materialised a Ram's skull made from the rare metal of the Underworld. It was silent bar the grating of its metallic thorns.

[Milskidasith]

I am simply attempting to form an alliance and gather information. I sense something divine out there, but it isn't one of us... I think it may be a Fallen. If you know anything, I would appreciate it if you shared your knowledge. And to you, Plrna, you know all of us can sense each other; you aren't fooling anybody by pretending to be a bird. Your screeching is getting on my nerves. And now we have another guest. I did not expect such a large turnout; have this many Gods already established their domain?

[Krrth]

Korath


...of light. Korath had turned into a old man. His house was filled with works of art: Paintings, sculpture, drawings, carving, music. His daughter had moved out years ago, and now he was alone.

He sat down at the table and began to play a song, but his heart wasn't in it. The house was empty....no children, not even a pet.

His mind began to wander back through the years. The good times and bad, the sorrow and the joy. Now, that was all he had: the memories, the aches, and pains of old age. Looking around the room one last time, he took up his instrument and left his house. Not bothering to lock the door, he went down to his wife's grave.

The statue remained perfect despite years of being in the weather. Sitting with his back to the statue, he began to play. He pored all his life as a mortal into the song, as well as all his remaining power.

Everything around him stopped. The wind stilled, the birds grew silent. The animals in the nearby fields turned and faced the sound. Even the villagers a few miles away listened intently.

As the last notes echoed through the air, Korath closed his eyes. He felt himself falling deeper into himself as his breathing slowed, then finally stopped. There was one final flash.....

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"One screech. One measly little screech got on your nerves? Why? And whpo said I was trying to fool anybody?" Came the screech from the grey bird's mouth. Plrna went back to building a nest out of the rocks. Once finished, he sat down on it and looked at the others.

[ArlEammon]

I am simply attempting to form an alliance and gather information. I sense something divine out there, but it isn't one of us... I think it may be a Fallen. If you know anything, I would appreciate it if you shared your knowledge. And to you, Plrna, you know all of us can sense each other; you aren't fooling anybody by pretending to be a bird. Your screeching is getting on my nerves. And now we have another guest. I did not expect such a large turnout; have this many Gods already established their domain?

"The Demon Prince Karmoth may have once been a god, I killed him, his avatar, or his aspect or something in the Dragon Necropolis on Sarumion Island."

[Jair Barik]

"A grand alliance against something we know little about? As it stands we care little for a grand alliance. Our main concern is the sealing of the Underworld. Its previous ruler did a poor job in maintaining its security and so it is left to us to repair that damage. Those who wish to help us strengthen its defences need only volunteer their services and we will judge what they can do. You speak of fear of this Demon but already between us we have slain so many, single handedly, we will try and keep those slain within the underworld but at the moment we care little for others that may still live"

With that the skull falls silent.

[Kasanip]

Alone, Mir sat in her hall, keeping her counsel to herself. Like her brothers and sisters, she too had felt the ominous murmurings of unrest. Yet from her hall high up on Mount Arratth she did not respond immediately to the calls of her brethren. Deep and long she contemplated the events that had occurred, and long she struggled to grasp the yet still fleeting signs from afar. Finally in deep thought she sent out a message to all of her siblings her mind could still touch.

My dearest brethren. Troubled have been my thoughts of late with the worries of my family. We whom are all forged of the same essence and bonds of our Father have strayed over such great distances, and for our purposes we have wrought many great achievements. Yet there are black tidings of late, and I implore the greatest prudence in these times. My domain lies upon Mount Arratth, should you desire my words.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Plrna screeched again. "I agree with the death god. We have slayed the former powers of this world and I am sure that those that have yet to finished we'll defeat the rest. We have nothing to worry about apart from ourselves."
"What are people's thoughts of Kysis?"

[Milskidasith]

You speak the truth; we have already slain many. However, it would be unwise to treat a creature of divinity lightly; I believe that, even if we do not make a grand alliance, preparing would benefit us all. I also did not expect such a large turnout; I was seeking one or two trusted allies, but as of now there are six of us in the room. I do not know if I can help you seal off the underworld, but my magic power is great; I could probably help you out in some way.

[Milskidasith]

Kysis? What do we have to worry from him? I have heard nothing of him since I was sent down here to establish my domain.

[Earl of Purple]

The myriad tribes thought well of the idea of a nation, especially after the divinity of Surga had been assured. So the Alsa had been united into one grand tribe. Where family or tribe were riven by conflict, the causers of the conflict were exiled, the greatest punishment Surga could think of. Every year, the chief of every tribe in Alsa gathered, to discuss news, omens and tidings.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

The bird screeched. "It is merely that he sent a most cryptic message that has rather piqued my curiosity."

Mir


What makes you say that?

[Kasanip]

Plrna

I have felt, as I am sure you as well, the great changing of power in this land. Old things have fallen as others have risen to replace them. Yet there is a shadow, still elusive in my thoughts and writings which I know little of, and dreams of a tumultuous future ever give rise to my fear that someday there may be strife between our family.

[Jair Barik]

The skull turns to the bird. "Kysis is coming, that is what a Raven said to us. We see no reason to worry about Kysis though, each of us is equal in strength and we would have time to prepare any defences before an attack. The gates to the Underworld have been sealed sibling, I am now seeking additional protections against intrusion. Already we have a few plans in the working"

[Milskidasith]

If you need any help shielding against intrusion, I will offer my services.

[Earl of Purple]

Surga is chiseling at a baobab tree. When Surga has finished, the baobab tree had the form of a family standing together. Such was the totem of Surga crafted.

[Cracklord]

"My time is short." Said a voice, and as they looked around they noticed a pool of gore slowly spreading. "I will offer my friendship to any who wish it. I have no quarrel with you, nor should I. Repudiate me, and I will take a certain pleasure in making a cloak from your living nerves. I accept your offer of alliance, Ril-Cer, and further offer you my friendship."

[Jair Barik]

"Ah Kysis, so good of you to come. We find your threats somewhat idle though as we lack any nerves to speak of" Though inanimate the skull appears to almost grin.

"Out of interest how do you feel about that business you spoke of earlier? We are still lacking a 3rd to join us but that will come with time."

[OrangeQuarter]

Nothing is truly equal. Everything is in the slightest way different from everything else: even the smallest of particles differ from one another, if but in position. Thus true equality is only of state of mind, and intagible idea that seems so rare.

It was typical, then, that those that believe in it would be idiots.

Paras had walked dawn in and day out, for hours and hours and days and days. Several times he theories that he was going in circles. He was probably right. But there was no way to tell: the grasses were so calm and vast, that he had no way of judging his position. And so he walked. And was rather annoyed.

His deviation from the routine of walking came in the form of a collision. That is, his foot to some humans face. The human had been crouching beneath the grass, and just happened to be in the way when Paras took his next step. Apparently humans don't like when their 'bretheren' are hurt. He was soon pulled beneath the grass and assaulted by several bad-smelling, hunched back humans wearing old, ragged animal pelts that did very little for their figure. They were shouting at him in some indistinguishable languages: "Guh!" "Aw-Wee!" "I'm a stupid native who can't speak!" Was the gist of it. Very gutteral, very demeaning. It took all of Paras's charm and innate ability in language to understand what they were saying. His reply was, of course, very diplomatically termed.

"No, I don't taste good with Wheat, Barbarians!"

Needless to say, the strangers bowed to his intellect. In an, attempt to attack with dirt sort of way. As unfortunate as it was, Paras was forced to dispatch his attackers and take one of the dead barbarians forms, hunching his way through the grasses.

Several minutes to the thataway, he encountered more humans in the grass. He tapped the closest on the shoulder. The main portion of the tribe seemed to live in the grasses- no shelter, no fire, no giant thrones to sit on- none of the essentials of life, it could be said! And, of course, hey were all oh so very interested to find their best hunter returning from a trip, and without dinner!

"What happened!" "Did you find a carcass?" "Did you get my sparrow?!"

"No!" Said Paras, being the wonderful actor that he is. "I found no sparrows or carcasses. I have found a great monster!" Of course, that gave rise to a multitude of 'gasps' and 'oh no's'. "He killed my fellow hunters- even the strange one with the wonky eye- and told me that he was here to hunt our people! Our only hope for survival is to flee, and join with all other tribes!"

The people, being the general idiots that they were, were very prone to accept this decision after a child dissapeared that very night.

[Milskidasith]

Kysis, I find your brutality incredibly distasteful. I also find your threats meaningless; you are far from your followers, while I am in the very cavern that enshrines my totem. Were you to try and fight me here, you would be crushed. I will uphold your offer for an alliance, but I am not so foolish as to trust you as a friend; the blood of two others is forever on your hands, and you have already threatened my life, however insignificant the threat is.

[Krrth]

Korath


....Of light. Korath found himself standing where the house should have been. The only thing in the area was the statue, and strangely enough, the song he had played still hanging in the air.

No house, no grave, no workshop. As he looked around, he realized he was young again and at his original power. As he tried to understand what had happened, a voice echoed in his mind.

Well child, do you understand? The lives of mortals are such fragile things. They can be crushed by the simplest things.

Give them something to help them carry on. Give them a purpose other than just surviving. Think of the happiness and joy your creations brought you....pass that joy in life along.

At that the voice went silent. In the distance, the villagers approach with tools and supplies. Singing, the start to build a housing for the temple. Korath looks around and realizes his connection to these people and this place.

Releasing some of his power, Korath sends a joyous message out across the plane.

Rejoice and sing all ye nations! The great dance has begun!


Alrighty...the statue is of course his totem. The villagers have been branded as his followers. His message is only actually heard by those with power (gods, magi, dragons, demi-powers, spirits and the like. Mortals without power only feel a brief burst of joy, and fluff wise children born on that day tend to be much more artistic than normal. No real affect on game play.

[Cracklord]

"I do not make threats." Rasped the voice. "I simply state facts. I make my offer, and if you refuse then I will be forced to consider you my enemy. My father finds no fault with my nature in his eyes, who are you, god of magic, to judge me? Ril-Cer, take my friendship or don't but do not presume to consider yourself my better." The tone deepened. "And don't tempt me boy."

The pool of blood had done nothing further, no body had begun to form in it. The Bloody handed god was far away, and only the barest hint of it's conscious was here. "I offered my help, and I will gladly do so. I have as much a stake in it as any, save yourself." He rasped to the Skull where Ravarthis was housed. "When you are ready for the undertaking, inform me." The voice deepened, and Kysis sounded amused. "Oh, and brother? I have a new ward for you. Guard him well, for sending him to his rest was dificult."

[nysisobli]

Wraght smiles at kysis' voice, i have things i must do, I must retire, with a flash of lightning shes gone

[Ra_Va]

Tz'Aren was silent waiting he recently learned that creatures like him were attacking his people. None of the tribe were hurt (mostly due to the wisdom of his chosen each specializing on a field such as smithing, magic, etc.) however it was his duty to protect them. This was magic not attributed to his brothers it was obviously some kind of daemon. Tz'Aren picked up his mace and descended into the mortal realm. He was apparently on time, as his followers were being attacked by the skeletal creatures. Helping the humans who still remember him praised as the battle was won with no casualties.

It became clear that a totem was now needed in the lands that were now. However he would first kill this deamon who summons these 'monstrosities' against his 'children'. According to the villagers the Daemon was named Amonothothothoth who resided in the underground taverns of the Spider Pits. Tz'Aren was already familiar with the location of the Spider Pits and walked in. Due to a prior encounter in the pits the spiders fled once his image was in site. As he drew deeper into the pits he saw a river. However the river was not filled with water but rather souls. The Spider Pits did not connect to the underworld so it was odd.

"...you mean to tell me thousand of Giant Spiders are afraid of one man!" Tz'Aren smiled. "Oh I'm hardly a man sir." Amonothothothoth growled. "Well come closer child let me a good look at you." Tz'Aren followed the river which led to a pool. The daemon itself inside the pool enjoying it as if it were a hot spring. Amonothothothoth was large probably about the height as T'z'Aren. He possessed a elongated, cylindrical skull protected by a large flat crest, eight legs in the same design and function of a spider however they were more armored with skin more attributed to insects then arachnids[kind of like an alien queen from the alien movie franchise].

"A son of Eunok how charming." It appeared small talk was a necessary step before fighting. "You know my father?" Amonothothothoth simply smiled not looking aggressive at all. "Not personally I'm quite a few years younger then him. Still older then you though. Tz'Aren right?" Tz'Aren grew annoyed quickly. "Ey, Amonothothothoth right? What exactly are you?" A hint of Shock seemed to appear over his face. "Never heard of me? I am Amonothothothoth, Lord of Spiders, The First and Greatest Child of Queen Asmodeai, and gatherer of Greedy Souls.

"I guess that explains all this." The Daemon smiled as if it were a work of art. "Yes the souls of those who came to me in their time of greed. In return for human desires such a wealth, power, and flesh they give to me their souls and their bodies after death. They make a very useful army" Tz'Aren's Tone grew angrier and more serious. "And what reason do you have for sending your army against my mortal territory." Amonothothothoth simply chuckled. "Target Practice." In anger Tz'Aren struck his mace in the ground. "I will not have anyone give me such disrespect of targeting those mortals under my supervision. The Daemon hissed in anger as he took a more aggressive pose. "You should feel lucky that I even consider your humans a worthy opponent." Tz'Aren pick his mace from the ground and held it firmly. "The only opponent you are about to have is my brother Ravarthis AS I SEND YOU TO HIM."

A Titanic battle ensued. It lasted 3 days and 3 nights. It seemed evenly matched until Amonothothothoth found himself without leg, and another leg, and another leg, until all that was left was a pathetic withering mass begging for mercy. "I can give you power, even your flesh back." Tz'Aren was not a fool. "And for what so I can end up like this soon after. I'd rather enjoy seeing you die" Hysterical Amonothothothoth tried pulling himself into the soul-river presumably to replenish himself. "But if you kill me these Souls and there bodies are transfered to you, what would you do with them?" Tz'Aren grabbed the Daemon by the throat. "Keep them away from people like you who kill needlessly."

Tz'Aren ripped through the flesh of Amonothothothoth who was screaming an unearthly howl until Tz'Aren tore the very heart of the daemon of of his chest. He then placed the heart of a giant spear and placed it in his lands becoming the totem needed to protect his lands.

Domain Claim, Undead; Totem Claim

[Cracklord]

A raven landed on Tz'Aren shoulder, a deeper patch of darkness in the shadows of the dephs of the world. He moved to shoo it away, but it didn't even flinch. "Kysis is coming." It croaked in his ear, then inclined it's head. "He wants to speak to you. The two of you have much to discuss."
With that it began to flap away, cawing into the dark mournfully.

[Ra_Va]

A raven landed on Tz'Aren shoulder, a deeper patch of darkness in the shadows of the dephs of the world. He moved to shoo it away, but it didn't even flinch. "Kysis is coming." It croaked in his ear, then inclined it's head. "He wants to speak to you. The two of you have much to discuss."
With that it began to flap away, cawing into the dark mournfully.

After hearing that one of his beloved siblings needed to talk he was no man to resist an invitation. The smell of Kysis was there. It was hard to miss the smell of Storm and Blood.

To Kysis:
Coming Brother

[Cracklord]

Blood began to congeal on the ceiling, oozing through cracks and tiny flaws in the stone, then dripping down on the floor in front of him. This continued, until a pool deep enough for Tz'Aren to wade in was before him. It rippled, as though heeding a wind the other god could not feel, and a voice sounded from the depths.
"So you have taken your kingdom, brother." Kysis snarled, emotion impossible to detect. "I am glad for you."
Then seemingly frustrated with the small talk, the voice sounded again. "You will build great things, people will offer up their lives in your name, but it will never be enough. Why be alone, brother? We were beget by the same father, the same power runs in our blood. Together we can achieve so much more. With you by my side, brother, we can tear down this world in a see of blood, and follow beyond to the sea's unumbered worlds. I offer you my friendship, and freely with it any help you desire. Will you stand by my side, brother?"

[Ra_Va]

"I have always stood by your side. You are one of my few siblings I do not suspect of being the person who took away my flesh. I accept your offer brother.

[Cracklord]

"Then tonight, meet me in my realm." He says, a terrible passion making his voice crack and rumble like the choaking of some great beast. "We have work to do." With tht the pool sept into the stones, as though it had never been.

[Smiley_]

After Kysis and Wraght left, Ahmua could not hold it in any longer. Her amusement came out as a hollow, rasping laugh as she almost doubled over.

Haha... Those two... The stench... Heh!... I'd be disgusted if it weren't so absurd!

She regained her composure and turned to Ril-Cer.

I offer you my cooperation in the matter. To ignore something with this magnitude of divine essence, more so than any of the myriad beasts we have slain, would be unwise. However, that is all. My friendship cannot be bartered through agreements or the exchange of acts of power.

I wish you luck. You know how to contact me, though I cannot promise where I will be.

She turned and left running with surprising speed. Soon, she was out of sight. She was curious as to the peculiar union of Wraght and Kysis. It might be nothing, but it should prove interesting nonetheless.

As I did not do so my last post
Claim Domain: Poison
Claim Totem: Preserved heart totem (unnamed) to be placed somewhere later.
Known in city of Sal-Yamir as the "Lady of Accidents." Whenever something goes wrong without a clear culprit, they blame Ahmua (not entirely unbased, as she did cause a number of "accidental" deaths in the town just beccause she felt she needed to keep in practice during her time among civilization). She is worshipped in hopes of dissuading ill fortune in many 'accident prone' ventures.

[Jair Barik]

The cloud became silent "We are sorry brothers but we must leave. Something has come up... Something of great importance and urgency..."

The cloud dissipated, the skull vanished and the air was still.

The Spider Pits
As the pool of blood vanished a cloud of thorns swept in through the entrance and buzzed about the cavern like a swarm of angry bees. The skull materialized in their midst, red fire blazing in its eyes. "ABOMINATION! How dare you command dominion over undeath! You shock me Tz'Aren, I expected better from you... The dead shall stay dead and you shall leave them that way. But I am not unreasonable and so I offer you a deal..."

The skull looked about then unsure of the caves security sent a message to Tz'Aren by telepathy.

Tz'Aren
"Me and Kysis are making a deal. We will rise a being from the Underworld to a Demi-God to act as judge over mortal souls, but we require a third in our ceremony. If you join us I will give you access to endless souls... Those the Demi-God judges as leading Good lives shall move on to the paradise of the centre ring. Those it condemns shall dwell in purgatory within another place, most likely the River of lost souls, till they have been redeemed of their sins. I offer you that if you join us in this ceremony all those lost souls shall be made available to you, to do with as you please till they are considered redeemed... What say you?"

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Plrna returned to his godly form as started to walk out of the cave. "Good Bye. Farewell. Do any of you know the location of the closest city? Ha, I guess I'll just walk randomly till I find one."

As Plrna walked and travelled the world he heard of a great city only relatively newly built. Interested and intrigued Plrna started to make his way to the Plrna, walking unless he came to water in which case he'd fl in the shape of a grey bird.

[Ra_Va]

Tz'Aren was sure they were safe unless this 'Queen Asmodeai' showed herself which was doubtful atleast for a while.

To Rav:

'Brother I simply did you a favor. These are souls who left our protection and aligned themselves with a daemon. They deserve their fate. As for your proposal Kysis already talked to me about an alliance so I will participate in this ceremony. I only ask for one thing.'

[Jair Barik]

To Tz'Aren
"We have no qualm with killing demons, but you have turned to necromancy it is that we oppose. Speak of this thing you desire. We offer you the evil souls of the world, what more could you desire?"

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

As Plrna got directions to the new city, Plrna started to make his way there.


Mir:

Are you thinking of our father?

Korrath:



Was that you? I presume you have completed your quest?

[Krrth]

Plrna:


ooc: I think the city is Dukes. My branded are build a grand temple, but it's definitely not a city yet.

[Emperor Demonking]

I Nwas talking about the Rejoice and sing all ye nations! The great dance has begun!

[Kasanip]

Plrna

It would be a lie to say that my thoughts do not drift back to our Father, but I am thinking more of our family of brothers and sisters. I fear especially for Kysis and Ravarthis. However, I suppose what is fated will come to pass, one way or another.


Korath

Dear brother, on the winds I hear tidings of joy that I have not heard among these human lands before. It warms me to hear such music, and I venture that you have come into your own. I send my heartfelt congratulations and greetings from Mount Arratth.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Mir:

Ravarthis? I can't say I'm suprised about what you think Kysis. I have to admit that I share those same fears.

[Ra_Va]

Rav:
Simply the souls of my own mortals.

[Jair Barik]

To Tz'Aren
"So you ask that we don't take the souls of your followers into the Underworld instead leaving them to your own disposal? If that is all you ask then we are inclined to accept your offer. You claim no ownership of the souls of others believers, the souls of your own are forbidden from the Underworld and you will help us raise the Demi-God, are we correct? I know not what Kysis has told you of our plans but we intend to raise the creature know as The serpent with the Silver Tongue. It is wise and cunning, a fitting creature."
OOC: We have checked with Omnik and the 3 of us can do this. The Demi-God would reside in the Underworld (I think) and would be an NPC controlled by Omnik. We would have no special control over it but it would be more inclined to listen to us as we would be its creators

[Krrth]

Korath

Korath was watching his new temple being built when he recieved the message.

Mir

Sister! How good to hear your voice again. Thank you for your kind words. Please, come and visit as you wish. We have much in common, and I believe that together we make the lives of these poor mortals better.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

The Savage Bird shrieked a murder cry, and dove. It's four great wings beat furiously, and he tucked his wings in, shoving his taloned feet forward. Before it could even truly recognize it's peril, a pigeon had become his meal. He stood over the body, pecking at it. He tore strips of flesh from it's body, gulping them down greedily, his mass swelling with every bite, but he did not himself recognize the peril that had come to him. Climbing the tree, as silent as a shadow, a great mountain cat had come to devour the strange four winged bird. Without even a growl the cat leaped, and smashed into Savage. Flapping his wings in it's face, clawing at it with his talons, he battered at the mountain lion, but it did not relent, it drove at him jaws wide, but Savage was quick, he darted upward beyond the cats reach, but the cat was wily and began to claw it's way up the tree. Savage shrieked as the cat swiped from the foliage of the trees upper branches. It snatched at him, gaining purchase, and tried to drag him in, but Savage did not relent, he beat his wings furiously, and clawed at the lions face, unbalancing it, with a yowl it careened off the tree, landing in a broken pile. Savage alighted upon the dead mountain lion and, like a vulture, began to feed. Some time later, a new predator-thing prowled the night. It's fur was steely gray, it's eyes the color of lightning. Its huge mouth opened to reveal two rots of fangs, his retractable claws were twice the length of a normal cats, and his tail ended in long blade, horns sprouted from his head, and his long ears constantly twitched. Yawning and stretching, the Savage Lion began to search for it's next meal.

[Cracklord]

A raven landed on Korath's shoulder. "Kysis is coming." It cawed, before fluttering away. But even as he wondered at the meaning, the air seemed to thicken, like the build up to a storm. "I would have words with you, brother." Snarled a voice, and he felt a presence slide close. Slowly a pool of something began to spread near him, a pool of blood and gore.

[Kasanip]

Korath's response had brought Mir to once again travel, though this time she did not slow her pace and mingle among the mortals who tilled the earth. She instead made her way to the resting place of her brother Korath.

Mir appeared at the entrance to the Temple grounds, a mandala of shimmering letters glimmering faintly in the air behind her. Out of respect, she gestured in greeting, though she lowered her hands as the air began to thicken, and the ominous pool of blood appeared.

"I see that my timely arrival is not the only visit to these grounds of yours, Korath."

She nodded in greeting to her brothers.

[Cracklord]

"Sister, you are as beautiful as ever." Kysis said, his tone unreadable. He had never known what to make of her, of all his siblings, she was impossible to understand, most beyond his knowledge. She was so... dispassionate, no aspiration beyond simple joy of existence and teaching. So far diverged from his own mind he couldn't comprehend it.
"Korath, I ask a favor of you. I wish for you to design something for me. A challenge beyond all challenges. I ask you to capture the passion I feel, the joy in taking a life in one of your works. I will provide the outlines, but I ask you to make it, as my skill is not sufficient. I will return any favor you ask in exchange."

[Kaiser Omnik]

Beginning of the Second Age

All the gods and goddesses who have completed their quest (except Illindri, Kysis and Wraught) are sent back to Afu, where they appear before Eunok for a second time.

"I congratulate you my children. You have successfully mastered your powers and have discovered by yourselves the art of totem crafting. You have also learned much about the duties of a god while you were there. I believe you are finally ready to join the Pantheon. As you do, you will find out what it truly means to be divine.

I must warn you. A few of your siblings aren't with us. They have been forbidden to return to Paradise because of a serious crime committed against us. While you should be distrustful of them, they are not daemons. You are not too end their lives unless absolutely necessary. You are free to communicate with them at all times, but beware my wrath if you decide to act against the Pantheon.

Now, rejoice, for a new Age has begun. The Second Age of the world. The Ocean beyond the Isles of Dawn is vast and you may shape it as you wish. However, there also exists a land bordering the sea, far away from here. It is the Outer Ring, home to primitive humans and very few magical beings. These Men will need your help, just like the people of the Isles, perhaps even more. Do good, my children. I have great hopes for you."

The gods of the Pantheon are free to explore Afu. Others like them dwell on the Paradise Island; the Smith, a great friend of Eunok, works his art inside Orara Volcano. Various creatures of legends also roam the land. The gods now have access to the Outer Ring, although they must use a totem to venture there.

[Krrth]

Korath

*As Kysis appears*

Hmmm....very nice color scheme, but you could do with a little less red..

*Look over at Mir as she arrives*

Welcome sister. I suddenly feel popular.

*a big smile breaks out over his face.*

Well, at any rate, welcome.

Brother: You want me to create art for you, of the darker side? I can do this, but I need to know what you want. Music? A statue? A painting?

*Turning to Mir*

No matter, both are welcome. What can I do for you?

[nysisobli]

Several weeks pass, and Wraght finishes decorating the castle, now one final touch she flies to the middle of the castle, and sprays it with black lightning. The diamond is now a deep purple. [Im happy with this] She thinks to herself, i have but one small thing left do do. I must gain greater dominion over the storms themselves. Several days later she comes to, realizing she has read through an entire library of scrolls on weather. So mother....there was much you did not tell me, she smiles.


[spoiler]Claim sanctum, midnight diamond castle in sky(2 majors)
up a domain (level 2 storms)(1 major)
spoiler]

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Plrna sat on his wheel in his temple as he watched his people move in his temple as his people looked at his wheel with his form sitting on it. Plrna reached for a piece of fruit and started to eat it and then took some drink and drunk it.

To Everyone apart from Wraght

Party at my place. Woo.

My place is the castle in the sky.

[Cracklord]

Up a domain (Slaughter)
Gain a new ability (Blood Curse)
2 major acts,

"Music? Is not the sounds of the Battlefield a match for the greatest compositions? No. There is beauty in Chaos. I leave the inspiration to you, for here you are a genius. I seek expression, and those passions run stronger in you then in me. Tell me when it is ready."
The blood oozed back into the ground.

Kysis had wandered the barren lands he had claimed from the Scourge, hunting down the pitiful remnants of it's followers and taking for himself their strength, such that it was. He was yet to truly claim it for his own, but he did not need it yet. He would turn his mind to his surroundings when he had finished discovering himself.

He had visited Cain twice since naming him his champion, and was pleased by the man. His Hyrakians had grown strong, if fewer in number, and his chosen now numbered an even hundred. Brandt was without peer in combat, and had killed an excess of ninety two men in fair combat.

He was growing stronger, and as he waxed in might so too did his followers. Brandt had been given the heart of the Scourge, his totem, to safeguard.

[Jair Barik]

The people of Crescent Island milled about in uncertainty. 10 of those who had ventured into the Underworld had returned but were changed... The man who called himself a God wasn't seen and they began to doubt him. Then it happened. Out of the sky fell the Skull a swarm of thorns buzzing about it and they saw their destiny. To protect the gates of the Underworld at all cost.

Move totem to crescent island on the inner ring (free action)
Inspire a population (minor action)

The skull remained silent but fire leapt from its eyes and began to shape the land. The town grew in size before the peoples eyes, great walls of obsidian rising from out of the ground, heavy fortifications, decorations carved from the bones of demons and houses across the land. The population of the island all flocked to the city as the surrounding lands became swamp and march, thick with sink holes and mist, difficult to traverse. At the centre of the city lights burst forth from the Underworld and the gates closed, inscriptions of power crossing its surface. Out of the Underworld flew winged beasts each with three heads, bat wings and a scorpions tail, the Chimeras, guardians of the Underworld and guardians of the island. The skull smiled, carved in the image of a worthy opponent the Chimeras would defend his realm well.

Minor action create city.
Minor action change landscape to make swamps
2 Major actions make the Underworld my divine sanctum.
1 Major action create new monster race chimera Full description is in my origional posts from becoming a God, these are a smaller version of the Demon that I battled

His power largely spent and much beginning to be accomplished Ravarthis flew out to sea, not stopping till he was at a fair neutral "ground". As he travelled he was followed by the snake, keeping in his tracks till he stopped and it caught up with him. Now he would wait.

Preparing to use Ceremony to beget a demi-God)

[Cracklord]

A flock of Ravens flew over the walls, cawing. There was no message today, but this did little to set the people at ease.
As they came they blurred together until they formed a figure.
"I have come, as promised, brother." Kysis snarled, landing in the centre of the square. The few who dared approach him he fixed with such a glare that they ran off, cowering. "Your people are cowards, brother. Do they so tremble at the thought of being reunited with their god?" Then he stopped and sniffed the air. "Your not here. Of course you wouldn't be." With that he vanished, only to reform the same way next to his brother. "You are one of the few of my siblings I trust. I know you would not betray me." He said, his corrupt voice strangely subdued. "Your kingdom holds no terror for me."

[nysisobli]

I will have procreate the creatures my mother made :in a flourish of magic the skies turn purple for several moments, The leviathans will return. Several hundred creatures surrounded wraght, i am the new master of the storms! You will follow the oath you made to serve the mistress of the storms for all eternity. I want you to take a message to my kin. "A storm is on the horizon"

(physical description, the flying Leviathan is about 80 feet- 200 feet long. The have draconic wings and razor sharp teeth and claws. Around them is always an aura of wind.)

The rest of you will guard my tower, i have more research to do.


use minor act create monstorus race

[Jair Barik]

"You are rash Kysis so rash. It will be your undoing. Had we willed it we could have destroyed you, or nearly done so at least. To teleport into our realm alone when we have created guardians, defences and soldiers? It is very foolish or very trusting. Better we meet at a neutral location I thought. There is the creature we spoke of " Ravarthis changed to his more human form and gestured at the snake. "Now we shall wait..."

[Cracklord]

"Rash? Foolish? Such actions are written in my blood brother. To deny them would be to deny myself. Besides, I know you. You would not destroy me unless I first raised a fist against you. You simply desire to be left alone. Passions run slow in your veins. No, you would not simply kill me brother." Then he shook his head. "Well, now we await the third sibling to complete the triangle." He said, his one eye gazing into the distance.

The he stared at the Snake. "He shall be a judge. Tell me, creature, how do you decide if a man was good or bad. Is it an impartial judgment, or are their mitigations of circumstance?"

[nysisobli]

2 Leviathans make it above the underworld, and starting bellowing "A storm is on the horizon" They swiftly return to the castle

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Snake with the Silver Tongue hissed.

"That will depend. Those who choose to share their power with me will decide how the judging will go."

[Jair Barik]

The leviathans are quickly surrounded by two dozen Chimera, they circle the beasts but do not attack. On the battlements of the city men spread out each armed with a bow and arrows of thorns from the trees of the Underworld. All eyes are on the beasts but nobody acts yet.

[nysisobli]

the leviathans disappear in a flash of lightning, and it begins to snow.

[Jair Barik]

Wraght "We are displeased with these games sister. You understand we take the protection of the Underworld to be of great importance. We wish you know harm but if you attack us we assure you the response will be fitting of the crime"

[Milskidasith]

To Garland:

I have an... idea, of sorts. We are both masters of Arcane Magic, and we both have similar interests and are near each other. I say we work together (OOC: Ceremony use)to create our own Inner Ring. It should be a land of magic; everything magical in there would be amplified tenfold, and anybody attempting to fight with brute strength would be at a severe disadvantage.

[nysisobli]

@ rav

no attack at all dear brother, i just though you would be interested in knowing a great hurricane will be coming, your the one who reacted with hostilities. She giggles slightly, besides if you need a safe haven or a trip away from the underworld, my sanctuary is available

[Jair Barik]

Wraght
"Of course how silly of us. It was naive to think that a powerful storm heading in our direction and capable of much destruction could possibly be an act of violence by the Goddess of storms... I recommend that you stop this course of action if you wish future negotiations with us, perhaps you don't remember the content our previous talks..."

OmnikIn preparation for the storm Ravarthis will use his magics to defend his realm. His evocations should give him some defence in order to fight off the storm and weaken it even if he can't stop it. If the storm gets too close I would also like to move my followers and people into the Underworld for protection

[nysisobli]

@ rav


im simply holding up my end of the deal, im giving you the storm you asked for.... the protection you asked. I will expect my end of the deal to be held up as well.

[Jair Barik]

Wraght
"We see... We would appreciate more warning in the future. It would be easy to misunderstand and see things differently. We are not yet of sufficient power to gain mastery over the dead God's soul but when we are we will inform you. If there is anything else we can do in the mean time please inform us"

Omnik
I'll only try and stop the storm if it clearly comes towards the land/poses any threat to my people

[nysisobli]

The hurricane surrounds the realm of the dead, the eye sitting right over the entrance, the storms whip around, stirring the waters, and sinking several ships. The hurrican doesn't slow or stop, it appears to be never ending.

I hate to say it brother, but you will have to trust me for now, i lack the power to make it under your control for now, and it takes much concentration to keep it going. But alas i gave you my word. I would like to come visit your abode though if you would allow it, i have some things i would like to discuss in person.



create protective barrier(hurricane) one minor act

[Milskidasith]

Ril-Cer watched as his followers spread his name across many smaller towns. He now had a decent following, and it was time to start teaching them all Magic. His followers were uncertain at first; they felt that Magic would bring them destruction. But Ril-Cer was offering them power beyond their wildest dreams. They eventually gave in, and then they learned.

Two major acts: Create school of magic: Evocations.

Ril-Cer also knew that he needed to increase his own power. He already had dominion over Arcane magic in general, but he needed to specialize a bit. He decided it would be best to work on his Illusions; his followers could already cast Evocations

One major act: Gain Domain: Illusions.

Ril-Cer needed a great, unified location for his followers to live. He decided to create a great city of illusions and magic; his followers could find there way normally, but anybody hostile would become hopelessly confused.

One minor act: Create city warded by illusions.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

"I would like to create a, what do you call it, a school of magic with a fellow deity. I believe such an enterprise would help the world and also the standard of relations in this world." Said Plrna sending the message to all his fellow deities.

[nysisobli]

@ plrna

i might oblige depending on what school of magic that you wish to make

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna


"I was thinking of nature magic or conjuration. You?

[Jair Barik]

"You may visit my abode when I return but at the moment I am waiting on someone feel free to send me message by thought discussing these matters in the mean time"

[nysisobli]

@rav



as you control the land below the ground, i plan on controlling the space above it. I see us having some issues, with all the problems the previous masters of our dominions had, it will take much power to consolidate the order we wish and i believe we could help each other.

[Jair Barik]

Wraght
"Your offer intrigues us. You should know though that the Underworld is only a small part of the underground, but you seek balance and in that we are familiar. We apologise if our Chimeras seem to encroach upon your dominion of the sky but it as a matter of respect that I gave them wings"

[Emperor Demonking]

Wraght:

"I was thinking of nature magic or conjuration. You?

[nysisobli]

rav

it is fine, the balance we seek though will require magicks much greater then we possess now, i am combing through my mothers archives looking for such powers

@ plrna

nature might be just fine, it depends on what aspect of nature though

[ArlEammon]

To Garland:

I have an... idea, of sorts. We are both masters of Arcane Magic, and we both have similar interests and are near each other. I say we work together (OOC: Ceremony use)to create our own Inner Ring. It should be a land of magic; everything magical in there would be amplified tenfold, and anybody attempting to fight with brute strength would be at a severe disadvantage.

To Rilcar Yes, this is a good idea. Let us do this together.

Garland thought of developing a stronger power over his magic than he already had. In order that he could become wise in the force of magic beyond his already formidable talent, he studied intently for a very long period of time. Increase Magic domain's power

In addition, Garland realized that despite his power over magic, he didn't necessarily have an absurdly wide range of skills in magic that he should have as a divinity of magic. Garland began studying specificaly on one strange art, Thaumaturgy. Develop Thaumaturgy skill

Finally, Garland realized that throughout the world magic was weak. In order to promote the magical arts, he developed a sort of magic which would allow wizards to radically empower themselves through deep force of will and concentration. Through incantation, and constant study of magic, wizards could now temporarily, dramatically increase the strength of their spells. Or, permanently, slightly increase the strength of their magic. Garland personally taught one of his students how to become a wizard.
Create Wizardry school

[Kasanip]

Mir's indecipherable expression changed to one of warmth as Kysis disappeared from the room. Kysis, who was the third son of Eunok, had long been distant from Mir, both in personality and disposition. The time spent apart during the First Age had only seemed to widen that gap, and Mir was silent as she reflected upon this. Yet alone in the presence of Korath she was of more open disposition, for they shared many traits.


"Brother, both of us have strived to improve this land and aid the people who dwell within. Yet our task is never done, and it has occurred to me that perhaps there is some way by combining our strengths that we could aid them even further. Our brothers have already started well into spreading their power in the form of magic amongst the people, yet this power is dangerous to all if left unchecked. Perhaps a field of magic which focuses on protection- Abjuration, if you will. would help bring balance to this order. By my Wisdom and your talent for Inspiration we should be able to create such a thing."


She puts her hands together in a symbol of departure.

"However, I must now return to my own domain. I apologize for the abruptness of my leave, but please contact me after you have considered my proposal. Until our next meeting."


(ooc: apologies for the slow response)

[Emperor Demonking]

Wraght



Why not just all of it? Why not just do simple Nature Magic? There's something for everyone.

[nysisobli]

prlth

we will meet tommorow to discuss this, you can come to my castle

[Emperor Demonking]

Wraght:



OK

[Ra_Va]

Tz'Aren although happy to have been given the gift to see Afu he wished to return to the Spider Pits. He liked the place. He had already crafted a Stone Throne that he could sit in. It was also ideal place to live. It was well protected a feared place by most and it was were he was getting the souls from anyway. So he decided to move in.

Create a divine sanctum(2 Major Acts) [1 Major Acts & 3 Minor Acts Left]

He felt a storm from a great distance. It had Divine essence all over it to it wasn't naturally made. Tz'Aren assumed it could could only be two things and it was doubtful that someone would already wish to attack him.

"Ah yes the ceremony wouldn't want to miss that."

Tz'Aren rose from the pits making his way toward the storm.

[Krrth]

Korath

Of course sister. I have several ideas as to what we could do to help mortals. Let me think further on them and I will get back to you.

You followers are welcome here.

*At that, Korath bows as Mir departs*

[Milskidasith]

For Garland.

Very well. Come to my place and we shall start the ceremony. I was thinking an underground ring, to be honest.

[ArlEammon]

For Rilcar
"Alright. . . Oh, and Rilcar, are you interested in settling in my lands?"

[Earl of Purple]

Surga was pleased by his acceptance into the Pantheon. Returning to Alsa, he created the Abatwa, a race of people small enough to ride on rodents. The abatwa learned a very family and tribal-oriented way of life from Surga. Their main purpose is to defend Alsa from those who wish Surga's followers and their land harm.1 major act to create the Abatwa. I have increased their size slightly. Whilst in Alsa, Surga also hollowed out a hill surrounded by villages. There he created a Divine Sanctum in which to live. 2 major acts spent to create a Divine Sanctum. Three Minor Acts and a Ceremony left.

[Kaiser Omnik]

OOC: Just to make sure this is what you want... A race created by 1 major act will never have nations, won't have much in terms of culture and may be a pain in the a** for the more civilized race. In other words, you use this action to create a NPC race, which is mostly unchanging. Sphinxes, kuo-tua and dragons (as long as they are relatively few in numbers and don't make up a draconic society) fall in that category.

[ArlEammon]

Garland
In the mean time, Garland began concentrating on ways to improve his society on the island. With a rousing speech that was heard across the entire land, he began to teach the people that they were the Chosen Ones of Garland.

"I chose you because of your past of misery and suffering. You were forced to make sacrifices that no one should be forced to make. You were the slaves of a cruel king for generations. You had no rest, and even became evil yourselves from the corruption of the Dark Age. Then I came, I taught you respect for life, discipline, and that good was stronger than evil. Now, you have proven yourselves my humble students. One day, you will all become masters of magic. Begin your way to power now!"

3 acts used to inspire populace.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Prowling through the forest, Savage knew his quest now. Stalking slowly, the steel-furred feline form he wore was like a gray shadow in the forest, none knew of his passing. He sought a prey even greater than his form, and then he would go to his task. His double-lined fangs glistened as he yawned in the night, his eyes staring off into infinity. He darted forward like a bullet, he had found his prey. Meandering from a cave, a huge bear walked. It was the largest bear in the forest, it could have taken down an elephant. Savage snarled in eagerness, his fangs dripping with his hunger. He followed the huge bear as it lumbered to a river, in the open. Savage watched and waited from the forest, but as time passed, he knew the bears plan. It was not a stupid creature, it wanted him to come to it. It would have it's wish. He leaped from the tree, and landed on the great bears back. It had not predicted this, and it thrashed wildly, trying to dislodge him. Unfortunately for the bear, Savages sword-like claws had found purchase in the large bear, and his double jaws began to tear into it. The bear smashed it's back into a tree, and shook Savage loose. Savage leaped back, and they faced off. The bear had blood trickling down it's back, but it did not seem disturbed by it. It growled low in it's throat, an obvious challenge. It raised itself on it's back legs and swung at Savage, but he darted forward, rising to meet the bear. He raked his claws across the bears chest, ripping into it with his fangs, batting it forward. The bear tried to crush him , trapping his arms, but he leaped forward, driving his horns into the bears heart. The bear struggled, but began to die slowly. And Savage fed. He rose from his feeding, and he was a new monster. Even larger than the bear, he had pure red eyes. His fur was thick and hard like leather, his skin like armor, his flesh like steel. He had a long tail, which ended in gnobby spiked bone. He had great fangs and tusks growing from his mouth, his teeth like huge daggers. He walked like an ape, his front paws more like apish hands, he hunched over walked on knuckles and back feet, his muzzle was a cross between boar and bear. His claws grew huge like a great sloths, and his back legs were thick trunks. He knew his quest.

[Cracklord]

Kysis took a knife and cut his left hand, his blood mingling with the blood of those he had slain. Striding forward drew a sigil on the Snake's shovel shapped head, impressed when it only flinched slightly, then etched the same symbol on his own. Ultimately blood was power, and he required it as a focus for his power in this.
Striding around the island he began to draw some symbols in the sand, is blood flowing freely as he did so. At last he was finished and the flow stopped abruptly. Taking his blade he closed in on the snake and made nicks along it's side, deep enough to draw blood but not enough to cause anything but discomfort.
With this he made a circle, then he sat back, satisfied that the early stages of the ceremony were complete. "I have been thinking, brother." Kysis croaked, "Would you consider aiding me in the creation of a school of magic?"

[Raz_Fox]

I sat in the heart of the dream, purging my land of all dark and foul, binding it to my control once more. I was the land and it was me; our hearts beat as one and our ever-shifting minds were in perfect unison. A labyrinth, gray and green, full of wonders and shifting lanes, with my great castle rising above it. A palace, vibrant and burning, perfume hanging in the still air, opulence and pleasure in equal measure. A forest, wild and untamed, the sound of the waves meeting birdsong, with animals half-hidden from sight. My protean land chose how it would show itself to any visitor, and I was pleased.

I took in the nature of the realm to myself, and it took on my nature for itself. The ability to change my form that I had stolen from it, now I knit into my very bones and blood, a shapeshifting lord of a shapeshifting realm. Where I would walk in the waking world would become the Dreamland for as long as I stood there, and I could shift the Dreamland at my whim; greater manipulation of the static, unchanging reality of the waking world would be difficult, but perhaps I could do so.

I rose, my body taking a thousand forms before deciding on the dark-haired youth, the form that I would hold as hallowed forevermore. But now it was infused with the power of dream, its slight imperfections only adding to its raw charm and handsomeness. Could any other of my siblings match me in beauty? I think not!

---------

I was in a mood of mischief, a mood of mad dreaming. Bidding my realm to accept Mera's command, I slipped from a wild dream-tempest to... hey, this place ain't bad. Definitely nowhere near the Palace of Al-Makid, but pretty nice all the same. Now, who was here? Ah... sis...

"Ooooooh Wraght! Your older brother would like to speak with you!"

-2 MA (Divine Sanctum) - 1 MA (Ability: Reality Manipulation)

[Kasanip]

Upon her return from Korath's sanctum, Mir set to work on great projects.

She first gathered all that had been recorded throughout the first age, and after many travels of her own, she finally sat and wrote with exquisite grace and accuracy. Bound within the words on her pages, ever increasing, did she recount the history of the First Age, of the achievements and failures, the joys and the sorrows, of the suffering and the bliss. With finality she closed the last page with the words of Eunok, and bound them all within a book encased in gold and truesilver. It is "The Ledger of the Dawning Age" and is said to be the only full account of the events which transpired during the first Age of the Gods and the shaping of the world.

To house such a record, and all the greatest works of knowledge and wisdom, Mir looked to her Library Hall and turned her will to the City. As she spoke a soft and melodious sutra, the Library Hall was enraptured and bound with glyphs of glowing blue. Mir commanded the expansion of the Library with her newfound power, and guided it's design into a complex and beautiful construction. Purest white marble and limestone gleamed with reflected light through the many arched columns and cloistered courtyards, stainless in their beauty. Walls of books written on subjects of every kind sat in ever-neat order throughout the many rooms; always they increase in number. But the greatest of these was the Ledger, which Mir kept close at hand, never revealing the fullness of it's records to mortals, and yet always giving council to those who would seek.
As Mir looked at the work she had accomplished, she smiled. Christening it the Athenaeum, she spread the blessings of irradiating light upon the rest of the city upon the ridge. The magnificent stonework of the Athenaeum gleams in moonlight, starlight, and sunlight, yet is never oppressive. It shines ever as a beacon at the top of Arratth, and the city atop the mountain is ever her Sanctum to those who seek it.

Korath:

"My brother, shall we meet to discuss those plans which we had discussed before? If it favors you, I will return your hospitality if you would come here to Arratth."


Uses:

<Craft Totem: The Ledger of the Dawning Age, and endow it as an Artifact> - Major Act & Minor Act
<Create Divine Sanctum: The Athenaeum> 2 Major Acts

[Milskidasith]

Now, my brother, it is time to create our ring. An underground place, created for magic, and magic alone. We shall have a portal connecting it to our great cities, and our mages can use it as a place to study and grow stronger.

Ril-Cer begins waving his hands, divine energy flowing thorugh him. With a great rumble, the underground Ring begins to form.

Using one ceremony (with Garland): Creating an Inner Ring, underground type, almost pure magic. Anything inside has it's magical power amplified. Also, as my free action with this, I'll craft a totem in there.

[ArlEammon]

Garland
Ceremony: (With Rilcar)

"Yes, we shall rule here."
My free action is also a Totem there.

[Krrth]

Korath


Korath was hard at work on a project of his own when his sisters message reached him. Quickly he found a suitable stopping point, sent a message, and headed off. Arriving at Arratth, he stops at the entrance and politely knocks.

Mir

Indeed sister, let us discuss this. Much of what our siblings are doing....concerns me, and I fear for the mortals of this world. I shall arrive shortly so that we may continue our discussion.

[Kasanip]

Mir welcomes Korath at the entrance to the Athenaeum and leads him inside to the central atrium, a beautiful chamber with suspended columns.

Korath:

"I am glad you have arrived brother, as we have much to discuss. Please share with me your thoughts to my proposal."

[Krrth]

Korath


Looking around and admiring the building

MIr

Yes, I have considered your words. It occurs to me that to truly encompass our goals, we will need help. Perhaps some of our followers could be altered in such a way as to be more creative, longer lived, more magical?

[Smiley_]

Ahmua did not sit idly by as the other gods wove their various schemes and machinations. Ahmua, despite not showing herself to her siblings with her proposals, hept her hear to the wind and gathered what ingormation she could.

For what was maybe years, she wandered the islands, unseen by mortal, man and animal alike. She began to take on the aspects of the shadows which wrapped around her in a concealing blanket.

She had placed the totem of the twin hearts in the care of the magistrate, now ancient by human standards. He had long since married the girl from the slums and, despite the glaring age difference of 30 or so years, they still looked roughly the same age, unnaturally well preserved yet the years of age reflecting heavily on their eyes.

One day, the two had simply disappeared, leaving the city of Sal-Yamir in the hands of their son, Nero the first. Some said they dies, others say they were murdered, as assassinations were common news in the city.

Truth be told, they got bored with the whole rulership deal and struck out for the wilderness. The larvae Ahmua placed inside them had finally matured to a piont where they were one with their hosts, turning them into something very much like their creator. Their skin turned a purplish blue and their eyes red. They too began to wear scarves to hide their changing facial features, though it was not certain how they changed, and their hands sharpened into wide claws.

They took on new names. The Magistrate called himself Moghoth and his younger wife called herself Hruma. He always dressed in regal attire and she always dressed in humble rags. They were the children of the Mistress of disaster, the keeper of secrets. They called themselves the first of the Kwahim.

They lived in solitude for the most part, travelling from place to place, checking on their home city from time to time, perhaps to murder someone in a completely untraceable manner, other times to feed on those they once called neighbors, and in their care at all times were three new squirming larvae.

2 major acts to create new race, the vampyric and venomous Kwahim, in her image. Incredibly slow reproduction rate (the larvae take decades to incubate and natural birth would only make more humans) though impossibly long lifespans and capable of seemingly superhuman feats.

They can force themselves to change the color of their skin, but it will always seem tinged with blue, and their facial features, now decidedly inhuman, must be covered up in order to interact with the race the larvae was meant to integrate with. Difficult, but not impossible. If one of the blood of Ahmua is incapable of such a deception, then they deserve to be caught.

(I expect them to be able to live on the underbelly of human society's criminal world and act from there as either choice hitmen or even figures of power, eventually)

1 Major act to gain the shadow domain

[Jair Barik]

"No no magic yet, this first we think that we should finish this, yes?"

Ravarthis paces round the snake and performs his part of the ritual instilling it with the ideas of balance and justice. One of his thorns struck it in the forehead, melting into its flesh but leaving no scar or wound.

[Cracklord]

Kysis nodded at this, but remained quiet. He was prepared to fulfill his part, he had nothing to do but wait.

[Emperor Demonking]

Plrna

Wraght


How are you?

[nysisobli]

plrna

very well yourself?

[Fan]

Originally Posted by Minion992929
Kysis took a knife and cut his left hand, his blood mingling with the blood of those he had slain. Striding forward drew a sigil on the Snake's shovel shapped head, impressed when it only flinched slightly, then etched the same symbol on his own. Ultimately blood was power, and he required it as a focus for his power in this.
Striding around the island he began to draw some symbols in the sand, is blood flowing freely as he did so. At last he was finished and the flow stopped abruptly. Taking his blade he closed in on the snake and made nicks along it's side, deep enough to draw blood but not enough to cause anything but discomfort.
With this he made a circle, then he sat back, satisfied that the early stages of the ceremony were complete. "I have been thinking, brother." Kysis croaked, "Would you consider aiding me in the creation of a school of magic?"
"Of course brother, but first... There is much to do regarding the Heart of Rime, and the Blade of Innuruk."
Illindri says as he conjures up many tomes, packing them into a tawny duffle bag at his side, and etched a single arcane rune, one that is Kysis is familiar with magic at all, will recognize it as the arcane rune for "Frost" into his right palm. When he finished packing he motioned for the great warrior to follow, and assuming he does Illindri will march them straight into a white out, the Palm raised as he chanted ominiously, the frost whirling about him, before a path was cleared in the white out, the great blizzard split, and still raging around them. They travelled for many days, over mountain crags, through Frozen Rivers, and many a forgotten delta. One day however, when they stopped to drink from one of the hot springs, using the ever useful all purpose rune of cold to keep it drinkable, a massive Ice Serpent, Evari the Ice guardian, erupted from the water, demanding that Illindri, and Kyrisis pay tribute to her in order to pass.

((Sorry all, I had to buy a new keyboard, and as I'm as short on cash as a one legged monkey, it took some time to drum it up.))

[Emperor Demonking]

Wraght



Fine. Thank you.

Now about that school of magic...

[nysisobli]

i believe i can magic of the trees, and mountains

[Emperor Demonking]

Wraghht



Fine

Investing one ceremony in it.

[Krrth]

Korath

*pausing to think*

Mir

In fact, perhaps we should involve our brother Duke. His people are in this area as well, and he seems to care about the welfare of mortals at least a little.

[Kasanip]

Mir nods in agreement with Korath's appraisal.

Korath:

"I agree. I will ask that he joins us in our endeavors."


She summons several chairs and a glorious table for them to use while they wait.

The Duke:

"Dear brother, Korath and I are holding a meeting at my Sanctum to discuss the affairs of the mortals, and a plan of ours with which to offer them aid. Only with our combined efforts; with Korath's love of life and compassion, your attention to beauty and grace, and my knowledge would we be able to complete this task. If it interests you, please meet us on Mount Arratth at your convenience."

[nysisobli]

A ceremony begins, lightning starts raining down from the sky, winds start whipping around the castle. This will take some time she thought.

[Raz_Fox]

I rolled my eyes as little sis... ignored me, basically. Too busy whipping up storms to meet with big brother? I'd show her.

I wrapped a zone of dream about her, warping her surroundings at my whim. My voice boomed out from all around her - especially the mirror that had appeared from nowhere behind her. Hey, Wraght. What does a big brother have to do to get your attention? Anyway, I missed you at the big Ceremony, and wanted to make sure that... what? Hold that thought. Anyway, I'm currently centering my attention around the greatest city in the Dawn Isles - if you want to catch up on old times, come and see me.

The chaos around her faded as I stepped from reality to dream. I attuned the land to dear Mir - ha, it rhymes - and stormy skies became clear and cold, with wild sea becoming solid stone. Nice place she's got here.

I stepped through a mirror as I made the transition from dream to reality again, bowing extravagantly to Mir. "Ah, sister. So nice of you to check up on me - and Korath! Haven't seen you since the Paint Incident - you're not still sore about that little accident, right? Anyway, you said you were working on something to help out the mortals?" I fell into one of her chairs, slouching as I pulled a glass of wine out of my sleeve. "I'm all ears, siblings."

[nysisobli]

come to my castle brother, sorry i have been absorbed in my studies

[ArlEammon]

Meanwhile, Garland was aslo intently ritualizing the capital of Sarumion, and the Dragon Graveyard. Hundreds of men and women were chanting throughout the capital and the second capital over and over. The cities were being heavily warded with Garland's best wizards.

[Kasanip]

Mir offered a rare smile as the three of them sat.

"Welcome Duke, to my residence. I would have been happy to give you the tour...but perhaps that can wait. For now I will get straight to the point."

Gesturing to the table, a swirl of glyphs and symbols appeared detailing an extraordinary amount of information.
"The mortals of this land, as both of you well know, toil short lives of labor, suffering many tragedies and accomplishing wonderful things. However, I am concerned for their fates amidst the clouded future. Some of our family have become estranged, and others still drift farther from my sight. I fear that some day there will be strife between our family, and these mortals will be the first to suffer for crimes they have not committed."
She pauses to let the weight of her words sink in before continuing.
"I am sure both of you can feel the extraordinary power shimmering through the lands right now. Our brothers and sisters are all focused on their work, whether it be beneficial to those who live in these lands or not. Our mortal servants are enduring and courageous, but standing alone they will struggle against the evils of this world - those that remain, and those that will be. That is why Korath and I have decided to create a new race. A race that exemplifies the best traits of humanity- not to supplant them- but to aid them. To stand together. To this new people I would give lifespan beyond the years of the humans, and the wisdom to match their experience. They would be endowed with the artistic skill of brother Korath and filled with his compassion. "
She turns and nods to Duke in a gesture of respect.
"And you, my brother, can give them a grace and beauty that comes closer to our own than any mortal. I implore that only the three of us together can accomplish this weighty task."

[Cracklord]

Kysis stared at the serpent. The thing was bigger then seemed possible, and being confronted by it seemed vaguely unreal, as though an island had been given limbs and the ability to move. It's body was ice and stone, coated with rime and frost, and only it's eyes seemed alive. When ever it moved there was a great cracking, as ice broke into shards and the refroze. Kysis smiled. Here was an enemy he could not defeat, at least conventionally.
Moving slowly he stood in front of Illindri, clenching his hands into fists, his scarred face alight with inscrutable emotion.
"Tribute, you say?" He growled, his sharp teeth glinting in the frost. "Then make your demands, monster, and I will see you are rewarded in kind."

[Milskidasith]

Ril-Cer studied his city intently. It was working well, he thought. Over the past few weeks, ambassadors had attempted to enter, but always became lost. Nobody without the direct aid of a God could enter his city unless he let them, and he was fairly sure even the chosen people of other Gods would have a difficult time navigating the illusions.

However, he was still worried about his followers. While they were devoted for now, they had no organized religion. Occasionally they would offer tributes at their houses, which he always accepted, but they didn't have any organized way of doing it. Some people would offer tribute regularly, and others would offer it after completing a difficult challenge.

He decided it was time to start an organized religion. He created a massive image of himself in the sky, and had his voice boom out like thunder.

Thank you, my people, for your kind offerings. I will keep you prosperous and safe as long as you continue. However, to organize the process, I have decided there shall be a single day of worship. On the fifth day of each week, you will offer prayers and tribute at my temple. To those who wish to serve at the temple, you need only pray.

One minor act used to inspire the populace and create a new type of divine spellcaster, The Guardians. They focus on using minor illusions and evocation spells as a means of defense; they cast their spells in advance, and whenever somebody invades the spells activate and launch at them. One free action used to create a temple of worship.

Ril-Cer heard the prayers of his citizens, and took a few of the stronger spellcasters who wished to work as divine servants at his temple. He branded them as he had branded his original followers. He commanded them to go out and prepare defenses at his temple and at the city walls.

One minor act used to create a few servants of a decent amount of power.

[Smiley_]

Every day, my memory of humanity seems to fade, but I can recall it with almost perfect clarity. We feed on those we used to rule over, and I cannot help but wonder at it, that I no longer feel no kinship to these creatures I used to call Kin. We kill not out of hatred, but out of some profound necessity. We truly have become monsters, something terrible and loathsome, but I would not be able to go back, even if I had the choice.
-from the personal writings of Moghoth, Kwahim Prime

The Kwahim numbered less than 20 and dwelt only in the cities of Antara (3) and Sal-Yamir (11), but they appeared to be doing just fine, leeching off the underbelly of the side of civilization that most chose to ignore, or deny existed. They lived among the lower class seen only as petty thieves and beggars. They were murderers as well, but such acts were so few and far between and their victims were killed in such bizarre ways emulating freak accidents so as to not arouse suspicion.

However, in order to to keep themselves from slaying too many humans, they turned on each other instead. A juvenile Kwahim initiate who got too greedy or careless would find himself eliminated by his competitors, not only to remove other Kwahim from their territory, but to keep themselves and their more responsible siblings hidden from notice.

An initiate who would prove himself efficient and able to remain unnoticed among humans until maturity would be given the title of 'slayer' and later, if recognized by the Kwahim hierarchy, 'lord' or 'matron'. Lords were given the task of maintaining the juveniles and determining who should be removed should the Kwahim population become too large. Matrons remained autonomous from the lords, picking out humans to become new hosts for the larvae that the Kwahim arose from. The Prime was the leader of the race. Moghoth's seniority was undeniable and uncontested.

Because of this system, Kwahim well being relied solely on the health of the city on which they preyed on. A healthy city meant the potential for a healthy Kwahim population, but a small hamlet was near impossible to live in.

For this reason, the well being of the world's mortals was a matter very important to Ahmua. That is why she would make her way up the mountains to Mir's sanctum. Pausing just outside, she knew she would not be welcome. However, she could still provide information and offer her cooperation.

It was bad enough that she had done little but eavesdrop on the conversations of others, but it was simply part of her shady, prying nature. Heavens forbid that she actually ask about such things in an honest manner. However, this was a breach of etiquette that she would not make, to intrude into a sacred place uninvited.

She folded her legs and sat town on a large boulder, tentatively making her presence known to those inside.

May I come in, Sister?

Ahmua is sneaky, and actually somewhat shy when it comes to her siblings, making her come off as somewhat nasty and uncaring. She is uncertain about becoming too attached to anyone.

[Krrth]

Korath


Mir and Duke


It's good to see you brother. I'm glad you could make it. Don't worry about the "paint incident" either. It actually ended up inspiring a young artist.
*pause*

Now, about this new race. How do you want to start? Are we going to alter some of our followers, or create everything from scratch?

[Kasanip]

Mir looks distracted as her expression becomes neutral again.

Korath & The Duke
"In due time. First however, there is another guest to whom I must attend. Please excuse this interruption and continue the discussion between yourselves until I return."

She walks gracefully out of the room and down to the entrance to the Athenaeum, pausing to open the doors.

"Elder sister." She says, a touch of warmth and surprise in her voice.

"This is an unexpected visit...and a rare occasion. I welcome you to my domain. If you would, please enter."

She gestures for Ahmua to follow her inside. As they walk into a cloistered garden overlooking the mountain, she turns and regards her sister with an earnest glance.
"Is there something I can do for you this evening?"

[Fan]

Kysis stared at the serpent. The thing was bigger then seemed possible, and being confronted by it seemed vaguely unreal, as though an island had been given limbs and the ability to move. It's body was ice and stone, coated with rime and frost, and only it's eyes seemed alive. When ever it moved there was a great cracking, as ice broke into shards and the refroze. Kysis smiled. Here was an enemy he could not defeat, at least conventionally.
Moving slowly he stood in front of Illindri, clenching his hands into fists, his scarred face alight with inscrutable emotion.
"Tribute, you say?" He growled, his sharp teeth glinting in the frost. "Then make your demands, monster, and I will see you are rewarded in kind."

"Issss Goood to sssseee a being who issss compliant."
The being said with a voice like a chilling cloud of fresh winter snow breezing over your flesh, and a smell like the last leaves of autumn. It slithers to and through for a moment to allow for a response before Illindri moves up, brandishing his staff, and a bucket of salmon.
"The river fish are your to keep serpent. Now allow us to pass without harm."
Compelled by the fact that everyone elsei s ahead of us, and we need to go ahead and finish our quest, Illindri will then walk across the massive serpents back, and a mere days travel later they arrived at the Frost Giants mountain. Before them loomed everything they had journeyed for, Krysis for the Blade of Innuruk, a blade that sapped life itself like a hound drinking the blood of the fallen after a sucessfull hunt, and Illindri's goal the Heart of Rime, a powerful artifact of Frost that would put him at god like levels of power in that aspect once he united it with himself, and turned his tower into the vessel that would allow them both to become GODS.

[Smiley_]

Ahmua bowed to Mir before entering

By your permission...

She nervously stepped into the shadow of a nearby tree, seeming hesitant.

Firstly, I must apologize for my rudeness. I have been keeping my ear to the winds and, against your desires, I have been monitoring the lands on this island and the actions of my siblings, as it holds importance for me as well now.

She scratched the ground with a clawed foot, clearly embarrassed by her confession.

This plan of yours to shield the mortals should the Gods make a... poor decision... I could help, for entirely selfish reasons mind you, but I can also offer my full cooperation and assistance in this task. Despite the questionable disposition of my children, their fate, as well as my own concerns, lie heavily on the fate of this island.

Ahmua knew it would do no good trying to lie to this goddess, but she didn't like the alternative too much either, given the circumstances.

Also, I can arrange that your own humans will be rewarded in kind for their... unintentional hospitality.

She was quite clearly uncomfortable here. She was not one to trust anyone, and she was letting herself into unfamiliar territory where she would be cornered if things should go awry.

[Cracklord]

Each of the giants were tremendous, seemingly formed of the very bones of the mountains, with ice for flesh and snow for skin. They towered above the fledgling gods, as tall as hills, and the earth trembled and broke when they moved, the ice creaking in protest, the rocks growling under strain. And yet, they were no match for Kysis, whose fury tore through them as it did anything else. His hatred burned them, and his anger leant him the strength to tear them apart, and his rage was a whirlwind of monstrous proportions. As they advanced towards the mountain where the giants made their home, they moved to stop him, but Kysis, drunk on pain and slaughter did not relent, and he scattered their bones behind him.

By the time they made it to the mountain, twenty lay dead and not one had gotten away. Kysis was panting, but his eye was alight with a terrible fury.

"So it has come to this point at last." He hissed, his eye yellowing and flickering, his sinews standing out taunt like steel caples and his robes and cloak billowing around him like the wings of some great bird. "Now we must part, brother. Our paths lie in different directions. There is nothing else for us here. Now go and claim your destiny, take what our father denied us, and I will seize mine. I will kill the rest of these weaklings, and take their strength, such as it is, for my own. And you shall make your way to the peak unchallenged, and claim your inheritence."

With that he turned and began tramping around the fortress. "Meet me when you have taken your prize brother. We have so much still to do."

The Jarl Skajantalur was an immense being, one of the oldest members of the worlds oldest race, who remembered the time before creation and the very birth of the stars themselves. His warriors had been broken, his power shattered, and these newcomers had come to challenge him. Immense, with a great beard of icicles and heavy armour frozen with rime, he was a fearsome site, a great blade that twisted and burned with darkness clutched in one gauntlet, his eyes like gemstones. The air around him was so cold it burned, and his very presence would be enough to freeze the blood in a lesser mans veins.

Kysis knew here was a foe mere brawn could not defeat. Here was an enemy beyond the mere strength of his arms. If he valued his very existence, he should just walk away. Here was an enemy who would outlast the mountains themselves, that alone and unarmed he was no match for. Kysis knew all this, made a feral noise deep in his ches, half snarl and half roar, and charged anyway.

The giant swung the sword, the shadows flickering along it's edge as they reached for him, but Kysis ducked around it then slammed himself into it's leg, the force of his blow enough to crack the ice. Again and again he continued, until chips flung as he smashed his fists into the monster again and again, until he was forced to back away as the monster drew back its arm to swing again.

But the damage he had inflicted was only glancing, superficial, and the Jarl seemed unaffected. Kysis tried again, but once more he failed to achieve any significant effect, and the cold was slowing him, weakening him. This time when the sword swung he was too slow, and the blade pierced his midsection. The giant left it in him, letting it drain his life, only to realise too late that the sword had turned on him, and instead of draining the life of his foe, it was channelling him into Kysis!

He tried to move, but his arm was sluggish, frozen, and he couldn't so much as twitch. Kysis got to his feet, and with a great leap landed on his shoulder and rammed his fist into the giant's head until the body deteriorated make into shards of ice and stone. Landing in a crouch with prenatural agility his mouth twisted into a grin, or at least a lopsided scar. Behind him the blade morphed, darkening until it had restructured itself to his size.

Kysis took the blade. He could feel it's hunger, it's desire, it's power. He could feel the terrible will that dwelled within, the desire to end all lives. He smiled. He'd just made another friend.
Create artifact, widowmaker, longsword, Kysis's hunger given form.

[Kasanip]

Mir held her sister in her stoic, yet fair gaze. She thought for what seemed like an eternity while she weighed in her heart all that Ahmua had said. At last, she spoke.

"Sister, I believe all of us have well monitored each other, and for that no apology need be made, for it is a trespass we all have committed in kind."

Under her left arm Mir grasped The Ledger of the Dawning Age, and as she looked down at it, a mournful look crossed her face. In the shimmering evening light reflected off of the book, Mir's appearance shifted to that of her adult form as she returned her dispassionate gaze to Ahmua. With a tint of regret, she continued.

"From my own bitter dreams of the future, little I have shared to any, and little can I offer to you now, dear sister. It is my great hope that this will not come to pass, yet there is ever wisdom in preperation. Though I seek to protect these humans and do what I can to aid them, they are not my own. I have claimed no lordship over any, and yet I hold them all dear to me. They are Father's children as well, and though we are farther apart in kind, as God and Mortal, we still share a bond.
I cannot fault your children for their nature, for it is not the child who should be blamed for his form. Yet I feel regret that actions you have taken before have led to this."

Her appearance shifted again, back to her more child-like form, though her expression remained neutral.

"I know you did not come to this place to hear me lecture. Though as sisters we may well have our disagreements, it is because of my love that I am compelled to have said these words."

"You offer your assistance on a condition, and yet you have only so carefully aluded to it. I have said what was needed to be, and would be interested to hear what it is you desire."

[Cracklord]

Beside Ravarthis there is a clap like thunder, and ravens begin to swarm, as though descending on carrion. For a minute nothing can be seen but their wheeling, spinning forms, and then Kysis is standing beside him, a great blade clutched in his left hand. Inclining his head slightly at Ravarthis he put the blade aside. "I apologies for the distraction, brother, but it would have been unforgivable not to act."
He turned his attention back to the snake for a moment, then turned back to his brother. "How do you like my new friend?" He asked, hefting his sword, in a way that may have been joking.

[Ra_Va]

Tz'Aren Showed up at the Ceremony. "You were always fascinated with swords brother. Sorry it took my so long I hope I'm not late."

[Jair Barik]

"We have done our parts of the ritual brother. Perform your part and then we can finish it together."

[Cracklord]

"A sword is an extension of it's wielder's arm. It is the greatest symbol of power a man can have, greater even then the sceptre of a king, for may not a king die in battle along side any other man? No, there is nothing beyond the honesty of a weapon. Any man with the power to take a life has a power beyond any other, and to have a sword is to wield that power." Then he shook his head. "But I digress. Let us finish this, then turn our attention to other matters."

[Smiley_]

Ahmua narrowed her eyes, and responded with a venomous tone.

I make no apologies for my actions save for those I spoke of.

She steped forward from the shadows, suddenly more humanoid than before: a dark blue skinned, somewhat muscular young woman with handsome features and short flaming orange hair. She wore a leather hauberk and cloth breeches.

As you have so politely requested, I shall give you my offer. The humans in their cities need not fear eradication at the hands of the Kwahim and will be protected by them should the need arise. They can also guarantee the removal of possible insurgents, criminals and other undesirables and will undoubtedly reduce the possibility of unnecessary riots.

I had noticed that you had also commandeered Duke, with whom I was hoping to create a new art, a magic of light and misdirection, one that would take wisdom to use.. Wisdom that you and your followers should have in abundance.

I know there are four of us here now, and we have more than enough power to do both tasks. That is my offer.

[nysisobli]

Wraght smiles, the nature magic is complete

(spend 1 ceremony create nature magic)

i must spread my influence across the lands, (begins whipping winds, ice storms, thunderstorms, and the occasional tornado across the world)

It seems like the winds are crying in anguish.

[Cracklord]

Kysis smiled as he heard the winds whistle around him even as he watched the last stages of the ritual be put into place. The wind danced, whipping up storms the like of which had never before been seen on this world. Chaos and destruction, no matter their cause, were beautiful.
"I'm watching sister." He whispered into the wind, so softly even those standing next to him likely missed it. "Dance for me. Let me see the result of your labors. Impress me."

[Fan]

Illindri sat in his tower now... Meddling with Arcane components, and grinding many a weird far eye ball into powder for use in his newest jump of arcane genius. Around him smoke wafted, and mad faces began to swirl, and dance in the room. He raised a powerful, bone, hand into the air chanting "Orior oriri ortus , Splendidus Mortuus vinco of Gelu!
"
and a cacophany of lightning erupted from the cauldron, all of the smoke in the room swirling as if a massive singularity existed at the center of the room, and a thousand mad cackles erupted from the spiriling alcoves, a thousand dead men ripping their ways free of the catacombs that were part of the stairwell. However, the magicks were far from finished, and he continued to chant, ominous latin filling the room as a hundred undead mages joined in the chanting, a single phrase being uttered in unison.

"Excitate, liberi mori!"

Now, the room falls to silence, and a single ice crusted hand pops out of the cauldron, the culmination of the ritual hitting it's peak, and Illindri moved to assist the newest creation out of the cauldron, and he handed the being a robe much like his own.

"Welcome to the Throne of Rime, Charles."

Then, as silently to the world they arised, they fell back into the cold shadows, and Illindri decided to go to his brother Krysis, his work done for now.
"I apologize for my tardiness, I had some trouble with the warp matrix during teleportation."


1 Major acts to create the Rime Blessed (Special Cold based Undead.)
1 more Major acts to create Charles, Supreme Rime Master. (Exarch)
1 minor act to inspire my people to stay to the shadows, and to work in secret.
1 minor act to boost the tower up to Artifact level, making it a nexus for cold based magic. Fire spells are weaker here, and Cold are stronger.
Throwing in my ceremony with the magic school creation.
1 major act to make the area around the Tower MINE with a ground ring turning the land to Everfrost.

[/spoiler]

[Ra_Va]

The ceremony was almost over. Tz'Aren simply needed to do his bit. He spread his arms over the landscape and began to speak in the ancient Language of Giants now only used for... well things like this.

[Raz_Fox]

The Duke and Korath:
I lounged back in my chair, pondering. "Well, if there's any god that's skilled at creating from scratch, it's me. Of course, creating sentient creatures from the substance of dreams might have a negative impact on their sanity - tiny, tiny bit of insanity. So little you won't even notice it. Honest." I grinned. "Of course, creating them from scratch will allow us to... mold their personalities a bit. Make them a bit more prone to be craftsmen or warriors, perhaps?
What's your opinion on the matter, Korath?"

[Krrth]

Korath and the Duke


Well...I suspect craftsmen make the best warriors. And of course fighting is as much an art form as any other.

I suspect that's not what you meant however.

Insanity....define a "little". Otherworldliness is fine, as is a different view on life and time. I'd be a little annoyed if they turned into homicidal maniacs however.

[Kasanip]

Mir made no immediate comment, as is her nature to consider all terms that are spoken.

"The Kwahim and Humans form a symbiotic relationship. For good or for ill, this is the way it is. I do not have strong disagreement with those terms you have suggested, though it would be a lie to say my misgivings and dread are entirely assuaged. Ever that the predator and prey form a mutual alliance against calamity, the predators are always hungry, and the prey always afraid of the predator."

"You have suggested creating a new magic, and of this I am also curious to hear more. However, I already have a previous commitment to my brothers at this time, though I do not rule out my aid in the future. It will take the three of us combined, and only so, to complete the task we have in front of us this evening. Should we prove successful, and after some rest, I would be happy to discuss further your plan and my own. The shield I wish to make is much more complex than this alone, and I would desire your cooperation in the future..."

After a while longer of discussion - mostly on more idle things - she bows to her sister and begins leading her back to the front doors of the Athenaeum.

"I'm afraid time does not stop even for us, elder sister, and I must be returning to my brothers whom are also my guests here tonight. I apologize for the hastiness and rudeness of this meeting and would better prepare myself to host you again when you return, should you desire. Likewise, I would be more than happy to tell Duke of your interest in conversing with him, unless you would rather send a private message yourself. I hope that we will meet again soon. Until then, farewell Ahmua."


Korath & The Duke
"I apologize for the wait, and will soon return."

[ArlEammon]

Garland and Mir

Garland had great respect for Mir. Mir was, in fact, Garland's most respected god. He decided to visit Mir in the hope that he could receive her respect as well. Garland came to Mir in the hope of having her wisdom forever.

As Garland came to Mir, he was intently seeking her. Perhaps as a freind for now, or even a lover, in time. Magic and wisdom, were both two sides of the same coin, in Garland's view.

[Raz_Fox]

The Duke and Korath:
"I'm sure you've noticed that I'm not all there, myself." I began to fade out of sight for emphasis. "Probably nothing more than an instinct to see things in terms of a story and a slightly skewed view on time and life as you said. They'd have about as much chance of becoming homicidal maniacs as I have - ha ha ha ha HA HA H- hem. Ahem. Sorry about that, happens occasionally, keep knives away from me and I'll be fine." I gave Korath a disembodied grin before my body started becoming visible again. "Anyway, that might be what I meant, might not be what I meant. I'm not really sure myself. Mir might know what I meant, though - little sis is a goddess of wisdom, after all."

I love fleshing out my character's personalities through roleplaying - The Duke apparently loves to mess with his siblings. :smallamused:

[Krrth]

Korath and the Duke


*Raises a divine eyebrow*
Quite. You do realize I see stranger things on a regular basis right? No matter. I don't mind violence, I just want to make sure that since we're creating this race to help the humans, the do so rather than just killing them.

Hello, god of Artists. He's used to being around....unhinged...people.:smallwink:

[Raz_Fox]

The Duke and Korath:
"Well, you are patron of those who are most closely connected with my realm, so that's a given. Though... you haven't seen me at my strangest by a long shot. Heh.
Anyway, we've both got the same aim in mind there. Humans... they're so good at dreaming. Simple, ordinary humans... they've got depths hidden so deep even I can't find them unless they let me. Plus, I think The Land is attracted to them. Might as well keep it - and by extension, me - happy."