Dawn of World - Shikalis - A Young World

[Rith]

In The First Days

Like a bell in the distance, time began to flow, and sudden awareness was sparked.

Figures spread out through the cosmos, trickling through star systems and plumes of undefinable energy, finding places they would call home, and eight, a certain eight figures, came to a world that would come to be known as Shikalis.

This is their story.

[Shikalis is a Earth-sized planet, approximately 45,000 kilometer around the equator, currently comprised of dirt, sand, and rocks (think Mars). A 1 inch area is the equivalent of 4,500 kilometer wide circle, so don't make individual landmarks with shape terrain, else we'll get mountains poking into space. Don't worry about the Map, I'll be seeing to it and will update it about once a week. Just post what you do and explain where the change is situated. Apologies for the low amount of prose.]

Houserules:
Rounds last 48 hours, or until each player posts. If a player fails to post during that 48 hours, they lose their chance to act in that round. A player can post only once each round. If a player fails to post without contacting another player about their inactivity for a total of 3 rounds, they are immediately dropped from the game. Gods can create non-race life, such as sheep or angler fish, simply by acknowledging that they are doing so. This also applies to exotic or magic life, such as glass flowers and lava squids. However, in order to create non-race lifeforms of particular power or danger (Challenge Rating 10 or higher, assuming this were a creature in D&D), they must spend 1 point to create that type of creature. Shape Climate is to be used for dramatic climate change, such as to produce hurricane-force winds every day, or make perfectly motionless air, or to create eternal nighttime. Less dramatic functions of shape climate have been subsumed into shape terrain. You can split up individual shape climates or shape terrains into multiple smaller areas across the world.


{table=head] Player|God|Avatar
Fiig|Savien|Godric
Rith|Haroen|The Eye of the Storm
Plerumque|Tarethon|Sired of Stone
Komodo|Slassiksyyr|Kabalisk
ImperialSunligh|(The?) Axis|[Nameless Horror][/table]

{table=head] Race|Habitat|Cities|Advancements|Achievments

Halflings, The Crazed|The Kinvally, the islands, isle of insanity|Vien, Rivenric, Graric, Isleric, Kinric, Landric, Lainric, Swaric, Souric, Wearic, Verric, Lynn, Second|Farming, Machinery, Architecture, Metallurgy, Steel, Sailing, Medicine, Mathematics, Writing, Carrier Birds, Animal Husbandry, Mounted Combat, Heavy Armor, Ingenuity, Carpentry (Kinric), Fermentation (Souric), Camouflage, Drugs, Evocation, Swimming|The University, Seagard

Dragons|The Kinvally|
-|Strategy, Flight, Antimagic, Singing|
-

Ahkiln, Ahgana|The Glass Plains|Oum Pran, Soun Kiln, Welak Ohred, Oasis, Fah Choloum|Fortification, Bladecrafting, Glasscrafting, Battledancing, Dance, Leadership, Stormcrafting, Unity, Espionage|The Zlain

Suturm|Stone Pillars|Yetomu, Telino, Umet|Tactics, Eidetics, Deduction, Logic, Philosophy, Code of Laws, Tinkering (Umet)|The Code of Laws

Lapidea, Golden, Bright, Searchers, Forsworn|Underground tunnels|, Aurus|Mining, Stonework, Gemcutting, Trade, Diplomacy, Persuasion, Storytelling, Inspiring Emotion, Deception, Democracy|The Great Embassy

Syles, Thiosyles|The marshes, sulphur swamp|Sillis, Firststrike, Klissikt, Venin|Brawling, Transmutation, Animal Handling (Swamplands), Light Armor, Archery, Divination, Honor, Firecrafting, Survival, Rockets|Lessalon Arena

The Strangled|The ocean|Carcasso, Gard, Sour|Illusion, Abjuration, Necromancy, Literature, Shadow Forging, Security Magic|The Book of the Deep, Wheel of Adjudication[/table]

[U]
Map
If it's not big enough, simply click on it.

http://i.imgur.com/PWnIzlC.png (http://i.imgur.com/PWnIzlC.png)

[ArlEammon]

"Haerun'Ar"
The green creature floated throughout the empty non-scape of the Void. Looking down towards a certain space he simply nodded. "That will do." Cutting a small piece of nail from his finger, he ground his own finger nail carefully between two fingers and blew the dust out into space. . . Within a few short moments, the magical dust mysteriously blew throughout the Void, and shaped together into land.

9 Points together to create the Land

[Rith]

Well, Armin's post is confusing, but he tells me he's going to fix it. In the meantime, all I know is that he's making a lake, a forest, and a river, but nothing about where, so I'm just going with it.

Far to the north, a sandstorm raged.

This sandstorm possessed a ferocity that belonged only to neonate worlds, in their chaotic birth. It toppled great pillars of rock in moments, and hurled boulders into the air, smashing them against rocky outcroppings.

Haroen reveled in it.

The god screamed alongside the shrieking winds, his laugh shattering small mountains into dust as he poured through the air, and his mere presence desiccating the desert even beyond it's remarkable dryness.

He ran for years, the sun and all sense of the passage of time blocked from him by clouds of sand and dust, but one day came when nausea overcame the god of sand. With a wave of his hand, the storm was quelled, as he turned his sight to the south, and trembled in utter revulsion at what he perceived there…

Water.

He was repulsed. How could such a perfect world as this have been so quickly sullied with that blight upon existence? No, this was not natural, it did not belong here! But what would he do? It was still new, but, this was the work of a god, he could tell. He immediately new that if he were impulsive and attempted to undo this god's acts at every turn, he would only be met with eventual failure. So, he immediately decided, he would have to try and prevent the spread of this plague any further than it had.

The god blossomed out into a screaming wind, streaking due south, carrying the storm he had silenced along with him, and once he was 5,000 kilometers (~1 inch) north of the accursed moisture, he turned the storm, and, reinforcing it with his godly prowess, allowed it to rage once more, in a long line, blowing west to east across the flat wasteland.

Spending 8 points on four inches of 'shape climate', spread out in a 18,000 kilometer long band separated from Armin's land by '1inch' of untouched land. The climate in question is "hurricane force winds three days out of four" and "extremely hot and dry"

Morgan_R, you're up.

[Morgan_R]

The Weaver surveyed the new world. It was clearly far from ready to support intelligent life... and she had little interest in playing with rocks and sand and water. Conserving her energy, she instead turned her attention to watching the other gods.

Pass.

[Malfunctioned]

"Now where's the fun in this?" The young deity cried out.

"Dust, dust and even more dust!" He sighs loudly and clasps his hands together near his mouth, he breaths into them deeply and flicks them out with a force, a green haze extending from them, settling onto the ground and forming a lush verdant field of grass as far as the eyes can see.


Spending 6 points to turn two inches of land in the centre of the map into some nice verdant plains.

[Fiig]

Savien looked upon the world and went down to it. But when he touched it, he found it dry and dusty, so he took his hammer and struck the earth and leveled the ground all around him, he then spoke three words.

And a cloudburst rained upon the place for one day and filled the chasm with water.

Savien looked upon the water and realized that a balance must exist, for now the ground was covered in a vast inland sea. So Savien spoke the nine words that can make a vulcano do your bidding.

And the vulcanoes responded, forth in a blaze of fire and molten rock came seven great islands, rising above the water all around him.

Savien looked upon the seven islands, and walked on the largest of the island in the middle his garden. And saw some of the earth fly away on the wind.

So Savien spoke to the land and with two words he raised high mountains on the northside of all his islands to shelter the islands from the mighty northern winds blowing in the large wasteland to the north.
Savien then used one last word to fill the mountains with metals, so no winds could ever grind them down.

Savien walked around his work and was pleased, but still some of the dirt was flying away on the other winds, so Savien created all manner of flora and then fauna to renew the land. Savien knew that the needs of his creations and so the spoke 6 words, and forth came springs, creeks and formed rivers that flowed lazily through the land to water it.

6 points: to make a 2 inch area with 7 lush, large sized islands, with Mountains on their northside rivers and creeks running down through the land

2 inches south to rith, 1 inch west of armin

Second roll 2d6: 11
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4093158/

[Plerumque]

Tarethon looked down on the new world. This form was weak, unable to cause great change in the land below. But- he sensed something deep below the surface. The heart of the land beat, slow and steady, as it pumped life through the ground. He flew downwards, passing through the surface of the planet as easily as a shadow. He went through the darkness, drawing power from the spirit of the land itself, until he reached a point deep underground. There he looked upon the heart and channeled a portion of his own divine energy into it. He spoke a single word.

"Be."

And the land obeyed him. An intricate network of tunnels and great caves spread itself outwards. Shafts sunk themselves deeper into the earth, revealing veins of metal ready to be dug from the earth. Passages weaved themselves through the ground and up to the surface, opening up in rocky locations hidden from all but the keenest eye. And Tarethon was satisfied.

Spending 3 points to make a 1 inch area of caves, tunnels and mines hundreds of miles below the surface, in the exact center of the map. What kind of heat/pressure conditions would we be dealing with there? I may have to use divine power to make it suitable for life...

Roll for next round: 8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4094172/)

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis swelled and churned in the deep deepness below the new world, watching, but remaining ever stagnant. His brow furrowed in mock impatience.

Pass. Also, are our points the same as our initiative?

[Komodo]

Thunder echoed throughout the skies of this barren planet, and the skies grew black. The journey through the Void was completed; the great serpent Slassiksyyr had found the place he would make his home. He saw that he had been delayed: already, several other deities had began their work. His fangs burned to add to it.

Below, he saw that much of the land was still far too dry, aided not at all by the pestilence of aridity sent by the bothersome Haroen. Still, he resolved not to anger the burning one...not yet, anyway...not when there were other gods who had the foresight to sate the thirsty land. Not nearly enough, though...

Slassiksyyr spat, and his venom struck near the islands, and the venom burned the dirt, and the chasm ran deep. Opening his serpentine wings, he unleashed a storm, and filled the basin full of water, salt, and beautiful things of shining scales to swim within it.

Using all my points (three) to create a one-inch ocean, placing it so it connects to the sea that holds Fiig's islands and to Armin's river.

[Rith]

Remember to be checking the Shikalis OOC (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288237) thread.

Power Roll: 2d6+1=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4096117/) :(

The god of dust staggered and shrieked into the blistering winds, his form wavering with the wind. Many years had passed, and so much water had come flowing, Haroen didn't believe he could stem it before it consumed the entire world.He had fled to the far side of the planet, attempting to put as much dryness between him and the blight, but it hadn't helped, he was stilled pained by it's existence. This world had been so perfect…

He had to preserve a piece of it. He couldn't let the entire world be quenched. But it was difficult with how disoriented he was. Regardless, he had to try. He had to fix this, so he reached out his power and reinforced the power he had laid down 500 years before, but he was weak and slow, and it barely changed.

He had to keep working.

Lowest power roll possible. Not much to do. Spening 2 points to extend the create climate another 'inch' to the west..


Map
http://i.imgur.com/d1pyzOe.png

[Morgan_R]

Power Roll: 2d6=8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/search/1259469/) (ignoring the incorrect +1)
7+8=15

The Weaver waits, conserving her energy...

[Rith]

Malfunctioned is being skipped. Go Savien (Fiig).

[Fiig]

Savien had enjoyed his island paradise, but after 500 years he felt that he needed more. So he looked beyond his island and to the empty lands around him.

So Savien gathered his strength and looked to the north east. There he marked out a 9000 km area with high iron filled mountains on the edge in an almost complete semi circle, with only an opening to his beloved islands.

But the lands inside his circle of mountains was still dry and dead, so he dug a deep hole in the middle of the area and created a narrow strait into the sea. And the water filled up the hole and connected the lands.

However the water could only renew so much lands, so Savien commanded the snow on the mountain tops to melt and flow in down into the center sea and the water came in rivers.

So to crown his work, he crafted various forests and meadows and placed all manner of birds fly in the sky and beasts to roam in the forests.

Savien called and a large island rose in the center, there Savien sat, tired and looked upon the wonders of his newest creation.

12 points to use 4 shape land to create a 2 inch area, northeast of my previous created islands. since we work in circle the area is 9000 km in diameter with a mountain belt at the egde, inside that is a belt of forest and grass areas, with rivers flowing down from the mountains, with a large inland sea, which is about 1000 km in radius, with a an island in the middle about 250 km in diamter. The coast line is very abrupt with few strands on half of it

roll http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4099681/
2d6: 11+2=13 for next round.

btw the last island i created i had expect to be much bigger than that

[Plerumque]

As the others worked, Tarethon floated next to the divine heart of the earth and continued to channel his spark of life into it. And the tunnels and caves kept growing, spreading across the map.

Spending 9 points to extend the area of the tunnels one square inch to the north, one inch to the south, and one inch to the east. Next round I will have 11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4099689/) points (roll of 8, 2 points left over from this round, 1 extra for being under 5 points).

[ImperialSunligh]

Power Roll: 2d6+1=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4100192/), total of 6 points this turn.

The Axis stirs from a long wait and extends his tendrils over the world. He consumes the unshaped matter to the south of the already created land, creating a seemingly endless chasm, dropping at a 90° angle from the land. Axis pulls a stream of water from other dimensions in order to fill the chasm entirely with water, leaving an endlessly deep ocean.

Satisfied for now, Axis sinks into the depths of the unconscious and sleeps.

Creating a 1 inch area of deep ocean directly south of the western islands. Not overlapping already created water.
Next: 2d6+3+1=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4100194/)

[Komodo]

Previous point balance: 0
Roll: 2d6=10, (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4100781/) +1 for low beginning balance = 11

Slassiksyyr was pleased with the expanding ocean to the west, but was displeased with the dry, dry wasteland to the east. Spilling his venom once more, he carved out a basin for a river, and let his clouds gather...

Spending nine points to create a forest with a river, starting at the central lake, then heading east, then south, around the central plain. Also, spending two points on climate shaping, located on the eastern river, centered around the island of trees. The climate is Rain: every day for six months out of the year, and every fifth day or so the rest of the year. Score is back at zero.

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+2=8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4100976/)

The dust god was wavering, his material form beginning to break apart.

Lightning crackled and lept from chasms in his dry form, as he turned his glowing eyes towards the south in a scowl. Bottomless seas, constant rain, islands, rivers, plants. There was so much of it. All gods upon this world were trying to drown it, and breaking his grasp upon it as they did so.

As he stood there, his physical form crumbling into dust, he whispered into his ceaseless wind, this small joy that he had created, "Oh divinities of water. Flood this paradise with your blight, if you will, but you cannot destroy me, and as you plague this world, my influence will remain, and I will never stop fighting you. I will not rest until your every domain has been parched and dryness once again rules over all. Mark my words, divinities of water."

He stood there another century before his dusty form finally gave way to the presence of it's antithesis, exploding into the maelstrom of sand and lightning that he would one day become known as. In that same moment, Haroen shrieked out along his winds, and reinforced them a thousandfold, and the winds spread another 18,000 kilometers to the east.

Spending 8 points on 4 shape climate to spread the tornado-wind belt another 18,000 kilometers to the east. Ending with 1 point.

Next Round: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4101691/)


Map
http://i.imgur.com/YmW0eQH.png

[Morgan_R]

Power Roll: 2d6 = 6 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4102659/)
15+6=21

The Weaver continues to bide her time, watching the others as they shape the world...

[Fiig]

I will be out of the door, in 30 min. so i just rolled the dice for quickness sake so you guys could continue
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4103837/

Savien had used the last 500 years to gather his strength but he knew he needed more to fulfull his plan.

So he sat down in meditation og waited.

[Plerumque]

Tarethon continued to siphon divine energy from his spirit and channel it into the Heart of the Earth. And the tunnels kept spreading, the caves and mines kept growing from little pockets of air. But Tarethon began to become impatient with just rocks...

Spending 9 points to extend the caves two square inches to the west and one square inch to the south (under the farthest-west inch). Roll for next round: 2d6+3=15 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4104190/).

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis awakened once again, with more power than it had yet felt on this world. It pulled over twice the amount of land it pulled previously into nothingness, again filling it with water. The endless ocean expands to the east, consuming the land.

Creating 3 inches of deep ocean East of the previous ocean.

Next: 2d6+3=13 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4104583/)

[Komodo]

Power roll = 11, (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4104786/) + 2 for two rounds below five, totals at 13.

Is that so, god of the arid, the barren, the unendurable? hissed the great serpent. Would you, no less god than I, condemn my work to glorify thy own? So be it, then. Should the dust seek an enemy, he shall find it in the storm. Slassiksyyr spat, and the earth was burned, but this time, no canyons were formed, no forests grew, and his venom did not burn away. For centuries, it gathered there, seeping into the earth until the earth could drink no more. When the venom had settled, the serpent struck it with the tips of his wings and stirred it well, and lifted the dire fluid into the air, to let it fall once more.

This land shall rot, but from rot shall rise new growth. One day shall my people take from these foul waters a strength strange to your own. Thus the serpent decreed, and with a flap of his mighty wings, flew back into the storm cloud, where he would consider his next act.

Spending 9 points on three Land Shapings to make a south-pointing triangle of barren land speckled with pools and geysers of acid and sulphur. Also spending 2 points on climate: directly in the center of the triangle, the weather calls for burning acid rain. The whole thing is located to the west, with the northern edge of the triangle backed against Haroen's dust storm. Current total of points is 2.

[Rith]

We are changing the turn format!

There will not be any initiative for the time being. Instead, this round will last 48 hours (counting from when this post has been posted), or until all players have posted, whichever comes first. Any player may post once during this round, at any time. If a player fails to post during this 48 hour period, they are skipped and receive no power roll for that round. After this round has ended, the next round will begin and follow the same fashion. Ect ect.

Keep an eye out for other people simultaneously posting as you, in case your actions might conflict with their own.

[Fiig]

Savien was ready, He had used the last 500 hundred years to prepare
His plan, for while he may be powerful in all his divine energy, he could not be everywhere on his creation. And so Savien would create a creature unlike anything ever seen on Shikalis.

Savien went to the heart of the earth and used it as his forge to create what would later be named as the kinfolk, the very first halfling.

He created them in his own image, for the purpose of being the caretakers of his creations

He crafted them upon the thousands and then breathed life into them. Taking a portion of his energy and placing it in each and every one of them.

Then Savien spoke to them,

"I am, that is
My name is Savien your divine creator
I have given you three gifts, given freely.
I have given you a mind which posseses sentience, creativity, sapience and intelligence.
So that you may think before you act, so you can remember and and act accordingly.
I have given a body unlike any other on this world, so that you can stand and with create with your own hands like myself, for you are created in my image.
Lastly i have given you fire, use it with care and it will feed you, warm you and let you craft things beyond my wildest imagination. But remember fire needs a master, do not let it wander off, for fire is the wildest thing on Shikalis.

Now go forth onto my lands, you are its caretaker and the shepard of all the living creatures on them. The land and beasts will feed you, there you shall build your homes, and create most wonderous things and discover all manner of secrets."


i use all my 22 points to create the halfling race and place it in my last creation, Their technological level are around the stone age, right now i would think.

Roll for next round
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4105200/
2d6+1=8

[Plerumque]

Tarethon sent a spark of energy into the Heart of the Earth, probing it for the land's desires. He found that such a new planet was not ready yet for living creatures, and having no desire to struggle against the earth and make an enemy of it, he returned to his task of shaping the earth below. At one point, he rose up above the surface for a brief few moments, and saw that his efforts, displacing the soil and rock, had formed vast mountain ranges and inhospitable crags above the unshaped areas, the ones that his companions had made, of course, held in place by their divine will. He returned to his sweet darkness after mere moments in the harsh sun and lack of surrounding life.

Spending all 15 points to extend the range of the caves one more square inch to the west, then two inches to the east and two inches north from the farthest square inch east. Roll for next round: 7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4105878/)

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4101691/)
Current Power Points: 12

Haroen churned, high in the arid skies above the north, which he had completely sealed off from the south a few years ago by closing the last few thousand kilometers of his wind belt. Those winds now pushed all moist air back south, preventing it from reaching him, in what was to become his domain. The sheer presence of that accursed material still brought him pain, but now he had some relief.

However, he had to think. What would he do now? The other gods were still working, still drenching his world. He could not rest, lest they outpace him entirely. No, he had to think about what to do. He watched as the poison god spilled his bile upon Haroen's doorstep, the sleeper deepened his pit of evil, and the flame god brought together bags of water, and granted them a piece of his own sentience.

As he boiled in those skies, he contemplated this strange creation of Savien's. He wasn't sure how he felt about them, but, as he watched them take their first steps in the world, he had to admit that he found them intriguing to watch. They quickly developed complex landscapes and relations among themselves. Cultures, societies, and tribes came as they grew and developed. It was then, as he watched them, that he knew, this creation was Savien's first masterpiece. So simple, yet so complex. Even as he watched, he witnessed other gods turn their own power towards creation of their own races, regardless of if they meant to make them immediately or not. As he watched, he discerned how frail these things were, and Haroen decided that this would be his means of warring upon the divinities of water: he would create his own mortals, and they would destroy the creations of the others, bringing Haroen's wrath down upon them all.

However, he immediately knew that his desert was no home for any mortal: it's landscape was far too bleak, and so, he reached out with his power, sweeping himself over the far north, lightning bolts touching the desert, charging the sand so it would dragging away with him, so he could shape into spires, spheres, and great, stretching fields. Once he had the shapes he wanted, he unleashed his might, and trillions upon trillions of bolts of lightning flooded the northern pole beneath a brilliant aurora borealis, and in a flash, what had once been sand held together by static electricity, was now glass.

It stretched out in all directions. Canyons, fields, and mountains, all made of glass, the ground below sealed away by miles of it. The dust god left behind a fair portion of his divine energy as well, charging this fantastic landscape with lightning, which fused the land together into a new shape, should the glass shatter or crack.

Spending 2 points to fill in the last inch of Haroen's hurricane-wind belt, and then spending 9 points on 3 shape lands to make a vast expanse of glass landscape along the northernmost edge of the map, with several mountain ranges, canyons, and flat expanses of glass. This land also crackles with lightning, as another land might churn with volcanic forces. Should the glass shatter or crack, the lightning fuses it together again after a few hours, so the place remains seamless all the time.

Current Power Points: 1
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4105925/)

Map will come next round.

[Komodo]

Previous Balence: 2
Power Roll: 2d6+3=13 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4106700/)
Total: 15

Slassiksyyr looked down upon the strange glassy plains, and hissed. Such a strange place, a facsimile of his own lands. Weeds made of glass no wind would blow, growing on lightning rather then water. The great serpent, as much as it would please him, chose not to provoke the dry god further, not yet.

The serpent looked to the west, and saw the strange little creatures appearing in the mountains, as they began to work with their fire. His own people would one day meet these, and the serpent planned for how he would handle such a time. Builders could be a handy ally against the dry one. Slassiksyyr left them alone.

To the south, the great serpent peered through his mask and beheld the great barren plain. Each dry, dusty stone was an affront to him, and he spat upon them, opening his wings of storm that the venom spread far and spread cold. The venom seeped into the earth and froze, and powerful trees arose, ever sparsly, from the ice. In the winter, the place would be barren, he decreed. Little more than ice and bare barks. In the summer, though, Slassiksyyr made it so the top of true ice would melt, and streams of thaw would form cool swamps and wetlands.

Spending all fifteen points to create a tundra in the south-east corner. Three spots on the southern border, the other two above them, keeping them corner-orientated.

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis is bored. She felt and observed the world and decided that a fitting action to increase her presence would be to create an avatar, a manifestation of her essence.

In the deepest depths of the southern endless ocean came forth from darkness a creature that can hardly be described. It takes the form of hard shadow and shifts between countless shapes constantly. It can barely be seen in the dark depths of the endless ocean, but it was most definitely there. It waited with its tendrils, pincers, hooves and all else, waited to act on the bidding of the Axis.

And her bidding was told. The Axis saw the halflings above, Savien's creations, and she desired servants as well. The shadowy being immediately created a group of creatures deep in the endless oceans. They were an aquatic race, and were created to be able to survive at extreme depths of water. They can survive on the surface for three days before submerging again, else they die.

They look much like a combination of fish that exist deep underwater, such as anglerfish, and halflings. Those who are born with bioluminescence are often respected highly and given extra privledge, similar to nobility or royalty.

Axis spoke unto them through the shadowy being:

"I am, that is
My name is Axis -or perhaps the axis, I am not quite sure- your divine creator.
I have given you three gifts that you have no real claim to. I am unsure as to why.
I have given you a mind which possesses... something resembling sentience, stagnancy, ignorance and utter insanity.
So that you may remember before you think, so you can remember and think accordingly.
I have given a body unlike any other on this world, so that you can swim in the water insessantly. Don't get any idea that you are based on myself, however, I would truly hate to be the model for you creatures.
Lastly i have given you water, which is good, since without it you would likely die and that would be quite boring.

Now go forth into my depths, and be pleased, for they are a prison created specifically for you."

The being then sunk farther than even the "strangled" (for that is what the Axis has dubbed them) could swim. It will return when the Axis deems it necessary.

Creating avatar: -10 pts
Commanding avatar to create race: -2 pts
Next: 2d6+1=8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107234/)

[Morgan_R]

2d6=8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107530/)

And still, the Weaver waits...

21+8=29

[Rith]

Malfunctioned is out of the game.

[Fiig]

Savien had watched the kinfolk for 500 hundred years, and they had spread all over his gardens, and Savien was pleased with their progress, they were incredible, they made all manner of things of the Savien works.

But Savien wanted expand his gardens, but he would first finish his works on what he had already created.

So Savien commanded the winds, so that they would blow in from the ocean, and bring water with them, which would water the lands and brings water up into the mountains where it would fall and travel back into the inner sea.

Savien stirred the water so that warm water from the south would always flow into the inner sea where it would help keep the kinland warm through the winters, so that they would be mild and short.

Now that the kinfolk was secured he knew that the he would have to shape as much of the land as possible for when his people would venture out into shikalis.

8 points for 4 shape climate, i shape the climate in the 2 inch area where my Halfling race lives. The climate is now temperate all year around, with temperature around 20 degrees plus minus 10 depending on the time(30 in the summer, 10 in the winter), wind brings in moisture from the ocean which keeps the area with rain and keeps the rivers flowing, in rains about every 3-4 days
Power:0
Cumulative: +2
2d6: 4
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107716/

[Plerumque]

Tarethon continued to siphon off his own divine spirit and channel it through the Heart of the Earth, taking the resulting flow of power and sending it gushing through the rock. Where it went, great caves and deep mines appeared far below the surface, and mighty mountains rose up above it.

Spending 6 points to take the farthest-west inch and extend it one inch to the west, then the same with the farthest-south inch. Roll for next round: 10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107970/)

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4105925/)
Current Power Points: 10

High in his polar desert, Haroen shuddered, waves of raw electricity sweeping through the sand as he turned his sight south, towards that pit of bottomless blight: the ocean of Axis. Something truly abominable churned in those depths... and as he watched, it spawned an entire race for the insane god.

Where Savien's creation he could remark as being a masterpiece, despite their affinity with water, these were twisted and mishappen, little more than wisps of flotsam given sentience so they might remark on their own repulsiveness. Haroen loathed them, and he could barely tear himself back towards his own work for desire to dessicate them all.

He could not do that, though. No, he had to forge ahead, and prepare his own world for his own servants, who would do his fighting for him. He spread himself out again, spreading his glass wilderness further, until it brushed up against the incessant winds, his shield against the evil of the world.

He had to remark at the beauty of this place. Glass and crystal spires of all tints towered into the sky: rose, teal, and even perfect mirrors formed from the minerals in the sand here. The fields cast dancing patterns of light across the world where they warped and twisted. The wind was bitterly cold, but with no water and no clouds, the blinding sun refracting off everything left the glass warm to the touch. There were occassional narrow ravines which crackled with purple and white lightning, and the occassional sand devils weaved mesmerizing patterns through the sky.

He felt it was time for him to create his own life upon this landscape.

With a bolt of lightning, blades of silver, razor-sharp, glass began to sprout out of warped fields, green-tinted blossoms exploded along crystal ridges, and ivy crackling with white lightning hung like chandeliers from frail spires. Small creatures began to roam this land as well: serpents of sand and stone coiled in the underbrush and what might have been mistake for a sandstorm would reveal itself to be a swarm of dust-colored insects. Creatures that could be mistaken for mummified hounds prowled the fields, light flashing in their eyes and clouds of sand falling from their jaws like drool as they stalked crystal antelope munching upon the silver grass.

This would do for now.

Spending another 9 points on 3 shape terrains to expand Haroen's glass world. Also, filling it with the life I described.


Map
http://i.imgur.com/QgFr2HC.png

Current Power Points: 1
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107994/)

[Morgan_R]

2d6 → [4,3] = (7) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4108271/), 29+7=36

The Weaver... grows bored. She stretches her many limbs, and flexes her many-times-many fingers, and begins to weave. Threads fasten themselves to the land, and she pulls and tugs until it ripples and rises, creating mountains. (A horizontal, slightly upward-curved line between the existing mountains towards the middle and right of the map.) (3 shape lands) 36-(3x3)=27

Then she uses her countless threads to draw water from the air, and send tiny rivulets cascading down the mountains, growing into streams and rivers, (3 shape lands) which run down into an ocean that borders on the tundra to the south. (2 shape lands). 27-(5*3)=12.

The Weaver pauses, contemplating her work.

[Komodo]

Now that i see the map, I'd just like to establish something: the lake should be elevated above the acid swamp and should waterfall into it, rather than acid spilling into the clean lake. I'll gladly spend a few points on land shaping if required.
Power Roll:2d6=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4108649/)+3=10.


Slassiksyyr looked out to the valley of the Halflings and the glass valley. It is time to build the home my servants shall inhabit. With that, he once again spat his venom, and began carving the earth with it: Growing trees, filling it with water...

Spending 9 sprints to create as much marsh as I can, filling in the area between the mountains to the east and the sulphur swamp to the west and, of course, the dust storm. Also desiring for this to be elevated over the sulphur marsh to prevent backflow.

[Fiig]

Savien went to the northen edge of his ocean and looked to the barren land.

Savien spoke and life sprang forth. Savien looked out and saw the stormwall, Savien knew that Haroen disapproved of the water and had walled himself off, Savien would do the same to protect his, but he would use mountain filled with metals to make them strong.

So Savien took his hammer and crafted a mighty chain of mountains and placed them north of the new lands, Savein connected the mountain to the northen part of the kinvally(The halfling vally). leaving an empty space between the Stormwall and the shining mountains. So that no army would be able to cross without being seen.

Now Savien knew the new land would be safe, so he looked on it and decided, that he would try something new, so he went around and tapped the land with his hammer, Savien called and the could filled the places Savien had chosen and filled them with water, creating hundred of different sized lakes.

Savien populated the new land with herds of animals, that would graze the grassy plains.

using 6 points for 2 shape land, placing a chain of mountain between the top most vally mountains and the edge of the map. It is a grass land with various Fruit tree and bushes, and herds of animals. the land is spotted with lakes
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4110862/
got another 4, +3
so got 7 for next round

[Komodo]

Previous balance: 1
Power roll: 2d6+3=7. (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4110978/)
Current points:8

Slassiksyyr continued to build his marsh....

Spending 6 points on 2 shape lands to build the marsh between the acid swamp and the mountain range. If the marsh there is completed, Slassiksyyr will move on to the West side of the Acid Swamp and continue, starting with a small lake directly west of and elevated above the sulphur swamp.

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis extends the size of his ocean, consuming more of the world with it.

Creating 2 inches of endless ocean for 6 points.
Next roll: 2d6+2=13 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4111071/)

[Plerumque]

Tarethon sent the tunnels, writhing with divine force as if they were a snake, burrowing under the scorched earth and turning towards the glasslands.

Spending 9 points to extend the tunnels two inches north and one inch west, starting at the farthest-north point. Roll for next round: 9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4111734/).

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4107994/)
Current Power Points: 13

Haroen watched the world as the Serpent lined his storm wall with it's own wall of water, as Axis widened his gaping wound in the world, as the sleeper woke from it's long rest to construct a vast swath of vile water, and as the tunneled god shot his influence up underneath the wind wall into his domain.

Wait, someone was intruding upon his sanctuary!

Impulsively, Haroen surged to Tarethon's mountain, attempting to blanket in in his glass terrain before it could leave any lasting scar upon his domain. The slopes of the mountain range quickly became encased in glass, but it didn't change their existence, and instead, they became all the more noteworthy, as the entire range north of the Wind Belt was now encased in glass as bright as a mirror, meaning that it would glare upon the horizon at all times, enormous and blinding.

It was only after Haroen swirled around the new glaring mountains that he realized Tarethon had brought no moisture into his home. With a great shudder of relief, he turned towards the subterranean god, and spoke, "Why have you thrust your influence into my domain?

Spending 12 points on 4 Shape Terrains to make more Glass Deserts, which you will see on the following map.


Map
http://i.imgur.com/GmX6OV1.png

Current Power Points: 1
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4112018/)

[Plerumque]

Tarethon rose towards the surface, ascending away from the embrace of the Heart of the Earth and soaring up into the largest mountain, nearly level with the flying god. He spoke to Haroen through the earth, the entire ground seeming to form his words. "Do not worry, lord of sand and fire, master of the scorched earth. I bring no harm to you nor any of your creations, and seek not to undermine your domain by creating your most hated foe. Simply put, my desire in creating these is simply to expand my own domain. I am sure you can understand that desire. Yet, if you would that I retreat entirely from the lands you have claimed as your own, I will do so. I cannot promise that these tunnels will not be used for those not of glass to enter your realm. But I can promise that no water will be brought into your dominion by my hand nor that of my creations, nor any who would use this passage, if I or those above me can stop it. I will swear on the Heart of the Earth, if you would have it so."

[Morgan_R]

2d6 → [6,3] = (9) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4113177/), 12+9=21

The Weaver connects her sea to the infinitely deep one, blending the two together as hers deepens and then drops away. (Shape land, 4x3 = 12). She fills the valley to the north of this new ocean with grasslands, and small streams joining together to form a great river that leads to the ocean. (Shape land, 3x3 = 9).

21-(12+9)=0.

[Fiig]

Savien looked upon his people and realised that they needed a leader, Savien went to his forge and took a piece of himself to craft his masterpiece, a son to walk the earth.

Savien gave his son a large piece of divine energy to give him life, my son your name shall be Godric and you shall lead my creations, to that end i give you three things
I grant you a Pheonix which i bind to you, when you die your pheonix shall die and when you are reborn your Pheonix shall seek you out and all will know you again.
I grant you a body and mind not unlike my own, so that you can be a leader, and think further than anyone.
I grant you these eggs, Under your care they shall hatch and grant you and all those you choose dragons, and they shall be the guardians of my gardens.

With that my son i wish you the best.

And so Savien took Godric to shikalis, to the island in the halfling valley, the kinvale.

Here Godric found the first halflings and soon the word spread and all gathered to see the redheaded halfling with a firebird on his shoulders, and then Godric spoke.

I am Godric, I am the son of Savien, sent here to lead you. And here on this island we shall make our capitol, Which we shall name Vien.

Savien looked on his son and smiled, Godric would do well.

Savien looked to the south and saw the everexpanding deep ocean, and the twisted creatures within. And Savien knew he would not allow these creatures to enter his kingdoms. And so he spoke and a chain of mountains rose on the top edge of the deep ocean

10 Points for an avatar, to create saviens son and avatar on earth
2 points to create city, the city of Vien
3 points to shape land, to create a chain of mountains blocking off the axis ocean from the north.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4113532/
2d6: 5
+3
8 for next round

[Komodo]

Current Balence: 6, counting the four refunded back to me in the OOC thread.
Power Roll: 2d6=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4113921/)
Current total: 15

Above the ground, Haroen and Tarethon held counsel, discussing the threat of water upon the lands of glass. As they spoke, Slassiksyyr slipped from the stormcloud, and entered the underground. It was cold and empty as he found the spot he was looking for, and he spat his venom against the wall of the cavern. Carving away at it, he pressed up the earth, unwittingly creating a Mesa above him, but his true goal was to build a large, empty cavern below the accursed dust storm, which he proceeded to fill with water called up from the earth. When this was complete, Slassiksyyr spat twice more: once to the north, once to the south. The rock dissolved away, revelaling the beauty of the marsh to the south, and the shining facsimile of glass to the north.

Tarethon has kept his promise to the dry god...but he will forgive this tresspass. Will he make mortals of glass, also? If not, he shall need water in his domain, and I have given it freely. As for the Dry One, he shall have northern lands...but as venom flows through my fangs, he shall not have them in peace.

The serpent flew away, but quickly returned to the earth, and landed in his beloved swamp of sulphur. As before, he sprayed his venom into the earth, pressing it up, filling it once more, though this time shallower, and hotter, with sulphur...


Spending 6 points for a 2-inch underground lake below the dust storm with openings to the tunnels, the marsh, and the glass plains. Also, spending 6 points to extend the sulphur swamp to the edge of the map, then another three points to make a one-inch underground acid & sulphur lake connecting the suulphur swamp to the glass plains, with openings on either side. This last lake should not connect to the other underground water lake. Final balance: 0

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4112018/)
Current Power Points: 11

Haroen churned as he listened to the Deep god, then replied with a crackle of ozone and a boom of thunder, "It is odd. Since the first days, when the first water was spawned upon this land, I have only been met with anger and reason to hate others of my kind upon it. In all that, I thought, surely, there is none of my kin who would respect and help perserve the beautiful dry. Perhaps we can work in tandem.

"I shall spread your domain and give you fair share of my own. In return, I ask that you do the same for me. I seek the entirety of the north to be coated in this glass, though I believe I can create tunnels and mountains for you to occupy, though they will bear my mark. If you would fill in the last expanse of empty land in the north with glass fields bearing your own touch, I would be glad."

However, as they spoke, a villian struck, and Haroen howled in pain as a knife twisted through the shield of his wind belt. The Serpent had vomited I into the land, beneath the reach of his precious wind, and split a gaping wound in the stone open for the plague to spread.

Water touched the air, and like a noxious cloud, thousands of the beautiful, delicate creatures Haroen had graced with life, collapsed, unable to withstand the butchery of moisture in the air.

To save his sanctuary from the evil divinities to the south, the dust god mustered all his strength, and shifted the entirety of his wind belt 2 kilometers to the north, converting the doorways to the wounds of death the Serpent had cut in the land. Safe once more, but drained of his godly power, Haroen turned back to the Underground God, "And if an alliance could be had, I would strike upon the venom god."

If Tarethon was okay with these terms, Haroen would turn his I influence towards the mountains that had appeared, and would wrench more of them from the land, sculpting tunnels through them and far underground as well. These, like the others in the north, would be coated in glass, but still rock most of the way through. Unlike the others, however, Haroen's mark was clear upon them, as they were suffused with lightning and electricity, and as he wrenched them from the ground, they came away, and began to float, lightning arcing from them to the ground, kilometers below. The chain of floating mountains grew, and while hundreds of airborne mountains, the largest 75 kilometers thick, coated in glass, interlaced with caverns, and bolting the glass plains with electricity from 15 kilometers in the air, the mountains upon the ground stood proudly.

The Serpent God had revealed something to Haroen, however: His creations were still frail, and so much as the presence of water undid them. How would they make war on the wet gods if they could not approach it? So, the dry god began to tinker, creating all new species upon his land: Towering turtle-esque creatures with air-tight, glass shells. Massive glass arachnids which constructed nests within the first kilometers of the wind belt, and saw the wounds of water often enough to grow tempered to it. It pained him to think of his creations in a wet world, but he had to press forward.

That thing with the moving the wind belt north is just flavor, and an explanation as to why the north will remain dry, despite doorways to an underground ocean 4,500 kilometers in diameter.

Spending 9 points on 3 Shape Lands to extend Tarethon's underground tunnels and overground mountains 3 inches west-northwest. Also adding floating, glass, lightning mountains in the air above the mountains and expanding the Ecosystem of Dry Things.

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4114831/)

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis stirs momentarily before it sinks back below the world. It is tired and needs to rest, until it has more power. This is simply not enough.

Pass.
Next: 2d6+13=15 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4115674/)

[Plerumque]

Tarethon's voice rumbles like the shifting of continents. "Wind god, you need not accept this, this beginning of doom, this declaration of war on you and everything you embody. I swore that no harm to your creations would come through my realm, and it shall not." So saying, he drew upon his link to the Heart of the Earth, and the underground lake Changed. Finished with that task, he turned to the glasslands and pulled the realm of the fiery god even farther into the little land still uncovered. Beneath them, the tunnels and caves grew, unbidden.

Spending 6 points to change the underground lake into a lake of something else, and 3 to expand the glasslands 1 inch in any direction, with tunnels beneath. I'm not sure what I'm going to change the lake into yet, I'll discuss some of my ideas in the OOC. I don't have access to the dice roller right now, so I'll roll for next round's power in next round's post.

[ImperialSunligh]

"Interesting choice", the coiling tongue of the Axis coughs up at Savien, "Remember, half-one, all decisions have their consequences. The Axis cares little for what you have done, but that does not mean that he can eschew punishment."

The Axis twists his finger through the deep oceans, snaking through the islands and into the kinvally. It splits into many tiny tendrils, all with exactly 21 eyes. Each tendril reaches an individual halfling, tainting its mind, causing mental disorders ranging from mild cognitive impairment to constant delirium. All share the same thread, however: They all gather, every night, on the central isle, gazing out of the valley towards the deep oceans, singing solemnly,

"Oh, my love,
You are black and blue,
And like a dove,
He'll come for you too.

It is the claw of the black
That forever strangles you
The deep won't abandon you
Because he loves you

And forever we sleep
In madness' embrace.
But please don't yet weep,
It is only the first taste."

They return home afterwards, forgetting it completely.

Entertained, the Axis pulls his finger back into the deep, leaving the halflings to their madness, madness that would spread, continuing an order of insanity in the valley.

"Remember what you have done, Savien", echoes a near silent call from the depths, "They were so innocent. Some of them were only children, too. So sad."

Creating an order of halflings, "The Mad", for eight points.
Next: 2d6+7=15

[Fiig]

Savien watched in horror at what the axis had wrought, he had tainted one of Saviens great gifts to the halfling, their very minds.

Savien was furious, Savien went to the edge of the sea and said to the axis. One day i shall avenge what you have done to the kinfolk,
when that day comes you will regret what you have done today,
but there shall be no solace for you.

Now I will leave your ocean and from now on there will be a wasteland, between our two domains and I will ensure that no creature of your ocean shall ever survive on that land. Only once every third decade shall it know water and life for a brief moment.

and as Savien spoke the fire in his chest burn so bright that all moisture around him burned away, including a single tear shed for the kinfolk. All around Savien the power gathered and he spoke many words, for the waste, would be Saviens greatest barrier.

And he spoke he command the rocks to dissolve into fine particles of sand and metals, the greatest holes in the earth filled with seawater, But Savien called out and the heat rose ever higher until all the water evaporated and left only salt plains, which would suck the water from the living. The Heat turned some of the sand to glass, When Savien saw it he called the winds to blow hard enough to lift the glass and shatter it on the ground leaving sharp glass blowing in the powerful winds. where the wind were slow savien gathered sand so fine that one could drown in it and where there was shelter he commanded vulcanoes to sprout and heat the land from below and blacken the land.

6 points to fill in the area between my sea and axis ocean with a wasteland, where only salt is left by the water, winds blow the extremely hot air around with sand and glass, vulcanoes boil the earth from beneath making the area very hot and dry
2 points left
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4116473/
2d6: 10+3+2=15 for next round

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 6 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4116604/) (counting +1 bonus)

Tarethon soared under the earth, the tunnels following behind him, and commanded the earth to raise the glasslands, extending their reach still further. Finished with this task, he returned to the mountain and spoke once more to the wind god. "I have done as you asked, dry one, save for one thing. I do not believe it would be prudent to attack the snake at this time. We may thwart his creations, attack his lands, but attacking him directly is not the way of a god."

Spending all 6 points to extend the glasslands two inches in any direction, with tunnels underneath. Roll for next round: 10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4116635/)

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4114831/)
Current Power Points: 13

Much had happened since the last time Haroen had acted. His alliance with the Stone god had been strengthened, his cap of glass upon the world had been completed, the blight of water within his wind belt had been dried away, the Deep god had blighted the Fire god's creation, and the Fire god had responded by crafting a desert of flame and glass that reminded Haroen of his own glass desert.

Haroen churned in the air, conversing with the stone that lay beneath, "I do not seek to attack the Serpent directly, Tarethon, the world would not bear the strain, and I seek to make the world more perfect, not to destroy it. No, my creations shall combat with his. Though, what do you think of this dry place the maker of the Kinfolk has crafted/ it reminds me of my own desert. Perhaps we could converse with Savien, and perhaps ally with him. His creation and utilization of so much water is terrible, but with that desert, there may be hope for him yet.

"Though, I speak too much. There is little chance left for me to act. My creations will need an avenue south of the wind belt in order to make war. I will return here when it is done."

And so, Haroen struck out with lightning, carving a path through the untouched wasteland beneath the howling wind of his wind belt, gouging out millions of deep, deep ravines and wide canyons. The wind did still blow into these thousand crevices, but a living creature could travel across their bed with no true harm done. He lined them with his glass as well, and made them like the glasslands of the north.

He then extended the glasslands, creating a vast expanse of glass desert just south of the wind belt, west of the Serpent's sulfur and east of Tarethon's mountians. He raised the tip of Savien's mountains as well, sealing off this oasis of glass from the corrupted water. He also closed off the desert from the south by dragging up more mountains from Savien's chain and Tarethon's chain. Though, he left narrow avenues through them, at the southern-most point. Several choke points which would allow for transport, but would be dangerous just the same.

Then, south of these mountains, Haroen blasted the wasteland away with winds, leaving an endless maze of soft, smooth stone winding together in a labyrinth that could never be successfully navigated. It also extended downward, rounded tunnels touching to Tarethon's underground network.

Unfortunately, as this soft land was touching Savien's lakes, vines, ivy, moss, and moisture slowly spread into, making it into a garden that other would find beautiful to behold.

All the while, Haroen extends Tarethon's tunnel underneath these lands.

Spending 12 points on 4 Shape Lands. Details are above and in the map.


Map
http://i.imgur.com/wqGn89J.png

Current Power Points: 1
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4118081/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 0
Power Roll: 2d6=11, (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4118394/)+1 for bonus = 12.


Slassiksyyr hissed. Tarethon had spurned his gift, and had expressed surprising loyalty to the god of dust. While not in the least dissuaded from his goals, it was clear he would need an ally. However, the god of the halflings had constructed a field of fire, and though that in itself did not make him an enemy, it was unlikely he would choose to leave the security of his valley for . The elusive Weaver had up to now done sorely little, and it was anyone's guess what that one would desire. This left only one option available to the great serpent. Not the most desirable option, perhaps...but the best one available. Taking off to the southern ocean, the serpent called out:

Awaken, Axis.

With that, the serpent spat his venom, and let it sink deep into the earth. Opening his wings, he filled the crevice with water, weighing it out to match the water that was there before...

See, as a sign of goodwill, I expand your domain. I offer you a chance to spread your madness to the North, to plains made of glass, and to labyrinths and tunnels no mortal can fathom. Your people shall be granted safety in my marshes, and what you conquer shall be yours. I sense this age coming to a close, shall you not see your people expand, and spread your name, oh strange one? Do not underestimate me as an ally, nor think your people are safe hidden below the waves. I shall await your answer in the storm.

With that, the serpent left the ocean, and flew to the edge of the accursed labyrinth.

Shall you not remain consent to remain above your dry storm, dust god? You shall not gain a foothold so easily. With that, he spat once again, and permitted trees and moss to grow, and water to seep from the ground...

Spending 6 points to spread the Axis' ocean Eastward, connecting on the south-east side. Then spending another 6 to build another swamp (normal water-and-green-trees one) south of the dusty labyrinth. Balance = 0 points.

[ImperialSunligh]

"Interesting."

the Axis writhed in her watery depths, thinking.

Her mouth contacted Slassiksyyr, whispering unto him, "Remember this, serpent, the madness does not discriminate; it comes for all of us, when the time for it comes. I have recently felt that it would be fun to play with the dry ones, but that does not mean I am your ally. Though it would be fun, to work with you awhile... We shall see."

She returned to the depths without another word and began her next spectacle.

The dark tendrils of the Axis extended towards the land of Haroen, the great glass expanse. The Axis creates a mad landscape in a closed off area defined by the mountains to the west. The land becomes malformed and distorted, simultaneously wet and dry. Also, the glass cracks, separating from the rest of the glass, and forming into the shape of a bowl. It hangs precariously above a newly created chasm, seemingly leading to nowhere. The bowl is filled with water brought from another dimension. The water is filled with dead fish with the letter A on them.

Some of them have "A+"s. But only some of them.

The axis uses the rest of her current power to expand her ocean to the unformed southern areas.

1 shape land to create a small area of distorted land with a chasm with a bowl of water above it. It is located in that sort of valley or whatever in the mountains in the northwest corner of the map.

3 shape lands to create more endless ocean to the south.

-12 points in total.

Next: 2d6+3+1=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4119628/)

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4118081/)
Current Power Points: 8

Haroen swept through his sandstone labyrinth, slowly. It pained him greatly to see curtains of ivy hanging from the beautiful, smooth loops of stone, and to find carpets of moss extend for kilometers across low floors of sandstone, only accessible through wide, looping passageways above, and most of all, he hated to see ravines filled with water, trickling down the polished sides of stone towards a river bubbling a hundred meters below. 9,000 kilometers of smooth, looping, complexly interwoven expanse of sandstone, now in the coils of vines and broken by sprouts of grass.

It still pained him to be south of his wind belt, but he had to know his foothold upon the south, so that he might teach his future creations of it, and how to best navigate it and it's dangers.

As he passed over a nexus of sandstone tunnels which rose up into a hill with several, wide trees reaching out of some of the many holes in it's structure, he began to consider what this place, which he had created only 500 years before, would one day become.

Savien's creations would not find this place dangerous. No, they might even find it pleasant, cool, and plentiful. However, there was too many tiny loops and secret passageways in this land for it to, realistically, ever be successfully mapped, except by the architect, Haroen himself. That, combined with the danger of pitfalls together with the threat of being lost and separated from others would make it so that cities in this place would be outstandingly difficult to found and maintain. However, the Dust God already saw dissent sprouting between members of the Halflings, as one would create a law, and another would break it. One man, or perhaps as many as 20, could live in these mazes without too much trouble. Perhaps those who would some day break a law great enough to be exiled from Savien's land, would find a life of plenty in this place, so long as they were intelligent and strong enough to avoid the predators who could so easily hide here, and navigate the pitfalls and confusion of the tunnels. A land of exiles and instinctual wild men would live here, after several generations of these exiles had come here. He felt he could safely predict that this sandstone labyrinth would one day contain exiled members of every race, and that was fine with him, as they would come to think of this soft land as their home, and thus it would be another obstacle for anyone who would seek to invade the north.

Then there would be his creation, controlling the northern side of this land, and the Serpent's creation, controlling the southern side. It would become a no man's land, full of wonder and plenty for those who desired such things as were found in this labyrinth.

However, as he contemplated things to come, a screaming in his mind burst forth, and Haroen felt moisture pierce into his sanctuary. And so, streaking north, through his wind belt and across the floating mountains, the Dust God came to a blistering halt above… above…

His rage and disgust was suddenly displaced with confusion.

What was this pool of not-water-but-water-just-the-same, bubbling with corpses above an unfathomable well? He was repulsed by the moisture in it, but it wasn't destroying his lands either. Churning there, gazing upon this oddness, he called out with a crack of lightning, "Tarethon, Stone God. What do you make of this? Is it a message? If so, what do you think the Deep God is attempting to say? I am at a loss for reactions, myself. It is clearly wetness in my sanctuary, so I do plan on erasing it, but I am simply confused, above all else."

After some time contemplating this madness, the Dust God reached out a dry hand and, like a man flicking something unpleasant away, undid the Mad God's most recent act, returning the land to how it once was.

After it was gone, however, he realized that he had felt Axis's presence within that pool, as clearly as though he had be there in the sky with him, and that realization set him towards his next act.

Sweeping north, to the very tip of the world, Haoren reached out with all his might, and gripped the winds that were his domain. Then, exerting all of his will upon this task, he forced them into silence. The air atop the world would no longer stir. Once this act was done, he gripped the stone beneath his glass, and with a great heave, tilted the world ever so slightly, so that the sun would forever shine upon it's crest, never setting. Once that was done, he chilled the air, so that, despite the eternal sun, the glass would remain cool to the touch, only warmed by Haroen's lightning within it, and no wind would ever be stirred from heat. Churning within that island of perfect limbo, Haroen felt himself more than anything else, and he could almost see his original form, from so long ago, within his mind's eye.

He meditated in that state for some time, five years all in all, before he opened his thoughts once more, and returned to his sanctuary.

He considered his lesser creations, meandering about on the glass fields. Serpents of stone and giant glass arachnids. The mummified hounds, drooling clouds of dust, and the glass blossoms which swallowed entire mountains in their brilliance. Herds of glass turtles the size of elephants munching on razor blades of glass grass beside crystal antelopes. It was a beautiful, wondrous place, but it lacked the fury of Haroen.

So, Haroen decided to craft three beings that would embody this aspect of himself. One of crystal, one of dust, and one of lightning.

First, he took a single piece of crystal, one without blemish and possessing a deadly edge, and filled it with the weight of the the world, with the strength of stone and of glass. After he was finished, the shard of crystal stirred, and shattered, leaving behind a creature no more than four centimeters tall, with two legs, two arms, a back covered in deadly blades, and a face that would one day be likened to a helm. Haroen created a dozen more, to help perpetuate the species as this tiny creature fed on glass blossoms and glass razors, and grew. Within a decade, this first creature stood tall at 6 meters of blue crystal, weighing several tons as it trudged across the wastes of the north. By the time it was 50 years old, it towered over all other creatures, easily 65 meters tall, the glass groaning and splitting with it's footfalls, the array of crystal blades atop it's back a vertiable forest, each blade 10 meters long and at least 3 wide. By the time it reached 150 years old, it was a landmark, well over 200 meters tall, and still herbivorous, slowly munching on glass blossoms atop mountain that it was almost as large as. This species would never die of old age. No, until a rival male or another creature shattered their bodies, they would be immortal, and never stop growing larger. As Haroen watched, he noticed they would rarely grow beyond 60 years of age, but there were the few, which kept on, juggernauts of their kind.

Next, the Dust God took a pinch of dust and breathed into it all the fury of his winds, of the wind belt that looped the world. As he watched, the dust swirled, and gathered more of it's kind together, becoming a small maelstrom, before condensing into a shape. Four long legs, a body of jet black, a smooth, powerful neck, at the front of which lay a serpentine head complete with viper fangs, and several slits along it's torso which constantly expelled dust. No sooner had Haroen laid eyes upon the first Dust Jaguar, than it had left, streaking across the glass planes at ludicrous speed, and accelerating. 300 kilometers an hour, the only reason it ever slowed was to turn, and avoid crashing into objects. Haroen crafted a hundred more of it's kind, and soon prides and hunting packs of the creatures were tearing across the northern wastes.

Lastly, the God of Storms took a bolt of lightning, and coaxed it into silence. From there, he wove it around itself, tying it into knots over knots, compacting it down further and further, until it could not longer contain itself, and erupted forth from Haroen's hands, a serpent of electricity, it smashed deep into the glassland, forging a hole deep into the terrain, down, down, down into the stone, and once it burrowed into the stone, it turned, and exploded up, out of the ground, a coiling body of iron and granite, it's mouth several concentric rings of glass razors, it's stomach a blazing pit of lighting. The first Lightning Wurm grew to easily 20 meters long, and 3 meters wide, and burrowed through the glasslands it's entire life, the natural lightning in the terrain healing any wound it would craft a few hours after it had passed through. Haroen crafted a few more of the serpents, to create the race, and watched as they crafted territories for themselves across the north.

After all this, Haroen returned to his domain of limbo, content to relax for a time before he would act again.

3 points on Shape Land to undo Axis's meddling.

2 points on Shape Climate to make the top 1/10th of an inch of the map be stuck in eternal day, with no winds, and very cold air.

1 point to create the Crystal Behemoth special creature.

1 point to create the Dust Jaguar special creature.

1 point to create the Lightning Wurm special creature.

Current Power Points: 0
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=15 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4119461/)

[Fiig]

Savien looked upon the kinvally and after 1000 years they were ready.

Godric you shall build great cities in the world, so that you may better protect my creations.

send forth settlers and found more great cities.

you shall build a great city on the mouth of the great river, It shall be named Rivenric

and to the great plains you shall build a great city bordering on the sea north of my islands, you shall name it Graric

Savien looked empty sea south of the kinvally and with three words created several more large islands like his other islands
8 command race to build city
2 points to command avatar to build city
3 to shape land
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4120225/
2 left +3 cumulative
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4120225/
2d6: 7
12 for next round for me

[Plerumque]

And the Lord Beneath simply watched and waited.

Can't access Invisible Castle right now, so I'll roll next turn.

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 0
Power Roll: 2d6+2=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4120599/)


Slassiksyyr gazed down upon the world. So much of it had yet to be filled. Already, the other gods had begun to build their civilizations, which had began establishing hundreds of years of history. That did not bother him, however. He had the strength to begin his own civilization, but would not use it just yet. The true tragedy, the true means to let the dry god win, would be to leave the world empty and barren. Spitting his venom one final time in this age, the great serpent opened his wings and began to spread it over the earth, permitting plants to grow, and rivers to run...

Spending 6 points to create a forest south of the marsh that lies south of the labyrinth, then six more to expand the ocean south of that. Total Shape Lands: 4. Total points remaining: 0.

[Rith]

In the Young Days

The world has changed. Whether this is from all the influences these god have had upon it, or a natural progression, may never be known. All that you know is that it will become more difficult to shape terrain, yet far easier to create life.

Welcome to age 2.


Map
http://i.imgur.com/wqMDpWQ.png

[Fiig]

Savien felt the change in the world

and then he knew he would focus his power on his people.

Savien reached out to his son Godric.

Godric you shall build a new city on my islands, which shall be named Isleric.

And in the coming age the kinfolk will discover all manner of things, let them and do not hinder the progress. Use it for the good of all kinfolk

1 points to command avatar to build city
5 points to advance civilization - Agriculture
5 points to advance civilization - Engineering

1 point left
+3 cumulative
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4122420/
6+4=10 for next round

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 0
Power Roll:2d6+3 → [3,6,3] = (12) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4122795/)

Slassiksyyr gazed down on Shikalis as the age came to an end. Looking down, he saw he had acquired no small swath of land to fill. So bright, vibrant, and varied, and alive...unlike the lands to the north, which were far too uniform and undeviating to truly be alive. However, the Great Serpent saw that in spite of the beauty of the marshes, they were far too empty. Plenty of life, to be sure, but no great creatures, and no sentient mortals to inhabit it. The world was created, and his war against the glasslands was imminent. It was time to create his servants.

Twisting around on himself, Slassiksyyr bared his fangs, and sunk them into his own scales. Tearing of a section of them, he threw them into the swamp, north of the lake, near the border between the marsh and the sulphur swamp, and as they fell, they grew into a creature, four meters (twelve feet) tall, with a head like an alligator, covered in scales and a thick shell, who stood on his hind legs and worked with four arms. This was Kabalisk, the hands and feet of Slassiksyyr on Shikalis.

Awaken, child of blood and venom. Awaken and create.

Kabalisk stretched out his arms, and sent tremors throughout the swamp. Soon, creatures like him began to arise: heads and skin like gators, hard shells on their backs, two legs, four arms, and short tails. Unlike Kabalisk, they only rose to a height of around two meters (six or seven feet). These were the Syles, and they rose to wander the marshes, spreading far and wide. Adept hunters, climbers, and swimmers, and nearly devoid of fear, the Syles thrived in environments other races would shun.

Many of the Syles would live comfortably in the marshes, but not a small number wandered into the sulphur marshes, and found them selves unable to return. Many died there, but to those that survived, to them Slassiksyyr gave a special gift: their scales went from green to yellow, their eyes became accustomed to the acid pools they swam in, and their bellies were reformed to digest the yellow lichens and the meat of other strange creatures that inhabited the sulphuric swamp. These would be his Thiosyles, and theirs would be the hostile domain of acid and moist heat. Their children would not grow as large nor as strong as their forefathers, but they would be harsher and tougher.

His work complete, Slassiksyyr gave the stewardship of his Syles to Kabalisk, and returned to the storm. The Second Age had begun.Spending 7 points to create my Avatar, Kabalisk.
Spending one point to command him to create a race: the Syles (Gator-headed, scaly humanoids with shells and four arms). These should inhabit the Marshes.
Finally, spending four points to create a subrace: the Thiosyles (essentially the same, but smaller and yellow and acclimated to the Sulphur Marsh)

[Plerumque]

Tarethon continued to wait and prepare, sinking deep below the surface of the earth.

Sorry for the short post, can't roll again.

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=15 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4119461/)
Current Power Points: 15

Atop the world, within his island of tranquility, Haroen shifted in his meditation, and the glass far below shifted in tandem. He turned, and the world beneath Hin turned. He contemplated a creature, and a moment later, it scurried away, across the glassy fields.

Unbeknownst to the Dust God, as he meditated and entered into a deeper zen, the flat lands at the direct top of Shikalis were leveling out even further. Within 20 kilometers of the North Pole, the glasslands were becoming as smooth as though they had been man-made, perfectly rounded to the curvature of the planet.

A faint smell of ozone came. Then a buzz of static electricity. Distantly, Haroen was aware of low groans of shifting terrain, and of a swirling in the air which he had forbade from stirring. Curiosity was awakened within him.

Opening his thoughts once more, Haroen witnessed something he had not expected.

Beneath him, centered upon his feet and thus upon the axis of the world, the terrain had been crafted into a great rune. Kilometer-tall, wire-thin glass towers pointed inwards in a radial pattern. Deep gouges in the glass spun inwards, passing beneath towering arches of crystal, as though the lane were a hallway in a vast cathedral. Kilometers of this perfectly symmetrical rune stretched out from Haroen's feet, but at it's heart, was the true wonder: a circle 200 meters in diameter, empty of the rune, the eye in the storm, marked out by thick pillars of cloudy, white crystal 10 meters apart, and above the eye of the storm, was the air that Haroen had felt stirring. Dust eternally falling from an object a kilometer tall and 200 meters wide. A figure wearing a cloak of billowing dust eternally falling towards the land below, but never reaching it, as each particle vanished long before that.

Haroen looked over this immense form he had crafted for himself in his rest, this cloak to drape over his immaterial form, empty of anything physical, shadow lying beneath the hood, and perceived: he had set his stage, and now was the time of his creation's genesis.

Within this place, the eye of his storm, anything he willed to be, was. And so, the faceless figure of dust reached out it's hand, and, upon the empty canvas far below, tornadoes of dust took form, and then silenced themselves just as quickly, leaving behind the first of his minions.

Black dust made their form, and divine power burned their lithe forms from within, scarring their bodies with natural runes in red, yellow, and white, which matched their incandescent eyes. In unison, the 30 figures turned, and knelt to the cloaked one.

Haroen raised his hand, "No, my children. You are not to bow. You will not be humble creatures. You will be strong and proud. Know that I made you, and that I will empower you as well as you will yourself, but know that you are the fury of the storm god."

As the figures rose uncertainly to their feet, Haroen took them in. Three meters (nine feet) tall on average, lithe and muscular, with flesh the color of the night sky. Each had a core of raw energy of a different color, and the light of it poured out of their eyes, their mouth when they would speak, and the complex runes that appeared across their bodies. Like a fingerprint, no two rune-patterns were exactly the same.

"You shall be known as the Ahkiln, my children. My name is Haroen, and I am the Storm God, the Dust God, and the Dry God. I shall teach you many things, in time, but for now, go forth, into the glass plains I have crafted over these many years, and begin."

So, the Ahkiln left, and developed their civilization. They grew to be nomadic, eternally journeying across the glassy desert of the north. Sometimes following the Crystal Behemoths for a time, and sometimes hunting the glass antelopes of the razor fields. They crafted clothing and tents made of the hide of Dust Jaguars, and grew to be wise, skillful, and proud hunters. Their families would often erupt into conflict, but no blood was ever shed, and the Ahkiln would ever take pride in these fights, often joking and gossiping about the fights themselves directly with the people they had been fighting just before. Quick to laughter and quick to anger, the Ahkiln took great pride in you they were, and Haroen, looking on, reveled in their strength.

One day, an Ahkiln came to pay homage to it's creator, and was shocked to hear the hooded one speak. Haroen told the Ahkiln of weapons, of design, of curving, cutting edges, of long spears, and of secrets within secrets. Haroen taught him, so that he might teach the other Ahkiln, and then sent the child back into the glasslands, watching as all manner of weapon was crafted, with true masterpieces becoming heirlooms of the nomadic tribes, passed from father to son, or from mother to daughter, and always well maintained.

Spending 7 points to create an avatar: The Eye of the Storm. A grim reaper-esque figure made of dust, but 1 kilometer tall and 200 meters wide. It sits, forever immobilized, at the North Pole, surrounded by 20 kilometers of terrain which has been crafted into an immense rune, and which is akin to an endless church mixed with alien landscape, when you walk through it. The terrain is part of the avatar.

Spending 1 point to command The Eye of the Storm to create the Ahkiln, a race of nine foot tall nomads with pitch-black skin marked with runes that glow red, yellow, or white. Their eyes and throats blaze with the same color light. They are currently nomadic and very proud. They start out +1 purified.

Spending 5 points to advance the Ahkiln civilization with the science of "weaponmaking".

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4123414/)

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis felt the world shifting, and thought about the new age that was dawning for a while. It thought so much that it did nothing for a long period, simply amassing power at the bottom of the world.

Pass.

Next: 2d6+12=18 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4124476/)

[Plerumque]

Power Points: 17
Power Roll: 8

Tarethon flew through the darkness, feeling below him the Heart of the Earth speed its pulse. It was ready to sustain life, now. He found the place where he had undone the Snake God's works. Their powers had converged and mixed with the essence of the Heart, forming a ring many miles wide where they had reacted to each other. It had shaped a storm of divine power that would rip any mortal who dared to enter it to shreds, and in the center a great underground plain stretched so wide even the god could not see the end of it. He soared through the ring and paused in the center of the cavern. Breaking a piece from his own body, in which all the stone in Shikalis is contained, he let it fall. As it dropped, it split into many. They slammed into the stone, and, a split second later, changed. They grew arms and legs, and heads in which knowledge grew unbidden. Each was formed of rock, but a different rock. Some were made of granite or limestone, some of marble or shale, some even were formed of gemstones, sparkling in the half-light. As he watched, they grew and more were born, yet they were not fulfilling their purpose. He made a small group of these beings, which he named the Lapidea, and told them to build a great civilization, protected by the clash of divinities. The secrets of mining and stone were theirs, ingrained in their very beings as they were formed from the essence of the master of such things. He proclaimed this group to be the Sired Of Stone, and the rulers of the Lapidea, and under their guidance, a massive city was built and the Lapidea grew prosperous.

Spending 6 points to create the Lapidea, a race made of metamorphic rock. Basically Discworld trolls, but highly intelligent. Advancing the civilization twice for 10 points, in mining and stonework, then creating the Sired of Stone, my avatar, for 7 points. It says that an avatar can be a dynasty. Finally, commanding the Sired of Stone to create a great city for 1 point.

Power Points: 1

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4123414/)
Current Power Points: 7

Over the next few hundred years, Haroen watched his Ahkiln crafted ever more exotic weapons. Glass cleavers became items of great esteem. One nomadic tribe possessed a rapier as long as an Ahkiln is tall, made of steel, a rare commodity on the glass plains. Soon darts of crystal and scythes began to surface. Jaguar-hide gloves with glass claws. Blades of crystal attached to Dust Jaguar tendons, creating a kind of bladed whip. Great, curved blades with hooks beneath their hilts. Every kind of bladed weapon one could imagine was present in the Ahkiln tribes, and bladed weapons crafted by the Ahkiln would be without pier, supreme in their keen edge and always perfectly balanced, no such weapon had yet been seen south of the wind wall.

But glass, or even crystal, while without parallel to it's sharpness, is a frail material, and relics of a hundred years past would shatter upon being dropped, much to the tribe's anguish.

This would not do, Haroen thought, as he swirled atop the globe.

Reaching out, he called another of his children forward, and whispered to her the secrets of cultivating and growing crystals, of methods to change the make-up of glass to make it as hard as steel, of ways to craft glass beyond that of a weapon, of lightning forges, molten glass, and of art.

So the Ahkiln learned the art of glasscrafting to match their honed skills of bladecrafting. Soon, ever greater heirlooms, gifts, and relics were being crafted.

Haroen was pleased with his children as he watched them learn, but he felt they needed to begin acting, before the Serpent did. Do, the Eye of the Storm swept out it's arms, and called for a pilgrimage, and so each Ahkiln tribe journeyed North, to congregate before the Storm God.

"My children. You have made me proud these many years," he began, to the answer of a thousand voices roaring in approval. So mighty was their cheer that Haroen actually had to raise his voice to be heard over it, "Though, the time has come for you to build, and settle. Your first city will mark out the edge of our lands, as far south as anything created by my hands would willingly travel. Many of you know it; south of the wind belt, beyond the ravines that pass next to the lightning mountains. A belt of mountains boxes it in, with several winding passes cleaved through it. Where these passes converge, that is where the city will be. Send 10 men and 10 women from each tribe to construct it, and name it Oum Pran. Make me proud, my children."

So the Ahkiln departed, determined to make this Oum Pran, and create if they did. Just a great, sprawling complex of tents at first, but as the years passed, stone from the surrounding mountains was brought down to make hovels, and crystal grown far north was crafted into grand mansions. Town squares took form, and every tribe visited the city once every year, bringing goods and stories from the north.

Spending 5 points to advance civilization with "glasscrafting".

Spending 1 point to command avatar to command race to create a city named Oum Pran at the farthest south area of glass desert.

Current Power Points: 1
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4124785/)

[Fiig]

Savien had watched the kinfolk for over 2500 years, but the changing was amazing, now they were advancing at an unprecedented speed, they had spread to all cornors of Saviens land and a little beyond. Their new advancements in agriculture had allowed them food with plenty to spare, and they hatched great ideas one after another.

But Savien spotted his error, for the kinfolk still lacked tools to help them. Their primitive tools that had served them in the past were too fragile, the stone hammers would break and their stone axes would shatter.

So Savien spoke soft words of inspiration to the kinfolk, of iron making, how to take the strongest stones and melt them into their metals. He told them how to heat it to create steel. A material so strong that their tools would be stronger than the rocks of the earth.

And the Kinfolk used it to create all manner of tools so that they could shape their land. And soon the kinfolk started to use it to rebuild their cities, in a new image, with wood and stone, harvested by their new tools.
they experimented and found new and better ways to build stronger and finer houses. Soon they were able to craft high and strong buildings, towers and walls, they combined their knowlegde of engineering to help them build machines to build faster and more precise than ever, as they advanced their buildings they became ever more beautiful, the designs allowing for ornaments styled in celebration of Saviens creations.
5 points to advance civilization, steel
5 points to advance civization, Architecture
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4126303/
7+3
got 10 for next round again

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4126802/)

Tarethon watched through the dark earth as the number of Lapidea grew, and their society grew ever stronger in the arts of digging and stonework. Yet he realized they knew not the beauty of the rough stones they wrenched from the earth. So, with a flex of his divine power, he split the stones and revealed to them the treasure beneath, and guided the Sired of Stone to discover the process by which the Lapidea themselves could achieve such results. Watching them learn to cut perfect gemstones, he smiled, and gave them a gift, of trade and sense and prices, of worth of objects and knowledge of others.

Spending all 10 points to advance the Lapidea twice more, in gemcutting and trade.

Power Points: 0

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 0
Power Roll:2d6+3 → [4,3,3] = (10) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4126045/)

Slassiksyyr looked down on the Syles as they worked. He would be both cruel and kind to them, granting them the space and freedom to grow strong, but permitting them to die when they died. They grew strong, and learned well.

The Great Serpent saw no need to gather them into a city just yet. Much was to be learned among the marshes by the wandering reptiles.

Slassiksyyr permitted the Syles to come across the giant lizards, the fearsome swamp-spiders, the dragonfly-boars, and the saber-toothed otters. The Slyes would hunt these creatures, and found that few weapons available to them were greater then those they had been born with. The Syles were armed with their teeth and their claws, and the strength that came naturally from thee four arms. They learned to quickly jump on a prey and break its back before it could respond. They learned to turn at the last second and deflect fatal blows with the rock-hard shells on their backs. They learned to spot weaknesses, seeing how to collapse trees or crack stones with powerful blows. The Slyes became a race of wild might and coordinated ferocity.

Kabalisk, Slassiksyyr's avatar, was also busy. Despite his mighty stature, he found a way to walk the divide between the Sulphur Marshes and the Green Swamps and gathered students from the curious, the ambitious, and the reckless. They would exchange mosses and lichens, and samples of stone and mud. These, they would bathe in pools of acid, or boil over fires made from the droppings of tree-dwellers, and learned their properties. The knowledge spread throughout the races of the secrets of their own homes: how to temper tree-branches to become as hard as stone, or to diffuse crystals from ordinary swamp-water. Under the direction of Kabalisk, they even found special, potent brews that could melt rock and glass, as well as any creatures made from such.

Spending my ten points to advance the Syles in brawling and transmutative alchemy. Final balence: 0.

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis was bored and wanted his toys to be powerful, after all, the depths of the oceans held arcane secrets beyond the mortal mind's capacity. It needed fitting guardians. And so arose the hand of the darkness, the axis infiltrated the minds of his own using the powers of his dark avatar, bending them to servitude like he had the halflings above.

And so began the core branch of the Mad, protectors of the deep. Where the mad strangled ones gathered, a city formed out of the corpses and bones of dead sea creatures. It reeked of the matter it was made from, but to the strangled, it was heaven. It became known to them as Carcasso. Any who attempt to pass by the city into the depths below are attacked on sight for their own safety, as reaching the depths would be a worse fate. Carcasso served as both a city for the strangled and a fortress dedicated to the mysteries of the Axis. The city floats roughly in the area where the Axis began to create his ocean, though it is not tied down and flows with the water.

Carcasso also happens to be host to the strangled royalty, a large amount of whom are mad, and rule from their humble bone palace. They are the most luminous of all the strangled, their light illuminating the entire palace with an ethereal glow.

The Axis commanded his toys once again to build a city, out of the same materials, only this one a permanent settlement located directly on the edge of the wasteland created by Savien in his defiance. It teeters on the edge of the land, barely holding on. It is similar to the other city in its nature as a fortress, but is more lenient on those who wander near, warning them to turn back before attacking. It is known as Gard.

The Axis knew that his toys were fairly weak still, and so he gave them gifts, arcane secrets in the form of eldritch illusion magic. With this, they could confuse their foes, driving them into insanity with chaotic visions that almost match the horrors the Axis is capable of summoning. Almost. That should allow them to defend the secrets of the deep to some degree, for now at least.

Commanding race to create city: Carcasso, -4
Commanding Race to create city: Gard, -4
Advancing strangled civilization: Illusion magic, -5
Commanding avatar to create an order of mad strangled, mostly focused in Carcasso, -1

Next: 2d6+4+1=14 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4127229/)

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4124785/)
Current Power Points: 9

The Ahkiln culture was flourishing. They became more passionate and proud with each generation, but their readiness and acceptance of open brawling allowed these aggressive, or even violent urges to remain in check, as they would be fully allowed to beat the pulp out of each other should so much as hurtful words be brandied. These repeated, often public fights may have driven wedges among members of other cultures, but it only strengthened bonds between Ahkiln. Friendly rivalries between youths grew rampant, not to mention more than a few between adults, families, or even entire tribes.

In the meantime, hunters grew skillful enough with the magnificent weapons the race crafted, that fewer were needed to feed the race, leaving more to turn to crafting of crystal scimitars and glass sickles. Soon they actually became too many, and so the hunters took the best crafted for their job, the most beautiful were turned into heirlooms, and the rest were stockpiled in Oum Pran, vast armories being constructed to house the thousands of less-than-perfect blades. Though, the rejects filling these armories were still currently better than any other weapon in Shikalis. The Ahkiln simply had standards far higher than even these awesome weapons.

Though, Haroen, far to the north, did not like the fact that so many of his children were focusing their lives upon the creation of something that they did not need so much of, and so, he whispered into the wind, and far away, an Ahkiln found himself watching glass antelopes weave amongst each other as they ran through the razor fields, contemplating dust flies swirling in mesmerizing patterns in the sky, and soon, his mind turned to fights he had witnessed on his last visit to Oum Pran, how the pugilists had bobbed and weaved and rolled and struck with elegance like that of the glass antelopes, and with the speed of the dust jaguar.

Next time he traveled to Oum Pran, he took two weapons and a dummy with him, and began dancing in a square, turning the act of pulverizing the dummy into an art form. This was the first day a Battledancer danced.

Haroen felt he could do more, but that it would need to wait. So, he returned to the top of the world and rested in silence for the time being.

Spending 5 points to advance the Ahkiln with battledancing.


Map
http://i.imgur.com/AqUGEcu.png

Current Power Points: 4
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4127209/)

[Fiig]

As the kinfolk started to expand they needed ever more tools and the limited amount of metallic rocks on the surface. Soon they bagan to dig into the ground to get the materials they needed. Not long after that they began to develop advanced techniques and ways to get the precious metals.

As the kinfolk expanded their numbers swelled and kinfolk settlers founded two new cities one on the mouth of the great river(the one that leads to the large lake) and one longer into the land on the larger inland island.

They named the cities Landric and Kinric, and the two cities flourished with large lands to graze the herds of animals the kinfolk breeded for food and collectible foods.

5 points to advance Kinfolk mining
4 points to command Kinfolk to create city
1 points to command avatar to create city
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4129085/
8+3=11 for next round

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 0
Power Roll:2d6+3 → [6,3,3] = (12) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4129110/)


The Syles continued to spread thoughout the marsh, but their god was silent for a time...

No moves this round.

[ImperialSunligh]

Axis once again spoke to her toys through her avatar: "Presents! Presents for EVERYONE!" she called into the ocean. And presents there were. The Axis gave the gift of magic to all of the nice strangled children. She gave them wards and annulments galore, mastery of abjuration, as well as the power to summon old friends for a nice bit of tea.

"Gee, doesn't everyone wish it was Axmas every day?" she said with a giggle.

And don't think ol' Axis would forget her friends in the north pole! She most certainly did not. On Axmas morning, the people of Oum Pran woke to find that some of their people had gone a little silly in the head with "Axmas fever", courtesy of Axis' trusty dark avatar. Of course, they never awake from it. That's right, the madness has spread! And every morning, they wake and speak to their toes,

"So dry in this place!
This place at the end,
The end of jolly Haroen.

Our heads are laced
with feelings of grace,
And never ever let us down!

DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.
Down, down, drown! "

Advance strangled civilization: Abjuration magic, Necromancy. -10
Create order of Ahkiln, The Mad. w/ avatar. -1

Next: 2d6+3+2=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4129980/)

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4130237/)

Tarethon watched the Lapidea grow, learning to take the precious metals and stones from the earth without harming it, training their gifts of words and stonework. But one day, as he felt the pounding rhythms of battle and blood above him, he realized that the Lapidea, for all that they were formidable with a pick, knew nothing of the sword. He wavered a moment, trying to decide whether to bestow upon them the arts of war. But... no, that felt wrong. Instead, he fed a spark of his divine essence into the gift he had so recently given. It grew, extended its capabilities, and their words became ever more persuasive and intelligent. They became able to dissuade those who would make war on them, and to make alliances with the greatest of ease. To complement these gifts, he commanded the Sired of Stone to build a magnificent embassy in which diplomatic treaties and offerings could happen, and, as the years went by, began to groom those who displayed an even greater aptitude for words than their kin.

Spending 5 points to advance the Lapidea in diplomacy, 1 point to command my avatar(s) to build a great embassy, as impressive as their mastery of stone can let them build. The finding of the best diplomats is to have my creation of a diplomatic order next turn I am here make sense.
Power Points: 3

[Fiig]

As the kinfolk ever expanded, their ability as sailors and boatbuilders grew immensely, as they used the water as a natural way of logistics.

The kinfolk went further up the great river and settlers came upon the great plains and made a grand city there which they named Lainric, which soon swelled with inhabitants.

Some settlers found their way to the tip of land bordering the swamps, where they constructed the city of Swaric to make it easy to trade with the scaly inhabitants of the swambp

5 points to advance civilization Sailing
4 points to command race to build city
1 point to command avatar to build city
Left: 1
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4130484/
8+3+1=12 points for next round

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4127209/)
Current Power Points: 15

The north raged.

Powerful winds ripped through the sky. Even the behemoths strained to press into the gale. Dust jaguars wavered in the jet streams, struggling to remain on course, but unable to slow lest they be carried away in the current. Even the lightning wurms remained far below ground after surfacing into the chaos. The Ahkiln had to seek shelter for weeks, waiting for the winds to pass. Lesser creatures were forced to survive through whatever means they could find. Haroen rested at the heart of it all, his voice a scream of unending rage, stretching on and on and on.

When he finally calmed into a smoldering dust devil at the heart of his rune, still filled with boiling outrage, but at least able to control it, he soon found that there were many of his children who wished to know what had angered their god so. With his fury still churning within him, he spoke, "There is another god, one of wounds and of waters. He lies on the other side of this world, beyond the wind wall and many other lands. He has reached across all of Shikalis to scar the perfection of you all, my children, my Ahkiln. Some of you may already know: those whose divine essence is rotten and scarred, who sing of ends and of drowning."

He considered his people for a moment, then, and realized that he would not lose them to the influence of a rotting god. Turning his eyes upon those who had come to him, he decreed, "These mindless Ahkiln will be driven out. Push them south of the mountains. If they will not go, flush them out with the blade and the dance. I will not have this blight rest upon you all."

The Ahkiln who traveled to visit their god seemed taken aback, but left, and went to do his bidding. It was a difficult process. Many went willingly, still in possession of most of their mental faculties, but others were insane, and did not understand, even when blades of glass were put to their throats. These mad ones were the brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and children of other Ahkiln, remember, who were a very proud and hot-headed race. So, when blades were drawn against those they had once and perhaps still loved… all blades were drawn. These were not dances to impress and hone, but dances to kill. Brother killed brother, and widows crumpled in grief. Fathers cut down their sons, to have their wives turn and weave a tapestry of death with them upon floors once used for their family dinners.

Soon, Ahkiln returned to Haroen, and in their grief, cried for him to end the killing, or to explain why they must kill their weak, and the storm god realized his error.

"No. Stop. Stop the killing." he spoke, before, for the first time in several centuries, he left his island at the top of the world, and streaked in fear of what he had wrought, across the wet world beyond his wind.

Looking at the sea at the bottom of the world, he shuddered in agony at being so close to it, but knew that, while denizens of this place would never make it into his lands, neither would his ever make it this far south. He had no desire to dry out the wet fish, as they were creatures of the wet, but, it seemed, in order to wage war with the mad ones, he would have to plunge his hands into this bile.

He stared into those murky depths for many years, as, far north, the message was spreading, but not all Ahkiln believed what they were told. Some insisted on continuing to purging the insane, which drove others to all the more reverently defend the mad ones. Three camps were forming, one of Axis, one of Haroen, and the vast majority of the race split down the middle, unwilling to trust the mad ones for their madness, and unwilling to believe in Haroen after what he had decreed they do. For once, the storm god did not have complete control over his children.

But he was not prepared to face that just yet. For now, he was distracting himself with an act that defied everything he had ever stood for.

Millions of pillars, spires of zinc, of jade, of quartz, and of lapis lazuli rose from the waves. Some only two meters above the water and half a meter thick, while others were wide enough to support all of Vein, and twice as tall. Haroen grimaced in the sky as he reached deep into the water, and widened Axis's ocean, spreading the bottomless wound ever wider, but extending the pillars he had crafted all the way down, into the depths, making them as tall as the water was deep.

Once his work was done, he took a form he saw in the water, and turned it towards the air. His face set in hatred, he moulded the form towards his own liking, but left their unfortunate dependence upon water, so that they could still swim. Soon, he was finished.

The form he had witnessed in the depths had been a manta ray, and this new creation was akin to them. Like a vast, smooth sheet, their wings draped around their bodies, lithe, agile, but frail-looking humanoid bodies could be seen outlined beneath their flat, slick skin. Their faces and mouths were wide, like that of a toad, but their eyes sharp and crackling with the same energy that boiled within the proud Ahkiln. They would fly upon their bat-like wings in the air, and then plunge into the ocean, gloding deep into the Stygian depths far below, even reaching the depth that the Strangled could reach, but they could only survive there for three days before the pressure became too much and they were forced to resurface or die. They lived in the pillars Haroen had created, flying from pillar to pillar in the air, or streaking from pillar to pillar beneath the waves.

When the first of many were finished, he looked upon them with a mixture of pride and pain, while they scurried about his pillars with curiosity, unable to see the god in his immaterial form. His first words to these were, "I grant you the name of Suturm. Wear this name in pride, and become the best in your world, but know that you have been crafted with that which I despise, and while I intend for you to be great and proud, you must bear the burden of wetness, for only those who carry this burden, can set foot in the domain of the dark ones. Know that you will be my knights, my inquisitors, and that your strength will always come at a price, but know that you possess my wonder, as the Ahkiln possess my pride."

With that, he released the Suturm to their own devices, and fled to the north, to his island once more, to brood in silence upon his errors, and upon all the woe Axis had brought upon him.

Spending 5 points to shape terrain in the far south, extending the Axis sea 1 inch, but with pillars of zinc, jade, quartz, and lapis lazuli, with rare garnet, emerald, and diamond pillars poking out of it.

Spend 6 points to create race, creating the Suturm, a cross between humanoid Manta Ray, and humanoid Bat. They can both fly high in the air, and swim far underwater. Their eyes glow with yellow, white, or red divine fire, and they live in the pillars Haroen just created. Curiosity is their main defining aspect, and their humility.

Current Power Points: 4
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4131071/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 12
Power Roll:2d6+12 → [1,4,12] = (17) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4131434/)

Stretching out his wing, the Great Serpent added to the life in his marshes with three wonderful, terrible creatures: first, he made the Merambus, a large, long, and legless creature who lived its life in the water, equally at home in the marsh or in the underground lake, usually floating idly on the surface, but capable of great fury. Slassiksyyr also made its cousin, the Sulfamus, to swim in the acid marsh. Finally, he created the Walking-Stick-Dragon: a creature that could make itself look like a tree while standing perfectly still, but also capable of great bursts of speed, and could crawl along or up any surface.

This finished, Slassiksyyr turned his attention to his Syles. Blessing them, he gave them the drive and knowledge to subdue these creatures, and nearly any beast, to do their will. They learned to dry vines and skin bark to make saddles, and could cross long swaths of swamp on the back of a Merambus, or over the treetops on the Walking-Stick-Dragons.

Their skills with the beasts growing, Kabalisk called a gathering into himself, and ordered his people to bind together, and build a city. So the Syles built houses at the tops of the trees, with rope-bridges connecting them, and a wooden wall around it, and named it Sillis. This was done at the eastern segment of the marsh, not far from the mountains of Tarethon.


Spenging three points to create the Merambus, the Sulfamus, and the Walking-Stick-Dragons.

Spending Five Points to advance the Syles in the art of Animal Handling.

Spending one point to command Avatar to build the city of Sillis in the middle of the green marshes, close to Tarethon's mountains.

Final Balence: 8.

[Rith]

Tarethon waited, collecting his energy: 2d6+3=8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4131814/)+3=11

This post marks the beginning of a new round, which will end at noon on the 17th.

[Fiig]

The Kinfolk had grown so numerous that the old ways of animal husbandry was stretched thin. But in the grasslands a young halfling realised that the basic principals of agriculture, that the kinfolk could create farms which could produce various edible plants and seeds. And so it spread to all cornors of the kinfolks influence, though each different area, had their own plants which the kinfolk started to cultivate and improve in various ways.

As the kinfolk ever explored the lands, they found the source of the great river, and soon settlers founded a city there which they named Souric, they build the city on the left side of the river, so that they would not need to build a bridge to trade with Lainric, but still next to the river so they could use it to transport materials.

Savien had kept watching the Kinfolk for so long, and began to feel uneasy, with the weapon prowess of the other races, knowing that the kinfolk would not stand a chance against them, should they ever wish to take what ever they wanted or worse exterminate the kinfolk.

So Savien went to see his son,

Godric, Savien called, my son it is time, to hatch your eggs, from them shall spawn a race of intelligent creatures, which would be known as dragons, they would choose their own riders, for Savien had given them not only intelligence, but also an instinct for whom of the kinfolk would be their rider.
The eggs hatched and thousands of dragons saw the light of day, they grew huge in a few years and found their riders.

The dragons never truly stop growing, though their growth slow down as they age. the dragon are armored in scales which have incorporated metals into it, along with their claws, teeth and bones, making them incredible strong, yet light. They lay their eggs, in batches and then attract a male by breathing fire into the air, making a beautiful display of coloured flames, that can be seen for hundreds of kilometers in the night. Each batch of egg consist roughly of 5-9 egg. And unlike most creatures the male dragons grow the largest and deadliest, however out of ten dragons only one is male. The dragon see in the normal spectrum, but also the ultraviolet. Their eyes having the ability to zoom in and out on command. They have a large wing span, that allow them to fly. The dragons are highly intelligent and have a good memory.

5 points to advance civilization Agriculture: Farming
4 point command race, create city Souric
1 point command avatar create race Dragon

Pool: 2
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4136061/
SNAKE EYES
2+2+3=7 for next round XD

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4131071/)
Current Power Points: 15

Much had changed in the last 200 years. Where once, the meeting of two tribes in the desert was met with revelry. The nights would ring with sparring matches, weapons would be compared, and laughter and anger would fill the night. However, now, when two would encounter each other, tension reined. They dreaded the other tribe being inquisitors or led by the mad, for often, those would draw blades to shed bodies upon the glasslands, and a proud people would be forced to die for their pride.

Haroen was pained to return to his place atop the world, just to find that, in his time away, doing the terrible work he had done, he had been forsaken by his creations. Now, visits by his people were rare. Once, tribes has visited every day to rejoice at the top of the world. Now he was lucky to see a single inquisitor a year. He tried to explain to those he saw that he had made a mistake, and did not wish them to kill their own people, but as he had commanded them when he had created them, they would not bow to his will.

So, Haroen stewed, his thoughts darkening in his island where the sun never set. One year, he found that he did not wish to remain here, a symbol to a people who no longer looked to him, and so, he left the north, and returned to the creation that he had left behind. They were antithetical to him, and so he was pained to look upon them, but they were still his children, and as difficult as it may be, he still had to trust in them.

They were still young and pure, and when he returned to them, a dry, warm wind in a world of wet and cold, they turned their eyes to the sky in boundless curiosity, hundreds bubbling up from the filth far below to hear his words, "Oh Suturm. I am lost. My first creation, my fury, my Ahkiln, have forsaken me. I have them a command which broke their spirit, and now I cannot recall their faith in me. What shall I do?"

The Suturm milled amongst themselves, happily chattering about how their creator must truly love them, to ask such an important question. Some, young and foolish, replied with suggestions yelled into the wind, but Haroen was no fool, and waited for their true wisdom to come forth.

After a few months, a council of ancient Suturm came forward, their wings dragging on a jade platform and their red and white eyes dim. Turning skyward, they called to Haroen, "Oh Dry God, why do you seek their faith? Is it not their decision whether or not they believe in you? Like a child angry with it's parent, these Ahkiln will either return or they will not. However, this is not like a parent and it's child, for no mortal can truly escape a god. You desire their happiness, do you not? You desire that they be great, do you not? You say they are a proud and strong race. Give them something to prove their strength, something to be proud of. Just because they do not seek out your blessing does not mean that you should not give it to them."

The God was astounded. With a surge of dry wind, he laughed, "You are truly a great people, my Suturm, and I am in your debt. Go forth and build your first city, upon this very pillar of jade, and name it Yetomu. I shall return in a few years time, with a gift." So, the storm god streaked back to the north, leaving the Suturm to their work, as he contemplated his next action.

He knew what he would do, once he resumed his spot within the Eye of the Storm. His people were, no matter what happened to them, made by him, and so, he would spread among them a power. A power to control the very elements that were his domain.

With a whisper to a Mad child, he granted the magic of wind. With a flash in the sky before a lone nomad, he granted the magic of lightning. With a chill down a Inquisitor battledancer's back, he granted the magic of hot and cold.

These three schools spread throughout the Ahkiln's domain like wildfire. Soon, dozens of tribes were weaving lightning storms and dancing upon the wind. As these many people merged together, and reveled in their ability to impress other tribes, the magic of Stormcrafting took form. Many Inquisitors still hated, and Mad still suffered and drove the Ahkiln to terrible things, but now, the rest of the Ahkiln people could mingle among them, and be a people.

Though, it was not enough. There needed to be some other force to bring them together, something older than a new discovery they had found. So, Haroen watched the city of Oum Pran, watched it's hundreds of glasssmiths, and after a year, chose a young boy, still an apprentice in his master's shop, and came to him in a dream.

He took the form of a behemoth, kneeling and gazing down upon the tiny boy in his glasscrafting gear. The boy did not feel fear, looking at Haroen's emotionless face, no, he did not feel anything at all. After a time, he noticed that the behemoth, unlike most of their kind, did not have a forest of crystal blades upon it's back, but a single blade, and as he watched, lightning struck that one blade, shattering the entire beast and showering the glasslands with needles of crystal.

Though, a single shard, the tip of the spire, struck the land just before the boy, standing upright, and as he looked upon it, he saw that it still contained the bolt which had forged it, and thousands of runes criss-crossed it's length.

He memorized them all with a single glance, and leapt into full wakefulness.

Running to the forge, he started it up, and grabbed a shard of crystal about the correct length. He stayed in that forge for two nights and a day, despite his master's outrage at him using it without his permission, for even he did not know what drove him to do this, not why he made such odd choices as he did so.

At the dawn of the second day, the boy emerged from the forge, carrying a blade of glass, covered in runes, and, deep within it's length, a lightning bolt could be seen dancing.

This was the Zlain, and would come to be widely recognized as the best weapon ever crafted, able to slay a bull behemoth with a single blow. A truly remarkable feat of bladecrafting, as well as the most flawless item of glasscrafting ever created, it was designed to be perfect for a master battledancer, and, greatest of all, simply holding it granted an Ahkiln and only an Ahkiln mastery of stormcrafting to rival a true master, and which would heighten a true master's skill over Haroen's forces to rival Haroen's rage.

Though, as, in the dream, the boy had not seen the tip of the blade, it had been buried in the ground, he had left the runes unfinished upon that part of the weapon. The boy knew that there were supposed to be runes upon it's tip, just not what they were, and he believed that if anyone were to ever complete them, it would become a weapon capable of breaking the world.

So, it became an object of desire, an ideal, a distant goal. To be the Ankiln to complete the Zlain would be to become a true hero. The weapon was enshrined in Oum Pran, and the boy went on to become the most respected glasssmith do date, and even his poorest work was cherished by the Ahkiln, and battledancers would shout from the rooftops that they had a genuine blade crafted by the famous Ran Pellor.

Satisfied that his Ahkiln were happy, he returned to the south, and rejoiced to see Yetomu flourishing. The city had been carved out of the jade, like a thousand vast caverns, with a temple to Haroen at it's tip. The city even extended deep underwater, and teemed with Suturm circling the pillar in the air and beneath the waves as well.

"My children!" He spoke with a burst of hot wind, "Your wisdom has brought life back to the Ahkiln, and as I promised, I have returned with a gift. This gift is best used upon you, who have such calm and intelligent minds, for you will use it to it's fullest potential."

And Haroen reached down into the minds of the Ahkiln, opening their minds towards strategy and trickery. Haroen had given them the gift of tactics, and inside the year, they had developed hundreds of games based around best another with your own strategy.

5 points to advance the Ahkiln with Stormcrafting.

5 points to advance the Suturm with Tactics.

4 points to command Oum Pran to create The Zlain, a wonder of the world.

1 point to command the Eye of the Storm to command the Suturm to found Yetomu.

Current Power Points: 0
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4132319/)

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis' eyes set once again upon the world lazily.

The reactions of Haroen were entertaining, to say the least. But the Axis remained bored. It thought for a while before deciding on what to do to pass the time.

The arcane truths of the deep waters are hidden for a reason. They are maddening to those who are not properly equipped to grasp them. The Axis knew this more than any, after... the past.

But it was bored, so it would use the secrets even with the knowledge of their gravity. First, the Axis gave unto the strangled knowledge of a less violent art than those he had given in the past. The strangled minds were filled with instinctual knowledge of literature. A complex, unnecessarily convoluted language filled with seemingly vain ornaments was created for their use and they quickly became masters with it. Many of the strangled began to create great works with underwater writing tools that could move most any creature to tears.

Once the strangled had developed their skills enough, the Axis began to take hold of all of their minds for a period, dictating their actions as they all collaborated on a massive work the likes of which had never been seen. It became known as the book of deep, a great nonsensical text that details the secrets of the cosmos. It is a powerful tool in the hands of any mage who wields it, though it tends to be rough on the mind, inducing insanity in those who do not already have it. Only small excerpts are known of the text outside of a secure chamber in Carcasso, which are often used by mages of all races throughout the world, primarily for the darker, more forbidden arts of magic.

Adv strangled: Literature, -5
Command Carcasso to create a wonder: Book of the Deep, -4

Next: 2d6+3=8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4136300/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance:
Power Roll:2d6+8 → [4,3,8] = (15) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4136127/)

Slassiksyyr looked upon his people, and saw that they were largely scattered. While this served to strengthen them, they were also unprepared to go to war, or to defend themselves. The Thiosyles especially were scattered about, and wars against one another were not uncommon. So he spoke unto his avatar and directed him into the sulfuric swamp, to the north near the Underground Lake of Sulphur. There, Kabalisk stretched out his four hands and made the land to rise, creating mighty pillars of strange earth that would not dissolve beneath the acid rain but could still be carved by the people. The Thiosyles climbed these pillars and dug for themselves ledges, hovels, and halls, and used Sulfambus skins and yellowmoss rope to build bridges between them, and rode on the backs of Sulfambus or on rottletree pseudowooden boats to cross the marshes. And they named the city Venin.

Pleased with their progress, Slassiksyyr gifted them with inspiration: one day, a pair of Thiosyle alchemists were experimenting with a strange new mixture. As they began the recipe, one was called away. The other began the mixture and proceeded to blow up his house and knocked over the entire pillar. The surviving partner proceeded to create an altered version, complete the mixture, and claimed all the credit. And thus the Thiosyles of Venin learned to create explosives, and used them to build Shikalis' first fireworks.

His work completed in the swamp, Slassiksyyr turned his gaze north of the wind belt, and gazed upon the Ahkiln. He saw that they were struggling in the face of the order of madness, and that Haroen was losing his firm hold upon them. Then he saw what the Dry one's solution was: to grant his people the ability to bend the wind and lightening. Slassiksyyr hissed:

What new insult is this, god of hydrophobia? Will you not cease to insult my domain? For I am not only a god of poison, but of storms as well, and this thing your people craft are a mockery of my storms: they destroy, but do not give life, scatter, but do not nourish. Fear not, though; I shall correct this unfortunate error.

Slassiksyyr spat his venom an let it fall on the glasslands, but then struck with his wings and called up a great gale, so that the venom dissipated into a fine mist, and was hardly even felt by the nomadic Ahkiln it fell upon.

Within a few years, however, the nomads began to take ill, and the children they begat suffered strange maladies. To begin, their runes and eyes glowed green, and they complained of nightmares of a stormy ocean. Troubling, but they continued to live as they had.

A generation passed, and then the nomad's fear grew as the green-runed children begat children of their own, and the mutations began to appear. Children were born too short, or with extra limbs, or missing legs, or elongated faces, or even tails. Their flesh also seemed to be more rubbery. The Ahkiln were divided on whether to nurse the afflicted or to wipe them out before their affliction spread. Slassiksyyr looked after them, however, and sympathetics and afflicted alike fled and found refuge where few others dared travel: on the edge of the windstorm, near the mouth of the underground sulphur lake.

One final generation was begotten, and these were much more uniform than their parents: shorter than the average Ahkiln, but stronger with four arms, green runes and eyes, no legs, and they crawled on the ground on long black tails. In dreams, the Great Serpent appeared to them:

Fear not, beautiful ones, for you are not afflicted but blessed. I am Slassiksyyr, and you are my Ahgana. Build yourselves a city where you have settled, for the children of Haroen shall not accept you any longer, nor you them.

And so the Ahgana set up houses and halls and hovels an holes to live in, and called their village Oasis. Under Slassiksyyr's instruction, they also began the long, arduous work of constructing a wind-resistant pavilion stretching from the border of their village to the underground lake of Sulphur. There, they made a wondrous discovery: unlike what they had been taught of lore, the liquid would not dissolve them, even when fully submerged. Even so, they still did not need to drink to live.

Spenging one point to command the Avatar to construct the city of Venin, in the sulphur swamp, near the mouth of the underground acid lake.

Spending Five Points to advance the Thiosyles (just them, not the regular Syles) in the art of rocket building (technology level similar to that of twelfth-century China)

Spending four points to create the Ahgana subrace: similar to Ahkiln, but shorter, four-armed, green-runed, and walk on long tails instead of legs. Also, waterproof and acid-resistant.

Spending four points to command the Ahgana to build the city of Oasis, on the edge of the glasslands near the underground sulphur lake.

Final Balence: 1.

[Rith]

Tarethon waited, collecting his energy: 2d6=10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4136332/)+11=21

This is the beginning of a new round, which ends at noon on the 19th

[Fiig]

"Godric" Savien called

The Kinfolk have accumulated so much knowledge, that it is time for the kinfolk to create a better way of passing their learning on. So you shall build a grand university in the kinvally, where the kinfolk might learn and experiment to further your knowlegde. It will be known as The University, and it shall be the greatest school of education, the world have ever known and will ever see. Within the university you shall build The Dragon Academy, which shall be where you train the Dragonriders.

Godric inspired by Saviens words gathered the best architects the kinfolk, it took the architects five years to complete the plans for The University, while the builders gathered materials and prepared the building ground, the plans contained everything, many auditoriums and study halls, a giant and elaborate library, a whole section named Medica, dedicated to the healing arts, a section for engineering where all the engineers could tinker away, even an Artificery, a Linguistic and Arithmetic department, various student sleeping quarters, even an Arcanum and most import the Dragon academy.

It took the Builders twenty years to build The University, when it was finished it was as large as a small city, located north of the capital. It was built to last, with roads wide enough for three carriages, and to accomendate a gigantic number of students. It contained a wide range of specialised buildings its own harbor, bookbinders and many more.
The biggist part however was the Dragon academy built for Kinfolk and Dragons. A place where the Kinfolk learned how to fly on their dragon and fight with it, where dragons exchanged ideas and taught classes. Where the dragons would choose their rider.

More kinfolk settlers had moved forward to found yet another city, which they named Waric. they placed it in the middle of the vally between the two mountain ranges where the verdant plains ended
Here the Kinfolk started to prepare for a great project, measuring and calculating.

4 points to command Kinfolk to create The University
1 point to command Avatar to create City
2 points left
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4136713/
8+3+2=15 for next round

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4132319/)
Current Power Points: 12

Haroen had feared the Mad. Feared that they would destroy his Ahkiln and sow pain and distrust amongst their own kind. So, he had tried to root them out, never once considering that the Mad Ahkiln were still Ahkiln, and the act of trying to root them out simply fulfilled the very thing he had dreaded.

Now, looking upon the Ahgana, he feared that they would bring pain to his people as well, but he would not repeat his mistakes. These were still children of his children, and thus, they were his children as much as they were Slassiksyyr's. So, one night, as the city of Oasis dreamt, he stole into their dreams.

In the dream, the city of Oasis was crafted of words, every surface made of hide covered in the history of their people and their lives, all the way back to the genesis of the Ahkiln. Each Ahgana felt that he was the only one in the town, but they all shared the dream, together. As they wandered alone though the ghost town, they soon found the wall of wind that towered to the south of their home, winds of silver and white in the dream, and as they looked, they saw a great serpent rise up in the whipping wind, right where their pavilion had been constructed. With a single strike of it's powerful jaw, the glasslands shattered, and Oasis plummeted into the rift that opened from the blow.

As they fell into the darkness, Haroen whispered to them with the wind rushing by, "I once made a mistake, and ordered those who followed another god to be forsaken. I can never apologize enough, for it tore these lands, your lands, apart. For this, I do not deserve to be forgiven, but I ask that you at least learn from my mistakes. This is your home, your origin. Worship the Serpent if you will, but do not unleash his flood upon us, for it will simply tear the glasslands asunder…"

With that, Haroen left their dreams, and returned to his island atop the world, to contemplate his next action. Though, soon, his thoughts were interrupted by a visitor. Several Ahgana slithered upon the smooth land beneath his Eye, looking up at him with their green eyes, the foremost of their number, a sleek, female Ahgana, spoke, "You sent us the dream?"

"Yes."

"What would you have us do?"

Haroen considered them for a moment, before he spoke, "I would have you protect the land, so that all of your kind may be happy. If you wish to prove your strength by hunting, then hunt. If you wish to best a fellow in hand-to-hand combat, then fight. I created your fore bearers with the dream that they would be furious, mighty, and proud, and this is in you as well. Though, wanton destruction, death for no reason, plagues spreading across the glasslands, these are things I would never wish. So I ask that you protect the glasslands. Do not allow the Serpent through."

As the Dry God spoke, the uncertain Ahgana hardened before him, and then, the woman spoke again, "Not all of our number believe."

"Then speak, or fight, or laugh. Do whatever comes to you, but do not allow them to admit the Serpent."

So, the Idealists returned to Oasis, and laughter and brawling broke out in the streets, arguments and hushed discussions spreading through the back-alleys and taverns, and the beginning of tension was born.

Meanwhile, Haroen turned his thoughts to the races of the world, and found that it was beyond him to understand them all. Yet, he felt that there were those who would be able to in his stead, and so he flooded back to Yetomu, and the Suturm raised their heads from their game boards and maps in a chorus of greeting for their loved god. It felt grand to be worshipped so, but odd at the same time, for these Suturm were made with water, which he hated so.

"My Suturm, I come with a challenge for you all. You see, I am ill equipped to understand the creations of other gods, but you, in all your cleverness and wisdom, might be able to, especially when we look to how you are not even of your god's domain. So, I put this challenge before you: Understand the races of the world. How they think, why they behave the way they do. Do this, and I will bestow another gift upon you, in an age."

So, the Suturm began to debate with each other once again, and happily began traveling across the world. Many flew to the Halfling's University, and even enrolled, so they might converse with dragons and the kinfolk. Several delved deep into the underground, to gaze upon the Great Embassy and converse with the Lapidea. Some flew into the swamps and, carefully, conversed with the savage Syles and Thiosyles. Some even visited Oum Pran itself, the first outsiders the city had ever seen, being careful to not shed a drop of water while they visited Haroen's first people. A vast number of Suturm simply delved to Carcasso, and examined the Strangled, almost all of which were mad, and impossible to understand, yet as they visited, day after day, they slowly began to peer beyond the madness.

Their research would take a long time, Haroen surmised, as he swirled in the air above Yetomu, so, to pass the many years, he decided to create a new creature, but one of the ocean, instead of the glasslands.

His creation was simple: he just took a large eel he found meandering around near Yetomu, first increasing it's size immensely, to help full the colossal void of the ocean, until it was 100 meters long. Then, he gave it a shaggy coat, like those of the mammoths he had seen in the ice lands to the east, but instead of hair, he gave it thousands upon thousands of stinging tendrils, like those of the jellyfish that so easily incapacitated.

Pleased that the beast was prepared for life, he released it into the depths, where it delved far deeper than any other creature, able to withstand great pressure due to it's immense size. Haroen quickly dubbed it the "Pain Serpent", and created a dozen more.

1 point to Command Avatar to Create an Order in the Ahgana: the Idealists.

3 points to Command Order (Idealists) to impede Slassisksyyr, should he ever try to come through Oasis.

5 points to Advance the Suturm with Psychology.

1 point to create the Pain Serpent, a 100 meter long Eel that swims as deep as it wants to and is covered in hair-like tendrils immensely painful to the touch.

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4137294/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 1
Power Roll:2d6+1+1 → [2,2,1,1] = (6) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4137634/)


Slassiksyyr thought. Haroen had made an unpredicted move. Violence, a oath of vengence, direct retaliation...all had been likely responses, but instead he had sought peace with the Ahgana. The Great Serpent considered. The Ahgana were still young, and forcing an early conflict could end what little advantage he had. No...rather, let Serpent-sworn and Idealist live together, for now. With three separate Orders in the North, it would be unlikely that any would have the strength or will to wipe the others out for now.

Looking southward, Slassiksyyr looked upon his children, the Syles, and their communications with the Suturm. The strange winged creatures were cautious of the Syles, and rightfully so, but managed to engage in conversation with their elders, and knowledge was exchanged. The Halflings were becoming known for their academics, the Ahkiln for their art, even the Strangled for their insanity. Slassiksyyr was determined to make it so that the Suturm would remember the Syles for their fearlessness.

So Slassiksyyr blessed the entirety of the Syles with inspiration, and the transmuters learned to temper wood and vines to make it hard, but light and flexible. From this came the first suits of marsh-armor. Many Syles scoffed at this, as they were already born in scales and shells, but none could deny that what had been created was effective. Slassiksyyr granted them to continue to their work, instructing them to not only seek to protect against blades, but to create armor against strong, dry winds, against fierce heat, and against the touch of pure pain.

Speaking unto Kabalisk, Slassiksyyr gave an order: Go, and prepare a great exodus. Have Syles collect their healthiest Merambus-mounts and prepare them carts to travel them overland. Mount upon Walking-Stick-Dragons and head south, and found a city at the opening of the river, near the ocean. Permit the Merambus to live in the river, but focus your attention on the ocean. Great monsters known as Pain Serpents lives there, and your people shall don armor to protect themselves against its crippling touch. Then you shall conquer this beast as you have conquered the Merambus, and break it until it it broken, and it and its descendants bear you across the sea. Shikalis shall know that the Syles are not bound by the limitations of their marsh, nor by any barrier, and that no god can create any obstacle you cannot surmount.

And so Kabalisk ordered the migration, and hundreds of Syles followed down by foot or by mount, and at the southern end of the river past the plains, at the edge of the ocean, they founded the city of Lessalon. There, they prepared small boats to reach the deep parts, and armor to protect themselves against the million stingers on a foot of the creature's skin, and ropes with which to bind it...

Spending one point to command Kabalisk to build the city of Lessalon at the mouth of the southern river, south of the plains, and then five points to advance the Syles in Armory.

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed.

"Haroen attempts to grant understanding to his people?" he muttered in the deep, "Haroen attempts the impossible!"

He continued his fit of laughter. The moaning laughs of the Axis pierced the minds of the Saturm. As their minds filled with laughter, they began to forget their knowledge of psychology and understanding of the mind, replacing it only with laughter. The laughter further erases all written knowledge in the field so that none may learn of it by mundane means.

The Axis speaks loud enough to be clearly heard by all, "You impede upon my domain, Haroen. The domain of the mind will always remain muddled and unclear at best. It is the way of the Axis."

Event: Destroy* Saturm's tech "psychology", -7

Edit: *lose

Next: 2d6+3+1=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4139614/)

[Rith]

This post (while 6 hours late), marks the beginning of a new round, which will end at midnight on the 21st, when Sunday becomes Monday.

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 21

Tarethon waited for hundreds of years, seeking out those who had a greater gift of silver tongues and suggesting they trained the young ones, passing down secrets and inventing new ones. Finally he called to the Sired of Stone and told them of the ones who had the greatest of gifts, commanding them to bring all of them together and form a new order, ones who could protect the Lapidea without any weapon but words. And these masters of diplomacy would bring all of the Lapidea peace.

Not only this, but these weavers of words were able to tell wonderful stories, legends of creation and destruction, tales of trickery and ingenuity, myths of the First and of their creator.

Spending 1 point to command the Sired of Stone to create an order of diplomats, then 10 points to advance the Lapidae in Persuasion and Storytelling.

Power Points: 10

[Fiig]

Pool 13 points(must have hit a wrong botton in my last post, also The kinfolk mining advance has been changed to metallurgy

Savien had watched in delight at the Kinfolk who attended The University, and saw how its fame spreads, that even the newly hatched Suturm came learn. But Savien was most impressed by Godric ingenuity, Godric had commanded that all those young Kinfolk who showed signs of great academic promise, were to be admitted to The University, and their tuition paid no matter their social status. Many young minds came, some of them excited, some sadden by leaving their families, but all soon became so immersed in studies and made friends as only like-minded people can. All had their rivalries, but in the Arithemetic department the friendly rivalries ran rampart, and the problems they solved became ever more complex and mind baffling, they invented new signs of math to fully explain the problems, they settled on a 10 digit system, where even negative numbers and nothing were incorporated, it even allowed recombine the number so form higher ones.

In the Medica, at the Kinfolk University, no rivalries were apparent, instead they all shared a common goal, and worked towards it so fiercely, that even a syles would admire their dedication. Many were Kinfolk who had lost loved ones to illness, and did not wish other to suffer as them, though Savien knew that the renewel was necessary, these Kinfolk would not except it, and so they persued their dreams, they gathered all knowlegde they could from the wisest elders and tested it, and formulated their own ideas, the Medica working as a purifier, removing all the unsolid ideas, until so many groundbreaking discoveries were made, that a new one, was a grand prize for the one who made it.

As the kinfolk explores pushed further into unknown lands, they found new rivers, which they discovered led into a larger river leading to a vast ocean, close to the deep ocean. Here in the middle of the land they decided to build a large city, ones that would serve as a center for the area, so all the small farming communities could trade the wares there. They named the city Wearic, though they did not know why.

Savien called to Godric, "Godric, my son the Iron mountains are for protection, not for scavenging resources. if you desire go to Lapidea, for they live and die beneath the ground and can aquire from the earth any metals you may need"

And so Godric sent fourth three dragon riders to Lapidea, to negotiate a treaty, where the Kinfolk would offer food, things you cannot grow underground, for various metals.

5 points to advance Mathematics
5 points to advance Medicine
1 points to command avatar to build city Wearic, in the middle of the plains next to the large southeren river, in the lands the weaver made
2 points left
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4141218/
11+2+3=16 points for next round

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4137294/)
Current Power Points: 11

The Suturm argued amongst themselves over possibilities of their unformed understanding of the mind. Tempers were rising as they realized they were missing some detail, and each Suturm scholar believed it to be something else. Haroen turned back towards them and spoke once more, interrupting the great debate atop Yetomu, "My children. What is wrong? Have you been unable to discern the secrets of the mind?"

The Suturm were silent at first, but eventually their elders once more stepped forward, gathering atop the temple of Haroen at the peak of Yetomu, into the dry wind, "Great Haroen. This task you have set before us, it is proving a great task indeed. We have gathered information of all sorts, researched the great, practical minds of the Halfling and the intense, artistic minds of the Ahkiln. Syles and Thiosyles with their feral might. Lapidea with their deep calm. Even the Strangled, with their lack of minds, but so many things elude us. It is as though a crucial detail has been taken away from all our work, and we cannot find it again."

After the elder had spoken, Haroen remained silent for days, contemplating this. Was it truly so difficult that even the brilliant Suturm could not bring together the information? No, it was not that. Something was amiss. The elders had said that a crucial detail had been taken away. Perhaps they had been forced to forget…

He would not have that happen again.

"My children. I have faith in you, but remain focused, and remember that you are a single people. Try and remember what it was that was lost. I will return in time. Until then. Continue your work, and above all else, remember everything," and with that, the dry god reached out, and changed something in their minds, opening a flood gate in their memories, which he had initially left closed for the desire for them to keep their sanity, but now, looking at them, in all their rationality and intelligence, he felt they could handle the current that would come, and as he watched them, he saw that he was correct: they would flourish without that limiter.

Haroen left for the north once more, leaving the Suturm to devise methods of remembering everything. As they grew, they soon became adept with their memories, the average Suturm learning to easily memorize small details at a glance, such as the number of cups on a table, and then proceed to remember such details for months, never forgetting. With slightly more time, they would be able to remember far more complex details, such as the kind of cups, their placement, how many were filled and with how much fluid each were filled. Doorway and window placement, complex game states in their many strategy games, and even personal habits of other races. Masters of this art were even more outstanding, being able to tell you the time of day, down to the last second, sheerly by remembering how long ago they woke up or being able to tell you if a table is level my glancing at it and remembering what a level table they once saw looked like. As this science of Eidetics spread throughout the society of the Suturm, those who attended the University quickly became the envy of all who went there, being able to memorize entire books, cover to cover, after only two readings, and even be able to recite them backwards. Professors were forced to develop tests which could not be solved from sheer memorization, so as to try and avoid giving Suturm an unfair advantage. Yet, even after a hundred years of such memory, psychology still evaded their grasp.

Meanwhile, Haroen dwelt atop the world, watching as Syles migrated, the Lapidea returned from their long silence, and the Halflings spread their world further. His northerners, the Ahkiln and Ahgana, only possesses two cities between them, he suddenly noticed, so, one day, when the Ahgana Idealists visited him, he spoke to them of erecting another city, this one in the floating mountains which teemed with the Lapidea. He also turned the Ahkiln, who were beginning to trickle back to visit him, towards this city. It would be a bastion of intermingling races of the far north, a place of peace and commerce between the many.

So they built, crafting colossal structures out of the glass-covered mountains, and, after a few years, the Ahgana and Ahkiln used their stormcrafting to raise up to one of the floating mountains, where they laid ropes and platforms of hide and crystal, with ladders tethering the mountains to the city far below, and bridges spanning between the colossal boulders in the air. The city was given the name of Fah Choloum, and was known as a free city, ruled by a council with one seat for each race that made up a considerable portion of the cities population: a Ahgana, a Lapidea, and a Ahkiln.

Haroen felt this was enough for now, and rested.

5 points to advance the Suturm with Eidetics, which is the technology of total recall, remembering every detail that can be remembered.

1 point to command the Eye of the Storm to Command the Ahgana to build a city, Fah Choloum, in the floating mountains of the north, where Ahkilm and Lapidea are equal parts population as Ahgana.

Current Power Points: 5
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4141668/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 0
Power Roll:2d6+2 → [6,3,2] = (11)
(http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4129110/)

On the shores of the river, in the city of Lessalon, Kabalisk looked out to the horizon. The Syle's attempts to capture and break a Pain Serpent had been fruitless, and in spite of their skills with transmuted armor, many brave Syles had met their ends at sea.

Suddenly, the avatar of the Great Serpent found himself being approached. Turning, he saw three members of his race.

"Among the serpent's clans, we are champions," one said in introduction. "There is none greater in the brawling ring than myself, my companion comes from a long line of riders of the Walking-Stick-Dragons, and this one," here he pointed to a yellow-scaled Thiosyle pilgrim, "is a master marksman with his rockets."

"And what do you want, heroes?" replies Kabalisk.

"We might be heroes," they hissed, "but we have no one to battle, and no struggle. Our hearts yearn for battle, and we long for opponents against whom to test our skills."

Kabalisk considered their proposition, and then nodded. "You desire a good thing," he replied. "Go, and await my call."

So Kabalisk stood over the city, and gave an order: "You Syles grow lazy in your times of peace, we must fight, and move, and remain strong! Let us build a wonder that the world may see and know our might. Let the nations of the world build their monuments to knowledge or art, but we shall build to might! Then, let them come here, behold, and face us!"

So Kabalisk ordered the construction of a mighty Arena. Nary a field in or around Lessalon was undedicated to some sport: Fields of archery, rocketeering, hunting, riding, gyms for wrestling on ground and in the water, entire paths in the city dedicated to running, and huge uneven walls dedicated to climbing.

The walls of the Arena stretched around the whole of Lessalon, yet parts of it were left completely barren and unused. "These places," Kabalisk declared, "are for the construction of courts for the other races. Why should we refuse them? Let them come and compete. The Syles revel in their strength, should they fear challengers?"

As the Lessalon Arena was constructed, Syles far away in the swamps of Sillis were inventing Bows from the trees, with bowstrings made from fishgut tempered with transmutation, and arrowheads that could be filled with acid, either made on their own or imported from their yellow cousins.

Encouraged by the news of their southern brethren constructing the Arena, many Syles began training for the honor of one day competing there. In Venin, the training combined with the prospect of an invasion into the glasslands led to them arming Shikalis' first army...

Spending One point to command Kabalisk to construct the wonder of the Lessalon Arena.

Spending Five points to advance the Swamp Syles in Archery.

Spending Four points to command the Thiosyle city of Venin to construct an army. I'm pretty sure that this is the first in this game. Forgive if I am wrong.

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis spoke with a succulent, rich voice from deep below, "Oh, Haroen, you do not disappoint! So entertaining, as are your creations." She then speaks to her dark avatar, "We must do them justice, hmm?"

The avatar of the Axis knew immediately what she desired. Its black pincers reached up from the deeper waters, not having to reach all that far to their mark, the great pillars of the new race, the Saturm. The meaty limbs closed upon a large group of them, severing their minds and spirits. They became mad. Heard nightly from the rooftops of Saturm cities, in abject howls and moans is a song:

"Haroen, keeper of bees.
Oh, you're done,
when the moment comes,
Haroen, keeper of fleas,
Salvation is life alone!

We fly, dry lord,
How we fly,
We cannot afford
To be bored!

And with our ugly exteriors we dance below the moon so pink as the rain cascades upon our forearms and the children flee in the streets from the painful rain burning the fallen yolk of the mad! The mad, the mad, the mad!"

The Axis speaks to herself, "Hmm. And now..."

She commands her people in Gard directly, infiltrating their minds once again. She implants within them the arcane secrets of shadow forging, allowing them to create various objects, usually weapons and construction materials, from hardened shadow, which can be manipulated to be far sharper than normal blades while still maintaining their form, the drawback being that shadow is harder to work with than regular metal and thus cannot be used all the time for everything. This new magic quickly spread throughout the strangled people.

With their new knowledge, the Axis made the people of Gard, as a test of their abilities, create a wondrous weapon. It is a massive symbol of Axis that orbits the city, made entirely of shadow. It is intricately designed with enchantments and wards that both defend the city and infiltrate the minds of any nearby hostiles with horrific visions beyond imagining. When it is not being used as a tool of war or defence, it serves as an idol for the strangled of Gard to worship, and is known to them as the Wheel of Adjudication, due to the symbol's wheel-like design.

Command avatar, create order "The Mad" in the Saturm, -1
Grant the strangled tech, "Shadow forging", -5
Command city, "Gard", to create the "Wheel of Adjudication" wonder, -4

Next: 2d6+2+3=10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4142099/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round, which will last until midnight when the 23rd becomes the 24th (or when Tuesday becomes Wednesday) based on Eastern Standard Time.

[Fiig]

Savien felt a call from his creation, but for once neither the land or the kinfolk, this time it was the dragons, who wished for his attention. For they felt unworthy, all of them had seen a few generations of kinfolk, come and go, yet while they the dragons lived on, it was like they had not accomplished anything yet. So they had called out to Savien, and Savien did not ponder it for long, for dragon are creature of the sky.

"My children, it is true. You have not crafted a legacy, but you were created for another purpose in life, now spread your wings and fly, experiment, discover and enjoy all the ways of flying. For that is one of my greatest gifts for you. If you succeed i will give you something to ponder about"

And the dragons let out a collective roar in excitement, then spread their wing and took flight, some suturm who looked on thought it looked like dragons playing with each other, but the kinfolk knew their closest ally was training, testing their ability to fly. and did they fly.

After decades Savien spoke to the dragons again, my children, you have mastered the art of flying, but you live for so long, that it can not fill you entire life, so your great minds shall learn strategy, for when you are drawn into battle, i would see you through it.

And so the dragons learned stategy from savien, they used and discussed it with each other as lengths, that a kinfolk could be born and grown by the time they were finished.

Meanwhile the kinfolk were quite active themselves, several of their greatest minds at the university had concluded that they needed a better way to transfer their knowledge to the next generation, but teaching is a dangerous process, for if one bit were forgotten it would be lost. so they devised a written language, where all words consisted of 1-7 and the most common were denoted the least signs, it was made to be practical and precise, so that large amounts of information could be stored in small books.

Some kinfolk explorers had set sail from wearic, and discovered all manner of things, a dry land next to a tundra, new fertile lands hidden behind the mountains ranges, but most puzzling was the closet to home, a city of syles, so far away from any swamps, but they did not bother any kinfolk, so they were left alone.

When the explorer came back with those new, some ships were prepared for transporting settlers to these lands, and set sails.
They came to the new land and dicided upon the third river, and founded their city at the first river bend. They named the city Verric.

5 point to advance dragons with flying
5 points to advance dragons with strategy
5 points to advance kinfolk with writing
1 point to command avatar to build city
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4142265/
6+3=9 for next round

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 28 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4142494/)

Tarethon watched as the Lapidea grew in their arts of language and stone, and as the diplomats broke into two orders: the Wielders of Words, masters of diplomacy and persuasion, and the Singers of Stories, weavers of legends. The Wielders of Words, under the Sired of Stone's command, trained to protect their city with the arts they had been given. The Singers of Stories learned to use words to inspire emotion in the hearts of the Lapidea. Soon after these orders had become separate, he felt a disturbance in the farthest reaches of the tunnels that now veined the earth, ones farther than the Lapidea who lived in the city had ever ventured. So he gathered the Sired of Stone and commanded them to raise a diplomatic envoy of some of the best to come of the Wielders of Words, and send them to the far tunnels in which the halflings had entered. Their bodies of solid stone meant they needed no food for the journey of months, and never got tired. Finally they reached the group of halflings, and arranged a meeting with the group leaders. "We would have peace between us, and trade would be well. Yet we need no food grown above, nor any thing of the sunlight, for it would only weaken us. What other boon could you give to my race?"

Spending 10 points to advance the Lapidea in deception and whatever name I can think of for inspiring emotions in others. Spending 6 points to create the Singers of Stories, a splinter group from the main diplomatic order, which is now named the Wielders of Words. Finally, spending 1 point to command the Sired of Stone to raise a diplomatic envoy (the diplomatic equivalent of raising an army).
Remaining Points: 11

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 1
Power Roll:2d6+3+1 → [1,6,3,1] = (11) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4144411/)

Slasiksyyr worked once more with his venom. However, this was different from anything he had made before. Rather then spit upon Shikalis to create what he desired, he kept his venom close to him, and molded it with his wings. Rather than creating creatures, he molded the venom into vapor, molded it further into æther, and finally molded it into spirits. The first, he named Misdirection. The second, he named False-Bravado, and the last, Hide-in-Plain-Sight. These venomous spirits, he sent out, and sent them to the glasslands. There, they fell into the dreams, the plans, and the machinations of those slithering constructs, the Ahgana, that were still loyal to the Great Serpent.

And the Ahgana learned the way of the serpent.

Of course, the spirits were not perfectly accurate (venomous spirits never are) and over the course of a hundred years, it was to be expected that many of the children of the Ahgana who inherited this teaching became Idealists. But it was still enough, enough to give an advantage to the Serpent, enough to inspire paranoia, however slight, into the Dry God and the leaders of his people.

Under inspiration, the Thiosyles sent messengers into the underground lake, on the backs of Sulfambus. On the other side, they exchanged information with loyal Ahgana in secret, and returned on the long swim home. This was done many times, and the Thiosyles developed a map of the Glasslands, and taught it to their army.


Meanwhile, in the south, a ship full of halflings found themselves being flagged to shore by a group of Syles. As they approached, a representative approached the ship and spoke to them in broken halfling "We desire trade...need'a metal, need'a machanae, for expansion of Arena...have'a potions, good to make'a acid, or proof to water...have'a skill in armors, make'a good suits for little non-scales...you trade?"

As the halflings landed, though, they were ambushed. Without skill in waerfare or weaponry, they were quickly overtaken, and bound, and their ship harbored.

"Fear'a not, pinkskins...clever, you, and a great virtue clever to Slassiksyyr be. Serve brave, and not'a harm ye."

Not all of them gave in, to be sure...but in no position to fight back, many did. They began to construct the arena, and found other halflings already in service, who had either been captured before, or their parents had. They formed a fine working crew, and had even already formed a team of competitors for the arena. None dared compete against Syles, of course, for they could not best them in any sport save river-racing. Many had even chosen to dedicate themselves to the service of the serpent, and bore markings on their bodies to signify this.

After many halflings had been gathered into service in Lessalon, the loyal ones were permitted to treat the city as their own, and even venture forth. Some would travel back to their home, and spread the knowledge they had acquired, and the teachings of the Great Serpent. Others would build still larger ships, and ferry the scaled ones across the Great Ocean...
Spending five points to advance the Ahgana in the art of Espionage.

Spending six points to create the Serpent-Sworn, the order of Halflings dedicated to Slassiksyyr.

Final Balance: 0

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4141668/)
Current Power Points: 16

Haroen stirred restlessly at his place atop the world. His foes were slowly making progress against him, Axis worming his way into all minds and Slassiksyyr raising up ever more warriors with the dream of destroying his glass paradise. In the meanwhile, his only proclaimed ally rested in the depths of the world, nudging about his creation of sentient stone and having them only contact another race after 500 years of telling stories to each other. He hadn't even looked to see the city he had invited the Lapidea to join.

Haroen's rage was returning.

Winds ripped through the desert with a fury they hadn't possessed in centuries, tearing at hide tents of Ahgana and Ahkiln tribes alike, and driving down those foolish enough to try and continue walking through the storm. Many stormcrafters tried to direct the winds and lightning elsewhere, to try and quell the rage of the north, to no avail.

During this time of storms, the Ahgana, who had never seen his rage and his pride, visited the god often, wondering what drove him to such anger. He told them, "The Wet Gods begin to make their war against this paradise, and we stand alone against them."

The Ahgana were not surprised by this news, as many generations of their kind had known that this day was coming, but they were still distraught, for it came during their lives. They quickly began to debate among themselves what they ought to do where they ought to go, to prepare, to repell the invasion, and as he watched them there, in their gathering at the top of the world, Haroen realized another of his follies. Instead of preparing for the onslaught, he had begun brooding on it instead.

So, his rage still as potent as it was before, he turned to the Idealists, and spoke, "Go and make your preparations, and listen for my voice." Once they were gone, he whispered into the endless winds of the north, and his voice carried throughout the desert. Those who heard the whispers did not fully understand them, but suddenly had visions of structure, of inspiration, and of leadership.

The Ahkiln suddenly became much more organized in their tribal structure, and the civilization itself took on a sort of hierarchy, with lesser tribes, greater tribes, and old tribes, all of whom answered to the Glass Council of Oum Pran, the leaders of the city. Even tribes of the Mad and Inquisitors were part of the structure of the north, though they did not often consider the other as such. Down to the individual, the entire race had become more structured, with battledancers becoming able to fight in a line, to the cadence of a superior, or in perfect sync with a fellow dancer.

Meanwhile, the Ahgana changed in much the same way, but Slassiksyyr's Espionage made it much more complex, as layers of the hierarchy grew additional layer inside them, and favors became equal to loyalty, while lies and leaders struggled against each other to create a beautiful tension which could result in truths changing over night. This even spread into the city of Fah Chaloum, where the political environment quickly grew complex beyond reason.

Though, one night, tired of the lack of clear leadership, Haroen visited a glasssmith in Fah Chaloum, an Ahgana, and sent her a dream. In this dream, she was standing atop a glass hill, an army of her people before her, but she had nothing to say to them. As she stood there, staring out at them, though, she noticed that, by her side stood two Dust Jaguars, one to each side, their serpentine necks mirroring her own body with eerie precision. As she examined them, however, she noticed that each of the Jaguars fangs was not a fang, but a dagger, inlaid with a hundred runes, like the Zlain was rumored to have.

Yeo Tow woke with a start, and all but leapt to her forge, immediately beginning to work, not knowing that this very thing had happened once before, to a boy named Ran Pellor, who had crafted the Zlain. Four weeks she labored on the four daggers, sculpting the complex runes into their edges, until, at long last, she emerged from her workshop, carrying the relic that would come to be known as the Glaurhaz, or "Four Fangs".

The Glaurhaz were a wonderous weapon, like the Zlain. A set of four stilettos designed to be wielded by an Ahgana, they were made of glass and heightened the wielder's ability at stormcrafting, but, instead of being focused on all-out offense, like the Zlain, the Glaurhaz would wreath their wielder in a cloak of wind, which lept far and high into the sky, carrying lightning bolts that not only defended the wielder from harm, but could be seen by anyone for miles around, dancing about in curious ways which would inspire a friend and terrify a foe.

As the crowd gathered to see the new wonder, Haroen whispered to Yeo Tow, "I sent you the dream, my child. Do you remember the sea of Ahgana spread out before you? It was an army. These weapons you have crafted with inspire great strength and great loyalty out of those in the north. Use them to raise that army, so that these great lands might be defended."

The rest was clockwork, and soon the first army of Ahgana stood, always led by a woman Ahgana weilding the Glaurhaz. The army had standing orders to intercept and match any invading force with their own counterattack.

When this was done, he turned to Oum Pran, and whispered to the Glass Council of the need of an army, how the Zlain must be put to use in the hands of the leader of this army, who would be greatest stormcrafter who yet lived: Genlo Jepza. Now, the Ahkiln had never been unquestioningly loyal to Haroen, but with time, the Glass Council was moved, and, with the recent development of leadership in their people, soon, the first army of Ahkiln stood as well, led by the finest stormcrafter in the land at any time, who would wield the Zlain. Their standing orders were the same as the army of the Ahgana: stand proud and defend the north against any invasion.

Resting, Haroen turned his gaze back south, to where a few Suturm were busy gagging a group of Mad, finally tired of that incessant singing. He had neglected them, for now, but would return soon, once he felt the north was safe.

5 points to Advance the Ahkiln (and thus the Ahgana) with Leadership (best name I could think of).

4 points to Command the Ahgana to create a wonder: The Glaurhaz.

1 point to Command the Eye to Command Fah Chaloum to raise an army.

4 points to Command Oum Pran to raise an army.

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4142188/)

[ImperialSunligh]

"Mmm, master of the Ahkiln, you are... mad?" the Axis muttered, "Don't worry, I shall leave you awhile. You bore me."

The Axis set its thousand eyes upon the unformed, meaningless lands to the south. These lands were the most boring to Axis, and yet, they had the most potential for fun! The axis used some residual power in the land to open millions of portals to other universes. Through the portals came all of the necessary items to create the landscape Axis had in mind.

The Axis brought in rich soil and giant, puffy trees in unnatural colours. The new forest thrived on the now heavy rainfall in the area from a portal above. Fauna was also brought in from other universes, strange furry, pink snakes, walking teddy bears and lions the size of ants.

This was still too uninteresting for the Axis, however. Too empty. So, using a particularly rambunctious mad halfling named Aiden as a model, the Axis created a new race. They had many similar features to the halflings, but with many adjustments to reflect Aiden's personality.

They had long, prehensile furry tails that could be used to climb all over the forest playfully, and fur lining their faces and much of their bodies. Their faces also resembled monkeys' faces far more than halflings', their ears large and round, sticking out in the air. The people were brought to the new land and led by Aiden, who eventually died, becoming a historical prophet of the new people known as the "crazed". He told them of the Axis, and they accepted him eagerly as their lord, hearing of his power.

As descendants of Aiden, madness was the norm in the crazed society. Wearing clothing is considered strange, and social hierarchy is very limited, power hungry madmen being the only successful people in a civilization that entirely lacks tact.

To give the crazed some semblance of organization, as complete anarchy is boring, the Axis sent his dark avatar to them. The dark avatar selected a powerful warlord of the crazed, Lynn, to unite her people. He controlled her mind, telling her how to conquer the nomadic tribes, and once a great amount of them fell under her control, Lynn built a city of the crazed known as Lynn (she is a bit vain), and named herself "King Lynn".

The city was created in the very center of the new magical rainforest. It is built high in the trees, and uses a new technology of the crazed, its creation influenced by the Axis, camouflage, to hide its presence from those walking below. It is made of the multicoulored rainforest trees that surround it and is very naturally (chaotically) designed, bits of tree poking every which way.

Command avatar, create city: Lynn, -1
Create 1 inch of magical rainforest, free
Create subrace, "The Crazed", -4
Grant tech to the crazed: "Camouflage", -5

Next: 2d6+3+=8 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4144799/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. It will last until midnight when the 25th becomes the 26th, or when Thursday becomes Friday.

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4142188/)
Current Power Points: 13

As Haroen churned in the north, sparking at the taunts from the Axis far away, he marveled at the impact his simply technology had spawned. It was simple. He had taught the Ahkiln and Ahgana to inspire their fellows and to be more receptive to inspiration themselves. However, the result had been far from what he had expected. Not only did an individual spark mighty feelings in the many, who would then turn and become mighty individuals, but it allowed clear leaders to step forward, and them in turn to recognize thei superiors and look to them for guidance, and thus, the Hierarchy was born. It had directly spawned the Glass Council. However, watching the Ahkiln and Ahgana societies grow and change, Haroen wondered what more there could be, and what of it would he need to bring out most in order to help them defend themselves?

After years, the Dry God finally decided what he would bring forth in the Ahkiln and Ahgana. With a word, the winds of the north whispered once again, and the masses of the desert heard his words through the wind, and soon all began to come together to coordinate their lives, their travels, their gatherings, their hunting, and their drills for the two great armies. Tribes which had once wandered across the desert in a great cloud now formed tight caravans and brothers in the army would fight for each other unto death.

The Ahkiln and Ahgana had their Unity.

Though, with Leadership and Unity, Haroen could not bear to have their greatest leaders, the Glass Council, rest solely upon the doorway into his kingdom, and so, he appeared before them once more, explaining how they must move their seat of power to a new, grander city, a capital for the Ahkiln, a palace of crystal and lightning. The Glass Council, in the wisdom of all their years, assented, and over the next many years, the great city of Soun Kiln was erected, in the deep heart of the desert, with it's towers of spun glass and walls towering into the air, almost as high as a young behemoth's shoulder.

While he was not finished, he had to turn to the Suturm, for their world was woefully behind the rest. As he returned to the south, however, he noticed a land of insanity which reminded him of Savien's volcano-islands. It even had some sub-creation of Savien's halflings in it as well, but they were far gone into the depths of chaos, so Haroen just shook his head, but in the same time recognized that this place had been made to fill the last remaining wasteland of Shikalis. He had loved this world as it had first been, but he had grown much from those days, and though his rage and love of wind had not diminished, he now understood that these untouched places had no purpose in the world as it was now, so, knowing that his Suturm would one day run out of pillars on which to build their homes, steeled himself to work with water once again, and spread their domain another inch to the south.

The Suturm had felt the presence of their god nearby, and many watched the sky with eagerness as they went about their lives, waiting for him to speak. Once he was finished erecting the pillars, he turned to them, and with his dry wind, spoke, "Greetings, my wet children. How goes the hunt for the secrets of the mind?"

"Not well, Storm God," many cried out, "It's pursuit has even plunged some of our finest minds into madness, and now they won't stop singing. We need you to cure them of this ailment!"

"It is not the pursuit of psychology that has driven them mad, my children, I'm afraid, but my fellow god Axis, he who created the Strangled and the very ocean itself. Thus, I can no more cure them of their affliction than he can make you stop hearing my voice."

Many took this news hard, for they had been truly concerned for their loved ones who had lost their minds, but Haroen did not wish for them to be sad, and so, as he swirled in the air, he spoke, "Do not be sad, my Suturm, you are still whole as a people, and the Mad are still members of your families, and I have brought yet another gift for you."

With that, he reached down and unlocked another part of their minds, not one of memory, but one of understanding. He left them to delve into the secrets of this new skill in future years, for he wished to see further to his Ahkiln.

5 points to Advance Ahkiln (and thus the Ahgana) with Unity.

1 point to Command the Eye to Command the Ahkiln to construct the capital city of Soun Kiln.

5 points to Advance Suturm with Deduction (will be explained next post)

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=13 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4144897/)

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 20 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4146906/)

As the diplomatic envoy made its way through the tunnels, Tarethon realized just how much of the earth under the earth was yet unoccupied. Unsatisfied, he decided that new life was needed, to fill the veins of the earth with his own lifeblood. With this in mind, he flew under the earth to each of the farthest points of the tunnels and at each of these places broke off a new piece of his soul of stone, each becoming a race like the Lapidea but with different bodies, minds, and beliefs. As they spread, he flew underground to the Heart of the Earth and prepared to channel its power once more.

Creating 4 subraces of the Lapidea, each originating at one of the
farthest points in the tunnels in the four cardinal directions. Some of them may be closed off from the others, I don't remember where the tunnels all are. I will elaborate on their names, customs, appearances, personalities etc. when I'm not so tired, so tomorrow or this weekend. Sorry for the brief post.
Remaining Points:4

[Fiig]

Godric, The syles have proven that the kinfolk need protection. Go to the dragon academy, and found the dragon order. it shall consist of dragons and their riders. They shall be one of the greatest forces on Shikalis.

And Godric went to the university, and all dragons had gathered with their riders. Waiting for the king, Godric went fourth and announced the foundation of the order. A roar of fire went into the air, all at once, then Godric stepped forward and called out for the dragon Corelav and her rider Arthur, they went fourth and knelt.

I hereby named thy Kin Corelav and Dragoon Arthur. You shall be the leader of the order. You and your rider shall be my right hand, you will select and train the members, and when your time is over i shall name your successor.

Afterwards Godric went to the craftsmen and ordered them to create armor for the Kinfolk, for while dragons are powerfull, they are not as numerous as the kinfolk, and Godric would prove that kinfolk could fight as well.

The craftsmen at the university worked hard and quickly, they discovered ways to craft the steel, into armor for kinfolk warriors, so that they could be as protected as the dragon or the syles

Satisfied Savien went to the edge of the swamp and called Slasiksyyr, your Syles have commited an atrocity towards the kinfolk and as such i will punish them i will give you a grace time, to evacuate them from their city near the ocean, when that time is over i will eradicate the city. I had Godric founded the city of Swaric for peacefull relations, since i have no interest in those swamps of your syles.

The three dragonriders came back to Godric and told him of the negotiations, when Godric had pondered the issue he sent back the riders, to offer them the oppurtunity for their people to join the University, for other than the plenty foods the kinfolk do not have much else to offer.

1 point to create the Dragonrider order
5 points to advance civilization Steel armory
3 points left
+3
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4146943/
4+6=10 points for next round

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 0
Power Roll:2d6+3 → [6,4,3] = (13)
(http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4146942/)

The Syles were active. With the aid of ships built by their new, tiny brethren, the Serpent-Sworn, they made their way East. Steering a course far from the Axis's new madlands, they navigated past the mountains, to the Eastern forest, and beyond that, the Eastern Swamp, just south of the hydrophobe's labyrinth. There, they were greeted by Kabalisk, who despite his lumbering stature managed to travel nearly anywhere. The Syles had long since ceases to question this wonder, but they became surprised when he decided to teach them.

"In front of you lies an obstacle the dry god placed for you before one of you were," he said unto them. "For all your craftiness, you cannot outwit a god. Thus, your maker Slassiksyyr has chosen to share his wits with you. You have proven yourselves a great people, no longer shall your god be silent; the serpent will speak in your dreams and chants. I shall teach you to pray to the Serpent, and you shall learn his crafts and trickery, you will have his knowledge and his cunning. But first, establish yourselves here, lest the god of dust send his minions against you while you are still scattered."

So the Syles climbed, and established tree-houses, rope-bridges, and all the other necessities of a Syle city, and called it Firststrike, as Kabalisk commanded. And the Syles learned to pray with Kabalisk, and learned to feel the Great Serpent slithering through their minds, teaching and guiding them.

When the city was finished, groups of riders, brawlers, transmuters, archers, and now priests gathered together, and appointed leaders to guide them, and began sending scouts to map out the labyrinth. Aided by their god, the work went quickly....

Spending one point I command Kabalisk to establish the city of Firststrike, in the marshes south of the Labyrinth.

Spending five points to advance the Syles in the magic of Divination.

Spending four points to command Firststrike to establish an army.
Final Balance: 3

[Rith]

This post (delayed 5 hours) marks the beginning of a new round. It will last until midnight when the 27th becomes the 28th, or when Saturday becomes Sunday.

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=13 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4144897/)
Current Power Points: 15

The Dry God watched as a group of Suturm stood at the edge of the great snowy forests of the south, still within a stones throw of the icy ocean, and watching a herd of mammoths wandered through the trees some distance ahead of them. As they stood there, watching, one spoke, "Look, that one is dragging it's foot. It must be injured."

Another responded with, "Yeah, I saw that. It's left tusk is also scratched up a good bit, almost broken off, from the look of it's mouth. It must have gotten into a fight with the bull of the herd."

A third joined into the commentary with, "It should wait a few years. When it will grow large enough to become the bull."

"Not likely, look, those females are following close to it. The poor beast will either be killed in a month or the herd will be split. I don't know much about mammoth societies, but my coins would be on 'killed'."

"No no, if they were the kind to kill rivals, there would only be a single male in the entire herd. I see at least four. It might be injured and driven out of the herd, at the worst, but I think a few of the females, including that pregnant one, will definitely follow him if that happens."

Haroen would have blinked a bit had he had eyes. The art of deduction he had gifted to the Suturm had penetrated deep, to have affected even casual conversation like this, where a group of sight-seerers could discern the future of a herd from a scarred tusk and a dragged foot. This was hardly the most impressive example of the advancement, however. There were Suturm who, with a single glance at an empty, nondescript room, could tell you how many people frequented it, what they used it for, and what their relationship to one another were. They could tell you far more if they actually tried to examine the room.

As a result of this, and the Eidetics they already had, the culture of the Suturm was quickly becoming one where keeping a secret from one another was next to impossible. Thus, the Suturm grew to be very honest and kind to one another as they went about their lives researching the mind, hunting in the deep pillars, and playing tactical games in their free time.

However, Haroen wanted ever more for them, and so he spoke once more to his brilliant children, "My Suturm. Your powers of the mind are magnificent and you have truly impressed me with how well honed you have made them. However, the mind alone is not enough. You can recall every day of your life, understand a man at a glance, and win combat with elegant moves, but sometimes you need the correct tool for the job to survive. So, go forth and build a city upon the coast of the vast tundra east of here. From there, slay mammoths, cut down trees, and mine traces of metal from the untouched land. Create farming tools of the wood, weathervanes of metal, instruments of ivory, tents of hide, and whatever else you may need."

So, with surprised looks to one another, many Suturm gathered their thugs together and traveled to the vast tundra, erecting the foundations of a thousand workshops and houses there, as they titled the city 'Umet' or 'Short Pillar', in the common tongue. There they began tinkering on all sorts of small, everyday items, with everything from tea pots and cups of jade to harps of bone to hairpins of opal to wooden rakes. Everything made in this city was either practically useful or an instrument, and every item of it was exquisitely made. Suturm carried some of these beautiful items to the north, as they visited the University for lessons, and the Halflings and Dragons found these items to be grand and wondrous, and soon Halfling ships were traveling to Umet purely to pick up some finely crafted trinkets there.

Haroen was pleased.

Passing north once more over his wind wall, Haroen was greeted with the sight of his two armies conducting drills in the far north, marching in formation, practicing battledancing and stormcalling alike. As they finished, they'd retire to a tavern and laugh the night away, a single army, a single unit.

However, Haroen, looking to the south, saw more armies rising up from the Syles, and he felt that he might still lose were they to attack now, so, with a whisper, being a part of the army grew to be a great honor in the minds of the Ahkiln and Ahgana, and the forces swelled, almost doubling in size.

As he looked upon the great armies before him, however, he perceived that he was draining the peace from his people, and making them into machines of war.

He hoped they would not be scarred by this.

1 point to Command the Eye to Command the Suturm to found the city Umet (Short Pillar).

4 points to Advance Umet with 'Tinkering'

4 points to Command Fah Choloum to raise a second army, which essentially just merges with the first.

4 points to Command Oum Pran to raise a second army, which essentially just merges with the first.


Map
http://i.imgur.com/o8ugeeo.jpg

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4148100/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 3
Power Roll: 2d6+3+3 → [3,5,3,3] = (14) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4149698/)

The city of Lessalon was active, as it always was. Competitions were under way all across the city, spectators shouted and gambled, and Serpent-Sworn Halflings were planning their next addition to the arena, engineering it to be greater than the last. However, a crier went throughout the city, and ordered the games to a halt. The entire city was instead sent to Lessalon’s greatest court, where a high priest of Slassiksyyr addressed them.

“Is it an atrocity for a god to declare war, or to seek worship?” He called. “Certainly, the god Savien believes so. This city’s doom has been pronounced, as a recompense for the serpent-sworn.” At this, a mighty cry arose from the crowd. Kabalisk silenced them.

“This city is doomed,” he repeated. “Surely, in your dreams and divinations, you have felt it. This Arena, however, is an altar to the Syles, and to Slassiksyyr. It must be preserved.”

“A great task lies ahead for the Serpent-Sworn,” he spoke. “Within a century, each stadium, each court, and every banner bearing the name of a champion, whether Syle, Halfing, or any other race, must be transported, without damage, to another place. You must use your skills with engineering, machinery, ship-building, and all manner of other inventions to do this. The Syles shall aid you.”

“The Arena’s wonders are to be taken to the Halfling city of Wearic, and if they shall not take you there, then you are to spit upon their docks and find another place, farther upriver, where no city lies.”

“Once this work is finished, the Serpent-Sworn shall stay and maintain the Arena, but all Syles who have come to live here are to stay here. None are to flee, and those who try are to be shunned, but not pursued. Are we not Syles? Is it not a great thing to die for your god? If Savien is to have his vengeance, he shall not take it without blood, and blood begets blood. You have your work. Begin it.”

So the Syles and the Serpent-Sworn Halflings began a great task, and created engines and paths to move entire courts onto ships, and move them upriver. The task took them nearly the entire hundred years, and it was unknown to them whether Wearic would accept the wonder coming their way…

In the meanwhile, in the north, Kabalisk ordered the creation of a mighty city that would bridge the gap between the Sulphur Swamp and the Green Marshes. It was named Klissikt, and it was set a few miles inward from the plains, but along the same longitude as Swaric. The city was instructed to open communication and trade with Swaric, and not to attack, intimidate, or eat any of the Halflings therein…yet.

Finally, acting under divine inspiration, the city of Firststrike continued to grow their military power, and Venin sent messengers to Ahgana spies, ordering those loyal to Slassiksyr to construct a military presence in Oasis. Of course, as sly as the Ahgana were, not all of them could be trusted, but having spies on both sides helped to even things out….
Spending three points to command the Order of the Serpent-Sworn to move the various courts and gymnasiums of the Lessalon Arena somewhere North. Aiming for Wearic, but if they are refused, they’ll movie to the farthest north point on the river. Lessalon itself remains where it is.

Spending one point to command Avatar to build the city of Klissikt, slightly inward from the plains, and on the border of the green and sulphur marshes.

Spending Eight points to command armies to be organized in both Oasis (Ahgana) and Firststrike (Syles).
Final Balance: 2

[Fiig]

When the serpentsworn came to Wearic, they were welcomed home, though none understood why they worshipped the serpent, as it was Slassiksyyr servants, who had captured their ancestors and enslaved them to do his bidding, but kinfolk are a practical people, and family is always welcome.

Savien had been patient and had waited until the Syles and Serpent-sworn had moved what they wished. For though he had foretold the destruction of Lessalon, it did contain wonders which it would have pained Savien to destroy, but the syles of Lessalon had commited an atrocity, not only had they broken the sanctity of trade, no they had chosen to enslave halflings for their own petty needs, leaving some of these halflings so broken, that they would turn to the serpent god of the swamps. However a halfling is meant to live in fertile lands, not a place of rot and decay.

Savien started in the early morning, and spoke three words, with which Savien awoke three vulcanoes in the area around Lessalon. As they rose from the trembling ground, some buildings in Lessalon fell into rumble, then the Syles knew the day of fire was here, most stayed though few fled from the initial shake, as the vulcanoes kept building pressure for three days, the ash and pimpstone blocked out the sun, more Syles fled from Lessalon, their will to live too great. After another three days the city was suffocating in ash, the dry air searing the syles lungs and scales, though not killing them. the Syles scuffed at the display of power
Savien had shown, but Savien was not finished, for on the seventh day, all his preparations were complete.

On the morning of the seventh day, only the sun could only be seen out over the ocean, where the ash had not covered the sky.
The syles felt change in the air, before they heard the sound, as the three vulcanoes erupted all at once. Fire stood in the sky, now only the most steadfast Syles still stood fast, most tried to run, but it was too late, soon the air became so hot, that it burned the syles lungs. Lava burned the surface of the area and reached the city, filling its street with molten rock and setting fire to everything flammable. It eventually reached the ocean making where it made the water boil. The water vapor rose to the sky, and when the nightfall came, so did the water. In the sky it had mixed with the ash. So during the night the water fell, clearing the sky again, at midnight the vulcanoes fell silent, and the area went quiet. No sign of Lessalon remained, for it had been buried in ash and molten rock, in a few years nature took back the area, and some of the syles, which had fled before the day of fire, came back and they wept for though they had lived, they had lost their home and when they fled, their god.

10 points catastrophe destruction of Lessalon
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4149933/
9+3=12 for next round

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 11

Tarethon waited, conserving his energy for the great works that would be, soon...

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis looked down upon the countless mad servants who he had created, and elected to expand their influence. More fun for everyone!

His dark avatar spoke unto the Strangled nearby, who heard his command, building a new city. They surfaced from the coast where the city of Gard stood. Using the magic of Abjuration, they defended themselves from the dry elements, surviving out of water. They traveled far, their mad faith guiding them. Once they reached the northern coast of the wasteland, the Strangled built a new city. This new city was named Sour, and was a holy outpost of the Axis, made to convert nearby heretics to the following of Axis. The city was built to partially resemble the more realistic archetectural styles of the halflings so as to be more appealing.

The Axis personally went to the lands of the crazed, avoiding the swipes of the more pointlessly aggressive of them. She spoke to them, telling them to build another city as well. They had no choice of course, as Axis is divine.

So a mass of the crazed set sail on primitive boats, far fewer of them arriving than departing. The cannibalistic tenancies of the crazed likely explain the lack of corpses. Upon arrival, the crazed built a new city on the coast, in a pit made to look like a large field of grass, with just as manic a design as the previous city. It was dubbed Second and it was very pretty.

Command race: Create City "Second", -5
Command Avatar to command race: Create City "Sour", -1

Next: 11+3+3=17 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4150186/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. It will last until 6:00 pm on Monday. There will be a 6-hour grace period after it ends for anyone who missed the deadline.

[Fiig]

Godric feared what would happen after the day of fire, for when gods fight mortals suffers, so he prepared to defend the Kindom, he issued orders to Swaric and Verric to assemble armies, to train and equip them for war, with armor and weapons. so that the areas might be defended, should some syles decide that the only way they could get revenge on Savien for the Day of Fire, was to attack the Kindom. They would face resistance, all cities were ordered to secure themselves with walls and engines of war. And filled their stores with provisions.

Then Godric went down to the shipyards and commanded the construction of the first royal navy, so that the Kindom could defend the waterways. The construction started immediately. A thousand warships was constructed and equiped with engines of war, ranging from balistas to oversized crossbows. Many sailors volunteers for the honor of sailing in the fleet, and it soon become common among them to wear white and blue. To show the world that they were part of the royal navy.

After Godric had issued the command of the first royal navy, he went to the University, to Dragon academy, here he met with Kin Corelav and her new rider Dragoon Alexis. And commanded the order to assemble an army of Dragonriders. It did not take long to assemble the army, for the order had kept a good record of its members and those who were ready and worthy was called into service, it took longer to equip the army. And they soon became a watchful eye in the sky.

2x4 points to command city(swaric and verric) to raise army
1 points to command avatar raise army(navy)
3 points to command the Order of the Dragonriders to raise an army
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4152185/
9+3=12 for next round

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 16 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4152949/)

Tarethon had so far made three races, and these were flourishing. But he had a desire to make another one, one that would be even greater, formed in his own image and combining all the elements of the other races. He concentrated, and took a piece of the Heart of the Earth and mixed it with his own essence, forming a great figure. Into this vessel he poured his own power, bringing forth more than he thought he had. Devoting all his godly power and attention to this task, he drained his last bit of divine power to bring it to this new race.

But... No!

The force of the power surged into the form with a great roar, battering the barriers of its heart and mind. Unable to bear the strain, it twisted, becoming a mockery of the Lord Below's hopes and dreams. Where it was to be wise and compassionate and skilled in all things, it became brutal and horrible. Unable to destroy this, that he had worked on for so many years, Tarethon wept as the monster propagated and wreaked bloody havoc, thanking the greater powers he had not chosen to attempt his masterpiece near his other races. And above all of the chaos, the Great Horror stood and grinned.

Event/Catastrophe: Remove all technologies of the Lapidea from the fourth race, which I am naming the Forsworn. I'll elaborate on the other three races with a post devoted to each, as well as information in the OOC. I'm planning a 'Day in the Life' type thing, which I haven't finished yet.
Power Remaining: 9

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 2
Power Roll:2d6+2+3 → [4,4,2,3] = (13) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4152898/)


With information from their spies, the Ahgana army of Oasis, Loyal to the Serpent, learned of the approach of Haroen’s army, and battered down the city, and shut the gate. Each one gripped a sword in each of their four hands, swung in a strong yet graceful rhythm, and strapped fine crafted glass spears to their backs. Lightning sprang from their hands, and they slithered as one great mass to protect their city, led by powerful and wise generals.

They were indeed a noble and fearsome force…but their opponents were no less so.

Two armies of Ahgana, loyal to Haroen, marched against them, slithering over electric plains on their long, black tails. The green of their runes had long since faded, and their eyes and runes glowed red, white, and yellow. Leading them was one fiercer and more dangerous than all the rest, not for her training (though that was considerable), but primarily for the weapons she wielded: four terrible glass blades that caused the winds to whip around her.

The Glaurhaz.

The leader summoned the winds to herself, and leapt to the top of the wall. With fierce blows, many Loyal Ahgana were knocked to the side, and she retreated just as quickly before the reinforcements came in. She was a deadly foe, but Oasis was on the defense. Until she could get her forces through, the two armies were evenly matched. But she did have one major advantage: from her position in the sky, she could see the pavilion, reaching through her god’s windstorm, and stretching to an underground lake of sulphur and acid. Down on the ground, she ordered her troops to secure it.

For days, for weeks, the wall was a fury of lightning and spears, ladders, and swords. Idealists would scale the wall, and a flurry of swords erupted in a deadly dance as they leapt and coiled along their tails, and spun their four arms, lightning and wind and glass erupting in every direction.

The battle was at a standstill. But the Idealists had more soldiers, and were wearing Oasis down. But finally, a flicker of hope appeared.

A roar from underground.

The Thiosyles.

The yellow-scaled reptiles ran out of the lake, dismounting their Sulfambus and storming up above the shores of the lake, but at the entrance to the pavilion they were met by a contingent of Ahgana. The Aghana ordered them not to enter their sacred land. Their order was met with a volley of arrows, vials of glass-transmutation, and rockets.

For days this battle raged on as well. Rockets and arrows would be fired, and then fighters would charge into the weakened line of defense, to pounce on an Ahgana, wrestling them to the ground and breaking their arms. Each time this was attempted, however, many other Ahgana were there to cut the Syle down. In the end, the Ahgana were too strong, their defense was too coordinated, and the Thiosyles, what was left of them, retreated, mounting their Sulfambus to return to Oasis.

It was a bittersweet victory, however: as the army returned from the pavilion to Oasis, they were met with carnage. The grand majority of both armies had fallen, and neither were ready to fight any longer. Worse, their leader, the one who carried the mighty Glaurhaz, was dead. As they gathered to mourn their fallen captain, they were suddenly distracted by a glow in the sky. Lightning was by no means unfamiliar to their people, but this one was an unfamiliar, sickly green.

In a flash, it shot down: a burst of pure venomous energy. The body of the Ahgana leader was disintegrated, and all who had stood near her were knocked into the sky. When the dust had settled, the Glaurhaz, the symbol of their people and their greatest weapon, was gone. Each of the four blades spun end over end, knocked to the farthest edge of the globe.

Shamed by their loss, the Syles began training again, this time more fiercely. Though they still smarted from the Day of Fire, they dared not fight two wars at once. A diplomatic envoy was sent to Swaric, to negotiate a peace, and to permit the Syles safe-passage throughout the Halfling Empire, that they might visit their sacred Arena in Wearic, and possibly even their University, as it was clear that they as a race had much to learn if they were to overcome the glass empire.

The Syles strove to learn from this loss, that they might never do so again. And the Syles developed a code of Honor, that would rule over their lives. They would respect their enemies, that they might overcome them. And Kabalisk, once more visiting the Sulphur Marsh, rallied them, and refused to let them grow despondent. He arranged for a day to honor their fallen, and to rise once again, to battle once more, one day.

Spending seven points to create an Event: The Scattering of the Glaurhaz.

Spending five points to advance the Syles in Honor.

Spending one point to command my Avatar to rise another Army in Venin.

Final Balance: 0

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis woke once more in the night, restless.

He told his avatar to go to the people of the Strangled. He feared that with the armies being raised, the secrets of the Deep would be in danger of being revealed, perchance that one of the other gods gets a foolish idea. That must not happen. The Strangled, as commanded, built a great army in the capital of Carcasso. It was, while a bit disorganized from the inclusion of mad ones, virile, and brimming with passionate strangled magicians of all schools, Its warriors armed with dark weaponry so sharp that mere contact with an enemy could easily tear them asunder.

The Axis itself, still in the lands of the Crazed, built up an army of them to defend axis' holdings even from the land. In Second, a new breed of warrior was introduced. Using certain herbs, the axis taught the Crazed to invoke fits of absolute primal rage even greater than that which commonly held their people. Using their new knowledge of drugs, the Crazed were commanded to create an army of berserkers in Second. This force would bring joy and madness to the dry lands, through blood, if that is the way it will be.

Finishing this, the Axis still felt restless, and so, in a fit of silliness, altered the climate. The city of Vien and the surrounding area became extremely cold instantly, and snow now fell nearly daily. It is impossible to survive in the area without precautions to survive the weather.

Create Army in Carcasso/Second, -5
Grant tech "Drugs" to Crazed, -5
Shape climate one inch in Vien, -4 (the part about survival is fluff)

Next: 2d6+3+3=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4153052/)

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4148100/)
Current Power Points: 9

The Ahgana still loyal to Slassiksyyr had raised an army in the north.

A single spy had left early into it's concept, having heard whispers of allowing the serpent through the wall, whispers in broad daylight. He arrived at Fah Chaloum a fortnight after, and no amount of political double talk could stem or divert the outrage roaring into the streets. The army had it's standing orders, and it would march, one way or another. Ahgana warriors readied their weapons with solemn hearts, as they poured out of the city, rank and file into the mountain paths, a river of glass armor and green flames. For twenty days and twenty nights they marched, spilling from the mountains and onto the glass plains, where beasts of all sorts scattered before the mass of Ahgana. Troubadours sang as they marched, sergeants spoke of missions and jobs, and soldiers spun their weapons with impatience, joking to one another about all manner of things.

Haroen watched from the sky above, winds blowing in rage and thunder rumbling in uncertainty. Did he lead his people to slaughter? Would they be scarred by this act? Would this be yet another Mad birth? No, the Mad had been addled. These Scale-sworn were intentionally attempting to drown the world, and Haroen would not allow it!

At dawn of the twenty-first day, the army crested a wide ridge above Oasis and looked down at the city, overrun with traitors, and behind it, the towering wall from the world's creation. The scale-sworn had built up barricades and spiked lines and choke-points all around the city, and stared up at the line of Idealists staring down at them.

Rui Pan, the current wielder of the Glaurhaz, slid forward to gaze down at the first city of her people, then, with a word, she raised the Four Fangs into the sky, and a torrent of lightning and wind blossomed into the sky above her, while Haroen himself answered with crack of lightning, a crash of thunder, and a howl of wind high in the air, as the army rushed forward.

Fine northern blades sliced through flesh, bone, and glass all alike. A thousand matches of unparalleled battledancing ran up and down the streets, each Ahgana only a second's hesitation from bisection. Squads stood together, and heros stood alone. Single dancers, the last of their group, dove and weaved between a sea of scimitars and chain-swords. Bodies stood, impaled upon stakes set up to welcome them. Limbs, still clutching their weaponry, lay scattered about the street. Green flame-flesh was splattered across hide tents like blood. Ahgana went mad from the sight of so much death, either running from the killing or diving into a frenzy. Above it all, Rui Pan could always be seen, dancing at the heart of a maelstrom of wind and lightning, taking on a dozen foes at once, or fifty, or a hundred, it did not matter, she fought, and with each blow of her weapon, Haroen answered with a burst of thunder.

However, this was the first combat of this scale. No one knew exactly how it would go down, and the two armies, being perfectly evenly matched, ground out against one another, until all that remained of either force were a few, exhausted dancers, standing upon the sea of bodies in the main courtyard of Oasis, eyeballing one another with hatred and wariness.

Then the second Ahgana army marched into the city, and the first true battle had been won.

There was no celebration that night. Just the tedium of moving bodies and cleaning streets. Families had hidden in their homes, just feet from the clash of glass-on-glass and sound of dry flesh being sundered as an Ahgana would end it's time on Shikalis. Now they wept, Idealist and Serpent-kin alike, for none could undo this, this grand death, the likes of which had never before been seen.

But Rui Pan and her army could not rest or give in to grief. Their spies already had word of the Thiosyles coming, and they had to prepare for the next combat, so soon, lest they lose all they had fought and died for.

The second army buried the dead the next day, far out of Oasis, tossing the thousands of corpses into a deep ravine full of lightning, as was the custom in the north, while others prepared their own defenses against the unknown, unseen threat slithering up from Venin.

Families still in grief left Oasis, to escape the pain and the death, leaving it empty except for the army, waiting for it's secret foe. Ahgana from Fah Chaloum had heard of Thiosyles, but not one had ever seen one, and so, this dread, waiting at the edge of the world, was almost more than they could stand.

No troubadour sang. No soldier joked. No sergeant gave an order. They just worked, then waited, in the ghost town.

Then, on the eighth day, they came. A streak, which many thought was a Dust Jaguar, came screaming out of the pavilion, exploding and showering all around in some fluid that made them scream and melt. Then came two great serpents, the size of Lightning Wurms, crowned by a hundred short, yellow beasts roaring their battle cries.

Panic was not an option. Rui Pan ordered the counterattack, and a dozen Ahgana sprang forward, launching themselves onto the sides if the serpents, and slithering up them, some being tackled off the creatures by the strange, bile-covered balls of stone that were the Thiosyles, while others towered over them upon their mount, 9 feet tall against the 5 feet of the attackers, and as they drew back their bows, the Ahgana would dance away, then back, tricking the eye, avoiding a shower of arrows, and strike with the point of a 6 foot great-blade, removing head from shoulders, just to deluge… blood.

Horror quickly spread through the Ahgana ranks as they found that slaying their foes would spill moisture into their lands. However, there was no helping it, and with fear of such horror suffusing them, they danced forward, striking one Thiosyle down, then another, before three more would leap forth and begin pummeling the dancer to death.

Lightning struck at the bequest of the stormcrafters, and the serpents were boiled where the writhed, but a dozen more spilled from the pavilion, arrows and rockets pouring off the backs. The Ahgana were being blown back, but as battledancers drove down the snakes, and heroes danced inside a ring of Thiosyles who could not seem to break past that reach to begin brawling, arrows being parried by blind speed, the natives were drawn together, and with skill and speed and lightning strikes and blistering wind, they grouped together, beginning to pummel the invaders back into their pavilion.

Still, the serpents poured forth. Their blood poured from the pavilion as a river, rockets roaring past the front lines to catch defenders full in the face, wooden armor catching blades as they were swung, and seers dancing with the swaying, dry serpents as well as any Battledancer.

Rui Pan herself stood at the front of the battle, cutting down the yellow blights upon the north with wind and blade alike, and a hundred dancers stood with her, weaving, rolling, snapping, dodging, slicing, parrying, killing, and dying in equal measure.

At long last, the remnants of the Thiosyle force turned away from the pavilion, and began to make their way back across the lake. However, the army mourned once again, for Rui Pan had fallen in the combat, and even as they watched, an act of godly power struck her, and the Glaurhaz was scattered across the north.

Haroen watched as Thiosyle bodies, blood and all, were blown back into the lake with dry winds, to rot in the sulfur and moisture. Watched Oasis became a ghost town for several years, until a few Ahgana, the children of the children who fled, eventually returned, to make their city great once again. He watched as veterans were rewarded with high honors and praise, but were never able to shake the dreams of serpents pouring out of a hole in the wind. He watched until he had to turn away…

Turning back to the south, Haroen met the Suturm in silence, and watched them at their daily lives once more. He had no observation to make and no request for them to complete. He simply wished to see a creation of his still happy and content in this world.

With a touch, he granted them another gift. A small gift, but one which, together with their others, would make them impossible to trick, for he did not them to ever be fooled.

5 points to Advance Suturm with Logic

Current Power Points: 4
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4152957/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. It will last until midnight when Wednesday, the 31st, becomes Thursday, the 1st.

[Fiig]

The diplomatic envoy from the syles were well received in Swaric, and a dragonrider was dispatched to Vein to report the event to Godric, who ordered the envoy escorted to Vein, so that they could discuss the terms.
Godric had kinfolk at the University draw up terms, the syles would be allowed to trade and travel in the kindom, provided they respected the kindoms population and laws. And to make matters clear a map was constructed, where the kindom was claimed as the green lands. It was agreed that should the syles accept, then syles would be admitted to the university, if he or she could prove themselves worthy.

Godric had also sent orders south to the Wearic and Verric to begin the construction of the southern fleet, which would mirror the northern fleet.

Venin had spent the last hundred years being rebuilt as the change in weather, had almost resulted in thousand freezing to death, but the response had been quick and now life had adapted to it, all buildings had been outfitted with materials that allowed them to hold the heat. Engineers at the university had divised all manner of mechanisms to keep the city active, even going as far as to place pipes leading warm water from hot springs around the streets to keep them clear of snow and ice, expelling the water into docks keeping them clear. All this and more ingenuity from the University had kept Vein running.

The dragons had not been inactive either, for they had watched the world and concluded, that the Kinfolk were too naive in their quest for knowledge, as they were ignoring the arts of magic. Which the dragons feared would be the kinfolks undoing. So the Dragons started to research and find ways to negate magic, and through extensive work learned the secrets of anti-magic


1 point to raise army(fleet) in the south
5 points to advance Kinfolk, Ingenuity
5 points to advance Dragons Anti-magic

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 20 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4155794/)

The second race that the Lord Below created were the Golden. In the westernmost tunnels, he broke off a piece of his stone and, once again, let it fall. As fate would have it, the piece he chose to create a new race from embodied some of the richest mines in Shikalis, veins of gold, silver, copper, bronze, running through it. Through a thousand years it seemed to fall, the precious metals drawing magic and sustenance from the air, curling around the stone until it was completely consumed. It hit the stone of the cave with a sound like the thrumming of a harp melting into gold, and from this piece of all metals sprang more figures, as the Lapidea but in the stead of stone, made of metal. And Tarethon saw that they were as unlike his first creations in temperament as in figure. As opposed to the Lapidea's hardworking nature, these were paragons of debauchery and luxury. They created a great city, of the truest metal and studded with gemstones, and organized into sects as by the type of metal of their bodies. The lowest classes were the ones treated like slaves and forced to work while the others enjoyed good food, fine wine, and acts of lust. Shaking his head at their indulgence, Tarethon left, resolving to create a better race.

4 points to command the Golden to build the city Aurus.
Points Remaining: 16

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4152957/)
Current Power Points: 16

The glasslands had been deeply scarred by the First Battle, as it was being called. Many Ahgana still hated the descendent of those who had killed their own ancestors, while others were bitter at the loss of the Glaurhaz and of so many lives just so they might have peace. Ahkiln were frustrated that the snake-born Ahkiln had gotten the first glory, while Ahgana remembered their grandfather's waking in the middle of the night, screaming.

Haroen watched all this, and saw that this was a far deeper wound than his turning against the Mad had created, but at the same time, he saw new strength in the sadness, a strength that the culling of the Mad had not instilled. Despite the bitterness and the frustration, and even the dancing battles that would occasionally crop up in the streets, the Ahgana were sober. This was not a suffering that some thought was necessary, but a suffering that all saw as suffering. In that, they had all borne the brunt of the Thiosyle attack together, drawing them together.

Haroen no longer wanted his creations to invade the south and destroy the works of the water gods. He had abandoned that folly long ago, as the Mad's first touch had shown him what would come of that route, and he had worked with water to make his Suturm, and while it was still strange and antithetical to him, he could delve into the water without pain. Now, he simply wanted his creations to be strong and prosperous. No longer would he have them craft weapons, except when in dire need, and he would let the Glaurhaz remain split, lest one individual had the great need to draw the pieces back together. No, from this day forward, while armies may be risen to defend the glasslands, they would have beauty, and they would have peace.

A wind in the north, and battledancers dropped their weapons, thinking that, today, they'd simply dance for the sake of dancing, and not towards the aim of killing another. A thundering in the distance, and the Ahkiln decided to found another city, one of peace, where song would echo down the streets at all hours, and where an Ahkiln or Ahgana could lose themselves in the act of dancing, in great courtyards of blue crystal. It was named Welak Ohred, and it was a place of peace and relaxation for the people of the north, where the tenseness of the First Battle could be forgotten.

Content that they would heal in their own time, Haroen blew south once more, to where his Suturm, his perfect, brilliant, calm, and peaceful Suturm, were living their lives, carrying home diplomas from the University, playing in grand war games that took months for a single game, tinkering at all the small implements of the world, and pondering deep and hard on the unfathomable workings of the mind. It occurred to Haroen, then, that despite all of their greatness, they had yet to produce a great act. Many small acts they had produced, including nets for fishing made of spider silk and puzzle boxes impossible to solve except by the absolute most brilliant minds, but nothing truly great.

However, as he pondered them, he found that he did not have the will to force them to create something great unless they wished it, and so he dropped a star into Yetomu, a single fragment of his divinity, his dry voice was a thunder in the sky, "My Suturm. I give you another gift. But this is not like any other gift I have ever given you, for it is not one that I have decided upon, but a choice for you to make. You may have any gift you would wish of me, just name it, and it will be yours."

Many Suturm cried out, "Immortality! Dominion over the sea! The secrets of psychology! The sun itself!" but these were silently quelled by the Elder Council, who, in their unparalleled wisdom, knew that great power was not a thing to be used lightly, or for shallow means. No, and they set forth a great debate among their people, as to how they would use this star of divine power.

After many years, it was decided, and the Elder Coincil convened atop Yetomu once again, to speak with the Dry God, "Oh Haroen, we have decided what we want of your gift. We desire the knowledge of how best to use this gift."

Once more, Haroen would have blinked had he had eyes, and with a great swirling of wind, he laughed, "Oh, Suturm, so unlike me you are. You will have this knowledge, and you will prosper from it, I am sure," and with that, he touched the star, and it burst, flooding into the minds of all Suturm, filling them with wisdom, brilliance, and balance. It was not quite a definable thing that he imparted to them, but, as they always had surprised him, they did so now, and defined that which he had judged indefinite.

Philosophy had been born in the Suturm.

1 point to Command the Eye to Command the Ahkiln to found Welak Ohred, in the wastes east of Soun Kiln.

5 points to Advance the Ahkiln in Dance.

5 points to Advance the Suturm in Philosophy.

Current Power Points: 5
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4153303/)

[ImperialSunligh]

Axis fell up to the land of Shikalis once more, bringing with it another tide of madness.

Unto the crazed, the Axis granted orders to relearn and consecrate the art of swimming and underwater maneuvering, eliminating their natural movements, in exchange for more perfected, efficient ones. While these movements look, and in fact are quite unnatural to the crazed, they are the most effective underwater maneuvers possible for them. This new skill allowed them to match even the strangled in their home territory, helpful in case they are needed to defend the deep, or otherwise need to travel into the waters.

The less subtle of the Axis' toys, the crazed, were granted the secrets of evocation, powerful raw magic, primarily used for destruction and warfare. With it, they could not only better hunt in their bizarre homeland, but they would be better able to defend their lands from foolish invaders.

Back in the depths, the dark avatar was sent to command the creation of another strangled army, this time in Gard. This military thing was something the axis could get used to, it is rather fun. And of course, the depths need defending. Of course.

"Haroen," the axis spoke out from the depths before sinking below, "you have learned that war for the purpose of destroying the wet is foolish. Indeed, you have learned much in this land. Perhaps I will teach you a lesson as well, that war for no purpose at all can be fun? We'll see. Maybe tomorrow, or in a years time, or a thousand. Who can say? But the madness will come for all of us, when our time comes, and your time will be sweet."

Crazed tech: "Evocation" and "Swimming", -10
Command avatar, command city: build army in Gard, -1

Next: 2d6+1+3=13 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4155967/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 0
Power Roll: 2d6+3 → [2,2,3] = (7) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4155934/)

Kabalisk traveled once more to Firststrike, and commanded the Syles to continue to grow. Syles were called on their honor from their wayfaring in the swamp to gather together, and put their training to use. Another army was formed, and the priests of Firststrike continued their study of the great Labyrinth in their prayers and meditations. A way through was finally written out...

In the mean, a number of gifted Syles, most of them alchemists, priests, or atheletes, traveled into the Halfling lands to attend their university. They were truly an odd sight among the short creatures, and thus many of them found themselves seeking out the company of the dragons instead. Many of them took well to chemistry, and especially fire: while it was hardly the first time they had worked with it, they had never had the chance to use it in such a controlled environment, with so many strange machines to experiment with. They began sending back plans to help the Syles back in their homeland: waterproof fire pits and torches, the theories behind controlled burns to keep the forests fertile, and new mixtures that could be set alight but would not actually burn until broken open. Soon, the Syles became quite adept at it, and Thiosyles back in the Sulphur Swamps began to integrate the new technologies into their rocket designs. While the Syles certainly did not have the raw power of flame that the dragons commanded, they had advanced themselves so that they were better at controlling and directing it, so that they could best burn what they wished and leave alone what they didn’t. It would also be used ceremonially: great structures for shooting flame would be erected and fired off in both Sillis and Klissikt on Sacred days, in honor and remembrance of those who had perished in Lessalon...

As for the rest of their stay at the University, it changed a bit of the atmosphere. Even the brightest and most docile of the Syles would grow restless without movement, and running or working would only get them so far. The Halflings were far too small to fight, and the dragons were too large without forming an uprising. So, they pooled their funding and purchased an old building, solely for the purpose of organized free-for-all brawls. Injuries were common, but the Syles quickly recovered, and it kept them peaceful in Halfling society. Finally, there was one report of a Syle who accepted a drunken bet to attempt to swallow a Halfling whole. Fortunately, more level-headed Syles discovered their scheme, and stopped them before the victim received any permanent injury. All of the Syles involved were beaten by their peers for violating their honor.

Spending one points to install another army in Firststrike, via my avatar.

Spending five points to advance the Syles in Firecrafting.

Final Balance: 1

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. It will last 48 hours from this post, until midnight when Friday, the 2nd, becomes Saturday, the 3rd.

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4153303/)
Current Power Points: 15

Philosophy was an odd thing in the society of the Suturm. A society where honesty and truth were king now possessed a mastery of a field in which there were no exacts, no clearly defined limits, and no 'truths'. Haroen saw potential, however, in the debates that bounced back and forth between magnificent minds over decades, and he allowed a bit more of his divine power into the Suturm, to allow the potential that they sought out to come to fruition. He spent a bit too much of his power, however, and even as the dry winds swept through the rain-soaked, jade pillar of Yetomu, he could feel their minds reeling with possibilities.

Suturm struck out and found a pillar of lapis lazuli, a tall, proud one far from Yetomu, and there, they began constructing a new city, which they named Telino. There the great philosophers of the Suturm convened, separate from the Elder Council and those who sought psychology even today. Apart from the children and their endless war games and apart from those returning from the University, with their talk of machines and crops. Telino was dedicated purely to the pursuit of Philosophy, and those who lived there, in that small yet grand town, soon embarked upon a great undertaking, as they wrote the first true Code of Laws.

The tip of the pillar that was Telino was a great monolith of lapis lazuli, 4 meters wide and 80 tall. They sculpted steps leading up to it, and crafted the stone at it's base to be a lavish courtyard, but everything pointed the eye back to the monolith, where, word by word, the Code of Laws was taking shape.

It took nearly a hundred year to perfect the science and the monolith, but once it was done, it would have to be known, far and wide, that the Suturm were masters of dispute, of law, and of balance, for they had mastered these things. Such was evident in the stone before Haroen's eyes.

However, a strange thought had occurred to Haroen over those hundred years, and while he still had power to commit acts in the world, he decided he would wait…

Perhaps he had found the way to regain psychology for his Suturm, at long last…

1 point to Command the Eye to Command the Suturm to found Telino.

4 points to Command the Suturm to construct the Code of Laws wonder in Telino.

5 points to Advance the Suturm in Code of Laws.

Current Power Points: 5
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4156021/)

[Fiig]

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4156184/
forgot to roll in my last post
so 5+1+3=9 for this round

A dragon scout party had decided to fly further south than normal, to the black waste to investigate the rumours of a city in the waste. For surely such was only a myth, some urban legend made to scare little children, that had gone out of hand. Since the black waste had been created by Savien in such rage, that no creature could survive there, least the strangled. But as the dragons neared the waste, they began to spot what looked like a halfling city. As they came closer they began to distinguish life, for it was the strangled city of Sour. The dragons decided to sent back one, while the others started to survey the extent of this madness.

In Vein Godric was surprised to hear of a city in the waste, but ofcourse one should never underestimate a god, least the Axis. But Godric knew that Savien had create the waste as barrier between the two races, now that it had been breached it was time to seal it with fire. so he ordered the northen fleet to patrol the shore of the waste, and raised a second army of dragonriders, so that they could remove the protective enhantments that held Sour safe from the waste, the plan was simple, let the strangled feel the real black waste.

The two armies went fourth and after the Royal fleet had set up its blockage to stop any strangled from the easy way out of the waste. The dragons started to use their new found skills in negating magic, and removed the abjuration magic protecting Sour, however the Strangled magicians fought back and raised new enhantments to replace the old ones, and so the battled continued.

Meanwhile at the University the Dragons started to developed in various ways, but they found out that the voice Savien had given them could do so much more, and they found their music, their singing voice over the century the dragons developed their abilities and wrote many songs.

1 command avatar to raise army of dragonriders
5 points to advance dragons singing
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4156224/
7+3+3=13 for next round

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 1
Power Roll: 2d6+3+1 → [6,3,3,1] = (13) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4158665/)

Slassiksyyr looked to the north, and could hardly believe his own reptilian eyes. The Ahgana and Ahkiln, weapons laid aside, danced upon the glass. Could he be correct in his interpretation of Haroen? Could the dry god truly have changed? Could he truly feel sorrow over the warriors lost in the war? Did he indeed no longer desire combat?

The fool.

Slassiksyyr looked down on his people once more, and saw them restless. The Syles were made for war, to spread, to explore, and to fight. To die on the battlefield was no less of a tragedy to them than to the Ahkiln, but they had learned to honor the sacrifice of their fallen and to continue their fight. Their war would continue, and they would survive. Oh, they would survive.

Slassiksyyr opened his wings and sent a storm down on both the Sulphur Swamp and the Green Marshes. The Syles were created to live where no other creature in the world would live, and they would learn to live anywhere else. They would learn to find food where no other race could, and even when they could not, they would be able to survive by swallowing well-transmuted rocks. They would be able to pull water from the air, even in the driest places, and the Thiosyles could break shards of glass to draw out the acid they would need to live.

The priests awoke from their dreams in this storm, and found their fellows practicing their new skill. The priests commended them for their craft, but warned them that this would likely be the final gift their god would send them for many ages hence.

Kabalisk arrived into the eastern Swamp, and ordered the Syles together. To defend themselves, he ordered Firststrike to bring together another army. As they did this, the sulphuric city of Venin equipped their forces once more, preparing to enter for the first time into the grasslands...(Failing to breach the Ahgana's defense and not reaching Oasis didn't count. Not to them.)


Spending five points to advance the Syles in Survival.

Spending five points to establish armies in Venin and Firststrike, one by Kabalisk. (Venin should now have two armies, Firstrike should have three).

Final Balance: 3

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 25 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4158673/)

Trying Again:

Tarethon flew through the darkness once more, feeling the beat of the Heart pound against his divine soul. He glided through the darkness that held no secrets from him, and found the northernmost extension of the tunnels he had created, buried deep beneath the glasslands of his ally. Gathering more power, and hoping for a success to equal his First, he once more took a piece of his body and let it fall. This piece, unlike the others, was composed of gemstones. Diamond and emerald, sapphire and amethyst and topaz, all made up this single drop of light that fell from the divine fingers of the Lord Below. And as it touched the stone that would be their home forevermore, more figures appeared, growing from the stone. These beings, made of crystal of every variety in Shikalis, appeared to possess great intelligence, but lacked some of the practical skill of the other races. Resolving to return soon, and see what they became, Tarethon left to the south.

The Great Loss:

Finding one more great cave, the Lord Below decided to create anew, a race not so different from the Lapidea as had yet been. He seized another peice of his own body, scarred from the attempts at life that had yet been, and threw it to the ground. But the Heart of the Earth, resenting the continual borrowing of its power, scorned Tarethon's gift, and the piece of divinity shattered as it hit the stone. Infinite pieces, large as continents and smaller than the tiniest specks of dust, spread out from the collision, settling all around Shikalis. And from the tiny fragments came yet another race. He called them the Searchers, for although they came into life, they came without something that all the other races of the world did? What do they lack? This is a question no Searcher can answer, yet each one constantly feels something missing.

Peace and Untold Knowledge:

When the halfling envoy came once again to the Lapidea, bearing offers of lessons at the great University in exchange for stone and metal and the secrets of the earth, the Lapidea accepted. They sent their brightest, the members of the Wielders of Words and Singers of Stories, and as well any of their member who would leave home to study with the halflings. "Let there be peace between our races," they said. "Yet one thing remains: How are we to get our goods to you? Have you some way for many tons of stone and metal to travel countless miles to your cities?"

[ImperialSunligh]

"Savien, you don't play nicely, do you?" axis said.

Many suffered from the removal of the barrier, some dying. The axis, however, thought of a fun way to deal with the situation. It dug his tendrils through the waters of the northern sea, smashing the supports of Sour and causing it to fall down the coast of the wasteland, into the watery depths below. Yet more strangled died or were wounded in this as well, but they are a resilient race, and they survived on the floor of the sea. In the ruins of Sour, the strangled began to rebuild, creating a makeshift city. Few of the strangled in the city ventured out to convert the locals at this point, attempting to keep a more low-key presence in these waters now that the halflings had made their aggressive nature clear.

"Hmm, it seems I don't need to teach you the lesson I intend to teach Haroen," the axis continued, "Lovely. Absolutely delicious."

She sent her avatar to organise another army in Gard. While the axis cared not much about the people of Sour, though they are fun, the defence of the deep must be assured...

Cause event: The descent of Sour, -7
Command avatar: create an army in Gard, -1

Next roll: 2d6+3+5=13 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4158803/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. It will last 48 hours from this post, until midnight when Sunday, the 4th, becomes Monday, the 5th

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4156021/)
Current Power Points: 15

Dry winds swirled in a storm above Yetomu. Hot lightning flashed and danced across swirling thunderheads, as oddly colored clouds churned in the air, wisps drifting low and encasing the jade city in silver fog.

Below, in the city, a Suturm child was being brought into the world. The labour had been long and terrible, and the storm had raged throughout it. When the child had finally been pulled free, however, the midwife paused, for his skin was not the brown and grey of a normal Suturm, nor his eyes white, yellow, or red. No, this child's body was pure, alabaster white, and his eyes burned with ghostly, silver flames. Eyes the same color as that storm that had raged.

The child was named Tu, or "Silver", and he was a prodigy of all that the Suturm had. At only three years old, he had mastered logic and the code of laws, and his memory was as sharp as any elder Eidetist. At five years old, he could not be beaten in any tactical confrontation and he was a master of debate in the philosophy halls. By the time he was seven, he could take a single glance at an old vase, then recall every scratch and crack in it's entire make-up, then, from that memory, discern the size, shape, depth, and angle of the scratches, as well as the condition and age of the cracks. From there, he could deduce the material of the vase and what exactly would have happened to have produced those individual scratches and cracks. From there it was easy for him to piece together a history of the vase, and thus the people involved in the world around the vase, and thus could discern the general type of person who owned that vase. All from a single glance at a part of decoration.

A conversation with another entity, and he could tell you the entities life story backwards three generations.

He was shipped off to the University, and graduated as the most honored and decorated student to ever attend at the age of twelve.

He visited the Wearic Arena and set new all-time records in each event he entered at the age of fifteen, still a boy.

Haroen had created the pale Suturm, Silver, for one purpose and one purpose only: to finally uncover the secrets of psychology. However, by the time Silver was nineteen, it was clear that he would do far more than that. Haroen smiled from his place in the sky, content that his hand in this event had brought such a blessing to his people.

Or so he thought.

One day, Silver travelled to Carcasso, "To read from the Book of the Deep", as he said. However, he never openly traveled to the book's resting place, but instead, one day, darkness filled the room where the book sat, and Silver killed all of it's guardians before they could even notice the lack of light. The mastermind had no difficulty breaking out of the city, with the secrets of anti-magic he had picked up at the University, not to mention his brilliant, all-surpassing mind.

However, many days later, as Silver surfaced upon the mountain shores east of Gard, the giant book lashed to his back, Haroen was waiting for him, and his voice roared in the wind, "Tu! What is this?! Do you know what you have done?!"

"Oh, God Haroen. I was wondering when you'd ever speak to me. Though, yes I do know what I have done. I have stolen the most secret of secrets for myself."

"Foolish child! Your actions will call war onto your--"

"--people, God Haroen? Were you about to say people? I believe you must mean my toys. You see, I only look at them, and I understand what I must say to make them do what I wish them to do, and they have never figured out what I am doing either, yet all races call then the wisest and most intelligent race that walks on Shikalis. It has been difficult not to laugh at them at times. The Halflings and Dragons are no better. Though, I have never been able to fully predict the creations of God Axis. Beat them, yes, easy, but predict them? That is the only task I have ever failed at, so, perhaps God Axis is my only equal."

"Insolent child, he is a god!"

"As are you, and I've outdone you."

"Outdone me?! You are my creation, Tu, and I could unmake you with a whim!"

"But could you find the secret of psychology? Or, better yet, did you see my intentions coming? Or, best of all, will you unmake me?"

"I very well might…"

"Don't make me laugh, God Haroen. With all the power you spent to create me, you would have to spend as much again to undo me. Would you devote all your power for a hundred years just to break even? No, just in understanding how you function, I have beaten you. I will beat God Axis as well. I will beat God Savien, God Tarethon, God Slassiksyyr, even The Gods of Old should they ever return."

Haroen's rage smoldered in the sky with static lightning, but he knew Silver had indeed found purchase with his words. However, he would not look away from the Pale Suturm, "Axis is madness incarnate, Tu! He will seek you out and take back what you took from him! He will tear you apart!"

"I believe he might try, though many secrets rest in this book. I trust even the secret to immortality or to hide yourself from the eyes of a god."

"To read that book is to lose your mind!"

"Maybe for a lesser mind, God Haroen, but this is the mind of Tu, a mind greater than that of the gods. I will not go mad, less I already have, and am simply the Mad Who Does Not Sing. Now, God Haroen, I grow weary of this waste of my time. I will return one day in the future. Perhaps a thousand years, perhaps four. Follow me and lecture me on the error of my ways if you will, but I move on. Please try and give me something of a challenge next time I surface."

Haroen would not take another moment of his arrogance, and with a scream of winds, tore back to the north, where he reached out with his rage and fury still fresh in his essence, roaring into the wind, which kicked into a maelstrom across the entirety of the north, the likes of which had never before been seen.

Why was it always his own actions that defeated him so? He spoke of parching the south, and now was threatened with eternal war. He tried to cull the Mad, and brought pain to his Ahkiln. He had tried to give his Suturm the gift of understanding the mind, and now had unleashed the greatest monster ever known upon the world.

As he boiled, there, however, he almost failed to notice the Ahkiln and Ahgana struggling through the winds to see what had enraged him so mightily. At their approach, he tried to calm himself, and as he winds slowed, resolved to face what lay before him. So he spoke, "More battles face us, my children. I am sorry to say it, but it is true, and they will likely grow worse and darker than even the First Battle. So, I need you all to be prepared. Go and raise more armies along our wind wall. One in Oasis, first. Now go, I must plan."

So they went, and after a dozen years, Haroen saw a second Ahgana army fill the shoes of the two which had fallen. As he saw it, he whispered in the wind to the glasscrafters of Oasis and Oum Pran, of walls, choke points, high ground, caltrops, pits, murder holes, and gates, and before long, such structures were commonplace in the cities of the North.

7 points for Event: Book of the Deep is stolen by Tu (Silver), who then uses it and his own brilliance to become an immortal supervillian, Moriarty style.

1 point to Command the Eye to Command the Ahgana to raise a second army in Oasis.

5 points to Advance the Ahkiln in Fortification.

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4159157/)

[ImperialSunligh]

"Oh, come now, Haroen. Your constant temper tantrums are hardly befitting a god." the axis snickers to itself, "Now..."

The darkness of the depths turned from deep blue to burning red and the deepest depths boiled with heat. The axis reached with his black tendrils in the depths of the universe, pulling Tu into the depths.

"Hello, my dear. Have you had a nice time reading my book? A nice read, isn't it? Well, I'm sorry, but I'll need it back now. And as for you..."

"Save it, mad god. I know your game," Tu replied, "You gods won't spend power to destroy me!"

"You couldn't do it, could you, Tu?"

"..."

"You failed... because the truth is the truth. And the truth is... fun," the axis continued, smiling a smile of a thousand teeth, "Through my book, you gained the power of immortality, possibly a few others. But ultimately, you failed to perceive the nature of reality, nor any meaning for life... and you still feel pain."

"What? Why would you-"

"Oh, Tu," axis grumbled, "you'll be feeling A LOT OF PAIN."

And with that, the axis swiftly consumed the thief. While this did not kill him, he was transported to a mad dimension where he was forced to feel the pain of death in the most gruesome ways imaginable until the end of time, or until some fool saved him, eventually breaking his "perfect" mind and maddening him wholly.

"I do not blame you, Tu," the axis admitted, "It was not your fault. It was the fault of foolish Haroen for bringing such a sickening worm as you into existence. But still, you have violated the secrets of the deep and so, I sentence you to this. As for you, Haroen..."

The axis spoke now to all beings on Shikalis, "I am the axis. It is my duty to defend the secrets of the deep, and no one, god or mortal, will stop me. One god's servant has already tried to violate the depths. He blames him, and that will save him for now, but know that if this happens again, if any being defiles my depths ever again, there shall be dire consequences. The world shall uproot itself and shake like a purple cantaloupe in mating season, quivering all who behold. So watch your people, Haroen. Don't let this happen again."

Finally, the Axis took the book of the deep back from where Tu had disappeared, bringing it back to its former resting place, ordering the strangled to guard it more effectively. To do so, he bestowed upon them the secrets of security magic, which allowed the strangled to create traps and barriers that activate upon magical detection of a hostile. The chamber where the book was kept was laced with laser traps that line every inch of the building, all of them killing an intruder in another fun way.

Meanwhile, owing to the increased hostility, the axis' avatar was sent to organize another army in Carcasso for the purpose of defence.

Cause event: Banishment of Moriarty and the retrieval of the book of the deep, -7
Grant tech to strangled: Security magic, -5
Avatar: create army in Carcasso, -1

Next Roll: 2d6+3=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4160100/)

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 33 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4160260/)

The Discovery of the Surface:

The Bright wandered far before Tarethon came to them once more. They of all his children had the most drive to explore, to wander far from home and learn the secrets that only there could be found. In their very first ventures, they found a long tunnel that led up to the surface. Though curious of what wonders might lie above, the Bright were still cautious. Close to the light that came from the mysterious Above, they gathered and held council. In a diplomatic and equal manner, they determined to send three of their member up, to explore whatever might be and find whoever might inhabit it. The three, Lapis, Jade, and Agate, strode proudly up to the tunnel entrance and vanished into the light.

Their eyes were greeted with a magnificent sight: dawn was breaking on Haroen's lands of glass, and the sun sent lances of light reflecting off every piece of the landscape. Light glittered on the world, shining like a brilliant dream. The three spent several moments gazing in awe at the land which made their own world of gemstones and gleaming silver seem like a dull reflection of this glory, and set out to find life.

Advance the Bright with democracy.
Power Remaining: 28

[Fiig]

The kinfolk had been training for a few centuries and had almost perfected the art of mounted combat, whether it was dragons or the domesticated wolves bred for it. It did not matter for they could now fight as one, making them a deadly machine of war.

Meanwhile a young halfling at the university was desperate to communicate with his sweetheart in Verric, and had conceived a plan to use birds to carry messages back and fourth. And surprised everyone with knowlegde of what happend half a world away, before the news arrived in Vein. Despite not having any magical powers or knowing any Dragonsriders, many at the university were fascinated with the possibilities and soon they started to investigate the oppurtunities, and breeding different kinds of birds as messenger birds. In all cities postoffices were built to receive and send messages, and to breed the birds.

Godric commanded Lainric raise an army, in order to secure the plains, and so it could move to assist other settlements nearby, should they ever be attacked.


Advancing Kinfolk, mounted combat
Advancing Kinfolk, carrier birds
commanding avatar to raise army
2 points left
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4160784/
6+2+3=11 for next round

sorry about the small post, i didnt really have much time leftover this weekend

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 3
Power Roll: 2d6+3+3 → [2,5,3,3] = (13) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4161721/)

In the heart of Sillis, a coven of Priests of the Serpent gathered around and engaged in their rites to Slassiksyyr. They lay down and spread their six limbs in all directions, and then poured potions onto a brazier, causing the fire to glow green. Ordinarily, this ritual would send them minor visions. That night, however, they were in for a surprise.

The fire grew to twice its height, and thunder clapped outside as a fierce rainstorm howled, and all the priests fell back on their shells. Getting up as quickly as they could, they gazed into the fire, an images entered their minds. They held fire-sticks aloft with their top pair of arms, and with the bottom pair, they scribbled what they saw on snakeskin parchment.

The next day, they ordered a group of warriors to leave with them on a long journey, and disembarked at once. They departed to Wearic, where they paid their respects to the Athletes and enlisted the aid of Serpent-sworn Halflings to carry them to the Tundra. Bypassing the Sutrum city of Umet, they harbored farther north and began their long trek to the south pole.

It was not friendly weather to those raised in warm swamps, but finally they made it. Reaching a spot their divinations had led them to, the began to dig beneath a snowdrift, and found a handle made of glass pulling it out, the priest revealed a blade of a blessed Norther weapon: the Glaurhaz, or more properly a single blade of the four.

The next twenty years saw the Syles plan, pray, and map out areas of the world, searching for the other blades. Finally, they began to narrow their quest, and with great daring, organized a party to climb atop Tarethon's mountains.

Avoiding the Lapedia and their kin was simple enough, so long as they remained atop the mountains, but their journey led them very close to the glasslands south of the windstorm, near the city of Oum Pran. They were not lucky enough to get through completely unscathed, however: their journey took them past a group of Ahgana and Ahkiln. Whether the Ahgana were Loyalists or Idealists or Spies for either faction (or spies for both factions), the Syles never knew. They only knew that they could not let their presence in Haroen's domain be known, and attacked. A struggle later, and a single Ahkiln survivor had escaped. The Syles cursed him for a coward, as any Syle would have stood for to the last lizard, but they could not catch him, and we're forced to move on. High in the mountains, overlooking the Labyrinth, a glass blade was found jutting from a stone.

During this time, Venin built up their forces, and Kabalisk directed Firststrike to do the same. Priests and prophets eagerly continued their search for the remainder of the Legendary weapon, but discovered a horrible truth: that the weapon could not be completed until they could advance deeper into the Glasslands...

Spending seven points on an event: the Syles discover half the Glaurhaz.

Spending five points to establish armies in Venin and Firststrike, one by Kabalisk. (Venin should now have three armies, Firstrike should have four).

Final Balance: 1

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. It will last 48 hours from this post, until midnight when Tuesday, the 6th, becomes Wednesday, the 7th.

Edit: This round will be the second-to-last round of the second age. After this round and the next one are completed, the third age will begin.

[Fiig]

The kindom had existed for a long time, and some of the cities were starting to distinguish themselves, Vein was already known far and wide in the world for its university and as the capitol of the Kindom. but

In Kinric the main export was lumber, timber and generally wooden items created by the carpenters, and in turn over the centuries they had become master carpenters and became known for it, through out the Kindom as the worlds best carpenters. With the abilities to make wooden object solely out of wood, by using the shape of the wood . The city

And in Souric some hundred years ago a some kinfolk had made the discovery that they could ferment various crops, fruits and honey, and turn it into all kinds of alcoholic beverages, they took advantage of the many local springs and the pure water from the mountains. Over the years the city had developed various technique and various families had developed their own specialities ranging from wine, mead and beer. Making the city known all over the world for it products.

In Vein Godric had the engineers at the university draw up a plans for Seagard, which would be built at Rivenric, to defend the gate to the Kinvally, against any attack from the outside. It took 40 years for the Kinfolk to build, but when it was finished it stood, protecting the coastline, and could shut off the waterway into the kinvally, The walls stood 20 meters high and 7 meter thick, with round towers every 100 meters, equipped with ballistas and armo ries. In the channel was built two tower to help hold a massive chain, which was the first line of defense, as it would prevent ships and the like from coming in, along the coast they build battlements, with ranged weapons designed to shot arrow with chains attached or to just make holes in the target so that they would sink.


4 points to advance Kinric, carpentry
4 points to advance Souric with alcohol? Dont know what to call it.
1 point to command avatar to command Rivenric to construct Seagard
11-9=2 points left
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4163801/
8+2+3=13 for next round

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4159157/)
Current Power Points: 7

"I did not seek relief from this pain, but to conquer it, and conquer it I have."

Haroen looked up from his brooding over the north, stunned, "Tu? Where are you?"

"Axis."

Haroen might have asked what he meant, but he didn't need to, for he understood where Silver was. Upon that day that the Mad God had sealed Silver away to suffer, Haroen had felt pain himself, for he still wished the pale Suturm would see reason and return to his people, but Axis had snuffed that hope, and he had a thousand reasons to despise the Dark God of Waters already, so the destruction of a dim hope was not much to him. Though now, something had changed, "How is it you speak to me, young rebel?"

"I learned many secrets from the Book, God Haroen. This particular one is simple. It's difficult to think through this plethora of agonies, but I am learning to act despite it. It has taken me over a hundred years, granted, but I can now collect and organize my thoughts through any amount of suffering, and conduct acts that breach the walls of this prison. I have conquered all pain. I hope to never face pain like this again, but if I do, now I know that I will be barely impeded."

"Why are you telling me this, Tu?"

Silver paused at that, "That's actually a good question. I don't need to update my enemy on my strengths. Maybe some madness has gotten past my walls. Talk to you later, need to organize my thoughts in a superior fashion," and those were the last words that Silver spoke that day.

Meanwhile, Haroen had been busy in the north, and after many years, Oasis was severing it's umbilical to the south. The pavilion had taken decades to root out, it had been so well made, but now it had been collapsed so thoroughly that no replacement pavilion would ever be able to be built in the same place again, leaving the Ahgana armies of Oasis to travel to Oum Pran for a greater fighting force.

The Ahkiln were not entirely happy about this, and fights would often break out in the streets between Ahkiln and Ahgana, but overall, they recognized the need for extra manpower, and some even respected the Ahgana's ability to obtain information on the enemies forces.

However, Haroen had also raised another army in Oasis, to help protect against any serpent-sworn uprisings, and to make sure the pavilion remained ruined.

Haroen felt weak, somehow… Something was draining him…

1 point to Command Oasis: Destroy the Pavilion.

4 points to Command Oasis: Raise an Army.

Other 2 Oasis armies transfer to Oum Pran.

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=6 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4162085/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 3
Power Roll: 2d6+3+1 → [2,2,3,1] = (8) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4164027/)

In preparation for the upcoming next age, Kabalisk entered the Eastern marshes, and gathered the Syles together. There, on its southern border, they began to hallow out tree trunks, and built their houses suspended in the branches. Kabalisk named this city Ossolaos., and decreed that it should stand firm to protect the city of Firststrike against any threats that may come from the south.

In the sulphur swamp, a group of Thiosyles gathered together and began building huts of Venomous Pseudowood at the base of the great fall, where the water of the lake flowed into the swamp from above. Here, they began their practice with alchemy, and found that the properties of the clean water could be used to make certain mixtures that acid-water could not. Because of the clean falls, they named their new home Wikemisst, after the white spray from the falling water, where everywhere else in the swamps the mist was either grey or yellow. Their alchemy business began to do very well, and soon others came to set up their own shops, or to trade the potions with other Syles throughout the marshes. This continued until a prosperous city had been built…

Slassksyyr looked down on his people and hissed with pride. They had become strong, and would perform honorably in their conquest of the North, regardless of the outcome. Still, it would not do to fail to tip the scales slightly in their favor. The Great Serpent turned his gaze to the depths of the ocean, and could feel the strange eye of the Incomprehensible Axis looking back at him...

Spending one point to have Kabalisk establish the city of Ossolaos on the southern boarder of the eastern marshes, south of Firststrike.

Spending four points to establish the city of Wikemisst, in the sulphur swamps, at the base of the falls where the lake pours into the swamp.

Not enough points for a good Catastrophe this turn. Work with Tu next turn…

Final Balance: 3

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 31 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4164148/)

Though it took many months, eventually the three Bright made their way to the great city of Soun Kiln. Though they had seen many wonders in their time, the city still managed to take the breath they didn't have away. It was then that they resolved to build a wonder like it, a underground mirror of the beautiful city made of gemstone rather than glass. But that was still a dream, then, and they entered the city with awe and respect.

There were some advancements I forgot to give: Advancing the Bright in politics, the Searchers in exploration and perception, and the Roughhewn in brutality.
Points Remaining: 11

[ImperialSunligh]

The Axis sits in the deep, ponderous. The invasion that Tu wrought upon the deep... unthinkable. How could this happen? The secrets of the world revealed to this... mortal, disgusting... something... The axis will turn... soon.

"Hmm," a deep groan escaped the axis. "I tire of this. Perhaps, I shall have fun soon. Two turns of the wheel. To the power of six, he falls. Or is it four? Heheheh."

Axis paused a moment, then continued with her usual business. It felt that the crazed were weak. They needed a new weapon. So the axis went to Lynn, the home of the Crazed, and watched them go about their lives. One among them stood out from the rest, an elder male named "Oran". He was the greatest among Lynn's berserkers, and had achieved such a state of fury through drug use that he never left it. The axis spoke unto him, "Oran, you please me. How would you like to rise above your mortal life, and become something greater?"

Of course, the axis knew it would get no reply. Oran was little more than an animal by now. That bestial rage, however, can be useful, the axis thought. He held the head of Oran and siphoned from him his addled soul, still filled with its fury. He went to the most talented blacksmith in the city, who was currently forging a spear to give to the reigning dictator. The axis' hands joined with the man, rubbing in Oran's soul as the man sharpened the spearhead and hewed the haft. The spear became possessed by Oran's fury, granting any wielder the same. The smith knew this first hand after killing his wife and child accidentally while testing the spear. When he came out of his fury, the blacksmith wanted not to give the spear to the dictator, only to destroy it or hide it away where no one would ever use it again, but the dictator heard of it from the investigation of the deaths, and decided he must have it. The spear, which was named after the recently deceased Oran for his might and fury, was kept in the palace of Lynn as a treasure of the current ruler, to be used in times of need.

Command city, Lynn: Create "Oran", -4

Next roll: 2d6+3+3=14 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4164344/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. It will last 48 hours from this post, until midnight when Thursday, the 8th, becomes Friday, the 9th.

This round will be the last round of the second age. After this round is completed, the third age will begin.

[Fiig]

In Graric some farmers tried to copy Souric fermentation process, but instead ending up creating the first cheese, which they quickly gathered could be very usefull, since the land around Graric was aplenty with various herds of animals, which the farmers herded. It didnt take them long to advance the techniques for making the various kinds of cheese, and it quickly became a large export from Graric.

In Landric, Savien inspired the local smiths to further their works, and they became Shikalis best smiths. Working all kinds of wonders with metals, the town became both known for it and very proud. Each year the City held large tournaments to find the best smiths and honor them.

In Verric, The most distant city from the capitol was very lax, and it showed in the general population of the city, as they had over the years become fond of entertainment, especially music, which they had begun to excel in.

Godric commanded an army to be raised in Wearic to protect it and maintain the peace in it.

4 points to advance Graric, Waric and Verric, with Cheese, Smithing and music
1 point to command avatar
leaving my powerpool at zero

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=6 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4162085/)
Current Power Points: 8

Haroen felt weak.

He hung in the far north, silent and still in his island of tranquility. Dread rose within him, and his ancient rage was stilled. He looked to the armies of Syles and Thiosyles lining up upon his doorstep and to the darkness in the deep which looked back to him, and which he knew would soon bring it's own destruction to bear.

He did not know what to do.

Ahgana and Ahkiln came to him to pay homage to their god, but he made no reply, and gave no praise. Soon, the people of the north grew worried and fearful. Armies started drilling daily and nomad tribes started giving the wind wall a wide berth, for fear of what lay beyond it.

Was this the beginning of the end? Had he created this haven, these Dry People, just to lead them into slaughter?

What would come if they fell? A long campaign of shattered glass and blood being spilled away from the wall, where it would plague the dry world? Would his people make their last stand at Soun Kiln, Fah Chaloum, with it's mountain barricades, or within the very rune that Haroen had crafted when he had summoned his eye? He had planned so much for them. Art and far more cities would have been erected, if only he had more time.

What of the Suturm?

He had been foolish to have made the Suturm. He had poured so much life and divinity into them when he had placed them at the very edge of the great darkness, a place of great danger. They were peaceful and wise, when they were in danger, and the energy he had used upon then would have been far better utilized upon the Ahkiln and Ahgana, who were now facing an age of death.

What of the other gods?

Tarethon had sent three emissaries into Soun Kiln two centuries ago, but, while they had been received with courtesy and curiosity, nothing had come of them. Meanwhile Savien was only concerned with his own people. He would not mourn the death of the north.

Still, he had to try.

Haroen sent a dry wind spiralling off the wall, into the Kinvale, carrying a message to Godric, son of Savien, who would then hopefully carry the message to his father, "Immortal child. The north is in danger, and we seek aid. All that is sought is peace and well being for the Ahgana and the Ahkiln. If you help us secure this, I will promise recompense and eternal friendship. We have much to offer. Ways to craft glass that rivals even the smithing of metal in Landric, and weapon crafting that even your finest blade masters would envy."

Though, he would have to see to his own defenses.

Of course, the Ahgana had suggested to him an interesting trick, and as the years passed, they had been planting seeds in the minds of high-ranking military officials in Firststrike. It was slow work, and required the use of espionage to craft entire family trees to the purpose of the Ahgana, but it came to be that one army of Syles possessed a strange interpretation of the racial Code of Honor. They believed that the Code allowed for all to retain honor, so long as no fighting occurred, and actually opposed the coming war.

This was a grand controversy.

Eventually it came to bear that the other Syle armies of Firststrike intended to cut down the Traitors, as they had been dubbed, but it was upon the eve of that slaughter, that the Ahgana came, in the middle of the night, and stole the entire army away into the north. The northerners wished for peace, after all, but the Syles would not have it. So, the armies of Oum Pran welcomed the Syles, and offered them a choice: fight for those who wished to be safe, or for those who wished that the others not be safe. It was hardly even a choice, after the decades of effort put into the creation of the army by the Ahgana.

Though, it was still not enough.

Haroen reached out with his winds, and spoke to a Ahkiln by the name of Teli Kav, who was a skilled stormcrafter as well as a master fortifier. The god spoke to him of a defense around the city of Oum Pran, one that would span the mountain passes, large and small. One made, not of stone, not of glass, not even of metal. But of lightning.

It was a grand project.

The undertaking took years, with razor-thin towers being erected along mountaintops, and runes being carved into the terrain itself. Miles and miles, it stretched, and when it was finished, lightning played from mountain-to-mountain, and a storm could be summoned up to rage down the entire length of the pass with the pull of a lever. Lightning strikes would roast dozens of men, and wind would slow the rest down so much that a 1-week trip would take 2 months. Dust swirled, clouding visibility and fouling food stores. The wall was no rival of the Wind Wall from World's Creation, but it also had something that the Wind Wall didn't: It would allow the northerners through.

Yet Haroen still felt weak.

7 points to create an Event where one Syle army defects to Oum Pran. (-1 army to Firststrike, +1 army to Oum Pran)

1 point to Command the Eye to Command Oum Pran to construct The Great Lightning Wall wonder.


Map
http://i.imgur.com/EQNnjzI.jpg

Current Power Points:
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4164538/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 3
Power Roll: 2d6+3+3 → [1,6,3,3] = (13) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4167174/)

In the middle of the Mad Ocean, a storm was brewing over the sea, fiercer than any seen before. The stormclouds began to distend, and reached to the surface of the ocean, spreading fog in every direction. Suddenly, the cloud flashed with green and expanded, though no mortal was there to see it. The only force there to witness it was the strange deity known as The Axis, and though he was mad, he could see quite clearly the form of another diety, the great winged serpent Slassiksyyr.

The fellow deity gave no salutation, nor any explanation: such trespassing by a deity on another diety’s domain was unprecedented, and the Serpent wished for it to last for no longer than necessary. In the mean, his bolt of venom passed by the Shapeless One, and shot into the unsearchable depths, straight to the ocean floor.

Slassksyyr reached out a clawed wing and tore into reality, opening a door only a god could open, and reached his head in to snatch his prize in his jaws. Only his nature as a divine protected him from the torture and madness in that pocket of reality. Then, rather than fleeing back the way he came, the Serpent followed his venom bolt into theocean floor, and entered the crevice it had carved into the earth, continuing to carve a path through the layers of the planet...

Deep in the dry north, a massive quake occurred in the plains of glass. With no further warning, the ground exploded like a great geyser, with glass stormclouds and flashes of lightening. It was in a remote location, though, and none of the northern natives were there save a select few Ahgana, who had been forewarned by Thiosyle Prophets, who they had met south of the ruins of the Oasis pavilion in secret, and even they were many miles off.

Slassiksyyr spat his bounty onto the ground, and retreated into the heavens with nary a word or gesture. Slowly, a bundle of flesh on the ground began to adjust to not experiencing torture of body and mind for the first time in centuries. Tu adjusted himself, and then released flashes of dark and eldritch magics into the air in fury. Eventually, his mind, which had lost none of its keenness though warped and tortured, began to catch up, and he looked around him, and took note of the situation.

Why would the god Slassiksyyr rescue me? Tu wondered. And why would he bring me…here. The glass plains. Of course. The Serpent is a god of war and barbarism, and I turned against Haroen. He expects me to cause chaos in the North, for his advantage. No…he’s cleverer than that. He’d probably suspect I would try to tilt the balance of his imminent war in my favor, which would likely prolong the war, or at least disadvantage Haroen’s creatures. The Serpent does not care if I choose for his children to live or die, so long as they fight. Well then. I could certainly use this situation. The book of the deep was a great loss, but the Axis disappointed me. Simple revenge, capture, and torture. Really, for a god of madness, I had not expected such a predictable reaction. But what’s this?

Here, Tu looked down, and saw that the earth had not closed, and a massive hole had been cut into the glass plains, that reached down farther than even he could see. That was not the most interesting thing, though. Rather, what caught his eye was what lined the tunnel to the center of the earth. The Great Serpent had not been completely unscathed by his strange voyage: the entire cavern was lined with divine snakeskin that had ripped off of Slassiksyyr as he had traveled.

Suddenly, Tu realized he was not alone. Turning, he saw a number of Ahgana, who had been forewarned of this event. They lowered their weapons, and told Tu to back away from the cavern. They, as the Serpent’s loyal children of the north, were to protect this relic from the forces of Haroen, lest they use it against them. Tu considered sending them off or destroying them briefly…but then, for a brief moment, a slight smirk appeared on the corner of his mouth. A city of Ahgana ordered to protect the skin of their god, in the stomping ground of their enemy? Oh, yes, he could use this situation…

So the Ahgana built a wall around the hole, and built a city around that. On the edge of the wall, a temple to the Serpent was built, and the city was named Vernell…

South of the windwall, in Firststrike, Kabalisk fumed over the defectors, and demanded another army be raised to replace them. As that was being built, Kabalisk stood at the edge of the Labyrinth, and poured marsh-spices onto a fire, to make a soothing incense. He prayed to Slassiksyyr, and considered the latest revelation Ahgana spies and Syle prophets had told him about: how would the Syles pass this lightning wall? There was no shame in a Syle to die, certainly, but no point in sending army after army to their deaths by lightning with hundreds of enemies sparing their lives through the effort. There was nothing to be done just yet, but there may be a chance…
Spending seven points for event: Slasiksyyr releases Tu from his prison and drills a hole from the mad ocean to the glass plains.

Spending four points to order the Ahgana to build the city of Vernell around the hole. (The city is located in some remote location in the glass plains, far from any other Akiln city. (Sorry to put one more city down right after you finishing the map!))

Spending one point to command Kabalisk to raise another army in Firststrike.

Final Balance: 1

[ImperialSunligh]

The axis stirred in its boredom. Perhaps a visit to Slassiksyyr's people would suffice to quell the boredom. Probably not, but he did so anyway.

The scaled Syles of Slassiksyyr swam in their swamp, free of madness, for too long. It was fun enough to play ally to the scaled god, but... such a concept as loyalty is alien to the axis, and that fact grows ever truer. So, the axis took the Syles into its paws, consuming the minds of a fraction of the population. They acted as normal, but now they began mumbling incomprehensible gibberish.

The gibberish, had anyone cared to record its specifics, could be matched to the sounds made by other maddened beings throughout the world that at this time seemed to replace their mangled poems and songs.

Additionally, the axis went north to the wind wall. She created from the essence of the barrier a race that thrived on it. The wind-beasts, they were known as, were not only able to survive, but thrived in the swift winds. They had the appearance of solidified wind, taking various forms. These forms each corresponds to a specific sex, of which there are 8:

1. Ram
2. Dove
3. Snake
4. Sword
5. Shield
6. Hawk
7. Tiger
8. Wheel

They are an intelligent race, despite their appearance, and have many of the capabilities that the other races have, including speech. They are fairly civilized, though as adherents of axis, they are somewhat prone to madness.

Satisfied for now, the axis descends into the depths once more.

Create Order of Mad Syles, -6
Create Race: Wind-beasts, -6
2d6+3+2=10 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4167424/)

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 14
(http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4167410/)

Eventually, the Bright had returned to their home and brought back their kin. A small population of Bright was eventually established in Soun Kiln, learning from the masters of glasswork. Soon, though, Bright began to trickle back to their home deep below the surface or strike out and explore the rest of the glass plains. Some were killed, some found new homes, some returned to the earth that birthed them, but eventually only a few remained in the great city. More were born, but the rate of reproduction is slow for creatures of stone. Still, they lived long enough that the tiny group in Soun Kiln never quite died out.

Almost from the moment of their creation, the Searchers were exploring new lands, venturing above the land The first of them split into several groups, roaming the fertile land Savien had given his creatures and the stone below. They never remained in one spot long enough to establish a city, but soon grew to have an understanding of the terrain of the Kinvally and Tarethon's tunnels that spread underneath it. It was not long before the Searchers encountered halflings, and dragons. While friendly, their desperate curiosity was offputting to some. However, as it took long for entire tribes to move far across the land, it would be many years before they came across one of the great cities of the halflings.

Through it all, the Lapidea prepared for greater diplomatic missions, and the Roughhewn refined their arts of cruelty.

Commanding the Sired of Stone to raise another envoy and advancing the Forsworn in cruelty. It's different from brutality!
Power Remaining: 8

[Rith]

In the Changing Days

It is no longer the time to create life or to nourish and strengthen it, but to allow it to act, to guide it forward towards it's own goals. Wars will be fought, nations will rise, relics will be lost, and friendships will be forged. Spies will always watch from the shadows, and magic will always be spiralling out of control.

The Syles and the Thiosyles face Ahkiln and Ahgana along the Northern Wind Wall, as a new force, the Wind Beasts, have appeared between.

Stone men stir from underground, taking their first steps into a new world.

An empire of Kinfolk flourishes, but soon it must act as well, or it will fester.

A rogue Suturm with silver eyes roams the world, acting in shadows.

The Suturm sit in peace and thought, but also must soon act, lest they fall into memory.

Dark things wait in the waters, looking for their chance to strike.

Welcome to age 3.

[Fiig]

Savien felt the change in his divine power, and then he knew certain acts would be harder, but he would be able to gather power faster than before, though before who could finish the thoughts he felt another divine presence in the Kinvally, Haroen the dry one, had paid a visit to his son. Not long after Godric called for Savien, to ask for his guidance. Savien did not care much for the north, but it was Haroens domain not Slassksyyr though his syles were trying to invade the North. Savien understood that the fear held Slassksyyr against Haroen, but Haroen had seen the error of his ways. And had no longer a wish to make war on the south.

It took such a long time for Savien to get his thoughts in order, that Godric fear no answer would come, but finally Savien spoke

"My son, remember what i learned so long ago, when i first started to shape the land on Shikalis, and you will have your answer"

Godric had the sacred text brought to him, and read the passage when Savien realised that there must always be balance. Godric had found his answer, he commanded four armies raised.

One in Swaric to ensure the city safety, it consists of heavy infantry

One in Rivenric to post an army upon Seagard

And lastly one army of dragonriders and one of cavelry both of which were ordered to prepare for departure along with the first legion of dragonriders.
It took a few years to prepare the three armies in Vein, and there was a great celebration at the departure, the people drank many toast to the brave young kinfolk, who were to depart, some of who may not live to see their home again. In the months leading up to the departure the small temples saw a great many weddings, by sweethearts who choose to speed up their courtship, because of the departure. Mean while ships brought supplies to Vein. Armor and weapons from Waric, wardogs from Lainric and ofcourse food from all over the Kindom.
And finally in the summer the ships departed

The armies were brought to Graric, which had the nearest harbour, from where they started the march onwards, with Godric himself as their supreme commander. Godric made sure that each night the guards surveyed the area, and patrols kept the armies safe from ambush.




http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4168344/
8+3=11 for this round
3*3=9 command race to raise army
1 point to command avatar to raise army
1 point to place avatar in command of three armies

[ImperialSunligh]

A daft grin burned across the halfling-esque face of the axis. He took the form for his next plan. The axis tired of his old duty. The damned thought that the depths contained some secret that he must protect... a waste. There is no great secret. In truth, those who seek these secrets gain only sadness and insanity. Let them have it, the axis decided.

No, there is nothing to keep the axis from his fun now. The halfling of ambiguous gender emerged from the depths of the northern sea, dark avatar in tow. In the moonlight, the axis' black hair shone menacingly, and its mangled face was barely visible behind long, dark curtains. They walked forward, to the halfling city of Vien, ignoring any halflings on the way. They had a goal in mind, a delicious prize.

The axis entered the city. No one was able to stop him. He simply faded through the gates. He walked right into Godric's palace.

The halflings, unable to see the dark avatar, thought the axis a mere halfling. Voices called out at him to leave, crying treason. The axis ignored them all. Godric was not at the throne. The axis chuckled.

"So, he is with his armies. How noble," the axis snicked. The Axis pulled Godric from his army to his people. He could kill him in Graric, but this was so much more fun. At hearing his protests, the axis said nothing. Axis swiped his tongue across Godric's face, tasting him. He tasted good. The axis teleported himself and Godric to the highest tower in the city. He, along with his avatar, nailed Godric to a cross, leaving him for his people to see, helpless.

"Now, Godric, I know that your master can bring you back if you die, that is not outside his power. And so, I will get as much suffering out of you as I can muster. This is one of the ways. Then, I will dispose of your body."

Godric remained resolute until the end. Several days passed, and Godric passed with them. The axis took his body and cooked it into a massive stew. He presented the stew to the halflings of the city as a gift. He sat his avatar, who took the appearance of a blonde halfling named "Alexander", on the throne, and informed the people of Vien that from now on, the axis would not leave the mad halflings to fester. He would lead the halflings, and all mad, into a glorious war, and much fun will be had. Many halflings tried to kill the axis, of course, and the axis simply ignored them and laughed at their desperation. He informed them that races do not belong to one god alone. The axis will make it clear that he can play with whatever toys she wishes.

Catastrophe: Kill Godric and move the dark avatar to Vien, -10

Next Turn: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4168463/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 1
Power Roll: 2d6+1+3 → [2,6,1,3] = (12) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4169216/)

Slassiksyyr looked down on his Syles running mad and singing. No anger could he rise at the sight. Such an event was hardly unpredicted, and would not bother him or his people so long as they could still fight and still knew what Honor was.

Kabalisk, avatar to the Great Serpent, the ancient Syle twice the height of his peers, ached for war. He did not dare to march the Syles to certain doom, however, and sat pondering, like a crocodile staring at its prey with its eyes barely breaching the surface of the water. Then, as though in sure range of his prey, he struck.

Kabalisk ordered a group of priests to begin a ritual to send a message to the Academic Syles, who still lived in the Kingdom of the Halflings and attended their university, and ordered them to find an armor that that could withstand lightning.

The academic Syles began their experiments, and found that withstanding the lightning was simple enough, as the Syle’s armor was mostly transmuted wood or reptileskin, and these would not burn or conduct. The trick came in discovering a way to channel lightning away from the wearer of the armor completely. It took years of tinkering, and many generator explosions, but they succeeded. The task then came to transport them.

Here, they were given a surprise: Serpent-Sworn Halflings had been raising dragons to Honor, and to fight, and to serve the Great Serpent. These Dragons decorated themselves with war paint, and stood ready to serve the Syles. A contingent of Dragons and Riders took off, bearing as many of the lightning-proof suits as possible, their sights set on Firststrike…

Spending three points to Command Race: Construct Lightning-resistant Light Armor.

Spending Four points to create an order of Serpent-Sworn Dragons.

Final Balance: 5

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4164538/)
Current Power Points: 9

A counter-offensive was forming, and for the first time in an æon, Haroen felt hopeful. Armies were forming in Vein, Dragonriders and Kinfolk marching out of the Kinvale to meet the Syles in battle alongside the northerners. The uplifting of Haroen's spirit could be felt across the glasslands. Nomad tribes began venturing out further, Welak Ohred began seeing much more traffic as the northerners sought to relax, and soon even those manning the Great Lightning Wall, the north's first line of defense, could be seen dancing on occasion, breaking from their constant vigil.

The armies of Oum Pran readied themselves, preparing to march upon Firststrike, should Godric decide to strike before the Syles. However, even as they planned their battle strategy, the unspeakable happened, and Godric was murdered in a way most horrific. The northerners had no knowledge of this, but Haroen felt the disturbance as though a knife had been dug into his own stomach.

Shock and outrage paralyzed the god of the dry for a time, but after a time he came to his senses, and knew, such horror would not be brought upon any ally of his without recompense.

Yet, he did not know how to act. To remove the blight upon Vein and restore Godric would have to be by Savien's hand, Haroen would not have any influence in the matter. No, the only act which he could bring to bear would be a great, direct act of divine influence. Even as he thought about it, he found, he had a weakness in his sole dedication to his own creations, a weakness that the repulsive Axis, who wormed it's way into many societies, did not have.

He would have to counteract this.

Haroen spoke to the Suturm attending classes at the University, "My children. It has been too long that you are the only ones south of the wall to know my blessings. I ask that you spread word of what I have gifted to you to the Kinfolk, and perhaps even to the Syles and Lapidea who attend the University with you."

So the Suturm began to talk about their god, and how he had brought himself into what should have unmade him, just to create their race. They spoke of his empathy and his lack of foresight. His joy and his rage. His artistry and his structure.

Soon letters from University Syles came back to their cities far away in the swamps, and while many were dismissed as foolish or insane, some gained purchase, and the seeds of Dryness were placed in the Syle people. Meanwhile, the Kinfolk who truly admired the proud god of the north, and who fully supported the armies of the Kindom marching to help the glasslands came together to form the Artist Guild, which spat at the name Alexander, standing aloof from the current state of Vein, and in honor of their preferred god, worked with glass and dance, but also song, architecture, and woodwork, in respect to their creator's gifts.

Far south, Strangled were also seen talking to Suturm, and their brilliance and wisdom, at their most influential, actually seemed to wake a dim self-awareness in the Strangled, who lacked true minds. They spoke of many things, then. Of the foolishness and the follies of their own god, and of how they dimly appreciated the acts of Haroen resulting in their waking. Thus a thin church to the Dry God spread through the deep waters, and they called themselves 'The Awake'.

Though, now that he had the pieces, what would he use them for?

Haroen debated on this for a time, but, feeling the urgency of the situation, did not spend as long as he usually would have, only a month, before he came to his conclusion.

The Dry God sent a whispering wind to the University, where the Artist Guild and the Suturm were going about their lives. He told the Artists Guild to speak with the Suturm, to learn riddles and logical tricks that would fool any creature into revealing their true purpose. He told the Suturm to use their deduction and logic to find the Mad Kinfolk, wherever they might be. Together he had them act upon a single order: impede Axis. With the Suturm deducing the identity of the Mad, and then the Artists Guild bamboozling them into revealing their true nature, soon Axis's shaky grip on the Kindom was all but pried away entirely.

Still, Haroen felt ever weaker, and, unbeknownst to him, the source of his weakness was now free, and wandering the north, shaping power from the god, bit by bit.

1 point to Command the Eye to Create Order inside the Strangled: The Awake.

4 points to Create Order inside the Halflings: the Artists Guild.

2 points to Command the Artists Guild of the Halflings to impede the Mad of the Halflings and their ability to influence the Halflings.

2 points to Command the Church of Haroen of the Suturm to impede the Mad of the Halflings and their ability to influence the Halflings.

Current Power Points:
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4168993/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. The round will last 48 hours from this post, until midnight when Monday, the 12th, becomes Tuesday, the 13th.

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 14 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4170005/)

The destruction of such a piece of divinity resounded through Shikalis, and caused Tarethon to rise from the deeps of the earth from the first time in centuries. As he broke through the surface, he brought the earth with him, and soon a towering spire rose above the mountains. From this spire, looking down through the earth at the rest of Shikalis.

He saw, through the miles of earth and caverns, his mistake, the stain on the earth that he had wrought. And he would have destroyed them. But as he raised his hand to strike them down before they could destroy the works of other gods, he discovered that he could not. He had poured so much divine energy, so much of his own essence, into them that he had not the power to erase them. And as he watched with horror, they discovered the surface, and with bounding strides long and bodies that needed none of the frail insistences of flesh, they set off to discover new life and rip it to shreds.

Spending 6 points to advance the Forsworn in some kind of bare-handed combat, perhaps I'll call it Rending, 3 points to raise a virtual city (mobile) of Forsworn, 3 points to raise an army from it, and 1 point to command the Sired of Stone to raise a diplomatic army. I realize that I missed the round and earned a strike, this will stand as my first post of the new round. Oh, and I'm also creating a massive spire above the first inch of caves I created, which should be in the center of the map (below Fiig's fertile plain), which I'm calling the Throne, but I'm not sure what kind of point expenditure that is, so I may have to wait and spend the points next round.
Power Remaining: 1

[ImperialSunligh]

Edit: sorry, this was meant to go in OOC. I'll make this into my post later.

[Fiig]

1+3+8=12 points for this round
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4172070/

Savien was outraged by the Axis Madness, was the Axis truly so insane, as to kill another god's avatar on Shikalis. Savien did not know why, the Axis had killed Godric and then prepared his remain in a preposterous way. Such an insults made the acts of Slassiksyyr and Haroen pale in comparisson.

The Axis had gifted the stew in which the Axis had cooked Godric to Vein, where it had been scattered in all directions. And while resurrecting Godric would be easy, Savien needed all the remains. Savien spent a year and a day to find all the pieces.

meanwhile the Kindom was tearing itself apart with resistance against the false king, for while the kinfolk was stunned with the news of Godric death, the Mad halflings struck, often a rebellious group would be struck down by members that suddenly reveal to be mad. In Wearic a large group was captured when their own leader reported them, elsewhere the fighting began and then stopped, just to begin again, the mad halflings were more numerous than expected, but they lost many members by steel in that year.

Savien found all pieces of Godric, some were hidden away, one piece was kept by a mad halfling named Simur, who had not touched the gift and wished to save it for later, most of it were simply there, though a piece had reached all the way to the black waste. But in the end Savien found them all, Savien went to the first place on Shikalis he had touched, then whistled into the sky, and at dusk came Godric's phoenix Savien spoke a word and the bird died, falling down onto Godric's remains.
It only took a few minutes before the flames stood high and blue, for all to see for miles, after an hour the flames died out and Godric open his eyes, as his Phoenix cried out.

"Godric my son", Savien said, "I am sadden that you had to suffer by the hands of the mad, but i shall aven...", but before Savien could continue, Godric held his hand up and said, "Father, you must do what you have to, and though i wish we could share this moment, the Kindom awaits me and needs me, for as the the Axis killed me, i saw his twisted avatar and how it enjoyed my pain, i can not and will not let it sit upon my throne, any longer" and so Godric turned and left Savien, who let a single tear of pride fall onto the ground where it created a spring of fresh water.

After Savien pondered how to avenge this atrocity which the Axis had committed, but all his plans, no matter how clever, devious or wrathfull, all would be laughed upon and enjoyed by the Axis. The Axis and his mad people, then Savien knew what he would do, he would give the Axis exactly what he wishes for madness, utter madness. Savien went to his forge there he crafted three moons, which he placed in orbit of Shikalis, in such a way that they were utterly predictable, by complex mathematics one could even predicts the wheather, but most important the luna cycles, which would repeat. Savien went to the strangled and tied their minds to the cycle, so they matched the cycle, so that certain kinds of madness would rise to extreme levels. like when the moons go red, solar eclipses, the night with no moons, the night with one moon, the night of three moons or the sea moons when the moons appear larger than normal just above the horizon, lunar eclipse and the blue moon

one night many strangled would go mad with lust of killings, another destructive, confused, frightened, inert, panicked and once a year utterly sane.

5 points avatar resurrection
7 points for an event, strangled lunacy
Next round
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4172142/
i plan to make a better list, than the one is gave, it will be a table where the event is next to the effect

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=7 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4168993/)
Current Power Points: 7

The environment in Oum Pran was strange.

Ahgana, Ahkiln, and Syle commingling over half a century. The city no longer had a culture as it had once had, of pure Ahkiln influences. Now the fearless Syles, the proud Ahkiln, and the sharp Ahgana had moulded together, blurring cultural lines, and now there were entire streets where gourmet transmuted rocks were sold alongside normal glass steaks, still crackling with electricity from the grill they had been pulled off of. Syles were small here, where they had been tall in the rest of the world, but their guts and fearlessness earned them the respect of their fellows, and friendly brawls with a Syle were often considered some of the most fun. There was always the danger of blood or spittle spilling moisture into the wet lands, but eventually this became less frightening, and was only net with offended cries of disgust. Though, the Syles, with their abilities of transmutation were able to keep anything wet from remaining so. The city also developed holidays and festivals over the years, such as the festival of the Twin Storms, which celebrated the strange similarities between Slassiksyyr and Haroen.

The arrival of the Kinfolk coincided with this festival, and the tiny men in their bright armor and shining weapons riding their giant lizards and wolves marched into the city streets, to the sound of singing from a few dragons wheeling overhead. The city would likely be a strange and confusing place, to them, without food as they knew it, and dry as the desert that Savien had once forged.

The songs of the Kinfolk filled the night, and the magnificent dancing of the Ahkiln and Ahgana matched that music in beauty. Elsewhere, dragons watched Ahkiln battledancers spar with Syle brawlers for hours on end, debating the merits of each strategy in turn.

However, it was during these festivities that word of the Syle army on the march came, and Ezzo Las, the current highest wielder of stormcrafting in the land, took the Zlain from it's resting spot, while the food was left on it's plates, music ended in mid-note, walls were manned, bridges were drawn up, and the Great Lightning Wall was drawn into full energy.

It was silent for some time, then, as the mixture of races stood atop the glass walls, peering into the roaring wind and crackling lightning, waiting for the first enemy to come forward.

Then they saw them. The Walking-Stick Dragons stalking slowly through the dust, and the Mulambus slipping out of the wind. Lightning attempted to strike at them, but something was deflecting the bolts, and behind the creatures came row after row of crocodile-headed Syles. The thirteen armies stared at each other with menace across that stretch just before the ancient city of Oum Pran.

Then it all happened at once. Arrows were nocked and let fly. Rockets soared into the wind. Walking-Stick Dragons surged forward, closing the distance in a second and beginning to scale the walls. Fire was launched into the air, and the army charged. Wind was summoned, knocking arrows asside, lightning struck rockets in mid-air, glass caught flame full on and pushed through. Spikes traps were fired to catch the climbers mid-stride, sending then tumbling back down to their death. Behind it all, Ezzo Las raised the Zlain, the greatest weapon ever crafted, putting it to it's full use for the first time in all of history, and it was revealed why Ran Pellor had once claimed that the weapon, if ever finished, would break the world…

Tornados touched down across the battlefield. The sky burst and ten million lightning bolts leapt forth to melt the glass beneath the Syle's feet. Sandstorms blew in, so heavy that they buried entire squads in seconds. However, it wasn't enough, as paths were suddenly transmuted, leading out of the chaos, and fire was crafted to turn away from the feet of the Syles. The Mulambus were scaling the walls and avoiding the fortifications, driving the Defector Syles to pepper them with arrows and fire, as Ahkiln and Ahgana danced back and forth between Syle brawlers.

For days and nights, the conflict roared, until, at last, blood sizzled on the still-red-hot glass, and the last tornado was fading, and all of the Syles that remained was Kabalisk, the gigantic leader of the army, and a few of his immediate guard. Even as they turned away, as the Thiosyles had once turned back into the Underground Sulfur swamps south of Oasis, the combined armies of the north, who had not lost even half of their number, cheered. Much death had been dealt here today, and the North would grieve, but they could feel it. This had been a magnificent fight, and the Syles, the warmongers, had been dealt such a crushing defeat today that they had to cheer.

Haroen, who had been watching in the sky above, had to smile, despite the field of death beneath his feet. With a touch of his wind, and his laughter, a truly beautiful bird burst into existence above the city. Silver, blue, and gold feathers, a long neck like a swan, and even as the victors witnessed it and heard it's cry, they were fill with happiness and joy. They dubbed it the Victory Bird, and it was respected, for those who would seek to kill or punish a victory incarnate, would be forever cursed for their bitterness.

Haroen left the northerners to their work or drying out their lands, as they gathered up the bodies to carry back south to Firststrike, in respect of their enemies, while the Kinfolk and the army of Ezzo Las departed to go defend Oasis, where the Thiosyles were trying to break through.

Haroen surged back into the distant south, and the Suturm could feel his happiness. They turned their faces to the sky, wondering what precisely had happened. Haroen did not give them time to contemplate it, and immediately spoke, "My children! The northerners are strong and safe! They have defended themselves and won a titanic victory this very day!"

As the Suturm cheered, Haroen continued, "Now that I know they are secure, I will turn my attention to you, my children, who have been too long untouched by me, for I was focused so intently on the north. First things first. You must spread your nation further! Found another city on the great land of ice. You may choose it's structure and it's placement. Now, if you will excuse me, I am on the mood to create!"

So, as the Suturm planned the structure of their new city, Onel, Haroen plunged into the ocean, hardly noticing the pain that water still brought him, and found a manta ray, which he had once based the Suturm off of, and taking it in his hands, he shaped it into a great beast, kilometers wide, and sluggish. Whales drifted alongside it like remoras next to a shark, and even Pain Serpents fled before it's immense jaws. It would surface every few years, and bask in the sun for a year or more, becoming an island in a featureless sea.

Once this Titan Manta had been made, he turned to the land of ice where the Suturm were building Onel, and took the white bears that wandered there, filling them with power over the cold, and from then onward, wherever they stood, it was winter, and ice would form everywhere. He was not pleased with this alone, however, and decreased their size considerably, until they were like cubs of their original kind, and then, he gave it an erect back and thumbs, as he gave it some faint touch of knowledge, not enough to make it an actual race, but enough that it could speak and make clothes for itself. It gave itself the name "Ice Cub".

Lastly, in this fit of creation brought on by his joy, he turned to the forests in the middle of the world, and found a small lizard. He took a dozen of these creatures, and, carefully, linked their minds, while increasing their size to that of a wolf, and granted them serpentine heads and necks, much like the Dust Jaguars of the north, along with a venomous bite, and agile limbs. Together these dozen lizards formed the first Basilisk Hive.

1 point to Command Eye to Command Suturm to found Onel, on the northern coast of the ice lands where Umet is.

1 point to create the Victory Bird. A blue, silver, and gold bird with abilities to control emotion and wind, and to curse anyone who seeks to harm it.

1 point to create the Titan Manta. A kind of island fish, but a Manta Ray, and several kilometers across.

1 point to create the Ice Cubs. A race of semi-intelligent pseudo-fey spirits, who look like half dwarf and half polar bear, with natural ability to control and manipulate ice and cold.

1 point to create the Basilisk Hive. A fast, venomous lizard about the size of a dog, which hunts in a pack, with a hive mind, acting as one creature.

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=13 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4171323/)

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 5

Power Roll: 2d6+5+3 → [5,5,5,3] = (18) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4172324/)

With their armor donned, the Syles looked fierce. With the Lightning-redirectors attached, they actually looked rather silly, but were no less deadly for it. Kabalisk spent a few months gathering more of the reptiles into Firststrike, and arming them for war, before leading five armies of Syles entered the labyrinth, headed for the city of glass: Oum Pran.

On the other side of the labyrinth, many weeks later, they were met with an equal number of armies: two platoons of the tall and sleek Ahkiln, two troops of flexible and sly Ahgana, and an army’s worth of traitors, who believed that Honor was to be found in preventing as much killing as they could. If their honor truly called them to such a decision, no Syle would condemn them for it, but their own Honor would not permit them to let them live.

An army of Syles charged forward, and the Ahkiln activated their wall of lightning. Bright bolts rained down from the sky, but the grand majority of the reptiles withstood it, with only a few defective suits failing their owner and leaving his body charred and prone. Reaching the outer wall, the Syles began to surmount it in every way possible. Some threw transmutation potions into the wall, eroding it away. Some priests prayed and divined weakness in the wall. The calvary atop their serpentine Merambus and the thin but mighty Walking-Stick Dragons scaled it quickly, while some used their own four arms. Even as the Syles fell on the city, they were constantly receiving blows from glass weapons and lightning bolts from above. The Syles were resilient, fierce, and numerous, but the Ahkiln and Ahgana were extremely coordinated in their attacks, and had a number of quick-thinking leaders.

As Syles made it over the defenses and into the the thick of the fighting, many would be felled by finely-executed sword-dances. Not helping at all were how well-made their fortifications were, and the arrows that came down from the traitor Syles. From the back, other armies of Syles proceeded to launch their own arrows back.

The giant Kabalisk gave a roar, fell to all sixes, and charged ahead, ramming into several troop and throwing them every which way. Eager Syles formed around him, but chaos hit the ranks as the other Northern Weapon, the Zlain, summoned twisters onto the battlefield.

A brawler would leap onto a stormcrafter and break his arms.

A priest, praying for guidance to the Serpent, would be spotted by a leader and struck through with a glass spear.

A Walking-Stick Dragon rider would pounce upon an Ahgana and drop a ball of burning moss onto him.

A Merambus rider would be hit by a sudden gust of wind, and would be sent tumbling into a pit of glass spikes.

In the end, two of the Northern Troops were felled, but all of the Syles were dead or dispersed. Kabalisk, seeing the invasion had failed, ordered the last survivors back. In shame, they returned to Firststrike, though they were treated well for having fought bravely.

Hearing of the Defeat, many Syles were divided. Some wished merely to cease from fighting, while others breathed that such a defeat would not have been suffered had they been able to fight. News of The strange cultural melting pot that was Oum Pran encouraged some and sickened others, who defied any who dared defend the honor of the warriors who had turned against their own. Still others declared the honor of the Ahkiln, who of their own volition transported the dead to the marsh and their families.

While opinions wavered throughout the green marsh as the diviners and prophets spread the news, the sulphur swamp was neigh-unanimously stirred on to greater feats of conquest. Diving the pavilion's destruction, they prepared a new method: they learned to carve venomous pseudowood into a collapsible frame, and covered the frame with a strong film made from a fungus. This fungus had remarkable properties: when tempered, it would be strong enough to block out the wind and temperature, but still thin enough that one could breathe through it, provided that one could breathe sulphuric fumes. The resulting mesh was useless as armor, but could be made to fit any shape, even the serpentine Sulfambus they would ride.

Eager to succeed where they had failed before, the Thiosyles built up army after army, training them for battle...

Spending one point to have Kabalisk establish one more army in Firststrike. Before going to war.

Spending two points to command Venin to invent Sulphuric Environment Suits to aid them through the windstorm.

Spending twelve points to raise six armies two points to raise one army in Venin (total 4), sorry for the rules mixup.


Final Balance: 3 13

[ImperialSunligh]

The axis remained in the city of the halflings, watching his avatar "lead" the people, as far as that was possible. He saw many a desperate halfling pound their fists till bleeding upon Alexander's body, but to no avail. He knew that the child of Savien would soon return to the land of the halflings. How interesting that would be, so perhaps he shall give him some fun on the way. So the axis created four great beasts, one a snake with the head of a man, the next a snake with the head of an eagle, another snake with the head of a bull and finally, a snake with the head of a lion. They were granted great magical power from the depths of insanity. They were sent out to populate the area of the kinvally, to make it a more interesting place.

Alexander organised an army comprised of mad halflings and halflings too afraid to resist conscription to defend the city of Vien should Godric dare return, and kill him once again. He led it, his spirit an example for all the mad.

Another army was created in the same city as well, by the axis, similar in organisation, and was to be an offensive force to be sent out against someone. To whom was not something decided yet, or something that really mattered.

On the recent events with the strangled... axis noticed. That is all. The strangled have grown exceedingly boring to it, and unless it feels in the future that there is necessity to, it sees no reason to care.

1 x 4 to create the "Four Snakes of the World"
1 to command Alexander/the dark avatar to create an army including himself and use it to defend Vien
2 to create an army for offensive purposes

Next: 2d6+3+2=14 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4172546/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. The round will last 48 hours from this post, until midnight when Wednesday, the 14th, becomes Thursday, the 15th.

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=13 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4171323/)
Current Power Points: 15

The Suturm looked towards the sky, and, with the help of The Awake, who struggled against the Lunacy, noticed that the moon's pattern were beginning to affect the minds of the Strangled race. They believed that if they were to understand how or why the stars were affecting the minds of the insane this way, they would be one step closer to unraveling the secrets of psychology.

Haroen, in the sky above, still glad for the recent victory in the north, noted this strange belief, and while he knew that the secrets of the sky would not help them discern the secrets of the mind, he felt that, perhaps, it was time for them to branch out, and develop a new understanding of the world, and astronomy would indeed help them in the long run.

So, Haroen called the Suturm to a cluster of zinc pillars which towered above all the rest, their thin, gray, warped forms stretching higher into the sky than any pillar in this entire land of pillars. As they gathered, alighting at the tips of the swaying metal and popping up out of the water far below, Haroen spoke, "Suturm. I have a request of you, much similar to the last request I gave, so many years ago. Psychology has proved to be the most elusive knowledge of all you have known, but I still have faith in your ability to find it. However, now, I ask that you turn your minds outward, instead of inward, and look towards the sky. Construct a city at the heights of these pillars, spanning across them, where you are closest to the stars, and construct mirrors and lenses from Umet. Use these things to create ways of taking closer looks at the cosmos, and understand the universe as a whole. It will be as difficult as mapping the mind, but I have full faith that you can achieve it. Good luck, my children."

So, the Suturm constructed the city of Pomilus, from the metal. They discerned the shape of the stars, of the solar system. They witnessed planets, moons, asteroids, phenomenons, and nebulae by the millions, and despite all of that which they had witnessed, they had still barely scratched the surface. So much information of the universe came from this study of the universe, that it began influencing other areas of their society. Philosophy was changed by the knowledge, and Logic and Deduction changed the knowledge itself. Some stargazers even dreamed of leaving Shikalis, to reach those other worlds.

So, happy with the knowledge of the Suturm, Haroen turned back north, and looked to how his people were doing. What he saw along the way, however, gave him pause. Axis was entrenching himself in the city of Vein, and his Artists Guild was having little success against him, even with their Suturm allies. Meanwhile, at his own doorstep, were nine armies of Thiosyles, a host greater than any before ever mustered. Almost the entirety of the Thiosyle people had been turned towards war.

It dawned on Haroen at that instant that he had wasted his power upon granting the Suturm knowledge, and upon granting the world all those fascinating creatures. No, he had to gear up for a war which would never end, for Slassiksyyr would never rest until he had stolen into the north, which would never happen. Thus, Slassiksyyr would never rest, and the war would never end.

He needed a way to ensure a time of peace, so that he could focus some small piece of his divine will upon creation of beautiful things in this world. So, as a great, dry wind, Haroen met with the savage, wet wind that was Slassiksyyr, and as the two gods conversed, lightning flashed across the entire world.

"Hear me, God of the Wet Storm. I seek to parley. You power is wasted upon simple destruction of a people, my fellow god. I once dreamt to be as you are now. Destroying a single land my only purpose in being, but I have since seen the error in such a folly, and sought to change. Mayhaps, for you, change is a grander task, but it is the correct act. Though, if not change, then I ask you for a truce. Your people will be allowed into the glasslands. As they so desperately seem to want to visit, and in exchange, you will not attack. The inverse would also be allowed. Of course, if you will not hear my words, Wet Storm, then answer my question instead. What is it that you so desperately want of my domain?"

As the twin storms coiled high in the sky above, however, a pair of silver eyes peered at them from beneath a pitch-black cloak atop a mountain.

Silver smirked at the sight of two gods discussing their differences, but did not stay long to contemplate it. He had many tasks to complete. With a flap of his wings, he lifted himself off the ground, the glass tied to his night-black clothing tinkling as he glided down the side of the mountain, and out, into the open air above the forests of the equator. He flew much faster than a normal Suturm, or even a dragon, or even the newly created Victory Birds, for that matter, faster than any creature on the world, save a god, but he still had to fly for hours to reach his goal, as rivers and fields flashed beneath his wide wingspan. He danced around Souric, then past Lainric, before coming to rest, a shadow setting foot on the streets of Waric at midnight.

He paid a visit to the greatest smith in that great city, not waking him, but instead weaving a spell that allowed him to slip into his dreams, and plant suggestions where he wanted. This grand smith, the greatest steelworker in the world, would soon act towards Silver's ends.

The next day, the smith joined the Artists Guild, and over the next few years, began bringing together an army of the most intelligent Kinfolk to have ever lived, and clad them in a kind of armor he said he had seen in a dream, which was not very efficient, but was instead the most efficient and mobile desk anyone had ever dreamt up. The entire left arm was covered in a plate which acted as a writing surface, complete with clips to keep the papers stationary should the arm need to be dropped. The right-hand gauntlet contained inkwells which could refill a quill by touching it with the fingertip, not to mention several quills which could be popped out with the flick of a wrist. Paper of every type, material, and purpose was stashed in the leg compartments, and measuring tools, scales, protractors, levels, and everything else was stored in the chest compartment. Even the helmet contained lenses and guiders which could be flipped on and off.

Meanwhile, Silver was elsewhere, swimming into the well-guarded streets of Gard, where he whispered notes of madness to passerby's, who didn't notice, so often they had heard random babbling in the streets. His spells were having effect, however, and soon the Strangled were fully gone to his influence. It only took a single whispered instruction before they acted upon his will, and the city was allowed to drift on the currents, free of it's shoring, as Silver went his way, and the Strangled used their magic to lift the city out of the water, as it neared Second, and drifted over land, to drift back down, into the swamp, between Firststrike and Ossalaos.

Silver grabbed hold of a Titan Manta, feeling a little lazy after these last few years. And smiled to himself as he let the beast take him where he was to go. He wondered when anyone would realize what he was doing, or if Haroen would realize that Oasis had a new army in it, a relic from Silver's time in the north.

6 points to Advance the Suturm with Astronomy.

1 point to Command Eye to Command Suturm to found Pomilus.

2 points to Command Waric to raise an Army of Engineers.

2 points to Command Gard to relocate to the swamps between Firststrike and Ossalaos.

2 points to raise an army of Ahgana in Oasis.

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4172681/)

[Fiig]

When Godric arrived in Isleric and heard of the dark lord, who had stolen his throne he knew he would have to fight to get it back and quickly, he traveled around to the cities of Isleric, Graric, Rivenric, Lainric, Kinric and Waric to raise armies, and had them gather at Rivenric where he came with the last army himself.

they arrived quickly with the aid of the northern fleet, which was still in Godric command.

After the armies arrived Godric lead them to Vein, where the city gates were open by the dragonrider army he had left behind, when he thought he was going to war in the north. And their commanding officer told Godric about Alexander, the dark avatar of the Axis and how he had raised an army of the mad and scared

Godric knew he couldnt not know what to expect so he had chosen to come in full force, In order to secure the city.

2*5 points to command city to raise army, in Graric, Rivenric, Lainric, Kinric and Waric
1 point to command avatar to raise army in Isleric

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4174664/
+1 point left

[Komodo]

Previous Balance: 13
Power Roll: 2d6+13 → [5,1,13] = (19) (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4174798/)

Slassiksyyr gave a contemplative hiss to hear Haroen's argument. "Dry god, I respect you as a fellow deity and creator. But you are a fool."

"You speak of change, as though it is some great nobility. But you forget that you are a god, and your every act is noble, regardless of how it affects the world below. You have admitted your own mistakes to your people, as though they were sitting in judgment over you! Have not your people lost their faith in you in ages past, knowing you had failed them by your own admission? You may change if you find it to your liking, but you shall not judge me if I remain steadfast."

"As for the purpose of my conquest: What, indeed, would they want from the glasslands? What could they take that I could not give them? If I could not provide for them on this world, could I not take them to another? But you see, they should be unsatisfied being fed without a fight. Even if they were made to enjoy being coddled, they would not know the joy of setting a goal and bleeding until it is accomplished. This war is their life, their defining goal, as it is for your Ahkiln, as they struggle to defend their kingdom in which they have lived in a dream of impenetrability."

"Of course, I don't intend to wipe out your creation: That would be disrespectful to you, and of no aid to my creations. Nor to I intend this war to be eternal, only as long as it needs to be. No sense trying to stop them now, anyway: Venin is bound by honor to send in the armies they have prepared, and my people still have their purpose to fufill..."

With that, the serpent turned and spat, and shout out a bolt of venom. It skipped across the sky like a bolt of lightning, and lit the northern sky green for a moment. The Ahkiln and Ahgana stared up at it, and wondered what it meant. Some of them, however, knew...

As the sky to the north shone green, the Thiosyles began to prepare for the invasion. They prepared their suits of firm and resiliant sulfuric fungus, lubricated with smooth and delicious yellowslime. They prepared their strong suits of transmuted pseudowooden armor, the antenna and attachments built to rechannel lightning, and trained their giant yellow watersnakes that were their Sulfambus mounts, and filled packs full of fireworks. Along with this, they began to train one more army, to strengthen their odds.

To the north, Ahkiln and Ahgana, in their traditional Unified fashion, prepared to defend the north. However, some of them quickly and quiletly collapsed as glass blades disarmed them. A group of Ahgana quietly scraped the makeup off of their runes and eyes, taking away the reds, yellows, and whites and revealing the glow of green beneath. The Ahganas never had been on Haroen's side... carefully, the spies worked to weaken the city's defenses, before slipping out toward the end of the era...

A great splashing could be heard, and the Thiosyle armies looked up and began to cheer as a massive, four-armed turtle stood in their midst. Kabalisk, fresh arrived from Firststrike, gave a mighty battle-cry, and his armies were filled with fresh vigor.

Meanwhile, West of Oasis, the green Syles strove to organize themselves against this new threat. None could predict what the madness of Gard would bring once it had drifted into the swamp, but none was willing to permit them to wreck destruction without hinderance. Ossolaos and Firststrike gathered what able-bodied Syles they could, and hastily organized them into a defense...

Spending two points to raise one more army of Thiosyles in Venin before sending all five of them to Oasis.

Spending seven points for an army of Ahgana to reveal that they never really were on your side, and fighting for the Thiosyles.

Spending four points to raise armies in Firststrike and Ossolaos.

Sending Kabalisk to Venin.

Final Balance: 6

[Plerumque]

ower Roll: 9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4175224/)

Tarethon turned, divine heart cracked, from the Forsworn, and instead reached out to the Lapidea. "You were born from stone, my sons and daughters," he spoke, "yet you were born into a legacy much greater than that. You have the power of words, and trade, and the earth is only your way to wield it. War and strife scar this land, yet you have no part in their struggles. You must seek more than mindless violence," he said, memory of the Forsworn's fate edging his words. "You are greater than that. You can make the world a better place, inch by inch, simply by bringing your art into the world- and giving a fair price for it." He struck into their hearts and mind visions of what could be, what their race could become and the subtle power they could wield. "Go forth, my greatest children. Make me proud." And so the Lapidea ventured forth for the first time, sending great envoys in all directions, bearing perfected works of stonecraft and jewellery. Some of them would be slain before their journey's end. But some... some would reach great cities. And whoknew what would happen then?

Spending 7 points on the Event last round, which I have elaborated on in the original post, then 1 to command the Sired of Stone to raise another diplomatic army. By the way, I picture the Forsworn as, basically, random encounters on the way to and from places of more imortance, lurking in the dark corners of Shikalis. Unlike the others, they reproduce quickly, and soon will be spread enough to fulfill that goal.
Power Remaining: 1

[ImperialSunligh]

The axis smiled as he watched Godric collect his playthings. It is useless. There will be fascinating death, of thousands, regardless of who wins this battle. The axis laughed so hard at the events taking place that he pushed over the mountains at the mouth of the river leading to Vien. The falling stone caused great destruction, killing many, including many of those in the newly created army, and greatly weakening the infrastructure of Rivenric. The pass remained somewhat open still, but travel would be more difficult in the area with the masses of stone strewn about.

"Oh, well," the axis sighed, "no harm done."

Alexander, meanwhile, continued training his second army in Vien.

Catastrophe, the Great Rockslide: -10
Command Alexander, train army in Vien: -1

Next Roll: 2d6+3+3=15 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4175255/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. The round will last 48 hours from this post, until midnight when Friday, the 16th, becomes Saturday, the 17th.

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4177409/)

Returning to his throne of earth, the Lord Below looked upon the hatred that the Axis rejoiced for with an equal degree of fear and horror, thinking of the peace which reigned just a few short millenia ago. There were none, any more, who were not swept up in this tide of blood and war. The only other deities with the patience and calm to avoid this worldwide horror had faded eons ago, without the strength of divinity to sustain them. There could be only one way to try to salvage Shikalis from the catastrophes now wrought daily by angered gods. Yet he had not the power, not yet... so he watched and waited, praying to the cosmos or whatever else gods pray to for his home and his people to remain in the face of all this madness.

1 point to command the Sired of Stone to raise another diplomatic army.
Power Remaining: 4

[Fiig]

It was still the early mornings when the first battle began, it did not last long, since they were surprised by godrics forces, it was a fierce battle though that left all of the mad army dead, however when the fallen was counted, the error was discovered, only half of Alexanders forces were wiped out, there was still an enemy loose in the city, the call went out, but only just as a messenger arrived with details of another battle, at the palace, where which an army had went ahead to secure, according to the messenger they were fighting a losing battle, but would try to hold out until reinforcements could arrive. Though godrics forces arrived quickly they arrived too late to save them, however revenge was taken, with a long and hard battle with Godric himself in the front line, killing the mad halflings with each swing of his sword, when the finally the last had fallen after seven hours of fighting, the dusk was coming soon, but there was still they imposter to take care off. Godric went fourth to find this blond avatar named alexander, he entered the throne room, but it was empty, Godric had Vein searched high and low, but nowhere was Alexander to be found.

As order once again fell on Vien, news of a great rockslide that had killed the army stationed in Rivenric, greatly weaken the structures in Rivenric and made the pass into the kinvally dangerous, came, Godric dispatched two of the armies in Vein to Rivenric, to secure it the other four remained stationed in Vein. One of Godrics first edicts called for Vein was to round up all known mad halflings and neutralise them. For they had proven that they were too dangerous to keep around, now their number would be kept low, the same order was issued to the rest of the Kindom.

Along with orders to keep standing armies in each city to protect it and prevent uprising of civic armies. So in Souric, Graric and Kinric new armies were raised, one of army from Vein was dispatched to Isleric to be stationed there.

Godric also order the construction of a great temple, dedicated to Savien, it was to be built on Lunpos the island in the Savos sea, where Savien had resurrected Godric, it would be the most grandest temple in the world, The Tempel of Savien, here the kinfolk would entomb their fallen soldiers, to honor them and their families. the construction began soon there after, but would take twenty-one years.

6 points to raise armies
1 points to use avatar to command the construction of The Temple of Savien
4 point left
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4178374/
3+4+9=16 for next round

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4172681/)
Current Power Points: 11

"You call me a fool?! Look at your creations, truly look, and you will see, they are more than the flesh and blood you put into them! It took only a piece of divinity to set them to thought, but that piece has grown, and now they can clearly surpass even us gods should enough time pass for them. Just give them a chance, look for it, and they will prove it to you as so many times it has been proven to me. The lives of those we have created are each exactly equal to the lives of ourselves.

"Though know this, god of poison, your every act has been an act of change. Everything you have added or taken away from the world is an act of change! All that we mighty gods do, is invite and incite change. To change our very selves, that is a great and noble act indeed, far more difficult than any other change you could dream of, and in such a change is greater than you could ever hope to create. You may take pride in your rigidity and lack of understanding, but know that you are weaker for it. Now, I tire of twisting words with a Storm of Death, and must see to that which I hold dear."

So, with that, Haroen surged northward again, and, feeling more power than he had in a long time, blew as a wind into Oasis, and raised strength in his people, and desire to defend their homelands, a new army outfitting itself inside a few months, just as the Kinfolk, bundled up with wet winds from master stormcrafters against the pervasive lack of water in the north. There were dragons flying large supplies of food in from all the way out as Souric, every few days, traveling with them, as well as the army of Ezzo Las, carrying the Zlain high and proud.

But then something caught the Dry God's eye: an army that rested in Oasis which he had not ordered the creation of. Suspicion rising in him, he blew in closer, to see if he could discern the origin of this spontaneous army. After his first look, it appeared to have been created by his own power, but then there was something else beneath the surface… a hint of poison. So, this army was the doing of Slassiksyyr, a plant to try and break the defenses of the north? No, that wasn't it either. That trace of poison was simply resting on something else, like a slick of oil on the ocean waves. Looking beneath the poison, he saw the madness of the deep? Was this a ploy of Axis, to try and confound him? No, the madness was only so deep, and beneath even it… lay death…

That couldn't be correct. It was as though this entire army was just a legion of Ahgana made out of Death itself. It must indeed be a trick from another god, nothing more. However, with so many layers of trickery, he knew he would not discern the purpose of the army, and so, all that he could do is prepare for the worst, and so he sent a wind into Fah Chaloum, and another army was raised, immediately traveling to Oasis to take up with the other armies.

However, he knew that this alone would not be enough. The people of Oasis needed something more, and he knew he had vowed to never have them create such a thing ever again, but he felt the need was dire enough. Without the Glaurhaz, the Thiosyles had a distinct edge against them.

However, he knew they were short on time, and so the weapon would need to be simple, without extensive runes, and easily crafted. Perhaps glass darts would work…

He slipped into the mind of an Ahgana glasssmith, Feol Grama, who made his home a short way outside the walls of Oasis, and there filled his mind with a dream of a sandstorm, thick with lightning, high in the floating mountains of the north.

Feol Grama felt that the world was spinning around him, out of control, yet always spinning away from him, or specifically centered upon him, and as he spun there, his feet remaining on the glass-covered stone atop the mountain, he wondered why he was spinning at all, and suddenly he realized: he was causing the sandstorm.

Upon his chest was a best covered in a dozen rows of pockets, and each held a single dart. The longest almost half a meter long, the shortest barely the size of a toothpick. As he spun and grabbed and threw the darts out, some flying straight, some spinning wildly, he found that he was also catching others, and either throwing them back out, or sheathing them to grab another. It seemed that each dart summoned it's own wind, and turned it so that the dart would return to it's sender, regardless of if it hit something or how far it traveled. Some of the smaller ones even carried lightning bolts, which would strike without error on anything that the dart struck.

The dream storm raged and raged, but once Feol Grama had felt and memorized every single dart and it's proper place in the vest, the sandstorm suddenly dropped, winds stilling, lightning fading, and dust falling instantly, to reveal that Feol Grama stood atop the highest mountain of Fah Chaloum, in his dream.

In that moment, he woke, and, as others had before him, leapt to his forge, and instantly began to work.

Once he had the Jaguar-hide vest completed, and each of the 75 darts properly stowed away, however, the hide covering of his door was ripped aside, and he now found himself looking into the eyes of a yellow beast with the head of a crocodile.

The second battle for Oasis had begun.

Outside Feol Grama's modest home, armies were marching on the walls of Oasis. Cavaliers met Thiosyles with steel against fists, Dragonriders met Thiosyles with fire against fire, and Ahgana met Thiosyles with storm against arrows. Inside the walls, the Death Army had turned against their fellow Ahgana, and butchered an entire army inside the first hour, and the other armies of the north did not look to be faring much better, with Kabalisk tearing through entire battalions of battledancers like they were paper, giant Serpents swallowing Ahgana whole, and Fireshapers turning a dragons breathe back into it's own stomach so that they might burst in a shower of gore and barding, crushing dozens of Ahgana underneath.

But then a sound could be heard. Glass grinding on glass, stone slamming against stone, thunder rolling inside dust, and out in the distance, something was cleaving a path straight for the city.

The Eye of the Storm had left it's place at the top of the world.

The rune which gave the Avatar of the Dry God his form was what was making that sound. Like an engine plowing through the glasslands, rearranging the glass and stone and lightning so that the kilometer-tall cloaked figure of dust could continue it's existence away from it's home.

Though, striking the battlefield, the Eye had no intention of picking up a giant blade and following the style of Kabalisk, cutting down foes and throwing them aside, but instead it burst into a maelstrom, fierce and unrelenting, tearing Thiosyles off the ground and hurling them back into the Wind Wall, from whence they came, while other winds knocked Ahgana to the ground just as an arrow would have pierced their throat. Dust clogged the air, greatly shortening the range of the Thiosyle's many ranged weapons, except around the glasssmith Feol Grama, who spun in his own sandstorm, out in the glass fields, darts slicing through bone and wood as easily as they were butter. None could touch the glasssmith.

However, the Thiosyles were great warriors, and gave as good as they got, with flames burning away the wind and the dust, prophets killing without having to see their foes, and brawlers masterfully breaking through a line of expert battledancers.

The fighting went on for days before, in exhaustion, the armies drew back, to circle each other a while, considering each other. Half of the Kinfolk Cavaliers had died, and almost all of the Ahgana. The Thiosyles were down to two fifths of their number, and the Death Ahgana were hiding in the city, waiting for their chance to strike. Feol Grama made a stop by his half-wrecked house, to grab some food, repair his blades, sleep, bandage the large gash along his face, and pray. The Eye, perceiving a lapse in the conflict, folded himself into his common form, the dusty mask of Haroen glaring, faceless, out at the armies encamping just beyond the city walls, where Kabalisk stood at a night fire, roaring a speech of encouragement into the night as the Thiosyles passed around chlorine wine and tender meat from back home. Tomorrow this fight would be decided.

However, deep in the city, Ezzo Las was waiting, waiting for the correct time to strike.

Just before dawn the next day, the fighting began anew, and the Eye spread out into his maelstrom once more, as Thiosyles engaged the Kinfolk, and the Death army caught the Ahgana just before they could join the fight.

Feol Grama had made it inside the city during the night, however, and the Death Army might have slaughtered another army of their brothers, but he was there, slicing down traitor after traitor.

However, the Ahgana army being taken away from the front lines, with Ezzo Las remaining in the shadows, resulted in the Kinfolk, fighting against an army of impassioned Thiosyles in a city they did not know, being overwhelmed. The remaining Cavaliers were crushed, but the Dragonlords gave as well as they got, and at the end of the fighting, all that was left was a single army of Thiosyles, and the exhausted Ahgana., having just finished cutting down their own brothers in arms.

Feol Grama, who had been made an impromptu leader, as the true leaders of the Ahgana army had been electrocuted, and the remaining ones recognized the glasssmith as a powerful leader, turned towards the Thiosyle army on the other side of the city, preparing to lead his brothers forward in the last charge of this battle.

It was then that Ezzo Las decided to strike, and between his well-rested troops, the fury of Haroen himself in the air, and the Zlain raised high, they made short work of the remaining Thiosyles, and once more Kabalisk was driven out of the north, to walk with the few survivors back into the winds.

However, things were not finished. the leaders of the two remaining armies in the north were at odds. Feol Grama raged at Ezzo Las, wondering why he had not joined the fight earlier. Ezzo Las insulted the glasssmith, saying that Feol Grama was just a soldier, where Ezzo Las was a general who had successfully defended the north from invasion, twice. From that day on, the two men would always be at each other's throats whenever they met.

There were far too many bodies to transport, and even if they knew how, they didn't have the manpower to transport all the Thiosyle corpses back to Venin. So, instead, they simply blew the blood and bodies into the wind wall, which would blow the remains south. The next dragons to come would be told that the dead Kinfolk would have to be transported home in some way, and they were, in their own way. The Eye returned north, healing the land it he went, where it's rune had been carved. Feol Grama named his dart set the Vhaloum, in honor of Fah Chaloum, which he had seen in his dream. Ezzo Las took his army up to Soun Kiln, where they remained for many years.

Haroen rested for a time, weary from his part in the great battle, but eventually returned south, to look upon his Suturm once more. What he saw, first, however, was a grown Suturm, who, as a child, had been a great prodigy, almost as intelligent as Silver himself, they said, wandering about in the icelands.

The Sururm's name was Kade, and he was not lost, but instead looking for a place for him to begin his school. You see, he had spoken with a hundred Suturm, and when he had enrolled in the Kinfolk University, found that none of the great arts of the Suturm were covered in the great school. So, he had set about to create a school that did so.

Haroen smiled to see such ambition in his children, so he reached out, and sent a visitor to him: an Ice Cub.

The Ice Cub was named Sulom-kamion-ishalirnaba-lpous, or Sulom, for short, as he told Kade, and asked what the Suturm was out here for. Kade introduced himself then, and explained that he was scouting locations for a school.

Sulom laughed at first, finding the Suturm idea of buildings to be hilarious, but decided to travel with the stranger, for as long as he was a traveler.

After a long time and many hardships, which are each their own story in and of themselves, the two friends parted, their last act together having been the Ice Cub showing the Suturm a perfect place for his school, and, saying that Kade was no longer a traveler, left, leaving the prodigy man to gather his fellows and build the school.

A settlement had to be raised to supplement the great undertaking, but when this settlement looked to remain even after the school was finished, Kade insisted it be named Sulom.

So, Sulom was founded, in the heart of the icelands, and Kade's Academy rose up beside it, a place of learning to rival or even surpass the University of the Kinfolk.

Though… Ice Cubs can live to be centuries old…

2 points to Command Oasis to raise an army.

2 points to Command Fah Chaloum to raise an army.

2 points to Command Oasis to create the Vhaloum wonder, a spectacular set of throwing darts, with overall power equal to the Glaurhaz.

1 point to Command the Eye to Command Suturm to found Sulom, in the heart of the southern icelands.

2 points to Command Sulom to create the Kade's Academy wonder, which I will explain further next post.

Current Power Points: 2
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4175413/)

[ImperialSunligh]

The axis, seeing that the fighting was over, spoke to Savien again, "Mm, very interesting. You gained back your dead walls at the cost of many lives. Many a son of yours bleeds on the steps of your city!"

He begins speaking to herself now, "But regardless of the delightful destruction being caused here, I tire of you, Savien. Perhaps I shall play with another... yes. But that one is only newly relevant to this world... and so..."

The people of the mad isle were restless beyond measure. Alexander, who escaped the land of the halflings with his life intact, traveled there, and spoke unto them. He rallied the forces in Second and Lynn, convincing them to give in to their desires. No care was put into protecting the lands of the crazed. The crazed traveled north to Ossalaus with the legendary Oran in tow, intent on attack.

The axis, seeking to enhance the bloodshed, poisoned the food of Ossalaus with a maddening poison that killed any who eat it, swiftly. Once the people of the city notice, they could avoid more death by replacing the food, but not before many deaths occur.

Command City x2 (one with Alexander), attack Ossalaus, -3
Catastrophe: the poisoning of Ossalaus, -10

Next: 2d6+3+2=15 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4178794/)

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. The round will last 36 hours from this post, until midnight when Sunday, the 18th, becomes Monday, the 19th.

[Plerumque]

Power Roll: 11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4179281/)

More good men fell, from bloodshed and poison- not only the poison of the Axis, but the poison of hate which worked its way through the great nations of Shikalis, bringing down the Lord Below's brothers in divinity in a flood of fear and treachery, and before Tarethon's shocked gaze the claws of his own sons became stained with blood and his one ally rushed into the fires of war, and as his last reserves of patience, hope, and reason were stretched nearly to the breaking point, he cried out-

"Stop!"

And peace bloomed, flowing over miles as his divinity stretched out, affecting the hearts and minds of all within. For now, it was a tiny portion of the great world that he could change, but not insignificant, for when can hope ever be insignificant? In these idyllic valleys, no one would be stirred by the tides of war. No blood would be shed, no seeds of hate sown to grow and take root in fear until they consume all, and the simple joy of life would reign in place of madness.

7 points to affect an inch of the Kinvally with a continuous Calm Emotions effect, except that it doesn't dilute positive emotions. No armies can be raised or sent there unless the enchantment is lifted or someone finds a way to get around it (not neccessarily requiring points to be spent, just finding a fault in it). If Fiig has a particular inch he'd prefer for me to affect, I'll place it there. Otherwise, just a random inch without any major cities. 1 point to command the Sired of Stone to raise another diplomatic army. Also, the extreme run-on sentence that makes up the first paragraph is intentional.
Power Remaining: 3

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=11 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4175413/)
Current Power Points: 13

Kade looked out across the icy forests at the bottom of the world, looking down at the city of Sulom, at the foot of the mountain. He could see the Suturm bundled up against this mild autumn day milling about like ants so far below.

This had truly been the perfect place for his Academy. Built on a barren mountain taller than even the clouds. The top-of-the-line observatories here could scan the heavens day-in and day-out. Not only this, but the mountain possessed natural hot-springs, which, with a little aid from the Kinfolk and their engineering, were fixed to pump through the structure like blood through a living creature, melting ice before it could form, and keeping the jade and lapis lazuli halls at a comfortable warmth even during the deepest, coldest winter night.

The Academy was a colossal structure, wrapping around and plumbing deep into the mountain, like a city in it's own right, with debate and lecture halls half a kilometer wide, great gardens and greenhouses exclusively designed for tactical maneuvers, seven observatories towering like the pillars of the ocean far away, towers atop an already high-reaching place, and a plethora of libraries, each individually containing more books than a normal being could read in a lifetime. Books on every subject, as well. Hundreds of compiled studies of different races, attempts to unify psychology, records of the great philosophical debates of history, deep logical analysises of everything on Shakilis, enough star charts to bury a city under, scrolls on eidetic theory, tactical textbooks, and records of any law in any city in any nation to have ever existed.

The Academy was a splendid creation, with it's brightly-colored stone structures, wide open spaces, and seven towers marking it's highest point.

Kade was happy to see it flourishing inside his own lifetime, and whispered a silent thank you to Sulom-kamoin-ishalirnaba-lpous, wherever he may have been, and silently watched the city far below for a while longer.

Far to the north, Feol Grama had grown into becoming a well-respected, almost unanimous leader for the Ahgana, despite his callous, unsocial nature and his disdain for espionage, regardless of how deeply intertwined with the Ahgana culture it was. He had a few rivals, but almost every Ahgana recognized him as the leader of the Ahgana armies. However, being as shrewd and paranoid as he was, he was not content with a single army defending his city, so ordered a second army be raised, contrary to the advice of Ezzo Las, who had been corresponding with the Ahgana for many years, and had been telling him to allow the Ahgana time to heal and relax.

Haroen, however, was not paying attention to either of these things…

The Syles he had invited into the northlands so many years ago. There had been a few women in their number, but far too few… and now… the Syles were trying to lay with Ahkiln women.

Haroen was dumbstruck. He had not foreseen anything like this happening. Many thought the coupling was unnatural, and they had a point, as moisture harmed the Ahkiln, and the Syles had a way of being… moist. The Dry God could make it possible for a child to be born of the pairing, and indeed had received many prayers to that effect, but to do so would be a great undertaking… and it would benefit Slassiksyyr just as much as it would benefit him…

Then again… perhaps they would form a bridge across the Wind Wall, a way for the swamp dwellers and the northerners to find a peace.

He decided to do it, and with a silent wind, he touched many Ahkiln women, making them tolerant of moisture, and their Syle suitors, drying them out considerably.

After a time, the first Ahsyle was born. Two main arms, with two vestigial arms halfway down their bodies. 2.5 meters tall, green and white runes appeared equally common on their sleek, shadow-black forms. Their heads were like the Ahkiln, but slightly elongated, perhaps like a hound's jaw, but not so much that they looked to be crocodiles, as their Syle fathers had been. Their mouths were filled with deadly teeth as well, and while they did not have the shells of their fathers, their backs were covered in several boney plates, pitch-black like the rest of their bodies, but segmented, giving them a look as though they were coated in giant scales.

Not everyone found the creatures to be good, but word spread quickly of the children of the two worlds, reaching all the way to the lands of Slassiksyyr, where whispers of the honor and strength of the north had been growing for decades, and now, with the whisper of Haroen taking Slassiksyyr's own children into his domain in such a way, the whispers blossomed into talks, and talks spread like wildfire through the swamps, setting flame to the dry souls, who, in honor to their new god, disdained water as much as they could, and became heavy, and rough.

2 points to Command Oasis to raise another army.

10 points to create the Halfrace Ahsyle, half Ahkiln and half Syle. They are still young and few in number, so the descriptions should come next post, after they've grown a but. Their technologies are Glasscrafting, Brawling, Battledancing, Firecrafting, Stormcrafting, Honor, Leadership.

1 point to Command Eye to Create an Order, called The Rough, in the Syles.

Current Power Points:
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4179341/)

[Fiig]

Peace had fallen on the Kindom, especially in the kinvally.

And with the peace came prosperity, the kindom population had almost doubled in size over a generation, mostly in the rural areas, with many new hamlets sprouting up all over the land. In one of these little hamlets a little halfling girl was born, she was name Shira by her parent in memory of her grandmother, in would in all likelihood follow in the family footsteps and become a farmer, but the young Shira, felt no call to the earth. At the age of ten she met a young halfling engineer fresh from the university named Cal, who had come to the little hamlet to live and work there, offering up all his expertise, he was warmly welcomed for an expert like him, was greatly valued for many reasons. Shira kept asking him so many questions that the poor fellow finally ran out of answers to her questions, But he was too proud to say so, so he gave her one of the little steam toys many halfling kids enjoyed, and hoped that would keep her away. While it did so for a long time, Shira did come back, but when she found out that Cal could no longer answer her questions, she asked one last question as to where she could find the answers, and Cal said that she would have to get to the University. However her father was not quite willing to let her go, but in the end she ran away, and at the age of 13 she finally arrived at the university, she was admitted after dazzling the censor. Shira did not have any way to get money so she borrowed it, she became one the best students, but after seven years her moneylender needed his money, and called in the debt, Shira only had a month to pay back the money, so she sat down and thought long and hard, when the idea finally came to her, her old toy.

She took her old toy, and started to make schematics over machines which would be able to do work, by converting the steam energy into machanical force. It would not be able to replace all the usual manpower needed, but she was sure it could be very usefull, she quickly made seravel machines which could grind flour, saw wood and pump water. The ideas surprised many engineers, they knew the old childs toy, but to think that it could be so useful baffled them, but they continued and made machines powered by Shira steamengine.

Meanwhile a group of mathematicians at the University, was beginning to discover a whole new field of science which they called economics, with it they became able to predict where and what amount of goods was needed, the skill became very valueable, as many merchants wanted to know where they could best sell their wares, when Godric heard of this new knowlegde, he summoned the mathematicians to explain it to him, Godric was unable to follow in all their talk, so he hired them into his administration, there they introduced the first coins, of three different types, one golden royal, a large coin of gold, was worth ten silver knights, one silver knight is worth one hundred coppers and a copper could give one a meal.
The mathematicians made sure with their calculations that they only release enough coins to keep a status quo with the supply demand

Meanwhile Godric sent out orders to raise another army in Verric

6 points to advance Kinfolk Steam power
6 points to advance kinfolk economics
1 point to command avatar
3 points left
+3 cumulative
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4180864/
8+6=14 for next round

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. The round will last 48 hours from this post, until midnight when Tuesday, the 20th, becomes Wednesday, the 21st.

[Rith]

Power Roll: 2d6+3=9 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4179341/)
Current Power Points: 9

The Ahsyles were very young, just now beginning on their second generation, but they were numerous just the same, with more Ahsyles than there were Syles in the north, in no small part due to the "zeal" of their fathers. They were not entirely welcome in the north, as many ancient tribes of Ahkiln believed the children to dilute and weaken the northern racial lines. However, this prejudice did not impede them, and they learned many things from the world around them. From their fathers they took the ancient combat arts of brawling, which their dense muscles and strong grips meshed with easily enough. From their mothers they gained the graceful mastery of battledancing, which their height and long limbs allowed them to use to the best of any battledancer to have ever lived. Together, these combat arts fused together, with graceful pugilism and brutal dancing making an Ahsyle all but unbeatable in single combat. While they had not yet learned the secrets of bladecrafting from the north, they were fairly skilled glasscrafters in northern tradition. No prophets had been led north, so they had no one to learn divination from, nor were arrows or armor easily crafted from glass, so these things of the Syles they lacked, however, they were able to learn of firecrafting fairly easily, and that, with the stormcrafting of the north, made them into elemental forces unlike any other, which could tear down mountains with their evocative force. They were naturally set apart from the people of the north, so they never took their traditions, with their dance, or their unity, but they did grasp very strongly onto the concept of leadership, and while several things of the Syle parents were not brought north so many years ago, they did bring their honor, and so, between that and the leadership qualities, they were some of the most respected lifeforms in the world. All this together, their bearing, their might in evocation, and their supremacy in hand-to-hand combat, made them perfect warriors, a fusion of the two greatest warrior races to yet have gone to war. They were few in number, but an army of them would not need to field even half as many to match the other in the field.

Haroen thought that perhaps they were not going to be a bridge of peace across the Wind Wall.

Though, regardless of what they grew to be, he would nurture them, and first, they would need an identity for themselves.

Some Ahsyles were sparing in the yards of Oum Pran, sometimes a wide, delicate series of attacks would sweep back and forth between two partners while tracings of fire sparked between them, and sometimes heavy, hammering attacks accompanied with thunder and gusts of wind would be dropped, just to land on broad, heavy, scaled backs which were brought up for the defense. Haroen visited this group of warriors, sweeping through with the winds they themselves summoned, and whispered of their own city, not too far from here, close to the Wind Wall, where they would carve their own home, instead of trying to melt into the existing societies of the north. They would be their own people, and as they finished their training, they began to discuss it among themselves, and how they would have colosseums and training centers and raise their children there.

The idea soon began to spread through the society of the Ahsyles, and before long, a train of settlers, some 150 Ahsyles strong, left Oum Pran, to found the city of Auss Veni. A small group compared to the numbers which had founded other northern cities, to be certain, but dedicated, and willing to work for their homes. Auss Veni would thrive

Meanwhile, far to the south, in a cave in the Kinvale, a Suturm with silver eyes rested. His pitch black robe hadn't even faded the tiniest bit in the last 40 years, and as he held it close around him against the prevailing cold, he reviewed what he had learned recently. First of all his plant in Oasis had failed. He had intended the Ahgana army to aid the Thiosyles, wipe out the northern armies, and then, after gathering the Zlain and anything else of value, report back to him, disposing of the Thiosyles, should they object. However, that had not happened. Some Ahgana by the name of Feol Grama had turned the tide and killed his pet army. It seemed like such a waste to have reanimated all those corpses and then actually granted them minds enough to worship the Poison God. Well, at least now he knew he could do such things. He'd have to punish Feol Grama, of course, but that could wait.

Other matters had been progressing swimmingly, however. The movement of Gard into the swamp of Firststrike had sown distrust between the gods of Madness and Poison, and now it was rumored that the Crazed were actually attacking the Syles. He didn't know what had led to this, but he was glad for it. This would help him, in the long run. Meanwhile the Kindom was growing as well, and he was glad to hear that his Engineer armies were growing more powerful because of it. He now had the one original in Waric, as well as two recently created, one in Swaric and one in Isleric.

He had even visited the icelands in the south, and after a long time searching, found a very important asset. That asset was with him now, even…

Fifteen Ice Cubs were huddled in this cave with Silver, including Sulom-kamoin-ishalirnaba-lpous. They were being slowly altered by his madness spell, at that. Oh, he wondered how the world would remember this…

1 point to Command Eye to Command Ahsyles to found Auss Veni, just south of the Wind Wall, at the foot of the mountains separating the southern glasslands from the sulfur swamps.

2 points to Command Kinfolk to raise an army of Engineers in Isleric

2 points to Command Kinfolk to raise an army of Engineers in Swaric.

Current Power Points: 4
Next Power Roll: 2d6+3=12 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4181616/)

[Fiig]

With all the battles being fought Godric decided that there should be an adequate defense of the Kindom and sent out orders to raise more armies.
In the following years five armies were trained and equipped, in Isleric, Waric, Verric, Swaric and Souric.

Meanwhile the work on the Temple of Savien continued, with the groundwork finally finished, the construction could finally begin. Though the arcitect had been forseen the amount of work and had workers prepare, almost half the building blocks that was needed, All of which was noted in the building book, with all the plans for the colossal temple.

8 points for 4*2 point command city
1 point avatar
5 points left plus 3
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4184177/
7+8=15 for next round

[ImperialSunligh]

It took a great time for the axis to recover from the calming effect that the underground god had created. It had inadvertently harmed his essence, and he was both given a feeling of order in her mind that he had never felt, as well as being angered to the point of absolute madness. Before he stabilized, it had, on a notion of caring, granted many gifts to the abandoned wind-beasts.

The wind-beasts were blessed with the secrets of military science. It was specifically granted to a prophetic wind-wheel named Hanja. Hanja was blessed with great knowledge of the battlefield, knowing of many battles that occurred in other universes. He created a great text known as the Koung, which contained all of his insights, and was distributed throughout the wind-beasts, granting the knowledge to all of their people. Hanja was promptly killed by a warlord who learned from Hanja's texts. Hanja was forcibly pulled from the wall by a group of wind-swords and restrained until dead.

The Koung and other texts were able to quickly circulate through all of the wind-beasts who needed it because of the axis' second gift, the printing press. This machine, invented by the wind-beasts who were subtly guided by the hands of the axis, gave the wind-beasts the ability to spread knowledge, news, orders, etc. very quickly. This newfound organization led to the creation of the first wind-beast city. A floating fortress in the centre of the wind-wall, Musang was the heart of the world of the wind beasts who considered it sacred and blessed by the axis.

The crazed being as wild as they are proved harder for Alexander to control than anticipated. Though they still had the resources they needed to reach Ossalaos, they would be delayed significantly.

Command race "wind-beasts", Create City: Musang, -3
Grant tech to "wind-beasts": "Military Science" and "Printing Press", -12

[Rith]

This post marks the beginning of a new round. The round will last 48 hours from this post, until midnight when Thursday, the 22nd, becomes Friday, the 23rd.

[Fiig]

In the last years two new major cities arose in the Kindom, Sarric which was located at the first river where the two source rivers met. Was a city of many young kinfolk who like those in Verric enjoyed the finer things in life, though they focused more on pleasing the eye rather than the ear. So the city was constructed to be beautiful in every aspect, and so attracted sculptor and various other artists. And in the matter of a few years, the couldron of artists became the best in the world, competing and advancing each other much further than they would have otherwise. And so to be the best they reached after making the art ever more lifelike.
In the lands the city of Morric which rose up at the riverbend north-east of Lainric. From the farmers need to have place to bring their harvest, instead of the long dirt road around to Souric or Swaric. The city was built for practically reasons with many storages for various crops and wide streets so carts can come through easily. The harbor streches along the river, and is very busy.

To defend the two cities Godric commanded two armies be raise and one stationed in each.


1 point command avatar to create city Sarric
5 points advance Sarric "Art"
3 points to command race to create city Morric
2x2 points command city raise army
2 points left plus 3
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4188336/
8 for next round