[Originally posted 2/4/20]
Valrion, Ulmor, Ragdios, and More - The Empire of the Sugradi:
After Valrion and the two that were there for it’s creation had left the changed palace of Holy High they had decided to travel across the empire, for Valrion wished to see the empire that they would take as their own with their own eyes. They visited all the different sorts of kingdoms of the empire, and traveled from the frozen northern frontier to the sweltering lowlands They traveled in relative secrecy, with the three rarely revealing their true identities; though at times it was too much for the vessel and it revealed it’s true self to those they met.
The first kingdom they visited was the Gragani kingdom of Silver Roads, where the Valrion was able to obtain much needed goods that it had never considered before (food being a concept that was particularly hard for the vessel to grasp at first). With it’s companions eager fervor, they were able to quickly obtain powerful exotic perfumes that almost covered the vessels horrendous smell. Ulmor was happily surprised when Valrion proved a natural trader, knowing just when someone felt they still had a good deal while still making a profit naturally, and decided to encourage the vessel to get involved in local trade.They did not stay long, for Ragdios insisted that they leave, fearing the influence of these merchants on the vessel.
Moving north along the Gleaming Road they next entered an Ulister queendom called Liliy Bloom. The vessel and it’s companions took their time to view the beauty of the land and its people. One morning while visiting one of the local markets for supplies, Valrion met the young princess of the land by chance of fate and was invited back to the queendom’s palace after she recognized the counselor Ragdios. At first meeting Valrion, the queen of this land knew who the vessel was, for with one gaze her sharp eyes could not see the vessel as anything but divine; yet with few words between them she agreed to keep the vessel’s secret.
Here the kind giants gave wise advice, knowledge of the body, and taught the vessel much about what it means to be kind even to Luvit. One night the young princess of the land was struck with deadly sickness of a powerful curse, some remnant of spite from the mutants of the north that would steal one of the royal daughter’s every ten winters at dawn. None of the healing knowledge of the Ulister’s worked, and not even the Wizard of Healing Waters knew of a cure to this sudden illness. A luvit came to Valrion and their companions in the middle of the night to beg for the aid of the counselor; yet he could give none, for his strength waned during the night light all good users of magic. Instead Ragdios had Valrion go for as he stated to the vessel “The dawn walks within you, even in the darkest night.” Within moments of having entered the princesses, the shining light that came from Valrion’s hands had shattered the curse and let the princess rest in peace.
Thinking that if they stayed any longer that the vessel’s identity would be found out before they wished to reveal themselves, the three departed further north to the cold lands of the Icandans. Here the vessel was not welcomed, no matter what sweet words they used. The Icandan’s were not a very open people to outsiders at the best of times, but now they were in the mists of two attacks upon them from the barbaric mutants of the north and the stupid men of Sur on their swift steeds to the south. A century of Tradano had arrived to aid the Icandan’s, though they were fully focused on defeating the mutants (who were too much for such a small force) and ignored the Sur. The Valrion, using a bird of ice crafted by Ulmor, tracked down the Sur and drove them away from the good lands of the empire.
Having defeated the Sur Valrion traveled north to drive off the mutants, deciding to engage when the Tradano did, though it soon became clear that this was going to be a far harder task for the vessel. The mutants were not men, but fleshy monsters vaguely humanoid that tore the land before them with rage and fire. Seeing these vicious flames made the Valrion hesitate, the dark dream of the evil godlings in its mind; even making them run away (for a time at least), only returning once Ulmor had found vessel and spoke of the plight of the soldiers who were bravely fighting the mutants. Ulmor was just in time, for when Valrion had returned the battle was lost and the Tradono were fighting axe to claw with the mutants, their hoplite wall shattered. With one hand covering their eyes, the vessel let for the first time the power of Yir into the world (though somewhat contained, not trusting what would happen otherwise).
Up on high quickly taking the situation in, the sun spoke down with booming words as beams of cleansing light scoured the mutants: “I am the Pure Lord Above, Yir, and by MY power shall barbarity and sorcery not rule this day!” The mutants could not withstand this attack, and were nearly slaughtered to the last before one or two of the more talented sorcerers could escape. The Tradono cheered, their lives saved by their god in an obvious miracle, with Valrion’s involvement in bringing down the god’s power not known for years to come.
The Icandans did hear of Valrion’s deeds with the Sur, which with the mutants defeat lead to them treating the vessel as a guest for a time. For a time Valrion learned what they could of the strange sorceries and hermit knowledge of the mystics, but had no time to properly learn the magic of these people or the knowledge passed down through their shamans. After a moon, Valrion and their companions decided to continue their journey.
The next leg of the companions journey lead them to the eternally cold lands of the Cavpo and the many minor clans that lived among the Northern Stonethroe Mountain region. It would have taken them months to travel across these mountains to Tumeria if it were not for Ulmor’s knowledge of the Cavpo settlements and secret roads.
Though Ulmor was glad to return to his home, even able to spend two days back in his personal lab at one point, Valrion and Ragdios could not stand the Cavpo settlements that were bereft of the sun above (though Valrion was still amazed at the dark world that was below them, something completely alien to them before then).
At one point the Circle of Arch-Wizards appeared before the vessel, the Arch-Wizard of Divination having seen the coming of the vessel of Yir weeks beforehand in the ‘stars below’. Each of the Arch-Wizards swore fealty to the vessel, and offered items of magic, trying to get into the good gracious of the vessel before it inevitably took the empire for its own. Valrion became engaged in conversation, returning the intentions of the wizards, with Ulmor and Ragdios left to watch on the sideline. As things progressed, Ulmor noticed that Valarion was becoming a bit too engaged (starting to consider many radical ideas the Arch-Wizards had), and quickly had Ragdios help him remove the enthralled vessel from the situation. It apparently was no magic that held the vessel, simply the giants own desire for change and appeasement overwhelming the vessel.
[DINO STUFF]
Eventually the three giants had finished their crossing over the mountains and reached the green lands of Tumeria. A welcome relief after enduring the frost for so long. Ragdios nearly dragged the vessel to the various temples of the kingdoms they passed along the rivers they traveled. In these lands Valrion noticed the lives of luvits in detail for the first time, and was surprised at how similar they were to the blessed Sugradi; however intentional it was.
Here the Valrion encountered some of the strangest creatures yet in its life, for among the forested lands of Tumeria a vicious group of fiends had been destroying luvit villages and homes, with many sugradi of various clans being injured or even killed as well (mostly Tradano hunters). Strange beasts had appeared, calling themselves ceratopsians, seeking shelter; and while they claimed innocence and ignorance to the attacks, they were locked in iron cages and treated with little respect (though few thought that they were actually the attackers, no one was sure).
Valrion themself saw the beasts and flew into a rage at the state of care they were given, for these creatures had been blessed by Yir to have majesty in their souls that was now being belittled.
“These creatures are of another sort then us, yes, but they are still beings with the spark of majesty in their souls! Release them!”
The Tradano did not, wishing to see the real culprits before giving any trust to the ceratopsians. Valrion, after a few words from Ragdios, agreed to this to ease the Tradano’s minds on the matter and punish the real monsters. Though for the time being they left their two companions behind while they hunted with the Tradano to make sure that the ceratopsians were treated fairly.
When the vessel finally caught-up with the real culprits, it ended quickly. The majority of the raptors had gathered together into a large pack, traveling across the outskirts of Tumeria from village to village. Everywhere they went, either their bloodlust got the better of them and they surprised the inhabitants or the village would attack the bloody raptors when they did try diplomacy. When Valrion gazed upon the pack, they were enraged. These beings were blessed with an inner majesty as well, yet were consumed by their bloodlust, slaughtering sugradi and luvit’s alike.
Calling upon their innate power once again, Valrion cracked the earth with a stomp of their foot so deeply that the pack would not be able to easily escape, and had the surprised Tradano watch for any that would try. As the raptors shook in fear and awe, gazing at the now shining figure before them, they heard.
“How dare you, how DARE you TARNISH the MAJESTY inside your souls?! You who hold light within your souls DARE harm those with that same light? The scale of these dishonorable acts are unforgivable, you cannot even give your own lives to remove this stain upon your honor. You beasts deserve-” the vessel stopped for a moment as it looked down at the raptors, and while no other mammalian being might have been able to easily recognize it, Valrion felt not just the fear and awe but also regret. It was painful to accept, but something had to be done. “-...to fight to become better.... I promise you, you shall have the chance. One day your kind shall be worthy of the light in your souls.”
A brave raptor spoke up “Whenssss thisss day to come?”
“When the lives lost by your Folly, and all future lives that would have been, are returned twofold by each of you and your blood. You shall return with me, but before then I shall have each of you swear oaths unbreaking before you depart, those refusing to accept penance shall die as the beasts they are.” Gravely, inspired, and in-between the raptors swore oaths under the light that none but they and Valrion remember.
When Valrion returned to their companions with the raptors in tow, everyone was astonished at the ‘taming’ of the beasts. The vessel raised their hand to silence these words from the Tradano. “They are not beasts, but those that shall seek the honor lost in their Folly. As long as they repent, as long as they strive for the day in another far away Age where they can be forgiven, then they shall be taught, and go where you go so that they may gain honor.” Surprisingly, these Tradano actually accepted, though they did so more out of wanting to use the raptors rather than work with them, but Valrion knew that in short time they would be able to acknowledge one another as compatriots.
The ceratopsians were released, escorted outside of Tumeria (which had seen enough scaly folk), many of them headed towards the icy lands of the Cavpo (at Ulmor’s suggestion of them being welcomed there) though most headed to the queendom of Green Side where they were greeted with a great deal of hesitation, but overall were able to begin to establish themselves.
[Originally posted 2/9/20: Perfection and Retribution:]
Valrion, Yir - Outside Yimor the City of Shining Bronze and Stone - Perfection:
After their travels the demi-god had decided that they would move towards the capital Yimor (also known as the city of shining bronze and stone) to see the heart of the empire up close, though they’re heart still yearned to see more of the empire (and perhaps past it) afterwards before taking up the throne. The sights and adventures the vessel has seen were things it valued greatly, for they were so much… more than the slow moving image of the world.
A day before the vessel was to arrive at the city, on a whim it decided to take a long detour off the Gold Road and visit one of the shrines that dotted the lands of the Sugradi; the shining path to it drawing the vessel towards the holy site of Yir. Valrion was no fool and knew that they were being called by Yir, it’s majesty trying to subtly call the vessel to a place where it wished to talk.
The shrine that Yir had drawn the vessel towards was a simple one, a marble floor with a few pillars surrounding a bronze statue of the sun which on this day alone glowed with the holy light of Yir as it focused it’s gaze down upon this place. As Valrion stode forward onto the marble floor it noticed that Yir was reserved, not letting itself feel much, yet the sense of duty and frustration mutely there. It spoke to Valrion with a commanding voice.
“My vessel of light that walks this world, your journey must end and you must rule the blessed with MY light.”
This was not unexpected, yet Valrion questioned “Why must I stop my journey now? I’ve grown fond of this life of travel and I still save those that I encounter.”
The frustration in Yir flared for with a tinge of anger. “You would dare question MY will? YOU might not be able to tell, but to the east in the Silver Wastes where the blessed wither from the harsh heat the heretical Muji of the City of Blue Stone gathers his armies to attack this empire of my blessed. I know not the details for few are of my light within the land, I know they praise MY name and yet for some reason insist on their heresy.”
Insulted Valrion spat back “I can deal with them myself, there is no need for me to be emperor now.”
“There is! They need to still fight their own wars unless absolutely necessary. It helps them grow, for every war makes them greater. You are needed to help them through these struggles, help them grow. Not fight their battles for them.”
Yir was now angry, yet Valrion could not help but state: “How could horror and terror make them grow?”
Yir was going to answer the vessel's question, but it’s anger got the best of it. “How DARE you continue to question MY sight! Your mind has grown weak and your soul is more corrupt with every night. I truly thought that the cursed godlings corruption would wither before the inner light within your soul, but I was wrong. I see that it has grown with time to consume you! I will NOT allow this! You shall be PURIFIED!”
Fear entered Valrion’s heart for the first time since they were upon the Grey Plains, for it knew it just pushed Yir too far. As light began to consume it the vessel yelled with fear “NO, please! Light Above, don’t do this to me! I- I wish to not change!” Yir did not heed the vessel’s plea, indeed those words just made it more angry. Yelling in anguish Valrion screamed to the world around it “I want to be ME!”
It’s not often seen, but sometimes when someone screams out in anguish something DOES listen to you. For the consuming light around the vessel wavered and the changes it was making were denied absolute perfection. Not much but this wrinkle might at some point be the vessel’s salvation.
Spoiler: Action
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Influance Single Mortal 1 AP/ 1 DC (15 AP remaining)
Yir perfects the Vessel (Valrion) to be more suited to its needs, mainly by heavily reducing the influence the other gods gave it, but also by trying to strengthen the connection the gamble god severed.
+2 Sun: The Vessel ties to the sun are strengthened. As long as it’s in sunlight, the Vessel gains the power to teleport to anywhere else where there is Yir’s sunlight (including other planes). If the Vessel uses this power, Yir will know where they left and where they teleported to. The Vessel loses the dream where it kills Yir, the memory and impact completely wiped away as well as the ambition to subvert Yir’s position (though it retains its own ambitions, they are targeted towards something else which is heavily influenced by Yir).
+2 Giant: The body of the Vessel becomes perfected, it’s form becomes something that cannot be pierced, hampered, or changed; and it’s glowing beauty is something that none can deny (it looks subtly different for different people). This body has no need for food, drink, or even air (though it could still indulge in these things, Yir did not think of that). The horrible stench from the decay god is gone, replaced with a comforting smell that always makes those more at ease (different for each person).
+2 Majesty: The mind of Valrion is subverted to the will of the sun god. Any command that Yir gives the Vessel cannot be ignored or disobeyed by the Vessel (though it can do word-play as to what Yir commands). However, the Vessel also gains a minor version of this power, able to enforce any oaths it’s ever taken from others with godly power (restricted to one oath per creature, not applicable to gods, path masters or Su sorcerers).
It’s art becomes more musical and full of cheer, focused more on the positives of life and good morals than hating on others (one of the few changes Valrion approves of). Yir also scourges out the insidious fear of fire inside the vessel, while also making sure that the Vessel cannot be frightened to a point beyond strategic retreat (so it won’t suicidally charge or stay in an unwinnable fight)
-2 Arrogance: Yir is fighting the collective influence of many gods, it’s efforts for 100% perfection are doomed to failure. There are ways around all it’s blessings and all it’s chains, though they may be difficult to think of or inact.
-2 Petulance: Valrion’s scream of defiance resonated with divinity, and disrupted the purification of Yir. This gives Valrion the ability to subvert the hold Yir has over it, particularly during the night. It retains its own will and with extreme effort can fight against the will of Yir.
Yir Above the Gnaw Wastes - Retribution:
The sun could feel the power of the lesser godlings make the land of the barbarian’s more fertile, giving gifts to the Beast (Su’ul) that had spawned Monsters (mutants) to ravage the blessed of Yir’s. Looking down on the project, all Yir could think of was the recent battle upon the Grey Plains that very nearly became the slaughter of the Age.
Oh, how the dark and vile godlings seemed to openly and blatantly show their love for the perverse and ruthless through their blessings. Even the fool helped in the effort, though at this point Yir suspected that it would aid any project and just blindly did evil and good without thought or care for what is right.
Boldly declaring over the land filled with the lesser godlings power, Yir spoke down below to the Beast (Su’ul) and the Monsters (mutants):
“I am Yir, the one Above All. I have seen the vileness in your heart, and the monstrosity in your souls that would have you harm those that are good and pure. By my absolute rule above All, I deem you Guilty of deeds vile, and worthy of no reward that would let you create more monsters. By my perfect judgement, shall this land not let you propagate freely and harm the pure again.”
Spoiler: Hinder
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+2 Sun: The light from the sun has chaotic effects in the Gnaw Wastes, going from blistering heat to freezing cold within days. Heavy floods and disasters are in store for these lands.
+2 Majesty: Yir’s judgement is absolute* and by it’s judgement those that ever harm the blessed of Yir find that they gain no nutrition from the crops of the Gnaw Wastes. Those that become afflicted by the curse find it dissipates slowly with time, fully being removed after a year and a day (though it becomes manageable far earlier).
*sometimes
+1 Perfection: Yir’s curse has the side-effect of making those that are born in these farmable lands poor farmers.
Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game
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