Pan-aeons: a God Game

**Garjel_blah** · 2020-03-27, 08:57 PM (ISO 8601)

Just reposting the essentials from the age intro, so that it's at the top of the new page. I'll update new petty domains into this one instead of the old one.

Spoiler: Geopolitics

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I'm going to keep this far shorter than last time. You can assume general advancement across all civilisations, even the Crow People now that they're going to university. There are however a few particular developments that I want to highlight.

Theshana
Through diplomacy, Valrion was able to peacefully end the conflict between his empire and the free city of Theshana, and so adhering to the prophesy. Theshana never fell, and as its citizens saw the benefits of the Emperor's Peace they slowly, but surely, began to reframe their old Vreyalasian notions of community. And so, the prophesy was broken. Theshana is now a part of the Imperial Confederacy of Axia, under the treaty of the Emperor's Peace.

Sanctuary
Over the last hundreds of years, the affluent floating island state managed to make a lap around the Crimson and Golden oceans, passing by the Tainted Lands and west coast Axia, before arriving in the channel between Tria and the Stricken Lands. Timorin woshippers at the Maddening Marsh are already becoming aware of Sanctuary's proximity.

The Chernway
Using a combination of the Tuning Trident, aquamancy, shamanism, and the squalid, the choblins of Chobe were able to rapidly extend the Chernway until it spanned the entirety of Tria. There is only one main tunnel so far, going from the Starfolk's Starry Crypt all the way to the 1st Justice University, with Chobe in the middle. There are choblins living all along the Chernway, mostly underground but with the occasional surface outpost hidden in the wilderness.

Demigods
Rosalin has died, and will need to be resurrected to regain her domain bonus. Valrion is still alive through the mastery of various magical longevity arts, however his divine power has waned, so a reawaken will be required to regain his domain bonus. Thal-Verys, Nerassus, and Deja Vu are all still alive and all retain their domain bonuses.

I'm going to let you guys update all other details as you see fit. I certainly plan to post a bit about how choblin and Starfolk society has evolved in the codex thread.

Spoiler: Maps

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Geographical Map:

Political Map:

Spoiler: Divine Actions List

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Undetectable actions

Free/Instant: manifest avatar, teleport avatar, shapeshift avatar, interact with the world, perform inconsequential/non-divine magic, attempt to remotely contact other gods - general fluff and flavour basically.

1 AP/0 DC: influence one mortal (significantly alter the course of their life by compelling them to action, altering their body, killing them, etc.).

2 AP/1 DC: influence a small group of mortals (~10), influence a small landmark or room, change the weather in a village-sized area.

4 AP/2 DC: influence a large group of mortals (~100), influence a large landmark or building.

6 AP/3 DC: influence a village of mortals (~1000), influence a village-sized area, change the weather in a city-sized area.

8 AP/4 DC: change the weather in a state-sized area, create a basic living species (plant, fungus, micro-organisms), create a basic non-living substance.

10 AP/6 DC: influence a town of mortals (~10k), influence a town-sized area, create an animal species, create one or a collection of lesser magical items (easy to both use and destroy, such as a magic carpet, health potion, invisibility cloak, etc.).

12 AP/8 DC: influence a city of mortals (~100k), influence a city-sized area, create a collection of lesser magical minions (should be a reasonable match for most mortals, such as hellhounds, cherubs, horse-mounted Nazgul, etc.), immortalise a living creature or mortal, create a pocket dimension (must be bounded and unable to hold a population), reincarnate a deceased non-divine being.

14 AP/10 DC: influence one immortal, create a single greater magical monster (should be challenging for even the best mortals to slay, such as a dragon, gorgon, fell beast-mounted Witch King, etc.), create a greater magical item (requires understanding of magic to use or destroy, such as a phylactery, enchanted weapons and armour, crystal ball, etc.), sanctify an area for +2 (max 4 per god).

Detectable actions

16 AP/12 DC: influence a state of mortals (~1M) or a small group of immortals (~10), influence a state-sized area, scry a country-sized area, induce a celestial phenomenon (comet, eclipse, aurora, etc.), demand the sacrifice of 100k mortals to refill AP for the age, create a sentient species, create a +2 domain religious artefact (max 3 per god).

18 AP/14 DC: influence a country of mortals (~10M), influence a country-sized area, scry a continent-sized area, create a plane of reality (can be unbounded and capable of sustaining a population), create a +2 domain/-2 weakness demigod (max 2 per god).

20 AP/16 DC: influence a continent of mortals (~100M), influence a continent-sized area, scry the entire planet, create a law of reality (such as a system of magic for mortals to use, or an objective morality), create a supernaturally gifted sentient species, assign a chosen people for +2 (1 per god).

22 AP/18 DC: influence every mortal on the planet, influence the entire planet, demand genocide for infinite AP this age, despoil a +2 sanctified area.

24 AP/20 DC: destroy a +2 artefact, confer a -2 weakness to a demigod, banish a god for a turn, announce a prophesy.

30 AP/24 DC: destroy a demigod, destroy a chosen people, confer a -2 weakness to another god.

40 AP/30 DC: destroy a god.

Secondary actions

1 AP: scry one object or living creature (allows you to detect undetectable actions that happen within your scry, effective for the duration of the turn after the turn on which you call the scry), demand the sacrifice of one mortal to generate 3 BP.

2 AP: scry a small landmark or room, demand a sacrifice of 10 mortals to generate 8 BP.

4 AP: scry a large landmark or building.

6 AP: scry a town-sized area, demand the sacrifice of 100 mortals to generate 16 BP.

8 AP: scry a city-sized area.

10 AP: scry a country-sized area, demand the sacrifice of 1000 mortals to generate 30 BP.

12 AP: scry a state-sized area, reincarnate/reawaken a mortal/monstrous demigod.

14 AP: occupy +1 of another god's sanctified area, steal +1 of another god's religious artefact (contested rolls, defender may double their modifiers if they have an available secondary action).

16 AP: kill a mortal demigod or banish an immortal demigod for one turn (contested roll, defender may double their modifiers if they have an available secondary action).

Spoiler: The Pantheon

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Player	Deity	Domains	Weaknesses	Sanctified Areas	Artefacts	Demigods	Chosen People
Garjel_blah	Chern	+4 Decay, +1 Fermentation, +1 Sanitation	-2 Downtrodden	+2 Starry Crypt
Godzillarich	Grawissen	+2 Mining, +2 Knowledge, +1 Writing, +1 Singing	-2 Unknown		Grawissen's Pickaxe (+2 Architecture)	Deja Vu (+2 Heroism/-2 Murder)
Megadraco	Kahar-Djin	+2 Paths, +2 Thresholds, +1 Travellers, +1 Crossroads	-2 Unexplored		The Key of Spheres (+2 Keys)
Demonjazz	Alatadriel	+2 Fire, +2 Foxes, +1 Bees, +1 Fertility	-2 Arrogance			Rosalin Ravenhold (+2 Wilfulness/-2 Mundane)
The Jojo	Avestra	+2 Nature, +2 Birds, +1 Reproduction, +1 Sky	-2 Primeval	Avestra's Perch	The Otherworld Amulet (+2 Dreams)
Batcathat	Ymon-Thal	+2 Life, +2 Death, +1 Balance, +1 Twins	-2 Unliving			Thal-Verys (+2 Souls/-2 Grief)
gac3	Timorin	+2 Drama, +2 War, +1 Games, +1 Asylum	-2 Fear
flyinglemur	Dulnori	+2 Fortune, +2 Ambition, +1 Dreams, +1 Sailing	-2 Stability
Maryring	Petr	+2 Water, +2 Healing, +1 Rainbow, +1 Medical	-2 Pain	+2 Moonpool		Nerassus (+2 Justice/-2 Flesh)
DarthArminius	Su'ule	+2 Sorcery, +2 Monsters, +1 Birth, +1 Metamorphosis	-2 Wilfulness
AlexanderML	Yir	+2 Sun, +2 Majesty, +1 Perfection, +1 Symbiosis	-2 Arrogance	+2 Stonesthroe Peaks		Valrion (+2 Giants/-2 Petulance)
Playerless	Godless			+2 Harken Steppe	+? ???

**The JoJo** · 2020-03-29, 07:04 AM (ISO 8601)

Avestra, Sunset Forest, Ebonbark Bay, 90/90 AP

For the sleeping avian goddess, centuries passed in the blink of an eye. Life for the rest of the world, of course, did not stand still.

Through the Silver Wings' connection to First Justice University, a trickle of knowledge about the outside world began to flow into Sunset Forest. The written word of the tongues was adapted for use by the Crow People, although it remained secondary to their oral traditions. Amberis was shaped into a myriad of new tools, some of which were used to dig small gardens around Crow villages where root vegetables and beans could be planted.

As knowledge of rival nations spread, it became apparent that many of the small communities that guarded the edges of Sunset Forest would be vulnerable to outside influence if they stood alone. Therefore, an alliance of the twelve most powerful tribes emerged to form the so-called Crow Republic, a confederation of Crow communities who would meet once a year to discuss a common border and trade policy. Internal matters remained the responsibility of each tribe. A number of other tribes remained outside the Republic, some closely aligned, a few abstaining entirely. Thus, the year in which the gods reawoke, Sunset Forest was divided as follows:

Spoiler: Sunset Forest

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The borders remained closed to outsiders, with trade permitted at two locations only -- a small settlement on the northern outskirts of the forest and also to the south of the great river. In this way, the Crow hoped to protect their land for generations to come.

~

Avestra awoke with a cry. She stretched her wings, unclenching her talons one-by-one as life began to return to her body after centuries of perching. To her relief, the forest around her was the same as ever.

The avian goddess soared once more around the world, observing everything that had changed since she was last awake. What she saw did not please her. Mortals had begun building furnaces in great numbers, burning the remains of her beloved trees, for what? Scraps of metal they had dug out of the ground. This would not do.

She let her mind meld with the other deities, letting them share her thoughts.

"For too long, mortals have run freely across the Oerth without consequences of any kind. I invite you all to work with me to create a divine code, so that justice may be served to those who deserve it."

Spoiler: Action

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20AP / 16DC - create a law of reality (an objective morality) - Karma with 2+ nature, +2 birds

Karma is a supernatural law of nature which dictates that all actions will result in consequences. This applies to all beings except for the gods themselves. Broadly speaking, morally just actions will result in desirable consequences for the person in question, while unjust actions will result in undesirable consequences.

Karma remains attached to the soul in question and will accompany them through the Passing and onto their next life, if it has not come to fruition in this life. Those with particularly negative karma may be redirected by Avestra's flock to the Pit of Snapping Beaks, where their soul will be pecked until enough karma has dissipated for them to be returned to the world.

The following divine code dictates what can bring good or bad karma:

-It is morally unjust to harm the natural world, or to enslave any living creature to do your bidding. Likewise, it is morally just to do the opposite.

Other deities may add further rules to this.

**Batcathat** · 2020-03-29, 07:27 AM (ISO 8601)

Ymon-Thal, 90/90 AP, The Landing, Boa Jungle

The air was buzzing with souls as Thal-Verys lowered herself towards the landing. She had kept Ymon-Thal's habit of manifesting high in the air above the mortals, though these days her decent didn't get nearly the same attention as it once had. A lot of the unbound souls in the area took the opportunity to fly past her for a closer look though, even if a lot of them probably saw her more often in the Passing than the living did here. Still, she liked the slow descent less for the drama and more for the last second chance to collect her thoughts.

She was always more nervous among the living, she reflected, no matter how many times she told herself there was little difference between a living soul and a dead one. At the edges of the Boa Jungle, in the land of the living, the dead and the living dead that was probably even truer.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she heard a voice. "Greetings, great Thal-Verys, shepherd of the Passing, keeper of souls and a dozen other titles I can't quite remember."

"Greetings, Verys-Fanar", she replied, nodding her head towards the middle-aged man leaning against the Hall of the Yith, at the edge of the Landing. She'd known him since he was an apprentice amongst the Disciples of Thal and had personally recommended him for the Verysian Order. Something she suspected had played a considerable part in his speedy rise to head of the order. His combination of absolute loyalty and absolutely zero worship made him a good fit for the position, in her eyes. He did as she asked and never tried to guess what she could maybe, possibly, sort of secretly want.

Besides, at any given time he usually had several of the greatest minds of the Yith literally whispering in his ear and Thal-Verys suspected their words meant more than Fanar let on. Even the Yith wouldn't accept a dead leader but even with all their necromancy it seemed the dead controlled the living almost as often as the other way around.

"It's been so long, I started to think you'd forgotten about us", Fanar said with a half-smile.

"The Passing demands much of my time, you know this. Or you would, if you ever came to visit." His smile faded a little. Verys-Fanar was a man of many talents, but he'd never made it past the First Threshold of the Path of the Soul and many Yith children were more accomplished at necromancy. He could ask a master necromancer to send his soul to the Passing, of course, but for all his attitude Fanar was a prideful man, and she suspected that if he could not go of his own power, he wouldn't go at all. Not until his mortal time was up, at least.

An awkward moment passed before Fanar spoke up again. "Should we go then?" Before she could answer he started walking, waving at her to follow. Naturally, they left the Landing using the path between the Hall of the Yith and the Hall of Ymon. She'd picked that path at random one of the first times she manifested for the Yith and the next time she manifested, a few months later, she found it cobbled with stone and officially referred to as the Way of Verys.

Fanar led her through a busy marketplace, the crowd splitting in two to let them pass. Most of the people were living but there were more unbound souls than she'd ever seen in the mortal world before, and she sensed others bound to various objects and people. Even Ymon-Thal himself would be surprised by how much his people had blurred the line between living and dead, she thought. It had not gone unnoticed by their neighbors, she had heard reports of the Yith being called anything from "ghost people" to... uhm, "spirit fornicators", seemed like the most civilized translation.

There were some practical reasons for all the summoned souls, of course. Friendly dead served as everything from assistants and advisors to scouts and spies. Not to mention it was usually far easier to summon a soul with some necessary skill into yourself than actually learning it. But still, she suspected it had more to do with a growing inability to let go. Loved ones who had been dead for years were regulary summoned for company alone.

A woman brushed past and Thal-Verys, her arms full of firewood and her head full of a dozen different souls. Her eyes were unfocused and Thal-Verys wondered whether the woman's own will was any more than just another voice in the choir. Some things neither practicality nor emotionality could explain, it seemed.

"Look!" Whoever had shouted was soon followed by others, shouting the same or just gasping and pointing. As Thal-Verys turned around she saw everyone looking up and soon after the reason for it. In the air above the Landing two silhouettes were visible against the setting sun.

Ymon-Thal was back.

**Godzillarich** · 2020-03-29, 11:05 AM (ISO 8601)

The 1st Justice University: Gates

Cheek sat looking at the distance, a couple of bags length to his side. “... Here I go…”

“Where are you going?” a voice called out? Cheek turned back to see Stopit. “Why are you leaving the University?”

Cheek turned back towards the horizon, “I’m going to make that pickax wielding jackass pay.” he then started walking. Stopit ran up beside him. Cheek look at the strange tongue in more confusion? “What exactly are you doing?”

“Coming with you…” stop it responded. “... I don’t have anything else to do and you will be lonely traveling by yourself.”

Cheek stood in silence and then looked back to Stopit. “You do have a point… Besides, it doesn’t seem like anyone wants you here anyway. Maybe we can find you a new home on the way.” Cheek then started walking

Stopit smiled as he walked besides Cheek. “A place like me grass without being yelled at seems like paradise” And with that, they walked deep into the bay area. The home of the Empire.

Above of them watched déjà vu in his specter form. “...I better watch them, Just for a little bit.”

And this is where the journey of the student, the stranger, and the demigod begin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k8craCGpgs

_______________

???

Emerging from the ground where the cloaked figure and 2 of his associates wearing masks. They were surrounded by a bunch of horses and supplies “Alright put the ribs down…” The cloaked figure demanded.

“Why are we stopping here?” the masked Sinalese asked.

“Quiet you fool, don’t you sense the power coming from the bones?” the cloaked figure snapped back as he got out the pickax. “It would appear that our robbery happened at a very inconvenient time.”

“What do you mean by that?” the masked Sinalese asked

The cloaked figure kneeled down to the bones “It seems the gods are starting to come back.”

“WHAT!?” the Sinalese yelled in terror. “After all this time they come back now! This is horrible!” if they find out what were doing…”

“Silence fool!” the cloaked mastermind yelled. “All we need to do is keep a low profile, in fact maybe we can use the gods against themselves.” He then pointed at the Sinalese. “I want you to check and see if the fox is one of the returning ones and then report back to me.”

“Yes, sir!” the Sinalese got up upon the horse and rode off.

The tongue looked in confusion and worry. “Um, how exactly are you gonna take advantage of the Gods?”

The cloaked figure smiled as he raised his pickax. “Like this.”

Spoiler: Hinder

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-2 knowledge: The knowledge of the system will often make people extremely paranoid for fear of punishment causing many to live in horrible secluded lives.

-2 architecture: as long as they are near buildings made of magicite, karmic effects.

+2 unknown: unbeknownst to the raptor the bones resisted his dark influence, every time he tried to use the bones he would be unskilled with them mitigating their effects, for example, while the knowledge effect can still happen many of those in calm mind can make peace with it rather easily

**DarthArminius** · 2020-03-29, 12:34 PM (ISO 8601)

Su'ule
Su'ule was a mother goddess. She was happy that her people, the changelings lived a somewhat peaceful life under the empire. No long at war with a more civilized neighbor. However, there was something that kind of bothered Su'ule. Yes, the changelings could change form into something monstrous if they wanted to, and practiced at it. Su'ule's devotees often did so. But her philosophy was not wide spread throughout the world. Su'ule thought that she could bless the entire world with her will. She attempted to pass another law of reality, something that would change the fabric of reality around the whole world with a lengthy incantation.

Spoiler

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- 20 AP out of 100 AP, 80/100
Pass Law Of Reality, Mandate Of Su'ule
The incantation has the following effects:
Upon death a mortal that is faithful towards their god may be given life as a monster of some sort as determined by the god. Those that worship Su'ule or follow no particular god follow the Mandate Of Su'ule. If an evil person who constantly abuses others dies and refuses to die, he can be actually transformed into a monster, but he won't like what he turns into. The worst of the worst would likely become something incapable of pleasurable emotions. Also, someone can die and a god could petition Su'ule to give them over to certain gods in their monster form. The virtues that most reflect someone's change into a pleasurable type of creation are : Love, Peace, Honor, Charity, Courage and Temperance. The vices that most reflect someone's change into something unpleasant are : Vanity, Greed, Gluttony, Dishonor, Cowardice and Hate.
"Love" means someone's love for their family or "partner".
"Peace" means someone's gentleness and consideration towards other people, especially in relation to conflict.
"Honor" means someone's respect towards others dignity.
"Charity" is closely tied with Love, but is more about the consideration one has towards people around them, whether in their family or not.
"Courage" is about how someone manages fear in their life. For example, if they do the right thing even though they are scared to do so, that counts as courage.
-
"Vanity" is being self-important.
"Greed" is about being selfish and demanding of more and more of something an individual wants, especially in regards to wealth.
"Gluttony" is about being hedonistic to the extreme, to the expense of others, or, an individual gorging themselves on food to the expense of someone els'es hunger.
"Dishonor" means someone's disrespect towards the dignity of others.
"Cowardice" is a consistent giving into fear, despite the consequences.
"Hate" is a menacing attitude towards other people, a desire to cause great harm of some kind to others.
People who know about this law can "Sail The Seas Of Life" by being as good of a person as they want to be, or as much as they can, thus influencing what they will transform into, especially in Su'ule's religion. In a way this law is very congruent with the Law of Karma.

+2 Sorcery : The thing changing people into monsters is Su'ule's own magic.
+2 Monsters : The transformation into monsters makes the domain of monsters apply.
+1 Birth : The first generation of monsters on the Earth made by the Mandate can have children.
+1 Metamorphosis : Yes, the change into monsters is a form of metamorphosis.

Originally Posted by The JoJo

Avestra, Sunset Forest, Ebonbark Bay, 90/90 AP

Spoiler: Action

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20AP / 16DC - create a law of reality (an objective morality) - Karma with 2+ nature, +2 birds

Karma is a supernatural law of nature which dictates that all actions will result in consequences. This applies to all beings except for the gods themselves. Broadly speaking, morally just actions will result in desirable consequences for the person in question, while unjust actions will result in undesirable consequences.

Karma remains attached to the soul in question and will accompany them through the Passing and onto their next life, if it has not come to fruition in this life. Those with particularly negative karma may be redirected by Avestra's flock to the Pit of Snapping Beaks, where their soul will be pecked until enough karma has dissipated for them to be returned to the world.

The following divine code dictates what can bring good or bad karma:

-It is morally unjust to harm the natural world, or to enslave any living creature to do your bidding.

Other deities may add further rules to this.

+2 Sorcery: Those who transform into monsters will have greater power in Su Sorcery.
+2 Monsters: This is a monster transformation law.
+1 Birth: Monsters can still give birth to monsters of their own kind. Some monsters are asexual and can reproduce without mates, but other monsters might have to find other monsters of the same kind, but this ability to breed only lasts for one generation.
+1 Metamorphosis: Monsters will find that performing magics that transform themselves into other people/monsters are easier.

Su'ule thought this was a good idea, but it was missing something.
Help:

Spoiler

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+ 2 Sorcery : those who did good things with their Sorcery would find themselves blessed by the Law of Karma, in finding other good Su Sorcerers more easily.
+ 2 Monsters : those who abused monstrosities just for being unnatural would receive bad Karma.
+ 1 Birth : those who found themselves at a crossroads at death, and were too bad to have something good happen to them, and also too good for a punishment could be born into a new life with the ability to receive more teaching on how to progress in the afterlife.
+ 1 Metamorphosis : as the birth entry above, only people who are in that situation could choose to be born with greater power as something other than Human, to make their life easier.

**Godzillarich** · 2020-03-29, 06:13 PM (ISO 8601)

The reef
The cloaked figure moved around the reef area with his tongue serve following behind him. The bones were strapped to the tongues back and he carried a bucket full of the masks in its mouth. Many of the residents stare at the individuals, many cannot believe after all these years all the masks would be found. “Greetings nut cases, after many years of scouring I have finally retrieve the stupid masks for you now let’s talk about our deal.” the cloaked figure announced in all of his arrogance.

The cult met him on the shore. Timorin's Lust and Apathy were both there with a small enterage of sorcerer's.

Timorin's Lust spoke first. "Thank you for your service to the cause. We shall gladly take them now."

The cloaked figure got in between the bucket of masks and Timorin Lust. “Hold on, what about your end of the bargain?” he demanded. “I didn’t spend literal decades of my existence just to get a thank you, where is leviathans corpse.”

Timorin's Lust nods and steps back, the staff drawing attention. Timorin's Apathy stepped forward. "It is on the Isle of Terrors. They felt they would be best served to guard it. I can take you to them if you wish."

“Take me there NOW! I’m tired of waiting…” the cloaked figure yelled in anger.

Timorin's Lust was gone with the masks, off to return them to their rightful owners. Timorin's Apathy nods. "Right this way. Follow me." He then shifts his neck into gills and dives into the water.

The cloaked figure and the tongue stood at the water’s edge. “So how are we gonna follow him?” the tongue asked. The cloaked figure pulled out his pickax.
_________

Apathy made it to the Isle of Terrors.

Just then 2 figures busted from beneath the ground in front of him. “Nice try jackass but I have the magical pickax.” He said smugly. He then started to look around. “... I’m a busy mage let’s get this over with. Where is Leviathan on this dirt heap?”

Timorin's Apathy points. The body of the Leviathan is very clearly on the beach behind the figure.

A massive grin appeared on the cloaked figures face. “YES! Finally, after all these years it’s mine…” he walked up to the stony corpse of the former monster of the bay. He then looked at his tongue compatriot. “Now then let us do a little bit of a gamble.” he then looked up to the sky. “OH Great Timorin I ask of you a favor, I have returned the masks that were wrongfully taken now I ask for a favor. Help me revive the God before the Gods. Help me revive Leviathan!”

Timorin appears and smiles. "I shall help you if you use this power you have gained to bless this land."

The cloaked figure smiled. "Sure should only take me second."

Spoiler: action

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14 AP/10 DC: influence one immortal, create a single greater magical monster. Leviathan

Spoiler

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https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca88...m44rja-9LqEEII

The Creature of legend long ago banished by Graw and killed by Ostrom. The creature rebooked back in a more terrifying form to serve the cloaked figures’ needs.

+2 Knowledge: Leviathan has extreme intelligence, even rivaling Graw or even the other gods.

+2 mining: Even on lands when you are not safe from Leviathan The creature will be able to dig beneath the earth as well it as a can swim beneath the depths.

+2 architecture(pickax): Leviathan will have a mighty palace beneath the waves, this palace can travel beneath the waves to anywhere it needs to be.

-2 unknown: Leviathan suffers from his own ego, unlike the humble Graw. as such he will do unbelievably stupid mistakes because of his arrogance.

Spoiler: Help

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+1 Asylum so long as the Leviathan does no harm to the cult, they will be surprisingly safe and unbothered in Lucent Reef.

+2 War and +2 Drama because Timorin expects a lot of both from this beast. It will be prone to cause each

**AlexanderML** · 2020-03-29, 09:51 PM (ISO 8601)

(BIG thanks to Mega, Tom, and most of all Maryring who wrote so much of this! Note: This is happening in-between the age before and this one.)

In the darkness there lay a shining light who’s beauty some would describe as divine on sight, held in the hand of a man who’s heart was most wicked. It shone, it actually shone, this wicked man’s soul.

“Nyehehehehahahahehaha! Perfect!”

Varpier, Neiu, Vultur - The Temple of Sigrid:

The temple of Sigrid had very few travelers arrive these days, indeed it had been years since the last wanderer had arrived seeking entry into Sanctuary, and they had not even passed the trials. The Head Priest overlooked the increasingly dower temple, empty of prospective students. The Icebreaker's vigilance however spotted someone, indeed the arrival of three individuals on the horizon.

They wore garb like that of the people on this continent that came to the temple before, and other than the fact that one of them looked like they might have giant blood in them and that they were the first arrivals to this place in years, they were not seen as anything too strange. After informing the High Priest of these arrivals the Icebreaker went out to greet them.

From the High Priest's perspective it looked like the Icebreaker wandered off towards the prospective students, spoke with them, and after a moment began to walk with them back towards the temple. As they drew close enough to begin to hear them, the Icebreaker disappeared. And the High Priest did not care. Instead they hoped to talk to these travelers, happy to finally have some company here at the temple.

"Greetings, I assume you have arrived to-" he was interrupted by a snap of a finger, and was gone.

"Papa, did you need to do that? Those men were not trying to do anything bad right?" Said Neiu, looking over at the giddy sorcerer with a bit of worry.

"Nyehehe... Sorry Neiu, I could not resist. Anyways don't worry about them, they are not dead, just gone. When we leave they should return, with only the lack of our brief meeting being missing."

"Shouldn't we just kill them?" Asked Valtur, their uncaring feelings obvious.

"Nonono, while they don't get many visitors around here these days they still get the rare guest, either from these grey plains or from Sanctuary itself. I'd rather keep the risk of discovery to a minimum." Varpier said as they walked into the temple, the other two following behind him.

With a quickness hinting at familiarity from Varpier, the three quickly traveled through the temple into a special chamber.

"Ah, just as I remember it." Said Varpier "Now, before we go: Our hearts are pure in the eyes of all, our vileness contained, for within us shines innocent Neiu's love." She giggled a bit at that.

"Is she going to return to normal soon? It's been creepy having her act so... childish." said Vultur.

"Soon, I'll give her full heart back to her... after we arrive in Sanctuary." Said the mage, looking at the currently closed portal in the chamber. "I'll open this first."

Extending their hands in a practiced motion, thinking on the mindset often repeated in their mind again and again for this day, Varpier slowly began to form the key to open the portal. When the icey form of the key was made, Varpier looked over to Neiu and while not really understanding why they were doing this nonetheless energized the ice key.

"Perfect" said Varpier as they sensed the portal open to them. "Hurry now, it won't last long."

Sanctuary:

Spoiler: Map

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The trio arrived on the southern banks of the island, walking along the white path Varpier looked towards his two children stating: "Be on guard, for we have a great deal of work to accomplish before the day my Crimaka Magica Morte can be unleashed. For now, we shall return to my home village, if it is still there. I have a few things sequestered there from my youth that maybe of use to us, most promising being the underground basement that I once made. Oh how unskilled I was back then..." He said reminiscing.

"You want us to live in a basement till your ready?" Vultur said, disgusted with the idea.

"Nyehehe, don't worry about that. You should look like a normal human to them, and as long as you two act appropriately you should be fine to mingle with them. They should not notice us for the rest of the day, but even after that the charms on you should make whatever slip-ups you do easy to excuse. Just don't go using all your mana, alright? I cannot aid you if you lack the mana to fuel your wards, if needed restore them with any means necessary."

"Heh, sure. Thanks pops." Said Vultur, their crazed eyes showing their eagerness for taking the 'necessary' means even through the mask.

Varpier sighed, the eagerness was good but too much was dangerous. "Nyehhhh... where we shall gather is a few hours walk from here, we should arrive before nightfall, if the roads are similar to how they once were."

Under the outskirts of Varpier's home village, now town:

When the trio arrived at the town on the northwest side of the island, Varpier was mildly disappointed to find that their old workspace had been found and was currently being used as a storage facility. He was also mildly surprised and obviously annoyed to see that tongues had arrived on the island stating something to the affect of 'those overgrown lizards got in here'.

In the face of this Varpier decided to carve out a underground base of operations on the outskirts of the town, something that with his newfound power was a task that was considerably easier than in their youth. While sparsely furnished he quickly made rooms for his children and a large room to work his and Vultur's magic in; the two would have to spend a considerable amount of time gathering the souls and preparing the flesh.

Neiu for her part spent most of her time here among the people of Sanctuary, technically out scouting for the other two but used the time trying to experience the land that Varpier came from. Sanctuary was a fascinating place, even if you have to keep yourself from being noticed.

Spoiler: Vultur, Bringer of Lost Woes

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Toughness - Monsterous
Magic - Upper Class shamanism, Upper Class Enchantment, Minor Necromancy
Fighting - Skilled Swordsman

He brings creatures best left forgotten out into the daylight for all to see and fear. Beware! His crow companion holds his true soul, he shall reform in short order if it’s not destroyed! It cannot be far from his side, and is relatively easy to destroy once revealed.”

Spoiler: Neiu, Last True Heiress to the Memory of Pictur

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Toughness - Average
Magic - Master Class Enchanter, Master Class Necromancer, Average Water user.
Fighting - Poor

Other than her enchanted armor and weapons she likes to channel her mana through normally, she is skilled in the use of water magic. Beware! The souls that serve her greatly enhance her spells and keep her wards active, target the items that hold them first!

As the months passed the flesh began to engulf the earth beneath the people of Sanctuary, with each day's worth of expansion damning the people on the island more and more.

"By my blood do the ties of my perfect flesh spread across the land, not of me and yet once more it shall be." Was something Varpier said often as they poured their mana into the growing flesh that sunk int

When not working on that Varpier focused on the binding of souls, a tiresome endeavor that normally required weeks to get a single result; but with the remnant energy of the greatest of monsters on the island it was an endeavor that proved to be at least not a taxing distraction, only a time consuming one.

How through months on end had the mage and their children lay so hidden is a matter of precedence, for quite simply no one could and/or dare do anything like this before. Indeed, it was not the fault of those on the island for not noticing this sooner. Why would they think to look for what was growing beneath them?

Spoiler

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The area where the fleshy intrusion has grown to, with the red circle indicating where Varpier is located and working from.

Finally the day came where the increasingly hard to implement rituals were having little effect in increasing the flesh's expansion, with Varpier getting things set into place for their quick and total victory.

In the main ritual chamber was a throne bound with enchantments of far-seeing and mental clarity, and on it was a crown of flesh who's tendrils extended into the walls, in the dark atmosphere of the room it lay waiting. Varpier called his children to him telling them of the wicked things he'd have them do, for unfortunately for him even his own inflated power after all this time did not extend towards the farthest edges of the island. Yet it was enough and to be expected. Gifting monstrosities and what words of magic to his children he could, he tasked them with doing what they will to those places where his own power did not reach.

"This is when my fury shall be unleashed, and if it's the end of either of you know that I truly enjoyed knowing you, my child and student." He said as his goodbye, and then laughed off as he willed them and their monstrosities to where he wanted them.

Spoiler: Where everyone is.

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1. Varpier
2. Neiu
3. Vultur

Varpier was left alone staring at the throne and the crown that looked alive. It was a strange feeling for the mage, to be at the step before their high of power, to know how the world may change after seeing what the highest power a mortal can muster may bring. For he was perfect, and he had the voice of Su, in form and command he was at his peak. With this crown, he'll show all the people of Sanctuary what someone with such a form and voice can do. He took the crown into his hands and sat down.

"Oh Petr, glorious god of the waters, I hope you are watching this in your sleep!"

And they placed the crown on their head, instantly having it fuse with their skull and connect themselves to the rest of the flesh across the isle. Sensation alone nearly overwhelmed Varpier, yet they held on, trembling as he silently made the flesh to rise as he proclaimed.

"By my perfection I do gift blindness to all of mankind, and that mana when released into the world shall be rendered unless unless it was taken from the one who created it!" The temporary artificial extension of their power to command reality held, though it would quickly become unusable. It matter not to Varpier if it would last, he just needed it to last long enough.

And that's how the majority of Sanctuary's people lost the ability to use their magic and became blind in the face of the horror coming out of the ground. For the majority of the citizens affected it was a sudden blackness that came over them, and a tremors from the ground as fleshy tendrils broke through the earth and consumed them. Crushing and absorbing their forms; taking their mana to keep the extension spell going longer.

This killed massive amounts of people of all sorts anywhere near the afflicted areas with little to no resistance at first, but Varpier quickly felt that their perfectionist grip on reality, as abused as it is, would only allow one change to be active for much longer. "Nyehhhhh, fiiinne, have your s-sight back." He said strained, lifting the blindness command. Though they may fight back now at the tide of flesh before them, what could spears do against such a tide?

Vultur had arrived at one of the northern villages, he'd seen it briefly before and heard Neiu talk about it yet for the first time truly appreciating the sight of the place. The people there were about to let him have his fun after all.

Looking at the monsters he was gifted, Vultur honestly suspected he was the least liked of Varpier's children, the majority of the monsters given to them were tiny rates after all. Yet Varpier had gifted them a small number of fun creatures to command as well, though that was probably because they were true beasts, things Neiu did not have the druidic knowledge to command.

Spoiler

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"Hehehe, come on you pests it's time to show them what they've been ignoring. I wonder how many more of you little rats we'll find hiding in there."

Neiu appeared near one of the north western towns of the island, her troops behind her as she overlooked the objective she needed to capture.

"This town looks weak enough, I don't know why Papa needed me to bother with this anyway." She said with a childish grumpy tone to her fleshy and already slowly deteriorating troops. Each of them was vaguely humanoid in the shape of a soldier, but other than their swords Neiu was unsure any part of them was not made of just fleshy goop.

Spoiler

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It did not give her a response.

"Hmph, just go and attack already!" she said, following it up with a spell that actually conveyed the command. With it the small army of bloody soldiers and other fleshy monsters descended on the peaceful town just as the horror began elsewhere.

The Castle of Masters

To most everyone, today is a day like any other. The sky is partly cloudy. A gentle breeze blows in from the northeast. The sound of children laughing mingle with the sound of hammers upon wood and the scents of rice being fried up with shrimp and pineapple. The people of Sanctuary are preparing for the yearly festival of the pearlescent moon. The day Petr returned to the world, and the day they one year later entrusted their child to the care of mortals. It's a day meant for joy, family and togetherness. A day on everyone's mind. Most everyone.

"We've done the best we can." Archdruid Gabriel exhales deeply, his chin resting thoughtfully upon his open palm. "But whatever we do, it doesn't seem to stick. It's as if the disease lies in the earth and not the plants."

"Worse." The Master of Whispers holds up a simple plant. Wilted, with flecks of decaying red spots scattered across the surface of the stalk and leaves. "Whatever this disease is, it seems to be spreading. We found this outside the Castle walls this morning. Although." Ozu dares a slight smile on her face. "There are some good news. It seems the disease hasn't extended to the Moonpool. The current idea we're working with is that the purity of the pool keeps the disease at bay. Unfortunately, simply watering the plants with water taken from the pool isn't enough."

"This is bad." Dew'eyera rubs his chin thoughtfully as he walks over to one of the windows. He looks out at the workers outside. Aquamancers, druids and treewhisperers all banding together to study this peculiar new disease. "Should we call back Nerassus? Get his university involved in studying this disease?"

"At the very least we should ask him to increase his efforts on food production. If this continues, we'll need to have the university feed us, rather than the other way around." P'ua rubs his chin thoughtfully as he joins the Master Necromancer by the window. "We'll send a missive once everyone's back tonight."

Dew nods his head slowly. With Nerassus's help this disease will surely not be a big.

*CAR-RACK!*

Like the sound of a thousand windows shattering, a sudden sense of dread and loss fall across the Masters. This is followed by the howl of many voices crying out at once. "I can't see!" "What's happening?!" "My eyes!"

"Dew!" P'ua's sight blurs for a moment as an insidious will tries to rob him off his sight, but he manages to shake it off. The same is true for Dew, Gabriel and Ozu, but everyone else in the chamber with them are clutching their eyes or groping around in blindness. "What's going on?"

"My mana." Gabriel desperately waves his hands about, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I can't access my mana!"

"Me neither!" Dew groans in frustration. "I can't... wait. No I can. A smidge. But why?"

"Outside!" The ground rattles and shakes as tendrils of bloody flesh break through the soil. Tentacles of death and decay that flail about wildly, searching about for life. The Masters watch in horror as unfortunate souls caught outside are dragged into the writhing mass. "Dear Petr above what is that monstrosity?!"

"I don't know, but we have to get people to safety! Gabe! Rush to the gardens and guide people inside. Ozu! Get to the armory and start distributing weapons to anyone who can see. Dew! You said you have some mana. Close the gates!"

Misty's secret chamber
"Thanks again for helping me out." Misty grunts loudly as the heavy corpse is dropped down on the prepared stone slab. In the darkness of the cave, only lit up by a few tallow candles, it's hard to see anything. A fact Nani is very happy for.

"No problem. I love carrying corpses into creepy caverns for secret experiments."

"You joke, but I honestly think I'm onto something. See, the other Masters are convinced that it's some kind of disease. But honestly, it seems much more like a side effect of a curse."

"A what now?" Nani plants her hands on her side, peering over Misty who pulls out a diseased plant, stretching it out on the slab besides the corpse. "Don't be silly. No one on the island would even think to hurt anyone else here. And we're well protected from any outside attack."

"You sound like my dad. 'Now Misty. Leave this matter to the adults. You're still a little baby who doesn't know what she's talking about.' Thal, I hate that."

"He didn't say that."

"He might as well. Frankly, if this isn't the result of some weird interaction between Aquamancy, Transmutation and Necromancy, I'm gonna eat glowloam. Now please." The room falls quiet as a shiver passes through them both. "Whoa. Did you feel that?"

"I did." Nani spreads her palms apart, attempting to conjure up a small light, but nothing happens. "Gnghn... it's like my mana is locked."

"This is bad." Misty looks to Nani, then back at the body. She touches a finger to the corpse and to her relief manages to draw some of the mana out, creating a light on her own.

"How'd?"

"The mana of the corpse is still there. Doesn't matter how. Drain the corpse then warn Nerassus. Warn everyone!"

1st Justice University

Yet another day. Yet another meeting. Who would have thought that running a university would be so much logistics? Reinforce the outposts. Calculate granary stores. Organize field trips. Create support networks for path walkers. Reassure picketing Sinalese "Mothers against Education" that this is, in fact, not a den of sin and debauchery. Keeping certain individuals from actually turning the University into a den of sin and debauchery. And staff meetings. So many staff meetings. They kind of blur together, to the point that Nerassus would do most anything for

"HELP!"

The Astrological projection hits Nerassus with more force than he has ever experienced before. He immediately recognizes the message as being from Nani. And she has never sent a message with such terror or urgency behind it. "Sir?" The other board members look towards him with concern. "Is everything all right sir?"

"No. I have to go. Now!" He rushes out onto the balcony. The people below see the headmaster leap from the balcony while whistling loudly. A rainbow light flickers around Nerassus's form before he zooms into the distance at incredible speeds.

Port Petr

"Rawgh!" Tao growls as he dodges beneath the violent swing of the monster before him. It's hard to say what it actually is. It's like a twisting, vaguely humanoid mass of flesh that flows almost like water. It's hard to say if it has a heart or anything, but Tao plunges his spear into the monster. It twists and writhes, before sinking back into a pool of withered flesh, locking the spear within it's broken mass.

"Thal take you, monster." He pants and steps back, glancing about for anything to use as a weapon. In the wreckage of what was once a festival stand he finds a broken shaft of bamboo. It'll have to do. He wrests it free just as Kalepo rounds a corner. "Kalepo!?"

"I got as many as I could into a nearby house." Kalepo suddenly steps back as a another monster jumps down towards where he was a moment ago. Tao spins around quickly and jabs the pole through the flesh-beast's skull to kill it. "You got your mana back?!"

"No. I just never neglected my training." A cry of pain followed by the gurgling sound of blood from a torn out throat comes from one of the nearby streets. They rush towards the sound, finding three more of the flesh-beasts busy tearing apart one of the local guards. "Oi! Monsters! Take on someone who can fight back!" Tao throws the spear into one of the beasts, wounding it's left haunch. The beast whimpers, while the other two snarl at the two Masters.

"Tao! That was our only weapon!"

"Then be useful for once and make me a new one. C'mon beasties!" Tao roars as he rushes forward. He barges into one of the fleshy creatures, knocking it aside before turning to the second. It makes a clumsy swipe with after Tao, but only manage to lightly graze his thigh. Tao returns the favour with a wicked uppercut that knocks the beast backwards. The two mounds of flesh stagger backwards, only to be suddenly shot down by two arrows. "What the."

"Master Tao!" The transmuter glances behind him to see Tua and Na'omi, each drawing arrows from their quiver to ready their bows. "Thank Petr you're still alive."

"You can see?!"

"Yeah. The blindness is gone. From everyone." They rush to the transmuter's side. "Sir. Your commands?!"

"Excellent. Let's regroup around the town hall. Let's save the city!"

Northern Forest Sanctum
"Left." Bern twitches slightly as he sweeps his axe in an arc. He feels it sink into flesh, cleaving smaller bodies in half. He feels the brush of something flying past his ear, hitting something else with a loud thock. "Two steps back!" Something swipes before Bern's face. The only thing keeping his fear in check is adrenaline and the firm, commanding voice behind him. "Now right!" He chops hard into something, hearing it fall to the ground with a soft thud.

"Are we making progress Master Okeyani?!" Bern hears two quick thocks, followed by slumping sounds. "This is terrifying."

"You needn't be afraid. In all the lands you will find that I am the perfect archer." Okeyani's sharp eyes shift about the area. Dead animals lie scattered about the two. Rats mostly, but a few chickens, raccoons, and a horse who has had it's head chopped off by Bern. "Just listen to my commands and we'll." A nearby bush twitches and Okeyani spins about, aiming but not releasing the arrow at the girl staggering out of the undergrowth.

"Dove?!" Bern turns in the direction of the sound, blinking as the darkness over his eyes begins to yield. "Dove is that you?!"

"Bern! I knew I heard your voice." The girl hurries unsteadily towards the neanderthal, and Bern catches her in his arms, too happy to see her alive to properly process that he can see again.

"What are you doing here?! You should stay where it's safe!"

"No. No. I had to find you brother."

"A touching reunion." Okeyani slings her bow over her shoulder. "But we don't have time for this. Move with me. Now."

"Wait. I." Dove swallows, shaking her head. "The dead. We found out you can use mana of the dead."

"Oh?" Okeyani reaches down to grab a small handful of twigs. She squeezes them tight, frowning in concentration as the twigs shift and stretch out into makeshift arrows. "Excellent. Now we actually stand a fighting chance."

Lucent Reef

"Are you ready?"

"No. And honestly, I don't think you are either."

"It's not something you can really prepare for. It's a pointless question anyway. We were called."

"And we will answer."

The Castle of Masters: Astrology Tower
The castle itself shakes to it's very core as the tidal wave of flesh crashes into the gates. Still they hold, but the sheer force of the mass shakes the very foundation of the castle. P'ua whispers a quiet prayer of gratitude as he twists his hands together. The air around him crackles with energy before a crackling bolt of lightning shoots from his hands into the mass of flesh, making it recoil. Sweat is pouring down his face as he turns around and grabs another of several dead bodies stretched out on the floor besides him. He draws forth mana from the corpse, channeling it over to the sun tower to reinforce the frost enchantment upon the weapons. "Dew! How are we holding up?"

"The good news is that we've got everyone inside and the walls are still holding strong. There hasn't been a single casualty since we sealed the front door."

"And the bad news?"

"The bad news is... mana is still on lockdown. And we've emptied the morgue of corpses. These are the last."

"Curses." P'ua wipes sweat from his forehead. "Okay... when I'm dry, we should... we should grab cloth and tear it to strips. Tie them around the arrows. It reacts to temperatures."

The castle shakes once more as the flesh tackles into the foundation. Stone creaks dangerously and one of the dead bodies ends up knocked off the side of the tower. "I don't think we have the time..." Dew reaches into a pocket to pull out a small knife. He looks forlornly at it. "Tell Misty I love her, won't you?"

"Hrm? What the." P'ua grabs Dew's hand and forces it away. "Don't even think about it."

"I'm a Master. The mana I contain will be worth a hundred other corpses. And without mana, how can you protect anyone? You need my mana."

"I need you too!" P'ua frowns. "I'm not going to let you kill yourself just so I can harvest... your..." P'ua's eyes shine with renewed vigour for a moment. "Mana. Your mana! Perhaps."

A chilling feeling flows through Dew'eyera. His limbs suddenly feel weak and he bends forward to retch loudly. "Nghn. What... what hap..." His voice dries in his throat as he sees P'ua's form crackle wildly. He extends both arms to his side, sending arcs of crackling electricity that rains down upon the fleshy tides beyond the castle.

"Your mana! I can wrest it from you while you're alive!"

"How?"

"I'm a Su'Speaker." P'ua cracks his knuckles, a grin of relief spreading on his lips. "Get everyone up here. We've now got a fighting chance!" He spreads his arms out wide, howling in power as the air around him begins to twist. Dark clouds begin to gather, and a storm of hail and lightning begins to crash and sear into the tidal waves of flesh.

**AlexanderML** · 2020-03-29, 09:52 PM (ISO 8601)

(continued from above)

The wind howls around Nerassus's ears as he flies through the air. In the distance he can see Sanctuary and how it grows as he rapidly approaches. The layer of mist around the island is supposed to shield it from the outside world. But when he rushes through the barrier and into the airspace of the island, what he sees breaks his heart. People fleeing in wild panic from a twisted taint that has overtaken most of the southern part of the island. A peculiar sensation flows over him. Something is blocking his ability to call upon mana. As he swoops low over the castle he sees that they are holding their own through lightning and ice that push back the enroaching river of flesh. He turns to look towards the nearby cavern, where he spots Nani and Misty.

"Master Nani!" He swoops down, landing by the cavern mouth. "Misty. Thank mother you're all right. What's happening?"

"We don't know." Nani wrings her hands together with a thoughtful frown. "All mana on the island suddenly... left us. We're only able to cast spells by channeling mana from the bodies of the dead." Nani looks towards the castle, a sad frown on her face. "They're fighting back fiercely, but who knows their limited mana supplies will last?"

"Papa kept bodies in the cellar for necromancy practice, but even with all those." Misty shakes her head. "Nevermind. What should we do?"

"Get people to safety. You still have Chern's divivice right?" He nods towards Misty as he pulls out a small device of his own, passing it to Nani. "So you take this Master Nani. Find people and bring them to safety in the diviworld. Use the rainbow carriage!"

"Okay. What will you do?"

"I'm going to fight back this tide of flesh!" Nerassus gestures to the scarf around his neck. It unfurls into a rainbow cloak that billows in the wind behind him. And with a howl of might he charges towards the castle.

Northern Forest Sanctum
Vultur tsks softly at the sight and sound of thunder and ice crashing upon the castle. That's where all the fun is, and here he is, commanding rats to nibble on weaklings. Scraps of a plate, rather than a delightful buffet. But still, it's something that must be done. With an idle thought he directs a swarm of rats into a nearby house, listening to the cries of fear and terror as the people inside desperately try to escape. Soon the screams will stop, and he will move on. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. He'd give most anything for some sort of excitement.

There's a sudden blur of movement in the house. A neanderthal man comes running out of it at incredible speeds, carrying an older woman and a child in his arms. The adults are covered in bitemarks, but are still alive. At last. Something fun. He takes a step towards his victims. Only to feel a sudden sting as an arrow pierces into his neck from the side, boring straight through his flesh and out the other end.

"Bern, are the civilians okay?" Following the neanderthal is a tall woman. Graceful and elegant, somehow in spite of being covered in mud and blood.

"They'll live. Do you have any mana left over to heal them?"

"Not if they'll live. Get them to the safehouse and see if you can find any oil so we can burn these rats out."

"Okay. I will and BEHIND YOU!"

The woman dodges forward just in time to avoid a sword swing that viciously embeds itself in a nearby barrel. "Tsk. You moved."

"What? How?" Okeyani stares dumbfounded at Vultur's still standing form, with the arrow still sticking out of his neck. "How are you still alive?"

"Don't really matter now does it." Vultur grabs the arrow and pulls it slowly out of his neck. "The important thing is, soon you'll be dead."

Port Petr
"Third platoon, cycle with fifth. Second, relax your skin. Pull back and support the escape fleet. Kalepo, where are my arrows?!"

"Coming, coming." Kalepo wipes away the locks of sweat drenched hair that fall over his face to get a better view of the quivers in front of him. Almost done. He brushes a hand against the lifeless form beside him, and the other hand glides across the metallic tips, leaving them sparkling with blue-white frost. He folds them all into a quiver and rushes over to Kalepo. "Here you go."

"Thanks. That'll be enough to." His eyes snap skywards. A small globe of water flying towards the group. "Incoming!" He throws himself on top of Kalepo, channeling the dregs of his remaining mana to harden his skin. Kalepo can only sputter in confusion when the globe suddenly explodes, sending shards of ice flying every which way in a rain of death that stabs fleshmonster and sanctuarian alike. Even Tao couldn't fully resist the blast, as his sides bleed from wounds caused by the tiny shards of ice.

"Ugh. Seriously?" A female voice calls out, stepping into view of the main street. "That almost didn't kill any of you. Who would've thought a little port town could be so... resilient." She steps past one of her own troops, frozen and broken by the explosion of her spell. "You know if you'd just kill yourselves it'd make this all a whole lot easier on everyone." An arrow shoots towards Neiu, but a small plate on her body glows, conjuring up a large shield that easily blocks the shot. "Seriously? Is that the best you can muster?"

"Nghn. Monster." Tao grunts as he draws another arrow, gritting his teeth to ignore the bleeding wound in his side. "I will end you for all the suffering you've caused." Another arrow. Another shield manifesting to block the blow.

"Oooh. What a big scary man." Neiu points a finger towards Tao. A thin beam of blue light shoots out that Tao barely manages to avoid. It hits a building behind him, where it covers the whole facade in ice. "I'd say that you need to chill, but. Oh what the heck. I'm gonna say it anyway."

Tao growls and thinks to lunge forward when he's yanked aside by Kalepo. "Nghn. Let go."

"No, you're bleeding, and you can't hurt her."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Look, her charms. I recognize those. She's decked out in enchanted items. Probably fuelled by some kind of necromantic binding that can activate the enchantments whenever they're needed. Come." Kalepo pushes Tao into a nearby house, dragging him over to a bed to quickly create a makeshift bandage.

"Nghn. We don't .... have time for this. My guards."

"Your guards are buying us much needed time. Look, these monsters of hers. They're stupid. None of them dove for cover from the ice bomb. So if we take her out, we win."

"All..." Tao grunts, his vision swimming a little as he tries to sit up. "The more reason... for me to get back out there."

"No. We need a plan first. Now listen."

"You're really annoying. You know that?" Neiu twists her hand and clenches her fist, conjuring up a thick sheet of ice beneath a small group of warriors, among them Tao and Na'omi. The two neanderthals stagger, but manage to throw themselves and a few others aside as a tidal wave of water follows, sending the remaining guards smashing into the walls behind them. "I would have thought you'd have the sense to die. But no. You're really making me work."

"So sorry." Tua growls as he gets back up and rushes towards Neiu. He shifts his spear this way and that, but every attempt to stab at the witch is hampered by a shield shifting and blocking the attack. While Tua keeps the shields busy, Na'omi draws an arrow, aims carefully, and lets it fly. It slips past the shields, but just as Na'omi thinks she's hit flesh, a sheet of armour slips up to cover the side of Neiu's head, shielding her from the arrow.

"Wow." Neiu growls and glares towards Na'omi. "I almost felt that. For that, you'll die horribly." She flicks one hand towards the siblings, conjuring up tendrils of water. They flow out and wrap about their heads, hoisting them up and locking them in place in a prison of water. "It's funny isn't it? I mean, you worship the oh so pure Petr. And now you get to die in their embrace."

"Let them go!" The voice of the defense leader brings her attention to another road. He's got an arrow aimed at her, but it seems obvious that he's barely able to maintain composure.

"Hrm. Nah." The arrow is let go. And as always before a shield springs up to block the blow. "You really don't learn do you. Now I." Her voice trails off when instead of shrinking back down the shield remains standing longer than it should, before toppling over onto the ground. "What are you doing?!" She shrieks.

"I knew it!" A voice shouts from somewhere. "Attack the witch with everything you've got! That's when the enchantments are the most vulnerable!"

The general gives a twisted grin as he shoots another arrow. Instinctively Neiu shifts her attention from the neanderthals to create a wall of ice, but this gives the other surviving guards a chance to regroup. They launch a barrage of arrows towards Neiu, and each time one of her defensive enchantments triggers, she feels the magics around it being unbound. "Ghn. Not fair. You shouldn't be able to use magic!" Her eyes go wide as she channels her necromancy into a chilling wave of soul-wrecking energy. A draining spell for a desperate attempt to wrest their souls out of their form. "Just die already!"

"Not if I can help it!" The spell is interrupted as a blur of blue fur crashes into Neiu, throwing her to the ground. Immediately the few defensive enchantments she has left spring to life, creating twirling blades that attempt to carve into Nerassus's flesh. But despite all the magic in them, they cannot pierce the divine blessings upon his flesh. The demigod growls in rage as he begins to tear away at the charms and enchanted weapons, using Chern's power of decay to break the enchantments away until all that remains is a single defenseless Neiu.

"No!" She cries out in desperation, clawing at the demigod above her. "Let me go! I swear, father will destroy you!"

"He won't." Nerassus glares coldly as he sends a surge of his divine power into Neiu's form, sealing her up within her own body, where she can neither see, nor hear, nor feel anything. Nerassus stands up, frowning as he looks about himself. "Are you okay?"

"We will survive." Kalepo steps out of a nearby house, rushing over to support Tao who no longer manages to remain standing. "Do you know what's going on?"

"Nani should be here soon. She'll fill you in. Anyone who can still fight, we're regrouping outside the castle to save Haven."

Okeyani grunts in exertion as she narrowly avoids yet another swing of Vultur’s sword. With her spear she has an advantage of reach, and Bern and a few others are so far managing to keep the larger beasts at bay. But no matter what she isn’t making progress. This… man is shrugging off blows that should have killed him long ago. Meanwhile Okeyani is feeling the burn of exhaustion. Her breathing is getting ragged, and her movements are getting sloppy. It’s only a matter of time before she slips up and makes a mistake.

“You know.” Vultur lunges forward, getting his sword stuck in another crate. Okeyani manages another stab in his thigh as she steps back. “I was expecting this to be boring.” With a gesture Vultur commands another flock of rodents to lunge towards Okeyani, forcing her to retreat up a nearby ladder onto a sawmill.

“Ngh. Just die already.” Okeyani stabs down at Vultur, keeping him from using the ladder to follow her. “Doesn’t matter how many times you get up. I’ll stab you until there’s nothing left.”

“Kekekeke. Not if my rats don’t nibble you up until there’s nothing left.” Vultur directs the rats to crawl up the support beams of the structure, forming a writhing wave of black and brown that squeaks and crawls towards Okeyani.

“Back!” Okeyani’s voice thunders, but the swarm refuses to heed her voice. She sweeps her spear into the mass, but for every rat she cuts down, another two takes its place. “Nghn. Bern! I could really use some more of that oil now.”

Vultur cackles gleefully as Okeyani is left to flail wildly with both spear and legs to keep the rats at bay. “There’s no one who can help you now. But just to be sure.” He extends his senses through the wilderness around him. Ah yes. There’s more animals nearby to help speed the process along. All he has to do is reach out, twist, and… no response.

Blinking, Vultur turns towards where he sensed the animals. A family of wild dogs, they are rapidly approaching. But something is wrong. He can’t dig into their minds as he normally can. Can’t direct them.

”Okeyani!”

“That voice. Nerassus?!”

In a cacophony of roars, growls and howls the undergrowth bursts at the seams to spill forth a whole menagerie of beasts. Bobcats and lions, hyenas and painted dogs, and even a lumbering bear all crash like a wave upon the rats. Vultur finds to his surprise that the rodents no longer respond clearly to his commands. His enhancements struggle against their natural inclination to listen to the demigod.

”I got you.” Nera jumps up to the platform. With one hand he grabs the solarmancer in a protective embrace, and with the other he conjures up a gust of wind that send the rats flying backwards.

“Petr’s brat?!” Vultur growls as he steps backwards. “No way am I going to stick around for that.” He spins on his heels and sprints away as quickly as he can.

“No way am I letting you escape.” Okeyani grabs her bow and starts to ready an arrow.

”No, let him run.”

“Nera?!”

”Instead, turn your attention up. And a little more to the left.”

Okeyani frowns, but following Nerassus’s direction her eyes fall upon a peculiar bird flying away from them. “The bird?”

”That is your target.”

Okeyani lets her arrow fly.

Haven: Under siege

The largest city upon Sanctuary, now ruined by tendrils of liquid, all-consuming flesh. ”Fellows. Friends. Citizens of Sanctuary!” Nerassus strides confidently before the crowd of survivors gathered on the hill overlooking the city. ”I know you are all tired and exhausted, broken by the events of today. But we are not done. The flesh continues to pulse and expand. If it isn’t stopped, it will eventually consume the whole island. That we cannot allow to happen!” He adjusts his cape, hoping and praying that he manages to look inspiring where he stands. [COLOR="#8B4513"]”I will end this. But I need your help. While I seek out the source of the corruption, I need you all to search around for survivors. Misty and Master Nani carry divivices. Bring survivors to them and they will take them to safety. Master P’ua, you will assault the flesh and keep it from growing. Those of you with lots of mana left, follow him and let him channel from you. The rest, do not engage the flesh. If you get trapped, use fire and ice to stun the flesh. I don’t want any of you dying out there! Now. You have your tasks. Know that what we do here today will echo throughout all the history of the world! FOR SANCTUARY!”

“FOR SANCTUARY!”

The crowd flows towards the city, splitting up into smaller groups to organize their search and rescue. The exception being Nerassus. He turns his attention eastwards. With the blessing of Ymon-Thal he can sense the souls of all living things around him. And in all his time on Sanctuary, there is a soul that he has never felt the same from.

Above the Throne Crowned in Flesh:

As Varpier observed through their throne and the crown, everything was going according to plan until the demi-god had appeared, shining in the sky to dispel the evil they had brought. No matter thought the mage as they tore apart another couple dozen inhabitants in their mind’s eye, the objective was almost reached and this confrontation had to occur. What infuriated the mage was that the demi-god dared to hurt HIS children. It was an unfair slaughter, for how could they defend themselves against such a force? Varpier grimly smiled, even death was something that could be reversed… somewhat. But for now the threat had to be addressed if the ascension was to go as planned.

Varpier rose, disconnecting themselves from the crown, and taking on their perfect form. This would have to be quick, the law they had in place and the ritual spell extending it’s affects would fade in short order if he did not return.

He keeled in prayer, laughing to himself a little in anticipation "Nyehehe glorious goddess of my voice, be with me for I love you. And glorious god of waters, be with me as well for I shall win, no matter your spawn's blessings."

Feeling their foe draw near, Varpier was prepared.

As Nerassus closed in on the wicked mage’s location the earth cracked and tore itself apart, consuming a vast track of land as emerging from the pit bellow was the villain that had brought about this madness. It flew in the air on wings crimson shadow, it’s furious aura withering what life was close by as it ascended.

Spoiler: Varpier, Father of Monsters

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WARNING! WARNING! Varpier approaches!
Toughness: Beyond Most Mortal Power
Magic: Su'Speaker Master
Paths: Perfectionist of the 5th, First Among Perfection
Fighting: Above Average in hand to hand and swords.

Beware! Only the gods can strip them of their power! Beware! All mortal magics fail against their current law! Beware! Their perfection grants them near immunity to most weapons!

He cannot touch the power of those who are divine! He cannot stop the power of Paths, especially those used by Masters! The power of the divine should be used to defeat them! They can only protect themselves from the divine so much! With time his power will crumble!

Against this foe a valiant hero may yet win the day!

Varpier glared at Nerassus, though the intense scrutiny thrown at Nerassus found nothing to latch onto.

"You arrive, child of the Primordial Pair. Your putrid power has no hold on someone as perfect as me, making me your doom. I shall defeat you then shatter the last of this land's hope."

Using what local command they had, Varpier commanded pillars of tendrils to shoot up at Nerassus; however, they missed their mark as he dodged out of the way of each one. Looking up at Varpier Nerassus commented “So that’s how. Father’s path of perfection. I knew I recognized that influence. But you’re not a god, and your arbitrary rules no longer apply to me.” Clutching their fist they locally shattered the anti-magic law applied to them.

Varpeir sneered, “Tch, no matter! By my voice! By my command! Rain of crimson fire destroy my foe!” and quickly added “Shadows beneath be my blade!” as a violet sword phased into existence.

It was easy enough for Nerassus to divert enough power and focus into a protection spell against the bloody red flames that started to fall around him. Doing so as Varpeir, of all things, charged at him. Even enlarged as he was, Varpier was still quite small compared to the demi-god, and Nerassus still knew how to defend themselves quite well.

As Varpier’s blade came down and was deflected by Nerassus, a huge booming noise sounded as a dark sphere enveloped the pair. Again and again Varpier struck, and again and again the booming noise was heard across the island as the two struggled against one another.

Suddenly as the newest sphere of darkness enveloped the pair, Nerassus felt a horrible sting in his back. A tendril had stabbed him in the back while he could not see and the booming covered it’s noise. It… did not stop even after jumping away from the tendril the flesh stuck to his own kept on festering, if it were not for their healing factor it might have consumed him immediately. Nerassus immediately jump back from Varpier, the mage in their pride said with gloating in their voice.

“Nyeh, you are incredibly resilient are you not? I did not think it possible to survive that strike, it should have consumed you in an instant.”

“I just have to remove the infection...” Nerassus said, speaking a spell that instantly removed the fleshy infection. “… and I will not fall for the same trick again.”

“I will win!” Varpier roared out enraged at how easily their infection was removed. He summoned by their will rocks, fire, ice, thunder, and other attacks but none of them had nearly the same effect. Shortly after Nerassus began to use their own magic, magical attacks that did wear down Varpier. Slowly but surely the tide of the magical battle was clear, Nerassus was supreme.

The canerous flesh that had spread across the island was dying, besides the small amount near Varpier and Nerassus, the progress that Varpier had made was quickly becoming undone.

Still, Varpier charged again, more aggressive this time. Nerassus, knowing the tricks Varpier would pull now, was careful to not let Varpier get another decisive hit in. After a short back and forth again, Nerassus brought down a mighty blow on Varpier's chest that caved in the enchanted armor.

Willing themselves to be away from Nerassus Varpier teleported back, clutching his chest. Blood seeping from their mouth because even though Varpier could heal instantly, he was prevented in doing so due to the armor still being lodged in his chest.

“Nyeehhh, I cannot continue this, I must leave Sanctuary. It’s unfair. So unfair.” He said keeping his distance and countering (while he still could) the magic used against him. “Know that while you may have stopped my ascension, Nerassus of the primordial, he has surely succeeded by now.” Their helmet melting away, the bloody face of Varpier laughed as his form began to fade away.

“Nyehehehe, by my command my voice cannot be stopped by even the heavens, and by voice my sorrow and joy become one with shadow, to go to a land where water is a forgotten dream.”

Something in the air seemed to crack as Varpier faded away and left the island, it was wholly unnatural.

And so with Varpier’s departure of Sanctuary the rest of the flesh decayed, and magic returned to the island of Sanctuary as the abused power of perfection faded.

**Megadraco** · 2020-03-30, 01:38 AM (ISO 8601)

The Cosmos, Kahar-Djin, 80 AP

Once more the planets aligned. Once more, Kahar-Djin walked down the celestial path, their mind teeming with centuries spent exploring the cosmos. They were about to extend their domain, find where they were needed, when they felt a glimpse of something… New. Something different. An unknown power, not attuned to any of the gods, perhaps, even, older than any of them.

Soon after, they felt the call of the god Timorin, inviting the gods to a ceremony, in which he would divine the true nature of the artefact. Kahar-Djin noted this, and made plans to attend.

That, however, wasn’t the only power they felt, as they pilgrimaged back to Oerth. Divine power, from not one, but two different gods, rippled through the universe, attempting to alter its very fabric.

The first of these powers was one Kahar-Djin already knew very well. The monstrous, chaotic power that had created Sorcery was once again attempting to bring chaos into the world. This law would turn humans into monsters, cursed to roam the lands, bringing forth who knows what amounts of destruction. This could not be allowed to pass, the Divinity had to take a stand against it. And that started, of course, with the Paths of Divinity.

Kahar-Djin extended their Domain, reaching toward the Paths created centuries ago. They brought forth the divine power within them, to repel this wretched curse.

Spoiler: Hinder!

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Kahar-Djin hinders Su'ule's action by making it so anyone who travels a Path of Divinity will not turn into a monster (-2 Paths, -1 Travellers)

While in contact with the Paths, Kahar-Djin turned to address the second power. This one was much more agreeable. Interesting, this Law of Karma. It was known to the Divinity already that actions, even the smallest ones, could have a ripple effect leading to larger unintended consequences. To deem these ripples positive or negative and turn them back on its source was certainly quite clever. They attuned the Paths of Divinity to the Law of Karma, and watched it take shape around them. Yes, this would do quite nicely.

Spoiler: Help!

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Kahar-Djin helps Avestra's Law of Karma. Any who embarks upon a Path of Divinity will find that acting in accordance with their chosen Path grants them positive karma, while acting in opposition to it will grant negative Karma (+2 Paths, +1 Travellers). Furthermore, as a Traveller reaches higher thresholds, they'll find that the amount of positive and negative karma accrued by acting in accordance to or in defiance of their Path becomes greater (+2 Thresholds)

Finally, Kahar-Djin reached Oerth. With all the changes going on, the Divinity decided it was definitely time to enact the idea that had been brewing in their mind for centuries. They extended their Domain once more, but this time attuned to one specific resonance: Whoever held the Key of Spheres at this time. Quickly, they recognized the location of the artefact, and in an instant, they were in front of a young man, gazing at the night sky through a magicite eyepiece. He was mumbling to himself,

“Th-The planets are aligning… But that can only mean… Y-Yes, the energies flow through them, down to Oerth. The gods a-are returning! I-I must tell the others!”

So absorbed was he in his revelation that he didn’t notice the actual god next to him until they cleared their throat. The young man started and turned to look at the masked figure before him, then fell to his knee.

“K-Kahar-Djin! Y-You have returned with the alignment of the planets, as the legends tell!”

Kahar-Djin looked at the man impassively. Their final stunt had apparently done away with the last shreds of anonimity this form had. Oh, well. They gestured the man to stand up, then asked,

“Young man, do you hold the Key of the Spheres?”

With shaky hands, he reached down his shirt and pulled out the beautifully crafted key, which was tied to a cord and hung from his neck.

“Oh, no, please keep it. That key was meant for mortal hands. Now tell me, young man, what is your name?”

“Kahar-Djin, my… My name is Dem-Ay..”

“Very well, Dem-Ay,” said the Divinity, as space bent in front of them, twisting into the threshold of a Path to a faraway land. “Come with me. Do not be afraid; you hold the Key of Spheres. The world is yours to traverse.”

Slowly, the young man pressed the key against his chest, and then began to follow behind Kahar-Djin. In an instant, they were gone.

In the instant Kahar-Djin was walking through the Path, their silhouette shifted, his mask and robe replaced by her armour, his staff disappearing in one hand as her shield shimmered into being in the other. When the two figures appeared at the gates of the Northern Monastery, the eyes of the guard stationed there opened like plates, and Bron was immediately called for. The immortal walked through the gate, a blue and gold sash draped from shoulder to hip. His body had clearly changed: He was at the peak of physical perfection, and noticeably taller. His skin was cleansed of all blemishes, and where once his head was shaven, he now had a long mane of flowing hair. And yet, this picture of physical perfection fell to a knee, brought his gaze down, and said,

“My Master. You are welcome to our humble monastery. May I be permitted to ask what brings you to our abode?”

“Rise, Bron. You will soon see with your own eyes what brings me here. I must ask, are there any meeting halls here in the Northern Monastery? This is of utmost importance.”

Bron stood, and after a simple nod, turned and walked toward the Monastery. Kahar-Djin and Dem-Ay followed behind.

“Is he… Always like this?” asked the young man. The Divinity considered the question for a second.

“Well, he’s gotten taller.”

The three reached the monastery and walked across its courtyard, until they reached a large building. Bron opened its door, and the three walked into a grand hall. While of austere, like the rest of the Monastery, it did hold a great table, with many seats surrounding it.

“Yes,” said Kahar-Djin. “This will do perfectly. Now, please, close the door.”

Bron closed the door, and Kahar-Djin lifted both hands up.

“I call on the souls of long gone Masters of the divine Paths of Power, Sight, and Wisdom. You who have been exempted from reincarnation, come forth and take physical form within this room to take part of the Council of Masters.”

As the Divinity finished speaking, three figures made themselves manifest: An old man, face weathered by time, surrounded by a veritable armory of weapons; an old woman, seemingly ordinary save for a glint in her eye that betrayed great wisdom; and a slightly younger woman, wearing a magicite eyepiece, looking around in awe at this new location she found herself in.

“Bron, Dem-Ay, allow me to introduce you to the first Masters – err, aside from you, of course,” they corrected themselves, nodding towards Bron. “These are Gil-Galad, first Master of Power; Senya, first Master of Wisdom, and Ayla, first Master of Sight. And, Dem-Ay, Ayla was also the first holder of that key hanging from your neck.”

Hearing that, the woman turned her attention toward the young man.

“Oh, you’re the holder of the Key of Spheres now? That’s fantastic! Oh, I remember when I used to hold the Key, all the mischief I’d get up to, all the adventures it would take me on. Why, I saw some of the great battles of our time, protected many a person in dire straits with my Sympathy, there was even that one time when it took me to-” she blushed. “Oh, but I shouldn’t tell that story here, no, no. So come on, tell me, what adventures has the Key of Spheres taken you on?”

Dem-Ay stammered.

“I-I- Th-The Key of Spheres, to hold it is a tremendous honour, and one not to be undertaken lightly. O-One has to guard it, protect it with their life.”

Ayla actually looked disappointed at this.

“Of course it’s an honour, but that doesn’t mean you should place it behind bars, never to be used… Metaphorically, of course. Let it take you on some adventures, live a little! You’ll be a better Holder, and a better Traveller of Sight. Besides,” she leaned in, whispering conspiratorially. “As many secrets as that small key holds, if there’s one thing I’m certain about, is that it was made to be used.”

“Oh,” interrupted Kahar-Djin. “Speaking of the Key, I nearly forget. This part is crucial! Dem-Ay, please, attune the Key of Spheres to the door of this hall."

Dem-Ay glanced at said door.

“But... How? It doesn’t have a lock!”

Ayla smirked.

“And you’re going to let that stop you? Go ahead, press the Key against the Threshold, and its secrets will be revealed.”

The young man looked at her quizzically, then approached the door. He pressed the key to it, and indeed, where it touched, the wood drew away, revealing a keyhole. He slid the key inside and turned it. Then, he withdrew the artefact.

“It- It is done,” he said, stil trying to process what he had seen. “The Key of Spheres is attuned.”

“Perfect!” said Kahar-Djin. “Now, hold it up in front of you.”

“Like this?” asked the young man, as he lifted the key up, in front of their face.

“That’s right! Now...” the Divinity extended a hand toward the Key of Spheres, without touching it. His other hand was stretched in front of him, palm up, and in an instant, many copies of the Key appeared, only to vanish a second later. One of them reappeared, floating, in front of Bron, who took it and inspected it.

“Very well, then,” finished Kahar-Djin. “Our invitees should be here any second.”

Spoiler: Action!

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(18 AP / 14 DC) Create a +2 domain/-2 weakness demigod

Kahar-Djin creates the Council of Masters (+2 Undetermined/-2 Deliberation). This is a Council formed, first, out of any Master of the four Paths of Divinity Kahar-Djin created (Power, Discipline, Sight, Wisdom), living or dead (+2 Paths, +1 Travellers). Masters of any other Paths are not automatically part of the Council, but are invited to join. Each living Master receives a copy of the Key of Spheres, that, of course, doesn't hold nearly the same amount of power. All the copy can do is bring the Master to the hall of the Council and take them back to where they came from. (+2 Keys) It should be noted that the individual members of the council are not (necessarily) demigods, and do not, as individuals, hold this divine power. Only the Council as a whole holds divine power, and the decisions they make carry that weight.

**Godzillarich** · 2020-03-30, 05:45 PM (ISO 8601)

In the bleak desert a single figure walked across in blistering heat, a Choblin. “Help! Mommy daddy, please help me.” the figure then collapsed on the sand. “Help!”
Over the centuries

As a mirage, the shadow beneath the child had two points of light appear, it quickly expanded and drew itself out to protect the child from the heat. Laughing a bit it said: "Nyehehe, little one who's heart is fierce, what are you doing alone out here?"

The small raptor looked up at the strange figure “I was told by mommy and daddy I was too violent. They said if I stay here long enough my violence would go away.” the child then looked around. “They said they would be back for me but it’s been so long and I’m scared.”

The shadow took in the words silently for a moment before raising from their form what looked like a shadowy hand pointing out into the horizon. It said with quite a bit less laughter. "Is that so? Well, can you see over there? My home is nearby, we can wait for them there. I am Varpier the guardian of the lost, and until you are found you shall be safe there, I promise you. My so- ward Vultur would love to meet you I can tell, though he is quite a bit older than you. He is in a similar situation."

“Okay…” the child said. “... Thank you Mr..”
----

(Ten years later on the day)

After years of work, the youngest of the wards of Varpier was making progress in the curriculum that their guardian had made for them. It always seemed a bit unfair to the choblin how easily the others learned magic, and went from the basics of 'life-care' that Mr. Varpier had set out for them towards different fields; the choblin's natural aggression was something that made them more likely to tear at something rather than study after all. The girl Neiu and the apparently favorite Garus did not really like them, Vultur enjoyed their attitude, and Mr. Varpier himself seemed to just take it all in stride.

Finally though, they had studied long and hard enough the power of the soul and body to extend their life, something Varpier was sure to place the importance of in each of the children. The choblin would be tested, though in a way they had dreamed of for years.

As Neiu and Garus were setting up the 10th birthday party for the choblin, Vultur entered the doorway into their room. "Hey bro, Pops has something to show you. Says you'd like it."

The Choblin’s eyes lit up “A present?!” like a lightning bolt he raced past the room and out the door. “Mr. Varpier what is my cool presents?!” he asked as he jumped up and down in joy.

"Hehe, yeah it's a bit weird but it's the thought that counts." Said Vultur as he guiding the Choblin down into the third level basement where Mr. Varpier would go to work alone. Most of the equipment and notes were behind cloth and covered in shadow, but the smell of magical concoctions and blood was obvious and not unfamiliar to the Choblin.

Candles lit the room, focusing one's eyes towards the center of the room where two sets of ritual circles twisted together. It was something the Choblin could recognize as the first part of the life extension spell, the one that unbound soul and body; turning you into an unaging being of soul that used the mana of others. If there was a rite of adulthood in this home it was probably this.

Standing with a smile at their work Varpier looked at the two boys that entered. "Nyhehe, hello my little wards, I've been a bit busy setting this up and think it's finally ready for our little-ist to have. It's not perfect, I made sure that adequate skill is required, but I wanted to get most of the fuss out of the way for you."

Looking up into the shadows above the circle added "Ah, yes, I was looking for an appropriate gift for you this year. Neiu already stole my sweets idea and I think the other boys are making some toy or whatnot, so I had to get creative."

With a snap of his fingers two figures that were suspended above fell out of the darkness and into one of the circles. "Tada! I found the two that left you in the desert! My my, they had gone a few weeks south of the place I found you! I hope you can enjoy this reunion. Don't forget to wash yourself when you're done, dinner should be ready soon. Have fun~" Varpier said as he disappeared into the darkness, leaving the choblin and Vultur there with the bound and gagged couple.

The Choblin looked at the couple and then back to Vultur. “You know I was waiting for them to come back for a while…” he then pulled out a knife. “... It took me quite a while to realize that my true family was.” The young dinosaur said as a twisted smile appeared on his face.

The slashing and cutting was prolonged. The little Choblin child was going to get all the enjoyment out of its little birthday present as he could. laughing all the way.

(Many years after)

It almost felt like all of them were in the same room with the astrologically enchanted crystal balls that projected their images, though as each of their plans were about to come into full motion they were silent. They had gone over the details over and over again, and Varpier had blessed his children with wards to aid them, but still the room was tense due to the scale of the events about to transpire.

"My wards and family, the time has come for us to make our move. The gods have been gone for so long, and those they left to take care of their works grow lazy in their compliance. On this day we shall make our move; me, Neiu, and Vultur are here in Sanctuary to destroy the inhabitants and claim the pool, while you my little pride are tasked with the acquisition of the other object in the mean time. Garus is to stay home to make sure no one discovers the Woods in the mean time, those Grawissan folk are getting too expansion happy for my liking."

While they said a few things to everyone else when they focused on the Choblin Varpier said. "Will you be alright? I assume you have the skill required for this, as the people guarding the pickaxe are more lax than those guarding the Pool, but if you need a few of mine of Graus's creations it can be arranged."

The Choblin bowed. “Yes master, it should be easy, in fact I will barely have to lift a finger for this plan, human hatred shall help.”
_____________

The edge of when the war of the cult begins.

“Are you sure this will help us teach those bone pickers a lesson?” Chern's Grief asked as he walked across the field with the familiar Choblin.

“Look we’ve been friends for years now, I’m sure this will work. Take the pickaxe and you’ll be able to trade it to get the masks back, trust me.”

The night they steal the pickaxe

They had already retrieved the pickaxe and were sneaking out. The cloblin was speaking beside them. He raised his hand into the air. A light exploded around them revealing their position.

“We’ve been found out! We have to run!” Chern's Grief yelled at his compatriots. Suddenly a dagger went right through his heart.

“I’m sorry about this old friend…” The wicked Cloblin smirked. “... But I need the pickax to disappear.” Unable to scream Chern’s Grief fell to the floor silently. The wicked terror then grabbed the pickax. “That’s when swimmingly.” And with that he sneaked off into the darkness.
____

Present-day, The Reef

The cloaked figure sat next to the now twitching corpse of Leviathan. His tongue assistance waited next to him. “Do me a favor…” The cloaked figure asked. “... Bring the old man Varpier. I want to have a family talk.”

**gac3** · 2020-03-31, 04:20 AM (ISO 8601)

Timorin: The Masked Isle

Timorin called a meeting of the Mad God's Masquerade. He gave it a week before they convened, enough time to spread the word throughout the cult and their allies. He hoped Nerassus, the horizon tribe, and the owls would all be presented at the meeting.

At twilight, the day of the meeting all that were expected gathered and waited for Timorin to speak but he just sat there staring forward. After a long wait, Timorin's Lust spoke from Timorin's left side. "Lord Timorin, are we awaiting someone else."

Timorin's head snapped in the direction of the speaker. "How long have you been there?""

Timorin's Lust tilts his head. "I activated my mask an hour ago Lord Timorin. I've been next to you ever since." He also raised his staff slightly to show off the eye that topped it off.

Timorin nods slowly and scanned the crowd. "Ah. I haven't yet adjusted to my eye patch. Anyways. I have gathered you here to offer a fulfillment, a warning, and a gift. Before any of that though, it is time we move this meeting to a more appropriate locations."

Timorin put his hand on the altar that hid the map. In an instant they all were in the Grove where the crown was kept. The map altar was directly behind the pedestal with the crown, divivice, and the scroll for the path of emotion.

"First the fulfillment. Over a millennia ago I promised you that this crown would be a tool for your defense. It is out dated and no longer serves to defend you properly as you have outgrown its power. It did nothing to protect you from the assault of the prehists. They had the power of a god on their side, even in Graw's absence. I also told you however that this crown would reveal someone worthy to lead you in my absence. The time has come for us to crown the one who shall lead and defend you. Spread the word, for your King is on his way."

"But also spread a warning. Last time the gods were awake I told you I would protect you. We aided our friends on the great horizon in transporting the prehists to a new home, one where they would be our neighbors. In response Deja Vu attacked our people, crippling them and stealing the Divine gifts I gave you. Until such time that Deja Vu comes to offer recompense to me or your soon to be crowned king, he is unwelcome in our lands."

"Finally, the gift. The Lucent Reef is my home and birth place, as it is for many of you. Let it be known amongst our allies. I shall hallow these grounds in my name. Let our special guest know that his time to fulfill his promise has come. Tell the Owls to invite my sister. Our friends on the horizon are welcome to invite those they see fit. Let the child Nerassus know that his people are welcome. It shall be a great event. Let all those in the cult bear witness through you, my great Masquerade."

With that Timorin focuses his will and shadow begins to cloak the archipelago, centered on the Twilight Isle.

Spoiler: Action

Show

90 AP
14AP and DC 10
Sanctify the Lucent Reef Archipelago: Making it the Lucent Reef and the Shadow Veil which shall be known as a whole as the Twilight Archipelago.

The shadows are most dense above the Twilight Isle and ease up to where the edges of the archipelago are less cloaked in shadow and more in a state of perpetual twilight.

+2 War for centering the holy area on the Grove where many have been slaughtered
+2 Drama for the show put on and the presence of so many witnesses
+1 Asylum for the way the reef has been hiding those hunted by both man and god as all are welcome to do

In case it wasn't clear, the action is open to Nerassus (and Petr by extension), Dulnori, Avestra and Not-Graw.

**Godzillarich** · 2020-03-31, 04:03 PM (ISO 8601)

AI-Sinai

“Yeah have 2 number 9,3 number 7, and a grass whopper with cheese.” Stopit asked a random food vendor with Cheek very impatiently waiting.

“Sir, we only sell bananas here.” the food vendor proclaimed.

“Okay can I have a banana then?” Stopit asked as he licked his beak.

“NO! Outsiders don’t get bananas!” He then closed the blinds in front of him.

Stopit looking down in defeat, “But, I want a banana…”

Cheek jumped on Stopit’s back. “Look this is the 5th time these fox fascists have been denied us service, it’s best to get out of this area as quickly as possible, we need to get to Chode fast anyway.”

Stopit then started walking away. “If only I could have a sweet, sweet bana…”

(BOOOOOOOOOM)

Suddenly a loud explosion erupted behind them. They turned around and saw the food stand was completely demolished in a fiery explosion. “What the blood hell just happened!” Cheek yelled as he fell off of Stopit.

Stopit frantically looked around “I don’t know but we need to get… The… Authorities…” just then he saw a bunch of guards surround them. “... Hello officers…”
_________

AI-Sinai Court

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyMLjVGUEWI

“As you can see these destructive foreigners were so petty they blew up a food stand and killed a civilian because they couldn’t get a simple banana...” a muscular man proclaimed. “... And worst of all they use the forbidden fire magic.”

An Imperial judge looked over the 2 defendants. “What do you have to say in your defense?’

“That explosion wasn’t us! It was one of the people who attacked the University...” Cheek proclaimed. “... That explosion was the same one that happened there a few days ago.”

“Silence!” the judge yelled “We do not appreciate lying here from foreigners...now you’ll be sentenced for your crimes.”

“But…” Stopit interrupted “This trial has only gone for 5 minutes?”

“That is how guilty you are!” he then turned his head towards the buff figure. Aerathor Colton, what punishment shall these people receive?”

Aerathor Smiled. “Burn them in the goddesses flame.”

“WHAT!” The dinosaur duo yelled.

“Now throw these…”

“Wait!” a figure yelled out. Said figure was a terror walking from the stands. “I asked you for them to prove their innocence with a trial.”

“Holdup lizard lips!” Aerathor Colton “What makes you think you have any authority in this trial?”

“For one thing, I am not premature idiot like you Aerathor…” the Terror said dismissively towards him “...and for another I remember one of the most important lessons from our goddess, love and mercy.” she then turned back to the judge. “I ask you to let the goddess test them, the terror bird that has been terrorizing the countryside let them attempt to slay it. If the goddess shows mercy then it will allow them to stop it and if not they will die the horrific death that you people want.”

The judge pondered this. “Well seeing it kill these 2 would be hilarious. Very well!” he then slammed down his gavel

_________

The site of the great terror bird, Exscindere’s nest, the dinosaur pair was dropped off. “Well I hope you enjoy getting your eyes gouged out.” One of the guards yelled mockingly as they pushed both of them along.

Stopit look at his compatriot. “Well we're going to do this, right?”

“No I’m going to do this…” Cheek told Stopit as he walked closer to the nest. “You stay back, I'll take care of this.” Cheek stepped into the layer of the bird holding his hand out. Cheek was the top of this class when it came to the path of power reaching the 2nd threshold at an early age. Unfortunately all he had with him at this point was two daggers.“ come out little birdie.”

“Caw caw” a voice screamed up in the bushes. Suddenly Exscindere zoomed from the shadows and attempted to grab Cheek with its mighty beak. With quick reflexes Cheeh jumped in the air and grabbed the beast neck. Unfortunately he also dropped his daggers.

Stopit watched as Cheeh desperately tried to cling on to the bird as it ran back and forth “Need any help?”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

“I’ll take that as a yes?” Stopit then turned towards the river. He looked at the surface of the water for a few seconds and then lunged his head into the water. Pulling himself out of the water he now had a fish in his mouth. He then turned back to the chaos behind him. “Yo birdie I got some food for you.” The bird stopped in his tracks. It eyed the fish, it’s mouthwatering. Cheeh took this opportunity to get off the beast. It walked up to the fish and started ripping bits and pieces off of it. “Sometimes you get more with sugar…” He then spotted something under the wing of the terror bird. “Cheek, there’s something under its wing.”

Cheek got himself off the ground and dizzyingly walked to the side of the terror bird eating. “There’s a piece of metal here?” Cheech then toured off. The bird itself jumped up in pain. Cheeh then dropped it himself. “Cherns! that’s ****ing hot!”

Stopit looked at the piece of metal. “This must have been what was driving the thing crazy? How did it even get there?”

Cheek looked at the strange metal. “It’s imbued with Fire magic.” just then Cheeh noticed the bird was looking down upon. “Oh nooo!” the bird stared at him… And then started to lick him?

“You see he’s happy now!” Stopit said smiling.
________

“This piece of metal has the same magical trace seam of the fire the blue up the cart.” The judge said as he looked at the metal piece. “...that bird has been terrorizing us for weeks and you just got here.”

“Look I’m pretty sure they were responsible for? I mean these are not only foreigners but a disgusting tongue and terror.” Aerathor yelled in furious anger as he got his bow staff. “I’ll break their necks here and now.”

“Enough of your pedantic arguing…” The female Terror yelled as she used her tail to slap him in the back of the head. “... Even if they could do this they have already completed the challenge. They are free to go if you like it or not.”

Aerathor stared at her. “You’ll be sorry you let them go, this will come back to bite you.” He then walked off.

“Anyway I have to thank you for clearing up our terrible problems.” The female terror told the Dino duo. “As promised you are free to go.”

“Thank you pretty lady.” Stopit thanks as he picked up his stuff and started walking away. With Cheek In toe. “They seemed like pretty nice people.”

Cheek himself decided to just remain quiet. He had enough excitement for one day to get into an argument.

Déjà vu watched from above. “It is good that they were able to do this without my help, but they still got along with the go.” he thought as he continued to follow them.

_____

Aerathor walked deep into the jungle of the bay area with 20 men. They then sat down and waited. Suddenly the ground tremble beneath him. Soon to familiar faces popped out from the ground, Julian and Narcissus. “Why did you call us at the time like this?” Julian asked, clearly showing his frustration.

“That annoying terror we thought the orcs could’ve taken care of, he’s apparently alive.” Aerathor told his master. “I attempted to kill him but the authorities were a little bit too close.”

Julian looked down upon his now stump of a left-hand, he then raised an eyebrow. “In what way did you try to kill him?”

Aerathor cleared his throat “I attended to kill them in a fire explosion and then feed them to a terror bird we had rampaging, both of which failed…”

“YOU DID WHAT!” Julian yelled in furious anger. “What you just did was raise suspicion for no good reason other than to kill a pathetic kid.”

Aerathor was taken aback “I thought you would appreciate me getting revenge for you!”

Julian continued to seethe with rage. “You could’ve done it more subtly than causing a massive explosion.” Julian then calmed himself. “Whatever it’s an easy fix.” He then pointed towards the direction towards the desert. “I assume they’re heading to Chole, I want you to intercept them and kill them.”

“What the hell should I go all the way over to the desert?” Julian mumbled. “As head of the Royal guard I got more important things to do then go all the way out thei...”

Just then 20 spikes emerged from the ground impaling the guards behind him. Julian turned to Narcissus. “Thank you for shutting him up.” He then turned his attention towards Aerathor. “The only reason you are ahead of the Royal guard is because I pulled so many strings for you. So many assassinations, so much blackmail and now when I ask you to fix your own damn mistake you have the gall to think you can just walk away from it. You think you yourself so mighty but at the end of the day you are not on the same level as my assistant Narcissus but a mere pawn that I prance about as a king.” Julian then pointed towards the direction of the desert. “Come back with that kid’s skull or I’ll take yours as a trophy instead.”

Aerathor looking in absolute horror at the site of his compatriots death, he then turned back towards Julian before running towards the desert. Julian then looked at his Assistant. “Now then let’s go deal with my father.”

**gac3** · 2020-03-31, 07:52 PM (ISO 8601)

Timorin: Diviworld

Timorin became excited with the thought of monsters running around everywhere. This could be truly exciting. Timorin shifted himself to diviworld to focus his power and concentrate on this.

Spoiler: Help

Show

Timorin's monster shall be the Chimera. They shall be monsters that take on a single animal form by default but for every creature they kill, they take on a trait of theirs. Examples include, and eagle's wings, a panther's claws, etc.

To become a Chimera one must die in battle. Offensive battle creates a more negative aggressive Chimera, and fighting defensively creates a more pleasant Chimera.

+2 war, +2 drama

Timorin also adds the following to all monsters made by this law.

They grow in power the more they battle. The more violent the battle, the more power is gained so that sparring does little for them compared to battles to the death.
While most monsters appear on Earth, by their nature they are divine monsters. They have the ability to transport freely to diviworld at will. Only to diviworld though. To return, they must find a more normal method, with the same options for that as any mortal.

+1 Asylum

**Demonjazz** · 2020-04-01, 05:52 AM (ISO 8601)

Alatadriel, a clearing in Al-Sinai, 100/100 AP
Alatadriel woke covered in flowers as hua-ling stood vigil over her body. Some of them took snacks, meals, and other tributes to the ‘grave’ of their god. The sun was high overhead as a large group of priests gathered around. Nobles, and Peasants sweat side by side in the small clearing as they wait for the planets to align yet again to bring forth their god.
As the first signs of movement occured. Alatadriel wrinkling her nose. The crowd watched with bated breath as she said her first words of the new era of gods. “A-A-Aaaacho!” She sneezed several flowers out of her way. As she got up she looked at the crowd, concerned and worried as they waited for her next words. She instead waved her hand and with a pop escaped the crowds of her followers. “Oh, I knew I should have picked somewhere more remote to say my goodbyes.” She took one of the Mouse Tempuras left for her at her grave site and downed it as she looked around The Passing. She sighed. “I need to stop coming here.” She spreads her divine essence out as she looks around for the hint of something within the souls here. Ah, there, it was easy enough to find. A shard of divine wood. It stuck out like a metal nail wedged through a sandwich. She stretched as she prepared for her teleportation. She felt… Good. Better than she thought she would this age. Bristling with power. Blue flame swirled and formed a flaming circle. In the middle the flames flattened and cooled. The flames reflected her like a mirror as she stepped through.

The spirit on the other side… Well they didn’t look like much at all. Only a vague masculine shape that turned to Alatadriel has entered. It nonetheless exuded an essence of being shocked as the god entered into his view. “Ah, my child. I truly thought that you’d be more immaculate. What happened to you?”

The spirit looked confused. “I’m… Sorry. Who are you?”

Alatadriel put a finger to her cheek. “What is that you remember, child?”

“Remember? I remember washing myself in a river of pure water.”

“Ah, that is fine, child. It will make this much easier.” The fox goddess put a finger to the spirit’s head. “Remember.”

A bright light overtook the spirit as it rippled out; their form changed into a woman with bright silver hair with a pair of fox ears and three swishing fox tails. The age of the middle aged woman was hard to tell but showed through in her eyes. She had a well developed tan covered from head to toe in black tattoos. Those familiar with Orc iconography could tell at a glance that it was the tattoos of someone that took the fox as their spirit animal. Though swirls of flame and hua-ling could be seen across her skin. Not something seen among even those bold enough to take the fox as their animal.
Rosalin took her mom in a big bear hug. The demigod picked up the much taller Alatadriel off the ground as she did so. “OH! I’M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU MA!”

Alatadriel patted Rosalin on the head. “I’m glad to see you too, Rose… But please put me down.”

Rosalin laughed as she did so. Playfully punching the arm of Alatadriel. The iron armour she was wearing clanked as she did so “Ah, you always did say that I never knew my own strength, ma! Jeez, I ain’t seen ya since… I was ten. Do you remember what you said to me?”

“Like it was yesterday, Rose. ‘You’re gonna have a hard life, Rosie. But don’t let anyone break you down. The moment you let them, you give power to them. Stand tall, and stand proud and people will listen.’”

“Imperator Thrang said something similar you know before he went. He really loved me like the daughter he didn’t have.”

“And?”

“Ha! Fat luck it did for me! I… Hate Yir, more, and more with each passing day.” her fists tightened. “I’d have an easier time moving a mountain than having the royal court listen to me!” She laughed bitterly. “Ah, it’s no true matter of importance. The common folk, that was an easier time. Devoid of the delusions of grandeur and arrogance of the nobles. I could command some respect for them. Not that it was easy mind you, but I could do it.”

Alatadriel put a hand on Rosalin’s shoulder. “You’re more powerful than you know, Rosie. Just look at how much you’ve grown since you were being taught with the other nobles. You’re a general, you’ve seen the world, you became an orc, you’re a powerful mage. You’ve done more and accomplished more than a lot of people do over generations.”

Rosalin took a seat on the hill with Alatadriel overlooking The Passing. “Heh, and a lot less than the other demigods have in the same time.”

“Ah, don’t compare yourself to that lot. None of them had mortal mothers. They did not bleed on the battlefield, have not had to cope with their own inevitable death, and while in terms of raw power you might not be able to compete with many of them. But you have something more important.” Alatadriel wrapped an arm around Rosalin. “You’ve got the good and just heart of a mortal. Nerassus and the others might know what is good, but you know what’s practical. Know what will affect people best in their lifetime. Know how to go about it in a way that gets results. It’s your hardship that makes you stronger than them. You have the best parts of a mortal and a god.”

Rosalin looked like she was gonna yell before stopping herself. “That’s some serious self-help bull****, Ma… But I can’t say that it don’t make me feel a bit better about myself”

“So? The story behind the tattoos?”

“Well ya see, so Imperator Thrang, he died, uh… Shortly after I got my degree.”

“Oh, you went to the university? What did you get your degree in?”

“Blacksmithing. Learned more ‘bout smithing from my time with the Orcs tho’ to be honest.”

“Really, I thought you would have got it in weapon studies.”

“Well… That’s what I started my major in, but… Well, they said I couldn’t take anymore classes. Broke too many of the masters’ ribs.”

Alatadriel laughed. “Oh, some things never change. I remember a similar complaint at the palace.”

“Well they kept teaching the students wrong! And I started off with just trying to demonstrate the right technique, but they kept telling me I was wrong, and I swear, they was the ones to challenge me to a duel!”

Alatadriel let out another belly laugh. “Oh, geez. Sounds just like the old days. You remember what me and Magus used to say.”

“It’s not enough to be right, you have to be able to convince people you’re right.” They both said in unison.

Alatadriel looked down, a bit nervous. “Speaking of Magus… Uh… How’d she go.”

“She got the consumption before I went off to war. I… Well, I tried being there for them. And I did show up, I really did show up as much as I could, but…” Rosalin swallowed before continuing. “I wasn’t there for when she died. I heard it was peaceful though.”

Ala nodded, patting Rosie on the back “I wish I could have been there for her too, Rose. She was one of the most kind and thoughtful people I knew.”

“Yeah, Yeah. I know.” Rosalin loudly cleared her throat. “So anyway, like I was saying. After The Imperator passed. There was a debate of course about who should rule, and well… I talked over with Imperator Thrang before I left actually and told him I didn’t want the throne.”

Alatadriel looked shocked. “Why not?”

“I… Well it seemed more trouble than it was worth. If I couldn’t get my teachers to listen there was no way that I was gonna get The Empire to listen to me. You’ve gotta know when to fold ‘em.”

“Well, what’s in the past is in the past.” Alatadriel looked obviously annoyed.

“But, he decided to put me on the Royal Court anyway. Not as Imperator, but I was there nonetheless and… Long Story short. The new Imperator tried to rule back some of the provisions for the Orcs made, attack the Crow People, and do some… Generally pretty bad stuff.”

“Which is why you needed to rule.”

“Yeah… Yeah. Well, I was young. And he truly was a charismatic nobleman. He was eloquent and soft spoken, well liked, gentle.”

“Ah, so you were into him.”

Rosalin blushed a bright red. “Nonono! It wasn’t like that. Like I said, I thought him as just a man as Thrang himself. Like I was saying though, I spoke against him in court. I refused to aid him in an attack against the crows, and… Well he sent assassins after me.”

“Bandits from the South, I take it.”

“No, no. I had… Acquired a number of dissenters in the Capital City.”

“I had thought that the piety of the Empire was higher than to attack their own demigod.”

“The politics of nobles are always debauched and debased. It was bound to happen sooner or later.”

“That’s a rather cynical way of looking at the world.”

“Politics, and authorities are always cynical. When I brought this to the court, the ‘debate’ got a little heated. I ended up punching the Imperator in his face… Well, more than punch. He ended up in the hospital afterwards, or at least so I was told. When they got me off of him, they convicted me of treason… And well, I only knew one place in the Empire that would pardon me of my crimes.”

“The guards didn’t stop you from leaving for Ahorca?”

“Ha! They knew better than to try!” She paused. “I still had some friends at the royal court. They helped me on my journey.”

“And nobody pursued you into the valley?”

“Oh, of course, many did. But… Orcs look out for each other. They may not like you, but… Well there’s a saying in the valley… Uh, I’m a little rusty, I think it goes. ‘ jaQ DIr ‘ach jaQHa le’yo.’ translated it’s ‘Skin is deep, but pride is shallow’. If you bear the tattoos of an Orc, it’s more important than your actions. It is a shared togetherness.” Rosalin got up, stretching. “Well, we’ve got places to be. People to talk to. Stuff to do and all that.” She went into a deeper stretch. “Ah, it will be nice to have a body again. How long has it been anyway?”

“Five hundred years since I last slept.”

Rosalin looked down. “... ****.” Rosalin gripped and ungripped the hand in her gauntlet. Feeling the leather and iron tighten against her skin. “Well… Most people I was close too died in The War… Lot of good men and women lost in that war… You never got to meet Estrid, did you?”

“No, I didn’t. A significant other, I take it?”

Rosie got red again. “Ma! What’s with ya and mah love life!”

“I’m making up for all the teenage years that I never got to see.” She laughed.

“Well, uh… She wasn’t like… Not a... “ Rosalin spluttered. “I’m, uh… Not like, uh… Really, uh, into the whole like… I’m meaning. I don’t really feel all that much of a need.” Alatadriel waited patiently as Rosalin continued until she started to get a hold of her sentences. “So…” She took a deep breath. “I’ve… Never really been into the whole sex thing.”

Alatadriel looked more uninterested than anything. “Yeah? Personally, I don’t really blame you. I never bothered with it when I was young either. Foxes were never very gentlemanly lovers.” She paused as she got up off the ground. “Yunno, I heard Albert was the same way. Just wasn’t interested in ever getting a significant other in his life. He’d always joke and say that he was married to his work, but… Arsina said that wasn’t exactly the whole story.”

Rosalin looked surprised “Really? I tutored under him, and… Wow. Really? I would have never guessed.” Rosalin started to do some warmup exercises. Seemingly, more out of working out nervous energy than anything. “Uh, Estrid though. Well… She was more than a friend, but like I said… I wouldn’t have called her my girlfriend either. Partner? She was my partner. We conducted our initiation ritual for the Orcs at the same time, and when I left to travel the rest of the world. After a new Imperator came into power, she wanted to travel with me afterwards. She’s one of the few people that really respected me. We fought, we sparred, we cursed, and drank, and ate. Really, we did almost everything together.” She let out a light laugh before continuing. “She… Well, I don’t if she died then, but… She went missing about a month into the war. Never saw her after that. I’d say she was made of sterner stuff, but… Sometimes you’ve just gotta be realistic.”

Alatadriel held out her hands. “Okay, are you ready, Rosalin?”

She finished with one more stretch as she turned towards her mother. “Yah, I’m ready.”

“Okay, you’re going to need to focus on what you looked like before you died. Keep that image strong in your mind. Because that is going to be what gives your body definition as I construct it.”

Several weeks later
“Come on! Get back up! Another! You’ve got more fight than that in ya!” Rosalin barked at her opponent as a group of Orcs gathered around the demigod. It was becoming a pretty common occurrence in The Yard. An area formed from an abandoned quarry that had become a public recreational facility in Ahorca. Theoretically, it could be used for anything if the elders okayed it, but Orcs being Orcs turned it primarily into a large gym and sports complex.
At the moment Rosalin took her spot in the boxing ring, a spot begrudgingly reserved to her every day even in the short time that she had been here. Despite her heavy work in the furnaces, she would come down everyday for about two hours. Heavier gambling than usual in The Yard as groups of regular watchers had come to cheer on their favorite opponents of the demigod. While The Yard couldn’t agree on who they wanted to defeat Rosalin, they all agreed that her winning streak had gone on way too long.

“Hey! Don’t ya let her bad talk ya like that, Trask! Give her the what for!” One of the onlookers yelled as the massive Orc got back up, dusting himself off.

“Ya sure, ya don’t need a break old man?” Rosalin actually seemed younger than she did as a spirit. It seemed that she thought of herself much younger than she was in her middle age when she died.

“Who you callin’ old! You’re practically a fossil compared to me. What are ya’? 400!?” Laughter and jeers were heard from the audience.

“Five Hundred and ten!” She said punctuating her sentence with a weighty hook to his side. “And with twice as much experience, mind you.” she said blocking a couple of jabs.

“Lot of talk from someone that lost against Nerasuss.” He said landing two jabs at her face.
“Really?! That all of things is the freaking story that everyone knows!” She swiftly dodged the man’s strikes. “I coulda won that fight if we were following Royal Dueling rules! I thought we were limited to three magics! Did you know he practices fire magic?” Despite the wanton animosity to Rosalin, the crowd still found time to yell various slurs and insults against the demigod of Justice.

The two combatants stopped as The Yard went silent as the crowd dispersed. Alatadriel’s imposing form stood high above the crowd as Rosalin went to the troughs of water nearby, damping a rag over her bruises and cuts. As she did so some of the water gave off a bright blue light, the mark of aquamancy. “Trask, ya need any help with your own pains?” she said, flicking her hand, the water on her skin pooling itself back into the trough.

“I’m old enough to handle me own wounds, sprout. Plus, ya’ve got a visitor.” He said as he took a rag to his own wounds.

Rosalin looked undeterred as she turned to her mother, but the magicite ring on her finger subtly changed to a cooler color. “How ya doing, ma?”

“Busy, I suppose. I’ve mainly been researching boat making and modern sailing techniques. Rosalin, you said that you do hate Yir, yes?”

“About as much as one woman can. I met some of those bloody giant priests spouting off about purity when I was in the steppe. Punched him in the stomach so hard that his rib broke one of my knuckles.” She said stripping the layers of cloth from her hand.

“Well, The Empire being across the sea and all isn’t really able to stop the acts of Yir and his so called ‘Empire’ on the continent of Axia. I know your home is dear to your heart, but I think the time is right Rosalin. I know that you have some doubts about your abilities,” The ring on Rosalin’s finger reddened.

“I know ya’re used to talking to nobles, Ma. But ya ain’t got to be ackin coy with me.”

“I want you to lead an expedition to the southern wilderness of Axia and set up settlements to block the progress of the Sugardi Empire from expanding any farther southward.”

Rosalin didn’t speak as she took the binds off her hands. “So when are you planning to set sail?”

“A month and a half from now.”

“Yeah? That’s a pretty tight schedule, but if we’re dealing with Sailors, we’re dealing with the Atlans and the Atlans are shrewd bastards. How many?”

“The first ships will have five hundred men, and women in total to make landfall with. Including crew. You can expect five thousand or more sent gradually over the first year and a half of your time there.”

Rosalin sighed. “We could have made it with a hundred and fifty. It’s gonna be hell to pack, ma.”

“This is a matter of great national interest. You’ll have full backing from Inadriel’s treasury.”

“Yeah, and twice as much paperwork…” She did some mental math in her head. “I’ll leave tomorrow. I don’t have much to pack so the travel should be easy. I do have one request though.”

“I’ll be happy to oblige.”

“I’ll need a mount. Do you remember Zach, given to me by Dulnori?”

“Of course, I remember distinctly that he used to get out and chase your teachers across the yard.”

“Yeah, that was Zacky for you! He ended up with a kill count of twenty-two yunno! He was a maniac for sure. Never had a better mount in my life. Anyway, I want a terror bird in the provisions of the ship that I’ll be riding on.”

Alatadriel maintained composure. “... I should be able to arrange that. I will leave you to your… Activities.”

As Alatadriel got out of earshot, Rose turned to the large Orc washing his wounds. “Hey, Trask! If you want to dry and out drink me later, I’ll be hitting the regular bar pretty hard tonight!”

“Ha! You handle your liquor like a Shamat! Loser pays!”

“I’ll keep you to that Trask.”

Trask got quiet as he unbound his hands. “Hey… Uh, sprout. I know it ain’t exactly Orcish of me, but… Mind saving me a spot on that ship to Axia.”

“You know, it’s alright to say that you like me, Trask.”

“Ain’t got nothin’ to do about ya, fox ears! Just getting tired of the damn Sinalese and all their bureaucracy… And, well, I never had anyone taken from me, but attacks by the Sugardi ain’t an uncommon reason to find yourself forced into the valley. Government's bad buisness no matter where it is.”

Rosalin solemnly nodded “Yeah… Yeah, I know. I’ll save you a spot Trask.”

Spoiler: Actions

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Secondary action: 12 AP:reincarnate/reawaken a mortal/monstrous demigod.

Primary Action: 10 AP/6 DC: influence a town of mortals (~10k)
Over the course of two years Alatadriel sends out a force of five thousand Inadrites headed by Rosalin Ravenhold to form the colony of Al-Estria on the South East Coast of Axia.
+2 Fox as she sends with them also a collection of foxes as mousers and… Emergency food supplies
+2 Fire She sends a retinue of hua-ling over as well to aid them in starting fires along with giving them particularly fire resistant wood to help build the first settlements of Al-Estria.
+2 Willfulness thanks to the will of Rosalin as their leader a campaign of peaceful integration with the native tribes will be pursued as the colonists set up their lands. Unable to earn the respect of the major populace though, much of this and the politics of the new colony is founded on inspiring a fear and hatred of the Giant Empire.

**Batcathat** · 2020-04-01, 08:47 AM (ISO 8601)

Ymon-Thal, 90/90 AP, The Passing

"...and that's how I stopped that group of escaped souls, but then..."

"Wow", Ymon interrupted Thal-Verys. "I leave for, like, a couple of centuries and so much happens. You sound exhausted!"

"Well, you did leave me with an effectively infinite and constantly changing plane full of dead people to manage. Oh, and a nation of mortals who just can't stop messing with the dead."

"Yes", Thal said and looked towards the horizon, where mountain range was in the middle of changing into some sort of giant worm. "We should do something about that."

Spoiler: Action!

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Sanctify the Passing (14 AP/10 DC)
Ymon-Thal and Thal-Verys attempt to sanctify the land between death (+ 2 Death) and life (+ 2 Life) and the souls (+ 2 Souls) within it. Chern is invited to join.

Ymon-Thal thought for a moment and then sent a message to an old acquaintance. "Chern. Once more we ask for your help in securing the sanctity of the souls of the dead as you secure the sanctity of their mortal remains."

Suddenly, Ymon-Thal could sense Avestra's power reaching out and trying to impose a little more order on the universe but he cared little, the behavior of mortals was of little concern most of the time and judging them for it even less so.

"That's not fair", Thal-Verys said. Unless she had gone momentarily insane — which seemed somewhat improbably — he supposed it was in reaction to Avestra's attempt. "They're not even really the same people."

"What? Who's not the same?" Ymon asked.

"After the mortals come through here and go back out there, with no memories of their past lives, they shouldn't be punished for something they can no longer remember."

"Really?" Ymon asked and for once he and Thal had almost identical, confused, expressions. "They look kinda the same..."

Thal-Verys raised an eyebrow and waved her hand to summon two nearby souls. "Do these two look the same to you?"

Ymon-Thal's eyes went from the first soul to the second and back again. "Sort of...?"

"I think I've proven my point", she said and dismissed the two souls — a male giant from the Stonethroe Mountains and a female pygmie from the Boa Jungle.

"You've gotten so sassy lately", Ymon and Thal nodded in agreement. "But fair enough."

Spoiler: Hinder Avestra

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Ymon-Thal and Thal-Verys attempt to make it so that any soul (+ 2 Souls) that passes through the land of the dead (+ 2 Death) is cleansed of all karma — good or bad.

Not long after — or was it? Ymon-Thal could never really tell — he sensed a deity's power yet again but this time it was certainly a concern.

"Hey! Messing with the cycle of life and death is our thing!"

"Indeed."

"But monsters could be fun..." Ymon said, looking deeply conflicted.

"Very well. As long as they end up where they are supposed to sooner or later."

Spoiler: Hinder Su'ule

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Ymon-Thal and Thal-Verys attempt to ensure that any soul (+ 2 Souls) affected by Su'ule's Mandate, if it passes, still end up in the Passing after they die in their monster form (+ 2 Death) to maintain the balance (+ 1 Balance) of Life and Death.

"Oh, and Thal-Verys? Go to Timorin's celebration."

"Yeah! Party all night!"

"Sure. And find out about that artifact."

Thal-Verys nodded and disappeared.

**Garjel_blah** · 2020-04-01, 10:44 PM (ISO 8601)

Chern, 80/80 AP, the Starry Crypt

The mud-painted pygmy waited crouched between a pair of his ancestors' bulbous glowloam graves, amberis machete clutched at his side. His eye never once left the deep passage at the end of the chamber. His Starfolk compatriots were scattered among various other nooks and crannies, and though he could not see them due to their camouflage, he felt comforted by the knowledge of their presence. Together, under the direction of their astrologers, they would beat back the vile underground invaders who defiled their sacred crypt.

Movement caught his eye. A hint of feather, tooth, and talon. Yes, that was them. They had broken the armistice, just as foretold. Several choblins emerged from the gloom, iron and bronze in hand. Their raptor eyes gleamed in the glowloam's dim illumination. Though they were searching cautiously, none seemed to have spotted the hidden Starfolk. All they needed now was the signal.

A few more tense heartbeats passed... Then a shout in the Starfolk tongue - "NOOOOW!" - and the Starfolk fell upon their unwitting invaders. Some of the peripheral choblin strike force didn't even have a chance to raise their weapons before being fatally slashed, but the rest reacted quickly, and battle commenced. Metal rang against amberis, shouts and snarls echoed in the cramped space. Though the Starfolk had intel on their side, the choblins were undeniably the more vicious and capable close quarters combatants. Not to mention their strange... Capabilities.

One choblin, his tail docked in a way that forced him to stand more upright, and missing both his arms, had his feathers painted into a yellow mohawk that the Starfolk gathered was a symbol of high rank. He stood in the middle of the throng and, after assessing the situation, unsheathed a pair of floating serrated iron spikes from his belt. While he evaded attacks, his spikes whizzed dynamically through the air seemingly of their own accord, piercing flesh and deflecting amberis in tight, elegant loops around the chamber. He wreaked havoc upon the covert Starfolk ambush party, until he was blindsided by a charging ceratopsian, who impaled him through the side with a amberis-shod horn. His telekinetic spikes dropped to the ground, as lifeless as he.

The Starfolk roared with triumph, pressing their advantage. The mud painted pygmy sparred with one of the choblins, also missing his tail and much taller than himself. Their sparring took them to a puddle of water, where the splashed and slipped. He felt his mud begin to run as the water splashed up into his face and eyes. In a moment of blind reflex, the pygmy lunged sabre-first for the choblin. He felt his blade strike home, and gave a triumphant whoop. Wiping his eye quickly, he assessed the damage.

A tall humanoid stood between him and the choblin, eyes glowing yellow from behind a mask of bone white wood. He'd been pierced from the front and the back by amberis and bronze, held by the pygmy and the choblin. They dropped their weapons, leaving them lodged in the apparition as they backed away.

"Chern?"

"Wiltwatcher..."

Chern the Wiltwatcher, god of decay, surveyed the battleground, the two swords wobbling with each movement. Gradually, more and more of the combatants were noticing his appearance. Within a minute, all fighting had ceased, and everyone was looking at Chern.

"Pathetic," said Chern, "but unsurprising. Summon your leaders. It is time for the the dust to settle."

Spoiler: Action!

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Influence a million mortals (16 AP/12 DC)

+4 Decay, as the action concerns deteriorating relations between Starfolk and choblins

+2 Starry Crypt, as the front line of these civilisation is at the Starry Crypt

+1 Sanitation, to bridge the knowledge of Starfolk vertical infrastructure and choblin tunnelling, and inspire the construction of Chernway aqueducts

+1 Fermentation, to bridge the knowledge of Starfolk jungle produce and choblin glowloam agriculture, and inspire the creation of Boa bread, which is for all intents and purposes normal bread but keeps far better

The meeting of Chern's two primary worshippers, the choblins and the Boa pygmies, did not go as well as he might have hoped. The differences in their worship of Chern have led to religious disputes and accusations of heresy, but the main issue by far is the Starry Crypt. Though the choblins were happy to give up their connection to the 1st Justice University's crypt, the Boa Jungle crypt holds a far more sacred place in the eyes of a Chern worshipper, as it was his first major creation. They could not bear to be forced out when the Starfolk demanded that they leave. War ensued.

To settle this matter, Chern will enact the Pact of Boa. This will provide the Starfolk and choblins with a new religious doctrine that reconciles their differences, and gives them joint use of the Starry Crypt. It also builds upon the choblin's tradition of equality, enforcing that not only should the choblins refrain from hierarchy amongst themselves, but even amongst others. No one people is inherently any better than another.

The meeting of the Pact of Boa would occur in the atrium of the Starry Crypt. Leaders were set to meet, under the supervision of Chern, to resolve their differences. In the hopes of making the Pact even more beneficial, Chern will also invite Thal-Verys and the Yith leadership to take part, which will end the millennia-long conflict and distrust between Starfolk and Yith. In the hopes that Ymon-Thal will bless this Pact, Chern will aid him with the sanctification of the Passing.

Spoiler: Help!

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Help Ymon-Thal sanctify the Passing

+4 Decay, so that the Passing doesn't

+2 Starry Crypt, to weaken the barrier between the Passing and the mortal world in the crypt, and have the pure waters of the Tabula Rasa seep down its stalactites

+1 Sanitation, to check is the Tabula Rasa is still impossibly pure

Among the delegation from Chobe was someone who had somehow managed to survive between the ages. A withered shrunken shape was carried on a cushioned stretcher between four other choblins, a legless, armless fetus-looking thing with its head tucked in against its tail. It was only recognisable by the blindfold stretched over its leathery skull.

"Ysma," Chern greeted the shrunken choblin as she was carried into the Starry Crypt, "you looks well."

"Charming as ever," Ysma replied telepathically, her thoughts surprisingly vigorous considering her immense age and physical frailty, "you have a pair of swords stuck in you."

"They will serve as reminders to the assembled."

"I see." Ysma's shrunken body began to levitate, floating stiffly towards Chern. "I must inform you. After this Pact is forged, I have been invited to attend to another matter. My status as the oldest of the Squalid demands it. Do you understand?"

"I do. I felt the efforts of Kahar-Djin, they reverberated in my bones. You think what he does is wise?"

"I do."

"So be it. You have my blessing."

Spoiler: Help!

Show

Help Kahar-Djin create the Council of Masters

+4 Decay, every time a major tragedy or calamity is suffered in the world, a banner will magically unfurl in the Council hall depicting the events. This will serve to constantly remind the Council of their responsibilities, as well as any failure of theirs to uphold those responsibilities.

+1 Sanitation, no one in the Council hall will ever need to eat, drink, or go to the toilet while on the job. Their digestion is magically overhauled for the duration of a Council meeting, so that mundane bodily functions will not serve as an excuse for delaying their important work.

+1 Fermentation, sobriety is magically cast upon everyone in the hall once a Council meeting begins. No poor decisions shall be made on account of drunkenness.

-2 Downtrodden, the exclusivity of this Council, and its potential to do evil, trouble Chern deeply.

In addition to these modifiers, Chern will send Ysma to sit as on the Council of Masters. As the single oldest and most powerful fifth threshold Path of Squalor travellers, she would certainly qualify.

**DarthArminius** · 2020-04-01, 11:07 PM (ISO 8601)

Su'ule

The Choblins and Starlings were now at peace. Su'ule was pleased. She watched the lives of mortals below and entertained herself by doing so. She smiled. Visiting some of the ordinary Choblins and Starlings in their dreams, she would attempt to bless the entire nation.

[Help]

Spoiler

Show

+ 2 Sorcery : Choblins and Starlings, and anyone effected by Chern's action this turn receive an ability, if they are capable of Su'Sorcery, which was increased the longer they were at peace. Both nationally and personally.

+ 2 Monsters : Bestial monsters are easier to tame by Choblins and Starlings.

+ 1 Birth : Occasionally, someone with the Path of Squalor could either impregnate or give birth, despite their progress in their Path. This occurred more easily, the more at peace that their people were on a personal level.

+ 1 Metamorphosis : Even though Changelings are very far away, Changelings and inhabitants of the Choblin/Starling Lands would discover that they would have less trouble being friends with each other.

**The JoJo** · 2020-04-03, 09:38 AM (ISO 8601)

Hazel and Aspen, Sunset Forest, Ebonbark Bay

"This is stupid," Hazel said as they crept through the shaded grove. It was bad enough that her younger brother Aspen had persuaded her to play in the forest with him, instead of going down to the river with her friends. Now, he expected her to pretend that his latest imaginary friend was real.

"It's not stupid!" Aspen replied indignantly. "Kiss-mit said I had to bring someone and I wanted it to be you."

Not far from where they walked was the Holy Perch of Avestra herself. Sometimes, the Crow children would play a game where they would tip toe as close to Avestra's Perch as they dared, before running back to the bushes. No child in living memory had been brave enough to actually touch the Perch, and there was a oft told Crow tale of a young boy who had done so and fallen down dead the moment he had stepped away from the tree. Hazel didn't know if this was true, but she wasn't going to risk it all the same.

"Here," Aspen declared as they reached a fallen birch tree. "I met him right here."

"Well, I don't see anyone," Hazel said. "What sort of a name is Kiss-mit, anyway?"

"That's Kismet, to you," a voice said. The two Crow children froze as a small figure appeared between the gap in two tree trunks, looking down at them. He resembled a brown-skinned tallhead infant of about three years of age with wild, curly hair, except he had unnaturally glowing green eyes. Something about his pose and facial expressions suggested that he was much more sophisticated than one might expect from his apparent age alone.

"So you returned, little one," Kismet said as he dropped to the forest floor, notwithstanding the fact that Aspen stood a head taller than himself. "And you brought a friend like I asked."

"She's my sister. Her name's Hazel."

"Well, a pleasure to meet you, Hazel," Kismet said, grinning from ear-to-ear. "Come with me, I've got something to show you both."

The strange creature began to skip through the forest, the children struggling to keep up as they were forced to scramble over fallen trees and under branches.

"Are you a god?" Hazel asked between breaths.

"Pffh, as if," Kismet replied. "I'm one of the Dustborn. Avestra's chosen few. Ever heard of the prophet Juniper?" Hazel shook her head. "I used to be one of his toenails."

They reached a small hollowed out log, half-covered in moss. Kismet hopped on top of it, squinting at each of the two siblings in turn.

"You might struggle to fit through, but do try," he said to Hazel.

"Fit through what?"

"Follow me," Kismet said cryptically, crouching down to crawl through the log. Hazel and Aspen looked at each other and then the small boy followed the spirit on his hands and knees. Hazel grudgingly followed, finding that she had to lay on her stomach to squeeze through the tight gap. At one point, she feared that her shoulders might be too broad to carry on and she'd be stuck in the middle of the log forever, but with a bit of careful pushing, she managed to heave herself through.

On the other side, the two children found themselves in a staggeringly beautiful forest. It wasn't entirely unlike the one they had left behind, but it was somehow greener and lusher in every way imaginable. A bird with feathers reflecting every colour of the rainbow landed on a nearby branch, snatching up a bright blue beetle in its yellow bill.

"Where are we?" Aspen breathed.

"Welcome," Kismet said, a grin spreading across his face, "to the Diviworld."

~

Avestra, Lucent Reef Archipelago

As Avestra soared over the placid waters of the Crimson Ocean towards the Masked Isle on the invitation of Timorin, she felt several more ripples through reality. It seemed that the other gods were awakening and taking advantage of their newfound strength.

"Take these gifts as a token of my goodwill."

Spoiler: Help!

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Assist Su'ule to create her mandate with +2 Nature, +2 Birds and +1 Sky. Any worthy follower of Avestra who, on their deathbed, swears a specific oath will not join the eternal flock in the Passing, but rather will be reborn on Oerth as one of Avestra's eagles. With three metre wingspan nearly as great as Avestra herself, these eagles live in small groups in isolated parts of the world, protecting their respective territories with an unmatched ferocity. Their communities are strictly matriarchal, with the most senior female taking the position of chieftain. Otherwise, they keep watch over the worldwide treewhisper network, nudging bird migratory patterns to maintain the consistency of the network.

Spoiler: Help!

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Assist Timorin with the sanctification of Lucent Reef Archipelago with +2 Nature and +1 Reproduction. Avestra's divine power ensures that the trees and other plant life of the islands will be able to thrive even in low light levels, thanks to a super efficient form of photosynthesis. The circadian rhythms of the people and animals living there will also be tweaked so they will have less difficulty adjusting to living in permanent twilight.

Spoiler: Help!

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Assist Kahar-Djin in creating the Council of Masters with +2 Nature. The Masters of the Path of Nature, including those who have become part of the treewhisper network and left their mortal bodies behind, will become an active part of the Council. The latter may need translators to intercede for them.

**Maryring** · 2020-04-03, 10:07 AM (ISO 8601)

The Tower of the Sun
The sun sinks slowly into the sea, casting all of Sanctuary into a brilliant confluence of amber and emerald light twisted through the misty barriers around the island. Nerassus is relaxing on one of the ledges of the tower, a bowl of diced mango on the floor beside him. His eyes are half lidded, breathing in the ocean breeze as it drifts even all the way up here. A soft, relaxing scene. Almost enough to ignore the footsteps slowly approaching him from behind.

"Guess who." A pair of hands clasp over Nerassus's eyes, making the demigod chuckle softly.

"Hello there Mika."

"How'd you know it was me?" The hands go away and Nerassus turns around to see a tall, somewhat gaunt woman. Her hair an ashen grey and long enough to reach down to her knees, her eyes green and her skin a ghastly pale. "Did you cheat with your demigod powers?"

"No. But you're the only one I know who treats me so audaciously." His lips turn up into a wide grin. "Well that, and also I recognize your voice."

"Right." Mika takes a seat besides Nera, joining him in gazing out to sea. "So what's got you all thoughtful and stuff? Are you still thinking about your mother?"

"... yeah. I wonder how she will be when she returns."

"Hrm? Oh, you mean that war thing?"

"You weren't even born when that happened." Nerassus spits hiswords with more bitterness than intended. "It was awful. And now, now the gods are returning." He gazes skywards, watching the moon faintly visible on the twilit sky. "But she hasn't made her appearance yet."

"Maybe next Pearlescent moon?" Mika pats a hand on Nerassus's shoulder. "You've done well to steer us thus far. We'll be fine in the future. Especially with you around."

"Heh. Maybe. I." The air thrums with energy suddenly, as two keys manifest before them.

"Huh? What's this?" Mika reaches out, but does not quite touch, the key before her.

"Ah. I did sense something was up. That Mika. That there is yet another recognition of your mastery of Reflection." Nerassus stands up and grabs his key, nodding to Mika to take her own. "Let's continue our talk later. For now, we've got some work to do."

Spoiler: Help: Kahar-Djin

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Nerassus (and Mika) accept the invitation as Masters of Reflection to the new council.

+2 Justice: Nerassus brings with him his understanding of systems and an offer to help develop the bylaws of the organization.
+2 Healing: Nerassus uses his connection to souls to offer dead masters not otherwise able to join an opportunity to join the council by providing temporary channels and bodies.

---

Castle of Masters: The Council of Masters

"Where is Mika?!" Kua'ureva glowers softly at the empty chair of the Fire Witch.

"Calm yourself." Dul'eyera takes a long, contemplative sip from her cup of tea. "It does you no good to get mad at an empty chair."

"But it'd do me a whole lot good if the rest of you took her continued absences more seriously. This kind of irresponsible behaviour should not be tolerated! In fact." The door to the room slams open. Mika comes running in as quickly as she can, almost skidding as she takes her seat.

"I'm here, I'm here. Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Finally." Kua leans forward to glower at Mika. "What's your excuse this time? Baby skunks lost in the forest? A particularly fascinating shell?"

"Oh. I got summoned to join a council of Path Masters. It took way longer than I thought to go through all the introduction and stuff."

"Out of all the wild excuses."

"It's not an excuse." The Masters all turn to look at Nerassus as the demigod enters the room, taking care to close the door behind him before walking over to his own seat at the other end of the room.

"Lord Nerassus." Archdruid Sel'uverne gives a toothy grin as her old, wrinkled face turns to the demigod. "You honour us with your presence."

Nerassus responds with a brief nod and a small smile as he settles down. "I'm sorry to be interrupting your meeting like this. But today I come not to deliver wisdom, but to seek it."

"Hnh?" Lakewatcher Kale'uara perks up from her pillows, peering at the demigod. "I'm sorry Lord Nerassus. You want our advice?"

"Indeed. The gods are beginning to return. Already many of them are flexing their might in grand displays of divine power. As the son of Petr, it falls to me to protect you mortals, and ensure you are given a voice in what now happens."

"Ofh. Sounds nasty. Whatever it is. I oppose." Kale'uara yawns softly, stretching back out on her pillows.

"Hrmf." Sunwatcher P'uara straightens her back as she turns to Nerassus. "What is about to happen?"

"The first point on the agenda is the Mandate of Su'ule. Mother of Monsters. She seeks to change the world such that upon death, they become a monster according to which god they worship. Now as for what type."

"Irrelevant." A tiny gasp goes through the crowd as everyone turns to look at Mika who is standing up tall, glaring at Nerassus. "Seriously Nera. Why'd you even ask us this? You had to know we'd reject it outright."

"Mika!" Kua glowers at the Fire Witch. "Show some respect for Lord Nerassus."

"Kua, while I appreciate the sentiment, I am well able to argue for myself." Nerassus turns to Mika, one hand rubbing his chin. "I bring up the issue because, on the off chance you would desire the mandate, I could twist the law to ensure you became monsters of your own choosing."

"Choblin. Food. Nothing about this is our choosing. "Pick your curse upon death" isn't a gift. It's setting us on fire and spitting us in the face to put it out."

There's a quiet murmur in the crowd, before a quiet, almost inaudible voice echoes from one corner of the room. "I agree." Skywatcher Nani'rassus shifts softly in her chair, whimpering slightly when everyone turns to look at her. "I... I agree with Mika. I don't want to belong to someone else."

"We've already survived one monster trying to subsume us all." Head Engineer Gabriel'uweta kneads his forehead with a frown. "We've all walked the path of memory. We've all heard Master P'ua's story. Mika is right. We shouldn't even consider this. So many in the past were killed for such an ambition. Many more sacrificed themselves just to ensure that today we'd still be alive. While I wouldn't put it as strongly as Mika... Lord Nerassus, why did you even ask us? Surely you'd have to know our answer?"

Nerassus rubs his chin thoughtully, his teeth grinding softly against his lips as he mulls over his response. "Would you rather not get a say in this decision?"

"What is that...oh. Oh! Yeah I see your point." Mika huffs, taking a seat again.

"Indeed. I love you all. I want what is best for you. But even with all my experience, I need to consider that you are alive. You think, feel, experience. It's all that matters, and when that is all that matters, what you want is what should matter the most. I can't have your mortal perspective, so your desires are dear and important to me. But very well. I shall not steal of your time."

In the matter of
Supporting the Mandate of Su'ule

Support: None
Reject: Mika'yani, Nani'rassus, Sel'uverne, Gabriel'uweta, Kua'ureva, Dul'Eyera, P'uara, Kale'uara, Due'e, Nerassus
Abstain: None

Spoiler: Hinder

Show

Nerassus will hinder the Mandate of Su'ule.
+2 Water/+2 Healing/+2 MoonPool: The people of Sanctuary will devise the rite of baptism. By bathing in the MoonPool a mortal may cleanse themselves of the mandate.
+2 Justice: The MoonPool isn't accessible to all. So Nerassus will use his power to ordain priests of Petr, giving them the ability to bless any water to have the same cleansing effect as the MoonPool.

"We shall hash out the details for later. For now, there is another matter to discuss. Namely the creation of Karma."

"Which is what?"

"Essentially a representation of divine will as to what is good and what is bad. A cycle in which what you do will always pay back to you, some way, some how."

"So, it is essentially a way to enforce your law on the whole world?" Kale yawns loudly, rubbing her eyes as she flops about on her pillows. "But, like. It's in the world itself, so doesn't matter how well you try to hide it, you'll always get your comeuppance eventually?"

"That is a very crude way of putting it, but yes. It'll even last through death. If you enact some horrible crime, but die in the process, you will still suffer the negative karma in your next life."

"And what, exactly, counts as good karma?" Sel reaches a hand down to gently brush over the ears of a large panther sleeping beside her chair.

"That is what we're going to determine. Assuming you want me to support this law."

"I don't know." Kua shifts his gaze about to look over the other Masters. "On one hand, I don't think any one of us here would be suffering from bad karma, unless being disrespectful counts." He gives Mika a side eye glare.

"Love you too."

"But on the other hand, being punished for something I didn't do. That doesn't feel entirely fair."

"And therein lies the crux of the problem no? Because on the counterpoint, is it fair for the likes of Varpier to almost destroy our island and our people and receive no retribution at all for it?"

The crowd falls into a quiet contemplation for several minutes. Nerassus looks between their eyes. Shifty. Uncertain. Even fearful. But eventually. "I vote yes." Mika finally breaks the silence.

In the matter of
Supporting the Law of Karma

Support: Mika'yani, Nani'rassus, Sel'uverne, P'uara, Kale'uara, Due'e, Nerassus
Reject: Kua'ureva, Dul'Eyera,
Abstain: Gabriel'uweta,

Spoiler: Help

Show

Nerassus will support the creation of the law of Karma
+2 Water: That which supports the group, especially at the cost of the self, provides good karma. Those who make sacrifices of their time, wealth, prestige or health to give more to others will find karma smiles upon them.

+2 Healing: That which builds, creates and grows provides good karma. Karma takes the long view. Short term rapid growth that then collapses upon itself does not give as much karma as longterm, stable and solid growth.

+1 Rainbow: That which creates diversity is good. Exploring the unknown, recreating social norms, seeking that which is new and different, gives good karma.

+1 Medical: That which heals is good. Therapists, doctors, midwives, nurses, healers. To serve the health of others gives good karma.

+2 Justice: Intent and power matter in the distribution of karma. A, poor, starving man sharing half his bread gains far more good karma from this simple act than a wealthy man sparing an unnoticeable part of his wealth to feed the poor. Karma may never be sought. It understands your intentions, and considers acts only done to earn good karma to be a sin worthy of bad karma. It also understands that mortal lack omniscience. Mortals do not gain karma from consequences they have no reasonable way to predict, or even comprehend. Lastly, the opposite of that which provides good karma provides bad karma and vice versa.

"Excellent. I feel we've done a lot of good work here today. That leaves only one small thing to bring to your attention. I hope you're all in the mood for a party."

---

1st Justice University
It's been quite an exhausting week. Overseeing preparations for the Pearlescent Moon festival, rebuilding the University after the recent assault, organizing a funeral for the dead, handling the new laws of the universe, writing a suggested bylaw treatise for the council. As a demigod, Nerassus strictly speaking doesn't need to sleep, but it would be all sorts of wonderful to just climb into bed and sleep for a week.

"Sir?"

Not that he's given much chance of rest. "Yes Toskarl?"

"Ms Kroft is here to see you?"

"Oh?!" His face brightens and he sits up in his chair. "Send her in."

India Kroft enters Nerassus's office with a cheeky grin on her tan face. "Heya. Glad to finally have you back!" She holds something in her hands, wrapped up by her side, kept away from Toskarl's view. "You heard about my recent exploits?"

"Indeed!" Nera's gaze flicks momentarily to the package, then over to Toskarl. "Can you do me a favour. Go to the kitchen and grab us a bottle of cider? And two cups."

"Aww. You did hear about em." India grins as Toskarl bows politely once and steps out the door. Only when it's closed does India pull the package out of her pocket properly. She places it on Nerassus's desk and unfolds the cloth, revealing a peculiar dagger within. "But did you hear about this?"

Nerassus inhales sharply at the sight. He reaches a hand down, gently brushing his finger against the flat of the blade. A peculiar shiver travelling down his spine at the touch. "India. This is huge. This is even bigger than when you found the old statues of the gods! To think this was lying beneath the University."

"Heh. The prehists surely got some funny ideas about Alatadriel. And did ya see the statue of Chern?" She glances over at the knife's edge. "Oh, and careful. I cut myself by just lightly touching it. The edge is really sharp. Might even cut your skin."

"Thank you for the warning. We should look into it immediately. And by we I mean that you should come with me to the Lucent Reef."

"Oh? They've got ruins to explore?"

"Probably. But not for that reason." Nerassus smiles. "The gods all noticed the artifact. Uncle Timorin is planning on using his divine senses to investigate the artifact and then share the details to those who participate in his sanctification of his lands."

"Whoa? All gods? You as well?" India clicks her tongue playfully. "Guess my first whim to sell it off to the highest bidder would've either been the worst, or best idea of my life."

"Hah. At least now I won't have to be mad at you for selling of priceless artifacts belonging to the University." The two chuckle softly together. "All jest aside. Do you want to come with me to the sanctification?"

"Oi. Free food. Unexplored ruins. And a chance to meet one of the gods? Twist my arm why don'tcha. I'll be there!"

Spoiler: Action

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80 AP
Influence a single mortal:

+2 Being the Headmaster, ruler of the city and having a history with India: Nerassus claims the unknown artifact and invites India to come experience the Lucent Reef festivities with him.

**Godzillarich** · 2020-04-03, 02:27 PM (ISO 8601)

On the Inner Islands of the Lucent Archipelago:

A few of Julian’s men scattered all throughout the reef. “You think if the 3 horned wizard was so great he would do it himself…” One of them argued.

“Look he said something about magic isn’t going to help him with this job. It’s going to take blades.” another one of them said.

“Ha! Whatever” another one screamed out. “Gives us an opportunity to beat up an old man.”

Coming from around them in no discernible direction, the trees and foliage gave a hearty giggle of 'nyehs' to this, seeming to shake a little at the humor. Though as they turned around the space around them was distorted, around ten feet in one direction was the edge of the opposite, in short they were dimensionally trapped. No matter how far they ran, they would never escape until the effect ended.

One tried to hack at the trees, finding that they're sword bent around the stump like it was goo, returning to it's original shape only when it was not touching the tree.

"Nyehehehe, old man? That's not very respectful of you youngin's now is it? Now, before you leave, I have a few things to ask you about my son..."

“Please don't kill us." One of Julian's men begged. "It was Julian who told us to bring you to the beach by any means necessary."

Another one of them piped-in. "In fact if you let us go will kill him for you? What do you say?"

"Nyehehe, no need you little fools, he is my son. Why would I have you kill my own boy? Saying things like that is foolish. Don't threaten them again."

(Later on)

Upon the beach side dusk was seen on the horizon as two cloaked figures looked over each other for the first time in years, one in simple robes the other in shade and shadow themselves. The assistant was also there, though due to the decree set by the one in shadows, he was useless at the moment.

“Well this is surprising…” Julian’s voice pierced the silence. “I thought you would brutally murder them. I guess you do have a soft spot for me to not deprive my man power.” Julian walked said walking closer, his assistant following close behind.

"Nyehhehehe! It's good to see you my little pride, though I do wonder with all that power you have, why visit lonely old me? I don't get that many visitors these days, however..."

The presence of something was felt behind Julian a fair distance away, turning around he saw Vultur himself. The assistant could tell, he was not... right. His body was alive, but monstrous. His soul was in place, but hanging on by quirks of biology and magic. It held no mana of it's own, but that stolen from others like Julian uses to live, but it was more veracious for mana than Julian by far. A real monster.

Spoiler

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"Good to see you again, brother."

Julian smiled at his old brother. “It's so good to see you again.” he then turned his head towards his old master. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you too, I could never find where you went since the disaster, how have Neiu and Graus been?”

Meanwhile Narcissus was extremely uncomfortable. “Sir can we trust them? I can’t even feel my magic...”

Julian padded his assistant on the back. “If they wanted us dead they would’ve killed us already.”

"I've been stuck here with pops for the most part, the dammed god of Sanctuary is hard to allude. Though I have gotten out more than pops, seeing as they think they got me in the dead books, he's been having me stay here for the most part." Vultur said with only a hint of actual annoyance in their voice.

"You know that it's too dangerous to let you out, perhaps in time that can change, but I don't want you to die like poor Neiu." Varpier said, a bit bummed at the topic.

Giving a bit of a (literally) glowing smile Varpier asked "Anyway, Julian it is good to see you, do you need something from this old man? Have you spoken to Garus to let them know you are alright?"

“I have not. I have no idea where he is at the moment and even if I did I have no time to look for him.” Julian sank his head “Our first plan may have failed but I have a much greater plan in mind.” Julian then showed them the pickaxe. “I do not know how much longer I will be safe for me to stay here but I want you to know that I will continue your legacy.”

Varpier withdrew a little. "That is a dangerous quest you walk my boy, in some ways you are more prepared than I was, yet in others you are wholly a child. You must grow great, for you can soar higher than I ever could, but not without improving yourself first. Please, stay here for a time, let me teach you more of what I know before you continue down this path against all before."

Julian then bowed. “However short it may be, I will enjoy finishing up my studying but I have one trick up my sleeve you do not know about.” the earth then slightly shook. I have the deep on my side now.”

Spoiler: Help

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Su'ule's monsters:
+2 knowledge: Those who have mastered vampire powers have the ability to control evil monsters. They will obey every command given to them.
+2 mining: when they die their blood will eventually harden to become a powerful material called Monstrock. This material can be used in sorcery to create monsters and to mutate others into monsters.
+2 architecture( pickax): Monsters will have a home in all architecture that is poorly maintained or abandoned. In this world creepy monsters will always be a haunted house.
-2 unknown: While the monster is forced to obey it will resist anyway can. For example if you tell a monster you're commanding to kill everyone in the room they will start with you. You must choose your words carefully less you give a monster that opportunity.

Spoiler: Hinder

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Kahar-Djin’s Council of Masters:
+2 knowledge: He will have plenty of spies in the organization that work for his organization. Help them keep on top of things.
+2 architecture: a curse will be placed that every building that host the council will end up as Rubble somehow
-2 unknown: it would be hard to get certain pieces of information from time to time, additionally it will take a while for the head of said organization to get useful information.

Spoiler: Help

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Sanctify the Lucent Reef Archipelago:
+2 knowledge: the understanding of the island's strange environment will come naturally to its residents. Allowing them to travel much easier.
+2 mining: A dark material called Darklint, this material can be grounded up and be used to blind others.
+2 architecture(pickax): The infrastructure of the island will improve greatly. Giving it its own Gothic look.
-2 unknown: while the land will be well known to the people the deep abyss will be unknown to them. As such they will grow a fear of it.

Spoiler: Hinder

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Chern Influence a million mortals
+2 knowledge: memory will haunt both sides of the crimes committed to each other. This will make the peace between the groups difficult and even if it succeeds uneasy.
+2 mining: the tunnels that are made by the Choblins will forever be an issue with starry people even if peace is declared.
-2 unknown: the younger generation who do not know about the horrors will have an easier time adjusting to peace.

**Batcathat** · 2020-04-03, 03:14 PM (ISO 8601)

The Starry Crypt in the Boa Jungle

A group of Yith entered the crypt's atrium. Most of them were warriors, carefully watching every inch of the crypt and every person within it, with their hands never far from their spears. Their leader, however, was completely unarmed and almost a head shorter than any of his guards.

Gesturing the guards to stay, he walked over to Chern, who was standing in the middle of a group of Choblins.

"Greetings, Wiltwatcher", he said and bowed his head. "Ymon-Thal, He Who is Life and Death, and Thal-Verys, Shepherd of the Passing, send their regards. I am Verys-Fanar of the Yith, sent here to speak for my people and help end this... unfortunate hostility."

Spoiler: Help Chern

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Ymon-Thal and Thal-Verys help Chern establish the Pact of Boa between the living (+ 2 Life) of the Boa Jungle, calming the souls (+ 2 Souls) of the people involved and bringing balance (+ 1 Balance) between the different nations of the Boa Jungle.

***

Spoiler: Help Kahar-Djin

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Ymon-Thal and Thal-Verys help Kahar-Djin create the Council of Masters, creating a bond between the souls (+ 2 Souls) of all existing masters of the Path of the Soul, whether alive, in the Passing or a bodyless soul somewhere in between, meaning that only one of the masters of that path need to be present to speak for all of them (while the masters of the Soul can of course disagree with each other, such arguments are usually settled through the soul bond and not shown to the rest of the Council).

For practical reasons, the Path of the Soul representative present at Council meeting will usually be either a dead one or one who has lost his or her body, since those can manifest in the mortal world instead of having to travel far.

**gac3** · 2020-04-03, 08:25 PM (ISO 8601)

Maddening Marsh: 15 years before age 3 Begins

Thalia the Unproven was a young girl, yet to have been properly exposed to the world. She was a delight, adored by the entire Greyscale Tribe of the Maddening Marsh. In her sixth winter when a sickness overtook her. For two weeks she lay sick, unable to even move. The tribe took turns watching her and feeding her. On the sixteenth day the tribe met with her parents.

"Thalia's condition is not improving. I do not think she will make it through the night," expressed the tribe necromancer. The tribe had lost their most powerful aquamancer to an alligator two months prior. "Her soul is too far gone. She is nearly in the passing now. We have only one hope.” The tribe was silent as Thalia’s parents looked at one another. After a long moment they say, “Do it.”

The necromancer nods as he pulls out a knife which he dips into a pot he had placed nearby. “I doubt she has time for us to make the tea, so a cut shall be the easiest way to get the lily into her.” He enters the tent and positions his knife against the girl's right palm. It was the traditional location. Should this fail, at least the body would not be marred and her parents would be able to grieve without having to see any major wounds on their darling girl.

For a long moment, nothing happens and the necromancer begins to resign himself to the idea that the gods had not deemed her worthy of a second chance. Then she began to cough. "Oh wise one, is everything okay?"

That night the tribe celebrated and moving forward the necromancer took the girl under his wing and began teaching her. He expected she would begin getting the visions.

Years later:
The crown fit so well. No wonder her subjects had begun to hate her. They would just have to deal with it, clearly she was Timorin's chosen. She believed this even as a knife was plunged into her back. She was still conscious as she was dumped into a grave barely deep enough to hold her and piled with dirt. Quickly it became harder and harder to breathe until suddenly she sat bolt upright, suddenly alive and fully healed.

Thalia sat up instantly, suddenly wide awake. She woke her master and told him of what she saw. After telling her story, she said "I want to go to the homeland."

The master nods. "It can be arranged. It may take time."

"Uncle!" Nerassus rushes across the sandy beach towards Timorin, grabbing the god and lifting him up in a backbreakingly tight hug. "Man Uncle, it's been ages! Literally. What, five hundred years or so? What have you been up to all this time? You're looking good. And thanks for the invite." Nerassus grins and points a thumb behind him at the large boat settled on the beach, as well as the human woman clad in shorts and a tank top make her way to follow after the demigod. "I came a little early, I hope you don't mind. And I brought India. She's the one who found." He nibbles his lips, glancing about as his voice lowers to a whisper. "You know what."
Timorin smiled. "My little nephew, you have grown so big while I was away." he looks around at the other assembled guests. "Welcome. We are not quite fully prepared. My people are here to offer anything you might desire within our means. You may travel freely among the islands but we have some unsavory sorts on an island near the Eastern edge of the reef. They are being heavily guarded for the duration of your stay but I would advise staying away from that island." Turning back to Nerassus he says, "We shall look deeper into this mystery once your cousin has been crowned "
Nerassus nods, smiling as he looks over the festivities. He then turns to his own ships, barking a few commands. The people of Sanctuary come bearing jewelry carved from primarily pearl and coral as gifts. They have also brought large pots and pans, as well as food and drink that they prepare for the festivities. Some of the Masters conjure up visual displays of fire and ice to entertain the kids, while others use their sorcery to help set up everything needed.

The ship from University meanwhile brings the students from the reef back home for these festivities. Along with whatever +1 they may have chosen for themselves. They also bring several barrels of alcoholic drinks. "I tried to convince them to bring something a bit more unique from the University. But I guess we do have a more complex distillery down there." Nerassus rubs his neck with a soft chuckle. "Anyway." He nods to the woman now standing next to him. "Uncle, meet India Kroft. India, this here's Timorin, god of awesomeness and bears."

"Pleasure." India offers her hand to shake. "Nice place you've got. I might just explore a little. But for now." She reaches into a pocket and pulls out a small package, opening it up to reveal the dagger. "Lookin' good yeah?"
Timorin smile, happy to see how much fun the people are having.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Kroft. You are welcome to stay here and explore as much as you like. The package however... Yes it is... fascinating. I cannot wait to learn more about it. I would be careful with it if I were you Miss Kroft. Until the examination is complete, we don't know what it would do to you. At least you won't have to worry about being smited by sun beams." The last part is said with a wink.
"Sun beams?"

"Poppa and Uncle have... creative differences. You remember back during your classes on artifact identification?"

"Oh yeah. The cursed staff of the eye?"

"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Nera frowns, itching his head softly. "But yeah, that."

Kroft gives a hearty chuckle. "Well, so far this dagger seems safe to me, but I'll keep it in mind and store it somewhere safe. And make sure to call on you if I find any staves."
"Just don't freak out when you find the curse staff of the eye. It will be used during the coronation."
Timorin begins leading the pair towards the sacred grove, showing them around
Nerassus and India both follow, eyes wide as they soak in the atmosphere. The smells, sights and sounds. "I love the twilight atmosphere that is being drawn across the island. It's really intimate. And relaxing. Almost to the point of making me sleepy."

India disappears into a bush, shuffling about for a moment before returning with a broken spear in hand. "Aww man. I thought I found something interesting, but this thing probably ain't even a year old."
Timorin smiles. "If you plan to jump into action with every discarded weapon here, you will be exhausted before the party begins. I'm glad you like the aesthetic. The Lucent Reef was key. It now is obvious constantly in it's beauty. Besides my people have never quite fit in fully in the light nor the dark."
"You sound a lot like Misty." Nerassus's lips twist into a sad half-smile, his gaze distant for a moment. "I think you would've liked her."

"Misty? Oh. Mist'eyera?" India taps a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Grandmaster of Necromancy upon Sanctuary from 513 to 546 AW?"

"The very same. She helped me protect Sanctuary back then... actually I wonder, Uncle, did your people ever tell you about the attack on Sanctuary? If not, I have to tell you the whole story. Maybe we've time before the festivities start?"
Timorin's smile fades. "I know some of what has happened but I'm sure not as much as you could tell me. We should have time. Your cousin has yet to arrive."
"I'd like to sit in too."

"Don't you already know it from your classes? Well, I guess I too would want to hear it from someone who was actually there."

Nerassus exhales softly, finding himself a seat to sit down so that he can see eye to eye with India. "It was the year 509 AW. The gods were asleep after a recent bout of activity. I myself was busy with the newly constructed University, when I suddenly received a desperate cry from help by Master Nani." Nerassus opens his palm, conjuring up an image of Sanctuary for the two.

"I jumped on my chariot and flew home as quickly as I could, calling on the people of the Reef to offer support. They set sail and lingered outside the barriers while I dove in. And what I saw was... horror." An ugly, pulsating red scar forms on the surface of Sanctuary, pumping like a heart as it snakes itself across parts of the island. "Large parts of the island was covered in a pustulent growth of flesh. A festering disease consuming the body and soul of anyone it touched. A horrible monster known only as Varpier had created this as a spell to fuel his own bid for godhood."

India twists her nose in disdain, shuddering at the sight. "Sounds like a real piece of work."

"That's one way to put it. He used my father's perfectionist power to seal mana, making it so that you could only use mana if it was taken from someone else. In so doing, he crippled the magic of most everyone on the island. The sole exception was Master P'ua who was a full on Su'Speaker. He could drain mana from the living, and used that to fight back against the fleshy growth. That alone drastically cut down on the amount of casualties. But while the flesh was growing on the southern part of the island." Nerassus twists his hand about, turning the illusion around. "His children attacked the northern parts of the island."
"I honestly never immagined any type of attack on sanctuary would be successful. At least not without the full backing of a god." Timorin is clearly sad.
"You, me and everyone in Sanctuary. Mother created it to be a safe haven. And yet, because of... Father... Because of his thoughtless gift to mortality." Nerassus clutches his fists for a moment, digging into his palms as he tries to compose himself. "They could barely defend themselves... and yet they did. I saw a lot of brave souls that day. The transmuters who organized the evacutation of Port Petr. Thanks to your people being there to pick them up, we managed to save almost everyone. And even without my help, they would have managed to eventually subdue Neiu."

"Neiu?"

"One of the Varpier's children I spoke of. The other was Vultur. He assaulted the Northern Forest Sanctum with wild animals. Mostly rats. If it weren't for Chern and Mother's divivices, we would have lost many to disease there." He breathes deeply. "We managed to punish them, and I sought out Varpier himself. We fought... but I couldn't defeat him. Once more he used Father's world weaving to break out of the barrier Kahar-Djin wove around the island. I asked your people to try and catch him Uncle, but I don't think anyone could have expected him to flee the way he did."

"What'll you do if he shows up again?"

"For now, we put in a lot more effort in order to ensure the people of Sanctuary become proper Su'Speakers. The Masters also perform ritualistic sweeps of the island. It's not enough... but future plans will require more divine power than I can muster up on my own. Once Mother awakens though... well, just wait and see."
Timorin nods at the story. "My people will always be there to aid in your time of need. I have plans that will allow both of our people to be able to more readily aid one another. The first step is this party. With someone to lead my people during the sleeps, we shall be able to protect ourselves from aggressors such as Varpier and Deja Vu. I have other plans that we shall discuss later when the time comes. Plans that will allow for a better evacuation plan. For the time being though, I feel secure that with the precautions we are adding, we shall have more advanced warning of any future attacks from Varpier."
"Excellent. The mask you lent me has certainly been useful." Nerassus forces a smile, nodding to India. "And don't worry. I doubt anyone would try to do anything like Varpier when the gods are awake."

"Oh I'm not worried. Or at least I wasn't."

"Ah. Well, we should probably finish the preparations for the festivities. Speaking of, Uncle, do you have anything in particular you feel the ritual lacks? I do want to deliver my blessings to your asylum after all. Perhaps I could put in some divine wards or something?"
Timorin hesitates for a moment before conjuring five Petr masks. "First a gift. Since you brought it up, I was unsure what to do with the other five Petr masks. Given the circumstances, I would offer them to you, to distribute as you see fit. As for the festivities, you are a just man I trust you to do whatever you feel would best serve the good of my people and yours. Wards though... Perhaps. I'm new to things like these. The biggest flaw I see with the asylum is for how to know if it is broken. I'm not sure if you could provide a ward or such for that?"
"Hrm..." Nerassus puts the masks in his lap, pondering each of them. "Ah. Actually I might be able to. Do you want the whole island to know, or only yourself? Because I could create an oath and bind it to my domain of justice. And in so doing, I can weave in whatever consequence you like." He tilts his head. "Although... it'll take time and effort, so you should probably create only a few small standard contracts."
"If my Hope can be informed, then that should be enough. The rules are simple enough. They are protected as one of our own when in the reef. Harm us or our allies after asylum is established, and it breaks the asylum. Leaving the reef doesn't break the asylum but we will not continue our protection until their return. They are expected to follow our laws and customs while here, including pitching in to help the community. I hope people find this to be a reasonable standard."
"Sounds simple enough to me. Okay. I'll weave it into a proper contract. Once the Words are prepared, I'll write them down. Thinking I'll make it so that the information is given to the one whom receives the vow. Gives it a bit more flexibility, wouldn't you say?"
"Hah. Well, if it's any consolation, with my students, a mere day can feel like a week."

"Love ya too headmaster."

Nera and India both chuckle at their common joke. "Anyway, looks like we're all settled yeah? I'll work on the stuff. Meanwhile you have fun India."

"Don't need to ask me twice. Nice meeting ya Timorin. I promise I'll be back for the big ceremony."
Timorin waves them off. "Go both of you. Have some fun. I am expecting your cousin to arrive any moment. Just don't get into any trouble."
"No promises!

Spoiler: Help:

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Nerassus supports the sanctification of the Archipelago.
+2 Justice: Nerassus creates the vow of Asylum. The vow is a bond between two people. Meant to be used between Timorin's Hope, and whomever is seeking Asylum, though anyone who knows the vow can use it. The vow contains the rules and expectations for enjoying Asylum in the Archipelago. After the vow is spoken, the asylum giver will immediately know if the asylum seeker breaks the rules for asylum.

**Demonjazz** · 2020-04-04, 03:06 AM (ISO 8601)

Alatadriel sat as she usually did. Lounging in one of her secret alcoves eating delicacies gifted to her by the mortals of the world as she waited for the faint lines of power sprouting from the divine actions of the universe. Karma... Hmm... Intriguing if lacking in definition. She had always believed that the afterlife was lacking in punishment but... Oh, she could make this work.

Spoiler: Help

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Added to Karma is the concept of Dharma, the duty one has to the community and society as a whole. This is based partially off of +1 Bees, seeing society like a hive, millions of workers going about their designated tasks. Going against the tasks society has designated you nets you negative karma. This is a bit more complex than being beholden to the expectations of society. The bees do not decide what is best for the hive, the nature of the world does. One being racist towards other members of society would net negative karma even if it is expected of your society as it hurts the overall functioning of society to better the members of it. In the same way, a warmongering king will likely net negative karma regardless of their intentions as the aggressive war would halt the normal function of both societies along with going against the function of a king, to govern and protect his people from harm. Or a baker that can provide for himself would net negative karma for throwing away his bread if others are going hungry in his village as the function of a baker is to provide food for the community.
The Concept of Dharma is expansive overall and due to being the creator, Alatadriel has artificially weighted some of the activities associated with her along with to greater add her power to her action. Artisans associated with +2 Fire, Cooks, Glassblowers, Smiths, etc. Can net positive karma simply through the act of being good at their craft. While other artisans are required to inspire others with their art to fulfill their function. Those with a deeper understanding of fire need only master their craft to fulfill theirs. This applies only to those who are doing these activities specifically to advance the art of the craft. Those that are providing practical services still need to make a quality product to net any positive karma from fulfilling their dharma. Fire Magic being inherently disruptive of society, dangerous, and overall a bad thing, any amount of pyromancy nets you massive negative karma, regardless of intentions or any other factors.
Ethical Treatment of +2 Foxes especially by the morally fraught Fox Breeding industry is given an extra helping of positive karma. Along with this, foxes are exempt from the enslavement clause of Avestra's original concept.

Ah, now Su'ule. Always a strange one that woman. Monsters... Hmm, she could make some use of this.

Spoiler: help

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+2 Fire, For the crime against humanity and all other creatures with a soul that is Fire Magic. Those foolish enough to try to capture the raw power of fire magic will in their next life be that of the miserable existence of... THE TREE OF WOE! A sentient tree that has no means to move or otherwise interact with the world, but feels everything. These trees grow only in the most inhospitable parts of the world and have supernatural bad luck. They are prone to having their limbs chewed off, struck by lightning, and fungal rot. Despite this they are incredibly hardy and even when blown over may be alive in this state until they are covered in moss and slowly sapped of their nutrients.

Hmm... A council of Path Masters... Droll, and too powerful at the same time. Like using a knife that could cut through anything to slice tomatoes. Still, she had made Dancers of Flame for a reason.

Spoiler: Help

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+2 Fire, The Immortal fire muses that populate Oerth will come to help deliberate on the council. While their opinions and motivations vary, they will almost always be fighting for Peace in the world, and typically have an interest in adapting The Masters towards taking a tentative approach to directly affecting humanity. They also will often very annoyingly lobby for The Arts.

Alatadriel yawned as she got to the Actions of Chern and his compact... Hmm... Rosalin had not become aware of her divine duties yet had she?

Rosie weaved through the crowd at the docks. It was a busy day as a new ship from the lands of The Steppe had come in and the massive ship was slowly unloading their cargo onto the dock as a Sinalese man dutifully marked down all cargo coming into The Empire. Asking questions as the strapping Steppe sailors brought down large and expensive crates. There was only one of interest though as she saw a surprisingly lean man by himself carrying the iron cage as a terror bird thrashed about. As others gave him a wide berth, Rosalin rushed and stood by his side helping carry the cage. "Hey, what are you doing! This has got to weigh at least a decafirkin! You can't go around carrying it by yourself!"

"Aaaaaaah!" Came the strange raspy growl from the man. It was remarkably grating on the ears, sounding like gravel deflating. "That's where you're wrong. As I was just doing so! This means that I can, in fact, go around carrying it by myself! Unless perhaps you were making a normative statement! That is against your values to allow one man to carry something so large!"

"No, I'm saying you're an idiot for trying!"

"Aaah, so a normative statement than. Hello, vulpine demigoddess, I believe this bird is for you. I am the Bird Master, Previously the Astrology Master and then I gave that up to become the Discipline Student before realizing that neither had revealed the true nature of those words! Would you like to hear the story of my life?"

"Not really, I'd much rather we set this down where it belongs."

"Oooh... Well never mind."

There was an awkward silence as the two moved. The Bird Master didn't seem to mind.
...
...
"You're really strong, you know that."

"I have been told this many times. It is thanks to my time as a Discipline Student. But then I realized that Martial Arts doesn't have anything to do with Discipline! That is just an example of discipline! I was very disappointed. And I needed to continue my studies elsewhere." The two moved to sit down the cage.

"So what's her name?"

"Ah, my bird of terror, that is now yours? That's Delilah. Her favorite snack is apples and she's great at chasing down ferrets. If you ever have an infestation of ferrets. She's the girl for you."

"How's she ride?"

"Ride? Why would you want to ri-BY THE GODS!" The raspy voice cracked as Alatadriel appeared eating an apple on top of the cage. "Ah! Dear Goddess! If I may humbly ask, could you reveal some of, even the most minor of truths onto this man!"

Alatadriel looked disinterested at the man as she took a bite of apple she continued to talk with her mouth full. "Opulon is dead."

"WHAT! Where does Astrology come from and how do the stars move than!"

"She remains dead."

"I can't believe you're lying to me! Why would you do this!"

"And we all killed her."

"Nooooo! Please tell me that it's not true!"

"How shall we comfort ourselves, oh, murderers of murderers!"

"I... I'm gonna be... Contemplating this in the brig... I can't believe we all killed her." The Bird Master sniffed as he walked onto Rosalin's boat.

"...Should we tell him that he got on the wrong boat?"

"He'll figure it out eventually."

"Yunno, You were pretty damn mean to him. I mean is that even true?"

"It will be as true as he wants it to be. Don't worry, he'll write some lovely poetry after this. It will be very chic, very in."

Rosalin sighed. "Do you need something else, Ma?"

"I never got to teach you about your divine responsibilities as a child... Do you not feel it?"

"Feel what?"

"Try to around you, Rose. Try to look past the air and instead at the strands of power that weaves together the universe. Imperceptible to mortals and even to demigods when the planets are not aligned. You should be able to feel the ripples that the Gods have affected."

Rosalin rolled her eyes before doing as she was told, holding out her hand she tried to sense this power. "... I'm not really seeing anything. Just... A lot of air, and sea."

Alatadriel tapped her cheek. "Perhaps, try closing your eyes. And you... Follow the path of emotion. Try instead of focusing on the auras of individual beings, try to instead focus on the power all you."

Rosalin closed her eyes, blocking out the auras of those around her until she could feel an emotional current. A sickly yellow substance that oozed through the air. "I... I think, I feel it. It's... Chern? Right, and he's... He's forming some sort of pact, to end wars."

"That is correct, now... Grab onto the strand."

She did so, the substance spilling out the top of her fist like a thick sap. "He's... Enforcing some sort of peace agreement, he's trying to change the Jungle People's minds, to... Think of themselves as equal."

"Good, Good. Now try to take that and exert your will onto it. To take control of that power and make it your own."

Rosalin's hands glowed as she gripped tighter onto the strand. "I, Think I have it. I just need to send it back."

"Wait, Rose, these things require a gentl-"
Before Alatadriel could finish, the light grew to a blinding white as her hand started to burn. She yelped as pain shot through her hand and body, bowing her to knees, she gasped on the docks. Opening her eyes again as she saw stars in front of her.

Alatadriel patted her on the back. "This isn't like a contest of strength." She said gently. "You cannot overpower them through brute force. It is more like a fight, you take that power they have, and you redirect that into your own blow. You must be careful and deliberate before acting, to keep in mind all of your goals, and the powers you have as you do."

Rosalin's breathing steadied as she got in a couple of gulps of air. "Ah-ah. I'll... I'll do better next time, Mom."

"Take your time, Rosalin. Even the gods have trouble acting when they first awaken. Divine power can be unwieldy and dangerous at the best of times. It will take patience and dedication."

"Ah, I really wanted to help with that too, I think he had some good ideas."

"You can implement them when you settle your colony. For now, just rest."

"Yeah, yeah." Rosalin got up slowly. "Ugh, I feel like a four decafirkin wagon hit me." She rolled her shoulders. "I'll miss my first day at the gym in over a decade. Ugh, Cheat day is coming a bit early, I guess."
Alatadriel smiled. "With dedication like that, you'll be able to get these powers under control in no time." As she did so, she moved her hand subtly influencing the strand.

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+2 Foxes, The Hua-Ling of the jungles come about and helpfully aid in the delivering of letters from all the various people involved in the Boa Accord.

**AlexanderML** · 2020-04-04, 06:13 PM (ISO 8601)

The Imperial Confederacy of Axia:

The kind professor (who wishes to remain anonymous) has tasked me with giving an overview of the ICA as a part my program, stating that it would be the first real look into the lives of those on Axia in hundreds of years (I could tell, he did not even know of the ICA) from anyone that was not one of the Immortals. While I do not have access to the current records from my home’s libraries memorized, I am pleased to oblige and hopefully enlighten others here on Tria of my homeland across the sea.

What the Imperial Confederacy of Axia Is:
“The people who live upon Tria or Morganada seem to believe that the ICA consists of only the Sugradi Empire and the Gnaw tribes of the north, discounting centuries of development from both of them as well as the human states inside Sur or the Mist Coast. It is my duty then to give a brief summary of the notable republics, monarchies, and yes even the remnants of the Sugrandi Empire, that make up the Imperial Confederacy of Axia.”

The Imperial Confederacy of Axia is an institution that oversees the socio-economic well being and rights of the people of Axia across the borders of kingdoms (occasionally queendoms) and republics alike. The only lands that could be considered directly administered by the ICA are those from the former Sugrandi Empire, though in a few instances this rule does not apply as the remnants of the empire continue to spouse their independence from the rest of Axia.

Those that oversee the administration of the ICA are the members of the Shining Court, a group who are filled with representatives of the local lands of the ICA as well as the member republics and monarchies that have accepted the Emperor’s Peace. While most of the Stonethroe Mountains are administered directly by the Court, deciding to only elect representatives from their local lands to the Court, most outside of these lands prefer to only be a member of the ICA and see to their own administration.

The Shining Court’s main task is to uphold the Emperor’s Peace, which is as follows:
1. Freedom of religion, no ICA member may restrict the worship of any of the gods or cults in any way unless it brings imminent harm (some fanatic Chernites have caused quite the scandal for the last century).
2. Full autonomy within member borders, the major exceptions being colonies or other orbit groups, which are under ICA/member rule, and the economic trade of the region which is also under a jointly governed council. One of the major rulings these joint councils have made is the decision to create a single currency for the entire ICA (with a few exceptions).
3. Freedom of movement between ICA member citizens is guaranteed, no ICA member may keep their citizens tied to the land or even in the members own land so long as the citizen is moving to the lands of another ICA member.
4. In times of war or emergency members can call the ICA to protect them, with the ICA not being able to force the same onto the members, though they do negotiate for said troops normally.
5. Depending on the size of the population, the members are entitled to send a representative(s) to the Court to decide on ICA-wide matters.

To enlighten those of you reading this I shall name and summarize to the best of my ability a few of the different recognized monarchies and republics who are members of the ICA.

The Muji Lands:

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The lands of the Muji were never annexed by the Sugrandi Empire, only forced to accept the Emperor’s Peace to prevent future conflict. This has worked out wonderfully for those living on the coast as the Golden Road has come to their lands from Sur allowing trade to blossom. Along with Sur it is one of the only human majority lands left in the ICA. While Sugrandi are known to live there (and look quite unique), the vast majority of Muji (their king of sorts) are humans as well as those appointed to the Shining Court.

The people from these lands are certainly odd, they speak a different language, wear different clothing, different customs are performed, and they worship the gods in odd ways (though similar to the people of Sanctuary and the University in some fundamental beliefs); however, for how odd they maybe are they are certainly very honorable folk who know how to spot a good deal.

Other than sugrandi and humans the muji’s lands hold the vast majority of the Scale Legion’s population, for it is here that they raise their young and retire from their service. While nowhere near as observant as the humans here, their fierce determination and honor in battle against the savages of the Golden Waste is legendary. A Scaled One never breaks their word, at least upon adulthood after they make their trek to Yimor, where the emperor themself oversees the yearly ceremonies for their kind.

It is quite the shame that the humans here among the muji’s lands live in a social order that has barely developed from when the Emperor’s Peace came to them, for besides the inclusion of the scaled ones and the trade from the Golden Road, the people here have kept strong to their ancient beliefs and way of life. To try and convince a mujian to use enchanted items at all is an impossible task, and the magical changelings themselves invoke a sort of paranoia that is unseen elsewhere. Truly the tragedy of their lands is that looking back a hundred years ago and today, the mujian lands would seem the same.

The Surian Lowlands:

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These lands in the past three hundred years have been radically changed by the once tribal Surian’s inclusion into the ICA, though sadly in many ways it has proven to stunt their growth. For while the Golden Road is paved on the outskirts of their land and a few settlements have been established, the people of Sur have barely made any attempts at modernizing technologically or magically, as they still use primitive shamanism and herding techniques for the most part to sustain themselves (druidism for those readers who are unfamiliar with the term). Yet even with the lack of proper equipment, they still export food to their soil-poor neighbors to the north and south, trading for what they cannot produce themselves.

For hundreds of years the Temple of Sigrid had stood along the coast of these lands, a forgotten remnant for the majority of Axia as the nomads of Sur fiercely protected it from any outsiders. With the Emperor’s Peace entry into the temple is now reopened, and travel to Sanctuary through it is now possible (I would not be here today without it!); however, the hostility of the region still keeps many magically inclined individuals from traveling abroad.

What few villages and towns they do have are not very welcoming of sugrandi (as I can personally attest to while traveling the Golden Road), and are outright physically hostile to any changeling that visits them.The traditions they hold onto seem to be inspired by the southern Mist Cult, though the details are a close secret. I and those I’ve asked in the past know very little about these people, I apologize for the lack of information available.

The Southern Tradanian Mountain Kingdom:

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A remnant of the old Sugrandi Empire, this small kingdom on the southern edge of the Stonethroe Mountains retains its independence from the Emperor’s Peace while remaining in the ICA, sitting in the Shining Court using the old Great Tradano Clan’s seat it has very little political influence compared to their namesakes yet the same xenophobia of ancient times.

I have never visited the land myself as they keep their borders closed to outsiders, yet from what I heard the old ways of the Sugrandi Empire are kept alive here as much as possible. While the ancient caste system, a barbaric practice of the empire, has been abolished for hundreds of years the Tradanian’s have simply moved all the humans out of their lands and refuse to allow anyone without pure sugrandi heritage entrance.

Their kingdom is only somewhat more advanced in technology and magic compared to the Surians, as iron forges are known to exist in their lands and battle magics are kept up to date. Indeed the only good thing I can say about the Tradanian’s is that they keep to themselves and fight just as well as their legendary ancestors.

The Ancient City-State of Theshana:

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The great city of Theshana is a wonder of the world, it’s history stretching hundreds of years before the Sugrandi Empire ever came to power. Through hundreds of years of isolation suffering constant aggression from their neighbours they never gave up and always held strong, this strength inside their community is seen shining through today as they have taken full advantage of the Emperor’s Peace to make what was once great and unique into a wonder of the world! Besides perhaps the Northern Mountain Republic and Sanctuary there are no people in the world that can come close to the level of magic inside their society (without Dream Vaults or changeling blood!), and in the application of enchantment they hold ancient secrets that have kept them the masters of this increasingly important power.

They have used this incredible power to make a city that is a joy to behold in beauty and in infrastructure, though they do tend to keep their creations on the practical side out of ancient habit they are increasingly being involved in more fantastical projects. They are known to house one of the currently existing Dream Vaults, the most southern one in the world.

They’re council of elders is something that has endured since before time and is to this day still administering to the needs of the people of Theshana. Though as I mention them I should also mention that Theshana’s council of elders also administers a collection of river towns that go through the Grey Plains and almost reach the lands of Sur.

I cannot stress enough how much I recommend visiting this city, though if you are one who dislikes certain races or new technological/magical development (as some people in the west coast of Axia seem to be), or for some reason take offense to the Cult of Vreyalas I’d recommend Yimor for a more moderate experience.

The Queendom of Ulonor:

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Known for their five counties that surround the inner Stonethroe Mountain regions' great lakes, they are another remnant of the Sugrandi Empire that has rejected some aspects of the modern day ICA. Unlike the descendants of the Tradano (the Tradanians) the Ulonorians trace their lineage back to both the Ulisters and the Gragani, whom I would say were given more of the latter’s traits than the former sadly. They’ve distanced themselves not socially but economically and religiously from the ICA, offering services and items inside their lands that are illegal elsewhere, they provide cutting edge (often literally) medical care to those in dire need. The Ulonorians have also used the waterways that they control to generate vast wealth that they wish to retain to the highest degree possible, fighting the ICA for the most optimal deals yearly (it gets quite boring to hear about after a while).

They are also religiously some of the most intolerant on the continent, openly following the Cult of Mist from the muji’s lands they do not accept open worship of any other gods but the Primordial Pair in their lands. It is hard to convey the exact level of fear one has while talking to these otherwise pleasant merchants and healers, making sure to always avoid talk of religion with them. I’ve never feared for my life, but one can be quickly shunned if you are not careful.

If you ever wish to take a boat across the icy waters of the north, in need of modern Axian non-magical medical care, as well if you're in need to trade in large amounts of goods, I’d recommend coming here for a short while; however I’d personally leave these people alone whenever possible. They do accept changelings with open arms and seem willing to slowly integrate enchanted technology into their queendom, showing that they at least don’t act out of malice.

The Grey-Plains Clanholds:

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Truely an Age or two behind the rest of the world, the clanholds of the grey-plains have only built one city in all of history, Imara, which has been abandoned since 964 AG after the Great Flame consumed it. For the decades after and to today the Clans still debate on whether they should try to rebuild the city, which may hopefully occur in the next few decades. They are a slow people that carefully consider their options before taking on a promise or challange (not sure if this is contradicted by the fact that they are some of the world’s most skilled Pyromancers, something I thought was unique to them and some Wizards before hearing of the Masters of Sanctuary), and while they act very similar to their southern Surian counterparts, they are somewhat more open to change than them and do not mind the presence of those not like them nearly as much.

When the changelings integrated themselves into the Emperor’s Peace, the Icandian giants of the grey plains found people that they could, begrudgingly, tolerate in their lands. Their integration with the clans of the plains was a slow and unnoticed affair for the most part. They are notable for being the first previous Yir major region to switch to the worship of Su’ule, something that makes sense considering their similarities to the Gnaw-folk.

The Northern Mountain Republic:

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This nation is in my opinion the crowning jewel of the north, just as Theshana is the ancient wonder of the south this land is the birthplace of a new world. As I will discuss later on it has been radically changed by the introduction of changelings, and the slow increase of the use of enchantment over the centuries. On the edge of recent magical discoveries when it comes to the soul and mana conversion, it is a place where knowledge rules, only outdone in peace by the lands blessed with it by Yir to the north.

Many of the Founders made their schools here, especially those who learned from Sanctuary or the people of the Indreil Empire, bringing with them hints of the secrets of iron and magic that has allowed them to not surpass these powers in either (I can attest to that), but developed them in a direction that is incredibly advantages nonetheless.

It technically is still a part of the Sugrandi Empire as a remnant of it, but this seems more a quirk of history than the republic trying to prevent ICA oversight in their lands. They are one of the greatest allies and contributors to the ICA and its mission, often endorsed by Emperor Valrion themself for their willingness to trade and give charity to the whole of the ICA.

Humans are somewhat distrusted here, as the vast majority of the human population native to the republic has been replaced by changelings, and the few that remain are known to be xenophobic. This has caused quite the circle of distrust between the two, with the sugrandi such as myself stuck in the center trying to keep up.

Most of the NMR worship the goddess Su’ule as their primary god, seeing her control over magic as more important to their life than Yir’s light which is seldom seen enough. While there are still a great deal of Yirites, they’re numbers have stabilized as a continuous minority, mainly among the farmers and craftsmen (though many from both these groups worship Su’ule).

While the country side of the NMR can be described as ‘white’ with the occasional farmland, the underground complexes filled with magical devices, modern iron objects, and ancient stonework are sights worth the hard trek (especially those cities away from the Golden Road, if the NMR has a major flaw it’s travel for those unaccustomed to underground life).

The Gnaw Greenlands:

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Personally brought into the Emperor’s Peace by the works of the Emperor and the Dragon Man, this land has seen a dramatic change in the past five centuries since the 640’s, with massive infrastructure projects being made in the north to modernize its people. While not at the same level as the NMR, who has had the benefit of both the magic of the north and ages of infrastructure, the Gnaw Greenlands has shown an astonishing amount of growth. What was once icey waste is now a breadbasket for the north (from the loving power of Su’ule), a place of legendary levels of non-violence (due to Yir’s blessing of Peace), and holds in it multiple towns and two cities (Sulmonor and, please forgive me, but I forget the other).

I’ve never been to these lands myself, yet it is known to be the birthplace of the changelings, holding the ancient secrets of magic that have only in recent centuries begun to travel south. They are also home to the seldom mentioned pachyrhinosaurus’s (most call them Pachies, but don’t say that to their faces), who are incredibly skilled sorcerers (this skill is lesser to the changelings, but due to their lack of hands it maybe it is appropriate that they study a power that let’s them manipulate the world around them) and reclusive cousins of the now (with one exception) extinct sugandi tongues.

The Gnawfolk seem to hold a clan system similar to those on the Grey Plains, looking to their councils of elders to guide them.

Though I actually do not know the details myself, tribes of Gnawfolk still roam the the icy wastes of the north where the divine blessing has not reached, they send one representative to each of the Clans of the Gnawlands as well as one for the Court.

Early History:
Militarism, improvement, and mercantilism. For a millennia these things are what drove the Sugradi Empire to expand successfully, and were what inevitably forced it to radically change into its current form as the ICA (Imperial Confederacy of Axia) we see today.

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The confederation of monarchies and republics that would later be termed the Imperial Confederacy of Axia has its roots in the Sugrandi Empire. It formed before proper records were first established, sometime after the first divine Age during what the surviving records recall as the “great union” that was in response to the “demons of the west”. The first emperor being the mythical Sugrandi figure of Gragama, a general-king of some kind that fought back the forgotten threat with the combined power of the sugradi people, but other than this little is known about him for sure.

Over the years the emperor’s throne was passed down through the voting of the old Great Clans, collections of Sugradi and allies that held similar traditions. Even today people still use the clan names, such as ‘Cavpo’ or ‘Tradano’ though the meaning has shifted to being more of a description of ethnicity rather than clan background. They formed the Shining Court to be the means of their decision making, this institution being the most persistent part of the legal system that has been preserved through the years.

The Sugradi with the Court and their emperors behind them began to expand at an incredible rate, politically maneuvering those tribes of sugradi at the empire’s border peacefully in what most ICA sages I’ve talked to call the Great Expansion. This is when the lands of Tumeria and those tribes in the Grey Plains were acknowledged as Great Clans for the first time.

Now I know it may seem like I’m focusing on the sugradi, but honestly there are even fewer sources from the time on what the people of Gnaw were doing (termed Mutants by the southerners whom they often raided for much needed supplies). The sugradi records clearly show that unlike today they were fierce raiders with incredibly powerful battle magics at their employ; however, other than that little is known about them besides what can be gleaned from the Sacred Cave. They lived simple lives studying and manipulating magic to help live off of their cursed land (for while the maps here are usable, the North was not always Green, indeed it was a hellish Waste long ago).

The humans of Sur, the Mist Coast, and beyond began to organize around this time as well, though at a slower rate technologically than the Sugradi’s Empire and magically than the ‘Mutants’ (for a lack of a better historical term). The greatest among these were the horse riders of Sur and those on the Mist Coast, though their own cultures formed in completely different directions despite their relative closeness. Sur’s men were nomadic, free to ride across the land, yet they often raided their northern sugradi neighbours, never allowing any sugradi to reach the Temple of Sigrid (a fine place you might be familiar with, it’s continued recovery is the pride of modern Sur). Their southern neighbours among the Mist Coast were ruled over by the City of Blue Stone (otherwise called Blue Stone), they huddled along the coast in stonework cities fishing along the same ports generation upon generation, and yet peacefully co-existed with a few sugradi among their cities.

Middle History:
While in other parts of the world the divine is a sight that is often referred to as ‘fleetingly common’, due to the nature of their divinities during the two Divine Ages. It is something I found quite surprising when I first arrived on Tria; for while the people of Axia know of a few miracles, the details of most are hidden, but there are two Miracles of the Pair that have gone to shape the lands of Axia to this day.

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During the year 600 AG (that’s After Gragama, similar to the Grawssian Calendar, the 0 AG point being around 1100 years ago from the time of me writing this, excuse me for not using your own calendar I’m not used to it as of the time of this writing), the second divine Age began. Near Yimor upon the small mountain of Holy High the god Yir gave to the people their light in the form of Valrion, who quickly solved multiple crises threatening the empire and established themselves as the emperor, a title they have yet to relinquish.

Valrion, the ICA’s eternal emperor, the most divine person that the people of Axia know of in this world to any real extent. While the people of Axia know of Lord Nerassus, Deja Vu the Ora Hero, and even heard the sad tale of Rosalin the Unloved, besides the Immortals no one among all of Axia had seen these figures. Valrion [i]was[/] the voice of the divine, is to a great extent to this day. They are known to be caring for their subjects and by most accounts has ruled the land fairly, abolishing many old systems of tyranny and establishing the hundred Founding Schools.

While I am mentioning divine beings of Axia I feel that the prophet known the Dragon Man of the North ( Tu'ul Arn, the Elder One) is the closest equivalent for the Gnaw Greenlands, the voice of the will of the Su’ule, who has spent the years defending their once inhospitable war-torn land of the north. If rumor is true he spends his time dreaming up the construction of a great library and helping his people remember the old oral traditions.

The Gnaw Greenlands were given the Miracles of Life from Su’ule and Peace from Yir around the time Valrion took the throne, and either at the same time or shortly after Su’ule gifted the Mutants magic in their blood, changing them forever more into the Changelings. Valrion themself came to these remade people, helping to shape them with the goddess to be kin to the sugrandi, an alliance of blood that would be cemented further years to come.

One event that is known to the people of the ICA today to be a world event but at the time was a mystery was the arrival of the Tongues and Raptors, who appeared near the kingdoms of Tumeria as well as in the northern parts of the Gnaw lands. Through Valrion’s efforts the Tongues were peacefully integrated into the north and the Raptors became the founders of the Scale Legion.

No account of Emperor Valrion’s extraordinary abilities would be complete without mention of their Peace. The very foundation for what would become the ICA, it was first implemented in the great Peace of Theshana that Valrion themself personally forged between the Sugradi Empire and the ancient and wise Theshanian’s. The origin of the conflict between the two was long forgotten (and sadly unknown to me as well), and had raged for centuries between the two. Valrion through their immovable might and wise words was able to make these two bitter blood enemies work together, so much so that a sugradi such as myself was hardly a noteworthy sight upon entering the wondrous city (truly a marvel of the world!).

Emperor Valrion fought against the wicked Muji of the City of Blue Stone in the Year 612 AG when they brought in an army to invade the lower kingdoms of the empire, incorporating their lands along the Mist Coast in the Emperor’s Peace the year 614 AG. Shortly thereafter Valrion fought against the men of Sur in 632 AG, only ending the conflict in the year 642 AG once the people of Sur finally submitted to the Peace, ending their raids on the Icandian tribes of the north forever.

In the year 645 AG Emperor Valrion with the help of the Ulister spear men that later went to found the Rainbow Guard, went into the Gnaw lands and secured the Emperor’s Peace among the Changelings, opening trade and negotiations that would last for a century but ultimately lead to the integration of the Gnaw Greenlands into the ICA. I’ve never traveled so far north but the roads built to the Greenlands are said to be wider than any other, for the Gnaw is where the mighty mammoths are found in great numbers.

In the year 650 AG the great Founders of the Hundred Schools returned from abroad, proclaiming that they held the wisdom of the world and would give it to all. Many of these Founders later became the first Immortals of the ICA, men and women of such perfection that not even time could take them away. Among those still alive in Axia to my knowledge are Rachel the Mistress of Flame (apparently not a sorceress by certain accounts), Elmwood the Indomitable (a sugrandi of cursed human blood generations past, magic fails to stop his blade), and Yimithlor the Prism Dragon (notable for being the only Tongue among the Immortals, and one of if not the greatest Immortal).

The late seventh century and most of the eighth and ninth centuries are known for great works of road-ways and other infrastructure projects. Other than the Gold Road being established during this time I can think of few notable events that would be interesting to anyone besides masons, merchants, and governors. The people of the north over decades began to show more representation in their bodies of government, until the domestic power and seat in the Court were positions that were elected by landowners and magicians (which has lasted to this day); while the southern monarchies established alliances among one another that have risen and fallen in strength over the years. The first temple-librarys to the goddess Su’ule were made in the lands of the Cavpo during this time, as her following grew among the more magical northern giants.

Recent History:
While this power and much of the knowledge has existed around the world for recorded history, only in the past three-hundred years has the power of the Soul and Magic been fully explored to begin to change the face of Axia and give proper rights to the dead.

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It is a debate as to whether it began in the tenth or eleventh century, but the magical and technological progress in the north has slowly but assuredly begun to radically change the lives of those that live there. The north has begun to mass-produce magical equipment, changing the way citizens of the north work their tools, farm their land, and defend the lands of the ICA.

Enchanted items are very versatile and useful creations for anyone, yet for centuries their greatest drawback has been the need for mana, limiting the actual usage of enchanted items to but a few individual learned mages across Axia for millennia before and across the world. Yet at some point this changed with the arrival of the changelings.

Changelings as a universal rule hold as much mana inside of themselves at adulthood as a mage does after a year or two of study, making the entire population among them able to support enchanted items in a way that humans or sugrandi could not match (being that the untrained human or sugradi has only 1/50th the mana an adult changeling does). This is in mine and many of my instructors' back home opinion is the single most important fact to point to for the changes in the north. Though the natural industriousness of the changelings, and the sad reality that they need to use this power to reduce work demand in certain fields because of their low birth-rate between themselves also are strong reasons.

They took their ancient techniques from when the Gnaw-lands were a wasteland and brought them to the cold mountains of the northern Stonethroe range and made the land they worked fertile to such an extent that the Wizards of the Cavpo, for the first time in history, invited non-sugrandi into their ranks to learn from the changelings. The addition of such skilled and gifted people quickly modernized the organization, though the traditions they held were warped to be barely recognizable to those of the ancient past, and the organization is sadly almost as biased against non-changelings today as it was biased against non-sugrandi in the past.

Within the first century of this union the first Greenstone was made, a magical item with the farming spell placed inside of it so that changelings (and sugrandi/human mages) could keep their fields fertile. Expensive to produce and hard to transport, it is still one of the greatest inventions of the world, as three centuries later, there are enough Greenstones to sustain the people of the north despite the massive decrease in births.

While the Greenstones are the greatest enchanted invention for sustainability of northern society, aquamancy spells placed in enchanted objects have become commonplace as well for healing services, as well as a plenty of other objects for other important tasks. It became an esteemed achievement to invent another useful enchanted item, making nearly every Wizard an enchanter to the point that Enchantment, as a school, is no longer acknowledge as a separate school of sorcery in most parts of the ICA but rather as a fundamental part of sorcery like mana or rituals (to see the separation here was strange at first!). Something that the Theshanians had recognized an Age ago (one of the many reasons it is a wonder today!).

There was however an increasingly large problem for the Wizards of the north, after one and a half centuries of producing enchanted items the people using them, even the changelings skilled in sorcery, could not produce nearly enough mana to use them all. Luckily for the people of Axia there were certain kings and republics of the ICA invested in the items being produced by the Wizards that decided to fund all manner of ways of producing mana besides mining for magicite (a solution for the rich, but not a solution for the rich to obtain more wealth).

Hundreds of designs and ideas were fabricated over the next forty years yet only when the Necromancer Thamos, who lost all ten of his children and brought their souls back to him, made his discoveries into the mana producing capacities of souls and the costs of the Grey Beyond did the first designs of a Dream Vault put to paper and tested. It was another ten years before the first actual creation of a Dream Vault was accomplished (in the year 1003 AG), the Thamulton Dream Vault located in the city of Upper Gale. Most accounts emphasize that Thamos made the Vaults not as a means to produce mana, but as a place for his family to rest and love each other, and to protect other families from the Grey Beyond. Most did and still do not understand that part, but what the people who witnessed the Dream Vaults often compare it to a living of sorts (I personally am skeptical on how ‘alive’ being in one of these makes someone, but it does seem better than death).

Though I have explained the basic principle of these Dream Vaults in person before, I feel stating what a Dream Vault is here would be appropriate. It is from what I have seen a sort of living space for souls here on Oerch, where those that have died continue to live on in a shared dream, only interrupted when they decide to communicate with family or the caretakers of the facility. While it may seem macabre to those outside the ICA (indeed, many of those less magically gifted monarchies of the south would agree), I have witnessed crying mothers meet their sons again, and grandparents speak once more with children born years past. It is a drastic change however, so history will be the judge on just how successful these Dream Vaults are.

Over the next few decades to my knowledge five other Dream Vaults have been made, their mana granting those inside those cities the increasingly large ability to use their enchanted items. It is rumored that Necromancy might become as common as Enchantment, though that is hundreds of years from now if at all possible despite the obvious case of it’s importance here. It is a truly marvelous age, it is also incredibly frightening as this has added further tension between the Northern and the Southern lands. All I can do is pray to Light Below that everything is alright and that peace will remain.

**AlexanderML** · 2020-04-04, 11:30 PM (ISO 8601)

Valrion and the Princess upon Holy High - Light Returns:

It was another dawn across the horizon like any other, gifting the world with another day of light. Holy High was a busy place these days, skilled men and women of all varieties walking through the palace being a common sight, only during these mornings could Valrion get some time to themselves away from the seemingly endless need of the Shining Court for their opinion or aid. They liked to have breakfast alone on one of the upper decks of the Palace, purposefully kept blocked off so that only teleportation could actually reach it. Here they had a simple wooden chair they could sit in, as well as a small pile of books they've been meaning to finish; however lately they've been staring at the sun. Watching for signs that others could not possibly see.

As they were transfixed, their face becoming more stern as the signs grew worse, a hand reached out and lightly patted their shoulder. Startling them to the point of jumping in their seat somewhat. "Good morning mother, Isad made biscuits today!" was the only apology given.

Standing up and turning around to look at the princess holding a tray of biscuits Valrion's face instantly went from stern to a smile "Morning dear, did you sleep well?"

The princess caught the look on Valrion face and cut strait to the point. "What is wrong mother?"

"I've learned of work that needs to be done, I won't be here for today's Court meeting or supper tonight. It's urgent, and when the time is right I must leave to attend to the matter." Valrion said putting their hand on the princesses shoulder, she was not convinced "But do not worry, it's just busy work. I'm just saddened that I won't be able to hear about your day." Better, she won't question that.

"If you say so mother..." she said with a sigh, "Can you stay for a little bit till the end of breakfast?"

Reaching out for one of the biscuits with one hand and half-hugging with the other "Of course, tell me what you plan on doing today."

Spoiler: Secondary Action

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100AP -12 AP The Light inside Valrion re-surges in strength.

88AP left

Yir Gazing Down From Above All:

Terrible nightmares, ages of terror, the divine shrieking out their demands on an increasingly poor world. And in the end, always, they'd come to try and defy reality and eliminate THEM. Sometimes it seemed possible, no matter how strange that would be... Yir did not sleep well.

What woke them up was the goddess of barbarity's clawing her will into the world. Irritable from being woken up and angry at the action itself Yir spoke with tired aggression.

"What is this nonsense? You dare judge another's heart by YOUR wicked ways? While some judgement may be necessary at times, you are neither the right judges nor are mortals so undeserving as to be all judged. Before MY majesty, it is naught, before those who look to ME for freedom, it is naught. By my absolutely perfect judgement I cast your wicked ambitions into oblivion!"

Spoiler: Hinder Avestra!

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+2 Sun and +2 Majesty: By Yir's commandment those that use their power may use a simple to cast solarmancy spell that reduces bad karma in minor (yet notable) amounts.

+1 Perfection: One does not need to be a perfectionist to avoid bad karma from improving their skills, improving yourself reduces your bad karma.

+1 Symbiosis: Those that tell a priest of Yir of their misdeeds may have the priest take the bad karma into themselves if they are willing. This bad karma is easier to remove using the purification ritual, but only a little bit.

+2 Giant: Valrion's presence disrupts the judging eyes of karma, those near Valrion will have their karma shift towards neutrality very slowly.

+2 Stonethroe: In areas where the peaks are visible, or would be without temporary blockage, the power of karma is weakened somewhat and it's accumulation is slowed.

After letting out that fury Yir felt a bit better, they almost calmed enough to look down at what Valrion was doing before another divine forced their will upon reality. Irritated anew they looked at Su'ules mandate, yet felt less annoyed by it than with the barbarian's tampering, it seemed more in good faith.

"I can applaud this noble gesture, but you are a foolish tyrant if you deem wise to put mortals into horrid forms expecting them to only suffer. Mortals should always be able to improve, it is their only great trait. By MY mercy, by MY love for those below, I open the path of redemption for any and all that would walk it in these forms! I welcome them into MY light!"

Spoiler: Help Su'ule!

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+2 Majesty +1 Perfection and +1 Symbiosis: Those stuck in a monstrous form born of negativity may always seek out redemption to become one of Yir's Shining Ones.

Those of Vanity may give their time towards others, once they have given more than they have ever taken twice over they transform into shining ones. Emotional damage is always the hardest to repay.

Those who fell to Greed must renounce any possessions for as many years they were alive twice over, then they may become shining ones. The only exceptions to this rule is a humble set of robes, a bowel, and enough food to last for a day. Further exceptions may apply but need the blessing of a priest of Yir to be approved, and will slow the progress of the redemption significantly.

Those who were devoured by their Gluttony are forced to renounce food all-together from spring to the end of fall, working to create food to give to the weak and poor. This is a grueling challenge, and often times needs magical assistance to work. Any mistakes will not remove all progress, but will significantly reduce that year's redemption progress, forcing the one who failed to make more progress next year (unless they have plenty of progress already from previous years). Because of the grueling difficulty involved, Yir mercifully allows winter to be a time when they may feast, so long as they remember to help others in need. It is during the winter time at a feast where they are transformed into a shining one if they are redeemed.

For the shameful souls of Dishonor Yir forces them to find a cause that helps others and serve it faithfully for a decade and eleven days. This cause is deemed honorable if it helps others, does not hide their intentions, and does not harm anyone without just cause ('just cause' being a mix of the redeeming individual and Yir's perspective). Upon the completion of their latest tasks once redeemed the monster becomes a shining one.

Pitying the souls of Cowardice Yir makes it so that they need only meet the fears they had in life and overcome them, so long as it does not harm another (if it would, then an equally frightening endeavor would work). Time is not a factor in this, though these challenges must be faced alone whenever possible. When the last challenge is overcomed they become a shining one.

Those that dare fall to Hate must either do one of two things, prove it was for a just cause to a priest of Yir or live the life without hate for a decade. This typically involves becoming a hermit or otherwise restricting their emotions (some Paths may notably help). In Yir's mercy, those that at least try find that it is at least possible, no matter how chaotic their form's mind would be.

Fallen of the other gods may also be redeemed into shining one form, but this involves defying the god that cursed them with doing what brought them into that form to begin with consistently for no less than a time of ten years, with the only other rule being that you must not harm another wrongly, then finally having a priest of Yir or their decedents bless them. Examples of what would make progress would be Chimeras of negative karma attacking only the wicked, and trees of woe bringing as much flame as possible into the world without harming another. All progress along this path of redemption is taken away if the person begs for mercy from the god that cursed them, they harm another, or they stop trying to defy the god that cursed them for more than a day.

+2 Sun: The Shining Ones are the forms Yir gives to those that redeem themselves, shining humanoids with no facial features they have the ability to fly incredibly slowly and use very minor solarmancy at will (even at night). They are otherwise like humans, having to eat and drink to survive, and are just as easy to kill if struck. They only get to persists in this form for two decades at most (with healing magic involved) before death comes for them peacefully, the woe they gave the world undone.

Valrion and the Prism Dragon - The Cave of Colors:

It was always wise, even for a being such a Valrion, to stop before entering this cave. It looked incredibly strange, as it was like a flow of random colors spilled out across the area dyeing everything into a different hue and shade than what it should be. Other than this the cave looked quite normal, if wide.

Two inhuman glowing eyes of rainbow hue pierced through the strange lights of the cavern and were distinctly visible to Valrion. With a serpentine tongue it spoke to Valrion.

"Discarded soul of the ssun. You grace my home with your presence again, I think it's about the Keyy that landed in my cave?"

Valrion gave a short bow of the head, taking a step forward presenting their own, "Indeed, I come to you knowing you to be the most reclusive of the Immortals, what say you to using these?"

The dragon inside was quite for a moment, before saying with a bit of uncertainty "Caan it actually work with my size?"

"I think it should, go, and I'll tell the others."

Spoiler: Aid Kahar-Djin!

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+2 Giant: Valrion goes around to the Immortals and gets them to join the Council, though the Prism Dragon's size may need accommodation. They are exceptionally big and think it's the perfect form, keeping them stuck in it even if a lesser form would be preferable in the situation.

Yir, Valrion, Davanda - Holy High - Stolen Light:

Yir, finally done with dealing with the annoyances of the other gods, looked down upon Holy High where they knew Valrion had just returned to. They were sitting on some sort of balcony... eating something? That's odd, they need not eat and it did not look like there was anyone else there.

Then Valrion looked up at them, dropping what they were eating. They feared Yir? Why?

A red hair woman with unnatural grace came into view, Yir knew immediately why Valrion was scared. Screaming down at Valrion they said.

"You DARE! You DARE make an ABOMINATION! You gave it, of all things, MY light! How DARE you! I take back what is MINE!"

Davanda, not hearing what Yir had said for they only spoke to Valrion, immediately fell on the grown in a faint as the light of Yir inside of her began to be dragged out.

"No! Don't go, Davanda don't go!" Yelled Valrion as they held onto her, struggling against the power of Yir.

The reverberation of this struggle can be felt by the divine across the world, as the essence inside Davanda is being drawn back to it's source it creates a disruption the divine can feel.

Spoiler: Action!

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Create the Demi-goddess Davanda +2 Harmony/-2 ???
88AP - 18 =70 AP DC 14

Already into her late teens, Davanda is still learning the secrets of magic and divinity upon Holy High but is looking to go out into the world soon.

Davanda tries to follow this dogma:
Protect those that have not wronged from those that would harm them, the world needs less woe. Never turn your eye completely from a new friendship and seed it where you can, together all are stronger and happier. Forgive those that have done you harm if they truly feel regret, for they suffer and you should not be the cause of more by rejecting them. Heal the pain of those that need it, suffering is a sign that something is wrong.

Valrion Aids!: +2 Giant: She is born from the greatest of giants, and has inherited many of the powers and curses of Valrion but to a lesser extent. She's not immune to physical harm just resilient to it, she cannot teleport across the world only short distances in sunlight, ect ect.

Yir Hinders!: -2 Arrogance: Yir takes back what is their's, for the divine spark inside her was not given away by Yir's will but stolen. If she survives her constitution will be scared for life, that's with the divinity, if she loses it... she could very easily die.

**Garjel_blah** · 2020-04-05, 02:09 AM (ISO 8601)

Chern, 80/80 AP, Holy High

Valrion noticed something in the sky, shortly after Davanda collapsed. It stirred something deep in the recesses of his ancient mind, a memory that had persevered through the vastness of his experiences. They say, after all, that smells are the things we remember best.

A swarm of flies descended from the heavens, intersecting with Yir's focused sunlight like a ash motes through a flame. Valrion had been visited by these putrid insects at the moment of his creation, afflicting him with a stench to match the foulness of the old Sugradi Empire. Though he'd been purged of this curse at a later date, the thought of his progeny suffering the same fate could not have been pleasant.

However, this was an act of the gods, and the Emperor could do nothing but watch as the flies circled Davanda's unconscious body. The circling swarm wavered, pulsed, as if evaluating the woman at their epicentre. Then the flies dispersed back into the bright sky, as rapid as flying sparks struck from the anvil of divinity.

Inhaling carried a burden of dread for Valrion, as he feared the return of that age old stench. However, though not physiologically required to breathe, his need to know felt just as urgent. He breathed in...

Spoiler: H...

Show

...elp!

Help ~~Yir~~ Valrion create a demigod

+4 Decay, to give Davanda a gift similar to what he gave Nerassus. Anyone she meets will be drained of their animosity, decreasing the likelihood of them becoming violent or hateful towards her.

+1 Sanitation, Davanda actually smells really lovely, as Valrion discovers. The flies left behind a rose just on the verge of wilting, and though it shall eventually return to the earth, its pleasant scent will linger for as long as Davanda does. As a way of apology, Valrion also gains some of this perfume.

**gac3** · 2020-04-05, 03:53 AM (ISO 8601)

Timorin felt his sister’s presence flying overhead and sent some support her way. He hoped she would be here for the coronation of her new niece but knew she had a duty to the world as a whole.

Spoiler: Help

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Help:
Karma shall have the following other caveats.

+2 War. War itself is a part of mortal life and has no positive or negative karma in the action itself. However soldiers and warriors serving their nation shall gain positive karma. Forcing people to fight for you against their will shall earn negative karma.

+3 Drama/Games. The arts net positive karma. Bringing joy and entertainment to others is a noble deed and artisans shall net positive karma. Actively suppressing the arts or people’s passion grants negative karma.

+1 Asylum: Taking in someone in need grants positive karma, so long as both parties agree that the terms of such an arrangement is fair. Breaking a pact of Asylum grants negative Karma.

“Lord Timorin, after the festivities, can I go to see the great Chern’s Starry Crypt? It would be a great sight.” The asker was Carl, a human that had made his way to the reef, supposedly in his pursuit of knowledge.

Timorin, aware of the young man’s lack of skill at his craft and knowing the war that was raging, thought this might be the perfect chance. He would no longer have to listen to the man and Chern would have to instead. ”Carl, I give you my blessing to go post haste. Bring my best wishes to Chern and make sure you stir up some trouble for me.”

The young man immediately took off, but Timorin didn’t bother to keep track of where he was headed.

Spoiler: Hinder

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Hinder: Timorin sent the infamous Carl the Barl to immortalize the Pact of Boa.

+2 war and +2 Drama for Carl will record the events leading up to the pact but glorify the conflict and differences in a way that leaves both sides unsettled. Debates will constantly arise about this point or that, occasionally leading to war anew before things die back down.

Timorin can sense the creation of a new demigod and even wisps of rage from Yir. With a smile Timorin reached out to offer aid to Valrion.

Spoiler: Help

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+2 War, +2 Drama, +1 Asylum, Davana shall be kind and beautiful. In the pursuit of her dogma, people of all types will find a love for her growing in their hearts. One that will encourage them to protect her. They will fight for her and go to war over her safety and in support of her will.

**Maryring** · 2020-04-05, 05:24 AM (ISO 8601)

The Lucent Reef:

"Hey Nera. Whatcha doin' in here?" Mika grins and throws herself around Nerassus, hugging him from behind.

"You're already drunk Mika?" Nerassus chuckles softly, giving her a warm squeeze.

"Mmm. Your students brought some really heavy stuff. Want me to bring you a cup?" She peers over Nerassus's shoulder at a scroll. It's halfway covered in writing she can't quite parse, but at least the calligraphy is nice to look at. "You're writing? C'mon. You should be partying with the rest of us!"

"I will soon. I just need to prepare this sacred text for..." His voice trails off as he gets a distant look. "What is... Father?!"

---

A faint image of Nerassus appears above Valrion, intercepting itself between Yir and Davanda. "Father! Please stop. Do not hurt her. She has done nothing wrong! She shouldn't be made to suffer for it!"

From deep within Nerassus, two small drops of blood form. One falls down on Davanda.

Spoiler: Help:

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+2 Healing: The blood revitalizes Davanda's frail form. Strengthening it to help her stay alive. If she manages to maintain a divine spark, it'll manifest itself as mild regenerative powers.
+2 Justice: Nerassus intercepts on Davanda's behalf, pleading with Yir to not hurt her, giving of his own essence to replace from Davanda that which is taken.

+2 Water?: "He steals. He takes. Cares aught for mortal suffering. Come. Let me hold you. Let me shelter you in my embrace." When submerged in water, water will shield Davanda. She will know Petr's comfort, and can speak with Petr by diving beneath the surface.

The second droplet speeds towards the sun, piercing into Yir's essence like a needle. "This is what you do. This is who you are. Create suffering, refuse to take responsibility. They cry for retribution for suffering. Revenge for cruelty suffered by your negligence. That you would turn your cruelty on one like this shows the world what you truly are. Petty and selfish!"

**flyinglemur** · 2020-04-05, 08:44 AM (ISO 8601)

The New Age-
Dulnori awoke in darkness, submerged in his tar pit. He immediately felt a great pull on him, the other divinities seem to have woken up before him. “Alright, I’ll just deal with this first before I move on,” he thought. Dulnori’s power drained out of his body and congealed into his worm form, leaving the rhinoceros behind like a hollow shell. The worm wrapped around the pulling forces like strings, and began to pluck them.

For Timorin-
“Your nation is an impressive one Timorin, I’m glad our people have been able to remain allies. And your party is very well planned, though it is missing something. Ah ha, I’ve got it, your people deserve a light show before things are covered in darkness.” as the Horizon Tribe’s diplomats arrive a small piece of golden light erupts upwards from the earth exploding in the air into a multicolored spectacle, a divine fireworks show. The light soon fades, with it’s lingering energy being absorbed by the Earth. The diplomats have a wonderful time and deliver an important message. The cult is now formally invited to all future Miracle Games, both to spectate and to participate.

Spoiler: Help

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+2 Ambition: The impressive display put on by Dulnori will inspire the inhabitants of the Lucent Reef. They’ll grow a competitive streak, each one seeking to create the most impressive attractions for their burgeoning tourist industry.
+2 Fortune: The Lucent Reef shall be an attractive destination for the wealthy.
+1 Sailing: The boats of the Lucent Reef shall always find safe harbor.

For Kahar-Djin-
“I’m very grateful for your paths Kahar-Djin, and I shall always regret ignoring their creation. May all men see the council, and see their own potential.” A Horizon master of power shall arrive at the council.

Spoiler: Help

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+2 Ambition: The existence council of masters shall serve as a major encouragement for mortals to follow a path, and thus reach new heights of power and wisdom.
+2 Fortune: Dulnori protects the council hall from damage caused by accident and unforeseen calamity.

For Chern-
“This, this is a quality act. A proper compromise, I love those. Reminds me of my own pact. In fact, Nestellbam would love this, I’ll tell him about it later when I’m done with my work here. I still owe you those lemons Chern, I’ll pay them back now.” As the pact is finalized a mighty rain of lemonade falls to ground over the people’s lands. Those who drink it find it has been divinely sweetened.

Spoiler: Help

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+2 Ambition: Drinkers of the lemonade shall find themselves inspired with new ideas for construction with and applications of amberis.
+2 Fortune: As the lemonade seeps into the Chernway the earth shall be replenished of its metals and ores.
+1 Sailing: Drinkers of the lemonade shall find themselves uncommonly skilled at sailing on the Boa coastline.

For Avestra-
“Fortune, luck, fate, destiny, are all different names for the same thing. The roll of the die is mine to command, as is the fall of the stone that brings on an avalanche. Demon of wood, do you really think you can wield this power against my family? You try to wrench away the dreams of mortals, valuing bark and grass above their hopes and desires, and think I shall not respond to this blatant assault. They shall rise to greatness regardless of your interference, and I shall make sure of it.”

Spoiler: Hinder

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-2 Ambition: A person deeply and truly committed to their path in life, to working and fighting for what they believe in, will see the impact of all karma on them weaken.
-2 Fortune: Dulnori limits the changing of mortal fortune. The effects of negative karma shall always be weaker than that of an equivalent amount of positive karma.

For Yir-
When the worm touched Yir’s string it felt something truly disturbing, three divinities crashing against each other, although they felt almost the same. There was something clearly wrong here, and so the worm crawled along the string, until it arrived at Holy High and could see the struggle with its own eyes. The worm chewed into the soul of Davanda and channeled his own power through her body. When he was finished he said to Yir, “Fire demon, I’ve never thought much of you, but I didn’t think you would ever go this far. You’re crushing the dreams of your child, you’re killing your own granddaughter, and yet you still believe you’re perfect. You are lower than a worm, and so the worm shall stain the back of this child,” to Valrion he said, “Good work. You shine brighter than the sun.”

Spoiler: Help

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Davanda now has a mark on her back shaped like a worm.
+2 Ambition: Davanda shall be passionate and driven. She shall long to see the world improve.
+2 Fortune: Davanda is destined for greatness. She shall be lucky, skilled in games of chance, safer in accidents, more able to find her way when lost etc.
+1 Dreams: The next time Davanda sleeps she shall see the steppe, vast and open, and she shall hear these words, "Come find me." This is Dulnori's invitation, it's up to her if she wants to accept it.

Sanctification-
The worm crawled back to the Emerald Castle. He was exceedingly worried, many of his worst fears had finally been realized. It was clear something drastic needed to be done to safeguard his people. He took a portion of his power, and laid it on the Harken Steppe above Nestellbam’s, like a blanket. His sight would now be permanent, no one would strike against his people without him knowing. He called out to those he knew, those that had once blessed his voyage, city, and people “Friends let us be united in the face of darkness. With our combined strength we shall overcome anything.”

Spoiler: Action

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14 AP/10 DC. 86 AP left Dulnori sanctifies the Harken Steppe.
+2 Ambition: Dulnori acts to protect the people on the steppe and their desires. The structure of the Eternal Arena is reinforced and strengthened as it’s the holiest site in this land and inspires people to improve themselves and seek greater glory. In addition, between the ages of the gods, when the Miracle Games begin and end a model will appear in the Arena for about 10 seconds, a dragon made of stone breathing out a cloud of sand.
+2 Fortune: Dulnori acts to protect the natural wealth of the land and the riches held by the Horizon Tribe and the Aeons.
+1 Sailing: Dulnori acts to protect the boats that travel along the rivers of the steppe.
+1 Dreams: In one week the people of the Harken Steppe and their friends shall see a grand announcement of the sanctification in their dreams.
The action is open to Timorin, Petr, Kahar-Djin, Chern, and Su'ule.

The Visitor-
The worm was crawling slowly, saddened from what he saw, until a strange figure caught his eye. It was a woman wearing a lilac robe and silver headdress in the shape of a laurel wreath. She was simply wandering the halls looking at the decorations, until her foot rose over the worm.
“Stop,” said the worm in a high pitched voice. The woman stepped back.
“Who said that?”
“I did, please don’t step on me. If you don’t I’ll grant you a wish.”
“And what could a little worm like you give me,”
“More than you'd think. I can give you anything, as long as you throw me into the tar,”
“All right then, I’ll try it.” The woman picked up the worm, brought him to the pit, and dropped him over the oil. The Emerald Castle shook, and the rhinoceros rose from the black ooze.
“I AM -”
“Dulnori,” the lady interrupted.
“You already knew then?”
“You are the worm after all, and no animal can enter the Emerald castle on their own. A better question is how a mere mortal like me got in here?”
“You are the Queen of the Horizon Tribe. I recognize that suit, Elkhoof was designing it, silver for the ruler and gold for their consort. You probably just entered by royal authority, because you royals always seem to want to interrupt my sleep.”
“We’ve missed you Dulnori.”
“And I have missed you. Now I need you to do something important. My eye turned out to be far worse than I hoped, instead of seeing everything I only got a snapshot. Tell me everything that has happened.”

**Demonjazz** · 2020-04-05, 08:46 AM (ISO 8601)

Alatadriel sighed as she watched a recital of "The Flame Dancer's Lake" at the original ballet hall that she had gifted the Dance of Flame too. Oh, the Dancers had made leaps and bounds since she saw them originally perform on the roads. Most of them still were organized in traveling troupes of course, but they were able to perform in great halls like these on their travels. And the higher level Dancers made such inventive use of color and shape as she watched. She even saw the dancers using the battling flames of students to create less refined shapes at lower levels.

And... Oh... Really, Yir? I had not thought even you would be so cruel. Even Alatadriel's cruel heart could not help but feel for the girl as she reached out and grabbed the strand of fate that was Davanda.

Spoiler: help

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+1 Fertility: Davanda's health will not lessen if she ever bears a child, and any resulting births will be quick, and painless.
+2 Fire, Davanda will have an innate connection to the spiritual flame that is Dance. On top of being a naturally amazing and gifted dancer, if she finds herself down The Dance of Flame she will be able to advance easily down the Path that she dances.
+1 Bees: Any and all species, subspecies, bee-related or bee adjacent creatures will find themselves incapable of stinging the woman.

Elsewhere, underground
The flickering visage of a pirate captain danced through the underground tunnels of the Chernway. "A curse to you lad, a curse on your head! I'll keep on drinking til' the day that I'm dead!" The pirate captain sang in a surprisingly beautiful deep baritone as he wandered the halls underground. He stopped to take a swig of chum from his flask. "That be a bit of joke, laddies! I can't die! YARHARHARHAR!" The sailor skipped around, laughing heartily as blue flames flicked at his heels. He took another swig of chum as he continued. "Arr! Ye know these Choblins be much better at making cheese than be at making rum." He took another swig from his flask regardless. "But what do I know! I ain't even got a tongue no more! YARHARHARHAR!" despite the captain's ephemeral existence, he somehow tripped over a masked man on the ground as he wandered the underground tunnels. "Yar! Watch where ye be sitting!"

Two large glowing yellow eyes looked back at him with a depressed look.

The Captain sidled up next to the depressed man, offering him his mostly empty flask. Despite the fact that upon further inspection, the Captain was in fact made out of fire, he was not hot to the touch and seemed to interact much in the same way one would expect a normal person would in the world. "Yar! What has got ye looking so down like ye just saw da Levithan be taking nibbles at yer ship! Da world be full of excitement and wonder! Yar!" The captain took a sip from his flask as it was tossed back. "Name be Vidlans, laddy! What be yar's?" Vidlans leaned in as the figure spoke. "Chern? Dat be a good name. Now Chern, I'll be making sure to get ye out of der sunken sea that ye be in! For me name be Vidlans! And Vidlans be meaning Sharing happiness in da Atlan tongue!"

Thread: Pan-aeons: a God Game

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Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

Re: Pan-aeons: a God Game

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