Pan-aeons: a God Game

[Batcathat]

Ymon-Thal, the Eye of the Worlds

Although Su'ule's birth scream did not quite reach the shores of the Eye, the metaphysical sensation of a new demigod trying to claw its way into existance was loud enough.

Ymon perked up. "Ooh, a giraffe egg!"

"We are literally the same person, how can your hearing and common sense possibly be this much worse than mine?" Thal's glare met Ymon's confused look. "It is a dragon egg, it is to be named Schirach."

"Oh..." Ymon looked uncharacteristically somber for a moment. "That's cool too, I guess..."

Spoiler: Help Su'ule

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Ymon-Thal assist Su'ule bringing Schirach into the world, giving her the power to when she wishes inspire great panic in any mortal but those with near-supernatural bravery or willpower, causing them to flee for their lives (+ 2 Death) until they're far away.

[Maryring]

At the workshop of spiritual music

Nerassus appears in a flash of light, looking a little green about the gills, holding his gut as he tries to not throw up. Petr looks up from the work table, and steps up to offer a supportive shoulder. "What's wrong dearheart?"

"Well, you know how I said I was gonna visit the choblins to study how they use the instrument?"

"Yes?"

"I got invited to dinner."

Petr gives a soft, mirthful titter as she conjures up a cup of fresh water and a bed for him to relax on. The demigod smiles weakly as he gives Petr his notes, then lies down to relax, using one hand to itch over ChiChi. "Hope the work is useful. I've got some interesting... designs... channels."

"These are wonderful dearheart. I've had some of your mortal friends in here while you were gone. With their help, and this information, I think we'll be able to create a very useful tool."

"Yeah?" Nerassus groans loudly, making ChiChi yip with concern. "I'll be fine boy. Anyway... a tool for what mother? And why musical instruments?"

"Because I wish to reward mortals who devote their lives to music and the arts. We have a great many rewards for the clever and the strong. Less so for those who touch upon mortal emotion. These instruments... I have plans for their use, but either way, they shall make beautiful art. Of that I'm sure."

Spoiler: Action!

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8 AP/6 DC: Create the workshop of Spiritual Music, and make it useable by mortals!

After a lot of hard work by Petr, and meticulous research by Nerassus, the workshop of Spiritual Music is finally made manifest. The workshop is made almost entirely out of nevermelting ice, and is built submerged into the moonpool itself. The structure extends from the beach, down a long staircase, and ends near the resting spot of the Mother Moon Pearl. The workshop can house up to fifty people, providing beds, kitchens and general living space, and despite being made of ice the air inside is temperate enough so as to not be uncomfortable (though cold blooded creatures should not linger there for long). The workshop also contains several devices for working with wood, metal, stone and other materials, specifically aimed at creating instruments. But the core of the workshop is the spiritual attuner. A device whose workings are all but impossible to grasp for a mortal mind, but which is still quite easy to use. The device fuses moon pearls into instruments, and attunes them so that when the instrument creates music, it channels the users spiritual power for a variety of effects.

These effects do NOT count as Su'Sorcery.

+2 Moon: The core of the act is the channel of spiritual energy. These instruments require moon pearls to function. In turn, even the simplest strumming of a string manifests spiritual energy. Without practice or effort, this energy becomes naught but a simple, nondirected blast of energy that immediately diffuses. With practice, this spiritual energy can be directed for simple offense.
+2 Justice: As skill with the instrument increases, the practitioner gets a bette understanding of how to direct this spiritual energy. Nerassus has created instructions that allow mortals to learn a specific set of songs, but a soul closely attuned to a divine can, with sponsorship from said divine (in the form of an influence person action) create a new song. Nerassus has also created instructions on how to harmonize between practitioners. If multiple bards play the same song, the effects compound to greater heights.
+1 Rainbow: Spiritual force touches on a players will. As a practitioner gets better at channeling their spiritual energy, the power starts to manifest as shimmering lights, colours and symbols that can be considered the unique sigil of the bard.

Furthermore, the Hope has used their power to grant the music another generic power.

+2 Sacrifice: The harmony of sacrifice allows the player to strengthen the music by sacrificing of their own energy.

Spoiler: Songs devised by Petr:

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+2 Water: A beautiful, somber tune, whose tempo calls the lapping of waves upon the shore to mind. This song allows the player control of local weather. From conjuring a rain cloud, to calming a storm, to even directing currents of air and water both.
+2 Healing: A spirited, cheerful tune, whose light playful trill speaks of joy and fun. This song soothes exhaustion, increases energy and recovers stamina.

Spoiler: Songs devised by the cult of the Twilight Archipelago

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+2 Drama: The song of energy, which compels listeners to dance.
+2 War: The rythm of combat, which strengthens the body and steels the mind for battle.
+1 Asylum: The song of shelter, which compels listeners to peaceful thoughts.

Spoiler: Songs devised by the Choblins

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+4 Decay: The song of speed, which decays or strengthens a listeners speed, linking it to the tempo of the music.
+1 Fermentation: The perfect song for a fun night at the bar, which may intoxicate the listener and decays their inhibitions.
+1 Sanitation: The song of purity, also known as the counter song, which may purge supernatural effects.

[Demonjazz]

The Ravenhold Memorial Palace, Earlier that night.

Graw and Cheek walked beside each other, both of them staring at the massive door in front of them. Many foxes cowering in fear as they watched from their Burrows. “Why the hell did we even come to the devil Fox’s offspring?”

Déjà vu appeared above Cheek, “Yeah why the hell are we showing respect to her?”

Graw turns towards his mortal friend and son. “I will not lie… I still hold some… Anger towards… Alatadriel action...but the pain of the past… Should not cloud… Our future… Or be directed towards… Her blood….” he then looked at Déjà Vu. “besides son… Do not forget about… Your sins…”

Déjà vu lowered his head. “I’ll make sure not to start a scene.”

Graw then turned towards the door and opened it. “Rosalin...it is good to… Finally meet you…”

Rosalin was hanging from a railing doing a set of pull ups "51, Hey Grawissen. 52, You're a piece of ****. 53, And you've helped less people in your life than most undergrad philosophers. 54."

Cheek looked at her with contempt, “Well at least he didn’t curse a bunch of people out of spite…”

Graw then gently bumped Cheek, “We are not here… to further our wounds… he then turned back towards Rosalin, “we have come… Too party… After stressful few years… And to mend tensions…

"59, it wasn't out of spite. 60, And I don't care. You're dodging the questions. 61, I asked specifically for you to come so that I could debate you. 62, What are the answers to the questions I asked? 63."

Cheek held back his anger as he sat as he turned to one of the tables to sit down. “I have made my mistakes... but I am attempting...to fix that… Speaking of which… Would you be willing to help with that?

"66. It's nice to talk about redemption. 67, it's harder to actually do it. 68, You're still dodging the question. 69... Heh, Nice. 70, Would you like me to repeat it for you?."

Graw then realizes what he was talking about. “I have heard stories about… Brutus… I have seen the madness of...Nero… And when I’m gone… Another wicked one will come… Graw continued to ponder this. “...you are right… the age of Kings will end… Will you help me with that?

"74. I will send aid to your people once they transition and any rebellions, 75, are quelled so that we can ensure the aid gets to your citizenry. 76, Even if you acknowledge your mistakes, 77, this doesn't answer my question. 78. Why did you allow it in the first place?"

“I may be the God of… Knowledge… But that does not mean… I am flawless… I have made oversights... and mistakes...we gods despite… Our mighty power… Are still as flawed… As any mortal… he then turned to Cheek “...and some mortals… Can show greatness… Above even the gods…

"83, Of the five khandoms in The Empire when I was a child, 84, Only three of them had monarchs. 85, Debatedly only two, It is debatable whether or not, 86, The Atlan nobility counts as having a true monarch. 88. But Orc literature, in particular, had already extensively 89, covered arguments for and against the monarchy, 90, At least dating back to 700 hundred years ago from now. 91 Are you saying that you didn't know this?"

“Impressive…” Graw pondered in curiosity. “...I am behind on my orc literature… It is hard to even get through...Prehist text… I need to do more reading… After repairing Prehist culture...it especially does not...Help I was put into… Into a coma for hundreds of years… Twice already…”

Rosalin legitimately stopped as she looked to Graw. She dropped down from the railing. A couple onlookers looking a bit disapppointed. "You are a god, Grawissen. You can read all literature in the world all at once at any time you would like. You're about as pathetic as they come. Knowledge is power, Grawissen. Knowledge of the citizenry is that power realized. It should be your job to ensure that the right knowledge falls into the right hands. Yet you have failed to advance thinking. Do you see that man sitting on that flagpole outside? He has thought more on his ideas than you have. He has dedicated his life to truly knowing even one thing. And here you are with the knowledge of all metaphysical truths at your disposal. Doing nothing with them. Even the first unviersity was not your own creation, you supposed god of knowledge! The reason you died is because you gifted nothing to humanity!"

Graw lowered his head in shame. “Hey Bitch!” cheek yelled out “How many times does he have to say he messed up?” Cheek interrupted as he got out of his seat. “He’s messed up but at least he’s willing to make up for his mistakes, unlike your mother or You”

“Cheek what did... I tell you…

Cheek turn to Graw” let me finish and you can yell at me later” Cheek then turned back towards Roselin. “A long time ago you bitch of a mother, feeling slightly angry at bone man over here, decided to curse my people for doing nothing. Every day we Terror have to fight off this bloodlust, every day we suffer because your pathetic mother decided to be petty. What about the crows people you slaughter? Where is the justice for them when the Bitch queen told your people to massacre them? What about the recent incident with Gnaw were you took away their fire magic and they froze to death because she felt like it was right to judge people from halfway across the world? What about the fire mages who were persecuted and killed because they dared use magic and how people like Julian’s Goon was able to use the situation to get rid of anyone they didn’t like? What about when your people drove the Prehist from their home? What about the bloodshed they use to expand the Empire and you gladly participate in despite seeing yourself as an improvement but you really represent the greatest sin of them all. You believe yourself above all others. Being allowed to choose what’s right or wrong. Believing all you do is just. You and your empire are nothing more than violent pretentious sociopaths with weapons. Graw is trying to atone for his mistakes, what he’s going to attempt to make up for it but you and psychotic mother will stay the same, stuck in your own arrogance for eternity.”

“ENOUGH!” Graw yelled in fury “I TOLD YOU NOT TO BRING UP BAD BLOOD !”

"Cheek... Just cause I'm violent don't mean I'm dumb. I know the sins of my empire. I am still an Imperial Soldier and citizen! I wish to make the Empire better than it was! You do not give up on your country simply because they have sinned! You do all you can to stop them from doing so again! Do you know what I did when I first went to war? I helped chartered the Thorgan Accords. Accords that are still held in law today for wars held by the Empire even against rebellions. I do not condone their war. I do not condone their actions. There is little I can do without open rebellion. It is one of the first lessons that I learned. You play the hand that is given to you. And if that hand is bad than you must do all in your power to bring that hand up until you can win. Play a hand early and you are destined to lose. Do you know what is the first step to gaining power for such a strike is? It is to gain support. To gain support, you must inform the public on why your cause is just. To give them true knowledge. I have tried all my life to convince person after person of my causes. I have had assassins sent after me by an Imperator for words against his actions. I have been declared an enemy of the state and forced to flee to sanctuary. I will not be lectured by someone who has not done their research."
Rosalin let out a loud sigh. Her ring being a smoldering red and orange. "Either way. This does not make up for Grawissen's actions. Or inaction in this case. Calling others hypocrites does not make you right."

Cheek stair daggers at her “You still do nothing for those persecuted by the Empire like the fire mages and Graw is trying to help his people right now, he came partially to ask for your help...”

Graw slammed his foot onto the ground “SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ALA OR THE EMPIRES SINS”

Cheek simply stared at Roselin, he then turned and went back to his seat.

“I am sorry about that… He lost.. A good friend of his...a few years ago...and his people do not have a good… Relationship with your mother…
__

"Hey there bossman. Who was that giant lady just now?"

"Hrm? Oh, that was Lady Alatadriel. It seems we've been invited to a party."

"Oooh. I love a good party. Mind 'f I tag along?"

"If you want. It'll probably be a bit awkward though."

"Why's that?"

"Well, it's a party for Rosalin. An old student of mine. A very... feisty soul."

"Feisty how?"

"During her graduation ceremony, she punched me in the face and demanded I fight her."

"Hah. Yeah I def wanna tag along and meet her."

"Mika..."

"What? You have a very punchable face."

---

A bubble appears in midair before rapidly expanding. When it pops, Nerassus appears along with two others. Mika has dressed herself up in a simple white cotton shirt and pants, allowing her long hair to flow freely down over her shoulders. Beside her is a young man. Olive tan skin. Brown hair. Green eyes. A simple robe. No shoes. A white lily stuck on his head. The form of Peter, to better fit among mortalkind.

"This is the place huh?" Mika tilts her head back, gazing up at the structure. "Fancy... one of Graw's structures?"

"Indeed." Peter opens the door, guiding the other two to where Rosie is. "Hello. Sorry we're late. Where do you want the icewater?"

Rosalin's ring still smouldered as she looked at Grawissen. "My fight is with you old man. I take no offense to the child's words." She than turned to Peter, and Nera. "It's good to see you, mistress of the oceans! I'm sure that you knew my mother had great respect for you. Though she hardly ever talked about you until her late age. The ice baths will go into the bath house, Davy will be able to show you."

The Giant Automaton in a top hat made his way through the massive halls of the palace picking up one of the ice tubs. Someone had graffitied "Make Love, Not War" next to a lewd drawing on his leg. "Salutations. I appreciate you bringing something to minimize the damage on this fine piece of art and also the people within it."

Peter walks off with Davy, while Nerassus brings his gifts onto a table. An instrument of some kind, a new pair of dumbells, a barrel of sangria, and an assortment of fruit and seafood dishes, leaving Mika to walk up to Rosalin, glancing up over the demigod. "Yup. I totally believe you'd punch Nera. Nice to meetcha. I'm Mika. Hope you don't mind. Nera has told me about you, and I had to take the opportunity to meet you in person."

“Prof. Nera!” Cheek yelled in excitement, running towards him. “After so many years it’s good to see you again.”

Meanwhile Graw took the breathing room he had to place his gifts on the table. A massive gemstone he had and a big bowl of glowloam. He then turned back to Nero and his friends. “It has been... so long hasn’t it... young one.”

Instantly Rosalin's eyes went to the dumbbells. She picked up the gift hefting it in her hand. "'Ey! Ya know me a bit more than I expected. These will be some good warm-up weights." She than turned to Mika. "Yo, how's it going? Yeah, I punched him. Can't really remember why anymore. Not my brightest moment in life, but what I regret most of all is losing to be honest."

Nerassus looks up from his gifts, frowning in thought for a moment before. "Cheek? Is that you. I almost didn't recognize you. What have you been up to these past years? And... Grawissen? It has indeed been a while."

"Hah. Love it. You should fight him again."

"Mika!"

"What?! I wanna see you fight. It's been ages." Mika smirks widely before turning back to Rosalin. "It's a fancy place you got. How do you keep tabs of what room is where?"

"Oh, I don't live in the palace. It's servants mostly, and anyone who needs a place to stay. I keep the rooms cheap, but there's only so much you can do with all the staff that I've to pay. The Headmaster is really in charge of the place than I am. So you'd have to ask him." Rosalin quickly looked Nerasuss up and down "Nah... Wouldn't be much of a fight. Maybe I'll talk to you in a couple of centuries though."

Cheek grabbed some of the fungus and started eating it. “You wouldn't believe the amount of people I had to fight these last couple of years...” Cheek lowered his head. “And Julian is gone, the dead of the University have been avenged.”

Nerassus huffs, his face getting a bit flustered. "I've got nothing to prove. Besides, don't matter who'd win, because the loser would be whomever has to clean up the mess." He turns to Cheek with a nod. "Julian... he was the one behind the bombing? That's good. Here's to hoping we won't be seeing more of him."

"Yeah? Well that's good. I grew up in the Castle of Masters on Sanctuary. Fancy place, but t was just too big. I remember that as a kid I wished I was a Su'Speaker, just so I could fly around the tower, instead of having to go through all the many, many, MANY staircases."

Graw went up to Nera. “You have grown up... so fast.... I am sorry that... I didn't greet you at... the University a few years ago... I was not in my... right mind..."

"Oh? Well it's nice to meet you now at least. I think you'll be happy to know that the University is doing well. We're actually thinking about expansion... but... well, we'll see. Me and momma still have some more prepwork that needs to be done."

Graw smiled. “I would be more than.... willing to help with that...speaking of... Improvement I'm attempting... To fix the damage... Nero caused to... The Prehist... Would you and Petr be willing... To help...

"I'll... talk with momma." Nerassus rubs his neck with a frown. "I'm sure I can convince her. But she's pretty mad about Leviathan. And while you weren't the one who made Leviathan, it was still your divine influence that revived and empowered him... If you talk to her, she'll probably expect a plan for dealing with him."
Godzillarich (Grawissen)05/13/2020
“I am sorry... about Leviathan...Julian has done… So much damage… With my power…but for now Leviathan has been stopped...but I do not know… If he returns… One day...we must be... ready for it."

Nerassus nods. "Me and momma have created a ritual that turns the very ocean against Leviathan. You should think about inviting some of our priests to come to your lands, so they may offer their protection."

"Eh, Whatcha talking 'bout? Loser ain't whose gotta clean up. Winner cleans up because they're less hurt than ya. That's bar fighting 101, it's just good manners." She laughed slamming one of her fists against her palm as she turned to Mika. "Eh, Can't relate. I used to climb up the tallest tower in the Imperial Palace for fun when I was a kid. If I was fast enough, I could get an orange from one of the guards at the top."

"Sounds like fun. Climbing wasn't much appreciated back home. 'If you have the energy to fool around, you have the energy to irrigate the cotton fields.'"

"I was raised noble. Not some cushy noble though, raised with the rest of the kids being groomed for being a general. You know, we used to get called the 'Spares and bastards' class. Heh, guess I was a bastard myself. But either way, we were expected to focus on our training and learning over everything else."

"Yeah. I was one of the orphans left behind from the attack on Sanctuary. So I was raised in the castle of Masters, pretty much until I became an adult, since no one ever properly adopted me. My life was a whole lot of magical training, chores, and using my magical training to do my chores. Wasn't bad. I mean, I had food and bed, and the Masters back then weren't half bad. But they were very exacting in how I spent my time."

"Didn't have friends, but I had a good time as a kid. Mother always looked out for me."

"Man. Sucks. The not having friends part. Wouldn't know 'bout the other thing." Mika shrugs her shoulders idly. "Anyway, I shouldn't keep ya from yer other guests. If you ever visit Sanctuary, hit me up. I'll show you the best waves to surf."

Thal-Verys and Ymon-Desha entered the palace side by side, both carefully eyeing their surroundings and the assembled people. Neither was very comfortable in a party setting, Thal-Verys getting nervous and started speaking like a bad play, Ymon-Desha getting stabby.

"Greetings", Thal-Verys said to the room in general. "I am Thal-Verys, Shepherd of the ouch!" Ymon-Dehsa interrupted her with an elbow to the ribs.

"Her speeches are like war. Better stopped quickly and brutally", Ymon-Desha said to Rosalin. "I'm Ymon-Desha. Ymon-Thal couldn't come but asked us to thank you for the invite and bring you this." She pulled a squirrel out of a sack and sat it down on a table where it chirped and disappeared among the food. "I don't think he really understands what mortals eat."

Graw came over to greet the sisters “Oh hello you two...I’ve haven’t had ...the chance to thank you...for saving us from Nero….”

Cheek walked up to the two. “Yeah, you made that ******* choke on his own pride.”

Déjà Vu then emerged from Cheek. “Hey, how’s it going T.V!” déjà vu greeted his old friend Thal-Verys with a pat on the back.

"Haha!" Rosalin reached out and caught Desha's hand with a hearty slap. Locking her arm in place as she gripped Desha's hand. "Looking Good Ymon-Desha! Course ya look a bit worse than me! You could go with gaining a couple pounds if I'm being honest. Haven't ya heard, Being thicc is in this season! 'Course if you're an Orc than it's always in!"

Thal-Verys almost jumped at the unexpected pat but managed to somewhat compose herself and nodded towards him. "Déjà Vu."

As she looked at Rosalin, Ymon-Desha's eyes narrowed. "I don't care much about looks." One of her bracers shifted into a spear and without taking her eyes off Rosalin she threw it. The spear impaled a desert being carried by a servant, nailing it to the wall. "More about results."

Rosalin let out another loud laugh not paying attention to the spear being thrown. "That so? I know a lot about results myself, May not be as skilled with a weapon as you, but I do know fifteen ways I could kill ya with my thumb right now. Ever boxed, Ymon-Desha? It's a real honorable sport so I doubt you'd know a whole lot about it! Ha! That's a joke, you should laugh!"

Ymon-Desha laughed. "No, I don't know a lot about boxing or honorable sports. Where I come from, if we want to kill someone or hurt someone we just do it." Her other bracer turned into another spear that started to twist like a snake, impaling some sort of roasted bird on a nearby table and dropping it in Ymon-Desha's other hand. "And I do think the spear is mightier than the thumb."

Rosalin leaned back, picked up a beer and downed most of it. Gasping as she wiped beer from her chin. "Ah! You're no fun! How ya ever gonna get better if you're always killing each other! Ya sound just like a Simorian! Ain't ever been a tackleball match in that country where a team ain't cheated! Unsportsmanlike, I say! All about gettin' power! Killin' your surperiors! Giant Melancholies and Giant mirth those people... I'd figure you probably know about at least one of those!"

"We kill when we want to kill, not always. We just don't... bother with honorable rules." She paused. "Or thumb killings."

“Oh come on T.V, he got to loosen up this is a body” Déjà Vu told Thal-Verys as he brought a beer to her. “Enjoy yourself, have a drink…”

“Anyway I have to ask... you two a favor… Graw said. “The Prehist are in tatters... right now since the rule of...Nero...would you be willing… To help me… Bring them to a golden age...

Rosalin put up her thumb. "Took out a warrior by putting it right through their temple. Never saw it coming." Rosalin let out a laugh that quickly died. "It was horrifying actually. Anyway, honor's important. If ya ain't honorable all you're judging is how good of a cheat someone is. Ya ain't judging their real ability!"

Ymon-Desha smiled. "There is no cheating in war, there is just winning or losing. The only real ability that matters is the ability to kill others and stop them from killing you."

"There's a lot more to fightin' than war. In The Empire we have a saying 'teach a man to dance before you send him to war'. It ain't only about how dancin' makes ya better at fightin', but it's about how you should have respect for life before you're sent off to take one. Sports is lot like dancin'. It teaches ya respect, determination, fightin' spirit. And you wouldn't have that if ya didn't have rules. As the saying goes, 'What seperates us from the animals is rules'."

"Indeed. The wolf doesn't care about honor or fair play as it brings down the deer." Ymon-Desha took a bite from the roasted bird and swallowed before continuing. "But it knows why it does. Why you kill always matter, how you kill rarely does."

"Of course it does. Would you rather be beaten in a fair fight or taken from behind? It is a form of justice to give others a fair combat. Same as a fair trial."

Having quickly stripped the bird to the bones, Ymon-Desha dropped what was left. "Justice?" Her spear lashed out like a whip and twisted itself around a passing servant, pulling him in front of Ymon-Desha. "I could fight a hundred 'honorable' battles against this one, killing him every time. But if he could strangle me in my sleep or lure me into a trap or stab me in the back. A chance for the clever to win, not only the strong. That is better justice, I think."

The spear resumed its original shape and the servant hurried away, followed by Thal-Verys, hoping to apologize for her 'sister's' actions.

"Honor means that you do not pick fights with people who have no chance of winning. It extends beyond the fight itself. I know that honor is used in a warped sense among nobles. More to do with social standing than any compassion, but that does not mean that true honor does not exist. Honor in all things."

"So many rules for fighting. Like a fancy dress on a rotting corpse." She reached for the spear still pinning a large cake to the wall and it flew into her hand and melded back into a bracer. "From behind or to the face, killing is an ugly thing. There is no honor in it, no just way to do it."

"Probably. But it's all degrees. Some ways may be more just than others... Anyway, you wanna beat the **** out of each other for fun?"

Ymon-Desha smiled. "I thought you'd never ask. So what are the rules?"

"Well the only weapon I have on me is the dagger in my boot. So I figure we're gonna have to go at it fisticuffs unless you're willing to spare one!"

"Fisticuffs sounds fun, I haven't done that since I was a child", Ymon-Desha said with a smile as she felt the familiar feeling of her body getting ready for battle. "Should we take it outside? Wouldn't want to ruin your honorable furniture."

The air shook as a team of golden dragons arrived, carrying the gambler in tow, Alright, you all know what to do. The dragons scattered to watch the games going on, and prevent any cheating from sullying the good party.

Rosalin yelled across from a ballroom as she continued to fight Desha. "Thanks, Dulnori! 'Preciate it!"

---

Alatadriel sat meditating as she felt the divine pull of a god upon her brain... Oh, she was invited. That hadn't happened in ages!

Spoiler: Help Timorin

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To help the burgeoning ninja population, Alatadriel sends a small retinue of foxfolk and beefolk from The Empire. Foxfolk for their reputation as stealthy spies, and beefolk for their natural production of venoms. Both as they tend to come from humans that are very adept at nature magic before their transformation. Despite their bizarre inhuman minds, they adapt to the new society well outside of some incidents involving great confusion coming from the pheromones being released to the dire animals. Beefolk, in particular, have adapted well into the society as the primary poison makers of the islands.
+2 Foxes, +1 Bees

As Rosalin woke up from a hangover that made her wish she could die, Siegfried carefully got her up, giving her a waterskin as he swept the area carefully. He handed Rosalin a piece of paper as she groaned. "You said for me to give this to you after the party was done."

"Uuuuugh. Is there breakfast?"

"Lunch actually. It's in the main hall, mostly leftovers from yesterday."

She looked at the note that was handed to her, it simply read "Democracy to Prehist." in her drunken scrawl. "Unnnh. ****, that's gonna be a lot of work. Sieg! Politics over lunch."

Spoiler: Help to Graw

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATb7CXX-Kc0
+2 Willfulness, A song appears throughout the Prehist's head inspiring them to take back the reigns of their government. The song echoes throughout the heads of the Prehist with bits of political theory in there. Praxis, Direct Action, Democratization, Mutual Aid, Cooperation, Peter Kropotkin (The famous Orcish author). The Prehist shall reject the state's influence, instead choosing to gather to lead their communities into a new egalitarian era where each citizen shall have a voice in their government. To facilitate this the government shall be set up in such a way to ensure that each man, woman, and child shall have the amenities needed for their survival regardless of circumstance, as best as they can provide for their people, as one can not speak if they are dead. A feudal or monarchical land system shall be entirely disposed of instead the land shall have no owners beyond what the community and their representatives agree upon, private ownership being very rare as most land will be communal, as land ownership has historically been used to bar many a man from having a rightful say. Most non-essential and non-specialized jobs shall have no bosses instead the staff as the whole being brought together to democratically decide on the actions of their companies and goods.

[AlexanderML]

The First Maw - Draconic Majesty:

Yir felt the divine essence used to create a new divinity bellow itself for a time, and had decided to wait for a time. As the egg laid upon the ground inside the Maw it began to glow as Yir pronounced. "Oh you poor child, struck by wicked powers before birth. Know that MY majesty shall run through your veins, making all beneath you; that MY light may rest within your frame, and that none may harm or lessen you without harming themselves. But most of all, you may always find me."

Spoiler: Help Su'ule

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+2 Majesty: The world is beneath the mighty Schirach, nothing may make her cower. The only exception being fire, which this blessing only lessen's the effects of the curse, making it only crippling if there is fire near her that is quite large (around 10% her body size); fire is still something that is very uneasy for Schirach to be around.

-2 Arrogance: Yir accidentally instills a huge ego into Schirach, like a typical D&D dragon.

+2 Sun: Yir gifts their light inside the body of the dragon, letting it breath out the light in a sunbeam similar to what Yir employs (though weaker). This sunbeam specifically gets around the building protection curse Davy put in place. However this devastating weapon is only usable once Schirach is an adult and can be used only once or twice per day, needing sunlight to regain use of the attack.

+1 Symbiosis: Those that hurt or lessen the power of mighty Schirach feel the effects placed upon themselves as well. Sword wounds stab soldiers after harming Schirach's leg, and curses cripple the casters that place them upon the dragon. It's not actually 1-1 in terms of retribution, the retribution is usually only half as effective as the effect used on her.

+2 Stonethroe: Schirach may always teleport to the tops of the Stonethroe mountains to visit Yir (or not), being able to teleport back to wherever she came from after an hour.

[AlexanderML]

Yir, Valrion, Davanda - The Shrine of Holy High:

It was another normal morning for Davanda, though breakfast was still a little tense as her mother’s worry over Davanda was still there after hearing about how she went to the party Rosalin had. She was heading to the shrine to talk with Yir, she really hoped they would not ask her about the party…

Going up the smooth steps, before entering the blessed latitude that Yir could sense her, Davanda heard her mother’s voice speaking up. It was an angry, frustrated voice.

“No”

---

(A bit before)

Valrion was called immediately after their morning meal with Davanda up to the shrine upon Holy High, told to donne their god-plate once more. They steeled themselves at the prospect of having to go out and humiliate themselves in front of the divinities of the world again as they emerged from a pillar of light at the shrine.They immediately felt the presence of Yir, contemplating and brooding, paranoia consuming them more than usual.

The stinging presence of Yir’s command tightening was there again, getting slightly worse with every word that crazed word Yir spoke. “Vessel, dark forces have come to me once more with nothing but trickery and deceit. The godlings in the throes of jealousy curse the land and condemn many that look up to ME for protection to death. I WILL NO LONGER STAND THIS! THEY DARE, DARE CONTINUE TO THINK THEY ARE NOT BENEATH ME! I AM THE LORD OF ALL!” Valrion gulped at that, though Yir ignored that “The time has come to put under heel the lessers of this world under my perfect vision! All beneath will submit and aid in the creation of my perfect world!”

Valrion’s eyes bulged at this sudden news, what? “Wha- what do you intend to do?”

Yir’s light shone upon the shrine, or seemed to for Valrion, as Yir’s emotions flared. “You will crush those that dare defy me, that plot evil, and harm the good under my light! The wicked Worm will suffer, their people liberated from it’s grasp; the wicked fox will burn under my divine light to cinders as it has done to those that are MINE! Both will know the end of their ambitions, as destruction reigns and liberation given to those under their control. Command my children to ready themselves, for they will need to be ready to strike at the collaborators of these tyrants.”

Valrion placed a hand to their mouth “You want me to go to war with them? To have the people of the world kill one another?”

Yir immediately said “To a degree yes, those that resist the glory you shall bring are beyond redemption, but I expect most to not be so foolish once they see the majesty of my children. Only destroy those that would reject me.”

Valrion hung their head low, took in a breath as they focused to speak past the haze and pain that had descended upon their mind. They were shaking in rage, disbelief at the behavior in front of them, and shame “No.” They said full of frustration in their voice, almost gritting their teeth.

Yir, taken aback said “...what?”

“I will not, I refuse! I will not let you touch those that live upon this world! I reject your design! I reject you, you hypocrite!” Valrion said, the pain becoming explosive as they looked up into the sky, the haze making their focus so unclear they could only register the light.

“FOOL!” Yir yelled down “You cannot reject me! I command it!” And a weight was felt across the whole of Valrion, their lips almost passing the words asking for forgiveness as the light inside them pulled at even their mind like a puppet; but they held on even as they kneeled from the effort.

“I… will not… serve you.” Valrion said, each word feeling like it had to be pulled out.

Yir, panic risen to even greater levels screamed “YOU TAINTED VESSEL! I WILL PURGE YOU FROM THIS WORLD! BY MY COMMAND, DIE!” A sunbeam encasing Valrion, it’s heat melting the stone below, as Yir continuously commanded Valrion to die.

Valrion was not physically harmed by the attacks, but the heat of the sunbeam hurt and the commands were hard to ignore. For long seconds Valrion kneeled yet defied Yir and their power; then they both noticed the sounds of running shoes upon the marble floor. Both divinities stopped as they gazed upon the crying form of Davanda running towards Valroin.

Time seemed to slow for Valrion, their mind going blank at the sight of Davanda; then they felt a great force come from beneath them as a pillar of earth exploded out of the ground hitting Valrion right in the stomach with force so great it made an explosion powerful enough to make Davanda fall on her back and send Valrion flying into the air.

Valrion glowed as they were knocked up into the air, Yir’s focus never leaving them. When they reached the height of their assent they heard “I will do what I must!” from Yir as they sent another sunbeam down that threw Valrion into an adjoining mountain top.

Again and again, Yir commanded Valrion to die, to submit to oblivion. Each time they refused they were blasted again and again with light from above, or sent flying from pillars of earth Yir commanded to strike Valroin. Valrion did not expect this to happen so soon, they were unprepared, and could not fight back for they had no weapon to use against Yir.

As they fell through the latest of a long series of empty shrines Valrion could almost not see anymore, their focus mostly being used to just ignore the death commands. However it seemed like Yir was contemplating how to continue attacking Valrion, stalling them. Coughing from the mental strain they’ve endured, Valroin rose from the ground whispering “Dulnori… please… I am sorry, I did not know. I-I might be gone soon. If I am to kill Yir it must be now.”

[flyinglemur]

The time for the new dawn was fast approaching, and Dulnori prepared to finish his remaining tasks.

For Thalia:
Good job young Hope. I’m honestly disappointed that I didn’t think of this first. Your shamans shall do great things, and these islands will absolutely rich.

Spoiler: Help:

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+2 Ambition: Dulnori strengthens the dire animals. The transformation will go smoothly, as the animals shall gain the instincts to master their new forms and gain control of their increased power.
+2 Fortune: The beast warriors will have luck in their stealth, sometimes when they make a misstep or too much noise, fate will conspire to aid them and an accident will cover up their tracks.
+1 Sailing: Dulnori smooths over the sea lanes to make travel too and from the islands faster.

For Rosalin:
“You’re an impressive warrior, and I can appreciate your goal of a better world. I hope you shall see glory one day.” A small worm mark forms itself on an open spot in her body.

Spoiler: Help:

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+2 Ambition: Dulnori fortifies Rosalin’s will. With strength of mind and the drive to succeed Rosalin will be able to shrug off great blows and defend her people.
+2 Fortune: Dulnori gives Rosalin his traditional luck blessing. She will be protected from large accidents and equipment failure, most importantly in her armor and weapons.

For Schirach:
“Powerful and with an awesome presence, something else I wish I had thought of earlier. Grow tall young dragon, and protect the north.”

Spoiler: Help:

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+2 Ambition: Schirach will be passionate and energetic, with a hope to change the world for the better.
+2 Fortune: Schirach shall have great success in defensive warfare. So long as she’s protecting her homeland, Schirach’s forces will benefit from chance events and their resources will take longer to dry up.

For Davanda:
Unknown to her, when she traveled the Harken Steppe the blessings on the land were able to enter her body, and some of the things she learned there became engraved on her soul.

Spoiler: Help:

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+1 Dreams: Davanda heard tales of the importance of dreams, and how they could inspire people to change things in the waking world. Davanda will have great control over her dreams, giving her a little mental space to retreat to when she needs it.
+2 Fortune: Davanda learned how the kings of old would divine their futures from die rolls and game results. Davanda shall be skilled at this type of fortune telling, able to perceive good and bad omens from it.

[flyinglemur]

The New Dawn:
Dulnori felt that the time had finally arrived, so he quickly went into his underground sanctum. He took Valrion’s axe, and cast it into a molten pit of lava. The molten gold began to circulate through the very depths of the earth, flowing a thousand times through seas of magma, until Dulnori called it up. The gold flash froze in his hands, and became the axe again. It had taken on energy from the core itself, and being driven by Dulnori’s power, absorbed that as well. It gleamed brighter than anything Dulnori had ever seen, and so he knew it was ready. And at that moment, he heard the call of the rising star.

“If I am to kill Yir it must be now.”

The axe dug through earth to reach Valrion’s side, and at that moment, all the gods could see what was happening.

In a single address to them all Dulnori said, “Yir’s reign has come to an end, Valrion will slay him, with your aid. Give him the chance to make a brighter world. Glory to the new dawn.”

Spoiler: Action

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40 AP/30 DC: destroy Yir
+2 Ambition: Killing a god is the single largest and greatest action possible. There is no higher ambition than this. Valrion is empowered with the strength needed to achieve this lofty goal.
+2 Fortune: The axe holds all of Dulnori’s power of fortune. Wielding it Valrion shall have fate itself on his side, protected from obstacles, accident, bad luck, anything that might choose to oppose his destiny. All possibilities converge to his victory.
+1 Sailing: The world will know of this battle. Messengers are dispatched from all Horizon ports to carry the news to anyone who will listen, their ships sailing with great winds behind them.
+1 Dream: To extend even further this message, people asleep at the moment of the battle will see it transpire in their dreams. History is being made and must be witnessed.

[gac3]

Timorin felt it. No. Vreyalas. Enheduanna. Opulon. Solomo. Nestlebalm. All of them. Now Yir? No. It can't. It won't. He appeared before the wearer's of the Timorin masks. He handed them the remaining divivices and had them all moved to Diviworld. Build a vessel for Yir's soul. It was all he said before vanishing.

Next he appeared in front of Nerassus. "No time to explain. I know you felt it. Valrion plans to kill your father. Yir is vile but let us not destroy him. That's revenge, not justice. Let us strip his power and make him mortal. That is justice. Please, take the knife. Use blood to help Thalia build a body for him. I shall stall Valrion. When it's done open a bridge." Then once again he was gone.

When he appeared again, it was to appear before Valrion. "VALRION. YOU DARE LOOK DOWN ON ME FOR THE SACRIFICES I HAVE COMMITTED, AND THEN YOU DO THIS?! YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN I, TO COMPLETELY DESTROY SOMEONE AND TURN YOURSELF INTO A GOD? YOU COULD HAVE STRIPPED HIM UP HIS POWER AND HAD DONE WITH HIM. BUT INSTEAD YOU CHOOSE TO GO THE ROUTE OF MURDER! TRUE MURDER! FOR IF YOU HAVE YOUR WAY, HE WILL BE WIPED ON EXISTENCE! AT LEAST I'VE NEVER DESTROYED ANYONE. But, you think you have what it takes to be a god? You think you stand on our level? Then prove it." With that Timorin was suddenly cloaked in shadows that formed into pitch black armor. Weapons in hand, he charged the demigod.

Spoiler: This is Timorin's reaction

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whether a help or hinder is up for debate.
Timorin
+2 War:
+2 Drama
+1 Asylum: Timorin is trying to allow Yir a place to hide to save his life
-2 Fear

Thalia
+2 Sacrifice: To use the new body she is making Yir must sacrifice his divinity.
-2 Frail
+2 Cult of the mad god: The leadership shall use the Divivices to give Yir a path to the new body
+2 Architecture: Construct a mortal vessel for Yir to put his soul


The plan is for Timroin to stall Valrion by toying with him. He doesn't want the battle to end, just draw it out. Meanwhile Thalia and the other of the highest cult leaders Build something in Diviworld to store Yir's being in. Once it is done they will use the Divivices in unison to build a bridge straight to Yir which Timorin will force him through. The goals to save his life, not his divinity.

[Godzillarich]

somewhere in Tria

Graw looked up to the sky at Yir, it noticed it was happening. " I am sorry... Old friend... But for the sake of... Axia you must... Fall... he then put his hands on the ground.

Spoiler: Help kill Yir

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+2 Knowledge and +1 writing: All will know the battle between Yir and Valrion and it will become legendary, inspiring many tales.
+2 Mining: The axe used against Yir will have the power of the earth imbued into it.
+1 Singing: The sound of the people across the world will sing praises to Valrion, cheering him on to victory.

Spoiler: Help Roselin

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+ +1 writing: She will become a great philosopher, her writing still stretch across the world inspiring many to follow her political ideas

[Garjel_blah]

Chad Atlas, 28 AP, 1st Justice University

Donning some of Darius's clothes - a simple cotton shirt and breeches that were supposed to be loose and billowy, but were now stretched taut - was not enough to stop people staring at Chad as he strode the university campus. Meagre cloth was not enough to conceal his 6'8" bronze bulk, not to mention the stack of heavy duty tools he had balanced on his shoulder. Darius followed at his side, observing the reactions to this unconventional debut of his work with eager eyes.

"May I ask where we're going, Chad?" he asked.

"I'm searching for some open space. There I'll build you a great work, as great as you've built me."

"I see. Usually you need to get a permit from the principal to build anything on campus, but..."

"Permit?" Chad stopped with a clank of rattling tools, his blank eyes piercing the artist. He held out his one free hand. "This is my permit."

"I don't see anything."

"The potentiality held in these two hands permits me to do anything I desire, Darius. The same goes for you, and all mortal-kind."

Chad continued to walk, Darius watching him with some concern. He hurried to catch up.

"And, uh, what will this great work be?"

"I'm still considering that myself. I want to build you something practical, something you can use to enable your own great works. I want what I build to be in defiance to that slime we left on the floor of your gallery. I want it to stand proud, high above the ground where he'll never think to rise. There is a design I have in mind... You'll see, Darius."

They soon arrived at a stretch of bare lawn that overlooked the nearby ocean. Some students were already there, playing with a frisbee. Chad surveyed the area, then held up a hand as if feeling the air.

"Yes... This is the spot."

With a crash he deposited his tools onto the grass, causing the frisbee players to jump with shock. They looked on with interest as Chad took a shovel from the pile, and began to dig the manicured earth. One of them called out to him.

"Excuse me, mister. You need, like, a permit to landscape here."

Chad drove his shovel once more into the ground, then looked down at the student.

"Yes."

He scooped the earth, tossed it aside, then rammed his shovel in once more. He had no time for debate. There were great works to accomplish.

Spoiler: Action!

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Influence a large landmark (4 AP/2 DC)

+2 Determination, to repay his debt of creation to Darius, and begin the first of his many great works

Chad will build a windmill in the middle of the 1st Justice University, in a windy section of lawn near the coast. The internal mechanism of this windmill will not be a traditional milling set-up, however. Instead the wind will power a kind of factory art station, that Darius can use to mass produce miniatures of his god sculptures. These totems will be of high quality, while costing little to produce, and can be distributed to religious households worldwide.

---

Chern, the Hobble & Hops Distillery

Reality rippled with the most powerful divinity yet. Something incredible had happened - a god's life was threatened. It was an event of metahistorical magnitude.

If it had been anything less, Chern would have just kept drinking.

The door to the distillery burst open, and the god of decay stumbled out into the streets. He did a quick tactical vomit into the gutter, then gesticulated up at the 11am sun with his bottle of cheap liquor.

"Tha's righ... You're *hup* finished, you ponce, yoooou des-pot... Take 'at!"

Chern cocked his arm, and hurled the bottle into the sky with so much force that it breached the sound barrier, causing a shockwave that broke several nearby windows. A few passing mortals swore loudly, and a donkey brayed with alarm. Chern made a rude gesture.

"********! G'riddance. Oh no..."

"Oi! The hell you doing geezer?!"

A group of sports scholarship students then proceeded to beat Chern up and steal his cash.

Spoiler: Help!

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Help Dulnori destroy Yir

+1 Fermentation, to throw a single chum bottle at the sun

[Batcathat]

Thal-Verys, Ymon-Desha and Déjà Vu, outside Rosalin's palace

As the two demigoddesses of Ymon-Thal walked out of Rosalin's palace, Thal-Verys as always dragging her sun behind her and Ymon-Desha sporting a few fresh bruises, they noticed Déjà Vu right in front of them.

"This reminds me of something I was thinking about", Thal-Verys said and then raised her voice. "Hey, Déjà Vu!"

Déjà Vu waved at them, their connection to the spirit world allowing them to see him. "HEY T.V!" he said with excitement. "What's up, you want another drink?"

"Not at the moment. But I have some chum if you want a taste?" Thal-Verys reached for the flask tied to her belt and held it up towards Déjà Vu. "Anyway... my lord Ymon-Thal and I..."

Ymon-Desha loudly cleared her throat.

Thal-Verys sighed. "...and Ymon-Desha are turning an island into a playground for the Yithal in the mortal world and I had an idea of how you could help. We could help you and your master in return or we could just call it one of those favors you owe me."

Déjà Vu smiled. "It's no problem at all." Déjà vu padded Thal-Verys on the back "After all friends are supposed to help each other."

Ymon-Desha was halfway through an epic eye-roll when Thal-Verys put her hand on Ymon-Desha's shoulder, casually squeezing one of the new bruises.

"Very good, my friend", Thal-Verys said. "I wish for you to turn our new island into a beacon of sorts for the heroic types. Not to force anyone, just to make going there nearly irresistible to those who label themselves heroes."

Déjà Vu gave a simple bow. "It shall be done. And in return you will help the Prehist as a sign of friendship."

"Agreed", Thal-Verys said. "I will give them my blessing."

They then did super special handshake in agreement.

Spoiler: Déjà Vu's help for Thal-Verys

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+2 Heroism: The island will become a beacon to those with strong heroic will and pure hearts.

Spoiler: Thal-Verys' help for Déjà Vu

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+2 Souls: The artists of Ostrom have a subconscious connection to the souls of others, able to depict their innermost thoughts and emotions in their art.

[Maryring]

In the workshop dining hall

"A toast!" Nerassus grins as he lifts up his simple wooden cup filled to the brim with the golden yellow of mango juice. All around him are the many Sanctuarian mortals who have spent of their time and energy to help Petr construct the workshop. The Masters, all nine of them, Thera and her friends from Practical Aquamancy. Harbourmaster Sev'uerin who'd handled the imports that now fill the workshop storage chamber, and a scattering of individuals, gardeners, craftsmen, miners and lumberjacks. Even Petr is among the mortals, though she's retreated to the kitchen to cook. "To Sanctuary. To this workshop, and to us! There shall be more great works in the future, but today. Eat, drink, and take joy in your efforts!"

The group cheers loudly, raising their cups and draining the contents. The soft sounds of a violin being played creates a soft background music for the chatter and laughter. Olive and honeybread, fried rice, grilled fish with pineapples and bowls of freshly picked oranges are spread out on the table. The guests are offered refills of sangria, tea and water by a green-eyed young man.

As the party continues, Nerassus eventually withdraws into the kitchen, smiling at his mother. Or perhaps mothers, as the room is filled up with her avatars. One whipping cream, another slicing fruit, a third cracking eggs and sugar into a bowl. "Hard at work?"

"Not as hard as if mortals had to do this." One of the avatars turn to smile at Nerassus. "Your friends have put in so much time and effort. This is the least I can do to repay them. Besides, it's fun to pretend to be mortal for a while."

"Yeah... speaking of repaying..."

"Tsk." Petr turns to look right at Nerassus. "You're not very good at seguing into things. We don't owe any of them anything."

"Well... no. I mean... okay, it was a poor formulation. But I still think we should help out."

"Never said we weren't going to." Petr steps up to Nerassus, growing so that she can gently cup his muzzle in her hand, giving him a gentle, loving squeeze about his face. "But don't let yourself be abused dearheart. You don't owe anyone anything. The world owes you for all you do. Now then, what were your thoughts?"

"Well, let's begin with Rosalin."

"Oh I have the perfect thing for her."

Spoiler: Help: Rosalin

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+2 Water/+2 Healing: Petr gives Rosalin... a cure for hangovers! What, this is Rosalin. A +4 is completely warranted for this. ... well okay. Water also works as healing potions for her.

+2 Justice: Rosalin always picks fights, so inevitably someone is probably gonna try to stab her in the back. They'll find, like everyone else who attacks Rosalin outside of a fair fight, that their weapons turn to dust the moment they strike her.

"Su'ule has also borne a child."

"And with much less fanfare than I did. If it weren't for the nature Su'ule tries to instill in their child, I feel the whole thing would've passed me by."

"Right. A demigod whose powers focus on the offensive. On destruction and force. It's not... exactly something I'm fond of. But still."

"Still, we won't condemn her for what she can do. Only what she will do."

"I don't think we need to enable her to be more destructive though."

"Then perhaps we can turn the force towards being less destructive?"

Spoiler: Help: Su'ule

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+2 Moon: The dragon is given the power to purge su'sorcery from an area. This is a skill, and the power to dispel magic gets better with practice.

The sweet smell of sugar bread fills the kitchen as one of Petr's avatars pulls out the spongey golden texture. They begin to slather it in cream, and Nerassus's stomach growls at the sight. "You're a great cook for someone who has never cooked before."

"I try my best. So, you heard that Timorin is extending his influence to a couple small islands."

"You don't seem too happy..."

"I admit. I'm a little disappointed that he feels like he has to rove the world for more land. But at least he seems to have a plan. I see no reason to hinder him."

Spoiler: Help: Timorin

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+2 Water: Petr will teach the new islanders a simple water breathing spell, and gift them with a pod of sea creatures such as orca, sharks, dolphins and giant squid. A unique pod for each island, allowing them the means to create Dire Sea Creatures as well.

+2 Justice: Nerassus will support the Hope. The combat style is hers, so she will direct it's development, but he will shore up where her frailty hinders her.

"Finally, there's Grawissen. He hopes for our assistance with his people."

"Oh yeah. Sure. Always happy to help someone whose careless use of power has rendered the oceans a dangerous place for man and beast alike."

"Mother..."

"Yes yes. We're going to help. But I'm keeping a very close eye on him. His inability to maintain his power is what led to Leviathan. I expect him to eventually clean up his mess."

Spoiler: Help: Grawissen

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+2 Justice: Nerassus will support the new government rising up from the ashes of the old, pulling strings to ensure that power is distributed among the people, and not congregating in the hands of the few.

"I think that's all we have that needs be done."

"Sounds good. Let's."

CRASH!

Several of Petr's avatars stumble. Nerasuss winces as he clutches his head, and his vision swims as Petr dematerializes before his eyes. "Mother?!"

Next he appeared in front of Nerassus. "No time to explain. I know you felt it. Valrion plans to kill your father. Yir is vile but let us not destroy him. That's revenge, not justice. Let us strip his power and make him mortal. That is justice. Please, take the knife. Use blood to help Thalia build a body for him. I shall stall Valrion. When it's done open a bridge." Then once again he was gone.

"I." Nerassus gasps out into empty air alone, blinking and shaking his head.

"Dad!" Nani rushes up to him, standing beside him to help support the staggering demigod. "Dad what's going on? The workers."

"They're manifestations of Mother." He looks about, watching the dull, lifeless eyes of the avatars that are now frozen in place. "Mother must be... of course. Of course. There's a war going on Nani. Between Yir and Valrion! Give it a moment. I'm sure."

"Nera!" One of the avatars open their eyes and turn to the demigod. "Party is over. I need you to organize a defense."

"Are we going to stop the fight?"

"... no. I'm sorry dearheart, but it is not Yir or Valrion who needs us. It's everyone else who will suffer from collateral damage. Get everyone capable ready. Portal them to Holy High. We're going to need everyone to step up and stop this collateral damage!"

"Of course. Of course! You heard her Nani! Help me get everyone ready. Oh but wait. India might be there. She might."

"She will have to wait son. Scry the dagger once this is all done."

The avatar goes still, and Nani rushes out of the kitchen to inform the rest of the crowd. Nerassus begins to formulate a plan in his mind, but first. The knife may not be here, but he has something else. He looks at his one hand. Monstrous and clawed. And extending those claws he digs them into his other wrist, drawing forth blood and essence to be sent to Thalia.

---

Moments prior.

As Valrion goes flying through the air, the force of his body is suddenly staggered as a wall of surprisingly dense mist manifests behind him, halting him mere moments before smashing into yet another shrine. "Valrion! I have no idea what's going on, but..." Petr frowns. "Yir did this? Unacceptable." The mist tingles, and for a brief moment the healing denied the continent is made manifest, restoring Valrion to a fighting state. "Worry not about your people. I... we will protect them."

Spoiler: React to the war against Yir:

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+2 Water: Massive spires of ice shoot up from the ocean and crash into the underside of the floating continent, ensuring that even with the loss of Yir, the continent will not fall. They also turn natural bodies of water into portals to help evacuate those in need, and to bring in help.
+2 Healing: Valrion is restored to health. Once. After which Petr's attention is focused entirely on creating restorative fields that divert away Yir's sun beams from man and beast alike.
+2 Moon: Petr turns the moon into a massive shield, causing several eclipses all over the world to shield mortalkind below from the sunbeams.
+1 Rainbow: A thin mist manifests over the whole world, turning the dangerous sunbeams not blocked by the moon to diffract into harmless rainbows.
+2 Justice/+1 Medical Workers: Nerassus leads a contingent to help support and protect mortalkind. Sorcerers, pathwalkers, or anyone simply brave enough are called upon to erect barriers against sunbeams, to dig out victims caught by earthquakes and collapsed buildings, or anything else needing immediate attention. Nerassus creates portals to ensure that those injured can be taken to University for treatment.

-0 or -2 Flesh (depends on what Thalia's reaction counts as): Nerassus draws of his own essence and sends it to Thalia, providing her with all the raw material she needs for Timorin's plan.

.

...

...

And what about..

Spoiler: The dagger

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Once this is all done with, Nerassus enacts a 1 AP Scry to find and study the blood dagger, and hopefully India. But for now.

+2 Blood: Bleed the god. Slay the god. Drink the essence of the sun. Yir must suffer. Yir must die.

[Batcathat]

Dulnori and Ymon-Thal, the Passing

The golem found himself in the passing once again. It was just as miserable as he remembered, but he had no choice.

Ymon-thal, he called out, I need your help.

Seconds later, Ymon-Thal manifested, Thal in front of the visitor and Ymon behind.

"Hello!"

That cheerfulness seemed like a good sign, “ I need you to help Valrion kill Yir, as much as you possibly can. If not, Yir will be the death of us all.”

Both of Ymon-Thal was quiet for a while. He had sensed what Dulnori attempted to do, of course, but had not planned on getting involved. Yir was a self-righteous annoyance but rarely a threat.

Finally, he spoke as one. “As the mortals say, what is in it for us?”

Dulnori didn’t really know Ymon-Thal too well, and so he said the first thing that came to mind, “ If I succeed, it will prove that even the gods aren’t above the power of death. And the Hope is trying to give him a human body, you can easily stake your claim on his soul.”

"Very well", Thal almost smiled. "A god's death, a god's soul, would be... quite interesting."

"Also, he's kind of a jerk."

"Indeed. You have our help."

“Thank you.” Dulnori paused for a moment, “While I’m here, how is Thal-Verys?” His expression was downcast.

"She is well", Thal said, holding back the impulse to continue with 'despite what you did'.

"Ooh! You're friends with Nestelbam, right?" Ymon said, moving around to face Dulnori. "Thal-Verys was asking about him, she says he hasn't been around in so long."

The sand grew loose, and for a moment it looked as though Dulnori’s form might collapse, but he forced himself back into shape. Dulnori replied almost in monotone, “He is dead, and was buried with the proper rites.”

"Oh", Ymon-Thal said as one.

Death was in some ways a foreign concept to the God of Life and Death. Mortals died, were reborn and died again. Never truly gone, even if he had a vague idea that it might feel that way to them. Though the one thing was certain about Nestelbam's death.

"Thal-Verys is not going to like this."

"Indeed", Thal said. "Though Nestelbam will not be the last god to die. We thank you for the news, Dulnori, and once more pledge our assistance against Yir."

“Thank you, glory to the carved skull.” As the whirlwind left, it gave one last message, “If Thal-Verys ever wants to see the Aeons again, I’m certain I could help smooth things over.”

After Dulnori had left Ymon-Thal summoned Thal-Verys and Ymon-Desha with a thought. There would be time to talk about Nestelbam later, Ymon-Thal thought as he stared into the echo of Yir shining above the Passing. Now was the time for war.

Spoiler: Help for Dulnori

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Ymon-Thal reaches through the image of himself that Yir created in the Passing and to Yir himself, attempting to tear his soul (+ 2 Soul) from his body (+ 2 Body) and into the Passing (+ 2 The Passing) as he dies (+ 2 Death).
Total: + 8

[The JoJo]

Avestra, Cloud Forest

It had finally came, sooner than she had expected. Avestra had no particularly strong feelings about Yir either way, but it had long been clear that he was a liability in the fight for nature. Her oath to Valrion in exchange for the protection of her people while they had journeyed over the mountains also stood firmly in her mind. She was an avian of her word, if nothing else.

Spoiler: Help!

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Assist Dulnori and Valrion slay Yir with:

+2 Birds and +1 Sky - As sworn, Avestra will personally fly Valrion up to the sun to do battle with Yir.

+2 Nature - Avestra will otherwise concentrate her energies on preserving the sun as it is now, so it may continue to sustain life of Oerth regardless of what happens.

[DarthArminius]

Su'ule, One Last Petition
"Yir! Stop this madness! Make amends! Please, your life depends on it! Blessed kindred, all of you! Have mercy!"
Su'ule took a rare moment away from her egg.

[Garjel_blah]

Chad Atlas

As he worked, Chad's awareness of extent of the divine world grew, and he began to sense the needs and deeds of other so-called gods. Some relatively small, others monumentous. Currently there was even a war being waged in the heavens.

The statuesque builder didn't believe he owed these ancient and quarrelsome beings. Neither did he think they owed him. Nonetheless, he'd be a fool not to make himself known now, lest he be assumed a minion of Chern.

The Ravenhold Memorial Palace

It was the morning after her night of drinking and fighting, and Rosalin was awoken by a strange sound coming from outside the memorial palace. The sounds of hammering and sawing.

"Sieg! Sieg! Uuugh. Headmaster Archibald! Uuuuugh." She rolled over her side onto the floor. "If that's you Davy, I'm gonna take away your tools! I swear by Al that I'll do it!"

Outside the window, Rosalin found the only other metallic builder construct on Oerth, hammering away at a circular scaffold in the middle of her palace gardens.

"Good morning," the bronze man said, pausing to make himself heard. "You must be the one who sent that letter. I am Chad Atlas."

"Morning's too damn early. What the hell you making out here ya dumb ass? You know that you need the permission of the Imperator to build onto the palace. Or at least the headmaster."

"I am building a wind station, as a gift. Does a gift freely given need a permit?"

"Yes! Where's Davy? Davy should be able to talk about it. He invented these things. They're called zoning ordinances."

Chad stowed his hammer in a tool belt, and folded his arms.

"Very well. Since this is your gift, given as thanks for your kind invitation, I'll respect your 'zoning ordinances' and seek out this Davy. I would not usually bow to the authority that seeks to tax and regulate my labour, but this time it is my choice."

"We're working on that last part. But taxes and regulations can be very important Chad. We're always gonna need taxes if we have money, and regulations are important so that we don't like give kids coal lung by placing a mine next to our schools. That's what zoning ordinances are all about. To ensure that nobody's rights infringe on other people's rights. The problem is that we need to give the power to the people." Rosalin clutched her head again. "Ugh. I'll make a book about it eventually. Come to Al-Estria, we've made real leaps and bounds in that type of stuff."

"I'll be interested to read it, though have you considered the ability of the free market to navigate these kinds of issues? Coal lung in children is no doubt a tragedy, so wouldn't a mine that seeks to reduce these issues be better patroned, and thus more profitable? In this way the people may be powerful through their own volition, rather than the directives of the state."

"What's a free market? Ain't never heard of such a thing." Rosalin winced as she looked towards the sun. "Oh, I don't care. I'm going back to sleep."

"I'll disassemble this later then, give you some quiet." Chad hopped down from his scaffold, and gave a bronze smirk. "You can debate me some other time Rosalin, if you think you can change my mind."

"I really don't care Chad!" Rosalin said as she went back to the palace.

Spoiler: Help!

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Help Alatadriel immortalise Rosalin

+2 Determination, to help Rosalin keep fit by building her a wind powered gymnasium. Treadmills, swinging punch bags, obstacle courses. I kind of imagine the training course in the Disney Hercules movie.

-2 Individualism, since Chad had to get a permit.

+1 Sanitation, to nail a sign to the front door about wiping down equipment.

Ostrom

Like a figurehead dredged from the deep, Chad strode nonchalantly from the ocean onto the beach just outside of Ostrom. His tight white shirt dripped dark wet against his chest, and his wavy bronze hair gleamed softly in the early dawn's light. It was only a short walk inland before he found an appropriate construction site, and there he set about his work, felling trees and mining stone to construct a great work for the city. Once he was finished, he walked straight back into the ocean, his metal bulk weighing him down to the ocean floor.

Spoiler: Help!

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Help Grawissen influence a city

+2 Determination, to build a windmill for the people of Ostrom. This time it really is just a windmill, to produce the finest quality flour. Ostrom would become renowned for its superior baking.

Sanctuary

After some time wandering about on bottom of the ocean, Chad was finally hauled into Sanctuary by a terrified fisherman.

"This island isn't connected to ocean floor... Strange, but innovative."

"What are you?!"

"Chad. Excuse me."

Spoiler: Help!

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Help Petr create magical items

+2 Determination, to integrate a wind powered factory set-up into her workshop.

---

Chern, 28 AP, the Hobble & Hops

In a dingy corner of the Hobble & Hops Distillery, Chern sat bleary eyed before several empty glass bottles. He clutched a napkin in clumsy finger, on which he seemed to be scrawling something with a charcoal stick.

Just then a normal-looking tongue, a Choblin riding said tongue and the pirate walked into the bar. Chern could sense the god energy coming from the tongue. “Long time no see old friend, I'm sorry if I gave you kind of a scare with my death."

"That you Grawis-issen? It's okay, I get it. Oh is that Vidlans too? I am so, so thrilled."

"ARRRR AND SO AM I CHERN-ME-BOY!"

"No hugs please, I might... Ahem... Throw up."

Chern belched.

“I have seen that Time is not gone well for you, what's the matter?" Graw asked walking next to the drunk God

"Just the usual. Hey, hey, I wrote you a play by the way, for your golden age thing." Chern passed Cheek his napkin. "Well more like a... An opera, yeah. I call it... Don belch Chiovanni!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5eC9Aa9T5c

"Um okay..." cheek mumbled as he put the napkin away, “just remember, if you need someone to talk to I will be happy to help." Graw said happily. “also I'm asking if you will be willing to help my people?"

Chern gave him a confused, bleary look and pointed vaguely at the napkin.

"That is my help," he said, "do you hate it? Is it bad? You don't have to take it if you hate it that much."

They simply stared at each other for a few seconds "No it's fine I was just confused that's all, Ha!"

Spoiler: Help!

Show

Further help Grawissen influence a city

+4 Decay, to pen a semi-autotheological opera about the moral degradation of the titular Don Chiovanni, who travels the land with his fire dancing manservant committing debaucherous acts until a statue of himself awakens and drags him to hell.

[The JoJo]

Avestra, Ostrom, the Tainted Lands

Avestra found herself invited to assist Graw with the rejuvenation of Ostrom. Home to a small school of the Owl Folk, the Ostromite branch of the faith had largely developed in isolation from its Trian siblings, evolving on its own path. Avestra appreciated their longstanding loyalty and decided, against her usual instincts, to lend a wing to help the city. Only time would tell if they live up to this promise.

Spoiler: Help!

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+2 Nature - The Owl Folk of Ostrom will play their full part in the rebuilding of the city, ensuring that the reborn metropolis is ecofriendly as a city of this era can be. They will also endeavour to ensure that any mines are built in such a way that the surface world is only minimally affected.

+2 Birds - A carrier pigeon system will be based in the city, carrying both ordinary handwritten messages and also treewhisper messages for those able to understand them.

-2 Primeval - Avestra has little understanding or concern for mortal political systems. Although Ostrom's new society will be a great improvement for the ordinary citizen, it will still suffer from the flaws inherent in any system operated by mortal beings who fall prey to their primitive instincts, such as corruption by officials and selfishness by ordinary citizens.

[AlexanderML]

(The Battle Continues)

(Back a little bit.)

‘Mother!” Davanda yelled out as they saw Valrion get thrown into the air by the pillar of earth, the stone floor still cooling from the sunbeam. She was left aghast, unsure what to say as standing here at the shrine she could feel Yir’s paranoia, righteous fury, and anguish at levels she did not think possible. What had happened?! She stopped sort of the spot that was still glowing from the sun beam and fell to her knees, pleading to Yir “Please Yir, stop this! You don’t need to hurt her! Please spare her!”

“I will do what I must!” Yir screamed down, their anger only wavering slightly and their fear heightening; a sunbeam hitting Valrion and sending them flying down atop a nearby mountain top. “Your mother has been corrupted by the powers below! All their wicked tricks and designs would have led to this eventually, yet it still saddens me that it could have not been avoided. Leave beloved Davanda… I would not have you witness this conflict.” Davanda saw with her eyes shaking in horror as another sunbeam targeted where Valrion landed and then the glowing dot that was Valrion was shot back into the air.

Davanda did not know what to say, what could she say? She did not move from the spot she was in as she silently cried and prayed. Then she felt it, something more horrible than she could imagine.

“Yir’s reign has come to an end, Valrion will slay him, with your aid. Give him the chance to make a brighter world. Glory to the new dawn.”

Dulnori was... her mother was… trying to kill Yir. Oh Above, was that what they meant in the western land by New Dawn? How long have they been planning this? Is this why her mother had been feeling so guilty and confused before? Was her mother forced into this? Is this why Yir is so mad, so scared? Why? These questions and more ran through Davanda’s mind as she began to feel power after power aid in… in… this.

She gaged at the implications, feeling weak while trying to hold her breakfast in. When Davanda could raise her head again and looked out to the horizon where her mother had been thrown, she saw as three sunbeams fell from the heavens at once for the same spot, their golden glow refusing to disappear. Then another far smaller light amidst dark shadows emerged ascending higher and higher, twisting around the beams of light as more were shot down at the figure then deflected down below in random directions.

Davanda’s face already red with tears broke into despair as she slammed her hands to the ground screaming, begging “Stop this! PLEASE STOP THIS NOW! PLEASE! IT’S NOT RIGHT!” trying with all her might to remove the monumental divine power that was on display. The golden beams disappeared and the shining figure she suspected to be her mother slowed and began to fall; but only for a few moments before it resumed, and it became far worse.

---

(Music)

Valrion felt the divine power speeding towards them from Dulnori and readied their hands as emerging in a brilliant shower of golden light from the ground Valrion’s axe lept into their grasp. As Dulnori’s words echoed across to all the divinities Valrion could only say in return “Thank you, I will not fail.” before being thrown once more into the air by the will of Yir, blinding beams of light feeling like they were scorching their body as they soared, unable to do much till they landed.

It was a surprisingly soft landing as Petr saved them from crashing through another shrine. As Valrion regained their footing and the pain in their mind was soothed away for now they looked at Petr with a smile on their face.”Petr, thank you so much for doing what I cannot for them.”

Valrion could not keep their attention on the god for long as the raging figure of Timorin appeared to distract and do battle with them. As Timorin spoke Valrion noticed that Yir was using this opportunity to ready themselves, gathering power and whispering silent commands across the world.

Valrion leveled their axe at Timorin saying “I wish we could have spoken to one another but once before this, I…” before being attacked by the god’s mighty blows. Unlike with Yir, Valrion did not move out of the way or seem injured by the attacks, but pain spread across their face with every blow that was not deflected and connected past the god-plate. Valrion was fighting defensively as they tried to compose themselves “I know not if I have what it takes to be a god, to be honest it is a burden I wish not to carry. If it were not for my promise, were it not for the people of the world in danger… I am certain I would have already succumbed to Yir’s wrath. I am sorry Timorin, I have not the power to make a good choice, I only have the ability to protect the world now or let Yir continue to do as they wish.” Tears were streaming down their face as they gave Timorin a reassuring smile, though still deflecting to the best of their ability incoming attacks “I understand it’s my fault, that I might be deluded and still just as wicked as Yir; do what you must. I could never blame you.”

Timorin slipped past Valrion’s defenses, whispering to them “Just let me save his life. You can have his power. Just a tad more time.”

Valrion’s eyes widened a bit at that “You-” was all they were able to get out before a sun-beam erupted from the sky again, striking Timorin and forcing Valrion to dodge out of the way. Two more beams fell upon the avatar as Yir’s wrath was focused on the god.

Yir calling down said with almost mocking disgust “Stay out of this you pathetic creature of darkness, your service is not required nor is it desired! BEGONE!”

Valrion did not wait long to leave at that, only looking at Timorin’s eyes for a moment trying to discern something before teleporting up above the shrine and commanding their body to fly up towards Yir as fast as they could. This would not go unimpeded long as Yir’s mental commands returned once more, screaming at Valrion to give in; as well as more sunbeams meant to distract Valrion. Using the golden axe Valrion struck at the descending light, and with a heavy sweep thrusted the light to the side. They gasped thinking about where it would land before seeing… that it hit a layer of mist and dissipated into harmless mist.

The moon seemed to be on Valrion’s side as it eclipsed the sun, ending the volley of devastating sun-beams.

In the distance, Valrion heard a cry that echoed through the air, it’s anguish making the sun above waver and the axe’s perfect gleam lose some of its luster. Most of all, it tore at the sun and Valrion’s hearts “Stop this! PLEASE STOP THIS NOW! PLEASE! IT’S NOT RIGHT!”

Valrion’s mind went blank again thinking of Davanda, their command lifting them up forgotten as they began to fall while looking up at the sun.

They could not tell how far they fell before landing upon the mighty back of Avestra, who was flying upwards towards the sun. “! What…?” Valrion said in confusion as they renewed their grasp on their once-again gleaming weapon “Avestra? I… you knew what I meant back then, thank you.” They looked up at the sun, its light crawling past the moon’s edges, it’s brilliance so bright that it brightened the black ring of the eclipse almost to the point of functionality. “Beware Avestra, I believe that Yir has not begun their assault on me in earnest yet.”

“Vessel, my majesty commands ALL! By MY supreme command shall your power decay, your mind become too befuddled to work, your path to me be uncertain, your skin become ablaze with unceasing fire, the sky attack you, death claim your essence, your hope waver, the clouds stop your passing, and shining lords strike you down. I command ALL to destroy you! Only under this, when you have no hope, shall I give you release in the form of my FINAL attack!”

It was chaos, at least from Valrion’s perspective everything became too loud, too soft, too hot, too cold; in short everything hurt. The sky was ablaze with activity as thunder raged against Valrion to the best of it’s ability as storm winds and sudden islands of ice appeared to block the path of Avestra. Humanoid figures appeared around Avestra, they looked like shining ones, and they cast the most destructive magics imaginable that only the likes of Tu’ule Arn could match. Soul rendering spheres, fire-storms, ice shards, and more were summoned by them.

This assault absolutely paralyzed Valrion, who could do little more than keep a hold of their axe and stay on Avestra’s back. While the storms and ice might have slowed them down somewhat, and the humanoids hurt a little, Yir’s will could not stop the goddess from flying where she wished with Valrion.

As the pair left the world’s atmosphere, it actually became somewhat easier for Valrion to focus as the many threats of the word were less in number here. Moving at unimaginable speeds towards Yir, the pair heard the sun say. “Do you remember what I said to you? The godlings HATE you, and without me would terrorize the world. And yet you trust them enough to attempt this, to try and snuff out the light of this world? This battle is pointless, soon enough you will fail and it’ll eventually be like nothing ever happened, like you never existed. Do you think they’ll remember you? That you matter to them? You do NOT. You're a tool, one that has been seduced by wicked temptations.”

Valrion could barely hear what Yir was saying yet still responded. “I don’t believe you. Each attack of yours may bring me closer to my end, you may throw everything there is against me, but there is something in me that refuses to give in. It’s because I care for mortals, and trust the gods do to despite our differences; I won’t let you harm them.”

“You poor pathetic creature, you are deluded. I’m not sure which is worse, thinking you can trust them or that you can win. No number of you could defeat ME. All your doing is delaying the inevitable.” Yir said mockingly.

As the pair approached the sun Valrion readied themselves, they could not speak but nodded to indicate they were ready, even if they felt the opposite. But they had to move on, and trust in the power invested in them.

Valrion lept from the back of Avestra, a brilliant golden axe shining the light of the world hanging above them as they quickly fell towards Yir. On the rippling plasma surface of Yir a shining circle could be seen where Yir’s greatest effort yet would be spent to annihilate Valrion.

With a silent yell in the void Valrion struck down as the gigantic explosive force of the Yir’s final attack reached for them. The golden axe, shimmering with two lights now above the sun, cut the beam in two. It was slow, but Valrion’s descent was not halted by the continuous sunbeam. As they reached the surface of the sun, Valrion raised the axe up once more, silently screaming as the sun-beam surrounded them; then they struck down.

A cracking noise could be heard, as a gigantic zig-zagging line could be seen in the sun by those most close to it.

(Music)

The surface of the sun… stopped roiling. Only calm bubbles could be seen in the dimming light. Valrion, knowing they had won, kneeled upon the surface of the sun. Yir was not attacking their mind anymore, it was reeling back in horror.

“What have you done? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! You’ve damned the world! You’ve let everything die! …... I’ve let everything die.” Looking at the sun, Valrion felt the immense amount of grief that overwhelmed them. For the first time, Yir asked “Why?”

Valrion had no tears left, but they still grieved. The heat of the sun, it was almost pleasant now, Valrion though immensely tired could focus enough to say. “We did not understand them. Above All, that may have been accurate to a degree but oh how it was a cruel curse. You… you simply did not understand. Never could.”

It was very hard, pride flared up inside Yir, but for once they pushed it down. “... Maybe.”

Valrion, gazing down at the star where they kneeled, said after a few moments “Thank you Yir.”

This shocked Yir “What? I’ve done nothing to earn your thanks.”

With a weary smile Valrion explained “If it were not for you and everyone else in this world, I would not exist, not as I am. It hurts so much at times, it can be frustrating, and is certainly terrifying; yet somehow deep down, I feel thankful. I’ve gotten to see things we never imagined, feel things we did not comprehend, make friends at times, even fall in love. Heheheh, I did not know how good it felt to eat till I tasted that first half-moldy piece of bread Ulmor had.”

“...”

“It may have been a life we did not intend, it may have been a life I’ve resented quite a lot at times, but life below is something I’ll always be thankful for. I’ll never forget that. Thank you.”

“Ves-Valrion…” Yir said their voice becoming weaker. “Please, please promise me something.”

“What, Yir?” Valrion said gently.

“You will use my power… for all… no matter who they are so long as they are just.”

“Yes.”

“Undo what divides…”

“Yes.”

“Don’t let mortals be slaves to them…”

“Yes”

“Make a peaceful world.”

“Yes.”

“Say it, promise me this. … Please.” Yir’s form to those close to them, began to sink to one side and drip. They were crying.

“I so swear to you that:
I’ll come to aid the people of this world no matter the race or class.
None shall be below my grasp to aid, save those that would put others down or divide them apart.
I’ll make a world where everyone is no one’s slave, and can be themselves without chains.
I shall strive to undo that which divides us.
I shall strive to give everyone a peaceful world.
I’ll be worthy of such a cause someday."

Valrion knew that Yir was weak now, but still scrutinizing them, though not for long before they resigned themselves “That’ll do, if you keep your word then I believe all will be well.” Regret, loneliness, existential dread overcame Yir for a moment before they put it down. “My only regret now is that I could not see this future; however... it may be right I did not. Goodbye.”

After a moment, something stired in Yir as something miraculous happened. Valrion did not know how "Ah... is that it? It's... better than I imagined. Thank you..."

Yir went to sleep, at peace for once, the sun’s last. Valrion… Valrion would wait a bit.

Spoiler: Davanda’s Hinder

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+2 Harmony: Davanda temporarily disrupts the divine blessings being used to attack Yir, as well as stop Yir’s wrath. As well as something else. Neither Valrion nor Yir wish to fight in front of her but…

-2 Family: They do so anyway, continuing their battle.

Spoiler: Valrion’s Aid

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+2 Giant: The greatest of the giants gives their all to fight Yir and protect the world from war.

Spoiler: Yir’s Hinder

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+2 Majesty: Yir commands all, and they are not far off from the truth when no one stands to oppose them. They command everything around Valrion to attack them, summoning afflictions and enemies based off of the other god’s domains to harass Valrion. But...

+2 Sun: It is all to gain the time required to charge Yir’s ultimate sunbeam attack one large attack meant to overwhelm Valroin.

-2 Arrogance: Yir may say they command all, but their grasp is weak in each of the true god's domains. Furthermore, the efforts of multiple gods working together stretches Yir's power thin before Valrion even strikes their blow.

[gac3]

Before the Yir stuff

Thalia and Timorin can feel the creation of Su'ule's latest weapon. They converse for a long time on how to handle the situation untilfinally they decide.

Spoiler: Timorin's Help

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+2 War: The great dragon will be an incredible force in war but know restraint. Tactics will rule it's mind. It will know how to pick targets to benefit it's war cause to use its power like a scalpel.
+1 Asylum: The dragon will be a protector to those who need it most and have a sense of justice to go with her other powers.
-2 Fear: Timorin is very afraid of this dragon being turned against his people

Spoiler: Thalia Hinder

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+2 Sacrifice: The dragon is a force of magic unlike any the world has seen. It's force is undeniable in war and magic. The trade off is that it's power is useless against the innocent and mundane. She will find it difficult to harm noncombatants and overcome the most mundane defenses
+2 Architecture: The dragon will not be able to harm buildings it other constructs that do not serve a tactical purpose to it. For instance attacking a guard barracks is achievable but the orphanage and hospital is strangely immune to the almighty dragon

[Demonjazz]

It was a bright day in the Sunlit valleys of Al-Estria. Until the sun went dark, a deep fiery obsidian, a corona of red ringing the sun. The citizens were stuck as they all gazed upon something that they had never seen before. Equal parts scared and amazed, the silence was palpable. It carried through the air, even the animals made no sounds, perhaps even nature itself was quieted for this moment. Though it was midsummer it felt for a brief moment like deep snow had coated the land. Then... It was shattered. It was heard as a sound at first, a deep resonant thrum that increased in volume until it broke apart. Slicing apart that sound and being replaced by a cacophonous boom as it struck the ground. It was a smell and a feeling. Like an electrified air that was burnt apart.

The sun itself was attacking the empire. The terror and awe were replaced quickly with only a raw guttural terror as the citizens saw that the beams of light were directed towards the square. It was a rush of motion as a brass creation made it's way past the villagers. Davy was forced back as he took the brunt of the blow. The Force was enough to move even the massive behemoth that was Davy. The molten metal leaking as bees buzzed angrily from within.
Rosalin stood behind Davy. "Davy, will the shelter hold!" She shouted out above the din.

Davy looked down at his molten metal, tossing aside his massive fingers as the joints melted away. "No. We will need to evacuate the city."

"YOU HEARD THE MAN! MOVE! MOVE MOVE! NOW OR NEVER!" She shouted forcibly picking up citizens and sending them on their way. "Once you're out; scatter!"

"Are you going to stay behind?" Davy asked combing through the wreckage of the strike.

Rosalin rubbed one of the rings on her finger. "No, Davy. I have work that must be done. Are you?"

"I'm sorry Rosalin, but there's nothing you can do to stop me. Humans are so fragile, but-"

"You don't need to explain. Just be safe."

Davy pounded on his chest. "Haha! This shell is practically impervious!"

---

Rosalin appeared in the midst of the panic. Being teleported into a workshop she scrambled over the tables as she pushed her way through the crowd, trying to get to a high point above the public. The face of a public enemy hardly noticed in the lances of light cast down upon Oerth. She looked down and with a slight gesture of her divine will she spoke down in a broken Imperial cant to the people below. "Your god failed! The sun shall be extinguished! Torn apart and cast into darkness!" The foreigner takes out her sword and lodges it into the stone below. She grips the pommel tightly as she kneels down. "I have been sent by the Emperor! To lead you in prayer! Not for the sun, but against that divine will! The battle is foretold to be lost by the stars! It is only now through the will of all gods combined that it may continue to shine." As she spoke, a flaming red streak flitted through the clouds, raging across the sky with an umbral fury. Sure to be that of the goddess of fire. "A sign of calamity! Renounce Yir now or the world shall be forever night!"

Spoiler: Help Dulnori

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+2 Fire, For the fire, Alatadriel applies to her blade to directly fight against Yir.
+2 Foxes, The Hua-Ling are used to spread the knowledge of the fight and tell of this dramatic event in detail to across the empire, and the world. Despite the temptation, the hua-ling do not embellish the tale. Only telling of what they were told and saw during the time of darkness.
+2 Willfulness, Rosalin weakens Yir and his powers by leading a mass deconversion from the god before she disappears into the night back to Al-Estria.

[Godzillarich]

Ymon-Thal (38 AP) Sanctify the Eye of the Worlds (14 AP/10 DC) +8 Passing/life/death/soul/body/unliving
Déjà Vu +2 Heroism
(1d20+10)[19]

Petr (51 AP) Create the workshop of Spiritual Music, and make it useable by mortals! (8 AP/6 DC) + 11 Moon/justice/rainbows/sacrifice/healing/water
Timorin +5 drama/war/asylum
Chern +6 decay/Fermentation/Sanitation
Chad +2 Determination
(1d20+24)[28]
Secondary - scry the dagger

Su'ule (36 AP) Create Demi Goddess: Schirach + 2 Schirach 18 AP/14 DC, +6 Sorcery/Monsters/Birth/Metamorphosis
Avestra + 4 nature/birds/sky
Davanda -2 harmony
Alatadriel -5 fire/Bee/civil engineering
Grawissen +8 knowledge/mining/heroism/writing/singing
Ymon-Thal +2 death
Yir +6 Majesty/arrogance/sun/Symbiosis/Stonethroe
Dulnori +4 ambition/fortune
Petr +2 Moon
Timorin +1 war/asylum/fear
Thalia - 4 sacrifice/architecture
(1d20+22)[29]

Avestra (53 AP)[/b] Create a basic living organism - balloon plants +4 nature/sky/reproduction
(1d20+4)[15]

Grawissen (42 AP) influence the city of Ostrom (12 AP/8 DC) +8 knowledge/heroism/mining/singing/writing
Timorin +8 Drama/cult of the mad God/architecture/sacrifice
Dulnori + 6 sailing/fortune/drama/ambition
Valrion +2 giant
Davanda +2 Harmony
Su'ule +6 sorcery/monster/birth/metamorphosis
Rosalin +2 Willfulness
Thal-Verys +2 soul
Petr +2 Justice
Chad +2 Determination
Chern +4 Decay
Avestra +2 nature/birds/primeval
(1d20+46)[63]

Yir (38 AP) Immortalize Davanda! (14 AP/10 DC) +9 Giants/sun/Stonethroe/perfection/Majesty
Su'ule +6 sorcery/monster/birth/metamorphosis
Dulnori +3 dreams/fortune
(1d20+18)[34]

Alatadriel (42 AP) immortalise Rosalin Ravenhold (12 AP/8 DC) +2 fire/willfulness/Mundane
Dulnori +4 ambition/fortune
Grawissen +1 writing
Petr +6 water/healing/justice
Chern +5 Determination/individualism/Sanitation
(1d20+18)[19]

Timorin (36 AP) Convert the population of the islands between Axia and the Stricken Lands 100,000 people (12AP/8DC) +8 Cult of the Mad God/War/Architecture/Sacrifice/frail
Avestra +2 Birds
Alatadriel +3 foxes/bee
Dulnori + 5 ambition/fortune/sailing
Petr +4 water/justice
(1d20+22)[26]

Dulnori (72 AP) destroy Yir (40 AP/30 DC) +6 ambition/fortune/sailing/dream
Timorin +/-7 war/drama/asylum/fear/sacrifice/Frail/cult of the mad God/architecture
Grawissen +6 knowledge/writing/mining/singing
Chern +1 Fermentation
Petr +9 water/healing/moon/rainbow/Justice/Medical work
Dagger: +2 Blood
Ymon-Thal +8 soul/body/the passing/death
Avestra +5 bird/sky/nature
Davanda +0 harmony/family
Valrion +2 Giants
Yir -2 Majesty/sun/arrogance
Alatadriel + 6 fire/boxes/willingness
(1d20+36)[49]

Chad Atlas? (28 AP) Influence a large landmark (4 AP/2 DC) +2 Determination
(1d20+2)[18]

[Godzillarich]

Ymon-Thal (24 AP) The Eye of the Worlds was sanctified, making it the realm between the living and the dead.

Petr (42 AP) Spiritual Music was created and with it a whole new way for mortals to kill people, this time with instruments
the dagger has also been scry

Su'ule (22 AP) Out of the egg comes the mighty Schirach with his +2 Force unfortunately the young dragon is quite hotheaded and has a -2 anger

Avestra (45 AP) nature finally has something over technology in practicality, now with floating plant balloons, the people of nature can take to the sky

Grawissen (30 AP) with Graw Action the dark age for the Prehist has ended and they will enter a new Golden age

Yir (26 AP) Davanda has been immortalized

Alatadriel (30 AP) Rosalin Ravenhold has been immortalized

Timorin (36 AP) the people from the islands between Axia and the Stricken Lands have been converted to the cult of the mad god

Dulnori (32 AP) With great courage the sun was brutally murdered by his son. This was not the end for him however with the kindness of Thalia he would not die. He would find a new body at the cost of his godly power and immortality.

Chad Atlas? (24 AP) 1st Justice University now has a windmill. Most of the residents have no idea why but they find it nifty.

[Maryring]

The tension in the air around Sanctuary is palpable. But not for the reasons one might expect. Despite all the chaos that has happened recently, life continues as normal. Thalia has been guided along with several other curious onlookers, mostly parents, into a tent that shields the group from the sweltering sun. The path back to Port Petr remains open, but the rest of the beach has been blocked off as twenty local youths step up to a line drawn in the sand. Thera'rassus is one of them, and she exhibits far more calm than Nerassus himself, who is sitting just outside the tent, crosslegged with his hands pinned beneath his thighs to keep them from fidgeting. "So... does... uh, does the cult do something similar?" Nerassus bites his lips.

Thalia smiles. "You could say that. Ours focus more on combat and strategy however. Either way, Thera shall do wonderful."

"Yeah?" Nerassus watches as Thera nimbly stretches and flexes her arms in preparation. "Shortly after the attack by Varpier it was all combat training. Everyone was challenged to magical sparring matches." He exhales softly. "I'm glad it's no longer so. Mortalkind's ability to forget can sometimes be a blessing." He shakes his head. "Ah, sorry. Didn't mean to go all melancholy on you. Usually I design a bit of a surprise myself to throw into this, but since Thera's part of it..." He shakes his head. "Man. I am really off kilter today. Gimme a moment and I'll try again."

He takes a deep breath and remains quiet, watching as the children all bend slightly. A woman steps up to the kids and looks quickly over each of them before nodding in satisfaction. She steps aside, raises a hand, and slowly counts down. "Three. Two. One!" She lowers her hand, and several of the children immediately begin to run. Thera and a few other wait a moment though, dragging out water from the ocean which they form to sheets of ice to skate against, quickly catching up to those who chose to run first.

Thalia clapped and yelled out. "You've got this Thera!"
Then she turns back to Nerassus. "No need to apologize to me. Timorin teaches that emotions should be felt and not bottled up. It's what they are for after all. The reason mortals forget things so easily is because they pick and choose which emotions to feel. That is why people like us cannot. So that we may ever remember and know what our duty is."

"Nicely done Thera!" She reaches the first post as the fourth. A lineup of several archery targets. On a small table are all the things needed to create a bow, but no actual bows, and the kids all grab some of the stuff, some attempting to forge bows through usual craftsmanship, others through enchanting. "And you're right. Speaking of duty. We're going to do something big soon. With the attack on Sanctuary... a lot of lives could have been saved if help, and means of escape, were both closer. So with that in mind, mother and I... we are going to extend our influence all across the oceans of the world."

Thalia looks at him seriously. "That's a pretty wide net to cast. It will not be subtle."

"True. But the attack on Sanctuary wasn't subtle. Bombing the University wasn't subtle. What... Valrion and Dulnori did wasn't subtle. If this is a world that refuses subtletly or patience, erhaps a wide net is exactly what we should cast." Nerassus glances towards Thera and yells. "No don't! You're stretching it too." The string on Thera's bow breaks, setting her back. "Man. I should've spent more time teaching her how to care for a bow. Anyway. I believe that this claim on the oceans will be good for all. Just imagine. Small cities floating everywhere. No place would ever be alone or isolated. Help would always be shortly within reach. For big..." His eyes linger on the children for a long moment. "And small..."

Thalia nods. "So you claim the seas and the ICA the skies. It's amazing how quickly people vie for the world once people like Varpier try to tear it down."
Thalia turns back to the children. "Even we are preparing for war."

"Thalia?!" Nerassus frowns. "Is that truly what you think? After all we've done this is still viewed as a war? As... simple land roving?" Nerassus pulls his arms out to cross over his lap, clenching them softly as if grasping for something. "What war are you preparing for?"

Thalia shakes her head. "Not at all. Just thinking of how quickly things have changed. Before I was crowned, I'd never left he maddening marsh. Now... The things I've seen... The things that are happening. It's like I only just discovered how big the world is and now, now I see how small it truly is." She looks away for a long moment and when she turns back, it appears as if her face had aged just in that short time. "Well... To be honest. We are preparing for war with everyone. Or rather anyone. Timorin has always been paranoid about a war, and it feeds into me much of the time. With the sleep approaching, Timorin expects to be attacked again. So we plan to be ready. Just in case."

"Hrm..." Nerassus nods slowly. "Honestly. If we had been a bit more paranoid. A bit more prepared. A bit more... expecting that someone would target us like this..." He shakes his head. "Thinking about those I could have saved is useless, but I do often think of those I can save in the future." Thera has finally managed to get a bow in order, and has managed to take her shots, but she's dead last. The first two of the kids have already grabbed their first ring from a buoy floating out at sea. "Don't give up dearheart! Keep calm and remember, work with, not against, the currents!"

He takes another deep breath, turning to face Thalia head on. "Honestly... I think in many ways our goals and tasks are the same."

Thalia nods. "I you are right. Out new protective force, I've been intending to offer up it's service. As a member of the Masquerade, you have certain privledges."

"Then how about we make a deal?" Nerassus perks up as Thera does what none of the other kids have done. She manifests a perfect waterwalking spell, and uses that to dart across the surface of the water. "Huh. She's better than I thought." He nods towards Thalia. "The ocean people and the cult, protecting one another in the age to come."

"Who better to be allied than the people of the ocean and the people of the islands?

"Exactly." Thera has managed to make her way back up to fifth place in the race, as the first of the kids now enter a small, closed off penn with a few rods planted in the ground, each one painted in a variety of colours. But before the first kid can drop off the rings they got from the buoy, all of a sudden a whole pack of wild dogs rush out from the nearby undergrowth and begin to snap at the girl. "After the attack on Sanctuary, and following University, I have spent a lot of time and effort organizing a group specializing in taking down supernatural threats such as those. They will protect your islands from threats minor and personal, and the army of the cult will protect Petrian worshippers from war."

"Come on Thera. Now is your chance." Thalia mumbles before turning back to Nera. "Together we can protect our people from the aggressive empires of the world. The children of war and healing. Cleaning up the mistakes of majesty, heroism,and knowledge. Who would have thought?"

Nerassus chuckles softly. "I should be happy then, that Water is so good at cleaning things. And speaking of Knowledge. You have the pickaxe Grawissen used to build all those castles right? You think we could borrow it for a moment?"

Out on the field, Thera is catching up. The kids before her are attempting to use their druidry, either to tame the animals, or to make vines grow from the ground to keep them at bay. Thera herself takes an alternative approach though. Channeling mana into herself, her arms bulge slightly as they are filled with strength. And with that strength she manages to hold onto her ring, despite ChiChi and friends doing their best to grab it from her and play keep-away.

Thalia nods and hands it over. "So long as you do not return it to him before he and I settle accounts, I have no problem letting you use it freely."

"Of course not. Your conflict is between your and his people. It's not my job to interfere." He rests the pickaxe on his lap, watching with a grin as Thera manages to finish planting her rings... as number three. "Woo!" Nerassus cheers loudly and claps his hands. "Third place! Way to go!"

Thera, face drenched in sweat, smiles as she staggers over towards the tent. Her body a little unsteady from exertion. "Hah... whoo! That was... that was fun! Oh, miss... Thalia right? I heard your cheers as well. Thank you."

Thalia smiles and nods. "You did wonderful. You should be very proud of your accomplishments."

"Thank you." Nerassus conjures up a cup of water, which Thera downs in two seconds flat. "Phew. Man. I did not expect a pack of wild dogs at the end there. And especially not ChiChi."

"Don't look at me. That was probably Sel's idea." Nerassus grins. "Clever use to focus your mana on transmutation instead. The dogs aren't an enemy, you don't need to defeat them. Just let them not distract you."

"Yeah, that was my thoughts... what's that thing you got?"

"Oh this? An artifact. Graciously lent us by Thalia." He smirks. "You two wanna see something cool?" He glances about, before drawing a minor veil of distraction around the three, keeping people from focusing too hard on them. Then, holding his palms out, he makes the pickaxe float before him. Lines of energy converge about the pickaxe, momentarily wrapping it up in a globe of silvery light, before it extends up and down, forming into the design of a brilliant spire of coral. "A tentative design for a coral lighthouse, created through the power of the pickaxe of architecture."

"What's a pickaxe got to do with architecture?"

Thalia smirked trying not to openly laugh too loud. "That my dear girl is a mystery that only the god of knowledge can likely answer with any degree of certainty. I've heard rumors that prehists carve their homes out of mountains with pickaxes. Probably just a myth though."

"Ugh. I can't imagine having to live in a place where you can never see the sky. What kind of life would it be if you can never count stars at night?"

"Ahem. If we can focus?"

"Oh right. Sorry grampa."

Nerassus gives Thera a gentle pat, before gesturing to the spire. "We're planning to place these spires in the middle of the vast ocean. So between Axia and Tria, Tria and the Stricken Lands, Axia and the Tainted Lands and so on. If you look at the top here, you'll see a massive pearl. The pearl itself can be empowered to shine with a brilliant light, guiding people towards the spire in the dark. But more importantly, we're hoping to connect it to the subconscious of the whole world."

"What's the "subconscious" then?"

"It's..." Nerassus smcks his lips thoughtfully. "It's the things that you want, but don't always know that you want? Mostly, it should be a way to read desires and capture prayers. Like... a warning system. If a place is attacked, the pearl should pick up the cries for help. And the people at the spire can organize a defensive response. But that's the big stuff. I also hope that... well. That it can pick up small stuff. Like someone praying for... salvation from a terrible family."

Thalia turned back to Nerassus at that last comment. "That... is incredible. I already have ideas for how I can help this. The organization Timorin and I are making... It would be greatly helped by gaining access to these lighthouses..."

"And they should have access. They will be like very small cities. Or perhaps more akin to temples? An extension of Sigrid's Temple that stands on the tip of Axia. Open to everyone, though I was also thinking..." He zooms in on part of the spire above the water surface. "For example, we should have a spot here dedicated to a trading post. Which obviously means it'd be open to any foreign traders. And if we ensure a mask is in each spire, then they'll always be able to communicate with the cult."

"How many spires are you hoping to make?"

"Depends on how large we can make it, but we're thinking at least 10 or so. It'll take a lot of effort to build each, but we've worked out how the best use our energy to grow the coral from the seafloor and up into the sky itself."

"Ten floating cities. Will they move like sanctuary?"

"Oh, we're planning more than ten cities. I'll show you the design for the actual floating cities as well later, and yes they'll move. But these coral spires will be attached to the ocean floor, and will be immobile. Wouldn't be very good as trading posts if people couldn't reliably find them."

Thalia was swaying a little, clearly excited. "When do we start?"

"Yesterday." Nerassus grins playfully, shifting the pickaxe aside and using his magic to draw out another design, this one of a small city planted upon wooden platforms. "These were the designs I made for the floating city itself. A central core containing a spiritual energy engine, allowing the people of the city to utilize it as they see fit and travel around everywhere. Aquamantic storm shield enhancers, hydroponic growth chambers to supply food... everything no? ... I ask seriously. If you see anything missing, now's the time to let me know. I'm hoping to commission Davy to help with the building, but the designs should be buildable by mortal hands, so that mortals may expand to new cities if they find the need."


Thalia examines the design. "Given your goals an motivations, the most important thing is, what protects it from people like Julian or Varpier? What protects the core? What happens if the core were stolen? There are no walls, what happens if someone tries to attack from multiple directions? What happens if someone tries to attack from below?"

Nerassus's bright features frown and lower as he lets out a quiet "Oh." He shakes his head. "Well, this is why I wanted to run it by you in the first place. In my excitement, I completely forgot... well. Below should be a simple enough defense. Because attacking a city full of aquamancers in the ocean itself should be tantamount to suicide. Especially if..." He rubs his chin. "You know how bats use a loud clicking noise... wait, you're human you might not have heard it. Well, anyway, my point is. Bats can... kind of see by listening? We could emulate that somehow."

"Wait, how do you know that grampa?"

"Uh... well." He rubs his neck with an embarassed grin. "You've heard my stories about aunt Misty right? Well... you know, sometimes she could get really into her research, and... y'know, I didn't have that many conversation partners."

Thalia smirks. "It's actually something I learned from the Batfolk. So you track things in the water with sound. That is good takes care of any attacks from insane orcafolk.."

"Insane Orcafolks?" Thera grins brightly. " What are those even?"

"They are supposed to be protectors of nature. But... well. Most folks are good. It is the rare bad ones you gotta watch out for."

Thalia shrugs a little guiltily. "The best way to plan to defend a place, is to plan to attack it. Convincing some orcafolk that a floating city was a danger to the ocean... One of the first thoughts that came to mind."

"Indeed. And it's a valid concern. Obviously, every city will have a defensive local guard. Hrm... as for walls. The biggest problem with normal walls would be the stability. Hrm... we should be looking into walls made of movement. Water, and potentially wind. Every island will have access to the instruments I showed you earlier. So we could use the water control of those instruments to shelter the island. I do want them to feel open as well. They should be welcoming, not exclusionar."

Thalia nods. "The problem with welcoming everyone, not everyone is as kind. So long as you decide to trust people, anything is possible. Want some soldiers trained with all the might of the war god to help protect these cities?"

"That could be very helpful."

"Not to be rude miss. But why would your soldiers be better than just anyone?" Thera tilts her head curiously. "I mean, they are just as likely to be bad guys as others, right?"

Thalia smiles and turns to Nera. "That's true. Anyone can be a bad guy, just as anyone can be a good guy. We have to trust someone though. Why not trust the best?"

"Hah. But my granddaughter raises a pertinent point. Not one impossible to work around though. Yours are indeed the best, at least for open warfare. But they'll need support too. I'll have to do some number crunching, but if we utilize a defensive force partially of cultist members, and partially of local citizens, the distribution of power will work to keep both parts of the whole honest. I might in fact expand the number of factions slightly. After the attack on Sanctuary, I created a small guild of hunters, whose job is to seek out and stop threats like Varpier and Julian. They are the best at what they do. So if we have a defensive force that has the Hunters focusing on supernatural threats, the cultist army focusing on foreign threats, and the citizens of the cities focusing on domestic threats."

"Everyone will have to work together, right?"

"Exactly." Nera gives Thera a thumbs up. "What do you think Thalia? Of course, to repay your offer of a trained army, I will ensure that the Hunters Guild is available to support and protect your people."

Thalia smiles. "Like I said, if we trust eachother, anything is possible. This is very exciting."

"It truly is. We'll develop our defensive forces together... hrm. But what support would you like us to offer to you? We work together, and so we grow strong together."

Thalia thinks for a moment. "As always anything you have to offer. Our force is going to serve as the local enforcement within our boarders. A strong sense of justice and some knowledge about how to best fight in the ocean are useful to our island nation."

"Indeed. A focus on combat. We may be peaceful, but we can help with that. And especially the logistics of keeping such a large force fed, moobile, and not to forget healthy. We can use the coral spires as storage spaces for information. Libraries. The medical discoveries made on Sanctuary and University can be spread out to every spire, meaning that no matter where you are in the world, you are not far from a large repository on medical knowledge."

"Anyway, I guess I should give you a close up of the designs no?"

Nerassus draws the design outwards, making it encompass Thera and Thalia, before the light solidifies into an interior view of the spire. The three are standing within the top floor of the spire. Above them is a massive pearl, held aloft by coral and glass. A small part of the spire, the very bottom, empties out into the chamber itself. A small conduit of glass extends down and splits into two. One ending up in a large glass plate, and another into a chair standing opposite the glass plate.

"Here we've got two different ways to access the pearl and it's power. You can sit in the chair and link your mind to the pearl, get messages directly, or search through it. Or, for those who find that method a bit too invasive. It'll be some work, but I think we can distill the messages from the pearl, and channel them directly into these glass surfaces. The images I'll get by creating illusion enchantments, so any enchanter should be able to activate it."

Stretching his hands out, he briefly focuses on the rest of the upper chamber. Windows all around allow a panorama view of the ocean outside. A small spiral staircase allows climbing all the way up to a hatch in the roof to access the pearl. Beyond that, the upper floor is sparsely decorated. Nerassus gestures upwards, and the illusion shifts,making them pass through the floor to the one below. This one consists of several smaller rooms built around one larger central room. Bedrooms spread about a living space.

"Exactly how these other upper levels are to be decorated, I'll leave to the people who live here, but I feel the upper levels make for the best living quarters. Keeps the place easily segregated from the public areas down below. The exact layouts of kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms will probably vary a bit as well. I'm also thinking about adding some small, outwards balconies. On one hand, it'll be pleasant for those who live here, on the other hand, it would be a dangerous potential access point for an attacker from the air..."

"Question!" Thera raises her hand, pointing at a kitchen corner. "How do you intend to get firewood for the stove? And how will it get all the way up here? It kinda looks like it's very high up. It'll be exhausting to carry the lumber all the way up here."

"Excellent questions." Nerassus smiles with not a small amount of pride. "The simplest solution is, of course, to create enchanted stoves that can heat food with simple enchantment channeling. But! Well, remember how this weird golem appeared a while back while me and mother were away? It built a most peculiar functionality into the workshop. A windmill that powers not just a grain grinder, but several machines within the workshop. If we can get him to build a similar functionality on these spires, well that will be ideal. But either way. Food and other goods still need to be raised up. And for that."

Nerassus gestures to the centre of the floor, where a peculiar small chamber is. "I call it an elevator. It's a typical rope and pulley system, but it's powered by enchantments. Way further down it's connected to a magicite reactor, so it can be used even by those with no capacity to channel enchantment mana."

With another gesture, Nerassus flicks the group through several more floors. Mentioning them briefly as they pass by. "Armory and workshops. Clinic. School. Library. Training grounds. Public gathering space. A few empty spaces the locals can design as they see fit... here we are." Clenching his fist, the three appear in a large, wide chamber. A large main street filled with several stalls, and several chambers carved out into the floor itself. "Welcome to the marketplace. The pulsating heart of the spire.

This is what will bring the rest of the world to the spires. These locations will work as mid-journey trading posts. Just imagine all the time and energy saved. The cultists upon Axia will be able to trade with the cultists of Tria without having to go all the way to Tria. And with local food production, ships can carry less food and water and more trading goods, increasing wealth and prosperity for everyone involved."

Nerassus flicks a hand sideways, and they end up hovering above the ocean. Beside them the towering spire climbs skywards up from the sea, and below is a wooden floating dock connected to staircases that lead up into the spire itself, as well as a rope and pulley system on the sides of the spire to allow raising up goods from the docks. "When complete, these docks will be able to hold dozens of ships. Small and large. We're even building a docking area for the floating cities I mentioned earlier. But... I think that the true genius of what we've made here is... well."

Nerassus pulls them back into the spire, and further below still. As they get to the first floor beneath the ocean surface, Nerassus gestures to a peculiar chamber on one side of the wall. "Food and water is important. And the solution here solves both. This here is the water condensation floor. Sea water pours in through several hatches on the exterior of the coral spire. They go through these basins here, which filter out salt, small fish and sea critters, seaweed and the like, and what you're left with is drinkable water. Meanwhile, the salt and other minerals are formed into rocks." He gestures to a small hatch beneath one of the basins, opening it to present small white pellets and flakes of salt.

"Some of this can be traded, but a lot of this... well." He sends them further down, into a chamber of several basins. Pipes reach from above on one end, ending up inside a basin where water pours out, and on the other end, another pipe drains the water downwards. "Mother calls these hydroponic farms. These basins allow us to grow crops without dirt. You let the water cycle from above to below, and occasionally you add some of those salt pellets from above into the basin to provide nutrients for the plants. Farms such as these go all the way down to the ocean floor, where the water is finally pumped back out into the ocean." Nerassus claps his hands together, making the whole illusion fade away. "So... what do you think? Pretty cool right?"

Thalia stares at everything, fascinated.
"This is going to be really really fun. Dang. This is going to be big."

Nerassus gets a wide, goofy grin, beaming with pride as he nods his head. "I know right? Each spire should be able to sustain a large population. I'll be creating some spell scrolls to put in each spire's library, so that the people can learn the spells I use to create the spires, in order to perform repairs, and maybe even expand and alter the spire in time."

Thalia raises an eyebrow. "So all of this can be done by the average Tim?"

"Well... with a lot of time, effort and mana yes. So not your average Tim, but perhaps your slightly larger than average cult. You'll need aquamancy or transmutation to get all the way down to the ocean floor and begin growing the spire. You'll need engineering to find proper ground for the tower to stand on, and to shape the subsurface barriers that break waves to reduce wear and tear. You'll probably need transmutation to endure the deeper pressures. The coral growing spell is a conjunction between aquamancy and druidry. And you've already heard about all the enchantment I've used. The only things that can't be done by a regular person though, would be the light-house at the top. The massive pearl must be custom created by the Moon Mother of Pearls. And then you have to transport it. Both of those could theoretically be done by regular mortals, but... no. I should not underestimate mortalkind. What that leaves us with is the conduits. Any proper glass worker can make the frame, and the capacity to link with the chair, or evenu se the pearl to send messages to other pearls, that's all astrology. But the glass frame display is an enchantment illusion. That requires Su'Sorcery.

Unless..." Nerassus ponders, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Unless I create an alternative... it shouldn't be impossible... and then I can leave instructions for that spell as well... hrm... it'd probably be... oh. Perhaps... differently coloured algae in an aquarium? Enchantments using druidry and astrology channeling..."

Thalia laughs and turns to Thera. "I think he may have gotten a little too excited."

Thera grins and nods. "Grandpa always ends up like this. During the last moon festival, someone wondered about why humans have hair, and somehow that made him decide that windows should from now on be created with two sheets of glass instead of one." Thera smiles fondly, watching as Nerassus uses his finger to draw notes in the sandy beach. "You'll have to shake him hard if you want to discuss anything else with him right now."

Thalia shrugs. "Want to see if you can sneak up on him?"

Thera gets a wicked grin on her face, nodding eagerly. "You go first. Gramps told me you guys were working on some kind of stealthy combat style. I'd like to see that in action."

Thalia takes a good long look at the notes Nera was making just in case. Then she sneaks up behind Nera while weavig the thickest strand of spider silke she could while still making sure it wouldn't be too noticable. She wove six of them and tried to carefully get each of them to attach to Nera's shoulders or back. She then returned to Thera with the other end. "Okay, Ive done my part. I'll strengthen the threads with magic and increase their hold on Gramps. What I want you to do is to show off some of those moves you used earlier. Just take the other ends and run out over the water as fast as you can. You should be safe to increase your strength too if you want. Let's see if you can pull him into the water before he realizes.

Thera nods and plants her palms together. She focuses, channeling mana into her form to make her physique grow, her arms and legs thickening with strength. She then grabs ahold of the threads, clenches her hands firmly together, and then looks at Nerassus. She waits for him to look up, tapping his chin in thought before dragging hard. She rushes back towards the ocean, her form easily maintaining composure even as she begins to run over water. Nerassus himself is too lost in thought until water begins to splash against his feet. He blinks and tries to stand up, only to get suddenly yanked backwards by Thera so that he falls flat on his back into the water. "Bwah!" He sits up, gasping for air, his form drenched in water, fur clinging to his face as he wipes water from his eyes. "Wuh wah?"

Thalia gasps dramatically, sneaking a wink to Thera. "Nerassus, oh my. Are you okay? What happened?"

Nerassus stands up, blinking and looking down, then he turns back out towards the ocean. "I don't know. I was... oh darn. Did I end up ignoring you Thalia? My apologies I... wait. THERA?!"

Thera giggles playfully as she rushes forward, jumping onto Nerassus's back and hugging him from behind. "Yeeeees?" She says with cheeky sweetness in her voice.

Thalia laughs. "Don't blame her. It was all my idea. I hope it didn't mess up your notes. I put them in the map just in case."

"Hrmf." Nerassus stands up, using one arm to support Thera as she hugs him. "Okay. It was a good prank. And no worries. It was mostly just brainstorming anyhow. I think I can create a variant for the display screen. It's not as pretty as Su'Speech illusions, but it should make the spires buildable by mortal hand."

Thalia nods. "Then it sounds like you have everything figured out."

"Indeed." Nerassus smiles warmly. "Well, unless there's any other questions. I guess we should join the others for the feast. Hopefully there's still some mango pudding left."

Thalia nods and turns back to Thera one last time. Congratulations again by the way."

Spoiler: Action:

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22 AP/18 DC: Influence the world

Petr and Nerassus will create the domain of the ocean people. A set of constructions consisting of several spires all across the oceans of the world, and floating cities that will be built in open port towns all over the world.

Spoiler: Coral Spire

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The Coral Spires form an interconnected network all across the world, on the physical level by sailing and being a trading hub, and by channels of spiritual energy through the pearls on the spiritual level. The spires can house populations of thousands on a permanent basis, and are well suited for producing salt, pearls and spices as trading goods. While the people who live in the spires get to give them their own personal touch, the lower half of the spire is always dedicated to hydroponics, workshops and water purification, and the upper fourth of the tower holds living quarters, and the HQ for security and the Hunter's guild. These locations are off limits to visitors.

The public areas include schools, restaurants, stages, clinics and much more at base, and the tower should be able to supply any need. The tower is reinforced against natural waves and currents, and can repel even the full force of a Tsunami. Anything weaker will just bounce off.

Though Nerassus and Petr use their divine power to construct the spire, they utilize support from mortals in the construction, and as an extremely major project for a whole nation, mortals could create their own spire. The important schools of sorcery used are Aquamancy, Druidry/Shamanism, Enchantment and Astrology. The pearls will have to be traded with from Sanctuary, but are only needed to link the spire into the network. Nerassus will leave scrolls detailing the construction method in every spire.

Spoiler: Floating Cities

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Each floating city is a specifically designed fleet of ships. A modular design, with each ship design created through the domain of architecture to ensure stability and agility both, while being able to sustain large, and most importantly, growing populations. The ships are built around a central engine module. A massive pearl from Sanctuary acts as the engine, and can be used to steer the ships through Aquamancy, or Spiritual Energy, as channeled through instruments from Sanctuary or Mon'Dai.

Each ship is fitted with a smaller pearl engine, so that in times of trouble, the city can split up and scatter. These smaller engines are not strong enough to drag around the whole city, but they can drag another ship, possibly two if the currents are benevolent.

The original floating cities are built in all open port towns, and can be built wholly by mortal hand, without the need of sorcery as long as you can get access to the materials. Nerassus will leave architectural designs for the floating cities in the spires, at Sanctuary and at University. Nerassus will also appoint chieftans for each of these initial floating cities personally.

Water +2: To create the hydroponic system of the towers, design the floating cities and their floating farms and bless both with clean water
Healing +2: To bring forth plant strains that grow well within hydroponic systems to feed towers and cities.
Moon +2: To create the massive pearls that make the centre-pieces for the coral towers and cities. The pearls will fuel the spiritual broadcast within the towers, and the cities use the pearls to navigate and direct the city whenever the need arises.
Justice +2: Within the spires, Nerassus creates enclaves for his Hunter's Guild. These locations serve to train Hunters specialized in tracking down and subduing supernatural threats, be it errant path walkers, cruel sorcerers or wicked monsters. To help them, he leaves scrolls teaching methods for disrupting supernatural powers, and teaches them to use the coral spire links to communicate with the other enclaves, and so ensure all guilds have access to the latest information on monster hunting.
Medics +1: The same is true for doctors, physicians, midwives... the coral spires work as a network collecting and distributing medical knowledge all over the world.
Moonpool +2: Sanctuary and the Moonpool are working overtime to produce pearls and raw materials to ensure the spires and cities are built.

Furthermore, thanks to the strong, solid cooperation between Healing and Drama, Water and War, Justice and Hope, the task is further blessed with

Architecture +2: Nerassus uses the power of the pickaxe to draw up the blueprints of the tower and cities, maximizing the agility of the cities, and sturdiness of the towers, to protect them from attacks.
Sacrifice +2: With hard work and determination, and the will to make sacrifices for future generations, mortalkind may themselves recreate these feats in time.
Drama +2: Being centralized in the ocean and serving as way points for journeys between continents, the cities and spires of the ocean will become meccas for the arts and cultural exchange
War +2/ Cult +2: Additional members of the Cult's army will be trained to help defend the ocean cities from attack
Asylum +1: The pearl broadcast tower will be particularly receptive towards the meek and desperate who has no recourse but prayer and hope.

Spoiler: BLOOD

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Spoiler: The mark

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Spoiler: The Mark

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Spoiler: The MARK!

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Spoiler: THE MARK!

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+2 Blood: Varpier has been marked. Take the scry gifted by Valrion, and weave it into the world itself. His powers stripped, he shall soon be given his punishment.

[AlexanderML]

The Arch-Wizards Dinel and Ulmor:

(A while ago.)

Dinel had been having a rough few months, as with the gods return he was immediately forced to flee underground to avoid the wrath of the sun. Valrion had not even come in person to say goodbye, and bid that he leave immediately without contact to her or their daughter. It was so abrupt, so sudden that he did not even process exactly what was happening until Ulmor teleported him to an underground sanctum in UnderIndigo.

Spoiler: UnderIndigo

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A Cavpo mining town on the fringes of the NMR, it’s a windy place with tunnels on the far ends blowing the northern winds through them and is generally a cold inhospitable place to live with food needed to be imported as not even magic can make the surface soil fertile enough for the town to survive on its own. UnderIngido is however slowly growing in population and booming in trade, mainly due to its main export being magicite which the other NMR cities pay a premium price for.

The population is mostly giant, but changelings also make up a sizable minority of the population. Like most Cavpo towns it is run by a Council of Trade (named the Indigo Chambers here) which oversees the general infrastructure needs of the town and negotiates with other trade councils and other bodies of government inside the ICA.

Pyromancy is notably a common practice here, with talk saying that an Icadian sage long ago came to the town and showed the people how to use the art of water and fire to heat their homes and infuse their furnaces with unending flames so long as you fueled it with magicite.

Dinel looked around his surroundings (looked like a fine bedroom, though glowloam lit the place instead of sunlight) then began to recite the spell needed to return. “My daughter’s face I hold in mind, let not spa-” before the stern gaze of Ulmor shook him enough to stop.

Ulmor looked so empty of emotion that Dinel was unsure what was going through his mind, and towering over him in his signature armor it was quite intimidating for the normally relaxed character “Think before you risk your own life, you fool. She would never forgive me if you got yourself killed. You have to know you cannot return to Holy High or near the peaks again till the godly Age has ended, and that you may not speak or communicate with Valrion or Davanda. We cannot risk Yir’s seeing you and unleashing their wrath. You heard about what happened to Davanda?”

Dinel sat down on the bed, resting his head in his hands “Of course, I was returning home to speak with her about it, see if she was alright… make things better at least. My poor girl…”

Ulmor quickly softened, and sat next to Dinel putting a hand on their shoulder. “I understand. I do. I’ve been away for a long time already myself, and even with the occasional visit it’s difficult to be away from them. But when I do return their faces bright up when they see me after so long. I know that the same happens every time you walk into the room Dinel.” Dinel had a wistful look on his face as he looked into Ulmor’s face , noticing that he just looked worried now “So please, don’t risk your life with Yir, we both knew this could happen eventually. It does not matter if the sun is awake a year, a decade, or three, you will meet again will you not? Davanda lives, Valrion lives, they are tough women... they’ll be there no matter what they face. Not like us, eh? We can only make sure we stay out of sight to be there for them. Heheh” Ulmor finished looking down to the floor hands in his lap.

Dinel looked to the floor as well, “Davanda, she’s so young, to leave her now is terrible…”.

“It is terrible, but better than the alternative. Davanda’s 16 years old, practically an adult now by most standards. She has Valrion looking after her like a hawk, and others to instruct her.”

“When you say it like that it feels like she does not need her father.” Said Dinel, tears still in his eyes.

“...” Ulmor did not know what to say to that.

The two sat there for a long time, not looking at one another just waiting for the other to say something. Both just silently sitting there almost brooding but also comforted by the other’s presence.

After what must have been an hour of back and forth of Dinel espousing some worry or concern and Ulmor saying it’ll be fine or just agreeing that it was unfair; the two began to speak on the simple logistics of this exile (on a long-term scale, what to do if X happens, ect). It seemed like focusing on this helped Dinel; but his comments often drifted back to Davanda, and silence would reign for a time before Ulmor or Dinel got back on topic.

Eventually however it came time for Ulmor to leave to continue to fulfill his duties and studies at University. He gave Dinel a hug “If I had to choose from all the men across the world, I would choose you to be by their side; for none care for those two as much as you. You’ll be back soon enough, I know it.” As the two men parted, Dinel noticed that Ulmor’s arm was hanging by his side limply.

“Ulmor! You should have said something! Calling me reckless, look at you.” Dinel said as he lifted the large man’s arm up for inspection, mostly intact, just needed reinforcement. As he was working on that Ulmor put his working hand to the back of his head.

“Ah, yes, sorry about that. I intended to go to the Indigo Chambers and acquire some magicite before leaving, I suppose I had overdone myself more than I expected coming all this way after returning from abroad in so little time.” Ulmor said as if he was not in serious danger.

“So irresponsible…” Dinel said finishing his work “but I appreciate the effort you put in for me. Thank you Ulmor. You said the Indigo Chambers? We are in UnderIndigo?”

Ulmor raised an eyebrow as he tested his arm “You did not notice? Well I suppose the unique details of a Cavpo settlement are overlooked by outsiders.”

“I did not mean it like that! How am I suppose to tell from a single room what underground settlement we are in?” Ulmor was about to get into how if you look closely you can see the individual style, unique stone structure, and filigree of this settlement in this room before Dinel waved him off “I know I know, subtle differences, I just don’t like staying underground long enough to notice them. It’s cramp.”

“They do have a central chamber that they should have expanded from my last visit, might help with that. Though I heard you’ve been here before as well?”

“Oh, yes, it is close to Gnawlands and close to where madam Rachel grew up. I’ve gotten to know a few of the people here somewhat last time I visited.”


“Perfect, let’s go reintroduce you to some of the people down at the Indigo Chambers, it’s where I need to go as well to leave.” Ulmor said with confidence rising seeing Dinel not look so sad anymore.

Dinel and Ulmor stood up and walked to the doorway that connected the chamber to the rest of the settlement. As Ulmor continued on Dinel looked back at the room thinking for a moment on what was in store, then followed Ulmor.

---

Valrion, Davanda, Yir, Dinel, and Ulmor - The Shrine of Holy High- Brief Reunion:

(Before the sun's death.)

Davanda was looking at the sky, the dark moon ominously holding back the ever increasing light, from down below it looked like it was slowly being consumed in that light. She could still feel Yir’s anger, their fear, a righteous zeal that would not waver pouring out from above. Davanda felt so helpless, she could do nothing to help, to stop Dulnori, her... mother… from killing Yir. She thought they were so similar, so why do this? Why?

Then suddenly a jagged zigzag mark glowed brightly, so much so to her eyes that it went from one end of the moon to the other. If she could not feel the disbelief from Yir, she’d had thought the moon was about to split in two. Davanda cried out in pain when she realized that it was Yir that was split in half high above, her hopes for Yir’s survival, her hopes that her mother would not murder them, shattered.

A voice came from above, weak and distant.

“My sparkle Davanda please forgive me for I have failed…I’ve let everything die.”

Davanda’s eyes widened in horror as she could feel Yir grow fainter by the second and with each word they spoke. She could not compose herself as she said “I-t’s not your fault! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!”

“Why?” Yir said somewhat shocked.

“I should have, maybe if I tried harder-” Davanda was full of regret.

“It’s not your fault my sparkle.”

“sniffle I-I-”

“You are one of the few things that brightened my life. I’ve fought against the growing shadows for so long that… well… it does not matter. Please, promise me…”

“Anything.” Davanda whispered.

“Don’t let… them… use my power unjustly.”

She had no more tears but Davanda’s eyes narrowed in sorrow. “I will.”

“Undo what divides.”

“I will.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“Thank you… I am sorry it had to end this way. I never got to hear all your stories after all… hearing you talk of the world, it certainly gave me the will to fight on. When... I'm gone... do not cry for me, please.” Yir said with relief and dread, yet as she was staring up Davanda noticed Yir’s form falling to one side. They were crying. “I’ll still be here, though I won’t be able to hear any more of your stories, or see… see my son again. I’ll never leave you, not even death may stop me. And as long as my light shines… there will be hope for a better tomorrow. I promise.”

Davanda could not say anything in return, she just sniffled even as her heart felt stabbed, she’d keep the bravest face she could for Yir.

“My only regret now is that I could not see what the future has in store; however... it may be right I did not. Goodbye… oh, one last thing, could you tell my son goodbye for me as well? Please.”

Reaching deep, deep down Davanda almost reflexively tried to fulfil Yir’s wish. Reaching out with her own light she did something, but did not really understand what it was. It stirred something in Yir, enough to make them say.

“Ah… is this it? It’s… better than I imagined. Thank you…” Yir said, falling into their death slumber.

“Mother no…” Davanda softly wailed, unable to process the death in front of her. She could barely breathe, her body trembled as she felt weak and nauseated; and she would have fallen over had not gentle hands caught her.

“Davanda!” Dinel said, suddenly appearing from behind her and hugged her tight.

“Father?” Davanda said with a tremble, unsure what to believe at the moment. She weakly reached out her arms to touch his back, slowly and unsure, but when her hands touched his robes she suddenly held on tight not wanting him to go. “Father!… I’m so sorry…!”

“Shhh, you did nothing wrong dear.” He said, a mixture of emotions being held in check from what Davanda could tell as she looked down from his shoulder at his neck and back.

“Bu-but I did not, I could not, I should of-” Davanda said, hating herself and her weakness.

Dinel leaned back and gentilly (but firmly) used one of his hands to get Davanda to look him in the eyes. “You did all you could, I know it. I might not understand what has occurred but-”

Suddenly before the two stood Valrion about five feet from the pair. Valrion was twenty feet tall, in melted and broken armor, scorch marks across their entire frame. The only part of them that was not blacked was their eyes which were hollow sockets with golden light inside them. In their hands the god-slaying axe twice the height of Dinel was in perfect condition, it’s own brilliance only lessened minutely by the golden ichor that dripped from the edge of the blade.

It was a monstrous sight to behold; however, the worst thing though for Davanda was that when she looked at Valrion she could feel nothing from them. When they spoke, it was alien, artificial, reminiscent of something metallic “I̵͘͜'̵̡͇̕m̷͍̽̈́ ̵̣́͑s̸͎̍o̵̖̒r̶̫̠̔ř̸͈̑ẙ̵̤̝.̴̩͔̇”

Davanda could not hold back her horror, her fear, and everything else that pained her from the sight; she screamed while uncontrollably trembling in fear, before disappearing in a pillar of light.

Dinel was similarly shocked and fearful of Valrion, his heart furiously beating in terror as he looked upon Valrion’s visage. Yet as he was trying to form words he saw Valrion fall on their knees, hands covering their face (they let the axe drop to the ground), a strange noise escaping. It was so strange a noise that it took Dinel a few moments to realize even up close as they were (less than a foot apart now), that Valrion was crying. “L̵e̸a̸v̷e̶ ̸m̷e̷,̷ I̴'̴m̵ ̸a̷ ̵m̷o̴n̴s̸t̶e̴r̶ ̸a̴n̵d̶ ̶s̷h̵e̷ ̴n̵e̶e̷d̴s̷ ̵y̸o̵u̷.̵” Valrion sobbed out.

Confused Dinel spoke out “Val? I… I don’t know what this is, I don’t know what has occurred in full, but please let me help.” he said as he reached out a hand, it tore at him that when he touched their face they did not even flinch from pain, but raising their face for him to look at closely let him see something that reassured him “Valrion, please, it’s not ok to be alone. Not after what you’ve been through. Please let me stay with you.”

Golden droplets flowed from the inside of Valrion’s sockets and fell on the ground with a sound that resembled sparks (they were hot). A metallic squealing came out of Valrion as they cried and shrunk at the same time. It sounded like creaking metal, cracking stone, as they were warping and shaping themselves slowly. It looked painful, but Dinel was able to clearly make out what Valrion said next “Why?”

“Because I want to be with you Val, I love you. I’ll never stop loving you because it’s always been clear to me that together we’ll get through anything, even when life is not easy.” Dinel said as gently as he could (incredibly worried for Davanda), kissing Valrion on the forehead.

Radiating from the point of contact Valrion’s skin changed from blackened to a living pale white across their face, shoulders, and down their arms. Hair appeared suddenly, unkept and wild. But their eyes did not return, nor did they smile, but instead just slumped over exhausted into Dinel’s arms “Thank you… I love you… thank you.” they said before falling asleep, the strain of today too much for them.

Dinel held Valrion, shocked at what had occured (and a little proud of how he reacted) looked down at Valrions face for a time trying to wrap his head around the situation he stumbled upon. He did not want to go, but the scream that Davanda made echoed in his mind and he began to shake in worry while feeling supremely conflicted.

Footsteps could be heard running up the stairs to the top of Holy High, as they stopped Dinel turned around to see Ulmor there, eyes narrowing at the sight before him. “What is this? Is that- is that her?”

“Yes” Dinel said looking back at Valrion’s face “it is her.”

“What happened?!” Ulmor almost yelled, hurrying to the pair’s side and kneeling down.

“I don’t know in full, something with Yir, something terrible; but… we cannot do much about that. Ulmor” Dinel said looking at the man’s face “I need you to watch over her for a bit, Davanda she’s, she was here and saw more than I did, and ran away. Please I-”

Ulmor nodded while interrupting “I saw something of the like. I understand, go, I will tend to her”

Dinel hesitated, did not want to let go of Valrion, but nonetheless let Ulmor take hold of Valrion and stepped away from them. “I will be back. I love you Val, I’ll never be far.” was what he was able to get out before his enchanted ring took him back to Theshana.

Ulmor looked down at Valrion, confused as to what was happening, then began to carry them down the stairs back to their home to rest.

[flyinglemur]

The leaf flew above the mighty ocean, in search of its master. Petr held a special place in Dulnori’s mind, they were afterall the first foreigner to ever visit his homeland. The leaf felt that familiar divine signature in one of the new sea spires, and touched down in front of them.

“Hello Petr, I’ve come to thank you for helping me against the fire demon, and to ask a favor of you, something that may be very important to my people.” As Dulnori said this the leaf dissolved, and he took on golem shape.

Petr is standing upon an open, flat surface of coral. The current upper floor of slowly growing coral. The spire glows faintly of golden and pink hues in the setting sun, and under the direction of the water god, the coral continues to grow before ones very eyes. ”Dulnori.” Petr inclines their head slightly in greeting. ”An ambitious ploy of yours indeed. I must admit, you did not offer much time to consider my options.” They shake their head slowly. ”But that is not why you’re here. What favour is it that you would ask of me Golem?”

The golem smiled, this reception was warmer than he expected. “It’s simple. I need to borrow the moon mother of pearls to convert a river near Rokanon into your healing water. That alone would effectively solve the problem of Dramos bloodlust, and cut the severity of disease in humans. A rift in my society would be stitched back together. Name your price.”

”The Moon Mother of Pearls isn’t a trinket to just be bartered and sold. It is an important part of Sanctuary, and soon these spires. Before we even begin mentioning a price… your task, as you say it at least, is good. The Dramos do need help to limit their curse. But… you empowered Leviathan. A creature a massive threat, especially to this project of mine.” Petr looks straight towards Dulnori, a thoughtful frown on their face. ”Why?”

Dulnori had to take a moment to think, it wasn’t an easy explanation. “I had two options that day. Possible death in the future, or guaranteed death in the present. It was a hard choice, but I did it for the sake of my people. I gave Leviathan only a small fraction of my power, and believed the others would do enough to weaken it. Yir and Ymon-thal especially I didn’t expect to aid it. If I knew then what I know now, I’m not sure I would’ve done the same. Just know that I did what I thought would save more lives. That’s always been my goal Petr, from the time of the first pact.”

”Hrm… I am still not entirely satisfied. To protect yours, you put mine at risk. You may have the steppe sail upon the ocean, but even before this.” Petr gestures to the spire rising up before them. ”The people under my care lived upon the ocean. I need you to understand the risk you’ve placed upon them.”

“I understand that Petr, and I’ll help however I can. Leviathan’s strength right now comes mostly from Yir’s blessings, without that, it’s cowardly and will flee from pain. Yir is gone now, and won’t be able to oppose my interference with Leviathan. These spires are the key. Yir’s power was always based on a principle of failure, preventing justice from happening, making something off limits by declaring it above the world. He even applied it to himself, hiding in his shell so we couldn’t ever be hurt. But I’ve finally proven that his majesty was a lie. With enough willpower, anything is possible. I can empower these spires and the people on them to break through Leviathan’s armor. All the lies that surround him will be eroded into nothing. He’s just a big animal, sent by Timorin all those centuries ago to make a trip more interesting through bloodshed. I’m tired of pretending otherwise. ” Dulnori pauses for a moment, “Valrion should be able to help too, their connection to Yir’s old energy should make it easy for them to strengthen the spires against Leviathan, and I’m sure they’d help if you ask.

When Dulnori finishes he turns into the worm, and for a moment he seems to disappear, digging through the energy being broadcast by the spires, and growing fat on it. It has the sweet taste of the human mind that he has come to love. “I can do even more Petr. You want to answer prayers even when you're gone, and to do that you’re trying to reach the subconscious mind. I mastered both of those things when I became the worm. I’ve already started building my dream network, who better to help build yours? Does that rectify things?”

Petr watches quietly as Dulnori gets to work. Their face betraying not a thought as they watch Dulnori weave their divine will into the construction. ”Willpower indeed. Mortal will is a precious gift, one that should be empowered and nourished so mortals can reach ever greater heights. Your support in these endeavours, in my hope to empower mortals to help mortals… it is appreciated. It does not rectify things, because that can only be earned through time. But...” Petr glances out towards the ocean. ”After Leviathan, I felt hurt and betrayed. I did… do still consider the empowering to have been an attack on me. Afterwards I was angry. So very, very angry. Some part of me does not want to forgive, nor forget. Another part of me sees all that you do. Sees that, no matter what missteps may have happened along the way…I think we both ultimately want many of the same things for mortalkind. And I do want us, and our people, to come together in strength and harmony.” She makes a simple gesture, conjuring up an image of the pearl as it rests within Sanctuary. ”The pearl is still required for one final task. After which, it may be best for you to borrow it right after, so that mortalkind does not build up rituals that they might risk losing… I will allow you to borrow the pearl. But it comes with a few important caveats. The pearl will be guarded by a small group of people, chosen by my son. They will ensure that the pearl is delivered to a location of your choosing, and ensure that it returns once the river has been properly blessed. I also expect you to offer assistance in it’s safekeeping. If anything happens to the pearl while in your care, I expect you to assist in reclaiming, repairing or reconstructing it. Whatever may be called for. And for a price. At one point in the future, you will offer support for a move of mine, no matter what as long as it does not directly harm your people. Do these terms sound agreeable to you?”

The worm lifts its head, “I accept this pact. You are kind Petr, between the two of us and Valrion I think the world is in safe hands. Glory to sanctuary. Glory to the Master of Oceans. Glory to mortalkind.” He then says more quietly, “Nestellbam’s blood debt is repaid.”

Spoiler: Help Petr

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First an aid to the wealth of the spires.

+2 Fortune- The spires will be trade hubs, and be naturally blessed with mineral wealth, so as to always have things available for export.

+1 Sailing- The spires shall be safe to sail to and from, and lost sailors may find themselves guided to the spires by fair winds.
And then an aid to safety.

+2 Ambition- Dulnori gives his power to the spires. The people there will be blessed with great will, and this determination will be made manifest against Leviathan. Those born on the spires, or who have lived there for a very long time, will have a natural ability to bypass Leviathan’s defenses, their strength of will breaking through his pretended majesty.

+1 Dreams- Dulnori strengthens the Spire’s mental powers, and creates the Petrian Dream Network, (PDN). The dreams of the islanders will flow and bleed into each other, such that they will have a unique subconscious awareness of each other's problems. A looming crisis in one island may be predicted by another, and the most powerful islanders will, in their sleep, hear the prayers of the people and be driven to aid them, especially any Su’Sorcerers on the islands like Nerassus.

[AlexanderML]

Valrion, Dulnori, Ulmor, and Others - Valrion’s Bedroom on Holy High:

When Valrion awoke the first thing she was able to focus on was the pain she felt, a lingering sort of aching that wracked her mind and made her skin itch and burn. She tried to open her eyes, but nothing happened; she tried again even harder trying to move their face to just solicit some change, but nothing happened except they could tell that she had a bandage on her shoulders.

Moving her arms the itching feeling intensified and noise could be heard next to her. “Valrion, are you awake?” She heard what they presumed to be Ulmor say.

“Y-yes, where am I?” she asked, her voice weak but normal.

She heard Ulmor give two laughing/sighing breaths before he responded “Your room. It’s a bit of a mess at the moment, the healers didn’t know what to do. They ended up just covering you with more icelilly oil than I ever seen go on a person before wrapping you up like a doll.” She could hear Ulmor take in a sudden breath. “I’m so happy you're alive, Valrion.”

Valrion smiled as much as they could at that, and lifted a hand in the general direction where Ulmor was. Pulling a bit of mana they looked out to see his soul, almost frowning when she saw it, because being able to look at him again let her feel just how devastatingly worried and sad he was for her as he took her hand.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Valrion said, starting to remember what had occurred.

Ulmor pulled her hand up to his face, she noticed that he made it warm. “It’s ok, it’ll all be alright now. Everything will get better, I promise.” They stayed like this for a long time.

-

A while later, the golem arrived. He crashed in suddenly through a crack in space, his arms wide and his smile wider, failing completely to read the room, “Glory to the New Dawn. Sorry for not visiting earlier, I needed to resolve some lingering issues with my society. Let’s focus on you though. You are the first of your kind, the first new god. How does the power feel?” Dulnori spoke in a boisterous tone, waving his arms in grand gestures.

There were more people in the room now. Ulmor was still by Valrion's side (holding her hand on the bed), but Rachel and Elmwood were standing in the room as well talking about some matter with Valrion when Dulnori crashed into the room. The immortals for their part immediately placed laws of anti-teleportation and physical barriers to make it an impossibility to get near Valrion unless you were Ulmor (though such laws could not affect a god), though besides readying themselves they did not say or do anything else.

Ulmor for his part gave a furious look at Dulnori, rage at the sudden intrusion into Valrion's recovery and (unknown to him) his own grief. "How dare you-" he began before Valrion squeezed his hand, stopping him. He took in a breath to calm himself as Valrion spoke.

''It's ok Ulmor... he means well, please don't be mad at him." Valrion said raising her head more to properly look at Dulnori. "It's not like... how I remember at all. But I guess that's my fault as well..."

Dulnori was taken aback at Valrion’s state, their weakened body, and especially their contrite voice. He resolved to fix that.

First he spoke to calm the giants, “I apologize for my suddenness. I’m Dulnori, maker of dreams. And I could never harm the rising star.”

Then he turned to Valrion, “What do you mean by ‘my fault’? What do you have to feel sorry about? You’ve done all you promised Valrion, better than anyone could’ve possibly imagined. They are already singing songs of you, and will do so forever. You’ve freed your people, and saved countless lives. This is a victory for the world.” He paused for a moment, “So why do you seem so sad?.”

The mortals in the room recognized Dulnori's name, having different reactions. Ulmor's eyes widened a bit realizing who they were angrily speaking to, Rachel gave a chuckle at Ulmor's expense, and Elmwood did not seem to care and continued to stay ready to try and intercede should something happen.

Valrion heard what Dulnori said and got a pained expression from their question. "I-Davanda, I should have, but I could not." Valrion's breathing was irregular and the bandages around her eye sockets began to stain gold. "I saw her heart break when she looked at me. I ruined everything for her."

Ulmor instantly gave a hand squeeze to Valrion with a quick and soft "Shh, it's not your fault. It'll get better."

The golem became the worm, and wrapped himself around Valrion’s arm, “Davanda is young, and confused. One day she’ll understand why we did this. And remember, this was for her as well. Davanda will grow up in a world that isn’t in the shadow of Yir. That’s better for everyone, including her. We saved your family Valrion, just as much as we saved the world.”

Valrion seemed to take Dulnori's words only mildly well, calming herself. "She was so scared, of me, and full of grief. It's hard to feel like it's for the better even if I know it is. I should of-" she was beginning to spiral back into crying when Ulmor once again squeezed Valrion's hand.

"You could not know, it's not your fault." He said as gently as he could.

"I'm sorry." Valrion said lowering her head while directing what they said to both Ulmor and Dulnori "Thank you, for all your help. Thinking back to what would have happened if I did not fight back, I know it had to be done, but my heart still aches."

It was becoming clear to Dulnori that he could do no more, and he figured it best to leave Valrion in more capable hands. Before crawling off the worm said this to Valrion, “Your grief is natural, and in time you will come to terms with it,” and he said this to the whole room, These burns are an illusion. A god has complete control over their body, Valrion just has a mental block. She is fated to recover as this trauma passes. She and Davanda will have all eternity to spend together.

The mortals in the room seemed to get an uncomfortable look on their faces, but Valrion smiled. "It's true, my appearance and pain are but the scars of the mind... not the physical. I... I wish I was less attached to my body, I've never had the mind to be able to freely move like you Dulnori." she seemed to hold some admiration in her voice when she said that. Though she seemed to fight it, she frowned thinking of Davanda, but did not say anything.

“You will learn in time. You have the power. If you need me, I’ll be in Rokanon. Goodbye, shining star.” With that the worm was gone.

"Goodbye, thank you." Valrion tried to get out with a small wave as Dulnori left.

[Godzillarich]

Graw teleported back onto Thalia's ship, he was in his tongue form realizing that his regular form kind scares people. Cheek riding upon his back he approached Thalia "I have come to make the deal with the one.” Graw then bowed at her. "Give me the pickax and I will immortalize you.”

Thalia turns to Graw with a slight look of annoyance. "Well met Lord Graw. Oh yes I'm fine. Would you like a cup of tea? Oh no? Then let's get down to business. You seem to have misunderstood the agreement. You grant my position the longevity it needs and then you will have your pickaxe returned to you."

Graw bowed. "It shall be done.” he then raised his front foot towards Thalia "I shall make your position eternal.”

Thalia nods.

Spoiler

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12 AP/8 DC: immortalize the position of hope
+2 knowledge: The position of hope will have great knowledge and understanding of the rest of the world. This will allow them to be a great political negotiator being able to stop many inevitable wars before they begin.
+2 heroism: has a sense of duty and obligation to make sure not only their fellow cult members but everyone has a safer healthier life
+1 writing: they will also be great record keepers
+1 singing: a common factor of all Hopes is having an absolutely beautiful singing voice.

[AlexanderML]

Grawissen, Cheek, Davanda- Holy High and later Dinel’s Workshop :

A knock came from the door of the main palace deep into the night. The two who stood by the door were Graw in his tongue form and Cheek. "Remember Cheek she has lost someone close to her, it is best that we try not to upset her.

Cheek nodded. “...I understand loss pretty well. I’ll try not to make a scene.”

There was a lot of noise from behind the pair as there seemed to be a small crowd gathered covering the small road up to the palace end to end, carrying lanterns, candles, and other glowing objects. Most of them were confused after hearing about what happened to Valrion and hearing rumors surrounding Yir; some were angry at the lack of information from the emperor, others remained calm while waiting for answers as to what happened. In front of the crowd were two large figures, who both looked over to see the divine pair teleport in. One of them put a hand to his forehead saying “I know them, let me deal with them.” before taking a step and appearing in front of the doors. It was Wickered, his shining form no less dim than normal nor his face worn with stress, even if his weary eyes suggested otherwise. “Grawissen, what business do you have here?”

”I have come to speak with Davanda.” Graw mumbled at the towering figure. ”I want to comfort her about the recent tragedy that has happened. I mean no harm.” Many were shocked by the demand, a lonely foreign tiny tongue and terror had the gall to ask to meet the Princess.

Cheek looked around the confusion. “Why is everyone look so shocked? We are just meeting somebody? I talked to Nera all the time back in my school days. why is Davanda off-limits for a pep talk?”

"That's... odd. Grawissen have you informed them as to what happened?" Wicker said with an eyebrow raised at Cheeks "We have precious little solid information at the moment, but a tragedy befallen the imperial family and... something has happened to Yir. Some of this has already reached the masses, and they are asking questions we do not have answers to." Wickered put a hand to his face "Lady Davanda... she fled the palace, at least that's what Rachel has said. She's probably in Theshana, at Dinel's workshop there along the upper spires. I... argh, I was told not to visit her but it's not like anyone told you that."

Wickered looked to the crowd then back at the dino-folk. "If you do go to lady Davanda, could you tell me if she is alright?"

Graw nodded, ”I will inform you do not worry.” Graw then look to Cheek. ”Do not be rude Cheek, Yir’s people have a sense of pride about themselves, most of them do not know who we are so it’s understandable for them to be quite shocked by our demands.” Graw then started to walk away.we tellI am sure she will be fine, pain is temporary even if it does leave a scar.”[/COLOR]

“Wait!” Cheek yelled out as he pulled out a bunch of pamphlets and handed it to Wick. “There is this weird scary tongue that demanded us to go talent searching for foreign actors, so please consider so she to stop yelling at me.”

Wickered looked relieved somewhat as he brushed back his hair with his hand "Thank you, Dinel's home is quite noticeable due to it's hovering dock, so you should not be able to miss it if you are close by." Wickered began to snicker a bit at what Cheeks said "An interesting proposal coming from you, I'll make some time when I can to see how I can help."
________

Theshana

Cheek walked across the snowy ground in a full-body cloak, he knew what he had to do and that Graw couldn’t do this but that didn’t make him any more worried. “I just hope he’s ready to step in if this goes south…” Cheek thought to himself, he came across the home of the demigod and knocked on her door.

Some ruffling could be heard from inside "Oh, coming!" a man's voice said. It took a while, things could be hear to be pushed to the side and something might have crashed hard onto the ground by the time the bar holding the door was removed and the door opened slightly revealing the tired face of Dinel, and that from what Cheek could see the inside was only a little messy(?). Dinel seemed a little surprised to see Cheeks "Greetings... legionnaire? Is there something I can do for you?"

“Uhh….” Cheek was lost for words, he was so positively Hairy, like a Sasquatch. “Um yes I want to see the Princess.”

Dinel's face immediately dropped and his voice dropped considerably in volume "Please, come back later... my poor girl is resting at the moment after a terrible incident."

Cheek put on the best puppy dog face he could. "You might not know me, but I've met Davanda before and I know she went through something. Is it ok if I try to say something to cheer her up?"

Dinel was visibly affected by the raptor's puppy dog eyes, Cheeks could see how he wanted to say 'come in' but hesitated "I, well... I suppose if you're a friend of her's it would be alright. Please... um, excuse me legionnaire, what is your name? I am Dinel Frostford." he said extending his hand while opening the door more.
Cheek smiled “I’m Cheek, nice to meet you…” he then shook his hand “let’s get going.”

_______

Dinel escorted Cheeks through their small home, past the entryway to the small dining area, down the hall (where the sky-deck could be seen at the far end through a crude window), and into one next to one of the side rooms. As they were walking Dinel whispered "She's barely slept, only once since it happened." he said in warning. He motioned for Cheeks to be quite as he knocked on the door. "Dear, are you awake?"

"... Yes." came Davanda's tired response, muffled by the door and her bed.

"A friend of yours is here, is it ok to come in?" Dinel said cautiously.

"Mm'hm" Davanda muffled out, the sound of her bed moving could be heard. It seemed to actual give some relief to Dinel to hear this.

Dinel opened the door revealing Davanda's room. Far better kept than the rest of the house, and while it was spacious it did not seem that large compared to Davanda's full size (far bigger than when Cheeks last saw her). The bed (which was a complete mess at the moment) took up most of the room's space, with a normal sized desk and dresser being the only other furniture.

Davanda herself was wearing wrinkled sleeping clothes, dark lines under her eyes, seeming to need to hold herself up with her hands on the bed. Seeing her father first she gave a smile, but then noticed Cheeks she squinted at them. She began to shrink to around her father's height, removing the dark lines under her eyes, but her stare did not waver. "Hello, Cheeks? Where's Graw?"

Then her stomach growled, ruining her slowly growing menacing look. Dinel did not hesitate to say "Oh dear do you want a snack to eat?"

Davanda's hands gripped the bed a little as she looked down embarrassed "Yes father.".

"Alright then, I'll leave you to be for now." Dinel said as he left to prepare something, maybe jerky and cheese since Cheeks was here…

Both of them stared at each other in awkward silence. “I came here by myself…” Cheek spat out nervously “I wanted to make sure you were fine since… The incidence…” Cheek did not feel comfortable lying to her but revealing Graw was setting this up would not be a good idea considering why she was upset. “I feel like you may need some comforting.”

Davanda gave a sigh "Thank you I'll get better... soon, I have to. But” Davanda frowned “Cheeks… I- I don't want to be comforted by you. My head hurts thinking about you, about Graw, a-and about what they did." Davanda put her head in her hands. "I'm sorry."

Cheek tilted his head “I really hope Graw knows what he’s doing” Cheek thought to himself as he sat beside her. “Pain is something I know too well. Long ago I lost my mother to a raid. I watched her die right in front of me as she tried to protect me and a few years ago I lost my teacher who died protecting me as well. I felt many emotions, pain, sadness, anger but mostly... guilt like you right now.” he then nudged closer to her, “but living with that pain every day of your life isn’t going to bring them back, and there are still people worried about you back home. When I was there they asked me to make sure you’re alright. They need you right now and as much as you may not feel it you need them right now.”

Davanda looked at Cheeks with tears in her eyes obviously trying to hold them back as best she could, her cheeks red and her hands trembling with emotion. "You... you think it was good too, don't you? To murder Yir. For her, Graw, and so many others to do that... how could they?" Davanda was crying again "They always tried their best! Yir might have made mistakes but they just needed someone there for them! I never should have left home. It's all my fault!"

Cheeks could hear the soft footsteps of Dinel as he stayed just out of sight, coming to check on what was going on while not interrupting.

Cheek got up “I am sorry for what has happened, I had no control of what happens to the gods I am in no position to say you shouldn’t be angry but your people still need you.” He then walked to the door. “Davanda, next time we meet I hope it’s on better terms.” He then walked out the door. He passed by Dinel, “I tried my best to cheer her up. I’m hoping my words will have meaning when she calms down.”

Dinel had a bit of an awkward frown as he nodded to Cheeks before entering the room to try and speak with Davanda.

Cheek walked outside the house and a familiar tongue was waiting. “I couldn’t get through to her.”

(Music)

Graw walked up to his friend. ”But you did not fail.”

Cheek looked in annoyance. “How exactly was that a success, it didn’t make her feel much any better?”

”There are no magical words to get rid of grief...” Graw told his small friend as he looked to the sky. ”...but she must be reminded of those she loves and still has. This will help her wounds heal quicker.” Cheek hopped on Graw back. ”We must tell her friends she’s fine and then we will go to sanctuary.” and with that they disappeared.

[Garjel_blah]

Sanctuary

Graw arrived on sanctuary in a bright flash of light, his companion Cheek. “I can never get used to that” cheek said as he attempted to focus his eyes. “... Can you not make it so flas…” Cheek then noticed Graw staring off in the distance, holding onto his rib cage. “...um anything wrong Graw.”

“Nothing… The bone God simply replied. “Still feel shaken... since getting... my power back.” they then went on their way, towards Petr residence.

The two have barely walked five steps before Petr manifests before them, nodding to Graw. "Welcome." The watery form turns to Cheek, nodding softly. "To you as well mortal. It's been a while Grawissen. What are you doing here?"

“I have... Graw then stopped himself and then collapsed onto his knees.

“Graw?” Cheek yelled you as he noticed his friend was visibly shaking. “What is wrong…”

“I GOD...THAT FEELING AGAIN!” Graw yell as he got back up. “WHY DO I FEEL IT HERE! WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE!”

Petr frowns and kneels down. "What's wrong?" They extend their hand over Graw, conjuring up a thin, gentle mist that washes over the bones.

Graw kept patting, still visibly shaken from what he was feeling, Petr help that was calm his nerves. He looked up at Petr “I’m sorry… But it’s… The same feeling… The same feeling I felt… Before I went… Into my near-death… It’s faint… It still feels like a knife… Cutting mortal flesh…

Cheeks Eyes then lit up “Nera took stuff from Graws ancient city over the years? Could one of those things being involved in this?”

"Wait, are you talking about the Blood Fang?" Petr frowns. "A knife was found deep within the bowels of University grounds. A peculiar artifact of divine power. Nerassus is gathering a team to research the object."

Graw looked to in the eyes “Bring me… To the knife… Immediately...

They two gods and the entourage hastened to India Kroft's office, where she had been working to assemble a team to study the knife. When they arrived, however, they found it empty. Only a faint cloud of swirling glowloam spore filled the air, the sign of a recently activated Chern diviworld device...

---

The Diviworld

India Kroft entered the hall of the gods under the cover of night, hourglass in one hand and dagger in the other. The moon shone down at her through a tall, ornate window. She wondered if the sun would ever rise again on a diviworld without Yir.

Inside the great castle, which was wreathed in shadow but for the glow of the Chern-crafted hourglass, India gazed up at the many great works of the pantheon. As an archaeologist, she should have felt giddy awe at the sight of so much grand history, yet...

She looked down at the Blood Dagger. This one, relatively small and unassuming length of sharpened bone was older and more significant than anything she could find in this reality. She had known this at a subliminal level ever since the moment she'd found it in the ancient foundations of Grawopolis. Having now met many of the gods themselves, she knew it for sure. Everything she'd ever studied, all the the achievements of mortal and god alike, were dwarfed by this one unfathomably timeless relic.

It was a sobering thought, even depressing. Her life's work had been refuted, but there was something to take its place. The Blood Dagger had, after all, chosen her to find it. Perhaps her calling, higher than even that of the gods, was to enact its will.

India Kroft had an idea of what that will might be.

Holding aloft the hourglass, India disappeared back into the mortal world.

---

The 1st Justice University

It was office hours for the Professor of Archaeology, and as usual they were being woefully underutilised. That was until an old student of his appeared out of thin air in front of him, almost startling him out of his chair.

"India?!" he sputtered. "Good heavens, girl, you almost gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry about that." India smiled. "I just wanted to check in on that research proposal."

"The- Oh! For the dagger."

India nodded slowly. The professor shifted uncomfortably.

"Yes, yes. I would of course be interested in joining. It's the opportunity of a lifetime! Though you still haven't given me details on exactly-"

The professor was interrupted by a half foot of bone being thrust through his throat. Blood spilled down his front and onto his desk, soaking the dagger along with the hand holding it. India retracted the dagger slowly, then grabbed him gently by the collar. Her inquisitive eyes met his bulging, terrified ones.

"We're going to learn a lot together, professor," she said, as together they vanished. Only blood was left behind.

---

The Diviworld

The professor's corpse was left in the hall of the gods, as India returned to the mortal realm to continue her recruitment. All the academics she'd contacted in the past weeks were visited, and then promptly sacrificed, using the power of the hourglass to travel instantly. Their bodies littered the marble floor, then piled. Soon India ran out of academics contacts, but there was still more blood to spill.

---

Central Axia

Two young women trekked beneath the vast Promised Land, carrying ceramic pots brimming with fresh water. They needed to walk farther and farther to find a good well these days, with the recent dryness, and tried to occupy their anxious minds with idle chatter about the village boys. They laughed and exchanged sly grins, but all revelry ceased when they found their path suddenly blocked by a bloodsoaked stranger. She said something, in a language the girls didn't know. With incidences of Horizon hunters, warrior Giants, and now Indariel colonisers running thick through their people's history, the two girls didn't need any more prompting to drop their pots and flee screaming.

It didn't save them. Their corpses ended up in the Diviworld too.

---

The Diviworld

So much blood was now spilled on the marble floor that it was now stained crimson from wall to wall. India looked down at her reflection in the blood. There was only one final life to give.

India knelt, then slowly, calmly, brought the dagger up to her throat. The line she drew was straight, precise. The blood welled an spilled in one smooth, unbroken line. When it was done, India laid the weapon down carefully in front of her, and with a straight back she raised her arms as if in rapturous prayer. When she spoke, her words gurgled.

"Gods... Hear me..."

Reality rippled with her message.

I speak for the reality beyond your meager domains.

Know that you are not eternal, as we are.

Know that you are not all-encompassing, as we are.

Know that you will be ignored no longer, as we have done thus far.

The age of the Tyrant cometh.

The age of the Titan looms.

We stalked this rock long before its spawn dreamed you into being.

And it will be ours to stalk again.

The endless age of Chaos is inescapable.

Spoiler: Anomalous Action!

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The Blood Dagger will use India Kroft to announce a prophesy

+2 Sacrifice

+100 BP

The prophesy foretells three main things; the coming of a Tyrant, the coming of a Titan, and the coming of Chaos. In the subsequent ages, the gods will have to deal with these three things on top of their regular godly activities, similarly to how they dealt with the Blood Dagger this age.

I have alluded to this in the past, and the reception was not as positive as I might have hoped. For me it is now irrelevant, as I do not intend to GM this game past this age, but since I have spent so much time planning for this prophesy I thought I might as well get it out there. Whether your new GM goes through with it will be discussed in discord.

[Demonjazz]

The Capital City, Alatadriel, 30/100AP
Alatadriel had called nearly the entire Empire together this day as she stood poised over a table. "I have gathered you today so that you may be the first to recognize one of the greatest moments of history that will ever be witnessed in anyone's lives. It is my magnum opus. Not as clumsy and random as sorcery. More elegant magic, for a more civilized age. With the deepest aplomb and brightest of welcomes. I introduce to humanity that of ALCHEMY!"

Spoiler: Action

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20AP/16 DC: Create a law of Reality, Alchemy
+2 Fire
+1 Bees from Windbees
+1 Fertility, the Rejuvenation decanter is an amazing fertilizer.
+2 Foxes, The Hua-Ling start to spread manuals and treatises on alchemy far and wide wherever they may be found to new humans.

Alchemy is based around what has become to be known as elements. These ‘elements’ are found in nature in various new flora and fauna invented with this action. Concentrated in some area of the body. These creatures and plants are stonebug, earthtuber, flameapple, windbees, moonmoth, shadowweevil, deathshroom, and healthbark. These are populated fairly regularly throughout the world but are more concentrated in areas that are more associated with their elements. Shadowweevils are typically in the shadow of a mountain, flameapples are typically in hot locations, etc. This newly created life can never truly die. If any large area is depopulated of them over time they will simply reappear in the environment with enough to maintain a stable population. This does not stop any of the resources from being overharvested though, this is simply to stop extinction.
This life has no particularly special qualities too, beyond it being able to be ground up for alchemy other than having appearances that would connotate their element. The insects are unbound from any negative karma that would be inflicted upon them.

Once the part of the body is located upon the life and extracted, it can then be ground up, the paste that is made is then further distilled into a more base element form and becomes a decanter. A viscous liquid substance that unless otherwise specified follows traditional fluid dynamics. The Decanters are held in anywhere from one to ten ounce glass bottles with airtight stoppers (Larger amounts are possible of course, but very rare) and are not reactive until opened. Upon putting the stopper back into place, the decanter will after a few minutes lose it’s reactivity until opened again.
However, this potent form cannot be safely used on mortals. Due to the varying levels of toxicity that upon contact with their skin can cause anywhere from skin irritation to insanity to death. Depending on the variety of decanter, length of contact and amount. To make these elements safe for mortal use it must be mixed together in a mortar and pestle with some other substance. Neutralizing the element into a salve. While it may have some limited uses on other forms of life, the salve is only a 100% effective on mortals and will have no effect on non-living substances.

Stone Salve: Mixed together with bitter roots you can neutralize the element of Stone for human use. Applying it to your skin you’re able to give your skin the resilience of stone. Typically manifesting in a stone like appearance and texture to your skin but a talented enough alchemist can remove these qualities with the correct mixture if so desired.

Stone Decanter: Working with liquid stone is a tricky matter. Upon leaving the bottle, the stone quickly dries over what is poured and turns into a hard stone. Somewhat equivalent to quick drying cement though harder to break. Due to the nature of alchemy though only small amounts can be made, leading to liquid stone being used primarily as a bonding agent. Similar to glue, but with a tensile strength far above even modern day industrial adhesives, allowing it to be used for many more industrial uses.

Earth Salve: Mixed together with grain, when a salve of Earth is applied to your skin, it makes your body soft and malleable. While uniquely unpleasant, and making it very hard to move. There are some practical uses to this. Particularly in surgery, the ability to easily cut through parts of the body greatly benefits procedures. Or even something as simple as setting a bone into place. The salve however does not last very long, a bit less than five minutes before it must be applied again.

Earth Decanter: Liquid Earth can be used for a variety of uses as it seems to have a semi-telepathic link to its user. The magical energies of the earth intertwine into an object allowing the one who poured it onto the object to reinforce their will onto the object to some degree. If you would need a treated metal to be softer, it will do so. If you believe that you need something harder it will naturally reinforce itself. This is used primarily for working metals not only as a way to reinforce the flame decanter's power, but because the effects of the Earth decanter will eventually run out after several hours. Making it mainly useless for building materials and treating plants.

… Oh, and it won’t make your food taste better… Because you just poured dirt onto it.

Flame Salve: Mixed together with a spicy pepper, the element of flames is neutralized into a mostly harmless substance. Typically one applies a touch to the skin, typically the chest and it will keep your body at stable temperature throughout the day. Applying more salve to your skin does not increase the length of its effects. It will increase the intensity of the effects, but unless a very large amount is spread over your skin it will not go past a mild fever and some mild burns.

Flame Decanter: Liquid Flame is strangely… Cold. It is indeed no more hot than boiling water, and has similar effects when poured onto other substances at first touch. Instead liquid flame slowly leaches its heat into its environment over a long course of time. The gentle boiling liquid when poured onto substances can reach a point in which it could melt through stone. But only if left for days on the substance. And this can only be reached when left that way. The magical properties of the element stops it from burning things at first touch regardless of how long the element has been active in the environment. The heat does of course not affect the glass it is held in, and is triggered when coming into contact with a non-glass solid. This may also work with mixing into liquids, though the longevity of the potion is lessened by a factor seven only lasting for one day, and the intensity of the reaction halved. Weakened further by dilutions larger than 10:1.

For most flammable objects such as wood, cloth or tinder, a drop will start a fire in roughly five to ten minutes depending on the dryness, and other flammability factors. Humans and other large animals are harder to catch fire taking a rather agonizing thirty minutes of soft boiling before fully catching fire. Depending on the desired temperature point to work your metals it can take anywhere from three hours to that of a day and a half.. Reheating the metal will under most circumstances take the same amount of time unless you treat it beforehand with a decanter of earth, in which case the time will be cut down to only slightly longer than what one would expect from a standard forge. The effect of the potion on its environment will last for a week. Once reaching a point that it will melt through the soil or stone underneath it, typically two to five days, unstopped it will melt around a two to seven foot cube of the substance which will naturally return to a normal state

Wind Salve: Mixed together with dandelion a person can become like the wind, moving and flexing their body with ease past it’s normal human limits. On top of this, one becomes lighter than usual allowing them to jump far into the air and cross dangerous precipes with ease. This would of course as well slow your falling making the salve a common one among mountain climbers. It is fleeting as far as the salves go lasting between thirty minutes to an hour with a normal dosage.

Wind Decanter:Liquid wind… Creates strong wind and gusts. Once opened, the liquid acts similar to a viscous fluid such as syrup but releases around it a swirling wind always moving in a spiral pattern from it’s originator. This wind starts when coming into contact with a substance outside of the bottle. The intensity and size of the wind is determined by how spread out the liquid is, the more densely packed the liquid is the more intense the wind is but the smaller the size of that burst of wind. There also seems to be a natural amount of wind in each creation. An intense wind dying out much quicker than a spread out substance which may go on as a light breeze for days. Theoretically utilizing the right amount of pressure, it’d be possible to burst a wind decanter all at once, but for now it remains entirely theoretical. The current max wind has been clocked at 60 Decafurlongs per hour which lasted for roughly fifteen minutes before dying down exponentially. Higher speeds are very likely to be achieved, but current technology has not found a way to accelerate past this limit at the moment.

Moon Salve: Mixed with white bark, the salve of the moon is used to create illusions. If rubbed onto the skin while focused on an image in their head, the light shall bend around them to have their appearance morph into that image. While one can morph their appearance into something that is not anywhere close to their actual appearance this effect will last for only half an hour if it is roughly the same size. Particularly larger or smaller it will last anywhere from ten to five minutes. Beyond that, as long as someone is transforming into another of their own species they can always change their appearance for an entire 24 hours. Their closeness to the image of which they wish to change too can make this last longer up to an entire week. Which is of course ten days. These changes of course are entirely illusory. If anyone were to touch any features that one does not actually possess then their hand would simply go straight through them.

Moon Decanter: The Liquid light of the moon is one of the few decanters to affect humans. But on a more subliminal level. When the aroma of the liquid moon meets any animal it amplifies any emotions they are feeling. The uses of this essential oil are varied though highly unpredictable. It is occasionally used for fairly innocuous uses such as by stores to further relax customers in a comfortable environment. It’s often used by path of emotion travellers and other people searching for enlightenment to enhance them into altered states of mind to better understand their experience. Occasionally it’s used as simply a recreational drug. Though in The Empire it is primarily known as Fight Salts. Salts being used because the strong and alkaline smell of the decanter is often compared to smelling salts or the more common name for them in The Empire, Hart’s Salt. The fight part of the name has a double meaning, among peasantry it’s mostly associated with the way that fighters, soldiers, and athletes will occasionally take a whiff to sike them up during or before a fight; this is especially common among Simorians. The other meaning is more common to nobles. Common in espionage and other subtle tactics a more diluted form of the decanter will be coated through the air and another noble, typically one of a high military rank will goad another noble into attacking them. They will then be justified in using violent force to cut the noble down.
Due to these uses, The Empire has been attempting to cut down on the uses of Liquid light, but have been mainly ineffective due to the common availability of the ingredients.

Shadow Salve: Mixed with fern leaves, a salve of shadow coats the user in a thin layer of darkness around the user. This will not be visible to anyone unless through close inspection. While it is still there, it does not form in any meaningful way when in direct light, particularly sunlight. Indirect light will weaken the effect as well, but it can still be manifested. This thin layer does not do anything in it’s inert form but can be concentrated into forming a solid object out of the shadow that follows the same rules as the layer of shadow. This object can be manipulated outside of the user’s grasp which has gravity affect it as normal. The object will always be lighter than it would normally. However, it can always be called back to the user so long as the effect lasts. This object can be no larger than a throwing knife, and will be virtually unbreakable as long as it does not interact with any light. It can not be made any sharper than a newly made version of the item would be. This aura around you will last for about an hour if it does not come into contact with any light. That time decreases exponentially when you come in contact with anything harsher than the light of a half moon.

Shadow Decanter: Liquid shadow is cold to the touch and once opened it will cool a five foot by five foot space thirty degrees on the Lomonosov scale. This is of course diluted or hastened by an increase or decrease in space, but this is a typical baseline. This happens over the course of about thirty minutes, and once the point of maximum coldness is reached, the temperature will be maintained at this temperature until a sufficient amount of new air displaces this. Once this maximum coldness is reached, it will be maintained for one week until it starts to naturally decay

Decay Salve: Mixed with a beautiful mushroom, the salve of decay hastens the body's natural cycles of decay and slows down naturally regenerative cycles. Typically, this is a bad thing as generally speaking mortals want to do the opposite of decay. But this does have some practical uses. Through the use of being applied to special pressure points across the body, the internal processes of the body or organs can be selectively targeted to slow down their processes that might otherwise harm them in some way. Along with being an effective treatment against cancer cells. It’s a shame that no one knows what those are.

Decay Decanter: Liquid Decay will decay anything it touches. When this comes to living creatures this can be applied to either a part or to the creatures as whole through the amount applied on the animal or plant. Though it is very easy to overuse this as it is typically extremely toxic. Used upon non-living substances though and it will only affect the areas where it is directly applied. Through careful use it can be used as a way to machine metal parts such as based gears by treating it in a way similar to acid. Depending on the size and substance of the object it can take several vials and days. Though on small brass gears such as ones found in a watch should be able to be cut into rough shapes within three hours.

Rejuvenation Salve: Mixed with the tail of a lizard, the rejuvenation salve hastens naturally regenerative processes and slows down processes that decay the body. Same as the Decay Salve certain organs and body processes can be targeted through application to certain pressure points across the body. A point to note is that while the Rejuvenation salve can save a man by hastening the healing process, it can only do so under what the body would normally do so. If for instance, a broken limb was not set correctly, the limb would still heal improperly. This also does nothing to lessen pain and in some cases may increase the intensity of pain.

Rejuvenation Decanter:Liquid Rejuvenation. It works more or less the same as liquid decay, but in reverse. Unlike Liquid Decay it can not be used on animals or humans though, being mildly toxic due to the potency of the decanter. It works much the same way as on plants though. Non-living substances are slightly more tricky as many of them do not typically have naturally regenerative cycles. Instead it will undo certain damages to it such as rust and further strengthen the material before naturally decaying over the course of time. This will not however fix any fractures in an object, as the fracture within is no longer part of overall structure.