Gods of Men [Civilization RP+Magic]

[Embluss]

"A person, Ascended." She replied, somewhat reassured by the "entity"'s promises. "In other ways, and idea. Now an then a place." By now, she understood that these creatures were once something else, but no longer new of mortal affairs, so with an air of pride, she explained, "Our tribes number in the tens of thousands now. We are protected by great and mighty men, with their legions and wealth. The Emperor is the greatest of these men, and I belong to him. I lived north of here, once, in a farming village. My father had neither coin nor cow nor pig nor goat, too few chickens, and no more sons, so I was offered, in the levy taken for the upkeep of the tribe. That is why I belong to the emperor."

By now, Suend had approached, and managed to gain her attention from some distance away. It was an odd sight before him, a girl frozen in a mass of energy.

"Bea? Are you... there?"

Maintaining the connection, she answered distantly, "Yes. I am here, still. Where would I be?"

Both aloud and in her thoughts, struggling somewhat, she added, "This is Suend. He protects me. Keeps my flesh pure. He doesn't need to worry about you, does he?"

In her demeanor, it was clear that this was meant more for her companion than the spirits.

[Harpy Queen]

Partner Two took moments to respond as he processed everything that Bea was saying. It had been a long time since he had interacted with any mortals, and many things were lost on him.

~This one does not understand how this one could make your flesh impure, but this one has no untoward intentions for you. Inform your protector of this, if it shall settle his anxieties. Please, for clarification: how can you belong to another person? This one understands that you were in place of your sire's paying, but this one does not understand how one person can own another.~

It perplexed Partners, after Partner Two relayed it to the other. A being could not simply own another! It was inconceivable.

[Embluss]

"Suend, they promise no harm." Conveyed Bea, before saying, "Men own cows and pigs and goats and all manner of lowly creatures, Ascended." She answered. Feeling that the reply was too pithy, she added, "Is it that strange for a man, so powerful that his kin are little things beside him, to own those beneath him? And what is the measure of this greatness, but one's power and wealth? The barrier of price is a sufficient test."

Taking care that she was speaking only in her thoughts now, she added, "True, I sometimes wish I was not owned by an Emperor. But it is not that I could be free... I would return to the protection of a father, and perhaps someday the arms of a husband, but never be my own ruler. It has always been my place to be owned."

----

Mage's Guild Complex, Deep Desert
"Excellent work, Gadalf. Are there others, still?" questioned the attendant mage, one of the many escorting the College prisoners deep into the warren. The entire campus was arranged around one seemingly infinite hallway, making the transport of the prisoners quite simple.

"Some, but few. There are cells organized in Tirranos-Bel and hidden in... some godforsaken coastal town. The name's in one of my tomes. The rest are dead, fled, or scattered." The elder allowed a few moments of silence, before asking, "How goes the Guild, Weln?"

"Prodigious. The libraries are filling, as are our dormitories. Not just initiates; I was surprised by how many left the college."

"Those who stayed were fools. The college was a means of knowledge, never where one's loyalty should lie."

"Indeed. They say the Ottae-Mel are making use of them, though."

[Harpy Queen]

Although it had no physical features to relay it, a frown was clear in the link between the Ascended and mortal woman.

~It is silly, both to own and be owned. Do you desire not to be owned?~ the metaphorical heart of Partner Two, who had always been a sensitive sort, went out to Bea. Despite them having only just met, and her being a mortal at that, the Enlightened wanted to help her. Then again, when one was a collection of sentient magic with nothing to do with their facsimile of life other than to wander, an act of charity would probably be something to break up the monotony and make them feel good.

~We should not mess with mortal affairs, Partner,~ said Partner Two to Partner One, wondering why they should allow themselves to be caught up in the business of such unenlightened beings.

~We are to learn all we can, are we not? Beside, it is our duty as being Enlightened to provide for those that are still entrapped in the mire of their mortal lives,~ Partner Two responded, and Partner One had nothing to say to that.

[Embluss]

"It seems silly to me to not be owned, Ascended. I would have neither food nor roof, and no man besides. The loss of some freedom is a small price for safety and a meal." She answered, the depressed tone of the connection seeping into her own words.

At this time, Suend was coming closer, only a few feet from the first of the Ascended. Quite suddenly, he attempted to wave a hand through it's energies.

-----

((I feel bad about posting something this short... but I need to go to bed. And it answers all dialogue.))

[Durandal]

"Psiokolloi ekk tiriou Deios prasereiou tou kyrion e mundoandrestollios. Kou teflou logios ton Livoniianoi et Livoniion spradoion alletou mundakornikos, eftos Deiosipyschoi efetoi satiosfacti."

"The highest goal is to praise Theos on high, and to learn all there is of the world. The knowledge of the Livonian people must spread to all corners of the world, if the will of Theos is to be satisfied."

First Commandment of Pharistos, first published 1142 LIA

~

To bring all into order, and to understand the world is to bring all into meaning, and to bring it into the light of the mind. The light of the mind is the light of Theos, and the brighter the light of one's mind shines, the brighter still does Theos shine across the world.

These thoughts coalesced into many a mind at the beginning of the day, as Pharistos once again delivered his weekly sermon. He had formerly done daily sermons, yes, but he was getting on in years. It could be forgiven of one so advanced to slow down in his age. But despite his age, and his physical frailty, the old prophet still had blazing bright blue eyes, that shone with mirth, knowledge, and wisdom, that none truly understood.

The sorrows of the Livoniianoi had mostly ceased since the unity given to them by Belisarion and Pharistos, and this unity was welcomed.

This unity also gave a single-minded purpose to the Livoniianoi. Search the world. Find the secrets of it. And learn them, cherish them, and understand them. To do any less was to blaspheme in the name of Theos, after all!

~

Psellos Atharkarites was a simple farmer. His family had been farming plots along the river for as long as he could remember, or his ancestors could remember. And that was just fine for him. Recently, though, the land right next to the river was.... lacking. It wouldn't grow as many crops as it once would. But the problem was, the ground away from the river was simply too dry to effectively use. Seeing water eat away at ground one day, he was struck by inspiration.

He took his crudely-crafted stone hoe, and carved out a channel for the water to flow into, spreading the water onto the dry land, and watering it. He then crudely dammed up the flow of the water by using mud packed ontop of it.

What once was dry, now became wet. Where once a mind did not know, the mind now had a revelation.

He shared this secret, of "Hydrouikon", to his neighbors, and it spread from there. No longer would they be limited to just plots by the river. Now they could have wet, fertile ground wherever they went, as long as they could dig a channel deep enough!

Theos be praised!

(WOO, IRRIGATION.)

[Harpy Queen]

Partner One turned its attention to Suend, and sent out an inquisitive magical link toward him, curious as to why the mortal had attempted to touch it.

((Sorry for the horrible post, this won't happen again. I just need to let you guys know that I'm alive and that I'm starting to get better again.))