Sutekh, The Angry Lord of Sand

"Oh do believe you've been taught that I'm lesser. As if I would not have a plan- Now that would be foolish. No, you see, there will be chaos, and that is why I need you and your father to do what you do best. Those boats need to sink, Supply and reinforcement trains from our western most village, all the way to the lands of the Jews- Every roman there needs to fall into disarray. There are. . . Friends of ours who would welcome the distraction- Oh and make sure the roman gods know nothing. We don't need them Redoubling their efforts so soon without us even having a day of fresh Egyptian air." Set smiles remembering the funny messenger- all of these minor god asking for aid- it made him proud to know even those he saw as rivals, or competition, were becoming Bold! The messenger told him of the news, and oh he shall make very...Very good use of the minor gods. Apep will cause chaos. He will call Sekhmet to bathe in the blood of any who remains. And he would bury Roman Legions under the Dunes!

On a happy note he turns to look at his child once more chuckling. "Silence my Child, our guest is a young one- a young, excited viper. Her nature is that of chaos, and trust me. Chaos is just what we need to scare the Romans. First we scare them and remind them We Are Here. Then if they return." He smiles wide. "I will bury roman legions under the Sand, and call forth all of Egypt to see the threat as it is. A scared little child- stretching itself too thin. It will one day be their down fall. They rely on Romans. but who are Romans, but only people from Rome. They don't have the people, the men or the means to hold Every territory- and in taking so much so fast, well. They've defeated themselves for us. and lets not forget we are not the only Gods being slighted by this roman advance- if we stir the Romans up and scare them into looking at Egypt, every nation- every god, everyone threatened or attacked by the Romans will rally, even those so close to Rome."

Oh he didn't forget the Romans. They were indeed well equipped and they are decent warriors, but it saddens him. The Greeks forgot such legends they had in the past. He had hopes to fight the likes of the mighty legends Greece made a name with- legends of the Spartans where not uncommon, Athenian Cavalry, and plenty others. They gave up so much success... For a people who are doomed to fail due to their own short sighted Ambition. He pitied the Greek Gods. He truly did. But the only way he can help them... is to make them Suffer, and bury their new little toys. Some doubt did creep into his mind however. True, we are here. but they ARE there. They are not Ignorant, this plan could be seen through- No. No he cannot allow doubt! Doubt is the downfall of warrior and scholar alike and he shall NOT fail his people, his friends or Rivals. He will be worthy of his rivals Ire, he will be someone to look up to again. He will just have to trust that the other gods come to stand with him. Surely they would not leave the gods of Violence, Chaos and Evil to claim all the glory, people would forget all about them- no he couldn't allow that either. He would speak to the priests, but that's thinking far too ahead of himself. focus is needed here.

He would explain his plan further to these two- later. for now its too dangerous to explain it all.. Romans can be rather resourceful.

Osiris walked amongst the corpses questioning why such atrocities had been committed. What was the point of this unnecessary slaughter? He came across a wounded Roman crawling away from the large Egyptian. The warrior was going to bleed out very soon. "Fear not, as a pawn you had little choice. Now is the time to rest. I shall trade you, your memories for paradise." Osiris crouched next to the dying man and placed a hand on his head taking his thoughts for his own. Through the eyes of this lowly soldier, the God saw an Emperor leading his people on a conquest for the world. To enforce his beliefs on others.

The God stood with his back to the childlike figure that had manifested in the hall. "Why? I still do not understand." He turned to face the new arrival. "Shamash, you shouldn't criticise a home when one is a guest. Especially not a place of worship." The contrast of heights between the two was more apparent in the halls of stained red. "Tell me, what brought you here?"

@Unoedipal

Bes'eshe gave a delicate sniff of her nose, remaining frowning. She questioned the wisdom in allying with Apophis. Chaos was what they neeed true, but that serpent was treachous and she was loath for her beloved father to place himself along side the ancient enemy of Ra. But he must, the rational part concluded for her. As was his role in the grand scheme of the Egyptian gods, it was his role to stand beside Ra and be enemy of the Chaos Serpent. Even if that role now called him to stand beside the once enemy. A dangerous position Bes'eshe Sethokpara was not comfortable with. "I suppose I shall delegate to the opinion of my esteemed father." Her soft voice thick with sarcasm as she raised brow. "Just don't try to sail a ship made of stone again, lest it be unfortunate to sink as the one prior again." She could not help the playful jab at the ancient God. It had always been one of her favorite stories and one she was loathed to let Sutekh forget. Giving him a smile, she frowned at the youngster who was at least her junior of ten years, if not a tad more.

She could hear the words echo across the swirling, humid air. "Not that it matters. Nothing came of it,so nothing has happened!" A unfounded phrase. Just because nothing came of it in that moment did not mean nothing would happen. "Just because could doesn't mean they should." She points out, coolly. "Just because nothing happened now, doesn't mean it will never. That officer will remember your face, your words and they will talk. The more the talk the more others will know." She shakes her head before glancing over Qelhatat's head to peer at Set. "Now, mind if I seek out this commander? Perhaps I can learn more, where Apophis; did not." She raises a brow and gives a smirk. "I am more accustomed to polite conversation. Even with Roman barbari."



Watching the Dagda rile to war, the Morrigahn grips his shoulder before he could bound away. [color=black]"It was not your own. But you hold some fault in this. Go to stop these Romans but be wary and act not with haste. We require allies and there is one who rests among the time who will rise along with us as equals." [/black] Her pale hand loosened, as she finished her cryptic words. The Morrigahn was never the straight forward one. Never when there was not great need or anger. For while she directed the fates of men, she was keeper of many secrets of many gods. "Go." She commanded, releasing the God as she turned to the North.

Moving swiftly she sent her birds flying. Warriors would come from the clans and tribes of Britannia. Her followers would drive them madden dogs against the Romans. Blackness shrouded her form before a raven broke free whirling north further still. Blackened forms far blow marched south with horse and dog. Spear and sword. Women and men would go and aid but first. There was a pressing matter to attend to. To the South she flew, her power teleporting her to stand before the gates of the Roman Underworld. The domain of Hades. Raising a staff, she slammed the butt into the ground a ringing call echoing out into the darkness. "Lord of Hades, hear me speak! Bargain and will I aim to seek!" It was not often she faced against the God of the Roman and Greek dead, in fact it was never. But the Morrigan had a plan, and a idea which would turn the tide of Fate.

@Severe Triage@Zahrale@Rune_Alchemist@Queentze

Leaping across the the trees, The Dagdar thought back to what the Queen had said. He spent the rest of the journey decoding her words, why does she always speak in riddles? The Dagdar smiled. Least I get some fun with mortals. They will p... Before finishing the thought he was nailed in the shoulder with a Ballista projectile. "AAAARGH! He screamed out while being flung backwards from the force and power of the giant arrow sliding across the forest floor and smashing into a tree. "Ha...ha...haha...hahahahahahahahahah. You've done it now. The Dagdar used his staff to pull himself to his feet, pulling out the wooden spear that was embedded within his body. He knew that it posed no real threat to him as the hole healed almost instantly.

"Hmm, perhaps another approach would fare better." Upon finishing an extremely large brown bear almost twice his size growled in anticipation while closing in on the Dagdar. "Ah, hello. Mathúin, you always did have the most perfect timing." The Gods stared at each other before the Druid God rose his Throne of vines from the ground and sat upon it whilst lifting his open palm towards the large ursine. "Let us keep these outsiders at bay."



A Roman soldier entered the generals tent, "Commander, that creature was hit directly. We are about to send a force in after it."

"Now is the time to celebrate, young one. We shall conquer these feral lands and bring them to civilisation. The savages can't understand what we are doing for them." The General paused after hearing a roar in the distance. "Hurry, rally the men, tell them form a defensive line in front of the tree line. This fight isn't over yet."

Shamash

"Those who trawl on the land, crushing temples they brand as pagan and killing the garrisons of those who should otherwise be neutral, is something that has been Convicted. The return of your kind as a result has been judged white. Which is to say..."

Shamash let out a soft exhale as he looked in the direction of Sekhmet. "Just like that Black One of another land, who drank of Raktabija." He murmured to himself. Her nature was something that could be thought of as transcendentally terrifying. Even gods, were they unable to see the six sides of a die in simultaneity, would agree with that notion. Still...she was not of the make that ought to be Convicted.

As a result, other methods were necessary to calm the God down. Were she to go to the natural terminus of her actions, Conviction would be necessary, and Shamash wished to avoid that.

From outside the bounds of the mad wind and flame that aimed to consume all, something appeared to oppose it. Eleventh of the Thirteen Winds, Frost. To use it in its full might would harm more than hurt, with the area simply becoming an area simultaneously frozen by the wind and made ashen by the flame, but even in the weakened state that it blew in, it would be enough to mitigate and delay the scorching flame of Sekhmet's fire.

This, however, was merely a shoddy treatment of a symptom. To even call it "effective" was an overstatement; it was simply a bandage tied over an amputated limb, a piece of paper used as a dam. What was important, then, was to stop the disease itself while the dam held fast for an instant.

"Calm yourself, Eye of Ra. Indiscriminate killing will result in Conviction, should it go too far."

From Shamash's body, light appeared, bending from the outward face it should have adopted under reality to orient itself towards Sekhmet. It was not to destroy; after all, in terms of destructive ability, Shamash was nothing noteworthy, let along when compared to beings such as Sekhmet. In the first place, he was not one whose role was combat.

Rather, this was to purify. Sekhmet's bloodlust was something that had historically only been sated by more blood, but culling away the bloodlust entirely wasn't needed. Rather, it would be better if some was retained for the time being.

With the light of the "Sun that purifies" aiming to corrode at that mindless bloodlust and return it into a bloodlust with reason, one oriented at those who deserved such, the god of the Fertile Crescent spoke.

"I and my others have spoken on the current state of affairs. We wish to help you take your land back, as we are staged to begin doing the same."

The trace of a smile showing on a youthful face, the proposition was made.

@Hamstrong @Severe Triage

@Queentze

"Hermes, what have I told you about showing up unannounced. Your one of the few members of our family that I can still tolorate. Now I am a busy man, What do you want?"

Hermes smirked at Hades. At least, he did at first. Hades' directness had always appealed to The Messenger's jittery nature. He generally didn't like beating around the bush, so to speak, at least not here. He didn't want to spend any more time in this realm than was absolutely required. Still, Hades' slightly off-putting manner made Hermes wonder if he might be wasting his time here.

"Well, Uncle, you know me. I'm not one for following orders." He tossed a loose pebble he had been studiously staring at onto the base of Hades' rather disturbing throne. The other god didn't seem very amused, so Hermes rose and spoke more quickly and formally, not wanting to raise his uncle's ire. "A-anyway," Hermes stammered, in his best impression of meekness, "I'm to give you a message, Lord of The Underworld. There is to be a meeting soon, in about a tenday's time. The other Olympians gather at the Mountain. Zeus has something to say. Apparently, it's quite important. He's even requested you." Pointing out the rarity of Hades' invitation to Olympus wasn't meant to be an insult, merely a show of how important the occasion was.

"I have others to inform, and I'd hate to disappoint Father. Can we expect you?" With that, he raised an eyebrow at Hades questioningly.

Decimus knelt before the alter of Mars, he removed his helmet placing it on the altar in front of him. He fished underneath his armour, and the light cloth he wore underneath, pulling out his amulet of Mars and clutching it in one hand.

He cleared his mind and began to pray. He tried his best to focus on the mantras and not on the incidents which had just occurred. As he finished his intonations he made his thoughts clear. Father, I have come to this land of old as your portents instructed. The men I have brought a strong, they are capable and stand ready to serve. But I find myself lost without guidance. Where is the enemy? Whom must we strike?The people here chafe and suffer under brutal occupation. We must end the threat quickly so that we might lighten the burden upon them. Decimus thought this over, and over awaiting a response from his father.

After receiving no reply in the immediacy he stood, returning his amulet to its place under his armour and replacing his helmet upon his head. He smiled and saluted the shrine before leaving the temple to march back to the castrum. Decimus wasn't worried, it was quite normal for his father to take time before replying to him. Sometimes he was busy, other times he hoped that Decimus might solve matter himself. He always replied in the end though, Decimus took solace in that.

As he left the temple the sun beamed down once more, as he stood on the white marble steps of the grand temple. He saw his men dotted about here and there. Some on duty marching around in pairs or threes keeping an eye on the day to day manner of things. Others were trading in the market, clearly off duty for the time being, whilst yet others went about the religious business he'd dispatched them on.

He began to walk back to the castrum weapons in hand. He was proud was he walked down the ancient streets, to think, that his people strove to preserve this ancient place. It was they who preserved it from barbarians now, its ancient guardians long gone and lost amongst the sands that dominated the horizon.

Qel gave Set a slightly annoyed look as he spoke. He was nothing more than a battle hungry fool who didn't think of the bigger picture, wasn't he?

"You underestimate our enemies, Seth." She bluntly replied. "Kill as many as you want, but they will simply bring more. As much as we may not like to admit it, that roman was right. They currently have us beat in terms of both numbers and strength, which is why we must resort to less...honorable methods, some might say." She reached into her cloak and pulled out her dagger, observing it with a silent smile before turning to Bes'eshe.

"You think that served no purpose?" Qel continued, placing the dagger back in her cloak. "A tiny little thought from one person can turn into something much...grander. Like a slow poison, slowly eating away at someone's mind. I said that because now they have heard the words, and with a little...careful planning, those thoughts can turn into something quite useful for one such as I at a later date. A little...discord among the troops would work quite well for me." Though, the roman troops were quite disciplined and swaying their minds with such words wouldn't be an easy thing even for her. Not on a little whim like that. Either way though, now that it had been planted in that group, maybe such thoughts might spread silently among them.

...it would certainly help if they could see the might of an Egyptian god right after hearing such words.

A grin crept across Qelhatat's face.

"Well, do what you want though. Go talk to the commander, if you want. Although...hmm...no, I suppose it doesn't matter." She hummed quietly as she thought, turning to Set. "May you'd like to display a little of that power of yours, though?"

@Zahrale@LadyRunic

@Rune_Alchemist@LadyRunic

Sutekh, The Angry Lord of Sand

Disobeying a God, not only that.. but a Superior one- one who even beat her father- this Child was going to be a test of his patience, which he has little of for fools and Children. An answer to his daughter cant wait. This pest needs to be corrected Now. "So you would call me a fool to my face? I know that they have numbers, and strength greater than Just Us. But we are not alone. How many other pantheons are threatened by these Romans? Hmmm? Some larger and more powerful, others smaller and less significant. But imagine, A man surrounded by many, despite his strength, Will fall pay to the mob." He would not forgive this one. HE cannot let this insolent, arrogant child walk away with considering him a fool. "If they turn their attention to Egypt others will rise. So as one man form the mob attack, the victim must turn to defend itself, to show his back to another attacker. In this war, it will not be a matter of how hard we can hit them, its how long we can keep them turning, and how many allies, however temporary, we can stir into the frenzy. Not to mention the sudden attacks would knock the sense out of them. They would become confused, disoriented and incapable of using that strength fully. they would have to spread out their focus, making mistakes, little Holes in which a spear and arrow can fit through- that's all it takes. We need only start the mob. Besides. In that mob its very hard to find a young woman with a fine dagger, and a bottle of poison." The god chuckles softly then his eyes flash a shining gold. "And before you ever call me a fool or imply it again, remember who beat not your your Father, and also Osiris. You may call me a fool, but if i was enough to best them. . . What are you calling them? You would call them worse than a fool? In any case, argue with me again, and as soon as this threat from the Romans is over... I'll kill you. I wont waste time threatening you or putting unnecessary words in place. I will just simply Kill you."

He ten looks to his child, calming. "Yes, Go get the information you can, Maps, locations of officers, generals, anything useful." he begins to turns, as if to walk away. he wont leave any more openings for the fool to argue or for his daughter to question him. it is also better he leaves now so they can get to work as well, and not stir suspicion. He takes a few steps vanishing like dust blown away in the breeze.

Her grey-green eyes widened, as Bes'eshe took account her father's sharp words. Idiot child for riling him! Set was a angry and wrathful God. Though he had never and would never raised hand to her, Bes'eshe had tested his patience a time or two but each time she had relented. As his eyes flash gold she sent a pray to Ra that the little fool knew to keep her mouth shut. "Yes, Papas." She nods her head, before watching the Lord of Red Sand dissipated amongst the dust and sand he wielded. Turning herself she scooped up a woven basket on each hip. One filled with the flax thread, the other filled with dyes. Looking back over her shoulder at Qel, Bes raised a brow. "Next time you make him mad, there won't be a third. My father does not raise his might against women, you should apologize for your hubris."

Stepping out into the street, she raised the hood of her robe over her mass of hair. Walking through the street she labored under the weight, while tightly clamping down on her presence among the Gods. To stop a immortal or a 'sensor' sort from noticing her. It was something all beings could do, but the level depended on how practiced they were. As the daughter of a possibly, and most likely possessive God, she needed to be secretive from him. Especially if she wanted to get to know some of the other gender without them being pinned to the wall and having their bones shattered to pieces. Simply because he was certain that no man she had yet met was good enough for her and she had a suspicion that no man would be good enough. Mortal or God.

Not looking where she was going, she regained the attention too late. A fleeting glance of a large figure in Roman armor. "Ah, I'm sorry. . . I wasn't looking where I was going." Looking to the spilled baskets she scooped up the flax and dies. Cursing in Egyptian, she noted him as a Centurion. A leader, one she could use. Most likely he would march on by and curse her. His kind often did and she took no notice of it other than for information as her father commanded. Though the cursing was real enough, those dyes were precious and they were threatened to be ruined!

@Karos@Rune_Alchemist@Zahrale

The Scribe

Far Blue and distant,
The Cold Flames burn,
In the darkness of the Abyss.
The cosmic radiance,
Revealed at long last,
As foretold by Eons past.
A herald of the beginning,
Or a bringer of the end?

“I see a new Star appear in the depth of the heavens. Its brilliance blinds me! The colours are wrapt in a pale blue light, an omen of things to come. I see it shining at us, at long last its light has reached us. I see it over...”
“Is this what you see? I hear the whispers of the cosmos, this star will mark a new age. The Gods are with us.”
“...”

The Three Oracles announced in their chamber. The Triad of Oracles to represent the fates, each sitting upon their marble blocks in the sacred geometry of the Zero, One, Four, Six, and Three. The square base of their building, representing the firmament, the six pillars that reached towards the heavens represented by the circular dome, seated in the trinity before the burning brazier. The most attuned of all mortals to the fickle whims of fate, the ears, eyes, and mouths of the of the gods. They gave their prophesies to the world, announcements, and utterances as revealed by the powers beyond their comprehension. Or perhaps they were mad, driven insane by the phantom whispers, the fleeting hallucinations, or the horrors of both to numb their tongues into silence. They had given themselves up to the art of Divination, to scry into the tides of fate, and in exchange for such power, gave up some of themselves in tribute to the Gods.

The first was deaf, and only could see the prophetic visions and describe what he saw.
The second was blind, and only listen to the whispers of the world and she would announce the will of the gods.
But the third, was mute, and knew the truth of both vision and mandate, and kept it secret.
This was the way it was for there are no guarantees save for the existence of uncertainty.
Have faith in the gods, and perhaps, just perhaps they will spare us.

Or would they?

---

Another name written in the Book of the Dead. How wondrous was the Feather of Ma'at? That it should know the true names of those who come before it as their hearts were weighed. There the Wordborn One sat cross legged, in the depths of the Egyptian Underworld from his perch overlooking the trial. Osiris had his throne, and the dog was the bailiff, the devourer licking its lips in idle anticipation. Although it seemed that Osiris was gone, off to conduct business with Seth, who was plotting against the Greco-Roman gods. Even now as he sat observing the influx of souls to be judged, The Scribe knew all that was, it was only a matter of paying attention. Yet the folly and plight of these gods, his contemporaries rather than true brothers or sisters, were not of his concern. Fate was his main opponent, Fate which wanted the game to progress to an end, a final conclusion, a showdown. The Norse Gods had their Ragnarok, The Babylonians had their Floods, The Greeks had their Apocalypse, and even his own Pantheon had the a Lion's share of ways to end existence. Yet Thoth preferred to let the game continue, to watch the great experiment unfold, humanity being the greatest machine of all. A machine made to worship them, to appeal to them, and live for a single purpose it seemed. Fate tugged at the strings, wanting to direct their lives, but alas, it was balance which kept the forces in check, such that no one would be favored by them infinitely. So too were the fertile lands of Egypt subject to the rules which Thoth played the game with. For this he had retreated into his duties, burying himself in the judgment of the dead and creation of his books to let the Greco-Roman
Gods take Egypt, despite his powers which could have been a great aid towards repelling them off.

Thoth offered no counsel, no tactic or stratagem, no use of his Was to assist his pantheon, only reminding them of the wheel of fate and telling them to wait for it to turn. A new star set into motion by his hand, plucked from the distant rim of the galaxy. Perhaps Thoth was ready now, as he rose from his duties and set aside the Book of the Dead to hold all Judgments from being recorded as he had whispered in the Triple Oracles and granted them the vision. Stolen from the Three Sisters, they were easily fooled by the Magicks of the Lunar Eye. It was time to wait for Osiris' return, and Egypt shall be theirs once more, or at least for a few more centuries until Thoth feels they have had their fair share of being a great empire.

Hades listens to his nephew, but was actually smirking at his discomfort. But all the while another chill, one far more colder was sent down his spine. He looked at Hermes and shared a knowing look. There was another God here and they were not Roman. Hades had been visited by other gods from different Pantheons before but never during a time of great conflict. "Listen Nephew, if it means that much to your father I will show up to his little 'pow-wow' and see what is going to happen, now come I have a visitor, do not speak to whoever it is I don't need a battle happening in front of the gates I just got them re-painted." Hades said as he got up, his throne dissolved back into the ground.
@Lucian

---

"Lord of Hades, hear me speak! Bargain and will I aim to seek!"

The guardian of the gates of the underworld, stirred at the sound of a strong female voice. He was as tall as the gates them selves if not bigger and had bright golden eyes, and leathery skin. He was off to the side of the gates and howl so loud that that each of the four gates of the underworld shook. It was a way to warn Hades, that a unexpected guest was in the wrong place.

Hades appeared in front of the Gates about 15 feet away from an old goddess one Hades had not seen in many years, and the one time he had see her was before he was even the God of the Underworld. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the The Morrigahn. It has been many years since I last saw you, I was but a boy then." He said as he began to pace around her and walked slowly towards Cerberus. When he got close enough the dog put its heads down and laid on its belly. Its entire front jaws were 10x the size of the average man. Hades began to pet him and looked back at the Phantom Queen. "What can I do for you my lady, you took a great risk coming here I don't think my brother would like our little meeting very much." He had long forgotten if Hermes was still there or not, and did not care.

@LadyRunic

~Qelhatat~

"Ooh, scary." Qel silently hissed. Despite her words though, she was more than a little scared. Death did not sound appealing to her, so she kept silent any more insults or other quips she might have towards the god. "Of course...do forgive me." She apologized. "I did not mean to insult your intelligence or abilities...merely offering a different sort of solution." She watched quietly as both set and Bes'eshe left, with the latter giving her a warning about Set. She wasn't an idiot. She knew when to keep her mouth shut to avoid getting beheaded. That said though, it looks like neither of them would be her allies.

Which meant that they might as well be enemies.

"Fools..." She whispered to the snake hiding in her robe. "Why must I always do things myself..." She silently grumbled, leaving the alleyway. Truly, it would have been nice to have some help...or at least have someone listen to her aside from her father who was imprisoned in Duat. Someone from Egypt - her own family.

Well, if she couldn't find allies among her own people, then she'd just have to find allies among the enemy so to speak.

Her somewhat broody scowl turned into a cheerful grin as she headed back out onto the streets. The snake around her poked its head out from her cloak, nuzzling her cheek as it asked if there was anything it could do.

"Go watch them for me, will you? Take a few others with you. If they won't listen to me...well, I'll just move ahead with my own plans then." It didn't take her serpents long to find Bes'eshe. Even if she had a head start on them, she couldn't move fast enough to outrun her pets. It was a bit of surprise, though, to watch her already meet the Roman in quite the idiotic fashion. She supposed it was a good tactic for getting his attention, though.

For now, she would simply watch and stay silent. If anything came of it, she would simply interrupt and tell him the truth about Bes'eshe. She doubted the girl would tell him herself, and if she did...well, she could still make things work possibly. If she did and didn't do anything to him, there was a chance she could do the same and get on his good side.

She was confident in her abilities to persuade him, even from her earlier behavoir. For now though, she simply quietly waited watched from a distance from the safety of an alley.

@LadyRunic@Zahrale@Karos

Sekhmet

"Calm yourself, Eye of Ra. Indiscriminate killing will result in Conviction, should it go too far."

A calm light, one that seems to cut straight though the red haze, the cloud of bloodlust that obscured her thoughts. Bloodlust and anger was still there, but her mind and reason was brought forth as well. Sekhmet stopped dead in her tracks, the burning winds still blowing but no longer as scaldingly hot as before.

"I and my others have spoken on the current state of affairs. We wish to help you take your land back, as we are staged to begin doing the same."

Sekhmet still wanted to indulge in her bloodlust, but now that there was a new god here, as well as Osiris, she didnt feel like continuing. The rebels seem to have long gone, and Ra wouldn't really be pleased if she murdered everyone.

Tail twitching in annoyance, she dropped the severed arm she had been chewing on and turned towards the unfamiliar god.

"So? Who are these others, and why should I care about what you and this 'others' think?"

Sutekh, The Angry Lord of Sand

Set knew he was not the Wisest, Truly, that title and honor belongs to one and one alone. Thoth. Oh but he did like his duties- not that one can blame him, a hard days work was rewarding in its self, but to forget Responsibility over Duty. . . Perhaps he wasn't the wisest. No. he, like set himself, must have had reason for not lending aid immediately, Set must ask why. he sent a wisp of his voice- a gentle whisper, to Thoth, on the dust and sand that, no matter how hard any god goddess or mortal tries, will always be there. He did enjoy that fact. "wise one, yours is a presence i have not heard or seen in.. a very long time. how fares the word born one among his books? how does one fare knowing his shrines and temples burn, and his worshipers lie dead dying or enthralled to the likes of the invaders?" Set needed to know if Thoth cared. Smart people can be dangerous, but only if they Care enough, other wise they are about as helpful as a Book. A good source of knowledge, but only a flimsy spine. if the only way to see if Thoth cared was to attempt to badger him or coax him into anger or annoyance, then so be it, but Set Will find out.

Only people who care can be coaxed into Action. And he needs Action, not words. Words will not stop the invaders... But Sets slowly spreading mind certainly has quite the idea to stop them, repel them and force them all the way back home- in terror. It was a plot his rivals and fellows would be both proud and appalled by. All the more reason to do it!

Fire was still raging on around the trio of beings, illuminating the temple in an ominous glow of death and decay. "Sekhmet, this will not do. I am being beckoned but Horus will not be pleased, we must speak later." Osiris scowled at the blasphemy committed here before closing his eyes and began to light up.

After another blinding flash Ausar had returned to the throne room. Looking around he saw many recently deceased Egyptians ready to be judged but not everything was status quo, further scanning led him to be greeted by a familiar face, one of the few that he was truly pleased to see but that was one of things he would never show. Osiris slowly walked towards the steps leading up to the glowing Royal seat, in silence, all the while wondering if the same thing brought Thoth here that had also summoned himself to Sekhmet's abode.

Finally sitting in the Throne, Osiris spoke, "Mortal, speak to me of the confessions." The man tried his best to stand upright but fear was getting the better of him. "You deceived many in the life that had been granted but you shan't deceive me for I perceive your entire life in a blink. For such an egregious act I leave your fate in the hands of the scales and the feather of Ma'at." Osiris whipped his flail into the chest of the quivering soul and pulled his heart straight out of his into the hands of the God. "These will determine your true righteousness and morality. Lest you fail then the jaws of Ammit shall be your destination." Osiris rested the still beating heart upon the Scales of Justice; teetering ever so slightly at the placing of the organ. The scales seemed to be motionless before the side holding the heart crashed down into the maws of The Devourer. The God closed his eyes as a sign of woe, while the man burned up into dust, at the eternal suffering ahead of the guilty in the hands of Anubis.

"So what brings you to the Hall of Two Truths? One would've thought that seclusion had become your calling." Looking up at the visiting God with faux disdain.

@The Grey Dust

The Scribe

Two projections. A conversation within the mind itself, as one was laid forth before the other. It was the beauty of the written word, for it could be distributed, recorded, eternal. Written upon papyrus to be spread throughout the libraries. Carved upon stone to last the centuries. Or Etched into the sand to be such a fleeting secret message that would scatter in the desert winds. And as Set's whisper presented itself upon the sands of the underworld, the voice of the mocking outcast, Thoth had bowed his head before Osiris who had appeared just as well to witness judgment upon this soul. And see the failures of the voice? The tongue was capable of lying, such was the sinister fact of speech as it flies twisting itself upon the language of words. Crafting them with impurities of the tainted heart such that even those sacred words may yet lie. But write down these confessions, a written testament to behold, the law was clear and who was it who wrote the Law?

A wave of his hand, a stroke of his fingers, then before Set his reply returned back for magic shall beget magic. Fools favor flattery. Such is the paradox: The Red Sand seeks action rather than words, so he comes to the Lord of Words for action? Bitter is the one who cares for worship and praise, when their temples and shrines are defiled, Angered is he to watch his faithful persecuted and enslaved, so he comes to the Scribe for Counsel. Look to skies, Lord of Red Lands, behold my works, and know that it is time. Written upon the fine grain sand on which the dead kings played chess upon, set before Set the written words of Thoth. Did the god forget that no thoughts are safe from Thoth? He who embodies knowing in itself? For Ma'at knew the heart well, but Thoth knew the mind best. Even the Gods were not beyond his grasp, for in the very process of Set's plan to goad him into action with Words, Thoth had gazed into the mind of Set to view into the nature of his words. And the message should suffice to be a reminder for Set to be far more straightforward in the future, as well as a message to tell Set that the Voice of Ra himself believed it was time to act at last. Lasting no more, the message was erased as quickly as it was written, scattering to the winds.

"It is time." Thoth's reply to Osiris, far less convoluted or perhaps patronizing than the one to the last god. "There is another Underworld which holds another meeting. Another God who acts like fate speak with the Godking of the Underworld. This I know for I am Thoth. For it is not seclusion when one is part of the universe, and I have merely bided my time. The game continues once more, and I have come to claim my pieces. O, Lord of the Dead, will you not play Senet?" The Phantom Queen and Plutus, who would have thought? Thoth did. And made plans for this day, a day where the queen shall play pawn in this gambit. Yet if it was clear to Thoth, his plan was made unclear to others, speaking only in parts of the greater design. The question becomes if Osiris could pick up on Thoth's advice fast enough.

For the living could worship their gods of choice, but the dead could only bow before one Lord...

As the younger God appeared a distance from her darken robed form, the Morrigahn turned a pale and sharp featured face to watch the other as he began to speak. True, the last he had seen her, the Lord of the Underworld had been but a child. Yet, she still felt a child's want for what his brother's had. It was no secret among the Fates that Hades wished for more than his dreary domain. It was his Fate, even as it was hers to turn the tide of War and profit from one way to the other as it would best serve the one thing not even Gods could deny. "Such is the way of Fate." She speaks unto her own thoughts to herself.

As he paced around her she did not watch him till he soothed his Gate Keeper. Then she turned, the dark robes twisting about. Watching him with dark eyes she raised a elegant brow. "When did your brothers ever like anything that may be in agreement with you? Do they not strip you of your wife in penitence?" A fair point she noted, the risk was deadly. Even to one such as she. But it was required, and for her people she would do such. "A risk is little compared to what you will face, or will you face it? There are many paths, Hades. One may lead all to happiness- of a sort, while another may destroy us all." Turning away she felt a certain satisfaction. A warning delivered, whether he heeded it or not was the real question.



The Sun. The glorious Sun. Apollo perched in his temple, enjoying the worship that came his way. The most perfect and strongest of the Gods, all the Gods, according to him. Though something bothered the Sun God. Women threw themselves upon his alter, men pleaded and offered their fortunes for his favor. But there was no challenge. No hope of breaking some poor mortal's raw strength. Wars were being fought for Mars, Jupiter, Neptune. Roman patrons did little for a 'beardless youth' as their Greek cousins had not. Greek Rulers had offered their own daughters and beauty. "How pathetic." He growled in that deep, sun kissed voice as a woman laid pitiful flowers on his altar. Where gold and gems should be flowing. But it was flowers, blood, petty offerings that did not appease him.

Closing golden eyes he could remember his mother brushing his hair as they graced Rome. "My perfect son! Soon you shall sit the throne to all the world. Mortal and God alike will bow before you." Leto had preened. His sister, his dark shadow. Of little notice to him, to those who feasted his eyes upon him. He was not a God of the Sun. He was the God of the Sun. He would take this world and make it in his image. Zeus was a old man. A old fool. Moving out of the temple he walked across the Sands of Egypt with a bold cry. "I AM Ra! I am the only God of the Sun! There is no one better and there will never be!" He laughed loudly as the sun flared above, emulating his arrogance.

@Queentze

"Are riddles really necessary at a pivotal point such as now? Egypt is your pantheon too and it is currently being ravaged, we need not puzzles between us. This place is safe from prying ears." Osiris sighed knowing that he has to heed his own words, which would mean of course an alliance with Set. Although he bears no grudge, his son; Horus, does so it would be preferred if contact was minimum for his sake. Looking up at the enigmatic force within his halls, restricting his own all-seeing eyes as he knew that Thoth had a plan but that plan required him not knowing it all. It always did perhaps that's why The King of Games felt it feasible to show up in his physical form knowing Osiris wouldn't invade his mind, not that he fully could with him concentrating on Osiris so.

"I have dwelled on the Land of the Dead for long enough. Egypt was once my birthright and I shan't see it fall from our descendants hands." Osiris paused thinking for only a moment before continuing, "You couldn't possibly mean...Hades? We vowed at the dawn of time, not to tread upon the true sacred grounds that exists beyond mortality." This was a touchy subject for the God of the Dead for he was vulnerable within anothers realm.

@The Grey Dust

The strong breeze carried with it the salty air of the sea. The sky was clear, and the sea was relatively calm. The lone man stood at the edge of the cliff, his black coat billowing behind him, as he stared into the horizon.

"Jormungandr."

He spoke only one word. There was no sign of anything reacting, nor was there anyone or anything that could really respond to him on that rocky cliff. But he knew he was heard regardless. He took in a deep breath, smiling faintly as he did so. T'was better to be separated this way, rather than just killed outright, but it still hurts. It still hurts to be separated.

It was fate. Predetermined. Unavoidable.

Utter foolishness.

He was not one to simply lie down and die simply because someone told him so. He was not one to simply do nothing when his life was threatened. He was not one to sit obediently waiting for the end when his own family would die.

Thus, he would defy fate. He would forge his own path, his own fate. But to do so....

Well, suffice to say some of his pantheon wouldn't exactly be pleased.