Have you ever observed the sun when only a few meters away from its surface? Feeling its scorching flame licking your palm and having your eyes melted away. But you fell no fear. For how could you? Instead, your
Touching a baby hand when he first opened his eyes? The way he smiles, so innocent and adorable that you just want for this moment to last. Feeling his wrinkle, hairless, and tiny face smiling when seeing you for the first time.
Or have you ever sat on the couch in a warming Friday, sipping your newly brewed expensive coffee that you had been saving for special occasions, and enjoying the meaning of living? You would just close your eyes and take a deep breath, trying to carve this image in your brain so that it would never go away. You could hear the ticking clock of the hurried life, but you don't mind it. You could hear the sound of the chair crackling softly under your weight. The static sound from the radio nearby, something that you promised to your wife that you would fix but never did, echo in the small room You could smell your expensive coffee’s aroma filling your nostrils, which come to think of it is no different than your company shitty coffee. You become more relaxed, something that you did not feel for a long time. And besides, today is your sick day, got to enjoy it somehow...
Have you ever felt death so near you? When his hand was just inches away from snatching your life, leaving your pathetic meat sack to rest at the bottom of the lake for eternity. You really want to prove he is wrong, that no matter what you are going to survive. But there is something very mesmerizing in his hand that you could not move your eyes away from his open bony hand. Your hands become slower on its trail for the surface. The light that just got bright for a moment is now getting dimmer. Your legs feel like mercury, too tired to even move a muscle. And besides, the monster is still holding you.
And somehow, you survive. You make it. You are wet but you did it...
And I hope you can remember that. Live a life the way you want. For your time is limited, not limitless. I am here for a reason, after all.
Holding the book in hand, the mist observed the letters to fade away likes ashes. Each stroke of inks becoming lighter and lighter until it finally evaporated into nothingness. The paper, crafted from some kind of strange creature, began to decompose as its atoms lose the force to hold them in one piece, resulting the book to turn into some fine brown power. But that also withered away into nothingness. Entropy is at it highest and will stay like that for a period before this place turned into nothingness, the mist thinks before picking up the disappearing sand that is scattering everywhere. It could just leave there, as these things will dissolve themselves in a matter of time. But the mist chose not to. Instead, it gathered all thing and carefully observing the small heap of book grains slowly disappearing. In the end, there was nothing that could remain, the mist thinks as it moves to the door and begins to observe the final piece that this world had left to provide. A strange door. Human-made and linked to another world. A rare one. The mist had heard of doors like this, of which linked worlds to worlds. A strange excitement occupied its unrealistic brain, for what lies beyond the door frame. Maybe a new home, the mist thinks. Its home had come to an end, and there is nothing remained.
In truth, there is still one thing remained, the mist thought while placing letting its head to rest on the door frames. Not all had ended in this universe. “Never abandoned thy duties,” the mist recited its laws. The world seems to shake under the mist’s thought as it cited the holy commandment of its creator. The universe wailed, the crying sound of a living being still wanted to live. From the corner of its eyes, if the mist has an eye to say, the white background is vibrating at the minuscule scale. The stars reborn and shined the pale background. Souls begin to recreate and living beings try to set foot on land. But that is all this universe could do before all things fall down like a poorly placed stack of cards. And the mist observed the final nail to the coffin. It paused before continuing, “Until all things had ceased to exist.”
“I'm sorry,” the mist whispered to itself before passing the door frame and entering the unknown. Behind it, the world is blank. And thus was the mist's mind, a clean slate of paper.
The mist walked through the door, only to be welcomed by strange beings. Godlike, but strange. It saw the velvet of war and blood, and taste the insatiable hunger came from somewhere that belongs to these beings. The reptilian was here, barbaric and no less warlike , the mist assumed from the smell of sulfur that is still in the air. And something that all these things have in common, their godhood.
Turning itself into a misty spider, the small being jumped on the furry animals and whispered in its ears.
“Hello there. I'm new here...” The voice stop there as the mist had never anticipated such fluffiness before in its mind. And such fluffiness pleased the small misty spider. Running up and down the thing's right frontal limbs, the spider sang a little song.
“The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Out came the sun and dried up all the rain and the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.”
But on its way running down the goddess’ arm for the seventh time, the creature captured the sight of something miraculously. A goddess is giving birth to her spouse. And her sons and daughters are these little strange things with their cute little horns and adorable faces.
Quickly dashing between others gods and goddesses and avoiding getting crushed, the small eight-legged creature jumped on the goddess’s shoulder before doing a small curtsy to the woman and the male.
“Hello there. Is this you guys’ son?”
Well, I promised that there would almost never the time where I write like this anymore. Quote me on this if I repeat this. Sorry
And my post just suck when comparing with any of you.
They were of equal importance, but ultimately futile as she would devour all eventually. Yet, life grew, and she hadn’t expected the others to be so active in their endeavors, frankly it made her uncomfortable given all she did was make a ball and lava pit. She shifted in place for a bit before standing, taking time in allowing herself to do so as she watched the life. Such movement and scenery made her hungry, and while she could start to devour everything in sight, she did not want the ire of her siblings to come down upon her. In fact, Kikoquatl felt quite over stimulated, this was not her idea conditions for there were too many gods doing too many things.
So she pointed her hands at the ground in front of her lava pit and with loud cracks and deep rumbling the earth itself shifted. A large opening appeared, swallowing some the forest’s trees but big enough to allow Kikoquatl, in her larger form, to travel through. She had made a cave system, a very extensive cave system at that, completely random and stretching on for miles on end.
The hungry one was about to depart when her gaze met Seihdhara, such a sad thing it was to see a mother who had lost her children. However, Kikoquatl did not feel this sadness, just confusion as she views everything as potential food. So, not understanding the full weight of her plight, Kikoquatl scooped up some earth and began to mold it. As she did so, she crafted a being. It had many arms and it’s flat body, two large antennae to feel around as it had no eyes, and was the length of a tree. Of course, it had a mouth as well, four large mandible capable of shattering bone and tending flesh, a tool to make eating easier. It’s hide was also that of rock except for a soft underside, making it nearly impossible to kill by most other creatures currently. The first one unfortunately scurried away so she had to make another one, this time being sure to keep it held down.
Her arms held the front end of the millipede and she walked over to the bear goddess with good intentions, the ball of energy followed her. Like a child, she extended her arms to Seihdhara to present her creation as a gift in an effort to make her happier. ”Can…. can this be your child?,” Kikoquatl asked in an innocent voice as she cocked her head to the side. She meant no offense by it though she also did not realize if her words came across as rude or not, genuinely trying to make the goddess feel better.
Feeling that there is a bit too much going on, Kikoquatl decided to make a very large and elaborate system of caves to which she can retreat into.
Then she spots the sad, soulless redhead god and decides to make her feel better.
Kikoquatl makes a species of millipede, the size of a small tree and carnivores in nature.
She has to make two because one scurries away, it’ll likely prey on the vultures, other birds, and any fish it can find.
She goes up to Seihdhara and presents it as a gift, her new child. Wanting to make her feel better.
The new gods passed in a blur. Like wind, they flowed from the door and rushed past her, whipping each way in colourful zephyrs of life and creation, speaking much, but saying nothing. Mater Lei stood fixed before the Door, holding the orb of the Lock like a beacon as they came.
A small tug brought her back to reality: a tiny fairy, pulling at the edge of her robe. Sensing her awareness, it scurried into the shade of the Towers.
Without turning, Lei gazed into the Vault. A single gramophone revolved silently on its table, nothing else around. Slowly she pulled a long pin from her coat, and rammed it through the vinyl. A second later there was a spark as its motor died and began steaming smoke.
Time squealed to a halt.
She'd been alone too long, Lei realised. She had grown used to unlimited time. Now that habit would have to end. Age would keep up with youth if it wants to stay alive. She turned her head to her sons. The younger had dutifully followed the Dragon as he swept away over the ocean. The elder was off in the forest. Lei rolled her eyes. He could stay there.
"Malkut."
The Avatar performed a fifth-dimensional turn and faced her from the edge of the planet, replying immediately. "It is as you suspected. The Dragon named Grimloq has raised an isle of magma, and laid a clutch of children upon it. Creation has been enacted to no great destructive counterweight- other than some localised earthquakes." She nodded. "However, there is a large tidal wave headed your way as a result of the vulcanism."
"Thank you, Malkut. And the other?"
"Gremju the Imp discovered a desert plain on the northern plateau, and has left it charred. Strange crystal hovers above it. Beyond this I do not know."
"Thank you. I will handle them from here." Brilliant lines and figures formed themselves from solid light, an intricate net that spun all around her. "Here are some schematics. Malkut, take my power and realize them before our Time re-starts." Malkut stepped through space onto the beach while Lei walked into the water. "Alto..." Some rustling from the bushes. "...Keep doing whatever the hell it is you think you're doing."
Mater Lei raised her cane in two hands and stretched it into a long staff, then brought it down over her knee, bending it into a sharp crook. As Malkut directed the silks and shadows of her power, she leapt into the air, past the atmosphere and through orbit, landing in Gremju's plain.
"Not so fast, lad," she said to the frozen gremlin, hooking him by the neck and dragging him along with her as she flew to the beach and dumped him there. "If you're going to be a nuisance, Gremju, then they should know who they have to blame." He landed face first in the swamp water. "Have fun~!"
She leapt again and landed upon Grimloq's isle, was about to hook him in the same way, then paused. As her hand brushed the surface of the brilliant eggs, Lei looked up and saw the beauty of it, this fiery island and its dragon emperor. She turned away. "Raise your children here and raise them strong, Creator," she said, crook tapping molten stone. "But come. You should learn the names of your brothers. Soon enough, so will they."
Lei returned to the Beach, where Malkut was still working. A great veil of dark and white had descended over the region, bearing streams of material from inland. She located Kap Gam, the first arrival, in the heavens. Did she know she was frozen? She looked like she might.
"You know why you're here," said the Mater, though she herself did not. She plucked a Tower spore from the air and watched it grow. "You are welcome in my universe, traveller. Be at peace." The rest could be left unsaid. Kap Gam knew she was trapped, and Lei raised no denial.
She saluted Promus, and plucked a spider-like mist from his clouds. "Only so much nuisance this universe can take, my dear," she said to the nascent Sebna. "Let the adults be."
As Lei flicked Sebna into the forest and descended to it herself, she moved on to the other one, the one that had demanded her attention. "There comes a time, Seidhara, when all mothers must let their children go." Her crook drew idly in the sand as she spoke. "My Door does not open so easily. If you would yearn for cubs not of this world, show me, first, that you can provide." Lei moved on. For now.
Ipeyr received a comforting pat on the back. "Pleasure to have you, my dear," she purred. "Keep working on your introductions."
She walked over the waters of Pelegath's swamp, merging smoothly with the roots of Ipeyr's woods. "Romantic, isn't it?" she said, stirring some gunk with her foot. When she realised she meant it, she laughed. She stroked the cheek of his bird. "There is always a place for those with an eye for the odd and the subtle. Be welcome, Pelegath. Renew."
As she spoke this, Lei emerged from the Vault with a thing like a double pendulum, but that it had infinite joints and infinite branches, and was swinging in every direction at once. She tapped it, and the simple forces of change accelerated in all the newborn life beyond her. Released for a moment from the grip that held the gods, swamp, woods and shore soon interlocked to form a mangrove, then a salt marsh further out. "You may enjoy this," she said, not only to him. "Only do not lose track of what you grow."
"...but I don't have to tell you that, do I, Larwen?" she said, draping an arm over the Corrupter's shoulder. Side by side with him, it was remarkable how similar they were in frame: too tall, too spindly, and too horned to be human. He had escaped notice, but not from her. "You've embodied a noble quest. Not graceful, by any means, pft- but noble." She flicked her hand idly to the trees. "Don't get yourself killed."
Lei walked away, running her metacarpels over the biolithic shell of the Goldari. Such a beautiful thing, she thought, deep underwater, stretching her crook out around the neck of the nearest Faliargun to pull his body away from its jaws. One by one she drew the newborn humanoids into the safety of waters enclosed by Malkut's rising construction, and the Goldari she left outside.
"In time these gates will open, Orfai," she said as she finished her work. "In time you will teach them many things, and they will live or die according to such. For now, I offer them sanctuary. For a little while." She walked off into the Ipeyr wood. "I'm sure you'll find a secret to tell them in due time."
It seemed a shame to lose the graceful cypresses of Ipeyr's forest to the coastal evolution that reigned outside, and so Lei sequestered them within the structure Malkut had built. It was finished, now, silently and in full beauty. Lei could ask nothing more from a son.
The exterior of Lei's shelter was a mere fortress, but the interior was the work of gods. Larger within than without, it easily contained much of Ipeyr's forest, and Kap Gam's towers and Orfai's shoreline, and Pelegath's swamp. All of these spilled outwards, beyond its walls, and onto the coast, but here, now, a little of their first work was preserved. It was grim, and it was colourless, and it was cold and impenetrable, and in its hardened wings it would shelter every beauty they provided forevermore. And thus did Mater Lei show her splendour.
...she supposed she did have to make something with colour eventually.
When she found Kikoquatl in her tunnels, Lei simply laughed, and she laughed for a long time. Without a merry word, she cast her shade around the edge of the pit by which the little insect had emerged, and the shade silhouetted light, and became light, firelight; and the firelight condensed into bright orange fruits, huge and heavy, as tall as a man or larger laying amidst creepers on the ground.
Lei took one and carved it, and hung it on the Orb, where it soaked up the energy without burning and shone light from its mouth and eyes, and thus was the first jack-o-lantern made.
There was only one more, the one Seidhara had been speaking with. She seemed the patient type, even disregarding the break in time, so Lei-
-something behind Lei's mask went very wide. Aella could not hide the shadow of the blood, nor the shape of the armour. Not from her. Mater Lei reached out an unstable hand. "Do I..."
The hand returned to her side in a trembling fist, the question drawn back. No, thought Lei. I don't know you. I deleted those memories. The past was over. There was no blood.
"Thank you for comforting our new sister, Aella," she said, simply and kindly. "May this world be gracious to you, also."
With that she returned to the shore. She was just in time to watch Time escape from the grip of the smouldering instrument on the shore. The world and its gods returned to their business, perhaps a little wiser of the one who had invited them in.
Lei watched the machine quiet down. The table was nice enough. She spirited it away somewhere into the fortress. The gramophone she hurled into the sea, where it belonged. Just a flick of her wrist. Lei turned back from the shore.
"Welcome," she said to them all, replacing the pin.
Behind her, a tsunami exploded on the walls of the fortress.
THINK OF MY POOR AUSTRALIAN HEART, TIMEZONED LIKE THIS
Speaking of time zones, Mater Lei uses a Vault oddity to stop time. She uses this opportunity to greet everyone.
She's generally polite to everyone who isn't A) running off and B) plotting to annoy people. Also, to keep the original set of creations safe from the tsunamis caused by Grimloq's sudden island-raising, she creates a massive cold-hearted fortress. Its exterior is mostly normal-sized, but the interior is large enough to hold a substantial amount of the forest, swamp, and shoreline. 1 Might spent on a big ol' fort to contain the Door and Vault, and surrounding creations.
She grants the fish people sanctuary in the as-yet-unnamed fortress, 'for a little while', and creates pumpkins, for Kiko. Pumpkins are created for 1 Free Point and as such have the curious property of being able to store a small amount of supernatural energy, especially when carved.
I think that's all.
I might be wrong.
ed: I was wrong. Lei uses a vault oddity to increase the speed of evolution via natural selection by a hundredfold. Left untouched by gods, organisms on Galbar will adapt to new environments and speciate faster than they do on Earth.
Mater Lei 4 Might 3 Miracles Level Four 2.25/8 Acts of Creation
Orfai left his creation, frozen in time within the waters of the Great keep, to follow the Mater. She had set something else to work, another machine that was accelerating the development of life in the world. How came she by these oddities, locked behind her little door? A trove, treasures and secrets of an eternity locked away just outside his reach! How cruelly teasing, in time he would come to possess them all! He would document them and mark them, each would be known to him. In time. All in due time.
Time. For now, it was his to learn precisely with what she had frozen time itself. That machine she cast aside, perhaps, flowing form its very turn... Oh he must have it! He must possess it, to study it and to know it - or what was left of it at least. It called to him, it beckoned him in, an enigma from a different time, a different world. His eyes locked on the gramophone as it arced through the air and into the sea, and he gave a wide grin. His form shifted once more, back into the shadowy shapeless being which it had started as.
He'd follow that in time, once the socialising and introductions were over. Although he could hardly resist such a tempting mystery, he realised it would be rather too offensive, even by his standards... Wait, no, that wasn't true. There were ways around this! He was a god after all, if in all his divine power he couldn't work out some way to be in two places at once then what kind of God was he, really?
The shadowy Keeper swirled around for a moment and with a hum of energy and a symphony of notes, a fragment of himself broke off from the main body and began to take a vaguely humanoid shape. The two figures looked at each other for a moment before- well before the other one- the-
Well, before 'He' started off towards the pool of water, with the real him remaining behind to continue socialising with the others and- he'd have to name his Avatar, this was far too confusing. For now 'Him' would just have to suffice.
So he turned his attention back towards the Mater, tilting his head slightly to the side 'It is good to be here.' He replied simply, glancing around the walls that now surrounded them. It was a cold fortress, as bare to him as much of the world was - although such would soon not be the case, given what else the Mater had done. "It is good of you to build this place and offer sanctuary to creation. I greet all that now stand here warmly." The god turned his shadowy, featureless head, examining each of the other gods in turn...
Orfai 'cheats' the necessity of socialisation by creating an Avatar, thus allowing him to remain behind while also allowing 'Him' to seek after the tossed aside relic. What a cunning and delightfully devilish plan, he thinks to himself, rubbing his shadowy hands together!
1 Might used - Create Avatar; Him. 2.5/2 acts of creation. -> 0.5/4 acts of creation
Death's Frontman AKA The One-Man Clean-Up Crew Level 1 God of Death (The Mortal Coil)
A Long Time Ago (Or Later?) In A Universe Far Far Away...
Cassidy Ryhardt was drinking a bad drink in a worse bar, on an absolutely garbage frontier planet, when he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. The slight man cracked a smile and turned around to look at who'd grabbed him. The smile melted almost as fast as the fist speeding towards his face, and even so he felt the knuckles crunch against his teeth, splitting his lip as the punch's force laid him out over the bar. Moaning and gasping through the taste of blood, and struggling to regains his feet, but that same strong hand attached to his ex-wife's brother tugged him off out through the establishment.
Cassidy caught one last sight of that bastard of a barkeep smirking to himself as he scrubbed out Cassidy's blood from the countertop. He hadn't even gotten to finish his drink either. Lem, or Lom, whatever his idiot ex-brother-in-law's name was, tossed him to the sidewalk, where Cassidy's head thunked against the slick metal of a hoverbike. The bike's owner was leaned against the wall of the bar, and he exchanged nods, and what looked to be a sizeable amount of money from Lum's expression before the lout ran off, and Cassidy was left alone with the mystery man.
"So what'll it be? I charge extra on the hour for off-worlders with exotic and contagious disea-" The second punch didn't just split his lip. It knocked the man out cold.
When Cassidy next awoke, it was with a fat lip, a black eye and a pounding headache. He was strapped to a table and couldn't feel his extremities. The man he'd been captured by was nowhere to be seen, and Cassidy found that he couldn't remember what his captor looked like. All of a sudden, there was a voice in his head that was not his own.
You have been chosen Cassidy Ryhardt, for a most... heavy honour. "Who the kashk are you?" It will take too long to explain. I have so little time. The decision is made, and you have duties to attend to elsewhere. "Wha- No! Tell me why you're doing this! Why am I here? What's going o-" Know death.
Cassidy screamed, even as his ability to expand his chest to breathe left him. He felt his mind fill with his own voiceless agony. He was burned, drowned, cut, bludgeoned, starved,parched,rippedtornbledcrushedthrownmeltedflayedcrackedbentstretchedhuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrtttttt...
Awareness seeped into the cracks in the vessel's mind, and control was slowly being asserted. The vessel did not want to give in, even though outwardly it had long since surrendered all bodily functions.
Do not resist! Like... Hell... I won't!
An internal battle was waged for a long time. The ancient god of death had been moments away from death himself when he had begun the passing ritual, foolishly having postponed it until the last moment, and so even a frail human's dying awareness was enough to challenge the supposedly insurmountable will of a god. It seemed to have been all but decided in favour of the god's mind, when on top of all that had happened to the chosen vessel that day, his body was sucked into a portal which opened beneath his slack body. This dying god of death had just finished transposing his divinity unto the vessel, and was midway through transferring his soul into the mostly hollow shell that had been Cassidy Ryhardt, when the portal closed and severed the connection between vessel and god.
In a universe far away, a dying god was screaming in impotent rage as his essence bled to nothing, all of his divine spark freely given (and subsequently stolen) by a lowly human who had been five quarters dead at the time. And on the shores of Galbar? The results of the aborted ritual remained to be seen...
Arrival
Through the open portal, flopped a limp body. The meaty and small frame was steaming gently, still undergoing the aftereffects of subsuming a godly soul's essence. Might, rich and pure, coursed through the veins, golden ichor pushing the old dead blood from the god's body. Luckily for Césure Virgule, his undignified arrival had landed him facedown, because he began vomiting and excreting blood violently. He also happened to be naked. Consciousness of this fact blessedly, was withheld as deep inside his mind, the consequences of godly ascendance were being wrought on his mind. Pathways were being expanded, in the physical, mental, and spiritual planes. A kind of sickly black haze fell over his body as the more grotesque adjustments began to increase in their speed.
Anybody who might happen to be watching as the god awoke finally, and blessedly clothed in a tasteful navy suit, would see that he began examining the surroundings and taking in his new awareness and memories. He was neither the man called Cassidy nor Virgil of Ullure any longer. The god had, for all intents and purposes, been born of a most gruesome and terrifying death. No more fitting a beginning for...
"Césure Virgule," he murmured, rolling the words through his mouth slowly. It had a ring to it, that was for certain. The next task immediately made itself known to Césure when he cast his awareness more widely, beyond the fortress he found himself in, and realized the world had just experienced its first tsunami. For the first time on Galbar, as far as Césure knew, the fledgling life had experienced cessation. Heedless of his fellow gods, Césure got to his feet, and dusted off his lovely suit.
Césure drew upon his godly might, and then paused. He needed to find a way outside. It appeared as though he would have to deal with the other divinities after all. Looking towards those that he could see in the fortress, he grinned winningly.
"Any of you know where the door is? I have to go and harvest those souls out there. Don't want them going off."
Césure Virgule's origin essentially involved a deranged (and near-dead) god trying to merge his soul with an unassuming human by the name of Cassidy Ryhardt. The resultant being that was created and ended up landing on Galbar then reconstituted into a newborn god, (because there is no way a basically dead god could have stowed that much power in any vessel, let alone a human) and noticed that his job wasn't being carried out properly, despite the abundance of life, and newly dead. He has yet to spend any power however, since he wants to be outside for that.
With the Goldari preying upon the creatures in the shallow sea, Larwen felt satisfied for the moment, but not content. He turned around to view his siblings again and their work. That was when he noticed the forest of greens, a disgusting swamp, and more creatures being born into the new world. They were imperfect, all of them, and it made him angry. They would have to be taught a lesson.
Then without warning, they erupted in their imperfections, and became larger, more grotesque in nature. A wall of water shook the fortress wall behind him, what had that been? And the stone itself was new, and it now encompassed his siblings and their land, all the while he felt the touch of the one who called him here. She had done something perplexing, had she stopped time? The very notion was staggering, but it also made Larwen cautious of her and the gifts she had. She could prove even more of a danger to his work then the others.
He could no longer contain his urge to make the land perfect, so he walked to the Mangrove forest and where he walked, the land became corrupted now. His aura was strong upon mortal creations, for the trees grew, twisting up and outwards with long branches full of thorns. All of the greenery he walked upon became blackened, cancerous and ugly. The unfortunate organisms that he encountered were cured from their respite. For they too became twisted with unnatural indulgences. His perfection of the natural world, was to others a very pervasive corruption.
Next he dug his hands into the dirt, grabbing a small worm, no bigger then his large finger. He split the thing in two, watching it squirm for a time and worked his creation upon it. The creatures grew in size, great spikes of chitin exploded from their bodies, giving them protection but also pain. A head formed and with it, sharp teeth for biting, for killing imperfections. Now close to six feet in length and as large around as a tree trunk. He then set the worms upon the blighted ground. They grew longer still, now close to eight feet and their shrieks could be heard, unnatural and full of anger. He would name them the Vyer. They would do great work, for where they went his perfection would follow.
Larwen then spoke for the first time, his voice but a whisper yet fraught with malice, "I am Larwen siblings, and I shall make your creations perfect."
Larwen takes note of the stopped time. He also hates what his siblings have been creating so far. He walks into the mangrove forest, and where he steps the foliage twists and becomes corrupted with his aura.Part of his portfolio. 1 might spent-Larwen then creates the Vyer, armored worms who will spread his corruption as they travel and eat.
Larwen Level 1 god 2/4 might left 0 miracles 2/2 acts of creation
“There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.” -John Calvin
Ipeyr was content with his works and the creations of his siblings. The god smiled briefly before a screaming roar broke his attention, followed by the brief rumbling of the fortress he now found himself in. It was bare, save for the creations of the Gods and the very air was fraught with gloom. A stone enclosure, sleek and magnificent in it's somber way. The work of the Mater, no doubt. He would thank her later, for sheltering Life against peril. However,his attention was quickly directed elsewhere...
"I am Larwen siblings, and I shall make your creations perfect".
It was then Ipeyr witnessed the 'perfection' of his forest, and then a writhing hatred boiled deep with the God; a wrath unbeknownst to his siblings. "Well, Lawren as you can see, my creation was perfect before you weaved your vile influence over it. You...You've corrupted Life!". His voice broke slightly when relaying the final word, slightly out of anger. Ipeyr took a moment to regain his composure, walking over to his brother within the grove."Forgive my anger, Life has it's compromises and so should we. I shall gift this land to you and relocate elsewhere. It was foolish of me to deny Life, no matter how...unsettling it may be. May your lands prosper forever".
Kindness had once again settled within Ipeyr, whom smiled happily to his brother. "Have you any rebuttal?"
Ipeyr,the god of "Thats cool bro" compromises with his brother about land stuff, like the property brothers or something. Then just smiles like a dumbass
It had not known it could be shattered- its entire existence had been within this orb of softly pulsing light and sound, and it had not thought to leave, content to linger drifting on dreams, or perhaps memories, of crooned melodies and ferocious battle-hymns alike. Vivid dreams of a world out there, just beyond its grasp…
And the shroud was gone. And all the light and sound and color that it had lived in was ripped away, and it tumbled, disoriented, in the void, moments stretching into eons as it felt itself falling, falling-
A burst of light enveloped it, and when it found itself again it was of a most peculiar sensation- that of having a corporeal form. Touching a… plane of existence. This wasn’t right. It was too rough and cold and quiet and lacking in color and quiet-
It shifted between forms, the ball of energy it had landed in scattering, swirling into a column of writhing shapes and sounds and colors, spinning around itself bigger and faster, faster and faster until pieces of itself sheared off, forming into seeming plumes of feathers that existed peacefully for a brief second before they were wrenched back into the column once more…
And in the cacophony of chattering notes from these creations, the sudden sound and color it had created… it stilled. The swirling slowed, the column shrinking in height and quickly fading, leaving behind the half-transparent visage of a young nearly-humanoid woman- pearlescent hair being swept around her, eyes shifting through bright colors and peering around the assembly in alarm and confusion. The feathered plumes, having regained their own composure, settled on the being’s shoulders, on her head, perching on her hair and arms. Small creatures, weighing a few grams at most, with feathered wings of iridescent jewel-toned colors and dramatic plumed tails several times the length of their bodies. They came in all hues, about a dozen of them perching on her, chittering amongst themselves and cooing as they settled against her body.
There were others here. She peered about, the tensions of their arguing- and of some, their honest attempts at peace- radiating plain as day and setting her to trembling in confusion, overwhelmed. She had never met another, not so far as she could remember, and here there were so many…
A name called to her. Multiple names. She did not know how she knew of them, but they spoke to her as though they had once been hers.
“Rytia Udione. At your service. Forgive me for my...outburst. It will not happen again. I am not used to possessing a…form, such as this.” Her voice was bell-toned, high pitched but clear, echoing around the gathering- and broadcasting her uncertain inflection for all to hear. To stop herself from fidgeting, her hands went absently to the small violet- and fuchsia- and cyan-hued birds perching on her shoulders, and she petted them gently with her fingertips.
Rytia has a …flashy arrival. A very flashy one. Awkwardly introduces herself. MIGHT: 3.75/4 LEFT 0.25 used (creating songbird things.) 0.25/2 LVL I -> LVL II
Larwen listened to Ipeyr, a god of life talk to him about corruption. He had not a clue what he meant, his creation was perfect, what Ipeyr created was not. He simply remedied that, but Larwen could not help but smile as the God's voice broke. Ipeyr even offered him the land, but Larwen shook his head. The god of life did not understand, how could he? After all, Larwen was the only perfect being here, his siblings were not.
After a moment, he spoke, "Your anger is unfounded, brother." Larwen flatly stated. The God of Perfection watched as his worms then burrowed away, then he looked down upon Ipeyr once more. "My rebuttal is this- You are misguided, all of you. Imperfect. Wrong. It does not matter if you give me this land, for I will perfect all life that you, and other others, create. It is the only way. You don't understand now, but perhaps one day you will. So go, flee, for I will not be far after." and he finished talking with spite.
Then a newcomer arrived. He could feel her, could hear her. He frowned once more, it was just another obstacle.
Larwen talks to Ipeyr about perfection, tells him to he'll corrupt all life. @Valorous He views what he does as the only correct way to exist, and create. A notes another newcomer, Rytia.
The god of decay turned suddenly at the crashing tsunami. He quietly thanked the one who brought them to this world, for who else would have the power to create the fortress that now protected the creations of his siblings? With that he turned back to his siblings and was soon struck dumb with disgust at Larwen’s newest creation
A being such as Pelegath, one so dedicated to the balance of life and death, looked on with horror upon the Vyer and with the corruption his brother wrought. This could not be allowed to go unchecked. As much as he wished to eradicate the horrid creatures entirely, they had just a much as a right to exist as his own creations and needed to be checked, not obliterated.
“I know you think your way is right, dear brother, but there must be balance in all things. Please do not be so rash in the future.” He extended what could be called a hand to Larwen in a sign of friendship with a warm smile implied on his faceless head. ”I do not wish to fight my siblings. Would it not be wise to make peace with one another?”
Pelegath gives Mater Lei a mental thumbs up and turns away for 3 seconds to find out Larwen was being Larwen and is not happy about it, but since Pelegath's a softie, and Larwen is his brother he wants to make nice.
Seihdhara of the Red Hair, The Crimson Goddess, The Bear Mother Level One Goddess of War(Martial Combat) Four Might
Time: The Day the Gods Came
Seihdhara felt only a deep warmth and calm as her sister placed a kiss upon her brow and spoke. 'Oh, my young, sweet sister... I cannot pretend to know where your children are. Much less can I pretend to know how to reach back into our old worlds... Seihdhara, we are here now. We are family. Cry as much as you need to cry, sister, but know that you're not alone. Your children may not be here with us now, but what keeps you from giving birth to more life in this new world? Do you not want to see this world filled with your little ones, to watch them grow up strong and beautiful?"
Seihdhara was not sure she understood, but at that moment Aella planted another warm kiss on the Crimson Goddess' forehead before disentangling herself from the embrace, 'Sweet sister, I'm here for you, remember that. Let me know if you ever need someone to talk to. Also definitely let me know if you want someone to watch over your little ones.' Aella smiled as she turned and walked away to the forests that had arisen not too far from them, and as Seihdhara considered her sister's words she noticed that the strange rotting being, the one called Pelegath, was looking at her. Wiping her tears, she looked at him and smiled. But he only turned and walked away, insects winged and legged swarming from his decaying form.
Even as the one called Promus descended from his perch in the sky and spoke with Kap Gam, she found that there was a strange ethereal creature running up and down her arm, appearing somewhat taken by her great red hair and the way it was enwrapped about her like clothes. “Hello there. I'm new here...” the misty thing said, and Seihdhara then knew that it was a god, and knew that it was Sebna. And Sebna sang for her a beautiful song that brought laughter to the Bear Mother's face, loud and warm and contagious. A little faery fluttering about her head stared at her wide-eyed and giggled too, eventually landing on the Bear Mother's nose and hugging it. Seihdhara turned back to Sebna, but the ethereal spider had already moved on - seemingly awed by what Promus and Kap Gam had wrought. Seihdhara picked the faery off her nose and stroked her in the palm of her hand.
'You're cute,' the goddess said, 'that Kap Gam makes some very pretty things, doesn't she?' The faery batted Seihdhara's finger away coyishly as if to say oh you! Seihdhara only laughed and placed the faery on her head, where she seemed only too happy to settle into the goddess' endless red hair. The faery's name seeped slowly into Seihdhara's consciousness. 'Dwynen eh?' The goddess murmured, and the faery shivered slightly. With that, the Bear Mother made to follow after Sebna, also interested in what Kap Gam and Promus were up to, but before she had taken more than a few steps she was set upon by the one named Kikoquatl, who had part of a massive raving insect in her insectoid arms, the rest struggling behind her.
'Can... can this be your child? Seihdhara looked from the unintelligent giant millipede to the other goddess a few times, unsure if this was some sort of cruel joke. But something about her manner and the innocence in her voice told Seihdhara that she was only trying to help. She placed a warm hand upon the millipede's head, and the raving creature seemed to immediately calm and settle down, its eternal hunger satiated. 'It can't be,' she said firmly. 'But...' Seihdhara smiled and stroked her sister's alien head, 'thank you, Kiko. For a being that seems uncaring at first, I guess you're a big softie really.' And even as Seihdhara spoke, Mater Lei approached. Seihdhara turned to her in anticipation, and before she could ask once more about her children, the Primordial spoke.
'There comes a time, Seihdhara, when all mothers must let their children go. My Door does not open so easily. If you would yearn for cubs not of this world, show me, first, that you can provide.' And without another word, Mater Lei moved away. Seihdhara looked piningly after her, now certain that there was a way to bring her children through the door. Kikoquatl's millipede looked at Seihdhara, stridulating questioningly. The goddess smiled a sad little smile and patted the giant thing. 'Yeah, you can stay Newygnog.' And even as she spoke, all around them a great citadel arose and the waves of the world outside crashed against its sturdy walls. And even as it did, sound erupted all about as yet another god exploded into the world - this one in a cacophonous burst of sound and light and strange singing birds. And even as Rytia made her entrance, Larwen made his declaration of war against all the gods.
'I am Larwen siblings, and I shall make your creations perfect. ... So go, flee, for I will not be far after.'
Ipeyr and Pelegath, in the face of war and aggression, only made conciliatory gestures. Seihdhara scoffed. 'I will not flee, Larwen. I am the enduring fire that will sear your corruption from every heart and plain, the sheltering flame against your unwanted perversions. Be afraid, boyo.' and beside her Newygnong stridulated piercingly, and her chitin became as steel, her mandibles grew long and were as adamant, and Seihdhara sent her forth into the forest to be its guardian and to hunt down Larwen's horrors.
With that, she turned and joined Promus and Kap Gam, crimson hair rippling all about the fearsome warrior mother. 'I see you have created guardians.' She said, surveying Promus' three heroes. 'No guardian is complete without martial prowess.' And she cast a powerful hand over them, and the wings of the three heroes took on the slightest crimson hue. And their hair became flame-red. 'And so I grant it to you.'
Seihdhara thinks on Aella's words and notices Pelegath looking her way. She smiles at him, but he goes off. She notices Sebna and is delighted by her, and laughs. Her laughter is so contagious that a nearby faery is taken in it by it and begins giggling too. Seihdhara likes her and decides to keep her. Her name's Dwynen. Then Kiko comes along with a giant millipede, 'this can be your baby!' Says Kiko. 'No it can't, but thanks you big softie,' says Seihdhara, and keeps the millipede after calming it down. Her name's Newygnog. Mater Lei's words confirm to Seihdhara that her children can be brought forth. She'll get her children back, she will! She considers Larwen's words a general declaration of war and scoffs at Ipeyr and Pelegath's conciliatory reaction. She tells Larwen that she'll war with him alright and, turning Newygnog into a hero, sends her into the forest to be its guardian and hunt down Larwen's corruption. She then flies off to Promus and Kap Gam where she blesses Aza, Maka, and Hala with martial prowess.
4 Might
1 Miracle: Teach all things laughter 1 Miracle: Bless Dwynen with immortality (she's otherwise a normal faery) 2 Miracles: Tame Newygnog and satiate her eternal hunger 1 Might: Heroify Newygnog 1 Might: Bless Aza, Maka, and Hala with martial prowess
1 Might Remaining 2/2 Acts of Creation. L1->L2 1/4 Acts of Creation.
Location: some desert How rude Sebna thinks as it flies across the night sky. There weren’t any stars to shine its path nor the purple clouds of future rains, just the wind rushing from one specific direction. For some reasons, it seems like the goddess, called Mater Lei, was displeased by Sebna’s action. Well, I hope she does know I say fuck her the little mist thinks as it flies across the barren world. For some reason, the Goddess may have fling it too strong as there weren’t any trees nor grass that grew here, and the ground is light and poor. Maybe I should create something, the mist stares blankly at the barren land that it was given. Letting the sand to fly over its body harmlessly, the mist begins to think what to create. Unlike others, who have some sense of what to develop with their power, Sebna has no idea in the field of creation. Its power was more into ending others life, rather than creating one. But nonetheless, there is a certain charm in creating something new.
But what should I create, Sebna thinks as it rolled its misty body over the ground, letting the sand to pass its unrealistic body. And it could think of any good idea. But meah, it would do it anyway.
Letting its misty fingers to bury deep in the ground, the mist said in its gleeful voice with a hint of excitement. “Rise, the plant.” And from where she said, plants rise. It has a violet color and a small figurine, the size of a man’s thumb. But one thing for certain, there are many of them. Their roots buried deep into the ground, taking every precious resource and helping them to withstand the fierce wind. It leaves are as sharp as needles, protecting it from the day and night difference. Its life is brief, much shorter than other plant’s life had been compensating by its impressive growth. If it took others months to grow and reach adulthood, this would only require weeks if not days if the environment is pleasant enough. And it would taste bitter, almost gut cutting, when consumed. But no matter what, it shall be the mother of all foods.
And when a producer had been invented, there came a need for a consumer to consume it. Letting its head to rest on the bed made of purple grass, Sebna touched the nearest grass which stands out from its cousin. Unlike others with the dominated purple, this was green and has large leaves. Its roots were shallow, easily getting uprooted by the harsh and ferocious wind. “And you”, Sebna said as its misty hand recreated the plant’s shape. “For you had stood out from your brother and sister. You shall feast on their corpses and other corpses.” Its hand, now legs, move tenderly between the insect’s wing and its hind leg. “You shall bite with the strength of a thousand armies collide. You shall fly with such speed that paints the day into night. And you shall travel with your brother, for you are weak and a delicate being that needs tending.” And from its hand, a dark needle-like created was created. Its delicate wings reflect the stars above its head. Its jaw, able to deliver an excruciating pain to the receiver, is both good at grinding and cutting of both flesh and plant-like. Its hind legs were sturdy, able to deliver a strong kick in a brief moment. And like the first creation, this consumer life is short comparing to others of its kind had been overcome with its massive amount of eggs per laying and an insatiable hunger for more food.
And just like how it was programmed, the small herd of locusts begins to terrorize the purple bed of grass. Their jaws are constantly working, creating a nagging sound. But that soon came to an end as they begin to lay eggs and die shortly after that. The sight of thousand and more insects laying on the ground, wiggling their legs for a short period of time before doing nothing. But Sebna was pleased by its creation. They did not stop chewing, creating this nagging sound even when they are dying. But everything needs an end, Sebna reminding itself before falling asleep on the messy bed made of purple grass. Surrounding her was these dead locusts and the eerie silence, strumming the symphony of destruction and renewal.
Create the purple grass. The first eatable plant. Create the locust. Might: 2 remained. Act of creation: 2/2 Level 1 - Level 2
The sounds of the other gods hounded Lasis, surrounding her. She was very quickly running out of places to hide. To think it had fallen this far, from a grand rebellion against a tyrannical god, to nothing more than her failed attempts to flee. She had nowhere to go. Nowhere except this door, this Door that she had tracked down.
She did not know where it lead. This was terrifying, yet at the same time exhilarating. She needed to escape, and this offered her just that chance. She approached. The door opened invitingly for her. She felt a tug on her mind, but she ignored it as she stepped closer to the door.
The tug lanced into severe pain. She stumbled, and fell. Everything went black.
When she woke up, she had been dragged away from the door, her hands tied together with divine thread, surrounded by the rest of the pantheon. Whispers erupted amongst them when they realized she was awake. She sat up, still dizzy from the pain.
“For your crimes against the divine pantheon, you have been sentenced to death,” came the verdict. The sentencing was a farce; there would be no court trial and there was no court trial. They didn’t see the need for one, obviously. Lasis simply dimmed her eyes, closing her sight as she awaited the killing blow.
She knew they would be swift, for they wanted to rid her of their pantheon. She’d evaded them twice now, and they would not take chances. Yet, the killing blow did not come. She lit her eyes, bringing back her vision.
“Was that close enough for you?” asked a not quite familiar voice.
Lei had never travelled far through the Door herself. That path was one that frightened her, and fell far outside her duty, both to herself and to that which had given her access to it. Still, she knew how it worked- somewhat- and now that she was fully alert, she was back at the height of her power.
She could hear the voices that she had not called.
Lei swept into the place beyond the door with a blur of a warp, bounced off things in the Vault she did not remember putting there and didn’t care if she broke. To leave escape just out of arm’s reach for the one she had called was tantamount to murder- something Lei had done plenty of, in her time, but never because she was content to leave a task unfinished.
A simple yank was enough to hurl Lasis’s tiny body across the void, into the Vault. Mater Lei saluted the furious pantheon as the Door closed behind her.
Then they were both sprawled across the floor of the forest. Stylishly sprawled, in Lei’s case, until she got up. ‘Draped’ was the word. She extended a hand. Still slightly dizzy, Lasis gratefully took the hand, helping lift her to her feet. She asked, ”Who are you?” Lasis asked, curiously.
“I’m your neck in a ‘return to sender’ envelope,” said Lei, adjusting her coat. “Who are you?”
”I’m Lasis, thank you for saving me. Do you have a name I could call you by?” Lasis responded, shaking her wrists around in an attempt to free them of the divine thread.
“Lei,” she said, “Mater and Concierge.” She half-bowed and half-curtsied, balancing her crook somehow. As she rose she twirled the staff, and a flash of gilt steel touched the gap between Lasis’s wrists. The thread fell away. “This universe will be your home now. I trust you were quite sick of the other one.”
Lasis simply nodded, saying, ”I got the feeling I wasn’t quite welcome there anymore.” She rubbed her wrists with her golden-clad fingers, before continuing, ”Thank you, again. I will get myself acquainted with this new land.”
Mater Lei tapped her forehead with her glove again. “Every blessing, my dear.”
It’s basically just a big post for the arrival of Lasis. She’s now steppin on da beach doo doo doo doo
Gremju lay in the swampy water for several seconds,mildly confused at what had just occurred. After understanding he was probably teleported or something he hopped to his feet and wandered towards the location where the other God's had gathered, noting the swampy area and considering what fun little things he could design for such a place.
Shortly before arriving, he noticed the creatures that had began filling the nearby body of water. It seemed reasonable to add his own little fish to the fun. Taking the original design created by Orfai, he changed the fish to blacken and shrink slightly, he elongated the creatures teeth and gave them the capability to lengthen even further. Lastly he instilled a new instinct in his creation, a swarm mentality which would cause his new little creatures to form groups of up to one hundred. However he only created a handful and trusted they would reproduce in their own time, the eels would serve as a sufficient food source and the larger fish would hopefully ignore them while they rested in the darkness of the ocean until they struck upwards. Having contributed to this new 'life' thing, Gremju smugly made his way over to the other gathered Gods.
As the imp God approached he waved to the others and took a bow as he arrived "Greetings! For those who were not here early, I am Gremju! I trust everyone has been having as much fun as I have creating things on this fresh world. I see the forest has taken a very interesting turn. He announced looking from each of the God's with a wide grin on his face, adding the last sentence as he noticed the 'perfection' the forest from earlier had undergone. There was quite a group here, plenty of different looking beings. He hoped that meant his playmates would all have many wonderful ideas he could design equally wonderful challenges for. The imp giggled at the thought.
Gremju introduced himself again now most of the God's were present, completely disregarding the tension between them and commenting on how the corrupted forest looks pretty neato. 1 Might 1 miracle (0.25 might spent)- Created the Sastuk- piranha like creatures that work in swarms and will attack from below, using their black top half as camouflage before returning lower in the water to rest and become relatively passive until they grow hungry again, at which point they grow erratic and aggressive 3 Miracles Level 2 0.25/4
“When he, whoever of the gods it was, had thus arranged in order and resolved that chaotic mass, and reduced it, thus resolved, to cosmic parts, he first moulded the Earth into the form of a mighty ball so that it might be of like form on every side … And, that no region might be without its own forms of animate life, the stars and divine forms occupied the floor of heaven, the sea fell to the shining fishes for their home, Earth received the beasts, and the mobile air the birds … Then Man was born:… though all other animals are prone, and fix their gaze upon the earth, he gave to Man an uplifted face and bade him stand erect and turn his eyes to heaven.”
-Ovid, Metamorphoses
Ipeyr was utterly bewildered with what his brother had to say. That he,he were wrong."Be that as it may, Brother, I will not allow you to corrupt Life in your twisted image of perfection. From the moment of it's genesis, Life has been perfect and needn't interference of your corruption. Heed this, your quest may soon turn to plight if continued". The Life God words embellished with a callous tone was transient, as was his indignation. If anything, he'd hated to estrange his brother. His warning did not only imply himself but rather any god or goddess's creations he'd corrupt.
All Ipeyr could do was hope his sibling would listen. His amiable nature returned quickly and along with it his trademark smile; him only lingering for a moment 'till departing from the airy forest. Briefly, he was plagued with an important question; What now? The betterment of his creation? Establishing land to begin anew? Those were viable options, yet he felt as if enough progress was established, and that rushing Life can have ill consequences. For now, he'd acquaint himself better with his siblings, starting with-
'I will not flee, Larwen. I am the enduring fire that will sear your corruption from every heart and plain, the sheltering flame against your unwanted perversions. Be afraid, boyo.'
Ipeyr regarded the Crimson Haired goddess with a quizzical look. It certainly was a bold statement, and one that stirred mild trepidation within himself. Before this moment, the excitement had made him forget entirely about his creation(Who will not be named Ug.Deal with it Kho). However, his nerves were quickly calmed as he felt the steady vitality of his creation.
"Greetings! For those who were not here early, I am Gremju! I trust everyone has been having as much fun as I have creating things on this fresh world. I see the forest has taken a very interesting turn"
Ipeyr regarded the imp, his 'brother' with a little wave."Yes, interesting would be a word for it.."
Ipeyr just talks about things, and remembers he made a person. And spoke with Gremju just for the lolz. Also, no might spent because obama care.
Next came Pelegath, preaching the same ignorance as Ipeyr. Larwen was unphased by his words, there could not be balance, only perfection. He looked at the God of Decay's hand, but made no move to grasp it.
"Peace brother? There shall be peace, when the world is perfect. When it is cleansed of this imperfection you and the others have created. This is truth. This I know. It is tragic that you would fight, instead of giving in. I could show you true beauty, my siblings."
Then Seihdhara made her intentions known, by loosing her pet millipede to hunt his perfections. It annoyed him greatly, but this was not something he had not anticipated. Larwen knew his siblings would not agree with him, how could they? Lesser beings seldom know what preys upon them, just the fear that it invokes.
Larwen smiled, a grotesque gesture. He then spoke so that Seihdhara might hear him. "Afraid? No. Sister dearest, you pain me with such prattle. You would take great care to remember, that even flames eventually turn to ash.
Ipeyr spoke once again and Larwen listened to his childish sayings. He replied with strong indignation, "Your life, their life, is flawed. That you cannot understand this brother, is a great failing on my part. I will show you, one day, what true perfection is. Be careful brother dearest, for words have powerful connotations."
Larwen then began to walk away, he had plans that needed a suitable place to settle and Kap Gam's fungus needed to be perfected. He would have to deal with the Newygnog at a later date.
General chat between Larwen and his siblings. @Valorous@Kho@Jarl Coolgruuf Threats have been made, subtle and with severe implications. Larwen began to walk away to find his own land.
Larwen Level 2 2/4 Might Remaining 0 Miracles 0/4 To Next Level
Level 2 God of Civilization (Speech) & Azazael of His Breath, Level 1 Hero Halazael of the Heavens, Level 1 Hero Makaizael of the Earth, Level 1 Hero
That first decree having been made to his Watchers, mere moments passed before Promus sensed the perturbation below; his eyes gazed down at what was unfolding between the demon Larwen and those that had confronted it. The Watchers traced the gaze of their master and maker even as wings veiled their faces and shielded their eyes from the evil below. All four sets of oculi fell upon one goddess as she began to ascend to the Celestial Sphere where they were suspended.
She who approached was the weeping mother, and she offered nothing in the manner of greeting or even a name.
'I see you have created guardians,' her voice called out as she was met by the empty stoicism upon Promus' face. 'No guardian is complete without martial prowess.'
There was a pregnant pause as he waited for more, only to be left disappointed. It would be he who offered true tiding first, then. He spoke even as her touch extended to his three Watchers and filled their hearts with the fire of battle. For her burning hair and wild ire towards the demon Larwen, he offered many titles to fill the void left by an unknown name. "Hail to you, O Foreign Mother of Fire and Flowers, upon whose Fiery Crown rests Wisdom and Might. I am known as Promus."
He looked back to his Lords of Civilization in their now-reddened primes. Still, none of them had uttered a single word in all of their time thus far. "You may speak. The power -- my power, has resided in you all this time."
With his leave finally given, the words flowed free.
First, from that young one fashioned of clay came the declaration, "I am named Makaizael, and I humbly offer thanks for your kindness."
From Azazael, he who was of of Promus' own breath, there came speech as sweet as honey. "The gift that you bestow honors me, as does your beauty and exuberant aura of strength." His wings parted the smallest bit to offer a glimpse of the perfect face that was meant to forever hide from the world, and in that moment his hair seemed redder than blood.
She seemed to smile at Azazael and devoured him with her eyes even as the stony form of Promus somehow found a way to become even more rigid.
The moment was saved as Halazael of the Heavens finally broke his silence. He gave a small bow and his quiet voice offered only, "Thank you. I am called Halazael."
After the short talk that Promus gave to his Watchers at the end of my last post, he looks down and sees the drama that unfolds with Larwen.
He doesn't say or do anything, just watches as Seihdhara (he still doesn't know her name) comes up. He is miffed that she doesn't introduce herself or even say hi, instead just jumping right into business. But he still addresses her kindly because he liked how she yelled at Larwen.
The three Watchers are given permission by Promus to speak, and so they each thank her in their own mannerisms. Makaizael is polite and respectful, Azazael is a bit enthralled (to Promus' obvious disapproval), and Halazael is shy and reserved.
All three have 8 Prestige, because they've been involved in two posts and each has been a collab post, so +4 for each of the two posts.
While Seihdhara did not accept the millipede as a child, she did accept it as something else, not properly knowing exactly wat but she let out a happy chirttering noise regardless. Kikoquatl then allowed her siblings to began bickering with one another while she mosied over to her cave entrance to find that some gift had been left for her, it was an orange thing with a face carved into it. It was the jack-o-lantern that Mater Lei had left her but she didn’t know what it was called. Although it looked edible, it would be rude to eat a gift.
Kikoquatl gave it a curious look before taking it, with some effort as it was heavy even for a goddess, and dragging it down into the cave. Once farther inside, she transformed into her more primal form, following the paths and always making a left whenever she reached a fork. Minutes passed for her, minutes turned to hours as she explored the tunnels tentatively, though some would say lazily as she stopped to simply rest every now and again rather than reaching her end goal.
Yet, she eventually reached the deepest part of her caves, a few miles beneath the surface were nothing could bother her and where many mortals would die if they ventured to far. Kikoquatl then began eating the rocks in her way, but it was not a random eating, for she was deliberately carving out an area. It was a large area, almost one hundred meters across. When she was done the walls extended up nearly ten meters. A circle took up the center of the room and pillars held up the ceiling of the great cavern.
It took much time and deliberation, but she had finished down to the minor detail, finding that this would be a perfect place for her to call home. Her form shifted back to the smaller one, still holding the pumpkin before setting it on a pedestal for it to shine its light outward and into the room. The ball of energy took residence at the top of the room, filling its center with a white light after it made the edges of the room into a magma to give the lighting a different tone. The room gave her a cozy feel, in fact she was welcome to the idea of calling the place her home, safe from the prying eyes of most gods as no one would take the effort to actually follow her, not unless they hunted for her.
But there say Kiko, allowing herself to drift into a somewhat peaceful nap she drank of the heat energy that the magma around her gave off.
Lei watched the Door eject a naked man with a slight nod and a 'hm'. This one seemed half-baked. It didn't take long for him to at least conjure up some decency and a name, though, and classy decency at that.
"Mater Lei," she responded, extending a hand without much of the same flair. "The way out is there." She pointed her cane and a line of grey light extended into the Keep. "Or there." She pointed her cane straight up, and another line made a high arc over the wall. "Or there." Another line went down into Kikoquatl's tunnels. "I like your suit."
With Time flowing its own way and her attention now occupied by Césure, it was left to Malkut to oversee the other new arrival.
A sweep of his arm was sufficient to clear some space on the beach, raising a bed of cool sand and dismissing any nearby sprites. A few lenses were conjured to watch the vivid process of birth, peering through the shuffling lights to the nascent deity within; the very worst of the disharmonious song was suppressed, and the rest was weathered.
Rytia announced herself upon the sand, and was heard, but not greeted. Malkut extended a hand.
"Your outburst was beautiful," said the automaton. "Have no shame." The plumes began to alight on him, and on the trees beyond, and in the swamp, and soon enough the Garden in the Keep was filled with song. "For as long as you remain in this world, your voice may call out as loudly as you please."
'Orfai' stepped into the temperate water, the shadowy form unnoticed by all but the canniest fish. The device lay where it had fell, unseen and untouched, though a crab had taken up residence in its horn.
The gramophone itself, it seemed, was none so strange, though it was powered by a curious magic, and its motor coiled to the motion of the planets rather than any local energy; an oddity and nothing more. The record it had played may not have been.
In its grooves were written the discordant song of a past that had not been, and a future that could never be, inscribed in a meaningless code and a voiceless tune. Only the point where the stylus had touched the vinyl made sense, and that was the Now- the frozen Now of some minutes ago. No matter how much the record was turned, that moment could not be advanced. It was done.
Lei greets Cesure and appreciates his sense of style.
Malkut greets Rytia. He's very polite.
not!Orfai finds a mysterious record with a hole in it at the bottom of the bay. Before Lei destroyed it, it seemed to be marking the passage of time in an exotic soundless 'song'.
Seihdhara of the Red Hair, The Crimson Goddess, The Bear Mother Level Two Goddess of War(Martial Combat) One Might
Time: The Day the Gods Came
Aware of Promus' subtle displeasure - whatever the reason - Seihdhara gave the very cute Azazael one last lingering gaze before turning more completely towards Promus. It was odd that he thought it necessary to introduce himself, for she already knew his name and - she assumed - he knew hers. A formality she was behoven to carry out, it seemed.
'You're spoiling me with all this praise!' She said with a small chuckle, 'I'm Seihdhara, and this here,' she gestured to the faery seated on her head, 'is Dwynen! Isn't she just adorable?' She smiled gratefully toward Kap Gam, all previous animosity (though that was far too heavy a word for that minor sibling's bickering) long forgotten. 'You're really quite good at this creation business!'
Seihdhara thinks Aza is very cute. She responds to Promus, telling him her name. She also introduces Dwynen and praises Kap Gam for creating faeries (as Seihdhara calls them).
