They remembered. Dying that is. It wasn’t the least bit pleasant, they didn’t have any intention of doing that again. They didn’t know why they were back, or where they were, nothing here reminded them of how things should be. The hills were the first thing, these weren’t like the hill where they were from, these were older, had been enacted by the elements more. The forests were another, back where he was from hill snakes were a real problem, hadn’t seen a single one yet.
The sky was the same, but little else. The trees were similar enough, that was a good bet that the winter would be as harsh as back home, wherever this was. Perhaps it was the far east? They had heard strange tales from the east where the trolls lived. Maybe that was why he was back.
At the same time that didn't quite make sense, there were river people here. They wouldn’t survive out east. They remembered that from back home, while there were always a lot of river people they were shorter and less prepared than proper highlanders. Always so many river-people.
They had spotted trails through the forests, they had waited and seen strange river people, they wore strange clothes and even rode the Elk instead of hunting them like one was supposed to. Regardless they were river people still, they had stayed away from them, you could never trust river people. Still, they made spears and a bow, stronger than they needed for hunting proper. It was easier than it should be, they were much stronger than they had known. This new body still surprised them sometimes.
They had fitted stone heads to their spears, sharpened and fitted with resin and twine. They knew a trick or two, they knew such things several times over at that. They had been proper highlanders, now they were a proper highlander alone if they could be named that. They had located water, seen food, although they never got particularly hungry, they still chewed and ate occasionally. Still-water had been found easily enough, gave a good idea of what they looked like, they were larger than they had been.
It wasn’t that big of a surprise as things had gone. Now they sat cleaning their tools and trophies, after all, they hadn’t much to do but what was needed. Perhaps they would find a river person's place and see what they knew. After all the river people did know much, that, and their numbers, always made them dangerous. They had come across another bunch of the Elk Riders the other day. It was a foolish thing perhaps but they had come out to talk if they could.
Unfortunately, they spoke only river gibberish. Also unfortunately they were most aggressive and unreasonable. That was strange, after all, river people usually only got scared when you came upon their homes. They supposed their form was disturbing, it did come across as rather grotesque they had to admit.
They had fought, had little choice, the elk riders had come at them with throwing spears. That was when they learned something else, nothing much hurt them. Oh, it did penetrate their body, but it didn’t hurt as much as it should have. They had been stabbed before, plenty of times. These didn’t hurt right, beyond that their body healed far faster than it should, didn’t even bleed properly. Although what was appropriate for this body was a rather bit different.
It was rather fun to use their new body they had to admit, wrestling an elk to the ground was not something they had experienced before. Of course, they killed the riders too, river people always tried to come back if you let them. They had some interesting things, beyond the cloaks and good goatskins with beer. They had known metal before, the river people were fond of it in excess they knew, they knew how to work copper well enough themselves. This was different, better. The throwing spears were tipped with it. They knew not what it was but clearly, it helped explain why the river people here did so well, to have such a metal. They had made knives and axes and even little plates to protect themselves.
River people were fairly ingenious in making such things, they needed to be, after all, they weren’t as good as proper highlanders and these were no different. It had taken a bit of doing but they had managed to patchwork the cloaks and armors together to fit themselves. It wasn’t as difficult to wear as they had expected, and the knives were very useful too. It took some time to find a good stone to sharpen them on as the one they had been using for their knives wasn’t good enough.
They did find one though, and being able to properly sharpen them they had cut up the elk riders’ belts to keep the pouches and loops to connect for their own kind of storage vest. One needed to be properly prepared in all skills to survive. River people didn’t know that, they liked to make their women do some work and their men do the other, it made both lesser.
The skulls they had taken from the elk riders were still red with blood and would have to wash those again later. Regardless, they had spotted a river person village and hoped that they might find someone who could talk properly there. Else their plan was just head northeast, try to find a druid as they always knew well and might be able to help them. Or might even know what had happened.
It was a plan at least. They kept sharpening their knives, for now, they would need them later when they went to the village after all.
We come upon White Skulls musings of general things, what they have been up to while hiding in the forest, an encounter with ‘river people elk riders’ as they put it. And their general plan to go to a village and then from there generally search for a druid should that fail to enlighten them. They have found difficulty communicating with much of anyone and are confused about where they actually are. Speaking often of being a true highlander in comparison to river people.
Above the skies in a shining and glittering shape came flying in fast, only coming into great detail as it came close. A barge of sorts, although this one was golden in its entirety and the aforementioned fact it came flying to the island was a bit of a change from the other method of flying transport.
It was a pleasant enough day, not terrible winds nor storms. The sun was out and it was warm enough, perhaps a bit too much for everyone's tastes but such was life on the many isles of Mydia. This was a rather special isle for what lay upon it, and undoubtedly what the Serpent triple-headed creature holding an orb had come for in some aspect. This was a place of science. It was a place of magic. And now such a creature and a shining orb one that was faceted not as a purely smooth orb but rather a gradually sloping series of plates, each in turn shining out soft invisible beams of divine energies.
The creature set out inland, having jumped off the barge a scant few meters from the ground where it stopped in the air from its careening journey.
It had arrived at one of the few orchards the Omniversity knew. Delicious peaches, pears and apples grew from the branches. The trees were spaced out, allowing the vibrant sun to create pathways of warmed grass. While the bigger trees offered a shady respite. Some would claim the orchard moved, ever so slowly. As if the trees were locked in an eternal slow, spinning dance. The great buildings of the Omniversity laid beyond it.
Left unseen by a blind Auriëlle who sat against a tree eating an apple she had managed to pluck from the constantly blossoming trees. She knew the way back. Almost. If the trees moved they luckily did it slow enough so Auriëlle’s mind was able to adapt. She knew she had to walk about five minutes in that one direction until she came upon those sun-soaked stone path which glowed so pleasantly underneath her feet. Then she had to go right and slowly follow the curve and then take those five steps up to go inside. Or was it six steps?
She felt the gust of wind hit the side of her face and looked in that direction out of habit, though of course she couldn’t see anything. For a second she wondered if someone was there. Though she quickly looked back in front of her. Seemingly staring towards nothing. Assuming the gust of wind was just that.
Then a sense of serenity washed over her, it was in part unreal, most of all other feelings were present but somehow pushed to the background as the wave of serenity seemed unending. A gentle breeze flowed and no other sounds came with it for a few long seconds.
Then came a soft snap from a tree and a crunch of an apple from the same direct of the breeze. A voice followed. "Pleasant day?"
“I suppose.” Her experiences with Nalla made her realize when her mind was being toyed with. She was blind now. Sitting alone. Far away from home or anyone who could protect her. She shouldn’t feel so peaceful when she heard a voice speak that she hadn’t heard before. But she was. Any instinct that told her to run or get up and fight for her life was suppressed and she knew it.
Auriëlle took another bite from her apple. “I haven’t heard your voice before.” She noted, still staring off into the distance. It would be a good pass-time maybe. A conversation with a stranger. Maybe he would know the way back to the Highlands.
"No I suppose you haven't, but I do know you, or rather I know of you as no doubt many speak to such things. You may call me Kiim, I have two of my fellows here with me, Jaav-"
"Yes, hello, these are quite good, would you like an apple? Perhaps a pear?" Another soft snap and the softer crunching of fruit continued.
"-and the other is Guul."
"A pleasure."
"You suppose it is a pleasant day, that is a fair enough way of putting things I would say from your position. We did not expect to find you outside in all truth, but it does make things easier."
Well, she did hate the insides. It was cold. For the first time in a long time she realized how cold stone could feel on bare feet. And there were the others. The high voices. The laughter. It echoed around. Dazing her. Outside was open. Easier. More alone. Few of the people around here wandered through the orchards.
“Are you here to kill me?” The forced serenity seemingly gave her a casual tone. As if she just asked someone for a hand. In truth, even if she hadn’t been forced to be at peace with literally everything happening she would’ve used the same tone. Blind like she was now, with the branch laying over her lap, she knew sooner rather than later someone would use the opportunity. If not the strange, four-fingered slick creature that gave her the branch, then maybe these three odd-sounding people.
"So despondent are you already." There a soft thump of something large being put to the ground. "We are not here to kill you, would you like to be killed?"
She turned towards the voices and smiled as if she could see them. Yet there was something off about the smile. “There are many things I want, but I don’t want to die just yet.” She had business to finish. Finish something that was only just slowly brewing inside of her. “It’s just that these days, most people who meet me want to kill me. Can’t say I blame them.” She had killed a lot of people herself. It was only a matter of time before someone came around for revenge. Then she turned back to face forward. “So what do you want then?”
A soft exhalation followed, not a sigh not a laugh not quite anything easy to tell before the voice continued. "We have already got what we wanted. To find you and ensure you had all the necessary components that had been given. In truth, it was quite the worry that you had been sent away or abducted by much the same ones of evil that has inflicted this burden you so fearfully keep onto now."
The crunching of fruit suddenly ceased and the second voice, Jaav, spoke. "Getting the Focus to you had been quite difficult in the first place after all, let alone finding you and sneaking past all these such prying eyes back then. This was comparatively easy and we do enjoy some such simpler tasks. You know Mydia is quite nice this time of year I have to say, perhaps we should enjoy time here more often?"
"Yes, well, in any case, you may grasp that we have been around you for quite some time even if we have not met. Not exactly our interest, well Jaav liked you but personally I much preferred not so much engagement. We serve our master as he wishes in any sort of case regardless."
Quietly Guul spoke, closer and coming from a direction far lower than the other two voices. "And what do you truly want?
Mydia? What the hell was Mydia? She never heard of a name like that. Was that what they called the rainbow land down south? And the Focus? She hadn’t even gotten her puzzlebox yet. Which was weird considering she could ruin just about every mage she knew. “None of you are making any sense.” She said, and then kept quiet. Hoping whatever spoke couldn’t read her thoughts.
In truth she wanted to see again. And when she could, she would blind every worshipper of the wretched sun goddess. Around her the world would burn. People would get slaughtered, and even blind nobody, absolutely nobody could best her. What she wanted, was to be the strongest again. So strong not even a god could torture her like. So strong that one day she could raze the heavens.
“I want nothing.”
"Aw, you are a very cute mortal. In any case, you know the Focus, little golden amulet with a symbol of an eye? Has kept you alive more times then all the gods could count, hmm?
"'You're making no sense', I like that even a mortal can see that, eh Kiim?"
"Shush. Do you know how you arrived here Miss Aurielle?"
“Not Miss!” She instantly snapped as she even turned her head towards the one called Kiim, which was a weird name. She had gotten used to some weird names already, but that one was the weirdest. All three of them had weird names. But then her mind made the click, and touched the metal disc that still dangled on her hip. Her fingers running along the eye. She frowned. “I just… found it.” She said, seemingly looking away from the three. Despite it just having been some random disc found on her nightstand, she had kept along. Feeling some weird connection to it. The three their words started making sense. Slowly. “Who… is your master?”
Jaav continued eating the various fruits loudly as Kiim replied. "He has many names, I'm not sure of any that you would recognize. But I can describe him well enough, or I can even show you if you like."
"Best to do both really, they always choose the most difficult path, that Night Elf King was half ready to be taken it to Him when he stepped aboard, both is best."
"Hmm, how about this Aurielle daughter of Frankert and Elliénne. I will tell you of my master, and if you do not know of him, I will show his visage to you. How does that sound for the procession here?"
"I wonder if any others here might be of use. We should check that out after this business is done."
A small smirk grew on her lips. Show her? She was blind. All she had now were taunting memories of a better time. Apparently the three either hadn’t picked that up or were just playing with her. Whatever the case, it was a way to pass the time. She sat up a little more. Faking attention. “Very well. Tell me of your master.” She said with a slightly challenging tone.
"There we go, that's a good start there." Jaav interrupted and Kiim responded with a soft huff before speaking.
"Our master is a strange one lets say. He doesn't like the current state of affairs, and he is very powerful indeed, powerful enough to maybe change things. However, there are others who are powerful like him, some you have come across yourself, they are a mixed bunch, some agree with him, and others disagree."
"Awful temper too, doesn't like being challenged, let me tell you. We will either explain to you in great detail how you are wrong, or will get you back into line more directly."
"In any case, he has taken a particular like to you, has aided you and kept watch over you. Showing him to you should generally explain the rest."
"Perhaps give her a name first? One of them at least, perhaps the same as he gave to that Vampire Queen?"
They knew the vampire queen. Auriëlle perked up with her mention. They knew her, which meant they had heard of her at least. That was her way back.
“You’ve just described my mother.” The sorceress said. Auriëlle had no fond memories of the woman. All she knew was pain and tears. Feeling as if she failed her every time she couldn’t summon a candle flame. Those deeply disapproving eyes had a way to make her so small. They had crushed her heart. In the end, she put her in a shadowy corner to just write on parchment. A stain upon the bloodline of the great Simain Flameweaver. “But I doubt she would’ve send for me after all this time.” As powerful as Elliénne was, she could not have made the Focus, or gain servants capable of bending the mind.
"Hardly," Kiim scoffed, "We would not answer to some insignificant Acadian. You think too small."
"In truth most Acadians are frighteningly disappointing, you would think given the state of that city they would be more moral and yet they always find a way to fall short."
"Ekh-Rus, to put a name to a power beyond your knowledge."
“Never heard of it.” Auriëlle responded, truthfully so. “But considering how haughty you talk, I will assume he is a god.”
"And she got it. Ready to be shown? Or would prefer not to know one of your benefactors?"
"I should ask for seeds to plant from these trees..." Jaav ending his speech with another soft plucking of fruit and subsequent crunching.
“You could just name his domain.” Another voice spoke. Auriëlle recognized this one. The headmaster. “The trees here were shaped by the gods themselves. I could give you the seeds but the trees would be no different than any other.” His voice became louder. No, not louder. Closer. “You make odd friends, Auriëlle.”
The sorceress remained quiet, still curious how the three would show their master when she was blind.
"Unfortunately our Master gave specific instructions on this matter. We may only speak specifics after showing."
"A shame at that, it must be good health, something which is rare outside of the careful crafting."
"You are one to talk of strangeness indeed. Do you have kin? You are apart from even the long forgotten in form, new or alone?"
A muffled reply of Jaav through another set of crunching, "Perhaps both, many gods are fond of such things.
“She’s in a…delicate sta-“ The headmaster was cut off by rock breaking the earth open in his general direction. Auriëlle couldn’t hear him for a second, but knew he was still around. Her strongest sorcery couldn’t touch him. “Very well.. if you insist.”
“Show me.” Auriëlle said.
"We will speak more after." The three fell silent, even Jaav stopped eating, Aurielle felt the lightest of touches on her hand.
An idea, or memory, a vision perhaps? Whatever it was it was in her mind, skipping past whatever barriers to sight had been constructed. She was in a foggy place, a place of smooth stone as far as could be seen. Strange towers of seeming unending heights stretch across the horizon.
The fog roiled in upon itself and then she was no longer where she was. Still in this vision a place of stone and fog, but there was a mountain that was not of stone, or dirt or anything of Galbar and the earthen land there. Corpses, of every kind, every race Aurielle knew, and many she didn't. Animals, plants, trees, all dead made up this mass.
Then it moved, shifting towards where she viewed it from, an eye flowed across the mass, one contained in a circle of spikes and as large as she was in her entirety. It stared unblinking when it set upon her.
Her mind was bombarded with thoughts, ideas and concepts in fragmentation. Her mind tried to make sense of it all.
Each came with sensation, with fragments of images, of other ideas that slipped past. It ended with a finality on the last.
Bliss.
Then she was back, her mind was her own and the soft touch retracted from her.
The visions faded again, leaving her blind. At first she was embracing the bliss but something inside of her moved against it. Made her realize the wrongness of it. About everything she had seen. For a second she was calm, and then suddenly, frantically, scrambled to get up while she grabbed the focus, ripped it from its bindings on her hip and threw it on the ground.
She felt sick in her stomach. No, no she was not some favored servant of death! She killed… yes. She killed a lot, yes. But she had no love to die herself! She didn’t want that peaceful tranquility. She looked up as if she wanted to say that. As if she wanted to defend herself. Words fell short though. So instead she turned around and tried to stomp away as best as a blind girl could.
The Headmaster moved quickly in between the Three and her as he picked up the Focus. “She will want this back… sooner rather than later.” He assured them. “And when she will, I will return it. That is my solemn promise.” He looked up to face them. There was no fear on his face. “Now I would imagine your master wants her to return to her duties. I cannot let you take her though. My own master will not allowed it.”
"I did say that revealing such was bad to Him did I not? They never do understand even if they've been set out."
Kiim turned to Jaav sticking a tongue out before replying to the Headmaster.
"In truth our master was more concerned that her soul had been stolen away by one of the immoral ones. Assessing her current state and presenting our Master was secondary."
Guul broke in, "Would it be possible for us to receive a tour? In not now given what may be urgent, perhaps in sometime when things are more free?"
The Headmaster looked almost elated when the Three told him their master did not want her back just yet. She had only just started on the path. She didn’t see it yet, but there were bigger things written in her destiny than perhaps even the gods realized. “Her soul will be safe for as long as she stays on this island. My master will see to that.” He swore to the one called Kiim.
Then he turned to the one called Guul. “There are, indeed and sadly, more pressing matters I must attend to.” Though those pressing matters were not Auriëlle. “Perhaps should you all return in a few years’ time? When a few more mortals have taken residence here and the Omniversity can be witnessed in its fullest glory.” He proposed with a friendly smile. “It will be an honor to guide the avatar of a divine through its hallowed halls then.”
Guul nodded as Kiim replied, "We shall return then."
They stood up from the resting position they had adopted, Jaav spoke before anything else.
"One last thing, although you may know of such things in general terms, it may be of some interest to the specific for your records and times of future when your pupils or theirs grow hungry in desires of the mind. A person of your talents might find interest near the canyons of the great Eastern Isle, a place stands most visible that houses a great thing there."
“All I teach can already be found on this island.” The headmaster said with a friendly voice. “So I have no need to endeavor beyond here.” He let the words hang in the air for a second before continuing: “But if the place is as interesting as you say it is, the Lady in the Mists has doubtlessly already put clues on this island pointing towards it.”
Kiim and Jaav turned, as did the whole of their body, Guul replied before turning her head with them. "As long as such is known, the Lord of Mana's hand was most appreciated in the creation of the matter of interest to your kith."
Kiim spoke as the three walked back to the barge aloud back towards the headmaster, "Perhaps you'll gain kin too at some such time."
The headmaster just smiled but kept his words to him. He didn’t need his kin to return. In truth he didn’t really remember anything about his life before waking up. The tomb seemed to have siphoned his memories of his life before. When he woke up, he was the only one to do so. That night it was strange to reseal tens of coffins. Each containing the husked remains of what might’ve been family, friends, a lover. Yet feeling nothing for them. “I bid you farewell for now.”
The triple serpent avatar returned to the barge, an easy divine leap up the few meters to its deck and they were off once more, the Golden vessel rapidly receding from the skies near the Omniversity.
A triple-headed creature flies in a boat towards a particular island in Mydia. Where he lands in orchard where Auriëlle is just chilling. She first just thinks she heard the wind, but then the three heads begin talking. Auriëlle is aware that she is supposed to panic but isn’t. She asks if they’re there to kill her. The triom\, Kiim’Jaav’Guul, call her out on her despondent attitude and ask if she wants to be killed. She doesn’t, but she figures sooner rather than later someone would come around to take vengeance.
Then they ask what she really wants, but she knows she shouldn’t put that in words. She wants her own vengeance upon the sun goddess for taking her sight, and then she wants the heavens to burn. Then the subject shifts to the golden amulet, her Focus. For the first time Auriëlle realizes how weird the metal disc really is. The three offer to show her their master and the man who gave Auriëlle her focus.
Right then the Headmaster of the Omniversity appears, telling them they could just tell her. Apparently their strict orders were to show alone. Again the Headmaster bids them not to do it, but is interrupted by Auriëlle. Who refuses to be called “delicate”. The three show her visions of their master. Accompanied by the concepts of Good, Death, Protection, Savior, Soul, Morality, Apocalypse, Righteousness and Afterlife.
At first it feels nice, but Auriëlle is still alive. The wrongness of everything starts setting in. Realizing the Focus was from something as anathema to life as the god of death, she throws away the disc and walks away as best she could. The Headmaster takes it, promising the three that it will return to her when the time is right. Him and the three hold a short conversation, where they hint at the existence of some magically interesting location on the Eastern Isle of Mydia.
Post Length: 19.6K Characters +5 Prestige >> Auriëlle +5 Prestige >> The Headmaster
The Janusan had seen better times, the outside gardens had been completely trampled much to the dismay of any to feed the loose spearhogs now attempting to eat what remained. The outer walls of brick had stood rather well in the attack, although it wasn’t ever intended for an assault. Luckily, it only had to deal with the raiding groups keeping them locked in before they brought any serious groups forward to breach.
In truth, the walls were intended more to keep the students in rather than keep hostile forces out. There were no proper ramparts in any case either, a makeshift fortification was set up near the gatehouse to allow for some defensive fire to the nearby. The brick buildings of the interior were a little worn but still very functional, excepting a singular student barracks which had been partially deconstructed to build the small rampart near the gatehouse.
Those interior buildings sat relatively squat to the ground, several barracks for students and small houses for the teachers. Two towers sat, a larger one in the center of the compound, while a smaller one of stone sat near the southernmost wall. The two were the only constructions that reached out higher than the walls, the stone tower had been peppered with throwing spears, one had managed to wedge itself between stones, the others had either fallen off, or hit targets on the tower as the small amounts of blood showed.
Nothing was of grand construction here, while the compound was large, a small town or large village in size, the walls did not reach that much higher than a Kitz’lae stood, a few working in concert might jump over. Although doing so in an assault was foolish.
The Janusan was the highest training center for the Janus in Welkos. While every Kitz’lae had a connection to the Lae’nat, the cosmic force that pervaded everything through mana as all good gods-fearing people knew, the Janus were the adepts, the truly phenomenal of will that surpassed the average person in great respect. It was service to the state, whether as a soldier, a civil servant, or another worker, it was of high regard and status for most. Not to mention the expert techniques that many Janus were taught to make even better use of their natural aptitudes.
So to attempt a breach of such a place without full force would have been folly, as the accursed suhrvuj knew in their own dark cunning, nonetheless, the teachers and techniques known by these adepts were vital for Welkos, to survive in the north as a state they would need all the assistance they could muster from the disastrous conflict near Wek-Nor.
After fully driving off the suhrvuj, it took some time to reorganize and regroup before entering the Janusan walls. Renarrib Vos and Hundreds-Captain Cevos both entered with their retinues, the common soldiers had started to intermingle somewhat, searching out those that they knew in units serving or making trades of common goods.
Although in the cities some thought the mingling of Kitz’lae and Kitzon was frowned upon in the eyes of the Great Father, most in the practical disciplines like soldiery cared not. The Kitzon were almost always more numerous than the Kitz’lae, the Kitz’lae were stronger, tougher, and generally the more useful soldier. Generally, the Kitz’lae were more profoundly limited by supply lines to support large numbers, something that any good commander knew well.
The soldiers in the Janusan had been very tired and seemed primarily to be Kitzon at this point. It made sense given they were essentially the remnants of a proper Hundreds-Army. Rations were often exchanged, those that had been at the Janusan sharing food and such things that had been stored in the cellars and taken to help keep the soldiers well, dried and salted meats, or bread, those that had been marching freely sharing the goatskins of watered beer. Most of the time ‘watered’ was the case in more than one soldier's goatskin. Any commander who had been in the field long knew that too.
Vos turned away from Cevos, he had spotted the Vissoon, she who led the Janusan. An older Kitz’lae, one could tell easily enough from the shape and health of her scales, and the walking stick too, no doubt from the withering of age. The old burned-scarred scales on her left shoulder no doubt bespoke more of her occupation as a Janus rather than age. She croaked out as he approached.
“Forgive if I do not kneel Renarrib, my old knees could not bring me to rise again should I do so.”
“Vissoon, I have known you from my minor-majority, you have used that excuse every time, nor would I have you do such a thing.”
She sighed with a soft smile, replying, “Alas you never were much for the court formalities chik’vun.”
Vos smiled a closed mouth smile before getting a bit more serious saying, “We will need to evacuate to the North, we have to spend time to gain the forces needed to push the suhrvuj out, they have Wek-Nor, the Janusan will have to be evacuated.”
“You know best about such things chik’vun, the commanders here were worried that none would come and we would have to break through the suhrvuj ourselves. Most of the Janus here aren’t ready for such work.”
Vos nodded, they continued speaking about the logistics and where they could integrate the Janus students as they would need to move soon. Elsewhere in the Janusan, Hundreds-Captain Cevos had sought out who had been in charge, coming across a Kitzon Tens-Captain, at least a decade senior to any of the other remaining Tens-Captains. They had exchanged some brief talk, a goatskin.
The Hundreds-Captain stated, “I saw that rampart made up near the gate.”
The Tens-Captain, his name was Hkev, replied nodding, “Yes, sir. I have to admit it was a junior officer who proposed the idea. A Kitz’lae from Kres’hai, his family did repairs on the third walls there, Kres’hites like their walls sir.”
Cevos grinned closed-mouthed. He said, “I appreciate the honesty, a full unit?”
“No sir, three out of every five died, down to about a score or so in that. Three other units could be merged from Kres’hai and that would fill it out sir.”
“We’ll look at that,” Cevos patted the older Kitzon on the back. “We have a lot to discuss but we also are going to be needing to move on soon enough, any wounded?”
“Most died on the journey, the suhrvuj let up as we got further away from the river sir.”
Cevos nodded and they continued.
In truth it wouldn’t even take till evening for the Janusan to be abandoned, students never had much and soldiers were often prepared to march whenever. The evacuation north would begin thus so, they would continue from the reserve camp. Resting only a small time before heading further north, abandoning ground as suhrvuj scouting parties became more and more common.
It would be some time before they could comfortably stop.
Vos and Cevos arrive with the army at Janusan and the state of it and some conversation and fraternization happens amongst the soldiers. Vos speaks with the Vissoon, who is essentially the Headmistress of the Janusan, they know each other and speak fondly. Cevos speaks with a Kitzon Tens-Captain who took charge of the forces that fled to the Janusan, they speak of some matters in organizing troops. The combined forces soon get underway and the evacuation north begins, we’ll likely return in some time to Welkos.
"He said that the souls would be down shortly, that's good enough for just relax some."
Kiim was just to assuage Jaav, this generally did not work and usually ended up in bickering, and yet they both continued. Guul honestly wondered how long they'd have to wait in the rain, it might've been a wonderful place at sometime but now it was just a muddy hillside. Jaav had insisted that they leave the Barge off the ground somewhat, even if it was now flipped over in the air to keep the rain from filling anything much there.
"Yeah but shortly for him includes the next decade so I'd rather get back to a nice beach on Kubrazjar, catch a few fish...
...not sit in the mud waiting for some two bit murderers to show up!"
In truth they weren't truly in the rain per se, the barge was over them which afforded some cover although their position on the hill side still met that mud came running down over their clawed feet. Guul squished some between a claw. There was always something about dirt and mud, always different place to place, there was a lot of a variance between even little things wherever you went. Maybe one could even figure out where they were if one knew the soils well enough.
"Two bit murderers? Come now, they cut a decent swath of blood through the north of Toraan back when they were alive. Thaa might've even gotten involved if they hadn't run into that witch when they did."
Jaav sounded more bored with the argument than anything, but it probably beat waiting for them, "Yeah yeah, just why now though? I mean sure the big guy is bring back a lot of different sorts now, but this is reaching pretty far back right? I mean agriculture was still a pretty new thing for a lot of people when they were walking about. I'm not even sure some of the major cities were founded back then either in this region..."
"He's got a lot of perspective, I'm sure there is a reason that'll become apparent. Besides, we're going back to Kubra after, not like he's keeping us out to set up everything for some mortals right? Just a bit of body formation when the souls get here and we'll be back out huh?"
"Don't try to cheer me up..."
The conversation switched back to more general bickering between moments of silence. Just how the two liked to spend their time Guul supposed. Guul drew in the mud, she wanted to get better at all that after she had seen some mortals doing paintings, it looked kinda fun. Of course one didn't have the time to practice much or get supplies, especially when you shared most of a body and limbs with two bickering godlets. Guul was a godlet too by that definition, bit of a funny name for that.
It was about another hour of that before further word from Thaa came. Or rather, the oppressive force that became apparent whenever we wished to speak with a million voices into their minds at anytime of day at any inconvenience.
"The Five will be there shortly, they are transiting through the array."
"Finally! What took so long? Was there any point at all to making us stand out here rather than jsut saying when they'd be coming?"
Thaa replied in his usual style to most demands of him, he ignored it. You are prepared to enage the task as I have laid out?"
Kiim interupted before Jaav gave another remark, or rather Kiim spoke over Jaav giving a colorful remark. "Yes we are prepared, the souls will be connected before the formation of their undead forms, and subsequent power will be made to fully form a new kind of body as instructed."
...and I hope the sun blasts you right in your-
"Good."
The force faded back with the final word, and it was rather hard to get the last word in, although Jaav always still tried. Java continued yelling back up to Aquibeophates, although Thaa likely ignored such, right up until Kiim spotted the souls.
The next part wasn’t that hard at all in any singular part. Essentially taking the souls of some soon to be Wights and merging them into something new and different, and then a bunch of particularities of body to keep them stable that way. In thought, this was a lot easier than in practice. It ended up taking a similar and different approach to how to run things, five souls connected and merged, fused together. Their body looked similar to their soul as a consequence trying to get things running correctly, four legs, one often retracted up as it preferred walking on two, five sets of arms and heads, torsos merged in some large mass of ill undying flesh and bone. It would work well enough, after all they would be quite hard to kill and strong enough to make use of such a body at that.
The mind was a difficult thing, surely the plan was eventually after any work was done to unfuse the souls and send such back to paradise, of course that was probably going to be left to Thaa as it became a delicate act not to let the different personalities and identities throw the whole thing apart, it took essentially creating a strong bond between each so that one blended into the next. Truly only the real idea of identity that remained was one that all five shared. The murderous little cabal they called the ‘White Skulls’, truthful they did take a lot of iconography of death in their dealings, and more than a few memories Guul could see might actually have been influence by Thaa in their living lives, what might have been dreams or chats, it was hard to tell and Thaa did not mention such. Although, Thaa did not always mention a lot.
When it was done they had the merged being unconscious in the mud, undead so little enough to worry about that as it rained on, but still business was done. The other two wanted to get back to Kubrajzar rather than wait around to explain things to a powered up Wight. The being would wake soon enough, hadn’t seen the purpose of consciousness while they were still merging things and the body that it had should keep it safe enough.
If they went to a beach on Kubra perhaps she could practice in the sand…
They gasped awake. Or rather, they felt like they did so, they didn’t intake any breath.
They got up, their legs pushed them off the ground and back onto their legs.
Wait.
It took a moment to realize, they had four legs, and many more arms. And, they saw so much around them.
They turned in the rain as the mud was caked on them still. It shifted the view as they saw the faraway forest. They inspected their body with a kind a fervor even as they kept watch, it was strange and clear to suddenly be able to focus on so much so intently.
Questions of what, and who they were ran through their mind. Names, memories, they came up and yet they didn’t all fit together, they didn’t make sense for what they were right now. Except one thing, White Skulls. That worked for now. That would do, they needed to get moving anyway. The rain was miserable.
They began to run out to the forest, they knew how to survive- and could probably manage to do whatever their current needs were. Besides they might run into a traveler in the woods hiding from the rain.
That could be fun.
We open on Kiim’Jaav’Guul chilling under the barge waiting for some souls that we learn are a group of ancient serial killers in northern Toraan. The Three are waiting for the five souls so that they can form them into something unique as we learn as Thaa confirmed they are soon to arrive and their precise instructions. It isn’t long before they get to work and we see a brief part after the Three go back to Kubrajzar for vacation of the new ‘White Skulls’ figuring themselves out before they bolt off into the forest.
Thaa Start: 5 MP, 4 DP -5 MP, 4 DP, Two Free Titles for White Skulls Titles Thaa End: 0 MP, 0 DP
Undying V: White Skulls can survive wounds and even can slowly heal that which should have killed an ordinary man. They won't go into shock or otherwise be debilitated beyond the physical debasement, an arm cut off means that they can't use that arm, not that they have been declawed. Their soul is tied to their body by bonds stronger than that life ordinarily permits, as such even when they should be dead, they remain tied to their body as it tries to heal to whatever extent it can.
Soul Fusion II: White Skulls was once five separate people, but upon their passing their souls have been fused together into a greater whole, this provides some benefit in being able to keep track of multiple actions or trends as if they were a single person focusing their full attention on one thing.
Strength I: White Skulls is unnaturally strong, capable of impressive feats of strength beyond what would be expected of an ordinary being of their size.
Regeneration I: White Skulls is unnaturally capable of regeneration or reforming parts of their body that they have lost or been damaged, completely reforming a limb may take months, or a short few days to regain full use of a recently detached limb.
Vos ducked out of the command tent, just barely hearing over the chaos of the rearguard command. The accursed sahrvuj had begun what looked like a final assault on Wek-Nor. Vos had been sent back to guard to supply lines and any reinforcements from the upper cities, not a prestigious job but necessary. His sisters and brothers guarded the flanks while his father remained in the crown city, Wek-Nor.
The bloodstained messenger was propped up on a stone poking out of the earth. His scales were painted as a tens-captain, at least what was visible through the blood, belly wound, probably wouldn’t survive the night. A soldier kneeled by the tens-captain trying to keep him conscious as he seemed to be fading even now.
“Name tens-captain?” The order seemed to bring the messenger to his senses somewhat.
“Sukac, Renarrib.” The effort was clear in his voice.
Vos kneeled coming closer to the captain, “What news do you bring?”
Sukac breathed a painful breath, “Wek-Nor has fallen, the sea came up the river and attacked the city with the sahrvuj, lightfin riders and all. Renarrac Vasa is dead, I was sent from her contingent, we were retreating to the Janusan to secure them as we pulled back from the city. My men were mostly killed by flanking lightfins that we engaged to prevent them from reaching the main force, the rest got me here Renarrib.”
Grief could wait, action was needed, “What of my father, the Renabussan? Did the court make it out of the city?”
“Renarrib-ghrik-” Sukac coughed up blood, “...the Palace was hit directly by the sea wave, it must have weakened the base, it fell into the Varassetan.”
Grief could wait.
Vos turned towards the other soldier, “You are of his command?” She nodded. Vos spoke again, “Take care of him as you can, you will remain with the supply guard.” She nodded again as Vos turned back towards the command tent.
He knocked on a support pole to get attention, “Honored Leaders, prepare the troops to march. Every able-bodied to the Janusan, all others north to the nearest village to await either news or our return.”
Much of the tent was silent except for the sounds of activity from outside.
“Wek-Nor has fallen, and an unknown amount of the Royal family is dead, our goal is to secure the Janusan teachers and students and any soldiers that may be there, and then head North to continue the fight. The Accursed Suhrvuj cannot hold the south for long if the North fights on.”
Hundred-captain Cevos replied, “Renarrib, it shall be so.”
The tent came back into full activity and messengers went out to ready the rear contingent, they were rested and would be ready to march soon once they became organized. Vos could lead them to secure the remaining defenders and the Janus. Grief could wait.
Organization, that was something the suhrvuj always lacked in their many raids. They had many advantages, their expert capacity on lightfins, their mobility in striking, and many more as they ruled the Welkossian sea. However the Renabussan of Welkos always held strong against them, they often came not in full strength as they had no great leaders. Or had at least if this latest attack was any indication. They had come as an army which had surprised many, they overtook the villages along the bay before a word had even reached the Palace.
There had even been raids that had somehow managed to sneak behind the river defenses, of course, all of the cities of Welkos were walled for just such occasions from before the Renabussan had extended protection to the entirety of those along the Varassetan. In any case, the fall of Wek-Nor was a serious blow, and if they didn’t deal a counterblow to stop any advance then the entirety of the 10 rightly guided sites might fall into the hands of the suhrvuj like the dark times of old.
That was why they broke into an offensive formation when the scouts had reported lightfin scouts of the accursed, they neared the Janusan. It was a matter of cheers to see a small host of the suhrvuj encamped around the secured Janusan as soldiers of Welkos fought to protect it. The arrival of the reinforcements had caught the suhrvuj off guard and they struggled to form any kind of formation as the horns sounded the attack for the Welkossian Army. First went out the Kitzon skirmishers and their famed redfin companions, they often swarmed and attacked the larger lightfin riders with these even as they didn’t have a comparable mounted force to compete.
Following them were the Janus soldiers, ranged forces that used their will to cast the holy magic of the Great Kitz’lae Father on the accursed, and used sling and bow when tiring or otherwise unsure of their abilities. They were lightly armored like that of the skirmishers, although that was more for mobility rather than a lack of care to equipment with the former…
After that was the Su’krava the mainstay of the armies of Welkos and the forces that had united the ten cities and two lands. Armed in bronze helmets and layered armor, they carried an ax and spear, and were quite well-disciplined, especially in comparison to the mobs that they usually faced among the suhrvuj.
The Kitzon skirmishers harassed and kept the suhrvuj from mounting their lightfins or otherwise preparing, they lost many redfins, but that was in part what they were there for. The Kitzon pulled back out once the flames started flying from the Janus soldiers, they were trained to leave gaps in their ranks as were the Su’krava, the Kitzon pulled back behind both and the Su’krava went forward in front of the Janus as they switched to more conventional weapons after the volley.
The standard strategy called for the Su’krava to form up once they passed the Janus and prepared to meet the enemy in formation. Rather than that the host fled as the defenders of the Janusan sallied.
It seems they much preferred an easier target than was presented after all the fighting of the previous weeks. The initial mission was accomplished, although the scouts had been saying very worrying things about suhrvuj in the countryside, far too many suhrvuj. It was time to see now that they had come to the maw of loathed Vuj’ar, if they could escape its bite.
We open on Prince (Renarrib) Vos of Welkos, an Itztli and one of many of the royal family engaged in warfare against a foe they name as ‘demons’ who are Akua. Vos received bad news on the war, they lost Wek-Nor the capital in a magical wave attack of some kind and likely many of his family lay dead. He orders them to set out to save some troops and mages, and then to from there, hopefully, escape the Southlands which are soon to be overrun and continue resistance from the Northern parts of the Kingdom, further from the sea. They succeed in driving off the suhrvuj for now and we end until next time!
It was so terribly annoying how clingy souls tended to be to their lives. He had always wondered if it was some result of years of trauma, certainly, the older souls were less than great about it. In truth, though he knew he had to work with it, one of the main reasons for creating the undead that now roamed Galbar, it gave an outlet for the worst offenders that might bring some good. A kind of therapy he hoped at least that might give them the chance to let go.
Of course, that couldn’t go for everyone really, only so many had a bad enough case of attachment that they might even get anything real out of going back. It was dangerous enough anyway to send such souls back in any regard. Thaa had always hoped for some assistance but in truth most seemed utterly unwilling or unsuited to even be asked for aid. The life protective gods were out as they were more likely to do more harm than good. He couldn’t yet ascertain the loyalties and motivations of so many others, and a number were themselves clearly in need of their own assistance.
So he had to do it alone, which as things seemed to go most of the time, the tragedy of being more moral and competent than your peers. In truth, though his recent meetings had given him a bit more insight into the issue as it were, rather than approaching the issue of trying to ‘fix’ them, perhaps he should instead be focusing on accommodation. The tragedy of life had happened to these souls, they’d been tortured through Life- damned with living. Perhaps the best he could do would be to give them what they want without the torture. Turn the Oraelian trap back around as it were.
It was clear that Life so enamored so many with its fragile and few in-between spots of good between the endless torment. It was how so many were kept going, for those little spots of good. He had those, these souls beyond all the minutia, they remembered their little spots of good.
He had been spending so much time focusing on overcoming the memory of life, putting them into a blissful rest, no doubt superior objectively by his sight, but these souls were limited. They had been through much and perhaps subjectivity would work better. He could run a test at least. A small number of souls, only a few hundred thousand, to give a good amount to figure it out among all branches and kinds of life.
Generate their paradises, a blissful moment here and there, but remove all the evils, the hunger, the pain, the suffering, leave the calm, the joy, and the happiness. Let them explore it, let them exploit it, let them interact and be with one another as they wished in these moments beyond just rest. Let them fluctuate and experience the different joys that they know, perhaps that would be better for them then a constant high-level bliss and rest. They had been molded into these habits, into acting through life, perhaps for their death, they would need something familiar to go well into.
It would certainly be easier to explain to those living at the very least, he always had trouble with that. Yes, a test would be good, truly it would be better to find out and explore the possibilities for the future.
Aquibeophates shifted, the towers shifting and the mists roiling as it changed according to his wishes to set up his ‘test’ as it happened. His thoughts drifted to other concerns…
Thaa is thinking along in Aquibeophates and decided to test run an alternative way of running an afterlife for a small number of souls, only a few hundred thousand, starts it up and turns to other thoughts.
The western highlands had resolved out, less than perfectly. The two principle solutions had not come to pass, the region remained fractured and devoid of unity, it seemed certain it would fall once again into the previous pattern of any similar region. Petty squabbles and pointless suffering. Clearly the thoughtless interventions of other deities were to blame of course. To disrupt the initial flow of events but also to deprive the mortals of agency allowed them to fall back into the previous pattern set by the conditions of Galbar.
He needed to work quickly to provide something that could salvage something of value from the situation. While it may not be possible to redirect the course of the west with such interventions from dark deities, he might at least resist and allow moral action to flourish.
First they would need the ability to survive and endure whatever may come at them, that they can survive and fight beyond their wounds given the threats that face them. Of course such a device would also need to be well protected and need to have a strong connection to each of the ‘faithful’ as it so happened to be.
The design of course should echo what they expect in such a manner from the god Sigeran, after all, it wouldn't do to break the usage now. Thaa formed the golden artifact, a small mobile shrine that should be easy enough for a small group to bring with them. And quickly opened a rift, throwing it through once it had fully solidified.
In the sky above a rift opened and out came a small shrine, golden and mobile. Centered on a golden figure standing atop a pile of bodies. Gems and other colorful stones dotted the artifact, it tumbled before landing, skidding and throwing earth aside as it impacted without harm.
The million voices spoke, echoing out the words that described the use of the shrine to the few minds below. They spoke in the echoing words of Sigeran, that victory was still possible as the enemy had fractured and fought amongst themselves. News of all corners of the western highlands, and then the voice left them.
Artifact, Aquibeophatian Shrine DP 5 MP 4 Two Free Titles from Soul Port
DP Undying V: Those bonded with the shrine can survive wounds, and even can slowly heal, that which should have killed an ordinary man. They won't go into shock or otherwise be debilitated beyond the physical debasement, an arm cut off means that they can't use that arm, not that they have been declawed. Their soul is tied to their body by bonds stronger than that life ordinarily permits, as such even when they should be dead, they remain tied to their body as it tries to heal to whatever extent it can. This effect grows weaker the more that are bound to the shrine. The effect grows weaker the greater distance one is from the shrine.
MP Durability II: The Shrine is extremely hard to destroy, even things of divine origin of moderate power may find it difficult to severely damage the artifact without a lot of effort. Either immensely power or a very specific purpose may be required to fully disable the artifact. It is unlikely to even be scratched by mortal means.
Two Free Titles from Soul Port Soul Bond II: Those who perform the rites as inscribed upon the shrine can bind their souls to the Shrine, allowing them to know the distance and location of the Shrine in addition to granting them access to its powers to prevent bodily dysfunction.
Start 5 MP 5 DP -4 MP, 5 DP ~ Artifact, Aquibeophatian Shrine -1 MP small and quick portal to the Sigeran Remnants End 0 MP 0 DP
Thaa makes the Aquibephatian shrine after grumpily musing that things aren’t going how he wanted, which he blames on others. He then throws said shrine through a portal to the Sigeran remnants and then yells with a bunch of voices in unison in their heads some news about places in the highlands at them as well as telling them how to use it.
It had been a few weeks since her creation and Zeraphsis was having a pretty good time. Of course she wasn’t up to much at the moment, getting ready for work today as it had been, although she expected Kaala to drop by before she really got to that. Brushing through her hair in the Weird Chamber, it was a small room that Master Thaa had made for her. He had called it some random long name of course, but it was the Weird Chamber to her. It was weird because when you entered it you didn’t look normal, well that wasn’t the best way of phrasing it. Best to say that you looked at yourself from outside of your own body when in it, your sight wasn’t your own, step out of the room and it went back to normal. It took quite a bit of getting used to, but it was a darn sight useful for getting dressed and ready for the day.
Zeraphsis, really she went by Zera to her friends, was taking a bit more care today to get things right. She wouldn’t say she had much time in the past few weeks to wander, always some more to process, a bit more work to do and all that. It wasn’t particularly bad work, or even that time consuming, there was a lot of waiting around for the others to bring the applicants through and all. Kaala was one of the selectors, that's how they had met of course. She had been nervous that first week, really nervous about so much, but Kaala was really kind to her, they were a good friend. Kaala could be really intimidating if you didn’t know them, they were a real sweetheart once you did though.
Focus! She needed to get finished getting ready, she was expecting Kaala and she didn’t want to keep them waiting. Right now specifically though she needed to figure out her hair for today, she had been keeping it long and straight the past few days. Really light too but she was thinking it would be better darker honestly, blonde didn’t really suit her, maybe black? She could try black. She set her hair place and started changing it, it wouldn't take too long, it was hard to get any kind of complicated styles with it that she had seen.
Couldn’t even get the hang of braiding it really, although she had to admit that was a bit difficult with the horns. Master Thaa had told her a lot of the different races of Galbar and their forms when she asked, she got the idea from one of the water-folk. Although she took some liberties in terms of how they actually presented, especially as they got quite heavy.
Zeraphsis looked in on herself by the magic of the Chamber, her eyes were still greenish-grey, they had a tendency to shift when she didn’t keep tabs on them she had noticed. She stretched her wings some, they weren’t quite functional, she was still figuring out how to make wings that, well, worked. She was so certain she got the articulation right, but it was something about the weight maybe? Master Thaa kept on about lift and wing-spans which never quite made enough sense to her to fix things there. They were another thing she copied from a mortal race, the Aiviri, Master Thaa said they were, she liked the darker colors more though. It was a bit of a challenge really Master Thaa always kept on about the potential of that race but she wasn’t quite sure what he was talking about. In all honesty she rarely knew what in all the world he was talking about, he had a tendency to jump around as if things were connected, maybe they were, but how she had no idea.
The wings looked like they were together alright, the feather could be a real pain sometimes but it was worth it in her opinion. Otherwise she didn’t have much less to do, with the long dress she wore no tail for today, having a tail got to be a pain quick when one was wearing longer clothes, even beyond the general issues of sitting comfortably. Most of her form was based on a funny little race called Humanity, generally they got talked about a lot as getting into trouble pretty much everywhere it seemed like.
Ah, wait one last thing. Zeraphsis bent over to retrieve a crown from a chair nearby, was hard to remember everything when one wasn’t even looking through your own eyes. It was a bit of an odd thing, what she got for ‘surprise me’ when asking for a hat from Master Thaa. Twenty triangular spokes all leading into a central circlet that sat on her head, it was a bit odd alone but she had to admit it did look good to wear, kind of framed her head with golden rays almost. Very pretty in any case, completely golden of course, one had to specify if something wasn’t going to be golden from Master Thaa.
There, outfit complete, now she just had to go in and check on the office, make sure everything was still in order and then go wait outside for Kaala. In truth she didn’t really like looking over all the notes and records, everything was always in order. Oh of course the whole operation was relatively recent so she didn’t really know if that would last forever. Maybe they were just selecting the best candidates first and would get to the more edgewise cases later on.
Zeraphsis had to walk down the staircase to get to the office proper, she had her rooms higher up in the tower, and the office was at ground level, able to just walk out into the rest of Aquibeophates. She had to ask Thaa for all of this of course, when she first walked in it was just a staircase and endless empty levels, she had checked. It took awhile but she filled up quite a number with rooms, a nice bedroom for herself, a big closet, some guest rooms. Sometimes she just went and spent time filling up levels of the tower in her free time, she had to ask Master Thaa for everything of course, although he didn’t really seem to need to pay that much attention.
She even had a library! Admittedly it was mostly filled with discourses by Master Thaa. One could only read so many explanations of how everything about Galbarian life inevitably was a trap to keep souls in material suffering before you fell asleep.
Zeraphsis was in the office proper now, it wasn’t really all that much time to spend looking over the lower desk, all the notes appeared there and changed as needed, it was really quite handy compared to the numerous slates that the library was filled with. The staircase was in the back of the level, behind some small rooms that held little work areas, they were originally quite bland but she had been spending time to paint them. She hoped that she could show someone someday, maybe if she ever got a co-worker they’d appreciate it!
Past the small rooms was the lower desk which was right behind the three booths. There was enough space on either end towards the walls to walk around the lower desk, and then the three booths each had a chair and a window to the lobby, sometimes the mists built up enough that they would overflow through the window into the office but that was rare enough. Zeraphsis continued forward from the stairs, the lower desk should and did just have the notes from yesterday on it, no new applicants in the lobby.
Her first day she was really shy to meet any of the applicants, she didn’t know what to expect. They were generally very boring though, didn’t have much to say beyond stuff about whatever little thing on Galbar it was they wanted. It took her a week to even try asking any of them anything else though, not that it got anywhere. She supposed it was for the best though, she built up enough courage, or at the very least loneliness, to talk to Kaala after that.
Kaala was a good friend, they could always talk about everything, she liked to say Kaala’s full name and title whenever they came because it always embarrassed them. It was funny really, Kaala had existed for over a thousand years but still wasn’t used to their title by Master Thaa.
She was always excited to meet new people, and Kaala had said that they would get to talk to some of the non-applicants today which was so cool! Like she had made a bunch of guest rooms and everything but no one ever visited of course, just applicants. While there were three booths, only the applicant one was ever used, there was one for visitors and a help booth but no one ever came up to those. The visitor booth actually swung out so that if anyone did come they could actually come in rather than have to crawl over the booths. Although really she ended up using it more to get out and see Kaala than anything else.
Without much warning the room began to subtly shake, a pounding in the earth resonating throughout the tower, getting louder and more violently shaking the building. Steps. Zeraphsis knew that this was Kaala, they were almost here and so Zeraphsis ran out to meet them. She did actually crawl over the booth as well, it was really slow to swing out the visitor booth. Running out of the lobby she greeted Kaala, waving up with a wing to the titanic death demon.
“Hey Kaalaxinasbasonat, They-Who-Would-Exterminate-Life! How have you been?”
A rumbling sigh was the answer, it almost always was, Zeraphsis grinned.
We open with Zeraphsis getting ready to meet Kaala, her friend. She goes through what shes wearing for today, how she has set up the tower and what's she has been doing for the past several weeks since her creation. Later she runs out when she her Kaala approaching and says hi using their full name and title which embarrasses Kaala, mostly just teasing though. They have plans to go out and meet some of the souls in Aquibeophates, especially as Zeraphsis has been lonely, Kaala is her own friend in any case.
As he returned to Aquibeophates Thaa kept himself collected outwardly, he passed by his various guards and servants that awaited in the mists. He stopped to hand off a singular object to one of the guards, he knew this one, and he continued on past having handed off that one thing he had gained, a homemade muffin.
He wanted to throw into a wall in all honesty, he wanted to rage and tear things, but now was not the time.
No, he needed to get to work. And more particularly he needed someone to work with if his plans were to prove to continue smoothly and as it was evident he would not be able to attain assistance from that Gibbou, he would have to find it elsewhere. Clearly there were a number of options, he could go back to one of those he had worked with before, Genesis, Yamat, Neiya or that Fe’ris character but he doubted he wanted much creative insight in their particular fields of expertise for this project to start out with. Additionally, he needed another prospective he could trust, clearly trusting other deities was a supreme folly, so perhaps he could look elsewhere. Mortals from Galbar were too tied to that plane to have the proper perspective of course, but perhaps something modeled after one.
A soul entrapped in the same model of thinking as the mortals of Galbar would not do, and neither in a form so woefully dependent on base needs of eating or drinking to merely sustain their own form and give motion to it. No they would be gracefully drawn from the death energies that so infused Aquibeophates, of course their mind would be drawn in the same lines as some mortals so as to achieve the benefits of their prospective with so many of the detriments allowed there. They- no- She would be good to have around to give perspective to the many confusing actions of the mortals that sometimes so greatly seemed to escape Thaa of how they could think such things as good or rational.
Before him the mists collapsed as his thoughts became reality in the realm of the God of Death. Thaa did not deign to go into much detail a vague semi-resemblance to a mortal race, or really given just how vague the dark form coalesced before him was a number of mortal races. She spoke as her mind came into being, her form ensouled and she took in existence. She looked at Thaa brimming with questions.
“...W-who am I? What am I? Where are we? Who are you? What is that..”
Perhaps he should have deigned to give her a bit more knowledge, well that was fixable soon enough. He reached out and put knowledge into her mind, not so overwhelmingly present that she would actually think of it in the moment, but she might remember the knowledge as it became relevant. Thaa more presently answered some questions that would begin to help her connect to her ‘remembering’ the knowledge.
“You are Zeraphsis. You are a servant of Thaa. We are in Aquibeophates, I am Thaa.” Thaa paused as the young thing before him made use of both what he said and what she no doubt was remembering the meanings behind the words as he had so implanted. Thaa thought himself quite clever in this. He spoke once more, a structure rising out of the stone behind her, a tower. “Why don’t you go inside and decide how you wish to have your office? You can even decide what you would wish from your form, the energies of Aqquibeophates fuel you and can give you strength to change it. I have made it so. You can ask me for anything and if I deem it so worthy it will be provided for your duties to be made clear.”
Thaa ended the conversation by having the ground beneath her shift towards the tower that was now her office for what would come next. Zeraphsis squealed in surprise as it did so, slowly turning her towards the tower that still now rose ever higher.
Now he had some background processing starting up in preparation, he could more fully work out the exactitude of what he needed to accomplish.
In truth the forms were the easiest aspect, in kinds they numbered three. One that reformed, one that wouldn’t be so easily bound by the same forms that most life on Galbar adopted, and One that would and would take it to a wonderful excess to take the actions needed.
He called them different things, in part after some of the stories the Mortals told, it fit so well sometimes and played into the little stories the Mortals told themselves. Lich. Ghost. Wight. Revenant. Names that didn’t mean much, at least until he gave them meaning. Gave the possibility of form to those they had known it once before, but left something behind perhaps, or sought to gain something more. It mattered not.
He had not the strength to do everything completely on his own, not everything that he planned in truth for this step. He came to the same issue he was at before and why in part he had so stepped out to see if that Gibbou could be trusted.
Well, he did recall one more god that he hadn’t considered, the one who had made those beings he took in so long ago, the ones with certain resemblance to mortal animals that lived so isolated on the floating island. He could tell the presence was there even if he had not interfered with the collection. He reached out a call to that same essence now.
“We have not spoken, but we must, I have a matter of the utmost urgency that I would like to ask your assistance on.”
The god of magic was never called upon. Prayers fell on deaf ears, and it would seem that his brothers and sisters were content to leave him be. As if tending a garden, Qael’Naath had been busy observing his realm. Acting upon alignments and trying to discern the meaning of certain floating glades in his realm. So when Thaa called upon him, it surprised and pulled up the god of magic from his diligent trance. His realm was in good order again. The existence of Soleira and Auriëlle in the world has been amended to the Great Design. Moments later his humanoid form floated through the portal leading to Aquibeophates, the message’s strange energies guided him there. As he passed through, he saw the realm of death in all its mystifying glory. Tall towers dotted the view, their bases hidden by a thick fog that obscured almost all sight. Some things were roaming the realm. Seemingly aimlessly. They paid no attention to the god of magic.
Despite never having set foot on such a strange realm, something about the energies within felt familiar. Like a half-forgotten memory. ”I have come as you asked, my sibling. Let us talk.” Qael announced, though he did not move away from the portal. Nor did he need to as it soon became apparent, the realm seemed to shift and blur around him, a mortal might think that such things were due to speed as to how fast they were moving. But a god could see clearer, the realm was quite literally warping around him, and soon enough he was in a new place.
Before him was a large being, a great mound of corpses that seemed to be strung together, they moved and undulated as one. The most notable feature being a great eye, mounted it seemed on a disk, the whole thing staring at him, nearly matching his height in diameter so large was the eye.
It seemed the portal was long gone, although the mists and the towers remained in the distance. A curious tower was nearby, of a slightly off coloration one could tell, it was only a little ways off behind the large being before him. A million voices spoke in choir, coming from the form so melded together of constituted parts and a single voice emerged in their unity.
“Hello sibling, I am Thaa, Lord of Death. I know my message was urgent but I wish to say that although we only ever came close to meeting once when I came for your creations on that floating isle, I have kept track of a number of your works and I have to say I am most impressed. Particularly of the substance that you are so expert in, mana as it were, and the many uses that mortal life has used, even if they have yet to live up to much of the potential, I would have it.”
Qael’Naath was not immune to praise from his siblings. He took Thaa’s compliment with pride. “The fact that Galbar is not a cancerous world. Rife with life that cannot die and reform is a testament to your own might Thaa, Lord of death.” He returned. Rather unfazed by the grizzly displays around him. In fact, he knew now that back in the Well, an island would be transforming. That which was once grey and seemingly undefined would shift into a pale yet clear imitation of Thaa’s realm. “Mortalkind is still young. I foresee greatness. But enough about my musings. You have called with urgency. With what do you require my aid?”
“Indeed,” around the two of them formed a number of forms, some were clearly in imitation of coporeal beings, others definitely not. They came in forms that seemed close to those found across numerous mortal races, however divine senses would easily reveal that none of them had souls or any kind of motivating factor, these were practically puppets to the evident master of the realm. “I am working on a project for the betterment of Mortalkind, a way for those who have passed beyond the realm of Galbar to return should their wills’ and motivations be strong enough.”
“As you might be able to tell I have much of the form worked out, and even the selection process among those restless souls has been set in motion, however one thing remains that I have call upon you for.” Thaa paused once again as the forms shifted now, this time there were only three layed out. Two corporeal, one not. “As one might tell I have made three major types of forms for four kinds of general motivations. Most importantly beyond their forms, beyond their motivations is the issue that now presents itself. Those who have the kind of will and motivation to return to Galbar are not common, they will be few and far inbetween among what I foresee to be a hostile living population across all of Galbar. They need to be able to make a difference in of themselves so that they might return to rest, although they may be alone.”
“For that they need power and I can think of no greater than that which suffuses itself across the many great areas of Galbar, that which you are an expert. I know some of the mortals have some small amount of control over it through their learnings but that will not work for all of them, not all of the souls going back have the skill or the right mindset for such endeavors, or even the time. A more instinctive approach might be needed there.”
“Finally, there is a difference in the third form, a Lich I call it, to take a mortal name. It is intended to be something that might be accomplished by one of your mortal mages, to make a pact while living that allows them to come back from the dead should a certain kind of object be kept to anchor them to the mortal plane. Again it will only truly be successful for those of sufficient will and motivation but I feel like it could make a great impact, and I want your help. So tell me, will you help me in these endeavors?”
The god of magic remained quiet as Thaa explains his goals. Instead he moved between the three first shapes. Examining them closely. To return from the dead, a dangerous capability. One thing eluded him though. “What is the function of these three shapes?” He finally asked, after Thaa finished his explanation. “What would cause one to come back and inhabit what I would assume one’s own body while others can come back in the shape of… well nothing tangible?”
“In truth your assumption is wrong, none of these are their ‘own’ bodies, or to say the forms they held in life. In truth they are forms made principally from their perception of self made real on Galbar through my own power, far too many of their corpses are destroyed or otherwise made unusable, even beyond the folly of the weakness in their decaying forms themselves.” Thaa paused a moment and shifted the position of the example forms before continuing. “As for the function of the forms it is simple really, as each of the mortal souls have their own motivations and desires in the world the differences in forms are preparation for their own tasks and likely issues. A corporeal body is most useful for one who returns to right a wrong, to take out an immoral actor and thus assist in the betterment of mortalkind.”
“On the other hand the non-tangible form is most useful if one needs to protect an object or place without necessarily alerting any living mortal denizens in the vicinity, especially for longer periods of time. Civilizations rise and fall, as do cities and uncountable innovations lost, but perhaps something might survive such interregnums between the high points of mortal life.”
Qael’Naath rubbed the tentacles where his chin should be. Pondering upon which blessing would be most appropriate for which creature. He looked at the incorporeal creations. Thaa spoke truth. Manipulating magic in the ways mortals did mostly would be impossible with these creations. Instead his thoughts harkened back to his earliest creations. Animals blessed with magical prowess, yet unable to directly command that power. That would fit with the earliest shapes. “Death is cold, is it not?” He mused. “They protect places or object… the mortals deserve a warning. A way of knowing.” He outstretched his hand and magic coalesced upon his palm. Forming a gaseous orb, containing a white and blue cutting wind. “I propose the incorporeals have an aura of freezing, cutting cold around them. A cutting cold they can instinctively command should the time come.” He released the orb which was imbued with this gift. Letting Thaa chose whether or not he wants to use it.
“Vengeance.” Qael whispered as he observed the third creation. It was solid but gaunt looking. “Retribution. Penance.” He continued. His thoughts flowing through his mind as he attempted to devise the perfect gift for them. There should be no warning of its coming. No, its gift should be immediate, destructive and impactful. For the first time in a while, Qael’s mind wandered. Away from his task. A small smile formed underneath his hood. “You’ve inspired me. My Auriëlle.” He whispered to himself with a surprising amount of love, as he conjured a second orb. One that seemed filled with rust flakes and ashes. “They should bring the dread touch of death. With this gift those who should fear a wrath from the grave will feel their strength sapped from their body once your creation is near. Their presence hexes their chosen victims.” Once again he released the orb to float in front of the gift’s intended receiver. Allowing Thaa to judge whether or not to accept the gift.
Thaa gingerly took the two orbs, tendrils of corpses reaching out from the main mass to acquire them. Although the simulacrums depicting the intended creations were nothing yet, this gift was real power for them and it would not be squandered. “A most wise and good gift I must say.”
“Thank you.” Qael said, with a polite nod before he turned towards the Lich. “These require more.” He said, near instantly. “If they are spawned from a mortal chaining his soul to an object. It requires a test. Of skill. Of want.” Once again he outstretched his hand. This time no enclosed orb formed. Instead a more wild, gold with green centered plasmic creation formed itself in the magic god’s hand. A spell, allowing one to rip their own soul out and bind it to an object. A god-forged spell unlike any other. But as the spell finally solidified in its shape, Qael closed his palm. Letting the spell vanish. “I will release it upon Galbar amongst the other spells I created. The deciphering of this spell alone would be a sufficient test of skill and knowledge of the arcane. It’s execution, in turn, will be the test of want. These few individuals…they will be interesting.”
“It is good that you can see that, now my work begins to set all this in motion. These gifts will be good.” Thaa’s great form shifted as he spoke, tendrils going off into the mists, he continued. “I do have to ask since I did hear, is Auriëlle one of yours? She has been a matter of great interest to me.”
For a second Qael frowned. What did the Lord of Death have to do with Auriëlle. “She is… my daughter. In a matter of speaking.” He explained. “But why would the god of death care, brother? She is still amongst the living.” Or was he about to learn that about some terrible fate?
“You have raised her well enough then, she does good and moral work. She has sent many to the improved state I have ensured, I gave her a gift to assist in the matter not too long ago, not that long on a mortal scale either. Of course I also had to ensure that she would not prematurely perish as so many seem to do among the mortals. Truly dying is a cause of life, I have scarce control over it, my domain lies towards what happens after you understand.”
The god of magic let out a throaty laugh when Thaa said his daughter was performing good and moral work. For a second he wondered if the god of death wasn’t confusing Auriëlle with her divinely connected sister. But no, when Thaa mentioned the disc something clicked inside of Qael’s mind. “I thank you for taking care of her.” He said as he calmed down a little bit. “And I must admit that I did not raise her accidentally. The circumstances of her… creation are somewhat troubling.”
“You must be the first sibling in existence that looked upon my daughter and would deign her to be a good and moral person.” Qael’Naath said. “Though I suppose in your eyes, she really does perform a sacred duty. Well, in mine as well. She is quickly developing into a force of destruction. So many see that as a problem. As danger. They fear erasure.” The god of magic mused. “You then, see no problem with her methods? With her…obliterating power?”
“Bodies fail but the important things survive, it is nothing but good for such suffering souls to be removed from the terrible prison that Life has made of Galbar. She is more effective than most, and more attuned to the needs of correct moral action.”
Qael was able to hide his concern for the most part. Alas, he could partially imagine Thaa’s position. He was, after all, the god of death. If he felt even half as passionate about death as Qael felt about magic, then it was obvious to see how he saw living as a curse. Still, despite his slight understanding of Thaa’s position the god of magic could not shake the fear he held for his own daughter. He had to safeguard her. “I would have a favor of you then, brother. In return for the gifts I’ve offered your creations. I ask you – when her time comes – do not take souls of either of my daughters. Auriëlle’s nor Soleira’s. Let me take them should they perish.”
Thaa briefly paused, his body ceasing all movement as he listened to the magic god. He spoke, “All souls come to me, there will not be an exception.”
He did not continue his work until he said one more thing. “However, in recognition of the service you have provided me, and my hope for… ...future cooperation. I shall deliver them immediately to you should they ever come into my possession.”
For a moment Qael’Naath feared death would truly mean death for his daughters. Yet he released a relieved sigh when Thaa said he would deliver their souls to him. That was as much reassurance the god of magic could ever get. His daughters were safe now, even from death in a way. It was a safety he hoped never to call upon. But Thaa was right, many mortals had a tendency to die before their time. “I thank you.” He said, sincerely. “I will leave you to your work then.”
“Yes I agree on that. Do not dally.” With that said, the realm once more shifted and blurred around Qael’Naath, once more warping until he was where he first stood upon entering the misty realm of Aquibeophates, the portal right at his back.
Thaa just gets back from his disappointing meeting with Gibbou, gives the muffin he took to a guard and continues thinking about everything as he tries to remain collected. Decides that he needs to get to work and creates a Hero to serve him in the mental form of a Galbarian mortal but not with their evident deficiencies, a new thing compared to his previous realm servants. He shutters his hero, Zeraphsis as she is named, off to her newly made office as he tells her to say whatever she needs if it is important as well as shoving a bunch of info into her head as semi-latent information.
He then decides to work on his next project, which she is evidently a part of in some measure, the creation of Undead. He works out some stuff for Wights, Liches, Ghosts and Revenants before deciding that its not finishable on his own and he calls up this Qael’Naath guy on the Divine-o-phone that he almost met once and says come quick its urgent that you assist. Qael shows up at his place having figured out which one it was from the divine essence and all and after entering is quickly shuffled along to Thaa by realm shifting shenanigans and they talk, they work, they talk some more. They end up discussing Auriëlle some and Thaa ends up promising to hand over Auriëlle or Soleira if they ever end up in his possession. Qael then leaves.
Thaa Start 5 MP 5 DP -4 MP Sapient ‘Species’ Undead -1 DP discounted (from 2) by Undead for Ability Undead form -1 DP discounted (from 2) by Undead for Ability Undead regeneration -1 DP discounted (from 2) by Undead for Ability Undead Reincarnation -1 MP Hero Consecreation Shapeshifter I -1 DP Hero Title Soul Sight I -1 DP Hero Title Soul Reading I Thaa End 0 MP 0 DP
Qael’Naath Start 5MP 4DP -1 DP: Discounted from 2 DP “Give Ability” >> Give undead the ability to manipulate Mana -1 DP: Discounted from 2 DP “Give Ability” >> Give Incorporeal undead the ability to intuitively (sorcery-wise) cast frost magic -1 DP: Discounted from 2 DP “Give ability” >> Give corporeal undead the ability to intuitively (sorcery-wise) cast hexes upon their chosen victim. -1 DP: Enhanced “Miscellaneous” >> Create the god-forged spell to bind one’s soul to an object and spread this spell across Galbar. Qael’Naath End 5MP 0DP
In truth, what had gone down in Ha-Dûna was unfortunate, but necessary. Necessity however, did not make Thaa feel much better about it. It was this in part which turned his attention away from action on Galbar and back to another project that had been rather ongoing. Meeting the other deities, and while he had certainly found some that had been useful in his time, he still had far more that he needed to achieve at the very least a basic understanding of as it was clear they all were becoming more active in the world.
In particular there was a certain one that had always been something of a puzzle to him. While he could clearly delineate moral behavior and immoral action as per life on Galbar, for how could he otherwise act with such surety of purpose, he was not always so certain of his compatriots. This one deity always had the most curious goals, naming one thing and doing another, some aspects clearly at odds with those of their close allies. It was confusing to say the least, and Thaa did not want confusion.
Clearly the solution was to determine exactly their moral or immoral nature himself. While he did have them recommended from a deity he somewhat trusted, he also couldn’t merely rely upon such a thing, especially with how much might have changed in the intervening years. It was now with such thoughts that Thaa called out to the mind he knew would be there of his fellow deity.
“Gibbou, Mistress of the Moon, Goddess of the Night, I wish to speak with you in person.”
There came a soft hum and a knock of wood against wood. A sing-songy voice offered a sweet ”Hello!” and made a gentle sniff. ”Thiiiiiis is an unfamiliar voice… Or voices. Is this Aich playing a prank on me?”
In a calm tone Thaa replied in his voice that was a choir of the dead, “This is no prank. I am Thaa, Guardian of the Afterlife, Protector of Souls and God of Death. I would not expect you to have heard of me, but I know of you and much of your work.”
”Huh.” There was another knock of wood against wood. ”Say, uh, if you wanna come over, I’m making cupcakes. Blueberry.” Another sniff.
“I’m sure you think that would be lovely. Where exactly are you and how do I get there?”
”Oh, it’s the, uh, the blueish white portal labelled ‘Moon, sweet moon’ and a kinda smelly bush next to it. No idea what -that’s- about. Someone must’a, must’a... Anyway, yeah, just, uh, come on by and we’ll have a chat!” There came a sheepish lip smack. ”You said you were a god, right?”
“I see. Yes, I am a God. I’ll be there shortly enough.”
With that Thaa stepped out of his own portal and into the landscape that was Antiquity. He decided to keep it modest, only a few thousand bodies to form a body as he walked forward, his great Eye searching for the correct portal.
There came a rush of metal in his mind, followed by a soft knock of steel against steel and the closing of a metallic door. ”Phew! That’s that set to bake… Say, you found the way?”
Thaa’s eye searched among those portals that could be approximately the one, although he was taking his time. “I am still looking I must admit.”
”Cool, coolcoolcool.” There was a pause. ”Ssssoo… Nice space weather we’re having. Yeah. Yeah, the stars really, uh, twinkle tonight.”
“An unusual amount of atmosphere you must have there, I only noticed twinkling once I came into the reaches of Galbar that time so long ago. I haven’t been to the moon, does it have much atmosphere? Various gasses, vapors and the like I mean.” Thaa carefully looked over each portal, he realized that the direction of a bush might be obscured by the portal itself.
”No, uh, no, it doesn’t, actually. Preeeetty barren in terms of, well… Everything.” There came a sheepish whistle. ”I sometimes wish there was life on it, honestly.”
“Why would you wish that?” The response was quick and harsh in tone.
”Woah, hey, no need to get offended. I, just as it happens, like to have it lively around me. Okay, that’s not actually true, but I like looking at life and stuff at a distance. I mean, it would’ve been nice if there was a grove or something on the horizon I could look at. Is that too much to ask?” There came a smack of lips. ”Actually, why -haven’t- I made something like that?”
Thaa took a moment to collect himself before replying. “I am simply concerned is all. Listen, I will help you make whatever you wish so that it is all to your liking and won’t be of any other lingering issues. After all it is a good way to get to know someone, to create with them as it were. I believe I have found your portal in any case.”
Thaa poked his eye and the disk it was emplaced through the portal evidently carved with ‘Moon, sweet moon’ to gain a good look before he fully entered. On the other side, he was greeted by a barren, black lunar surface forever suspended in the shadow of the moon itself, above which stretched the eternal void of space. The realm was devoid of sound, and between the stars and Galbar itself, one could see a myriad of celestial creatures dance through the nothingness. A few curious celestial foxes quickly turned tail upon seeing him, and a dormiron, the only one of its kind to live on the moon, raised its head warily from its lair atop Gibbou’s glass dome in response to the death god’s entrance. Deep shocks, inaudible to those without godly hearing, gently rustled through the ground crust - it was the sound of opening doors. Within a few seconds, the glass dome’s outer door opened, revealing a small, blue humanoid dressed in a midnight t-shirt and a pair of baggy sweatpants. On her feet, she wore racoon slippers. She gestured widely to the surroundings.
”Hello, Thaa, and welcome to the moon! Make yourself at home while I get those cupcakes.” With a flick of her hand, she twisted the lunar ground before Thaa into a stone table and two stools.
So greeted Thaa quickly began entering fully, his eye shifting along the surface of his great mass of bodies to gaze upon the various facets and features of a realm so strange to him. He seated a singular body, attached a multitude of animals to the main mass, one of a long forgotten person of a long dead race, at the stool closest. Thaa replied as he did so, “It is quite the interesting locale you have made for yourself here, seeing this surface so close and clearly provides a great insight into a situation that had been so unclear so near the beginning of my separation from the lifeblood. The life here does seem to be of quite a different quality to that found on Galbar, of a quite different necessity.”
Gibbou exited her glass bubble home with a tray of physics-defying, steaming blueberry cupcakes. ”Yeah, I mostly just get visitors from space. Sirius’ celestials come and go and that’s about it. I mean, Wuffles hangs around, too, and she’s nice.” She paused as she conjured forth plates for the two of them. ”Oh, Wuffles is the dragon, by the way.” She thumbed over at the coil of fur and pillowy dow that was the dormiron atop her dome. It stared back at Thaa with instinctive wariness.
“Oh yes I had wondered who exactly had created those. I too had created a kind of dragon as I took to calling it, with some help I have to admit. Although they are of an entirely different sort.” Thaa’s eye stayed focused on the goddess although the great mound of corpses shifted somewhat, more solidly anchoring to the ground nearby rather than being ready for mobility. Thaa entirely ignored the dormiron and it’s gaze as he spoke once more, “I have not met Sirius nor do I know much of these celestials, my stay in space was relatively brief and quite focused when we were all more solidly on Galbar.”
”That so, huh?” she mumbled in response and sat down. She gestured at the steaming muffins. ”Help yourself, by the way,” she offered politely before continuing, ”Are you thirsty, by the way?”
“No.” The body sat in the stool opposite Gibbou went to pick up one of the muffins, Thaa’s eye momentarily shifted to look at them before switching back to solidly gaze upon Gibbou. The moon goddess shrugged.
”Oh, okay.” She waited politely for Thaa to take a muffin, and helped herself to two. After biting into one of them, she sniffed quietly and spoke, ”So, uh… What’d ya wanna talk about?”
“I wished to speak of you.”
Gibbou blinked through a frown. ”Yuh-yeah, I got that. About what?”
“Your motives, your desires, your fears for the future. I want to know whether I can trust you, and to do that I must know who you are. In truth I was inclined not to, but your actions have confused that, and a friend of mine put in a good word for you so long ago. I am here to see what to make of you, as I am sure you will try to see what to make of me.” Thaa simply answered as if purely matter of fact.
Gibbou chewed slowly. ”Uh… Huh...“ She swallowed. ”Is this an interrogation or something? An interview? What am I applying for? Or being tried for?”
The body sat across from her still held its muffin, Thaa’s gaze remained fixed upon the lunar goddess. He spoke. “At this time it is merely a friendly chat. Evil forces work upon Galbar every moment, they must be met and exceeded by the forces of righteous action. I want to see where I can expect you to fall.”
Gibbou frowned. ”Okay, rude. I invite you into my home for muffins and you immediately tell me you expect me to fail at what I’m doing. Very friendly of ya, yeah - look, if you just came to make fun of me, just get your laughs out and leave, please…” She put her muffin down on her plate. ”Now my appetite’s gone, too…”
If Thaa ever blinked his eye, he most certainly would have upon hearing that. “I have no understanding of you, nor do I think this is a laughing matter. I know not of what you want, I know not of what ills or hurts have been inflicted upon you. I have seen many of your creations and their unmitigated success on Galbar, of the great good you have wrought. And yet you are a complicated person who I cannot place.”
“I came to see if you could be trusted, if you were moral as actions of yours so strongly suggest, not to be ‘friendly’ or to make fun of you. Where you get such an idea or what you truly mean by it I care not to ask. Instead I’ll put a final question to you, do you want me to leave and make this the end of it?”
”You literally said you’re here for a ‘friendly chat’, but I ain’t feelin’ it. Look, if you need something, say what that is and we’ll get it over with. Otherwise, well, the portal’s there, have as many muffins as you want - I’ll be in my dome doing… Something.”
Thaa now replied with a tinge of frustration, “I said this was a friendly chat not that I came here for it. But since my presence is so clearly odious to you I will leave. The dead make better company anyway, something so long as it is in my power you will not know.”
Gibbou made an almost pitying frown. "Woah, okay, taking -that- stance on the way out, alright." She breathed deep. "You have a good one with those, uh, dead people, then." She stood up from her chair, spun on her slippered heel and shuffled her way towards her dome.
Thaa simply turned to return the way he came.
We open with Thaa who is thinking on fairly recent events before deciding to get to the bottom of what kind of person this ‘Gibbou’ character is and what can be done there. He starts talking to her and she invites him over they talk as Thaa has some trouble locating the portal before finally getting there. Talking does not go well, Gibbou accuses Thaa of making fun of her/and general mockery, Thaa continues being Thaa and thusly doesn’t deescalate anything. Gibbou goes back to her dome, and Thaa leaves.
Helios
Lord Zee
DX3214
Vec
