Kho — Roleplayer Guild

Level 7 Dormant-Goddess of Magic (Pacts)
Might: 50
Free Points: 12
Concelmeant/Detection: 10

&

Gadar

The Realta attack Vetros.
The Temple of the Bond is destroyed.
Gadar reacts strangely to the invasion - his scar splits and a black vapour escapes him.
Yara comes to him, and he tells her they need to escape. The Temple is destroyed.
The two escape Vetros.
Gadar acts strangely - sometimes loving and normal, at others cold, distant, violent.
Yara runs away from him, but is injured and poisoned in the Venomweald.
Gadar, back to his normal self, finds and attempts to help her.
Eventually, whatever is hiding within him awakens completely - it is a certain god!
The god opens Yara up and removes her baby, placing it in a separate membrane.
Before anything else can take place, Gadar regains control. He is shocked at Yara's condition.
The child is Zerabil. He emerges from the membrane, calling Gadar 'Father'.
The child carried Gadar and Yara's corpse to New Chronos, where they are laid on a stone tablet and, over time, merge into each other and the stone.
Gadar the God is thus born.

Gadar; 50 Might and 12 Freepoints
4.5 Might to incorporate the Cube as Holy Site.
15 Might to incorporate the Orb as Holy Site.
6 Might to incorporate (Pacts) and (Time) as Portfolios.
No Domain.
20 Might to Level up from Level 7 to 9.
4.5 Might and 12 Freepoints remaining.

6 Might pre-invested into Creation Domain. 6 Might required to incorporate.
6 Might pre-invested into Magic Domain. 6 Might required to incorporate.


The Witch-Priestess lay still as Chjekaya and Malikhet fussed around her. Her eyes were closed, and the sound of little giggles reached her through the odd, 'no no, find a softer cushion,' or 'have we no more honey?' She breathed deeply and a satisfied smile spread across her face as she placed one of her hands on her somewhat bloated belly. Someone dabbed at her forehead with a wet piece of cloth and she opened her eyes. It was Malikhet, eyes full of concern and worry. Yara smiled and brought a hand to the other's chin.
'Stop fretting, you beautiful woman. Go and do something else, stop wasting time on me,' Malikhet smiled and shook her head.
'I'm not wasting time - would you deny me these joyful moments spent by you?' Yara chuckled and shook her head.
'You've a strange way with enjoying yourself if fretting gives you joy.'
'When one as beloved to us as you has life growing within them for the first time, every moment spent with you is joyful,' Malikhet murmured, her eyes downcast. Yara looked away thoughtfully.
'For the first time...' she scratched the back of her ear slightly before sitting up and placing her feet on the ground.
'Are you sure? There's no need to get up...' Malikhet said hurriedly, 'I can get you whatever you need.' Yara rolled her shoulders and shook her head.
'No, I need to stretch my legs, I've been still since morning and it is already noon,' Malikhet's face dropped but she did not object. Yara gestured to the Temple Staff, and Malikhet quickly handed the crocodile-headed stick, that Gadar had made so long ago, to her. As she took her first few steps, the butt of the staff thudding against the ground, she very suddenly felt cold. Gripping the staff tightly, she looked up fearfully. Something was very wrong.



Gadar was in the main courtyard when it happened, turning the soil of one of the Temple's many allotments. As the pre-dusk sun descended and the cloudless heavens burned orange, there came down death from above. He did not see where it had come from or who did it. One moment it was a lazy Vetruvian noon, the next there was a chaos of sound and light and dust. The city seemed to have burst, releasing a flower of earth and dust, of screams and simmering blood and flesh, into the sky. Gadar saw it all as though from a far distance, saw it with surreal slowness. And there was a far-off screech - a screech that very suddenly became deafening. His head burst and catapulted backwards with violence and speed. His hand was on his blind eye, his mouth agape - and perhaps a scream escaped his throat. He did not know, he could not hear anything other than that ungodly screech (Ich, ich, ich, ich). His hands were both suddenly at his temples, as though trying to keep it all together through sheer force of strength. His one good eye was wide with fear and pain, and it too looked as though it could at any moment split.

Mercy.
But...

you do not need mercy.


And the scar exploded open, as though wrenched apart by something within, and Gadar's blind eye erupted into a darkness so black no sky could squeak through.

Because you do not do you do not do
Anymore,

black shoe

The scar continued to wrench itself apart with a life all its own, until the man's skin and flesh hung limply and what lay beneath was revealed - brown, festering with rot. An all too familiar visage of bark, grim and stoic. The screeching was suddenly no longer inside his head, it was coming from his throat and out of his mouth. The dark vapours gathered before him, folding in on themselves and frothing angrily - and in an instant they had burst up into the heavens, a black bolt, and speared one of the unseen creatures.

Eternal One...
I wake.

Thus was it Fated. So Shall it Be.


And then the darkness was gone, and Gadar stood there - upright and stiff - trembling slightly. 'N-no,' he managed. Yes. Yes.
'Gadar!' He turned around and saw her, dressed in white and barefooted, running towards him. He stepped towards her stiffly and caught her hands in his. 'It's- it's,' she did not know how to say it.
'We need to get out of here,' he said suddenly, his voice pained.
'What?' she asked, confused.
'We need to leave. We are in danger here.'
'B-but, where will we go? How can we just-'
'Trust me,' his voice came warmer this time. She looked behind her at the Temple and its famed steps, and saw Malikhet running out, Chjekaya close behind her holding onto Hirana's hand.
'The others, we have to get them to saf-'
'There is no time, we must leave n-' but before the words had left Gadar's mouth, the world lit up around them and the earth disappeared beneath. He gripped her tightly and brought her to him, and they floated in a dreamlike landscape of light and nothingness. They landed on burning earth, skin and clothing seared but otherwise unharmed. Where the Temple and its famed steps had stood only moments ago, there was nothing. Yara raised her head and looked with horror where Chjekaya and Malikhet had just been, where everyone had just... a sob escaped her lips.
'N-no. Oh no no.' She just about managed to say as she got up and made towards the flat and barren nothingness where all her life had been perched. Gadar caught her shoulder and turned her away. She looked tearfully his way and slumped against his shoulder, feeling suddenly weak and unable to withstand much of this any longer. He carried her out of the still standing - if ruined - Temple Arch, and it rained embers and ash on their heads. The city burned all around them, women and children and men ran hither and thither aimlessly, some screaming and others in a delirium. Soldiers stood uselessly as people rushed to them in some far-flung hope for safety and protection, and others yet made for the palace of the Priest-King - surely there, of all places, there would be safety to be found. The Mahd swelled with the bodies of the dead.

Gadar ignored them all, walking effortlessly through the endless stream of people. They parted before the giant. Now and then the earth shook as once again destruction fell from above. He walked through it all, like some kind of demigod, and Vetros and its fate was soon far behind him. When they camped for the night, Yara was still too weak to move about much. He caught a few small lizards and cooked them on a fire. While they cooked, he took the time to inspect the Temple Staff lying next to her, his fingers tracing the details he had carved in that impassioned fit. He smiled thoughtfully and kissed her forehead gently. At his touch, her eyes opened. He helped her sit up and they ate silently. Afterwards they sat together near the fire. She leaned against his shoulder and looked sadly into the flame - but she cried no more. Placing his arm protectively around her, they lay down and the two slept. For all that they had been through, they slept peacefully. It was early when they awoke next day, and they continued their journey up the Mahd.

'Why did we leave?' She asked him one day, tired and angsty from weeks of travel.
'It was not safe.' He responded shortly.
'And is it any safer out here?' She asked.
'Yes.' She was silent for a few moments.
'Where are we going anyway? You don't know anything other than Vetros.'
'Somewhere safe.' She looked at him in frustration.
'Don't give me that - either tell me, or let us head back this moment.' She stopped and he turned on her angrily.
'Stop asking me stupid questions, and do as I say,' his words came as something of a shock - he had never spoken to her as such.
'They're not stupid,' she said, her own anger growing, 'and I have a right to know.'
'What right to know? I am taking you to safety, I am feeding you, I am protecting you - you need only be grateful,' she gasped with indignation and her brows furrowed in fury, but she managed to find some calm.
'What has gotten into you? You've never spoken like this before...' she placed a hand on his arm, but he shook it off roughly.
'Just be quiet, don't argue, and do as I say.' That was more than she was prepared to take.
'What do you take me for? A child? I can take care of myself! I lived an age before you and was just fine,' and with that, she turned away and began walking off in a huff.
'Where do you think you're going?' he shouted.
'That's none of your concern - consider yourself free of me!' His hand was suddenly on her shoulder, turning her around violently. She screeched in protest, but he dragged her forcefully. She clawed at his face, but he gripped her wrists in one of his massive hands and dragged her with him more roughly. 'Let me go! Let me go you brute! Gadar!' But there was nothing she could do against his sheer strength. When night came, they had reached the outskirts of the Venomweald.
'Sleep, tomorrow we will enter the forest.' He commanded.
'Fuck off,' she said venomously and turned away from him. But he forcibly turned her and brought her to him, 'get off me! Get off. Let me go - you brute. Moron. Get off!' He suddenly released her and she scrambled to her feet with fury, 'what's gotten into you?' she muttered angrily before kicking dust into his face, turning, and walking off into the darkness.
'Y-Yara, wait. I didn't mean to-' but she was already disappearing into the darkness. Shaking his head in anger and self-reproach, he stood and ran after her. He had no idea what had come over him - it was almost as though he had not been quite...himself. He continued walking after her in the darkness, but soon enough had lost her completely. Cursing inwardly, he retraced his footsteps and tried to listen out for her. But it was no use - the forest in the night was by no means quiet. However, there was no doubt that it was her scream that now reached him, and not that of some monkey in the trees above. Without hesitating, he made for the sound and came upon her kicking off a small ferret-like thing - even in the darkness, its unnaturally large jaw could be seen, and its razor sharp teeth (stained with her blood) were glowing - and so were eerily visible. With one enormous foot, he stamped the thing to death. 
'A-are you ok?' he asked. She did not respond, but breathed heavily and pushed herself up against a tree. 'Let me have a look at you,' he said and approached her.
'Fuck off, bastard,' she managed. For one who was a master of the most sophisticated words, it was liberating to let loose a hurl of baser insults for once. He ignored her words and gently put her hand to the side and felt for where the creature had bitten her. It had somehow managed to get her in the side, and the blood was pouring profusely from there. He placed his large hand against the wound to stem it until he could think of something better.
'I...I am sorry. I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me - you know I would never hurt you...' she looked away angrily, but then caught his eye and the sadness there melted away her fury almost instantly. She looked up at him, pouting slightly.
'So what was all that then?'
'A momentary lapse in reason - do our years together not speak of my true character and love for you?' Her eyes softened and she placed a hand against his cheek.
'I should slap you, at the very leat,' he chuckled slightly at her words, 'just...don't do that again,' he smiled, nodded, and sighed with relief.
'Never,' he murmured and placed a kiss upon her brow. 'Now, you're the expert - how do I go about stemming this wound of yours?' Their means were limited, but he did as she told him. By morning, however, it became apparent that the creature's bite had been poisoned - the wound had begun to fester and boil and turn an ugly green. Yara shivered and sweat lined her brow, and Gadar could do little more than fuss over her and wash the wound. For her part, Yara was in no condition to instruct him on how to deal with the matter. From time to time her eyes opened and she looked at him deliriously.

A pair of eyes.


His eyes were suddenly cold as they surveyed her...black and cold. Her eyes widened as she saw him, and her breath caught in her throat. He noted - as he had always known - that she was pregnant. It was to this child - our child - that the trail of Fate clung like flies to a corpse and vultures. Without further thought he bent down, one wooden finger reaching for her to do the Fated deed.
'No!' The shout left his throat, though it was not his cacophonous voice. The wooden finger was suddenly no longer wood. The barken visage cocked slightly.
'Yes.' He insisted. Her hand reached for the finger and gripped it, her eyes of green peered into his light-stealing ones.
'Please,' she managed, 'please,' her eyes were clear - there shone within them hope. The hand became wood again, and it lurched forward. Seamlessly it cut into her chest, opening her from neck to nether. The Witch-Priestess gave out a blood-curdling shriek and placed her hand upon the god's face, pushing him away. But to no avail. She was powerless as he reached within her and, with a gentleness that Vowzra never quite expected (although he had done this before - he had done this before), pulled the bloodied childling out. ('NO! NONONONO,' Gadar was screeching). His hands of bark dripped crimson, and the thing lay in his fingers. It was not yet ready for life, small and red and white. He released it and watched it float before him. A small membrane of energy slowly grew to surround it, a replacement for the life-giving womb of its mother. 

Yara was sobbing now, her tears mingling with her blood, her mauled chest agape and her innards unveiled before the gaze of the world. Vowzra watched her beating heart and her lungs, touched the festering wound in her side. Her sobs intensified as he watched and became pitiful shrieks of misery and pain. She thrashed and shook her head, she dug with her nails into the earth as if that would return to her all that was lost. 

Then her eyes. 

They opened wide and looked towards him. He could make it all go away. He could put her out of her misery. Vowzra surveyed her a while, slightly intrigued by her actions (as he had been intrigued the last time he did this...and the last before that...) He found that he was, however, far more irritated by her lack of gratefulness at what he was doing. Not only was he saving her child and helping it towards a destiny and Fate greater far than that of any mortal, he was also saving her from her pitiful and unfulfilling existence. Her eyes looked to him with hope, her bloodied and soil-stained hands reached to him. There was so much hope - humans truly were beautiful; he understood now why she had chosen this form. And in that moment he Saw; those eyes.

Such angry, accusing eyes. Such pained, tormented eyes. What had he done to gain the ire of such eyes, he had once thought. What had been his cosmic sin? He knew now. He Saw. He Saw her, he Saw her all too well. Those eyes, oh God - God? - those eyes. And the blood, yes, the blood. And her hands, those hands that had reached out for him and the hope that he had watched die. The hope that he had waited on, until it was completely extinguished.

Those eyes.

He tried to back away from them, but there was no escape - there was nowhere to go, nowhere to flee from those eyes so full of blame and anguish. If eyes could sear the essence and scar one's being, then those eyes did - those eyes were the only past, they were the only future, and the only dream - or was it a nightmare? - and they were the only reality. Yes, those eyes. They had him now.

Those Eyes.

A shiver of primordial fear and guilt ran through the god, and now he knew why. He raised a wooden hand and placed it upon her cheek as once long ago he had done, and he brought his head down towards her's and planted a kiss upon her forehead.
'Your pain is gone, your burden has been lifted. Rejoice, dear one.' The last he Saw before he was completely gone were Belru's tearful eyes, and that primordial guilt ripped through him one final time. Those eyes, he knew with the certainty of Sight; those Eyes would have him forevermore. No.

No power...
No power do those Eyes of yours have here
Go bore them into other souls my dear
While they did once ignite within me fear
Now I can See with Eye more swift and clear
Mine the future, and yours but yesteryear


The great Earthen-Beast is said to have told of a little wood man with eyes that hold all the ebonies and jets and obsidians cold. His voice a cacophony, his tone uniform, he could not love and he could not scorn. No fury shook him, no bliss took him, he saw with an Eye that could not cry, he looked with his mind for his heart was blind. But if he could fear then he did fear the blaming eyes and the chiding tear. If he could fear then his breast did shake at the thought that he could make a mistake. 
He fell in love, but he could not say. His tongue was hard, his heart astray. He shunned her heart and he shunned her eyes and he fled away into the skies, and he left her weak and ignored her cries and ran away from all his lies.
She travelled long in search of him till her eyes grew dark and her face grew dim. The deserts plundered and the tundras thundered and where-e'er she went was cursed and sundered. In time she came to a house divine where the weak could strengthen and starved could dine. She settled there and she grew strong and she called to right and forbade wrong. And on a day of sweet delight there came to her a great respite. The very image of her love carved, but weak and ill and all but starved. But lo and behold! she knew him not and all he knew he had forgot! So wait the rise of the wooden man, and till he come the deserts scan: you'll know him by his Eye's command, you'll know him by his bloodied hand!


Then the man of wood - with his bloodied hand - was gone, and Gadar was on his knees before the mutilated - yet still living - Yara. His hands trembled, his eyes shook. He looked from side to side, silently attempting to find help - that maybe God would hear the plea even he who spoke it could not hear. Yara looked at him with her glowing green eyes. A hand went around his neck and brought him towards her bared shoulder. She looked up at the membraned orb hovering in the air above them. Red and black and white swirled within it, and through it all she could see a young human boy hugging his knees.
'Zerabil,' she murmured. Gadar opened his eyes, confused.
'What?'
'Zerabil,' she said more strongly. Gadar lifted his head and looked where Yara was looking. There, where he had seen nothing before, stood a naked child. His hair was white and shoulder-length, his right eye completely black and the other entirely white.
'Father,' the boy said. Gadar looked at Yara, who was now silent and still. His head returned to her shoulder and he neither spoke nor moved. The mutilated corpse of his wife in his arms, Gadar did not move or protest when Zerabil - incredibly strong for so small a thing - picked them both up and walked. He thought he saw, in a distant and unconscious sort of way, many white-clad figures around him at one point. Two eyes of black and white. He definitely felt it when he was laid upon a hard stone tablet - at no point did he allow himself to release Yara, however.

On that tablet in New Chronos, with the energies of the newly-awakened Vowzra seeping from him, the three melted into one another until, one day, Gadar the God awoke and rose. Body lodged into the stone tablet, his beating heart giving life to his beloved (but not to Vowzra, who needed no heart), he looked upon those who came beseeching his aid.

'Come, one and all,' it was declared. 'The Broken God will make you whole again.'
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