Born of these two concepts, Karlan embodies violence and pride. But instead of combining to form a self centered and vicious beast, his defiant nature reigns in his bloodlust. Most of the time. As such, Karlan’s usual attitude is one of temperance, though his pride still shows very clearly and he doesn’t take insults kindly.
Karlan can snuff out mortal life as easily as drawing breath, but rarely does he actively look for a fight. Yet, should War prevail in his heart, a true beast awakens and few would be safe until he recomposes his spirit.
Myth: From the ramblings of a bandit.
What I saw? What I saw, you ask? Death draped in white is what I saw! A beast so colossal it could reach the ceiling of the crystal chamber if it so wished, moving almost faster than the eye could see. In seconds all of our band had been crushed, eaten or ravaged beyond recognition. It was wise to me, but for some ungodly reason it did not chase me down.
We thought we could make a fortune from the crystals in that damnable cavern. Instead all but me found their dooms. By the gods, I can still hear the sounds! Screams, beating of wings, thundering hooves… I pay tribute to the Queen of Nightmares every day for the hopes of a full night of sleep...
Form: Karlan takes the form of a giant lion with the hindlegs of a goat and the wings of a raptor. The fur and feathers that cover his body are pristine white and rarely show any blemish for long. He’s incapable of altering his form in itself, but he can shrink down to the size of a normal lion, though his attributes remain the same regardless, such as rate of acceleration, top speed on land or air and physical strength.
Altering the size of his body doesn’t occur instantly, but it’s a fast process still, taking just a few seconds from one extreme to the other. Furthermore, the amount of nourishment his body demands is also not affected by his size.
Karlan is incapable of voiced speech and instead comunicates telepathically.
Her eyes opened slightly for the first time since her slumber. In her daze she didn’t immediately see who it was, but when she did her eyes went wide. “Cadien?”
Cadien stood near her bed with a small smile on his face. “Yes, it is I,” he said with a nod. “I must say, it’s good to see you again.”
Standing up on her knees, Evandra took Cadien in a hug. “I missed you… I missed you dearly.” Fires sparked to life around her.
Cadien returned the hug. “I missed you as well,” he said seriously. “It was a difficult thing, being cut off from Galbar and separated from the other gods. I hope the years haven’t been too hard on you.”
“I have been asleep since being taken by the Lifeblood, but the isolation still weighed on my dreams.” She separated herself from her brother, but kept her arms on him still. “How long has it been? And how did you reach me?”
Cadien gestured toward the tear in reality, located some distance from the bed. “I came in through there. We were all confined to different realms, and we were all cut off from each other, but not too long ago those portals opened up, allowing us to reconnect. We still can’t go to Galbar, but we’re in contact with one another again.” He took a deep breath. “As for how long it has been… it’s been about two thousand years, I’m afraid.”
“Two thousand years… How must Galbar have changed.” She turned her head to look at the tear he mentioned. A section of the first wall she made had broken down to give way to the rift. Right where she had banged her hands begging to return as if her request had been answered in some way. “That portal wasn’t there when I made this realm.” Releasing herself from Cadien, Evandra got off the bed and walked a few steps toward the portal. “It connects the realms of each God?”
“You could say that, yes,” Cadien nodded as he followed her. “It leads to a different realm. One that has no owner, but seems to have a portal to every other. Most of the gods have already emerged. You didn’t, so I decided I would go look for you.”
“I see. I want to see this realm for myself. Will you accompany me?” She said turning to face Cadien.
“Of course,” Cadien smiled. “Let’s go.”
The two walked to the portal and passed through it. Evandra’s vision warped and revealed a new place. Colorful gems dotted the surface of white walls as if they wanted to be extracted. Above the walls were many rows of seats bearing the same tone and details as the walls. It was a sight to behold and the gaps in its structure didn’t make it any less beautiful.
“What is this place?”
“I don’t know,” Cadien admitted. “I was the first one here, and there was no one here before me. It does look rather nice, though. You can see Galbar up there,” he gestured up to the sky where, indeed, the planet of Galbar could be seen.
She looked up, his words were true. For the first time since her banishment she could see Galbar outside of her dreams. Her sharp vision allowed her to see every detail on that side of the world. A tear fell from her eye. “Ahh… It’s been so long…” She remained still, gazing deeply at Galbar. “This reminds me of when I first laid eyes upon the world. I wanted nothing more than to go there and see it from up close. But now I can’t so much as step on Galbar…”
“Maybe not,” Cadien acknowledged solemnly, “but there are still ways your influence can be felt.”
“How so?”
“The mortals we interacted with. Their descendants still remember us. If you concentrate, you can hear them pray for guidance. You can respond to them, too.”
“My heroes… So they’re gone… Do their children still call for me? Even after all these years I spent sleeping?”
Cadien’s eyebrows rose. “I… don’t know,” he admitted. “I know that some humans still revere you, but I know nothing of these heroes you refer to. Then again, there’s also a lot of information, and sometimes certain details slip past me.” He placed a hand on your shoulder. “Close your eyes, and try to focus on their voices. Perhaps you will find out for yourself.”
She did as he suggested and tried to hear any voices. “Let us join in prayer to the Goddess Evandra. Eternally grateful we are for your flame.” Her eyes snapped open. “I heard someone. And that voice… Irkalla?” She looked at Galbar again, but the continent her heroes lived wasn’t in sight, let alone their village. “I can’t see them… A woman called my name in prayer, thanking me for giving them my fire. They really worship me still.” She turned her head to look at Cadien. “Isn’t there any way for me to be there with them?”
Cadien shook his head. “Not yet. Not in the way you’re hoping for, anyway. But there is a way for a piece of you to be with them.”
“A piece? What do you mean?’
“It’s called an avatar,” Cadien told her. “If you remove a piece of your soul, you can bind it to a form, and send it walk on Galbar in your stead. It can create things on your behalf, and act as your representative. A number of gods, including myself, have created such things already, and they’re exploring Galbar as we speak. So far, the Lifeblood has not cast them back out.”
“Then there’s still a way… I must make an avatar for myself then.” She turned back to the portal that led to her world.
“You don’t mind if I observe, do you?” asked Cadien. “I am curious to see what you might create.”
“Of course not. Come then.”
They returned to Evandra’s realm. She walked to her bed, thinking of how she’d create this avatar. It was to be her representative, her way of being in Galbar while not being there in person. This lesser part of her would do what she herself could not. “I think I have an idea.” A metalic frame materialized on the wall, its interior was filled by a reflective surface perfectly showing Evandra in it. She approached the mirror and laid both hands upon it. It flashed in white for an instant and Evandra’s fingers intertwined with her reflection’s. Slowly she pulled her mirror image out, it’s skin changing from a light complexity to darker one not too different from the very walls. Her hair too changed from gold to a fiery scarlet. Evandra stared into her reflection’s eyes. They burned the same red as her own. “If anyone is to represent me in Galbar, then naturally no one other than myself is to fit that role. Don’t you agree, Solayu?”
“Of course, Evandra.”
“Hm. An interesting choice,” Cadien mused. “One that matches your beauty without being an identical copy. Well done, I must say.”
“But of course. Nothing else could match me after all.”
“Now then, how do we reach Galbar?”
“Create a portal, and send her through,” Cadien advised. “Think of the place you wish to send her, and then imagine a gateway which leads to that place. From what I understand, anything less powerful than a god should be able to pass through.”
“Sounds simple enough.” Evandra thought of the surrounding regions of her heroes’ village and another rift formed before her. “Now, Solayu, go. Be what I cannot be. Free.”
“Thank you, Evandra.” Solayu said before stepping through the portal. The passage closed behind her not long after.
Cadien wanders into Evandra’s Realm and wakes her up. She’s so happy to see him that she pulls him into a hug.
Cadien explains briefly what happened and how much time has passed since the Lifeblood banished the Gods from Galbar. Evandra had been sleeping since then, but she still felt the strain of isolation in her dreams.
Cadien then mentions Antiquity and they both go see it. The sight amazes Evandra, but what truly catches her attention is Galbar being visible above them. She wonders if any mortals still care for her since she didn’t listen to any prayers while sleeping, but is surprised to hear a familiar voice call to her in prayer.
She then asks if there’s any way to see the one that called her and Cadien tells her of Avatars. They go back to her Realm and Evandra makes her Avatar, Solayu. She’s almost a mirror image of Evandra. Cadien then tells her how to reach Galbar. She makes a portal for Solayu and tells her to be free in her stead. Solayu then leaves Evandra’s Realm.
At the edge of a pond, Evandra relaxed her partially submerged body. The boiling water filled her surroundings with steam, and although it made it somewhat difficult to take in the view, she didn’t mind it in the slightest. All the Goddess cared about at the moment was the warm sensation that only hot water could provide.
And it was its sudden disappearance that caught her attention. “Hmm?” She opened her eyes to see what was happening only to see that the water was also disappearing. “What?” Not only the water, but the steam as well as the forest that should be beyond its walls were also fading.
She stood up from the water and looked around herself frantically. “What’s going on?!” The world faded more and more. Faint transparency gave way to darkening until nothing but a black void remained. “NO!” Her scream sounded different in the darkness. “Give it back to me!” She willed the void away. “Let me return!” Her surroundings gradually took shape, returning the pond and the forest into view. It worked, if for a moment. Sharp pain spread through her body in a way she couldn’t describe. Divine as she was she had never felt pain before. The black void resumed. Evandra screamed from her core in agony, the sound dwarfing even that of her birth. Certainly all of Galbar would’ve heard it, but there were none to hear it here.
She could barely stay on her feet. With an audible thuds she banged against the wall repeatedly. “Let me return…” Her knees buckled and she fell on them. “Please… Let me…” She wept. And how did she weep. What she loved most, her everything was denied to her. “Oraelia… Cadien…” She called the siblings she had met. “Enlil… Marduk… Nergal… Inanna... Irkalla…” And then she called her heroes. “Anyone…”
Leaning against the wall she cried in grief and solitude. Time passed without her noticing. She couldn’t care for its passing over the pain of her broken heart.
Eventually, though, it subsided just enough for her to notice it. She lifted her head up and looked at the nothingness. “Why is there a wall here…?” Ever since she was rejected this wall was there, but she was too emotional to notice. “Did I…” She laid her palm on the wall. The featureless, invisible surface gained color. Brown like mud spread through the dark as if ink had been poured over it until all of its surface was covered.
She looked down. The ground too gained the same color. Returning to her feet, Evandra walked into the void as the ground formed before her and two more walls followed. “As Galbar came from the Lifeblood, so shall my world. We gods come from the same source, the void is just another canvas.” She walked up a ramp that lead into a plateau. The walls that formed along her path converged and formed a fourth. Above her a ceiling had formed as well. She looked down at the empty space and a stack of hay was formed from the ether. It was much like the ones she had been offered in the villages she had visited, but now she felt as if it wasn’t enough. The hay transformed into a wide bed, its mattress adorned in a lilac sheet. Evandra touched it and she felt softness like never before.
She looked back from where she had been weeping and found that it had been darkened as if the void was attempting to seize the space for itself. Fire formed from her feet and spread down the ramp, illuminating the way. It crawled up the walls and reached the edge of the ceiling, where a gap was formed as if to invite the fire in.
Evandra looked over the chamber she formed for herself. It was warm from her fires and cozy, it wasn’t nearly enough to dispel the look of dejection still covering her face. “This world is still just as empty…” She laid down on the bed, resting her head against a pillow matching the sheet, and closed her eyes. One final tear flowed across her face.
Evandra's chilling on a hot spring when she's taken back into the Lifeblood. When she realizes what's happening she throws a fit and tries to go back, but the Lifeblood blocks her and the pain overwhelms her. She accidentally makes a wall to bang her hands on as she calls for the Gods and humans she met.
She cries for a long time, but eventually notices that there's a wall there. From that wall she builds a chamber, illuminates it with fire and makes a bed. Alone in her Domain, Evandra says the room is still as empty as the void and goes to sleep.
In a small human settlement all work had halted. The reason being the Goddess gracing them with her presence. Inside one of the huts Evandra was sitting on a pile of leaves with all the humans surrounding and worshiping her. In her hand lay a few Evening Bells, the remains of her gifts to these people. With her free hand she scooped one and brought it to her mouth, the warm and sweet taste filling her senses.
She did not allow the humans to touch her, but she did allow them to be near her. They basked in the warmth that emanated from the goddess, some even slept in it’s comfort. Eventually, however, Evandra stood up from her makeshift seat. “I spent enough time here. I’ll be taking my leave.” Just like that the Goddess walked away from the humans.
“What?” One of the humans asked waking up from his daze.
“Wait, don’t leave us, Goddess!” Another pleaded with her.
Evandra paid them no mind as she left the hut. One of them rushed after her. “Goddess, please don’t leave-” He grabbed her legs and they caught on fire. “UWAAAAAAH!!!” He screamed in pain as he tried to put the flames off.
She looked back at the man in scorn. “Such audacity. You don’t have the right the lay your hands upon me.”
Other humans followed after her, but kept their distance. “Goddess, please. If you must leave then at least grant your warmth.” The one in the front said on his knees.
“And why should I grant you my gift of flames? Is my very presence not enough for you?”
“N-no, Goddess, we are all thankful for you having graced us. But at night the heat of the Sun cannot reach us. Your presence warms even where the light cannot reach. So please, lend us your fire as well. I will do anything you ask in return!”
“Hmm. Anything you say?” Taking interest in the pleading man, Evandra walked back to him and past the man now cradling his burnt hands. “Bold of you to wish to take on a request from me.”
“If it means that we can keep your heat in your absence then I’ll pay whatever price I must.”
The Goddess smiled and blushed at the proclamation. “Stand.” The man stood on his feet at the command. “Do you bear a name?”
“No, Goddess. None of us do.”
“Then you are henceforth named Enlil. Your bravery earned you this much. But for my fire you’ll need to accomplish a challenge. In the prairie to the East live mighty and glorious beasts called Leons. Taller than trees and rulers of the prairie. Bring me one and my fire will be yours as well.”
Enlil tensed up at the request. He didn’t know of Leons, but by that brief description alone he knew this to be a daunting quest. But he couldn’t afford to back down. Evandra had taken interest in him because of his bravery. If he relented now he’d lose the favor he had in her. “So be it. I’ll bring you the beast.”
The humans talked among themselves behind Enlil for a moment then one of them stood up. “I’ll go as well.”
“Me too.” Said yet another also standing up. And they weren’t the only ones. A total of four humans volunteered to assist on the task.
Evandra watched them with interest. “Good. Very good. I’ll reward your boldness as well.” From her hands she produced a rope and passed it to Enlil. “This rope can expand when pulled. Tie their legs with this and even the mighty Leons should become helpless in its bonds. Now Go. Prove to me your worth. I’ll await your return in the meantime.”
And so, Enlil and the six brave men and women prepared for their test. They gathered food for a couple of days’ worth and weapons then departed East.
It took them 2 days and 2 nights before the golden grassland came into view. The light from the Sun only made it look even more lush.
“We’re finally here.” Said the burly man.
“All this light hurts my eyes.” Complained another. “Where are these Leon things?”
“Let’s look for them. It should be easy to see a beast taller than a tree on this open field.” Enlil replied.
They walked around in search of the beast. They encountered many new animals as they wandered around, but none of them were big enough to match the description. They were also followed around by a wolf like creature, observing them, but since it was alone it couldn’t find an opportunity to attack and left.
As they approached a hill to get a better view of the prairie, a herd of grey behemoths came running from it, passing not too far from them. The humans scrambled together as their sudden appearance startled them.
“A-are those things Leons?” The meek girl asked as the tusked creatures ran further away from them.
“They sure are taller than a tree.”
“What are we waiting for then? Let’s go after them!” The energetic woman ran after their target.
They all followed after the woman. The creatures were fast, but they were faster, and soon they almost caught up to them. Or so they would’ve if not for the other beast that outsped them. Something swooped over them and they stopped in their tracks to look above. Greater still than what they were chasing and covered in pure white fur, it descended upon the slowest behemoth and latched onto it with it’s claws and fangs. The humans watched on as the beast brought its prey to the ground and pinned it by the throat with its mouth. The struggling didn’t last more than a few seconds.
“It rules over the prairie…” Enlil said amazed by how swiftly the behemoth was felled.
“No way. We have to bring that thing back?” The annoyed man said in shock.
The Leon let go of its prey and let out a deafening roar, making the humans cower. Another one came flying and landed by the side of the downed prey. Yet another Leon jumped from the second’s back and it began to feast. One of the men tried to approach them, but the first Leon reared its head and growled loudly at his sight, sending the man back.
The humans regrouped. “Can we even bring one of these things back?”
“No way, we’ll get killed as soon as we get near.”
“Then what do we do, give up and lose the Goddess’ fire?”
“And just how do you think we should capture one of those things? We can’t match a creature that big, let alone two.”
“The goddess only said we had to bring her a Leon. If we could get their cub instead...”
“And get outran and eaten? It’s impossible to do this.”
“Then you can return in shame. I said I’d do anything in return for her fire and I’ll do it.”
“Wha-”
“Anyone else is free to do as well. The Goddess ensured this task to me after all.”
The others stayed quiet, some looked at the annoyed man with uncertainty in their faces. “I won’t run. I don’t want to lose her heat.”
“Me neither.”
“I don’t really know if we can do it, but…”
“...” The annoyed man looked to the side and tsked. “Fine, I’ll stay.”
Enlil huffed. “Good, then let’s calm down and make a plan.”
They looked back at the Leons. They had almost stripped the behemoth bare of its meat and were already wandering off.
“We can’t lose sight of them. Maybe we should watch them from a distance for now?”
“We’ll do that.”
“And get the meat they left behind too. I’m getting hungry.”
They collected a few scraps of meat still left on the creature and started following the Leons. They watched as the beasts went on with their lives. They watched as they drank from a stream, hunted again and even lazed about.
As the Sun began to set, the Leons laid down to rest and by the time the Moon had come about, they had drifted to sleep. The Sun shaped insignia in their heads glowed almost as if to show where they were.
“They sleep then.”
“Of course they sleep, idiot. They’re beasts.”
“This could be our chance though. What do you think, Enlil?”
“It’s as good a time as any.” He looked at the Leons and their surroundings to think of what to do next. Though they were close to each other, thankfully they weren’t sleeping packed together. “Look.” He pointed at a patch of tallgrass near the Leons. “We can hide in the tallgrass over there. If we can lure or bring the cub into it we can capture it.”
“We’d need to wake up the cub before luring it, though. How do we that?”
“Do we still have some leftover meat?”
“We still have a chunk, yes.”
“If we tie it with the rope and throw it near the cub it could get his attention.”
“But If the parents wake up we’re dead.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Wait, what?”
“What do you have in mind?”
“I’ll leave luring it away from its parents to you guys. When it's far enough I’ll choke it.”
“You’re crazy! What if you get killed?”
“If I die then I die, but you should be safe in the tallgrass.”
“How can you be so calm about that?!”
“But it could work. It was our boldness that earned us a chance at having the Goddess’ fire for ourselves. And it’ll be boldness that sees us through this test. Let’s go.”
They moved to the tallgrass and crouched beneath its surface. Slowly they towards the sleeping Leons, being careful not to make much noise with the rustling leaves. When they arrived at the edge closest to the beasts, they unpacked the leftover meat from the behemoth and tied it with the rope. They tested the knot and, when they were sure it was secure, tossed it towards the cub. It landed a few ways from it, but it remained undisturbed. They reeled the bait in and tried again. This time its ear twitched slightly.
At the third attempt the cub lifted its head still looking drowsy from just waking up. They tugged on the rope, the movement caught the cub’s attention. Another tug, it jerked up to its feet and chased after the bait.
It was almost close enough. “Get ready.” Enlil whispered.
The burly man got in position, taking long, deep breaths. Another tug of the rope and the cub was right next to them. The burly man sprung to action, taking the cub by the neck with his hand. Before it could retaliate, it was brought into a chokehold. The beast was just an infant, but it was almost as big as its human assailant. It meowled softly as it struggled to breathe and free itself, but the burly man’s grasp was too tight and, like the behemoth from earlier, it stopped struggling.
“Bring it here, hurry!” Enlil said as loud as he could without alerting the Leons.
The burly man brought the cub into the tallgrass, where it had its legs tied together. Enlil looked at the Leons, they were still fast asleep.
“I can’t believe this worked.”
“We don’t have time to commemorate though. We need to get as far away from here as we can before the parents wake up.”
And so they sneaked away from the slumbering beasts, Leon cub in tow. They went as far as their legs could carry them, and by the time they reached their limit they had already left the prairie. The Sun had just passed over the horizon and they were exhausted, but before they could rest, their luggage woke up and had to be calmed down. By the time they finished resting the Sun was past its midpoint.
“The homestretch then. Are we resting some more or will we be going straight back?”
“That depends on our food. How’s our stock?” Enlil asked the meek girl.
“Ah, we still have a few Evening Bells and other fruits. It should last us for another day.”
“We have more than I thought. We’ll only need to hunt or scavenge for food tomorrow then.”
“Wish we could’ve rested some more. Hey, give me a Bell.” The annoyed man said to the meek girl.
“Here.” She passed him the berry.
“Are you okay? You look a bit pale.”
“I’m just tired too, don’t worry about it.”
“You better have a Bell too then. The big guy already has to carry the Leon, so it’d be bad if you collapsed.”
“Okay.” She took a berry as well and ate it.
“Alright, people, get ready to leave.”
It took them another two whole days of travel to get back, and when they finally did arrive the other humans and Evandra herself was awaiting them with a satisfied smile and a blush on her face.
“Welcome home, heroes. I must say, I wasn’t expecting you to be back so fast.”
“We got lucky.” Enlil replied.
The burly man who was carrying the cub placed it gently on the ground. It had stopped resisting ever since realizing it couldn’t break free no matter how much it struggled. Evandra approached it and undid its bindings. The cub, upon noticing its legs were free, moved them around and tried to stand up, but being in an uncomfortable position for two days made him lose his balance, but the Goddess caught it before it could fall then laid him back down calmly with a “Shh.” She groomed its fur with her hands, her warm touch turning the Leon’s hopeless look into a calm one and sending it to sleep.
Evandra stood and faced the heroes. “You did well, Enlil. Bringing a cub instead of an adult was a smart solution. But I suppose you wouldn’t have completed this task if not for the others that accompanied you. You all deserve names as well”
She turned to the burly man. “You bear great strength.” She said laying a hand over his chest and looking up to his face. He looked back into her eyes. “I can see you are fearless. I name you Marduk. Don’t ever bend your knee unless it is your will to do so.”
Next was the annoyed man. “You on the other hand lack your friend’s traits.” He looked away in shame, but Evandra cupped his chin and turned his head to face hers. “But I can see that you care for their wellbeing. Keep them safe, Nergal.”
“Okay…” He replied a little embarrassed.
Then came the energetic woman’s turn. She looked back the Goddess with confidence. “You had fun in this little adventure, didn’t you?”
The woman giggled. “I sure did. Exploring new lands, seeing and hunting new animals… It was short, but it was fun.”
“Speak for yourself” Said Nergal in annoyance.
“You have heart. As long as you don’t lose it you’ll have many more adventures like this one, Inanna.”
Lastly came the meek girl who had a hand over her stomach. She shrunk like a Mimosa as Evandra approached. “What are you afraid of, girl? You should hold your head up high after returning.”
“I… I’m sorry, Goddess, but I didn’t do anything in your test. It wouldn’t have made a difference if I hadn’t accompanied them.”
“Really now? You look a bit hungry though.”
“Eh? N-no I’m not.”
“Don’t try to lie to me. I can tell you’re malnourished.”
“What?”
“She was in charge of carrying our food. Did she...”
“You didn’t eat your share so that we could have enough…”
“Yes… I thought that if I couldn’t help in the test then I should at least be as less of a burden as I could.”
“Sacrifice is a great act of compassion, girl. But you should make sure you’re sated before sharing with others. Okay, Irkalla?” Irkalla smiled softly and nodded. “Good. Then make sure to eat plenty after we’re done here.”
She stood in front of the five once again. “You have all made great use of the blessings the Evening Bells bring and in doing so you accomplished a daunting task. Now, come forth.” She extended her hands to them and a fire sparked to life over it. “Claim your reward. Take within you this fire that you so desire.”
Marduk was the first to hold his hand to the fire, soon followed by Enlil. It spread through their arms and then to their chests. It was hot, but didn’t burn, and as if being absorbed into their flesh, it disappeared from their bodies.
Enlil concentrated on his hand and it was engulfed in flame. “It doesn’t hurt.” With a thought the fire died out.
“You three too, don’t be shy.” Nergal, Inanna and Irkalla did as the other too and took the fire as well. With the last of the five claiming its power, the fire in Evandra’s hand dissipated. “Just as I am fire, now so are you. Make with it as your hearts desire.”
“Thank you...Evandra.” Enlil said with a smile.
“Thank you, Goddess!” one of the humans knelt down in reverence. The others followed suit one by one.
“If anyone here is worthy of thanks is your five heroes. It was their mettle that earned you my favor.” She returned to the Leon’s side and brought it back to its feet. “I’ll be leaving now. For good this time.” She walked away with the Leon following after her.
“What will you do with the cub?” Inanna asked the Goddess as she passed by them.
“I’ll return it to its family. It doesn’t belong with humans.”
“You’ll just bring it back like it’s nothing? Why did we have to bring it here then?”
“I wanted to see a Leon up close for a while now. That’s what I was going to do before Enlil here asked for my fire.” She turned back at them and looked at the man in question. “It would’ve been faster for me if ignored him, but me and Cadien went through the trouble of giving you humans spirit. Me indulging your show of courage was the least I could.” She turned to leave again and started walking.
“What about your rope?”
“Keep it, I have no need for it.” She said over her shoulder as she left.
Evandra is lazing about in a human settlement while the humans gather around her and bask in her heat. Eventually she starts to leave, and some of the humans to beg her to stay with one even going as far as trying to hold her in place, which results in him having his hands catch on fire.
Another human implores her to at least leave her fire with them if she must leave and says he'll do anything in return for it. This gets Evandra's attention and names the man Enlil as a reward for his boldness. She agrees to give him her fire if he can bring her a Leon from the Prairie of Sol. Enlil almost walks his claim back by the Leon's description alone, but stands his ground and agrees. Four other humans volunteer to help, which prompts Evandra to reward them with a rope to tie the Leon with, but not names for the volunteers. The rope is an Artifact that'll be explained on the MP Summary. With that Evandra sets then off on their journey.
After two days of travel they reach the Prairie of Sol and start looking for a Leon. Along the way the meet animals native to the region, including elephants, which they mistake for Leons since Eva gave them a very unclear description. Oops. They chase after the elephants, but an actual Leon overtakes them and kills one of the pachyderms as the humans watch in shock. The Leon calls its mate, who brings a cub on her back so they can feast on it. The humans gather around to plan out how to capture a Leon and Enlil and another man bicker about whether or not they are able to do this. Enlil then tells him that he and anyone else are free to leave, but when nobody backs down the man begrudgingly agrees to stay. They get some of the leftover meat on the elephant and follow after the family of Leons.
At night, when the Leons go to sleep, the humans mount an ambush for the cub. Using the rope and some of the remaining elephant meat, they lure the cub to a patch of tallgrass where they knock it out and have its legs tied up. To their fortune the parents don't wake up and the humans dab away with the cub. They run until they can't anymore and rest up just as the Sun starts to rise, but not before having to calm the cub down. When they wake up they head straight back home.
Evandra's there to welcome them back when they arrive and give them praise for completing the task. She sets the cub free and names the other four humans as well as commenting on the traits they barely showed through the journey. Their names being Marduk, Nergal, Inanna and Irkalla. Evandra then produces a fire that the five humans take into themselves. With that done Evandra turns to leave along with the cub to return it to its parents. I feel bad about it, okay? She also leaves the rope with them.
Beginning MP: 4 Beginning DP: 5 -2 MP to make a rope Artifact -1 DP to make a Holy Order of pyromancers Ending MP: 2 Ending DP: 4
Rope of Stretching (placeholder name [maybe]) Stretching I - The rope is only 1 meter long, but when pulled it can stretch as much as 20 meters. Tight Bonds I - Knots made on this rope by someone are extremely difficult to undo by anyone else unless they're a God or have divinity of some level. Varying levels of divinity apply, so a god has no trouble at all, but an Avatar would have some difficulty while a Hero would struggle.
Oraelia was deep in thought after her meeting with Enmity. She couldn't truly grasp what he was and it baffled her. So much so that she had retreated all the way to her sun as she racked her brain, trying to come up with some further explanation. She had done this subconsciously and only when she felt it's true warmth did she realize where she had pulled herself too.
"Oh… This form is fast." she muttered to herself, reverting back into her base form. She let herself bask in the sun's light and it felt good. She hadn't realized just how big it was and felt good to visit her firstborn but Enmity still boggles her mind.
"Enmity… What an anomaly this Enmity. I suppose… If he's on the side of life, he can't be all that bad?" she spoke aloud to no one. "Perhaps I could try to… to alleviate his pain. Maybe then he'd become a being of flesh? But I shouldn't force that… That wouldn't be right." she let out a sigh and looked upon the distant blue orb where she and the others had worked.
It was a beautiful orb and one that needed a name. It was then she realized, she already knew its name. Galbar.
She needed to get back there. To create more, perhaps find Gibbou and show her what she had made. That would be nice.
A stir on her sun, however, pulled her attention back. The hot plasma swirled, concentrated and whitened. The white spot expanded, pulling more of the sun’s surface into it. On Galbar, the sea directly under it heated and boiled.
Oraelia felt her gentle warmth become blistering heat and she looked on in horror as the white spot expanded. She tried to calm her sun, but it was being unruly. Thus she began to panic.
The whirlpool surged up slowly like a bubble. The bright white light and heat reaching a climax. It inflated more and more then finally burst with a scream that made its way around half of the sun’s surface.
From the crucible emerged a woman, panting audibly and with unfocused eyes. Her golden hair and light skin almost blending in with the sun’s background. As soon as she left, Oraelia was able to grasp control of her sun again and once more ushered it back to calm. The blistering heat was no more and then her gaze turned to the newcomer.
Another sibling, a sister.
She floated over to her younger sister. Sensing Oraelia’s approach, the woman turned her head to face her. “Wha…” Still being dazed from her birth that was all she could voice.
Oraelia instantly knew that it was this one's fault about her sun. There was no malice in her eyes, no anger, just confusion. Oraelia floated before her and smiled warmly. "Well hello there, sister! Are you well?" she asked, putting a hand upon her shoulder.
“Sister…?” The woman’s vision focused and locked on to Oraelia. Her eyes went wide for a short moment before blinking. “I feel... warm.” She placed her own hand over the goddess’. “And so do you.” Her face gained a tinge of color. “Who are you, sister?”
"Of course you're warm, sweetheart. You just came from the sun!" she said with a large smile. "My name is Oraelia, goddess of Sunlight. What do you call yourself?"
“I’m…” The woman thought for a moment. “Evandra… I’m Evandra.” She looked around her. The sun was mostly a light yellow color with almost no features, and beyond was the blackness of the void. “So this place is the sun.”
"Evandra… What a wonderful name! It's so good to meet you!" she said, wrapping her in a tight hug. Oraelia then pulled away and waved her hand across the void and she said, "Yes indeed but-" her hand landed on the small blue orb of Galbar. "It is not the only thing here. That place is Galbar and we are making it to be beautiful and full of life, Evandra." she said, looking at her sister with a giddy smile. "I've created so many animals!"
Evandra laid her eyes upon Galbar, the blue and green of its surface filled her vision. She let out a long sigh and stood up. “It looks so…” Fires sparked to life around her body. “So beautiful!” The blush on her cheeks deepened. “Who made it? And what are animals?” She looked back to Oraelia in excitement.
Evandra's excitement, only made Oraelia even happier. She grabbed Evandra's hands within her own, gushed a happy sigh and said, "It was here when I woke up, the planet! And then I made the sun and Gibbou, my twin, and your sister, created the moon and then water came and the boar and the green and then and then i went down and saw the birds and gave them food and I created small furry things with tails and then larger furry things with antlers and hooves and then-" and she went on and on and told Evandra about everything she created, before ending on the Leons in the Prairie. "Then I met Enmity and he… He's not like us but he's okay and now we're here!" she beamed happily.
Evandra took it all in and nodded along the way. Just hearing it from her sister was enough to make her want to see it all for herself. She didn’t care much about the parts regarding Enmity, however. “All of that is on Galbar? I can barely wait.” Evandra’s giddiness was evident and the fires around her grew ever larger. “Oraelia, you’re lovely, but I have to see Galbar for myself.”
"Of course! Everyone should." she beamed.
Evandra returned the hug from earlier. “I’ll come visit you again.” She parted from Oraelia, looking at her with a tender smile. “Farewell for now.”
Oraelia gave her a puzzled look. "You don't think I live here do you? I'm going back to Galbar too, actually. Much more needs to be created still."
“Wonderful! Let’s go together then. I don’t know what I can create, but I want to try it myself as well.”
Oraelia changed back into her domain form, and whizzed around Evandra’s head, giggling. ”Come on then!” she exclaimed happily, before zipping off towards Galbar.
Evandra followed after Oraelia, now as a wisp. At first she fumbled on her flight, but quickly got the hang of it and found herself fast approaching Galbar. More features of the world came into view: clouds, mountains, trees.
Evandra slowed down before she crashed straight into the land and gently touched down on the earth. She looked around, her perception allowed her to see almost the entire island. It was barren, save for a few hills. The ground beneath her caught on fire when she landed, but the absence of any plants prevented it from spreading.
“What a disappointment. There’s nothing here at all.” The excitement from early had vanished and was replaced by a rather sour expression on Evandra’s face. Oraelia zipped past her, before shooting back around and landing in front of her in her base form. She tilted her head slightly, following Evandra’s gaze before giggling again.
”You picked one spot where no life has yet formed, sister. Go on and create something! Fill it with what you desire!” she said happily, picking up a rock to examine.
Evandra stood still for a moment, thinking. She looked around again then picked up a rock as well. Like the ground beneath her, it caught on fire and melted not long after, dripping off her hand back to the earth. “What can I create?”
Oraelia looked at Evandra and grinned. ”Anything you want. This place… It could use an ecosystem, something that can support life. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life benefits from more life.”
Evandra thought again. The life she saw from the sun was either underwater, or on forests or fields. This place was none of those. And Evandra had already realized all she could make was fire. “Hmmmmmm…” She mumbled while thinking. Creating things was harder than she first thought.
“Okay… Let’s try this then.” She lowered one of her fires to the ground. Now that she willed it so, the fire spread out on the dirt, taking the silhouette of a four legged creature with a tail and robust torso. The fire burned for a while until it wiggled on its own and grunted and snorted. The fire died out, leaving behind a large creature with red scales. It stood on its four legs and walked a few slow steps, leaving behind its shape on the earth. It looked at Evandra and snorted again, fire leaving its nostrils. “I did it! It lives!” She knelt down and rubbed its scaled head, not showing much of a reaction aside then lifting its neck up to meet her hand.
Oraelia was fascinated, and looked on with amazement. She too joined Evandra, and felt the creature. She then said aloud, ”It will need to eat something to survive, and drink to sate its thirst and more of its kind to reproduce. Isn’t that just exciting!”
“It won’t need water. And there’s plenty to eat around here.” She picked up another rock and, before it could melt, gave it to the beast, who bit down on it and crushed the rock like it was nothing. “I can’t make the land look like the other places I saw from the sun, so instead of adapting the land I just made a creature that could thrive here as the place was.”
Oraelia brought her hands together in praise. ”How smart! I hadn’t even thought of that. Oh look at you, creating already. I’m so happy, Evandra. I’m glad you came to be.” she said.
Evandra let out a giggle and her face blushed again. With one final pat on the creature’s head, she stood up and created dozens of fires around them, another lizard coming from each one of them. They all looked around, then some wandered off while others tried to interact between themselves, eliciting a few hisses of annoyance from the more playful approaches. “I’ll call them salamanders.”
”A perfect name!” she said, twirling around the new salamanders. ”It makes me want to create even more!” she came to a stop before Evandra again and blinked a couple more times. ”Yes! I have the perfect idea for what I can do next. Oh, it’ll be wonderful!” she then smiled again and asked, ”What will you do now?”
“Explore the land. There are many things I’d like to see up close. Maybe visit one of our siblings if I happen to be near them. The prairie to the east of here was your creation, right?”
”Oh indeed! If you meet Gibbou, tell her I said hi. She kinda looks like me, but is darker.”
“I’ll make sure to do so.” She embraced Oraelia again. “Until next time then.”
She squeezed her back and said, ”Yes, until next time, sister.”
Evandra gave her sister one last warm smile before parting and taking flight eastward. She wasn’t going very fast, but soon the edge of the ocean came into view. The distance left to reach Oraelia’s prairie wasn’t much by what Evandra could gauge.
Light reflected a few ways before the coast, catching Evandra’s attention. It was a small lake, and couldn't be more than five meters across. She flew closer and landed near the edge. “This is water, huh? I’ll be crossing over a lot more of this before I reach Oraelia’s prairie.”
She walked a few steps until her reflection came into view on the water’s surface. She knelt down to look closer, infatuated by her own visage. Evandra moved her hand to touch the reflection. As soon as she did steam rose and she flinched. “Ouch!” The cool water had hurt her. Evandra had a very angry look on her face as she eyed down her newfound mortal enemy. Her hand ignited and she pressed it strongly against the edge of the lake. The fire vanished as if diving into the dirt and in a few minutes the whole lake began to steam and boil.
With a satisfied huff Evandra stood up. Instead of leaving, however, she looked intently into the boiling waters. With a tentative approach of her foot she touched the water’s surface. This time it didn’t hurt. In fact it was somewhat pleasant. She sank her foot in slowly, still unsure, and only the pleasant warmth was felt. Now confident that the water wouldn’t hurt her, she walked into the lake’s waters. They were quite shallow, but near the center they covered up to her thighs. She sat down slowly and let out a sigh. “It’s not quite like the sun, but it’s half bad in here. I think I’ll stay here a while longer”
Oraelia returns to the sun to think over her meeting with Enmity. While she's there the sun starts to act up and some parts of the ocean boil because of it. Evandra pops out of the sun Oraelia introduces herself. Evandra falls in love with Oraelia at first sight. She then tells Evandra of a few events she witnessed since her birth. Evandra falls in love with Galbar as well. She's hyper and wants to see Galbar up close, so both goddesses go down to a barren island right off the west coast of Toraan.
There Eva is disappointed with the barren land and almost loses interest in the place, but Oraelia convinces her to try and create something. After setting a rock on fire she questions what she can even create, Oraelia gives her some hints and she makes a Salamander, a large lizard with red scales that breathes fire and eats rock and dirt. Both goddesses talk a bit about the creature then Evandra makes dozens more and leaves Oraelia to visit her prairie.
On the way she flies by a small lake and decides to investigate it. Evandra sees her own reflection on the surface and tries to touch it, but the cool water hurts her. She now hates water. As a sort of revenge she makes the lake boil and on a whim enters the water, only to find out it doesn't hurt her anymore. Now she only hates water if it's not hot. Evandra then chills at her hot spring for a bit.
Oraelia: Start: 5MP/0DP
No MP used or discounted to 0
Evandra: Start: 5MP/0DP
Created Salamanders for free. Created a hot spring on accident for free.
Name: Evandra Primordial or Conceptual: Primordial
Domain: Fire. An invaluable tool since ancient times. The light and energy it produces in the form of heat was instrumental to humanity’s rise as a dominant species and allowed for many inventions. Other than that, fire also composes some aspects of life on a more conceptual level. Emotion, drive, courage, among others are all fueled by the fire within.
Portfolio: Passion. An intense emotion. Passion can come from love or hate and burns like a roaring flame in either case. It can also mean a strong sexual desire. However, due to its intensity, passion is usually fickle and eventually dies out leaving nothing behind. Passion can be romantic, fuel one's determination, inspire great deed, but it can also be tragic and violent.
Realm: Bacchanalia. The Realm takes the shape of a wide chamber with reddish brown floor, walls and ceiling and illuminated by big fires in openings between the walls and ceiling. The chamber is composed of a wide open area with a long and steady ramp that leads to a big bed where Evandra rests most of the time. The room has a seemingly endless supply of fruits and drinks and the air is saturated with the smell of incenses and the heat of the illuminating fires. There’s also a separate chamber with a heated bath large enough to fit a dozen people.
Persona: Much like her fire, Evandra is passionate, but also fickle. For the while that her passion lasts she shows strong emotions to people or objects, but as soon as it ends she moves on to whatever interests her next. She demands attention and is clingy to whatever has her attention and if refused will either shift to hate or immediately start ignoring it.
Evandra’s proud and selfish and doesn’t take well to being insulted or bad mouthed. She considers herself to be the peak of beauty and if denied that she takes it as an offence.
Should she truly devote herself to something, however, she’d keep loving it with her all indefinitely. On the other hand the same is true for her hatred and grudges. In either case if she latches on to something it’s for good and she won’t let it go willingly. Even if the person she loves wants to leave her.
Base Form: Evandra takes the shape of a young woman with a lean body and light skin tone. Her long hair is gold and her eyes rubies mounted on the face of beauty. Her breasts are a handful each and her legs are long.
Evandra doesn’t wear much in the way of clothes and wears only enough to cover her privates and bosom (I.E. a bikini). Occasionally she wears a sarong as well.
Domain Form: Evandra retains her base form while in her realm, but flames cover her body. These flames are as intense as her emotions in any given time and carry heat appropriately, but is only lethal if she wills it to be.
Avatar: Evandra’s Avatar is named Solayu. She’d be a mirror image of Evandra if not for her scarlet hair and tanned skin. Solayu also inherited her matron’s persona and are thus almost identical to each other. As such both goddess and Avatar often refer to one another in first person. They can also share senses with each other if they so desire.
If none of you secretly have the Be Gone THOT Domain I'll be seriously dissapointed.
Name: Evandra Primordial or Conceptual: Primordial
Domain: Fire. An invaluable tool since ancient times. The light and energy it produces in the form of heat was instrumental to humanity’s rise as a dominant species and allowed for many inventions. Other than that, fire also composes some aspects of life on a more conceptual level. Emotion, drive, courage, among others are all fueled by the fire within.
Portfolio: Passion. An intense emotion. Passion can come from love or hate and burns like a roaring flame in either case. It can also mean a strong sexual desire. However, due to its intensity, passion is usually fickle and eventually dies out leaving nothing behind. Passion can be romantic, fuel one's determination, inspire great deed, but it can also be tragic and violent.
Realm: Bacchanalia. The Realm takes the shape of a wide chamber with reddish brown floor, walls and ceiling and illuminated by big fires in openings between the walls and ceiling. The chamber is composed of a wide open area with a long and steady ramp that leads to a big bed where Evandra rests most of the time. The room has a seemingly endless supply of fruits and drinks and the air is saturated with the smell of incenses and the heat of the illuminating fires. There’s also a separate chamber with a heated bath large enough to fit a dozen people.
Persona: Much like her fire, Evandra is passionate, but also fickle. For the while that her passion lasts she shows strong emotions to people or objects, but as soon as it ends she moves on to whatever interests her next. She demands attention and is clingy to whatever has her attention and if refused will either shift to hate or immediately start ignoring it.
Evandra’s proud and selfish and doesn’t take well to being insulted or bad mouthed. She considers herself to be the peak of beauty and if denied that she takes it as an offence.
Should she truly devote herself to something, however, she’d keep loving it with her all indefinitely. On the other hand the same is true for her hatred and grudges. In either case if she latches on to something it’s for good and she won’t let it go willingly. Even if the person she loves wants to leave her.
Base Form: Evandra takes the shape of a young woman with a lean body and light skin tone. Her long hair is gold and her eyes rubies mounted on the face of beauty. Her breasts are a handful each and her legs are long.
Evandra doesn’t wear much in the way of clothes and wears only enough to cover her privates and bosom (I.E. a bikini). Occasionally she wears a sarong as well.
Domain Form: Evandra retains her base form while in her realm, but flames cover her body. These flames are as intense as her emotions in any given time and carry heat appropriately, but is only lethal if she wills it to be.
Avatar: Evandra’s Avatar is named Solayu. She’d be a mirror image of Evandra if not for her scarlet hair and tanned skin. Solayu also inherited her matron’s persona and are thus almost identical to each other. As such both goddess and Avatar often refer to one another in first person. They can also share senses with each other if they so desire.
"Ah...thanks." Silver replied with a smile to Vega's remark.
He followed Felicia into the mayor's office. Naturally the room looked as fancy as the rest of the manor. After the short introduction, Gideon explained the situation and how it got to this point. "Mercenaries, huh?" Silver didn't like the sound of that.
When Gideon was done with the explanation he asked if the hunters had any questions. "What are we dealing with here in terms of weapons?" The damages done to the city near the makeshift border looked like something one would expect to come from heavy firepower. The idea of having to fight someone or even something with that destructive worried Silver.
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