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Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

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Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

The Goblin Underground & The Dwarven Kingdoms

Civilization vs Heroism

Dead Goblins, Broken futures and Goverments?

The underground caves were vast and even deeper they went underground. The caves began wider at least that was something that the goblins would notice when going further deep. The expedition deeper was thanks in part to goblins disappearing the deeper they went with those who returned home to ever bigger caves.

The GU went through hard during this period. First earthquakes, then attacks of the monsters, then disappearances. It was as if someone was set to kill them or make their lives hard.

In regards to the disappearances, Maxima had enough. Arming her best warriors turned heroes due to the monster attacks, she led them deep within the caves. In the lowest parts, just above the Library.

It was there they noticed signs of life. Sentient life. Signs of people other than goblins. Danger.

The caves were more like mine shafts and well carved as the deeper it went occasionally. But during the trip they would return to a more natural state and the deeper they went the more common it was to see mushrooms growing in the walls of caverns. Eventually, they discovered that the cave stopped at a large opening too dark to see but incredibly deep like an underground ravine. It was incredibly large. It was bigger than most other caves seen below and it seemed more humid than others. The group could also easily see lights in the darkness below at the bottom of the cave but it seemed a bit distant.

The party quickly readied their weapons and approached carefully through the shafts. It wasn’t until they saw the first creature that they stopped and hid. Each goblin, all specifically selected by Maxima for this task, all small and easy to hide in mine shafts if the need ever arose to escape danger.

Then, Maxima, unarmed, stepped forward in the light. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the light and saw what must’ve been a small goblin with a long beard. Trying to extend her influence over him, she quickly realized he wasn’t a goblin but something else.

“Hello! Do you understand me?” said Maxima in what was her friendliest tone. Behind her stood at least 20 goblins, hidden from view. Ready to attack at a moment’s notice if needed.

The creature that they found was fair skinned, compared to then with auburn hair and a brown bear, his clothes were rather strange too and he seemed to have a pickaxe out of iron seeing then the silence was rather deafening before he opened his mouth shouting. “Uthgúr! Uthgúr! Vod Sheget!” he soon grabbed a lamp beside him and started running screaming down the shaft. The lights of the mine shaft seemed to begin extinguishing as the sound of panic began to echo through the walls.

Not understanding what the person was saying, Maxima and the group advanced. Weapons at the ready to kill anything that would endanger them and with Maxima’s connection to Galaxor, he was aware of what was happening.

The group continued to move forward as the echoes of the dwarfs began to diminish in the distance but the lower they got through the mines the more the echo of sound of the dwarfs returned and with the group arriving in a new cave tunnel they soon saw a group of the creatures heavily armored in iron with weapons a officer shouting. “Ïkor!” As the group of dwarfs in front of then readied their warhammers and got into position.

Immediately, Maxima and the goblins went into position too. Spear throwers in the back and a group with diamond shields in the front. Maxima was right in the thick of it. Leading from the front was always her style after all. With a bit of luck, she could take a good part of these dwarves on her own but she preferred not to try it out.

“Hold! We’re the Goblin Underground and I am their leader, hero of Galaxor God Of Heroism, Knowledge and Time. Know that we are under his direct protection and we don’t wish to fight but if you want a fight…we’ll make sure to take you with us. ”

The dwarfs continued ready for a fight with the officer saying in his language. “What did she say?” Another dwarf mumbled. “Don’t look at me i don’t know…” someone soon replied “At Least they speak… compared to when things like this happen…” The officer coughed before shouting. “Returning your lands! Green things you are bypassing our lands!”

With a puzzled look, Maxima looked behind her at the others but they shared the same confused looks. Neither of them spoke each other’s language. That didn’t make things easy…at all. That’s when Maxima had an idea.

Quickly taking out a stone table, she sculpted on it a picture of a goblin and then a happy face on it, thinking that hopefully it’ll translate to “friend” in whatever language these creatures spoke in. Afterwards, she slid it across to them, not wanting to approach too much.

The group looked at her, the officer seeing the happy face with him saying in dwarvish. “Marvelous, now that…” He seemed annoyed saying to the man beside him. “I don’t like this especially after the invasions… A soldier soon said. “Sir, you think the high queen mother El’zadir might help?” “The message might take forever to reach her… I don’t like this…” The officer replied looking more nervous; he felt it could be a trap.

As the dwarves looked at the drawing, it was clear that they didn't understand anything out of it. Confusion written clearly on their face.

Luckily, it seemed that both groups had the same idea. If they can't understand each other, maybe their divine patrons could help.

Raising a hand in the air, Maxima started speaking.

“Oh’ great timeless warrior-sage, Galaxor. I, Maxima, your hero and first creation call upon thee! Please show yourself and help us avoid unnecessary spilling of blood. I don't wish to kill them. ”

And then nothing happened for a few tense minutes…and then it did.

As if he was standing there all the time, a golden-blue-purple-ish dwarf appeared in the middle of the dwarven group.

“Boo!” said Galaxor as soon as he was been noticed by dwarves, letting out a divine pulse of energy, sort-of beacon that only divine beings could sense and follow.

The dwarves jumped in panic seeing their line disorganized and they panicked with screams as they looked at him in surprise, some shouting the name of their goddess. As they pointed weapons, cursing to themselves and against him as they were shocked.

With a laugh, Galaxor transformed into his usual self and teleported to Maxima’s line which tried to tell him what happened but got stopped before managing to say a word.

“It's ok. I know what happened. Foresaw it and was waiting for this moment. ” started Galaxor to say with a wink before continuing “Terrible what would've happened if I wouldn't have come. Whole cave would've fallen down. Now shush. Let's wait for their goddess. ”

With a wave of his hand, Galaxor taught the language of the dwarves to Maxima and gave her a wink.

The earth soon began to shake for a moment as the dwarves looked at each other before shielding themselves. The wall of the cave soon broke revealing the great expanse of the underground once again the surface covered in mushrooms and hanging from the wall was El’Zadir her eyes glowing white in the dark until the dust settled the obsidian skilled El’zadir was in full display looking at Galaxor she then said. “... It's been a while since i saw another divine… especially this far deep.” El looked nervous but also a bit exhausted by what Galaxor could see.

A second before the wall would collapse, Galaxor snapped his fingers and when the debris flew towards the goblin lines they disappeared…and reappeared somewhere far into the past.

“Well, hello to you too. I'd like to say the same but I've met quite a few recently. I am Galaxor, God Of Heroism, Knowledge and Time. ” he said, while approaching the goddess, his Cosmic Destroyer hanging by his side.

The dwarves seemed equally fine having shielded together as the rubble was moved El’zadir looked at Galaxor she seemed curious yet reserved by her body gesture she then said. “Galaxor… god of heroes and time?” She was curious, he seemed more like a warrior war god, a hero yes but a lord of time seemed unlikely.

“Aye, and knowledge too. All three are timeless. Time to spend heroing, knowledge to know when to stop and let others take the mantle. ” replied Galaxor with a grin. He knew how mismatched his domains of power seemed, yet, they all were linked to one another.
She raised an eyebrow in confusion but she then gave a nod and a light bow saying. “Well…my name Is El’zadir goddess of civilization and mother of the Dwarves you see around…” she said with education and politeness something she exuded well. Compared to herself who looked more like she went through a few battlefields. With the introduction she then replied. “Well god of heroes… and goblins…” She smiled to then for some reason her presence made the goblins trust her it seemed to be her divine aura she then continued. “What brings your group to the 13 dwarven kingdoms in the underground.”

“Civilization? Interesting domain you’ve chosen for yourself. Goblins are just one of my mortal creations, I have made humans too. The tall ones, I’m sure you’ve seen them. ” replied Galaxor as he turned towards Maxima and the goblin group.

“Off you go back home. I’ll handle things here. ” and before they could reply, they’ve all been teleported back to the Goblin Underground.

“Well, some of their people have gone missing while going in your tunnels and while they wanted to initially send an exterminator squad to eliminate whatever manner of beasts inhabited these tunnels, I advised them to check it up themselves. Quite strange it took them so long to meet your dwarves after you broke a hole in their ceiling. ”

“That was due to the ongoing war… at least that is finally ending.” El’zadir replied to his statement of the ceiling it was more in her panic she dug quite deep as well after a moment of pondering she then said to her dwarves. “Return to your homes for now this might be a meeting that takes time…” With a bow they began to leave as well going down the tunnel to the ground floor access she then asked. “Choose? no i was born to my domain… without much of a choice or…” she looked at her hands again they were roughed by time but she pondered as well who she was still.

“Aye, it’s ending now. Asheel and I killed off one of their leaders and Sylia destroyed a large part of their forces…not to say that she sealed some of them off in the blood ocean. From what I saw, they’re building their own civilization there. ” said Galaxor in reply before raising an eyebrow at El.

“I think you misunderstand godhood a bit. No offense intended, of course. But a god chooses their domain. Some do it consciously, as I did with my knowledge and time domains and some do it instinctively, like heroism was for me. Maybe some part of the divine energy that created you came from countless mortal civilizations on Galbar that were, are and will be. You might’ve had the domain of evil or death or disease or anything that comes associated with civilizations, yet…you’ve become the essence of civilization itself. ” replied Galaxor to her pondering.

“Seems like how i began…” She said with a light smile after a moment of silence she then continued. “So would the greatest of heroes quench his thirst in a dwarven feast or would you believe yourself too busy?”

“Busy? What’s busy for divine beings? Lead the way, El’zadir and I’ll bring some of my own drinks, if that’s alright. Trust me, they’re divine. ” said Galaxor in reply while adding a wink at the end.

El’zadir smiled saying “You remind me of a friend at times…” she soon lead the way to her holy site in the citadel of Donoroll a grand fortress made out of carved stone constructed north of the tree of life a grand city underground in the cavern layers. Inside the grand citadel the feast halls were readied and with El’zadir’s arrival together with Galaxor the halls soon were filled with drinks made from rock nut ale or what other plants they could brew.

Many plates of food distributed against the giant hall able to accommodate one thousand individuals echoing through the halls were songs made by singers, composers and their instruments. “Hope you don’t mind, my children are rather festive…” El’zadir commented as both were seated at the end of the grand hall.

“I’m everyone’s friend, El’zadir. Part of the whole hero thing. ” replied Galaxor with a wink before following El.

As Galaxor was led through the citadel, he waved, smiled and on occasion threw stone tables with information about mining and what plants can be used to make what, translated in dwarvish around to onlookers. All the information that was given, was collected by the GU over time and as it is with information, it is meant to be shared.

“I hope you don’t mind. I spread some tidbits of information my GU gathered to your dwarves. They have been around since…the beginning of Galbar as for the “children”, well, they’re mortals. It is in their nature to revel. ” said Galaxor, apologetic in tone before smiling at the mortals around and then with a wink to El, he added “Especially in the company of two divine beings. ”

Afterwards, he lifted a hand up, and bottles of RALK appeared on the tables, one for each dwarf. “Drink up! It 's divine. ” shouted Galaxor for all to hear.

“Ralk?” El’zadir looked confused as her children would start drinking many of then liking it she soon shrugged saying. “Drink what the gods do…” she soon took a large swig out of her bottle and then said. “Rather bland for my taste…”

Galaxor laughed out loud at El’zadir’s obvious distaste for the drink. “You’re the only one to think so, El’zadir. Look around at your people. They’re enjoying it. ” and true enough, it seemed that everyone was loving the new drink introduced to their city.

“Now, as much as I love a good feast…shall we speak business? ” said Galaxor, suddenly serious.

She gave a shrug to the drink, it was probably because she was used to less divine drinks. Hearing of him turn more serious she gave a nod saying. “Yes i believe so… what brought your people to my peoples land’s i may have been underground for too long so i don’t know the situation above.”

“The beasts that attacked your people came from other divine beings. They were servants basically of some other divines that wished to consume this world… ” started Galaxor before telling the whole story of the Outer Gods to El'zadir.

“...and so I killed one of them. Now, regarding the Goblin Underground. Maxima has received reports that goblins have gone missing in the tunnels that lead to your people. ‘Thus, she came to investigate. ” concluded Galaxor before taking another sip of RALK.

El’zadir pondered hearing the story of the outer gods. She somewhat felt their presence but she was always busy until recently. Her mind seemed to blank for a moment as she pondered again at her situation looking at the metal plate reflecting her. She felt empty thinking who she was or even what to do. She sighed for a moment until hearing the reason why Galaxor’s people came and she gave a nod replying. “I see…” She soon gestured to a servant approaching replying. “queen mother anything you wish? El’zadir gave a nod replying. “Yes do you have reports of goblins from the other kingdoms?” The dwarf gave a nod before stopping and saying. “Goblins?” El’zadir gave a nod using her powers to show the image of a goblin before vanishing and cleaning her hand from the dust she attracted to make it, seeing it he gave a nod commenting. “Let me see…” he soon went to a corner where a shelf was picking a scroll, something that made El’zadir a bit confused, approaching she said. “When did you get that?” He smiled replying. “[color=blue]Some lads figured how to make this my queen mother…[/blue]” El took a bit back thinking for a moment before giving a nod as he read some of the pages the dwarf looked less happy by the moment before coughing and saying. “Ahh…. my queen… according to reports involving foreign attacks they were… killed… El immediately rose up in worry turning to Galaxor saying. “Forgive me Galaxor i was not aware of this…” She lowered her head in a humbling way with a bow.

The moment El mentioned that the goblins were indeed dead, a few of the bottles from the table shattered and then transformed into dust. “I do not approve of the killing of my subject, El’zadir. I care not what mortals do to one another but those goblins were under my direct protection and out of all of them, two of the children had very interesting futures ahead of them. Futures which I intended to watch over. ” said Galaxor, his anger obvious on his face.

“Give me a good reason why I shouldn’t erase your kingdoms from the face of Galbar. ” he added, as he stood up from the chair. Almost immediately, the Cosmic Destroyer, godbane artefact and killer of the Egrioth appeared on Galaxor’s waist.

El’zadir still bowed, while raised from her chair in humbleness and apology. “Still forgive me for my lack of awareness for my children” turning to the hall that was silent and seeing the two she soon raised shouting “OUT!” her voice was commanding something that exhibited royal command divine, making the room quite quickly empty of people.
Once the room was empty she sighed, turning to him she bowed again she didn’t display much emotion but she was nervous and anxious a fight between gods could be disastrous especially with a deity that seemed more specialised in fighting it could result in calamity against her even if mass destruction is made she could rebuild but the thought sickened her in part she soon replied. “I can’t bring them back that much is true Galaxor… Albeit following ancient rules I believe I am at your service until this blood debt is paid.” But even if he seeks revenge she would be ready to fight for her children’s safety even if foolish.

Upon seeing El’zadir’s obvious…fear at a fight, Galaxor’s heroic aura exploded with divine power breaking a few tables under the weight of it . “Stand your ground and stop giving me blood debt bullshit! ” Galaxor’s voice rang through the nearby tunnels, creating a small earthquake as it did.

With a deep breath, Galaxor’s aura receded and the Cosmic Destroyer became small once more.

“I care not for your lack of awareness, they are your mortals. You should’ve taught them better. I refuse your blood debt, yet I shall take a boon to be bestowed upon the Goblin Underground as payment. Refuse and I shall bury your kingdoms as payment. ”

El’zadir held her ground covering her face from the blast of wind, once cleaning herself she kept a worried expression only ending when hearing he talk once again about blood debt she soon looked confused. “That… is literally what you asked… why are yo…” She replied, stopping for a moment, freezing in place for a solid minute thinking of something after the moment she then said. “That is only fair Galaxor whatever you wish to give to your goblins I shall give”

“Careful with whatever I wish, El’zadir. I could ask you to bring back all the dead to life. It is within our power, as you know but it's a costly business, in terms of power. My goblins require one thing currently, more than anything. Civilization in the style of government. Currently it’s Maxima taking all the decisions and while she’s more than capable…the Goblin Underground is growing exponentially. If my predictions of the future are correct, in the next 3 years, they’ll reach your kingdoms. So, teach my people the benefit of a government and how to make it work while also…agree that the dwarves will not harm any goblin that doesn’t deserve it. ” said Galaxor, as he slowly calmed down, before adding “Maybe an alliance between the mortals would be useful. ”

El’zadir seemed pensive, mumbling out loud. “Well i could ask death to bring your boys back but i haven’t seen him in aeons at this point…” She soon stopped thinking after a pause she soon answered him. “for what you requested I shall do, it's only fair.”

“Death? Is he even still around? Ever since I’ve helped him make the humans, he went away. But, thank you and I apologise for my previous outburst. ”

She shook her head replying. “No Galaxor I am more at fault for the actions of those I rule… As the mother of civilization, the law and justice of the system dictates I am at fault for what happened. You have the right to be angry and even have the right to strike me down… Even if… ” She gashed perside, feeling pain again from her closed wound she hasn’t focused on healing it much since the attack. “Even if i would not like it…”

“If you let your mistakes define you, you shouldn’t be a divine, El’zadir. Learn from them and fix your own mess. As for striking you…there’s no joy or honour in striking someone weaker than me nor there’s no logic in it. ” he replied, shaking his head.

She pondered for a moment what he said, giving a nod she then said. “I see… well would you guide me to your people for me to fix my mistakes?

“Gladly.” said Galaxor as he teleported both of them to the Goblin Underground.

The Goblin underground was something El’zadir only saw once cracking her knuckles she soon said. “Right… Time for me to do this. It's been a while…” and with that she started working immediately on what Galaxor asked of him. Beginning to create the laws and governmental structures that she thought would be good for a centralised state and kingdom. The state apparatus creating a sort of autocratic state centred around Maxima the ruler of the goblins, the bureaucracy helping ease most of the problems. But at the same time El’zadir worked in repairing and increasing relations with the goblins and dwarves teaching the goblins commerce and trade with the 13 kingdoms that lived down below. With an apology gift for Maxima and Galaxor being an artefact she made a sceptre made out of pure gold with the help of her children encrusted with a ruby, with green and yellow diamonds flanking it crafted with the greatest of care and quality.

MP

El’zadir
Available: 7
- 1 mp tech boost
* Governments
* Commerce/trade
- 1 mp artefact creation
* The Crown of Máxima’s Dominion is an artefact that grants the wearer the power to make goblins follow the wearers command without questions in a large area of many kilometres using divine power. The powers it grants allow the wearer to command an entire society without needing to be in one’s presence.

Remaining: 5 mp

Galaxor
Available - 1
Remaining - 1

Summary

Maxima and a group of goblins investigate mysterious disappearances of goblins in an unexplored part of the Underground. They meet a group of dwarves but the language barrier makes communication impossible. Maxima calls upon Galaxor for help and soon El’zadir comes too.
After a short feast, Galaxor is told that the missing goblins were executed by the dwarves. Getting angry, Galaxor breaks stuff with his aura and El’zadir agrees to pay for her people's mistakes by teaching the Goblin Underground about laws, governments and granting her an artefact.

Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

The Tricity Quest

Lily, Seam and Jaxx walk in a training field

Eye for eye and…arm for arm?

“Come back to us dear, its rise and shine, because I am afraid my dear daughter needs you awake for this next bit” came an intruding voice into his dream, gentle yet irresistibly instant, causing his eyes to blink open, and reveal the source to be a short green motherly goblin not wearing a witch’s hat.

“There we go, good man” the goblin praised, before telling him “now, I’ll be around, so just ask if you need something, but for the most part I’ll be leaving you in the capable hands of my lovely daughter” and stepping back to allow a similarly small goblin to step into view, one who even if he didn’t recognize her face he was able to recognize the tendrils she had grown just after she’d met him.

“Welcome back Jaxx,” Lilly said, before explaining “ya’ve been out for a while. Me mother insisted we let ya rest while I tinkered on ya new arm, which is, well iz a thing we can do now. But ya need to be awake so I can tell if I’m hooking things up right”

She gestured to his side where he was still missing an arm, and where, next to the stump, lay a table with a familiar looking limb, one of a silvery metal that he had severed from the Outer beast that had taken his own.

Pain. Screams. Death. More screams. An arm flying around. Pain. So much pain and death. Innocents. Danger. Everywhere. Dodge. Attack! Pain.

Jaxx’s dreams were…not peaceful. Not peaceful at all yet in all his dreaming, there was one thing that brought him peace. There was no ringing, no hero sense that prompted him to save lives or be a hero. It was quiet. His thoughts were his own and he could rest.

And then with a jolt, Jaxx woke up. Almost immediately he tried to stand up only to be held back by the straps around his arm and legs.

“No. No. No! Aaaaggghh! ” he screamed, letting out a roar of pain as the pain of his missing arm made itself known.

Eventually after stopping, Jaxx acknowledges Lily with a curt nod of his head.

“I…sorry. I don't remember you're name, miss. But I remember your fighting. I can feel the heroic energy around you, safe to assume you've proved yourself? ” said Jaxx, his voice tough and croaky as if he hadn't spoken in weeks.

Then, as soon as Lily replied with a nod and her name, time slowed down. Briefly.

“Hello? What….oh. Great! You couldn't bloody let me rest in peace and had to use your shitty divine bullshit on me again!” started Jaxx to say before realizing what happened and looking upwards, shouting at his invisible patron.

“Are ya alright?” Lilly asked, glancing up at the ceiling as well, before enquiring “are ya yellin at yer god?” in a tone that made it clear that she didn’t think this was quite as strange as others might have.

With a shake of his head, the time slow effect stopped and Jaxx turned towards Lily. Finally understanding her words. “Apologies. My god? That bastard is not my god. He just doesn’t want to leave me alone! He gave me some new power. You seemed…slower. The sounds from outside slowed down. ”

“Slower? Well, ya do seem faster” Lilly replied, before thinking for a moment and then asking “doesithelpifitaklquicklylikethis?”

“Stop, stop. It stopped now. Anyway. What were you saying? My arm is quite in a lot of pain, you’ve got something for it? ”

“Yup, new one” Lilly replied as she patted the metal limb laying next to him, before adding apologetically that it would “hurt more first though. Plus yer gonna be a bit reliant on this stuff for life if ya wanna keep it” as she gestured a hand at a bowl of black goop. A faint mist seemed to hang over it, never rising or dissipating, one charged with something old as the world yet had so far been so rarely wielded by mortal hands: magic.

Jaxx took a deep breath and inhaled the smell of the black goop and almost gagged on it. “Gah, that thing smells foul. Magic to make me a new arm? Good, let’s get it over with it. I have…work to do. ” replied Jaxx as he had to take a few deep breaths to calm himself down as the ringing in his head started to intensify. Innocents were in danger, he had to save them.

Lilly looked like she was about to say something about that, before simply nodding in agreement. Then she blinked once, her posture changed slightly, and she requested in a voice that both was and was not her own “now please, hold still. Working with the great one’s gift is delicate work”

The Octari wearing a goblin’s skin picked up a paintbrush with a stone handle and metal bristles in one hand, dabbing it in the bowl. Then in the other they took up a small fine knife with a similarly unbiological stone handle and informed Jaxx that “your body has tiny parts of it that act like daffotales along a riverbank, sending messages to and fro. I will need to cut away the scar tissue to expose them to the air so I can extend them and mesh them with your new arm. This will hurt”

He did not lie.

The operation was long and arduous, and required the hero’s participation to test each new nerve connection was synced up correctly, but stroke by stroke, Lilly’s past live painted a masterwork of flesh and steel, till at last the deed was done, and Jaxx was whole once more.

Jaxx didn’t have an easy time. His body screamed in pain as his mind screamed with the lives of innocents that he had to save. Luckily for Jaxx, a certain someone intervened halfway through the operation and nulled the pain his body felt. Fact which made Jaxx even more angry even if he was grateful for a respite from the pain.

Eventually, the operation was done. Jaxx was whole once more. The arm was different. It felt different. Otherworldly. Yet somehow it felt like it was his original one. Even if this one was made out of metal, a strange metal at that.

Standing up, Jaxx slowly touched his new arm with his original one, feeling the metal from the wrist up to where his flesh began. It was a weird feeling. On one side, he was grateful for his new arm as he knew he’d use it to save many lives…on the other side, he lost an arm. He was made with that arm and now it was forever gone. Was he still a goblin even or something more than that?

With just a short curt nod at Lily, after he was done inspecting his arm he said: “I need my sword, Heropentia. The arm looks and feels great and all but if I can’t wield a sword, it’ll be all for ‘naught. ”

“Dis way” the goblin replied as she set aside her implements , her voice back to normal, which was to say dripping with the distinctive accent the goblins of the city seemed to have. She led the hero through her family's home, passing by members of said extended family many of whom stopped and stared in amazement at the sight of him, be it his arm or that he was awake at all.

Then they were out into a courtyard where someone had set up rudimentary targets and training dummies, which Seam, the lanky seriema fullblood, was in the midst of practicing with, jabbing away with his second hand billhook. He and Lilly had a brief exchange, before he tossed her a key which she then used to open a large trunk set against one of the walls of the courtyard.

Within a small collection of arms could briefly be seen, but the one of import was, of course, the hero's blade, which she promptly presented to him, alongside a suggestion that “Maybe you and Seam could spar as a warm up?” one that the beastman in question said “I’d be honored” to do so.

Jaxx, not one for manners, didn’t say much to Lily’s family and only gave a slight nod as hello before hurrying up. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to have manners, it was more that he never had the chance to learn them or practice them. It was always “onto save a new life for him”.

Yet, the moment he saw Seam, his face lit up. If he didn’t fully understand manners, he definitely understood combat and Seam was definitely not the best fighter out there, yet the kid had potential that was obvious to see.

“Very well but just so you know, this won’t be a fair fight. Even if I hold back. ” said Jaxx as he took Heropentia and swung it with his metal arm. He could barely feel the weight of it. Before, he had to hold Heropentia with two hands to be able to wield it properly but now? Now it was as if he had a short sword. This new arm of his ‘sure came with interesting perks.

Going into a fighting pose, Jaxx closed his eyes and nodded to Seam.

“You’ve got the first move. Whenever you want. ”

The birdman cocked his head to the side curiously at the hero closing his eyes, before, with the arrogance of youth, going easy on his first probing stab with his billhook.

Before he even moved his arm to push the billhook forward, there was a slight buzz in Jaxx's mind, warning him of the incoming hit.

In a flash, he dodged to the side and took a step forward, his sword touching the billhook's owner's arm.

“One. ” said Jaxx with his eyes still closed and took a step backwards.

“Again.”

The beastman blinked a few times, and then put his back into things this time, taking a step back of his own and then performing a far faster leaping downwards jab.

This time, Jaxx decided to test out his new arm rather than his sword skills and as soon as the familiar buzz came, he dropped Heropentia and struck his metallic hand forward right in the path of the blade.

Sparks flew out as the two metals collided and promptly pushed the two fighters to the side.

“Ugh, I kinda felt that but who needs a shield anymore. ” he said while opening his eyes, a grin on his battle scarred face.

“Ya can say dat again, ting’s working like a charm” the goblin woman agreed, clearly rather proud of her handiwork, to which Seam nodded in agreement.

“Aye, it'll be useful. Now, Seam. I want you to jump a few times left and right, then circle me and strike from my blind spots. You're small and fast, use it for your advantage. ” said Jaxx to Seam with a smile before adding “Like this. ” and went on to demonstrate the zig-zag movement then a jump to the side and he was behind Seam.

It felt strange to Jaxx to talk with others and not do any traveling or killing. One could say this was Jaxx’s first holiday and he was enjoying it.

“Your turn and also I suggest getting two daggers or short swords instead of the billhook. ” continued Jaxx with a smile before getting back in position.

The birdman seemed about to disagree, but was prevented from doing so by Lilly noisily rummaging in the weapon’s trunk again before pulling out the dagger Seam had first fought with before claiming the hook he was holding, along with a sheathed bronze blade. An exchange was made, and then the heroes faced off again, with the avian beastman performing fluttering leaps to and fro before darting round to the side and striking with his weapons, new and old.

And soon he was behind Jaxx who, upon receiving the all familiar buzz, jumped to the forward at the last moment, both weapons almost nicking him.

“If I didn't know you were coming, that would've been a hit. Now, let me demonstrate why two weapons are sometimes better than one. ” Jaxx said as he gave Lily his long sword, Heropentia, and took a long staff from the pile of weapons.

“Defend yourself. Try using one weapon if you can with the second one, wait for an opening and stab me. ” added Jaxx and he waited for Seam to get in position before advancing towards him and then started jabbing at him with the staff.

The younger hero did as he was told, and got repeatedly jabbed for his efforts as he tried to learn the trick. It was only after some pointers from the other two that he at last managed to parry away the head of the staff using the knife, and made a stab forwards with the sword.

Even with Jaxx’s foresight, the blows were erratic. The moves of a beginner, with no purpose other than to hit the opponent with everything they’ve got and eventually, a stab went through Jaxx’s defense.

It wasn’t a deep stab but enough to draw a bit of blood from Jaxx. “Well done, young hero. Do the same thing everyday for the next few years and none shall be able to stop you. ” said Jaxx with a satisfied smile.

“That long?” the younger hero groaned, while Lilly inquired “and how long have ya been at it anyhow? There be generations of tales about ya, buy you no look that old”

“It’s been…20 years since I completed my first quest. Saved some goblins from some beastfolk, Goddess Asheel gave me the quest and that arrogant bastard Galaxor cursed me with the hero sense. ” said Jaxx calmly before mentioning Galaxor when his tone turned dark.

“You’ll find out that us, heroes, live longer than the average person. If a healthy goblin can live 100 years, a hero will live 200. We age slower and are stronger, faster, smarter. ” explained Jaxx, his previous hatred gone.

“Tha still no be right, ah’ve lived more’n 2 dozen lives so far, an tho lotta em ended short, that’s still mor’n 200” Lilly replied skeptically

Jaxx's face betrayed his confusion and a bit of horror at realizing that he's talking with someone a few times his age while also, the horror of being 200 years not 20 since he left.

“That…that doesn't seem right. Impossible. I counted the days since I left. Every single one of them. Started as a way to keep myself focused and then it just became a habit. Every day, every kill and every quest. ” Jaxx said before putting his hands on his face. A few “no, no, no” could be heard under his breath.

“No! That doesn't make any sense!” he shouted, anger clear on his face.

“Ya did just do a time slow thing when ya woke up” she pointed out, before theorizing “means time can be different in different places. Jus less obvious. Would explain why ya can’t rely on anything coming from up river showin up on time” and though that last part had been said in a tone of jest, it did cause her to “hmmm” and wonder if there might be something to that.

“Probably that bastard’s doing. Again! I swear I'll find a way to ki–” started Jaxx to say before stopping mid sentence, a scream following. A blood curdling scream that would send chills to those around.

The buzzing in his mind started to intensify while it gave him a few moments of peace, it decided that it was ignored for far too long.

“I..I…innocent people. Save. ” he shouted once more before taking Heropentia and starting to walk in the direction his sense was pulling him.

“I… what?” Lilly said, taken aback by this sudden departure. She glanced at Seam, sharing first a pair of confused looks, and then a nod of agreement. The goblin first grabbed another knife, a small crossbow and an accompanying bandolier of bolts from the chest before locking it up again, and then, along with Seam, going after Jaxx.

Despite both the delay to arm herself, and the subsequent detour to grab one of the family Buggys (which had been thoughtfully pre-packed with water and rations by her Mother), they caught up with the elder hero easily enough. There was only one place he could be going after all. South, towards the ransacked southern half of the city, just beyond which danger still lurked in dark hidden places.

mp summary

Quest rewards:
Jaxx & Lilly: a metal arm claimed from the same beast that took Jaxx’s own has been used to replace what was stolen from him. Lilly’s reward is learning how to do this, Jaxx’s is surviving and then thriving with the unorthodox fusion of flesh and steel.

summary

Jaxx wakes up in Tricity after helping save it, gets a new power to slow down time thanks to Galaxor, and a new metal arm courtesy of Lilly R’kava bonding one cut off of the same beast that had taken Jaxx’s arm in the first place.

Jaxx tests it out as part of a sparring/training lesson with Seam, the seriema-fullblood who had fought with them during the attack on, before first being distracted by the flexible nature of time discovered in the difference in time experienced by him vs Lilly’s many past lives, and then fully taken away from the first bit of time off he has had by the call to adventure.

Jaxx heads south, and Lilly and Seam follow.

Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

Once Upon A Chronomancer

Saving The Hopeless With Hero-Making

The Great Wall Of Sylia

Longsight

&

Badboy

---

Inside the Goblin Underground’s city, deep underground, Galaxor was busy watching over the pilgrims or, better said, novices that made their way down to the Library. It wasn’t an easy trip, it was hard and gruelling.

A voyage that only the toughest and most determined even attempted to make and only a fraction of those would reach it. Different challenges awaited those that went down, from single combat to survival in a massive tunnel that the dreaded Viscor worms called home, to a test of wits.

And each novice would bring with them new stories, information about the outside world or tales they’d heard from their families of Maxima or the others. Each novice sought the same thing: more knowledge. More wisdom. The good majority of novices were goblins but from time to time a human, elf, dwarf, or beastfolk would make the journey.

That was when he heard an interesting story. A few novices, human survivors of the Outer Gods’ attack and the rampage that followed them, were talking about a massive wall that appeared down south. An army, commanded by Sylia, killing any Outer Beasts they came across and then raising a wall to keep the others contained.

Appearing before the humans, Galaxor asked for more details and after a few minutes where the humans showered Galaxor with praises and words of thanks for allowing them to make the journey, Galaxor found out all that he needed to know. One of the humans even managed to catch a glimpse of the Goddess herself as she raised the wall…but not before killing thousands of Outer Beasts.

Thanking the humans, Galaxor smiled to himself. A place such as what Sylia created would be a perfect place for heroes to grow and any survivors inside would prove more than heroic; they’d be legends. In a breath, Galaxor appeared high above the wall and surveyed it, taller than tall, wider than wide. Taking his eye patch off, briefly, the Time God peered into all the potential futures of the wall and what he saw, made him laugh with joy…but he did frown at the future where the wall fell due to someone allowing the Outer Beasts inside, only for that person to be stabbed by his fellow guardsmen while shouting something about a watch.

And that’s when he noticed two humans killing an Outer Beast. Quickly and with no harm brought upon themselves. Again, Galaxor watched their futures and shook his head. Things weren’t looking good for those two. Dead within the year no matter what, out of the millions of different futures, they wouldn’t survive.

With a smile, Galaxor decided to test them before deciding whether he should change their fate or not. Transforming into a small goblin, he grabbed the attention of an Outer Beast and made it chase him. Close enough for the two humans to notice him but not close enough for the Outer Beast to notice them and run or call for backup. There was no need to kill every single one of them…yet. The ruckus caught the attention of the two, and they watched hesitantly for a few moments. The one smeared with blood hefted his massive blade in one hand, clearly eager to swing the great thing into yet another monster, but a tap from the other lad tempered his enthusiasm. They both placed the hide they were carrying down and, squatting low and fingering their weapons, watched the goblin’s flight from the beast. Whatever they might have known or seen of goblins before, this one seemed to give them reason for pause.

At last, the blood-smeared boy rose to his feet and slouched forward, keeping low. With an exasperated sigh, the other followed him. They were rather fleet of foot and were able to close most of the distance between them and the beast, but it noticed them before they were upon it and made an about turn to meet them. It was quite different from the pinniped monster they had hunted earlier. This one had the horned head and form of a great lion, the wings of a giant bat, and a tail that ended in a scorpion’s stinger. It dwarfed the two boys - they looked barely pubescent. Still, they seemed quite adept at hunting together and were quick to fan out around the creature. It was bigger than them, true, and likely quicker too and in every way stronger. But it remained the case that there were two of them, and only one of it. The blood-streaked boy swung his great bludgeon of a sword here and there, and the other hefted his war hammer, now turning the vicious pick towards the monster and now the hammer.

A heavy tension fell upon the three, the beast snarling and turning its head now this way and that as the boys circled around it. With a growl and lightning speed, the monster shattered the tension, its scorpion tail snaking for the blood-streaked boy. For whatever reason, he had seemed to unnerve it far more than the other. A scream cleft the air as the boy, blood-kohled eyes bulging, struck. A severed head flew threw the air, blood streaking behind it, and it landed a few feet away from the boy with the war hammer. He gulped, and his eyes slowly homed in on what had fallen by him. It was the beast’s bulbous stinger head.

The blood-streaked boy’s laughter swept across the sands even as his companion rushed in and struck the beast a glancing blow across its now-defenceless flank. Even as it turned to deal with this new threat, the blood-streaked boy struck, cleaving one of its wings away. The beast roared in fury and leapt away, flapping its one wing uselessly. They watched as the beaten monstrosity, far too quick for the two boys for all their speed, made a rapid escape. They checked one another, laughing and swinging their weapons about in triumph. The blood-streaked one whooped and leapt, bashing the stinger head with the flat of his bludgeon sword. As he did so, the other lad approached the goblin and looked at it cautiously. He was obviously unsure whether he could trust it; his grip on his war hammer remained tight, his eyes wary.

While the two made short work of the Outer Beast, Galaxor pretended to be scared, his hands over his head as if to protect himself from any incoming blows. The two worked well together, like a team, no talking between one another yet they knew exactly what each other would do. A hero party to be!

Standing up, Galaxor pointed a hand towards the fleeing Outer Beast, causing the boy to glance behind him in confusion. From high above, The Cosmic Destroyer flew down, killed the fleeing beast and started circling around the area and killing any Outer Beasts that might choose to disturb them. This happened, of course, out of sight of the two humans, and so the boy turned back to him with a brow raised in confusion, clearly unsure what the goblin was playing at pointing at nothing. How was he to know that the trials weren’t done yet and that being disturbed would just not do?

Noticing the grip on the warhammer, Galaxor jumped up in the air with a yelp and screamed once or twice for good measure. “No, no! No hurt me! Roxalag friend! Me lost, far-far nest. Big BADADADA and poof, no nest.” said the goblin Galaxor mimicking the story he once heard from Rajesh, his voice sounded like a child’s and the tone reflected his fearful nature. The blood-streaked boy came up behind the unstreaked one and observed the goblin with a grin. Once the goblin had stopped blabbering, he quickly squatted in front of him, holding his bludgeon-blade over one shoulder and patting the goblin’s little head with his free hand. It was obvious that they were not unfamiliar with goblins.

Galaxor pulled back almost immediately after that and laughed. “Yooz good humies. Yooz save Roxalag! Brave humie, good fighty. But iz humie smart too? Roxalag reward, if humie answer three questions!” he said while eying the unstreaked one… Longsight. Just a look from his chrono-eye, Galaxor could see that between him and the blood-streaked one, Badboy, it was Longsight who would’ve survived the longest in this place, even if he’d die in the end. As if to prove that, Badboy slouched down, his interest in the goblin’s words clearly dissipating swiftly. Longsight lowered his war hammer at last, his suspicious glare giving war to one of mild interest. He raised three fingers, then raised an eyebrow. Three? He smiled slightly and looked at the goblin expectantly. Go on then.

Galaxor jumped from one foot to another and rubbed his hands together. “Good, good! Me yap wit'out gob, listen wit'out lugs. No body, but roar to life in da wind. What am I?” said Galaxor, an easy riddle that anyone with a bit of brain could answer. It was something they would’ve heard in the desert, after all. Echoes. As Longsight frowned, clearly struggling to understand, Badboy looked over at the dancing goblin and laughed, clearly quite entertained. He clapped for it and gestured with his hand in a manner that indicated he wanted it to dance more.

Suddenly, Longsight perked up and turned around. He poked Badboy with his foot to get the distracted boy’s attention and gestured towards their hide bag. Badboy leapt to his feet as Longsight barrelled off towards it. Pausing, he looked back at the goblin and a grin grew across his bloodied face. With little courtesy, he grabbed the little goblin and, hoisting him under an arm, ran off after Longsight. All the riddling was forgotten by the time they reached the bag. Depositing the goblin in the bag, Badboy hoisted it from his side and both boys continued their journey - and a long journey it was to that far off sheer cliff.

With a yelp as he was grabbed and deposited in a bag, Galaxor settled in for the journey. He could’ve killed them both for the impudence of touching him and treating him like that but in this case, he laughed it off. The two weren’t very smart, that was obvious but damn if they weren’t brave. As he was carried away, Galaxor decided it’s a good time for him to take a nap. Godly business was tiring after all and breaks were always welcomed, for everyone knew that heroes need long hours of training and even more hours of peace and quiet to fully comprehend what they’ve learned from their training.

Eventually, after about half an hour of travel, Galaxor woke up and noticed he wasn’t too far from where they left. These humans were moving too slow for his liking and as such, decided to teleport out of the bag and just a bit further up the path out of sight, enough for the two humans to see him after a few more steps.

As soon as they saw him, Galaxor laid on the floor and shook his head. “Kidnapping goblins. That’s not very nice, y’know? Anyways, you didn't answer the first question correctly. Second question. What is more important, your duty to the tribe or your friends and family? ” he said, this time speaking differently than before and he was speaking the same language as the humans. The two boys were frozen in place for a while. Eventually, Badboy glanced into the bag to confirm what both of them were thinking. Longsight did the same. Gulping audibly, they both looked back at the goblin, wariness stripping them of any weariness they may have suffered. Badboy was tense, his grip on his weapon tight, but Longsight placed a calming hand on his shoulder and bit his lip. The two boys shared a knowing look, and Badboy relaxed.

Taking a careful step towards the goblin and, with the but of his war hammer, drew a circle in the sand. It was large enough for him to draw some ten loosely humanoid figures crouched around what looked to be an attempt at a campfire. Their postures looked relaxed, happy. It was a tribe, and the tribe was itself nothing but the extension of one’s family. The tribe was where friends were made, joys were had, protection was found, safety, warmth, camaraderie - all of that, and more, he drew.

Puzzled, Galaxor studied the two humans. Were they not capable of talking? Was that the issue? Waving his hand, as if to swat away a fly, he revealed the energy of the universe, the very essence that divine beings drew power from and noticed the two small threads of power linking the two humans to Sylia’s HQ at the wall. Somehow these humans managed to meet not one but two divine beings already and somehow annoyed one of them already.

When Longsight drew the picture, Galaxor looked at it inquisitively, studying it from all angles as he did. It was crude, very crude but they answered correctly, nonetheless. Both are important because they aren’t two separate things, but one thing combined.

Clapping a few times, Galaxor nodded at Longsight. “Well done, human. You’ve answered correctly. One out of two, one more correct answer and you’ll get a reward. Now, if you’re ready for the third and final question…” said Galaxor before stopping, taking a few steps back and staring right into Longsight’s eyes. “Do you think you can take me in a fight? ” The boy stared back into the goblin’s eyes. His jaw was fixed with determination, but his eyes betrayed his fear. Badboy rose up behind him, a scowl on his face. A loud slap cracked the air, and Longsight released the breath he had been holding. He glanced back at Badboy, who gave him his to fucking shit with monsters face. Taking a deep breath and tightening his grip on his war hammer, he turned back to the goblin- demon- god- whatever- and opened his mouth in a silent warcry. By him, Badboy raised his bludgeon-sword and beat at the black sand before him with it. Cracking their necks, the two boys advanced on the goblin.

Putting a finger forward towards Badboy, Galaxor shook it. “Aaaa. Not you. Him. Alone. ”

That gave both boys pause, and they glanced uncertainly at one another. Before they could come to a decision, however, Galaxor moved forward towards Badboy and, before he could react, put a hand on his chest and threw him up in the air where he'd find himself suspended in air by an invisible force. The boy struggled and swung his bludgeon-sword about, screeching silently, his face blackblood-streaked face livid. But there was nothing to be done. Seeing this, Longsight wasted no time and struck out at his quarry.

Dodging the attack from Longsight, Galaxor took a few steps back and laughed at the group's bravery. In a flash of bright light, Galaxor transformed into his usual godly body with his golden-blue-purple-ish aura radiating strongly.

“Hey-ho human. While in presence, you may speak. I, Galaxor, God of Heroism, Knowledge and Time, give you permission. Now, before your friend ill advised you, what was your answer to my question? Not your current answer, your previous answer. Not knowing what I am, even if you were suspecting it. ”

Blinking quickly and backing away from the god’s bright aura, Longsight raised a hand to his eyes and squinted at the mighty being. “I-” he began, his voice a croak, “it’s a bad idea.” He said. “We can’t defeat gods- or demons, whatever that thing from yesterday was. And… well, you didn’t seem like you wanted us harm, so I thought there was no need to worry- even if you were a god after all. What would I do?” He paused for a few moments, “if I could avoid fighting a foe I had no hope against, I think I’d do so. But if I had no choice, say if Badboy was in danger or if the fight was for some other reason forced on me - and it was forced on me when you challenged me; what man of honour would flee when challenged? - then there is no choice but to fight bravely and die. As they say, the brave are remembered in the songs of harvest while the coward has no song- but is perhaps cursed by the hearthstone of winter.”

Galaxor laughed out loud at Longsight’s explanation and answer but still shook his head in the end.

“While you do give a good, honest, answer for it, something that I appreciate, there is something you’ve missed. I didn’t challenge you to a fight, a fight requires both parties to be equal or similar in power to make it fair. Even if I’d fight you without any of the many powers in my arsenal, I still have aeons of combat experience and the knowledge of all the universe. It would be less than fair. What I did, was to ask you a simple question, “Do you think you can take me in a fight?”. The answer was obvious, no and that’s it. It ain’t cowardice if you accept that one adversary is more powerful than you, it’s stupidity. What do you do when you meet an adversary more powerful than you? Retreat, train to get better and return. Trust me, there’s more than enough time for everything…if one plans it right. ” said Galaxor before half-remembering that Badboy was still suspended in air.

Waving his hand, he gently let him touch the ground but still banned him from speaking. “Badboy. A fitting name. You should learn how to think before acting. Being brave doesn’t do you any good if you end up dying for those you try to protect. Now, stay silent while I talk with your friend and before you try something, remember that I’m a divine and I don’t wish to have to kill your friend because you’ve done something rash and had to send you in a den of Outer Beasts. Alright? ” The boy scowled at the god, picked himself and Headsplitter up, walked five purposeful steps away, and plopped himself down on the meatbag.

“He’s been a bit off it since we got here…” Longsight explained, looking at the god, “I reckon he just misses Rockpetter.” A small smile hovered on his lips, and then his eyes grew hooded. Breathing whatever dark thought had beset him away, a certain curiosity overtook him and glimmered in his dark eyes. “I don’t mean to sound unduly curious- or, heaven forbid, ungrateful- but… you are the second god - though I still don’t know if that thing from yesterday was anything such!.. But you are the second great being to take an interest in us in so many days. And you certainly don’t seem so keen on punishing us, else you would’ve done so already I think- certainly that demon punished us for far less! Anyway, I ramble, but what I mean to say is this: what is your purpose with us? What is the reason behind all this that you’re doing? That beast, that riddle, these questions, these… tricks? Puzzles? Are you just toying with us or is there something more to it? I mean, I’m sure a being so powerful as you could just about toy what whatever he likes- there’s nothing we can do to stop you- but indulge my curiosity, if you will.”

“Rockpetter. Interesting name, maybe I’ll pay her a visit. Tell her how bad, Badboy was. ” said Galaxor initially with a wink towards Badboy. The boy gave the god a sidelong glance, his pretence at nonchalance breaking momentarily before he straightened himself and returned to idling on the sack.

“I’m not sure whom you’ve met yesterday, be it an aspect of the Goddess Sylia or herself, but it was related to the person who put up the wall behind you. If I were to guess what happened by how you’ve reacted to me…did you try to attack her? ‘Cause if you did, you’re lucky you’re here and not dead. As for why I took interest in you. Hmm. ” continued Galaxor while making a few chairs appear and a table with a few bottles of RALK. Longsight’s eyes widened on seeing it, and even Badboy on his sack looked over in surprise. It was clear they recognised the drink.

“Take a seat, drink up. It’s quite a divine drink. Now, where were we? Ah. Yes, Why I took an interest in you. Very simple. I didn’t. Some humans that reached one of my temples told me a story about a wall and the Goddess Sylia. Thought I might see it for myself and then I saw you two. Let’s say I looked into the future and neither of you survive out here, Badboy dies first always…and it ain’t a nice death. Decided to see if you’re worth something. Call it curiosity. ”

Having taken a seat, Longsight eyed the god across him and chewed at his lip upon hearing the revelation. “I… well…” he seemed crestfallen momentarily. He glanced over at Badboy, who was looking over at him, having clearly heard. If the blood-streaked boy was fazed by the words, he didn’t show it. Anger glimmering in his eyes, Longsight turned back to the god. “With all respect- and I mean it, I’ve no business offending any gods- but your words mean nothing to us. If in every future we are to die, then… then…” he tried to chalk up the words that would illustrate his anger, resolve, “then to shit with every future- Badboy and I will make our own. We’re getting out of here, we’re returning to our clan- to Reaper and Donkeywhacker and Rockpetter and Lifedancer and Herbsprinkler, to everyone! And when we get back to them, we’re going to Fort Skybreak and we’re finding all the others. That’s our future uh- Gacks- Galakser. It’s the only one that matters- you don’t see it ‘cause we’ve not bashed it into existence yet!” A grin, reminiscent of Badboy’s, if less crazed, spread across his face. “We’re Revenits; we traverse the sandracked wastes and live against the odds, it’s what we do.”

“I applaud your bravery again but, as I said, I did see all potential futures. Not saying there isn’t a chance one of you escapes this place but not both of you. Never, both of you. As for disrespect, don’t worry about it. I, for one, can understand that mortals care about their lives and in times of fear…they bash out. It’s normal, just your nature. ” replied Galaxor before drinking a whole bottle of RALK in one gulp and throwing it behind him, only for it to reappear on the table, full once more.

“In every future where you two are left alone, you will die. Unless Sylia decides to forgive you or any other divines intervene to save your lives, you’ve got no chance. Yet, here I come in. I find myself in need of an aide. My Goblin Underground has more than enough to handle. You, Longsight, hold potential for greatness. That’s obvious to anyone and in all my predictions, you always fight to survive. When you’ve lost an arm, a leg…when your whole lower part was being eaten by an Outer Beast you clawed yourself out of the pool of your own blood, killed it and somehow still survived to kill another one. ”

The boy’s face was a picture of horror and…a certain galvanised animation. He had no desire- or intention- to be consumed on this beast-blasted shore, and yet the idea that he would fight so indomitably, unbreaking despite the breaking of his body, stirred the fire of his browned coal eyes. He leaned forward. “I’ve spoken my piece. I’ve no desire to die here- but if my future is, as you say, to die so bravely, then so be it! Such a death can hardly be called death anyway- that is ascendance into glory and eternal life!” he paused, calming his excited breathing, “but… an aide, you say? You mean… you need me? Or, rather, you want me? I don’t understand. What for?”

“Gods, Longsight you remind me of myself when I was but a mortal. Brave as for 10 people and dumber than 20 but before I say anything else, let me show you both what I’m talking about. Fair warning, you might get a headache after this. ” said Galaxor with a smile before taking off his eye-patch and revealing his chrono-eye. Immediately both of them were drawn to look into it.

As the two humans looked into his eyes, they found themselves transported back to where they were just seconds before Galaxor showed up. From there, they continued on their journey and survived for a few weeks, only for Badboy to be killed by an Outer Beast. Longsight managed to survive a few more days after. The moment they were killed, they were transported back to the original place and so it went on until twenty different futures were shown, all in which they died…and then they were back, looking at Galaxor.

“That’s all you can handle currently. If I showed you more your brains would turn into dust…think for a second of what you’ve seen and believe me when I say, all your futures end like that. I selected the ones that aren’t too gory so they only get worse from there on. ” Galaxor finally said before giving them a few minutes to think things through. Satisfied, he turned to Longsight.

“Aye, you’ve got the stuff of heroes even if you’re not the sharpest tool. No one is, that’s why one needs to study more. As for what I need you…It’s quite an important task. I’ve seen the fate of this place and it doesn’t end well for it. Time is fickle, easily manipulated. You’ve been stuck in the sandwaves for a long time but back at the Goblin Underground, you only spent a few days. I know it’ll be hard for you to understand but know that if things go on like this, bad things will happen. Very bad things. I need someone to handle any and all discrepancies in time. ” Longsight blinked at the god, not fully understanding what was meant. Perhaps the strange visions he had shown them were still addling their minds, but it took Longsight many long seconds to process and reprocess what the god had said.

At the Goblin Underground…
only a few days…
time is fickle…
stuck here a long time…
but back at the Goblin Underground…

He reeled back, eyes wide.

“I… don’t know what- how.” He frowned, and his eyes grew wide. Time is fickle. They had awoken to beasts long thought to be the stuff of myth. Ancient myth. They had awoken to find them upon them in peaceful, sleepy, happy Renev. And escaping that carnage northward towards Fort Skybreak they had found not Fort Skybreak but… desert. Endless desert. Desert as was whispered of sometimes in the most ancient epics relaying the beginning of all things- mad stuff that only brain-addled monks and ascetics passing through the village on their endless voyages blabbered about. A mad hellish desert with divine wheels rolling across to deliver the people of the world from the plains of hell to the promised riverlands. All mad nonesenes, he had always thought and been told, conjured up in the mad ravings of wandering loons. And yet… time is fickle. His heart beating loud and fast, he gasped for breath and would have fallen had he not been seated on the chair. Their troubles… everything that had happened to them these last five, six, seven- gods only knew - years: it was all the fault of fickle time. His eyes saw it now. He could not see it otherwise. With those coals of brown, he SAW it.

His hands shaking and mind still reeling from the epiphanic unveiling of the truth and simultaneous breaking of all he understood of reality, he looked at the god. “I’ll do it.” He said simply, without any explanation.

Galaxor gave the two a minute to calm down and come to terms with what they've seen, it wasn't easy to know what awaited you. It wasn't easy knowing you'll die a horrible death and seeing your death. It wasn't easy knowing that all you've known to be a myth and mad sprouting of lunatics to be true. Meeting divine beings was never easy and almost always illuminating.

With a glimmer in his other eye, Galaxor studied Longsight. There was no hesitation, no fear. Just determination. Cold and strong as divinium determination, yet he had to be sure.

“Are you sure, mortal? You'll never be able to stop being my aide. I'll always know where you are and what you're doing. I'll always be with you in a sense. Your duty won't, ever, stop. So, I ask you again. ” said Galaxor, channelling his Aspect of Heroism as his voice became commanding, his golden aura outshining the other two.

“Are you sure?”

The boy rose, the chair falling back behind him. “If it’ll help me understand, and if it’ll help set things aright, then of course.” A gleam of mischief lit up his eyes. “I can’t promise that you won’t be the one with regrets, though! If I can never stop, that only means you’ll be stuck with me!” Badboy had dallied over as they spoke and now stood by Longsight, a smirk on his face. “I’ll do as you bid, but I’ll do it my way.” For a person not in a position to haggle, he knew how to push his luck.

Galaxor laughed out loud at the sheer bravado of Longsight and with a wink, replied: “I can always kill you, you know? As for you doing things your way? I wouldn't want it any other way. If I guide you at every step, you won't learn anything. Now…”

Galaxor closed the distance between him and Longsight and after taking his time-slowing artefact, The Egrioth’s claw, drew on Longsight's chest arcane runes in languages not known to this universe. Blood poured down his chest but as it did, it changed colour to a bright blue and shone with chrono-magic.

When Galaxor was finished with Longsight’s chest, he took some blood on his finger and tapped one of Longsight’s eyes which immediately turned the same colour as Galaxor's chrono-eye. Later on, Longsight would find that the runes would disappear from his body but his blood would remain blue-ish.

A surge of divine energy flowed from Galaxor as the runes activated and Longsight fell on the ground as his body was attuned to the timelines.

“And it's done. You'll feel the power coursing through your veins. Stronger, faster - more charming and intelligent too. All things that come with being a hero of Galaxor. The powers I've bestowed upon you will take time to get adjusted to. Your life will never be the same. Your friends will seem boring in comparison to who you are now. Your destiny has been changed forever and don't forget, when I call…you gotta answer. No choice in the matter.”

The boy was quiet as the god’s powers worked their way into his form and altered the fundamentals of his being. Even if he wished to say something witty or snarky in response, the weight of what rushed through him made that nigh impossible. His long brown hair was saturated with power and stood rigid, blue veins streaked across his form, seemed to split his very skin and carve themselves into it in pulses. The blood in his heart boiled and gurgled, shedding forever its crimson hue for that cool, all-seeing blue. It would be difficult to correctly call the boy ‘human’ after this; he was now a being almost at one with the chronoflows. His sight would be irreversibly changed- whatever long sight he might have had before this will be nothing but the scramblings of a field mouse in a hole.

It was a while before the energies grew calm and the veins of blue light faded until nothing remained of them but his right eye, now of milky blue, and a few angular vein-like runes that speared out from the epicentre of his eye up his brow and down his cheek, pulsing gently. Badboy gazed at him in curiosity and awe. Then he grinned, and Longsight knew what that mischievous look meant. You’re in the shit now. He had no doubt about that - but maybe it would be some good shit. He looked up at Galaxor. “Now with that… we’ll survive right? Both of us. We’ll return to our people- with that, none of those visions will be, right?”

“I don’t actually know, not even I can see your future anymore Longsight. You've been removed from the timeline but, what I know is that you won’t be alone. As soon as I leave, your voices will be taken away from you. If you’re to survive in this place, hero of mine, you’ll need multiple things and one of them is the ability to communicate more than through…looks and signs. Give me a moment. ” said Galaxor before teleporting away but not before making some food and more RALK appear on the table. The two boys glanced at one another, their stomachs rumbling audibly, and launched themselves at the veritable feast.

After about twenty minutes Galaxor reappeared and with him, four goblins. Two of them were the small type of goblin and two were massive, each two metres tall. Out of them, one of the smaller ones and one of the bigger type, wore long robes that covered every inch of their body but their face while the other two, were dressed in diamond armour.

“And I'm back. These four are Fee, Fie, Fo and Fum. Guards and novices at my Library back in the Goblin Underground. They'll keep you safe and they will teach you the art of writing. Any command you have, they'll follow it…Longsight. Only your commands. They won't listen to anyone but you. ” said Galaxor as he pointed at each goblin, which did a small bow towards Longsight, as he named them. Badboy eyed the goblins with pursed lips, fiddling with the handle of Headsplitter, as Longsight acknowledged the four. “I’ll remember that - there’s safety in numbers, no doubt, and a way to talk to one another will be good. Heaven knows this whole gesticulating stuff is wearisome.” Badboy nodded glumly at his words, then flashed the god an annoyed glare for not removing the curse if even for a moment. He did not stay angry too long, however, for he got to grabbing whatever undrunk RALK and uneaten food remained on the table and delivered it into their meatbag for later.

Looking at Badboy, Galaxor shook his head and then nodded at him, giving him permission to say exactly 20 words.

“You’ve got 20 words, Badboy and then back to silence, use them smartly. Two of the guards are experienced in survival underground, maybe you’ll find yourself a nice cave. In a year or two, you might even reach some place below the wall somehow. The other two are smart. They know many things. Ask them and they’ll answer to the best of their ability but don’t expect much, you need to show that you want to learn.”

RALK and foodstuff in hand, Badboy looked up at the god. “Look here bossman, if anyone should get any sort of powers here, it should be ME.” Satisfied that he had made his position abundantly clear, he continued. “Is Rockpetter doing alright?” He asked. He had spoken swiftly, true enough, but had managed to say everything he wanted exactly in those twenty words. It was likely nothing more than sheer dumb luck. The blood-streaked boy did not wait for an answer, but turned around and hobbled towards the meatbag to drop more of his haul into it.

“I’ve given you the power of being alive, as you’d be dead otherwise. If you want me to retract my power, let me know and I will. ” said Galaxor while teleporting right in front of him, staring him into the eyes with the Aspect of Heroism. The one that managed to intimidate divine beings with. The boy dropped what he was holding and fell onto his bottom, clearly shaken.

After a second or two, Galaxor burst out laughing. “I’m kidding. Don’t worry, but I suggest that you keep your mouth shut if you meet other divine beings or at least try to show some respect to your betters.. As for Rockpetter? She’s alive. I can’t take you there but here. ” added Galaxor as he stared once more with the chrono-eye into Badboy’s eyes. This time, Badboy would feel time go backwards even more than before, back to when he was with Rockpetter.

“Argh!” Badboy screamed, throwing his axe to the ground. “Look what you did, Rockpetter! You held me up and I missed all the fun!” He glared at the girl, and she frowned back. “Don’t shout at me!” She shouted, whacking him with her stick, at which he yelped and ducked behind Longsight. “I told you not to come with us! You just slow me down!” He insisted, barely managing to avoid another strike from her, which instead caught Galloper on the buttocks. The bigger man swore, but the girl had already disappeared after Badboy.

On the black sand, Badboy shook himself from the vision, a smile on his face. She sure knew how to whack a lad. He looked up at Galaxor and slowly ascended to his feet. Giving the god a thumbs-up by way of thanks, he rushed back to the table - magically full again! - and grabbed what he could. It was going to be a long five years after all, they had to stock up.

“You’re welcome, Badboy. Actually, fine, you may speak until I leave. ” said Galaxor before turning to Longsight. Badboy whooped in the background, running in circles around the waiting goblins even as his great food heist continued.

“While I’m here,” Longsight said to the god, “that is, while serving this wholly unjust prison sentence, is there anything you’ll need me to do as far as the duties you mentioned go? Other than surviving, of course, and learning what Fee, Fi, Fo, and Fum have to teach.” He glanced at the goblins uncertainly.

“If you acted like you did with me…it isn’t unjust. She could’ve killed you both and yet, here you are. Alive. Or she could’ve cursed you and your kin or many-many other horrific ways to torture you. As for what I want you to do. It’s quite simple. I need you to master your new powers or at least reach a level of proficiency with them that is acceptable. You won’t be able to do much at first but with time, you’ll be able to stop time for short periods of time, revert the passage of time over objects or people or use your eye like I did and see visions of the future or the past. It won’t be an easy task, that’s guaranteed and don’t try to overdue it. The strain on your body will kill you if you try to use your powers too much, generally stopping when you feel “out-of-time”, when past present and future are the same to you, that’s when you stop and don’t continue until the feeling is gone. No matter how long it takes. Trust me, you don’t want to end up a timeless spectre. ” explained Galaxor with a calm tone.

Longsight nodded in understanding. “So be it. In that case, it is best we make a move now. It will be sunset soon and I don’t like the idea of spending another night out in the open. We need to walk quickly if we’re to get to the cliff before dusk.” Moving over to the now overstuffed bag, he called out for Badboy to come help him with it. “Let this big fella do it!” The boy shouted back, gesturing at Fo, one of the two great-goblins. “I’m not some ox!” The blood-streaked boy continued. Longsight glanced at the two great-goblins, then at Galaxor. Without complaint, Fo moved across and, with remarkable ease, hefted the bag over one shoulder. RALK bottles and assortments of food fell helter-skelter to the sand, to the protestations and profanities of Badboy.

Ignoring him as he lectured Fo, Longsight turned back to the god. “We’ll be going now, if you’ll allow us.” He paused for a few moments. “It… it’s been a pleasure. Far more than our first encounter, that’s for sure - and though we can no doubt disagree on the justice or otherwise of this state of affairs, you’ll not catch me being ungrateful. I - we - owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Waving a hand at them, Galaxor appeared in front of the group. “You plan on walking there? Blah. Let me give you a small push forward and yes, you do owe me. Both of you. I’ll come and collect soon enough. Especially the debt Badboy owes me. That’ll be fun to collect. ” said Galaxor with a laugh before waving his hand as if to “shoo” the group away, teleporting them close to the cliff, about five minutes away from it in fact. Badboy looked at Longsight, wide-eyed and dazed. Longsight turned away and placed one foot on a nearby rock, and gazed silently into the endless red waves.

• Summary

  Galaxor, deep in the Gobling Underground, receives word of Sylia’s great wall and decides to go see what’s going on. From atop the wall, he observes Longsight and Badboy killing that walrus-beast and, seeing potential in them, decides to TEST THEM FOR HEROISM. The tests include fighting a manticore outer beast (they pass!), answering riddles (they fail), prioritising social groupings (they pass!) and seeing whether they can beat up a god (they sorta fail-pass). Galaxor shows the lads that they will die on their own. He also helps Longsight realise that THEY’RE FROM THE FUTURE AND TIME IS A MESS. At that point, Galaxor hooks Longsight in with talk of needing him to be a glorious HERO OF TIME; protecting the timeliness and preventing chaos. Longsight agrees and is HEROIFIED. Galaxor additionally assigns two goblins and two greatgoblins to assist them on their questing and help them learn to write AMONGST OTHER THINGS.
  Badboy, knowing what to prioritise, conducts a successful heist on the magically-replenishing food table Galaxor had conjured while they chatted. By way of farewell, Galaxor teleports the heroic party closer to the cliff they’re journeying towards. (Which leaves us with the question: why didn’t the eagles just carry the hobbits to Mordor?)
  
  Characters featured or mentioned:
  Galaxor: The glorious god of heroes, knowledge, and time. Ever on the search for HEROISM wherever it may be found.
  – Longsight: our lil hero. After running his mouth at Sylia and being imprisoned beyond the wall, he is now a glorious war hammer-swinging chronomancer hero of the lord of time!
  – Badboy: our very own blood-streaked, headsplitting madboy. Longsight’s close friend and co-conspirator.
  Rockpetter: Badboy’s shadow. Whacks him silly for running his tongue at her, but adores him really. Now she’s been parted from him! Oh the heartbreak.
  Sylia: Glorious goddess of crafts and earth, slayer of the outer beasts, builder of the wall, warden eternal, and punisher of naughty little kids who can’t shut the hell up.
  Fee: A goblin librarian who now joins Longsight and Badboy’s heroic party!
  Fi: A goblin librarian who now joins Longsight and Badboy’s heroic party!
  Fo: A greatgoblin who now joins Longsight and Badboy’s heroic party! Destroyer of much RALK.
  Fum: A greatgoblin who now joins Longsight and Badboy’s heroic party!
• MP

  Available - 3
  -1 MP to turn Longsight into a HEROOO
  -1 MP (1 MP bonus from domain) to create Chrono-Magic. Magic which as one practises its use, will allow a user to see and alter the flow of time. Slowing it down, speeding it up, stopping it, turning time back/forward on small areas, seeing the past of objects and people and even potential futures. Importantly, it allows one to act as something of a time guardian and so prevent especially destructive collisions between possible futures and possible pasts, such as occurred with Longsight and his people. This type of magic is a genetic gene as well which will always be passed forward to any children that Longsight might have in the future.
  Remaining - 1 MP

Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

The Nature Of Time

Galaxor’s Ponderings

The Holy Library Of Galaxor

Once upon a time, Galaxor was perched upon his throne, looking at Maxima, now an old goblin with hundreds of grandchildren and great grandchildren, as she was reading ancient stories to the runts about the time she was created. Galaxor’s eye reflected the brilliance of countless stars and the aura of wisdom enveloped him as he contemplated the enigmatic nature of time. His divine mind delved into the intricacies of temporal threads that wove the fabric of existence.

Standing up, Galaxor locked himself in his study, a small room completely sealed to mortals. In there, he summoned ancient tomes that chronicled the epochs of reality. With each page turned, he sought to unravel the mysteries that transcended mortal comprehension. The whispers of past, present, and future echoed in this sanctuary of his.

As the God of Heroism and Knowledge, Galaxor pondered the interplay between time and the heroic deeds of mortals. He looked at the narratives woven into the tapestry of history, where valiant champions rose to meet the challenges of their epochs and even other epochs. Each moment etched in the cosmic timeline held the potential for heroic exploits that resonated across the ages.

At the end of Galaxor's contemplation, a new understanding washed over him. The very essence of time, with its nonlinear dance and interconnected threads, became clear to the God of Heroism and Knowledge. It was not a revelation of control, but a realisation of harmony.
Galaxor, in his newfound understanding, embraced the chaos and beauty of the ever-shifting temporal landscape. Rather than seeking dominion over time, he acknowledged the balance that existed in the mashup of divergent eras. As Galaxor's insight into time, he became a custodian of the temporal currents, ensuring that the equilibrium of the timeline remained undisturbed. Mortals continued to embark on heroic journeys that transcended the boundaries of conventional time.

As Galaxor understood the mysteries of time more, a surge of divine energy began to resonate within him. The very fabric of the universe responded to his understanding, and in a moment of transcendence, a glow enveloped his vacant eye socket. Temporal energies, ancient and unfathomable, converged to weave a new form—a celestial eye that pulsed with the essence of past, present, and future.

The divine eye, now a beacon of temporal insight, opened to realms beyond normal comprehension. It possessed the ability to pierce through the veils of time, granting Galaxor a panoramic view of the cosmic tapestry. The boundaries between past, present, and future blurred as the eye became a conduit for the ebb and flow of temporal currents.

Exiting his sanctum, Galaxor looked upon the world differently than before. One of his eyes seeing the world as it is, the other one, seeing all the potential of it. Everything and anything was now in a constant movement as it was being pulled towards its future self.

Remembering his deal with Sylia, Galaxor clapped his hands and the massive armoured plate, he took from Erigoth, appeared in front of him. Chipping just a tiny bit out of it as an extra memento, he looked upon it once more before teleporting himself and it to Sylia’s city. He instructed the citizens to let Sylia know and disappeared without a trace.

MP

Available - 7 MP
-4 MP for Time Domain
Remaining - 3 MP

Summary

A short post where Galaxor studies the heroic knowledge of time and finally understands it. He also grows a new eye which allows him to see past, present and potential futures of anything he gazes upon. He also dropped an armoured plate to Sylia.

Caravan: An Episodic Fantasy with Worldbuilding! [Always Accepting]

The Pilgrim’s Caravan

The Giant Galaxor & Merry Band ++

Your throne or your life! Both, please!

As Galaxor did what he did best, destroying the tiny skeletons by any means necessary, kicking them, smashing them, throwing them and a few other ways of achieving the same effect, the others dealt with the Wraith. Not that it was a very successful undertaking..with one exception. Terilu’s second attack seemed to work better than the first and the Wraith was hurt, truly hurt, for the first time since the battle started.

Then, Ivraan screamed the only words that Galaxor needed to hear.

“DESTROY THE THRONE”

With a powerful leap, Galaxor soared high into the air, his massive form silhouetted against the dim, flickering torchlight making him look even more terrifying than he already was.

The runes on the massive throne pulsed ominously as Galaxor descended with formidable force, aiming to destroy the throne in one hit. The Wraith, sensing the threat, let out a guttural "NOO! STOP HIM!" and the room shook violently as Galaxor's attack connected with the ominous throne.

Pieces of rock flew all over the room as Galaxor used his axe like a hammer. Each hit caused a small tremor through the room and with each hit, the Wraith became paler.

Soon enough, tens if not hundreds of eerie lights started to exit the throne and swarmed over Galaxor as tiny cuts appeared whenever one would touch it. The skin turned a sickly white around each cut as Galaxor’s life essence was slowly consumed.

With a loud scream, Galaxor hit the throne once more and an explosion of light followed. It threw Galaxor through the air, hitting the entrance to the throne room with a loud BOOM.

Momentarily dazed, Galaxor couldn't help but notice that everyone in the party suffered a similar faith. Either thrown through the air or hugging the floor as the shockwave hit them.

With a loud, blood curdling scream, the Wraith collapsed on the floor and turned into ashes almost immediately afterwards. While the remaining skeletons turned back into simple bones, as the magic that sustained them disappeared.

In the next following minutes, the group would feel the effect of their actions. The very air seemed lighter, welcoming them.

The effect soon extended through the forest, spreading like wildfire. It would take many years for the forest to get back to its original beauty but even now, there were new plants growing, and birds started to sign through the trees. Life returned to the Emerald Forest.

Back in the throne room, a ghost of a paladin appeared. His armour was shining with divine light and a mighty mace handed by his waist.

Upon looking closer, the ghost looked like the skeleton the party first killed when they entered the tomb.

“Adventurers. My name was Arthas Merenthil and I was one of the many sworn to the Old King, my father. Once, he ruled these lands with love for his people. No one starved, no one needed to die. His necromancy was used as a power for the Light. Sadly, he received a gift from a jealous neighbouring kingdom, a cursed artefact.

The throne which you destroyed. The more he sat on it, the more his mind became twisted and the more his mind became twisted, the more people suffered.

Until everyone left or died and came back. Twisted versions of themselves. I stood up to my father towards the end of his reign and killed for it, turned into what you saw…so, I thank you brave pilgrims for finally allowing these old souls some rest. “

And with that, in a blinding flash of light, the old ghost disappeared onto the next world…and the Pilgrim's Caravan lifted their first curse and saved countless people.

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

The assassin attacked by Dal was bleeding hard and was in a great deal of pain but when Dal challenged him, he smirked. Many died upon his blade after words like this.

Dashing forward and leaving a trail of blood behind him, he lifted his blade up to strike only for another smaller blade to appear in his other hand and stab Dal in the side of his body.

Attack Roll, Success

1d20+1 = 17, Success

Sadly, the second assassin was unlucky, as his sword missed Fyr as if he wasn't the person that he was. Almost...like magic.

Attack Roll, Failure

1d20+1 = 2, Failure

Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

Tricity - A City Under Siege

The Hero Chronicles & The Cycle of Asheel

Heroes Born Out Of Strife

Collab between @Dracolunaris & @Timemaster

Storm clouds hung above Tricity, thunder rumbling and lightning flashing through the sky while below, the settlement itself was experiencing a storm of its own. Its major population centers sat on either sides of the eastern great river just before it flowed into the lands of origin, a third sat on an island in the center, which was connected to the other two by a pair of grand bridges. These bridges were the first and so far only way to cross the globe spanning river without superior swimming, beetle boat, or mundane ship, and as such mortals from far and wide had flooded towards it, fleeing the outer beasts.

The monster had nipped at their heels, harried them, nibbled at the edges, pushed them to flee faster, more recklessly, till a great bundled mass of mortal kind had arrived all at once, utterly overwhelming the city and causing mass panic. Joined by much of the civilian population of the south a great press of bodies filled the streets around the southern side of the bridge, while the city's defenders, who had attempted to hold the wilds, then the mines, then the outskirts, were now barely a street from the refugees.

Beetle boats, wooden ships, and aquatic beastfolk were attempting to ferry additional civilians out, and more defenders or supplies in, but they were making hardly a dent in the masses of people still trying to cross.

Lilly, daughter of Asheel, was among them. Having assisted her mother in regaining her power somewhere in the southern farm land, and then gotten somewhat delayed, she’d gotten caught up in the wave of people fleeing. She might have managed to get ahead of the rush thanks to her buggy had it not been for two things.

The first was simple civic duty. As a member of the council she was a representative of the people, and so at first she’d tried to manage the situation, to help them get people safety. At this point that had fallen through, however. Order had collapsed, and what little remained was in the hands of the city’s commanders, who had taken over from her once it became clear just how dire the situation was.

The other was a number of small vials of black sludge she’d acquired from a secluded little laboratory she’d had set up after a great deal of discussion with one of her past lives. She still prayed she’d not have to use that old wisdom of a forgotten race, but she’d ended up putting herself in a situation where the inevitable eventually happened.

She wasn’t the first to do something truly foolhardy however.

Instead, from a position atop a number of crates where she was trying and failing to maintain the calm of the people on the docks, she saw that opening act first hand.

Behind the civilian crowd were rows of dock side warehouses with relatively narrow side streets in between them, and out from these two chitin armored snouters stumbled, one holding a billhook, the other just a long knife having lost their primary weapon at some point. The second lost his life a moment after coming into sight, as the outer beast that had been pursuing them lunged out of the alleyway on a dozen fleshy limbs, flicking one past the guard of the billhook armed warrior and cleaving it through the knife armed one’s neck.

With a breathless cry he collapsed, knife slipping from his dead hand and towards the crowd, while the other squealed with anguish and rage and tried to fight back once more, fear overwhelmed by rage. It was not a fight they looked set to win.

The appearance of an invader spurred utter panic in most of the crowd, many diving or being pushed into the water as a result of their desperation to flee. One, however, did not flee.

A young human-seriema beastfolk, a boy with spindly limbs who, despite being a wild blood, looked like he’d snap like a twing if you breathed on him wrong. Yet despite this he had put himself in between the beast and a much smaller child despite the likelihood of him only being only a road bump if, or rather when, the beast came for them first. As fate would have it however, the fallen snouter’s sidearm had slid towards him when the warrior had fallen, a long knife with blood of beast on its edge and the blood of its fallen owner on its hilt.

The seriema glanced at the blade, at the snouter, behind him at the wash of mortality, and then did the foolhardy thing. He picked up the knife.

With an impressive burst of speed that would have surely let him get ahead of the invaders had he abandoned all he held dear, the seriema raced forwards to try and help, holding the knife in just the entirely wrong way, because he was by no means a fighter. Just a messenger boy.

He still tried to stab the beast anyway, dashing past the thrashing limbs that were tearing at the snouter’s armored body, and then hacked the knife into its side. He struck and struck with strength he should not have, only to be batted away, going tumbling to the ground. He lay there for a moment. And then got up and tried again despite his bruises. In response to a shouted instruction from the snouter, he tried stabbing rather than slashing this time, the knife found something important this time, prompting the beast to pivot to properly retaliate, only for the snouter to plunge the billhook forwards in response to that opening.

The beast roared in pain, trying to back off, only for the seriema to leap onto its back with a flap of vestigial wings, and begin stabbing it there over and over, clinging on with avian claws as it tried to shake him off, til finally it collapsed to the ground, dead.

He almost collapsed off of the beast, only for his arm to be grasped by the snouter, who gave him a nod while the crowd cheered and Lilly breathed a sigh of relief, having been unable to rip her gaze away from the fight. Yet even as she went to try and shout to restore order in the rest of the crowed, her words died on her lips as a pair of outer beasts came loping down the alleyway, a third leapt down from the rooftops and a fourth simply burst out through a wall.

For a brief moment she almost fled, but instead she breathed, gripped a vial in her hand and then started running towards the monsters instead, letting a more martial past life guide her footfalls so she could step from shoulder to shoulder of larger beastfolk and snouters. She was not, it seemed, the only one to be moving forwards, for in her peripheral vision, she saw another goblin moving towards rather than away from the danger, one that had arrived on the riverbank almost unnoticed while the fight had been ongoing.

Jaxx. What can one say about poor Jaxx? After his failed fight with Galaxor, he focused his quest to save the goblins kept by the beastfolk.

Guided by his hero sense, he found them and with a bit of foresight from his other ability, he was able to single handedly save the goblins…but that was many months ago. Maybe even years. Jaxx didn't know exactly nor did he try to keep count. His hero sense pulled him to a different issue as soon as he solved the previous one. A non-stop ringing in his mind kept pushing him more and more. Only stopping when he was too tired to listen to it.

One might ask how he reached his current location. He was deep asleep after a 3 day battle with a group of human bandits when his hero sense exploded in his mind. Screams, ringing and an overall sense of wrongness overcame his mind from every direction. The sense tried pulling him in all of them at once. It was as if the whole world was in danger.

After a few days of wandering aimlessly trying to understand what's going on, Jaxx settled on a direction and walked and walked until he reached a river. A brief discussion with the owners of a beetle boat, he understood what was going on and why he was directed in that direction in the first place.

What Jaxx didn’t understood was that time was fickle. In his journey, he had crossed multiple different timelines and met quite a few civilizations. Goblins that were still savage, beastkin that learned the art of agriculture, highly mutated creatures and rune magic users. He never understood what exactly was happening but he didn’t care either, it was what it was.

Eventually, he reached the riverbank and saw a group of monsters attacking civilians. With a mighty war cry, he pulled his sword off his back and jumped upwards as his sword went down in a deadly arc.

Lilly was, naturally, ignorant of all these facts, and instead only saw another goblin charging into the fray. Her steps might have faltered, her mind might have prayed that the hero with his mighty sword would be enough, but in that moment her body was not hers.

A warrior’s soul in a preacher’s body landed on the street by the docks, and then an ancient tendriled thing known as an Octari was wearing her skin. Yet even as it uncorked the vial of blackness and raised it to her lips, she did not fight it, for it was her and she was it, and together they became something new.

R’kava, freshly harvested from a spawning pool she and a select few others had found and cultivated using the wisdom of the dead and their own crude runecraft. Yet they had never tested the effect it had on people. Till now.

It probably should have killed her, that reckless act, but one god had made the universe a lover of the courageous, determined and resourceful, and so just as with the seriema boy, just as it was doing with so many more, it gave her the edge she needed. Endurance, strength, and most important for her, magic.

Evolution flowed through her veins, and then by her lifetimes’ worth of will, flowed to her upper back and burst from it, forming long thin tendrils tipped with venom dripping blades. She staggered, young mind seering in pain even as her old soul endured. Asserted control over this temporary flesh. Sent it racing forwards into the fray.

Said fray contained only 2 mortals now, for the snouter had fallen, though they were only broken, not quite dead. The seriema now held their allies billhook in hands that should not have been able to lift it, but the newly minted hero was nothing when compared to the old hand that was Jaxx, facing down the four cart sized outer beasts without fear or hesitation.

The blade came down and up went the outer beast's claw as it flew into the air. A massive ROOAAAARRR following it and then with the other, uninjured claw hit Jaxx. Normally, a hit like that would've been fatal but due to the heroic foresight, Jaxx managed to put his sword first and block the blow.

And…Jaxx flew in the air for a meter or two before turning in midair and shoving the sword into the ground, slowing him down. Any normal sword would've broken by now but Jaxx had this sword for a long time already, it became a hero roughly at the same time he did. It was more durable and sharper than any normal blade.

As he stopped himself, Jaxx surveyed the battlefield for a sec, noticing the seriema and Lily. Seeing that they've got things handled, at least for now, he ran once more towards his opponent. Circling it, as it tried to strike Jaxx with its tail, Jaxx delivered a series of small blows all over its body. It might've been a strong monster but it wasn't as fast as Jaxx was.

“Who along the river is that guy?” the seriema had to ask as he warded the outer beast off with his billhook, only to glance to the side and find he had to ask “and who, and what, along them are you?”

“We are-” the soul in the goblin’s body began to reply, before the goblin herself resurfaced to reply “I’m just Lilly, and I ain’t got no idea!” as she lunged one of her new combat tentacles forwards, sinking the tip into exposed flesh of their foe, which began to instantly necrosis as snake venom was pumped into its system.

“How bout you?” she asked as she reeled it back, before briefly letting a warrior past life take the wheel so he could parry an incoming slash from the poisoned beast using the knife the seriema had been using.

“Seam” the seriema named as such replied, as he hacked the curved blade of the billhook down onto the limb that had tried to hit Lilly, and finding that fighting alongside her, alongside of both of them, was somehow easier. He put it down to learning on the fly, but while that was part of it, the universe was cheering the fresh heroic band on, letting them work better both as a team and as individual parts of that team than they would have alone.

“I'm the Hero Jaxx. ” he said in a tough, loud voice, as if two rocks were hitting each other. Everything relating to Jaxx seemed to have changed from before his heroic journey started, it molded him into the person he was now.

After his words, he started again circling the outer beast and in that moment Jaxx locked eyes with Lily and Seam briefly and what happened next was truly heroic.

Described before this universe's existence by Galaxor, the three heroes felt a surge of power as they now formed a party of heroes. Their wounds suddenly stopped bothering them, the exhaustion they felt gone and their general confidence grew tenfold. It was as if they knew they'll survive. They will win this fight.

Jaxx never felt such a connection before but quickly understood it must've been Galaxor’s influence, somehow. So, he continued doing what he did best and that was killing monsters. At the same time, the outer beast lunged at him, abandoning any self preservation instinct it had.

Using his new found confidence, Jaxx simply stood still right until the outer beast was about to catch him in its mouth and moved to the side…at the same time as his sword made a downward arc and off came the head of the outer beast.

Behind him, the final beast of the four suffered a far less dramatic death, particularly because it experienced it half way up the alleyway which it had tried to flee up, only for the venom and the dozens of puncture wounds inflicted by hook and claw to cause the last of its vitality to drain from it.

“Wait, did ya say Jaxx? As in the Jaxx?” Lilly asked as she turned back to the hero who was a legend of the riverlands. A living one too, it seemed, which she had no idea how it was the case, as even some of her oldest lives had tales of his exploits.

Still, with what they’d just seen, as Seam pointed out “He does fit the barter” before blinking a few times as the dying adrenaline let his mind catch up with what had just happened. He looked a bit sheepish, before doing a halve bow towards Jax, fist held just above his chest while his thumb traced a circle on it, and saying “thank you hero, I… I’d be dead without you” before turning to Lilly and offering her the same thanks.

Jaxx started cleaning his blade of the black ichor that acted as blood for the outer beasts when Lily addressed him. Stopping, he looked downwards to the minuscule form of the goblin that stood before him.

“The Jaxx? I’m just Jaxx, the Hero Jaxx and no need to thank me, beastkin. It isn’t as if I do it because I want it but the curse placed upon me by our creator doesn’t give me any peace if I don’t do what I do. ” said Jaxx before looking away in the distance. It was as if he was here in body but his mind somewhere else. Lost, one might say.

“There are more monsters around. Other people to save. I can feel them. ” added Jaxx as he turned his gaze towards the city, trying to figure out where the greatest danger was based on his heroic foresight.

Ironically in this instance that sense wasn’t needed, because the cheering from the people they had just saved was suddenly drowned out by screams of panic coming from the nearby bridge where far more people were trying and failing to cross the river. Said place had also had the largest concentration of soldiers trying to hold the main road, but if the barely controlled panic was spilling over into outright panic …

“Mother preserve us” Seam whispered in horror at what must be occurring, while Lilly found herself glancing between the people they had just protected and the far larger group that was now in trouble.

“Guide these people to safety. No need to put yourself in more danger. ” said Jaxx, leaving the other two to keep protecting the naval evacuation as he started to sprint towards the bridge.

As he ran, he muttered under his breath, suddenly feeling more tired than before :”A hero's job never ends. ”

Running as fast as his heroic legs allowed him, he jumped over debris, smaller goblins and whatnot, following the arched street and using his heroic senses to guide him towards the bridge.

He encountered only a few stray beasts on the way, as well as streets packed with refugees guarded by what remained of the city’s warriors who thought him mad to be running through the streets on his own.

It was not they who needed protection however, and so the hero’s took him on an arch around the outside of the city blocks filling blob of mortal lives, until he burst onto the main road leading to the bridge, and in doing so, right into the ranks of the outer beasts.

In the instant before they noticed him, he comprehended the scene. Outerbeasts were streaming down the main road, their endless limbs trampling over the remains of the last defenders of that main road, and were now tearing into the rear of the refugees and civilians. Now finally cornered, those untrained mortals were fighting back with tooth, claw and tool, but desperation was not heroism, and they were being slaughtered as a result.

Instead heroes, as they so often did, arrived late, and as Jaxx did, they had been led by instinct or coincidence into a flanking maneuver, hitting the press of beasts from the side. He caught sight of goblins, beast folk, snouters and even a crystal strider, all armed with whatever they had been able to scrounge in their first moment of heroism, be it weapons of fallen soldiers, kitchenware or knives tied to sticks.

Two found the same alleyway as Jaxx, and came charging in just after him: a snouter chef, complete with poofy hat and apron, armed with a pair of cleavers, and an incredibly young goblin on a tricked out two wheeled Buggy wielding a wrench.

A roar was all that Jaxx gave to the outer beasts as he charged them, sword held up high, ready to cut through anything that was dumb enough to try to stop him. At his back, he felt the snouter and the small goblin followed him, echoing his war cry.

The moment the outer beasts noticed him, a few of them attacked and died. Jaxx was a whirlwind of death, jumping, kicking and slashing as he moved forward. He didn't stop, he never faltered…he just killed. One by one. Outer beast by outer beast.

And that's when the outer beasts, maybe guided by a primal instinct, declared him the biggest threat. Suddenly it wasn't 1 vs 5 but 1 vs 20 and no matter how strong and experienced Jaxx was, it proved not to be enough.

‘Alas, he achieved what he wanted. He got their attention. It seemed as if all the outer beasts not yet engaged in combat with someone else, converged upon Jaxx.

In that moment, everyone that was on the bridge, felt a divine presence. Just for a second. Something…heroic. And time slowed down. At least, for the outer beasts. It was as if their movements were sluggish. As if time itself declared that they were a bit behind.

The tiniest moment of clam was ended when an arrow flew through the air, fired by some unseen sniper, striking one of the beasts which moved too slowly to avoid this shot. This had occurred several times before, indeed the sniper was almost out of arrows, but what had not occurred was the way the outer beast recoiled from the relatively minor wound it had taken, crying out in guttural agony where before only a great or multitude of blows would prompt such a response.

Beneath the heroic aura, a second one had slipped a subtle knife into the beast’s nerves, cursing their pain to be tripled in intensity.

Another beast was struck moments later, and in an agony filled panic spread wings it had not used till now, and began to try and take flight to flee, only for lightning to crash down from the stormy sky the moment it cleared the rooftops. There was a reason no one was daring the skies today, be it outer beast or beast folk.

Jaxx roared in anger as he effortlessly defended himself and looked into the sky and shouted “LEAVE ME ALONE! STOOOOOP! ”

Poor Jaxx, not even in what seemed his final moments wasn't left alone. He longed for peace, for silence…yet he wouldn't be getting any. Not as long as Galaxor watched over him. Not as long as the heroic aspect shined its golden aura over Galbar.

After the moment of anger passed, Jaxx continued the slaughter. Slowed down as they were, the outer beasts stood absolutely no chance to survive. Even the most unprepared civilians seemed able to injure the outer beasts, for Jaxx it was less than nothing.

Many of the beasts began to turn and flee as they felt true pain for the first time, but one surfaced above the rest who knew that fear, and was able to face it. It looked old and worn and sacred, as if it had faced many fights despite, from the city’s perspective, the crisis had barely just begun. Stranger still, it was not only flesh, several of its many arms had been severed in battle, and had been replaced with limbs made from a metal unknown to all of this world, inside which gears clicked and whirred.

With these cold hard limbs that flet not a thing, it protected itself from pain, and even when stuck, it endured the wounds with endurance born from true suffering. With scything blades of cold steel it struck down the freshly forged mortal heroes, the heroic aspect’s thumb on the scale being outweighed by the coiled knot of time and the experience wrought from it.

The creature started sprinting towards Jaxx, declaring him the greatest threat, but was soon stopped by the newly made heroes…for about a second or two before its scything blades cut them in half. A shower of blood was all that was left behind it and the broken bodies of any that came in its path.

Even as slowed down as it was by Galaxor's curse, it seemed faster than the rest. More intelligent. Dangerous. And if it wasn't for Jaxx’s heroic foresight, it would've been deadly for him.

The blades came like a whirlwind towards Jaxx who didn't even have time to raise his sword to deflect, only merely pulling himself backwards enough not to be cut in half.

A large slash wound appeared on Jaxx’s chest as blood pooled around his feet.

“You look different, creature. Stronger. It'll be an honor to put you down. ” said Jaxx as he tried circling around it as before, only to be met every single time by a blade. It was as if the creature had no blind spots or better said it knew which blind spots it had and how to protect them..

Now that Jaxx knew what to expect, he knew how to defend himself, ‘alas for each other blocked or dodged attack, one would go through. In minutes, Jaxx’s body was filled with cuts, some small while others, like the one on his chest, big and long. It didn’t help that his heroic endurance was slowly reaching its limits. His moves started to become sluggish and his blows barely had any true strength behind them.

It seemed that all was lost once more.

Suddenly, from the street Jaxx had entered through, there came a rumbling and rattling before a goddess’s personal transport flashed out of it… With Lilly at the driver’s helm. With the dock now guarded by soldiers relieved by the beast’s pouring towards this very battlefield, she’d had time to recover her mother’s Buggy, which she now drove headlong towards the beast.

Though an experienced defender, the outer beast had never had to guard itself against something close to its own mass before, and so there was a moment of hesitation that saved the heroes’ lives. Blades came up both to guard its body and to try to skewer the driver, only for Seam to grab the comparatively small goblin woman right before impact, and to then leap out of the vehicle who’s accelerator the goblin had stabbed into the floor using her borrowed knife.

Flightless wings caused enough drag to slow the pair’s fall, while in contrast nothing could slow their runaway machine, which smashed into their foe and practically bowled it over, showering it with splinters for good measure.

Not that the creature was done for. Just as the Buggy was about to hit it, it jumped high up into the sky or as high as it could without getting hit by lightning from above. Still, the Buggy managed to catch two of the blades that weren’t pulled up in time and made the outer beast do a cartwheel in air before plunging into the ground…a crater appearing from the impact with the street.

A nod was all that Jaxx gave his saviors as he tried to run towards the outer beast, hoping to finish it off while it was still stunned…but he couldn’t. After a few hurried steps, Jaxx’s blood loss and obvious exhaustion finally caught up. He slowed down and started using his sword as a cane.

“Ki-Ki—Kill it. Fff-aa—s–t. ” was all that he managed to say before collapsing on the floor.

The pair glanced at the legendary hero brought low by mortal limits, then at the beast presently pulling itself out of the wreckage of the buggy, and then like fools they charged. Seam thrust slashed his billhook around in a sweeping blow, while Lilly stabbed out with her new tendrils, only for a blade to block the first blow, and the goblin to scream in pain as her biological weapon was severed by another.

The beast had endured much, a fresh upset was but a lesson to learn, not a reason to fear. The same could not be said of its fellows, who all around it had fallen or were fleeing, beaten by the rats they had cornered, and the indirect hands of their divine patrons. Even so, the beast did not yield, not now, not yet. The insult of injury would be answered with death.

Forward it came, and the pair of heroes found themselves on the defensive, Seam blocking strikes with his billhook while Lilly used ancient wisdom, and new limbs to dodge to and fro. Yet in doing so they lost ground, being driven back towards the hobbled Jax.

From his downward position, Jaxx barely saw what was happening, especially as his vision kept blinking in and out. This was a fight he was happy to have lost, finally, some peace. But wait. If he was about to die, why did the ringing in his mind not stop? Why was it ringing louder and louder? Why did it keep pushing him to act?

Lilly’s scream answered that question as one of her natural weapons flew off. Another blink and now they were closer to Jaxx. Losing ground. They were about to die. From somewhere within him, Jaxx felt the hero call. The power that drives all heroes to do what they do. To fight against any and all opposition in their path to greatness.

Immediately, Jaxx stood up, using his sword to push himself up…even as blood flowed out of him. Blink. He was closer, his hands gripped the sword tightly, making his knuckles white under the strength. Blink. The outer beast was closer, Lily and Seam between him. Blink.

He was behind the outer beast. Why was he behind the outer beast? Blink. Pain. Blink. Blink. Blink. PAIN. Blink. The beast was still fighting Lily and Seam, even as they both sprouted new injuries. Blink. Lifting his…arm? Blink. Where was his arm? Oh. Blink. Why was it on the ground? Blink. What? Blink. Blink. Left arm. No more. Blink. Just a sword and a right arm. It was enough. Blink. JUMP. Slash, slash, dodge. Blink. Blood. Blink. Even more blood. Stab and…blink. Sword stuck into the neck of…something. Blink. Blink. Screaming. Blink. Where? Blink. Pain. Pain. Pain. Blink. Darkness. Silence. Blink. Nothing.

The hero collapsed next to his severed arm as the other two heroes screamed in both horror and fury as they rushed the several wounded beast. Yet it was not done. Or rather it was, but it was done with these gnats, done with this city. Its remaining arms parried their thrusts as it stalked towards the fallen Jaxx, wishing to end him as a last act before it fled with the rest of its kin.

Then it flinched as it heard a familiar rumbling, only this was deeper, louder. Its awareness that had been fixated on this fight glanced outwards, seeing that its kin had in fact already fled, and that something was coming. From another alleyway came another buggy, but this one took up the entire space, and made the beast itself look small by comparison. Atop this machine a goblin with a very large hat screeched orders at an entire team of her fellows, who turned cranks that spun gears which pivoted the muzzle of a ballista mounted atop their war machine at the Beast. A massive wooden bolt then was lossed, taking the beast’s only remaining flesh arm off in the process and pining it to a wall behind it.

With the situation by the docks stabilized, the city had been able to squeeze the armored cavalry past the civilians, and other rumbles drawing made it clear that this wooden tank was only the first. Upon realizing this the beast decided that it had in fact had enough. It abandoned its vengeful stalk and took off at a gallop up the main street, weaving between piles of dead, and then was gone. Beaten, but not broken.

In its wake it left the bodies of fallen heroes be they corpses or crippled, and the dawn of its own legend… and, as Lilly stared sorrowfully at the now one armed Jaxx as a medic stemmed both his and her bleeding, the dawn of an idea.

---

Up a mountain, just below the storm clouds, on an outcropping overlooking the city below, there sat two gods and a hunk of flesh and blood of the greater outer beast Egrioth. It had had a vast number of purple needles and a small piece of the artifact which Galaxor created earlier, sticking out of it, both these effects faded, along with the storm that had denied mortal and beat-like access to the skies.

A haggard looking Breaker slumped and released a sigh of relief, and declared that “it’s over”

“They won, they won, they won, yipee!” a less drained and much more excited Maiden replaced her older self to cheer, before the Mother took back control and fixed her comrade in arms with an accusatory stare, saying in a rather outraged tone that “I thought you agreed to leave Jaxx alone!”

“Of course they won. They had Jaxx with them. That mortal is worthy of his title. Your Lily was interesting too. Tell her good job on achieving herohood from me. She’s earned her title. ” replied Galaxor with a knowing smile before laughing at the Mother’s outburst.

“I did agree to leave him alone and I haven’t done anything to him specifically. I just slowed down all the outer beasts. Also, it ain’t as if I can’t stop myself from watching over him. He’s the first self-made hero and my creation. If I wanted to intervene directly, I would’ve sent the Cosmic Destroyer over or just appeared there myself and taken them all out but that isn’t my style. None of them would’ve learned anything if we would’ve saved them. See how many new heroes were made? ” added Galaxor once he stopped laughing before making a 3D map of the Tricity appear with each living being that was now a hero appearing on it like a big golden dot.

“He certainly doesn’t seem to feel left alone is more my concern” the Mother replied, before sighing and saying “well at least he’ll be able to take a bit of a break now that there’s more heroes about. Or need to rather, having lost an arm like that, the poor man. I’ll have to make sure he is well taken care of” or rather she’d help Lilly make sure of that.

“It’s the blessing I bestowed upon him that’s bothering him, not me. He received the hero sense and it ain’t an easy burden to bear. It drives you to greatness but…you say goodbye to mundane life and no, he won’t be able to take a break for the same reason. Whenever there are innocents in danger, he’ll feel it. A ringing in his mind will go off and the more he ignores it, the stronger it’ll be. He’s got 3-4 days tops from the moment he’ll wake up until it’ll drive him mad and then he’ll have to go. ”

The goddess just looked absolutely befuddled as she said “but you put it on.. you made it work like…” and then just demanded to know “why?”

“Doesn’t seem too heroic if he’s forced to do heroic things now does it?” the Breaker pointed out, while the Maiden chimed in to suggest “oooh, we should make him some ear muffs”

“In my defense, when I blessed him with it I thought I knew everything there is to know. Now I know that I don’t know anything while also knowing everything. Thing is, he can control it. It’s a skill and any skill can be mastered. He needs to want to learn and there are only two people who can teach him how to use it properly and one of them promised that he won’t meddle with his life anymore. The other person is himself. It takes a lot of work but he can do it. In the future he’ll even be able to locate certain people or objects. ” said Galaxor in an apologetic tone before shaking his head.

“He isn’t forced to go into battle each time. He could’ve started painting or crafting or anything else and the ringing would’ve gone away if he truly dedicated himself…yet he chose combat. ”

“Four days does not seem like a lot of time to entirely change professions, or do much of anything, so it seems I will need to act as the messenger woman for this little tidbit, lest he get himself killed. That man is in no shape to fight anything” the Mother replied, only for the Breaker to chime in “or we can leave him to get himself killed and that’ll be the end of it anyway”

The Maiden however had a concerning thought about that, however, which was “What if it goes with his soul when he reincarnates? Would there be a baby with that ringing in its ears?”

“No one said to change professions but he can start trying, it’ll slowly reduce in intensity. No one said anything about fighting, he could help rebuilding or look for people in danger under the rubbles. The hero sense would make him quite efficient at it. ” replied Galaxor, further explaining how his blessing worked.

“I never thought about your reincarnation. The blessing is attached to his soul, so…I think so. It would follow him in a different body. But OK. Fine. You’ve convinced me. I’ll give him another blessing. Time slow. It’ll allow him to slow down time around him for a very short period of time. Combined with the heroic foresight, even one-armed he’ll be a force to be reckoned with. ” replied Galaxor to the Maiden.

“It’s something” the Mother conceded “but I’ll still need to keep an eye on him, both as he recovers and in his next life. Hopefully a great need to drink milk will satisfy, and if not I shall deal with the issue somehow”

“Or, you can let him follow his path. Just an idea of course. RALK is better than milk, by the way. ” replied Galaxor as he teleported two bottles of RALK in front of them.

“Someone needs to let him know there’s more than one” the Mother replied before blinking and looking confused at whatever this drink was, before responding “Not for babies, surly” as she opened it up, and took a swig, only for her eyes to widen. She drank deep of the gift as the storm clouds above melted away, and the light of the sun shone down upon both them and the city below once more. Only once the bottle was empty, and the skies were clear, did she release the bottle from her lips with a satisfied sigh, and admit “Or you know what, maybe you're right”

Galaxor watched Asheel down the bottle and started laughing, very loudly before stopping and giving her a gentle slap on the back. “Oh’ I know! It’s a godly drink that my GU has. Some small deity gave it to them. Back when I was but a hero and not a god, they called it “Ambrosia”. ”

The breaker made a little annoyed sound when the Mother swapped her out just before that light slap landed, before the Maiden took over to ask “What was it like, out there, where you were a hero? What kinda stuff did you do?” ever so curious about his past exploits.

Galaxor’s face basically lit up when he was asked to tell about his past exploits, as a few more bottles of RALK appeared before them.

“Once upon a time, there was…” Galaxor started and from there, a few days passed as he talked in length about the time he fought a monster that whenever you'd cut its head, two more would appear and a woman who could turn anyone looking in her eyes into stone, while down below in the city only hours passed because time, as its new master well knew, was funny like that.

Summary

Tricity is under siege by the outer beasts of the Outer Gods. Lily, Asheel’s daughter, makes a friend, Seam and together they take over the defense of the city. Many civilians die but most survivors have been elevated to hero status as per Galaxor’s Khodex addition.

Jaxx arrives in the city guided by his hero sense and makes short work of a good number of outer beasts before being overwhelmed by their numbers. At that time, Asheel and Galaxor involve themselves and curse the outer beasts.

After a hard fight with an older Outer Beast that moved through different timelines, Jaxx loses an arm while Lily and Seam receive a number of small injuries.

The old outer beast escapes, heavily injured as it was. Scene cut to a dialogue between Asheel and Galaxor where Galaxor explains how the “hero sense” he blessed Jaxx with works and after being told off by Asheel, agrees to bless Jaxx with a new ability.

MP

Galaxor
Available - 3 MP
-1 MP to curse the outer beasts with “Time Slow”, making their moves sluggish.
-1 MP to bless Jaxx with a “Time Slow” ability which allows him to slow down the passage of time around him for a few seconds. Enough to give him an edge.
(4/4 MP for Time Domain]

Remaining - 1 MP
Asheel
Available - 12 MP

-1mp to patronize Lilly’s experiments with R’kava
-1mp to brew a temporary storm above Tricity that struck any attempting to fly above it with lighting
-1mp and part of a greater outer beast to temporarily curse the outer beasts in the city such that even lesser wounds would cause them great pain

Remaining - 9MP

Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

A Library For The Ages

The Knowledge Chronicles

Once upon a time in a cave…

After the battle with Erigoth, Galaxor returned to the Goblin Underground to see how they reacted, seeing that Erigoth was killed just above their caves. What he saw was sad. Tunnels collapsed. Hundreds dead. Even more goblins injured, trapped or missing.

Maxima was overworked, to say the least, as she was directing rescue efforts and the survivors. It was a mess and a half. Lucky for everyone, Galaxor was there to save the day…again.

In minutes, he cleared the tunnels of rocks, saved all the trapped goblins, cleaned up the library and his own temple and then took a nap in his holy temple. Galaxor was tired. Weeks passed as he slept, undisturbed by anyone. In his sleep, his divine blood slowly leaked on the ground until eventually, a hole was formed into the floor of the holy temple which slowly gave away under Galaxor’s weight.

Under the holy temple, unbeknownst to anyone, was yet another cavern. Deep and close to Galbar’s core. With a loud yawn, Galaxor woke up to find himself in an unfamiliar place. Quickly looking around, he realised where exactly he was and let out a laugh that caused a small earthquake.

“Oh my, oh my. Galbar’s core is so close that I can feel its heat. This place is perfect! ” he said out loud before flying upwards back to his temple and let out a huge blast of divine energy which travelled downwards until it reached the place where Galaxor fell and with an impressive BOOOOM a tower was formed. It reached high up but not fully up the hole.

Afterwards, Galaxor summoned Maxima and explained her and the GU’s new task. Go down by any means necessary. Reach the new temple and fill it up with every piece of knowledge possible.

---

---

While it was hard for the goblins of GU, in only 2 short time periods they managed to reach it, filling it up with all the knowledge they gained. Inside the temple, they'd find themselves even smarter than before. Things they only heard about, available almost instantaneously for as long as they were inside.

Summary

Smol post in which Galaxor retreats to his holy temple and falls asleep for 2 weeks. When he wakes up he finds that his blood made a hole in the floor and revealed a deep cavern close to the Core. Galaxor then proceeded to give GU the task to reach what he built there, a new temple. Some time later, they managed to reach it.

MP

Available - 4
-1 to make a holy temple of Knowledge where anyone can grasp knowledge they only roughly heard almost instantaneously if they worked on it.
Left - 3

Caravan: An Episodic Fantasy with Worldbuilding! [Always Accepting]

The Pilgrim’s Caravan

The Giant Galaxor & Merry Band ++

Boss Battle! Boss Battle!

As the wraith moved with inhuman speed, it cut through Terilu’s skeletons as if through butter and then, something happened. Something Galaxor didn’t fully understand but it seemed similar to the shamanic magic he grew up with. Shamanic magic which he knew little about.

“Move aside! Let the grown-ups deal with this!”

Then Galaxor jumped into the fray and swung his axe in wide arcs, attempting to strike the wraith that danced and weaved around him. The tomb echoed with the clash of steel meeting ethereal resistance.

The wraith, draped in tattered robes that looked like solid dark mist avoided Galaxor's blows effortlessly. Its eyes, glinting with dark power, focused on the giant, and with each movement, the runes on the throne seemed to pulse with malevolent energy.
Something was clearly happening, something magical in nature…something evil. It seemed that the wraith had a surprise planned for the party and only the most perceptive or magically capable would notice that the strikes from both the skeletons around and the wraith were never aimed to kill but to spill their blood all around.

Despite Galaxor's immense size and strength, the wraith proved to be too slippery for him. It darted in and out of his reach, leaving small, ethereal cuts across Galaxor's legs. Blood pouring from them.
With a roar, Galaxor jumped backwards at the same time as his axe swung around, making the wraith dodge and giving him the opportunity to pull back.

“That thing is too fast for me, someone else should kill it. I’ll deal with the bony fellows. HA! HA! ” he laughed as he started dismantling the skeletons on the side, going straight towards the archers as they rained arrows upon him.

Sadly, for them, these were not magically enhanced arrows and they barely scratched Galaxor’s skin as bones started to fly around the throne room.

As the battle raged on, the room started to vibrate wildly. The runes on the massive throne started to pulsate more intensely and soon, the blood from the wounds inflicted by the skeletons and the wraith started to float in mid-air and each small drop started to fly toward the ominous throne.

As the blood reached the runes, the wright, now empowered by this bloody ritual, started to gain substance. The hood of the wraith’s head fell down and under it, the face of a beautiful person was revealed and a crown magically appeared on his head but the rest of the body was still in an in-between state of undeath.


“Yes! YES! MOOOORRREEE! BRING ME BACK!” shouted the wraith with an unnatural voice, a sense of wrongness in it, as it charged to attack.