Lords of Creation: Omnigenesis [IC]

[Darklady2831]

Creation, Brilliant, Blinding, Creation

There was nothing. No time, no concept of time, no thought. Existence was but a dream of a dream to the nothingness that did not dwell here. But something stirred.
A light, brilliant and blinding! Senses were flooded, breath, thought, cognition! Suddenly existence WAS. "And unto this void I give, Omnigenesis..." spoke a voice, that echoed through the vast emptyness.

Ideas began to form, and Ideas are powerful. Fourteen were the number of ideas. Concepts so powerful that their hum drowned out the billions of other possible ideas. For an instant, all was quiet.

And then it began. Time, the concept of event progressing. Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock it rung across space. Nanoseconds gave way to the first second, the first moment in all time. And then, the second glorious thing happened.

Space. For once time existed, space and matter could begin to change. And Change they did, the stuff of nothing was obliterated, flung far into the cosmic reaches. The universe expanded, bringing with it the possibility of entities. Thus, the fourteen Ideas took form, and began their first steps towards the forging of a new universe...

Madness

One of the ideas began to spasm, shrouding itself and the whole of creation in darkness, no light shone from the creator. It seized, frozen in an image of sheer agony. The glob of darkness spasmed again, this time pulsating with a black glow. Then, it shrunk away from the other ideas, dragging two of them along near it. Thus, Gjol Maduur was born.

[Elricaltovilla]

The Void Infinite

Ideas, ideas where the something that came into being from this nothing. And one of those ideas was the concept of idea itself. The first manifestation was merely a ripple in the vast nothing, unseen, unheard and unknown to all.

But that was wrong, nothing should be unknown. In the infinite nonexistence, anything was possible, and the idea knew this. It knew, what a beautiful concept. Every second it existed (seconds, existence... how exctiting) it knew more. And more would never be enough.

Let's try something here. a voice called out in the void. Oh, it worked. How wonderful! Let's try something else...

A hazy cloud formed in the nothing of the void. Had there been light to display color, it would have been a greyish purple. Just a whisp in the void.
Oh, that worked too! I wonder what else I can do.

[Draken]

Silver Sand

Great slabs of marble cast themselves from naugh upon the beggining of time, rising upon themselves as an arch and marking themselves in runes of silver filigree. The moment passed into the past and was substituted by another, pulled in and woven from countless unrealized futures by the nascent god Ing'dras.

Upon this archway gathered dust that sat as an entity clad whole in silver plate, not an inch of skin to be seen, and that too was Ing'dras, The Vast Gate.

And something dragged him by the arm.

"Unlimb me, sibling."

[Elemental]

Everything was darkness. No light shone anywhere. But near the heart of the endlessness of the Void, three sparks began to glow, empowered by ideas left there by an unnamed entity of vast cosmic power, limitless in mind or deed.
One of the sparks changed colour, becoming silver surrounded by a faint glow of rainbow light.
It understood the Void. And the Void was unacceptable in its current form. The spark wandered haphazardly toward the centre of creation. There was nothing to guide it save its own wisdom, something that was also unacceptable.
But the Void was the Void and would remain such for eternity. He knew that, it would only change if something was added to it. Something to define it...
Wait... He was a he? Did he also have a name? Yes... A name... Velharan, and a VOICE!
I am Velharan! And light shall reach all corners of creation!
Before him, light exploded from nothing, silver light like him. And it was blinding and the pain was extreme at first, and it felt right. The pain dulled, and before him was an immense sphere of churning energies. Ribbons of rainbow light arced from the surface before falling back and joining with the immense sea of silver.
We live my Brothers! Nothing can match the majesty of this moment!
He had brothers... Life was good.
He took a physical form to properly celebrate.

Starting AP: 15
Weave Plane: The Silver Sun: Despite being silver, it's light appears white.
Physically contiguous with the Void, the Sun can theoretically be reached by anyone if they fly far enough.
Needless to say, merely approaching the Sun will destroy anything not properly protected.
Remaining AP: 10

[Darklady2831]

Madness and Time

Gjol Maduur relinquished it's grip upon Ing'Dras and the unformed idea. It let it's black tentacles go lax as it floated near the Vast Gate that was Ing'Dras. "Forgive me, Siblings, I merely wished some privacy, at least for the first moments." it spoke, it's voice flowing like blood from a wound. He Who Walks in Madness drifted around the Vast Gate, admiring his Elder brother. "Your form is a magnificent one, Sibling."

Then, light. Brilliant searing light. Gjol Maduur recoiled in horror, the dripping inky darkness on his form boiling and fleeing from the light of the sun. Gjol Maduur hissed at the Sun, gathering to him darkness. Darkness, it wasn't enough, the light burnt his darkness. It cut through it like a knife through supple flesh. So Gjol Maduur gathered not darkness, but lightlessness. He Who Walks in Madness changed his form, making it drip with oily fluids, constantly refreshing them and protecting him from the rays of light. He Split his limbs at the end, turning the six long tendrils into limbs with three digits on the end. He had no eyes, and no mouth. No ears nor nose to hear or smell with. Yet Gjol Maduur could do all of these things, for his body was unlike any conventional vessel. He was an inconceivable being, an alien body and mind.

15 AP - 5 AP = 10 AP
Gain Ability: Inconceivable

[mystic1110]

The City That Never Sleeps

As the suns rays shine through creation... as the void was illuminated for the first time in existence... the gods and unformed ideas of what may be found themselves among floating among vast slabs of earth - continents adrift and devoid of life and meaning.

Yet as Gjol Maduur and Ing'dras looked up at the rays of the unblocked sun, the unformed idea begins to grow. Squares, rectangles, rows and lines, columns outward and upward. Structures made of stone and glass. Steel and white marble. Cement and planted trees. Vast. So vast that Gjol Maduur and Ing'dras found themselves surrounded by the growing city. In any direction they looked they saw only more skyscrapers as they tore at the unclouded sky.

And the monuments blocked out the sun... the shadows were severe, half the city shinning and perfect, the other also perfect, but deep inky black. The city was immaculate, strong and surrounding... that was the word... something about the city... made it feel alive. It was too large... yet they felt its walls right up against them, as if they were in a coffin. But the streets were wide and beautiful.

The city never slept... it's roots plunged throughout the floating continent. The city stretched for miles, it built basements, and towers... and then it stopped. The building, the growing was silent, but at the cessation of activity a deeper silence fell. Ever present and heavy. The city spoke, the voice coming as a gust of wind rattling through the streets and slowly reverberating the buildings and lamp posts. A voice that sounded like cement ground upon gravel:

Welcome to my streets Brothers.

All were welcome to walk the ever changing street of Arlom. But... not all were welcome to leave. Yet for now the city stood, inviting and strange.

[Elricaltovilla]

Bright light struck out from the center of the void. The Idea could See. And then a voice spoke.


I am Velharan! And light shall reach all corners of creation!

And The Idea heard. The Idea rushed off towards the source of the light, the great silver orb that showed the nothing of the void.

Did you make this? It's simply incredible. I'm so jealous. I want to make things too. The Idea asked. You're... Velharan? A unique identifier, something to deliniate the self from others. I like it. I shall be Acantheis. If an indistinct cloud of purple vapor could have smiled, then Acantheis smiled.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Pain]

On the edges of existence, there was a ringing scream, piercing the depths of the Void. And in its wake, one of the Ideas formed, taking the shape of a maiden, barely adult, her pale skin covered by thorn vines, just enough to clothe her, though she might as well have had nothing on for all the protection they gave from the elements.

After that single scream, however, she was silent as she turned back to the place that had spawned her, what she had just clawed her way free of, even as blood welled up around the thorns she wore, which had dug deep into her flesh at the movement, for, despite the pain, she was determined to ease her sister's birth, that the other goddess would not have to suffer as she did.

[Darklady2831]

Madness in the City

Gjol Maduur relaxed, it was shielded from the light by this new place. A seemingly endless maze of paths and buildings, it was fascinating. He Who Walks in Madness loved it, but something was wrong. Despite it's wonder, it's tight spaces, it's lonely alleys, something was wrong. The Deepdwelling Insanity looked up, and immediately knew what was wrong. It was the sky. The open sky, the void and the sun, it was WRONG. Gjol Maduur drifted up and out of his Brother, leaving behind black sludge that exuded darkness like smoke from a flame. He drifted away, but not too far away.

"Siblings..." Gjol Maduur spoke, and then let his actions speak for themselves. He beckoned both Arlom and Ing'Dras to join him in fellowship, as he forged a cosmic bond that would strengthen those who entered into it. "I ask, would you enter into the Aberrant Council...?"

10 AP - 2 AP = 8 AP
Gather Pantheon: The Aberrant Council

[Draken]

Aberrant.

All Gilded Paths

Ing'dras sat atop himself to overlook the city, he was alone in the empty, far from nothing and distant from the only other thing that was. Nowhere to go. A disturbing sight.

He could envision land stretching beyond the city, and what he could envision he could make. Such is the glory divine.

Sand and stone were facts of existance, gods were wrought of these things. It came at their beckoning, and Ing'dras called for vast swathes of it to become plains and mountains and hollows for water, that too existed, and these lands all stretched outwards from the first city. And small things of flesh and wood, some of which sough the sun, also came at his call, perhaps somewhere a god was also made of such things.

But Ing'dras had to adress his sibling, no time to entertain such conjecture. No time but all of the future, that is, only in the present were deeds defined.

"I foresee no reason not to join you, brother."

He doesn't foresee any reason to either. He doesn't foresee at all, in fact.

15 AP
3 AP: Forge Land The First Asteroid-continent. It will be named once there are mortals to name it!

1 AP: Join Pantheon.

11 AP left.

[Darklady2831]

Sun Above, Abyss Below

Gjol Maduur nodded, as much as a blob of inky darkness with tentacles can nod. He sensed the creation of a large continent, of land and water. He sensed the deep deep roots of stone that ran beneath the sun-stained sky, and he found comfort in their cold indifference. He extended his tendril into the soil, then through it into the stone. Deeper and deeper it went, until Gjol Maduur retracted it. He drifted to the western "coast" of the continent, heaving up great mounds of stone as he smashed into the ground, shaping tunnels and caverns out of the stone. Many Mountains formed as the stone was upheaved and piled atop the ground. Deeper he dug, carving out two large caverns, each many miles across, many miles long, and several miles tall. Finally, he finished carving and gazed upon his work. It was good. He found a cave, and drifted inside, vanishing from the light of day, journeying deep into the darkness of the underground realm he had created.

Deep under the mountain, many miles from the light of the sun, Gjol Maduur began to labor again. He extended the tunnels from the first two caverns, creating a vast maze of tunnels beneath the middle part of the Asteroid-Continent. He tunneled south as well, carving many smaller caves, some of which allowed water to flow down from the surface, making the southern lands of the underworld very damp and musky, a great environment for fungal life. These southern caves held a jungle of fungal life, complete with gigantic mushroom-trees, vine-like fungal growths, and a million kinds of moss.

Returning to the maze of tunnels beneath the center of the continent, Gjol Maduur carved a large gallery in the center of the maze, allowing water to flow into it from the south, pooling into a large underground sea that extended to the east.

Gjol Maduur was pleased with his caves, but they were too empty, too barren. Without life to think and dwell in these caves, madness and fear were meaningless. Thus, Gjol Maduur formed life from the clay and dirt he had carved the caverns from. He shaped them slowly, forming a large bulbous head, host to two large, slanted, black orbs that served as eyes. He then formed their torso. A thin, skeletal thing, it held within it several fleshy organs. The limbs of the creature were four in number. Two muscular arms where a normal human's would be. They ended in hands that had three long tendrils where fingers would be. Though they looked awkward, these hands were more dextrous than conventional ones. The legs of the creature were long, gangly things, but strong for their appearance.

Satisfied with his creations, he breathed life into them, and set them down within the Caverns beneath the Maw of Madness. Done his work, he drifted into the Howling Honeycomb, eventually reaching the Underground Sea. He shaped an enormous pillar of Black stone in the center of it, carving a cave large enough for him to rest in. He drifted into the pillar, and began to rest, acquainting himself with the caverns he now called home, and the new thoughts and ideas that the Vahnatai had.


8 AP - 6 AP = 2 AP
-Alter Land: The Maw of Madness - The Maw of Madness is a chain of Mountains on the western side of the Asteroid-Continent surrounding Arlom. Caves carved into the mountains lead down into the underdark. Directly beneath the Maw of Madness are two large caverns, each many miles across. It is in these caves that the Vahnatai dwell.
-Alter Land: The Howling Honeycomb - The Howling Honeycomb is a maze of tunnels beneath the center of the Asteroid Continent surrounding Arlom. On the Eastern side of the tunnels, a large cavern, at least the size of one of the caverns beneath the Maw of Madness, holds a large underground sea. The Sea is fed by rivers running down from the south. At the center of the Sea is an enormous pillar of black Basalt that stretches from the bottom of the sea to the top of the cavern. The pillar is at least half a mile in diameter, and has only one entrance. These Caverns are home to Gjol Maduur, and the air within them hangs heavy with fear and madness.
-Alter Land: Southern Fungal Jungles - The southern caves of the Underdark are home to several raging rapids, which allows them to hold a vast and diverse jungle of fungal life. Mushrooms, mosses, algae, and many more fungal growths can be found here.
-Create Greater Life: Vahnatai - Psionically gifted because of their large brains and aberrant nature, the Vahnatai are the natural denizens of the Underdark. They thrive of diets of blood, bone, and marrow. The Vahnatai are much smarter than your average human, and about as strong as an orc. They are adapted to the caves, and thus can see almost perfectly in pitch blackness. Sunlight blinds them for a while, as it takes a long time for their eyes to adjust to bright lights.

[Elemental]

A vaporous cloud... A most unusual form for one to take, but Velharan hadn't seen enough to judge another based on appearances yet.
Yes, I did create this. It is the Silver Sun and shall provide light across all creation.
In truth, Velharan didn't expect that there would be anyone else save for him and his Brothers. It was slightly unsettling to meet another so soon, but it was natural for the others to be strange.
I am indeed Velharan, and you are Acantheis then.
Do not be jealous, there is no need for that.

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

Three sparks floated in the inky depths of the void, cinders abandoned long ago by the will of something far greater than themselves. For a timeless eternity they floated there, until the vast, silent machine of the universe roused itself for the first time, sending though, awareness, and time streaming through the empty spaces. The sparks reacted, and near as soon as they became aware of the infinite black, one of them exploded into searing silver fire. Light pushed back against dark, and as his brother's presence grew at the center of creation Valmyr's crimson eyes snapped open. In that instant, the emptiness around him blazed to life, an angry red inferno that assaulted the darkness where his brother's had pushed it back. Coming to his senses, Valmyr found himself standing atop a red star as it began to slowly revolve around its silver twin. And then, carrying impossibly across the void, his brother's voice.

"Velharan! We live!"

Valmyr leapt from his perch, streaking across the sky like a comet to wrap his brother in a mighty embrace.

"We live! And life is good!"

Coming to his senses, finally, the burning knight released his ephemeral brother to examine Acantheis.

"Well met, fellow divine. I am...Valmyr."

He spoke his name with a hint of wonder, as though he could not yet believe that the name existed, that it was his.


Starting AP: 15

Weave Plane: The Red Sun
Blazing in binary orbit with the Silver Sun, the Red Sun is far hotter than its twin, it's light harsher. As with the Silver Sun, it lies within the material plane, and any attempt to approach it unprotected is folly.

Remaining AP: 10

[Elricaltovilla]

A vaporous cloud... A most unusual form for one to take, but Velharan hadn't seen enough to judge another based on appearances yet.
Yes, I did create this. It is the Silver Sun and shall provide light across all creation.
In truth, Velharan didn't expect that there would be anyone else save for him and his Brothers. It was slightly unsettling to meet another so soon, but it was natural for the others to be strange.
I am indeed Velharan, and you are Acantheis then.
Do not be jealous, there is no need for that.

Oh don't worry about me being jealous, Velharan. You made something amazing, you should be proud of it. I think it's my turn to try this as well. The mist of Acantheis shuddered and out popped an oblong lump of rock. Hmmm... that wasn't very impressive. Let's see what we can do to fix it...

The indigo mists enveloped the lump of rock and some loud crunching sounds were heard. In short order the mists receded, and an Ivory Tower appeared, it was tall and imposing, orbiting around the massive silver star that Velharan had forged. Better, but its such a boring color.

The mist enveloped the tower once again and more crunching sounds escaped the mist. When they next receded The tower was recolored, shifting many different hues at random. The tower had changed shape again slightly, it now sported four smaller towers attached to the base, but they were hollow and lacked bottoms. Four glowing triangular fins of light spread out, interspersed between the shorter towers. The top of the main body of the tower was capped by a large glass sphere, inside of which many strange objects floated.

Well I don't know how that happened, but I like it! The mist shrank slightly and flowed around the strange tower. Hey, look at this, there's a door here... I just invented doors! Would you like to come inside Velharan? Your brother can come too.
Starting AP: 15
Weave Sanctum: 3 AP The Starseeker
The Starseeker is the mobile base of operations for Acantheis. It is capable of travelling throught the void as fast and agilely as Acantheis needs. When not under Acantheis's direct control, The Starseeker travels around the Void gathering small bits of random items for its Lord to investigate at his leisure. It also contains many instruments and tools that Acantheis uses in his experiments.

Final AP: 12

@C'nor: Not an ivory tower, a rainbow spaceship :smallwink:
@Mods: just how sentient can I make The Starseeker? I'm hoping for somewhere between trained monkey and small child. Will edit that to a more appropriate comparison when I think of one.

[Darklady2831]

Vahnatai Lands

Zhiiro ran through the tunnel swiftly, using his psychic power to carry his legs further than they could on their own.
Thud
He heard the pounding in his head, blood pumping swiftly as adrenaline was carried through his body. He tried to run harder, to escape, but he couldn't summon anymore physical or mental might.
Thud
Zhiiro winced, feeling his psychic energies depleting. Soon, he wouldn't be able to run anymore, soon the beast would feast.
Thud
Zhiiro turned his head, looking back at the beast chasing him...
Thud!
The beast, a large, wolf-like lizard, snapped it's jaws, leaping from one rock to another as it attempted to get ahead of him. It's forked tongue flicked at Zhiiro, trying in vain to inflict it's deadly poison on him.
THUD
Zhiiro knew his life was over. He had tripped, a stalagmite he hadn't seen. As he tumbled to the cave floor, his heart nearly stopped, as his mind was assailed by an overwhelming will. A force of malevolence and nightmares, it broke his mind before he hit the ground.
THUD!
Reduced to a quivering mess, the young Vahnatai couldn't react as the Aberrant Wolf tore into his pale grey flesh. The beast feasted on him, while he felt it all, broken and shattered within his own mind...

[Elemental]

Velharan spun a short way through the Void from the momentum of Valmyr's embrace. Living was such joy and he shared his Brother's emotions.
We do live! And we are so alive!
Remembering they had company, Velharan watched as Acantheis forged for himself a vessel with which to travel.
I would love to Acantheis. But we should wait for our other Brother. He has not yet tasted life and I don't want him to be born alone...
He floated over to where his other, as yet unnamed, Brother's spark was.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Vahnati Lands, Death

As the beast fed, there was another figure, barely noticed. The lizard-wolf looked up at the figure, and then went back to eating. It was as if it had always been there. A white and black carapace adorned an impossibly tall figure, its insectoid head a harsh bright white, the beetle-like carapace armor bunched behind it like a hood so black it seemed to drink in the darkness.

A pair of cruel thin clawed hands reached down, delicate fingers touching the dead figure, pulling and prodding at the corpses flesh. He held up one of the figures odd arms, and a huge sickle bladed arm of similar white color attached to his shoulder reached down and neatly severed the arm from the body.

The odd thing looked at the arm every which way, its bright curious eyes studying it from every angle, its twitching antennae feeling and probing the arm completely. His delicate fingers pulled a chunk of meat from the arm and held it up to the its mandibles and mouthparts, and it quickly devoured the flesh, considering it for a moment.

Bringing down again its sickle claw it began to cut the arm apart, tearing off the skin on one part and eating it, then the muscle beneath, cracking open the bone to suck the marrow and then eat the bone itself. It studied every piece, and every piece became a morsel.

The figure looked down again at the creature from which he had obtained the arm. Part of him considered that the wolf beast had left, and much of the creature was still intact. Another considered the creature itself, as it was still alive in its broken mind, watching him pick apart its limb piece by piece. He wondered how long it would survive while he followed suit on the rest of it. It would be an interesting experiment.

[Darklady2831]

Vahnatai Lands, Contact

The young Vahnatai lay in unbearable agony as it's gut was chewed by the Aberrant Beast, and it's arm was stripped of flesh before it's eyes. Only the oppressive and maddening force that shattered it's mind kept it from screaming. And then the beast ripped out the young Vahnatai's voicebox.

Gjol Maduur's mind wandered, brushing against the divinity of Ensirex. Curious, the Depraved probed Ensirex's mind, a metaphorical tap on the shoulder. "Who are you who intrudes in the darkness below, the realm of he who walks in madness?" his voice spoke, echoing off the cave walls.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Vahnati Lands, Death

The figure tilted its head slightly as it responded, before lifting its sickle-like claw to its mouth parts, quickly cleaning the blade of blood and other mortal fluids that had slicked its surface, maintaining the hygenic integrity of its tools. "I am Death."

[Darklady2831]

Vahnatai Lands

Gjol Maduur was intrigued, and a little bit disgusted at the same time. "Death... the concept of the ending, of the long and dreaded nothingness... why has Death come to my caverns? What makes them special? The dead flood the surface like a plague, animals feeding on carrion and plants... why this, underworld?" The young Vahnatai had by now died from blood loss, and lay limp before Ensirex. The Aberrant Beast had fled when it felt Gjol Maduur's mental presence, leaving behind a mess of chewed bones and torn flesh.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Vahnati Lands, Death

The Reaper picked through the bones like a sooth-sayer, an anthropomancer drawing knowledge from the entrails of the beasts victim "They did not draw my attention quite so strongly. Their deaths no doubt have meaning, meaning to be explored, but far more meaning in the death of a sapient. A mind to truly perceive its loss, a body given to higher tasks. Curious. Curious."

He paused, chittering to himself in a language alien even to an alien god, the terrible language of oblivion, of terrible soundless void and artful emptiness.

"I wonder when a god shall first die. A bounty of knowledge to be had, no doubt."

[Gotham]

In the shadows of the asteroid-continent where Arlom and He Who Walks in Madness dwelt, a cold wind sprung from nothing. The chaos grew, and an Idea was...displeased.

And so, with a roar that was heard even in the darkness of Gjol Maduurs pillar, a great windstorm billowed below the continent. It whipped around, slowly taking form, until floating in the aether was an enormous, muscular man, eyes of black, brilliant white hair and beard of living ice, whipping tornado of chill wind below his waist.

Bharus had come. He flew through the aether, over the Maw of Madness, his frosty tail dusting the mountains and turning them into a frigid place. From the beads of ice sprang all manner of creatures, including the mighty bear.

Bharus paused and turned. He gazed down at the mountains, and frowned at the chaos billowing below. He stroked his icy beard in contemplation, then flung out his hand toward the mountains. Flecks of water hit the mountains, and in their place stood beings of flesh, blood and ice.

The Frost giants had been born. Towering over the other beasts of the land, they had blue skin, and sinewy muscles. Their beards reflected that of their creator, of living ice.

The Frost giants looked about. The land was unforgiving, harsh, and difficult. It was a challenge. They would need to band together to survive. But how?

Snow began to fall, and inspiration fell with it.

A burly giant with a beard that stuck out at all angles began to fell trees, piling them high in a barricade...

Bharus grinned. He liked mortals. He would...cultivate them.

15AP -10 = 5AP
Alter Land: Maw of Madness: the Mountains at the maw of Madness are now an icy frigid place, filled with packs of wolves and also bears. 1AP
Create Greater Life: Frost Giants: The Frost Giants are pretty awesome. 3AP
Gain Ability: Mortal Shepard 5AP
Create Society: Frost Giant Kingdom: The Frost Giant kingdom ranges the whole mountain range, with settlements generally found anywhere the cave entrances to the Underdark are. They have an army of sorts, in that every able-bodied frost giant is expected to fight if called upon. 0AP (Mortal Shepard)
Create Concept: Architecture: The Frost Giants have learned to fell trees and build walls and homes for themselves on the slopes. They favor large walls of sharpened wood around their settlements, and also near the entrances to the Underdark. 1AP

[Maugan Ra]

Wild lands

He did not come into existence as his siblings had, with full sentience and a curious nature. When reason dawned in the mind of the Hunter, he found he had already existed for some time - for there was a lair around him, and slain prey-beasts at his feet, and his muzzle was covered in blood. And this was good.

Snarling, the beast called Arathur raised his maw to the twin suns and howled. His entire form shook, scattering pieces of fur and droplets of blood across the surface of the world. Where the strands of fur fell, great forests sprung up, covering all of the surface world save the frigid mountains. Where the blood fell, all manner of life sprang up, prey and predator alike, populating the world in their thriving multitudes. Arathur looked upon this, and smiled, for there was prey to be had in abundance.

He began to hunt, and with each fresh kill, more life sprouted from the scattered blood of his victims. Ferocious Dire Beasts, the essence of the slain beings mixed with the primal essence of the hunter-god to create monsters that were stronger, faster and far more dangerous than any which had gone before.

Arathur barely noticed.

OK, 15AP to start with.
1 AP to use Alter Land - most of the surface of this world, save the mountains and their immediate foothills, is now covered by the Endless Forest.
0AP to use Create mundane monstrous life - The Endless Forest is now populated with a bewildering variety of different creatures, with an emphasis on canine types.
1AP to use Create Monstrous Life - Dire Animals. Just about every non-sentient species has a Dire Varient, which lose some of their higher reasoning in order to become especially large and ferocious.
5 AP to gain the ability One with the Wild, which grants me an additional dice to attack and HP.
8AP remaining.

[mystic1110]

The City Cometh

The continent, alone under the blazing of fire of two suns took shape. In the center stood Arlom. He was surrounded by mountains, his foundation weekend by his brother's caves, and a far as he could feel his buildings stood against the wild. Order against the chaos.

Yet he felt the creation of minds. Minds seeking community, placement, opportunity, advancement, him. The city beckons. All the cities beckon.

In the Maws of Madness, the frigid homes of the Ice Giants a city grew. Wooden houses, taller than the Ice giants have built up to now, covered in a soft glowing sheet of icy that sparkled from the dual suns. The homes built themselves great hearths making them warm to the touch, the heat from each house melting the ever present ice gave rise to a constant steam emitting from the city as if it were a single ship standing on the precipice of the wave that was the mountain. The wooden city surrounded itself by walls on all sides, impenetrable and deadly. The city surrounded it self with spears, and when the Ice Titans came upon it they named it Kopʹyem Goroda, the Speared City. This place would become the fortress and capital of the ice giants... it would become a city of legends.

And in the doorways and windows Arlom was watching, and occasionally feeding, the stuff of Urban legend.

In the The Pit, the home of the Vahnatai, the darkness grew wild. Fungus and beasts roamed free, yet in one corner of the darkness, far beneath the welcoming streets of Arlom, another city grew. In a single gigantic cavern the city took shape every bit as strange as the Vahnatai who would inhabit it. The city existed in darkness,and so was not built for beauty, and since it's inhabitants could float and fly their were no stairs nor walkways. Instead the city resembled an inverted coral, organic structures coming out of the walls, floor and ceiling, structures coming out of those structures. Spiraling upwards and inwards. This would become the first and greatest city of the Vahnatai who would know it as Urodlivyy

And in the doorways and windows Arlom was waiting, and occasionally feeding, the stuff of Urban legend.

For already Arlom's doors appeared and vanished... already his own streets a lone Frost Giant and a group of Vahnatai found themselves, in the ever shifting walls and the ever present city. No one spoke to them, and they could not even see each other except out of the corner of their eyes. They were perfectly safe - and they were slowly going mad. The doors that led them to Arlom closed behind them... and then were gone.

And on the streets of Arlom, the residents heard a low rumble, distinguishable from an earthquake but the gods within heard..

I join as well.


15 AP

1 Alter Land: Create City for the Ice Giants: Kopʹyem Goroda. It is also a shell city of Arlom, as such he can at any time become Kopʹyem Goroda. Remember Arlom is not A city, nor is he every city, cut he could be ANY city.
1 Alter Land: Create City for the Vahnatai: Urodlivyy. It is also a shell city of Arlom, as such he can at any time become Urodlivyy. Remember Arlom is not A city, nor is he every city, cut he could be ANY city.
3 Create Artifact: Doors of Arlom. Anyone who opens one of its Doors and goes inside will wander the City, never finding a way out, until they die. These Doors can appear at any place at any point in time, even over other doors. Their appearances vary. Some Doors have been described as elaborately ornate. Others have been described as plain and regular. A person may step through the door and as long as it remains open, others may step through it and he may step back.... but they have a habit of closing or simply disappearing. They are rare though, the stuff of urban legend.
1 Join pantheon.
3 Create Sanctum. Arlom is a Sanctum into and onto himself. Seriously you can live inside Arlom. Hell you can use alter land actions inside him. HELL you can make your own sanctums INSIDE Arlom!

6 AP left

[Snowfire]

Light rent the darkness. Darkness fought the light. Writing and spinning and burning in and out of existence in so many ways. Fire of silver and ruby blazed, a vessel of rainbows flitting between. The First City formed, power grafting itself a new home for all. Darkness settled within, held back by merciless ice and unending frost. All was coming together as had been intended.

And then Death came. That was normal – expected even. But the manner…that was something else. Mortals were not playthings. They were beneath Gods only in so much as their power was lesser. And somewhere, flickering in the point of light near her sister, that idea flowed into something that no longer was simple idea. Everything has a time. Everything has a place. Everything has a cause. And effect.

Death came, laughter and malice ignoring the pleas given to spare – even if they did not deserve such a fate. And the idea grew, a seed, a spark, now a fire, and then something…other. As the Silver and Red Suns shone down on creation, at its very edge blue and white clashed against each other in echoing blasts of sound, each paired to an almost blinding flash of light.

Then came the scream.

It rose from the nothingness like a shark from the deep, on the edge of an eruption of divine power. And as it swept across the void, it spoke of things that many had never even considered. Pain not of its own shattered serenity. Peace cracked and then fled before burning, whirling, deadly rage.
And out of that scream, as it trailed off into the vast emptiness, a hand of shining silver metal tore the edges of the shell around which her sister waited. It reached up, grasping and searching for the sibling that she knew was there, felt through a steadily forming sibling bond.

Then her hand met her sister’s, clasped it tight, and pulled. Lightning crackled within the spark, greedily sucking in the power around the nascent godling as she rose out of the collapsing point of divine light. Silver metal shone and glinted, reflecting the white and red of the binary stars at the centre of the plane, but she ignored the lightshow as she reached for the maiden all in thorns beside her.

“Thank you, my beloved sister.” Her words are soft, threaded with exhaustion. “Thank you, Alynaia.” She looks towards the centre of the void, the glittering stars and playground of the other divines. “They look like they’re having fun.” She looked back to her sister, power kindling within her. “Let’s see if we can make some of our own, shall we? “

[Draken]

The Road Most Traveled

Arlom took to the edges of the land, building more cities as he went. Ing'dras followed on the back of a hooved beast clad in the same silver as his own, he trod between the cities and between the settlements of beings that were and he trode were he knew settlements would one day be, clearing the ways for those who would one day walk his steps.

As he went, Ing'dras reached mortalkind only when the land turned and the suns were hidden by miles of stone, and creatures slept with empty minds and dull nights. It did not strike his fancy, so many hours wasted that could be spent remembering and wondering.

Back in the first city, the lone marble archway that was the Vast Gate, a colossal monument in the midst of the shining plazas of Arlom, churned as silver sand fled from the unknowable place that it would one day connect, carried by winds to the fourteen corners of the universe to settle on the eyes of sleepers everywhere. By Ing'dras' will they carried a gift and a demand, and the least passage to that outside place that had yet to be.

Where Ing'dras walked, on each window he looked through, he breathed a word to the sleepers that made each of them turn and fog to briefly cover the glass while he rode off.

"Dream..."

1 AP: Alter Land: Ing'dras made roads to connect all cities and villages that are and all cities and villages that will be. How does he know where a city will be?

Well, there are many ways he can know such. One possibility is temporal shenanigans. One probability is that he just chose good spots for his roads to lead to and hey, the roads are already there, that is one less effort to be made by eventual settlers. They just follow the road and build where it leads, praise the Vast Gate for the ease of finding a new home and the bounty it likely offers.

Sideways thinking.

5 AP: COOOOOOOOOOOOOOSMIC DECREEEEEEEEEEEEEE: Ing'dras has decreed that all sleepers dream of the past, their minds wandering to that place that does not exist expect in the memory of The Repository of All History and holds all of the past -realized or not - within it.

There are fourteen Os and 14 Es in that Cosmic Decree. HEED.

6 AP left.

[bryn0528]

Omnigenesis, the creation of everything.
At first, nothing. And then, all things. A slightest fraction of time passed and the change was complete. However, let us not dwell on the end, but at the flashes of synopses which transpired before. This is what happened:
TAB The earth beneath a tree stirred. Bones of a fell beast rested here, cut from swatches of flesh long ago by superior predator. In its own time it had devoured the flesh of smaller beings and mated with many females. In its own end, though, it died. That was the rule; one birth and one death. In the end you had to give back what you took. But in the meantime, there was so much more to explore.
TAB And so a patch of earth began to stir. The roots of small plants spread little fingers, bright green shoots flayed the earth in their epic journey toward the sun. They grew and grew over many days in nights above these bones, clumped so tight together they drained all the nutrients. The soil could not support so much life, and the plants began to wither and frail. Small mushrooms commercialized the decay, and erupted like small sunbursts, and gathered in a form. When the fungus drained all last life, the bones stood on their own. The fibers of muscles and sinew grew, and then skin and hair. A god stood alone in the forest.
TAB This god looked around. His flesh was dark, dark. Dark as black soil, rich with nutrient. His eyes wide and hollow, skin stretched over his skull. He found a small bed of white clay and drew lines across his body in the form of the bones he once was. He cut great sheets of patterns and dressed himself in flowing robes. A god walks through the forest barefoot and collects small bits of wood and bone and stone that he ties in his hair or in bracelets around his wrists and ankles.
TAB But you couldn't give without taking. Wait, no, the other way around. That one. He didn't take without giving. And so flowers bloomed all across the continent where he walked. Some were small and brightly colored, others dull and fluffy. Berries grew from the branches of trees he brushed against. Far beneath his feet fungi mutated and took on new forms.
TAB And then the god stood in a vast and empty city. He set a hand lightly against a wall. In a brief instant a wicked smile passed those tooth-painted lips of his. A bright pink tongue flicked the sharpest point of eyetooth. And the god folded away from thought and space. "I am the Marquis, and this will be very fun indeed."

The Marquis AP = 12. (15) - (1, Create Mundane Life; Herbs) - (1, Create Mundane Concept; Herbal Remedy) - (1, Create Mundane Concept; Herbal Poison).

About, I'm using Herbs as a very broad term here, and not in the exact sense we use it. Herbs here are the plants that heal and poison. As an additional note, I'd like to add that these are the same plants. That is, medicine and poison are closely related skills (although there's no one yet using either). What I want to happen are two plants that have opposite effects, that in moderation can cure an ailment, or in severity can cause ailment. The same plants are both poisons and medicines, but I've split the skill because even though the knowledge is related, it's possible to be more trained in one than another, and also possible to operate without explicit knowledge of the other.
Example, there is one flower which slows the heart rate, and another that speeds it. A person with a weak heartbeat could take the second to strengthen their heart, but too much could cause cardiac arrest. If someone's heart races too much, than the first plant could be used to calm it down, but too much and the person's heart will simply stop. A healer might overdose a patient, unknowingly, causing an adverse reaction. A poisoner might not use a strong dosage enough and cure the king's heart murmur rather than falling him.
TL, DR? Herbs can make you sick or not sick, depending on dosage.

[Darklady2831]

Vahnatai Lands, Death

Gjol Maduur acknowledged Ensirex's statement, mulling it over. "Such weak, fragile things, mortal minds... content as they are, to labor away at the nothingness of their miserable existence... but give them a glimpse of truth, of pure cosmic knowledge, of primordial fear, and their minds break like the weak things they are..."

Gjol Maduur considered the question of a godly death, and withdrew his mind. "Perhaps... you are free to explore my home, my caves..."

Urodlivv
The Vahnatai had begun to dwell in the strange structures Arlom had created. Slowly at first, but eventually the alien geometries of the City of Urodlivv drew them in. Seven Hundred were their number, an enormous colony for the Vahnatai. The buildings, odd as they were, resembled being shaped from the stone. Sculted, rather than built. The Vahnatai congregated there, and with so many minds working together in concert, formed the first society of the Vahnatai.

There were three tiers to Vahnatai society. The highest tier, the Ihrno, were the senators and rulers of Vahnatai society. They gathered in a central hall, using their psychic powers to converse. Together, the thirteen Ihrno governed the City of Urodlivv.

Below the Ihrno, were the Bok. Officials and learned scholars, the Bok numbered ninety. They did many things, from recording the telepathic conferences of the Irhno in crystals, to pushing the limits of their psionic potential, and teaching others to do the same. The Bok lived on the second tier of Urodivv, above the ground, but below the Irhno.

On the lowest tier of Vahnatai society lay the Kor. The workforce and warriors of Urodivv, the Kor worked to scavenge and shape the crystals used by the Vahnatai to record information. They wielded crude weapons of stone, and used their psionic powers to hunt the dangerous beasts of the Underdark.

Thus, the Olgai Clan was formed. Ruled over by Rentar'Irhno, and the Council of Twelve, the Olgai were on their first steps towards Greatness.

2 AP - 1 AP = 1 AP
Create Society: The Olgai Clan

[Elricaltovilla]

Around the Binary Star System

Well you two brothers have fun. I'm going to see if I can get inside this thing. Come visit me after your third brother shows up? Now if I can just figure out how to get this open. At the word "open" the door unseald itself and the interior of the Starseeker lit up to welcome its master. Cool! And the mist that was Acantheis slipped inside. The door shut firmly behind him.

Inside Starseeker

The indistinct mist that made up Acantheis floated down the hallway.I think I'm going to need a different form. He said to himself. A screen floated down from somewhere within Starseeker, lighting up with a display that shifted quickly though a myriad of different forms. Ooh! That one! Acantheis said excitedly.

The mists that made up Acantheis swirled around and then divested themselves from his core, leaving a standing bipedal form grown from deep purple amethyst. The hard crystal body tinkled slightly as the god tested out his new form. Looking around him with newly forged sapphire eyes, the god's mouthless face seemed to pout. The mist of his old form still hung around, clogging up the passageways of his ship.

Well now, what am I going to do with all of this crap? The door opened again, and the Aether of Acantheis's old form was swept out into the void. That works, thanks Starseeker! I think I'm going to try making some cool new stuff now. Maybe some mini-mes!

Starting AP: 12
Create Legendary Concept: 5 AP Aether. The leftover 'stuff' of Acantheis's inventions is jettisoned into the void. Sentient species can use Aether as a way to create magical effects ranging from moving objects at a distance, converting one element into another to creating incredibly detailed illusions from images in their mind. Aether is a finite, but slowly replenishing resource that if used too much will disappear

Create Greater Life: 3 AP Quartzians. They look like Acantheis's crystal form, but smaller and in a variety of colors. They are capable of survivng unaided in the void and travelling through it at arbitrarily high speeds, but they haven't left the ship yet because they are too close to the suns. They breed through parthenogenesis and are thus genderless. For the record they look like Shardminds from 4e.

Final AP: 4 (12-3-5)

[ChrisClark13]

The last spark lay there for a while pusling slowly as if it was asleep...

The godling Vylcent wandered in the dreams of the past, and in a hundred steps, a hundred hours, he reached the end of current history and came across a large silver gate, drifting through it. Then, he woke up with a flash of green light... not wanting to be outdone by his brothers just yet.

Suddenly he and Velharan were engulfed in a ball of fire, first it was red, then white, then blue, but then it settled upon the color green.

Then the now green spark of light yawned and drew essence from his new creation to make a body for himself, in short order the sun-stuff had settled down and formed into a bipedal shape. Which then hugged his brother. Velharan! I'm alive and life is... awesome!

He released his brother after a moment and drifted outside of his green sun which began to settle into a stable orbit around it's "siblings." "Hey! Check this out!" he inhaled and ahem'd a few times. "I decree that a portion of mine and mine brothers' light shall rest within every mortal and form the soul!"He looked around exitcedly as his words began to take effect. "See! Awesome right?

15 AP
5 AP Weave Plane: The Green Sun
Somehow in a trinary orbit with the other suns, it shines a nice green color. Like the others, approaching it unprotected is a really bad idea.
5 AP Cosmic Decree: Every mortal being has a portion of the Velharan, Valmyr, and Vylcent's lights within them, forming the soul. The amount of the lights are not always in equal porportion to each other. I think this means that each of the brother's personalilty's forms the core of all the mortal's personalilities. But what effect this has for sure will need to be decided in OOC. Other gods are free to throw their little bits into this mix as well, but it'll have to be done with another Cosmic Decree if you want it to affect every mortal.
5 AP Left

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Urodlivv, Death

Ensirex did not bother responding to the other god. It was possible he accepted the other gods permission and did saw no point in answering it. It was also possible he had not seen the need for the other gods permission, and so largely ignored it. Anything was possible.

Being done with his experimentation on the first Mortal death, Ensirex cataloged the knowledge he had gained in his mind and retreated into the dark, to emerge into the city of the Vanhatai. Now he felt something odd. It was like the divine spark of the gods, alongside the buzz of conscious minds attending their various tasks.

Perhaps his wish would come true sooner than he had perceived. And indeed, an opportunity presented itself nicely. Another Vanhatai by the name of Vahess had stumbled dangerously over an unseen precipice on the far edge of the city. His body lay broken at the bottom, his life bleeding from him, and so Death came.

Ensirex leaned over the creature. He was not interested in its death yet. Currently, he was interested in investigating the strange spark it now bore within it. Laying the creature down on a conjured slab of stone, perfectly even, Ensirex used his divine abilities, as well as his sickle arms, to begin cutting neatly into the creature, his hands darting into his body and organs, sealing and cutting away at tissue, masterfully stemming the tide of blood and setting broken bones internally.

As he saw to the beings wounds which surely would have been fatal, he also searched within the creature for anything he could glean about its newfound spirit. He found it maddeningly elusive, though he learned a great deal about the internal workings of the Vanhatai. Eventually, he concluded that such a cursory analysis was unlikely to yield results.

He would need a more robust specimen. This concluded, he sealed and cauterized the incisions he had made, until almost impossibly thin scars were all that remained of his work. All that he had done was perhaps only possible with his divine abilities, but many Vanhatai had gathered, and in time they might replicate the techniques he had used, if they understood them.

As for the subject of this study, Vahess began to slowly rise from the slab. The agony had been maddening, and the sight of the strange insect-deity working on his inner organs, dainty carapaced hands plunged wrist deep in his blood and guts had been surreal even for a denizen of these caverns. But his eyes had been the widest as Ensirex rooted about his torso and body. His attention most rapt. Ensirex had left a mark upon him in more than one way. The Reaper would surely return someday to continue his research. For is part, Vahess had his own research to conduct. The first true disciple of this craft had been born.


10AP=15AP-5AP Gain Ability: Mad Scientist -0AP Create Advanced Concept: Surgery. Surgery, the medicinal and scientific art of cutting into a living or dead creature to learn more about it (so dissection is covered under this), or to heal its internal injuries or damage has been created. Although Ensirex's example is quite advanced, what mortal surgeries begin to exist now will be far cruder in nature. (so this isn't like instant modern surgery for them)

[Elricaltovilla]

Inside Starseeker

Starting AP: 4+4(rollover)
Gain Ability: Source of the Arcane 5 AP
Final AP: 3

Around Acantheis floated many smaller crystal swells. Each one orbited their creator as if fascinated by every facet of his crystalline form. Alright guys. That's enough orbiting practice I think. Its time for you to head out and find a land of your own. Come back and visit anytime.

"We still fear to leave, Father Acantheis. The void is dark and wild, we will not survive without your protection." One of the crystal clouds said.

I mean yeah, It could be dangerous out there, but I'm kind of all over the place right now, see that gassy stuff outside the window? Acantheis gestured to the Aether that now permeated the void. That's me. I guess I'll give you all a little knowledge on how to use that stuff for your own protection. It could be interesting. There was a pulse of light and knowledge of Aether was passed to the Quartzians.

OK, now get out of here and see what's going on in that big, wonderful world outside!

Starting AP: 3
Create Magical Concept: 1 AP Arcanists- Arcanists are sentient beings with the knowledge of how to manipulate Aether. They are essentially wizards, but only have access to Force based Evocations, Illusions and some long range communication spells. Pretty simple stuff on the surface.
Create Land: 2 AP Geodesia- Geodesia is the "lost homeland" of the Quartzians, Acantheis made it for them but forgot to tell them about it. Its a roughly Texas sized geode/asteroid and a hollow world. The inside is filled with various crystal structures and some mundane silicate lifeforms. it follows an extremely complicated and probably impossible orbital pattern that takes it all over the cosmology of the material plane. The Quartzians will find it soon enough.
Final AP: 0

[Gotham]

Somewhere near the Continent
5AP+4AP(rollover)=9ap
Bharus noted with mixed feelings the creation of a city in the lands of the Frostgiants. On the one hand, it was a fine example of order and law. On the other, his children had not had to build it themselves. For the moment, Bharus let it pass.

He felt it as his creations were given a spark of divine power in their souls. He was curious, and resolved to find it's source soon.

The Frostking looked out over this continent, lit at times by the three suns, at others drenched in night. He saw wild beasts run through the wood, through the snow, and saw the Dire animals wreaking havoc. He saw a greater challenge to his people, and let it pass. At first.

Frost giant Kingdom

Bjorn clenched his wooden spear tight. The stone tip glinted in the light of the three suns as he leveled it at the enormous, bone-spine-covered creatures in front of him. If it hadn't been so hideous, he would have called it a pack of wolves. But he had seen creatures mutated like this before.

Normally, a dire wolf would be no match for a mighty Giant like Bjorn. But he was weakened by hunger, and injured in a fall. A pack like this could hurt him. The first creature lunged, and Bjorn thrust his spear forward. It was a good strike, piercing the beast in the throat and throwing it to the side. But the spear in his hand snapped under the weight of the beast.

Bjorn cast the broken weapon aside and turned to the rest of the snarling pack.

Bharus

Bharus saw his creation die at the hands of the pack of dire wolves. He was displeased. It was not Bjorn's spirit or drive that had ended him, merely his weapon. The Frost king saw an opportunity. He reached into the mountains. He grabbed hold of a sturdy lump of iron. And from it he forged a dozen creatures, each with the knowledge the giants would need.

Kop'yem Goroda

The gates of Kop'yem Goroda opened for the hooded figures that trudged through the snow. When asked later, the guardsmen on duty would deny having opened the gates themselves, claiming a frosty wind blew the heavy doors open for the clan of figures.

The beings were short, almost comically so to the giants. They looked strange as well. Pink skin, beards of hair instead of ice. The strangeness of them kept the giants away until the proceeding reached the longhouse of the Overjarl, Heimer.

The meeting was short. The short creatures, barely even able to mount the threshold of the door, spoke three sentences, showed the Overjarl three things.

"We are the Dwarves, created by the Frostking Bharus."

First, a weapon. A clear, glittering blue greataxe, forged from a material the Dwarves called "Icestone". The dwarves would go on to show the giants how to extract ice from the land, and to treat it and forge it into weapons and armor.

"We bring you great knowledge, all from his holiness the Order."
Second, a holy symbol. A black stone inside a square of iron.

"As we are all children of him, we wish peace and alliance."
Third, a brand. Each dwarf pulled up their sleeve to show an angular symbol emblazoned on their forearm in the shape of the holy symbol.

Heimer thought, and agreed. The dwarves would stay in Kop'yem Goroda until they had taught the Giants, then would depart to create their own cities.

High above, Bharus grinned and turned his attention to the suns.


9AP-5=4AP
Create Sentient Life: Dwarves: The Dwarves are a wise, hardy people with a full knowledge of the divinity of Bharus. 2AP
Create Society: Dwarven Clans: The 12 Dwarves form the basis of the clan, which will form cities in the lowlands of the mountains, near the Endless Forest's edge. Their culture embraces the sharing of knowledge, with every dwarf undergoing an apprenticeship at somepoint. History and religion will be heavily valued. They have a standing army/guard corp. 0AP (Mortal Shepard)
Create Advanced Concept: Ice-Smithing: This material is strong as steel, but is forgable out of ice, with the proper training. It may have special properties when magic is introduced.
Create Order: Order of the Black Stone: This order is a religious-military organization that will give rise to Clerics and Paladins (once they get created), all in the Service of Bharus. 1AP (Mortal Shepard)

[Darklady2831]

The Council of Twelve and One

Deep within the Vahnatai City of Urodlivv, the Council of Twelve and One convened. They each sat, cross legged, on a small dais. The One, Rentar'Ihrno, sat directly across from the door into the Council Chamber. She closed her eyes, and began the Telepathic conference.

"The Kor, Vahess has begun practicing an art unknown." Rentar'Irhno thought.
"Shall he be stopped?" thought Kahaev'Ihrno, the sixth member of the Council.
"Sanctioned?"
"Or perhaps encouraged..." chimed in the fifth and fourth members of the Council.
"They have not disrupted the castes with this art."
"But they do not share this art?"
"We have not asked." stated the twelfth council member.
"Then it is decided?"
"Agreed." all the council members thought at once.

Thus, Rentar'Ihrno ended the telepathic conference, and the Irhno stood, leaving the Council Chamber.

Urodlivv, Kor Tier

Rentar'Ihrno, flanked by two Bok, floated to the door of Vahess's dwelling. A psionic knock was made, alerting the Vahnatai surgeon to their presence. "Vahess'Kor, come and converse." Thought Rentar'Ihrno. She was dressed in the typical attire for a Vahnatai, a long, flowing garment, draped over the shoulders to cover both the front and back of the Vahnatai. It was an orange and red striped cloak (http://www.mode-ethnique-amerique-du-sud.com/media/catalog/product/cache/4/thumbnail/450x450/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/i/file_13.png), as was typical for the Ihrno caste. She also wore a talisman, carved in the likeness of a simple black spiral (http://i.imgur.com/zUwp3.jpg), her symbol of office and the sigil of Gjol Maduur. In her left hand was a staff of cavewood, topped with a simple crystal, one of the common tools among Vahnatai society, used to store their telepathic information, and replay it when needed.

The Pillar of Madness

Gjol Maduur stirred within his pillar, stretching his tendrils of inky blackness out, into the waters of the Dark Sea. It searched them, probing for a mind to explore. He found nothing, none with the capacity to think dwelled within the caves near him. So he stretched his influence, and at the edge of his reach, he found them. The Frost Giants of Kop'Yem Goroda, they dwelled in the sun and did not feel the fear of Gjol Maduur. Thus, he found the weakest of them, and broke it. He poured his consciousness into the Frost Giant's mind, shattering it's sanity and driving it into a howling rage. The giant grabbed its nearby spear, charging at one of it's kin, screaming of the darkness below.

"Dark, the dark, the deep! Deeper than deep, the nightmare! The walker in madness! He who drives the weak to fear! He is here! He seeks our minds! FLEE!" The giant screamed, stabbing one of the giants near him and dropping his spear. He ran, screaming, and flailing about. Gjol Maduur snickered, retreating from his mind as he felt the sheer terror the giant felt. "Madness will consume you..." His voice echoed through Kop'Yem Goroda, striking fear into the hearts of those who saw the spectacle.

As Gjol Maduur retreated to his Pillar, he realized that he was stronger, he had claimed madness as his own domain.

1 AP + 5 AP - 3 AP = 3 AP
Gain domain: Madness (Insanity)
-5 AP Gain Ability: Inconceivable
-2 AP Gather Pantheon: The Aberrant Council

[mystic1110]

The City Cometh

The more races, the more minds, and the more they yearn for the city. And the city yearns for them. Within the Quartzian's lost home, Geodesia, huge spires of crystal loomed, illuminated red, white and green. The suns dancing in the sky. The City would be come to known as Zobeide, or the Lost City. She sat, proud within the giant hollow world, exposed to the suns, with streets that wound about themselves as in a skein. The city was built as if it were a fractal, crystals and gems folding into themselves... and it was as empty as Arlom. Inviting and Vast. Alone.

Elsewhere in the darkness of the ground... the roads from Arlom, Kop'yem Goroda, and even the far reaches of Urodlivyy... they interconnect for roads are just the tendrils of the city... asking, pleading for people to explore and visit. And these roads reach to the Dwarves. And slowly so very slowly yet another city began to build itself. Sheets of metal and obsidian. Black as night. Torches lit the facades an eerie red as if it were a gigantic hearth. It was an industrial beauty. Full of alleys and walkways, efficient and made for a society of smiths. Mine tracks ran through the center of each road, down tunnels and into portcullis. The city would become known as the greatest of Dwarven cities, Karlik, The Mine, The Forge.

And within the fires of Karlik, within the homes, the long tunnels that served as it's entrances... an Urban legend developed. Dwarves told their children... be careful which door you walk through, because you might not emerge.

And thus a couple lone dwarves found themselves in a shinning white metropolis. Lost... with the constant feeling they were being watched. And with no way back to Karlik.. or anywhere else. The roads didn't lead out from Arlom... they only led in.

The city had cometh and taken them away.


6 AP + 5 Rollover (+1 from pantheon)

1 Alter Land: Create City for the Drawrves: Karlik. It is also a shell city of Arlom, as such he can at any time become Karlik. Remember Arlom is not A city, nor is he every city, cut he could be ANY city.

1 Alter Land: Create City for the Quartzian: Zobeide. It is also a shell city of Arlom, as such he can at any time become Zobeide. Remember Arlom is not A city, nor is he every city, cut he could be ANY city. No one lives in this city yet and no Quartizian is in Arlom yet... their city is Lost after all..

AP 8

[Elricaltovilla]

In The Void, Just Barely Far Enough Away From The Suns

The Quartzians where rather unceremoniously ejected from Starseeker, sent to search the void in their god given quest for knowledge. Outside Starseeker's hull, an image appeared. It was an Illusory Map of the known cosmos, showing the strange orbit of the trinary stars and the few floating continents that made up the landmass of the solar system. A bright red arrow pointed to a spot near the Silver Star. You Are Here was written over that arrow. The Quartzians divided themselves into small groups and set off to locate the foreign lands.

If you guys want, I can break out the old MS paint skills and try to keep track of a Map for this place.

The "Lost" Home of the Quartzians

Hemat floated through the vast chasm of emptiness that was the void, riding the flowing currents of Aether, his dark gray crystals bobbing up and down in the Aether's gentle embrace. Ahead of Hemat was the Quartzian's goal, a fairly large asteroid, perfectly spherical and dotted with holes that went deep into its crust.

Hemat flew into one of these holes and found a vast cavern filled with glowing crystal spires and strange crystalline animals. As the Quartzian walked deeper into the cave it began to feel more like home. This was what they had been searching for.

It has been found. the message rode out to all the Quartzians on ripples of Aether.

[Draken]

Gates to the Unknown

Ing'dras still rode across the world leaving roads in his wake, where he could tread no longer he did so anyway, vanishing through a shimmering door into some other place.

In this fashion did Ing'dras ride forth from the first continent and let the galop of his mount echo through the caverns of the underdark, and so too did the beast's silver hooves smash a dusty path across Geodesia, reaching into Zobeide and spreading from there into every direction.

Where he trode too did Ing'dras carve his runes where they could speak of the tales he had to recant, great murals telling the creation of the world as he, oldest of all, knew and as he gleaned from dreamers of all kinds. These murals also bore the wisdom of the Traveler, a boon to all who wished to walk the world in his footsteps.

6 AP + 4 Ap + 1 PAP
3 AP: Create Artifact: Gateways of Ing'dras. These ornate structures often exist in roads that would otherwise be dead ends, each one leads to a specific other gateway somewhere in the world. These gateways link the disparate corners of the world, such as the First Continent, the Underdark, Geodesia, and any lands that might appear in the future. They form in the wake of Ing'dras and are too massive to move out of their places.

1 AP: Create Concept: Writting. Ing'dras leaves behind the written history of the world in a divine script. This concept is open to all races.

1 AP: Create Concept: Transportation. Ing'dras leaves behind the images of chariots, wagons, rails, boats and barges. Sometimes pulled by men and often by beasts. This concept is also open to all races.

5 Ap + 1 PAP left. Which will go to domains, obviously. But later.

[Maugan Ra]

The Endless Forest

Arathor prowled along the edges of the forest, staying just shy of the foothills. He could feel the touch of another deity on the cold air that blew down from the mountain, could smell it on the forms of the strange life that settled along the border between their domain. Everything that was in him was reacting to the spark of divinity - rival, peer, enemy, packmate... He did not yet know, and his instincts demanded an accounting. But not yet.

He turned his attention to the small creatures that made settlements near the edge of the forest, unseen save for the faintest impression of burning eyes in the gloom that sent young dwarves crying for their parents. They were brave, to dwell willingly so close to the domains of predators, and after some time he saw why. They used... weapons, claws and fangs torn from the earth itself to gain an advantage over the beasts. Interesting.

And yet, Arathor saw that it would not be enough. They had not been born with these weapons, and their usage of them could only ever form a pale shadow of the instinctive grace of tooth and claw. And as he comprehended this, so too did the beasts that owed him their bloodline.

Almost overnight, the Dwarves and their Giant neighbors saw an upswing in the number of deaths attributed to the beasts of the wild. Where previously the monsters of the forest would lunge for the first available prey, now they waited patiently for guards to drop and foes to become vulnerable. Where they had once been loose and unorganized, now they displayed teamwork and coordination, isolating individual targets and bringing them down while others kept distraught kin from offering assistance. And with each successive encounter, the witnesses became only more certain - the beasts were enjoying their work.

9ap left, plus 5 from rollover makes 14.
1AP creates concept - tactics. The idea of groups of individuals fighting together and cooperating to overcome individually superior foes. This concept is freely available, with one restriction - societies that use it must have a reasonable chance of gaining experience with the fighting styles of beast packs.

1AP - Bless. The beasts of the Endless Forest seem to act with a malevolent intelligence, or at least a sort of primal cunning, and that makes them exceptionally dangerous. Fortunately, the effect does not seem to extend to populations that move away from the forest.

3AP - Gain Domain of War (Hunters).

9 left over.

[Darklady2831]

Arlom

Iiloss'Bok stumbled through the door, looking around and realizing that this was not his home. He spun around, but too late, the door behind him had closed, trapping him here forever. He was frantic, he opened the door, and saw nothing beyond it. He slumped down, knowing he was lost.

For many minutes he sat there, taking in what had happened to him. Then he stood, turning around and walking down the alley he found himself in. He called out telepathically, as the Vahnatai had no spoken language. "Hello?" He called out, waiting a few moments for a response. "Hello?!" He called again, this time louder.

[Gotham]

Bharus

Just as Bharus was girding himself to see what beings had wrought the three spheres that blazed overhead, his attention was turned elsewhere by the plaintive cries and prayers of his Dwarven people.

Help us, they cried, The wilds batter at our walls and our people. We cannot harvest trees for fire or wander outside our cities for fear of the beasts of the endless forest.

The Frostking heard the cries.

Garwon, second-largest Dwarven city

In the stone church of Garwon, built into the mountainside, the offering firepits and sweetwood censures burned, their greasy smoke rising through chimneys carved into the stone of the mountain, giving the impression from the distance that the mountain was burning.

Beside the pits, the High Priest intoned supplications to the Frostking, throwing into the flames a piece of ore carved from the mountain, a branch from a tree felled by his acolytes, and last, a handful of dirt from below the frozen snow. The gathered mothers and children who lived closest to the walls prayed with him, fearful of the night growing outside.

His eyes fluttered, and he felt himself taken briefly away, and then returned.

There was a collective gasp, and when the High priest opened his eyes, he found a new being in the church.

A being unclothed, his skin pale like a dwarves, his beard icy like a giant's. His eyes were as black as obsidian, his hair white as snow. Below the waist his legs gave way to a whirling drift of wind, and as the dwarves watched, the drift coalesced into a pair of legs, thick and strong.

There, in the church of Garwon, stood the Frostking himself, naked as a babe and in the guise of a dwarf.

"You have done well. The hardships you face are not your failing. There is...another force at work." His voice was strong as a blizzard's roar, gentle as a campfire's smoke. He strode past the assembled dwarves, as they all fell to try and touch their god. A young smith's apprentice, his leg bitten off by a dire beast in the woods, hobbled forward with the others, leaning on a crude prosthetic fashioned from steel bolted together. Bharus stopped.

"You forged that yourself?"

The dwarf, Taren by name, stared at the floor.

"Yes, Lord of the Drifts. The brothers of the Black Stone Order helped me attach it."

"Taren, son of Markhis, apprentice to the Stoneheart Forgers, from this moment on, I name you Taren the Reforged, and your efforts shall not go unrewarded. Let all know that those who face adversity and hardship with courage, community, and ingenuity are favored in my eye. Spread this word to your people, and the giants in the mountains, and to all who you would have me bless, Taren the reforged."

Bharus placed his hand on Taren's shoulder, and a streak of frost ran down his chest until it reached the gnarled leg. In a moment, it had been covered in ice.

CRK. The ice shattered, and in it's place was a gleaming stone and steel contraption of a leg. Taren fell to his knees and praised Bharus.

Bharus nodded and walked off.

He walked through the city, out the doors, and into the woods.

Still in the guise of a dwarf, he went until he could not see the edge.

The animals of the woods came about him. The dire ones, surrounding him. A bear, normally a solitary animal, growled at him, flanked by other beasts of the wood.

"WALKER IN THE WOODS," he roared into the forest, sending the beasts scattering. "MONSTER WHO HAS PLAGUED MY CHILDREN. SHOW YOURSELF. T


4AP
Raise Hero: Taren the Reforged, Dwarven Prophet. Taren will be the first holy warrior as soon as Divine magic is created (next rollover at latest). As now, he is a proselytizer. 2AP.
4-2= 2AP

[Elricaltovilla]

Zobeide

The city of Zobeide was beautiful, fused crystal spires and gardens of fractal quartz ferns. It was glowing glass spheres and tamed silicate beasts. It was also the city of loss.

Since Hemat had led the other Quartzians to Geodia and subsequently Zobeide, no small percentage of their number had disappeared through the smoky quartz doors, never to be seen again. The Quartzians were few, and the loss of any of them was noticed quickly. The inquisitive and scientifically minded had begun mapping the disappearances, and a formula had been constructed. A pattern to the doors was determined.

Hemat stood in front of the next door. "I will go through this door, to see what lies on the other side. Continue to use the formula to protect our people in case I do not return." Hemat stepped through the doorway, and out into the empty city that was a god.

@mystic: I hope you don't mind me using a mathematical formula to keep the rest of the Quartzians from getting sucked into your god for now. Obviously you can just change the pattern up again and they'll be screwed :smalltongue:

[Elemental]

Velharan watched as Acantheis left in his rainbow vessel.
What a strange individual...
He returned to watching his Unnamed Brother's spark. Suddenly he was surrounded by a solar fireball, shifting in colours until it finally settled upon green. It was blinding, but he did not mind because it meant that both his Brothers lived as he did.
He followed his Unnamed Brother to the surface of the Green Sun and watched as he made his decree. He had an inkling as to what his younger Brother's name would be, but he would wait for him to choose it for himself.
Truly wonderful in every way Brother. Our light shall guide the mortals.

[Lady Serpentine]

Alynaia nodded, her sister's presence causing the bite of the thorns to ease, the vines pulling themselves from her flesh entirely, in fact, for it soothed her mind; and, with that, she learned what it was to be free of pain, and that she could attain that state, though it was hard for her.

"You are welcome, dearest kin," Lady Pain replied, smiling gently, and somewhat exultantly at her sister. "And thank you as well, Xia...

As for making some things of our own, that sounds delightful. Since you suggested it, would you care to have the honor of being the one to choose what our first creation is?"

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

The universe hummed in answer to his brother's decree, and Valmyr felt more than saw a thousand thousand sparks spring up upon the dark continent that floated in the black. They were all faint reflections of himself, wrapped in a pattern with his brothers' light, and he knew that what he saw was truly remarkable. Turning to Vylcent, the golden warrior smiled broadly.

"Well spoken, Velharan, and well spoken my youngest brother. We shall guide these mortals, and protect them from the terrors that dwell in the dark. But that place..."

Valmyr looked down upon the floating continent of the Abberant Council, whose names were not yet known, his blazing eyes sweeping across the shadowed valleys, the piercing caverns, the frigid peaks that stabbed like daggers into the empty sky.

"That place is alien, mean and cold. It is no place to raise our people - for those mortals who bear our blessings deserve more."

Valmyr reached out his hand, and from each of the three suns streamed a flow of twining fire, red, green, and silver intermingling in a writhing sphere. His brow furrowed in consternation, and as he clenched his hand the chaotic spinning slowed. Gradually, the wild flames became pools and spheres, constrained by a vision that had leapt fully formed into Valmyr's mind. He raised up his free hand, and in a flash it was filled with a hammer of flame, the raw power of the red sun focused into a single mighty implement. The hammer flashed down, and as it struck the sphere of commingled flames they froze, time seemingly driven from them by the force of the blast. But the universe is not so easily overcome, and with a roar the flames exploded back into life, flickering and dying in the wake of the hammer's blow. In their place rose a new land, red fire solidifying into stone and sand and rich black soil, silver fire flowing into azure seas, green fire evaporating into a protective atmosphere. As the fire settled to its new form, the sparks that remained blossomed into new life. The seas flowed with all manner of fish, the air erupted with the sound of birds, and the land was swathed with fertile plains, interrupted only by glistening palm forests and massive granite peaks.

Valmyr knew not how it had been done, what divine flow had inspired such a bounteous paradise, but he knew that it was of their light, and he was pleased. Turning to his brothers, he gestured broadly at the new planet.

"I hope you are pleased, brothers? Come, let us explore this new world."

Valmyr descended to the largest land mass, landing at the mouth of a great delta that flowed from a line of imposing peaks. Even newborn, they seemed ancient, and yet despite the grandeur of the scene before him Valmyr could not help but feel there was something missing. Alone, this world was naught but a static monument to him and his brothers, but with life...

With life it could be something glorious indeed.

Reaching down into the loamy silt of the delta, the heat of his body purifying it even as he raised it from the water. The moisture within hissed out in a roil of steam, and in moments all he was holding was a lump of clay. Slowly, carefully, Valmyr began to shape the raw earth, sculpting legs, arms, a head, but when he tried to carve a face upon the figure it shattered. Valmyr's flame had been too much for the earthly materials, and so he started again, this time keeping the clay submerged. The water about him boiled and hissed with every motion, but it was enough to keep the clay from breaking in his hands. Soon, this second figure had eyes, fingers, toes, a nose - even delicately shaped hair. Finally satisfied, Valmyr rose from the river and placed the hardened figure upon the ground. Reaching up towards the three suns, he summoned strands of light into his palm, the makings of what his brother had called a soul, and willed them into the sculpture. At first, it was as if nothing had happened, but them a subtle crack appeared on the figure's surface. This was followed by another, and another, and soon the clay had fallen away to reveal a naked figure inside, the first human. The man rose, eyes blinking furiously against the experience of sight, only to fall to his knees when he beheld Valmyr standing before him. Unsurprised by the show of shocked deference, Valmyr stepped closer.

"Rise, Ur, first of men, and know that I am Valmyr, your creator. You stand in the lands of the Lords of Light, for all that you see has been created by the will of myself and my brothers. Do us honor, and we shall protect and guide you all your days."

For Valmyr, it was enough, but even in its first hour the race of humanity was irascible, and possessed of a marvelous curiosity. So, even as his god turned, Ur raised up his head and spoke his first words.

"Am...am I to live alone, great one?"

Valmyr froze, stunned by the audacity of this mortal thing he had shaped, but inwardly pleased as well. An inquisitive mind would swiftly master what he hoped to teach.

"No, not alone."

Thus it came to pass that in the first days Valmyr shaped the race of humanity, birthing each with a blessing of the Lords of Light. And as they grew to a multitude, some set out to explore their home, lashing together crude rafts to cross the sea, or grouping into caravans towards parts unknown. But most stayed, tutored by Valmyr in the ways of fire and hammer, artistry and discipline. He guided them deep into the mountains, where his flame had calcified into inky veins of black, silver, and gold. He taught them how to make safe the food they caught, searing the flesh of their kills to purge them of poisons and imperfections. And he taught them the secrets of flame, of turning useless rock into molten promise, of shaping fire into iron and steel. These humans came to call themselves the Tol-Valmyr, the chosen of the Red Sun, and gave him their love and their worship.


AP: 15 (10 + 4 rollover + 1 Pantheon)

Gain Ability: Formidable Artisan (-5)
Forge Land: Name to be decided (-3)
Gather Pantheon: The Lords of Light (-2)
Create Sentient Life: Humanity (-2)
Create Mundane Concept: Mining (-1)
Create Mundane Concept: Blacksmithing (-1)
Form Society: The Tol-Valmyr (-1)

AP: 0

[Elemental]

Velharan

Velharan joined Valmyr upon to surface of their new world.
Truly, this world is wondrous Brother. The sights, the colours, the LIFE! You have very nearly outdone yourself.
Once, at the beginning I said that nothing would match the majesty of a previous moment. How wrong I was! And I continue to be wrong!
Humming, he went among the first mortals he encountered. And the bowed before him as they recognised him as Valmyr's brother.
My people, that is no way to act. If there is to be worship. I would rather you worshipped me with how you live than by how you act when you see me.
Velharan smiled and bade the people stand. He lead them down by the sea and helped them build a great home for themselves, a city of white stone with towering spires. With his guidance, they built ships that easily outstripped the crude rafts of those who had gone before, and he taught them music and literature and he showed them how to count the days.
They raised their voices in praise and Velharan smiled at their accomplishments. Their city became known as Ciarathra and the people came to know themselves as the Tel-Velharan, the followers of the Silver Sun.

Starting AP: 10 + 4 (rollover) + 1 Pantheon AP
Gain Ability: Holy Benefactor - 5 AP
Join Pantheon: Lords of Light - 1 AP
Create Society: Tel-Velharan - 1 AP
Create Mundane Concepts: Marble Architecture (think columns and Greek temples because I'm too lazy to think of something more original) 1 AP
Sailing ships - 1 AP
Music - 1 AP
Literature - 1 AP
Solar Calendar - 1 AP
Remaining AP: 2 + 1

[Maugan Ra]

The Endless Forest

For a long moment, all was silent. Then, from out of the darkness in front of Bharus, the Hunter God emerged. He took the form of a great canine beast, black of fur and red of eye, a constant drizzle of old gore dripping from his serrated fangs.

"Why have you called me, Ruler of the Cold Mountain?" he said in a voice that was barely above a snarl.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Ensirex, Above and Below

Ensirex continued his research into this question of the mortal spirit. First he continued to do his research upon wounded and even whole Vahnatai, but he felt it was not enough to form the conclusions he desired. There was much death on the surface of the great continent as well, and so he broadened his pool of research subjects.

Ice Giants and Dwarves which fell to the Dire beasts raids and to accident were his first targets, taking them apart as they died or healing them, one could never guess how he would examine those he found, for to him every situation was different, the stimuli and context of the experiment determined his methodology.

He began experimenting on the animals as well, to further determine if there were some unknown physical factor involved with the spirits he sensed. While he did his research he found it helped him to record his findings in a more permanent way than even his flawless memory, so they might be better accessed and compared, and so he began to scrawl unique symbols onto an infinite scroll, the symbols pertaining some particular meaning alone or in conjunction with others.

Eventually, after much digging around the corpses and living bodies of the mortals on this particular land-mass, Ensirex came to the conclusion the spirit was not tied in a purely physical sense to the being, but likely in an arcane or metaphysical sense. Of course this had seemed likely early on, but Ensirex took no half measures.

This conclusion firmly in mind, he stretched his wings and flew off of the land-mass to search out answers for the burning question of this new mortal spirit, though he would of course return for more research at a later time.

Urodlivv, Kor Tier

Vahess'Kor came swiftly to the summons of one of the Council, his robes and the symbol upon them betraying his own class. He bowed to his superior. "Of course, of course. What does Rentar'Ihrno wish to talk about?"

13AP=14AP -1AP Create Concept: Written Language -0AP Create Concept: Scientific Method (a generalized term, not necessarily what we do today, but any sort of methodological approach to scientific advancement or research.)

[mystic1110]

The City Cometh

On the continent of the Lords of Light, Humanity flourished. And where people flourish so do buildings. The streets are slowly made, dirt at first then cobblestone. The ships need bays, and thus docks begin to be built. Then places of rest. Then places of fancy. Small specks of Urbanization began to appear throughout the continent. Doors being opened and closed and through these doors Arlom looked out and saw more. And from these doors he traveled down the roads that the Tol-Valmyr had built themselves, and where they converged on a great bay, the buildings slowly began to build themselves. Granted there was a small town there before, but the city grew around them. The people never talked about who was building, they assumed they either should know the answer or didn't want to know. Perhaps it was their gods? Either way the great coastal city of Veta was born, the greatest human city in history - named after their gods of light - it was the city of light. The city was a marvel of white marble. Columns on every front, and silver, green and red flags furled everywhere, red seen more than the others which gave the city a curious bleeding appearance when seen from afar.

It was a bustling city. She sat like a great witch at the gate of the country and sea, showing her alluring white marble face, and hiding her crooked hands and feet under the folds of her wide garments,--constantly enticing thousands from far within, and tempting those who come from across the seas to go no farther. And all these become the victims of her caprice. Some she at once crushes beneath her cruel feet; others she condemns to a fate like that of galley slaves; a few she favors and fondles, riding them high on the bubbles of fortune; then with a sudden breath she blows the bubbles out and laughs mockingly as she watches them fall. Veta was the center of human industry and drama.

And in this writhing mass of humanity, the forgotten, the unimportant, those crushed beneath the heels of life, a legend started to spread. An Urban legend. There was a door... it could be any door... and they could escape to a new world.

The city had cometh and taken them away.

City-Wide Diversity Initiatives

The doors of Arlom worked strangely... travel through space meant travel through time. Iiloss'Bok and Hemat would find themselves in the empty streets of Arlom at roughly the same time. Not that they were in the same place, no no no - the city was too large for that and chance was not that forgiving.

Also the streets of Arlom were not that empty anymore; close to a hundred people lived within him now - and alone in the universe did the races intermingle. Drawf, Quartzian, Human, Giant and Vahnatai all existed in one area. Except with only a hundred people in the constantly changing streets of Arlom: almost no one saw each other - all Arlom allowed was the constant feeling that someone else was there - watching. Although the people living in Arlom had gotten clever. They would graffiti his immaculate walls with messages, the most common were; "Food at the Fountain", "Beware the Mayor", and "Home." This street art came in forms of scrawled blood or impressive carvings and even occasionally a beautiful mural. They never lasted that long, even if you looked at a wall for days, one second you would blink and either it would be another wall or the message would simply be gone. You would never know.

Thus these streets did Iiloss'Bok and Hemat walk.

10 AP

1 Alter Land: Create City for the Humans: Veta. It is also a shell city of Arlom, as such he can at any time become Veta. Remember Arlom is not A city, nor is he every city, cut he could be ANY city.

9 AP

[Draken]

Pathways to Outside

A new land appeared, its wilds uncharted and unwalked. The city got there first, it always did, it was a beacon to the roads.

At the foot of a mountain in the nameless continent of the solar gods did a gate appear, it was not so vast, but silver sand blew through it nonetheless, followed by the sound of hooves and the whine of some great beast. And through it came Ing'dras on his mount, riding this world for places where men would settle, and finding them in their sleep, an apparition in the night - was there night in the land of the suns? Perhaps as a mere construct of tired minds.

The roads eventually reached Veta, murals with the useful teachings of the Traveling God in the ways left by him. Some in that place heard the sounds of his beast and caugh a glimpse of the silver knight, until he vanishes in a path that was not there before, leading to unknown places.

No actions. HAH!

[Darklady2831]

Urodlivv, Kor Tier

Rentar'Ihrno looked at Vahess'Kor, his light grey garment typical for one of the Kor; though, pale blue cloaks were also common. "The Council has heard tell that you have an exciting new knowledge. We would like to know of it, so we can gauge if it is dangerous to the Olgai or not."

Arlom, Iiross'Bok

Iiross'Bok was fed up, he'd been wandering for nearly a day, unable to find anything. He screamed in his telepathic voice, "I demand to speak with whoever is in charge of this hellish place!!!"

Howling Honeycomb, the Pillar of Nightmares

Gjol Maduur sat within his den, letting his influence seep out slowly.He felt the crawl of little cave creatures around him, on the walls, the floors, even the ceiling. He knew that they were weak, too weak for his mighty mind to be wasted on. But he also knew that they could be used, empowered. Thus, he began to plot. He imagined, something he was very good at. He imagined a shape, and a will for that shape to call it's own. He imagined a spark of true worthiness, of divinity. Gjol Maduur imagined all of this, and a nearly unlimited potential for growth. Thus, from a god's imagination, the first god-child was born. It formed as an idea, born from the labors of a nightmare, and given form by the power of itself.

Birthing Argul Lugra

[Maugan Ra]

Arathor's lair

The beast-lord was a creature of instinct and primal desires. And one of the most basic of all instincts is the need to procreate. So it was that in the deepest, darkest corner of the forest, a new deity was born, formed of bloodlust and divine will.

He was born alone, abandoned, with only his instincts to guide him. Arathor would have it no other way.

Birthing Moglin

[ChrisClark13]

Vylcent
The youngest brother watched what his brothers created in interest, wondering how he might improve and add to their designs... but then the city Veta sprung out of the ground and he became worried. He, nor any of his brothers have created this... and oh no...

It was devouring his brothers' creations.
Vylcent couldn't let this side, he took off for the god-city of Arlom, it's location having been revealed to him in his godling dreams.

He entered the devourer-city searching for his brothers' peoples. His sun-body left scorch marks on the pavement as he walked.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY BROTHERS' PEOPLES!? RETURN THEM!!"

His voice echoed around the empty streets as he searched for days, tracking those devoured via their souls. The tricks of the devourer-city couldn't keep him separated forever. Eventually he found someone... but not of his own kind. It was a man made of crystal. Vylcent approached him saying, "Peace, I am Vylcent, the creator of the Green Sun, and I am here to save all I can find from this devourer-city." He reached out an open palm to the being. "Take my hand and I will lead you from this place.

5 + 4 Rollover + 1 Pantheon = 10 AP
1 AP Join Pantheon: Lords of Light
9 AP
Calling out Hemat

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

So it was that the Tol-Valmyr flourished, trade with the Tel-Velharan strengthening both peoples. All was proceeding according to Valmyr's plan, before the arrival of the ghost city, before the disappearance of his people. He knew not from whence the metropolis had come, and he did not care, for it was a brazen intrusion, a festering dot of otherness upon the lands of the Lords of Light. It would not stand.

There was a door, spoken of in mortal legends for the short time they remained in Veta, before divine decree drove them to flee the unknown landscape. No mortal could have found it on their own, but Valmyr was no mortal, and within the marble expanse he quickly located the simple wooden portal. Far away, in distant Arlom, the door linking to Veta exploded open in a gout of flame, and Valmyr strode through, his eyes ablaze. Turning, he saw a green glow on the horizon, and so he leapt from the streets in a burst of crimson flames to land beside his brother.

"Vylcent, thank you for coming. We must make haste - there is no telling what torments await humanity in this place."

Reaching through the void, Valmyr called out to their third brother as he sat in the seaside palaces of the Tel-Velharan.

"Velharan, we require your aid."

[Drowlord]

The Howling Honeycomb, the Pillar of Nightmare

The divine fragment raised itself up, moulting through odd leathery wings into dirty, blackened appendages that flexed powerfully. It was huge; cruel talons and a sharp beak shone in red light from the glowing eyes of the god-thing. It stared slowly at its father, then slowly pointed a talon at the nightmare king.

"You arre my fatherr, corrrrect? I am Arrgul Lugrra. It is pleasant to meet you. Where am I? I see many things, small things."

[Darklady2831]

Arlom, the Nemesis of Reason

Gjol Maduur stirred. For many mortal months, he had been watching the Vahnatai, driving some of them mad, simply brushing again others. All in all, he was inspiring fear. Now, there was another presence, far above. He felt the presence of the light, the nemesis of his darkness, his fear. Thus, he drifted up, through the roof of the caves, up until he emerged into the light of the two sun gods. He floated before them, his body (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/elderevils2.jpg) slick with oily blackness. The Nemesis of Reason gazed upon Valmyr and Vylcent with his absent eyes, maddening whispers flitting at the back of their minds. "Get... out..." his voice hissed, its sound like that of gravel rubbing against wood.

He Who Walks in Madness swelled, his power growing as he absorbed the fruits of his labors. The shadows near him became sharper, more terrifying. "GET... OUT..."


3 AP - 3 AP = 0 AP
Gain Domain: Caverns (The Underdark)
-Alter Land: The Maw and Pit of Madness
-Alter Land: The Howling Honeycomb
-Alter Land: The Fungal Jungles
-Create Greater Life: Vahnatai
-Create Society: The Caste-Clans
Gjol Maduur is now a Lesser Deity

The Pillar of Nightmares

A second body of Gjol Maduur entered creation, floating before Argul Lugra. Gjol Maduur probed the newborn god, gauging his potential. He was satisfied, his son had the potential to be every bit as powerful as he. The Nemesis of Reason extended an inky tendril, caressing his son for a moment. "Gjol Maduur... I am He Who Walks in Madness, the Nemesis of Reason... I am your father, and you are my son..."

The Lord of Nightmares retracted his tentacle, lashing out at the stone wall nearby. It melted away, becoming a porthole to show the vast cavern the Pillar was located in. "This is the Underdark, the place of fear, of darkness, of crawling vermin and slithering slimes. This, is my home... and yours, if you wish."

[Drowlord]

The Pillar of Nightmares

Argul Lugra cawed sharply, raising his talon. "Yes... It fits my purposes. Kkkkk."

He lowered it, then flapped his wings, leaving trails of sooty air behind him. He went to a wide, cavernous area of the Underdark. He raked a talon through the earth, and bits crumbled off it. Around the area, a lightless fen grew, dark and grim and filled with deep sinkholes that bubbled with slime. In the fen, the bits of crumbled earth turned into rats, scampering off into the fens to find fish in dank pools. The bits of soot that fell off of Argul melted into ravens with shining black eyes that saw the rats. They wheeled over the low hills of the fen, settling in rocky crags in its hills.

Argul cawed harshly once more, and showered his people in an odd light. Suddenly, the vermin looked at each other with a brutal cunning.

"See? These are yours, father, as well as mine. They are agents of filth and taint. Do with them as you wish."

Actions:

Alter Land: Raven Fens (create mundane life: ravens, rats, fish, and other vermin and low-lying fen growth)

Create Magical Concept: Hive Mind

When groups of unintelligent animals gather together, they gain intelligence, The larger the group, the more intelligent it is. Additionally, these hive minds transmit messages to each other, as if they were granted primitive telepathy, and can subtly alter the environment around them (these powers depend upon numbers as well).

AP: 15-1-3= 11 AP.

[Draken]

Veta

On his third pass through his brother's gift to man, Ing'dras found none, he sough the city's door, and found it blasted wide open by emerald flame. The rider followed.

Arlom, The Vast Gate

Silver sand blew through the streets behind Vylcent, and past him towards the tallest monument within Arlom. Then came the sound of the hooves of an animal in the streets behind him, and just as suddenly the silver knight stood by the green sun, astride his mount.

"Do you remember me, Green Sun?"

6 AP

3 AP - Gain Domain: Sand (Travelers)
- 3 AP: Forge Land. First Continent.
- 3 AP: Create Artifact: Gateways of Ing'dras.
- 1 AP: Create Concept: Transportation.

3 AP - Gain Domain: Dream (Sleep)
- 5: Cosmic Decree. Dreams.
- 1: Concept. Writing.
- 1: Join Pantheon.

Why Sand? Thematic reasons, mainly. It fits better than the Earth domain, which is the other option.

Writing is kind of a silly concept to attribute to Dreams, but I bet nobody would read the ruminant excrement explanation anyway!

Lesser God.

[Elricaltovilla]

Vylcent
The youngest brother watched what his brothers created in interest, wondering how he might improve and add to their designs... but then the city Veta sprung out of the ground and he became worried. He, nor any of his brothers have created this... and oh no...

It was devouring his brothers' creations.
Vylcent couldn't let this side, he took off for the god-city of Arlom, it's location having been revealed to him in his godling dreams.

He entered the devourer-city searching for his brothers' peoples. His sun-body left scorch marks on the pavement as he walked.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY BROTHERS' PEOPLES!? RETURN THEM!!"

His voice echoed around the empty streets as he searched for days, tracking those devoured via their souls. The tricks of the devourer-city couldn't keep him separated forever. Eventually he found someone... but not of his own kind. It was a man made of crystal. Vylcent approached him saying, "Peace, I am Vylcent, the creator of the Green Sun, and I am here to save all I can find from this devourer-city." He reached out an open palm to the being. "Take my hand and I will lead you from this place.

5 + 4 Rollover + 1 Pantheon = 10 AP
1 AP Join Pantheon: Lords of Light
9 AP
Calling out HematHemat looked at the strange green sun. "I cannot leave this place. My comrades are still within its walls. I must find them so that we may return to Geodia. Will you help me?"

[mystic1110]

The City Cometh

It's important to note that Arlom's doors exist in every city, not just the ones he built and raised. They appear rarely in forgotten corners - they are urban legends and almost no one takes them seriously. The stuff of stories - what teenagers tell each other while they roam the streets, adults ignoring them till they turn the knob and lose themselves in the metropolis of lost souls

Veta

Arlom's doors aren't stationary - they are almost ideas more than physical objects. When the Red Sun burned down the door, the door simply would open elsewhere. Thus else where in Veta, in an alleyway the smell of burning cinder filled the air and a door appeared on a wall. It was blackened and charred. This was its current illustration. Eventually one day another door would appear and it would be pristine and ordinary once again.

Arlom, Iiross'Bok

Iiross'Bok heard nothing to his telepathic appeal for company. He continued to sense the other inhabitants... or victims, of the great metropolis. No matter where he wandered he only saw shadows at the corner of his eyes. The strange graffiti kept on appearing. In doors, on windows: "Food at the Fountain", "Beware the Mayor", and "Home." The graffiti was almost pleading with Iiross'Bok - hoping beyond hope he would understand and maybe reciprocate.

Arlom

Arlom watched his brothers and relatives meet in his streets, but did not respond... he merely provided the local. If they wanted to come striding into his streets he was more than happy to oblige, if they wanted to help the mortals wandering through him. . . . The City never slept.

[Maugan Ra]

Depths of the Endless Forest

When a god dwells for a long time in an area, that territory often comes to take on a certain energy of it's own. In the case of a god like Arathor, who was almost the essence of primal life incarnate, even the most mundane thing might come to take on new qualities. So it was that throughout the reaches of the world-covering forest, the trees began to think. To move.

At first, the living trees did not know what to do with themselves. That they lived and thought could not be denied, but not could the fact that those with minds were but the merest fraction of all the trees. Why, then, had they been chosen, among the teeming multitudes? For what purpose did they have minds?

For a year or more, they contemplated this, and came upon a discovery. If they concentrated, they could strengthen their ties to the world around them, influence it in certain ways. They could make plants grow healthy and strong, or else wither and die. They could redirect streams, call rain clouds overhead, cause the packs of wild animals to relocate their hunting grounds. They could, n short, manage the forests. And pleased to discover their purpose, that is what they set about doing.

9AP at start
3 to create Greater Life: Ents. Only the merest fraction of all trees become Ents, and only when they reach maturity. Though they can move, and speak, it is in the ponderous manner to be expected of sentient trees.

3 AP to create Magical concept - Druidic magic. The ability to tap into the fundamental forces of nature and bend them to your will. At the moment, it is restricted to large scale and gradual changes - brilliant for the health of a kingdom, very limited direct military applications. There are no actual Druids at the moment, and only the Ents can presently use this ability. That said, if Arathor can be persuaded to release it, any race could theoretically master and improve upon it.

3 AP to gain domain - Wild (Forests). Arathor has now become a Lesser God.

[Gotham]

Bharus gazed at the snarling beast and exhaled. As he did, a layer of frost covered the ground around him and he took on his true shape, albeit small enough to remain in the forest.


"You have plagued my people with your foul beasts. You are a creature of chaos and death, and I Will. Not. Abide. Withdraw your evil creatures from the borderlands, or I will cover your forest in an unending winter that no beast will survive."

[Maugan Ra]

Arathor gazed at the Frost King for long moments. And then, he laughed, the sound cruel and coarse in equal measure.

"I am not like you, winter lord. I do not rule as a king in a court, dispensing orders and proclamations. I am the Alpha, and I lead by example. My beasts go where they chose, and they prey on that which they judge weak enough to hunt. I did not order them into your lands, and I will not simply order them out."

The primordial beast sat back. "Why do you care? I do not object when your dwarves cut down my trees, or slay my wolves. You do them no favours by removing danger from their path. How else will they grow strong? "

[Gotham]

Unending Forest

The Frostking was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his anger was restrained, measured. There was a curious quality in his voice.

"I have set my creations against the winter, against the beasts of the mountain and the wood. I have given them knowledge to build weapons, knowledge to keep the beasts from their doors. They have seen these dangers and seen their strength, and come together to combat it."

Bharus's windstorm-legs kicked up.

"But this is not a failing on their community. They are not beasts of the wild, caring only for their survival and the satiation of their appetites. They are the Dwarves, the Giants. They care for family, for progress, for higher things than food and procreation. They have become strong, and there is no shame in allying against a stronger foe."

Bharus's shining black eyes glared at Arathor, and he took in the beast's strength.

"I am an ally to my people. I am weary, but I am strong enough for this."

And as the two gods watched, and felt, a violence occured. All throughout the woods, creatures of Bharus's make - the sons and great great grandsons of the wolves of the mountains, the descendants of those first, long-dead bears - turned on their brethren. It was not a long struggle, nor would it last forever, but the number of the beasts depleted in the fight, and the children of Bharus would be cursed no more.

"That is the difference between the King and the Alpha, beast. I would give my last ounce of strength for the safety of my people. Were you to exhaust yourself, your pack would rip you limb from evil, anarchic limb."

2AP
CounterCurse: Removing the effects of Arathor's curse 2ap

2-2= 0AP

[ChrisClark13]

Vylcent

Vylcent looked at the black tentacle mass and glared at it."Brother, see to the Gjul-thing. I will see to those who have been devoured by this city." He then turned to the avatar of the Dream Gate. "I remember you, but I don't have time to chat. Maybe later... He started to glow brightly, almost as brightly as his sun.

In a green flash he and all the captives still alive inside the god-city Arlom were teleported to the Starseeker.

Vylcent looked around the colossal interior and sized himself up so he could properly walk along the halls. "Hello? Acantheis? Mind if I dump some mortals in your thing for a while? It's the first place I thought of."

9 AP
3 AP Exalt: Teleport all living captives of the devourer-city to the Starseeker
6 AP

@Elricaltovilla: I do have a plan for getting at least the humans home, fyi.

[Darklady2831]

Iiross'Bok, the Starseeker

Iiross'Bok, one moment wandering aimlessly, sensing the vague presence of at least seven other Vahnatai, and many other strange lifeforms. He stumbled around, blinded by the light within the Starseeker. Several other Vahnatai had appeared with him, and all of them were on the floor, cringing in pain as the starlight from the windows burnt their retinas. "TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF!" screamed Iiross'Bok telepathically, shielding his eyes.

Arlom, the City that Never Sleeps

Gjol Maduur's presence bloated itself, before whipping it's shadowy tendils towards Valmyr in a warning blow. The Light from Valmyr was combated by the darkness from Gjol Maduur, suppressing his brilliant glow. The Nemesis of Reason's telepathic messages were assailing Valmyr, just at the edge of his mind, always whispering, always urging him towards madness. Even a god would have found it hard to concentrate with such a cacophony within his mind. "Your presence is an intrusion, star-spawn." he practically spit out the word.

The Raven Fens, Argul Lugra

Gjol Maduur drifted next to his son, inspecting the rats and ravens and other vermin. The Nemesis of Reason caressed one, watching it spasm as it's mind was overwhelmed by madness. "They are good, they inspire fear, and react poorly to it's influence..."

[Elemental]

Velharan

Velharan watched as the new city grew from nothing. No mortal hand had laid its stonework and no mortal artisan had carved its reliefs. It was wrong.
I will be with you soon Brothers. But first, this stain must be removed.
He looked up at the sky and vanished, appearing among the Suns. He draw their energy into himself and flew hurtling toward the city. Its flags burnt away, its towers crumbled and its walls fell. All was consumed by solar fire leaving only rubble and the crumbled remains of once proud buildings. As a final act, Velharan bade the waves cover the city, and it was no more.

Starting AP: 2 + 1
Alter Land: Its inhabitants having already fled, the city of Veta has been destroyed by solar fire. All that remains is rubble. 2 AP
(I think that's within the limits of a Censure... An individual or small group of people, not a society or organisation... I mean, no one died.)
Alter Land: The ruins of Veta sink beneath the waves, only to trouble archaeologists far in the future. 1 AP
Remaining AP: 0

As the last door of the city was consumed by fire and water, Velharan rushed through. A wave of water followed in his footsteps before the door closed, spreading across the street and washing against the buildings. He looked around, seemingly oblivious to the form of Gjol Maduur and Ing'Dras.
The City sees us Valmyr.
He then looked upon the Tentacled Mass of Horror.
Oh? We're stars-pawn are we? Rather interesting, because... I think you'll find it's the other way around. The stars, all three of them, are kind of "Us"-spawn in a way... Needs a better name.
Velharan raised his hand and a beam of silver light shot out and struck the tendrils of the Writhing Form of Madness Incarnate before they could strike Valmyr.

[Drowlord]

Raven's Fens, Argul Lugra

"Kkkkk. Indeed, they are good. See their fear."

The god screeched, flapping his wings emphatically; crows showered off his sooty appendages. A chord struck with the rats, who frantically fled from the huge predator; half of them fled into the deep fens, the other half burrowed in tiny tunnels, burrowing, digging, pawing frantically through the earth. After a nightmarish eternity, they emerged on the surface, hiding in the forest. A few curious ravens and crows flew through the tunnels to the surface, where they inspected the endless forest from above. With a score in the cavern roof, the tiny tunnels vanished.

"Kkkkk. Much better."

[Darklady2831]

The Raven Fens

Gjol Maduur watched his son inspire fear into the vermin, proud. Then, he writhed in pain, a terrifying screech like metal ringing out from his mouthless form. "My son, I am assailed... above, within the City that Never Sleeps... aid me..." He managed to speak, before his form discorporated into a flood of inky black fluids that slowly absorbed into the stone, leaving a stain that bled shadow like smoke from a fire.

Arlom, the City that Never Sleeps

Gjol Maduur recoiled from the bolt of Silver Light, writhing uncontrollably for a moment. When he regained his composition, his anger had been roused. He increased the volume of his psychic cacophony, and lunged at Velharan, ready to tear his physical form asunder with inky black tentacles.

Divine Combat against Velharan, or if Valmyr steps in the way, him. -2 Defense Dice for whoever takes the attack, and they can respond.
Attack: [roll0]
Defense: [roll1]
HP: 40

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

Seeing the blot of mad darkness strike out against his brother, Valmyr issued an angry cry. The flames of his spirit spreading forth into great wings, a lance of purest sunlight formed in his hand, and was an instant later hurtled into the core of the darkness.


Divine Combat - GO!

Attack vs. Gjol Maduur (+1 from Pantheon)
[roll0]

Health: 20

[Drowlord]

Raven's Fens

The god made a hissing shriek. "Aid you I shall. Maybe another day I'd take this for my own. But not now."

He took off, wings flapping, corvids of all types cycling chaotically behind him as they fell off his feathers.

City That Never Sleeps

A huge dark cloud dimmed the lights in the sky as hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of corvids circled around their progenitor. Millions of beady eyes stared at Velharan, then zoned in to kill. Innumerable beaks tore at the one whom his father hated. Talons in myriads ripped. Argul Lugra waited.

[Darklady2831]

Arlom, Divine Combat

The Nemesis of Reason shrieked, a panicked cry that grated upon the ears of those present. It shuddered, then attacked again, this time drawing upon the power of nearby Arlom and Ing'Dras. "Child, aid me!" Gjol Maduur's voice called out, beckoning Argul Lugra to attack Valmyr as well. "SIBLINGS!" He called out, hoping Arlom or Ing'Dras would aid him in attacking his hated foes.

Second Round:
Attack: [roll0]
Defense: [roll1]
HP: 20 / 40

[Elemental]

Battle in Arlom

Velharan raised a shield of pure light around himself, distracting Madness Personified so that Valmyr could attack it. The shield emitted waves of flame, incinerating the ravens and crows that assailed him.
He stretched out one hand and a burning arc of lightning struck Gjol Maduur, wrapping around him and weighing him down.

Divine combat:
Attack: [roll0]
Defense: [roll1] (-2d6 from Inconceivable + 1d6 from Pantheon)
Health: 30

[mystic1110]

Battle In Arlom, Arlom Himself.

As the battle raged within his streets, Arlom yawned... it's not like he didn't care about his brothers or his immaculate facades - it was just an event happening inside him. It was no more important than any other event within the city. Entertainment on every corner. And when he yawned the street rumbled... and gods blink.

When the gods opened their eyes, within that split second, they found themselves separated by Skyscrapers, and houses made of steel and glass, all the saw was their own reflections and the occasional graffiti still remaining but slowly disappearing; "Food at the Fountain", "Beware the Mayor", and "Home."

The brothers of the sun found themselves before a particularly ornate gate, The Gate. The very center of Arlom and his brother. While Gjol Maduur and his brood found themselves in what could only be described as the suburbs, trees and neat rows of one level houses.

Arlom didn't have much to say - outside his brothers it was unclear that the other gods knew the city itself was a god.

No role for me, just separating you all, since you are after all in my sanctum and my body. If you want to attack Arlom merely attack any part of the city.

Veta

There stood a city, proud as any other and perhaps prouder. But at a later time there occurred portentous earthquakes and floods, and one grievous day and night befell them, and by night the searing rays of the silver sun, when the whole body of your warriors was swallowed up by the earth, and the city of Veta in like manner was swallowed up by the sea and vanished; wherefore also the ocean at that spot has now become impassable and unsearchable, being blocked up by the shoal mud which the city created as it settled down.

Yet the doors of Arlom still stood, drowned and narrow... and time works differently for the city that never slept. Years, and years and years would pass, and the legend of Veta would go on. Some would say that the Silver sun grew angry at the prosperity of the city, jealous of it's greatness. Others say it was struck down for being a den of debauchery. Whatever the case, years would pass and the Humans of the Suns would go searching for the city. And when they do, the city was waiting, it's doors wide open.

[Snowfire]

Creation continued to whirl, conflict and power swirling in equal measure. But out at the edge it was quiet - silent almost compared to the roaring changes taking place at the heart of everything. But that...would not last. In fact, it could not last. Crystal eyes looked deep into the heart of the universe, watching and seeing all as the other Gods played and tormented mortal kind. Then they turned to her sister of flesh and thorns.

"Our cousins in power are reckless and uncaring." She replied finally to the question of her sister. "That must be tempered." A long weapon, the color of blood and rust flickered into being in her hand. She drew it back, shortening the length of the polearm until it represented only a great, one handed axe. Then she slashed it across herself, gouging a great scar through the living metal of her form.

Light exploded across the darkness in a radiant fountain, pouring from Xia's ever-beating heart and spreading out from her in all directions to form a vast sphere of divine power. It was formless now, power without thought and matter. But that was easily changed.

"Rise, my brothers and sisters in spirit. Rise from loving blood shed and power given for your freedom." Silhouettes rippled in the sphere of light, silver taking the place of the clean blue and white, and humanoid forms of shining metal took steady shape.

"Rise!"

Lightning blazed across the fabric of the nascent beings, setting them alive. Electricity pumped and surged deep inside metal hearts, driving the race into relentless life. And a single spark blazed within each of them, a tiny fragment of Xia's own divine essence.

But the power was not done, a fresh wave of it already gathering around the mutual childer of the two sisters. Great sheets of metal formed, twisting in the nothingness of the void into slender shapes. Her kin needed a home. Fresh floods of power rippled across the massive construct, bringing it to life.

Xia turned to her sister then, the field of energy around the kilometers long vessel holding the void back and keeping those who would soon call it home safe.

"Let this not be mine alone, dearheart." She said, reaching out with her hand again to Alynaia. "Add your desires to mine, let these be instruments of vengeance just as they are of freedom. And let our powers be one for this moment."

Sooo, this is a complex one. Creating the first Legendary race in conjunction with Alynaia. Xia will be spending 3 points on this, Alynaia will do the other two.

15 + 4 (rollover) - 3 (joint Create Legendary Life) = 16

Then comes the really fun part - which I'm not quite sure how to do in terms of points, so I'm breaking out the big guns on this one to get it to work.

16 - 5 (Create Legendary Concept: Divine energy reactors) = 11

Closed concept. Very, very, extremely closed. Basically allows the Legendary race whose name is yet to be determined to run off the spark of divine power left inside each of them by Xia. Oh, also what runs their ship.

11 - 3 (Create Artifact: Halcyon) = 8

The ship-home of NTBD (Name To Be Determined). It looks like this (http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww161/Skarin_2009/Spaceship2.jpg).

8 - 3 (Gain Domain: Artifice [Progress]) = 5 AP left

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

Seeing the dark tendrils burn at the touch of his brother's light, Valmyr smiled. His joy was short lived though, as another, lesser swarm of darkness manifested above them. Turning towards the green dawn on the horizon, Valmyr let out a bellow that was the roar of a bonfire.

"Vylcent! Take the swarm!"

Turning back to his screaming foe, Valmyr charged forwards, a blazing comet brought down to earth.


Attack vs. Gjol Maduur (+1 Pantheon)
[roll0]

Defense vs. Argul Lugra
[roll1]

[Darklady2831]

Arlom, Gjol Maduur

The Nemesis of Reason seethed, but it knew Arlom was right, to fight now would be a foolish effort, and loss nearly assured. Thus, Gjol Maduur drifted above the City, and down to where Valmyr and Velharan stood. He shielded himself, not attacking, then he saw Valmyr coming. "CEASE!" he shouted, whilst lashing out with darkness to defend himself. "Desist! Stop! Halt! I yield, star-spawn!"

+1 Defense for fighting in Arlom.
Attack: [roll0]
Defense: [roll1]
HP: 20/40

NOTE: If Valmyr stops his attack, so does Gjol Maduur.

[Elemental]

Fighting Above the Streets

Despite the slight disorientation from the cities translation of them from one place to another, Velharan still managed to get between the Thing of Darkness and Valmyr.
Your actions don't match up with your words.
A shining flare of silver light cutting into the darkness and searing its wielder.

[Maugan Ra]

Arathor glared at his brother, eyes burning with wrath. And then he smiled, chuckling.

"Heh. Of course they'd slay me if they could. And if they could do so, then they would deserve the power that comes with my position. Until then, I rule in these woods.

Still, Frost King, you have courage at least. For that, I will cease any attacks against your creatures, and turn my attentions to other works. You should return to your mountains. We'll meet again, I think."

That said, he turned and vanished into the gloom of the forest once more.

[Elemental]

((sorry, forgot attack rolls))

Attack: [roll0]
I don't need to roll a new defence because I still have my last one.
Health: 23

[Darklady2831]

Arlom, Gjol Maduur

The Nemesis of Reason shrieked, darkness enveloping the sky, blotting out the suns. He plummeted from the sky, landing atop a fountain in an ornate town square somewhere in Arlom. There he bled oily fluids that scarred the stone and left shadows in their wake like smoke. "Treacherous... whelps..." he said, his strength to fight gone.

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

Valmyr watched his foe plummet from the sky, and as Gjol Maduur spoke the fume of his passing was burned away. Floating down to Velharan, Valmyr clasped his brother's arm and examined the damage done.

"Brother, I hope you have not been hurt too grievously? Let us descend and see what guides this city."

Returning to the ground, Valmyr alighted beside the fountain of Gjol Maduur's fall, his eyes taking in the pristine garden and the great gate that seemed alive.

"I am Valmyr, Lord of Light and Ruler of the Red Sun. Who are you, and why have you spread your presence to the shores of our people?"

[Elemental]

Victory, How Sweet

Treachery? Is it treacherous to defend one's Brother from one who attacked him? But we have not slain you and we will not do so. Take solace in that.
He landed beside his Brother.
And I am Velharan, Lord of Light and Ruler of the Silver Sun. Tell us, who are you? And what is this place that watches us so?
As Velharan spoke, chains of silver light wrapped around The Being Who Exists to Torment All. They did not hurt him and were not tight.

[Darklady2831]

Gjol Maduur

The Nemesis of Reason may be unable to fight, but it's mind was perhaps one of the strongest in existence. "It is the City... the labyrinth, the urbanity... he is there because cities are there... because mortals are there..."

Then the Lord of Nightmares jerked, it's tentacles slithering up and becoming useful limbs once more. "And release me, for my rage was sedated the moment we had been separated... your treachery is in not respecting the honor of surrender... and be clear, I will not give you the chance you did not give me... I do not forget, and you will pay for this transgression against the Nightmare."

[Elemental]

Velharan

The chains loosened even more and formed instead it a ring of light.
You speak in riddles. Plain speech would be preferable.
And do not speak of honour, it is meaningless when lives are at stake. So, I ask you again;
Who are you? And what is this city, and how does it watch us?
Velharan glimpsed the Gate out of the corner of his eye.
And the gate... Explain it.

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

As Gjol Maduur made his threats, Valmyr looked down and scoffed.

"Spare us your empty threats, creature. Accept your defeat with dignity lest we be pushed to repeat this lesson."

He turned back to his brother as Velharan questioned the darkness.

"Velharan, I believe the gate is itself a divine of some kind. It spoke to Vylcent, and he seemed to know it. I presume it will answer us when it suits its purpose."

[Darklady2831]

Gjol Maduur, He Who Never Speaks Directly

Gjol Maduur's tentacles wiggled as he laughed, his body pulsating and shuddering with his cackling. "They are my siblings, as the red and green star-spawn are yours... we are the lords of all that is... different. All that is, right, in the universe." He quieted down, wriggling slightly, his tendrils pushing against the ring of light, darkness dripping onto the ring and boiling away like water onto liquid iron. "Lives, meaningless little lives... they are never worth abandoning honor and respect for near equals... They are the scum on the bottom of the cesspool that is this light-filled universe... they are insects to insects to us..." Gjol Maduur started laughing again. "Hollow words from a blasphemous star-spawn. Aggression unrestrained will be your downfall, little star-spawn..."

[Draken]

The Vast Gate

The monumental form of Ing'dras flares to activity, blowing silver sand over the solar gods and his two brothers. The voice of the Enclosure of Epochs rang out with a patient tune, he's got all the time in the world... Passing through him.

"I would ask you to forgime my brothers in their rashness, solar gods. But rash were you as well, so I will not."

"I did indeed speak to your brother Vylcent, for before he knew you, he knew me, crossing this very gate to reach the moment of his birth."

The galop of Ing'dras' horse comes from down the road, as his other self approaches the gathering.

"You all traveled too far and too long for this meeting to be nothing more than violences perpetrated against my brothers. I would request that you release Gjol, and I would request that you forgive Arlom, he is solitary and voiceless, his streets quite empty with far too few to walk their winding ways... Even less now, indeed."

[Elemental]

Velharan, He Who Prefers Speaking Directly

You are right Brother. I do sense the divinity in the Gate. And something else... The other that this one spoke of. It is all around us, watching...
We are wasting our time conversing with this one. Let us leave this place and its madness.
Velharan turned to leave, but before doing so, he engraved an image onto the wall of a grand building. A simple image, merely that of a broken chain.
Your brother is free to slip his bond at any time. He need merely discover the method by which that is possible.
And Arlom is forgiven as well as warned to stay away.
He drifted up into the sky toward the Suns.

It's hardly a set of shackles. It's a ring of light that surrounds him, giving him room to move. He could levitate out or slip under the ring or jump over it or seep through the ground or any number of things.

[Darklady2831]

Gjol Maduur, He Who could Fool the Seers

Gjol Maduur faded away, his shadow flitting up and about, appearing before Velharan. "Do not be so quick to leave... there is much to learn, much to acquire." Gjol Maduur would not move to stop them from leaving beyond getting in front of Velharan.

[Elemental]

Fortunately, Velharan Isn't a Seer

Velharan circled around Gjol Maduur a few times before speaking.
And who will learn it and who shall acquire it?

[Darklady2831]

Gjol Maduur, Quite Mad Indeed

Gjol Maduur laughed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUKW9zxVc4g)again, his form pulsating. "All involved would learn... what they learn is a question of who they ask, and what they ask." He moved aside, allowing the Lords of Light to leave if they wished. "But if you never ask, how can you ever know what could have been known?"

[mystic1110]

Urban Legend: The Denizens

The great city remained silent... yet his brother Ing'dras spoke incorrectly. He wasn't emptier. He was just as empty. You see. No one can ever leave the Metropolis of Lost Souls... not entirely. A part you remains to roam the streets, forever at the edge of any visitors eye. For each mortal who entered the city; when Vylcent tore them away, their shadows remained. They were and would be called the Denizens. Shadowless the mortals would only know that they are abnormal, that something is missing. They would forever try to hide the disgusting fact that they cast no shade in the sun. Those who escape the city either yearn to return and reclaim their shadow or they remain at the edges of society.

The symptoms of a person who's shadow became a Denizen vary. OCD ticks, delays in social interaction, gaze avoidance, fragmented sentence structures, fear of the dark, twitching, and self-mutilation are common. Those who left the City Limits are often in a constant state of fear and paranoia, and tend to try to leave messages in the things they write and say. Morse code, odd "proxy-like" capitalization in random letters of their words, and diaries hidden in plain sight have been passed on in the attempt to escape their torment. Of course they also scrawl the graffiti they've come to memorize in their journals and in the streets: "Food at the Fountain", "Beware the Mayor", and "Home."

The Denizens themselves are yet unknown; they aren't a race or species, just fractions of the mortals who left them behind. Consider it a toll of entry or a tax on escape. Not that escape happens often, yet with gods and heroes you never know, perhaps a mortal jumps through the right door at the right time... but it is doubtful life outside the city is any better. The life of a shadowless man is a forlorn one... yet the city waits; doors are more common to them, inviting them back in.


9 AP

Curse war following my theory on curse wars! combating the teleport exalt.

4 AP Scourge: All mortals who leave the streets of Arlom leave behind their shadow which becomes a Denizen. Little is known about Denizens other that they live in the city and like everything else in it always remain at the corner of your vision. People who lost their shadows follow the symptoms and behaviors listed in this post.

[Elricaltovilla]

Vylcent

Vylcent looked at the black tentacle mass and glared at it."Brother, see to the Gjul-thing. I will see to those who have been devoured by this city." He then turned to the avatar of the Dream Gate. "I remember you, but I don't have time to chat. Maybe later... He started to glow brightly, almost as brightly as his sun.

In a green flash he and all the captives still alive inside the god-city Arlom were teleported to the Starseeker.

Vylcent looked around the colossal interior and sized himself up so he could properly walk along the halls. "Hello? Acantheis? Mind if I dump some mortals in your thing for a while? It's the first place I thought of."

9 AP
3 AP Exalt: Teleport all living captives of the devourer-city to the Starseeker
6 AP

@Elricaltovilla: I do have a plan for getting at least the humans home, fyi.


Acantheis was hard at work on something in the middle of the glass dome at the top of the Starseeker. What? Ummm, huh. Yeah, go ahead put them in dock port V-1. What are mortals again? No matter, busy busy!


Iiross'Bok, the Starseeker

Iiross'Bok, one moment wandering aimlessly, sensing the vague presence of at least seven other Vahnatai, and many other strange lifeforms. He stumbled around, blinded by the light within the Starseeker. Several other Vahnatai had appeared with him, and all of them were on the floor, cringing in pain as the starlight from the windows burnt their retinas. "TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF!" screamed Iiross'Bok telepathically, shielding his eyes.



The lights above the Vahnatai and the windows of the Dock port dimmed, leaving the interior in a quiet, pale blue glow. But that was soon replaced by a harsh Indigo light.

Who keeps yelling to turn off the Lights! How am I supposed to recreate photogenesis in silicate viral DNA structures without Light? A towering Amethyst figure, the light refracting brilliantly through his structure, stepped into the docking port. Oh, its you all... Can you please not mess with my experiments? If you don't like light, that's fine and all. There's some boxes over there that you can hide in or something I think.

Acantheis took a closer look at the beings inside Starseeker. You all seem a little off. Kind of like you're... Acantheis reached down and picked up one of the Quartzians. Slowly the crystalline being was absorbed into his body, it may have been screaming, but none besides the other Quartzians would know and they did not react. Ah, yes I see... Ok, well you should all be safe here for now. Starseeker, Mark any door that becomes possessed by Arlom, and don't let them enter it. I'll go talk to him and ask nicely if he'll consider giving those back. There was a sudden shattering of glass and trillions of amethyst crystals fell to the floor.

For the record, Acantheis ate one of his Quartzians to gain what knowledge it had gathered. Whichever Quartzian that was is now dead.

Arlom, The Living City

The tinkling of glass could be heard, almost as if a shattered mirror had been played backwards. Standing in the streets of the city-god stood Acantheis looking around curiously.

Hello? Arlom, can I talk to you? I know we haven't met yet but your actions have caused me no small amount of grief. I'd appreciate a little consideration on your part. Maybe someone who can speak on your behalf?

[Lady Serpentine]

The Weeping Girl took her sister's hand, a smile on her face as she did, though the action drove the thorns twined between her fingers deep into her flesh, for that would make it easier to do what she must next...

With her free hand, she plucked a long, hollow, thorn from one of the many vines encircling her, and drove it deep into her heart, and her spark, letting blood and power flow freely, and then, when there was finally enough, pulled it free, casting it into the center of the pool before them.

"From our shared blood, spilt that they might be free, and wreak vengeance on those who would seek to chain them, let the Steelthorns share a common heart as well, though their forms are as different as our own!"

With that proclamation, the first, those made by Xia, grew thin, needle-pointed spines, protecting them from the attacks of beasts, and strong enough to pierce the armor of any of the more civilized races who might try to harm them.

But that, of course, was not all; to make such a minor change, she would have barely needed the blood shed from her hand when her sister took it, nor was there yet the second form she had spoken of, which began to coalesce from the formless pool even as the original Steelthorns shifted, growing into humanoid beings of thornwood, sapient and powered by the sparks that Alynaia and Xia had planted in their hearts.

And, finally, the last change took effect; as the last of them were completed, Alynaia reached within both kinds, granting them the power to sense emotional pain in others, and spark or remove it.

That done, she turned her attention to the Halycon, forming strange things upon the hull, melded into the Divine Energy Reactors at its heart, and the hull itself, for the ship as it was was, save for what was needed to maintain it by the crew, and parts that must be separate for it to function, all one piece, and she would not mar its structure if she could avoid it.

Next came a pair of intricately entwined spirals, with two more weaving through them from the sides, all covered in thorns, so that they seemed to be great vines, like those The Evertormented wore, but on a massive scale, and made of bright metal, deep in the heart of the ship; this too was melded with the Halcyon, for it would need power at least as great as that used by the Starlances.

Then, she moved to another section of the Halcyon, filling a complex of rooms far within it with a maddeningly complex tangle of metal, much like the Briarheart in some ways, though not necessarily symmetrical, or simply formed from spirals, though those were certainly present.

Finally, or so she thought, she created intricate clockwork craft, armed with railguns and lasers, large enough to hold a single Steelthorn, and made to ride on the solar wind.

But, as it turned out, that was not quite all. The fabric of reality was still weak, and Ideas formed readily; near Xia and The Maiden of Suffering, the latent spark of one had been brought to life, by both their goals and the massive expenditure of power on both their parts, and now struggled to come into the world, so she reached out and slit the barrier, letting their daughter through to balance the world.

"Greetings to you, our daughter... And does all I have done please you, deirfiúr ionúin?"


15 + 4 = 19

Starting AP: 19

Create Legendary Life - Steelthorns (-2): My side of Xia and Alynaia's joint race.

Create Artifact - The Starlances (-3): Various laser weaponry, hooked into the Divine Energy Reactors. Right now they only provide bonuses to combat with mortal/demigod foes, but should the Halcyon enter combat with a deity after they've been infused, they'll be capable of providing an extra D6 to Attack.

Create Artifact - The Briarheart (-3): Shields for the ship, also hooked into the DERs. At the moment, again, they only provide bonuses to combat with mortals, but once infused, they'll provide an extra D6 to defense.

The exact nature of the shields is not currently known to the Steelthorns, or anyone but Alynaia and Xia, for that matter, but they absorb or deflect most things that attempt to damage the Halcyon, and may cause pain and/or harm to the person/creature/machine responsible for the attack.

Create Artifact - The Planar Jump Drive (-3): Exactly what it sounds like, the PJD lets the Halcyon hop between planes without divine intervention. It adds only to mortal combat at the moment, in the form of letting them get away from pretty much anything, but once it's infused, it adds an extra D6 to defense, to reflect their increased mobility.

Create Advanced Concept - Clockcraft (-2): Clockwork vehicles for traversing the Void, capable of riding the solar wind.

Create Advanced Concept - Railguns (-2): While not really practical on a personal or vehicular scale with current power sources, electromagnetic mass accelerators are most definitely modern tech except for that, making them advanced.

Create Advanced Concept - Lasers (-2): More powerful than anything it would be feasible for modern humans to make, due to the way they're powered, but, as above, still modern tech with the exception of using Divine Energy Reactors, and thus advanced.

19 - 17 = 2

2 AP

[Elemental]

The Perhaps Velharan Shall Devote His Existence to the Study of the Mind?

The potential for wisdom and knowledge is within all. It is not important what questions are asked or who they are asked of.
It is important only that they asked. The Light shall guide them toward understanding.
He turned from the Insanity Devourer and returned to the Land That is to be Named.

[Promise]

Deep in The Endless Forest

Silence.. It is all there is. Yet it was the loudest, greatest thing there. The sound of nothing is so liberating, yet crushing. The lord of bloodlust looked up and breathed out.

"No". With the utterance of that single word, the silence died. The beasts around him continued their savage, no doubt short lives. He felt the anger, the adrenaline they felt as they tore their prey or rivals apart. It was.. Delicious. Yet.. It was frustrating. Why should they, these mortal beasts, be allowed such fun, while he, Moglin, sat back and watched? No.. Moglin would have to participate.

Looking down to his limbs, he saw his design was flawed. He had no great claws to slice away at his prey, no massive teeth to tear chunks from their flesh. He cast his misty gaze to his armored, empty hand, flexing it. He needed.. A weapon.

Moglin reached down and lifted a great rock from the floor, squeezing it tightly with his right hand, he punched it with his left, allowing his divine essence to flow into it as it shattered, leaving behind a charcoal-black axe.

"It begins.." And so it did. Within almost no time at all (in god terms, anyways) hundreds of the areas beasts were either dead or injured. A part of his fathers mentality had seeped into Moglin.. He may not be the Alpha. But he was damned close.


15 Ap start.
-4 Ap for Create Relic-Axe of the Bonelord. A single handed axe which appears to be made of black metal. It's wielder may add 1d6 to his or her attack role.

[Maugan Ra]

Arathor had to admit, he'd enjoyed his first encounter with a fellow deity. Never before had anything dared to oppose him, let alone on a level of comparable power. It was fascinating. And he could feel the presence of others out there, now that he knew what scent a deity left. He wondered what they'd be like...

Well, why not go and find out? The Hunter God looked up the sky overhead, and saw the other world floating in the void. Wrought by gods, and as yet untouched by either himself or the Frost King. A clear sign of deific involvement. With a single bound, he crossed the distances between them...

The Land that has yet to be Named

...and arrived, falling from the sky like a blood-streaked meteorite that touched down as gently as a shadow. With a smile, he lifted his snout into the air and sniffed, seeking out the god-scent that he'd detected previously. Ah, there it was.

He approached the source carefully, unsure of what exactly it was and wary in the way of all predators confronted with the unknown. It was... bright, and that surprised him. And there was something of the mortal in it, or perhaps some of it in the mortal. Strange.

"Are you the ruler here?" he said, voice a low snarl.

And yes, it's Velharan. Let's see how the Chaotic Evil god of savagery deals with first impressions...

[Draken]

Arlom, The Vast Gate

Ing'dras watched silently as the suns left the city, what a pity.

But he felt new lands appear, and thus turned to himself and spurned his mount onwards.

Halcyon

But let it not be said that Ing'dras does not learn. The reaction of the solar gods teached him much, indeed. So when the silver sand blew in the Halcyon, it did so besides its sister creators, announcing to the goddesses the aproach of the Traveler King, moments before the distinctive galop of his mount announced his arrival.

"You have made this place as distant as my brother is terrible, divines. Such a long trip as to be impossible to all but the gods. Is such isolation wise?"

There is an air to his volume that might indicate Ing'dras is musing out loud, but not very loud. Perhaps in all his wanderings he just forgot how fast it is to travel through himself.

"Greetings, I am Ing'dras. I tread the worlds to connect the disparate, and bring all things closer. Such is my purpose. It has come to my attention that the gods are jealous and capricious about their works, making it best to meet with them before pursuing my pass."

Well, that is horribly blunt. His tone is quite mild, however.

"To whom might I honor this sojourn?"

Ing'dras' mount whines, feeling the air with its serpentine tongues.

[bryn0528]

Within the roots of the first continent.
Deep dark within the shadows where no mortal child even dared to see, the god appeared. Black flesh against black shadows, outlines of bone catching every remaining drop of light--which was scant. This god, the Marquis, spread his hand to the people who lived beneath the earth, the Vahnatai.
TAB Fungus and mold did grow, staining the pallor of the psions with grisly yellows and ochers. Another had given them surgery, he saw as much the scars left behind from previously fatal wounds, and eager to test their new abilities, he had given them disease.
TAB And so it came in the form of spores released by the very plants Vahnatai cultivated. Unknowable at first, but when fibrous tissues began to cultivate on the bodies, they realised. A cough and a fever, it started simple enough. Soon, psionic powers began to falter in the delusions of heat. Violent shakes took the bodies in the end, releasing clouds of new spores. Plague was upon those who dwelt beneath the earth.

On the edge of the second continent.
A well known fact; where the light shines brightest, the darkness lingers deepest. The Marquis laughed a merry tune to himself. When the masters were out on business, the dogs did play. Herbs of all variety began to grow across the landscape. And with presence came knowledge, mainly in the form of curious humans.
TAB After the first few bodies were found laying in open fields, followed by those witnessed as being struck with sickness, a connection was made between the plants and horrible, excruciating death. Being the kind and loving soul he embodied, the Marquis made sure the knowledge spread... and that for all the sunlight trapped inside a mortal body, there was darkness too.
TAB Plague was upon the humans now, but not in the form of disease or sickness. This time it came in the form of desire; raw, ruthless conquest for power. And to obtain this power, any measure of ability would be called upon. Even the cruelest of warfare.
TAB And the Marquis came to each with such desire in his heart, and he called him to his own cause. And so they gathered, and waited in the darkness.

The Marquis' AP = 11. (12) + (4, Refresh; 29.09.2012) - (3, Scourge, Vahnatai; Deathmold) - (2, Form Order; The Skulls).

The Skulls are the Marquis' new, secret society. They make use of herbal poisons.

[mystic1110]

Halcyon

Ing'dras felt a slight tug on his perceptions, as if gravity bleed into the nearest door signifying to him and him alone that Arlom was also interested in these goddesses reactions. It's hard to say what Arlom felt towards his brother. He certainly liked his architecture, and the fact that possibly only Ing'dras understood him. He liked the roads, the tendrils and arteries of the city. Perhaps Arlom simply liked the fact that Ing'dras choose to keep him company.

Lost in the City, Acantheis

While Acantheis wandered the city, hoping to find someone to talk to him, the Walls subtly rearranged themselves to lead the God to a magnificent building, columns and black marble, great wooden doors. As Acantheis approached pleading for communication, a thought might occur to him, perhaps this is how the City communicates. Of course this would be wrong... well not quite. This is only one way for the city to communicate. Anyway the building beckoned to Acantheis. Inside he would find yet another maze of passages where thousands and thousands of books are kept. It was a library. The god might have picked up a book of the shelf, any book. The books were brand new, no creases on their spine, no cracked covered. These were no tomes or scrolls of eldritch horror... they were library books. And they were all blank, except for the rare occasional scribble of "Food at the Fountain", "Beware the Mayor", and "Home." A rarer one was "Play with No Shadows." In the gloom of the library the god might notice that some shadows formed without anything to cast them.

Sorry for the godmodding.... I simply changed your surroundings - your feelings, sanity and actions are your own

The Denizens of the City

The Doors of Arlom were still in every city. One or two people from each of the major cities disappeared a year. The disappearances weren't note worthy, the local authorities simply assumed the person had fled or that they were investigating an unresolvable murder. Usually it was people from the outskirts of society, people hardly missed. Homeless, drunks, orphans. People who wandered in the unexplored alleyways of the city. Those to whom the city was "Home." And Arlom welcomed them in.

Once inside the people wandered around the city, getting more and more frantic as they saw the graffiti and sensed each other throughout the corner of their eyes. A new graffiti appeared on the walls "Play with No Shadows." Newcomers to the city could only be confused. Strangely after hours of running around the city in panic, most people would just give up, sit on some marbled porch and watch the empty street and the trees slowly blowing in the wind. That's when the shadow plays begin.

It would start as a shadow on a wall. A newcomer would simply sit and watch and wonder what was casting the shadow... eventually the shadow would begin to move. A shadow play. The shadow would dance, and juggle, change into birds and fly away always staying on the second dimension. It was a show, and eventually the tension of the city would melt away for a brief moment. The newcomer would lower her guard. Then the shadows would touch.

The Denizens manifest in a number of different ways. Sometimes only the voices that whisper at the back of your mind, but other manifestations include shadows that move separately from your own, possessing and manipulating your shadow to move independently, or even as moving pictures within a bloodstained book of fairy tales.

Either way once they touch you you are part of the shadow play. They are meticulous, they are dangerous, and they are demanding. Their games are paramount, and god forbid you deny them or disobey an order. They take body parts, organs, sanity, blood and pain as their "punishments," all they have to do is take the associated shadow. You can't have a person with two arms cast a shadow with only one arm, obviously one arm must cease to exist. Their games can last entire lifetimes or mere moments, and many good men have gone mad from the psychological torture they dole out.

Either way the inhabitants of the city, those who are not Denizens usually survive the first Shadow Play. Usually it's no more than a forced waltz. They learn to "Play with No Shadows."

The worst part is the Denizens are under no command of Arlom's. None. They are the shadows, the darkness of each mortal. Thus when a person becomes involved in a shadow play, they must understand - this is not a god's doing, they suffer through mortal hands.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Urodlivv, Kor Tier

"Of course, of course. Recently I was on the edges of the city and I fell from a precipice and... I was unable to keep myself from striking the bottom. When I was lying there, a being came to me. It was hugely tall with the features of an insect. It cut me open with a power unknown to me, and long blades it had attached to its back, but it did not kill me. I do know exactly what it did, half because of the pain I felt, and half because I could not fully fathom what it was attempting, but after some time I felt the pain in some of my insides and my bones recede, and eventually he sealed me up with a burning energy, and I was made near whole again, and after that I healed almost as if it had never happened. I have tried to do similar things on animals I have encountered in my travels outside the city that I and other Kor have killed. I am slowly learning about their internal systems, and how to elicit certain results, and what kills them better."

Ensirex, The Three Suns

Ensirex wandered far from his original place of learning, in his search for knowledge of the mortal spirits. Before long, he sensed something very similar to their power in the three large burning stars that lay at the center of the various land masses. Curious, Ensirex moved closer and made a silent call to the gods who had made them, his power reaching out to the divine sparks which hummed in tune with the plains.

[Elricaltovilla]

Lost in the City, Acantheis

While Acantheis wandered the city, hoping to find someone to talk to him, the Walls subtly rearranged themselves to lead the God to a magnificent building, columns and black marble, great wooden doors. As Acantheis approached pleading for communication, a thought might occur to him, perhaps this is how the City communicates. Of course this would be wrong... well not quite. This is only one way for the city to communicate. Anyway the building beckoned to Acantheis. Inside he would find yet another maze of passages where thousands and thousands of books are kept. It was a library. The god might have picked up a book of the shelf, any book. The books were brand new, no creases on their spine, no cracked covered. These were no tomes or scrolls of eldritch horror... they were library books. And they were all blank, except for the rare occasional scribble of "Food at the Fountain", "Beware the Mayor", and "Home." A rarer one was "Play with No Shadows." In the gloom of the library the god might notice that some shadows formed without anything to cast them.

Sorry for the godmodding.... I simply changed your surroundings - your feelings, sanity and actions are your own

The Denizens of the City

The Doors of Arlom were still in every city. One or two people from each of the major cities disappeared a year. The disappearances weren't note worthy, the local authorities simply assumed the person had fled or that they were investigating an unresolvable murder. Usually it was people from the outskirts of society, people hardly missed. Homeless, drunks, orphans. People who wandered in the unexplored alleyways of the city. Those to whom the city was "Home." And Arlom welcomed them in.

Once inside the people wandered around the city, getting more and more frantic as they saw the graffiti and sensed each other throughout the corner of their eyes. A new graffiti appeared on the walls "Play with No Shadows." Newcomers to the city could only be confused. Strangely after hours of running around the city in panic, most people would just give up, sit on some marbled porch and watch the empty street and the trees slowly blowing in the wind. That's when the shadow plays begin.

It would start as a shadow on a wall. A newcomer would simply sit and watch and wonder what was casting the shadow... eventually the shadow would begin to move. A shadow play. The shadow would dance, and juggle, change into birds and fly away always staying on the second dimension. It was a show, and eventually the tension of the city would melt away for a brief moment. The newcomer would lower her guard. Then the shadows would touch.

The Denizens manifest in a number of different ways. Sometimes only the voices that whisper at the back of your mind, but other manifestations include shadows that move separately from your own, possessing and manipulating your shadow to move independently, or even as moving pictures within a bloodstained book of fairy tales.

Either way once they touch you you are part of the shadow play. They are meticulous, they are dangerous, and they are demanding. Their games are paramount, and god forbid you deny them or disobey an order. They take body parts, organs, sanity, blood and pain as their "punishments," all they have to do is take the associated shadow. You can't have a person with two arms cast a shadow with only one arm, obviously one arm must cease to exist. Their games can last entire lifetimes or mere moments, and many good men have gone mad from the psychological torture they dole out.

Either way the inhabitants of the city, those who are not Denizens usually survive the first Shadow Play. Usually it's no more than a forced waltz. They learn to "Play with No Shadows."

The worst part is the Denizens are under no command of Arlom's. None. They are the shadows, the darkness of each mortal. Thus when a person becomes involved in a shadow play, they must understand - this is not a god's doing, they suffer through mortal hands.

While searching the library of sadly blank books, Acantheis caught vision of a shadow on the wall. It danced a little, on strings made of nothing, putting on a puppet show. It showed a story of a Quartzian arriving to the city, lost and alone. There were no others present, until one shining light arrived, putting the shadow into stark black contrast and suddenly the shadow split. But only for a moment, then the second being was gone. And the shadow was alone.

Acantheis applauded lightly at the end of the show, and the shadow reached out towards him with long, seeking fingers. They grasped hold of Acantheis's shadow and pulled with all their might.

Just stop it. You'll only hurt yourself. Acantheis said to the struggling shadow. And the Denizen was sucked inside his crystal form. Alright, Arlom. I get that you can't speak to me directly and stuff. That's fine. But I'd still appreciate at least an apology of some sort for taking my creations without asking, keeping them trapped and distressed within you, causing my research to be halted because they were left on my doorstep after being rescued, and stealing their shadows when they try to leave. That's very rude of you, you know.

Unless you don't know that, in which case I'm telling you now so you should still apologize. I'd appreciate the return of the shadows to the mortals on my ship. They weren't yours to take in the first place, and as such I thought I'd ask nicely before resorting to less pleasant means. I don't see much purpose in fighting with another god. Especially with one who's architecture is as fascinating as yours.

[mystic1110]

City-Wide Educational Initiatives

The library's book shelves were made of rich mahogany, deep tones of brown pervaded the area. As light shone in clear lines from the stained glass windows, the libraries inside was colored blue, green, red and a pleasing mustard. The particles of dust were clearly visible from the light of the triple suns. The books Acantheis had picked up and placed down on the long sturdy tables were all open to blank pages... the familiar graffiti vanished, ever since he blinked. Suddenly the shadows creep up the table legs and underneath the shadows the books cast, and the books picked themselves up and flew back into their proper locations on the book shelves.

Denizens detest change. They often engage in poltergeist-esque activities, such as moving furniture around to minimize the changes in an environment, their primarily function within the city is to clean up the graffiti copied over and over by those trapped in the city, the space between the tick and the tock.

Suddenly the door of the library opened and a Human man stumbled in... the light of the city outside shone through as he entered and it was immediately apparent that he had no shadow. The man looked disheveled as many shadowless mortals are wont to look, his arms obviously scratched beyond mere impulse, his left eye twitchy. He looked around the library and spied Acantheis. On seeing the god, and not knowing who the god was he exclaimed in a high pitched and nervous twitter: "My lord! Get away from the shadows!" He ran up to the god and literally pulled him by the arm into one of the long corridors of the library. Without pause he asked "Where's the librarian, I want it back!"

[Darklady2831]

Gjol Maduur

He Who Walks in Madness drifted down from the skies above Arlom, sinking into the ground. He sunk down below the earth, deep into the underdark, back into the Pillar of Nightmares. There, he began to slumber, regaining his strength. His mind seeped outwards, dreaming of things that could have been.

Urodlivv, Kor Tier

Rentar listened to Vahess, then nodded. "I see..." she thought, then she motioned to one of the Bok behind her, who reached into his cloak and retrieved a bright green Vahnatai garment, the typical dress for the Bok Caste. "Then we of the Council hereby grant you the title of Vahess'Bok. We trust that you will continue to improve your art, and teach it to those who show interest in learning it.

[Gotham]

The Second Continent

Bharus, in his godlike guise, altered only by forcing his lower body into a set of legs, strode across the new continent. He was weary, and longed to rest for a while, but after a time of feasting and reveling with the Dwarves and the Giants, he wanted to see this new continent.

He was satisfied taht the Chaos was at bay, for now. Now was the time to seek out the Law and the Righteous.

The Coast Formerly Known as Veta

Bharus stood, his icy beard sweating in the coastal wind, and stared up at the suns. There had been a radiance of power, it had been unmissable. It had radiated from the sun and struck...here?

Bharus looked around. There was nothing here. Just open sea.

Sea. What in creation was a sea, and why did that name seem right?

He looked down at the platform of ice that had sprung around his feet, allowing him to stand at sea.

He turned, and strode back to land.

The First Human he Saw

The next creature that looked intelligent was...taller than the Dwarves. Shorter than the giants. Slimmer than the mountainfolk, Weaker than the Frostchildren. Odd.

"You! Mortal! What are you? How do you come to be? What was that blinding light? Where are your cities? Answer me!"

[Promise]

Deep in The Endless Forest

The fighting was glorious, the pure savagery and adrenaline made the young god of blood lust feel infinitely powerful. The beasts came at him, one by one or in small groups. It did not matter either way. He was a god, they were mortal. They could bite him, yes, but only because he allowed it. Feel their sting? He did.

Moglin swung his axe left, right, hither wither. Yet he was bored. These creatures, though they provided sport, were not enough. They did not get truly "angry" at losing their comrades. They did not.. Think hard enough, he supposed would be a way of putting. Nay, the god of bloodlust required more.. Sustenance.

It was with this thought that he floated up, above the great forest and, after casting his gaze around for what seemed a long time, drifted towards the first sign of more interesting life he found.. The Maw of Madness.

Giant men of frost and strength. These would be more of a challenge. He hovered above one of their gatherings for a long while, watching silently.

[ChrisClark13]

Vylcent

Vylcent looked around unsure what to do with all the mortals he had just rescued. He assumed Acantheis was off trying to fix the missing shadow situation... maybe he could do something about it on his own? He changed his form to that of a supersized human with fair skin, brilliant green eyes, and emerald colored hair. He wore some simple, but nice looking human clothing as he walked around the ship, looking for something he could use. "Be right back."

After a while he found a hunk of raw crystal lying in a storage box and tested it's weight in his hand. His handed burned with green light as his crushed the crystal into many smaller fragments as he warped outside of the ship. He stood in the air above Arlom and flung the 169 green crystals, now each the size of half a human, into the city. Each formed into randomly artful shapes as to appeal to the god-city. "A gift for you Arlom."

Vylcent then blinked.

He was still floating above the city in much the same spot, but the crystals he had made had all been rearranged by the god-city's innate, subconscious magic. Some sat in shop windows, others on the top of fountains. The Denziens that encountered the crystals reacted to this new change by rushing at the crystals and trying to attack them. Vylcent smirked. Each Denzien that touched a crystal would be sucked inside... then the shadow would be returned to it's rightful owner who wherever they are and the owner would be cured of their "Arlom-maddness."

6 AP
5 AP: Counter-Scourge
Crystals of Vylcent
Any Denzien that touches or tries to interact with a Crystal of Vylcent is sucked inside and the shadow is instantly returned to its rightful owner. Any mortal who has their shadow restored stops suffering from "Arlom-madness."
The crystals are formed into artful shapes as to appeal to the god-city's subconscious aesthetic mind.
1 AP

[Elricaltovilla]

A Shadow Filled Library

The strange, carbon based life form pushed Acantheis into a corner full of old bookshelves.

There's really nothing the shadows can do to me. I am a god after all. Or something like that anyway. I suppose I could help you reattach your own shadow, but I'm not sure you'd survive the process... carbon based structures are so fragile.

I am Acantheis, mortal. Lord of Inquisitiveness, invention, magic and experimentation. You would be?

[Maugan Ra]

The Endless Forest

Naturally, the Lord of Beasts could not leave his territory entirely abandoned. To do so would be to render it vulnerable to other predators taking over, and the fact that there were none here mighty enough to try mattered little to a creature of instinct. So even as he trod on the ground of the second continent, a shard of his being remained behind, prowling through the woods.

After a time, he found in his woods a cave, dark and ominous. And in the back of that cave there was a passage, leading down into the depths of the underworld. It was menacing and fearful, but the Hunter could show no terror at even the mightiest foe, and so he entered cautiously, sniffing the air. And on the stagnant breeze, he detected the trace of another god. Interesting.

Curious, he advanced into the depths, the sounds of his breathing and muted snarls echoing weirdly in the dark caves.

Yes, he's seeking out Gjol Maduur. Might as well meet the neighbors. And you can almost certainly tell he's coming.

[mystic1110]

Souvenirs in the City

The Crystals of Vylcent arrived in Arlom as kicker knacks, trinkets, figureheads and other small objects. They were tacky and touristy, almost as if Arlom wanted people to pick them up. One of them appeared as a Garden Gnome on a lawn of a house in Arlom's suburban section. Another was a doll of a cat found in a Arlom's downtown. Other crystals took the form of small antennas unseen among the skyscrapers, others were more accessible - green statues of shy peeing cherubs placed over the empty fountains of the empty city.

The Denizens detested change. Something about being trapped in an ever shifting maze of boulevards and alleys tended to make the shadows wish for regularity and normalcy - of any type. The Denizens at first tried to entice the trinkets, others reach out greedily and were sucked in a silent bone chilling shriek. Silent yet the vibration of the shadow upon the cement would make a wanderer in Arlom vomit in sudden nausea. Eventually after most of the shadows had vanished, the few that remained... the hardiest Denizens. The shadows of those most closely driven to insanity, the shadows of those that truly did not mind being in the city - the homeless and forgotten, the shadows of those who did not want to go home or who believed the graffiti of "Home" referred to the city itself. The people who thought of Arlom when they wrote those words on the wall with blood and nail - "Home." Those shadows.... they began to patrol the known green crystals. Mortals knew not what the green statues and trinkets meant - they only knew that wherever the souvenirs where there were Denizens. The Graffiti of the streets frantically began to repeat to the mortals "Play with No Shadows," never suspecting that those despised souvenirs where their tickets home.

City-Wide Educational Initiatives

The slightly crazed man looked at the God with his twitchy incredulous eyes, and slapped him. "Stop it. This is no time to go crazy. You know what happened to the last one who started saying he was a god here? Huh? Do you!" after a brief moment in which the man picked up one of those blank books and threw it out into the light he looked back at the god. He spoke in a nervous quick talk that made it sound like he couldn't stop if he wanted to "Wait... no you're new right? Great isn't it? Really fantastic? This is my second time back. Your in the library, you didn't meet the librarian yet did you? No you wouldn't be acting like this if you did... anyway we have to go! NOW! Follow me!" With that the man took off down the stacks of books, expecting the god to follow....

[Snowfire]

Xia looked over to her sister, nodded once at the Halcyon, and squeezed her hand - releasing a spark of divine energy across their link. Then she turned back to the newcomers.

"Ing'dras, welcome. My name is Xia. And this is my sister, Alynaia." She gestures at the Halcyon. "And this is no isolation, my dear. That home can move itself through the planes as easily as we ourselves can. This is simply it's current resting place." She smiled.

"So you see, your offer of connection is - whilst appreciated - not required. By us, at least. But we are not the ones that you need ask." A single Steelthorn had remained outside the ship, secure in the area around the Sister's who had created them all, and Xia gestured at the mortal.

"Ask him. Ask those of this ship if they wish to be a part of your roads. It is their choice. Not mine."

[Draken]

Halcyon, Ing'dras

Peculiar, but more than anyone, Ing'dras knows that gods are eccentric sorts, he sees no issue in adressing Xia through a creation. The helmeted god turned to face the Steelthorn.

"Your lady put it slightly wrong. I do not wish to make you part of my roads. That would be violent and needless. And I do not think you would make good cobblestones."

Some roadside humour.

"I do wish to walk your halls and leave trails for you to use, and to find places where it will be good for you to settle. I will warn that the dead ends I find shall cease to be so, for I will leave my gateways behind."

Ing'dras mount stamps its hooves a few times.

"And my brother Arlom wishes to build you cities. His architecture is exquisite and his municipal planning is without equal, you have no reason to decline."

[Snowfire]

The Steelthorn tilted its head to one side at Ing'dras' requests. Then there came laughter. Gentle, quiet laughter.

"Ing'Dras, we appreciate your offer. Truly, we do. But," the being shook its head, "we have no need of such trails. Nor Gates." It - for it had no clear gender - indicated the huge ship behind it. "The Halcyon is our home, and we know it as if we had built it ourselves. Your trails would be more like to add clutter than to aid." It continued bluntly.

"More than that, this ship has a purpose. And whilst we will accept the aid of our mother-sisters in its construction - and even accept them aboard - we do not know you. Nor your brother." It shrugged. "And until we do, until we know you, our home will remain pristine."

[Elricaltovilla]

City-Wide Educational Initiatives



The slightly crazed man looked at the God with his twitchy incredulous eyes, and slapped him. "Stop it. This is no time to go crazy. You know what happened to the last one who started saying he was a god here? Huh? Do you!" after a brief moment in which the man picked up one of those blank books and threw it out into the light he looked back at the god. He spoke in a nervous quick talk that made it sound like he couldn't stop if he wanted to "Wait... no you're new right? Great isn't it? Really fantastic? This is my second time back. Your in the library, you didn't meet the librarian yet did you? No you wouldn't be acting like this if you did... anyway we have to go! NOW! Follow me!" With that the man took off down the stacks of books, expecting the god to follow....

An unseen force reached out and grasped hold of the fleeing human. There was a snap and a sudden pop and the human was flung backwards and into the hand of the Amethyst god. A second crystal hand reached out and smacked him heavily across the face.

I don't know if your race possesses a natural prediliction towards irrational behavior, but I assure you it is not something I tolerate easily. I AM indeed a god, of that I assure you. Now, you will calm down, and you will explain to me, slowly what the nature of the Librarian is and whether or not communicating with it will allow me to speak with the God-City Arlom. Are. We. CLEAR?

[Elemental]

The Land That is yet to be Named - Umm... Suggestions anyone?

Velharan was walking among a grove of trees when Arathor arrived. The sudden presence of the Bestial Lord of Nature surprised him a bit, but he did not show it.
No. I am not the ruler here. I am a guide and a teacher.
Truer words may have been spoken elsewhere, but what can be truer than the truth?


A Silent Call

It reached Velharan, but he considered it rude to answer a long distance communication when talking to someone else face to face.


The First Human to Meet Bharus

Naturally, the mortal was rather shocked by the new god that had appeared and made such demands. But it would be no use trying to resist as the deity looked angry and would likely destroy him.
"I am a human. We came to be when the Lords of Light created us. The light was the radiance of the Suns erasing the poisoned city of Veta from our world. The holy city of Ciarathra stands down near the sea to the West. You'll know it by its white stone."

[Draken]

Ing'dras' mount licks the air a few times, while its rider thinks silently.

"I have miscalculated this place then. It never occurred to me that a deity might make something standing free in the void and that it might not be a world. But a city and a vessel."

His business done with the steelthorn, Ing'dras turns once more to the sister goddesses.

"I invite you both to visit Arlom any time. It is but a step back and through me when you desire to do so."

[Snowfire]

Steelthorn

The Steelthorn chuckles.

"Our creation is different to most others. But that is a tale for another time." It shakes its head. "Regardless, we will remember your actions here today. They speak in your favour." The Steelthorn then turned and re-entered the ship-home.

Xia

Xia nods to Ing'dras, the simple gesture acknowledging both his actions and words.

"Mayhap we will, someday." She replies. "But for now there are other things to do. We will remember as our sibling-childer shall. And we will see you again, someday." She nodded at Alynaia. "If you will, sister of mine?"

[Maugan Ra]

Arathor looked somewhat confused by the reply (it's amazing how much expression a god can squeeze out of a canine face when he wants to).

"Guide? But there is no wilderness here. And what do you teach?"

[Draken]

Ing'dras, Halcyon

The Traveler King turns his mount around, riding off into the void.

For the briefest of moments, The Vast Gate opens before the Halcyon, and then disappears as Ing'dras rides off through himself.

[Elemental]

A Discussion of Metaphors

There are many kinds of wilderness to become lost in. Not all are so tangible and readily apparent. And I teach many things. Things to lighten the difficulties of life and to bring joy. But most of all, I teach understanding.
Velharan continued walking among the trees down toward the ocean. He stopped and picked a small orange flower.
This isn't from around here... At least, not that I remember.
He held it to his nose to catch its scent.
It's quite poisonous too. Hmm... If diluted with ethyl alcohol, it could function as a heart medicine...

He's just noticing the herbs. He'll also discover spices and plant dyes eventually.

[Maugan Ra]

A discussion of what-the-hell-is-a-metaphor?

Arathor snorted. "There is only one true form of wilderness. All others are illusions, created by a mind turned on itself by it's own complexity. " he asserts, confident in this way that he speaks the truth. Not because of any higher principle, but because he is the Alpha, and what he decrees is the truth. "I met a Frost God previously who trapped himself in something called 'King', and which led him unarmed and exhausted to my feet."

The forest god looked over at the flower. "They grow in my lands, though I did not bring them. The trees grow them as defense of a favoured area, for they bring death to scavengers. But there are no Ents here. Hrrm."

[Lady Serpentine]

As Xia spoke to Ing'dras, and then sent him on to the Steelthorn, Alyanai was hard at work once more, for she knew that fear sparked the urge to destroy, and that the Halcyon, once it was fully made, would cause many gods to fear it...

So, even as the Silver Sand made his farewells, she was preparing the world for one more addition to the vessel, and thus, when her sister prompted her, she simply nodded, and used the spark of power she had been granted to set the change in motion, catalyzing the many pathways she had built, ones which covered the hull of the ship, and many of the rooms inside.

2 + 2 = 4

4 AP

Create Relic - The Hedge: A set of intricate clockwork and thorn-steel (the same type of construction used in the Briarheart and the Planar Jump Drive) spires covering the hull of the Halcyon, and extending down into quite a few sections of the interior.

It prevents anyone other than Xia and Alynaia from finding the Halcyon, unless they already know where it is, whether by being told, led there, or some other reasonable method, unless it's acting on the world around it in a way other than movement and its normal functions, unless they expend 2 AP to reveal its location.

Following it once found is quite possible, though it makes tracking them through planar jumps very difficult indeed (requiring 1 AP to trace where they went if one was already following them, or increasing the cost to 3 AP if attempting to locate them while they're hopping), and once one loses track of it, the protection kicks in again.

4 - 4 = 0

0 AP

[mystic1110]

Halcyon

Ing'dras words should have caused the sisters and the mortals a feeling of apprehension. It was a city and a vessel. It was a city. Meaning it was Arlom. The mortals always knew Arlom. He was the pathways between rooms, their homes and their doors. Their engineering and planning. They always knew him and he always knew them. Yet the Metropolis of Shadows was not unintelligent. He knew that his temptations would be unwelcome and would bring grief to his citizens gather than increase their entertainment and population. So while Ing'dras vanished into himself and into Arlom, Arlom remained for a moment. A single Denizen was left behind and put on a puppet show for the sisters and the Steelthorns. It was slightly... burlesque, but it got the point across to the gods and mortals. It's not like they had a choice, their city itself was a god. They built it with their own hands. After the show the Denizen gave it's audience a curtsey and then simply remained on the wall with what could only be explained as an expectant aura.

City-Wide Educational Initiatives

After the crystal hand smacked the bewildered man he got up and brushed himself off. Before he spoke, he picked up another empty book and threw it past the God's face. Seemingly satisfied with the result he turned back to the god and glared at him before having a brief spasm of twitches: "Now see here. I met people who could rip others apart with their minds here... I here of all sorts of strange things. I don't care if you are a god, you're not a god here. Got it! It's safer, don't you read the signs?" The man looked around, picked up another book, then thought better of it... "I don't think you understand where you are. You think you're in a city called Arlom? Look out the window. You know what I see? Veta in its prime. This place isn't a place, it's any place, at any time. It the city, THE CITY." The man began to nervously walk in circles around the god while talking quickly "You're new, but you realized that you never meet anyone in this city, everyone is always in the corner of your eyes, you only meet people when the city wants you to meet them. The city wanted us to meet. And I want to find the librarian, so you're either going to help me, or we're both going to die. Get it?"

Arlom is a sanctum so like starseaker you shouldn't be able to get in or out without combat or permission. good thing their is always permission to get in, but not out. THe sun brothers got out because -- well I forgot.

[Elemental]

It Takes Too Long To Explain

Admittedly, a tangible region of wilderness can be rather hazardous and difficult to leave once entered. But whether one is more dangerous than the other can never truly be known.
He let the flower drop to the ground and continued walking to the sea.
I was in a city once. In a way, it was a paradise with its ordered streets and graceful architecture. But peril walked those streets and everywhere there was something watching. Something not quite right, as though it wanted me to be there and despised my presence simultaneously.
Was it a wilderness? Perhaps, perhaps not. But had I been mortal, the madness would surely have made it such.
He makes it sound like it happened ages ago, in reality, an hour at most.
You have not yet told me your name. But I suppose I have not told you mine. I am Velharan.

[Elricaltovilla]

City-Wide Educational Initiatives



After the crystal hand smacked the bewildered man he got up and brushed himself off. Before he spoke, he picked up another empty book and threw it past the God's face. Seemingly satisfied with the result he turned back to the god and glared at him before having a brief spasm of twitches: "Now see here. I met people who could rip others apart with their minds here... I here of all sorts of strange things. I don't care if you are a god, you're not a god here. Got it! It's safer, don't you read the signs?" The man looked around, picked up another book, then thought better of it... "I don't think you understand where you are. You think you're in a city called Arlom? Look out the window. You know what I see? Veta in its prime. This place isn't a place, it's any place, at any time. It the city, THE CITY." The man began to nervously walk in circles around the god while talking quickly "You're new, but you realized that you never meet anyone in this city, everyone is always in the corner of your eyes, you only meet people when the city wants you to meet them. The city wanted us to meet. And I want to find the librarian, so you're either going to help me, or we're both going to die. Get it?"

Arlom is a sanctum so like starseaker you shouldn't be able to get in or out without combat or permission. good thing their is always permission to get in, but not out. THe sun brothers got out because -- well I forgot.

If the people who could throw you around with their mind looked like me, that's because I made them. Acantheis said. Let's make things very clear here, mortal. I'm in charge. I don't care to meet the librarian unless meeting it can help me to communicate with Arlom. So answer my question. Can I communicate with Arlom by communicating with the Librarian?

Without really waiting for a reply, Acantheis began stacking books in a large pile. He was meticulously careful to make sure that they were blank. Once they were in a pile, he turned to the man.

Now, a Librarian exists to protect, catalogue and categorize books. So if you want to bring out a Librarian, put his books at risk. A spark of luminescent fire leapt from Acantheis's fingertip and alighted on the pile of books. In short order, there was a merry purple fire blazing in the library. Now, we wait.

[Darklady2831]

The Howling Honeycomb

Madness crept alongside Arathur, making his shadow longer, sharper, and definitely more menacing. Of course, to a wild beast, this wouldn't matter much. What would matter was the beasts he came across. They resembled the predators of the surface world, but, strange and alien. There were examples of many surface predators, such as wolves (http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/1904/bizarrewolf.jpg), bears (http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/051/a/b/insect_bear_by_shukibaby-d4qfwse.jpg), and even a scant few lynxes. But they were all alien. Tendrils where fur should be, bony protrusions, scales instead of fur, and lizard eyes. These beasts prowled nearby Arathur, slowly gathering in a pack around him, always at the edge of his vision.

But the strange animals were not all that Arathur faced. At the edge of his mind, he heard whispers, strange and alien. They urged him to stay where he was, then to go down one tunnel, then to climb the cave walls, then to leave. The constant whispers began to creep into his very thoughts. It was clear, Gjol Maduur was closeby. And that is what Arathur found when he entered an enormous cavern in the center of the Howling Honeycomb. He found himself on the shores of an underground lake, the dark water was as cold as ice, and stank like the refuse pit of a boar. He could see, near the edge of his vision, in the center of the lake, a pillar of black basalt, rising up to the very ceiling of the caves. At least a mile high, the pillar undoubtedly extended a mile deep into the water as well. This was the source of the maddening whispers, this was the den of Gjol Maduur.

Vahnatai Lands, Deathmold Plague

The Vahnatai were suffering under the plague of Deathmold. Their mushroom caves were infested with the stuff, and their gatherers were unable to find enough uninfected fungus to feed the population. Thus, hunting became an even more important part of the Vahnatai society. Almost all of their food was game hunted by their warriors in the more remote tunnels. Their sick were cared for in quarantined buildings, tended by only those who volunteered. Many of the tenders fell to the illness, and soon, whole caves were declared off limits, and the Ihrno council declared Urodivv under Lockdown.

A few days after the Lockdown, Rentar'Ihrno showed up on the Doorstep of Vahess'Bok. "Vahess'Bok, your people need your aid."

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

As his brother departed the dark continent of the Abberants, Valmyr lingered to examine Ing'dras. Alone among these bizarre divinities, he seemed to possess both patience and reason, and so Valmyr stepped before him.

"Very well, we shall depart this land. Know that you are welcome in Lumaria, rider, for alone among your siblings you seem to possess both civility and reason. Farewell."

He departed in a flash of light and fire, following his brother's trail far into the sky above. There, Lumaria shone like a jewel, ruby and sapphire and gold merged into a perfect whole. There, he could found a true society, free of the influence of darkness. There, he could forge something to last for all time.

His path diverged from his brother's shortly before reaching the atmosphere, a trail of red starstuff streaking down into a broad fjord. He felt the Tol-Valmyr nearby, safe after their long journey from accursed Veta, but as he flew closer another spectacle drew his attention. Rising from the mouth of the fjord was a lonely mountain that had not bowed fully to Valmyr's will. It's peak still glowed with the red fire at its heart, trapped by divine decree but so vital that it could not be silenced. The peak was ringed by smaller mounts in the distance, mounts which assuredly promised safer locations for settlement, yet the Tol-Valmyr had settled at the base of the holy mountain and Valmyr knew it to be good. In time, his people would raise great edifices of granite and onyx, and call the land Valarum. But for now, it was naught but a simple village of wood and daub, and his people were nowhere to be seen. Intrigued, Valmyr wandered the streets, until he came upon a great commotion at the base of the holy mountain, a man with fiery hair proselytizing his superiority to a crowd of uneasy onlookers. Valmyr frowned, and in an instant he stood before Ordon.

"What is the meaning of this, my child?"

Fire and Death

Some time after the chastisement of Ordon, Valmyr heard the call of Ensirex through the aether. It was a cold, strange thing, yet not so alien as Gjol Maduur. As Ensirex floated in the void above Lumaria, an explosion of light and fire appeared before him, the golden armor of Valmyr lighting the darkness as a fourth sun.

"Who calls to Valmyr, Lord of the Red Sun?"

[Promise]

After observing the great giants for what felt far too long for Moglin, he descended upon them, slowly lowering himself to the ground, rotating as he did so, so as to keep his gaze on all around him.
As his feet touched heavily down upon the snow below, the giants noticed him. What was this creature, much shorter than them, yet taller than their dwarven friends. Why was he in their home?

After letting out a long, maniacal laugh, the bonelord showed them exactly why he was there. He dived towards the biggest one of the lot and cut through its shin with a mighty swing of his axe, toppling it, before bringing the axe up again, hewing his chest from his waist. The screaming..

Yes.. This would be much more fun. Moglin turned to view the other Giants, some turning and running, but for the most part, getting angry, preparing to fight back against this fiend who would slay one of their kin.

Laughing again, The Master of Bloodlust charged into the Giants, battling and killing them, one by one.


11 Ap Start
-5 Ap for Gain Ability: Prowess of the Paragon (Axe) Through fighting so many foes with his axe, Moglins mastery over it has increased tremendously in just a short time. As long as he wields a Relic axe, Moglin may add 3d6 to his attack dice.

[Snowfire]

Halcyon

Ing'dras words should have caused the sisters and the mortals a feeling of apprehension. It was a city and a vessel. It was a city. Meaning it was Arlom. The mortals always knew Arlom. He was the pathways between rooms, their homes and their doors. Their engineering and planning. They always knew him and he always knew them. Yet the Metropolis of Shadows was not unintelligent. He knew that his temptations would be unwelcome and would bring grief to his citizens gather than increase their entertainment and population. So while Ing'dras vanished into himself and into Arlom, Arlom remained for a moment. A single Denizen was left behind and put on a puppet show for the sisters and the Steelthorns. It was slightly... burlesque, but it got the point across to the gods and mortals. It's not like they had a choice, their city itself was a god. They built it with their own hands. After the show the Denizen gave it's audience a curtsey and then simply remained on the wall with what could only be explained as an expectant aura.

Xia focused for a moment on the Denizen, divine senses reaching through it towards its creator - if you could call Arlom that. And when she spoke her voice was low, but with a hurricane of fury lurking behind her words.

"I do not care what your purpose is, or if you think what you have done right and just. But our sibling-children have spoken their words towards you. They do not wish your presence. And you will respect that." The weapon in her hand extended, forming again a deadly halberd of rusted steel. And her next words were whispers. "Or I will make you."

[mystic1110]

Halcyon

The Denizen mimed scratching its head, and then pointed to a light bulb, signifying an idea. It puts on another play. This one is slightly more difficult to understand, shadow puppets were never good at metaphysical philosophical debate. The Denizen tries to explain, that where there is a city there is Arlom... he cannot help it nor can the city help it. He wasn't present in the city, he was the city. He was the concept of architecture and claustrophobia; he was the concept of home and community. As long as it stood he would stand, and when it would fall he would be its ruins. The Denizen did it's best to display the lesson that the mortals did not have a choice, and neither did Arlom, the only solution would be to dismantle the city. To make it so it was no longer a city. The Denizen was pretty apologetic about it, or as apologetic as a shadow on the wall could be.

City-Wide Educational Initiatives

The man looked at the books in disbelief then he sarcastically stated "Great my companion is a powerful idiot. Ok ok ok, let me try to explain. The city doesn't talk, indirectly or directly to you. It only arranges meetings, like this one although lord knows why. Yet in this city there are creatures called the Denizens. Some take the form of shadows others take the form of people like us. The Librarian is not an actual librarian - the book throwing was me simply making sure there are no shadows in the room, they can't resist putting the books back in order. I read Graffiti that somewhere there is a Gate you can talk to, weird huh? I think that's what you're looking for, but the city won't allow you to simply go there on your own whim. It tests you, teaches you, you know."

The man nervously scratched his forearms, enough to make them red and slightly splotchy with caked blood. "This city is fear made manifest. The city itself is the fear of getting lost or being controlled, the shadows are fears of the dark, the gate is the fear of traveling I’m sure, and the mayor I theorize is the fear of authority. They are all fears… the librarian is the fear of age. Of forgetting, he doesn’t guard the books, he guards the memories. He steels your childhood. I want it bank. Help me please.”

[bryn0528]

The Skulls
Tulio the human lead the way. The halls here were rough-hewn from the natural rock and twisted away into a labyrinth. But he knew the way, for his God had shown him as much. The half dozen or so of men and women behind him followed nervously.
TAB "Are you sure this is the right way? I swear we've passed that rock at least twice now."
TAB "Be quiet."
They had been walking in the caves for nearly a half hour before Tulio found the first hall, and it was another ten minute trek through the squeezing passages until the way finally opened into a great chamber of midnight.
TAB Sounds of rustling passed each by, and then a spark of light erupted. A single brazier lit, casting piercing light upon the walls of the deep cave. Water trickled underfoot, moss and lichen grew on the walls despite the lack of sunlight, but the mushrooms and brackets and mold seemed commonplace. A single tree in the center of the cavern stood upon a shallow island of rock, it's branches bleached white and with not a single leaf. A dark skinned man, painted in a mockery of death and dressed in bright funerary shrouds. Tulio knelt to one knee.
TAB "My lord, my God." The man laughed a response before beckoning him to rise with a hand.
TAB I see that you have found my Sanctuary, as I showed you. Good, you won't be entirely useless then, perhaps. Hahaha. See, and know that you are within the domain of those passing. Not that which has passed, it is too far, but that which remains on the threshold of both living and dead. That is my domain, and you will cherish the gifts that I give from this door. Hahaha.

The Marquis' AP = 1. (11) - (1, Alter Land; First Continent, Halls) - (1, Alter Land; Second Continent, Halls) - (3, Weave Sanctum; Lands of the Dying) - (5, Divine Mandate; Laws of the Dying).

The Halls are just more caves built into the already caves underneath both Continents. Those who can navigate the Halls may enter the Marquis' domain, the Lands of the Dying. Lastly, the Marquis is now giving the word for the Skulls, though they're not really doing anything just quite yet.

[THEChanger]

The Holy Mount

Even by the standards of mortals, he was not large. Indeed, most of the men he spoke to were larger than he was. But he commanded attention. His voice was powerful, and he spoke as one who has authority. "And I tell you truly, that the suns have betrayed us! Did you not see the blinding flash of light? Have you not heard the tales of how the prosperous city of Veta was blasted from the face of the land? The gods grow jealous of our success, of our prosperity!"

Then, Valmyr appeared before the man, and spoke, and his voice echoed across the mountain. But the man showed neither fear nor respect. Instead, he laughed. "See how our most gracious overlord comes running at the mere mention of his wrath? Valmyr fears what we may become. But I, Ordon, will lead you to glory! I, Ordon, am the only truly worthy one in these lands! Follow me, and I shall lead you to greatness surpassing even those who created us!"

[Maugan Ra]

A continuing discussion

"I am called Arathor." the beast-god replied. "And I have no need for cities, cursed or otherwise. I have seen some of the mortals working on them, forming the world into static, unchanging lines, and it disgusts me. They seek to change the world because they cannot survive it as it is, and that makes them weak."

The Howling Honeycomb

Arathor did not know what to make of these strange, altered lifeforms that prowled around him. He was a creature of the deep woods, but these things were... different on a fundamental level. He ate one, and found its flesh strange and off-putting, and so did not devour another. The whispers, at least, he ignored, as he did with the muttering of all lesser things that sought to sway his path.

Eventually he came to the lake, and the pillar in the middle of it. It was quite unlike anything else he had ever seen, but he recognized a lair when he entered one. Cautiously, he prowled around the edges of the lake, sniffing the air occasionally.

"I am Arathor of the Forest." he growled out, the voice echoing in the cavernous chambers. "And I would speak to the one who makes his lair beneath my territory."

[Elricaltovilla]

City-Wide Educational Initiatives



The man looked at the books in disbelief then he sarcastically stated "Great my companion is a powerful idiot. Ok ok ok, let me try to explain. The city doesn't talk, indirectly or directly to you. It only arranges meetings, like this one although lord knows why. Yet in this city there are creatures called the Denizens. Some take the form of shadows others take the form of people like us. The Librarian is not an actual librarian - the book throwing was me simply making sure there are no shadows in the room, they can't resist putting the books back in order. I read Graffiti that somewhere there is a Gate you can talk to, weird huh? I think that's what you're looking for, but the city won't allow you to simply go there on your own whim. It tests you, teaches you, you know."

The man nervously scratched his forearms, enough to make them red and slightly splotchy with caked blood. "This city is fear made manifest. The city itself is the fear of getting lost or being controlled, the shadows are fears of the dark, the gate is the fear of traveling I’m sure, and the mayor I theorize is the fear of authority. They are all fears… the librarian is the fear of age. Of forgetting, he doesn’t guard the books, he guards the memories. He steels your childhood. I want it bank. Help me please.”

Acantheis cocked his head sideways at the man. Well no wonder everyone here goes mad, what with your incessant whining. I don't have any childhood for the librarian to steal, and you don't have any left to offer it for bait, so I guess we'll just have to find something else to draw it out. Acantheis headed to the door of the library and opened it, leaving the fire of books burning merrily behind him. Come on, we're going outside. This place can burn to the ground for all I care. What kind of librarian isn't a bibliophile. I mean, some people...

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Vahnatai Lands, Deathmold Plague

Vahess'Bok nodded his odd bulbous head. He had about him many sharp implements, which he would enhance with his limited psionic abilities, and he also had many scrolls and books, upon which many notes were scrawled in his handwriting and others, those of his 'contemporaries' in his growing art. "Of course, of course. I will do whatever I can to aid the Vahnatai in these troubling times. I have been studying these mushrooms and my Art, and I will do whatever I can to help." He nodded again, half to himself.

Fire and Death

Chittering softly, Ensirex greeted Valmyr as warmly as he greeted anyone: not. "Death calls, for I seek answers. I search for the cause of the phenomena that has given a semblance of divine essence to mortal creatures. The energies I sensed seem in tune with these great sources of energy... and with you."

[ChrisClark13]

Vylcent
Vylcent warped back to the Starseeker and found himself appearing on the outside of it, he didn't think much of it as before he had expended a considerable amount of energy to get directly inside the first time. He raised an eyebrow nonetheless. "Open up! I'm here to return the mortals to their rightful homes!"

[Elricaltovilla]

The Starseeker

An image materialized in front of Vylcent. It was a series of complex medical and psychoanalytical charts along with detailed physiological descriptions and taxonomies. The information was vast and detailed highly specific accounts of each of the mortals on board the Starseeker. As the image scrolled down and reach the bottom, the following message appeared:


Patients determined to not yet be fully recovered. Final analysis of release:

NO

[ChrisClark13]

Vylcent, Outside the Starseeker

Vylcent nods, "I see... as long as they're being taken care of I guess I have no objections..." He sighed and looked towards his brother's land and warps above it, stretching his arms above his head. He considered adding his own society to the world below, thinking that his brother's people as humans would need all the help they could get. As he mulled it over, just the name "human" for a race seems to invite disaster from the other gods, he decided to talk to his brothers about it... *yawn* later. He was weary from all the power he had spent so he thought he would go do some exploring. Hmm? His brothers seemed to be chatting with other gods. Maybe he should go do the same? He looked into the sky to the land the other "brothers" had created.

A hop, skip, and a warp later he was walking along a road that had been paved, walking towards a series of frosty peaks. Beasts watched him from the edges of the forest. He thought about them as he walked, some of their eyes glowed red in the dark. He thought he recognized that light coming out their eyes as the light of Valmyr's, but it easy could've been the power of the god that had made them in the first place.

He spied some that caught his attention more than the others (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox), so sent out a small spark of his light to study them for him. Out of the rest of the beasts they seemed to have his light in them the most, but just barely. Maybe that's just because he liked them the most, in any case he decided that he would lift them up to be equal to humans, mostly because he wanted to see them grow into something more and partially he wanted to see if they would draw attention of other gods just as humans had. He sent out a telepathic message to his brothers. *I require a bit more power for something, could I borrow some?"

Need 2 more AP to make a new race out of Foxes and create a Society for them.
Also, could I share humanity's current concepts with them?

[mystic1110]

City-Wide Educational Initiatives





Acantheis cocked his head sideways at the man. Well no wonder everyone here goes mad, what with your incessant whining. I don't have any childhood for the librarian to steal, and you don't have any left to offer it for bait, so I guess we'll just have to find something else to draw it out. Acantheis headed to the door of the library and opened it, leaving the fire of books burning merrily behind him. Come on, we're going outside. This place can burn to the ground for all I care. What kind of librarian isn't a bibliophile. I mean, some people...


As soon as the god left the library, the man followed him out, waving his arms madly, incredulous. The sounds of crackling books and timber roared behind them and suddenly silence. When the two visitors to the city looked back the library stood brand new. No charring nor blackening from any supposed fire. The man laughed at the god... "Done trying to prove you're boss? We can keep doing things your way, but the way I see it the city only allows you to meet people it thinks you should meet. I met you cause I need your help to find the librarian, and you need me to find the gate or whatever. I'm assuming its the gate you want - I remember meeting a small man from Karlik who told me he got out of here through there, the gate spoke to him and stuff, I guess that's like talking to the city. Doubt it but close enough. Not sure how that is a fear - i might be wrong, but this city is the compilation of urban legends, and rumors, so that's how you get around. So we help each other right huh? Yes now, I know this place better than you do... the librarian is not at the library, so he's probably at the playgrounds, we need to check them out." The man began to walk "Don't worry it doesn't matter where you walk, you always get to where the city wants you to go."

[Darklady2831]

The Starseeker

Iiross'Bok and the Vahnatai had gathered together, sitting cross legged. They began to use their psionic powers to call out across the void. Eight Vahnatai working in concert, they called out, and they were heard...

The Howling Honeycomb, Shores of the Dark Lake

Slowly, a dark mist crept across the lake from the pillar at it's center. It brought with it an increase in the volume and number of maddening whispers. Then it brought a flickering sense of primal fear. Finally, dark tentacles, dripping with oily black fluids, reached out of the thick mists, slithering onto the shore near Arathur. "Beastlord..." the Voice of Gjol Maduur echoed off of the cavern walls. "I am He Who Walks in Madness, the Nemesis of Reason, the Nightmare Beneath Your Feet... I am Gjol Maduur, and these caves are my home... they are ancient beyond comparison, predating the mountains and the forest. They are shelter from the devastating light of the star-spawn... They are Life, and I am their Master..."

Vahnatai Lands, Deathmold Plague

Rentar'Ihrno nodded, and turned, floating away. "Follow me, please. And bring your tools..."

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Vahnatai Lands, Deathmold Plague

Vahess'Bok nodded and began to gather all of his tools, picking some up telekinetically and loading them all into a sack he had created to carry them around more easily without taxing his psionic abilities. "Of course, of course." he said while hurrying to follow Rentar'Ihrno

[Drowlord]

Argul Lugra

The raven vanished, eyes burning for a second behind him.

Underdark

He built with his talons and the talons of his ravens a huge nest for him. Unlike his subjects', his was made purely of rotting flesh and bones. He called it the Bone Mount.

[Elricaltovilla]

City-Wide Educational Initiatives





As soon as the god left the library, the man followed him out, waving his arms madly, incredulous. The sounds of crackling books and timber roared behind them and suddenly silence. When the two visitors to the city looked back the library stood brand new. No charring nor blackening from any supposed fire. The man laughed at the god... "Done trying to prove you're boss? We can keep doing things your way, but the way I see it the city only allows you to meet people it thinks you should meet. I met you cause I need your help to find the librarian, and you need me to find the gate or whatever. I'm assuming its the gate you want - I remember meeting a small man from Karlik who told me he got out of here through there, the gate spoke to him and stuff, I guess that's like talking to the city. Doubt it but close enough. Not sure how that is a fear - i might be wrong, but this city is the compilation of urban legends, and rumors, so that's how you get around. So we help each other right huh? Yes now, I know this place better than you do... the librarian is not at the library, so he's probably at the playgrounds, we need to check them out." The man began to walk "Don't worry it doesn't matter where you walk, you always get to where the city wants you to go."

So the city just plans on leading me around by the nose then? Hardly a respectful way to treat guests, Arlom. Acantheis sat on the ground and crossed his legs. If you want me to meet the Librarian, Arlom, tell him I'm right here waiting. I'm done playing games with you cousin. Acantheis's head shivered as three new faces grew out of his crystal skull. He could now see every direction at once.

Acantheis suspects from the Library thing that Arlom is able to change its environment around when people aren't looking, so now Acantheis isn't ever going to stop looking.

[Darklady2831]

The Starseeker

Thus, the Vahnatai, in their Psionic conference, called out to Arlom, begging to be taken back, to wander his streets once more, to feel his closeness, and his vast streets. Iiross'Bok and the other seven Vahnatai began to become irritable, and their psionic message reached the Starseeker, asking to be released and returned to whence they came.

Vahnatai Lands, Deathmold Plague

Rentar'Ihrno flew through the caves, until she came to a small camp, which was ringed by a wall, and guarded by several of the Kor caste. "There are twenty three victims of the Deathmold within that camp, and they have volunteered to become research subjects, so that we may find a cure. This is where you come in... if you will, we ask that you endanger yourself by exposure to the Deathmold, and use your art to figure out how it is infecting us, and how to stop it."

[mystic1110]

The Starseeker

Unfortunately the Starseeker was not a city... nor even a town... and until it was Arlom did not even know it existed.

City-Wide Educational Initiatives

The man looked at the god exasperated: "lord i have no clue why I was supposed to meet you, but if you won't help me I won't help you either." The man started to walk in a random direction while mussing up his greasy hair. he suddenly turned around "I still don't think you get it. He doesn't want you to meet the librarian. The city doesn't want anything. It just is. You can sit there all day but you can't talk to it. The only properties of the city we figured out is that meetings happen for a reason, but they aren't the cities reasons. They are the fears. They control the city, or at least as much as the city can be controlled. You want to talk to the city? You can't." With that the man walked away mumbling...

Of course he was wrong, the city could talk and did have wants and opinions, but usually kept them to itself. The Denizens who held power within him held that power at his permission, he was pretty apathetic towards them. Enough games though, as soon as the man walked away the streets of Arlom folded and closed behind him, and Acantheis found himself at the heart of the city, in front of the Vast gate Ing'Dras. A Denizen was nearby and it put on a little puppet show. A lone man walking away from a god, only to be torn apart... the shadow pointed to Acantheis to make clear that the meeting wasn't a game for Acantheis, but a wasted chance for that crazed man to receive help. Either way... that chance had ended, the Divine Mystic wanted to talk, then he was given to one who may talk for the city.

[Snowfire]

HalcyonThe Denizen mimed scratching its head, and then pointed to a light bulb, signifying an idea. It puts on another play. This one is slightly more difficult to understand, shadow puppets were never good at metaphysical philosophical debate. The Denizen tries to explain, that where there is a city there is Arlom... he cannot help it nor can the city help it. He wasn't present in the city, he was the city. He was the concept of architecture and claustrophobia; he was the concept of home and community. As long as it stood he would stand, and when it would fall he would be its ruins. The Denizen did it's best to display the lesson that the mortals did not have a choice, and neither did Arlom, the only solution would be to dismantle the city. To make it so it was no longer a city. The Denizen was pretty apologetic about it, or as apologetic as a shadow on the wall could be.

Xia growled for a moment, then stopped as the Steelthorn who had talked to Ing'dras pushed her weapon down - away from the Denizen.
"Peace, sister-mother." It said. "Let us talk with it." Xia blinked, then lowered the weapon and shook her head.

"You have the right of it." She said with a sad smile. "I am sorry."

"No, you are protective. That is quite normal, or so we are led to believe." The Steelthorn turned to the Denizen. "Now. Shadow thing, representative of Arlom, you are making a mistake." Again it indicated the Halcyon behind him, the vessel now under its own power. "Our ship is no city. It is not a town. It is a single dwelling. You say through your puppet that you are the God of cities. If that is so, you have no place here. For the Halcyon, our home, is not that which you believe it to be." Light flared around the vessel, rippling out in an iridescent bubble of light. "It is a ship." The Halcyon's engines flashed with divine fury, and the entire craft vanished, leaving the Denizen to flail in the void until Xia caught it and drew it to the safety of the shell around her.

"Return to the one whom you once belonged, little thing. Or travel back to Arlom." Two tiny portals opened before the Denizen. "The choice is yours."

The Steelthorn reached out hands to its sister-mothers. Xia grasped on firmly, catching Alynaia with another.

"Bring our spark-child, sister. We do not want her born alone, here in the void."

Then, once her sister had secured the still forming idea the two had released, the four beings vanished - following the Halcyon.

The Halcyon is, as stated, not a city. It is a ship. And if anyone wants to find it at this point, you're going to need to track through the Hedge.

[Elricaltovilla]

The Starseeker



Thus, the Vahnatai, in their Psionic conference, called out to Arlom, begging to be taken back, to wander his streets once more, to feel his closeness, and his vast streets. Iiross'Bok and the other seven Vahnatai began to become irritable, and their psionic message reached the Starseeker, asking to be released and returned to whence they came.

A similar display to the one that Starseeker showed Vylcent appeared before the Vahnatai, although this one used much simpler language and easier to understand graphs. Almost condescendingly simple. A thin field of Aetheric energy formed around the Vahnatai and one of the walls slid open to reveal the endless, empty void outside. Starseeker painted a message on the air in front of the Vahnatai.

You Are Sick. The Doctor Says You Will Stay Until You Are Well. If You Wish To Leave, There Is The Exit.


City-Wide Educational Initiatives


The man looked at the god exasperated: "lord i have no clue why I was supposed to meet you, but if you won't help me I won't help you either." The man started to walk in a random direction while mussing up his greasy hair. he suddenly turned around "I still don't think you get it. He doesn't want you to meet the librarian. The city doesn't want anything. It just is. You can sit there all day but you can't talk to it. The only properties of the city we figured out is that meetings happen for a reason, but they aren't the cities reasons. They are the fears. They control the city, or at least as much as the city can be controlled. You want to talk to the city? You can't." With that the man walked away mumbling...

Of course he was wrong, the city could talk and did have wants and opinions, but usually kept them to itself. The Denizens who held power within him held that power at his permission, he was pretty apathetic towards them. Enough games though, as soon as the man walked away the streets of Arlom folded and closed behind him, and Acantheis found himself at the heart of the city, in front of the Vast gate Ing'Dras. A Denizen was nearby and it put on a little puppet show. A lone man walking away from a god, only to be torn apart... the shadow pointed to Acantheis to make clear that the meeting wasn't a game for Acantheis, but a wasted chance for that crazed man to receive help. Either way... that chance had ended, the Divine Mystic wanted to talk, then he was given to one who may talk for the city.

Acantheis reached out to the shadow and grasped tight hold of its writhing form. Drawing it towards his mouth he bit down on the thing and slurped it up, swallowing the shadow whole.

You annoy me. Arlom, if you wished for me to aid someone, then you need to say so. And in a way I understand. You are a god, use your words. Acantheis turned to the gate, Ing'Dras. Do you speak on behalf of Arlom? If not, my patience has been worn thin enough already. I have no further time to waste on games.

[Draken]

Arlom, The Vast Gate

Ing'dras flares to activity, a swirl of silver forming between his impossible arch.

"I do speak for my brother, divinity. I am Ing'dras, The Vast Gate, through me is each moment of creation defined as such. Ask what you would, I shall answer as I can."

Terástia, Vylcent

The sound of familiar hooves approaches Vylcent as he plays with Ing'dras critters.

But there is no rider on the mount this time, only Ing'dras' strange beast walking down the road.

[Elricaltovilla]

Talking to the Walls Again

A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ing'Dras. It's nice to meet another divinity. Acantheis bowed his four faced head respectfully. I have a simple request for Arlom, the shadows he took from the people who left his walls... I would like them returned to their proper owners, without any harm done to the owner or the shadow. Their place is not here and I cannot in good conscience release those on my ship without them being whole and healthy. I have already been inconvenienced by one god, I would appreciate it if another would allow me to return to my proper research.

[Draken]

Not Walls, Doors

The Vast Gate thrums.

"I wanted to ask the solar gods why they believed this was not the place of those mortals who came here. No compulsion, divine or otherwise forced them to Arlom, only their legs and their curiosity made them walk through the doors."

Ing'dras shows images of the past, of many mortals finding the gates of Arlom, the haggard and the haughty, and all their various reactions. Some crossing inadvertently, others turning back in disbelief only to turn again and find the door gone, others simply moving away, a few crossing it after a moment of doubt, some walking boldly into the city, and a rare few rushing away only to return at a later date, ready to cross.

"They all came into the city for varied reasons, some were starting to understand Arlom and his ways, I had some interesting chats with several travelers who reached me. The adventurous were the most delightful of them all. They were certain they would find the secrets of the city, they called the city home."

Ing'dras shifts and shows three circling suns.

"Then came the suns, they took all of them back, those who wanted, those who didn't. Those who they had no claim to. I found it a great hubris, so overbearing as to deny the free will they themselves granted. Only because in some cases it led to a state of woe. But such are the ways of mortalkind, such are the paths they tread. We should only open doors and make lands and roads. Not their choices."

Ing'dras shuts down, and then blows silver sand across Acantheis' face, soon enough, Ing'dras walks out of the gate, not astride his mount.

"Arlom could relinquish the shadows, but I do not think he can truly do so, specially since they never left his halls, but were taken from them. I would dare say that they belong in this city."

[Elricaltovilla]

Talking to a Gate


Not Walls, Doors

The Vast Gate thrums.

"I wanted to ask the solar gods why they believed this was not the place of those mortals who came here. No compulsion, divine or otherwise forced them to Arlom, only their legs and their curiosity made them walk through the doors."

Ing'dras shows images of the past, of many mortals finding the gates of Arlom, the haggard and the haughty, and all their various reactions. Some crossing inadvertently, others turning back in disbelief only to turn again and find the door gone, others simply moving away, a few crossing it after a moment of doubt, some walking boldly into the city, and a rare few rushing away only to return at a later date, ready to cross.

"They all came into the city for varied reasons, some were starting to understand Arlom and his ways, I had some interesting chats with several travelers who reached me. The adventurous were the most delightful of them all. They were certain they would find the secrets of the city, they called the city home."

Ing'dras shifts and shows three circling suns.

"Then came the suns, they took all of them back, those who wanted, those who didn't. Those who they had no claim to. I found it a great hubris, so overbearing as to deny the free will they themselves granted. Only because in some cases it led to a state of woe. But such are the ways of mortalkind, such are the paths they tread. We should only open doors and make lands and roads. Not their choices."

Ing'dras shuts down, and then blows silver sand across Acantheis' face, soon enough, Ing'dras walks out of the gate, not astride his mount.

"Arlom could relinquish the shadows, but I do not think he can truly do so, specially since they never left his halls, but were taken from them. I would dare say that they belong in this city."

You make a fair argument Ing'Dras. Acantheis says as he spits some of the sand clear of his faces. The Sun-Gods acted how they saw fit, and then saw fit to dump the taken mortals on me. I fully intend to discuss this action with them at a later date, however being able to release the mortals is the more immediate issue.

I would just as soon release the mortals, however I have some standards of behavior which I strive to adhere to that prevent me from doing so until they are whole and healthy. If the shadows are returned to their owners, I can release them and those that wish to return to Arlom will be free to do so.

Does this sound reasonable to you and your brother?

[Draken]

The Vast Gate

Ing'dras looks to the floor.

"What do you say, brother? Can you bring the denizens here, so that I may open a way for them?"

[mystic1110]

The Vast Gate

The Streets Rumble and crack - steam rising from them from unknown vents, Glass shakes and shatter, Buildings crack - an earthquake, the epicenter oddly calm, the Vast Gate hardly moves. Arlom had spoken in the language of the streets: only mad men and mad gods would understand. The Vast Gate would have to translate.

My Citizens remain here by their own whim. You may lead them back to their owners, but to their own minds they are free, Slaves no more chained to their masters. They are now the fear of the dark, fear of secrets to be discovered, fear of those who talk about you, fear that there is a joke being played upon oneself. They may leave as they please - but none will seek those from whom they fled. I am their home. They are visitors no longer.

With that, it seemed like time reversed. The trees slowly righted themselves, the buildings repaired themselves, straight lines forming from rubble, glass trickling like upward bloody rain. And all around the Vast Gate dancing shadows, grotesque, somber, defiant, laughing, silent ... the light from the gate cast them yards and yards tall. Some shadows covered entire buildings, others stretched down the boulevard.

No one who is not a mad man or an Eldritch Horror can hope to understand Arlom without help translating with an artifact or aforesaid eldritch horror or mad man...

[Draken]

The Vast Gate

Ing'dras translates word for word, printing the words in images between his archs. His voice is not Arlom's after all.

The Vast Gate opens the way out of the city. But the denizens won't leave, that much has been stated.

[Elricaltovilla]

The Vast Gate

So in other words, you're not really going to do anything to help me. I appreciate that you both finally took the time to listen to what I have to say. In the future, I'd appreciate a little more expediency. If you ever find yourself in the area, stop by Starseeker for a visit. Acantheis vanished from inside the City-God.

[Elemental]

An Interesting Discussion

I suppose you're right. But it is their habit to group together and change the world for their benefit. In a way, they've conquered nature and it must now try and survive them.
To his brother he sent a telepathic reply.
When I have power to spare, I shall give it to you.

[Elricaltovilla]

The Starseeker

Acantheis reappeared inside the Starseeker. He looked around at the shadowless mortals.

I'm not letting you go. You aren't healthy enough to leave yet. So you'll just have to wait until I have time to put together something to fix you.

The four faced god looked up at the glass cieling of Starseeker's main dome. The three suns were visible directly ahead Set a course for the three suns, Starseeker. And find some way to put the mortals to work. No free rides. An opaque dome of shifting metal covered Acantheis, and inside its privacy he got to work.

[Darklady2831]

The Starseeker

The Vahnatai refused to move, they stayed put, sitting cross legged in a circle. Iiross'Bok led them in a psychic conference, sending out a psionic beacon across the cosmos. It started as a bare whisper, something that could have easily been mistaken as the ambient sound of the Starseeker. However, it slowly increased, becoming a cacophony of white noise, burrowing into the minds of all that were within the Starseeker. They cried out for return, to be given back to where they felt at home.

Their Psionic noise became so loud that it became physical, telekinetic waves emanating off of the Vahnatai. The delicate experiments shook, ever so slightly, and Iiross'Bok showed no signs of stopping the psionic disturbance.

The Vahnatai are basically throwing a psionic temper tantrum.

[Gotham]

Bharus stopped in his searching the human lands.

A great chill in his throat.

The Slaughter of the Frost Giants

A great snow-drift flew between the Bone lord and his latest target. When it cleared, Bharus floated there in all his frigid glory, his eyes deep as the blackest ice.

There were no words, no attempts to reason, no chances.

This was not a challenge to his people. This was not a chance to come together in defense from a conquerable foe.

This was slaughter, evil and honorless and bloody.

Bharus roared in the tongue of the gods and swung his fist.

[Gotham]

[spoiler]
Attack: [roll0]
Defense [roll1]
Health 30
[spoiler]

[Promise]

Frost giant village, battle with Bharus

Moglin stopped in his tracks as a presence got in his way.. He felt its divinity. This was no mere mortal.. But another god. An actual challenge. The bone lord knew not why this god got between him and his prey. But it did not matter. He seemed angry, and that meant a fight.

If The Bone Lord had a mouth, he would be grinning. He didn't though, therefor he hefted his axe and dashed forward towards the god who was aiming a punch at him.. What fun.


Attack:[roll0]
Defense:[roll1]
Health: 20-4=16

[Maugan Ra]

The discussion

Arathor snorted. "I thought so too, at one time. But when the conflict escalated between the wilderness and the snow-people, the Frost King came before me, angry and demanding that I undo what he felt I had done. It seems every god has a different idea on what makes the world work."

The beast-lord considered this for a moment. "Do you know of other divinities that I might meet? I should like to see if the pattern continues."

The Honeycomb


Slowly, a dark mist crept across the lake from the pillar at it's center. It brought with it an increase in the volume and number of maddening whispers. Then it brought a flickering sense of primal fear. Finally, dark tentacles, dripping with oily black fluids, reached out of the thick mists, slithering onto the shore near Arathur. "Beastlord..." the Voice of Gjol Maduur echoed off of the cavern walls. "I am He Who Walks in Madness, the Nemesis of Reason, the Nightmare Beneath Your Feet... I am Gjol Maduur, and these caves are my home... they are ancient beyond comparison, predating the mountains and the forest. They are shelter from the devastating light of the star-spawn... They are Life, and I am their Master..."

The beast-god growled in acknowledgement. "And I will not infringe on your territory, while you respect mine. But... you speak of the star-spawn. What have they done that demands one such as you hide from their sight?"

He felt vaguely uncomfortable just being here. Madness and fear to break the mind of a mortal found no purchase in his thoughts, but still, the constant barrage of whispers was disconcerting.

[Elemental]

Let Me Consult My Address Book

I suppose you are right that we all have our own ideas. And as such, it is up to us to reach concord.
As for who else I have encountered... There are my brothers. I do not know where they currently are, we all have our own projects.
There is the city that we spoke of. I am unsure of its nature, but I feel that something powerful guides it. Within my Brother and I encountered a being known as Gjol Maduur who was consumed by his insanity. My Brother and I fought him and subdued him before a great gate that revealed itself also be divine.
The Gate told us that the city was known as Arlom, but did not reveal his own name.
Velharan stopped and turned to face Arathor. Now they stood on a cliff overlooking the sea.
I know you feel that you must know of the others. But I caution you. Do not go there. The Gate and the Mad One can be dealt with, but I fear that the City is a danger beyond compare.
It did not strike my Brother and I, but its awareness, if it even has one that exists on the same level of consciousness as ours, can not be easily understood. Do not go unprepared.

[Drowlord]

The Honeycomb

A voice laughed softly, yet very inhumanly. It bounced off the Pillar and resounded, echoing like a chorus of cruel laughter. A harsh voice spoke in the language of ravens.

"Kkkkk... Who is this one? Eyelord greets you by us, his million watching spies. Don't try to find us- we surround you. We see you, beast."

[Promise]

Frost giant village, battle with Bharus.. An offer.
After trading blow after bone crushing blow with his fellow god, it was obvious that Moglin had the advantage in this particular situation. Slowly it seemed to him that the other god was beginning to keel.. Yet let it not be said that Moglin was a god of murder, for he ceased his own attacks as Bharus took a momentary stop.

"You created.. These?" asked the Bone Lord, gesturing to one of the dead giants, "You want me to leave them be?" he continued, the question genuine, instead of mocking. Instead of waiting for an answer, the young god began to make his offer, "I need more power.. What I do here grants me that power. But I see it displeases you." raising his axe and pointing the top of it to Bharus, Moglin made the bulk of his demand "I will not destroy you.. Nor kill these creations of yours directly. I will move on to other foes. However, for this to come to pass, you must allow me to take one of the bodies of the smaller ones and create a smaller race. One which will serve me. And allow this race to use some of the teachings of yours." he gestures around himself then, before finishing, "And finally.. This race would be allowed to wage war on your people, without direct interference from either of us. Indirect is welcome though. What say you?"

[Maugan Ra]

Cliff over the sea

Arathor stared at the expanse of water for a time. His realm had no such large bodies of liquid, only lakes and gushing rivers, and the impressive scale of the water called to him. It might be a wilderness of its very own, he thought - untamed and rampant.

"I know of Gjol Maduur. I speak with him now, as his territory lies below mine. And I have no great interest in cities, be they mindless or thinking. This talk of a gate, though, interests me. I think I might go looking for it."

That said, the beast-lord turned and leapt off into the skies once more, running on clouds as easily as the land. He was not entirely sure how to find this gate, but if he journeyed and searched long enough, he felt confident it would turn up in time.

The Honeycomb

The hunter snorted in contempt as the chittering voice surrounded him. "And why do you hide and skulk in shadows, Eyelord? Do you fear to confront me directly?"

[Elricaltovilla]

The Starseeker


The Vahnatai refused to move, they stayed put, sitting cross legged in a circle. Iiross'Bok led them in a psychic conference, sending out a psionic beacon across the cosmos. It started as a bare whisper, something that could have easily been mistaken as the ambient sound of the Starseeker. However, it slowly increased, becoming a cacophony of white noise, burrowing into the minds of all that were within the Starseeker. They cried out for return, to be given back to where they felt at home.

Their Psionic noise became so loud that it became physical, telekinetic waves emanating off of the Vahnatai. The delicate experiments shook, ever so slightly, and Iiross'Bok showed no signs of stopping the psionic disturbance.

The Vahnatai are basically throwing a psionic temper tantrum.

Acantheis stepped out of his dome and slammed a hand down in the middle of the Vahmatai.

You have until the count of three to cease and decist with your tantrum or I will squash the lot of you and send you back to Arlom in a pie crust. Which I will finally be able to invent without your incessant whining. You will leave when I have cleared you for release. That is final. As a final measure to protect the peace necessary to create a holy pie crust, Acantheis wove a shimmering dome of divine power out of the Aether and placed it over top of the Vanhatai, blocking out their psychic noise.

Rollover: 0 AP +4 AP rollover
Acantheis will bake you into a pie. He's a bit impatient of late.

[ChrisClark13]

Terástia, Vylcent

The sound of familiar hooves approaches Vylcent as he plays with Ing'dras critters.

But there is no rider on the mount this time, only Ing'dras' strange beast walking down the road.Terástia, Vylcent
Vylcent's appearance changed to that of an anthropomorphic fox, and behind him fox people started walking out of the trees and onto the road, they look unsure.
Vylcent approaches Ing'dras's steed and places a hand on it's snout for a few moments. "Mind if I ride you for a little while?"


0 AP + 4 Rollover AP + 1 Pantheon AP
2 AP Sentient Life: Foxkin, basically anthropomorphic foxes, they retain a few instincts of their wild brethren.
Concepts: Arathur's Tactics, any other Concepts they can use.
Will create a Society for them next post.
3 AP

[Gotham]

Bharus stared down as the icy ichor that ran through his body poured from his body like melting snow. His black eyes were wide in pain and shock. This...Bone Lord...was unconquerable. He was...too powerful.

Justice demanded his people be avenged, saved...but he was not strong enough.

As Moglin gave his offer, Bharus stared at the dead giants...

"I accept your terms."

Bharus held out a godstuff-soaked hand, and felt, through his pain, the gazes of his creations as they saw the ends to which the Frostking had gone to protect his children.


0+Rollover4=4

Gain Domain: Protection (guardians)- 3ap

4-3=1AP

[Draken]

Terástia, Not The Man's Horse

Snout?

The creature allows Vylcent on its back, training the blacks behind its visors on the creatures the god had wrough.

The Vast Gate

Ing'dras flares silver, revisiting his past for the city to see, playing history backwards for a scant few citizens who Arlom deigned to bring to his plaza.

[Drowlord]

The Honeycomb

A different voice came then.

"I do not fear you, but neither am I your enemy. Tell me, Beastlord, do you enjoy my gift to your people?"

(Rollover)

[Promise]

Frost giant village, an agreement with Bharus

Moglin accepted the offered handing, shaking it firmly, "All the wiser, fellow god. All the wiser."
And with that the Bone Lord was gone, a single dwarf residing within the village along with him. All that he left was a promise not to hurt these beings himself anymore.. But was it enough to save them from extinction? Probably.

Deep within the endless forest

Home.. If Moglin could really call it that. While it still provided minor fun in the form of the beasts that Moglin could slay, it was mightily dull. It needed.. Something. It needed.. Servants. Servants serving HIM.
He dropped the now lifeless, and mostly crushed body of the stolen dwarf to the floor, eying it carefully. He had only one.. He had to do this correctly. It shouldn't be too hard. Though caution might be needed nonetheless.

The Bone Lord lifted the body up onto an old, fallen tree and began to pulse energy into the dead dwarf. The branches of the tree slowly turned upwards, peeling away at the corpses skin and flesh, tugging off its beard, hair and clothes. After not too much time, all that lay before Moglin was a skeleton with almost no flesh remaining.

Moglin picked up the organs, arteries and various nondescript hunks of flesh, placing them carefully onto the skeleton, until it looked much the same as the broad fellow was when alive. Except.. Skinless, and much more thin.
Once again pulsing energy into the corpse, the bone lord willed large pieces of bark to snap up and bash heavily and suddenly at the shoulders, chest, head and hips of the carcass, causing it to be much less broad than a dwarf. Less broad even, than the humans which Moglin had not yet had any interaction with. Short.. Skinny.. Yet fairly strong, would this new race be.

Finally Moglin willed the leaves of the dead trees children to come down, to cover and tightly enwrap the corpse. Squeezing and covering it so well and tightly, that they started to merge with the leaves, and became a form of green, scaly skin.

Then.. To end it all off, Moglin gave these creature a gift all his own.. His personality. The bloodthirstiness, the will to battle anything and everything, and just enough intelligence to trick others into going along with their crazy plans. This was all given to them. And so awoke.. The goblins. He used his power then to create many, many copies of this creature and sent them to various places within the forest. Some living at the edges, to go out and do battle with both the dwarves and giants, others living deep within the dank jungle, near lakes or rivers. Wherever they were, they would cause chaos and destruction, or revel in it as it was forced upon them by others.

For now, that was all the Bone Lord cared about, his followers being in fights. In the meantime, he would follow that spark of energy he had first felt when created. He knew he was not one of the original gods, that meant he himself had a creator, and he felt this was it. The Bone Lord begins to look for the nearest sign of his "father" and therefor, while he did not know it, he searched for the entrance to The Honeycomb...

6 Ap start

Weekly Rollover +4

Create Sentient Life 2Ap-Goblins. A green skinned, long eared race with a penchant for fighting and violence. They don't have concepts like "chivalry" or "fairness". They simply care about beating the crap out of everything. Even if that means fighting amongst each other.

They copy the concept of Architecture from the frost giants they do battle against. Though because of where they learn this skill, all that they make for themselves is from the great forests surrounding them.

The goblins, after much careful watching of the beasts that hound them in the forest, have learn't to utilize similar tactics in their battles against said beasts, as well as against the giants and dwarves.

Create Mundane Concept 1AP-Crude weapons (axes). The goblins, some of them having seen their creators axe, had decided to make their own, albiet much more crude ones. Therefor, they have used stick, vines and sharpened stones to make their own basic weapons for war against.. What ever they are fighting at the time.

Gain Domain Weaponry (Axes) 3Ap
Create Relix, Axe of Moglin
Prowess of the Paragon (axes)

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

Staring down at Ordon, Valmyr's eyes narrowed, and he slowly, deliberately, placed his hand on the mortal's shoulder. It landed with all the finality of death, a terrible weight held only in check by the beneficence of his creator.

"My son, what has driven you to this blasphemy?"

The Forging of Dawnbringer

Valmyr stood upon the surface of the Red Sun. From his fortress of crimson fire, he watched the universe move, watched the dark and corrupt things birthed by madgods spread like termites through creation. Reality could not endure such vile corruption, and it fell to him and his brothers to make it right. But to do that, he would need a weapon.

Valmyr turned, and from the surface of the sun rose a blistering anvil, plasma and flame forced into solid form by his will. Once again, the hammer that had brought his world to life appeared in his hands, and drawing forth the pure light of the Red Sun he struck it. The blow tolled like a bell through every corner of creation, followed by another, then another. Eventually, a blade began to form, unerringly straight and fit for nothing but war. It was held by a gleaming guard and long hilt, the cross weight the blazing light of the noonday sun. Holding the first sword in his hands, Valmyr thrust it into the inky cold of the void itself, watching the heat hiss away to combat the darkness, until he held in his hands a golden sword, as shining and brilliant as he, its edge terribly sharp.


AP: 5

-3: Forge the first sword, Dawnbringer

[Gotham]

Bharus grimaced as the Bone Lord disappeared. He drew himself up to full height, stared around at his people...

"I am sorry, my sons, my daughters. I have failed you today, but I swear I that the challenge of the Bone Lord's people will be overcome. You can do this. You are strong. I will return."

He gazed towards the triple suns and sighed. With that, a wind blew up and he was gone.

The baricenter of the Suns' Orbit.

Bharus appeared near the Suns, and he noted with interest how his beard steamed constantly in the heat and his chilly limbs whorled around wildly. He assumed his solid-legged form and stood himself on a conjured platform of ice.

Summoning a measure of his weakened, frigid power, he cast a crystal shard of his beard into the green, red and yellow suns each. It would have no power to harm the planes, but would suffice to alert the creator of each that their objects d'arte where being affected. He called through his steaming, vaporizing ice...

Creator of the Sun...If you be a being of Law or of Good, I beseech you to give me a moment of your time. The Frostking Bharus requests an audience.

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

Standing upon the surface of the Red Sun, Valmyr saw the fragment of the Bharus materialize above, heard his earnest plea even through the roar of the trifold fires. Gripping Dawnbringer firmly in his hand, he rose on fiery wings to where the frostking waited. The divinity was unfamiliar to him, yet he did not radiate the vile otherness of the Abberant Lords, and so was worthy of audience.

"Greetings Bharus, I am Valmyr, Lord of the Red Sun. What business do you have with the Lords of Light?"

[Gotham]

Fire and Ice, Good and Evil, Law above All

Bharus studied the flaming, armored figure on wings of flame and with a straightened weapon in hand. The frostking dripped his godly blood, not growing weaker, but not healing at the moment.

"Lord Valmyr. I have walked the floating world, the snowy mountains and the dark endless forest. I have birthed beings of Ice and Stone. I have taught them to band together against the cold. I have shown them ways to turn the ice into a weapon. But the chaos grows. A great beast in the woods. A lord of Bone, hungry for slaughter. A race of monsters, created to wage war on the Dwarf and the Jotun."

Bharus paused, running a hand over his steaming beard.

"The answer to a cold winter or a hunting beast is simple: Walls, community, the warmth of love and the fires of civilization. An alliance of not only neccessity, but of common purpose. I am...not as strong as I believed myself to be. And when you find yourself lacking, the answers are the same. I...would ask you to open your walls to me, Lord of the Red Sun."

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

Valmyr's response did not come all at once, his first reaction being to maintain his scrutiny of the god before him. There were perhaps no divinities so alike yet so different than he and the frostking, but the earnest nature of the plea, the simple truth of a people assailed, pierced to Valmyr's core.

"Your tale is a sad one, Bharus Frostking, and you have moved me with your plea. I shall summon my brothers, so that together we might relieve the terrible shadow that threatens to consume your people."

Valmyr turned, his body shining ever brighter as he called out to the void.

"Velharan! Vylcent! Chaos threatens to consume a race both innocent and noble! Their lord has come to beg our aid, and it is only just that we answer! Let the Lords of Light rise to strike down the forces of the wicked and the murderous once again!"

[Elricaltovilla]

Out from Ziobede
@mystic: why do you have to make your city names so hard to remember? :smalltongue:

The ships were ready, sails of muscovite strung up on masts of ruby. Hulls of smoky quartz guarding goods made of geodes, opals diamonds and other precious stones. The crews of the three starskiffs loaded the last of their many goods onto the ships and headed off for unknown lands.

Starting AP: 4
Create Society: 1 AP The Quartzian Exploration Leauge. A loosely formed group of guilds that manage Quartzian society. They have recently launched trading vessels to reach out to other societies in the cosmos.

Create Magical Concept: 1 AP Starskiffs. Ships made of crystals and other minerals that can sail through the void with ease. There are currently 3 in existence, each one heading to a different society that the Quartzians espied in their travels. The Sunrunner, Dawnskipper and Twilight Coming.

Final AP: 2

Sunrunner's Launch

The captain of the Sunrunner, Topez, looked out across the bow of his mighty ship. He had been tasked with reaching the human lands, the most varied and wild culture the Quartzians had encountered. But he and his crew were up to the task, each was a master Arcanist and they were ready to ride the currents of Aether across the cosmos to reach the lands of foreign gods.

Sunrunner slipped out from its moorings and set sail.

Dawnskipper's Launch

Dawnskipper followed shortly behind her sister ship, her captain Danbur was prepared for any eventuality that might come in the frozen lands of goblins and giants. A thick beard of blue-black quartz covered the lower half of his face and the rest of his crew sported similar appearances.

Twilight Coming's Launch

The last ship to leave was headed for the black caves of the unkown lands. Their's was the hardest task as they had to go where their ship could not follow. Deep into underground caves where the light of the three suns did not shine. There had been no reports of what society lay deep beneath those caverns, only that there was one. The captain of the ship, Spinelle feared his crew would not return, but that was beyond his possibility to know.

So yeah, Space is an Ocean. Who would have guessed?

[Maugan Ra]

Running through the stars

The great cry of the sun-god echoed in the void, but it was not his brothers who answered at first. Arathor, running between the stars in search of other gods, heard it carried on the celestial wind, and driven by a great curiosity turned to seek out it's source.

He slipped out of the enveloping dark like a wraith, padding on invisible ground as he circled the impromptu meeting between Bharus and Valmyr. He sniffed, and recognized the scent of blood. But it's source, that was surprising.

"Who, or what, dealt you those wounds, Frost Lord?" he growled out, voice as harsh and bestial as ever, and yet filled with an unexpected degree of concern. The Ice King was bold, and strong enough in his way, and Arathor was somewhat surprised to see such injuries upon his cousins flesh.

The Honeycomb

"What gift? And what people?" Arathor demanded. "I do not claim subjects or a people, and I know not of what you are blabbering."

The voice, angry and confrontational, drifted through the caverns. If Moglin was about, chances were the bone lord would hear it.

5ap from rollover, and 3 of it immediately spent on making the Endless Forest into Arathor's sanctum. Not all of the forest, but certainly the deepest, most impenetrable regions. No creature goes there willingly, sensing that it's the territory of a great and threatening monster, and even the Goblins shy away. For now, at least.

[Gotham]

Frost, Fur and Fire

Bharus turned his head. His brow furrowed.

"Arathor. I was wounded by a beast, like you, but one that wears the trappings of a warrior. Armor, an Axe, bones. He felled many of the Jotun, defeated me, and to secure the safety of my children in the face of a foe that they could never defeat, I sacrificed one of them to Moglin the Bone Lord."

Bharus glanced at Valmyr, then back at the great beast. His voice was hard.

Have you come to feast on the Order? Are you drawn by the scent of my essence?"

[ChrisClark13]

Terástia, Not The Man's Horse

Snout?

The creature allows Vylcent on its back, training the blacks behind its visors on the creatures the god had wrough.
Vylcent jumped on top of the creature and turned to face his creations. "I am Vylcent, Lord of the Green Sun. I have just created you from a type of creature that walks these woods, come follow me to what will be your new home." They nodded and followed him as he rode upon Ing'Dras's steed. He whispered to it. "Mind if I you Sleipnir? It's a fitting name for one such as you, just thought of it." He led the foxkin to a wide and spacious meadow and waited as if he expected something to burst out of the ground. He then called out, "Arlom! Would you give these people of mine a home they can always return to, whatever strange worlds and lands they may roam?"

Note to Arlom: The foxkin won't go into it just yet as Vylcent still has a bit more to teach/tell them before they start living out their lives.

[THEChanger]

The Holy Mount

Ordon gazed into the blazing eyes of the Red Sun, his own pale blue orbs feeling the searing anger of his god. And yet, the pride of the mortal could not be disuaded. With a violent shrug, he tossed Valmyr's hand from his shoulder. "I speak no blasphemy, only the truth. Why should we bend knee to you? What do we owe you? Or your brothers? You are not like us. Ever living, so far above our heads. You do not understand our struggles! You could never concieve our pain! You are not FIT to rule mortals like us! And among these here, I alone am worthy! I alone understand the complexities of leadership. It was for leadership I was born, bred, and raised. And I will have my birthright, whether by words or by force." From a hidden pouch, Ordon drew a shinning shard of metal. It was not worked, nor was it smooth. The jagged edge cut into Ordon's own hand, drawing his blood, and though it stung, Ordon leveled the crude blade towards Valmyr. "Now, you will bestow the power you possess upon me, or we will do battle. A battle which I have prepared for my entire existance. Choose wisely, Red Sun."

[mystic1110]

Lisgovo - The Fox Den

Almost as soon as the Green Sun spoke, Arlom answered. The City Grows... always... either through the laboring of mortals or through divine will, but it extends, it reaches outward... drawing everything into it's limits. They become his citizens willingly, unknowingly but eventually.

From the clearing that the green sun had chosen, a single tree began to grow and twist. It grew upward, higher than any other tree, thicker so that it's stump rivaled the great white walls of Veta when it had still stood. The trees roots burst from the ground, each of them strong and large like many wooden serpents. They lifted the great tree above them, so that the roots resembled the great pathways of Karlik - the tree itself honeycombed with natural hollows and alcoves - perfect for individual den for each fox kin.

The great roots form a sort of large atrium that will serve as the market place, and center of Fox kin affairs, within this base there are many wooden columns, creating a large inner central area. In this central area is a natural spiral staircase, which the Foxkin may use to move up and down the tree.

This was Lisgovo, The Fox Den, and since foxes in packs were known as skulls of foxes, the tree in Arlom's vision was engraved it large natural designs of skulls of all types and fashions, beautifully carved.The sight was not morbid, but solemn.

Lisgovo carried with it a certain silence. Dignified and mournful. At the same time the city was peculiarly door-less. There were no doors, yet as always a door may appear in the wood - a door where none was supposed to be. Curiosity might kill the fox. The legends of the tree rarely mention the door - it was just a tale mothers would tell their children to keep them from leaving the den to early - a mother's tale... yet who wouldn't open and walk through a door one lonesome night when they are in grief and wishing for escape?

The City grows.


5 + 5 AP Rollover.
1 Alter Land: shell city: Lisgovo, The Fox Den - It basically looks like the great tree from Avatar :smallbiggrin:

Gain Domain: Community (Discomfort)
The 4 out of the 6 Great Shell Cities of Arlom: Zobeide, Veta, Karlik, Kop'yem Goroda, Karlik, Lisgovo.
3 The doors of Arlom

Gain Domain: Hunger (Population)
4 Scouge
3 Sanctum - Self

AP Left 3

ARLOM IS A LESSER GOD

[Elemental]

Note: It's silver, not yellow.

Velharan Hears the Call

He had had plans for that day. But this was a matter of grave importance. The Frostking needed their aid, and they would assemble.


The Centre of Creation

As the Suns had been forged at the heart of existence, so they now revolved around it. At the centre, where the light was strongest... And at the edges where the darkness deepest...
Hmm... I'm becoming a poet...
My apologies for being late Bharus.
He nodded his head to Arathor.
We meet again so soon after your departure. I see your search has already yielded results.

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr

Far above the Red Sun, Valmyr faced the god of death. At the insectile apparition's question, he gestured back at the three suns.

"That is my brother Vylcent's doing. Seeing how the mortal races wander in darkness and ignorance, he gifted them with purpose, with light, with what he calls a soul. The lights of the three suns have been woven together and flung out into creation, a cinder burning in the heart of every living thing."

[Elricaltovilla]

Sunrunner Arrives

High above a human city, Sunrunner soared in on the currents of Aether. The magnificent crystal ship housed goods from far away Geodesia. Its captain stood proudly on the bow of the ship.

"What Ho, Strange Kinsmen! We come from across the great void, bearing many gifts and stories for trade! Will you meet with us?" Captain Topez cried, using Aether to amplify his voice.

Dawnskipper Arrives

The frozen lands of the Giants were forbidding and severe. But temperature and terrain meant nothing to the hardy crew of the Dawnskipper. Atop their mighty crystal ship they arrived with the first rays of the Silver Sun, which shown through Dawnskipper, painting the city below in a rainbow of colors.

"Hail, Giants and Dwarves. We are the Quartzians. Your kind was unknown to us for a long while. But we have come still, bearing gifts from our homelands. Will you treat with me?" Danber's words echoed across the city proper.

Twilight's Coming Arrives

Above the Howling Honeycomb, Twilight's Coming floated gently on currents of Aether. The crew descended swiftly, using their natural Arcanist abilities to guide themselves safely to the ground. There they stood, in front of the mouths of the caves, pitching camp.

"This is where we make our basecamp. In the morning, we descend into the caves. Steel yourselves Quartzians. We do not know if we will ever return." Spinel told the other Quartzians.

[Promise]

The Endless forest-Cave to The Howling Honeycomb

After a rather long time searching, Moglin discovered a cave.. Deep within it, the spark of divinity pulsated greatly. The one he searched for was here.. As were others. Gripping his axe tightly, the young god advanced.

The deeper he advanced, the stranger things got. The primal beasts that he was used to destroying and subduing.. They were here, but they were different. Twisted, and much less fearful of him after he wounded them, or killed their companions. That did not stop The Bone Lord from doing so, of course, he had his ways and he was set in them, but he was still slightly unnerved by it.. Usually mortals went mad at the sight of their own blood. Yet these creatures.. They seemed mad before he had even arrived.

T'was not long before Moglin heard a cry, familiar, yet unknown. Who it was did not matter.. The voice sounded as if it was looking for a fight. Where there was a fight, The Axe Lord wished to be. Hefting up his weapon, he charged forwards, ignoring the twisted beasts.. A god was much better prey. He ran straight to his father.

[Elemental]

The City of Antarel

Antarel was located just to the East* of Ciarathra and was much better situated for trade. The merchants of the city briefly considered the fact that Velharan had erred when he chose the site of the First City, but it turned out that Ciarathra was sheltered by a range of hills and that Antarel was truly dismal when it rained.
Still, the merchants held on and soon Antarel eclipsed Ciarathra in wealth and population, wielding a fair bit of political power of its own. And it was to this civic paragon of wealth that The Sunrunner approached.
At first, the people looked up in curiosity as the ship began the perilous decent through the atmosphere. And then in fear. Could their Gods be angry with them?
But soon, the fire and smoke dissipated from around the object revealing it to be a ship carved from crystal. The citizens looked on in curiosity as a figure at the bow of the ship looked down upon them and then called out in a booming voice that grated on their ears. Truly no living being could produce such a sound.
The panic resumed and people made for their homes and hid in their cellars. Others fled the city spreading word of creatures in a crystal sky-ship, that morphed into rumours of an attack by creatures in a crystal sky-ship that brought fire and destruction down upon all they looked upon.
The governing council of Antarel went about matters in a less obviously panicked manner and sent word to the other cities to prepare themselves for visitors from another place. Visitors that were possibly hostile.

Starting AP: 0 + 4 (rollover) + 1 PAP
Create Society: Sedalian League - Essentially, a military alliance of numerous independent Human cities that have agreed to work together and follow the light of the Suns.
Remaining AP: 3 + 1

Note: I will work on some kind of map of the human world one of these days.
*Direction subject to change.

Anyway... I think that is a response that makes sense.


The Centre of Creation

Velharan sighed ever so slightly, almost inaudibly and sent an image of himself to meet with the Quartzians.


The Sunrunner

The Humans may not have understood the speech of the Quartzians, but Velharan certainly did. A copy of himself appeared levitating just off the deck of the Sunrunner.
You really shouldn't have frightened them so much. Anyway... They can't understand your speech anyway. I believe you may speak different languages. That, and I do not believe your crystal vocal apparatus can render the sounds of the Human tongue.
I am Velharan, permission to come aboard Captain Topez?


Sol Lumaria Under the Three Suns

As he waited for the Quartzian captain to respond he looked down upon the land. Parts of it had become very dry. It seemed there was a drought under way and the weather was not relenting. Perhaps something could be done about it?
He looked down at the ocean and felt the tang of the sea. His mind soared over the waves until his awareness was concentrating on a distant piece of ocean. Back at the Sunrunner, Velharan removed his crown and held it up such that one of the prisms in it caught the light of the Silver Sun and refracted it across the distance in a pure and intense beam of rainbow light. Where it struck the surface of the ocean, it evaporated a volume of sea water instantly and Velharan threw a small fragment of his own divine spark into the cloud that formed and willed it to flare into light.
Arise my Son and choose a name for yourself.
You will bring life giving water to the land and aid the nourishment that the light of the Suns provides already... When you are ready, I will teach you all I know...

[Xondoure]

"Ame." The cloud spoke in a voice filled with the sounds of rushing water. Extending it's existence beyond itself the god felt the warmth of the suns on the backs of the waves, felt the vapors rise and fall as the currents of water and air continued their eternal dance. It was a dance he understood, for he was the melody. As the moment shifted itself into the back of his mind the god snapped his attention back to his creator. With effortless grace the mist drew itself into a tall limbed form much like his fathers. Refracted light glistened forming eyes that shone with all the hidden colors of the silver star.

"I think I understand." The clouds drew nearer. Thunder rumbled as the skies darkened and rain began to fall

Starting AP: 15
Gain Ability x2 10 AP: Elemental Mastery (Water) Herald of Life

[Draken]

Sleipnir? Lisgovo

Ing'dras' steed stamped its hoof on the ancient road leading to the new city, and soon enough, the silver knight was standing by.

"Arlom has excellent taste."

But of course, Ing'dras probably isn't there for that.

"Are you not worried that they will be claimed by the city, like those you took that time. Those still locked in Acantheis' domains?"

[Maugan Ra]

Frost, Fur and Fire

Bharus turned his head. His brow furrowed.

"Arathor. I was wounded by a beast, like you, but one that wears the trappings of a warrior. Armor, an Axe, bones. He felled many of the Jotun, defeated me, and to secure the safety of my children in the face of a foe that they could never defeat, I sacrificed one of them to Moglin the Bone Lord."

Bharus glanced at Valmyr, then back at the great beast. His voice was hard.

Have you come to feast on the Order? Are you drawn by the scent of my essence?"



"Moglin?" Arathor looks bemused for a moment, and then chuckles. "Ah, my wandering pup. Interesting to hear what he's been up to... I must confess I've barely paid any attention since he spawned. An interesting name he's taken for himself."

The beast-lord grins nastily. "Drawn by scent, perhaps... but no, I am not here to feed. I came through curiosity."

[ChrisClark13]

The foxkin with Vylcent watched as the tree spread and grew into the sky.
He raised his arm up, motioning for them to wait. "Remember, if you end up lost in an empty and forboding city, look for crystals shining with my light. It will lead you home."

Vylcent smiled and with a wave of his hand several more scrolls and books appeared in Lisgovo's library. The foxkin would find knowledge of many concepts. Writing, Transportation, Mining... everything Vylcent could use from the other gods. He added something of his own. He gave them the knowledge of how to tame the Beasts of the wild to do their bidding. In time, the Foxkin would tame even Dire Beasts. He also gave them knowledge of how they would organize themselves into a society of roaming groups made of familiy and close friends. Lastly, he gave them a couple books of history the most popluar of them being "The Dream of Vylcent," a book filled with what he had seen in his godling dreams. The other being "Tales of the Lords of Light," a book detailing what he and his brothers had done, it ended with the creation of Lisgovo with his warning on the last page. Both in the future would become seen as mythical stories, told and told again to young kits. Eventually the urban legend of Arlom would mix with Vylcent's warning and would turn into a belief among the Foxkin that Vylcent's light will always lead one home.

By the time the foxkin learned all they needed to learn and headed out, they would've missed out on trading with the Quartzians, but they would find a Gateway that lead to Ziobede and do their trading through it later, as would they find Gateways that lead them to every corner of each of the worlds.

Augh, I meant to say "Mind if I /call/ you Sleipnir"

Sleipnir? Lisgovo

Ing'dras' steed stamped its hoof on the ancient road leading to the new city, and soon enough, the silver knight was standing by.

"Arlom has excellent taste."

But of course, Ing'dras probably isn't there for that.

"Are you not worried that they will be claimed by the city, like those you took that time. Those still locked in Acantheis' domains?"
But for now, they needed time to grow. Vylcent looked over at Ing'dras. "Not so much as last time, I've left ways out for them. Mind if I borrow your steed for a little while longer? My brothers are calling me for a meeting and I would like to ride him there."


3 AP
2 AP Create Advanced Concept: Beast Taming
Foxkin can tame beasts, even Dire Beasts, and put them to use in many applications. Their carts are pulled by tamed Dire Wolves usually.
1 AP Form Society: The Wandering Caravans of the Foxkin
Once a foxkin reaches and/or nears adulthood, they gather into caravans and head out to explore the worlds via the Gate, almost always trading with any locals they run into. Foxkin caravans from then on return to Lisgovo twice a year to take a break from traveling, trade with their fellows, and swap stories. Foxkin also return to Lisgovo when they or their mate is pregnant, they stay there to raise their children until they are old enough to accompany their parents' caravan. Foxkin who feel they are too old, injured, or just don't like the caravan type lifestyle stay at Lisgovo and tame beasts, help mantain, or take on teaching roles to kits.
In short, a trader/wanderer society that makes good use of the Gateways and returns home on occasion.
0 AP
and I'm out of AP again! Teaching races does take a lot out of a god.... as does making them, but still.

[Draken]

Ing'dras looked to the side.

"Certainly, he will take you where you have to be."

It is the steed of the god of travel after all.

Arlom, The Vast Gate

The gate thrumed, and out of it walked a great black thing clad in silver, walking on digitigrade legs and bearing great talons on limbs at its back, the plating it had been given concealed its face, but the lights of its eyes escaped the numerous slits of its helm.

"Arlom, I do not believe you will ever gain much of a populace given the efforts of the other gods."

The creature takes on a regal posture, staring down the meandering streets before it, and the lost citizens in there.

"I find it unlikely that you will ever make mortals to live within you. It is preposterous after all, that a city would create its inhabitants. Those must come in through other means."

More of them walk out of the gate, filling Ing'dras formerly solitary plaza.

"I am giving them the clarity to walk your streets and the freedom to move in and out, for I know that you will always be their home."

The creatures spread out of the plaza, their numbers growing as much as Ing'dras knows will be needed to bring a particular brand of bustle to the first city.

"They are the Ing. Please, extend them your welcome."

5 AP + 1 PAP

5 AP: Create Legendary Life: Ing.

Ing'dras' chosen people are great entities with black carapace and six limbs, two arms, two legs and two taloned upper limbs, they greatly appreciate heavy armors, much in emulation of their creator, and are not encumbered by them.

The Ing are innate psychics, but to a very limited degree. Their powers deal with transportation and some forms of clairvoyance. Ing'dras gave them these abilities to help them navigate Arlom, as he wants them to bring more activity to the city, as it ill-suits his tastes to have his brother be so... Empty.

Their biology and appearance specifics will be left misterious and indistinct. Spoooooky.

The psychic powers of the Ing are, to be more specific, the Clairsentience and Psychoportation disciplines.

[ChrisClark13]

Vylcent nods and rides Sleipnir up towards the suns to meet with his brothers.

The Centre of Creation

Vylcent rides in on Sleipnir, then dismounts to stand by his brothers. He gives the steed a slight pat on it's rear to tell it to ride off if it wants. He looks around at the gathered Gods. "So what seems to be the problem brothers? And I don't think I've ever formally introduced myself to you, and there's others here as well. I'm Vylcent and the only title I have to my name is Creator of the Green Sun."

[Elricaltovilla]

The City of Antarel

Antarel was located just to the East* of Ciarathra and was much better situated for trade. The merchants of the city briefly considered the fact that Velharan had erred when he chose the site of the First City, but it turned out that Ciarathra was sheltered by a range of hills and that Antarel was truly dismal when it rained.
Still, the merchants held on and soon Antarel eclipsed Ciarathra in wealth and population, wielding a fair bit of political power of its own. And it was to this civic paragon of wealth that The Sunrunner approached.
At first, the people looked up in curiosity as the ship began the perilous decent through the atmosphere. And then in fear. Could their Gods be angry with them?
But soon, the fire and smoke dissipated from around the object revealing it to be a ship carved from crystal. The citizens looked on in curiosity as a figure at the bow of the ship looked down upon them and then called out in a booming voice that grated on their ears. Truly no living being could produce such a sound.
The panic resumed and people made for their homes and hid in their cellars. Others fled the city spreading word of creatures in a crystal sky-ship, that morphed into rumours of an attack by creatures in a crystal sky-ship that brought fire and destruction down upon all they looked upon.
The governing council of Antarel went about matters in a less obviously panicked manner and sent word to the other cities to prepare themselves for visitors from another place. Visitors that were possibly hostile.

Starting AP: 0 + 4 (rollover) + 1 PAP
Create Society: Sedalian League - Essentially, a military alliance of numerous independent Human cities that have agreed to work together and follow the light of the Suns.
Remaining AP: 3 + 1

Note: I will work on some kind of map of the human world one of these days.
*Direction subject to change.

Anyway... I think that is a response that makes sense.


The Centre of Creation

Velharan sighed ever so slightly, almost inaudibly and sent an image of himself to meet with the Quartzians.


The Sunrunner

The Humans may not have understood the speech of the Quartzians, but Velharan certainly did. A copy of himself appeared levitating just off the deck of the Sunrunner.
You really shouldn't have frightened them so much. Anyway... They can't understand your speech anyway. I believe you may speak different languages. That, and I do not believe your crystal vocal apparatus can render the sounds of the Human tongue.
I am Velharan, permission to come aboard Captain Topez?


Captain Topez looked at the Lord of the Silver Sun and very carefully intoned, in soft musical notes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKRj-T4l-e8&feature=relmfu). "We speak many languages, Divine One. If you would prefer to act as mediator on our behalf though, it would be appreciated." The quartzian captain bowed to the god, whose shimmering light left a play of colors streaming through the quartz starskiff to dance on the city below.

I don't know that there would be a great deal of fire and smoke when the Dawnrunner arrived, it's not going particularly fast and it's Aether powered. But its not a big deal. Also quartzians communicate by vibrating their crystals, so their voices are musical in nature, like the link I provided.

Starseeker's Journey

Starseeker continued to travel throughout the cosmos, stopping briefly at various points to collect samples of unknown items and energy readings. Eventually, it came across two sister gods at the far edge of the void. Starseeker stopped and hovered in front of them, until a very tall man made of deep purple amethyst stepped out, his four faces observing everything around him simultaneously.

Hello! The crystal god said, with a smile.

[mystic1110]

Life in the City

They say that great cities, cities whose images dwell in the memory of mortals for millennium, are really just memories of some great idea. Some cities represented conquest; Faith hovered over the towers of others; another might be art incarnate. Arlom though - was the idea of city. He was city. Simple as that. A nexus of weirdness of all the fears that the city represented... for Arlom was the need for community, for the loss of individualism. The city became you, and you became yet another brick in the wall.

And this city, Arlom, was silent no longer. The crack of air that was a teleport, the shrieking of shadows, the cries of lost mortals, the soft tap of the many legs of the Ing, as they became his citizens. The houses of the city shifted to accommodate them. A mansion for each Un-encumbered lord. The city bustled with life now - but life that was as strange as the city was when it was empty.

The Ing became part of the Urban legend, those who escaped the city talked about them... and the Ing talked about the trapped mortals - who knew what they thought of them intruding upon their home? What did they think of the Denizens? Or the Fears, that walked among them? The fears were unseen but ever present, it was rare but not unheard of for an Ing to be be found babbling about the Librarian, nor was it that unusual for an Ing to carve "Beware the Mayor" onto a wall or their own skin. At this point one must wonder if the Fears even existed, or if they were merely a symptom of being in Arlom too long.

[Darklady2831]

The Howling Honeycomb

Gjol Maduur felt the presence of his son, the lord of eyes. He also felt the presence of Moglin, the Bone Lord. "Welcome to my home, younglings..." his voice echoed through the honeycomb, bringing with it a momentary increase in the maddening whispers that were everpresent. "You are free to roam my halls, and do as you wish... indeed, I invite you to join my Brothers and I in a union of power... if you wish, the Aberrant Council is open to you..."

Lisgovo, the Darkness Within

The Foxkin dwelled above the Waking Nightmare, Gjol Maduur. Their proximity to his den, as well as his maddening whispers, brought to their souls a taint. A darkness that stained their souls and pushed them to maddening and horrific acts. This darkness spread through the Foxkin to Vylcent, and from Vylcent to all souls throughout Creation. Every Quartzian, Human, Vahnatai, Dwarf, Frost Giant, Steelthorn, and Foxkin, everything that had a soul, was tainted. Only those who were without souls escaped the taint of darkness.

0 AP + 6 AP (5 AP + 1 PAP) - 5 AP = 1 AP
5 AP Cosmic Decree - All Souls carry within them the taint of darkness. This manifests as part of the green light of Vylcent within the soul. Destroying the essence of Vylcent within a soul will also remove the taint of darkness. Soulless beings also are free of the taint, but they do not have within them the light of Velharan, Valmyr, or Vylcent. The extent of the taint varies, from absolute corruption that suppresses all other aspects of the soul, to a slight nagging to do bad things.

[Gotham]

Centre of Creation

Bharus nodded respectfully to the Lord of the Green Sun.

"Hello, Vylcent. I am Bharus, Frostking. I see you three are powerful beings, with many concerns on your time, and I would not have you march in my place. I propose an alliance of wills, and when I am strong again, we will bring down the Slaughterer."

He turned back to Arathor.

"You claim no patronage. Your sins are your own, then. When the bone lord's blood runs cold, I will not come for you."

There was a challenge in the words, but not for today.

[Elemental]

The Sunrunner

You may speak many languages Captain. But when you raise your voice it causes discomfort to those humans who hear you.
He thought for a moment, a very brief moment at that.
Perhaps it would be best for me to act as mediator. The people fear you for good reason and it would be best that they had someone they trust watching over the negotiations. Captain Topez, you, and you alone, will accompany me to speak before the Council of Antarel.


Starting AP: 3 + 1
Mundane Concept: Dyes and spices - Some herbs can be used for things other than medicine and poison. Now, it is possible for herbs to be used for flavouring and dyeing.
Mundane Concept: Fine Ceramics - In addition to the ceramics previously crafted by the Humans, they can now produce ceramics of greater quality and artistry.
Remaining AP: 1 + 1

[Elricaltovilla]

The Sunrunner



You may speak many languages Captain. But when you raise your voice it causes discomfort to those humans who hear you.
He thought for a moment, a very brief moment at that.
Perhaps it would be best for me to act as mediator. The people fear you for good reason and it would be best that they had someone they trust watching over the negotiations. Captain Topez, you, and you alone, will accompany me to speak before the Council of Antarel.


Starting AP: 3 + 1
Mundane Concept: Dyes and spices - Some herbs can be used for things other than medicine and poison. Now, it is possible for herbs to be used for flavouring and dyeing.
Mundane Concept: Fine Ceramics - In addition to the ceramics previously crafted by the Humans, they can now produce ceramics of greater quality and artistry.
Remaining AP: 1 + 1

Captain Topez nodded to the god. "Fair enough. Your people have nothing to fear from me or my crew, but I suppose I can understand your caution." The captain turned to the Quartzian crew. "Keep yourselves entertained while I'm gone, and don't cause any trouble for the locals."

[Maugan Ra]

Centre of Creation

Arathor chuckled. "Ah, if the pup started the fight, I'll not intervene. Probably." he says, grinning as he settles down to watch the rest of the meeting. "He needs to learn to fight his own battles."

The Honeycomb

The wild lord seemed to consider this for a few moments. "A pack, then? A interesting idea. I had not given thought to it before now."

His head swings around to regard Moglin as the younger god arrives in the cavern, and grins - a mix of challenge and welcome. "Ah, my spawn. You've been busy... even now, the Frost King is conspiring with the star-spawn to seek your destruction."

Arathor sounds amused by the concept.

[Draken]

Ing, The Travelers

Strange though they may be, the Ing were relatable enough, for their creator did have some interpersonal skills.

The first generation of Ing walked out of the Vast Gate as adults, great and strange horrors with powerful and varied bodies and a menagerie of strange powers. The next generation, born in the city, was somewhat different, they were smaller than their forebears smaller than humans and foxkin and vahnatai, indeed, and somewhat weaker as well.

And they were all dumped outside of the city shortly after birth. Fully aware of themselves and boasting an assortment of memories and knowledges drawn from their parents or from dreams or perhaps from Ing'dras himself. Either way, this young generation, true to their origins in the Traveler King, would have to walk the world to grow and mature, before they were allowed to settle into the city.

Elder Ing, Lords of the City

For the most part, the Ing held the City and the Vast Gate in reverence, and the fears were, to their minds, one of the aspects of the city, much as Ing'dras was the gate and the silver knight.

But the ing also saw themselves as above the shadows and the mortals trapped in the city, and in that they varied their attitude towards these low entities. Some could be magnanimous lords, others might have been brutish gang leaders, but most liked gathering mortals or shadows under their dominion, allowing small tribes to form in the city, always under one or more of the great beings. Just as well, other ing might have thought of these mortals as intruders and hunted down any strays not under the ward of one of their peers, keeping amicable enough next to their kind, but visibly distressed about their kin's... Serfs.

[Promise]

The Honeycomb

Moglin threw back his head and laughed for but a moment. The whispers assaulting him were.. Distracting. Yet, while they lowered his focus, they did not bring him any major discomfort or annoyance. Nay, they were interesting. He could see how the lesser races might be driven mad by these noises.. He would have to look into it.

Casting his gaze around for a moment then, he replied to Gjol Maduur, "Perhaps, perhaps not. I would think on it first. Usually I would say no, though it seems without allies, I may soon be.. Snuffed out."

He then looks to Arathor, sizing him up, before nodding. As usual, the other god was much bigger than Moglin. Yet girth did not matter to the Bone Lord, only prowess, "So you are my creator then.. I thank you for this warning about the Frost King. It does not surprise me that one such as him would immediatly seek out the help of others like him to put a damper on me." having said this, Moglin rests his axe on his shoulder before continuing, "It seems I will need to be more careful in my hunting from here on out.. That angers me."

The God of Bloodlust raised his free hand level with his head, pouring his divine spark into the center of the air above it. Slowly, tiny stones rose from the floor, along with bigger rocks, before suddenly all flying towards this pulsation of energy, combining in a red flash.

Where a moment ago, there was nothing, there now stood a second Bone Lord. The original nodded to it as it left to do what needed to be done. He looked to Arathor, "You would tell me the location of this Frost King and his new.. Allies?" It seemed to be more of a request than a demand, however, Moglin did move his axe around on his shoulder suggestively.

[bryn0528]

Begining in the depths of the second continent, but moving onwards to the surface of the first continent.
A half dozen men and women, their first meeting with a god adjourned, returned home in single file. Tulio led the way; he spoke for the Marquis and the Marquis spoke through him. The god had given him visions, after all, of this place beneath the earth. It was the god who moved Tulio's hands when he placed the slender, white-blue leaves of Sorrowbloom into his grandmother's white leek soup. She was in such pain, Ensirex rest her. Tulio's family did not see his act of euthanasia as merciful, but villainous. Tulio soon left under alias, and that too was guided by the Marquis.
TAB Second in line, following Tulio, was Vincezo. Where Tulio was lean, Vincezo was broad-shouldered. A leaning tower of muscle and fat and odious amounts of body hair, he worked the streets as a hired thug in his youth, and as an adult with a traveling dentist (he held down patients while the doctor extracted abscessed teeth and drilled out cavities). A courting addiction to the nectar of the Afyam plant, an effective and widely used analgesic, eventually split Vincezo and the doctor's good graces. Like many other addicts, Vincezo looks much older than he actually is, substance abuse pulling the life from his very body. Sometimes, at night, he gets shakes and cries for his mother. No one else in the group mentions this.
TAB Behind Vincezo is Morgause. She is the youngest among the group, and she is heavy with child. Two months ago, she attempted on her and her unborn child's life. A hunter found her in the snow beneath a fireberry bush and made her vomit the vile red seeds. The hunter took Morgause in and cared for her, but she ran away after three days. She took a fancy to Vincezo, but he hasn't noticed yet.
TAB Fourth in line walks Gioseppe. Short, round, and a head for numbers like you couldn't believe. The man worked fifteen different accounting jobs, and embezzeled a ludicrous amount of money before a very minute error landed him in irons. With some of the wealthiest merchants in all of the second continent in arms, Gioseppe was to be hung, but after the gallows rope snapped three times it was taken as an omen. Gioseppe was instead forced to eat an entire bushel of Bleakstone, the hard, dark deposits found on rotten trees. A few cuts was plenty to stiffen a horse's muscles so taught it's legs would snap in half, but somehow Gioseppe got stuck so stiff everyone was sure he was dead and buried. Later that night, his graverobber was in for sore surprise when Gioseppe, the Bleakstone all worn off, stepped out of his coffin.
TAB Behind him walks Alcide, the second youngest of the group and the only man without beard. He could be handsome were he to show a little more courage. The boy doesn't speak very often, and his voice is very small. He never makes eye contact with anyone, a sign of true cowardice. In his hands is a small bow, the only weapon among the six. Before he left with the skulls, Alcide hunted in the small woods and meadows of his home, and became a fine marksman. One day, however, Alcide shot his twin brother through the throat with a poisoned arrow. He sometimes hears his brother's voice whispering in the night.
TAB Last in line is Valentina. She is the oldest among the group, though none would guess as much. She claims to be much younger, perhaps a quarter of her actual age. Some find that to be much too old for such a fair beauty. Her vanity, despite her many years, has kept her vision clouded, and she has not learned much truth or value in the world. Her soul is stained dark with sarcasm and sharp wit. Tulio takes another sharp left, and Valentina clicks her tongue impatiently.
TAB "Are you certain now that this is the way? I've sworn we passed that crooked rock at least two dozen times now."
TAB "Be quiet," he tells her, without even the courtesy of a stinging insult. Valentina clicks her tongue again, but says nothing more.
TAB The group rests the night in a large cavern. At least, Gioseppe claimed it was night. No one had it in their mind to think he couldn't count away the hours and minutes in his head. Each was tired in the walk home. Certainly, it was taking longer to leave than to get there. Sleeping was miserable. The ground was cold and hard and wet. They couldn't make a fire because there was no wood deep in the folds of the earth, and the smoke would have killed them all anyway. Maybe they'd be better off that way, someone begs to joke. No one says it.
TAB The first light of day was so bright and piercing, Tulio had to cover his eyes as he stumbled from the rocky hole in the ground. The others trotted along behind, uneasy. "Where are we?" Vincezo finally asked into the turbid silence.
TAB "I'm not sure," Tulio responded, gazing out into the verdant wilderness through his fingers. Great swatches of giant trees and lush overgrowth lorded the landscape. The very air was alive with the sounds of birds and insect. "I've never seen a place like it."
TAB Morgause speaks. "Do you think it could be the old land? Where the Marquis was born and first walked? I've seen such a place in my dreams." Tulio eyes the young girl and her unborn child. He says nothing, but his expression does not deny what she says.
TAB The group travels through the woods with great care. Even with all the dreaming of the past, none of them really knew how to live in such a strange environment. It didn't take much learning, however, for they quickly saw that their very lives were on the line.
TAB It was nearly dusk when the beast attacked. It was obviously mad with disease, great rashes upon it's skin and fur nearly pulled off. It smelled curiously of a metallic substance, yet somehow putrid. It bounded from the overgrowth and quickly dispersed their formation. A wheeling turn and wide swipe of claws left Tulio on his back. The beast pounded forward, about to crush him... an arrow pierced it's chest, and then throat, and then neck. The creature coughed and keeled over backward. Valentine, her face twisted, spat on the beast. It's chest rose and fell quickly, dark blood pooled underneath. She found a branch and bashed the dying creature's head until it's skull lie in two pieces. The group did not rest easy that night.

The Marquis AP = 5. (1) + (4, Refresh; 10.06.2012). No actions, just a bit of fun story for The Skulls.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Valmyr, Death

Ensirex pondered that for a moment. "I see... then that means the mortal spirit is truly like a lesser form of the divine spark. Indeed, it seems to be powered by that same source. This deserves investigation."

Vahess'Bok

"Of course of course." said Vahess'Bok, taking his many tools into the tent as he covered his mouth with his hand, ready to do his work for his people... and in service of his research.

[ChrisClark13]

Centre of Creation
Vylcent slumped over and his furry face would've gone pale if it could've. (still in Foxkin form) "I.. don't feel well so suddenly. I'm fine with whatever my brothers come up with. I need to rest a bit.

He disappeared in a flash of green light as he teleported inside the Green Sun for a nap.

The Green Sun then slowly left it's previous orbit in harmony with the Red and Silver Suns and settled into a new orbit where it went around the binary orbit the other suns made.

Through the Silver Gate
Vylcent dreamed of nightmares... nothing ever happened to him directly, but he was always powerless to stop it. He saw his brothers being slain in Arlom... he saw the void that the suns kept at bay rush in and destroy them... he saw many acts of cruelty, both from those who would do such things and from those he would never imagine doing such things. He was soon flying as fast as he could from a mass of black tentacles, but he couldn't fly fast enough to outrun them. He sent forth a spark of himself haphazardly, thinking that maybe that spark could avoid this nightmare.

Above the Green Sun
A weak looking spark of light floated up and out of the Green Sun and then it suddenly took on a Divine Will of it's own...

0 AP still! Wooooo
In other news, birthing Erdi since he's got 2x mod approval already

[Maugan Ra]

The Honeycomb

Arathor nodded in agreement. "Of course. They're presently gathering in the centre of creation, or thereabouts. Right next to the giant suns. You can't miss them... I'm there as well."

He turned his snout back in the direction of the flickering shadows that comprised his fellow deity. "And I will take that offer, and accept your pact. The Aberrant Council... Strange name, but it will serve."

2 AP at start, one spent to join Pantheon. Yay.

[Promise]

The Honeycomb

Moglin rubbed at his neck thoughtfully, saying aloud, "It will be interesting to see who he has taken as guardians.. Heh. I do wonder if they have any mortals I can use in my game." he nodded then, "We shall see.."

The Bone Lord slowly turned on his heel, following his shard at a slower pace, "I will consider your offer, Lord of Madness." he stated, stopping at the entrance of the cave that separated the Endless forest and the Howling Honeycomb, crouching and looking outwards.. So much to do.

The Endless Forest --> The Centre of Creation

Moglins shard, bounded through the forest as his other self conversed with its creator. What a strange sensation.. He was not the original, not unique. Yet he felt no lesser or greater than his other self. He was.. One. Yet in two separate places. The concept was slightly much for the shard, however, so he threw the thought from his mind.

He found in his mind the information of where the Frost King and his new allies were as if he had heard the information himself. Yet.. There had definitely been no sound. It did not matter much though.. There was.. So much to do.
He kicked down upon the ground, performing a mighty leap into the sky above. When he was there, high up in the sky, he used his power to hurtle towards the Suns.. And more importantly, towards The Centre of Creation.

T'was not long before The Axe Monster saw Arathor, Bharus and some others, others who he could only assume were Bharus' allies. "Hello." he stated simply, stopping in the centre of all of them.

[mystic1110]

Urban Legends – Karlik

About six years ago in Karlik, a young dwarf named Karmen was supposedly pushed down one of the large sewer openings by five other young dwarf girls in her school. Supposedly they were trying to embarrass her in front of her peers and her proclaimed love. When she didn't submerge the authorities were called. They went down but couldn’t find anybody…. The girls told everyone she fell... They believed them.

Two months ago another young dwarvish girl, named Brinka heard this story while she was playing in the streets. The girls she heard it from heard from someone else – isn’t that how stories work? Later that night she took a hot bath when she started to hear laughter come bubbling from beneath her – she freaked out and ran out of the room with scantily any clothes on. She went to bed, tumbling and turning in fear, but sleep claimed her eventually. Yet when her mother came into the room in the morning to wake her she discovered that she was gone. The authorities found Brinka that morning a few hours later the police found her in the sewer, her neck broke and her face skin peeled off. The words “Food at the Fountain” written in blood on the dirty walls.

And thus the story went – young girls in Karlik pass it along in whispers. And occasionally and rarely a young girl is found in a sewer. The truth however… the truth could be found in Arlom.

Urban Legends - Kop'yem Goroda

A young frost giant boy, living in the great speared city was left alone on several accounts as his parents worked late guarding the city gate fending off dire wolves and other horrors. His parents bought him a dire wolf to keep him company one day. That wolf was tamed and eventually he became the young boy’s best friend. Each dark night it was that dog that kept the boy from crying and missing his parents. Yes, frost giants were to be tough a hard… but he was but a little child. One night the boy was awoken by a constant dripping sound. He got up and went to the room that served as the kitchen to see if there was a leak or something. Finding nothing he returned to bed. As he was getting back into the bed he stuck his hand under the bed and his friend the wolf licked it – reassuring him. The dripping sound continued, so he went around the house checking it for leaks. Finding nothing he returned to bed. As he was getting back into the bed he stuck his hand under the bed and his friend the wolf licked it again – reassuring him. But the dripping continued, so he went outside to see if the ice was melting, but it wasn’t so he returned to the house. He came back to bed, stuck her hand under it wanting reassurance, and the wolf licked it again. The dripping continued, drip, drip, drip. This time he listened and located the source of the dripping — it was coming from a single cupboard. He opened the cupboard door, and there was his friend, the wolf, hanging upside down with its neck cut, organs spilled out, and written on the window on the inside of the cupboard was, "I CAN LICK TOO!!!"

The Boy ran, ran and ran – and was never found. Or so the Story went. Parents tell their kids the story occasionally to frighten them – to make them wary. The truth however… the truth could be found in Arlom.

The Streets of Arlom

A dwarf girl and a frost giant young boy found themselves in the city... time and space and shape itself worked strangely here. They might have found themselves here before their ordeals and if they found their way home could perhaps save themselves - who knows. Certainly now getting home was the least of their concerns. Separated by blocks they were alone. In a city full of Denizens and Ing. In a city where the walls crawled with the words "Beware the Mayor."

[Elricaltovilla]

Twilight's Coming

The crew of Twilight's coming had set up their base camp outside the mouth of the honeycomb caverns. Ten of them descended, including captain Spinel into the mouth of the cave, leaving the others high up on the surface to guard the ship.

"Be careful, crew. We don't know how thick the Aether is going to be under ground. We may not have access to our best weapons." Each of them drew a glowing crystal torch that could, in a pinch, double as a club. However, they were otherwise unarmed.

[Darklady2831]

Twilight's Coming, the Descent

As Captain Spinel and his crew descended into the dark caves, they heard feral growls emanating from within, echoing off the cave walls. Though it was uncertain, the Quartzians sensed that the source of the noise was still quite a ways away, probably some cave beast chasing it's dinner.

Deeper they went, until they came upon a large cavern, easily a hundred feet across. the cave mouth jutted out a few feet from the wall, before dropping some twenty feet to the cave floor. four cave openings could be seen on the wall opposite them, two higher than they, heading upwards. One cave mouth was to their lower right, seemingly heading down at a steep angle. The Fourth cave was directly ahead of them, down roughly fifteen feet. It seemed to continue downwards, but at a very slight angle. The sounds of the feral monsters seemed to emanate from the cave across from them.

[AgentIndy]

Above The Green Sun

The spark coalesced into a humanoid form, which then sprouted wings. A large coat was formed around him, and it rested on his shoulders, covering his entire body, and it was a little too long in the sleeves. As his final moments of creation were over, he opened his eyes, and was a bit scared of what he saw,"Where do I start..." Edri started off toward where the mortal of the universe,but then stopped,"Uh, I really shouldn't...Maybe if I talked to some of my peers first..."

Flew around the Green Sun a few times, but was still unsure what to do,"My father is sleeping in there...Would it be rude to wake him up...Father, Vylcent."

[Elricaltovilla]

Twilight's Coming, the Descent


As Captain Spinel and his crew descended into the dark caves, they heard feral growls emanating from within, echoing off the cave walls. Though it was uncertain, the Quartzians sensed that the source of the noise was still quite a ways away, probably some cave beast chasing it's dinner.

Deeper they went, until they came upon a large cavern, easily a hundred feet across. the cave mouth jutted out a few feet from the wall, before dropping some twenty feet to the cave floor. four cave openings could be seen on the wall opposite them, two higher than they, heading upwards. One cave mouth was to their lower right, seemingly heading down at a steep angle. The Fourth cave was directly ahead of them, down roughly fifteen feet. It seemed to continue downwards, but at a very slight angle. The sounds of the feral monsters seemed to emanate from the cave across from them.

"Anyone want to guess there's something unpleasant hiding in the shadows?" Captain Spinel asked his crew. "Dite, send a light down the tunnel."

One of the other Quartzians gathered up a tight ball of Aether and used his arcanist talents to make it glow a bright, clean white. The orb hovered out from his hand, moving slowly through the cave's opposite end.

"Hopefully whatever's hiding won't be able to resist such an easy target." Captain Spinel said.

[Snowfire]

Xia looked across at the strange ship floating in space, and the crystal man who had left it and spoken to them. At least it was a reasonable greeting, but you could never know. She pondered for a short moment, opened her mouth to reply, and was cut off by the voice of the Steelthorn who had been transported with her and her sister.

"Greetings, fellow starwalker." It said, stepping out across the space between them. "You have traveled a long way. What brings you here?"

Behind it, Halcyon turned, engines sending it in a smooth curve around the side of Starseeker, those aboard examining the other ship closely with both eye and sensor.

For the record, Halcyon will radiate divine energy equivalent to - at least - a Demigod due to its power source. The Steelthorns all radiate with a spark of divinity that matches that of Halcyon, but not the two sisters alone.

[Elricaltovilla]

Xia looked across at the strange ship floating in space, and the crystal man who had left it and spoken to them. At least it was a reasonable greeting, but you could never know. She pondered for a short moment, opened her mouth to reply, and was cut off by the voice of the Steelthorn who had been transported with her and her sister.

"Greetings, fellow starwalker." It said, stepping out across the space between them. "You have traveled a long way. What brings you here?"

Behind it, Halcyon turned, engines sending it in a smooth curve around the side of Starseeker, those aboard examining the other ship closely with both eye and sensor.

For the record, Halcyon will radiate divine energy equivalent to - at least - a Demigod due to its power source. The Steelthorns all radiate with a spark of divinity that matches that of Halcyon, but not the two sisters alone.

If a starship was capable of growling, Starseeker would have. Instead, it sent a very gentle, but clear pulse of Aether out, pushing the Halcyon back slightly.

Acantheis looked at the Steelthorn. You are mortal, yes? A pleasure to make your acquaintance, but I wasn't really looking to talk to a mortal. There are two divine sparks with you. It would be preferable on my part to speak with one of them.

Unless you spend a bless or something to make the Steelthorns and Halcyon appear divine, I'm going to say that no matter how big a powersource they have, its clear to any other god which ones are gods and which ones aren't.

Also, Starseeker is a little territorial. Its in her nature.

[Darklady2831]

Twilight's Coming, The Descent

The Orb of light floated across the cave, illuminating the place for perhaps the first time in all existence. Moss and lichen clung to the upper walls, and the floor was smooth, containing a small pool of water that dripped down from stalactites above. The orb seemed to do the opposite of what the Quartzian had hoped, indeed, the few cave creatures, mostly bugs, in the cave fled from it. As the light drifted into the cave across from the group, a large bear-like shape was illuminated for a moment before it turned and ran, howling in primal rage. The brief glimpse of it revealed fleshy tendrils where fur should have been, and oddly shaped legs that would have been better suited for an insect.

The cave quieted, and for all that the Captain and his crew could tell, they were alone now.

As a mod, I'm ruling in favor of Elric, unless you bless them, even your divine fusion reactors will be easily noticed as NOT a god. However, I'd wait for other mod's opinion's on the subject, as I'm heavily biased against the Halcyon in the first place (I absolutely hate it :smallannoyed:).

[Elricaltovilla]

Twilight's Coming, The Descent



The Orb of light floated across the cave, illuminating the place for perhaps the first time in all existence. Moss and lichen clung to the upper walls, and the floor was smooth, containing a small pool of water that dripped down from stalactites above. The orb seemed to do the opposite of what the Quartzian had hoped, indeed, the few cave creatures, mostly bugs, in the cave fled from it. As the light drifted into the cave across from the group, a large bear-like shape was illuminated for a moment before it turned and ran, howling in primal rage. The brief glimpse of it revealed fleshy tendrils where fur should have been, and oddly shaped legs that would have been better suited for an insect.

The cave quieted, and for all that the Captain and his crew could tell, they were alone now.

As a mod, I'm ruling in favor of Elric, unless you bless them, even your divine fusion reactors will be easily noticed as NOT a god. However, I'd wait for other mod's opinion's on the subject, as I'm heavily biased against the Halcyon in the first place (I absolutely hate it :smallannoyed:).

The fleeing creatures were startling to the Quartzian crew, but they took heart in the knowledge that the creatures seemed to fear light.

"Alright, split up into groups and pick a cave entrance, send a light down each one to try and scare out anything hiding. If you manage to come across something, trap it. We're going to need to make sure what we're dealing with here." Captain Spinel ordered.

The crewmen split up into pairs and groups of three each heading towards one of the descending cave mouths. They sent Aether powered lights down each one, keeping careful track of anything that appeared.

Arcanist magic is divided into two schools right now, Binders and Shapers.

Binding magic does pretty much what it sounds like, it uses Aether to affect matter and energy through physical force. Creating chains, ropes and blasts of aether to push, pull, shatter and control things.

Shapers use the Aether to create images and affect the senses. Creating light orbs, paintings, symbols, and powerful illusions.

I'll write up a more detailed post about it for the OOC later.

[Elemental]

The Sunrunner

Excellent. I'll take us down to the city. The Council that governs Antarel in my stead is a reasonable organisation, quite open to trade and new ideas.
He held out his hand to the Quartzian.
When you're ready, take my hand. The journey will take but an instant and I'll do my best to protect you from the rapid nature of the shift.
When Captain Topez takes Velharan's hand, he'll feel a sensation similar to weightlessness for about three seconds, but in truth, the journey was instant and they appeared in the great square before the colonnaded Council Chambers of Antarel where the Council was in session.


The Centre of Creation

You must be the Bonelord that Bharus spoke of.
Had not Moglin arrived when he had, he would have gone after Vylcent to see if he was alright. But his Brother could look after himself. This being was possibly a threat to them all.

[Elricaltovilla]

The Sunrunner


Excellent. I'll take us down to the city. The Council that governs Antarel in my stead is a reasonable organisation, quite open to trade and new ideas.
He held out his hand to the Quartzian.
When you're ready, take my hand. The journey will take but an instant and I'll do my best to protect you from the rapid nature of the shift.
When Captain Topez takes Velharan's hand, he'll feel a sensation similar to weightlessness for about three seconds, but in truth, the journey was instant and they appeared in the great square before the colonnaded Council Chambers of Antarel where the Council was in session.


Captain Topez looked around at the architectural marvel that was the Council Chambers of Antarel. He glanced at the god standing next to him.

"I can fly, you know. You might as well introduce me." Topez's crystal tone voice rang out.

[Elemental]

Antarel - Let's Have Another Go At First Contact

How was I supposed to know that? I've never met your kind, only your creator.
And he was very unusual.
Velharan ascended the marble stairs of the structure, the sunlight glinting off the crystals that adorned his robe, itself woven of practically blinding silver fabric. The bronze doors of the building opened before him and he strode across the ante chamber to the doors of the Council Chamber proper which also opened before him. Assuming of course that Captain Topez followed him, he raised his voice to speak to the councillors that sat on raised seating around the edge of the room.
Councillors all. A petitioner has arrived from another world to speak with you.
He stood to the side, offering the floor to the Quartzian. The men and women of the Council looked down upon him with interest.
This is Captain Topez of the Sunrunner, the ship that at this time hovers above your city. He brings an offer of trade.
Velharan fell silent and all eyes were on Topez. Some of the councillors looked suspicious, but none seemed openly hostile.

[Elricaltovilla]

Antarel

Captain Topez stood in front of the Councilors. He cleared his throat and spoke slowly and clearly.

"Greetings, I am Captain Topez. I and my crew are Quartzians, created by Acantheis the Divine Mystic. We have traveled from our homeland of Geodesia to offer trade with you.

We have many fine gems, crystals, and ores to offer as well as the teachings of our leaders on space travel, Arcanism and the nature of creation.

We would offer such things in trade with you with open arms."

Finished with his introduction, the captain looked at Velharan.

[AgentIndy]

Above The Green Sun

Edri looked around, finally not blinded by the light of his birth star, he saw a small planet very far away. "Maybe...if I did some thing to impress them, they'll love me."

He spread his wings, revealing their radiance, and flapped them,"Wait...I have no air to push against in space." He believed that there was air for a second, and jumped. He started falling into the Green Sun. He flapped another time, and he started rising, higher, higher, until he could barely feel the Green Sun's gravity.

Open Space

With the solar wind at his back, Edri started toward the planet mortal life resided upon.He hoped he wasn't too late to help.

[Elemental]

Antarel

The Councillors spoke quietly among themselves for a bit. It was apparent most of them were attracted to offers of gemstones and knowledge was always good despite the fact that they had no idea what arcanism or space travel were.
The head of the Council got to his feet to speak.
"We have discussed matters Captain Topez and as such, we apologise for the earlier behaviour of our citizens. The fact that our Lord-"
Velharan coughed slightly.
"-Our Lord Velharan walks beside you and brings this matter to our attention allays any fears we may have had concerning your people."
Velharan started muttering something under his breath. The High Councillor glared at him ever so slightly before continuing.
"But we are not aware of what we may trade in return for such commodities. As such, we must decline your request at this time unless there is something you desire from us."
The teachings of Velharan were rightly adhered to by the Council and Velharan turned to speak to Topez.
Well Captain... Is there something the citizens of this city have that interests you? After all, you do offer priceless jewels and they feel that nothing they have equates to them in value.

[Elricaltovilla]

Antarel

Captain Topez shrugged. "I don't know what your people even have to offer, so I cannot comment upon its value. Knowledge is always of use to us, as well as objects which we do not have back in Geodesia. I am sure that there is something which your people can offer in trade."

[Fates]

The Streets of Arlom

Tap, Tap, Tap....

The silence of the living city is broken. Hobbling along the cobblestone streets is an atrocious figure, a mutated mockery of the creations of the gods. The figure walks with an obvious limp, and in his right hand clutches a small, twisted cane. The cane taps again and again against the flagstones as the misshapen stranger ponderously makes his way to a standing wall. The man allows his staff to clatter onto the ground as he leans back onto the wall, feeling the grooves between the bricks with his long, shaking hands.

He mutters in a rasping voice. I feel you, great city. I know your presence...your power...the same power I possess, but so very much greater....

You wish to hold me in, do you not? To claim me, to claim what small power I have...you wish to claim the world as your own, to encompass it....


The warped man laughs, a harsh, humourless, coughing laugh.

Of course, I must be wrong, for you are ancient, and I, a mewling babe in comparison. How could I possibly know the secrets of the majesty that is Arlom? A babe, yes, that is what I am, yet here I am, rambling like an old man. Pray, do not allow my mind to wander so again.

I must ask of you, then, oh great city, to allow me to pass beyond your glorious gates, and into the world around us.



Just FYI, it is extremely late, and I am equally tired. I have looked over this a few times, and, in my current state, my writing seems fine enough. That is not to say that, come morning, I will be proud of what I wrote. I just hope I got the message across for now. :smallredface:

[Draken]

This whole post must be read in the enthraling voice of Logan Cunningham, with the same pacing used for his acting as the Narrator of Bastion.

Or maybe as the narrative of a film noir. Your choice, really.


The Streets of Arlom

A dwarf girl and a frost giant young boy found themselves in the city... time and space and shape itself worked strangely here. They might have found themselves here before their ordeals and if they found their way home could perhaps save themselves - who knows. Certainly now getting home was the least of their concerns. Separated by blocks they were alone. In a city full of Denizens and Ing. In a city where the walls crawled with the words "Beware the Mayor."

Streets of Arlom

Arlom is no place for children, its streets are mean, and at every turn there is something wanting your innocence. Or your skin. More often than not, however, they want your shadow, they want to play with and have it join their gang, the bloody delinquents.

Bloodier when they are found by the Ing. They don't like shadows, none of them do, weak and annoying little vermin, the more patient ones push them around like dogs on a leash. Most just slash 'em to ribbons.

Two children met a group of shadows and watched them play, never got the warning, the shadows are smart, they erase the warnings whenever they find them, or maybe they are just crazy and dislike the dirtying. Probably the later, city drives everybody a little bit crazy after awhile. The trick is making sure awhile never comes, lucky are the fools who find the rarest warning of all scrawled on a wall, "Find the Gate", even more lucky are the ones who do find the Gate, it takes them nowhere, but leads them to where they need to be.

All the Ing know the Gate, all the Ing are where they need to be.

It just so happens that Qu'Mos needed to be watching two little fools playing with shadows, too distracted to see the lurking little fiends stretching their duodimentional fingers towards their shadows. The Ing will have none of that, his talons screech and shred, they screech in place of the shadows, mute little bastards won't even do the courtesy of screaming before they run.

Their 'friends' flee at the awful noise and the kids turn back. The Ing is big, taller than a giant by at least a head, probably something to do with those goat-like legs, it's got a face alright, but the kids don't see it, only the silver helmet, and all those dangling flagella, its got two arms and they are humanoid enough, but its got two more and they just ain't.

The kids beat it screaming, maybe they think they can flee the Ing, which is a foolish proposition since its legs are twice as long as either of theirs.

But hey, Qu'Mos is in no rush, he is not getting any older, just doesn't feel like. And even the Ing like playing games.

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr, at the Center of Creation

The smell of carnage announced the arrival of the Lord of Bones, a miasma of genocidal fury bound into the mockery of a warrior's raiment. Briefly, Valmyr's mind flicked to Vylcent, so strangely distracted from their task, but he forced such thoughts out of his mind. He worried for his brother, but the beast before them demanded the fullness of his attention.

Slowly, Valmyr raised up Dawnbringer, pointing the tip of the first sword at the chest of the Bone Lord.

"Have you come to repent the brutalities committed upon Bharus and his people?"

The Confrontation with Ordon

Valmyr stared down at his hand, shocked that Ordon had shrugged it away. Did this small mortal not realize the totality of his mistake, the enormity of what he was doing? Deep in his breast, Valmyr felt anger begin to rise, but he restrained it. After all, this Ordon was but a child, and it is a poor lord who brutalizes a child without cause.

"My son, I have watched over the human race since the time of Ur, when I shaped your progenitors from the living clay of a newborn world. Do not continue this folly of setting yourself against your father - I am patient, but I shall not abide such blasphemy."

[Elemental]

Antarel

Speaking quietly in a soft whisper to Topez.
Market research next time Captain. They're only thinking of economic matters. Flooding the market with gemstones will devalue them. And as they are a substance of great rarity and value in their mind, the Councillors will not allow them into the market unless they have substances of equivalent value. I have taught them much too well.
But I have a game tile up my sleeve, as they say these days.
Velharan snapped his hand and a piece of rolled up bark appeared in his hand along with a piece of blue cloth that stood out in comparison to the plain whites, grays and browns worn by everyone in Antarel.
But the point is, they don't think they have anything of value yet. The bark is cinnamon and the cloth is dyed with indigo. These products come from plants that are found in the wild. There are many more different varieties, some quite rare and valuable found only in exotic locations. Or they will be rare and valuable once people begin to realise their uses.
What do you think Captain?

Spices and dyes for gemstones? Could work.
There are also craft goods of various kinds, but I don't see why the Quartzians could need fine ceramics.

[Elricaltovilla]

Antarel



Speaking quietly in a soft whisper to Topez.
Market research next time Captain. They're only thinking of economic matters. Flooding the market with gemstones will devalue them. And as they are a substance of great rarity and value in their mind, the Councillors will not allow them into the market unless they have substances of equivalent value. I have taught them much too well.
But I have a game tile up my sleeve, as they say these days.
Velharan snapped his hand and a piece of rolled up bark appeared in his hand along with a piece of blue cloth that stood out in comparison to the plain whites, grays and browns worn by everyone in Antarel.
But the point is, they don't think they have anything of value yet. The bark is cinnamon and the cloth is dyed with indigo. These products come from plants that are found in the wild. There are many more different varieties, some quite rare and valuable found only in exotic locations. Or they will be rare and valuable once people begin to realise their uses.
What do you think Captain?

Spices and dyes for gemstones? Could work.
There are also craft goods of various kinds, but I don't see why the Quartzians could need fine ceramics.

"I apologize. Gemstones are of little value to my people, we have them in abundance. These plants though, we do not have. I doubt they would even grow on Geodesia. They could be of use to us." Captain Topez looked at the gathered Councilors. "If you have more of these spices and dyes, we will trade for them. We can offer you our techniques for shaping crystals as well, so that you can put them to actual use instead of mere finery."

[Promise]

The Centre of Creation

"Ah, my reputation precedes me, I see.", he said with a slightly mocking tone as he floated to the side slightly, so as not to be in the centre of the group any longer. He then nodded, continuing, "Aye, I am the Bone Lord, Moglin, Master of Bloodlust, The Axe Monster."

He gestured around himself gaily "And yet for all my titles, I can call none of these beautiful shining orbs mine. T'is a shame, is it not?"

[Gotham]

Bharus straightened up, frowning heavily and clenching his fists.

If this monster attacked now, he had no recourse. Whatever his feelings, it seemed as though his fate was tied with that of the Lords of Light



Bharus joins the Lords of Light
1AP- Join Pantheon

[THEChanger]

The Holy Mount

Ordon continued to stare directly at the shining form of Valmyr. As the god's words filled the air, Ordon's arm fell, and his head hung. For a moment, it seemed as though his pride had faltered.

"My father."

His right hand clenched even tighter around the shard of iron, the cut growing deeper. Ordon's entire frame began to shudder, and when his head snapped back up, his eyes were cold, and filled with anger. "My father's name was Mordaci. He was a noble man who served his people well. But when disease came for him, none of the Lords of Light deigned to heal his broken body. You are not my father!" So saying, Ordon leapt forward, his crude weapon outstretched, to strike Valmyr's chest.

[Elemental]

Antarel

The Councillors spoke among themselves for a bit and a tall female Councillor stood to speak.
"Our Lord-"
Velharan coughed again. Again the Councillors glared at him.
"Our Lord Velharan once again shows his wisdom. Truly we were not aware your people found these spices and dyes to be of value. But you are correct, many are worth their weight in gold. But it will take some time to produce quantities significant enough for trade.
It is our thought that you should depart and return after a period of six months. In that time, we will begin cultivation of the Indigo Plant and the Saffron Flower and commence the gathering of those found in the wild.
"If there is any further business you wish to discuss with us, then you may raise it now."

Just as a question... What possible use do Quartzians have for spices and dyes?

[TheDarkDM]

Valmyr Upon the Holy Mount

No sooner had Ordon leapt towards Valmyr than a searing pulse of heat erupted from the shining lord. The crude dagger burst into liquid in Ordon's hand, spattering across his chest with a dreadful hiss as he was lifted from his feet and thrown back into the village. The rest of the Tol-Valmyr gasped, scrambling to move aside as Valmyr followed Ordon with a heavy tread. To them, Valmyr was the same as always, the light of the red sun and the hearth fire, but to Ordon he was the inferno, the burning pit of damnation that awaited any unclean soul. Standing over the pitiful boy, Valmyr watched his broken body cling to life, his chest struggling against the constricting pain of the molten iron that was quickly hardening into his flesh.

"Foolish boy. Had I intended for humanity to rely on me every waking moment, I would simply have crafted you as constructs and imbued you with some purpose of my choosing. But you were gifted with a soul, the shining blessings of all the Lords of Light, that you might choose your own purpose, and thus find glory. But you have corrupted this gift, turned your purpose towards destruction, and blasphemy...but you shall learn."

Valmyr turned to the Tol-Valmyr, his words crackling like fire in the air.

"Know that I name Ordon traitor to the Tol-Valmyr, and blasphemer against the Lords of Light. His punishment shall be the greatest punishment of all, for he shall learn of the terrible burden he sought to usurp."

He looked back down at Ordon, the boy still clinging to consciousness against all odds.

"You shall have the power you seek, my son, but it shall not be yours to use. You shall uphold the order that binds humanity together, and punish those who follow in your foolish footsteps."

Valmyr reached down, grabbing the boy by the throat before he lifted him into the air. The air in Ordon's lungs roiled, the heat searing them raw, but even as he sought desperately to scream in pain he saw the remnants of the iron dagger melting again, spreading over his body, covering far more than the shard ever could have. The firs barb of molten iron pierced his stomach, a hook of blazing red that steamed with his blood as it exited through his spine, leaving his legs limp. But the iron was not satisfied, crawling up his backbone vertebrae by vertebrae, an agony that would have killed him had he not been held fast by those crimson eyes. His lungs were pierced, and from his back spread a great wheel, loops and whorls in a fiery pattern, razor sharp, before driving to meet the lance of torment that was crawling up his spine at the base of his skull. The molten metal surged upward, flowing around his ears to cascade down his face, boiling his eyes in a flash yet leaving mouth, ears, and nose untouched. Blind, he was still transfixed by the blazing eyes of Valmyr, as hooks shot from the molten ribcage flowing along his chest to pierce his wrists, looping through the elaborate briar of metal sprouting from his back to crucify him. It all pulled tight, so terribly tight his bones would have broken had they not been fused with iron. No sound escaped Ordon the entire time, but as he and Valmyr disappeared in a flash of fire the Tol-Valmyr could swear they heard the first cries.

Ordon slept for a time, or perhaps he simply went mad with the pain, for when next her perceived with his impossible sight he stood within a great pit, his useless legs no longer flesh but flowing magma, spreading out to fill the cavern and lighting its walls. There was writing there, of no kind that had existed before, yet Ordon knew its meaning. He had just begun to read, when Valmyr's voice cut through the silence.

"Ordon! You are twice forged, first by clay and now by fire. You are human no longer! You are a god!"

Ordon felt the truth of it, felt the spark blazing away where his heart once lay, but rather than exult he felt a terrible weight.

"But your spark is not your own - I gifted you power that you might serve our people, as you claimed to desire. You are arbiter, oath keeper, judge of all who stray from the Canticle of Light."

The runes along the wall glowed with the light of the three suns, illuminating Ordon's body, slowly shifting into some kind of grotesque statue of innumerable metals.

"You desired my intervention, and now you have it. Duty is the punishment for your blasphemy, and duty is your redemption. Serve the Lords of Light, and you shall be welcomed as an honored son once you have opened yourself to the truths of the universe and discarded your hatred."


2 AP

-1 AP: Crate Basic Concept, Lumarian
The human language, first taught through the appearance of the Canticle of Light within every city of the Tol-Valmyr and Tel-Velharan. Utilizing a beautiful runic alphabet reminiscent of flame, written Lumarian is adapted equally well to pen or chisel. Spoken, it is a flowing, rhythmic language, changes in tempo used to accentuate certain emotions.

Valmyr at the Center of Creation

Valmyr's eyes narrowed at Moglin's response, though his blade never wavered.

"You show neither remorse nor pity, and see fit to mock us? I see."

His head leaned towards Velharan.

"As with the darkling of the city, brother."

Then, without warning, he was flying towards Moglin, his golden blade flashing through the void.


Attack (+1 Artifact):
[roll0]

Defense (+1 Pantheon):
[roll1]

Health: 20/20

Fire and Death

Valmyr remained silent for a moment. This creature was fascinating and wholly alien, yet it did not feel hostile. And his brother did love strange company.

"If you wish to investigate further, seek out my brother Vylcent, Lord of the Green Sun. I judge your intent to be a peaceful one, Lord of Death - please do not betray my trust."

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Fire and Death

Ensirex clacked his mandibles in consideration, his questing eyes turning to the Green Sun. "Vlycent, then? I called to all of the Suns power, but only you responded. Tell me Red Father, where can I find the Green Father?"

[Elemental]

The Centre of Creation

Velharan joined his Brother in his charge, claws of silver light growing out his hands.
As before Brother.
He circled around Moglin, a wake of silver flame burning their opponent. Circling still, he prepared to block, and if not block, impede, any strikes.

Attack: [roll0]
Defence: [roll1] (+1 Pantheon)
Health: 30

[Xondoure]

Birth of the Blessed Storm

As Ame looked out across creation for the first time his voice stretched out to his father. "Your light is as scattered as my presence in the sky. And yet how strangely they move below."

Dwarven Town of Chiln, A Few Weeks Later

A young girl, just barely beginning to find her legs was toddling near the edge of the village. In a jarbled mixture of sounds that were not quite words she sang to herself without a care in the world. That is until a snowflake landed on her nose. With a shriek the little girl tumbled over. For a moment she sat there stunned as the snow began to fall around her. And then she laughed. And not just any laugh, but the kind that can only come from the most innocent of hearts, and spreads like wildfire. And as she laughed the snow laughed with her.

Ten minutes later the parents, much to their horror, found their daughter laughing and playing games with a second toddler, made entirely of snow.

"Frida, Frida! Get away from that!" The mother yelled as she rushed to our child. The toddler now startled began to cry.

"Stay away from our daughter!" the father shouted as he pulled his family back. With hurried steps the family returned to their village.

"I just wanted to play." Ame said sadly as the snow child floated on the breeze. Within minutes the snow had stopped.

Antarel, A Few Months Later

Since Ame had come into being the rain had poured continously. Rivers bursted over their banks and the citizens complained that nothing was ever dry.

The Honeycomb

Foul streams and rivers began to bubble and boil as it interacted with the magic infused in the air. Steam circled the catacombs heating the tunnels. And as the water vapor began to move the air began to taste fresher.

The Relic was becoming too much trouble, so I'm scrapping it for now. Ame now has 10 AP and Elemental Mastery Water.

Speaking of Elemental Mastery. Time for some free curses!
-The town of Chiln and the surrounding area receives no rain until something is done. This will start to become within seven months.
-The city of Antarel is cloaked in constant rain. While not a huge problem, I expect the citizens of the land of light may soon start to complain.
-The Underworld has clean air and fresh water.
To be clear, Ame isn't trying to be mean, he just doesn't have a handle on things quite yet.

[Promise]

The Centre of Creation

For a moment, not more, not less, Moglin was surprised at the sudden attack of the other two gods. He had expected this to be a meeting of reason and talk.. Apparently not. "Alright." He stated plainly, brandishing his axe, swinging viciously at the one with the golden blade.


Attack - [roll0] (Artifact + prowess of the paragon)

Defence - [roll1]

Health - 20

[Elemental]

The Centre of Creation

Velharan moved before the axe blade, forming up a barrier of light to deflect it.
But the blade sunk deep through the hastily erected energy and bit deep into Velharan's shoulder, silver blood floating out into space. The axe still buried in his shoulder, he grabbed hold of it and pulled on Moglin to present his undefended side to Valmyr's sword.


In Response to Ame

They are Mortalkind. My Brother Vylcent decided to gift them all with souls forged of the light of my Brothers and I.
And they do move strangely. But it is their nature.

[Snowfire]

If a starship was capable of growling, Starseeker would have. Instead, it sent a very gentle, but clear pulse of Aether out, pushing the Halcyon back slightly.

Acantheis looked at the Steelthorn. You are mortal, yes? A pleasure to make your acquaintance, but I wasn't really looking to talk to a mortal. There are two divine sparks with you. It would be preferable on my part to speak with one of them.

Halcyon shuddered slightly as the pulse washed over it, then returned to its circling course - a bit further out perhaps, but that mattered little for those aboard. The Steelthorn raised a singular eyebrow at the display, then returned attention to Acantheis.

"You would speak with our sister-mothers, yet not us?" It asks, curiosity evident in its tone more than anything else. "Why?"

And as the Steelthorn spoke, a wash of divine energy pulsed out from Xia. Taking the form of a great wave, it broke over Halcyon and Steelthorns, pouring into them and giving them the means to call on their mothers.

Rollover: 3 + 4 = 7 AP
Joint Weave Sanctum: 7 - 2 = 5 AP

Xia embeds a direct connection to her power within the Steelthorns and the Halcyon. This allows them to call her to their aid in times of need - literally allowing her to inhabit the same body as them - if only for brief moments (all that is generally required).

In a manner similar to Arlom's shell cities - she actually got the idea from the shadow-puppet play, Xia is now both herself and yet can be every and any Steelthorn (or Halcyon).

Remaining: 5 AP

[Maugan Ra]

The Centre of Creation

"Oh no you don't, shining one." Arathor snarled in anger. For god or not, he had the instincts of a pack member, and he would not stand idly by and watch his son being attacked like this. The conflict had been between Bharus and Moglin, not these lords of the sun.

With an animal roar, the Beast Lord threw himself at Valmyr before he could exploit the opening left by his brother.


Attack: [roll0]
Defence: [roll1]
HP: 40

[bryn0528]

The forests of the first continent.
The weeks were long and hard. Days were shorter here than back in Sol Lumaria, the nights colder and richer black. The trees provided plenty of kindling, and the Skulls worked vigilant at keeping it burning, but the night had a way of oozing darkness past every shard of light and heat. They, at first, tried to find the caves again, but that seemed all but impossible at this point. The trees had a way of turning a person around. And there were plenty trees, trees stretching for miles around in all ways. Trees casting dark shadows across the landscape, trees that swayed and whispered in the night....
TAB Tulio and the others came across a very strange tree one day in particular. Standing in a small clearing, like the other trees were afraid of it, a sleek cut of wood with sharp black leaves. And gods, the noise it made. A tree, making a noise. A tree... chirping?
TAB Tulio took a deep breath and a step backwards. The rest of the group seemed to realize too. The leaves peeled away in dark clouds, and cut through the air. Oh gods, the sound of it. Carrion hungry crows rained around, and by the power of instinct, they ran back into the trees. Wings and feather and pecking beaks around, swatting your hands uselessly through a miasma of squawking and sharp claws. It was so easy to get turned around in the trees, the narrows and the streets like some forbidden, lost city built before all time or race.
TAB "Where's Morgause? I swear she was just standing next to me and now she's gone." Tulio whipped around. The birds were gone now, dispersing nearly as soon as they attacked. The party searched and searched, but there were so many trees. And the little yellow door in the knot of roots was already closed and gone.

Arlom.
"Hello? Guys, where are you? Hello? Where did everyone go? Where am I?"

[Maugan Ra]

The Endless Forest

As the Skulls continued to search, there came a loud creaking noise from the woods to the east. From beneath the shadowed boughs came what appeared to be a mobile, sentient tree, it's branches swaying in time with the lumbering movement.

The Ent came to a sudden halt, peering at the gathered humans with curiosity in its beady eyes. These things were new...

(Just figured I'd throw something out there for bryn to work with. The Forest is Arathor's domain, after all.)

[bryn0528]

The Forests of Arathor.
Tulio raises a hand quickly, and the Skulls come to a silent halt. His dark eyes pierce to and fro. No one asks what the sound could have been, no one would betray their position as such. But possibly...
TAB "Morgause?" Tulio calls out. No response. He moves toward the sound, the others at his back, when he notices the tree. "The gods, what is wrong with these woods?" He nearly fell backwards. The five humans gathered at its feet, rough for their time here, and struck with stupor. "I swear that tree just blinked at me."

[Maugan Ra]

The tree seems to regard them for a time, both parties unsure of what is going on here. Then some of its more slender branches start moving, wrapping around themselves to form an intricate pattern in front of the startled humans. It almost looked like it was forming words... In their language, no less!

HELLO.

(Ents are a greater life-form, so they have access to the idea of writing. Or in this case, using sign language to form written words with their branches.)

[bryn0528]

Tulio, first and foremost, had his eyes trained on the thing. Yes, it certainly was moving, but it did not appear aggressive. Vincezo did not seem bothered, but the others swayed nervously. Alcide had drawn his bow, but Tulio rested a hand upon the weapon to keep the boy from raising it. They stood for several minutes, Skulls and Ent, locked in patient combat.
TAB "That's weird," Valentina spoke quietly, but the sound still caused Tulio to start. "It's like it's making words..." Tulio looked to where she pointed. Awe-struck for a moment, and then his eyes went wide. Valentina's jaw dropped. Gioseppe screamed. The entire party turned around and ran as fast as they could.

[Maugan Ra]

The Ent watched the humans flee without any change in expression. Of course, bark did not lend itself well to complex forms anyway. Still, there was something oddly mournful in its posture as it turned and moved off again, heading away into the forest. It would console itself with making sure the southern banks of the nearby river didn't erode too quickly.

[ChrisClark13]

Nightmares
Vylcent tossed and turned in is his sleep and huddled up into a ball.

The Green(?) Sun
The outside of the Green Sun dimmed and parts of it that looked like sunspots of a sort turned a very dark shade of green.

Mortals everywhere start freaking out in about 6-8 minutes when the light gets to them.

[Darklady2831]

The Center of Creation

Gjol Maduur was never one to forget a slight, nor was he one to leave an ally stranded. The Nemesis of Reason appeared near the center of Creation, cloaked in inky blackness. He screeched, and lashed out with his tentacles, aiding Arathor and Moglin.

Attack: [roll]4d6[/roll
Defense: [roll0]
HP: 40/40

EDIT: Oh, and Inconceivable subtracts two defense dice from whoever is taking Gjol's hit.

Twilight's Coming, the Descent

The Quartzians would split up into group, an exceptionally unwise thing to do in the Underdark. Fortunately, they weren't in the underdark yet. And while the groups continued walking for half an hour each, they found nothing save scurrying rats and bugs. The cave bear from before was nowhere to be found.

[Elricaltovilla]

A Meeting of Spaceships

Halcyon shuddered slightly as the pulse washed over it, then returned to its circling course - a bit further out perhaps, but that mattered little for those aboard. The Steelthorn raised a singular eyebrow at the display, then returned attention to Acantheis.

"You would speak with our sister-mothers, yet not us?" It asks, curiosity evident in its tone more than anything else. "Why?"

And as the Steelthorn spoke, a wash of divine energy pulsed out from Xia. Taking the form of a great wave, it broke over Halcyon and Steelthorns, pouring into them and giving them the means to call on their mothers.

Rollover: 3 + 4 = 7 AP
Joint Weave Sanctum: 7 - 2 = 5 AP

Xia embeds a direct connection to her power within the Steelthorns and the Halcyon. This allows them to call her to their aid in times of need - literally allowing her to inhabit the same body as them - if only for brief moments (all that is generally required).

In a manner similar to Arlom's shell cities - she actually got the idea from the shadow-puppet play, Xia is now both herself and yet can be every and any Steelthorn (or Halcyon).

Remaining: 5 AP


One of Acantheis's four crystal faces stared at the little Steelthorn.Because as much as you pretend to have the power of a divine, you are not a divine. And right now, I need the power of a divine.

Another of his faces looked at Xia and spoke at the same time. I have mortals on board my Starseeker. They have been tampered with by another deity and I currently lack the power to reverse the potentially dangerous changes that have been wrought upon them. If I could spare the time to properly investigate what the effects of losing one's shadow has on a mortal, I would. But at this point I feel it would be better for me to simply restore them to a previous state and be done with it.

I can't in good conscience let them go while they are in their current state though. So will you help me?

As soon as Acantheis's first two faces finished speaking, the other two chimed in simultaneously. Hey, I can talk to more than one person at once. Sweet!

And that's Acantheis for you, all business when suddenly... squirrel!