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As Vis walked behind Skarne, each footstep a blackened press of destruction upon the earth, she thought of her daughters, the Akanren.

They were assimilating well, of course. After all, even the most prudish of societies experience lust, desire, passion. And the Akanren were experts at fanning the flames of passion in all its forms. But there was a problem. These Twisted, these corruptions. They were ugly, disgusting. Vis had no pity and less patience for them. She knew that other races would have their solutions, their pity and caring for their fallen brethren. Not so for the Akanren, the perfect daughters of Vis. They would have a solution befitting the truth of who they were, and the nature of their goddess and her fire.

Vis took a part of her own fire out, and set it in the belly of one of her daughters, and by doing so the fire spreads to all her daughters. But not to the Twsited, for in their bodies and minds and blood runs a corruption not of Vis. And the fire passes them by. The Pure, as the non-Twisted would take to referring to themselves in mixed company, became the fire pyromancers. They harnessed the power of Vis, and of her Consort, the Sun-Phoenix, channeling and summoning flames to their bidding. Soon enough those who were bonded to Akanren would find that their consorts were of more use than simple bed warmers. They could be leveled against enemies, a task the Akanren took to with a passion nearing their fire in the bedroom. Yet it was quickly learned that no Akanren would fight their sister, though each would happily incinerate all around their sibling.

Vis also saw that while the Akanren desired power most of all, it would do or the other mortal races to have some manner of token to woo a potential Akanren consort to them. So Vis seeded all the lands of the earth with Firestone, also called Blood-of-the-Phoenix, a brilliant red Crystal that radiated heat. More importantly, these crystals only grew in places of great danger. Strength was ever required to claim a crystal, and the more dangerous, the large the crystal was. Some were found in the depths of the earth, among strange creatures with a thirst for flesh and blood. Others among high mountains or in the depths of the oceans. Still others in the hordes of drakes and Dragons, or guarded by Salamanders, great fire lizards which ate the stones whole, then to be retrieved by cutting the beast open. Akanren across the world collected such stones as the only form of adornment, fashioning necklaces, bangles, earrings and other garments all adorned with the gem. The resonance of such crystals was that they amplified the connection of the wearer to the elemental fire, and the wielder's fire magics became consequently stronger the more Firestone they wore.

Spoiler: AP
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1: Pyromancy - the Akanren who a Pure, without the taint of the Twisted, can channel the power of Vis, enabling them to summon and control fire in all its forms.
1: Firestone - sometimes called Blood of the Phoenix, this rare stone is only found in the most dangerous of places, and amplifies the wearers connection to fire, enabling greater feats of fire Magic than normally possible. This gem is treasured by the Akanren, and one of the only material things able to buy their favor.
2: Salamanders - the penultimate guardians of the largest caches of Firestone, Salamanders are massive fire lizards that swallow the stones whole, only ankle to be retrieved after their death. The older a Salamander is, the larger it gets, and the more Firestone it has consumed. Salamanders continue to grow unbated as long as they live, and legends tell of massive fire lizards near the heart of the earth that keep it ever heated, and are larger than most cities. Fortunately, these wryms, if they do exist, are massively lethargic, and rare to awaken. When they move, however, the earth quakes.
1: Earthquakes (if they aren't a thing) - the sympathetic shifting of the earth when a Salamander near the core moves in its slumber. These titanic beings rarely do so, but the gods only know what would occur if one were to be woken fully.
Skarne bristled that the woman continued to follow him. His patience was quickly wearing thin.

Among the Kirr, another Tribe set out with Skarne's blessing, moving to the eastern shores of Vexit and carving their homes into the stone of the mountains. There they would find ores, and would soon go about crafting weaponry and armor that was renowned throughout the Kirr.

They were known as the Korgoth, and they lived in peace, for now.

--

Koribal the Half-blind stood next to his Grek and huffed in a deep breath of air. Something smelled out-of-place. Something that was not meant to be was near his village. Yet it hid in the shadows and seemed afraid to face them. So Koribal set sentries around their village at all hours. If it was intent on attacking when they were not watching, then they would never cease to watch. Then they would see how long this cowardly thing would wait.

Of course, Koribal had no evidence that something was watching them. Only a hunch. A feeling. Something was wrong, and Koribal knew it. The same flavor permeated the air as on the night when the Rekimit betrayed their brethren. And these new black fowl, delicious though they were, did not seem a good omen to him. Not at all.

--

Skarne turned to Vis, the Omniblade forming an axe. He was no longer amused by her games. WHY DO YOU NOT CEASE TO FOLLOW ME, HEATHEN? OUR BUSINESS IS ADJOURNED, AND I HAVE NO MORE DESIRE TO HAVE YOU IN MY PRESENCE! He held the red, crystaline axe at the ready. IF YOU REFUSE TO LEAVE, THEN I SHALL REMOVE YOU BY FORCE. His fiery eyes blazed with rage now, and the very ground beneath his feet began to crack. His rage caused the air to ripple and the wind to curl around him. His Rage, even when only somewhat aroused, was sufficient to affect the world around him.

He stood at odds in front of Vis, as if daring her to give him a reason to strike.