Lords of Creation in the Playground (IC)

[thethird]

Aram, Glowing Skeletons, Hagatha, Yueh, Kli - Where Neutral Ground Once Was

As people keep working on their things a small rift appears over the lake. At first it just looks like an optic trick but when a pair of hands sprout from inside it and start pulling it open revealing Neutral Ground's familiar visage behind. A dwarf peeks out of the hole and smiles brightly.

"Move it fourty feet to the left. Twenty feet down."

Then the Neutral Grounder closes the rift. On the shore people start to gather. Thirty minutes later a new rift appears this time on the shore. The dwarf jumps from it onto the ground. He picks a reed coated in copper and speaks into it.

"Connection stablished."

Then he waves to the masses gathered.

"Sorry for the wait, to those of you who want to go back into the city please follow me."

Ôl, Glowing Skeletons, Squick-Squick - Dream Neutral Ground

Neutral Ground had stabilized soon enough, most citizen had gathered in safe havens and dreamed. Yet there were the few who had risked outside, and the fewer that had had an accident. Ôl moved fast always keeping an eye on Squick-Squick and making sure the Bogwart and the skeletons followed him through the dream areas. Neutral Ground's geometry was complex at the best of times and with so many dreamers the overlap was bigger. Yet the elf knew many shortcuts.

"This..." he said as he reached a tall boxy building lacking windows or doors. "is a safe haven. Here kin can dream safely and connect to the city. Mellon."

As he speaks the word a silver lining erupts atop one of the walls surface and it suddenly vanishes along with a portion of the wall.

"Come in."

Ôl conjures a vial from his pouch containing a shining substance and walks into the darkness. There are many people there. Humans, elves, dwarves, kobolds, genasi... They all seem to have gathered in groups and are talking in Neutral Ground's trade tongue a smattering of languages. When they see Ôl they turn to him. Surrounding him some even get to close and pass through him. Squick - Squick is looked suspiciously and the skeletons aren't even looked at. Several Neutral Grounders stand where the skeletons are as they aren't even capable of sensing their presence.

"Dreamer Ôl is it safe now?"
"It almost is, don't fret. Yet the city can use more happy dreams in this time. Are you happy?"

A silence encroaches the room. There are some shy nods and whispered affirmatives but for the most part they are silent. When Ôl looks at them they avert their gaze.

"Five of kin didn't make it to the haven Dreamer. And when the ground moved the roof did too. We lost four under a log. Two more have received irreparable damage. They are in pain we can feel it."

"Bring us to them. To their bodies."

A few of them start to move but they suddenly stop and gaze upon the Bogwart. Ôl puts his hand on Squick - Squick shoulders protectively. The elf also reaches for one of the Skeletons touching him.

"It's fine he is friend. Squick - Squick would you cover your ears?"

When the Bogwart does a human and a kobold touch Ôl's arm and whispers an untillegible word. Suddenly the room is devoid of everyone else. Well, they are there. They simply are in metallic tubs, curled upon themselves sleeping. A heavy white wood log has falled onto some just squating them flat. There are two others that have received injury. A kobold has a thick sliver through his abdomen and a man has lost his legs under the debris. They are the same two that stand with Ôl, Squick - Squick and the Glowing Skeletons.

"You are in pain?"

"Plenty."

Responds the Kobold.

"Squick - Squick would you kindly prepare the mushrooms you gave us on the grove?" He turns to the Skeletons "We've been told you are capable healers would you kindly aid us?"

Son, Mal, Eucle - Dream Neutral Ground

Son was one of the few Dryads that had been born in Neutral Ground from a Dream Tree. Her bark, like the trees that formed Neutral Ground, was white as snow. What her bark lacked in pigmentation her leaves more than made up for it. A metallic rainbow of color sprang from her temples in a ferocious mane.

Son was angry, as angry as a dryad can be. Many trees had died upon Neutral Ground's ascension. Her own tree among them. Someone was going to pay for it. She would make certain of that. In fury she was preaching for anyone to listen. Speaking against inaction. Demanding retribution. Asking for vindication.

Her irate discurse had gathered many followers. Humans, elves, dwarves. They listened to the dryad and nodded to themselves strengthening their zeal. As she spoke the dream changed around them accomodating their new perceptions. At first it was something beyond normal sight, then it was a small change there and another. Changes started to snowball ascending in tempo and when Eucle reached them they were changed. Garbed in simple pristine armor made of dreams and wood, armed with long everflowing prismatic staff of bismuth they were ready for vindication.

Not even the god's presence calmed them as they clenched their fists and pounded the ground with their sticks.

"Silence. You speak of things you don't understand. It was necessary."

"Show us! Explain it to us dreamer!"

The crowd roared demands. The wealth god looked at his followers behind his mortal guise. Sometimes he doubted that Neutral Grounders recognized him without his draconic shape. It was a blessing and a curse. Yet he complied. He weaved an imachinary image. The illusion showed Demiourgia being taken under Purity, and then before the extending mechanical metropolis reached Neutral Ground it show how it flew to the moon. The next image was of Purity being smitted by the First Tree and turned into a forest.

"Necessity."

"Father fights alone we can't allow Purity's deeds to go unpunished."

"We follow a path of Neutrality."

"Kin was killed by Purity. Our city has been forced to the void by Purity. We cannot stand iddle."

"Don't you fear the Wealth God's reprimand?"

The dryad stands silent for a moment and most of the crowd looks down. Armors start to vanish and spirits start to calm down. It is then that a small child stands forward.

"Grandmother said, "Neutral Ground is everyone. No Gods, no masters only kin." Grandmother was kin. They was lost on a trade contact with Purity. We fight."

As one the mass steps forward armoured again this time with full cuirasses solid as conviction. Eucle looks at them. His dark cloth eyecover failing to hide the pride in his expression. There is the potential for loot and prosperity, there is always of course the benefit of a common enemy a common cause. Economy would rise. Neutral Ground would prosper.

"You are an uncorregible lot. Listen well. Remember, always remember where you come from. Neutral Ground shall be in your hearts and minds." Spheres of bismuth shape on their chest armor over their heart. Equal spheres form over their helmets at eye's level filtering the world through a multicolored lense."You will always remember the Wealth God and his lessons for you carry his symbol." The bismuth sticks bifurcate at the base, forming a dowsing rod. "You will bring prosperity to Neutral Ground through fair trade and neutrality. You will offer your services to the people and the gods. Payment will be asked and given. It will be a transaction. A good transaction. Understood?"

"Aye!" They beamed in martial unison.

"Then go now before I change my mind."

Son, Mal, First Comradery - Forest (by The First Tree)

As a gramaric way tears itself close to the First Tree the Neutral Ground's First Comradery moves towards Pernieth shade. They advande in orderly ranks, humans, dwarves and elves. At the front there is Son with her head bare holding her helmet in one of her hands, around her neck hangs a chain with many accorns what little remains of her tree. By her side marches Mal busy with a collection of reeds covered in bismuth. Behind them comes the Comradery proper and behind those rust monsters have been rellegated to pack beasts carrying crates of dream wood and bismuth. The group stops before reaching the forest canopy and Son and Mal enter alone in the plant's god domains.

Spoiler

Show

AP 0 + 3 from rollower
AP 3 - 0 Mark Chosen (Son): Son is a dryad and member of the Gardeners she is also the First Comradery comanding officer. She is a business oriented person, while she used to enjoy growing plants since her tree died she is more worried with making those responsible respond for it.
AP 3 - 0 Mark Chosen (Mal): Mal is a young human, the youngest of the Comradery, and acts as communications officer and standard bearer. His youth and boldness have also maken him the Comradery's lucky charm.
AP 3 - 0 Nourishment (from Vault of Plenty): Moon bismuth is specially afine to gramarie. It can count as any one planetary metal.

AP 3