The Childe Gods

[ArlEammon]

Turn 2 :
Synopsis Pending. . .

YOu all get your acts back . . . And until 12:00 to spend some more before your acts get refilled.

[TheBoyce]

Godas was not quite finished reinforcing his followers. He channeled more of his divine energy. More of the heroic forms appeared coming forth from the shields. When all had arisen Godas let out a mighty roar of triumph, his people would grow and prosper, but now he must help feed them. He focused his mind on his domain finding a forest near its edge, there would he begin his hunt.

First he would need to get there. He reached down and grabbed a large piece of what was until recently his tomb. With it in hand he turned to his gathering, most of whom were now those he had created. "I shall return shortly!"

With that he began to spin, soon becoming a whirlwind. Then he went to throw the stone in the direction of the forest, but he did not let go, allowing the power behind the throw carry him along with the stone. Godas and his stone crashed into the earth at the edges of the forest. Moments before the collision Godas let go of the piece of tomb and and sank deep into the ground.

All was silent for a moment and then the earth shook and from the crater burst forth a tower. Formed from the piece of the Tomb of Godas this monolithic building towers above the forest, giving those who can climb its many stairs a view for miles around. Likewise the Eye of the Tomb could be seen for miles, a jutting spire in the skyline. This would serve Godas's followers when they began to hunt the beasts of the forest that their Master was even now creating.

Having created a new wonder meant to serve as the base of all hunting operations, Godas used his divinity to claim Hunting as his own, however this was not just hunting for food, no his Hunt included that of monsters, both mortal and not. Even as Godas would hunt monstrosities, his followers would need their own things to hunt, and so Godas poured divine energy into theforest, creating animals and the plants those animals would need so that his followers could hunt without fear of depleting nature of its bounty.

Spoiler

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Turn 1- 2 Major Acts: Increase Strength Domain
2 Major Acts: Increase Protection Domain
1 Major Act: Increase Population
5 Minor Acts: Increase Population

Turn 2- 2 Major Acts: Increase Population
2 Major Acts: Create Wonder: Eye of the Tomb
1 Major Act: Gain Domain: Hunting
3 Minor acts: Creat Forest animals and plants

[Kessler]

Vex, Lord of Chains - Paladin's Code

Vex felt power flow from the Obelisk. He felt energized and ready to continue his work, there were preparations to be made and plans to be set in motion. Firstly, Lord of Chains sent a message to Godas, God of Protection.

Greetings, my friend Godas, I wish to offer you a gift, to help you in bringing order to this world. My domains include power over contracts both mundane and magical. Should you wish for it, I would forge a magical oath of moral code, that your chosen heroes, would swear. The power of this Oath would be that, if mortals in their deeds were to break the moral code, all divine gifts granted by your generous hand would be stripped from them, until you chose to forgive their crime.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Journey to the Middle Lands

There was something the goddess needed to do before leaving to find a suitable meeting ground. She increased her influence across the land to recruit more worshipers and inspire them to establish new monasteries. Next, Inaja went to the high cliffs along the northern coast. Impressed by the creation of the pheonix, she imagined a race of powerful and majestic flying creatures; with the lower body of a lion and the upper body of an eagle, long ears, sharp talons on their forelimbs and black and dark blue feathers. Cunning and intelligent, the proud gryphons will help humans in times of need, but will only answer the call of those who have proved themselves to them before. In a few years, it will be custom for the ruler of a city to send adventurers to the nesting ground of the gryphons, where they will seek the protection of the divine creatures. Satisfied with her work, Inaja approached one of the gryphons and asked him to fly her to the middle lands, as the goddess' own wings weren't meant for long distance flights.

"Dear siblings, I am going to look for a suitable place to meet, away from the eyes of mortals. All those interested in the idea may join me in my quest.

I would also like to invite you all to visit the Anteroom any time you wish, if you need to review some memories and gain some new insight on them. You may access the room from the Otherworld."

Meanwhile, the blessed Erlking population continued to grow.

Spoiler

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2 majors: Create the intelligent gryphon race
1 major: Increase Erlking population
1 minor: Increase population by 10%
1 minor: Establish new monasteries

[Kasanip]

Esria - Summertime Goddess

Esria stared at the sun high up in the noon sky, as she stretched back on the silky grass in her white dress. Her hair was getting long now, and she was aware of other changes in her form. Yes, like the seasons, she too was tied to the turning wheel - that never ending cycle.
Esria stood up, enjoying the warmth on her skin. Like the people in the villages and towns around, she too had work to be done in summer. Spring was the lively and vigorous start of the cycle, but it was Summer's energy that would push everything from here on, even through the cold death of winter.

Esria tromped through the meadows and forests, delighting in the mingling of shadow and light in the mysterious paths.
The Muorra now were scattered far across the forests she had walked, tending to the trees and their own groves - always spreading the growing things. They were slow to grow, but that was okay. Their lives lasted many cycles of the great wheel.

But what about those poor humans who lived within her lands? Always they tried so hard to adhere to her whims and desires, but they still chopped the wood, and burned their fires. Esria couldn't find fault in that- their survival depended on it! Still, the Muorra were slow and meticulous, but Esria needed a people who were filled with the joys of spring, and yet filled with the energy of summer. A children who could take care of the forests and spread it's bounty. She would ponder on this for a while more, and then came to a decision.

With the glow of the sun about her, she went bringing dawn, and in the mysterious, still misty and dew strung ancient forests she reached out and called to her the spirits of the forests themselves, and gave them form. Small and delicate like butterflies, and yet carrying the glow of the sun about them, these spirits appeared much in her own guise.
"I'll call you little angels the Kasanip." Esria said in delight. Though the name did not much hold upon the mortals - bless them they forgot faster than Esria! They were still known as spirits and guardians both of the forest, and of those whom could capture their interests.
In a brief and unusual hopeful look forward, Esria thought that perhaps in the future, these little spirits would unite and live with the people of the small hamlets in peace.

And she knew just how she could make it possible! Yes, like the cycle of the seasons itself, Esria created a beautiful spring- a fountain in a grove deep in the greatest of forest, next to the largest tree that stood openly in creation. In that misty and peaceful spot she blessed the waters. Any mortal human who drank of it would become young again. A child, though their eyes and hair took on slight shades of green. It was not an eternal life - no no no! Her brothers and sisters - especially Inaja- would be upset with her for trying something like that. Besides, everything was upon the wheel, nothing was eternal! These refreshed people would grow again, but would die after living another lifetime. Unless they drank again from the waters.... But the more someone drank, the less human they would become, until eventually they became of the realm of the woods and not the realm of humanity. They became daughters of the forest; children of brilliant green hair and vestment who planted trees and could talk to the Kasanip. The traded all their memories of their past lives for the blessings of nature itself. These children Esria would call the Taynun, and though they delighted in song and lived peaceful lives amongst the forests, they had forsaken their own humanity, and could never again venture from the forests for fear of death.

The message of Vex and Inaja reached her ears, and Esria smiled and sent them this response:
"I will happily join you on your quest, dear Sister. Vex as well! I will see you at the ceremony, when a place is decided." She finished on a glowing note.

So Esria strode through the forests - she didn't dash or play like she had before....No, even in the cool shade that would be too hot, and it wasn't appropriate for her to act like a little child now that it was summer! But now as she walked towards the far off lands, there was a distant song that filled the forests and shook the trees, and Esria stopped in wonder, feeling her dress flutter about as a simple breeze washed through the trees. The music was a music of life itself, and it echoed in her deeply. The cicadas continued their symphony, as Esria walked onwards, deep in thought.


Acts:

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• 1 Minor Act - Boost population of the Mourra
• 1 Minor Act - Boost Mortal Human population
• 1 Minor Act - Spread the Warmth of Summer! Grow Fields, Grow! Play Cicadas, Play!
  
• 2 Major Acts - Create the Kasanip - a Guardian Spirit/Fairy race that protects both the forests and occasionally mortals they befriend. Touched by the light of dawn.
• 2 Major Acts + 1 Minor Act - Create the 'Fountain of Youth'
• 1 Major Act - Boost Domain - Growing Things(Earth)

0 Major Acts, 2 Minor Acts, 2 Ceremonies Remaining

[WrathOfLife]

Subline

Watching his new phoenix fly around his domain, Subline smiles as two suddenly becomes four, four becomes eight, eight becomes sixteen. Subline's magic flows out to all the creatures on in his realm, increasing there number drastically.

With that done Subline considers his brothers and sisters requests before finally responding to them. "A meeting place strikes me as a waste of time when there is so much still to do. We still don't know where our masters have gone. However I will be happy to meet with any of you there should you so desire."

Acts:

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2 major actions on increasing phoenix population.
1 major action to increase population of followers by 50%

[Kessler]

Vex, Lord of Chains - Summit of the Gods

Winds brought warm air from the north, raising temperature by several degrees. Vex always preferred spring and fall's moderate weather and disliked using his power to control temperature himself. In this light, Inaja's invitation carried additional allure to him, meeting place being close to the icy realm of the Death Goddess.

Vex teleported around the Kanju's realm. Common courtesy required of him to greet the God of Decay and Resurrection eventually, but Lord of Chains couldn't think of a common ground between them at the moment. Work first, play and chatter later. It would be a good motto to impart on his followers, if he actually cared enough to teach them.

He arrived to the place and greeted Inaja with a bow and a generic compliment to her looks.

To everyone:

I believe that the first thing to do, when you have a lot of work, is to make a good plan. Certainly by cooperating we will be able to fix the world and find answer to mysterious absence of Superiors much faster. I also have a suggestion to make.

Since our power is linked to the belief of mortals, securing their numbers and prosperity is the first step in self-preservation. I have already talked to Osahara, how by working together we can ensure a future of prosperity and abundance for mortals. So let's gather and talk it over, I'm sure you'll like our idea.

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Quest Begins

Inaja listened carefully to Vex.

"I will be pleased to hear your proposal. I would go as far as to say that taking care of the mortals is our primary role. But concerning the search for our Superiors, I already have an idea..."

She pointed to a lonely island at the center of a great lake.

"I propose that we erect a temple there. A sanctuary for all the gods. We will conceal the island with magic and enchant the lake so that no mortal may sail on it. It will be a meeting place, but not only that. It will also serve as a beacon. We believe the Superiors lost or gone...but what if we are the ones who are lost? What if this world was somehow hidden from them by some dark force? It is a possibility we must consider. Thus, we put some of our power in this construction so our Superiors may be guided back here."

OOC: Let's all spend a ceremony on this, essentially . It will be sort of a communal wonder.

[Cruxador]

Dersyn turned away from the old woman. She had found a lover now, her lust had an output. It was good, and Dersyn would intervene no more in her life for the time being. As he walked away, he heard faint conversation of gods in his mind. Not directed at him, and far off. Why? Oh yes, some of the others were throwing some sort of party. Dersyn shed the mortal form he had been wearing, and spread great wings (Minor action). He propelled himself through the air with speed no mortal bird could match. Ah, yes, there they were. Inaja was talking about some sort of magic lighthouse. Dersyn quietly alighted behind her.
"Ah, yes. A wonderful idea, Guide. You have my full support."
Inaja was wise, whatever her beacon was had to be fairly sound endeavor. And no one disliked her, so far as Dersyn knew, so supporting her was always a good idea.

[WrathOfLife]

Subline

Becoming frustrated with his brothers and sisters greed in attempting to regrow there powers instead of searching for those lost to time. Subline sets about creating a wonder to use to help him learn the fate of those lost.

With an almighty roar one of the largest tree's in Subline's jungle catches alight, and suddenly burns down to nothing but ash. In its place grows a massive tower of vines and ivy, atop which sits a glowing and pulsating orb.
The Tower of the all seeing eye was complete.

acts

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2 major actions on increasing phoenix population.
1 major action to increase population of followers by 50%
2 Major actions to make a wonder
5 minor acts used as a Major, to gain new domain Divination

[Typewriter]

Osahara completed his work on the doppelgangers, bringing to life those who could reflect others. He finished working with his disciples, and left the temple he had made for them in the hands of those disciples, guided by his new creations.

Osahara focused on his temple and developed a connection to his followers through it. He would never be without them, and they, never without him.

Osahara left then, to walk amongst the people and learn. He had been gone a long time, and he needed to know how long...and what had transpired in that time.

Spoiler

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1 major action to finish the creation of the doppelganger race.

1 Major action to get the 'Connections' domain through his wonder created in the first round.

Trying to find any historians, or places of history/religious concern not tied directly to him and his 'brethren'. If he can't find anyone who knows anything, he will use his divine power to search the world for signs of what happened here.

[Kasanip]

Esria

Esria at last arrived at the spot that her sister had spoken of. It was a rather pretty spot.

Pretty barren.

But not for long! Esria walked around the lake, turning the barrenness to vibrancy in a wash of greens and golden flowers. Lotuses bloomed across the water, giving it a tranquil look. And yet the trees were magnificent, and their shade broke the sun into it's brilliant array of colors, clear enough so that the pathway was always lit in the sun's grace. The young goddess turned about, and upon the isle created a beautiful garden grove with shade and light abounding - a perfect meeting place for her brothers and sisters.

Acts

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(1 Ceremony to Help create the Group 'Wonder'

2 Minor Acts, 1 Ceremony Remaining)

[druid91]

Kanju
Kanju finishes his work expanding the rice paddies in his land. and is contemplating how best to spread his mosaic-people. when he hears the message from Inaja he grins "a meeting place and beacon eh?, sounds good." he walks over to the shattered remains of a cathedral embedded in the ground and teleports it and himself to the meeting spot. "oh, hello Esria already here I see." and then shifts the cathedral and sets it down next to the garden she had created. Reshaping it into a a large stone gazebo with stained glass windows.

2 major acts on increasing population
1 ceremony on the meeting place

[Kessler]

Vex, Lord of Chains - Ceremony

Vex politely bowed to the Kanju, murmuring the words of greeting and visibly brightened up when Esria arrived. He joined the ceremony leting the others shape the form of wonder and focusing on warding the place against violence and ill intent.

Actions:

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Spending 1 Ceremony to assist in creation of wonder.

[ArlEammon]

(Has everyone done their Mega Ceremony yet?)

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Dream Takes Shape

Pleased by the contribution of her siblings, Inaja put some of her own power into the wonder. A great gothic temple rose from the ground. Beside it, outside, a circle of tall stones appeared. The stones took the shape of each god currently alive on the plane.

OOC: 1 ceremony spent

[WrathOfLife]

Subline


Arriving later than the others, Subline quietly moves into place to help with the wonder.

OOC: adding 1 Ceremony.

[Cruxador]

The gods labored in silence. Dersyn watched, bemused. A garden, a gazebo, walls, a cathedral. Practical, parts of it. Splendorous, all of it. Perhaps the gods sought to showcase their might. But where was the comfort? Dersyn entered into the mighty temple. Colored light fell in through the wide windows. An impressive feat of architecture. But the floor remained near bare. Entirely unsuitable.

Dersyn's hand twitched, and the nothingness burned away. A table stood, raised where an alter might lie in a mortal temple. Indeed, it could be called an alter, for upon it lay morsels for the gods to consume. It was ringed with chairs. Each, like the table, was inlaid with motifs important to the deities who would use them. Dersyn sat in his own chair, a wooden one cushioned with sanguine velvet. Rivulets of gold ran through it, as they did the table in front of him. Dersyn picked up a heart from a small bowl on the table, and absently took a bite.
A table was well and good, but a table alone was insufficient. What if the gods might choose to stay here for a time? Dersyn cast about, and beds were recessed within those rooms about the perimeter of the place. Chairs and couches formed along the perimeter, waiting for a god to recline. Thus was the meeting place furnished.

But mere furniture, fine though it was, could hardly be Dersyn's sole contribution. After all, the others had contributed so much more! A great garden covering the entire area. A mighty cathedral. A barrier to keep out anything unwelcome. No, Dersyn needed something important. Something to truly give the fire of the soul purchase in this place. And therefore, Dersyn would place the fire of the soul in this place.

Dersyn stood once more. A ways behind the table resided another alcove, this one yet empty. Dersyn stood within it. He closed his eyes, and felt his nature. Rage, the destructive force. The force which bore bravery, conquest, cruelty and hate. Lust, the constructive force. The force which bore chivalry, progress, civilization and love. And Fire, the animating force, the force by which lust and rage receive their impetus. The force by which all of creation is animated. This fire flooded from Dersyn's corporeal form. It filled the alcove. In the night, it's light would fill the entire cathedral, and, coloured by the windows, shine brightly across the land.

Dersyn smiled. Perhaps proximity to such a potent source of the most basic force in reality would move the gods to be true to their own basic nature.

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That's my ceremony, obviously.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Where in the World Are You?

Inaja, flying above the wonder, looked to the skies and shouted, as the power of the gods radiated through the entire plane and beyond.

"This is the might of the Gods! If the Superiors are gone somewhere, they won't be able to ignore us anymore. And if somehow we were hidden from them, we will pierce the veil and expose the truth!"

And thus she activated the mystical beacon.

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OOC: Turn 5 minor acts into 1 major act to further empower the wonder

[Kessler]

Vex, Lord of Chains - New Domain

After the ceremony was finished, Vex spoke with other Gods, asking them about their deeds and hiding none of his own. After leaving their company he wandered a bit, around the domains of other Gods, observing their works and making notes in a small notebook, resembling one of those he gave to his Obligators.

On his return to his territory he created two more cities to form a triangle around the Obelisk and then started work on his second wonder. The Obligators required a more majestic and divine sanctum, due to the importance of their task. So it took shape of a administrative building with grey walls and countless rooms holding records. This would be the true sitting place of the Immutable Records, and words recorded here by the petty bureaucrats would be the truth of the world.

Vex used the focus of the Immutable Records to gain a new domain of ''Foreordination'', as he wrote a vision of the future for his people and for the world in general, sitting in a comfortable chair at the cabinet, located in the top tower of the Immutable Records.

He left for the Obelisk the next day. There on the top of his first Wonder he issued an edict to the world ''From this day, the mortals shall kneel and bow in the presence of the magical beings, created by Gods, as a sign of respect and awe to the divine handiwork''. His siblings have crafted so many wondrous creatures, it was only proper to express his esteem towards them in such manner.

Actions:

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2 Minor Actions - create 2 cities
3 Major Actions - create Wonder, Immutable Records
1 Major Action - obtain domain ''Foreordination''
1 Major Action - create compulsion for mortals to kneel in presence of magical beings, created by Gods

OOC: edit - changed creations to magical beings

[Typewriter]

Osahara finds this information about another world intriguing and focuses his insights into connecting with that other world. He is not interested in contact, simply in learning at this point.

He then moves to his prison, and in the center of it, in a place only he could reach, he creates looking glasses that will allow him to view different parts of the world, so that he can look for remnants of anything that used to exist on this world before the gods.

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1 Major and 5 minor spent trying to breach the veil between worlds.
1 Major and 2 minor(I had leftovers from the first round) creating looking glasses that will let him look over different lands.

[Kessler]

Vex, Lord of Chains - Future in Chains

Vex returned to his cabinet in the Immutable Records and begin writing future for his followers. It would be prosperous with his mortal followers settling all around his lands, never knowning hunger or desease (at large scale anyway) and ruled with disipline and order.

He crafted a new edict: ''I grant mortals power to sell their fate to the gods. Only your own fate or the fate of your children, below age of nine, can be sold. To do so one must only swear an Oath in the name of a God.'' He informed his Obligators of the new edict, so they can add a new column in the records, to indicate, whether the person's fate was sold to a god.

Feeling uncharacteristically magnanimous, Vex crafted the ''Art of Sealing and Binding'', a magical power for the mortals. It could be used to trap people and magical creatures and extract vows from them.

Actions

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1 Major Act - Create future of prosperity and strict order for followers
1 Major Act - New Edict, allows sale of Fate by mortals to the Gods.
1 Major Act - magical system ''Art of Sealing and Binding''

[druid91]

Kanju
Kanju wanders about the meeting place for a while before bidding Esria, Dersyn, and Inaja farewell. he returns to his pile making a chair at the top and sitting down to think. looking around at his followers "hm.. they have no way to defend themselves from the stronger magical beings." he thinks on the problem a moment or two "perhaps I should give them a weapon. Or I could upgrade them!" He grins ear to ear at the thought of the last one, "I think a disease that upgrades them would be good.". he calls the Mosaic couple to a room deep in the pile and using them as a reference begins developing the Mosaic plague.

2 major acts to get and increase disease domain.

2 major acts and 5 minor used as one major readying the mosaic plague( it converts mortals into Mosaics if willing.)

[Cruxador]

Ah, creation. It reminded Dersyn of the power he had once wielded. The power he would again wield. Dersyn climbed to the top of the great ziggurat. His divine fire sat atop it. Dersyn sat now within the flame. Where was this power? Even Dersyn's own lands had failed to recognize his return, he was so depleted. Dersyn threw his power out, expanding it. Across the deserts, campfires roared, tempers flared, and the people were overcome with desire. Dersyn remained in the flame. He had regained some power. It was not enough. But perhaps it would be enough for now.

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Spent 5 Minor actions on one major.
8 major acts to increase divine rank twice.
two minors, zero majors remaining.

[Kasanip]

Esria - Summer work, and finding purpose

Esria was happy with result of the tower, and gave Inaja a big smile and walked off with a wave.

"If you need me for anything, you know where to find me." She said, disappearing back into the forest.

She walked again, a meandering pace as she observed the humans and the other races throughout the lands. She had the mind to spread the bounty of nature farther still, to the other lands of her fellow gods. Yet she found herself weaker in those places. She paid this no heed now, and traveled far and wide, spreading the flowers and forests where she went.

She came to learn that the world was a varied and wonderful place - with sprawling mountains and deserts, and peoples of all types. She also perceived that Dyrsen had greatly grown in strength and power, and she was happy for him. All about, her fellow gods and goddesses were busy with their works, and she came at last to a village where people were hard at work. What surprised her though, was that here in this place the people interacted with the spirits of the forests she had brought. They bound them with words and seals, and extracted oaths of loyalty from them. Esria stood still as she watched them bind another spirit to servitude, and she felt a deep fire - inspired by Dyrsen perhaps? - spread throughout her slowly. But even as it came, a hand, warm to the touch, gently met her shoulder, and she turned to find a tall man standing there.
"You are not from these lands, are you Nieida?" He asked, speaking a dialect that was foreign to the wood and pine flowing words Esria was used to. She blinked at him and gave him a warm smile.
"No, and yes. I'm here and there, and everywhere." She explained in a mysterious, if cheerful way.
"Ah, then you must be of the spirit realm." The young man said, as if he knew. Esria was more than happy to allow that misunderstanding, for it wasn't entirely an incorrect assumption. She nodded, sending her vibrant green hair bouncing slightly. Well, the hair should have been a dead giveaway - and indeed that was why the man had approached her at first. Still, to reach out and touch her, that was rare.
"In that case, in coming here are you offering your service to someone? Or has someone bound you to an oath?" The man asked. Esria was not sure of this, for she had never seen such rituals before coming here. Perhaps one of her fellow gods had brought it to being, and her thoughts came to Vex. Offering service... Well, she was amiable with that kind of a term for what she generally liked to call 'spreading happiness.' If happiness could be brought through 'offering service,' then perhaps that was what she was doing.
Indeed, if deities existed to aid the mortals, then wouldn't that indeed be service and duty? Esria thought about this in the seconds that she blinked, looking at this young man, and she nodded.
"I am." She said happily, a pale light radiating faintly from herself. "Is there something I can do for you?" She asked politely. The man, bless his mortal self, looked embarrassed and blushed a bit as he reached up to scratch the back of his head. The man mumbled something and gestured for her to follow him over to the mortals who did the binding and seals. She smiled the whole time, seemingly unaware, for really what danger was there for a deity to be bound by such simple skill?
Even outside of her region, she still was a Goddess. When they put the binds upon her, she barely noticed the tingling sensation. She was a free spirit, and no compulsion could hold her for long. All the same though, she wanted to bring some happiness to the people here as well, and though their practices were strange, she stayed and worked for some time.

In the rest of the time of summer that she spent there, working and toiling with the mortals and bound spirits, she learned there was hardship and oppression. The man who had bound her was kind - perhaps more smitten with her in his youth than he was with wanting a servant.

But even as the summer sun's golden rays soften, the trees begin to change with the crisp coolness in the morning air. Autumn, the season of change, above all else it was a time that emphasized the colors and the changing world. Esria had been carrying a bucket of water when she looked up at the trees, and perceiving the first hint of red-yellow boscage, she knew that she had to leave.
And so Esria went back to Nicolao, the young man with whom she had stayed, and told him she had to depart. First though, she made true on her oath - though it was not to the rules of the binds and seals. No, her's was a reciprocal exchange, like the exchange of nature. For the service and joy that she had given him, Esria filled him with the power of nature's warmth and bloom, and his eyes became a shade of gold, and his hair tinted to a silver green, though he remained youthful and young.
"I have given you my service and brought you happiness," She said to him. "And I ask now that you also take up this mantle. Protect those whom are vulnerable and at risk, but especially to the forests and living things that are wantonly destroyed in pride here." And Esria blessed him, and left knowing that he would heed her words - and perhaps stay true to them to the end of his days. He would be the first Morrái - one touched by morning and life. A protector of the living world, both people and plant alike. An ally to spirits, and a neutral hand in the conflicts of mortals.

Though the binding seal upon her neck and arms had disappeared like the fallen blossoms of spring, Esria remembered them and was concerned. No spirit or being should be bound for too long, she thought. Life was precious, and it's time was fleeting. To steal that away was a hurtful thing.

Upon a forest covered mountain, deep in the forests of her lands, she created the Biekkan - a semi-reclusive mountain crow humanoid, strong and skilled in fighting, though loving to play pranks and tricks to tear down those whom are proud above all others. Humility wasn't a bad thing, Esria had decided. The Biekkan would spread and help to make sure that pride did not lead humanity too far astray. Deep in the forests as well, the first childish laughs came - haunting and mysterious, yet joyful and fresh in song. The symphony of cicadas had passed on as the trees turned red-gold, but their music was echoed in the voice of the Taynun.

Acts

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• 1 Major Act- Create first 'Champion' - the first Morrái "Nicolao."
• 1 Major Act- Alter Humans (create the Taynun, as described in the last turn)
• 2 Major Acts- Create Race: Beikkan (to put it simply, Tengu-like creatures)
• 2 Minor Acts- Rich Harvests Across her lands!
• 2 Minor Acts- spread the forests and trees abroad!

0 Major Acts, 2 Minor Acts, 2 Ceremonies remaining

[Kessler]

Vex, Lord of Chains

Vex was relaxing in the waning summer's warmth. The heat has passed and cool breeze was blowing from the east. He was thinking about introducing a caste system to his people. Then everyone could be neatly arranged from birth to death. And how much paper space it would save. If person's caste could include a number of qualities by default. This was a project for the near future, when his people developed a bit more. There was another matter, that he put off for long enough. Vex contacted Inaja.

To Inaja

My Greetings to the Goddess of Death. I was thinking that it would be a good idea to merge my Afterlife with yours. Souls are an important resource and we can't discard possibility of theft or escape. It is better that their safekeeping is entrusted to someone with your affinities. On my part I can add a couple of security measures to keep souls in, should they try to flee or there is a break in from the outside.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Inaja and Treasures Forgotten

Inaja was the only deity left at the Divine Seat. She sat on a bench next to her own statue in the gardens, pondering what to do next. It could take some time before their Superiors answered. Inaja called her gryphon mount, the loyal Mordran, and flew back to her territory. She arrived in a narrow valley, cold and arid. There were a few dwarven settlements in the region. It was really a poor choice, as the land didn't offer much. But the dwarves remained anyway as they thought it was their sacred duty. They didn't remember why they came or even what they were supposed to be looking for. But something in the valley called them. And Inaja heard it too. It was Death. The goddess traveled to the neighboring mountains. She focused her divine senses until she found what she was looking for.

"Reveal what is hidden."

As she uttered the words of power, the mountains trembled, the rock fissured and a massive gate appeared. Inaja called representatives from the villages to come and see what her spell had revealed. It was a crypt built by dwarven kings long ago. They were astonished by the rediscovery of their race's long lost heritage. At last they had found a purpose to their lives: to preserve the collective memory of the dwarven race and recover the artifacts from their fathers that were scattered around the region today. A small cult was formed whose task was to preserve the sacred site; they called themselves the Skullborn. They became a formidable group after Inaja personally taught them the art of necromancy. Their newfound abilities allowed them to repel evil spirits, gain wisdom and knowledge from the Dead, cause other people to age several years instantly, among other things. The Skullborn lived alone and surrounded themselves with morbid aspects of death, the main reason why, althought not evil, they were associated with loss and decay.


To Vex

"I have considered your request and I will accept it. I do not judge how other gods wish to organize their followers' afterlife."


To Esria

"Dear sister... One of your newest creations, the Beikkan, impress me. If they wish, some of them may move into my mountains."

Spoiler

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• Wonder: The Braemar Crypts, +1 Death domain (2 major and 1 minor)
• Create new magic school: Necromancy (2 major)
• Mordran, Inaja's gryphon, is now an exarch (major)
• Empower the Skullborn cult (2 minor)

[Kasanip]

Esria- Autumn Incarnation

As she walked beneath the trees, Esria spun once, sending her brilliant dress dyed in the reds and golds of autumn about in the cool breeze. It was a nostalgic moment, and she smiled as she lay a hand affectionately on a tree.

Hearing Inaja's message, Esria nodded solemnly with a rueful smile.
To Inaja
"Thank you sister, I am sure that many Biekkan will come to your mountains in due time. Yet winter approaches soon, and the birds fly southwards, not north. It will be cold here soon. How I lament the death of the grass, and the fall of these leaves...yet this is the grace that comes to you, dear sister."

Her message sent, Esria came to the Mourra in kind. There were many now when before there were few. The trees were awakening slowly, and the Mourra tended to them. Yet they stopped their work as Esria came to them.
"Oh father oak and lady willow... Soon it will be too cold for even your skins to weather I'm afraid. Sleep is coming soon... Like it always does. Please rest well this time, and I will see you again when it is right for Spring." She said sadly. In their melodous and rumbling voices the Mourra responded in kind to her, and Esria departed down to the human village. The harvests were coming in now, and she would help them make bountiful stores for winter's coming.

Acts

Spoiler

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1 Minor Act: Increase Population: Mourra
1 Minor Act: Increase Population: Humans of the Valley
2 Ceremonies Remaining

[ArlEammon]

Turn 4!!! The Dawning Of A New Age
Strange travelers of the same race of the native peoples have appeared throughout the world. They seem to come with trade in mind. Not much else is known about these people, except that some fights have broken out between the travelers and the natives.

[Kessler]

Vex, Lord of Chains - Afterlife and True Love

Vex traveled to his Afterlife and then directed his power merge it with the Inaja's Afterlife. He crafted living chains, long and strong, capable of trapping spirits and sealing passages. Vex crafted their minds with straightforward simplicity. Keep the Souls in the Afterlife, unless they are released by their respective Gods, Vex or Inaja. Follow the commands of the later. Track down those who escape. Hinder advance of those, who try to spirit the Souls away.

After Vex returned to the mortal world, he worked a bit with the magic system he developed, tweaking it in a way, that ''trapping'' of the more benign spirits, mostly those crafted by the Kassanip, was preformed by making them small offerings and treating them with kindness. Friendship, kindness and love could serve as excellent chains.

In his cabinet in the Immutable Records, Lord of Chains crafted a compulsion of ''True Love'' for his people. From this day, in my red book, the names of man and woman shall be recorded. They will be destined to be together, to love and cherish each other, to die for each other, if needs be.

Actions:

Spoiler

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Merge Afterlife - 1 Major Act?
Create Spirit Chains - 1 Major Act.
Alter the Art of Binding - 1 Minor Act.
Create '''True Love Compulsion''