Lords of Creation: Diskworld (IC)

[Johel]

Naïade and Cornus

"-And I find little to contest in this..."
Naïade seemed to hesitate. She knew how involved Cornus could be in these things, losing himself in his own speeches.
"-...but do you have any actual plan for us to spread Goodness and maintain Balance ? I doubt our brothers will all be satisfied with the current stalemate. Actually, I doubt the remaining Primordials will tolerate it for long either."

In the vertical pool of water, several images appeared. Images of various peaceful coastlines.

"-I visited all of them. Each is quiet, with the eternal struggle of the tide over the sand as only conflict. The only kind I would like to see in my new home. Any plan to make this remain true ?"

[Moose Fisher]

Naïade and Cornu

Cornu's fire lost intensity, but remained strong.

"We can teach by example, offering goodwill and forgiveness. This stalemate is perfect, a combination of Immortal and Primordial. We'll build on it, creating an almost peaceful world."

A sigh leaves Cornu's lips as he looks to Naïade with a guilty face.

"I say 'almost' because there will always be conflict between ideals, but good can be maintained between opposing sides. That's why I let most of my opponents go, there was no reason for death..."

The distance between Naïade and Cornu closed. He pointed out one of the images.

"Can we go there, while it looks like that?"

[Grim ranger]

Omorthan - Moving eastwards from central Tundra

Although the peace in the Tundra had been absolute, it was not enough to calm his mind. His memories of the war were still fresh, and he had not forgiven the Immortals of their honourless actions against him. He wanted revenge, wanted to find the old Primordials that had survived and lead them into new war that would right everything. Sadly, he lacked great deal of information required for such a task: he did not even know which of the immortals or primordials were still alive. Judging by the silence all around Ril, not many. The war had surely thinned the numbers of the divine, but it should not be this quiet. Were the others sleeping?

The curiousity had gotten better of Omorthan at last, making him move eastwards in search of other primordials or immortals. He thought for long while, trying to guess where it would be most prudent to search for others. Deciding that coast was propably the safest bet, the young immortal shifted into form of great icy dragon and flew towards the eastern coast with resounding roar.

[Johel]

Naïade and Cornus

The sea goddess avoided the gaze of Cornus, looking straight at the pool.
"-There ? Hum... Yes, sure."

Tension built for a moment as she remained silent...then snapped out of it.
"-Oh !! You mean... right now ?!"

Naïade pulled herself one step away. Well... Not a "step", technically. Because you know... no feet... or rather too many. With a gurgling sound, her lower body crept back on the beach.
"-Just follow me."

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Azaerel, Tundra, following Omorthon

The Well-dressed snake, somewhat out of place in the frozen lands, though he didn't show it as he slithered nonchalantly through the snow and ice, had gathered some small fragments of bone left by a creature clearly not mortal in origin when he heard the great roar and saw the ice-dragon dart upward in the sky. Smiling in the disturbing way his almost humanoid face allowed him too, Azaerel pocketed the bone fragments (though where is a secret that shall never be learned) and began to follow the huge dragon eastward, and though he did not fly he was able to keep pace with the dragon rather easily, watching the soaring immortal from far below on the icy planes the creature so obviously sought to depart.

[Moose Fisher]

Naïade and Cornu

Cornu offered up a hand.

"You swim faster than me, I don't want to lose you."

A distant form in the sky grew larger and larger, but his attention returned to Naïade. The waves climbed up their legs and down again.

[Johel]

Naïade and Cornu

While Cornu's attention was clearly NOT focused on the flying primordial, Naïade could not ignore the roaring sound that accompanied the newcomer.

The fact that she already had to look up to speak with Cornu greatly helped too. The goddess, now half back in her element, nevertheless pointed a finger at the approaching god.

"-I think you might want to delay that trip."

[Grim ranger]

Omorthan - Eastern shoreline

His powerful wings had carried him into the shore rather quickly, the flying only taking fraction of the time trudging through the lands between his belowed tundra and the sea by foot would have done. Seeing no need to keep his arrival hidden, Omorthan closed his wings and dropped into the water like a stone, freezing it into solid ice upon impact. Rising through the rapidly cooling water and shifting into his humanoid form, the god of ice watched with detached interest as the water around him continued to freeze over and formed reasonably stable surface for him to walk on.

Then his gaze settled on pair of immortals nearby, and his eyes flared up with cold, blue flame at the sight of Cornu. Despite his literally frozen expression conveyed mere aloofness, cold anger took firm hold on his mind.

There were angels for him to kill even after the war, it seemed. How very fourtuotus coincidence. Perhaps his day would not be total waste of time, after all.

[hi-mi-tsu]

Aithne

Some gods woke with a roar, a divine spark filling them almost to explosion. Some with a gradual coming-to of awareness, knowledge spreading through them in a near-unstoppable wave until it could fill no more and poured out of them as they rose to divinity. Still others simply grew into godhood, starting small and becoming larger and larger until there were none left to contest them.

Aithne?

Aithne entered godhood with a yawn. Or rather, re-entered. Her first emergence had been all fiery glory and explosion and such...only there'd been no one around to notice, because everyone was fighting about who-knows-what. So she'd gone back to sleep. Now, though, the world seemed quiet...no battles around her, at least.

She pulled herself out of her crater with a stretch and another yawn, and looked around. Interesting place, if a bit flat and boring...it needed a bit of her touch. After wandering around for a while, though, she came to the realization that no chunk of land was big enough for what she imagined...but there was ocean aplenty on all sides, and she could easily manipulate that into whatever land she wanted. And so she did; the north-eastern corner of the world was empty, and it was there she set to work.

It took years, building up the island out of the ocean, establishing her little haven at the center, making plants that could withstand the heat of the springs she built them around, and not only withstand it but thrive on the warm water constantly kept hot by underground pools and rivers of lava...and though most of the land was empty, still, she had what she wanted in terms of the terrain. At the moment, at least. Her will was capricious; possibly she would eliminate some of it, or build more, but as for now? She sank into her crater of lava with a contented sigh, until little more than her head was above the surface...

...But it was boring, and after a few hours she got out again, disgruntled. She wanted more; there was nothing here, really...she wanted playthings, companions. And, though it took her a while of wandering about, she finally hit on what she desired, and set to work; after another few days of perfecting her creations, she breathed life in them, and watched them split apart. Steam-dragons, small and semi-transparent, a mix of white and silver and a soft heather gray, flitted off to disappear into the rivers and pools of the hot springs; her lava dragons, burnished gold-copper-red and bigger than their cousins, though not as massive as they would be when full-grown, trumpeted their joy at being alive as they dove into the volcanoes and magma pools that dotted the central landscape. And when she joined them, they played, splashing each other in the fiery liquid...

This was more like it. Who needed other gods, when she could make companions of her own?

Spoiler

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Steam Dragons: Small and agile, these creatures rarely grow to be more than eight feet in length. They are more serpentine than the traditional draconic image, taking instead after the sinuous shape of the Chinese dragon, and are often pearl-colored and semi-transparent. The shades range from white, to silver, to a heather gray, to any combination thereof, and these beasts retain the unique ability to disappear utterly into the ever-present steam that rises above the rivers and pools that dot Aithne's island. Shy creatures, they will often take great pains to avoid strangers; when cornered, however, they are doubly dangerous in that they are often difficult to both see and injure, and that they breathe steam hot enough to boil the flesh off a man's bones. They are also uncommonly intelligent, and it is said that Aithne often has long conversations about truth and beauty and the world at large with them.

Lava Dragons: Bigger than their brothers, these dragons can be between thirty and forty feet in length when full-grown. They are colored in gradient shades of gold, copper, and red, and look like burnished metal and fire in the sunlight (when there is sunlight to be had). Though not as intelligent as their smaller kin, they are fiercely loyal and courageous to a fault, and will fight to the death defending the tight-knit family groups that emerge. When they mate, they mate for life, and are incredibly nurturing and protective of their offspring; often, they hunt together to bring in enough food for the group, instead of being solitary creatures. When threatened, they breathe magma or fire, depending on the age; adolescents breathe fire, while the fully-grown dragons can breathe the magma itself.

Aithne's Island (Name forthcoming): A private sanctuary, the island is mostly barren at the moment. The most prominent features are the large pool of magma at the center, ringed by a volcanic mountain range that both supplies the main pool and the smaller pools dotted about. The magma pool is kept at an even level by a slow drain at the bottom, which feeds the heated liquid into underground channels that serve as the source of warmth for the hot springs and the rivers that feed them. These springs are said to have marvelously restorative properties, but at the moment are largely unused except by the dragons.

(12AP-6AP for Aithne's Island-1AP for Create World Element: Steam Dragon-1AP for Create World Element: Lava Dragon=4AP remaining)

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Azaerel, Eastern Shoreline

As Azaerel followed Omorthon he saw him land him next to a pair of gods in the distance, and he slithered closer, though he was careful to keep his form low and preferably behind hills or any other obstructions. As he got closer he saw that Omorthan had taken on a humanoid form, and he also saw Cornu and Naïade. Seeing his brother again he smirked, until he felt the pulse of not one but two shards of the Golden Sword. His bastard brother was trying to keep them from his grasp! Well, he would not succeed.

He moved behind a pair of hills large enough to obscure his presence, his eyes barely peaking around them, his body low to the ground and his divine presence masked as best he could, which was quite well considering how long he'd had to practice...

[Moose Fisher]

Cornu, Naïade, Omorthan, Eastern Shoreline (With special guest: Azaerel)

As the cold water and ice crept closer Cornu backs up onto the dry sand, pulling Naïade with him. The shoreline stiffened with ice. Popping sounds filled the air as the waves underneath continued to shift, but the force of the water was dying. Each crack froze solid, making the shore quiet.

There was something about the icy being that seemed familiar to Cornu, but he couldn't put a finger on it. He put a hand near Averrun, just in case, and said warmly, "Hullo! We were just about to leave. I don't believe we've met. This is Naïade, and I'm Cornu.... And you are?"

[Grim ranger]

Cornu, Naïade, Omorthan, Eastern Shoreline (With special guest: Azaerel)

The icy god bowed his head in smallest of gestures, fixing his cold eyes on Cornu.

"I am Omorthan, son of elder Primordial Ariatus."

He drew his broken sword slowly, forming long, sharp blade of clear ice around it's broken lenght, and took slow and purposeful step towards Cornu. The eyes of Omorthan narrowed into slits of cold fire and he brought his sword to his side in challenging gesture.

"Defend yourself, angel, for you shall not have mercy or respite from me."

With that, he darted forward with speed completely ridiculous for his frozen frame, aiming a cut at the face of the Horned One.

[Vadin]

Kagu, the Savanna

The sky was filled with little points of light and utter blackness. While magnificent, it was dull. Especially all that blackness...perhaps Kagu's imagination might make the sky more interesting.

He elevated the two largest lions he could find to the sky above and infused them with elemental fire. The hungry lion then blessed a herd of zebras with flight and the nature of a river.

The lion Dawn would chase away the darkness and lead the great blue herd across the sky. The lion Dusk would tail the herd and catch the slowest members, spilling their blood across the sky above. When the two hunters were in the last quarter and first quarter of their runs, respectively, the sky above was brightest and shadows weakest. A day, from Dawnrise to Duskfall, lasted as long as a night, from Duskfall to Dawnrise.

With this, the twin suns ruling over the blue sky above, Kagu could more fully appreciate the beauty of the world around him.

12 - 1 AP (Create World Element: The Twin Suns) = 11 AP

Spoiler

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The Twin Suns: Dawn and Dusk are two great lions made of flame who stalk the sky, acting as two small, warm globes of light in the sky. When out together, they shine brighter and radiate warmer.

There are some eltine prophets who maintain that a day will come when the two are united into one ball of great flame, but this prophecy is largely thought of as a sort of heresy.

[Moose Fisher]

Cornu, Naïade, Omorthan, Eastern Shoreline (With special guest: Azaerel)

The ring of metal on metal filled the air. The sky filled with the light of suns. Cornu had been pushed back and was now lifting himself off the ground. He held Averrun in a tight grip, the shards vibrating slightly.

"Hey now, let's not be trading blows now. I'm still trying to figure out where I've heard your name before!"

Both hands were placed on Averrun, a defensive stance.

[Grim ranger]

Cornu, Naïade, Omorthan, Eastern Shoreline (With special guest: Azaerel)

Omorthan did not bother to even say anything. Instead he attacked again, and again and again. Metal clashed on metal in such a quick succession that outsider might have thought the noise to be melody of some sort of an orchestra. The god of ice was concentrated into the fight alone, his blade moving in blur, each stroke intended for sole purpose of cutting Cornu down.

[Moose Fisher]

Cornu, Naïade, Omorthan, Eastern Shoreline (With special guest: Azaerel)

The blades locked, the two beings pushing with all their strength. Cornu was slightly stronger, but winning this contest would just lead to more slashes from his opponent. Omorthan could quickly recover and attack from a different direction. The stalemate continued, Cornu searching for ideas. Inspiration struck, he had one advantage.

"You're fast, but you can't keep this up! You should take a rest!"

Cornu swung his head forward, his sturdy horns reaching across the short distance and heading toward Omorthan's head.

[Johel]

Cornu, Naïade, Omorthan, Eastern Shoreline (With special guest: Azaerel)

Naïade was taken off guard by all this.

The speed and fury of the duel was familiar. So was the spilled ichor, the shriek of metal and the cold song of ice. Yet, she didn't want to remember. She didn't want these memories to resurface.

With a swing of her arms, she commanded the sea, calling upon its overwhelming power. The sea answered and the answer was "Yes". Slowly, with a rising roar, the tide was pushed away from the beach, leaving a large, flat plain of wet sand.

"-You shall stop this right now !!"
The hands of the goddess were glowing with a menacing blue light. In the background, the roaring sound of the waves had stopped...but not for long.

[Grim ranger]

Cornu, Naïade, Omorthan, Eastern Shoreline (With special guest: Azaerel)

Omorthan did not even miss a beat, headbutting back and not even wincing as the horn shattered some of the icicles that made up his hair. Using his control over ice making up his body, he forced his "hair" to encase Cornu's horn in creeping layer of ice and permafrost with solid intention of freezing his head. And judging by the speed the ice formed, it was not alltogether impossible. Omorthan looked at the eyes of his opponent over their locked swords.

"Rest? Hardly... I do not tire. But what about you? Isn't life so very hard? Wouldn't it be just so much easier for you to... take a rest and slip into cold nothingless? No need to fight about it...you deserve good, long rest."

He put all his powers controlling the cold against the Horned One, intending to freeze him to death if sword would not work.

[Moose Fisher]

Cornu, Naïade, Omorthan, Eastern Shoreline (With special guest: Azaerel)

"That was supposed to be a joke, but it looks like you and I are suffering from a bit of brain freeze. But I won't slip into nothing when I've still got something! I'll keep going, even if the tide comes in!"

And the tide did come in, crashing down upon the shore with great force and flooding the nearby forest.

[Fisher]

Nord, Plane B1

After several weeks of digging the tunnel had progressed nicely. The ocean water had chiseled through the stone easily enough which the Elemental blasted upward and away with gale force winds. Sadly the search had not gone as smoothly. Though miles beneath Ril's crust, Nord had yet to find any trapped Elementals.

He missed the sky. The endless rush you feel while racing across the Chaos. Now, because of the war, he was denied the sky and his people and left to toil beneath the earth. Digging. Eternal digging! Would this be his lot for the rest of existence? Laboring at a goal that may never bear fruit?

Howling in frustration the Storm Elemental unleashed his fury in a massive storm. Expanding in size tenfold, Nord shredded the surrounding earth with cyclonic winds. Intermittent bursts of lightning battered the stones incinerating many upon contact. Sparks ricocheted off the walls and torrential rains pooled together to form violent waves that smashed the nearby rocks to powder.

On and on the storm raged, pausing not for a moment. Yet, as it did the earth relented. What was once a tunnel had quickly expanded into a large chamber. Completely barren, save for a lake within it's center, the cavern was surrounded by towering mountains which stretched to grasp the earthen ceiling high above. Formed of stone forged by the explosive winds, they hardily stood their ground against the Elemental's frenzy.

Eventually tiring of the pointless display of anger and wasted energy Nord descended slowly into the lake, allowing the cool waters to sooth his frayed disposition. Examining the newly made room he allowed his thoughts to drift to other matters, momentarily forgetting the dangers of the surface. Perhaps there was another way to go about this search. A method to investigate the entire underground. Pondering these and other matters he floated aimlessly in the clear, fresh water. Waiting for his power to recover enough to begin anew.

Spoiler

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Licens' Circlet currently inactive. No fog.

AP: 3/12
Week 1
- 3 AP (Forge/Possess Artifact): Licens' Circlet Capable of blanketing a radius of 25 miles with dense fog. Effect is enough to confound the senses of any god (except perhaps those with a wisdom of 7 or more) and user cannot be found unless they wish to be found.
-2 AP (Acquire Building Permit, Plane -1)
-1 AP (Shape Land): Dig Site on Southern Continent
-3 AP (Shape Land) 16x16 Area with transformation of Solid Earth to new terrain.

Plane B1 (Rajuilma)

Spoiler

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Dark Brown: Solid Earth, Spiral Shape: Ceiling Connection to Dig Site.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Azaerel, Eastern Shoreline

The huge snake watched the ensuing battle with undisguised amusement, though he did not need to disguise his amusement as none could see him. He didn't know which way this battle would turn, and felt it would best suit him to stand by and watch for the outcome.

As he saw the wave coming he wrapped himself around the hills as best he could and let the wave wash over him.

[Apex_Predator]

Soreius; Eastern Shores

The seas were churning with the power of the combatants clashing above them, and the skies grew dark, covering up the newly formed stars. As the combatants backed off from one another to renew their assault, a sphere of white radiance appeared in the air between them. Before they could close once more, that light flared to an impossible brightness- and the landscape around it began to shift from one of sea and beaches to to a gray wasteland of cracked soil and burned skies. Cornu and Omorthan seemed to be alone in this strange place, save for one other- the blue robed Dreamlord, who held out his right hand (adorned with the star-birthing ring) towards the spot where the blinding light appeared. His eyes of multicolored flames were narrowed in irritation.

"I believe the lady said that she wished you two cease this spat," he said in a voice that was like many; "and as gods, I think that showing some restraint would be appropriate."

[Johel]

Cornu, Naïade, Omorthan, Eastern Shoreline (With special guest: Azaerel)

As the tide crashed upon the land, the three four gods (Sorry, Soreius...) were carried with it, dancing underwater like disarticulated puppets.

Naïade quickly recovered her balance, searching frantically for Cornu in the liquid maelstrom in which bits of wood, rock, sand and even animals were caught. Dodging those projectiles, swimming through the stream, she eventually located the Horned One.

Not looking for Omorthan's or Soreius whereabout, she pulled her friend out, just as the tide returned to the ocean again, letting nothing but ruins behind, stealing countless marvels from the land. It would bring them back one day. But not today.

Cornu, Naïade, Some far away beach

It took the fleeing duo a few hours but they eventually reached the beach Cornu wished to see. Exhausted by their escape and the amount of energy she had had to use, Naïade crept to safety on the dry sand, simply felt on her back and closed her eyes, listening to the pounding of her hearth.

She wished for peace, for tranquility and protection. She wished for hatred, vengeance and other hostile feelings to be kept away from her. And from that wish spawn the Guardian Crabs.

A hundred or so of these giant crustaceans soon emerged from the waters, scavenging around on the beach, searching for food but ignoring Naïade and the other god, as neither of them had hostile feelings.

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Spawn Creature (1 AP) : Guardian Crabs.

These huge-sized magical creatures are an armored version of the common crab, their carapace several inch thick. They got a special ability to detect evil, along with hostile feelings, both driving them into a frenzy.
Scavengers, they usually don't hunt living preys but small creatures might be considered an edible snack if they look weak or simply slow.

[Carden]

Sko'Virin - Home

He had been trying to get to sleep while watching the stars in the top branches of his tree. Trying, because at the moment he got close, the Suns came into being. If the Gods had one thing Sko'Virin didn't like, it was a fondness for blasted light. Good thing I made the rest of the canopy so thick, he pondered as he gave up sleep for the day, otherwise I'd have to crawl in a hole to get any decent rest.

From this vantage point, he could see for hundreds of miles around the world, so long as it was clear. It was the main benefit of a tall tree on a flat world. So far, there had been plenty of activity to watch. Fires in the south and north, that column of stars and the new range of mountains on the western horizon. The only way which was calm had been east. He turned that way to think on why just as a massive tidal wave crushed into the first line of trees.

Sko'Virin had always been slow to anger, a fact which had saved his life more than once on the battlefield. Quick to forgive, he had always been thoughtful of the way he responded. Not today, not now. He had raised those trees just days earlier, some of them he had already named. Now they were washing out to sea, broken remnants of what they had been created to be. He flew into a rage, screaming a curse in Primordial that would have made even the most Elder Elementals tremble at the context.

In his fury, it didn't take him long to reach the shore. The waters had yet to completely recede when he arrived. "WHO?!" screamed the berserk elemental at the top of his lungs. "Who dared to desecrate this forest?! Which one of you infernal sacks of Earth erosion did THIS?! Speak up you cowardly fools!" Unleashing another battery of curses, he slammed his staff into the ground. Immediately, the water disappeared. Miles upon miles of forest grew from the waves, horrible, twisted forest that reflected his psyche. Gnarled trees grew tall, roots tearing their way through newly formed ground causing it to crack and form miniature canyons. Rain would fill them to make rivers and streams later, but that was not then, it was now. The true meaning of his act occurred at the edge of the forest, where a grand cliff rose a mile above the sea; the rock wall of obsidian was black as the forest floor and as smooth as the skin of an apple.

Turning back to the healthy forest, he continued his tirade, yelling at any movement he could see.

((AP 5 - 2 Create land = 3 AP))

[TheDarkDM]

Xerion had watched the birth of the new world with some interest. It was so different from the elemental Chaos he was used to, yet beneath the calm surface there still dwelt the sleeping tumult of ages past. Slipping as a shadow through the waking world, he had observed the great confrontation between deities with a smug amusement, gratified to learn that the old hatreds had not died. He was on the brink of following the Horned God when Sko'Virin erupted in a fury, raising his great barrier. Such delicious rage was too much for Xerion to bear, and so he emerged, flames flickering about his slim body as it came into being. Before Sko'Virin noticed, Xerion had begun applauding.

"Well done Shadow God. Such a mighty barrier will surely keep away all those who would harm your precious forest." Pausing, Xerion reached out, and suddenly there was a ripe peach in his hand. Biting into it with predatory teeth, he continued, "But will it be enough when stronger foes visit your domain?"

[Carden]

Xerion and Sko'Virin

Spinning around, Sko'Virin twirled his staff so that the point faced the newcomer. A snarl and a flash of fire crossed his eyes, but in an instant he realized no one would be fool enough to stand unarmed after causing an elemental of his stature so much trouble. "This forest claims no owner, Snaketongue," he said, literally spitting the name, "I am merely its protector. Who did this?! Why are you here?! What do you mean, stronger foes?!"

[TheDarkDM]

Xerion seems unperturbed by the violence of his welcome. It seems he is used to being spit upon, and thus his only response to Sko'Virin is a knowing smile.

"Claim what you will, this forest bears your mark Sko'Virin, and thus is yours for better or for worse. As to what foes you can expect, do you truly think the Angel gods and their ilk will leave you in peace? You are one of the most powerful elementals left after the forging of this world, and they will view you either as a threat to be eliminated or as a resource to be exploited." Xerion finishes his peach, and his tongue reaches out to lick the pit. It is an inhuman thing, long and forked, and as its oily blackness engulfs the pit a drop of clear saliva falls to the ground and begins to burn. As quickly as it flitted out, the tongue retracts, leaving a smooth black stone in Xerions hand. "Of course, there are precautions you could take to avoid them, favors you might entreat. The true question Shadow god is this: what do you truly want; to live secluded in this forest, or something greater?"

[Nefarion Xid]

Sylph had positioned his palatial residence beneath the tops of the surrounding mountains so he'd always have his exact idea of a scenic view rather than be bothered with an eyeful of the whole bloody world each time he stepped onto a balcony. He spent his leisure time (read: every waking hour) composing poetry for some yet-to-be-discovered object of his desire, practicing with his clay flute, tending his roses or, most importantly, napping. His injuries bothered him more than he let on and he still had a considerable limp. And it worried him that he'd never be rid of it. Demons didn't play fair, and the one who'd torn out his eye had also done a number on his right knee. Their poisons lingered in the body and even gods were not easily healed of their wounds.

More than the pain, the behind-the-back comments concerned him. It was possibly the reason for his seclusion. Gods were supposed to die in a blaze of glory, if they died at all, not hobble around maimed and broken. The sharp pain in his knee and his lack of depth perception were a constant reminder that on the eve of victory he suffered his greatest defeat. Sometimes he thought he should have at least let the demon have the pleasure of finishing him.

The fact that Michael's Blade broke at all weighed less heavily on him than it perhaps should have. He'd done enough thinking on the subject and neither he nor anyone else had a decent answer. So, at length, he'd simply let the subject go. He might have obsessed on it, but it was dismissed as an act of fate. And he had decided that fate had a sense of humor which he didn't care for.

At the moment, leaning out over the railing of the easternmost balcony of his estate, he had only one concern: that big eyesore of an island that had cropped up recently. He very much liked the way the land curved in the north and his undisturbed view of the distant sea... but now all that was ruined by a big rocky pile of blah with a volcano stuck in the middle. He fancied that the island looked a bit like a rather flat breast from his vantage point. But, his childish amusement only lasted so long. At length, he decided to pay a visit to the island's architect and perhaps politely request that it be moved to the south or at least decorated with some greenery.

A day's flight later, Sylph touches down on Aithne's island

Experimentally grinding his toe into the volcanic soil of the beach he unconsciously sneers. The heat and smell of ash brought back unpleasant memories.

"... it's hot."

[hi-mi-tsu]

Aithne's Island, with Sylph

She'd been playing with one of the littler lava dragons, dunking it under the water, when a sentry flier backwinged into the pool; she gleaned from its frantic noise that there was another here, on her island. Frowning slightly, she pulled herself free; as she walked, the flames disappeared, to be replaced with coppery skin and red hair. Her eyes flickered like the fire she loved, and a fitting white gown edged in bright yellow and orange geometric patterns had settled about her like a second skin by the time she reached the...visitor.

"Hello there." Her voice was low, sultry, but there was the faintest susurrus of a faraway flame underneath it...

"Can I help you?"

[Carden]

Sko'Virin and Xerion - Eastern Forest

"You speak of their 'ilk' like you were not one of them, devil! I may not know which one of those winged interlopers you were spawned from, but I do know how you came here with them! So which one are you, my foe or my would-be exploiter? Why should I trust the fire in front of my face just because it tells me there's more waiting deeper in the shadows?" Shifting side to side uncomfortably, the elemental cautiously lowers his stave a little, but not enough to leave him open to this untrusted entity.

Looking to the small pit left by the divine spittle to the trees and back to Xerion, he spoke again. "All I have ever wanted is to be left alone... All my clan died to your assaults, anything I have ever loved was destroyed, and now you law-ridden freaks still refuse to let me be in peace. But now, now I want reparations for the life you swill squandered here, today. The trees didn't harm anyone, nor the creatures that called their limbs home, but someone ruthlessly snuffed out that life. Someone will pay, if it takes me millennia to see to it. But tell me, why should I ever trust the Betrayer of the Primordials? Why should I EVER trust you?!"