Lords of Creation: In Character #2

[Grytorm]

Iurious Teppelin

For a long time he gazed at the dragons, occasionally playing with them. But, eventually he had to leave them to their own devices, he had so many things to deal with, and so little time. Although he had been around quite a while, Iurious had kept a low profile in the divine community. That now would end. The first he should greet would be the divine being that Iurious had given a new life to, Marcus. With a sweep of his hand he moved himself to the Storehouse.

Iurious The Storehouse

He had not stood for quite a while, his gait was irregular, although it was impossible to tell why for his long robes went all the way to the floor. Iurious knocked before bellowing, "I would like to speak with Marcus!" Whoever looked upon him might find him slightly hideous. Since ascending he had let himself go, and his face was hairless and covered with scars from the final blow of the great battle.

[planswalker]

Baron Fredrik, The Showdown, Area 06

"Aha!..." Fredrik's laughter abruptly ceased as he found himself staring at the tip of William's lance of ice. He paused for a moment, then burst out once more. "Ahahahaha! Trying to skewer me are you? Impressive - pity you couldn't put just a bit more force into it! You might have gotten me, worm!" He smelled something... odd... but he put it off as the stench of the battlefield.

Then he coughed.

He ignored it still - nothing but a cough after all. Grappling with the controls, the Baron whipped about, trying to hit the agile ronin. William kept dodging, but all he had to do was clip him - even a glancing blow from one of Ragnaros' fists would shatter bones and knock joints out of sockets. And there was that infernal cough... "Aha...ach..chkaka! G-get back here worm!"

The Baron and the Anti-Baron - Fighting no longer.

William dodged every blow from the rather clumsy mecha. It was simply too large to have the speed it took to hit him. So much more excess mass had to be moved with that heavy armor that it was a joke. William could not really hurt the veritable walking fortress, but he didn't have to. In less than a minute, the virions would knock the pilot out. With another minute, he would be a cooling corpse. This contest was already over.

"It is too late. Even now, the smallest living creatures in the Bastion are destroying you from the inside, while my people gather together and are ready to bring forth a united front to end this battle. It is over. You have lost."

As he finished saying that, he felt the power of the Spiral radically multiply. The people saw through his eyes that the Baron was dying, and saw William best the mightiest Knightmare. Now, as has not been seen since the rallying of the Old Capital in the Cataclysm, Hope surged through the people. With that hope came a power, a might that overcame even the weapons of the Knightmares. Even the untrained that day began to use crysteel to do phenomenal things, things none had dreamed of before.

The tide of the battle was turning, and the humans were winning.

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using the artifact charge from by +3 bless art to simulate the effects of the Spiral.

the humans now have the same sort of MR4 blessing they had in the cataclysm.

[Selinia]

Teikoku, Bio-Synth Facility, Teppelin

The Empress had continued her pacing, even after her brother's unexpected arrival. She supposed she ought to compose herself, ought to stand and look regal and collected and calm. But she spent what seemed like every minute of every day doing that - for just this one night, she could allow herself to be Teikoku first, Empress a distant last.

She glanced up at the sound of a sliding door, every noise ringing like thunder in her ears. Had she had a heart, it would have skipped a beat - as it was, she unconsciously forgot to breathe for a few long moments. Kiki had a similar reaction, rising somewhat shakily to her feet. Standing in the door-frame, panting and out of breath, was the assistant of Teppelin's science chief. He gave a quick nod of respect, then blurted out the single sentence the two women had been anticipating for months now.

"Agatha and Genome sent for you... it's time."

The couple traded glances... then veritably sprinted down the hall, the goddess practically dragging her mortal partner behind her, Kiki laughing all the way. It was time.

Baron Fredrik, The Showdown, Area 06

"I..." A hacking burst of coughs emerged from the knightmare's speakers. It slowed, and then stopped. More words issued forth, each one seeming to be rasped out along a razor's edge. "Human! I said... once... that I would sooner see this city LEVELED... than allow a single... one of you worms... to walk free... I... KEEP... MY... OATHS... WORM!"

The massive mech spasmed oddly, its limbs beginning jerk as if in seizure. Then it began to glow - beams of brilliant white light issuing from its weapons, sensors... even the chinks in its armor. The street began to become uncomfortably hot in just seconds - seconds more and the armor of the mighty Ragnaros began to drip and run like hot butter.

Will's vision would show his a grim sight - the Baron's dying 'gift' to humanity. He had initiated a feedback loop in his knightmare's monstrously overpowered reactor core... a massive buildup of arcane energy was gathering. In mere moments, it would detonate, along with Fredrik's entire arsenal of plasma and chroma weaponry. It was impossible to guess just how big the blast would be... but any living thing within several blocks would be vaporized, and they were well behind human lines in the conflict. Even in death, his corpse even now crumbling to ash inside the blazing cockpit, Baron Fredrik sought to do what he did best.

Kill humans.

[planswalker]

Freedom at Last

The damned fool thought William. That blast was foolhardy. However, William did not have any more time to curse the Baron, for his death weapon was about to blow.

He needed a miracle, and he needed one fast. So, he did the only thing left to him: he pulled his miracle out from under his robes. The cup that he had received from Sozuchi in a dream. It had opened his eyes, made this whole fight possible. And now, at the very end, it would save them all.

In the few seconds left before the explosion too everyone out in the general area, William braved the incinerating heat, using all his ice powers to keep himself alive. He scooped up a cupful of the molten Crysteel, and used its magic to perform one final miracle in the city.

Throughout the city, every piece of crysteel began to glow, whether a weapon in human hands or a Knightmare's plating. The Spire and the walls themselves shone. Then, an instant later, they all disintegrated at once, having had the energy of the Baron's final blast channeled through the city itself.

Without their weapons, the tieflings found the spiral-fed power of humanity to be unstoppable. They were quickly routed and retreated. The humans allowed them to leave, to send a message to the rest of the Empire. They would be captives no longer.

William lead them away from the ruins of the city, scavenging what useful materials were left to them. The cup that William had received from Sozuchi had survived the blast, but the molten crysteel within it had frozen and fused with it, forevermore preventing it from being used to bring Divine Sight. William kept it as a token of the power of the human spirit. From the crysteel now within it, humanity was eventually able to grow their own supply of the substance.

They had won the battle for freedom that day, but the long war to win the freedom of all humans everywhere had just begun.

[TheBoyce]

Everywhere and Nowhere

Time is ever present, it barrels forward no matter what, when nothing else exists time still passes whether it be an eon or a moment. Though it is omnipresent, Time is utterly passive it is carried by its own momentum rather than producing any on it own. In this Created place Time is what it always has been, and yet there are slight disturbances within it. Entities both deific and mortal brush against it with their magics. When they do they leave behind traces of themselves the larger the disturbance the larger the breach.

Here a wizard uses a spell called Time Stop, yet this is a misnomer. Her actions while those around her remain frozen happen withing Time, just a different...faster part of time. When the magic ends the separate Time collides violently with the rest, and a bit of magic infiltrates the Timestream.

There a Plane that has a time moving at a different speed than the others, and yet its contents have effects on Planes that are in sync with the norm, drops of that which created the errant slowly ooze out.

These discrepancies accumulate, being dragged forward into and alongside new ones. They merge and pool together, creating a mass of power both divine and arcane giving unto Time itself not sentience but...awareness, a Demiurge. But this Urge is displeased, it does not belong where it is, it must remove itself from itself but such is impossible...yet it has found a solution.

Jurrig's Workshop

Jurrig had once been a fine upstanding Gnome, very logical and scientific, but lately he had been more than a little...off. He had developed a very sudden appreciation, obsession some would say, with the old clockwork technology. The floor of his workshop was now littered with gears and tools and his assistants whispered behind his back that this thing he was making made no sense and had no purpose.

It was a tall humanoid thing that three gnomes standing on each other couldn't reach the top of. It was hopelessly complex, stuffed with so many gears that it couldn't possibly hope to function, let alone move its legs. It had hands, but it also had every tool a gnome could need loaded into some strange mechanism inside its arms, many thought the thing was meant to be some sort of glorified mobile toolbox. But none o them could explain what Jurrig did to the head, t had three sets of "eyes" spaced evenly on a ring that would turn and then lock into place, there was no point to this or way to control it, this thing was pure nonsense.

Jurrig would likely agree with them if he was in a proper frame of mind, but he wasn't. Besides he was nearly finished...just a few....more....gears...

Mernos Activates

Time's urge did not grow impatient, could not grow impatient Time lasts forever yet is gone in an instant. It was never and yet was always waiting, but its vessel would be complete NOW!

Moving with a speed possible only of a Divine incarnation of Time itself, the Demiurge inserted itself into Jurrig's Clockwork creation. In taking such a form the Urge also gained a personality and true sapience as it separated itself from the monolithic thing that is Time. Yet though it was now apart from its mother the connection between the two was still unbreakable.''

The being was now in the Void, catapulted there with its Ascension. It swiveled its oculars around, contemplating for a moment on what it should be called, but the decision was made before it began to consider, it would be Mernos. The turning stopped and it looked out with a pair of glass eyes, through these it could view things that were happening clearly, there was a problem with its sudden disappearance, and issue it would need to correct. It plucked an excess gear from itself and cast it back to where its from had been built. Where once had stood the Clockwork creature now stood something different, made of iron and far more physically imposing stood an Iron Golem. The Gnomes would not be able to understand it for it was a creature of magic not science and while laws governed it they were laws the gnomes were unlikely to know.

This act of creation had other effects as well, ripples that would effect others unrelated to the Gnomes. For now a new methodology in regards to the creation of devices would enter the minds of some, a new path of creation, the path of the Artificer.

Mernos's eyering turned to it's second ocular, a single large glass lens, through which it focused on what had been and had happened, Mernos turned his mind and attention upon the past.

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Starting AP= 12
Curse: Dead End: Jurig and a number of gnomes he is involved with will waste time trying to figure out how the Iron Golem works which should be exceedingly difficult given their lack of magic -1 AP
Create Class: Artificer -1AP
Current AP= 10

[Selinia]

Teikoku, Bio-Synth Facility, Teppelin

"This... is happening." Teikoku couldn't take her eyes away. She had watched the nutrient-filled fluid drain away. Watched them gently clean the small, limp bodies. But it was now, as she stood beside her lover, each supporting the other with silent resolve, that she did not have eyes for anything else. For almost as one, their children had opened their eyes. She blinked quickly, furiously... shouldn't a goddess be able to keep herself from crying?

They were... beautiful. They looked like two sides of a coin - one small, wide eyes filled with wonder and every color of the rainbow. Wisps of pale blue hair hung around her like a tiny halo of clouds. Her sister had closed her jet black eyes nearly as soon as they opened, her tiny face twitching as if she'd inherited her mortal mother's confident smirk. But even Kiki, forever teasing and quipping, was at a loss for words. At least, for a few moments.

"May we hold them?" It was barely a whisper. Genome, projected on a nearby screen, smiled and nodded. Months of impossible calculations were worth it for just this moment. Tenderly - almost reverently - the empress consort lifted up her wide-eyed little girl. Teikoku picked up her counterpart with a gentleness she hadn't even been aware she possessed.

The two women looked in each other's eyes, still unable to speak above a hoarse murmur.

"Rayne."
"Little Nia..."
"We love you."
"Forever."
"And always."

And in her heart of hearts, the goddess, empress of spirits, elder of Creation... wished that moment would never end.

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OOC: Actions.

AP: 8 - 1 (Raise Mortal Hero - Nia)
Bonus AP: 2 - 2 (Raise Avatar - Rayne)

Final AP: 7
Final Bonus AP: 0
GP: 1/24

[planswalker]

Sozuchi - the Riverways

The Lord of the Rivers had watched as the humans at last broke free from the curse of the Empress. He was so pleased with himself for how easy it was to do it that he just couldn't resist.

He went to Teikoku to gloat. He knew it was childish and shallow, but he wanted to rub it in Ear's face that her children had rejected her most recent form of "protection" for them.

Sozuchi - Teppelin

In a massive splash of water, he appeared in the "delivery" room. "Well, Ear, I just came by to tell you that your children in Area 06 have had enough of you and your silly and rather stupid restrictions. They have chosen freedom, and it was my little sibling's who lead them to throw off your shackles. All I had to do is open his eyes, and he did the rest on his own." He pauses for a moment and realizes what he just interrupted.

"Well, it seems like you've given yourself a new pair of children to "love"." He twines his neck over until he is directly over the two little beings. "I hope your mothers treat you better than they did their first children." he says solemnly.

[Rainshine]

Vendigroth

The city had not been completely stripped, but with the northern expedition forces sent out, there were not as many people in the city as there once were. Certainly not as many of the magicians. There was one such who was on the sands, helping to keep watch over the slaves -- one didn't want to give the scum any excuse for slacking. Their overlords ruled over them mercilessly while lounging as best they could, in the less than perfect conditions. Shade of tents for them, the geomancer using his magic to bring a cool breeze his way.
It was all very well, for those slaves were well shackled, and the golems patrolled the area. Nothing bad could happen. The daggers that took the first of the guards through the throat didn't exist. Really. The shock team that sprang forth covered the next fifty lengths in a rush, and the guards barely had their weapons drawn. The geomancer, though, quite intelligently, began to cast, spreading his hands wide, calling up a shield of earth even as he began to weave out a bombardment that might well spell doom. And promptly ate a mouthful of sand, thrown at him by one of the shackled slaves. A pair of hafts came around and bludgeoned him to unconsciousness. The rest of the attackers finished off the guards with barely a scratch. They frantically pulled and twisted at the shackles, all in vain. In frustration, they turned back to the desert, starting off hurriedly, burdened by both slaves and the unconscious magician.

It was apparently, not enough. It sounded like a low thumping from behind, the ground beginning to shake in low tones. Glancing over shoulders, they saw the oncoming storm that was the low pounding of the golem. They could dive, and abandon the slaves to their fate... No. They started to turn against the monster; with a wave of his hand, one man drew them around. The general Talmanes stood grimly, outlined by light. "Go. Take them far away from here, break those things... and make her pay, for all she has done to our people. This one is mine." Their protests were muted by his glare, an Asherati who was at peace with the sand around him.
One tried anyways. "Father, General, you musn't! Who is to lead us, to hold House Vinter in council, to defend our honor?"
"The House can survive for itself, and will. We are a strong people. Now, GO!" With one hand he drew the curved blade at his hip, a shortspear in the other hand, and turned, taking low strides forward, running back at the golem. His people pulled on those unwilling, and they continued deeper into the desert.

His weapons spun up as he leapt, a single stride, into a roll on the sand. The creature reacted far faster than Talmanes thought it could, sweeping those huge fists into his body, tossing him to the side like a blown branch in the fury of the storm. His sword seemed to bounce off that great rocky body. What would become of him?



His people continued onwards, deeper and further away, until they passed out of the red arc on the maps, and finally pulled to a stop, waiting for the magician to awaken. Then, with a few drops of their poisons, they put him through the agony, until he cried in pain and suffering, releasing the bonds on the prisoners, blabbering all he knew -- from the makeup of the Council, to the very secrets of magic itself. And the Asherati listened and learned. When he fell unconscious, his body was conducted with them, head in an airsac, beneath the sands, pulled as a heavy load, to be brought to Kolmansk and questioned, all knowledge torn from him. Heut would enjoy this...


Desert Sand Sea beneath the Pinnacle of Beria

The avatar of Akhat came into being, searching the sands for just the right items. A black rock among thousands he first searched for, bent close over the ground, until he plunged a hand through sand, pulling out the piece he looked for. Around it, he shaped the sand, into a circle. Cupping his fingers beneath it, he drew it up from the ground, and the sand began to meld and form, almost as if forming a sandsculpture around the rock. Next he dove beneath, dredging the depths of the earth for the right items -- a red gem, that would gleam in sunlight. A black, that sent forth rays in darkness, and the blue that was between. These he studded along the sandy rim, one two and three. A tool he used to inscribe along the back and the rim, words of power and ritual, of promise and perfection. It was still not ready.

A leap took him to the top of the pinnacle, to the nest of the great Roc that lived there. From she, he took a single drop of blood from her foot, appearing with the swiftness of a storm in the deep desert, and vanishing as quickly. That single large drop fell onto the Amulet, with divine energy throughout it, and he smiled -- then cast it into the sea. There, it sank, falling and falling through sand.


Beneath the Sands

The creatures had been awfully stirred up. It made young Alexander glad that he was not one of those frail humans. He swam in leisurly time through the sand, barely keeping course along the way to the city. It was safe here, beneath the sands, deeper than any viper's nest... And his head began to ring. His vision faded in and out, and he hurriedly tried to make stroke for that just criticized surface. Lying in sand was all good and well, but without open air around it could get a bit... stuffy. He breached his way up, and lay there for a few moments, blinking his eyes against the light, trying to figure out what was wrong. There was no shelf in the sand he saw, no bubbles from beneath. After a time, he felt good enough to try to stand. And behind his neck, something hard. He felt with a hand, worried it might be a lump from whatever struck him. It was, instead, something that had wedged itself in the tight space between his clothes and body. Pulling it out, he glanced over it curiously. A round disc, that looked valuable, and very beautiful. He couldn't quite make out the writing...
The loud crunching of a rock made him look up suddenly, getting ready to dive. A jackal stood, looking at him curiously, head tilted to one side. There must be more around... there always were. He held up a placating hand, trying to check behind him quickly. When he turned back, the jackal was sitting. Sitting! Not attacking when there was a person around? He knew they didn't like groups, but he wasn't in a group, and he didn't see any others.
Call it fate, call it the stupidity of the young, or perhaps the bravery. Alexander checked around him again, trying to convince himself there were no more around. Then, slowly he approached the jackal, which continued to eye him curiously. Biting a lip, he stretched out a hand, muscles ready to pull it back at a moments notice. The jackal sniffed -- provoking a jerk, but did nothing more. Then a pat on the head, and finally a pet, that it leaned into comfortably. Incredible! He couldn't wait to show everyone! Call him a coward again... He tucked the shiny object in between his bottoms and skin, for examination later. This was here and now!


Blasted Isle

His body had been refined through time and study, but, deep inside, he knew it would not be enough. He had fought harder than ever before on that bloody day within the Bastion, and still he died. There had to be more. The Voice that echoed down memories halls was with him still, and it drove him onwards. But it would not be enough to simply turn his body to a weapon, he knew that now. Tales of other sorts of training groups had come, on the far outskirts of the Isle. Gnomes, it was said, some grotesque race, an offshoot of humans perhaps, too ugly and stunted for even the Tieflings to bother with, lived there. They cared nothing for their cousins. No matter how grotesque though -- and he knew, somehow, that those tales were false -- they had knowledge, and that he needed. So it was, one night he was simply gone, vaulting over the walls in the darkness, and traveling by such. Rest when light, use all the senses to travel at night. He did not know where to go, except towards knowledge. It was out there, somewhere.

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AP 7 - 1 (Raise Hero: Alexander) - 1 (Lead Populace: Desert Magic) - 2 (Create Organization: Collegium of Magic) - 3 (Create Artifact (Mortal): Medallion of the Sands) - 0 (Lead Populace: Beast Taming, free from Medallion) = 0
GP 1/24
DR 5

[TechnoScrabble]

Sozuchi - the Riverways

"Indeed I am. I was bored and you seemed like a wonderful idea to exist."



The plasma blasts ignored physical barriers, but the magic woven into the shield protected William. He landed on the "chest" of the mecha and slammed his gauntlet into it.

"Well then...I guess I'd better thank you, huh? Existing is a great deal less boring than not existing."

[planswalker]

Sozuchi - the Riverways

One of the great advantages to living at ten thousand times the usual speed is that one can have all sorts of conversations in the span of time it takes for the regular world to do stuff.

For example, this conversation that Sozuchi had with his latest child before William finished routing the tieflings and went off to gloat to his sister.

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let's do the Time Warp again!

and this right here is the reason why I set my plane so ridiculously fast.

"Indeed it is. So, tell me, do you have a name?"

[Stormwind]

Unelma: The Void

The pale lady reached out, and with her brothers help she began gathering the strands of the dying Presence of that which had birthed them. Drawing upon both her own and her brothers connection to Dream, she began her work.

The flesh of the dead body she formed into an everchanging realm. A realm of limitless possibilities, where thoughts and dreams, inspiration and nightmare, and neverending potential suffused the very fabric of the place.
The bones of the dead god she formed into a Gate of bone and ivory, and beyond the gate stood a citadel, the Citadel of dreams.
The remanants of the dying gods mind, she wove into the citadel, an impossible mirrored construction hanging in the midst of nothingness, a single ribbonlike road leading from the two doors of the citadel to the gate. The Citadel above, and the Citadel below, two halves of an impossible structure, a jewel cradled in the void at the heart of the Dreaming. The void in which the citadel hung was not the Void ... not quite, but likewise it was not easily defined either.

Standing back Unelma considered her work, and looked across to her brother.

Plane: Realm of Dreams (The Dreaming)

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Realm of Dreams (The Dreaming)
Gravity: Erratic - Gravity can change completely from one part of the dreaming to another, with the exception of the Roads. Roads are paths through the dreaming placed specifically by either Unelma or Saguro. Along these roads gravity is subjective directional gravity. Mortals typically expect gravity to be down, so on these Roads, it is. One can however, focus and thus change the direction and strength of gravity in order to 'fall' at great speeds along the road.
Time: Timeless - Time means nothing in the dreaming.
Size: Infinite - as dream and nightmare are limited only by the imagination, so too are the expanses of the realm of dreams endless.
Morphic: Divinely morphic - subject equally to the wills of Unelma and Saguro (and will be defended by both of them against any intrusion)
Interaction: Coexistent - coexistent with other planes (any place that has creatures that dream)
Magic: Erratic - Magic can, and does change, from place to place within the Dreaming. In some places it might be impeded, in others it might be wild or enhanced. There are even sections of the dreaming that are dead magic zones.

Unelma: The Dreaming

Gesturing to her brother to walk with her, she stepped from the Void to the heart of the Dreaming and approached the citadel. "We still have much to do before this place is ready, not the least of which will be binding dreams to this place"

Walking into the citadel above as she left her brother to examine the citadel below, she assessed her creation with a critical eye ... it would do.

Collecting her strength once again she began to gather in dreams, but carefully chosen, dreams of inspiration, dreams of creation, dreams of mortals, all that was not dark and of her brothers domain. How she knew of that which was his domain, she did no know, she simply knew it to be so.
Had time meaning in the Dreaming, then eons would have passed as she gathered that which she needed, yet outside of the Dreaming bare moments passed. Finally she wove her will amongst the threads she has gathered and formed them into a Pouch of dreams. The sand within the pouch was infinite, endless, and the very stuff of dreams. It would be a boon to her in her work, this she knew.
Taking a handle of sand from the pouch she threw it into the air ... which rippled ... the ripples spreading to engulf the entire Citadel above. As the ripples faded, the blessing took hold, a warding through which nothing dark could pass, ... except her brother, for like herself, he would not be bound by dreams.

Finally, she looked out onto the mortal world. A fascinating place, and so full of dreamers. She could feel an old dream hanging over them, a heavy thing, a dark thing with much of her brothers touch, yet with a measure of her own also. She would need to consider this. Meanwhile she would need some way to walk amongst the mortals, she could sense the 'thinness' of the place, it would not support her. But perhaps it would support a small measure of her .... a very small measure. She concentrated and of the second joint of her little finger on her right hand, she created a simulcrum of herself, one into which she could pour her will and act in the mortal world, .... an avatar. She named it Unet and prepared to place it within the world. But where ... there was one placed that reverberated with fresh creation. Life that had only recently been created. She would place it there.


Unet: Hundreds of Miles South East of the Gnomish Citadel

It was a place of growth, of creation, something new.
Dark stonelike shapes flew high above. The wouldn't see her of course, she was cloaked in dreams, unseen to mortal eyes. She rose into the air and moved in for a closer look ... tasted the dreams of these stony creatures.

There was much to do, much to learn, and it would take her time to learn that which she needed to know. Here she would begin ... and so she watched, and learnt.

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AP 9: 12-3 (Create plane - Realm of Dreams)
AP 2: 9-7 (Create artifact - Pouch of dreams: +3 Boon artifact)
AP 2: 2-0 (MR4 Bless - Warding the Citadel above: Free from Pouch of dreams)
AP 0: 2-2 (Create avatar)

GP 12/12 -> Gain divine rank (DR2)

[Divine intervention: 1 BAP/week for unaugmented bless/curse (Avatar)]
[Mythic: Free Raise Hero/Exarch 1/week]
[Pouch of dreams: Free MR4 Bless 1/week]

[Steilos]

Avatar of Bacsphaal, the Old World

The dwarf disappeared back into the shadows.

Area 06, the Blasted Isle

The Lord of Want assumed his position atop the spire,watching the humans rebel against the Tieflings. Blasted sentimental FOOL! Why did Teikoku do nothing about the resurgence of the Spiral? This power to stand up against even the divine had to be quashed. For all he cared, fine, let Humanity conquer the world, but when a mortal, a PUNY MORTAL, dared to stand up to a God... he was filled with unholy rage at the thought.

It was entirely possible that someone might see him squatted at the very top of the Spire, a baleful dot upon a wrecked tower, but at this point he didn't really care.

The Drought

The Grotesques living within the Drought had perfected fleshcrafting to the point where they could sew together almost anything. This, quite naturally amongst the utterly morally bankrupt, led to one of the Grotesques getting the idea to sew together imprisoned souls into an unholy Abomination. Yet another grotesque got it in its head to mash together the minds and brains of several souls into one big screaming tortured intelligence, called a Philosopher. This wretched being was put to work as a scientist, analysing various metals for forging purposes, and speaking of forging purposes, trying to figure out what a forge was.

The lord of the Grotesques was pleased at the progress his soldiers had made, and similarly pleased by the influx of new souls to torture. Peritus stood before the latest creations, only for a third to lumber out of the shadows. It was a walking living siege weapon, crafted out of hundreds of the screaming dead. As it stumbled forward on two malformed legs, the cannon crafted out of countless ribcages let out a sonic blast strong enough to shatter stone. This concentrated blast of raw suffering would have a massive psychological impact upton its victims, or at least those who survived the initial blast. Showing a finely developed sense of irony, its inventors had called it the Orator. General Peritus paused, wondering if he should tell Bacsphaal about this, before deciding to wait until the Lord of Want got back.

Throughout Creation, dark rumours begin to spread concering heinous crimes against Nature, aberrant experiments and acts that filled even the most stoic with horror. People began to whisper that there was an art out there that was truly forbidden, and that even the most depraved artist would baulk at this. The rumours varied immensely, but they all seemed to indicate that the source of the world's greed was also the source of this terrible deed.

Gremlins in the Citadel: Unable to think of imaginative title!

The Gremlossus reacted poorly to getting shot at by the navy, and reaches over to a nearby house, grabbing it with both paws then straining to pick it up. With a scream of tortured metal and concrete, the entire residence lifts into the air. Growling furiously, he shakes the house until everything shiny tumbles out and then flings the house straight at the offending ship. Lumbering towards the retreating Gnomes, he heads straight for the lab, at least until the ship shoots him again. He makes to turn around but a cannon shot smashes into his leg, causing the giant to tumble over...

...Right onto the bank. At first, it seems the beast is dead, but as Dalni watches, it slowly begins to get up...

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Rollover: +7ap, 3 temporary AP lost
Total AP: 14/21
Create Hero(General Peritus): Free from Mythic
Create Life(Abomination) 1 AP
Create Life(Philosopher):1 AP
Create Life(Orator): 1 AP
Create Society(Grotesque Army): 2AP
Lead Populace(Basic Metalworking): 1 AP
Claim Domain(Fleshcrafting): 3 AP
Lead Populace(teach the Grotesques Fleshcrafting)
Create Life(Lost Ones)
Create Life(Abomination)
Create Life(Philosopher)
Create Life(Orator)
Remaining AP: 5/21
GP:9/21

[planswalker]

Avatar of Bacsphaal, the Old World

The dwarf disappeared back into the shadows.

Area 06, the Blasted Isle

The Lord of Want assumed his position atop the spire,watching the humans rebel against the Tieflings. Blasted sentimental FOOL! Why did Teikoku do nothing about the resurgence of the Spiral? This power to stand up against even the divine had to be quashed. For all he cared, fine, let Humanity conquer the world, but when a mortal, a PUNY MORTAL, dared to stand up to a God... he was filled with unholy rage at the thought.

It was entirely possible that someone might see him squatted at the very top of the Spire, a baleful dot upon a wrecked tower, but at this point he didn't really care.

Area 06

Not too soon after the avatar of Bascaphal squatted upon a tower, the whole thing shone for an instant, and the disappeared into nothing as it absorbed the explosion from the Baron's mecha. In the chaotic aftermath, no one noticed him.

No one except a little girl. "Why are you here?" she asked.

[Steilos]

Avatar of Bacsphaal, Area 06

With a thud, Bacsphaal landed on both feet and looked around him at the chaos. That is, until he was interrupted by a little girl.

"Why I am here is none of your business, child." he begins, turning to face her with a scowl in his face. "Now, why don't you go home before-"

There is a flash of purple light as the child is transported to the Drought to serve as fleshcrafting materials.

"'-I do that. Oh, too late, nevermind..." The Lord of Want walks away with a grin on his face, strolling through the devastation with a spring in his step and wondering who was stupid enough to approach him next.

[Draken]

Spoiler

Show

Rollover: 8/24
Impulsive: 1
Boon: 1
Bane: 2
Growths: 8/24

Hal'Xaazar

Glided through the air until he loomed over his newest nephews.

"Precious. So similar... So very different."

Something churned in the back of Hal'Xaazar's mantle, but this distraction was untimely, so he dismissively cast it through the void of himself, that it appear in the void outside.

This one wouldn't have a short speech.

Poor Zerkose, already such a bad start, but still there was knowledge of who he was anathema to... The closest god to Hal'Xaazar at the time who wasn't a mirror or an Elder.

----

[Smokin Red]

The Realm of Dreams-Saguro

Finally, they had a place again to make a home and it almost felt like before.
Saguro did not have any intention to leave any time soon.
On the contrary, he meant to make this place a lot more secure for him and his sister.

"We still have much to do before this place is ready, not the least of which will be binding dreams to this place"

He answered: “I agree and will tend to it.“
Again he reached out for those dreams, only to be stumped.
What was that, it seemed that it was getting harder to reach to them, but those dreams, calling from the material minds where oh so sweet.

“Sister, I fear, that something here is amiss, this seems to be more difficult than I thought.“

And Saguro could not resist the temptation, nor the need, and part of him went on collecting dreams.
While he himself stayed at his new home and wondered, what had happened.

After a long time / Only moments later, who could say this in a dream, this new creature, who was once a part of him, returned to Saguro, which spoke “As you are me and are not me, I will call you Maguro, and you shall be my link to the outside world, go forth and collect dreams.
And Maguro went on, doing what was asked of him.

Saguro took to the citadel below and settled down, thinking about what to do next. As he realized what his sister had done to her part of the fortress, he acted likewise, only that he, how it was in his nature, hindered everything light from his part of the citadel, except Unelma.

Looking at the dreams brought to him, he knew instinctively, he had to store them somewhere.

And he changed, again, he became a cupboard, filling with crockery, and a jar sprung forth, spinning, marked with everchanging signs. Humanoid once more Saguro grabbed it and poured the dreams into it and sealed it with a liquid from his finger, in lack of a better word, calling it his blood.
Some parts of the dreams spilled and mixed with drops of his blood, and they grew to become creatures of horror.

Saguro watched them with absent-minded interest, and spoke: “You shall be the guardians of this realm, everyone who enters shall in you encounter his worst fears.
You are Albae!
Go and patrol the realm, but beware, never ever shall you harm my sister or you will suffer my eternal wraith! As this is her home as much as it is mine.“
Then he took the most strange Alb, and said to him: “You shall be my majordomus and personal guard, tend to my castle and prevent outsiders from disturbing me.
As an honor you shall name yourself...“
And the Alb answered: “I will do as you ordered mylord, and I feel that I have already a name, I'm 'The Bogeyman'.“
Well, so be it then. Leave me now, for I have to rest.

And Saguro retired to his house and dreamt on.

Spoiler

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5 AP + 4 AP Rollover (I'm not sure, if not I'm at 0 AP at the end of this) = 9 AP

AP 7: 9-2 (create avatar: Maguro)
AP 7: 7-0 (MR4 Bane - Warding the Citadel below: Free from Robe of Nightmares)
AP 4: 7-3 (create artifact: Jar of Albae, Mortal artifact)
Level Up - DR:2

AP 3: 4-1 (create "life": Albae)
AP 3: 3-0 (create hero: 'The Bogeyman' - free from mythic)

AP: 3/15
GP: 1/15

Please tell me if I'm wrong somewhere.

[Selinia]

Teikoku, Bio-Synth Facility, Teppelin

"Sozuchi." The new mother breathed deeply for a moment, averting her gaze from the river serpent. "Once before, through your blind rage - rage you were too lazy or arrogant to bother controlling - you pushed my people to the very brink of annihilation. Pushed them until they snapped, and became a threat to all Creation. And I accepted the blame, for I was a fool for allowing things to reach that far."

The goddess closed her eyes for a moment before gazing back at the smiling, dark-eyed girl she held in her arms. "And... and now. In the happiest moment of my entire existence in this world... you come, bearing petty threats and insults. Go, river-dragon... I have nothing more to say to you." Very deliberately, Teikoku turned her back on her draconic brother.

She looked her partner in the eyes, goddess at a loss for words to gift a mortal. "I... Kiki, I'm so sorry I..." Her voice trembled.

"You have to... I get it. Just... we have tonight. You promised."
"Yes. I did. Do me one thing. Beloved, never let me forget this minute, this second."

The mortal girl smiled, her distinctive confident grin. "Do you think you're likely to? I think we've kept this to ourselves long enough now..." She looked to the nearby screen, on which was projected the solemn face of the bio-computer. "Genome? Would you bring up the Lord-Marshal?"

As his visage appeared, the commander of the tiefling military bore a grim expression. He began to speak, but Teikoku cut him off. "I am aware, Idra. Make whatever preparations you must. But give me this one, single night to be free of tragedy."

Idra closed his mouth, then nodded and smiled slightly - it was not an expression to which he was accustomed. The commander of an army of wardens rarely had reason to be happy. Still more, he flung out his hand theatrically, giving a booming proclamation. "Milady, I would not dream of disturbing you. Merely to give my gift to the child who will one day lead my people. On behalf of all my kin, allow me to present the honorable First Princess Rayne with the greatest work of craft ever produced... behold!"

The screen cut to a video feed of a darkened docking ward... which was suddenly flooded with light, revealing the incredible, impossible construct it housed. "The Super-Planetary Fortress Ultima! One day, she will stand proud on the bridge of this mighty vessel, ready to lead us to victory! I..." He paused, looking slightly embarrassed. "I apologize for not having her sister vessel ready to present to Princess Nia. The authorizations were lost in the paper-works somewhere... it is my deepest shame."

Kiki laughed happily at the man's boisterous presentation. "A military man through-and-through. Idra, only you would present a battleship as a gift to an infant. But thank you, it is a wonderful gift..."

"...just don't expect us to let our daughters so much as set foot on it until they're of age."

The procession continued. One by one, various notables of the city - and even the Bastion Lords - presented their gifts to the children. A new hospital in their name. A custom knightmare on the cutting-edge of the cutting-edge. One duke, frazzled from the unrest in his Bastion 08, absently presented baby clothes, and a stuttering apology, setting both new parents into a fit of honest laughter and earning the nonplussed noble a commendation. The mood in the streets of Teppelin was bittersweet - the great joy of the moment tempered by mourning of the soldiers and heroes who had died in the brutal human uprising.

Beginnings and ends. A day of both. Hundreds of stories ended that day... thousands. The tale of the Baron, fighting to the last breath to fulfill an oath. The tales of all those on both sides of the Battle of Area 06 that died for their beliefs. Other stories merely entered a new chapter. The story of a young ronin, no longer a mere revolutionary, but a leader. The story of a bitter, honorable man being rushed by air transport to the hospitals of the Capital. And two new, shining stories began, the ink not even dry on their first page of life. None could yet say where those stories would find themselves.

And then there was the story of a woman. Come morning, she would need to be Empress once more - but for a few precious hours, she was just Teikoku.

Spoiler

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OOC: Action!~

AP: 7 - 7 (Create +3 Bane Artifact - Super-Planetary Fortress Ultima)

Final AP: 0
GP: 8/24

[planswalker]

Sozuchi - Teppelin

"Very well Ear Tyrant, I have little to say to you as well. However, I do accept that I have let my rage reign unchecked once before, and for that I am still paying. However, I bear no malice to your children. If you deign to give my gifts to them, fine. If not, it is their loss."

He pulls forth a pair of pale blue scales, from his belly, and gives them to Teikoku. "With these, my nieces may freely enter my domain the waters and traverse them at will. I do hope that our mistrust does not have to be carried to future generations. And no, there are no strings attached to these gifts. You have my vow as a god on that."

With that, Sozuchi departs, his purpose done.

[TechnoScrabble]

Shanfyer-the Riverways
"Thanks, then," the fledgling god ponders this name thing for a moment.
"I rather like the name of Shanfyer. WHat do you think?"

[Steilos]

Avatar of Bacsphaal, Area 06

Bacsphaal's slight burst of malicious euphoria was gone, to be replaced once again by a grim and dark resolve. He needed to find the leader of this little revolution and have a small chat... Speaking of small chat, he quietly sent a mental pulse to the Drought. In response to his command a small squad of around 100 Grotesques mobilised, ready for the signal which would bring a little slice of Hell crashing down on Humanity's head. Still, Bacsphaal wondered what Teikoku was going to do about this, and so held back for now.

Wherever William was, he would feel a presence behind him. If he turned he would see an elderly half-starved man holding a long stick. The Kappa and the virions might know who he is, but if William's the sharp sort he can make a pretty good guess too.


The Black Rider, Roof of Teppelin

The grim horseman stood on top of the massive construction for a long bemused minute. Finally, he begins to ride down the side of Teppelin, wondering how to get in, and perhaps more importantly when someone was going to notice him.

[Gunther]

Changeling village in the Blessed Isle
Captain Glimto, of the Dalni's Pride, was actually a relatively competent diplomat. Having gone down with one of several shore leave parties, their ship running on only a skeleton crew to keep it safely navigating the currents above, he and the other Gnomes had dealt with the massive beasts of burden below in usual Gnomish fashion.

By disregarding all standards of safety, and getting as up-close-and-investigative as possible. As it was still a diplomatic ship even under all those fortifications and mighty cannons, the Gnomes had taken rather well to the village. Taking down a handful of supplies to set up for recreational activities (Which included one of them using the "regal" nature of the organic buildings to make bowling alleys in the alleyways and smaller roads), they had been rather welcoming of the odd species. One of the major reasons for this fact, besides that most of them were sick and tired of seeing the same things and being unable to actually physically investigate, was that they weren't Vampires. Gnomes are, by nature, curious and easily excited- when put in an unknown environment, they will do their best to find out what's going on.

And that meant a general air of hospitality, mixed with plenty of scientific learning. After a few shore parties arrived, the champagne had been broken out (In a few of the cases that came with bumpier landing gliders, quite literally). Drinks and food had been offered to the locals, the fine Gnomish culinary art of using fire with preserved foods actually making for some rather nice baked potatoes, seasoned racks of ribs (slathered in the prerequisite sauce of a secretive nature) from the ship's ice boxes, and several other fine pieces of delicatessen.

And as the Gnomes made ready to feast, every Changeling in the village invited- but not forced- to attend, they would collect information. They would try and take samples of the organic architecture, not to mention everything from fecal to blood samples of any living thing. Any local crops would be inspected as well, the Gnomes trying their damnedest to both celebrate (relatively) dry land and make a complete series of samples for these species.

Gnomes and Wyvern riders in Aura
Admiral Berento, for his part, would urge the Wyvern riders to fly further into Aura.

"We need to take out our landing ship! Your nice, uhh, matter displacement ability could really change things up, but if the Vampires get access to the technology on that ship? We're toast! Not to mention if their allies decide to get a bit of a tech boost on their own. You think you could manage a low strafing run on it? You just need to take out the wings and set fire to the hull! You guys can make fire...right?"

Secrets and Myths
Turkin smiled a bit at the two questions posed by the Oni, "Actually, uhh, I think we solved the things-falling-down and the source of light. See, things fall down because everything has weight. While this theory has probably been built on, it seems sufficient that- because things have weight- they all stay down. Air and certain gasses don't have weight, so that's why we don't shove our heads close to the ground to breathe! Or rather, relatively close to the ground. Not too sure how far up that air is good for."

The RageFae question brought a purse to the Gnome Archmage's lips, the tiny thing lost in thought.

"I, uhh, kind of remember something about that crazy Set'Chept trying to sic the Faeri on us. I just assumed that he was talking about bringing the Faeri over from wherever they actually exist at the moment- which involves some musings for another time. I take it they're something else?"

Gargoyles and the Gnomes: This Ain't Notre Dame
It was actually the honor of Captain Hedto to make First Contact with the Gargoyles. With the Citadel having been alive with activity in the last few hours, it was only natural that the handful of ships patrolling the skies around the Citadel would be on alert. Their large wings had been catching jet stream currents from the Mist Sea for some time now, keeping aloft far longer than their usual operating times. With so much chaos going on, it was only natural that the sight of some incoming air targets prompted a rather...rash response.

Primarily, it consisted of the Loricon-class warship's bells going off. A resounding clang-a-lang signaled the Gnomes onboard that something was coming their way, the bell- mounted on the crow's nest along the top of the central mast- followed by the sound of the ship's spotter sailing down the regulation zipline.

His "Whee!" was entirely non-regulation, however. Captain Hedto, currently watching the ground around the Citadel with the aid of a hooded electric lantern, had his attention momentarily taken by the form of the tumbling Gnomish spotter.

"Captain! Captain! Starboard! We've got a whole slew of...things coming our way!"
"Vampires? Are they finally back?!" The captain replied, obviously a twinge too excited at the prospect of garnering the glory of slaying a whole slew of the only natural predator of the Gnomes.
"Ain't nothin' I've ever seen before!" The crewman replied, "Big buggers, way bigger than the woodcuts I've seen!"

That was when the distant sound of cannon fire made the whole crew jump, the men below decks abruptly working to get their cannons not only operational, but jutting out through their respective firing holes. Triple-barrel bombards, mounted on rotating gear assemblies, came sliding forward on greased tracks. Kegs of blackpowder were brought up from below, Gnomish musketeers taking up positions along the railing.

Captain Hedto, for his part, didn't give the order to open fire and "Have fun with it". Rather, he very calmly grabbed the ship-to-ship broadcasting horn, placed his lips on the ivory end, and talked.

"If you are Vampires, prepare to be shot down and viciously maimed! If not, welcome to the Citadel! We're having a bit of a ruckus right now, so please identify!"

Mernos Activates: Kali Responds
Kali, having been able to rest in peace for upwards of a hundred years, did not like being pried from his current work on textures for the Higgins-Boston Particle. It was only a couple centuries away before the Gnomes would likely be trying to peer at the basic particles of matter, and while he had done great work in that department, Higgins-Boston was his current up-and-coming design.

A touch of green, and...

"Bingley-bingley-beep!" Went the spirit of a Gnome, the real inventor of blackpowder. He had died with his invention, sadly, and its credit had been left to a much more cautious soul. Which was destined for the Rot, it seemed.

"Another god has claimed dominion of the souls of your Gnomes, not that I fall under that category, and a god seems to have ascended to the ranks of the divine due to an unexpected conjunction of bleeding planar energies and an appropriate-frequency magical bleed off from an invention in the Citadel! I think. Maybe. Really, it's just a theory, don't take my-"

Kali, setting down the now far-too-green particle, simply stared at the assistant. After all, even a God isn't omniscient. "Oh, and someone seems to have dropped a burst of negatively-attuned divine energy in the breach about point-zero-two seconds after the ascension took place. It's kind of nasty, really, seeing a bunch of Gnomes staring at a construct. Glad I'm not in their shoes!"

The God of Knowledge and Planning would have words with both this F-N-G (As the Citadel Legion put it), and then the genius that had decided to lay claim to the souls of his rather complex production processes.

But first he had some Gnomes to save.

Spoiler

Show

Rollover, 11+7 AP!
Blessing, MR1: Cure "Dead End" effect. 1 AP. 17 Remaining
4/21

Gremlins in the Citadel: How About "Rook Out, It's Gremrinzirra!"?
The bank guards were dead. That much was certain, from the crater the Gremlinlossus had left. As the ship sailed out and began to turn around for a second strike, Dalni- standing on a piece of cross-section that was all that remained of the crane- couldn't help but let out a whimper. A whimper he would never admit to as commander of the Citadel Legion, mind, but it was still there.

With the prototype infantry either retreating or hurrying to remove their extremely temperamental armor, it had been left to the more interesting constituents of Gnomish culture to take on the creature as it began to rise again.

"Heave!" Shouted one of the few remaining dock workers still able to fight for their workplace, which had taken the role of spearheading the infantry reinforcements. With the thousand-odd Gremlins surrounding the giant, Dalni's own men had been heavily engaged. Phalanxes were fighting through what seemed to be molasses, spear and gladius and shield all working in unison. But for every Gremlin they slew, they were at least three more to take their place.

It wasn't so much for the Gnomes, even though reinforcements- and casualties- continued to trickle back and forth. Only so many Gnomes in the area, with at least five times their number in Gremlins. Very nasty Gremlins at that.

Another rattle of gunfire, Musketeers choosing the largest clusters of Gremlins to maximize the chance of killing something. Behind them, a group of dock workers- equipped with everything from belaying pins to more than a few "Dockworker Specials" (Wooden planks with nails rammed through)- were rushing towards one of the few remaining cranes. Situated near the now-destroyed bank, it had been intended for ferrying personnel on its large, heavy iron cage.

Now? It would, hopefully, be the source of one of the most spectacular sights to ever grace mortal combat.

A giant, 150ft Gremlin against an industrial crane with an iron wrecking ball at the end.

Spoiler

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MR5 Blessing: Gnomish souls are not instantly sent to the Rot. Instead, they are redirected to Kali, because sod the Rot. 8 AP.

Rollover!
Leader of Men (Advanced military formations)
Lead Populace (Early assembly lines) 1 AP.

8 AP left.

[Selinia]

Enki, New Mercy Hospital, Teppelin

"Ugh... where..." The battered man shifted slightly, letting out a dull groan. There wasn't really any part of him didn't hurt. Bracing himself, he cracked open his eyes, wincing again at the light. Cool, amber light. He let a breath out, muttering again in genuine confusion. "...where am I? This isn't..."

"You are safe, brother. This is the Capital - you have been unconscious for days. You got hit with some sort of stunning spell, I think." The soft voice drew his eyes, which then widened despite the bright lights of the place.

"Lily? Well, you standing over me after a surgery is certainly something that will take some getting used to. Heh... ahg, that hurts... how many organs did I lose?" He gave a dry chuckle, despite the pain. Then he grimaced again, remembering what had happened. "I take it we withdrew from the Bastion after the purging then? Else I would be in the Spire's facilities. I suppose there is no point in guarding a graveyard... blast it all, I was such a fool!"

"Brother! Please, be careful! You were terribly hurt! And... wait, empress no... you don't remember?" The blind girl's voice trembled slightly, obviously regretting saying anything.

"Remember... what? I was defeated. Downed by a lowly human practically before the battle had even begun. To my shame, I know nothing. What do I not remember sister?"

"Enki, we... we lost. We lost Area 06."

To her surprise, the knight did not shout or deny or rage. He merely gritted his too-sharp teeth and spat out a single word.

"William."

The Black Rider, Teppelin, The Blasted Isle

Teppelin was many things. Over the years it had grown into a city, a nation even - it was a military base, and industrial center. But first and foremost, Teppelin was a fortress. No mere mortal could hope to break its walls. Even the mightiest of armies of any plane would find the place to be nigh-impregnable. If you were not allowed in, few actions would gain you access.

A god could bypass such barriers with a small effort. But the God of Want - petty, spiteful, and mean-spirited - was hardly welcome. Nor were his servants - something that would grow more apparent the longer the Black Rider sought an entrance. If Bacsphaal truly desired so greatly to speak with Teikoku, he would do so directly - not through his lackeys.

[apocalypsePast2]

Spoiler

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Rollover!
11AP
4/24GP
DL 5

Aria sat on her throne, exhausted. The invasion plans were grinding to a halt. The damned glacier was blocking their main avenue of attack and they were loath to fight their way across one empire simply for the sole purpose of fighting another. Evanzar and the generals were seated around a holographic map-table showing the "known" world, discussing the new developments and their impact on the war plans. The moth riders and a team of Foolamacer assassin's had been keeping a close, albeit unseen, eye on the Humans and tiefling's. Evanzar had several arrows highlighting potential attack routes and human prison cities that the recon teams had identified.

It seemed that one of the human cities had overthrown their guards and was trying to liberate the others. This turn of events allowed a great opportunity to play the two sides off each other. It also allowed for a more favorable rule, if the Forsaken appeared to be saviors. But the problem of the tielfings' airships was still present and pressing. And although the armies were training in the wasteland, trying to adapt to the environment they'd be fighting in, there simply wasn't enough of the area to train in.

Aria had an idea.

A perfect idea. A radical idea.
She turned and called out to the throne room, " Vampire! Speak with me." The female, who's name she could never remember, emerged from the shadowy corner in which she resided.

" Yes, High Monarch?" the vampire hissed silkily.

Aria had heard that the vampires were mobilizing. Trying to build an empire, much like the Forsaken themselves. The Blasted Isle provided quite a good food population. The Barren Plains would be a great training and staging ground for their armies, and it was out of the way of the Quarland-damned glacier...
And they could fly...

Aria grinned. She had their solution. "Could you convey a message to General Dracula for me please?"

[DragonOfUndeath]

"Anything I hear the whole Vampire nation hears. Speak as if Dracula was here now. Not many of us can fly. We can leap long distances but it is not flying."

[Grytorm]

Iurious The Storehouse

As Iurious waited for a response, he realized that he had forgotten something big. Two very important births were today, and he was somewhere else. That was quite disrespectful, he had even chosen the gifts. With luck nobody had seen him so he could just substitute his Shadow, and if not. Oh well. Within seconds of deciding another form appears, called from a realm of darkness he looked much like Iurious except drawn in a darker pallet. As Iurious ported out the Shadow carefully took his place.

Iurious Teppelin

He returned to the lab in seconds, stopping only in a small pocket out of time to refresh. The state the dragons were in was distressing, Pdripio and Odium were facing each other, clearly their intentions were not playful. And on the ground beside them lay Pannus, who was badly injured.

"Who did this!" Iurious shouted, the two dragons stopped circling each other and looked at their creator. But Iurious did not need to here them speak, he knew it was Odium who had done the crime. "Genome, find a suitable punishment for Odium. Do not kill him. I want discipline." Turning towards Pannus he knelt beside her, one touch and her wounds were healed. His gifts now ready, Iurious picked up Pannus and called Otium to his hand. Lazily he strolled down the hall, a dragon on each shoulder.

"I bear gifts for these joyous miracles. I wish you all well." Iurious walked in, a large smile on his face. "These two dragons will be lifelong companions and guardians to your fair daughters, they are named Otium and Pannus." as he walked towards the children he gazed at the gifts silently except for a single comment of, "Practicle." For the baby clothes. Eventually he places the dragons near the new parents where they would wait for permission to approach. For a short time Iurious is silent as he looks at the two children, eventually in a whisper he addresses Teikoku, "I would like to discuss buisness later. Relating to the management of the Bastions, and the dragons I have created." after this he turns to the crowd and says much louder, "I wish these girls well, they remind me of my own children though they are long dead."

Spoiler

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AP 5=7=12
GP 11/21

[planswalker]

Shanfyer-the Riverways
"Thanks, then," the fledgling god ponders this name thing for a moment.
"I rather like the name of Shanfyer. WHat do you think?"

"Sounds like a great name. Tell me, Furry, What do you want to do next?"

Avatar of Bacsphaal, Area 06

Bacsphaal's slight burst of malicious euphoria was gone, to be replaced once again by a grim and dark resolve. He needed to find the leader of this little revolution and have a small chat... Speaking of small chat, he quietly sent a mental pulse to the Drought. In response to his command a small squad of around 100 Grotesques mobilised, ready for the signal which would bring a little slice of Hell crashing down on Humanity's head. Still, Bacsphaal wondered what Teikoku was going to do about this, and so held back for now.

Wherever William was, he would feel a presence behind him. If he turned he would see an elderly half-starved man holding a long stick. The Kappa and the virions might know who he is, but if William's the sharp sort he can make a pretty good guess too.

Area 06

William felt an odd presence behind him, and turned around. The creature before him may look like an old man, but his Divine Sight revealed that he was so much more than that. "Speak, creature, and be out with it. What do you seek?"

Secrets and Myths
Turkin smiled a bit at the two questions posed by the Oni, "Actually, uhh, I think we solved the things-falling-down and the source of light. See, things fall down because everything has weight. While this theory has probably been built on, it seems sufficient that- because things have weight- they all stay down. Air and certain gasses don't have weight, so that's why we don't shove our heads close to the ground to breathe! Or rather, relatively close to the ground. Not too sure how far up that air is good for."

The RageFae question brought a purse to the Gnome Archmage's lips, the tiny thing lost in thought.

"I, uhh, kind of remember something about that crazy Set'Chept trying to sic the Faeri on us. I just assumed that he was talking about bringing the Faeri over from wherever they actually exist at the moment- which involves some musings for another time. I take it they're something else?"

Secrets and Myths

The spirit smiled. "However neatly your explanations fit the facts, that only begets the question of why some things have weight and not others. ALso why weight means you must fall down. If that is so, why can birds and mages fly? My point still stands, there are mysteries one does not yet know. That doesn't mean they're not worth searching for."

He pauses, then continues with the RageFae "Indeed, they are something else, yet at the same time the not. The RageFae were at one point Faeri like any other. However, they were consumed with rage over the death of the Chept in the cataclysm."

[apocalypsePast2]

Or close enough anyway...

" It's come to our attention that you've recently begun expanding. It's also come to our attention that the humans of the Blasted Isle are in revolt against their tielfling overlords. This provides a... unique opportunity. " Aria shifted slightly. " I understand your... culinary needs, aren't being sufficiently met. It just so happens that the Isle contains two different types of... food... that are fighting each other. Meanwhile, we need more slaves, and we'd like to... uplift the humans for their own good*. I see a win-win situation for both of us. We can provide an army, you provide a training ground, the Barren Plains, which is a convenient stopping point on the way to the Isle."

Aria grinned wider. " I think that's a match made in the Hidden Jungle."

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* By the way, in case you were wondering, the Forsaken see their conquest of the humans as a humanitarian(Forsakenitarian) act. In their minds, they are the supreme race, the best and the chosen. While some are simply in it for conquering others, many believe that conquering humans and/or tieflings is actually the right thing to do, because beside being Forsaken, the best thing that can happen is being ruled by the Forsaken. I'm just stating this to make them more three-dimensional. Some really believe what their doing is right.

[DragonOfUndeath]

"General Dracula accepts your proposal. Lord Thought would also like to put in that the Mist Sea between the Barren Plains and Blasted Isle is going to be converted to land by Immortas for use as a kingdom of the Skeletons and Zombies he just created."

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1AP Create land would work for that I think. Humans can see the Barren plains if standing on the shore so it can;t be that far.

[Selinia]

Teikoku, Bio-Synth Facility, Teppelin

"Many thanks for your gift, Oathkeeper... I see you have been busy with your own projects. What a fascinating little creature..." The goddess smiled for a moment, but returned to seriousness at Iurious' second comment. "I assure you, recent events have led me to... reevaluate the state of the Bastions. This proposal of yours sounds intriguing, but I must request that you wait. I will have much to do tomorrow, but I do not wish such grim business to cloud the air tonight."

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Medusa's Forest, Old World

As the Moth Riders departed, the Medusa began to take in all that had happened. Forced out of their place of birth, and then chased out of Sa'Mondo, they had to find their place here, in their forest, in the Old World. Norea believed that the first step to establishing themselves, would be to do as Eden surely wished, and tame the great beasts she had delivered to challenge the Medusa, but also to protect them. With the aid of the potent, and powerful Cockatrice, Basilisk, and Gorgon, they would be all the more prepared to face what would come.