Heroes of the Fall

[Gengy]

Patzi, Loni, Samm

"Lord Ouran. An honor. Sihlk talks about you constantly." One of the more feminine Jongoscion bows as she steps forward.

"It's hard to make her shut up about you, honestly," the other female one mutters from the rear.

"Uncle Butterfly is likely on the Green Morningstar, Lord Ouran." The tall one, more male, motions to the ship up above. "It would be our pleasure to escort you. I am Samm. The prickly one is Loni, and the one who remembers her manners is Patzi."

The three of them shifted into small bluebirds, and began to fly around Ouran's head, leading him towards Haramhold.

[HalfTangible]

Patzi, Loni, Samm

"Lord Ouran. An honor. Sihlk talks about you constantly." One of the more feminine Jongoscion bows as she steps forward.

"It's hard to make her shut up about you, honestly," the other female one mutters from the rear.

"Uncle Butterfly is likely on the Green Morningstar, Lord Ouran." The tall one, more male, motions to the ship up above. "It would be our pleasure to escort you. I am Samm. The prickly one is Loni, and the one who remembers her manners is Patzi."

The three of them shifted into small bluebirds, and began to fly around Ouran's head, leading him towards Haramhold.

Patzi, Loni, Samm

You're tellin' me. Ouran rolled his eyes. You should hear how she talks about the Sea of Jongo.

Well, while we're flying... Ouran said calmly, once again sprouting wings. I've heard that word before, as a name. What's a Lord?

---

Haramhold the Butterfly

A winged raccoon with three bluebirds around it's head may not have been the weirdest thing Haramhold would see, but it certainly was unusual. Hello. The raccoon said, saluting. I am Ouran, and I'm your glorified messenger boy today. There's an elder elemental that Jongo wants you to let through the barrier so he can try and talk his way out of this war. And this is Patzi, Loni, and Samm... He pointed to each of the three, mixing up Loni and Patzi. Though admittedly I lost track of which was which. I'm not very good with names.

[Kasanip]

Sonata
A flash of lightning and howl of wolf, directly from above, the lightning strike of lightning wolf fell to the ground. And yet Kalandor's moment was had, and in that precious moment, Sonata leaped from the lightning wolf, arms reaching for her falling twin.
Fayruz, who was more important than jewels and battles. Her sister who Sonata had traveled across pain and sorrow to find and save. Fayruz, whose smile was more beautiful than any flower. Fayruz, who was the radiance and light of hope. Fayruz, Sonata loved her so much.
And in that moment, she touched her sister and embraced her, to shield her from the fall.
And in that moment she felt the greatest relief, to hear the heartbeat of her sister held close, to know a song still was sung.
And then she hit the ground, holding her twin in her arms.

Oh dearest Fayruz,
open your eyes

Sonata opened her eyes and threw off pain. Behind, the lightning wolf landed in the destruction, showing it's fierceness.
"Are you okay?" she asked Fayruz, still not releasing her beautiful sister.
Her brothers were with the Lord of Weal and Woe. Let them fight. She felt bitterness at him. Who had only given a little word to her before. And she remembered him and Melos at the mural.

She turned to be between Fayruz and the Lord of Weal and Woe. As she held her sister, she looked defiantly with fox eyes, willing to be a shield in all ways.

[shorewood]

Haramhold the Butterfly

A winged raccoon with three bluebirds around it's head may not have been the weirdest thing Haramhold would see, but it certainly was unusual. Hello. The raccoon said, saluting. I am Ouran, and I'm your glorified messenger boy today. There's an elder elemental that Jongo wants you to let through the barrier so he can try and talk his way out of this war. And this is Patzi, Loni, and Samm... He pointed to each of the three, mixing up Loni and Patzi. Though admittedly I lost track of which was which. I'm not very good with names.

Amanda looked behind her at the Raccoon creature. It must be one of the JongoScio she thought. "Pleasure to meet you Ouran. she said as she reached into a whole in the airships hull retreaving the water stone. This signaled for Green MorningStar to open moe holes in the bottom of her hull, dumping thousands of gallons of water on the forgeborn. "Haramhold was on the ground over there" the Exarch said as she pointed toward the nexus gate.

Amanda thought about going to get her husband but time was of the essence. If uncle Jongo says this elemental can stop the war then there is no time to loose she thought to herself. "I can let him in, so hang on!" with those words Amanda steered the Green MorningStar toward the ruined gate of Salus as fast as the airship could travel.

[The Succubus]

Billi and the Strange Man's Border

Billi had been having a good day. A little exploring, a little swimming, and a new grouping of fish that were quite tasty.

On the way home, though, their was a strange man floating in the sky. Billi stopped to watch, as the strange man, hooded and cloaked, waved his hands and rattled some chains.

Billi tried to go see what was going on, but the ocean Billi was swimming through suddenly felt like a wall. He couldn't get out.

Backing up, Billi cocked his head to one side, and stared, confused. Finally, he looked up to see the strange floating man start to move away.

"Excuse me, Mister, but are you one of my Uncles?" Billi called out loudly, hoping to get the strange man's attention before he flew away.

Pity

The Lord of Suffering turned at the sound of the voice. Recognisable speech? In countless miles of empty ocean. He cast his gaze down at the border and saw the oddest creature he had ever seen. It had a slightly elogated face and a smooth streamlined body. Along the length of its spine ran a ridge of long purple hair. It was unfortunate that he had never heard of the term "mohawk", because it would have been a perfectly fitting description. The creature was vaguely humanoid, with hands and feet that seemed over-large in proportion to the rest of its body. In fact, it almost looked like...

...a dolphin.

He realised that this was one of the corrupted dolphins that the Kraken spoke of. A "Jongoscion".

"Excuse me, Mister, but are you one of my Uncles?"

The words were very polite and spoken with the innocence of a child and somewhere in deep in the core of his being, Khalen felt a stab of pity for the creature.

"LITTLE ONE, I BELIEVE I KNOW OF YOUR RACE. I DO NOT SHARE THE BLOOD OF THE LEVIATHAN OR THE BLOOD OF THE KRAKEN. I AM NOT ONE OF YOUR RELATIVES." The words were spoken with more gentleness than his usual mode of speech.

"I HELD COUNSEL WITH YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER A FEW DAYS AGO. THEY WEEP, CHILD, FOR THE SICKNESS THAT AFFLICTS YOU. THE BARRIER WILL KEEP YOU CONFINED UNTIL WE CAN FIND A METHOD TO RESTORE YOU TO YOUR NATURAL FORM."

"Am I unwell? Was it the octopus with funny blue rings from yesterday? What should I say to Creator-Father-Mother?" replied Billi, his head spinning in confusion.

At the reference to Jongo, his eyes blazed with fury and when the Lord of Suffering spoke next, his voice carried with the cold rattle of chains and slamming of heavy iron doors.

"JUDGEMENT IS COMING."

And without further word, the Lord of Suffering soared away ot the Kraken's chamber, leaving a very puzzled and frightened Jongoscion alone in a cold, uncaring sea.

[TheDarkDM]

The Eye of the Storm

Beyond the walls of Haramhold's domain, the ground cried out in anguish. Titanic waves of earth and stone flung themselves futily against the walls of Salus, wakened to terrible life by Torvaag's rage. From the hellish maw that had brought the Forgeborn, the elder elemental himself emerged, wreathed in the crackling power of the earth that had spawned him, untouched by the cataclysm around him. Beyond those divine walls, the grinding crash of angry stone resonated through the sky, a chilling answer to the thunder that rumbled from sudden stormclouds. The air turned cold at the fury of Haramhold and the birth of his deadly purpose, day turning to night in the blink of an eye. Yet none of this mattered to the people of Salus, for in the whirling madness of that moment there was a focal point, a fulcrum upon which the catastrophe turned - a desolate plain of rubble where gods and powers clashed for the first time.

Jethro and Contragh surged to Fayruz's defense, neither giving thought to the enormity of their action, the consequences they might bring. All through the city, glass shattered and mortals fell screaming at the incomparable glory of the two gods' attacks, war and death streaming like comets through the sky, burning all in their path. Fayruz saw it all in her tawny eyes, and as she watched time slowed to a standstill, the chill grip of the Herald's fingers fading until all she saw, all she cared for, were the blazing steel orbs of her father's greatest servant. The whisper that left her lips was softer than a moth in flight, so faint it could not have been heard, but as it reached the Lord of Weal and Woe his fiery eyes softened, and his fingers loosened.

What happened then would be remembered in Salus for time immemorial, the sons of Baz'Auran striking true on the Lord of Weal and Woe, enveloping the entirety of Haramhold's domain in brilliant, blinding light. The shockwave shattered all it touched, leveling hundreds of homes that had gone untouched by the Forgeborn, sending men and women and children flying as they were caught by the hurricane force of the gods' wrath. The thunderclap that followed deafened even the mighty earthquake beyond Haramhold's divine walls, resounding off the barrier in a rolling echo that took minutes to die. Then the land grew still, creation holding its breath at the aftermath, and the dust and rubble began to clear. There at the center of the devastation stood the Herald of Twilight in his full glory, the gaudy robes of the Lord of Weal and Woe replaced by twinkling armor bedecked in innumerable scars. His arms outstretched, he held a pair of shimmering barriers against the weapons of the gods, joining Contragh and Jethro in a grim tableau. Before him knelt Sonata, Fayruz's stunned body in her arms, defiant fox-gaze meeting burning stars, as still and immovable as steel. Surrounding them was a crater that would not heal, a scar of divine might upon the landscape, but the resting places of the gods remained miraculously whole.

The sound returned in a rush, wind and light rushing in to fill the void left by cosmic destruction, and with it the shimmering barriers holding axe and shovel at bay condensed, coming to starry points at the Herald of Twilight's palms.

"Enough!"

The balls of energy sprang out, lances of grey fire striking Jethro and Contragh, sending them flying into the crater of their making. They landed hard, gouging deep furrows in the earth, but the Herald paid them no mind.

"Your devotion does you credit, Children of Baz'Auran. You will need such conviction if you are to survive what is to come. Seek the Key, and beware the Dark."

With that, the Herald's fury dissipated, leaving him diminished. The fires of his majesty flickered out, as his sparkling armor crumbled into dust, blowing like stardust into the wind. The grey fires of his eyes split, and multiplied, cohesion and balance melting away until they were but a field of shining stars within a silver mask. The Lord of Weal and Woe gave Fayruz a last smile, and then he was gone in a flash of silver fire.

[Tychris1]

Blood for blood, Life from Life

Contragh groaned as he layed in the dirt. His face scarred and cut by the stone and dirt he scraped against as he blew through the dirt. He slowly raised a hand, his new divine armor unaffected by the events that transpired, and he began to pull himself up and out. His legs felt tired, his head throbbed, and his arms were spent from the pure rush of power he used on the Herald of Twilight. His vision was blurred, light fading in then out, and he slowly made his way over to Fayruz and Sonata. The blasted land that lay infront of him was of scant significance, nor were the bodies of broken people and buildings (From Contragh himself and the ensuing fight). Perhaps if Fayruz were fully present she would object to Contraghs treatment of life, but even so he did not care. Men were disposable, even Miranda and her Wraiths could be replaced. But his family could not, and so long as he stood he would not let his family fall apart.

Reaching Sonata he kneeled down, his eyes staring into that of the Fox Princess', and in that moment he was rekindled. He did not care what the Herald of Twilight might have hinted at onboard of the Green Morningstar, she was his sister, and deserved just as much leeway as Contragh did. Looking down at Fayruz he went to work, his very own soldiers cringed in pain as they felt parts of their life ripped out of them. He would not kill them, he needed them to protect Fex, but he did weaken them severely. He even drew upon the life essence of himself and his Cabal, a swirling mass of pure energy and free spirits. But in an instant he bent the energy to his will, and sent it into Fayruz. He was not a healer, not like Fayruz was, but he did know one thing. Life must be restored with life, and blood must be payed with blood. And so he offered forth all the stolen life he could muster and gifted it to Fayruz to revitalize her.

Gripping his chest he pushed himself up and began to limp away, muttering under his shallow breath "Now if i'm done cleaning up Haramhold's mess.... I have my own kingdom to attend to...." His left leg vacantly drifted behind him as he moved towards the Salus Gate and entered it to go to Fex.

[AntiMatter101]

The Ocean between continents

Across the ocean, Frellon flew, his footsteps lifting himself across of the surface of the ocean. The sun was beginning to lighten the sky, but he did not feel weary, even after traveling all night. His pace slowed, and his body began do descend beneath the surface of the water. He treaded water while three of his spirits approached him from afar.

“We return as you wished, Lord?”

“I did. I have decided to make the journey and my request myself, seeing as I am visiting my brother anyway.”

“We could not reach him, though we were close for many days, his city is surrounded by a barrier we could not penetrate. His gatekeepers sent word to him on our behalf, but then the battle started.”

“There was a battle! Who fought? Which of my siblings were at blows?”

“The earth erupted and an army of fire and stone came forth against the city of your brother. We did not stay overlong after that, for our charge would have been in peril. We have failed you.”The Orunta spirits now presented the worn, half-rotting piece of wood that used to have been a fine bow, back to their lord.

Frellon accepted it with care, and then crushed it. As the bow disintegrated in his hands, it erupted in a display of a pure golden energy. Frellon absorbed every drop of it back into himself. “You did not fail, for you did everything in your power to carry out the task I gave you, and you did not loose your charge. Now come, you have missed much while on your journey, and your brothers will have much to discuss with you.”

The Spirits re-entered the Sword of Heroes, as Frellon began to move once more; his churning feet raising him from the water in a short moment. Racing across the water, he moved with more urgency than before. Now he was worried! He had not the time to meditate and cast his sight south again, he needed to get to Salus now, while Salus still stood! His family was under siege!

[BladeofObliviom]

The Barrier upon the Sea

Ten more steps.

"Yes, Ocean. I don't know who or what told you that I'm supposed to be sinking right now, but that's definitely wrong. Keep holding me up, please."

Mollified once more by the kindly falsehoods, the sea continued to allow one Goddess to walk upon it as if it were solid ground. She was soon lost in thought once more. After all, there was a blip, indicating the presence of a spark not much farther out. Was it one of her brothers or sisters? Something more sinister? Perhaps just some silly prank played by Jongo? It was impossible to know without looking, but it might well be layered in deceptions itself.

Carefully on her guard, Roselia continued walking forward purposefully until she smacked facefirst into the barrier erected by Jongo and Contragh some time ago. She had known that it was there, of course, but she hadn't expected it to stop her, of all people. Looking more closely, she could see the residual traces of the divine power upon it. It had been altered, and recently indeed...

Her thoughts were cut short by a bit of loud splashing on the horizon. Quickly, the Goddess hurried over to find naught but a very confused Jongoscion spinning in circles, trying to figure out what to do.

"Billi?"

"Auntie Rose! What's going on? Did you see the scary man? Why is there an invisible wall here? Are you making walls invisible again? It was fun the first time but now it's kinda scary, and..."

Cutting the Jongoscion off, Rose began her own questions.

"Wait, 'Scary Man?' What did he look like? What did he say?"

"Oh, he was creepy! He had chains all over him and talked in this really creepy voice! He was all like JUDGEMENT IS COMING and kept on telling me that I was sick and needed to stay here! I don't know why, I don't feel sick..."

Rose stared at the Jongoscion for several long seconds before turning to the wall. Could it be? The spark had resembled that of one of her brothers, after all, and the mention of JUDGEMENT and hatred of everything Jongo practically clinched it. If nothing else, it was worth trying. She put one hand to the barrier, and lied to it with all of the force she could muster.

"I have a key, and so do all of the Jongoscion. OPEN."

Under the sheer power of mighty lies, the barrier parted before Rose and Billi, and the Goddess allowed herself a slight smirk of satisfaction at her victory.

"Go home and play with the others, Billi. There's something that needs to be done. Pretend that you have a key and the wall won't bother you anymore."

As Billi swam off, Rose took several steps outside the barrier before shrouding herself invisible and creating the illusory form of one very distorted and strange individual in the ocean nearby, crying a noise that would be heard for miles.

"Bye, Khalen-Fishy!"


Acts:

Spoiler

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1 Major Act: Up a Domain. (Deception 2 -> 3)

1 Major Act: Gain Ability (Battle Magic: Coldfire)

1 Major Act: Screw around with Khalen's barrier, allowing Jongoscion who claim to have a key through freely. However, they appear like normal Dolphins on the outside unless they speak.

1 Minor Act: Bless the Jongoscion again, though offscreen because I don't want to do a separate post for that.


Current totals:

3 Major Acts
6 Minor Acts
3 Ceremonies

[shorewood]

In the darkness the craftsmen was busy. He did not work with anything material, not iron, stone, crystal, or even light but rather his work was with a more primordial substance, divine will. He began by pouring his spark into his hands, giving it physical form. At times he molded it as a potter molds clay, other times he hammered it as a smith might iron but always he forced more of the essence of his god hood into the world into this blade. But it was not one blade that Haramhold forged, but millions, each razor thin, unimaginably sharp and shrouded in darkness so thick that light itself trembles to illuminate it.

Each of the shrouded blades spun about the craftsmen gathering in speed and power. When each blade was complete, Haramhold said a word the first he had spoken in what seemed like ages and sent the blades racing toward his hand, they came together like a jig saw puzzle. Forming a short sword formed from divine spark made material and shrouded in pure darkness so that none might know its true shape.

The Locust blade

Spoiler

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This short blade formed from pure divine spark radiates true darkness. When called upon the blade fractures into a million shards that swarm through the air with a terrifying speed. At the users behest these shards will swarm towards and slice apart anyone or anything they wish. There are very few substances that these shards cannot cut through like a hot knife through butter. If confronted with a substance the shards cannot penetrate they will flow around the barrier, surrounding the target in a deadly swarm, seeking a way past the defense. When they do strike home they cut not only flesh and bone but spirit as well so that every cut not only drains the victims physical strength but tears apart their spiritual essence as well. These shards still retain the shroud of pure darkness so that when they do have to swarm an opponent they quickly find themselves unable to see outside the spinning maelstrom of death surrounding them.

This is very much a death by a thousand cuts type of weapon. The swarm of shards can expand over quite a large distance but as the swarm expands it becomes less dense and therefore less deadly when engaged against Multiple opponents. Thus the swarm is most effective against a single foe or groups of foes that are tightly packed.

The darkness that surrounded Haramhold raced toward the terrible weapon he now held, strengthening its shroud. The Craftsmen was tired, his arms felt as if they were made of lead and his back was bent. Creating such a weapon had taken its toll but the day was far from over so Haramhold lifted his head and looked about. The Lord of Weal and Woe was gone his words still echoed in the air.

"Beware the Dark" the Lord of Weal and Woe had warned. Looking down at the Locust Blade Haramhold tightened his grip. It was time his brother took that advice to heart.

Intercepting Contragh's march toward the Nexus Gate, Haramhold placed a calloused hand on his brothers breast plate. The other still firmly gripping his greater artifact. "Are you so weak that you must steal the lives of those under my protection?" Haramhold asked his voice deep and full of rage. "Humans are not chattel to be sacrificed at your WHIM! Why would you kill them? Is your own strength so insignificant that the lives of hundreds of my people give it power it does not already possess? Or have you become so cruel that their lives meant nothing to you?"
---
Green MorningStar and its passengers reached the wall in time to witness the rage and raw power of Torvaag as he lashed out against the wall. Amanda landed the airship next to Jongo, running to the ships stern to talk to the chaos god.

"Is that what you want me to let in?" Amanda asked incredulously pointing toward the elder elemental and the wrath of the earth he was bringing to bear against the walls of Salus "I always knew you were a little mad but this is Insane!"

[Erik Vale]

Danger Near and Danger Far

Kalandor lay where he fell, he now knew what happened when the immovable met the unstopable, and hoped never to witness it again, but he still witnessed it. He felt the tremors in the land spreading, the building of waves to far leaving the land...
Only heartbreak would come of this.

"Enough!"

The balls of energy sprang out, lances of grey fire striking Jethro and Contragh, sending them flying into the crater of their making. They landed hard, gouging deep furrows in the earth, but the Herald paid them no mind.

"Your devotion does you credit, Children of Baz'Auran. You will need such conviction if you are to survive what is to come. Seek the Key, and beware the Dark."

With that, the Herald's fury dissipated, leaving him diminished. The fires of his majesty flickered out, as his sparkling armor crumbled into dust, blowing like stardust into the wind. The grey fires of his eyes split, and multiplied, cohesion and balance melting away until they were but a field of shining stars within a silver mask. The Lord of Weal and Woe gave Fayruz a last smile, and then he was gone in a flash of silver fire.

Kalandor heard without hearing as he saw without seeing. His sisters held each other, and that was good.
He sensed the Lord of Weal and Woe fade away, as each of his last words etched themselves into Kalandor's memory, and his eyes again burned at the silver fire.
He had felt the begining of the nexus, it was made... The gods needed to recover, his trick could be heard later, and he couldn't improve on then nexus now... Perhaps when he made a constant gate it would be better, but that was for another time.

Now, he needed rest. He had children to get back to. He would remain aware enough for his siblings, and it would be a time until he left... It would have to be enough.
Kalandor faded into the scarred earth, which sent his attunement to the land screaming in uprising. He felt Torvag's might against the wall...
If his siblings needed him, they would call...
Kalandor had another journey to undergo.

[HalfTangible]

Green MorningStar and its passengers reached the wall in time to witness the rage and raw power of Torvaag as he lashed out against the wall. Amanda landed the airship next to Jongo, running to the ships stern to talk to the chaos god.

"Is that what you want me to let in?" Amanda asked incredulously pointing toward the elder elemental and the wrath of the earth he was bringing to bear against the walls of Salus "I always knew you were a little mad but this is Insane!"

Ouran walked up to Jongo with her, equally apprehensive. I hope you know what you're doing. He stared at Torvaag's continued assaults, instinctively hissing a bit.

[Raz_Fox]

Fayruz opened her eyes, and the world was a painting, a moment caught for her to look at. And most of all, she rejoiced, for her sister was there. She had not the breath to speak it, but the look she gave Sonata was a look of joy - out of darkness, light, she wanted to cry. And then, ah, the world was breathless and the world was nothing but light, and her whole body was fire.

So it was that, as the Herald of Twilight revealed gave his congratulations to the children of Baz'Auran assembled, Fayruz was in no state to accept the congratulations, or even to thank him. She clung to Sonata, hacking and coughing and gasping for breath, purple fading on her flawless neck. And despite this, despite her weakness, she smiled as much as she could. Her trust was right. The Herald was still awake beneath his mask.

Contragh knelt before her, and she nodded to him, still breathless. He was still their father's sword, after all this time - was this the first she had seen of him? He seemed so dangerous, terrifyingly so, and surely, surely that was to strike terror into the foes of the family of Baz'Auran, she had almost convinced herself, when he touched her.

It was the difference between stonecarving and taking a hammer to the stone. It was the difference between trimming a tree's branches for firewood and hacking the trunk down to burn. It was the difference between a right way to do a thing, and the wrong way, and it was so very wrong that her entire being, all she was, rejected. Never by force. Never by force!

Her hand was clenched tight around Sonata's, knuckles white. The whisper of silk, the clank of chains, the soft urge: submit, please, kneel. Bad memories. And she had stood; this was who she was, the one who stands when she must and kneels out of choice, by the sickbed and the laborbed. So she, holding her sister close, stood. Could Fayruz do any less?

Haramhold, Contragh, a sore in the air. "Contragh," she said, before taking a breath, steeling herself, tightening her grip; her bile rose, she bit it back, tried not to fall to her knees and vomit out her disgust and the life given. How had he done it without song? (And with love?) To her most beloved sister, Sonata the quick, her only smile, she whispered, "Do not let our brother run. I must- ah- I must speak to him."

[Tychris1]

The Tinker and The Tyrant

Contragh skidded to a halt as his brother placed a hand to stop him. It would seem as if Contragh was done, from creating two powerful pieces of reality, expending his own force in protecting then revitalizing Fayruz, and the sheer enormity of the day. One could tell he was tired of the activity. And yet a new vigor entered him as his brother spoke, for there is always room in Contragh's heart for hate and rage. His blood boiled, his teeth gnashing as his pent up fury was fully released. Sneering at Haramhold he snapped

"Weak?.... WEAK?... WEAK?!? It has taken ALL of my inner reserves of strength to abandon my own lands, MY own people, and come to sweep up the mess of others? To leave all that I have worked hard for into the hands of verminous traitors and schemers! To focus on the inner while simultaneously balancing expansion. I apologize that your mongrel stone bashers were hurt in the process of my duty. Truly I yearn for them at the very BOTTOM of my heart."

His voice dripped with malice and venom as he stared his brother down. Miranda softly raised a hand and whispered "Sir..." Before being cut off by Contragh breaking out into full rant mode

"Don't you DARE speak to ME of weakness and cowardice you ingrateful, dirty, stonesmashing oaf! Who are YOU to judge me on strength when you cannot even protect your own lands! When you would rather hide behind stone walls and cringe in fear instead of pick up a DAMNED SWORD and doing something to stop your foes from even thinking of an invasion! That you needed more then 4 of your siblings to protect the bastards that you hold so near and dear to your heart. It is MY duty to ensure this family is not killed, it is not MY responsibility to ensure some random no name backwater hunter doesn't get blasted off the face of the Disk prematurely; Because we ALL know how much these humans are going to get done in their short life spans with next to no guidance aside from some bumbling smith-"

"Sir....." She says with more force

"Do you truly understand my duty? My BURDEN? I am War, Haramhold, and War holds a price. There are casualties in war, there is death and destruction and there is ugliness. And there is nothing you can do to change that. I apologize that your precious servants had to die to protect me, but they were the casualties of war, and there are priorities on the battlefield for what matters and what doesn't. Protecting my sister Fayruz? Matters. Making sure Leono the Baker makes it home to his wife the next day? Doesn't matter. The survival of this family takes precedence over anybody you or I might own. Besides, these people were dead anyway. Each and every one of them would have been burnt to a smoulder, their corpses strewn about and ashy. There precious buildings smelted and reduced to rubble. All of them would have died were it not for my intervention alongside the rest of our family. Because Baz'Auran knows you couldn't lift a finger to protect these scavengers. No, you'd rather hide behind some walls, or better yet hop onto that STUPID SHIP OF YOURS AND FLY AWAY WITH YOUR RED WHORE-"

"SIR!"

"STAY OUT OF THIS MIRANDA!...... Grah. Out of my way. I'm going home to prepare Fex. Miranda, i'm officialy changing your station. You are to remain here and ensure further waves do not erupt forth. Oh, and check all the holes just to make sure there aren't any rats. Wouldn't want my brother leaping in fear...." He pushes Haramhold's arm away, his sheer anger fueling him enough that he returns to his confident, powerful stride of a ruler. Miranda rushed forward, rapidly trying to diffuse the situation and ensure Haramhold doesn't do anything he might regret. Contragh marched onwards, his body contorting as he began to grow wings and prepared to ascend to his undead draconic form.

[The Succubus]

Antagonise

"Bye, Khalen-Fishy!"

The Lord of Suffering stopped immediately upon hearing those words. Once again, a shadow formed in his mind It was of a small child, laughing and teasing. The words themselves didn't mean anything to him but they sent a sharp pain driving through his mind, memories on the cusp of recollection, fighting to the surface.

He gathered his thoughts for a moment. Whoever had spoken those words had done so with a tremendous amount of power, far more than could have been raised by the lone Jongoscion...

The Spark!

The essence he had sensed near the barrier. Had it sensed what he had done? He had been careful to hide his efforts but if it had stumbled upon the creature he had spoken with...they may have done other mischief besides!

Bristling with cold fury, a black shadow soared back across the ocean waves to the place it had been hours before. As he drew nearer, the Lord of Suffering spied a small figure dancing and playing upon the ocean waves, as if they were solid rock beneath its feet. It was a small child with mismatched eyes.

"Yay! Khalen-Fishy has come back to play with me!" it tittered.

The Lord of Suffering paused for a full minute before he spoke again.

"PERHAPS YOU THOUGHT I WAS FOOLISH. YOU REASONED THAT I WOULD ATTACK THE MIMIC YOU SET OUT HERE UNTHINKINGLY?

I SENSED YOUR SPARK WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE; TO DELIVER JUSTICE ON BEHALF OF A BEING MALTREATED BY YOU OR THE ONE YOU CALL FRIEND.

I HEARD THE CALL MADE BY YOUR MIMIC - SOME SPITEFUL INSULT I HAVE NO DOUBT. AND I RETURN TO FIND MY QUARRY IDLY WALKING ABOUT ON THE OCEAN. IF IT HAD BEEN THE REAL JONGO, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN BESIDE HIMSELF WITH RAGE AT MY ATTEMPTS TO CONFINE HIS "CREATIONS". HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN A FAR MORE DEFENSIVE POSITION.

BUT THE MOST TELLING FACT IS THIS - THE SPARK I SENSED EARLIER HAS DISAPPEARED. SOMEONE CREATED THIS FALSE JONGO. SOMEONE WISHED TO OBSERVE MY REACTION TO IT. AND THAT SOMEONE IS HERE NOW."

One of the chains from the Lord of Suffering's shoulders scythed forward and sliced through the centre of the illusion.

"REVEAL YOURSELF."

[Kasanip]

Sonata looked on the Herald of Twilight with gold eyes of fox, and of eyes of the color of her twin. And she looked upon stars without fear, for princess of the moon has little care about the small twinkle of stars.
And she would remember this, because it wasn't the first time she had seen this Herald.

And Contrag also came to kneel in front of Fayruz, and the fear of Fayruz could be felt, and yet before Sonata could stop him, Contragh had turned to leave.

She wanted to tell Fayruz [no]. She wanted to hold her and reassure her, to make evil erased with song. She wanted to promise many things, but Sonata couldn't. And she knew that. Already she had promised everything in song with Fayruz. And she knew her sister's intention was important.
There was nothing more important. Sonata who had been glass and seen phoenix, and held the light and heart of the moon. She could not refuse her sister. But she had no words to say now, and softly kissed Fayruz's forehead.

She held and reassured her sister, helping her to stand, and swiftly, onto the Lightning Wolf, she helped Fayruz to ride, and behind her it was only a second.

So it was that lightning skidded to stopping in front of the gate, to block Contragh's path with sparking and sparking light.

"CONTRAGH!" She yelled to him, a stern look on her face. And she helped Fayruz to stand, and watched, ready to stop Contragh.

A Fox meets Amanda and the Lord of Chaos

A laughing voice came from Amanda's shadow as she pointing toward the elder elemental and the wrath of the earth he was bringing to bear against the walls of Salus.
And from the shadow leaped a fox with a fox smile. And Renard danced up her shadow and to her shoulder, to stand with swaying tails and to look at Jongo as well.

A song should be sang
for a brave soul like you,
who questions sanity's absence
to the Lord of chaos!

And he looked back towards the battle and the elder elemental.

Lord of Chaos
brother of our Lady Sonata
and heir of the Moon,
your intercession is needed
to finish this problem
and save those loyal to your family
yet she fears
that chaos to confront rage
will only bring more.

Yet this fox thinks it is misfortune
for your sisters and warlike brother
also need your intercession.
I wonder if your four heads
will be better to handle the many jobs
your responsibility has given!

[BladeofObliviom]

Antagonising

The image of Jongo seems to try to dodge the divine assault, but takes the slash to the face and bleeds profusely into the water. Just as it begins to seem like it might be corporeal after all, the figure simply disintegrates as its particles scatter upon the waves and fade from view.

And then things get creepy. Rose reappears! Along with about thirty other Roselias.

"So, I was correct after all. But how could you forget your dear sister, Khalen? My, you've changed, and yet managed to stay exactly the same..."

[TechnOkami]

The Digger & The Toll

Jethro's entire body, though divine, felt older than ever. It was as if someone shook all his bones at once, and drained every ounce of energy from his body. He lay face down to the ground with the head of his shovel impaled precariously near his own. But down there upon the earth, he could hear all which had been said, and all that a Death God could hear. He rose slowly, barely able to shift his weight onto his shovel.

"Stop..." He whispered.

The arguing only escalated as he arose, looming now, still hunched over his shovel.

"Stop." He said more forcefully.

It nary ceased, and was now simply overloaded with the bickering of a War God, whose words bit and snapped with an angry fury.

"Stop it!" He now yelled, but still they quarreled, as now lightning had cracked through the air.

Jethro's patience had finally snapped.

"SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!" He roared, amplified with a voice that none could emulate, for an angered Death would send chills down even the most stalwart of spines, yes, even down that of mighty Contragh, the God of War.

Though he were but a hunchback with a shovel in his hands to mortal eyes, to the Gods, he was like a reaper looming over the newly hewn battlefield. This reaper, though, had wide black hat, a mask, and something more in kin to a Spear of titanic size, far larger and longer than any conventional weapon, but fitting for the terrible visage of Death that had arisen out of Jethro.

"WE ARE ALL FOOLS, FOOLS WITH MORE POWER THAN WE CAN USE FOR THE BETTER. LOOK UPON THE DESTRUCTION WE HAVE WROUGHT." The Death God bellowed as he floated above the ground, looming over them all.

"AND YOU."

The titanic spear moved and pointed directly towards Contragh.

"YOU WHO HIDES BEHIND WAR AND FAMILY DUTY AS JUSTIFICATION FOR YOUR ACTIONS. YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE COST OF OUR OWN. DO YOU WISH TO KNOW, OH "GOD", WHAT WE HAVE WROUGHT? BEHOLD!"

A black spectral claw rises out of the nightmare folds of tattered cloth, grabbing onto a piece if reality itself as he tears open the boundary of this world and the Twilight. As the tranquil light poured in like streams of delicate water, eclipsed and offset by Death looming before it, it revealed what all but the Death God himself were unable to sense. It started out low and quiet, but a whimper upon the wind. Then Jethro tore the veil wide apart, opening a floodgate of Twilight upon this world, as suddenly a torment of pain-stricken souls were swirling about the deities. Souls in anguish, terror, pain, fear, anger, a mighty sea of emotions swirling around them all.

"LISTEN TO THEIR WAILING, THEIR LAMENTATION. THIS IS THE TRUE TOLL OF VICTORY. THIS THE PRICE WE HAVE PAID TO DO WHAT WE HAVE DONE. DO YOU NOT FEEL ANYTHING WITHIN THAT PUTRID HEART OF YOURS, OR IS IT SO DEAD SET ON DESTRUCTION THAT WAR IS ALL THAT SUSTAINS YOU?" His terrible, terrible voice screamed in anger at their very divine souls, like a wind causing their divine flames to flicker.

"WE ARE ALL CHILDREN PLAYING WITH FIRE, NAY, A VOLCANIC FONT OF POWER WE HAVE NO LEASH UPON. HOW CAN WE CALL OURSELVES GODS WHEN WE CANNOT EVEN SPARE THOSE WHO LOOK UP TO US? HOW? PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE THE LORD Of WEAL AND WOE RIDDLE ME THAT! LIFE IS ABOVE ANY POWER WE MIGHT HOLD, FOR IF ALL WE DO IS INFLICT AND TAKE, HOW ARE WE ANY DIFFERENT THAN A TITANIC MONSTER? WE ARE FOOLS! FOOLS. Fools..."

As quickly as his power formed, just as quickly did it recede. The gaping rift remained open as the thousands of wailing souls wandered to the Twilight, and then to the Quiet Lands where they would be reborn anew. Jethro's visage shrunk back to his humble size as the old man once again was before them, trembling at his own strength, hands shivering. His shovel, no longer the terrible spear, fell to the earth, met in turn with his knees as he collapsed and seemed to sink before the great loss weighed upon his heart. Tears were now streaming down his face as the weight became heavier, as elderly sobs were now the single lamentation that they could all hear. This was the toll of their actions, and Jethro understood that the most. The Thunderbird, present for all of this, flapped its oddly quiet wings down so it stood beside Jethro. This was not the time for the storm, but for the great lull after its parting: the Thunderbird bowed its head, holding itself to silence before what had been wrought this day.

[The Succubus]

Revelation

The illusory Jongo collapsed into the sea in a cloud of multicoloured motes of light. The air around him seemed to shiver around him before an image of a young woman appeared. The shadow of memory flickered with recollection, feelings of trickery and trechery and a note of caution sang within. As if to confirm this feeling, the image multiplied; where there was previously one woman, there were dozens.

"So, I was correct after all. But how could you forget your dear sister, Khalen? My, you've changed, and yet managed to stay exactly the same..." said the woman. The voice seemed to come from all around him - he couldn't pinpoint the source for it.

At the mention of his former name, the Lord of Suffering frowned and a mild pain swished through his skull. His eyes dimmed briefly, before resuming their usual intensity.

"THE PAST IS IRRELEVANT. ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE PRESENT AND PURGING THE CORRUPTION. THE CORRUPTED DOLPHINS MUST BE QUARANTINED UNTIL A REVERSAL PROCESS CAN BE DEVISED."

He raised a hand and six portals shrieked into existance. Rose could see the swirling red and black miasma of the realm of Torment in each one,. Even though she did not know what hellish place those portals led to, she knew it was nowhere she wanted to go. A chain snaked from each of the apertures, the cold iron manacle on the end giving the impression of a hungry mouth. They moved gently back and forward in the empty air, giving the impression of a host of snakes, waiting to strike at their master's command.

"YOU ARE A SERVANT OF THE ONE KNOWN AS "JONGO". YOUR MASTER WILL STAND TRIAL ON CHARGES OF KIDNAPPING, CORRUPTION AND BLASPHEMY. YOU WILL TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND HIM, OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED WITH AIDING AN AGENT OF CORRUPTION AND EXECUTED."

[shorewood]

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The Tinker and The Tyrant

Contragh skidded to a halt as his brother placed a hand to stop him. It would seem as if Contragh was done, from creating two powerful pieces of reality, expending his own force in protecting then revitalizing Fayruz, and the sheer enormity of the day. One could tell he was tired of the activity. And yet a new vigor entered him as his brother spoke, for there is always room in Contragh's heart for hate and rage. His blood boiled, his teeth gnashing as his pent up fury was fully released. Sneering at Haramhold he snapped

"Weak?.... WEAK?... WEAK?!? It has taken ALL of my inner reserves of strength to abandon my own lands, MY own people, and come to sweep up the mess of others? To leave all that I have worked hard for into the hands of verminous traitors and schemers! To focus on the inner while simultaneously balancing expansion. I apologize that your mongrel stone bashers were hurt in the process of my duty. Truly I yearn for them at the very BOTTOM of my heart."

His voice dripped with malice and venom as he stared his brother down. Miranda softly raised a hand and whispered "Sir..." Before being cut off by Contragh breaking out into full rant mode

"Don't you DARE speak to ME of weakness and cowardice you ingrateful, dirty, stonesmashing oaf! Who are YOU to judge me on strength when you cannot even protect your own lands! When you would rather hide behind stone walls and cringe in fear instead of pick up a DAMNED SWORD and doing something to stop your foes from even thinking of an invasion! That you needed more then 4 of your siblings to protect the bastards that you hold so near and dear to your heart. It is MY duty to ensure this family is not killed, it is not MY responsibility to ensure some random no name backwater hunter doesn't get blasted off the face of the Disk prematurely; Because we ALL know how much these humans are going to get done in their short life spans with next to no guidance aside from some bumbling smith-"

"Sir....." She says with more force

"Do you truly understand my duty? My BURDEN? I am War, Haramhold, and War holds a price. There are casualties in war, there is death and destruction and there is ugliness. And there is nothing you can do to change that. I apologize that your precious servants had to die to protect me, but they were the casualties of war, and there are priorities on the battlefield for what matters and what doesn't. Protecting my sister Fayruz? Matters. Making sure Leono the Baker makes it home to his wife the next day? Doesn't matter. The survival of this family takes precedence over anybody you or I might own. Besides, these people were dead anyway. Each and every one of them would have been burnt to a smoulder, their corpses strewn about and ashy. There precious buildings smelted and reduced to rubble. All of them would have died were it not for my intervention alongside the rest of our family. Because Baz'Auran knows you couldn't lift a finger to protect these scavengers. No, you'd rather hide behind some walls, or better yet hop onto that STUPID SHIP OF YOURS AND FLY AWAY WITH YOUR RED WHORE-"

"SIR!"

"STAY OUT OF THIS MIRANDA!...... Grah. Out of my way. I'm going home to prepare Fex. Miranda, i'm officialy changing your station. You are to remain here and ensure further waves do not erupt forth. Oh, and check all the holes just to make sure there aren't any rats. Wouldn't want my brother leaping in fear...." He pushes Haramhold's arm away, his sheer anger fueling him enough that he returns to his confident, powerful stride of a ruler. Miranda rushed forward, rapidly trying to diffuse the situation and ensure Haramhold doesn't do anything he might regret. Contragh marched onwards, his body contorting as he began to grow wings and prepared to ascend to his undead draconic form.

Contragh's words were like pouring gasoline onto a fire. As the great general spoke Haramhold's face contorted in not rage but hate. As Contragh pulled away Haramhold's grip on his breast plate tightened and the armor of weeping souls melted off the god of war. Abandoning the Contragh for its creator the artifact poured down the craftsmen arm it solidified again around Haramhold. Leaving the god of war in nothing but his undergarments.

"YOU PATHETIC FOOL!" Haramhold shouted as the Locust Blade exploded. A million divine blades shrouded in true darkness drove into Contragh swarming about the god of war as the maelstrom began to tear at his flesh and spirit, covering him in darkness.

"Your BURDEN! You dare speak about your BURDEN! All you know how to do is swing pointed sticks! O what a great burden that must be, to take joy and pleasure in death and destruction. Your so called burden is that you must take a break from the mindless slaughter that occupies your days to actually protect your family. O how heavy that must be!"

For a brief moment great draconic wings broke free from the maelstrom lifting the god of war into the air. But the swarming shards made quick work of the wings membranes and drove Contragh back into the ground.

"You have never understood how things worked, so let me explain. Baz'Auran created the white city, he created the disc, he created us his children. He did not DESTROY! Your precious combat prowess is a lesser art! It is so low that every mindless beast knows it! Hell, you even shame their company for at least the mindless monsters of the disc do not have the capacity to delude themselves into thinking that war is desirable! And still you have the Gall to call Amanda a whore! You who has been given no loyalty that wasn't extracted at sword point. You selfish self-righteous child!"

The swarm bulged this way and that as Contragh tried to escape its cutting grasp, but to no avail. His axe swung impotently in the darkness unable to deflect the whole maelstrom. The god of war's movements became slower and slower now as the wounds to his flesh and spirit sapped his strength. Gritting his teeth Contragh the god of war was not yet defeated so he gathered his strength and prepared for a counter attack.

[BladeofObliviom]

Misdirection

Roselia laughed, along with ALL of the copies. It was not a friendly, playful laugh, as is common of Jongo and the Jongoscion, but an actual, mocking jeer.

"Oh, dear brother. You really have forgotten me if you believe that I serve another."

Still, she feels an indescribable pang of fear at the visions of Torment. Indeed, this is not a place she wishes to attend. Shrugging off the worst of the sense of threat, though, she continues.

"And why, pray tell, do you think that Jongo's children are corrupted? Are you even sure that they are the ones who have deviated from their nature?

I remember a judgmental sibling who tried to impose order where there could be none, but never before have you been so extreme. I can feel the pain radiating from you! What happened to you, Khalen?"

The copies have begun to move in circles, through each other freely as they speak. Manually finding the real one might be... ...possible, though difficult.

[The Succubus]

Assault

"THE CHILDREN OF THE KRAKEN AND THE LEVIATHAN WERE THE RACE OF CREATURES KNOWN AS DOLPHINS. THEIR FATHER RAGES ABOUT THE DEFILEMENT OF HIS CHILDREN WHILE THEIR MOTHER WEEPS TEARS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD. I COME ON BEHALF OF THE FATHER TO CALL JONGO TO TRIAL FOR HIS CRIME."

Red and black eyes swept across the assembled images.

"MY PAST IS IRRELEVANT. SERVITUDE IS IRRELEVANT. PAIN IS IRRELEVANT. YOU DWELL WITHIN THE CORRUPTOR'S REALM AND ASSIST HIM IN HIS CRIMES. FURTHER DISCUSSION IS IRRELEVANT."

With a hellish shriek of tortured metal, the manacles leapt at the nearest images, hoping to sieze the correct version of Roselia.

[BladeofObliviom]

Rhetoric?

The chains lash out, and a number of the false Roselias fade into smoke as they're hit.

"And who defines defilement? Is forging a sword or chain defiling the metal it is made from? Is birthing a child defiling the body that it came from? Is taking a step defiling the ground that one treads upon?"

The chains come upon one that does not fade into smoke but is torn into and screams as she is attacked! After wasting several seconds, though, she too fades as the doppelgangers continue to split and multiply to refill the numbers of the lost. Meanwhile, they continue their attempts to get into Khalen's head as they dodge and weave to get further away from the hostile chains.

"You always used to speak of Father's will as the supreme law, that it was all of our duty to listen to him. Father said that we were to go down to the disk, to carve out empires, to build civilizations! What has Jongo done but exactly what Father asked him to? What has he done but his duty?"

Rose appears to be getting creative now, as the fakes begin to die in increasingly ridiculous ways. One explodes into a shower of orchids, while another bursts like a balloon with a needle tossed into it. Nothing is as it seems, nor is it as it should be. Meanwhile, the smoke spread around so far is thickening, coalescing into a wave to try to block out Khalen's field of view. Then, the smoke turns into a scene from Baz'auran's Court within the White City, from Rose's point of view: Visions of Khalen-Het, as he was meant to be, rather than the twisted remnant of his previous self that even now tried to attack her.


Scenes from a Memory

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As Khalen entered the court room, he saw he was not alone. A small figure sat in the centre, gazing up at the Crystal Ceiling, seemingly entranced by the view.

Jongo.

Khalen ground his teeth. While he was never the centre of attention in any group Khalen did try to get along with his siblings. Yet something about Jongo constantly provoked him. It was restless, indecisive and could never settle on one form when speaking with others. Yet here it was, staying in one form and staying in one place.

"Father, how did you get the stars to stay in place? Don't they ever want to move?" it said.

Khalen walked toward the small figure. "They stay in place because it is their duty. They watch over us and guide us. If they all went hither and thither according to their whims, we would become lost and they would have failed in their task."

Khalen scowled. It was just like Jongo to instantly see the weak point in an argument and run off in a different direction. He paused for a moment before replying.

"Indeed they do. Wishes are the hopes of fools that lack the courage or strength to seize their hearts' desires. Wishes are fickle and insubstantial, like the wind. Courage and strength are the stone and earth; they nourish, they protect - what good does the fickle wind do?"

Khalen ground his teeth.

"The stars do not rest. They maintain their watch, yet make way for the Eye of Baz'Auran, who is both their brother and lord. His glory may outshine theirs but they wait patiently and obediently for their lord's departure, ready to resume their duty at his command."

Truth

The voice just kept coming, growing more and more angered even as her copies began to falter under the onslaught.

She didn't let it on, but her illusions were becoming taxed under the sheer effort of maintaining them all, and every duplicate that the chains destroyed hurt her. She wasn't nearly beaten yet, but Khalen-het is a mighty god, built to subdue the wicked, while Roselia fights with words and tricks. She had an advantage here on the ocean, where Khalen could not draw strength from the solidity of the earth, but she did not have the raw strength for a direct confrontation.

Still, though, she kept arguing.

"That was you, Khalen! You believed in the law, you understood that it was our place to build and create, not to destroy and to punish! You fought for the law to save people, not to hurt them! Most of all, you upheld our Father! Now whose will do you hold? The Kraken's? Your own?"

More of the illusions fell, along with the wall of smoke. She just couldn't afford to maintain them anymore, at the speed she was losing her energy. Normal illusions are easy to hold up. Those capable of fooling her family required much more strength. Still, she didn't stop. She only had one more real chance at winning here, and she was nearing the coup de grace.

"The Kraken's will is meaningless against Father's, and your own isn't even law; It is only tyranny, preying upon the weak by the strong."

Only a few Roselias remained, though these ones seemed to be doing an excellent job evading the chains without serious losses.

"Your most heinous crime, though, is abandoning the Ultimate Law, the Will of Baz'Auran, in favor of the meaningless whims a lesser being! Even Jongo, fickle and disorderly as it is, never crossed that line!"

Only one Roselia stands.

SO WHY HAVE YOU, KHALEN-HET?! WHY DID YOU BETRAY THE ONE LAW THAT CHAOS INCARNATE WOULDN'T DARE TO?!

[Tychris1]

The Warlord Dismounted

Despite his leathery wings lying tattered (More so then usual), Contragh continued to change, The Dark Halo caring not about the current situation. Blood pooled up in his mouth as he looked at his brother, anger and sadness all at once filling his heart. He swallowed the blood, gritted his razor sharp teeth, and in an instant he unleashed a raging torrent of fire from his mouth straight at Haramhold.

Despite this, Miranda looked on in terror. Watching her charge torn apart in front of her. Gripping her tower shield she raised it to block her front and surged forward, her wings outstretched to their full glory, and she blanketed Tinker and Tyrant alike in shadow. With all the force of the dead she slammed the shield into Contragh, cutting off his breathe attack and causing him to fly backwards, skidding against the ground as Miranda took his place. But unlike her Lord, Contragh, Miranda was not wholly of the physical and so she faded to the earth below to avoid the brunt of the force.

Contragh was wounded, the fact that he was transforming into a Zombified Dragon did not help appearance wise, and he slowly began to muster his strength and push himself up. He stared at Haramhold, hatred burning in his eyes with the intensity of a raging forest fire. His soldiers were no better, those who could brandished their weapons and prepared to enact the beginnings of a bloody, bloody war. Contragh himself was prepared to do so aswell, his claw wrapped around the Axe of Domination, shakily raising his symbol of fear. The words cupped at his mouth, ready to say "KILL THEM ALL!" And yet he did not. His gaze faltered and lowered to the ground.

He began to contemplate, the world around him slowing as he thought. His eyes slowly glanced up, glimpsing the sight of The Maiden of Twilight and The Fox Princess, and he managed to come to an ultimatum. Sputtering the last bit of blood he groaned "Hold your fire...... I said hold it! I'm not going to succumb to my brothers petty low of ambushing his own family over harsh words. To think, someone as gruff and hardened as you would be so easily offended at words and collateral damage." His warriors did not enjoy it, but they would not defy their Lords commands, no matter how much anger they felt. Contragh flopped himself forward on all fours, his body almost done with the appearance of the transformation, all it needed now was to grow.

[Raz_Fox]

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The Warlord Dismounted

Despite his leathery wings lying tattered (More so then usual), Contragh continued to change, The Dark Halo caring not about the current situation. Blood pooled up in his mouth as he looked at his brother, anger and sadness all at once filling his heart. He swallowed the blood, gritted his razor sharp teeth, and in an instant he unleashed a raging torrent of fire from his mouth straight at Haramhold.

Despite this, Miranda looked on in terror. Watching her charge torn apart in front of her. Gripping her tower shield she raised it to block her front and surged forward, her wings outstretched to their full glory, and she blanketed Tinker and Tyrant alike in shadow. With all the force of the dead she slammed the shield into Contragh, cutting off his breathe attack and causing him to fly backwards, skidding against the ground as Miranda took his place. But unlike her Lord, Contragh, Miranda was not wholly of the physical and so she faded to the earth below to avoid the brunt of the force.

Contragh was wounded, the fact that he was transforming into a Zombified Dragon did not help appearance wise, and he slowly began to muster his strength and push himself up. He stared at Haramhold, hatred burning in his eyes with the intensity of a raging forest fire. His soldiers were no better, those who could brandished their weapons and prepared to enact the beginnings of a bloody, bloody war. Contragh himself was prepared to do so aswell, his claw wrapped around the Axe of Domination, shakily raising his symbol of fear. The words cupped at his mouth, ready to say "KILL THEM ALL!" And yet he did not. His gaze faltered and lowered to the ground.

He began to contemplate, the world around him slowing as he thought. His eyes slowly glanced up, glimpsing the sight of The Maiden of Twilight and The Fox Princess, and he managed to come to an ultimatum. Sputtering the last bit of blood he groaned "Hold your fire...... I said hold it! I'm not going to succumb to my brothers petty low of ambushing his own family over harsh words. To think, someone as gruff and hardened as you would be so easily offended at words and collateral damage." His warriors did not enjoy it, but they would not defy their Lords commands, no matter how much anger they felt. Contragh flopped himself forward on all fours, his body almost done with the appearance of the transformation, all it needed now was to grow.

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The Digger & The Toll

Jethro's entire body, though divine, felt older than ever. It was as if someone shook all his bones at once, and drained every ounce of energy from his body. He lay face down to the ground with the head of his shovel impaled precariously near his own. But down there upon the earth, he could hear all which had been said, and all that a Death God could hear. He rose slowly, barely able to shift his weight onto his shovel.

"Stop..." He whispered.

The arguing only escalated as he arose, looming now, still hunched over his shovel.

"Stop." He said more forcefully.

It nary ceased, and was now simply overloaded with the bickering of a War God, whose words bit and snapped with an angry fury.

"Stop it!" He now yelled, but still they quarreled, as now lightning had cracked through the air.

Jethro's patience had finally snapped.

"SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!" He roared, amplified with a voice that none could emulate, for an angered Death would send chills down even the most stalwart of spines, yes, even down that of mighty Contragh, the God of War.

Though he were but a hunchback with a shovel in his hands to mortal eyes, to the Gods, he was like a reaper looming over the newly hewn battlefield. This reaper, though, had wide black hat, a mask, and something more in kin to a Spear of titanic size, far larger and longer than any conventional weapon, but fitting for the terrible visage of Death that had arisen out of Jethro.

"WE ARE ALL FOOLS, FOOLS WITH MORE POWER THAN WE CAN USE FOR THE BETTER. LOOK UPON THE DESTRUCTION WE HAVE WROUGHT." The Death God bellowed as he floated above the ground, looming over them all.

"AND YOU."

The titanic spear moved and pointed directly towards Contragh.

"YOU WHO HIDES BEHIND WAR AND FAMILY DUTY AS JUSTIFICATION FOR YOUR ACTIONS. YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE COST OF OUR OWN. DO YOU WISH TO KNOW, OH "GOD", WHAT WE HAVE WROUGHT? BEHOLD!"

A black spectral claw rises out of the nightmare folds of tattered cloth, grabbing onto a piece if reality itself as he tears open the boundary of this world and the Twilight. As the tranquil light poured in like streams of delicate water, eclipsed and offset by Death looming before it, it revealed what all but the Death God himself were unable to sense. It started out low and quiet, but a whimper upon the wind. Then Jethro tore the veil wide apart, opening a floodgate of Twilight upon this world, as suddenly a torment of pain-stricken souls were swirling about the deities. Souls in anguish, terror, pain, fear, anger, a mighty sea of emotions swirling around them all.

"LISTEN TO THEIR WAILING, THEIR LAMENTATION. THIS IS THE TRUE TOLL OF VICTORY. THIS THE PRICE WE HAVE PAID TO DO WHAT WE HAVE DONE. DO YOU NOT FEEL ANYTHING WITHIN THAT PUTRID HEART OF YOURS, OR IS IT SO DEAD SET ON DESTRUCTION THAT WAR IS ALL THAT SUSTAINS YOU?" His terrible, terrible voice screamed in anger at their very divine souls, like a wind causing their divine flames to flicker.

"WE ARE ALL CHILDREN PLAYING WITH FIRE, NAY, A VOLCANIC FONT OF POWER WE HAVE NO LEASH UPON. HOW CAN WE CALL OURSELVES GODS WHEN WE CANNOT EVEN SPARE THOSE WHO LOOK UP TO US? HOW? PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE THE LORD OF WEAL AND WOE RIDDLE ME THAT! LIFE IS ABOVE ANY POWER WE MIGHT HOLD, FOR IF ALL WE DO IS INFLICT AND TAKE, HOW ARE WE ANY DIFFERENT THAN A TITANIC MONSTER? WE ARE FOOLS! FOOLS. Fools..."

As quickly as his power formed, just as quickly did it recede. The gaping rift remained open as the thousands of wailing souls wandered to the Twilight, and then to the Quiet Lands where they would be reborn anew. Jethro's visage shrunk back to his humble size as the old man once again was before them, trembling at his own strength, hands shivering. His shovel, no longer the terrible spear, fell to the earth, met in turn with his knees as he collapsed and seemed to sink before the great loss weighed upon his heart. Tears were now streaming down his face as the weight became heavier, as elderly sobs were now the single lamentation that they could all hear. This was the toll of their actions, and Jethro understood that the most. The Thunderbird, present for all of this, flapped its oddly quiet wings down so it stood beside Jethro. This was not the time for the storm, but for the great lull after its parting: the Thunderbird bowed its head, holding itself to silence before what had been wrought this day.

The warrior, heedless of his sister's cry, fell to his knees. His brother, the gentle forgelord, held tight his terrible weapon, turning it on family. This was not done! And, rising above the discordance, something that was like her sister and yet not Avyra at all. In the storm of wrath, Fayruz wept, and yet even as she wept she took up her harp; she wept for her brothers, and for her sister whose face she would never see again, and she wept for those slain. (She would not cry if they had lain themselves down and closed their eyes with a smile, perhaps to dream forever. She wept for violence, and she wept for those who lived on bereft.)

She gave the spectre his answer as he fell into despair. It was the plucking of the strings, and it was the quiet lament without words. It was sorrow, and the shame of battle, and the hope of men for rest without violence, and only her sister could conjure emotion better than she could. (Sonata, with her flute, could make men toss swords into the sea and make the heartless weep. But Fayruz, her songs were healing.) Her song evoked weariness, and then its absence, until it was as if the hearts of men were the cold wind of morning that is full of sorrow and yet not overcome by it, but strengthened still. Her voice choked, the strings of the harp stilled, and now she moved in the walk of those who are afraid they will shatter into a hundred pieces if they step wrongly.

She came to Contragh. Her fingers wiped the blood from his brow, heedless of his catching between man and beast. "You are wrong," she says, her voice broken in sorrow. "To say mortals are without worth. To take from them what is not given. Please, brother, brother, do not lose your heart to guard us. I would rather have died, if it would have kept the people of this city safe from harm." She kneels, her dress dragging in the dirt, and kisses her brother's brow, rests her head against his. And she sings, bringing something of the White City to Salus in her voice; the cuts close, the fire in his eyes is kindled once more, and she is lessened, though the light of Haramhold gleams on her breast. "Take only what is freely sacrificed," she whispers, a command: "Never by force." And his choice was given to him: to heed or to shut his heart. Such is the power of the gods, to have choice.

She rises, she turns to the brother who creates, the brother who has created such a terrible weapon. If he were to turn it on her, she would die; she knows this. Still, she says to him, "Our father fought a war. Contragh may do wrong, but the path he walks is in our father's footsteps. There are things in this world that will not accept goodness; our duty is to protect the world from them, and-" She pauses, too pale, trembling. "Destroy them, if must be. He has done wrong, may heaven see this! I know what you feel, how deeply you are hurt by the death of the people who trusted you to keep them safe. But your weapon is turned awry; what good can come from striking your brother? Your own brother, Haramhold! He has done wrong; please, I beg you, do not do wrong in turn! Such acts leave the world blind and hateful." She touches him, now, and sings the song to release tears, to bring catharsis to the wounded heart. "Please," she begs, "Bring an end to suffering. Protect." And his choice was given to him: to heed or shut his heart. Such is the power of the gods, to have choice.

Now, at last, she comes to the old man, so frail, so much like a mortal even if he cannot be truly mortal any longer. She kneels, and she embraces him, as a mother embraces her child. Her curling hair falls about his shoulders, and her hands support him. "You have seen foolishness here," she admits, softly, tenderly. "You have seen those who should be alive die, in a manner that no mortal should die. You have seen the folly of gods who have strength but are blinded for lack of love; love of those who trust us, of those who deserve our protection. I cry, because the children of Baz'Auran are flawed, just as the world is flawed, just as mortals are flawed; our strength is vast and our wisdom constrained. But there is wisdom. I must believe this, for I have seen this. My sister, Sonata, is wise; she is the storm-bringer who brings songs to men, and teaches them to be good. My brother, Llassar, brings the green crops that ease men's hunger, and has never done but that which is good and right." Her song she sings, one to relieve sorrow, to bolster the wounded heart and to close its wounds. And she whispers to him, "Be the light shining forward. Know wisdom, and be one with the family of the one whose heart you bear." And this choice was given him: to heed or to shut his heart. Such is the power of the gods.

Fayruz rose. She looked to Sonata, and spoke simply, "Walk with me." There was no please, for it was in her voice, all shot through as gold through earth. And she made to walk into Salus, the city broken, to do what she could. For if men cannot hope for the care of the Maiden of Dusk, what is right in the world?

[Gengy]

Bahbi

Bahbi had been struggling for a while to keep up. Uncle Goose was a terror on the field of battle, and while many warriors will lament that they cannot be everywhere at once, Bahbi got a firsthand experience that is was possible.

One moment they would be at the left side of the battle, and the next the right, always seeming to be just where they needed to be at just the right moment. Bahbi had to jump and leap and twist several times just to stay in Uncle Goose's wake, or he would have been left behind. The strange split-second gaps were there for less than Bahbi had time to think about them before they were gone.

Still, through some strange luck or perhaps divine assitance, Bahbi - panting, confused, and very tired - managed to stay close and stay safe. He even managed to push a few of the rocky men away from Uncle Goose who was too focused on his own targets. Bahbi's strange Uncle could be everywhere, but his attention, it seemed, could not. So, because he knew Creator-Father-Mother would want him to protect the family, Bahbi did what he could.

He was burned once. Right on the tail. Half of the hairs on his poor tail were gone, and there was a scorch mark wrapped a good two-thirds around the tip of the tail before the hairs, where the stony man had tried to get a finger around him. Bahbi had leapt away, just in time to follow Uncle Goose, and left his would be attacker behind.

It still hurt, though. Since the fighting seemed mostly over for now - and Uncle Goose still wasn't really turning around, he was always looking forward, always looking to the next thing - Bahbi followed and shifted back into human form.

His butt hurt. Right where the tail would have been, if he kept it. That was the problem with shifting. The pain would go away, eventually, but injuries couldn't be healed completely. Creator-Father-Mother said that those who were incredibly gifted at shifting could move the pain elsewhere, or even make it go away for a while. Bahbi was good, but he wasn't that good.

Even through the pain, Bahbi kept following Uncle Goose. He didn't know where they were going, and never spoke up to ask.

But traveling there was most of the fun.

And what a story this would make!

-------------------------------------------------

The Fox, the Racoon, the Three Birds, the Choas God, and the Girl (oh, and Jewely!)

Jongo didn't turn from looking on at Torvaag.

She could feel the tumult that was happening above and behind him; nearly the whole family was shouting. Jongo could feel the anger and discord between Bunny and Butterfly, could sense them coming to blows, and the chaos that followed was terrible.

Jongo wanted to go to them. Make them stop what they were doing. Family didn't fight each other. Not like that. Words, yes. Sparring a bit, yes. But attacking in anger and grief? Some things would take a long time to change after that.

Jongo wants to go to them. But she did not. Torvaag was more important right now. Jongo - who would put his family above everything else in any other situation - just kept looking at the Elder Elemental, who's rage was unending.

Besides. If there was one thing that Jongo knew in her very core, to the deepest iota of every bit of his spark, it was this:

Avyra. Was. Scary.

She was shouting. Jongo couldn't quite make out the words. But Avyra was very angry. Very very angry.

Better here, where I can do some good, then next to an angry shouting Avyra, thank you very much. Mental note. Avyra? Still scary. Sounds a lot manlier too. Which is creepy. Very creepy. Jongo was quite happy to be right over here. Next to the crazed, earth shattering, magma spitting, Torvaag who - if he didn't calm down - had a small chance of killing them all.

"Is that what you want me to let in?" Amanda asked incredulously pointing toward the elder elemental and the wrath of the earth he was bringing to bear against the walls of Salus "I always knew you were a little mad but this is Insane!"

A song should be sang
for a brave soul like you,
who questions sanity's absence
to the Lord of chaos!

A fox was speaking now, it's voice interesting to listen to. Jongo could tell this creature sowed mischief and chaos wherever it could, and it thrummed with power.

Lord of Chaos
brother of our Lady Sonata
and heir of the Moon,
your intercession is needed
to finish this problem
and save those loyal to your family
yet she fears
that chaos to confront rage
will only bring more.

Yet this fox thinks it is misfortune
for your sisters and warlike brother
also need your intercession.
I wonder if your four heads
will be better to handle the many jobs
your responsibility has given!

Still keeping her eyes locked on Torvaag, Jongo answered them both. And Ouran, who Jongo could feel behind him, thrumming with more power than either Amanda or the Fox.

"I saw a painting in my hut when Bunny and I came through. It was hanging on one of the walls. Looked like it was a gift from someone in Salus. Very skilled. Very detailed. It was a painting of a mountain, and it made me laugh."

"Uncle. I'm trying to be patient, but people are still in danger. What are you talking about?"

"Paintings like that. You need two people to hang them on the wall. One person to hold it up and another to say 'A little to the left'. It's the only way to get it hanging just right, without tilting. And looking at the mountain in the painting, I couldn't help but giggle."

"Uncle! People are dying! I won't let this... thing... in if you don't give me a good reason. It looks more dangerous than any of the other rocky creatures here put together."

"Oh, Torvaag is dangerous, Amanda-dear. With a look, he melts boulders. With nary a word, he punches holes in the earth. But he and your father, excuse me, husband - would get along splendidly I think. When the Disk was still young, and my own Father was still forming it, Torvaag was there. He was one of the builders. He's still one of the oldest builders there is. Did you know, Ouran, that Torvaag here once built a mountain, one mote of dust at a time? It took him decades. It was one of the most beautiful mountains I'd ever seen.

Torvaag was the not the designer, though. My Father was the architect. Torvaag was just the craftsman that had been chosen. But here's the funny part. Here's the part that made me giggle. Mr. Fox, you'll like this. When the mountain was done? My Father - I kid you not - said 'A little to the left'."

After a second of silence, Amanda finally couldn't take it, and shouted, "What does that have to do with anything, Uncle!?"

"Amanda-dear, it has to do with everything. Listen to what I am saying, child. Torvaag here, Eldest Elemental that he is, moved mountains. It took him decades - centuries. He did it before Butterfly was even born, and he continued to wait and work the earth below even when my Father no longer had anything specific in mind. Thousands of years he has remained at his task, and he only stopped when the Forgeborn behind us weren't around when he woke up. He became worried about them. They are his younger brothers and sisters. They are his family. And though we were defending ourselves, many of his family are now forever dead. He just wants in to save as many of them as he can."

Raising her voice, Jongo shouted once more to Torvaag, "I again say this, Torvaag of the Grimdeep, Delver in the Dark, please calm your rage and calm the earth. It needs your healing hands. Help us end this battle! I will surrender to you if you ask it, but the soul-fire that I hold here is freely given! On my word as Eldest Child of Baz'Auran!"


In a lower voice, Jongo continued to Amanda, "Torvaag is dangerous, dear. I won't lie to you on that. But a man who moves the earth one piece of dirt at a time for the sake of his craft has more patience than any mountain. A man who can do that... Do you honestly believe he will stop what he is doing when we can tell the Barrier won't let him in? No. He's dug himself into the ground, and will keep pounding on the Barrier until it breaks or he does. And he's not the Eldest Elemental for nothing, dear. He has lasted longer than mountains. He'll keep at this forever and a day if he has to. Please, won't you let him in?"

[HalfTangible]

Spoiler

Show

The Fox, the Racoon, the Three Birds, the Choas God, and the Girl (oh, and Jewely!)

Jongo didn't turn from looking on at Torvaag.

She could feel the tumult that was happening above and behind him; nearly the whole family was shouting. Jongo could feel the anger and discord between Bunny and Butterfly, could sense them coming to blows, and the chaos that followed was terrible.

Jongo wanted to go to them. Make them stop what they were doing. Family didn't fight each other. Not like that. Words, yes. Sparring a bit, yes. But attacking in anger and grief? Some things would take a long time to change after that.

Jongo wants to go to them. But she did not. Torvaag was more important right now. Jongo - who would put his family above everything else in any other situation - just kept looking at the Elder Elemental, who's rage was unending.

Besides. If there was one thing that Jongo knew in her very core, to the deepest iota of every bit of his spark, it was this:

Avyra. Was. Scary.

She was shouting. Jongo couldn't quite make out the words. But Avyra was very angry. Very very angry.

Better here, where I can do some good, then next to an angry shouting Avyra, thank you very much. Mental note. Avyra? Still scary. Sounds a lot manlier too. Which is creepy. Very creepy. Jongo was quite happy to be right over here. Next to the crazed, earth shattering, magma spitting, Torvaag who - if he didn't calm down - had a small chance of killing them all.

"Is that what you want me to let in?" Amanda asked incredulously pointing toward the elder elemental and the wrath of the earth he was bringing to bear against the walls of Salus "I always knew you were a little mad but this is Insane!"

A song should be sang
for a brave soul like you,
who questions sanity's absence
to the Lord of chaos!

A fox was speaking now, it's voice interesting to listen to. Jongo could tell this creature sowed mischief and chaos wherever it could, and it thrummed with power.

Lord of Chaos
brother of our Lady Sonata
and heir of the Moon,
your intercession is needed
to finish this problem
and save those loyal to your family
yet she fears
that chaos to confront rage
will only bring more.

Yet this fox thinks it is misfortune
for your sisters and warlike brother
also need your intercession.
I wonder if your four heads
will be better to handle the many jobs
your responsibility has given!

Still keeping her eyes locked on Torvaag, Jongo answered them both. And Ouran, who Jongo could feel behind him, thrumming with more power than either Amanda or the Fox.

"I saw a painting in my hut when Bunny and I came through. It was hanging on one of the walls. Looked like it was a gift from someone in Salus. Very skilled. Very detailed. It was a painting of a mountain, and it made me laugh."

"Uncle. I'm trying to be patient, but people are still in danger. What are you talking about?"

"Paintings like that. You need two people to hang them on the wall. One person to hold it up and another to say 'A little to the left'. It's the only way to get it hanging just right, without tilting. And looking at the mountain in the painting, I couldn't help but giggle."

"Uncle! People are dying! I won't let this... thing... in if you don't give me a good reason. It looks more dangerous than any of the other rocky creatures here put together."

"Oh, Torvaag is dangerous, Amanda-dear. With a look, he melts boulders. With nary a word, he punches holes in the earth. But he and your father, excuse me, husband - would get along splendidly I think. When the Disk was still young, and my own Father was still forming it, Torvaag was there. He was one of the builders. He's still one of the oldest builders there is. Did you know, Ouran, that Torvaag here once built a mountain, one mote of dust at a time? It took him decades. It was one of the most beautiful mountains I'd ever seen.

Torvaag was the not the designer, though. My Father was the architect. Torvaag was just the craftsman that had been chosen. But here's the funny part. Here's the part that made me giggle. Mr. Fox, you'll like this. When the mountain was done? My Father - I kid you not - said 'A little to the left'."

After a second of silence, Amanda finally couldn't take it, and shouted, "What does that have to do with anything, Uncle!?"

"Amanda-dear, it has to do with everything. Listen to what I am saying, child. Torvaag here, Eldest Elemental that he is, moved mountains. It took him decades - centuries. He did it before Butterfly was even born, and he continued to wait and work the earth below even when my Father no longer had anything specific in mind. Thousands of years he has remained at his task, and he only stopped when the Forgeborn behind us weren't around when he woke up. He became worried about them. They are his younger brothers and sisters. They are his family. And though we were defending ourselves, many of his family are now forever dead. He just wants in to save as many of them as he can."

Raising her voice, Jongo shouted once more to Torvaag, "I again say this, Torvaag of the Grimdeep, Delver in the Dark, please calm your rage and calm the earth. It needs your healing hands. Help us end this battle! I will surrender to you if you ask it, but the soul-fire that I hold here is freely given! On my word as Eldest Child of Baz'Auran!"


In a lower voice, Jongo continued to Amanda, "Torvaag is dangerous, dear. I won't lie to you on that. But a man who moves the earth one piece of dirt at a time for the sake of his craft has more patience than any mountain. A man who can do that... Do you honestly believe he will stop what he is doing when we can tell the Barrier won't let him in? No. He's dug himself into the ground, and will keep pounding on the Barrier until it breaks or he does. And he's not the Eldest Elemental for nothing, dear. He has lasted longer than mountains. He'll keep at this forever and a day if he has to. Please, won't you let him in?"

Three birds, two gods, one human

Ouran chuckled a bit at the story before pointing to the Elder elemental and looking to Amanda. If it comes to it, Jongo and I can keep him from doing too much damage before the other gods see the trouble and come.

......... Wait. Jongo is the eldest?!

[Kasanip]

(ooc: Just to pretend that Sonata was somehow providing useful scenery to the happened events. There are no words to describe her uselessness.)

Sonata

Was this really what the rest of her family had become? Nothing more than fighting with each other?
She wanted to despair, having fought against Melos before. She wanted to despair, with enemies like the Herald of Weal and Woe.
She wanted to, and she refused.
Because at least Fayruz was here. And Fayruz was worth everything. Sonata looked with disappointment at her brothers, and turned to follow her twin sister.


A meeting of Chaos and Foxes and a Girl

The fox named Renard jumped off of Amanda's shoulders gracefully to stand on the ground for once, and he laughed.

As expected of the Lord of Chaos!
Truly it should be thought of any fox
that such an expectation
will be immediately erased
by the Jongoscion's Lord
Like an arrow that is straight
and yet flies spinning
to hit one's paw!

Your words are true, Lord of Chaos
my message was delivered loyally,
but I agree with you
this fox trusts the Princesses of the moon
and trusts to be often surprised
by their brother!

And he turned to sit and look at Amanda with a fox smile.

I will accompany your shadow
if you fear
the moving earth!

[The Succubus]

Terror

A war was being fought. Not between chains and illusions. Nor between a friend of Jongo and a friend of the Kraken. This war was taking place in a smaller area that threatened to tear apart its surroundings. As Roselia's voice became suffused with outrage, she brought forward illusions of a rather sombre figure in a long grey robe. He spoke with a cold voice but it was not a cruel voice. He seemed sad, as though he had lost someone or something important to him. The shadows in the mind of the Lord of Suffering became huge black tapestries on which figures, walked, talked, laughed and annoyed each other. It was like looking at a another world, with colours replaced in shades of black. He shuddered as the pain in his mind was rapidly becoming unbearable. From Roselia's perspective it seemed as if there was an ethereal shadowy aura eminating from the red-eyed demon that was threatening to send her to eternal damnation.

For the merest fraction of a second, there was only one single image of Roselia above the waves and it was all the chains needed. With tremendous force, the chains surged forward and manacles clasped themselves around her ankles and wrists. She was slammed into a small pinnacle of rock that crested the waves of the ocean, pinned into place. The Lord of Suffering drew closer to her and a seventh portal opened above his head, far larger than the ones that spawned the chains holding her. For half a minute, she saw the Torment Engine in all its terrible glory, the figures being flayed on the first circle and she could hear the weeping and shrieking of the damned.

A seventh chain with a glowing end surged from the portal and pressed against her forehead. She shrieked at the touch of the red hot metal.

"YOU ARE MARKED. YOU WILL RELAY A MESSAGE TO THE CORRUPTOR. HE WILL COME TO THE DESERTED TOWER IN THE SOUTH TO STAND TRIAL. YOU HAVE TWO CYCLES TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE. FAIL TO DO SO AND MY CHAINS WILL FIND YOU, WHEREVER YOU HIDE."

The chains binding Roselia released and shot back into their portals. The Lord of Suffering floated up and backwards into the largest of the portals, the grimace on his face bearing witness to the pain that threatened to tear his skull apart. With a clang like the slam of an iron maiden, the final portal closed and Roselia was alone on the rock outcrop.

Spoiler

Show

Rune of Summons

This spell appears as a small glowing symbol wherever it is applied. The bearer must comply with the simple request (usually to relay a message or attend a specific location) or face the threat of being dragged into the Torment realm. The bearer may infrequently have dreams about impending doom, which increase in intensity and frequency as the time limit draws close. In the example above, a "cycle" is defined as a turn.

Once the bearer relays the message or attends the location, the mark is immediately dispelled and the dreams forgotten, whatever happens afterward. In the example above, if Roselia relays the message and Jongo chooses to ignore it, then Roselia will not meet with any penalties. If she refuses to tell Jongo on the other hand...Bad Things will follow.

[Grimsage Matt]

The Primordial and the Gods

They are there. Many, the life ember has gone entirely. But a few, there a spark, a chance. And if the cloud-cursed whelp isn't lying...

"Jongo, yer at least half honest, and helped me in me search, though I plan on explain ter ya rocks and gravity, " Here, he levels a glare. It is not a angry glare, but a 'I am severly annoyed, and want to ram a fireball somewhere to get rid of stress' kind of glare. "But if ye can help me restore my kin, I'll leave. While I think ye gods are reckless, inconserate whelps, so long as ye leave me kin be I have nea quarrel with ya."

Torvaag, tries calming down. Somewhat easier then his rage shows, for while he might burn fiercely, it most often turns to stone like determenation, not volcanic rage.

Reaching out to the earth nearby, he asks of it to calm, to rest. To let it heal. He is sorry for riling up the earth, in a foolish moment of temper. He'll help fix the damage he caused here today.

"Now Jongo, just let me in, and I'll get to rousing them, and taking them home."