Lords of Creation in the Playground (IC)

[Toxic Mind]

Pernieth, Talamonde - The First Tree

Pernieth did not smile, for his face could not form such expressions. But this message, he understood. A seed, small, grows from his hand, that he sets in the ash and flesh of the hart. A tree sprouts, absorbing the nutrients, and grows a lifetime in a matter of seconds. It wilts, dies, and becomes ash and dust in a matter of moments, and Pernieth bends over to retrieve a single seed, which he holds in his palm. "Cycle." he says in agreement.

[Man on Fire]

Ikino, Israken, Tiamat, Bahamut, Kyre, and Neiag
The Challenge Mountains

"An alliance? Or maybe rather...a family? A delightful and far-sighted idea." Being says amused. "I, Neiag, the Spinner of Stories, am honored to join." He hesitated for a moment, then continued. "If we are to be a family, then let it be none of us shall strike against another, even if his rage would be justified."

Spoiler: AP

Show

-1 AP: Joining the Pantheon
Neiag's Dogma: Members of the Pantheon will not fight against one another but seek other ways to resolve the conflict.

[DukeGod]

Ikino, Israken, Tiamat, Bahamut, Kyre, and Neiag
The Challenge Mountains

"Yes brother, a good idea that is. I will join. And I propose that we remember the feeling in which this was created, by using anything that comes from it, only to improve and never to worsen, so that the moment never be tainted"

Israken starts taking flight

"And now, I will extend our family!"

And with that, he flies away. Israken keeps flying, until he is at the west edge of Demiourgia. There he creates another continent, joined to Demiourgia by several straits

At the center of the new continent, he uses his breath to clear an area, where he creates a special pool, the size of a very large lake.

And there, he first gives life to new life. As he starts doing so, he stops altogether, and makes changes to how it would be. They would need to be strong, to survive. Yes, his life would survive, no matter what. To that end he also gives them the power to adapt, to become stronger and different right in the spur of the moment, rather than needing to adapt over long years. They should also not stop there, they'd have to grow. He'd later have to find something where they should aim towards. He makes these people vaguely arachnid, but they should also be of the dragons, so rather than a chitin, they'd make their exoskeletons out of minerals, made to resemble stone, incorporating iron and bone. Still, he'd make it so that they could not create more of their own outside the spawning pool. In fear that the pool might not last, he uses his divine spark to make sure the pool is always full of nutrients and minerals that are necessary. No, that might get out of control...he'd make the spool simply replenish itself, it'd still be rich in those things, but it'd empty itself of them, and then replenish itself over the times they weren't using it. He smiles at his new creation, and leaves them for now, returning to the Challenge Mountains

Spoiler

Show

14 AP
(-1 AP, 13/15) Join Pantheon: The one as of now unnamed Pantheon of Ikino and Neaig
Israken adds to the Dogma that PAP must not be used to directly destroy or weaken another thing(indirect actions that will end up in something dying in several thousand years are kind of a fuzzy thing to ban so, let's leave those out)

(-2 AP, 11/15)Create Land: Craast Dominus: Craast Dominus is a new "continent(Mexico-sized) that joins Demiourgia by several straits.

(-2 AP, 9/15)Create Populace: Israken will create the Craast that name the continet. The craast are something like a hybrid between arachnid and reptilian. They need exoskeletons, that they'll biologically grow using stone, iron and bone. The Craast cannot reproduce and must lay eggs into the spawning pools to create more of their own. The Craast have been given power to evolve quickly, mutating new changes to adapt if necessary, and can laterally transfer their genes

(-1 AP, 8/15)Nourishment: The Spawning Pool: Israkens blesses the Craast with their spawning pool, rich in nutrients and minerals. The Spawning Pool will empty itself out of those as the craast use it to spawn more, or to feed themselves if necessary, but whenever they are not using it, the pool will replenish itself, slowly. A period of six months is enough to go from completely empty to completely full as long as there is no use of it.

(-1 AP, 7/15)Nourishment: Quick Adaptation and Mutation:Israken grants the zerg the capacity to quickly adaptate, and self-mutate as necessary.

7 AP left

[mystic1110]

The Smiling Praetor, The Halls of the Ornate Beast, then the Roots of the First

As mortals began to dream of war and brother killing brother, their dreams of fancy dried up. As such the great currents of Mezzethera shifted, the balance of what was beneath the surface slightly changed. Simdred, the Smiling Praetor as she would one day be called, smiled with her lower mouth - her brother had begun his war against her.

She was a terrifying creature. All of the Ecstasy Demons were. Where the Nightmare Demons were black robed hunched priests, and the Omen Demons were winged serpents, each of the Ecstasy Demons were female torsos - naked with breasts unbound - attached to what could only be described as mouths on legs. Their lower body took the shape of impossibly large insects, reminiscent of spiders but not quite arachnid. The bodies did not quite have a spider's deadly beauty. Instead of heads the lower body fused into the female form on top of what would have been called an abdomen. A gigantic cavernous mouth was carved into this lower torso. It smiled with toothy grins. Ecstasy Demons were the only Demons that could express their emotions. Or make sounds. They still talked with each other using the Demonic Tongue - vibrations in the air that would drive a mortal mad - but their mouths growled and roared up and down the gilded halls of the Ornate Beast, and the perfectly kept gardens.

If Omen Demons were mass producers of portents - shifting the currents towards their desired dreams - then Ecstasy Demons were artists. They carefully crafted individual dreams. Then they would swim out into Mezzethera and pick a dreamer to give the dream to. They would watch the dreamer dream and take pleasure and sustenance from such. The more decadent the dream, the more the dreamer fed the Demon. And the more a Demon fed the more real it became - when it starved it would dissolve in to mud and water, and return to the Ocean Bed.

Her brother thought to influence the world above, but the Smiling Praetor thought to bring the world above to her. And thus her and her dream weavers wove dreams of lust. They promised riches and pleasure below the oceans surface. They made dreams of their gilded marble halls. They appeared in them as beautiful animals and beautiful dragons (Craast were too new for the Praetor to know what dreams they would lust after . . . yet, but she will in time). It was a siren's call - promising everything and anything. Most of all it promised:

Leave your dreams of war and live better dreams beneath the surface. We shall care for you. No more Nightmares or Portents of blood. Only anything else.

Spoiler

Show

AP 5:

Nourishment 1 : While dreamers dream of war - they will also dream that they could escape those dreams by diving beneath the waves.

AP 4

[Deadlykire]

Demiourgia, The challenge mountains

It sat there, listening and considering. It did not stir for the longest time. Only the darkness gathered and became deeper. "There are no lies here." The being that is Kyre begins to leave, yet the voice still speaks from the shadows. "The shadows will always contain death, but so does the light. You have claimed this land in the name of the dragons. I shall leave you to your new alliance." The voice begins to whisper as Kyre gets further and further away. "You cannot escape the shadow, the greater the light the greater the shadow. Do not fear it. Respect it, acknowledge it. It, I, am not your enemy. If you need me come find me where the shadows are the greatest." With that Kyre's voice was silent. Yet the darkness remained. It was the first of the great darkness, prohibiting the lights of the mother from piercing the shroud. Kyre stepped off of Zalsaram, but not into the void. As Its foot touched the void it appeared. The ever shifting plane of shadow. As Kyre steps forward again, completely off of Zalsaram the plane disconnects from the world.

Spoiler

Show

13AP
13-3 Create Plane:Shadow
10AP
Plane of Shadow

Spoiler

Show

Name: Erebus or Plane of Shadow
The plane of shadow does not start connected to the material realm. It is the sanctuary of death. That which dies, comes to the plane of shadow upon its death. There is no light on the plane itself, instead the light is all around the edges of the plane creating permanent darkness through shadows. It is subject to Kyre's will thus is ever changing as Kyre's needs for it change. This largely includes the appearance of regions to separate species as needed. Kyre's sanctuary is on this plane.
Traits:

Spoiler

Show

Gravity: Subjective Directional DC:20
Time: Flowing Time (Majority Timeless, but not for magic)
Shape and Size: Infinite (Layered), Divinely Morphic (Kire Only)
Alignment: Strongly True Neutral
Magic: Dead Magic
Coterminous: Material,

[Shmee]

Ikino, Israken, Tiamat, Bahamut, Kyre, and Neiag
The Challenge Mountains

The Volcanic Lord regards the curious little creature. It had the same essence as Ikino and the others, but it had such a strange, small shape. Still, it was undoubtedly a divinity. "Hrrrm, family. . . yes, I like the sound of that. United, we are stronger. I have not seen what stirs in the darkness yet, but I have no doubt it is coming. We should stand against it."

A spire of obsidian juts from a cooling island in the volcano's crater. "This shall serve as a manifestation of our pledge. Will you join me?"

Bahamut shakes his head "Regrettably, I lack the authority to join this alliance for there is one that came before me. You must seek approval from elsewhere, and I fear that gaining it shall be no easy task." he says as he takes to the sky "I wish you good fortunes on your endeavors. But I must tend to our siblings, and find a way to deal with this eternal night." and he flies off.

Tiamat meanwhile is looking at the darkness of the night and its effect on the world with great interest.

[Toxic Mind]

Pernieth - Endless Night

Death.

Everything was dying.

But there was no cycle here. No rebirth. There would be nothing.

Already the heart of the First Tree quakes.

Something must change.

Pernieth would save the plants then. The animals and birds must fend for themselves, they were not his, even as a gift.

Spoiler: AP

Show

5= 6-1: Nourish Plants - Hibernal Photosynthesis - In preparation for a year of night, all plants can store the sun's energy within their very cells, giving them the ability to survive the long nights in a hibernation-like slumber.

[mystic1110]

Mezzetherea, Roots of the First Tree

As night gathered the ocean froze. The denizens of the deep were already used to the cold - the ocean floor was even colder of course, but the world above suffered. And while suffering fueled some of the Demon's favorite dreams, if all the dreamers died. . . . what then? They would dissolve.

The ocean's surface began to freeze. Great icebergs formed - great chromatic icebergs that jutted out of the ocean like so many tired incomplete rainbows.

Do trees dream? They didn't - but when the sun went out and endless night took the skies - they began. They dreamed of the sun. Their god saved them - but he did not give them what they wanted. They dreamed of sunshine and warmth. Their fruits and leaves curled up in morning.

That is when Mezzethera talked to the roots of the first tree. She spoke in tides and currents. She spoke a patient language. She spoke with the power to wear down continents over eons. She spoke. . . slowly.

Child, do you wish to see the sun again?

[Toxic Mind]

Mezzetherea, the First Tree - The Roots

The First Tree rejoices at finding a creature with patience to rival her own. "We survive." The First Tree said in time. "But we do not live. This endless darkness saps my children's will, they lose hope that the sun will ever grace us again. We cannot grow, because we must survive. Can you bring back the sun? The One Who Walks the Boughs would do this, if he had allies." it was more than the First Tree had ever spoken, and the effort was tremendous, but for the hope of the return of the light, she would sacrifice anything. For her children, she would pay any price. And she knew that the One Who Walked would do the same.

[mystic1110]

Mezzetherea, Roots of the First Tree

The ocean gently swathed the roots. The water cooed over the years, the conversation took that long - the ocean and the tree spoke while plants withered. Sure they survived in the sunless void. But survival is just the bare minimum. To live you must dream.

No Child. That is not my power. Above these waters other gods and lords roam. I can only offer the solace of my currents. . . . come Child, come.

The tree briefly slumbers and sees the sun above its branches. A clear sky, the sun warms its roots - its leaves uncurl and are greener than the tree had ever felt them. They feel like emeralds. It is the most beautiful sunshine the tree ever experienced. It was perfect.

And then the tree woke and there was only darkness.

Just sleep Child, sleep and I can take care of you. I can give you what you want. Just sleep. Sleep for as long as you like.

[Toxic Mind]

Mezzetherea, Roots of the First Tree

The First Tree was disappointed. She had hoped that this being might have the power to bring back the sun. Still, the dream was a compromise she could accept. The dreams had power, could make her healthy with the power that the One Who Walks had given her. So the First Tree sleeps, and draws power from twofold sources, the earth and the water, the dream and the reality. And as it was with the First, so it was with her children.

[mystic1110]

Mezzetherea, Roots of the First Tree, Mare Ligneae Sol

As trees fall asleep their reflections grow upside down into the ocean. The current buffets them, but there roots in reality were too firmly rooted. Their dream forms stretch long and twisted into the ocean - their combined dreams of sunshine and warmth mix and create the world's forth sea, the Sea of the Wooden Sun. . . the Mare Ligneae Sol. The entire ocean beneath the slumbering tree began to shine from beneath. The combined dreams have created their own sun - visible from the surface - even through the oily iridescent layer.

Thus as the world fell into darkness the center sea burst into a brilliant light. Faded if only a little - and maybe a little filtered, but a sun underneath the ocean, a reflection of the black sun above, nonetheless.

It was a cold light however. A strong dream, but just a dream.

As the dream sun burst to life, the Three Praetors noticed immediately. Then the Peers of the Omen Demons, The Courtesans of the Ecstasy Demons, and the Cardinals of the Nightmare Demons. Finally the lesser Demons notice. Demons alone from every other animal could feel the heat of the dream, for to them dreams were merely reality.

Mezzethera suddenly changed her currents, and the heat of the Wooden Sun began to be siphoned to the three Demonic Capitals. The Demons were infused with the false sun's power. They flexed their claws and fingers and saw what their goddess gave them and worshiped her. The Praetors felt the heat stronger than all of them. They still bear the burns on their skins - but they wear those burn scars proudly.

And thus magic was born beneath the waves through the heat of a sun dreamt up by the fantasies of sleeping trees.

Spoiler

Show

AP 4

Create Classes - Warlocks and Sorcerers. At least one source of arcane magic in this world comes from the power of the Dream sun.

AP 3

[Rainshine]

The Constellation (Cosmic Mother)

There have been those among mortals in as many universes that have ever existed, those who might would stand and look up. Some of those universes possess something similar to what we call a star. Some of those stars might be operate through vast quantities of reactions pumping radiation of all sorts out in all directions... but none of that matters, for that is not here. The Cosmic Mother existed above the world, deep within the vastness of space while her children went about the world. Here, the stars that made up her being operated in ways not understood by mortal minds. Like so many of those other stars in other universes though, they were pretty to look at.

And even more awe-inducing when they explode. Stardust -- a tiny fragment of a deity -- spread outward. If somewhere, in some other universe, this had been observed, the instruments might have registed the patterns of the cosmic radiation, and the way they changed, the crescendo of a long song. But here, in the space away from the world, there was only the tiniest echo fo a cry from the past, travelling across space in its own slow way. The dust drifted through time unmeasurable in the wide space, but one speck found another, drawing in another, and another, until the god-essence was again in one form. No longer, though, a star, shining bright as part of the Mother's all. Her eyes snapped open as she would have drawn her first breath -- but gods do not need to breathe, and what less should be expected from god-dust?

What she heard, what she saw, what she felt on her skin, such as it was, was the most beautiful song that she had known. The song of her cradle was the song of the universe, and called -- no, demanded -- that she sing along. Mianmi opened her mouth, and sang her birth, the song of a joyous god, a song of creation, a song that reached across the the fledgeling world, and permeated it, not audibly heard by all, but there, at a level to make even the very flora exault and answer the call. It mattered not what travails or environment all might encounter, this was a time of joy, of creation, of growth. The song would sustain them.

Spoiler

Show

AP 15-1(Nourishment)=14
Nourishment: Song of Joy is intended as a global effect, encouraging any living thing to joy and growth. Plants go to seed and spread, extensive clutches of eggs are laid by dragons, mortals getting it on, etc.

[Shmee]

The Cosmic Mother, the Void


The Playground continues to change as new divinities arise and being to mold it as they see fit. Deep within the Void the Cosmic Mother slumbered as she recuperates from her battle against the World. She is unaware of the plight of the Playground for while Phos and Oussia may have been her eyes, she lost both, one as a result of her failed attempt to rescue her child, and the other was given up willingly. Thus, having severed her vision, the Blind Mother's eyes may be watching over the Playground, but her true eyes is her First Born, who for reasons only known to him has not yet appealed to her for aid.

So deep was the Cosmic Mother's slumber that she was not even aware of the birth of a new deity.


The Dragons, Demiourgia

The Dragons continued to hatch and as the centuries passed by, began growing more powerful as they began occupying the land promised to them by their creator. Hatchlings did die during the Long Night, but what is a year of darkness for creatures that can easily live for centuries?

From the eggs, several forms of Dragons emerged, categorized based on the colors of their scales, they were the Metallic, Chromatic and Gem Dragons. However as the birthing process for the eggs were different, each category of Dragons came out to be different. The Metallic Dragons were the ones influenced the most by Bahamut, and began to follow his teachings about their role in this world, meanwhile the Chromatic Dragons, influenced the most by the dreams they had while in their eggs found that Tiamat's ways of dominance and cruelty suited them better. The Gem Dragons remained neutral, uncaring to the struggles as both Bahamut and Tiamat continuously futilely attempt to sway them over to their side.

[Lady Tialait]

The Visionary and Matron Nosh, Void

It had been a long time sense the great city had moved, Matron Nosh had moved among it's empty streets in a maddening loneliness. Her mission was complete, and her father was not speaking while the city churned on it's quest for the creation of the engine. After so much time had passed the city finally stirred into movement, this caused Matron Nosh elation. She kneed and began and pray joyously she had brought the most powerful creature in all the world to her master, and had perfected it.

Metallic vines surged throughout the city as the Visionary had completed his work. A great gate opened and it shambled out, a mimicry of a tree, instead of branches massive clawed arms. Instead of leaves sharp blades. Instead of an immobile trunk a set of tracks that moved it forward.

"Matron Nosh, this is the First Engine I have promised to create. However, this is not the most powerful thing to exist on the world. There are challengers to it's power. For your failure, you will not lead the First Engines into the world. I have created a second creature of perfection for that."

Behind the First Engine a long vine-like metallic creature followed. Almost serpentine with two clawed hands flickered their sharpened fingers on either side of him. His head a massive jaw filled with needle-like teeth. Floating before him a hologram of a chess board each of the current active Gods opposed to him on the board, on his side several legions of First Engines placed as pawns behind that placed as king the Visionary to his right Matron Nosh, and to his left this new creature.

"Meet your brother, Jin Xau'Hal. He will command the First Engines, if you fail to collect the most powerful creature, then your brother will take them by force. The world will know perfection. That is the future I can see."

Matron Nosh bowed her head to the Visionary then spoke in her hushed tones.

"My master, allow me to try again to collect the most powerful creatures before you send this destructive force. I will not fail you."

The city echoed again the gears turning.

"Yes, you will go and try once more. Gaps in your knowledge are forgivable. Fail me again, and I will send your brother."

Jin Xau'Hal make small noises as sharp points of metal tapped against sharp points of metal, then turned to go work on the First Engine strategy.

Spoiler

Show

11 - 3 Create Avatar (Jin Xau'Hal) - 2 Create Populace (First Engines - First Engines are mechanical trees take take organic and inorganic matter and add it to their size using internal processing.) = 6 AP remaining.

[Deadlykire]

Erebus
Kyre walked along its new home, transforming the plane as needed. First the plane split into many smaller sections, these sections began to move and shift. The spun, and slowly began to orbit around Kyre. The levels of Erebus bent to Kyre's will. They twisted, contorted at every command. Kyre began constructing the citadel. Kyre reformed the entire plane into an infinitely large spire centered on Kyre. There existed small platforms around the spire, each belonging to a mortal creature. As new mortals were created, new platforms appeared. These platforms orbited the great spire of Erebus. As creatures died, they arrived in Erebus. There they stayed until their creators found a new home for them. If such a home was never found, Kyre collected their souls on Erebus.

Spoiler

Show

10 AP
10-1 Create Concept: Souls
9 AP remaining

Spoiler

Show

All souls are property of Kyre, in life and death. When creatures die, their souls come to the plane of shadow (Erebus). Unless the creator of mortal creatures (of any sort) creates a new home for their dead creations they belong to Kyre in death.

[Lady Tialait]

The Sleepless Citadel, Mother Matron Elev Nosh

The Matron had been sent to find the most powerful creature in all of creation, after following the ebbs and flows of time, she searched out the Black Praetor. While other demons had the power a flight and where perhaps ore physically imposing, the creatures under the Black Praetor had the power of Nightmares.

Matron Nosh had never experienced sleep or dreams, but the Visionary, her master, saw the future. From what she had gathered, so could those who had dreams. Not only the future, but the past and the present and possibilities. All demons had some abilities regarding this dream power. She had chosen the Black Praetor because of his power. Nightmare. A dark version of a dream. If this power was given perfection, then the vision of the future could come true.

Matron Nosh was on a mission, she would find what would be required to create the Nightmare Engines.

[Man on Fire]

Neiag, the Void

Biding his new family farewell, Neiag went for a walk. He travelled the world, then the void. He was observing and learning things, collecting stories and analyzing them. These were early tales, from begining of time and written on the very first scrolls. Written word proved to be very useful and Spinner of Stories made a note in mind to introduce them to mortal races when the time is right. For now through, he wanted to rest. So he opened the doors in the middle of the void and steppeh into his own, private study.
In ainfinite in size spider web inside of which he could find his liblary, labolatory and anything else he felt like having. It was his own little playground and sanctuary. And so he lied in it's center, like a spider in it's web, and studied his first writings.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

-3 AC Create Plane: Neiag's Web

Spoiler: Traits

Show

Outer Plane
Subjective Directional Gravity
Timeless
Divinely Morphic: Neiag can change the plane in any way he wants
Negative-Dominant
Strongly Law-Aligned
Limited Magic: Any attempts at using magic against Neiag or his properties on the plane are negated.
Separate Plane

[Space Lawyer]

Ikino
The Challenge Mountains

The pledges of loyalty made, Ikino rests within his fiery mountain. However, all was not well. The land was his, and it was suffering. Across the continent, he could feel the animals of the Shepherd falling and in a new phenomenon, dying. He felt the foul waters of the oceans infiltrate the ground, feeding the distant trees. Even the mighty flames of the volcanos could barely penetrate into the omnipresent darkness. One thing was clear: the impurity was winning, and it would destroy everything.

Ikino's first instinct was to find the one that called itself Kyre and slaughter it, driving back the Long Night with fury and fire. But no, that would not do. This "death" was necessary. It would allow the weak to fall first, purifying life itself, and making it stronger. If everything was dead though, there would be no progress of any sort. Thus, Kyre had to be convinced to end the Long Night willingly.

How does one convince a god though, especially one for whom death itself is sustenance? Ikino looks to himself and his siblings, and realizes that there is one thing that Kyre does not have, and cannot have. It is life itself. Yes, to give what one is lacking, and wishes to have, in return for something else, that is the solution. There is no greater source of life than the eggs of dragons, of course, that which has birthed multiple divinities.

Ikino rouses himself, his burning form taking flight. In the gloom, he spots an egg, abandoned and alone, deprived the warmth of the Mother's Eyes and Ikino's fire. He plucks the egg from the ground, his mighty bulk cracking the land. Farther and farther he flies, calling for Kyre, until even his all-revealing vision dims, and the darkness becomes a palpable thing.

A voice seems to come from all around, a sound that causes Ikino to burn ever-brighter with rage. "Ikino. Have you come to understand the darkness? You stand where even your brightest light cannot banish the shadows."

"No, Lurker in Shadows. I have come to bring light back to our world though. You have your darkness here, but it has gone too far where the rest of us dwell. I offer an agreement: you will allow the light to return to The World, and I will offer you a gift." Ikino produces from within himself the egg. "This contains one who is of my form, and nourished by my divine fire. You have only seen death, but I offer you a single life. It is a powerful life, unlike the feeble souls that you have drawn to yourself thus far. What say you?"

Kyre stood, pensive. "I accept your gift. Leave it and begone if this is your only business with death. I shall withdraw my gift to the world, for it is not yet appreciated. I wish you no ill will. Remember, upon the next blink of the mother's eyes the gift will leave. When she opens them again, the long night will have ended." Kyre's face looks forlorn as it shifts back to being formless, "Perhaps one day you will truly be blessed with understanding death."

Ikino, satisfied, places the egg down. He wings away from the plane of shadows, the egg a swiftly fading ember behind him. Upon return to The World, he looks skyward, waiting for the Mother to open her eyes.

[mystic1110]

The Sleepless Citadel - The Black Praetor and Mother Matron Elev Nosh.

Travel to the Sleepless Citadel had become a tradition for all Demons or each lineage. A pilgrimage if you will. The Omen Demon's had begun to use their arcane power to burst free of Mezzethera and see the effects of their dreams first hand. Mortals would be more likely to encounter Omen Demons than any other type. They would become fierce warriors, using their magic to make sure that the Blood Praetors dreams of war were as glorious as he desired. Not yet of course, the first demons to leave the bounds of Mezzethera dissolved in the air of reality quickly. It would be many years before they become feared by mortal kind. The fearsome Ecstasy Demons had become artists despite their form. They used their magic to craft ever more beautiful works of art and works of dream. Mortal's above would never be their equal - the Demons had too much practice. Years from now Ecstasy Demon forged weapons would become priceless artifacts. The Nightmare Demons of the Citadels had become priests of the Ocean, but also its teachers and mentors in the uses of the Arcane Arts. Over time, mortal magicians would make the journey to the bottom of the ocean to learn their secrets.

While the Praetors were officially at war with one another at all times - it was a very informal war. They still made trips to one another's domains to plot against the third - and they allowed their people to mix and travel - under the guise of spying and learning. No, the war was a cold war, it was really about dominance of mortal dreams. An economic and philosophical war as it were.

Thus when Mother Matron Elev Nosh arrived at the submerged gates of the Sleepless Citadel, each type of Demon was already present, although black robed priests of the Nightmare clan were by far the most numerous.

The gates of the Citadel were open as they always were and were completely submerged in the dark ocean. By walking and swimming forward one would find that the hallway slants up drastically until one emerges from the water into a room made of obsidian stone. There is no light in the room - or anywhere in the Citadel - demons are sightless after all.

In the room where the Mother Matron emerges she can see three black robed hunched Nightmare Demons. She can't see anything about them except their robes and black face-masks. In fact if it weren't for her perfected form, she would not see anything at all.

The air pulses and she hears a grating grinding whisper in her head.

Greetings. We are Priests of the Sleepless Citadel. I am Bishop Mirai. I am Father Mot. I am Inquisitor Carvatish. You are the first mortal to descend to these Depths. I commend you. We are here to discover what it is you seek.

The vibrations in her skull happened all at once, making it hard for her to tell which of the demons was talking at any time - creating a weird mix of plural and singular voice that seemed specifically designed to drive her mad.

[Deadlykire]

Kyre
Erebus

Kyre looked upon the gift granted by the dragons. It was sad. The others had rejected death's gift, did they not understand? Did they not see? These thoughts troubled Kyre. The one called Ikino had gifted Kyre a great dragon egg. Ikino had felt Kyre longed for life, but Kyre longed only for balance. Kyre had begun to balance life and death but the others were too feeble to have saved their own creations. Kyre smiled, if a shadow could smile, as it thought of this. The others had come to death to restore life. And thus the Kyre, god of death, controlled the living and the dead. Kyre brushed the egg with the shadow, intent on taking it to The Great Spire at the center of Erebus. But Death's touch corrupted the egg. It began to die. The being inside came to life, and began to die immediately. "This is what they meant," thought Kyre. They are incapable of existing in the shadow so the shadow must save them. Kyre drew upon its great power, drawing back The Long Night and forming it into a great shroud of shadow. It throw the shroud over the egg, shielding the new being from Death. Erebus extended again to Zalsaram, depositing the egg safely back in the light. And so Deimos came to life.

Kyre learned the lesson of death's caress. Only the most stout would be able to exist in the shadows with Kyre. So Kyre drew upon its great power and created The Keepers. Beings of shadow the existed at first only on Erebus. They were keepers of the dead, tending to the darkness. Their flesh was black, their vision accustomed to the darkness. Kyre, unlike the others, anticipated further needs and allowed The Keepers to also see in the light. Kyre clasped the Shroud of Shadows upon its form and rested on the edge of Erebus, still connected to Zalsaram. With this expenditure complete, the god of death forsook all of Zalsaram. They wished not for Kyre's presence so it ceased to care about meeting them. They would now have to come to it, or Kyre would send out a Keeper to them.

Spoiler

Show

9 AP
9-3 Create Artifact: Shroud of Shadows (Utility, Pestilence)
6-3 Gain Domain: Darkness

Spoiler

Show

3 AP Plane of Shadow, 1 AP The Long Night, 3 AP Shroud of Shadows

3-2 Create Populace: The Keepers
1 AP Remaining

[Darklady2831]

Birth of the First Hero

Darkness, shadow, cold. These were the first things Deimos ever felt and saw. He cracked open his egg, only to be smothered by an unseen force that choked the very essence of life from his body. The Dragon withered, his limbs and wings shriveling up, his scales falling off. He felt his very being fade, until a black warmth shrouded around him. He clung to this, hope springing to life within his newborn mind. He fought, struggling against the clutches of death. The warmth kept the cold hand of death at bay for a precious few moments, before light was shed upon his form. Through the cracks and gaps in the eggshell around him, he felt the shroud recede, and the warmth of the suns caressed his flesh for the first time. With great effort, Deimos heaved himself upon, pushing the shell out of the way. He climbed out of his egg, falling onto the ground in a withered heap. Gone were his wings, his majestic scales, and his claws. His limbs were no longer those of a dragon, but closely resembled those of The Shepard, for some unknown reason.

He raised his head, looking up at the sky with empty eye sockets. Only his left eye shone with a deep red light, like that of a dying star. I died. His first thought rang out in his head, suffusing his being. But... I live. His second thought came shortly after, his newly formed mind arranging itself. His head fell back down into the dirt he lay in. His hands, withered and ghostly, dug into the ground. He struggled, pushing himself to his feet. His gaze trailed off, seeing the withered and starving forms of animals that had just barely survived the long night. He saw the trees and the bushes, now drinking in the cold light of Phos. He did not shiver, for his body knew the cold well. The cold of winter, after all, is just a prelude to the icy touch of death. Deimos looked down to himself, seeing his naked and vulnerable form. Without scales, without wings, without claws or fangs. He exhaled, his weak breath turning to frost in the cold air. Not even the breath of a dragon remained within him. Yet he did not despair. He held his head up, whispering. "Who has done this?"

[Lady Tialait]

The Sleepless Citadel - The Black Praetor and Mother Matron Elev Nosh.

Mother Matron Elev Nosh's bloodied flesh creates an aura of blood around her, as she moves her arms around this creates elegant patterns of swirling red coloration. Her voice uninterrupted by the waters as she speaks in her whispered soft tones.

"I am honored to be greeted by such titled creatures. You must already know that I am Mother Matron Elev Nosh, the perfect creation of The Visionary. I am here to discuss something with those who embody Nightmares, as my master has sent me out upon the world to find the most powerful creature."

Her massive headdress tilts, it's white surface stained by the red floating in the water.

"I do not truly understand what a dream is, nor what a nightmare is. This fact alone means they must be terribly powerful. If this is true, then I must bring a sample back to my master. He wishes to perfect the most powerful creature in our world."

[Toxic Mind]

Deimos, Pernieth - The World

"Who has done this?"

Whispers, from across the void. Life, from death.

It would have been a strange sight for Deimos. Roots, shooting from the ground, grasping into the air, forming a semblance of a body. Two Legs, Two Arms, a torso, a head. But there the similarities ended, for the body was of the plants and trees and bark and vines, and not of flesh as his own.

"Night" Pernieth says as answer to the question. Yet the word was not so much a description of a time, as it was a person. Pernieth could almost taste the taint of the Endless Dark on this creature before him. The same influence that nearly eradicated his children, that necessitated the great sleep.

"Who?" Pernieth asks, pointing towards Deimos.

[mystic1110]

The Sleepless Citadel - The Black Praetor and Mother Matron Elev Nosh.

The Nightmare Priests speak in their silent language.

We do not know of you Mother Matron, nor of the Visionary. We only know of those whom dream. And we are mere servants. Even I am only a Bishop. Inquisitor? No, none of the dreams I have witnessed bore your mark. Perhaps the Cardinals and the Praetor himself know more of the world above? Yes that would perhaps be best for a being of your stature.

The Demons file out of the room leading Elev Nosh higher into the Citadel where the waters of the ocean outside did not reach - kept at bay due to the air trapped within. She passed many other priest going about their duties, and even the occasional Omen demon flying listlessly through the stale air. Eventually they lead her to a domed room - circular, empty with a crystal ceiling where the void black purple of the ocean matched the black colored walls and floor of the room. There was no light.

In the center of the room was a Demon much like the others but larger - with disjointed hands trailing on the floor and a hunched back. More over, of the parts of the creature she saw (the rest covered by black robes) the creature was covered in burn scars. This was the Black Praetor.

The other Priests stood behind her as he spoke in that same grating whisper in her head

Greetings Envoy. Your master wishes to know about nightmares? What does he offer? Or. . . what do you offer in his stead?

[Darklady2831]

Deimos, Pernieth - The World

Deimos tilted his head, staring at the roots twist and tangle to form a body for some being. He would have blinked, if he had eyelids. Then the being spoke. "Who?" it said.

Deimos looked down at his naked form, then at the root-person. "Deimos..." He said, the word symbolizing all he was. His name spoke of a stage between life and death, it spoke of a weak and vulnerable thing without protection of it's own, and it spoke of great potential and unbreakable will to thrive.

"Who?" Deimos repeated, pointing to Pernieth.

[Toxic Mind]

Deimos, Pernieth - The World

"Pernieth" The nature god spoke. Meaningless, a name. To him, his name encompassed all that he was, the cycle of life and death, the growing of things green and good, the very heart of Nature in the world. But to this creature before him, perhaps it was only a sound.

Pernieth opens a palm, and on its bark surface, a sprout forms, which grows into a flower. He proffers it to the creature before him, as explanation, and as a gift.

[Lady Tialait]

The Sleepless Citadel - The Black Praetor and Mother Matron Elev Nosh.


Matron Nosh bowed slightly before the Black Praetor then spoke.

"I come offering perfection. Not truly an exchange, a gift more then anything. Grant me an understanding of nightmares, and the Visionary will use this understanding to perfect them. The returned object of perfection will be superior to anything you may have now."

Matron Nosh gestures and an image of a First Engine appears.

"Behold, the great First has been perfected. This was not the most powerful creature in all the world, but had many advantages. The largest save the divine living thing, has survived the darkness that has killed many things, and alters the very world around it. The First Engine takes all these things into account, and perfects them. How much greater if this process was used upon a nightmare?"

[Darklady2831]

Deimos, Pernieth - The World

Deimos held out his hand, caressing the flower gently, a slight smile creeping onto his face. It was alive, much more so than he. He looked to Pernieth, nodding. "You are... life?" He asks, hesitantly. He looks back to the flower, smiling at it. It was innocent, good, pure. He saw the life within it, knowing it's great value. "I am..." He says, trailing off. "A dragon." He says after a few moments of thought. The smile fades from his face as he realizes what he looks like, how strange he must look compared to the True Dragons of the Cosmic Mother.

[Rainshine]

Mianmi, The Cosmos

So it was that as Mianmi sang, she perceived the world that had been made, and drew near to gaze upon it. She beheld that which was there, and the joyful response to her song, and was heartened. She called out to the world, asking it why it did not sing of its own, but the world was silent. The creatures of the world did not know truly to sing the songs that the universe possessed, and so her song changed from the Joy Song of her birth.

What emerged was a tune to evoke the natural beauty and growth of a world, and a sense of duty. As she sang, a hand reached out to coax from the earth fellows to take up the song. From the land, as if drawn upwards from a body of water, dirt pouring off its form, came the first of the tenders of Demiourgia. A broad and ruddy forehead was topped by a thatch of brown, unkempt hair. Below lay bushy eyebrows framing the sunken eyes that gazed out, piercing green in their intensity. The face was sharp and angular, with slitted nostrils and a wide mouth, tapering to a pointed chin. The body was generally that of a rather furry and well-muscled humanoid, going to a slender pair of legs . About the creature’s head was woven greenery, a vine of ivy providing a base for the crown constructed there. Fingers, slender and looking oddly broken, long and bringing to mind talons. To this creature, Mianmi added a reeded instrument, a set of three long pipes for it to blow, and to its mind, gave it a fraction of her power, an echo of the Verse of Growth.

Whereupon it took the pipes to mouth, and began to lay to air the sound that ran through its head. As he played, the flowers themselves began to grow and bud around, trunks of trees began to swell as they ascended into the skies. While his tune took to the earth, so did another rise beside him, at the beckon of the Matriarch of Song.

Whereas the first creature stood as tall as a sapling in its second year, the next grew not even to his waist. Where the first was a slender sapling, this was an old, gnarled stump. Nearly as large around as tall, the orb that served as head was topped with a smattering of short hair, as if sand scattered on a stone slab. Six eyes spaced evenly gazed out from that head, with a perception beyond that of normal light, to take in longer wavelengths, and even sound itself. Possessing of two mouths, each opened to produce a low note of such beauty rendered more astounding in what might be great contrast to its owner. The barrel of a torso took up most of the height of the body, with six arms, arrayed in sets of three -- a pair spread with a single arm, higher up and positioned between the pair. Below, that monstrous torso rested on four “legs”. Legs that had no hinged knee, but rather resembled tree trunks in their own right, able to rotate a full circle and bend in any of those directions. To this grand soul Mianmi presented a set of drums uniquely suited to its physiology, and it began to play a slow beat upon the drums, counterpoint to the piping that he sang along to.

The third member of the troupe joined them -- not fighting out of the ground, or growing up, but from above. Like a raindrop swelling with water until it fell from the tree branch, the sudden growth spilled out into the air a figure with a luminosity about it. Four gossamer wings beat at the air, hovering it -- her -- there. A thick mane of glossy hair spread out in the currents made by her wings. Taken as a whole, she evoked the upper branches of a forest tyrant, slender and supple, with a radiant splendor as it tapers to its end. The most humanoid of the three, the luster of the hair was just a little off, the gleam of the skin just a bit too wrong when you really looked at it. To this figure, with the light shimmering through her wings, was bequeathed the stringed lyre, and her voice flew free and high as she set down lightly on the ground, strings letting the music loose.

Pipe and voice and drum and lyre twined together, an echo of deific song on Demiourgia, and where that song touched, life thrived.

Spoiler

Show

AP 14 - 2 (Create Populace: Satyrs, Girrons, and Celue) - 1 (Teach Concept: Verse of Growth) = 11