Lords of Creation 2

[Innis Cabal]

Raging Waves Band: The Forest

Vasae strode forth, placing his hands up and smiling, making sure not to show his teeth, speaking in a heavily accented draconic, his hands flying in his native speech.

"Now now, lets not get violent shall we? We'd hate to lose business. We have food and other supplies."

Hand Sign

"Surrond them. Now"

A large number of the Shikigami that had been staying within their tents disappeared, should any attempt to look

[Heliomance]

The leader of the Fey stepped forwards.
<You poisoned the river. You are no friends of the forest. Why should we let you stay?>

[Innis Cabal]

Vasae: The Forest

Vasae looks to several of the other members of the band, shrugging slightly

"Posion? No, enhancments. Your language is...odd. We can barely understand you. Can you understand us?"

((Assuming a "Common" language was made when Concept Language was paid for))

[Heliomance]

The leader barked a quick phrase, and one of the others came to the front. This one had no weapon; instead, a wooden flute was pushed through his belt.

"I speak small amount your language. River water bad now, drink it and see things that are not there. You did, you put stuff from crate in. Fellinis tried stuff, saw things. Now people drink water, see things. Water poisoned."

[Innis Cabal]

Vasae: The Forest

Vasae shook his head, the little things didn't know what a bargain they really were getting, but if they wanted it clean, it just meant they'd get more of the gel and diluted to a point it'd hook people for the real thing.

"Forgive. We cleanse water. We trade, learn. Not enemies, made mistake."

[Heliomance]

The one with the flute turned to the apparent leader - he was taller than most of them, over six foot - and rattled off a rapid string in their language. The leader replied, and the spokesman turned back to Vasae.

"Very well. Clean river, we forgive. Trade good, but we do not like enemies of forest. Be warned."

[Innis Cabal]

Vasae: The Forest

Vasae makes a slight hand motion, the hidden Shikigami rushing off to re-gather their goods. Vasae gave another smile before returning to work with the rest of The Twilight shouting over his shoulder

"Come back if trade is good!"

[Vadin]

WEEK 1

Luumu's countenance took pity on the scattered gnomes and kobolds, and for a time the sunlight was less harsh, and fewer fires ravaged their crops, and, on the whole, they prospered.

It came to pass that they consolidated, and a few small villages of gnomes and kobolds arose across the world, dotting the Hands here and there.

(2 AP = 4 AP (rollover) - 1 AP (Nourish Land) - 1 AP (Nourish Populace: Gnobold villages))

[Innis Cabal]

Yen: The Midnight Carnival

Yen leaned back in his dais, watching the world birth forth new gods and cities. How grand! But then, a wanderer caught his eye....clearly a god! He directed one of the older shikigami souls, crushed by a boulder, who had slowly reshaped into one of the various fox spirits to the goddess.

The spirit landed, bowing deeply to the godling, dropping a scroll to the ground before popping into a burst of green fire

The note reads

"Grand and young goddess who wanders! I, Yen the Fox, The Grinning Lord, invite you to the Midnight Carnival, for talk and information. You have walked the world now for some time it would seem and must have grand stories! Perhaps a trade would do?"

[Sicarius]

Cryala

Cryala noted the note, and then furled it up and gave it back to the fox spirit. Tell your master that I accept, and will journey to the Midnight Carnival at the first opportunity.

Before long, Cryala had walked to a gate to the Midnight Carnival. She had heard about Yen, the Grinning Lord. She didn't want to miss the journey by traveling directly. The adventure, after all, was in the exploration.

[Innis Cabal]

Yen: The Midnight Carnival

Several other fox spirits sat at the proverbial gates to The Midnight Carnival(It’s a Plane just so you know there Sir).
The fox’s rushed the young goddess through the Beach of Etiquette and to the very central city, a location only the strongest of the fox spirits had seen. A large table had been made up filled with food and drink, music lilting through the air, Yen sat at the head, and unlike his attire for meeting the Sun God, he was dressed in the most pristine skins of fox, nine tails flicking through the air, a mask of emerald covering his face.

“GREETINGS! Take a seat and enjoy yourself. What have you seen on the mortal plane?”

Yen then leans his elbows on the table, grinning

“I am sure it is marvelous, but..the price to exchange! Where are my manners. Please, state your price!”

[Sicarius]

Cryala

Cryala was dressed far less ornately than the Grinning Lord. She had on a brown shirt and finely decorated skirt. Her stomach was exposed, emphasizing her bosom. Her hair was tied under a brown bandana, and her trademark winged sandals had her hovering a few inches off the ground.

"Price, eh? All you want is information on the world?"

[Innis Cabal]

Yen: The Midnight Carnival

Yen bursts out laughing

"All the Knowledge?! Absolutly! I want to be amused by this world forever. All creation is a game, a brilliant and wonderful game, so young and wonderful. Everything there is to know...all their secrets...the things that they want no one to ever know...how it could be used!

But thats only a small part! A...piece of the grand play. What is eternal creation if you can't enjoy yourself? Joy is all I want for all creatures of the world, and I have the power to grant them that, to...make the real world a mere illusion to their dreams. But what do -you- want hmm?"

[Reath]

WEEK 1

Dayo, The Material Plane

After the brief conversation with his father, Dayo returned to the earth. Dayo was bored again: the entertainment he had garned from yesterdays trials and tribulations was faded already, and he looked down upon the world, searching for a new source of entertainment.
He glided over the deserts, noting that people lived there. He wondered if he should give him his Gifts- but, a song flying on the wind caught his attention. Turning towards the newly risen forests, he glided on the winds, alighting upon the branches where he seemed the hear the epicenter. There, he called out, "Hello?"

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Lerios

Lerios knew that if he wanted to begin exerting his control, ever so stealthily to the world beyond the Emerald Crown, he would need a strong home influence, and for that he needed more than a few ragtag tribes of fearful adherents, pleasant though the fear was, he needed cunning, mischievous, and sly followers who could take care of themselves. And so he decided to give them a gift, though they likely would not recognize it as a gift at first: He gave them the desire to rise in power, like his own, and so too with his own he made them work in clandestine ways, daggers in the night and secret pacts between clans. This would forge a hierarchy, as some soubt power over fist their clans, and then more and more, with the most influential and sly creatures rising to the top. This would begin the greater civilizations of the kobolds, halflings (gnomes?), and the lycanthropes who ran freely through their ranks.

Meanwhile...
The Midnight Carnival

Amidst the roil of clouds, at some point noone could really quite discern, a moon had appeared above the Beach of Etiquette. Where the moon shone it's soft blue-white light, the clouds and rains parted, and an odd rainbow of colors bloomed, the whole effect was beautiful and captivating. Somewhat offputting however, was the fact that the moon had a huge, hawk-like eye right in the middle, which seemed to pulse with bluish energy. It merely watched over the land, non threatening but not forthecoming in it's purpose. As ever, the watchful eye of Lerios observed the reactions to it's presence

3AP=4AP-1AP (nourish population, or pestilence, depending on how you look at it) the more cunning among the Emerald Crown become power hungry, and even more sly and underhanded, pushing them to kill rivals with cloak-and-dagger strategies and unite tribes under their rule. AKA Politics

[Innis Cabal]

The Midnight Carnival

While the sight of a large moon was surely offputting, it was more the ceasing of rain that surprised the spirits more. But there was partying to do. If the god or spirit or demon wished to join, he was more then willing to do so. That was the point of the city after all.



Yen: The Midnight Carnival

Yen took a deep breath, the masks' ears twitching suddenly

"My my...my dear! Please eat! Rest and enjoy. You are my guest here. I shall return."

Yen then exploded in a single red puff, appearing before the large hawk eyed moon

"Oh Moon! Brother to Oh Sun! What have you come to my domain for? Surely the world needs your soft and gentle light to guide them in their nocturnal dealings."

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Lerios, Beach of Etiquette

The moon spoke softly into the Fox-Lords mind, but he could tell there were subtle variations to it's pattern of speech and thought that he for some reason could not pick up on. Indeed it does, good thing then that this is but a copy of the true moons radiance. As to my purpose here, I have come to observe this plane of yours, this "Midnight Carnival" and to speak with you when you are unburdened by prior appointments, for I know that you spoke to my brother the Sun, but did not pry over much and so do not know of what you spoke.

[Innis Cabal]

Yen: The Midnight Carnival

"Oh I see I see. Yes....Oh Moon I did speak to Oh Sun, and was very certain I would speak to you. My guest is eating. Please, let this not be in vain. What is it that you seek from me hmm?"

The Moon will find the mind of Yen troubling, for every avenue it wanders, a thousand more split and merge

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Lerios, Beach of Etiquette

The moon seemed to think a moment, By speaking straight into his mind Lerios gave Yen a similar peek into the surface of his mind, likely an intentional action. If Yen cared to look he would have seen that every thought and every notion seemed to be wrapped in a thick gauze of subtlety and intrigue, as if the moons rays had been weaved into a yarn and wrapped around them, obscuring them from view, while dozens of eyes scrutinized every idea and thought, making sure it was sound. After a moment the Moon answered. Perhaps there is something... you see, I have been trying to make my people more... cultured, I suppose you could say. You are the god of... trade, among other things yes? Well, while there are some peoples and tribes and clans with which to trade, imagine how much such a concept would benefit if there were larger gatherings of mortals, under the control of one or a group. More than a tribe, in this, more like several tribes or clans combined. I would ask your help in influencing the mortals, so they would comprehend this idea, and come to see it's worth.

[Innis Cabal]

Yen: The Midnight Carnival

Yen grabs the surface of the moon, beaming even wider

"We are so alike Oh Moon! Yes, more interaction, they are all so dull there in the mortal realm. I sadly must do something...very soon. But I will give you a mote of my foxfire soon! Very soon! for this concept.

On one condition! Once the deed is done, you and your brother will leave my people to their dealings without harm. After all, they will only facilitate the power you so seek. We are so like minded, we are indeed! Surely you see that?"

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Lerios, Beach of Etiquette

The moon did not move from it's position looking at Yen, but in his mind he could perceive it's mental nod. Very well, however as you know I cannot speak for my brother. We are siblings true but we are unlike in so many ways, he can be brash and cruel. You will have to speak to him of such matters, I will hold off the act until you have his answer, for the sake of... goodwill.

[Sicarius]

Cryala, the Way Between, Lady of the Coming and Going

Delighted in the new location, Cryala spent more time wandering the halls of the Midnight Carnival than sitting. She had grabbed a handful of food and munched it quietly as she walked. Of course, she needed no victuals, but the journey was made both better and worse by eating.

The difference, of course, was that she never did eat food exactly like this. That made it better. The change was better. Her sandals fluttered. She enjoyed herself immensely.

She even knew what to ask for. Yen was, after all, her brother in spirit if her opposite in outlook and technique.

She observed the moon, and wondered what it might be to walk upon it's surface. Did it feel like the earth? She would have to travel to it, at some point. She would travel everywhere. To not do so would be to deny herself the pleasure.

She walked and waited until her host returned, occassionally stopping by the table to pick up more food.

[Innis Cabal]

Yen: The Midnight Carnival

Yen simply beamed.

"Then just ignore that bit. I will make sure he notices me. Please. Enjoy your stay in my city. Though if you do not mind, I will ask you to be mindful of the buildings and things. They are so very hard to build. Do the act and my power will find it and aid you. Let us talk again kindly Oh Moon."

Yen then seemed to fold into himself, a single grin remaining before it exploded into a firey cloud.

Yen then seated himself back at the grand dining table, kicking his feet up and picking a glass of sake from the table.

"So busy. Now where were we...?"

Yen then burst out laughing, as he noticed his guest was not at her seat.

[Sicarius]

Cryala, The Way Between

"You were asking me what I wanted." Cryala pointed out. "And it would not be proper to cheat the god of commerce in his own home by not allowing him to make an offer before I set my price."

[Innis Cabal]

Yen: The Midnight Carnival

Yen taps his chin

"Clever ya...hmm....what do -I- want....I want to enjoy myself, I want to watch the mortal world fall short of all its dreams, but find them in doing so! I want them all to enjoy themselves, but above all...I want to simply watch it all! To know it all! I want so little, but so much at the same time, I want desire and the energy of life so as to watch it in its boundless quest for glory, in its times of terror, and its moments of joy."

Yen then hugs himself, shaking with glee before coughing, recomposing himself.

"But...those are all long term and immaterial things. Perhaps a simple...agreement would do? We are similar are we not? I want people I know I can trust. Friends to share enjoyment with. Fun is very dull when you are by yourself."

[Sicarius]

Cryala, the Way Between

"Oh, now that shall not do at all. I am not someone that you know you can trust. We have not traveled together. But that action is beautiful in it's own way. I will not offer a confining agreement, but offer instead that you may walk arm-in-arm with me, for a time."

"As far as knowledge, I would be happy to share one facet of knowledge in exchange for a service to be performed, at a later time, of my choosing. Don't consider it a contract that which even the most obtuse cannot hope to sift through. Think of it as an agreement from one to another."

"That being said, I know of your kind and ability, and was hoping for a little game. You and I are to create a story. You will spin one and I shall spin one. The victor is the one who's story possesses the smallest hero defeating the mightiest of foes? I am sure a judge god would happily determine a victor. The loser owes one favor to the victor?"

[Innis Cabal]

Yen: The Midnight Carnival

"A story! Yes! Winning or losing is so…it hardly matters to me."

Yen waves a hand

“I will walk arm and arm with you for as long as you wish, or until you cease to provide amusement. Our kind are like that are we not? Even those you can trust will betray you down a long long road. But the story…the story of the smallest thing beating the biggest foe? We need no judges. I forfeit.”

Yen leans back in the chair, grinning.

“But I will tell a story…oh yes I will. After all, its what you asked! The story is the very creation of this world.

Before there was anything, there was a darkness…so cold and the color darker then ink, that none could see through it, save for one. The Grand
Creator was dwarfed by this nothing, and in it, he found what he desired, a power to create children, to show all of the Nothing that he was something, and that because of –that- truth, he was better then all that had come before, and forever after he was better then anything that could be done.
He was a mighty creature, but everytime he grew stronger, the Nothing made more of itself so as to show the Grand creator he was simply a lie, nothing in a sea of nothing. And the creator dispeared, feared and lost hope! He did! And he wept, tears so bitter they fell in the nothing and so powerful were they that they became…something else!

And from those tears my brothers lept, the fire and the earth and the waves! They washed away the nothing and filled it with their power, the real power of the Grand Creator was not his own, but his power to make that which wasn’t into that which was! You see, his power alone was not strong enough to fight that which could not be defeated, only in creating more of what was, could he beat it back. And in the spaces left, I stepped forward to fill it. The Grand Creators Victory, was the very birth of this world!”

(This is not how it happened really, its just how Yen precived it)

[Suberman]

Limbo

The Grand Creator grinned wildly. His children had all been so busy -- there were now a good many interesting...things...in this material plane. With a shudder, the Creator brought forth yet another child. He was short and squat, with stunted legs. His face was wreathed with wild brown hair, around and across, and his eyes were like deep, dark wells that seemed to stretch on for eternity.

Ataraxis; in Limbo

"Father...you created me, so that I might create in your stead...that's right, isn't it?" He wondered. "If that is the case, I'll not fail you. But...how should I contribute...?"

Ataraxis looked upon the world, taking in all that had been created up to this point.

"I want to create land as well! Let's see..." Ataraxis dug his fingertips into the soil beneath the seas, and kneaded it between his fingers. Once satisfied with a circular figure, he placed it on top of the world, allowing the mass to adhere to its shape. The raging waters and the newly formed land congealed, creating a fractured, frozen tundra.

He shrugged and nodded, not sure just what to think."These little bands of mortals are interesting, but I'm not sure they meet my needs. Perhaps something a bit more...familiar?"

And he thought up a race of people -- they too were short and squat, with stunted legs. He then noticed the tunnels of the Gnomes and Kobolds, and smiled.

"This structure will be perfect -- without any distractions from those silly eyes in the sky, or those curious pointy-ears, my people should be able to thrive. They need not seek shelter, for the earth will provide. They can focus in a place like this. Maybe they too will create as I, their father, have, as well as my father before me."

Satisfied, Ataraxis dug deep within the earth, pulling up both magma and moist soil, and combining it with the divine fire of life to create them.

"These brusque creatures will be known as dwarves." He stated firmly. "May they prosper, and grow to love creation as I have."

Spoiler

Show

{[16AP= 21AP -2AP (Create Land: The Ice Floe, Concordance) -1AP (Mold Land: The Ice Floe, Concordance) -2AP (Create Populace: Dwarf) ]}

[Sicarius]

Cryala sat down. "Once, there was a maiden. She did not know who she was. Her sandals carried her to where she needed to go. In this time, all things had a purpose, and to not have it was to not exist. Yet the maiden existed, which meant that she had a purpose."

She began artfully weaving her hands in time with the story. "If her purpose was not known, she would simply have to find it. She looked toward the shaped all, and walked among it's surface. She removed her sandals and felt that her feet shook of the balance, her shape and temperature different from what she saw. She spoke then, to the Ender."

"Lyarin the Ender, am I the End?"

"You are not the End, for the End is itself. You are neither the Beginning nor the Ending."

"How intriguing then, to be before you though I came after!"

"After her idle, amusement, the Maiden realized she was not the End. Since that was not the case, the maiden drew from the End the Final Step, which began with her, and went to him. She then picked a second direction and walked until she found Rendirlyn, the Wild One."

"Rendirlyn, am I the Wild?"

"You are not the Wild, though I am through you, and you through me."

"I must have been been born before!"

"Whether she was or not, the Maiden took from the Wild One three acorns. The first she ate, and it became the first thing to be transformed so. The second she planted, and it became the first thing to be grown. And the third she kept for herself, and it remains there to this day. As she walked, she had noticed the gaze of the two heavenly bodies, the sun and the moon Luumu and Lerios. Both had noticed her as well, and both desired to take her for a wife, though the Maiden suspected that their rivalry may have had a part."

"As my bride, I shall offer you the brilliance and glory befitting your loveliness." The sun boldly exclaimed.

"As my bride, I shall offer you the unknowable mysteries of the world." The moon was quick to counter.

"Both offers tempted the maiden, and she agreed to spend one night with them each so that she might make her decision. She split herself into two so that she might properly judge without bias. Her solar half loved the splendor, and took as a gift from the Sun a sliver of light. Her lunar half enjoyed the sublime mystery and changing nature of the moon, and took as a gift from the Moon seven small stones, perfectly formed. The two halves met in secret that night and exchanged gifts. As her gift to the Moon upon the morrow, the Maiden's lunar half bequeathed the Moon almost all of his brother's light, keeping a small portion to herself to light her way. The Solar half of the Maiden bequeathed six of the small stones, five of which broke into pieces by the Sun's radiance and became the stars, though they did not glow. The Maiden then joined her halves and became herself again, leaving before the brothers discovered her trick."

"When the two discovered the trick, the Maiden was gone, moving as was her custom. The two brothers demanded the gifts back, but neither would allow the other to be given the gift first, lest it be seen as a sign of weakness. To compromise, as the brothers rarely did, the Moon gave part of the light to the stars, which while not his brother, was not himself. The Sun, for his part, threw the mightiest and unbroken sixth stone at where he last saw the Maiden, which streaked with such brilliance that it became the First Comet."

"Seeking to avoid the brother's wrath, the Maiden found the furthest thing from their gaze and walked into the Ocean's depths. There, Oceano neither welcomed nor harmed the Maiden. His always was. The Maiden looked upon his indifference, and asked the riddle which bespeaks of Oceano's dual nature.

"If you are neither brutal nor caring, why do your waters both soothe and crush?"

"The Maiden left the Oceans and walked where the eyes of the Sun and Moon were not, towards Yen the Midnight Carnvial, who's door was on the highest peak. There, she surveyed her journey that she had taken."

"My purpose is what I make it to be." "The Maiden laughed and became Cryala, the Way Between."

[Heliomance]

WEEK 1

Dayo, The Material Plane

After the brief conversation with his father, Dayo returned to the earth. Dayo was bored again: the entertainment he had garned from yesterdays trials and tribulations was faded already, and he looked down upon the world, searching for a new source of entertainment.
He glided over the deserts, noting that people lived there. He wondered if he should give him his Gifts- but, a song flying on the wind caught his attention. Turning towards the newly risen forests, he glided on the winds, alighting upon the branches where he seemed the hear the epicenter. There, he called out, "Hello?"

A face appeared beside him, parting the leaves of the treetop. "Hello. What can I do for you, Dragonling?"