Lords of Creation: New Roots (IC)

[RolandDeschain]

Agir and Saoirse - The Verdant

His heart rejoiced as he took the goddess's hand, and began to walk. With each footstep, the boy god left behind an ashy print, and from those prints sprang enormous Fire Maples - growing to towering heights and crowned with leaves a riot of varying yellows, oranges, and reds. They walked but a short distances before the two were born aloft by a cloud of Embers and Sparks. The boy god laughed, unable to contain his joy. They flew low, but swiftly over the land, crested a chain of mountains and descended again until they came to the far eastern shores of The Verdant. There upon the beech were two figures both alike and much unlike to the boy god and his companion.

"Come, Lady, let us see what this is about."

Agir released the goddess's hand and strode forward upon his spindly tanned legs and bare feet. As he approached he saw one figure hand the other a purple blossom and say, "...beauty such as this?"

He paused as he looked past the blossom, at the givers hand. It was calloused, worn, and dirty. Agir studied his own soot covered hands, then looked again noticing the givers simple home spun clothing much like his own unassuming attire.

In his youthful exuberance he forgot his manners and broke into their conversation, speaking to the giver, "You are a maker....like me, but also not like me for you bear the wisdom of experience and age in your face and form. I am Agir. Who are you and from whence did you come?"

Spoiler: Actions

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Fire Maples are mundane life. There is nothing magical about them, though they do possess a slightly more powerful Ember than other species of trees.

[Razade]

Wah: A Gathering on the Verdant

Yet more travelers, yet more Titanborn and none like him. There was no Dark to be seen yet...perhaps some lingered in the leather clad lady. All spied over a shoulder as a boy...the boy...strode forward. A Light like the traveler in the Void yet dimmer, less loud. "Wah." he states, moving to keep all Gods at his front as cold recesses regard them each in a turn. A lady, a boy and a warrior. Truly strange these travelers were. "I am Wah" he repeats, a hand moving to run through the coal beard long and ragged "and I am of the Dark."

[RolandDeschain]

Agir, Soairse, Wah, and Yuna - The Verdant

"The Dark?" The boy god's sorrowful eyes belied his innocent smile, "I met another like us named Nebkuz, and he is of the Light." Pointing his blackened finger to the sky, "It was he that made the Roj to shine like a beacon for I had simply formed it for warmth."

Looking again at the wizened old man, "There is beauty in the dark as there is beauty in the light. It is colder, but also peaceful and quiet. Roj does but circle the First World and darkness follows the light. It is a time of rest and of contemplation of both physical and spiritual renewal. There is a wisdom and strength in you...I can feel it, but too do you seem wary and uncertain of our meeting, which I believe not to be chance."

Motioning Soarise forward, "The Lady emerged from the Water, Nebkuz came from the Light, you are of the Dark, and I am from the Fire." His blue eyes fell upon the leonine warrior goddess, "I am Agir, and would much like to know you as well. Your bearing is that of one of the great hunting cats of the savanna, but you are like us are you not?"

As he spoke, the winds stirred and the sky began to darken as far out to sea The Endless Typhoon made its way toward The Verdant's far shores.

[Nishai]

Yuna: A Gatheirng on the Verdant

Yuna took the flower from Wah and held it for a moment gazing upon it's beauty. She loved the flower and all its complexity, quickly Yuna lost herself in the tiny form. So much so that she didn't even notice the two new figures standing before them. Finally when one directed a question to her she felt the power of his voice and broke herself from the moment. "I am Yuna, I come from the earth. And yes, it would seem we are of kith and kin."

Yuna rose form her crouched hunting pose and stood to her full height, claw clenched tight. Quickly she wove her new possession into her hair.

"This place is fascinating, but I don't believe it will stay like this, if these moments since our creation are anything to go on it will fall apart quickly. Forming something new.

[Juicy Kisses]

Saoirse, Something New

Forming something new, the lion said. This phrase stuck in Saoirse's mind. Something new, something new, but what to make of this something new? Perhaps it did not need to fall apart, as the lion had said. Change, yes, but not fall apart. If this world were to continue, it would need maintenance. In their travels, Saoirse had seen many corpses sitting about the land. They sat frozen in their beautiful form. Perhaps they could be the canvas for her something new? Her mind immediately went to work. She performed a flourish in her space floating just above the ground, and weaved her divine energy across the land. It flowed down into the earth below her feat and spread through it like a current. It flowed into all creatures deceased in this world. In many, it did not take, but in some the energy transformed them. A small fungus would begin to grow within these corpses, and they would become creatures to be known as ghouls.

From the ground just below her floating form, a mushroom began to grow. Ogblugad, Saoirse named it. It would be her first child.

Saoirse looked to Yuna, gesturing to the flower woven into her hair, "You wear death upon your head. You truly know real beauty." she let out a smile and outstretched her hand to stroke her cheek.

Spoiler: OOC

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AP: 8
Curse(The Rot), 1AP: In 1 in every 100 corpses, a fungus will begin to grow. This fungus grows and turns them into creatures known as ghouls. Those who are fed upon by ghouls also undergo this transformation. [1/10 Pestilence(Decay)]
Create Monstrous Life(Ghouls), 1AP: In 1 in every 100 corpses, a fungus will begin to grow known as the root. This fungus feeds upon the mind of the decayed creature, and takes over their body. The body will then rise, and hunger for the flesh of the living. It will begin by hunting those who it was familiar with in life, mimicking it's old self to trick them, but will slowly branch out mauling every creature it sees and leaving the remains to transform into new ghouls. [2/10 Pestilence(Decay)]

[dreamking]

Thargaro Khan- The Coming of Thunder


From his throne among the seven volcanoes of Igniterra, Thargaro Khan looked out upon the world. To the East he saw the land of the Verdant, he saw the other gods communing with each other. He saw the strange light-eating insects burrowing around under the earth, he saw the crystalline creatures of the desert and even the strange furry creatures of the waters. Thargaro Khan was amused by them, the gods have the power of creation and everything they shape is so tiny and fragile.

"My creations will not be some weak spark of life struggling to stay alive. They will be powerful, and stand high above all others!!

Thargaro Khan rose up, raising his axe in the air and slamming the butt of the weapon into the ground. Igniterra shook as her seven volcanoes all began to erupt in unison. The lava began to flow and shape itself at the Khan's feet. Suddenly, as the earth grew soft from the immense heat, the Khan plunged his great arm into the earth.

"My creations will have the strength of the Earth Titan itself!!

And with that, Thargaro Khan tore something from deep within the Earth, something strong an ancient. The force shook the entirety of the New World. The Khan looked at the slab of stone in his hand. Fittingly, the obsidian hunk seemed to take on the shape of a massive saurian creature. Taking the great Skull, he plunged it into the side of a volcano, causing lava to spill from the skull's eye sockets and down the side of the mountain.

As the lava flowed from the skull to the jungles, something happened when the lava touched the abundant life of Ingniterra. There was a flash and the sound of thunder, again and again across the lava flow. Sprouting forth from the lava were towering reptillian creatures, covered in vibrant scales and standing like giants over the other creatures of the world. These creatures, birthed by fire and thunder, pulled themselves from the lava flow and looked up to Thargaro Khan, and the skull torn from the very earth itself. And with that, this new race of saurian giants went off into the jungles of Ingniterra.

Spoiler: AP Spending

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9 AP to start

3 AP to Create Minor Artifact(Divine Favor: Create Monstrous Life): The Titan's Skull- While hardly large enough to be the true skull of the Earth Titan, The Titan's Skull is nonetheless a shard of the very bones of the earth itself. Placed as a focus of elemental might as well as a reminder from the Khan to the creatures of Igniterra. The Skull channels the primal strength of the Earth Titan itself into the very lifeforce of the creatures of the wild continent, making them larger and stronger than the creatures of the Verdant.

4 AP to create Mythical Life- Thunder Lizards: The Thunder Lizards are Thargaro Khan's favored children, born to stand taller and stronger than the other sentient life of the New World.
While their exact appearance varires depending on the Thunder Liziard Clan, all of the Clans consist of saurian humanoids, covered in scales and standing at least 10 feet tall. The Thunder Lizards hold strength as the highest virtue, and therefore the clans often fight each other to prove who is the strongest in the Khan's eyes.

The tribes of the Thunder Lizards include:
Clan Bloodhorn: Menacing Thunder Lizards with three large horns sprouting from their heads, the warriors of Clan Bloodhorn are known for their brutality. They often go into a bloodrage when in fierce combat, often leading them to gore their opponents upon their sharp horns.
Clan Windblade: The smallest of the Thunder Lizards, standing only about six feet tall, Clan Windblade makes up for it in swiftness. Having learned to hunt on the jungle floors using the sharp talons upon their feet, Clan Windblade relies on speed and agility in combat.
Clan Blacktooth: Large muscular saurians with great jaws and large sharp teeth, Clan Blacktooth has the unique ability to communicate amongst each other with subsonic 'hums'
(This is true about T-Rexes, look it up). This makes Clan Blacktooth masters of stealth and subterfuge, despite being among the more powerfully built species of Thunder Lizards.

9 AP-3 AP-4 AP= 1 AP

Domain Spending:

10/10 for Fire (Volcanoes):5 AP for Create Major Artifact: Worldsplitter, 2 AP to Create New Land: Igniterra, 3 AP to Create Minor Artifact: The Titan's Skull

Domain Claimed: Fire (Volcanoes)

4/10 for Creature (Saurians): 4 AP for Create Mythical Life: Thunder Lizards

[Razade]

Wah, A Gathering on the Verdant


The winds whipped bare flesh already scored by darkness and as the rains began to fall he simply stood to bear witness to the birth of something new. Another traveler. There was some Dark in this too it thought. "Are we done then? There are other things to gather, the Light will not rest. Chance or not, I am away from my forges too long. The storm is nice, however. if you wish to stand out in it."

[Croverus]

Ogblugad, Something New

The mushroom below Saoirse quivers and grows, 6 limbs growing from it's form - three legs and three arms equidistant around it's stalk-body. Above each arm a circular mouth opened up and each surrounded by three discolorations in the pale flesh, taking in vibrations in the air, changes of light, and tasting the air. It flexed it's body and the cap of it's form shifts into a wide orange brim with spots of purple and yellow. The being looks about at the assembled beings and lets out a burst of spores, after which it's soft voice reaches out to the other beings, chipper and curious. "I'm alive, and mother has named me. I am named Ogblugad. Welcome! No... Greetings! Yes! That sounds right. You are all so fascinating! The smells and vibrations! Fantastic! But I smell something else... something nearby calls to my maw... Excuse me..." The spores seem to coalesce as thin mist that comes from the underside of his cap, and he infuses some of his power into the spores. He has a feeling it will be helpful in the future.

The Creeping shuffles away a short distance and comes upon the dead corpse of a local creature. The Rot has not set into this one yet and Ogblugad's three maws open and close and it's sensory spots shimmer as it takes in the scent. ~This is a waste just sitting here. I should make something to clean it up~ Scraping up some of the ground, Ogblugad shapes it into a canine form with large shoulders and great fangs. He gives it bright red eyes and coarse, matted fur with red stripes on a light brown coat. As he breathes a bit of life into it, the creature shakes it's shoulders and glares about with more than simple animal intelligence. It looks down at the corpse and it's wide jaws unhinge as it bites into the flesh, tearing out huge chunks of the corpse. As the creature devours the body, small bumps grow on it's back. They continue to grow until The creature devours the last of the body, leaving only scraps. The creature groans and lays down, letting out a cry as the bumps on it's back burst, each producing a miniature version of the beast. The babies swarm over the scraps, eating as much as they can, fighting each other as Ogblugad watches on, odd face not giving away any hints of emotion. The creatures then flee, leaving behind no trace of the corpse. The babies that were able to feed grew in size as much as three times. The first one is tired but moves on, it's back covered in scars from the "birthing" of it's offspring.

The fungal deity moves on, seeking out the smell of dead and dieing. He creates a few more of these Corpse Feeders, spreading them across the Verdant. The creatures only eat the dead, fleeing from still living creatures and ignoring life that lacks flesh to consume. They themselves always seem to know the direction to the nearest corpse and their coarse fur is surprisingly tough and resistant to being cut or burnt. Ogblugad also scatters his spores as he travels, encouraging the growth of new fungal organisms. One particular stretch of land after his creation of the Corpse Feeders causes massive forests of mushrooms to grow, many of the large toadstools are made of a fibrous substance with qualities similar to wood.

Spoiler: AP Spending

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16 AP to Start
5 AP to Create Major Utility Artifact(-1 AP cost to Curse action 1/week) - Divine Spores - The spores that come from Ogblugad are charged with a great deal of his energy to let him spread his spores at a vast distance with a variety of effects. While most such effects would be deemed as good by the Creeping, most life forms would disagree as these effects often include the premature decay of plants, organic structures, and creatures of flesh, the spreading of detrimental fungi, or can cause other inconveniences.

4 AP to Create Mythical Life - Corpse Feeders - Large beasts that resemble wide-faced hyena with light brown fur and red stripes down their back, these creatures exclusively consume dead flesh. They can sense dead flesh for miles, and often can detect those near death. However they always wait for the dieing to cease to be before going in to feed. When feeding they reproduce by growing their young in their backs in a strange form of budding. The young burst from the parent's back when it has consumed a large amount of flesh, eagerly looking for scraps to consume before scattering. With thick fur that resists being cut or burned, Corpse Feeders can often ignore many predators. The creatures have some intellect to them and can be negotiated with by creatures that offer them corpses.

1 AP to Alter Land - The Fungal Forests - A large swath of huge mushroom "trees" that have grown on Verdant near the location of Ogblugad's birth. This also creates a variety of mundane fungi and lichen.

AP Spent: 10

Remaining: 6

AP Spending: 5 AP spent on Divine Spores to get Disease(Famine) 5/10

[Phobia]

Farah the Wind

"Outstanding!" The goddess exclaimed, clapping her hands together. From what was barren and boring there was now those mortals to observe. "Do you think I could create something? Perhaps I should pluck one from the sky and open it up to understand better.." She mused, before biting on the end of her fingernail.

"Ah, wonderous, how often might my storms destroy their peoples and I may watch them recover? Or not.. but something new may arise.." Farah swayed with the wind not using to being this still, but then she started to spin around with Trychu in a winged dance while giggling once more. "Their children." She whispered quietly before reaching up and clutching the sky heart she wore. The wind herself took his hand as they circled around each other, their relatively human hands linking them.

"I'm the wind! But you can call me Farah."

[Juicy Kisses]

Saoirse, An Offered Hand

Saoirse watched as her new child pronounced about and himself created something new. She let out a small chuckle and waved to the sprouting god. Looking back to the gathering, she heard Wah's wishes to return to his home. She looked upon Wah, "I was born of the water, it too is a very dark place. Perhaps we are of similar ilk, then? Before you go, I propose that we be friends. Never hesitate to call upon me, should you need an ally." and with that she bowed to the dark god.

[thethird]

Uijak

The wandering shark explored the waters of the world. While doing so he kept feeding he kept feeding on the fishies growing in power and strength. Soon he realized that the hunt now left and after taste. As if he was eating the memories of those he hunted. Their potential. Sometimes when his belly was too full he spat and it was as if ghostly memories of his food tried to escape. He entertained himself on hunting those and eating them again.

As he hunted and ate the shark grow larger. What had been at first a baby shark was now a great hunter. His changes were more than growing in size and intelligence. He realized he could pull some of the memories of those he had devoured, of their potential, and shape them around himself empowering himself with what those he had eaten could have been. He would shape the lantern of an angler fish and feed it with his own luminiscence creating a lamp which could shed light much farther than he normally could, he could form the secondary mouth of a moray and devour the prey that he had already devoured, he could veil himself the chameleonic skin of an octopus disappearing form sight, or borrow the tools of the sword fish...

As he grew more skilled with this new found tools the god grew more perceptive of the souls, the animating spirits that flared within each creature. That made him more perceptive of other creatures. Creatures that until that point he had confused with simply water. The shark had found a new prey and he took to hunting water elementals with gusto. From them he learned much. He learned the aftertaste of the void. And was left with a hollow curiosity to wander farther than he had ever traveled.

The shark swam, as he did he hunted, and as he hunted he practiced his new craft. He shaped the soulstuff into tendrils of water like those of an elemental and used them to hunt both living and ghostly prey. Eventually the god reached the edges of land.

Dry land made him extremely unhappy, what was the meaning of it? Wasn't life the hunt and the thrill? Wasn't he the great devourer? The one who pushed the wheel? Why would there be need of land? Why would anyone want to hide from him? Would they grow complacent?

Yin-kipmae broke swiftly from the body of the water Titan, running with sheer boundless joy across the lands barren and empty as they were, as he prince ran the land flowed up beneath his feet and filled itself with countless things, trees that competed over sunlight, insects that competed over those trees, birds that completed over those insects and wilier creatures, hunters that competed over these birds and with the birds, a never-endiing competition where the prize was the right to live another day,

As Yin-kipmar stopped at a stream the hunter prince looked up at the lands around him, recalling an old story of titanic wisdom. That was when his eye was caught by two groups of otters snapping at each other on the riverbank, hissing and running up and down as each group tried to claim the carcas of a large pike. With a smile Yin made a gesture with his plays and a strange scene played out, at once each clan began stretching in mind, spirit and body. Forging something new, a new race but to new peoples. As one clan dragged the fishes tail into the river and the other dragged the head up onto land Yin knew many centuries of craft and competition waited.

Spoiler: AP

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Creat Sapient Life (2): The Yatkip: The Yatkip are a predatoral species that occupies either lakes, slow moving rivers, estuaries and coasts or warrens beneath the earth and the open plains as their preferred habitat. With few predators capable of challenging the hunter's favoured most of their time is spent hunting, as each has a body around 5ft long and a rapid metabolism they take food from many sources, whether that is pulling clams, muscles and oysters from the seabed, hunting seals as they come up onto the beach or catching animals unaware as they drink from rivers. On occasion they even chase prey put on the open ground running with speed and showing impressive leaps to bring them down. Yet their habits of mobbing sharks and bears alike and driving them off with ferocity and numbers appealed to the hunter.

Form Society (2AP): The Red Ravagers: A society of Yatkip that dominates the open plains. They live largely is small camps moving every few months when supplies in their region run low, typically these bands are in groups of around twelve to forty individuals. Each band is led by a redstripe, a title bestowed upon those who have brought down a beast of the plains

Form Society (2AP): The Blue Beast-takers: A society of Yatkip that dominates the open watery regions, they almost all live at redrock, a large island at the crux of a delta with a distinct red colour. Led by fifteen councils led by a blue mark who have hunted and killed a great beast of the water.

6/10 Society (Rivalry)

Uijak and the Otters


So enthralled was the Shark on his own introspection that he almost missed the otters jumping on him on coordinated attack. They were crafty hunters attacking him from the blind spots trying to subdue him and get him out of water. So surprised was the Shark that he bellowed a prickly laughter when the otter hunter's eyes widened on spotting the six fin's of the shark and how his pallid skin was ridged with teeth and scars. He swatted at them playfully, his anger at the land and the land dwellers put aside and focusing in the hunt, he had never before been challenged by those creatures and wanted to see how they hunted. Their fangs and claws might not have been sharp enough to break his skin but they had borrowed claws made of stone. As the shark bled salt on the otters he took a bite of one or two taking arms and heads with him and tasting the memories of their souls. With satisfaction he let them take him out of water, tie him up and beat him with sticks and stones. He bled salt that dumbfounded the otters but other than that he played along eventually acting dead, immobile.

And then he moved. Not by his own means but by the hunting party that carried him towards a much bigger prey. As he so traveled over land he saw that the rocks were red and that the air that had ben above the waters so was above the lands. They carried him towards their gathering. Apparently hunting a big beast, such as he was, was a rite of passage and the otters had favoured sharks for their ferocity. There would be a feast that night. A feast on his salty flesh. Something that enthralled and elapsed the god.

The whole clan gathered that night around the six finned's sharks corpse. There was dancing and singing. There was joy in the celebration of the hunt. A hunt well taken a hunt well done. Little did they know that it was his hunt they were celebrating, yet the shark god lay still. He still was quiet as they started partaking of his flesh. Goring him with stone and feeding of his salty entrails. He didn't move when all his flesh was taken and his bones were exposed. His bones didn't even move when the otters tried to clean them after the feast. As if they had been stuck there. For months, years, it would share place with any prey they gather. Sometimes a flicker of ghostly light was rumored to be seen in the eye sockets when a particular large or ferocious beast was presented. Many hunters would after a hunt, honor the remains of the shark and try to move them to no avail.

Some months after the feast many otters gave birth at once, those that had eaten the flesh of the six finned shark. All the babies were normal, without defect, if most of them had a lighter coloration or even white fur. They were raised on the traditions of the Beast-takers as hunters. One of them in particular was the craftiest hunter the Yatkip had ever known. Fear was unknown to him and he jumped to take on beasts much greater than him without doubt nor shout. He was a silent hunter, a bit ostracized by his hind for his snow white fur and his dark glassy eyes. It didn't help that he was the most skilled in the new arts that the Yatkip had developed stilled after the six finned shark's owns magics. They took parts of the beast they ate, they turned them into weapons, but they also took their spirit and reshaped it to fill their needs.

The elders called this skill "soulmelding" binding to their soul the spirits of the devoured and the hunted. And it was divisive among the Yatkip society whether using it was good or not. Many argued that it was just a tool, not unlike the stones that they sharpened into knives, others claimed that it diluted the otters original essence. It was not the only thing that had changed on recent years. The redrock though had changed since the shark had first visited it. The salt of his blood so abundant when they had hunted him, had flown and encrusted itself into the rocks. Soon the Yatkip learned that they could use it to salt their food and both make it tastier and preserve it. Salt was a valuable gift of the six finned god and while it was at first abundant soon proved to be scarcer. The new generation of hunters some times took payments in salt, to bring back to their families.

Change would keep coming to the Beast-takers though. On the snow white otter's coming of age hunt what he hunted puzzled the elders, and everyone. He hunt water. A sphere of water that somehow maintained its shape and at the same time threw tendrils at those who dared approach it. Many got a cut, or worse drowned, when growing closer. The elders didn't know what to do about it and they started arguing. That was certainly no beast, and as such he had hunted no beast, but was that a bigger or a lesser hunt? Fear panged the discussion for they remembered too well the last time someone had seen those water tendrils. While the argument was under way the white furred otter reached for the skeletal shark jaws, and raised them above his head. Expectant silence filled the gathering as the white otter's skin was suddenly pockmarked with shark teeth and the other bones on the altar turned into salt.

Uijak the Sunken Lord, had finished his hunt for a worthy form to travel over land. As he left the Yatkip settlement many followed on entourage.

Spoiler

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Initial AP 15

Create Sub-Concept (of Souls) (2 AP): Soulmelding (Incarnum). If all things have spirits those spirits can be imitated and used. Incarnum is the art of turning what once was into what could have been. It requires the practitioners to be strongly familiar with what they are imitating, if they have eaten some of the creatures flesh all the better, but those skilled in its use can reshape their souls into closer approximations of the creature they are imitating. In doing so the body follows. It is extremely rare and difficult to do a complete transformation from this for doing so would most likely irrevocably change the creature's soul permanently into the new creature. It is for this reason that most practitioners keep themselves to changing parts of their spirit. Skilled practitioners can change several parts at the same time, normally coming from different donors. [Incarnum (Adaption) 2 /10]

Create Major Artifact (Utility, create minor artifact) (5 AP) The Shark's Crown, this is Uijak's shark form jaw so he never forgets his original shape. It allows him to take other shapes through incarnum without risk. [Incarnum (Adaption) 7 /10]

Infuse Major Artifact (The Shark's Crown) (3 AP) The Shark's Crown, is the first soulmeld. Uijak's previous experiments with incarnum had been basic and fleeting manipulating it on its raw form, the crown though has a defined shape and allows the Sunken Lord to better create soulmelds with it. Incarnum practitioners can shape a minor version of the shark crown (it obviously is not at relic level) when doing so they gain a better understanding of soulmelds.[Incarnum (Adaption) 10 /10]

Gain Domain [Incarnum (Adaptation)]

Create Mundane Concept (1AP): Salary, salt (or on the future other valuables) can be used to pay someone (a worker) for their time (work). It is also to pay others with more esoteric payment, such as knowledge. [Trade (Payment) 2/10]

Create Organization (1AP): The White Otter's entourage. The first ever mercenary band is originally formed by Yatkip from the Beast-taker's clans, with whom it maintains good relationships, is a travelling company who have a strong bond for contracts. In particular they look for payment through rare, exotic, flamboyant treasures. They are disciplined soldiers of fortune, fighting for the best bidder but not prone to betray anyone for money. Each soldier tends to be pretty wealthy, carrying and flaunting their wealth with them, and well outfitted. [Trade (Payment) 3/10]

Create Minor Combat Artifact (1AP): The teeth's coffer. This coffer carried by the White Otter's entourage is filled with shark teeth's made of salt. Salt that can easily be exchanged for goods, weapons and tools. As such the entourage is particularly well equipped. [Trade (Payment) 4/10]

Remaining AP 2

[moondoggy]

Nebkuz, the Beacon

Nebkuz grew restless. There was Light above, and there was Light below, but as it surveyed the lands between there were only a few instances of Light and even those it found... lacking. There must needs more presence of Light. This can not do as it is. But what mayhaps this? Far below it spotted some Yunai who were hunting prey. Within them it could see a glimmer, a spark. Interesting. Light is within... It flew further and saw the same amongst the Yatkip, and across the ocean it saw similar sparks within the Thunder Lizard tribes. Inside they glitter. Inside is a Light that is a beauteous thing. I must make it known in them that Light will help!

Making haste back to the Roj, Nebkuz focused its energy upon the crystalline core. The stone shimmered, radiating a blinding pearlescent aura which was magnified by the truelight it was bathed in. The flare of light was enough to make it seem bright as noon across the whole of the lands for a number of hours. Some of the primitives below had their fortunes improved by this sudden excess of warmth and illumination and began to think themselves blessed and protected by its Light, forming a rudimentary following of similarly-minded peoples in their respective communities.

Nebkuz undulated with satisfaction at the powers it had bestowed upon the fragile dwellers below, pleased with their gratitude. The small ones inspire of the Light. It is a goodness. It watched the distant peoples as it rested on the sun, finding itself a little tired from the exertion, further ideas of what a Lighted spark could be capable of forming in its mind as it rested.

Spoiler

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Create Mythical Concept - 4AP: Lucency
Nebkuz daydreams about ways to use Light, inadvertently bringing into reality Lucency, the art of channeling one's internal Light into external effects. Any effects which could be achieved by manipulation of Light can be wrought through Lucency; illumination, heat, projection or invisibility are but a few potential applications of this discipline.[Elemental Light 10/10]

Create Mythical Sub-concept - 2AP: Abjuration
The science of protecting oneself and/or others, Abjuration is a refinement of Lucency into powerful wards, barriers and shields made wholly of Light. Being tied to the element of Light, Abjuration is harder to manifest in beings suffused with Darkness and can be used to greater effect against such beings. [Protection 2/10]

Create Mundane Concept - 1AP: Heliotheism (Sun-Worship)
Those who were granted the power of magic by the Shining Flare look to the sun and its benefactor as a guardian presence, grateful for their blessings. [Zeal 1/10]

Teach Mundane Concept - 1AP: Heliotheism (Yunai, Yatkip, Thunder Lizards)
Following the Shining Flare, some of those who received the Light's blessing of magic will give thanks to the sun and its patron for their abilities and teach those who come after of the Beacon of Light's blessing. [Zeal 2/10]

AP spent towards Domain: Light (Elemental Light) - 10/10
Acquired Domain: Light (Elemental Light)!

AP spent towards Domain: Faith (Protection) - 2/10

AP spent towards Domain: Faith (Zeal) - 2/10

[Razade]

Wah: Igniterra - Among the Yunai

Wah nodded as simple response to the bow. He'd presumed correctly, there was the Dark in at least one of these. A comfort, but Wah was not a God of such and so felt little. "I shall in time return to the Dark, join me there at your leisure and we will speak more. A friend is a thing much like a jar. It takes time, work, sweat at the wheel and once it is done much can be placed within it. I should like to see the work put in, before I judge the vessel finished."

Wah then turned, regarding the warrior who had taken the Night Blossom from his fingers. "An invitation is yours as well. A warrior needs a blade and none better than made at my Forge." Another nod to the Lion Goddess before Wah finally turned to the Light. "Boy. I've no quarrel with you. Let us keep enmity from forming, for the Dark and the Flame are but two sides of a coin and without the fires nothing can ever truly be made. I've no invitation for you, for the Dark cannot abide your presence but perhaps in time we shall find a place to speak."

And with that, the Dark God was gone. There was another land, another place to find materials. Igniterra, it seemed would be its name, and the Dark descended upon it and found life more quickly than before. They were not Travelers but the spawn of them. Catlike, the Warrior's brood. The Yunai. Wah came at night, when the sun was hidden and only the stars shone to shine their light upon the world and took the form of a majestic lion whose mane was made from the Dark itself. The Prowl they would call him and he taught the clothed warriors to separate even finer threads for grander purpose.

He created for them Those Who Ate Iron. The size of a hand, these beasts roamed the forests and caverns of Igniterra and ate the minerals found in the dirt and stone. Their fangs were like drills and dripped mercury and lead, their silk was iron and emerald and could be worked like any simple thread and so too did The Prowl teach the Yunai the craft. Wah was pleased and with another step he was gone as dawn approached for The Prowl could not walk the Crater when the sun shone high.

Wah fled into the Earth, deep into the caverns beneath the volcanic island and found out the Dark within the caverns beneath as he walked with Those Who Ate Iron. His voice was not suited to singing but sing he did and he called to the Dark beneath. Those Who Ate Iron knew the tune and began to spin vast webs in the mighty caverns. Wah joined, working the earth to mighty spires so that the spiders could work their lines between and before long The Dark Web was born. Wah smiled, for the work was good. Here, perhaps, would be the home of the Dark. At least for a time.

Wah then returned to The Forgotten Dark. For it was his home and the Dark's as well.

Spoiler: AP

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AP = 4AP from Roll Over

Create Advanced Concept - Weaving (2AP): Wah teaches the Yunai more than simple clothing. He teaches how to build tents, how to build blankets and all manner of other wonders. [Crafts (5/10)]

Create Monstrous Life - Those Who Ate Iron (1AP): Spiders that dwell in the mountains of Iginiterra, primarily in the Crater, and devour minerals. They weave spider silk made of the refined metals and gems. They do not fear larger creatures though their bite is potent and dangerous as their venom is made from heavy metals that they ingest.[Animal (Spider) 4/10]

Marvel {Alter Land} - The Dark Web (1AP): Deep in the caverns of Igniterra dwells the home of Those Who Ate Iron. These webs are dangerous, sharp and dwell with The Dark. [Animal (Arachnid) 5/10)]

[RolandDeschain]

Agir - The Verdant

The boy god was gladdened at the amiable nature of his kin, and thought what a wonder it was to meet those born of the earth, the water, and the darkness. Then, however, Saoirse summoned...or created another with nothing more than the force of her will. He was dumbstruck at how effortless it had appeared to be.

Is that it then? The power to create and destroy, to weave and unweave life with a thought or wave of one's hand?

He was troubled by the thought, and then the one spawned of the darkness issued not a welcome nor invitation, though his words spoke of peace there was no warmth in them.

"I....I suppose I understand," was all he could manage before the other hastened off.

The storm was now in full force, about to vent its full rage upon the shores of The Verdant, and as the child stood buffeted by the wind he felt small and despite the presences of the others, very much alone.

[Phobia]

Farah the Wind

Farrah grew restless, as was her nature, and drifted briefly from the other immortal. Interesting though he was she assumed he wouldn’t stray far. This was mostly because Farah couldn’t really imagine herself not being the center of this new universe with all these wonders and experiences thus far simply to entertain her. It was the way it had seemed to her thus far, even the world brightened at her arrival with the creation of the Roj. Though it had nothing to do with her.

“Whoosh let the waters part for the wind!” She laughed with an odd timber and parted the seas with a powerful gust. From the water rose more land to reclaim the oceans and it smashed against the Verdant with an audible crack shaking those lands. “Oh.. amazing! I didn’t know it would cause a reaction quite like that.” Farah said quietly before biting her lip in excitement. The waters churned at the cursed hurricane that still treaded between land and sea, desert and shore, and now even more due to the impromptu landscaping.

When all was finished the desert still lay in the middle of the lush Verdant but on one side where once there was still greenery before the sea now had horrible jagged rocks and a gigantic mountain range in it’s place. On the other newly raised continent it was the same story on that side; a jagged mess that became mountains that were quite steep but were still able to support the mountainous life that now dwelt there. It connected the Verdant to the new continent of Oustoraria but also separated by it.

Upon the new lands of Oustoraria lay miles of deep dark jungles with swamps and swampy areas surrounded by thin strip of salty beach on all non-mountainous sides. There was nothing but the sticky wetlands of miles of damp jungle here with lagoons, lakes and swampy bogs. There was scare few rivers but what few there were rushed at a deadly pace and usually ended in waterfalls. But it was teeming with life from monkeys to exotic birds and even the Jaguar, the deadliest predator in this jungle so far.

“Beautiful.”

This incredible display attracted the attention of a vast number of what she came to know where Wind Elementals. She stopped them and questioned them deeply. Who were these mortal things like her? Who made them? What are they doing..

“Well?”

“I’m sorry ma’m but we serve and report back. That’s our job. We’re meant to find those of the Titans.. those like you.”

“Report on me... to whom?” She inquired with some curiosity. These particular wind elemenrals explained that they didn’t know for sure but it was another. Like her and the other one she’s found that still lingered in the sky nearby. It was worth looking into, either with or without her godly companion. When it was finished her normally cheerful and savage expression turned into a scowl.

“Those who are of the wind.. SHOULDN’T have a task!” And with a crash of lightning she obliterated that wind elemental. The others either scattered or tried to explain their purpose but she started to gather them up and encase them in flesh as a punishment. They would be like her, wind in a fleshy prison but unable to break free like her. It was a trade for them. The pleasures of the flesh but without the freedom of being wind. “As long as you wanna act like slaves I’ll make you slaves to your desires. This should be great fun.” She chuckled, as she imprisoned the last of these Wind Elementals still within sight of Trychu.

Spoiler

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AP: 12

Create Land (Oustoraria) [2]: An impressively sized Mesoamerican style continent the size of a large continent attached to the Verdant by way of the Tollos Mountains. It’s just denser and denser jungle as you reach the center. It also has plenty of swampy areas and it’s just a wet humid densely jungled place. [Domain Water (Swamps)]

Alter Land (Tollos Mountains) [1]: These high peaks stand tall over the desert and the jungle connecting them but also apart in its own little chain of an ecosystem. You can’t reach them from the lush parts of the Verdant that the desert now separates straight through the middle except for on the far side.

Create Monstrous Life (The Roc) [1]: The Roc is a gigantic majestic bird about the size as a typical fantasy dragon if not larger. They possess no real intelligence beyond that of a predatory bird but their size, speed and strength are legendary. [Domain Animals (Birds)]

Bless (Thunderbreath) [1]: They can also breath lightning like typical dragons breath fire. So they are incredibly deadly monsters. [Domain Animals (Birds)]

Create Mythical Life Sub-Race (Sylphs) [2]: A fantastically beautiful race descinded from the Air Elementals. This is a horrible corruption of over a quarter of all Air Elementals and they have an increasing population because Sylphs will attack Air Elementals in an attempt to “convert” them. Tainted by Farah and imprisoned in flesh they have been driven insane and care only to folllw their own flippant and arbitrary desires. They revel in pranks and the pleasures of the flesh, instead of only observing they interfere and cause havoc. They’ll fall in obsessive love with a mortal and make them fall in love with them too before tearing down everything about their life in the pursuit of mad love before discarding them. They are wind sprite who dance and sing and torment mortals. Nominally they also attend to Farah and do her bidding as her personal servants. They look similar to typical fantasy faeries with butterfly wings. [Domain Life (Love)]

Curse (The Curse of Flesh) [1]: The actual curse which was first used upon the Air Elementals that forced them into flesh and malevolence. This also grants the Sylphs the ability to create more of their kind from ethereal beings. [Domain Life (Love)]

Spoiler

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AP: 4

[dreamking]

Tharago Khan- The Khanate of Igniterra


The Thunder Lizards spread through the jungles of Igniterra. Some dwelt in the sheer mountainsides of the great volcanoes. Others dwelt on the jungle floor, others it's vast canopy. They formed their tribes amongst themselves, the massively built sharp toothed hunters formed Clan Blacktooth, the flying mountain dwellers Clan Skyspear, the three horned berserkers Clan Bloodhorn, the small but ferocious claw toed hunters made Clan Windblade and the tall ones with long necks formed Clan Stonehoof. The clans proceeded to interact, sometimes trading and other times fighting each other. Before long, these tribes began to fight, each one seeking power over the others. So the tribes called out to Thargaro Khan, asking who amongst them should rule the others.

Thargaro Khan thought long and hard about this. He had little care about how mortals governed themselves, but these were his children. He must set an example for them. He reached out a massive finger and pointed to the skull that he once smashed into the side of a volcano.

"Each tribe will send their leader to the Titan's Skull. The strongest amongst them will rule Igniterra!!"

Soon each Thunder Lizard clan sent their champion, all of them meeting in the shadow of the Titan's Skull, on an island between two lava flows. They all engaged in one on one combat with the others, fighting in simple duels until death or someone yeilded. It soon came down to two combatants: the champion of Clan Bloodhorn and Windblade. Bloodhorn's champion, Serrox, was a massive three horned demon of a warrior, unafraid to shed blood and crush his opponents with his mighty warhammer. His opponent was Tyrokk: the smallest champion, not even the largest among the already small members of Clan Windblade. A black and red pattern on his scales, the thunder lizard fought only with a spear.

How long the two fought it was unclear, but for the longest time the two seemed evenly matched. Serrox would swing his hammer with force enough to split stone, and Tyrokk would nimbly dodge out of the way, getting in a few quick strikes at the Bloodhorn warrior. Eventually, it became clear that Serrox was growing tired, and Tyrokk took his chance. Instead of leaping out of the way of Serrox's hammer, he lept past it, stabbing his spear through his arm. As Serrox roared in pain, he dropped his hammer as Tyrokk kicked the saurian in the chest, sending him sprawling on the ground. Tyrokk quickly stood on his opponents chest, pointing one of his clawed toes at his throat. The three horned giant met the eye of his opponent, nodded and yeilded.

Thargaro Khan smiled down upon his people's new leader. He said nothing, merely nodded at Tyrokk with approval. The Windblade champion turned around, raising his spear and roaring to the sky. The people, his people, responded in kind.

Spoiler: AP Spending

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5 AP as of Rollover

2 AP to Create Society- The Igniterran Khanate: The Thunder Lizards believe in strength above all else, and that is seen in their society. The tribes are split by the different variations of Thunder Lizards, each one ruled by a chief. The Clans, like most societies, develop grudges, make alliances and even fight each other. However, all Clans must answer to the Khan: the chief of the Clan who has proven himself to be the strongest on Igniterra. The word of Khan is the ultimate law in Igniterra, and he can weild it as long as no one challenges his rule (which would be decided in a trial by combat).

2 AP to Create Hero- Tyrokk Khan of Clan Windblade: Tyrokk Khan is the first Khan of Igniterra, and therefore their greatest warrior. Small for a Thunder Lizard (Clan Windblade's members only stand about six feet tall), Tyrokk is often underestimated by the 'larger' chiefs among the Clans of Igniterra. A dangerous move, since what Tyrokk Khan lacks in size he more than makes up for in speed. Since Clan Windblade are 'group hunters', Tyrokk is also a surprisingly good tactician.

1 AP left

Domains:

8/10 for Creatures (Saurians): 4 AP to Create Mythical Life (Thunder Lizards), 2 AP to Create Society (The Igniterran Khanate), 2 AP to Create Hero (Tyrokk Khan of Clan Windblade).

[Nishai]

Yuna, Mother of Many

Lost in new thoughts, Yuna barely registered the invitation to the Dark. She nodded her head and walked away into the Verdant. What breeds war? Resources, Homes, Other People. This world is too empty at the moment not enough to feel the need to conquer. She walked for quite sometime thrashed by the incredible storm that blew over the land she realized a place to start.

Using Yuna's Claw, Yuna pricked her index finger and a small droplet of blood form on it, quickly she flicked the small droplet to the ground. From her blood new life began to form and within moments dozens of people stood before her, unsure of what they were supposed to do. They stood tall, skin as black as the obsidian of Igniterra, their eyes devoid of features. "You shall be know as the Rukar, and I am your creator Yuna. Enjoy the world while you can, and be ready when the war starts." Yuna then leaped away flying out over the water.

Yuna came to a stop over the water and sunk herself beneath the waves. She pricked her middle finger the same as before and let the blood fuse with the water. It quickly bubbled and rose into more people. These people had Gills that flayed out from their necks and flaps of skin between their fingers and long toes. They also had long powerful tails that ended in fins. "I name you the Ilannes, take the sea for yourselves if you can." Yuna then propelled herself out of the water and found herself headed to a new land.

She landed on Oustoraria and found it lacking any peoples, perfect. Yuna pricked her fourth and fifth fingers. She flicked one droplet to the left and the other to the right. To Yuna's right rose a figures with brilliant feathers, they bore the heads and claws of birds but lacked wings, and to her left formed a most impressive people. White skinned and horned with eyes that seemed to glow with pure light. "You shall be the Pagros" Yuna said pointing to the Bird men "And you the Ukhan" Pointing to the horned people.

Yuna felt she had added to this world, and in time what she truly wanted would come to pass.

Spoiler: AP Spending

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6+4=10

Create Sapient Life(2):[Rukar] A race of darkness, they can see well at night and but are unfazed by the day they will seek the gods to learn what to do.
Create Sapient Life(2):[Ilannes] A race of the waters they can swim and breath water.
Create Sapient Life(2):[Pagros] A race of flightless birds there intelligence will leave the world open to them if they are given the chance
Create Sapient Life(2):[Ukhan] A race of light that will walk the First world for themselves and will be wary of the gods.

10-2-2-2-2=2Ap

Divine evolution: Life (Fertility)
Create Sapient Life(2):Yunai
Create Sapient Life(2):Rukar
Create Sapient Life(2):Ilannes
Create Sapient Life(2):Pagros
Create Sapient Life(2):Ukhan
Doain Gained: Life (Fertility)

[thethird]

Uijak

Uijak's campaign over land with the otters was an interesting one. He learned how the land dwellers lived, looking for growth beyond the yoke of the hunt. They would farm, grow plants and barter. There were some who had never killed in a frenzy. There was a weakness in the land dwellers that the Sunken Lord couldn't help but associate to a lack of salt on their lives. They had escaped the sea and grown complacent. Weak.

The god's mood soured as the White Otter company traveled over land and saw how other people's lived. For there were many creatures, many species more intelligent that the fishes of his sea and albeit that more unknowing of how things actually were. Here over land none would die with a salty serving of water on their lungs. Here they were beyond his reach.

In such a dark mood the god decided to cleanse himself of his assumed guise and return to the waters. He left the mercenary company on the hands of the oldest and most cunning otter and returned to the sea. As the sea's current touched him he felt momentarily whole again. As a shark he danced and played with the tides. He chased the water elementals and found the Ilannes bearably tasteful in their attempt to take over the sea's. It was in one of those hunts, as he was prowling after some Ilannes hunters that the god reached what once had been sea and was now Oustoraria. A vengeful madness gripped him. Up to that point Uijak had been a hunter and a killer but he had been alien to malice. Now he pledged to retake the lands and drag them under the sea eternal.

He took the Ilannes hunting party and broke them, remoulding them to his likeness, to better be the tools that they needed to be. To be generals, to be conspirators, to be philosophers, to be assassins, to be changers. What had been fishmen were much more. Their skin changing toughening in small sharp denticles like those of a shark, below the skin he filled them with the cromatophores of the octopus and his own bioluminiscence. He adapted their eyes so they would see lights, colors, temperature, radiation, magic, and powers to be. He split their tails into a miriad of tentacles so they would be able to walk on the damned land if the need arose. He bound the adaptable wiliness of the water elementals to their flesh so they would be capable of further change. He changed their innards, so they would survive on almost anything, including the gases expelled from the vents deep in the sea but would thrive when eating sentient creatures. He changed their souls, tying them with incarnum and the ghostly emotions of those they ate. He taught them all he had learned from above land and structured them into rulers. And when he was satisfied he hid them, he concealed them as mere Ilannes they would sunk the lands into the water in his name but things were not ready yet. He gave the Niuhi, for that's what they decided to call themselves, a map of what had once been sea and left it with them so they would know what needed retaking and how to reach it.

It was in this way that the first Nihui explorers lead the Illanes hunters into the caverns below Igniterra, filling them with water and speeding their advance.

Spoiler

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Initial AP 2 + 4

Create Sub-Race (2/2 +1 = 2AP; Mythical Race): The Niuhi normally resemble the Ilannes and camouflage themselves as such even if their bodies are larger. The biggest difference is their tentacles, for they do not have a tail, but they normally conceal them by disguising them as if they were a tail. Their skin is normally white, but can change colors pretty fast to mimic the environment, like Uijak they can also emit bioluminescence. But what is the strongest with them is their minds and souls. They are masters of soulmelding, splicing and modifying the spirits of living and dead alike. They are natural practitioners of lucency and abjuration. The Niuhi grow stronger and smarter by devouring the intellect of sentient creatures. [Blackwater (Aberrations) 2/10)]

Create Society (2 AP): The Kahu'Nihui, Nihui are few in number and prefer to live ostracized from each other rarely coming into contact. It is rare that more than a score would be together at the same time since they are apex predators. Most Nihui prefer to live simple lives surrounded by Illanes who are only concerned with taking over the sea. The Nihui society is then a parasitistic one that uses other less advanced creatures as catpaws. As each Nihui is powerful enough to challenge the others the internal workings of the society are regulated by strong trading agreements, be they trading slaves, riches, territory or knowledge. [Trade (Payment) 6/10]

Conceal Action (1 AP): The Nihui are adept infiltrators, they appear as brutish Illanes, or slightly changed Illanes to anyone who attempts to identify them. [Blackwater (Aberrations) 3/10)]

Divine Favor (3 - 2 = 1AP): The Charts of Salted Currents, in the hands of the Kahu'Nihui these charts show what was once the ocean floor and pushes the ground to remember what it once was, allowing them to alter land. [Blackwater (Aberrations) 4/10)]

Alter Land (0 AP, the charts): The Dark, the caverns below Igniterra, are connected to the underdark, the ocean floor and the lower levels are filled with water and wandering Ilannes hunters led by the Kahu'Nihui.

[JbeJ275]

Yin had spent a few years watching the Yatkip, some amongst their number grew mighty, and won fame in countless contests, one even developed a power all to similar to his own and journeyed off to hunt beyond the horizon. But now it was time to journey once more into the Wild lands of the hunter.

Slipping into a forest of great and old pine trees Yin slaughtered many creatures, bears, boar, bison and bobcat all fell under his fangs. And he saw, now and again, that other hunters walked these paths. Yet this simply would not do, for what good was the hunt without challenge or prize? So he walked through an archway of birch that stood in a small clearing, wiped his bloody maw on the roots and beyond made a new home for the hunt. With trees that reached to the heavens revealing rabbits the size of boars, boar the size of elk and elk that reached to the heavens like the elephants. Predators here grew in strength as well, falcons that could carry unwary hunters to the sky and bears with hide near impervious to any mortal weapon. Each beast perfectly adapted to a life of conflict and competition, one that demanded cunning as well as might, one that would test the limits of any mortal hunter attempting to end it.

This was the forest of Drasnaga, and it would be his new home.

Spoiler: AP

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Start: 16
Weave Plane (4AP): The Drasnaga Forest: A endless hunting ground, filled with ferocious and dangerous beasts, this is where the hunter king makes his lair and waits patiently for prey

Bridge Plane (2AP): At current there is only one grove that takes applicants in and out of the Drasnaga, but more can be created by finding a grove of birch in the forest and wetting their roots with the blood of animals you have hunted.

Create Monstrous Life (1AP): Drasnaga Beasts: These are found inside the Drasnaga forest but they can slip through the gaps to find themselves on the material plane. Huge, agressive and terrifying versions of ordinary beasts they are a great challenge for even the mightiest hunter.

Bless (1AP): He that brings down a beasts of the Drasnaga through the hunter’s way will forever more be blessed with sharp cunning, endless stamina and lightning reflexes.

[thethird]

Uijak and what would become Iz'eb, Yatpik lands

The shark was content as the creatures that had changed under his care. He stood back and relaxed for a second of introspection. And he heard them, the prayers. The Yatpik of the White Otter company were telling him of their travels. Of their adventures. From them he learned of the Drasnaga forest and how it was filled with trees and beasts beyond what they had seen before. A powerful prize for the hunt that his initiates would bring down.

He resumed his form that of a white Yatpik pockmarked with shark teeth and went to investigate the forest. He saw the trees there and the beasts and knew that they were not of the prime. He took one of the growing trees only a bit taller than a saproling.

He stepped back for an instant, leaving the world into the void. He took some time. He let the world spin before deciding where he was going to plant the first tree that would change the surface more to his liking while those below expanded the domains of the waters below.

Igniterra was by far the greenest land and on closer inspection he saw the thunder lizards and their strength was something that would help his tree grow strong.

Uijak and Iz'eb, Igniterra

Deep in the jungles of Igniterra is where the shark god, still in Yatpik form, planted the saproling. He then raised his hand to his mouth and bit hard. The god bled salt that the saproling drank thirstily. Sea salt not being for the weak made the tree grow strong. Earth's salt not being for the living soon the tree crossed beyond. The god's salt not being for mere mortal things the tree reached into the divine.

"Wake."

The introspective's god voice was that of the deep and sure rumble of the darkest current. It pulled Iz'eb into being.

"Wake, and wreak."

[mystic1110]

The Shark and the Log

Alas, Iz'eb did not wake.

Oh, the tree did grow, god's salt made it appear at times during its slow life a horse chestnut, an ash, a honey locust, a sycamore, a hedge maples and even a sweet gum. It's tempting to wonder if the other God would've stayed for a mortal trees aging? Would he have stood year after year, harvest after harvest, as the branches grasped the air and light? Luckily none would have to find out - for the tree, in a mangrove appearance, grew for the benefit of the God's perception. Perhaps a mortal came a picnicked under the god to be while the god was just a mortal tree.

But that's half the secret? Trees are barely mortal already.

And so the mangrove that was sometimes a sycamore grew and flourished until it was the greatest tree in the forest, perhaps the world. One could call it a world tree - but no - its leaves may have perhaps just provided slight shade to the rest of the canopy. But, perhaps because it grew to accommodate the attention of one who was non-arboreal, those things of bone and haste, rot set in. One could see the telltale burnt orange of soft bark set in in rivets and rivers along the base.

And so, as the rot encircled the great young and old giant the trunk began to splinter as the rest of the tree bore its weight down upon it. The crack of the bark may have been the saddest and loudest sound the young world may have heard, louder even than the tumultuous blast of the tree falling onto the forest floor. As the tree fell, it dragged other trees down with it, since no tree (even lone guideposts alone in the deserts) truly dies alone. Remember too that like all trees, animals – more than can be counted, had made their home on the tree and most of them would be broken and maimed in the crash. The dirt too – one doesn’t think about the dirt, a fall of a great giant like that? The soil would liquefy and turn into runny mud.

And now a log, on the mud ruined forest ground – surrounded by dead animals and worse, dead trees, the once-tree finally became a god.

Iz’eb did not wake, but Iz’eb finally became something sleeping.

The fall cracked much of the great tree’s branches and Iz’eb’s sap ran out – a heady substance of chartreus and maroon. It smelled like . . . it smelled like what one may do. It smelled, to the god of the ocean, like a world that was ocean. Salt, adversity, and triumph. The sap came slowly – ever so slowly dripped into the liquefied ground and mixed into the muddy ruin, some of the broken squirrels sank. Some of the mosquitos and other insects that laid still shocked from the fall became encased – gems to be.

The wind blew into the forest and the leaves of the dead god fell off their ornamental stalks. One could hear them say:

What do you want to do?

[mystic1110]

Patience

The question stayed on the air like a soft mist - blank and expressionless, waiting for the unwary. The dead tree did hurry for an answer, it was content to just let the question remain there, hanging, until something or someone stumbled into its noose.

But the patience of a tree is a mysterious thing - one would think that they are just there, content to exist motionless, stationary, islands to themselves. But it is not so, a tree is always busy, it is always doing. Even when it is dying. Even when dead the work remains.

The muck of the liquefied ground burbled as the heavy sap of the dead god seeped deep beneath the soil. The fur of the small creatures crushed by the impact or rendered dead by the shock of the fall sank alongside the exoskeletons of thousands of insects that none took notice of. Their bodies were blood offerings to the roots, the Roots, that endless and incalculable maze of those still living and those still dead.

It would be wrong to say that some twigs came to life, for twigs were once alive. No - instead they came back to life, dressed in nothing but the nakedness of nature. In the dirt they formed into beautiful maidens - skin the color of ash-trees, one eye green and the other purple, hair that changed like the seasons. These were the dryads, not so much sisters of trees as they were the trees. Some were even the dryads of the great mushrooms of those strange other forests.

These many sisters and mothers vanished with a silent pop, the sound of acorns hitting the ground, with a silent flight, the sound of a dandelion’s ruderals colonizing new dirt - and they went home to themselves.

Spoiler: AP ACTIONS

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Start 16 AP

4 AP Create Mythical Life - Dryads. Each is tied to a tree such that if the tree dies, they die and vice versa. They can travel from any one living tree to any one other living tree with but a thought.

End 12 AP

[thethird]

The god stood there in silent introspection. It was as if something important had fled from his mind busying itself with alien thoughts. Live rose and fell while the shark god reflected. What did it want? Up to a point he had just wanted to live on the cycle of life and rebirth, then when it had been broken entertainment, a fleeting distraction... When his own introspection had gotten the best of him and many had risen from the sea escaping the salt and death below the waves he had wanted to strike in anger. To drown the world back into the waters. But... The question. What did he want?

"I want to be acknowledged and respected, the strife and death that comes from it are necessary for life. Too many have fled above land escaping the clean simpleness of the cycle of hunter and prey below the waters. While that is not necessarily a bad thing I do feel displaced. Help me get purpose."

OoC: I almost went too meta there.

[mystic1110]

The Shark and the Log

The answer comes from the living God. It comes like the crashing of waves and the spray of salt. It comes like erosion. It comes like time itself. It comes with a question.

Purpose . . .

What is purpose for a living tree? Purpose is to continue living. Just that. To live, to survive - and to do either is to provide. Those walking animals without roots in the ground think the circle is life and death, death to life. But not so - the circle is giving and receiving. Give and Receive. That is the answer of purpose to a living tree. . . but, alas Iz'eb is dead.

What is purpose for the dead? Could it be that there is none? That purpose is what makes life worth living, and if you have purpose when you're dead then you had no purpose to be alive? Sure, the living tree thinks, the cycle of gifts and checks continues. Your body gives when you die, but that is your body, not you. What you are your dreams, not your body. Even the tree. Even the dead ones.

And so what is the purpose of dreams? The splintered wood on the forest ground thinks on this question as its blood-sap, the very stuff of dreams, quickens and turns to gems dropping into the mud. Perhaps it is to give and receive as well? If you take your own dream and you give it to another so that they may share in that dream and you share in theirs. Purpose is found by finding purpose.

The soft murmur of the fungi growing in the shadow of the log answer the Shark.

I cannot give you purpose, but I can help you look.

The final leaves still left on the branches fall away, and the ground begins to harden finally. More like clay than mud now. Swirls of chartreuse and magenta bisect the ground like rivers.

As you said, strife is necessary for the living. You are still alive and thus you must strive. Without the use or allusion to any of your strength or power try to convince one mortal to drown themselves. Perhaps with this task you’ll see what is necessary for you to remain alive and what is necessary of the dead.

There is a tree that grows in this world that is called the suicide tree. It blooms only once and when it does its seeds fall onto the sunless ground. The seeds need the sun to grow, but far beneath the canopy, there is only darkness. Soon after the tree blooms it dies, falling and tearing a great hole in the canopy. Killing itself and killing others so that its children may live. The gift.

The suicide tree’s sap runs fluorescent green. A single drop, ingested, kills any mortal. It stains water and milk too easily, it putrefies food, and it is useless if merely doused in blood. No, the only way it kills is through willingness. Is this another gift?

Is the receipt always and always death?

The cycle may be giving and receiving, but no one said that the gift wasn’t poison.