Heroes of the Fall

[Demidos]

Originally Posted by Erik Vale

Aramar's Shadow


Upon seeing the coalescing form, of an almost shadowy creature, Erack took steps back, already forming slight changes within himself. Muscles hardened, retractable claws began to form. And then he stopped, as some Aramar not-Aramar thing stepped out. And nothing confirmed it more than it's speach. Off, and it spoke as if it wasn't a divine. But some other."

"I recognize who you mimic. What are you. And speak quickly, for this is not a time for speaches, as you will know should you look behind you."

"Well then. You know me. For I am he. Or, at least, part of him. When we first landed, we befriended a peaceful folk, who were set upon by slavers. The slavers killed many of our friends and trapped Aramar when we foolishly spent ourself against an illusion. However, they did not have the power to trap any god, and the trap was keyed to Aramar alone -- thus, by seperating some part of his personality, the darker elements, I escaped. After exacting vengeance, I found that they had warded me well, and even I could not enter. Only one with a spark of divinity could enter there, something I do not posess. Now I require one such spark to return and free him. In exchange, you may request any boon. My soldiers and I are at your disposal."

The shadow pauses for a second, pensive.

"You may call me Sil, if you wish to distinguish me from myself until such a time as I return to Aramar."

[Erik Vale]

"I don't think this to be an apropriate time to check your alibi, but if your willing to help your willing to help. Silvar..."

Kalandor shifted part of his gaze to the Titans and there horde, still waiting for Carolinus to speak. However, he only sifted a fraction of his gaze...

[Demidos]

Spoiler

Originally Posted by Erik Vale

"I don't think this to be an apropriate time to check your alibi, but if your willing to help your willing to help. Silvar..."

Kalandor shifted part of his gaze to the Titans and there horde, still waiting for Carolinus to speak. However, he only sifted a fraction of his gaze...

Silvar turns to regard what lies in the direction of Kalandor's gaze. "A large host. They intend to sack the city? Interesting. The city looks well defended -- they will take heavy losses, despite those...giants? I presume you wish me to help defending the city, seeing as there is another spark within. Unless of course he is being held captive there. I doubt that my power could avail much in a direct confrontation -- My men are strongest at night, and we number only seventy. It is late morning already, and the host numbers in the thousands. However, it looks to be a long siege. Should the city manage to hold them off today, well. At nighttime it will be different." Silvar turns back, his overlong canines clearly visible as he smiles, an almost hungry look in his eye.

"Is this...acceptable?"

[Erik Vale]

"It would be acceptable for you to defend the city. And if it is as you say, it would be best for you to hold till night.... Unfortunately Carolinus, the spark you sense, has yet to respond to their challenge, so I'm not entirely sure what I... We should do...."

[Demidos]

Originally Posted by Erik Vale

"It would be acceptable for you to defend the city. And if it is as you say, it would be best for you to hold till night.... Unfortunately Carolinus, the spark you sense, has yet to respond to their challenge, so I'm not entirely sure what I... We should do...."

Then we wait. Silvar stands completely still, seeming totally at ease, every muscle completely relaxed. To see him, one would think him a statue, except for his eyes, which still glowed eerily in the growing light.

[VonDoom]

Shirvan and Dasque's Reunion

The man with the trim beard chuckled and bowed slightly, as if in apology. "Ah, merely did I wish to hear your name from your o-" But, he was suddenly interrupted by a booming, deep laugh and a heavy hand leveled upon his shoulder. The giant had stepped forward now, as well, and spoke with a loud but jovial voice.

"You talk too much." He turned his brown eyes towards Dasque, then continued: "'tis only the citadel where your brother lives that's actual gold, we just call it that because there's sure to be no finer city crafted by human hand in this world."

The more talkative but decidedly smaller fellow looked perturbed for a moment, but quickly regained his footing as he disentangled himself from the other man's hold and cleared his throat.

"This brute here is Faris, aptly called the giant. I am Rashid. These two," he indicated towards the archer and the strange-looking one, "are Mahir and Yaman. They call us the Four Braves."

Introduction finished, he produced what he thought to be his most charming smile and finally added. "Welcome, o Goddess, to Fiero, which we are told is literally the center of the world, for what it's worth. Will you allow us to act as your guides and escorts to Ates?"

[shorewood]

Spoiler

For future reference the realm Haramhold created will be referred to as Sanctuary.

The people of Salus began rebuilding their city, even greater than it once was as it was no longer bound within the confines of the great wall. Plans were made for great halls and tall towers, Wide open plazas of pure white granite and never ending fountains filled by Haramhold's water stone.

Haramhold left the details majority of the details for the guild masters to decide, although he gave more than a little input and advice onto the design and ascetic of the structures. Most of the gods time in the days following the rise of Sanctuary was in restoring Green MorningStar to her former splendor and in the design of a new realm. One that would interconnect with dozens of locations across the disc. It was too dangerous to travel to and fro Sanctuary as the damage Green MorningStar suffered was any indication. Salus would be safe within Sanctuary but it would eventually stagnate, it needed contact and trade with the outside world. So the plans for the portal hub slowly came together.

Every evening after Haramhold and Amanda finished their daily tasks they would come to the house they had built for Jongo and see how the eldest fared.

Tales of Salus
Jack the Thief

Spoiler

Life was good until the storms came. Years of hard work destroyed in an instant. Do you even know how frustrating that is? It was not only the material wealth which was destroyed that I would have shrugged off. Things are just things but the deaths were hit me hard. Reliable contacts and informants are rarer than gold and I lost many of those during the storm.

Fortunately or unfortunately I am not as yet sure a bird dropped out of the sky during the storm. Turned out to be that Shapechanging god Jongo. Can you believe it? The one being I had spent a considerable amount of effort to avoid detection from lands on my doorstep and I am careless enough to let him or her i can never tell into my home. It was gone soon after waking up for that I'm grateful, I can only hope that it did not get a good look at my face. Its not that I have anything against the eldest of the gods mind you, O no from what I hear it is quite the loveable bloke but where I can conduct my business beneath Haramhold's notice I doubt I would have such freedom with this god.

I managed to weather out the storms as you can probably tell and didn't have a heart attack when our dear beloved deity created Sanctuary, no small feat I can tell you. So here I am sitting in my partially ruined house looking up at the bright blue sky and for once in my life I am truely grateful for having a god's protection. Its useful.

When Amanda went of on her humanitarian mission to the surrounding towns I made sure that two of the volunteers were my men. Neither of them survived the journey, don't look at me like that. I made sure that neither of them were married or had dependents. I'm a criminal not a monster. Where was I, O right When Amanda came back with a thousand recruits... I mean refugees I made arrangements that any time Green MorningStar left with a crew I would have at least one man aboard.

The guild masters were extremely busy in the following days as they completely redesigned the city. I made sure my voice was heard and that certain desirable features were added in.

[Ladorak]

Carolinus frowned in consternation. Weeks of preparation had been undone in moments. He glared at the humans in black armour. To him they were nothing, humans of a fallen path, mere enemies. To the men however...

He glanced to his left and right. He saw doubt on many faces, gloom and suspicion on no small number. Ill news at the start of a siege.

To his men these people were their people. They felt an instinctive human bond. Carolinus understood this because Cireo had been given to and taken from him, he wondered idly if a smaller price could have been paid for such knowledge, then cursed himself for wasting precious seconds.

'People of Markien, take heart! Truly it is a dread thing to finally gaze on foe long awaited. Yet is it not wondrous to see strong ally come unexpected?

He stepped forward onto the battlements, he pointed down at the strange pair before the walls.

Behold Kalandor, my brother. Son of great Baz'Auran. God of travel, master of many forms. Finally help has come to Markien.'

A bridge of light extended downward to Kalandor and his strange companion. As he walked downward he shouted back to the Titans 'I am Carolinus son of Baz'Auran, Knight of the White City, named by you lord and Warrior Virtuous. I will treat with you, if Khar Melkhan is present I would speak with him also. But first I beg a moment. These are my kinsmen, I have not seen them in almost a century.'

He came to a halt before Kalandor, reaching out to touch his brother's shoulder 'I would embrace you brother, but not with Titan eyes upon me. I know not what happened with the black sands, yet I know you are not the herald of this doom, it has hung over Markien for many and more dark and fearful months. I welcome your coming, for I am in great need. But it does old eyes now unused to joy great good by coming before them now brother.' those eyes flicked to the other 'You... obviously have a long story to tell. I would be glad to hear it, yet I fear it is a long one, while Titans are honourable I would not wish to keep them overly long. I suggest you both make your way up the bridge so I can dissolve it. We will speak soon.'

He walked onward to the Titans with no fear on his face, with the image of Cireo held before his minds eye there was no place for fear. Thus armoured from dread he went onward to learn their collective fate.

[Erik Vale]

Within the Walls
There were very few places that Kalandor tread, fewer that he had not seen, and none of which he had never head through the myths of men, both ancient deceased, being in but ruins, or from one just comming of age.

This was one of the ones he had just crossed off that list of treading and seeing. Internally he was wondering about the titans. They were unlike what he saw when sharring minds with the Chil'Rabi, who had no reason to lie. Perhaps a slowly changing memory, or it was inserted, but that was to be it's own. Hopefully he would be of use. Already froms, both composites, pure forms, magical forms and enlarged forms flowed through his mind.

"It is good to see you also, brother, however I wish that circumstances were better. We will meet you when we return."

Kalandor began walking into the city, the bridge humming beneath him, his steps seeming to make the light at once humm in joyous greetings of a traveller, the weary mumblings of a defender, like a duet singing in two completely different yet somehow complementary tones, but such were the nature of gods, that nature changed sublty around them. As soon as Carolinus left the city, the few buildings softened almost impercievably, and all the (few) shadowed place that much more inviting when Kalandor entered, begging for exploration. But as it was, Kalandor made his way towards the top of the walls immediatly, doing his best to hold his gaze off the few spots where such shadows found rest within.

[Raz_Fox]

Fayruz Ensnared

There was something.

Something something something important something lost and gone lost lost lost.

There was a something but now there are just people and she can do what she's always wanted to do more than anything else no rules no guilt nothing but help and it's wild and wonderful and soft and sweet and she's beautiful and everyone likes to see her and everyone likes to be touched by her and something's missing

Maybe it's everyone else? They need her need need need so much they want her touch her song her silence her chains her nails her all and it's lovely and they clamor for her and so she gives and gives and gives and gives and gives and help gives and gives and gives and gives and givesandgivesandgivesandgivesandgivhelpes

They all like her. They call her divine, they give her sweetest silks and weave gold into her hair and veil her face, they make her nails lacquer and they make her feet painted, they kiss her all over and she finds their secrets.

He once failed her Majesty and was forever shamed, he eats to hide his sorrow. She caresses him tenderly, she kisses his brow and eases his pain, and teaches him that food is not everything.
She has forgotten what tea she took to make her womb barren, but sometimes she cries and wonders why she does this thing. She takes her into her arms and makes whole what was once ruined, and promises to bless the child.
He was a serving-boy, not allowed a woman unless they took him, and unhandsome among the shining lovers of Uluuvatar. She chose him for a night and showed him his own beauty, deep within himself, and then required no servitude from him.

Pleasure wheels to pain, then returns to bloody pleasure. And she never wants to leave help because there's so much she can do here. Everyone wants, and they're scared of the price, and they're surprised when she helps them and asks for nothing in return. When she lets them take and gives still more than they demanded.

Something what was the something something something something gone where is it in silk cushions in chains and bridles in sweat-sheened muscles no where where where

it's gone

where please

where


Sonata and Shyreza

Shyreza had heard songs before. She'd heard many songs, and some of them straight from the lips of the maiden goddess she served, songs of healing and of power. But the song that Sonata gave to her, that night, in the tent, as the two of them sat together on the woven mats of the mountain-people - that was the greatest song that she had ever heard. And something within her awoke when she heard it, when it cried out to her, "Sing me, Shyreza."

And deep within her, there was a song that returned. A song of a maze of glass and a gazelle-goddess whose kisses were sweet as ripe fruit, of small golden ornaments stolen from griffin-nests and of rich red dresses, and a voice that enchanted. Shyreza sang back, in her heart.

And then, and then, in what seemed a blasphemous stillness, the song ended and there before her stood Sonata, but lesser, human in mien. The song of spirits vanished from her voice when she spoke, the glow of the rainbow left her eyes, and the grace of the wolf that prowls was no longer hers when she moved. And she promised to teach Shyreza the song of the gods, the true song from the true mistress, in return for being taught what humanity was.

Shyreza returned Sonata's strange motion with a bow of her head, hands folded in her lap. "It is an honor to meet you, Sonata. I am Shyreza, one of the Artful Ones who serve the goddess, partner to Gamesha of the Smiling Ones and Saven of the Kindly Ones. Of all the servants of the goddess, it is well that you chose me, for I am one of our history-keepers. I have studied, as much as I can, the history of our people, and how we came to be. I did not see the battle, in which Fayruz washed away the sins of the leaders of the five tribes, but I have spoken with many who have. I can tell you who we are, we Fayheran who serve the goddess, and I can tell you what our traditions are, as far as we have them from so many different tribes. This, first of all, you must know: we live in peace, every man working to help his neighbor, not because this is the decree of the chieftains but because Fayruz walks among us and reminds us that we have not loved each other as we loved her. I think that is the first lesson in being a Fayheran. We love each other, and we love Fayruz."

She sat back, looking at Sonata, wondering what to say next, wondering whether to give her a name from the tribes of the Fayheran, wondering how she would fit teaching another student into her time working with Gamesha, Saven, and the Artful Ones, and wondering how Fayruz would react when she returned and found her sister transformed into a mortal.

"Next. Allow me to explain our origins. Once we were six tribes: the Aferi who built high walls of tree-trunks and mud to keep their foes from their storehouses, the Tekeza who dug copper from beneath the mountains and had the mightiest weapons, the Dereg who were as dark as the mountains' rock and the Iuneh who were as pale as the mountains' snow, the blood-haired Kayanek who knew the secrets of glass, and the Ma-Shen who devoured the flesh of their foes..."


The Olm, Abandoned

In those days, the goddess did not return on the next day, but a runner who explained that the goddess had gone to dine at Uluuvatar. At this there was great weeping, and many of the Fayheran tore at their clothes and beat at their breast, and explained to the Maiden of Dawn and the Greenking that Uluuvatar was an accursed land from which came every perversion, and where those who betrayed their betrothed and those who betrayed the young were dragged in chains to become part of its dread host. It is said that Saven wept openly before the people, and Gamesha howled with such force that the sun trembled, and Shyreza who was under the tutelage of the Maiden of Dawn cast aside her golden ornaments and wore white in honor of her beloved goddess.

There was a great chaos at the assembly, and greater dread fell upon the hearts of the people when the rider Ul-Beca came out of the south with tidings of greater peril - the shadow over the sun that had five long fingers, that advanced from the south, and beneath it marched the bestial folk who had once battled against the Ma-Shen, the M'tuk and the Kz'kera and the Akhenalhaz and the Rakak, and the dog-headed demons of the sand who could not abide the touch of the sun. Beneath the hand of the Ghoulking, barbarian marched side-by-side with ghoul. They were coming, Ul-Beca declared, for the Olm, and for blessed Fayruz, and they would scatter the Fayheran apart.

And in those days stood forward the heroes of the Fayheran, to protect the people of the goddess while she languished, tricked by the Queen of Uluuvatar into deserting her people when they needed her most of all.

[Gengy]

Dreams of Chaos

Well. This is... different. Good, but different.

The ocean was vast, but the sky was even more so. Both were held together in one, and they were beautiful and empty.

Except for the Red Dolphin with glorious Purple Wings, spread out to allow flight in both sea and air. The wind and water wove together in harmony, and danced like old partners just finding each other anew.

Blue skys, blue seas, white shining clouds, white crested waves. It was all connected.

And Jongo was too. He was everything, and nothing. She could see it all, like looking at the Crystal Ceiling.

But it was missing three parts. No, four.

Jongo knew one of those parts.

Father. Father wasn't in his dreams. The Great Baz'Auran was ever silent and content, at His work. Jongo was never more happy than simply being allowed to watch.

Father would take the winds and the waves, and along with the other three missing parts, would create. And it was - no matter how ugly - always beautiful.

In her dreams, Jongo was content. Flying as a Dolphin through sky and ocean, no land or troubles in sight, and only the ever shifting colors of chaos from the Band of Chaos were around, twisting and twirling in ways that made Jongo laugh.

Pain.

A knot. A dark cloud in the air, a dark spot in the water. More showed up. They burst from the waves, and tore at the unending blue of the sky.

Tentacles everywhere, angry and booming with horrible voices. They curled around Jongo, and squeezed.

It was the Alboleth all over again, but no mind to open up to. No. It was the Leviathan, but less kind. Angry. It was...

...a Nightmare.

"Rodney. You there? Can you..." The Tentacles squeezed even as Jongo realized what was going on. The sky darkened to a lovely shade of orange and the waters turned bright pink. Still the enormous booming Tentacles squished and constricted.

It was foolish to grab a shapechanger so.

But Jongo could not change. Could not shift.

It was the great Moose incident all over again, curse Rose and her tricks. But this time, it wasn't harmless fun. This time, it felt so real.

The swirling colors of the Band of Chaos laughed, but they did not help.

"Brother? This is a dream, right? It must be... but I'm... I'm in so much pain. Why does it hurt?"

A worthy effort, son of Baz'Auran. Enjoy your victory while you can.

It echoed, even in Jongo's dreams. This thing. It hurt, even in the ever altering bastion of Jongo's mind. Jongo struggled, and fought, but there had been so much pain recently, so much battering against Jongo's body. And whatever used this voice was something Jongo had never had before, something Jongo never thought he'd ever have...

...an enemy...

...and it lingered, even in her dreams.

[THEChanger]

Dreams of Chaos

"Oh do be quiet you big, insufferable bully. Shame on you, picking on my sibling while she's asleep." One of the massive tentacles not currently strangling Jongo came closer, and lounging atop it was the grinning form of The Weaver. His red eye glistening, evidently taking a small amount of satisfaction from Jongo's Nightmare, The Weaver tapped the tentacles gripping his eldest sibling's form. Slowly, they slackened, and provided Jongo with a place to rest while the two deities chatted. "You know, Jongo, you always did have the most vibrant dreams. A pity your Nightmares are so vivid as well. You ought to be careful with that. Dreams are very powerful things." The Weaver's expression shifted, to one of concern. "Your fear is palpable, Jongo. Tell me, what troubles you? Surely it is not a giant squid. I thought you liked squids." The skies above began to clear, the sun once more shinning brilliantly. Below the siblings, the ocean grew calm, and the great form of the dream-spawned Kraken grew silent. In the Dream-Time, the will of The Weaver is law, and all such dreamed creatures are his to command. Such is the responsibility of Morodia, the Slumbering King, who rules over all dreams.

[daelrog]

"You may. I am most curious to see your city to live up to its claim. I have seen but one of our other siblings cities, and it will be a feat to surpass it."

Secretly, she was hoping it would though.

[Demidos]

Spoiler

Originally Posted by Ladorak

Carolinus frowned in consternation. Weeks of preparation had been undone in moments. He glared at the humans in black armour. To him they were nothing, humans of a fallen path, mere enemies. To the men however...

He glanced to his left and right. He saw doubt on many faces, gloom and suspicion on no small number. Ill news at the start of a siege.

To his men these people were their people. They felt an instinctive human bond. Carolinus understood this because Cireo had been given to and taken from him, he wondered idly if a smaller price could have been paid for such knowledge, then cursed himself for wasting precious seconds.

'People of Markien, take heart! Truly it is a dread thing to finally gaze on foe long awaited. Yet is it not wondrous to see strong ally come unexpected?

He stepped forward onto the battlements, he pointed down at the strange pair before the walls.

Behold Kalandor, my brother. Son of great Baz'Auran. God of travel, master of many forms. Finally help has come to Markien.'

A bridge of light extended downward to Kalandor and his strange companion. As he walked downward he shouted back to the Titans 'I am Carolinus son of Baz'Auran, Knight of the White City, named by you lord and Warrior Virtuous. I will treat with you, if Khar Melkhan is present I would speak with him also. But first I beg a moment. These are my kinsmen, I have not seen them in almost a century.'

He came to a halt before Kalandor, reaching out to touch his brother's shoulder 'I would embrace you brother, but not with Titan eyes upon me. I know not what happened with the black sands, yet I know you are not the herald of this doom, it has hung over Markien for many and more dark and fearful months. I welcome your coming, for I am in great need. But it does old eyes now unused to joy great good by coming before them now brother.' those eyes flicked to the other 'You... obviously have a long story to tell. I would be glad to hear it, yet I fear it is a long one, while Titans are honourable I would not wish to keep them overly long. I suggest you both make your way up the bridge so I can dissolve it. We will speak soon.'

He walked onward to the Titans with no fear on his face, with the image of Cireo held before his minds eye there was no place for fear. Thus armoured from dread he went onward to learn their collective fate.

Silvar bowed his head shortly, in aquiescence, then walked up the shining ramp, the flurry of bats continuing to fly about him in close spirals. His feet made no sound on the bridge of light, and he watched the defenders scurrying about inside, his face mostly obscured by his cowl.
"You look to be fairly outnumbered, Carolinus." says Silvar in a way that, while not a question, seems to be questioning the strength of the fortifications in the face of such overwhelming might as presented below.

[Gengy]

Spoiler

Originally Posted by THEChanger

Dreams of Chaos

"Oh do be quiet you big, insufferable bully. Shame on you, picking on my sibling while she's asleep." One of the massive tentacles not currently strangling Jongo came closer, and lounging atop it was the grinning form of The Weaver. His red eye glistening, evidently taking a small amount of satisfaction from Jongo's Nightmare, The Weaver tapped the tentacles gripping his eldest sibling's form. Slowly, they slackened, and provided Jongo with a place to rest while the two deities chatted. "You know, Jongo, you always did have the most vibrant dreams. A pity your Nightmares are so vivid as well. You ought to be careful with that. Dreams are very powerful things." The Weaver's expression shifted, to one of concern. "Your fear is palpable, Jongo. Tell me, what troubles you? Surely it is not a giant squid. I thought you liked squids." The skies above began to clear, the sun once more shinning brilliantly. Below the siblings, the ocean grew calm, and the great form of the dream-spawned Kraken grew silent. In the Dream-Time, the will of The Weaver is law, and all such dreamed creatures are his to command. Such is the responsibility of Morodia, the Slumbering King, who rules over all dreams.

"Oh, great. Thanks, Rodney. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks." Jongo looked around, as things calmed down, still a bit nervous. "Ummm... you're right. I like Squid well enough. The better for hugging! But this... this is no squid for hugging. This is... this... I don't know what this is. It's something really really big. Almost as big as the Leviathan, which is - as far as I know - the biggest thing that Father ever made. I should know! I've met the Leviathan, and I still haven't seen all of him. Nice fellow, by the way, so long as you don't try to jump over the edge of the Rim. Which, as your eldest sibling, I am forbidding you from doing."

The sky, empty and clear, shimmered to a brilliant green, and the sea - waves calmed and silent - was a clear clear yellow.

The tentacles holding both the Weaver and Jongo soon transformed themselves into puffy blue clouds, soft as only air can be.

More relaxed now, Jongo grinned, and his small humanoid form rocked back and forth on the cloud she sat on. "I guess... I guess I'm just a bit battered. What with the Puppeteer attacking us, and then I went to my Spire in the East - just barely recovered - and got my butt kicked again by those tentacles you saw. They had were making a great big storm, just like this!"

The sky filled with an after image of the storm, but without the battering power that it had had. It quickly dispersed and Jongo laid on his fluffy cloud again, looking like the purple feathered Storm Bird.

"Sorted that out just fine. But then I got smacked around. Now I think I'm safe with Haramhold. Still... this thing... whatever it is that the tentacles belong to. It's just as powerful - if not more so - than the Puppeteer. And I think it hates me."

" Khalen'Fish doesn't really like me all the time, but he never hated me. I've never had something hate me before."

[VonDoom]

Shirvan and Dasque's Reunion

Spoiler

I have based this primarily on ancient Mesopotamian architecture. For a visual reference, this picture might serve:

Spoiler

The tower, rather, is a citadel and finished at the height one sees in the picture. Encircling the city is a large, natural-looking wall of stone with veins of obsidian that appears a veritable bulwark of defense. Another natural defense is around the wall -- river-beds of lava, providing a natural source of heat and facilitating metal-work.

About where the sun sets looms the huge volcano, the source of that lava flow.

"Ah, but do not forget," the glib man advised. "Our city was made by human hand, Shirvan only provided the surroundings to build upon and guided our efforts."

***
The journey proved surprisingly quick. These four mortals seemed almost impossible to tire out, walking at a steady and fast pace directly towards the volcano that had been visible on the horizon before.

"We can get closer to the volcano than any other, one of his gifts," the odd Yaman offered mid-way. His voice was strangely melodic and very smooth. "The poison doesn't affect us. But it's still hot and an unpleasant climb, so we'll go around."

***

As the small entourage came closer and closer they encountered the occasional traveler and forager, all displaying the common traits of the Shirvanites. They had one thing in common, all: friendly greetings were shouted, respect was given to heroes and goddess both, but none would kneel or prostrate themselves before her (or them, for that matter).

The ground was clearly quite fertile, with lush forests, grass and fields all over; a side effect of the lava-spewing calamity nearby that had once spelled only disaster and doom.

***

The sun rose once again. And finally, before them, stretched out Ates. The Golden City.

From their heightened vantage point, its full glory became apparent. The whole city was surrounded by a massive wall of stone; veins of black obsidian stretched throughout the 'natural' bulwark. Two openings existed in the wall, one south, one north, allowing for exit and entrance, and each appeared well-fortified.

More stunning than the wall itself, however, was the red-hot flow of lava circling around it. Even low in trenches, they had a dangerous yet beautiful look to them. Many far-away figures could be seen lowering bowls into them, whether to cook, to ease metalwork or for more arcane purposes was not readily apparent.

Four fires were lit upon top of the wall, one for each of the four directions.

However, Ates itself was far smaller than the area surrounded by this prominent wall -- perhaps Shirvan had been excessive with his ideas, or perhaps he had already thought ahead and left more than plenty of room for future expansion.

A river ran right through the middle of this construct, appearing from underground at the western most edge of the wall and once again disappearing in the East. It was broad and looked quite clean, despite its Earthen origin.

As it was, Ates was once again surrounded by a wall -- this one crafted by human hand and not nearly as high, but far more elegant. Fire bowls surrounded this wall in set intervals, though they were currently being put out now that the sun was rising once again. Marvelous bronze-colored ziggurats rose tall and straight throughout the city, decorated with intricate carvings and artistry as if to challenge the very gods in its mastery.

The city was bustling with people; there was a bazaar filled with merchants, soldiers practicing their craft and maneuvers outside the walls, builders already shaping further buildings to house their increasing population.

At its very center, however, stood the Golden Citadel that had partially influenced Ates title as the 'Golden City'. It shone in the gleaming light of the rising sun and looked to literally be made from the precious metal. Stretching above any of the halls and ziggurats, it was immense in scope and beauty, almost blinding as the sun reflected upon its surface -- to any but the Goddess of Light itself, that was.

The remaining lights that still hadn't been extinguished in town looked exotic and strange, almost ethereal in their thin shells made from the black volcano glass, but they quickly faded before Dasque's eyes to make room for the bright morning.

To the Goddess of Radiance, it was no difficulty at all to spot a human shape slipping away from the top of the citadel -- it stood in mid-air for a moment, an armor that appeared as golden as the building itself gleaming in the sun, then turned around and flew straight towards the small group at neck-breaking speed.

Less than a minute had passed and before them now presented itself a woman, beautiful to the point one might well mistake her for a goddess. The armor she wore, on closer examination, was far more effective bronze rather than gold and covered her torso; greaves protected her legs, and vambraces for her arms. Four long pieces of deep-red cloth lead away from her hips, originating from underneath the bronze plate, and underneath she wore white pants that were tucked into her greaves. She was pale of skin, with long black hair extending past her shoulders and looked upon the five of them with blazing cold blue eyes.

Spoiler

On closer examination, she wasn't exactly flying, but rather appeared to be balancing in the air on top of a flying sword.

"Bahiya!", the giant exclaimed,sounding pleasantly startled.

There was a strong spark of divinity in the woman, who had clearly been invested with a measure of Shirvan's power.

Her eyes briefly scanned over the Four Braves in acknowledgment, before they reached Dasque. "Goddess of Radiance," Bahiya acknowledged. She seemed distant, though not exactly disrespectful.

The Exarch extended her right hand and from her fingertips another blade jumped forward. It was broader and looked more stable than the sleek one she herself stood upon. With a mere wave of her hand the sword sank towards Dasque, levitating before her at about the height of her knees. "Step upon this sword and I shall see you to your brother."

[Kasanip]

Sonata and Shyreza: Teaching and Learning

Spoiler

It could be said that Sonata treasured history.But that is not correct. Sonata treasured memories. She treasured stories of nostalgic times, sad times, happy times. She treasured these things because they were like songs, and to put them together with sharp mind was a fun task. To bring a story to life again, to make it dance and flow. Such was an art of storytelling and song that Sonata had woven into the Ar Maen, which was in the songs of the white city, and so replicated it's glory and power.

So it was fortunate (for those who didn't think Sonata's plan was cunningly designed) that Shyreza was Sonata's teacher of humanity and the way of the Fayheran.

In one day Sonata learned the stories of Shyreza, of the Aferi and the Tekeza, the Dereg and the Iuneh, the Kayanek and the Ma-Shen. And she learned how the Fayheran wove these stories into songs, and soon she had mastered them. To learn a new song was not difficult for Sonata.

But the other lessons were more difficult. Shyreza gave her a Fayheran name, and Sonata followed Shyreza around her work for the day, to learna little of the meaning "we love each other". And Sonata could see how the Feyheran loved and respected Fayruz, and each other. And though Ecchr was a peaceful city with an atmosphere of melody and gentle rain and lazy foxes, The Olm and city was very different. The Feyheran were sandy and dry. They were passionate and enduring, but life called them together. It was a more simple feeling, and Sonata had little patience for it when her interest became boring.

To help mend clothes, or to help make bread, or another food... These were simple things a fox princess didn't do, and the songs that the families sang when working were like spice and sand.

And throughout this, the begining of a lesson, 'to be humble.' Which Sonata failed to learn very quickly.

But in the evening when they returned to the tent, Sonata had returned to her divine nature to teach more lessons of Ar Maen.

"What is the nature of a song? It can be heard, because it is around us. It comes from the heart, and so you must realize that to become a song, you must stop to control.

First, listen." She said, touching Shyreza's heart and ear.

"Listen to the song, and so you can begin to understand it is alive.

Listen to the song, and realize that your song exists! And that song is only one of everything! And that song exists even if you don't sing.

From this, you can go forward. Interfere. Control. Command. And then Mastery.

Now. Repeat after me." Sonata said. And then she began to sing.

...But of course the words can't be recorded! They were only sang to Shyreza.

And Sonata sung at first, leading gently Shyreza into the beginning. And it became returned by Shyreza, until the two songs were like two birds, to fly and dance around and race each other. One song that was mirrored became two, as confidence increased, and the words sang by Shyreza reflected her own heart, not Sonata's, and so became her own treasure.

And when the song faded, it still echoed in the room gently like an evening breeze around Shyreza, but her whole body ached painfully. It felt like a sunburn and an exhausted runner. And Sonata tended to Shyreza like a good Fayheran, and let her rest and bathed with refreshing water.

"...And you have learned that the song you sing is your own, and it is more than your own. It is the world's song too. It goes beyond what you think now, because it is your hopes and dreams, and worries and past and future. It is also Fayruz's song, and your friends and family. Imagine you sing every second of every day. Everything you touch, everything that hears your song resonates with it.
So, it is painful and it hurts, because you are not singing the Ar Maen."

She smiled a rueful fox smile.

"I'm sorry, perhaps I have lied to you. You can't sing the Ar Maen. You must become the Ar Maen. Like the water that makes waves when moved. Like the resonating around you. You must let the song resonate in you. You must become the song.
The violin and violin bow are not the instrument. The fingers and arms are too. But also the brain and the strings and the air...
The singer's voice isn't the instrument. You are all that which is the song."

Sonata touched her forehead to Shyreza's forehead.
"Relax. Take a breath. Listen. Become the song. And sing again."

What kind of song would Shyreza become? A song of gold and red, and a maze of glass, and griffin-nests, and sweet fruit, and desert sands, and so much more. But in that song there was Fayruz too, and Sonata listened gently to Shyreza's song with a nostalgic smile.

In Ecchr there were the seven clans of Hymmnoi. Aria, Ciela, Elysia, Tenoi, Presia, Partih, and Sarla. And Aria Nel was the first song of Ar Maen, of Sonata.

But the song of Shyreza, Sonata felt, would become a legend like those. Already it was greater, but they would continue gracefully. And Sonata felt as her own song resonated here, that someday they would come together.

The Olm, not Abandoned

Spoiler

The cries and woe of the Fayheran of course came to Sonata. Teaching the Ar Maen the night before, and sneaking out to meet her brother and talk, she had woken in the morning by Shyreza, to learn a lesson of exhaustion and mortal limits. So it was a tired human named Sonata followed Shyreza and listened dutifully about human things and old stories.

But the rider had come, and news had spread quickly, that Fayruz had gone somewhere she shouldn't.And a frustrated human named Sonata watched the assembly became crowded and news of the Ghoulking was given.
And a certain Renard sat next to Sonata as she listened beside the Lightning Wolf, who yawned with proud teeth. And Renard laughed a small fox laugh.

One twin has disappeared, and the other became a mortal!
Will the despair they feel
find your heart too?

"I'm not happy, Renard." Sonata replied sullenly. "Fayruz should have been here. I should have sensed something wrong. She should have sent a message! Did they not tell her I had come?!"

The fox laughed again and his fluffy tail danced on her shoulder.

You are spoiled, Lady Sonata.
like one of these Fayheran children!
You were too busy playing human to be responsible
and to listen to fox messengers or songs.
but a cunning fox listens to everything
before a song is made!

Sonata sighed. There was truth to Renard's words.

"Listening to the gloating of foxes, and the sounds of hopelessness, is not music for me. Prepare yourself Renard, because I order you to a difficult task. I order you to leave my side and stay here, to guard my sister's people. To send your fastest messengers on the rainbow paths I will guide them towards my brothers and sisters. At least the ones whom I can feel still."

Sonata stood up, and a glow began to return to her form, and a fierce look in her eyes.

Already this plan was considered by Renard!

The fox laughed.

Be careful my Lady Sonata! To become a human may mean to be less than a fox!
We are cunning, but even the Lady Sonata failed to notice these things!

"Maybe. But this isn't Ecchr, Renard. And even you didn't think Fayruz wouldn't return today." She said sharply.

Renard bowed his head with a little shame.

Yes, my apologies.

"Then already you know my plan. Enact it dutifully, Renard." She ordered. Then Sonata turned to the Fayheran and sang out a short note.

"Listen to me." Sonata said, bringing an order to the people, who gathered in the place of The Olm. the messenger foxes of white and gold sat around the square, to give a watchful order. And the voice of Sonata and her presence gave some peace to the hearts of the Fayheran. And Sonata made comforting words to strengthen their hearts. And she told them to defend themselves and their hope and love for their goddess.

"I will bring my sister back." She promised. And Sonata turned to Shyreza and put a finger on her lips.

"Your silver voice will ring truly to the people of the Fayheran. Together you will do great things. Your song will resonate and these people will listen. We will talk more soon. When I bring my twin back to her home here. I don't need to tell you anything else. But for the good faith and love you have shown me, the Foxes who are mine will listen and aid you. Believe."
And Sonata looked at Llassar and shared a glance and she kissed his cheek gently.

"I will go now and fine Fayruz, dear brother. Help these people! But we will not be far. Sorry, I want to talk so much more, but it has to wait now." Sonata sat gracefully on the back of the Lightning Wolf, and spoke praise into his ears, and like a rainbow and lightning, they went into the air, and soon couldn't be seen by the Fayheran.

When Shyreza looked back at her people, and concern returned, a certain fox named Renard sat beside her feet, and 36 foxes of silver and gold coats, and 80 foxes of the sandy coats in the desert. He smiled a friendly fox smile.

I am Renard, and these are the Ciela clan foxes and
the local clan foxes who have organized with us.
Nice to meet you!
Don't be nervous!
We know the stories you tell of our cousins!
And we know you are learning from Lady Sonata,
We want you to sing good songs about us.
Even Lady Sonata hasn't seen all the shadow nature of foxes
that your ancestors wisely told.
We are reliable for many purposes.
Let's have a good relationship.

A friendly fox smile revealed sharp teeth.

But this sun is very hot. It is best to rest in shade now.
But when you need us,
we will be here.
I will be in your shadow,
until our Lady returns.

Sonata search for Fayruz, Sonata comes to Khalen-Het

Spoiler

So it was that Sonata left the Olm and headed towards the camp of the Fayheran. And when she arrived she questioned the Fayheran there, and learned that Fayruz had left to head north. And so Sonata turned to follow this path, the Lightning Wolf proudly showing his speed. They traveled across the desert far to the North, but not trail could be found.

And Sonata with frustration stopped on the shore to look across the ocean. And she listened to the song, and heard the notes of a certain melody. And so she told the Lightning Wolf to follow her direction, and like a lightning rainbow, to travel south east, towards the domain of Khalen-Het. She hoped if it was Khalen-Het, that he was not so cold and stern. Because Sonata was frustrated, and her words urged the Lightning Wolf quickly across the desert, to outrun the sand itself as she focused on her worries.

Why did Fayruz go to dine in Uluuvatar? Sonata knew nothing of this place, except of the stories told by the Fayheran. Even if her sister had become a dragon eater, then it was still foolish. Maybe if it was Nieve, or even Sonata, it could be understood. Traveling with lightning across the desert, Sonata's frustrated worries burned with lightning, and where Lightning Wolf's feet touched the sand, it became glass. Where was Nieve? Where was Fayruz? Where were the rest of her missing siblings? Only Llassar remained at The Olm. Sonata would rescue her twin, because no one else would. But she needed the help of this brother, whom she remembered only from the times in the White City, when he had listened to her worries and complaints patiently. Would he help? Sonata didn't know. But she had to find out.

The sight of the tower and the golems at last approached, and so it was that Sonata came to announce herself. Down the lightning wolf came from the sky like a rainbow as a misty rain fell here where Sonata stepped off. It was a warm and hot rain that smelled of burnt incense and diamonds. And to the first who was seen, Sonata announced herself.

"I am a Princess of the White City! The first song crowned with rainbow! I am the sister of Khalen-Het, should this be his domain? If so, then do not wait any longer to take me to him!"

[shorewood]

It took a week for Haramhold to repair Green MorningStar and he had not forgotten his brothers request for aid. Haramhold ordered the airships hulls to be filled with thousands steel spears, swords, arrow heads and hundreds of steel chain mail and perhaps a dozen sets of full plate. Even with the entire Guild of metal working around the clock the armories of Salus were stripped empty. With these armaments Haramhold sent a full fourth of the fighting men of Salus a good two hundred men and a dozen skilled smiths to repair the steel should it need it. Amanda his beloved captained the ship, their goodbye was bitter. Neither wished to be parted but Carolinus had requested aid and family comes first. Haramhold would have joined her but the blasted Kraken kept him cooped up.

The morning Green MorningStar was fit to sail she lifted off and with a graceful arc and in moments was above the clouds and then beyond the walls of sanctuary.

Stories of Salus
Jack the thief

Spoiler

What did you say? Leave something out? Well of course I left something out you can't expect me to include everything in my little story. Fine, fine just stop bugging me. Yes the eldest did leave me a gift a thank you present as it were. A symbol of some kind said I could use it to call on him if I ever needed aid or what have you. Were did I put it? Aren't you full of questions today. Well since you asked and it no longer matters I guess that I can tell you.

There are three places I keep valuables in my abode. The first is a safe, easy to find but strong. It is filled with gold and jewels more than enough to satisfy anyone foolish enough to steal from me. The second was also a safe but this one you had to pry up the hearth stones beneath my fireplace to find. It contains my ledgers and contacts and everything I used to run Salus. That one was hard but not impossible to find. The third believe it or not was located right in plain sight, where no one would ever find unless luck and much of it intervened. You see every proper house has an out house nearby and who would ever keep the token of the gods where they pinch a loaf? If one were to tear the seat off they would discover a small metal tube embedded into the stone foundation directly where the seat covers. That is where I hid Jongo's symbol of chaos. Its funny no? My most valuable possession hidden in the **** house.

Well it wasn't long before Haramhold sent his sweet daughter or was it now wife... I can't remember if they had finally did it by this point. Anyway he sent her to aid his brother Carolinus with all of the weapons and armor he had to offer, and more men then he should have. You have to understand At this point there were seventy perhaps eighty thousand men and women living in Sanctuary at this time. And Haramhold sends two hundred of our eight hundred fighting men away. Real smart move that was. If it came down to fighting to protect the city we would be hard pressed for its not like we have the finest soldiers in all of the lands. O they were proficient in sword and bow and spear but none of them were masters. The only real warrior we ever had at this point was Baylor and he died in the last battle against the trolls.

Sometimes the gods are so stupid.

[Nefarion Xid]

???

Mist escaped his lips only to hover for a second before falling away in a drift of powdered snow. Next to him, frozen tears and drool clung to the faces of the women still intertwined with him beneath the mess of furs. One still had an eye open, too intoxicated and enraptured to move and too full of magic to quiet her mind. It flicked back and forth erratically, lubricated just enough to turn in its socket without freezing still.

A sinister laugh fell out of him as he threw away the fur coverings and pried a leg from about his waist. Having crawled over the tangle of bodies, he slid from bed and set a bare foot on the glittering floor and moved to the wall fountain. Water flowed freely from a twisting array of sculpted ice before falling into a basin where it pooled in seemingly infinitely. With a lazy gesture, a goblet solidified from the mist. He filled it once and drank his fill while he sat on the fountain's brim, shamelessly naked.

A groan finally escaped him and he forced his eyes open only for them to shut tightly again of their own accord.

"Best. Party. Ever."

Lossethir began to cackle until the throbbing in his temples silenced him.

[THEChanger]

Dreams of Chaos

The Weaver listened to Jongo's tale, and gazed at the images he was shown. He nodded, and the sky above turned to night. The stars shone from the heavens, and high above, almost out of sight, was the moon. But a white moon, not the blood-red abomination that haunted the skies of the waking night. "I know the feeling. When we fought the Puppeteer, I went into the Dreamtime, near Kalandor's mind, to try and wrest it out. The pure wrath, the cold, calculating desire to cause pain, was terrifying. It was like nothing I'd ever seen." The Weaver's eyes grew brighter, much as the stars overhead, as he remembered his contact with the Puppeteer's mind. "I've come to understand, I think. These creatures-The Puppeteer, and this Kraken-they are not of our Father's creation. These are creatures from before Baz'Auran came and gave form to the world. And they hate him for disturbing their world, and by extention, us."

The Weaver stood, and walked through the air to Jongo's cloud. Extending his hand to help his sibling up, The Weaver's face turned very serious indeed. "I have something I'd like to show you, if you don't mind sleeping for a bit longer."

[Gengy]

"Made before Father? I don't know if I agree with that... And what's a Kraken...? Wait. Something you want to show me? Sure! What did you want to show me? It is sparkly?" Jongo would always be willing to be shown something new.

The tentacles now forgotten, the ocean became the sky, and the sky became the sea. Swimming around The Weaver in excitement, the Red Dolphin that was Jongo squeaked with joy, and laughed a great laugh.

[daelrog]

This new woman piqued Dasque's curiousity. Was she Shirvan's lover? Was she a surrogate sister? Was she but a tool to him? Likely she was all three. There was a bit of venom building up behind Dasque's words, but she let it go. She had been bitter for too long, and having a lesser act her better was insignificant compared to what the Puppetteer had done.

Dsque smiled, an aura of divinity surrounding her. "Of course, child. Lead the way."

Spoiler

Dasque is taking advantage of her divine charm right now.

[TheDarkDM]

The Shadows of Uluuvatar

There is no time in Uluuvatar, no soft passage from day into night. In the realm of perpetual twilight, days melt together, nights twine about each other, and nowhere is there respite from the hungry urging of that realm's mistress. In that fume, Fayruz drifted, borne aloft by the trilling of nightingales and the desperate pleading of the mortals all about her. Yet despite every tryst and dalliance, she would always be called back, back to the bower that rose over the sea of unquenchable desire to attend to its mistress. There, Elanna would instruct her in the arts of Uluuvatar, the manifold desires of man and god and the secret that lay in quenching them. With every lesson, Fayruz fell further into the dark heart of that realm, drawn into the beshadowed rooms within the ziggurat where every perversion was indulged, every base instinct fulfilled. And when they were done, they would return to the clear pool at the heart of Elanna's bower, where the Mistress would cleanse Fayruz, anointing her with sweet oils and sending her back out to forget herself ever more. Fayruz's calloused hands turned soft and smooth, and her skin forgot the biting touch of the sun. Countless days passed, until one day Elanna asked a question as she brushed Fayruz's shining hair.

"Dearest Fayruz, it has been so long since you came to me, to my paradise of Uluuvatar. You are resplendent here, a consort without equal, yet I see you take nothing for yourself."

Fayruz felt Elanna's arms wrap around her, felt her bury her face in her hair. That touch, which was every touch, every want, had still not lost its potency, and in that embrace everything seemed to fall away into darkness.

"It pains me to see you sacrifice so much, Dearest. You give, and you give, with no thought to yourself."

A kiss. Fire. Ice. Light. They exploded through Fayruz as Elanna's kisses always did.

"You must learn to take, my Dearest, my Lovely. If not for yourself, then for me."

A figure appeared at the edge of the darkness, a young man, luminous and beautiful. He cowered before the two goddesses, the twinned loveliness that eclipsed every sight his eyes had been graced with in his short lifetime.

"I have not touched this one, my Lovely, my Fayruz. He is yours entirely. Take him, slake your untended desires, be free - if not for yourself, then to ease the suffering your sacrifice births in my heart."

The Calm Before the Storm

As Carolinus left his brothers to face the titan lords beneath the shadow of Wardstone, the chill terror of the titans' coming seemed to fade from the hearts of his people. Upon the shattered stone of the canyon floor they saw a star, unbowed before the mighty storm that stood poised to sweep them all aside. And where the Titan's Bastard had faced Carolinus' resolve with scorn, the titans echoed the reverence of Wardstone's defenders, a thousand armored heads bowing as a son of Baz'Auran came to treat with them, as honor demanded.

At his approach, the female Khar dismounted, and was followed by the others, each of the fabulously attired lords bearing a wealth of craft to shame any but Haramhold's people. Yet there was no scorn in their hearts for the people of Markien, for to defend oneself in righteous battle was a blessed duty they had rarely encountered in the base realms of men. They stopped when twenty paces separated them from the arrow sticking from the ground, just as Carolinus did, and each general assessed the other for a long moment.

"Well met, Lord Carolinus. I am Khar Eltraya, Sacred Eye of the Overlord and general of the First Legion. It is my honor to meet you on the field of battle. These are my lieutenants, Khar Olmdras, Fumar, Dastane, Kheldras, Iandras, Gheldur, Hurstal, Melarath, Allardras, and Yaddaras. We have come to lay waste to your holdings, to chain your people, and to quench the thirst of the earth in valorous blood. But, as has always been, there is a choice to you - swear fealty to our lord, the greatest of the First People, and join us in our unification of this world. Let us not be divided by the fading proclamations of an unworthy creator."

[VonDoom]

Turn 2
Ates, The Golden City
Dasque and Shirvan

The golden armor clad woman's posture stiffened visibly as Dasque called upon her divinity, but both self-control and pride kept her from showing a stronger reaction. Was she not one who had spurned Shirvan as a lover? Shirvan, who never reigned in the charm his divine nature afforded him? The sword-controller silently promised herself she would show the respect a goddess and sister to her patron was due, but no more, as she looked upon a beauty so dazzling one could become intoxicated by the mere sight.

The Four Braves still standing around the Goddess of Radiance, however, had neither the sheer will nor the divine protection of an Exarch and could do naught but look at Dasque with blank expressions on their faces, struck dazzled and speechless by her small exertion of power.

"As you will," Bahiya confirmed, waiting for the goddess to step upon the breadth of her blade.

And so they went; the trees grew smaller and smaller as they ascended, the Four Braves soon mere specks on the ground. The Exarch quite literally cut through the air at high speeds, taking care that the goddess would be as comfortable as possible in her slipstream, the wind's harshness lessened as Bahiya took its full brunt for her.

They reached the Golden City within the course of a minute and, as their speed slowly began to lessen, approached the citadel. A large balcony right at the top was Bahiya's chosen landing platform.

And there, his hands folded behind his back, stood Shirvan awaiting them. It hardly seemed possible, but the God of Pride looked even more magnificent than he had in the White City. He was bare-chested, his only protection a pair of black spiked gauntlet, the left of which reached up to his shoulder. Beneath he was well-muscled yet lean, as usual, but his eyes were blazing with a fire that was quite new as a brilliant smile appeared on his face.

"Sister," he pronounced, voice smooth and pleasant, and opened his arms to welcome her as he stepped forward.

Dasque's sword landed directly on the balcony, the ground there -- more sensibly -- marble, while Shirvan's favored servant remained aloft at a distance, likely to wait and see if there was any further need of her.

[Ladorak]

The Calm Before the Storm

Carolinus listened to Khar Eltraya with tired eyes and an otherwise dour expression. He had expected that once again they would ask him to bend the knee, in truth it was a prospect he had considered at great length. It would be so simple. So many of his brothers and sisters could master such deception. To pledge false allegiance, to get close and cut off the serpent's head. Ultimately Carolinus had abandoned thought of such a course. He knew his limitations all too well. Now the moment had come and suddenly he felt a great and unexpected urge to bend the knee. Anything to spare his people the coming storm. Yet he could not, for this was a storm that would always bring death and ruin, if not to Markien then to innocents elsewhere.

He noted the absence of Khar Melkhan, silently wondering what this heralded for his former foe. Thus distracted his shock was redoubled when he heard Eltraya's last words. Only now did he show any emotion to the Titans, and it was rage.

'You speak from ignorance Khar Eltraya. If you had ever stood in my father's presence you would know unworth is not a concept that can be attached to him. He is greater than the sum total of everything that is not him. I had stood in his presence countless times, this is something I understand and believe utterly. I have seen wonders you could never comprehend, yet I comprehend only a fraction of the creator's strength.
'As to your... proposal, I say this. I will never bend the knee to one who does not stand before me. If the Overlord requires me to kneel let him come himself to make demand for such submission. Instead he has sent first a lone warrior against impossible odds against me. Now he sends thousands against equally impossible odds. The slaughter here will be immense and he does not even honour the sacrifice of his people by gracing them with his presence. You call yourself the eye of your Overlord, I wonder if you realise how aptly named you are. You are here to test my strength, to die in your thousands for no purpose other than educating the Overlord in the numbers he should have used before sacrificing the First Legion. You are here to observe the wholesale butchery of these men so that you might return to tell the Overlord what you have seen. I know the Overlord understands this, I wonder if you do? As he spoke his words had become louder and louder until the last he had all but shouted down the line of the assembled army. 'I have come to treat with you because I wish to spare lives on both sides. Wardstone will not fall, but most of you shall. Your heart's blood will mar the rocks along our walls. It is not needed. There is nothing in Markien that we would not give to you. I have but one law, be at peace with thy neighbour. If you swear such an oath you may join Markien, and all the benefits you come to plunder can be yours free of blood and you shall live forever in my protection. If you come against me you shall die.
'Khar Eltraya has you on your knees, in Markien no one kneels to anyone, all are equal and all are equally provided for.'

He turned his attention back to Eltraya and once again spoke quietly 'There is another reason I came to treat with you, before this begins there is something I must know... The Titans are honourable folk, that is without question, I wish to know how much I should stay my hand. I must ask. What crime did the first people commit, all that time ago? Why would Baz'Auran turn his back on you?'

[daelrog]

Dasque and Shirvan

Dasque took the last few steps and embraced her twin for a few moments before letting go and stepping back. "It is good to see you again. Your city is much like you, the way you want it no doubt." She gazed down upon his city, no longer concerned about the archon.

"It seems as if most of us have survived to ascend. However, our dear Father has left his mistakes on the Disk for us to deal with, mistakes which are not to be taken lightly." She nearly spat the word 'Father'. "But here, it seems as if you have tamed at least one small spot to call your own, to grow and build. I would very much like to stay here for awhile, to have a chance to build, and to see what Fayruz sees in these mortals. Of course, only if that is your wish as well Shirvan."

[Raz_Fox]

Shyreza

This is the story of the student of the first song-maiden, this is the story of the gazelle-kissed girl, this is the story of the woman who commanded foxes. Hear her words! These were the days when Fayruz was not yet kissed by the eldest of all birds, these were the days when the Greenking had first come to us. These were the days after the Maiden of Dusk banished the master of the black sand from her brother, the Traveler. These were the days when the Ghoulking rose from the south, fleeing the dark sands, and dared to attack we Fayheran once more.

One night of instruction Shyreza was given by the Singer in the mystical arts of the song, one night of instruction was given by Shyreza to the Singer in how to be human. That night they spent together, waiting for Fayruz to return to the Olm and embrace her sister. On the morning that came, word was carried by Eshelt of the Horn, from the east, that Fayruz had ridden to the City At The Edge Of Darkness.

The City! If you do not know if its reputation, think yourself lucky! It is the Nightmare City that haunts the dreams of young men, that awaits those souls who betray their husbands and their wives, who betray their family or slay a man for gain. And the thought that Fayruz could have been taken there was inconceivable! Words spread throughout the camps of the Fayheran, that Fayruz had married herself to one of her paramours, and then taken another to her bed - but these lies were not heeded by the truehearted, who knew that Fayruz was brave, and that Fayruz was at her strongest in weakness. Had not Gamesha been cured of his madness when Fayruz was a prisoner of his tent? Had not the Traveler been overcome, even though Fayruz carried neither spear nor sling? Fayruz would persevere, the wise knew.

The true despair came from the south, when Akhesh came on a swift horse with the news that the Ghoulking had come once more from the south, through the Valley of Teeth, past the camps of Erkham and Eshalya, and swiftly coming towards the Olm. He had with him tribes of the south, barbarians who had never seen the glory of the Maiden of Dusk, and the ghouls of the sands who feast on carrion and tear men apart.

There was council by the Riverfane; Llassar Greenking sat by the servants of the goddess, and Renard who served Sonata and commanded the scavenger-foxes of the desert. The Three Heroes sat there, banded together with staff and sword and hammer, and Seiman and Arejeh of the Kindly Ones, and Skullsplitter and Aret of the Laughing Ones, and Melzidel and Estrika of the Artful Ones. The chieftains of the tribes gathered together, as well, to plan battle.

This was declared: that the foxes under Renard's service would lead the elderly and the young to safety, and any who would not fight in the defense of the sacred Olm. That all who could carry spear or sling would take to the walls to defend the Olm, and that they would be led by the Smiling Ones who carried their hammers for war.

Three had to face the coming storm, rivals and friends all at once. The scarred warrior, once driven mad, hammer in hand and horns rising from his head. The weathered healer, wearing thick leathers beneath his robes, practicing songs that might drive back the ghouls. The storyteller, who could faintly hear the song all about, with her sword of glass and her robes of crimson and gold.

They stood together, on the walls built by the Smithlord, and watched the black stormcloud hand smother the sun, and night fall on the Olm. You know what comes next as well as I do.

Wait, and the rest of the tale will come.


Fayruz

His hair was gold cut by diamonds and his chest was firm and the silk shift did not cover enough of him and he looked so very very scared. Gracious little sister wanted- wanted taking, kisses, wanted dominance and control through- maybe she could indulge just a bit because after all he was very fine-looking even if his eyes weren't as kindly as dear what's-his-name's with the dark-short-cut-hair and the scars on his chest or the other one with the brave smile and the wild-long-mane.

Take. Take. Take. Take. Take. Desire wonderland lust. Bells and sighs and moans. That's what she wanted. She wants not me.

What... do I want? White. City high. Harp music and gardens and smiles and silks and olmtower and strength and kindness and grace. Tranquility and spring pool gently touched by leaves and a blue wind on the face. Dance, eversogentle dance, bewind and besmile and besilk and beharp!

She takes his hands in hers, marvels at the perfect sweatsoftness of his palms, begins to move. Feet glide. Hair falls down not-seen fabric, goldlion eyes spark bright now above purple thickveil over mouth, over nose, over smile; feet glide now! Spin, rattle chains, press against, pull back, twirl - now slow, now slow, whispering dance, like beauty moving in equal motion to truth, hearing perfect music in her head, spilling off her tongue. Lacquernails press against skin, voice escapes, can they all hear? Can all the prisoners hear freedom?

She slows, stops, thanks her dancing partner. This is what she wanted. Perhaps, though, not what she wanted. She wanted the thrust of flesh against flesh... but is not dancing so? A smile flits across her lips, under the veil, and she doesn't know why.

[The Succubus]

Sonata and The Tower of Baal

As if in answer to Sonata's voice, the desert sand beneath her feet began to tremble as though in an earthquake. She soon saw the cause of the tremors as out of the entrance to the tower walked a colossal stone figure. Each footstep caused the ground to quake beneath its weight and it stood before Sonata, casting a long shadow over her. The First One bowed over her, before turning back towards the tower, as if asking her to follow.

Assuming Sonata does, the First One lead her through the Council chamber that comprised the first floor of the tower. It was impressive in it's own way but seemed very formal and business-like - definitely in need of a little redecoration by one of Khalen's more lively siblings.

They ascended the stone steps that led to the Eye of Khalen at the top of the tower. As they climbed the winding staircase, Sonata passed a room that had her name inscribed on the door. Yet as she stopped by the door, the First One turned its huge stone head to look back at her, as if urging her onwards.

Another turn of the staircase brought them to the Eye. Sonata found herself in a large crystal sphere with mists swirling and dancing around her, almost forming recognisable shapes before swirling back into vapor once again. In the centre of the room was a large wooden throne. The back of the throne was facing her, yet she could see her brother's long silver hair cascading over the back. Finally, Khalen spoke.

"Welcome Sonata, Daughter of the Rains and Voice of the Laughing Song. I have a suspicion as to what brings you to my lonely desert spire but I would gladly hear your tale."

[Erik Vale]

Standing on the Anvill
Kalandor watched from the cities Paraparts, his ears picking up the words of the Titans.

It was an apt question Carolinus asked. Why would children of Baz'Auran be thrown down?

However, perhaps more prominently, how long did Carolinus think they would last? 2 gods against multiple beings that very much felt like they had the power of gods?
Kalandor had few doupts about his combat abilities. In this fight he would at best take one of the lesser amoungst them, or destroy there army... What else could he do with his powers.... He had enough energy to wreck much havoc, but how to that without destroying the city?

Slowly an idea began forming. "Silvar, can you channel any energy from Aramar? Or are you cut off from him?"

[Demidos]

Spoiler

Originally Posted by Erik Vale

Standing on the Anvill
Kalandor watched from the cities Paraparts, his ears picking up the words of the Titans.

It was an apt question Carolinus asked. Why would children of Baz'Auran be thrown down?

However, perhaps more prominently, how long did Carolinus think they would last? 2 gods against multiple beings that very much felt like they had the power of gods?
Kalandor had few doupts about his combat abilities. In this fight he would at best take one of the lesser amoungst them, or destroy there army... What else could he do with his powers.... He had enough energy to wreck much havoc, but how to that without destroying the city?

Slowly an idea began forming. "Silvar, can you channel any energy from Aramar? Or are you cut off from him?"

Silvar turned towards Kalandor, his face odd. He paused for a long moment, as if pondering something, and then answered slowly. "I have some part of Aramar's power, but can call on most of it when in need. Every use of my power weakens Aramar, and vice versa. In a sense, his powers are divided between us. I tell you this because he always trusted you, and though he is rather naive, I also don't feel the urge to be destroyed because you overestimated my powers.
Still.
I think I could contribute, especially once night falls. As I mentioned, my powers are strongest in darkness. Once the enemy reaches the shadow cast by the wall, they will regret it, but midday will come...soon.
Also, though by day my Silviari are worth several men each, by night their worth triples. I would prefer to hold them in reserve unless its completely necessary to send them forth. Unfortunately, that may be necessary."
Silvar looks at Kalandor directly in the eyes. "Did you have a plan?"