As time continued to flow on, Aedre continued to guide her people. Women and children were kept close to the central shrine where she could protect them as they built and recreated the written language of old. All the while her mere presence continued to increase the amount of water so that no one ever went thirsty and all could bask in the cool stream that pierced the cruel desert. She ensured that all knew their places. The children would continue to write and create the more artistic aspects of their new haven while the women built the massive temple.

As her initial group of travelers to the ocean reached their destination she could feel the increase of power, knowing that her influence had stretched even more. Not only did this please her immensely, but in ensured that she could use her strength to help her worshippers. For too long parts of the river had been regarded as dangerous as snakes and scorpions among other poisonous creatures had made their homes along the banks. But no more. The river was hers and as such it also belonged to her people. As she decided on her plan of action she gave all of the people directions to guard and protect one another in her absence, knowing that she could return at a minute's notice even if trouble did befall them.

The length of her body was enormous, rippling with the tides that created her as they swirled in a force that could tear flesh from bone should she come into the slightest bit of contact with a human. Not that she would. Her people were too valuable for that. But the creatures living next to the river would not be so lucky. After warning her people to step far enough away from the river to avoid damage she set herself straight, becoming a huge pillar of water that would be seen far over the desert dunes. Only after did she curl downwards into the stream to follow its path in a blaze of clear waves. And thus she set off down the river, destroying all life in her path and cleansing the way for clear and safe water all the way down to the ocean itself. She only stopped when she reached the end and thus found the travelers who had come to the forest she had told them of.

"Well done, my warriors. You will all hold the distinction of bringing such a valuable area of resources to light and making them available for your people. You should be proud. Follow my guidance further and I will grant you a great gift. I will grant you a city."

For a while she remained with them, teaching them what little she remembered of the forest even if it was not her strong area. Still, such trees grew on the life of her water. She instructed them in how to use the great and sharp stones they had brought with them from the harsh desert to cut into fallen wood and create axes. With the axes they chopped down small trees as well as take pieces from larger, fallen trees. As they gathered different sorts of the wood she told them how to make spears and bows and arrows that they could use to hunt the wildlife in the forest while they worked. But that would not be all for them. No, she showed them how to take the hanging vines of the forest and create rope for use in making nets and for tieing logs together to create a raft small enough to travel the stream with the use of a paddle to move it along. With the nets she taught them to fish.

"The ocean is what will give you life. The forest is not your domain but it will serve to bring you supplies. It is the water that will truly provide."

And so they fished for their food.

"Send one strong warrior with the raft to deliver food once a week and more supplies will be sent. And spread word that here is where you will build a new city using supplies from the sea. It will be the home for the strong and the warriors. Use the sand and water as the women have done for the temple and reinforce such bricks with the very shells from the sea. Build a city that all shall know who rules the water!"

With her final words she straightened herself entirely into the air as she had before leaving, pulling her massive tower of water to its full height and shot out a jet of pure, forceful water from the focii pearl so that all could see her strength and wonder at what manner of being had such dominion over the water. Perhaps new people would see her call and come to her warriors and the city they hoped to build. After a moment she relaxed down to give her final commands to the warriors, knowing that she had their full attention as well.

"You will not kill one another however. You will prove your strengths once a year and fight for the right to rule. He, or she who is strongest will rule. When someone becomes too injured to fight or is in need of medical aid you will send them to the Temple and they will be cared for. I will preside over your yearly competition and visit you often. Until then."

And with that she left, returning to her people at the temple. Still warriors remained there and thus she called everyone to her. Along the way she stopped at each shrine that had been built, teaching them as well how to make bricks for buildings so that they could make their own villages along the banks of the streams. Afterwards she continued on to her Temple, knowing that more business remained for her. Once there she called all of her people to her.

"To the South, along the ocean you will find that the warriors will build a city. A city for the strong to become stronger and build a force to make me proud. Should you wish to go, I will not stop you. Those that stay, and who are strong will be deemed Guardians, protectors of the Temple. It will be a place of honor."

She waited for a moment for them to talk amongst themselves before continuing. "Also, henceforth all children upon reaching maturity will be require to make a pilgrimage. You must never forget that water is life. At such a time as you are deemed ready to be an adult you will be sent into the desert with one weapon of your choosing." Ripples traveled down her body, sending a few large pieces of shell that she'd accumulated on the ocean shore down upon the desert sands. "Each will take one of these with them as well as a talisman as well as a small pouch of water. Your pilgrimages will bring you towards knew and unfamiliar people of the desert and you will tell them of me. But more importantly you will travel the desert and remember how to traverse the dunes. You must never forget where you came from." She seemed to pause once more before nodding her pearl focii at one particular adult male of the group. "You know the desert the best and you know how to survive. You will travel as deep into the desert as you can and build a shrine in my honor in the most stable area so that the desert sands will not be able to wipe it away. Around it you will carve a circle into the earth." With that she looked back to the others. "It will be to that shrine that all children will travel to when their time comes. They will take with them a skin of water and empty it into that circle around the shrine. You may not drink any of the water beforehand, but once it has been poured around the shrine you may have a single mouthful. That water will always remain pure and it will never disappear once it is near my shrine. Only then may you return, knowing the desert better and knowing why water is so valuable. This pilgrimage will test your faith and your strength. Failure will mean death. When you return to the temple you may then decide if you wish to stay here as a guardian or travel to the city by the sea to become a warrior."

And with that she left them to do as she willed. She would do what she could to ensure they remained strong. No matter what.

Aedre organised her people and moved with surging purpose, quite literally sweeping across the land like a wave and clensing it of all who would harm her followers. Teaching them to enjoy writting and crafting, making substance from the emptiness that was the desert.

However her pilgrims with her guidance had reached their destination, doing as instructed and building a city upon the coast. Wood, mud bricks and sand combined to make houses and walls, a city worthy of the divine and built with symbols of their god and her shape everywhere. It was designed to impress and awe inspire the heathens who had not yet found the glory of the ocean. They would shells imbedded into the walls and houses, remains of sea creatures used and swirling patterns like the movement of waves everywhere. It was truly becomming a might city although it would be some time until it was completed. After all with primitive tools construction was not easy but rather difficult, dangerous and time consuming.

Much like the temple that was now half constructed in the desert, the mighty building slowly taking shape and rising out of the ground bit by bit. It would dominate the new age as the first temple and a sign of Aedre's divine power.

Her people though were busy and followed her instruction though, hosting a battle of sorts to decide who would rule until a man was named champion and Tide Lord, ruler of the new city in the south. It was an impressive title to the people and one they respected and obeyed without question, after all the ocean was kind and giving but also wrathful and deadly to those who did not respect its might.

Many more pilgrims left the desert to head south and join the city once their god told them, but the majority stayed to watch over the temple and earn a place of honour in the eyes of their god. Something they deemed as a chance for glory that avoided the harsh realities of city life and the Tide Lord's rule. Besides many had lived there for their entire lives and had no wish to leave, basking in the paradise that was the desert oasis. Filling it with songs of praise and crafts to honour their god's wisdom.

They did do as instructed though, sending out those who matured into the desert to build a shrine and make the pilgrimage that would define them for the rest of their life. Not all returned though, bandits and cannibals claimed the lives of others but most survived, armed and prepaired to face the desert with divine justice filling their hearts. Constructing a shrine bit by bit in the depth of the desert and surrounding it with a mote of holy water.

It began to create a divide in the people, a group of warrior like monks who spent their days practicing, singing, meditating and painting glories to their god at the temple. And a group of dedicated warrior builders who lived by the coast, fishing and living a simplier existance that honoured their god in a differant way. Such divine order send power flooding towards Aedre.

(Power flowed to Aedre, level 3!)

Azrah was pleased to see how her fierce and hard people were developing. Considering their choices, they were truly worthy of her and as soon as that happened she decided to give them even more gifts.
Her red priestesses were not at all numerous, but slowly one of them developed a kind of leadership over the rest. The goddess spoke to her in her meditation and guided her to gather all the other priestesses along with the warriors and common folk, representatives from their conquered villages and have them all ready for her at mid day around the shrine.

Farra did as she was bid. Curiosity and eagerness burned at her soul to see what her beloved goddess would bestow upon all of them next... and so the moment came. The sun was scorching and the eternal flame burned brightly in the brazier of the shrine... with a burst of that powerful flame, Azrah appeared to her people and so she spoke.

“My flaming warriors, both men and women, there is still much to be done. I can see the fire has forged you into worthy, strong people – on this day you shall have more gifts. “
She turned to her warriors who were still armed with the beautiful agate tipped weapons, weapons they never parted with. their tattoos covered with a film of sweat that made their muscular bodies shimmer in the raging sun.
“My powerful warriors, you shall have my first gifts. You have covered the land with dread well... and I mean you to keep doing that and turn as many as you find in your path to my worship. They will bend the knee, truthfully, of they will perish!”

The warriors let out their war cries and plunged their weapons towards the sky, roaring “Azrah! Azrah! Fire will consume!” to the hearing of their goddess passionate words. Azrah smiled upon them gestured for them to be silent.
“Behold, my warriors!” and as soon as she spoke, flaming beings slowly emerged from her fire taking the shapes of giant wolves with flaming red eyes. As the flame settled down on the beasts bodies, it slowly turned to mahogany fur, yet their eyes would forever be as red as Azrah’s flames. All the people gathered froze in amazement as the huge beasts slowly marched to the warriors in perfect “V” battle formation. The first and most powerful giant wolf of all would belong to the chieftain of the warriors.

“You will no longer hunt and raid on foot, but on these magnificent beasts. They will carry you swiftly and fight by your side wherever you may go. They will protect you and those who will be fortunate enough to get bitten or maimed by these wolves will be doomed. Their wounds shall never heal.”

The entire gathering roared in amazement and adoration... but Azrah was not nearly done.

“There is more, my servants. There is more. But first I will show you how to reach even further greatness.”

She spoke to them of the roles they were to take. The red priestesses, lead by Farra, were to watch over both the conception of the new generations and their births. Since these women were the ones to open up the bodies of the deceased and cut their hearts out to be consumed, they slowly developed an interest in anatomy. Perhaps, as time passed, they would become the healers... but these were still early days. It was also their roles to bless the agate weapons of the warriors and they would do this with blood and fire... so that blood may always be spilt, but never the warriors and that fire would guide and burn inside the wielder to make him stronger and lead him to victory. Azrah had also guided them to inspire her warriors and they were to do so by reminding the men of the power of flame through voluptous dances that were held in a circle around the shrine.

Azrah told her warriors that they were to guide their powers in raids that took them in the plains to the south-east. Also, she had a small part of them sent into the furthest village to the north – west and see to the building of a shrine in that particular village. They would also take one of the red haired priestesses with them, chosen by Farra, and be patron priestess there as soon as the shrine was complete.

Construction required people that knew how to handle the working of leather, wood and stone. Those who were not warriors would be put to such labors. Hunters were to provides with the skins of animals so that leatherworkers would craft rough leather armors for the warriors, adorned with various patches of fur from the different animals that were brought. Masons and woodworkers were put to build the shrine in the north – west village, that would be soon named Firrent, as well as transforming the shrine in Azrah’s central village that was steadily growing into a temple made of wood, stone, bones of both animals and men and leather. They were all instructed to build the temple around the old shrine.

“You all know your roles and you are expected to excel at them! And now... my most beautiful gift to you...” She raised her molten arms to the burning sun and let out a deep roar. Smoke covered the skies and melded into the clouds above the shrine. A flash of lightning... then another, followed by another until six of them were counted. Where these lightning bolts struck, a great black fire took to life and from them, other great creatures, that had never been seen before, took birth. Black scales covered their bodies like perfectly polished obsidian, eyes as yellow as the core of fire, smoke fuming from their nostrils. Dragons. They were just slightly bigger than the great dire wolves she had created on the same day, but much more impressive. All at the same time, they screeched breathed fire towards the skies.

“My warriors! Behold! These dragons will take you up into the skies allow you vision that man had never seen before! Use them in your battles, they will aid you by burning the enemies but also grant you the gift of seeing the entire battle unfold beneath you!”

Each chieftain would have a dragon, except for the sixth that was given to Farra, the grand priestess.

It seemed the divine power of the ever burning flame was being unleashed on the world, Azrah set forth her powers to create new beasts for her people to serve and enhance them. From mighty giant wolves to act as mounts, and six dragons to act as elite beasts for the leaders of her people. Powerful tools for a nation of cannibalistic warriors who could now move at swift pace and travel across the lands with ferocity.

It wasnt long before the shadow of a dragon mount would herald woe, the people below panicing at the sight before wolf riders would decend across them. A tide of blood and conquest spreading across the plains of the world as Azrah's people put village after village to club and spear. Few tried to resist and those who were met an ill fate, cut down or torn apart by warriors or wolves. Before their hearts were cut out and eaten before the survivors who soon fell to their knees in fear. The warriors of Azrah feared not death and recklessly charged into battle, each seeking to out do the other although little gave them sport. They were brutish, large men who excelled at combat. Simple village defenders were no match for them and bandits were oppertunists not warriors, they fled in sight of them and were usually just cut down.

All the villages taken were enslaved, and set to work building shrines in the name of their god. A few were sacrificed now in each new village by the red haired women of Azrah, each wielding agate knives of razor sharp prowess. Cutting forth hearts and dancing about, fevering the men to greater feats of brutality and barbarism. While slaves toiled in the hot sun making whatever the warriors needed and tending to their desires, carefully though as angering them ment swift death.

The slaves made up all the lower professions, hunters, masons, carpenters and so forth. Yet it was clear to all respect was only given to those strong enough to be warriors and the priestess's who guided them. The rest were a slave people who were even sometimes food for the others. A harsh existance. Put they accepted it all the same as the way of their new god, they had little choice. They began work as instructed on a temple, the second to begin construction in the new age. The centre of power for Azrah in the shadow of her flame mountain. Construction would take a great deal of time though as such a feat was not easy.

However, the shrines in the first wave of village conquests was complete and the power of Azrah bloomed as her slaves and warriors had focal points for their worship. Combined with a wave of new conquests... her power was becomming formidable. A war machine was being forged at a frightening rate.

(Dispite using the power of creation... the completion of many shrines and rappid expansion means Azrah's power grows, level 4!)

Filled with anger by their recklessness, he started descending fast coming down with a tornado, disturbing the colored lights that glowed over New Heaven. He took some that were acting reckless and smashed them onto the mountain ridges, then flung them far away into the air and beyond. He also started spinning the air around some wind riders, that were losing their morals. The griffons became restless and restless, until they flung their riders to their doom. And those birds were then brought by the wind to the ground, smashing their wings.

Then, the air calmed again, but their lights, their precious afterlife still acted disturbed. The very old now Torrhen aproached, and the mist engulffed him.

“Tell them that their precious afterlife is not a guaranteed thing. As I showed you the last time, the weak, the undeserving have no place, and they’ll be forever kept in a state of horror.

The city is growing but this protected valley won’t be able to maintain all of you. Use the hunt of animals in your trainings. Beyond the valley are plenty of beasts, although a bit strong just for one man, so hunt in packs. But don’t kill everything you meet. Bring some back, and hold them in caged places. Train the beasts also. Make them docile. Hurt them, starve them, then tend to their wounds and feed them. When they lose their aggressivity, tend to them, bring them to grow and have offsprings. And you will have more food.

Make pathways to the east and to the west, where the slopes are easier. As you and your wind riders know, there’s forests on one side and a lake to the other. Make small settlements there, linked to the pathways, as you will need more in the future to keep this city growing. Only those from here will be able to reach afterlife.

And keep building the temple, otherwise the disturbed lights will never calm down. But more than that, you need to sustain what already exists here... Take your strong the smite down those that behave recklessly. But not by your blade... Take them in the griffons’ claws, and throw them from the heights to meet their doom beyond the valley.

And on the outskirts of the valley, higher up on the mountains, send the men to form outposts, and to train there. Starting with their sixth summer, every boy should be there to become strong.

And your growing old and weary, and your place in the Heights will soon be found, but dare not cross my teachings, for there is always the Howling nether for any unworthy. When your time is close take your blade to the highest peak, to the north of this valley. The one worthy of continuing to lead will be able to make it there.

But one more thing... because the weak have proven unworthy, every new child that comes to the world will be dealt by the weak blade, after their second summer, if they can’t speak, or if their body is too weak.”

And he stepped away from their now old leader.

And then took flight out of the valley, making the mountains around howl from the winds that hit ‘em and tossing some of the ones that instead of coming close to their leader, were staying behind the walls, smashing their bodies against the rocks.

The people of Torrhen were terrified of their gods wrath and shamed by their actions, his divine display had taught them no fear of death but they had failed to learn the true point of the display. That an afterlife awaited those who were worthy, not everyone and that no fear of death was foolish. How did they know if they were strong or not ? Only their god would judge them as they had seen the folly and pain of judging themselves.

The city in the mountains went into morning as it grieved the loss of those taken and struck down by their god, but they strived on, determined not to make the same mistake and be declared weak. They set to work on building a great temple in the centre of Torrhen, with the city constructed they could now at last work on it and appease their god. While pilgrims from the city, mostly the weak for the strong did not want to give up their place in New Heavan as they deserved it in their eyes, went to create new settlements to support the city.

They created two new villages, either side of the mountains and hunted the animals, trying their best to tame them and herd them together for easier hunting and sustaining the beasts numbers. Food was sent up to the city and trade was starting between the settlements. The people of Torrhen found their hunger slated also and life became not only easier but better in the mountain city. They had more time to devote to worship, less time wasted on hunting and forgaing over hard rock. They also had more time to devote to combat training and improving their strenght, mentally and physically.

It seemed a warrior monk like people were forming in the city of Torrhen and the valley of New Heavan. Strong and devoted, yet living a simple life high up in the mountains as close to their god as possible. Many of the weak were ushered out to the side settlements, only those who were willing to aid the strong and perhaps become strong were welcome to stay. Although all those who's time approached made the way back to the city to meet with the blade and be judged. To have their souls meet with their god or be doomed to their howling, or so they thought anyway. The eagles soaring over head a reminder to the people that their god watched them even though they were no longer in the holy city.

Power flowed to Blaer as his people worshipped and build in his name, dedicating much of their mortal lives to worshipping in the city of Torrhen and little else.

(Power flows to Blaer, now level 3!)

...

Perhaps due to morphic fields but also the arrival of civilisation, the technology level rises. People everywhere have mastered basic skills, evolving from the hunter gathering tribal form of life. Animal husbandry, herding and raising animals for food and controlling their numbers rather than having to hunt. But also more advanced wooden and stone structures and complex wooden mechanisms. Writting and reading were also common place now. Basic crop farming had also finially arrived, even if it was in its infancy.

The first discovery of metal was also made, bronze though, a weak and more mallable metal compaired to others, it was still a great advancement.

Njaarh felt saddened, though not overly surprised, over the attack on his people by the other humans. He knew that he were naïve from time to time, expecting the same sort of wisdom from others as he did from his own people, and that naivety had almost claimed the life of one of his people. But very well. Lesson learned. He already had a plan on how he would solve that problem, but he had other things he needed to do first. And so he rose and spoke again to his people.

“Thy have done well, children of Ours, and have certainly used the gift of the horse We gave thee to the best of thy ability. For this We beam with pride, and think that thy are deserving of more help from Us. We shall help thee treat the ground between this place and others in such a way that it will be easier for thee to travel between places, visiting each other and sharing thy wisdom. In return We only wish for one thing: In every village that We visit, and along the roads that We travel, there will be raised shrines to Our honour, so to show that this land are guarded by Us.”

Next, Njaarh turned to his militia.

“Thy task will be to travel these roads when We are not, guarding them from those who would Our children harm. Thy will make sure to never strike without just cause, as to not awaken fear for us, but rather respect. Thy will also tell people with friendly intent about thy people, bringing them into the fold if that is their wish. Great honour lies in this task, remember so, and remember that thy bear Our trust, as all my children.”

He continued, looking over his overseers.

“And thee will have tasks as well. Traverse these roads between the villages, and make sure that honour and honesty reigns throughout Our lands. Continue with thy task of overseeing the challenges, but also judge those conflicts that arise with a fair mind, never taking sides, keeping an objective mind. Also make sure that trade is fair and evenly spread across the land.”

Again, he moved along, looking over all his people, and gesturing towards the mountains.

“Thy should start treating the mountains, finding caves and the minerals therein. Loose them from their rocky grasp, make better tools.” He continued to gestures towards the field. “Use these tools on the fields, treat the ground so thy can plant useful herbs and plants, as to further help thy-selves.”

And so,giving his people their tasks, Njaarh set out on his own task, building simple, yet effective roads between the towns by first trample out the paths, and then placing fine rocks, smashed by his mighty hands, over them, making it so his lands were connected, and so his wisdom would be spread more easily. For each time he arrived in a village, he gave them a speak, boasting of how proud he were of them, as well as giving them the same tasks as in the city. And so the roads of Njaarh were made.

When he felt happy with his work, Njaarh went about with the business he had previously contemplated. He started to visit the people around his borders that were not yet his children, not in the least those that had previously attacked out of fear, and spoke to them. He gave them the same offer as previously, but in person this time. Join his people, take part of what the Neorns are, and share in their, and his, wisdom. He let the new people question him, answering their questions with kindness and honesty as he brought them into the fold, and also encouraged them to spread his message to others, taking his teachings in mind.

To make sure his previous mistake were not repeated, Njaarh made sure to visit all of his places of worship often, listening to them, enjoying their company and sharing his wisdom. He could no longer afford to be immovable on one simple spot, but now moved around, and encouraged his people to settle throughout their lands for they had plenty of room, but again with everyone's best interest in mind. Often he returned to Jorvagn, for it had not taken long for it to become the main spot for trade for his children. And as he spread his message across the land, he gave his people yet another piece of wisdom.

“Always challenge thy-selves. Praise good work, but never grow all to comfortable, because it's through challenges that we grow. And remember, a challenge need not only be harsh, but can also be enjoyable. Scale mountains, build great wonders, and do it ever greater then before! For each of these task that is most noteworthy, build a shrine with marks that honour the task done. This will prove that the task bear my blessing. Build this shrine on the spot the task were completed, as to show others what we can achieve, and encourage further generations to do the same!”

A god was on the move and he was a finer messenger than any horse men. Mortals with messages were easilly ignored but when the ground shook with the progress of Njaarh the people were awed. It was a mercy that the horsemen had told people of his mighty glory in advanced or surely they would of fled screaming in terror. Instead they were stunned with religious fact standing before them, the physical manifestation of what they had been told. Some villages had merely adopted the ways of the horsemen out of fear or merely a wish to be left alone, now however they were true belivers.

Still it was a pilgramage of purpose, building roads and commanding shrines to be build, soilders marching up and down. It was the makings of a true civilisation that would spread across the land, bringing divine order to all. The people did as commanded, exploring the mountains nearest Jorvagn and minning them for ores. Climbing and watching the views, errecting simple stone markers as signs of their achivements and devotion. It wasnt long before the land of the Neorns was full of wonders, man carved stones and mile markers appearing everywhere. from how far a man had worked to how high he had climbed.

The roads were fully formed swiftly given the aid of the god along with that of his people, the various villages becomming surrounded by fields now as the arrival of crops heralded a new age for all. Man was learning the ways of civilisation and advancement but under the guidance of Njaarh they had a strict social structure too that was giving them a quiet strenght. Overseers wandering to the villages, preetching the message as their god walked. It was now expected for all Overseers to go on the great walk and emulate their leader.

Many of the hunting caste though hanged up their bows for good, prefering to tend to the crops and herds for a more stable food supply. Which ment they had to spend less time in remote lands and more in the sight of their god. The people had no need for hunting now anyway, more shepards and farmers.

Power flowed to Njaarh as the people established themselves fully, worshipping his name and many more joining in fully. The people of Neorn grew many times over.

(Njaarh to level 5!)

It was during a dark, gloomy night that a thick mist came upon Slaan's people. Many stayed extra vigilant that night, seeing the mist as some kind of bad omen. But this went well beyond natural superstition, it was something wrong about the air this night. But just what, none could say. Suspicions only rose as Slaan's priests began gathering all females, young and old to the caves Slaan had claimed as his nest. When confronted about their action the priests simply stated that it was the will of their god.

While suspicions of this, the men did not argue. Whatever was going on, their god surely knew what it was and if it was something to fear, then there would be no safer place to be, than by his side.

By nights end, the fact that something was wrong became more than a suspicion. Men and even children had fallen gravely ill, after being attacked by some kind of beast. Most had only been able to catch quick glances of the creature before it vanished into the mist and those who had gotten close enough to see it up front, was is no condition to speak of it.

Though all thoughts of the beast was quickly pushed to the side, as the sick began to change before their very eyes. They grew claws, fangs which they used to rip at their own skin, revealing thick scales underneath. They began attacking people at seemingly random, infecting them with the same kind of illness that had changed them into what they now were.

It was then the creature returned, only now it did so with greater numbers...

The creatures were spawn of Slaan, called the Zakar . They were blessed with extraordinary long life spans, heightened senses, high fertility, and the ability to regenerate lost limbs given time. They also possessed great strength, speed and agility which was far beyond that of any human. They were made to be the ideal predator.

But their greatest weapons were not their sharp fangs, claws, or even their mighty tail. It was the deadly green acid that was their blood, which they could propel out of their mouth onto their enemy. The substance worked best at inorganic matter, being capable of burning through most armor, while organic matter was merely lightly burned. Yet that was all the damage needed to be done, because if as much as a single drop entered the victims body, their life as they knew it was over.

Within short their bodies would begin to change and in the process their minds would be lost. These creatures were known as the Talun, the ascended. Sentient species that had been reborn into Slaan's image. With this rebirth came many benefits, enhanced senses, regeneration, inhuman speed, strength and agility, at the cost of their sanity.

The Talun were slaves to their baser instincts. Fractions of their former lives remained, along with certain skills they might have had, but they'd never be the same again.

There were two variants of these Talun. The first and most common was the Thin blood. These creatures were smaller, weaker, but faster and more agile than their Zakar sires. Though while they were wild, blood thirsty creatures upon their transformation, they still had much human in them. As such it was possible for them to learn and reason much like humans as they grew older. Though few if any would actually do so, as their strong primal instincts left little interest in much else than hunting and breeding.

The second was the Brutes. The polar opposite of the Thin blood, the Brutes was distinctly more beast than man. Growing as large, if not larger as the Zakar, and with the strength to match. They were simplistic, dim witted, and lack of initiative. While far from docile, the Brutes cared little for their station in life, as long as they were feed and was allowed to clench their blood lust once in a while.

Though both of these subspecies were feral upon their transformation, they instinctively joined together and stuck in a group, rallying under a dominant Zakar, instinctively feeling a strong connection and kinship to their own, which they did not share towards any other race.

Then there was the females. Both the Zakar and Talun females could emit powerful pheromones, used to either attract a potential mate, or send their enemies running in a wild panic. The females were not front line fighters, as they were rather docile compared to their male counter parts.

That was not to say the females were harmless however. Rather their instincts focused on their maternal attributes. They longed for little more but to find a promising mate to give them strong and healthy hatchings to care for. If anyone was to jeopardize this, the females would stop at nothing to kill that individual.

The Brutes lacked many of these attributes, preferring to partake in the same activities as the males did.

By the end of the night, the Zakar, and Talun returned to Slaan's lair to claim their prize. The Zakar who had claimed the most Jagar points were given young, fertile female Zakars as a reward for their abilities. A secondary prize was the Talun females, that was given to the Talun males who had claimed the most Jagar points by turning their fellow hunters into what they now were.

Slaan waited patiently and watched in pride as his children claimed their prize, and gave birth to a new race. A strong, pure race, free from the foul taint of humanity. When things began to calm, the priests, who had been allowed to keep their minds under the transformation called for silence.

The cave went quiet in a hear beat, said for a few snarls and growls from individual Talun.

“You have all done well, my children...” Slaan said with clear pride in his tone. “We stand upon the dawn of a new age. When the foul humans are purged from this world, and replaced with a new race, a strong race. One that knows that what matters in this world, is not objects or riches, but survival. The survival of the strong and worthy.”

The crowd roared and hissed in excitement.

“The time has come when we leave the jungle and take our rightful place in this world.” Slaan raised a clawed paw and gestured some of the Zakar forward, the strongest and most cunning out of all of them. “You shall be the harbinger of my coming. Take with you the Taluns you claimed this night, as well as the females. Spread towards every corner of the land, and claim new hunting grounds in my name... Any humans you may find while doing so is to be either eaten or turned to our cause.”

The harbinger bowed their heads in gratitude, eagerly listened to every word they god had to say.

“But be warned. There are far worse things out there than was lures in this jungle. I can feel my sibling rise to power... No doubt they will stand in your way and I can not protect you outside of my influence. There for you must erect shrines in my names, where ever you settle. Even then it may not be enough to keep you safe. “

There was confused looks on the Zakar's faces. Had their god not made them superior to humans? If so then what threat could the humans pose? Slaan then told them of the humans sloth, and arrogance. They would attempt to hide their weakness behind armor, they would attempt to look fierce wielding weapons and finally they would use beasts to preform their labour, and worse yet, walk in their place.

While cowardly, Slaan admitted this would make things difficult for his people, but assured them that they by no means were helpless. They had all the physical advantages and there for was told to aim to improve on that. He told them the basic of martial arts, which was not to far removed from hunting.

Study your opponent, asset their strength and weaknesses and try to use it to your advantage. He told them to spar around the shrines. Though these sparing exorcises was never to be to the death. It was a means to help one and another improve themselves, making their people stronger as a whole for it.

To further motivate his people to aim to improve themselves, only the best amongst his people was allowed to have a mate. Further more, a great mating ritual was to be held once every year. All the most promising hunters would gather in the jungle before Slaan, where they'd no longer be judged by their points alone but their ability. They were to fight for their pick amongst the women. There was plenty to go around, but there would likely be more than one that would return to their clan empty handed.

Slaan stressed that he wanted no fighting between the newly formed clans. If one harbinger defeated another, no ill feelings should be aimed towards that individual. Instead they should search for fault within themselves. Let that knowledge drive them, let them strive to never let it happen again, and when they next returned in five years, they would have the chance to prove their worth once more.

“My priests shall accompany you upon your journey.” Slaan said steadily looking to his side where his priests stood with their Voren's. “They shall tell you of my teachings, and advise you in times of need.” Slaan had instructed the priests to rally the Zakar and Talun into a zealot frenzy. They would be raised to hate all that was different from them, and shun civilized man, as Slaan did.

To reinforce this, Slaan taught them a prayer all of his people was to offer every day, and every night at the exact same time.

“With blood and flesh of crimson red, ripped from a corpse so freshly dead, together with our claws and teeth, we'll devourer you all, that is your Fate!”

No matter the distance, this phrase would unite them to offer tribute to their god, but promising doom to all else.

Slaan watched in pride as his people left to search for new hunting grounds. For those who remained much work lied ahead. Slaan wished his lair to be turned into a temple of worship, where the yearly mating ritual would take place.

The current priests would also soon become known as high priests. As the expansions of new clans was seen as unavoidable, it was clear to Slaan that ten individuals would not be enough to guide them as they expanded. As such the high priests were tasked in raising certain individuals to fulfill the duties of priests, and serve as advisers to the harbingers in the high priests absence.

It seemed a new force had been unleashed upon the world, one more terrifying than any before. Slaan's hatred of the humans had manifested itself in a new race created in his own image, designed not just to excede humans but to remove them from the world completely. Not by killing them though it seemed... but by transforming them into twisted lizard creatures. Basic beasts with nothing close to humanity left in them.

His new monsters spread like wild fire, infecting and hunting the humans with deadly precision. With no warning from their god or guidance, the people began to panic but it did little to stop the fate that had brought upon them.

Within a few short days, the one thousand Zakar had infected the many thousands of humans who inhabited the jungle. Turning them all to the thralls of the Zakar, the beast Talun were a servant race at best. Beasts on two legs with only the faintest impression of intelligence beyond that of cunning. With a smaller percentage of them turned into the lumbering beasts that were the brutes.

The new society while forcefully created was finished within a short space of time, perfectly formed to act as one single community. With the Priests and the Zakar as the master race, and the lesser thralls of Thin Bloods to serve as the obediant, dominated populace who were beastial and violent. With heavy brutes to lift, carry, drag and build anything that was needed, their superior size and power much more fitting for manual labour and raw damage.

Then they were unleashed, set upon the world and instructed to go forth and kill, breed, build and expand the glorious borders of Slaan. The other gods would sense this approach though, such a dark use of divine power would ripple across the land and be picked up by all. After all, the world was perminately changed by the creation of such creatures and the infecting bite they carried. If Slaan was not stopped then humans would cease to be and reptiles would rule over the new divine age.

The Slaan folk ripped across the land in a violent tide of scales, eating and infecting all that came before them, working on shrines and aztech looking constructs as they expanded. To the South and to the west they moved. Their numbers swelling as they practiced their hand to hand combat, ignoring the need for weapons when they had mighty claws and powerful bodies.

The Green tide had come and it would wipe the Red Bloods from the land. Brutally so. Unless any could dare to challenge their advance.

(Slaan reduced to level 1)

The tides of war had not yet arrived to her people but when it did she would be prepared. Humans were still her main focus, giving to them the powers and abilities to stretch their strengths to their advantages and thrive within encampments where they could further their civilization. But she would not merely leave it at such.

To the South, she left the warriors at peace in their new city that was ruled over by a worthy and strong force known simply as the Tide Lord. It was not long as the stones began to be placed and the city began to sprout from the coast that a name was given to this place of warriors. Aqualia. She visited them only enough to reinforce her strength over them as well as to give them more aid in building the masterpiece that would be the finished Aqualia. It was on a few such visits that she began to instruct them in building rudimentary boats, ones that would be incapable of traveling into the deep water but could still bring them a bit closer to the fish. It also came to be that she would visit them every other year to host the tournament to determine the Tide Lord, giving whoever won her full blessings. But otherwise she allowed them to flourish on their own.

Most of her time was spent at the Temple, giving to them the power that she had promised. It pleased her immensely to know that such a large testament to her was being built and would soon be complete. The power from it made her stronger as well and so it was that she gave to the desert a new race of people.

"My people... Gather and bear witness," she called one day upon the monks, priests and priestesses alike as well as the children that had yet to set out on their own pilgrimages. All that inhabited the peaceful domain of the Temple were brought together to see the creation she had brought about.

From the giant pearl set in what most thought of as her forehead she sent forth sharp jets of water into nearby dunes of the desert, blasting the sand with such force that many had to cover their eyes lest they be blinded. When the dust had settled they were faced with a troupe of humans lifting from the sands of the dunes with not a single bit of struggle or effort. They were numerous, a couple of hundred in number at least. These new people were darker skinned as well as thicker skinned with eyes of pure blue set into their faces. Otherwise they seemed entirely normal until they approached closer to the temple. They moved soundlessly and at ease over the desert, something that even the most well trained of the monks had problems with. But this new race moved as though the desert was all they knew.

"Welcome to my Temple, people of the sun," she spoke to the dark skinned people. "Su-keht," she named them before all. "You have been made with the purpose of being able to withstand and know the desert. It is your home. All of the sand is yours and any person who does not wear the mark of water, either by a shell or some other such marking does not belong in your territory. If they wear some sign that makes you think they worship another then warn them to leave. If they do not, then kill them in the night and take anything of value they have. If you come across random nomads or villages then tell them of my might. Tell them of my will and let them know of my power. With eyes of blue you have been marked as having my blessing and with such eyes you will be able to see at night and travel during the dark hours. And during sand storms your eyes will be protected by the dust. You will not need much water to survive and thus you can stay deep in the dunes as your skin has been made thicker and sturdier to retain more water and withstand the desert sands as well as the heat. Your skin is even thick enough to protect against wounds and any injury that you do gain will heal swiftly and even your blood will not spill as rapidly as any cut will coagulate easily. Each of you will be given knives made from sea glass for now, but they are not the most important things. Your wits will be the most valuable. Go, take your domain and dominate the desert. It is my gift to you."

With that she dismissed them, letting the normal humans see the Su-keht for what may be the only time before the protectors of the desert were sent to the dunes where they could thrive and own the land she had given them.

"And now, witness one more gift. I will show you the might of the water goddess as I bring more to my call."

To their astonishment she rose up and face towards the East to lands that had been left unexplored. Her rippling body curled and tumbled in upon itself as she took off across the lands away from her Temple. With such a lengthy form and the power of a cascading waterfall at her disposal it was not long before she reached the forests of the East that lay so comfortable nestled between mountains and the oceans. Such an area had not known any of the gods but it would now. Deftly she swept her massive form above the trees in arching waves that would allow all to see this miracle of water and yet not accidentally damage any humans in the process.

"Hear me!" She called to the people in the trees in a loud and commanding voice that would no doubt shake the very limbs of the forest. "Hear the call of Aedre the Goddess of Water and obey!" As she spoke to the people she moved to a small cove that the water had dug into the land, pulling herself high into the air until she seemed to be a pillar of pure water piercing the sky from the ocean. She used her own body to serve as a beacon to summon the people to her and did not continue until those that heard came to her.

From her depths she let fall pieces of stone to the shores of the cove, letting them look on tablets from her very temple that revealed her power and her glory as written and drawn by the priestesses and monks. "I am a new beginning. I am the power that will protect and guard you and bring you to your full potential. I am the tides of change and the wave of power. As you hear my words know them to be true. Gather your people and build a city here by the ocean as well as a shrine so that all will know of my strength. Make your home here and I will provide for you. You will have strength and supplies that you have only dreamed of. Build your city of wood and yet build it next to the water so that you never forget that it is I who gives you your strength." She gave them these orders for now, waiting to see how they took to the divine word for the time being. In time she would return to investigate their progress as well as to gather more to the cause. But for now she returned to her Temple, knowing that now they would have far more to write and sing in her name.

The water goddess Aedre was on the move, her people advancing in many ways as she too advanced them across the sands. But low a new race was born, one of the first among the peoples of the new age. The Su-keht were a desert people, hardy and robust, strong and fast, able to ignore heat and adapted for the desert perfectly. They were clearly blessed by their goddessed in ways other people could not argue and they did not disagree with their goddess. They wanted to live in the desert, they felt at home there and had no wish to explore the city of Aqualia in the South. Instead they moved through the desert with a deadly purpose.

At the tip of knives they converted and killed anyone who stood against them and brought peace to the desert in one swift swoop. Killing in the night and preeching in the day, but not forcefully. They were a people who spoke little, they embraced silence in the same way the desert did but not even the shifting of sands marked their passage. Ghosts of the desert they became, living in tribes that moved swiftly and were seen rarely. Guarding the territory of Aedre and challenging tresspassers. Bandits and murders were a thing of the past now.

The great temple in the desert too was completed, standing as beacon. The first temple of the modern age and a symbol to all, its radiance bringing divine light across the sands and could be seen far and wide. The monks and guardiands of the temple worshipping and praying all day as they brought power and glory to Aedre.

A city in the south was now fully formed also, completed and basking in its own glory and martial prowess. Fishing and hunting for food, now able to fish out on small rafts and spearing what fish they could. Although the oceans were still sparse of life and fishing was not easy, however they felt closer to their god on the water and would not refuse such a challenge and the taste of fish.

But the goddess was not done it seemed, she had plans to bring more people under her call and headed easy. Rallying up what tribes she could there and giving them divine instruction, after all who could refuse such a powerful being. The simple hearts and minds of tribal people were easilly one when faced with the might of a god. All who saw did as instructed and began work on a new village, perhaps one day even a city in the spot where she commanded.

(Aedre rises to level 4 dispite the creation of a race, and now has a temple!)

Azrah wanted her people to spread and take over like wildfire. As her shrine was slowly being erected in the stead of the first temple that had held her eternal burning flame and as her people swarmed around it restlessly, she decided this holy place should hold a name as what would be her capital. The lava of her body moved slowly on her as the name came to her like the crack of burning dry wood. Borvo. A word that signified “shining heat”, from another time, eons ago. The temple of Borvo would be the place for pilgrimage for all of Azrah’s people, no matter how far their village was. It was an order. She wanted to unify her people, make them as one and she would do that in this manner. She knew many from the conquered villages would fear her and her warriors so the goddess wanted to show the passion that should fill them instead of the fear. Show them all her power and might so that they may be inspired by it and take it all to heart.

Azrah would make her appearence every day at mid-day and show herself at the soon to be temple. Yet one day, it was time the knowledge of her people would advance even further. Calling Farra, her grand priestess she ordered her to call upon her entire people and gather them on the goddess’ command. The tanned, tattooed warriors were the first to gather, always ready and eager to hear their goddess and also being very swift on their wolf mounts and, a handful, on their dragons. Then slowly, the weaker people and ones from the furthest of the villages gathered. A loud murmur covered the entire area around her nearly finished temple... but as soon as the goddess appeared, they all fell dead silent.

“My warriors. We grow in numbers with each passing day and it pleases me greatly to see this. But order must rule amongst all.” she roared as a blaze made her shine brighter than the sun for a few moments. “You... all of you who have recently taken my worship – Do not fear me. Embrace me into your hearts and bodies and you will have power over your enemies. You will live bountifully. Glory will be yours.” Her most loyal warriors shouted in worship, her priestesses whispered prayers to their goddess, spreading blessings amongst all gathered.

Azrah had many things in mind. She told a big part of her people to seek the treasures of the soil, manifested in ores and minerals. She would have them gather as much of them as possible and amongst them, tin and copper would be very valuable, as well as her sigil semi-precious stone, the agate. Smiths would be trained to work in big forges with these ores and minerals to create weapons, first of all, swords and spears that always had a piece of agate embedded into their hilt or the body of the blade. Azrah’s name would be written on each and every one of them, inscribed into all. Secondly, armors for her most deserving warriors would have to be forged. And with what remained of the ores, tools for mining, agriculture, knives and all kinds of useful crafts for household usage and beyond.

She also ordered her people from all the villages to train their young in the arts of war and combat. There would be sparring every day, with no exceptions. The weaker ones that would prove less worthy as warriors would tend to working the fields and growing food for her growing people. She guided the people in the villages she had conquered more to the south, deeper into the continent to do so. They were to share their crops with Borvo or anywhere else that was need of them, amongst her worshipers. The lazy would become food for the strong. The ones unwilling to do Azrah’s bidding were sentenced to be reduced to mere nourishment – that is how much the goddess loathed inactivity. The fire in her people was always to burn brightly.

Women were always to be encouraged by the red priestesses to carry the babies of the strongest of warriors and as often as they could. As a small addition to this, they were also encouraged to make themselves beautiful, wear clothes that would attract the warriors and jewelry crafted from the remains of what was not needed for their male counterparts in the crafting of armor and weaponry. They were encouraged to be good mothers above all.

Needless to say, her warriors would continue their conquering of villages that were to join Azrah’s great worhip, but this time she guided them towards the mountains in the north east. A new settlement was to be built there along with a shrine in the middle of it that held the reminder of Azrah, the eternal fire. Between Borvo and this new settlement, a road was to be made slowly... and all the minerals and ores brought back to the capital.

“Spread like wildfire, my warriors. And everywhere you go, make sure my name is either worshiped or never spoken. Kill all who will oppose you and consume their hearts.”

But she well knew that with the growth of her empire, many dangers were to come. She decided to make another gift to her people so she created sentries. They would always be in the shape of beautiful women, yet their body would be untouchable by anything organic. It would be made of the purest fire, yet contained by partial thick armor pieces on their chest, arms and legs along with a horned helmet. Everything that peeked through was flame. The hottest and unrelenting. She made them in vast numbers and stationed them in each settlement, village and small town that belonged to her. Her rules would not be broken and her territory not be undefended.

It seemed Azrah was determined to forge her people into a forge strong enough to defeat Death even as she ordered and structed her growing empire of villages and trade routes. Giving them divine instruction on how to worship with fire in their hearts for warriors or slave alike. It was not easy though, with the threat of death and becomming food for any who did not make the grade. Not fearing Azrah was a big ask many of the lesser people could not live up too, still they did belief body and soul in her power and the power of her warriors who did not fear death. Many of them incoperated that belief and fearlessness in their own lives in whatever way they could. Embracing the passion and hot fury of life head on. For there was much work to do as Azrah willed it so.

The people had formed into three castes. Priestess's, warriors and labours. Ranked in that order but all were kept busy equally, the women tending to the men, the men beating each other to a pulp every day as they refined their skills. The labourers however were the most varied, from farming basic crops to forging weapons. The work never ceased, night and day with the fury of the volcano of Azrah herself!

Metal was shaped to fit warriors, swords and spears fashioned of new material although agate was a tribute in all. Food was supplied and the eating of men took on a more ritualistic note. A grand punishment or to celebrate the death of a great warrior. An irony that the same was used for both, the priestess's becomming a medical force also. Healing the wounded and making sure the strong stayed strong.

Expansion continued also, bringing new souls into the firey bossom of Azrah and the warm embrace of the divine. But also divine power brought new guardians to the villages, the infernal women of metal and flame who watched over all. Silent and powerful, yet playful also, they could often be seen dancing in mimic of the red haired women who flaunted themselves to entice the men. Although none were foolish enough to try and grab a fire sentinel for their bodies scorched the flesh.

Power came to Azrah from all this... yet a new power awoke.

...

In the north east of Borvo, warriors of Azrah encounted something strange, a cavern in the foot of the small mountain rage. Inside they felt a presense, a powerful and ancient pull that drew them inside where they gazed upon might itself. A massive stone golem slumbered, dormant and inactive in the cave. Yet with the arrival of the worshippers it blossomed to life with an explosion of fire! Divine power of the fire god filling and awakening it, bringing it to life. An ancient relic of the old world had been found and set loose! Who ever controlled the golems cavern would control the mighty avatar of stone.

However the golem was a lifeless vessel, fueled by divine power it took on the power of the god who controlled it. Fire errupted from the golem and it became a fire entity, powered by Azrah's might and ready to be used upon the world! Golem

(Power comes to Azrah but leaves with the creation of a new elemental creatures. Power level 3)

...

The Golem

An ancient creation that was made to house the power of the divine and give it a vessel, whoever finds the golem's chamber shall awaken the being and send it forth. It has the power to build... or the power to destroy. How it shall be put to work is up to the god who finds it. A stone being of strength.

The generations would pass, and Blaer made sure that his folk got the right leader each and every time. The climb would be difficult, and some would prove worthy, while others didn’t, and in the end only the strongest of body and mind would reach the summit to grab the two bladed sword.

And every so often would Blaer come tornadoing down in New Heaven to teach them new things through their afterlife delivering leader. The lights still danced a little disturbed as a reminder of past faults done by the people, and every now and then would Blaer send someone who was cowering in fear to his doom, smashed against the rock arround the valley.

As the lights grew, he would make the climate milder, so that more and more things would grow in the valley. But nothing was more precious than that spore he planted long ago, a spore that will grow and engulf in time every living thing from the valley.

But until then there was more to do.

He approached Torrhen, the fifth of his name, a fearless leader of New Heaven for quite some time now. He engulfed him in smoke, and the rest of the people started gathering.

“Afterlife is your deliverance, it’s the place of eternal glory and everything you wish. But it is attainable to you only through death. I can bring afterlife to you, here on this planet, but this will not be easy, as my high lights need to surround it whole. In order to do this you need to create new places to live, and everywhere there must be a place where I can bring the lights in contact.

To the west there is another ridge of mountains. They dwarf in comparison to the heights of this one, but they’re still high enough for you to live well, and notice the surroundings. In their heighest valleys, build 3 settlements, made out of wind riders, and those will be places where people will get to after their 16th winter.

In the middle of the settlements, make me shrines so that I can slowly bring afterlife all across the places. Make a column shaped construction, spiraling upwards. The new settlements will give you more options to dig the earth and discover its minerals. Along the path to those places develop smaller settlements for food and shelter destined for the travellers that will come to New Heaven.

And carry on finding people across these lands and telling them about me and the afterlife. If they come willingly they will make the journey to here. Otherwise, burn them, drown them or bury them alive according to possibilities. Those that come must here at least 5 sommers, so that they can understand our codes and principles. After that, they can either stay, either get to another place of ours in order to prove their worth and earn a place in the skies.”

And he exited the leader and through mist he showed them new things. Bringing supplies in the mountains would prove problematic, so that he showed them stony rails along the roads, on which carts would glide easily. And then he showed them wheels together placed, and ropes around them, and it seemed that the carts would balance out the load and travel all by themselves. From the small port of Torrhen’s Landing (named after the delivering leader) and from the wooded marshy settlement of Moat Trier (named after the first and only of his name, a very just leader) supplies would be placed in the carts, while from the heights of New Heaven stones and metals would make their way down and because of the weight it would all be done easily.

He showed them better hunting tehniques involving weaponry and attacking from the sky. And then he showed them dangers, threatening them and their afterlife. He showed them the evil fire, but also that it couldn’t burn without air; he showed them drowning water, but it could be sent away by wind; he showed them the all engulfing earth, and that it could be molded through time; and he showed them life, with all the horrors that it could bring, and all the joy, and that they’re also alive, and that together with what they achieve they will be able to dominate the others. And then he showed them their spirits, in eternity if worthy, and everything else in a twisting horrifiying eternity.

“He engulffed the leader again: never walk alone, never hunt alone, for you are the biggest of brotherhoods. Search for new people and bring them here, form the 3 collonies on the next western ridge in the highest of places. They will be easy to reach for the wind riders, but more difficult for everyone else. Develop your wind transports. And fly near and far in search for people, and bring them to this place. Make the new settlements along the roads and be careful to have them supplied. It will be easier with the new cart system. And soon, very soon, I will give much more knowledge when the giant temple is complete.”

And with the howling wind he took flight from New Heaven, heading towards Moat Trier and Torrhen’s Landing, where slowly he wanted new temples out of the stone coming from the valley above.

The winds of change were finially stirring as the people of New Heavan set about their divine business. Commands of their god carried out without question for all knew the penality of heretical actions. Swift death came to those who disobeyed their god. They were becomming a harsh people too because of it, devoted to their god that their lives were his to take at a whim should he judge them weak and unworthy. Death of those who died at the hands of their god was almost something to celebrate as further proof of his awesome power.

But while the temple was being build they were commanded to set forth into the world and build new cities in the image of New Heavan. Teams of Griffion riders were sent out to scout possible locations in the western mountain range before three sites were chosen in the hard to reach valleys between peaks. Supplies shifted over and a mass exodus took place, legions of griffions flying out populating these new settlements and building them up from the stone around them. The master masons having no trouble carving the houses and new cities directly out of the rock.

The display of so many griffions flying about also awed lesser villages below, spreading the word of their god with minimal effort so to speak although it wasnt long before they landed and converted any they could find. Tales of only how the strong and worthy would be welcome to join them up in the clouds and they must work for the glory of Blaer or be smited upon the stones. It was an effective pitch, not to mention the mighty griffion riders were an impressive sight.

So the people of Blaer expanded and brought more under his fold, while all the while work continued on the temple in New Heaven. It would take some time yet before its majesty was completed.

Yet the devoted worship of Blaer's followers had never been so intense, spurred on by divine inspiration.

(Power comes to Blaer, level 5)

Distressed. Disturbed. Worried. Njaarh couldn't quiet place the feeling, but one thing he did know. Something were happening in the north. New creations. Awakenings? Whatever it was, it only reinforced what Njaarh already figured: his people needed to prepare their defence. In more ways then one. But first, he needed to add the mentality, and the physique for it. And he would do it in a way that would his people would be able to accept, and would be adaptable to his children’s current society.

And so Njaarh set to work. He gathered wood, dirt and rock. He set to working those materials, building out of them perfect replicas of the humans he used for their image. And many of these humanoid statues he build, each of them unique, each with a purpose. A purpose which were soon to be reviled. Being a god, it didn't take him long until he stood in front of a field of these creations, but it had taken him long enough for many of his people to gather and watch his work. It made him glad, for he wished his people to see this his gift to them. He spoke, with his voice of many.

“Listen now, children of Ours! It has come to Ours attention that the world is shifting. Powers are at work, not all of them with friendly purpose, and we cannot trust them to be as peaceful and as willing to understand as us when our time of meeting comes to pass! Therefore, we have chosen to create our newest of children. They are to become thy's sisters and brothers! Now, welcome them!”

And so Njaarh took a deep breath, and his call were powerful.
“AWAKEN!”

The statues shook, and came to life, and as they did, their eyes lit up in the same yellow colour as their gods. They looked around themselves, before looking up to their god, as he spoke to them.

“Thy are the Vyrns, defenders of the Neorns. Thy are to spread out in the forests around our lands, and there build defence. Thy shall always test each other in battle, but only to improve thy-selves. In thanks for this, the Neorns will help thee with what supplies thy need, from food and supplies to armour and weapons. Remember to always help each other, watch each others back, and help each others to improve.”

After that, Njaarh followed his new creation, the Vyrns, to their forests, and helped them settle, informing them of why and how to build shrines, all while he made sure to seek out any humans in the area, speaking to them, explaining the situation and offering them to join his people. And as he helped them, he made further plans, and finally continued on to speak with one of his Overseers.

“We wish thy to travel over the salt desert to the east. Take two horses, and pack plenty of supplies. Thy will know that thy have reached thy destination when thy start to encounter followers of one of Our siblings, the one of the Water. Carry this.” and he gave the man a wooden staff, with an emerald at it's top. “This will mark thee as a follower of Ours, and that thy speak with Our voices. Ask to speak with her, or those that speak for her, and offer them this: We wish not to fight, and desire naught but peace. We hope that she wants the same, and asks that we close a deal together. If they are attacked, we will come to their aid, and if we in turn are attacked, they will come to ours. If they agree, tell them also that we should make the salt desert between us a neutral ground, a place were our people can meet and trade, and where we will both be honoured. We wish thy luck on thy travels.”

He smiled as he watched the Overseer set on his way, before returning to Jorvagn, to again speak with his people.

“We have achieved much, Children of Ours! It's time we prove something, not only to ourselves, but to the rest of the world, and to the children that are yet to come! This is what we will do. On the place were We first spoke to thee, a great temple will be built. This place will be the grandest of buildings, and we will fill it with honour, not only to honour Us, but to honour thy own achievements, as to never forget how great we will be!”

And so, he made sure to help his people with this greatest on buildings, on every occasion when he were not travelling the land, visiting his people. He felt great pride for what had been done.

The Neorns as a people were evolving as time went on, their society adapting and growing to fit the almost fledgling society and empire that was forming under Njaarh's rule. Although granted it was an empire of peace and good nature it was not an empire of fools either. They had means and desire to defend themselves from the growing evil that Slaan had unleased to the North West, it seemed that Njaarh had sensed the divine power sinisterly at work and was taking measures.

Such measures came in the form of a new people! Shaped from the very ground in Njaarh's image and created with the purpose of defending the Neorns from the wrath of Slaan and any other god who sought to challenge the peaceful prosperity of the land that Njaarh controlled.

Still, they were not mindless sentinels to watch over and smash intruders but a race of their own but very differant to humans in a number of ways. They were even caperble of eating rocks to sustain themselves and although confused with their sudden entry in the world they were quickly filled with divine purpose. Looking upon their god as some sort of father figure they did as commanded, seeking out the forests of the land and making it their home. Even constructing crude forts with pallisades of wood and logs for walls. Easilly constructed by the quiet, almost golem like people of Njaarh.

They were not loud but rather like the trees they took to living by, quiet and stoic, they said little save for what was nessesary and had no impulses such as greed and envy. They were however infused with the temperment of nature, quiet and calm but also caperble of all the fury of a storm if roused to it. But they worked quietly and calmly but with a speed that was surprising giving the lack of emotion they seemed to show in anything they did. Instead their passion was shown in the result of their craftsmenship, high quality and often without flaw.

When it came to them testing themselves in combat as per the instructions of their god, they did not care much for swords or bows. But rather took to using tools constructed in the manner of weapons. Pick axes and warhammers as their favourte weapons of choice, with their prefered ranged weapon being throwing hatchets. They practiced regularly with them in mock duels and all sorts of situations. But they emphasised physical strenght and impressive ability over actual skill, their greatest warrior quickly became a Vyrn who weilded two mighty warhammers at the same time.

That being said the humans were not idle either, their land was full of patrols of marching soilders but it seemed they had begun to master the use of horses in battle. Training them to carry a soilder and not shy away from the panic and noise of battle. Units of cavalry riding up and down between the villages became a common sight and young men sought to emulate this. Riding and tamming horse where they could and practicing their skills, racing them between villages and seeing who could jump the fastest. Horse breeding for better speed and stamina was becomming a past time for the Neorns, as was horse mastery in battle.

However the emissaries to the water goddes Aedre had a mission of their own to perform, which they did dutifully. Marching off into the desert and into the land beyond and the great sand desert. It didnt take them long either to encounter the Su-keht who challenged them immedietly although it became clear they were not dealing with brigands and bandits. At the refusal of worship however the Su-keht would of slaughtered them in the night had it not been the demand to speak with the god or a representive. That they had a message for her. The Su-keht shrugged and complied, having no other precedent for this and no reason to refuse. They delivered them to the temple in the centre of the desert to beseech the goddess and only time would tell if they succeeded.

(Power left Njaarh and he is diminished to power level 4)

Like many reptilian species the Zakar and Talun never ceased growing until they died. Though they ceased to grow rapidly after a year when they hit puberty. This none the less meant they grew quite large during their extraordinary long life span.

It always pleased Slaan to see his children return upon the day of the mating ritual and see just how much they'd grown. The thin blood grew very little, while the Zakar and Brutes were another matter. After nearly twenty years after their creation, the first Brutes and Zakar now dwarfed the stature they'd once held.

This was as much of a trophy as the bones they wore as decoration, or the scars on their bodies. The lager you were, the longer it meant you had managed to survive, which by itself often spoke of your abilities as a hunter or warrior.

With age the Zakar's scales grew thicker, and they grew physically stronger. Add the fact that their experience made them quite skilled in combat and the older generation rarely lost out to the newer ones. Luckily for them there was plenty of females to go around.

Slaan continued to encourage his people to improve upon their martial arts. At this time he thought they fought far to much like humans would. The use of ones teeth and claws were obvious. But their clawed feet could also be used to slash, or even grapple parts of their opponent. Like wise the tail was a extremely deadly weapon. Indeed, like many reptiles it was one of their most devastating means of attack. A fully grown Zakar was capable of crushing a man’s insides with a single whip of his tail.

However Slaan knew he would need more than strong individuals in the days to come.

Which was why he taught them that the need of a individual was less important, than the needs of the group. To emphasize that fact, the Zakar and Talun did not have names. Naming a individual was the same as setting it apart from the group, rather than being a inextricable part of it. As such names would more often than not be a sign of shame or dishonour. The exception being the various clan leaders and the priests of Slaan.

While equality was important, Slaan knew certain races were best suited to for fill a role.

So to the Zakar, Slaan taught tactics and military strategy. He encouraged the various Clans to practice these against one and another. Though he made it very clear he did not wish for them to kill anyone while doing so. Its purpose was only to improve their ability to work in groups, not to further any Clan's power or influence.

To the Talun he taught the art of simple construction, as it was them who were working on his temple and dug the nests for the females to lay their eggs.

The Brutes he had start digging tunnels into the earth. Partly because Slaan liked caves, but also to mine the earth’s precious minerals, for the Talun to make armour out of. These tunnels could also be potentially used as a means of transportation at some point. However the construction of Slaan's temple was far more important and even so the Humans worshipping his siblings had no doubt advanced well beyond his people.

That of course did not cure them of their weakness, but it did make things difficult.

Slaan had kept his ear close to the ground, trying to interpret his siblings intent. He could feel his brother Njaarh grow closer. That it self made Slaan nervous, but soon Slaan began to feel the scent of creation from his brother. It was decided that Njaarh had finally gone to far when Slaan felt him move towards Aedre. Normally that fact would not have bothered him. Let him advance to the east, away from Slaans borders. But that was not what Njaarh was doing. No he had only sent a small number there, small enough to barely register, but there none the less. This could only mean one thing. They were allying themselves against Slaan.

The distance between Aedre and Slaan was almost the Same to Njaarh. So if this was anything other than his siblings conspiring against him, why had Slaan not been addressed? He discussed this with his fellow priests within his champers. Which was really Clan Slaan's breeding chambers. Here the Zakar females lay their many dozen eggs, and basked in the presence of their god, blessing them with increased fertility and the assurance of strong healthy offspring.

Slaan liked to dwell here, where the future of his people took their first steps into the world.

His priests were all of equal minds on this matter. The humans were a weak, cowardly lot and could not be trusted. Still there was some doubts within the chamber. They were not dealing with ordinary men any more, but men backed up by gods.

While Slaan's superiority was without question in their minds, there was two of them while Slaan stood alone. Slaan acknowledged their concerns and had decided for a course of action. In time this world would be made in Slaan's image. But until then certain compromises had to be made. Dismissing the priests Slaan summoned a small fire into the middle of the room.

“Greetings, sister...” Slaan said calmly, calling forth Azrah. Like his other siblings, Azrah seemed to have favoured the humans. Why he may never truly understand. Still as far as humans went, those under Azrah's rule was about as good as they came. They were a strong, resilient lot... They still suffered the basic human flaws, but if Slaan was to ally himself with anyone, it may as well be her.

He complimented her strength, passion and that of her people. He also congratulated her for her discovery of the ancient Golem. He then causally moved onto the matter of their siblings. They both agreed that Aedre and Njaarh's people were weak, and it was disgraceful that they actually seemed to encourage this in their worshippers. Slaan then told Azrah of the people of Njaarh approaching Aedre.

Clearly they were conspiring against either Slaan or Azrah if not both. As such it only made sense for the two of them to do the same. Slaan proposed that shrines would be built for them both within their lands to help both of them grow in power quicker. He also asked for her to deliver armor for his Zakar warrior to use in the coming conflict. Sadly he had nothing to offer in return. His people were still new to this world and required more time to grow. Also the distance which separated the two was immense. But he still promised that if it was within his power to help in the future, he'd do so. Further more if the urge to attack Aedre came to Azrah, Slaan promised he would keep Njaarh to occupied to send aid.

Once they had come to a mutual understanding, Slaan stepped out of the chambers to meet up with his priests who had finished gathering the finest hunters Slaan had to offer. “Prepare my children...” Slaan said with a icy tone. “We are going hunting...”

Within the hour, Slaan took flight along side the high priests and their Voren. A small group of hunters followed on his back, as they departed to the south, towards Njaarh's borders. Each night in the coming week he would descend on the villages there and burn them to the ground. The Voren would fly up above at a safe distance, allowing their riders to behold their gods wrath.

Many would attempt to flee and that did not matter to Slaan. This was not the prelude to a invasion, but a warning.


“If your god truly cares for your pitiful life.” One of the mighty Zakar hissed as he held a man up by the throat. The man struggled in the Zakar's grip tough it was no use. The Zakar was nearly three times his size, and only laughed at the human's pitiful effort. “He will leave these lands... The north and western lands belongs to Slaan...”

His teeth began dripping with thick green blood, as he slowly raised a clawed hand, dipping the tip of a single talon in the substance. “Remember that. For we shall not be so merciful a second time.” The Zakar said, drilling his talon into the man's flesh. The man shrieked and as he was dropped onto the cold ground, where he instantly began clawing away from the fearsome Zakar. Eventually the man managed to get back on his feet and started running for his life.

The veil of night hid little from the eyes of a Zakar and he enjoyed watching the human stumble and fall around in the shadows before finally disappearing from sight.

Scenes like this would play out many times in the coming week, as every night Slaan attacked a village and the Zakar picked off some who would attempt to flee.

It seemed that the Empire of Scales was prepairing for the world and the changes in it, not just war but the inevitable diplomacy. Either total war or Slaan would have to engadge with the other gods at some point, he had chosen Azrah it seemed. Perhaps for some an unsurprising choice of ally god as the only other who had chosen a path that embraced battle and war. Still, he engadged with his terms with her and it remained to be seen if she would accept. Much like Njaarh and his treaty with Aedre.

His people however were not so diplomatic, pushing themselves and their society in war, culture and technology. They focused each on specific tasks but with the Thin Bloods being put to the most use as the most similar to humans, caperble of doing many things. Building and now even experimenting with the ores and basic metals however they were not as adept at smithing as Azrah's people. They did it because it was slowly becomming an essential of life but they did not take it to a level of artistry and artisan effort that some other cultures practiced. Still, they made simple metal tools. The occassional knive and patched armour but it seemed they prefered it for more decorative purposes and a sign of status than actual practice use.

The best warriors and winners of the mating ritual wearing more ornate shoulder pads or decorative armour, along with even bronze tipped claws to enhance their killing power and prowess. All of which were used in the Clan to Clan struggles and contests which they developed to push themselves. The Clans would send representives each to the sacred groups and compete with each other in contests of strenght, speed and endurance. But also mock wars between Clans was common place, who ever could score the most touches on a tribe and raiding them the winner. Pride and respect given to the warriors who could land as many soft hits on a foe and get away without being touched themselves.

These touches became similar to the jagar points that they collected from hunting, marking themselves with trophies and ritual scars to note their victories in battle with each other and who had scored the first touch in a sparring contest. Dispite the hints of civilisation growing in the Empire of Scale they remained a very tribal people yet their building was improving, great aztech like temple slowly rising up still uncomplete. Ziggarutes rising out of the jungles to mark the other Clan's territory. Rellying on the jungle for the rest.

Yet real war was brewing on the horizon, as his people expanded to the South East it seemed for the first time that a god would unleash his fury on mortals of an enemy. Slaan undertaking a raid on the villages of Njaarh with a few chosen warriors, nothing more than a small raid but it proved his power. Easilly flying over the defenses that Njaarh had put in place and attacking a few villages mercilessly. They did they best to fight them off and managed to band together, but any of those who got seperated were picked off. The ghost like speed of the Zakar too quick for the humans who stumbled about in the night against the lizard monsters.

None were turned but the message was clear, Slaan was marking a territory and making an example of any who he belived threatened to halt his expansion. Although it remained to be seen how Njaarh would answer to the attack on his people, a declaration of war or message received ?

...

In the south of the great lake stood some low mountains and hilly terrian and it was expanding through this that the Talun thin bloods felt the pull of divine, enthralled by it as it felt so differant from the divine power of Slaan. Slowly exploring into the valley they found an ancient relic of the previous age! A mighty stone pillar going 50ft into the air, a single peice of craftmenship yet it was strange to behold. It seemed that it was not made from a single rock but many differant types, they even appeared to be differant ages in places yet all forming a single smooth pillar. Yet as they worshipped at it, its nature of god power seemed to change to that of Slaan's enhancing the gods power.

The Pillar of the Many

A pillar of stone, varying in colour and texture 50ft into the air. It was made by a mad hermit in his devotion to all the gods, using stolen rocks from various temples. Until rocks and stone from every god's place of workship was melded into a single construct. It is an immense source of divine power and will grant the controlling god extra divine power if they possess it.

(Power comes to Slaan and from the power of the Pillar of the Many, rises to level 3!)

Slowly the world that the water goddess wished to make was taking form. Her temple served as a beacon of power to her people, a point where all could bear witness to the strength and love that she poured out to them. From the children to the warrior monks and priestesses that stayed at the temple, they were all given tasks to teach. The children were trained in the ways of the monks, still crafting small things in Aedre's honor while learning how to fight. Still when they were deemed to be old enough they were sent into the desert to leave their offerings at the shrines, knowing that even if no human could hurt them due to the protective presence of the Su-keht, the desert itself could still destroy them in a moment. They were taught strength.

The religious warriors and priestesses of the Temple were instructed in the ways of anatomy to a point. They were shown the weak spots of a human body and where best to hit to have the maximum effect. So too were they shown how to heal and care for a wounded person as there were times that a pilgrim would return to the desert in less than ideal form. They were taught compassion and inner focus.

So it came to be that a group of her Su-keht came to the temple, something that itself was odd. But they came with others and the Goddess could not help but see what these emissaries wished to speak to her of. And so she rose above them with all of her massive water infused form and allowed these humans before her, knowing that she could kill them in a single blow if she wished. But she didn't. She chose to listen to them. After long moments, weighing each word carried from her Brother she spoke in a rippling tone to the mere mortals.

"Tell my Brother that I have chosen to agree that this would be a suitable arrangement. I have even chosen to be so generous as to allow my Su-keht to guide you back to the salt desert, all the way to the middle where they will erect a shrine to myself. I'm certain my Brother would wish you to do the same." With such simple words she seemed to dismiss them, letting them begin to leave before calling once more. "I will even be so kind as to give a warning to my Brother. Tell him these words exactly. 'Know that the boons of the water must be given as a gift and must not be taken without my blessing.'"

With those words spoken she turned then to her Su-keht. "Let them leave, but should any other of any god step into lands that are considered to belong to the people of the Water, then destroy them. This is our territory. Only the salt desert will be neutral land. However, should you wish to explore that area as well then feel free." She truly would keep the peace there however, letting it be a spot for her people to trade with the people of the Earth.

Once they set out she turned towards the East and the new village that was being built in her honor and it was to there that she set out towards, arriving there swiftly. She had had little contact with them but that would change as well. With the water of the ocean giving her strength she towered high above all of them and called the people to her.

"Hear as I speak and come to my call. I have gifts for you, my people. The first is a name for this city as all cities are given strength with something as simple as a naming. This city will now be called Ceridel. Spread across this cove and claim it as yours. Build boats to fish and nets with which to catch the fish that will soon populate this ocean. Which brings me to my second gift. Behold what I am giving to only those who worship me and hear my whispers."

From around her it seemed that the water began to seethe with a life all its own, tumbling with splashes and waves from some unknown source. Whatever it was, the light began to reflect from the area around her in shimmering rays. It came to be gradually seen that that which surrounded her were massive amounts of fish in all manner of sizes. Some were small enough to prefer the areas close to the coast and even the rivers while larger ones stayed out a bit farther. They were plentiful however and would breed swiftly enough to fill the entire ocean itself after some time. But that would be gradual. But it was not so simple.

"Send one person forward," she called to them, watching as a brave young male stepped forward, bowing in respect before her. "Catch a fish and slice it open." Her command was followed easilly as the boy had only to use a spear that was handed to him to catch the fish that swarmed the water eagerly. The same spear was used to cut away the glimmering skin of the fish to reveal healthy pink flesh beneath with a horrid shade of grey meat near the center. "Do you see that? Whatever you do, do not eat the pink parts. They are highly poisonous and will kill you. Eat the grey parts instead. I can assure you that it is far safer and more filling than it looks. One fish will feed a person easilly. And you are the first of my people to be given this. Feast tonight and celebrate my name. By tomorrow however, you are to send out groups along the coast to inform any that remain there how to eat this gift that I have given the ocean and teach them to worship me. Spread throughout the forest with my knowledge and travel both to the west and the east."

And with that she left them, moving by way of the ocean to the city of Aqualia. Once there she called to them as well and gave them instructions on how to prepare the fish as well once the new food source arrived to them. So too did she give her warriors instructions for expansion as well as warning those along the coast of what she considered her territory. "Send out groups along the coast, taking with you my name and word of my power, might, and compassion. Instruct any you come across to build a shrine in gratitude for my gifts that they may receive even more. Travel west until you reach the salt desert, marking the coast as mine as you go." It was apparent now what her words had meant for the Earth God, giving him the simple warning to not eat the fish even if they reached his lands and the people decided to try them.

Such was all she needed to attend to Aqualia, leaving the city of Warriors to their own devices. They were a proud people already and she enjoyed watching them flourish on their own. And perhaps their skills may be put to the test if they encountered any opposition. With all of that done she returned to her Temple finally with one final gift.

"Hear me as I give to the desert something to guard you and to serve you should war reach these lands." From the sands she brought forth large, massive insects that rose on long slender legs with pinchers on their front legs that arched and cracked in the air. From the back of them curved wicked tails topped with a cruely curved barb. They appeared as scorpions had in days of old but much, much bigger. They were easilly large enough that two people could ride on their backs. The thick carapace shells that covered them were colored in shades of beige and pale brown to match the dunes themselves and meld into the desert but for the blue eyes that flickered from their skulls in much the same way as the Su-keht.

"I give to you the Scorpaceans. With their blue eyes they are marked as beasts of mine and will obey any who bear the mark of my power. Notice the barbed tails and mark them well as they are filled with deadly poison and their pincers can easily rip a person in half. They are to be used in combat and even to travel long distances. You have only to summon one with the trumpet of a large shell from the waters. They will hear that sound above all else and come. When left on their own they will be allowed to live in the desert however. Should one of them die, use the carapace shell they leave behind to make armor for the strongest warriors of Aqualia. To ensure that these magnificent beasts are entirely self sufficent however I will introduce another creation to the desert."

With a few more ripples in the sand, far smaller movements it was seen that something far more innocent and harmless was brought to the desert. Rabbits with tawny fur appeared and were swift to run out over the dunes away from people and the Scorpaceans. There were many rabbits but there would be even more. They would breed swiftly enough to remain as a constant food source for the Scorpaceans that could eat large meals at a time and yet not overpopulate the desert. And with that she let the new arachnids leave and retreat to the desert, content with all that she had given to her people.