Snippet #1711819

The goddess of air was not entirely kind, nor was she forgiving. Little happened around her people that she was not aware of, and certainly no pleas for help went unheard. She had wished for peace to reign for her people for a bit longer, long enough to build them in strength and let them become the true hunters of the night and people that could keep some relative kindness in their lives. But... things were changing. She had known it would happen but that didn't make it much better.

First came the call from her harpies. It... displeased her more than a bit that Belleger had seen fit to place his new creations so near to the winged devils of hers but even she could understand why he had done so. Even so, her harpies had been allowed their freedom to do whatever they would like, whether it be to breed or create things or even eat those that came too near to them. They were protected by her and only had but a few orders which were but to worship her and to defend others that did. She could not simply let them be bothered by the creatures of the earth god that dwelled so near. Plans were formulating however. Plots of necessity.

Such plots came even closer to full fruition when she heard of how the suo-ata were marching in a different path. And how they had frightened one of her tribes. The fact that her people were smart enough to flee before harm could be done was something that she was eternally grateful for. But it would not happen again. She would not allow it to happen again. And thus her decision was made.

First she sent word to her people through the birds they carried. Before anything was done she would tell all of them of her plans, including the harpies. They would not be kept ignorant. From the birds she told them of what would be done, letting her words echo out from them on gusts of wind. "Hard times are coming to us. Let it be known that we are not going to war. We are merely going to defend ourselves. Chath, the fire god wishes to ally himself with us and yet he recklessly sends these lizardmen past us. This cannot stand. Belleger, the earth god is the head of this war. We will aid him and further our own cause at the same. There will still yet be hope for the fire god but only if he listens. For now, I need the best archers to prepare to aid Belleger's defense. I will speak to him and if all goes according to plan some will be sent to his southern fort, Fort Ordo. The others, as well as some of the harpies will be sent to aid in the building and fortifying of a new fort to be built at the pass where the Suo-ata are attempting to break through. Also, those that go will provide food from the beakalo for them as well. As for the harpies, part of this will be to ensure more breathing room between you and his mountain creatures. There will be a boundary between you should all go well. I will not forsake any of you. Know that above all else as you go to fight. When all is prepared, you will go to aid and I will do what I can to prevent as much fighting as possible. Those who travel to further explore and expand may continue to do so and yet always keep an eye on the air in case you must return. Further, should you come across lizardmen do not go recklessly into battle with them. Kill them as you see them since their numbers are getting out of hand but do so with subtlety. Throw stones into their midst to confuse them. Attack at night. Do not put yourself in harm's way. We will stand strong, and yet move with the flow of change my children. I will guard all of you."

So it was that she told all that worshipped her entirely what was planned. For her part she first sent warning to the Earth God, sending forth one of the birds to ask permission for her to visit him directly in full respect of his area and not wishing to step on any toes. Once allowed to do so, she would come to him even if only as a swirling cloud, similar to the one that her people had first seen when she'd come to them so long ago and yet she stayed far above him to speak. "I come to you with a proposition. The lizardmen march on you, and they attempt to pour in through the pass that borders south of my harpies. I will give to you the food and miscellanious supplies needed, as well as the strength of the air if you would like to build a fort there that will protect both of us. My harpies and archers will aid there to prevent the passing of the Suo-ata. I will help in keeping them from spilling into your lands. I will even send some of my archers to your southern fort, the Fort Ordo. All I ask in return is a shrine at the new fort as well as a solid, blank border between my harpies and your mountain creatures. Have some of your creations vacate the area the separates them. I offer you equal aid, my brother and I hope above all else that you accept." Should he agree to her terms then she would immediately prepare all that was needed.

More still had to be done however. She could feel the tingles of worship in the south, in Chath's main city Obisidia. Their hearts called to her and she would come. There was much to speak of to the fire god and she would. She did the same kindness she had given to Belleger however and sent a bird first, though in this case it was to tell him that she was coming. She didn't ask permission for a very simple reason. He had not done so when he'd deigned to send his Suo-ata so close to her nomads. So it was that she emerged from the shrine itself that had been erected in her name shortly after the bird delivered it's warning. Gently she began spilling up from it in a fount of clouds and feathers for all to see. She was nothing so solid as her brothers and was certainly a different thing for these people of the desert to see before them. She rose up entirely however until she was once more a swirling vortex above all with the shifting head of feathers and scales that she bore at times. She knew her arrival would attract Chath to come speak to her. If not, then she would seek him out. Either way her warning would be delivered. "I have given you the hope of trade between our people. I have even given you the faintest offerings of peace and yet you do this. You send your lizardmen so perilously close to my nomads without even the smallest warning or offer to keep them from attacking. I will defend my own before all else. Already I have told my to begin culling them since their numbers are so vast. After all, you must care little for them if you send them so far from you. I give you one last chance however. Pull your Suo-ata back from the northern areas and I will leave all in peace. I have offered to give you so much and yet you answer me with chaotic lizardmen at the borders near my lands. This offense will not stand, but you do have a chance still. Do as I ask with your lizards. And further, allow any here who worship me continue to do so and spread, even allowing them to retreat to my lands to the north should they wish. But only those who worship in my name will be given that honor."

She let his people hear of how he had betrayed the small bit of trust she'd given them. She let them hear how she had shown nothing but kindess, particularly for her people. She let them see just what sort of gentle, yet firm goddess she was. With the warning however, she left. She let them all be and returned to her people in the north to have them prepare for all that was coming. The would gather food, the would gather hide. They would ensure that they were ready.