Setting
Default Location for The Gods
Minimap
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east |
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Ashariel is a part of 
The Gods.
29 Characters Here
Asiysia [0] The Bearer and Origin of Light and Life
Icarvi 2 [0] The God of the weary, sick, and slightly dead.
Urgael [0] God of Orcs and Ogres
Shaddam [0] God of Swamps, Healing, and Mists
Mastalki [0] "It isn't fun to use what you've built. But the process in which you build."
Grumpsh [0] God of Emptiness, Secrets, Silence, and Lost Things
Eon [0] "Want to have a bet with me?"
Fedawaeyas [0] God of Fate
Dramacio [0] God of Vices and Keeper of Sin
Start Character Here »
Setting
0.00 INK
"The Diamond Dust of Heaven"
Mora Town
Madame Ursa was meeting with some of the children, giving them each their new parchment and quills. They were speaking well, now they were to be writing. They were not so happy to see her, as they said the elders were worrying. Already Ursa was used to the death and smell of decay. Something had changed within her in contact with these people.
When she finally heard the problem, that their leader, the one Dendapim amongst them, had been taken away by guards, her heart nearly stopped. She told the children to pack up all their food. They would be learning about food today. Those were always their favorite days. She told them to carefully pack away as much food as they could into a cart and roll it out of their homes. She tried to convince the elders to join them, saying it would be best if they prepared to leave, her attempts at subtlety were failing. The Mora were not keen to leave, or let their children leave, without knowing what had happened to Yorina. The guards had left, even the most bitter towards the Dendapim were not keen to leave their new homes so quickly.
Without anyone's permission, she began making large demands.
"You, go buy some salted fish for soup. The markets in the north must be closed, take your whole family, best not to get lost." she tossed them a bundle of gold plates bound with string, an immense amount of money for a simple trip for soup.
"You, go buy us new knives, all new knives, I don't care if you feel weak, go!" and she tossed another ring of gold.
The children had readied the cart, and she explained that they would have a picnic, and to head to floating forest. They would not be allowed, they were to wait in one of the many pavilions where men loaded supplies for the richer people above.
“Temper gets you into trouble. Pride keeps you there.”
Trinity Palace
The Avatar looked at Yorina with hungering eyes, watching her chant from the book. He examined everything, listened desperately to her clicks and whistles. It was language, but ghastly, using every possible extent of human ability to speak from wheazes from the depths of the lungs to humming through the nose, odd placement of the tongue for clicks and something like consonants, a strange humming power throughout.
This was dark stuff she dealt in.
The young alchemist held onto the table on which the young girl sat, staring at her, waiting for her eyes to open.
The convulsions, to the aging Ayden Spiro, hulking against his throne, were enough. But the next moments happened to quickly for him. As the girl's eye fluttered open, her body ceasing to twitch, he began to cough up something.
"Well, she's back."
In a moment the old Ayden Spiro tried to pull himself up, hacking up something awful. The young Avatar rose and screamed
"Get the book!"
But, despite the sound of crashing as the door behind Yorina swung open, the young alchemist visibly distressed and looking as though he was about to vomit, quietly slit the throat of the newly awakened girl and twisted the knife upward suddenly, severing the brain stem. With the same smoothness he gripped onto the flower and leaped over the table towards Yorina, as though to grab her, only to ram the Near Guard who were coming through the door, tossing them back with incredible strength for his small form.
"Yorina, hurry, get out!" He screamed, picking up one of the dragon guns from the unconscious guards, who looked frozen unnaturally. He pointed not the gun end, but the ornate dragon head of the gun back towards the two men. The avatar was shaking as he opened a small wooden cabinet, revealing a window with two hawks, trying to tie a message to one of them. The old Ayden Spiro was crouching, clutching his stomach, hacking up something.
With the same look of utter disgust and horror, the young alchemist pulled the dragon's wing mechanism, and a jet of flames buffeted out clumsily from the mouth of the dragon. It sputtered and immediately caught the body of the girl, now rapidly drying out into some sort of mummy, and caught the elaborate draperies of the thrones on fire.
He turned shouting, "Go! Get out!" to the walking corpse that Yorina had become. He still looked as though he was fighting back something awful in his throat.
"This is a place of love, its empathy overpowers..."
Nonya Graveyard
"Anora, there's nothing frightening about a graveyard. It's beautiful, don't you think? There's not as much grass anywhere in the city."
"The flowers are nice, but don't you just imagine all those bodies... all the same level, just... sitting there? R-rotting?"
"That's the part for the dead, the rest of a graveyard is for the living. There are monuments and fountains and trees."
"Flowers..."
"Plenty! Come on."
The young man pulled the girl, walking backwards, more interested in her than flowers. There was no place more abandoned than a graveyard. It really wasn't a place for the living. One paid for someone to keep the flowers blooming, and visited only when another person died. It had gained a reputation now as a place for illegal rituals and adolescents meeting against the will of their parents. Those children who felt a "mutually beneficial" marriage between two business partners seemed a silly thing, far off, from their lives.
Mora Town
Madame Ursa was meeting with some of the children, giving them each their new parchment and quills. They were speaking well, now they were to be writing. They were not so happy to see her, as they said the elders were worrying. Already Ursa was used to the death and smell of decay. Something had changed within her in contact with these people.
When she finally heard the problem, that their leader, the one Dendapim amongst them, had been taken away by guards, her heart nearly stopped. She told the children to pack up all their food. They would be learning about food today. Those were always their favorite days. She told them to carefully pack away as much food as they could into a cart and roll it out of their homes. She tried to convince the elders to join them, saying it would be best if they prepared to leave, her attempts at subtlety were failing. The Mora were not keen to leave, or let their children leave, without knowing what had happened to Yorina. The guards had left, even the most bitter towards the Dendapim were not keen to leave their new homes so quickly.
Without anyone's permission, she began making large demands.
"You, go buy some salted fish for soup. The markets in the north must be closed, take your whole family, best not to get lost." she tossed them a bundle of gold plates bound with string, an immense amount of money for a simple trip for soup.
"You, go buy us new knives, all new knives, I don't care if you feel weak, go!" and she tossed another ring of gold.
The children had readied the cart, and she explained that they would have a picnic, and to head to floating forest. They would not be allowed, they were to wait in one of the many pavilions where men loaded supplies for the richer people above.
“Temper gets you into trouble. Pride keeps you there.”
Trinity Palace
The Avatar looked at Yorina with hungering eyes, watching her chant from the book. He examined everything, listened desperately to her clicks and whistles. It was language, but ghastly, using every possible extent of human ability to speak from wheazes from the depths of the lungs to humming through the nose, odd placement of the tongue for clicks and something like consonants, a strange humming power throughout.
This was dark stuff she dealt in.
The young alchemist held onto the table on which the young girl sat, staring at her, waiting for her eyes to open.
The convulsions, to the aging Ayden Spiro, hulking against his throne, were enough. But the next moments happened to quickly for him. As the girl's eye fluttered open, her body ceasing to twitch, he began to cough up something.
"Well, she's back."
In a moment the old Ayden Spiro tried to pull himself up, hacking up something awful. The young Avatar rose and screamed
"Get the book!"
But, despite the sound of crashing as the door behind Yorina swung open, the young alchemist visibly distressed and looking as though he was about to vomit, quietly slit the throat of the newly awakened girl and twisted the knife upward suddenly, severing the brain stem. With the same smoothness he gripped onto the flower and leaped over the table towards Yorina, as though to grab her, only to ram the Near Guard who were coming through the door, tossing them back with incredible strength for his small form.
"Yorina, hurry, get out!" He screamed, picking up one of the dragon guns from the unconscious guards, who looked frozen unnaturally. He pointed not the gun end, but the ornate dragon head of the gun back towards the two men. The avatar was shaking as he opened a small wooden cabinet, revealing a window with two hawks, trying to tie a message to one of them. The old Ayden Spiro was crouching, clutching his stomach, hacking up something.
With the same look of utter disgust and horror, the young alchemist pulled the dragon's wing mechanism, and a jet of flames buffeted out clumsily from the mouth of the dragon. It sputtered and immediately caught the body of the girl, now rapidly drying out into some sort of mummy, and caught the elaborate draperies of the thrones on fire.
He turned shouting, "Go! Get out!" to the walking corpse that Yorina had become. He still looked as though he was fighting back something awful in his throat.
"This is a place of love, its empathy overpowers..."
Nonya Graveyard
"Anora, there's nothing frightening about a graveyard. It's beautiful, don't you think? There's not as much grass anywhere in the city."
"The flowers are nice, but don't you just imagine all those bodies... all the same level, just... sitting there? R-rotting?"
"That's the part for the dead, the rest of a graveyard is for the living. There are monuments and fountains and trees."
"Flowers..."
"Plenty! Come on."
The young man pulled the girl, walking backwards, more interested in her than flowers. There was no place more abandoned than a graveyard. It really wasn't a place for the living. One paid for someone to keep the flowers blooming, and visited only when another person died. It had gained a reputation now as a place for illegal rituals and adolescents meeting against the will of their parents. Those children who felt a "mutually beneficial" marriage between two business partners seemed a silly thing, far off, from their lives.
Setting
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ALLASEUS
Allaseus stood still, as he listened to Ulmo's words. They made him feel sadness and a bittersweet twinge of irony. His father had died for the same pride that caused Ulmo to heave up the water of the ocean. It made him feel like laughing and crying. Such a stupid feeling that pride was, yet it was still pride that made him stand so adamtly in front of a god.
Minutes of silence passed, and Allaseus felt that he somehow ought to say something, but his throat was locked. His breathing was slow and deep, as his body built up for whatever might happen then.
As Allaseus stood there, staring at Ulmo and Caspian. Mastalki came into the realm once again, just as silently as he'd left it, only mere moments ago. His form was blurring, turning from his human male form, into a shimmering light and then into something entirely different. But as he stood behind Allaseus, his form permanently stayed as the shimmering light that was his true form.
"Allaseus." his voice sounded, shocking the unsuspecting Allaseus. "No mortal or god is flawless. I am not flawless, neither are you... or Ulmo. But we made forgiveness, so that it could weigh up for the hatred and evil that we so foolishly planted in the world. Today, you have to prove for us, that we have not been in vain in our try to help you."
As mastalki talked, his form began blurring out a little, just to return in an even stronger brilliance.
"My child, I ask you not as a god, nor as your master to forgive Ulmo. I ask you of this, because I know that if you do not forgive him, then your anger and hatred will only grow, untill you are destroyed, and only an empty vessel remains." The voice of Mastalki was somehow ladden with emotions, and one shining clearly through, was compassion.
Allaseus looked at Mastalki. His eyes were blurring with tears, as he realised what Mastalki asked of him. To forgive the one who killed his father, and led him on the road of anguish. His throat became swollen, as the tears pressed to come out. Then he nodded at Mastalki.
He turned towards Ulmo, his face a grimace of sorrow...
[To be continued.]
[Continuation :D]
Allaseus opened his mouth, but his throat was clogged up and swollen. He felt as though time stood still. Which it kind of did.
"I..." he tried to say something, but stopped mid-sentence. "I forgive you Ulmo." he finally got out, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I forgive you for your deeds of evil."
Allaseus was deeply sad, and yet relieved to hear those words. He hadn't had any kind of revenge for his father's death, but still an enormous burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
And then he realised, that it was somewhat the only thing that had kept him going all those eons. His goal had been to somehow get revenge for his fathers death. Now that he'd forgiven Ulmo, he didn't really see a reason to continue anymore. It left a hole in his being. A hole that couldn't be filled out again. That was the curse of brooding over ones revenge for millenia.
"Master. I don't think I can go on anymore now. I would like to resign from the post as avatar."
Allaseus stood still, as he listened to Ulmo's words. They made him feel sadness and a bittersweet twinge of irony. His father had died for the same pride that caused Ulmo to heave up the water of the ocean. It made him feel like laughing and crying. Such a stupid feeling that pride was, yet it was still pride that made him stand so adamtly in front of a god.
Minutes of silence passed, and Allaseus felt that he somehow ought to say something, but his throat was locked. His breathing was slow and deep, as his body built up for whatever might happen then.
As Allaseus stood there, staring at Ulmo and Caspian. Mastalki came into the realm once again, just as silently as he'd left it, only mere moments ago. His form was blurring, turning from his human male form, into a shimmering light and then into something entirely different. But as he stood behind Allaseus, his form permanently stayed as the shimmering light that was his true form.
"Allaseus." his voice sounded, shocking the unsuspecting Allaseus. "No mortal or god is flawless. I am not flawless, neither are you... or Ulmo. But we made forgiveness, so that it could weigh up for the hatred and evil that we so foolishly planted in the world. Today, you have to prove for us, that we have not been in vain in our try to help you."
As mastalki talked, his form began blurring out a little, just to return in an even stronger brilliance.
"My child, I ask you not as a god, nor as your master to forgive Ulmo. I ask you of this, because I know that if you do not forgive him, then your anger and hatred will only grow, untill you are destroyed, and only an empty vessel remains." The voice of Mastalki was somehow ladden with emotions, and one shining clearly through, was compassion.
Allaseus looked at Mastalki. His eyes were blurring with tears, as he realised what Mastalki asked of him. To forgive the one who killed his father, and led him on the road of anguish. His throat became swollen, as the tears pressed to come out. Then he nodded at Mastalki.
He turned towards Ulmo, his face a grimace of sorrow...
[To be continued.]
[Continuation :D]
Allaseus opened his mouth, but his throat was clogged up and swollen. He felt as though time stood still. Which it kind of did.
"I..." he tried to say something, but stopped mid-sentence. "I forgive you Ulmo." he finally got out, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I forgive you for your deeds of evil."
Allaseus was deeply sad, and yet relieved to hear those words. He hadn't had any kind of revenge for his father's death, but still an enormous burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
And then he realised, that it was somewhat the only thing that had kept him going all those eons. His goal had been to somehow get revenge for his fathers death. Now that he'd forgiven Ulmo, he didn't really see a reason to continue anymore. It left a hole in his being. A hole that couldn't be filled out again. That was the curse of brooding over ones revenge for millenia.
"Master. I don't think I can go on anymore now. I would like to resign from the post as avatar."
Setting
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With Stole
"What do you mean by that, Stole?" Stole didn't notice the blush on Haya's face. Even if he did he would have been to tired to go into his normal flirtatious behavior. Instead he focused on finishing his suggestion. "Not sure if I... mentioned it earlier but... I used to be a well known and well traveled mercenary. As such I've made a lot... lot of connections with *cough*... with people across Ashariel. With a few letters from me, I can get the local news for you guys." Stoles contact network from his days a the swift sparrow sword was the main reason why Hildar had asked Stole to act as the Hilarts ambassador. The number of people he had listed as reliable sources of information was something a member of the Heckclown Union would be impressed by.
Heck, some even were in the Heckclown Union.
"So What do you say miss Haya, sound like a fair offer?" Stole could feel his fatigue starting to catch up with him, but he was resolved to keep his eyes open just a little while longer.
Sight of the behemoths awakening.
It took several minutes for The hilart scout to get the will to move again; something he felt would sting his pride later. He had originally planned to pick of the shadowkin one by one from within the brush but he'd underestimated the severity of his wound. He wasn't a Cur-nak-kul. He couldn't just ignore his wounds in the thick of battle. And so he was force to seek a place where he could administer ointment to seal the injury, less he die of blood loss. A task made difficult by the shadow people that had been dogging him for so long. He was finally able to tend to his wound when the beast rouse from it's slumber. It awakening sent the 'shadowkin' scattering with the noise and fire it created was unleashed. He could only sit quietly as he watched the monster lumber away, leaving a small army of little... things that had crawled off it's body.
He briefly heard a noise,like a horn being blown, behind him. Turning he could make a faint outline torch lights in the distance. It was his tribe. They were likely getting impatient with their wait for him and now coming to see what the noise was about.
"What do you mean by that, Stole?" Stole didn't notice the blush on Haya's face. Even if he did he would have been to tired to go into his normal flirtatious behavior. Instead he focused on finishing his suggestion. "Not sure if I... mentioned it earlier but... I used to be a well known and well traveled mercenary. As such I've made a lot... lot of connections with *cough*... with people across Ashariel. With a few letters from me, I can get the local news for you guys." Stoles contact network from his days a the swift sparrow sword was the main reason why Hildar had asked Stole to act as the Hilarts ambassador. The number of people he had listed as reliable sources of information was something a member of the Heckclown Union would be impressed by.
Heck, some even were in the Heckclown Union.
"So What do you say miss Haya, sound like a fair offer?" Stole could feel his fatigue starting to catch up with him, but he was resolved to keep his eyes open just a little while longer.
Sight of the behemoths awakening.
It took several minutes for The hilart scout to get the will to move again; something he felt would sting his pride later. He had originally planned to pick of the shadowkin one by one from within the brush but he'd underestimated the severity of his wound. He wasn't a Cur-nak-kul. He couldn't just ignore his wounds in the thick of battle. And so he was force to seek a place where he could administer ointment to seal the injury, less he die of blood loss. A task made difficult by the shadow people that had been dogging him for so long. He was finally able to tend to his wound when the beast rouse from it's slumber. It awakening sent the 'shadowkin' scattering with the noise and fire it created was unleashed. He could only sit quietly as he watched the monster lumber away, leaving a small army of little... things that had crawled off it's body.
He briefly heard a noise,like a horn being blown, behind him. Turning he could make a faint outline torch lights in the distance. It was his tribe. They were likely getting impatient with their wait for him and now coming to see what the noise was about.
Setting
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Talingue
The Realm of Dusk
Talingue heaved a sigh as his daughter spoke. He set his mouth into a firm line as Jiraba responded to his accusations as well. It was true, at the very least the dark god was taking responsibility for his actions. The hardest part of it all was Raven's affirmation of Jiraba's grim forbodings. He eyed Raven for a moment and arched an eyebrow when she ended her statement. They must exterminate the Behemoth and walking carnage. A feat more easily said than done.
"Very well dear one," Talingue finally offered, "I respect your decisions, and I have been rash." He looked then to Jiraba and his eyes cleared somewhat to become a lighter grey, tinged with blue. "If the behemoth can be dismantled and order restored, than I am with you. I will be here to aid in whatever way I can, but..." He added, his voice growing stern again. "I will also be here to keep an eye on you."
Talingue looked about and fixed each of the two with him with a serious stare. "Where do we begin then?"
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tameron
Site of the Behemoth
The roar sounded and all aboard the air ship twisted around to see a vision of horrible reality confront them. The shadow cage exploded open and thousands of dark creatures poured out. Then, as if that wasn't enough, the one thing left in the cage began to grow to an impossible size. Tameron stammered for a moment before shouting to the captain of the ship.
"MOVE!!! Get us out of here now!" He didn't have to speak twice for the captian to throw all the ship's prepulsion vents open and send them rocketing throught the sky back toward the Avian lands. "I am sorry," Tameron shouted to the foriegn soldiers with them, "I must warm my people. We will get you home as soon as possible!" He turned his face from them then and closed his eyes in silent prayer to Talingue.
My God, my God.... Help us now.
The Realm of Dusk
Talingue heaved a sigh as his daughter spoke. He set his mouth into a firm line as Jiraba responded to his accusations as well. It was true, at the very least the dark god was taking responsibility for his actions. The hardest part of it all was Raven's affirmation of Jiraba's grim forbodings. He eyed Raven for a moment and arched an eyebrow when she ended her statement. They must exterminate the Behemoth and walking carnage. A feat more easily said than done.
"Very well dear one," Talingue finally offered, "I respect your decisions, and I have been rash." He looked then to Jiraba and his eyes cleared somewhat to become a lighter grey, tinged with blue. "If the behemoth can be dismantled and order restored, than I am with you. I will be here to aid in whatever way I can, but..." He added, his voice growing stern again. "I will also be here to keep an eye on you."
Talingue looked about and fixed each of the two with him with a serious stare. "Where do we begin then?"
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tameron
Site of the Behemoth
The roar sounded and all aboard the air ship twisted around to see a vision of horrible reality confront them. The shadow cage exploded open and thousands of dark creatures poured out. Then, as if that wasn't enough, the one thing left in the cage began to grow to an impossible size. Tameron stammered for a moment before shouting to the captain of the ship.
"MOVE!!! Get us out of here now!" He didn't have to speak twice for the captian to throw all the ship's prepulsion vents open and send them rocketing throught the sky back toward the Avian lands. "I am sorry," Tameron shouted to the foriegn soldiers with them, "I must warm my people. We will get you home as soon as possible!" He turned his face from them then and closed his eyes in silent prayer to Talingue.
My God, my God.... Help us now.
Setting
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Talingue
The Realm of Dusk
Talingue heaved a sigh as his daughter spoke. He set his mouth into a firm line as Jiraba responded to his accusations as well. It was true, at the very least the dark god was taking responsibility for his actions. The hardest part of it all was Raven's affirmation of Jiraba's grim forbodings. He eyed Raven for a moment and arched an eyebrow when she ended her statement. They must exterminate the Behemoth and walking carnage. A feat more easily said than done.
"Very well dear one," Talingue finally offered, "I respect your decisions, and I have been rash." He looked then to Jiraba and his eyes cleared somewhat to become a lighter grey, tinged with blue. "If the behemoth can be dismantled and order restored, than I am with you. I will be here to aid in whatever way I can, but..." He added, his voice growing stern again. "I will also be here to keep an eye on you."
Talingue looked about and fixed each of the two with him with a serious stare. "Where do we begin then?"
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tameron
Site of the Behemoth
The roar sounded and all aboard the air ship twisted around to see a vision of horrible reality confront them. The shadow cage exploded open and thousands of dark creatures poured out. Then, as if that wasn't enough, the one thing left in the cage began to grow to an impossible size. Tameron stammered for a moment before shouting to the captain of the ship.
"MOVE!!! Get us out of here now!" He didn't have to speak twice for the captian to throw all the ship's prepulsion vents open and send them rocketing throught the sky back toward the Avian lands. "I am sorry," Tameron shouted to the foriegn soldiers with them, "I must warm my people. We will get you home as soon as possible!" He turned his face from them then and closed his eyes in silent prayer to Talingue.
My God, my God.... Help us now.
The Realm of Dusk
Talingue heaved a sigh as his daughter spoke. He set his mouth into a firm line as Jiraba responded to his accusations as well. It was true, at the very least the dark god was taking responsibility for his actions. The hardest part of it all was Raven's affirmation of Jiraba's grim forbodings. He eyed Raven for a moment and arched an eyebrow when she ended her statement. They must exterminate the Behemoth and walking carnage. A feat more easily said than done.
"Very well dear one," Talingue finally offered, "I respect your decisions, and I have been rash." He looked then to Jiraba and his eyes cleared somewhat to become a lighter grey, tinged with blue. "If the behemoth can be dismantled and order restored, than I am with you. I will be here to aid in whatever way I can, but..." He added, his voice growing stern again. "I will also be here to keep an eye on you."
Talingue looked about and fixed each of the two with him with a serious stare. "Where do we begin then?"
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tameron
Site of the Behemoth
The roar sounded and all aboard the air ship twisted around to see a vision of horrible reality confront them. The shadow cage exploded open and thousands of dark creatures poured out. Then, as if that wasn't enough, the one thing left in the cage began to grow to an impossible size. Tameron stammered for a moment before shouting to the captain of the ship.
"MOVE!!! Get us out of here now!" He didn't have to speak twice for the captian to throw all the ship's prepulsion vents open and send them rocketing throught the sky back toward the Avian lands. "I am sorry," Tameron shouted to the foriegn soldiers with them, "I must warm my people. We will get you home as soon as possible!" He turned his face from them then and closed his eyes in silent prayer to Talingue.
My God, my God.... Help us now.
Setting
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Caspian's eyes widened slightly at his fellow Avatar's statement. In his experience, few humans were ready to let go of their lives when the time came, but Allaseus seemed almost glad. Could it really be that anger was tying him to the world this whole time? Meanwhile, Ulmo's expression remained sorrowful. Why hadn't he seen this before? It was his fault that the Avatar lived as he did, trapped in a hell of suffering and vengeance and now, the people he vowed to protect suffered for it.
"Then may Mori welcome you and may you rest in peace while the Creator and Fate allows you," Ulmo told the Avatar solemnly. Caspian bowed his head, unable to think of anything to say save one.
"I'll look after your successor. I promise. Our peoples will not destroy themselves in a pointless war for revenge and material gain," he promised.
"Then may Mori welcome you and may you rest in peace while the Creator and Fate allows you," Ulmo told the Avatar solemnly. Caspian bowed his head, unable to think of anything to say save one.
"I'll look after your successor. I promise. Our peoples will not destroy themselves in a pointless war for revenge and material gain," he promised.
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Mora Town
The children, having trusted Madame Ursa for months now, complied, though they were more confused than ever and afraid by the tones of their voices. Some of the more able-bodied elders were able to help along, but others refused on the basis of Madame Ursa being a stranger, despite teaching the children for months, while others refused on the basis that they were simply too weak. To the Floating Forest it was, for the most of them.
Trinity Palace
Yorina had been too naive, too trusting of her home country. As the command to steal her prized possession was screamed, she clutched it to her chest and turned around in time to watch guards spill through the door. One of the three men seemed to be on her side, though, seeing as he took down his own guards. Her eyes wide, she bolted out of the room, not looking behind to see if the young alchemist was alright. She tried to retrace the steps she had taken to get to there, to get out of the palace. That was all that mattered at the moment.
The children, having trusted Madame Ursa for months now, complied, though they were more confused than ever and afraid by the tones of their voices. Some of the more able-bodied elders were able to help along, but others refused on the basis of Madame Ursa being a stranger, despite teaching the children for months, while others refused on the basis that they were simply too weak. To the Floating Forest it was, for the most of them.
Trinity Palace
Yorina had been too naive, too trusting of her home country. As the command to steal her prized possession was screamed, she clutched it to her chest and turned around in time to watch guards spill through the door. One of the three men seemed to be on her side, though, seeing as he took down his own guards. Her eyes wide, she bolted out of the room, not looking behind to see if the young alchemist was alright. She tried to retrace the steps she had taken to get to there, to get out of the palace. That was all that mattered at the moment.
Setting
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Site of the Behemoth
Hagar gave a growl as he was tackled, but was silenced as the Behemoth awoke. "Oh, Reptora dung..." He quickly got up, searching for the scout that he had originally intend to save. The boy was damned good at hiding, he'd say...there. In the brush. That form was too large for a boar, but too small for a bear. It had to be the scout. He then heard the horn. Hilarts. "About damned time..."
He dashed into the bush, grabbing the boy and lifting him onto his shoulder, just in time to have the boy avoid a nasty attack from one of those...things. Behemothlings. He gave the creature a swift kick, then turned toward the growing lights in the distance. "I swear to the Gods themselves, kid, you sure know how to get in trouble!" He ran off toward the lights, praying to every God he ever knew for the strength to get to the source of light.
Luckily, Ke'yei had not forgotten the Hilart runt he once saved, and made the blood flow effortlessly through the man's body, no exhaustion overtaking him, speed increased. As he approached the Hilart clan, though, the blessing was no longer needed, after Hagar set the boy down, he collapsed upon his knees, gasping for breath. The soldiers of the clan pointed their weapons toward Hagar, who had no fight left in him...besides, that would be a poor discision. "Bad...things...come...fast..." He hoped that his words did not fall on deaf ears, or that the boy would explain what was happening...
Aboard the Airship
The Guards of Ke'yei's City looked somberly toward the scene. There was no way that Hagar would survive, was their collective thought, each giving a small silent rite to his spirit. The leader then turned to the Avatar of the Air-God. "Very well...I suppose that, both being in threat of a similar opponent, an alliance may be forged..." The last words were actually breathed in by Ke'yei; no guard would ever have the power to declare an alliance with anyone. He knew that the End was coming; he wished for his people to survive. Not being at war for a very long time, some friends may help with that survival.
Hagar gave a growl as he was tackled, but was silenced as the Behemoth awoke. "Oh, Reptora dung..." He quickly got up, searching for the scout that he had originally intend to save. The boy was damned good at hiding, he'd say...there. In the brush. That form was too large for a boar, but too small for a bear. It had to be the scout. He then heard the horn. Hilarts. "About damned time..."
He dashed into the bush, grabbing the boy and lifting him onto his shoulder, just in time to have the boy avoid a nasty attack from one of those...things. Behemothlings. He gave the creature a swift kick, then turned toward the growing lights in the distance. "I swear to the Gods themselves, kid, you sure know how to get in trouble!" He ran off toward the lights, praying to every God he ever knew for the strength to get to the source of light.
Luckily, Ke'yei had not forgotten the Hilart runt he once saved, and made the blood flow effortlessly through the man's body, no exhaustion overtaking him, speed increased. As he approached the Hilart clan, though, the blessing was no longer needed, after Hagar set the boy down, he collapsed upon his knees, gasping for breath. The soldiers of the clan pointed their weapons toward Hagar, who had no fight left in him...besides, that would be a poor discision. "Bad...things...come...fast..." He hoped that his words did not fall on deaf ears, or that the boy would explain what was happening...
Aboard the Airship
The Guards of Ke'yei's City looked somberly toward the scene. There was no way that Hagar would survive, was their collective thought, each giving a small silent rite to his spirit. The leader then turned to the Avatar of the Air-God. "Very well...I suppose that, both being in threat of a similar opponent, an alliance may be forged..." The last words were actually breathed in by Ke'yei; no guard would ever have the power to declare an alliance with anyone. He knew that the End was coming; he wished for his people to survive. Not being at war for a very long time, some friends may help with that survival.
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"First They Came..."
Mora Town, Nonya
Madame Ursa, lovely as ever, stood in the center of the apartment commons, looking towards the gate. She feared what would happen, there was no way to know. There was no way to know that, from the cavern in the rock, two hawks flew away from the explosion of fire at a dying man's behest. There was no way to know that one of the hawks, poorly trained, startled, would fly back up to a dome of Trinity Palace and roost for a while. There was no way to know if the hawk which landed in the Near Guard's outpost carried a message of acceptance or extermination. There was no way to know if the men amongst the guard would "just follow orders" or question their leaders, sending for a second message that would never come as its author was engulfed in flames.
The silence, and the waiting... Staring towards the gate, wondering how they would enter... wondering how she would know... wondering if perhaps it was merely overreacting. The feeling of safety that crept into the paranoia... perhaps not now, perhaps it was all just in her head... the feeling of horror that it would come when she was least expecting it, when she could not be here...
And what would being here do? What could she possibly do? The gate didn't move, and the moments crept by slower and slower. What would happen?
Stayed in the Darkness with You
Trinity Palace
The young alchemist fell to his knees before the inferno. Hours ago he had carefully annointed all the tapestries and rugs and drapes with scented oils and fragrant alcohols. "All part of the ritual" he said. It was to cover the smell of decay that occasionally overtook her, when he was not quick enough. When frequently treated with the flower's vapor her body remained pristine, and she even began to breathe, but it was just movement.
Now the fire was burning, casting shadows across the walls. They grew, hungry, living. First they took the cloth, then the hair, then they took the flesh.
He stared on in horror. There was no sound save for the crackling roar of the fire. There were soldiers shouting, and Ayden screaming, but they were mute against the ferocity of the flames.
So he stood, the smoke was making it hard to breathe, he couldn't see anything now, but he couldn't look away from her. Beautiful even in death, as the fire overtook her, lifting her up. It was rapture.
Then he turned ran out the door, grabbing the second soldier's dragon gun as both men began to wake from their strange slumber. He ran down the hallways towards the lift, where he saw Yorina.
"Yorina! Quickly, you must trust me!" He said, as he heaved an enormous lever, sending the machinery whirling, with the sound of water moving in the distance, and the lift began to move. Instead of stepping into its cage, he jumped ontop of it, crying for Yorina to do the same.
Mora Town, Nonya
Madame Ursa, lovely as ever, stood in the center of the apartment commons, looking towards the gate. She feared what would happen, there was no way to know. There was no way to know that, from the cavern in the rock, two hawks flew away from the explosion of fire at a dying man's behest. There was no way to know that one of the hawks, poorly trained, startled, would fly back up to a dome of Trinity Palace and roost for a while. There was no way to know if the hawk which landed in the Near Guard's outpost carried a message of acceptance or extermination. There was no way to know if the men amongst the guard would "just follow orders" or question their leaders, sending for a second message that would never come as its author was engulfed in flames.
The silence, and the waiting... Staring towards the gate, wondering how they would enter... wondering how she would know... wondering if perhaps it was merely overreacting. The feeling of safety that crept into the paranoia... perhaps not now, perhaps it was all just in her head... the feeling of horror that it would come when she was least expecting it, when she could not be here...
And what would being here do? What could she possibly do? The gate didn't move, and the moments crept by slower and slower. What would happen?
Stayed in the Darkness with You
Trinity Palace
The young alchemist fell to his knees before the inferno. Hours ago he had carefully annointed all the tapestries and rugs and drapes with scented oils and fragrant alcohols. "All part of the ritual" he said. It was to cover the smell of decay that occasionally overtook her, when he was not quick enough. When frequently treated with the flower's vapor her body remained pristine, and she even began to breathe, but it was just movement.
Now the fire was burning, casting shadows across the walls. They grew, hungry, living. First they took the cloth, then the hair, then they took the flesh.
He stared on in horror. There was no sound save for the crackling roar of the fire. There were soldiers shouting, and Ayden screaming, but they were mute against the ferocity of the flames.
So he stood, the smoke was making it hard to breathe, he couldn't see anything now, but he couldn't look away from her. Beautiful even in death, as the fire overtook her, lifting her up. It was rapture.
Then he turned ran out the door, grabbing the second soldier's dragon gun as both men began to wake from their strange slumber. He ran down the hallways towards the lift, where he saw Yorina.
"Yorina! Quickly, you must trust me!" He said, as he heaved an enormous lever, sending the machinery whirling, with the sound of water moving in the distance, and the lift began to move. Instead of stepping into its cage, he jumped ontop of it, crying for Yorina to do the same.
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Jiraba – The Realm of Dusk
Jiraba nodded as Talingue spoke. He stood a better chance now with two divinities on his side, Fedawaeyas would have to be more wary now.
“Begin? Well, I would have to start looking into my creations. I built them all, except the Behemoth, but I am sure it must have been a similar process on a larger scale. I will have to do some digging around in the genetic code of the Shadowkin and see if I can find a way to disarm the explosion or remove it. If I can do that, all we would have to do next is kill it.” He paused.
“But then of course there is the problem of Walking Carnage. None of us here have any in depth knowledge on the matter, only Genocide would have that information and I would bet quite willingly that he would not impart with the information that would allow us to defeat him.” He sighed and passed his staff to his other hand and leant on it.
“I guess all we can do for now is prepare. Unless that is, one of you two knows of something else?”
Fedawaeyas – The Void
Fedawaeyas emitted a dry humourless chuckle. “Jiraba, play your games, rally your armies, sharpen your tongue, gather your allies and befriend your enemies. Come one or come all. There is no stopping fate.”
Vyrykon – Deep Underground
“Well it has finally happened. The Behemoth is loose.” said Drazivoyrc with a satisfied hiss.
“Thank the Dark Lord for that!” cried Phantomb happily.
“Not so eager.” hissed Vyrykon, “It seems Jiraba has changed his mind.”
“Changed his mind?!” said Liezart.
“Does he want us to put him to sleep again? Madness!” said Drazivoyrc, “It cannot be done!”
“It is too late, it is in the hands of fate now.” said Vyrykon.
Jiraba nodded as Talingue spoke. He stood a better chance now with two divinities on his side, Fedawaeyas would have to be more wary now.
“Begin? Well, I would have to start looking into my creations. I built them all, except the Behemoth, but I am sure it must have been a similar process on a larger scale. I will have to do some digging around in the genetic code of the Shadowkin and see if I can find a way to disarm the explosion or remove it. If I can do that, all we would have to do next is kill it.” He paused.
“But then of course there is the problem of Walking Carnage. None of us here have any in depth knowledge on the matter, only Genocide would have that information and I would bet quite willingly that he would not impart with the information that would allow us to defeat him.” He sighed and passed his staff to his other hand and leant on it.
“I guess all we can do for now is prepare. Unless that is, one of you two knows of something else?”
Fedawaeyas – The Void
Fedawaeyas emitted a dry humourless chuckle. “Jiraba, play your games, rally your armies, sharpen your tongue, gather your allies and befriend your enemies. Come one or come all. There is no stopping fate.”
Vyrykon – Deep Underground
“Well it has finally happened. The Behemoth is loose.” said Drazivoyrc with a satisfied hiss.
“Thank the Dark Lord for that!” cried Phantomb happily.
“Not so eager.” hissed Vyrykon, “It seems Jiraba has changed his mind.”
“Changed his mind?!” said Liezart.
“Does he want us to put him to sleep again? Madness!” said Drazivoyrc, “It cannot be done!”
“It is too late, it is in the hands of fate now.” said Vyrykon.
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Nonya Graveyard
The rotting corpse stalked silently through the misty graveyard. The passenger inside of it propelled it forward as a test of it's capabilities. The flesh twisted and moved oddly in limping and awkward steps, often dragging it's feet, but it's motor skills were adequate for movement. The potent sludge of the creatures essence slithered through the withered bodies veins and kept it sewed together. In some areas it even started to regenerate parts. Small patches of dried skin started to take on green and purple hues. It seemed that the vessel's mutations were coming along better then the passenger expected.
The creature deemed body fine so far for a host, but it needed more subjects to test it's influence on. Especially with the small traces of death magic still in it's container's husk. shuffling along it smelt something in the air. Something was nearby. Young. Fresh in blood. Alone. It started to move toward the source of the smell. After a moment it spotted two people entering the graveyard in the distance. Teenagers. A male and a female.
The creature slowly crept toward them.
The Hilarts, southern border
"I swear to the Gods themselves, kid, you sure know how to get in trouble!"
"I am not I child! My name is Uhgahat! I've faced two tribe wars!" The Hilart scout shouted as the other man carried him away. Uhgahat was only twenty-two but Hilarts usually considered a person to be an adult around the age of fourteen years. He struggled and protested for the other man to put him down but to no avail. Even though he knew he probably wouldn't have been able to run far with his injury it still felt a little shameful for a Hilart to be carried away form a fight by an outsider.
When he was finally set down his tribesmen surrounded the guardsman and held him at spear point. Uhgahat rouse waving his hands and shouting. "Hili! Hili! Filu-za Hir jhata. Shee zaka Fu Loko urko hol!" The Riders looked at him hesitantly, then one spotted the small horde of 'shadlowlings'. With a shout of "HORIDA" the assembled raid party drove into motion. They group separated into three. One group, barring torches, rode in a wide circle around the enemy flank. They set fire to the brush as they went, making a wall of fire along the attackers side.
The second group, armed with bows, went along the opposite flank and launched a volley into the shadowling ranks.
The third group picked up Uhgahat and the guardsman and put them onto the back of a pair of horses. The riders rode off with the both of them toward the Hilart camp. Their priority was to tend to Uhgahat's wound and ask him and the guardsman just what, in the name of the gods, just happened.
[more later]
The rotting corpse stalked silently through the misty graveyard. The passenger inside of it propelled it forward as a test of it's capabilities. The flesh twisted and moved oddly in limping and awkward steps, often dragging it's feet, but it's motor skills were adequate for movement. The potent sludge of the creatures essence slithered through the withered bodies veins and kept it sewed together. In some areas it even started to regenerate parts. Small patches of dried skin started to take on green and purple hues. It seemed that the vessel's mutations were coming along better then the passenger expected.
The creature deemed body fine so far for a host, but it needed more subjects to test it's influence on. Especially with the small traces of death magic still in it's container's husk. shuffling along it smelt something in the air. Something was nearby. Young. Fresh in blood. Alone. It started to move toward the source of the smell. After a moment it spotted two people entering the graveyard in the distance. Teenagers. A male and a female.
The creature slowly crept toward them.
The Hilarts, southern border
"I swear to the Gods themselves, kid, you sure know how to get in trouble!"
"I am not I child! My name is Uhgahat! I've faced two tribe wars!" The Hilart scout shouted as the other man carried him away. Uhgahat was only twenty-two but Hilarts usually considered a person to be an adult around the age of fourteen years. He struggled and protested for the other man to put him down but to no avail. Even though he knew he probably wouldn't have been able to run far with his injury it still felt a little shameful for a Hilart to be carried away form a fight by an outsider.
When he was finally set down his tribesmen surrounded the guardsman and held him at spear point. Uhgahat rouse waving his hands and shouting. "Hili! Hili! Filu-za Hir jhata. Shee zaka Fu Loko urko hol!" The Riders looked at him hesitantly, then one spotted the small horde of 'shadlowlings'. With a shout of "HORIDA" the assembled raid party drove into motion. They group separated into three. One group, barring torches, rode in a wide circle around the enemy flank. They set fire to the brush as they went, making a wall of fire along the attackers side.
The second group, armed with bows, went along the opposite flank and launched a volley into the shadowling ranks.
The third group picked up Uhgahat and the guardsman and put them onto the back of a pair of horses. The riders rode off with the both of them toward the Hilart camp. Their priority was to tend to Uhgahat's wound and ask him and the guardsman just what, in the name of the gods, just happened.
[more later]
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Haya, The Medic of Aero Knights - Temporary Medic Station
"Seize the moment..."
Schwartz Calim Zere vox Fraugh, Military - Personal Office at the Royal Military
"There are times you could choose to ignore or forced to do so..."
"Seize the moment..."
Stole was offering to be an informant for them. In her opinion, it is a good suggestion. If his connections is evenly spread across Ashariel, the Aile-Cielo would have efficient information network with little expense of having the scouts be sent for gathering. The proposal is indeed plausible but, Haya wondered what he wanted for the exchange of his resources. "It does sound fair, however what do you want for an exchange?" The medic is quite curious. It is not her final decision whether to authorize the deal. This would be judge by the Captain Treant and then reported to the higher-ups. There is a process but she doubt it would be ignored if the conditions are agreeable. It is not like they despise the land dwellers. They simply chose to be in the skies and watch to avoid the tragedies that they so often inflict on each other. In addition to that, she believes that this would be a start of a healthy relationship between Aile-Cielo and the Land Below. There is nothing wrong introducing themselves to the people down here slowly but still adhering to their culture.
"But, I would remind you that the final decision is not up to me. It would be the Captain's and the Higher Authorities." Haya stated as to clear that her opinion on the matter does not have a strong pull even if she does agree. She is only a medic in one of the Military Units. It is not like she is a General or a Schwartz that has great authority. Although, she might have a word about it when she speaks of it to the Captain. "Do rest assure that this would be spoken to the Captain. So, speak your piece and take your sleep." She said with a sincere tone and a small smile adorning her lips. After all, Stole needs his rest above all. His condition might have been stabilized but it does not mean that he is fully recovered. Proper rest and medication is still needed to make sure that he would be back to his pristine health.
"But, I would remind you that the final decision is not up to me. It would be the Captain's and the Higher Authorities." Haya stated as to clear that her opinion on the matter does not have a strong pull even if she does agree. She is only a medic in one of the Military Units. It is not like she is a General or a Schwartz that has great authority. Although, she might have a word about it when she speaks of it to the Captain. "Do rest assure that this would be spoken to the Captain. So, speak your piece and take your sleep." She said with a sincere tone and a small smile adorning her lips. After all, Stole needs his rest above all. His condition might have been stabilized but it does not mean that he is fully recovered. Proper rest and medication is still needed to make sure that he would be back to his pristine health.
Schwartz Calim Zere vox Fraugh, Military - Personal Office at the Royal Military
"There are times you could choose to ignore or forced to do so..."
Dark brown eyes covered by glass gazed at the message brought by one of the Aero Knights. The scouts that had been deployed to the Land Below to gather information as the Empress had ordered. He finds the content of the document quite interesting and at the same troubling. There had been a lot of protocols that had been broken with one incident and most of those are connected to the fact of saving a survivor. He does not see fault in the morality of the Captain Treant. The young man's decision comes normal to the Daimones without hesitation. Thus, the Military Schwartz would let the breaking of the rules be ignored at the moment. After all, he is not just a stern man who does not see the whole picture when needed.
Setting that matter aside, Calim is more worried about the details of a creature described as terrifying roaming below. There is without a doubt something terrible stirring and the intuition of the Empress is correct. It is only right to inform the Holy Leader and as well to send this information to the Schwartz dedicated to the World History. The eccentric man might know something about this or possibly from one of those books in that man's hands. Placing down the document upon his white marble desk, he lifted slightly his spectacles and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I wonder if this would reach the skies... If it does... Anton." At the mention of the name, a young male Daimones entered the office with salute and nervous expression. "Yes, Sir Schwartz!" It is clear to Calim that the man is intimidated of him. Well, it is only right to be. "Inform Frederick that I want the Generals be convened in the Meeting Room in one hour." The young aide gave a very low bow and one last salute. "At once, Sir Schwartz." After saying that, the doors to his office were closed with Anton leaving.
Certain precautions must be established at once. There is no way Calim would allow the defilement of Aile-Cielo in any way. This is the beloved lands of the Holy Mother and ruled by the Empress. It is his duty to see it protected at all costs. Narrowing his eyes with much intensity, he directed his eyes once again to the message delivered from Captain Kyohei Treant.
Setting that matter aside, Calim is more worried about the details of a creature described as terrifying roaming below. There is without a doubt something terrible stirring and the intuition of the Empress is correct. It is only right to inform the Holy Leader and as well to send this information to the Schwartz dedicated to the World History. The eccentric man might know something about this or possibly from one of those books in that man's hands. Placing down the document upon his white marble desk, he lifted slightly his spectacles and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I wonder if this would reach the skies... If it does... Anton." At the mention of the name, a young male Daimones entered the office with salute and nervous expression. "Yes, Sir Schwartz!" It is clear to Calim that the man is intimidated of him. Well, it is only right to be. "Inform Frederick that I want the Generals be convened in the Meeting Room in one hour." The young aide gave a very low bow and one last salute. "At once, Sir Schwartz." After saying that, the doors to his office were closed with Anton leaving.
Certain precautions must be established at once. There is no way Calim would allow the defilement of Aile-Cielo in any way. This is the beloved lands of the Holy Mother and ruled by the Empress. It is his duty to see it protected at all costs. Narrowing his eyes with much intensity, he directed his eyes once again to the message delivered from Captain Kyohei Treant.
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Mastalki looked at his avatar with awe for a moment. Was he actually asking for his life to be taken?
"I don't understand, child. But I have to ask you, are you sure?"
"My entire life, I've been waiting for the chance to thwart the plans of Ulmo. Secretly I've allways hoped for a devastating war, where I could defy his being. Yet it has been an empty and ridiculous life. Ruled by hate and the fear of not being able to get revenge." Allaseus said, looking down into the ground.
"Now that I'm faced with it, I only regret that I didn't ask to resign a little sooner. Master, I ask you here and now, to take my immortality."
"As you wish Allaseus. May you rest peacefully son." Mastalki said, forcing a smile upon his own lips.
Then, slowly at first, Allaseus became thinner. His hair became longer, and withdrew from his head. He body withered and became thin and dry. Wrinkles began coming forth where his skin had been tight and smooth before. Untill at one point, his eyes turned white, and his body began rotting. No smell and no gore, just a body decomposing in mere seconds. Then, the skeleton began falling apart, becoming dust in the quiet atmosphere. Magic has sustained the body of Allaseus for millenia, now he was gone in seconds.
When Allaseus was finally gone, Mastalki sat down on the ground. His hand slowly combing his hair. "Now what?" he asked quietly. "What about my people? Their homes? Their lives? Now that he isn't there to guide them. What to do?"
For a moment he sat still, looking at the fertile realm. A link that was elder than most had just become severed. The protector and guide of an entire empire had vanished in the matter of seconds, and left an enormous empty space after himself.
"I guess time has come to find a new guide..."
"I don't understand, child. But I have to ask you, are you sure?"
"My entire life, I've been waiting for the chance to thwart the plans of Ulmo. Secretly I've allways hoped for a devastating war, where I could defy his being. Yet it has been an empty and ridiculous life. Ruled by hate and the fear of not being able to get revenge." Allaseus said, looking down into the ground.
"Now that I'm faced with it, I only regret that I didn't ask to resign a little sooner. Master, I ask you here and now, to take my immortality."
"As you wish Allaseus. May you rest peacefully son." Mastalki said, forcing a smile upon his own lips.
Then, slowly at first, Allaseus became thinner. His hair became longer, and withdrew from his head. He body withered and became thin and dry. Wrinkles began coming forth where his skin had been tight and smooth before. Untill at one point, his eyes turned white, and his body began rotting. No smell and no gore, just a body decomposing in mere seconds. Then, the skeleton began falling apart, becoming dust in the quiet atmosphere. Magic has sustained the body of Allaseus for millenia, now he was gone in seconds.
When Allaseus was finally gone, Mastalki sat down on the ground. His hand slowly combing his hair. "Now what?" he asked quietly. "What about my people? Their homes? Their lives? Now that he isn't there to guide them. What to do?"
For a moment he sat still, looking at the fertile realm. A link that was elder than most had just become severed. The protector and guide of an entire empire had vanished in the matter of seconds, and left an enormous empty space after himself.
"I guess time has come to find a new guide..."
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Tameron
Aboard the Airship
The Avatar of Talingue heard the response of foreign gaurd. An alliance may be formed indeed. They would need all the help they could get to defeat a monster like the one they'd just seen. Tameron nodded to the othed began to earnestly pray to his God.
"Talingue, Lord of the Skies, something terrible has happened. A monsterous creature has been spawned into our world, what do we do? How do I guide this people, and what shall I tell the king to do? Please, please answer me." He didn't know if the prayer would be answered or even how it would be. Faith, it would seem, was required on his part. And far, far away amid the realms of gods, Talingue heard.
The old god felt the sudden pull on his attentions and quietly divided his consciousness to attend to his avatar. His thoughts and presence whirled down through the air to rest lightly upon Tameron in answer to his suplications. A calming warmth settled into the young avian's heart and Talingue spoke to his mind.
"What ever is the matter my child? Your thoughts are as turbulent as a storm." Talingue spoke kindly and softly even though his own thoughts were no less turbulent than the avatar's. Tameron sighed in deep relief as he felt the Talingue's presence and heard his voice. Now perhaps he could gain some insight into his next course of action.
"My Lord, a beast of shadow has been released upon our country side and we flee from before it. What should I do?" His prayer was fervent and somewhat urgent, but he had a new calmness in his thoughts. It seemed to be a natural effect of communing with the God of the Sky. On the other hand, Talingue's heart would have stopped where it possible. He probed quickly into Tameron's mind and sifted through his memory, to the slight discomfort of the avatar. Then he found it. The sharp edged image of a terrible monstrosity, a fresh memory that Talingue's avatar would never forget. A single thought crossed over from Talingue's mind as he viewed the abomination.
"Take courage my child, for you have witnessed the begining of the doom of the world." It was impossibly huge, bigger Talingue remembered. The Behemoth was at large and his avatar had found it. Then all at once Talingue came back to himself and began to give instructions to Tameron.
"Go, do nothing to incite the creature to follow you. It is called the Behemoth, an atrocity of unthinkable strength. It goes to find the Avatar of Genoside, Walking Carnage." Talingue stopped as he sensed the confusion in Tameron's mind and began to rephrase himself. Tameron, there is much you don't understand, and I have not the time to explain now. Things of terrible importance have come into play. The Avatar of Genoside is a great and powerful foe, he will destroy the world if he is allowed. The Behemoth will fight him, but will destroy everything in his path to do so..... And he will not win. Walking Carnage is too strong, we must prepare my child. Tell the king to muster his armies and prepare the nation for war. Talingue stopped again and added almost as an after thought. And tell him to send several airships with provisions to the people of Dendapim. They are in need and you will want allies. Talingue then turned his attention to the people of Ke'yei aboard the ship. And Tell your visitors that I will speak with their god immediately. Their people will know of these things, so they may rest easier. And with that Talingue faded from Tameron's mind and the Avatar slumped a bit in the withdrawl.
"My god, Talingue..." He said as they continued to fly away, "He says he will speak with Ke'yei, your people will be alerted immediately." He offered a weak smile and moved to sit down, being suddenly overcome with weariness.
Talingue
Realm of Dusk
As Tameron's Prayer reached Talingue's ears he no more than blinked in the separation of his thoughts. And while Talingue dealt with his Avatar he stayed in active conversation with the two deities before him. Jiraba said that he would go over the genetics of his creations and hope to find a way to dismantle the Behemoth, or at least undo its explosive ending. Talingue nodded to the plan and thought for a moment.
"If you can find a way to remove the Behemoth's self destruct abillity, we could still allow it to fight Walking Carnage. Then perhaps after such a battle the Behemoth will be slain and Walking Carnage so weakened that he could be dealt away with. Untill that point what we need is time. I can slow The Behemoth, though only a little. Wind and rain can not halt such a creature." Talingue looked then to his daughter, lovely as she was, yet still somewhat sad in her demenor. He loved her very much, and wished to make her happy, but it was her purpose to be aquainted with grief. He aproached her and embraced her, his darling Raven and whispered as he did so.
"No matter what happens, I love you more than any father hath ever loved a daughter." He held on for a moment and as he withdrew, a length of fabric materialized from the gloom and settled over Raven's shoulders like a drape. It was pitch black but dotted with numberless pin pricks of light, each like a diamond. "Even in the darkest hour of night, beauty abounds. It is so in you my daughter." Talingue then turned from her and walked to the edge of the shadows. "I go to find more allies, you may summon me if you need my help." And with that he vanished like a mist into the air leaving behind a small statue of silver, the seconed gift he would bestow upon his daughter in that moment. It was of a child, a little girl, the little girl that Talingue had invisioned oh so many centuries past when Raven was created. And at the bottom an inscription.
I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When sorrow walked with me...
Aboard the Airship
The Avatar of Talingue heard the response of foreign gaurd. An alliance may be formed indeed. They would need all the help they could get to defeat a monster like the one they'd just seen. Tameron nodded to the othed began to earnestly pray to his God.
"Talingue, Lord of the Skies, something terrible has happened. A monsterous creature has been spawned into our world, what do we do? How do I guide this people, and what shall I tell the king to do? Please, please answer me." He didn't know if the prayer would be answered or even how it would be. Faith, it would seem, was required on his part. And far, far away amid the realms of gods, Talingue heard.
The old god felt the sudden pull on his attentions and quietly divided his consciousness to attend to his avatar. His thoughts and presence whirled down through the air to rest lightly upon Tameron in answer to his suplications. A calming warmth settled into the young avian's heart and Talingue spoke to his mind.
"What ever is the matter my child? Your thoughts are as turbulent as a storm." Talingue spoke kindly and softly even though his own thoughts were no less turbulent than the avatar's. Tameron sighed in deep relief as he felt the Talingue's presence and heard his voice. Now perhaps he could gain some insight into his next course of action.
"My Lord, a beast of shadow has been released upon our country side and we flee from before it. What should I do?" His prayer was fervent and somewhat urgent, but he had a new calmness in his thoughts. It seemed to be a natural effect of communing with the God of the Sky. On the other hand, Talingue's heart would have stopped where it possible. He probed quickly into Tameron's mind and sifted through his memory, to the slight discomfort of the avatar. Then he found it. The sharp edged image of a terrible monstrosity, a fresh memory that Talingue's avatar would never forget. A single thought crossed over from Talingue's mind as he viewed the abomination.
"Take courage my child, for you have witnessed the begining of the doom of the world." It was impossibly huge, bigger Talingue remembered. The Behemoth was at large and his avatar had found it. Then all at once Talingue came back to himself and began to give instructions to Tameron.
"Go, do nothing to incite the creature to follow you. It is called the Behemoth, an atrocity of unthinkable strength. It goes to find the Avatar of Genoside, Walking Carnage." Talingue stopped as he sensed the confusion in Tameron's mind and began to rephrase himself. Tameron, there is much you don't understand, and I have not the time to explain now. Things of terrible importance have come into play. The Avatar of Genoside is a great and powerful foe, he will destroy the world if he is allowed. The Behemoth will fight him, but will destroy everything in his path to do so..... And he will not win. Walking Carnage is too strong, we must prepare my child. Tell the king to muster his armies and prepare the nation for war. Talingue stopped again and added almost as an after thought. And tell him to send several airships with provisions to the people of Dendapim. They are in need and you will want allies. Talingue then turned his attention to the people of Ke'yei aboard the ship. And Tell your visitors that I will speak with their god immediately. Their people will know of these things, so they may rest easier. And with that Talingue faded from Tameron's mind and the Avatar slumped a bit in the withdrawl.
"My god, Talingue..." He said as they continued to fly away, "He says he will speak with Ke'yei, your people will be alerted immediately." He offered a weak smile and moved to sit down, being suddenly overcome with weariness.
Talingue
Realm of Dusk
As Tameron's Prayer reached Talingue's ears he no more than blinked in the separation of his thoughts. And while Talingue dealt with his Avatar he stayed in active conversation with the two deities before him. Jiraba said that he would go over the genetics of his creations and hope to find a way to dismantle the Behemoth, or at least undo its explosive ending. Talingue nodded to the plan and thought for a moment.
"If you can find a way to remove the Behemoth's self destruct abillity, we could still allow it to fight Walking Carnage. Then perhaps after such a battle the Behemoth will be slain and Walking Carnage so weakened that he could be dealt away with. Untill that point what we need is time. I can slow The Behemoth, though only a little. Wind and rain can not halt such a creature." Talingue looked then to his daughter, lovely as she was, yet still somewhat sad in her demenor. He loved her very much, and wished to make her happy, but it was her purpose to be aquainted with grief. He aproached her and embraced her, his darling Raven and whispered as he did so.
"No matter what happens, I love you more than any father hath ever loved a daughter." He held on for a moment and as he withdrew, a length of fabric materialized from the gloom and settled over Raven's shoulders like a drape. It was pitch black but dotted with numberless pin pricks of light, each like a diamond. "Even in the darkest hour of night, beauty abounds. It is so in you my daughter." Talingue then turned from her and walked to the edge of the shadows. "I go to find more allies, you may summon me if you need my help." And with that he vanished like a mist into the air leaving behind a small statue of silver, the seconed gift he would bestow upon his daughter in that moment. It was of a child, a little girl, the little girl that Talingue had invisioned oh so many centuries past when Raven was created. And at the bottom an inscription.
I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When sorrow walked with me...
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The Keeper
Dramacio giggled as he watched the Heckclown Union crumble and fall in the pages of his large black book. Though they were not his people, Dramacio was responsible for recording the sins of all peoples.
He never cared for the dirty buggers, but they had supplied him with many Sins.
But he was intrigued when he saw something rather interesting. On the shores of the wrecked Unions, there stood a man with his crew.
The god laughed. It seemed the Mask was trying to start anew...
'What are you up to little brother?'
The King of Sins
Pride smiled as he received the news of Heckclown Unions demise.
“Finally, those ugly savages have met their ends. It's about time.”
He gazed into a mirror and smirked. Obviously, he and his brothers were superior to their fellow crime nation. His gray eye drifted toward the door as his queen, Vanity, entered his chamber.
“Have you heard the good news?” she said with a smile as white and perfect as virgin snow.
Her skin was pale and flawless, as if she was crafted from marble. Golden hair ran down her back like a waterfall and her eyes were white diamonds that glistened as she spoke.
'But she is not as beautiful as me.' thought Pride. Vanity seemed to float over to her husband and placed her hand on his chest. “Yes I have. It's quite a relief. I was getting so bored of fighting a nation that was already coming down on itself.”
She smiled. “Invidia has called a meeting.” Pride rolled his eyes.
The Queen of Envy's army always acted as if she had more power than she did.
Pride and his bride went into a large room, with marble pillars and white walls.
In the middle of the room was a fine wood table where the Queens and Generals would meet and discuss political matters.
All the Queens and Generals where there, except Avarice, Queen of Greed's army and Acedia, Queen of Sloth's army.
Invidia stood to greet Pride with a sly grin and an evil twinkle in her eyes.
She knew how much Pride hated her and she loved it.
Invidia was a pale woman, beautiful like all the Queens, but there was something even darker about her than the others. She had long black hair that went to the middle of her back and bright green eyes that looked like they wanted to snatch everything they saw. “Nice to see you, Pride. Please have a seat my Lord.” She gestured to Prides throne with clawed hands.
Each of the queen's fingers were equipped with a metallic 5 inch blade.
Pride narrowed his eyes at the queen, but he sat down next to Vanity.
“Now what did you call us for, Sister?” he said, hissing the word Sister, as if it were a sour taste in his mouth.
Her green stained lips twisted into a smile. “I have called this meeting to address an issue that has been on all of our minds. Our mortality.” The tension in the room suddenly increased. There was enough pressure to crush an elephant.
“What about our mortality?” Vanity asked.
Invidia sighed. “We all know that Sins have very, very long lives. The more powerful the sin, the longer they live. We have all been alive since the beginning of sentient beings, however, only Pride is the immortal avatar.”
“Yes, so what?” asked Wrath.
“Our time is almost up. One of my Watchers has seen it. We will die soon if we don't do something.”
Invidia said coolly.
Pride rolled his eyes. “What, do you propose, can solve this issue?”
Invidia smiled. “As you know, dear Pride, I can steal the power's of others.”
Her wicked grin widened. “I have discovered how to steal life.”
The whole table gasped. “How can this be?” Asked Vanity.
“Let me demonstrate.” She gestured to a pair of guards at the door, who let a woman in.
She was draped in green cloaks and her eyes were solid green.
“This is Want, one of the best watchers in the city and she has a fairly long life ahead of her.”
Invidia put her arm around Want and stroked her face with the side of her claws.
Want seemed to enjoy it, relishing in the compliments that very few sins every hear.
Invidia smiled at her, but in a flash, her claws slid through Wants throat.
The Watcher made a horrible sound as she tried to breathe. The Queen held her limp form up and breathed a green mist in from Wants mouth.
As soon as Invidia had inhaled all of Want's power and life, she let the corpse fall to the ground with a thud. She gestured to the guards again, who picked up the corpse and took it away to feed it to the Gluttons.
“Now, I know to transfer life to others. Does anyone object to my plan of immortality?”
No one did.
The Jealous Queen
Invadia smiled to herself as her husband, Envy, the rightful king of sins, praised her performance in the meeting hall. “You were splendid! They ate up every piece of bull crap you gave them!” He laughed heartily and his green, reptilian eyes focused in onto the queen before him.
He smiled, revealing a mouth of serrated teeth. “Once the ritual takes place and they are drained of all their power and Pride is drained of his immortality, we will be the sole rulers of the Sins!”
She nodded. “They'll do anything for ever-lasting life, won't they?” She chuckled.
“Acedia will also make herself a good ally. She has stirred up enough energy to actually be sent out on a mission.”
Envy scooped his bride up in his arms and danced around with joy.
“The Queens are all sick of being second in command aren't they?”
She giggled. “All of them. Except that bitch, Vanity. But that won't matter after you're the only General left. You'll be our only king, and I'll rule cheerfully by your side.”
Invidia gleamed at Envy. “None will stand in our way.”
The Sleeping Queen
Acedia was tired. She was tired of being Sloth's lapdog.
Invidia's plan was perfect. If she killed all of the generals, including Pride, she could give all the Queens immortality.
The Queen's light blue dress floated in the breeze as the insect wings on her back carried her onto a Avian Airship. She smiled as she disappeared into a soft mist and drifted into every corner of the ship, silently lulling the crew of Avians to sleep.
They were on their way to try to form an alliance and that would just not do.
As she was sure that her magic was working, she came back into her normal form and smiled.
“If you lose your life before you wake,
Don't you cry, don't you ache,
Nothing's ever yours to keep,
Now close your eyes and go to sleep” she sang. The Nightmares were coming, her faithful knights.
The Ream of Dusk
Raven froze as her father put the beautiful cloak around her shoulders, the light fabric touching her wings. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I love you father.”
He disappeared in a cloud of mist, leaving behind a small statue of a little girl.
She picked it up and read the inscription at the bottom.
She smiled weakly and wiped a stray tear from her eye.
Oh yes, she had missed her father. She had missed him very much...
Dramacio giggled as he watched the Heckclown Union crumble and fall in the pages of his large black book. Though they were not his people, Dramacio was responsible for recording the sins of all peoples.
He never cared for the dirty buggers, but they had supplied him with many Sins.
But he was intrigued when he saw something rather interesting. On the shores of the wrecked Unions, there stood a man with his crew.
The god laughed. It seemed the Mask was trying to start anew...
'What are you up to little brother?'
The King of Sins
Pride smiled as he received the news of Heckclown Unions demise.
“Finally, those ugly savages have met their ends. It's about time.”
He gazed into a mirror and smirked. Obviously, he and his brothers were superior to their fellow crime nation. His gray eye drifted toward the door as his queen, Vanity, entered his chamber.
“Have you heard the good news?” she said with a smile as white and perfect as virgin snow.
Her skin was pale and flawless, as if she was crafted from marble. Golden hair ran down her back like a waterfall and her eyes were white diamonds that glistened as she spoke.
'But she is not as beautiful as me.' thought Pride. Vanity seemed to float over to her husband and placed her hand on his chest. “Yes I have. It's quite a relief. I was getting so bored of fighting a nation that was already coming down on itself.”
She smiled. “Invidia has called a meeting.” Pride rolled his eyes.
The Queen of Envy's army always acted as if she had more power than she did.
Pride and his bride went into a large room, with marble pillars and white walls.
In the middle of the room was a fine wood table where the Queens and Generals would meet and discuss political matters.
All the Queens and Generals where there, except Avarice, Queen of Greed's army and Acedia, Queen of Sloth's army.
Invidia stood to greet Pride with a sly grin and an evil twinkle in her eyes.
She knew how much Pride hated her and she loved it.
Invidia was a pale woman, beautiful like all the Queens, but there was something even darker about her than the others. She had long black hair that went to the middle of her back and bright green eyes that looked like they wanted to snatch everything they saw. “Nice to see you, Pride. Please have a seat my Lord.” She gestured to Prides throne with clawed hands.
Each of the queen's fingers were equipped with a metallic 5 inch blade.
Pride narrowed his eyes at the queen, but he sat down next to Vanity.
“Now what did you call us for, Sister?” he said, hissing the word Sister, as if it were a sour taste in his mouth.
Her green stained lips twisted into a smile. “I have called this meeting to address an issue that has been on all of our minds. Our mortality.” The tension in the room suddenly increased. There was enough pressure to crush an elephant.
“What about our mortality?” Vanity asked.
Invidia sighed. “We all know that Sins have very, very long lives. The more powerful the sin, the longer they live. We have all been alive since the beginning of sentient beings, however, only Pride is the immortal avatar.”
“Yes, so what?” asked Wrath.
“Our time is almost up. One of my Watchers has seen it. We will die soon if we don't do something.”
Invidia said coolly.
Pride rolled his eyes. “What, do you propose, can solve this issue?”
Invidia smiled. “As you know, dear Pride, I can steal the power's of others.”
Her wicked grin widened. “I have discovered how to steal life.”
The whole table gasped. “How can this be?” Asked Vanity.
“Let me demonstrate.” She gestured to a pair of guards at the door, who let a woman in.
She was draped in green cloaks and her eyes were solid green.
“This is Want, one of the best watchers in the city and she has a fairly long life ahead of her.”
Invidia put her arm around Want and stroked her face with the side of her claws.
Want seemed to enjoy it, relishing in the compliments that very few sins every hear.
Invidia smiled at her, but in a flash, her claws slid through Wants throat.
The Watcher made a horrible sound as she tried to breathe. The Queen held her limp form up and breathed a green mist in from Wants mouth.
As soon as Invidia had inhaled all of Want's power and life, she let the corpse fall to the ground with a thud. She gestured to the guards again, who picked up the corpse and took it away to feed it to the Gluttons.
“Now, I know to transfer life to others. Does anyone object to my plan of immortality?”
No one did.
The Jealous Queen
Invadia smiled to herself as her husband, Envy, the rightful king of sins, praised her performance in the meeting hall. “You were splendid! They ate up every piece of bull crap you gave them!” He laughed heartily and his green, reptilian eyes focused in onto the queen before him.
He smiled, revealing a mouth of serrated teeth. “Once the ritual takes place and they are drained of all their power and Pride is drained of his immortality, we will be the sole rulers of the Sins!”
She nodded. “They'll do anything for ever-lasting life, won't they?” She chuckled.
“Acedia will also make herself a good ally. She has stirred up enough energy to actually be sent out on a mission.”
Envy scooped his bride up in his arms and danced around with joy.
“The Queens are all sick of being second in command aren't they?”
She giggled. “All of them. Except that bitch, Vanity. But that won't matter after you're the only General left. You'll be our only king, and I'll rule cheerfully by your side.”
Invidia gleamed at Envy. “None will stand in our way.”
The Sleeping Queen
Acedia was tired. She was tired of being Sloth's lapdog.
Invidia's plan was perfect. If she killed all of the generals, including Pride, she could give all the Queens immortality.
The Queen's light blue dress floated in the breeze as the insect wings on her back carried her onto a Avian Airship. She smiled as she disappeared into a soft mist and drifted into every corner of the ship, silently lulling the crew of Avians to sleep.
They were on their way to try to form an alliance and that would just not do.
As she was sure that her magic was working, she came back into her normal form and smiled.
“If you lose your life before you wake,
Don't you cry, don't you ache,
Nothing's ever yours to keep,
Now close your eyes and go to sleep” she sang. The Nightmares were coming, her faithful knights.
The Ream of Dusk
Raven froze as her father put the beautiful cloak around her shoulders, the light fabric touching her wings. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I love you father.”
He disappeared in a cloud of mist, leaving behind a small statue of a little girl.
She picked it up and read the inscription at the bottom.
She smiled weakly and wiped a stray tear from her eye.
Oh yes, she had missed her father. She had missed him very much...
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The Realm of Mori
Mori looked upon the world, but he did not like what he saw. His avatar disobeyed him. The gods hated him. People were persecuted and enslaved and murdered. It was nothing new, but he needed to be disconnected from it all. To keep doing his job, he needed to sever the empathetic bonds that connected him to the mortal plane. His infinitely large graveyard, gray soil and all, shifted. It began to move away from the mortal realm, away from the realms of the other gods, far, far away. The graveyard crashed down into a new distant location, the gray soil disturbed for the first time in millennia. Here, the keeper of death could do his job in peace, in silence, and in eternal solitude.
Eternal is what Mori had decided upon. Grumpsh had once proclaimed that the gods should not meddle in mortal affairs. So right he was, thought Mori. He vowed he would never meddle in the world again. All of the god of death's mental capacities converged onto the single task he had left, monitoring and recording the deaths in Ashariel. Every part of his mind focused on this task, save for one. He kept one eye fixed on the flower before his slate statue. Vibrant and alive as ever.
Mori looked upon the world, but he did not like what he saw. His avatar disobeyed him. The gods hated him. People were persecuted and enslaved and murdered. It was nothing new, but he needed to be disconnected from it all. To keep doing his job, he needed to sever the empathetic bonds that connected him to the mortal plane. His infinitely large graveyard, gray soil and all, shifted. It began to move away from the mortal realm, away from the realms of the other gods, far, far away. The graveyard crashed down into a new distant location, the gray soil disturbed for the first time in millennia. Here, the keeper of death could do his job in peace, in silence, and in eternal solitude.
Eternal is what Mori had decided upon. Grumpsh had once proclaimed that the gods should not meddle in mortal affairs. So right he was, thought Mori. He vowed he would never meddle in the world again. All of the god of death's mental capacities converged onto the single task he had left, monitoring and recording the deaths in Ashariel. Every part of his mind focused on this task, save for one. He kept one eye fixed on the flower before his slate statue. Vibrant and alive as ever.
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"These people. My people. I want my people."
Mora Town, Nonya
Ursa felt the moments slither by, cruel, sinister, and slow. Staring at the gate it was, at once, too obvious she was safe, and too obvious that they were all doomed. It would take no effort at all to stroll towards the gate, to just leave now. Every instinct pushed her to it, screamed for it, commanded it, begged for it. She listened for some tell-tale sign. Marching, horns, the stern commandments of the soldiers telling them to evacuate. Something.
But no such mercy. The gunshots rocketed about, sending tiles flying off the walls, shattered. Another shot and a wooden bench splintered. The gate came crashing down now as the soldiers pressed forward through the little arch. They were being engulfed in the clouds of their black powder, their bayonets were sparklingly clean. This would be the first murders these men would commit.
Madame Ursa cried for the rest to escape, she threw out her arms, to defend, or to surrender. It wouldn't matter, the soldiers would march forward, the smoke would engulf her, the men would pierce her side, letting her collapse and trampling over her to get to the Mora behind her. Madame Ursa would slip beneath the hordes and be crushed into the earth from which she came, the Dendapim soldiers held up by her corpse as they continued their march of terror.
The soldiers descended upon the crowd of Mora, even as they ran, screaming, down the streets and byways. Meanwhile mothers held their children in the warehouses beneath floating forest, wondering if they could hear anything through the commotion of the Dendapim standing above them, keeping them in shadow.
"A Small Group of Thoughtful, Committed Citizens"
Trinity Palace, Nonya
The young alchemist pulled Yorina on top of the lift, and the mechanism dropped deeper and deeper through the smooth rock. He looked at the woman, obviously disturbed, and took this moment of calm to speak.
"Yorina, Yorina your people are in danger, and there's a cataclysm coming. You must trust me, you must help me. I know how to protect you. I can help change what has happened amidst the chaos of the Dendapim."
The sound of rushing water suddenly ceased, and the lift slowed to a stop.
"Damn."
Yorina stepped back from the man, now caught in a column of darkness with the only light trickling in from somewhere very deep and somewhere very high. She wanted to know why she should trust him, but he had just left her captors captive in a furnace, made from the weapons of her would-be assailants. This man, while perhaps not on her side, was not on the side of the Dendapim. The enemy of mine enemy... However, she still held to her book like it was a child, and she couldn't, stay silent.
"How can you possibly get us out of here?" she spat.
The young alchemist looked at the mechanism of pullies for a moment, only to lurch back as, to that same chorus of running water, they began to climb upwards again.
"There are other ways down..." He said, throwing his back to Yorina, aiming the large dragon gun and letting off an echoing blast towards the platform. In a moment he was slipping down into the vessel of the lift through the splintered wood, and in a second blast was clinging to the ropes. Yorina wished she could move instinctively, but the process was counter-intuitive. Weaving through the holes to grasp chord that was moving in the opposite direction was maddening, but somehow she held on tight enough to start rocketing down towards the base of the palace rock, and, perhaps, freedom.
"Oh What Society Would Have Us Do, my Dear..."
Nonya Graveyard
The boy held the girl, a poisonous smile shared between them. The balmy summer night framed their embrace as they twirled, falling into each other. The graveyard was such a sweet reminder, that this was their life, their moment, to be cherished before it fade like so many flowers of spring.
Now they ignored the sounds around them, only their chuckling and whispers met their ears. They noticed nothing as they twirled.
Mora Town, Nonya
Ursa felt the moments slither by, cruel, sinister, and slow. Staring at the gate it was, at once, too obvious she was safe, and too obvious that they were all doomed. It would take no effort at all to stroll towards the gate, to just leave now. Every instinct pushed her to it, screamed for it, commanded it, begged for it. She listened for some tell-tale sign. Marching, horns, the stern commandments of the soldiers telling them to evacuate. Something.
But no such mercy. The gunshots rocketed about, sending tiles flying off the walls, shattered. Another shot and a wooden bench splintered. The gate came crashing down now as the soldiers pressed forward through the little arch. They were being engulfed in the clouds of their black powder, their bayonets were sparklingly clean. This would be the first murders these men would commit.
Madame Ursa cried for the rest to escape, she threw out her arms, to defend, or to surrender. It wouldn't matter, the soldiers would march forward, the smoke would engulf her, the men would pierce her side, letting her collapse and trampling over her to get to the Mora behind her. Madame Ursa would slip beneath the hordes and be crushed into the earth from which she came, the Dendapim soldiers held up by her corpse as they continued their march of terror.
The soldiers descended upon the crowd of Mora, even as they ran, screaming, down the streets and byways. Meanwhile mothers held their children in the warehouses beneath floating forest, wondering if they could hear anything through the commotion of the Dendapim standing above them, keeping them in shadow.
"A Small Group of Thoughtful, Committed Citizens"
Trinity Palace, Nonya
The young alchemist pulled Yorina on top of the lift, and the mechanism dropped deeper and deeper through the smooth rock. He looked at the woman, obviously disturbed, and took this moment of calm to speak.
"Yorina, Yorina your people are in danger, and there's a cataclysm coming. You must trust me, you must help me. I know how to protect you. I can help change what has happened amidst the chaos of the Dendapim."
The sound of rushing water suddenly ceased, and the lift slowed to a stop.
"Damn."
Yorina stepped back from the man, now caught in a column of darkness with the only light trickling in from somewhere very deep and somewhere very high. She wanted to know why she should trust him, but he had just left her captors captive in a furnace, made from the weapons of her would-be assailants. This man, while perhaps not on her side, was not on the side of the Dendapim. The enemy of mine enemy... However, she still held to her book like it was a child, and she couldn't, stay silent.
"How can you possibly get us out of here?" she spat.
The young alchemist looked at the mechanism of pullies for a moment, only to lurch back as, to that same chorus of running water, they began to climb upwards again.
"There are other ways down..." He said, throwing his back to Yorina, aiming the large dragon gun and letting off an echoing blast towards the platform. In a moment he was slipping down into the vessel of the lift through the splintered wood, and in a second blast was clinging to the ropes. Yorina wished she could move instinctively, but the process was counter-intuitive. Weaving through the holes to grasp chord that was moving in the opposite direction was maddening, but somehow she held on tight enough to start rocketing down towards the base of the palace rock, and, perhaps, freedom.
"Oh What Society Would Have Us Do, my Dear..."
Nonya Graveyard
The boy held the girl, a poisonous smile shared between them. The balmy summer night framed their embrace as they twirled, falling into each other. The graveyard was such a sweet reminder, that this was their life, their moment, to be cherished before it fade like so many flowers of spring.
Now they ignored the sounds around them, only their chuckling and whispers met their ears. They noticed nothing as they twirled.
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Asiysia's Realm
It was an experience unlike any other in Caspian's life and that was saying something considering his many centuries walking upon Ashariel. Allaceus just seemed to fade like fog before the noonday sun. He had never seen anyone willingly relinquish immortality and to see the gods take life was disturbing to watch. He bowed his head out of respect for his fellow Avatar. They may have come into conflict with one another, but Allaceus was a good person.
"May he find rest, wherever he may go," Ulmo intoned. Caspian blinked, surprised.
"Wouldn't that be Mori's realm.?" he asked.
"Perhaps. But it is said that there may be a place beyond even Mori's realm, where the dead may go."
Caspian nodded, puzzled. It wasn't often that Ulmo admitted that there were things even beyond the gods' knowledge. He sighed. At least, with Allaceus at piece, they can repair things in Ashariel.
"What now?"
Ulmo frowned and turned to Mastalki, "Now comes the time for a new Avatar, brother. One that can work with Caspian to bring peace to our peoples and prepare for what is ahead."
It was an experience unlike any other in Caspian's life and that was saying something considering his many centuries walking upon Ashariel. Allaceus just seemed to fade like fog before the noonday sun. He had never seen anyone willingly relinquish immortality and to see the gods take life was disturbing to watch. He bowed his head out of respect for his fellow Avatar. They may have come into conflict with one another, but Allaceus was a good person.
"May he find rest, wherever he may go," Ulmo intoned. Caspian blinked, surprised.
"Wouldn't that be Mori's realm.?" he asked.
"Perhaps. But it is said that there may be a place beyond even Mori's realm, where the dead may go."
Caspian nodded, puzzled. It wasn't often that Ulmo admitted that there were things even beyond the gods' knowledge. He sighed. At least, with Allaceus at piece, they can repair things in Ashariel.
"What now?"
Ulmo frowned and turned to Mastalki, "Now comes the time for a new Avatar, brother. One that can work with Caspian to bring peace to our peoples and prepare for what is ahead."
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Tameron
aboard the airship
He drifted off, sleep was most welcome to Tameron at that moment. Whether it was from the sudden use of such great powers as he had wielded or some other cause which made him so tired he was unsure. His rest was almost bottomless, like the deepest of sleeps where not even dreams enter. Everyone on the ship was suddenly overcome with the same deep weariness and sleep seemed all to welcome. One by one they all dropped off into slumber untill The Gozzling was full of nothing save it were sleeping men.
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Talingue
The realm of Asyisia
Talingue stepped out of the realm of Kei'yei and smiled grimly to himself. The God of lifeblood and passion had been very happy it seemed to see Talingue's return, but the news of the behemoth's waking did not please him. But Talingue had done as he said he would and now Kei'yei's people knew of the danger. They could make preparations and try to stop the titanic and catastrophic forces which now threatened to destroy their lives. Talingue doubted, it saddened him but he did. He had always tried to inspire faith and hope in others but now he was the one with doubts. Truely he did not know if things would be alright in the end, and he feared. After a moment had passed he shook the thoughts from his head and looked to the shimmering portal behind him. He had considered greatly whom he should visit next and finally he decided that it was time to see the lord of the seas.
Talingue had not spoken to his brother in ages, not withstanding his own long absence. Ulmo and Talingue had never gotten along terribly well, really they were both good and benevolent gods, but they were truly different people. They accepted it or at the very least Talingue did and he lived by it. But the time for sibling troubles to get in the way had past. Jiraba and Raven needed more help and Ulmo was a powerful ally.
The Sky lords waved one hand and the portal did not show a shimmering image of Ulmo's undersea realm as he had supposed it might. Rather it was a place in the realm of Asyisia. Talingue arched an eyebrow but dismissed the occurrence as not all that odd. Asyisia was born of his and Ulmo's collective desire for life. She was like a daughter to Talingue, though perhaps something more to Ulmo. Talingue straightened his posture and stepped through the almost liquid surface of the portal and emerged in Asyisia's realm. Ulmo was there as well, a little Talingue's surprise, his avatar Caspian.
"I hope I am not interrupting anything." Talingue said from his place behind them.
aboard the airship
He drifted off, sleep was most welcome to Tameron at that moment. Whether it was from the sudden use of such great powers as he had wielded or some other cause which made him so tired he was unsure. His rest was almost bottomless, like the deepest of sleeps where not even dreams enter. Everyone on the ship was suddenly overcome with the same deep weariness and sleep seemed all to welcome. One by one they all dropped off into slumber untill The Gozzling was full of nothing save it were sleeping men.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Talingue
The realm of Asyisia
Talingue stepped out of the realm of Kei'yei and smiled grimly to himself. The God of lifeblood and passion had been very happy it seemed to see Talingue's return, but the news of the behemoth's waking did not please him. But Talingue had done as he said he would and now Kei'yei's people knew of the danger. They could make preparations and try to stop the titanic and catastrophic forces which now threatened to destroy their lives. Talingue doubted, it saddened him but he did. He had always tried to inspire faith and hope in others but now he was the one with doubts. Truely he did not know if things would be alright in the end, and he feared. After a moment had passed he shook the thoughts from his head and looked to the shimmering portal behind him. He had considered greatly whom he should visit next and finally he decided that it was time to see the lord of the seas.
Talingue had not spoken to his brother in ages, not withstanding his own long absence. Ulmo and Talingue had never gotten along terribly well, really they were both good and benevolent gods, but they were truly different people. They accepted it or at the very least Talingue did and he lived by it. But the time for sibling troubles to get in the way had past. Jiraba and Raven needed more help and Ulmo was a powerful ally.
The Sky lords waved one hand and the portal did not show a shimmering image of Ulmo's undersea realm as he had supposed it might. Rather it was a place in the realm of Asyisia. Talingue arched an eyebrow but dismissed the occurrence as not all that odd. Asyisia was born of his and Ulmo's collective desire for life. She was like a daughter to Talingue, though perhaps something more to Ulmo. Talingue straightened his posture and stepped through the almost liquid surface of the portal and emerged in Asyisia's realm. Ulmo was there as well, a little Talingue's surprise, his avatar Caspian.
"I hope I am not interrupting anything." Talingue said from his place behind them.
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The Behemoth
“Come nemesis, I will crush you and eat your soul!”
The Behemoth trudged onward, slowly but surely. It would be a long walk even for a creature of such girth, but the walk would be worth it to face it’s one time enemy of which the fight had been cut short. This time it was determined to finish what was started literally an age ago.
Jiraba – The Realm of Dusk
Jiraba stayed silent as Talingue had a proper reunion with Raven. A lack of emotion programmed into him meant that he did not find the gesture sweet, but what he thought was of no importance here. He kept his peace and dutifully returned to the Shadow Realm to start his research on the Behemoth. Fedawaeyas had allowed Jiraba to create the Shadowkin, with the exception of the Behemoth, but he suspected it was created in a similar, if not identical manner. It would probably take some time, but nonetheless he was determined. He had allies now, something he had never had before. He would have to hang on to them as long as he could, creating enemies now with all this chaos across the mortal realm would be fatal. He began silent contemplation, delving deep into the darkest and most remote areas of his memory for the key to disarming the Behemoth.
“Come nemesis, I will crush you and eat your soul!”
The Behemoth trudged onward, slowly but surely. It would be a long walk even for a creature of such girth, but the walk would be worth it to face it’s one time enemy of which the fight had been cut short. This time it was determined to finish what was started literally an age ago.
Jiraba – The Realm of Dusk
Jiraba stayed silent as Talingue had a proper reunion with Raven. A lack of emotion programmed into him meant that he did not find the gesture sweet, but what he thought was of no importance here. He kept his peace and dutifully returned to the Shadow Realm to start his research on the Behemoth. Fedawaeyas had allowed Jiraba to create the Shadowkin, with the exception of the Behemoth, but he suspected it was created in a similar, if not identical manner. It would probably take some time, but nonetheless he was determined. He had allies now, something he had never had before. He would have to hang on to them as long as he could, creating enemies now with all this chaos across the mortal realm would be fatal. He began silent contemplation, delving deep into the darkest and most remote areas of his memory for the key to disarming the Behemoth.