Snippet #2661925

Monstrator Incaendium looked upon His people with approval, for they had done good in embracing His ideals. They were wise in realising that intellect surpassed all physical things, and that the only thing purely worth owning was one's own mind, for that could never be taken. He was sure that some of the other Gods would think Him cruel for His introduction of slavery into the world, yet it was only the proper way of things. Some needed a stern hand to be set upon the correct path, and what was Gods if not grand slave masters?

But He would only spend so much time on contemplating. There was much work yet to be done, and He had to speak with His people. It was as such that He approached the wise leaders of Pyre, taking part of their council as He often liked to do. Yet while He would often sit amongst them simply to listen and to offer advice and directions, today He would speak. His people, who had by now learnt the demeanour of their God, grew quite as they saw the purpose with which He entered their hall.

Before speaking, Monstrator plucked one of the many scrolls from His robe and held it up so that all could gaze on the blazing marks that adorned it.

“This is the secret that I will reveal to you today, My pupils. This the one secret which will enable the final step to differentiate you from the beasts that you once were! Come closer, come and see!” As the wise men and women came closer, Incaendium raised His other hand, and with a flash the writing on the scrolls lit up as a blossoming flame, and knowledge was bestowed on all that witnessed.

Suddenly the writing upon their God's robes seized to be meaningless adornments, for all present saw the wonder that stood before them.

“This, My students, is the alphabet. With this, all words may be recorded and written down. I am sure that you bemoan when the wisest amongst you leave this world, but with this, their wisdom will never leave you! You will be able to record your thoughts, revelations and inventions. With this tool, you shall surpass even death, for your mark will ever be part of the world and passed down to the people and through the generations!”

Monstrator Incanedium began to pluck the scrolls from His body and hand them out to those gathered in the hall, so that they would be able to study their new found skill.

“With this knowledge, you will create a new class. You shall be known as the Monstrati, and your task will be to spread knowledge. You shall begin with the written word, but as time passes you shall also teach the wisdom of the wisest and the inventions of the smartest. In teaching lies a pure wisdom, like an ever burning flame that always passes its warmth along. Let it be known that your right to rule is dependent on the knowledge you create, gather and spread. As you grow more plentiful, terms will be established, where you will serve as rulers for only part of the time and be teachers the rest of the time. This will keep you wise and knowledgable, able to perceive the world to the fullest and guide it accordingly.”

After this speech, He ventured with His new Monstrati down to the rest of the people, for He was a God that embraced all. He had both words and missions to past to all that served His design.

“You have done well, My learned people. Very well. But I have another task in mind for us now. This is a matter which concerns some of you more than other, namely the slave catchers, yet all will feel the the sparkling benefits of what is to come. The best of the catchers and a handful of the new Monstrati shall set out to the east, travelling inland. Together they shall spread My word, and as before we shall welcome any that swear by My name and capture those that go against our will. Meanwhile I shall travel along the coast in this My earthly vessel, also eastwards. I shall speak to the people before Me, and all who accept Me into their mind shall be embraced as students, while those who turn from Me shall feel my ire! We will prepare to set out in the spring, gather slaves and new followers in the summer, harvest in autumn and rest and recuperate during the winter. Keep the mornings and the evenings for reflections and study, and remember that though this vessel of Mine will spend time wandering, I shall still watch over and speak with you through the flames. While those inclined to spreading our word travel out in the world, I expect the rest of you to be busy here. Build roads! Learn the deeper secrets of the world. Raise walls. Grow the villages.”

Monstrator Incanedium spread His arms and grinned broadly as He raised His voice.

“We have built the city of Pyre, the First City!! We have created Incaendium, a village feared and respect! We have laid the foundation for a land of knowledge, where wisdom is respected above all else! Yet is this enough!? No! We can not sit idle while the rest of the world sits idle, dwelling in the deep shade of ignorance! Like a blossoming wildfire, we need to spread and consume! Grow and let our flame shine so bright that none could miss its wonder! We have a city! We have a kingdom! Let us take the first steps to becoming an Empire!”

And with those words, Monstrator Incaendium and His people set out into the world.

-

In another world, the God of Fire inspected the rose that had been handed to Him with casual interest, before setting it ablaze and listening to the secrets that the flame told Him about its construction. In truth, He had expected little else, but at least the meeting had served to spark ideas into His mind. Alas, those ideas would have to wait, for He had other things to set in motion. Inspecting what the other gods had wrought, He settled upon a ocurse.

Monstrator Incaendium rose from His throne as the rose burnt to ash in His hand, before a part of Him stepped away...

-

… into the plane of water, where He appeared as a Man of Boiling Steam. It was the most comfortable the guises that He could take upon this plane. There He located His brother, Ahrimas, and spoke to him.

"Greetings, oh My brother of the depth. I wish I could have visited your realm bringing brighter tidings, but I fear that I must bring you dark words." He sighed, a troubled sound. "Vynnessia approached Me with an offer of alliance. While she did not say so outright, I could divine no other reason for her actions but to threaten yourself, brother. Why else seek an alliance with the God furthest remove from her, but to trap the one inbetween? Naturally, I ensured that such an alliance would not come to pass, for I wish no triffle with you."

Monstrator Incaendium spread His arms to the world.

"But see! Even as we speak, she pushes out with her new creations, making her warmongering intentions clear. I fear that she may seek an alliance with Iena, or possibly Aegis, now that she has been denied My aid."

He raised His hand and smiled politely to His brother.

"Know that this information is freely given, Ahrimas. I will not try to fool you. It is My hope that by bringing this to your attention, we may establish a more friendly working relationship upon the mortal plane in the future. For now though, this is only a warning that the god of earth is making plans, and that her intentions for you seem less than pure."