Lords of Creation (Story Thread 2)

[Celadon's Penultimate]

When Uburra-Namall arrived in this new town, she felt great pride. This was not just any Boquabian settlement. It was the first. She and her companions, the Twins, would likely find Khadai here. Perhaps the goddess of sin could help them track down these that called themselves Dragonborn.

"Lady Khadai?" Nasta, Khadai's Handmaiden of Wrath, called out to her mistress, "I'll be back in a little bit. I wanna go for a swim, kay?"

"Fine, fine." Khadai replied, waving off her young ward; she had no assignments for her right now, anyhow, "Just...keep an eye out. The waters are filled with hostile beings, and you aren't prepared to take on someone like Waverider at her worst."

"Huh?" Nasta turned around, "Waverider? Who-who's that?"

Khadai's eyes widened, "Oh! Um, you...didn't already know about Waverider? Well, um...forget I said anything. Go, go, run along, now!"

Nasta eyed Khadai suspiciously, and then headed off to go not search out the goddess that her mistress had mistakenly told her about.

[Zaleramancer]

"Never. Do. That. Again." Madame Gant said in a voice that seethed with outrage.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Kagehana: "Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's obvious that you can talk well, but you can't actually move or act well. And besides, it was getting a little too dangerous for those who couldn't fight, so I just pulled everyone to safety. If you don't like that, then too bad."

[Zaleramancer]

Gant shot her a look that would have melted solid steel, but said nothing.

[Zaleramancer]

"This land is quite beautiful."

Uburra-Namall's lands were, of course, as stated.

Graceful and majestic trees framed charming brooks, aged boulders piled together in a rustic fashion, lovely birds flew through the air singing their charming songs.

It would put a faerie garden to shame.

Sonia had to admire the Fair Goddess's handiwork, and feel slightly out of place. The woman brushed a lock of her starkly white hair out of her vision. That was it, of course. Her skin, her eyes, her hair- all a pale white color. She stood out like a creature of snow in a vibrant summer garden.

In all honesty, she was beginning to wonder if her decision to start her travels here was wise. It would be very hard to leave such a beautiful place. Regardless, the choice was made. No use regretting it now.

As she began to continue walking, Sonia noticed something out of place. A small marring of this beautiful scene. It was a foot-print of some upright reptilian creature. Around it, visible to her extra-senses, was a vaguely draconic aura.

Sonia gripped her sheathed sword. She was certain that Uburra-Namall had no draconic servants.

It was time to investigate this matter. She at least owed that to the Fair Goddess, for trespassing on her lovely lands.

Time to track these footprints to their origin.

[Philote]

Motes Left: 13

Yojimbo flew ahead of the band of Dragonborn, tracking down the presence of Uburra-Namall that he had felt earlier all the way to the town.

The presence disappeared once Uburra-Namall went into hiding again, but Yojimbo already had an idea of her general area.

Landing in the town, he would wait and search for her. Being undetectable by mortals, whoever would react to him would have to be one of Uburra-Namall people.

-----------------------------------------------

Gilgamesh saw to it that Thorn was taken care of by the Spirits of Healing, then set off to accomplish some work he had planned. There was a benefit to not needing to sleep, it allowed him venture off before the final battles of the first round began.

First he traveled into the Plane of the Genasi, and created the first of two gems. This gem would be called the Gate Stone, and it would be located at the center of the Plane of the Genasi, within Emere's palace. As he created the gem, space began to bend around it, pulling the elements into a pillar around it that rose into the sky. This Divine Artifact would allow the opening of portals for the quick travels of Gilgamesh's people (-12 Motes).

Next, he stepped out of the Plane of the Genasi and into the heart of the red crystal mountain in the center of his lands. The second gem would be called the Moon Star, and it would be an addition to the Well of Eternity. The gem would reside within the depths of the well and would increase the output, range, and scope of the Divine Artifact (-12 Motes).

With the work done, Gilgamesh traveled to Bahamut and the two tested out the Gate Stone by opening a portal and traveling to where the Deva was at the tournament.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

The goddess finished admiring her new form and domain and began to seek out company. She was lonely and wished to chat with another living being. She wandered about Spectropolis in search of some sign of other life.

[Philote]

The Deva had just finished attending Thorn as he was healed from his last battle. With her duties done, she set off to explore the city as she liked to do in her free time.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"This land is quite beautiful", Uburra-Namall smiled, echoing a sentiment she was sure others felt as well, "But, I feel like it should have more to it. I observe the other lands, the other people, and they seem to have something that we, in the land of the Boquabians, do not."

Jassi frowned, as the three deities entered a temple dedicated to Uburra-Namall.

"Well, what do you think could be the matter?" she asked, as she took a seat on one of the temple's couches.

"I simply don't know. But it must be fantastical. It must be wondrous, and amazing and awe-inspiring."

Uburra-Namall reclined on her own couch, Jissei sitting upright next to her, and slowly let her mind drift, as was her specialty.

She imagined the whole of her lovely island. All its creatures. Its landmarks. Its weather. And then she inverted it all; twisted it, turned it, coiled it, rippled it, changed it, rearranged it, multiplied it, divided it, brightened it, darkened it and set it to all bands of sound and light.

It was amazing, she realized. It was amazing in a new and innovative and different way. One instant, it was the epitome of reality's beauty; the next instant, it was the essence of dreams and fantasy. Of HER dreams and fantasy, and those of Jassi and Jissei and Khadai and Khadai's handmaidens, the Seven-Sin Sisters. Dreams of sex and social interaction. Dreams of nature and the unnatural. Fantasies, wishes, desires, experiences.

Lifetimes wrapped up in rays of light. Streams of consciousness, and entire states of mind. Spheres of influence and dreamy dominions. The peak of sexual ecstasy, and the depth of intimate contemplation. Space and time, wrapped in energy and matter. All manner of magic and mystery, mixed with the touch of the divine and the undivine. Disorder transcended into greater disorder, all coalescing into some strange, incoherent harmony.

Some preternatural...
                               ...supernatural...                   
...connection between...
                               ...the mortal...                     
...and the Divine...

"UBURRA-NAMALL!" Jissei finally called out, thundering the whole temple. The goddess awoke from her unplanned slumber, "What is that on your neck?"

"Huh?" The love goddess looked around.

"I said, what is that on your neck, you daft, air-headed floosie?!" Jissei pointed to it now, prompting the goddess to look down. Now on her neck there was a piece of jewelry. A necklace. A beautiful one, at that. It twinkled like the heart of a star, and whispered to her like some ethereal muse.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Mina decided to return before the others to Spectropolis in order to see how Mikoto, Kagehana, Taro, and Nayotake were doing. Plus, she really wanted to know how their matches had gone. She had the Shadow-Scarred who had brought Fuujin and Raijin with him, take her back to the arena at Spectropolis. Upon arrival, she finds Taro being healed by the tanuki and everyone chatting while the process is going on. Kagehana notices first that Mina has arrived, "Lady Mina! It's good to see that you have arrived!"

Mikoto runs up and hugs Mina as tightly as she can, "I-I-I d-didn't kn-know when you'd c-c-come! Waaaaah!"

Mina: "So, how did all 3 oof your matches go, Kagehana, Nayotake-no-Hime, Taro?"

Kagehana: "I won my match, Lady Mina."

Nayotake: "My match was won by the opponent withdrawing, ma'am. Unfortunately, 7 other matches also had withdrawn participants as well."

Taro: "Just had and won my match."

Mina looks at the 3 of them, "That is good news all around. For winning your match, Kagehana, I present you with this weapon, the Clone-Blade. For Taro, I give the Heart's Blood. Nayotake, though still has yet to win a match."

Mina hands Taro and Kagehana their new Artifacts as Nayotake says, "I will not let victory escape me in my next match, ma'am."

Mina: "That is a good attitude. However, I will give all 3 of you another bonus, just for getting past the first round. For Nayotake, increased speed (-0, Inherent Blessing). For Taro, increased strength (-1, Blessing). For Kagehana, the power to control light (-0, Inherent Miracle)."

The 3 heroes feel the power flow into them and make them more powerful. As it does, Kagehana's skin becomes lighter.

Kagehana: "Was this an expected side-effect, Lady Mina?"

Mina: "No, but it is interesting. I call you the first and only, Twilight-Scarred. All of you must prepare now for your remaining fights. Go!"

The 3 heroes go off to do training.

(Total: 1 mote)

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"It...it's the answer to what my Boquabians need." Uburra-Namall said, nearly breathless with the clarity of the sudden revelation, "And it widens my rule. From my harmony shall come love and enlightenment; inspiration and ecstasy; my dominion shall be love of the body and the mind...beauty of the body and the mind. This necklace...is the Plane of Creativity."

(Twenty-eight [28] motes minus half the Create Artifact cost, three [3] motes, combined with half the Create Plane cost, six [6] motes; Twenty-eight [28] motes minus nine [9] motes= nineteen [19] motes)

A whooshing, airy boom reverberated through the temple, and the great statue situated at the very end of the vast hall was surrounded by a celestial aura. It seemed a beacon, gleaming even as the clouds passed over the sun, obscuring the light's path through the temple skylight.

Uburra-Namall continued, "I am now also Goddess of Creativity and Inspiration."

(Nineteen [19] motes minus six [6] points for Gain Domain= thirteen [13] motes left)

A voice came from outside of the temple, and Jassi and Jissei turned from marveling at Uburra-Namall. The three came from inside to see what was going on, only to see that there was a crowd of Boquabians huddled up. They looked at the deities, and the three remembered; they were still in mortal form.

"What inspiration has come to you from the realm of the divine?" An old man asked, amazed at the three in all their wind-swept, sky-kissed beauty. Uburra-Namall looked at him, and those that surrounded him, and thought to utter something. Anything.

She started.

"What is it you desire of my intellect?
What wish are you asking of me?
Only ask it and it shall be yours,
Whether dream or fiction or fantasy..."

The Boquabians marveled. And the goddess wasn't done; she had yet to even begin instructing them in the myriad of new arts she had imagined. That first one she called poetry, and after would come music, and then the various other arts.

[Philote]

Yojimbo and the Dragonborn returned to the cave after their second successful raid.

Yojimbo had roamed through the town the entire time, visible to anyone who was not naturally a mortal, but no Spirit had responded to his presence. "What a pitiful defense" he thought "I practically beg for myself to be located and the local Spirits do not even take notice. I'll have to step up my game."

He would curse the band of Dragonborn, stealing their image. They would no longer have an appearance to call their own, save for a pay of glowing green eyes that they would all posses. "Let's see what legends the locals come up with now that a true band of invisible specters are raiding their towns." (Inherent Power: Curse)

Yojimbo waited out in the open above the lair. If a Spirit did come to deal with the Dragonborn, he wanted the chance to make a deal first.

[Philote]

Motes Left: 16

Morning was just beginning on the second day of the Tournament, and Gilgamesh was prepared for the matches to start again. With a booming voice, he called out across the city. "It is time for the second to last match of the first round to begin! Taro and Thorn's match was undertaken during the night and Taro will be moving on to the next round. The current match will be between Atlas and Mina the Sly."

Atlas had already been made prepared for his battle to begin and strode into his starting zone. The Endreakian had evolved into a strong humanoid being. His skin was a clear gold color that you could almost see through, though there was nothing in his body to see. Even his eyes were made of the same substance. He lacked hair or other distinguishing features, making his skin his only remarkable feature. His Divine Servitor armor was strange, it appeared to be made out of several parts that linked together.

[Zaleramancer]

Sonia gathered her cloak around her, trying to blend in with the branches of the tree she perched in.

She was certain that this cave was where these.. whatever they were dwelt. However, so far they appeared to be unseen- save for glowing eyes. And she had yet to see them actually do anything that deserved punishing.

So she waited.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

As the Boquabians made lovely music on their various instruments-- so far they had come up with drums, a horns and a guitar --Uburra-Namall was being hailed as a great prophetess. She alone had elicited such a profound response from Uburra-Namall's temple.

But her party would soon be rained on by the very focused Jassi.

"Sister, you know we have other business here, right?"

The goddess looked back from clapping along with the music, "Oh, you're right. We do." She turned back to her people, "It seems like we must be going, fair people."

The Boquabians frowned and grew sad.

"But, Lady Prophetess, shall we see you again?"

"When shall you return?"

"And teach us more useful things?"

"And what name shall we know you by?"

"Oh, don't worry, my fellow Boquabians." Uburra-Namall started, "I shall be back some day. I don't know when, but when I come back, I'll gladly teach you more of what knowledge and wisdom I have gathered from the Divine. And you shall know me by my name..."

Jassi and Jissei looked to her, hoping she was just as creative with names as she was with music and art.

"...Lady Love Iaissavatra. This is my sister, Lady Goode Iaissavatra, and my brother Lord Insidius Iaissavatra."

The Boquabians introduced themselves, and as the three departed, the Boquabians waved them off with food regard, before returning to practicing their music and other arts.

Now that was done, the gods thought, it was time to get on those Dragonborn, wherever they were.

[Philote]

It was morning now, the band of outlaws would rest and plan their next moves. Even with their new found invisibility, they would save their actions for when the cover of darkness came back. Balasar mused that they must have activated the curse of some treasure they had stolen, but even under these conditions, he would not lose control of his men.

Yojimbo waited above the cave, sharpening his sword.

[Zaleramancer]

As the day faded into night Sonia continued her vigil, feeling somewhat thankful that she did not require sleep.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Prasim was restless, and so she headed out and about town.

Stole from a store here, pickpocketed there, collecting shinies and other baubles as she saw fit, for one of her numerous nicknack collections. They were all sure to come in handy some day.

As the young Handmaiden of Greed neared the edge of town, however, she felt herself subliminally tugged into the wilds. Something told her that more valuables lay...out there somewhere. What, exactly, she didn't know. But she was sure it was worth her attention, and so she ventured out into the forest.

She stopped when she reached an unsuspecting cave. Her sense stopped her here, and it was far too normal-looking to actually be normal, so she rubbed her hands together insidiously, readying herself to enter.

[Philote]

Finally, someone had arrived  to deal with the Dragonborn. Yojimbo jumped off the roof of the cave into Prasim's path, and the woman took a step back in reaction.

"I know you're not mortal, or you would not have noticed my arrival, so why don't we have a chat before you go charging in there?"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Wha-huh?" Prasim cocked her head to the side, before putting her hands on her hips and raising a suspicious eyebrow, "Why should I talk to you, weirdo? You obviously don't seem the kinda guy I'd be friends with, what with jumping down from cave roofs and all."