Lords of Creation (Story Thread 2)

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"If permission is granted then my watchdogs, escorted by 4 of my entourage each, will search out those that I am to deliver my message to, who I will then make my way toward with all haste. If, in the pursuit of my duties, I discover any of your people in need of aid then I will be obligated by my Defense Domain to render it, Ma'am!"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Uburra-Namall was intrigued. She reclined more comfortably, letting her legs stretch out across her couch, and in a couple of seconds, had reached her decision.

"All right." She said at last, her smile warm and friendly, "You may go about your business. Carry on, good Veteran."

"Just remember." Jassi added, before the Veteran got the chance to turn and leave, "Do leave things as you found them. No taking things that aren't yours, and all that?"

"And if you eliminate disease or rejuvenate the old", Jissei snorted, narrowing his eyes menacingly, "I'll send all manner of heinous wickedness and unspeakable, incurable, irreparable blight and destruction to the people of your lands."

His sisters looked at him, wide-eyed with surprised disapproval, and so he rolled his eyes and added flatly, "No pressure."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"And if I were to leave things that are not mine but also not yours unconscious in the dirt?" He asked.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Brynhildr lies gasping for breath in the tree tangled up in the branches, her body with scratches all over from falling and her wings miraculously without holes that would keep her from flying. She continues to try moving unsuccessfully, not having noticed the centaurs yet.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

 Jissei twitched, stifling the scowl he knew his sisters hated, "That's...your judgment."

He hated the words coming out of his mouth, but they would have to stick. Despite not trusting this newcomer, and wanting to keep him in check, he wasn't in charge, Uburra-Namall was, and so it would be she who defined any other rules of engagement.

The dark god turned without another word and went back to watching the carnage in Spectropolis.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The Veteran nodded once.

"Understood. Thank you for your cooperation, we'll be out of your hair shortly. Good day."

He took off toward the Vandal swarm on the edge of the island, amazed h had been able to keep that so professional. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he had felt a little hot under the collar, especially with hoe she kept laying there like that. And then she somehow had laid down more. He whistled under his breath. Love Goddess man; she had earned that title.

But you did the job in front of you. He flew withing sight of the Vandals and waved downward, toward a small clearing with a lake. They descended, setting the watchdogs down. Some of them were looking around at the grass and trees, fascinated. The Veteran landed at the lake-shore and called out to his troops.

"7 minutes rest, keep in formation and watch the woods."

He then turned, and walked into the lake. The cold, cold, lake. A man had to be able to concentrate at a time like this, after all.

[Zaleramancer]

The more rude of the twins repeated the name Khadai had given them.

"Zaya?"

A flicker of a breeze twisted into the clearing, turning and curving. More followed, dragging leaves and grass with them. The winds showed images of an old crone. Zaya herself. They were memories and thoughts caught drifting on the wind, showing static pictures of the old goddess.

"Looks right. Feels right." Both the twins spoke at once.

Madame Gant, who was distracted peering into her distorted reflection in her metal flask, jerked up and looked at the images. She nodded.

Itself just stared, unblinking. It appeared ready to go.

"What would your assistance cost us?" The more polite of the twins spoke.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

She had tried anyway. She had to, what else could she have done? And they had seen her, and had run her all the way to a river. She choked for air, taking in large painful globs of it with ever gasp.

And to think, a few days ago she had been exited about the ability to breath. It was one of those common things, like walking or wiggling her fingers or making faces at herself in the lake just because she HAD a face. Now she hated breathing. She'd had no idea it could hurt.

She had never sweat before though. Some things were to gross even for the Babysitter to try.

The horsemen would catch up any second, she could hear them. She could always hear them, she realized, just behind her. Just over the hill or behind a patch of trees. Always nearby, always RIGHT on her heels, just close enough to make her run but never enough to catch her.

She looked into the river, water rushing steadily on. It looked deep.

Drowning, something she had also never tried before. she giggled a hollow giggle, and took her chances with a splash.

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The man hadn't been ready. Nothing could really prepare you for an arrow in the neck.

The reasonable backed away as the man gurgled ad grasped the arrowhead protruding from his jugular, a spurt of blood his only reward. The others where all shouting, but then another of their number took an arrow to the head, this one from a crossbow bolt. It was only then that they heard the battle yell.

A man, a BIG man was charging from down the street, behind him a bow and crossbow dropped in his hast. But that didn't matter, because he had another pair of crossbows that he fired as he ran. The arrows were less accurate, catching two men in the gut. He dropped these bows as well and pulled the spear off of his back. This he tossed at the first man to reach him without braking stride, impaling him. The last two he stooped before, grabbing up some dust from the ground and tossing it. The men covered their eyes and swung wildly at their opponent, who had slipped around behind them with unnatural grace and brained then with what looked like a half-brick stuffed into a sock.

The whole thing had taken less than 4 seconds.

The man turned to him. He was bruised, gaunt faced, and covered with a fine layer of mud, ash, and blood. His hair was indescribable, and his clothes were tattered. The Reasonable looked at him with fear in his eyes, which he seemed to see and then, unbelievably, take offense to. But when the man spoke, it was with a voice that he knew.

"C'mere boy, we need to set that wrist."

"Veteran?" The Reasonable managed to eke out though  the haze of relief and surprise.

The man looked at him like he was stupid. "Well, yeah, I suppose you could call me that. Dalton Harberger, pleas to meet you. Now GIT over here and let me see that wrist!"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Khadai raised a hand and the leaves fell, though the winds still blew; she shrugged, with a smile of perfectly feigned innocence, "I'm sure something will come to mind."

She and her handmaidens exchanged glances, the goddess cuing any of them to speak their desires. Now was as good a time as any to extort goodies out of these newcomers. But Prasim smiled, and spoke up first.

"Nope. We don't want anything right now."

Indiva was about to protest, but Vai held her back; she was beginning to see where Prasim was going.

"Yeah, not right now." Vai volunteered, "When it comes up, we'll let you know."

Khadai looked at the stranger gods and put her hands on her hips matter-of-factly "Well, you heard them. We'll get back to you."

And with that, the eight of them bade the strangers farewell, and disappeared into the wind as fast as they had arrived, passing over the Dragonborn, the Elves and the Boquabians imperceptibly in their departure.

[Philote]

Motes Left: 4

Magnus, for this was the mortal's name who had received Gilgamesh's gift, set out to his dwelling in Spectropolis to make preparations for his return to Gilgamesh's continent and his new role once he reached there.

He had been chosen to run the Colleges of Magic despite being unable to wield the arcane, had been chosen as a member of the Council of Heroes despite lacking the powers of the other members, all because his talent let him surpass all others in the role he was to play. Magnus held the gift of knowledge. Every magical discovery within Gilgamesh's land was stored within his brain, as well as secrets that Magnus' own intellect had unlocked.

Returning to his dwelling, Magnus retrieved his second gift bestowed by the pantheon. Magnus' intellect would be like a sword, and this would be his sheath, the Cloak of Stars. The cloak was imprinted with constellations but fused with Magnus' robes as he put it on. The cloak would be his defense as he devoted himself to acquiring knowledge (-6 Create Artifact).

[Zaleramancer]

The kick clipped Drav in the shoulder, sending him backwards. He grimaced slightly.

The armor was good, but that had hurt. Better not let himself get hit head on.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

A dog bounds in, just around the corner. It moves along the ground, snuffling between the still stunned fighters with a care or a thought to them.

It does this until it reaches the party of seekers, at which point it lifts up it's head and "Looks" at them. It gives one last, dramatic SNIFF, then "Barks."

It's not really a bark. More accurately it releases a burst of bass sound so deep in shakes some of the rocks around it. It then sits down, contriving to look satisfied with itself.

Back at the lake shore, a Watchdog raises it's head and "Barks" a reply, getting the attention of everyone in the clearing.

[Philote]

Lo-Kag's club rose into the sky, soaring above the dwarf. Once the club had risen to its full height, it plummeted back towards the earth. Lo-Kag's avalanche assault would leave a crater one way or the other, either in Drav's bones or in the ground below if he managed to dodge. The goliath hoped it was the second option, he wanted a true fight.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Kaita was nervous, "Maybe you shouldn't..."

"Hello?" Too late; Fidion had already gotten it in his head to demystify the arrival of this strange being, "Um, excuse me?"

He clomped forward slowly, drawing out the crunch of leaves in the centaurs' ears. His curiosity mixed with apprehension, he drew closer and closer.

"Do...do you need help at all?" Fidion continued, his concern slowly outweighing his reluctance.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Brynhildr finally takes notice of the centaurs, gasping every now and then due to pain, she says, "What... does it look... like? *cough* Do... I look... like I'm fine? *cough*"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Kaita puts her hands on her hips, frowning at the snippy remark.

"Well, I suppose the best question to ask would be if you would like some assistance."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Brynhildr glares at Kaita, "Assisstance... would be... appreciated. I am... having trou... bles moving... *cough*"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

It wasn't long after that that the marching was heard echoing through the cave, and the Vandals made their way around the corner. Not warriors, they did not run and they shouted nothing. Their shields were up, their weapons likewise, and they moved in lockstep behind the Man and dog.

The dog was not marching. Dogs don't care for such things. But the Man was.

The Veteran held up a hand, and the 16 behind him halted and he put his hand on his chin and surveyed the scene. Pack of people in the back looking sort of out of place. Watchdog in front of them, probably the ones he was looking for. Dragonborn in front of him, some holding those colorful people from the island. Blood and bodies on the ground. 2 long lanky folk and, yep, some more colorful people taking quick looks from behind that rock.

We'll, it appeared that, in the course of carrying out his duties he had come across the colorful people in need of aid. And here he thought he was going to have to look around some. He clears his throat.

"Now," he says to the dragonborn, looking pointedly at the struggling Boquabians in their arms, "I hope that you boys are just teaching these folk here an elaborate traditional folk dance."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

After a day of travel with the Vandals Aox had finally arrived at the port where he boarded the first ship leaving. He didn't care where it was headed. it didn't matter. Wherever he ended up would be where he would begin his journey. Aox paid his farewells to the two vandal, thanking them for the companionship before climbing aboard the ship.

He was on his way in no time.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Fidion looked at Kaita, who returned his glare doubly. Then, after a second of awkward expressions of annoyance Kaita sighed begrudgingly.

"Well, fine. I suppose we should at least introduce ourselves. My name is Kaita." She gestured to herself, and then to Fidion, "And this is my companion, Fidion."

Fidion pulled an apple from his saddle pack, and acknowledged the two with a weakhearted gesture and a half-smirk.

"And, from the looks of it", Kaita rolled her eyes at Fidion, "I'm going to be your pack mule back to civilization. Now, hop on, lady. Don't make this anymore awkward than it has to be..."