Lords of Creation (Story Thread 3)

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Kotu's expression cleared from simmering anger, when he stepped to the forefront to speak. Now it was his time to shine. Surely, these charlatans had to be put in their place, he told the crowd; not everyone had a chance at some afterlife with the Fair One, they all knew that; it was common knowledge that only Elders' souls could continue in an afterlife, beloved of the gods (along with anyone who received their blessing); saying otherwise was blasphemy, and these deceivers each should just give up on their petty attempt at trickery.

Furthermore, it was perfectly within the right of the Elders to accept those gracious sacrifices, and they always made sure to put them to good use. The gods had actually insisted that they take the sacrifices for their own purposes; what use had GODS for food and drink and supplies and money? No, these were intended as payment to the Elders for their services, their wisdom, their moral uprightness, their willingness to accept the hard and heavy burden of rule. It was the very least that their subjects--nay, the very least that the gods could do for he and the other Elders...

Simple as that.

Uburra-Namall watched from on high, livid at Kotu's blatant lies, his flagrant blasphemy--The lying dog had never spoken a word of prayer to her or Jassi a day in his life! He had only ever wished under his breath to cast Jissei's wrath on his enemies!--but Jassi's hurt was more disappointment than anger. And regardless of her disappointment and disgust, she bade her brother be still. No curse or plague would fall on Kotu's house just yet. They should first give their mortals the chance to handle the problem themselves.

"So!" Kotu concluded, as he caught sight of the other Elders coming up to the steps of the Temple to stand at his side in solidarity, "Since the people have heard all of our sides, and known the truth from a lie, I think we've made the solution quite clear. Draias and company...my fellow Boquabians...rest assured, you may be forgiven. Jissei's harm will not touch your heads. I am perfectly willing to accept your apologies, and absolve you of your criminal accusations. Now, hurry over, and kneel, so that I can purify you. Quickly, quickly, lest the wrath of the gods be upon you, and you join your comrades in damnation..."

Kotu and the other four Elders looked up into the clouds, expertly feigning worry for their safety.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

A visible shutter shot through the Vandals. They didn't have fancy words for it, like blasphemy or heresy, but they had you simply did not do, things encoded into their very souls at the moment of creation. One of them was simply thus; you do not throw people who died protecting you under the cart. They all would have started shouting at once, if one hadn't been quicker on the draw.

"Can I say something?" said Shoving Another Down, stepping forward toward the Elders.

"I won't pretend to know what Draias and his experienced in that temple. But the look on their faces when they came out is all it takes to convince me that your lying through your teeth, and that maybe you've been doing it so long that you've started buying into your own story. And I won't pretend to know the will of your god, but mine doesn't spare kind words for liars or fools."

Vandals are tall. This only became more apparent the closer she got to the elders.

"And I don't know about the culture of the island but dragging the dead through the mud is scummy no matter where you come from, especially when they died trying to protect your ungrateful ass. Those peoples families are probably in this crowd, so I'd advise you to be a little more respectful."

[Philote]

Nalla jumped over the fallen Eglath and rolled in air, picking up the fallen axe as she did so. As soon as she was back on her feet, she swung the axe with all her might towards the Watchman's neck.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

(30 motes previously +3 motes, Total: 33 motes)

Magnas strolled over to Sora's forge and peeked in. He was pounding some metal into a new shape as Koneko aided him in working the bellows. On the floor were several strips of metal in a shape reminiscent of a gauntlet. Magnas chuckled, Sora obviously wasn't having a good time if there were this many strips on the ground. She walks back to the University of Elements. Tomorrow's class was going to be quite interesting to see the results of.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

He freed himself literally with moment to spare and he brought the hammer up, narrowly blocking the axe, the force of the blow actually driving the head into his mask and sending him stumbling back.

He stood away from her, and let the hammer slide in his grip until he was holding the end. He raised it up, in a duelers stance, and waited.

"I don't suppose you would consider trading weapons." he asked, completely seriously, "I'm fond of axes."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"Yes yes, of course. I'll stay here. Yalas, this is a place where I feel safe."

[Philote]

Nalla breathed out heavily "Not a chance." She charged forward to exchange her final blows with the Watchman.

------------------------------------------------------------
Thorn gathers what information he can from the girl, including the path she took to reach Spectropolis, before leaving her. On his way out he instructs the guards to transfer her to his private zone in the tournament until he returns.

He could use his powers as Gilgamesh's Avatar to fly his way to his destination, but it was more practical at the moment to retrieve his Hippogriff and depart that way.

This was his first mission as a hero, and because of this, he would depart without hesitation.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Shame."

He rechecked his grip, and rushed to meet her......

The ten minutes that followed were, according to the Daily the next day, "one of the single greatest displays of pure marshal prowess that this reporter has ever seen." There was no magic, no tricks, no fancy dodging. Just an honest to the gods duel. They had weaved and moved, each scoring several hits, seeming almost to be engaged in some sort of extremely violent traditional folk dance. They never stopped, never slowed for the entirety of the combat. In the end, in one last violent clash, their weapons had shattered, splintering under the stress. The Watchman had been just a little quicker, making his way under Nalla's arm and judo throwing her onto the hard ground.

The Watchman stepped back, breathing heavily. Great thing, breathing. Mortal guise, mortal rules, he had to breath. His cloak was torn in several places, his gloves teared along the knuckle, his mask was cracked and missing a large chip after a particularly close shave.

God or not, he looked like a man who had just been in a hell of a fight. The crowed went wild, and he smiled inside. He knew it wasn't him they were cheering for.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Kotu paid no mind to the height of the Vandal.

"I certainly understand your sentiment." he lied, "But the simple fact is, things are the way they are for a reason. Why, if not for the just and perfect will of the gods, where would we be? We would be a figment of a demented man's fevered imagination, that's where we'd be; less than a twinkle in Uburra-Namall's eye. Now, I don't know about you or the god you serve, but those behind you are under my leadership, and they would do well to apolo--"

Kotu, disturbed by the murmurs in the crowd fallen into silence, turned slowly, and his face fell. What was wrong?

A voice came from the crowd, "WE ARE NOT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP! WE SERVE ONLY THE FAIR GODDESS!!!"

Kotu only half-rebutted, before he was quickly shut up yet again by even more replies of disgust and outrage.

"You are no god!"

"We love only the Fair One!"

"You're just a messenger!"

"Who do you think you are?!"

"Heretic!"

"Blasphemer!"

Kotu grew nervous; he and his fellow Elders fumbled to regain silence, and he attempted to correct himself.

"My people, my people! Calm yourselves! I...I never meant to say anything of that sort! It was simply a mistake of the tongue! I know all too well that I am a humble servant of the Goddess--"

"You don't seem so humble to me." Draias crossed his arms, "No, actually, I think any one of us would do a far better job than you as a leader. This crowd is filled with wise, intelligent, humble, brave, loyal individuals, with good morals, and loving hearts. They aspire to the peaks of intellect--"

"To the heights of love--" Linessa added.

"To the furthest reaches of creativity and inspiration." Fandas volunteered.

"They aspire to blend together all the favored aspects of the Fair Goddess, and her sister, the Just One." Draias took it from there, "And I think they would make much better messengers than you. They would, at least, remember the job description."

[Philote]

Gilgamesh grinned. Well, that had certainly been entertaining, he thought. "The match goes to the Watchman and marks the end of the second round. The first match of the third round, Revei the Brave versus Emere, will start after a short break, but first...."

He leaped down to the arena floor where the Watchman and the unconscious Goliaths still waited. Power rushed across the floor of the arena and the Goliaths awoke with their weapons and armor repaired and restored to them. The three moved off to the side as Gilgamesh finished his business.

"Watchman, you have made an effort to repair the honor of these three Goliaths, and to repay you for this act, I am giving you these three to help you in your endeavors. These Goliaths and their families have already agreed to move to Spectropolis."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

A wave of hushed murmuring arose again, at Draias' proposal. Was his suggestion even possible? Could someone truly just...take on the role of leader? Take on the role of...Elder? The possibility was astonishing. None had ever even considered it before. They simply thought that what was done, was done. Simple as that. The goddess must have appointed people from birth for such a position of prestige...right? Such a great responsibility as establishing a truly righteous rapport with the Fair One must have required the benefit of a headstart in life, right?

Or had the imposition of the role been a mortal concept? Some were now not so sure. It seemed to be simply a mortal imposition, from the way Kotu talked about his role. That the people owed him, that the gods themselves owed him for the burden he took on. As though he didn't even want the job.

Yes, by now, many had to admit, the idea of New Elders was getting more and more tempting by the minute. Some new Elders who knew the role as an honorable duty to serve the people, rather than just a means to personal privilege.

Kotu had not passionately engaged in religious procession in years; Madraeda was a money-grubbing gold-digger, unwilling to pray on the behalf of worshipers unless they had coins to spare for her; Volin was a lecherous man, who groped women, flirted shamelessly and spoke of his sexual conquests like a champion of battle; Ilika was far too concerned with her own personal life; and Aisonon was outright stupid, a facile dope who easily tossed and turned with the doctrines of his Fellow Elders, no matter the moral cost.

Indeed, now was certainly the time for change.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

The Lycanthrope walked over to the closed door set in the side of the house with his hood up, looking to both sides before knocking. The door opens up a crack before a bored voice drifts out, barely audible, "Name? Password?"

The Lycanthrope replies back in a whisper, "Aguinas. Brynhildr."

The door opens and the voice says, "Enter Aguinas, we've been waiting for you."

Aguinas enters the house, to see 5 others sitting at 4 points of a pentacle and one standing: a Yukionna, a Vampire, a Succubus, an Incubus, and an Imp. He takes a seat at the final point as the Yukionna says, "Now let's get down to business: the exiled Succubus, Brynhildr."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"What about her? She got exiled, it's not our fault that happened. She had it coming," complains the Succubus.

"That may be so," replies the Incubus. "But we're not completely blameless. After all, we-"

"Never speak of that, Fabian!" cries out the Vampire. "We agreed never to talk of that ever again!"

"Maybe it's time we brought it up then," the Imp chimes in. "It's not like we can keep that secret hidden for long, not after Brynhildr was exiled."

They all start arguing at the Imp's words, voices rising until Aguinas yells, "Quiet! We need to figure out what we're going to do, not squabble like spoilt children over spilled milk! So, what are we going to do?"

[Marvelous Miscreant]

The mayor watched his visitors as thy slept. He didn't sleep himself, he was far to terrified of what sleep held for him. He simply watched the visitors all night.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Crav sniffed the crisp breeze that ruffled his robe. He'd just landed in Ubrra-Namall's lands and was appreciating they're beauty. The sky, land and plants blended into an astonishing palette of incredible serenity. Crav gazed at it for a long while before embarking once again towards his hopeful love.

[Zaleramancer]

Death. Gasping. Heaviness.

She was stranded on the sands. The crushing weight, the burning lights, nothing to breathe. The life-giving waters just out of reach..

[Marvelous Miscreant]

The Mayor muttered to himself. "Oh how they twitch and spasm in their frightful sleep. I tried to warn them, but they were stubborn. And now they know our village's terror. But then again....they may find out......no, they will be gone before then. Scared away like everyone else."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Yukionna: "We should go and see whether or not Brynhildr's alive and remembers That and if she does.... Kill her."

Vampire: "How are we going to do that? With the recently established Spellbound organization, they're sure to catch us with their border patrol! It's not possible to do!"

Fabian: "You never know until you try! We need to do something to make sure Brynhildr doesn't leak word on our past activities. Agreed?"

Everyone murmurs in agreement as they begin preparations to leave Mina's lands, find and kill Brynhildr...

[Zaleramancer]

The world darkened. The end approached. Death hovered above her like a dark god.

"No." In the real word, the woman muttered.

A wild fury gripped her. She would not die like this. Like-like some animal, washed ashore.

Deep within her mind, magic stirred and moved. It surged through her body, searching ponderously for the cause of her distress. Steam began to pour from her sleeping form.

Heavy breathing, lifting.. dragging herself towards the water, rejecting the cold hand of death.

Her body was fine. The magic paused, semi-autonomous as it was, it was far from smart. Next on the predetermined check list was her mind.

No.. No.. Too weak.. can't.. make.. it.. Death laughed... she collapsed.

Mystic power burned through her mind like a streak of divine fire, jerking her into awareness.

[Mik_Hael]

The land of dreams and spirits, was a haven, a place where the mind escaped to a place where it could be in controll of its own world, and for a brief moment, have the power of the god's themselves. Each section was a paradise, devoid of ill will towards those who ruled it. Now is not the case. Flames cover the sky as dark clouds congregate in the sky around a factory of black iron resonating with the the screams of a thousand tortured souls as monsters beyond imagination drag their victims screaming and struggling through the doors into the hell that awaits them. Plucked from the midst of their dreams by the goblins, and replaced, by the face stealers in a seamless transition, allowing a pathway for the virus to spread.

Above this all at the apex of the factoryt he King of Monsters, the god of Devastation stands before his kingom, with a solemn face as the corrupted mirror behind him sends out wave after wave of cloned god to add to his ever growing army. the virus poors off him in as if it was smoke from a fire, and flies off in search of doorways into reality.

Monsterking: ....sigh "closes eyes and rubs forehead."

????:...A castle of borken dreams built from an ocean of sand. That's all this ever shall be, and you shallnever be any more than  a hollow king looking out as it's inevitably washed away by the ebbing flow of time Mik Hael.

Monsterking:!!!!!!! No, not this time.....I am not as week as him, this time I will rule, this time i will bring them back.This time, everything will go as planned.

Snorkel Giant: My lord.

Monsterking: !? yes, sorry, what is it servant.

SNorkel Giant: Plans are going ahead as you have predicted, the god of chaos is still in captivity, the heroes are suffering in their seperate nightmares and are soon to be captured, and the soul forge is nearing completion of the weapon.

Monsterking: Good, good, take your leave then, increase the rate of capture by thirteen percent and move into phase two.

Snorkel Giant: Yes my lord. "Sinks through the floor."

Monsterking: ....."returns to staring off into the distance"...this time I will not fail.