Lords of Creation (Story Thread 3)

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"My first immigrants, huh? Hopefully not the last."

The Watchman looked over at them.

"Strong, resourceful, and willing to walk up and punch a god for wronging them. The world needs people like them. Perhaps I could set them up in your temple, if they have nothing better planned."

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The beach Balasar had washed up on was made of beautiful black sand, and gave way to a large and lush jungle fit with the calls of birds and the buzzing of insects. Off in the distance, the skyline was dominated by a smoking mountain.

There was a small river off to one side that connected to the ocean, and led off into the jungle.

[Philote]

"They will be at your disposal for whatever role you may need of them."

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Balasar sat up and stretched out his muscles from what he had perceived as three days of travel. That spirit had instructed him to travel here and he had done so, but now all he was met with was an empty island. Looking over his companions, he could see that they were already starting to wake, proving that he was at the location he had been ordered to arrive at.

Well, if that Spirit had forgotten about them, then that was fine with Balasar. He would make preparations to leave the island, and if he was caught doing so, he would only bet met with the fate he already held.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

(33 motes previously +3 motes, Total: 36 motes)

Having established the portal to the Plane of Gehenna with the temple dedicated to Mina in Spectropolis, Illusia takes Hime through and then uses the second portal to arrive at the University of Elements before having the Tanuki begin healing Hime. Having finished her task, Illusia goes out to meet and talk with Lily and Kyouko.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

After initial introductions, Lily & Kyouko chat for a short while before deciding to improve the Plane of Gehenna and the Plane of Spirits. The three of them head over to the University of Elements and find first Magnas, then Suna and tell both about their thoughts. Magnas and Suna quickly agree to help and all of them head into Gehenna from the University's portal.

Once in Gehenna, the five of them concentrate on changing the laws of the plane itself in three ways: first, anyone who entered, other than Lady Mina's goddesses, would be totally subject to the will of each of the Guardians while in the respective Guardian's territory; second, all Divine and non-divine Artifacts would be no more powerful than a mortal's enchanted weapon; and third, no divine power could be used in Gehenna without the permission of all five Guardians unless a member of Lady Mina's pantheon, before reinforcing the changes with the divine power of 5 Major Gods (-6 motes, Inherent Miracles: Lily & Kyouko & Illusia, Miracles: Suna & Magnas).

After that, they next went into the Plane of Spirits and formed a giant river through its center with terrain of all kinds as well as buildings situated around it for the dead of Lady Mina's races that were there(-0 motes, Free Planar Change). Once that was done, they charged the river with the power to wipe clean the memories, virtues, sins, and powers of any mortal being, dead or alive, that bathed in it to be born anew (-3 motes, Miracle). This river they would name: the Sessho-Seki. Finally, they finished with creating a pair of longswords with 'hikari' written all over their blades and sinking the swords to the bottom of the river (-6 motes, Create Artifact). If a mortal could get to those blades, the five of them would be amazed. They left as they had come, Lily & Kyouko back to the Core Temple, and Magnas, Suna, & Illusia to the University of Elements.

(Total: 21 motes)

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Thank a lot, Gil. Now, Crone?"

"Yes sir?" She appeared. You could always count on her to appear.

"Our distinguished guest..."
"I believe they were last seen in the meeting hall, sir."

"Excellent. Time to go and introduce myself. Gilgamesh," he says, bowing goodbye. "Looking forward to tomorrow." He calls back, leaving the arena and heading for the center dome.
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Horizons had been at it all day, and had reached some very startling conclusions. The first being that magic isn't something you can throw, no matter how many arms you had. The second was that there was a way to compensate for this. All you had to do was throw something that you had stuck the magic to.

She had been experimenting with several different things in the small arena, and had found that, third, what happened when you threw something depended on what it was. For example, a handful of sand swirled around really fast, rocks went really fast and exploded into tiny piece. Her poison spit glowed and sizzled anything it touched.

Then she had tried two things at once and found that, forth, if you combined thing they reacted differently. Rock + sand made the sand condense into swirling rocks. Poison + sand gave a cloud of poison. Rock + Poison caused a sort of poison explosion.

She wondered if it worked with anything. She would have to find more stuff, and combined more stuff, and throw more stuff, and this was going to be so much fun!

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Arms wasn't having as nearly a good time as her sister. She wandered through the market districts after she had left. She tried to say it was because she was bored, but that was a lie.

Maybe it had been that poor man who's arm had been ruined. Or the man who had died. Or maybe it was the glean in Two God's eyes as she watched the spectacle. Whatever the reason, the result was the same; she had become to sick of the whole thing to continue watching. The blood caused her to squirm, and the cheers were appalling.

So she wandered through the Market district now, which was just beginning to open up as people left the arena, smells wafting and criers shouting about their wares. She stopped to see one man, who was selling long thin stalks of something. They reminded her of vandals in a way. They were even the same color. She cautiously approached the man, a Milteo.

"Ex-ex-excuse me?" she stuttered out.

"Yes?" he said

"What is that?" she asked, pointing at the bundled stalks.

"Well, that grain. You grow it."

[Philote]

Gilgamesh returns to his booth and dismisses the crowd for the day. The Tournament would start up again early in the morning.
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Thorn flew through the night. He would reach his destination soon. In case the girls story was true, he would also get a good rest in before entering the town.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

(21 motes +3 motes, Total: 24 motes)

Kyuuketsu entered Mina's temple in Spectropolis and finding no one there, she takes a nap in a backroom.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Hikaru finished with learning how to fire and aim with bow and arrows and walked out of the range. When she does, she notes all of the people who had come out of the arena and gapes, when had all these people come out of the arena and when had they ended the current round? She walked through the crowd, wondering just how many people had actually come to the tournament. Hundreds? Thousands? Only the gods knew. Now to see if she could find someone she knew...

[Zaleramancer]

"Bothersome. I will survive. Questioning time, yes?" She began to walk towards the village.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

The strife that fell upon the Boquabian Village Square had been triggered so subtly, absolutely nobody expected it. Who would have? People barely realized it a second after it manifested. Not even Aisonon as he lunged to attack Fandas out of blind rage. A pure and utter rage gripped him so completely and so suddenly, that it didn't matter whether or not he knew why he was angry; he simply had to hit something.

Fandas was cut off mid-rebuttal by a subtle and powerful blow, knocking him clear off his feet, to land on his behind, five feet away from where he previously stood.

The magician skittered to the safety of his friends' side to prevent any further damage to his face, but his allies were more than willing to make up for his lack of bravery, by berating Aisonon for his outrageous behavior. The crowd, however, wanted to take things one step further.

Before Draias and Aisonon could come face to face, a rock flew up out of the crowd, cocking the Elder across his head. He turned around to face five angry girls of varying color; NOBODY hit their beloved Fandas. NOBODY.

And it seemed the hostility passed on to another group of girls; the first group of five had almost hit their beloved Volin, and they were most certainly not having it. The two groups collided like seasoned warriors.

From the stage, Draias' group of friends watched for a second, stunned, as hostility erupted in a way that seemed both spontaneous and contagious. Most were fleeing in terror, looking for places to hide or things with which to defend themselves; those who didn't, dove into fray with a wicked and touched delight painted across their faces, cackling, screeching, yelling and howling like demoniacs.

Something had to be done.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The outbreak of violence was so sudden it took the Vandals by surprise. Who knew that thing could change so quickly. They looked on and buzzed at one another. What were their orders? What should they do? Were was the commander? What would he want done? They were protecting Draiases crew up here, so maybe they shouldn't get invol-

"Form ranks and take wing, ladies. Follow my lead!" said a voice that cut through there doubts, above the chaos to the fighting. A firm, authoritative voice. Someone to give the orders.

Shoving Another Down watched as the formed up behind her. She issued another order. " As gummy and firm and you can make it, if we work together there should be enough." The understood, rattling off a sound "Ma'am, yes Ma'am!" before buzzing into the air and following her out above the riot.

The vandals split into squads and began to spray a sticky white thread from their mouths, not unlike the silk of a spider, over the fighting boquabians, paying special attention to the hot spots of violence. It was sticky, and gooey, and stuck to everything. It got in eyes, blinding fighters. It got on arms and legs, binding some fighters together. It got on the ground, causing people to stick or trip, falling into more of it and becoming even more stuck. Afterwords, all those previously fighting were now bound together, in a big sticky mass. Shoving though there might be a lesson in that, but she couldn't parse it because she had no idea that metaphors were a thing.

Their work done the vandals landed back on the steps to the temple, looking tired but relived. Shoving looked back over the mass of boquabians. "Head on out there and check each one, we don't want anybody suffocating out there." There was a buzz as her order was again obeyed without question. Shoving herself headed back up the stairs, standing between the two parties, Draias and the elders. She looked at the elders. She looked at Aisosnon. She gave Aisonon a look. She strode right up toward him, spit in her hand, and placed the gooey mess onto his forehead.

"You were bleeding. Don't worry, at that consistency it will hold less than a hour. You should be able to pull people out in 15, if you get cutting tools. Sir," she called over to the other group, to Fandas, "Are you hurt at all?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"I'll be right behind you." it said, vanishing into thin air.

[Philote]

Motes Left: 22

Thorn was finally prepared to enter the city. He only had to decide if he wanted to reveal his presence yet. According to the woman's story, the townsfolk were just victims of some curse, but it was wise to play it safe. If he was affected by the same curse before his presence was noticed then that would reveal some of the inner workings of what was going on with this town. So, Thorn decided to keep to the outskirts of the town and observe what events occurred, using his druid abilities to help him stay out of sight.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

(24 motes previously +9 motes (3/day for 3 days, Total: 33 motes)

Nighttime yesterday:

Fabian and Aguinas slowly walked over to the docks and sidled up to a dock official who looked up at both of them sternly, "If you want to talk to about the schedules for sailing, then-"

He never finished his sentence, being quickly knocked out by blows from both Aguinas and Fabian. The two quickly motioned to the others to come and were soon on a boat, sailing in the direction that Brynhildr had flown in when leaving Mina's lands.

[Zaleramancer]

Reaching the village, she walked straight for the nearest villager.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Uburra-Namall was taken aback by the sudden outbreak of violence in her land. What kind of foolishness...?

Oh. She remembered Khadai's...work, and turned away, back to Jassi and Jissei. It was hard to think, but the Boquabians would have to come to her on their own, and a watched pot would never boil (or so it had been said in some previous life).

It was with that, that she could ease herself away from the sight of the chaos below. Indeed, despite that chaos, other matters did need tending to. Like--what?

A familiar voice came to Uburra-Namall. One that tinkled faintly of value and earthen femininity. It was Diamond, the leader of the living statues that served as her sentries; the goddess hadn't heard from them in a while. But, apparently, from the statue woman's tone, it was importance. Or, at least, worth notice.

"My Lady." came Diamond's voice again.

"Diamond? What's going on? Is anything the matter?"

"Well, no, goddess." Diamond answered, "But, it seems you have a visitor on his way."

"A visitor?" The Fair One puzzled, "That's...odd. I assume it is a being that can make his way safely up my mountain."

Now Diamond's voice was bordering jovial.

"Indeed, milady." She giggled, and the voices of  Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire echoed her giggles in the background, "It is Lord Crav, on his way to see you. He bears gifts."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

(33 motes previously + 6 motes (3 motes/day for 2 days), Total: 39 motes)

Finally, after sailing for a few days, the group alights on the shores of Uburra Namall's lands and debarks, abondoning the boat before heading inland to find Brynhildr.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

The newcomers would be greeted by a lovely being, one arrayed with all the beauty of pristine sapphire. Her face did not appear pleasant, despite its remarkable beauty. She held a bow in hand, and the arrow was pointed squarely at the Incubus' forehead.

"I am Sapphire, Western Sentry of the land of the Fair Goddess, Uburra-Namall." she spoke sharply, "You would do well to identify yourselves, before I tire of restraining from violence."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Aguinas: "I am a Lycanthrope by the name of Aguinas."

Fabian: "I am a Vampire by the name of Fabian."

Incubus: "I am an Incubus by the name of Tiebil."

Imp: "I am an Imp by the name of Penni."

Succubus: "I am a Succubus by the name of Kimi."

Yukionna: "I am a Yukionna by the name of Mashi. We are here to try to find... how to put it? A companion of ours who came this way. She should look similar to Kimi."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Sapphire looks at the lot with growing suspicion.

"I haven't seen any being of this sort. If this is some tri--what?" Her thought is interrupted, "Not now, Diamond, I have--oh, wait, what? You say you have seen such a being as one resembling a member of this group? And Lord Jissei and Lady Khadai have marked her presence among the Centaurs? Ah, I see."

She looks back at the group, before continuing, "Alright, then, my leader says that such a being has been spotted inland. Head toward the nearest forest, and follow it north, until you reach a land of broad, wooden houses. The people have horses' bodies, and eat like horses, and play like horses, but are not horses. They can speak like you and I. They are the Centaurs, and they will be of the most assistance in finding who you seek."