Lords of Creation (Story Thread 3)

[Philote]

Pantheo was growing agitated. He thought that the fight with the Dragon would satisfy his hunger for Conflict, but now he was finding that he only wanted more. There was an urge deep within himself to act, and to do that he need information.

He extended his left hand and extended his presence down into the chaos below. Pantheo found his target, a Watcher rushing about providing aid and executing whatever commands the Watchman had left for them. The Watcher was pulled, drawn up the height of the Tower on which his Throne Room sat and into Pantheo's titanic palm.

"I have need of you, Watcher" Pantheo speaks "Go to your Master, I must know what else is out there in the world. Tell him Pantheo sent you."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"And that is true, as well." Uburra-Namall nodded, "My Boquabians. Draias was leading them out of the hands of their former Elders; they hoped to make peace with, and live among the Elves until they were able to stand on their own."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"I mean literally." he said. "Something birthed from my power is hear on this isla- haha!" He suddenly laughed out loud. "Of course, The Veteran took off with a group of Vandals! Tell me, this Draias fellow; what motivated his breakaway?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Yo-yo-yo-yo you don't need the Watchman for that, I'll can just tell you."

Poor little bedsheet was this close to wetting itself.

"There's chaos everywhere. Monsters, and a strag madnass that grips mortals and turns them ageist one another. The outbreaks are being combated, and the Two most contained are the Demon lands, which has remained untouched by the monsters, and the Island of Uburaar-Namall where the goddess is cleaning house. There's something sucking up that divine law that surrounds Mina's land, and that this isn't going to hold out forever. It could become the most powerful being on the planet if it keeps it up."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox echoed the words "Harbinger of Change" to himself. This seemingly innocent stick was such a vastly powerful tool. A tool he could use to shape his future. To become the hero he so desperately wanted to become.

The temptation was too great.

"So, how do I cheat its protections? Please, tell me what I must do!" Aox begged.

[Zaleramancer]

"Simply inform the staff that the Witch has mandated that you must use it." The shade snorted, "It will listen to her, indeed."

[Philote]

Pantheo stood. His flesh was reformed, even if his armor was not just yet.

"Most powerful? You do not understand who it is you speak with. Especially if you believe to disobey me. I have commanded you to go to your Master and I still expect you to do so. Now, when you speak with him, add that I will be traveling north" Pantheo commands.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox gripped the staff tightly. He held it before him and with the most authoritative voice he could muster, announced loudly, "The Witch has demanded that I, Gearan Aox Smithan, am to use the.....um.... Truth."

[Zaleramancer]

The stick vibrated as tendrils of material spun off it, like a cloth being pulled apart by a loose thread.

Words echoed, going in reverse at high speed.

The stick grew and changed, becoming a twisted staff. Beaten and old looking, something about it seemed.. frightening.

"Listen to it." Said the shade.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Uburra-Namall shook her head, growing upset at even the thought, "...Kotu. He was pigheaded, arrogant, vain. He felt he loved me, but he no more loved me than a woman loves her jewels. They make her look good, but they add nothing to her substance. Though, he is not solely responsible. His henchmen, Volin, Ilika, Madraeda and Aisonon were nearly as bad in their own way."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Same old story, everywhere. Then the Vandals will be with him. They're freshly made, after all. They would hardly have any choice but to side with him, so much of me is still in them."

[Zaleramancer]

 I think that-

Zaya jerked straight up.

 Did anyone else hear anything strange?

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Other than the screams of people and monsters?"

[Zaleramancer]

I heard destiny move. I don't have the time to go find out what exactly is happening. Oh, to be able to be in many places at once. That would be wondrous. Let us continue to the centaurs and hope that destiny has shifted in our favor.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Feeling destiny? That was a new one.

"Hold old do you have to be before you learn that trick?"

[Zaleramancer]

 Old enough to see the patterns. Usually doesn't happen unless it involves me in some way, which is worrying. 

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox was both awed and terrified by the power he held. This items true power was incomprehensible to him. Regardless, he followed the shade's instructions.

He brought the staff closer to his face and cocked his ear to one side. He held his breath and listened intently to the unintelligible words that seeped from the staff.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

A rustic land drew steadily into sight, through the obscuring storm clouds of the upper air. The winds carried up the smell of horses and hay and chaos and magic to the gods' noses. Neighing screams rang out, and the gods knew that they must be near the land of the Centaurs.

"It's time to descend." Uburra-Namall looked back to Zaya and the Watchman, "They're just down below us."

The godstorm seemed to recognize its mistress, and picked up in the divinities' direction, clearing a spot for them to land, relatively undisturbed.

[Zaleramancer]

The words were alien to his ear, bright and incomprehensible- and yet, they spoke.

Constrain. Bind. Hold. They said. Speaking the ancient godly tongue, they held fast the power of the artifact.

Beneath them was another sound, as alien to the first as those were to Aox. It was a rumbling growl, like hearing the far off anger of thunder or the sound of a might waterfall.

Dissonant against each other as the powers were, between them was an odd harmony, seductive and questioning.

What is it you desire?

It seemed to say.

[Zaleramancer]

Iron hooves touched the ground as Zaya's horse landed.