Lords of Creation (Story Thread 3)

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"I had a different thought. It's why I didn't want anyone seeing us meet."

He pauses, as if trying to summon up the will to say what was in his head.

"With the exception of Aox, who has made himself scarce and wouldn't have known what to look for anyway, the only witnesses to this are myself, and those that were there at the border of your domain. Principle witnesses: you and I. Our account of what transpired is the truth."

He speaks in monotone, all voices converging perfectly. "The Monster King, using his weapon, drained divine power from Gilgamesh and used it to unleash the wave of conflict. Gilgamesh, seeing this, sacrifices himself in a final push to destroy the weapon, defining Heroism as the capacity to sacrifice oneself to save others for generations to come. This is the truth. Do you have any objections to this version of events?"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Ya know," Kyuuketsu replies softly. "If ya said that with a little more emotion, people might be more taken in by that, and Ah was there too so can'tcha call me a principal witness too?"

Mina quickly responds, "I'm fine with that. As well, as a member of my pantheon, Kyuuketsu will follow this agreement too. So anything else you wanted to talk about?"

Mina mentally makes a noteit might actually help a bit with something later on if she could get that plan up and started.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"No, this was the only thing. I may ask for some concessions during the meeting itself. Nothing major, just efforts to keep everyone aware of all event that transpire. Fix this problem with communication there have been amongst the gods."

You massive hypocrite, he thought to himself. But soldiered on. He whistled to the dog. It trotted over, and he sent the light over to reveal a side tunnel. "I dog that this morning. Follow it, and it will spit you out in the desert. Please then return and make your official arrival to the conference."

He bows with a flourish and steps off into the darkened tunnel they had arrived from, form shifting like fluid into the armored carapace of a vandal before vanishing into the dark.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Very well, then, let's go Kyuuketsu," Mina calls out. "We should show that we arrived on time at the very least."

The two follow the Watchdog out and then fly up into the sky upon exiting the tunnel. Mina then flies over to the wall of Spectropolis with a halo of light surrounding her, "I, Mina, have arrived. I beseech you to take me to the area that the conference will be held."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Work stops as people and Servitors can't help but stare. It was safe to say this was an official entrance.

A Witness detaches itself from it's work, handing off the beam it was supporting to a Goliath. This one is quite different from it's kin, taller with a deep blue robe instead of stark white. It gives a bow to the group, and speaks in a voice that can only be described as high and gentlemanly.

"Ahhh, Lady Mina. and guests. We had anticipated your arrival. Allow this humble steward to guide you."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Thank you very much. Now shall we proceed?"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

The sky was cautiously optimistic, only letting the sun peak out a bit from behind frowning, gray clouds. The sea was still uneasy, tossing a bit here and there, but threatening nowhere near the carnage with which it menaced before. And the winds had died down to something of a disturbing, lackadaisical doldrums, which made for most efficient air travel for the gods of Uburra-Namall's pantheon.

Though, until they made landfall, the air would still be sharp, cold, and yet eerily distant. Looking back at the fertile rainbow of celestial love and beauty that trailed in Uburra-Namall's wake, the irony was not lost on either Jassi or Jissei. What had they to cheer for, just yet? Hope had been dashed. Dreams had been killed, nightmares usurping their place. Light had been all but stomped out, and the fires of mortal love and life had been nearly extinguished in the cold of war.

So much remained to be done.

To their fortune, the doing was very much so on the horizon, now. The Watchman's land, just as humble and smart as him, was now visible in the nearing purview. Uburra-Namall smiled on seeing it; though, some part of her was guilty in feeling that ray of hope, or even desiring it, and so her expression fell again.

"Come now, brother, sisters...daughters." the Fair Goddess looked back at them, doing her best to stay upbeat, "I believe we have a meeting with the other gods about now. The world won't repair itself; heaven knows it didn't break itself."

Her pantheon nodded and then slowed all at once to a silent mid-air levitation. One last look down, and the lot of them descended gracefully from the height, to the earth. And despite themselves, the beauty in which they were all arrayed didn't afford them the slightest air of happiness or ease. The Twins and Khadai were concerned, the Seven-Sin Sisters were uneasy, and Uburra-Namall was solemn and stoic.

Still, more pressing matters needed attending than their worries and doubts for the future.

Uburra-Namall looked to either side of her, and led the pantheon down the street in slow, thoughtful strides. Just where were the Watchman and all the others?

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

It leads the group through the streets. The repairs are going well with the help of the Witnesses, who's instinctual knowledge of the city is a great aid.

The bridge to the glass dome is filled with people with buckets, taking the water out into the city to quench a working thirst. Still more crowed the entrances. The strange Witness leads the gods through the crowed, the people parting before them and descending into whispers.

Inside the dame, the stands are packed. People of Spectropolis, bored or tired or just concerned, sit up in the viewing section. In the center, hovering beside the table, is an unfamiliar dark figure.

The being looks like some sort of Chinese dragon puppet made of petticoats, each section of ruffled black clothe descending and concealing all underneath it. The only non-black part of the creature is a white porcelain mask, completely blank, framed around the edges by ruffled black cloth. From beneath one of the layers a unnaturally thin and pale arm extends, fingers disturbingly long and nails that were more like stilettos. When it speaks, it is with the weary but authoritative voice of a woman who had become old, and done it gracefully. A matriarch, who has maintained iron fisted control of her entire extended clan. It is that type of voice.

"Mina, of Môsôoriku. You are the first to arrive. Please, have a seat."

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"Miss Uburra-Namall!" Comes a gruff, rugged voice.

There are a pair of clangs as The Veteran violently brings himself to attention. He had been standing with a crowed of Vandals, helping to clear some rubble. "A pleasure to see you again, fair lady. I'm regret we could not meet when I visited your island after the attack, but it was only a short visit. I had some... personal business to attend to. I'm afraid I wasn't in a right state to meet anyone."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Uburra-Namall stopped, blinked, and then stuck out a hand to be kissed, a smile growing.

"By all means, the pleasure is all mine. It's not every day you meet a Veteran." The goddess felt her charm worming its way out again, "And speaking of honors, where might I find your master? Is he about?"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Thank you," Mina replies sitting down in one and having it shift to a brilliant fascimile of her domains as Kyuuketsu does the same. "If I might venture to ask who you are?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

He accepts it, a does so with far more grace then would be believed for a man of his bearing.

"Unfortunately, I haven't seen hide nor hair of the man all day. He's been in a bad way, madam. There's somethin eatin at him, I can tell. Probly found some way to blame himself for this whole stupid mess. He'll show up for the conference, though, believe you me. May I escort ya to the dome?"

"ooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo!" comes a chorus from the insectoid work detail.

He holds up a finger. "3 laps, round the district, carryin those rocks!" comes the sharp command.

The group snaps immediately into action, giggling and running off with the biggest rocks they can pick up. The last one to go briefly calls "Worth it" over her shoulder before vanishing around a corner.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Tsubasa & Wen Tien wrote

"Thank you," Mina replies sitting down in one and having it shift to a brilliant facsimile of her domains as Kyuuketsu does the same. "If I might venture to ask who you are?"

"The Spymaster." It replies. "Goddess of Spies and Secrets, De facto leader of the Watchers. In reality, this is simply an expansion of duties I performed as a Watcher. I'm the one who held this city together through the storm. I was rewarded thus."

(The Spymaster, Major Goddess of Spies and Secrets.)

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Nasta, Desra and the Five Heroes snicker behind Uburra-Namall, and the goddess snaps around with a quick menacing glance. Seeing her fierce beauty twisted up in maternal disapproval, the lot of them shut up.

"Certainly." The Fair Goddess replies, returning her glance to the gruff man, "I could stand to rest a short while before I get to see the Watchman again, anyhow."

A tug came at her shoulder, and she turned to Khadai, who leaned in and whispered in her ear. Then Jassi, too, leaned in to say something under her breath. Uburra-Namall's eyes widened when, at last, Jissei also leaned in to utter a murmuring thought.

Her attention returned to the Veteran, "Say...Mister Veteran, my pantheon seems rather curious. Where might Jassi and Jissei find your wounded? Jassi would like to heal your injured. And Jissei and Khadai would like very much to handle your criminals and, if you've taken any, your prisoners of war."

In looking over the love goddess's shoulder, the Veteran can clearly see that neither Jassi, Jissei or Khadai's expressions have changed from solemn silence, even as their piercing beautiful eyes raised to meet his gaze.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"That's nice," Mina replies. "Anything you want to talk about 'til everyone else shows up?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"There weren't no prisoners in this fight, but we got plenty of wounded." He stops for a moment, thinking. "Not wounded as in bleeding out or anything. Them healing spirits handled that pretty well. But there are plenty who are broke.... somewhere deeper. In the head, you understand?"

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The Spymaster inclines her head to the ear of the Demon Goddess. "I assume you have met with sir?"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Mina whispers back, "Yes, I did. What about it?"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Jassi stepped forward, bowing humbly and posturing her hands, without thinking, like a clergywoman. She tilted her head, letting gentle, golden tresses fall to angle implicit of virginal beauty.

"If you permit, sir Veteran, I shall see them. I sense they require me."

Khadai straightened her corset, coiffed her hair a second and moved forward, taking Jissei by the hand, but Jassi put a hand back to block her. The pure one did a half-turn, and Khadai felt herself shrinking away, speechless.

"You know as well as I that your services are not required here." Jassi parted her twin and Khadai to the side, to face the Seven-Sin sisters, "Not you, Khadai, nor Jissei, but the Fair One's daughters. Yes, you all, come with me. I shall put you to  more righteous use."

Confusion and apprehension shivered through them collectively, but Khadai pushed them forward... She, too, could sense now, the necessity for them, and so where they might have resisted Khadai, they would not resist Jassi. And Khadai would remain with Uburra-Namall and Jissei and the Veteran. She clung to Jissei's shoulder, nuzzled his shoulder, and he moved with the sin-goddess back away from the love-goddess.

"Sir Veteran", Jissei sighed, kissing his sinful sister on her forehead, "We would like very much to sit and rest, seeing as how we aren't necessary. I think I'd like very much to see that Dome you mentioned about now."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Crav inhaled deeply. Savoring the smell of the the workshop. He exhaled and visibly relaxed further into his chair. It had taken some time, time he would have rather spent with the beautiful Uburra-Namall. But this was more important. Crav's eye rested upon the complete project that had distracted him for the last few days.

The door of the workshop creaked open slowly and a voice probed the dark of the workshop.

"Crav? Are you in here?", called Von Trapt.

Crav sighed peacefully, "Yes....I'm here."

"We need to leave soon. They'll be expecting us in Spectropolis."

"I'll be there in a moment. Go find Sonia."

The door creaked shut again and Crav was once again alone. He tried to smile. He should be happy. He had begun to repair so much. He had a love. His people were recovering. Everything should be better, but he was still haunted by the events that had occurred.

He had lost hundreds, including Aox, who had disappeared in the chaos. So much had been broken. Too much. Crav rubbed his legs at the thought, before reaching for a long wooden cane that rested against the arm of his seat. After molding with and suddenly separating from Von Trapt and Sonia, Crav had suffered slightly. His body did not handle the power of the three gods combined well.

His legs had withered.

Crav heaved himself up with a grunt and left the workshop. His project would have to be revealed later, for now he was needed in Spectropolis.

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The trip did not take long in Crav's mind with his thoughts elsewhere. In what seemed like no time at all the Trio had landed in Spectropolis. They strode slowly towards the large dome that gleamed atop the city. Crav leaned heavily on his cane. Sonia assisted him despite his protests.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Nothing, dear." she replies, righting herself back to her impressive height. "It simply means there is nothing for us to discuss. Custodes?" she calls. The Blue Witness is available at a moments notices. "Some tea, while our distinguished guests wait."

"Of course, ma'am." he says, bowing low and producing a teakettle seemingly from nowhere. Seemingly, because any gos in the room could tell that what it had done was a small scale act of Divine Creation.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Yes, of course." He whistles twice, and a pair of Watchdogs come bounding over the building and land before them. The Watchdogs had taken a bit of a liking to him. "These two'll take you to the dome. The Seats in there will mold themselves to fit whatever you need."

He turned regretfully to Uburra-Namall. "M'lady, I'm afraid I won't be able to escort you after all. If your girls can help mine, I'd like to be there."