Lords of Creation (Story Thread 3)

[Philote]

(If I'm wrong on any point please correct me  I'm a little unsure of this information)

"There was much fighting in the skies above. My Pantheon did much fighting there before they left, as did the flying mythos of my land. I believe you refer to the event that seemed to mark the end of the conflict though. A great creature loomed down on the lands from a hole in the sky above, but a great fire signaled its death."

[Zaleramancer]

The silvery beast ahead dove, flowing downwards into the chair that had been Zaya's.

It changed subtly, the plush armchair, shifting patterns of chimeric beasts danced across it.

Flowing and settling, the beast's features resolved into those of a young man with silvery eyes.

Paean slumped into the chair, radiating weariness.

Without bothering with introductions, he said, "I can tell you about the thing the mortal wielded."

[Zaleramancer]

Docks

"Indeed." He said in a crisp, accentless manner. "I the Erlking. Master of the Iron Kingdom. Divine Hazet requested my presence."

Dome

The towering giantess was slowly gaining confidence. She paused before the entrance to the dome to catch her breath, marveling at the strangeness of this place.

[Zaleramancer]

Hazet shook his head, wondering what could reduce a god to... this.

He moved to his throne-like seat, with the pair of gods that followed him taking those next to him. Bright-Singers danced through the air around them.

The God-Emperor wondered briefly where the blasted witch had gone.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The Glass Dome

"So, you must be Paean." The Watchman says as the young god materializes out of thin air. The Watchman looked him over. "You did a good job shadowing me. Save for a few slips on your part, I never would have known you were there. I apologize for the Babysitters reaction when you met."

He honestly didn't know what he was apologizing for, but he had a good idea. The girl had returned to the city completely inconsolable, and had lost her voice. It was only after three days when she could speak enough to tell him the news. It had.... well, it had knocked him on his ass. Zaya, the witch god, the great schemer, dead. He pulled the watchers out of the city a spent the next day confirming just that fact. They turned up with neither hide nor hair for their efforts.

If he could have drank, he would have. He had developed a healthy respect for her, seen her as a peer in the art of skullduggery, someone who had surpassed him tenfold. The Babysitter had filled in the rest of the details. A mortal. Manipulated by a higher power. Someone who had ended a world. A peer not only in skill, but in regret.

Of course, the final question had been exactly how a goddess had lost her voice in the first place. When pressed, she looked regretfully away and only replied that she'd screamed some "Things" at Zaya's replacement until she literally couldn't anymore. She wouldn't go into any more detail than that. No doubt they were creative and hurtful and definitely not the sort of things a newly created god would want to hear.

He looked around at the others, and found himself the only one who knew who this young man was. He guessed he had The Babysitter to thank for that.

"Ah, my apologies everyone. Allow me to introduce you: this is Paean, Zaya's heir."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Docks
"Ah yes, this all appears to be in order." The Watcher intones in the most official voice ever. "Follow me please sir, all lead you to the nearest dock to south street. Right this way."

----------------------------------------------
South Street

"Can't understand what irked 'em. So, you're a magic lady. I can tell cause I've seen magic before! Not like you, like something else. But also kinda like you. You know what I mean?"

[Zaleramancer]

Paean attempted a weary smile at the Watchman.

"Heir?" Hazet burst forth, "Why would the witch need an heir?"

The young god frowned and looked narrowly at the God-Emperor.

He gulped and tried to begin, "Because.. Because she has..Well.. "

[Zaleramancer]

Docks

The Erlking descended from the boat to follow the witness, eyes taking in the layout of the city.

Behind them, several sailors sighed in relief.

South Street

"You've seen a different kind of magic than mine? I sensed some sort of strange magic on you and your companions. What sort is it, precisely?" Auda said, guiding the conversation to her ends with all the subtle skill of a mad man with a sledgehammer.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Gilgamesh and his were not the only divine casualty of this battle." The Watchman cuts in, more so the boy wouldn't have to than anything.

He's wanted to drop this bomb later, when everyone was gathered, but hands had been forced.

"This sort of depletion of collective strength was one of the things I called us together to discuss."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

South Street

"Sense? Oh, yeah. Because they went and played with that sand you char broiled. Well, it's hard for me to explain but it's pretty much the easiest thing in the world once you figure it out. Let me see, something that won't blow up...."

She searches around in the pouches, pulling out the sort of things one would pick up right off the ground. Different type of rocks, thread, a shoe, a few pieces of jewelry. Finally, she pulls out a wilted, crushed purple flower.

"These grow in one of the gardens in Entertainment. Check this out."

To Auda's eyes, something inside Horizon sparks. Something buried deep in the core of the flower, deeper than the cells, deeper than the particles that make it up, catches fire. The dirty little flower seems to run with wild energy for a split second before it's left the vandals hand, tossed into the air above them.

There's a *pith* sound and the flower is unmade, it's component cells scattered everywhere as it tears itself apart. A wave of purple tinted air is released, flowing down the busy street. The scent of lilacs fills the air, so thick you can taste it.

Horizon looks proud of herself. "It doesn't always react that way. I'm the only one that gets that reaction from that ingredient. If it had been Ilium who'd thrown it, it would have become, like, you know, a flower necklace think? If Fetch had done that, it would have exploded. He's never worked with a flower before, but everything he Pitches explodes. He hates it, everyone makes fun of him for it."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Sonia pipes up, "Then what are we waiting for?!?! Let's get to discussing already!"

"SONIA!....Mind your manners!" Von Trapt snaps.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Not everyone is here yet. Waverider has yet to grace up with her presence. This should be the first time all Overgods residing on the planet have been together at once. There are things we should all hear."

[Philote]

"Before the discussions develop further, I have a statement that I would like to make" Gil the second declares.

"I realize that I am outclassed in nearly every way in this situation, so I have taken some precautions to ensure that the remaining Artifacts of Gilgamesh do not fall outside of those he entrusted them. My armor is made out of a living Divine Artifact, and should any harm or manipulation be caused to me, it will kill me and take my Artifacts to the safety of Gilgamesh's planes. The other heroes are in position to follow through with the same action."

[Zaleramancer]

Docks

A graceful swan descended unto the docks, transforming into a beautiful pale woman with a feathery cloak.

A sneaking snake coiled up from below a pier to change into a skinny man dressed in loincloth and scale-covered headdress. He slinked up behind swan and copped a feel. The woman responded with a punch that sent him tumbling into the water.

A colorful fish leapt out of the water, flying past the snake, and landed as a short woman in a shimmering scale dress. She smiled at the swan, who waved in return.

As the snake climbed back onto the pier, a seal swam up nearby and transformed into a muscular man dressed in a seal-skin kilt and cape. He clambered onto the pier, knocking the snake off as he did. The swan slid over to him and they began to head to the dome, arms linked.

As the snake finally got back up, he glanced nervously at the fish woman, as if expecting something. She waved him forward and sighed.

They were all like children, she thought.

Far down the river, Waverider was swimming for the city. To her left was a sagelike male Cecaelia, and to her right a fishy Sea Folk woman carrying something inside a lead box.

Several Undine flanked them, Coral at their head. Behind them was Bazul, shrinking as he progressed to avoid flooding the shores overtly.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Except it won't." The Spymaster states with all the delicacy of a sledgehammer. "This is Spectropolis. Divine Artifacts do not function within the city limits. In addition, the implication that we would allow you to be killed or subverted here, in the seat of our power, is so outrageous as to be insul-

"Spymaster." The Watchman interrupts, stopping her level rant cold. "This man has every right to take as many precautions as he desires. This is an extremely frightening situation for the people of that island. Rest assured, Gilgamesh, the sovereignty of your gods former holdings was one of the foremost issues in my mind when I called this meeting."

[Mik_Hael]

"I am starting to get bored. Mind if I take my friend and leave this place?" Mik sighed.

[Philote]

Gil the Second was displeased by this news. "My point still stands. Once I leave this meeting, the heroes of Gilgamesh will not become idle prey for other Spirits."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"I can only speak for myself, but I doubt harm will be brought to the heroes of Gilgamesh. That being said, we should find other areas of conversation until the rest of our colleagues arrive and we can begin the discussions." Crav responded in the most even toned voice he could muster. Diplomacy was not his strong point, but an argument this early may taint further discussions later.

[Zaleramancer]

The Docks

Waverider rose from the water, finding footing on the docks. Her people followed, gaining legs and stumbling along as needed.

The Dome

The discussion was suddenly interrupted by the entrance of a thirty-foot tall purple woman, who was attempting to discretely find a seat.

[Zaleramancer]

South Street

"Fascinating! You reduced it to cellular components. Several of my watcher spells confirm this." Auda leaned forward, hungry look in her eyes. It was a slightly frightening look, like she was mentally dissecting you.

"What is this?"