Lords of Creation, The Second Age

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Stohlen and Morlanna moved with the surefooted swiftness of people who did not wish to be noticed. Their cloaks, trailing rave feathers, were pulled high to cover their faces. With one last glace about the street to make sure they were not being trailed, they entered the tavern with their heads down.

The tavern was dimly lit by a few beaten up old laterns that hung from the ceiling. There were no windows to illuminate the gloom, probably to discourage prying eyes. This wasn't the sort of place were you went to meet amiable people. The walls were grungy and splattered with ale and various bodily fluids as was the floor. The patrons, if they could be called that, were no better looking. A few looked up from their actions to analyze the Stohlen and Morlanna before resuming whatever activity they were engaged in.

The bartender however, continued to eye the couple as they approached the counter. He was a Lycanthrope, his eyes keen and clever. Stohlen took a seat, his cloak covering his head and face from view. Morlanna sat next to him, she surveyed the room with a keen eye. The bartender approached.

"Ay-a now, what would you be want for here you two?"

Morlanna ignored the bartender so he turned his gaze to Stohlen. Stohlen didn't look up and simply replied, "Just a glass of water if you please."

The bartender sniffed and leered at Stohlen.

"Ah-naw now, I don't do no buisnessen with nobody I can't see proper. You gotta have to take off your cloak boy."

Stohlen looked up slowly, his hood falling away as he did to reveal his face. His bright green eyes pierced through the lycan's air of smugness and peered into his eyes.

"ACK! A Rhean! Ain't servin' no half-blooded freak o' the dirt. You gonna leave right now!" The lycan spit out as he reached for his dagger, fumbling with it.

Stohlen simply smiled back at him.

"Oh come now, that's no way to treat your customers."

The Bartender finally drew his weapon and pointed it at Stohlen.

"I canna treat you any way I do like you dirt blooded freak. If I want ta......ah.....where did your lady friend get off ta?"

The bartender didn't have long to contemplate the disappearance of Morlanna as she suddenly dropped from the ceiling and nimbly disarmed the lycan with several well placed jabs and kicks. She then cartwheeled out of his range, landing spectactularly on the end of the bar.

The other patrons of the bar looked up at the commotion, steel glinting as they drew their weapons and stood up slowly. Stohlen stood up and charmingly spoke to them, his hands raised and empty.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen....I'm sure there's a way we can resolve our differences without resorting to us killing you all."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

A few minutes later, a group of Light-Scarred and Zombie children came upon the Durhian, (having been chasing around an unfortunate pig) quickly began poking him, then darting back as they heard some low groans that attested to him being alive. The Light-Scarred quickly teleported back to their village for help and the Durhian was brought into the house of the village's chief.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

The Durhian groaned and his eyes flickered as he slowly began to wake up. His right hand, gloved in leather, began to twitch.

"Where...where am I?"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Hey, you're awake now!" replies a female voice above the Durhian.

As his eyes readjust to the light in the house, he can see a young girl over him holding a damp towel as she continues, "You're in Inari, a village in Môsôoriku. We found you around 3 kilometres away, unconscious and on the ground. Who are you and what happened to you? Actually, as well, what's the last thing you remember?"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

A group of nine Boquabian, Elf, Human and Centaur children looked to the High Priest and High Priestesses, smiling wide in front of the float they'd helped to decorate. Studded out in the best iridescent papers, painted over with the prettiest, smoothest hues, it was a handsome replication of the temple where Uburra-Namall and Jassi had manifested to Draias and his band. Since that time, that temple had been decked with brightly colored flowers, bows and ribbons, and so the float was, as well.

And at the small play temple, there would be a telling of the divine manifestation, from Draias' own words, via one of the numerous journals he'd left behind.

"So..." a small purple-haired girl with green hair smiled a snaggle-toothed smile, "Whaddya think? It's great, right?"

Maiya put her hands on her hips, cracking a smile, "Well, I can certainly say it's creative, but...well, what do you think, Qorri...is it beautiful?"

Tossing back deep violet hair over her shoulder, and putting her hands on her hips to feign her best 'Condescending High Priestess of the Order of Beauty' act, Qorri stepped forward. Beautiful blue eyes scanned every inch of the construct, at every side, and gentle fingers caressed the materials, inhaling the scent of a rainbow flower array.

The children watched her inspection with growing anxiety coloring their faces. A centaur girl tried to run up and correct a flower arrangement she'd worked on, but Umonn put a hand on her shoulder. It was too late to correct any mistakes now.
So, they simply waited, half in anticipation, half in apprehension, until Qorri turned to face them again.

[Philote]

"Then I have even more to watch over than I first expected. I am curious as to the nature of these Gills, can you take me to inspect them or their leader?"

(I'll RP the embassy leaders if you do the Gills)

[Marvelous Miscreant]

The Durhian looked away, his gaze becoming confused and distant. He struggled with his foggy memory to recall something, who he was, where he came from, his name, anything. But the fog was too thick, his memory a blank. A few flashes of sound and color came through, something horrible had happened. He dug deeper, clinging to the fragment of a memory and all at once it came back to him.

The horrible monstrous creature of nightmare that had torn open the sky and limbered into the world above Gammara. the terrible nightmare creatures that had killed and slaughtered thousands. The world had been under attack and he'd been at the center of it. The sights and sounds came flooding back to him in horrible vibrancy.

Then the more memories flooded his mind. He'd fought back with a weapon. A weapon that out-powered even the gods. A horrible weapon that came from an even worse place. A place that whispered dark secrets and poisoned the soul. A dark, horrible, terrible place. He'd been afraid of what he'd become. The power had been too much. It scare him and he'd run then.....nothing. The rest was still just out of his minds reach.

He opened his eyes again. He realized he'd curled into a ball, clutching his right hand with his left. The female who's addressed him looked on with a worried expression. The Durhian, relaxed himself and calmed down. He looked at his gloved right hand and pulled off the leather mitt. Beneath it a smooth metal surface gleamed back at him. His hand was made of metal. His name came back to him, slipping out on his tongue before he could realize it was his..."Aox...My name is Aox"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

The girl looks at Aox's hand, then at his face, then back at the hand, before slowly gasping out, in a tone of utter surprise and amazement, "A-Aox? As in Aox Gearan Smithan? The one who fought Kagehana in the Legendary Tournament and defeated the Monsterking?"

She squeals out loud in joy, attracting the attention of several males from multiple races before crying out, "Can I get your autograph?"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

The children clung to Umonn, hoping for his reassurance. Surely, the Fair Goddess could find beauty in their work, right? And Jassi and the Virgins would know their good intentions. The High Priest did not speak to soothe their worries, but could not hold back a coy smile.

"Well...?" Maiya mused aloud, putting her hands on her hips, "What is your judgment, High Priestess?"

Qorri sighed, crossing her arms, "Well, from what I can tell, if the Fair Goddess were here to see this piece of art for herself, she would probably say--"

It's quite lovely, children, I assure you.

The familiar voice, sweet to the mortals' ears and noses, hung in the air like morning mist, though its source did not. As soon as the High Priest and High Priestesses looked up to see the Fair Goddess in the air, she and her retinue were already passing over into some other part of the city. In their wake, the signature rainbow. They would follow it to the center of the city, where Uburra-Namall would make her appearance, as she always did.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"I...What?" Was all Aox could manage to say. The battle still fresh in his mind, the girl's sudden starstruck demeanor was a confusing event. How did she know his name? How did she know what he'd done.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Oh my gods, you really are Aox! The most powerful hero who took on a god by yourself! We ne-"

One of the males clamps his hand on the girl's mouth and drags her away as she continues talking in a highly animated fashion and a Zombie speaks up, "Based on what Aika was saying, you're Aox Gearan Smithan, Hero of Crav, right? We'll need to let everyone know that you've been found! Lord Crav has been looking for you for 400 years!"

[Marvelous Miscreant]

In the heart of Spectropolis, where people from all races and all walks of life celebrated together in a kaleidoscopic whirls of color, noise and sweet smells, several cloaked figures danced in and out of the crowds. Nobody paid them much mind as they twirled and slicked through sea of bodies. To the casual viewer they appeared to be normal people enjoying the festival. however, had anyone watched them closely they would see their quick hands and sneaky fingers dipping and picking at the purses, coin pouches and wallets of every person too happy to notice. After they'd pilfered every pocket in the square they slicked back into the alleys and disappeared. Should anyone notice their money missing, they'd never find the culprits.

The Ravencloaks were just that good.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox's head reeled. 400 years, he'd been gone for 400 years. The shock was too much, the room started to spin. He held his head and whispered.

"No....No, it can't be. 400 years....I've been gone so long....so long...."

Aox became wobbly is eyes rolled back in his head as the stress of being so far out of his time got to him. He fell foward and with a solid clunk landed face first on the floor.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

The Zombies quickly jumped forward and began to raise Aox back up as a voice at the door said, "Don't bother. We'll be taking him to Crav. I wanted an excuse to see Von Trapt anyway."

The Zombies turned around as the unconscious Aox was lifted gently from them by a gust of wind to see Magnas and Gravas. Despite the 400 years since the Nightmare Invasion, neither had changed much as far as the people were concerned. The Flowing Princess replied, "True, and I kinfd of need an excuse to put in a good word about Waverider to Crav. Gotta help her out, especially after that Beauty Goddess got children with Crav. You'll all be rewarded for your time."

A chorus of thank you's echoed out as the two left to go to Spectropolis as quickly as possible.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Wonderful. Beautiful. Sensational." Thither said, throwing his arms wide. "Anyplace you'd like to visit in particular?

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Hmmm, I wouldn't say they have a leader. But there is one that garners great respect. If my profile of this man is correct, we should find him....."

------------------------

The building was plain white, slightly small, and sitting submerged halfway in the water. The back half was placed squarely in the lake, a small opening allowing the water to come in.

The Spymaster, in the guise of a normal watcher, lead Anima into the building through it's wooden doors. Within was cool, and deathly quiet. They were not able to see over the crowed of silent onlookers, tourists. The Spymaster let her presence flair for just a moment, a dark violent killing intent. Not much, just enough to make people shift uncomfortable out of their way.

A single Gill stood, dark green and clothed only in clothe pants, ankle deep in the water. Around him stood an assortment of other, similarly clothed people, eight in all, some with wooden weapons. It  around itself, met each one in the eye, then nodded.

The response was immediately, and the water churned as the group made their way towards him. The first, a Lycanthrope by the look of him, took a swing and ended up on his back in the water. Another Gill and a Dragonborn were next, The Gill with knives and the Dragonborn swinging a mock sword. It moved again, and somehow blocked the sword with the other Gills knives before kicking him into the dragonborn. The sword flew through the air, ans the Gill caught it as the Golath came upon him wielding a huge hammer. The Gill brought the weapon down on his wrist, deftly disarming him before bringing it painfully across the Goliaths face, once twice. The big man collapsed in the water, and the Gill threw the sword into the Shifter that had hung back and gotten a bead on it with a bow. The sword crackled as it flew, end over end, through the air, and on impact released a great burst of wind hat threw the shifter into the back wall.  

The Vandal was next, bring down a staff toward the Gills head. He dodeged to the left and with a snakelike move got within the arc of the Vandals swing. He wrapped an arm around her neck and snaked his other one over and under the two arms on her right side, trapping them. "I surrender Teacher." She managed to squeak. "Don't throw me."

He let her go with a soft laugh and she scampered off to the side, he staff left floating in the water. The Gill looked around, and smiled. "Weren't there two more of you?"

A blue light erupted from the far end of the studio, from under the water. The Draemar hiding under the waves stood up and the water between her and the Gill condensed and froze. The Gill leapt to avoid it, and the Wavefolk exploded from the water near him, leg drawn back. The two collided in midair and a short but furious struggle ensued that resulted in the wavefolk slamming face first into the ice with the Gill on top, the ice busting and breaking apart. The Draemar made a few quick hand motions, and out of the water shot rods of ice. The Gill snatched up the Vandals discarded staff, blocking each individual rod as it came before chucking it like a javelin into her chest. The same burst exploded from the tip and the staff dissolved, throwing the Dreamar into the back wall, from which she collapsed into the water.

The crowd went wild as the Gill helped the Wavefolk to her feet and sent her to retrieve the Dreamer. "Clever, very clever."

He turned back to the people and bowed. "Thank you, thank you. In a world such as this, in which exists many different people and fighting styles exist, to confine yourself to one at a time is the height of foolishness. 'Jack of all trades, master of none," you may think, and to that I say 'better to be than a master of one.' On the constantly changing plains of conflict, you should not be like a mountain, stiff and unmoving." He bends down, cups his hand, and takes a scoop of the water from around his feet and showing it to the people. "Be like water. Be like sand. Fill the vessel required of you. That is what this school is about: adaptability."

"His name is Lee." Said Anima's companion quietly. "He is changing the way fights are carried out in this city."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

As the rainbow bridge touched down, Uburra-Namall, the Children, Jassi and the Heroes descended on their Pegasi with enrapturing divine bravado. On their descent, the air was seized with whirling sparkly bits of nothing, and breezes perfumed by the Fair Goddess' laughter. Wisps of noonday sunlight, and ribbons of evening, and streamers of darkest midnight streaked through the air all, and the mortals marveled at the beauty of the whole procession.

Crowds hastened near, closing in all around, if only to touch one of the divine retinue, or gain from them some precious thing as a memento. The cries rang out from all sides, and the love goddess gladly entertained them. She kissed cheeks and foreheads, and shook hands, and hugged, and patted heads, and her train took her lead. The procession down the street was slow, but well worth the lax pace it took, for all the love and affection each member of the pantheon received.

"Welcome back, Goddess!"

"How long it's been since last we met!"

"Do you remember me, Mistress Jassi?"

"Might I kiss you, Fairest Goddess?"

"Remember last year, when you played with my boys, Children?"

"Tyran, you're the best!"

"What did you bring us this time, Fair One?"

To the last question, Uburra-Namall was caught off guard. Khadai, Jissei, the Seven-Sin Sisters and the Eight-Virtue Virgins knew that they were to remain invisible until needed. They had already gone off about their business, leaving she and the others to their work as planned. Yet Uburra-Namall had completely forgotten to dismiss their Pegasi, as they busied themselves with their Moral Tug of War. Fortunately, Jassi noticed the error, and was not so flighty-minded when it came to such things.

She turned back to the first of the empty-saddled Pegasi, stroked its back, and replied to the masses, "Well, you didn't think we'd forget to bring you all something special, did you?"

And with two soft pats to that creature's saddle, all seventeen empty saddles were loaded up to capacity with all manner of fruit, cakes, pastries, sweets and other delectables. Jassi even stepped down from her own Pegasus, and filled that saddle with honey, fruit, candies and other delightful treats, too. And as she led the procession on foot, she would start to regale the masses with tales of the vast and ever-changing afterlife, established in the Plane of Creativity and the Plane of Love and Life.

Uburra-Namall smiled to herself. No wonder Jassi was on the side of good. She was good.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"Well...where's your favorite spot in all of Spectropolis? We could go there. I love to see the city through another's eyes."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Duerkripe had been walking around without a care in the world, those around her marveling at how things became more festive as she passed by, when the rainbow carrying other gods had passed over her head and she'd followed it to the place it ended up at, her curiousity causing the lights that popped up behind her to flash alternating colors.

Arriving just as Jassi began handing out food, Duerkripe grinned and walked forward, the notes from her footsteps now playing out the tune of a hymn to Uburra-Namall's greatness, "So then what kind of ingredients are in that food? I do hope they're something fun, like wine."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Location: Susano'o, a small village north of Suzaku

From a small, highly decorated shrine-like area with many decorations dedicated to both Kagehana and Aox, the sound of a flute playing to the tune of someone singing could be heard.

♪Sen'no kaze ni
Sen'no kaze ni natte
Ano o'okina sora o
Fukiwatate imasu
Ano o'okina sora o
Fukiwatate imasu♪

Inside the dark interior, a pair of Shadow-Scarred, one male, the other female, stood on both sides of what looked like an open grave, with a fully clothed Shadow-Scarred lying within. The male finished playing the last few notes, raising up the end of flute to emphasize the tone, then laid it down next to a white and black katana laying at the side of the female within.

"Ancestor... We... know that you didn't wish to be disturbed until the day you're needed once more, but..." the male began quietly, looking away and holding his hands tightly behind his back.

"We felt it would be best to let you know that Aox has appeared in this world once more," finished the female even more quietly.

"The only ones who know right now are the gods of Môsôoriku, us and those living in Inari and now you and maybe the Watchers. Everyone's been told to keep until Lord Crav learns of Aox's survival... and..." he trails off, unsure of what else to say.

......

Silence

......

The girl began crying, a set of white slashing tattoos on her hands clearly showing as she placed them on the grave's side, "Toshiro-aniki, do you think that Ancestor will ever awake from sleep? Aox will probably need someone he knows other than a god to help him adjust to this era."

Toshiro moves to his sister's side and begins comforting her, a tattoo of red leaves showing on his legs, "Hopefully, Maya, Lady Koneko will be able to help him."

He looks towards the ceiling, "Please."