Lords of Creation, The Second Age

[Zaleramancer]

"We should start at her home. I'll explain along the way."  She said as the emotions vanished from her face like water spilled on the desert sands. Straightening her back, the shifter started down an alley, robes swishing against the cobbled street.

Paean pulled a feather from his clothes and whispered to it, then threw it into the air. It exploded into the form of a red bird and swooped off towards his wagon as he moved to follow the woman.

"I am Amani of the Lovari tribe. My friend wa- is a human named Elizabeth. We've been friends for some time. Whenever my tribe visited the city, we would get together and exchange stories and talk about things."

The sounds of the crowds began to echo once more down the dusty streets as they left the less traveled paths of the city.

"A few months ago, Elizabeth told me about some new merchants. Odd little men, they were, selling all sorts of delicious fruits. She told me they were nothing less than the best thing she'd ever tasted and tried to offer me some, but I refused. My kind are not given to a.. vegetarian diet to begin with, and I did not trust the fruits. They seemed too perfect. They looked like something painted, not grown. Lizzie.. She did not take my distrust seriously."

As they entered the crowds, the people parted without seeming to notice the young gods and their companion. Hazet Junior hummed under his breath, little shining symbols lazy drifting from him every few minutes. No need to let someone interrupt.

"Over the next few visits, she started talking more and more about the merchants and their wares. Her home became a barren place as she started selling her very possessions for more.. I decided to act. I informed a few Witnesses of the merchants and they told me they would return once they had investigated."

"I did not hear from them again."

"My friend began wasting away before my eyes. Each time I visited her she was worse. I felt I could do nothing, as the merchants were never to be found when I was with Lizzie. Neither did anyone I turned to for help. I tried investigating the merchants, but few had heard of them. There were only whispers of  strange disappearances. People who were never heard from again."

"I was so worried that I stopped leaving the city. If I could just stay with her, perhaps she could be saved. I tried to send a message to those high in the ranks of the Witnesses, but it never worked. The messages were forgotten or misplaced or destroyed. It was as if something were foiling all attempts to get help."

"And then came today."

Amani came to a stop in front of an abandoned home, built in typical Spectropolis style, made for vertical expansion. It was not so much a house as a rickety tower of sun-dried clay bricks glued together with motar and prayers. Through the veil of street-awnings, mischievous children could be seen running across the flat roof, jumping over the gaps alleys created.

"I hope we can find something inside."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"You should never eat something a stranger gives you." The Babysitter says almost silently to herself, a scolding delivered more out of habit than the presence of anyone. "This is serious."She said more normally. "And apparently not illegal, either the Witnesses would have gotten the Watch involved already. This is her house? How long has she been gone?"

She spotted the playing kids and grinned. "Hold that thought." She said, lifting off. She flouted up, level with the rooftop and called out, "Oyyyyyyyye!" The children stopped their game, running over with excitement to see their own personal god floating before them. She reaches behind her back and produces a purple velvet bag the size of her head dotted with starts and moons and pulled closed with gold string. Not closed enough, however, to hide the fact that it was absolutely stuffed with sweets.

"Who wants to help me out?" She said cheerfully. "If even one of you can tell me anything about a reallllllly skinny human girl, or some strangers you've never seen before around here, I'll give you all this." She shakes the bag, for emphasis.

This was weird, and if there was anyone you could trust to notice weird things it's the local bored ragamuffins. "But no lies." She added in a sort of playful teacher tone. "I'll know, and you know I'll know, and we all know that big fibbers don't get presents when the moon goes up at the end of the festival."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Away from the grandeur of the festival and sandy Spectropolis, far, far, away in the southwest lay an as yet undiscovered land of ice and snow, the only respite from the biting cold being the hot springs fueled by an underwater volcano and the only sound, aside from the bubbling of the springs, the biting wind that blew down from the mountains. Cold, barren, lifeless....

The sky above this frozen land rippled very slightly, bulged inward like a kitten trying to find it's way out from under a blanket. There was a slight sound like a teacup breaking, then coming back together, and down from the heavens, barely larger than a mote of dust, floated a twinkle. A tiny little glowing grain of sand. It mixed among the snow flurries above that land, whipped by the wind, spiraling down, down, down, until it gently touched down upon the snowy, lifeless earth.

The resulting surge of energy covered the entire world, almost undetectable by those who knew not what it was. Around the world people ran fast, danced longer, fought harder. The tired felt awake and the awake felt wired, ready to move and love and live as though what they had been doing before had been but a pale shadow of the real thing. Those who had used it before knew it as the energy of creation.

On the island, the barren island, life began to spring from the nothing. Trees, magnificent jungle trees with large waxy pink leaves sprang up from the snow. More trees, smaller than the others, the leaves still a bright pink, exploded between the larger ones and small white flowers pushed up beneath the snow layer. All manner of plantlike swept across the island, and with it was born strange alien life. Something scampered in a tree, it's fur silky white as it swung along thick vines that coiled around the trees with its squid-like arms. On the ground a boar like creature stuck it's trunk up to reached up with it's trunk to eat of some red berries growing on a bush. In the rivers and streams strange fish, clear enough to see their blood flowing through their veins, swam and fed on little crustaceans. In the jungle, something cried out as a creature with sharp claws flew out of a tree using the skin-flaps connecting its arms and legs and bit down hard.

What lived here now had changed nothing about the island. The life here had complemented the cold climate, not altered it in any way. Snow and pink leaves spiraled together down onto the new jungle floor.

And there, on the ground where the twinkle had landed, grew a small pink flower. A little gust of wind came and blew off a single petal, a petal that seemed possessed by some inner light, a vital force. The wind carried it off into the pink/white jungle.

(Alter Terrain, baby.)

[Philote]

Murozond tilted his vision to the horizon, feeling the change in power as a new Spirit made its way down to rule over the world. While Anima was busy preparing with Von Trapt in Eternus, Murozond was more attuned with watching the needs of mortals as he tried to restore the domain of power. The new vigor brought forth by this new wave of creation made Murozond's work slightly more difficult as the less wishes the mortals had, the harder it would be to draw power out of them. There was little to be done about the matter though, save to investigate the matter further once he was freed with his workings with mortals.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Von Trapt was struck by Anima's forwardness on the matter. He bowed his head in respect.

"I...um...Yes. I'd be honored to stand with you. But don;t you think your rushing back into this a bit fast? You've only just come back and the world has changed quite a bit while you were...away."

[Philote]

"I'll become no more ready by waiting around. The Spymaster has filled me in on some of the events that I have missed and I feel that it will be best to reinvigorate the Eternites by publicly joining forces with you."

Anima moves around the room and points out towards the horizon from one of the windows within the college. In the distance, the red tower that marked the center of Eternus stood strong. "I would like to hold a ceremony at the base of the Mage Tower once festivities in Spectropolis have finished and more Eternites have returned home. We can make a public declaration to the world and I can mark the occasion by displaying my power in front of the leaders of the races much as I did in Spectropolis."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The cold forest at the edge of the world was alive, and the wind pushed the petal through it, around trees and animals. And as it was born aloft through the forest a strange thing began to occur: the twirling pink leaves and soft flakes of snow seemed to be pulled along in its wake, following the little petal is swirling looping patterns. The wind never seemed to push them apart, and though the petal and its entourage dipped, they never went so far as to touch the ground. Soon the swirl was moving faster. It burst from the treeline of the snowy jungle and swirled in place, hanging in the air. It was impossible to tell where the land ended, and the ice-flow began. Then the wind picked up again and blew the procession out across the ice, to the northwest.

Soon the ice gave way to open sea, and the petal dipped, and dived into the sea. It darted back and forth below the waves, moving like a snake through the clear waters. It dove right into the middle of a school of fish, matching it's movements to theirs. Then it shot upwards, back through the vale onto the surface.

Where it had traces its trail through the sea, more things emerged from the water. Fish with large yellow fins leaped out of the sea and, pumping their fan-like fins with determination, took to the air like a swarm of bugs.

The petal continued on, heedless.

(Create life)

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Von Trapt nodded in consent.

"It promises to be a memorable occasion considering the date."

He chuckled before adding in a more serious voice, "I will assist you you in any way you need. All you need do is ask."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The Petal was moving faster now, leading its little procession swooping and diving between the waves of the open sea until it came upon a new place. Islands, a little collection of five that had already felt the touch of life upon them. Swampish, and with strange new creatures moving under the waters around and between them. It moved in, twisting its trail through the branches of the dark trees. As it did so, as it brushed against each one, they seemed to grow taller. Dark purple flowers bloomed amongst branches that had never known them before.

Curios glassy eyes tracked its progress from the water. The Fishfolk had never seen quite such a thing as this in their home.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

The docks outside Ah-Lomas were humming with activity, with every pier bubbling with activity.  Every pier save one. The length of Pier 47 was cordoned off by bright yellow strips of cloth, marked with Durhian Symbols for Caution, warding off curious bystanders who looked on as several Durhian men dressed in smart grey coats investigated the scene.

One Durhian, a bald fellow who sported an abundance of perfectly groomed facial hair swaggered down the pier with an air of Authority. His name was Chief Wallum, Head of Ah-Lomas’ Peacekeeping Force, The Investigators. Wallum had arrived on the pier moments ago after being alerted that the scene of a routine of a GTV may be connected to the Infamous Ravencloaks.

“Private Fotz! What’s the verdict?” Wallum called out to a wiry young Durhian, also dressed in the Investigators’ uniform grey coat.

Private Fotz looked up from the sheet he had been reading and replied calmly, “The evidence doesn’t lie sir. They were here. And witness testimonies place several known members in the vicinity on the night of the Theft at the National Gammara Bank. We’re certain they stole the ship that was docked here.”

Chief Wallum grunted in a noncommittal manner, “Well, if they headed out to sea they’re out of our jurisdiction. Figures, the highest profile criminal to ever saunter through Ah-Lomas and once again the Investigators fail to apprehend him. Our track record is abysmal.”

“Sir,” Fotz chimed in “, according to the captain of the stolen ship. They said they were heading to Spectropolis.”
“What? They just happen to let slip where they were headed? I find that hard to believe.”

“No Sir, actually according to the his account they spoke directly to him telling him to quote ‘Give a message to the Investigators personally’. The message they gave him to relay continued to state that they were headed to Spectropolis to ‘Score some prime loot’.”

“And that’s all they said?”

“No sir, apparently, their leader had a few choice words for you personally. He stated you were a quote ‘fat bearded pig’ and that you should ‘catch me if you can. Ne-ner-ne-ner-nee’ He then proceeded to produce several rude and salacious gestures, sir.”

The chief Frowned, his brow furrowing, “Hmph, taught me will you! Private Fotz! Send our files on the Ravencloaks and Stohlen Redd to the Spectropolis City Watch via the Air Brigade. We may not be able to catch them, but we can at least help a more organized force do so.”

“Sir?!” Fotz exclaimed.

“Cram it Fotz we all know The Investigators are the joke of all Peacekeepers in Gammara. Just send those files already.”

“Yes, Sir!” Fotz creid as he sprinted of to send the files. Six Hours later, Spectropolis would know a little more about their latest criminal mastermind.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

As Aox collapsed, Magnas and Gravas rushed over and looked at each other and Aox before quickly channelling their power to put the poor hero into a dreamless sleep until they could get him to others who COULD help... most likely in Spectropolis. Gravas picked up Aox gently and the two left Skywing carrying Aox to where Crav was unknowingly waiting.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Having apparently finished with the Crafting God and the Spymaster, Jhella wandered throughout the areas of Spectropolis observing everything she could of the culture in the city, walking through the streets, playing games at booths and trying out food as much as one could possibly do so without any mortal coin.

[Zaleramancer]

"Mahka. Miss, Missus, Madame. Any will do." She let a ring of red smoke puff from her lips and into into the air, "I'm ... flexible with names."

"At any rate, I understand why you'd have trouble trusting a stranger. So take this as a little bit of hospitality. No strings attached."

Miss Mahka made a rapid flicking motion with her hand and a slightly singed looking card appeared.

"If you want to talk about, ah, business transactions or maybe something less.. formal, feel free to send me a line."

She flicked her slowly vanishing cigarette butt off the roof and glanced up. One of the sorcerous constructs, a sparkling green snake darted rapidly down.

"Hopefully, I'll see you soon, mysterious stranger."

She raised a hand and caught hold of the snake as it dove, leaping onto it as it slithered through the sky like green lightning out of sight, hidden behind the other fireworks and living illusions.

The singed card fluttered downwards towards Stohlen.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Stohlen snatched the singed card from the air and twirled in between his fingers. He looked down at it and smiled ever so slightly.

"My, my, my....Morlanna, it seems we may have stumbled upon the missing link in my plan," he grinned.

Sauntering over to Stohlen, Morlanna asked calmly, "Are you sure, S?"

Stohlen chuckled softly and turned to face his companion. His eyes twinkled with sly cunning, as if he knew far more than he should. With the unfiltered confidence he replied, "Absolutely."

Stohlen studied Morlanna for a moment before turning away quickly and approaching the edge of the building.

"Now, come along," he called back, "we've got an appointment with Mr. Smock to keep."

"Yes, Sir!"

Together, the two thieves leaped down from the roof and sneaked quietly away through Spectropolis's many winding allies.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Excuse me, son? Do you have a moment to spare for an old man?" Came a voice, graveled and ruined by age, from the shadows of an awning.

Despite himself, Fotz stopped as an old Milteo lurched out of the shadows. His face was so wrinkled as too look like a woodcut, and his whiskers and eyebrows fell off his face and dragged in the street. He was stooped with age, supporting himself on a cane that looked to snap in twin under the weight of his jagged old claws. He was dressed modestly, but each piece of his clothing was well pressed and cared for, with care given down to the slightest detail, and he wore a gentle little smile.

"Sorry to stop you on such pressing business, but if you would have it in your heart to help out an old copper," he said, fidgeting under his cloak and extracting the sterling shield of Spectropolis, presenting it to the young man, "I'd be eternally grateful."

"Wha...?" Fotz started to say, before the old Milteo cut him off.

"You're wondering how I know what your running off to do." He said, a statement of fact. "Simple. You wear the uniform of an Alabastra peacekeeper, and your coming down this street with an urgent look trying to conceal a file in that bag of yours. It's peeking out, just a little."

Fotz quickly saw to that.

"As to where you're sending that, you have a faint smell of sea salt on you. As your headed for the air brigade, that means this is urgent. Combining these two facts along with the hearsay of the city, that file is about the famous Ravencloak Thieves who escaped by boat from this continent sometime last night. A ship leaving from Pier 47 (That bit of bird muck on your boot, son, is from the Blue Footed Snagrat which congregate a Pier 47 during mating season), a Pier that deals almost exclusively with cargo to and from the continent of Spectropolis."

"Wha...?"

"So you are sending that file to Spectropolis." He pulls a letter out from under his cloak and places it in the man stunned hand. "Please carry this with you. With all the recent troubles there's been a run on the post and I'm afraid I can't bully my way through. Of course, you can." The old Milteo extends a hand and lays it on his shoulder. "You get that to a Watch Captain named Gilgamesh." He pats him twice of the shoulder before pushing him along on his way with his large, old, hand. "Remember son." He calls after. "Gilgamesh. If you don't know him when you see him, ask around. There's not a soul in town who doesn't know him."

With that, he turn and hobbles back into the ally from which he'd emerged.

[Philote]

"Then may I ask for you to keep a secret? Not for long or from many, but I need to present a certain status during this early time of my return" Anima asks.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Private Fotz wheezed and coughed as he struggled to maintain his frantic pace, sprinting through Ah-Lomas' city center towards the the Air Brigade's city office. As he pushed himself to keep running, his head spun with confusion at the Old Milteo's appearance. Whoever he was, he was brilliant, a master sleuth for sure. But what was a peacekeeper from Spectropolis doing in Ah-Lomas? And why did he stop a member of the Ah-Lomas Investigators for a simple delivery? There had to be more to this.

Distracted, Fotz didn't notice the rather tall lamppost in his way and with a loud and comical "Clang" he collided head first with it and landed flat on his back.

Fotz groaned as his vision swam. three of everything circled his vision slowly coming back together as he regained his senses. As he stared into the sky and his vision normalized, a sign came into focus above him. It read "Air Brigade" in brightly painted, White letters. Immediately Fotz's mission jumped to the front of his mind and leap back onto his feet and dashed up the front steps and through the open doors.

Inside, the building was packed with shouting, frustrated Durhians and Milteos waving various packages and envelops as they pushed their way to the front. Fotz groaned as he realized he'd have to get through the mob.

"Official Investigator Business! One Side! Move Out Of The Way" He called out, shoving his way through the masses of clueless people.

"Let's Go! One Side, Out Of The Way! Yes, That Means You! Make A Path! Get...OUT OF THE WAY!"

Finally he stumbled out of the pressing bodies and was pressed against one of the many teller station. A bored looking zombie looked back at him.

"Private Fotz of the Ah-Lomas Investigators. I need this file sent to the Spectropolis City Guard Immediately." He managed to gasp, "Oh, and I need to get this to Watch Captain Gilgamesh..."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"I understand, consider my lips...sealed" Von Trapt replied, emphasizing the promise by miming zipping his lips.

[Philote]

"I've been reduced to an Avatar" Anima states "Stripped of my power by a domain that demands perfection. Guiding these mortals is the last role that I have left and I would like to carry this role out to its fullest until my brothers return."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Mr. Tomes!" came a call from above the Sonia and the brothers.

From out of the sky, down along flash street, and evil black shadow descended from the sky toward them. It was jet black, it's talons and beak seemingly sculpted from obsidian, it feathers so shear it was as though you could cut yourself on them, its eyes knowing nothing of love and everything of hate. The Snipe, the Lord of the Southern Skies. The King of Birds.

The mailman.

It landed before the foursome, and it was only then you could see the intricate harness and saddle, the large bags hanging empty at its sides, and the be-goggled Rhean sitting astride it. He took his legs out of the stirrups and slid off the back of the bird, running up to Hither. "Mr. Tomes, thank goodness I've found you. I......I......I......."

He was looking at Sonia. His amazed eyes looked her up and down. "My lady......" he said in awe. Hither cleared his throat. The stunned Rhean looked back at him and was met with Hither Tomes patented I am in an important meeting and if you want to keep your job this had better be important look. It was pretty famous in the office. Some people fainted when it was turned on them.

The messenger started to stammer an answer, but then looked at his bosses brothers and remembered something sent out in a company wide memo before the three had left. So, he swallowed the answer he was going to give, and then said. "It's Blackmoor Mills, sir." he said carefully. "It turns out they were screwing us."

The color drained from Hither's face, and knuckles went white from how tightly he closed his fists. "Stupid bastards, they really did it." he said quietly. He turned to the group, "I am so sorry, it appears something has come up at the main office."

"You are not seriously going back to work!" Thither exploded. "Seriously man? I mean, really?"

"This is important, Thither." He said back. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a bank notice. He walked past Thither, and handed it to Yon. "This will give you access to my Spectropolis account. My way of apologizing for leaving so suddenly."

Yon took the note, and cocked an eyebrow at Hither. But the durhian paid no notice as he turned to Sonia. Reaching out, he took her hand. "My lady, my apologies. Would I had the choice, I would remain in your company for the entire week." He gently kissed her hand, and for a moment regarded her with great sadness in his eyes.

The Alabastra Gods were joyous, kind, and loving gods. What was about to happen would hurt them dearly.

Turning away he leaped up behind the Snipes Pilot. The bird was a two seater, its saddle a prototype for the companies ventures into transit. That wold have to wait, Hither decided. He waved one final goodbye as the bird beat it's mighty wings, took a run up that scattered tourists and stalls, and took off into the air. The plot turned around and shouted over the din. "Are you sure you don't want to tell them?"

"It would be best for my brothers to remain out of the country for what's to come." He shouted back.

"What about the lady Sonia?"

"Our gods could not stop the coming conflict if they tried, only delay it. It's to far gone now. Let them enjoy this happiness while it lasts."

It was obvious to anyone who had all the information that the discontent between the two species of Crav was on the brink of boiling over, and Hither Tomes had a monopoly on information.

"What about you sir, surely you're in danger?"

"I will not sit by and allow my company to be reduced to ashes by this stupidity. The daily is to important. It is my duty as CEO to see it weathers the coming storm. I will leverage everything I have against anyone who threatens it."

Down on the ground, Thither watched his brother until he was merely a spec in the sky. "Flake." He said dismissively, shaking his head. "Still, I'd hate to be Blackmore right now. Hither only looks like that when he's going to destroy someone."