Lords of Creation, The Second Age

[Philote]

Anima looks between the Babysitter and the Reasonable, studying their expressions and words.

"I do not hold distrust for either of you" he says and then pauses "If this does not work, then I must warn you that you will not be forgiven."

Anima looks towards Murozond and nods. "If you are sure, then you may begin."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"I wasn't offering." He shouts quickly. "I was explaining my reasons for not doing it."

"Oh, do it!" shouts The Babysitter. "This is your chance to finally do something good with that thing. Make it yours." She smiles fondly and affects The Veterans strange accent. "Turn it into your own personal anti-son-of-a-bitch machine."

He looks down at the sword, his features hidden. The room can feel him deliberating.

The Babysitter just sighs. "What is it with the men in this family?" she says shaking her head. "One loss and you guys completely lose your nerve. You give up, forever. You, The Vet, Watchman-"

"I know exactly what you're trying to do." He says, looking up. He shakes his head in disgust and steps forward. "Don't think that comparing me and The Watchman will-"

"You're always talking about how he talks all big and makes empty promises and never actually does anything to help anyone because he's scared!" She yells back. "Well she needs help and you're scared. Now are you going to help her, or are you going to stand there and be a hypocrite?"

"But...I....you....." He struggled for a moment, before letting a look of complete resignation roll across his face. She had him in a trap. She'd strangled him with his own words. How? How off his game must he be that Sally, of all people, could do that? Then again, she did have a not unsubstantial amount of Zaya in her. "You win." he said flatly, advancing forward with the jagged sword and pointing it directly at the comatose Nova. "You can blame her if something goes wrong." He says to Anima. "I wanted noting to do with this."

He inserted it, just the tip, right into her chest. There was a slow, low hum, and like the sun gently rising over the horizon light began to stream down the sword into her. A steady stream of soft grey.

[Philote]

Murozond glides up next to The Reasonable and places a hand on his shoulder.

"I hope you're ready" Anima says before settling in to watch for the outcome.

From his palm, Murozond's smokey form begins to spread out and envelop The Reasonable in a cloak. In a moment, Murozond's form is gone and The Reasonable is left cloaked in a ghostly robe flowing up from Murozond's lamp acting as a burning censer on the floor. Energy flows from the cloak into The Reasonable's body in countless small sparks.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

It does. He obviously tries to keep himself composed during the process, but despite himself he can't help but shake at the blending of power taking place, at the feeling of another being inside of him. He nearly looses his nerve.

Then Sally reaches out and takes his hand in hers. It's a simple gesture, given thoughtlessly, and despite it all he soldiers on. The sword glows, sensing that these two beings connected by the Reasonable are not in balance, and acts automatically. It takes from Murozond and gives to Nova.

[Philote]

The flow of power begins to seep into Nova. Her translucent from begins to take definition, spreading out from the source of the blade as her body and clothes begin to refract the light in more noticeable ways. Her heart gives a thump as the power begins to reach the deeper parts of her being and the ground hums below.

"Do you feel it working" Murozond whispers in The Reasonable's ear.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"There's a flow." He says shakily. "You should feel it momentarily. It's bringing the two of you into an equilibrium. You'll get more tired as she regains her color."

[Philote]

The coloration begins to reach Nova's face. "Yes, Murozond feels it" he replies.

Nova begins to squirm as the energy refills her body and her face contorts into a frown. Suddenly, her eyes snaps open and she screams, writhing on the table as if trapped in a nightmare.

The hum coming from the ground grows louder the more Nova awakens, reverberating into a deep wave that travels through the ground. The wave travels below, bouncing through the tunnels of the Vandals, polishing them as it reached out into the dessert. Passing over the queen's chambers, it lavished them with riches.

Spreading out into the world, the wave courses through Alabastra. The kingdom there whirls with power. Kingdom and machine blends together as the structures of the land rise up as never before.

The kingdom continent, Eternus, shakes as the wave passes. Moss and vines are shaken loose from its mountain walls and the continent stands, made anew.

On the horizon, Hazet's many kingdom's glow. The origin and source of so many components of the domain absolutely glows with power. Castle's reign with now twice their height and riches pour from riches.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"AHHHHHH!" The Reasonable screams in response, hastily pulling his sword out and backing away, tripping over his own, feet, and falling over.

The Babysitter tries to hold her still. "Hey. Hey hey hey hey It's okay. It's alright. You're okay."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"....and that is unacceptable." Said a voice under the desert. Fomor-Evil slammed one chitinous fist onto the table a stared down Queen Night Shining Brightly. "If we handed over every Gravi warrior that ever committed a crime against you to Vandal law there would be no one left."

"If reunification is to be an option-" Started the Queen of the Vandals.

"We do not want reunification. We want to be recognized, not as one of your Vandal Variants, but as our own nation. We have as much right to this desert as you." Evil interrupted.

"Ha!" Shouted back Nights, covering her mouth with her hand. "Oh yes, of course you do. Because you help to grow the food along the Green Lines. And Tunnle System 4, you built that all by yourselves." She said.

"Don't even bring up system 4 again. That has been Gravi territory for 300 years, taken as fair spoils. We are not giving it back."

"The point was if you want to be recognized as a nation, and not a band of cutthroat bandits, you have to act like a nation. How are you going to sustain yourselves?"

"Those sort of changes will not come easily or quickly. I need time to beat that out the rest of them."

"You see, it is that sort of barbarism that..."  Night Shining Brightly trailed off, causing Fomor-Evil to lean forward. They had been at this all day, but she had never seen her opposite break off from a point like that. Usually such exchanges ended with he Watchman stepping between then and sending them to their corners for a fine minute cool down. She liked that, it made it seem like one of the professional fistfights that went on in the city. She was having so much fun.

The Watchman, currently seated between them with his head in his hands, looked up as well. "Your majesty?" He prompted.

"I..." she said dreamily, then shook her head as if to clear it. "I'm in charge," she said.

The Watchman and Evil exchanged glances.

"I...I...I'm the boss." she said, a distant look in her big green eyes. "Completely and totally I'm the boss. There is no other boss but me. I'm the boss of all the Vandals, de facto, and they'll do what I say. All their lives rest on my shoulders. All of them. I speak for every Vandal of the desert."

Silence filled the entire chamber like an oppressive cloud. "This is news?" asked Evil.

"I just....It's as though....I never realized how in charge and responsible I was until just now. It just...dawned on me. Yes." she said, looking off into deep space.

Silence again reigned in the chamber like a king. Evil finally turned to The Watchman. "Did she take something?"

"No." he said confused. "I was watching everything in the ro-"

"I have to leave." Nights said suddenly, startling both of them. "Something has happened, I think. Something important. To my...to my....my kingdom. Yes. Watchman, I have to leave. We can continue this anther day, yes? Because I am responsible, you understand. For my kingdom. Yes."

"Do you object to this, Queen Fomor-Evil?" He asks, stupefied by this whole situation.

"Fomor-Evil put her arms up on the table, crossing them in front of her mandibles. Her red eyes seemed to watch the entire room as she considered, before finally nodding. "Yes, I suppose so. Maybe Queen Nights should go and have a lie down and we can do this again in the morning."

The Watchman was about the throw up his hands and let out a scream of frustration that would have collapsed the chamber, but then he considered the situation. They were both still willing to talk, Nights Shining Brightly obviously couldn't continue in whatever fugue state she was in, and leaving early would allow him to fulfill his promise to the Babysitter. He chose to focus on these things, and not the fact that his day had been completely wasted. "Fine." he said. "We shall adjourn for today and pick this up in the morning, I'll send watchers with the time and place. Please allow the watchdogs to escort you both home and have a nice night."

"Yes." said Nights as she trundled toward the mouth of tunnel and out into the midday sun. Evil followed after her, swaggering with every step. The two bowed to one another, one a little more drunkenly than the other, and headed off in separate directions finked by The Veteran's faceless hounds.

The Watchman waved a hand and the light of the room was extinguished, casting the whole thing into darkness. He was the last t leave this place, and would have to dig a new one tomorrow. Still, he was relived despite himself. He had a day now to think and plan now that he had seen the Queens lay their issues bare against one another. But first he though he deserved to enjoy the rest of the festival. Stepping out of the dark and into the sunlight, he sought out The Veteran to relieve him. For today, at least, his job was done.

If only The Watchman had been a bit more perceptive, if only he could put together the Queens behaviors with what he would soon learn from the Reasonable about the Goddess of Kingdoms, then perhaps a great tragedy could have been averted.

(Bonus: Queen Nights Shining Brightly of The Vandals)


(Just imagine tan instead of blue.)

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The town of Sneaky Brook breathed a collective sigh of relief as the vines reaching out of the surf stopped growing. They could tell, the things had been snaking their way to the town that fast. Flotsams shipping warehouse was on the towns outermost edge and the things had completely covered one side and a mile of once luscious beach had been transformed into a swamp, with trees and weeds growing up right out of the sand. Well, mud now.

The mayor was just about to send word to Spectropolis when everything had suddenly stopped growing, and was now hastily reprising his note so that it was clear that the situation wasn't urgent. Indeed, people had stopped packing up and were now back to gawking at this new biome that was suddenly intruding in the normal arid Spectropolis Desert. Still, it wasn't moving toward the Green Belt anymore, so it seemed the danger had passed.

That's when the light came, a trail of shining things flowing through the sky like a flock of birds over the town. It shone like the sun and everyone bathed in its light found themselves relived, as if the exhaustion and stress of the day had simply flowed out of them. It followed the river, and in its wake the green belt seemed to grow and mature in an instant. It vanished quickly into the distance, leaving behind only the feeling and newly matured wheat that the farmers were already hustling to gather.

The mayor looked down at her carefully worded letter and tore it to pieces. Whatever it was, the city was going to find out in a minute anyway.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox lay almost deathly still as he slept. If Crav could not see the slow rise and fall of Aox’s chest he might think him dead. For the last hour Crav had watched the young hero, all the while pondering his return. Crav’s brow furrowed as he considered this turn of events.

“I am glad to have you return to me Aox,” The Earth god whispered quietly, “You were almost as a son to me. The day I lost you was one of the most painful days of my long life. I thought you to be lost forever. And now you’ve returned.”

Crav lifted his head and stared deeply into the dark, vaulted ceiling of his workshop as if searching for something.

“But why today. Of all days… on the anniversary of that horrible day. I fear some force, far bigger than any of us could hope to comprehend, is at work. So many things are happening and I don’t think we’ve seen the end of them.”

Crav’s gaze drifted back down to Aox, and a weary smile crossed the old God’s face.

“Sleep now, and when you wake I will help you back into this world that remembers you only as a story. For now, I must speak to the others.”

Crav slowly reached for his cane and shakily lifted himself from his chair. His cane tapped erriely as his crossed the tiled floor and left the darkened workshop.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Private Fotz continued to wander the the halls of the Arena, periodically stopping random strangers and asking if they might know where he could find Watch Captain Gilgamesh.

"Could you tell me where...No? Ok"

"Excuse me, might I ask if..."

"You there! Where can I find..."

"Pardon me..."

"Could you..."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Gravas suddenly stands up in Spectropolis' dome and asks, "Veteran! Babysitter! Anima! ... And... Murozond was it? Are any of you using power other than to revive Nova? The wind and water patterns to the north of Spectropolis have suddenly changed... not on any level that the mortals will notice for several years though."

(Passive use of Gravas' Perception 3 combined with both of her domains)

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Watch Captain Gil?" says an dwarf coming out of the lavatory. "Commentators box. You can hear him if you listen. What'cha do is go down this flight of stairs, see..."

-------

"Another brutal hit from Fomor-Small." Barsolono's voice rang out from his booth built into the side of the wall near the arena. An ingenious system of sorcery circles amplified the voice of whomever was inside, broadcasting their word throughout the huge arena. He leaned forward to get a closer look through the open window that let them see the ring. "Could this be it? Could this be...No! By the gods, he's getting up. This kid will just not go quit."

In the ring facing one another where a fomor-gravi who was currently playing to the booing crowed and a goliath picking his bloody frame up off the floor. The Gravi was big, bigger than any had ever seen besides their late queen, and in its thick shell were intricate carvings of various people being punched. He opponent, or what was left of him, wore nothing but shorts and torn tape around his fists. He was known in the boxing circles as "Mach 3" Marcus Gozel, and the crack spreading like spiderwebs off the Gravi's shell stood testament to the power of his punches.

She waited until he stood drunkenly to his feet, turned to the audience and feigned surprise, then whipped her fist across his face and sent him back to the floor, inspiring another round of fresh boos from the audience. She leaned down next to his, and theatrically put her hand to where her ear would be.

"It's such bad luck that such a prominent up and comer would have to meet Fomor-Small in the ring." Barsolono's voice echos through the arena. "Just a complete tragedy. OH MY GOD! IT'S THE GRAVITON DROP!"

Fomor-Small's gem shined under her shell as she leaped onto the the force field surrounding the ring and threw herself off of it, coming down elbow first on the fallen goliath. The poor boxer tried to scream, couldn't find the air for it, and finally passed out. A gong sounded as the field was brought down and healers rushed the ring. Fomor-Small stood up and threw her arms out, absolutely basking in the hatred of the audience.

"Gravitron Drop off the force field. Uburra-Namall, I have never seen such brutality in my life."  He continues as Gozel is carted away on a stretcher and the Fomor-Gravi is ushered out of the ring. She stops to blow a kiss to the announcers box before heading under into the waiting area. "Captain, you've been on the receiving end of that particular move of hers while on the job, haven't you? How did you describe it to me?"

Gilgamesh voice fills the air, and he says solemnly. "It was as though the weight of 400 years of war was bearing down on me."

"And doesn't the audience love it."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The Reasonable and The Babysitter both look at one another, and as one shake their heads no. The Reasonable gets up, and has to shout over Nova's screaming. "What change? Change how?"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Gravas closes her eyes for a few seconds then begins speaking, her voice made to appear to originate next to each person's  ears "A few seconds ago, the water was flowing as it normally does for Spectropolis, however suddenly a ripple came down the river, a ripple of power being used to create life."

She releases a small breath and continues talking, "From the ripples I've been able to feel it's been travelling up the river for a while and made the area around it starting from the sea into a swamp. It appears to have finished, but as for who's doing it, I can't tell. That's not my area of expertise."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"The swamp is Peans territory." He shouts to The Babysitter.

"Yeah, but he wouldn't expand it." she shouts back. "I'm not even sure he likes it."

"Why would anyone else expand it?" He shouts.

"I don't know." She shouts back.

Why was all this stuff happening today, The Reasonable thought. The Watchman should be worrying about this sort of stuff. He looks down at Nova, who still hadn't stopped convulsing. He had a mystery entity headed this way. He had Pantheo coming back. He stood up straight. This was the time to show how he could handle stress and crisis. He points to The Babysitter. "Stay with Nova. I'll go and investigate this myself." He says in a perfectly authoritative voice. Then he turns to Gravas and says, sounding slightly more tired "I would feel much better if you ladies would agree to accompany me."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Graves nods back solemnly, "I agree, I'll go with you. I'd very much like to know who is messing around."

Magnus grins, "I anticipate this being fun."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

He smiles in relief. "Thank you."

The Babysitter waves goodbye as the three of them leave.
--------

They spot the effects before they see it. Along the river banks the plants grow and flourish in a wave headed toward the city. Then what looks at first to be a flock of birds suddenly bursts out of the water, flying just over the river instead of in it. It skims the the river, throwing up rainbow dappled sprays, and slams into the keel of a southbound ship. There is a sudden surge of power and a flash of light.

The things long tail is scattered from the shock, sending the collection of petals, water droplets, fish, butterflies, leaves, snowflakes and assorted junk floating listlessly in the sky to the amusement of the ferry passengers.

The Reasonable can only look on as a glowing white catfish floats gently past his face. "What?" he asks anyone who would be inclined to answer.

(???)

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Weird," Gravas states as she looks at the life in the river. "Considering all this life being generated, you'd think that we'd have heard something from one of the villages along the river..."

She pauses as Magnas picks up the line of thought, "There are villages along this river, right Reasonable? One would think they'd have sent a message to Spectropolis by now."