Lords of Creation, The Second Age

[Philote]

Midas remains unfazed, composing himself for the discussion.

"You may be any of these things. If you are willing to make a deal, then the deal shall be carried out to the best of my abilities."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Jhella remains silent, considering the way everyone in the area acted, that guy was the leader, and so it might be interesting to make a bet...

Jhella places her hand on Cross Sword, before replying, "So then, how about we make a bet: If I win, then you do any one task I ask, if you win, then I will do any one task that you ask. Of course, the task has to be one that either party is able to reasonably do, if it interferes with a previously sworn oath or a restriction due to physical or mental capabilities, then the winner has to chose a different task."

Jhella pauses to think quickly, then continues, "If we tie though, then we will do each other a small favor, such as exchanging small amounts of information. How about it?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Really?" it asks. The walls of the cave begin to give off a dark green light, little balls of emerald hanging in the air around the angel. Reveled under this light, which flickered and reflected off the gems imbedded in the walls and caused the whole cave to take on a sickly kaleidoscope of colors, was what looked like a small pile of rags at first glance. Dirty, torn, and jagged, colored in a deep faded purple, and from out from under this pile a pair of eyes watched him.

"Then why didn't you look immediately? Why the hesitation?"

[Philote]

"I would like to bring forth a representative to take my part in this game" Midas says.

Keeping his eyes locked with Jhella, Midas speaks. "Watches, please step forward."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Watches pokes her head up out of the tunnel she and the others Vandals were digging out to shelter the group and, motioning for them to continue, walks over. "You want me to bring you a gods head?"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Jhella looks over Watches, "If I did, I wouldn't be saying that out in public like this."

She turns back to Midas, "As it is, a representative is fine. The bet I'll make is that we will play a game of rock, paper, scissors and I am only allowed to use rock, if I use anything else, I lose. Agreed?"

[Philote]

"I'd just like you to play a quick game for me Watches" Midas says as he calls over one of the tall bronze servitors.

Sticking his hand out to shake Jhella's, Midas says "Before we begin, I would like to make the rules of our little arrangement here official. Do you agree with what has been said?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Rock, paper, scissors, she loses if she throws anything but rock. I got all that and agree to it. Obviously we'll be playing one arm style." Watches says.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Why would we be playing with anything but one arm?" Jhella responds. "Now, shall we start?"

Phi: Scissors

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"We use two. It's as much about reflexes as it is luck." Watches replies, throwing the larger of her two right arms.

Phi: Rock.

[Philote]

The two quickly throw out their choices as Midas oversees.

"It appears that we have a winner."

Jhella stands there holding out Scissors while Watches counters her with Rock.

"You seem to have doubly lost. Both from the Rock and not having it yourself."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Jhella laughs, "At least I can see that your representative can think. After all, the whole point of that game is not to win, but to attempt to tie. So then what is the task that I'll be doing for you?"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Foul wretch!" the words escaped the handsome angel's mouth, "Raggedy little monster! If not for the love of Uburra-Namall coursing through me, I would cut you down to worse ruin than what's already befallen you! In the name of the Fair One, ruler of the Plane of Creativity and the Plane of Love and Life, name yourself!"

Ariel pointed the end of his sword directly, at the dirty little heap of a creature, and from the blade now grew a white light. The faint glimmer seemed to grow a bit more intense every passing instant. His eyes narrowed, and fixed on the strange form so as not to allow the slightest twitch escape his notice.

Too long passed, in Ariel's mind, so he spoke again, through gritted teeth, "Name yourself."

[Philote]

"I'd like to ask of you the same that I've asked of all those here" Midas says. "I'd like you to become a beneficial member of the community we are creating."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Jhella blinks in surprise then asks, "A community? That sounds somewhat interesting, but where and what kind of community? As well, for how long?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The figure stands, its height not any more than that of a young girl, though it's still impossible to tell anything beneath the ragged strips of cloth hat cover its form. "As you wish..."

The strands of some old, wretched garment leap into the air like angry snakes and suddenly a crushing, nauseating, agonizing wave of fear pushes itself deep into the angels heart. The lights on the wall begin whispering and giggling, as though having a conversation that's to far away for Ariel to hear. The pile of rags begins to sway towards him.

"The Rag Lady. That's evocative, isn't it?"

(Having dropped Hiding In The Dark, she's invoking her Tools Fearful Aura (6) and adding her presence (4) to it, in addition to the Balasaurs lining the walls of this caves Fearful Noise (3))

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Confidence. As if it were that easy, Aox thought to himself. Koneko had to be kidding. Surely this was just some joke to her. But no, the look in her eyes betrayed her real thoughts. She believed it, every word. She surely and honestly believed that Aox could be a hero to the people. He could be a symbol.

For the first time since Crav had come to him all those decades ago, Aox began to believe in himself.

Suddenly he realized that all those people, the heroes and even some of the gods all thought he was a hero. If so many people believed it without any doubts and trusted him, then there must be some truth in the fact. He'd been so busy telling himself he wasn't that he didn't listen to everyone telling him he was.

Aox blinked in wonder at the revelation and sighed. He felt that huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Thank you Koneko. I needed to hear that."

Without warning, he gave Koneko a huge bear hug then turned to leave.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"You're welcome," Koneko replies with a lighthearted grin. "It was good talking to you once again."

As Aox starts to leave the box, Koneko pounds a fist into her hand and gasps, "I almost forgot, if you go to Môsôoriku and tell them that you have Koneko Dlrei's support, you'll be able to get anywhere you want to go safely. Just make sure you show them this coin."

From one of her pockets, Koneko pulls out a coin and tosses it to Aox. The coin on casual inspection contains a gauntlet with a lightning bolt etched on one side and a heart with an eye in its center on the other. Koneko continues talking,  "That's my family's emblem on one side and my personal emblem on the other because all of the heroes of Môsôoriku chose emblems for themselves after the Nightmare Invasion 300 years ago. As well, if you ask to meet the Haken family, then you may get to see Kagehana. See you later!"

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Cheif Wallum of the Ah-Lomas Investigators sat in what he laughingly called his office. In reality it was little more than a large broom closet with a small desk and a cabinet crammed in it. The City of Ah-Lomas did not pay the Investigators much to operate and they made due.

Wallum sulked in his chair, staring at the ceiling. He'd sat down to catch his breath. The City had been tense all week with the bitter hatred between the Milteos and Durhian merchants boiling over into the street. The Investigators had been stretched thin across the city putting out small fires, both metaphorically and literally. It had been a stressful week.

Wallum inhaled deeply before letting out his breath in a long sigh of exhaustion. The room was silent save the sound of clock ticking away somewhere down the hall.

Wallum was suddenly aware of another sound, the increasing clatter of someone sprinting down the hall. The footsteps continued down the hall and halted outside his office door. A moment of silence passed as the unfortunate visitor decided to knock or not.

Wallum sighed, "Come in, Lieutenant..."

Lieutenant  Rold peeked in the room, his massive nose poking around the door comically, "Yeesh, I'll never understand how you always know its me Cheif..."

"Get to the point Rold. What do you need?"

"Sir, something's happening down in the Merchant Estates..."

"Care to elaborate Rold. What is happening?" Wallum massaged his temples, it was a wonder Rold had ever made lieutenant

""Er, well...none of quite understand...but nearest we can figure some Milteo is ..er...magic-ing all the merchants or something. They're all blank eyed and such walking down to the mines. Some Milteo Miner fellow is dancing around with 'em shouting all sorts of racist statements and such. This is, we can;t get close cause he already 'zapped' Jules and Freddy and they're just wandering down to the mines too."

"Great Gilgamesh! Get the men together, this can't be good. Call Roddy and Twila, they're not Durhians. maybe they'll be more help. Grab the swords and arm our men, if this goes south, I want to be ready. Let's move.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The Watchman stares up at the little twinkling light floating about the peek of the flower, then starts rising into the air. "Everyone wait here." He says, floating up to the thing.

"Oh look, he's going to try to parlay with it." The Reasonable says derisively as the the Watchman and the little twinkling bud of starlight start to circle around one another, the Watchman obviously trying to face the little thing and it simply not complying by holding still. "Here, let me tell you how this goes. 'Greeting Citizen! I'm The Watchman, and I'm the law around these parts. Being a god is a responsibility, here's a big old list of no no's you should follow. You don't have to follow it though. But please, please do. Please pretend that I actually matter, that I'm not to afraid to deal with anything outside of the only city in the world where I have a chance of enforcing my will, and that I'm not afraid to use my powers to sanction you should you do anything I don't like. Now, let's be best friends forever.'"

There's an enormous flash of lights as the Watchman is thrown back and the little light falls to earth once again, nestling between the twisting vines. There's an equally big flash from the ground a few moments later, but no earth shattering rumble like before. The Watchman reorients himself near the others and turns, frantic, toward The Reasonable. "Wha-"

"It was rubbing on you, correct?" The Reasonable asks. "You know what happened the last time it rubbed up on a greater deity?" He pats the plant palace he's currently sitting on. "So what did you inspire?"

(Create Race -1)