Lords of Creation, The Second Age

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"If it's all the same to you sir, this is the kind of problem you need the forge for." He turns to Jhella. "Would you like a tour of the city? You won't find a better guide than one of us."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Jhella rolls her eyes, "I do believe I told Monsieur Crav and not you, but I have recollection of mentioning that my mother was a Goddess of Crafting. I'd much love to watch the way that this Crafting God crafts. If it's something... 'delicate.' I can keep my mouth shut. Unless it'll embarass Mina in which case I really want to stay even more."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"But...but...." The Watcher stammered.

"Enough. You've already thoroughly botched things." Came a cold voice from the shadow of the forge. A few subtle shifts of the shadows and the Spymaster was suddenly visible. It wasn't as though she had really even be making the effort to hide. It was almost as though she had stood in just the correct spot that the shadows had completely obscured her.

She floated over the the watcher, looming over it as it shrunk back, then scoffed. "That boy is much to soft on you lot. You've completely lost your touch for subtlety."

She turned to address Jhella, and the Watcher simply deflated with relief. The Spymaster moved her head to look at her, like a owl. "Forcing you out would only attract unwanted attention. You will speak of what you see here to no one, for now." It isn't a command. It's a statement of fact.

The Spymaster wheels on Crav. "Forgemaster, it is good to see you are well. I have a most unique project foe you to work on." She raises up, floating to the ceiling, reveling the God Anima as though she were a stage curtain. "I want to say you've met him before."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Crav leaned close to examine the broken metal body before him.

"Aye, we met once." he mumbled in a barely audible tone as he continued to examine the damage. After a few moments he stood up to look at the Spymaster.

"Repairing the works of other gods is a tricky business, lots of variables to deal with and each has their own signature so to speak. But. I may be able to get our friend here back in working order without too much trouble. Just let me clear out the Main forge."

Crav proceeded back to the main forge where he could be heard shepherding his drunken disciples out into the streets.

"Go on. Out with ya. All of ya. Yes, you too. Go celebrate with the rest o' the city. And for Omni's sake learn to handle your ale."

Crav returned moments later and motioned for Anima's body to be brought inside.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Considering the state of this ones patron god," She said, hurrying Jhella inside while carrying Anima. "You are the best qualified for this sort of work."

She placed Anima down in the middle of the main forge.

"I don't want anyone else to know about this until he's back in fighting shape. An opportunity like this is enough to make even the most trustworthy among us consider something..... foolish."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Following all of the others into the main portion of the Forge at the Spymaster's beckoning, Jhella looks around once moore before looking at both Crav and the Spymaster, "May I help out as well? One of the things my mother required all of her children to understand was crafting as well as the repairing of crafts. I may not be as good as Mister Crav, but I am able to craft."

[Philote]

The cracked shell seems to respond weakly to being brought into the presence of Crav and his forge, as if sensing the coming of its repair. A dim glow in the Automaton's eyes are the only remnant of power remaining. The vessel's arms hang limply with pieces of the cracked lamp still welded to the vessel's palms.

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Meanwhile, the static cloud has condensed itself into a sphere as it travels across the world. It had now circled across the northern waters and descended into the area between Eternus and Uburra-Namall's land.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"This is delicate work, but I would appreciate any help you may be able to give."

Crav reached for the forge, waving his hand before the dormant coals. The forge sprang to life and white hot flames roared from its maw. With another wave of his hand, the rest of the forge came alive.

"Now, let's get to work!"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

And again Uburra-Namall beckoned to the heavens, this time sending a short, sweet melody into the height. From the concealment of the cloudy upper air descended bright and beautiful winged creatures, clothed in pure white, and decked in the dazzling sparkle of the Fair Goddess' precious gems. Their skin uncolored like the divine ones themselves, they actually more closely resembled the Humans brought forth by Gilgamesh--Omni rest his soul. These, Uburra-Namall claimed were as numerous as the stars that bedecked the night sky. Yet, by mandate, most remained within Uburra-Namall's Plane of Love and Life, and Plane of Creativity, while only some far smaller number might be allowed into the Material Realm at any one time.

This time, twenty were called to duty, and they perched on various sides of the peak like some brigade of high-exalted vigilantes. In truth, they were not as quick a relay as the Eight-Virtue Virgins in their days as the Precious Sentries, but this way, the girls could get well-deserved rest for their service, and the love goddess' sentries could be mobile. It was a more than fair trade.

"Michael" the Fair Goddess called walked up to one of the leaders, a male taller than she, a powerful and handsome angel, "Your band is charged with keeping watch over the whole of the island. Is that understood?"

The angel humbled his height at the sight of the goddess, bowing on hand and knee, and looking up only just to say, "Indeed, Fair One. I and my comrades will hold the Mount as a fortress, and defend it with our lives."

"Always so dramatic." is Uburra-Namall's coy reply, putting a hand under Michael's strong chin, and raising his eyes to meet hers, "I have yet to see a single one of you die. In the defense of this place or otherwise."

His expression lightens, "Because you always choose the best."

And that was all the Fair Goddess needed to hear. From the same height from where the angels descended, she called down a team of exalted Pegasi. With a final wave, she called back her parting well-wishes to each of them by name (after reading minds subtly, to remember them all), and knelt, as a mother to a child, to kiss Michael on the forehead. She mounted the Pegasus at the head of the team, reared up as her leading winged steed gave a powerful cry, and was off full-speed into the distance across the iridescent bridge from Boquabia to Spectropolis.

The Festival always did call for such arresting spectacle.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Understood," Jhella replied moving forward with practiced movements to help as she could.

For after all, how much difference could there be between repairing an automaton and making a full katana?

[Philote]

Anima woke with a new vigor overtaking the dieing spark that it once held. It's vessel was warm from both the hot coals that had helped with the remolding and the currents of electricity that had helped to fill the void in its power. The Spirit Crav was over him, still tinkering and carving out fine details, as well as a Spirit Anima did not recognize.

"How long have I been asleep?" Anima asks in an electrical voice.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"It has been four hundred years, to the day, since you boys decided to bite off more than you could chew." said the Spymaster, warming her hands over the hot forge.

"What do you remember?"

[Philote]

"Four hundred years?" Anima asks. The voice emanates from the lamp instead of the Automaton. A tone of confusion is mixed with Anima's normal inorganic voice. Anima seems to think it over for a moment before reaching a conclusion and replying. "Understood."

"We were fighting the Monster King, and by We, I mean all those whose beings were wrapped up inside Pantheo. Even those heroes that lent their strength, even if they were not joined in body. Gilgamesh began drawing from the power of his domains, that is when everything was pushed over the edge. Pantheo's power snapped, and that was when I was separated from the body. I fell as one of Pantheo's arms into the ocean, down deep below the rocks where I have just now awoken. The others burst away from the body shortly after once control had been broken, I can only guess as to their fates. Are any of the others returned to authority?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"None." She said. "Crav has been been handling the divine management of Gilgamesh's former holdings, but the land itself has retained sovereignty."

She leans forward for emphasis. "Now, considering the state you were discovered in, you should understand that I'm hesitant to advertise your rebirth lest your brothers are discovered in such a compromising state by our enemy."

[Philote]

"I think you will find that to be more trouble than you are expected" Anima replied. "I have not been reborn as I once was."

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The static cloud continues to soar through the skies of Gamara, now traveling past Albastra and nearing the continent Spectropolis resided on. Within the spherical volume of the cloud, metal formed in the now condensed center. Already it was being molded into the likeness of a lamp.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Yards away from Human and Elf and Boquabian children, bouncing balls, rolling hoops, sword fighting with sticks, teasing each other behind masks, there sat the tall purple-haired green High Priestess Qorri, on a stool. To her left, there was High Priestess Maiya, a blue-haired blue lady of stately bearing, on a slightly shorter stool. And to the left of Maiya was handsome High Priest Umonn, pink skinned with light-streaked blond hair, sitting on the shortest stool of the three.

Huddled around a table greatly resembling a large spool of thread, spread with handsome fruit and vegetable platters, the three exchanged as was customary many times before.

"Oh, the children." Qorri smiled, "There's just something...divine about having that much joy in your heart."

Umonn nodded, "They're full of love and joy, you can just feel it. And speaking of which, has anyone heard word of when Uburra-Namall's retinue are set to arrive? Cousin? Maiya?"

"No." Maiya said plainly, not turning her attention from the children at play in the dirt street, "Same as you asked before, and same as I answered before. Uburra-Namall comes and goes as she pleases. Always has, always will."

"Sheesh." Umonn chuckled, "You would think that a Priestess of the Order of Creativity could stand to be a bit more optimistic. Or, at least humor us less inventive-minded folk."

Maiya sighed, "Umonn, surely you know me better than that. If it's one thing I don't do, it's humor. And anyways, if anyone is going to get word of the Fair One's arrival first, it's Lord Crav. Try talking to him if you're in such a rush; that is what the High Priest of the Order of Love would do, in case you needed reminding of your job description."

Umonn sighed; as always, Maiya was right. Though, neither he nor the High Priestesses had any idea where the Master Crafter was. He had somehow eluded all their notice. And neither of their children had come with him. Qorri sighed. Now was as good a time as any to see about Maiya's performance troupe, anyhow. From what she had told Qorri, they would be putting on various street displays--poetry readings, dance performances, music acts, magic acts (including some sleight of hand) and more.

That, Umonn agreed, he would like to see, too. And so he and Qorri stood, and dragged Maiya up to her feet, too. They had entirely given up on getting her to play any of the games, or so indulge in junk food as to actually induce any smiling, but that didn't leave out enjoyment on their part. So down the street, off to observe the parade preparations they went.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Meaning?" The Spymaster said, leaning close.

[Philote]

"Power found me lacking. I was in no state to govern it, and so I was replaced.  There is a being out there now born from my image with only the goal of returning power to the world in its mind. I am what is known as an Avatar now."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Where?" She asked.

"Ma'am!" Screamed a Watcher, flying in. "The desert. There's some sort of....something coming. It feels divine."

She turned quickly to the new presence in the room. "You're sure."

"Yes Ma'am. The Watchdogs dopplared it in a second ago. Someone is already on their way toward it, though."

She looked at the avatar. "Can you move?"

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

Facing the pulsing divine energy, his armor polished, his cape flapping heroically in the wind, The Veteran stood in the sky.

There was something definitely coming, and coming fast. Some god with a weird signature. He knew that there were unknowns in the world, The Spymaster had confirmed that much even if she couldn't quite find them. This could very well be one of them. And on the day of the peace talks? Well, that was just way to damn convenient for his liking. As the official security for those peace talks, he had to figure out what this was.

Even if it meant butting heads.

But no reason it had to come to that.

"Hey there, hoss." He called out to it. "Why don't ya' slow down so you and me can have a chat?"

[Philote]

"Not with any speed that I once had, but I can move. Walk, hover, fly if I really had to move."

Blue currents of power extended from Anima's lamp into the joints of its vessel. The vessel rose and stood, cradling the lamp within its arms.

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The lamp sped on through the sky. Flying creatures, Servitors, and even a Spirit had passed through its perception, but none of those were within its center of interest. This new Spirit had only one goal on its mind, one target.

Mortals.

A great diversity of them were sprawled out before him, any one of them could be the target chosen to begin his task.