As Onus lands at the southern mountain range he allows himself to extend his sensations into the stone, easily picking out Cumbrous and the Other. But, he is also disturbed to sense two more Others in a separate location. And, even more disturbing is the fact that he cannot sense Agni anywhere in this region. He stands, still as stone for a long moment before reaching a decision.
Laying one enormous hand on the mountain directly over Cumberous' position, he channels his divine energy and knowledge into him, enabling him to act in his stead. For your reward... you shall have me, faithful one.
Then he turns his attentions towards this other cavern that oozes and drips with darkness.
---
Cumbrous sits motionless, staring as the smith returns to his work, when a sudden rush of energy overflows him, transforming his very being. The sound of crushing stone echoes all throughout the caverns as his form adjusts to the raw power that bursts forth from him, the stone of his body begins to collapse and then wrap itself back together again. The effect is similar to a landslide, and so was the Living Avalanche born.
Cumbrous falls from his perch, landing only a few long strides away from the smith. His form now made of roiling stone, he seems somewhere between an earth elemental and an air elemental. Rising up, he stands only a little shorter than the Smith, perhaps a head shorter, but it is difficult to judge by the way the stones are constantly shifting. He stares at the smith as he adjust and learns to quiet the noise of his form. Finally he speaks, with the voice of a distant avalanche. Greetings, from the God of Stone, the Living Mountain, Onus...
AP 2: Create Exarch - Cumbrous, the Living Avalanche.
The idea that Agni was imprissoned enflamed Leaf's anger. Someone would dare harm one of his sibblings? One of the first gods? A god under his protection?
"There will be blood this day, sister." Leaf picked up his spear and called out to life. And life responded. A squirrel from his imaginary forest bounded into reality. Ants took to the trees and tore away bits of bark. Bees swarmed, putting holes in the bark, and spiders too, to bind it together with silk as strong as steel. It was an armor for the squirrel, made of the silvery skin of the birch tree. When the animal was ready, Leaf mounted. The squirrel reared up and let out a war-cry, and Leaf joined in. The farthest reaches of the world would know his wrath at this injustice.
With his spear in his hands, the little god called to his sister, "Lead the way!"
Artun vowed that some day he'd have to figure out who this Pruinus god was and thank him or her for making his task so much easier. It was so much easier when people cooperated without asking pesky questions. With the tiny god prepared and mounted, Artun nodded and headed off south. The little god followed, and they two crossed the heavens in a hurry. As they went, Artun tried to explain the situation without betraying himself too much. The fire god and he were searching for something odd in the south. Agni went into a cave, and the cave consumed him. Concerned, he (Pruinus) had gone straight to Leaf (just a little white lie) for help, knowing that the small god would never let any wrong to befall his family (as far as Artun knew, that was the truth).
When at last they arrived, Artun took some time searching through the many caves. Could this little god help Agni? He hoped so. But what if they took him as well? Should he help? Could he help? He was sure that his master would do unspeakable things to him, if he was caught.
"There," he said finally, pointing at one particularly dark cave. "That is where Agni went into. But... be careful. It is an unspeakable place."
Leaf peered into the darkness. There was nothing, neither sound nor sight nor whisper of others. Was this truly the place? It seemed so common place. How could mighty Agni fall here? It was an injustice.
His steed chattered nervously. Whatever was in there, it did not sit well with life. That alone was a reason to investigate. Perhaps it was Zebus, fool that he was, returned from his self-imposed death. No, that wasn't an honorable thought. He had promised that he'd honor his brother's memory.
Besides, he didn't think Zebus could overcome weak tea, let alone a god like Agni.
It was too dark inside to see. That wouldn't do. Leaf held out his left hand and whispered to the spirits. And they responded, coming together, forming what he had envisioned. A firefly to light their way. A dozen others joined in, and with the pale green glow, Leaf nudged his steed and it cautiously walked forward, tail high, twitching. He held onto its reigns tightly with one hand, and leveled his spear with the other.
The squirrel paused just for a moment at the mouth of the cave, but at its rider's insistence, it went forward. Leaf called out over his shoulder for Pruinus to follow.
The dark-rock-that-was-also-a-trapped-God lay inert deep within the 'mouth' of TASOE. Deep within the cold rock raged a small spark of unquenchable fire. It felt its essence being pulled from it by something... else.
Free Me.Agni roared at the thing that was keeping it prisoner. Free me now.
His name was Koga. He had been betrothed. And on the day that winter fell, and the earth had escaped into the sky, he had lost her.
It had happened so quickly - a sudden lurch, and then the ground was soaring upwards. He had been on the rising earthmote. She had not.
He made a promise, in those last few desperate seconds, arm stretched out for a lover it would never reach, grasping for a face it would never caress.
"I will find you!"
To the dim days of winter, it was an empty, futile, thing. Koga was now one of the Sora, the Skyfolk, and they scrabbled what meagre existence they could find. Rare was it that they could leave the Earthmote they had risen on. If they were one of the few whose earthmote drifted close to one another, all too often, the only way to move from one to the other was to jump, and all too often, the trip was one-way. Those who had rope, or ladders, did what they could, but even the longest ladders and strongest ropes couldn't span the dozens of meters between earth motes.
Koga was one of many who lived their days in a stupor, rarely moving, barely eating, hardly alive.
"I will find you."
He had promised her that, but what could he do, stuck up here in the sky?
The sword swung. Then swung again, and again, and again. The force causing all three gods pain and suffering. For Zebus, it was more metaphysical than actual as the sword clashed against the gauntlets of the other god. As the beings continued to attack each other, energies in the sword started to leak out.
Zebus quite rattled temporarily lost control of the shadow energies. Those energies, biting into anything they touched, caused burning for the frost mistress and freezing pain for the pain lord. As Zebus attempted to regain control of the shadows( and subsequently swore up and down that he was never manifesting in a sword again!), those energies, slashed against the other gods, spawning something else, more sinister, and as of yet unseen by the other two gods..... ..."window.parent.tinyMCE.get('post_content').onLoad.dispatch();" contenteditable="true" />APShow
2AP= Ascend God: As the divine energies lashed about, Zebus lost control temporarily and something else, more sinster awakens. Arise Altruis. Make your mark upon the unknowing that brought you forth!
I am both selfish and chaotic. I value self-gratification and control; I want to have things my way, preferably now. At best, I'm entertaining and surprising; at worst, I'm hedonistic and violent.
Urru watched in equal parts fascination, confusion and fear as the suns went out and Sa took measures to preserve the humans. The land was still too dark though, and the mortals were acting like chaotic ants.
The small god did not like the way things were turning out for the helpless beings, and it felt that the absence of such grand and life-sustaining light was unforgivable. It mustered it's power, divinely luminescent energies deep within the well of it's being and unleashed that raw energy in the form of a nova within the sun. The energy flared bright, brighter than the original sun ever did. When the dazzling display dimmed, standing in the center of the mortal's settlement was a figure beyond their wildest imaginings.
Softly glowing with a turquoise light, she stood at a height of nine feet tall. Clothed in violet silks which her skin illuminated from within and wearing a simple silver circlet, the humanoid female looked powerful yet kind. "Humans," she spoke in a soft voice that did not go unheard, "I am Pharos."
She bid the mortals to be calm, radiating an aura of easement and warmth. The humans approached her with curiosity and Pharos told them of her purpose. "I was sent by my maker, Urru the Everlight. It has taken pity on your plight and wishes you all to take heart in these dark times. I am it's herald, and it is through me that the Everlight shall provide it's strength. Those brave enough to face me step forward."
A handful of women and men alike hesitantly stepped forward, each seeming suprised at their own courage. Pharos smiled and waved her hand before them. They each were lifted into the air by her power so that she could look them eye-to-eye. With gentle care she embraced each and with her touch they were changed. A mote of power passed from her into them. When the humans alighted on the ground once more, they were more than mere mortals.
"Gifted ones, help to keep your kind safe in this darkness and whatever darknesses befall you in the future. You are the first of the Luminaries. Spread the light."
Leaf's little mount trembled as it set paw inside the cavern. In the feel of the floor, the scent of the room, the dripping of moisture, it could tell that it was not welcomed here. But, its rider urged it forward, and when Leaf commanded, life obeyed.
The cavern waited.
The little god looked over his shoulder again, and reluctantly Artun followed, each footstep trembling. He knew that the master would strike. It was a question of when, and if this god could fight it off.
Nothing.
The little fireflies provided just enough light to see horrible shapes by.
And as quick as thought, tendrils whipped out from the walls and bound Artun, violently pulling him to a wall and securing his hands, feet, and silencing his mouth. Within moment, the only thing exposed of the god was his eyes, and even those were forced open, so that he was forced to watch.
Pruinus slashed widely at the maimed god, her hand burning in intense pain as she held the sword. Something was happened within the sword.... Was the will of Zebus opposing her, punishing her? Perhaps he agreed with her, that if death (Himself) had existed at the momentof this cratures birth, he would not have to suffer as such? He himself said he would rather be with an unknown god then herself. Pruinus was upset that her brother and child may hate her so, but she couldn't look herself in the eye and say she didn't deserve it. To an extent, she pushed Leaf & Zebus against each other, and when the angels attacked, she couldn't defend him.
As she fought and thought, the blade rattled within her hand and let out a torrent of shadowy tendrils, ripping at her "flesh" and tearing out of her grasp, dropping into the putrid yellow river beneath her.
Only once she looked down and noticed she was standing in the river did her body react, Pruinus feet suddenly screamed in pain with each step in the boiling river, Whitish hazy smoke rising rapidly from her legs with a sharp, loud whistling sound. She felt the essence of her power being ripped away as fought the creature, the only thought that prevented her from fleeing was that this creature experienced pain a thousand fold what she felt now, in every inch of its body, every second of its existance. She leapt backwards out of the river,her wings guiding her to a safe landing place. She landed in a crouched position,her hand suppoting as she landed. Her hand. She had only just noticed it had regenerated, the fingers formed perfectly in place once again.
The fiery mortal would not be so lucky, he would heal as quickly as her, if at all. But he was alive. But she couldn't concern herself with that right now, she had to retrieve the sword of Zebus, even if he hated her (Which he had every right too) She would not abandon him in this place.
But first, she spoke to the creature in kind tones. The two were locked in combat, but she felt it necessary to convey that she bore no malice towards him. Disgust, yes. Empathy, yes. But no malice, not even the slightest trace.
"Child, Allow me to ask, what is your name? Your title?"
When she had defeated him, he would be given the proper burial, and she would fashion a sculpture of him within the Halls Of Creation, and others in less remote places of the world. She would like to depict the creature in its most beautiful form, but she struggled to see any beauty. Nonetheless, All mortals would know the plight of this poor creature, and how he had suffered as consquence of the gods actions. The gods too must know how terrible the consquences of their decisions can be, and that their roles to play in the universe are not to be taken lightly.
She dived into the boiling river once again, submerged upto her shoulders in the putrid acid, gritting her teeth as the liquid ate into her and dissolved her body in a sensation that words such as "Pain" and "Agony" do not even begin to describe, but she had to do this. She had to retrieve the sword. Only, when her hand reached the spot where the sword had landed.... There was no sword within her grasp.
There was only..... Something else.
---
She felt the essence of her power being ripped away as fought the creature
Due to Pruinus being in contact with the pool and even being fully submerged within it towards the end of this post, I will hereby donate AP to Azgo to be used in the creation of even more corrupted creatures, although this time most likely with a Cold theme to them. I will donate upto half the AP required for the creation action. @Forgotten: Please tell me if you wish to create something using this AP, so I am then clear on how much AP I possess for the rest of the week. Thanks.
