Bay 12 Games Forum

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=176885.0

IC up.

The world of Herat is newborn and full of life; it is a time of new things, of new developments.


Short aeons have passed since the beginning and the end. In that time has the first of life been born. Mountains have been raised, seas filled, and forests grown. In these primeval times did develop the first thinking beings, the Munhi. the Munhi, in their day, were masters of Herat. Intelligent anemones that developed hyperintelligensia networks via enslaved pollinating cells, the Munhi adorned themselves with senses to taste the creatia of the world that had been denied them. In time, they did develop the processing systems of logical nature, that obeyed their whims without realisation and became part of the Munhi themselves. In time however did the end come for them in the form of plague and climate change. Their petals withered, their pollinators extinct. They died screaming within their rootminds, their long-sought senses lost to them, once more alone to die.

Second did come the Prakhta. Beings of the stone and borne of their deep mother's womb, they emerged from the dark to turn it to the worship of their own exaltation. Declaring themselves gods in a time before the aetheric had settled, they dreamed their lords into states unparalleled, creating the framework of the Heavenly Realms. Deep in the fetid dirt, from where they had emerged, their mother yearned for her children oncemore and called them to return. In their hubris, the celestial lords denied their mother's request, sundering her womb as a final insult. Beaten by her own children fair, she cursed them with the mortality of the yielding surface, and slit her own being. From her corpse emerged the Hells, which fall deeper and deeper into the abyss each day.

The curse of the womb wrought destruction and ended the Prakhta, their minds slowly reduced to beast and to the dirt did many return. From the the fragrant dirt of the doomed Prakhta emerged the great jungles, which hid forevermore the workings of Prakhta and Munhi alike. From these jungles were born the monkeys, the Vanaha, and from these monkeys did develop primitive plains-dwelling ape; Loka. Today thus dwell two peoples in Herat. The monkeys of the forest, the Vanaha, and the plaindwelling humans, the Loka.

The Loka and Vanaha are both primitive races, who hunt and gather. They are ignorant of the past of Herat and generally follow the lead of elders or alphas. Their futures are undecided.

Though the aeons have hidden many of them, the remnants of the Munhi and Prakhta still yet dwell in Herat, a remnant of their ancient power.

Claiming any of these would require 1 Celestial Act or 1 Cthonic Act.

In [10.05] stands still in perfection, the Orrery Eternal. It is a Place of Power that yearns to be awakened. Of empathetic spirit, the Orrery watches over the flows of time and provides glimpses into the future and past.

In [10.10] the Ziggurat of Oun shields itself with the souls of the dead Prakhta, a delectable source of Power for any who would devour their souls. Once it rose high into the heavens, but now it is but ruin. Still, Herat's memories are long and only partially broken; to claim it would entice many to it, as it had in ancient times.

In [11.13] lies the Tower of Communion, where the scholars of the Munhi first devised the basis of magicks. Its prestige was never in its brickwork, but of the minds that once argued and collaborated here. To manifest within the Tower would open one's mind to the scholarly spirits.

In [13. 09] and [14.10] stand the remains of Zigos and Zigan, two warring Prakhta of ancient times. Zigos was the greatest of the celestial lords, whilst Zigan fought for their mother dark. Regardless of what battles they fought and the legends of the time, both died on the field of battle, struck dead by their mother's curse. In time, their bodies were weathered, leaving only pillars that had once been legs or perhaps, fingers. Still, holding either of these would provide one with their ancient powers.

In [21.05] stands tall two billowing banners; there are no memories of who or what erected them. And yet, they call to the Great Ones. If claimed, they would grant to their owner gems of power...but may perhaps spread the growth of the desert.

In the depths of [19.08] lies a great pit. At the bottom of this pit is a cave. In the deepest recesses of this cave is a pillar of stone. Bearing this pillar is a turtle of titanic proportions. From the beginning it has lived and carried this burden. It yearns to be contacted.

In [12.10] lies an august and royal structure; gigantic in size. So great is its size, that clouds form within its dome and streams form amongst its grooves. It is spotlessly clean and untouched by mortal hand. The local Vanaha and Loka stay well away from it. If one were to inspect it, any Great One would feel a strong pull to it. If activated, something called 'the Council' would come into play.

---

Discordian Link Communications


Halthier Institute

Greetings residents of Herat! I, Gyr ta'Van, publicly funded sciencer of the Firth o'Rouk Street Committee, need more observational data for my research. As such, I'll need to see some Great Ones die, preferably several times. Its all for science, I assure you. You'll be in the Halthier Institute's good books. I'll even provide a free Theurgic Entity Cancellation Knife (1d6 godkiller; roll to stab; temporary death) for any willing executors. That said, I'll also need a few cadavers for more lucrative research. I believe you might find Ascension Points valuable? I have a few Abolishment Staves (1d10 godkiller; roll to abolish; permanent death; one-use) ready for those willing to sign-on.

Note: temporary death has no long-term consequences for the victim.
Note: attempting to kill another god is only possible if both the murderer and victim have both declared to perform Celestial actions OR both have declared to perform Cthonic actions. This cost no Acts.

Dakas-Fir Engineering

Daks-Fir Engineering is pleased to announce its new line of personal defence equipment for the careful consumer. We'll be purchasing Celestial Acts for a 1:1 trade of our Protective Canine Units.

Note: Each PCU protects from one successful  godkilling attempt.

The good news: everyone is in!
The bad news: there are a lot of you!

Lethality protocols may or may not be enforced in response to divine overpopulation.

I hope today finds you well. I wish to know if a marriage between two of the Heaven's Mandate candidates is possible, and what forms I would need to file. As well, the possibility of a Co-Mandate given to both as a family.

Marshal Fas, Goddess of Travel and Love

To the most esteemed Arbitrary Arbiter, from your colleage Du-Ur
Your wisdom and mercy are legendary.

As the new head of the Ministry of Civilization, I come to your wise counsel in order to ascertain the state of mortal affairs in the Gardens and the lands beyond. Because there could be none more qualified than you are in the knowledge of such matters, I know your arbitrary knowledge will be true and accurate.

What became of the civilizations after the flood caused by the overflowing Bowl? What is the state of door technology among the denizens of the Gardens?

It seem I have accidentally joined a gift with this letter, oh airhead me. You may feel free to ignore my mishap, your excellency.

Peace be with you

To the letter is joined a hefty bribe of exotic foods

You receive a letter in reply; it smells heavily of fruit. There is a small amount of grease around its rightward margin.

Merciful Arbitrary Arbitrator, font of all knowledge.

What is the title of the Head of the Ministry of Teleporation?

What bribes would you recommend for usage within the heavenly Bureaucracy?

Who keeps murdering the Archivists and why?

What is the current state of the Garden of Heaven? My memories are a bit muddled from that time I died for a while. I'm pretty sure we had bronze weapons?

I hope you aren't angry about that time we brutally murdered all your old colleagues? No hard feelings and all that?

What is the Sun? A god? Something else? Very bright ball of light and fire in the sky that is somehow source of heavenly authority?

What is Glory?

- Cordially, Mion, Archivist

You receive a letter in reply; it is sealed with a sigil of black and gold. The colours of warning.

Perhaps Heaven must be content with two of its ministries lacking leadership?