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Forum Games and Roleplaying / Re: Pantheon Play Thread: In the beginning there was...
« on: January 29, 2013, 05:18:34 am »
Az-Sho was equal parts joy and rage. His children were prospering; they grew stronger daily, they had felled the insidious jungle to make ready for the quest to distant lands, to bless them with sacred fire. The EmberGuard had reinforced the priesthood, and ensured that all of his children received his attention, as was their right.
But all was not well. Mutterings grew amongst the Smolderborn, accusing the Ashborn of wanting to 'get rid of competition' and become closer to Az-Sho with them out of the way - and the Ashborn were saying the same story! Worse, both of them claimed that Az-Sho was on their side in this shadow war, and more and more bodies of good Children, people who held communities together, were showing up, with the marks of one trained in the arts of murder clearly visible. None of his Children had had any cause to fight until recently - how could they, for Az-Sho loved them equally? Something dark and foul had poisoned his children's hearts and minds, turning them against one another - and the Serpent hated with the force of a thousand suns those who would harm him through his children. It was to be expected from the other dieties - a jealous lot, all of them, reaching out to extinguish the flame of his children just as it was beginning to burn brightly. They would not succeed. Not even the giant the mysterious poisoner had sent deterred him - he had in his company one who knew something about slaying giants, and he meant to help his EmberGuard with the task at hand. The drake goddess, Neyravah, had inadvertently done him a boon when it had grown the strange plantlife at his door - their wood and bark would serve well for the upcoming campaign. The mysterious saboteur, however, was not anywhere to be found. He had done him a great disservice, however - the giant he had brought here radiated hate and bloodlust. If not stopped, it would kill many of his Children. That must not happen.
Aure experiences a sudden urge to go to the tip of the volcano. Once there, he meets Udil, who had also journeyed up there.
(Insert RPing of them interacting - assume Az-Sho told Aure to extend his courtesy to Udil and co.)
They were interrupted in their talk by a flash coming from the lava in the volcano. Peering over the edge, they see an awe-inspiring sight - a single massive eye, rising up to the surface of the lava. It shines like molten gold, and reflects the light of the lava in dizzying patterns that are strangely similar to fire - always shifting, never staying in one place - but it was not a fickle eye, oh no. This eye had seen aeons pass and mountains rise. It had seen an entire race brought to extinction, only to be saved by His grace, and the courage of one dwarf. It had seen much, and bore the weight of those memories with ease. It gave a grounding effect, and seemed immovable in it's simple being. Those two aspects battled for dominance in the eye - earth and fire, stability and power, stamina and speed. And the ground shook, and the two who stood on the lip of the volcano heard the voice of Az-Sho - not the mere echo that Udil had heard from miles away, but the true voice of a god.
It was the match for every bass system in existence, and hearing it filled their ears and heads with an exhilarating sensation, almost as if they were being cleansed by fire.
Greetings, Udil Drakehater. Udil Giantslayer. Greetings Aure EmberGuard, child of my own blood. You are welcome here, most welcome.
Times are changing, Fated Ones. For long I and my children have been as the earth - solid, immoveable, steadfast. We can no longer be so. Other powers in the world are rising, and we must boldly go forward to face these challenges or be left in the dust of history. No longer can we remain of Earth - we must show the world that we are of Fire as well.
But the others are not ignorant, and move to block us off. They have sowed the seeds of discontent among my children, but I shall deal with that. What you must do is slay the beast outside our door. A giant of hate, bloodlust and death has been loosed upon us - I need it dead before it can cause any harm to innocents. This is where you come in. Udil, I will assist you on your crusade of vengeance - but first do what you were born to do - kill a Titan for me.
Do not think I have forgotten you, Aure. You are one of the most devoted of my children, and I am proud to have you as my son. You will engage in battle with the giant and slay it in my name. Do this and your name shall live on forever.
However, I do not expect you to go into battle unequipped! Just as Udil has a weapon formed from the teeth of those he despises, so you shall have a blade formed of that which is your lifeblood.
Az-Sho gifts Aure and Udil with a sword and shield made of (detailed in later post). He does this as part of the Act of creating the material. Essentially it is magma in metal form, a sword of fire and earth.
Now go!
Az-Sho's voice thundered like an earthquake, and the two are buffered by a sulfurous wind from an unknown source.
Go. Slay the giant. Save your brethren. And remember: I shall be there for you.
With that, the voice faded, and the two heroes were left standing on the mountainside, slightly overwhelmed by what happened.
EDIT: Wait until I get rid of this edit thing before reacting; Mutare still has to change his actions.
But all was not well. Mutterings grew amongst the Smolderborn, accusing the Ashborn of wanting to 'get rid of competition' and become closer to Az-Sho with them out of the way - and the Ashborn were saying the same story! Worse, both of them claimed that Az-Sho was on their side in this shadow war, and more and more bodies of good Children, people who held communities together, were showing up, with the marks of one trained in the arts of murder clearly visible. None of his Children had had any cause to fight until recently - how could they, for Az-Sho loved them equally? Something dark and foul had poisoned his children's hearts and minds, turning them against one another - and the Serpent hated with the force of a thousand suns those who would harm him through his children. It was to be expected from the other dieties - a jealous lot, all of them, reaching out to extinguish the flame of his children just as it was beginning to burn brightly. They would not succeed. Not even the giant the mysterious poisoner had sent deterred him - he had in his company one who knew something about slaying giants, and he meant to help his EmberGuard with the task at hand. The drake goddess, Neyravah, had inadvertently done him a boon when it had grown the strange plantlife at his door - their wood and bark would serve well for the upcoming campaign. The mysterious saboteur, however, was not anywhere to be found. He had done him a great disservice, however - the giant he had brought here radiated hate and bloodlust. If not stopped, it would kill many of his Children. That must not happen.
Aure experiences a sudden urge to go to the tip of the volcano. Once there, he meets Udil, who had also journeyed up there.
(Insert RPing of them interacting - assume Az-Sho told Aure to extend his courtesy to Udil and co.)
They were interrupted in their talk by a flash coming from the lava in the volcano. Peering over the edge, they see an awe-inspiring sight - a single massive eye, rising up to the surface of the lava. It shines like molten gold, and reflects the light of the lava in dizzying patterns that are strangely similar to fire - always shifting, never staying in one place - but it was not a fickle eye, oh no. This eye had seen aeons pass and mountains rise. It had seen an entire race brought to extinction, only to be saved by His grace, and the courage of one dwarf. It had seen much, and bore the weight of those memories with ease. It gave a grounding effect, and seemed immovable in it's simple being. Those two aspects battled for dominance in the eye - earth and fire, stability and power, stamina and speed. And the ground shook, and the two who stood on the lip of the volcano heard the voice of Az-Sho - not the mere echo that Udil had heard from miles away, but the true voice of a god.
It was the match for every bass system in existence, and hearing it filled their ears and heads with an exhilarating sensation, almost as if they were being cleansed by fire.
Greetings, Udil Drakehater. Udil Giantslayer. Greetings Aure EmberGuard, child of my own blood. You are welcome here, most welcome.
Times are changing, Fated Ones. For long I and my children have been as the earth - solid, immoveable, steadfast. We can no longer be so. Other powers in the world are rising, and we must boldly go forward to face these challenges or be left in the dust of history. No longer can we remain of Earth - we must show the world that we are of Fire as well.
But the others are not ignorant, and move to block us off. They have sowed the seeds of discontent among my children, but I shall deal with that. What you must do is slay the beast outside our door. A giant of hate, bloodlust and death has been loosed upon us - I need it dead before it can cause any harm to innocents. This is where you come in. Udil, I will assist you on your crusade of vengeance - but first do what you were born to do - kill a Titan for me.
Do not think I have forgotten you, Aure. You are one of the most devoted of my children, and I am proud to have you as my son. You will engage in battle with the giant and slay it in my name. Do this and your name shall live on forever.
However, I do not expect you to go into battle unequipped! Just as Udil has a weapon formed from the teeth of those he despises, so you shall have a blade formed of that which is your lifeblood.
Az-Sho gifts Aure and Udil with a sword and shield made of (detailed in later post). He does this as part of the Act of creating the material. Essentially it is magma in metal form, a sword of fire and earth.
Now go!
Az-Sho's voice thundered like an earthquake, and the two are buffered by a sulfurous wind from an unknown source.
Go. Slay the giant. Save your brethren. And remember: I shall be there for you.
With that, the voice faded, and the two heroes were left standing on the mountainside, slightly overwhelmed by what happened.
EDIT: Wait until I get rid of this edit thing before reacting; Mutare still has to change his actions.