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[Glass]

Indeed! I notice that my stores at present are the greatest, so I’m willing to be one of the two to present two units, yes?

[Happerry]

And so it is that Anath once more works with other gods to being a creation unto existence. Granted, this creation is far less important then the Wall of Stars, but it is still a creation formed in unity and consensus. Thus, with the powers of Night, Wealth, and Protection, Anath strikes the earth, causing great serpent like beasts to form, crawling blindly upon the dirt... for but a few seconds, before they have burrowed beneath it. These Tunnel Wurms will cross the world entire in time, digging under oceans and mountain ranges alike. The passages and caverns they form will be colonized by life, in the long extent of time, and eventually new ecosystems created in the depths of the world. But that is in the future. For now, the blind diggers have just begin to hollow out the world.

Spoiler:  Tunnel Wurm (click to show/hide)

Anath spends 2 Energy, Kamoan 1, and Bastion 2 to create the Tunnel Wurms, which are vast diggers, akin to both snakes and worms, blind of eye but with tremorsense, whom dig constantly beneath the surface forming a vast network of caves and caverns. These Wurms grow hard skins of metal, formed from all the ores and other things, like jade or rubies or anything else akin, as well as including any irritants such as the parasitical carp larva which end up safely contained within pockets of metal, that they devour in their blind digging beneath the earth, which are then eventually shed as the Wurm outgrows them and reaches a new size, which will then begin a new and larger coat of shinies being grown until the wurm once more outgrows it. The Wurms can live for several thousand years before they are crushed under their own constantly growing size, suffocating under their own weight. They breed but rarely, but their eggs can wait a thousand years or more for conditions to be right before they hatch, and when they lay eggs they lay them in batches. They are not sapient, or very smart at all, but they are very large and strong when grown to adulthood.

[micelus]

Ma Dong takes a strip of jerky from his ration pack and scatters it into the waters of the world; with a firing of his rifle, he transforms them into living life; Fish. He ensures that all forms of fish at their various life stages are created

5DE: create Fish.

Spoiler: Fishies (click to show/hide)

Fish are a family of highly polymorphic animals that reside on both on land and in water. These include sharks, salmon, tilapia, herring and other common Fishs.

Born as fry, fish feed on plankton and other fish, eventually maturing after 1 month to 10 years, depending on species. After this period of maturation, each respective species feels an urging to gather and mate. Most reproduce externally, though some do so internally. Some are even clonal to a degree and do not require mates. Some fish protect the resulting eggs, whereas others leave them to fend for themselves. Some even care for their young after hatching. These eggs are oft fed upon by other fish.

Regardless, after the mature finish breeding or defending their offspring, most adult fish of that breeding season will coalesce and begin producing hormones. These hormones cause the production of dissolving enzymes as well as causing the coalesced fish school to bite each other. Combined with this enzyme, biting results in the biting fish' mouth fusing into the flesh of the bitten fish. After some time, most fish involved in the school will be fused with another. Rather than dying, the fused fish begin rapidly biting their attached partner or other fish, resulting in further fusion. At the end, there will be a bunch of fused masses, incapable of further biting due to their mouths being unusable. It is at this point that the involved fish usually expire.


After this occurs, the corpse balls naturally drift to the coast, surface,(or in the case of species without sufficient buoyancy) the seafloor. Now, inside each individual fish corpse is a hardy spherical bone inside which is a sac of yolk and an egg. Regardless of sex, each fish has one of these and develops them as they age. With the corpse balls now having been established[, the bony shell around the eggs are dissolved. These eggs then hatch, producing small hyphae-like organisms. These take nutrients from the corpse ball and begin growing connecting with one another over time and melding into one gestalt superorganism (like a Portuguese man o war). While doing so, they also begin developing characteristics suited to adult life. For those on the surface or those that ended up on land, these include photosynthetic leaf-like fins. The hyphae themselves harden and expand into scaled branchlike limbs. Some develop into root analogous which are used to attach themselves into substrate, whereas others develop bladders in order to maintain buoyancy. Those that live on the ocean floor, bereft of light, either grow to feed on undersea vents or become low-energy predatory plantfish.

Regardless of how they grow, many species begin producing eggs and sperm (most individuals having both sexes in their genetic hodgepodge due to the corpse ball), which appear identical to the eggs of their less mature forms. These are encased in hardy or fleshy coverings, which are quite similar to fruit. These can be quite tasty. Already fertilised, these eggs will hatch into new fish if introduced to water. Some species, more adapted to land, grow winged eggs akin to winged seeds in more mundane plants. Others are able to produce eggs that are able to survive for years in hibernation before hatching, being activated only when water is sensed. These help in distributing new individuals. A few skip the production of fry entirely, instead producing further sedentary fish.

Some sedentary fish (henceforth referred to as land polyps) are useful as sources of textiles and building material. E.g. seasilk.

[Roboson]

Kamoan approaches Ma Dong, Ma Dong, I have concerns about the Jinli. Their invasive nature does not sit well with me. This unconsentual infestation is an act of agression against my, and all, people. So I come before you today to see if we can reach a compromise or if I must simply protect my mortals from this incursion. Of course, as always I would prefer the former.

As such, in exchange for changing their life cycle, what would you desire?

[micelus]

"Ah, friend. You desire a bargaining, but shan't do without a proper greeting. I apologise for not having done so previously; my mind was much preoccupied with other matters ."

Ma Dong removed his helmet and laid his rifle to drift in the void for a time. With a nod of his head, Ma Dong conjured a folding table, upon it being a vase decorated with yellow and black spirals.  Thin branches of fir were intermixed with lavender and peonies.

Around the vase were two earthenware cups, teapot, saucer and tea leaves (prepared as oolong, of course). The teapot was already filled with hot water that was not quite boiling, but neither was it lukewarm.

Ma Dong took a tea leaf holder from his ration bag and carefully extracted enough for two, inspecting the leaves slowly and purposely. He sighed. "I apologise for such poor fare, there is not yet a local tea in this existence. Still, it must do for now."

Ma Dong placed the leaves in one of the cups and poured water, letting it settle for a half-minute. He picked the cup up and smelled the scent of his ration. "Awful. Such is life beyond home, I suppose."

Without a thought, he tossed out the brew into the void, before placing the cup once more on the table. He then sifted through the leaves, looking for a few leaves longer than the rest. Satisfied, he placed them in the teacup, allowing them to cook for a few minutes.

"You are not happy with my creation, I see. You see it as infestation, I see if as true harmony.  Harmony is required for peace, and with peace we can achieve prosperity."

At this point, the tea was now done. He poured himself some tea and offered another cup with the brew to Kamoan. If one were to inspect it, the tea had clearly lost much of its aroma, but the fast was stilt yet preserved.

"Of course, you value the individual freedom to choose, I understand. It is unfortunate that we must be at opposition in this and I myself would wish peace between us. War is a messy matter best left as last resort- not an easily given threat amongst brothers and allies. "

He took a sip of his tea. "Ugh. Kamoan, I may be a soldier, but I've gone soft. This tea is absolutely horrid."

He coughed. "That said, I'm sure we can come to an understanding. As you find consent so important, then perhaps we can make ourselves both pleased. Encourage your dragons to take on a carp within them. I would like to see the results of a mass melding. If you would not agree to this- or if volunteers are not forecoming- then we may discuss other avenues of compromise."

[Roboson]

Kamoan sips the tea and straight faced sets it down on the table. A pouring saucer of rich cream and a silver shugar spoon add sweetness to the tea before Kamoan resumes drinking. I'm less than fond of this proposal, I must be honest. I have respect for your vision of harmony, but it is not the same vision I share. While I do not mind if the dragons seek the carp, which with some illumination, some may. However, this is not the vision or future I want for them. They are a proud an ancient race, solitary and noble they lord over what they might with what might they might manufacture or maintain. To share their mind with another violates what if means to be a dragon. Their Gattungswesen, if you will.

Though I am less concerned for the dragons than I am other mortals. The strong are more than likely to burn the carp as it tries to take root, and even the weak would be a challenge. Though it is among them the pursuers of the carp may be. I could reach into the ranks and put forward an offer. An offer, a new species of dragon, which would take to the seas and share themselves with the carp. However, my price would be high, perhaps too much so, but it is the price of passion and of great consequence to my soul. In exchange for this draconic melding and transformation, I would ask that the carp be changed so that they may only root in animals, that species of dragon, and mortals which undergo a ritual or task of some nature to open their souls to the carp.

This of course would include the other dragons, which did not change, as well as present and future smaller mortals. That they may build great cities upon the seas and rivers, without fear of finding a voice join their own internal dialogue, is another desire of mine. 

[micelus]

Ma Dong sipped his tea, drinking slowly and fully.

"That would be an attractive proposal, had I not already had plans similar to what you offer. No, I need not a new species of dragon. Still, I'm sure there is something to agree on."

"You ask that I modify my creation fully in order to protect the concept of the dragons. This costs me energy, as you would know. Cover the cost , inform the dragons of what benefits melding may offer and allow me to influence a subset of your dragons- with their *consent*-  and I may be amenable to their modification. Although I would not make it a ritual in order to open oneself, but simply a confirmation in one's mind."

[Roboson]

I ask you to modify your species not only for the dragons, but for all mortals who neither ask for nor can deny an intrusion into their bodies, minds and souls.

A compromise in which I cover the costs of the action, do not get what I ask, but a weaker variant instead, and give influence over a subset of dragons is hardly a compromise.

The costs to benefits is far unbalanced, I would gain less and spend more than simply taking action to protect what is mine, or to even create a symbiote to infest the Jinli. Which should be no issue, given that's the issue before us.

If you'd like a compromise, it must be more equivalent than this uneven proposal.

[Elvish Miner]

Go'sha looks up at the stars, in their strange patterns, and wonders if there could be something more to them. She approaches the other gods with a query.

"My fellow gods, look up. Do you see what I see? I see an empty canvas, waiting to be painted. What say you to the idea of rearranging some of the stars into constellations that represent each of us, in order to remind the mortals about their protectors every time they look up?

[Happerry]

Anath finds his attention very much attracted by that proposal. "While I completely support the idea of constellations, I do feel the need to remind you that the current stars are placed for maximum defensive utility. As such, should you desire to make a constellation, please create new stars in the heavens instead of moving around the ones already there."

[micelus]

I ask you to modify your species not only for the dragons, but for all mortals who neither ask for nor can deny an intrusion into their bodies, minds and souls.

A compromise in which I cover the costs of the action, do not get what I ask, but a weaker variant instead, and give influence over a subset of dragons is hardly a compromise.

The costs to benefits is far unbalanced, I would gain less and spend more than simply taking action to protect what is mine, or to even create a symbiote to infest the Jinli. Which should be no issue, given that's the issue before us.

If you'd like a compromise, it must be more equivalent than this uneven proposal.

Dong shrugged and drank. "Why do you wish it to be a ritual exactly? For my part, I distrust magic when it is not necessary."

"It would not be interesting to me toto create a new species. I ask for influence over a subset of the dragons without interference. I would not force carp upon them for I do not intend them to meld. My curiosity about a mass meld is a different interest unrelated toy desire to influence."

He took a sip "As for the costs, well how about half of it?'

[Happerry]

Anath rolls his non-existent eyes. "Yes, because the proper compromise for how your parasites should be handled is to pay you in energy to give you the right to mess more with the entities that are having their free will and choice taken from them. A fitting idea for you to suggest, and entirely within theme of your past behavior."

[micelus]

Dong looks cheerful.

"Oh Anath, I didn't see you there. Would you like to join us for tea? It is poorly behaviour to not offer some to a guest." Another teacup is conjured and while he looked at the vase with some hesitation, he eventually shook his head.

"Come come, you can discuss your grievances and do the old song and dance over tea."

[Roboson]

An interesting offer. Undue influence in exchange for sanctioned influence.

What would this influence entail?

[micelus]

Ma Dong gazed at Anath awkwardly. After a moment, he shrugged. He tapped the third cup, which promptly disappeared. He spoke in a sadder tone.

"You mentioned before about how chaos and instability - perhaps using different words- gave rise to heroes and villains. You are correct, and I agree. War is my trade and I know of it's intricacies. As it stands, the lower dragons covet power but are unable to defeat their star-studded or treasure-rich kin. I propose to teach them my trade and guide them in that prospect and then, if they should be of that nature, enlist them in the defense of the realm."