Young Gods (Read OCC and be aproved before joining)

[PoliteSuccubus]

Alyiss

Quests, within quests, within quests......

The threads of peoples lives wove behind her closed eyes until the young man was lead into her presence.

"Ah, hello." She opened her eyes and smiled at him. He was a fine figure of a youth, not stunted by being a younger son as many would be.

"Hello." He flashed an grin, he knew he was a handsome lad, and he'd been bedding pretty girls since he realized that's what they were there for. "I'm here to see the Seer, but, maybe later...?"

"I am Alyiss." She gestured to a seat across from her. "Sit, Hoark, lessor of the three sons of the house of Amrm."

She poured them both a glass of clean water, and smiled as Hoark reguarded it with some suspion. "It is pure, I assure you. We don't drink wine or beer here. Water clears the body and the sight."

"You look young to be a seer." Hoark admitted, sitting and taking the glass. A surprized look oh his face at the cool sweetness of it.

"I am more than a seer, though at this time I don't mind being called by that title." She smiled wryly. "It takes more time for gentler folk to gain a repatation than the louder ones."

She set her glass down and set between them a sack which clinked softely. "Open it." She bade.

He did so and found not coins, as he'd wondered and somewhat hoped, but stone toakens with a compass on one side.

"Your task is this: Acommpany Pippet, the small goddess, on her journey and at each cross roads or camp site plant one of these toakens of mine. If you stay the night in the morn you will see a marking post. These are my travlers shrines. If someone asks what they are for, tell them to take a toaken from the shines bowl on their journeys for protection...when they reach their destination, plant it in the ground, or place it in a fellow shrine." She pushed one of the toakens, compass side up, towards him.

Picking it up he saw now that the blank side had a saying carved on it. "You will see far places, and be remembered."

"My magic will protect you against a great many things, but you must do this thing for me. It is your greatest task. Also, you must wash your hands and face before touching food."

He rubbed his thumb across the saying. "How long will I be remembered?"

She closed her eyes for a moment, and said in a voice that echoed with the weight of ages: You will be remembered by tens and tens of generations, your fathers name will only be remember through you, your brothers not at all. Do this, and your name will be written on the map of the world.

"And the world, my dear Hoark, is much larger than you think." She sipped her water. "Two more things: You must, if you hear of another god or godling, leave my toaken at their place of worship. And you must be come and gone from the city of Besaid and it's environs before harvest, lest you be caught up in the doings there at that time."

************************

When Pippit came for him he had provisioned himself and was ready; his personal toaken around his neck on a thong. In his travels he saw travel shrines appear like mushrooms over night with a compass engraved on the top pointing north and each face with a coweled woman's figure holding a bowl. In the bowel were her toakens. He search through them and found them all blank, but saw, over and over again, others draw one and find a personal message enscripted on the back. It amazed and awed him. And Alyiss became known.

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

"No! The gift of the Eternal Gear will not leave this, the cradle of progress when the shadow of war looms on the horizon! Send these, and any diplomats who hunger for our superior work back to their temples, where they can scheme with their petty masters. The signs of the Gear are absolute, the time of these Godlings has been short and it is far too soon to send followers to die when it is still time to build."

Karlot Smith, the Chief Artificier had spoken and the Machine Priests would pass on this message, altered as not be too offensive when the time came to tell the soon-to-be disappointed envoys.

Work on the great Machineworks continued, quite rapidly and ahead of schedule thanks to excellent discipline, coordination, work ethic, and religious fervor of the men involved. While many of them used bronze tools, which were sturdier than their old ones, the contribution of the tools was minor, but then the Eternal Gear had always said the glory of industry was in the hearts of mankind, and not their tools.

With rumors of impending war, the Guild Council was not taking any chances. The sheriff and his constables were out in force patrolling the streets of the city and outlaying farm communities keeping an eye out for sabatuers and the like. The Forester's Guild sent out their hunters and scouts to keep an eye on the pine forests of Gheltwood and Ghartwood. Bronze weapons had been distributed to almost half of the Guild's soldiers and some of the officers were equipped with the first bronze curiass' and helmets, blessed by Smith himself. Bahaus did not plan to be a part of this war, but the men of the council were prepared for the worst, they took some small relief however from Karlot Smith who hinted to some great and terrible mechanism with which they could wreck bloody vengence on their enemies should any bring harm to the get of Bahaus...

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Carradan

I stepped out of a doorway filled with blackness into an endless grey plain. Countless figures milled about, wandering aimlessly. Good, I had everything I needed to begin. As I walked forward the shapes revealed themselves to be people, or rather the souls of those who had passed on. Almost every age of man was represented. Stone Age hunters wandered with Bronze Age townsmen. I walked into what was approximately the center of the crowd, the souls crowding around me, looking on expectantly.
“I am Carradan, and I am Lord here! This Realm is not prepared for those who will dwell in it, so it is your task and mine to build it, so that you may go to your final home, and someday be woven again in the tapestry that is life.”
I motioned my hand, and three gates appeared one of Iron, one of Ash, and one of Silver. Parts were missing from all the gates, but they still stood, as if they were complete. I turned back to the mass of lost souls, and spoke to them again.
“The Gates are brought forth, but they must be completed. Reaching out, six souls collapsed into balls of light, two silver, two gold, and two blood red. The souls merged with the gates, forming them into whole structures.
“Behold Agnorak, Land of Suffering. Those who have displeased your Master, or the Mother and Father, this is your fate.” Spoke the voice of the Ravager. “Now, embrace the fate you chose for yourselves.”
The Gates of Agnorak opened and a charnel wind blew over the souls collected onto the plain. Then, hooked and clawed appendages flew out of the gates, grabbing those who were fated to spend their eternity in the Land of Suffering. With screams of terror, souls were pulled into the gates, until with a last scream the gates shut closed with a hollow boom. The face of The Ravager chuckled, and had any lived here, their blood would have run cold.
The cold, skeletal face of The Watcher looked over the remaining souls. Raising his hand, the Gates of Prythan opened, and a cold wind blew out onto the plain, flakes of snow swirling in the air.
“Those who never strived, and who did not believe, this is your realm, where you will toil until you have learned, and ascent to the next realm. Now, Prythan awaits you, so go!”
A cold blue light shot out of the gate, lancing from soul to soul, until the field was cleared by another third, and the gates crashed shut, sealing in those who were to spend a millennia in their toils.
The face of The Shining One now looked over the remaining souls. “You who remain have pleased your Masters, and have earned your place in Aborena, the Land of Peace. Now go, and enjoy your new home.”
The Gates opened and a warm breeze blew out, smelling of flowers and grass. A bright white light shot out the gates and enveloped the remaining souls, drawing them into the Gates, and to their final resting place. Then the Gates shut, and The Shining One now looked at the handful of souls still standing on the Plain. “You that remain have been chosen to walk the world again, so go, and draw breath once more, for the world needs heroes, and you will be those heroes.” With a wave of his hand, the souls dissolved into silver balls of light, and winked out, to be joined in the womb with the children growing there.
Carradan looked over the now empty plain, and smiled.
“So now it begins. Now, to find the mortal that will be my voice in the world.”
A silver and bone scythe came to be in his hand, and his aspect changed to that of The Watcher, tattered robes of black clothed him, and his skeletal face looked out, searching the world for the spark that he needed. Then , once spotted, he faded out of the plain, and down to the Earth.
Death once again walked the world, but this Death was different.
This death still had the soul of a man.

 

[chrisim]

Klia came to awarness in a bustling city of thousands, merchants,pesants and nobles bustled to and fro in the busy streets of what Orn had told her was the city of Bahaus.

A street minstrel played on a corner not far from where she had landed.*Nows as good a time as any to start working *she thought. The minstrel who had been wilting in the heat of the hot summer sun, suddenly had an unexpected boost of energy and several new songs sprung fully formed into his head.
Two nobles and several wealthy mearchants that had been passing by stopped to listen, gold and sliver began flying into the cup he used to collect donations.

The minstrel whos name was Jacob, was staring stareing straight at Klia, realised that for some reason he was the only one that could see the petite lady dressed in strange clothes.

Whispering in his head she told him* I am Klia the Goddess all Arts, worship me, and convert others to my worship and your days shall always be as this one is*

Jacob thought it over and realised he had nothing to loose and nodded his affirmation.

Klia smiled, her adventures had just begun,vanishing into thin air she decided to see what else was out there.

 

[cats]

Olas

IC: I was sudenly here, in this place. Before me lay a soft slope of a hillside. Pine trees, oaks, aspins and many other trees field this forest and yet it wasn't crowded, the trees ahd ample space betweeen each other.

I looked to the side and saw a wall of thick rose bushes that inveloped the entire room. "What is this place?" 'This is your little slice of our relm.' I turned and saw human locking figure radiaiting golden light.

"Who are you?" 'Well the mortals call me your father. I am the sun god you see.' "Is that why you glow?" 'Well not all of us look human yourself included.' "Myself?" 'Come with me.'

I fallowed this man until we came to the edge of a pond feild with strange fish made of preciousgems. 'Look at your refelction.' I look down into the water and saw my face but it looked difrent, I had the ears of a cat atop my head and slit pupils as well as a tail sticking out from my back.

"Why the hell do I look like that!" 'Keep in mind hell nolonger exists in this world instead you have the relm of Agnorack behind the gates of ash. Ofcoarse no mortals know of it yet.' "What the hell!" 'Their you go again. Any how to answer your question you are now a god. The god of the hunt, Olas. Cats as you know are excelent hunters, so it suites you.' "I guess so."

'Now in your garden if you wish you can enter any tempol you have. Wich is one at this time, but you should go there none the less. From tehre you need to convert fallowers.' "Fallowers! how am I going to get people to worship me if I look like this!" 'You can find a way.' "I can? Your wrong there I'm not that smart!" 'If thats what you beleave then maybe this will help.' He pulled out a hooded green cloak. "Well I guess if I'm careful that will help hide the tail and ears... But what about the eyes?" 'What the hell do you want from me?' "I thought you said Agnorack." 'It is Agnorack... Look who cares about the Eyes just go!' "Yes sir."

I walked hastily back to my garden sliping on the cloak. Man oh man am I off to a bad start. I steped trhew a door into my little relm. "Now how do I get out of here?" A slow tricle of water had pulled itself down in a corner of my relm. "That wasn't tehre before."

I walked to the stream and the reflection wasn't mine but isntead of a stone mountin. A sunden insperation hit me and I steped into the pull and imdeatly found msyelf faceing a simple flint headed arrow on a stone table. The room was dark and was a simple stone cave with a torch burning at it's back and one each side, three torches in all and the door where a forth torch would be.

I walked out the door and saw great plains in a valley. Furtehr in the distance was a village at the edge of the forest. "Looks like I have some walking to do."

 

[kamalw1]

Kane left the temple and walked the streets of Eboneya. There were several places in the city where those soldiers who would be fighting in the upcoming battle were preparing. Although they were already in excellent physical condition, as all his followers were, due to the rigorous exercise regimen, they were practicing their battle techniques even more. A smile came to Kane's face as he thought about what was to happen in a few days' time.

After he had seen all he wished, Kane returned to his temple and sent for Droom. When the man arrived, he sat Droom down and began talking to him about some of the plans and techniques that would be used during the battle. Droom, his faith fully placed on Kane, listened intently as his God laid out what he was to do.

 

[cats]

Olas

IC: At the base of the hill I felt something stalking me. I turned around and there was a puma flying threw the air. In a rough takle I landed on the floor. "Get off me!" Am I going to die my first day as a god!

Sudenly the cat got off me a stood their faceing me. I quickly got to my feet and began to back away. "Now you just stay here...." I slowly edged myself back into a shadow. Now I need to get to that town. With suden blink the cat was gone and I was in the town.

"This is geting quite odd." I looked around and walked to the town square. A butcher was crowded by a large group. 'Look tehre jsut isn't enough meet to go around, that why my prices are so high.'

I walked to the edge of the crowd and began to talk. "Well prehaps you people need to please Olas god of the hunt." An old woman turned to me and said. 'What are you blabing about?' "Olas god of the hunt. He controls the hunters fortune." 'You've been out in the sun to long.' "And you would like to go hungry. Hear me out please. You need not do much, I sugest a contest. Gather your hunters togeather tomorow mourning at dawn send them out. They have till sunset to catch what they can. I'll even through in a prize for the winner." The crowd talked about the idea shortly and the hunters present agreed no harm in trying.

'I would like to try too!' I looked to the side and there was a teenaged girl of no more then 16. 'Quite Mara! Things like this keep you from being wedd!' the girls motehr said I walked over to the girl. "You would like to hunt?" 'Yes, I can hunt and no one beleaves me.' 'No she can't.' "Well if she wishes to hunt I suggest leting her. No harm in letting her try." 'But she'll humilate herself!' the motehr yeild. "Yes and that'll keep her from makeing those claims again. So let her enter and be done with it." I walked off over hearing the mother ignore my advice and say 'You will not hunt.'

Now to get back to whre I was I entered the shadows and quickly found myself faceing the same puma. 'What the hell!' I was standing in the shadow. "Oh thats right I'm a god now. This must be one of the perks."

I slowly mvoed my way around the rock to avoid startling the cat. I edged around a corner and made my way up the hil a good 15 feet and looked back at the cat. It hadn't moved. "Are you just going to lay there and wait?" My mouth fell open as I watched the cat nod back at me. "Well okay then. If thats what you want to do it's okay but you migth as well go do something else." At that moment the cat got up and walked off. I made my way up to my temple and returned to my garden.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Moc, Alar's Cheif Advisor

Moc paced and muttered. Alar was no longer listening to him and there were rumors of war brewing. It was that Urhtralis' fault, he knew. Worshipers were coming to the false gods temple and giving him gifts even though it was common knowlege there were only three gods: The Sun, The Moon, and The Earth.

In fact, false gods were popping up everywhere it seemed.


A rapping came at his door and his assitant came in followed by three hooded figures; desert outrider merecnaries.

No names were exchanged and Moc was breif. "I want the temple of Urhtralis destroyed. If his priests die I do not care. I want his place of worship brunt to the ground."

Two gold bars, twenty pounds of salt and 10 horses was the cost for a bloody nights work.

In the God's Courtyard Urhtralis began to fade.

"What is happening!" He cried out , reaching for Yoth, his ally.

Moments later, so it seemed, he appeared before St. Peter.

"Welcome back to Prime." Peter said, smileling gently.

"I have to get back!" the former god cried.

Peter sighed and gave Urhtralis a number and jerked a thumb towards a long line outside the Pearly Gates. "Gotta wait your turn to talk to HE WHO IS ON HIGH about that, I'm afraid. That's totally upper management."

Rageing impotently Urhtralis stood at the end of the line and looked at his number. It was too long to read. Ironically it reminded him of a scene from Beattlejuice...

 

[cats]

Olas

IC: I spent a fine night in my garden although I didn't sleep. Since I arived here I hadn't been tired at all and only the slightest bit hungry or thirsty, even then I only need to go to the nearest tree out of my garden and eat one peace of fruit, infact only one bite, and a sip from the pond would completely quench my thirst but what should I of expected, I am a god now am I not.

When day arose I walked back over to my pool of water people were starting to do their chores and the sun was barely in the air.
"Time to make my visit." I steped into the pool and apeared at my temple. The place was completely bare still, but there is hope it'll look much nicer latter on.... actully it's quite nice a rose bush or two outside and it'd be perfect.

Unlike the day before I now felt a keen since of my powers, both of them. I know hunting cats listen to me, and then their is this teleport in the shadows, I need them to hide from the crowds I guess. Still shouldn't I have control over hunting or something? Prehaps I do but have yet to notice it. Well thats food for thought.

With a thought I was in the town. "Same alley as before." 'This man isn't showing so their is no prize.' I walked over to the same sceptic butcher. "I beg to differ." The crowd seemed a bit suprised. "I may not of stayed in this town, but I will keep my word."

'The compation starts now then.' I looked at one hunter with a red cape, quite odvious that he has an knack for being flashy, a red cape isn't the best way to hide. "Yes let this game begin."

I surveyed the town that day. Orl was the name for it, mostly a village one smith an inn nothing much to the place in truth still it was a place to start and a compation like this would never happen in a big city or atleast not until I'm more established. The day past quickly and sunset soo arived.

The hunter in red returned with the biggest kill his two brothers helping him carry the elk. "Looks like you win... what was your name?" 'Robert.' "Well you win come with me and I'll give you your prize." 'You bastard,' an woman that looked familar yelled as she apraoched me, 'Mara is missing and it's all because this stupid hunting game. You and this damned Olas idol of yours.' "She's gone. Well I'll search for her."

I walked in the woods many hours before comeing across the Cougar from yesterday. It shook it's head and bid me to fallow. In about 30 minutes of travel I was at the arrow riden body of a large black bear. on the ground breathing heavy was Mara in simple leatehr cloths.

"My my, you are lucky this bear came quite close. A shame the contest was over." 'Behind you theres a puma.' "Oh the cougar, he's with me. Let us head back to the village." The trip was long and quiet, we had left the bear behind.

I walked back into town and their was the group ready to linch me. They began to charge me before Mara and my cougar moved into the way. 'I'm fine' She said in a soft tone. "Today many hunters strived hard and they cought a great deal of meat. This is because Olas rewards the hunting spirit. You tried with all your heart, so you caught many things. Robert has a great deal of skill and just as much spirit. My reward is another challange, Their is a cave in the stone mountin over there, that is the temple to Olas, Robert I ask you to be it's preist."

I looked at Mara. "Also know this while robert won, Mara claimed a bigger prize, even though none of you thought she could. She has the hunting spirit as these men do and ahs proven herself a hunter aswell. I ask that she too be a preist. Even though she didn't win. Prehaps the rest of you can plant Roses outside Olas's temple as an offering." 'Roses only grow to the far south. That would take a long time.' "What! No Roses! Thats won't do some one needs to get some seeds and bring them back here." 'I'll do it.' I looked at Mara. "Well it's odvious no one can stop you. Then take this cougar as your gaurd." I looked her in the eye. "Your spirit is so strong Olas must have a temple in you." I walked back towards the shadows. "I bid you people good fortune in hunting."

 

[poohlive]

Broken cartwheels and empty jugs lined the trail that he had taken for over three hours now. A good soul had told him of this apparent short cut to the town, but as night fell, and the skyline broke out in a ginblossom of stars, the short cut and advice didn't look so good at all.
Jared stepped off of his horse, who grasped for the chance to rest a few minutes. The poor thing had been ridden hard all day, and the sweat continued to pour off of him. Jared gave him a sypmathizing pat on the hind quaters, looking at the mess that lay ahead.
A clearing held many old campfires, most of them unused for many months. It was a place to stop and rest for the night for many a traveler, and old signs of hospitality could be seen. There were piles of wood people had dragged along from some trampled tree, and an assortment of little blankets and things out in the open.
A few shrines as well, to gods and goddesses which people believed would bring them good luck. One in particular caught Jared's eye, a bowel with a beautiful women carved on it, and a compass.
Inside were simple token. All blank, except for one, with writing.
It was too dark to see what it said, but Jared held up his small lantern, to look inside.
"Trouble awaits all, but if your heart is true, you will find a way."
Jared didn't understand, but in the same manner, he did. He thanked whoever had given him this, putting it in a special pocket on his person.
"Come, this was supposed to be a short cut to the town, and by God if we're not going to make it."
Mounting the horse, Jared took off in a hurried run from the place. It surprised him that only a few short miles later, the town of Besaid peeked between two pines on the right side of the road.
Jared took out the token, kissing it, and put it back in his pocket.
"By God, we made it. Our long journey is over."
Enden only smiled, because he knew it had just begun.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Ellesime was dissapointed with the Eternal Gear's response but not discouraged. She had known it would take more then one tribute and plenty of time. Meanwhile news of impending war spurred the building of city walls. Already they were more then half way up. The people now viewed Ellesime as their goddess and payed tribute almost daily. All her preistesses had been recruited and all lived within the temple walls. Also at the top of the temple tower burned a flame. It was to kept lit day and night as a symbol of Ellesime's eternal passion for her people. All was going perfectly.

 

[SwampThing]

Doark had never seen the Small Goddess, but the smiling merchants who he guarded on the way to Bauhaus told him that he was often with them. And often, when he woke in the cold desert mornings, and saw that the compass he'd planted had grown into yet another shrine to Alyiss, there was a mockingbird perched on the top of the shrine, laughing away, and he wondered.

The Bauhausian merchants were serious men, even grim. But the Thalian merchants, and even their other guards, were filled with joy and song. They gave strange voices to their food while they ate it, and some days dressed backward, just for a laugh. Nothing ever seemed to go wrong for them, though. They always found water when they needed it, and when their horses stepped on sharp stones or cactus spines, the small annoyance just seemed to disappear.

A few nights, turbaned nomads would come out of the desert, and trade meat and water for the city-dwellers' beads and pots and cloth. And the Thalians presented the desert people with little pouches of stones, and told them jokes. The men from the desert smiled widely, and took the pouches home to their children, sharing with them the Thalians' strange tales of the mischief of little people.

When at last the caravan reached Bauhaus, Doark marvelled at the order and industry of the city. As the merchants went about their business in the marketplace, he went to see the building of some great edifice of metal and stone. This must be the temple to their Eternal Gear, he thought. Overhead, a mockingbird perched on a window ledge, laughing.

Doark heard the workers stop, and curse, and fiddle with some great crane. The mechanism (far too complex for Doark) seemed to be jammed somehow. As Doark approached the workers, the wheel of a passing cart fell off, rolling down the hill. The cart tipped over, spilling barrels of wine and baskets of bread into the stalled workyard. One of the barrels of wine had lost it's cork, and wine was spilling into the foundation of the great building.

So as not to waste the wine, the cart driver allowed the thirsty workmen to drink it. Since their work was halted anyway, they began on the other barrels. Doark joined them, and when they began to eat the bread, they found small seedcakes, lumps of sugar, and bright red mushrooms buried in the baskets as well. A crowd had gathered by this time, and they continued feasting and drinking (the cart-driver being too drunk to care about the loss of his wares), the little red mushrooms bringing on fits of delirious laughter. A young minstrel joined the happy group, and played beautiful music while they danced and tumbled over each other.

As Doark lay grinning in his stupor, he thought he saw a tiny woman, with the head of a mockingbird, laughing at him.

"I have come as an emissary of the Princess of Besaid, that beauteous and pure maiden, who sorely needs a hero now, to rescue her from her city under siege. I bring you this token of her." And Doark felt the locket appear about his neck. It was scented, like a fine lady, and bore jewels as only a Princess' keepsake might.

Doark saw that the tiny woman was gone, and that some Clerics had come to stop the merry-making, and put the builders back on task. They got the crane working again, having found that it was jammed by a wooden peg, such as might hold a cart-wheel in place. The drunken crowd only laughed harder at this, but the Clerics of the Eternal Gear were not amused.
________________________

"What fun." Pippit said to herself, flitting through the courtyard of the gods. She flew over the Earth Mother, and Orn and Si playing cards, and rearranged their hands to confuse everybody.

The Small Goddess landed at the alcove of Elesmie, and spoke to it.

"Goddess, I come to you with a bargain. Doark of Thalia, who is destined to be a great hero, and alter the course of history, goes now to Besaid, to rescue it's beseiged Princess. He will love her in your name, and worship you for her beauty, only you must protect him, that he may claim her."

 

[kamalw1]

Kane sat in his temple, thinking of the upcoming battle and the opposition, when Droom entered and knelt before Kane. The God guestured for Droom to rise, and watched as Droom made a fist and placed it on his chest. "Ah, you remembered," Kane said, returning the salute. "So, what has brought you here?"

"I am here to report that the final preparations have been completed. The envoy has returned from Bahaus with the news that the leader of the city would not sell us the secrets of their new metal-working process. Also, our spies indicate that there is growing opposition coming from Besaid, but not enough to discourage our plans."

Kane nodded his head when Droom finished his statement. "Well, I didn't expect Bahaus to give in to our request easily, but that will have to be dealt with at a later time. Since the preparations are finished, it is time to commence the last part of the plan. Send your emissary to Besaid with the appropriate message. The army begins marching at dusk." Droom returned the salute that Kane gave him and quickly left the temple to go to his messenger.

*****************

Moloch rushed into the stable and told the stable master to bring him his horse. He had been ready for this moment for some time, and was just waiting for word from Droom as to when he would leave. The stable master brought Moloch his horse, a black stallion he named Monster. The horse was saddled and ready for the mission. Moloch made sure the rolled up parchment was in his pouch and mounted Monster. At his bidding, Monster walked out of the stable. As soon as he left the city gates, Monster broke into an all-out run. Moloch would ride as long as possible, with minimal breaks, to get to Besaid quickly. It was important that he complete this mission as fast as possible, and he would not disappoint Kane, or Droom.

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

The priests, with assistance of a few men from the Orders Militant were able to break up the impromptu festival and get the mess cleaned up. The foreman had been taken aside and was being admonished by a Machine Priest, "Shame on you and your men! There is a time for work, a time for play, and a time for rest! A schedule is a precious things and a city such as ours depends on them. While you were all drinking and eating there was not a soul working! A temple does not build itself!"

The other priests were busy getting the sober men back to work and sending the drunken ones home. There had still been another few hours in the work day and that time would be lost.

Meanwhile the careless merchant was fined by a Guild officer for breaking a number of Bahaus regulations, because most of his wares had been eaten in the revelry he would now be in debt to the guild and if he were unable to pay he would have to work as a debt servant to the Guild for at least a month until he had paid what he owed the city. He would have food and shelter courtesy of the guild, but so much business would be lost that he could have otherwised taken advantage of. That is the way of the Guild, as merciless as it is without malice, the rule of law held above all.

 

[cats]

Mara

It was late at night but I came to the closest city on the road. I could see lights down below, this city was odviously a place for industry and smiths rather then hunters.

I reached down at my side, I kenw there was nothing there but still, I checked for money. The cougar at my side had fallowed me the entire way, it oddly pushed me forward even when I noticed I was ill prepared for this trip. I only had what I hunted in. A few small bags, my claoths, my bow arrow and knife, and my water blader. The food I had was long since eaten.

"Come on boy, lets go hunt for shelter and food." I walked off the road into the wild sourounding Bahous.

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

A pile of junk and scrap metal lay in some corner of the Courtyard although none could recall who had put it there. The individual pieces came to life and swirled about each other, fitting together like some nightmare jigsaw puzzle until at last it had formed the sillhouete of a man. Then there was a hiss of steam and the rusted junk shone like new. The perfectly formed clockwork form of the Eternal Gear was manifest and a red cape appeared, draped around his shoulders.

He made his way to the others and looked down upon the small goddess, "I did not appreciate your wanton sabotage of my people's work, but I do not begrudge you. It is the nature of beings to hate that which is superior, and hate begets such violence. I will overlook these actions, no! I will even assist you. Your champion shall be garbed in mighty bronze, let it be so. This must be a subtle thing though, one of the councilmen of the Armorer Guild's Sub-Committee has passed on from age...there. It is done, Hoark will soon find out of a distant relative he never knew and an inheritence that will aid him on his task."

And so he had, Doark was approached by a Machine Priest in civilian dress, who claimed to have been directed to him by the merchants he had traveled with and was handed a note from his third cousin's, father's, brother.

Hoark,

I am Councilman Jasper Coppersmith, a distant relation of yours. When I heard rumor that you were amongst those in a caravan destined for our fair city I though we might meet for the first time. Sadly the years have caught up with me and I fear that our meeting will never take place. My will has been set for many years and my son will be recieving my title, monies, and property. But I was presented with an unusual gift by the priests of this Machine God the Eternal Gear. A sword, helm, and breastplate of the finest polished bronze! My son is a craftsman and has no use for such things. But you find yourself on the road with some frequency. It is for this reason that I leave you this thing. You need only go to the Eternal Gear's Shrine and pay some small respect and the priests will know you by your name. Take this small inheritence with my blessings and think of me with some kindness.

The Eternal Gear stood still and awaited a response from Pippit, he did not explain his rationale for helping but Pippit could sense that even through the emotionless, mechanical guise of the Eternal Gear there was a real desire to offer aid.

 

[chrisim]

Klia felt the presence of two other god forces in town.
Not sure of what her welcome would be she made sure she would not be seen, and listened in on their conversations.
This journey they spoke of, it intregued her.
She watched as pippit and the enteral gear spoke to Doark.
Hmmm she thought mabey i should show herself.
She spoke to Dorak only in his mind.
*Doark my name is Klia, im the Goddess of The Arts .Im not sure of my welcome by the other dieties your talking to so im not going to show myself,not yet anyways. I heard about your journey and want to help. In your pocket you will find two tablets one is a rejuvinating tablet,when you are tierd and weary use it and it will give you a extra boost,it is not however for healing, that wont work.The other is a curse tablet. It will drive your enemy to madness,how you ask, well you know one of those endilessly repetitive songs , it will repeat in his head drowning out all thought till the person desends into insanity. Activate the tablets by breakning them in half.Use them wisely and good luck*

 

[SwampThing]

In the Courtyard of the Gods, Pippit still waited at Ellesmie's alcove. She looked up at the red-draped form of the Eternal Gear, and laughed.

"Hate that which is superior? Good one, Gear, but who's got the time? That little 'sabotage' may have slowed construction of your tonka toy by a day, but it gave your workmen a much needed break. Your city, your people, far too grim. They've got prosperity, but without joy, what's the point? I think if you let them relax a little more, you might even see productivity increase.

"I do appreciate the armor for Doark, but he's really Alyiss' champion, not mine. And the quest he's about to undertake to Besaid will be in the name of Ellesmie and love. If you really want to help me out, how about a festival in your city? It could happen as regular as clockwork, if you want. I'll stay out of your hair, or wires, or whatever, the rest of the time, and on the festival day, I'll make sure your people have the fun and relaxation they need. Humans do need that, remember?"

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

"My name is Hoark! Hoark! Why does everyone keep calling me Doark!" He raised his hands to the sky in supplication. "I am not a Doark!"

 

[cats]

Olas at the garden of gods

IC: I walked threw the garden of gods. This place is quite odd. I wonder if heaven is like this place. Heaven, maybe I should of gone their instead, after all I would of died right after that meeting then it's jsut one sort line to para.... oh fuck it. I'm here now might aswell enjoy it.

Still I need to know how to get more temples. What makes a temple, a temple? I supose I'll ask "mom and dad" for advice. I walked around for some time with out finding them. I did however spot a mechanical man in a red cape. I'm in luck theirs a directory. In a place like this I bet it knows where every one is.

"Hey Directory!" I walked up to the metal man and saw that it was talking to a small bird headed girl. Something abot Doark or is it Hoark? "Oh sorry I was just wondering if you people saw my 'parents' you know the god of the sun and moon. I don't think I got their names."

They didn't seem to be pleased or angry at my presence just sort of baring it instead. "I was going to ask them about makeing new temples.... and.. geting... fallowers?" They seemed puzzeld by my presence. I can't imamgine they woukld consider me a threat after all god put me here to work with these people.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Alyiss

Things were going well. Her shrines were blooming like night mushrooms and the blank wall of her temple was filling in with a map. At first it was only a map of Hoark's travels, but as other travelers took up the stones and moved on other paths her range grew.

With this range grew more and more work. Manèging the threads so they would weave patterns was hard at first. Knowing what to do and when. But as she got used to it she became more proficient.

Making this farmers cart break down may not have seemed like good luck at the time, but it delayed him long enough to meet a honest laborer in need of work.

A small rock slide here diverted a family from a nest of robbers.

And meanwhile the people of Thalia came to her as a seer. They brought gifts and her temple became more comfortable. They began to observe her rituals in their private lives; washing their hands and faces, ridding their homes of vermin, looking ahead to the future when making plans.

Soon she'd have to appear to Hoark and help him get set on his quest. And her novices were learning to read and write a type of writing not that far off from the American Braille. For now it, and the Arabic numbers, would be a hidden language of the temples of Alyiss.

In fact, the women had grown into wonderful first clerics. Guides, she called them. And soon with a handful of followers each they would be traveling to begin new temples. She had decided that there would be Circles of Guides, and herself at the middle. The Center of the Path, as it were.

Xia would be going south, to Croate. And the fisherman's wife, North, to a fishing village called Meems. They would be replaced by Shane and Isha. A husband and wife.

But for now, she had a sack of coins to deliver to the Courtyard to repay her debt. Funny how she never asked for money when people came to see her in the role of seer, but they felt compelled to leave it anyway.

She called out to Xia that she would be going out for a while and stepped into the alcove.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Carradan

I stepped from a low alter and immediately noticed the tortured spirits swirling around the darkened room. Turning around, I noticed a low stone table, with the eviscerated body of a young man upon it. Fresh blood pooled out of his hollowed chest cavity, and dripped onto the floor with a slow "plop". I concentrated, and 3 shafts of gold light and one each of blue and red shot from my chest, pulling the souls into their proper place. I let one soul remain, hovering over the still warm body it had just left.
I then turned and took in the rest of the room. Human bones were prominently displayed, and instruments of pain and torture, some still wet with blood were littered across the room. In a dark corner was a young woman, with fiery red hair and white skin, most likely from shock. She was looking straight at me, which shouldn't have been possible, since I had not physically manifested, yet. Before the alter were three men. Clad in black robes with blood red trim, each had a bloody dagger in their hands, and blood on their lips and a dot of blood on their foreheads. They were chanting something in some gibberish of a language, but the word "Thra'lak" kept coming up. Something about this whole setup wasn't right. I turned back to the alter, and concentrated. Soon glowing blue lines of power showed up, connecting me to the alter. So, this was this worlds shrine to Death, and someone had turned it into a mockery. I could make out a crudely hacked symbol, a skull with crossed daggers under it, but at the base of the alter was my symbol, the intertwined circle of infinity. Both glowed to my sight, but my symbol glowed brighter. Somebody desired my job, and was well on the way of getting it. Now that was not nice! It was time for these fools to meet who they thought they were praying to.
I stepped before the prostrate men, and slowly took on solid form. The temperature in the room began to fall, and soon the breath of the men and the captive woman was steaming in the cold air. Finally the men stopped chanting, and slowly looked up and beheld my skeletal face, empty eyes looking into their souls, and in one voice they screamed and backed away, daggers clattering to the floor. I stepped forward and swung my scythe down, slamming it into the stone floor. Hoarfrost spread around where the blade was embedded into the floor, and the temperature dropped even further.
“You sought to worship ME by taking life??? Who gave you the power to choose who goes to My domain???? Speak, or I shall cast you into Agnorak while still alive, so your suffering will be boundless in life and unto Death!”

“Master” one of the men groveled, “A priest who said he worshipped you said this was the proper forms, and if we followed them Death would stay his hand over us. He told us to carve the new symbols, and to perform the sacrifice. And behold, mighty Thra’lak has come.” He then placed his head to the bloody floor and began chanting gibberish again. The room dropped several degrees colder as my anger grew.
“You stupid, stupid man. You were tricked into worshiping another. I know not who this “Thra’lak is, but I am known as Carradan, and you have greatly displeased me. Begone from my sight, and return never again, or I shall step up our eventual meeting.”
The men almost crawled all over each other running from the room, and soon it was just me and the girl. She was still looking at me, but her attention was also being drawn to the soul hovering over the gutted body on the alter. This was the soul I had been seeking. I had found my priestess. Now I just had to convince her to take the job. I walked over and reached down. She shrank back from my skeletal fingers, but did not seem overly frightened as I untied her from her bonds.

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

The Eternal Gear shook his head, "You presume too much small lady. There are two days of rest in the city of Bahaus. One from the Guild and another from the Temple. And there are seasonal as well as celestial festivals. I do not understand why you all seem to confuse a good work ethic with being 'grim', but then perhaps that is why OUR world in on the verge of apocalypse. The people of Bahaus are industrious by nature, this is why I chose to serve and guide them first."

When this new one came he turned towards her with a hiss of steam, "Incompetence! I'l leave this to you small lady. I am off to Schloss Gearheart, there is war afoot and I am to watch it. Do NOT make a further nuisence of yourself in Bahaus, your antics are not appreciated. Take your laughter and tricks to the children."

The shining, perfect machine collapsed into so much junk. The red cape slowly fell, draping over the metal. When it hit, it all disappeared.

 

[kamalw1]

Moloch brought Monster to a walking pace as he approached the main gate of Besaid. "Halt!" a voice called out from the top of the wall. "Identify ourself and your purpose!"

"I am Moloch, official messenger of the Warlord Droom. I have come in the name of our God Kane to bring a message to your Royal Family." The Captain of the Gate gave a command, and the gate swung open. Monster began walking into the city, Moloch on his back. As Moloch looked around, he noticed that he was surrounded by 20 soldiers, all carrying spears.

"You will be escorted by these men to the temple. Don't try anything underhanded, for they have orders to kill you if you do." Moloch shrugged and followed the soldiers' lead down the main road to the temple. Many people were in the streets, watching with apprehension as he went by, noticing the symbols of Droom and Kane draped over the side of the horse. After a few minutes, he arrived at the entrance to the palace as was led into the throne room.

"I, King Wakka of Besaid, have allowed you to enter this palace for I heard you have a message from Droom. What is it?"

Moloch pulled out the parchment and unrolled it. After clearing his throat, he said in a loud voice, "The great Warlord Droom, in the name of the powerful God Kane, has declared war on the city of Besaid. In two days' time, he army of Eboneya will attack this city. Between now and the attack, anyone who wishes not to fight and leave the city in peace should be allowed to do so. After the attack, Warlord Droom will take over leadership of this town. There will be no slaves taken, everyone will be free to live their lives under Warlord Droom's command." Moloch put the parchment away and waited for King Wakka's reply.

"There will be no surrendering to Droom," Wakka said in a stern voice. "We in the city of Besaid will fight to the death. Go back and tell your precious Warlord Droom that when he attacks, he will meet with great opposition." He then waved his hand, dismissing Moloch from his presence. Moloch left the palace and remounted Monster. Leaving the city, Moloch thought how the encounter went according to plan, and how his part was almost finished.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

The Earth Mother felt a lost childs need and walked up to the newly created god.

She was a large woman with large breasts, a round belly, full thighs dressed in a ever-moving dress of leaves that teased sensualy. Flowers were braided in her hair, and her feet were stained green, her hands brown and her lips were berry red.

"Hello, my child. The sun and the moon are out, how can I help you?"