The Morning Lord had once promised Malbran that when His people had been reunited and a great city erected atop the place of His very appearance, then, and only then, He'd once more appear before him and make His will, and with it, their purpose, known. Though never particularly fond of fulfilling pacts honored with mortals, the Archspawn, bound as He had been (not that any could tell), fully intended to once more impose his dark will upon the canvas of creation, through whichever means were available, denigrating as they may be, for however long they may take. If what it took to lead these mortals to their damnation, and dare he hope, retake His place, indulging His faithfuls's fickle expectations was but a meager price to pay. And so did Malbran make a second appearance, manifesting besides Malbran in private as he paid his late night prayers to Him amidst the silent Grand Temple.
Lord Priest Malbran, or Emperor Malbran, as he would be known, may not have expected his patron's late appearance, though he was certainly no less relieved for it. He had prayed for days upon days, initially as a show of duty, eventually as pleas for guidance, yet it only had been now that His Holy Lord, Galadrin, had deemed it fit for him to receive unto Him. The reason for the delay was one for Malbran, who awaited anxiously for the Morning Lord's return, and another for Galadrin, who had been occupied conceiving another artifact, unlike the Crown, completely benign in its nature, but also considerably more powerful: a large cloaked idol, supposedly in the Morning Lord's image, in white marble; standing 25 feet tall, the statue supports itself on a massive winged axe, sporting a crown bearing clear similitude to the Crown of Command, but in many ways more elaborate, and much more cumbersome. Gracefully, Galadrin addresses the Lord Priest.
"Rise forth, Malbran, My child. You have done well in leading My people through the path I've set you on. They now prosper, united, and Galadres has nigh a match to its splendour. For that much, you are my chosen and favorite, but, though they prosper, they could prosper yet more, as befits My people. Your brothers in faith, Malbran. It is true that dark forces loom on the horizon, ready to lead them astray, and I would say, perhaps, lead you astray, were you alone not allowed the privilege of receiving Me directly, so that you may always return to the righteous path".
"It is, therefore, your duty, as my sole bequeathed, to protect them from those harmful influences, from the deceitful spirits, marauding hordes and false gods that will come. Expand Galadres' glory as you long to, to the north, to the south, to the east, but go no farther than the Vein, for your brothers and sisters are not yet ready for that trial. Bring Galadres' glory to it, hold it, but no more".
"Vigilance must always prevail, and, though, until now, you've only had the forsaken few among my people to worry about, you will need ever vigilant shield and sword for the tidings to come; take the most able and valiant of my children and make of them the zealous arms of you people. Train and equip them solely to that position, so that they serve Galadres where the need for unconditional duty is greatest, where heresy may strike, where others might seek to bring arms against My people, where the rogue elements of nature must be conquered, roads paved and bridges raised. Now go, and know that I remain, always guiding you, go forth and forge the Empire that is your people's destiny".
The great statue appears overnight amidst the temple district, and, therefore, at the city's very centre, standing prominently before the entrance to the opulent Grand Temple of the Morning, both Galadrin's most sacred place of worship and the effective seat of government for the thriving city and would be Empire, an architectural marvel. For as long as the holy city is held by faithful Talassani, or one should say, Galadrian, so shall the Empire prosper, for he statue is, indeed, a vessel for a powerful blessing of prosperity upon its people: since its appearance, harvests across the land seem to have become more and more bountiful, mines started to report unprecedented productivity and once prevalent diseases were reduced to isolated outbreaks.
The Archspawn is, however, momentarily taken by other affairs, as the most bizarre of circumstances are, indeed, witnessed on his home front. A mortal man, and a fairly young one at that, it would seem, fights one of Yahkuz' servants atop His very abode. Even more surprisingly, the mortal seems to have the upper hand, already carrying with him two necklaces the likes of the one the undead bears. For a moment, the shadows seem to grow darker, vast and menacing, as both are struck by an ominous feeling, beset by the enraptured attention of the vilest of presences. His curiosity aroused, and at least somewhat fascinated by the mortal's prowess, the Archspawn elects not to intervene in the battle, opting, instead, to follow the man's future exploits. And it is that the feeling fades, and, though both combatants are left all too confused, their battle soon resumes.
Following on his promise, Galadrin makes His much-awaited second appearance before Malbran, as he prays in private before His shrine. Blessed for his swift undertaking of his mission in reuniting the Talassani and his role in the founding of Galadres, now the jewel of the world, Malbran is told of the great boon to come. He is instructed to raise a militant arm to the faith and state of Galadres, a standing force whose objective lies wherever heresy or those who'd seek to do Galadres harm may strike. They are also to partake in the maintenance of the would be Empire's infrastructure.
Galadrin bestows a great idol upon his people, supposedly in His image, it depicts a crowned, cloaked figure, wielding a massive winged axe, much more a symbol of office than anything resembling a weapon. The statue is blessed as to bring unprecedented prosperity to the Galadrians, enhancing productivity and fertility across the realm, as though fortune conspired in their favor.
Supported in his expansionary zeal, Malbran is, however, tacitly cautioned against moving across the Vein. His people, soon to enjoy their newfound prosperity, have yet to properly settle the western reaches, where their true birthright lies. Once Galadres is no longer a city-state, but a bustling Empire, then, and only then, will he receive his next mission.
Having witnessed the battle between the Apprentice and Biéme, in his Abode, of all places, the Archspawns chooses to watch the Apprentice's exploits closely, as he is clearly no mere mortal, but something else altogether. If the Archspawn will act on his observations, only time will tell.
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Topic: Godhood VIII: Quills and Mythology - IC Thread (Read 12519 times)