Phalanalin watched from the edge of Luar's light as the other gods made their moves. She tsked at the innovator's unthinking actions, rolled her unseeing eyes as the emotional one fawned over their master, and mimicked Lu's voice as he fixed the younger gods' mistakes.
"Ooh, look at me, I'm Lu, watch me save these mortals. Aren't I the nicest?"
As the sphere taught them magic, she nodded in tacit approval. Finally someone who actually gave the mortals a chance to fix their own problems, rather than having to rely on the gods the whole time. She wasn't sure about the whole... ballgame thing. That sounded like an excuse for the strong to get stronger, and deny the weak the opportunity to rise against them.
However, all the gods, in their folly, had forgotten something. That being that where there are mortals, there is faith. And where there is faith, there is power. And Phalanalin was never one to let an opportunity like that go past her.
She reached into the darkness, and pulled out the form of a snake (leaving a patch of the universe slightly less dark, rendering a portion of the night sky filled with stars making the sign of a serpent), which she carefully stitched and wove into a living being- albeit one with semi-divine powers. The great serpent Yras was born.
Act: Create the champion Yras, in the form of a giant snake made of living darkness. It can swim through shadows like water, entering one pool of darkness, to emerge from another. It speaks all tongues, as any messenger should, and a single drop of its venom can slay even the mightiest of mortal creatures. It is, however, surprisingly weak for its size, preferring to strike from the shadows, then dart away before reprisal can be inflicted.
Whispering instructions in the ear of the titan, Phalanalin set the beast on a course for the first world, swimming through the void of space without a care. After a short journey- lasting perhaps a few years- from the edge of Luar's influence to the First World, it waited for night to fall on the planet below before descending. It landed on one of the larger floating islands, luscious and warm, and slithered through the night, searching for a suitable space for its mistress's work. Eventually, it found a suitable clearing, situated along the edges of a lake fed by a waterfall cascading down the mountains behind it. A confluence of leylines was situated here, making it a popular destination for seekers of arcane spheres.
Yras circled the clearing several times, before coming to a decision. With a flick of its tail, the mountains shook, and great blocks of stone cascaded down their flanks. Mortals for miles around were awoken by the sound, and several started to make their way towards the clearing. There they encountered Yras, who was quickly and skillfully stacking neatly carved stones upon each other. The sound of stone slamming into stone echoed throughout the clearing, deafening mortals who got too close. Eventually- the first rays of sunlight appearing over the horizon, the work was done, as Yras carefully slid the final stone into place.
Before the awe-struck mortals stood a towering temple, its base a perfect hexagon, its walls of plain stone nevertheless exuding elegance, bedecked with a handful of crude statues that appeared more real than any mortal. As the light of morning raced across the land, the great stone doors swung open, granting the light entrance into the interior. The single chamber was ringed by hexagonal pillars that held up the roof, but few had much attention for the minor details, for sitting half coiled, head held high, in the centre of the chamber, was Yras, whose pitch-dark form could only be truly appreciated when contrasted with the light. It towered over the mortals, a sight to inspire terror in even the bravest amongst them. Yet fascination with the strange structure- quite unlike anything the mortals had ever seen, who built only crude shelters, if they built anything at all- drew them forwards, until a small crowd bustled around the open doors. Yras regarded them impassionately, before speaking.
"Heed, mortalss. I am Yrass, Messsenger of Phalanalin. Know that thiss iss her temple, and that you musst show deference when entering itss hallowed hallss"
"Let it be known that in her wissdom, she hass sent me to ssecure your worship. Praisse her name, and all will be well. Build templess ssuch ass thesse and you shall be rewarded. Defy her and know ssuffering."
Act (through Yras): Steal the efforts of the other gods, by creating a grand temple on the First World, where mortals might worship Phalanalin. If possible, convey knowledge of its construction to the mortals, as that they might build more.
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Topic: Pantheon IV IC-Thread Turn 9: Death of the Divine (always more players welcome) (Read 14642 times)