As the adventurers return to Scaple’s borders, Revolutions ‘hmmm’s.
Well, that’s unfortunate.
“Oh?”
Queen Vetriel was alone (of sorts) for once, under Revolution’s direction.
I’d thought that the equipment I’d created was sufficiently mundane by the time I had finished with it, but it turns out it was still divine enough that that damned obelisk was able to destroy them. The pillar still got dismantled by the mountainfolk, though, and the team still got back here; good work with them.
“I- mh hmn. Thank you, though we both know well that your blessing did a lot of the work.”
Revolution produced a noncommittal noise.
“So. Why are we out here in, more or less, the middle of nowhere?”
The location was, indeed, quite empty; there were dust-swept ruins, of course, but those existed quite literally everywhere within the domain.
Do you not remember where you found me?
Vetriel looked around the ruins again. Bereft of mushrooms and illusory structures, it was a vastly different landscape, but - yes, there was base of what was believed to be a place of worship. There was the giant’s staircase - apparently literally, though that hadn’t been understood at the time - and over there, there, was...
Ah, my old resting spot. I need you to put me back in there.
The queen looked at the blade. “Why? Is there something to show me?”
I suppose you could say that. Tell me, what do you know of the other gods?
She paused, tilted her head. “I suppose not much. The Storm made this land a fungal one for a time and is patron of the shamans, and you’ve mentioned the sand-kings and mountain-lord of lands beyond, but we have had little reason to interact with those beyond Scaple.”
Hmn. Well, you may recall the sun.
That stopped the queen cold. “...the sun was a god? Then how...”
Their own foolishness, in fact. They managed to deprive nearly the whole world of its light through boneheaded foolishness wielding power they could not properly contain. They survived, but their vessel, as all know well, did not. It exploded, to be precise.
Vetriel is quiet for a moment.
“...you are intending to follow in their stead.”
Revolution sighs.
You have seen the workings of the Storm, and you have seen my own. I cannot raise biomes as they have, or shift the nature of a race. The tools I have provided are, ultimately, paltry; when I tried to grant your people greater sight in the dark, it was swiftly rendered irrelevant. To attempt more would break my vessel, and leave me with little to replace it. It would take a great deal more to properly harness that power. But there is a way.
Would you be willing to become my new vessel?
The question fills the queen with dread.
“That you may wield greater power, you wish to sacrifice me.”
NO.
Silence reigns.
You- you have been an excellent wielder. I would not sacrifice you for power; I will not destroy you nor allow you to be destroyed. If I were to attempt to inhabit you as you are now, it is probable that I would. But that is not what shall happen.
Your body, your soul, your self, must be strengthened to properly hold me. But I will never excise from it you; we shall be as we are today, bound in purpose, only greater.
This shall not be a sacrifice of you.
This shall be a sacrifice of me.
Return me to my place of rest. I will be with you shortly.
...and, ah. I recommend standing back.
Placed once more in the worn stone, lightning crackled across Revolution’s exposed hilt.
A hundred yards away, Queen Vetriel watched the illusory buildings and the beacon she had so long ago pursued twist and buckle, channeling awe-some power.
The stone housing Revolution began to crack; from within, scintillating lights flashed.
The ghostly structures began to lose form, iridescent lights stretching across the sky. Far in the distance, Vetriel thought she saw the ceiling of a giant’s cathedral.
The cracks and light spread, spread, spread - into the ground, into the walls, into Revolution’s blade.
The beacon was like a perpetual lightning bolt, a chain from the earth to the heavens. Even as it bucked and raged, the queen felt she could climb it if she tried, all the way to the home of the gods.
The cracks reached the hilt. The light did not merely shine; it flickered and flared, reaching out of the blade toward the air beyond, like the tongues of a hungry flame.
The sky seemed to burn in green and blue. The young woman was certain that it was brighter than the sun had ever been.
Major Intervention: Empower Queen Vetriel. Grant her great magics to give rise to her workings; grant her great wisdom that she may rule fairly. Grant her great dominion so her people may prosper; grant her great strength that she may endure any hardships. She is marked by Revolution, chosen. I will be with you soon.
The Blade of Revolution exploded, and shards of metal scored an aurora through the sky.
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Topic: God-Kings! -Turn 12- (Read 13628 times)