A Prometheus InterludeAmongst all the mind wisps in the endless forests of Kiranatos, the greatest was held to be -.--. -.-- was the brightest and strongest of the wisps and one of the few who carried the secret of taming fire. Throughout his life, -.-- profited from this knowledge as he flowed trough the forest, his small tribe of wisps drifting along the currents of knowledge, the rich streams of information that flowed through the trees, exchanging grand secrets of which they had no comprehension as animals might drink water from and add to a stream. The time came that -.-- began to grow old and weak and he feared the day when he might dissolve completely, the knowledge that made up his being returning to the great stream. Such fear often prompted him to take moments of solitude and upon one such moment he met the Other.
The Other had the appearance of a mind-wisp like himself, larger and brighter and tinged with purple streams. -.-- quivered before it in awe.
"-.-- ~-¬.-...-~!" said the Other. "..,'-~~.-"
".,`--`,.~?" asked -.--.
".'`,...---~,."
"~...`,..'.'.~~--..~!"
"~~~...~.`,,.'''`.,,'~"
"~...~...~`.---`.',~---?"
"..-"
"-.---.--.--~~~.- ~.~``',...!"
"..-"
"-.--! -.--,... '.'.,,,~~~ -.--!"
"-.."
"..'..---. ..-"
"---!"
With that, the deal was done. -.-- returned to his tribe, strength renewed and possessed of greater power than before. His life was long and fruitful, but in the fullness of time he was slain in combat by another wisp who he had wronged in his proud ascent. When this had come to pass, his spirit did not return to the great stream, but instead became a tiny gem in the hand of a moustachio'd man. His treasure obtained, Turpis smiled and shifted away from Kiratanos, having stolen the secrets of fire.
Beneath a Scorched SkyGenedin looked up at the sky in fear and uncertainty. The black rift of Istamoshur that had brought such darkness to the world and changed the swamps of his fledgling city from a poisonous murk of trees to a poisonous, decaying and cannibalistic mass of fungous growths now burned with the fury of dying suns. Streams of liquid fire rained down from it across the land, meteoric strokes of death scarring and twisting all within its wake. The very skies had changed, clouds streaked the colour of flame in reflection of the chaos above and below. As the planet turned, the rift appeared to move across the land, lava streaming from it in a belt of destruction that cut a swathe across the realm. Genedin had already consulted what sages and astrologers existed within his community, who believed that the rift would grace the swamps only barely, but enough to bring fire and destruction to the pockets of marsh gas throughout it.
"A terrifying thought, is it not?"
Genedin spun around, stone dagger flicking instantly into his palm. Sat on a heavy rock atop the mound upon which the Nezumi leader had stood looking up at the burning sky was a human dressed in strange skins of fine texture and purple as the skin of the rarer swampland toads. He sported a greying moustache and a ring of strangely appealing metal around one eye.
"How did you pass my guards?" demanded Genedin. He looked to the base of the hill, where the eight loyal blackfur Nezumi stood watch while Genedin took time for his reflections. They seemed unharmed and alert, yet had clearly not seen the human approach.
"They will not interrupt us," said the human. "In fact, they cannot hear either of us. Rest assured, this conversation is private to all save the gods. My name is Turpis, Genedin. I have come for you."
"You have come to slay me, then?" Genedin flexed his fingers on the dagger's hilt.
"Far from it. I have come to save you."
"Save me?" Turpis gestured to the swollen, blistering skies.
"I hold the secret to controlling fire, Genedin." The human raised a hand, in which was grasped a polished blue stone. Within it, Genedin could see the tiny outline of a glimmering wisp. "This is Prometheus. He can teach you and your people everything you need to know about fire. How to quench it, how to tame it, how to make it your slave and how to make it a weapon. You wish your people to survive and prosper? This is the key. What do you say?"
"I say... what is the price?"
"Two beetles from the swarm of the Thousand."
"What?!" exclaimed Genedin. "That is an outrage, that is blasphemy!"
"It's not blasphemy if another god does it, trust me. In return, I will not only pass on the secret of taming fire, but two other secrets that will bring glory and power to Velik Broj's people. That is my offer to the Thousand. My offer to
you is that these secrets will go to you and your city and not to, say, the Empire. My price to you is your first-born son."
"The priest?"
"Yes, the priest. His life and his soul. If Velik Broj agrees to my deal with It, but you and your son do not agree to my deal with you, I will pass it on to the Empire instead. To Emperor Datan, who has slain hundreds of your people in his cruelty, who drives the Nezumi to destruction at the counsel of his advisors." Genedin gritted his pointed little teeth at this.
"That is your offer?"
"Yes, that is my offer. Consider it, but be aware that I do not have-"
Turpis turned suddenly as a line of shimmering energy tore through the air beside him. He leapt and rolled to the side as the line split open and an axe, silver-bladed and burning with ruby flames, thudded into the ground where the man had stood. Genedin leapt back as another human, garbed in shimmering silver plates of metal, stepped through the portal before it closed and wrenched the blood-fire axe from the ground.
"There is no escape, deceiver!" cried the apparition as it swung again at the robed man. Turpis ducked and glanced at Genedin.
"Consider my offer. I will know how you choose."
Turpis fragmented suddenly, exploding into a swarm of buzzing insects and streaming away into the ochre sky. The apparition transformed as well, launching itself after him in the form of a great silver-winged bird with bloodied tips. Genedin watched the two flee for a time, then descended the hill to think about the visitation he had received.
Offer: Teach 'Fire Use' to Nezumi or to Elven Empire, plus two other useful skills.
Request: Two AP from Velik Broj on the next turn.
Author
Topic: Third Lords of Creation (Read 28416 times)