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[Akroma]

Welcome to the main thread of Battle of the Gods VI


This thread is supposed to be in character, writing about events in-game. For all non-related stuff, please use the ooc thread: http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=39334.0


rules and races are found in the ooc-thread as well. I will not copypaste them over to here


the map:
   0    0    1    1    2     2    3
   0    5    0    5    0     5    0
   --------------------------------
00|⌂▲▲▲⌂●●●●●█████●≈≈≈≈≈≈≈¤≈≈$≈≈¤≈≈
  |≈▲^▲⌂⌂⌂●●●●●●●●≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
  |⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂T≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣H♣♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈
  |⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂⌂♣♣♣♣♣≈≈
  |≈.≈..≈T≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂^⌂H♣♣♣♣♣≈
05|≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂♣♣♣┌≈
  |≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈──────○▲▲⌂⌂♣♣┌┘≈
  |≈≈≈≈...≈≈≈.≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂♣┌┘.≈
  |≈≈┐..⌂⌂R≈|..≈≈≈...♣♣⌂⌂▲▲○───┘...
  |♣.|∞⌂⌂▲⌂♣|...≈...♣♣⌂⌂▲▲▲W⌂.....♣
10|♣♣|⌂⌂▲⌂⌂♣|..R≈...♣♣⌂⌂▲^▲⌂⌂....♣♣
  |♣♣R⌂▲○───┘...≈...♣♣¥⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂..♣♣♣♣
  |♣♣⌂▲⌂⌂R♣....≈≈..♣♣♣♣⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂...♣♣♣
  |.⌂⌂▲⌂.♣.....≈≈≈┐.♣♣♣♣⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂..*♣♣
  |⌂⌂Q⌂⌂♣♣♣♣.T≈≈≈¥└─────¥▲▲⌂⌂...♣♣♣
15|⌂▲▲▲⌂♣♣♣♣♣≈≈T≈.......⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂..*♣♣
  |⌂▲^▲⌂♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈.......⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂.┌──
  |⌂▲▲▲⌂♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈¥.....⌂⌂^▲⌂○──┘*.
  |≈⌂▲▲⌂♣♣♣⌠C≈≈T≈≈≈≈.....⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂....
  |≈⌂▲⌂⌂♣♣⌠⌠|⌠≈≈≈≈≈⌠⌠$┌──○▲▲⌂⌂♣♣♣♣♣
20|⌂⌂▲⌂⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠|⌠≈≈≈⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠|⌂⌂▲♣▲⌂⌂#♣♣♣♣
  |▲▲○─┐┌─┐⌠|⌠└─┬─────┘⌂⌂▲Z⌂⌂..♣♣♣♣
  |⌂⌂⌂~└┘~└─┘~~.|⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂~~~~~~~
  |~~~~S~~~~~~~≈≈≈≈≈≈⌠⌠⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂~~~*~~
  |~~~~~~~~~~≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌠┌─○▲▲⌂⌂~~~~~
25|~~~~S~~~q≈≈≈≈≈♫≈≈≈─┬┘⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂~~~~~
  |~~~~~~~~~~≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠|⌂⌂▲▲▲○⌂~~Ψ~~
  |~~~~┌─S≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈██●|⌂⌂▲^▲⌂⌂~~~~~
  |~~~~|~~~~███≈≈≈≈█♫●|⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂~~~~~
  |⌂⌂⌂~|~~~~●♫█≈≈≈≈██●└──○▲▲⌂⌂Ψ~~~~
30|○───┘~~~~●●~♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂~~~~

this will be updated at the start of every turn. if you don't know how to work the map, please use the coordinates for your posts, using X and Y.[/tt]

[Akroma]

Turn 1 - the return of the gods -

this turn will start at the first day of spring, and will end at the last day of summer.



Next turn will be announced on august 5th

[TheNewerMartianEmperor]

1:

Spoiler: Alone (click to show/hide)

Shadin was bored out of his mind. To have ascended without his content, only to be stuck in a dark room such as this for a thousand years and counting. At least he could watch the world below. Suddenly, something struck him. He began to feel that he would not be stuck in here, unable to do anything for very much longer...

2:

Spoiler: The Return (click to show/hide)

Shadin's entry into the world had dramatic effects.

In the cities of the Scana, the hatchings whose life was taken according to their regime of eugenics were brought to life once more, scampering every which way. There were too many to deal with, and quite a few escaped into the swamps, or the undersides of the cities.

In the lands of the Tenry small insects and things were brought to life, and scuttled through the streets.

In the realms of the Artew they felt a powerful surge of something go through the water.

In the frozen seas of the Cado Naso Jiar, there was a surge of something close to them. They felt that a great being of death had come to the world, and were unsure of what to do about it.

But it was in the Imperium that the greatest effects were felt. The dead arose, saving the priests quite a bit of trouble. The plants in the cities went right into full bloom, and grew fast as was imaginable. The cities were filled with colour and on this day, the world felt and looked much better.

Deep below, in the sacred vaults of the churches, things began to awaken.

Then, Shadin entered the world, appearing at the very place he left it.

3:

Spoiler: The Lady (click to show/hide)

In the lands to the northwest of the Imperial capital, and south-east of Dustarin Dren there lay the province (square) of Nontic. The province was home to around two dozen or so towns, large villages and other settlements of note. All these, save the province capital of Clernk were under the total control of the Lazui Clan, which is lorded over by it's Lady, Madame Terka.

She was currently sitting at her desk, trying very hard to conceal her shock at what had just occurred in the capital.

Shadin had brought himself down to the earth, or at least that's what the priest in front of her had said. She'd be the first to admit that her clan and the church were not what you would call close. Her clan had a long and colourful history of extreme disrespect for the wishes of the church. Her daughter's becoming an acolyte had gone a little way towards repairing her clans reputation, but there was still quite a bit of bad blood.

"And that is all we are willing to say on the matter, Miss Terka." Said the Priest, finishing his recounting of the events.

"Now that that is out of the way, the church has something to ask of you.  As you know, the history between us is less then fantastic, but we'd be willing to forget some of the more severe injustices upon a single condition." He said to her.

"Which injustices, and what condition would this be?" She inquired, already knowing that whatever they ask is going to cost her dearly.

"In return for a cathedral, to be built in Clernk, we shall forgive your clan of the acts of your late father." He stated.

Inwardly, she groaned. A full blown cathedral was a terrible, terrible expense, and would be a considerable expense to even the largest clans; let alone one as small as hers. If she was to sacrifice the profits of the entire season, and forfeit the purchasing of the lands of the estates of the former Enzon clan, she might be able to avoid going too far into debt.

Her father had been a terrible, terrible person. The things he did were so horrific that his name had been stricken from the family archives, and he was denied a proper wake. His body had not been risen, instead cremated, and his ashes spread over the vast emptiness of the desert.

"How could I refuse an offer like that?"

4:

Spoiler: Awakening (click to show/hide)

 Inside the catacombs beneath the Cathedral of Dark Fire, centerpiece of the vast temple complex that made up a considerable amount of the Imperial capital. The temple complex was mostly underground, in a break with the Nocturin practice of putting the things belonging to the rich and important on top of the cities. The reasons for this were long, varied, and tedious, mostly boiling down to the fact that the buildings were built there long ago and the priests were rather intractable on the subject of moving. Now, where was I... Ah, right. As I was saying, beneath the cathedral was a system of tunnels and catacombs so vast that one could lose oneself for weeks, possibly months at a time. It was where the temple stored many sacred artifacts, outer-dimensional oddities and magical mysteries that for various reasons were kept far away from public eyes. Possibly in the interests of making sure said public is still able to have eyes.

But the majority of them are not important right now. Or rather they are, but not to you readers. What is important are the deawakened Revenants. The Revenants are not like the skeletal risen, being sapient and less, well, skeletal*. There were about two dozen of them stored in the rooms down there. When Shadin had departed the world they, along with almost all of the other bone constructs, had been drained of the spark of life. He had returned little over an hour ago.

Nezmin was very confused. Not two seconds ago from his point of view he was sitting on his garden wall, trying to see if it was possible for someone to whom things like "dead" and "alive" were the exact wrong words one could use in a description to get properly drunk, and then something like an explosion from that big house of Shadin's house; then came nothing. Then he was in what felt like a box, lying on his back.

He was rather groggy, and not in much of a state to realize what was going on around him; but if he was he would have heard someone saying: "I'm not sure which room it is, but I am pretty sure it's this one." shortly afterwards he would have heard the sound of a stone door opening, making a very distinctive noise whilst doing so. He was feeling a bit better after this, so when the lid was removed, he knew what was going on, and responded by immediately continuing his investigation of a thousand years hence by asking for a drink.

Sometime later he was sitting in a room inside one of the topside church buildings that he hadn't bothered to learn the name of nursing a drink, while listening to one of those priests who had puled him out of there explain the history of a thousand years to him. It had been 3 hours and he had stopped being suprised, shocked and what have you and had slid deep into boredom. The fact that alcohol did not seem to do anything was not helping.

*This does not hold true for the first couple, who are very skeletal.

[WorkerDrone]

Spoiler: Set One, Current Turn (click to show/hide)

Cold water awash to his face woke him up from an entire night from navigating passes and finding spots to take cover that would go unnoticed to the creatures of the night. Regardless, the nights were long and noisy, with the incoherent babble of pervasive brooks, predatory nocturnal bird calls filling the air as they hunted canyon vermin that skittered in the undergrowth, and the distant mournful howls of wolves...or something else entirely, that Gaweir chose not to dwell upon. Having secured his saddlebags, of which he used to cushion his head on the hard rock, he took one last drink before standing up, and strolling his horse over to get his own fill. Loyd nuzzled his hand until he sighed and took a piece of apple out of a saddlebag, holding it flat on his palm, while his horse chomped on it contentedly.

Swinging into saddle, "Hyah!" Came his call, sending his horse into a canter, to the east, where civilization sat. If he had set to travel through the night, he would have been half way there already, but he had chosen to rest as it would likely be a while before he could find another safe haven. Navigating his horse through crags would be the hardest part of his journey for the next few days, and it would slow down his journey, but once they reached open plains, all would fall into line. "And if I happen to just mark down all of this terrain in my head for future map working, I'm sure someone will want to buy some competent mapwork." He murmured to himself. Its wasn't as if his horse was listening.

[Akroma]

Spoiler: the return of the gods (click to show/hide)

The laughter of two drunkards echoed through the voice of the divine dimension. A thousand years they had passed drinking, and a ten-thousand liquors have passed through their throats, filling them with a burning contentness.
The two drunkards are Tomoshibi, the high lord of the sun, and Getsurei, maiden of the moon. Twins, who had left a running game, to spent an eternity with less tiresome activities.

Tomoshibi, his voice distorted by the alcohol, begins to speak.

"Damn, I hope these Hitengu didn't get themselves killed while I was gone. Helpless bunch they are... I think I will have them grow swords for arms or somethign when I get back."

Getsurei giggled. "Good idea brother, but don't worry I am sure I put the game on pause before we left. No way they would have gotten themself killed while time itself was paused in their world."

The two deities staggered through the streets, approaching a small shop.
A sign on top of the entrance read " Ye olde Botg-Den", a place where gods would sit down together and play with small mortal figurines, until only one of them was left standing. Gambling and boozing and murder and adultery. A game for true gods.

As they entered the den, a bell sounded, and the owner of the shop, a god of gambling turned to them.

"Ohh, I already thought you wouldn't come back. Was about to clean up your table to make room for other guests."

Tomoshibi was confused.
"What do you mean ? I thought we paused the game?"

"Paused ? Hell no. While you were gone, your pieces had a fun little game by themselves. I...think you should take a look at it, it really went haywire."

Concerned Tomoshibi hasted to the room they had previously played in. Inside, he found that one of the mortals down there had ascended to godhood, and was now sitting at the table. Not paying much attention to him, he looked over the board, and his eyes widened.
The moon was black and empty. They had broken out...and they have had their revenge...
Getsurei, who had followed at a normal pace entered the room.

"Ara ara, what have we here. What an interesting development...Looks like I finaly get to play a bit too, instead of just watching all the time.Oh, and who have we here?"

She turned to the newly apothosed god.

"I am Shadin, god of the Nocturin. It was a rude suprise when it came."


"I am sorry we let you sit here alll alone for so long. We thought the game was paused"

Tomoshibi, turns on the new god, very angry
"YOU. You have seen what happened. WHAT happened down there?!"

"So very many things. I have infinite paper and infinite ink here, so I made a journal." Saying so, he points at the wall behind him, covered over and over in letters.


"I am talking about the moon. and those who were on it. TELL ME OR I -"

Getsurei interrupted him.

"Calm down brother. What has happened happened."

"Just read the journal."

"Yes brother, he is right, you should do that. I will make a visit down there, if you will excuse me."

Getsurei jumped unto the board, vanishing in it.

Tomoshibi began to scan the wall with his eyes. His eyes widened, and a few seconds later, he also vanished in the board.

Shadin mumbled to himself:"Hmm, if they're going I'm going too."

Spoiler:  a sinister plot (click to show/hide)

"I have done as you said. I lured my brother away for some drinking, and gave you the 1000 years of time that you requested. So why the hell are there still believers of Tomoshibi around? And why the hell is the moon tinted black ?"

Getsurei was fuming. Nothign went as Yamato Ushiwakamaru planned, and now she had to put up with it.

Ushiwakamaru was laying on his back in a hammock he had hung up on his balcony, watching over the park-district of Mardukane, his arms bent behind his head.

"Relax, relax. We both know, nothing ever goes perfectly as planned. When the veil broke, the Tenryuubito expressed their anger that way. At least the mirrors are only painted black, and not completely broke. I mean, how long can it take you to clean them. You are a god."

"A god or not, the moon is big. Cleaning the mess you left will take what, 7 years if I start immediatly. And you know fully well, before the moon is clean and shining, we can not go to the next step of our plan."


"Well, then get going. And don't worry about those few believers who are still left. Tomoshibi has lost too much influence. If he still had the power he had a thousand years ago, Mioya would be a charred wasteland now."

Getsurei began walking back and forth, barely able to put away her anger.

"Cocky brat. Don't you underestimate him. The last time you "slew" him, that was only a fleshly avatar. You are about to challenge his very essence. Did you at least spent the last 1000 years preparing what I told you to prepare, or did you spent those years in that hammock?"


"All done, all done. What do you take me for, a lazy vagabond who spents his time wandering the world, playing on his flute ?"


"Yes, exactly that. I have had some of my people watching you. And yes, I would say that description is perfect."

"I said I am all done, geez."

"Well, you better make sure you are done. If your preparations fail you, there is no way telling what will happen. Ohhh, and before I forget it, I met your old friend, Danalof. He is heading towards Mardukane."

Upon hearing this name, Ushiwaka sat up.

"Danalof ? So he is still alife then? How nice."

Gesturei turns around.

"Well, maybe not as nice as you hope for. Tomoshibi already talked to him. If you excuse me, I will go and clean up the mess you made on the moon."

With a slight boom, she vanished, leaving Ushiwaka in his hammock. The smile he had on his face when he heared about Danalof coming to visit slowly vanished, and he stared up into the sky...
What would Danalof think of him after hearing what had happened..

Spoiler: the return of the moon (click to show/hide)

"35 coppers!"

"Impossible, impossible. I told you already, I can't go lower, I have to feed my family. 45 coppers, and not a single coin less."

"Bah! No way I will pay that much for your low quality merchandise. The prices are totaly out of pror...tion..."

The Tenryuubito dropped his bag of groceries, as his eyes caught a glimpse of the sky. The empty dark place in the nightsky, called the moonvoid, had undergone a drastic change.

The very outter edges of the moon shimmered in a faint silver light, as if it was hidden by an incomplete eclipse. Not a single Tenryuubito alife, except for the immortal Yamato, had ever seen the moon like this.
That day, the entire civilisation of mioya stood still, watching the sky. Many rejoiced, thinking it a good omen. Many despaired, thinking that the end would soon come. And the whole world trembled, knowing that the magnitude of this event woudl surely be just the beginning of the events yet to come...

Spoiler: guidance (click to show/hide)

A sturdy westwind propelled Ushiwaka's small ship upstream the ryougan. Shortly after the moon began to shine, a message dove from the Henkenji arrived, summoning him to the capital. 3 lords ruling over one of the biggest nations in the world, but when it comes to decisions, they still turn to their favourite prophet. Ushiwaka sighed.
With rulers like this, how would this country ever propser like it deserved to ? Hopefully, the next generation will fare better.

At the horizon, the mountains yochi no miyako was carved in slowly approached, dyed orange by the slowly setting sun.
It would be easier to rest now, and try to reach the city tomorrow. Getting the guards to open the gates for you late at night was a task harder than walking on water.


----------------

The palace of of Yochi no Miyako had 5 gates. One for each Hankenji, and 2 at the sides for everyone else. Both inside and outside very lavishly decorated, and the walls painted in hundreds of colors. Should they ever return.

Ushiwaka was a well known guest in the palace, and as such the protocol was quickly forgotten. Alongside the Hankenji, he took a walk through the palace garden. Most of the trees were more than 800 years old, having grown to bizzare forms and enormous proportions. They wood was the color of ash, and the leaves had the color of slate, giving the whole place a very otherwordly appearance for visitors not used to the ever present lack of all color in every place a tenryuubito calls his home.

One of the Hankenji was speaking.

"The sudden change n the nightsky has brought a lot of religious unrest to our country. For a thousand years, if the scriptures are to be believed, the moon has not shown itself. No one ever saw it before, enough hardly believed that there even was some sort of "moon" up there in the sky.

I admit myself, I always thought that the story that the tenryuubito came from the moon unto this land was some sort of creation myth. And now it turns out to be true! That is quite a revelation, not only for me, but for the entirety of Mioya.


Another Hankenji, much younger looking picked up.

"Religion and spirituality, which were publicaly seen as some sort of old tradition suddenly receives a massive boost of popularity. The temples are full like since...since never.
The number of people who want to become a priest is increasing by the minute. This is an event that can have enormous influence on our nation. To the good, and to the bad...
And so we ask you, what is the meaning of this, and what shall we do?"


Ushiwaka took a long pause to think, then folded his hands and spoke slowly.

"Right now, people are longing for guidance. They will pick up about anything any sort of false prophet tries to sell them. You will have to instruct the city and the landguard, make them look out for false prophets. The last thing we can need right now is the formation of sects, or worse, religious shisms.
Make sure you send out people to publicaly spread the word of Getsurei, in every town, in every village. This is a very positiv event. Getsurei is looking upon us and smiling. We have to make sure that the entire nation receives this as a positive event, it would be bad for the government to go against the sudden popularity of religion."


One of the Hankenji rose his voice.

"Maybe, we should have a big festival ? The great arena hasn#t seen anything but chariot races for a long time now."

This idea caught Ushiwaka's attention.

"Excellent idea. Tenryuubito history month. We take slaves and gladiators and let them enact historic battles against the tribe of the earth!"

His voice and face was enthusiastic, but inside he cursed himself for being the one to bring such an idea up. Such..a terrible idea.

"You always have the best ideas, lord Ushiwakamaru. I shall make haste to let the slavetraders know. We need merchandise, especially people of the earth-tribe. A lot of them"

[TheNewerMartianEmperor]

Shadin's entry into the world had dramatic effects.

In the cities of the Scana, the hatchings whose life was taken according to their regime of eugenics were brought to life once more, scampering every which way. There were too many to deal with, and quite a few escaped into the swamps, or the undersides of the cities.

In the lands of the Tenry small insects and things were brought to life, and scuttled through the streets.

In the realms of the Artew they felt a powerful surge of something go through the water.

In the frozen seas of the Cado Naso Jiar, there was a surge of something close to them. They felt that a great being of death had come to the world, and were unsure of what to do about it.

But it was in the Imperium that the greatest effects were felt. The dead arose, saving the priests quite a bit of trouble. The plants in the cities went right into full bloom, and grew fast as was imaginable. The cities were filled with colour and on this day, the world felt and looked much better.

Deep below, in the sacred vaults of the churches, things began to awaken.

Then, Shadin entered the world, appearing at the very place he left it.

[Virex]

Spoiler: The prison (click to show/hide)

tick
Something was happening
tock
Whispers
Tick
Echoes
Tock
Hope, Love
TICK
Hate, Vengance
TOCK
A call to fate, a key to this lock!
TICK TOCK TICK TOCK



tock

[Istrian]

An offer

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Aesh, known as the Shadow of Souls, was quietly reading a book. An interesting one at that. It spoke of souls. He had written it himself, but had forgotten half of it. And he would require it for the upcoming experiment. He was known as a collector of souls. He had hundreds of them, of many races and individuals. And he studied them all the time. Suddenly he noticed the light in his study dwindling. Or was it ?

He looked up at the soul gems mounted on the walls that were used to spread a glow in the dark forests where all Shehalash lived. One of the gems seemed to be glowing more fiercely than the others. Or perhaps the others had decided to glow less. Time for more coercion he thought as he began thinking on the punishment.

"Aesh." suddenly said the glowing gem.
"Interesting." he said more to himself than anyone else.
"I hope I am not interrupting you." said the gem
"It is the first time I hear a soul talking into my ears instead of into my mind." He paused, suddenly having a mad flash of insight. "You are not who you seem. Show yourself !"
"I am afraid I may not. If I do, my brother will notice me, and I will be forced to leave... If he notices, my plan will be ruined."
"Your plan is already ruined." He said, reacting to the flash he had earlier. He could see the red. Failure. Death. "I can see it can only fail. Though I shall entertain you if you wish."
"I am here to inform you of the events yet to come. Of a god who will find his end all too soon."
"So the game has already begun ? Interesting."
"Yes it has. And once the moon is fully illuminated again, 7 years from now, this gods essence will be forced to wander this world as a mortal, and one of my diciples will attempt to slay him. But. The force of this god is yet to great for him to be slain easily. Too many believers are left."
"I can foresee you are going to talk about it with, what was her name again ?" He said, as the Shehalash had a special agreement concerning the divine. "The goddess."
"My name is fully without any relevance."
"Not yours. I already know who you are. Yes. Kearnakh. Though I will be happy to tell her you dropped by. What else should I tell her ?"
"The only thing that is important for you to know is the deal I have to offer to you. Find the followers of the god who calls himself Tomoshibi, Lord of the sun. And slay them were they stand. On the day Tomoshibi shall find his end, weakened through your work, his soul shall be my gift to you. And be discreet. He is already taking counter-measures."
Aesh lets out a sinister whispery laugh. It was as if the shadows laughed with him at the prospect. Already plans of double-crossing and manipulation were shaping up in his mind.
"You can find his believers in the land across the ocean. Many of them found a place to live in the land of the Artoin. And another many live in the land of the Scana."
"I will think uppon it."
"You have my graditude"
"You shouldn't give what you don't have." He said as a good-bye.

The gems returned to their usual glow and Aesh kept thinking on the proposal. There were agreements that had to be held. There were also people more knowledgeable than him on the topic of gods. And there was Halinash.

Aesh closed his book and stood. After replacing it where it belonged, he went down the spiral stair to a small room with a large table in the middle and a few armchairs, and many symbols everywhere. Most Ancient Ones had such rooms yet they were seldom used. Aesh concentrated for a bit and the silky walls radiated with a strange glow. The walls contained souls. And these souls were good at keeping eavesdroppers away.

He quickly placed a soul gem on one of the symbols and it glowed briefly. Suddenly, he was no longer alone in the room. There was a woman standing inside. Although Shehalashi in appearance, Aesh knew her true shape, her true desire, and the way to manipulate her into doing what he wanted.

"Kearnakh. Please sit down." He said gesturing at the table. She sat in one of the chairs and he sat on the chair opposite her.
"Is it already time for me to receive the souls we agreed upon ?" she asked.
"Not yet. Not yet." He felt the darkness around her. He wanted her soul. Yet he knew he could have much better if he outsmarted her. The darkness. A powerful being, had said Hilai, the Shadow of Oblivion. A powerful soul then. It was funny that the goddess couldn't sense it. But it was there. Waiting. "I have found something that may interest you. Are you still looking for lost souls to power yourself ?"
"Is that a question ?"
"Yes."
"I am."
"I heard there is an entire race of lost souls. They used to be among the most religious ones. Yet now they are lost children without a deity to lead them." He drew his head forward and spoke in an even lower whisper than usual. "They are ready for reaping."
"Hah. The gods are returning. If I try anything this open, I will have to provide answers."
"I know. Fear not, I have many ideas that will provide a diversion for your activities."
"Keep talking."
"Let us just say, the god in question will be very busy. You do not need to know more. For now you should go to the largest city of the Scana under Hitengu guise. Once there, you will certainly be able to pretend being a prophet. You have done so before if I am not mistaken." She winced as he was not supposed to know that. "Gather a following and be ready to have them do as you wish when the distraction is ready."
"Alright, I will be going then."
"Wait. There is still the matter of what I have to gain."
"Yes ?" She said cautiously.
"Let us forget about my next sacrifice to you. And a few more after that."
"Deal." She said and disappeared in a poof of smoke.

Aesh then talked to the souls within the walls. Indeed, someone had tried to eavesdrop. More than one person. And they managed to catch the last part of the conversation. Good he thought, let them have something to ponder. Now he needed to deal with Halinash, the Shadow of the Death of Gods. But not too soon.

He walked out of his tower and stood there until a Shehalashi woman named Ishiein approached him.
"What is your desire ?" she asked.
"I have a task for you and anyone you wish to take with you." he said. "You will visit all Artoin cities. I am interested in Hitengu souls living there. Bring them to me. Replace them with some of these." He said giving a pouch full of small gems. Imperfect souls but which could be depended upon to follow his wish. And they all knew his current wish.
"It shall be done." she said before leaving.

A ghost of the past

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Another day was dawning on Evermarket, largest and most populated of all Scana cities. The streets were ablaze with merchants peddling their wares, craftsmen hurrying to and from work, and various other, less legitimate, businessmen.

In a small neighborhood of the city, known as the place where most Hitengu lived, trying to preserve their old ways. In the largest and most used street of the neighborhood, Nisho, a Hitengu, was peddling his wares to passerbys.

A family was browsing through the items on display on his stall, various oddities, locally produced trinkets, as well as imported goods from yonder lands. Nisho's grandfather was sitting nearby on a rocking chair, smoking a pipe.

"Oy, Gramps. How much should I ask for this bowl ?" asked Nisho.
"Haven't I told you a hundred times how to properly appraise the wares you sell." He said standing up.

He approached his son and took the bowl from his hands turning it round and round. Examining it from every possible angle.

"So ? How much ?"
"I would say--" suddenly Hoshi's voice trailed off as he stared ahead of him, his eyes barely moving.
"Oy, Gramps ? What is it ?" asked Nisho, following his grandfather's gaze.

It was not too difficult to see what he was seeing. A Hitengu woman was walking through the crowd. The woman looked plain, if not ordinary. What was extraordinary was the nimbus of light surrounding her.

Every Hitengu in the street had stopped what he was doing and stared at her as she passed, slowly, the crowd parting before her.

Once she was gone, all Hitengu snapped out of their reverie. Most had not known what had happened nor who was that woman.

"Was it... someone you know ?" asked Nisho of his grandfather.
"That... that..." he answered, his voice wavering "A legend. A legend from the past. From the olden days."

The news spread like wildfire among the Hitengu population. The Hinyodou had appeared.

An observation

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Stars twinkled in the night sky, tiny sources of light in the huge firmament. Their weak light was barely enough to illuminate the mountains. Not that the inhabitants minded the darkness, after all, over a thousand years, the forests had grown even there. Only the highest mountaintops had escaped the advance of the dark-green army fo trees.

Slowly though, so slowly it was probably unnoticed, light began shining again in the night. Hlishe, Shadow of the Moon, recorded the sudden changes. The change was indeed very sudden, but she knew she was probably among the only Ancient Ones who had noticed. Only a few had towers high enough above the forest top to clearly observe the sky.

She turned her observation telescopes toward the moon and studied it intently. It wasn't hard to notice the halo of light around it, but what was it caused by ? It was certainly impossible to tell from where she was.

She was too far...

She needed to get closer...

She knew not how...

But she knew where to learn...

[Atlas]

Spoiler: Skynet Awakes (click to show/hide)

As The Worshiped receives his daily responses from the scout teams, he realizes that something new is moving. The world has awakened from its boredom, and so shall he.

He started to stretch his powers as much as he was able, and without any warning to any of the workers onboard, decided to test them by lifting The Temple.

Once he was confident that his lax approach to the last few years hadn't weakened his computing, he sent orders to The Library to start creating more airships. These airships he would use for the diplomacy that he would certainly need.

Without waiting for any new airships to be created, he sent the preexisting airships at The Library towards Shehalash, his closest, and most dangerous neighbors....

[Virex]

Spoiler: False Dawn (click to show/hide)

"You're not from here are you?
Let me tell you about today. Today is test day, something that occures only once in ten years. To explain it, I shall start with a well-known quote:
Looking up I see only darkness. Darkness were stars should shine, darkness where the sun should be. The night has become our servant, our toy. It seems more like a reflection of our hearts then the dawn of a new era...
~~ Unknown Daemon poet, Scriptures from the Library
How relevant these words are none realise untill they have seen the Night Lance in action, like today. A blanket of darkness stretches from one horizon to another, covering everything in shades of grey."

"But if it covers the world in darkness, then what is that golden glow comming from the hall of Elders?"
"That my friend is the glow of the Night Lance. It's the light that has been stolen from the sky and focused into a small shrine. If you were to stand there you would be blinded by the light of a thousend suns.
Now follow me to the market square where the Elders will initiate the rituall for the new recruites. You'll want to be the.... By the Dragon's arses!"
"The shrine? It's opening? The shrine is opening! The night lance is doing.... something!"

From the top of the Hall of Elders, a bright ball of light rose up into the sky, circling around Arrisa Deï several times, before taking the place of the blacked-out sun. From there it rose and rose, crossing through the dome of darkness, up into the sky. And it grew wings and claws.

The hawk of light flew up and circled the globe, looking for familiar ground but finding nothing...

"Where are the citties I left? The golden empires? The Night lance? Fire's sactum? Dawns Refuge?
Illis, Monatum? All... gone?
How long was I gone? Who dared stand up to the spinner of fate? Someone's going to awnser for this! Someone will pay for devastating my empires and stealing my children!

My children... I hear the call of only one. Have the others forsaken me? Or have they ben destroyed?
For now I have to secure what's left of my herritage, but soon I will find those that did this and they will not like that..."

Whith these toughts in his mind, Zeri's image landed on the market place of Arrisa Deï, in the center of a very surprised crowd

[Emperor_Jonathan]

Spoiler: An Offer (click to show/hide)

Raut was contemplating the world in his room, when the light that gave stopped darkness began to shine almost unbearably bright. From the light emerges a hitengu-like figure, with skin like the nrothern lights, and clad in armor made out of pure gold. The gold is heated to a point that it is glowing,and his presence is making the room almost uncomfortably hot.

"I am Tomoshibi, god of the sun. Hail to you, lord of the Ratew."

"Tomoshibi. Why you haven't been here for a long time haven't you."

"I have come to you, with an invitation."

He produces a plate of pure gold, which is glowing hot. He places it upon a table, leaving scorch marks, then vanishes.

Engraved on the plate is a remarkably detailed map of the world. Marked on it is the locations X3Y16, a mountaintop, and a date: First day of spring in 3 years. (6 turns from now)

Spoiler: Meeting. (click to show/hide)

The Council of Ratew was meeting in their secluded chambers in the northen Ratew city. Raut explained what happened.

"But Raut, why did he choose you?"

"I am the oldest."

"Yes, but you are not in command."

"Perhaps I should be?"

"No, we all know that the council is the best idea."

"I will go then, it may be against Tarew, but Tarew hasn't been here for the last millenia."

Another Ratew walked in, a peculiar Ratew. A red Ratew.

"I am Tarew, after my long abscene I am back."

Raut piped up,

"I thought so, Tomoshibi invited me south."

"Did he now? Go, go to where he wants."

A councillor asked Tarew,

"Tarew, where did the Artew come from? Why did we change?"

"I know not. I do not feel an increase in Ratew or Artew, only as much as there was ever supposed to be at this time. It's peculiar. I will have to think over it some more."

"Thank you Tarew."

Tarew then dissipated into water, to go off into whatever he was going to do.

Spoiler: The Table. (click to show/hide)

Tarew was sitting at the BotG table, in his human form. A tall, tanned human with black hair.

Spoiler: Gardening. (click to show/hide)

Noelle was tending his garden, thinking back to his life. Noelle was one of the younger Ratew, the ceasing of reproduction caused him to become fascinated with life. In some of the major Ratew cities large parks full with wildlife were tended by dozens of Ratew. Often in his younger centuries he would wander the parks, soothing the animals and watching things grow. Sometimes he helped them. After a century or two he decided on what to do, being one of the few to, he traveled away from the Ratew settlements and traveled the world. He identified the plants he wanted first. He went all over the world, documenting exotic plants, sometimes animals. Continuing through the world he is, perhaps, the most traveled Ratew. Not the oldest, most powerful, Noelle is a peaceful creature. Often to do this, he traveled through other races territories. He tried his best to ignore them, bypassing them during the night and so on. However he has been sighted, often sightings of him have been to few to warrant much suspicion.

After documenting these plants and animals, he traveled back to the Ratew territories. He started living in the mountains and the planes, soon he set up his living area out in the sunny ocean. He imported soil from other races and made his living area into a large park, but it was devoid of life. He went back, in order, of what he cataloged and collected two children of each animal and a seed of each plant. After gaining each one he traveled back to his home, he provided for the babies and propagated the plants. As soon as each were settled in he set out for the next set of plants and animals. He kept doing this for all the species he saw, some survived, some did not. Eventually all died but those hardy enough to survive. Many were fruit bearing trees and shrubs, thus the animals survived and prospered. Sometimes the animal population was too much to support, so he culled the old and left the young. He kept the meat and bones and hides. He prepared them as best he could with what he learned in the foreigners lands, he was not good at it, but he could keep it for many months. Every few months he took what he had and sold it as best he could in nearby towns. Most of his days, however, were spent tending his garden.

[mission0]

The Desert:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

   one step, another, and another. The desert seemed to go on forever. Menil looked up holding his hood low over his head to keep the wind from blowing it off. Nothing but sand in every direction, rolling, blistering sand. This was an unforgiving place to one such as him. His sweat glands no longer functioned ever since the change, and panting wasn't an option since he didn't have a dogs tongue.

   Every once in awhile he waved his wand once or twice to cool himself down. His grasp on water magic was shaky at best, and his over use of it to cool him down was draining him. He would have to set up camp soon as well, Night was falling soon. Things were already starting to stir around him

The Night:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

   Menil had a small fire going under the only tree he had found for miles around. Laying back on the sand he looked up in the sky which wasn't as black as usual. For what seemed like months of moonless nights the moon could finely be seen, albeit a small sliver of it, but still the moon could be seen.  Absent-mindingly scratching his avatar Starr over the head Menil started to drift off into the blackness.

   The only warning Menil got before the attack was Stars transformation and a low growl. Then he was being dragged by the ankle across the sand into the darkness.

   "Mother of all....", Menil yelled as he pulled his sword from its scabbard. Magic wasn't to much of an option since his staff was back near the camp. With his sword in hand Menil tried to slash at whatever had a hold on his ankle, however he couldn't get a good angle. Starr ran past Menil and into the blackness, shortly thereafter a gurgling growl could be heard. The grip on his ankle released and Menil came to his feet.

   Summoning a globe of fire, Menil sent it high into the sky to illuminate the field. Before him stood three large wyrms, one of which had its long tongue twisting around Starr as to pull the large dog off. The tongue threw Starr far off into the darkness. A yelp could be heard shortly after a soft thud.

   Menil ran back to camp to get his staff, any assault with his sword would be useless with more than one target. As soon as he attacked one the two others would jump him. Coming up on his camp though he felt something grip his leg once again. Menil tripped over it, and hit the ground hard. Before he was pulled though he managed to cut the creatures probing tongue, which quickly retreated back to its owner. More tongues appeared though, apparently each of the wyrms had more than one. Menil jumped back up and retrieved his staff.

   Turning around Menil released a torrent of wind and fire magic upon the wyrms who had been following him in the sand. Screeches could be heard as the wind sliced through skin and the fire dug into these wounds. Large plumes of smoke went up as the wyrms died. Menil ran passed the corpses, not noticing that there were only two on the ground, in search of Starr.

   Finally coming upon Starr, Menil found that his avatar had several broken bones and severe lacerations. Putting his sword away and setting his staff to the side, he went to work on healing his avatar. Starr whined as bones popped back into place and fires cauterized wounds. Just as he was about to finish the third Wyrm burrowed its way out of the ground behind Menil.

   Starr kicked out hard knocking himself and Menil back as the wyrm slammed its head into the ground right where Menil and Starr had been. The wyrm burrowed back into the ground, not showing a trace of where it was. Menil stood up picking up his staff, and Starr took up a position beside him lip curling. The wyrm came up right below them, its great maw open wide to take Menil and Starr whole.

   Using what hold of the wind he had, Menil threw a large gust pushing him and Starr out of the way. He then focused the air into a blade slicing the Wyrm's head off. The body still thrashed about even without the head. Focusing once more Menil started it afire, which soon grew to a large blaze.

   "Well Starr... if there is any Civilization around they will soon find us, those wyrm pyres will burn well into the day."

   Menil returned to the camp to get some sleep, the many spells he had cast had spent up what energy he had.

Map:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

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   0    5    0    5    0     5    0
   --------------------------------
00|⌂▲▲▲⌂●●●●●█████●≈≈≈≈≈≈≈¤≈≈$≈≈¤≈≈
  |≈▲^▲⌂⌂⌂●●●●●●●●≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
  |⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂T≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣H♣♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈
  |⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂.≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂⌂♣♣♣♣♣≈≈
  |≈.≈..≈T≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂^⌂H♣♣♣♣♣≈
05|≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂♣♣♣┌≈
  |≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈──────○▲▲⌂⌂♣♣┌┘≈
  |≈≈≈≈...≈≈≈.≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂♣┌┘.≈
  |≈≈┐..⌂⌂R≈|..≈≈≈...♣♣⌂⌂▲▲○───┘...
  |♣.|.⌂⌂▲⌂♣|...≈...♣♣⌂⌂▲▲▲W⌂.....♣
10|∞♣|⌂⌂▲⌂⌂♣|..R≈...♣♣⌂⌂▲^▲⌂⌂....♣♣
  |♣♣R⌂▲○───┘...≈...♣♣¥⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂..♣♣♣♣
  |♣♣⌂▲⌂⌂R♣....≈≈..♣♣♣♣⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂...♣♣♣
  |.⌂⌂▲⌂.♣.....≈≈≈┐.♣♣♣♣⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂..*♣♣
  |⌂⌂Q⌂⌂♣♣♣♣.T≈≈≈¥└─────¥▲▲⌂⌂...♣♣♣
15|⌂▲▲▲⌂♣♣♣♣♣≈≈T≈.......⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂..*♣♣
  |⌂▲^▲⌂♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈.......⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂.┌──
  |⌂▲▲▲⌂♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈¥.....⌂⌂^▲⌂○──┘*.
  |≈⌂▲▲⌂♣♣♣⌠C≈≈T≈≈≈≈.....⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂....
  |≈⌂▲⌂⌂♣♣⌠⌠|⌠≈≈≈≈≈⌠⌠⌠┌──○▲▲⌂⌂♣♣♣♣♣
20|⌂⌂▲⌂⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠|⌠≈≈≈⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠|⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂⌂#♣♣♣♣
  |▲▲○─┐┌─┐⌠|⌠└─┬─────┘⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂..♣♣♣♣
  |⌂⌂⌂~└┘~└─┘~~.|⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂~~~~~~~
  |~~~~S~~~~~~~≈≈≈≈≈≈⌠⌠⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂~~~*~~
  |~~~~~~~~~~≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌠┌─○▲▲⌂⌂~~~~~
25|~~~~S~~~~≈≈≈≈≈♫≈≈≈─┬┘⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂~~~~~
  |~~~~~~~~~~≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠|⌂⌂▲▲▲○⌂~~Ψ~~
  |~~~~┌─S≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈██●|⌂⌂▲^▲⌂⌂~~~~~
  |~~~~|~~~~███≈≈≈≈█♫●|⌂⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂~~~~~
  |⌂⌂⌂~|~~~~●♫█≈≈≈≈██●└──○▲▲⌂⌂Ψ~~~~
30|○───┘~~~~●●~♠q♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠⌂⌂▲▲⌂⌂~~~~

[Pandarsenic]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"I see you are returned, unless you are not, Unknowable One."

"Shi Shotan. I see you haven't changed. At all. In the last millennium."

"Mm, yes. An unfortunate necessity; your absence made it impossible for the new initiates to tap your power, so your chosen have been acting as a conduit."

"I see. That will no longer be necessary."

"Excellent. Shall your chosen pass on, then, to stand by your side within the void?"

"No, you shan't. You and the others shall be my earthly avatars, for I am not as inclined to intervene as some other deities are."

"Ah. I see... What now, then?"

"Now, we test the waters - see who becomes aggressive with the return of their gods, for I am not the only one to return."

"Thy will be done."

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

While Shi Shotan naso Jiar was meditating in his chamber, when suddenly the light on the door to indicate the exit began to glow incredibly bright. From the light emerged a Hitengu-like figure, with a skin like the northern lights, and clad in armor made out of pure gold. The gold was so hot that it was glowing red, and his presence was making the room uncomfortably hot. In fact, for one of the Cado naso Jiar, it was almost unbearable. Shi Shotan reinforced the cold in the room to make it more comfortable for himself.
 
"I am Tomoshibi, god of the sun. Greetings, lord of the People of the Void."
 
"Calling me their lord is not entirely accurate, but I'm sure you're not here to argue semantics," Shi Shotan replied, raising an eyebrow.

"I come to you with an invitation, the matter is most important..."

He produced a plate of pure gold, glowing red hot. He placed it upon a nearby table; the ice table began to melt, which Shi Shotan prevented with a wave of his hand. Tomoshibi then vanished.

Engraved on the plate was a remarkably detailed map of the world. The locations X3, Y16, were marked on the map - a mountaintop - and next to it a date: first day of spring in 3 years (6 turns from now)

[Archangel]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Humming a cheerful tune, Basalem broke camp, shouldered his pack and struck out to the Northwest. As his great stride took him past the corpse of a night terror, he smiled and thought That one learnt it's lesson.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Pausing on the edge of Kel Dromar Solian, The Southern Ocean, Basalem closed his eyes and basked in the sun. Everything is so different, yet it feels the same as when I left oh so long ago.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"Grosar! Grosar! The fleet is burning!We're under attack!" Basalem ran into his commander's quarters near frenzied with fear.

"Where are you? Damnit! Where are you?!" He started to cry.

Grosar strode out of his Room of Clensing and over to the young warrior. As he placed a reassuring hand on Basalem's shoulder, he asked "What's going on? What's happened?"

"Raiders! They're attacking the city! They took us by surprise! By the time we reacted it was too late, the fire had spread to all the ships. Lieutenant Rolthar sent me to warn you, said he would hold them off for as long as he could. What should I do? I'm useless! I couldn't even draw my sword!" Basalem started to sob.

"Fomir! Ready the men! We are under attack! Go now!" Turning to Basalem he said "It's all right. You did what you were told. That's better than most recruits I've known. You will be a great warrior some day. I know you will. Now stop crying like a child and help me with my armor."

Basalem turned West and started to walk, following the shore.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Standing on the edge of the ice, Basalem looked at the city in the distance. I have no time for it. I will just go around. At least I no longer feel the cold. He stepped forward, continuing his journey.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

On the border between the ice and the sea, Basalem rested. He had eaten the last of his supplies days ago and had been eating fish since then. They looked at me almost as if I was a monster or a ghost. It matters not though. I have past. Bracing himself for the impact, he jumped into the water. I will not sleep for days, but I don't care. I have a long way to go yet, and I will not waste time just for a little comfort.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The sand stretched ahead of him, but Basalem was unafraid. He had filled his pack with fish, smoked or salted. All of his many flasks were full of water. He would not have to worry about food or drink for weeks. He drew his sword and looked at it. Soon, we shall be home.

More to come. He will end up here, following the path marked with yellow glow. I moved him seven tiles because he is really eager to get where he is going, and he isn't slowed down by much. Actually, screw that. I'm not going to add more to this to explain him crossing the desert, so he's on the coast instead. Five tiles.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

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00|⌂▲▲▲⌂●●●●●█████●≈≈≈≈≈≈≈¤≈≈$≈≈¤≈≈
  |≈▲^▲⌂⌂⌂●●●●●●●●≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
  |⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂T≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣H♣♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈
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[/tt]

[Pandarsenic]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"Honored Chosen! Honored Chosen!"

Liu naso Jiar's essence receded into the shadows of the room and dispersed.

"Yes, what is it?" Anton naso Jiar asked, not looking up. He could sense the presence of the runner by his very thoughts - indeed, he already knew what the runner was going to say.

"A lone hominid has been sighted crossing the glaciers around the city! The patrols believe he may be spying to seek weaknesses in the defenses of The Shadow Keep," Anton mouthed in perfect unison with the runner.

"Very well," Anton replied. "Bring me a master of each discipline, a High Voidmage, and a Disillusioned blademaster in two hours. We're going to intercept him and discover his purpose in being here."

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

As Basalem crossed the glacier, Anton led his mages to meet with him. If he was a threat, best to deal with him immediately; if he was merely a traveler, best to warn him of the more unstable parts of the glaciers ahead of him.

Basalem continued until they were about ten feet away from each other. "What is your business in the territory of the Cado naso Jiar?" Anton naso Jiar asked. Basalem halted where he was.

"I wish only to travel through here," he replied, loosening his sword in its sheath. The Cado naso Jiar squad tensed. Both were used to trouble, but both were unwilling to strike first.

"Aye? How long are you going to be around here?" Anton asked, eying the traveler. The lack of any sort of spyglass or telescope easily visible meant he was not likely to be a spy or raider. Of course they'd assumed that of others and regretted it....

"I'm heading north; I'd like to be out of here as quickly as possible," Basalem replied. "No offense," he added.

"Really? Well, then, I should tell you where the ice is least stable - we both want you to continue north quickly, after all," Anton spoke. "In exchange... well, it would... displease us if you came this way again. We don't like visitors on a general basis." He held his hand forth and used Maro naso Jiar to manipulate the ice at Basalem's feet. "This is a rough map, but it'll have to do. Avoid the area where I melted the ice." He clenched his fist and a fissure opened between them. "Go now. I hope never to see you again. It'd be a shame if we discovered you were an enemy scout. You wouldn't like what we'd do to you. Now go." The Cado naso Jiar party turned in unison and began the trek back to the Shadow Keep, their Disillusioned member assisting the Cold, Shadow, and Darkness masters in carrying their supply sled, dragging the construct across the ever-fresh snow on its runners. Anton looked over his shoulder one last time at the traveler whose name they hadn't seen fit to learn, watching him recede rapidly into the artificial wasteland.

"He'll freeze to death soon anyway," Anton muttered to nobody in particular as he focused a little more of his magic on removing the cold from himself.