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[Canalan]

  Palad’in watched the first encounters of the races of peace and the race of war.
It was most bloody.
  He viewed the caverns of Astra’ath, and was… intrigued by the events going on there. However, this served only to pique his interest in creation again, and he traveled back into space to look upon his solar system.
  A small, lush planet orbited a medium sized yellow star that slowly orbited the green god star.  An asteroid belt made up of Black Sun material was the only other thing in the system.
Palad’in took three small pieces of Black metal, and set them in orbit around the Nameless World.  Once in orbit, he sprayed one with a small amount of fire, one with coolant, and one with energy.  They become the elemental moons, and they served to give a small amount of light in the pitch darkness of night.
He took another handful of Black metal shards and squeezed them into a ball.  He set this super-dense ball in orbit as the moon of metal. This moon imparted no light; indeed, it seemed to consume any light shed upon it.  It was here Palad’in finally made his throne.
He hollowed out the core of the moon and constructed rooms and furniture fit for a God.
He set his Stargate at the far end of his throne room, so as to give any other God a royal reception.
His palace was empty of life, save for him, but he desired loyal guards.  He sent envoys to all the settlements of his world to ask for the most powerful warrior to serve as his personal army.  His call was swiftly answered.
Three elves, three humans, three dwarves, an Uruk and a goblin were sent to Palad’in.  He armored them not in plates of metal, but in robes of tough cloth and masks of a strange material, and their helms were of the finest steel.  He armed them with weapons like unto his own, but only bearing two tanks, one fire and one coolant.  They trained day and night in the moon, now called “The Vault.”  Indeed, they lived in The Vault, always ready to protect their God.

tl;dr
ACT TWO: Palad’in creates moons for his planet (fire, ice, electricity, metal).  The metal moon becomes his palace and is named “The Vault.”  He sends for warriors of each city and arms and armors them like him.

[Lordinquisitor]

Gheronaton sighed. While the meeting was important he didn`t want to chase after dragnar through the universe- He still had some matters to attend to. Well, as long as he remains neutral he won`t cause any damage, at least.

"Very well. If you don`t mind inform your master that i`d like to speak him; Preferably sooner than later. He is free to visit me in my refugium. Maybe he`d like to visit it once? There are quite some tales to be heard from my chosen."

And then he left the Library.

[Karnewarrior]

When he came, he was not subtle. Of course, it was also not a he.
Mania came to Natus in a stone, a brown, dull stone inset with a glittering gem. As it crashed down upon Natus, it was blue.
When I found it, it was red.
I was out hunting with my brother, Azkael. Our family names are not important. What is important is the scene in front of the stone...

"Brother, look. I have found a crater! What sort of god would leave such a landmark?" the man who spoke was tall, with dark black hair cropped short. His skin was an ebon brown, his eyes had two colors in them. The girls of his tribe found him devilishly handsome.
His brother was not so. While he shared the same color scheme as his brother, his nose was long and protruding, his eyes sunk into his head as if pressed by a giants hands. His arms were large and bulky, with the rough hands of a blacksmith swinging a spear like a childrens toy.
He spoke:"Saul, do not touch it! It is bad luck to meddle in the games of gods!"
"Pah!" Responded the brother, waving off Azkaels worries like gnats, "This is no Godstone! This is merely a chance! A lucky emblem from Natus himself!"
"I fear it all the same..."
"Fear not! I will show you, and when you stop cowering like a small girl, mayhaps I will let you share my glory!" Saul said with a wide grin.
Saul picked his way through the underbrush, which was still cooling from the recent strike. Azkael made his way nervously behind, a frightened look on his face. When he and Saul reached the stone, he was shaking from fear.
"Brother..." Began Azkael, but Saul silenced him with an outstretched hand. Silently, the ebon-skinned man reached down and plucked the stone from the ground. It was strangely cool.
Saul stood up, and then his ears pricked up. He tilted his head, as if listening.

Spoiler: In the head of Saul (click to show/hide)

Listen! Do you not hear that? That is the sound of your brother, preparing to stab you in the back and take me! Look! Can you not see? That is your brother, looking to end your life and take your glory! Can you not taste that? That is the taste of death, a taste your so called brother relishes! Sniff! Can you not smell that? That is the smell of bodies burning, which your brother surely wishes upon his family! Think! Can you not realize? He is a madman! He must be brought down! Turn now, and rid your world of his madness!

Quick as a flash, Saul drew out his spear and drove the point into his brothers unprotected chest. There was a pause, and Azkael looked down as if surprised to see his brothers hand holding the spear, and then slumped. Saul put a boot on the corpses chest, and pulled his spear out with a squeltch. He shook off the bit of gore that clung to it, and then tilted his head again. Nodding, he trodded back towards the camp. If you listened carfully, a cackle, the laughter of a psycopath, could be heard faintly from the stone, as if a small, violent man was trapped within.

[ragnarok97071]

He had decided. but before he begins his creation, he has some things to take care of. Having watched the events that occurred while he was trapped outside, he knew what planet the war god has a refuge in. focusing, he moves himself through space to the planets orbit. from there it is a simple process to find the god's refuge. dropping down front, he knocks loudly on the front door. how he does this, having no arms, is hard to tell, but somehow he manages it.

[Lordinquisitor]

Instead of opening the gates countless Firstborn sweep down, surrounding the newcomer. Though they haven`t actually drawn their weapons yet they would do so on the slightest provocation. On the parapets more firstborn and some chosen can be seen; Watching. Promptly the current master of the gates challenges the visitor.

"Stranger! Who wants to enter the refugium of Gheronaton, the Lord of War? Speak truthfully and be warned that we won`t endure servants of the enemy roaming through our lands."

[forsaken1111]

Deep within the Nameless World, Astra'ath observes the creation of the elemental moons and finally stirs. A rumbling fills the cavernous space at the core of the planet.

We have been idle for too long.

We must create a champion.

We will use the godly works against them.

Four tentacles shoot out from its massive bulk, penetrating the stone and burrowing out in all directions.

First We take fire...

In the middle of a lonely desert, a mound of sand rises. A mass of flesh explodes out of the ground, its end unfolding to reveal a twisted leech-like mouth. It waves about momentarily, as though seeking something, then orients on the moon of fire. Power pulses along its bulk, and space twists around it. A stream of fiery energy blasts down through the void, connecting the gaping maw to the fiery moon. The tentacle bursts into flame all along its length, becoming a pillar of elemental fire.

Now water...

From the sea, another bulky tendril bursts forth. It plunges out of the ocean's surface, rising hundreds of feet into the air. Its maw opens, orienting on the icy moon. Icy waves of energy are siphoned down into the thirsting orifice, and the sea around it freezes over instantly. The tentacle hardens and cracks, becoming a massive tower of ice. Shining blue energy pulses down from the heavens, illuminating twisted script which glows along the tower.

And air...

Far to the north, a mountainside explodes. Several tendrils reach forth, twisting around one another to form an enormous flower bulb. It pulses once, twice, the surface twisting and changing. Finally it splits at the top, opening like some evil blossom. Fleshy petals spread wide, drinking in the radiance of the lightning moon, before sharp spines slide out all along their edges. With a crackle and snap, lightning lances down from the moon and dances along the petals, drawn towards the central stalk and channeled down into the depths. The entire assembly lights with crackling energy, and the mountain around it heats, steam rising as snow is melted away.

And finally... earth.

The most impressive display yet, as Astra'ath concentrates, bursts forth from a forest floor. Hundreds of small, whip-thin appendages displace trees and animals as they rise higher and higher into the sky, reaching out beyond the air and into the Void. Finally they come to rest, slapping wetly against the metal moon. They pulse, each drawing minuscule amounts of energy out of the divine creation and feeding it back along their length, down into the world's depths.

All of this lasts for a mere 30 seconds before each withers and dies, turning instantly to dust and blowing away.

Within the cavern, Astra'ath plucks the soul of Sothurn from the ether where it had been stored. Ignoring the soul's struggle, tendrils spread it flat against the cavern floor.

The energies of the Earth are channeled into the soul, injected into its very core. A body of stone forms around the soul, a cage of granite wrapped around the screaming form. Lightning strikes next, and the statue animates with a scream. Its eyes fly open, shining brightly as the elemental energies pour into it, filling it to bursting. Wings grow from its back, functional and fully formed, spread wide against the stone floor. Fire engulfs it, and its granite skin cracks and the interior becomes molten, threatening to escape at any moment. The fearful scream turns to rage as unreasoning fury enters its heart. A fearsome blade forms in its hand, an extension of its self made of molten lead wreathed in a fiery aura which somehow keeps its shape. Cold tempers its will and throws up clouds of steam. Its outer skin hardens and becomes like armor, as durable as the substance of the metal moon yet flexible and pliant so as not to hamper movement. The rage in its eyes cools, simmering below the surface.

Sothurn, the Righteous Fury

You are reborn in Our service, you will be Our avatar

Forged from the elements of the world, on the crucible of Our will

You embody all that which is Entropy and Destruction

Slay our enemies and bring fear to the hearts of the mortals

A flurry of motion as tendrils shoot out, etching Sothurn's chest before his outer skin has cooled. The elder sign of Astra'ath glows a dull red from its chest, embedded there for all time, ensuring Sothurn's obedience. The 300ft tall Avatar rises to its feet, and its mighty roar shakes the world.

Astra'ath creates an Avatar using Sothurn's soul and divine energy from the four elemental moons.

[Blargityblarg]

Galt were annoyed. The now-useless Hive was drained of souls, and the Universe back to its former state; apart from the huge, unsightly and ultimately unnecessary ball of bugs orbiting the Godstar of Elan.

Galt were determined to fix this problem. They pondered solutions; simply unmaking the bugs would create so much energy that the Universe would be forever scarred, and beyond that, Galt didn't know if they could even do such a thing. Clearly, the bugs had to be put somewhere. Thinking further, Galt realised that anywhere he put these bugs, they would kill whatever ecosystem surrounded them like mansized locusts.

They hit upon an idea. There is no ecosytem inside planets. However, not many planets were hollow.
Galt buzzed down to the centre of the Nameless World, where Astra'Ath held court. Alighting upon spurs of rock, each other or even Astra'Ath itself, they sat.

Words boomed in silence:

Astra'Ath. They require your attention and your co-operation, perhaps.

There is a planet of creatures made in Their images, and it must be found a home.

Despite Their previous actions, They recognise that you are the only one with the ability to make their creations home.

Will you speak with them to negotiate the housing of Their spawn? It is time that you and They spoke of matters without simply resorting to Actions.

The bugs waited, perched perfectly still on their precarious eyries.

[forsaken1111]

The massive bulk of Astra'ath rumbles at this intrusion, shaking the walls of the cavern. Several tri-lobed eyes form on the flesh nearest Galt. A booming chorus of voices echoes through the cavern, answering your own loud pronouncement.

We do not appreciate unannounced / uninvited intrusion

But because you have come seeking Our favor, We will not destroy you

You have creations which you need cared for?

We can do this / We have the power / We have the expertise

Explain these creations / Tell us about them

So we may determine their method of use / care

While the god speaks, you feel power building in the cavern. Hundreds of cultists stop what they were doing, walking out of the subterranean city and gathering near the two gods. They sit there, ferals and jesters and elves and humans, all brought together under the loving gaze of their god.

[Blargityblarg]

They apologise. They have no messengers or emissaries; to announce themselves, they must already have arrived. They do doubt that destroying Them would be so easy as you imply, however.

Their creations are insectoid, the size of a man. To the unfamiliar, they are terrifying monstrosities. However, they are harmless unless commanded to attack.

As Galt speak, several hundred of Their number waft from their perches and form a glittering indigo model of a Bug. It is six feet long, about three high and has dead eyes set above mandibles that could bisect a tree.There is much variation in Their creations; this example is but the middle of the continuum.

They understand the nature of your agreement with Palad'in, and wish to find Their creations purpose as guardians of the Underground, such as you and your own have already begun.

The creations may be used however you wish; They would prefer, however, that Their creations not be used for offense; They have asked to place them down here such that they might be invisible to the Universe at large, as they have caused our Pantheon much offence already.

Originally, the Bugs were simply a hasty creation to siphon souls from the Aether, to relieve the pain of our Patron, Xarn, and of themselves; such pain you have already found evidence of; the asteroids were Their sacrifice to the agony.

However, They went too far, and took too many souls from the void. This caused much pain and suffering amongst the mortal races, and now the Hive Planet serves as an eternal reminder of Their folly.

[forsaken1111]

There is silence for a time, from the great bulk of Astra'ath. The only sound heard is a soft crooning song sung by its followers. Finally it speaks again, softer this time.

We have considered your request, We can accommodate your creations

There are a great number of caverns and caves within this world

Your creations can populate them and live in peace as they wish

You must understand the magnitude of your request, however

You say this is a planet made entirely of insects

So great a number cannot survive in any one location

We guarantee the continuation of the species and their freedom

We will allow them to live as they wish, so long as they do not breed to a level which overwhelms the ecosystem

[Blargityblarg]

They understand. They shall take those that will not fit back, and will offer them freely to any who want them. They would compliment Ghenoraton's creations on Incendium nicely, or perhaps Maquines wishes for some to harvest and maintain her garden world.

Galt take their Hive Planet and break it up, putting most of the Bugs in the Nameless World's core with Astra'Ath, but keeping those unable to fit with themselves and offering them to the Gods of the Universe

[forsaken1111]

Astra'ath commands its followers to herd the mass of insects into the nearby tunnels and caves, dispersing them throughout so they may naturally filter outwards into the planet's other regions. A few are taken as food for the cultists.

We do as you request, now we respond with a request

Do not interfere with Our works, remain neutral in the conflicts to come

Else you risk ruination at Our hands

Now begone from here, and announce yourselves next time you seek audience

[Blargityblarg]

They only ask that you do not make Them obsolete; moving on to a new universe takes a great amount of effort, and They are comfortable here.

[Digital Hellhound]

Coradin hesitated before entering. Maybe he should try to convince his brother... but no, Dragnar had chosen to stay neutral, like the coward he was. He could nothing to change it.
He entered the Library and seeked out one of his brother's servants.

'Summon your master, creature. This is a place of great knowledge, and I must find something that has been taken from me.'

[forsaken1111]

A nightgaunt coalesces before Coradin, seeming unusually helpful.

You seek the chaos stone / stone of madness?

We know its location

We will bring it to you, for a price

Neutrality / Noninterference / Nonagression for a time