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[forsaken1111]

Date? Pre-scheduled conflict?

We would be foolish to agree

You would have us line up on either side of a grassy meadow perhaps?

March across like tin soldiers until the blood flows like a river?

War is fought to win, Gheronaton

Not for its own sake

And we only engage when we can win

The eyes fixed on Poena begin to pulse hypnotically, drawing her in. They are shielded from the others, for the most part, being scattered among Astra'ath's massive bulk... but all seven of them stare at Poena fixedly, unwavering, so alluring, attractive, compelling....

Besides, we have agreed to respect this place and Coradin's wish for peace here

We would not break our agreement without cause, and so far we see none

[Caesar]

Poena stared back at the eyes, and slowly did the armor she wore, the enchantments placed upon her and something much deeper inside her reassure her.
Astra'ath couldn't harm her. Not in here, not like this.
She stared back at the eyes, her terrified glance making place for an arrogant examining of its features.

What brings you here, Astra'ath? Do- Do you come here to gloat about your own hideous appearance?

Do you seek to change not only that which surrounds you, but your very being, your goals as well?

Or did you come simply because you did, with no reason whatsoever?

What are you?

Her voice turned to a scream, her hand taking the handle of the sheeted blade.

What do you want from me?

[forsaken1111]

Astra'ath looks at the other gods, each in turn.

See what you have done? The godchild's mind is near to breaking from Our mere presence

You have so poisoned her thoughts that she has no control

It turns its baleful gaze back on Poena

Tell Us godchild... what do you want?

[Lordinquisitor]

Gheronaton looked displeased. No shred of honor was to be found inside of that abomination.
But for once he decided to keep silent; He found the discussion between Astra`ath and Poena quite interesting. Let`s see how worthy she is, he thought.

[Caesar]

You! You are the one that poisons!

I am in control!

Poena slowly calmed down. She would not waste her breath on the monster. She let go of the hilt of her weapon.

Destruction comes in many forms, Astra'ath.

You, you are one of those forms.

You devour, you corrupt. You lie, you decept, even when you speak the truth.

What I want is peace. Life for everybody, without you- Devouring and wasting it.

[forsaken1111]

Then come and end Us godchild

Strike Us down with your blade

Tear Us apart with the fangs you bare

Will you also slay every hunting cat?

Every bear that mauls a man? Every lion that kills a gazelle?

At what point does it become evil? If a bear kills a man, is it evil? What about two men? A dozen?

It kills to survive, as do We.

Dragnar understands Us. You do not. You know only what you are told.

Strike Us down Poena, the Brave.

End Us forever.

End our million year existance, because you dislike the way we eat

Astra'ath's bulk heaves again and its tentacles part, baring flesh. Seven eyes stare directly at Poena, waiting.

[Lordinquisitor]

Gheronatons arms ached and he could hear his blades singing with anticipation. But he kept still.

[dragnar]

"Astra'ath speaks truly. It/they need true sustenance, not merely their fear, unlike the others among us. It is complicated, but I'm not sure Astra'ath even counts as immortal in the traditional sense. Still, hopefully his dietary requirements are less than the population of the universe..."

[Caesar]

Lies.. Deception..

Truth.. Reason...
She did not know what to say, what to think. Poena was no philosopher, she was no scientist.
She gave up, and instead of her, another voice spoke, one that shifted tone constantly, but undoubtedly male.

The bear eats to survive.

You eat to grow.

The bear eats to live.

You eat only to be larger. Only to be stronger.

You are no nature, Astra'ath. You are no reason. You are an abomination, guided by an unreasonable hunger, driven by a hate for life.


Why? Because you do not live. You are naught but parasite.

Her head hurt, her vision went blurry.
Poena did not know what talked through her, but it drained her. She fell to the ground. Surely did she feel tired, surely..
Dreams took her away, dreams of emptiness, of void...

[forsaken1111]

The weight of the universe is too much

for one godchild's back to bear

Xarn, speak to us

We call upon you

Astra'ath looks to Dragnar, wondering if he will help in their mutual goal of communication with the overgod.

[dragnar]

Dragnar stands still for a moment, than vanishes, reappearing beside the tower of Xarn.

"The overgod has spoken Natus. The demigod Poena somehow channeled him, but she does not seem able to do so easily. Whatever you are doing here, finish quickly, the book you found might contain some clue about all this."

[forsaken1111]

Delicatly, Astra'ath extends a tentacle and flicks the sword from Poena's hand, disarming her of any other weapons.

A godchild we do not fear, but we will not allow one being controlled by the overgod in our presence armed.

We do not yet know the effect of that control.

Prudence and Patience

[Knave]

The others had finally left Natus in peace, he could now return to his work. But something was not right. The hall it seemed... empty. He had built a great work for Xarn, but there was no one to appreciate it, no one to tend it. That simply would not do. 'Origins' seemed to burn with cold inside him for a moment before he thought of a solution.

The book had described many creatures and races in passing. Some details were missing, but Natus could fill in the rest. There was one race in particular that Natus thought would make excellent wards for the Spire, The Shifters.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Shifters

Existed once in the First Universe as loyal servants of Xarn. They are faceless shape shifters that will do Xarn's bidding to the very end. They serve as stewards to the Voidbringer and pray to him on a regular basis. Shifters are immortal and will only grow more powerful with time, able to take on a greater number of forms for longer periods. In their natural state they are actually quite poor combatants. Pale skin and hairless, they average between seven and eight feet tall. Their arms and legs seem elongated and thin compared to a human, each having an extra joint, allowing their limbs to bend in many strange directions.

Normally they don cloaks and hoods to hide their rather frightening faces, they have no eyelids or lips to speak of in their natural form which gives them a corpse-like look. In battle, most Shifters rely on supplementing their own form, adding extra muscle to increase their strength and speed or blades to their body to make their limbs living weapons. Others add wings to bring the battle to the sky, and others become fearsome animals of nature. Only the oldest of the Shifters can become great magical beasts for long periods, mythical and frightening their have been many songs and tales of the prowess of the oldest shifters on the battlefield as they fought beside their master, Xarn.

With great effort he searched the Void. Looking for remnants of The Shifters from times past. With great effort he found the souls drifting lost in the void belonging to the extinct race, he pulled them towards Natus, re-crafting their bodies as he remembered from the book, adding his own touch to their form. And with that, the Shifters existed once more.

Natus spoke to the race, now gathered within the main Cathedral hall of the Spire. "I am Natus, God of Nature and Son of Xarn. You once served my father as loyal Stewards, and now I ask that you take that mantle again. He is trapped in dreams and cannot manifest himself. But I intend to help him rise from his forced slumber. With your prayers, perhaps you can help as well! Tend to this place. ward it and protect it from those who would cause us harm. And soon Xarn will walk among us again."

The Shifters bowed in understanding. Silent for now as they went about their task, thankful they had been granted another chance at life. They would be loyal to Xarn until the end... just like last time.

Satified with his new Guardians, Natus could now turn his attention outwards. An army would need to be raised, to protect Natus and defeat those who opposed him.

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

Once again Natus heard his brother's call from outside. The news that Xarn had channeled a message through his daughter was a good sign indeed. Things were progressing faster than anticipated. He offered Dragnar a comforting smile, though the paranoia deep within him was still evident.

"It should only be a matter of time now then my Brother. I think perhaps you should choose a side soon. If Astra'ath does not fear Xarn now... he will."

ACT 1: Natus summons the Shifters from the Void.

[Caesar]

As soon as Astra'ath touched Ertanon, a searing pain went through it, and, even though the sword itself did not cut it, the flesh that had touched the sword withered and died.

[forsaken1111]

Astra'ath slowly fades away, returning to the Nameless World.