Kath had long stared at the moon in wonder of its beauty. Certainly he would see it closer still. Its domain was every so far away from his earthly existence. He was the darkness which surrounded him. Or was he? He was a light bringer as well as the night, the darkness which his followers could now see in. It was not enough though, as he felt. The tribe which he had watched, had been borne from was not as small as once thought. They were proving their might in the world. They had proved their courage, they had proved their strength. Their intelligence, however, they faced many difficulties. Is it that they could not think for themselves? That could be discounted by their other successes. No… what they needed was a catalyst. For learning, for everything which he could seek. What form could this catalyst be?
So he began is descent again, on another night which was uneventful at best.
He had seen his worshippers at this time. No longer did only one stay out, looking at the moon in its splendor. No, there was a few, mainly of the tribe but one convert otherwise. He had long awaited to see their praying first hand. Yet he had important business to attend to inside the forest, farther than what the people of the village could see. He was creating life.
With his direction, one, two… many seeds were dropped on the ground. The seeds planted were of a dynasty to be formed to last. Time would pass, as the seeds, from the darkness, grow in the ice like it was soil, proving its strength and courage to take a task. In it, a program, the intelligence it needs to grow and prosper. Once raised, it shall show its creativity, in its beautiful bloom to challenge common reason. It shall provide its own nurturing, for from the flower comes the fruit, so many can enjoy its gifts. It grants order to the soil, providing many uses which he could imagine. Finally, it the ultimate gift of creation, it shall release its seeds, throwing them around to continue the growth of beauty. Courage, strength, intelligence, creativity, order, and creation… these were the values which the plant followed, and shall be Kath’s creation for the world. The second, yet not the greatest, gift.
All of that, though, would come with time. Here he stands fifty years along in his lifetime. He was old by mortal standards, although he would not weaken with age. He knew there was a world in front of him for him to take, so he would in his own time.
He turned back to the village, and approached those who been praying before. They were still praying, and indeed had been acted similar to the first meeting. Where he used to stand, however, was no longer wilderness, but homes! He was amazed that they had been changing, and were greater than before. He did not walk down a grassy terrain, but a simple path through the world around him. He had approached the mortals from behind, and had prepared his next speech. He had new tasks, a new gift, and news for them to hear.
It had indeed been a while since any of the villagers had seen their god. They had their god’s blessing, as they prayed they saw the world around them was full not of darkness, but of light. Night and day was not separated by light and dark, but by the sun and not. For what they knew, the dark was light, but the day had more. Neither was to be revered, as the Moon was over them regardless. They did not know why, though, these occurred. Little remember how they gained this understanding of the darkness. Some had only gained it once they worshiped Kath. So how did it arise? To them, it did not matter.
Suddenly, footsteps approached them. Was it some raider attempting to sneak attack? They all turned, expecting a face but only seeing darkness. It was Kath. He had come to message them again.
“Hello, my followers,” began what was to be another long speech to his followers. “I am glad to see you have completed my tasks. Tell me, what is it of these tasks which was added? Did you not end those which sought to cause chaos, taught them of this world’s power?”
The followers were stunned. They did not to be able to say anything until one of the members stepped forward. It was a member of a formally hostile tribe. “If you are Kath, as you are clearly, then to say that I am a proof of that.” It was unique for the man to show such courage his statement, although his fear was quite clearly existent in the case of his staring into his god. He cleared his throat, and then continued. “I assume you are here about our failures?”
Kath was not ready for this question asked, but still smiled behind the layer of darkness around him. The man had shown courage against their protector. In a sense, he was the key to solving something which was part of his overall plan. “If I came to talk about your failures, I would not be praising what you have done otherwise. The tribe has only had problems with the third task,” Kath paused, and turned away from the group, “…from me assuming you were ready to take up such a task. Why I am here is not to talk about how you failed, but how you will succeed. For you have done enough for the second gift, but this gift will come with time. Within the next year, you will find my gift around you, spreading, blooming like the moon above. It will provide for you, and is a new key for you to solve you tests.”
“Yet, with a new gift comes new tests. The final tests to be issued to you all, the final tests before you are ready for the final gift, and the ultimate test. So please listen closely, for these tasks will depend on your understanding of the second gift which I have granted. The first task, the fourth I have gave you, is the test of creativity. The world around you is full of things which are hard to understand. I seek for you to interpret the world differently than with your eyes, as you must use your soul. You will find my second gift useful in this manner.”
“The second task is the task of order. For Order to be established there needs to be a sense of security. Order is not simply saying what is obvious, that those who steal need to be punished, that the crops need to be grown by someone, and things in that sort of sense. The task is to build and preserve an order which is not as obvious. The order which needs to be sought is that of autonomy, to lose the need to have to wander this world. My second gift will help meet your needs in attempting this struggle. I hope for you to use it well.”
“The last task which you must complete is of a task which is not easily explained. The test is the test of creation. Look around you,” Kath gestured toward the forest surrounding, “and see that the world around you is nature. Nature is important for animals, but you are animals no longer. You have proven this through your successes. What this task requires you to do, to be simple, is to make the world around you change to your will. Where there are trees can be plain with a blade. Where there can be plain, can be many more things than the woods. This task, the task of creation, shall be the last task before the ultimate task, but with it shall reform your life to that of a stronger being. Do not forget the first tasks lessons, as I see them being most useful in your endeavors in the future.”
With that, Kath had left towards the villages depths. It was not really something to mention those who he had left. They had got the information he sought to give. He had more stops this night than the encounter which he had with those still alive. He approached where the chieftain would be, safe in his home. It is strange, for what he sought to do was not truly in his interests. In a sense, it was almost like he was hurting himself for these mortals. Still… they were his source of power. He had to lose dependence on them if his ambitions were to come true. He entered the home.
When he entered, the inhabitants were obviously asleep. The chieftain and his consort were away from the true prize he sought: one of his sons. The tribes leader, Horanias, was loyal but was clearly not the most intelligent follower he had. His leadership would probably change to his eldest son, but even then, he would probably become a fool more so than his father, but still would have power. Then there was the younger of the brothers. He had no future, unlike his brother above him. He would have to take power for himself through a duel if he was to become chieftain. Still, he was not expected to be strong. In his youth, he could still be changed. So he would begin his tutoring about the world, about his gifts, to the boy in a manner he would understand. He would have to use mortal means for his plan to work. He did not doubt, though, his patience for the task at hand. He would succeed, and with math and the arts, he commence begin the construction of a legacy. The beginning of his legacy's name? His name with Mithio.
Kath creates the Icefern plant near the Owl TribeThe icefern plant is, in essence, a small bush. When the plants seeds are initially planted, the plant takes about 4 months to grow to a adult form. Once reaching its adult form, the plant enters a cycle which lasts 2 months. About 1 month into the cycle, the fern starts developing fruit. This fruit grows in approximately a week. At the end of the cycle, the fruit metamorphosis into a seed pod, which catapults the seeds across a distance. The seed pod carries approx. 10 - 20 seeds. The fruit given by the icefern in only of average nutrients and has little sweet flavor. The plant will get around 4 fruit on average. It is to be noted that the icefern is quite cold resistant.
Kath gives the tribe 3 more tasksThey need to create interpretations of the world around them.
They need to stop moving around their home to make it a specific spot.
They need to alter the world around them.
They are reminded that they still need to finish the task of Intelligence.
Kath begins (via mortal teaching methods) teaching the younger son of the Owl Tribe's chief, Mithio.The focus of this teaching is mainly math and crafting, but will include uses of the Icefern once it becomes prominent. The tutoring sessions are at night and will be done for 5 years.