The sparklings with their mastery of divination scryed far beyond their island. They spied upon the lands beyond the waves, the races that called it home, and learned much. After many years of watching and remaining hidden and isolated from the rest of the world. The sparklings with the blessing of their priest and by extension god, thought it time to join the rest of the world. Through much trial and error they learned to build ships, yet ever inventive they infused them with the knowledge and skill that only their kind could bring to the task. Creating ships unlike any other, setting off to cautiously make themselves known, or at least what they wished others to know of them.
The seer's and elders of the sparklings knew of the rising forces in the distant lands. How long would it take for them to seek out their wonders or intrude upon their domain. The sparklings were not warlike, but their memories were long, the black beast had not been forgotten. The Vus Drakes ever a boon to them yet a constant reminder made them weary. Those beyond the waves could not reach them, their magic shielded and masked them, but they could still come by sea. The storms would not be enough. So they built more ships until they had a mighty fleet of war ships to protect the island and their own traveling ships. The fleet would come to be known as The Navis. A navy that effectively controlled the oceans. Ever watchful of threats to the sparkling vessels and Fulgur.
With the recent building of forces the sparklings still feared for their precious Fulgur. They saw the wasteful ways of the other races, replacing nothing that they took. Biting into the earth, ever deeper without closing the wounds they made when they took what they wanted. Destroying to build rather then shaping what was their to a form they needed. The sparklings did not judge the ways of others, but they would not suffer it in their home. They had always lacked strength, so they turned inward and looked to the Tower of Votio. It's mages, alchemist, and sages went to work on the vus drakes to become more then they had been. They trained them for war, to act as the protectors of their homeland and people. Along with a regime for those that would choose to fight with them. The leading voice behind the formation and creation of this force was a cloaked sparkling with hidden features, yet his skills and knowledge laid the foundation for the Aether Corps.
Moranus watches the other gods do as they want. He watches Aurus do what he does and then looks towards Yhev. "Yhev, friend how would you like to have your Yeven become part of the nation that my Hawkmen will soon create. If our creations join forces they will become a power beyond reckoning."
It would seem...
the watcher pauses, as though his attention is diverted.
...beneficial, yes. I sense a wave of violence soon... it would be best that they... make their union more... official. But be warned.... This violence... you will find yourselves on the receiving end.
Moranus sits up in his chair. "Your people won't be safe from this coming storm either. Together they can protect each other from this violence." Moranus pauses for a moment toying with some sort of stone between his fingers. "With a union such as this, they can create a safe haven for any who wish to live within their borders."
As the various races and nations all seem to be mobilizing, the Moon stands and contemplates the best ways to protect it's own creations.
Soon
Aurus seat remains empty his unseen form aware. He watched and waited, there was no need to move just yet. Time was ever on his side and he used it well.
Geiyara will wait out this turn, but still vote for this age to continue.
After an immeasurable era of silence, Pax reappears behind you, carefully observing the map. With one long finger he reaches out and taps the center of the dry grassy plains, and that section of the plains becomes green and lush. Here shall lie a haven for all those who wish it. Shaline will be its name. With that, men and women of all races began to travel through the plains to Shaline, creating a prosperous city there.
Yhev concentrates his hands over the Yeveni, imparting knowledge of the void upon them. For a brief time, madness swarms among the Yeven as they try to contain the knowledge. They harness it and it becomes one with them.
Elsewhere, the Goliath and their Or'Khen flying army disperse across the land, founding another city, Uyren . Goliath of Uyren are less destructive as their Rhekosh brothers, opting to better their bodies through physical training. Shortly after being founded they form a militia as a form of defense, and eventually as the city grows, the militia becomes an army.
Moranus stands up in front of the other gods. "Fellow deities, it is time for the many different races of this world to share in something together." Moranus touches his finger onto the map and pushes down. Around his finger a group of mountains form, with multiple ways into the valley in the center. "Here shall be the city of Daryam, where all races are welcome. This city, will be the home of a competition for all. A competition of strength, cunning, wits, and more. Every 5 years this competition will be held, and it will show the world the best and the brightest there are."
From the fur of every type of bear found in the world, Geiyara shared with them her wisdom.
"These... are Ursine.
Awakened, Powerful, Wise.
Look like bears of their habitat... but larger...smarter"
"Look to me... Ursine.
Protect life... and nature.
Build an order to keep balance."
Then she took various mice from the world, and grew them to the size of 3 feet, then shared ... some of her wisdom.
"These... are Skritt.
Alone weak, together strong.
Be fruitful... and multiply."
These races aren't exactly meant to be playable, but could if you wanted them to be.
For the Ursine I'd imagine them to be hardy and wise, but might lack intelligence.
For the Skritt I'd imagine them to be very agile, but lacking in all mental stats.
Aurus rolls in the shadows, unseen, unheard, unnoticed. He watched the gods and the world. It was not yet time, they stirred yet were unprepared. How much longer was not known, but it would come. They would come and he would greet them. His manner would be decided by them.
Geiyara will save her points, and vote to continue this age
Moranus watches over what he has done so far in contemplation of his next move.
No worries, I just wanted to make sure that people were still playing, since our posting rate has gone down quite a bit. I have no problem with that so long as everyone is having fun, but I wanted to check that everyone is still here.
Yhev remains quiet, watching as the Rhekoshan Goliath and Uyrenian Goliath grow apart down below. He lets out a small gasp when a new generation of Uyrenian Goliath are born.
"Interesting..."
Uyrenian Goliaths (playable)
Advanced in Martial Arts
0rp Standard (+2 Con, +2 Wis, -2 Int)
0rp Language: Standard
2rp Stubborn
3rp Hardy
2rp Climb
3rp Sky Sentinel
1rp Terrain Stride (Jungles)
1rp Low-light Vision
1rp Camouflage (Jungles)
2rp Skill Bonus (Acrobatic)
The man had walked for days, carry the foul sack. He had left much behind while leaving the city quickly. Not the first time but much faster then even he had grown use to. Still his skills would ensure he survived even if he did lack much of his equipment. The distant storm clouds rumbled as the sun was setting on his back. He looked over his shoulder to them and saw a flash as lightning struck the earth. For a moment a figure was illuminated.
He stopped and dropped the sack straining his eyes as he turned upon it. A second lightning strike closer yet still distant. Again the shadowed outline of a figure. Could it be his eyes playing tricks on him or another one after his head, which kind was it this time if so. The lightning came again, a field long from where he stood. The figure was there again then gone in the same instant. The man drew his spear first, saving his sword should it fail.
This time the lightning stuck directly in front of him less then a dozen feet from him. No sound only light this time and the figure was there again. Remaining while the lightning faded, for some reason the man could not think. He could not move or even speak as if his mind refused to understand what was before him. Just as his instincts screaming action were about to take effect, to late. The cloaked figure grabbed him in brown leathered gloves, slapping aside the spear like a child's toy. With a single hand and all the effort of a girl wielding a doll the figure shook him as if he were one. Bring the man's face close to it's own. Only there was no face, only black wrappings and eyes with shifting colors. The figure spoke, or so he thought as their was no sound. Only his mind understood without words and even then it filled his body with dread.
"You wanted my attention."
The man struggled to reply, fighting his bodies refusal to obey him. The memories of what had lead him here brought forth his anger and pain which in turn pushed pass what he could only guess was fear. Finally he forced out the words.
"You wronged me, why shouldn't I repay you."
The eyes turned bloody red for a moment before changing to a solid black. A blackness that threatened to swallow him into it's depths and shatter his mind. But before that could happen it came again.
"Wronged you? Do you wrong the vermin at your feet? Do you care for each and every life you end merely by treading upon the ground without due notice? No you do not. As such we have wronged you no more then you have wronged the ants and worms."
The figure dropped the man. Causing him to crash down in a heap beside the sack. Knocking it over and spilling the contents, a half dozen heads of various races. All burned with the holy symbol of a different god upon their brow. The figure did not even glance at them before continuing.
"You slaughter holy men, simply for being such. You brand them with their own faith then when your collection is complete you befoul them more so with your ritual of disgrace. Then begin once more again and again. For what, because the gods did not grant your wish. Because they would not heed a false insincere beggar."
The figure squatted down bring it's face in line with the man.
"Such arrogance to think that your existence even catches our notice. So you murder the faithful that work and devote their lives to the gods without want. I care not what the others had in store for you if anything at all. But I will clearly answer you, we had no part in it. Not at all, it is that arrogance of yours that has convinced you otherwise. We do not notice every speck of dirt upon the world, why would we. Your life is but less then a moment to the eternal. Do you think every sadness and bit of good fortune belongs to one of the gods. You needed something to blame and refused truth so you chose to make the gods your enemy. Forgetting that it is by the mercy of the gods alone that you even draw breath. Well my mercy is at an end."
With a single gloved finger the figure lifts the man from his chin into the air.
"Death is a mercy as well, giving you a afterlife is to kind. So I will curse you, let you learn of eternity and the price of angering the gods. Or at least one god."
With speed beyond anything mortal the figure plunges his hand into the man's chest, wrapping his fingers around his beating heart.
"I curse you with nether life or death. You will never know peace by being denied both. You gained my curse by blood so too will it be your endless price. You will hunger for it without end. The sun as that which breeds life will be your bane and all that is firmly claimed by the gods will as well. You are immortal and should this world turn to ash and dust you will remain now and forever by my will."
The man's heart stopped beating, hardening under the figures grip. The man shuddered but his eyes still showed understanding even if his body no longer lived.
"Nox you will share both a blessing and curse with your title granted by the one you have offended. You are the First Vampire. A blight upon this world regardless of your choices, you will suffer for all time. The price for the lives you took without cause and no doubt you will take in the future."
With that the figure removes both his finger from Nox's chin and the grip around his frozen heart. In a flash of lightning the figure is gone as is the sack of heads. All that remains is Nox the First Vampire, alone and suddenly very hungry.
After years of warring between the two branches of Goliath, The Uyrenian Goliath become known as the Moss Hide, while the Rhekoshan are known as the Crag Flesh.
A sect of Yeveni travel to Uyren where they develop a form of martial arts utilizing their extra arms, martial prowess and spellcasting. They open the Temple of The Eternal Seeker.