"Thank you Levy."
"I rather liked your bit with those undersea mountains Valis"
Hexavos gathers much of the ore blasted out by Valis' excavation of the ring and carries them far to the north and east. He shapes the ores and the land into a rioutous mess of spires and webs of various minerals and metals. He shifts the climate to vary between dry and humid often with frequent thunderstorms.
He holds off on creating a plane this turn as he wishes to make Lightning and Metal paired from the start.
Fel sees the winds struggle to keep clouds flowing over and around the mountains in the center of the continent, and the ocean struggling over the sea mountains, trying to bring blessed coolness down, and reaches out her hand. "Relax, oh wind, and o waves, for thou hath done what thou canst. Foolish gods we are to ask you to work so hard to keep this bit green. Go about your normal paths unfettered, and fear not for reprisal. Thou shalt not be held accountable."
The winds and waves cease their struggles, and the central portion of the continent dries up to sand in a decade. Only along the banks of the four rivers and the large inland ocean does green still hold sway.
The Book of Yidhra
Chapter Two
1. The Goddess watched as the other gods of the world continued their actions.
2. In time, her eye was drawn to Hexavos, the God of Origin, who had been engrossed with his actions.
3. The Goddess possessed all knowledge, and in the Seventh Time of Creation, she acted.
4. Yidhra reached out to the places where Hexavos had intended to create the Planes of Metal and Lightning, using the power she had to assist him in his tasks and create them the way he wanted them.
5. The Goddess was satisfied with what she had done, and she rested for a time.
The Book of Yidhra
Chapter Three
1. The gods of the world continued its formation, forming the lands as they saw fit.
2. The Goddess of Knowledge waited patiently, moving and immobile, watching all there was to be seen.
3. In the Seventh Time of Creation, the Goddess acted, reaching into the portals of each of the elemental planes and drawing forth some of their essence.
4. Bringing them together, the Goddess carefully sculpted her creation, giving life to each element as she worked it so that it would move and respond.
5. For the feet of her creation, the Goddess used the power of Earth, giving the creature a way to walk through the world and stay in touch with the land.
6. For the body of her creation, the Goddess used the power of Water, giving it a comely and beautiful form so that those who saw it would not be so afraid.
7. For the hands of her creation, the Goddess used the power of Metal, giving it a touch that could help others and work the materials of the world.
8. For the hair of her creation, the Goddess used the power of Lightning, granting long tresses that would flicker endlessly (yet noiselessly), tamed or wild at the will of their owner.
9. For the back of her creation, the Goddess used the power of Wind, giving it wings of air and the ability to fly as it willed.
10. For the heart of her creation, the Goddess used the power of Fire, a burning flame that would never go out and a source of feelings and emotions, desire and love.
11. The Goddess whispered her creation's true name, granting it true life and understanding.
12. Yet no living thing could speak its name, so the Goddess gave it a new one.
13. The Goddess called her creation "Myria", for it was both one and many things.
14. Though Myria was not the oldest life on the planet, she was born long before the races that would follow, and Yidhra instructed her to watch as the world continued to be made.
15. As time passed, the Goddess granted Myria gifts of knowledge and understanding that she would one day share with others. In this way, Myria soon grew wise.
16. The Goddess was satisfied with what she had done, and she rested for a time.
Fel watches Yidhra finally begin to use her power, and see's that nothing untoward is done. Relaxing a fraction toward the goddess, Fel watches as an Avatar is created. Nodding, she smiles. "It is good... I had wondered when such would begin..."
Fel reaches out to the dreamplane, and begins gathering the nightmares that have accumulated there, left by frightened youth, or scared adults, all the terror and uncontrolled fear, and draws it into herself. The dreamplane is cleansed of it's nightmares for a time, and peaceful sleep as a boon descends on the sleepers of the world for a generation.
That nightmare energy is bound up with a pulse of energy, and it is then driven into the heart of the 9,999th Ur-fey. This ur-fey, a male centaur, staggers and is forever both Ur-Fey and something else, more powerful. The Avatar staggers under the assault of all the nightmares, but comes out of the experience more powerful than before. His hair turns bone white, his skin grows pale, his eyes grow solid black. He spears his hand into the First Oak, the first tree that grew up on Fel's Isle, and pulls out a perfectly formed composite bow. He reaches into the First Ash, and pulls out a hand full of magic arrows, which go into a quiver that forms on his back. He then repeats the gestures, this time pulling a bow from the First Ebony tree, pulling out a dark bow. He pulls more arrows from the First Blackwood tree, and hands both to Fel. As Fel's hands touch the Ebony Bow, shadows begin to drip from it.
Her Avatar however, drips light from his bow as he touches it, the light wood glowing with a warm healing light. "Thou art Kom Thunderhoof." She tells the Avatar. "Thou shalt ascend, one day, to be my mate, when it is time to populate the world with more species. Until then, watch the world, sooth the injured, and think on the laws that civilization will need, for I am not a good judge of structures, I am more comfortable in whirling chaos."
Kom nods, and begins to walk the earth, attempting to gather up followers for his goddess, and trying to decide on the rules of nature.
"I appreciate your aid Yidhra I will return the favor in time, with this the elemental planes are complete, yet there are so many beginnings to form, What fun!"
"I rather liked your bit with those undersea mountains Valis"
"Thank you. Truthfully, I've been focusing on using my power efficiently. It's constrained my creativity..."
Valis manifests as an amniotic form at the northern vent. Rapidly, as far as geologic time goes, the liquid withing Valis congeals. It eventually becomes semi-solid and moves on its own.
"Awaken, my child, and embrace the glory that is your birthright. Know that you are Panmorphe, She of All Forms, and manifestation of my will and dominion. Your first gift will be a sacred earthly realm to reside in."
At this, Valis guides magma in a ring west of the norther vent, forming undersea mountains.
"Finally the last pieces of the cosmic puzzle, after this I can begin teasing at matters Arcane."
Hexavos spreads his presence far, out beyond the grasp of Izopa, beyond Kine and Roam, beyond even the yet amorphous forms of other worlds not yet made to circle the star feeding them. In the place where the sun begins to become just another star, he turns back towards it.
He forms his hands around the warm star and all it protects weaving a web of his essence through them. Upon one side of the web lies the darkness a well of infinite depth, linked to all realms near and far. Upon the other side of the web lies the chaotic Astral, a realm of potential and growth.
The Astral touches upon the dreams and souls of all bringing them inspiration and hope. The Shadow does the same bringing all depth and focus. Neither good nor evil holds sway in these planes for they are a part of all.
Exhausted Hexavos returns to Izopa to rest. The Father of the Planes is tired.
"Keep an eye on things will you? I'll just close my eyes for a bit."
Fel makes a place for Hexavos to rest in the Lake of Shadows. "You may rest here, the Ur-Fey shall watch over your sleep."
Fel pulls in power, and relaxes, watching the world, the avatar, and the newly formed planes. She likes the balance so far, no one power or creature has more power than the others, and the world is poised to remain in balance. Seeing nothing she needs to adjust, she ponders what else can be added to further ensure balance holds sway.
Yidhra leaned over and smiled at the Leviathan. "First you hate what I did and try to mock it, and then you complain about what happens there?" she asked, her tone light and friendly. "I think you should let this one go. After all, I'm quite prepared to accept nightmares back into my realm, since they're just another part of dreams." The content of the dreams wasn't too important. It was the fact that dreams were happening that mattered. "Or, you know, we could fight it out in an epic battle, uproot the lands, cause mass chaos and devastation, try to destroy each other's works in their entirety, and find ourselves the lords of a broken world, meaning we'd have to build it up all over again. Even if Betrayal is your thing, you might want to try applying that with a bit of... focus. Y'know, betrayal of the current culture to start a new fashion line or something. That would probably be a lot better than finding yourself betrayed and abandoned because your creations realized what you'd done to them, right?" Smiiiiiiile. "Besides, I think you'll like what I have planned for the future. So just relax and wait on that front, okay?"
The time is not yet right for me to create life. I seem to be at a loss for something to do. Perhaps the next era will be more suitable for life to flourish.
Hexavos smiles at the Great Lie, the irony it creates to his future plans amuses him.
"To Yidhra I grant a home in The Astral as it fills with the unknown much as you do, To Fel I grant a home in the Shadow so you may always have a place to dance. To Levy I grant a home half in the Astral and half in the Shadow, may the conflict drive you comfortably mad. Valis I grant you no home, but I grant you a vessel that shall form as perfectly as you do and can take you on your merry wandering to wherever you may wish."
Fel descends and calls forth her Ur-Fey, and begins to teach them of Magic. Both that for War and for Peace. The Ur-fey become very advanced in the two meta branches of magic.
Yidhra kept smiling, looking more entertained than ever as the Leviathan talked to its people. She'd made no move to enter a territory on the Astral plane, though - a home that wasn't a home and a dream that wasn't a dream were both things she could appreciate... and the Goddess of Paradoxes simply was within the very center of a place where direction and distance had no meaning at all. Indeed, the Dreamlands were the place where she fit in the best, and the place where every sleeping creature could come to find her... as some, invariably, did.
Meanwhile, on the world below, Myria quietly continued to watch the things the gods did, partake of understanding, and begin talking with those who sought her out...
Hexavos reaches into himself and pulls out two small bones, he carves them in the form of his symbol and throws them to the earth. A thin humanoid man of pale skin and midnight hair rises out of the earth a perpetual grin rests on his face as his narrow reptilian eyes open for the first time.
"Your name shall be Llygaid Neidr, may my gamble be your fortune."
Fel relaxes within her woods, communing with her Ur'Fey.
Ah, finally, life was really starting to occur throughout the world, and soon it would be time for races to truly rise up and begin to be themselves. A world devoid of life was so boring, after all, and she was rather looking forward to what would soon be stalking the land... and the Dreamland.
Power continued to gather inside of her as she waited, oh so patiently, for the right time to act.
Valis gathers power, biding her time for the next age.
Hexavos rise from the resting place created by Fel,
"Thank you Fel, I'll be out for an errand so you all mind the shop for me haha."
Hexavos disappears from the senses of the other gods for a time. The only remaing tether, his avatar who begins to teach the various races gambling as a source of entertainment.
Fel nods, and gathers in more power.
The Book of Yidhra
Chapter Four
1. The Age of Creation drew towards its close, as the gods finished their efforts on building the world. Hexavos had left, and the other gods gathered their strength.
2. However, there was still some time until the next age...
3. The Goddess reached out and drew forth the essence of the planes, shaping them as she had Myria.
4. Until ten years of age, her creations would appear as simple humans.
5. Once they reached their age of growth, however, each one would hear the calling of one of the elemental planes and be imbued with its power.
6. One might become sheathed in metal; another, flames. However, all could put their powers away and appear normal once more.
7. The Goddess decreed that Eighty and Five of every hundred of her race would possess the powers of one Plane. Thirteen of every hundred would hear the calling of two planes, and act as bridges between the groups - though the Goddess had marked her people apart, she wished for them to remain together. Finally, Two of every hundred would have the power of three planes, and these would be trained as the leaders.
8. In the first generation, her people discovered the other truth of their lives: Immortal Myria, born of all six planes, was the leader of all their people, regardless of the Plane that called to them.
9. The first people of the goddess used their powers together, and so created the City of the Elements, their home forevermore.
10. The Goddess watched as her people worked, and saw how tired they became after their honest labors in creating such a beautiful place.
11. The Goddess spoke to Myria, and through her Avatar, the Plane-born learned of another way to cast their spells, and through this their connection to the Planes would quickly refill their magical power. In this way, the Plane-born would stand apart from all others as the chosen of the Goddess of Knowledge.
12. The Goddess was satisfied with what she had done, and she rested for a time.
Valis gathers more power, waiting for the planet to welcome life.
Hexavos returns and a shudder of power ripples through out the World of Izopa. The balance is forever changed as the Age of Origins comes to a close. The Age of Ancients rises, and with it two new deities to shepherd it.
"I found another orphan or two out in the cosmos, meet Cay'sin and Nar'Shuun. I'm sure they will keep things interesting haha!"
Hexavos teaches Llygaid Neidr music and creates for him a guitar strung of from a strand of the Planar Web that permeates Izopa. Upon the first chord, Llygaid causes a tremor and a shimmering world apart forms, Llygaid names this the Ethereal and uses it to travel his rakish way.
He is quick to visit Panmorphe, Myria and, Cay'sin to invite them on his travels.
The Book of Yidhra
Chapter Five
1. When the Age of Origins came to a close, the chosen of Hexavos extended an invitation to some of the creations of the gods.
2. At Yidhra's behest, Myria agreed to follow and see something new - for she had seen all that Izopa had to offer, and change was necessary to grow.
3. However, even as she left, a change came over the City of the Elements.
4. A child was born with eyes like the sparkling night sky, and though many of the Plane-born asked the reason for this, Yidhra gave no answer.
5. When the child came of age, it gained no ties to the typical elemental planes - instead, it suddenly manifested the magic of the Dreamlands, showing powers inherent to no others.
6. At the same time, the child regained the memories of each of its past lives, cycling through a time spent connected to every element.
7. The truth was now revealed to the Plane-born: those who lived their lives to the fullest and fully embraced the characteristics of their elements were more likely to change in each incarnation... and one who had successfully gone through every element became enlightened.
8. When the first of the Dream-born died, its soul did not return to the planes - instead, it returned to Yidhra in the Dreamlands and entered its personal paradise.
9. In this way, the population of the City of the Elements began, ever so slowly, to shrink... for there were only so many souls of the Plane-born, though some were much quicker than others to be enlightened.
10. The Goddess was satisfied with what she had done, and she rested for a time.
The Book of Yidhra
Chapter Six
1. Yet the Goddess was far from done with her creations.
2. Plunging her hands into the darkest parts of the void, the Goddess withdrew the essence of madness, shaping it into creatures that would haunt the Dreamlands.
3. The Nightmares were shapechangers, taking the forms of things that would terrify intruders the most.
5. The Goddess spoke to all living creatures within the world, commanding them to overcome their fears if they wished to continue to gain knowledge.
6. In this way, the areas of the Dreamlands outside of personal dreams became much more dangerous than before, though many still braved the Nightmares to come and see her.
7. Eventually, the Plane-born began to refer to the changers as the Trial, for they tested many of those who entered the Dreamlands.
8. The Goddess was satisfied with what she had done, and she rested for a time.
Fel descends to her island, and gathers all the Ur'Fey, including Kom Thunderhoof. "Now is the time to spring forth variety upon the world. It is necessary for an abundance of life to exist, with many ways of thinking and seeing the world."
The Ur'Fey pair off. While each is different from any other Ur'Fey, they are all matched to a mate who is like them, but opposite gender.
A myriad of Fey races are founded, each with the ability to interbreed with non-fey races to create more fey races.
Insectile Fey
Humanoid Fey
Bestial Fey
Aquatic Fey
Avian Fey
She then takes Kom's hand. "Come my mate, ascend."
Kom ascends to demigod status.
Valis continues to gather power, eagerly awaiting the new age.
Caysin comes to his power with little understanding but much joy. He fiercely embraces the possibilities, testing his power quickly.
He takes the southwestern point of the world, shaping the peninsula. Where the coast bends in on the northern shore he creates a vast sandy beach, and flanking it are high cliffs, making the beach the only local point of access. Behind the beach comes forth a dense forest. Then he brings heat from the ground, turning the forest into a humid jungle and making the entire area tropical
He than breathes life into a new race called the Pabthaczil, and amphibious race that thrives in the heat and makes their homes in the sides of the cliffs.
Hexavos begins breaking tiny cracks into the soul homes of the Vosarii, through these holes doubt enters along with stray members of the Trial, amongst all they whisper, "The lie, the lie, it is a lie."
At the same time there are those born from the Vosarii graftlings who become independantly sentient, usually after a grafting has taken place, this kills the Vosarum yet leaves the host able to use the Soulhomes and masquerade as the Vosarum they replaced. This subrace begins hiding it's young from Vosarii to allow them to grow free of the Grafting.
Vosarii 'birth' rates drop drastically and the Vosarii know not why.
They are comforted by the music and singing of Llygraid Naidr who often travels to grafting creches to 'bless' them with words
Caysin further shapes the peninsula, adding bodies of water and rivers to let the area thrive and spreading the forest. Then he turns his attention to the sea where he raises several large islands near the currents. The Pabthaczil he leaves to their own devices, leaving the race as primitive hunter-gatherers.
Yidhra smiled as she watched the Vosarum start to interact with her people. The Plane-born were a testament to the truth - powerful and wise, with connections that the Vosarum didn't have. As time passed, further souls from the Plane-born reached Enlightenment and came to join her, until one fifth of all the souls had obtained a greater status. These souls obtained their paradise with her, but several souls shined even brighter than the others, and Yidhra gently welcomed them to her court within the Dreamlands.
Then, quite calmly, she reached out.
The Book of Yidhra
Chapter Seven
1. When many of the souls of her creations had joined her, the Goddess turned her attention to the world below.
2. As the Goddess focused her will, time stopped within the City of the Elements.
3. Then, with no warning to outside world, the unmatched city formed from the power of the Planes sunk into the ground and was buried far beneath the land.
4. This was the day the Plane-born vanished from the world, taking with them all of their knowledge and wisdom... including the secret to their advanced magical abilities.
5. The land soon covered the place where the City had stood, and all that remained was a crystal of pure planar power, forged of the essence of the elements. Small enough to fit in the hand of a man, apparently indestructible, and utterly inexplicable in its presence...
6. The Goddess was satisfied with what she had done, and she rested for a time.
Caysin looks at his work with pride. "Well isn't that something. Like a game!" He adjusts one of the rivers. "Were you all ascended recently as well?"
Kom descends to the world, for he is both Demigod and Avatar, and may be in both the heavens and the material plane without damaging it. "Ur'Fey, pay me heed. The lesser races are born. It is time for you to enter your Isolation. Gather up your knowledge and your crystals, say goodbye to your child races, and take up the mantle of protectors. Toil in your laboratories, research in your homes, but walk not the world unless the balance is endangered. Kill any who invade your refuges."
The Ur'fey rise up as one mass, and retire to their various retreats, researching knowledge and leaving the world to be looked after by their Mistress, knowing they will be called on as needed.
Fel smiles and nods, watching her first creations enter their homes and labs. She knows that what knowledge they gain, their offspring shall as well, for they are still related. She sends waking nightmares to her beloved Ur'Fey, inspiring them to more knowledge.
The Ur'Fey master the Written Word, so that they may send missives to their children, teaching them.
Upon the Isle of Madness, the Fey build the great Spiral City.
Fel looks at Caysin mildly amused. "The Nightmare has never been 'ascended'. She existed before even non-existence." Her form becomes even more dark and shadows drip from it so heavily that the very ether becomes choked with darkness.
Kom stands up straight and flexes his muscles as golden light drips from his form. "I have only recently ascended, I admit. However, I feel as though I have known the proper laws for the wyld since the inception of all."
"Nightmare? I've had drinks scarier than you!" He laughs, patting whatever he deems is the closest thing to a shoulder in the dark mass. "So you started a god." He turns to Kom. "And you're like me. What's your story? Not trying to be nosy, just getting a grip on all of this. Last thing I remember was fighting to free my people."
"Oh, I am not scary? I see..." The centauress's words drip and she vanishes into the darkness.
Creatures made of shadow begin to gather around Caysin, horrible mixtures of crab fish and man, and octopi and human, and spider and bear, dozens of them, all with glowing red eyes.
Hexavos stares at the two gods, and is strongly reminded of someone hiding behind a wall to jump out and shout, "Boo!" He chuckles softly.