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Hasnett suppresses a sigh and offers up a silent prayer to Melora to grant her patience with upstart godlings and heathen warlocks.
"Elohir, I think there's a couple of things you and I need to talk about some time," she mutters quietly.
"Your plane is a marvel," she says honestly. "A large marvel. The scale is unusual. I don't often feel small."
"You say there are others in this place and that you think they'll be less cooperative. Are they a threat to us?"
"They are likely agents of Sehanine. If my lizards and humans do not kill them, they will be a threat."
"Could you be clearer about what you want us to do? When gods and spirits speak, we should heed them, but we mortals have our limitations. One of them is needing things explained to us."
Often slowly and usually twice ... she thinks privately.
She feels that a little flattery as well as an honest explanation of why the party are being so dense won't go amiss.
"Very well, Melora's daughter," in a tone of aggrieved patience. "I do not know my name, provenance, or destiny. Master Xan has pledged to help me find those things. Sehanine intends to foil me; perhaps my destiny is a threat to her. I want you to work with Master Xan against Sehanine's agents as I work on different planes to find my strength. This island is my first experiment in creating a plane. I grow more powerful, but must grow more refined."
Hoku/Elohir/Aden/Irawaru
Hasnett and Co.:
For the record, Elohir is a wizard. What's all this warlock stuff about?
Second, yeah, I don't know how Xan got mixed up in all this divinity business but I sure wouldn't want him helping to decide my divine destiny. Should we let Hasnett handle it nicely or let Elohir handle it bluntly and hope for the best? :)
Elohir and co.
Hasnett & Co.:
Elohir etc.
"Mighty one, you are new to the world and have sought alliance among mortals as is your right. Your works are potent and beautiful and I can easily see why Xan would wish to help you."
Hasnett hunts for some suitable way of explaining to a god that the being he has selected may be unreliable.
"Forgive me if I say, as I must, that Master Xan may not have your best interests at heart. He may be seeking to aid you, but our knowledge suggests that he is a businessman. One who seeks profit. It is not fitting that he should profit from your divinity."
"I do not trust this Xan either. He gives off a bad energy, and was difficult to read. He hides things too well for my liking."
1d20+7=22 Diplomacy assist; Hasnett gets another +2 to her awesome roll
"I do not trust this Xan, either. His agents give off bad energy, and his name hangs very heavy on all those that hear it. Very difficult to read."
Irawaru looks baffled. He is dubious now, as the god has (in his mind) seemed rather shady trying to avoid Sehanine. If he was a proper god, he wouldn't be so afraid of the moon goddess. He thinks.
Suppressing a strong impulse to scream, Hasnett keeps going.
"Master Xan sent us, but from what we know, his intentions were to profit from the land you have made, not to help you. We accepted his offer of employment on certain conditions. No slavery was to be involved. Do you understand slavery yet?"
She pauses for a second before adding, "I can't tell you to trust us. You have to decide that for yourself. There is one thing though. Who told you that Sehanine was your enemy?"
Elohir sniffs at the mention of Sehanine being a moon goddess.
"Goddess of the moon, huh? As if there is only one moon out there. An infinite number of possible worlds exist and an infinite number of moons. I highly doubt there is a goddess for each one and what makes this moon so special? Rubbish. The universe would be overflowing with upstart moon goddesses mucking things up. These people are probably just here to invest in the new real estate."
"Elohir! Not helpful. We are dealing with a new-born. One thing at a time. And show some respect. I'm too pretty to die."
Aden sits back smirking as Elohir and Hasnett go back and forth.
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The sheaf of wheat angles toward Elohir. "If I made a moon, would it have a goddess that would help me against Sehanine?"
Seeming to return its attention to Hasnett (though it is quite difficult to be certain), the being goes on, "Master Xan did. I had to kill many cultists after we met. Many more chased after me, until I came here." The last word has a peculiar emphasis.
Elohir thinks on the being's words for a moment, seemingly oblivious to Hasnett's words. You'd think he was still in the room alone.
"Creating a goddess by creating a moon. Well I do not suppose it is entirely out of the realm of possibilities," says Elohir with a strange smile.
"There is no harm in trying, of course!" he adds excitedly. "I could probably sketch something up for you. I know quite a bit about various astronomical bodies and I could design a very nice moon for you and...." Elohir suddenly looks about confused, his still-black eyes wide. His mouth trembles for a bit as he seems to fight for clarity.
"No, no, no. I was here for something else," he says with furrowed brow. "Cultists, you said something about cultists. What did you have to fear from them? You are a god-being."
Elohir's eyes return to their normal emerald hue.
Arrgghhh...
Hasnett screams silently to herself as more of the bizarre story unfolds. She notices (and is hugely relieved) that Elohir's eyes are back to normal.
"Do you have a name yet? A god should have a name. So should his domain."
OK. First things first. We'll talk about killing people in a minute.
Irawaru hefts his axe, ready to behead Elohir should he "weird out" again.
"I already asked for a name" Aden says casually "I just took to calling him 'Wheaty' or 'Wheat-head'"
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"Do you have a name yet? A god should have a name. So should his domain."
OK. First things first. We'll talk about killing people in a minute.
"A name, no. You, the one who hunts." He points at Hoku. "Tell me my name."
"And the island is not my domain; it was merely practice. I am nearly done with it."
Hoku knits her brow before speaking. "You are Alkanis, The Bountiful One. You protect your chosen people, the people of this island. Your blessings must be worked for, but sustain those in need. And you will maintain this island as a reminder of your arrival."
She raises an eyebrow at Hasnett.
Hoku knits her brow before speaking. "You are Alkanis, The Bountiful One. You protect your chosen people, the people of this island. Your blessings must be worked for, but sustain those in need. And you will maintain this island as a reminder of your arrival."
She raises an eyebrow at Hasnett.
And gets a slight nod in return.
"That's a good name."
Irawaru gets some bad vibes from "Alkanis".
Hasnett's spine is now crawling.
"Alkanis, Bountiful One," she says with precision, "I have thought and I believe I understand why Xan sent us to you."
She looks at her companions and hopes they'll find some way to back her up.
"Your might may have lead him to believe he could profit from your bounty. I think he sent us here to reap the riches of this new-created land. I will not do so."
Sweet Melora, is this a child of yours? Bit of guidance here would be appreciated or we're all going to end up husked by this baby. The silent prayer is as fervent and sincere as any Hasnett has ever made.
Irawaru sighs.
Which one o' these bludgers is the loopiest? Elf-boy, or Wheathead-god? he thinks to himself.
"Alkanis, parents often forgive their erring children and show them better ways. You create, Bountiful One. You are formed like the wheat sheaf. You give to your people, for so you are named. I think you should not destroy without cause."
And why am I suddenly babysitting a deity?
Hasnett struggles to find suitable words. Whatever else she expected from the island, introductory morals for a new-born god was not it.
Irawaru coughs, and then speaks, "Hey, big-spirit-fella. A god who helps his people, he gets remembered. A god who hurts his people ain't got none left to remember him. Maybe he'll fade away, y'know?"
"Thanks. Well put."
Irawaru smirks and raises an eyebrow at Hasnett.
Irawaru
Like THIS :D
Like THIS :D
"Inconvenient...yes, that makes more sense. You would not need to kill any of them, or Xan for that matter," says Elohir, whose mind seems to be racing. "You could simply turn them into something more benign and useful, perhaps. Like, for instance, a nice grove of trees. I bet Xan would make an excellent hickory tree."
"Inconvenient...yes, that makes more sense. You would not need to kill any of them, or Xan for that matter," says Elohir, whose mind seems to be racing. "You could simply turn them into something more benign and useful, perhaps. Like, for instance, a nice grove of trees. I bet Xan would make an excellent hickory tree."
Hasnett looks thoughtfully at Elohir. His latest suggestion is very tempting.
"There would be a kind of poetic justice in that. The profiteer stripped annually for nuts."
"One thing you should know before we go. We don't kill for fun, any of us."
Irawaru looks puzzled at that last statement.
"Don't even go there Irawaru." Hasnett shoots a dagger glance at him.
A haunted look passes over Elohir's face but he says nothing to justify it.
"I am ready to leave. I must see where this deity takes me. You must go as well Hasnett, and so must the rest of you."