The Chronicles Of Aether: The Burden Of The Immortals

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Note: Do not post here unless you've been accepted in the Out Of Character thread.

---

...And then my fellow Gods, Prime bless them, deliberated until the threat made itself apparent by flooding part of the forest. We have since fixed that... I think. Either way, they finally decided to lock his soul, and so, we reunited near the pillars, where Kilil had fallen. We gathered our energies and attempted to lock the beast into a state halfway between life and death.

It was impossible, just as I suspected. <- Ignore that >.>

Then, we tried to heal his body, so that the seas would not die and leave behind nothing but a barren wasteland. Our plan was to then imprison him, so that he could look back on his actions and realize that he was an asshole (how do I know that insult?) had acted against Prime's will.

But, the healing didn't work, either.

Finally, after bullying convincing Trelia, she told us what to do. It seemed fairly simple: First, we would catch his soul, outside his body. It wasn't nearly as simple as it sounds. We had Mir running around for hours until Trelia told us that anyone could catch it, so eventually, Lycaeon and Iradial managed to get their hands (And paws, I suppose) on it. We took the essence of water, and infused it into the Aether. The seas calmed almost instantly. Almost. And the forest stayed flooded, but whatever, at least we had that under control.

However, we couldn't just let Kilil's soul free, or it would unleash uncontrolled destruction. So, we also took the essence of destruction, but instead of infusing it into the Aether as well, which would be stupid have unpleasant consequences, Naktio, Gal'Duls, Valtherzaw and myself sealed it above the well. Then, we returned the soul to Prime. And that was that.

Not much happened for a while after that. We continued exploring the world. We continued exploring our power. We continued exploring ourselves. Legerdemain vanished, but not without scaring Kariosa some more. I think she sleeps with an eye open now. Poor thing. Iradial also left, though I still see him sometimes, when I look up. And when I do, I thank Prime for not giving him mortal needs.

The others, we haven't done much. But even then, there's something that troubles me. I can sense something wrong. I...

---

Kaaysel stopped writing (Writing! What a wonderful thing! Maybe he would teach the others, if they were nice. Maybe. Except Trelia, he wouldn't teach Trelia anything. She didn't deserve or even need it) when he noticed something staining the enormous scroll he had crafted and was currently using to write. He looked up, and noticed that it was about to rain.

"Gal'Duls you bastard..." He thought, before standing up. It was about time he moved away from the pillar he had been sitting with his back to for an unspecified ammount of time, after all. Even if the chronicle was important, and he wasn't even sure it was, surely there were other things to do now that continuing it was not possible for the time being. Leaving something for the posterity (What posterity, Kaaysel had asked himself before beginning, but decided to go through with it anyway) was not that much of a priority, when there was hardly anything in the world besides the Gods themselves and the other creations of Prime.

Perhaps, he thought, he could look into the matter that had been making him feel uneasy since they finished the sealing ritual.

With this in mind, he accessed the small hiding spot he had created below his pillar, and put the scroll inside, to keep it from getting wet. He then climbed up onto his pillar, and looked around, not minding the sensation of rain hitting his skin, he was used to that by now. He looked around, but saw no one there. They could not be very far, but they were certainly not within view. The only thing within view that was of any interest was Kilil's crater, where a lake had formed, though grass refused to grow around it. Grass refused to grow anywhere near the pillars, anyway.

Kaaysel sat down on his pillar, with his back towards the Well and the nightmares sealed above, and wondered what his fellow Gods were doing, and if any of them felt uneasy as well, in this world given to them.

This world that was no longer new.

[Malshan]

Lycaeon, God of the Hunt and the Sun and Moon, was...not acting as a god should. Not at all, in fact. He was currently engaged in a rather childish debate with a pair of feline characters, which he and Trelia had named to be 'mountain lions' some time earlier during their expedition through the woods.

The two lions snarled at Lycaeon, who only laughed in good nature and prodded their sensibilities with another friendly barb. Obviously enjoying himself, Lycaeon didn't notice a third lion creeping up behind him until it pounced. Rolling out of the way and landing on his feet, Lycaeon nipped at the lion's tail, thus eliciting a high pitched yelp from the creature who proceeded to run off through the brush, quickly followed by its two brethren.

Lycaeon laughed long and loud, both brothers enjoying their time in the light-dark of the forest. "All is as it should be, dear brother," said Black Lycaeon, "And everything should be as it is." replied his White counterpart. "We ought to go observe the other Gods. Perhaps see how their own domains progress."

The Black Lycaeon shivered and said, "Don't be quite so cruel to Lady Trelia, okay brother? As a personal favor to me." "Yes, of course. As you wish, brother. I only acted as I did because she had overstepped her domain. So long as she stays where she belongs, I've no problem with her."

Flapping their wings, two brothers and two souls sharing a single body, flew off toward the Table of Mendax where they alighted gently on a nearby pillar and settled down for a quick nap before the rest of them arrived.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Valtherzaw strode along, watching the crawling critters by his feet. Little spring-and-chemical driven contraptions, built with a ridiculously complicated set of gears; something that he doubted he would have been able to create without all three of his focuses as a god working together. Still, the odd spiderlike things ticked and tocked their way in front of him, until he looked up at his brother, Kaaysel.

"Done writing, Kaaysel? I agree it's a useful skill, but all you seem to write nowadays is what's already happened. Don't you think it would be time to look towards the future? The world is no longer as new as it once was..."

He stopped talking, climbing up the pillar to the immediate right of Kaaysel's, and crouching, watching the other God.

[Ameriganastan]

"Ice. Such a dreary dominion to have. Not much to do but make blizzards every now and then."

The God of Ice, Arias, sat rather bored atop a snow covered mountain top.

"I couldn't be the God of something fun. Like...the ocean. Or blood. Those sound quite entertaining."

He spun up a few icicles, tossing them out at random.

"I'm bored."

[Konariona]

Gal'Duls chuckled bemusedly as he walked about, his aura causing happy clouds to storm a bit, pouring rain and thunder and lightning down upon the inhabitants of the world. As he thought about it.. well, as he thought about it, that was really only the gods. That was a situation that needed to be remedied, in his mind; why be such powerful beings with no subservient minions?
He walked quickly, stepping from a plain where the thunder rolled quite nicely, to his own pillar, a place where he felt more.. calm inside. There was a discontentment in the air, and Gal'Duls was not one to keep his ideas to himself- the air did not withhold rain, and those spurned did not withhold death for their enemies. He noticed the two other gods conversing and joined in.

"Done writing, Kaaysel? I agree it's a useful skill, but all you seem to write nowadays is what's already happened. Don't you think it would be time to look towards the future? The world is no longer as new as it once was..."

"No, Valtherzaw, it is not as new as we once knew it."
He chuckled at his pun, then began anew, more serious.
"There is no point in us being here without others that are lesser; we will eventually destroy ourselves if we lack something to.. say, play with."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"Well, brother, I could argue that it is precisely because of that fact that I must keep a memory of what has happened, now that the world is not new." Kaaysel replied to his brother, briefly glancing at him before turning his gaze back to infinity. "But, I won't, because arguing is stupid." He said, before turning to Gal'Duls. "As for you, rainy, if you need something to play with I believe Prime was very thorough in our design. Oh, and thank you for staining my scroll, that was most fun to realize, I assure you." The God spoke with a hint of reproach in his voice... But not much more than that.

"Anyway..." He continued, standing up and looking at both of them. "There's something that's been troubling me since we sealed Destruction in there." He said, pointing at the prison that kept the essence of Destruction separate from the rest of the world: A sphere of the strongest matter he and his brother together could create, crackling with Gal'Duls' thunder to scare what once belonged to the God of water away from its borders, and imbued with the solemn purpose of protecting the outside world from it.

"When you use your powers... Don't you feel like that what you spent isn't returning?" He asked them both. "I've felt that way for a while. I imagine you two have as well, and if not you probably will soon. I guess I felt it earlier because I used a lot of power back then." He concluded, sitting down once more. "Well?"

[Konariona]

"Well, brother, I could argue that it is precisely because of that fact that I must keep a memory of what has happened, now that the world is not new." Kaaysel replied to his brother, briefly glancing at him before turning his gaze back to infinity. "But, I won't, because arguing is stupid." He said, before turning to Gal'Duls. "As for you, rainy, if you need something to play with I believe Prime was very thorough in our design. Oh, and thank you for staining my scroll, that was most fun to realize, I assure you." The God spoke with a hint of reproach in his voice... But not much more than that.

"Anyway..." He continued, standing up and looking at both of them. "There's something that's been troubling me since we sealed Destruction in there." He said, pointing at the prison that kept the essence of Destruction separate from the rest of the world: A sphere of the strongest matter he and his brother together could create, crackling with Gal'Duls' thunder to scare what once belonged to the God of water away from its borders, and imbued with the solemn purpose of protecting the outside world from it.

"When you use your powers... Don't you feel like that what you spent isn't returning?" He asked them both. "I've felt that way for a while. I imagine you two have as well, and if not you probably will soon. I guess I felt it earlier because I used a lot of power back then." He concluded, sitting down once more. "Well?"

"We must be honest with each other, friend Kaaysel," he said, "and if we are being completely honest- yes. I find that I must husband my resources more and more. Even this," he said, gesturing to the rain, "that ever-annoying and yet, enjoyable rain, takes a bit out of me."
Then he bowed to Kaaysel, ever so slightly.
"I apologize for the staining of your scroll, O' historian. I mean nothing by it."
And then he waited for their response.

[The Empire of Pretantia]

Clearing house was so fun! There was simply something so... Relaxing about creating order from the chaotic depths of the Earth, giving rise to a black void of the dead's souls; a hollow where phantasms gather to meet their final judgement. Not that there was any point whatsoever, as the animals all shared practically the same life. It seems Mir's judgement was reserved solely for other gods, as each beast that walked Aether was wholly good, not a spot of sin upon those who needed not such an abstract concept. It seemed Mir only ever bothered passing "judgement" due to his sheer boredom, as the other gods-that is, the ones still present- were innocent of any crime.

Mir simply had too much time floating in his little hollow; too much time to think, to muse, to ponder, to philosophize, to reflect on his own existence. He knew well that he existed solely for the sake of death, tales, and judgement, and he knew what those meant, but what did they mean to others? Mir's duty as arbiter was empty; the other gods not only would not listen to him, but they had no reason to since Kilil's pacification had made him a fool. What good is a story if it is of practically the same beast, again and again, every element recycled for another work in a different order. On paper Mir was Arbitrator and Archivist; in reality, he was Death.

His thoughts drifted to other gods. Gal'Duls had conviction, a certain sense of irrational justice that Mir could not help but admire. Valtherzaw had a comprehension of Aether's bosom like none other, a visionary beyond all. Lycaeon was... Well, as only Lycaeon could be. And Kaaysel... Kaaysel had a fire in his eyes, a boldness in his step, and the trappings of a leader. Compared to the others' virtues Mir was merely... Mere, and nothing more. He was him, and that connoted only Death; a sad little existence meant only to bring suffering. But how could death bring suffering? It was simply a natural cycle, one that assured the continued peace of mind of all that roam Aether. Why would Mir ever associate something as good as death with something as bad as... Not death? What a silly skeleton.

Mir again explored his mind to other places. Dark places. Primal places. Carnal places. Dirty, perverted, unspeakable little places, such as love, and compassion, and... And... Not being lonely. He thought again briefly of other gods, this time of Trelia and Kariosa. However, he caught himself before his id went too far, and attempted to suppress his monologue with... Mixed results. Why am I thinking this? he wondered What is the purpose of this? I mean yes they're both beautiful girls and our interests are amazingly lined up, but honestly, stories aren't really my forte so we wouldn't really go well together and they're pretty while I'm a pile of bones so it really wouldn't work out after all I mean it's not like I'm a nice guy and they're nice girls and oooooohhhhhhhh I'm a pervert for thinking this.

[Vesperis]

Clearing house was so fun! There was simply something so... Relaxing about creating order from the chaotic depths of the Earth, giving rise to a black void of the dead's souls; a hollow where phantasms gather to meet their final judgement. Not that there was any point whatsoever, as the animals all shared practically the same life. It seems Mir's judgement was reserved solely for other gods, as each beast that walked Aether was wholly good, not a spot of sin upon those who needed not such an abstract concept. It seemed Mir only ever bothered passing "judgement" due to his sheer boredom, as the other gods-that is, the ones still present- were innocent of any crime.

Mir simply had too much time floating in his little hollow; too much time to think, to muse, to ponder, to philosophize, to reflect on his own existence. He knew well that he existed solely for the sake of death, tales, and judgement, and he knew what those meant, but what did they mean to others? Mir's duty as arbiter was empty; the other gods not only would not listen to him, but they had no reason to since Kilil's pacification had made him a fool. What good is a story if it is of practically the same beast, again and again, every element recycled for another work in a different order. On paper Mir was Arbitrator and Archivist; in reality, he was Death.

His thoughts drifted to other gods. Gal'Duls had conviction, a certain sense of irrational justice that Mir could not help but admire. Valtherzaw had a comprehension of Aether's bosom like none other, a visionary beyond all. Lycaeon was... Well, as only Lycaeon could be. And Kaaysel... Kaaysel had a fire in his eyes, a boldness in his step, and the trappings of a leader. Compared to the others' virtues Mir was merely... Mere, and nothing more. He was him, and that connoted only Death; a sad little existence meant only to bring suffering. But how could death bring suffering? It was simply a natural cycle, one that assured the continued peace of mind of all that roam Aether. Why would Mir ever associate something as good as death with something as bad as... Not death? What a silly skeleton.

Mir again explored his mind to other places. Dark places. Primal places. Carnal places. Dirty, perverted, unspeakable little places, such as love, and compassion, and... And... Not being lonely. He thought again briefly of other gods, this time of Trelia and Kariosa. However, he caught himself before his id went too far, and attempted to suppress his monologue with... Mixed results. Why am I thinking this? he wondered What is the purpose of this? I mean yes they're both beautiful girls and our interests are amazingly lined up, but honestly, stories aren't really my forte so we wouldn't really go well together and they're pretty while I'm a pile of bones so it really wouldn't work out after all I mean it's not like I'm a nice guy and they're nice girls and oooooohhhhhhhh I'm a pervert for thinking this.

The events that had happened in the past left nothing but memories for what was left of the divine that roamed the land. Memories which, over time, Kariosa had learned to carefully store and organize in her spare time. It was easy once she had created a system for it. Each one of them had their own little bottle, and as time went on every memory was stored in it, and then it was stored in her own space. She kept them in a location she didn't dare disclose to the others, and she herself never peered at anyone's. However, it was once so simple, and now proved to be difficult. Every other creature with the ability to process information needed a place to store memories as well, and so they needed a bottle. In such a short amount of time, there were so many. But she dutifully kept them, working her way in between seconds to give herself the time to do so.

But now, she wandered, and wandered a lot. She often did this. It was a sort of hobby in the midst of her work. If she were to exist in a world with the others, she might as well know them well. The charming open skies and fields were nice, but she slowly decided she wanted to see something more interesting, if not for just a little while. And so she found herself wandering in to Mir's hollow. It was a dark place, and simple. It was vastly different from the place that she resided in. By her own preference, decorated with minute detail, even though nobody else would see it.

"Mir?" She called out softly in to the darkness. The dregs of light from the outside still clung on to the back of her, but dissipated in to the air before her.

[The Empire of Pretantia]

Clearing house was so fun! There was simply something so... Relaxing about creating order from the chaotic depths of the Earth, giving rise to a black void of the dead's souls; a hollow where phantasms gather to meet their final judgement. Not that there was any point whatsoever, as the animals all shared practically the same life. It seems Mir's judgement was reserved solely for other gods, as each beast that walked Aether was wholly good, not a spot of sin upon those who needed not such an abstract concept. It seemed Mir only ever bothered passing "judgement" due to his sheer boredom, as the other gods-that is, the ones still present- were innocent of any crime.

Mir simply had too much time floating in his little hollow; too much time to think, to muse, to ponder, to philosophize, to reflect on his own existence. He knew well that he existed solely for the sake of death, tales, and judgement, and he knew what those meant, but what did they mean to others? Mir's duty as arbiter was empty; the other gods not only would not listen to him, but they had no reason to since Kilil's pacification had made him a fool. What good is a story if it is of practically the same beast, again and again, every element recycled for another work in a different order. On paper Mir was Arbitrator and Archivist; in reality, he was Death.

His thoughts drifted to other gods. Gal'Duls had conviction, a certain sense of irrational justice that Mir could not help but admire. Valtherzaw had a comprehension of Aether's bosom like none other, a visionary beyond all. Lycaeon was... Well, as only Lycaeon could be. And Kaaysel... Kaaysel had a fire in his eyes, a boldness in his step, and the trappings of a leader. Compared to the others' virtues Mir was merely... Mere, and nothing more. He was him, and that connoted only Death; a sad little existence meant only to bring suffering. But how could death bring suffering? It was simply a natural cycle, one that assured the continued peace of mind of all that roam Aether. Why would Mir ever associate something as good as death with something as bad as... Not death? What a silly skeleton.

Mir again explored his mind to other places. Dark places. Primal places. Carnal places. Dirty, perverted, unspeakable little places, such as love, and compassion, and... And... Not being lonely. He thought again briefly of other gods, this time of Trelia and Kariosa. However, he caught himself before his id went too far, and attempted to suppress his monologue with... Mixed results. Why am I thinking this? he wondered What is the purpose of this? I mean yes they're both beautiful girls and our interests are amazingly lined up, but honestly, stories aren't really my forte so we wouldn't really go well together and they're pretty while I'm a pile of bones so it really wouldn't work out after all I mean it's not like I'm a nice guy and they're nice girls and oooooohhhhhhhh I'm a pervert for thinking this.

The events that had happened in the past left nothing but memories for what was left of the divine that roamed the land. Memories which, over time, Kariosa had learned to carefully store and organize in her spare time. It was easy once she had created a system for it. Each one of them had their own little bottle, and as time went on every memory was stored in it, and then it was stored in her own space. She kept them in a location she didn't dare disclose to the others, and she herself never peered at anyone's. However, it was once so simple, and now proved to be difficult. Every other creature with the ability to process information needed a place to store memories as well, and so they needed a bottle. In such a short amount of time, there were so many. But she dutifully kept them, working her way in between seconds to give herself the time to do so.

But now, she wandered, and wandered a lot. She often did this. It was a sort of hobby in the midst of her work. If she were to exist in a world with the others, she might as well know them well. The charming open skies and fields were nice, but she slowly decided she wanted to see something more interesting, if not for just a little while. And so she found herself wandering in to Mir's hollow. It was a dark place, and simple. It was vastly different from the place that she resided in. By her own preference, decorated with minute detail, even though nobody else would see it.

"Mir?" She called out softly in to the darkness. The dregs of light from the outside still clung on to the back of her, but dissipated in to the air before her.

From beyond his own (Quite literally) hollow head Mir heard an angel's voice. It was a beautiful tune, as if all the creatures with elegance in their call congregated to sing a peerless symphony of passion. At first Mir dismissed the sound as imagination, his sound reasoning deducing a very low probability of its existence within the Hollow. But Mir's own hope and curiosity quickly gained the initiative, and he dared to turn his head to investigate the source. What he discovered was indescribable (therefore it shall not be described), and the skeleton entered a stupor as he gazed in awe. Fortunately, he was quick to regain his senses within the minute.

"Kariosa! I was just thinking about you. Wait, I take that back, I wasn't! Well, I mean I was but not in any personal way I mean it was completely professional interest not that I'm interested in you except professionally and how have you been doing?"

Mir gestured to her,"Please, come and take a seat!"

There was no chair. There wasn't even a floor to the Hollow.

"Perhaps you would like some tea?"

He mimed pouring drink into a cup.

"So what brings you to this dank and dark- dark and dank little place?"

He continued his bumbling, unconsciously pretending to sip tea as he floated through the void, legs crossed as if he sat in a chair. It was quite a gift for Mir that his fleshless skull was inherently a poker face, else Kariosa could tell he was blushing on the inside from embarrassment. Not that the rattling from his nervous shaking helped any.

[Vesperis]

The events that had happened in the past left nothing but memories for what was left of the divine that roamed the land. Memories which, over time, Kariosa had learned to carefully store and organize in her spare time. It was easy once she had created a system for it. Each one of them had their own little bottle, and as time went on every memory was stored in it, and then it was stored in her own space. She kept them in a location she didn't dare disclose to the others, and she herself never peered at anyone's. However, it was once so simple, and now proved to be difficult. Every other creature with the ability to process information needed a place to store memories as well, and so they needed a bottle. In such a short amount of time, there were so many. But she dutifully kept them, working her way in between seconds to give herself the time to do so.

But now, she wandered, and wandered a lot. She often did this. It was a sort of hobby in the midst of her work. If she were to exist in a world with the others, she might as well know them well. The charming open skies and fields were nice, but she slowly decided she wanted to see something more interesting, if not for just a little while. And so she found herself wandering in to Mir's hollow. It was a dark place, and simple. It was vastly different from the place that she resided in. By her own preference, decorated with minute detail, even though nobody else would see it.

"Mir?" She called out softly in to the darkness. The dregs of light from the outside still clung on to the back of her, but dissipated in to the air before her.

From beyond his own (Quite literally) hollow head Mir heard an angel's voice. It was a beautiful tune, as if all the creatures with elegance in their call congregated to sing a peerless symphony of passion. At first Mir dismissed the sound as imagination, his sound reasoning deducing a very low probability of its existence within the Hollow. But Mir's own hope and curiosity quickly gained the initiative, and he dared to turn his head to investigate the source. What he discovered was indescribable (therefore it shall not be described), and the skeleton entered a stupor as he gazed in awe. Fortunately, he was quick to regain his senses within the minute.

"Kariosa! I was just thinking about you. Wait, I take that back, I wasn't! Well, I mean I was but not in any personal way I mean it was completely professional interest not that I'm interested in you except professionally and how have you been doing?"

Mir gestured to her,"Please, come and take a seat!"

There was no chair. There wasn't even a floor to the Hollow.

"Perhaps you would like some tea?"

He mimed pouring drink into a cup.

"So what brings you to this dank and dark- dark and dank little place?"

He continued his bumbling, unconsciously pretending to sip tea as he floated through the void, legs crossed as if he sat in a chair. It was quite a gift for Mir that his fleshless skull was inherently a poker face, else Kariosa could tell he was blushing on the inside from embarrassment. Not that the rattling from his nervous shaking helped any.

It took him quite a while to respond, but once Mir did, he did little but respond. His babbling began, something Kariosa was patient about. He left no time to respond before hastily moving on to the next topic, no breathing room that his skeleton of a body would even need. Why would he need to breathe? Unless there was a fully working body beneath his robes. She shrugged off the idea and took note to maybe look in to that later.

As they floated along, seemingly further and further away from the little bit of light, Kariosa relaxed in to what also might be a sitting position, were there anything to sit on in the first place. She set her hands under her knees and offered a polite smile to Mir as he finally finished off with a question she had a breath to answer to.

"Oh curiosity. However, for a dark, dank, place, it's very much dark and not as dank as one would expect." She remarked casually.

[The Empire of Pretantia]

From beyond his own (Quite literally) hollow head Mir heard an angel's voice. It was a beautiful tune, as if all the creatures with elegance in their call congregated to sing a peerless symphony of passion. At first Mir dismissed the sound as imagination, his sound reasoning deducing a very low probability of its existence within the Hollow. But Mir's own hope and curiosity quickly gained the initiative, and he dared to turn his head to investigate the source. What he discovered was indescribable (therefore it shall not be described), and the skeleton entered a stupor as he gazed in awe. Fortunately, he was quick to regain his senses within the minute.

"Kariosa! I was just thinking about you. Wait, I take that back, I wasn't! Well, I mean I was but not in any personal way I mean it was completely professional interest not that I'm interested in you except professionally and how have you been doing?"

Mir gestured to her,"Please, come and take a seat!"

There was no chair. There wasn't even a floor to the Hollow.

"Perhaps you would like some tea?"

He mimed pouring drink into a cup.

"So what brings you to this dank and dark- dark and dank little place?"

He continued his bumbling, unconsciously pretending to sip tea as he floated through the void, legs crossed as if he sat in a chair. It was quite a gift for Mir that his fleshless skull was inherently a poker face, else Kariosa could tell he was blushing on the inside from embarrassment. Not that the rattling from his nervous shaking helped any.

It took him quite a while to respond, but once Mir did, he did little but respond. His babbling began, something Kariosa was patient about. He left no time to respond before hastily moving on to the next topic, no breathing room that his skeleton of a body would even need. Why would he need to breathe? Unless there was a fully working body beneath his robes. She shrugged off the idea and took note to maybe look in to that later.

As they floated along, seemingly further and further away from the little bit of light, Kariosa relaxed in to what also might be a sitting position, were there anything to sit on in the first place. She set her hands under her knees and offered a polite smile to Mir as he finally finished off with a question she had a breath to answer to.

"Oh curiosity. However, for a dark, dank, place, it's very much dark and not as dank as one would expect." She remarked casually.

Mir was in the middle of sipping his pretend-tea when Kariosa made her statement. Unexpecting of this comment, the unsuspecting Mir unexpectedly spat out his tea from the unexpectedness. A dozen replies sped through his head, and Mir nearly recited them all.

"Did I say dank? I meant dark. Dark and dark because you see I was stressing that it is so dark that it cannot be stressed enough but yes this place is rather arid but I'm not the god of water that would be Kilil and he's dead but I digress are you disappointed in the lack of dankness and the excessive darkness or are you simply disappointed in one of them because I can put water in here and make it dank and I can also put light in here to make it not dark and ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh skull ache."

Mir rolled into the fetal position and rocked his head back and forth. Oh what a fool I'm making of myself, he thought, Does she hate me? I think she hates me. Who wouldn't hate me? I have stupid ideas after all I mean really make Kilil a zombie what am I because honestly even if it was possible it would have been my fault because I'm a stupid coward stupid coward stupid coward stupid coward-

The mantra continued in his head as he bite his.... fingers? It was strange to see, as in absence of fingernails Mir instead bit parts of his fingers off by the joint, one by one, until he has "eaten" his entire hand from the tip to the wrist.

[Ameriganastan]

"I daresay you haven't lost any of your more...bizarre tendencies, skeleton."

A new figure decided to join Mir and Kariosa in their pleasant little void. The supremely uninterested looking arias.

"I question how a being who seems to possess naught but a skeletal figure can eat anything. But I suppose it can be explained away as a quirk of our divinity."

He whipped up a little figurine of Mir made out of ice. And made him dance to boot.

"Mildly amusing. But not enough to elevate my seemingly perpetual state of boredom."

[The Empire of Pretantia]

"I daresay you haven't lost any of your more...bizarre tendencies, skeleton."

A new figure decided to join Mir and Kariosa in their pleasant little void. The supremely uninterested looking arias.

"I question how a being who seems to possess naught but a skeletal figure can eat anything. But I suppose it can be explained away as a quirk of our divinity."

He whipped up a little figurine of Mir made out of ice. And made him dance to boot.

"Mildly amusing. But not enough to elevate my seemingly perpetual state of boredom."

Mir was struck silent. Kariosa was a sight to behold; Arias... Not so much. He was a strange green, with strange ears and strange warts. Mir honestly could not think of any small talk with the new visitor for the life of him. He toyed with many topics. Weather? No. Science? No. Crime? No. His cousin? No. His uncle? No. His wife? No. His "instrument"? No. Mir's hesitation continued for too long, and he needed to say something to quench the god's boredom before he decided to... burn the Hollow down or something!

"Hello, Arias! Could I get you some ice water, friend?"

Mir quickly realized the stupidity of his question. Ice water? He's the freaking god of ice, you moron! Just ask him to cool down, why don't you?

"Would you like to cool down?"

Mir couldn't help but let out a whimper as he realized that he was the pinnacle of idiocy, the quintessential boob, and the King of the blockheads. Arias is probably plotting Mir's death by now as far as the bonehead knows.

[Transoxthraxia]

"Well, brother, I could argue that it is precisely because of that fact that I must keep a memory of what has happened, now that the world is not new." Kaaysel replied to his brother, briefly glancing at him before turning his gaze back to infinity. "But, I won't, because arguing is stupid." He said, before turning to Gal'Duls. "As for you, rainy, if you need something to play with I believe Prime was very thorough in our design. Oh, and thank you for staining my scroll, that was most fun to realize, I assure you." The God spoke with a hint of reproach in his voice... But not much more than that.

"Anyway..." He continued, standing up and looking at both of them. "There's something that's been troubling me since we sealed Destruction in there." He said, pointing at the prison that kept the essence of Destruction separate from the rest of the world: A sphere of the strongest matter he and his brother together could create, crackling with Gal'Duls' thunder to scare what once belonged to the God of water away from its borders, and imbued with the solemn purpose of protecting the outside world from it.

"When you use your powers... Don't you feel like that what you spent isn't returning?" He asked them both. "I've felt that way for a while. I imagine you two have as well, and if not you probably will soon. I guess I felt it earlier because I used a lot of power back then." He concluded, sitting down once more. "Well?"

"We must be honest with each other, friend Kaaysel," he said, "and if we are being completely honest- yes. I find that I must husband my resources more and more. Even this," he said, gesturing to the rain, "that ever-annoying and yet, enjoyable rain, takes a bit out of me."
Then he bowed to Kaaysel, ever so slightly.
"I apologize for the staining of your scroll, O' historian. I mean nothing by it."
And then he waited for their response.

Naktio was in a particularly good mood, having had a relatively calm and manageable day, which was often the only thing she asked for. Ironic for a being of her power. It was at this time in which, as she strolled by the massive pillars, that she had noticed a trio. She recognized them as no othe than Kaaysel, Gal'duls, and Valtherzaw. While not often a sociable being, Naktio felt, for once, a desire to socialize with the other beings of the Aether.

Approaching silently, the Gods seemed to be having a discussion about Kaaysel's history scroll, which had been damaged. "Greetings, brothers." She said in a somewhat controlled, but pleasant manner. "Gal'duls, it is unlike you to bow to anything but your own works. I see that the Aether's been disturbed." She said in an ironic, subtly mocking fashion.

[Vesperis]

"I daresay you haven't lost any of your more...bizarre tendencies, skeleton."

A new figure decided to join Mir and Kariosa in their pleasant little void. The supremely uninterested looking arias.

"I question how a being who seems to possess naught but a skeletal figure can eat anything. But I suppose it can be explained away as a quirk of our divinity."

He whipped up a little figurine of Mir made out of ice. And made him dance to boot.

"Mildly amusing. But not enough to elevate my seemingly perpetual state of boredom."

Mir was struck silent. Kariosa was a sight to behold; Arias... Not so much. He was a strange green, with strange ears and strange warts. Mir honestly could not think of any small talk with the new visitor for the life of him. He toyed with many topics. Weather? No. Science? No. Crime? No. His cousin? No. His uncle? No. His wife? No. His "instrument"? No. Mir's hesitation continued for too long, and he needed to say something to quench the god's boredom before he decided to... burn the Hollow down or something!

"Hello, Arias! Could I get you some ice water, friend?"

Mir quickly realized the stupidity of his question. Ice water? He's the freaking god of ice, you moron! Just ask him to cool down, why don't you?

"Would you like to cool down?"

Mir couldn't help but let out a whimper as he realized that he was the pinnacle of idiocy, the quintessential boob, and the King of the blockheads. Arias is probably plotting Mir's death by now as far as the bonehead knows.

Kariosa sat, floated...whatever you may call it, in a dainty and civilized fashion as Arias entered. Just as he had been shocked by her own arrival, Mir instantly fell skull-first in to a blithering pool of who knows what by the presence of another person. It was, thankfully, a slightly shallower pool as he kept himself to two senseless questions. She kept an amiable face and looked around the dark void. It was quite pleasant, even without the dankness. She gracefully rested her fingertips around an imaginary cup and took a sip and began to almost recline in her spot.

I have found the most interesting thing of my day, wonderful.

[Ameriganastan]

The only thing Arias actually did was raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

"You are a peculiar individual, friend."

He swirled his fingers around, conjuring up a skeletal hand made of solid ice.

"If you'd like, I can give you a replacement for the extremity you...ate."

[Konariona]

Naktio was in a particularly good mood, having had a relatively calm and manageable day, which was often the only thing she asked for. Ironic for a being of her power. It was at this time in which, as she strolled by the massive pillars, that she had noticed a trio. She recognized them as no other than Kaaysel, Gal'duls, and Valtherzaw. While not often a sociable being, Naktio felt, for once, a desire to socialize with the other beings of the Aether.

Approaching silently, the Gods seemed to be having a discussion about Kaaysel's history scroll, which had been damaged. "Greetings, brothers." She said in a somewhat controlled, but pleasant manner. "Gal'duls, it is unlike you to bow to anything but your own works. I see that the Aether's been disturbed." She said in an ironic, subtly mocking fashion.

Gal'Duls turned, catching the irony right in the face, his eyebrows rising and a small laugh escaping his lips as he saw Naktio walking along and commenting on his apology to Kaaysel.
"Why, I was merely appealing to our resident historian to not behead me for getting a stain on his precious works!"
He chuckled again, giving the writer-god a small pat on the back, and turning to Naktio.
"We were.. talking of something along those lines, in all seriousness," Gal'Duls said, looking into Naktio's eyes, "Kaaysel, would you care to explain?

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"We must be honest with each other, friend Kaaysel," he said, "and if we are being completely honest- yes. I find that I must husband my resources more and more. Even this," he said, gesturing to the rain, "that ever-annoying and yet, enjoyable rain, takes a bit out of me."
Then he bowed to Kaaysel, ever so slightly.
"I apologize for the staining of your scroll, O' historian. I mean nothing by it."
And then he waited for their response.

"Yes, yes, honesty. Being honest is the brave thing to do, after all..." Kaaysel absent-mindedly muttered as he listened to Gal'Duls confirm what he feared. The nature of the problem, then, was as clear as the God could have hoped it to be... But, he realized with annoyance, that hardly helped with its solution.

"Like Trelia." He thought bitterly. Now, he didn't hate the Goddess. He understood it was not her fault... Entirely. But that didn't deny that every god damn problem would be so much easier to solve if she helped just a little.

But then, he also understood that, well, that wasn't the point.

It was after this train of thought crashed violently into last night's dream that he noticed Gal'Duls bowing. "Oh, whatever, it was nothing." He said, rolling his eyes and shaking his and at him. "Tsk. Historian..."

Kaaysel decided to jump down from his pillar in order to take Valtherzaw and Gal'Duls to look for the others, but, much to his surprise, there was something occupying the spot in which he ha expected to land, and so, through a complicated airborne manuever, he managed to land on his back at the feet of the Goddess of Love. He didn't even bother to get up, and merely let out an annoyed sigh. Much annoyed him as of late, it seemed. Maybe it was his problem. Or maybe it was his domain. Hard to figure out.

Either way, he greeted her. "Hello, Naktio." Was all he said, before remembering that, aside from himself, his brother and Gal'Duls, she had been the other one who helped create Destruction's prison. Immediately, he stood up.

"Hey, have you felt that what you spend doesn't return when you use your powers? Something like that has been troubling me since we sealed the essence of Destruction." He said, repeating his earlier question because he wasn't the God of Creativity, Prime damn it. He also pointed at the prison, which was right behind him. "It has affected me and Gal here. If it turns out this is widespread, then it could be a bigger problem than I suspect."

[Neo Arcad]

"We must be honest with each other, friend Kaaysel," he said, "and if we are being completely honest- yes. I find that I must husband my resources more and more. Even this," he said, gesturing to the rain, "that ever-annoying and yet, enjoyable rain, takes a bit out of me."
Then he bowed to Kaaysel, ever so slightly.
"I apologize for the staining of your scroll, O' historian. I mean nothing by it."
And then he waited for their response.

"Yes, yes, honesty. Being honest is the brave thing to do, after all..." Kaaysel absent-mindedly muttered as he listened to Gal'Duls confirm what he feared. The nature of the problem, then, was as clear as the God could have hoped it to be... But, he realized with annoyance, that hardly helped with its solution.

"Like Trelia." He thought bitterly. Now, he didn't hate the Goddess. He understood it was not her fault... Entirely. But that didn't deny that every god damn problem would be so much easier to solve if she helped just a little.

But then, he also understood that, well, that wasn't the point.

It was after this train of thought crashed violently into last night's dream that he noticed Gal'Duls bowing. "Oh, whatever, it was nothing." He said, rolling his eyes and shaking his and at him. "Tsk. Historian..."

Kaaysel decided to jump down from his pillar in order to take Valtherzaw and Gal'Duls to look for the others, but, much to his surprise, there was something occupying the spot in which he ha expected to land, and so, through a complicated airborne manuever, he managed to land on his back at the feet of the Goddess of Love. He didn't even bother to get up, and merely let out an annoyed sigh. Much annoyed him as of late, it seemed. Maybe it was his problem. Or maybe it was his domain. Hard to figure out.

Either way, he greeted her. "Hello, Naktio." Was all he said, before remembering that, aside from himself, his brother and Gal'Duls, she had been the other one who helped create Destruction's prison. Immediately, he stood up.

"Hey, have you felt that what you spend doesn't return when you use your powers? Something like that has been troubling me since we sealed the essence of Destruction." He said, repeating his earlier question because he wasn't the God of Creativity, Prime damn it. He also pointed at the prison, which was right behind him. "It has affected me and Gal here. If it turns out this is widespread, then it could be a bigger problem than I suspect."

"It's been a while, hasn't it? Or... has it?"

Quiet laughter emanated from the shadows as the goddess of knowledge faded into existence behind Kaaysel. "I can't tell you everything, you know... that would spoil the fun." Her footfalls were entirely silent as she made her way over to stand next to him. "You just have to ask the right questions at the right times. Mir isn't asked to judge those who don't exist. There are forces at work that keep me from revealing certain things until the moment arrives for them to be revealed." She turned to face him, the upper part of her presumably-humanoid face still concealed by her eternal hood. "Besides... I like to watch your brand of problem-solving. It's entertaining." At this, she let out another light laugh, stifling it with her thin hand.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"It's been a while, hasn't it? Or... has it?"

Quiet laughter emanated from the shadows as the goddess of knowledge faded into existence behind Kaaysel. "I can't tell you everything, you know... that would spoil the fun." Her footfalls were entirely silent as she made her way over to stand next to him. "You just have to ask the right questions at the right times. Mir isn't asked to judge those who don't exist. There are forces at work that keep me from revealing certain things until the moment arrives for them to be revealed." She turned to face him, the upper part of her presumably-humanoid face still concealed by her eternal hood. "Besides... I like to watch your brand of problem-solving. It's entertaining." At this, she let out another light laugh, stifling it with her thin hand.

Kaaysel, upon hearing a voice, turned to its source and away from Naktio (This was in part a subconscious action to prevent the existential mistake that would result otherwise). He then merely stared at Trelia blankly as she continued speaking and laughing, waiting for her to finish.

"It has." He replied to the very first thing she said, with an emphatic lack of enthusiasm regarding the conversation.

"And I fail to understand how you could possibly be entertained by something you supposedly already know and have always known, witch." He spoke coldly and with some reproach, crossing his arms, but that was as far as he went. He understood that she couldn't just tell them everything she knew all at once. Hell, he doubted Prime would want her to, even if she could. But the way she acted really helped her in getting in his nerves sometimes.

Either way, he stared at her, and said nothing more. But eventually his gaze softened. Being mad at one of his people for something they couldn't avoid wasn't going to do any good, and surely, she was being troubled as well, even if she already knew how and when the problem would be finally solved.

"Anyway... You've been feeling it as well haven't you?" He didn't even wait for a response. "No, it's okay, I don't need you to tell me anything, I'll figure out the solution by myself." He continued sharply. "Not for your entertainment, mind." He was quick to add.

[Malshan]

Lycaeon, tired of waiting and impatient to start a hunt, left the Table of Mendax and flew high over the ground toward the crater that Kilil left behind when his essence was locked away. The wolf god sought company, feeling the pull of a pack instinct as all of his look-alike brethren would soon feel.

As he approached, he noticed the auras of several divinities standing around the Pillars where they all first began their lives. He dove, braking at the last second and laughing as he felt the drag on his wings. He hit the ground and rolled, coming up to rest at the base of his own pillar.

Lycaeon stood, shaking off the dirt that coated his body. It wouldn't do to present himself to his fellow gods as a ball of dirt and fur. The black half of his body began seeping over the rest of him, pushing the white to the tip of his tail as the Black brother took over. He had noticed Trelia with the group, immediately trotting over to her to stand at her side.

"Peace, Brother Kaaysel. Sister Trelia only acts to her nature. No need to be unpleasant. We all have a right to be here at the place of our birth, after all."

[The Inritus Extraho]

Lycaeon, tired of waiting and impatient to start a hunt, left the Table of Mendax and flew high over the ground toward the crater that Kilil left behind when his essence was locked away. The wolf god sought company, feeling the pull of a pack instinct as all of his look-alike brethren would soon feel.

As he approached, he noticed the auras of several divinities standing around the Pillars where they all first began their lives. He dove, braking at the last second and laughing as he felt the drag on his wings. He hit the ground and rolled, coming up to rest at the base of his own pillar.

Lycaeon stood, shaking off the dirt that coated his body. It wouldn't do to present himself to his fellow gods as a ball of dirt and fur. The black half of his body began seeping over the rest of him, pushing the white to the tip of his tail as the Black brother took over. He had noticed Trelia with the group, immediately trotting over to her to stand at her side.

"Peace, Brother Kaaysel. Sister Trelia only acts to her nature. No need to be unpleasant. We all have a right to be here at the place of our birth, after all."

"It is not that she is here, more that she knows the answer and the question, the problem and the solution, and - instead of helping, or even at least remaining silent, she taunts each of us. If she was here watching, it would not be half the problem that her intentionally infuriating superior comments are." Valtherzaw paused, shaking his head. "So she sits and needles, knowing full well that it's annoying as... man, we need better metaphors - annoying as anything, I suppose, but can't stop herself because of what I presume is both an inferiority and guilt complex, likely due to knowing that our efforts in trapping Kilil's soul would fail at first, but being unable to help because of her incompetent nature."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Lycaeon, tired of waiting and impatient to start a hunt, left the Table of Mendax and flew high over the ground toward the crater that Kilil left behind when his essence was locked away. The wolf god sought company, feeling the pull of a pack instinct as all of his look-alike brethren would soon feel.

As he approached, he noticed the auras of several divinities standing around the Pillars where they all first began their lives. He dove, braking at the last second and laughing as he felt the drag on his wings. He hit the ground and rolled, coming up to rest at the base of his own pillar.

Lycaeon stood, shaking off the dirt that coated his body. It wouldn't do to present himself to his fellow gods as a ball of dirt and fur. The black half of his body began seeping over the rest of him, pushing the white to the tip of his tail as the Black brother took over. He had noticed Trelia with the group, immediately trotting over to her to stand at her side.

"Peace, Brother Kaaysel. Sister Trelia only acts to her nature. No need to be unpleasant. We all have a right to be here at the place of our birth, after all."

"It is not that she is here, more that she knows the answer and the question, the problem and the solution, and - instead of helping, or even at least remaining silent, she taunts each of us. If she was here watching, it would not be half the problem that her intentionally infuriating superior comments are." Valtherzaw paused, shaking his head. "So she sits and needles, knowing full well that it's annoying as... man, we need better metaphors - annoying as anything, I suppose, but can't stop herself because of what I presume is both an inferiority and guilt complex, likely due to knowing that our efforts in trapping Kilil's soul would fail at first, but being unable to help because of her incompetent nature."

Kaaysel's response, by contrast, was much shorter and informal.

"Don't say peace, barky. I haven't even told her to bugger off yet."

[Transoxthraxia]

"We must be honest with each other, friend Kaaysel," he said, "and if we are being completely honest- yes. I find that I must husband my resources more and more. Even this," he said, gesturing to the rain, "that ever-annoying and yet, enjoyable rain, takes a bit out of me."
Then he bowed to Kaaysel, ever so slightly.
"I apologize for the staining of your scroll, O' historian. I mean nothing by it."
And then he waited for their response.

"Yes, yes, honesty. Being honest is the brave thing to do, after all..." Kaaysel absent-mindedly muttered as he listened to Gal'Duls confirm what he feared. The nature of the problem, then, was as clear as the God could have hoped it to be... But, he realized with annoyance, that hardly helped with its solution.

"Like Trelia." He thought bitterly. Now, he didn't hate the Goddess. He understood it was not her fault... Entirely. But that didn't deny that every god damn problem would be so much easier to solve if she helped just a little.

But then, he also understood that, well, that wasn't the point.

It was after this train of thought crashed violently into last night's dream that he noticed Gal'Duls bowing. "Oh, whatever, it was nothing." He said, rolling his eyes and shaking his and at him. "Tsk. Historian..."

Kaaysel decided to jump down from his pillar in order to take Valtherzaw and Gal'Duls to look for the others, but, much to his surprise, there was something occupying the spot in which he ha expected to land, and so, through a complicated airborne manuever, he managed to land on his back at the feet of the Goddess of Love. He didn't even bother to get up, and merely let out an annoyed sigh. Much annoyed him as of late, it seemed. Maybe it was his problem. Or maybe it was his domain. Hard to figure out.

Either way, he greeted her. "Hello, Naktio." Was all he said, before remembering that, aside from himself, his brother and Gal'Duls, she had been the other one who helped create Destruction's prison. Immediately, he stood up.

"Hey, have you felt that what you spend doesn't return when you use your powers? Something like that has been troubling me since we sealed the essence of Destruction." He said, repeating his earlier question because he wasn't the God of Creativity, Prime damn it. He also pointed at the prison, which was right behind him. "It has affected me and Gal here. If it turns out this is widespread, then it could be a bigger problem than I suspect."

"Hello, Kaaysel." she said plainly before she nodded, acknowledging Kaaysel's statement. "Yes, I've found that. TO be honest, I haven't had reason to use them recently. But I do notice that I feel weaker each time I do. It's a strange occurrence, and I originally thought it was isolated to me. It's too bad, though, that we're all suffering. I'd like to get to the bottom of it." She finished, nodding towards Kaaysel, who had brought the topic up.

"To be honest," She then said sheepishly, "I thought it was a performance issue." She held back smirking. "What do you suggest we do?" she asked the entire group.