Nature-Spirits wrote:Charmera wrote:-snip-
Shub-Niggurath
To any outside observer, it would appear that Shub-Niggurath was unaware of the sudden anomalies around her. In fact, she was all too aware of the omens, and of what they meant.
Apparently, it was time for a little family reunion. Joy.
"That girl," a woman's voice said, though there had been no one there a moment ago. "Where is her soul?"
But Shub-Niggurath didn't answer. In fact, she didn't even bother to acknowledge Pharasma's appearance. She had never been particularly fond of the Court of Fools in general, though she did occasionally enjoy the company of a few of their number. But Pharasma: now, that woman took her job far too seriously in the Heretic Goddess's opinion, even for a psychopomp.
It seemed, however, that her fellow deity wouldn't give up so easily. "Niggurath. Where is it?" she repeated, and the Heretic turned her head to face Pharasma. For a few moments she stared, and the air seemed to grow thick between them. But eventually she spoke: "Why should I care?" She stared at the death goddess for another moment before continuing, "After all, souls are not my concern. They're yours. And really, what's so special about human souls that you need to gather them all up? It must be so tiring, running about doing these little chores for all eternity. I'm honestly surprised that you still bother -- and I'm rarely surprised." She sighed wearily, though it was for show. "But if you must know, I ate the thing. And unless you wish to delve into my stomach to retrieve it, I suggest you just go back to your mommy and the rest of your Fools and hope no one notices one stray soul missing. It's not like souls haven't vanished before." Having finished her little speech, the goddess simply gazed at Pharasma steadily.
Silence pervaded the room as Pharasma stared at the other goddess, her neutral not quite frown on her face. She had no hate for the deity before her, yet no love either. She could guess Niggurath had been pulling this stunt quite often, as often the Reapers she sent to collect souls around her rumoured location tended to disappear mysteriously. "You should care, even a heretic goddess must understand what happens when we let too many slip through… "
"As for what so special about a human soul? A surprising amount. Like snowflakes, their ubiquitous, yet all unique. Their reactions and treatments of their inevitable or current demise are all equally different and very intriguing to observe." She explained, a soft smile appearing on her face "It's a shame most gods are too arrogant to see the beauty of a single mortal soul, present company included."
Ripping the girls soul forcefully from her would require too much of her power, which would breach the pact. She normally did not find the pact so binding, but it irritated her that it was feeling very constricting now. She sighed, "Well, Unfortunately I can't simply ignore my duties. I could separate the girls soul from you, though it would be much easier if you co-operated in that regard. Though if you are truly so attached to her soul, I could simply take another soul… One of your children perhaps…" She found using the goddess' children's souls against Niggurath the most effective way of getting leverage in dealing with her.
She seemed to turn to leave for a second, allowing her words to sink in. Pharasma took a few steps, building the tension. Making it seem as if it mattered little to her. Almost eternally slow, she turned to face Niggurath again, a thin smile crept on her face. "Unless…" She intoned, "You wish to make a deal for her soul?" She queried.