Politics of the Divine - IC

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Nerileth

---

"My brothers, sisters!" The woman spoke, standing in front of her comrades in arms, her manners not quite representing her own. Indeed, it was not she that was talking, but rather, her goddess. "Winter will soon fall upon the world for the first time in ages! Crops will wither, people will freeze to death, but not you! You, my favored, my chosen followers, you who make up my Wild Hunt shall need not fear such things. You are my hunters, and you are the very best. Soon, all of the world will look to hunting for their food, for the pelts they need to survive, and you will be at the top of this food chain. Soon the time shall be upon you that I, Nerileth, shall lead you personally!" A cheer erupted among the group, every single one of them looking forward to the moment, eager for the bloodshed, the hunt that was to come. "Yes! Rise, my children, rise! Soon we shall-" The body collapsed on the ground, unconscious, before she could finish.

...and so Nerileth's attention returned back to Heaven, the Goddess of the Hunt grinning. "Got to leave at least some suspension hanging." She said to no one in particular. Pushing one particularly devout servant out of her lap, the goddess rose, unsure what to do next, before realizing that by now her brothers and sisters were undoubtedly arguing about whom was to take that empty throne. Perhaps they had already started bashing each other's heads in? Deciding that was something absolutely worth seeing, Nerileth left her own little corner of heaven, venturing out to see what the others were up to by now. Not long after heading out, she felt the familiar presence of another deity nearby - one very familiar indeed. Hurrying towards the presence, but making sure to not show that she was actually doing so, she drew a smile. "Well, hello there, Aelva. What brings as fine a huntress as you to these parts?"

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Vulrena, Goddess of the Unknown and Monsters
Heaven

---

Vulrena did not hear Cultro approach, she was like she always was, in her own world. She was aware that the gods had begun trying to claim the throne, though she did not care. As such she had zoned out, ignoring the squabbling gods. Her mind was going everywhere but Heaven, think of the future, past, and everything in between. She started going over how she was going to bring the Quadruplets back, but then Cultro spoke.

Vulrena turned and looked at Cultro, her eyes where ice blue orbs floating in the mist. If she had a mouth she'd be smirking, Cultro looked much to young compared to the other gods. As much as she hated it, technically, Cultro was her senior. He was interesting to Vulrena, though he was incredibly friendly, the other gods seemed to either dislike him or despise him, not many liked him. He thought himself powerful, but was in all reality, he was not as powerful as he thought. Another thing that was interesting to her was the fact he didn't know why he wasn't as respected as the other gods, and didn't understand the darkness in his domain. Though he interested her, he was technically her enemy, then again almost every god was her enemy unknown to them all. But, she could use him.... if need be.

"Umm?" She stated, "Oh, you wanted to be king.... you should know I don't pay much attention to politics. One of the few gods who has never married, right here. And what is it that you think we both want?"

[Woodstovia]

"Well." Cultro started, his dark red eyes seemingly fixated on Vulrena's cold blue ones. They were completely opposite. "You're mainly the goddess of monsters of course but you're also the goddess of the unknown too." he pointed out, feeling weird at calling a giant cloud with orbs a woman. "What could be more unknown that death caused by murder?" it was a stretch but he had to justify himself somehow. "And my followers could provide your monsters with protection from hunters through murder." he grinned.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Vulrena, Goddess of the Unknown and Monsters
Heaven

---

She sighed, "Incorrect. I am mainly goddess of the Unknown, monsters are secondary." She then looked straight at him, "Murder can be solved, as such it is unknown only for a small period of time usually, and then becomes known. Also, it takes fairly skilled hunters to kill my children then I must congratulate them, though I will still be bitter, they would deserve slight respect. Things die over time, that is the same for my children, they will never live forever so why try and protect them from the inevitable." She then took a breath, "What else do you got?"

[Woodstovia]

"Not much else." Cultro admitted. He looked embarrassed and was blushing despite himself. truthfully he had just wanted to take his frustrations out on someone. A scapegoat who he could shift the blame of his own failures onto. And now he felt a twinge of guilt. But he also felt anger. How could someone abandon their followers so freely like that? Such disregard for those few that honoured her. Cultro wasn't used to feeling so many emotions, never-mind conflicting ones. "Well... Sorry for trying to blame you." he eventually said.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Vulrena, Goddess of the Unknown and Monsters
Heaven

---

Vulrena looked at Cultro, and could not help feeling sorry for him. He acted as most gods would, not wanting to take blame for their own failures on their own shoulders, but instead put it on another's. A fault that comes with both arrogance and ignorance alike. She put touched his cheek, and with friendly eyes spoke.

"It's alright. When your a goddess who spends most of her time alone in isolation you get used to others trying to pin blame upon you." She spoke softly, "I'm used to others blaming me. What else would you do to the unknown. It is my nature to be blamed by others." She then took a breath, "But. I do need allies.... I'll think about it. Though to be honest, I can't see you leading the gods... if you can convince more to follow you, then I may actually vote for once. If not, then don't expect my support, I don't need to go around making enemies at the moment."

She then removed her misty hand from his cheek and started to float away, "That's my offer. If you want me to put faith in you, then first get others to do so. Or...." She stopped and turned to face Cultro, "There is a second possibility. I'll vote for you, but you must swear on your very existence that you'll do everything you can to help me change this reality we rule over. Your choice."

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

Tesh felt secure in the moment. He had an ally in the Heavens whom he knew would be reliable, so long as they needed his help. And now, wheels were in motion for his people to finally be free. However, he would have to tend the embers to revolution closely if he wishes for his people to truly rise as high as he wished them to. Now was the time to meet with his people and alert him of the shift in power in the Universe.

Ulitsil
Brynn rose from her sleep as she did most other mornings: meeting the first light of the day. Maintaining their community meant constant hard work from its denizens, young and old, but it afforded them the freedom which they desired so dearly. Ulitsil had been built nearly a generation earlier, but then it was only a few cabins near a river. Now, hundreds upon hundreds lived in what could only be called an improvised city, home to countless ethnicities and tongues. Structures were built from whatever could be gathered; trees were cut down and lashed together with whatever rope could be made, slaves brought whatever materials they could to help, and great stones and boulders were stacked as well. The layout was chaotic, to say the least.

But they had still built a life nonetheless. Brynn had been a field worker before she and a few others from their former master's estate fled into the forest. Now, she had a husband and three children of her own. As they still slept, she went down by where the river touched the settlement, where a great shrine to Tesh had been erected. Every day, as people went down to the river to drink and get water for washing, people often knelt at the shrine and offered prayers. They would wish for the liberation of those they know: their relatives, their friends, and their lovers still enslaved. Tesh often spoke to her when she came there to pray, so she spent much of her mornings there. The rest of her day was spent performing her role on the community council; the other slaves had elected her for her understanding nature to help resolve issues.

As she kneeled, she felt Tesh's presence almost instantly, which very rarely occurred. "What would you have of me, Achaezel Tesh?" Rather than having come in his mortal form, she felt him in her own mind and soul. "I have found my champion," she heard him say. "She is coming from far away, and when she arrives where you are, it will be her leadership that brings our people to victory." "Thank you for your cofiding in me, Achaezel Tesh," she told him. "But why include me? What can I do?" "You must instill in her the fervor all of our people have," he told her. "And you must teach her the secret ways which we free others. Only then will she be able to lead our people. Make ready the peoples of Ulitsil and the other cities and towns. Alert whatever agents you can. This is the beginning of the end."

Itha'avesta
Farr had never been to this part of the city before. She attempted to navigate the destitute streets of the Tanner's District as cold rain fell hard at a slant. The fat drops stung her skin, prompting her to keep under cover. Still she searched for the sign that she had been told to find, but she was beginning to become desperate. The winding streets all seemed to bleed together, and she was beginning to feel hopelessly lost. The rain suddenly cleared, and starlight began to pour down onto the earth. She looked up, and saw something that she did not expect. Directly above her was the brilliant night sky, with starlight illuminating the edges of cloud cover which was the exact shape of the sign which she had been shown. She felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Anarzcha?" she heard. The term was often used in song in theatre, and meant "our nation" in an ancient tongue. She turned to face a haggard man with a wispy beard. He gestured to her quarterstaff, as if to confirm who she was. She nodded, and he encouraged her inside. "Our God Tesh came to me and told of your coming," he informed her as they entered his home, leaving behind the rain. "And it falls to me to ensure that you get to Zoroshthurvan." "How?" she inquired. "A runaway slave has few friends, and my master will be looking for me." The man, who was fiddling through a trunk of clothes and old things, swiftly turned to her, taking him by the hand. "Not your master," he told her. "Not even the God Tesh himself claims to be your master. You are your master, child. Now, you must change from those wet clothes." He handed her some plain clothes. "You will be more difficult to recognize in these." She went into another room and changed, before returning. "You said that I would be going to Zoroshthurvan." she mirrored as he tended a pot full of stew. "Why?" "It is part of a path to a place where former slaves can find some peace," the man told her. "Where it ends, you will find where Tesh has intended for you to begin anew." Silence pervaded, until the two had sat down to eat. "How will I get to Zoroshthurvan?" she inquired. After swallowing a spoonful of stew, the elderly man answered. "We have people sympathetic to our cause who are running a caravan there. I have contacted them, and they have agreed to bring you along. You came just in time, too. Any longer and they would have been forced to leave without you." Again, there was silence. "I can't thank you enough for this," she told him, before a pause. "I don't know your name." she finished. "Names are dangerous in this line of work," he told her. "I am called Hierophant by those who address me in our circles. You may do the same." "Thank you, Hierophant," she repeated.

[The Holy Dominion of Inesea]

"Inzi - my brethren, I am deeply grieved by the pain I have caused you, but I must ask that you forgive me, for the only way we can purge this world of its debauchery and corruption is to collapse the system which has allowed it to survive and to rebuild it from the bottom. I want you to know that I am always committed to Balance."

A rumble tore through thelocal area of Mortal Realms as Ava's voice reached Inzi. To mere mortals it was thunder. To Inzi it was a plea for forgiveness for a painful betrayal. A lesser god may have scorned the advance but Inzi bore no grudges. Ava was needed to restore the Balance, quite literally. A new Fragment would need to be shorn from the Divine Being for Balance Inzi to reawaken. It sent a message to Ava, more of a Primordial feeling. It was a thought that appeared in Ava's mind. <<Give us the Fragment. Purge the Unbalance.>>

---

Inzi mustered enough energy and bore enough pain to warp to Raitus's domains in the Divine Realms. It must have been abrupt to those in the Divine Academy, the huge and imposing sphere that was Inzi manifesting right in front of Raitus. The action of warping was too much for Inzi momentarily and it felt another God Fragment slip loose. It launched the fragment out a window, causing a rather large explosion in the distance. Inzi stabalized, and turned to Raitus. It also was aware that Midian was there. Inzi spoke, again in the disembodied feeling-voice it used.

<<Raitus, Our Child, Unbalance has replaced Balance. We are weak. Balance Inzi is dead. The Mortal Realms are in danger. The Divine Realms are in chaos. A New Divine King is needed, at least for the interim. Ava may return. But for now, Raitus, We need you to assume the Throne. Bring Balance. We mark you as our Chosen Royal Candidate. The other Divines will see and acknowledge. Our problems in the Mortal Realms are pressing. We are needed down there. We entrust to you the Throne for now. Our Child, we must go now.>>

Inzi warped back to the Mortal Realms, back in the mountains. It appeared to his supplicants in their dreams, giving the Divine Will to spread Order. In the sky above, Ava's Fragment still burned. Inzi willed his people to prepare for war and catastrophe.

[The 7th Order]

Tor'Baalos got bored with his people's ceremony. Maybe he'd go deliver some divine wrath on a innocent village? Then blame it on another God. Maybe the God of murder? Yeah he sounds like a good scapegoat. Even though he fully approves of the murder deitie's actions. Nah once you've destroyed one village you've destroyed them all. It's basically the same thing over and over again. Wait what would happen if you murder the God of murder? He knows gods can't really die but still. Quite an interesting paradox. Maybe he'd go make some dark omen to put the fear of heaven into some peasants. That was always fun. Maybe he could make it rain mucus over another gods city? Now that would be entertaining. Of course he wasn't sure he could do that. Maybe he could make a deal with the God of weather. Wait who was that again? Honestly he can't remember half the deitie's in heaven. Their all the same really. Too stagnant. Anyways what to do what to do. Or he could just become a monster and eat people. That'd be fun. He could also blame that on the murder God. He was just so useful as a scapegoat.

[Caltarania]

---

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Aelva the She-Wolf

---

---

"Vengeance, knowledge... a yearning for life?" Aelva replied to Nerileth, as she shifted from her wolf form to her more human one. She quickly equipped her bow and loaded it with an arrow, before quickly letting the taught bowstring release as she allowed the arrow to plunge forward. The arrow quickly made it's way into some sort of manifestation which disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. "The decadence of the other gods are still rife, and Inzi wants to place shackles on us all again to prevent nature from taking it's true course... it should be obvious, sister, why I am here... the more pressing question is why you are." Aelva inquired, before starring Nerileth straight in the face.

[The Assorted Saharan Outposts]

Busy busy busy, always busy!

Irekily could never get a break, could he? It's not like anyone else could really take this job; they'd have no idea what to do! He has been doing this job for thousands of years and he doubted anyone could just pick up the mantle of guide for the undead without some serious problems. He couldn't just assign his followers to do this kind of stuff for him either, because they wouldn't be able to see the ghosts in the first place!

Irekily shook his head to get these thoughts out of his head before looking back at the coffin. Right, right, you still have a job to do. He put the bone on the coffin and wasted no time in grabbing the spirit that appeared before dragging him off, already going into an explanation of what was going on before the spirit could even wonder what happened. "Let me just explain it to you, pal." He said. The same beginning every time he went into his explanation. "You're dead. You're no longer living, I'm Irekily and I have to take you to Hell and help you move on at the same time, but before we do that we need to pick up some other souls."

The spirit, though confused and slightly afraid at the mention of Hell, did not try to run or break free from the God of Bones' grip. Were they really dead? They remembered pain, so they must be dead. Wait, were they murdered? He couldn't even remember. The spirit would have tried to talk to Irekily, but his mind, his now dead mind, started to rush through many different thoughts at once.

Only an hour later, which probably was enough time for someone else to kick the bucket, Irekily thought bitterly. He looked at the family and put his hand, the one not holding onto the spirit, up, palm facing up. The orbs appeared in his hand and they separated, going to their respective family member. Only one of them broke into tears. Only one of them cried, only one of them cared enough to actually cry for the lost one. Irekily muttered something to himself about ungrateful family members (he couldn't have been THAT bad of a father) and then walked over to the coffin. He didn't care if people were still paying their respects. He dropped the bone next to the coffin and grabbed the old spirit. "Hello, you're dead." He said very bluntly before he dragged the spirit along. He didn't care about being gentle. Not right now. During other times, he would, but he was just in a sour mood today. Irekily closed his eyes and tried to see if there were any other funerals in Peragon. He shook his head and opened them once more. "Well, let's get you all to hell." He said to the two spirits before walking in that direction.

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Nerileth

---

Nerileth gave an amused chuckle at Aelva's response, ignoring the arrow the goddess shot past her. "Hmm, indeed, perhaps it is rather obvious why you are here. It's just that I don't see you too often now, do I? Truly, we should work to change that, shouldn't we? Don't you worry, Inzi and her balance nonsense will fail. The degree by which, well..." The Goddess of the Hunt shrugged. "We'll have to see." She moved, laying an army around Aelva. "As for why I'm here, well, that should be even more obvious than why you are. After all, I find myself located here quite often - certainly more than you, wouldn't you say? So, tell me more. You're clearly here looking someone to help you prevent Inzi from... doing whatever he's going to do. You want someone to help you let nature take its course." Nerileth moved even closer, almost whispering in the other's ear. "Maybe that someone would be me?"

[Woodstovia]

Cultro rolled his eyes when she doubted him once again. Nobody could see him leading the gods and he was used to being told it by now. No matter, he'd simply show them why he could lead them when the time came. All he had to do would be to be patient and wait for an opening. But her second option did pique his interest, he had no idea that she wanted change. "Well that depends." he said matter-of-factly. "What kind of change exactly were you hoping for?"

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Vulrena, Goddess of the Unknown and Monsters
Heaven

---

He actually took the bait.... wow... wasn't expecting that. Vulrena thought to herself, I can't risk telling him the details right now, it's too soon... he may tell the other gods that I am up to something though. If I tell him my plan, they will all know what I am up to, but if I give him a vague idea, then perhaps it won't seem as suspicious... Heaven does need to change after all.

"This." She motioned to the area around them, "Heaven needs to be changed. It has falling into such deep darkness that it is no longer the paradise that it was created to be. Greed has taken over, leading to overbearing lavishness, and yet Heaven decays into a great mess." She said then thinking, Yes.... this is it.... this is perfect....

She then continued, "And don't get me started on the over population. Heaven needs to be changed, its foundation ripped apart and rebuilt." She then paused and looked at Cultro, "That is the change I seek. Necessary change."

[Naymor]

Ratius Magenadam

---

Halls of the (Sun) Throne, Heavenly Realms
Ratius revealed a slight smile as he saw the God of Murder split from the crowd, laying claim to the great throne. It seems it had been worth staying after all. Carefully, Ratius listened. Suppressing his emotions of both amusement and anger. Murder, heavenly manifestation of the knife in one's back, proclaiming himself a good friend almost made the icy barrier of his face shatter. But just as with his claim to granting the domains of half of all deities, Ratius stoic image persevered. Once more, he considered stepping forward, performing his move in the game of heavenly politics. But a knowing instinct held him back. Not yet, he knew, the experience of political schemes uncountable warning him, not alone, not when unprepared. Inzi was not here, and this abnormal feeling the Magenadam had told him that Inzi was firing off godly fragments. His friend, his patron, one might even say his father - both in the guiding and creating sense of the word - was on a collapse. A weakened Inzi was bad for him. For it was in a Balanced world that Research could persevere. Of course, never was research more needed than the danger of chaos, but over time he had come to prefer to gradual growth in balance over occasional but significant jumps of chaos. Maybe he would have to cha.... Stopping his own thought, Ratius sighed. It would not do, to abandon the one he owed his sheer existence to. Not if it was in any way avoidable. Seeing things calm down after Edarus' outbreak at Cultro, Ratius vanished. The chance of dark times ahead was significantly too large for his taste, he would have to inform his followers.

The High Academy, Peragon
Unlike many other gods, Ratius mostly did not visit his followers when sleeping or close to their sleep. No, he preferred to visit them on the high hours of known, when mankind was eager and awake, when the mind was fresh and active. That when his ideas would find the most fruitful soil to grow among the best and brightest of Peragon. Yes, he was sure, many gods would dispute his claim. Victorius and Cultro with their warriors and fighters, Chak with his ever industrious, especially the mages and their god Midian - with whom Ratius had a certain rivalry in friendship. But there was hard work in the study of things, things that can ease the burden of the many, that can lead to victory in war. His were the gifted minds, assembled into the ever-learning League of of Academies. And Hirest, more distant, beyond the mountains.
Moving on from these simple thoughts, Ratius formed himself into the body of an old man, a white hair covering his head and trailing of his chin in a well-kept manner. A cane to aid him, the god slowly ascended on the last few steps into what was the highest center of study below heaven. Guards took a long look at him, before he explained, "I am dedicated to the learning, Sergeants". The captain of these guards stepped forward, and took a look into the old man's eyes. Within them he saw a shimmering depth of gold and a point of darkness. And just as quick he moved aside, giving the giver of knowledge passage through the open gates. Yes, guards ahead of an open gate, Ratius remembered that. For except in times of crisis, an academy shall remain eternally open to all, for only so could no mind be lost.
An eagerness unexpected in such a form now quickened the god, leading him to the school of engineering. Inside, students and scholars alike looked at the man with surprise. It was not rare to see old men in the High Academy, for there was knowledge in age, and many of the great Technocrats of the League were far beyond their youth. But those were men they knew, or at least recognized, unlike this elder.
Ignoring the look on the faces of those assembled, the Magenadam advanced towards the front of the hall. Once there, he unraveled a scroll that seemed to have appeared in his hands out of pure nothing.
"Allow me to present you this... draft. Walls, as you can see. These are for this venerable location, but I am sure you will find how to use them where-ever else you shall have need of them.". A gasp now escaped the mouth of the engineers and engineers-to-be, architects and smiths both, for now they all know who this elderly was. "The prestige of the school of engineering shall rise and you will be direly needed. But I fear at what cost.And as quick as he had appeared on the entrance to the building he disappeared, leaving the unrolled scroll of walls, and on the spot he stood on a further stack of scrolls.

The Divine Academy, Heavenly Realms
Though he had considered searching for Inzi in the mortal realms, he decided to against that path. For now it seemed best to let Inzi rest, it would contact him once it recovered a bit more, of that he was sure. Though if it did not do so soon, the god of research determined, he would have to check on it himself.
And so he spawned into the Academy of the Heavens, where the chosen few, most brilliant and dead heroes of the sciences, joined him. He was about to delve into the never-ending quest of study, to bring upon those faithful mortals, as once was intended by his father.
His thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of a deity behind him. He turned around to see and hear Midian talk to him.
He watched the sorcerer-lord in his robes, he himself still in a toga, though now in a younger body than he had used back on Peragon minutes ago. "Greetings to you as well, Midian, my sorcering friend. What brings you to my abode of learning, if I may be so blunt?"

Midian thought about his words, knowing that Ratius was a wise being.

"As you know, our king has recently left the throne," the God began, "Cultro then tried to claim it for himself. He ultimately failed, but this incident caused my mind to begin wandering. What would happen if one of the darker gods took the crown for themselves? How would this world change under their rule? All scenarios led to disastrous ends, and so I came to a decision. I've never been one for the politics of Heaven, and I have tried to stay as far away from them as possible, but now, when something as powerful as the Crown is at stake, I cannot sit idly by and watch Cultro or others like him take it and destroy all the Gods have worked so hard for on Peragon. I have decided to attempt to take the title of King of the Gods, and already I have Tesh's support. You are among the wisest of the Gods, it would be an honor to know I had your support as well."

It was at this moment that Inzi appeared unto Ratius. Midian watched, somewhat confused, as the giant deity appeared and spoke to the God. Midian looked at Ratius, nodding.

"So it appears we are in race for the crown." the sorcerer said, smiling, "Ratius, should you be given the crown, I will give you my full support. However, since I came to ask for your support to begin with, I now ask that should I be given the crown, I would know I have your support as well. I would much prefer one of us to have the crown than one of the darker gods."

[Woodstovia]

Cultro's sanguine eyes seemed to sparkle with joy. "I agree. I agree with almost everything." he grinned. "And imagine if we could learn how to murder gods themselves." he giggled "then I could really help you solve the overpopulation." he grinned. "But I agree about everything else too of course." he said, trying to act smooth even when his excitement was palpable. "We shouldn't be focussing on our own needs so much, we should take care of the world and all of the beings on it, even if they aren't our own followers. Our arrogance is getting us nowhere."

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

Tesh had been meditating on the struggle of his people once more. It would be a tremendous struggle, even with the numbers which they would command. Tesh knew that his people would need another advantage if they were to remain free, and their masters be defeated. He spent a great deal of time contemplating how he could give his desperate disciples an edge, before finally realizing what they needed. Most manual labor is performed by slaves, he thought to himself, so I must somehow make them feel a sting before they can possibly retaliate. Finally, he decided on just how to do this. He unfolded his wings from his back, and took flight.

After passing through the heavens, taking little interest as he soared through the air, he arrived at his destination. He was in the realm of Theria, the Goddess of Sky and Weather. He landed, giving her a small nod in respect. "I must ask of you a favor, Goddess," he told her, in his plain yet reverent tone. "My people and I find ourselves in need of your help."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Vulrena, Goddess of the Unknown and Monsters
Heaven

---

"There is the beauty in it. If we change Heaven, we will bring upon a new golden age for humanity. Do you think the unknown doesn't think of others." She said, if she had a mouth, she'd be grinning, He took it. Yes... this will be easy. she thought to herself. "I want what's best for all things. One of my duties is to keep things that no one should know away from the light. Such things that would plunge this world into the depths of darkness."

She then paused, "Anyways, it seems you agree with my ideals and want change. This is good. That is something the next king should try and achieve. So, will you swear your existence to helping me bring this change? Or will you let the other gods keep leading the world into the void?"

She floated down to Cultro and looked straight in his eyes, "Your choice."

[Lunas Legion]

"And why should I do... That?" Theria slurred through a drug-induced stupor. Whatever mix she'd created today would need to be remembered for later use. It was rather strong, even by her standards. She hadn't even been aware that anyone else was nearby until someone spoke. She wasn't even sure who was speaking, only that someone was, but what did it matter who was speaking?

"Everything's just fine and absolutely nothing is going wrong anywhere right now." She shrugged. "No need to change or mess with anything, or do anything. Everything's just fine, so I can just sit here, lay around and..." She sighed, stretching out. "Enjoy myself some more."

[Aden Protectorate]

Itha'avesta, was one of the Great Cities of Peragon, a title bestowed onto only five cities in at one time by the most exulted literati of the world. This architectural majesty was built on the Eastern bank of a great river, the River Avesta. The Old-City was built in the shape of a perfect dekagon, with the surrounding New City reaching out across both banks like long snaky arms of colourful and exotic perfection. In the center of this beautiful city, where the White Holy Bonfire of Ava'eshthan blazed eternally, their was a market square, with a mosaic of the patron god imprinted in the cobblestone.

In this sacred square a man stood. This man, looking to be about twenty was draped in the Holy White Robes of Ava'eshthan, even though he was no longer a Priest of the Lion of Heaven - having been banished from the order along with his heretical ideas. Around him stood a crowd of about three-thousand patrons of the market, and to his left where his disciples, ten in total.

For this man, known as Tura'o'astra of Garxapah, and he had traveled across the world to reach the city. This preacher had been a Priest of Ava'eshthan until about five years ago - until he forsook the ways of the Sun-King, after being frustrated with the dismal state of Peragon and Heaven.

So he had struck out on his own.

He had, in a fit of ecstatic inspiration composed the Holy Prose, which was a composition he regarded as sacred to the religion he preached. In his religion he preached the worship of only one God, which he named Zoroshthe - which in the sacred words of the Cult of Ava'esthan meant "wise man'. For in his ecstatic vision he had been told by the Great Zoroshthe - "thou art my son o' Tura'o'astra - as I did impregnate your virgin mother, and you shall restore the truth faith of the one god, which is I, you shall preach from city to city and amass a following and an army to challenge the false and corrupt gods, but first, travel to Itha'avesta, the greatest city of the god-king, and find your first followers their. Bring with you ten disciples from those who are worldly and pious."

From their he had taken ten good and compassionate men and women with him and traveled to Itha'avesta, where he now was preaching.

"People of the Great city, I come to tell you about a true and compassionate god. Who will deliver you from the horrors which are about us. Unbalance has come, the Sun-King has left, and the sun itself has darkened. The one true god, Zoroshte who has been channeling through me promises an end to the conflict, corruption, and decadence. He promises stability and singularity."

He went on for this for hours. By the end stones, vegetables and excrement were being thrown at him - he took it all with grace, for that is what Zoroshthe commanded in the Holy Prose "When your rival doth throw a stone unto you, offer unto him your chest so he may have better aim." But by the end he had about twenty more followers. Unto the next city. What not even the preacher himself knew was that he was the son of the Nameless One, he was semi-immortal, and he was help a creature of horror make his return.

In the sun, the Sun-King slept soundly, purring like a kitten in the warmth of the sun. He would awaken soon.

[Woodstovia]

Cultro looked into the god's eyes. If a cloud of gas could be intimidating Vulrena had found a way, the orbs looked a little too... Bright maybe? He wasn't sure, maybe it was the fact that it had no expression but it seemed creepy. "Well." he began, sounding nervous. "I won't swear my existence to it. That's a little too final and condemning for my liking. But I'll promise to try and help you reform heaven." he said, forcing a smile although he felt uncomfortable.

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

Tesh withheld himself from saying anything judgmental to Theria, even in her altered state. "We Gods draw our gratitude from those who revere us," he continued. "This gives us everything. Our forms, our psyches, our powers..." he trailed off for a moment. "My people make up a great deal of the peoples of the waking world. If you were to give them this gift, then their prayers would make you stronger. More able to carry out your... objectives." He paused, before specifying his wish for her. "Let the fields of the world turn fallow as their former workers find their freedom. Let their former masters starve as my own people prosper in the towns built of their own hands. Only do this one thing, and allow your future success to be guaranteed, even if worlds above and below and rent asunder in the fires of change." He realized that he may have been laying it on a little thick, but better than not enough.

[Lunas Legion]

"And I understood exactly..." Theria blinked, trying to think even through her addled mental state. "About a quarter of that? I think? Not really sure. Something about mortals, power, objectives... Blegh. "Mortals." She practically snarled the world.

"Anything involving mortals is more than likely a foolish idea. Those hairless apes haven't known what to do with themselves ever since the War, just throwing themselves around. Power? Why do I need power?" She stood shakily, gesturing to the extreme mess of alcohol, drug mixture and who knew what else that filled her manse in Heaven. "I have everything I need right... Here. I don't need power, I have everything I want right now right here, what else do I even need? And everything is just fine everywhere else, so everything will stay fine up here, and then I can just keep being myself in comfort."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Vulrena, Goddess of the Unknown and Monsters
Heaven

---

"I guess I will have to take that...." Vulrena said as she started floating off, stopping she looked to Cultro, "I will hold you to that promise. No matter what happens, you'll have to trust me. You can count on my support. I will support you in becoming the next king. For now, gather yourself some more support."

It was then the mist dissipated and Vulrena returned to the mortal world.

---

Underneath Vulrena's Temple in Ved Peyt

Vulrena woke in her mortal form. Around her was a seemingly empty room. The only thing in the room was a single mat, which she sat on. The mat was circular and on a small platform with four paths connecting it to an outer ring. Between the outer ring and the mat's platform was a ring of water. The room was poorly lit. This was one of her sanctuaries. She had two, one in each of her followers cities. They where places where she could be alone, but remain close to her followers.

"Now.... I must act quickly...." She said to herself, "They will return. I will make sure. Cultro is just a tool.... when the time comes, I will have to let him go. He is a traitor."

She then took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. She had to rest, for the next part would require all her strength.

[Jazz Commies and Sexy Astrophysicists]

"I cannot force you to do that which you do not wish to," Tesh spoke, a twinge of frustration in his voice. "But I will say this: Heaven is a place of shifting alliances and rapid succession of regime change. Only by attaching yourself to one God's side can you truly ensure that," he gestured vaguely with his claw, "this, can continue. And the cost of such support is only doing that which you were destined to do. Show your power over your domain, and show why the Goddess Theria should be a source of terrible reverence, more than admiration."