A Box of Gods (Purely Public, no mods)

Tlorak

Now it came to pass that the travelling Tlorak happened to pass into the remnants of the Orclands where the Orcs had begun to rebuild after Baal’s demon war. It was there that the first mention of the strange adventurer known as Tlorak Cloud Lord passed into the news and on into stories. Numerous versions of the early tales abounded through the Orcs and Cyclopses and so onto the dwarfs with time. However each version agrees that Tlorak had some level of control over the skies.

The truth of the matter is far more humble than the first stories made it out to be. Tlorak was questing and happened to stop at an Orc encampment in the ruins of the old Orc city where the Orcs were plagued by a particularly troublesome storm which had blown in from the Frost. It was there, wearing his rags but bearing his strange staff or spear that Tlorak stood on a hill overlooking the encampment and raised his spear towards the sky, politely requesting the storm to relent and allow the Orcs to rebuild in peace.
Initially the storm ignored Tlorak but he did not relent and using the power the wind had given him he once again asked the storm to move, at which point it relented and sullenly began to shift away from the ruins.

To the amazement of on looking Orcs Tlorak didn’t even stop to tell them who he was he just headed off without rest, following a winding wind as he headed towards the land of the Dwarfs and Elves.

So it was that the first tale of Tlorak Cloud Lord began to swell vastly out of proportion.

Fleet-Foot

On her journes with her herd, Fleet-Foot soon fell in love with a male. They found that they both refrained from eating meat and that they both enjoyed walking slowly through the forest to inspect the smallest of beauties just as much as they enjoyed the grander visions. The other in the herd distanced themselves from those two because they tended to lag behind and because there was a sense of otherness between them.

Fleet-Foot did not mind. She found that she would prefer to be alone with her mate then spend time running with the pack, who simply ran to find more meat. She ran with him and they fell deeper in love. On one night they stopped their travels and layed together.

The rest of the herd abandoned these two and went towards the desert. Rumor had it that there was more meat farther out and that was what they wanted most. They had stopped caaring for the beauty of the world, instead traveling to hunt and devour.

Fleet-Foot and her mate, however, found beauty in the smallest of creatures and in the largest mountain. They travelled slowly and enjoyed every place that they came across.

The Wanderer

The Wanderer watched through Fleet-Foot's eyes as the rest of the herd abandoned her and her mate. He silently cursed that larger portion of his creation and their hearts began to harden against the world. They would forever travel to do battle and hunt. They would find beauty in nothing.

However, The Wanderer blessed Fleet-Foot and her mate. He gave them the ability to commune with nature and he gave them wild magic used to speak with animals and cause plants to grow.

As the two groups grew further apart, so did their looks. The Militaurs grew fangs and claws. Over time they would grow to well over 15 feet tall. Thei fur became dark black and their skin became just as dark. Their eyes burned red and they became fearsome predators. Still they worshipped the Wanderer and his 'blessing' to them of their new power. The Serotaurs remained at their normal height of 10 feet tall, but their fur gained a greenish tinge while their skin became bluish green. Their eyes ranged from blue to brown. They praised The Wanderer for their magical gifts and for the glory and wonder with which they beheld nature.

The Wanderer looked upon his creations and judged them by their behavior with each other. He was loathe to send any of his creatures to Damnation nomatter what had become of their mortal forms.

Tlorak

Tlorak and the Militaurs

Another true tale, for there are plenty of false tales, about Tlorak is the tale of when he met a band of Militaurs on the edges of the Orclands.

Tlorak had travelled in a meandering pattern for several days away from the Orclands and towards the forests of Elf-home. It was on a large, rolling hill that Tlorak was waylaid by a small band of Militaurs who decided to find out if the diminutive goblin would be good to eat. At first Tlorak did not notice them, even when they let loose their barbed arrows to pierce his flesh.

When the arrows approached Tlorak sudden strong cross winds would swat them aside, sending them thudding into the loam on either side of him. The Militaurs were annoyed that they missed and let loose more arrows, but these ones were also driven aside by sudden crosswinds when they neared the goblin. They tried once again and the arrows were yet again driven to either side of Tlorak who only just noticed them now that he was much closer. He continued his steady and unrelenting approach regardless of the rain of arrows.

One of the Militaurs, the leader of this band became angry that none of them could hit the goblin with their arrows and so cast aside his bow and charged at the goblin, galloping at full pelt in an attempt to mow him down. As he approached he was not buffeted by any winds. Tlorak looked up calmly at the raging Militaur bearing down on him and simply sliced down his spear as though preparing to meet the Militaur’s charge. But from the spear an unseen force lashed out at the charging beast and it was torn apart by a raging wind. Raising his spear Tlorak continued onwards as if nothing had happened. The other Militaurs stared in horror at what became of their leader but they resolved not to run away from their prey regardless. Circling the goblin but remaining at a distance the Militaurs all raised their bows and let loose showers of arrows as fast as they could and did not let up until each one was out of arrows. When the last arrow was out of the air the Militaurs stared incredulously at the untouched goblin that stood in a circle of arrows.

Tlorak looked at them disapprovingly and then, shaking his head as he did so, he struck the earth with his staff and a terrible wind swooped down from the heavens and lashed out at the Militaurs, driving them into the earth and killing them with flying stones and rocks before they had the chance to run. Only one Militaur survived and looking at its now dead comrades; who had been bludgeoned to death by a sudden pebble storm, fled the scene. Tlorak raised his spear and pointed it at the fleeing Militaur, the nearby cloud acknowledged his signal and blackened as it sped after the Militaur, despite the winds going against it, throwing bolts of lightning down just behind the terrified creature to speed it on its way.

Once more Tlorak turned and headed towards the Elf-home as if no one had ever stood in his way.

((OOC: Note, just a small band of Militaurs; far from all of them))

Satan:

Satan travelled to Earth immediately. He beheld these Militaurs as they split apart becoming roving nomadic tribes roaming Pangea. Satan liked them was mused with them for they were like the centaurs but dark, clawed, and fanged.

"How can I make this more perfect?" Satan mused to himself. In the form of a raven he soared through the air at the speed of sound until he found a small tribe of roving Militaurs. Impacting the ground like a feathery missiles he exploded and transformed into thousands of vipers and sank his fangs into the Militaurs. Tranforming into his demonic form Satan stood amid the Militaur troop and laughed.

Badly wounded and with hideous venom creeping through their veins the Militaur tribe collapsed and began convulsing in pain. Their front hooved turned blue and fell off. Their spines contorted forcing them to stand up on their back hooves which enlarged to support their new bulk. Great bull horns tore through their foreheads. Their eyes turned dark red and then completely black. Then their wounds were healed and the venom remains in their kind.

"I shall call you the Minotaurs." Satan declared and cast a final curse on this race. "There are now many kinds of Taurians on this Earth. So, this shall be your lot. Forever you shall be filled with a ravenous hunger. You shall be cannibals of the Taurians and eat only Centaur, Serotaur, Militaurs, and if it must come to it even yourself Minotaur!"

Raising his hand a great city formed in the far Southeast of Pangea. The great city was a massive maze at a choke point between two cliffs. For adventurers to reach the lands beyond they would have to pass through it. This city was called Labyrinth and it became the capital of the Minotaurs. They quickly orgaanized and built the city within the maze. They had a king called Minos and he sent forth troops to raid the Southern and East lands of Pangea to catch and bring back Taurians to be eaten for the Hunger of Satan would never leave them.

Michael:
Michael worked hard for a solid month with the dwarves and after long their capital city was rebuilt even more magnificent than before. Micahael had becoming incredibly strong and when he reached the ailing King Foramir on his death bed he said to him.

"My King, a month a go I promised to help you in exchange for a blessing from your god. However, I withdraw that. By helping you the mighty dwarves rebuild your glorious city I have become as strong as the Earth, so in a way I have recieved blessing enough."

"Good Michael Dwarf-Friend. You have done so much for us and I in my condition have done nothing. Is there nothing you might ask for in payment for your duties? Ask for anything in my kingdom, it will be yours." King Foramir raised himself in the bed a little.

"Thank you good friend Foramir. I just want to be stronger though Michael said, and in a way you have all ready given me that. To be honest King Foramir, I must confess. An old man, I think maybe a God visited me and let me drink of the Magic Water and I now can't be killed by anything but a God. I don't want to be a God myself, for that's what hideous Baal wanted and it provoked the Gods into destroying him. I just want to get stronger and since I can't die just see all their is on Earth." Michael confessed his powers to Foramir who looked at him sternly thinking this over.

"I shall give to you a gift given to me long a go. You may be as strong as the Earth now Michael, but perhaps strength alone will not help you. To become stronger you must become also as enduring as the ocean. Behold, from the Great Pearl given to us by Gorthaur we created three polished great pearls caleld the Pearlmarils. I shall give you one of the Pearlmarils Michael. Take it to the race of Mer that live under the ocean that Gorthaur told me about long a go. The Great Pearl came from them through Gorthaur and now they should deserve one of the its offspring. Tell them the dwarves renew their alliance."

"I will do this deed for you, but how shall this make me stronger?" Michael questioned.

"Heh, you might be immortal kid but trying to live at the bottom of the ocean? Ha, good luck, only the Sea God can help you there. However, the Pearlmaril might be precious enough to get the Mer people or Hydraeus himself to help you out. Good luck, I hope you become the strongest mortal Michael. Stay pure of heart and remember my good will when one of my sons takes my throne." Foramir bade Michael goodbye.

For days Michael ran towards the coast away from the Dwarflands. He looked back one last time at the sotried peaks of the mountains in the horizon. Reaching the coast he took a deep breath and dived in. He swam deeper and deeper musing over the strange calm underwater world. He got so deep that he began to feel his lungs craving for air. He could not die, but then again he couldn't breathe underwater anyhow. He was too deep to go further so he held the Pearlmaril aloft in his and and it shined like a great beacon as he went down deeper into the darker water.

He could hold his breath no longer. His mouth opened and the ocean tore into his lungs and filled them. He became unconcious for he could not die. So he sank to the bottom of the floor and his unconcious body floated aloft in a dark sleep at the bottom of the ocean floor.

As luck would have it, a Mer spearman from the city of Na was on his daily rounds to hunt for the mighty tuna which were a staple of his diet. He happened upon Micheal, and having been a descendant of that original Mer to receive the bag of air, was carrying the magical bag himself. Seeing a being lying on the seafloor who looked somewhat like an orc or a dwarf, he tied the bag around his mouth.

Michael:

Air from the Magical Bag rushed into his lungs and the water was expelled. Michael took a deep breath and regained conciousness. Taking the bag from his mouth he waved at the Mer people of Na. They saw he couldn't open his mouth to communicate so they gave him some of their special waterproof paper.

Michael wrote on a sheet of paper:

Hello I am Michael, a human from Pangae the ground above the water. The dwarfking Foramir asked me to give this to you as a token of continued friendship between Dwarf and Mer kind.

Michael held up the piece of paper and handd the Pearlmaril to the city mayor. The Mayor accepted it graciously and bowed taking the precious gem. Michael continued to scribble

This magical bag of air would prove useful indeed. Is there anything I might be able to do to win it?

The Mayor of the Mer city of Na read over the words carefully and thought to himself for a moment before he spoke.

"This magical bag of air was given to us by our old friend Gorthaur. However, we might be able to given it to you on one condition. You shall take Gorthaur's steed Seaglider to the far away North Pole. Long ago the evil god Satan created a monster called the Mer Eater that terrorized the city of Na, and many other Mer settlements. Our god Hydraeus sealed the monster in ice at the north pole. However, we the Mer are wise and we know that unless the monster is slain Satan will one day release it again to terrorize us.

We will give you Gorthaur's magic bag of air if you can slay the Mer Eater and bring back proof." The Mer Mayor of Na proclaimed.

Michael nodded and agreed to the challenge. The graceful aqua steed Seaglider let Michael hop on its back and it bore him swiftly to the surface where he took a great refreshing breath. Laughing merrilly he point to the north and Sea glider jetted off at a great speed towards the arctic pole.

The Wanderer and Reidan walked into the city of the dwarves and The Wanderer marveled at the gold and jewels that sparkled and gleamed. He laughed at the short and stubby creatures. "You made these Reidan?" He laughed some more growing loud and boisterous. Then he becan to notice that many of them were staring at him with angry looks on their faces. "But such wonderful creations that they have! Look at how it sparkles!"

He looked around and scratched his head. "Little roudy in here isn't it? Maybe we should take little Ventus somewhere less crowded."

Michael:

Seaglider seemed to be a reliable sea steed for certain. He had gotten faster and bigger and just generally stronger since the days of Gorthaur. Seaglider the great batlike underwater manta ray created by Hydraeus in the days Before Baal. After Gorthaur left Seaglider for life on land the fantastic beast roamed the oceans helping out anyone in Hydraeus' ocean, Throughout his undersea adventure Seaglider had seen where Hydraeus froze the Mer Eater at the north pole region.

First he took Michael underwater where he beheld in the shimmering ice the huge two headed shark monster thrashing about in a small icy pond encase in a glacier. Before Michael ran out of air Seaglider took him back to the surface. Michael bade the creature to wait for him. He took a few steps out onto the glacier then suddenly stopped.

He closed his eyes and began to concentrate. Focusing all of his energy and strength he opened his eyes and began punching into the glacier repeatedly burrowing his way down in. Eventually he came to where he overlooked the hideous Mer Eater from above. Then Michael sang a great song and fileld with Bard's blessing the music created a sword.

His song went something like this:

"The beast at hand
Terrorizes sea and land
It was made to eat the Mer

But now its seen by a Man
And he comes to do what he can

So here me song of Bard don't fail
Give me a worthy blade my lord
Give me up a heroic sword
The beast must fall
I'll risk it all
Bless me with strength of hand"

Victor stomped the ice ceilign and dropped on top of the Mer-Eater and began stabbing and hacking it as furiously as he could. The giant monster's flesh was strong and his sword did little damage. Dving and crashing into the shallow ice bottom of the pool Michael was thrown from the beast's back; the sword stuck into the creatures hide. Michael hit his head on the icy floor and was smacked into the air by the tail of the thrashing shark monster. Before he smacked the water the right head opened wide and swallowed him like a little peanut.

The creature swirled around the tank for a while and then it began thrashing about again. It slammed into the walls and bottom of the pool. It injured itself greatly thrashing intsensely all around its small icy prison. It made one last dive and hit the bottom of the ice and then floated to the surfacne upside down. For a few minutes it just floated their dead. Then its under belly burst forth and Michael jumped out onto the dead monster spitting out entrails.

Having just torn through the sharks vital organs one by one Michael jumped into the water to rinse himself of the slime. A large about of blood left the Mer Eater's body through its mouth and gills. Michael retrived his sword from the Mer Eater's flesh. Swimming the the monster's jaws he took the smallest tooth from each head of the creature.

Going up for one big breath of air Michael face the ocean and began to punch and kick through the glacier. Outside Sealgider came into view and began breaking through the ice. Right before he lot conciousness Michael reached Seaglider who bore him up to the surface and let him lay out in the fresh air until he revived.

From the ocean floor, from the deepest trench, where there is permanent silence, permanent shadow, something disturbed it's balance. Awakening from it's slumber of infinite length, Aerin, God of the Unknown, rose from the depths. He saw the world and its creations, and he sighed. Turning his back to what has already been created, he moved into the sky. The clouds shall hold his land. He created thick clouds of black, and on these clouds grew life. Aerin was pleased, but needed inhabitants, and from the sky he built the Aeros, winged people, and their mounts, sky serpents. He nodded his head, and watched as they worshiped him.

They built monuments in his glory, and created vast sky ships to spread his influence. Their temples were magnificent, and the High Priestess became the one who spoke his word.

"Oh mighty one, creator of the cloud tops, we thank you for the gracious acts in giving us the skyfish, and the thick skywhales, but we do not know what we must sacrifice for your favor. Tell us, so that we may better serve you."

Aerin spoke to her, for she was the only who could listen. "Hear me, my daughter, my priestess, my voice, to better serve me, my people need not sacrifice anything, except the rarest of things, their hearts."

And with this, his people lifted their voice in song, a song that had no words.

And with that the God was truly pleased, and his people interacted with the whole Earth, those on land and those in the sea.

But Aerin knew his pleasure would not last, and to find a way so that it could he went to interact with the other Gods below.

The Sky Summit

The winds were meeting again. It seemed in these fast paced days the winds did nothing but meet and generally run around causing a ruckus. This time was serious though, it was not their beloved child goddess which they found threatened but themselves. Winds and clouds gathered from far and wide to discuss these strange, malformed blights which were attacking the very sky itself.
Clouds and winds came to inform the wider group of the black, twisted and false clouds created in a disgusting imitation of the true, ordered chaos of the sky. They told them of the situation and what had been done so far, the only thing had been done so far…

The skies around “Cloud Tops”, upon which the Aeros resided, were dead; utterly dead. Devoid of any hint of a breeze for ten miles in any direction, clouds skirted the wall of this dead space while breezes ran around the edge, enforcing the stillness of the interior. The Winds and Clouds had never believed they’d have to abandon a section of sky, not even the evil landscape of Cocytus had perturbed them and in fact they’d welcomed the strange smoke and suit which visited them temporarily above that land. The sky felt desecrated by these “Cloud Tops”…

The winds were shocked into stillness momentarily and even the clouds shuddered; that something had been so bad as to call for that needed desperate measures. However other winds raised a problem, despite the clouds’ ever watchful eyes and the scurrying breezes’ numerous forays the one who could help them could not be found and they knew not what they could do without her help. There was also the problem of her having no known power yet, another troubling fact.
Incoherent muttering ensued until several winds arrived late from the Orclands and were informed of the problems they faced. They provided the unusual solution in the form of a certain quester who the Frost winds had chosen to seek out Aerya, or Ventus as the land dwellers called her. They also informed the group that some of the Frost’s Seeker winds travelled with him, lending him their power. The winds and clouds conferenced once more but they quickly came to the decision that more of their number should meet up with this quester and help him find Aerya as quickly as possible.
Some more winds departed, both more Seeker winds and Driving winds to join the quester from the Frost on his journey…

Tlorak

Tlorak had journeyed far again and had sown the seeds for many more myths, though he did not know he had done this. He stood on a ridge overlooking the vast forests which made up Elf-home, though unbeknownst to him the Elves knew of Aerya’s location and whispered her land name in terror whenever particularly nasty looking clouds gathered over-head and threatened to let loose a storm.
It was as he overlooked the forest that some strong winds sprung seemingly out of nowhere to wrap and curl around him, filling him with a dire sense of urgency and the peculiar knowledge that they would speed him on his chosen course. So it was with a frown and dark feeling that Tlorak leapt down from his perch and sped into the forest, the whipping winds running along with him.
He slowed as he approached a group of Elves in a clearing, Elves who felt his winds and recognised the design of his spear/staff. They threw themselves at his feet and babbled incoherently with tears streaming out of their eyes.
After questioning them closely Tlorak learned that they had believed he was a messenger from the Wind Goddess who had threatened to destroy them for their singing and dancing had harmed her. Tlorak learned of where she had been taken by her father and another, now forgotten god. With that information he dismissed the Elves and left with great speed, though the winds may have shaken them a bit once he was gone.

Not long afterwards, in far shorter time than it should have taken, Tlorak arrived at the gates to the Dwarven City built inside the mountain, it was here that the winds which had joined him before the forest whispered their thanks and apologies before leaving him as quickly as they had come. Tlorak was unperturbed, just as the winds which had imbued him were unperturbed.

Despite some Dwarven protests about a goblin entering the city, which both Tlorak and the winds quelled with some simple displays of dominance (namely throwing dwarves about when they stood in his way), Tlorak gained entrance to the city and by simply listening began to home in on Reidan, the Wanderer and Ventus. His goal was now in sight.

Michael:

Michael was taken by Seaglider swiftly to the city of Na and after taking a gulp of air from the Magic Bag of Air he wrote down that he had defeated the Mer Eater and presented the teeth he had collected from the slain beast as his proof. The Mer knew the teeth of the Mer Eater for they had shredded many Mer before the beast was imprisoned. Knowing his words were true the Mer gave to him the Magic Bag of Air and named Michael a Mer-Friend. They also gave to him Gorthaur's little seaweed farm, but Michael refused this and instead had Gorthaur's farm given to the community of Na.

The the Mer Mayor of Na told Michael that very recently before he had returned a strange people called the Aeros had visited them and made embassy and good relations with them. Knowing Michael sought to get stronger they suggestted to him that he visit this sky people so that he could learn what he could from them.

Seaglider bore Michael back to the surface and Michael patted the creature on the head before it sunk back into the depths below. Holding the bag upside down above his head Michael opened it. At once the Air from the bag inflated and he floated up into the sky. Holding tight to the bag he floated for hours until at last he came to the great land of Cloud Top where the Aeros dwelled.

The Aeros were astounded and amazed at this strange man. They had seen humans before, but they could not imagine that a human could reach Cloud Top. Michael shut the bag and enterred their magnificent cities. The High Priestess of the Aeros approached Michael and asked him what his purpose for coming to Cloud Top was.

Michael told her how he had helped the dwarves rebuild their cities, how he had delivered one of the three Pearlmarils to the Mer. He recounted his perilous adventure in which he slew the Mer Eater and won the Magic Bag of Air. Finally he told them how he used the Magic Bag of Air to reach them and that he would like to get stronger and learn more from them.

The High Priestess was delighted and she smiled.

"You may all ready be the strongest mortal in all of the World Michael. You are as strong as the stones of the dwarves. As enduring as the waters of the Mer. However, one thing you lack is the great speed of the air. As the High Priestess of our great God Aerin I could ask my Lord to grant you such speed, but first you must do a deed for my people." The High Priestess opened her offer.

"Yes anything you wish." Michael bowed graciously.

"Good. Then as you told me the dwarves made three Pearlmarils. One they gave to the Mer in the sea. The other two they keep in their dwarflands. You have good relations with the dwarves. So I ask you, go to the dwarves and ask them to give the Aeros one of the Pearlmarils so that the Sky may have one as well. Then all three great realms of the World, the Sky, Land, and Water may possess the Pearlmarils. If you do this I shall beg my god Aerin to bless you with the speed like that of the wind." The High Priestess made her demand.

To Michael this seemed reasonable, but he knew this would be a great challenge, moreso than killing the Mer Eater. The dwarves had given one Pearlmaril away freely, but he did not know if they would give away another of the precious gems. Michael agreed to the High Priestess' terms and the Aeros people took him back down to land not too far from the Dwarflands on one of their small skyships.

Four mighty beings had been created, mostly through the work of the Wanderer, though he was positive that he hadn't made minotaurs. The beasts recognized no god and ate his other creations. The Wanderer, unflappable as ever, decided that once again it was time to change. He remembered the mighty Cyclops that were once his and he saw the Dwarves with their amazing power. The Minotaurs, Militaurs, Goblins, Orcs, nearly every type of people had one thing in common.

They all had a certain bloodlust. They were all fighters and soldiers. The Wanderer squeezed his staff until it broke in two. It fell to the ground, one half becoming wide and tall, the other half growing only slightly longer and becoming sharp. The staff had become a tower shield and a broad sword. As he bent to pick them up metal seemedto stream across his body until he was wearing bright shining plate metal. His jaw became wider and his eyes turned a fierce red. The Warrior was born.

He sat back down and continued his conversation with Reidan, almost unaware that he had changed form again.

Michael:

Michael enterred the Dwarflands and the dwarfcity. He was almost to the royal palace to ask for the Pearlmaril from the king when something caught his eye. He turned as saw three strange beings and a curious chill went up his spine. Could these be the Gods?

"Michael turned aside and walked up to the metal suited God. The Warrior is what he saw and he did not know him to be the same Bard that set his people free from slavery in Cocytus. Tapping the god on the shoulder he said:

"Hey are you guys gods?"

Satan:

Satan sat on his burning throne in Damnation with his eyes shut. In his mind he heard the saw and heard Michael and the three gods Warrior, Reidan, and Ventus. He smiled and teleported to the World. flying down to them in the form of a four armed alligator beast with two legs. He sliced through the air and grabbed smacked Michael down into the cobblestone street.

"A mortal even has to ask if these are God?" Satan sneered.

"Who are you?!" Michael jumped to his feet rubbing the scrape on his cheek.

"Insolent fool! I'm Satan the King of all Gods! You're not who I'm here to deal with though little Michael. You are just a puppet of my design!"

Satan started laughing like a maniac and ran forward at the speed of light. Stopped then grabbing Michael he picked him up and flung him striaight down into the mountain the the vault where the Pearlmarils laid. Satan turned into lighting and followed down the tunnel and blasted Michael unconcious. Taking back his demon alligator form Satan took one Pearlmaril and tucked it into Michael's hand. Raising his fist He teleported Michael back to Cloud Top.

The Satan teleported back up to the three Gods watching him.

"Time is up on the peace I offered when I kileld Baal." Satan smiled twistedly.

Turning into a burst of blue energy he burst forth and blasted Reidan out into the ocean. Then Satan turned on the Warrior. He turned into a bolt of lightning knowing the metal armor would conduct it. However, In the nick of time Warrior realized the attack. He counterred by grounding Satan forcing the evil god to turn into falling flowers. Satan turned into a multitude of rave ns and swooped in on Warrior. The Warrior God lifted his shield and said a few mighty words. A field of fire burst forth . Then Satan was gone. Warrior looked all around then suddenly the ground erupted and Satan in his winged demon form gabbed Warrior by suprise. Flyfast into the sky he threw Warrior so far the God arrived in Paradise.

Satan landed on the ground and turned to the trembling Ventus watching all this happen so fast. Satan laughed and reached his hand forward.

"You're going to go somewhere special since you're the youngest you have to learn quick little Goddess." Satan laughed.

He grabbed the little winged goddess and slammed her into the ground all the way into Damnation. Satan stood their laughing with fury. Then a thud and he paused eyes wide. An ornate dwarven axe sticking out of his back. He reached back and threw the axe down one of the endless pits he made in the battle. Turning behind his he saw the barely standing up aged King Foramir of the dwarves wheezing and huffing having used all his strength in the effort to throw the axe. He groaned in agony and touched his old war wounds.

"God damn you Foramir, haven't you died yet?" Satan spat onto the ground. The dwarf king didn't dignify him with an answer but spit towards Satan's general direction. Satan laughed. "If only I was your God I'd be forcing you to eat hot coals for eternity. Oh well maybe your weak god Reidan can be cowed into giving me your soul anyway"

Satan zigzagged forth and forth quickly until he came to a stop at Foramir's left side. The Dwarf King closed his eyes he knew he was no match, btu he had tried his best. Satan punched his fist through Foramir's skull. He ripped his brain out and threw it to the ground. The proud king's body slumped to the ground at last dead.

Satan looked around and laughed. "Well that makes thigns more interesting right?"

Then he closed his eyes and teleported to Damnation.

Tlorak

Tlorak stared at the destruction that had been wrought by the evil God upon the Dwarven city. The winds shuddered and wrapped up close to him, even the elemental forces were afraid of that insane beast. Tlorak also realised his goal had been put just out of reach, as did the winds and soon so would the sky. Knowing there was nothing he could do about that for now, though he was sure the Goddess could handle herself, he hurried over to Foramir’s body, which lay mutilated. He was the first there, before the Dwarves but to their surprise this “goblin-fiend” didn’t mutilate or desecrate the corpse, instead he turned it over and laid it out, putting together the remnants of his head with strange powers. When Tlorak was done, Foramir looked like he had gone to sleep on the floor with a slight head wound.
“Why have you done this?” An elderly Dwarf asked sadly.
“Because leaving him would be a mockery to the one who stood up to the Beast and was not cowed.” Tlorak said sadly.
“But are Goblins not our enemies?” The Dwarf was clearly confused.
“No. We did what we did during that war because of Baal and those of us who are left, well, we wander.”
“Then why did you return?”
“To seek the Child Goddess of the Sky, the one you know as Ventus. As the winds of the Frost tasked me. But I was too late and she has been taken to the Underworld, where I cannot go.”
The Dwarf was silent but acknowledged Tlorak’s simple statement.
“Why then were you tasked to seek her?” He asked finally.
“I know not why I was chosen originally but later on it was because an usurper has taken over her realm in the Sky, filling it with false people called Aeros. The ones who stole your Pearlmaril with the help of the Beast.” Tlorak pointed to the gaping hole leading to the secure Treasuries of the Dwarfs. This statement lead to enraged yells and a great flurry of activity as Dwarfs skittered here and there in rage and urgency. Some repairing things, others calling for the death of the so called Aeros.
Tlorak watched impassively, the winds with approval, as a large group of armed Dwarves torched the Aeros embassy and killed the Aeros who had been inside; by fire and axe. Outside, the residing Aeros Skyship was brought down by ballistae and catapults, the Aeros who survived the crash meeting a similar fate to the ones in the embassy.

“So it has begun.” Tlorak said simply before turning to leave the city.


Ventus

Ventus awoke in a dark but hot pit. She vaguely remembered awaking briefly only to be thrown into the Earth by some strange God. She put those two together and realised she was likely in Damnation. A place which was uncomfortably stuffy.

Pushing herself upright she found a dented Dwarven axe beside her, picking it up she ran her hand along it and it changed, remoulding itself into a metal staff and spear. Unknowingly it was a smaller version of Tlorak’s.
Ventus spread her wings and for the first time in her life, after a couple of attempts, she managed to fly; lifting herself off the dark ground and up into the air. When she finally exited the pit she hung, slowly flapping her wings, in front of Satan’s throne.
“Your place is boring.” She said in a bored tone.”

The meteor hurtled towards the ground, gaining speed as it fell. It slammed into the earth, and the sound of the impact cracked through the air. A fairly massive cloud of smoke to billowed out above. The smoke writhed and formed into strange, unnatural shapes. Large hunks of earth sprayed out from the point of impact, and spread out around the meteor. The air was hot and stuffy, seeming to crackle with energy. The meteor was now set ablaze, for the portion of land it had impacted into was highly flammable. The friction had cause fire to envelope the meteor, as well as spread around a bit. The crater was about twenty-feet deep, but the meteor still remained intact. Flames licked at the air, enveloping the area around the crater.

For a few minutes, the blaze continued, but then suddenly, it was quiet. There was a low hiss, as the fire was extinguished. An unkown, ethereal force stomped out the seething hot flames, as if smothering it with an invisible boot. The smoke dissipated, and the air tenses. The entire atmosphere with-held some sort of energy, as if taking a deep breath and holding it, waiting. Waiting...but for what?

It was tense. Eerily silent. The meteor was utterly still. The smell of burning wood, and charred grass still filled the air, but still. Something was about to happen.

By now the sun had begun to set, casting an warm, orange glow over the wreckage. The fiery, calm light of the sun silhouetted a small girl, clamoring from the crater, crawling in between rubble. The girl, upon closer inspection, looked about eight, but her eyes glowed with an ominous, pale blue light as if the moon were shining down on her. She rose to her feet quickly, and uttered a few words. These words, were not strings of letters. No, they meant something. They spoke the true name of the meteor, the flames, the grass. They held power. The girl whispered her words with confidence, and though she merely uttered what she wished, her voice echoed around her for miles. All was silent, as wolves paused, twitching their ears. The sound of the crashing of a river halted, as if switched to mute. A sweet, indistinct smell wafted around the girl. It was completely alien, and unplaceable if one attempted to describe it later. The only thing that could be said about it, was how it welled up a warm feeling in your heart.

The words had taken their affect. Where the meteor once sat, the last blades of a mild grassy hill sprouted up. The charred and wilted trees were nowhere to be seen. Now, only tall, towering evergreens were visible. They closed in a grove around the girl. Not only had the place been healed, but improved. It thought, it felt.... and it lived. The grove whispered a name, a girl's name. Through the rustling of leaves, the feel of the soft blades of grass.
They whispered the girl--the god's--they were one in the same, but the grove whispered their name.



"Lucania, Vali Lucania, Vali Lucania..."

The girl, the god, they were happy as of now. They could have done magnificent, wonderful, or horrid and terrible things in the moments to come. Instead, they rested against the grassy hill. The evergreen trees shaded them, forming a protective barrier. Though they could have done nearly anything imaginable, they drew a blank book, and began to weave their story.

The Warrior was dazzled by the light of Paradise and quickly made his exit. He much prefered the temporary light of the sun, thank you, and so he ended up on earth. Hw looked out upon the world and laughed. War thrived as the dwarves and their allies attacked the Aeros. "Hot Damn Satan," He chuckled again at his small joke, "You really do know how to treat a fella don't you!."

He brought out his broad sword and roamed the earth. He brought his power to a bare minimum and landed near the first battle he saw. Many Dwarves were ruthlessly terrorizing a group of Aeros. The Warrior became like an Aeros and flew into the fray. He landed behind the Dwarven lines and began to fight. The Dwarves had him outnumbered 20-1 but he didn't care. He blocked strike after strike with his shield as his blade blazed with a fiery red light. After several minutes of fierce fighting the odds had been evened between the dwarves and the Aeros.

The Warrior shifted elsewhere and returned to his own form. He sheathed the sword and walked for awhile. It was then that he found the lands of the demons, completely evil but utterly helpless. He took a group of 10 them aside, the less evil ones of course, and he raised his arm above them. "It is time for the world to know battle, and so, I will make something worth fighting!"

The First became an animal of epic proportions. It was a furious monster the size of a small mountain. It became like a wolf only with jagged fur and two large fangs. It ran off, its command was to burrow and sleep until it was awakened by any travelers. Then it would devour them whole and move to the next region. So came the Xinch

The Second seemed to dissappear. The winds shifted though and plants seemed to break apart behind where the beast had once been. This dragon was nearly invincible and almost completely invisible. It sought out evil, turning the sentient beings into slaves until their hearts rotted from their own missdeeds. Its name was Sin

The Third became a creature so massive that it dwarfed all of the others combined. It was tall enough to see into the clouds. A giant reptilian monster with claws of steel and rainbow scales and the hunger of a country of starving people, this creature was sent to the depths of the ocean, to swallow whole anything that dared pass its way. The Leviathan was its name.

The Forth mixed with the Fifth and they became like a swarm of bees. Each tiny insect was armored with what seemed to be metal. The looked like a mix between a bull, a lion, a scorpion, and a dragonfly. These creatures were sent to cause pain, but they could not kill. The creatures afflicted by their stings would scream for death but it would not come. They were sent together to terrorize the world. So the Locust came to be.

The Sixth and seventh became like lions with eagles' heads. The Wanderer struck them with his magic but could not affect them. They sprouted feathery wings. They spoke in his mind with the grace of the Bard. "You must not make only evil Warrior." And so the creatures were impervious to any type of magic or power because of their feathers. They became good but also highly territorial. The god blessed them and named them Gryffons.

The eighth became three machines. They all stood on two legs and were roughly shaped like men. The first was large and black it carried water in a steamer on its back. This creature was sent to cities to capture any who would dare kill another in cold blood. It would hunt them down like the foul creatures they were and kill them with its large iron fists. The second was slimmer and seemed to have no powersource at all. It carried whips made of chains and was sent to capture and return traitors. The last was small and buzzed like a fly. It would go to sleeping sentients and implant the thoughts of murder and tretchery into their heads. Here were the Retriever, the Revenger, and the Tempter

The ninth became an egg, destined to lay dormant for hundreds of years before a creature would come from it.

The tenth became a man, then an elf, an orc, and every other race in succession. It was just like the god that had created it. He laughed and named it Doppleganger. He gave it another of its kind and told it to spread acrross the world.

The Eight Wonders, he called the magnificent beasts. (The Leviathan, the Xinch, Sin, the Locust, the Retriever, the Revenger, the Tempter, and the Dormant One.) Only a hero of great might could slay these great monsters. Or perhaps an extremely large army.

The Sentient Two that he had made, he decided to let them roam free and to make their own names. (These were the Dopplegangers and the Gryffons)

Talor
High Sovereign of the Aeros, Talor as he was commonly known, ruled his people like the benevolent dictator he was, with a firm grip but smooth skin. His people did not like war. They did not believe in war. They would not fight. Talor knew this, he knew his people. Their ships were not made for war, they had few weapons, and though they were more than capable of creating weapons quickly, they would not. The most they would do is defend.

Talor met with the High Priestess. His advisers also stood with him in his chambers. The priestess spoke with the God, Aerin. "They fear us. It is why they act so Rashly. Aerin thinks we need to set a no trade policy on the Dwarves, as well as the Goblins." Talor thought on this for a while. He figured it would be the best Idea.

"Alrighty then, remove all ships from the Dwarf and Goblin territories. They will no longer receive their Skytree Nuts that they love so much." He nodded and dismissed the Messengers. They would get the information to the trade ships as quickly as possible.

High Priestess
The High Priestess found Michael just outside Talor's Palace. "I sense you have... brought... the Pearlmaril. Are you sure you wish to... give it to us?" She was having more trouble than usual with her gift of speaking tongues, perhaps it was Aerin's thoughts roaming through her head.

Aerin
Hmmm... Mortals, they always surprise you. Aerin was distracted pondering the reason the Dwarves acted so rashly upon his undeserving servants. Perhaps he should plague them with the creatures that dig below the dwarves' deepest hole. No... he must first find the reasoning in their actions. Yes their king had just died... but that was not his fault... It was the Smooth-Sayer. "I must speak with him... But when." With that, Aerin the great winged serpent, flew from his dark sea abode, into the sky.

The Goblin of course, was the Smooth-Sayer. Nothing surprised him anymore. The God of the things Unknown should not be surprised by the random events that make up destiny.

He looked at the dwelling of the Aeros. They could defend themselves... but they would not attack. He felt sorry for them in a way. Aerin teleported to observe the judgement of the sailors who died, as well as the embassy workers. They had done no wrong, and had been killed in the rage of a mob. They received paradise. He was pleased. He teleported again, back to Earth. He should visit this Goblin, they did not deserve to die.

He flew above the Goblin, and landed in front of him. "I hope you realize what you have done." He bared no ill will to the Goblin, but he needed to be sure of the mortals "ulterior motives", as the humans would say.

Satan:
Satan sensed chaos, madness, evil, all coming to life spontaneously on Earth. He laughed like a maniac and his cruel heart was pleased. He turned to little Ventus mocking him.

"Ha, yes it is boring young Goddess, you learn quick. Now the Gods and the mortals are all in a fury and much blood will be shed and more souls will be mine in Damnation." Standing and laughing so loud the foundations of Damnation shook and sinns were trapped under fallen rubble all over. A rock smashed Baal's head and he walked around headless for a while until it grew back before he resumed having his intestines removed to be dragged around Damnation.

"What do you think Baal? Miss the Earth? Maybe your time was too short Baal. Hmm, I'd send you back to life, but, hell, you're too fun to torture." Stana conjured and threw a dagger into Baal's eye. "Time for you to get going young one. You'll learn the art of evil soon enough, I have faith in that."

Satan grabbed Ventus and threw her slamming through the craggy spire filled roof of Damnation all the way back to Earth to the land of Cocytus..

Michael:

Michael regained conciousness and looked at the priestess and the pearlmaril in his hand. He was still dazed, after all a God had slammed him through layers of thick stone, some of which he had helped lay down in rebuilding the swarfcities.

"No..." He replied and swayed still dazed as the high priestess looked back at him and he withdrew the outstretched gem. "No...that bastard, he...he must've made me take the Pearlmaril. I must go now. I am sorry High Priestess I do not know if I can complete your quest for you, maybe I am not meant to be as swift as the air."

Michael leapt up into the air as ran with all his might to the front of the fighting. He was quick as a flash of lightning running, and found himself to be even faster than air and he hoped for. At first he felt grea, but then it began to bug him. That evil god had told him he was just his puppet. Michael could think of no other way he could have got this power other than interacting with the foul monster. He shook thought from his mind and joined the battle.

He went around running at the speed of sound it the loud booms and explosions sounded like an artillery barrage, but all Michael was doing was breaking each side's weapons. After a few minutes the two armies and the front stood amazed and awestruck looking at eachother and in the sky and all around. Michael stopped in the middle of the two lines.

"You could say this is a temporary ceasefire." Michael joked. He walked forward to the dwarves. You once called me dwarffriend. Please believe I did not take the Pearlmaril of my own freewil. Of my own freewill I give it back though." Michael handed the Pearlmaril to the highest ranking dwarf in front of him.

"We should not fight eachother us mortals, and we should not fight the gods, this is the lessons Baal failed to realize. This is what that evil bastard Satan wants to destroy. We should have peace between the people who want life and unity for the mortals. I ask now to any God. Give me one thing.

Give to me Michael a magic object that will grant me one wish! and I might be able to destroy Satan." Michael bowed before the two armies.

Tlorak

Tlorak did not deign to turn to face the god. He did not need to, out here where there were so many winds and clouds he knew what Aerin was doing anyway. Many winds wrapped and fluttered around Aerin in a very aggressive manner, whispering foul abuse about his shady thefts.
“I informed the Dwarves that their treasure had been stolen. I told them who had done it. They deserved to know that the shadow-people, your Aeros, desired the Pearlmarils because the Mer and the Dwarves had them.” Tlorak stated, in an almost flat monotone except for the contempt he dripped on the word Aeros.
“I do not care if the Aeros die. In fact…” Tlorak trailed off and the wind blustered more strongly, whispering about killing Aeros over and over again. “They want them dead.”
Finally Tlorak turned to face Aerin with an impassive face.
“You may have usurped my mistress’ domain but that will not last. The Beast may have spirited her away his Underworld but once she returns I will finish my task and return her to the Winds and Clouds where she will decide what shall be done about your blights.” As Tlorak talked it seemed as though a great number of other voices, like breezes on leaves and grass and stones, were talking with him.

Ventus

“Urgh…” She said as she shook the dirt off of her and looked around the bleak land of Cocytos, it wasn’t actually that bad. There were plenty of winds here.
“He might as well install multiple staircases… Honestly he is so boring.” As Ventus left the scene she flicked her fingers and a great wind swept across the surrounding land and down the hole, dragging some screaming demons with them. “Maybe he’ll get more interesting if he has company.”
Spreading her wings Ventus lifted herself into the air and then began the flight back to the Dwarven city. The winds whispered and murmured their joy that she had been found and began relating all of the recent events to her as she flew.

Tlorak

A wind swept in, the remnants of frost and ash borne upon it.
“Aerya… Aerya has returned… Aerya… Aerya has returned…”
It whispered this message to Tlorak joyfully, just loud enough for Aerin to hear as well.
“Not even Damnation can contain her.” Tlorak stated simply and looked towards the very distant Frost, waiting for her to appear on the horizon.

The Warrior, who was also the god that had liberated the humans, heard Michael's prayer. He laughed and appearedbefore the mortal. His shining armor dazed nearly everyone else in the area.

"Michael" He said, his voice booming with the power of a thousand cannons. "I shall grant you your request. However, you must perform three great acts."

He stretched his hand and pointed towards the nearest mountain. "The first is to befriend a Gryffon and have it allow you to ride it."

He clapped his hands and gave Michael a vision of the seven, now living monsters. "You must kill one of the wonders for your second test."

"And the third," He said tapping his chin in thought, "After you perform the first two you must come back, and tell me my name."

And so the Warrior sat down in the field and became like stone. Unmoveable and unresponsive until Michael would come back and utter the god's name.

Michael:

Michael thanked the god for the opportunity and agreed to his terms. He turned to the two armies standing at the frontlines disarmed and awed and puzzled at the presence of a God now in the middle of the battle talking to the powerful hero Michael. He bade them to cease hostilities and at once ran off with a great speed towards the nearest mountain that the Warrior pointed out.

He thought to himself in the dash about the monsters and which one to defeat. The Leviathan seemed like the strongest of the monsters. Part of Michael wanted to take on that just for the challenge and to get stronger. However, that monster lived in the sea and he knew since he could only breathe with the magic bag of air it be a much harder fight than against the Mer Eater. He had seen the terrible wolf monster waylaying a group of elf travellers far off and thought that that foul beast might be a good challenge and be good to rid the world of. Then he thought of the monster, an invisble dragon. The dragons made by Baal had been bad enough, but an invisible dragon, that would be hard to defeat. That and Michael could have sworn when he beheld the vision that he heard a whisperring voice call this Sin.

Michael arrived not long after, running at the speed of sound to the mountain where the new gryffon race had inhabitated and was nesting. He ran so fast the gryffons couldn't see him with their keen eyes. He ran around and around making subtle noises to distract their attention all around until they were confused. Then with a brave jump he hopped forward and leapt on ones back.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" The gryffon shouted at him.

"Whoa! You can talk?" Michael wondered outloud.

"Of course I can talk I am a sentient race after all. What's the big idea little human? Hopping on people's backs! Do I look like some kind of horse to you?" The gryffon said irately, the rest of the gryffons looked on some laughing.

"Oh I apologize." Michael slid off the gryffons backs. "It's just the Warrior god told me he would grant me one wish if I could get a gryffon to allow me to ride it."

"Ha, that's a good one kid. We are too proud to ever allow anyone to ride on us. We're people, not your steed. Your task is impossible." A gryffon stepped forward and stomped the ground with his front feet.

"Hmm, I see. I guess I can't just force you into letting me ride one of you otherwise that would violate the agreement. Can I maybe do a task for one of you to gain permission to just use you as a steed temporarily to give Warrior God proof?" Michael asked the gryffon audience.

"Kid, seriously now think about it." The largest gryffon stepped forward. "Would you ask another human to ride on their back and use them like a horse? No that be degrading. We gryffons are a people too. You're request is just offensive and racist to a free thinking people like we gryffons. I'm sorry your task is not achievable."

"But you don't understand I must do this. It is the only way I can get my wish from the god!" Michael was exasperated.

"So? Why should we care?" The largest gryffon shook his head.

"Because there is an evil god in this world, maybe you don't know since your race is so young. He's hella strong and from what I saw pretty damn evil. I think I know a way to defeat him but I do not want to say it outloud in case he would know and try to stop me." Michael explained.

"We might be young, but our god gave us the knowledge of the past upon our creation. We know of the one you speak of perhaps better than you do. We also know what may or may not happen in the future. The path of this dark god is evil indeed. Your effort will be valiant Michael, but it will be in vain. We urge you to turn back from this path. We all ready know your wish and your wish will destroy you. Turn away from this quest Michael and save yourself, the Earth needs a hero." The head gryffon revealed.

"I can't turn back. I have to try at least even if it doesn't work. It may at least buy the Earth more time. I feel this wretched god has it in him to kill us all. Slowly too, just so he can gain." Michael shook with rage. "I will do anything, even die to defeat him!"

"Very well. You have a noble heart Michael. I will allow you to ride upon my back but you must give to me your magic bag of air in exchange. I have seen that you are trully a good person, you are brave. Even when we have told you what the future holds for you, you are still willing to try to change fate even though it is all ready fixed." The leader bowed.

"You gryffons speak with riddles, but you are a good race, I mean no disrespect to your kind at all. I will gladly give you Gorthaur's Magic Bag of Air and in the future when there are more blissful times I will help the gryffons in anyway they want." Michael said and jumped up onto the gryffon.

With great speed they flew back to the frontlines where the soldiers on both sides were now talkign to eachother trying to fix their broken equipment. Michael and the gryffon landed infront of Warrior who just sat their still as a stone his eyes open and unblinking. Michael hopped off the gryffon. The gryffon explained that he had agreed to let Michael ride on his back. The god did not respond, but Michael had a sudden eerie feeling the god saw and acknowledged the deed.

Michael nodded and let the gryffon fly off to return to his people at the mountain. Then waving good bye the armies and the Warrior he leapt off sprinting across the land at the speed of light. What monster to pick he thought to himself. The Leviathan was out of the question now that he no longer had Gorthaur's Magic Bag of Air. The Sin Michael thought to himself. He ran laps around the world zig-zagging past the different lands. He tried to keep a keen eye out for the invisible dragon but he could not find it.

Michael slowed down and came to rest in a thick forest and he sat down on a fallen log to catch his breath and rest. He also had to think things over and come up with a plan. Maybe an invisible dragon be harder to find that he thought. He might need another target.

The girl and the god--- (I will just refer to them as Lucania, for they are melded together as one)

Lucania observed the world around her. The soft, sweet humming of birds, the gentle wind that caressed her hair, the shaking evergreens. She wrote of what she saw. The words, oh, the sweet words, she did not know where they came from. Somewhere in her heart, perhaps? They were simply natural, flowing onto paper. Words, her words, were more than just consecutive letters. They defined and embodied what they stood for.

In many ways, Lucania was a child. She was curious, gentle, and her physical body at the moment was that of a small girl's. But, she knew she held power, and was far more mature than she appeared. She had the feeling that she soon would need to wander outside of her little grove. As of now though, she was content just growing, learning, observing, and most of all, writing. So, for now, she was content to simply watch. Soon the adolescent Lucania found more and more of her powers. One day, as she sat in "Her Special Grove", as she called it, she had finished one of her observations. She had seen something interesting. A dark, brown-reddish creature with pointy ears, narrowed eyes, a white muzzle, and a very lithe, yet dog-like appearance. She had seen cats and dogs, and this strange creature seemed to be a mix of them. Immediately, the creature's name planted itself inside her head. Suddenly, the creature's habits, wants and needs, fears, they rushed into Lucania's mind.

Aerin
"You speak the truth, but I should inform you, Mortal, the Pearlmaril was returned to the Dwarves, this is no longer a matter of Theft, but a matter of Fear." Aerin said 'Mortal' with emphasis, making it clear that this was the only difference between them. "Fear of the unknown is often poorly placed fear, but it is fear, the most powerful of emotions, nonetheless." Aerin flapped his lengthy bat-like wings, and took to the sky. "Since when does a goblin listen to Wind spirits anyway?" he laughed.

Aerin knew that his creation was in jeopardy. The Aeros, though peaceful to all, were going to a war that they would not win alone. He had to think of a way to save his people.

"I am the reason there is Fear. It is my fault. But that fault can easily be shared if they tried to understand instead of fear. Mortals and Gods are the same... Neither seek understanding, neither are without fault, but one must live with their mistakes forever." He mumbled to himself, as he flew with his terrible form. Sadly he was the embodiment of fear... Serpentine body, Bat wings, Spider legs, etc. He hated it, but the God of the Unknown must represent his subjects.

He was also kind of considered the know it all among the gods, but that was only because he knew things that were Unknown... which was kind of a contradiction in itself, but what wasn't with gods? So he was nearly an outcast among'st his own, which didn't help the fact that he was also considered a "Minor God". Pfff. What motivates most people? Fear! What causes fear? The unknown! Nothing would ever get down with out him.

His thoughts rambled on and on like this for ages... Order within Chaos, the true essence of the Unknown.

During this time, Cloud Top was preparing for the coming War. Defense was the only worry, and between the stormclouds the city was built on, and the fact that they were well above the tallest mountain, the worry on it was minimal.

Tlorak

“Wind spirits are nothing compared to the very Winds and Clouds themselves. Usurper.” Tlorak murmured before once again turning his back upon the god. Settling down he began to set up a small camp fire, he’d be waiting some time it appeared.”

Ventus

“What?” She asked the winds, confused. “I don’t follow… Oh forget it I’ll go and have a look at this… Blight?” She pitched her voice in a question with the last word as she sped across the landscape, flying far faster than any living thing could; an advantage given by her mechanical wings and by the Winds themselves.
It was not long before she passed into the dead zone and could see the false clouds in the distance.
“Oh my… This feels weird.” Ventus murmured to herself, in a manner very much like the winds. A few Storm Winds tagged nervously along with her, sticking close to her so they didn’t disturb the still air more than Ventus did. Sighing and shaking her head Ventus flew on, eventually arriving at the Cloud Tops where she passed over the outskirts, much to the surprise of the Aeros below. Ventus carried on flying until she reached the main temple which was slightly higher than the rest of the Cloud Tops. Ventus landed on the temple steps and tsked at the quality of the cloud before heading into the temple itself, keeping the Storm Winds to herself so that none of the Aeros would be blown away; one of the downsides in living in a cloud city where the Wind and the real Clouds wouldn’t come within ten miles.
“Whoever made these clouds was shoddy when it came to constructing them.” She said absently to herself, shocking several priests as they stared wide eyed at the strange metal child which walked among them, ignoring the Holy Rites of Aerin. Ventus eventually reached the most holy of altars where only the High Priestess, Voice of Aerin, was allowed to go. She ignored that unknown rule as well, crossing the boundary and leaping up on the altar to sit there swinging her legs.
“Honestly, I can’t find anything possibly harmful about this place apart from awful design and construction.” She said to herself again. The priests below looked fearfully on, hoping that the High Priestess would not see this desecration.

Lucania, she pitied the fox. Upon closer inspection, she noticed details she had not seen before. The young creature was obviously still wet behind the ears, fresh from leaving home. Obviously, the ragged young kit was not a fighter. Long, jagged scars etched soft, thin, bald spots of flesh. A few tufts of fur were nowhere to be seen. The young kit glanced around nervously, as if afraid of an unseen attacker hiding somewhere in the shadows.

Sorrow pinged against Lucania's heart. In some ways, the fox was much like her. It was young, still tasting the world outside of its protective barrier. Except, unlike herself, the creature did not have the power of words, of thinking, to aid it.

By natural instinct, Lucania began to whisper. Words snaked from her lips, wrapping around the young, fearful fox, who still whipped its head around, being quite nervous. She continued to let sentences flow from her mouth. As soon as she had begun speaking, she had stopped. The fox quickly fled, a simple flicker of dirt-red visible as it darted away deeper into the forest. But Lucania felt it. She had began an age of knowledge.
_______________________

Slowly, the words spread. They were contagious, leaping from one being to another. But the words were not a disease. They were a cure. Those who listened to the words would be healed, and quickly made their way to Lucania, wishing to learn more. Soon, foxes, humans, and creatures of all kind had appeared in her grove, waiting intently for her to arise with more wonderful words.

Lucania, in that small time, had matured quickly. As her words spread, she grew. Now, she looked to be a pre-teen of eleven, but not she moved with more importance, as is a heavy weight was bearing down on her. She knew that she would teach these creatures, and soon they would have the ability to learn, to research and discover. They would need a home though.

It had taken her a good hour to find the right phrases. She threw her her quill off to the side flippantly, not watching as it disintegrated into into the gentle breeze.

And so there she stood, whispering soothing words to the earth. The ground gratefully devoured them, hungrily absorbing more and more. Soon, her clauses came into effect. High, grand walls constructed of granite rose to dizzying heights in mere seconds.

Soon, tall, pointed towers stretched into the sky, with small barred-in windows near the top. Cone-like, slatted rooftops peaked on the towers, the color of the young tad of a fox Lucania had seen. A portcullis rose slowly, the sounds of enchanted gears slowly, mechanically straining to pull up the gate. The earth around the walls quickly was pressed down by some invisible, wonderful force. Glistening, immaculate water flowed into the newly-dug moat, the bright, warm rays of sun causing it to shimmer. As the water lapped and rippled, Buildings constructed of wood, granite, and stone forced the stubborn ground to shift as it sprouted from the ground. The buildings within the walls could not fully be seen behind the gates, but tall, slanted rooftops were slightly visible, reaching up above the granite walls. The final touches were in order, and the the ground began to shudder and rumble. It vibrated for miles around, but only those in tune with Lucania's words could feel the power and the magic that caused this phenomenon.

The grove of trees filed out, stretching for miles and miles. The evergreens forged upwards, scraping the open, blue sky. This forest would not only be large-- it would protect the castle from any petty attacks. The forest, would contain riddles of wit-- Lucania's words would hold the answers, but if one was undeniably, extremely intelligent, they could make their way through the forest without any help at all.

At that moment, a small band of Lucania's newly found follows emerged from the forest. They stared in awe at the magnificent, towering castle, and then looked upon Lucania. She appeared so young, but they knew she was more powerful than she appeared. A commotion then commenced, and the followers rushed onwards, gleeful that their journeying to find the source of the words had been successful. After Lucania had calmed the excited travelers, the group voiced their needs. They wished to learn of the magical words, and to increase their intelligence, their wisdom.

Lucania accepted, of course. She knew this was her role. "But wait--" A young vixen called out above the bubbling commotion. "Where shall we stay?" All was silent, and suddenly the crowd's cheery disposition was levered down. Where would we stay? The cautious though rippled throughout the group.

"Why," Lucania grinned brightly. "You are already at home."

The crowd glanced around, a bit confused, and then stared at the hulking castle.
Then, they cheered.

"What shall we call you? What shall we do for you?" The crowd inquired, incredibly gracious for their mistress' kindness.

"You may call simply call me Lucania, and the only thing I ask of you is to be kind to your bretheren and spread these wonderful words."