[center][b]Ialu, Avarice Incarnate[/b][/center]
[center][u]9 might[/u][/center]

The body of Cassios had not been amongst the fallen, nor had he been seen after the middle of the battle. Was that one, steadfast as stone in his loyalty, yet another enemy? The thought was infuriating. [i]"Thulemiz escaped my wrath. His Victors stole from me hundreds of soldiers. This is your fault...YOUR CURSE STOPPED ME FROM CLEAVING THEM ALL ASUNDER!"[/i] Ialu uttered low to his breath. He was facing a figurine that bore the likeness of Ferghus, looming over a small anvil.

Ialu hardly was human anymore; he had no desire for food or drink, heat or warmth. His form appeared twisted and demonic, as tall as any man and then half again. A brawny hand with calluses as tough as iron bands reached out to grasp the figurine's head, and with a small squeeze, he crushed the head of the little metal statuette. As the metal crumpled in his grasp sharp points dug into his hands, but they could do him no harm. He was invincible! He was God-King!'

Suddenly Ialu went into a tunnel vision, and then all that he saw faded away into blackness. A moment later, he found himself on top of a mountain's peak. Everything about the mountain and the dreary sky around were black and white. Of course, that was except for the golden figure that stood at the very top of the peak, a few mere feet away. [i]His strange dreams were back again.[/i] It had been a long time since he had last been plagued in his sleep, actually, a long time since he had slept at all...

He recalled the last time when he was unable to so much as even look at the golden figure that loomed before him, and before that when its sheer light had been enough to blow him off the mountain. Now, he could weather the light and perceive what was before him, though he was still unable to look directly at the figure. His gaze drifted downwards. There were steps carved into the rocky peak, leading up to the figure. Try as he might to bound up ten or fifteen steps at once with his great leaps, the demigod found himself forced to trudge up one by one.

As he came closer, the shining light above spoke to him, [b][color=Gold]"Put aside your petty feud with the Forge God. Obey the Sight and your own ambitions. Harken not to the every whim of the 'Mighty One', for you know that I am your only true master."[/color][/b]

Enraged, Ialu roared out, "Who are you to command me, nameless one?"

There was a horrendous shaking. The entire mountain moved and the air throbbed as something emanated from within the shining being. It was laughter. Seemingly bemused, it replied, [b][color=Gold]"And how might you defy Me when you cannot even match my Gaze?"[/color][/b]

After a short pause it at last revealed itself, [b][color=Gold]"I am Ambition, Pride, Greed. I am your Future, of course.[/color][/b]

The blinding light of the figure vanished and Ialu found himself awake and in the real world once more, back as quickly as he had left. His burning gaze was still directed at the ruined idol to Ferghus, but heeding his dream, he put the thing back down and used him magic to quickly repair it. It was then that the smith entered his hut, surprised to see the God-King there.

The loyal smith fell to a knee in reverence, the scraps of metal he had salvaged from the battle being allowed to clatter to the floor as he released his grip upon the things. Before the smith could speak, Ialu did. [b]"I have come looking for you. Littered on the Battlefield, was there a great suit of armor too big for any man, empty inside?[/b]

The smith stammered for a moment before managing to ask, "God-King, do you speak of Rejys, the Arma Igna that fought with the enemy?"

Ialu nodded. That was the very one that he had wondered about. He hadn't seen the Arma Igna anywhere on the battlefield, though he was sure that the thing would have been there.

The smith answered, "No, he was not amongst the fallen. Though afterwards there was a Garakain soldier who claimed to have seen the Arma Igna locked in battle with the one called 'Cassios'. Mighty One permitting, our great warrior still lives after that duel for the ages." The smith quivered in fear at the mention of Cassios, or perhaps simply at the continued presence of Ialu.

The demigod answered, [b]"Troubling. The Mighty One indeed did seem to favor Cassios. Return to work, O loyal one. As we melt down the armor of our slain foes and reforge it into our own, we grow ever stronger. The Mighty One no doubt looks fondly upon your work.[/b]

The compliment clearly meaning much to that one true follower of Ialu, the demigod turned and left. It rang hollow with Ialu, however, as his faith not what it once was. Though he hadn't realized it until his dream, he had already begun to care more and more for his self, and less for the Mighty One... There was a time when he would not have dared to cal himself God-King and demand worship alongside the Mighty One, but even now he felt the prayers empowering him. It was too late to turn back.

He returned to the Strong Tribe's village, marching through the gates and up the hill to his Mighty Cottage. He called for his closest men and the chieftains of all the tribes beneath him. He would once again returned north to Garakai, though this time to fight the brother of his first foe; however, he had several matters to attend to before he left. It was no matter; a demigod had all the time in the world, and with every passing day he grew stronger. He would allow Aztoc to break for perhaps another week, growing content and bold. Then Ialu would be upon him like Death itself, his rage unstoppable.

[hider=Summary]
-Big deal with more of his strange dreams.
-Ialu finally put aside his disdain for Ferghus. He's still not a fan of the guy, though.
-He has some stuff with his lands and people that need his attention, and after he's handled that he's going to go back to Garakai to face Aztoc.
-His previously implacable faith in the Mighty One is seemingly waning.[/hider]