[center][h3]*The Wild Wind, the Capricious Rock, and the Ogre's Swamp*[/h3]
By [@Cyclone], [@Frettzo], and [@poog the pig]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/OazNv9k.png[/img]
[color=00BFFF][b]Storm's King; The First Gale; The Embodiment of Change
Level 3 God of Change (Air)[/b]
24.5 Might 2 Free Points[/color]
&
[color=0072bc][b]Vizier Ventus, Majordomo to Zephyrion[/b]
Level 3 Hero
34 Khookies[/color]
&
[img]http://i.imgur.com/EDjAraP.png[/img]
[color=orange]Lifprasil, Vesamera, the First-Born.[/color]
Level 1 Demi-God
8 Might

[/center]


[center][b] *  * * *  * [/b][/center]

Within one of the many sanctums tucked into the Celestial Citadel, Lifprasil sat upon an ajar windowsill, cradling what appeared to be a crude stone game piece in his hand whilst running over the scroll gifted to him by Illunabar. It was fun, reading the massive tome, it kept Lifprasil invested in the world he had been born into, that, and it was insightful - useful to a prospective king.

[color=orange][i]The Universe was hand-made by the gods upon the swirling pedestal of two greater beings[/i][/color] Lifprasil thought, shifting in his tunic with a perplexed frown. He would let his emotions slip by on occasion when alone - and this was such an occasion. 

Lifprasil's frown deepened, and he took up an admittedly unnecessary posture characteristic to that of a thinker. [color=orange]"If there are beings with dominion over the gods, what does that make the gods?"[/color] Lifprasil mused, clasping the spherical piece in one hand, and relaxing the tome on his lap in the other.

The aspiring godling looked down to the distant planet's surface, noting the almost spherical nature of its shape. The slight curve was supple, an abbreviated zoom of his own, smaller sphere within the palm of his right hand. He felt the rocky texture with his roaming thumb, pressing into its surface in silence as he thought and thought. For days Lifprasil would think, until a clap roused him - it had begun raining far below the Celestial Citadel. 

The unconscious voice of Zephyrion had spoken.

Lifprasil sighed, and stood up, his head hardly reached the top of the circular window he had rested inside of, but his hair had begun to become troublesome. He decided to reach back, and with a few minutes of strenuous fumbling and experimentation, tied it into a tight ponytail. [color=orange][i]Wait. Where did that word come from? Pony? Tail?[/i][/color] Lifprasil thought.

[color=orange]"...What's a pony?"[/color] he asked himself.

No immediate answer came to him.

With a start, Lifprasil hopped down from his window, and onto an awaiting tiled canopy ten feet below. He started walking along the expanse of the Citadel, leaving his now distressed armor and sword behind. [color=orange]"This gray expanse is a canvas, I would think."[/color] Lifprasil said to himself, craning his head to gaze down into the abyssal void of both nothingness and boundless somethingness. He reflected back onto a game his Lifprasilians had invented, the novel idea was pioneered by a bored child named Lakshmi, this [i]game[/i] was simple, built off of what the High Lifprasilians had taken their calling in life for. 

Lifprasil opened his palm, and looked down at the circular piece [color=orange]"This is the soldier, the soldier and twenty others like himself protect the king, whose only task is to reach one of four corners of the grid-layered board without being surrounded. A war of attrition"[/color] Lifprasil recited. The ability to bisect space into sectors and quadrants was interesting to Lifprasil, it showed some enginuity within a High Lifprasilian's mind; shreds of Vulamera. [color=orange]"Then I would be Vesamera."[/color] he said, his voice casted out into the tumultuous wind battering the Celestial Citadel outside.

Lifprasil thought longer on the concept of games, and he had an idea.

He had almost finished the divine scripture, already, and he had read about his father's attack on Galbar, although deplorable, the event had caused the God of time to open a rend to expose the giblets of space - tentacles.

[color=orange]"Tentacles... The massive [i]portal[/i] ate an entire moon."[/color] Lifprasil thought, before he started formulating his theory. Suddenly, he was stricken with another idea.

He began to speak aloud, impartially transmitting his voice to his mother Vulamera, and his father, Vestec.

[color=orange]"The gods are not gods."[/color] Lifprasil said, eyes widened by this revelation. [color=orange]"Like me, they are below something, they abide by rules set by a higher power. They are parts in a game, I would think, pieces similar to the one I have in my hand - just more complex."[/color] he continued, narrating to his own thought. As he spoke, he kneaded into the circular piece, rotating it in the pit of his palm idly. 

Lifprasil's eyes narrowed as he gazed out into the gaseous barrier between planet and space [color=orange]"If this is a game, I'd presume the players can't be wholly neutral, each piece serves its own duty, no matter how complex the objective is. So if Amul'Sharar and Fate made us - and they both work together, then who is the rivaling side....?"[/color] 

He thought some more on the subject, but the revelation was easily sought out. [color=orange]"In one's own haste to create something, they forget to look away from the dazzling spectacle of creation, Amul'Sharar made us, Fate controls us, and the universe would condition us - the God of Time must be seeking things outside this reality to consort with such massive powers of creation; something that not even these puppet-gods could know of."[/color] Lifprasil furthered his theory, shaping it into an idea he could confide within. He stopped transmission to Vestec, but gave Vulamera a thought as goodbye. For now. [color=orange][i]"Do what you would like with this, mother, but know that the game we are in, provided this is truth, does not sing a petty swan song. It's above all of those that you consort with, or I do."[/i][/color]

There was a rustle even in that curtainless window before Lifprasil as the air itself was swept was swept up into one tempest. Zephyrion had of course entered the room behind his student; his presence was hard to mask even when the god made an effort.

Lifprasil turned, and looked at the agape window. He floated back up to its embrace, and back into the room he had been in. [color=orange]"Hello,"[/color] he greeted - much more invested than usual.

[b][color=Gold]"I see that you have poured over the scroll that Ilunabar saw fit to gift you. This is well and will teach you of the nature of my various 'kindred', though I think it time that you gain a more thorough understanding of them. To that end, I would be frank and tell you my thoughts of each an every one of them: their most admirable qualities or lack thereof, their various mistakes, why they fall short of becoming the Supreme Beings that they could, perhaps even should, have been,"[/color][/b] the god began. It was time to begin educating Lifprasil for the day.

Lifprasil cocked his head curiously, taking a seat upon the ground with a less-than-bored expression. [color=orange]"Do tell. This scroll describes history, but it does not do personality justice."[/color]

[b][color=Gold]"I do not share my knowledge lightly and with intent to merely offer a glimpse at 'personality'. Banish from your face that atrocious mask of boredom; you must listen closely for what I would tell you is of great importance. I have known my siblings for untold eons, felt their innermost thoughts as we were suspended in the gaping void that preceded creation, and ruminated upon each and every one of them for longer than you have existed. Therefore, it is only natural that I, being more informed and bearing greater wisdom than any other, will have the correct opinions to impart upon you.

But I will not simply supersede any preconceived notions of yours and erase your own thought with my own utterances. To do so would not be true justice and would not teach you the proper mindsets and thinking process with which to brave the world, and so it is to these ends that I will take it upon myself to explain to you the reasoning behind each of the revelations that I share, or at least an abbreviated and simplified form of it,"[/color][/b] Zephyrion spoke in what felt like one long-winded breath. He would have simply continued, but now he felt the need to ensure that he retained Lifprasil's attention. Some beings were simply not so porous to knowledge as others and thus struggled to listen; it was always made hard to tell with this new charge by how he attempted to conceal his emotions.

Anticipating that he needed to take a short pause to maintain the demigod's attention, Zephyrion did so. [i]'He is fortunate to have a teacher so great as I!'[/i] the god found himself musing to himself. At last, after allowing Lifprasil an abundance of time to process what he had just been told, Zephyrion was so kind as to ask, [b][color=Gold]"So now I offer you a choice! Tell me, which of the pantheon would you like to know of first and foremost?"[/color][/b]

Lifprasil sat in silence - a good conveyance of his own internal emotional state. [color=orange][i]That pause was dramatic on purpose, wasn't it?[/i][/color] he thought, forcing himself not to chuckle at Zephyrion's inadvertent goofy finesse. With a clearing of his throat, Lifprasil spoke. [color=orange]"I would like to know of the good creature known as Logos."[/color] he demanded, setting palms on criss-crossed knees. 

There were undoubtedly many a time in whcih Zephyrion's thoughts would be hidden to Lifprasil behind the veil of a volatile storm, but this was not one. The air itself radiated scorn. 

[b][color=Gold]"Logos,"[/color][/b] the very air of the room whispered, having taken on an unsettling and spiteful chill. [b][color=Gold]"is a coward and a fool, before all else.

He proclaims himself 'God of Gods' and 'King of Kings', but he is no king. He holds no power. I was privy to the wretched depths of his  twisted mind for far too long in the nascent space and time before time;  his only claim is his form of seniority. He was god of another world  that preceded ours from its dawn until its dusk, and he remembers. So he  thinks it fit to rule over this one and no doubt watch it similarly  wither to ashes, just like the last.

Know  this: I hold no memories of the past. I am no reincarnation of a long  dead being, no glowing ember from a flicker of flame long past its brightest days. In this regard I am alone, but not lesser for it: I am simply an embodiment of Change, and Change is omnipresent and eternal. Through it, I preceded all things and am therefore the Supreme Being. Do you understand? It is his own claim to power that undermines his legitimacy and sets him apart as inferior to myself.

Furthermore, he possesses a delusion of such grandeur that it has even enticed some of the other wayward gods who lack purpose; this fallacy is what he calls the Natural Order. In his eyes, all things must bow to him for he is Order, and all things must adhere to those limitations and principles set about by Order.

Of course this 'Natural Order' is nothing but an arbitrary set of rules that he defined upon a whim, as if he had any authority or legitimacy. Vestec's chaos is simple: mere disruption to the equilibrium. The fire that must draw rain. The mountains that must be climbed. The violent storm that must come, lest the mortals grow to take the gentle rain for granted. 'Natural Order' lacks all of this; arbitrary rules with neither purpose nor the intelligent design of a pristine mind make for stagnation and existence devoid of any meaning except that which is bestowed by Logos the lunatic, Logos the tyrant, Logos the [i]weakling.[/i]."[/color][/b]

A calm filled the room now, and some air of triumph and Zephyrion's usual boastfulness returned. [b][color=Gold]"It is fortunate, then, that Logos is no true lord and that the world has a protector so dauntless as I. In the time before time, the other gods fell into Logos' trap; while he was first to appear, he was last to come, and so his foul 'Natural Order' had successfully implanted itself into their minds and tainted the nascent design of creation itself. The Codex that the others drafted was flawed and meaningless; while Vestec added his randomness and anomalies, such things could not fight the Natural Order. Only I could.

In sight of all of them, I clutched that Codex with my divine might and set it aflame. By storm and fire I corrected for their innumerable flaws and their accursed lack of foresight, and I created the universal equilibrium and all Change. None made a contribution so grand as I. This world would be not so different from that lifeless void before were it not for my efforts, and yet I have been offered no thanks, only ever contempt.

It was not long after my work that Logos made his appearance and [i]dared[/i] assault Vestec, Jvan, and myself, in some vain effort to allow Toun and the other impressionable fools to undo my Changes. Fortunately they did not succeed. They could not succeed, for then I was the Embodiment of Change even more than I am now and I refused to let the  Codex be ruined twice.

Since then, Logos has not shown his face. Rather than look upon Galbar and be forever reminded of my glorious triumph, he chose to flee like the coward that he is. Perhaps he willed himself to ashes and dust. Perhaps he tries in vain to enforce his 'Natural Order' upon some other land. It does not matter and I do not care; in either case I have won, as I always will, and Logos only solidifies my status as Supreme Being."[/color][/b]

The wind itself sighed and there came a long pause. Zephyrion finished, [b][color=Gold]"Let this be your lesson for today."[/color][/b]

Lifprasil took a seat upon an undusted couch slung far away from Zephyrion, kneading at the game piece. [color=orange]"All the gods are flawed in their logic, their loftiness. It's annoying, really. I'm so drawn to your allure because it seems that you, Vestec, and Vulamera are the only creatures that will end up thriving throughout the oncoming storm that is the universe. The frugality of your plight does not rely on some natural order that does not exist, but rather one that does - I believe it to be balance."[/color] Lifprasil explains, his voice having risen to unusual heights.

It was with some satisfaction that Zephyrion noted that Lifprasil seemed engaged for once, his voice raised and for once not that irritating, monotone drone that revealed nothing. Of course, what he had said was entirely wrong, but that would have perhaps been forgivable. His disrespect and growing familiarity were not; and Zephyrion bristled when Lifprasil [i]dared[/i] question the gods, and by extension, him. While Lifprasl could no doubt sense the fury broiling in his master, oddly Zephyrion seemed to suppress it and displayed no outwards signs.

Calmly, he responded, [b][color=Gold]"Though I demanded no statement from you, one has been nonetheless given; it is of course my obligation to tell you the error in your view and impress upon you the correct opinion. 

Vulamera will never [i]thrive[/i]. The hunter that preys upon the weak will survive, yet only the one that hunts the strong will truly [i]live.[/i] In much the same way Vulamera's foolish objective of acquiring her vague definition of 'knowledge' will not be impeded. Do not mistake this for her [i]thriving[/i] or amounting to any measure of worth or success; she is useless, utterly lacking in direction and purpose."[/color][/b]

Midway through the god's address, Lifprasil had the impudence to interrupt. Unusually, Zephyrion allowed his charge to speak his mind, though his ire burned even hotter now.

[color=orange]"If she is so lacking - then why bother antagonizing her? The pursuit of knowledge is harmless, and her plight equally so. She has no affect upon this world that would become detrimental to my plans, or yours. You are the wind and she is the mind, both separated by a thick coaxial known as the body. What could she possibly do to injure something that can't be touched? This is why I question the gods, Master, because their tensions are... Strange. Why allow your enemy to live when you can just wipe them off the map? Why limit yourselves if you are all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-existent? It makes no sense unless..."[/color] Lifprasil explains. [color=orange]"The true god is Fate, and the gods are just the deified equivalency of mortals, however, that would make me... An insect."[/color] he finished - looking shocked at his own revelation.

[color=Gold][b]"Fate merely cowers somewhere out of my site not unlike Logos, and as for Vulamera you have answered your own question: why suffer your enemy to live and hold such strange 'tensions'? When provoked, you will soon know, I retaliate with a fury that cannot be matched."[/b][/color]

Instead of speaking about Vestec as he had first thought to do, Zephyrion now continued, [b][color=Gold]"And now, you of all beings have seen fit to show ingratitude and impiety, going so far as to question my judgement and in doing so refuse the gift of knowledge that I have offered you out of simple and pure kindness! Know that I take no joy in inflicting this lesson upon you, but you have forced as much upon yourself. Behold that terrible fury that I spoke of!"[/color][/b]

Zephyrion did not so much as stir; his own form was unusually still. It was the air itself that moved, grasping at Lifprasil with unseen hands and dragging him out the precipice of the window. He would find his ability of flight...suppressed. Banished into the void outside the fortress, it would be a long fall down.

Lifprasil fell.

And he fell.

And fell.

It took a while for him to reach the surface, the downward spiral withheld thirteen minutes of his time, but the view was astounding. The cloud layer he passed through helped relax him within his tenth minute of falling, but in the end, his collision with the ground below was similar to his encounter with Allure.

Lifprasil left a crater in his wake when he collided with the floor of the world, which he lay in the center of, thinking over what had caused Zephyrion to cast him from the citadel. Lifprasil pursed his lips.

[color=orange][i]I insulted him - his own presidence over himself was damaged, it seems.[/i][/color] he thought, the only noise escaping him being a slight groan, amongst the sounds of settling rubble. The idea of being thrown out of the citadel didn't have much consequence to him, the punishment was his own, and he acknowledged the fact. He was just glad nobody else felt the wrath of Zephyrion.

After a few hours, he arose with a start at the sight of a solitary bird flittering across the now night time sky above him, the multitude of stars glimmered behind its nocturnal wings, the only indication of its presence being the outline sailing past what lay beyond. 

In silence, he looked to the right, towards the hand that had clutched piece, and found the orb to be shattered. [color=orange]"Your anger is your greatest enemy, Master."[/color] Lifprasil said to himself, clutching his fist into a ball, and mending the piece within his grip. His practice in restoration had become limited, but it was enough to fix this singular object for which he held responsibility for.

What a cryptic metaphor.

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLg_wp0IXoI]Lifprasil finally stood,[/url] his tunic waving in the cold night time winds of Galbar, battling against his thighs as his toes dug into the damaged soil beneath him. After leaving his imprint behind, he paced out of the crater, his actions were swift, and he walked into embrace of the Gilt Savannah in a few short steps, he saw all the creations of Slough splayed out before him with the menagerie of eyes his soul possessed, his true form. Each one drew connection to life, but none found a spark similar to what Lifprasil was representative of.


[center][b] *  * * *  * [/b][/center]

There came a day when Ventus sought out Lifprasil in his chambers. It was unusual for the djinni lord to so much as enter that section of the castle for fear of intruding upon the guests' privacy, but now he had no choice. He was under orders from the lord himself.

[color=0072bc]"Hail to you, Lifprasil! What cheer?"[/color] he greeted the demigod amicably as he drifted closer still. [color=0072bc]"Alas, I have not come only to wish unto thee a good dawning: I bear Zephyrion's summons. He will receive you now in the grandest courtyard, that solitary garden abutting the northernmost spire."[/color]

With a smile, Lifprasil gazed over to Ventus. It seems the Djinni had walked in on Lifprasil as he was wrestling his tunic on. [color=orange]"Prosit,"[/color] he greeted, managing to fit the garment on. [color=orange]"Let us go."[/color] Lifprasil finished, fitting his feet into a pair of loosely fitting shoes.

Wordlessly the Majordomo led the way through the labyrinth of tunnels, most still bleak yet a splendid few covered in ornate decoration, until they at last arrived. [b][color=Gold]"His sword? His armor?"[/color][/b] Zephyrion first asked Ventus.

[color=0072bc]"I saw to it that they would be delivered here."[/color]

[color=Gold][b]"That is well. Lifprasil,"[/b][/color] the god began, [b][color=Gold]"I remember freshly your battle with the one called Allure, who you have brought into these sacred halls as your pet."[/color][/b] Zephyrion was silent now: he had learned when Lifprasil liked to speak and felt generous enough to afford the demigod that opportunity now.

Lifprasil, in a state of abundant inattentiveness, perked his head up to gaze into the eyes of the Wind God. [color=orange]"Oh. A more suitable title would be friend."[/color] Lifprasil returned, just as a little High Lifprasilian girl scurried into the room; pulling behind her a tarp carrying Lifprasil's armor, and a cocoon of lavender cloth that could be assumed to carry his blade.

Lakshmi was suddenly illuminated by a glow of light as Zephyrion's eye of cackling lightning directed a fleeting glance toward her. He still had yet to grow used to the mortals that tread through the halls of the middle floor; perhaps he never would. After a short but silent muse to himself, he looked back to Lifprasil.

Truly, it was pathetic. His Majordomo had been assailed, and yet his attacker that had been thought dead had turned out to be alive and well. None could assault the First Gale's servants and live, and so when Lifprasil descended to enact retribution, there should have been death. Instead, Lifprasil had returned with a 'friend'. Alas, the laws of hospitality made Zephyrion reluctantly willing to suffer the presence of the one known as 'allure' and not cast him off the side of Citadel, sending him back to the ground on which he belonged.

There was a snap in the air and a violent rush of wind tore the urumi from Lakshmi's hands, the god paying her no attention now. The weapon was suspended in air and twirled about like a toy by the winds as Zephyrion casually spun its many blades through the air.

[b][color=Gold]"This instrument, gifted to you by my good friend and your father, is useless unless you can wield it with true skill. I do not wish to see you disgrace yourself and in doing so also disgrace me, your master, by flailing it about in a second battle as you did when you fought this 'Allure'. You will learn to use it properly."[/color][/b]

The sword flew through the air towards Lifprasil. Zephyrion hoped that the demigod was proficient enough to at least catch the blade, but if not, it would stop an inch short. The demigod couldn't be impaled before the training had even begun.

Lifprasil extended a hand, but before he could react, every blade flew past his palm, each living extremity of the blade sailed right towards his face, different subsidiaries prepared to strike him in the eyes, and the mouth.

The little Lifprasilian girl known as Lakshmi just cowered in fear at the sudden display, before Lifprasil turned to look away from the weapon, summoning a cut from one of the many blades that had attempted to extend, and devour him. [color=orange]"That was dramatic."[/color] Lifprasil grimaced, tying his hair into a ponytail as he spoke. [color=blue]"A-are you okay, m'lord?"[/color] Lakshmi questioned, stuttering in her speech.

[color=orange]"M'lord?"[/color] he questioned, his hair now manifested into something more managable. [color=orange]"Where did you learn that word?"[/color] he questioned, before Lakshmi started picking up his armor.

[color=blue]"It's-- w-hat everyone else insists upon calling you..."[/color] Lakshmi responded, which summoned a smile from Lifprasil, a thin red line now marring the surface of his face. [color=orange]"Call me by my name."[/color] he said, before he swiveled back to his Master. [color=orange]"What's next, Master?"[/color]

There was another disturbance in the air as a hundred drafts poured into the spacious room through windows. Every clump of dust or loose particle was swept up and quickly shaped into an ethereal, hardly visible, and roughly humanoid form. Dozens of such illusions appeared in the blink of an eye. They looked eerily similar to the elementals, only oddly still. There was no constant shifting and whirling of the winds within their bodies. There were swordsmen, spearmen, and even a few archers among the mix, and they were positioned everywhere in the room.

[b][color=Gold]"What happens now? Hah! You show me!"[/color][/b] Zephyrion answered. As one, the formerly motionless illusions came to life and surged toward both Lifprasil and Lakshmi.

Within a moment, Lifprasil extended his arm, and his blade returned to him, and when it did, Zephyrion could almost hear some form of meticulous breathing coming from the weapon. With a flick of his wrist, Lifprasil managed to bring the many-headed monster down on the illusions, he then reared it back, and to the side; so it may float peacefully, as if cloth fluttering in the wind. [color=orange]"I've practiced with the Beast, but many ways of combat are unbenknownst to me."[/color] Lifprasil assured Zephyrion, while Lakshmi, surprisingly enough, had not cowered, but pulled out a little toy dagger, the wodden blade would have hardly helped her, however.

[b][color=Gold]"Letting it fight your battles for you is the same as letting it control you. You must refine your reflexes. Become as quick as the wind. Then I think you will triumph, blade or no."[/color][/b]

More and more of the mirages appeared and barrelled forward with reckless abandon. Zephyrion was no master of fighting himself, but with his divinity came near instant reflexes and the ability to forsee what Lifprasil or the blade would do before they even perceived that there was a threat that called for a reaction. As such, the illusions under the god's control gradually grew more and more dextrous until they were simply too quick for the blade itself.

Now, whenever an incorporeal arrow or spear nicked the demigod's form, he would feel a simple icy chill. It was not enough to inflict true harm, merely to remove any doubt or question as to whether he was proficient enough.

Ventus now moved to take Lakshmi to the side since his master seemed to have no concern for her safety or well-being. [color=0072bc]"Stay afar, my lady. This is a dangerous game that they do play!"[/color] the djinni lord spoke, looking on with curiosity all the same.

Lifprasil grimaced with each strike he would sustain, and later cast aside the Beast, and decided to exchange the weapon for his fists. He leaped forward, and cast forward his fist, and then his next one, attacking in alternation, slowly, each strike became more sure, more exact, and each strike became a bone-crushing, mortal-destroying attack; and eventually, his attacks steadily became more refined. Rather than stumble and swing, Lifprasil would ground himself and jab. His dodges would become less haphazard, and eventually change to become more calculated. 

Once Lifprasil found himself becoming capable, the sun had subsided behind the horizon, and Lakshmi had fallen asleep on Ventus.

[center][b] *  * * *  * [/b][/center]

Yet another day was spent by Lifprasil in the company of his master. This time they stood in yet another one of the shining galleries of the citadel, gazing out a window as the landscape below changed. The castle itself sailing thorugh the sky as it was propelled by he winds of change, Zephyrion had seen fit to seize this chance to teach the demigod geography. Of course, Ilunabar had given him her scroll and taught him of many basic things, but it was critical to reinforce the lessons that Lifprasil had already been taught.

For those ends, the god deemed it necessary to fly his citadel over each and every thing that was worth seeing, and educate Lifprasil upon these great monuments to the gods. Naturally there was nothing worth seeing outside Zephyrion's domain; that was how they would be able to see the Venomweald, the Mahd, and everything in between all within the day.

Zephyrion's lecture upon one of the countless tributary streams that fed the Mahd, and with it the lesson, was suddenly interrupted. It seemed that the demigod would be spared an 'education', if only for now! Should Lifprasil glance to the side he would see his master now inspecting a jar containing a strange liquid. It bubbled constantly and its lavender colour pulsed as if alive, growing bright one moment and dim the next. It sat suspended utterly still in the air as the god of wind contemplated its contents.

Lifprasil shifted in his cross-legged position, wearing what appeared to be a luxuriously tailored teal garb - similar to the coloration of his armor, that which was being tended to by a taller High Lifprasilian with a narrow face, and narrow curvature to her body; that which set her above the other Lifprasilians that have changed into the creatures he'd needed them to be.

Each one shimmered amongst the sunlight that streams into the observatory the cluster within had inhabited for the duration of Lifprasil's lesson, gray and white coloration hardly discerning them from the backdrop, while their budding plumage wafted against the weaker winds hastily navigating the halls and gaps in the Celestial Citadel. 

The one closest to Lifprasil was named Lakshmi, of whom carried his armor in hand, her plumage having become a much more profound shade of yellow thanks to her recently imbued heroic nature. She stood guard as the head of the entity raised to protect Lifprasil, always shadowing him despite the presence of the tremendously loud god that accompanied him. If anything, her presence had merely devolved into collateral since her anointment. 

[color=orange]"What is that, master?"[/color] Lifprasil questioned in a much more feminine mannerism than what the towering entity in front of him had become used to. It seemed Vulamera's incessant curiously liked to show itself from time to time through her child. The comparably tiny Demi-God tipped his head, his celestial eyes probing the item from afar.  

[b][color=Gold]"I have seen such an item before: it was a fine gift from an equally fair goddess, Astarte. The Mistress of Magic had seen fit to offer me a quantity of the purest magic, and it was only with that primal power juxtaposed with my own force of Change that I was able to create the elementals. Though I must wonder why she has seen fit to donate yet another? You see, Lifprasil, this is the value of being a wise and benelovent lord and making friends with all whom you encounter..."[/color][/b]

Lifprasil just nodded in silence, before he extends a hand. [color=orange]"May I hold it?"[/color]

[b]"I may let you hold it if you drink it. If not, then it's just for Zephyrion."[/b] A smooth, high-pitched voice said. The source nowhere to be seen until a feminine form simply appeared behind Lakshmi. Floating in place with her long, lavender hair falling over her shoulders, she put both of her cold hands on the assistant's shoulders with a smirk.

Zephyrion's temperament saw a drastic swing as soon as he sensed Astarte's arrival. Banished was all boredom, excitement come to claim its place. [b][color=Gold]"It has been too long, Astarte! It is my delight to have you grace these halls with your presence. You will not have met my newfound charge, Lifprasil,"[/color][/b] he began with exuberance before falling into more casual tone as he gestured toward the demigod. [b][color=Gold]"...but be assured that I have already shared with him many a tale of your splendor!"[/color][/b]

Lakshmi jumped slightly at the literal presence of a god's hands weighing down on her shoulders. She stammered, slightly, and craned her head to gaze up at the goddess of magic behind her. "U-uuh.." she extorted, before she managed to find words. "H-hello..." the young guard Lifprasilian finished - unable to find any more words of greeting or charge, she just rendered herself to pat out the creases in her yellow tunic, and attempted to look presentable to a god after an afternoon in the unforgiving heat.

The formerly introduced Demi-God, on the other hand, just waved silently, having torn his gaze from the vial of Astartian elixir.

Astarte grinned and raised an eyebrow at Lakshmi's response. She patted her shoulders once and let go, turning her attention towards Lifprasil for a moment and then to Zephyrion. [b]"You can tell those tales to the animals at the Deepwoods. They won't even come near me these days!"[/b] 

Lakshmi took a deep inhalation after she was released by Astarte - squirming in place once she had been left as the center attention.

Zephyrion found himself conversationally replying, [b][color=Gold]"Truly, animalkind seems fearful of beings that reach so close to perfection as you or I! Once I when sought yede to that trove of life to see the fine works of Slough, those ilke creatures did flee from me as well! Perhaps their slight upon me was more forgivable than their disdain for the apricity that your sight brings; for if I do recall, it was as a whirling tornado that I first frequented that place! Naturally, I found the animals more at ease anon, when I tread the ground as fog sculpted into the likeness of a wolf."[/color][/b]

She looked at Lifprasil and Lakshmi for a split moment, hesitating whether it was fine to speak of such things to Zephyrion with these people around. 

Lakshmi had been confused by the antics of the gods - far too confused to become a threat to their plans, and too weak. Lifprasil, however, was just silent still, as if he were uncaring.

It was clear that after a moment, Astarte simply stopped caring.

"I made a thing. It's a rock, in the bottom of the Deepwoods. Animals won't come close to the area, so I imagine it's got some of my essence-" She said as she carefully put her hair behind her shoulders, trying to play off her growing excitement, "- that's the reason I gave you that jar of magic. I wanted to bribe you into lending me a mortal or two to interact with that rock. I have a feeling it's going to be an interesting thing to see."

That thunderous chuckle was Zephyrion's echoed through the airy halls. [b][color=Gold]"Whilst I find the temptation to denounce this 'bribery' of yours as needless as your company is reward enough, I must stay silent lest I be left with no more of your gifts to warm my heart!"[/color][/b] he japed, the jar of essence meanwhile disappearing in a puff of smoke as Zephyrion spirited it off to be stored in some unseen corner. He had Astarte grinning widely and chuckling due to the compliments, however forced they sounded to her.

[b][color=Gold]"But we shall find you these mortals! Nothing less than a half dozen of every sort will do; this 'rock' of your making may chance to hold different omen for whosoever touches it. Let us depart forthwith!"[/color][/b]

[b]"Yeah! Let us depart!"[/b] Astarte pumped her arm in excitement, letting herself float around Lakshmi and Lifprasil.

Seemingly as an afterthought, the god stopped in his tracks and looked to Lifprasil. [b][color=Gold]"I think it to have been too long since you have stepped foot outside the bounds of my alcazar, so I afford to you the choice of attendance. Shall you fare in our company?"[/color][/b]

Lakshmi hobbled back and forth as if she stood on hot coals, attempting to wrap her head around Astarte's motions around her.

The young Demi-God suddenly stood from his formerly sitting position, his vexation upon lessons having melted away at the thought of seeing the development of the world up close. He adjusted his tunic, Lakshmi doing the same in kind - as if a child playing mimic with her eldest brother. [color=orange]"I would appreciate it, master."[/color] Lifprasil stated, just loud enough to overpower the gales of Zephyrion. 

Lakshmi, on the other hand, darted between the two gods, before she calmed before Lifprasil, and prepared his armor for him. The living suit soon slid onto his body. It coiled around him like a snake once the younger Lakshmi released it, and soon, the tunic had been smothered underneath the shimmering yellow armor. [color=orange]"What you suggest is experimentation - correct?"[/color] he questioned, Lifprasil, as he brought his palms to rest on his hips.

[b][color=Gold]"Something of that sort, but perchance there will be more."[/color][/b]

Lifprasil's young royal guardsman, Lakshmi, had another moment of slight panic before she bent her knee to the mighty Zephyrion, and lowered her head to him. [color=blue]"Uh... Mister Eternal Sky, sir! May I depart with my own master to the surface?"[/color] she feebly suggested, whilst she attempted to find the proper volume to address a god as she spoke in his chamber. [color=blue]"And, uh, could I take two of my own valet?"[/color] Lakshmi added with a quivering smile.

With uncharacteristic respect and attention to one of the Insidie, Zephyrion answered the captain, [b][color=Gold]"With all certainty; your aid in our noble endeavor will be met with only the most earnest appreciation from myself! See, dear Astarte, we've yet to so much as break ground, yet already the mortals plead for the honor of being amongst those chosen to touch this rock of yours!"[/color][/b]

[b]"I can see their excitement, too! I can imagine Lakshmi's expression upon seeing the Rock already. Those big, glittery eyes!"[/b] Astarte squealed a little.

Lakshmi's smile was something to marvel over, the glimmer in her eyes screaming nothing but excitement - until she heard the last part of Zephyrion's boisterous announcement. [color=blue]"T...Touch the rock?"[/color] she questioned [color=blue]"I mean, if m'lord insists..."[/color] she mumbled, and clasped her hands together. Lifprasil looked up to Zephyrion, his expression had returned to placidity throughout the conversation, but it resumed its uncharacteristic smile when he turned to reassure Lakshmi. 

[color=orange]"I'm sure only good will come out of it, Lakshmi."[/color] he expiated, reaching to pat her plumage. Lifprasil had been playing along to Zephyrion's tune, and he still would. 

However, Lakshmi was important to him in some respects of the word, so any evident danger would be witheld from her, should it appear. She was his apprentice, after all, as comedic as the idea sounds.

The way Lakshmi reacted to things made Astarte want to pinch her cheeks. Barely suppressing a goofy grin, she flew toward Lakshmi and stopped just an inch short of her face.

[b]Clack![/b]

The sound of a strong bite was barely heard over Zephyrion's natural noise. Astarte had made a biting notion at Lakshmi and even growled a little bit. Then, she laughed.

Lakshmi recoiled in terror, before she started laughing with an overtly nervous grin on her face [color=blue]"T-thanks!"[/color] she managed to return, making a worried biting motion in turn with the god.

[b]"Oh by Slough's rot, you're so cute I just want to eat you!"[/b]

[color=blue]"Please don't..."[/color] Lakshmi whispered - afraid she actually will. Astarte, of course, dismissed her comment.

[b][color=Gold]"Well, let us be off then!"[/color][/b] Zephyrion suddenly proclaimed. [b][color=Gold]"VENTUS!"[/color][/b] his voice thundered through the entire palace. With this second proclamation, Lakshmi shuddered and cringed, her master stealing himself to be still against the gust of air.

In what seemed a mere blink the Vizier was at his Master's side. [color=0072bc]"At your service,"[/color] the flustered Majordomo managed.

[b][color=Gold]"We are going on a trip. Carry the ones who cannot fly!"[/color][/b]

[color=0072bc]"But couldn't you just bless them with flight?"[/color]

[b][color=Gold]"Ventus, cease your incessant griping and submit yourself to my wisdom. Do they look like skilled birds to you?"[/color][/b]

Astarte stifled a giggle.

With no more complaint than a sigh, Ventus shifted forms into that of a twister and enveloped Lakshmi and the rest of Lifprasil's guard present within the center of his churning body. Lakshmi exclaimed against the tide, suspended just barely by a light updraft that the djinni gently pushed upon their bodies, they would be left helplessly carried along after the others as they flew off a nearby balcony.

Far above the ground below, Zephyrion could still recognize the badlands that his palace had been drifting near: Vestec's Changing Plains. The ground itself was scorched and the land ever in flux, a monument to the glorious power of Change. The Skylord admitted some feeling of jealousy within himself, but of course the newly bloomed life that Ventus had brought to his lands made his dominion the superior one. There was some comfort for the god in having a rival world-shaper so close, but provided that the other fellow did not manage to surpass his works!

It was with some degree of horror and indignation that the god [i]sensed[/i] a whole host of creatures below. [b][color=Gold]'Come,'[/color][/b] he called out with his mind to Astarte, Lifprasil, and all the others that were lagging behind as Ventus struggled to keep pace. [b][color=Gold]"It shall be only a short detour; let us see what works of life Vestec has made![/color][/b] 

Once his sword was coiled around his waist, Lifprasil bolted from the Celestial Citadel, both his cape, and his hair fluttered behind him in an extended trail that arched past his outstretched legs. The child of chaos' smile was masked by the helmet that had arisen from his rounded collar piece, the wide, ovular eyes implanted into the slight curviture of the helm that fit so snuggly on his head reflecting the golden color of his eyes. Lifprasil, in turn with his master, decided to crane his head mid-flight to gaze down at the planet's surface, narrowing his gaze to the denizens below.

What marched below was a host of all manner of creatures, many of which were recognizable as the making of another god. There were hain, angels, pronobii, those strange and twisted 'cultists' of Jvan...but they all seemed to have been touched by Vestec's corruption, for there was an air of taint that clung to them. They seemed most unusual.

Swooping down closer, Zephyrion saw that the rabble carried crude weaponry and seemed like some form of warband. Curious. He reached out with his mind to scry the rest of this warped land and quickly realized what Vestec was doing. [i]He's assembling a whole horde of these corrupted creatures![/i] he mused to himself, already entertained by the idea of it all. He would have to praise his brother's creativity at a later date, but for now he was simply thankful that all manner of mortals and other creatures had already been conveniently assembled in this place for his collection.

[b][color=Gold]"I think that these will suit our purposes well,"[/color][/b] Zephyrion explained before suddenly descending down to the now terrified creatures in the form of a writhing, living twister. He still had yet to grow used to the fear that mortal beings seemed to feel when they encountered him in even a rather tame form. With a sigh, he summoned a cloud of invisble gas that found its way into the warriors' lungs. A short time later, they began dropping to the ground like stones. In seemingly unfeeling silence, Lifprasil watched, and Lakshmi struggled to do so, both observed the wind god's work as he abducted and destroyed the forces of chaos below. 

Around his waist, Lifprasil could feel the blade of chaos clammering, vying for attention as a singular thought burrowed its way into the back of his mind. [i]Such vexation and amnesty... Do you mean to oppose my Empire before its fruition already?[/i] Lifprasil asked both himself and Vestec, and held fast the handle to his weapon with either hand.

Zephyrion examined the unconscious beings more thoroughly now, and after a short time he managed to breath the winds of Change into a few of the creatures and root out the corruption that Vestec had tainted them with, returning them to a more natural and balanced state. Others he left tainted, for it would be interesting to see if the rock affected them any differently.

Ventus found another odd twenty unconscious beings added to the burden that he was forced to carrry along. [b][color=Gold]"Now then, dearest Astarte,"[/color][/b] the Master of Change began again once that task was done, [b][color=Gold]"show us to this rock of yours, if you will!"[/color][/b]

[b]"Easy enough,"[/b] Astarte chuckled and snapped her fingers. 

With the snapping of her fingers, Lakshmi brought her gaze back to the goddess of magic, while Lifprasil just absent mindedly looked down upon the horde of chaos below.

Nothing happened.

[b]"... We'll just fly there!"[/b] 

After grinning bashfully, she soared up into the skies and toward the Deepwoods, sure that the rest would follow her.

With the boom of Astarte's sudden take-off, Lifprasil followed suite, generating a ring of deafening noise himself upon his attempt to catch up to the faster god.

For once, Zephyrion followed without comment. The faithful Vizier took after them as well. Lakshmi would hear the cyclone around her whisper with bated breath, [color=0072bc]"Asking to come with them was a mistake for you, and being within a hundred miles of the Master's palace was where I went wrong."[/color] The vortex itself sighed. Lakshmi divulged in her buoyancy, gripping an eight foot long spear in both hands. [color=blue]"I go where he goes - similar to yourself."[/color] the hero responded, pointing her spear in the speeding Demi-God's direction. [color=blue]"Although, being in the house of a wind god keeps things interesting, but I believe this one,"[/color] with this resentful statement Lakshmi's spear set its sights on Astarte [color=blue]"Wants to eat me."[/color] she pouted, unknowing of the ways of the gods.

As was expected of a travelling band of a God, Goddess and fairly capable lesser beings, the trip to the Deepwoods was over soon enough. Astarte profesionally ignored any landmark on the way there, set on getting to their destination as quickly as possible, lest her newest test subjects tried to go back on their word. On the other hand, in pursuit, Lifprasil tested his superhuman vision and sense on whatever passing sights the group passed by. The most interesting of the grouping being a valley teetering just beyond the horizon, an indentation into the barren earth around it, that which was highlighted by an easy shade of violet.

When the thick canopies of the Deepwoods came into view over the horizon, Astarte accelerated even further. She shielded her face as she shot through the leaves and branches, while Lifprasil just stopped abruptly, and shook the trees upon the force of his arrival. However, once he witnessed Astarte's further journey into the forest, he hesitantly followed suite and observed all the wildlife creeping underneath the brambles and the branches below.

The deeper they went, the less light that reached them. It eventually got dark enough that one of the few lights present was that emitted from Astarte. A soft light that was eventually drowned by the strong lavender glimmer of the Rock's surroundings. The closer they got to the Rock, the more that Astarte slowed down.

And then she stopped, just outside the clearing where it rested.

A Rock five to six times the height of Lifprasil and as wide as a river. Veins of pure magic essence ran through its entire surface, lavender light emitted from them.

[b]"That's the Rock. I made that myself. By that I mean that I imbued it with my essence."[/b] Astarte said as she entered the clearing. Not floating, but walking. She gestured the rest to enter the clearing as she walked. Lifprasil did so, and took tentative steps into the grass and lichen in front of him, and the armor recoiled upon pressing itself into the moistened dew of the forest floor. [color=orange]"Do you mean to tell me you don't know the machinations of your own creation?"[/color] Lifprasil questioned, his eyes silently entranced by the pulsating surface of the rock.

[b]"I made it by accident, so yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying."[/b]

Zephyrion recalled the utter havoc that his last visit to this region had brought about. So he opted for the innocuous form of a phoenix of lightning, individual bolts cackling and writhing like snakes as they coiled into his new form. The volatile nature of this body lit up the dark forest like a torch and made the air hum with energy, but it was better than him showing up as a tornado.

Ventus, glad to finally have his rest, deposited onto the ground those limp beings that Zephyrion had gathered from the Shattered Plains. They landed in a heap a good deal harder than the djinni might have liked, but he was weary and they were all too incapacitated to protest. Still, he was more careful when he gingerly put down Lakshmi and her company.

[b][color=Gold]"Do you want to go first?"[/color][/b] Zephyrion asked the Lifprasilian, remembering how eager she had volunteered earlier. Those other things that he'd borrowed from Vestec's horde were yet to come to their senses... 

Lakshmi took a deep breath, petrified inhalation, having landed upon her knee after being deposited into the clearing. Lifprasil decidedly interjected when she began her approach, the other two guards made a fascimile of his expression. With added vigor, they corroborated their quarterstaffs in an 'x' formation in front of her. 

[color=orange]"If that's so, I suppose the touch of a halfling would do the rock some good."[/color] he started, before Lakshmi decided to push past not only the fellow guardsmen barring her; but Lifprasil himself. An interesting expression of courage. [color=blue]"N-nonsense my lord!"[/color] she shakily boasted, before driving her spear into the soil beneath her. [color=blue]"It's ju-ust a..."[/color] Lakshmi took a pause to breath [color=blue]"Oh jeez... A crackling magical... Rock!"[/color] she finally finished, boistrously reaching out to the object. 

Lifprasil did not move to impede her, but he did look up to Astarte [color=orange]"I suppose you're going to get your results."[/color] he sighed, a hint of mendacious expression rode just beneath the surface of his voice, more often than not undetectable by those who would be otherwise occupied. [color=orange]"Hopefully something good comes out of it."[/color]

Astarte winked at Lifprasil as soon as he looked at her. [b]"Lifprasil, you definitely need to lighten up. The worst thing that can happen is death. It's not that bad!"[/b] She bit the tip of her tongue playfully and turned to look at Lakshmi approaching the Rock. With quivering lips, and hands, Lakshmi pressed her palm to the rock in awkward silence. [color=blue]"O...h? That wasn't so bad."[/color] she reassured herself, and leaned on the stone item for a moment.

However, the pause was short lived. Within a matter of seconds after Lakshmi's touch, the rock's incessant pulsation became faster, and faster, steadily mounting into a flash similar to that of a torch - only infinitely brighter. The recurring brightness of the idol Astarte had placed caused the two guards to try and pull Lakshmi away, only for an arc of magical energy to transmit through Lakshmi; and into them. The pair of guards stumbled back and died amongst the thunderous roar, collapsing into the escaping leaves. 

Lakshmi, however, was unseeable now, being so close to the rock. The raw, unrefined energy that stemmed from the possessed geode erected a whirlwind of hoarse wind that threw up debris; blanking out the now impossibly flashing light.

Gradually, the light disappeared, and the whirlwind settled into a gentle gust that gently caressed the apparently convulsing Lakshmi, whose arm has now taken shape similar to the rock which had returned to normalcy at this point. Lifprasil leapt forward, past the smoking corpses of Lifprasilians across the clearing, and to Lakshmi. 

Astarte, though, had another idea. She appeared in front of Lifprasil and blocked his path. 

[b]"Stay back, Lifprasil,"[/b] She balled up her fists and raised an eyebrow at him. [b]"Seeing how she copes with the energy without any help is part of the experiment."[/b] She said and tilted her head slightly to one side, expecting Lifprasil to pull something off.

It was impossible to discern whether the Master of Change observed with pity, remorse, amusement, or outright boredom. The face of a living storm was not so easy to read. [b][color=Gold]"Maybe I should make my own boulder like this! No, a mere stone would lack any sense of grandeur. I'd need a whole mountain,"[/color][/b] he mused aloud.

Ventus, meanwhile, was aghast. How could he not be mortified by his Master's pure [i]indifference[/i] to it all?

In between Lakshmi and Astarte, Lifprasil's hands binded themselves into white knuckled balls, heav-set against his thighs. Astarte could hear the mail wreathing his hands groan under the tension as he abided his temper - just staring down into the leaves at his feet.

[b]"... Good."[/b] Astarte nodded and turned to look at Lakshmi. She relaxed her tensed posture as she stared at the still convulsing Lakshmi.

Lakshmi eventually calmed and remained unconscious, her now glowing arm smoking slightly from the stream of pure energy crackling throughout her limb. It appeared she'll be asleep for a while after her encounter.

Astarte approached Lakshmi and carefully observed her entire body, checking for mutations and alterations, as well as confirming whether she'd live or not, and the state of her soul. She found herself biting back a gasp of surprise when she noticed the biggest difference--Her soul. Before, it was calm, inactive. It rested inside her body, waiting to be released upon death.

Now? It enveloped the entire clearing. It had not only been stirred awake by the Rock, but it had also grown so powerful, so influential, that it could be projected outside of Lakshmi's body. A shiver went down Astarte's spine as she imagined the possible applications of such a capability. If Lakshmi managed to gather liquid magical essence... 

With a toothy grin, Astarte turned toward Lifprasil.

[b]"I can fix the arm's appearance, if you wish. The rest of the changes she's suffered though, I'll leave up to you and her to figure out by yourselves."[/b]

Lifprasil gazed up at Astarte, and nodded his head [color=orange]"I would like to keep her arm in the state it's in. But if Lakshmi requests change, I will relay that request."[/color] he said, simply, before he would walk over to Lakshmi, and carried the unconscious High Lifprasilian in his arms; an easy task for a Demi-God.

The change wasn't felt only by Astarte, it seemed, holding Lakshmi in his arms, Lifprasil could feel the omnipresent manipulation of her soul - a direct consequence of touching the rock. Lifprasil felt the essence waft around him like some gaseous substance trapped in a current similar to Zephyrion's will, a cyclone of not only magical residue but emotion.

[color=orange]"Are you capable of awakening Lakshmi?"[/color] Lifprasil questioned, turning to Astarte with a plain expression. 

[b]"Yes."[/b] 

[color=orange]"May you?"[/color] Lifprasil asked. 

[b]"What?"[/b] Astarte raised an eyebrow at Lifprasil.

[color=orange]"Will you wake her for me."[/color] Lifprasil elaborated silently. [color=orange]"It would only be fair."[/color]

[b]"She [i]volunteered[/i], did she not?"[/b] Astarte shrugged her shoulders and sat down cross-legged on the cool ground.

A glimpse of red can be sought within Lifprasil's iris as his eyes narrowed, gradually slanting in Astarte's direction. [color=orange]"Then perhaps you can return her to a conscious state? It would only be courteous."[/color] he asked, his voice having risen to a volume higher than a droning whisper.

Astarte showed Lifprasil a smug smirk, but nodded nonetheless a moment later. [b]"Of course."[/b]  

And with a snap of her fingers, Lakshmi began to stir.

Lakshmi sputtered, slightly, before her eyes fluttered open as she stirred from her magic induced coma. [color=blue]"Whaaaa..."[/color] she mumbled, rubbing her head. She seemed tame, drunken even, until she saw Astarte beaming down on her. 

[b]CLACK.[/b]

[color=blue]"aaaAAAA."[/color] Lakshmi exclaimed - afraid that Astarte was going to eat her in her moment of vulnerability. Again. 

Astarte giggled and bit the tip of her tongue.

Lakshmi frowned, a distinctive blush beset her vanilla and gray cheeks as she crossed her arms - and then she realized that her right arm was replaced with an artificial, fully functioning geode phantom limb. [color=blue]"Ah!"[/color] she exclaimed, waving the new arm around. [color=blue]"What is this?!"[/color] she questioned, the arm pulsating with her unsteady heartbeat.

[b]"It... Seems to be an arm made of rock."[/b] Astarte shrugged.

The now calming High Lifprasilian blinked [color=blue]"Aren't you supposed to be all-knowing? Rocks don't move."[/color] Lakshmi blatantly stated, tracing her finger of flesh along the rock with a dazed expression.

[b]"I don't know. It's more fun if I'm not, to be truthful."[/b]

[color=orange]"That sounds counter-productive."[/color] Lifprasil interjected, easing Lakshmi back onto her feet. [color=orange]"Don't you have plans? Dreams?"[/color] he asked nonchalantly, making sure to hold Lakshmi steady.

[b]"I..."[/b] Astarte hesitated. After a moment of silence, she stood up and crossed her arms, turning her face away from Lifprasil and toward the Rock. [b]"Zephyrion, Ventus!"[/b]

Both Lakshmi and Lifprasil look back to the two that had watched the ordeal. [color=orange]"Prosit - I forgot you were there, Master."[/color]

The already thoroughly exhausted and sickened looked up without that usual spark in his eyes and sighed. [color=0072bc]"Do you require my servi-"[/color]

The distracted Zephyrion was suddenly brought back into reality, and his booming voice sounded out to interrupt Ventus. For once that brought the djinni relief. [color=Gold][b]"Well, I didn't bring all the other ones here for nothing! Let's wake them up and see what happens when they touch the rock."[/b][/color]

Now Ventus was nearly infuriated at the prospect of torturing yet more living beings on that accursed [i]rock[/i]. With renewed energy, he spoke up, [color=0072bc]"Master, we already know what will happen with them, so why don't we-"[/color]

[b][color=Gold]"Are YOU volunteering too, now? Ventus, I didn't think that you possessed the courage!"[/color][/b]

They all looked at him expectantly, and suddenly the Majordomo was crushed beneath the pressure of their collective gaze. Now he understood how Lakshmi had been unable to say no...

[b][color=Gold]"Well, go on then!"[/color][/b] Zephyrion burst out after a short pause, and Ventus suddenly found himself overpowered by a wall of wind that blew him closer to the wretched stone. Less afraid of the stone than of the two gods' reaction should he object now, he didn't resist. He allowed himself to simply be slammed into the rock.

[b][color=gold]"Ha! Why didn't you slow yourself down, Ventus?"[/color][/b] Zephyrion guffawed. Getting a bit carried away, he flicked Ventus back into the rock once or twice.

With each impact, there was a visible arc of magical energy that sparked between the rock's power and the Flicker within Ventus. It jolted and overwhelmed the windjinn's senses, and when all was done he simply vanished from the eye. His form collapsed into a wild, uncontrolled breeze, so thin that one could barely see him.

Now Zephyrion came closer and loomed over his favorite friend.

Lakshmi was livid at this point, she attempted to dash towards Zephyrion - but ended up falling flat on her face due to her own light headed-ness. [color=blue]"Stop it!"[/color] she yelled, while Lifprasil just watched in what could be perceived as uncaring silence; but upon closer inspection, one would be able to see his hands balling themselves into rigid fists. [color=blue]"You'll kill him."[/color] Lakshmi finished her defense of Ventus, whispering helplessly.

Astarte watched the scene, squinting her eyes to see through the bright light.

[color=Gold][b]"Ventus, cease this foolishness at once! Reassemble your form and stop trying to hide from us."[/b][/color]

Lifprasil's anger and Lakshmi's worry practically radiated outwards, permeating the air. Zephyrion addressed them, [color=Gold][b]"Oh, calm yourselves; he's only playing dead! I still see him down there. It's easy to shed your form."[/b][/color]

As if to prove a point, Zephyrion simply exploded. A strong blast of wind shook the gigantic trees, and suddenly Zephyrion's suffocating presence could be felt [i]everywhere.[/i] It caressed every nook and cranny and touched every person, though all could still feel the center of his attention upon Ventus.

Astarte shifted, trying to cover herself from the God's presence and... Blushed?

A long pause followed. Zephyrion contemplated using his own powers to simply build a new body for the naked Vizier, but before he could do so Ventus stirred.

There was a rush of wind, the djinni's body reappeared, and he shot up to hover above the rock. His body swelled larger than it had ever been, as if it were about to burst, and his eyes seemed to glower and cackle with energy. [color=0072bc]"Haha, I feel it surging through me now! LIMITLESS COSMIC POWER!"[/color] the Vizier yelled, a mad look in his eyes.

Zephyrion scoffed. Clearly Ventus was not in a proper state of mind. The formless god's voice echoed from the air all around, [color=Gold][b]"Yes, yes--return home now, Ventus; you've earned a rest!"[/b][/color]

The djinni flew off into the distance cackling and rambling about some newfound power. If Zephyrion had still been visible, he might have cringed. At least the embarassment was finished now, though admittedly he was slightly worried. Fixing Ventus' mind sounded confusing and difficult, while finding a new Vizier would be annoying. And...sad?

Lakshmi just watched in horror, and Lifprasil in silence. 

[b]"U-Uh... A-hem!"[/b] Astarte cleared her throat loudly and closed her eyes. [b]"Mind not doing that in the presence of lesser beings, Zephyrion?"[/b]

[i]Fool[/i] Lifprasil seethed, following up the colloquial term with a few other similar forms of name-calling and insulting. [i]Their blind uncaring for mortal life and will is sickening - an abhorrent waste of divine power. I expected more out of my master...[/i] the Demi-God thought to himself. [i]No, he is not my master. He is my equalivical. I am his anti-thesis. But I shouldn't be so harsh. He has no concept of morality.[/i]

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a spot of crimson red eyes planted within the shade, slanted in a way unnatural and gazing towards the demi-god in the clearing. [color=red][i]To strike down a god in this moment of weakness would be truly glorious - the divine blood would grant the beast true satisfaction.[/i][/color] The inscrupulous fractions of thought within his soul suggested as Lifprasil gazed down to the handle hovering just in front of his stomach.

[color=orange]"No."[/color] Lifprasil said to himself, [color=orange]"It seems you broke your servant, and Lakshmi's friend."[/color] he followed up, attempting to ignore the slivers of his being breathing into him from the shadows. [color=orange]"As your apprentice, I would like to fix him for both you, and my equal."[/color] Lifprasil offered, the innumerable eyes trapped within the shadow of a fern narrowing their complexion at his response. They were disappointed.

Wordlessly Zephyrion pulled away from Astarte and the others and coalesced back into a twister. Any violation of space had been unintentional, of course. As the winds rushed back, Zephyrion sensed the rabid Id of Lifprasil lurking in the dark, though oddly enough his winds felt nothing as they passed right through the beast...the young demigod could be [i]perturbing[/i] at times. The Id fortunately distracted the god from paying closr attention to Lifprasil's true thoughts, for he was growing more accustomed to looking through the mirror of that one's blank face.

[b][color=Gold]"Ventus requires no fixing,"[/color][/b] he asserted with utter confidence, [b][color=Gold]"for I made him in [i]my[/i] likeness, so he is naturally without peer or flaw. Even if his behavior sometimes lends doubt..."[/color][/b]

[b]"I count being a bunch of formless wind as a flaw, but what do I know?"[/b] Astarte shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.

Astarte's statement triggered a cheerful response from Zephyrion, [b][color=Gold]"Well perchance you don't know the true freedom of such a form, what with your decision to explore the universe within the confines of a body resemblant of the fleshlings. Remind me at some point to vaporize you; I daresay that you might enjoy this!"[/color][/b]

Astarte winced and looked away upon hearing Zephyrion's offer.

After a moment's thought Zephyrion realized that perhaps it was best to take this opportunity to be rid of Lifprasil and Lakshmi after all. [b][color=Gold]"But follow him if you will, to ensure that he is indeed well. And tell me what these astronomical 'cosmic powers' that he spoke of might be!"[/color][/b]

Lifprasil just gave Zephyrion a slight nod before he grabbed Lakshmi again, and flew forward into the air, much to Lakshmi's panic, back to the speck that had become the Celestial Citadel.

[b]"I can't say I find that half-god charming..."[/b] Astarte said and looked at the Rock, [b]"Shall we continue?"[/b]

[color=Gold][b]"Given time, the wind can break the tallest mountains. In time I think it likely that I will purge him of weakness and flaws. He will be more useful then,"[/b][/color] Zephyrion nonchalantly said of Lifprasil. Wordlessly he summoned a gust of wind to move the sleeping bodies of the other mortals closer to the rock. [b][color=Gold]"This magic seems to destroy their frail bodies. I wonder what might happen to a mortal if it proved a strong enough conduit to survive."[/color][/b]

[b]"I wonder the same, Zephyrion. They might turn into living dirt."[/b] She chuckled, her eyes set on the mortals, who were drifting ever closer to the Rock.

Astarte raised her hand. The unconscious mortals' slow approach stopped. She'd blocked Zephyrion's influence upon them for a moment, long enough for the mortals to fall back down to the ground.

[b]"Just a moment..."[/b] Astarte muttered as she flew close to the mortals, inspecting each of them closely. Indeed, a moment went by and she shook her head. She let Zephyrion take control of the approach again as she flew back and watched the incoming show.

[b]"Go on, Zephy."[/b]

The wind god pondered whether or not to rouse the mortals from their slumber before putting them on the rock. In the end he felt like it would be fruitless and unlikely to matter, so one by one he gently lifted their bodies up and deposited them on Astarte's boulder. Several times they went several moments unaffected, just as Lakshmi had first done. Several times Zephyrion was disappointed to have them suddenly burn, explode, disintegrate, melt, or experience some odd combination of those gruesome fates. In the end none of them survived, much to his chagrin.

[b]"That was disappointing."[/b] Astarte commented and flew to the boulder. With a mere thought whenever necessary, she cleaned the rock of melted mortal, blood and whatever bodily fluid had gotten on it from the tests. After a while of the meticulous cleaning, Astarte perked up and turned around, pressing her back against the rock.

She giggled and started playing with her hair.

[b]"I know why they couldn't take the energy. We have to find [i]bigger[/i] mortals!"[/b]

Suddenly Zephyrion thought back to that little corner of the world that he had been cultivating for some odd few hundred million years. Surely in those lands there would be some sort of creature that was big, something [i]robust.[/i] [b][color=Gold]"I know just the place to look! I had Ventus drag Slough along to make me all sorts of toys and places. You must see my jungle! I think Ventus calls it the Venomweald Writhe..."[/color][/b]

[b]"What [i]is[/i] a Writhe?"[/b]

If whirling storms could shrug, this one might have. [b][color=Gold]"Maybe something that tries to eat you? Something green? Something poisonous? There's lots of things like that in my jungle. It's quite fun!"[/color][/b] After a moment's thought, he triumphantly decided to add, [b][color=Gold]"[i]Much[/i] more interesting than Vestec's Changing Plains, if I say so myself!"[/color][/b]

[b]"Great! Why don't we go there right now?"[/b] Astarte grinned and put her hands between her back and the Rock.

Zephyrion transformed into a great gale of wind and raced across Galbar to the Venomweald, sweeping along Astarte and a good part of the Deepwoods as well. What use was there in trying to not devastate swathes of forest when the trees would just grow back anyways?

He began to slow once the Venomweald's green loomed below, and came to a stop just before they all violently crashed into the Ironhearts beyond. The rugged, hilly jungle in these parts was home to all sorts of vicious creatures. For some time Zephyrion roamed, looking for anything that might be suitable. All he found was a strange menagerie of monsters, and as strange and diverse as the beings were, none possessed anything that might shield them from the boulder's magic. The Master of Change finally grew weary of searching.

[b][color=Gold]"Maybe I should just make something new,"[/color][/b] the god finally burst out.

[b]"And it only took you a couple hundred years of wandering to notice that! I'm impressed!"[/b] Astarte bit the tip of her tongue to suppress a childish giggle.

Bemused by her exaggeration, Zephyrion wondered to himself if he could ever go even a full year without becoming embroiled in the tomfoolery of Ventus or Lifprasil. The petulant duo made good company!

Regardless, the Embodiment of Change found himself wandering still in search of inspiration. He had made the elementals easily enough, but then again, they had been mere reflections of his own glory. Creating something new was a different proposition.

After a short while Zephyrion encountered several Urtelem nestled in some cliffs near the jungle's boundary with the Ironhearts. His curiosity piqued, he examined them more closely. [b][color=Gold]"Ah yes, it was our brother Teknall who made these peculiar creatures! It has been too long since I have seen him. Regardless, I think that this thing might be the solution to my predicament!"[/color][/b]

The Urtelem stared at the two gods rather blankly.

[b][color=Gold]"This creature is little more than a moving rock. Its mind and physiology are both simple, but I think that I could...[i]change[/i] the thing! Why make something of my own when I can just improve upon this? I'm sure that Teknall would let me take a few hundred of these creatures."[/color][/b]

His mind already set, Zephyrion wasted no time in calling upon his powers of change to reshape the Urtelem. While the Lord of Change admittedly lacked the creativity and talent of many of his peers when it came to creating a work of his own, he excelled at expanding, refining, simply [i]changing[/i] what already existed be it for the better or worse. In this case, it would be for the better: while the Urtelem had many desirable traits and were a good framework, they also had their shortcomings.

First the Storm's King carved their shapes into something more imposing: where the Urtelem had been perhaps two yards high, they now stood that tall and then half again. Their girth had not increased proportionally to that, so they now bore an even more humanoid shape although they were still robust with brawny limbs and relatively stocky bodies.

With this greater size would come the need for a greater metabolism. The First Gale breathed, and where before his mighty breath had carved their stony bodies into something new, now the winds of change simply seeped into the twisted Urtelem like water into parched soil. He manipulated their innards and their very composition to be more like those of the hain and humans, and what had once been earthen was now flesh, albeit a tough and almost stone-like sort. These new beings had muscles and skin and could bleed, although to some extent they retained the Urtelem's resilience by having an incredibly tough hide of sorts.

With these more natural qualities came additional needs; the rocks and minerals that had been the Urtelem's soul source of nourishment would remain digestable, and indeed these creatures would take a liking to consuming bones and the occasional rock. Yet like all natural lifeforms, they would also require more mundane forms of food as sustenance. The Urtelem's incredible lifepsan was also lost, though given perfect conditions these beings could still enjoy a century or so of life.

Lastly, Zephyrion looked to the creatures' minds. Besides the obvious work necessary to allow his creations to function and not act as if they were Urtelem, he had seen the potential for true sapience, civilization, and intelligence that Teknall had left vacant, and it was too tempting for him to not build upon that-the grandest of all the foundations that Teknall had left upon his Urtelem. He meticulously exerted his utmost effort into instilling intelligence into these beings, a sort of independent thought and independence that was of its own nature rather than the reflection of himself that he had bestowed unto the elementals. Zephyrion accounted for everything that he could think of: he imprinted upon them the ability to quickly and easily develop and learn language, to form complex societies, to build and innovate, to fight and know victory, and perhaps the potential for the wisest among them to one day understand the mysteries of the various sorts of magic left in the world.

With triumph, he beheld his finished product. There were many of these beings, enough to be the progenitors of what might one day become a species so widespread as even those hain. One of a particularly large and brutish temperament grunted and marched closer to Astarte, the other ones docile enough to pay the two gods little heed as they explored their surroundings. This large and aggressive one had once been that very first Urtelem that Zephyrion had chanced across when he had decided to create these grand creatures, and so this one was both the eldest of his race and the one that had been exposed longest to the presence of the two gods.

It didn't show. With what was a less than majestic performance, he trotted up to Astarte and looked down upon her, sniffing the air, staring intently, and looking as if he was contemplating whether she might be edible. For whatever reason he decided not and trotted away, but not before belching loudly.

Astarte tilted her head curiously as the being trotted away. Having it attempt to eat her could've been really interesting. A futile endeavor for the mortal, surely, but interesting nonetheless.

[b]"Are you going to try to eat me or what?"[/b] Astarte called out after the being, waving her hand at it.

It ignored her.

[b]"Your new creations are rather crude, Zephyrion-"[/b] Astarte turned toward her fellow God and shrugged after raising an eyebrow at him, [b]"They're like big Deepwoods animals."[/b]

[b][color=Gold]"Crude?"[/color][/b] he gushed back with an odd combination of joking indifference and contempt seeping into his tone. [b][color=Gold]"They are sublime! Masterpieces! Look at me, Astarte: I am no creator god. And yet I have still made these beings that are mighty and stout. In defiance of the wretched Vulamera, I also designed for them a grand intelligence using only my own wit and powers. What better way to ridicule the Foolish One and denounce her uselessness to nature itself than to take it upon myself to fulfill the void in responsibility that she leaves in her absence, and fulfill this role even better than she might?"[/color][/b]

Zephyrion's tirade was interrupted by that first being stooping down to find a rock and chew on it. Beneath the thing was a snake that lashed out in fear and bit the giant in the toe. The thing only stared stupidly down at it for several seconds, seemingly not even in pain, before stooping down to snatch up the snake and devour it as well.

Astarte frowned, the thing didn't even feel pain, could it be any more boring? [b]"Yes, uh... Great creations, Zephy. I see now that they are absolutely awesome. I wonder how the God of all Breezes made living beings this complex!"[/b] The sarcasm in her voice was accompanied by a giggle as she finished talking. She put her arms behind her back and grinned.

[b][color=Gold]"Why must they be complex? They only have to be stronger than the others. Yes, I think that these will turn out to be much than the mob that Vestec has been assembling!"[/color][/b] he declared without so much as a dent in his pride. Astarte obviously didn't understand such lofty notions of superiority; maybe one day he would find the time to show her.

[b][color=Gold]"But now we must put them through the first trial: let us see if they can endure the power of the rock!"[/color][/b]

Without another word Zephyrion grew until he was a twister so strong that not even the sheer size of his newest creations could keep them rooted to the ground. With them and Astarte in tow, he returned to the Deepwoods.

The moment Astarte saw Zephyrion was getting close to the Deepwoods, she forced him to stop his approach. It would not do any good to have such a huge twister near the woods--It might even fling the Rock somewhere far away. So instead of destroying a large part of the wood, Astarte let herself and the rest of Zephyrion's new creations shoot into the woods.

They crashed through the treetops, through branches, through animals. Some of the new beings had their bones broken, others splattered against the huge tree trunks.

When they reached the bottom, Astarte made sure to slow their fall. Screams turned into nervous grunting as the beings found themselves landing softly on the cold, dark ground.

Astarte got up silently, patted herself free of any leaf and branch stuck in her hair and motioned in the direction of the Rock. It'd only be a hundred meters or so from their location, [b]"Go to the Rock, where I'm pointing!"[/b]

They ignored her.

[b]"Come on, go!"[/b] She shouted.

They ignored her again, only now standing up and looking around them. Some started to bite the trees and others the grass.

[i][b]"Stupid animals..."[/b][/i] Astarte muttered and bit her lip. She looked down at her feet and felt her heart pump faster and her cheeks heat up. The creations were supposed to be sentient yet they couldn't even understand her speech.

Zephyrion's defensive attitude towards his newest creations demanded that he respond to Astarte. [b][color=Gold]"Why would you expect them to talk already? They will create their own language, but it will take time! It will not do for me to give them language of another species created by another god; my grand creations shall stand on their own legs! They will surpass the others and thrive, and in doing so prove not only their superiority but mine as well!"[/color][/b]

The god pushed outwards, his probing winds findig all the various creatures where they had fallen from the sky. The air charged with electricity, and with a little bit of lightning Zephyrion persuaded a few predators to leave his creations alone. It would not do for the creatures to be eaten already...

After gathering them all together once again and quickly healing the injured, he was ready to prove Astarte's skepticism wrong. He projected his will upon the biggest and eldest of the brutes, willing it to touch the rock. The thing understood Zephyrion, and it knew that Zephyrion sensed as much. Yet it still refused to move from the tree that it was biting. For whatever reason, it simply didn't [i]care[/i] what Zephyrion wanted it to do; the concepts of a god or creator were still alien to it.

Astarte stifled a giggle.

Infuriated, Zephyrion managed to persuade that one forward after several prods of that same energy he had used to drive off the predators. Where the snake's bite form before had done nothing, now the brute howled with pain and skipped forward to escape Zephyrion, bellowing the whole time until it found itself in front of the rock.

The thing examined the massive boulder closely, with all its strange patterns and magical glow. The thing might have been tasty, but it also looked funny. Besides, he wasn't hungry any longer. So he sat down and looked back to Zephyrion, trying to understand the nature of the writhing mass of wind that had followed and tormented him the whole time. An overwhelming desire to smash that twister came into the juggernaut's primitive mind, and so suddenly it charged forward.

Without much effort, Zephyrion's tempestuous form simply blew the creature onto the ground. Perhaps he had made these things [i]too[/i] stubborn and resilient, but nonetheless, that would make them only stronger. This time Zephyrion outright forced the ogre into the rock, pushing him with a blast of wind.

The ogre felt nothing for several seconds, just as Ventus and Lakshmi had. Then it began writhing, its limbs thrashing with so much force that they slammed into the boulder. With strength augmented by a rush of adrenaline and the wild magic that surged through him, the brutish beast slammed his fists into the boulder, over and over. Like glass the massive stone cracked and was shattered, and from the faults in its surface leaked out raw magic.

Dangerous amounts found their way into the one that had broken the stone, but already the rock's power had seeped into him. It was as if he was innoculated to a disease; his body was now capable of handling the excess of magic, and so he simply absorbed the power like a shade of the darkest shade of black absorbed the sun.

The others were not shielded so--the only thing between them and oblivion was their distance to the rock and their sheer resilience. Dozens of the creatures were torn asunder by the resulting blast, while most were simply tossed about in the exposion. Being thrown around was nothing that their bodies couldn't handle, and a select few of them were like the first to touch the rock in that they simply absorbed the power that touched them. 

The result of this would one day be that all such beings descended from these progenitors would have a touch of magic and the capacity to wield it, yet there would be a very rare few that carried the blood of those that had stood closest to the rock and yet survived. These ones would be blessed with an incredible, almost unbelievable resistance to magic. Spells and hexes would be deflected from their stony hides just as easily as stones or arrows, and while this might ironically make it harder for them to learn to wield the powers of magic it would also make them the perfect soldiers. With both a massive body that could endure more physical brutality than the fragile frames of any lesser species and a near immunity to magic, what would stop those few from trampling the world?

Astarte flew around the area, poking at the odd piece of flesh and doing her best to clean the trees and grass of blood and dirt. 

[b]"I suppose that's it for the Rock,"[/b] She said as she picked up an oversized liver off a small pile of organs and turned it into ash after injecting it with too much essence, [b]"Making it was very tiring, so I suppose I should avoid creating more."[/b]

Zephyrion had mixed feelings concerning the ordeal. On the one hand, the eldest of his creatures had been frightening capable of absorbing power, even though he now lay unconscious amidst a pile of the boulder's rubble. The blood and gore once again strewn throughout the grove was disappointing, though many of his prized creations had survived.

In the end, he determined that he had moe or less succeeded. His creatures were far superior to anything that his kindred had made thus far, and they would be a more than worthy competition for Vestec's ragtag horde. So naturally, he gloated to Astarte, [b][color=Gold]"Ah yes, do you see it now? Where near all other mere mortals were tried by your rock and found wanting, the creatures of my making [i]conquered[/i] the thing. They were forged of fine craftsmanship indeed!"[/color][/b]

[b]"They [i]are[/i] pretty strong..."[/b] Astarte sighed, [b]"They also destroyed my rock, in case you didn't realize."[/b]

Had she not been listening? [b][color=Gold]"They [i]conquered[/i] your rock. Aren't you proud of them?"[/color][/b]

Astarte flew over to the pile of rubble in the clearing and pointed at the biggest piece left. Barely a tenth of the original size of the Rock, [b]"I don't know what your definition of conquering is, but this looks more destroyed than anything! I want one of your creatures as an apology!"[/b] She crossed her arms and huffed.

Zephyrion was anything but apolegetic. He hovered closer to been in hysterics. [b][color=Gold]"Have one then! Have ten then!"[/color][/b] A rhythmic clap of thunder roared out from the Storm King's volatile form--laughter. True to his word, a gale of wind suddenly swept up a random ten of the creatures and deposited them at the goddess' feet.

Astarte frowned and turned away from the ten ogres. How dare he treat her like a child, giving her more than she asked for? She huffed once more and raised her chin, closing her eyes in indignation. [b]"I only asked for one."[/b]

[b][color=Gold]"Then choose one!"[/color][/b] he answered back. For ill or good, a particularly hungry one of those ten staggered back to his feet and advanced towards Astarte with the intention of devouring her. [b][color=Gold]"See now? You were so indecisive that this one chose for you!"[/color][/b]

A rush of wind began to sweep away the other nine that had been offered, the lot of them bellowing in protest at having been shoved about so much in these past few moments.

Astarte cracked an eye open and tilted her head to see the one that had chosen to approach her. Tall, strong, funny-looking face with crooked teeth. She let her arms relax slightly and her eyebrows raise once the ogre stopped a few feet short of Astarte.

[b]"Your name will now b- Eep!"[/b] She squealed in surprise as the ogre lifted her up by her hair and began inspecting her. 

For a split moment, Astarte held a wince on her face and kicked her legs. She stopped and relaxed once she remembered she could fly. [b]"O-Okay, let go of my hair!"[/b]

Zephyrion observed the droll scene, wondering whether to intervene. He couldn't bring himself to spoil the fun, hurt his own creation, or send Astarte into another fit. So he simply watched and laughed.

The ogre looked at her with its beady, curious eyes. With its free hand, it poked Astarte in the belly.

[b][i]'Oof'[/i][/b]

Then, before Astarte regained her composure, it shifted its grasp on her and now held her upside down with a goofy grin on its face. Astarte didn't need to worry about her dress sliding, given that she could manipulate its movements with a mere thought. She did, however, start getting a headache. 

The ogre shook her a bit. She grunted. [b]"A-Agh, stop!"[/b] She yelled. The ogre laughed, its deep, powerful voice sending tremors into the gigantic trees, the ground and even  Astarte.

That had been enough.

Astarte glared at the ogre and pointed her palm at its right ear.

A flash of light and a magic beam later, the ogre had dropped Astarte and was squatting, covering the side of his head with both hands while it whimpered. Smoke came from where his ear used to be, and his veins started pulsing with a faint lavender color.

As Astarte stood up and fixed herself up, she stared at the ogre. She realized she had tensed her jaw, so she relaxed it. She realized she was scowling, so she pursed her lips. Finally, upon hearing the whimpers of the ogre, she looked away and crossed her arms.

[b]"I told you to stop and you didn't, that's what you deserve!"[/b]

The ogre looked at her with big, watery eyes, pouting.

Astarte couldn't help looking at them. Her anger faded and she looked towards Zephyrion, [b]"C-Come on, tell him it was his fault, Zephyrion!"[/b]

[b][color=Gold]"It was your fault!"[/color][/b] he obligingly told the whimpering creature while hurling a few sparks at it. Suddenly a tinge of anger crept into him upon seeing the creature weep? What was this weakness? Had he imbued a flaw into their design?

Its lip quivered and it teared up. Seeing this, Astarte groaned and flew over to it, palcing her hand on its shoulder. [b]"Okay, okay, maybe it wasn't [i]fully[/i] your fault, but.... Ugh! I'm just going to take you somewhere with more light to fix you up."[/b] She said with a sigh. With that said, Astarte waved at Zephyrion and warped her and the ogre somewhere else.

Zephyrion projected some happiness and offered a goodbye before she left. Then he turned back to the primitive brutes that would one day build an empire and become the proud ogres. Right now all he saw was some mediocre brutes, the tears of Astarte's gift souring the triumph that Zephyrion had felt when they had survived the rock's explosive magic.

Were these creatures of his strong enough? Would they be good enough to surpass Vestec's Horde of Chaos, or should he change them into something better? With a final sigh Zephyrion swept them all up into yet another monstrous storm before carrying them across Galbar and depositing them in the wild lands near the Venomweald's border. He would leave them there until he decided what was to be done...

[b][center]*  * * *  *[/center][/b]

 With a cautious frown, Lifprasil landed on a balcony upon the middle-most level of Zephyrion's abode. Lakshmi, however, felt differently. [color=blue]"Uh... I... Ventus, you okay buddy?"[/color] she asks, rubbing her transformed forearm as she wiggles out of Lifprasil's grasp.

[color=0072bc]"Okay?"[/color] he echoed back to her with a puzzled look. A moment later, he suddenly erupted into a violent fit of laughter. [color=0072bc]"She asks if I am okay?! Never! I feel exuberance! Does the rock's fantastic magic not course through you too, [i]shockingly, rhythmically, [b]gleefully[/b][/i]? It's intoxicating!"[/color]

Lakshmi cringed slightly - this was both terrifying and embarassing.

The djinni conjured a potent, brilliant orb of light in his palm, condensing the pure Astartian magic of his soul into a tiny pinpoint of pristine energy. Then he hurled it into the sky and cackled as it exploded.

[color=blue]"You sound kind of crazy."[/color] Lakshmi replied, blinking at the blinding flash from the djinni's tremendous expression of power. Lifprasil, however, found himself becoming worried, drawing similarities between Zephyrion and Ventus' new mentality. [color=orange]"You may want to exert some control."[/color] Lifprasil said to Ventus - prepared to exert his own mental control upon the unstable wind godling. [color=orange]"You may hurt somebody less resilient than yourself."[/color]

[hider=Summary]
[list]
[*] Lifprasil thinks to himself by a window.
[*] Zephyrion comes in to teach Lifprasil his daily lesson. This time it consists of the 'correct' opinions for Lifprasil to hold concerning the various gods.
[*] Lifprasil is a bad student, thinking too much, interrupting Zephyrion, and the like. Zeph gets frustrated and throws Lifprasil out the window.
[*] Because he is still displeased with how Lifprasil performed in his prior fight with Allure, Zephyrion takes the time to hone Lifprasil's reflexes and train him to do better next time.
[*] During a lesson on geography, Astarte comes over to visit. The lesson ends and they all go on a field trip. Ventus comes along to carry some of them.
[*] On their way, they pass the Changing Plains and observe Vestec's Horde of Chaos. (This post takes place well before the Horde is marching out). Zephyrion is slightly jealous, but takes the opportunity to grab several members of every major species. Some of them he cures of their corruption.
[*] They finally come to Astarte's Rock in the Deepwoods, the site of the field trip. They experiment with its effects on mortals and it blows up or otherwise kills most of them. Lakshmi, one of Lifprasil's favorite servants, survives touching the rock and has one hand made stony. She's empowered into a hero.
[*] Ventus is thrown against the rock by Zephyrion and is also empowered. He flies off screaming something about his newfound powers. (He is leveled 4 times by the 1MP worth of power and gifted Astartian magic)
[*] Everybody except Zephyrion and Astarte leave. Because Zephyrion is somewhat jealous of Vestec's horde and because he wants to try his hand at creating new things, he decides to take on the challenge of making a species of mortal that can withstand the rock's power.
[*] Astarte and Zephyrion go to the Venomweald where they find some Urtelem near the slopes of the bordering Ironheart mountains.
[*] Zephyrion mutates many of the Urtelem into a new species, the ogres, using his powers of Change.
[*] The first ogre ever created touches the rock and survives, absorbing enough power to similarly become a hero. He thrashes about and [b]destroys the Rock[/b] in the process. The resulting explosion of magic kills some ogres, empowers others, and leaves most untouched.
[*] Astarte gets one pet ogre as repayment because they broke her rock.
[*] The ogre tries to eat Astarte, so she burns its ear off.
[*] When it cries, Zephyrion is angry about how his perfect creations are "flawed". He dumps them all near the edge of the Venomweald until he can find a use for them.
[/list]
[/hider]
[hider=Might Summary]
24.5 MP and 2 FP

-1 Might used to create ogres

23.5 MP and 2 FP remain
[/hider]

[hider= Astarte's Might Summary]
20 MP, 4 FP.
None used.
The Rock was destroyed after being drained of magical energy. It had 4 MP, of which one went to Lakshmi, one went to Ventus, one went to the first Ogre and the last one was violently expelled outwards after the Rock was cracked by the Ogre, causing the shockwave and affecting the nearby ogres in different ways.. (-2 Might regeneration per turn)
20 MP, 4 FP remaining.
[/hider]