[center][h2]Oksana[/h2][/center]

The Heavens, the most beautiful, and brilliant place in all the world. Nothing could compare to it’s majesty in the lands of Mortals, the brilliant white ivory that made up every column, and pedestal, the magnificent statues, and art that made up the décor in every room. The delicately placed gold inlays that streamed seamlessly across the domed ceiling to it’s very core where a large crystal filled a void in the ceiling filtering in beams of sunlight. This place was built beautifully, and every detail carefully crafted by the King himself, no detail went untouched, and though there was an air of foreboding, still this place shined like a star in a sea of darkness compared to what his children had made in the lands below. Set in the middle of the room was a single box, clear, shimmering, made of pure diamond, and inside was the body of the King, forever frozen in time by his beautiful coffin. Making a semi-circle around the tomb is series of thrones, each carved, and decorated for the God that would be assigned to it, several though would of course go empty as their owners were no longer alive. Meanwhile one large throne sat at the head, empty it would remain, several centers of power sealed into its frame, vibrating and waiting for someone to claim it.

The sky flashed outside for a moment, a single bolt of lightning streaking through a window, and across the chamber crashing against the smooth marble floor. A flash of light would have blinded anyone there before revealing Oksana to stand where the flash of lightning had once stood. Rather than her armor she wore a smooth robe of sheer silk, it clung to her body like damp cloth though it was light as air. Every outline of her body stood out in detail that could only be more revealing if she had gone naked. Turning to look around the council chambers, she saw that no one else had arrived, and gave a sigh. “Always late, even when the Keeper calls.” She muttered as she moved to her throne, one that literally was storm clouds floating in the air, with flashes of lighting appearing inside the dense, dark nimbus. She settled into the throne. A sharp rectangle of light suddenly cut its way through near the corner of the room.

From the rectangle of light steps a large dark skinned man, clad in gold armor, and carrying a staff with a eye upon the end. “I see you are the first to arrive as always Oksana. I have sent messages to the minds of all your siblings. All of them, and even your nieces and nephews.” Slowly the man walked towards the middle of the room, standing before the diamond coffin calloused hands stroking across the lid of the tomb. “You know, I used to be jealous that your father named all of you, but me.. I am simply Guardian, or the Guardian. Though I have grown old and understand that my purpose is greater than I realized at that time.” Giving a sigh a he began to shuffle towards the King’s throne, his age beginning to show more with every step. “We have maybe a few years… Before it all.. I suppose I should wait till the others arrive.” The Guardian waved his hand, and a smaller chair appeared next to the King’s throne, the Guardian taking his seat.

With pursed lips Oksana listened to the Guardian speak, of emotions that had never been expressed aloud before. “You were most precious to the King, Guardian. You are also precious to all of us.” She looked to her Father, staring at his corpse, his white hair long and brained down his chest. A single tear rolled down her cheek and dropped onto her robe. She then looked to the other thrones, they were empty for now, but soon most would be full. Only the major Gods had thrones though, those that were minor gods would be forced to stand, and listen, their words likely to be ignored by the rest of those attending. “I hope we can come to a peacable outcome…” Her eyes lifted wandering to the windows, remembering the rebellion as she looked at the thrones that would remain empty, remembering those who died. Her mind began to wander to her daughters, and Hilde, how she missed Hilde… Another tear rolled down her cheek. 

[hr]

[center][h2]Zadia[/h2][/center]

The lands of Eperus a hot, dry, empty place full of blood-shed, and anger. A large four armed feminine figure stood alone, blood soaking the sands beneath her feet as she stared at a rather large worm like creature half protruding from the sand. Zadia flexed slightly as she yanked her spear free from the creature’s head, eyes narrowing as she smiled a bit gleefully at the bloodshed. [i]Today had been a good hunt[/i], she thought to herself as she stepped onto the corpse. Her body glistened with a light sheen of sweat, her attire simple, bracers, shin guards, and the most insignificant covering on her breasts in the form of gold coins molded and fit to her body’s shape. This was more than was normal for the race that she was bred from, as they typically wore nothing at all. 

As she soaked in her victory a voice suddenly sounded through her mind, the voice of the Guardian, speaking to her, to the one who was banished from all of the other God’s lands after she had warred against so many even after the rebellion. [i]’Come now daughter of War, daughter of Kovar. The time has come for you to join the other gods, to take your place among them. The time to choose a new King is upon us.’[/i] For a long time Zadia could do nothing but stand there, staring off in the distance, her body tense.

“I see.” She said more to herself than anyone else.” Suddenly her legs flexed and she jumped into the air, her body sizzling away as she turned into a red ball of energy that shot up towards the sky. “Now is the time for me to take my place, to claim the throne for my father!”