Perhaps it was her sensitivity to matters of the mind, or the still vulnerable state of her sanity (courtesy of [b]Vestec[/b]), but Vulamera found herself unable to maintain consciousness as the void-before-world lit up with color and sound. She tried. Oh, she tried- but the strength of it all just overwhelmed her senses. In those few moments before she slipped into slumber, the Goddess of Intelligence perceived something absolutely amazing. The universe. It was expanding from a single infinitely small point of infinite mass and infinite density. It felt as though Fate had garnered the entirety of creation- all that was, is and shall be- into one object. That object, of course, was the Great Work: The Codex of Creation. Then all went dark, and eons past as Transcendent Mother slept. When she slowly regained awareness, everything was different, nothing was as it had been, nor would it ever be again. The Codex of Creation was not just within her, it [i]was [/i]her. It had been absorbed into her intangible essence. She could feel it, every word, every note, every blemish, all pulsating like a heartbeat. Even further, the very nature of the Great Work had been twisted by Amul'Sharar's mysterious will- he had added many chapters to the Book, each one written in an absurdly detailed language that the Scribe of Souls could not decipher. If the other Gods were children to her, then the sheer complexity of Amul's words made it clear that she was naught but an idiot infant to him. The letters shook to her core with an eldritch power. After what felt like an infinite span of time, Vulamera was drawn out of her intense study by the sound of foolishness crashing into the previously un-scarred world. Zephyrion's idiocy had torn viciously into the vulnerable planet below. He fell like an asteroid, ripping apart vast chunks of the lovely earth. Why? What purpose could this destruction serve? Vulamera knew, at that exact moment, that Zephyrion would be beyond hope. Of all the Child Gods, the Puppet-Wind was most beyond salvation. Then, the Shadow of Revelations had an idea. She garnered together her holy might, and caged it as a single concentration of spherical force. After a moment- or a millennium, there was no difference to her- of intelligent planning, she set her power loose on the rocky materials orbiting the equally rocky world. An invisible hand swept through the clouds of rubble, gathering them each together. They changed color as they moved through the void, turning grey or white by the will of Vulamera. Galbar accomplished thousands of rotations around the sun while the Goddess toiled passionately, and she rotated with it. In time, it was complete. The planet's new moon shone like a polished pearl. She named it "Unitas", a name that would translate to "Unity" from a language that Vulamera somehow knew she would eventually create. Only... it was not enough. This place, this world, was made not from a unified voice speaking, but from many discordant voices shouting. The moon would be Galbar's first true view of the universe without, so should it not reflect the conflicted nature of that universe? Vulamera certainly thought it should. She once more manifested herself into a dense, metallic sphere of onyx-black. This was becoming a favored form of hers- so simple yet so efficient! Taking inspiration again from the Fool-child of Change, she prepared to impact herself with the moon... then stopped in epiphany. [color=violet]Inefficient,[/color] she realized, [color=violet]Unnecessarily brute force is far from the path of knowledge.[/color] She resolved, for the second time, to only use as much power as absolutely needed to achieve her chosen ends. The black ball that was her swelled in mass, growing to half the size of Unitas. It rumbled, shook with divine power, and a beam of fierce red energy suddenly leaped from it. The beam began slicing into the natural satellite with exact precision. As if she were a marble sculptor, Vulamera utilized cautious aim to cut this single moon into eight smaller ones. Each of them measured to be almost perfectly spherical in shape (with the exception of number six), but yet each unique all the same. The first and second moons were both crafted from the blackest remnants of Unitas. They shone less like pearls and more like obsidian, their utterly dark surfaces blending into the nighttime skies. She named the first Lex- "Law"- and its twin was called Cogitare- "Think". The third and fourth were the anathema to the first and second, their immaculate white contrasting against the pitch darkness of space. They would forever hang side by side, following the same orbital path all the while. Like two milky eyes, forever watching, forever knowing. [color=violet]"Vigilate et Scitis"[/color], the Shadow of Revelations whispered. The fifth was alone in its earthy composition. For while all the moons were made of the earth of Galbar, this one had been gathered together from only from Unitas's most metal, rocky salvages. Its otherwise bland surface was flecked with sparkles of iron, copper or diamond. [color=Violet]"Auricolor: Golden."[/color] The sixth was... well, completely un-flawed. Nothing special nor unusual hid in the grey plains it was made from. Perfectly spherical, entirely smooth, entirely gray in almost every way. Not a single mark nor black spot covered its surface. Perfectus. The seventh was in every way the opposite of the imperfectly perfect Perfectus. It was marred and scarred, torn and burned. The whole of the moon was less of a sphere and more of a lumpy oval, for it had been formed by harshly smashing together whatever pieces remained when the others were finished. If one descended to its surface, they would find a world that looked as if some horrific disaster had ravaged all in sight. It was oddly reminiscent of war. Vulamera could almost imagine marching armies of stern-faced men, each clad in gleaming steel. [color=violet]"This one will be Periditus: lost, destroyed, ruined. No other name could fit."[/color] Ah, but the eighth! Whereas five was unique in composition, eight was utterly solitary in beauty. It was not made simply by ramming various bits of Unitas's corpse together, but instead it was formed personally, by Vulamera's own hand. It made little sense in the technical term of the word, but that was its glory. She used the most strange mathematical equations to decide the appearance of eight. This moon was warped into fractal shapes, made of the most complex geometric mountains, and marked by the most mathematically crafted valleys that Vulamera could imagine. It would be forever "Mirus". Vulamera gifted [b]Logos [/b]with the first moon, for she had dubbed it Lex in his eternal honor. It was the grandest of all, being the only among them who's size is great enough to trap an (very, very weak) atmosphere. It's colour mimicked the grey wings of the King so perfectly that it was barely visible from Galbar: only the most keen of star-gazers would spy its shadowy surface. [color=violet]"This one is to your glory, Logos. Small and insignificant, I know, but it is nonetheless the grandest of my creations which can be gifted to you."[/color] Its sister moon, Cogitare, belonged to the Scribe herself. It was cloaked in a darkness even deeper than first's; so deep, in fact, that it was totally invisible to Galbar. It would only be known through the small, round empty space it left on the canvas of night. Vulamera also made a firm claim on Vigilate and Scitis, who would be known formally as the Eyes of the Scribe, where she would watch and record all Galbar's happenings. [color=violet][b]Teknall[/b],[/color] she spoke to the Artisan of Divinity, [color=violet]the Fifth of my moons, the one littered with precious metals and rare stones, is yours. It is a small and mostly useless gift, I'm aware, but take it as a gesture of good will; a 'thankyou' for your creation of and protection of the Codex of Creation, which is now in my possession should you ever need it."[/color] Vulamera sighed. Telepathic communication was tiresome, however necessary it may be to the accurate expression of divine ideas. Her next message found its way to [b]Kyre[/b]: [color=violet]"The Warrior of Gods! As you've probably noticed, I have created 7 moons around this little world of ours. None of them are truly useful, but nonetheless, I feel I owe you a 'thankyou' for your contribution to and, more importantly, protection of the Great Work. I am sorry that it is impossible for me to give more, for your contribution to the Great Work was strong. You may have the sixth moon, Periditus. "I think you'll find the moon is a reflection of yourself, in many ways. It is wartorn, violent in apperance. Yet... a strong force lingers. A resilience. I hope you will appreciate its imperfect beauty, for can there be any other kind?"[/color] Speaking of imperfect... Number 7 was artificially immaculate, flawlessly flawed. Could a more fitting mirror exist for one such as [b]Toun[/b]? No, no it could not. [color=violet]"Toun, Porcelain Sire, I grant you the most perfect of my creations thus far. It is not flawless, for nothing made can be, but I've done what I can to reflect your standards. I am sorry that it is impossible for me to give more, for your contribution to the Great Work was strong."[/color] Now, the last of her precious moons was to be given away. Mirus, Vulamera could not deny, was her favorite. And here she was, about to give one of her favorite creations to one of her least favorite siblings. Of course, she was determined to have no enemies, so thus sacrifice is absolutely needed. [color=violet]"[b]Jvan[/b],"[/color] she tried to hide the bitterness in her tone, [color=violet]"I know that you despise me. In that void-before-world, all was laid bare, even our thoughts. You wish that I was like you. Why? Is not the greatest beauty diversity? Would you have us all conform to your idea of artistry, thus leaving the universe bare of uniqueness? No. It shall not be done. If I chose not to exist in this realm, such is my choice and my destiny. Indeed my destiny, for each of the Gods have a natural form- yourself included- and to have no form is mine. I cannot change that. I can take other forms, I can shift myself to other shapes, but each would be a lie, for by nature I am naught. I will not deny my nature, All-Beauty. "However, I have deigned to gift you something. I have crafted it by my own mind, specifically for the purpose of beauty, in a gesture of goodwill to you. For how can you judge an artist before you have seen her work? Before you hate me any further, gaze upon my crafts, not upon my body. That is not the true measure of a creator. The eighth moon, Mirus, is yours."[/color] [color=violet]"Oh, and regarding my deference of the Codex rather than the Egg of Slough: Life cannot exist without the universe, dear Jvan, therefore the universe must be protected first. Life is easily created by any of us. Furthermore, we could gain the power- over much time, albeit- to do so naturally, as Slough does now. But who among us will or can create a universe all their own? I refuse to defend one God while the whole of existence lays at stake."[/color] Having finished her little debate, Vulamera floated down to the cold surface of Cogitare, preparing to enter a trance of meditation, where she could explore her own mind. She had not yet had the opportunity to honestly explore her domain, afterall. Or perhaps she should spend her time unraveling the mystery of the Codex? It mattered not. The Transcendent Mother was nothing if not patient. She would learn all in time. That business in the void-before-world was behind her now, and she cared no more for it. The universe was here, and it was what it was. She would study it, learn from it in anyway she can. [b]This [/b]was her true goal: not to protect order, or to gift the other Gods with large rocks in outerspace, but to [b]understand[/b]. She gazed into the ink-shaded, fine dirt of Cogitare. It was so cold, so lifeless. Yet, absolutely fascinating! Her divine vision allowed her to see not just the exterior of the dirt, but that which was hidden underneath it. The microscopic makeup of each individual crumb and compare it to the makeup of all adjacent crumbs. It was amazing how much they could differ wi- "I'd protect myself, Inquisitive Goddess." A sudden voice interrupted her study. The Scribe looked up, only to find that it originated from [i]him-[/i] the random, foolish deity who named himself [b]Vestec[/b]. "Logos seems very possessive of the Codex of Creation.", he rumbled on. "I'd be careful he doesn't try and forcibly rip it back. He might not be the only one either. Also..." A high-pitched cackle escaped him as he lit up like a rainbow. "If you'd like another look inside my mind all you have to do is ask. Now if you'll excuse me I have to visit this new planet of Galbar." [color=violet]"Yes, yes, I will..."[/color] Her voice trailed off, so that soon Vestec vanished to the surface of the world below. It meant nothing. She was honestly more focused on the composition of barren soil. It was so boring at first sight, but the molecular structure of those various compounds which all came together under the single name of "dirt". In fact, it was [b]so fascinating that[/b]- [color=red] "Excuse me Vulamera, but may I have a word with you?"[/color] Curses! Who was it now? A figure stepped cautiously out of the shadows- [b]Valkaron[/b]. had he been hiding in the shade of that cliff-face? [color=violet]Of course you may, Father of Trickery.[/color] She replied, [color=violet]What do you desire of me?"[/color] [color=red]"I have been having these strange flashes of memory that seem to be from before this universe.[/color] The Tricksters voice was like a shadow, elusive and fleeting. [color=red] I have come to you because you seem the most curious as to why we are here. Due to the nature of these memories, I feel it is in my best interests to learn as much as possible about this universe... and any that may have come before. Will you assist me?" [/color] Vulamera practically lit up with excitement. How rare it was, that a Child God would care for knowledge! This was a rare opportunity. [color=violet]"Will I assist you?"[/color] She forced her joyless, calculated laugh. [color=violet]"That is a foolish question, Valkaron. For it is in my spirit to seek knowledge. Tell me, what exactly have you been seeing? Describe it to me, in all detail you can, please. You are not alone in your memories, I can affirm that much."[/color] As she awaited his reply, Vulamera's presence distorted, turning black while condensing itself into a semi-humanoid creature. She grew eight stretched and thin legs to carry her starving, boney torso. Three arms sprouted from both of her sides, all of which had five disturbingly long fingers that reached completely down to the ground. In spite of her absurd new body, Vulamera's face appeared to belong with a human woman. Her full height reared up to only four feet when the transformation was complete. A two-foot finger jolted up, exploring around Valkaron's face. It bent in an unnatural way, to wrap itself around his head, as if the memories could be squeezed out. Before she and the Chancellor of Chance could attempt to solve this little riddle, however, yet [b]another[/b] deity appeared. Had it not been [b]Logos[/b], her ally from the beginning, she would have broke her polite facade and commanded them to leave at once, so that she may continue her research in peace. Order though... Order deserved focus, attention. It was an element, embodied wholly within Logos, that was demanding of study. [b]“It is a burden to take all of creation into one’s self. I offer my eternal gratitude that it was shielded from corruption, if even for a few moments. When all is made right, you will receive a gift for your actions that will make all others tremble.”[/b] Her new face smiled at Logos. [color=violet]"Thankyou, Lord of Law."[/color] An alien voice ushered out. It was unfit for her human face- thin as a scroll, piercing as a nail. [color=violet]"I will gladly receive any gift you have for me, although the power to 'make others tremble' does not appeal to me. This Goddess seeks only knowledge and order in the world. If those two needs are achieved, all else falls in place."[/color] She sighed as Logos left the solemn moon behind. [color=violet]"Let's hope there is no one more to interrupt us. I cannot think in crowds, the way they buzz like a hive of shaken bees...[/color] [hider=Summary] -Vulamera awakens to find the Codex fused with her -She makes 8 moons -She gives a moon each to Jvan, Logos, Toun, Kyre and Teknall -She replies to Vestec -She replies to Valkaron -She replies to Logos -She complains that too many people are speaking to her [/hider] [hider=MIGHTY SUMMARY] -1 might to make moon -1 might to split it into 8 [/hider]