[center][h1][color=598527]Reathos[/color][/h1][h2][color=8dc73f]Level 3 - God of Death[/color][/h2][/center]
For the longest time did Reathos remain with the Pronobii. Through Nimueh he guided them, made them rise from the pathetic fearful creatures as he found them to the proud fighters they were now. Even in her old age, Nimueh was greatly respected by among the Pronobii. Her stories about the Lands Beyond Ice turned into legends and myths of the Pronobii. However, for now, they were not allowed beyond the snow. So the only source about the world were Reathos’ stories.

But it did appear that Vestec had other plans. The sly god of corruption must have gotten his hands on some Pronobii. Promising them far more bloodshed if they followed him. The God of Death had placed them in such a barren wasteland so rarely a living creature would encounter them. He did not count on a god’s influence. So when he heard of the disappearance of a few of his valued children, he was outraged. If the existence of the Pronobii, and more important, their purpose, be revealed to the world, no doubt the other gods would smite them into extinction. To protect them, he blessed his own children. The blessing was nothing physical. But it hardened their resolve for the Great Purge. It great reduced the ability of other gods to influence a Pronobis. While not entirely impossible, it might require said god to break the frozen creature first. Mentally broken creatures could rarely remember where they came from. So the Great Purge would remain safe.

In the meantime the Pronobii, whose only reason of existence was to fight, swiftly developed various other ways of finishing off others. Through cryomancy they became creative in their dangerous arts. Suddenly more than crude blades and staves appeared on the hallowed battle-arena. Some smaller blades, daggers. Others used spikes on their fists. Even with the traditional, basic weaponry the Pronobii had developed other techniques. They constantly used their favored weapon against other weapons. Developing ways to counter them. Thus the various ‘Ways of Battle’ were developed.

While weapons were refined, so were defenses. The mere shield was not good enough anymore. It took away a hand, which could else be filled with a weapon. So they placed the shield on the arm itself. Armor was formed, negating full frontal blows. Answers were formed to both the swift and dangerous knives, as well as the brutally crushing force of the warhammers. Slowly suits of icy scales were formed. Which easily deflected strikes of a blade.

The fighting culture itself also developed. What first started as a brutal heap of vicious, near-constant fighting now slowly turned into honorable combat. Certain rules were agreed upon. This to mostly persuade all Pronobii to fight each other head-on. This to maximize the ability to take lessons out of the duel. Obviously things like strength or agility were gaining great value within the arena.

When a group of Pronobii are engaged in combat, they do not care for hail, snow, storm, or rain. Indeed, only the battle is what matters, which often leads to spectacular events to witness. In fact, two Pronobii going at one another in the night, while a torrent of rain pours down on them and lightning flashes briefly illuminate the harsh warriors could be counted as one of the most breathtaking things to witness in these ancient times. But when it came to resting, thinking, developing new weapons and armor, weather and the environment more often disturbed the thinkers of the Pronobii.  They had to protect themselves from the world. Through their cryomancy a whole range of dwellings rose. Most kept it simple, a roof supported by icy beams. The very presence of the Pronobii assured that the beams would remain the extremely cold temperature they needed to keep their strength.

And thus the Pronobii kept on developing in great strides. Becoming stronger, better and faster. The art of cryomancy advanced greatly in the shaping of weapons. Even to the point that some created chains with blades at the end of them. The chainblades were particularly vicious in the hands of a master. However, the second, smaller gift of Reathos was not neglected. The Pronobii started asking what the signs above their heads meant. It was written in strange glyphs, things they could not read. Eventually Reathos felt that it was time to reveal the truth.

One faithful night he summoned them to an opening in the tundra. Several moons shone in the sky. The place was bathed in the faint glow of a full moon. [color=a2d39c]“What you see are your True Names. Beings like you, whom can think and act beyond their primal instincts, all are granted a soul. This very thing carries your True Name. You cannot hide it, change it, or destroy it. The Glyphs you see are True Signs. The language of your very soul.”[/color]

“How do you speak it?” Reathos was surprised by this question. He did base his creations, his children, off humans. But he did not think that their curiosity would have been taken over. Never the less, he taught them how to speak and write it. Every night they gathered with great numbers in the clearing. Forming glyphs on icy tablets. Thus the Pronobii were taught how to read and write his people. It took many nights, but time was a futile thing for a god. Only the body of Nimueh had to stay alive so he could teach them. And she would not die just yet.

Over day some things kept changing too. As new generations were born, the old began to fade. But they refused to be forgotten. Most of them had fought great battles against one another. Even Nimueh had to agree that some champion’s tales should remain. Those who made the dwellings reckoned that they could form ice in their likeness. The greater the honor of a Pronobis, the closer his statue was made to the center of the village, where the arena was. These crude statues often bore the names of the champion below the feet. But the champions of the arena were not satisfied yet. On their own they shaped on the back their own tale. Commemorating their most valiant battle.

The Pronobii were quite grateful to Reathos. He had given them much and even more. And he never asked anything in return, except that they would use their gifts to their fullest extend and that they would prepare for the Great Purge that would one day come. To show their gratitude they went out at night. However, Reathos as a god fully knew what they were doing. Yet he kept silent of his knowledge. In the meantime the Pronobii kept building. At first they dug a pit within the ground. With many months of work they smoothed the stone floor and walls. On top of it, they placed a great many plinths ready for future great warriors. Stairs were chopped out of the stone that descended into the arena. On the northern wall they built a throne in the shadow of a frozen tiled roof. The roof was held by 4 statues, while just behind the throne stood a statue of Nimeuh herself. The Great Prophet. Surrounding the large arena they placed great hall-like dwellings. Only supported by columns, not walls. The halls had but a singular purpose. To teach the different Arts of Battle to the new generations.

Reathos played his act rather well when he was shown the Arena-temple. First shock, then gratefulness. But he had prepared for this moment. To baptize the great place they made for him, he sat on the throne and used just a small bit of influence to turn the very throne he sat on pitch black. Only when he sat down on the throne did he notice that the side of the throne relative to the arena was higher. All around him the Pronobii took to the knee and in union said: “We praise the Great Prophet Nimueh. We praise the Great God Reathos. By his will we live. By his command we fight. By his hand we are protected. By his voice we learn. Ag suam lorgos nu reuhm y libris.” The final words were spoken in the language Reathos had taught them. The True Glyphs. Only then did he realize that he never heard them speak the language outside his lessons. It would have appeared that they must consider the very language holy. As their very god taught them.
[hider=Summary]
The Pronobii are guided to even greater heights with guidance of Reathos, through the First Incarnation of Nimeuh, the Great Prophet. They gained: 
- fighting styles
- advanced melee weapons
- advanced melee defenses
- honour
- basic dwellings
- written language
- monuments
- religion
- temple building
[/hider]
[hider=Might summary]
- 2 Might spent for 8 FPs
- 9 FPs for: fighting styles, advanced melee weapons, advanced melee defenses, honour, dwellings, written language, monuments, religion, temple building
- 1 Might spent to decrease other gods' influence over the Pronobii

[b]Remaining:[/b]
14 MP
0 FP
[/hider]