[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/7f28c785-bb7c-4826-8dbd-4f45a4e28f0c.png[/img] [color=Peru][b]The Great Artisan, Divine Mason, Builder of Civilisations Level 4 God of Crafting (Masonry, Carpentry, Smithing)[/b] 20.5 Might & 1 Free Points[/color][/center] [center]and[/center] [center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjEyOC5lN2ViZTYuUVcxaGNuVERyV0UsLjA,/old-type-personal-use.regular.png[/img] [color=gray][i][b]Sin, The 7 Sins, The Sinner, Pride, Gluttony, [u]Wrath[/u], Envy, Sloth, Lust, Greed[/b][/i][/color] 2 MP, Level 4[/center] The smoldering remains of the Cipher is what remained of the once revered crown jewel of Xerxes. Walls crumbled and in their place stood thick beams of stone and wood, blackened and charred from where the flames had licked at them. The ruins were still smoking and he could see the faintest glow of embers as his eyes maneuvered around the creaking threshold. Black dust hung in the air and invaded his lungs, but proved too weak to produce any harm in his body. Nothing had escaped the explosion, glass littered the floor where the windows had broken and the metal base of the grand throne lay blackened and twisted on the ground. Amartía refused to move, he refused to observe any further. Rage had torn down his pride, and in turn, tore down his city. Across the shattered debris walked another figure. This figure had the body of a hain and the aura of a god, standing twice as tall as a mortal hain, casting off a golden glow, and the storm parting around him. In his hand he held a great hammer of solid adamantine, almost as large as he was. Once the god was within shouting distance of Amartia, he spoke, the disgust in his voice cutting across the raging tempest. [color=Peru][b]"Xerxes was once a grand city, then you returned and ruined it."[/b][/color] Amartía's turned to the voice, his unblinking eyes burrowing themselves into that of the intruders. With each step, he could smell the being's divinity, he could taste the power that rolled off each word it spouted. Sin bared his teeth, his predator instincts gnawing at him, screaming at him to cut the god down, to swallow its entrails and drink his blood, to show him the Face of Wrath. But he held back, not out of fear for the power the god wielded, but out of respect. This god possessed a scent that had never once before graced his nostrils. Amartía owed this god his attention, even for a moment. Without warning, an ethereal voice, spoke out, once that came from everywhere and nowhere. [color=Crimson]"I only gave Xerxes perfection; perfection in the face of utter destruction. I did what was necessary."[/color] the raspy voice retorted. The God who was Hain's eyes narrowed at Amartia. [color=Peru][b]"I have heard many views of perfection, and this is the most twisted of them all."[/b][/color] Amartía let out a snort.[color=Peru][b]"You have robbed Xerxes of its standing as a civilisation and cast it down into a writhing mess of animalistic desires."[/b][/color] A growl reverberated from Amartía's throat as the voice once again spoke. [color=Crimson]"Animalistic desires? It is apparent that you don't know the nature of the being you accuse. I was resigned to playing god emperor, resigned to remain blind to my own true nature. But upon receiving news of [b]your[/b] impending arrival and your vendetta, I was forced to change, to defend myself and my toys! I only defend myself, and defend my people."[/color] it bellowed, Amartía' anger rising slowly. The god tilted his head. [color=Peru][b]"[i]My[/i] vendetta? Perhaps you have me mistaken. I seek to protect and build up civilisations, like Xerxes was a little over thirty days ago. Yet you have undone all that. You have destroyed the capacity of rational thought and innovation in your people. You defend your people only so much as they serve your selfish desires, for they are only toys to you. That may be your nature, but it does not excuse you. Destruction has already befallen Xerxes by your own hand."[/b][/color] Fury began to bubble underneath Amartía's predatorial gaze. The god puppeted Hain spoke truth, and it frustrated him, enraged him. Without warning, Sin let out a bloodcurdling scream, throwing his head into the air in a fit of rage. The ethereal voice spoke out just as Amartía relented. [color=Crimson]"What did you expect god!?"[/color] it spat.[color=Crimson]"Should I have sat by and watched you gods destroy my city because of my loyalties? I gave them perfection!"[/color] [color=Peru][b]"Perhaps what you have done will protect you in the upcoming battle, but in doing so you have sent this nation into ruin and spurned the ways of civilisation. And for that the machinations of civilisation shall not defend you,"[/b][/color] the god decreed, [color=Peru][b]"By my name, the name of Teknall, may no wall nor tower nor fortress stand to protect this forsaken place in the battle to come."[/b][/color] With that declaration, Teknall brought the shaft of his maul down to strike the shattered earth. The spike drove itself into the ground, and a pulse of golden light coursed through the earth along with a great shudder. The pulse extended throughout the entire city of Xerxes, and faded some distance beyond the city limits. A horrible roar bellowed from Sin's mouth, shaking the very ground upon which he stood on, and ripped apart the environment before him. A destructive force, invisible to the naked eye, rushed at the god. To hell with respect, he no longer had the patience to hold himself back. A wall of stone rose from the ground to meet the incoming pulse of destruction magic which could have razed a city block. The force collided with the wall, and though though was damaged by the blast, the wall did not crumble, for Teknall willed it to stay together. Once the destructive burst had been absorbed, the wall fell apart, no longer required and thus no longer sustained. Teknall hadn't even moved. [color=Crimson]"Enough!"[/color] the eternal voice bellowed, vibrating the air between the two. [color=Crimson]"Depart god, but mark my words, the next time we meet, things will be very much different."[/color] With that, Sin turned away from the Hain, no longer aware of his existence. And Teknall vanished, departing without another word. [hider=Summary] Disgusted by Amartia's transformation of Xerxes, Teknall comes, condemns Amartia, and curses Xerxes. Amartia is mad. This curse inhibits the construction of physical defences such as wall, towers or fortresses, and demolishes any existing instances of such infrastructure (although there were none). This curse will last until some time after the Xerxes battle. As this curse ties directly to Teknall's Portfolios, it is especially potent. Might Usage Teknall: -1 Might to curse Xerxes 19.5 Might remaining [/hider]