[centre][img]http://i.imgur.com/Svvasvb.png[/img] & [img]https://i.imgur.com/i8xgwT9.png[/img] [h2][sup][sup][sup]The Broken God, The Celestial Above, Our Mother of the Words, The God in the Stone, The Timless One, The Witch-Priestess, The Many-Eyed God, Vowzra, Belruarc, Yara Level 9 Domain-less God of (Time) & (Pacts) Might: 0; Free Points: 12; Concealmeant/Detection: 14[/sup][/sup][/sup][/h2] [hider=Summary]Khosthetics. See bottom for real summary.[/hider][/centre] [center][i]c. 6 PR[/i][/center] [color=darkorange][i]'Toun,'[/i][/color] her voice was soft yet strong, captivating, [color=darkorange][i]'you are called to account.'[/i][/color] … She knew he had listened. … Any number of reactions could have existed on the other side. … Bemusement? Surprise? Perhaps. … The highest chance was for anger. Anger followed by thought. The question was natural. ... [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b][i]To what account, sister?[/i][/b][/colour] The words were slow and frustrated. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b][i]And is this account worth distracting from the hunt for Kyre's killer?[/i][/b][/colour] The voice of the goddess resounded piercing and sure. [colour=darkorange][i]‘You seek out the killer Xos that you may hold him to account, and you are called to account by one to whom you are Xos. You have declared the actions of Xos a crime, brother. Is it not a crime if you stand accused?’[/i][/colour] There was a heavy pause. [colour=darkorange][i]‘Surely every Xos must be held to account. Will you stand, then, before your accuser?’[/i][/colour] … Belligerence and pride were likely to fight within Toun. The goddess knew which would prevail. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b][i]You were not one who fought him, sister. Nor are you one of his victims. You may never know what he is. Though, if you so accuse, I shall prove what he is not, so I may continue my pursuit unaccosted.[/i][/b][/colour] The pause that followed was burdened with anticipation, causing the atmosphere to shiver like arms struggling against it. … Toun gave the moment a long enough time to turn the excitement into the hint that his belligerence had won after all. … Then a buzz sounded on the breeze outside the great temple. Barely a speck against the many-armed earthen navel of the God in the Stone, a white dart shot into the dark entrance. Its wings droned against the walls and set a little wake of air trailing behind it. The little porcelain bird had two beady eyes watching ahead, glowing with a blue light, purposeful. Into the gaping belly of the Temple of the God in the Stone flew the droningbird of Toun, its glowing eyes of blue seeing first only darkness… before the Temple’s innards came clearer. A great hall expanded upwards and outwards, and intricately carved pillars of shimmering stone - that seemed to shift now and again as though alive - speared at the distant ceiling. Numerous doors led into dark spaces beyond the great central chamber, and at the very end of the chamber was an altar - before which stood a Cursed one who may have once been one those now-extinct species of dwarf, and behind which stood a white-clad Vowzra’s Victor. The droningbird darted hither and thither for the goddess that had called forth Toun, but no goddess could be seen or sensed, and so the droningbird made for the two. As it approached, the dwarf spoke, and she looked none-too-impressed with the little blue-eyed bird that came her way and stopped at a hover. ‘Sae ye'r sayin that that's th' god - issat even a god? - whit did me? That wee doo? Yer havin’ a roar.’ The Victor made no response, but Mafie kept complaining loudly and even batted angrily at the droningbird when it got close enough, 'murdurr me wid ye, ye glaikit doo, ah'll shaw ye murdurr!' But, being a dwarf, she was far too little and far too slow to reach the agile droningbird dodging in the air - though this fact seemed to only irritate her further. The Victor finally turned her head towards the droningbird. ‘I thank you for your presence, Toun the God. You stand accused by the dwarf Mafie Snowhands of willful deception, of toying with her heart, and of intentional, premeditated, deliberated murder. The God in the Stone himself bears witness to the outward nature of her death, but the question remains: have you any defence?’ The droningbird turned its thin beak to the hooded Victor. Its buzzing wings blurred at the speed that allowed its hover. With a sudden arch and twist, it flew its way to the altar, hovered to a stop, sprouted too twig-like legs, and perched, folding its tiny wings to finally silence the chamber. An automatic reflex had the droningbird preen at the metal of its wings while the voyeur god in its eyes projected its voice. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"I would have defence,"[/b][/colour] Toun began on one tone. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"If you would have attack. You bring me before a mortal extended beyond its biological terms. It suffers, as mortals do. Its nature holds its suffering as an element. And you would seek to hold its death a crime accountable to an uninterested god. How is this, sister?"[/b][/colour] If the god of perfection was not scathing enough, the last word cut off any heed to the Victor who assumed herself as the mistress of the ceremony. There was silence for a few moments, and Mafie looked rather befuddled at this bird calling the white-clad woman its sister - was she a god also? But eventually a voice that did not belong to the Victor - the same strange voice from before - resounded, and it appeared to come from the Victor. [colour=darkorange][i]‘You deem this mortal extended beyond her biological term, but it is gods who have dictated that term and who have dictated also the terms by which it is exceeded. You seem to hold, brother, that mortality and suffering are mutually inclusive, when you know better than many that suffering is the lot of mortals and immortals alike. You hold that it is the nature of mortals to suffer, when it is gods that have made that so and could decree it otherwise. You hold, last of all, that mortal death is no crime for a god to be held accountable over - I put it to you, brother, that the laws we would see applied amongst the greatest of us should be seen to be applied to the lowliest, that divine justice should be observed towards mortals that the gods may see it observed amongst themselves. For if we take the lives of lesser beings for sport, we will ultimately take those of higher beings for sport also - and is that not, if your Oath is anything to go by, the gravest of crimes?’[/i][/colour] The little bird twitched its head around and looked about, ever oblivious to the words of gods. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"It is the gravest hurt to me, sister. In that, you are correct. And yet, your prescriptions ever tempt me to replace that mantle with the tenacious will of the world to waste...my...time..."[/b][/colour] In his response, Toun chose to take some matters of fact into his speech. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"An undead curse, evidently the concept of our brother, Vestec. This is placed on a dwarf, evidently the concept of the young one, Lazarus. The dwarf is a derivative creation of the goblin, evidently, again, the concept of our brother, Vestec. The power of the world imbued into Vestec to allow this is also perhaps the derivative of a greater power as well! The very creation of these concepts is the enabler of death and suffering to begin with. Are they not the crimes you speak of?"[/b][/colour] The bird sat. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"And...yet...I see none of those accountable parties. You called upon [i]me.[/i] You called upon one who has no hand in the elemental suffering of this creature before me."[/b][/colour] He challenged once more. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"How is this, sister?"[/b][/colour] [colour=darkorange][i]‘As for the elemental suffering of all things, it is beyond us. Were it in my power to bring forth those who made it so, I would. But I cannot, and so must turn my gaze to those who, in the chain of causation, I can reach. The gods sit at the apex. We created the very blueprint of what was an empty world and, whatever essential suffering there was, we chose to bring with us. We created all this and could have collectively willed it otherwise. And so, I would put it to you, we are collectively responsible for all the suffering of our creations. Whether you created the dwarves or not is of no relevance, you are of the ruling race who permit suffering endure and, I would put it to you also, have a responsibility, an obligation even, to mitigate that suffering in whatever way you can. But that is, anyhow, something altogether different. You are not called to account for the suffering of all things, I would not so arrogantly presume to take on a task so tremendous and so clearly beyond my capacities - it is Mafie Snowhands who stands accusing for her specific suffering; a specific suffering inflicted directly and undeniably by you. She does not seek justice against Vestec or against Lazarus at this moment, she seeks it against you for what she believes you are guilty of. So,’[/i][/colour] and the Victor turned towards Mafie, who looked definitively chagrined that this seemed to have become some game of [i]gods swinging their boabies about[/i] rather than what she was promised. [colour=darkorange][i]‘So see to her suffering first.’[/i][/colour] Mafie took the opportunity to speak. ‘Keek ye - here’s th' deal. Ah wis living juist braw 'til ye burst intae mah lee 'n' decided it'd be fin tae speil aroond wi' a bawherr no-brainer lassie lik' me - ah didnae dae heehaw tae ye 'n' ne'er asked fur anythin' fae ony god. Then ye come alang, dance wi' me, mak' me fall fur ye, promise tae mairie me - 'n' then whit? Och, ye juist [i]wanted tae knoo whit it felt lik',[/i] lik' ah wis some toy. An' then whit? Ye didnae juist lea lik' a normal pumpin' body, ye gaed 'n' murdurred me!’ She paused and took a breath, ‘noo a'm wantin' an explanation 'n' a'm wantin' some justice in this messed up world - 'n' ye hud better stairt talking some sense!’ The little bird was sprung to jump and fly away. Its base cowardice may have goaded Mafie on, though it did not represent Toun's emotions. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"Is this the dwarf's testimony of…[i]my[/i] crime?"[/b][/colour] Toun's voice shuddered. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"To give any benefit of the doubt was evidently too charitable to you, sister! You clearly do not understand that my memory is devoid of [i]this specific creature[/i] and [i]this specific suffering![/i]"[/b][/colour] Toun's voice grew as his temper melted away. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"I thought you to accuse me of some ambivalence to the suffering of some inconsequential speck upon reality! I thought to talk you away from your unceasing calls of my obligations and duties! All this theatre and all this distraction!"[/b][/colour] The floor shook with the boom of his voice. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]“[i]BUT IN THE END YOU WOULD LEVEL A [/i]FALSE[i] ACCUSATION!?[/i] Present your proof immediately or I shall endeavour to spit upon your every action today and into the eons it takes for you to know your folly!"[/b][/colour] The god’s sudden outburst clearly took the until-recently overzealous Mafie by surprise and she leapt behind the altar and watched wide-eyed as the very ground shook from the god’s fury. She was of a mind to get out of this place and never have anything to do with the gods or their ilk ever again, but a force stopped her and she found herself afloat. She shrieked obscenities and dared them to end this farce - had they not toyed with her enough already? But no end came. The female voice returned, cold and sharp this time, clearly somewhat affronted by Toun’s accusations. [colour=darkorange][i]‘Yara does not lie, Toun.’[/i][/colour] Mafie floated between the bird and the Victor, silent and wide-eyed again. Toun snapped back. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]“A lie would be a worse claim! I see this as your ignorance and nothing else."[/b][/colour] [colour=darkorange][i]‘I would accuse you of lying, for your swiftness to anger suggests it; but I do not stand accusing and so will refrain. And I would accuse you of ignorance, but what I saw belies it, so I will refrain until all comes to light. Instead, I invite you to look at the evidence with your own e- [b]eye[/b]. Mafie Snowhands is an open book to a god such as you, so look. Or would you prefer I show you?’[/i][/colour] The god of perfection was in no mood for any pauses-for-effect. From an omnipresent source, a light bloomed out to encompass every physical surface until even the edges and shadows were swallowed. The temple was no more than a blinding stone enclosure. The thrum of a godly fury disturbed the presumptions of balance and direction until all within stumbled and staggered. With their sense of sight overwhelmed, they struggled to stand. But a broad and cold stony hand clamped on to Mafie. Through the light, it clamped precisely around her broken neck. And it lifted her. Immediately, she lost sense of which way was up, or down, to the altar, or to the white-robed woman. Toun's voice growled out into her ears like mirrored lions roaring from a hand's breadth away. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"Let me see you…!"[/b][/colour] The blinding light was too much to expose her eyes to, but her mind's eye was no escape. A great blue eye peeled open in her thoughts and stared right back. Time dilated into a dizzying compression as every memory Mafie had was combed within moments, relived before waking thoughts. The blue eye saw it all. Nothing was left aside. Every memory was marked with its gaze. Memories she cherished and memories she had not recalled in years. He reached the most painful one before long. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][i]"Asmel never existed. You were very nice to him."[/i][/colour] That tall, lithe porcelain creature with chains hanging from its wrists. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][i]"Actually, Mafie, I just wanted to see what it was like..."[/i][/colour] The world dimmed. Mafie's approximation of eyes adjusted to the darkness. Her head spun as the force that makes all things fall held it to the floor. The ceiling spun faster in jolting movements without a sound. It all slowed as the dizziness settled. The droningbird still sat peacefully on the altar. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]“I can see, now, where you must have mistaken yourself into the righteous pestering you insisted upon here today, sister."[/b][/colour] Toun was back to his regular condescending self. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]“You clearly failed to know the capabilities of my servant, Minus. Notably, the apparently advanced, novel, and innovative concept known as individual volition?"[/b][/colour] Toun's voice dripped with derision and shivered with the traces of his previous outburst. The droningbird stood and scratched at its head with one of its tiny legs. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]“In that, you are either ignorant or wilfully false. I care not which anymore, for to argue either would be a further waste to my already squandered time. Do you have any further reason to detain my attention for this childish production or may I be now left to my tasks?"[/b][/colour] [colour=DarkOrange][i]‘Is it to be understood, then, that your servant and Avatar, Minus, acted without your knowledge or command? That its presence in the home of the dwarves was utterly of its own volition and against your implied and explicit orders?’[/i][/colour] [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"Minus was ordered to protect and survey Lazarus,"[/b][/colour] Toun droned impatiently. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"Everything else was a byproduct of its individual volition-have you even been listening at all!?"[/b][/colour] [colour=DarkOrange][i]‘You reject all responsibility for your servant’s actions and trespasses, and would not see to it that the unnecessary suffering it has brought to mortals while carrying out your commands is brought to an end?’[/i][/colour] Toun hissed a sigh, brought near to the end of his tolerance. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]“I would only bring ends to the suffering of mortals by bringing an end to their lives. That is ultimately why I am indifferent to their suffering. As for Minus, you may pursue it for its 'crimes' and perform your petty little ritual with it instead of me if you so wish. But, I am not your enforcer. I will not collect Minus for you."[/b][/colour] [colour=DarkOrange][i]‘That is very well. I thank you for your patience and time, brother,’[/i][/colour] came the voice of the goddess, [colour=DarkOrange][i]‘I believe this concludes your part in this matter. But if you will bear with me, I would like to explore another line of questioning - merely out of my own curiosity. I trust it is not too much to ask, given that you have given me so little of your time in the millenia we have co-existed.’’[/i][/colour] Four dry words from an unimpressed brother. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"You have thirty seconds."[/b][/colour] [colour=DarkOrange][i]‘Would you agree that we pre-exist this world, and likely existed very differently elsewhere before? And will likely exist otherwise in the future somewhere else again? Bear with me if it seems strange or stupid - I know your time is precious.’[/i][/colour] Her voice came calm and soothing, as though to ease - with her words alone - the tense air of urgency and need for hurriedness her brother was creating. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"I have observed a pattern: When deities dissipate, their essences reform. The reformation is not always the same. Where it began or will end has never been apparent to me."[/b][/colour] The even words were the least emotional that Toun had spoken thus far. [colour=PaleGoldenrod][b]"That is all I can confidently agree to."[/b][/colour] And like that, the eyes of the droningbird dimmed into two glossy black beads. It jumped in place and flew up from the altar. It spiralled until it found a nook near the wall and the ceiling, where it sat and remained. A relief loosened the room. All within felt a presence leave. A sigh left the veiled mouth of the Victor, and Belru-Yara’s voice came as a soft sad murmur. [colour=DarkOrange][i]‘If you had stayed a while longer, brother, I would have shared what little I know too…’[/i][/colour] and maybe he would have been a little kinder for it. [sub][i][colour=black]don’t kid yourself - you’re worth just about thirty-seconds to his eye[/colour][/i][/sub] ‘Whit juist happnd? Is he juist aff tae gang lik' that?’ Mafie asked hesitantly, looking to where the dormant droningbird now sat. The Victor turned to the dwarf, and it was she who spoke now and not the goddess. ‘Toun the God claims that his Avatar, Minus, acted of its own volition in all that it did to you. If you wish, the God in the Stone will return your life to you and furnish you with all that you desire.’ Mafie scowled and spat. ‘Ye said ye'll gimme justice, 'n' that's a' a'm wantin. This Minus, it murdurred me wi' tis ain hauns - a'd noo murdurr it wi' mines. An' then ah kin die at ease.’ The Victor nodded. ‘You will be given it, if you pledge to consider Our Mother’s philosophy,’ at this Mafie scoffed and laughed derisively. ‘Aye aye, sure. Ah will consid'rit real solid, lik’ ah said afore.’ And with that, the dwarf was walked back to the entrance of the Temple. With every step life returned to her, and at the entrance the Victor spoke. ‘You are returned to life and given might, by the power of the God in the Stone. And when your vengeance is complete, you will die with the ease you asked. Farewell, Mafie Snowhands.’ The dwarf inhaled deeply, and then rubbed one warm finger against another and felt her cheeks. Her breath caught in her throat and she quickly rubbed a tear from her eyes before it could properly form. ‘Y-yeh. Farewell to-’ and she realised she did not know the white-clothed woman’s name, ‘farewell, you.’ And she descended from the Temple of the God in the Stone and settled her now-living feet on the earth. Now to find her killer. [hider=Dangerous Levels of Scotch]Toun answers Yara’s summons, despite being in a hurry to catch Xos, and sends forth a bird to represent him at the Temple of the God in the Stone located on the Great Steppe. The god speaks through it. Mafie is unimpressed by this bird and questions whether it truly is a god. She tries to hit it. A back and forth occurs between Toun and Yara, and there are some miscommunications - Toun thinks Yara is holding him to account for some cosmic sin and grows furious when he realises it is just over Mafie’s suffering, which he claims to have no knowledge of. He then looks into Mafie’s memories and sees the episode he is being called to account for. He rejects responsibility and claims Minus acted of its own volition, and also rejects to personally bring it to account. With the fact of Minus’ independence established, Yara attempts to discuss with Toun some aspects of the nature of the universe, but Toun is in a hurry to catch Xos and does not stay to hear Yara’s own thoughts. Mafie is disgruntled at this turn of events, but is granted new life for the sole purpose of bringing her killer to justice - once her goal is complete, she will perish. [hider=Gadar/Belru-Vowzra Might]Starting: 0 Might & 12 Freepoints [indent]4 Freepoints to return Mafie to life and grant her conditional immortality[/indent][/hider] [/hider]