[centre][img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/divinus-iii/images/d/df/Shengshi-logo.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/310?cb=20190112093445[/img][/centre] [centre]Feat. [@Darkspleen] and [@Oraculum][/centre] Once again, Shengshi stood on the deck of his ship squat in the middle of the Giant’s Bath, only this time, there was a weak current pulling him towards the north. Furthermore, opening the portal to Fengshui Fuyou seemed to have overfilled the Giant’s Bath - now, water ran down all sides. Shengshi looked to the direction opposite of Beihe. The distance harboured little more than barren, pointy rocks in varying shapes and sizes. Wait, what was that? Shengshi slithered over to the railing of the ship and leaned forward, as if it would help his eyes focus on the small, flexible lines on the horizon. Had the mud worms made it through the portal and grown enormous in the span of a few minutes? The snake scratched his chin. “Well, only one way to find out!” he voiced with a grin. He turned around and reached out his hand, grasping the air. The thundering waterfalls below suddenly ceased. “Waters of Beihe, your master calls!” Shengshi lifted his clenched fist. The horizon to the north was suddenly blocked by a slowly climbing pillar of water that curved and bent across the sky above the ship. “Your task is simple - make yourself a sibling!” With that, the pillar shot forth downwards like a harpoon and broke the stone wall on the south-western edge of the Giant’s Bath in a spectacle of rock and foam. As he had done with Beihe, Shengshi grasped the waters still and had them forcefully dig their way ahead. After a few minutes, the third river of Galbar had been carved - the longest in the realm. Shengshi grinned smugly. “Perfect. I think I shall call this one…” He pondered for a moment and naturally arrived at the most creative name he could think of: “I name you Nanhe, the southern river! Now… Onwards!” With that, the ship turned towards the new south-western flow and sailed down the waterfall and towards the southern tip of the continent. On the way, Shengshi prepared his calligraphy set and made great efforts to immortalise the moment in a poem. [hr] [color=forestgreen]“What the?”[/color] Phystene’s quiet question was lost as the sounds of destruction, of stone being torn asunder, echoed all across the continent. She had been in the process of checking on the progress of her lichen and rock worms, progress that she was thus far quite pleased with, when the sounds began. Her interest in the dirt below her temporarily lost as she looked around for what new Galbar shattering incident had begun. New meteors? She looked up and saw nothing new in the sky. Perhaps someone had created a tsunami? No. It would have sounded different. She closed her eyes and listened to the horrendous sound. It sounded almost like… it was certainly coming from further east than her current position. Deciding that she wouldn’t be able to learn anything new from her current position, Phystene turned towards what she suspected the source of the sound was and headed off. Hopefully this wouldn’t be some world ending crisis like what the last few days had brought. [hr] Shengshi had only gotten halfway into his poem before he had left his room in a hurry to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. The gray, jagged mixture of rock and sand had disappeared, instead giving way to strange, sea-green nets that covered the stones not already buried in dirt. Furthermore, he noticed that the wiggly lines on the horizon earlier had not at all been mud worm escapees, but a much larger and more menacing type of worm, which diet seemed to be the very ground it traversed. This was surely the work of another god, and surely enough, the divine aura soon pulsed through the air like a gentle breeze. The water drill in the distance had stopped - it had surely reached the ocean. As Shengshi observed the uncharacteristically blackish brown surroundings, he felt yet another spark of inspiration strike; the snake promptly slithered back up to his room to continue his poem - no, a painting, he would make! Augmented with a poem! The surroundings were indeed too beautiful to not chronicle to the most miniscule detail: where land and ocean met - the first great river delta. He set up his canvas on his personal veranda. The divine presence grew stronger, however. It would seem the painting would have to wait. He slowed the currents underneath his ship and walked over to the railing for his veranda. “I do not believe we ever got the pleasure of a proper introduction, dearest sister.” Phystene looked up from where she knelt next to the new river, a warm smile spread across her face. She waved at Shengshi with her right hand while her left remained submerged in the river. [color=forestgreen]“The pleasure is mine.”[/color] She paused for a moment before asking [color=forestgreen]“Is this recent addition to the continent your doing?”[/color] Shengshi bowed deeply. “Indeed. I hope I am not a disturbance to your most beautiful work. Oh, pardon me for a moment. I will be right down.” With that, the snake promptly went back into his chambres and made the quick trek down to the deck, where he promptly hopped off the ship and into the river below. He swam over to where Phystene was testing the waters and slithered ashore. “There. Our throats would quick parch had we been standing so far apart shouting to one another. Also, this is so much cozier. How are you? How has creation been treating you?” “I am better now that I have this beautiful river to quench my thirst.” Phystene answered. “When I first heard the sounds its creation caused - I’m assuming it was you making all that noise - I had feared that it was yet another tsunami or meteor strike. It's nice to know at least a few other deities are interested in creation more so than destruction.” Her voice had become tinted with sarcasm. [color=forestgreen]“Still”[/color] She continued, [color=forestgreen]“setting that aside I have enjoyed my new existence greatly. I’m sure you’ve seen some of my work on your way here. It isn’t much, yet, but soon the soil created by my lichen and worms will nourish even greater life.”[/color] Shengshi sighed. “Yes, our sibling flock does have a few…” He rolled the words around his in his mouth for a moment. “Well, never mind that. Yes! I did see your work! Lichen, is that what you called those fancy, uh… Nets? Is it a form of grass? Fungus, perhaps?” [color=forestgreen]“It's actually a combination of several organisms.”[/color] Phystene answered. [color=forestgreen]“To think of them as fungi wouldn’t be too far off the mark.”[/color] She shrugged. [color=forestgreen]“I created them to help break down the rock on this continent. They aren’t the fastest at that task, I created something else for speed, but the sheer amount of area I was able to cover with them more than makes up for that.”[/color] The snake nodded, grinning. “Ah, a most wise solution! One that can last so that you will not have to manage the process, as well. A most admirable idea!” The snake gazed around. “Speaking of ideas… I may or may not have one, though it may require the use of some of this dirt. Humour me for a moment, if you would, please.” The snake snapped his fingers and a globule of water came rushing over the edge of the ship carrying now wet paper and a calligraphy set. It exploded as soon as it left the ship, but Shengshi took control of the soaring water and used it to catch the flying tools, bring them safely down his level before he snatched them and let the water climb back up the side of the ship. “I really have to use something else than paper to write on…” he muttered sheepishly. He quickly sketched a map of the region based on what he remembered from Urhu’s map and painted a circle around the south-western tip of the continent. “We are here, correct?” [color=forestgreen]“I believe so, yes.”[/color] Phystene answered with a raised eyebrow. [color=forestgreen]“You realize that’s made from dead trees, right?”[/color] Shengshi slowly turned his head from Phystene to the sad, soggy sheet of paper. “... Huh… Imagine that.” He cleared his throat sheepishly. “I, uh… I can probably write on a rock if that would make you more comfortable,” he proposed with an uncertain grin on his face. [color=forestgreen]“It’s fine”[/color] Phystene answered with a chuckle. [color=forestgreen]“The forest provides for all, as long as nothing is taken in greed.”[/color] Shengshi let out a sigh of relief. “Still, I would like to apologise with utmost sincerity for this transgression. It was an amateurish choice of surface to draw on, and I am deeply sorry.” The snake bowed before the goddess, perhaps a little longer and a little deeper than necessary. [color=forestgreen]“I accept your apology, though I don’t feel it was truly necessary.”[/color] Phystene said. [color=forestgreen]“To be honest I was simply… poking fun at you? I didn’t believe you were using paper out of any sense of greed and now I feel vindicated in that belief.”[/color] She seemed to be intentionally not looking at Shengshi’s ship. [color=forestgreen]“But enough about this. You said you had an idea?”[/color] The snake snapped to and turned back to the soggy paper. “Yes! Right, idea!” He regained his composure and gestured to the surrounding land. “I propose a union of cooperation - a union of gods to bring verdant life to this continent, starting here. Your creations have made much of this land prime for plants grand and small. I present you with this river, Nanhe, as well as any offshoots I may carve further up - all to colour this region green in the name of creation!” He paused for effect. “What say you?” “I would be honored to partake in a partnership with you.” Phystene said with a smile. “And I had hoped that was your idea. With Nanhe here now, we have the perfect conditions to begin spreading plants and animals on this continent.” She waved her hand at the surrounding area as as she did so grasses and shrubs began to emerge from the fresh soil. The occasional tree sprang to life where there was enough soil to support it, breaking up the tapestry of grass and shrubs that now covered the landscape. She focused her energies on the river and fish, amphibians, and other freshwater creatures began to appear. [color=forestgreen]“A gift for you, friend.”[/color] Shengshi lowered his torso and leaned forward to greet the beautiful little creatures. His eyes teared up at the sight and he stood up again, smiling sentimentally at Phystene. “What amazing little animals you have created. I am most grateful.” He bowed. Her gaze shifted to Shengshi’s ship and her smile momentarily wavered. [color=forestgreen]“Would you mind doing me a minor favor and move that....”[/color] She gestured towards his ship, her voice possessing just a hint of disgust despite her best efforts [color=forestgreen]“someplace else?”[/color] Shengshi looked at the ship and sneered. “Oh, of course. Just a moment, please.” He clapped his hands and a few globules tossed some pots of wine and a basket of what one could assume was picnic supplies overboard. Shengshi caught them all, with the exception of a single bottle of freshly made cider. He faked a whimper. “That is unfortunate… Regardless, here we are.” He put the supplies down on the riverbank and pointed to the ship. “Await me back in the Giant’s Bath. I will be staying for a while.” With that, the currents underneath the ship switched directions, shoving the ship back upstream in a terrible hurry. The tumultuous waters left behind splashed the river banks and sent the occasional fish flying out of the water. Shengshi made an effort to capture the flying fish in some water globules and toss them back, however. After ensuring that every last fish had been returned to its home, he turned to Phystene with a smile. “Before we start, allow me to return the gift with one of my own.” The snake reached into his picnic basket and pulled out a bottle of wine which he promptly offered to Phystene. [color=forestgreen]“What is this?”[/color] She asked as she accepted the bottle, tapping the glass with a finger. She tilted her head to the side as she gazed at the strange object. She grabbed the bottle by its neck and hefted it as if it was some kind of club, giving Shengshi a bemused smile as she did so. The snake snickered as she made an attempt to weaponize his most prized possession and reached out to her. He gently relieved her hand of the bottle, flipped it, uncorked it and gave it back. “There. Place the opening to your lips and have a taste. It is a little something I have been working on. I call it [i]wine[/i]!” Phystene kept her bemused expression, but did as Shengshi had told her. She slowly lifted the bottle to her lips and tipped back. It became immediately apparent that she wasn’t used to consuming substance in this way, as some of the wine escaped out the corner of her mouth and began to run down her cheek, to her jaw, and continued down her neck. [color=forestgreen]“Grapes?”[/color] She asked as she finished her sip, seemingly unconcerned by the wine that hadn’t quite made it down her throat. Shengshi gave the bottle a look. “I believe that one I made from lychee, actually. A little sweeter than most grapes.” He tapped his chin. “Is it not good?” [color=forestgreen]“It is… odd”[/color] Phystene answered after a moment of silence. [color=forestgreen]“This is the first time I’ve gained nourishment this way. The sensations are… very odd.”[/color] She tilted her head to the side again. [color=forestgreen]“It reminds me of something else from my… original world.”[/color] Without much forewarning, the ground shook, strongly enough for it to be clear that it was not the wine taking effect. Then again. And again. In the distance, what had dimly seemed to be one of the peaks of Qiangshan was conspicuously drawing closer. Before long, its metallic glimmer and fiery lights at the pinnacle became visible; a little later, and the sound of low rhythmical humming reached the two gods. By the time the immense figure stopped in its tracks, it was clear enough this was not a mountain that had taken to walking for some reason. [color=#CD2626][b]”Shengshi, was that?”[/b][/color] Narzhak’s thunderous voice called out from somewhere above, [color=#CD2626][b]”Phystene? That you?”[/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]“Oh… hey you.”[/color] Phystene said with a flat voice. Her eyes focused on the metal armor he wore and she shifted her weight from foot to foot. [color=forestgreen]“I would love to stay and converse further, but I have so much to do”[/color] She kept her voice controlled, albeit a bit rushed. Her gave shifted to Shengshi as she gave him a slightly dishonest smile. [color=forestgreen]“Oh look a new plant.”[/color] She gestured towards the river, where some reeds of sugarcane had begun to grow at her command. [color=forestgreen]“Maybe you two could do something with it?”[/color] Shengshi raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you leavi-...?” One of the giant’s hand rose to disappear high above, and a loud scraping of iron on iron echoed down. [color=#CD2626][b]”...I guess we could?”[/b][/color] The towering god sounded more perplexed than anything. [color=#CD2626][b]”Take one, sharpen the tip, skewer something with it. I’m sure there’s better things you can do with it, though. Maybe throw it instead.”[/b][/color] Shengshi looked first at Narzhak, then back at Phystene who seemed to be shuffling further and further away. “My word, I hope the wine did not taste that bad.” [color=forestgreen]“It was fine.”[/color] She gave Shengshi a strained smile. [color=forestgreen]“And it looks like you guys have things under control over here.”[/color] She inched further away. [color=forestgreen]“So…. I’m going to go to the ocean and… make a coral reef or something to… try and mitigate some of the risks of a tsunami washing all of this away.”[/color] The last part was much more of a question than a statement. Shengshi raised a finger in objection and then looked back up at Narzhak. He took a moment to absent-mindedly count the number of plants the giant likely had crushed on its way over and put two and two together. “Aaaah, I see. Well, I whole-heartedly support this, uh…” He plucked at his beard. “... Idea? Yes, idea. Go make that quarrel beef- CORAL REEF. We will, uh, manage.” [color=forestgreen]“Great!”[/color] Phystene said, a genuine smile finally appear on her face. [color=forestgreen]“Well good day to you. Shengshi. Narzhak.”[/color] She gave each a nod of her head before she turned and ran away. Shengshi waved perhaps a little too enthusiastically before turning to Narzhak. “So, dearest brother…” He gulped. “How are you?” [Hider=Thiccening Waters] Shengshi makes the Nanhe river, which runs from the Giant’s Bath to the southwestern tip of the Dragon’s Foot. Phystene and Shengshi meet up, have a nice chat.. Phystene makes a new grasslands in the southwest of the continent. She makes Shengshi some nice lil’ fishies and then shows she sucks at drinking things. Narzhak appears and awkward Phystene is awkward. Point expenditures: Shengshi: 2FP on Nanhe River Phystene: 3 FP large ecosystem 1 MP or 2 FP towards animal port[/hider]