[center][h2][color=f7941d]Kalmar[/color] & [color=forestgreen]Phystene[/color] & Shengshi[/h2][/center] [hr] The continent came into view. In that moment Kalmar realized he had yet to actually name it anything. He felt as though it needed a name. But what? Although he was willing to share ownership of it, it was he who created it, so if it belonged to anyone, it should be his. Kalmar’s Land? Kalmar’s Ground? Kalground? [color=f7941d]“I will call it Kalgrun,”[/color] he said aloud, to no one in particular. Yet as he drew closer, he noticed something strange. There was another divine presence nearby, but that wasn’t what immediately stood out. Strange, peculiar, colourful birds busied around the sky and on the ground. And plants were beginning to sprout - he had not been gone for so long. It seemed as though another god had already interfered in his absence, though interfere was used in the loosest sense, as he was not immediately opposed to this particular change. Indeed, they seemed to be doing a portion of the work for him. [color=f7941d]”They do not seem harmful,”[/color] he said aloud, referring to the birds. [color=f7941d]”Though I wonder who brought them here in my absence…”[/color] He came to a stop midflight and turned to toward Phystene, to hear her own opinion on the matter. [color=forestgreen]“Azura perhaps?”[/color] Phystene asked, she had been running on the water and now simply stood on the ocean as if it was solid ground, swaying gently as the ocean moved beneath her. [color=forestgreen]“Wind goddess. Flying birds. Seems to fit. Regardless I wouldn’t be concerned about them. In my… original world birds were very important to the ecosystem. Many helped spread the seeds of plants and kills pests.”[/color] She shrugged. [color=forestgreen]“That’s assuming they weren’t created specifically by some malicious deity of course.”[/color] [color=f7941d]”Another deity is nearby,”[/color] Kalmar pointed out, looking out at the distant horizon. [color=f7941d]“They could be responsible. We should go see.”[/color] He resumed his flight, speeding inland and dodging around birds of various colour, until at last the newcomer came into clear view. Phystene followed without comment, her attention more on the freshly grown plant life than on the other deity. As they made landfall and began moving inland, Phystene let her power flow free. Where she stepped, flowers grew and bloomed. The nearby plants grew quicker, larger. For all the damage her fight with Orvus had caused, it had also made her stronger, more whole. She smiled at the life surrounding her, slowly shifting her gaze to the deity they were now approaching. [color=f7941d]“What brings you here?”[/color] Kalmar asked, landing on the ground. In front of the two deities was a colossal ship, floating on a large, constantly spinning circle of water. Phystene recognised it well, and could not help but scowl. For a moment, there was no response. There was merely a gentle clanking of metal and some loud noises from within the hull, followed by unintelligible bickering. The bickering slowly ascended the inside of the hull until it emerged atop the deck, taking on a somewhat more intelligible form. “... and I am just saying, my lord, there really is no need to always ask people for a dri-!” The young girl trailed her master, who seemed to be carrying some containers, and tried to grab him. “Stop speaking such nonsense, Xiaoli. This is the basest of expectations for a host!” Shengshi poked his head over the edge of the deck and spotted the two gods on the ground. “Ah! In the Architect’s name, I greet the both of you! Phystene, what a pleasure it is to see you again! I hope you have been well since our last meeting.” He turned to Kalmar. “And-...” He poked his chin in thought and dug around in his memories. “I want to say… Kalmor?” [color=f7941d]”Kalmar,”[/color] the God of the Hunt corrected, but he said no more. Instead he turned toward Phystene, deciding that it would be best if she spoke next. [color=forestgreen]“Well Orvus tried to kill me and proclaimed his intent to kill all us nature deities.”[/color] She reported in a deadpan voice. [color=forestgreen]“So fairly well all things considered.”[/color] Shengshi’s face grew white as chalk. He dropped the bottles he were holding and covered his face with a hand, turning away. A moment passed before turning back. “Dearest, mightiest brother Kalmar, I am so utterly, terribly sorry for my mispronunciation of your glo-” [color=f7941d]”Enough,”[/color] Kalmar cut him off. [color=f7941d]”What is this... thing?”[/color] he gestured toward the ship with a puzzled expression. The snake’s face formed a curt sneer. He put on a slightly more prideful tone and gestured to the many facets and ornaments aboard the ship. “Well, brother, since you are so [i]very[/i]eager to know… This... Is the Jiangzhou, my holy vessel, my magnum opus, and most glorious piece of work!” Xiaoli pouted quietly. The snake paid her no mind. “Impervious to damage from all elements underneath Heliopolis, ‘tis a piece of the most capable and intricate craftsmanship unseen throughout creation - and, if I may be so arrogant to assume, it will forever remain so!” He let out a proud laughter and placed his arms back on the railing, his lips curling into a cheeky smile. Kalmar almost wished he hadn’t asked. Still, he had probably learned… something that might be useful, maybe. He looked at Shengshi’s companion - sapient life, capable of communication… and it wasn’t a god? Now [i]that[/i] was interesting. [color=f7941d]”I see,”[/color] he said flatly. [color=forestgreen]“And it floats”[/color] Phystene by this point had fully turned her back to the disgustingly metallic vessel and was crouched down, looking at a flower. She idly sent some of her power into the flower, its petals shifting through several colors as she gave it thorns, then removed them after a moment. [color=f7941d]”Anyway,”[/color] Kalmar began, deciding to turn the conversation toward a more serious matter. [color=f7941d]”Not long ago, Orvus tried to kill Phystene. If not stopped, he will try to destroy everything. Me, you, those birds, those flowers, your companion… even your ‘vessel.’”[/color] He paused, to let the severity of the situation sink in. [color=f7941d]”If you agree to stand with us when Orvus attacks again, we will do the same for you.”[/color] The snake pulled pensively at his beard, perhaps for a little longer than necessary for effect. After a moment longer, he paused his hair-plucking and gave Kalmar a raised eyebrow. “This is the same god who tossed that giant rock at the planet, correct?” he asked him. Kalmar shrugged. [color=f7941d]”I don’t know. I wasn’t there.”[/color] He looked toward Phystene, as if she might know the answer. Shengshi raised a clawed hand. “No need to confirm it. My dearest sister Phystene does not strike me as the untruthful sort.” He gave the plant goddess a reptilian wink. Phystene looked over her shoulder and answered Shengishi’s wink with a warm smile. [color=forestgreen]“I don’t know who is responsible for all the rocks being thrown about or if its even just a single deity, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Orvus was responsible for at least one of them.”[/color] She let out a soft sigh. [color=forestgreen]“I would be hard pressed to find a being so… broken as he. I suspect you won’t be able to truly understand what I mean till you encounter him yourself.”[/color] “From the way you have described him, he strikes me as the sort I would rather -not- encounter.” He let out a soft hiss, complemented by a flick of his forked tongue. “So… It is an alliance you seek?” He feigned a pensive look and gave Kalmar another draconian sneer. “Pardon me for a moment.” The snake turned and guided Xiaoli away from the railing, followed by hushed whispers and the occasional hiss. Kalmar answered the lizard’s sneer with a glare. [color=f7941d]”Is he always like this?”[/color] he quietly asked Phystene once Shengshi had turned away. [color=forestgreen]“He was much more amiable when I last spoke to him”[/color] Phystene commented, still intently focused on her flower and [i]not[/i] Shengshi’s golden ship. [color=forestgreen]“He was incredibly so in fact.”[/color] She cocked her head to the side. [color=forestgreen]“Maybe he lost his wine.”[/color] “Fine! Fine…” The whispering came to an end and the snake made his way over to the railing again. He cleared his throat and noticed Phystene seemingly being more busy playing with flowers than paying attention to the conversation. He took a deep breath, held it for a spell, and let it out in the form of a sigh. Xiaoli stood next to him with her fingers crossed, eyes squeezed shut and what seemed to be a prayer on her lips. “I have come…” He paused for dramatic effect. “... To a decision.” He shot Xiaoli a look, which she returned with an encouraging nod. He turned back to his impatient siblings. “This request for your brother’s allegiance is a humbling one, certainly - it is my deepest honour to be wanted among such an exalted group such as yourselves.” He slithered back slightly and took a bow. “I will graciously accept…” Xiaoli let out a sigh of relief. “...Upon the fulfillment of one, simple condition - one specifically relating to my dearest brother Kalmar, the tracker saint - holy lord of the hunting grounds.” The snake pointed a clawed, scaly finger at the hunter god. There was an audible gasp for air from behind him as Xiaoli went back to her silent prayer. Kalmar listened to the snake’s flattery with mild irritation. He did not mind being praised, but he had done nothing to actually earn such compliments, and thus he viewed it as insincere. Still, this time he did a better job of hiding his annoyance. [color=f7941d]”What is it?”[/color] He asked warily. It was a fair deal as is. Why did this lizard think he was in a position to make demands? “All I ask is a mere bond built upon respect. I shall submit my allegiance to your alliance…” The snake’s black-ringed eyes suddenly narrowed into a slit-pupiled scowl. The fins along the god’s scaled back, arms and tail sharpened into quills; he pulled his lips back over his fangs; the water that supported the ship from below began to foam and boil with primordial fury. “In return, you shall never. Interrupt me. Again.” He licked at the air in Kalmar’s direction. “Are we in agreement?” [color=f7941d]”No.”[/color] Kalmar glared back. [color=f7941d]”That agreement gives you the power to render me eternally mute; all you would have to do is never stop talking.”[/color] [i]Which shouldn’t be too difficult for you…[/i] he thought to himself. [color=f7941d]”The deal was fair as it was.”[/color] Shengshi raised a long, black brow and snickered. “My, you truly are a god of nature - such a simple understanding of context.” Xiaoli poked gently at the snake and voiced a quiet “pushing it”; Shengshi proceeded to push her away. “I was merely alluding to you interrupting me [i]in the middle of an apology[/i] earlier. A small matter to some; a grievous transgression to others.” He hissed yet again and grinned smugly downwards at the hunter. “It is in such cases that I would rather finish my thoughts - cases of emergency are naturally different.” His menacing expression faded. The snake jumped down from the ship and he extended an inviting hand. “How does this amended proposal sound?” [color=f7941d]”Fine,”[/color] Kalmar grumbled. Let the snake have the insignificant victory, he reasoned. His support was what they needed. He glanced down at the extended hand, his expression one of mild puzzlement. This was the second time somebody did that - what did it mean? He looked back up at Shengshi as if expecting him to say something else. “You are supposed to shake my hand. It is a sign of good faith,” the snake said softly. His demeanor had completely flipped: All that was on the snake’s lips was a wide, warm smile; his eyes were relaxed and round-pupilled; his voice carried the sweet notes of peace and patience. So that was what it was? That made sense, Kalmar supposed. The fact that the gesture required an open palm showed that neither party was carrying a weapon, and the close proximity required by such an act would also give both participants the opportunity to size up the other up and observe their body language, to help determine their intent. Now that he thought about it, it was almost ingenious - if not for the main flaw: that it allowed both parties to keep their other hand concealed. Still, it wasn’t a bad idea. And so, Kalmar reached forward, grabbed the lizard’s hand, gripped it tight, and vigorously yet unenthusiastically shook. [color=forestgreen]“Excellent!”[/color] Phystene proclaimed as she jumped to her feet and clapped her hands once. She turned towards her two peers and, with a warm smile on her face, placed both of her hands on top of their clasped hands. [color=forestgreen]“I am glad we could all come to an agreement.”[/color] She was quiet for a few seconds, letting the moment sink in, before asking [color=forestgreen]“Would you care to introduce us to your companion Shengshi? I don’t remember seeing her at the Architect’s.”[/color] “Naturally!” Shengshi said. He turned and got a quarter way into yelling, “Xiaoli, come down, please,” before he looked up to see Xiaoli already making her way down the side of the hull. Despite no claws, she held onto the wooden planks with a steady grip. Upon arriving at the ground, the girl knelt down on both her knees before the gods, extended her arms forward on the ground and placed her forehead on the back of her hands. “Glorious divines, this servant of yours is beyond humbled to stand before you,” she said, not breaking her kowtow. “This servant is named Xiaoli, advisor to the Lord of the Thousand Streams, Shengshi.” Then, she finally raised her head, got to her feet and bowed. “This servant is born of divine blood, but pales in both power and holiness next to your sacred beings. My mission is to counsel His Lordship about moral issues and to be His Lordship’s voice of reason. This servant will likewise gladly offer my services to anyone else who may wish for them.” Then, finally, she raised herself again so she stood straight, a soft smile on her lips. [color=f7941d]”I see…”[/color] Kalmar said, not quite understanding. Why did he need another being to serve as his voice of reason? That implied that Shengshi was not reasonable himself… which had already been implied earlier in the conversation, in truth. But actually saying such seemed like an admission of weakness. He turned back to Shengshi. [color=f7941d]”You did not answer my first question - what brought you here?”[/color] The snake nodded. “A most excellent question, dear brother. You see, I had a dream - a dream that, among other things…” He shuddered slightly. “... Revealed to me the existence of this continent. A simple trail of thought led me to the conclusion that, a land as barren as this one, would be in dire need of some rivers for life to flock around.” He patted the hull of his ship. “Therefore, I came over.” Kalmar nodded back. That made sense - rivers would indeed be necessary. [color=f7941d]”When do you plan to start building?”[/color] The snake hummed pensively for a spell, then looked up at the sky to observe the position of Heliopolis. “Right away, I suppose.” He looked around for a horizon, but the continent was a lot larger than the Dragon’s Foot, especially from where he was standing. “Would you like it to go any specific direction? Wait, I already know. I am really feeling like making a river running eastward. Yes… One rivalling Nanhe in size! No, wait, perhaps not. They get a little problematic when they get so large… Also, it would need a name.” He snapped his fingers repeatedly in the direction of Xiaoli. “What, uhm, what should we call a river running eastwards?” “Donghe, my lord?” Xiaoli proposed patiently. The snake snapped one final snap and nodded. “Perfect. So yes, wherever the two of you are ready, my adorable companion Xiaoli and I will commence.” He smiled at his two siblings. [color=f7941d]”Do it,”[/color] Kalmar said, wanting the lizard to get on with it. Why couldn’t he name it after it was created? It didn’t matter much either way, but the condescending tone and arrogant demeanor was getting on his nerves, even more so than the false flattery. “Any preferences, dearest sister?” he repeated and winked playfully at Phystene, placing a clawed finger on one edge of his mouth which itself curled into a small smile. [color=forestgreen]“It is a pleasure to meet you”[/color] Phystene whispered to to Xialoi, giving her shoulder a light squeeze, before answering Shengshi’s question. [color=forestgreen]“Donghe sounds like an excellent name, though I’ll admit I have no talent for naming things myself, so perhaps my opinion on the matter should be taken with a grain of salt. Naming aside…”[/color] Phystene looked at both Kalmar and Shengshi, her lips forming a frown of thought. [color=forestgreen]“Might I suggest Donghe be a large river? Perhaps one that feed numerous smaller rivers that can in turn spread water throughout the whole continent?”[/color] She turned to Kalmar. [color=forestgreen]“Are there any large mountain ranges here that can supply the snow necessary to feed such a water system?”[/color] [color=f7941d]”No,”[/color] Kalmar admitted, [color=f7941d]”but we could make some.”[/color] He cast his gaze to the northwest. [color=f7941d]”Somewhere in that direction would be best.”[/color] He swept his hand from north to west. Shengshi pouted quietly. “... But if it flows northwestwards, we cannot call it Donghe…” He sighed quietly. “No matter! As you wish, dear brother.” He stretched a little and had another look around. “... Let me think… Tributaries… Delta…” He measured the horizon half-heartedly with his thumb. “Xiaoli, what is your estimate?” For some unknown reason, Kalmar instinctively brought his palm to his face. [color=f7941d]”I was talking about the mountains,”[/color] he growled in frustration. [color=f7941d]”The river will flow [i]from[/i] the mountain. It would still move eastward.”[/color] The snake grinned from horn to horn. “Oh, how splendid! Did you hear that, Xiaoli? We can still name it Donghe!” The girl grinned as well. “How wonderful, my lord! Soon, each direction will have its own river!” The two let out a sigh of satisfaction at the perfection of rivers running in the four cardinal directions. The snake turned to Kalmar and Phystene. “Well, shall we get to it, then?” [color=forestgreen]“I’ll leave that to you two then.”[/color] Phystene answered. [color=forestgreen]“I’ll busy myself spreading life in the area.”[/color] She gave Kalmar a knowing smile and then gave each of her peers a nod of her head. [color=forestgreen]“I’m sure we’ll bump into each other soon enough while working on our tasks.”[/color] [color=f7941d]”Farewell,”[/color] Kalmar managed to smile back, despite his irritation at the insufferable lizard. “Have a wonderful day still and may you find like to grow on these lands like joy during a feast.” Shengshi bowed deeply before his sister. Xiaoli went a step further and kowtowed. Kalmar looked to Shengshi. [color=f7941d]”Must we call it ‘the Donghe’?”[/color] Something about that name seemed… off, though he wasn’t quite sure what. The snake looked puzzled and scratched his bearded chin. “What’s wrong with Donghe?” he inquired, looking genuinely perplexed. Even Xiaoli, who had gotten back on her feet again, could not seem to see reason in Kalmar’s request. [color=f7941d]”There are other, clearer names to choose,”[/color] Kalmar suggested. [color=f7941d]”The Kalmere River, the River Physt, the River Sheng…”[/color] he listed off names that immediately sprang to mind. [color=f7941d]”Why ‘Donghe?’”[/color] Shengshi sighed. “Because it runs eastwards, of course! ‘Donghe’ - ‘east river’?” He shrugged with wide eyes as if it had been the most obvious explanation known to both gods and goons. [color=f7941d]”Then why not call it ‘the Eastern River?’”[/color] Kalmar inquired. [color=f7941d]”I know ‘east’, I do not know ‘donghe.’”[/color] Shengshi let out another sigh that slowly turned into a groan. He put his palms together and rested his nose on top of the fingertips, taking a long drag of air through his nose. “The name ‘Donghe’ rolls a little better off the tongue than ‘Eastern River’... My, so many syllables. Would you not agree, Xiaoli?” The girl nodded carefully. “See, she agrees.” [color=f7941d]”Easthe, then.”[/color] Kalmar suggested instead. “Easth-!” The snake choked on his words and turned away, faking a gagging cough to the point where it was borderline genuine. Xiaoli patted him on the back, looked to Kalmar and silently formed the words “sorry” on her lips. After a few dramatic coughs, the god regained his composure again, wafting some air at his face with his palm. “With all due respect, brother - no.” Kalmar shrugged, not understanding why the lizard was so insistent on the river’s name, but ultimately it was just a name and of little consequence. [color=f7941d]”Very well, then,”[/color] he said. [color=f7941d]”I will be on my way.”[/color] He was halfway through turning to leave when suddenly he stopped and looked back, staring Shenshi directly in the eyes. [color=f7941d]”But one more thing,”[/color] he said, his voice darkening. [color=f7941d]”Threaten me, deceive me, or insult me again, and I will make you answer for it.”[/color] Then, without awaiting a response, he flew off. The snake sneered at the threat. “First he gravely insults me, then proceeds to show an utter lack of interest for anything I say, before finally handing his new ally a quite menacing threat.” He hissed disapprovingly. “Perhaps accepting his invitation was a poor decision, after all…” Xiaoli hummed pensively. “Well, to be fair, my lord, you may have overreacted to his act of interruption - just a liiittle bit.” To demonstrate the scope of his overreaction, she pinched a small bar of air between her fingers. The snake rolled his eyes. “Inconceivable. A natural reaction to an unexpected attack upon my holy person… Though, yes, perhaps a little -too- natural. Almost barbarically natural.” He tugged ponderously at his beard. “To think that I would ally myself with such an uncivilised-!” “My lord!” Xiaoli snapped. The snake cut his sentence short and folded his arms. “No, you are right. We have better things to do than speak ill of our siblings.” “Your siblings, my lord, and -you- are the one speaking ill of them - which, if I may add, is not very morally correct of you.” The snake waved the comment away and grabbed a globule of fresh water from under the ship. “I will work on my morals at a later date. For now, I have to vent for a spell.” Xiaoli’s eyes widened and the goddess instinctively climbed aboard the ship for protection. She could not understand it. She had never even conceived of the possibility that her master could harbour such anger for another; and yet- Her trail of thought was cut short by a thunderous crack of rock and stone. Xiaoli covered behind the wooden railing as gravel and shale sprung up from beneath and sliced harmlessly at the divine planks of the Jiangzhou. The terrified girl allowed her eyes to peek just above the railing, but she wished that she had not. There was no love in this; none of the artistic principles her master normally followed; there was only carnage as a crooked sword of water cut through earth and rock like a saw through bone. The current, amplified thousandfold by the furious god, cared not for adherence to the principle of path of least resistance; on the contrary, what miniscule resistance the ground could put up was massacred by the turbulent torrent, leaving an unnatural, straight scar across the landscape. Xiaoli felt tears well up in her eyes as she climbed down and carefully walked over to her panting lord. The snake did not look like himself. The quills had returned; his black hair stabbed outwards in all directions like the head of a morning star; his claws had grown. Xiaoli opened her mouth to speak, but the snake spoke first in a voice that could grease chariot wheels. “You know what? I think my [i]dear[/i] brother Kalmar may have had a point. The river needs a better name.” Xiaoli’s eyes widened. “W-what does my lord suggest?” she asked weakly. The lizard hummed ponderously. After a moment, he flicked his fingers and gave Xiaoli a sinister grin. The girl started. “I have just the name… I think I will call it ‘Nuhe’.” Xiaoli’s eyes widened and she covered a gasp with her sleeve. The snake snickered, patted the girl on the shoulder and slithered back to the ship. As Xiaoli stared at the unnaturally straight river, she repeated the name in a shivering voice. This was a hateful name; a name picked to symbolise a mistake, or worse, a challenge. “Nuhe,” she whispered. “The River… Of Rage.” [hr] [hider=Summary] Kalmar and Phystene return to Kalmar's continent, which Kalmar decides to name 'Kalgrun.' As they return, they discover that an invasive species of colourful birds had arrived and begun planting seeds. Neither of them are opposed to this development, so they do nothing to stop it. They do however, notice the presence of another god: Shengshi (henceforth known as 'Salty Riverboi.') They begin a conversation. Shengshi and Kalmar immediately do not get along. Shengshi is offended by Kalmar's brusque manner of speaking and lack of interest in his boat. Kalmar, in turn, is annoyed by Shengshi's flattery and passive-aggressive attitude. Kalmar still, however, tells him about Orvus, and invites him to join the alliance. After a bit of back-and-forth, Shengshi finally accepts. They then begin to discuss a river: its location, as well as the water that will feed it. Shengshi decides to name it Donghe. Phystene parts ways to go do her own thing. Shengshi and Kalmar once again begin to argue, this time over what the river should be called. Shengshi, however, is insistent on the name, so Kalmar decides not to push the issue any further. He does, however, inform Shengshi that he will no longer stand for any threats, insults or deception, and warns that he will make Shengshi answer for any further transgressions. Kalmar leaves, allowing Shengshi to work on the river alone. Enraged by Kalmar's behavior, Shengshi cuts an ugly, straight, unnatural scar across the landscape to serve as the river, which he names "Nuhe, the River of Rage." [/hider] [hider=Expenses] Shengshi: -2FP to build a river. Kalmar and Phystene: -None. [/hider]