[color=darkseagreen]”So…”[/color] Atalantia spoke up after a long moment of silence. [color=darkseagreen]”Do you have some thoughts in regards to the various gods of this world?”[/color] Atalantia, Karamir, and Pyrdon had been traveling about for some time. Most of the time had been filled with viewing the landscape and Atalantia teasing Karamir. The last few hours, however, had been spent in relative silence. At least as silent as possible given Pyrdon thunderous steps. Pyrdon shifted his head, almost as if he meant to answer the question, but seemed to change his mind after a moment. It was impossible for any present to determine whether it was because he had no real opinion, felt it wasn’t appropriate for him to judge the various gods, or simply decided the question was directed at Karamir. Instead the massive dinosaur simple continued on his course, his head occasionally swaying from side to side as he watched the landscape, and various creatures in it, around them. Karamir shook his head. [color=yellow]”I only know what Kalmar told me,”[/color] he said, raising his voice to be heard over Pyrdon’s thundering steps. [color=yellow]”Orvus is dangerous, Shengshi is stubborn, Chopstick is strange, Phystene is good. I haven’t met them, so how can I form my own opinions?”[/color] [color=darkseagreen]”Fair enough. All I know I’ve obtained from mother. I know that she would never lie to me, but I’m sure even she would say she isn’t exactly an unbiased source of information.”[/color] Atalantia shrugged. [color=darkseagreen]”I agree with you that Orvus is dangerous. He’s a foe we’ll have to completely defeat eventually. Shengshi… is something of an enigma to mother and I find him to be a bit odd as well. Chopstick is… probably a being to be wary of. As for Kalmar:”[/color] she looked over her shoulder at Karamir and gave him a smile. [color=darkseagreen]”Well he seems like a cool guy. Maybe I should ask him to take me out to dinner some time.”[/color] Karamir blinked in confusion, unsure if he heard that correctly. [color=yellow]”Whut?”[/color] he asked, after a moment had passed. [color=darkseagreen]”Guess that joke went over your head.”[/color] Atalantia said with a sigh. [color=darkseagreen]”Maybe someday you’ll get it.”[/color] [color=yellow]”No, what did you say? I really don’t think I heard you correctly…”[/color] Karamir said, the confused expression not leaving his face. [color=darkseagreen]”What? I was just joking about asking Kalmar out to dinner.”[/color] That only served to bemuse him even further. Eventually, he shook the feeling off. He did not understand this woman. [color=yellow]”I don’t see how that’s a joke. And besides, based on the memories he shared with me, I think he’d prefer to go with your mother,”[/color] Karamir said with a shrug. Atalantia let out a soft chuckle. [color=darkseagreen]”Well wish him the best of luck on my behalf next time you see him then. I think that, given mother used to be a plant, or something, that he’s got his work cut out for him.[/color] [color=yellow]”Where is your mother, anyway?”[/color] Karamir asked her. [color=darkseagreen]”Honestly? I have no idea whatsoever. She told me she’d check in on me every once in a while, but didn’t give me the ability to send her a message.[/color] [color=darkkhaki]”If she’s close enough”[/color] Pyrdon spoke up, [color=darkkhaki]She might be able to hear me.[/color] [color=darkseagreen]”Wha-”[/color] Atalantia had just begun the question when Pyrdon opened his mouth and let out a roar. [color=darkseagreen]”Ok, well that was less than pleasant.”[/color] Atalantia commented, wincing from the ringing in her ears. [color=darkseagreen]”Like, give us a warning next time please.”[/color] [color=yellow]”You know you can just contact her by praying, right!?”[/color] Karamir shouted, holding his hands to his ears. [color=yellow]”Any mortal can do it, to any god! Kalmar told me!”[/color] [color=darkseagreen]”Wait. WHAT?! Pyrdon why didn’t you tell me?!”[/color] [color=darkkhaki]”I’m not the one with a massive amount of information implanted directly into my head by a goddess.”[/color] Pyrdon answered dryly. Atalantia scowled at the back of his head, which he was obviously oblivious of, before closing her eyes and ‘praying’ as Karamir had said she could. Her eyes shot open as Pyrdon came to a sudden stop, her hands grasping for handholds as she started to slip off of his back. Once she was settled and no longer at risk of falling off she followed Pyrdon’s gaze. Phystene stood on the forest floor before them, waving at the three mortals with a soft smile on her face. [color=darkseagreen]”Huh… well it actually worked.[/color] Phystene waved her hand in a wider motion and suddenly the ringing in both Atalantia’s and Karamir’s eyes subsided. Karamir climbed down, jumping the last few feet and landing on the ground with a soft thud. He saw Phystene and his eyebrows raised slightly. Kalmar had not told him how to speak to the other gods. Awkwardly, he returned her wave and kept his mouth shut. Pyrdon lowered his head to the ground so that Atalantia could slide off and stand next to Karamir. [color=darkseagreen]”Hey mom. This is Kalson. Kalmar’s first mortal.”[/color] [color=forestgreen]”Hello Kalson.”[/color] Her smile seemed to widen ever so slightly. [color=forestgreen]”I hope my daughter hasn’t been giving you too hard of a time.”[/color] [color=darkseagreen]”I am the best companion anyone could ever ask for!”[/color] Atalantia responded with mock indignation. Phystene only shook her head, her smile turning to one of amusement. [color=yellow]”My name is Karamir,”[/color] Karamir corrected with a frown. [color=darkseagreen]”I figure if we all keep calling him Kalson it’ll eventually stick.”[/color] Phystene rolled her eyes. [color=forestgreen]”Stop being rude to the young man.”[/color] [color=darkseagreen]”Yes mother.”[/color] Her tone made it abundantly clear that the moment Phystene was absent she would resume her previous behavior. [color=forestgreen]”So Kalso- Karamir. How have you found life here?”[/color] [color=yellow]”I…”[/color] Karamir began, but was unsure how to continue. How could he describe it? He took a deep breath, and all the thoughts he had for the past few days came pouring out. [color=yellow]”Everything either wants to kill me or run away from me. Aside from Kalmar and your daughter, there has been nobody else to talk to. I drink, I eat, I sleep, and then I wake up and do it all again. What’s the point?”[/color] he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and weariness. [color=forestgreen]”I suppose that would be… awfully lonely.”[/color] Phystene said after a moment. [color=forestgreen]”What did Kalmar tell you. Why did he bring you into this world?”[/color] [color=yellow]”He said he created me so that I could survive, adapt, and change…”[/color] Karamir said. [color=yellow]”And that I need to be able to do those things on my own if I want to become stronger.”[/color] Phystene seemed to think for a moment before speaking again. [color=forestgreen]”It sounds like you need to create your own purpose in life. Perhaps you could produce some offspring? Or go on great hunts in Kalmar’s name?”[/color] [color=yellow]”I can’t produce offspring, and unlike your daughter I have no interest in fornicating with wolves,”[/color] Karamir sighed. [color=yellow]”That just leaves hunting… but is that all there is?”[/color] Phystene gave her daughter a bemused look, but chose not to comment about any possible fornication with wolves.[color=forestgreen]”Perhaps I can solve your offspring problem.”[/color] Phystene commented. [color=forestgreen]”But it sounds like that won’t resolve your underlying problem. I’m afraid there probably isn’t all that much I can do to help you. Some of us are lucky to find our purpose in life early on. Others.... Must expend some effort to find theirs. It may be difficult on you now, but eventually you’ll find that thing that gives you pleasure in life and the gift of purpose.”[/color] Karamir frowned. Her words, though softer than Kalmar’s, more or less meant the exact same thing. It was not what he wanted to hear, nor did he find it helpful in any way. [color=yellow]”Then what should I do?”[/color] he asked her. [color=yellow]”Wander the land until either I die or something new happens?”[/color] Phystene let out a soft sigh and gave a sad shake of her head. [color=forestgreen]”You hear, but don’t listen. You are not some rock stuck in the ground, unable to affect your surroundings except in a passive way. You are a living, thinking being. Don’t wait for a purpose. Seek it! Does a hawk simply wait for its meal to amble on over to it, keel over, and die? Of course not. The hawk takes flight and seeks out its next meal. You need to find your purpose. Or make it where there was no purpose before.” [color=yellow]”But when the hawk finds its meal, it only goes on to eat another. Why? It eats to continue eating. Then it dies and gets eaten by something else. How can I find a purpose beyond that? Where do I look?”[/color] [color=forestgreen]”That’s not a question I’m capable of answering.”[/color] Phystene admitted after a moment. [color=forestgreen]”I wish I had all the answers you seek, truly I do, but unfortunately the world doesn’t work that way.”[/color] Karamir remained silent and grit his teeth. This was of no help. She would not tell him anything that his creator had not told him already. But there had to be something more. There had to be! He glanced at Atalantia, and then at Pyrdon. [color=yellow]”I’ll find my own path, then.”[/color] he said at last, with bitterness in his voice, and turned away. [color=forestgreen]”Sorry.”[/color] Phystene said and truly sounded like she meant it. [color=forestgreen]”I would help you, if I could. Perhaps in the future I will be able to, once you have found your way. Yes. I’ll give you a boon. Perhaps a power of some kind. A mate? Give some thought. Some real thought. And when you are ready pray to me.”[/color] Karamir stopped in his tracks. For a moment, he almost looked back. Then he clenched his fists. [color=yellow]”I’ll think about it,”[/color] he said quietly, and continued walking. [color=forestgreen]”Good.”[/color] She said before turning to Atalantia. [color=forestgreen]”Now as for you…. Let’s make a few changes.”[/color] She walked over to Atalantia and placed a hand on her head, pouring a small amount of power into her. [color=forestgreen]”I’m giving you the same aura of fertility as the vitasaurs.”[/color] She said in answer to the question in Atalantia’s eyes. [color=forestgreen]”And I have been thinking that I should provide you with some… strength of your own. It wouldn’t do if you died of old age while I was looking away. Or if some foul beast of Orvus’ blundered upon you.”[/color] She poured yet more power into Atalantia, empowering her until she became a being beyond a mere mortal, a hero of sorts. [color=forestgreen]”Now go. Observe the world and see what the other gods have been up to.”[/color] She then turned around and disappeared into a nearby tree. [color=darkseagreen]”Bye mom.”[/color] Atalantia said. [hider=Summary]Karamir meets Phystene and is a complete bitch Phystene grants Atalantia an aura of fertility and makes her a hero[/hider] [hider=Power Summary] [u]Phystene[/u] Starting: 3 MP and 4 FP 2 FP to grant Atalantia an aura of fertility 2 MP to turn Atalantia into a hero Ending: 1 MP and 2 FP 5/5 MP towards Fertility port [u]Kalmar[/u] No MP or FP spent [/hider]