[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]
[h2]The Angels
and Fire Giants[/h2][/centre]

As Jiangzhou broke through the thick clouds and fog above the Saluran Mendidih, a group of five servants knocked on the gates to Shengshi’s chambres. All of them were dressed excessively well - no less than expected by the snake’s personal butlers and maids. Two of them were carrying tea trays, though the second tea tray was full of biscuits and fruits; one was carrying a mop and a bucket; one was carrying fresh ink and paper; and the one at the front, who was dressed the finest, was carrying a few scrolls. A minute passed before the snake pulled the doors apart and smiled.

“Ten thousand years and more to His Lordship, Shengshi of the Thousand Streams,” the servants said in unison and kowtowed with trained ease despite the objects they were carrying.

“Ah, what a wonderful joy to have such loyal servants orient me about the daily affairs. Please, come in.” The snake led them inside. The servants with the refreshments immediately placed their trays on the table and began to prepare the tea and cakes; the servant with the ink and paper went over to the snake’s calligraphy desk and begun to clean it and take inventory; the servant with the mop began to diligently wash the floor and dust off the many surfaces inside the room. 

The servant with the scrolls walked up to Shengshi and bowed. “My Lord, this servant brings a list of the ship’s affairs and status, as Your Lordship requested.”

“Wonderful,” said the snake. “Tell me, what did the reinforcement of K’nell’s forces cost us?”

The servant nodded and unfurled the scroll. “In terms of wine, Your Lordship, while our finest barrels were spared, everything that was strong enough to burn was unfortunately sacrificed. Furthermore, a unit of six Echoes managed to board the ship during the assault - they killed thirty of our warriors before we managed to subdue them.”

The snake’s brow fell low over his eyes. “A tragic loss… Have their belongings been returned to their families?”

The servant nodded slowly. “As per tradition, Your Lordship.”

The snake nodded somberly. “Good. Tell their families they have my blessing if they wish to form any children - though, please add that they may not form more than what they lost.”

The servant nodded with a smile. “They are certain to be overjoyed at Your Lordship’s blessing. This servant will tell them as soon as we are back on the water.”

“Very good,” said the snake. “Are there any more news?”

“Yes, Your Lordship,” said the servant. “As You requested, we posted sentries along the ship’s railing as Jiangzhou left Tendlepog. Last night, a report came in from one of the stern sentries: Zhengwu was spotted off the northern coast of the Kick.”

Shengshi smiled warmly. “I wish I could share with them just how proud I am… How was the cloudscape?”

“It is unlikely that Jiangzhou was seen, Your Lordship,” said the servant. The two servants with refreshments knelt down before the snake, each lifting a tray up towards the snake. He took a tea cup and a piece of mango.

“Very good. I cannot bear the thought of shattering the crew’s morale - their prayers already tell me the journey has been more arduous than expected.” He took in a quick sniff of the steam lazily dancing out of the cup and popped the mango in his mouth.

“Now, if that is a--”

“YOUR LORDSHIP!” came a call from outside the gates and they were swung open by another group of five servants, all running inside and casting themselves to their knees and hands. The snake frowned and straightened up - the surrounding servants all nearly dropped what they were holding.

“What is it? What news do you bear?” the snake demanded anxiously.

“Th-the Giant’s Bath, Your Lordship! The western grasslands! The Qiangshan Mountains! All are surrounded in smoke and flame!”

The snake’s eyes shot wide open. “What?!” he roared and stormed out onto his veranda.

The servants had spoken true - there, far below the ship, fires raged at the borders of the grasslands south of the Cauldron, and the scant forests between Qiangshan and the Giant’s Bath had been replaced by black columns of smoke. The snake let out a sharp snarl and looked further to the west, his divine eyes spotting the armies of fire approaching from the raging Mount Eldahverr. Behind him, the group of frightened and whimpering servants gathered.

“W-what is His Lordship’s command?” the messenger asked in a shaky voice. The snake breathed through his fangs a few times before finding the calm to turn around.

“A declaration of war has been sounded. We will sail down to the Giant’s Bath and secure it first - the gateway to Fengshui Fuyou must be protected at all costs.”

The servants nodded and bowed. As the ship began its descent towards the ground, they ran throughout the ship and ordered the crew to assume battle stations. Shengshi slithered down to the dragon’s head and mounted it. A sneak attack in his absence - a most cowardly tactic.

He would have his vengeance. 

[hr]
Thunderous thumps echoed through the lands, as the massive fiery figure of Vulkandr slowly appeared from the corner of the towering Cauldron. Below, most of his fellow Jotundr were following him underfoot, groaning and moaning while they checked their surroundings. Their quarrel ahead was a giant pool of steaming water - one that was half the height of the mighty Fire Titan. It, however, didn’t necessarily interest Sartr’s forces as they were more focused on what laid beyond it - a great forest filled with dry timber waiting to be ignited by their hand. The giant rock creature would continue to advance, issuing a stentorian bellow as his troops proceeded to hasten their advance towards the jungles ahead. 

They’ve proceeded to burn the closest bits of foliage and ignited a forest fire. The deeper they would go, the more destruction they would cause. However, just as they barely pierced through the outer borders, Vulkandr halted as he raised his head into the howling winds. He could sense something approaching… something huge. He issued a loud grunt that commanded the other Jotundr to cease their activities and listen. For a long few seconds they listened closely, only hearing the faint sound on an approaching gust of wind that blew over their fiery shoulders.

And then, emerging from the clouds above, they could all see a massive ship descending from the heavens. Looking at it’s grand form from below  was a sight that absolutely confounded them as the jotuns began to gurgle loudly in absolute confusion as to what they were seeing. Being that they’ve encountered such a monstrosity only in the mere hour of existence was enough to cause them to grow anxious. What and who were upon this massive wooden vessel? And while it was created out of the very thing they wanted to burn, it still didn’t saturate the feeling of anxiousness that emanated from them.

Vulkandr’s immediate instincts tried to force him into issuing combat with the floating vessel, however it was no mindless golem without a brain. The giant would then bellow out frustrated another holler towards the jotun, who immediately proceeded to issue a hasty revaluation of their current actions, and began to disperse from the already burning trees. Their fight with the divine would not take place here and in the form their opponent manifested in. 

And thus, the giants of flame began to walk southwards away from Shengshi’s flying airship and Giant’s Bath. However, they wouldn’t be heading back to their Master just yet. They would merely proceed to hug the Cauldron’s wall and proceed to engage the area of forest to the south - where no other god seemed to defend its borders. 

None to their knowledge anyways...

[hr]

As the ship’s hull broke the water surface of the Giant’s Bath, the snake noted with squinted eyes that the humanoids who had been sieging his home had all but vanished. He traced their many ashen tracks southwards and let out a hiss.

“I see they know how to pick their fights…” He took a deep breath and pursed his lips. “... Sartr made them wiser than I had expected.” The snake hopped off the dragon’s head and slithered towards the edge of the deck. He took a moment to stare outwards across the small basin he called home - its seemingly bottomless amounts of freshwater contrasted by the fact that most gods likely could see its bottom. Such was the blessing of Fengshui Fuyou’s gateway.

He breathed in a proud nosefull, satisfied with his victory over the fire giants. However, his moment of pride gave way to fear as he heard a faint roar. He gazed northwards and, straining his divine eyes, spotted red, curved lines with wings flapping through the air over Qiangshan. For now, though, he could not quite make out what they--

Then he saw it: a colossal beast, dwarfing every other red line, came soaring over the mountaintop, letting out seven roars in unison. Even from here, the snake could make out many of its details - reptilian scales, draconic heads, massive wings. The snake had not seen clearly what the red lines were, but he saw this one. His brow moistened and he looked into the Giant’s Bath.

“Dragons…” he hissed. He turned to the servants behind him, who all bowed. “I will enter Fengshui Fuyou and make certain nothing has harmed it. Stay here and guard the gate.” He dove over the side before any of the servants could ever confirm that they had heard the order. The gateway to the sphere opened a mere smidge and let the god inside.

The servants looked at each other in fear. “B-but we don’t have any weapons…” said one. Another crossed her arms over her bosom and sighed. “Let’s just pray that the mere presence of Jiangzhou will be enough to scare off any assailants.” The servants all nodded somberly to each other and slowly moved towards the palace in unison.

They shouldn’t have tempted fate.  Before the Servants could take more than a handful of steps one of their number spotted three flying figures approaching the ship out of the corner of his eye. The Servant turned around and pointed a shaky finger. “Oh, by Shengshi, it did not work! Incoming fliers!” A number of servants turned their heads and began to run about with flailing arms until one of them stopped and squinted. He grabbed his nearest panicking colleague and yelled, “STOP! These are not dragons! Look!”

Sure enough, these creatures had neither red nor brown scales, nor scales at all, really. They had feathery wings and humanoid forms, and as they approached slowly, it became clearer and clearer to the servants that something was terribly wrong.

By the time the figures reached the deck, that something was clear.  They’d dripped enough blood onto the Servants below during their descent for the crew of Jiangzhou to know they were injured, and badly at that.  One of them stood out, but not for any positive quality.  Rather, it was because the winged man was bleeding from dozens of puncture wounds and was cradling an arm that looked to have been all but shredded. 

That one collapsed almost as soon as he landed.  All that saved him from a painful tumble into the deck was his female companion.  She was bleeding too, but it seemed her own injuries weren’t so severe as to prevent her from catching her companion and helping him lie down on the deck.  

The servants quickly surrounded the group, many folding their hands in prayer, others calling for bandages and stretchers, with some breaking apart from the group to fetch those. One of the servants approached an additional step, bowed and said carefully, “Shengshi’s blessings on the three of you - these servants will hastily carry you to our softest beds and dress your wounds - though, if it is not too much to ask, w-who are you?”

The woman opened her mouth to speak, but she was cut off by the other male, and apparently uninjured, member of her party, “I am Akam, and those two are Eline and Makab.”  He gestured to his bleeding companions, “We are the children of Asceal, the Goddess of Light.  I must ask to see the God of Rivers, our mother told us he was nearby and we could seek his aid.”

The servants looked at one another. The closest one fell to his knees in a kowtow. “Your sacred selves are more than welcome aboard His Lordship’s vessel, divine children of Her Holiness Asceal.” Behind the crowds, three stretchers each carried between two servants came sprinting out the palace gates, followed by another six servants carrying bandages and small pots of ointments and clays. The closest servant raised his head. “This servant is named Yun Ran, a representative of the Wise caste. His Lordship is unfortunately inside Fengshui Fuyou, but we assure You that He will return shortly. Meanwhile, these servants hope that You would allow them to take you below the deck to Your beds.” The stretchers were laid on the floor and the carriers all bowed as they gestured to them.

Eline spoke up from behind Akam, her voice as pained as it was filled with worry, “I’m- I’m fine.  Just take Makab.  I think he passed out.”

Her conscious brother craned his neck to face her, “You’ll both go Eline.  You’re going to pass out too if nobody stops that bleeding.”

The winged woman looked like she might argue, but something in Akams eyes convinced her to bite her tongue and nod.  She let the servants carrying the stretchers take both her and Makab.  Once his siblings were out of earshot Akam looked back to Yun Ran, “I can walk. I wasn’t injured in the attack.”

Yun Ran nodded slowly. “Very well… We shall bring You down to their rooms soon. Although, if it is not too much trouble, this servant wishes to ask some questions.” Yun Ran ran a hand through his gray beard. “Please, if Your sacred self would not mind telling us, what happened?”

“That’s no problem” Akam met the bearded man’s gaze and, “Mother told me to inform Shengshi, anyway.  We were resting in the eastern mountains when we were attacked.  A winged lizard, a massive thing longer than this ship is wide, came around from the other side of the peak.  We were forced to fight the creature.  It managed to hurt injure my siblings before Makab... Killed it.”

The winged man grimaced, “My mother told me to find Shengshi here, but it took longer to arrive than I’d hoped.  We had to avoid what must have been dozens of monsters similar to the one we encountered before we’d even cleared the mountains.”

Yun Ran nodded again. “Then His Lordship’s observation was flawless - dragons have seized Qiangshan mountains.” He let out a somber sigh, the servants who had remained with the two lowering their heads in defeat. “His Lordship will have to plan a reconquering or, or at least a sufficient defense… The Giant’s Bath cannot face a draconic threat so close. The risk is simply too great.” He cleared his throat and adjusted his small, cup-like hat. “His Lordship certainly already knows this, however - would Your sacred self like to see Your siblings, master Akam?”

Akam glanced at the door his siblings had been taken through and nodded, “I would.” Yun Ran nodded and beckoned Akam to follow him into the palace.

[hr]

[b]Meanwhile, in Fengshui Fuyou...[/b]

As soon as the snake had entered, he had felt discourse in the waters - a clog in his sacred system. His fears had been proven - there had been a breach, and a cataclysmic one at that. As the snake sped through the water with such haste that the water in front of him began to boil, the disruption in the Flow grew ever stronger. In the distance, there, he noticed interruptions in the currents. His eyes flared with rage as he saw the culprit: a clay dam, constructed with the despicable and spiteful intention of halting the flow. There could be no other reason - it was too elaborate and solid; this was no natural phenomenon. 

With his two fists spear-pointing his form, Shengshi torpedoed through the clay wall, his charge reinforced by the rivers ripping through the cracks and tearing down the wall. With the centre of the wall in shambles, the rest of the structure crumbled underneath the staggering weight of the World Spring’s might. Shengshi noticed the river waters rumbling ahead down the dry path. His eyes became reptilian slits and he reached out to the water, clenching his fist in the air. The murderous flood suddenly began to slow into a gentle trickle. He noticed the floods on either side of the wall begin to calm down, as well. They would slow down naturally.

[hr]

[b]Meanwhile, on the dry riverbed of Kalmere...[/b]

The wolves and bears had feasted on the unfortunate fish left to choke to death on the soggy soil. The panicking salmons and trouts in the small pocket of water behind the beaver dam flipped into the air and tried to skip to freedom - alas, they had nowhere else to go. Inside the dam, a mother beaver, wounded and bloody, made a last stand for her children against a rabid dire wolf. As its snout broke another few branches, the mother beaver saw her opportunity and snapped her teeth at the wolf’s nose, inciting a whimpering retreat. However, no respite was coming for the beavers, for where one wolf head had broken in, two move began brawling over the slit in the wood. The children made frightened squeals and the mother made some futile attempt to fight back, but flight was not an option, and she was all out of fight.

Then, as if by the grace of the divines, the wolves pulled out of the dam, letting out confused whimpers. Then their whimpers grew fainter and fainter. Slowly, the mother beaver made a brave trek outwards, only to find her paws splash against the soggy soil. She looked down and saw the water slowly rise. She stuck her head out and saw happy salmons skip high over her dam and into the returning river right in front of her. The wolves stared menacingly from the woods, and even the bears soon found that they had to retreat. The beaver mother’s pups swam over to nuzzle her, and she nuzzled them back.

They were saved.

[hr]

[b]Simultaneously, on the Lihe plains...[/b]

Lihe had reached a width unimagined, stretching nearly to the bioluminescent woods on either side of the plains. Countless animals laid either dead or dying in the once most wonderful grasslands on the island, the floods slowly pulling them below the water surface as they struggled against the ensnaring soil. The fish that had not been caught in the initial meatgrinder that was the flood slowly began to surface, the carnivorous of them swimming over to nibble on the corpses in the water. Some crafty predators had managed to fish some bodies out of the mud and happily feasted by the forest line. 

Then, in a slow creep that suddenly grew into a massive leap, the waters retreated, forcing many a panicking fish back to the river centre and releasing many helpless animals from the grasp of death. With the water no longer holding them down, one by one the animals broke out of their traps. Finally free, the beasts scattered to the woods. Within the river, the remaining fish feasted on the leftovers of the flood, growing strong and fat. 

Many lives had been lost that day - many orphaned pups, fawns and cubs wandered the woods in solitude. It did seem, however, that the flood had passed. They would take care in the future, though - they had to.

[hr]

[b]A moment later, in Fengshui Fuyou...[/b]

Shengshi’s ragged breaths broke through the docile soundscape of the running water around him. The mud walls had been disintegrated down to the grain, but still, the snake let out a furious roar. He looked around for further proof of the assailants. Upon seeing naught but fog and clouds, he dipped his each of his hands into the two affected streams respectively and lick his right one thoroughly. His eyes squinted with anger.

“The nerve… The nerve to damage my precious Lihe like that, and to have it appear as if I was behind it… This wound upon my face - upon my reputation…” 

He hammered the water with his right fist and snarled. “I will drown them… I will drown every last one of your dragons, do you hear me, you burning demon?! EVERYONE!”

He scowled into the distance and let his tongue examine his left hand. His eyes widened and he took a deep breath which was let out a groan. “Of course… Of course it -had- to be his…” He snarled furiously and set off into a torpedo-like swim towards Shiquan Mountain. 

As he closed in, he propelled himself out of the water and soared up towards the top. As his tail slapped against the wet stone, he turned and shot his fist forward towards one of the rivers stretching out from the mountain. The river slowed to a near-halt, over streams beginning to flow over and around it to take its place. The slowed river suddenly dove under the surface like an eel.

“Jia-Long… Defender and caretaker of the World Spring and the Never-Ending Riverlands… I, your lord and master, Shengshi, command you to rise from the depth and answer your call to service!”

The water surface rumbled and bubbled. Gradually, two points approached the surface of the water and broke through, revealing themselves to be enormous antlers attached to a colossal draconic head. From the head stretched an unending, snake-like body with two small arms and legs, adorned with beautiful chalk scales and an alabaster mane that whipped around in the wind. The dragon kept rising until its head was level with Shengshi, five hundred metres above the surface of the water. Down below, its body still stretched deeper into the rivers. 

“This servant gives its most sincere greetings to His Lordship, Shengshi,” Jia-Long said in a soft, feminine voice and tipped her head forward. The snake nodded and bowed back.

“Welcome to life, Jia-Long. I am certain you know what you task is.”

The dragon nodded. “This servant is to take care of His Lordship’s lands and assure that no intruders sabotage it ever again.”

The snake nodded with a grim expression. “That is correct. Any damage inflicted upon Fengshui Fuyou leads to catastrophe on Galbar. We cannot allow the world to suffer such destruction at random.”

The dragon let out a hum. “Understood, Your Lordship - Fengshui Fuyou will forever be save under this servant’s protection.”

The snake grinned somberly and bowed. “I have faith in you, Jia-Long. You are the guardian of the rivers. Good luck.”

The dragon blinked. “Th-thank You, Your Lordship.”

With that, Shengshi hopped off the mountain and into the river below. He swam over to the river with the gateway and, once again, slipped through a slight smidge.

Jia-Long watched her master slip through the portal and clapped her tiny hands sheepishly as she looked around the mostly empty sphere. 

“Well… I could try to make some tea, I suppose.”

[hider=Zoomary]
Shengshi returns to Kirronland to find that it’s being invaded by firebois. Upon seeing the Giant’s Bath in peril, he decides he gotta get there asap and sends the ship on a descent. The firebois, upon seeing the huge approaching ship, run in the opposite direction until they decide to head south towards the Cauldron. 

A little later, Shengshi sees that there are dragons in the northern mountains and, thinking that they may have infiltrated his sphere (huehue, Li’kalla already escaped), leaves his servants to defend the ship. The servants soon spot Makab, Akam and Eline, and take them in for healing and treatment.

In FSFY, Shengshi undoes Li’s damage and vows to rip Sartr’s dragons a new one. Kalmere and Lihe are restored to normal and the ecosystems begin their recovery. To avoid anyone ever sneaking unpermitted into his sphere ever again, Shengshi creates Jia-Long, a 1km long dragon that is tasked with guarding FSFY. Shengshi then leaves again.
[/hider]

[hider=Might Usage]
Shengshi: 2FP on making Jia-Long, a single beast of extraordinary power.
MP/FP before: ⅝
After: 5/6
[/hider]