[center][h1]The Heist[/h1] 
Asceal + Azura[/center]

The flock gathered high above the ocean to the west of the dragons foot, a giant colorful sphere of feathers, stone and metal. At its heart floated Luis, armor clad and with the great soul crystal horn of Bruna stamping skywards. Atop this horn stood/floated the Titan of Winds, bearing Azura as she conducted its power. Above them in the Blue Alma fiddled with the controls of a dozen wandering temples, turning their great turbines to a purpose, driving extra air down into Galbar’s atmosphere and towards the flock. Yet rather than push them down or spread out the air was instead wrapped around them, embracing the airforce in a cocoon of dense warm air that would form a barrier between them and the vacuum above.

Once it had finally formed the air bubble took on the shape of an egg of swirling swirling air aimed towards the heavens. It lowered itself down to just above the ocean’s waves while Azura formed a great wind tunnel that reached down from the stratosphere until it gripped the shell of the Titans protective zone, causing it and its race up and away till it burst out of Galbar and into the space beyond. 

Their course plotted Azura dismounted the titan and flew down to join Asceal upon Luis’ back. Next to them was the great horn of soul crystal that powered and controlled his armor, and behind them where innumerable armored bunkers/vaults that would house the souls they were going to save. Bustling around these making last minute integrity checks where the curators, small floating drones of luft stone and soul crystal, who would be managing the massive influx of souls. 

[color=lightblue]”Will your children be alright staying on Shengshi’s ship after we argued with him like that?“[/color] Azura asked.

“I don’t see why they wouldn’t be,” Asceal pursed her lips and frowned, “His feelings towards souls are more than disheartening, but he’s never been anything less than hospitable.  My children will be fine.  Besides, Shengshi might not see eye to eye with us, but he’s hardly an enemy.  Leaving him to fend off Sartravius alone does nothing but hurt us.”

Azura’s talons tapped thoughtfully against the stone they stood on [color=lightblue]”I’ll trust you judgment in that. He did not leave me with the best first impression, something I suspect was the opposite of his intention given the pageantry on display. We have all the power in the world and he uses it to make mortal [i]slaves[/i].“[/color] she shuddered,  [color=lightblue]”Suffice to say, I suspect the issue of souls will be the first of many topics we disagree on.“[/color]

“I’m not certain they are slaves,” Asceal paused to run a hand through her hair, “I had a similar concern when I first met Shengshi and his avatar, but since then I’ve come to understand there is… Nuance there.  I won’t pretend to understand the convoluted hierarchy Shengshi enforces, but he hasn’t tormented his people.  They seemed happy enough,”  Asceal hesitated and added bitterly, “At least, before Sartarvius’s creations butchered them.”

[color=lightblue]”Happy being servants? I don’t think I could ever understand how someone would live such a life. Unless they were made to like it which is… both better and worse in a way.“[/color] she tapped her talons a few more times before concluding that [color=lightblue]”I can't say I like the idea, but at least they aren't suffering right now I suppose I can look past it for the time being.“[/color]

[color=lightblue]”At any rate, we should probably turn our attention to more pressing matters.“[/color] Azura said as they flew ever closer to their destination. [color=lightblue]”Such as preparation for the confrontation that lies ahead.“[/color]

Asceal nodded and gaze her gaze out to the flock. With every moment Luis and his innumerable comrades soared higher and higher, past the lower celestial spheres, past the orbits of Veradax, Heliopolis and The Lustrous Garden. They rose until they pierced the veil of the Sky of Pyres. The air shield Azura had surrounded her flock with blasted the ash and fumes away to create a bubble of safety in the infernal realm.

Around them flowed a torrent of souls. From all the branches on the tree of life and some beyond they came, their spirits dragged first up into the heavens and then to their doom in the distant fires. Among the trees, the fish, the mushrooms, the microbes and the deer where those deemed worthy to be saved, those creatures that possess the capability for wisdom and intelligence.

The Alma immediately set to work, diving into the parts of the stream of souls to snatch those souls deemed worthy of saving. Mostly this meant the mortals of Galbar, but they also picked out beasts like whales and the gemstone gardeners and vitally, the last few remaining void souls. It rapidly became apparent that some of the souls being saved where far larger than the Alma could carry. Whale souls and some void souls like the one belonging to the watcher dwarfed the Alma themselves and so Azura quickly made a support construct to assist. These where small human sized version of the titan of wind, made of a disjointed luftstone bound together by a living wind and controlled by a soul gem heart. From their hands the shot sky blue beams of energy and air that wrapped around the greater crystals and allowing teams of them to lift and carry what the Alma had saved. They could also make smaller versions of the Titan’s windshield, allowing them to take Alma out of the central bubble, to roam ahead and snatch up souls that would be lost to the flames before the main force arrived.

Down below on Galbar Alma swarmed the Vortex of souls, cutting of the flow so that no new spirit would arrive after their passing. This invasion was merely a temporary solution however. Soon they would need to get the message out to all those below so that they themselves could decide to be saved, rather than being snatched up without warning.

Asceal stood beside Azura as she worked, scanning the murky ash filled realm, her eyes filled with trepidation. After the first few waves of Alma had returned the luminous Goddess spoke, her words laden with anxiety, “He should have noticed us by now.”

[color=lightblue]”He didn't show up last time I was here, but I was more or less in and out then. This sphere is enormous, so perhaps he is simply taking time to arrive, or hasn't noticed us yet? But we are going to be here a while.“[/color] they had to navigate the entire vault of the heavens after all [color=lightblue]”So I feel like it is only a matter of time.“[/color] 

Time passed and passed and passed and yet no one came to challenge them. Where the pair had once stood ready to launch themselves into the fray they now sat and waited, still watchful for trouble and yet almost certain that none would appear.

[color=lightblue]”Maybe he isn't here? Is he is down on Galbar doing goodness knows what. Pr did he really never exeted anyone to confront or oppose him in this? Except, now that I think about it, our own spheres are just as vulnerable as this one. Or mine is at least. Aelius seems looks to be the only person wise enough to set up an alarm system and even then he has decided to stay within his realm to guard it, so vital is Heliopolis to life.“[/color] Azura shuddered at the thought of trapping herself as he had, and yet to protect their slowly accumulating precious cargo it now seemed like an inevitability.

“Maybe,” Asceal scowled and took a deep breath, “But we have a job to do here, even if he’s set out to strike at our spheres.  Any damage he inflicts there can be repaired.  We’re here for people, and they aren’t so easily replaced.”

[color=lightblue]”That’s true now. It won’t be once we are done. The vault becomes a prime target for retaliation. The Alma too, once I get the word to the people of what is going on up here.“[/color] Azura said, the long tense hours and days waiting in the smoking sky having given plenty of time for her to worry about the future.

“The vault will needed defenses and defenders then.  As many of them as we can make,” Asceal  glanced at an Alma returning a soul crystal, “And your Alma will have to be able to defend themselves.  I could offer them some power to aid in that, if you’d permit it.  I’m not the most suited to it, but I have some experience in equipping my children for conflict.”

[color=lightblue]”Indeed. I’ve started work on the defenses, but dedicated defenders are still something I need to make.“[/color] Azura responded, [color=lightblue]”The Alma will need all the help they can get in performing their most vital task, so anything you can give would be of great help. I’ll see to it that I pay you back for that aid in the future.“[/color]

Beside Azura the Goddess of Light nodded and beckoned to a nearby Alma, who seemed to grasp her meaning and fly towards her.  Asceal smiled at the bird, “I have a gift for you, little one.” 

She reached out and rested a hand on the Alma’s beak, and though it looked at her inquisitively it didn’t shy away.  A small light emanated from the Goddess’s touch and when she let do there was a peculiar shrine to the Alma’s feathers that hadn’t been there before.  Before Azura, or even the Alma itself, could inquire into what she’d done the Goddess explained, “Something to keep you safe, little one. If you focus you can call on my light now, but be careful.  It isn’t something to use on those you don’t want to hurt.  Now go, share this with your siblings.  All it takes is a touch.”

The bird squawked appreciatively in response and then took wing to join the others. There the light spread to those close to it, and then those close to them. Asceal’s light blossomed, radiating from the initially receiver and lighting up the sky pyres with innumerable softly glowing stars of salvation that opposed the raging fires of destruction that called it home. 

[color=lightblue]”Beautiful“[/color] Azura said as she watched.

[color=RoyalBlue]”And quite deadly I believe think.”[/color] added the as until now silent Luis as the massive horn of crystal the pair sat next to started to glow with the same faint light. [color=RoyalBlue]”Hopefully we won’t have to use your gift in anger before we get a chance to test it somewhere, but it should add to the existing defences rather nicely.”[/color]

[color=lightblue]”How are you holding up Luis?“[/color] Azura asked, guilty at having not addressed their titanic Chauffeur since they took off.

[color=RoyalBlue]”It’s strange, being able to see things with the Alma that I can't see with my own eyes. To me it seems as if we are simply floating in empty space, but when I look through their eyes… when i see the dead flow past and [i]through[/i] me… Seeing this makes me feel like shouldn’t show the mortals down below this horror. It would be cruel, even if it might be necessary to help them understand why the Alma need to take their souls.”[/color] Luis explained, struggling with the horrible truth he both could and could not see.

[color=lightblue]”Hopefully if all goes we’ll never need to return.“[/color] Azura assured him first, before addressing his point [color=lightblue]”I still think its the best and fastest way to get people on our side. Without showing them, all they have are our word.“[/color]

She turned to Asceal to fill her in [color=lightblue]”I should probably explain. The Alma can transmit sound and images between another, and can show what they see in the manner Luis used earlier down on the ship. I intend to use this capability to inform the mortals of the world that their souls are in danger, to show them this abominable place, so that instead of taking them after death as we are now, they are instead given willingly.“[/color]

“They have to know,” Asceal frowned, “Even if it’s an unpleasant truth.  I would be careful though.  Once you have the Alma show this place to the world the other gods might take exception.  I don’t imagine ones like Shengshi or Ashalla will act against us, but who knows about the others.”

The radiant Goddess glanced at the vaults around them, “Make sure the vault is secure before you show the world Azura.  Reinforce it personally.  I’ll see about providing my own defenders.”

[color=lightblue]”I won’t show the vault till it is prepared. Coming here has shown me just how vulnerable it is at the moment. Ashalla already knows, she stumbled across it unfortunately so I swore her to secrecy. But this, this needs to be shown before we leave or it’ll never be seen at all.“[/color] Azura explained

[color=RoyalBlue]”We could leave an Alma here with one of these minor wind elementals you have made, though it would only give you a day or two till it starts to suffer from exhaustion or dehydration. And there is also the problem of getting it back down.”[/color] Luis suggested

“It’s your choice, in the end. I can only hope Ashalla is the [i]only[/i] one of our siblings who knows the vault’s location.”  Asceal paused and bit her lip, “They should know, but telling them now might put your work in danger.”

[color=lightblue]”As far as I am aware she is. We can leave it till the last second. The important part of the vault will be with us now, and I will not leave their side until the defences are in place, so they can’t go under our noses to attack the mortal’s souls. The Alma can avoid telling the gods as well, only mortals. Even if they tell their creators they will not know where the Vault is located, at least not yet.“[/color]

[color=RoyalBlue]”Also I don’t think any of us want to come back here. Ever.”[/color] Luis added.

[color=lightblue]”and the sooner we tell, the sooner my conscience is cleared of keeping them in the dark.“[/color] Azura finished.

Asceal only nodded, her eyes returning the ugly scenery. She’d have to watch it for a long, long time, as the flock slowly moved its way across the entirety of the sky pyres, plucking every last worthy soul from their imminent second death and storing them safely within the vast halls of Bruna’s stony sanctums.

[hr]

They came from the sky, from the forests, oceans and the mountain, out of the trees and from behind rocks as if they had simply been hiding there, waiting for this day to come. Some had seen them before and had admired their beauty from a distance before they vanished from sight. What had once been considered timid or skittish now showed itself to be bold and fearless.

To the servants of Shengshi they came, avoiding their master’s prying eyes. They came to the Selka, be they in their villages or frolicking beneath the waves. They showed themselves once again to Ihokhetani, who knew what they were already and yet and had only recently learned why they were important. With the Kostral slaves in their pit they engaged with a merry chase, always staying one step ahead. They dodged and deflected the flames of the fire giants in the graves of forests. They welcomed the Cyclops's to Galbar.  A few got very very lost and very very confused in the infinite maze trying to find the Aroiox. They perched atop the bones of the Dragonborn’s progenitors to bring them the news. They revealed themselves to the gardeners, wargs and whales, those beasts who had wisdom and intelligence enough to be conscious of themselves but who would never build civilisations on their own. They came to the lonely species of one, to Karamir, Atmav, Arya, Laurien, and more. They came to the home of the first mortal, who’s kind had ever so recently grown to reach double digits.  

They found the wise, the strong, the united, to the leaders, thinkers, priests and shamans. They came to the exiles whom no one would tell, and to the gathering places of communities so all could see what fate awaited all living things.

The birds spoke first, they warned that what they were about to show would be disturbing and possibly not fit for the eyes of the sensitive or for children and yet that it was also vital that someone watched. Then they projected images, perfect ones, of two goddesses stood atop the back of a great whale against the backdrop of the Pyres. 

[color=lightblue]“Good people of Galbar I bring you grave news and the tools to claim your freedom. Each and everyone of you has an immortal soul, the essence of your being that contains your mind and memories. This soul is the very core of your being, more vital to your existence than the the flesh or stone which you inhabit. Even if you perish you will live on though this soul, and yet Katharsos, the tyrant of death, has decreed that your souls, once severed from flesh should be put to the flame and turned into the ash that form new souls. Untold billions have already been put to the flame. The souls for the void who came here with those you know as gods were the first to be incinerated. If Katharsos continues where to continue his genocide unopposed all who were born from their remains will also be sent to his infernal stars. ”[/color] 

The Alma’s vision zoomed in on a star to watch as the soul of a griffin was sucked into its fire and its shrieks joined the endless quire of the damned.

[color=lightblue]“Yet all is not lost. I, Azura, have created the Alma, constructs of flesh, metal, stone and soul, who’s power you may use to save your soul from destruction. Each and every-one has the ability to crystallize the souls of the dead into a solid form that resists the pull of the tyrant Katharsos.”[/color] The goddess levitated a soul crystal and the Alma’s vision locked onto it, giving those watching a closer look at their alternate fate [color=lightblue]“To become crystallized is to sleep a dreamless sleep, one from which you will be awoken when the time is right and the means are perfected. Till their rebirth soul crystals will be kept at secret locations, hidden from the tyrant's grasp and protected from any who might seek to steal them away. 

To do this however the Alma require your consent. To take your souls without permission would be a grave abuse of power and a violation of your autonomy. One I have sadly already committed to save those here at the pyres. It is a sin that weighs heavy on my heart so I ask you, I beg you, please people of Galbar, when your time comes let the Alma help you. Please use them to save yourselves! For only by your own wills can you set yourselves free!”[/color] 

With that transmissions winked out. The word was out. Now the Alma’s true work could begin.

[hider=summary]
Acseal and Azura can go into space so they do
On the way up they discuss Shengshi’s servants. Azura is not happy about it, says they are slaves, but Asceal insists that they are happy. Azura lets it go for now as they arrive in the Sky pyres.
Alma begin to scoop up souls. Azura makes minor wind elementals to help them move beyond the safety of the Titan of winds and to help them load larger crystals onto Luis.
The pair expect a hostile response, but non materializes. They wait some more until it becomes clear that nothing is happening. Azura worries about what Katharsos might be doing and comes to realise how vulnerable the vault is without her present. Asceal insists that she not worry. What is important is the souls they are collecting and they should finish that task before worrying about anything else. 
Asceal blesses the alma with LASERS to help them avoid being murdered later.
Bruna copies this ability and then Luis notes that dang, its real spooky up here. The three then discuss when and whether to tell the mortals about the sky pyres. In the end they decide to do so right before they leave.

After all the souls are gathered bird tv happens and azura talks about the Alma and the Sky pyres a whole bunch.

Mortals everywhere have been told of their terrible fate and what they can do to avoid it. 


The goddesses go home. Their work is both done and has only just begun.
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[hider=might summary]
[url=https://i.imgur.com/QEZoQEk.png]Minor wind elementals[/url], Gust Elementals or Gusts: remarkable un-intelligent creature discounted by wind to 0 mp, 0 mp blessing of soul crystal levitation. Capable of flight and have decent wind magic. Can generate tractor-beams that only affect soul crystals. Assist Alma and the Titan of wind in their duties.

Asceal spends 2 light empowered fp on Alma LASERS. Ability copied by Bruna for free.
[/hider]