[center] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/2b4925ee-b215-4b89-a794-5058a6c53e13.png[/img] [colour=lightseagreen][h1][b][i]Ashalla[/i][/b][/h1] [b]Goddess of Oceans, Storms and Ice[/b][/colour] [img]https://i.imgur.com/DLGhcA0.png[/img][/center] It was a beach of dark black sand, on a tropical island on the rim of the Eye of Desolation. There was the normal sea life, including dolphins and iridescent schools of fish and coral reefs, but there were also three iron carrionfish prowling the waters near the beach. Lone iron carrionfish were rare enough, but to have a group in one place could only mean one of two things. And these fish were not here to mate. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“What have you found?”[/b][/colour] asked a voice like a rising tide. The metallic sharks turned their noses towards the shore. The sea then rose, crawling up the black sand like the tides. Then, as the water washed over one patch of sand which appeared the same as all the others, it stopped and quivered. A couple of squalls peeled off from the water and flitted away. The water gathered up before the spot and rose into the form of a woman. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“What happened here?”[/b][/colour] shuddered a voice like a falling glacier. She had tasted ichor, belonging to none other than Orvus, soaked into the sand. The remains were no longer visible, but the spilt divine essence was still strong. Proportional to Orvus’ size, it seemed to be a lot of ichor, implying a grievous wound. Ashalla’s head twisted up towards the heavens. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Orvus, where are you?”[/b][/colour] she called into the aether, but received no response. Ashalla soaked through the sand to try to find more clues. She detected the divine essence of Katharsos, as distinctive as it was, but that scent appeared very stale, so it seemed improbable that Katharsos’ presence and Orvus’ wounding were coincident. Yet, search as she did, she could find no trace of any other divine essence. Perhaps Katharsos had done this to Orvus, and his essence had faded faster than she expected. Or perhaps some other god had done it and managed to conceal their own essence. Ashalla lifted her head and looked inland. There were mortals on these islands, made in the image of Orvus. Perhaps they held more clues. Ashalla receded back into the sea and swam around the island in search of mortals. Eventually she found a small family of three nebulites enjoying a shallow beach. The mother held her small baby between her legs, letting the warm water run over her, to various giggles. Ashalla’s watery form rose out of the sea, her imposing gaze looking down upon the Nebulites. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Mortals, tell me: where is your god Orvus?”[/b][/colour] Instinctively, the female nebulite of pink and purple swirls, her hair the same color but glowing softly, grabbed her baby and scooped her up into her arms protectively as she looked up in awe at Ashalla. The male, a nebulite of gray with blotches of white stars, went to stand beside his mate from where he had been sitting. The baby began to cry at the sudden commotion and the woman began to coo to it. The male then stepped forward and said, "Orvus is… Gone... your Magnificence." He said slowly, in a sense of awe. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Do you know what has happened to him or where he went?”[/b][/colour] Ashalla interrogated. The male began to speak but the female interrupted, "Your holiness, we do not know where my father went or what happened to him. Many think he… Abandoned us. Laurien said he told her he was needed somewhere and so he left. That was… Ten years ago." Her voice was soft, unsure of itself, and a hint of sadness sounded. There was a long, low rumble from Ashalla. This story was not adding up. Eventually, she said, [colour=lightseagreen][b]“So Laurien claims to have spoken with Orvus before he… left. Where is Laurien?”[/b][/colour] The two Nebulites shared looks with each other as the woman rocked the baby. The woman then looked up at Ashalla and said, "Why, she left not long after. She went to protect those that his Holiness Shengshi took. I am not sure where she is now, your Magnificence." Ashalla rumbled again, then asked, [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Is there anyone else who might know more?”[/b][/colour] The woman shook her head. “No one here… Though, it might not hurt to ask my sister, Arya.” she said. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“And where is Arya?”[/b][/colour] “Most likely at her house, your Holiness. Would you like us to guide you there?” the woman asked. There was a brief rumble. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Yes.”[/b][/colour] The woman smiled, and grabbed the hand of her mate. “Please follow us.” They led Ashalla through a very worn path, passing other Nebulites as they did, who all stopped and stared upon Ashalla’s watery form, some even bowing. The path took them through the jungle which teemed with life, and before long the Marble Star rose into view. They entered into a very large expanse of farmland, makeshift houses, and bustling society of a fledgling nation. Like before, every single Nebulite stopped and stared upon seeing Ashalla. Before long they came before a cozy looking house of mahogany, far more intricate than the others, but slowly beginning to see wear. The woman gave her baby to her mate, and then ran up the porch steps and knocked on the door. There was a long silence before the door opened to reveal a Nebulite of inverse colors. She wore a simple, white dress and she looked very tired. [color=ivory]“Ava? What’s wron-”[/color] Arya began, before her gaze fell upon the form of Ashalla. Ava giggled and moved out of the way, letting Arya out. She made her way slowly to the top of her stairs before she kowtowed and said, [color=ivory]“Holiness Ashalla! Welcome to the Eye.”[/color] Ashalla’s gaze scrutinised Arya for a few moments. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“The last of the Zhengwu…”[/b][/colour] she muttered. A tendril of water snaked up next to Arya and licked the spiral on the back of her hand. She rumbled for a moment, then said in a voice like a river, [colour=lightseagreen][b]“I seek Orvus. And I also seek Laurien, who should know more about where Orvus is.”[/b][/colour] Arya seemed to stiffen. Whether at the mention of Zhengwu, the tendril of water, or her family, it was hard to say. She looked up at Ashall and blinked. [color=ivory]“I… Have no idea where either of them are, I’m afraid. They both abandoned us, and neither even said goodbye.”[/color] she said with emotion in her voice. Ashalla huffed, and started to turn away. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Unfortunate. I will have to seek them out myself.”[/b][/colour] [color=ivory]“Your Holiness, why are you searching for them?”[/color] Arya asked, her eyebrow raised. Ashalla stopped and her head twisted back to look down upon Arya. After a pause, Ashalla answered, [colour=lightseagreen][b]“It is not for you to know.”[/b][/colour] Arya took a step forward. [color=ivory]“What? Why can’t I know? Even if… Even if they did leave… I believe I have a right to know why her Holiness Ashalla is asking for them,”[/color] she said, her voice wavering between calm and desire. Ashalla answered with a voice like sneering frost, [colour=lightseagreen][b]“A right? You have no rights other than those us gods deign to give you. This is not a matter for mortals.”[/b][/colour] [color=ivory]“But… But they’re my family… Please. Please your Holiness!”[/color] Arya pleaded, taking another step down the porch. Ashalla continued to stare down the nebulite, a low rumble coming from her. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“You knew K’nell?”[/b][/colour] she eventually asked. Arya paused. [color=ivory]”Yes… I was his Ward.”[/color] she said softly. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Do you know where K’nell and his continent are?”[/b][/colour] [color=ivory]”I do… But I can’t… I shouldn’t tell you…”[/color] Arya said defeated. Ashalla rumbled softly, then said in a voice like a trickling brook. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“I was good friends with K’nell. I was disappointed when he left without telling me where he went.”[/b][/colour] Ashalla paused to let her words sink in. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“I propose an exchange. If you tell me what happened with K’nell, I will tell you what I know of what happened to Orvus.”[/b][/colour] Arya looked upon Ashalla in contemplation. After a moment, her shoulders slumped in defeat. [color=ivory]“Come inside,”[/color] Arya said sadly, walking back up the porch steps. Ashalla dwarfed the house, but she flowed up to the door anyway, and some of her water poured through the doorway as a large pseudopod. The end of the pseudopod sculpted itself into a humanoid form. Arya led the way through the rather barren house. There was some furniture here and there and hanging along the walls were several artifacts. A large sword of orvium, a spectral dagger, a tattered cloak of stars, a small flute, and a small bell of starlight. A pseudopod stretched from Ashalla to lick each of the artifacts. Eventually they arrived in a kitchen of sorts, with only a table and some counters. Arya sat down across from an empty chair, and beckoned for Ashalla to sit. Ashalla flowed onto the seat, then looked at Arya expectantly. She sighed and leaned back into the chair. [color=ivory]“As you know… Tendlepog, and K’nell are gone. With them also went most of the Dreamers, but some remained… I don’t know where they are, either…”[/color] she chuckled sadly before taking a deep breath. [color=ivory]“My mothers went with… You might have met them, Hermes and Xiaoli? It’s what they wanted, I guess, but they never told me. After all, He didn’t want anyone to know… Not yet… Maybe not ever. Only my loved ones… That was it and yet… It’s such a burden,”[/color] she said, her eyes watering. [color=ivory]”But I’m getting off topic, aren’t I? You see… Your Holiness… K’nell combined Tendlepog and his Sphere to create an alternative to the pyres. He called it an eternal paradise. Heaven. None of them are coming back,”[/color] she whispered. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“So that’s what happened. He didn’t want some dreams to end…”[/b][/colour] A melodious laugh issued from Ashalla with an undertone of burbling. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“While Azura has been working tirelessly and enlisting the help of other gods to find a way to save the dead, K’nell achieved it single-handedly! My congratulations to him for taking charge of the natural order. Although, what role does the green mark in the sky have in this?”[/b][/colour] Arya expression turned to slight surprise at Ashalla’s laughter. After a moment of blinking the girl said, [color=ivory]“It’s called the Moksha and is far more specific to the Dreamers who remained, than to any of us. One need only to dream into it, to know it’s true purpose.”[/color] Ashalla huffed. Then she said with a voice like rolling waves, [colour=lightseagreen][b]“You have fulfilled your part of the bargain. Now it is time to fulfil mine.”[/b][/colour] Ashalla receded from the chair and flowed back towards the door. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Follow.”[/b][/colour] As Ashalla withdrew from the house the rest of her form turned to cloud, puffing up and swallowing the village before rising above the ground. Ashalla then flew away from the settlement. Arya followed quickly, flying into the dark cloud. Her small voice then said, [color=ivory]“Your Holiness, please, you cannot tell anyone about what K’nell did. If not for me, then for him.”[/color] [colour=lightseagreen][b]“You wish for me to keep secret a major shift in the structure of Galbar, the fate of a god, and an alternative to the Pyres - an enigma which is occupying the time and resources of several gods?”[/b][/colour] Ashalla asked incredulously. Arya frowned, visibly. [Color=ivory]"I… It does sound selfish doesn't it… I was unaware that others were working on a solution but… I don't think they can unlock Heaven for everyone. Not unless someone tells them how to get there,"[/color] she said. The clouds around her rumbled. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Why do you not tell them?”[/b][/colour] [color=ivory]"K'nell did not think they would understand why he did what he did. I don't really know what to think anymore,"[/color] Arya said again, her voice conflicted. There was a further rumble. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“There is some wisdom in K’nell’s caution. I shall exercise discretion in the matter.”[/b][/colour] [color=ivory]"Thank you, your Holiness."[/color] The clouds then parted, and a beach of black sand stretched out below them. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Here is the place.”[/b][/colour] Arya landed amid the cool sand and looked around before looking at Ashalla in confusion. [color=ivory]"What am I looking at, your Holiness?"[/color] she asked. The clouds spoke, [colour=lightseagreen][b]“You cannot see it with your mortal senses. But Orvus’ blood soaks deep into these sands, crying out in silent anguish. He was gravely wounded here, yet I know not who did it, or where he is now.”[/b][/colour] Arya was silent for a long time, her eyes wide as she stared at the beach. [Color=ivory]"He… He… didn't abandon us…"[/color] she said falling to her knees. [Color=ivory]"I don't understand who, or even why something like this would happen, your Holiness."[/color] [colour=lightseagreen][b]“Laurien was the one who had informed you of Orvus’ departure, or so I’ve been told. She may have witnessed something, so she might hold the answer,”[/b][/colour] Ashalla said. [color=ivory]"I don't know where she is… But his Lordship will,"[/color] Arya said, blinking away tears. [colour=lightseagreen][b]“So I’ve been told,”[/b][/colour] Ashalla said. The clouds above changed from dark shadows to a melancholy grey, and Arya felt the presence of the goddess leave the place. As the rain closed in around Arya, she whispered, [color=ivory]"Thank you… For telling me,"[/color] before her black tears joined the rain. [hider=CSI Divinus] Ashalla finds Orvus’ spilled blood. But despite her forensic expertise, she cannot identify who spilled it. Ashalla goes to some local Nebulites and interrogates them. She learns from Ava (and later Arya) that Laurien might know more, and that Shengshi knows where Laurien is. Ava then brings Ashalla through the town to Arya. Arya has no more information. Arya demands to know why Ashalla is asking these questions, but Ashalla does not want to tell a mortal. But Arya is persistent, so Ashalla offers an exchange: What happened to K’nell and Tendlepog, for what happened to Orvus. Reluctantly, Arya agrees. Arya tells Ashalla what happened with K’nell. Ashalla goes “good on him”. At Arya’s request, Ashalla agrees to exercise discretion with this info. Ashalla tells Arya what happened to Orvus. Arya goes “he didn’t abandon us” and cries in the rain. [i]No Might spent[/i] [/hider] [hider=Prestige] Arya: The Learner, The Martial Dancer, The Compassionate, The Wanderer, The Teacher, The Sailor, Last of the Zhengwu, Swordmaster, Lady of the Eye +2 Prestige Starting +1 For Major Role +1 For Minor Role +1 For Jolly Collaboration = +5 Prestige Ending [/hider]