[center] [h1][color=violet][b][u]Cadien[/u][/b][/color][/h1] & [h1][color=ed1c24][b][u]Evandra[/u][/b][/color][/h1] [/center] [hr] The first weeks of Cadien’s existence had not been particularly different from the first day. He wandered from tribe to tribe, granting them the gift of beauty - experimenting each time, but ultimately leaving each one better-looking than when he found them - before moving on without looking back. It was satisfying, if somewhat repetitive work, but he soon realized simply improving their appearance would not be enough. They were lacking in other areas - not just physical, and he wasn’t sure how to address that just yet. So he decided he would solve the issue of appearance first, before moving on to more complex matters. That said, while handcrafting each human’s design by hand was fun, it was far from the most efficient way to go about this. He was beginning to think of other ways to go about this. So far, he did not know of a way to be in two places at once… For now, he was carrying on with the same routine. He stood before a tribe of humans, and one by one, bestowed his blessing upon them. One by one, their bodies morphed, and they were all satisfied with the result. Once it was over, he gave them his name and departed, though this time he chose to do in style. Taking a running start, he leapt through the air, his divine power allowing him to leap to heights no mere mortal could ever hope to reach. He soared over the wide river, did a series of backflips, and landed gracefully in an overdramatic pose, crossing his arms at the wrist. [color=ed1c24]“I was wondering just what it was that I had felt when I reached this continent.”[/color] A womanly voice called from behind Cadien. He turned his head to see who was the source of. A woman with long golden hair and well trimmed figure was standing there, holding her chin with a hand as she eyed down the god. [color=ed1c24]“As it turned out it was a sibling of mine.”[/color] The woman said as she walked slowly towards Cadien. Growing flames hovered around her. Cadien eyed her in return. [color=violet]“I was wondering how long it would take to meet another of our kind,”[/color] he said seriously, before breaking out into a slight smile. [color=violet]“Good to meet you. I must say, you’ve chosen a wonderful form.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“Why thank you.”[/color] she said, returning the smile along with a blush. [color=ed1c24]“You look wonderful yourself, brother. My name is Evandra, Goddess of fire. What about you?”[/color] The smile widened slightly. [color=violet]“Cadien, God of Perfection,”[/color] he introduced himself with a slight dip of his head. [color=violet]“I’m rather new to this existence, I must admit. The force that created me simply did not want to let me go.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“I suppose a troubled birth is to be expected of every god. The Goddesses of the Sun and Moon tore through reality and I’m told a boar was born from the Moon’s rock. I myself came from the white heat of the Sun.”[/color] The God arched an eyebrow. [color=violet]“Oh? And how was that?”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“Quite violent. Oraelia was flustered by the Sun’s activity right before I came to be, and the heat made the ocean boil.”[/color] He stroked his chin. [color=violet]“Mmm… well, it’s good to know you emerged from all that intact. I suppose my own creation was far more peaceful by comparison. I broke free from the Lifeblood, willed myself into existence, and fell down to Galbar from the sky. Some other creatures had been nearby - they were rather hideous, I must say, but I went ahead and fixed that.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“Fixed? What God made creatures to be hideous in the first place?”[/color] Evandra raised an eyebrow. [color=violet]“I know, that was my reaction too,”[/color] Cadien nodded, shuddering slightly as he recalled what the species originally looked like - and much of it still did. [color=violet]“The Lifeblood created them. I was still part of the Lifeblood back then, and I urged it to improve them, but it did not listen. That’s why I broke free. Imagine it! One of the most powerful forces in existence [i]deliberately[/i] letting things remain ugly!”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“The source of our own essence? How shameful. At least we Gods can undo its mistakes. So what creature was it that you worked on? And what were the improvements?”[/color] “I shall show you,” Cadien said. With a wave of his hand he willed one of the Early Humans into existence. It was as Cadien said: ugly, at least by their standards. It was a man. His eyes were too far apart, his forehead and jaw too wide, his eyebrows extending too far out from its skull, and its nose far too large. Its body was covered in short patches of scraggly hair. Evandra looked at it with mild disgust as her flames died out. How could these humans come from the same power as herself and be so apart in every aspect from each other? [color=violet]“This is what they originally looked like,”[/color] Cadien said grimly, as if the man was dying and beyond all hope. The man himself looked around in a mixture of fear and confusion. [color=violet]“And these are the sorts of improvements I have been making to them.”[/color] He snapped his fingers, and at once the man shifted into a more pleasing form. One that closely resembled Cadien, but was shorter, less muscular, and lacked the God’s unnatural hair and eye colour. Newly made and newly changed, the improved human then panicked and fled into the nearby woods. [color=ed1c24]“You certainly did them a favor by making them pleasing to the eye. Although that reaction is disappointing. Having the gall to flee from us.”[/color] Her displeasure evident as she scoffed. He nodded. [color=violet]“Their reactions often are. They don’t usually run after receiving my gifts, but at first all they do is stare at themselves or others. Then I return a few days later, and they’ve fallen back into the same lifestyle and habits. The problem, I think, isn’t just their appearance - it’s the way they think and perceive. They’re bright enough to want to be more than what they are now, but not bright enough or motivated enough to do anything about it. A shame. That’s what I’m going to have to work on next.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“Motivation, hmm? They wished to become beautiful, but it was probably out of convenience of your presence. And that one broke down in fear and fled…”[/color] Evandra thought aloud. [color=ed1c24]“They sorely lack a strong will, it would seem. Even the beasts I spawned were better off in that aspect. If they are to reflect us Gods in body they should also reflect us in spirit. We who have the drive to improve, we who have the desire to create. They should be more like…”[/color] A thought crossed Evandra’s mind. A smile formed in her face as her flames ignited once more. [color=ed1c24]“Like myself.”[/color] She returned her attention to Cadien. [color=ed1c24]“I suppose I can do that part for you, dear brother. If they lack passion then none better than myself to grant it to them.”[/color] Cadien’s eyes flickered across her form with renewed interest. [color=violet]“Is that so?”[/color] he asked with a smirk. [color=violet]“Very well. As for me, I’ll do what I can to improve their intellect. I look forward to working with you.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“If our alliance lasts as long as it takes for me to accomplish this, I’m afraid it would be short lived.”[/color] She walked to a nearby bush and knelt down beside it. Its twigs carried small fruits just about to ripen. With a thought her flames engulfed the plant, but it didn’t burn. In fact the fire seemed as if it was being drained into the bush. Its leaves turned from a lively green to fiery scarlet, and its berries from dark blue to garnet. Cadien approached the bush and knelt next to her with a look of curiosity. He plucked a berry from the bush and then tossed it into his mouth. [color=violet]“Oh, I see,”[/color] he said, immediately tasting the berry’s intended effect. [color=violet]“A good idea. I think this will work. I just need to add my own touch. With your permission?”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“Of course. Go ahead.”[/color] Cadien extended his hand. His palm began to grow a bright purple, and for a few moments he hovered it over the bush, as his power gently glowed into the berries. No visual change overtook them, but he plucked a second berry and ate that too, before removing the seed from his mouth. [color=violet]“Yes. This fruit will do the trick. We just need more of it.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“Fortunately another sibling of ours already made plants with a method to reproduce themselves.”[/color] She stood up, the berries followed her ascent and floated in the air. [color=ed1c24]“All we need to do is spread their seeds.”[/color] Half of the fruits flew to each God. Evandra produced a cloth from the ether that she fashioned into a bag to carry her share. Cadien did the same. [color=violet]“Let’s get started, then.”[/color] [hr] And so, via flight, the two gods travelled the countryside, stopping to plant their berries at strategic points in areas that the human tribes frequented. A few were planted in more isolated areas as well, so that their berries would have a chance to fall and perhaps produce even more bushes. Using their divine powers, they forced the bushes to grow to full bloom almost immediately. After a few days, the last bush had finally been planted, and it was decided they would need to witness the berries’ effects firsthand. So, Cadien tracked down a nearby group of humans - ones he had enhanced previously - and led them to the bush. [color=violet]“Eat,”[/color] he commanded. The first human to approach the bush slowly plucked one of the berries away, placed it in his mouth, and began to chew. His eyes widened slightly, and he took a moment to savour the sweet taste. Then he swallowed. He was just about to reach for the second one when the effects took hold. A fire burned through his mind and chest. He felt as if his vision had been obscured by a fog throughout his entire existence, and he was only now just seeing clearly for the first time. Various emotions began taking hold in increasing intensity - anger, elation, desire, ambition, courage, confidence. He felt invincible, but he was so absorbed by the various assaults on his senses that he couldn’t move. As this was happening, the rest of his comrades had begun to eat the berries as well, and began to experience similar effects. This went on for perhaps a minute or two, until the first human finally gained enough sense to look upon the two gods, as if finally seeing them for the first time. “What… what was that?” he asked, in a slightly dazed voice. It was the first time either Cadien or Eva had understood anything a human had said. [color=violet]“That is what intelligence feels like,”[/color] Cadien answered with a slightly smug look. [color=violet]“And Passion. You can thank her for that.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“For what use is there to intelligence if one lacks the will to employ it?”[/color] She flashed a smug grin of her own in boast. [color=ed1c24]“You are worthy to reflect us Gods in body now that you can at least hope to do so in spirit and mind. We’ve graced you with a great gift, mortal. Make good use of it.”[/color] “I… we will!” the man said, falling to his knees and prostrating himself on the ground. The others soon followed, though some seemed a bit reluctant. [color=violet]“Well, that’s done,”[/color] Cadien remarked, turning to Evandra. [color=violet]“I must say, that was well-spoken. I suppose we should leave them to continue enjoying the fruit?”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“Yes, we are done here. The rest of the tribes will soon follow over time.”[/color] She faced Cadien. [color=ed1c24]“What will you be doing next?”[/color] He thought for a moment, then a smirk appeared on his face. [color=violet]“I was thinking I might try a few more of those berries. They’re quite good. Would you like to come along?”[/color] Evandra narrowed her eyes and her grin widened. [color=ed1c24]“Of course. Let’s find a proper place to enjoy ourselves.”[/color] [hr] [hider=Summary] Cadien has been going around making the Early Humans prettier, only to wind up meeting Evandra. They talk a bit about their origins, and the conversation eventually moves to how disappointing the Early Humans are - not just physically, but mentally. They agree that this need to be changed, so they decide to work together to grant them intelligence and emotion. They do this by creating a new type of berry: the Evening Bell. When ingested by a human, it grants them sapience (which is then passed onto future generations, without needing to consume the berries), giving them proper human-level intelligence and emotion. When ingested by a non-human, it simply fills the consumer with a burst of passion. Gods can also be affected by it, but they need to eat at least half a dozen before even a minor effect begins to take hold. They then plant this berry across the land, making it grow fairly quickly. They watch a small human tribe eat it, and see that it works as intended. They then decide to go off to somewhere more private and try the berries on their own. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) [/hider] [hider=Might Summary] [u]Cadien[/u] [b]Beginning MP:[/b] 5 [b]Beginning DP:[/b] 4 -1MP toward making humans sapient via magic berry bush. [i]No DP used.[/i] [b]Ending MP:[/b] 4 [b]Ending DP:[/b] 4 [u]Evandra[/u] [b]Beginning MP:[/b] 5 [b]Beginning DP:[/b] 5 -1 MP toward making humans sapient via magic berry bush. -1MP (discounted to 0 via passion portfolio) to create the Evening Bells. [i]No DP used.[/i] [b]Ending MP:[/b] 4 [b]Ending DP:[/b] 5 [/hider]