[center][h1][b][color=a187be]Qael'Naath[/color][/b][/h1][/center] [hr]Xal-Zastarha laid in ruins. Fire was still claiming the plant life on the edges of it. Plumes of smoke marked its path. Stone and rock stuck out jaggedly. Everywhere you looked you could see the craters and destruction the fight between the Gods of Magic had wrought. Qael did despair. He would have to redesign and rebuild everything. It would take so much more time to refine it all. Time he didn’t have. Yet one thing was preventing him from starting the reseeding of the plants and sculpting of the stone and dirt. He still clutched the wound in his chest. It was the worst one. No scratch or burn he got from Qullqiya could measure up to a self-inflicted wound. Before he could continue his work he would have to heal himself. And it would appear that the mana had somehow found a place well suited for it. [color=a187be][b]“Take me there.”[/b][/color] He whispered to it. In a moment he flew up and joined the stream of mana as he traveled across the world. It took some time, but eventually, he dropped out of the stream. Like a blue-glowing falling star, he landed before the edge of the Luminant. At night, the wonderful colors shone bright. Though they dulled the shine of the stars a bit. [color=a187be][b]“What a wonderful creation.”[/b][/color] Qael’Naath said mostly to himself. He touched one the bioluminescent trees but it didn’t react. It just kept on shining. The whole place was made of countless colors. He slowly wandered on. Creatures of what looked like pure light flew up from their nests. It looked like paradise. Yet Qael’Naath felt like it was not yet perfect. The ground and the trees were shining with bright light yet the sky seemed empty in comparison. He outstretched his hand and began to bend the nearest stream to swirl and concentrate overhead. The concentration created the Aurora Luminant. Unlike the other mana aurora’s, this one was not extremely fleeting. Instead at night, it would be a near-constant shimmer of all colors possible in the skies. To reflect the beauty of the land and plants itself. Content with his slight change in the environment, he continued on. Pulled by the mana towards the place’s center. Where he found a beautiful, aquamarine lake. It radiated with a soothing feel. Qael wondered what god had created such a wonderful thing. Slowly he waded into the lake and closed his eyes. Something divine did touch him. He could feel a slight tingle in his chest. He waited, and waited. The tingle never grew, nor diminished. But when he opened his eyes and touched his chest, the would still felt sore and unhealed. Even though the physical presence of the wound was now nothing more than a scar. It would seem that his wounds were deeper. With a disappointed sigh he began to float back towards the edges of the lake. It could not heal him. It wasn’t strong enough. Yet as he came out of the Lake of Radiance, he was suddenly overtaken by a stream of words and whispers. The mana had begun to shift and change ever so slightly. At first he rejoiced. Sapience was here! His brothers and sisters had created things that could practice magic in a lucid way! Then more whispers join. In different voices, made with different mouths. Qael’Naath was momentarily overtaken before he got a hold of himself. So much sapience. It wasn’t just one or two races. The numbers were far greater and suddenly Qael’Naath was touched by dread. For the first time he felt as if there was not enough time. Just not enough to balance it between rebuilding Xal-Zastarha, destroy his sister and teach mortals magic. None the less, he had to do it. Once more he flew up into the stream. Heading for his next destination. He first came upon the trolls in marshy land and was utterly disgusted by them. Not physically. While Qael could appreciate beauty, it was not the only thing he valued. Instead, he despised their wit or lack of it. They were impulsive and unrefined. “What god could possibly have made such vile specimens?” It was an insult to sapience. To wisdom! No, Qael’Naath would not gift them his creation. Why would he? At best it would go squandered on foolish little tricks, at worst it would go unused because they are just too dumb to use it. They even lacked the sheer willpower for Sorcery. Then one smaller troll caught the eye of the god. They were truly tiny, but horned. Its mind was a blazing fire compared to the candlelight flames of the others. [color=a187be][b]“You will do.”[/b][/color] With a flick of his wrist, he began to alter both the Askeladds and the mana. The trolls wouldn’t feel anything. Not yet. But once some form of cheer willpower and desire to make something took over, the mana would listen and obey. Only a handful of Askeladds would probably be able to control magic for a long time. But it would be something and perhaps it would be interesting. Amongst the marshy plains he also found other minds. Minds blazing brighter than that of trolls. Yet physically these creatures were barely seen. Qael, in fact, had to come in much closer. Resting on top of a tree to observe them. Perhaps that was too close. What Qael saw was discouraging. These little creatures were clever, but down and depressed. As if they just lost an important part of themselves. Depressed things rarely produced promising results. None the less they were clever. If they could bounce back, perhaps they would be amongst the first to explore his gifts. Quite subtly he gave them their attunement to mana. Given time and a suitable moment, some of them would harness magic. Further west he found cold forests and streams, and sapience that came with it. They were more clever than the trolls but also a bit weaker. Still, given enough time and chance they would no doubt overgrow the trolls. There was a lot of potential here. Once more Qael bound the humans and mana together. Fierce will would uncover that power in some. All humans were blessed with that potential now yet once again, in this day and age only a handful would begin their magical journey. The underwater Vrool were a surprise for Qael in every sense of the word. They were beyond intriguing. Clever and curious beyond belief, but cold blooded and defendant on the heat in their environment. Their sensory organs were intriguing as well. They were highly developed. No doubt for predatory advantage, but it would be extremely useful to learn about their surroundings. A skill that could only improve their magical capabilities. Most interestingly perhaps was their decentralized intelligence. The fact that tentacles could act semi-independently. From the dark in the deep he observed them, keeping a very respectful distance. Qael did not need to debate himself on this: the Vrool were beyond suited for his gift with mana. Like all the others, he took some of the mana from the nearby flow and bound it to the Vrool. If they proved to be as clever and curious as they appeared to be, then no doubt they would be amongst the first to use self-taught magic. He just hoped not too many would end up killing themselves with it. To the east of the main continent, Qael found the fifth sapient species. Strange humanoid creatures with robes and masks to hide their visages. He did not care what they looked like. Their minds seemed somewhat akin to that of humans. There seemed to be no reason not to give them the blessing he has so freely given. So once more he bound them with the mana. However, his plan requires one sapient race to get a bit of an early start. Like a little kick to get the wheel turning. So instead of observing from a safe distance, he descended upon the Kylsar Isles. It was night, and with it had come darkness. Enveloping the strange marshy forests. The Reshut had found shelter. For the most part. Except for two. A mother and her child. They were hurrying along the dryer paths. From the shadows he stalked them. Until the mother caught a glimpse of him. “Run.” She whispered to her son, but the god had heard it. With a mere thought, both of them were suddenly up in the air. Unable to move or even scream for help. He took them further away from their group. Until they came to a small clearing, with a big lake next to it. The water was brackish and filled with reeds. The stars shone brightly in the night sky and Gibbou’s moon was full. Without much regard for life, Qael flicked his wrist. The child, no more than 8, flew forward. Into the lake. It wasn’t far from the shores. In fact even the mother could still clearly see him. Qael’Naath allowed her to scream as her child’s splashing began to weaken. She pleaded and begged what she perceived as a mysterious, hooded stranger with impossible powers. Qael did nothing. He just waited until the young boy began to give up and sank down. He let the mother free from his grip, but instantly covered part of the lake’s surface with ice. The mother, frantic, just ran straight over it. She never fell. Not until she was where her son was. The ice was clear and she could see her child slowly sinking. She screamed and smashed her fists into the ice. Trying to break it. To no avail. [color=a187be][b]“Will it broken.”[/b][/color] A strange voice said. She looked up and saw the stranger stand beside her. She didn’t know what to do. She just kept on hitting the ice. Hoping it would work. With all her might she hit it until her fists were bleeding. [color=a187be][b]“No. No, don’t hit it. Don’t try to break it. Demand that it breaks.”[/b][/color] She listened, but only half. Her entire mind was set to breaking the ice. [color=a187be][b]“Don’t want it. Demand it!”[/b][/color] He repeated. Her mind was muddled and angry and scared. [color=a187be][b]“Demand it!”[/b][/color] He repeated. [color=a187be][b]“Demand it for your child!”[/b][/color] With a scream only a mother could emanate she punched the ice again. Not to break it, but to demand it be broken. To her surprise, it did just that. The ice shattered and she fell into the water. Moments later she was up again, holding her son who moments later took deep breaths of air. When she made sure her child was okay, hugged him with everything she had and looked around to make sure the man was gone, and only then, did she look at her fist and then at the ice. It was as thick as half her index finger. How did she break that? Not with her still bleeding fists no. No, she demanded it, and it broke. [hider=Summary]Qael is unhappy because his island is destroyed. He can’t start rebuilding until his wound fully healed. To do so he travels to the Lake of Radiance. But it’s not powerful enough to heal a god’s self-inflicted wounds. As he gets out of the lake he is overcome by the whispers of the first sapient creatures. He rejoices for they exist! Then despairs because there is no time. First, he encounters the trolls and is disgusted by how stupid they are, so he only blessed the Askeladds. Then he blessed the Thumblings and hope they can get out of their race-wide depression. Then he gives it to the humans. Then he gladly blesses the Vrool. Finally, he blesses the Reshut. To speed things up, he forces a mother to save her child through the first act of the Qael’s Sorcery. Making her the first Sorceress.[/hider] [hider=MP & DP & Prestige] [b]Starting amount: 5MP / 5DP[/b] 0 MP: (Originally 1 MP per, but discounted due to the Mana Portfolio) per races who received the special ability: “Mana affinity.” A basic requirement to control mana and thus Qael’s magic. Mana can be controlled now by active thoughts and willpower. Making whatever you want to happen, happen. If you will it enough of course. It is given to: - Trolls (Only the Askeladds) - Thumblings - Early Humans - Vrool - Reshut [b]End amount: 5MP / 5DP[/b] Lake of radiance: +5 Prestige [/hider]