[center][img]https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a8da55ff6576ee0703086e2/1519425798803-2S244V0GBKO30ZBO5MZD/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kDfYBQ2byGv25XB7p-mExlBZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyAVgWwfFqlaEY1a5vkJ9apiqDunbOhEEqxzoD45wT-erXG6IOC51CTQ36fE70N_6A/Brom_Ulfger.jpg?format=750w[/img] [color=darkgreen][h3]The Tree of Genesis[/h3][/color][/center] [hr] Stone moved like water with just the right touch, and Aeinwaje certainly had it. With all the grace of a buck, the youngling Adler dashed in and out of the earth, turning solid rock into liquid and disappearing beneath it only to reappear dozens of feet ahead. During his short existence-the timing of which he had long since lost track off-Aeinwaje had grown accustomed to his nature. The halo on his head and the knowledge within his cranium afforded him the ability to perform a great many “cool tricks”. At least that is what Lord Boris had referred to it as. Stone Swimming was just one of the many he’d learned from the god, and definitively his favorite. Why walk anywhere when you could prance through stone?! How the animals did it, he did not know. With one final jump, Aeinwaje reached his destination. In truth he simply decided to stop at the bank of a lake low in the foothills the Anchor for a drink. The crystalline water was almost motionless even as Aeinwaje stepped to look into its depths. A face that looked just like his stared back at him. Floppy ears, respectable antlers, shining halo, child-like oval face, flowing green hair, an oft-present grin, and green eyes. He didn’t know anyone as handsome. Ripples formed at the water's edge as a small breeze carried through the hills, distorting his reflection. Frowning, he cast a gaze further down lakes surface and caught a different image shimmering in the liquid. This one was immensely tall, taller than the Anchor in fact. It’s entirety was cast in brown rivets, and it’s girth rivaled even Lord Boris’. It was a tree! Aeinwaje traced the reflections up into the distance to where the tree stood, reaching into the clouds thousands of spans away. [color=Springgreen]”Woah…”[/color] he murmured to himself, attempting to wrap his head around the tree’s height. He had to see it up close! A spark flew off Aeinwaje’s halo. Could he leave his post? Maybe for a moment? He stuck his tongue out attempting to judge its distance from the Anchor. If he was diligent, maybe it would take a few days. Maybe another few days to thoroughly explore the tree and all the new things that existed there. Absentmindedly, Aeinwaje shifted earth with a back hoof. Of course he could make it. And sure Lord Boris might get mad if he caught him slacking on the hunt-which he hadn’t been doing great at in the first place, tracking things took time. A resolute huff. Like it or not, adventure called to him, and who was he to ignore it. Without much less standing in his way, Aeinwaje dove into the earth. The tree beckoned to him. [hr] The chaotic mass of green surrounding the great tree hummed with energy. Aeinwaje twirled about, gazing up at the canopy searching for sweet singing birds that did not exist back home. The stone birds were cool but not as colorful and as vocally gifted as these ones. He trudged deep into the green, taking in the fragrance of minty grass and the damp earth. Each breath was like water, fresh and cleansing, flowing freely into his lungs. The dirt path ahead of him, decorated with outgrown roots and shining wildflowers began to descend. And the full might of the tree began to take shape before his eyes. The thing was massive. Too large to truly even describe. It’s roots swam through the earth, just like he did. It’s trunk seemed to be as wide as the Anchor! Could something like this truly exist!? Surfacing from the rock and soil through which the roots endlessly dug, Aeinwaje truly saw the Tree… No, was it really a tree? It was too incredibly massive. Aeinwaje saw the entity and realized, large strips of bark and wood gave way to a hollow interior to the tree. From there, wherever the warm midday sunlight could not reach, Aeinwaje saw bioluminescent plants spewing their warm yellows, cool blues and refreshing greens everywhere. And even from outside the tree, the openings were so vast that he could see the different levels in the tree. Once every 10 times his height or so, the tree would have a ceiling to the current level and use that to support the next… And every level was teeming with life. Flora, and lesser fauna all thrived. As he tread deeper he could feel the earth rumble beneath him with activity. Roots fidgeted in the depths, squirming like ten ton worms cutting through solid rock. The idea was fascinating yet the feeling beneath his attuned body was rather uncomfortable. So he ignored it and instead thumbed the glowing plant life that surrounded him. The things seemed to almost recoil at his touch. Were plants alive too? Lord Boris hadn’t told him much about them, only that they provided great testing fruits. These however, seemed devoid of any such treats. Frowning he made his way deeper into the tree. Here now roots seemed to squirm above ground, searching and groping for something, yet never finding. Wood moved unnaturally here, like serpents. Curiously, Aeinwaje lowered himself to inspect a sliding root. [color=Springgreen]”Oh I certainly do not like that shit.”[/color] he coughed, goosebumps growing on the surface of his skin. His back thigh itched something fierce… It was a root. Somehow, the thing had snuck its way around him and was slowly brushing against the tips of the hairs covering his left back thigh. Immediately the Adler jumped and slapped the root away. His heart pounding in his chest. The tree was messing with him. [color=Springgreen]”Hands off![/color] he barked. [color=Springgreen]”Or roots...feelers off? Fock is this place?”[/color] As he uttered those words, the whole godly structure seemed to… Exhale. The very air became thin, the space somehow felt smaller, and the roots tensed up and the light coming from the mushrooms and shrubbery dimmed. The light, the green and blue and yellow light from the plants soon revealed where it had gone. It coursed through the roots. Little vein-like structures inside them lighting up and [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NVm1EHtQOM]pulsing all as one[/url], the light being drawn from the flora all converging in one of the bigger arced roots of the underground level. If one had spent their entire lives underground and had never felt the dancing of true light on their skin, one would believe this to be a star… A great light that banished all shadow and breathed and beat like a heart. The root to which the bioluminescence went suddenly began vibrating. It emitted heat, and the flora around it lost color and withered. Several smaller roots made their way to the great root and hooked themselves to it. Most immediately burnt and withered, but the ones that survived the connection channeled even more light into the Star-Root. The thin air hummed a song low and high. It wavered at the presence of the impossible light. It burned and boiled and froze and broke! And then all was still. The air went back to normal, the space recovered, and the great roots of the Tree God withdrew. All, with the exception of the great Star Root located twenty-three levels below ground. It was no longer blinding, and it no longer sapped its surroundings of lifeforce. Instead, a gentle pulsing of yellow light not unlike a heart’s came from the spot closest to Aeinwaje. Beckoning to him, drawing him in… So he went, tentatively at first, but he grew bolder either every step, his halo sparking with divine energy in response to the phenomenon. It was mesmerizing in a way, the entire tree seeming to breathe with every pulse. When he was but a step away from the Star-Root, when he only had to stretch his arm just a little bit more to touch the pulsing structure… The light vanished. A moment passed. The root cracked through the middle. It didn’t seem like a living material any more. Instead, when it cracked it began to collapse. It had become stone, and brittle. The massive root, several times Aeinwaje’s height and multiple times his girth, collapsed onto the mossy, humid floor of the Tree. It should have been catastrophic. It should have sent waves through the level, but… It was as if the brittle pieces of the root had become weightless. As they fell they became dust, and the dust mixed with the moss and the grass and the flowers, and soon the plants that had died, became dust as well, and the soil began the long road towards healing. In the debris left behind by the vanishing Star-Root, however, light pulsed once again. This time bright and localized. It shifted and moved. The dust covering the source of the light was blown away by an impossible breeze, and the form was finally revealed. A being made of wood, fibre and what looked like black hay. With two black eyes and several wooden horns crowning its head; with long leaves growing from its shoulders and the top of its back, and a large, flexible mass of fibre and hay tied around its neck. [url=https://i.imgur.com/FrTnhGC.jpg]It was a husk[/url], for whenever it shifted and moved, the intense yellow light from within its body leaked out and showered the world once more in the beautiful light of creation-the light that had given life to it, and kept it moving and thinking. The bipedal wooden husk lifted its face to meet Aeinwaje’s, its own stoic and covered in the remnants of sap yet to be absorbed by the light inside of it. It felt like an eternity passed, and then the husk stood on two legs. Tall, but not quite as tall as Aeinwaje. Strong, but not quite as strong as Aeinwaje… With an untold amount of potential in its body, but still, not as much as Aeinwaje’s. A look of understanding came across its face, and it closed its eyes and nodded its head towards Aeinwaje, mouth spread into a thin, grim line. It stretched its jaw and several things cracked into place, then it spoke in a deep, grave voice like that of sumac honey. [color=khaki]”I implore you to turn back, Servant of Boris. The area further ahead is the heart of the Great Tree God, the First Tree, the Omnibloom. To walk upon it would be sacrilege of the highest degree, and the Tree of Genesis would surely seek to punish any trespasser.”[/color] If one could describe the look upon the Adler’s face, they would call it pure excitement. A grin as wide as the tree graced his impish features. He barely looked at the tree thing, instead standing on the tips of his hooves attempting to look upon the forbidden area. [color=Springgreen]”Say, you think the tree would be cool if I peaked?! I came all the way down here! Does the tree know Lord Boris? How did it know I was one of his co-signs??? Do I smell like boar? Does the tree have a nose? Where in hell would it keep that focker?”[/color] Aeinwaje rattled off with no end in sight. The husk opened its eyes again and regarded the co-sign carefully, then huffed and stood up straight, hands behind its back. [color=khaki]”I do not know what the Tree of Genesis’ heart looks like, no. You would do best not to go for a ‘peek’, however. The Tree of Genesis does not know the Lord of the Mountains, no. I do not know how the Tree of Genesis knew you were related to Him, it merely made the fact known to me. The Tree of Genesis does not have a nose, no. At least, not to my knowledge. And, if it did have a nose, I’m sure it would recoil at your scent.”[/color] The husk said with a dull glint in its black eyes. Aeinwaje was abuzz with energy, trotting in place endlessly. His smile grew small. [color=Springgreen]”Ah well, that's disappointing. I really wanted to see a giant nose.”[/color] The Adler huffed, discreetly sniffing his pits while masking it as a stretch. He coughed in disgust. [color=Springgreen]”Well, who might you be? My name is Aeinwaje the Adler.”[/color] [color=khaki]”I am the First Voice of the Tree of Genesis. As of now, I estimate I have… 31,535,985,880‬ seconds of activity left, assuming I return to the Tree of Genesis every 3,153,598,588‬ seconds for a proper check-up. You may call me, First.”[/color] [color=Springgreen]”Oh....[/color] he began. [color=springgreen]”How many days is that, First?”[/color] [color=khaki]”Approximately, 364,999 days… Or, 1000 years.”[/color] Aeinwaje clapped. [color=Springgreen]”That’s a mighty long time! I don’t know how long I will live. But I’ve died once before!”[/color] A pause. [color=Springgreen]”We are both First. I guess that means that we will be replaced when our end comes….do you fear death?”[/color] he said steadily, his trot in place slowing gradually until he was still. First watched, and then took a slow breath with all his body. [color=khaki]”You have stilled. Does it scare you? The end?”[/color] Its voice was slow and monotonous… And yet it betrayed the smallest amount of curiosity. [color=Springgreen]”I don’t know. But I don't want to experience it again. No one should have to. It is a curse”[/color] Aeinwaje spat. First hummed, and walked past Aeinwaje as it headed towards the surface. [color=khaki]”Everything ends, Aeinwaje, co-sign of Lord Boris of the Mountains. Even Gods.”[/color] And without even so much a look behind it, it began to leave. [color=khaki]”... My most important directive is to ‘live’. So, I will leave this pod that has helped me sprout, and experience the world. Where do you come from, Aeinwaje? That shall be my first destination”[/color] Expressionless, the Adler followed after the tree spirit, trotting to catch up to it. [color=Springgreen]”That’s why I came here. To adventure! To see things.”[/color] he intoned in response, pointing a little finger in the direction of Anchor once they reached the surface. [color=Springgreen]”I come from there, The Anchor of the World. I'm it’s Adler. Created to root out the devils in its corners.”[/color] [color=khaki]”I see. I shall travel to the Anchor, after my initial duties have been fulfilled. You may leave now or continue visiting the upper levels of the Tree, Aeinwaje. I have to… Process what being alive feels like. It’s strange...”[/color] First said quietly, sighing. [color=khaki]”Just a few seconds ago, I… Was not.”[/color] The youngling giggled. [color=springgreen]”Have fun with that. Not so weird once you get used to it. Oh! Can I visit see that one forbidden place too?!”[/color] [color=khaki]”I issued the warning, did I not? If you go below where I was created, you will die. After what you told me, I believe you are in no rush to die, are you?”[/color] First asked, heading towards the massive entrance to the interior of the Tree, and sitting down on a grassy mound in the middle. [color=khaki]”You may visit the upper floors. You will find fruit and some critters to hunt for meat, should you require sustenance other than sunlight, but i’m afraid there’s not much to see for now unless you’re passionate about vegetation as the Tree of Genesis is, Aeinwaje.”[/color] [color=Springgreen]”Anything worth hiding is something worth seeing.”[/color] Aeinwaje signed before shuddering. [color=Springgreen]”But if you're gonna put a killswitch on it never mind, you can have whatever that place is.”[/color] Stopping a few paces before the First, Aeinwaje cracked his knuckles and stretched. [color=Springgreen]”Since everywhere else is off limits, guess I’ll see what this place has to offer.”[/color] [color=khaki]”Good choice, Aeinwaje. I will remain here for the time being.”[/color] And with that the Adler’s body sunk into the earth and disappeared, his grin the First’s goodbye. [hider=Summary] Aeinwaje, co-sign of Boris the God of Mountains sees the Tree and immediately heads to it in order to sate its curiosity. Upon arriving, it looks around for a bit and then immediately heads underground. He’s stopped in the twenty third level below ground (around half a km underground) by the creation of the First Voice in an espectacular show of bioluminescence. The First Voice then introduces himself and warns Aeinwaje against going any further down, as the ree’s heart made its home in the lower levels and walking upon those levels uninvited was sacrilege of the highest degree. Somehow The Voice convinces him to hold off on committing sacrilege, and then they talk a bit and after a while part ways. This post features the founding of the Garden of Voices, the level dedicated to the creation and maintenance of the tree of Genesis and Exodus’s Voices (representatives). It also has a neat ost. [/hider] [hider=Might Summary] Tree of Genesis 5 MP - 4 Dp Used 0 DP to create the Garden of Voices, essentially a level within the Tree of Genesis/Exodus that takes care of the creation and maintenance of Voices. It’s title is the following: Garden of Voices II: A level within the Tree where several big roots are used to channel lifeforce into the husks that eventually become Voices. This title permits the manufacturing and routine maintenance of Voices. No more than a handful are active at a time due to them being a great draw on the lifeforce of the things inside the Tree, but several dozen inert bodies are stored as backups for the time Voices inevitably die and have their souls recycled into a new body. Used 1 DP throughout the whole process that was taking inspiration from humans and designing the whole anatomy of the Voices in order to be able to build the First Voice. 5 MP - 3 DP remaining [/hider]