[center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjU0LmE4YThhOC5SR1ZzWldkaGRHbHZiZywsLjAAAAAAAAA,/gondess-demo.regular.png[/img] [h3][sup]Collab between [@Tuujaimaa] and [@Crispy Octopus][/sup][/h3][/center] [hr] Every day, there were more of them. Humans, Alminaki, Reshut, Dwarves, Elves, Lapites. They lived, grew, and perhaps more vitally, reproduced. Minds young and old, small and great, they ventured out into the world and in doing so they made accords, promises, contracts. Tekret Et Heret heard every one. That was the nature of the God of Contracts, but it was also a curse. For Tekret knew the names and conditions of more people than the god could possibly keep track of. It was not her place, to know everything, that was for another god. One Tekret knew of, even if they had never met. That was the case with many of her siblings. Almost all of them, really. The God of Contracts had much to do, and little reason to seek out her siblings. Tekret sighed, as best the god could without a mouth. She regarded her form, a woman's today, and wondered what it would be like to be more. To know more. Of course, such questions also weren’t her place. They belonged to other gods. Those who were born from desire and ambition. Still, perhaps there was another way. It was not the God of Contracts place to know everything, but how could she help Mortals keep to their agreements if she didn’t know when they were about to err? Perhaps the solution was simple. It was not her place to know, but that didn't mean she couldn’t create something else to fill that gap. The feminine alabaster statue that was Tekret stood and held out a hand, waiting. Time passed, a day, a week, and then a small songbird came to rest on the appendage, after all the faceless white figure hadn’t moved any more than the trees around it. The bird was a beautiful thing, vividly red and black, and the god wondered if what it was about to do was acceptable, whether twisting such a creature to serve its purposes was right. The songbird could sign no contract. It could never agree, and for a god of agreements that stung. It didn’t change a thing, though. Tekret wasn’t bound by a code, even if she tried to set an example. With a thought the bird stilled, and the god did her best to comfort it. What was to come next would not have been pleasant, had Tekret allowed the songbird to feel any of it. The animal slowly began to shift, its wings growing long and the beautiful colors fading from its feathers. Its beak shunk until it vanished, and its tiny neck grew long. Its eyes doubled, then tripled, and its ears began to hear the most distant sounds. Finally, it began to fade from view. Only once it was the barest shimmer on the wind did the fading stop. She ran her hand through the space it occupied and nodded. Her little seer was done. With a thought she bound it to her forever, and then pulled many thousands of them from the very ground. They were peculiar, ethereal creatures with unnatural dimensions. Things that fed on the energies that already flowed through the world, rather than the flesh of other animals or the leaves and stems of plants. They would seek out those who struck grave contracts, and they would watch. Listen. Wait. And their creator would watch through their many eyes. The illusory flock took flight and sought out those who’d struck the gravest contracts. In their absence, Tekret stood. She didn’t feel it right, but it was necessary. So much was necessary. There had to be order, even if the road to it wasn’t always pleasant. She took a step, and then the porcelain figure of a god was a man. He was no less the same entity, but sometimes the shift helped him think. He still wondered if he’d done the right thing. That was the point, though. If you never considered your actions, how could you ever be sure of your goals? There had to be an order to things. One that he would help the mortals forge. Knowledge would be necessary to accomplish that. Of course, for all the knowledge the Seers gained, they also gave some away. For other gods were watching. Ones who were of interest to the Seers, who had forged their own pacts. That was fine, Tekret mused. It might be that the time to meet the others had come after all. [hr] Fìrinn’s senses were, for once, completely absent from the world at large. It was fully engrossed within the reflections at play deep within the Tairseach, as if searching for something that had just escaped its notice. The same scene, reflected through the tapestry and ultimately into the mirror before it, ran over and over and over again as if in a perpetual loop. It could not for the life of it work out just where the first ray of sunshine mortalkind had perceived had ended up. Given the gap between its creation and mortals seeing the sun for the first time there was limited information to go on, and sifting through the multitude of experiences that each mortal offered in slumbering supplication to the Tairseach was a time consuming process--and that was generously phrased. Without a sound its senses followed as best it could what was, by its reckoning, a memory from the mortal who had actually seen the hallowed beam--and it was frustrated again and again by how imprecise and imperfect mortal perception truly was. It was a good thing indeed that Fìrinn had been willed into existence, for without it it was quite certain that mortalkind would simply misplace their food or their water or their years and die as unfulfilled as they had been at the moment of their inception. Then, suddenly, there was something new--a sight it had not seen before, fluttering gently within the reflections of the holy anchor. It was a shocking enough revelation to snap Fìrinn from its brief reverie and back to reality, where its body was suddenly facing a small songbird that seemed by its reckoning to be vying for the God of Truth’s attention. [color=#DFB624]“Ah. You must be the herald of one of my siblings. No mortals may find this holy site, and thus you are beyond mortality. I wonder which of my brethren seeks to visit this hallowed isle?”[/color] Fìrinn mused, mostly to itself, before the world changed and it was peering deeply into the depths of the Tairseach once more. Whatever presence wished its recognition would do so in person soon enough, of that it was quite certain. By the reckoning of gods, it took some time for the ethereal songbirds master to arrive. Tekret Et Heret was not an existence that worried overmuch about timeliness. The white figure of the god had walked here, over land and water. Only now did they arrive. They displayed no identifying characteristics, and spoke in a way that seemed to be all voices and languages at once, “Fìrinn. I have heard your agreements. I know you have seen me. I believe the time has come for us to meet in truth.” [color=#DFB624]“Tekret et Heret. I was wondering when you would arrive, yes--your work has aligned reality with Truth. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”[/color] came the response, an odd juxtaposition against Tekret’s many voices as one, as Fìrinn spoke not with words at all but with the clarity of intent. It emanated from the God’s body in waves, reflecting through the Tairseach, and settled deeply within the androgynous form behind Fìrinn. [color=#DFB624]“May I assist you? I am given to understand that there are certain rules of hospitality amongst mortals when one visits another’s home--I am afraid I do not quite understand the extent to which such pleasantries must be offered amongst we gods. Nonetheless, I shall endeavour to align [i]your[/i] reality with Truth should you wish it of me.”[/color] The response was warm, compassionate even, and spoke of not quite admiration but perhaps a nascent fondness within Fìrinn’s mind. As the twin more aligned with the ideals of order, the God of Contracts would generally find a warm reception with the God of Truth--such was their divine natures at play. “I appreciate the gesture, Fìrinn, but these are early days,” The many voices played off each other, “I can accept no hospitality for, lacking a home, I could offer none in return. Perhaps another time. I take as much pleasure in this meeting as you do, however. You averted disaster with my name, and so allowed the work of creation to continue. I have come to offer my thanks. That, and an assurance that your contract with the Tree of Genesis will hold my attention for so long as it endures. It is... Foremost, in my mind.” Fìrinn’s body remained totally motionless, but its reflection within the Tairseach gave a solemn nod to Tekret. [color=#DFB624]“I regret only that such a contract was necessary. Its act of careless destruction almost had drastic consequences which might have beyond the Two-as-One’s capacity to contain--and I must admit that I am not used to such a… conservative response. I have only ever sought to align reality with Truth--that a being would refuse cooperation and communication by default is something that even now I fail to understand. Perhaps, in time, the mysteries of the Tree of Genesis will reveal themselves to me. I am gladdened to know that an extraneous force will keep the peace when my attentions are turned elsewhere.”[/color] Fìrinn reached out with its true arms, grasping gently the sides of the Tairseach, and tilted it ever-so-slightly that it might gaze upon the great Tree in the distance and the pattern of the Tapestry could be revealed to Tekret. Fìrinn’s mantle gestured at the other God, beckoning it to look within the reflection, that they might gaze upon the wonder that their word and influence would help preserve. [color=#DFB624]“Though it is only your nature to keep and honour contracts, I might offer you and yours a boon to aid in the service you provide for us all. Your songbirds might benefit from a connection to the Láidir Suíomh, that they gaze upon the Truth of would-be oathbreakers. It may free up at least some element of your senses, or perhaps offer protection to their purpose in your absence.”[/color] The featureless god approached and gazed into the reflection. Or at least, directed its senses in that direction. It was a difficult thing, to discern the mood of an entity devoid of colour or outward emotion, but it was clear the reflection, and the offer, touched the god by its reply. Rather than a discordant choir a single resonant voice echoed in, “That is a great gift, Fìrinn. I would accept it gladly. My work is great, and I fear expanding by the day. You question how an entity could refuse cooperation by default, and once I felt the same. It is a notion I have been disabused of quickly. I hear the agreements of all that live, God of Truth, and I regret that more are made in bad faith, or as matters of last resort, than otherwise. Your interaction with the Tree of Genesis has only convinced me that such behaviour is as natural among gods as it is among mortals.” Tekret Et Heret waited a moment, longer, gazing into that which was everything and nothing, before adding, “This is a meeting I should have pursued sooner. I should endeavour to meet all our siblings. Perhaps if they know I am there to aid them such misfortune can be avoided in the future.” Fìrinn realigned the Tairseach with its proper position as Tekret spoke, setting it down with a gentleness and sereneness that one might not expect a being which ordinarily did not move to ever possess. As it did so, its mantle unwove its form and the cobalt threads wound their way around Tekret’s featureless limbs before settling to the ground beneath it and weaving themselves into a triquetra. It pulsed with an unseen light, quaking and vibrating at the edges, until a column of blinding effulgence registered on the surface of the Tairseach and engulfed Tekret’s reflection completely. [color=#DFB624]“It is done. Your Seers are at one with the Great Weave, and they might know the Truths of mortals who break their solemn oaths. I would warn you that the tapestry also provides a [i]reason[/i] as to why the mortal’s Truth required it break that oath, but such concerns are, I think, not for you. The reasons they choose to forswear their bargains matter to you little, I wager--only that they were broken at all. Still, the reflections of these interactions shall be entombed within the Tairseach for all eternity. You may visit my sacred isle and peruse these reasons, if it is something you might desire? Perhaps the context of another’s Truth may aid you in finding your own.”[/color] Fìrinn took another moment to focus deeply within the mirrored surface before it, its mantle seeming to snap back into place as it did so. [color=#DFB624]“Alas, I only provide context and understanding. It is my twin that deals with dreams and imagination--perhaps his assistance might be something you seek in the future? Our wills are unified; if you speak my name, he will aid you.”[/color] “Perhaps... In time,” Tekret nodded to the other god, “I am more than content with what I have been given. Again you have my thanks, Fìrinn. I fear we both have much to do, however. The work of the world weighs on us, in that I feel we are alike. I must return to mine.” [color=#DFB624]“You have much to do, yes. I also see every contract that every mortal makes, but much of it is able to simply glide past my perception and into the Tairseach. I do not envy the amount of attention you must pay to such small details. Still, it is a smaller job than aligning all of reality with its most Truthful self--a fact that makes me glad I have my twin and steadfast allies such as yourself. Never hesitate to call upon me if it will enable you to become your truest self, Tekret et Heret--I will always aid those who aid Truth.[/color] [hr] [hider=Summary] Alright look at this: Tekret is being a lady. Wild. Anyway Tekkie is about thinking about stuff and is like ‘damn i gotta know more’ so they make some birds. Cool birds. Ghost birds. Tekkie can see through them and use them to see what others are up to. Speaking of, what is Fìrinn doing? They swore a contract didn’t they? A bird flies on by and Fìrinn is like ‘wassup my bird homie’ and Tekkie is like sick and drops by. They talk about work and Fìrinn gives Tekkie’s birds the ability to actually tell why people are doing the wackass shit they do. That’ll probably help. Anyway they decide to get back to work. Being a god is busy. WORKIN’ NINE TO FIIIIIIIIIIIVE [/hider] [hider=Tekret Might Summary] 1MP - Created the Seer, an ethereal songbird with no beak and many eyes that watches those who swear grave oaths or agree to the most significant of contracts which are not already foremost in Tekret’s mind. These birds are non-physical, but vaguely visible if looked for. They appear as an outline in the air that shimmers and shifts. Tekret is deeply connected to the ghostly birds and can see through their senses. 0MP/2DP remaining. [/hider] [hider=Fìrinn Might Summary] -0MP (Discounted by Perception Portfolio) - Confer an extraordinary ability upon a species (Seers) - Attunement to the Collective Unconscious to enable Seers to track mortals through their thoughts and experiences should they break their oaths, as well as to understand the reason (from their perspective) why they did. 5MP/0DP remaining. [/hider]