[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/CatDIhj.png[/img] Artifex invades space from the comfort of home [/center] “Big Eyes” [color=GreenYellow]”yes child”[/color] Artifex replied to the goblin. Night had fallen since Cadian had left the single member of the newborn race with him, and Artifex and the Manarin had been more than happy to answer the unending barrage of questions and curiosities that had been pouring forth in the green skinned mortal's crude tongue. “What those?” Artifex looked skywards to where the only goblin in the city was pointing with both hands, one at each of the great moons. [color=GreenYellow]”Those are moons”[/color] Artifex respired. “Oh.” the child replied, before thinking for a bit and asking “What they do?” [color=GreenYellow]”They light up the night. Sometimes. It depends on their phases how much light they give off. The purple one isn't as good at that so it's mainly there to look nice in contrast to the first. I think. Perhaps I should have asked.”[/color] “Someone made them?!” the child spoke with surprise [color=GreenYellow]”Oh yes. Well. Cadien made the purple one. I do not recall a time when the white one did not hang in the sky but presumably it was made by another before I awoke.”[/color] “Woooow.” the child awed at his creator's power “Shiny-Hair very strong... Can Big Eyes do that too?” [color=GreenYellow]”Oh yes. In-fact, now that I think about it, all this second mood has to differentiate itself from the first is that it loops round the other way and is purple. Frankly, I think I can do much better.”[/color] the god gloated before flicking a finger skywards. Around the first moon a giant paper lantern, spawned from nothingness, and lit up the night sky. [color=GreenYellow]”Now this, this will be far more complex than the others. I shall make it feed off the mana in the heavens to glow of its own accord with a great fire within. It shall orbit the other celestial bodies, looping dancing and twisting in a path that will take exactly a year. As it does it will shift through the color spectrum as it rotates at a fixed rate to denote the passing of seasons. Oh and it will not simply be a glowing orb but a home for life. Hmm. yes. Perhaps even mortal life? Yes. Yes I think that would be an excellent idea. They live on land and beneath the waves so why not among the stars? Someone has been adding plenty of life up there already, so why not add some intelligence to the mix.”[/color] Artifex spoke at length, piling on complexity and intricate machinations to his idea with little self control, before waving a hand at the new moon. Its surface rippled as it transformed from plain sheets into a multi colored landscape smothered in life and dotted with the premade hives. “Wow. People up there. Wait. I can't see them. How know they there?” [color=GreenYellow]”Oh yes they. Hmmm. No I suppose you won't be able to see them yet. But in the future however I predict you might be able to view the ecosystem using a series of lenses.”[/color] Artifex began to describe the intricacies of the creation of telescopes to an utterly uncomprehending audience while up above, almost forgotten for the moment, the swarm stirred as it awoke to it’s new existence. [hr] In space the currents of mana and lifeblood were rudely interrupted by the formation of an entire, miniature, world. A giant furnace raged at its heart, sending heat up to warm and illuminate the surface hanging above it, held aloft by massive metal beams. These beams formed a rigid frame holding the thin paper landscape aloft, while also deciding down around the furnace, holding it in place via magnetic currents so the land and core did not drift into one another. Currents of mana were sucked into holes in the top and bottom of the lantern where it was devoured to fuel the heavenly light. On and under its thin surface plants formed to leech energy from the other celestial bodies and from the lantern's heart. Many strange alien insects of various sizes who grazed upon this foliage formed, and upon them preyed the swarm. The swarm took many forms. Myriades of vicious [url=https://i.imgur.com/oR7u5oP.png]wasps[/url] descended upon prey in a cloud of stinging death. Titanic [url=https://i.imgur.com/8DAyyYq.jp]centipides[/url] thundered across the land devouring all in their path. Giant [url=https://i.imgur.com/QvKGSCE.jpg]Arial Queens[/url] soared through the air surrounded by their vicious children and fearless [url=https://i.imgur.com/rBPFm88.jpg]Mortal subjects[/url] while deep blow the wise and rare [url=https://i.imgur.com/ZjTPWmj.png]Hive Queens[/url] plotted their races future guarded by acid spewing [url=https://i.imgur.com/dClOCpv.jpg]guards[/url]. For all their viciousness they were made united and in harmony with their home realm. The herbivorous would prune the foliage to keep the light below shining brightly on the world below, while the swarm would keep them in check so they did not gouge themselves into overpopulation and extinction. And the void would keep them separate from all else till they could be taught harmony with other beings. Yet this delicate balance, this perfect system, was tainted from the moment it was born, for just as soon as the lifeblood was pushed away by the sudden birth so to did it pushback. It was a simple change the lifeblood made. A random one. A mutation. In an ironic mimicry of Artifex’s own history his new race knew unity for a moment, and then suddenly they were different. Just a little. A few different genes here and there. But it was enough that the instantly created sub hives were different, divided. Many still saw to their intended task. But some looked up at the beasts of the stars and others looked down at the blue and green sphere. And they yearned. Be it with awe, hunger, longing or fascination, It did not matter. It only mattered that they were different. From each other. From those that were contented. The divisions were small. But as all things do they would grow in time. If it had only been these differences, then perhaps things would remain stable, at least in part. The pure could hold the mutants in check. But in the heart of the lanturn the lifeblood left one final gift. For the engine devouring mana was not allowed to be stable. It beat. Slowly. Ever so slowly at first. A pulse, quickening, pulsing. A drumbeat heralding doom. All it would take was a push for things to go hideously, hideously wrong. [hider=summary] Artifex is showing the first Goblin around and makes a third moon basically just to show off. It’s a paper lantern, smaller than the other two, and it orbits around them. It also hosts its own alien ecosystem, including a mortal race known as the Vespian who are a part of a larger species known simply as the Swarm. The lifeblood mindlessly fucks with all this massive outpouring of creation, inducing mutations in the swarm that break apart their initial genetic and cultural unity and making the core of the moon somewhat unstable and ripe for exploitation or catastrophe. [/hider] [hider=mp] Start: 2 dp/0 mp 0 mp towards the creation of the lantern moon and all that lives upon it. Smallest of the moons it weaves an annual dance across the skies, orbiting the other celestial bodies. As it does it rotates, exposing different hues to those below in pace to the changing of seasons. This moon eats mana as it travels to sustain itself in a noticeable, but not destructive, amount. As befitting the end of the age of creation the moon’s heart has been rendered unstable by life blood interference. 2 mp empowered by insects and a bunch of 0mp remarkable species and free insect power abilities where hammered together to create the Swarm “The swarm took many forms. Myriades of vicious [url=https://i.imgur.com/oR7u5oP.png]Crimson Wasps[/url] descended upon prey in a cloud of stinging death. Titanic [url=https://i.imgur.com/8DAyyYq.jp]Maw Crawlers[/url] thundered across the land devouring all in their path. Giant [url=https://i.imgur.com/QvKGSCE.jpg]Arial Queens[/url] soared through the air surrounded by their vicious children and sentient [url=https://i.imgur.com/rBPFm88.jpg]Vespian[/url] subjects while deep blow the wise and rare [url=https://i.imgur.com/ZjTPWmj.png]Vespian Hive Queens[/url] plotted their races future guarded by acid spewing [url=https://i.imgur.com/dClOCpv.jpg]Hive Guards[/url].” The Vespian and their queens are intelligent mortals, while all other sub-species of the race are animalistic in their intelligence. The mortals have the ability to command their unintelligent kin (0mp insect ability) though not perfectly. They have a high degree of familial loyalty to their hive, which generally numbers at around a hundred or so mortals and several times more monsterose forms though the ratio can vary widely depending on the Vespian ’s preferences or the temperament or nature of their unintelligent arial queens. The Vespian are all rather aggressive and have a tendency towards forming hive wide obsessions. They also lean towards xenophobia, sometimes not even understanding that other mortals can think like they do. Higher monster populations generally indicate that the have is a threat, while lower ones may indicate a more cooperative spirit as the Vespian will be more ble control the natural instincts of their bestail kin and avoid being dragged down into their viciouse state of mind. 2/5 towards stoneworking End: 2 dp/0 mp [/hider]