[h3][center] A Trip to JojaMart [/center][/h3] [hr] Illyd Dyll walked out onto the stones of antiquity. Behind him lightning flashed and curtains of rain poured veils. He himself was sopping wet, a big goofy grin on his face and his robes sticking to him gray. A peal of thunder rocked behind him as he made his way across the floors of antiquity. His sandals mucked and slapped as he made his silent journey, leaving a soaked trail behind him as he strolled straight into Cadien's realm. The realm had changed since its last visit. Although the pathway and the fortress remained the same, the platform upon which everything stood was now an island rather than a cloud; in the midst of a sea rather than an empty void. As he was taking in this new sight, a voice could be heard. [color=violet]“Illyd Dyll? Is that you?”[/color] Just then, Cadien’s bare-chested figure emerged from the gatehouse. Upon seeing that he had been correct, the God of Perfection leapt through the air and landed mere feet away from the God of Agriculture. [color=violet]“Welcome back!”[/color] he smiled. [color=violet]“What brings you here this day?”[/color] "I was jus' walking forward and now I'm here!" Illyd matched the energy with his own," What's going on, good buddy?" [color=violet]“The usual,”[/color] Cadien said with a wave of his hand, as he turned and began walking back toward the castle - no doubt assuming Illyd would follow. [color=violet]“Listening to prayers, planning my next creation. How is your avatar doing?”[/color] "Good!... Ye get a lot of prayers do ye?" Illyd Dyll was aimlessly looking around as he followed, still dripping. [color=violet]“I do indeed,”[/color] Cadien nodded. [color=violet]“I have helped create a number of species, which has made my name quite memorable.”[/color] "Like what?" Illyd pulled a harp out of seemingly nowhere. [color=violet]“The Humans, the Merelli, and the Goblins,”[/color] said Cadien as they walked. [color=violet]“I didn’t do it alone, of course. Evandra helped with the humans, and Artifex aided me in creating the Goblins. I helped Neiya create the Merelli, who are perhaps the most beautiful of the three.”[/color] “Ah well, who are we to judge something so... what’s the word? Subjective?” Illyd Dyll strummed a small tune, occasionally whisking his wet bangs out of his eyes, “But they all sound just lovely. Good job, Cadien!” [color=violet]“Hm. So, have you created anything?”[/color] “I like to think I create fond memories with all my friends,” Illyd Dyll plucked at a particular string over and over as he thought, “Oh, and I did make a cup.” [color=violet]“A cup?”[/color] “Yeah, it’s like a bowl but smaller,” Illyd explained, “Good to drink out of.” [color=violet]“I know what a cup is,”[/color] Cadien sighed, as they began to ascend the stairs. [color=violet]“Anyhow, what else is new?”[/color] A sad crook formed in Illyd’s smile as he slowly shook his head, “Same old thing, the usual, the common corn, the boring barley.” He sighed and shook his head with a little more vigor, sending out droplets of rain water, “That’s not true... barley is pretty exciting.” [color=violet]“Hm. I see,”[/color] Cadien said, suddenly bored as they reached the top of the stairs. [color=violet]“And what did you say you were the god of, again?”[/color] Illyd bit his finger in thought, “I don’t think I ever actually did say, now that I think ‘bout it.” He shrugged, “But for what it is worth, I figure I’m the God of Agriculture. You know it?” [color=violet]“I’m aware of the concept,”[/color] the God of Perfection said as they crossed the threshold of the gatehouse. [color=violet]“So, this is just a friendly visit, then?”[/color] “I s’pose it is, I was jus’ out for a walk’n’all,' ' Illyd tuned his harp, “Why, were ye looking for somethin’ else? We could do somethin’ fun if ye want.” [color=violet]“Well…”[/color] Cadien came to a stop in the middle of the courtyard, and he turned to face the farmer. [color=violet]“It’s just that, I already have another guest here.”[/color] “The more the merrier, I bet we could rascal up somethin’ great.” Illyd gave a smile. Almost as if summoned, a third shape slipped through the large double doors in the distance, a horned and pale goddess hovering out into the courtyard, toes only a few inches over the ground. [color=8493ca]”Cadien, I can’t find these bells you were talking about,”[/color] she offered with a dispassionate tone, eyes sweeping a last measure over her shoulder before she spotted the two stood in the courtyard and froze in the air. [color=8493ca]”...Oh. Hello.”[/color] Cadien’s smile suddenly returned as the goddess made her appearance. [color=violet]“This is Illyd Dyll, the God of Agriculture,”[/color] he said, introducing the farm god. [color=violet]“Illyd, this is Neiya, Goddess of Love.”[/color] He turned to Neiya with an apologetic look. [color=violet]“Sorry. His arrival was as much a surprise to me as it is to you.”[/color] Neiya’s light frown creased further as her brow quirked, an ice-blue gaze twisting to settle solely on Illyd Dyll. Slowly the pale goddess resumed her drifting across the courtyard, closing the distance between the three. She was unrelenting in her examination, eyeing the humble god with a critical and regal sneer as she drew close. Still, she managed some basic pleasantry, extending her hand languidly as if offering Illyd the rare chance to kiss it. [color=8493ca]”...A pleasure. What is agriculture?”[/color] "Heya!" Illyd gave Neiya a firm handshake before returning to his hands to his harp, "It's nothin' really. Nice to meet ye!" Illyd plucked a note, and smiled warmly at the two -- eyes big and brown, "You guy's wanna do somethin'?" Neiya gave the smiling god a bewildered look, slowly flexing her hand and fingers as he retreated back to his harp. Her hand slowly rose as she watched him, fingers stretching out once more in a brief, thoughtless attempt to reach for his face. Seeming to snap out of it just as quickly, she retracted her own hand and glanced away with a sullen frown. She found Cadien to gaze at instead, and the frown evened out just slightly. [color=8493ca]”Perhaps I shall go to visit the ocean.”[/color] "Oo! I like that idea," Illyd Dyll's smile widened, "Salty breezes and little turtles. Let's do it; you in Cadien!?" Cadien’s frown soon matched Neiya’s. He gave the goddess an apologetic look, then turned back to Illyd. [color=violet]“I think it would be best if we allowed her some privacy, for now.”[/color] "Oh," Illyd's smile didn't seem to change too much, but shifted to face his instrument instead. A pluck or two went by and he craned his neck, "Don't s'pose... You want a lil privacy too, Cadien?" [color=violet]“No, I don’t think that will be necessary,”[/color] Cadien said, shaking his head. [color=violet]“Come, we will talk more inside.”[/color] He turned back to Neiya. [color=violet]“I will rejoin you when we’re finished.”[/color] Neiya frowned at Cadien, but still managed a nod. She glanced back to the kindly god of agriculture with no change in disposition, sizing up the visitor a last time (swearing she saw a slight wink) before looking ahead with a determined and thoughtful gaze instead. [color=8493ca]”I will wait there. Enjoy yourselves.”[/color] she squeezed out with a disappointed tone, and then simply lifted higher off of the ground to pass over the two, and drift towards the gatehouse from whence they came. Regret flashed across Cadien’s face for a brief moment, and then without another word he turned and carried on toward his main hall, gesturing for Illyd to follow, who did without seemingly a second thought. [hr] [color=violet]“So,”[/color] Cadien said as they stood at the table in his main hall. A series of scratch marks were on the far end, which Cadien had elected not to comment on. [color=violet]“How much do you know about Galbar’s current state?”[/color] Illyd plucked a stray string and then looked up at Cadien, "I s'pose just nicks and knacks. Everything okay?" The God of Perfection nodded. [color=violet]“I am just wondering if there was something you could help me with.”[/color] He snapped his fingers, and a map of Toraan’s Highlands appeared before them. He pointed to an area in the northeastern corner. [color=violet]“Are you familiar with a city known as Acadia?”[/color] Illyd nodded slowly, "No, what is it?" [color=violet]“A city in this region,”[/color] Cadien explained. [color=violet]“Settled by Humans and some Merelli.”[/color] He then gestured to two forested regions on either side of the area - one to the east and one to the west. “These areas are inhabited by [i]Iskrill.[/i]” He spoke the word with disgust. [color=violet]“Abominations. Humans that were warped against their original purpose, and began to hunt and kill indiscriminately. Little better than savage animals, now.”[/color] He sighed. [color=violet]“Anyhow, Acadia was built to keep them at bay. To keep their numbers down with raids, and to serve as a line of defense which prevented them from spilling into the rest of the Highlands. It is named after myself, of course, and since I had a hand in creating humans as we know them today… I’m sure you can imagine the city is quite important to me.”[/color] "It certainly sounds very special to ye," Illyd agreed with a strum of a sudden banjo, sleeves still dripping. [color=violet]“So, this city of mine is in something of a predicament,”[/color] Cadien’s hand went lower on the map, to the south side of a nearby mountain on the west side of the river. [color=violet]“There was another city here, dedicated to… Oraelia, I think. The iskrill destroyed it some time ago, I’m not sure exactly when. But apparently Acadia relied quite heavily on them for trade, and they’ve had to go without that for a few decades now.”[/color] Then his expression flickered into one of annoyance. [color=violet]“It doesn’t help that there’s a massive rainstorm ravaging all of northern Toraan right now. I suspect the involvement of another god, but I’m not sure who. Anyhow, I’m sure you can imagine this has all been terrible for the city’s food supply.”[/color] Illyd looked up from the puddle forming by his sandals, "Yeah, I can only imagine. Whatcha thinkin'?" [color=violet]“Well, the obvious course of action would be to stop this storm. Either that, or give the humans of the Highlands the means to produce food despite it. I imagine that simply stopping the storm would be easier. Afterward, Acadia’s fields could be salvaged and their yields improved. Enough to not only help them recover, but make it so they no longer depend on trade. Since you are the god of agriculture, I was thinking you could be of some help with that.”[/color] “Oh yeah for sure!” Illyd smiled, “Changing the weather is real easy too, I do it all the time--” He grimaced slightly, “Though I can’t exactly change it [i]right[/i] now.” Cadien frowned. [color=violet]“Why not?”[/color] Illyd’s smile faltered before failing completely, “Oh you know...” His voice dropped to a whisper, “There is a really unpleasant lady taking up residence in my abode.” Cadien furrowed his brow. [color=violet]“Your abode? You mean your realm?”[/color] “That’s the one!” [color=violet]“But… it’s your realm…”[/color] he narrowed his eyes further. [color=violet]“Which goddess is it?”[/color] Illyd’s face turned a shade of pink and he stuffed it down with a small grin, “Ye know, I’m even better at making food than changing the weather. Maybe I could talk to your city, see what they need help with? And after, I can skip on over and do a little weather changing.” Cadien’s expression did not change, however. [color=violet]“Forgive me, but your crisis is more urgent. If there is a goddess who has the power to eject others from their own realms, that cannot be allowed to stand, for it means none of us are safe. So please, tell me more about your problem.”[/color] “Ah psh,” Illyd waved a hand, “I can go [i]back[/i] I left on my own accord, ye see. I just didn’t have the wherewithal at the moment to... er what’s the word?” Illyd pondered a moment, “I know there is a word for it. Ye know the one... mediate? Is that it?” [color=violet]“Mediate?”[/color] Cadien seemed confused. [color=violet]“You mentioned only one person. If this dispute was solely between she and you, then wouldn’t a third party be required to mediate?”[/color] “Argh yer right,” Illyd tapped his chin, “Ye got a thesaurus in here, somewhere?” [color=violet]“I don’t know what that is,”[/color] Cadien admitted. [color=violet]“Some form of lizard?”[/color] “Kinda, but more like a collection of synonyms.” Illyd explained. [color=violet]“Hmm. I’m not sure I understand. But we have digressed. If this lady is no true threat to you or anyone else, then she is unworthy of further conversation. So, you are willing to improve Acadia’s food production and then put a stop to this storm as soon as you are able?”[/color] “Yeah,” Illyd Dyll agreed, “I’ll go shut down the storm right after this -- but uh -- but what or how did ye want to do the whole food thing?” [color=violet]“Hmm. To be truthful, I assumed you might have an idea. Surely you must know more about such matters than I.”[/color] He stroked his chin. [color=violet]“Then again, I do know the area better. Hmm. Mayhaps-”[/color] “Ye know what,” Illyd Dyll suddenly spoke up, “I could just go down and scope it out myself - er well other me could head on down I mean.” [color=violet]“That would work too,”[/color] Cadien nodded. [color=violet]“How long do you suppose it will take?”[/color] “The getting there or the fixing?” Illyd Dyll knitted his brow. The Lord of Perfection shrugged. [color=violet]“Both.”[/color] “Not very long, I’ll just hitch a ride on a cloud and stop by,” Illyd smiled, “N’ from there it’s just zip zap zoop, enough veggies for a soup.” [color=violet]“Very good,”[/color] Cadien said, breaking out into a smile as he clapped Illyd on the shoulder. [color=violet]“I appreciate the help. Now uh… not to be ungrateful, but I did tell Neiya I would rejoin her, and it simply wouldn’t be fair to keep her waiting. I know it’s poor form to ask a guest to leave so soon after he offered to aid me, but… well, you’d be welcome to come back another time. Mayhaps I can even help you with this uh… lady-problem, of yours.”[/color] “That would be nice, I don’t get a lot of visitors,” Illyd Dyll’s smile seemed to shimmer, “But yeah, I’ll be heading out now.” He raised his banjo in salute, “Toodle-doo, good buddy!” [hider=Summary] So basically Illyd decides fuck this bitch I’m out and goes for a walk, right into Cadiens place. The two meet up and are like WOAH but the conversation is really boring as Illyd is hiding his depression and Cadien isn’t much the wiser for it but then Neiya shows up and acts all princessy and distance but Illyd gruffly shakes her hand and she decides fuck this bitch I’m out in spite of all the wholesome comments of Illyd. Then Cadien and Illyd discuss Arcadia, thesaurus’s, lizards, synonyms, digression, and aid for Arcadia. Cadien also finds out about Diana. Anyways in the end Illyd agrees to shut off the storm and provide aid to Arcadia for his good buddy. Peace. [/hider]