[H1][center][color=#ffff00]T[/color][color=#ffef00]h[/color][color=#ffdf00]e[/color] [color=#ffbf00]B[/color][color=#ffaf00]l[/color][color=#ff9f00]o[/color][color=#ff8f00]o[/color][color=#ff7f00]d[/color][color=#ff6d00]i[/color][color=#ff5b00]e[/color][color=#ff4900]d[/color] [color=#ff2400]S[/color][color=#ff1200]u[/color][color=#ff0000]n[/color][/center][/H1] Arngeir stared up at the golden statue, it was tall and mighty, depicting a beautiful woman, she pointed off to the distance, towards the rising sun. He sat kneeling in front of the statue, he had found himself infatuated with the woman depicted and he was determined to figure out who she was. He had searched far and wide throughout the city, finding that shiny metal, which he had learnt was “gold”, everywhere, his most coveted findings where those small golden disks, with the image of the sun displayed upon them, they were numerous but he found an interesting fascination to them. Today, he was going to try something. He had continued to find nothing about this being, none of the older Iskrill or even the Brood Mothers had any knowledge of the woman, only that she was important for the prey that had been consumed in the Grand Feast, and so, Arngeir was going to take things into his own hands. He had gathered as much gold he could find, arraying them in front of the statue in as nice a pattern as he could create. He knelt just behind the gold, gazing up at the woman, who he had decided to call, "The All-Mother", for she was surely a god, why would they have all these items for her if she wasn't? He raised his hands, "Oh great All-Mother!" he shouted, casting his voice to the heavens "Hear my call! I wish to hear your voice and learn your words!" A gentle breeze touched his flesh, warming him ever so slightly as a vague presence blossomed around him. [color=gold]"-you can’t nest thereeeee, stoooop!”[/color] the woman’s voice began. [color=gold]”Oh, shhhhh, someone’s listening!”[/color] she gave a slight cough, clearing her throat. [color=gold]”Hello ther- Woah! What are youuuuu! You’re not human, or aiviri, or uh… Anything else I’ve ever seen!”[/color] she exclaimed. [color=gold]”Ohhhh you look so saaaaaad too.”[/color] Arngeir almost jumped with excitement, she actually spoke! He was right! He quickly composed himself, reminding himself that he was speaking to the all-mother “Hello All-Mother! I am Arngeir! I am an Iskrill, have you not seen my kind before?” He looked all around him, unsure of where to focus his attention. [color=gold]”NOPE!”[/color] she shouted. [color=gold]”Wellllll, maybe I’ve heard of youuuuu before. I dunno. Iskrill is a funny name isn’t it. Rah, I’m an iskrill!”[/color] she giggled. [color=gold]”So like, what do you do for fun? Do you… Fish maybe? You look like a fisher. I’ve never fished before but it looks fun! Then again, do you think fish feeeeeel? Like, can fish love? Oh, I love! I love everybody! I’m not a fish though, for your information.”[/color] This, wasn’t exactly what he was expecting, the All-Mother seemed, strange. “We fish sometimes, not me personally though, I've focused on gathering this gold I've found around the city, all of this is for you, correct?” [color=gold]”This is… Gold? Oh hey, there’s a statue of me! I’ve never seen this one before. Hey, where are we?”[/color] she asked. Arngeir thought for a moment, might be important to avoid the reason his people were here. “The city of Solkra! Well, at least what’s left of it, my people came upon this city during our travels, we had found it abandoned and ruined, and we’ve tried our best to live here ever since. I came upon your statue here and found myself enraptured, I wished to know more, hence why I offered my prayers to you.” [color=gold]”Oh how sad!”[/color] she cried out. [color=gold]”I wonder what befell the people here? Maybe I’ll… Maybe I’ll…”[/color] Her voice seemed to lull and Arngeir could hear someone chewing. [color=gold]”Ahh that’s better! Oooookay! What did you want again? Something about… More? More what?”[/color] Ya, this was definitely weird. “I just wished to know more about you All-Mother, to hear your voice so I may be confirmed in my mission to teach your word to my kin.” [color=gold]”I see! Uh well… I am The goddess of Life and Love and I love life… Do you love life?”[/color] “I would consider myself a lover of life, I have most certainly found it fascinating, you see, my people, we are, meat eaters of sorts, but we do our best to respect the beasts we eat and try to give back, like how we are trying to rebuild this city.” [color=gold]”Well most things eat meat you know. Humans eat meat. Aiviri, they eat meat. Even Sylphi eat meat and they’re plants! I would know that because-”[/color] her voice died again. [color=gold]”It’s so noble, trying to rebuild the city! Arn- Argne- Arngeir! Arngeir, I need you to rebuild that city, let it become a beacon of life! Do this, and I will be sooooo happy!”[/color] she exclaimed. He paused, Iskrill? A beacon of life? This could be, interesting “I, will almost certainly do my best All-Mother! But, if I may ask, I would almost certainly appreciate assistance, there are those beyond the city who seek to destroy my kin, in fact they are the reason we are here in the first place, they could threaten our efforts here and prevent the city’s rebuilding.” [color=gold]”Oh I seeeeeee!”[/color] she paused, [color=gold]”You need a deterrent! Something that will stop others from messing with you guys! I know just the thing!”[/color] A ray of light erupted down from the heavens in front of Arngeir and the sound of something slamming into the rock before the statue could be heard. The light faded to reveal a large spear, with a tip of swirling solar energy. The shaft was made of some sort of white metal. [color=gold]”There! A deterrent! Just wave it up into the sky and that should do the trick! I hope that helps and it makes you happy!”[/color] Arngeir was honestly shocked, he was expecting a blessing or like some protection spells but this, oh this was great, he slowly got up, gripping the spear with his arms, slowly retching it free, gazing upon its form. “I...I thank you All-Mother! I shall not disappoint you! I, I should get to work then, I shall speak to you soon! And hopefully more of my kin shall be with me this time!” [color=gold]”Okay! Beeeeee safe little Iskrill! Byebye!”[/color] and the All Mother’s presence was gone. Arngeir rose, he gazed once more upon the spear, it was incredibly beautiful he had to admit, he just had to test it out. He raised it to the sky, In an instant a bright beam of light shot out into the sky, the weapon recoiled and threw him off his balance, but luckily the beam stopped as he fell to the ground. He lay there for a brief moment, he could see other Iskrill slowly gathering to see what all the commotion was about. He quickly rose, spear held firmly at his side, he looked upon the growing crowd, raising his free hand he shouted to them all. “Siblings! I have heard the word of the All-Mother! Come forth! And hear what she has to say!” The sun rose upon Solkra, as a madman spoke the words of a goddess, who had not realized what she had done. [hr] [h2]A week later[/h2] Ykkat sat in front of one of the Brood mothers, the giant fleshy creature had the upper body of a female Iskrill like her, but that is about where the similarities ended, the lower half was fleshy and worm-like. Brood Mothers “led” the various broods within the city, but in all honestly their authority was minimal, the brood would often go about doing their own thing, but would respect the mother’s call and orders, though they were rare. The Mother sitting in front of her, Septíma, was the last Brood Mother of the southern city, the area both her and Zerkam had started their quest to unite the city within. At first it had been slow workings, Iskrill were hard to gather together into a cohesive force, even harder to get them to create any semblance of “civilization” that Ykaat and Zerkam had been researching, the old language of the former inhabitants had become known to them after long study and it taught them many things, but that wasn’t enough. Luckily, then came the attack from the sea, the strange creatures that emerged that day gave quite a shock to the Iskrill, who had considered themselves safe from harm and unstoppable within the walls of Solkra, as the Iskrill took to calling the city. The attack had given Ykkat the boost she needed, and now a majority of the southern city was aiding her efforts. “So” Sepitma spoke, looking down upon Ykkat and Zerkam, who stood behind her a few feet back, “All I have to do is command my brood to join up with your project, and it shall gain the protection and combined resources of it all?” “That is correct,” Ykkat replied “Your brood shall have access to the materials, and the flesh, we all gather, of course your own brood shall assist with this, and aid in providing protection when needed. Is that all agreeable?” The Brood mother nodded, “Yes, I believe that is agreeable, I shall have my brood get to work very soon, they shall meet up with your other broods and aid in your construction.” Ykkat bowed to Septima “Thank you, Brood Mother.” She rose, continuing to bow as she did. Turning back to Zerkam with a slight smile on her face. Though that smile quickly faded when she saw the serious expression upon the Servant’s face. She sighed “What is it Zerkam?” “The preacher is back, we seriously need to speak to him.” He replied, for a while now word had reached them of a strange preacher Iskrill in the northern portions of the city, he taught the words of the All-Mother, the goddess who the city had been dedicated before the Iskrill’s arrival, admittingly he definitely had aid from the goddess, but Ykkat was sceptical of speaking to him, worried he may turn out detrimental. “You know I would prefer not to speak to that one.” “Why not? He could prove incredibly useful, if the other chosen are right, he’s gathered a considerable following, and he seeks the same thing as us.” In their efforts to reconstruct they had found other chosen like Zerkam, the rainbow eyed Iskrill who were magically inclined, they could speak through their minds, providing a good network of information across the city. Ykkat sighed once more, “Fine, we shall go speak to him, but I'm not going to be happy about it. Where is he?” “By the statue of the All-Mother, having another of his sermons.” “Oh joy, we get to hear him preach.” [hr] “Remember my fellow Iskrill! The All-Father teaches us our position in the world, as predators and rulers over our prey! And the All-Mother reminds us that this position is one for the dedication of life! We must aid in the cycle of existence! We must bring an end to those who consider themselves above the order of life! Bring the city from its ruined state to the shining beacon it once was!” Ykkat and Zekram stood amongst the crowd, they both had to admit the preacher’s voice called above all, and they could see how the others had become enraptured with his voice and his sermons. Ykkat sighed, Zerkam was right, they needed his help, his ability to gather the Iskrill together and a shared goal of building up the city meant that she could no longer afford to ignore him. The sermon eventually ended, the assembled crowd uttered a prayer to the All-Father and the All-Mother and began to disperse, off to perform their duties within the region, much like Ykkat’s southern broods the northern ones under the preacher, known as Arngeir, they were trying to build and reconstruct the houses and other builders, gather food and flesh, and various other deeds. The duo walked up to the preacher, who stood next to the massive statue of the All-Mother wielding the shining spear he had been gifted by the goddess. Ykkat was the first to speak. “Greetings prophet, I see you’ve gathered for yourself quite the following.” Arngeir chuckled “Why yes I have! All in the service of the All-Mother and All-Father of course! But, who might you two be?” “I am Ykkat, and this,” She gestured towards the Chosen, who bowed “Is Zerkam, a chosen by the All-Father, you see, we too have been trying to achieve you have, the reconstruction of this city under Iskrill management, and we came to offer a, unification of our groups.” “I see,” The prophet slowly sat down in front of the statue, gesturing for the duo to join him “You must be those Southern ones i’ve heard about, how do you propose this, unification would occur?” “Well, my companion has come up with an idea,” She gestured towards the chosen, who’s rainbow eyes sparkled up. “Yes I have! I propose a shared power agreement between the three of us, Ykkat’s organizational skills and knowledge of civilization, my magical prowess and command of the chosen, and Arngeir’s authority as religious leader and prophet of the All-Parents could make a formidable force, in short, we form a Triumvirate between the three of us, using our combined powers and skills to rebuild this city and forge it a new dawn.” Arngeir thought for a brief moment, bringing a piece of animal flesh to his mouth and chewing upon it thoughtfully. Finally after a few tense moments he nodded, swallowing the flesh. “Hierophant of the Sun, Jarl of the Chosen, Queen of the Broods.” “What?” Ykkat asked, unsure of what the prophet had just said. “Those shall be out titles,” He responded “I, the Hierophant of the Sun, Zarkam, Jarl of the Chosen, and you, Queen of the Broods, representing clearly our roles within this triumvirate.” “I kinda like them.” Zerkam spoke, Ykkat had to admit she did enjoy the idea of being called a Queen, she was sure the rulers of that heinous city would detect a Iskrill referring to themselves with a royal title. “But,” Arngeir spoke, “We need something more, just our combined authority will not be enough, and the All-Mother’s gift alone will not stop the savage wrath of the heinous city.” “Perhaps we ask the All-Father?” Ykkat replied “The All-Mother has already given you one thing, perhaps we invoke her husband and, upon seeing that the Mother has already aided us, he too shall aid us directly?” Arngeir nodded “That is, not too bad of an idea, come, take my hands.” He rested the spear against the statue, taking Zerkam and Ykkat’s hands into his own. He looked up towards the sky, uttering a prayer, and finally shouting. “Oh great All-Father! Hear our call! Aid your children in their time of need!” A strange sensation washed over them, it was cold, unlike the warmth of the All-Mother that Arngeir had felt, but indeed it was not heavy, instead incredibly light and jaunty, soon, a strange voice spoke into their minds. [color=DAA520]”Ah...my dear children, the Iskrill, what is it you require?”[/color] “Oh mighty All-Father” Arngeir spoke “We seek to unite our siblings and bring them on par to our prey, but we can not do it alone, we wish for your aid, the All-Mother has already blessed us, and we wish for your protection as well.” [color=DAA520]”All-Mother?...Ah! Yes, her, my apologies, I have been caught up in many dealings, but, you ask for aid? I see…”[/color] The voice fell silent for a brief moment, the three could still feel the presence, silent and watchful. [color=DAA520]”Gather your strongest warriors around this grand statue to the All-Mother, I shall do the rest.”[/color] [hr] And so it was done. The All-Father refused to explain further, merely reiterating the orders. The Trio gathered the strongest warriors of the Broods, those who had hunted the fiercest of prey, fought against the heinous city, or even had the chance to take down one of the beasts from the sea. They were gathered together, given the finest weapons the Triumvirate could muster, the bronze weapons scavenged from the ruins and corpses of the city. They all knelt around the statue in a large circle, the Hierophant was given orders from the All-Father, performing a ritual that would grant these warriors grand power, blood of their recent sentient kills was drawn upon their chests and their heads, forming strange and arcane symbols. Then, a grand prayer was uttered by all in attendance. It wasn’t a clear change, but all could feel it, the warriors felt a surge into their bodies and mind, the symbols glowed and etched themselves into their skin, shooting a searing pain through their bodies. They howled out as the pain increased, the triumvirate and their followers who had not been chosen stepped back, unsure of what was to come. In a flash, the pain ended, the symbols sizzled still, but the howls no longer came, many of the warriors panted heavily and clutched where the symbols were. Then the voice of the All-Father rang out across the square from the statue. [color=DAA520]”These warriors have been gifted the path of desolation, where they walk destruction shall follow, so long as they seek only the complete ruin of their enemies and their land.”[/color] With that the presence of the All-Father vanished, and the Iskrill were left to their own devices. Arngeir immediately went about establishing the warriors, now a holy order, which with the approval of the rest of the Triumvirate, was dubbed the “Flames of the Dusk”, the elite force for the rule of the Solar Triumvirate. [hr] With their rule now even further cemented, the Triumvirate went about their goals, in short time the ruins of the city had come under their control, while still divided the unifying forces of the entire Triumvirate managed to keep them united to begin their reconstruction, slowly rebuilding the city from the ruins of the old. The Flames served their purpose well, used to keep the other Iskrill in line, but soon enough they began to lead efforts beyond the city, raiding the villages of the prey to remind them the terror of the Iskrill, this time though they were organized, and the prey fell under their destructive force. They even began to figure out how to gain more supplies of flesh, merely breeding the animals that they ate when they had no flesh of their better, far more tastiest prey. A new dawn had arrived upon Solkra, the Iskrill were organizing, growing stronger, more organized. And they looked hungirly beyond their city walls, eager to grow farther. [hider=Summary] We start up with a lone Iskrill, Arngeir, who has become infatuated with the statues and images of Oraelia, who he calls the All-Mother. He ends up calling out a prayer to her, and to his shock she replies...while completely high. They talk, having a nice little convo while Arngeri sort of ignores the fact his people eat the flesh of humans and all that jazz. Soon enough Oraelia comes to like Arngeir and gives him the mission to rebuild Solkra and make it a beacon of life, in order to help and as a deterrent against certain enemies to the Iskrill, she gives him an awesome spear that shoots out pure sunlight then dips. Next we come back to Ykkat and Zerkam who have managed to unite the southern portions of the city under their project thanks to the Vrool attack. They hear word of Arngeir and his prophet stuff going on and end up talking to him. Resulting in the three uniting forces into the Solar Triumvirate, the now acting government of Solkra. They end up also asking Yamat for help, and he blesses some of their warriors with increased destructed capabilities, pretty much making them perfect raiders/ravagers(if you don’t care for material wealth). Solkra is born anew, and the Iskrill are becoming far more powerful [/hider] [hider=MP] Oraelia 2MP/2DP The All-Mother’s Gift [b]Solar Eruption VI[/b] (2MP + 2DP = 4 title weight + 2 free from Sunlight port = 6 title weight) What was thought by one to keep the tides at bay, often leads to more practical uses. This spear can unleash pure sunlight in it's most destructive form. The beam is infinite and the longer it remains firing the hotter the heat becomes, turning living tissue to naught but ash and melting anything else. The weapon does not shield its wielder from this effect and the longer it unleashes the more it becomes unsteady (ie, it has really bad recoil). Greater levels only make the beam stronger and do nothing to help the wielder. 0Mp/0Dp Yamat 3mp/5dp [b]The Flames of Dusk-Holy Order[/b] 5 DP-under Desolation Ravagers V: Wherever this Holy Order marches, desolation and destruction soon follow. Actions and Attacks done by this holy order that bring about destruction has its effects increased dramatically: Fires burn longer and hotter, fortifications collapse faster, once fertile lands become barren, and enemies are ripped asunder, these effects are about triple the intensity and power than they would be for normal actions and they leave no lasting result beyond the destruction caused. This applies only when the Order seeks to [i]completely[/i] destroy through their actions. 5p towards Desolation 3mp/0dp remaining [/hider] [hider=Prestige] The All-Mother’s Gift +5 The Flames of Dusk +5 The Servants +5 [/hider]