A strange sight approached the gates of the castle. An old man with a long, white beard. Completely alone. Seemingly having trouble walking. Supported by a straight and true branch. Wrapped in a long, heavy green cloak. To say that he was walking would be an insult to walking. It looked more as if he was dragging his own body. Yet he kept moving from the distance. Strange but only slightly. Yet as he came close to the great gates he looked up and pulled his hood away. Revealing two rainbow colored eyes, glowing visibly even in the midday sun. He looked up with a rather content smile. “Hail denizens of Caisteal Na Grèine.” The man spoke with a gravel-like but distinctly mortal voice. “I seek entry to your sundom.”

Three heads looked over the wall, each with long, golden locks that drifted lazily in the breeze as a bird might. All were women with curious eyes.

One of them eventually spoke up, "Hail stranger! What business might you have here?" She shouted down.

The stranger’s smile brightened. “I’m here to visit a very old friend.” He shouted back up. “She goes by the name of Lucia. But I believe you know her as the daughter of the sun.” Well, he wasn’t entirely sure that’s what they called her these days. Maybe it was just one of the many names she had these days. Still, anyone who laid eyes on Lucia would grasp what he meant.

The three exchanged looks and then two disappeared. "Give us a moment good humani!" She shouted down again. And indeed, it took several minutes before the other two returned, stealing away the stare of the woman who had remained. There was another quick exchange and there was some muffled shouting on the other side of the castle walls. Before long, the gates began to open and Lucia waited in the growing gap, wearing plate armor. Her eyes narrowed when she saw him. 

[Color=tan]"You say you are my friend but I'm sorry, I don't think I've ever seen you before. Is this some sort of trick?"[/color] Lucia asked, eyeing him down.

For a second the stranger frowned. Looking confused, but then realization dawned on his face. “Ah, of course, of course.” He said as he looked down to himself. Seemingly observing his own body. “Mortal bodies can be terribly constricting.” He held out his hand forming a cup as if he was to catch water. Above it appeared a bright orb with endlessly shifting colors on its surface. The surface shifted to that of a sun. Glowing and warm. Then it turned into a miniature moon with its white, dust seas and deep, grey craters. Once more it shifted and turned into a statuette of Lucia, made from the same stone of the Sunlit Temple that was so far away from here now. But then the shape cracked and crumbled in a hundred little pieces. All of them carried away with the wind as if it was ash. With the demonstration over, he looked back up at Lucia with a slightly challenging grin on his face and asked: “Can you do that now too?”

A slow realization dawned upon Lucia's face, becoming a grin. She outstretched her hand and from it came her own mini sun. It shimmered and changed colors. From yellow to red, to orange and green. Then she closed her palm and the light vanished. 

[Color=tan]"It's been a long time."[/color] she smiled.

The stranger smiled bright as he saw the fruit of Lucia’s skill. She had grown proficient to be sure. “It has been, but that was excellent.” He said as he leaned forward. Looking like he expected to move but his feet remained firmly on the ground. When he realized he wasn’t moving he looked down and once again a dawning look appeared on his face. “Oh right.” He said as he took a step forward, looking as if he just relearned how to walk. “I swear, I don’t know how you mortals do it.” He said as he stepped closer, with still that awkward walk as if he was dragging his own body. “Would you mind if we find somewhere to sit? I really have chosen the wrong body to control. It feels as if it’s collapsing on itself. Everything feels so.. loose.”

Lucia walked over to him and looped her arm around his own and helped him walk. As they walked, the gates began to shut behind them. [Color=tan]"Come let us find a quiet spot."[/color] she hummed then commented, [color=tan]"What a strange avatar you've chosen, Qael."[/color]

“Would that this was an avatar.” He said, sounding somewhat strained. Though the help of Lucia was deeply appreciated. With the inkling of divine power he had to use the body would cease aging, but that wouldn’t help the aching joints or fatigued muscles now. “I can see the merit of choosing a more corporeal envoy like my brothers and sisters chose to make.” But still, his Winds had their own strengths as well. Besides, he just wanted to use this form to explore the world from a more grounded view. “But enough about me, tell me. What have you been up to? I see you’ve made yourself an odd home here. I never figured you for a queen if I’m honest.” With curious eyes he looked around the place.

Lucia laughed and his eyes wandered to many curious faces. Up close the golden haired ones were very tall and they walked with wings upon their backs. Many were doing mundane tasks as they walked by them and a few were training with weapons of light here and there. All gave them, or perhaps Lucia, a nod of respect. She then spoke, [Color=tan]"A home this is for now, but by no means permanent. I am not a queen either… More of a person in charge sent by my mother. It’s a bit complicated. This place is war torn, the land I mean, and my mother feels to blame because she helped the people here. She asked me and my wife to build a lasting peace in her stead. To prevent further bloodshed. We have the support of one major player here and some smaller ones, and we are reaching out to others. I am optimistic we can achieve our goals by next winter at the latest. Hopefully.”[/color] She said a bit quieter, as they walked down a long hallway. [color=tan]”How are.... Godly things? Oh! How is Orb?”[/color] she asked.

“You are describing a queen, my dear.” Qael playfully noted as he walked beside her. One could hardly become more worthy of that title. But he didn’t push the issue. Some just didn’t want the crown. He kept an attentive ear as she talked about the lands around them. A small smile formed on his lips, as he knew another faction would join Lucia soon enough. Though he doubted she would notice in the beginning. And then, of course, there were the Cenél. Those stubborn, proudful people that he was growing fond of. He wasn’t certain when they would send their envoys. They had already struck up a deal with the Dûnans. It was only a matter of time before they would come take a knee before the daughter of the sun.

“Orb is good.” Qael said as he tried to keep pace with Lucia. “He’s far away from here sadly, but he has several hundred pupils now. None of them will grasp magic as well as you, but they are good students and are making great strides in magic.” Every few weeks a new god-forged spell was hooked and mastered. Bound to glyphs, phrases and moves. To his own delight, the Mystics seemed to have no problem with sharing their knowledge so far. For a second he opened his mouth to say that he misses her. But that would be a lie. Orb was, despite his sometimes living demeanor, still simply an feelingless automaton.

“Other godly business…is good as well I suppose.” He then continued, his mind pulling towards his twins. “I…discovered I have genuine children. Two daughters. Soleira and Auriëlle.” He smiled even at the mere mention of their names. Was this what love was?

They entered a modest looking room. There sat a large bed, some nice furniture with clothes strewn about on them and a cozy nook with a few tables and a fireplace. [color=tan]”Daughters! Why isn’t that wonderful!”[/color] Lucia beamed, guiding him to a chair next to the fireplace. Lucia then threw some logs in it and shot a beam of light that scorched them into a blaze. [color=tan]”This place is very warm as it is, so I don’t really know why Solus made fireplaces but I think it acts as a sort of novelty really.”[/color] she lulled, taking a seat across from him. She folded her hands and then asked, [color=tan]”Tell me about them, these daughters of yours! What are they like? Where are they now?”[/color] 

“Oh you would [i]love[/i] Soleira! She quite like your blond-haired winged companions that roam around here. Though she has two pairs of wings.” Qael said, looking rather impressed are her luminous magical abilities. Even though Lucia was right and the room was already comfortable, the god of magic felt the body enjoying the increased heat. Out of habit, it stretched out its arms towards the fire. Letting the digits warm up as well. “She’s back in the Luminant, that colorful realm your mother made. You’d like her, much like you she’s resisting becoming a queen of the land. The human folks adore her, as do the animals. Thanks to your mother she can talk to them. It’s been quite a boon. She’s lacking when it comes to magic, but her heart is on the right place.” When he spoke he was beaming with pride. But then he got a little downcast. “I hope she can fulfill her destiny and heal that place. The Luminant War has scarred more than the land. The Oraeliari and Neiyari are suffering. And I don’t know if she is strong enough yet for the task.” His voice betrayed an almost uncharacteristic worry. In truth Qael’Naath didn’t care for Oraelia and Neiya’s petty squabble but it was weighing upon an untested and untrained Soleira. Alas, should the worst come to pass, he would intervene again but he wanted her to succeed.

[color=tan]”She sounds lovely, Qael.”[/color] Lucia said, smiling a bit. [color=tan]”I’ve never been to the Luminant, but from what these Oraeliari told me, the war was basically over when they left to come here. Rhiona, my mother’s newest avatar, she takes things very seriously… I’m confident Soleira will be able to endure and if not, she has my mother and you.”[/color] Lucia said with confidence. [color=tan]”Okay so how about Aurielle, was it?”[/color] she said, [color=tan]”What’s she like?”[/color]

“She…” Qael paused for a second. Visibly searching for the right words. “Magic becomes her. In the past few years she has grown very, very powerful. Unleashing sorcery I had not thought possible yet. Magic that no normal mortal could unleash.” Once again he beamed with pride that vanished. Not so much out of worry but something else. “You would hate her.” He finally confessed. “She’s destructive. Hateful. Arrogant. It was her who broke the walls of Ketrefa and sacked the city of Teperia. Rhiona herself came down to Galbar to curse her.” For a moment the god of magic wondered if it was a tragic tale yet. Despite the horrible things she had done, Qael did not speak of her with any pain or malice. He was simply stating the facts. “But she’s no longer around. So you’ll have nothing to fear.”

Lucia's lips turned into a thin frown. [Color=tan]"I'm sorry to hear that. I had no idea what was going on over that way. It seems there's a war everywhere."[/color] Lucia sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Then she said, [Color=tan]"But despite everything she's done, you love her still. Don't you?"[/color]

“Not despite.” He admitted. He wasn’t sure which had come first. His idea of her becoming a destroyer or her own thirst for power turning her destructive. Maybe the ruining spirit came with the inkling of power she was given. Or maybe it was there since birth. Those were questions for much later though. For now though, he needed her to be a destroyer. A weapon, even though she was his daughter as well. And for now she seemed to keep choosing that path on her own as well. None of that he could admit to Lucia. She was very much the daughter of Oraelia.

Instead he tried to switch the subject a little. “The return of me and my siblings have brought many changes. For better or worse.” Without the supernatural senses, he could only see fire and the walls around him. If the human body he ‘wore’ right now had any divine senses though, he knew bright light would lit up all around him. “So how will you do it?” he then asked as he turned towards Lucia. “Peace here, in Ha-Dûna? And what will you do after?” 

Lucia shrugged, eyeing Qael. [Color=tan]"Gather leaders, chiefs, elders. Bring them together and talk instead of fighting. Who knows how long it might take but I have Sanya with me and my mother. After that… I'm not sure. Perhaps gather our things and live out the rest of our days in my mother's realm. It was so peaceful there."[/color] she lulled.

The god of magic was not convinced peace in the area could be achieved so quickly. At least not a lasting one. Resources were scarce and some wounds ran deeper than most knew. It would take a generation at least. Yet he kept mute on the subject. It wasn’t his place to offer up the opinion. “You really want to live away from Galbar for the rest of your life?” He asked with a meek smile as he watched the fire. No longer warming his fingers by the fire but actively making the flames dance atop the wood. “This world will miss you… And if it could speak you’d hear it call for you.” 

[color=tan]”I can still hear it…”[/color] Lucia whispered, looking down at the table in front of them. [color=tan]”Like faint echoes and calming whispers. Sanya and I… We are tired of fighting. All we want is peace and we found that in my Mother’s realm. We’ve been here for so long… Now it’s time for a change.”[/color] she said almost in a whisper.

“Maybe you’re right.” Qael said as he turned to peer into the flames again. Lucia was after all a mortal, as was her mate. They had lived for two thousand years. Each no doubt doing their best to keep the world at peace. What more could the divine ask of them? Still, he knew they were needed in this world now more than ever. A faint, melancholic smile appeared on his lips. But then his mind trailed towards what he had seen in Antiquity and the horrid things unleashed at the Luminant. “I hope your mother’s realm remains as safe and peaceful as you desire it to be.” He rose up again and with it his somber appearance vanished.

[color=tan]”So do we.”[/color] Lucia answered.

Then in the palm of Qael’s hand a white owl statuette appeared. It was small and seemingly insignificant. “This world, and us the divine, have asked many things of you already, Lucia. I hope we won’t have to ask much more.” But fate was a fickle thing. He took a step towards her. “In an effort to return faster, I offer you this. Present it to the Cenél. They will follow your every word then. I promise you that.” He put the statuette upon the table. “And now… I think I should be heading out.” He looked around for a second. “You wouldn’t happen to know the way to Mydia.”

Lucia eyed the small owl and then picked it up, rubbing her fingers over it. She then turned to Qael and shook her head. [color=tan]”I’m afraid not. I’ve never been off this land, that which is out there is unknown to me.”[/color] Lucia paused, then set the statuette back down. She then went and hugged Qael. [color=tan]”Thank you. I will remember this and the Cenél.”[/color]

He hugged her back, the body closed its eyes as a reaction. It felt good. That in of itself was also a strange feeling. When they eventually broke apart again he took a step back, and brushed a strand of hair behind the back of her ear. “I’ll be seeing you, Lucia.” He said, after which he took another step back, and then turn around to walk out. He was still moving awkward. Getting used to having only one pair of knees and lifting his knees. But as he touched the handle to open the door he stopped and said: “When you hear of her… tell your mother I’m grateful for what she did for my Auriëlle. She’ll know what that means.” And then he left.

Lucia pondered those words for a time, then went to go find Sanya.

[hider=Summary]A stranger approaches Caisteal Na Grèine. He seeks entry to visit an old friend, the daughter of the sun. They fetch her but Lucia doesn’t recognize the stranger. That is, until he performs the same magic trick he showed her when they met. Lucia, realizing who it is, returned the gesture. The both of them enter the castle. They talk a little about Orb and where he is now.

Then the subject shifts to Qael having two daughters. He tells Lucia about Soleira first, saying they’re quite alike in denying their inherent status as queens. Soleira’s back in the Luminant still, trying to carve out a spot of peace in the colorful realm. Lucia then tells Qael about how Rhiona send her here with the Oraeliari to establish peace and then asks about Auriëlle.

The god of magic admits that she’s the polar opposite. Violent and malicious. Lucia is sorry to hear that but in truth Qael is very proud of her, but quickly switches subject to peace in Ha-Dûna. He asks how she would do it. Lucia plans to gather all the leaders and elders and talk it out. After which she wants to leave Galbar again and live in her mother’s realm.

Qael for his part, is sad to hear that she desires to live away from Galbar and says the world is calling out for her. Something Lucia maybe understands better than the god of magic, even though he doesn’t know that. In the end though, he understands and thanks her for everything she has done for divinity. In an effort to achieve peace faster, he offers her a statuette of a white owl to give the Cenél. When she gives it to the Cenél, they will follow her every word for sure. With that, he leaves. But not before telling her to thank her mother for what she did for Auriëlle.[/hider]

[hider=MP & DP]
[b]Qael’Naath Start:[/b] 4MP/5DP
- 1MP >> Give some random bloke the “Divine Conduit I” Title. Making him the “Conduit” ‘hero’.
- 2MP >> Create the White Owl Statuette with title: “Alien Visions II”.
[b]Qael’Naath End:[/b] 1MP/5DP
[/hider]

[hider=Prestige]
[b]Post Length:[/b] +10K Characters
+ 5 Prestige >> The Conduit
+ 5 Prestige >> Lucia
[/hider]