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[color=brown][h1][b][u]Algrim[/u][/b][/h1][/color]
&
[h1]The As-Clastophon[/h1]
[color=gray]“Through selfless service, you will always be fruitful and find the fulfillment of your desires”[/color][/center]

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The sixth and final destination was in sight. After so much time spent travelling, fighting whatever monsters were foolish enough to pick a fight with him, Algrim’s task was nearly complete. With the construction of this final pillar, the world will be fully stabilized, and he would finally be able to celebrate his triumph.

He emerged from his boulder, the large rock once again dissipating into a cloud of ash, and approached the hill upon which he intended to build the final pillar. There was someone there already -- a dark shape, partially divine. The An-Clastophon was sat upon the hill, and they beckoned Algrim up.

[color=brown]“And who would you be?”[/color] Algrim called up to them. 

The An-Clastophon responded, [color=b2c7df]“I am a servant of my god, here on business. Is this to be the center of the next ring of stabilized land?”[/color] She stood up, looking first at Algrim then down at the hill, as if to illustrate her question.

[color=brown]“Aye,”[/color] Algrim replied. [color=brown]“You’ve been travelling, then?”[/color]

The An-Clastophon nodded, and with a look of appraisal at Algrim, asked, [color=b2c7df]”If I may ask, how have you been stabilizing the land? Is there a specific method?”[/color]

[color=brown]“There is, aye,”[/color] Algrim said. [color=brown]“Though I’d prefer to discuss this with yer master.”[/color’

She shook her head, waving dismissively with an off-hand remark, [color=b2c7df]”My master does not so easily reveal themselves. Anything you tell me will be relayed to them,”[/color] she paused, and then tapped her head, [color=b2c7df]”and you can rest assured it will be relayed how you intended it. I quite value my life, and lying to my master is an easy way to trip my monitor.”[/color]

[color=brown]“Why can’t yer master be ‘ere themself?”[/color] Algrim asked.

The An-Clastophon narrowed her eyes, and responded, flatly, [color=b2c7df]”As I’ve said, they do not so easily reveal themselves. There’s nothing you can do to change this, as it was not my decision, nor will it ever be my decision.”[/color]

Now Algrim narrowed his eyes. [color=brown]“Watch yer tone, lass. What is yer master’s name? What are they the god of?”[/color]

Another shake of the head from the An-Clastophon, as she quickly answered, [color=b2c7df]”I cannot say. That would be a quick route to the death of this form and the correction of my mind. All that’s truly necessary to know is I am a servant of a god, anyways.”[/color]

[color=brown]“A god who you’ve now given me cause t’ distrust,”[/color] Algrim replied. [color=brown]“Won’t let me know their name, won’t meet me in person, won’t give me any information, and will kill their own servant for revealing such things.”[/color] He shook his head. [color=brown]“Can’t say I approve o’ such tyranny.”[/color]

She sat down on the hill, saying in return, a slight, fierce edge to her voice, [color=b2c7df]”Tyranny implies wrongdoing. I understand the whys of it, and recognize the hows. How can you tyrannize someone who is a part of you and acts in agreement?”[/color]

[color=brown]“Regardless,”[/color] Algrim continued. [color=brown]“If yer god wants any answers from me, they’ll ‘ave t’ reveal themself t’ me in person. A messenger won’t be of any help with what I’m tryin’ t’ do, an’ I can’t trust any oaths or pledges from y’ unless they’re made by yer master in person.”[/color]

The An-Clastophon spread her arms, saying, [color=b2c7df]”I am not just a messenger. I act with the empowerment of my god -- and as my god has ordered me to foster cooperation with gods, I intend to look for ways we can cooperate.”[/color]

[color=brown]“That’s all well an’ good,”[/color] Algrim replied. [color=brown]“But what if yer orders change? What if y’ make a promise to me, and then yer god, not beholden t’ the same promise, orders ye to break it?”[/color]

She stood up once more, answering as she paced atop the hill, [color=b2c7df]”What difference would a promise from my god make as opposed to a promise from me? My god could break a promise made by themself just as easily as one made by me,”[/color] she paused, and then, in a reassuring tone, [color=b2c7df]”I do not expect any promise will be broken regardless; what is hidden is not necessarily evil or untrustworthy. I have been ordered to build rapport and cooperation with the gods for a reason, and that reason is not served by violating trust.”[/color]

Algrim glared at her. The secrecy, her stubborn refusal to adhere to it, her dismissal of the importance of promises and pledges, all reeked of disrespect and untrustworthiness. Under other circumstances, he would have driven her off and carried on with his work. However, after some thought, he realized that would accomplish very little.

Her master already knew where the pillar would be and would have some idea of what it would do, and it wasn’t like he could put it somewhere else. Driving her away wouldn’t make her master any less of a threat, but might instead what could have been an unreliable ally into a dangerous enemy. Besides, with the way the pillar was designed, if any treachery [i]was[/i] intended, he would know about it at once.

So the god bit back whatever fiery reply he would have normally uttered, and swallowed his pride. Just this once. [color=brown]“The question still remains,”[/color] he went on. [color=brown]“What can ye personally do ta ‘elp me?”[/color]

[color=b2c7df]”It depends on what you need help with,”[/color] the An-Clastophon answered, halting in place and turning to look at Algrim.

[color=brown]“I need some’un who can provide a bit o’ extra power, and also ensure this spot remains protected, from th’ other gods if need be,”[/color] he said. [color=brown]“Now y’understand why I needed t’ speak with yer master?”[/color]

The An Clastophon once more shook their head, saying in return, [color=b2c7df]”Not necessary. I am a servant of my god, and as such am empowered to act in their name. If it is power you require, I have a way to provide it,”[/color] she assessed the hillside, [color=b2c7df]”and if it is protection that is needed, well, I have ideas in mind.”[/color]

[color=brown]“What sort o’ ideas?”[/color]

The An Clastophon gestured to the hill, explaining, [color=b2c7df]”I can more than defend the pillar, assuming I have a suitable terrain to work with. I think a volcano would do nicely; it’s defendable terrain while still being controllable. Better to have a natural disaster under our control than a series of natural disasters borne of mortal or divine meddling.”[/color]

[color=brown]“A volcano?”[/color] Algrim asked. He stroked his beard for a few moments. [color=brown]“Hm. I s’pose if we bury it deep down in th’ lava, no one could get at it. It’ll prevent the volcano from erupting. An’ if anyone does some’ow get at it, and destroy it, the resulting eruption will make ‘em pay. Aye… that could work,”[/color] he said, though there was still a guarded tone in his voice.

The An-Clastophon nodded, [color=b2c7df]”Exactly. Now, what will you need me to do to assist in creating this pillar?”[/color]

[color=brown]“As I said, just a bit o’ extra energy, that I can channel into building it,”[/color] Algrim said, extending his hand.

She held out her hand, an orb manifesting within it. It pulsed with power, and she offered it out to Algrim, saying, [color=b2c7df]”Take it, and use it.”[/color]

Algrim did so, reaching out to take her hand as he had done five times before. He formed the energy into another gem, this one being of the sea. He looked at the gem was scrutiny, as if inspecting it for some hidden flaw.

Then, he stomped his foot.

The earth began to shift. The hill they were on rose upward, transforming into a mountain. He stomped his foot again, and a circular space in the center of the hilltop - now a summit - began to sink down into the lowest depths of the earth. Deeper and deeper it went, until the faint magma of lava was visible beneath. A glow which was rising closer to closer, for the magma was rising now that it had a path to the surface.

Algrim threw the stone down the hole, and it met the lava with a light ripple through the molten rock. At once the lava’s rise halted. Time passed, and then slowly, it began to lower back to a more reasonable level.

[color=brown]“Y’ can’t see it,”[/color] he said, once things had settled. [color=brown]“But it’s under there. I expect you t’ do yer part in protecting it. Else there will be a reckoning.”[/color]

The An-Clastophon nodded, as she looked down upon the sea of lava before her. She said, [color=b2c7df]”I will see to it. It will be in good hands.”[/color]

[color=brown]“It better be,”[/color] Algrim said. [color=brown]“Now I must be off.”[/color] Although all six pillars had been finally constructed, and the world now fully stable, there were other tasks he had to see to.

The An-Clastophon waved him goodbye, and as he flew off, she began to dig. Deep beneath the earth, she blasted the magma below to create a path to the pillar out of cooled obsidian. Hollowing out a large room within, she excavated the pillar. Once she had done so, she began to prod the pillar.

If it stabilized the land, she could modify the land with it, she believed. With a specific application of power, the earth rumbled as she raised mountains. Another specific application of power, and certain sections sunk deep beneath the sea. Then, an eruption; with one massive press of power, the lava began to flow.

By the time she saw fit to end the eruption, great canyons had been carved in the land by the streams of lava, and ash spewed endlessly from the sky down on the land around the pillar. Emerging from beneath the rock, she took note of all of this. She took it upon herself to learn as much about the machinations of the pillar as possible.

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[hider=Summary!]
Algrim is flyin’ around makin’ pillars, and meets the As-Clas at the final pillar site
The As-Clas found circles of stabilized lands in her travels and did fancy maths to find out where the next pillar would be
She talks with Algrim a bit, who really does not like the fact the As-Clas won’t reveal where her god is
After the philosophy section, Algrim agrees to make the pillar under a giant volcano. She offers up an artifact that stores an MA, and he gets to work.
Then, he flies off. The As-Clas carves out her first lab around the pillar and messes with it. She creates the lands around the volcano.
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