[center][h2][color=gray]Apostate[/color][/h2][/center]
[center][color=beige]...Meets another...[/color][/center]

[color=yellow]Setting: Keltra [/color]

That day the wind was howling from the northwest. A chill was brought in from the seaborn air, provoking the small critters of the small woods to return to their burrows and nests and give the day up for tomorrow. To match such a day, the usually blue skies above were a bright white, not quite swollen with rain, but definitely void of any warm rays of sun. It was dreary, yet dry, a perfect day to do nothing so long as your belly was full and your bed was warm -- though not for the only non-critter resident of the tiny Keltra wood: Apostate.

No such contentment pierced his heart, and no such fullness filled him. He was devoid of any pleasure of non-doing, but instead he stood antsy and thoughtful. Today he was going to do something, as he did every day, but what it was, he didn't know -- yet. Over the night, he felt the pain in his chest swell for a moment, only to relax, signifying that someone, somewhere had thrown off their shackles for freedom.

Apostate was proud, but disappointed he couldn't have seen it for himself. This is what was on his mind on that dreary day -- action. To act, to do, to be... he could feel it thrumming through his miasma and electrifying the metal that floated along his body, the urge to do something.

The grey skies suddenly burned with cosmic radiance, and an otherworldly music filled the air as beyond the trees, beyond the fields, and high above the southern sea, soared three colossi; immense metallic creatures resembling the shape of the horses found across the Eidolon Plains, except for the numerous scarlet wings that emerged from their forms and held them aloft.

There was no flapping or fluttering, the wings remained still and the colossi simply flew in defiance of gravity. They were limbs forged from celestial light, and the source of the strange song that woke the woodland realm and its denizens. Stirred them from their slumber and kindled the inner flames of focus.

The procession traveled along the coast towards a solitary fortress in the distance, and a powerful presence lingered in its wake. The red forest seemed to respond with reverence, the mystical melody echoing through the foliage slowly faded as it merged into the rustling of leaves, the calling of animals, and whispers on the wind.

Curious, Apostate focused on the fortress and built energy in his legs. In a snap moment, He let loose an incredible bound, blasting the trees around him as he took to the skies. He broke through the clouds and maintained his focus on the fortress, arcing towards it through the air. His great leap came to an abrupt end as he slammed back down into the ground by the foot of the walls and bellowed.

"Who builds this?" His words accompanied the sound of raining dirt that had bloomed from his landing.

The three colossi followed afterwards, descending upon the nearby sea. Their arrival awoke the fury of the waves, with great watery tides crashing against the stoney shores, and the roar of the sea reached the fortress of Keltra. From the cacophony arose another voice in answer to the question from the god.

[b]"I am its creatrix."[/b] The voice proclaimed, 

The scarlet wings of the colossi vanished with the sound of shattering glass piercing the air, and Homura leapt from the massive creature in the center to the land beside Apostate.

In one hand she held a golden spear exuding cosmic power, and in her other hand, she held onto a sleeping simulacrum of herself; a mortal imbued with a small essence of the divine.

The red goddess gazed upon Apostate with fierce flames in her eyes, and a sharp smile more dangerous than the weapon she wielded. [b]"I am Homura. Who are you?"[/b]

"I am Apostate," The smokeborn answered simply. Shifting focus, the god loosely gestured his blade at the sleeping figure. "What is that?"

[b]"One of my champions, and she is human, another of my creations. How fortuitous that you would come here. I have more humans within Keltra, and I intended to make gifts of them for my fellow divine. Would you like to have some, Apostate?"[/b] Homura asked, and stepped closer to the wall of the fortress.

"Do they move?" Apostate questioned further. He took a step closer to the Goddess, as if getting a better view of what she held. As he did, his billowing smoke wrapped around the scene.

[b]"They are the mortal expressions of our will and desires forged from earth, water, wind, and fire. The shepherds for our creations, capable of motion, art, and freedom. They are easily shaped and defined by our powers, but remain fragile and must preserve their inner flames lest they die."[/b] As she spoke, the wall before her rippled and shifted until it parted, wider and wider, and access to Keltra was given.

Homura stepped forth towards the red keep atop a rise in the land at a leisurely pace, and dashing towards her from the building were two more mortals identical to the goddess. "Two more of my champions." Homura said while she walked.

"I see." Apostate followed. As he did, the haze that pooled around him started to mix with the air, sneaking into the inhales of the present mortals.

Both of the champions suddenly stumbled before reaching either of the divine, but their words were easily heard. "What's happening, Wander?" One asked while holding her head in her hands, trembling with an overwhelming pain. Her twin struggled to stay still, her eyes closed as she concentrated on stabilizing herself. "I do not know." She gasped, and then opened her eyes. Dissent directed towards Homura, like a pointed spear.

[b]"I would ask that you refrain from inflicting upon my servants disobediance and suffering unless you wish to provoke me."[/b] The red goddess said as she came to a halt, and stared at Apostate with enigmatic expression.

Apostate stopped walking and stood completely still, until his voice rumbled. "Do you challenge me?"

[b]"No, but if your presence will cause unnecessary harm for my champions, then I will require you to wait outside. I can provide you with humans elsewhere, if you prefer."[/b] Homura replied, as she stepped forward and crossed the distance between her and the two mortals with divine agility. Her spear reached out and tapped both upon their heads causing them to go still and close their eyes.

"Hmm." Apostate thought with a grumble. A breeze picked up around him, swirling with him as the nexus. As the tiny cyclone formed, it gathered his smoke and folded it back onto himself again and again until a dense coccoon covered the god. The smoke coaleced into a metal wrapping, only to crack and crumble from the god within. Newly revealed, Apostate stood in a different form, that of Homura, save for an eyeless face.

"They will be spared from Hevel, for now." His old voice didn't quite match the image he was currently in. "I accept your gifts."

Homura remained quiet for moment, until she simply nodded and tapped both champions with her spear once more. The two awoke from their stupor and looked back and forth between themselves, Homura, and the faceless visage Apostate had taken.

[b]"We have returned. Allow me to introduce you to each other. Curiosity, Wanderer, this is Apostate, the god of Defiance."[/b] Homura said.

Both Curiosity and Wanderer immediately bowed to the two divine, and spoke at the same time.
"I'm not sure what happened, but please forgive me!" Curiosity shouted, shaking her head from side to side and slapping her companion with her long hair.
"I apologize for... stumbling, your grace. It is a great honor." Wanderer stated in a much more composed manner.

A disgusted groan rumbled out of the faux-Homura. "You grovel. Why do you grovel!?"

Curiosity exuded dread as she stopped her shaking and became still. "I do not know!" She shouted again, while Wanderer sighed. The other champion then replied. "We were weak and these thoughts had suddenly taken us, like we were possessed of rage. I cannot explain it without disgracing myself further." Slowly the two arose from their position and looked to Homura in search of an answer.

[b]"You are forgiven."[/b] The red goddess said, and then the duo glanced towards the other deity with mixed apprehension.

Apostate twitched, a sharp pain in his arm. With a wide gesture he pointed his pained arm at Curiousity. "You!"

"Me?" The champion's eyes widened with surprise and fear. She stuttered as words fumbled out of her mouth. "I didn't mean it, and I won't be weak again, I-I I just was tired, you see. We've been... tired..." Her gaze repeatedly averted from Apostate, towards her sister, to Homura, to the ground and sky, anywhere but the frightening eyeless mask of her maker.

The god of Defiance swiped the air, as if erasing Curiousity's excuses. "Why did you stand here and let that one-" he pointed at Wanderer, "-disrespect you? She called you weak and now you're repeating it as if it was your own. Are you weak, are you beneath her? Do you not deserve my respect, hers?"

As if struck by his words, Curiosity staggered backwards and looked to her sister for help, for something to deny Apostate's words with, but the other champion said nothing. Did nothing.
"I don't know. I don't know, I just didn't want to hurt our maker and there was nothing I could do. I was weak... but I won't be now. I want both of you to respect me!" She shouted at Wanderer and Apostate.

Wanderer closed her eyes, and remained rooted where she stood. She stayed silent after her sister's outburst and kept her eyes shut while Homura stabbed Daybringer into the ground and sat down. The sleeping champion rested peacefully in her lap.

Apostate rotated his shoulder, as if stretching the muscles hidden under the shoulder blade. With a jerking motion, he cracked his neck and cleared his throat. 

"We'll see," was all he said in response to Curiousity. Turning his attention back to Homura, the god pointed again. "Tell me more of the humans that sleep?"

"Curiosity, Wanderer, look after your sister." The two called champions approached the sitting goddess and took her place. Homura stood and grasped Daybringer once more. "Shall we?" She said as she gestures to the keep, and then resumes her walk towards it.

[b]"There is little else to explain. The humans that sleep are unshaped and undefined, awaiting the touch of the divine. I can tell you how our kin sculpted and painted them, if you wish."[/b] Homura offered.

"Very well," Apostate folded his arms squard behind his back. "How did they shape these beings?"

[b]"Your presence is enough. Their minds will be imprinted upon, and memories of you and your will shall define their nature. I ask that you guide them, teach them the meaning of your aspect. Our brother Chailiss imbued his humans with resistance to the cold and made them much larger than their orginal shape. Our sister Yudaiel intends to make humans that stand against the darkness of doom and despair, and our brother Voligan said he would have his become protectors."[/b]

The two divine reached the threshold of the keep, its large doorways welcoming them. Daybringer illuminated the vast halls that were filled with sleeping humans, thousands and thousands of them. Homura gestures to them, offering them to Apostate. [b]"You may have ninety-thousand humans, brother."[/b]

"Thank you." The words came out sincerely. There was a pause at first, then a question. "Protectors. Protectors from what?" He turned to Homura. "And how does Yudaiel intend to stand against such aspects?"

[b]"There are those among us that would wreak havoc upon Galbar. They would beget din and discord, and hinder those of us that would beget beauty and cohesion. Voligan sought to protect life from such individuals and their machinations. As for your second question, the answer can be found in the question itself. If you wish for me to detail the entirety of what that would look like, I am afraid I have neither the time nor desire to do so."[/b] Homura approached one of the sleeping humans, and gazed upon its featureless face. Her attention wandered back to Apostate and she simply watched him with an amused smile.

"That's stupid," Apostate spoke plainly. "Don't you agree?"

[b]"It is too soon to ascertain whether the paths we have chosen are either wise or foolish, however I seek to preserve that which is sacred and think those that seek to inflict harm upon others as disgusting."[/b] As she spoke, Daybringer became small and dim, and she cut her hand along its bladed edge.

[b]"Why do you consider such stupid?"[/b] She asked while her divine blood gathered in her palm and driplets began to rise. Slowly the blood coalesced into a small shard.

"The humans, that is smart -- I see no fault in their creation." Apostate watched Homura for a moment. A low groan came from deep inside the faux-Homura and Apostate shook his head.

"You have created a creature capable of will similar to us, yet you easily diminished this achievement by allowing others to pit them straight to their demise." He pointed a finger at nothing in particular. "You said some of our kin seek destruction, so others seek to protect against destruction... using what you have called fragile. You said another seeks to use them to stand up against despair, an open ended goal that sees the complete slavery of those you gifted. You made a creature, but others are using it as a tool -- that is stupid."

Returning his attention to the slumbering beings, Apostate finished, "I will accept your gift, but they won't be tools. I'll make a tool if I need one -- I'm not a fool."

[b]"Hmm... I am curious to see what you create."[/b] The shard flew from her hand and sank into the sleeping human beside her. Homura stepped back as the prone form was lifted up and altered, red hair sprouting from her scalp and similarly red garb adorned her form. Another mortal akin to Homura, but different.

[b]"My name is Homura and I have created you. Know that I am the honorable servant of your Lord. You shall see His will done, for there is only His will. You shall be an instrument of creation in this world known as Galbar. The work that remains for us is indefinite, yet such is the nature of our Lord's realm."[/b] The red goddess spoke with power, and her voice echoed throughout the vast halls of Keltra.

[b]"Your aspect is Pride. You have been blessed by my presence, and have been given the opportunity to fulfill a purpose. Come and aid me now. Protect your brothers and sisters from the monsters that would prey upon them!" [/b]The wound upon her palm had vanished, and Homura stood before newly awakened Pride.

Immediately apparent was their difference in height, as Homura was much taller than the mortal, but there were other features that stood out. Pride had softer, more round cheeks, and bigger eyes. Her hair had hints of pink, more loose and longer. Even her outfit was changed with more jewelry and pieces of finery adorning the small champion. Homura moved to stand behind her, and placed her hand atop Pride's head.
[b]
"Allow me to introduce you to each other. Pride, this is Apostate, the god of Defiance."[/b]

Metal pimpled Apostate's skin and with a quizzical look, the god reached out towards Pride. Without a word, he grabbed Pride's chin, his thumb poking into her left cheek while his other fingers poked her right. He leaned in, and where there were empty sockets on his face, smoke formed swirling eyes. "Why did you name this one such a thing?"

The small champion pushed all of the hands poking and prodding her away, and looked angrily at the two divine. Her mind struggled to find the words she wanted to say, and she realized that she did not even know how to speak. Homura shook her head with fatigue and let out a sigh before she answered. "This one will teach humanity humility. That is why."

"Ah." Were the first words Pride spoke as she scowled at Homura. When her gaze turned to the eyeless god, she frowned further expressing her disgust. "Am a god?" She asked, and Homura looked to Apostate to watch how he would reply.

"I am," Apostate answered, "and you are what?"

"Homa? Keltra? No... I am Pride. Pride? That's me..." The girl looked between Homura and Apostate in confusion, uncertainty filling her as she sought to answer the question shot back. 

"Do you know what pride is?" Apostate followed.

"My name? But something else, like a face, or a smell. No, it's within me. It is an aspect of my inner fire. A light in the darkness. A sword that cuts silence. A cup that is filled with emptiness. Pride is my purpose, or perhaps pride is my essence. Oh, I apologize for not being nice before. I don't like it when others touch me without my permission." Pride brimmed with delight upon ascertaining how speech and language functioned, and then bowed before the two deities. "Welcome to Keltra, Apostate."

Apostate stared at Pride for a while, a deep groan rumbling somewhere hidden. Eventually the god turned to Homura. "What have you done to this creature, Homura? In mere moments she has been reconfigured, or perhaps pre-destined."

"It's rude to call me a creature. I did not realize that gods had forgotten manners, or are you simply a vagabond whom has stumbled here?" Pride interjected before the red goddess could reply, and the child found her vision blocked by the body of Homura as the goddess swiftly appeared before her.

[b]"Silence yourself. You are to protect your kin. You do not disrespect the servants of the King in Heaven. Do you understand?"[/b] Homura spoke quietly, but firmly, and Pride quickly nodded. [b]"Hmm... then remain quiet until you are spoken to." [/b]The red goddess continued, then turned back to Apostate.

[b]"She is my hand, akin to how we are the hands of the Monarch of All. My memories have been passed onto her, and so she has become more than most mortals. She speaks our tongue and has inherited an iota of divine power." [/b]Homura began patting the quiet Pride upon the head once more, and smiled.

"I see," Apostate said. "Why was that necessary?"

[b]"We cannot stray from the Sacred Path. Only nihilism and annihilation await at the end of all other paths." [/b]The red goddess answered, before she stepped back and swayed, her hand extended outward and caressing the air. She slowly moved to an unheard melody, magical muscles sending her into the air in graceful leaps and strides. [b]"Only forward, never backward." [/b]She spoke softly as she danced.

Apostate shook his head and let out a defeated groan. "Very well, another tool." 

Turning to Pride, the God held out a hand, palm up. "You may speak as freely as you wish, Pride." He paused. "Your creator has offered me a great many of your kind and I have accepted. Would you like to leave here with me and them, or do you want to stay with..." He looked over at the dancing goddess, "...Homura?"

"I would prefer you both leave, but I don't think that is going to happen. I intend to protect those that sleep here, and the two of you are the greatest threats present." Pride answered.

Homura remained enraptured by her own motions, twirling and soaring, rising and falling, lost in her performance.

"Indeed," Apostate agreed with Pride, "Perhaps you should force both of us to leave. For myself, I intend to leave -- but her -- I don't know. Could you tell me something, as a human?"

"Hmm, I suppose I could." The small champion crossed her arms, evidently distrustful of Apostate.

"What do you want?"

Pride frowned in response to the question. "Did I not make my intentions clear? I want my brothers and sisters to be protected. That is all." Her attention turned briefly to the red goddess as she began shimmering and conjuring strange symbols in the air. Uncertainty filled her, as she sought to understand the sight before her.

Homura continued her dance, summoning sigils and shining brightly. "The citadel shall be a sanctuary for the faithful. The citadel shall defend humanity from destruction and despair. Pride. My Pride. Will you protect humanity?" Her voice resonated with divine power, and echoed in the halls.

"Hah!" Apostate let out a single laugh, "your words are clear. I'll take my leave." He bellowed. "Homura! Where shall I meet your gifts?"

Homura slowed before coming to a halt, and stood beside numerous circles comprised of the symbols floating in the air. She tilted her head as she looked at Apostate. [b]"Where would you like to receive them?"[/b] She asked.

"There is a Garden to the south-west. That is the ideal place for them to first wake," Apostate stated, "shall it be done?"

She began to hum to herself as she considered his question. "It would take time to deliver them with the colossi. Will you wait, or would you prefer to take them now? I am teaching my champions to command the colossi without me... it will take time to deliver them to you." Homura repeated and began to walk along the perimeter of the conjured circles.

"What is your estimate?" Apostate turned in place to maintain his observation of the Goddess. "I am in no rush, as a new pain in my chest whispers of a..." he trailed off. "How long so I can meet them there?"

[b]"Four days from now. Will that suffice?"[/b] Homura reached out a hand towards the center of the circle, but her eyes remained focused on Apostate. Pride approached the red goddess with curiosity and stepped beside her, attention fixated upon the symbols now.

"That would be good," Apostate agreed. He held out his hand again, to no one in particular. His fingertips began to smoke and rot into a glossy black metal. The taint slowly crept up his arm until the entire limb was crafted of smoke and metal. His fingertips pulsed a dark grey and inbetween his open hand, a small orb of smoke started to form. The orb of smoke rotated and rotated, each spin condensing it more and more until it turned as glossy as the metal, except instead of a metallic black underneath, it was a smokey glass.

"This is my gift." 

He dropped it on the floor, the glass orb smacking the ground with a dense thud. It rolled to Pride's feet, no worse for wear. "It is for mortal hands only -- though do not lose it." He looked directly at Pride, a set of smoke swirling eyes appearing on his face. "For all that you protect, do not lose it."

Blinking upon hearing the thud, and seeing the dark orb at her feet, Pride turned her gaze to Apostate as eyes of smoke peered at her. "I... I accept your gift. Thank you. I, um, would like to know; will you be returning to Keltra? The citadel is rather desolate now, but I hope to change that in the future." The small champion retrieved the orb from the floor, and held it carefully in her arms.

"You'd have me return?" Apostate, for once, sounded completely surprised.

"I am the keeper of Keltra. It would become a boring place if I refused to let any of the divine visit just because they are dangerous, and I do not like the idea of being keeper of such a boring place. As long as you promise not to harm the people here, I would be happy to have you come back and enjoy what we have to offer." Pride proclaimed, pleased with her speech.

Then the roar of fire filled the great hall as the circle of sigils ignited in a blinding blaze, and Homura stepped back. "The Eternal Flame. The source of sustenance for all mortals within Keltra, the first step upon the Sacred Path. My gift to humanity." The red goddess said before she spared a last glance towards Apostate and Pride, then walked away.

Pride held a hand to shield her eyes from the bright bonfire, and almost stumbled with the weight of the orb in one hand. She balanced herself, then peered into the flames, finding that her sight had quickly adapted to its light. She looked at Apostate, and found herself struggling to speak. "Will you come back?" She asked again.

Apostate looked at the orb in Pride's hand then at her face. "It will be done."

The small champion smiled. "Then I shall look forward to it, Apostate, God of Defiance. I'll make sure my sisters do not tarry while they deliver what you were promised." She looked towards the large doorway that led out to the empty fields, and squinted at the sight of the more ambient light of the sun. "I think I shall speak with them now. If you'll excuse me." Pride marched with her short legs towards the exit, nervious and curious about what awaited outside.

"Homura." Apostate's voice echoed in the chamber. "You called yourself my sibling, yes?" 

Emerging from the shadows that danced upon the walls and high up ceiling, Homura descended back to where she stood before.[b] "I did. We are kin, connected to each other through our connection to the Monarch of All. You are neither my creator nor my creation. We are the same."
[/b]
"Then," Apostate spoke. His formed began to crumble away from his body, a geyser of smoke erupting from the corpse until it filled the room. Where the smoke was the thickest, a beating heart of metal began to form, and around it a wrapping of metal. Metal bega nto weave in the smoke until it was all contained into the form of Apostate. He stood tall, massive sword in hand. "When the time is right, and you are ready, come find me -- and we will fight. As friends or foe, that is for you to decide. Come find me then." 

He turned to the exit. "I will await you."

[hider=summary]
Apostate is walking the outskirts of Keltra when he spots the colossi flying back to the fortress and so he decides to investigate. After some wonton destruction, Apostate arrives at the Club Keltra, where he demands to see the manager (he knows the band). 

Homura answers him and is about to invite him in for coffee when her champions pop out of the house and are immediately bent out of shape by Apostate's true form. Homura chastizes Apostate and he demands retribution but Homura is sly and the entire thing is resolved peacefully with Apostate turning into Homura (sans-face). The near identical duo talk with the champions, or rather, Apostate asks 20 questions and sends Curiousity into a hissy that makes things tense.

With that out of the way, Apostate and Homura finally enter the digs and Homura explains humanity to Apostate. The Defiant One is pretty happy with the idea, but when Homura further explains what the others want to do with them, he is quick to call them dumb. Homura shrugs and makes another champion by the name of Pride.

Ironically, Pride is rather short and quite frankly, made to look more adorable than intimidating, and is suddenly the target of Apostate's endless questions. Pride isn't too happy with this turn of events but Homura demands she shut up and so she does until Apostate demands she stops shutting up.

Understandably, Pride is sick of both of the gods but is too short to really do anything, and no one respects short people anyways so things continue in disregard of her desires. Apostate eventually circles back and asks what she wants and she reiterates herself, and so Apostate gives her a laugh and a glass ball for no reason, stating that if she loses it, terrible things will happen.

Now this is where it gets weird, as after this, Pride invites Apostate back, throwing the god for a complete loop. He says he will return and Pride leaves with that. The scene finally ends with Apostate challenging Homura to a duel... What?

(Could be a friendly one, could be an angry one, only time will tell)
They never got to have coffee.

[/hider]

[hider=Vigor]
Apostate starting: 9

Glass Orb/Orb of Hevel - A small, yet heavy, glass orb gifted from Apostate himself to Pride. He claims it is for mortal hands only and demands it never be lost from Pride. The orb itself is insignificant except for the fact that it is indestructable except by divine decree. Vigor spent: 1 

Apostate ending: 8

Cycle 2 
Homura’s Vigor total: 6.
1 Vigor to create Champion: Pride
3 Vigor to create Monument: The Eternal Flame
Vigor spent: 4.
Remaining Vigor: 2.[/hider]