[center][h2][b]The Monarch of All[/b][/h2] & [h3][color=a2d39c]Phelenia[/color][/h3][/center] [color=a2d39c]“Soon dears. Soon father will let you live again.”[/color] Phelenia said as she ran her hand over some nearby flower buds. They were bursting almost. She so desperately wanted them to bloom. It would’ve taken nothing but a tick. But as she looked up at the air, she saw the dark clouds that hid away her father’s palace. A palace she hadn’t ever seen with her own eyes in fact. Maybe if she had the honors, like Tuku apparently had already. Someday she would have her own moment of recognition. For now though, she wandered across the Orsus continent. Looking for those points of power Tuku had pointed out to her. She had to be careful though. As to not become a willing puppet to the hunter god. At the same time the points of power were important. Especially now that her father was clearly in such a state. It would be a delicate balance to maintain. That wasn’t her worry now that she came upon one of such spots. The spot was covered by vegetation. Great trees stood tall, reaching for the darkened skies. Her trees. Her sentinels. She wandered about the place and rested a hand upon the damp moss. Yes, it was here. She could feel it. Like the heart of a lioness. Pulsing power coursed here, deep underneath the earth. For now it would have to be kept dormant. But protected. She let out an animalistic roar. The birds didn’t fly away. They stayed perfectly still. In fact more began to gather upon the branches around her. Wolves howled in the far distance. A bear appeared in the dark branches. And a deer appeared beside it. Unnatural. A pang of guilt went through Phelenia. She shouldn’t be disturbing natural life like this. Not even for this. But if she didn’t Tuku and the others would lay claim. Natural life would be imperiled. The way she saw it, natural life was already imperiled. More animals gathered around her. They bowed their heads in silent obedience. Yes, they would protect this place against roaming sapience. Against gods, what could they do? She didn’t want them to endanger themselves. Warding off mortals would be more than enough. She bowed in return, and the bird and the beasts of the land made their leave. They would return to their respectful places in the world. For a few moments in life, prey would not fear predator. By dusk natural balance would be restored again though. And the bear would tear the deer apart. Phelenia herself sat back against a nearby tree though. The roar had momentarily tired her out. Her strength would return in just a few moments. But it shouldn’t. It shouldn’t have to return. She was queen of all life, was she not? Did that not involve the beasts in this world? Even the ones she hadn’t made perhaps? They were all part of her domain. But only an emperor could grant a queen’s crown. In an instant Phelenia turned into her green-winged eagle form and flew up through the canopy. Higher and higher she went. Through the clouds. Here, above, the grace of her father shone bright still. And still she went higher. Higher and higher. Emerald light shone from the wings and streaked across the sky upwards. Carrying her upwards. Until she finally reached the wonderful place that was her father’s palace. Divine wings carried her all the way upon the marble colonnade, where she transformed into her true self. She crossed it, and eventually reached the Palace proper. Though she stopped before the grand doors. There was a moment of doubt. Would he deny her? Would he even recognize her? How could she ever come back if she was not even recognized by her own father? But a queen had to be strong in resolve. If she stopped here and now, could she ever say she was worthy of calling herself that. So she pushed in. Her resolve strengthened the closer she got to the throne room. When she entered it, she made sure to not forget her place. Queen of Life. Mother of Beasts. Yes. But also a child of the Monarch. [color=a2d39c]“Father.”[/color] She said, averting her eyes. [color=a2d39c]“I’ve come with a request.”[/color] She bent down on the vines that carried her. The Monarch of All, in all His resplendent glory gazed upon she who had so brazenly come into His throne room unannounced and making requests at His own expense. He gazed down upon her, two of His hands coming together to form a bridge as He leaned over in the Jade throne, casting an intimidating gaze upon Phelenia. Perhaps, it was due to the interaction with the One God, or due to His own weariness upon the darkness that seemed to be consuming the Galbar, but the Monarch of All’s attention did not seem to be wholly upon the goddess. The gaze of light, it shone not upon her, but passed her, never leaving the Galbar. Yet, after a moment, the silence relented as His voice filled the throne room, His speech echoing upon the walls and columns. [b][i]”You have picked an abnormal time to come to me unannounced for a request, child. Before I entertain this request, I would like an apology, nothing more, as you already know your place, Phelenia.”[/i][/b] [color=a2d39c]“I-”[/color] Phelenia stopped herself. Of course, he was expecting her brother Tuku. And she brazenly made her attendance. [color=a2d39c]“My deepest respects and apologies to you, great Monarch. I beg forgiveness for my behaviour. I thought- no, think that my request will serve the greater good. Your good.”[/color] [b][i]”And what is this request, Phelenia?”[/i][/b] [color=a2d39c]“I wish for you to grant me dominion over the animals of Galbar.”[/color] Phelenia said. [color=a2d39c]“I have colored the world with plants, and seeded the deep, blue oceans and seas with my children. I may not have made all the animals in the world but I care for them. Every last one of them. I care for them like a goddess should.”[/color] And then she dared to look up, and for the first time she saw His glory. [color=a2d39c]“Please.”[/color] She pleaded. [color=a2d39c]“I could serve you so much better. With them, I could make Galbar the splendid world you so wish it to be.”[/color] There was a moment of silence after Phelenia had spoken and it seemed that, for once in the conversation, the Monarch of All shifted His gaze to the goddess that kneeled before the Jade Throne. It was a moment of what seemed like deep thought, no tension was to be found in the air that so often tended to follow the Monarch of All and the dealing with other divine beings. Perhaps, it was confusion over why a god would ask for yet more dominion over the aspects that He had given them in their creations. Yet, His response came, slowly and deliberately. [b][i]”You are… the first of the divine to ask for another shard of power. It is an ambitious request, young Phelenia. I am tempted to grant this request, but I need proof of your loyalty as some of your siblings dare to go against my will.”[/i][/b] While he spoke slowly and deliberately, the Monarch’s words carved an abyss around the essence of Phelenia. That he could still doubt her devotion. When he bid her and her siblings to beautify the world, did she not paint it with a thousand flowers? When her siblings were slaughtering each other, was she instead not busy seeding the water with life? When he wordlessly declared that none of her beautiful plants would blossom, did she fight him on it? No matter how much she yearned to see the flowers bloom? He just needed more. She raised her palm up. Above it a black, floating, boiling sludge appeared. Its mere presence sickened Phelenia, and she wished nothing more than to have it vanished. But she couldn’t. She had to prove her fealty. [color=a2d39c]“This… disease will sicken that which I care most about wherever you release it. All plants that it touches will wither and die and I will be powerless against it. Take it and release it should you ever feel like I’ve wronged you.”[/color] The Monarch of All was silenced by this action, the sludge pooling into His vision and the shock of her so willingly making something that would quite literally destroy any plant it touched. In a slow, calculated movement, the Monarch of All washed a hand over the sickness and in that moment, it disappeared from sight. It was not destroyed, but placed away, locked somewhere in the palace away from prying eyes and life of any kind. He was for once in His time of ruling the gods, stunned beyond belief as to the loyalty of his progeny. So, the words had come out, not as a steady stream of thought, but as one recovering from the shock of why she had done. [b][i]”Phelenia, I- You would so willingly make that which would destroy that which you care for. Truly, you are the most loyal amongst your peers and for this act, I will grant you your request.”[/i][/b] He reached two fingers into the wound upon His chest and plucked a shard from it, letting out a pained breath as He did so. Then, the Monarch of All allowed the shard to float before gently pushing it towards Phelenia, not once shifting in His throne as He watched yet another part of Himself drift away. Phelenia willingly took the shard. For a second she simply let it float over her hand where the black sludge disease once floated. In her mind she could hear howls and roars and beautiful bird songs. Many times she had been an animal to run amongst them. But now she would be more than that. So much more. [color=a2d39c]“Thank you, father. Truly, thank you.”[/color] The shard started to glow bright as she accepted its essence. It started to disintegrate into light dust that flew towards and around Phelenia. The goddess felt a rush of power as her form changed with the received essence. Her eyes, once bright green, turned amber and horizontally slit. Horns like that of a deer appeared from underneath her kelp hair as they grew. Fur grew across her back, three tails formed and finally, feathered wings unfurled themselves from her back. With her transformation complete, Phelenia felt more powerful than ever. Yet she knew her place. Again she kneeled before the Monarch. [color=a2d39c]“My lord. I must beg for my leave now. I am all too aware that with this new charge comes new duties as well.”[/color] [b][i]”Then go and let my will be done.”[/i][/b] [hider=Summary]Phelenia tries to comfort the plants because they cannot bloom as the Monarch is grumpy. She orders the animals near a point of power (as pointed out by Tuku) to protect that spot from anyone who would claim its power. But she realizes that ordering around animals still takes some of her power. She believes this shouldn’t be the case. So she flies up to daddy’s crib. There she barges in like she was expected and kneels. The Monarch promptly puts her back in her place but then asks what request she has. She asks for the dominion of animals. He is tempted to offer it up, but wants proof of loyalty from her. Phelenia doesn’t do half measures and creates a disease that would wither and turn to sludge that which she loves most: plants. The disease cannot be stopped by her, no matter how much vigor she uses. The Monarch is somewhat impressed by how readily she offers it up. He takes the disease and places it somewhere safe in the Palace. Then he grants her the shard of beasts. Phelenia takes it and goes through a metamorphosis. After which she begs her leave as with the new-found power comes new responsibilities. [/hider] [hider=Vigor] Phelenia start: 7 Vigor - 1 Vigor: have local wildlife protect a point of power Tuku had shown her. - 1 Vigor: travel towards the Monarch’s Palace - 2 Vigor (discounted from 4 vigor because of the plant aspect): Black-sludge disease. A horrible disease that turns plants to a lifeless, ill, black sludge in the region. Phelenia herself cannot do anything against this disease. Not even with her Vigor. Phelenia end: 3 Vigor [/hider]