[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/bgTgeDd.png[/img][/center]

The god was taken a touch by surprise by the creation of the Hydra to act as an enforcer of the node’s neutrality, but it did somewhat work in lieu of actually getting formal agreement from most of those assembled. He stared up at the looming thing. A mighty guardian indeed, and also an impressive practical display of the power they wielded. It was one thing to know you had power, it was quite another when the result of said power was gazing down at you with  far too many hungry serpent eyes.

[color=e49a00]”My thanks for this, Benea. Quite the masterful piece of work”[/color] he told the creator of many headed guardian’s creator [color=e49a00]”breaking an agreement needs to come with an understood consequence, I think, and this one will do just fine”[/color] 

It certainly had done the job of getting Eleanna to back off from the node, though there was the unfortunate side effect of it terrifying the living daylights out of some of the humans. Then again, there was already a giant snake among them so he suspected that it would not be quite as bad a panic as the goddess he would eventually learn was called Dzallitsunya thought it was. 

Speaking of her, she was only one of a number of gods who decided to stray off into the wilds now that talks were coming to an end. He was a touch perturbed by the fact that few had actually actively signaled agreement with his plan, indeed only Monica actually raised a hand in agreement, but it was probably better they be off rather than bickering endlessly here. That, he thought, could only escalate to one unfortunate conclusion.

Benea at least seemed interested in continuing a more general conversation by inviting some of them to come along with her, though unfortunately most turned her down, which was something of shame, he thought. Here lay an opportunity to learn of the character of the others, and witness, and possibly steer, their burgeoning ideals, something which he considered more valuable than rushing off to stake an early claim on the board.  

[color=e49a00]”I would be interested in traveling with you, for a while at least,”[/color] he replied to Benea’s offer, before nodding to the very similar goddess whose hand she was holding [color=e49a00]”and you as well, Monica, should you find no issue with my own presence?”[/color]  

[color=e49a00]”But first, now that we have all taken his wisdom, it does seem crude to simply leave our creator’s form laying in the grass like this in such a diminished state, don’t you think?”[/color] he said. He also thought might also do well to contain the things Vatarr had placed inside the skull to rot the divine flesh. Who knew what those would get up too once they were done.

What to specifically do with the body instead of leaving it laying here had the god stroking his goatee as he thought for a moment, before he came to a decision that served a secondary purpose of checking any deception on Benea’s part, if there had been any, or simply strengthening her deed if she had been true.

[color=e49a00]”Let us seal away this broken form”[/color] he said, gesturing out a hand and causing stone slabs to form the simple granite tomb around the creator, before adding [color=e49a00]”and leave behind a clear memory in its place”[/color] 

That clear memory solidified atop the tomb in the form of a life sized statue of the god, formed in the likeness of what Xavior assumed would be his uninjured state. The statue of the armored god leaned against the node just as he had in his last moments, but instead of pained and defeated Xavior gave him the look of resting, hands clasped together in his lap and eyes shut. Eyes shut, and thus concealing the fully functioning golden orbs he had left beneath stone eyelids, for should the slumbering memorial sense intent to claim the node from any approaching it, it would awaken and enforce its neutrality.

[color=e49a00]”May you rest until we all stand before you once more, and a new world is set to be born”[/color] he announced, lacing the law of his offered pact into the guardian, adding in at the last moment a grim clause that those present would not necessarily need to be alive.  He hoped it would not come to that, but it would be foolish to simply assume peace would hold between them all.

Once the stonework was set and the rules were in place, Xavior renounced any form of ownership of the monument and left it in the hands of the dead creator. Not even he would be immune to the ire of the guardian, should he break his word.

[color=e49a00]”There, with that, I think my business here is done”[/color] he said, dusting off his hands despite having not set the stonework with them, and then turning back to Benea and asking with a genteel smile [color=e49a00]”So, to where was it you were you thinking of setting out for?”[/color] 

[hider=Summary]
Xavior is a bit peeved most people didn’t give their word on not taking the node, but decides that there being a consequence for attempting to do so will do for now.

He adds his own consequences to this, a statue of the creator keyed to attack any who approach with the intent of capturing the node without the presence of the others there to approve. He also buries the creator in a tomb beneath this statue, as much out of a sense of tidiness as respect.

He also agrees to travel with Benea for a while at least, so he can learn more of her and to see if she can be trusted or not.
[/hider]

[hider=Might]
4 Might spent on erecting a tomb for the creator, and setting atop it a stone guardian who will fight to ensure none may take the central node without the permission of all the others 9who still live).

1/5  remaining
[/hider]