[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6Sfmz3l.png[/img][/center][center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1006946319472001246/1010593717465395271/Ashevelen_Token.png[/img][/center] [hr] [center][h2][b][color=gold]A[/color][color=red] Hellish [/color][color=gold]trade[/color][color=red] deal[/color][/b][/h2][/center] [hr] Ashevelen let the Umbra roam the forest as she lifted herself in the air, becoming invisible to the mortal eyes. Watching their interactions with each other and the world around them. They were given minimal intelligence, for Ashevelen wanted them to learn about the world on their own. The Umbra roamed the forest trying to hunt the different critters that roamed it with minimal success at first. Unknowing how to use their ability to become corporeal, they would hide in the shadows and pounce on unsuspecting prey only to pass through it and scare it away. After, maybe an hour, some of the Umbra learned how to use it and suddenly, food became easy to catch. It was in that hour that some of the Umbra decided to go after easier prey than other critters. Themselves. Two bigger Umbras approached a smaller one from behind and in a moment of inattention, pounced on it. Biting and clawing at the smaller one, eventually it died and the two other Umbra started devouring it. Ashevelen appeared as a thunderbolt between them in an instant. “[color=gold] [b]STOP[/b] you fools! Did I give you permission to kill each other? [/color]” shouted Ashevelen at the two Umbras. Her anger was clear on her face. In a moment of pure stupidity, the Umbra looked at each other and decided the divine being in front of them would make a truly refreshing meal and tried to attack Ashevelen. With a mere flick of a finger, the two died instantaneously. Other Umbras watched the exchange and approached their creator, heads bowed down low. Fear radiating from their bodies. “[color=gold] Let that be a lesson to all of you. You shall not eat each other and you [b] SHALL NOT [/b] try to attack your creator. Next time I shall remove you from this plane, forever. [/color]” continued Ashevelen, as the Umbra surrounded her. Quietly listening to her words. “[color=gold] But maybe, just maybe…I was too harsh. I shall teach you today something very important for your future. I shall give you 3 great gifts. The gift of knowledge of trading, light resistance and how to strengthen yourselves to better hunt. May these three gifts be a sign of my benevolence and love towards you. [/color]”. Concentrating on the surrounding Umbra, Ashevelen looked into each of their blank eyes and started talking about the basics of trading. Buying, selling, profit and loss. Everything that would make a person a shrewd beginning merchant. Following that, she let out a strong friendly light from her body and while the Umbra initially tried to shield from it, they quickly realised that the light was not doing them harm but strengthening them. Continuing on that, shadows swirled around her body. Flickering in and out. In. And. Out of existence. Some of the Umbra understood the hidden message in the shadows and quickly tried to reproduce the effect. While still at its early stages, one of the Umbra gained the ability to modulate their shadowy hands into something sharp. Just as the teachable moment had concluded, a new figure entered the scene. Floating down from above, there was a godly aura about him. As he planted his feet on the ground, the Umbra suddenly felt compelled to throw themselves to the forest floor and prostrate themselves. He was tall, with red skin, a pair of horns, and dark attire. The soul of an unknown creature swirled around him, occasionally trying to dart off only to be yanked back - as if tethered by an unseen chain. He briefly glanced toward Ashevelan, before his gaze shifted to the sludge-like remains of the two Umbra she had slain, forgotten. The stranger extended a hand, and the two souls of the Umbra suddenly became visible for all to see. They were pulled toward him, and began swirling about his figure alongside the first soul. Ashevelen felt the arrival of the new divine being as they approached from above and went on her guard. Unknowing the divine aura, it was better to be ready for anything than be caught unprepared. “[color=gold] Umbra, leave us. [/color]” commanded Ashevelen and while the other deity compelled them to bow, as her creations, she had the upper hand for now. All but the few that were already close to them left the scene, swiftly. Looking at the souls of her Umbra as they went towards the newcomer, Ashevelen nodded. Whoever this deity was, it had power over the souls of mortals. “[color=gold] Welcome divine brother. I am called Ashevelen and these are my mortals, the Umbra. If you wish to bring them harm, know that I will be mighty displeased and I shan’t take it kindly. [/color]” said Ashevelen, her voice calm but guarded. [color=orange]“I intend these ones harm,”[/color] the newcomer said, nodding to the souls he had taken. [color=orange]“Though I didn’t think you would mind, given that they are already dead. But where are my manners? My name is Aldion,”[/color] he said with a polite bow. “[color=gold] Those you may take. They had the audacity of trying to attack me. Their creator. If they weren't dead, I’d kill them again. But, I didn’t mean those, I meant the others. I ask you, Aldion, from one divine to another, let them be. I’ll find a way to punish the others for their sins later on. [/color]” replied Ashevelen, her voice becoming friendly. Gone was the guarded tone. [color=orange]“Enacting punishment for sin is a commendable goal,”[/color] said Aldion. [color=orange] “And it just so happens to be a goal I have taken upon myself. You aren’t after my job, are you?”[/color] he asked, raising a bemused eyebrow and offering a slight smirk. Contrary to his words, there was no suspicion or unfriendliness in his tone, although there was calculation in his eyes. “[color=gold] Is that so? You wish to punish the sins of mortals…[/color]” said Ashevelen, a smile on her face. The gears in her brain were already working out potential ways of how to use this new divine in her own purposes. “[color=gold] I wouldn’t wish to take your job at all, my friend. Mortals are silly things and I’d have to punish them for their sins, the cosmos would end twice over by the time I’d be done. But, either way, if that’s what you wish to do…I wish you good luck. [/color]” replied Ashe, making a small break before continuing “[color=gold] May I ask what you’ll do with those souls? [/color]” [color=orange] “I have some ideas,”[/color] Aldion nodded. [color=orange]“I’m not ready to tell you every minor detail - trade secrets, and all that. What I can tell you is that the process will be quite painful, and there will be little left of them by the end, but what [i]is[/i] left shall be repurposed into something more productive. I’m also not going to be collecting every single one of them by hand, as I have done thus far - that shall become tiresome, and as you say, will take far too long. Right now, I am currently looking for a suitable location to establish a… centre of operations, so to speak. Not here, however. Do you find this agreeable?”[/color] Ashe nodded as Aldion explained and her eyes flashed at word [i] trade [/i]. “[color=gold] If they deserve to be punished then feel free to do so. I care about what happens to them while alive. If they follow my commands, they are free to do whatever they want but if they don’t…death is what they deserve. I had mortals before and it always ended the same. This time it will be different. [/color]” replied Ashe, her tone turning sour at the mention of previous mortals. Shaking her head, Ashevelen grinned at Aldion. An idea finally formed in her mind. “[color=gold] I have an idea.You may call me a master trader and a pact maker. So, I would like to propose a trade between us. Would you be willing to hear me out? [/color]” continued Ashe. Aldion raised his eyebrows. [color=orange]“I had a bad experience myself, in my past life,”[/color] he said softly. [color=orange]“I place great stock in pacts and contracts myself, and so I understand they are not to be engaged in lightly. But, in the name of a different future, I shall hear you out.”[/color] “[color=gold] A fellow pact maker. Very happy to hear that. I need a way to control my Umbra, to make sure they follow my commands but without me having to punish them every single time they break a commandment. What do you say, if we make a pact that all my Umbra’s souls will, by nature, go to you. No matter where they are in the world, they will be attracted to you and your base of operations. Only way for them to stop this would be to follow all my commandments. If they break any of them, they will come over to you. You will get the power of their souls and I will have a way to guide my mortals. All you’ve got to do is to build an artefact or something of the sorts which will attract their souls to you, just so they don’t get other ideas and try to run away. How does that sound? [/color]” said Ashevelen, laying out her plan to Aldion. [color=orange] “That sounds more than fair,”[/color] Aldion agreed. Then, he extended a hand, and closed his eyes. A moment later, a thin black leather tome with gilded edges was conjured into existence, and a feathered quill appeared in his other hand. He flicked his wrist, and one of the Umbra souls shrieked in pain as it was set ablaze by phantasmal fire, transforming it into energy which flowed into the quill. His hands a blur, Aldion then flipped open the tome and began to write, with the Umbra’s essence serving as his ink. Then, suddenly, he stopped. [color=orange]“What sort of commandments?”[/color] he asked her curiously. Ashevelen watched Aldion’s display and shook her head. That was more majestic than it needed to be. With a snap of her fingers, a papyrus appeared floating in front of her. The terms of their deal written in plain language. “[color=gold] The commandments are as follows: You shall not kill other mortals unless it is in self-defence or an accident. You shall not cheat each other, ever. All trades are final and non-refundable. Always strive to get the best deal out of a trade between two parties. If another mortal asks for your help in trading with another, you are not allowed to refuse him. Your decision in a trade is final and you will not change your mind. You shall never back down from your part of the deal, even if you lost. Never lie. Always tell [i] your [/i] version of the truth as you know it. Follow the law. If you outsmart someone in a trade, you must accept if the other party proposes another to you. [/color]” said Ashevelen, her voice was like steel. These were her commandments and they will be followed or else… As she spoke, the papyrus in front of her started to be filled out with the words she spoke. “[color=gold] May we add to the deal, as I am the one losing here, that for each 200 received souls, you shall give me one of your more…martial mortals to protect my people if needed and they have to follow all my commands, whatever those may be? [/color]” asked Ashevelen, cautiously. [color=orange] “I cannot accept such a term,”[/color] Aldion said. [color=orange] “For I have no mortals. No living ones, at any rate. And even when we count unliving ones, I’m still down to only two.”[/color] “[color=gold] Not yet at least. Let’s say…every 300 souls and when you’ll have mortals, you’ll pay me back for every 300 I already sent over. They can be mortals, golems, undead warriors. I care not, as long as they can act as bodyguards. [/color]” Aldion considered this for a moment. [color=orange]“500,”[/color] he proposed as a counter-offer. [color=orange] “For you are asking me to fall into debt. And I have not yet decided how many mortals I am to produce. Some breathing room is justified, I think.”[/color] [color=gold] 400 and if you will never make mortals or not enough. I will accept an artefact of my choosing for every 10000 souls, you would be in debt for. [/color]” quickly countered Ashevelen. [color=orange] “That seems fair enough,”[/color] Aldion nodded. [color=orange]“Now, I have some conditions of my own. Whatever forces I provide you with cannot be deployed against me, my realm, or any of my servants. Doing so will result in the immediate destruction of the forces who have been ordered to do so,”[/color] he suggested. [color=orange]“Of course, alongside this deal I would be happy to sign a separate non-aggression pact, specifying that our forces are not to attack one another on the condition that we do not interfere with one another’s contracts or trades, and that you do not interfere with the destined afterlife of any souls which are rightfully mine. Does that sound agreeable?”[/color] Ashevelen considered the offer for a moment, more out of habit than anything. The terms were more than fair. “[color=gold] I agree. Your forces will never be used against you, your realm or any of your servants as long as they identify themselves as your servants and that they do not initiate the attack first. Self-defence will be permitted. [/color]” clarified Ashevelen and the continued “[color=gold] I agree with the non-aggression pact as well. I will not interfere with the souls that are rightfully yours. By rightfully, you mean as per our first pact, I assume. I’d like to add that if our people are, for whatever reason, compelled to attack each other by a different mortal or deity that we will meet and discuss it in person. Each and every time it happens. That way, we will avoid the situations where the pact is broken due to outside interference. [/color]” Aldion shook his head. [color=orange]“When I say rightfully mine, I refer to all souls which shall be bound to me - by contract or by deed. If a soul of any creature is already destined for my judgement or ownership, then any contracts you make with such a soul cannot supersede that. You may barter for anything else they possess - just not their soul. And of course, when I speak of deeds, I refer to oathbreakers, dealbreakers, perjurers, betrayers… for they are the worst sort of scum. Those who live lives of crime or commit grievous atrocities according to the laws and customs of the society in which they live, as well,[/color] he explained. [color=orange]“I speak not just of creatures who commit such offences against me or my servants, but of creatures who would commit such offences against [i]anyone[/i]”[/color] his voice became surprisingly heated, but then he settled down somewhat. [color=orange]“I am sure a goddess who values pacts and contracts as much as you do will not object to the gruesome punishment of those who try to break them, and I am equally sure you have no interest in laying claim to that which is already owed to another.”[/color] Ashevelen shook her head, “[color=gold] That would mean you’re getting all the Umbra, no matter if they followed my commandments or not which would null the first contract. You would be already getting a major part of the souls of the Umbra, any more and I might as well just kill them all now. Oathbreakers, deal breakers are already covered in the first contract. They would break my commandments if they would do so. Violence is not permitted either. Everything that was stipulated in the first contract is part of the second. You’d end up getting the souls, claiming the second deal and you will wiggle your way out of the first one’s debts. [/color]” countered Ashevelen, talking fast. Aldion sighed. [color=orange]“You misunderstand,”[/color] he said plainly. [color=orange]“I was speaking of creatures [i]other[/i] than the Umbra. Such as…”[/color] he pointed his quill toward the soul of Zylana. [color=orange]“...This one. Let’s say one of [i]her kind[/i] - not one of your Umbra - commits one of the crimes I have already described to you. Their soul shall be mine to judge and punish. Let’s say someone attempts a barter with you, either offering you their soul, or asking you to protect their soul, in an attempt to escape that fate. Do not accept such a trade, because their soul is not theirs to give - it is already mine by right.”[/color] He gave this a moment to sink in, before continuing on. [color=orange]“ Besides, the terms under which I am allowed to claim the Umbra’s souls are already quite clear - I do not see how this loophole allows me to claim all of them. You have quite clearly stipulated that if they follow all of your commandments they are exempt from such a fate, and to be quite honest I do not see why I would wish to punish a soul that truly obeys every single one of your commandments.”[/color] Ashevelen laughed out loud and shook her head. "[Color=gold] Sorry, my new friend. I assumed you talked solely about my Umbra. I won't interfere with the souls of other creatures. Unless they request one of my Umbra or even myself, to barter on their behalf with yourself regarding their souls which I won’t refuse but otherwise, I shall not interfere with their souls.[/color]” Making a small break to check her papyrus, she continued talking soon after : “[color=gold]A divine that knows the meaning of honour and won’t punish mortals just because. A rare sight. One more thing before I agree or disagree. Say a Umbra or another mortal is doing something truly evil, let’s say negotiate the death of innocents but only because he was hired to do so. A Umbra would not be allowed to deny helping out the negotiations even if they knew it is a bad thing to do. Would you brand said Umbra as a sinner? [/color]” [color=orange]“Your commandments do not make allowances for killing innocents, even as part of a contract,”[/color] Aldion pointed out. [color=orange]“So yes, I would.”[/color] “[color=gold] I don't mean as the killer themselves but as a negotiator, a third party which my commandments state they are not allowed to refuse a request. What I mean is, if one does evil without knowing it is evil, do you hold that one accountable? [/color]" Ashevelen waited for Aldion to speak but before he could answer she shook her head. "[Color=gold] No need to answer that. I understand what you mean. I agree with your terms. If a troublesome situation appears, I'll make sure to point it out to you and we can discuss further. [/color]" Aldion raised an eyebrow. [color=orange]“Very well,”[/color] he said, taking another glance at the contract Ashevelan had drawn up, before beginning to write a copy of his own into the tome he had conjured. “[color=gold] If you would sign on the contract with your blood, souls, initials or anything that might link to you, I shall do the same on yours. If we are in agreement, of course. [/color]” [color=orange]“It would be best if we each signed our names on both contracts,”[/color] Aldion pointed out. Ashevelen grinned at Aldion. “[color=gold] Very well. I think this will be the beginning of a long partnership. [/color]” Ashevelen signed the contract she had drawn up and passed it onto Aldion to do the same. Aldion did just that, before offering his book and the Umbra-infused quill to her. Taking the book and the quill, Ashevelen inspected them twice. The book to make sure there were no tricks and the quill for her own curiosity. Satisfied, she signed the book with her name, binding the Umbra to torture and pain if they should not be what she imagined them to be. [hider=Summary]Ashevelen looks after the Umbra and catches two of them eating another one. In a moment of stupidity, the two Umbra decide to try eating their creator and they end up dead. Realising that she might’ve been too harsh with the Umbra, she decides to teach them the basics of trading and blesses them with extra abilities. Aldion sensed the depravity of the two Umbra, Ashevelen killed, and arrives at the Dark Forest. The two divines exchange greetings and discover they’re quite alike. After talking for a bit, Ashevelen proposes a contract between the two. The Umbra have to follow certain commandments given by Ashevelen otherwise their souls end up with Aldion. Besides this, Aldion and Ashevelen sign a nonaggression pact between each other. [/hider] [hider=MP/AP expenses] [color=gold] Ashevelen [/color] [b]Starting MP:[/b] 0 [b]Starting AP:[/b] 5 -1 AP - taught the Umbra how to bend shadows -1 AP - blessed the Umbra with minor light resistance [b]Ending MP:[/b] 0 [b]Ending AP:[/b] 3 [color=orange][b][u]Aldion[/u][/b][/color] [b]Starting MP:[/b] 5 [b]Starting AP:[/b] 5 -4AP (discounted to 2 via the Hell Aspect) to create the Black Book. Readable by only the gods, and driving anyone else mad, this book contains a written record of every single contract signed by Aldion and his servants, and notifies Aldion when those contracts have been violated in some way. It also carries a record of every single soul in Aldion’s debt or possession. Lastly, it will also contain self-updating laws of every single law in every civilization on Galbar, once enough souls with knowledge of said laws find their way into Hell. Obviously it contains far more information than its size implies. It also hurts like a bitch if you get hit by it. +2 toward the Contracts Aspect. [b]Ending MP:[/b] 5 [b]Ending AP:[/b] 3 [/hider] [hider=Additions to the Umbra] The Umbra gained the ability to manipulate shadows in different forms, claws, blades etc. The Umbra gained a minor resistance to light. The Umbra now know how to trade between each other and with others. [/hider]