[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjE5OC40MzkwNjMuUzJGbGJHaHRiM0ksLjA,/qwigley.regular.webp[/img][/center][hr][hr] In an empty clearing, far from men and mer and things divine, a subtle wind began. It blew with a gentle pressure, tugging at leaves such that they joined it in its swirling dance. Bird calls rang out and entwined with its currents before their source took flight on wings of whimsy and flew buoyed by the curtains of the strange yet joyful gust. Slowly, carefully, the wind's circuit tightened, leaves whirling like a rustling curtain in its grasp as the sun reached its zenith far above. Burning light shone down into that clear as the wind coiled upwards into a peak. Boughs bent inwards, shadows tugged towards the clearing's center, and the leaves all at once sprayed out from the gale's peak above the trees and scattered outwards in a lazily falling curtain. So, with the light dappled in shimmering shifting patterns upon the forest floor, swirling shadows coiled upwards as if to join the now scattered wind. First, a pillar of darkness, dappled with shimmering sunlight, and then a silhouette resolved itself from the black and gold. A gentle smile formed on handsome features as green-gold eyes swirled into being as lids lifted away from them. From shadows and leaves and dappled sunlight, garments wove themselves into existence upon the pale figure's form [color=#439164][b][i]"Ahhh,"[/i][/b][/color] a breathy sigh left the man's now parted lips as noble garments settled upon his flesh. Moving his eyes slowly, the man cast his gaze across the place in which he'd been whisked. Curiously, he placed a finger to his lips and wet it with his tongue before holding it aloft. The winds cast themselves against his finger gently, filled with whispers and flowing ephemeral script, and at once, a gentle smile stretched his lips. [color=#439164][b]"Somewhere new, perhaps?"[/b][/color] The wind stuttered, then seemed to flee in all directions even as the leaves above him drifted down past him and settled on the ground. Looking upwards, he regarded the sky above with its two burning spheres, one of day, and the other of night, he presumed. He laughed, [color=#439164][b]"How wonderful, a place which has yet to judge, yet to know. Somewhere free of suppositions,"[/b][/color] his eyes glittered with joy, [color=#439164][b]"...just my favorite sort of place."[/b][/color] Turning away from the heavens, the Seer cast his awareness through the forest and across the land, past boundaries of distance and time, wood and stone and metal. He saw life; he saw truth, he saw lies. There was so much to learn, so many people he could steer for their good or perhaps his own. However, it was not these things that dampened his excitement. No. It was the appearance of other sparks like his own, caste from the cosmos, writ divine by the heavens or perhaps whatever else might have summoned him here. He frowned slightly, then smiled and shook his head, "Best not to judge, Kaelhmor. Perhaps they are different than the others. Perhaps they are kinder, better, adaptable, understanding." He paused, and a dark look crossed his visage and, for a long moment, remained as his eyes clouded with remembrance. [color=#439164][b]"...or perhaps they are not."[/b][/color] Sighing, the Seer rubbed his temples for a moment before he decided to press on regardless. Walking, though he knew he could run, fly, or even phase through space itself, Kaelhmor spoke once more to himself, knowing none would hear. [color=#439164][b]"Best I be careful then until I know their measure."[/b][/color] With that said, he made his way to the nearest settlement, far as it was from him, and considered how he might begin his work. As he walked, the wind quietly followed and lightly subtly clung to the edges of his form. Ah, but what of the shadows? They remained hidden, entirely obscured within the near mortal guise of his form as if wiped from the world entirely and replaced by the regal form he chose to present to others. It was better that way. After all, people--even gods--so often preferred pretty lies to ugly truths. He'd learned that the hard way, with sweat and blood, misery and rejection. He would not suffer such again. Not this time. Not in this world. This time...things would be different. [hr] Quite some time passed before he finally arrived at the outskirts of his destination, a small town filled with the bustling activity of those who lived off the land. As the signs of life became clearer and the sounds of people going about their business reached his ears, Kael smiled and began to hum a slow, relaxed tune. It was light and even joyful as he let the sound be picked up by his companion, the wind, and drift far ahead. As the quiet vibration carried on the wind reached the village and its residents most didn't even notice. Nonetheless, it flitted about, playing with hair, filling ears, and dancing through the central square as it picked up errant leaves and straw and dust. As it picked up the leavings of the people, the evidence of their daily lives, so too did little lies get dragged into the eddies of the wind. Far away, Kaelhmor's eyes glowed faintly as the whispers returned to him, buoying his joy. This world was just as full as the last had been. Picking and choosing, the Lord of Lies, the Seer of Masked Light, Kaelhmor--the God of Deception--altered the course of the town in small, likely imperceptible ways. A farmer's wife who knew of her husband's infidelity managed to convince herself that it wouldn't happen again, not while she was with child. Not while they had a future together. A young boy, rather than own up to breaking the bowl maker's prized urn, blamed it on his once-friend; after all, such bonds could be broken by the silliest things. Another man, the village blacksmith, had been telling himself for years that he wasn't worthy of companionship and didn't deserve happiness because of the things in his past. That day he worked up the courage to tell someone he needed help. From that, a burgeoning friendship would be born, and later...perhaps a romance. How wonderful, mused the deity as he changed the course of his path slightly so he would simply pass by the village rather than through it. Yet, as he moved, he considered the greater course of his actions. What could he do [i]now[/i] to ensure his own future? After all, interaction with the other divines of this world was an inevitable thing, and he certainly could not tell them his deepest truth. They would think him vile, or...at least some would take issue with what they would assume to be his deceitful nature. Then, an idea struck him. Perhaps this place gave him options that the prior had not. Eyes shining now with hope as well as power, he searched within his breast for the essence of his power, and as sure as rain fell over the ocean, there indeed lay something new. Where before one pool of deific might had dwelled, now there were two, one deeper, inherent, the other equal in size, but somehow...more diffuse. Grasping the new essence, Kaelhmor drew it from the depths of his core and out into the world. It shone brighter than the sun, brighter than every star in the vast and endless multiverse; it blinded and deafened and rendered him mute and dumb for an instant. Then he reined in its power and dulled it to a subtle glow within his grasp and realized that it was not more diffuse, nor was it even lesser than the power at his heart. No, instead, it was brimming with great potential but bereft of singular purpose. [color=#439164][b]"Intriguing,"[/b][/color] he pondered quietly aloud, his voice catching upon the wind and dissipating swiftly. Slowly, a smile lit his eyes as he realized what this revelation meant, how it could change the fate that he'd long since thought had been set for him by another, greater force. With this, he could reinvent himself and remake his image by presenting only the truths that he desired others see. He could be [i]more[/i] than the Great Serpent; he could avoid being known as the Enemy, the Pariah...the Lord of Lies. As the possibilities of a better future, a kinder one, opened up before him, Kael found himself laughing out of pure adulation. Then he remembered all he'd had to endure, and a darker sort of amusement filtered through the light. He could hide behind a multifaceted mask and at once play the Game. He could have some small revenge upon the universe and yet avoid the constant judgment of others. [i]Delicious.[/i] Taking in a deep breath of this world's fresh air, Kaelhmor considered his first move upon the board and then cast his will out into this new existence. As if knowing the mischief he had in mind, a single star winked in the heavens, and Kaelhmor winked back. Gradually, the world slipped into night, revealing the burning moon in all its ruined glory. Of course, so too did it reveal the many stars, which multiplied by the moment, their light casting down upon the earth in a gentle curtain of rippling light of many shades. It was to be his first gift to the world. At least the first one that any would recognize and the only one he intended to admit to. The Great Lens. It was a vast cosmic filter that amplified far-off light and focused it into the rippling Veil that now was writ across the sky. He wished it could have been grander, expanding over the entirety of the sky, but his power was simply too sparse for that, his mastery too little. Nonetheless, it was a step in the right direction. Though it would only be visible over perhaps thirty or so percent of the continent, it was at least positioned in the middle where a great many might bask in its ephemeral warmth. Still unsatisfied with his work, Kaelh pondered what else he might do with what little of this new power remained within his bosom. Toying with the energy as he walked, Kaelhmor eventually settled on a small and relatively plain pendant. Though, he supposed that it would likely appear rather impressive to a mortal, as the craftsmanship was undoubtedly exceptional. After all, he could hardly have his creations be entirely drab. Focusing the power held within its vessel, Kaelhmor channeled the same potential as he had with the Great Lens, then tweaked its precise manifestation. What resulted was the Lesser Lens, a Pendant with a mirror-like crystal that could trap light within its core and release it at the wearer's behest. As it was now, it was a simple thing, capable of darkening a room to pitch or illuminating it to the wearer's preference, as well as emitting a blinding flash. It was not his proudest accomplishment. Still, as he gazed upon it he felt a gentle affection rise in his chest. Some day he would divest more of his power into the Artifact, but for now, this would do. Donning the necklace, for now, Kaelhmor continued on his way, all the while keeping his senses on the world around him, stretched to their limits. Until he was ready, he would avoid the other gods. With his power, it was a paltry task. Still, to ensure he remained concealed until he wished it, Kaelhmor had woven a cloak from the shadows he gathered, and as if it were soil, he'd sown the seeds of man's lies, their self-deceptions, and every false perception they'd ever had or would have. So had been born, Masquerade, the Shadewalker's Skein. It was a cloak of purest black, darker than pitch, and more profound than a lightless cavern's darkness. It was so bereft of light, in fact, that it crossed back over into a total lack of color, its hue a gossamer shimmer that from one angle consumed light and at another did not exist at all. It hid not only his presence and his form, but so too did it veil his power and his very imprint on the world. Anything held within its folds might as well not have existed at all. For now, that was what he wished. That no one knew he existed. In time, that necessity would fall away, and finally, he could begin to meet the other deities of this realm. He looked forward to that day, but for now...he walked and pondered the future, slowly planning each of his many moves upon the great board of the game that was existence. Someday, others might realize that they too were playing. Until then...he would prepare. [hider=Summaries][hider=Narrative Summary]Kaelhmor is whisked into the world, realizes that in this place, he holds a power he never had before–the power to change his fate–and so sets out to do so. In the process, he creates the Great Lens–amplifying the brightness and warmth of starlight at the continent's center, as well as two artifacts: Masquerade - The Shadewalker’s Skein, and the Lesser Lens. Donning the shimmering cloak that utterly conceals him and the pendant of mirror-like light-trapping crystal Kaelhmor continues on his seemingly aimless journey. As he does so, he subtly alters the possible fates of several villagers with well-placed deceptions and ponders how precisely to change his fate…and work his revenge upon the universe at large.[/hider] [hider=Might Summary]Starting Might: 5MP / 5AP -4MP to Create the Great Lens (3MP towards Illumination Aspect) -1MP to create the Lesser Lens. -5AP to create Masquerade - The Shadewalker’s Skein. [i][u]The Great Lens:[/u][/i] A vast expanse of the night sky that drastically amplifies the brightness of starlight while simultaneously creating a curtain of light from their brilliance that dances beautifully across the heavens. This is visible only within the central thirty or so percent of the continent. [i][u]The Lesser Lens:[/u][/i] A necklace of excellent craftsmanship with a pendant composed of mirror-like crystal capable of siphoning, trapping, and releasing light at the user’s behest. Can emit a flash of light of variable brightness relative to how much light is held within it, as well as make a space totally bereft of light or illuminate a space to a variable degree depending on the light held within. Appears totally mundane unless being actively used. [i][u]The Shadewalker’s Skein:[/u][/i] This artifact takes the form of a cloak that is either so utterly lightless that it appears to consume light all around it or a shimmering shadeless hue that appears as if it would be translucent, though it is not. It is woven of shadows and deception itself and, as such, is capable of utterly obscuring anything wrapped within its folds. If used by a mortal, it could perfectly hide every aspect of their existence by deceiving the senses of others who look upon it. When worn by a god, the artifact can conceal them from others of their kind perfectly…except perhaps with an expenditure of might. Notably, though it can be damaged, the cloak will naturally repair itself by absorbing shadows and seeding them with the lies of nearby mortals. Ending Might: 0MP / 0AP[/hider][/hider]