[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1006946263599677521/1014229630783340544/ShadowsAspectToken.png[/img][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1006946263599677521/1016748025986699284/ShadowToken.png[/img][/center] [center][h3][color=aa6c39] The Shadow Bazaar [/color][/h3][/center] And time passed once more. Shadowton grew once more, adding two more circles around it to support the growing population and of course, the growing trade. The elves proved true to their word and they brought goods, technology and different other stuff from their side of their woods, while the Umbra traded their building technology. All in all, it was a profitable trade for both nations. In all this time, Ashevelen travelled the world under whatever guise the mortals she met needed to be trustful of her and she did what she knew best, trade. Ever looking for someone to outsmart her, her travels brought her all over the world but she was mindful, no more intruding over the domains of different divines. No more distractions. But, it was time to go back to Shadowton. Penumbra and the others were left alone for far too long and mortals being mortals, they need constant supervision ‘lest they end up breaking themselves somehow. Summoning her shadows, Ashevelen flew over the world at an impossible speed and reached the Umbral Forest in mere minutes. A celebration ensued as the Umbra/Satyr mortals found their Goddess waiting in the “Trade Square”. For a few days and a few nights, the Umbra stayed in line to trade with the Goddess. Maybe-maybe one of them would manage to profit, but, of course, they still had a lot to learn before they could best their creator. After the party ended and the line of merchants reached an end, Ashevelen raised her head from the ground she used as a “pillow” when she heard a polite [i] Aham [/i]. One more Umbra, last one. Opening her eyes, she was surprised to see Penumbra himself. Recently returned from a trip down to the coast, the champion raced back home as fast as they could when they heard the creator came back. “[color=#bfafb2] Great Goddess it’s an honour to lay my eyes upon your form. [/color]” said Penumbra with a low bow. “[color=aa6c39] Penumbra, my champion. You’re back from the new village site. I was lost in my thoughts, apologies, what do you require? A trade, perhaps? [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] It is I who should apologise, my Goddess, for disturbing you. Surely whatever you were thinking about was certainly more important than me. I did not come for trading this time but to ask questions. [/color]” replied Penumbra with a very apologetic tone. “[color=aa6c39] My thoughts involve you, Penumbra, as a matter of fact. But, go on, ask away. I have a few free moments before I start my work. [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] I am humbled to hear that I’m in your thoughts, great Goddess. My question is this. What’s my purpose? Why have I been made your champion? I am not the best merchant in Shadowton, surely there were better choices. [/color]” Ashevelen stood up from her place on the ground and Penumbra kneeled straight away, thinking that they angered the Goddess. “[color=aa6c39] You dare question me? [/color]” replied Ashe while laughing gently and before Penumbra could start apologising, she continued “[color=aa6c39] Don’t worry. You have not angered me. It’s a good question. One I asked myself multiple times. In truth, I made you on a whim. I wished to see how the Umbra will grow if I give one some actual power. I haven’t made a mistake in promoting you if that’s what you’re thinking. Does that answer your question? [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] It does, Goddess but it raises more questions. I want to prove to you that the Umbra deserve to exist, we know that you can erase us from existence with a mere thought and I can speak in the name of all Umbra that we’re honoured that you’ve chosen to give us life. That is all I wished to ask of you, unless you wish your forever servant to stay here, I shall leave you. [/color]” “[color=aa6c39] Some of those questions you’ll have to answer yourself, Penumbra. I can’t provide you all the answers even if I wanted to do so and as I said, I do have something in mind for you. A quest. [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] Anything you want, I shall do. [/color]” “[color=aa6c39] Leave Shadowton and take two more people with you. Anyone you wish, tell them it is my will. Walk this world as I did until now. Travel to the desert city in the north-west, meet the Umbra there and see how they fare. Afterwards, go north and keep north until you reach the ice glaciers, see if Umbras can live there. Mark a spot for a future village then come back. In this journey, you’ll find answers to your questions. Is that clear? [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] That will take a long time, my Goddess but I understand. Your forever servant will do what it must. I shall gather a party and leave by nightfall. [/color]” “[color=aa6c39] Yes, it will take a long time for your mortal legs. Don’t leave by nightfall. I give you a week to prepare. Take whatever you need in your journey. [/color]” And so, Penumbra, now charged with a divine quest and more questions than answers, left the Goddess to her own plans. Oh’ and mighty plans she had. For it was time for the lady of trade and shadows to make her own realm. Maybe advance the Umbra a bit more in the meanwhile. Raising a hand in the air, a [url=https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/96269ce8-4a07-4702-936a-6860e1b5594f/dcmjhbk-b08480ad-6186-4486-b69d-fc924a284bb6.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzk2MjY5Y2U4LTRhMDctNDcwMi05MzZhLTY4NjBlMWI1NTk0ZlwvZGNtamhiay1iMDg0ODBhZC02MTg2LTQ0ODYtYjY5ZC1mYzkyNGEyODRiYjYucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.YtxPIS-BGNWhxQw5ICwKI84YrXaHjZa4qNApDLM9mH8] shadow ball [/url] lifted into the sky and it went up and up and up. Darkening the whole town of Shadowton. Initially the villagers rejoiced thinking that their Goddess blessed them with something before the ball made a circle in the air and started, with increasing speed, to approach the village. Becoming bigger and bigger as it approached the village and that's when the screaming started. Umbras and Satyrs ran in all directions before being stopped by a clap from their Goddess. The shadow ball stopped above Ashevelen’s finger and slowly started to absorb the Goddess and the Trade Square until eventually either remained. Only the shadow ball, to the bewilderment of the gathered Umbra/Satyrs. They circled the shadow ball but were too afraid to touch it ‘lest they draw the ire of their creator. The shadow ball made weird sounds, akin to a [i] vum-vum-vum-vum [/i], around it and seemed to be in constant movement. Spinning and spinning until it spewed out solid strings of shadow which the Umbra around were more than confused about but thinking it’s a gift from the Goddess, collected it for safekeeping. Things were different inside the shadow ball for a realm was being formed. Stretching as far as even Ashevelen’s divine sight could see, a cube was being formed. Taller than tall and wider than the wide, it stretched in all directions and in the center laid the Goddess herself. As the cube was finally formed, market stalls would appear out of the ground. Millions of them, each currently empty but in time, they will be manned and filled by mortal goods and Umbra hands. Buildings would appear as well, shadowy versions of those that Ashevelen has seen in her travels, a mixture of mortal architecture and style. A place where anyone could find something that will remind them of home. Ashevelen concentrated even more and a massive tower rose beneath her feet, forming around herself, marking the center of her realm and the seat of her power with a view of all of her realm. But her work was not done. More had to be done, more and more! Chanting some words in forgotten languages, she conjured a massive amount of divine energy and reached across the world to every shadow in the world. Every single one of them, from the smallest shadow done by a candlelight to the biggest shadow of a mountain at noon. Ashevelen touched each and every single one of them with her power, moulding them, changing them from mere shadows to a portal to her realm. Inert initially but upon uttering the words “We wish to barter with the Lady of the Trade” in any language that mortals know or thinking about Ashe’s realm and trading there and an offering thrown in the shadow, they would allow passage to her realm. To her bazaar. And even more, all the Umbra would feel the knowledge in their mind. They all would end up, if they followed their commandments, in her realm upon death as merchants. Their souls forever trading with the other mortals, always looking to enrich their creator. Once an Umbra approaches the moments before their, any and all objects they stored within themselves would be brought before the Goddess herself for one last trade. If the Goddess would find their object worthy or if they would sell them properly, the objects would then be taken to be sold once more in the bazaar but if not, then, they would be thrown out of their dying body. Discarded as useless. What felt like an hour of work for Ashevelen, for the mortals outside her realm, it was a week or two. Finally coming out of her shadow ball, Ashevelen noticed that walls were being built around it. Walls which she almost broke as she came out of the ball in her full form, before realising and changing shapes. Her arrival was met with surprise which then turned into yet another celebration. Explaining to the Umbra the new rules was harder than she thought initially but after a few tries, they understood and some even scrambled to bring objects to her that they thought useful to buy a place into her realm prior to their deaths which was refused straight away. It was finally her time to be surprised when she noticed a Satyr wearing something covering his body made out of shadows. Questions were asked and answered straight away, Penumbra had an idea about how to use the solid-shadow strings that would come out of the realm’s entrance and taught it to the others. The result was clothes made out of it. Very crudely made clothes but it was a spark and that would be enough to grow into a proper [i] fire [/i]. During her time creating the Shadow Bazaar, Penumbra already recruited 2 companions and made their way towards the desert but not before teaching the Umbra. Getting the idea from their own flexible limbs and the clothes that the Satyr would make, it took a few tries until they learned it themselves. [hider=Summary] Ashevelen creates her realm and makes it accessible to everyone via the shadows of the world which she enchants to allow passage to her realm and back again to the same exact spot provided they think/utter the magic words and offer something to the Goddess. At the same time, the entrance to the realm, spews out a string of solid-shadows which Penumbra teaches the Umbra how to use in order to make clothes. More importantly, Penumbra receives a divine quest. [/hider] [hider=MP/AP expenses] [b]Starting MP:[/b] 5 [b]Starting AP:[/b] 5 -2 MP Created the Shadow Bazaar Realm -4 AP (Discounted from 8 MP) - created a shadow teleportation system -1 AP (Discounted from 2 AP) - Blessed the Umbra with the ability to enter Ashe’s realm exactly beforing dying for one last trade if the death is natural -2 MP (Discounted from 3 MP) - Created a monument which generates strings of solid-shadows which acts as an entrance [b]Ending MP:[/b] 1 MP [b]Ending AP:[/b] 0 AP [/hider] [hider=Spirit expenses] [b]Starting Spirit:[/b] 14 +1 Spirit - Appeared in the post +1 Spirit - Post is of medium length -8 Spirit - Taught the Umbra how to weave the solid-shadow string into rudimentary clothing [b]Ending Spirit:[/b] 8 [/hider]