AdorableSaucer

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

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Many years had passed since the birth of Anu, and the pygmies were beginning to grasp the skills taught to them by the King’s Council: They kowtowed before their master Anu and the councillors; they began to understand the use of sticks and poles as weapons; they could build tiny tents of boar hide to live in; and they had a language - some could even write crude characters. Their population had grown considerably from the first ten, already numbering the triple and growing. Still, however, the pygmies had much to learn, and subsisted largely on diets of boar meat and stews made of wild rice cooked in boar stomachs. As a gesture to their king and lord, the pygmies often sacrificed live boars and always let Anu take the first bite at any meal, much to the satisfaction of the councillors. The people had fashioned their king cloaks and clothes of hide and fur, all to honour the great one’s presence.

Despite this Anu remained adamant that the Pygmy work to earn his respect, to earn the right to sit eye level with him, this in line with his own blossoming world view. On these plains of the Ivory King, strength of will and the drive to succeed was law, obey and grow else fall short and remain on the receiving end of his ire, their place forever at his feet.

Some pygmies had protested before, their arrogance overtaking their instincts - one had even challenged the Ivory King. Much their surprise the defier was praised, one such worthy to stand at eye level. He then promptly crushed her skull. To all those present a lesson was made brutally clear, a gorilla was not questioned by jackals. To challenge him was to stare down death, a show of strength, but a fool’s gambit. He was no surmountable obstacle, no he was a king, and his power as solid as the bedrock beneath the plains.

The councillors had cautioned him against excessive force, advising instead whipping or imprisonment to be worthier punishments. Yet they, too, agreed that the King could not allow mutiny, especially not the kind with deposing intent. The pygmies subsequently understood that their place in society - at Anu’s feet.

As the capital began to take shape - a large, central tent surrounded by tiny hides on sticks and primitive lean-tos on the northern corner of the great grasslands - the pygmies fell more and more in line, grateful to their King for granting them food, shelter, community, safety and spiritual guidance.

However, it was a day in the late summer, as the northern rains hammered against the soggy hides of Anu’s tent, that a strange guest came to the village - a colourful bird bearing a message. The four councillors stood glaring at it as it spoke, four pygmies each holding a large palm frond over each councillor to shield them from the rain.

Anu’s hands flexed then balled up as the message relayed, his expression unreadable. As it finished his golden eyes fell upon the council of four.

”Well?”

All four looked horrified at the message, Fu Lai’an covering her mouth as she choked on tears. Zhu Rongyuan shook his head with furious vigour, his long beard slapping at the air like a wet towel.

“There is nothing to it! This is vile! Blasphemy! A plot planned by the wicked Wind Demon to destabilise the harmony between life and death! She said it herself - the ash forms the basis for life!”

Qiang Quan folded his arms and nodded with a glare. “If one breaks the circle of life, life will end. Their solution holds no water - a long, dreamless sleep is no alternative to death by flame. It is the way of the unworthy who think themselves above the cycle.” He punched his fist into his palm and growled.

Yong Cai shook her head disapprovingly. “Life is no construction that can simply be put on hold - it is organic, breathing. A house cannot be build if the wood is stored away. It is madness, Your Majesty.”

Fu Lai’an swallowed a clump. “T-to think they would stab at the hearts of the living with such gruesome words…” She sniffed and sobbed into her palm. “... Have they no conscience? Is the Wind Demon so low as to rely on populistic panic to turn the opinion of her?” She shook her head and looked away. Zhu Rongyuan bowed to Anu and extended his arms forward, left palm covering his right hand.

“Your Majesty, these servants beseech You - undo this vile, lying demon. Its words cannot be allowed to spread among Your Majesty’s people. Its betrayal cannot go unanswered.”

Anu’s lips were set in a thin line, his chin resting in the crook of his index finger and thumb. ”Those who choose this way, choose to ‘save’ their souls instead of be put to the flame, choose the cowards way out, and I will have none of it in my camp.” he asserted. ”When death comes, we all burn.”

The present pygmies all kowtowed at the King’s word - the advisors, too, even as the wet mud clung to their dressings. “A worthy statement, Your Majesty - His Lordship is undoubtedly proud to see His Son, a champion of harmony. His blessings will be Yours without question and bring Your Majesty’s empire to greatness, surely.”

Qiang Quan cast himself over and grappled the Alma as it realised it was no longer welcome. As he wrestled it in the mud, he looked to Anu. “Your Majesty! What shall we do about the demon?”

”Gods are certain to rally against this ‘demon’.” he adjusted himself. ”I have little knowledge of the divines beyond my fathers. Tell me of them.”

The Alma eventually blasted Qiang Quan off it with a powerful gust of wind, flapping its wings maniacally and flying off. The warrior was immediately tended to by Fu Lai’an, but he had luckily not sustained any damage. Zhu Rongyuan sneered at the colourful speck in the sky. “This world has several gods, Your Majesty - and several demons. The greatest among them, the Creator of the Exalted Creators, is Dajianshen, the great architect of Existence. However, according to His Lordship, He is an observing god - this Holiest of Beings does not interfere with the Exalted Creators without reason.” He sat down on a roll of hides that a pygmy brought over and began to draw in the wet mud.

“Beneath Dajianshen come the Great Pantheon, upon which sit the twenty-four Exalted Creators, including the evil demons. These are: Abanoc, the Record-Keeper; Aelius, Sovereign of Justice and Heliopolis; Anzillu, the Unseen; Arae, the Dragon Queen; Asceal, Sovereign of Light; Ashalla, Queen of the Sea; Azu--Pardon, this servant means the Wind Demon,” Zhu Rongyuan corrected and dabbed his forehead with his sleeve. “Chopstick Eyes, Great Marquis of Markets; Eurysthenes, Blessed One of Conundrums; Katharsos, Lord of Death; Kalmar, Herald of the Hunt; Kirron, the eccentric Blood God; K’nell, Sovereign of Sleep and good friend of Your Majesty’s father; Li’Kalla, the Rainmaker; Melantha, the Duchess of Darkness; Your Majesty’s other father, Narzhak, King of Strife and Steel; Ohannakeloi, the Stone Crab; Orvus, God of Desolation and perhaps a misunderstood character, according to Your Majesty’s father; Parvus, Master of Insects; Phystene, Mother of Plants and Trees; the Flame Demon; His Lordship Shengshi, Lord of the Thousand Streams and Sovereign of All Rivers,” Zhu Rongyuan tipped a bow as he spoke of Shengshi, “Urhu, the Wanderer; and Ekon, King of Fear.”

Finally done with the list, Zhu thanked Shengshi for not giving him lungs.

A tiny smirked danced across Anu’s face, but it could have been a trick in the light. ”You seem to allocate the title of ‘demon’ to a revered few.”

Zhu Rongyuan nodded. “The title of Demon is not given lightly, Your Majesty. It is bestowed upon the evil gods who have murdered, betrayed or mistreated immensely these servants’ people or wronged His Lordship in the cruelest of ways - they are not to be trusted, not to be named, and never, ever to be prayed to. Nothing good comes from allegiance to their wicked natures.”

”The personal grudges of my father are not my own, but the assault and murder of innocent Servants whose strength know no bounds will not be tolerated. This ‘Wind Demon’ has upset the balance of the world in a vain and selfish bid to enforce her own brand of false security.” the demigod paused for a moment. ”She has raged against the system and took it upon herself to change it, and for such reason, no hatred binds my heart, only respect, but she has solicited a cowards path, and for such this one will not stand.” Anu nodded towards Zhu. ”We will stand against the Wind Demon and her camp.”

The councillors all bowed in agreement. “His Majesty’s stance is worthy. Hers is a path of disharmony, one His Majesty cannot support. His Majesty’s choice is righteous,” Zhu Rongyuan stated.

”Then there's only one course of action. We beseech my father and stand with him in this crusade.”

“A worthy suggestion, Your Majesty; however, this servant must ask who will remain to govern the pygmies? The trek to Hemen is a long one, and one to Nanhe would be even longer. Surely, the pygmies are still too uneducated to govern themselves.” Zhu shot the gathered pygmies a frown.

Anu was silent for a moment. The pygmies were quick to learn yet were still soft. To govern would surely prove beyond their capabilities. ”Some of you must remain then. Our traveling party will be light, but these people of mine shall not fall out of line, not because of this divine war.”

Zhu Rongyuan nodded. “Very well - then this servant offers to remain.” He kowtowed pleadingly. “Take the others instead. This one is both old and slow, and His Majesty’s escort requires haste. This servant has full confidence that His Majesty has learned enough that there will not be an immediate need for it.”

”As you say Zhu, so it will be. They are in your care.” he asserted, rising and placing a gentle hand on the elder’s shoulder. He then shifted his gaze to the rest of the council. ”We leave at first light tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” the three of them boomed and bowed. Zhu nodded, his long beard dangling freely in the moist air. He then turned to the pygmies and raised his hands. “People of Anu - salute your king!” As commanded, the pygmies fell to their knees and hands before Anu. The Ivory King gave regard, released them, and set for his throne.

---

The next day, the group set out on the journey back to the Giant’s Bath, this time at a much faster pace. They trekked along Beihe this time, the vibrant life greeting Anu with the same enthusiasm as usual. Anu likewise responded all the same, acknowledging their obeisance and then releasing them, unlike the pygmy usurper, they naturally knew their place. Along the way as they rested, Qiang Quan schooled Anu in martial arts, teaching him the way of the pole and the club, as well as hand-to-hand combat; Fu Lai’an revealed to him the many kinds of edible and non-edible plants along the river and also gave a theoretical course on tea brewing, as they lacked the necessary equipment for a demonstration; Yong Cai brought him along to inspect the local building materials to determine which could be suited for a palace. He was slow to catch onto the non-combat related subjects, but learned regardless, deeming any and all knowledge worth his due diligence to master. One day, Fu Lai’an carved him a flute from bamboo and insisted that a great king would need to master the arts to appeal to both commoner and nobility.

”You expect to perform like some sort of jester for guestrite?” he scoffed, holding the flute to the light.

“Not at all, Your Majesty,” Fu Lai’an replied calmly and added a sweet giggle. “It is merely recommended that a king master what appeals to all citizens - music is such a skill. Furthermore, it is an important part of self-cultivation towards achieving personal excellence.” She kowtowed before him in the jungle soil.

”Does father play?”

The servant nodded with a smile. “His Lordship plays several instruments, Your Majesty. His favourite is the guzheng. On quiet, peaceful days like this one, one can hear beautiful harp notes from His Lordship’s tower, music that harmonises with the natural sounds of the jungle.”

This earned a huff from the demi-god. ”Indeed sounds like the most gratuitous of pastimes. Couldn’t a member of my cherished court wow the nobility and the masses all the same?” he chortled.

Fu Lai’an joined in on the chuckle and cocked her head sweetly to the side. “Your Majesty, none among Your court could ever elicit such a glorious celebration as what would follow a performance by the Ivory King - that, this servant can guarantee.”

”Bah, I’m sure they can, why else would they grace my court. They are to act as an extension of my will and might no?”

The enchantress sighed gently. “An extension rarely measures up to the very core, Your Majesty.” She took her own flute and tested a few notes. “Please, would His Majesty like to join me?”

The ape stifled a breath and held the flute to his curled lips. ”Well, it’s seems I’ll be lashed if i refuse.” he joked.

“Not lashed, Your Majesty, but we’ll think of something,” she jested with a wink and played a few notes, showing vividly where she placed her fingers, then gestured for Anu to try.

He imitated her stance albeit a bit clumsily, but found his place and nodded. At first, the timid tones were both sharp and flat, the ape king’s fingers still not quite used to small, accurate movements like hopping between the holes of a flute. However, as his diligence suffered constant challenges from impatience, the conflict channeled itself into a simple, yet interesting little tune. Fu Lai’an let out an impressed ‘ooo’ and clapped her hands together.

With a frustrated sigh he held the thing out for Fu Lai’an to take. ”This one has had enough for today. I’ll master music another day.”

Fu Lai’an giggled and took the flute. “The most important part of learning something is the very beginning. His Majesty will undoubtedly master it in time, indeed.” She cleaned both flutes with the sleeve of her dress and put them in her bag. That moment, Qiang Quan broke through the foliage, bowed and said, “Your Majesty - it has been an hour. Shall we keep moving?”

The ape hoisted himself help and held out a hand for Fu to gradb ”Yes of course.” he said

Fu Lai’an nodded gracefully and softly took the king’s hand, letting him help her to her feet with a gentle, “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Yong Cai also came through the foliage, bowing to Anu. “The trek left is quite short,” she said gleefully. “We will be at Hemen by nightfall.”

”Let us be off then, better to not keep father waiting.” he jested.

With that, the band once more set off, and surely enough, they arrived at the Giant’s Bath by nightfall. There, in the middle of the deceptively small lake, the colossal ship of Shengshi rested contently, quiet harp strings clinging through the air. Qiang Quan skipped into the lake and waved the others along. The other two first undressed before they jumped in, Fu Lai’an dropping a slightly smug comment about Qiang Quan’s eagerness getting the better of him. Anu on the other hand had a sheen of opaque silence about him, yet if anything was bothering him he showed otherwise as he bowed before his father’s vessel and with a voice like rolling thunder called to him.

”My father, I Anu have come to you. I ask for your permission to board your sacred vessel.”

A moment passed and the harp strings stopped. Then, there came a warm chuckle and the river formed a staircase up to the deck. “Please, come aboard, my son,” said the deep voice of the snake.

A rumble of footsteps hammered against the deckplanks as thousands of servants lined up on the main deck in front of the palace. The councillors ascended the stairway first to make certain everything was in order before they joined the ranks closest to the palace gates. As Anu ascended the staircase, all seven thousand servants kowtowed in unison and bellowed, “TEN THOUSAND YEARS AND MORE TO ANU, THE IVORY KING!” In front of the palace gates stood Shengshi with his arms spread wide in welcome.

”I pray you are well, father?” he bemused politely as he bowed at the waist.

“Oh, worthy son, it is a joy to have one’s children come from afar to see them. I am more than well. How goes the conquest of the world? Are you staying true to the Flow and listening to the advisors I put in your care? I notice good Zhu Rongyuan is not present.” He looked around with a half-smile.

”Ah yes, Zhu remains at my camp in order to manage the affairs of state in my absence.” he replied as he gestured to the remnants of his council. ”These cherished members of my court joined me on this journey. As for my conquest it has began, slowly but surely I will see it so.”

“The affairs of state? My, have you already formed a kingdom of your own?” The snake squeezed Anu’s shoulders proudly and smiled. “Hah! As expected of my son.”

A smile crested the king’s lips. ”Time waits for no one, dear father. Speaking of which,” the sheen returned as Anu paused. ”do you have a spare moment?”

“Why, yes, that I have. Please, join me in my chambres. I will have the servants bring up whatever you want to eat and drink.” With that, servants pulled open the gates to the palace and the snake slithered inside and up to his tower along with Anu, the councillors and roughly twenty more servants.

The chambres were rather empty as usual, but the small tea table was quickly stacked high with dishes of fragrant foods from the kitchens below. Wine was poured in Anu’s cup and Shengshi raised his own in his honour. “First, a toast - to the conception of… Have you thought of a name for that empire of yours, my son?”

A stillness settled over Anu. A name worthy of conquers? A name worthy of an empire spanning the world? ”Talemon.” he replied clumsily, the word seemingly spawning from the void and tumbling out of his mouth. Somehow, it felt appropriate. ”The Talemon Empire.” he said resolutely, this time reaffirming it within himself.

The snake snickered. “The Talemon Empire… That has a rhythmic appeal to it… Very well! To the Talemon Empire, then!” He raised his cup and downed the wine - as did Anu. The taste garnered a small curl of the lip and a small glance at the contents left in the cup. It tasted bitter at first, but was pursued by flavours of peaches and jasmine. It seemed to have little effect on the demigod whose blood was of alcohol itself.

”I’m sure you heard the message from the Wind Demon?”

Shengshi’s brow furrowed. “Yes, you have evidently been listening to Zhu Rongyuan if you call her that,” he mumbled. “I have indeed heard it - as have the Servants, and likely every other sentient being in this innocent world.” His smile had faded and his eyes turned to the view out his veranda door. “A condemnable offense, if you ask me - one that cannot go unanswered, but what of it? Have you come seeking counsel?

Anu returned the cup to its place and followed his father's gaze. ”Zhu refuses to tell me of the demons’ true name. Nevertheless I come bearing a request. I ask that you permit me to join you on this quest for retribution..”

The snake blinked a little, then snickered. “The -goddess’- true name is Azura. The servants have a tendency to tweak a little the many cultures and phrases they learn depending on their proximity from Jiangzhou. It is a natural evolution of customs and tradition, however, so I let it slide. As for your proposal, it is welcome. With my alliance with the hunter Kalmar shattered many years ago, I have few I can truly rely on. I am reaching out to potential new comrades, but while many certainly are threatened by the implication of Azura’s maddened mission, few have the motivation to amend the damage she will do.” He shook his head. “But I have you, and you are welcome into my coalition.”

”Thank you, father.” he began, shifting somewhat in his seat. ”An alliance broken with Kalmar? ‘Herald of the Hunt’?”

“Yes, yes, a poorly handled affair, that,” the snake admitted. “We do not see eye to eye on many things, but with this new conflicted with Azura on the horizon, well… I really do wish I had not broken it, after all. I may have let my anger get the better of me…” He sighed and pinched a piece of fish between his chopsticks.

Anu imitated. ”And reinstating it would be out of the question?”

“While I personally rather would not,” he put the fish piece in his mouth, chewed and swallowed, “it may not be up to me in the end. We must do everything in our power to preserve the balance of life and death - even if that means allying ourselves with brutes and barbarians.”

”So you had particulars in mind then?” he breathed as he set aside the chopsticks and gestured for a second cup of wine. A servant immediately refilled his cup from a pitcher.

“Yes, I believe there are those who will see reason where Azura does not. Chief among these are Kalmar, Phystene and Ashalla, all of whom have tight connections to life. However, Phystene and I have our… Differences, and Kalmar, well, I have already explained. That leaves Ashalla. Kirron and Narzhak may also be convinced to join our cause, I believe, though that may require a degree of diplomacy. However, if we can unite a force of three or more gods, we will already outnumber them - and with you, we are even stronger.”

The demigod downed half the cup of wine in a single swig and set his lips in a thin line. ”So we take the offensive with the superior numbers we hope to have and take back this commodity called souls. What becomes of the ‘rebels’?”

The snake shrugged. “In all honesty, my son, I would rather not see them killed. I have murdered a brother before and there is little joy in it. It only feels as though you are removing an essential part of this world from the universe itself. His name was Vakk, lord of Talk. Thankfully, his sphere remains, but I cannot imagine what would happen if the wind disappeared - or worse, the light. No, too much life depends on both of these forces to simply rid the world of its keepers.” He shook his head. “Still, a punishment would be in order. Imprisonment seems suitable.”

”So we war and imprison to restore a flawed afterlife?” Anu swallowed a piece of fish. ”The seeds of doubt have been planted. There will be whispers of this for generations and if no change is wrought, this will only come to bare again. As I’m sure you did as well, I quelled dissenters fairly quickly. Some no doubt, are cowards to the bone, and would rather disobey their creator and sleep eternally then join the cycle.”

The snake’s eyebrow rose. “The system is not flawed. It is as good as they come - a solid method for recycling soul matter. Whatever dissenters there are must be reeducated or, yes, as you suggested, quelled. Thinking one can avoid doing one’s part for the good of all life is the peak of cowardice.”

”Is that not what the rebels are doing? Doing what they believe is best for all life?” Anu sighed and finished the cup of wine. ”Truth be told I see no other outcome then…” a pause. ”There is no doubt they will upset the balance again should they escape bondage.”

“What they believe is best for all life does not take into consideration the life that will be,” the snake muttered and shot a sideways glance out his door. He pinched another bite of food and tossed it into his mouth. “It is rash, irrational and selfish. As for their escape, surely, the cooperative efforts of multiple gods to seal them away would be quite difficult to escape, no?”

”Even the divines are imperfect. No prison is inescapable, but that is neither here nor there as of right now I suppose. We have a war to win first.”

The snake wrinkled his nose and nodded. “That we do, indeed. Raising the necessary forces for an all out conflict will take time, however, and in addition to an attack force, I must keep one posted here on the Foot to keep the Flame Demon at bay…” The snake blinked a few times and then pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Say, my son, how soon are you willing to test your military capabilities?”

For the first time in years a toothy smile graced Anu’s face. ”As soon as I have an army to lead.”

The snake nodded with a knowing smile. “Marvellous. The Flame Demon’s infestation has gone on for far too long. It would contribute considerably to our cause if a great warrior I trusted could keep the wicked forces at bay while Azura is dealt with.” The snake extended an inviting palm. “Would you be willing to do this in your father’s name? For the glory of your empire and yourself?”

Anu took it without hesitation. ”For all of the above a thousand times over.” he declared.

The snake grinned and squeezed proudly. “Ah, that is good to hear, worthy son. Your conquest will be a source for the poets for aeons to come.”

”When do we begin?”

“When our forces are ready, my son,” replied the snake. “And when yours are, too. I will come to you in time with the necessary instructions. Now, go forth and carve your name into the annals of creation, my child.”

The ape bowed and radiated determination. ”So it will done.”

Donkey Kong 64 Soundtrack Intensifies

Pygmies are learning how to be people, but they still got a long way to go. Newsflash: Challenging Anu for the right to lead is a one-way ticket to the Pyres. Then the Almas arrive (yes, I know we’re late to the party, but is a flashback) and give their message. Zhu Rongyuan, being set in his ways, calls the whole shebang a hoax and urges Anu not to trust them. Anu says his father’s grudges are not his own, but that, while a respectful effort to stand up against the Man, not pulling your weight in the soul cycle is weak as hell, so he forbids anyone from taking the easy way out. Anu then gets a lil’ more knowledge about the other gods through Zhu, from a Shengshese angle, of course. Anu then reasons that the only thing to do is to ask Shengshi for help, so they go there, leaving Zhu Rongyuan to govern. On the way, Fu Lai’an tries to teach Anu music, reasoning that a good king must be a good artist as well as a good general in order to appeal to all levels of society.

They arrive at Shengshi’s and are greeted with a feast. They talk about the name of Anu’s new kingdom, Ondo, finding allies for the conflict with Azura, the broken alliance. Anu pledges himself to the battle on Shengshi’s side and they discuss potential additional allies, dropping names like Kalmar, Phystene, Ashalla, Narzhak and Kirron. However, they quickly move away from it after they cannot agree on the punishment and reason that the war must be won first. Shengshi offers Anu the position as guardian of his realm against Sartr’s minions.

Chronology

This happens before the fifty year timeskip, around the Alma visit.

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

The Wuhdige Tribe

A full half century had passed since the arrival of the first later-named Spirit Bird, and by now they had taken many of the original discoverers of their home island with them. Tokuanhe had passed a seal’s age ago, and his son Jokuanhe had been ruling for the following twelve years alongside his wife, Julempe. Donwah and Dondo’e had both competed eagerly for the title of tribe champion in the beginning years, but as time had gone on, it had seemed that neither was able to utterly best the other in any activity the selka could think of, whether this be running, hunting, rock throwing, lifting or even wrestling. In perhaps a bit of desperation to get them to stop, Jokuanhe had thus named them both champions, though this had sown some seeds of rivalry between them. Likewise, Tokuhe had also risen to the challenge and requested to compete for the title, but Jokuanhe had denied him the right, reasoning that his own son had not been of age at the time, and that Tokuhe would have needed to rule in his stead should anything happen. This had been an adequate trade, Tokuhe had thought, and life continued in peace for the Wuhdige.

However, as the years passed and Jokuanhe’s son, Jotokan, as well as Tokuanhe’s youngest Yukuanhe both grew into adults, the battle for succession slowly began to split the clans. First, Tokuhe, being the oldest, claimed the title of successor for his own, arguing that Jotokan was still young and inexperienced - much too immature for the title of chieftain. Jokuanhe had defended his son, but his very need to do that had already proven to the rest of the tribe that the chieftain’s son still was illeligible to rule. However, quickly Tokuhe was challenged by his younger brother Yukuanhe, who reasoned that Tokuhe was old and frail - much too weak to lead the great Wuhdige tribe. Tokuhe rose to the challenge, and was as such given the right to select the game they would compete with; however, he was much too certain of himself and chose a mastered art from his youth, though one he had not practiced for many years since - rock lifting.

Yukuanhe had been reluctant to accept - while Jokuanhe had always been the fastest and deftest in their siblings flock, Tokuhe had a secret technique that allowed him to lift nearly any rock. While both Jokuanhe and Yukuanhe had always thrown his stones and sticks further and harder than Tokuhe, neither had ever bested him in rock lifting. However, the youngest brother knew his advantages: Tokuhe was indeed old and frail - not in seven years had he shown his skill, excusing himself with an ageing back and aching legs. No one had seen him lift much heavier things than pebbles. It was rude to pick on your elders, so no one had ever pestered him about whether he could still claim his title as the greatest rock lifter, but Yukuanhe had been certain that the old seal’s muscles and bones were much too weak to best him.

He thus had accepted and the tribe had gathered before the Home Cave to witness the duel of strength. Jokuanhe, an old and aged seal whose spirit had began to call for the Spirit Birds, had barely managed his way out of the cave to see the spectacle. Even from the far reaches of the island, the split-off families like the Julu, Woiwoi and the newly formed Yugweh made their way over to see. The perfection of cliff-tears, now-dubbed stone-spit, had allowed for more spread out and larger camps, no longer solely reliant on body heat to survive the icy nights. It also allowed for big “fire fish feasts”, which were rampant in the background of the event. The rules had been laid out: There would be ten rounds with increasingly heavier rocks. The one who could lift the most would win. The event brought in more selka than had gathered outside the Home Cave since the burial of Tokuanhe and Odende. In the background the fires were raging as selka threw some fish on their barbed spears and held them over the fires.

The competition began. For the first five rounds, both parties showed both strength and skill - Yukuanhe’s raw power radiated around him and oozed outwards through sweat, groans and the pumps of veins. However, the gray Tokuhe proved to be a most able opponent, his flawless technique allowing him to lift many kilos worth of stone with seemingly no effort at all. Yukuanhe’s curiosity gnawed at his mind - how did he do it, the old blubberball?! However, as both parties were required to lift simultaneously to avoid any cheating, the younger brother never got the opportunity to study Tokuhe’s technique. As the match reached its halfway point, they both shook hands lovelessly and went their separate ways to mingle with their closest. Yukuanhe sat racking his mind over how the old seal did it while he ate his halfway lunch, his great stature surrounded by his own kin - all who praised him, hugged him and marveled at his strength. However, the youngest brother heard none of it - all he thought about was how his elder could put up such a challenge in his vastly frailer form. Despite the blubber, he knew a good gust could blow away the old clump. So why, why and why could he not win?!

The next set of rounds began. Reinvigorated by both food and fury, the giant Yukuanhe took his place next to the small boulder. Opposite of him stood Tokuhe, his visage as determined as Yukuanhe’s own. The following two rounds went by, the seventh round characterised by growls and grunts from Yukuanhe’s exhausted form. How, by his own pa, how?! How did his brother manage to lift these weights without so much as a single sound beyond a quiet hup! - he could not figure it out.

The eighth stone was rolled over. The size had grown to the point where one normally needed two selka to carry it. Yukuanhe coughed and felt a metallic taste in his mouth. He took a moment to study his adversary: Tokuhe had an almost intimidating ability to hide his weakness despite his age, yet even dulled eyes could see that the old selka was tired. The crowds held their breaths as the competitors took their stances. Yukuanhe exhaled two vents of hot air through his nose and bent his torso forward, curving his back and flexing his shoulders. He wrapped his arms around the stone and awaited the signal. He dared not look up for fear of being disqualified, but he knew the geezer’s stance already was radically different from his own. Naturally, no others would share the competitors’ secrets for fear of the game losing its fun and flair, but right now, Yukuanhe cursed that culture.

“Go!” went the judge and Yukuanhe flexed his back muscles. They ached after all the lifting - a deep-rooted pain that he had felt many times before when lifting rocks, and a common ailment among the greatest in the sport. Strangely, he thought as he lifted, all others but Tokuhe had felt it… Now that he thought about it, didn’t Tokuhe actually straighten his back when he--

“ARGH!” came a roar from the opposite side. Yukuanhe had lifted his boulder to his chest at that point and the judge called for the competition to stop. As Yukuanhe dropped his rock into the sand, he saw Tokuhe kneeling a few metres before him, one hand clutching his lower back and his other resting on top of the boulder. Surrounding him were his wife, children and friends, all patting him all over to in an anxious effort to help.

“What happened?” Yukuanhe called. “We wasn’t finished, y’hear!”

The judge whispered something to Tokuhe, who shook his head. The judge nodded somberly and went over to Yukuanhe, grabbed his hand and raised it into the air.

“Tokuhe gives up! Yukuanhe’s gonna be the new chief after Jokuanhe!”

The crowds exploded into a cacophony of celebration and complaints. Yukuanhe took a moment to let it sink in, then raised his other hand in victorious celebration. As he laughed joyously, however, more and more of the other selka noticed Jokuanhe had fallen over. As more and more were notified, all the present selka rushed to his side.

The chieftain was dead, and in the distance, the great Spirit Bird approached to take his spirit to the Cave of the Family Jewels, the new, sensibly named afterlife now that the great Ocean of Fish was deemed to be fake. Yukuanhe was promptly named chief. During his rule, Tokuhe passed away, having been left crippled and broken from the competition, and Yukuanhe did not rule for long anyway, for a fever took him a mere three years after his ascension to chieftain, leaving Jokuanhe’s son, Jotokan, to rule the Wuhdige. It had been fifty years since the first arrival of the Spirit Birds, and the last of Tokuanhe’s sons had been claimed by it.

Jotokan, already far over middle-aged, had been aged by a determination to prove Tokuhe’s accusations of immaturity and inexperience to be gravely wrong. As such, he had spent the years since the very start of the succession dispute striving to become a true Wuhdige, leading hunts and fishing trips, digging and building burrows, being a loving husband and father and participating daily in sports and games. In terms of popularity in the tribe, he vastly outranked every other runner-up for the chief spot in the Home Cave, and while he initially brought the tribes tightly together, he created a dependency on his own personality - a glue sustained by his own character that held together increasingly ambitious and competitive clans, and so it was a beautiful day in the autumn when the apples and pears grew thick and juicy and the mushrooms were plump and nutritious that Jotokan received the news:

“Chief! Chief!” Duhwah, son of the deceased Donwah and Yui, shouted as he came running into the Home Cave. The chieftain gave his champion a concerned frown and stood up - as did his wife, Selenu, and his children, Aloo, Kulee and Tokkan.

“What’s got you pantin’, Duh?” Jotokan asked with a scratch of the head. Duhwah spent a few minutes catching his breath, holding up a finger to signal a pause. Selenu gave Jotokan a uncertain look. “Look, Duh,” she started, “This is why you can’t always be the rock-thrower. You gotta be the catcher, too, sometimes.”

“Oh, shu’h… Uhp!” the warrior groaned and finally straightened himself up. “Oh’kay, I think I’m gooh’d,” he mumbled with a shake of the head.

“Alright, then, what you got to tell me so much you sprintin’ harder than ol’ Eliul when he hears ‘fired fish’?” Jotokan asked as he plopped his hands on his well-toned, yet slightly blubbery hips.

“It’s, uh, pretty related to the Elus, actually, chief,” the champion said sheepishly. “Or, uh, more specifically, the Julus. The boy Julo has been pretty loud about his wantin’ some room in the Home Cave, as you know…”

Jotokan snorted and shook his head with a roll of the eyes. “Julo’s still just a boy, Duh. He’s loud, yeah, but it’s his gramma and grampa’s fault that they moved away to begin with. If he wants a spot in our cave, by ol’ Yop in the clouds, he gotta come take it himself.”

Duhwah made a sheepish grimace. “Now, uh, chief, y’see… He’s here already.”

Jotokan recoiled in surprise and on cue, a young, smirking selka came into the cave with a frivolous gait, followed by ten others. He put his hands on his hips and looked around, admiring the inside and the paintings the selka had made on the walls. “Now -THIS- is a home!” Julo exclaimed and turned to his followers, who seemed to be the rest of his immediate family. “Got a nice, warm feel; keeps the snow out; no wind… ‘S perfect!”

“Julo, what’re you doin’ here?” Jotokan asked impatiently. Julo ignored him.

“I think we’ll sit ourselves down oveeer… There!” He pointed at the spot of the cave right next to Jotokan and the other Tokuan descendants, the part of the cave specifically carved out for the Elus, complete with neat drawings and symbols on the wall and ceiling above it. Jotokan grunted and clapped his hands together to catch his attention. Julo gave him a roll of the eyes. “Hey, chief,” he mumbled.

“Oi, Julo! What you think you’re doin’, huh, comin’ in here and claimin’ what ain’t yours? That’s the Elu spot! Last time I checked, you ain’t Elu, nor have you been since your gramps Eliap and Joo left ‘em to make your Julu name. If you want back in, go to your cousin Eel and see if you can get him to let you. Just know that he ain’t too fond of ya.” Jotokan gave the smaller selka a stern scowl, but received only a snicker in return.

“Now, chief, chief, don’chu think I’ve done that? Kelp, I’ve pretty much begged the blubberball to let us stay here, but he ain’t lettin’ up. We ain’t got’ny space, he keeps sayin’, but we know them Elus ain’t as many as they used to be now. Too many girls, our grand-uncles and grand-aunts had, lots of them got with other clans - your woman’s also Elu, if I recall.”

Selenu gave him a glare. “Yeah, but we two ain’t related, you fish-head.”

“We are, and you better like it,” Julo snapped and stuck a finger up in Selenu’s face. The girl hissed and slapped him and Jotokan struggled to break up the following short brawl.

“Alright! Calm down, you two! Julo, you ain’t welcome here with that ‘tude of yours, but you know how we can settle this right. You know the rules - if you wanna get a spot in the cave, you either gotta be born in it or compete to live in it. Thems are the rules!”

Julo snickered. “Yeah, sure, I know ‘em. Been prepping real good for them, too. I wanna challenge my cousin for his spot in the cave!”

Jotokan and Selenu stood staring at one another for an awkward moment. Julo crossed his arms over his chest proudly and his followers sounded a cheer in his name. Jotokan sucked in a breath and nodded at Duhwah, who set off in a running gait out the cave. While they waited, Jotokan sat down and motioned for Julo to do the same, which he did.

“Julo, son, what happened to ya? Your pa and ma were pretty happy folks out there in the wilderness, as their mas and pas had been. What changed?”

Julo snickered and shook his head. “Yeah, they was happy, alright… All that freezin’ and starvin’... Was supposed to be part of the experience, y’know - ‘no strong boy ever got their fish from ma’s hand’, gramma used to say, but she grew up in this here cave. She ain’t known nothin’ about actually growing up out there. Ma and pa heard that line all their lives - they’s quickly started thinkin’ it was the truth, y’know. But we, nah… We’re done with that. We been freezin’ and starvin’ enough.”

Jotokan sighed and waved over Selenu. “Hey, Selly, fetch these goodfellas some fish, will ya? And some apples while you’re at it.” Selenu nodded with a frown. Their daughter Kulee came along, too, while their sons Aloo and Tokkan sat down on each flank of their father. Jotokan continued, “Sorry to hear that, son… We always knew y’all had it bad, but… Yeah, never knew y’all had it this hard. Can’t help but ask, though - why didn’t y’all just… Ask to move back? Could’a made y’all some fine burrows out on the beach. There’s still room and--”

Julo snickered interruptingly. “Now y’see that? Back home, I could’a never asked my woman to fetch fish and apples like that, ‘cuz we ain’t got none. Yeah, we could’a moved back, but you’re smart, chief - you know Eel and the Elus wouldn’t have let us live near the cave. We would’a gotten that spot right by the tide line, y’know, where the burrows fill with sea water at night and nothin’s really changed.” He shook his head. “Nah, chief… We throwin’ our rock high and hard. We either goin’ for the big home or we…” He sighed. “... We gotta leave, chief.”

“Then leave,” came a hostile snap from the cave mouth. The selka inside turned to see Eel, a fat, sneering male with a greasy whisker-stache, backed up by six mightier-looking relatives. Julo got to his feet as his family parted the path between them and clapped his hands happily.

“Cousiiiiiiin,” he exclaimed with fake enthusiasm.

“Shut up, you krill,” Eel snapped back. “You know you ain’t welcome on Elu turf!”

Julo gestured around him. “This ain’t Elu turf, couz’, this is the chieftain’s turf - like all Wuhdige land is.” Eel shot some hot air out his nose and Julo frowned. “Like it or not, the Julu are Wuhdige, and we can freely roam around like the rules say.”

Eel thundered over to Jotokan, smacking his shoulder into Julo’s on the way, and shook hands with the chieftain. “Hey, chief, nice to see ya.”

“Nice to see ya, too, Eel. Hope the seas got a lot of fish for ya today,” the chieftain answered. Eel shrugged.

“Eh, Eole got some cod and Elueh caught a few herring. A good catch, I’d say,” went Eel with a warm smile. Jotokan raised a brow.

“You, uhm, you didn’t check the waters yourself?”

Eel patted his large belly and let out a chuckle. “My, chieftain, chieftain, you know I ain’t no fast swimmer. I’d never catch up to ‘em. No, no, good to have brothers and sisters around who can take care of lil’, ol’ me, I say.”

Jotokan made a short-lived frown and nodded. “Yeah, sure. If it works for ya, then I suppose it’ll be alright.” He pointed to Julo. “Julo here’s challenged you for your family’s spot in the Home Cave.”

Eel snapped around and stared Julo down. “Oh, he’s still here? My, chieftain, you ain’t gonna let him do that, are ya? The Elu’s been in this cave since the first days - why, ol’ Elop’s jewel would darn straight crack if we ever left it, I bets!”

“He still has challenged you, Eel,” Jotokan repeated. “Wha’chu say?”

Eel looked back at Julo who was still smirking at him, and then back at Jotokan. “W-why… N-nah, ‘course not! I ain’t recognise this challenge from a darn Julu! Nah, he can go straight home to his there hole.”

Jotokan sighed and shook his head. Julo grinned and made a wide, extravagant shrug. “Welp! Looks like this is it, folks! We ain’t gettin’ it here thanks to this big, wimpy sardine over here.” He thumbed over his shoulder at Eel and the fat selka turned an embarrassing shade of pink.

“W-what did you call me?” he asked with an outraged tone.

“Called you what you is, you wimpy, fat sardine!” Julo taunted and cackled. The rest of the Julus joined in on the laughter, and it was evident that even the Elu Eel had brought along seemed to disapprove of their leader’s answer to the challenge. Selenu came in the cave mouth with two fish, offering one to Julo - however, it was snatched by Eel who bit off its head and pointed the headless, limp cod at Julo’s face. Selenu recoiled and Jotokan rushed to her side, scowling at Eel.

“You take that back, you darn krill! Or else I’m gunna slap you silly with this here cod!”

Julo just stood there smiling. “Yeah, ain’t weird you got so fat if you keep eatin’ every time you’s actin’ like a lil’ scared sardine! Hah!”

Eel’s eyes went wide and he turned to his siblings, all of whom were either burying their faces in their palms or about to do it. The fat selka grit his teeth over the mouthful of fish and swallowed. “You’re just a lil’ strip of kelp, Julo! Fine! I’mma take that challenge, which means I get to pick the game!”

“As is the rule,” Julo agreed. Jotokan let out a sigh of relief, just as his daughter came in with an armfull of apples, one of which Eel snatched as she walked by him.

“Well, a’ight!” Eel said as he took a bit of the apple, chewed and swallowed. “I choose fish-eating!”

The present selka all recoiled a bit in surprise - all except Julo. Jotokan shook his head and patted Eel on the shoulder. “Look, Eel, it’s a fun suggestion, but we don’t wanna waste food like that. We got lotsa fish, but not enough to watch two selka stuff themselves and--”

“It’s fine, chief,” Julo assured him. “I like this challenge. Maybe I can finally eat my fill of food for once.”

Jotokan remained skeptical, but Duhwah patted him on the shoulder to show his support for the idea. Selenu, looking rather torn now about her allegiances to her original family, also patted the chieftain in agreement. The chieftain’s two sons Aloo and Tokkan also nodded their opinion. Finally, the chieftain gave in and said, “A’ight, fine, fine. Duhwah, take a couple of boys to the sea and fish us another week’s worth. Selenu, fetch some girls and pick some fruit and berries and browncaps. We gunna need as much food as we can get for the winter, so I hope one of yous get full real fast.”

Eel smirked and patted his belly again. “Nothin’ to worry ‘bout, chief. That scrawny krill won’t last long.”

Jotokan sighed. “I hope not, by ol’ Yop. A’ight… You both happy with the challenge?”

Julo snickered. “Sure am, chief. When do we start?” Eel nodded with determination.

“A’ight, we startin’ in three days. We gonna need to stack up the food piles first. What’re the stakes?”

Julo raised a fist into the air. “If I win, the Julu will take the Elu’s place in the Home Cave! The Elu’s gunna be living on the beach!” Jotokan nodded and looked to Eel who raised his own fist.

“If I win, the Julu won’t just go home to their holes - they gunna leave the Wuhdige for good!” There came several gasps, even from the Julu themselves, but Julo nodded.

Jotokan furrowed his brow. “These terms agreeable?” he asked both parties.

The contestants nodded. Eel glared at Julo and punched his fist into his palm and then left the cave. Soon, the chieftain’s family, Duhwah and the Julu were all that remained. Jotokan sighed and rubbed his temples, Selenu hugging him for comfort. The chieftain looked up at Julo who still stood smiling at the waddling figure making its way away from the cave. He pursed his lips and let out a pensive hum. “So… Really that set on gettin’ in, huh?”

Julo nodded. “You have no idea, chief… A’ight, we’ll be back in three days.”

“Three days,” the chieftain agreed. With that, the Julu went out the cave entrance and away from the main camp. Selenu rubbed her chin against Jotokan’s shoulder and sighed.

“Really got big changes ahead, don’t we?” she remarked.

Jotokan nodded. “Yeah… Real big ones.”

The Timeskip!

The timeskip happens! During those 50 years, there’s a lot of turmoil in the tribe as the old generation is replaced by the new. Jokuanhe takes over as chief after Tokuanhe, but nobody knows who will rule after Jokky. Tokuhe runs for the role of champion, the tribe’s second in command and one who is illegible to become chieftain himself, but is denied as Jokky wants someone to be able to rule if something should happen before his son, Jotokan, comes of age. However, nothing happens and then there are suddenly three runner-ups for the throne: Jotokan, the chief’s son; Tokuhe, Tokuanhe’s eldest after Jokuanhe; and Yukuanhe, Tokuanhe’s youngest, but also the strongest among the three. Jotokan’s removed from the fight early on account of being inexperienced, and Tokky and Yukky settle it with stone lifting. Yukky is strong, but Tokky’s got that squat lift technique. However, Tokky’s much older than Yukky, and his old bones fail him eventually. Yukky is thus made chief after Jokky dies, but only rules for three years before dying of fever. Jotokan takes over, having spent his life to prove everyone who named him a bad leader wrong. He becomes a respected leader, but at this point, the tribe is starting to form a lot of rivalries inside itself, and the Julu, sick and tired of living outside now that their parents are dead, make their claim for a spot in the Home Cave - specifically the Elu spot. The Elu are having none of this and Eel, their leader doesn’t recognise the challenge as worthy. However, he’s then called chicken by the Julu leader Julo, and promptly accepts the challenge and decrees that they shall have a fish eating contest. The challenge is accepted even though Julo looks to be with a massive disadvantage, and Julo makes it clear to the chieftain that he’s determined to have his family live in the heat of the cave no matter the cost.

New characters

Jotokan: Eldest son of Jokuanhe and Julempe and chieftain of the Wuhdige after the timeskip.
Julo: Eldest son of Julup and Agih, granddaughter of Agoi, and patriarch of the Julu clan, the offshoot from the Elu pionéered by Eliap and Joo.
Eel: Eldest son of Ehog, eldest of Elop and Agoihe, and Agola, youngest daughter of Agoi and Yulo. Leader of the Elu clan.
Selenu: Wife of Jotokan and daughter of Ehog and Agola.
Aloo, Kulee and Tokkan: Respectively eldest son, eldest daughter and youngest son of Jotokan and Selenu.

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

Shengshi

5MP/8FP

The mortals would have to wait. That wicked goddess… He knew she was insane, but this… To do this - to -HIS- people, no less! Such utter disrespect for siblings could not be forgiven. As he had told his servants, war would come, indeed.

Yet now, the snake cursed himself - Azura’s attack on the mortal races could not have come at a less convenient time. An alliance, torn in half, with himself to blame. Well, not entirely, but he owed it to himself to criticise his own recklessness in the ordeal. The snake dug his face into his right palm. The flight back to the Foot had been quick and motivated by a rage-fueled haste - the Atokhekwoian mortals would have to bear with his absence for a little longer. Naturally, the threat of attack from Satravius and Ekon were already gnawing at his mind, but what they killed would at least return to the world in the form of fuel for new life.

No, no… Azura was a much greater threat.

He had as such hastened back to the Foot to assure himself that the Alma had not infested it. He knew there were no mortals there yet, but perhaps they had attempted to poison the minds of lesser life. His plans for prosperity could not allow for such an interruption. No, he would have to strike back somehow… Usher in an age of growth and birth that could lead to more lives - longer lives.

Perhaps enough to overwhelm her.

The snake stopped his vicious train of thought. No - he would not bring himself so low as to force the life of this universe into this disgusting conflict, all in the name of prosperity.

No - an age of growth and birth would come, indeed, but it would not be a weapon against his maddened sister. No, it would not be a weapon at all - it would be his gift to all life. The greatest seasons of all, he would claim as his own - a time when life would bloom in swathes of colours, forms and scents. Throughout the year, in many floral forms, food for all of Galbar and existence would sprout from the ground and--

Or… Perhaps a concentrated effort would be better?

Yes… Yes, the snake could see it now. Naturally, some growths would bloom several times throughout the year, but no season would be as great and magnificent as the autumn. It would be a brotherhood of two times:

The Great Spring, when the crops would be sown by wind and limb and allowed to grow throughout the warm summers;

The Grand Harvest, when the crops would be grown after months of work and labour and finally consumed by its predators. They would sprout like a cereal sea, a plain of grains, covering the horizon with green and yellow, exclaiming to all life upon Galbar that they would not go hungry this winter. Yes… YES! The snake felt his heart thunder with excitement.

Naturally, the plants would benefit as well; after all, theirs would be a blissful and plentiful existence - one would be a fool not to participate in the great spreading of these food plants. Animal life, mortal life, nature itself - all would contribute to their growth for the betterment of all creation. A thought occurred: Would it not be grand to fashion for this world a tool to aid in this supremest of seasons? Something that would shine an even brighter light upon this top of times? This pinnacle of periods?

Indeed, it would be grand.

The snake summoned a servant with the snap of his fingers. He Bo entered into his chambres a figurative second later and kowtowed.

“His Lordship called?”

The snake raised his hand. “Loyal He Bo…” He gestured out his doorways to the landscape surrounding Nanhe. “Tell me, is this jungle not the greatest feat of godhood?”

“Without a doubt in the world, it is,” the servant replied.

“Then tell me, should its guardian not see to it that its inhabitants were fed and cared for in bountiful bliss?”

“As the Flow dictates, he should,” the servant replied.

“And does not this principle translate to all of creation, as the guardian is not a mere river spirit, but a god tasked with bringing prosperity to the world?”

“As His Lordship reaches out, prosperity follows,” the servant replied.

The snake nodded. “As the world fills with life, this life must be fed and protected. I have a plan, worthy one - a plan that will add an additional rock on the great pyramid of fortune: I will take the mantle of responsibility over the blooms and sprouts that make up the diet of mortals and beasts, and I will see to it that all upon this world that see it fit to rely on these plants be given wealth in food and safety for when the icy winters strike.”

The servant pressed its head even lower. “A suggestion to be celebrated, Your Lordship. However, will this declaration not anger His Lordship’s sister, the sacred guardian of the forest, Phystene?”

The snake pressed his lips together, but his gaze remained stalwart and proud. “My dearest sister Phystene has no heart for wealth. She understands the need for growth and consumption, but not for the value of this system to a society. She may see the value of a season of plenty, but little would she care for that season’s intent to further mortalkind.” He shook his head. “No, I am confident that this is a niche that, at best, will not bother her and, at worst, may only mildly upset her.”

“Understood, Your Lordship,” He Bo said faithfully.

“Now, as for why I summoned you, worthy one - I require a stick of wood and a handful of clay.”

“At once, Your Lordship,” He Bo said and disappeared out the door.

He would need to spend some time learning the language and ways of plantlife, naturally, but he would also need another edge in the upcoming war.

… Maybe he could try to make a warrior like Anu?

Local Snake becomes god of grains

(Shortpost - this is before the 30 year timeskip, btw! I cooled it with Mutton because it's just MP being used.) Shengshi regrets breaking up with Kalmar now that Azura’s going birdshit insane, but ponders using life against Azura to show that souls indeed can be spent completely. He quickly drops the idea and reasons that if he’s gunna be a god of growth, he gonna be it for good. Thus he claims the title as god of the harvest. He also starts an artifact project that’ll appear later and barely starts planning his work on Anshumat.

Harvest Portfolio

The harvest is that, or are those, period(s) of the year when the crops are abloom and the fate of many mortals is sealed before the impending winter takes away all food and life. As such, it is a much celebrated time of the year, one where the tables are stacked high with nourishing dishes and steaming baked goods for all of creation to enjoy.

In terms of power, the harvest portfolio primarily allows Shengshi to influence the amount of grain that a patch of land will yield, applying also to any fruit, legume, vegetable, mushroom and so on - any plant that yields an edible harvest and can be cultivated with agriculture in time falls under this power. As he has reached enlightenment in the art of agriculture, he can also more easily teach mortals related skills and make more powerful tools. However, this power does not extend to the growth of fruitless trees, non-edible flowers and shrubberies - while Shengshi can influence their growth through other means, his power over the harvest only impacts the fruits these plants eventually will bear: He can make an apple tree sapling sprout big, juicy apples, but he cannot force the tree to grow any faster.

Furthermore, all of these events are strictly regulated by time - the harvest portfolio is heavily reliant on the season, and its powers will be severely weakened outside of the late growth season, but incredibly potent once the grains are ripe and the fruits are plump.

MP Summary

Start: Shengshi 5MP/8FP
Claim Portfolio: Harvest = 5MP.
End: Shengshi 0MP/8FP.

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

The Moving Mountains

Chagatai watched his parents from a distance, broom in his hand as he swept the stone tiles in front of the dining house. Altansarnai stood next to Hermes, holding the fishing spear as the two adults talked. The onlooking boy rubbed his nose with his sleeve and went back to work, waiting. Hermes leaned in and gave Xiaoli a quick peck and Chagatai made a face, Altansarnai grimacing from a distance. Altansarnai tugged on Hermes hand but she leaned in and whispered something to Xiaoli that made her smile. Chagatai rolled his eyes and after a few more delays, Altansarnai and Hermes finally left on their hunting trip.

Meanwhile, Wenbo, Ai and Li were hanging up the daily laundry. Wenbo kept scouting eyes on the main gate, but made certain to turn away every time his mother’s hawk-like stare found its way over to him. It did not help much that Ai also glared dagger at him, though in a concerned way - like if the daggers were packed in bird dow. Little Li, on the other hand, loyally pretended to perform his task by actually performing it, all the while giving Wenbo regular thumbs up to reassure him that he was indeed doing as commanded. Wenbo nodded approvingly at the young soldier, and as Xiaoli closed in, he winked at him.

It was time.

“Hey, Li? What did you say you wanted for dinner again?”

"Duck!" Li shouted a little too loud and grabbing at the hem of Xiaoli's dress with perhaps too much enthusiasm.

“Duck?” Xiaoli giggled in surprise and patted her little son’s hair. “My, but that takes a lot of time to make, you know! Especially if you want the skin crispy and flavourful. How about something a little easier, hmm?”

Wenbo tossed a shirt over the clothing line. “Well, Li does seem really eager - and duck is amazingly good, even when it’s rushed a bit. I’d love to have duck tonight!”

Xiaoli hummed indecisively. “Well, uhm… Ai, would you also want duck tonight?”

Ai shot a sideways glance at Wenbo and folded together a dry robe. Sweat began to moisten Wenbo’s forehead as time passed. Eventually, though, she said a curt ‘sure’ and frowned disapprovingly at Wenbo. Thankfully, her back was facing Xiaoli, so their mother was none the wiser.

“O-oh, alright, then! Li, since you’re evidently so eager, would you like to help?”

"Uh," the small child plotted his hands together indecisively, looking over at Chagatai in the distance. The other boy gave him a 'do it' face but Li looked back at his mom, "I wanna play with Wenbo and Chaggiei."

Wenbo stifled a groan and snapped his finger, calming himself in a second and looking at Li with a friendly smile. “But hey, Li! How can the Twins keep on going strong if we have no sustenance? Like the war supply lines, we -heavily- rely on our great support--” He knelt down and pressed a finger against Li’s chest, nodding proudly at him. “--you, our precious brother and squire.” Xiaoli merely shook her head, smiled and rolled her eyes, but didn’t say anything. Ai buried her face in her palm.

"Okay!" Li beamed, his golden freckles wrinkling around his cheshire smile. He grabbed Xiaoli's hand, "I wanna help." Chagatai seemed to relax in the distance, turning to sweep at the stairs.

Xiaoli gave Wenbo a wry smile and a raised brow and pulled Li along. “Alright, dear, alright… First, we got to find a duck…” As they went to the larders, Wenbo dropped the loincloth he was holding back in the basket and patted Ai on the shoulder.

“Keep up the hard work, sis! We’re counting on you!” he said as he sprinted towards Chagatai. Ai groaned audibly. “You idiots,” she called just loud enough for Wenbo to flash her a quick grin midrun. He hooked his arm around Chagatai’s shoulders and squeezed.

“Alright! We set to go?”

"I snuck a bag with some snacks by the gate guardians after breakfast," Chagatai nodded, "It'll be a few hours, but then bam! The perfect rocks."

“Yesssssss!” Wenbo celebrated, “alright, let’s head off!”

With that, the boys zoomed out the gates, Chagatai snatching the backpack he tucked behind the black obelisk on the way, and together they entered the forest in the direction of the moving mountains.

It took a few hours, plus a short break filled with a breakfast pastry and some fresh water, but eventually they exited the forest and began their trip up the grinding slopes of one of the mountains. The trees gave way to canopies of mushrooms and flying moss. The boys were at wonder, only having seen this part of their home once before.

"It tickles," Chagatai giggled as some of the flying moss landed on his arm.

“Gmph-hrrmph!” Wenbo exclaimed as a particularly eager patch clamped itself onto his face. He stopped in his tracks, grabbed it tightly and pulled at it with all his strength. A couple of hefty tugs later, and the moss came off, squirming in his hands. “Phew… Yeah, you could say that,” he said with a wry smile and scratched his dirtied nose. He shot a few glances in every direction. “How far left, y’think?”

"I dunno," Chagatai shrugged a he studied the mushroom cloaked ground, "I guess anytime, just keep your eyes peeled." Wenbo nodded and walked with a focused squint.

He stopped for a moment to study a monito del monte, the tiny critter squeaking him an anxious message about quolls. Chagatai shrugged at the tiny creature, "I think I'm a bit big for a quoll."

Suddenly the wind blew through the mushroom forest, causing the hanging snapfruit to chime and whistle as they jostled. The whole place had an eerie feel and an even eerie voice carried on the wind:

"A bit big for a quoll. But too big for me?" There was a barking cackle. Chagatai froze, his arm hairs on end as he whipped about in search of the source. Wenbo instinctively grabbed two dry mushroom stalks off the forest floor and shoved one in Chagatai’s hands.

“Hey! HEY! We’ve not looking for trouble, but if you are, we’ll give it to you!” he shouted as bravely as he could, inciting a voice crack.

"What sort of trouble could you ever give me?" The voice hissed. There was rummaging behind the twins and they spun, but nothing was there.

"So tired, so plump, so full of sweetssss." The voice droned on and cold sweat formed on Chagatai's brow.

"I- I am the son of a warrior! I can fight!"

Suddenly the bushes to their left burst and the twins flinched as Li came tumbling out with a big grin on his face, "Momma said I could play!"

Chagatai was paler than pale, his eyes turning to fury and then anxiety at the sight of Li, "Li… no!" Wenbo waved him away frantically.

Suddenly a striped canine erupted from the forest-line, a jaw unhinged and snapping as it dragged Li to the ground with ease. Chagatai screamed and rushed the wrestling ball of flesh and fur. He shoved his stalk between the two, wrenching the jaws off of Li. The sobbing child fell to the ground covered in dirt, blood and tears and Wenbo slid over to him to help. The beast snapped at Chagatai, the jaws clenching around his arm, large teeth pushing through his skin. The boy screamed and as a hot fury entered his chest he wrapped his free arm under the beasts throat and flexed. He flexed and pulled, the jaw popping off his arm. He shifted and brought both arms around its neck squeezing angrily with loud grunts as the beast flailed.

"Stop-- I…"

The voice steamed from the emptying lungs of the beast as Chagatai squeezed, his face beat red and tears staining his cheeks. There was a sudden pop and the beast fell limp. Chagatai's chest heaved as he continued to squeeze the throat, only slowly letting go once his elbows pressed white from strain. He could still feel the pressure in his arms, a ghost sensation as he looked down at the dead tiger-dog and his whimpering little brother. Wenbo’s horrified eyes blinked between Chagatai and little Li’s bleeding arm.

“Oh, crap. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap! Uh, UH!” Wenbo pulled off one of his long woolen socks and began to bandage the wound with it, just as he had seen mother do when Altansarnai got a deep scrape. But how was it again? Was it supposed to be tight or loose, or-or…

Li’s sobs became pained groans as the adrenaline dissipated. Wenbo’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest. “Chaggie, he’s hurting bad! He’s--!” He blinked back over at noticed Chagatai’s arm was even bloodier. “Chaggie, you’re bleeding!”

The older twin looked at Wenbo with adrenaline and shock in his eyes and then down at his arm, a trickle of blood dripping down. He looked down at the dead tiger-dog and then at Li. He walked over and scooped his little brother up and started walking down the mountain. He froze suddenly and turned back to Wenbo, "Come on."

“But Ch-Chaggie! We--” He swallowed as he saw the sheen in his eyes. He scooped up the tiger-dog with a grimace of disgust on his face and hurried after him. “Seriously, we gotta wrap up that arm - we can’t just walk all the way with you bleeding like that!”

"Just keep moving," Chagatai all but whispered hoarsely. Wenbo couldn't see, but he was holding back tears. The older twin rolled his bleeding arm into his shirt as he carried Li, pinching his own wounds.

Little else was said, Chagatai falling into thought as he mechanically made his way back home. Eventually Wenbo mustered the courage to attempt to wrap Chagatai's arm properly as he walked, managing a less than perfect wrap that Chagatai nearly shoved off.

The slope cleared and the forest appeared. It seemed like minutes despite it being hours but eventually the trio walked through the gates of the estate. All their siblings were silent, eyes wide and pale with terror. Blood seeped from Chagatai's dressings, dripping as he moved Li in his arms, the young boy having fallen asleep from all the pain and shock. Altansarnai suddenly forced herself into movement, charging into one of the estate buildings.

A minute later, Xiaoli rushed out the door with such ferocious speed that she very nearly tore the poor slider door off the wall. Her eyes scanned the courtyard in a second and fell upon the trio. The avatar’s eyes flashed both fright and fury and she stormed over with quick steps.

“What did you do?!” she thundered as she knelt down next to them and took Chagatai’s arm in her hand a little forcefully. Wenbo choked back tears.

“We didn’t mean it,” he sobbed, while Chagatai remained silent.

“What did you do?!” she repeated as she scooped Li into her own arm and materialised a proper set of linen bandages using a fistful of grass. she ripped out of the ground.

“W-we just wanted to go adventuring…” Wenbo continued with large tears rolling over his cheeks.

“What did I tell you the last time you did that, huh? What did I tell you?!” With a few deft wraps and tugs, both Li’s and Chagatai’s arms were protected by a tight bandage each. Xiaoli grabbed Chagatai by the jaw and turned his head about, her burning eyes looking for more scratches.

"It was my fault," Chagatai whispered to Xiaoli, as if attempting to hide his voice. His eyes avoided his mother’s, looking down and away. Xiaoli shook her head, the rage and anxiety moistening her eyes.

“You always say that, but I know you boys - it was your idea, then Wenbo egged you on. It’s always like that. The only reason you survived is because you got lucky.” She snatched the tiger-dog from Wenbo’s arms and put it on the ground next to her. “A tiger-dog is merely a quoll compared to some of the other things lurking in the woods. You are aware of this, yes? What if you had encountered a group of devils?! What then?”

Wenbo raised his hand. “We’re sorry, we-... We were sure it was going to be okay and--”

“Well, it wasn’t, was it? You two knew you aren’t supposed to venture too far from the mansion and you still did it - and you almost paid the ultimate price to learn why.” She gave Wenbo a quick check, too, before standing up, Li still in her arms. “You two are not allowed to leave the courtyard until I say you may, is that clear?”

Wenbo raised his hand again. “But mom, we--!”

“Is that clear?!” Xiaoli snapped. Wenbo shrank.

“Yes, mom…” he conceded.

Chagatai stayed silent, nodding at the command. He held his head down, hiding a few tears. The other kids began to gawk and he turned away from them.

"May I go to my room?" He asked with a hoarse voice.

Xiaoli shot him a look, but conceded. “You may.” Wenbo looked at his brother with concern. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ai holding a frightened Bayarmaa. She stared at him with disapproving, yet immensely worried black eyes.

Wordlessly Chagatai began to walk off when suddenly a boom of wind erupted from the gates. The flash of color turned into a steaming Hermes, club in one hand and sandals on her feet. Chagatai flinched as he heard his mother's concerned roar.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?"

Eyes of flaming red stared at Wenbo, and bounced to Chagatai, only softening at the maimed Li. Her eyes zipped to Xiaoli, searching for an explanation.

“Sweetgrass, get this - they’ve been out adventuring. Judging from the tiger-dog, they likely went to the mountains - exactly like they were not supposed to do. I’ve already grounded them for an unspecified time, but if you would like to add anything, feel free.” Wenbo actually squatted down and covered his head against the impending scolding.

Hermes huffed, "I! You!" She gritted her teeth against her temper, "I was worried sick! I flew circles around--" She closed her eyes and dropped her club. Pinching the bridge of her nose she attempted to swallow her fury.

"Are you boys okay?" Her voice was straight, and not all that comforting for once.

Chagatai looked away with guilt, "We are okay, now."

Hermes looked at Xiaoli as if asking for the truth.

Xiaoli sighed. “They got away with a few bites. With some rest, they should grow. The wounds will scar in time, though, so I hope they serve as reminders of what you’re not supposed to do.” She put her hands on her hips and frowned, her rage evidently having subsided a little.

Wenbo gave Hermes a sheepish, shameful look and his cheeks became a shade of pink. Hermes wiggled her nose in thought and crossed her arms, her voice a hiss, “I’ll talk with you two after dinner.” She gave them both an angry look and stomped over to her private house, club in one hand. She opened the door and before entering she turned back around, her brow furrowing as her face contorted again. With a grunt she slammed the door, leaving the courtyard in an anxious silence. Chagatai went defeated to his room.

Wenbo swallowed and looked to at Xiaoli, who had turned to the family house, nuzzling the sleeping Li with all the worry and care a mother could muster. The younger twin sat on his knees in the middle of the courtyard for a minute, a multitude of thoughts running through his head like a polluted river. As he sat there, Ai came over and sat down next to him. Wenbo gave her a quick glance and groaned.

“I know, I know… ‘I told you so’, meh-meh-meh. I don’t wanna hear it.” Something crusty poked his cheek, and as he turned to face it, something sticky smeared across his face. He recoiled at touched the smear, then saw Ai with a sad smile on her face and a jelly tart in her hand.

“It looked pretty bad,” she said softly.

Wenbo blinked, cleaned the smear off his cheek with his thumb and accepted the tart. He took one bite, chewed for a minute and swallowed. A tear accumulated in the corner of each eye and he nodded. Ai sighed and pulled him in for a hug.

“Told you so,” she snickered. A hand fell on each of their shoulders and pulled them apart enough for the blue-haired Altansarnai and a peaking Bayarmaa to poke their heads into the hug.

“So tell us what happened already,” Altansarnai demanded with curious Hermian eyes.

---

“Do you want some water?” Ansong asked sweetly, her almond shaped eyes staring from a round face. Chagatai didn’t respond, he just sat. His nest was a wooden stool, and he faced looking through what may have been the worst window in the entire estate, as through the shutters was only two meters of alley and then the blank face of the inner wall -- but stare he did, eyes in thought, but lids heavy.

Ansong seemed insulted by the silence but didn’t mention it as she sat next to the boy, pulling up her own seat. Zhongcheng watched from his bed, fingers black with charcoal as he scribbled on a bark tablet.

“You know it can’t always be your fault, you know,” He said as he bit his tongue, but Chagatai didn’t say anything.

“I mean it,” He continued, “They all have a choice, and they made a choice.”

Chagatai mumbled something and Ansong perked up, “What’s that?”

Chagatai looked over at his sister, “To follow me.”

There was silence.

“It was my fault.”

“I’m going to get you some water,” Ansong sat up and rubbed a crinkle out of her dress. Zhongcheng scratched his nose, leaving a smudge of black and mudding up the fanciful crimson pattern that covered the left half of his face.

“Can you bring me one?”

“Of course!” Ansong tilted her head and shuffled away from the pair. The room fell into silence once more with only the scratching of the charcoal against bark paper making a sound. Finally Zhongcheng put the bark down and rolled to sit up.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not done thinking bout it.” Chagatai looked over his shoulder at his brother and Zhongcheng held up his hands, a clever smile on his face. Zhongcheng stood up from his bed and folded his hands behind his back as he made his way out of the room.

“Sometimes I find thinking’s better done outside the head,” He flicked his bark over at Chagatai and exited the room. The tablet bounced off of Chagatai’s shoulder and clattered to the ground by his foot. He looked down and his eyes widened. It was crude, but unmistakable… a warrior holding a beast in a chokehold, a group of smaller people huddled under the fight.

---

Xiaoli pushed open the slider door into Hermes’ new personal room. Here, she kept books, inventions, toys-in-the-making, presents, secrets - really, anything that she wanted to surprise her family with. The river girl sighed quietly as she wrapped her hand around the hilt of the great club absent-mindedly. “Sweetgrass, are you there?”

“I’m at the desk,” Hermes voice came from around the corner. As Xiaoli turned the corner, Hermes sat hunched over her desk, cloak draped around her and even pulled up over her long messy hair, hands propping her head up. Xiaoli pulled a tall clay barrel over and sat down on it, gently brushing the hood off her head and then continuing to caress her cheek. She shook her head and looked towards the door.

“Sometimes, I really don’t know what to do with those boys,” she mumbled wearily. “Yesterday with the quoll and now this… It’s like-... Ugh…” She moved her hand to Hermes’ hair. “I think they are supposed to be like this, but… No, something feels wrong.”

“It is wrong,” Hermes looked over at Xiaoli, her eyes black with rings of red, “We are punishing them for being like us.” She let her hands fall to the desk with a thump, “I mean, they didn’t listen to us. They disobeyed and nearly got themselves killed and I want to stomp that out of them, but I don’t want to accidentally kick away their-- well… what we were… what we are.” She sighed and ran a hand through her wind-knotted hair, “Sometimes I don’t know, Xiaoli, sometimes I just don’t know.”

“Shh, shh, shh, come here,” Xiaoli whispered and wrapped her arms around Hermes. Hermes leaned into the embrace and sighed deeply, “Maybe--” Her eyes looked down at her notes on the various plants of Tendlepog, “What if I took them with me from now on? We slap their wrists for disobedience but after, we can indulge their wanderlust safely.”

Xiaoli sighed. “Hermes, you know how the boys feel about hunting. Sure, they might like the adventure, but you can’t kill anything on the way, you know. Not even quolls and squirrel bats.”

“Hm.” Hermes rested her chin on Xiaoli’s shoulder and thought for a moment, “I-- I can do adventure trips, no hunting, no killing, just exploring. Anything to keep them out of trouble… I can’t do this again, my heart was about to burst when I was out looking for them, and seeing little Li all huddled up…” Hermes stopped and closed her eyes tightly, and pursed her lips, “I don’t want to think about what could have been.”

Xiaoli kissed the top of her head and placed her cheek against it. “Yeah, let’s not think about that, dear…” She sniffed and cleared her throat. “Yeah, exploration trips could be fun! Would definitely do them some good to see other parts of the countryside and, hey, maybe there will actually be some peace and quiet around here for once while you’re out?” She pulled away and gave Hermes a playful wink.

“Ugh, my poor wife,” Hermes put a hand on Xiaoli’s cheek, “Stuck with the crazy ones while I soak in the sights of the forest. When Arya gets back, I’ll have her babysit and maybe you and I could finally get some quality time away.”

Xiaoli let out a happy sigh and leaned her head into Hermes’ palm. “That would be amazing, dear.” Her smile went wry momentarily and she raised a brow. “We could take a break in the Palace, though! It’s, you know, been a while since we last went.”

“Oh,” Hermes made a thoughtful face, “I mean… yes! We can try, love.” She let her hands fall down to Xiaoli’s, “My dreams have been weird lately though, I’m having trouble with that sort of control.”

Xiaoli’s brows furrowed together. “You’ve mentioned this before, I think. Is it the colours again?”

“It’s...no.” Hermes leaned back and tapped her chin, “There are words in the leaves… I can’t really remember very well. Years ago when the twins were babies I had a similar dream, and now it’s sorta come back. It’s probably stress, you know. What with all the kids..”

Xiaoli made a face and nodded slowly. “Yeeaah… Probably the stress. You want to try tonight and see if it works?”

“That would be great,” Hermes offered a smile, “It’s just-- well I keep waking up worried about the kids, but you know what I think?”

“What’s that?”

Hermes shifted in her seat, draping her legs over Xiaoli’s lap as she tugged an arm over the back of her seat, “Remember when we got reports of the Alma? I think their soothsaying got all wedged up in my mind and is making me anxious at night, I mean why wouldn’t it? I prayed about that though, so I shouldn’t be so worried, but here I am.” She gave a nervous smile.

“Oh, dear, don’t worry about that,” said Xiaoli and hugged her closer. “I can only imagine how His Lordship’s taking it…” She shook her head. “Yeah, it was -some- soothsaying, alright. All it did was frighten the children to tears. I didn’t even know Temüjin could understand half of what she said and still he wouldn’t shut up for an hour after it was over.”

“I don’t think it helped that our house guardian…” Hermes cocked her head to the side, looking for the right word, “Well, you know.” She stuck a finger in her mouth and blew up her cheeks to make a loud popping sound. “Feathers everywhere.”

“It took me a week to get all those stains out of Altansarnai’s shirt,” Xiaoli muttered with a groan. “Like, I am very appreciative of Father’s gift, but does it really have to be so… Brutal?”

“Oh dear,” Hermes snickered and poked Xiaoli’s nose, “You know as well as I do that it is made up of the horrors of the dreamscape, I’d say its rather tame-- er.” She thought back to the pack of devils that once wandered past the obelisk without giving it an entrance gift and then tried to raid the pantry, “Well it does what it’s supposed to do at least. The kids listened really well after that, too.”

“That, they did; that, they did,” Xiaoli agreed as she grimaced at the thought of other possible horrors of the dreamscape. “Anyway, you shouldn’t think about that. Neither you nor any of our children are going away anytime soon, even if Chagatai and Wenbo are doing their best to make it so.” She sighed frowning. “They won’t face the flames, okay?”

Hermes smile faded into a serious nod, “I trust you.” She sighed and looked around the room, “Xiaoli?”

“Hmm?”

“Dinner isn’t for another half mark on the shadow clock, yeah?” Hermes looked back at Xiaoli with big black eyes.

Xiaoli gasped. “Oh no! I completely--!” She made a fist and sucked in a breath through the nose. “A whole mark, I’m afraid,” she said dejectedly.

“Oh…” Hermes looked around again, “Because I was going to say if Laia was tending to it, perhaps we could get away with hiding away from the kids a little longer.”

Xiaoli snickered airily and gave Hermes playful smile as she shook her head. “Oh, you big, beautiful, silly-...” She placed a peck on her lips and smirked. “... wonderful woman.”

---

Hidden ending

“BIG HUH!?” *ROUND 2... FIGHT*

Summary!

Boys going on an adventure, but gotta trick mommy and mommy into not seeing ‘em. Who better to use than Li, who says he wants Peking duck for dinner. In restaurants, this dish takes 3 days to prepare, so Xiaoli’s like, “shiet, son, you sure you can go hungry that long?” After some bickering, Xiaoli is convinced to make some, so she takes Li along. Wenwen and Chaggie see the coast is clear so they bounce. They go to the mountains, but get ambushed by… Li! Then he gets ambushed by a Tasmanian tiger. Chaggie gets a grip around its neck and, oh my god, he’s gonna do it, and ladies and gentlemen, it is out of the match! Chaggie won! His arm is also bleeding and Li is unconscious. Shit, so they head home and get the scolding of a lifetime - they get grounded for eternity and Chag heads to his room. Wenbo gets a hug from Ai and tells his sisters about the tale.

In his room, Chaggie sits and blames himself as Ansong just tries to give him some gosh darn water. Zhongcheng wants some, though, so Ansong gets some. Zhongcheng wants to hear about the adventure, but Chaggie doesn’t wanna share. Zhongcheng draws a prophetic drawing and goes away, leaving Chaggie with more big think.

Xiaoli looks for Hermes and finds her in her new private room. There they complain together about the stress of kids, about the annoying alma that got exploded by their guardian, about Hermes’ weird asf dreams. Hermes also suggests taking the boys adventuring to get rid of all their pent up energy. Finally, Xiaoli’s forgotten the lamb sauce, so dinner is postposed a little. They kiss and make up, tho.

Prestigio!

Start: 19
+1 for Minor role.
+1 joyous collaboration.
+1 for Major role
End: 22

Child Count:10

Chagatai - 12 -- The Leader
Wenbo - 12 -- The Thinker
Li - 5 -- The Follower
Altansarnai - 8 -- The Huntress
Temüjin - 2 -- The Misunderstood Artist
Ai - 11 -- The Dutiful
Bayarmaa - 6 -- The Shy
Zhongcheng - 9 -- The Clever
Ansong - 7 -- The Hostess
Laia - 10 The Cook

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

The Wuhdige Tribe

Many years had passed, now, since the tribe arrived on the island, and the tribe had grown greater than its founders ever could have expected. There were now almost one hundred individuals, and the cramped cave was now neighboured by small pits in the ground roofed with sticks, leaves and dirt. There were a multitude of families now, some of which had even taken new names after disputes with their original clan, or just to distinguish themselves. Where the Wuhdige had been five lesser clans, it now consisted of seven, with Aga and Egwoi, together with their two children Hagwoi and Ege, breaking out of the Agoh family to form the Woiwoi family, and the Eliap together with his wife Joo had broken with the Elu after a dispute over rights to sleep in the cave. They had moved a little further down the beach and renamed themselves the Julu. While they kept in contact with the main tribe, they seldom willingly came over to visit.

But today they came. Today was a bleak day. The clouds were a mixture of gray and black, signalling imminent rain, no doubt. A circle of selka surrounded a single selka, placed upon a stretcher made of wood and hides. It was old Yupe, finally worn of life and thus had gone away to the faraway seas where the waves were made of fish and the sea foam was fresh, fatty milk. Tokuanhe, now an aged selka and in need of a stick to stand over longer periods of time, stepped into the ring and cleared his gruff throat.

“Thank you all for coming,” he began. “We’re here today to remember our ol’ pa Yupe and share the good memories he gave us, uhm-...” The large selka snorted and cleared his throat. “Suppose I’ll start off, uhm… To me, ol’ Yupe was like my pa. Whenever I did dumb stuff with Odende and we got in big trouble, we was always there to help us out and make us, y’know, not do that stuff again. Yupe was-...” The was another sniff. “Yupe turned me from boy to man, people. I owe that ol’ blubberclump everything and,” yet another sniff, “and I’m gonna miss him, y’know. Gonna miss him real bad.”

There was a clap of fin-like hands and the giant stepped back into the circle. Next up came Odende, his bulky form rivalling the sheer size of Tokuanhe. The champion nodded respectfully at the chieftain and turned to the corpse. “Yeah, uhm… Like Tokky said, uh… It ain’t easy sayin’ goodbye to an ol’ pa. I-if fact it’s really hard. Dunno exactly how I’m gonna say it right, ‘cause ‘he was good’ simply ain’t cuttin’ it. He was more like… Uh… The best, maybe. He was really more of a pa to me than my real pa, and now I know what you thinkin’ - Odende, you can’t say that - but say it, I do! Yupe was the best pa in the world, and, uh… Yeah, and now he ain’t here anymore, so, uh… Thanks for everythin’.” For the first time in years, the giant with arguably more muscle in his body than its remaining contents, shed a deluge of tears as he turned back to the circle to the sound of applause.

Next up was Toku’e, Yupe’s wife. She sniffed a few times, leaned down and clapped the old selka affectionately on the cheek. “I’m gonna miss you, you blubberball. Many of you probably don’t know this, but Yupe actually brawled my first man for the right to have me.” There were gasps and somber giggles around. “Yeah, yeah,” she nodded, stifling a tear. “It isn’t easy to say goodbye to such a brave hunk of fat and fur who wanted to give his life for you to love him - I mean, how do you react to that?” She shrugged and looked down at the peaceful face. “Even now, it’s not really like he’s dead - he looks exactly like his sleeping self. I kinda…” A sniff. “I kinda wish I hadn’t seen him like this now, for now I kinda just… Expect him to wake up in a few hours.” He looked to the many women and girls around. “Take note, girls - this is what love does to ya. It, uh… Uhem! It gives you years and years of unforgettable joy and then, then punches you real hard… Right in the gut.” The ring could have filled a small pool with tears at this point. The old selka woman knelt down and planted a wet, near-toothless kiss the grey-furred head. “Thanks for all the fun, Yupe - I hope the great sea of fish is as full as they say. I’ll see you soon, I reckon.” With that, the female painfully rose back to her feet with considerable effort, her sons and daughters coming over to help her. Yupu gave one of his mother’s arms to Oduye, who had grown into a young teen now, and looked around.

“W-well, since I’m already here, I’m gonna say some words, too. Pa was--” There was suddenly a bright light in the sky and all the selka cowered with shocked screams and whoops. A beautiful bird with feathers like a rainbow and weird glistening stones on it descended from the sky and perched itself on a nearby branch. The selka all looked to it with great awe and curiosity. Tokuanhe and Odende along with their sons instinctively moved to the front line to defend their families. The bird cocked its head around for a bit, seemingly harmless. Elop smacked his scarred lips together and grunted. “Nice bird, but it seems uninterested. We oughta not ignore ol’ Yupe, though. Can’t send him off without a, uhm, sendoff.”

Tokuanhe rolled his tongue around his teeth and nodded. “Hmph, yeah. Just scared us a bit, ‘s all. Come on, everyone, show’s over. Back to thanking ol’ pa Yupe--”

“Good people of Galbar…” the bird began to speak and all the selka turned back, only to recoil a couple of steps as they concluded that the bird had indeed spoken to them. As it continued, the selka closed in around it, then recoiled again upon seeing the fate of the funny-looking bird-dog screaming inside the dancing lights.

“Oof, that looks painful,” said Tokuhe as he scratched his head.

“Yeah, but what -is- that? Some kinda… Kinda-kinda-kinda…” Agu’e tapped his chin looking for the right word.

“That, boys, is fire,” grumbled Tokuanhe. The other selka looked to him with raised brows. The chieftain eyed Odende, who gave him a knowing nod. As the message reached its conclusion, the chieftain rumbled thoughtfully.

“They put our spirits in rocks or we allow ‘em to cook up in the sky, huh…”

“Chieftain,” went Elop. “What is this ‘fire’ you mentioned?”

Tokuanhe furrowed his brow. “A long, long time ago, me and Oddy were hunting with my ol’ pa Tokuan. This was long before any of you kids were born, by the way.” Many of the pups and children hung their heads. The chieftain looked up at the bird again. “It was a rainy day. The sky flashed and grumbled. Pretty sure ol’ Yop up there must’ve had a pretty bad day - after all, -somebody- forgot to fill his offering bowl with--” Okako’e elbowed him in the stomach and the chieftain oofed. “Right, anyway, Yop had a bad day and was lobbing his flashes all around. Suddenly, right, this flash hits the tree -right- next to me, and I duck away. I look at the tree again and what do I see?” He pointed to the bird.

“That bird?” Agoi said confused.

“No, dumby! The fire! It was all over the tree and it was, like, super hot!”

Elop pursed his lips. “Like how hot?”

The chieftain furrowed his brow and umm’d. “Like, uh… Like when a lot of people are sleeping on top of one another inside the cave, and uh… Yeah, that, but a lot hotter.”

The surrounding selka nodded slowly. “Woah, that’s pretty hot,” Elop agreed. The chieftain nodded.

“Yeah, it really is. So when I saw that bird-dog-thing get burned, I felt his pain, and I’m telling you all - if that is what happens after death, then none of us wanna do that.”

Jokuanhe raised his hand. “But pa, being stuffed into a cryssal… Cryspal… Cristel… A fancy thing sounds pretty painful, too!” He waved at the bird. “Hello, birdy! How big is the thing?”

The bird cocked its head at him, looking either very confused or not at all interested. Jokuanhe deflated.

“Went about as well as you thought it would, huh,” Tokuanhe taunted playfully.

“It spoke like a minute ago, gimme a break,” Jokuanhe retorted defeatedly.

The chieftain snickered, but quickly put on a serious demeanour again. “Either way, I think going to sleep somewhere is a much better thing than dying in a fire, ‘cause fire’s bad.” He looked at the surrounding selka, who nodded more and more eagerly as the statement settled in. Tokuanhe smiled wryly and waved up at the bird.

“Hey, birdy! We’re interested. We don’t wanna die in a fire, thanks. You have our contempt.”

“Consent, dear,” Okako’e said patiently.

“I know what I said,” the chieftain retorted.

The bird stood perched on the branch, still as a statue.

“Pa, I literally tried speaking to it a minute ago and--”
“You shut up, boy, or I’ll--”

The bird suddenly flapped its wings and soared calmly over to Yupe’s corpse and perched itself onto his fat belly. Many of the selka gasped. Odende’s eyes grew wild with fury and he picked up a rock.

“Dang it, Tokky, that ain’t a common bird, it’s a dumb, magical seagull! It’s gunna eat Yupe!” The champion lobbed the rock over the bird’s head. “Giiiiit outta here, you dumb seagull!”

“Pa, wait!” Dondo’e shouted and stopped him before he could grab another stone. The bird suddenly flew up in the air and flapped around in circles as if chasing invisible prey. Then, as unexpectedly as it had taken off, it landed right back down on the selka’s belly. On its wings suddenly grew an uneven clump of colourful rock in a slot on the funny, shiny stone thing, hard to see, but visible nonetheless - though not to the selka with poor eyesight, so a few of them went, “What’re we looking at?” Once the rock had formed, the bird pecked at it gently, gave the selka one last look that both could have denoted curiosity and disinterest, and flew off.

The selka stood there scratching their heads. “Woah, that was not how I expected this to happen,” went Tokuanhe.

“What did you expect, dear?” Okako’e asked with her hands on her blubbery hips. The chieftain shrugged.

“I’unno! At least a flash or something! Like, uh, like fire, you know!”

“I thought they were all about no fire, though,” Elop said with a confused shrug.

“I mean, they look like they are, but-- Ugh, you don’t get me,” Tokuanhe muttered and kicked a rock. Okako’e giggled and grabbed his arm affectionately.

“One question about fire, though,” said Eliap with a raised hand. Tokuanhe gave him a suspicious frown.

“Make it quick, lil’ Julu,” he grumbled and Eliap gulped. There were still some sour bonds between the great clans and the new ones, and Eliap had to tread carefully to not invoke the chieftain’s ire. He swallowed and nodded.

“W-well, you see. Inside the cave, it may be really nice and warm, but, uhm… As soon as you leave it, it gets pretty cold, honestly - especially during the winter, and--”

“You know, you chose to live that far away,” Elop snapped sternly and crossed his arms over his chest. Eliap shrank and nodded.

“Y-yeah, we did, but still--”

“Look, Eliap, boy,” Tokuanhe began and sat his large posterior down in the sand with a quiet blam. The other selka all sat down, too, a circle forming around the chieftain, Elop and Eliap and his family. “We don’t want you four living so far away - really, we don’t.” Joo nuzzled their youngest, a nameless furball, at her breast while their oldest, Julup, a small, playful pup, ran around his parents in circles. “Your kids, they-... They gotta run so far to play with the others. I mean, we’ve had this chat before, I know, but--”

“We’re fine,” Joo said aggressively. “Your worry is nice to hear, though, thanks.”

The chieftain grumbled. “A boy without play becomes a pretty dull man,” he cautioned, but as Eliap was about to speak, Joo cut in.

“Look, chief, we’re really happy as we are. The downbeach is nice and calm, and really, we’re fine. Just fine.” In the crowd, Jokuanhe looked down at his partner, Julempe, who covered her face with an embarrassed palm at her sister’s words.

Elop gave Eliap a worried look. “Right,” he said and sighed. “So, what was that about fire you wanted to ask the chief?”

Eliap closed his eyes sheepishly and nodded. “Right, uhm… Yeah, as I said, it gets pretty cold, so I wondered if you know how to make fire, chief. We don’t really have anything to warm ourselves other than, well, each other.”

The chieftain pursed his lips thoughtfully. He dug some nearby old bones of a fish out of the sand, picked the longest bone and began to pick his teeth. “Alright, see, I get your problem. It isn’t easy to stake out of your own, and trust me, it’s even harder to be the family who gotta watch you try and try and hear you always turn down our help.” He shook his head and spat out some fish scales from breakfast. “Can’t really help you, though - both me and Odende only ever seen fire be made, but dunno how it’s made. Sorry.”

Eliap hung his head and Joo stared daggers at Tokuanhe, who returned the stare with an innocent shrug. Then, however, Odende rose. “Actually,” he rumbled, “that’s not entirely true.” All the selka turned to the stern champion in surprise and Tokuanhe pushed himself to his feet.

“What, you saying you know how to make fire?” the chieftain asked, to which Odende shook his head.

“Dunno how to make it, really, but I got some ideas.” He shot a sideways glance down at Eliap. “The boy and the girl deserve it - they’re brave to set off on their own. After all, our pas and mas weren’t no different, Tokky.”

At this, the chieftain nodded. “What you got in mind, Oddy?”

The champion scratched his chin. “You know that time we had that rock throwing game, right?”
“Which time? The one with just you and me? Or with just the boys? Or the whole tr--”

“The one with just you and me,” the champion specified. The chieftain nodded with a “yeah?”. The surrounding selka leaned in as if their chat was getting quieter, which it really wasn’t - if anything, the excitement increased the volume.

“Remember when I hit the cliff with that rock and these funny lights came out of the cliff wall?”

“Uh… I may not have been looking,” the chieftain admitted. “But I think I remember that you got really excited all of a sudden.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was it. I hit the cliff,” he made a flat, standing palm and punched it with his opposite fist, “with the rock, and these lights came out of the wall.”

Tokuanhe nodded slowly, the other selka looking a little confused. “But how does that work?” Elop question. Odende shrugged.

“I dunno! Maybe I threw the rock so hard the cliff started to cry?” He did a quick flex and several women giggled flirtatiously. “Either way, when I saw this magical seagull and the stuff it showed, I recognised the cliff-tears in the fire, so here’s my idea: Fire is made when things like trees are touched by cliff-tears.”

There was a collective “ooooh” among the crowd. Agoi raised her hand in protest.

“B-but Tokuanhe said the tree was hit with a flash and then caught fire? How do you explain that?”

Odende put his hands on his hips and smiled smugly. “Why, that’s quite simple - you see, the flash was just ol’ Yop throwing something really, really, really hard, because he was in a bad mood, and it hit the ground underneath the tree, which was also rock!”

Agoi squinted. “But how can a tree grow on ro--”

“Shut up, it works, okay?” Odende snapped. Agoi huffed and crossed his arms over her chest. Odende looked at Tokuanhe who was scratching his chin thoughtfully.

“Well?” said the champion. “Wanna try?”

Tokuanhe looked down and raised a brow. “Weeeell, uhm… Guess it doesn’t hurt to try. Well, after we finish saying goodbye to ol’ Yupe.”

Odende blinked - as did the others. “Oh, right. Sure.”

And so the selka finished up the last rites before they carried the stretcher off to the sea, swam out a distance with the corpse in tow and dropped it. As it sank to the bottom, some tears were shed, but most of the crying had been done during the speeches. Now, however, it was time for something completely different.

In a hurry, the selka gathered dry sticks, dry leaves, dry fish - really, just anything dry they could find. The experiment required a proper sample, after all! Naturally, the chieftain had not used those exact words: “Find whatever you don’t want or need. Need some good stuff to burn, people!” At last, a sizeable pile had been made and rocks of different shapes, sizes and colours had been gathered. To warm up, Odende did several rounds of push-ups, sit-ups and jogs around the camp, much to the cheer of the girls and women. Tokuanhe gave him a slightly envious scowl.

“Alright, alright, you warm yet, Oddy?”

“Yeah, hold on - almost,” he stood up and lifted his arms over his head, giving the onlookers a proper view of every muscular dent and crevice on his torso, “done. Phew!”

“Odende, you’re so handsome!” came a shout from the crowd and the champion smirked.

“I swear, every darn week,” Tokuanhe muttered and snatched the champion’s arm, pulling him along as he waved to the crowd. Meanwhile, his two sons snickered and shook their heads.

Once Odende was in position, he picked up a rock. A target had been painted on the cliff wall in fish blood, and the champion had never felt more certain that this was his purpose. With a move like a rubberband, he threw his arm back and catapulted it forwards. The rock flew through the air with great speed, the air itself parting before i--

Clack!

It smacked against the cliff wall and fell inert to the ground. Odende gaped and Tokuanhe hummed pensively. The surrounding selka let out a collective “aaaw…”

“Maybe try… Harder?” he chieftain suggested.

The champion picked up a second rock and scowled at the cliffside. “You think you’re so tough, huh?!” he snapped at the cliff.

“W-well, it’s rock, pa--” Donwah began.

“Shush, boy!” the champion retorted and powered up a second shot. Once again, the stone soared through the air, its initial speed like a diving hawk, a stone of heroes, it was, as i--

Buck!

This one, too, fell inertly to the ground. Odende’s face turned a shade of pink and Tokuanhe shrugged. “Maybe the cliff just doesn’t feel like crying toda--”
“RAAAAARGH!” Odende roared, then grabbed five rocks and proceeded to throw them one by one. “YOU. WILL. NOT. MOCK. ME!” The final rock smacked into the wall with a flat nuck! and then smacked against the rocks below it. The surrounding selka all stared at him with saucer-like eyes. Odende picked up the final rock and got ready to throw it when Tokuanhe put a hand on his shoulder. “Look, Oddy, just lea--”

“RAH!” the selka shouted as he tossed, but his form was destabilised by Tokuanhe’s interference, sending the rock on a sideways spin. “Bah! Tokky, look what you made me do--!”

The rock smacked into the cliff wall, this one conveniently at quite a satisfying angle, and indeed made the mountain cry. Sparks jumped from the stone and over the dry materials, igniting them in a near instant. Odende and Tokuanhe looked on in awe as the surrounding selka celebrated and shouted, “Hurray! Fire! Fire!”

A few sparks then skipped to the nearby roof of a burrow, immediately setting that on fire. “Oh no,” went the selka, “Fire! Fire!”

Tokuanhe grabbed Odende’s shoulder. “Oddy, how do we make it stop?! I don’t remember!”

The champion shrugged wildly. “Hey, you asked me to make fire! I have no idea stop it!”

The chieftain stared in panic as the fire hopped to another burrow. Oh, why did they have to dig them so closely to one another?!

“Uh, uhm! Quick, offer it a fish!”

Elop lobbed a fish at it. It did nothing, save sizzle a little.

“It didn’t work, chief!”

“Uhm! Offer it a fancy stick!”

The selka quickly began to search for fancy sticks, until Jokuanhe raised a hand in the air. “Wait a minute,” he called out. “Sticks are also wood!”

“Darn it, you’re right,” the chieftain cursed angrily. “Uh, uhm, cover it up! Maybe it’ll go away!”

Grabbing the largest fur they could find, that of a bear they had brought down a long time ago when it raided their fish stores, the selka charged at the nearest fire. They took deep breaths and covered one of the burrows with the hide. Sure enough, the fire soon died out as it was choked to death. The selka looked at one another and celebrated.

“Hah! We did it!” Tokuanhe cheered until Okako’e punched him in the gut.

“No, we didn’t, you blubberball! That was -one- fire!” She pointed to every other burrow surrounding the cave entrance, which were all on fire. Then, the hide they had used to put out the one also caught fire. The panicking selka all gathered on the beach, staring as their outdoors homes went up in flames.

Then, as if ol’ Yop had taken pity on them, it started raining. The fires began to hiss and fizz as they battled the rains, but alas, they could not conquer the superior power of water. The selka stood staring at their half-burnt camp. Tokuanhe and Odende looked at one another sheepishly.

“W-well,” Tokuanhe said to Eliap who looked on in horror. “Now you know how to make fire, huh.” The chieftain elbowed the boy playfully and turned to his tribe. “Right, so, there was a teeny-tiny accident - BUT we learn as a big family not to dig our burrows this close together again, and hey, nothing of value was lost, hmm?”

“Literally -all- my things are gone!” came an outraged cry from the back.

“Yeah, okay, so -some- things of value were lost. But nobody died, right?”

The crowd was quiet as selka looked for their family members. Nobody said anything, so the chieftain clapped his hands together. “See? No worries, then! Burrows can be redug and re-, uh, re-roofed!”

The selka gave him sheepish looks and the chieftain rubbed his nose. “Alright, let’s get cleaning, people.”

With a collective groan, the selka began digging around in their still hot, collapsed burrows. One of them, Aguhe, dug through the charcoal sticks and found a charred fish. She gave it a suspicious stare, but she did indeed feel quite hungry, actually. Since she already held a fish in her hand, she shrugged and bit into it. Her eyes went wide as the flavours entered her mouth and she shouted, “Chieftain!”

Tokuanhe came over followed by Jokuanhe, Tokuhe, Odende, Donwah and Dondo’e and eyed her up and down. “What? What did you find?”

Aguhe held up the fish. “Here! This is actually really tasty?”

“Is that the fish we threw into the fire?” the chieftain asked suspiciously.

“Yeah! Try it, try it!”

The chieftain grimaced, but eventually shrugged and bit into it. A few chews later and the fish was suddenly shared around for all to try. It was an entirely new sensation - a crisp, bitter skin with a warm, almost flaky interior. The selka all grinned maniacally at one another.

“What should we call this, chief? I mean, it’s fish, but it’s not just normal fish!” Yupu said with a chuckle.

The chieftain thought long and hard, humming all the way. After a few minutes, he grinned and raised his fist into the air triumphantly. “It shall be known as firing!” The surrounding selka all clapped and chuckled, then danced around the camp all night shouting, “Fire the fish, fire the fish!”

Summary!

Timeskip a decade, yada yada. There are now 7 clans in the Wuhdige - in addition to the main five, there are also the Julu and the Woiwoi. The scene is set at old Yupe’s funeral. He died of old age and everyone’s hella sad. In the middle of the funeral, however, comes an Alma with its message. The Wuhdige don’t actually know what fire is, so the context is a bit lost on them. Then it turns out Tokuanhe and Odende know what it is, ‘cuz they saw lightning hit a tree one time, and says it’s real bad. The selka then agree that crystals are probably nicer and agree. The alma snatches Yupe’s soul and flies off.

The selka are then left to ponder. Then one of them Eliap, who is part of the new Julu clan, asks more about that fire. However, nobody knows how to do it, until Odende says he may have an idea. According to him, rocks that hit rocks make the rocks cry sparks, which set fire to things. Thus they set up a place for muscly Odende to throw rocks at the wall. He fails three times before succeeding on the fourth. Then the pyre sets fire to their whole camp. But hey, at least they learned how to grill, sorry, fire fish from it, right?

The end.

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

Shengshi

0MP/4FP

@DracoLunaris

A long flight from the Dragon’s Foot to the unending lands of Atokhekwoi had managed to calm the snake down considerably; however, he was still far from tranquil. He thought he had been adaptable enough for the most part - that was until that barbarian so perversely destroyed the tea his servant had spent its precious time making. The snake considered himself a creative creature, yet he could not for the life of him think of a crueler, fouler and unexpected insult. However, that was no longer a concern. The deed had been done - the alliance was shattered and the snake found himself strangely relieved. Now he could completely forget about that hairy barbarian and his odd homeland and instead focus on tasks of importance, like his divine duty to see the world populated with life. He had landed in his beautiful creation, the Kangjiang, which waters bore near-syrupy levels of nutrients from the mountains. It had grown verdant and ripe with life, its banks leaving no space for sand and dirt, but instead forming an overgrown crust of bloated life that supported innumerable trees. The wildlife here grew so closely that many branches intertwined. For a moment, Shengshi pondered whether the river simply was too nutritious, seeing as it formed a near impenetrable wall around itself with the nature it fed. He then shrugged. Prosperity was, after all, the greatest goal.

His eyes followed the stream to its tributaries, which themselves trickled down the oppressively massive mountain range that stretched from the horizon to the north all the way around the bay to the far east, walling the land and sea off from the crippling cold of the south pole. The peaks and crags that eventually met forest around their feet looked dreadfully empty, almost ghastly so. The mountains harboured no life at all. The snake thus smiled as he looked up at the mighty peaks - they were maybe the tallest in the world.

“Yes,” he mumbled to no one in particular. “These mountains are ripe for the introduction of life.” With that, he curled his tail and kicked off, soaring far up into the sky with such force that the ship quaked and took nearly thirty minutes to restabilise, even in the lava-like river.

The snake landed gracefully atop one of the snow-clad peaks. All he could see around him was white snow, contrasted by occasional shadows indicating terrain or rock spikes without snow on the underside. All in all, it was indeed quite ghastly after all. That would have to be changed posthaste.

The snake slithered around for a while, over plateaus and jagged top, under stone bridges and ice roofs. The mountains were steep, but not that steep - furthermore, there were plenty of flat surfaces and potential spots for species to thrive. The summer seasons could potentially see the snow melt away - that was when the lands here would thrive. The issue was the length of the winter.

The snake cracked an icicle off the underside of a cave opening. He gave it a quick lookover, turned it around in his hand and pursed his lips. He patted some snow around its thickest edge until it resembled a bulb-headed club. Satisfied with the work, he breathed life into it and watched as the ice became a thick, brown and black stem and the snow became a black and red, porous bulb. The snake planted it in the stone underneath the snow, and immediately the flower began to melt the snow around it.

“Huh. It worked! Right, little one. Are you content with the quality of this rock?”

The flower flashed a lava-like red momentarily. The snake nodded.

“Very good. While you chew on that mountain, I will continue my work.” The snake slithered on and watched as more and more plants like it spawned throughout the region, melting the snow around them. This plant ate the rock it grew it and turned it to lava inside, unleashing insane amounts of heat. The snake noticed, however, that at the higher altitudes, the plant simply could not dig through the packed snow and ice - meanwhile, as the snake gazed downwards, he observed the plant nearly immediately overheating and melting itself apart. He let out a grumbling hum, but at least he had several snow free plateaus to work with now. He picked up a rock still moist from the melting snow and ground it into sand in his fist. He cast the sand to the wind and observed as it became moss and lichen on the mountain. He smashed apart an icicle and threw it to the wind - it spawned as flowers and simple grasses atop the moss and lichen. A fistful of snow to the wind became small pine trees and massive shrubberies. He imbued all these plants with powerful roots that could out the rich nutrients of the mountain and, eventually, grow in the humus that they would become in time. After a while, the entire range became a mixture of red, green, brown and blue, contrasted by the white peaks and glaciers. Now, the snake could see to it that life could graze in the spring and summer without interruptions.

The snake tugged at his beard. Only one kind of animal could survive here, and it would likely be similar to the ones he had made back on Istais - thick fur coats and agility in the mountains and snow. The snake stopped himself, however, and grinned smugly. These mountains were nothing like those on Istais: They had been rough and pointy. These, however, were flat and orderly. Closed his eyes and let his imagination take control. Yes, yes… One day, these mountains would be the home of a great empire, he was certain of it! To reflect this, he thought, the animal kingdom here must itself be as grand as such an empire would be!

The snake went over to a small hilltop, one that was rather isolated from the rest. He placed his hand on it and sucked in a deep breath. As he removed his hand, the hilltop began to crack and shatter like an eggshell. In a great burst of power and might, the stone covers cracked and revealed a great flock of enormous wooly mammoths, these with powerful, flexible legs that even allowed for climbing. They hooted an earthshaking cacophony and thundered outwards across the mountain plains, eager to revel in their new life. The snake grinned at the stampeding beasts, but there would need to be lesser animals, too. So he went from stone to stone, clapping at patting them until they hatched all manner of creatures.

From one came a thick-furred goat with a powerful mane and two curled horns, bleating curiously at the new world;
From another came a flock of great, long-horned yaks that began to graze on the grass;
A third cracked into a myriad of mice with such a fur coat that they appeared almost like circles;
A fourth became a pack of lynxes that immediately gave chase to the mice;
A fifth became a flock of eagles that would lay their eggs here in the spring and hunt mice from the plateaus or fish from the seas far below;
The sixth became great lions with a powerful, curly, woolen coat and razor sharp fangs.
The seventh cracked into a pile of stone-eating worms, blood-sucking flies and moss-eating beetles that began to go about their business.
The eighth and last stone hatched to reveal a flock of white rabbits that immediately began to sprint away from lynxes and lions.

Satisfied with the new state of the mountain, its endless green and red hills full of bleating, mooing, roaring and hooting beasts, the snake shook his head happily and hopped back down to his ship below. Many of these would likely migrate down from the mountain in time, too, he reasoned. The enriched biodiversity of this continent was much needed - after all, this world was still quite empty.

A servant came over to him as he landed gracefully on the deck of his veranda and offered him a cup of steaming hot tea. The snake took the cup with a bow and sipped it calmly.

“Ah, just what I needed. Thank you so much, dear He Bo.”

The servant nodded. “Of course, My Lord. If this servant may be so rude as to ask, where does His Lordship wish to go now?”

The snake tugged thoughtfully at his beard. “Maybe we ought to go visit some of these selka? After all, it was about time I met some actual mortals.”

“A sound plan, My Lord,” He Bo agreed.

Suddenly, however, a servant came sprinting up to the snake, shouting, “Your Lordship! Your Lordship!” She fell to her knees and hands with ragged breath before the snake who regarded her with concern and curiosity.

“What is the matter, dear servant?” the snake asked. “Please, share with me the news.”

The servant refused to look up, but even as she faced the floor, Shengshi noticed her face was glistening with anxious moisture.

“A bejeweled bird came to these servants in His Lordship’s absence, speaking of a terrible fate after death - a purgatory in flames.” The snake’s skin paled and his eyes at first went wide with shock, then sharp with rage.

“What else did it say?” he demanded, his voice like a gust of blades. The servant trembled, tears pattering against the deckboards.

“It-... It offered an alternative - a postmortum stasis until a better solution was found. However, that option would require our consent. It spoke of crystals and--and secret chambres, and--” The servant choked on her tears. “F-forgive this insolent one, Your Lordship - is it true? Is fire all that awaits these servants as we swim ahead?”

The snake shattered the teacup in his hand. A vicious bile of fury rages in his throat and through grit teeth, he cursed the culprit’s name. “Azura…” he hissed. He looked once more down at the shivering ball of kowtowing servant on the floor. Momentarily, his rage subsided and he reached out a hand to squeeze her shoulder affectionately. The servant froze, her head slowly rising to look the snake in the eyes, a feat that nearly made her faint.

“Loyal one, valuable one, worthy one,” the snake praised her. “Thank you for telling me this… Now, I want you to gather every servant aboard onto the deck for me. Can you do that?”

The servant, deep in tears, nodded frantically, awestruck to the point of near loss of motor functions. “I-in His Lordship’s name, this servant obeys!” she said and set off in a full sprint back into the palace. He Bo calmly swept up the clay sand that had once been a rather nice teacup, though his face was riddled with worry.

“Forgive this useless servant - it was not present as the bird came and attempted to corrupt its people. This servant understands if His Lordship wills its demotion--”

“That is enough, worthy He Bo. This sabotage was and is not yours to repair. It is I who have failed all of you.”

He Bo’s brow furrowed together and he prostrated himself before the snake. “H-His Lordship cannot possibly blame Himself for these servant’s susceptibility to this heresy--”

The snake held up a hand. “Your loyalty and humility are worthy, dear He Bo, but this is a matter I must clear up - you all deserve to know.”

He Bo swallowed a clump in his throat and nodded. “Yes, My Lord - thank you, My Lord.”

---

It did not take long for all the servants to gather on the deck. They were nowhere near the ten thousand they had been before the attack, but the children of the massacre were beginning to grow up and once more, the crew was nearing its full potential again. The snake sucked in a deep breath and slithered over to the edge of the veranda. As one unit, one mind, the servants all descended to their knees, held out their hands, and kowtowed as they shouted, “TEN THOUSAND YEARS AND MORE TO HIS LORDSHIP SHENGSHI OF THE THOUSAND STREAMS!” Then, they did it again, and again. After the third time, the snake held up a hand and the servants remained prostrating. He frowned and shot out a sigh through his nose. He lowered his hand and collected them both behind his back.

“Loyal servants, worthy servants, amiable servant - Your Lord wishes upon you fortune and well-being for eternity. This, and more, was promised you upon your creation in exchange for your services. Your part of this agreement has been upheld with stellar conviction and dedication, and I am no less than deeply honoured to have you with me - no one and nothing else could measure up to the Servants’ hard-working soul. All of you, every single one of you, have been true to the Way of the Flow, and this loyalty is deserving of eternal rewards in Fengshui Fuyou.”

Several servants were weeping below. The snake felt a clump in his throat.

“However, I have not been truthful to you about what happens to those who swim ahead,” he continued shamefully. Many servants looked up, wiping their tears in the process. The snake pinched his lips together in a frown. “The bird that came to you spoke true - what awaits you after death is the flame, the flame of the Pyres.” He pointed to the starry skies above and many servants looked up with terrified eyes. “Each light up there is a bonfire awaiting a dead soul, and each dead soul will burn away until all that remains is the mindless ash…” Many servants screamed; others began to weep; even many of the children who were too young to understand began to squeal. The snake sighed again. “And yet,” he continued, the panic below falling silent, “it is a necessary measure.”

The snake held out a hand. A beam of water from the river below skipped up and splashed into the palm. The blob twisted and turned, forming legs and arms attached to a torso and hips. Silk from inside the bedroom behind him came flying out and wrapped itself around the humanoid; mud from the banks below snaked its way up the side of the ship and coated the person’s watery form. The newborn servant blinked to life as the snake sat him down on the deck beside him and gestured to him.

“Servants! Without soul ash, life in this world would not be possible! This servant only lives because it was infused with the ash of souls.” The servant froze as it realised it was the centre of attention and immediately threw itself to the ground in front of Shengshi. The snake waved dismissively and the servant hurried downstairs. Meanwhile, the deck below hosted a lot of grumbling and mumbling. The snake continued:

“The ‘solution’ Azura offers to solve is the issue is a hoax! There is no solution! She offers a temporary alternative for the weak-willed, the fearful, the ignorant! What will happen to life once all the souls have been crystallised? It will freeze, halt! The Goddess of the Wind sabotages the continuation of life - it clips the wings of harmony betwixt life and death!”

Many grumbling servants began to roar with outrage and betrayal. The snake raised a fist.

“I, for one, see this not as aid for you, dear mortals, but as a declaration of war disguised as a blessing.” The crowds were now all on their feet, punching their fists furiously up into the air. Shengshi spread his arms out and looked to the sky.
“Katharsos and his Pyres form the backbone of this universe - there is no other way! Her quest is a selfish one - one spurred on by emotion without a speck of rationality! Nay, I say, for life to prosper, we must all do our part!” He grabbed the railing with one hand and pointed to the crowd. “Know this, dear servants - even I, Your Lord, would gladly, desperately even, give my soul to Katharsos’ flames if I could see this world subsist. If my divine soul could bring about the births of a billion more plants, beasts and mortals, then slay me, I say - slay me and have me bring about a boom of prosperity the likes of which have never been seen in this universe!”

The crowds thundered with cheers and roars, slowly becoming a repeating chant of “Harmony, prosperity, eternity!” The snake folded his hands over his head. He Bo and a few more servants came out of Shengshi’s chambres with the Alma in their arms. The snake gave it a hateful glare and snatched it in a tight grip, its crystalline eyes staring daggers back at him. Shengshi held it up for all to see. The servants growled and screamed at the bird, shouting ‘betrayal’ and ‘demon’ at its helpless visage. The snake grabbed each wing with his hands and held it up over his head.

“Let this be our declaration! From now on, Azura is an enemy of nature - a villain to the guardians of life! With this, the rivers of Galbar with bring war against the wind! Death to the enemies of harmony!”

The servants echoed the snake’s call: “Death to the enemies of harmony!” they shouted in a rage-filled chorus. With a mighty, two-sided tug, the snake ripped the Alma in two for all to see, the crowds below cheering maniacally.

The snake collected his bloody hands behind his back while several servants surrounded him and began to pat the blood and gore off his visage. It was done. An alliance was broken, and another war had begun.

The way to prosperity and harmony would be paved with blood and skulls.

Summary

A slightly less livid snake arrives on eastern Atokhekwoi, ready to spread the gospel of the river. As he’s inspecting old Kangjiang, he lays his eyes on the mountains of Eastern Atokhekwoi and decides that they could use some lovin’. Thus, he hops and skips up to the peaks. There, he realises that the mountains actually have a lot of nice plateaus, but that the snow may be in the way of life. He thus first makes a plant that eats at the mountain below to produce magma inside itself, melting the snow around it. Once the plateaus are considerably less snowy, Sheng introduces moss, lichen, grasses, shrubs and trees. Then he introduces mountain-climbing mammoths, tahrs, yaks, thick-furred mice, lynxes, eagles, mountain lions with curly wool, stone-eating worms, bloodsucking flies, moss-eating beetles and rabbits. Content with his products, the snake hops back down to the ship, has some tea and decides to meet and greet some local selka. However, thanks to the big broadcast from Azura, Shengshi’s now absolutely livid again! He addresses his servants about the whole shebang, calling Azura a traitor to the harmony of life and death. To demonstrate the need for soul ash, Sheng makes a new servant out of thin air and explains that it needs ash to live. He convinces the servants that Azura is an enemy and declares war on her by murdering the Alma that delivered the broadcast to the sound of cheering servants.

Point Summary!

Start: 0MP/4FP
4FP on large ecosystem to fill all of the Eastern Atokhekwoian mountain range.
End: 0/0.

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

Shengshi

Kalmar

&

The Angels

Dawn cast its yellow rays across the golden ship of Jiangzhou which drifted lethargically down lower Nanhe. Fir and camphor hung over the banks of the insanely wide, snaking stream, and birds and wildlife sang their calls until their throats grew parched. Ribbits and rumbles echoed from between the trees, and on the bank sat a chubby farmer ape with half a stick of bamboo in its hand and the other half in its chewing mouth. In the distance to the east, hints of smoke still polluted the heavenly atmosphere of the jungle, yet squalls had made considerable efforts in halting the flame’s advance. Now, the snake could relax and think of more important things than war - like finishing the Classic of Wisdom, for one. So there he sat on the veranda of his tower, a calligraphy station in front of him and a brush in hand. To the rhythm of the surrounding harmony, he drew and stroked black ink across the rice paper pages, his mind in a state of satisfied bliss.

It did not last long. A distant roar could be heard, and a massive flying five-headed lizard appeared over the horizon. It rivalled the size of Slaevatein, and its blue scales shone in the sunlight. The beast was flying straight for the ship.

The snake’s eyes widened and his teeth grit together. “Ah, I thought you had survived…” He rocketed to a standing position and clenched his fists. Two columns river water rose up on either flank of the ship, both taking the shapes of massive snakes. “... No matter - I will just have to finish what I started!”

”Stand down!” Kalmar’s voice shouted in his mind.

The snakes froze, much like the snake himself. He sucked in a deep breath and straightened out his hands, the water colossi dropping into the river again. He crossed his arms over his chest, flicked his tongue disapprovingly and waited for the dragon to approach.

The dragon came to a stop before the ship, flapping its powerful wings to remain hovering in the air. Kalmar sat atop the beast’s central head. ”Where is Asceal!?” he called down to Shengshi, as if there was nothing out of the ordinary about his arrival.

“She left. She and Azura both went skywards to steal from Katharsos.” The snake gave him a sour look. “Nice to see you, too, by the way,” he said flatly and cocked his head to the side as he ran his eyes up and down the five-headed monstrosity.

”What!?” Kalmar shouted back, clearly baffled. ”Katharsos? Why!?”

“They are going to there to steal what souls they can before Katharsos manages to reform them in the flames. I know, I think it is a silly mission, as well,” Shengshi said and shook his head.

Kalmar grit his teeth. ”Has she ever made any attempt to speak to him?” he asked, already knowing the answer. ‘There is no point in speaking to the mad’, she had said, but Kalmar at least thought she would have waited for him to speak to Katharsos first.

The snake shrugged. “Not as far as I know. You do know our sister - she has her… Convictions. Azura’s influence does not exactly help, either.” He sneered and pursed his lips.

Kalmar scowled, and shook his head. He did not know Azura, but if she was even more extreme than Asceal, then she would be a problem. ”I trust this means Ekon and Sartravius are dealt with?” he asked, changing the subject.

The snake thumbed over to the tropical rainstorm to the east, visible even this far away. “The flames are being doused as we speak - and what was that about Ekon? Has he, too, fielded a force against my home?” He grit his teeth. “These animals, I swear…”

This time it was the dragon that spoke. ”He has. He was with my cr… Sartravius, when I was first made.”

Kalmar nodded. ”They each made an army of their own. But Ekon’s was held back, for some reason. If you haven’t seen it, then I assume he is either waiting for you to let your guard down, or moving it somewhere else.”

“Oh, joy… I do not envy the mortals who will find their way here.” He gave Kalmar a suspicious look. “So, why are you here, then? Did you just come to look for our sister?”

”This is Vendral. He didn’t want to fight for Sartravius, so he fled, and found his way to Kalgrun. I saw the fighting in his memories, so I improved him and came to help.” Kalmar frowned. ”How come neither of you told me?”

The snake blinked and gave the dragon a cruel, furious glare. “I see… And the five heads would not happen to simply be a coincidence? You see, I met a dragon quite like this one and I still have a bit of a score to settle with that one.” He flicked his sharp, two-tipped tongue. “Mainly a little, itty-bitty something to account for the thousands of servants it and its followers slaughtered.”

Vendral returned Shengshi’s glare, his ten eyes boring into Shengshi’s two, but it was Kalmar who continued speaking. ”It’s no coincidence. I made Vendral this way so he could match that dragon.”

”And I killed none of your servants,” Vendral added, his gaze unyielding. ”You have no score to settle with me.”

The snake snickered. “I really must say, brother. You do have quite a knack for making creatures with absolutely no concept of respect for the gods.” He shook his head with a smirk. “No matter, I do not mind - truly. Not in the slightest. Now, to change the subject… Why did we not summon you over? Quite simple, really - three gods have made their attacks against the menace - we did not want to trouble you with a conflict that was nearing its conclusion.” He bowed a curt bow.

”And yet it hasn’t concluded,” Kalmar pointed out. ”There’s another army out there, and Asceal is off to risk another war with another god.” He sighed. ”Did she take the angels with her?”

“I said -nearing- its conclusion - exterminating dragon filth and ant-like giants takes time. As for the angels, I believe they are currently in their room doing… Whatever it is that angels do in their spare time. I gave them some books, I suppose - they might be reading those.”

The dragon snorted at the use of the phrase ‘dragon filth’, but said nothing. ”Can you bring Makab up?” Kalmar asked.

The snake nodded and snapped his fingers. A servant behind him set off into the ship, presumably to fetch the angels. Shengshi raised a brow at Kalmar and poked some food out of his teeth with a claw.

“So, how has life been of late?”

Kalmar looked down at his dragon, and the creature extended one of its heads towards Shengshi’s tower; close enough that Kalmar could rise to his feet and climb over the railing of the veranda. He sat himself on an unoccupied chair.

”Well,” he began. ”I made some creatures to defend my land. I then created a mortal and set it loose on the world, like K’nell and Orvus did before me. There’s a species of mortals on the continent to the west of here - Arryn has been teaching them how to hunt. I also heard that Vakk attacked Li’Kalla. Oh, and I’m now the God of Cold.” The Hunter shrugged, before raising an eyebrow. “What about you?”

“Wait, there are mortals now?” the snake said baffled. “My, I ought to go say hello - by west you mean the, uhm…” He snapped his fingers in thought. “... The large continent, the greatest of them all… My, what did we end up calling it again? Azhou?”

Kalmar shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to the one who created it. Anyway, the species calls themselves Selka - from what I understand, they were made by Kirron. If you were to start going directly southwest from where we are now, you would find them.”

"Selka, huh… How droll. What are they like, if I may ask?" The snake snapped his fingers and a servant came out of the paper doors behind him with a tea cup and a steaming mug.

"Are they as bent on adventure as their creator?" he added playfully as he sipped on his tea with an extended pinkie. The servant poured a cup for Kalmar as well.

Kalmar shrugged. “I haven’t spoken to any in person, and I haven’t met Kirron, so I can’t say. They have prayed to me, though. They asked a lot of questions. Some were more concerned about their survival, while others kept asking how they could ‘earn their own fun.’ Apparently Kirron told them that was important.” He shrugged again. “Maybe it is, but you can’t have fun if you’re dead.”

"A hedonistic lot, then?" the snake remarked and chuckled. "Now I -really- must visit. Did you give them anything for the survival issue, though?"

Kalmar stroked his chin. “One tribe had a food problem, so Arryn gave them some bows. He then taught them how to wield them, and also how to track. It worked so well they began to worship me. That’s how I learned about them,” he explained.

“Huh, that easy, is it?” the snake made a face and clicked his tongue. “Well, I suppose I will head over there and give it a try, then. Give them some wheat to farm, you know, teach them to make dumplings - oh, dumplings.~ He Bo, please add dumplings to tonight’s dinner menu.”

“Yes, Your Lordship,” went the servant with a soft voice.

“Back to our enemies,” Kalmar changed the subject, not knowing what to make of this topic of ‘farms’ and ‘dumplings.’ “Sartravius, Ekon, and Orvus have all proven themselves to be threats. So has Vakk, if that story I heard was true. Asceal would let us think that Melantha and Katharsos are dangerous, but I’ve spoken to them and I know that’s not true. Do you know of any others who might be hostile?”

The snake paused for a moment. He pursed his lips thoughtfully and sucked in a deep breath. “What if I told you that one of those threats has been dealt with - permanently?”

Kalmar thought for a moment, and then furrowed his brows. “Vakk or Orvus?” he asked.

“That would be Vakk. As far as I know, Orvus is still alive and well - I met his second daughter the other day. She is fun, if not a bit too open - a fun contrast to her father and sister.”

Kalmar raised a brow at the mention of Orvus having a second daughter, but at the moment that was unimportant. “What happened to Vakk?”

The snake sneered. “He was an… Unfortunate addition to our sibling flock - a purveyor of pain, a herald of hate. He grew mad and threatened to murder the mortal Hermes, whom I am certain you have encountered at least once, and likely my own shard, Xiaoli. For this, a plan was devised to end his existence - one carried out by our worthy brothers K’nell and Eurysthenes, and myself.”

He paused and clicked his tongue. “Sorry for not inviting you along, by the way. We did not want to trouble you, naturally. Murdering siblings is not an activity that should be shared. Sets the wrong example for mortals.”

“You should have invited me,” Kalmar told him. “we made an alliance. How can that alliance work if we don’t discuss things like this?” Kalmar shook his head. “But if you killed him, then well done. He sent a beast of his to hunt down Hermes, and it scratched out the eye of one of my own creations before being driven off.”

“Yes, quite sorry, indeed,” the snake said into his teacup. “As an alliance of defense, I felt inviting to an offensive would be in poor taste - a misuse of allegiance, if you will - besides, four gods would have made for quite a massacre. He already suffered quickly enough at the hands of three.” He gulps down some sips of tea and held his cup out for the servant to refill. “Would you happen to know where this beast is now, by the way? I would rather not entertain the idea where Hermes is suddenly murdered by a horror thirsting for vengeance.”

“No, I don’t. But it was heavily wounded in the fight. Even if it survived its injuries, I doubt it’s capable of even hunting a fly.” The Hunter stroked his chin once again. ”But let’s say it did survive, somehow recovered, and didn’t abandon its task - it seemed to have been following the exact path she took throughout Galbar.”

“Not good,” the snake muttered. “I will have Xiaoli erect the proper defenses against such a threat. What creature of yours did it wound, you said?”

“Fenris, a giant wolf that is more than half the length of this boat. He lost an eye, but in return Fenris tore the beast’s lower half to shreds. I went through the creature’s memories, and that is how I learned Vakk sent it - apparently Hermes stole something from him. I would have warned her, or finished the beast off, but something more important came up, and I didn’t expect it to live anyway.”

“Oh, yes, the thing she stole was some funny box, by the way,” he said with a shrug. “A fantastically silly ordeal, all of this…” He peeked up at the sky. “My, had a servant been as slow as these angels are, they would have been salted in the middle of the day for all to see, I tell you.” He shook his head disapprovingly. “How is the whole Kalgrun situation going, by the way?”

As if on cue, and before Kalmar could reply, the three angels emerged from the Jiangzhou‘s tower doors. They’d been in the middle of one conversation or another before they stepped through the paper-walled slider doors, but when they looked out at the veranda they froze where they stood. Eline’s eyes widened, Makab grinned, and a dark look overtook Akam’s face. The three winged individuals had already summoned their glowing weapons before Eline noticed Shengshi and Kalmar in the great blue dragon’s shadow.

She hesitated and pointed the gods out, and after a moments deliberation the three put away their weapons, however begrudgingly. Makab scratched his head and shrugged before walking towards the gods, leaving his siblings scrambling to catch up. Eline opened her mouth to complain, but before she could Akam called out, “May we presume that dragon is your… Guest, Shengshi?”

One of the dragon’s heads appeared to roll its eyes, while another head glowered at the three. At the summoning of weapons, Kalmar had called his knife to his own hand, and only put it away when they did the same for theirs. He may have created one of them, but that did not mean he would stand idly by if they attacked one of his other creations. “His name is Vendral,” Kalmar said, before Shengshi could speak. “I brought him here.”

“I see.” Akam intoned as his eyes swept over the God of Hunters.

Beside him Makab shrugged, “Well as long as he’s not killing people.”

The dragon snorted again. Meanwhile, Kalmar looked to the angels. “Makab…” he greeted, though he had to pause to remember the names of the other two. “Seline, Akan.” He looked back to the dragon. “We came here to investigate this war you’ve been fighting.”

“No, that is quite alright. Ignore the host and keep the conversation going.” Shengshi gave a sarcastic clap and muttered into his teacup. “It is nice that you have finally left your room. Is the standard still satisfactory?”

Akam cocked a brow and Eline pursed her lips irritably. They both glanced at Makab, who was wearing a rather smug grin. The brown haired angel nodded in Shengshi’s direction, “More than. You must have endless supply of wine.” He paused, “Well at least I hope you do, otherwise I imagine you might be running rather low by now.”

Eline’s coughed and her eyes went wide at Makabs admission. She adroitly stepped behind her brother before Shengshi’s sour, venomous stare flicked over to the mannerless Makab and the snake put his cup down with an irritated “quite”. As this was going on, Kalmar gave Makab a subtle nod, before bringing his own cup of tea up to his lips and tasting it for the first time.

The God of the Hunt immediately recoiled, adopting a disgusted expression, which he valiantly fought and failed to conceal. Ultimately he decided there was no point in hiding it. So instead, he simply called upon his powers to distill the liquid, pulling the particles of tea mixture out and summarily dumping it over the edge. He then brought the cup to his lips - now clear water, which had been chilled by his newfound mastery over cold - and took a sip.

The snake’s head slowly turned to Kalmar with a death glare. He placed his cup down on the table and sucked in a long, deep breath through the nose. “Did you just…” He closed his eyes and held up a flat hand. “No, no, that is quite alright. I am not angry - not in the slightest, most miniscule, molecular way. Not a single fiber in my being trembles with rage, in fact. However, I must be so perfectly direct as to ask why you did not just request something else to drink?” If a voice could pierce through skin, Shengshi’s was similar to bamboo sticks underneath the nails.

Kalmar shrugged. “There was no need to trouble your servants. Cold water is fine.” he took another sip, and then turned back to the angels. “So the battle. How did it go?”

The snake hissed interruptingly and turned to the angels with a grin like a lion baring its fangs. “Simply horrible of me to interrupt, frankly, but I was not quite finished. Firstly, fetching whatever you may wish for is the servant’s job, nay, existence; secondly, that tea did not deserve that sort of treatment; and thirdly, how dare you so visibly and utterly waste that which was brotherly offered to you as a guest in another’s home?”

“Now is not the time for this, Shengshi.” Kalmar frowned. “I came here to help you. There’s no use bickering over spilled tea.”

“At some point, brother, all I ask is that you for once make an actual effort to be a proper house guest. That point has long since been passed. You come into my home on a massive beast which itself knows next to nothing of how to address a being that could end its existence with a thought; you demand information of me without even saying ‘hello’ or ‘long time no see’; you did not simply pour out the tea I gave you, no, you used your divine-given power to turn into into cold water; and now you say you are going to help me!” The snake took a few ragged breaths. “An ‘alliance’, brother, is founded on mutual need as well as mutual respect, and I feel no respect coming from you. I have tried to remain as civil as I can despite your faux pas, yet I find myself at my wit’s end now.” With another breath through the nose, he relaxed down onto his pillow, propping himself on one hand. “A little politeness is all I ask; otherwise, and I do not say this lightly, do feel free to leave at your earliest convenience.”

Makab stepped forward, and before either of his siblings could clamp a hand over his mouth he started, “You could get drunk and fight you know. That’s what me and Akam did a few nights ago. Worked out fi-”

Before Makab could finish Akam all but tackled him. He swiftly shushed his brother and ushered him back before sputtering, “What my uh, what Makab means is you could try and resolve this dispute in a friendly manner rather than letting it fester. There’s no need to fight, but a uh, a contest could work?”

“Akam, that was the name,” Kalmar recalled. “Sorry about that. I don’t see how a contest or a fight would help, though. What did you have in mind, anyway?”

The blond angel, stuck defending his brothers inane plan, rambled, “Well just that you and Shengshi have such differences, ones that neither of you may be able to overcome, so perhaps you two could find an outlet for your mutual frustration? A contest was just an idea, a way to try and best one another without coming to blows.” Akam smiled nervously and added, “ Of course it was just a suggestion. I’m certain you two can find your own means of resolving this.”

Kalmar sighed, then looked to Shengshi. “Archery?” he suggested with a shrug.

The snake gave him a sour look. “... To even suggest the game in another person’s house… No, as your host, I will choose our game - and it shall be a clash of poetry,” the snake demanded and raised a hand in the air.

Kalmar blinked. “A clash of what? Is that a weapon?”

The flat-mouthed snake pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, no, it is--” Another breath was required to maintain composure. “It is when you present an idea in the form of one or more verses. You know? Like sonnets, haikus, songs, the like?”

“I’m not familiar with any of those, either.” Kalmar said. “And isn’t presenting ideas to each other part of speaking? What makes a poem different?”

“The verse makes it different, you--” Shengshi pinched his lips shut and stared at the floor. “Fine, we will not do poetry, then. As the host, I now permit suggestions for other games.” He drummed his claws on his calligraphy station in a fit of ennui and annoyance.

“I suggest poetry, then.” Kalmar insisted. “If you explain what it is.”

The snake rolled his eyes. “I think I have made attempts to explain several concepts to you throughout time, brother - few times have I succeeded, it would seem. Already, I am, frankly, a little weary. Akam, Eline and Makab, do you three have any suggestions?”

“You could make something?” Eline suggested, “You two are gods.”

Makab opened his mouth, waved off Akam’s glare, and spoke, “Or you could get drunk and fight. Maybe even just get drunk.”

The snake gave Makab a stare that could have ignited stone. “I will not threaten you out of my love for my sister, your mother, but I will advise you not to suggest that again,” he snarled and turned back to Kalmar.

“You’d better not,” Kalmar’s face turned to snarl, as he glared at the snake. “That would be the second time today that you threatened one of my creations, and I already told you what would happen.”

“Oh, is the divine policing force going to come for me? He is a rude guest in -my- home, and as are you. If he is utterly incapable of knowing his place when the divines speak, then I would suggest that he goes somewhere else, like back to his room - or with you, off my ship.” The snake stood up. “Yes, that second option sounds absolutely marvelous right now, actually.”

Kalmar rose to his feet, his gaze unyielding. “Shengshi,” he said. “Do you know what your problem is?”

“Do tell,” he replied sourly.

“You are ruled by your own ego. You create beings who exist only to do tasks that you are capable of doing yourself. You threaten and insult those who do not know your arbitrary rules - rules which they had no way of knowing, which you only made to stoke your own pride. You speak of beings ‘knowing their place’, as if having less power than you somehow invalidates what they have to say. Even now, as two gods raise armies against you, you choose to reawaken a feud that was already settled. You are a spiteful, shortsighted fool.” The hunter finished the rest of his water, and put the cup on the table with such force that it almost broke. “But know this. I still put weight behind my words, and I intend to honour this alliance. So I will go out. I will find Ekon’s army, and I will see what can be done about it. But first I will speak to Makab. Alone.”

The snake nodded slowly. “Pardon me, but what alliance do you speak of?” he asked with a cocked head.

“So your word is worthless after all.” Kalmar said, with disgust in his voice.

“Let us take a synopsis: In addition to my complaints earlier about the nature of your visit, as well as general behaviour, you add a long, quite insightless speech that sullies my name and culture, as well as damage to my precious furniture. All in all, in my eyes, these are not qualities of a worthy ally.” He shook his head. “I can excuse the angel - truly, I can. His lifespan is short and he has not been aboard long enough to get to know my ways. I admit I may have let my anger get the best of me.” He paused for a suck of air. “But you, Kalmar… You have known me for a long time now… Known me well, too, and yet you have never, ever made a single attempt to understand me and my ways--”

”Neither have you,” Kalmar interjected.

“I have tolerated your ceaseless lack of manners in my home more times than you can count, but even a god can only take so much. I understand you perfectly, brother - you are a god of survival, and I respect your value of honour and might; however, what you have in that is severely overshadowed by your complete and utter lack of finesse and social adaptability. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, has been more upsetting to me in this existence than having an ally so potentially perfect, and yet so far from grasping the bare necessities of a truly great companion. You call me short-sighted while you see nothing past the distance your arrows can fly. If egoism is my sin, then blindness is yours.” He grit his teeth together and looked down.

“Now… Please, for the love of all that is sacred and good upon this world… Leave.”

“Not without speaking to Makab.”

“Then he will go with you. If you truly are so adamant about protecting him, it may be wise to keep him off this ship for a time.” The snake’s reptilian eyes blinked normal for a second. “Please, just leave…”

At Shengshi’s words Akam glared at his brother and buried his face in his hands before muttering, “Mother is going to kill us.”

Eline sighed and punched Makab’s shoulder, “No, she’s going to kill this idiot. If he doesn’t manage to get himself killed before she can.”

At his siblings mutual chastisement Makab held up his hands, “I still think my idea was solid, but fine. I’ll go with Kalmar see where Ekon’s army is.” The brown haired angel looked to the God of Hunting and asked, “That’s still what you’re doing right?”

Kalmar nodded.

“Alright then,” Makab turned to his siblings and spoke more seriously, “You two stay safe.”

Eline nodded and Akam, for all he looked annoyed, reciprocated the sentiment, “And you. Don’t do anything stupider than you already have.”

”I can’t believe I was brought all this way to watch this…” Vendral muttered, as he extended two heads toward the ship. Kalmar stepped onto one head, and moved into a sitting position between the dragon’s horns. He gestured for Makab to do the same, before looking to the other angels. ”You two can come, if you want.”

Eline shook her head, “We were told to keep Shengshi’s people safe. Scouting Ekons army is important, but there’s no point fighting if you’re not fighting for anyone.”

“Alright then,” Kalmar said once Makab had climbed on. The Hunter gave one last look to Shengshi. He looked as if he was about to say something, but instead gave one last scowl of disgust before looking back down to his dragon. ”Vendral? You remember how to get back to where you were created?”

”Yes.”

”Then let’s go.”

And with those words, the dragon began its fight northeast.

Shengshi had been sitting with his face in his hands for a while now. Eventually, he finally groaned and looked up. He leaned back onto his propped-out arms and sighed, his eyes rolling over to look at the angels.

“Terribly sorry you had to see that. I have a low tolerance for this kind of situation. It upsets the harmony of things. Now, a question, if I may - had your brother been drinking before he came up?”

Eline coughed and looked away. Akam rubbed his temples, “Admittedly Makab… All of us have been enjoying a fair bit more wine than would be wise.”

The snake nodded slowly. “For being the spawn of the Goddess of Light, none of you are particularly bright, are you?” He shook his head. “You are my guests, but you know next to nothing about respecting the host. Did your mother not tell you anything before you came? About my culture? About my person? Am I a joke to her?”

“No,” Akam spoke simply, even as his sister bit her lip and glared at Shengshi, “Nobody is ‘a joke’ to our mother Shengshi. As for our education, to be frank I believe you may overestimate our mothers knowledge of you and your culture. She showed us much, and told us much after that, but she cannot teach what she does not know.”

The blond angel closed his eyes for a second and went on, “She has made your acquaintance a number of times Shengshi, and she even calls you a friend, but she is not like you. She is not even like us.”

The snake snickered. “‘Frankly’, he says… By my holy name, he calls me…” He shook his head. “How long have you been here? Weeks? Maybe a month or two? Did it occur to you three even once to study the place you lived in? Make a simple, feeble attempt to integrate in the slightest? Something as base as a change in tone would have been satisfactory. Still, you take this patronising, self-righteous perspective and make a flat, arrogant attempt to explain that you have no idea what you are doing.” The snake jabbed a finger outwards towards the two angels. “Mortals that cannot understand their place in relation to the gods are doomed to suffer their wrath in time…”

Akam opened his mouth to speak, but Eline all but exploded beside him, “Our ‘place’ isn’t as your servants! We were given a job, to fight for you and all your people, not to join you. We’re well aware we don’t belong here, and we’ve kept our heads down as much as we can, but that doesn’t change our duty.”

Eline’s brother shot her a withering look and tried to get in front of her words, “What my sister means is we have tried to stay out of your and your servants way, but there is little to be done when we are summoned. I apologize for my siblings words but you-”

Before Akam could finish Eline cut in, “No Akam, you don’t get to apologize for me. I fought for Shengshi and his people, you were burned for them, and we both know we’d do it again. We’d risk our little mortal lives for a god and his people because it’s the right thing to do. If that god wants to threaten us over our manners then he can do that, but I won’t apologize for doing my job.”

Another slow, sarcastic applause. The snake flicked his tongue and snickered viciously. “Beautiful - absolutely beautiful. The one among you who even attempts to be civil is interrupted by a child on a ranting spree. Your aid in the battle was much appreciated - truly, it was. Had it not been for you three, the losses would undoubtedly have been even greater; however, warriors without discipline…” He clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “No good. Your services are no longer required.” While his voice was calm, his demeanour looked absolutely livid, his claws already extended far beyond their normal length and his pupils so thin they appeared almost like cuts over his eyes. His spinal fins had turned into long, sharp barbs and his horns had sharpened.

Nobody spoke, and no words were needed. Akam gave Shengshi a curt nod and unfolded his wings. He glanced back at Eline to make sure she was with him and in one flap he took off. The two hovered over the ship for a moment before heading north, far from the war and far from the people that no longer wanted their protection.

The servant He Bo refilled the snake’s teacup. “Will His Lordship inform Her Holiness Asceal, Divine of Light, about this change?”

The snake let out a sigh of relief at the servant’s diction. He lifted the teacup and took in a long, quiet whiff of the flowery scents. He took a sip and sighed as the sensation of heat and flavour flushed through him from mouth to tail tip. “I think I will. My dearest sister deserves to know, after all…” He sighed and took another sip. “True shame about Akam… Such potential in that young man. With only a few differently chosen words, his speech would have been so perfect.”

He Bo nodded in agreement. “His Blessed Self Akam had quite the satisfying diction - His Lordship’s opinion is worthy. Yet this servant of Yours dares so humbly propose that even Her Blessed Self Eline could learn in time.”

The snake shook his head. “No, she is too similar to her mother - powerful, dutiful, proud… Stubborn. She would never accept the Way of the Flow.”

The servant nodded. “So, if this servant may ask - what will His Lordship do now?”

The snake had another sip of tea and hummed pensively.

“Eline suggested creating something… Perhaps that continent to the southwest could use some life.”

Summary!

Sheng’s writing and shit in peace when a giant, five headed dragon comes over. Seeing as he’s only really seen one many headed dragon before, the snake prepares for battle. It turns out, though, that it’s just Kalmar coming to ruin the tranquility. He asks about Asceal’s whereabouts. Kinda bummed that the peace is utterly ruined, and also kinda bummed that Kalmar doesn’t really care enough about him to say hi, so the conversation is already off to a good start. When Kalmar finds out Asceal’s off on the Heist, he instead wants to see the angels. While they wait for them, they talk shit, and Kalmar’s bummed that Shengshi never invites him along for stuff, like killing Vakk and defending the jungle. Shengshi excuses their lack of communication with the old “didn’t wanna bother ya”.

The angels appear and, like their mom, have no concept of Shengshese social ranking nor courtesy, which makes an already annoyed Shengshi even sourer. To add salt to the wound, Kalmar apparently hates the tea he was served when he came and, get this, extracts the tea flavour and temperature from it, leaving only cold water. Shengshi is pretty livid at this savage move and asks why he didn’t just ask for something else. Kalmar says, “didn’t wanna bother ya servant”, which makes snek hella mad and he goes on a rant about how he gets no respect around ‘ere and that if Kalmar’s only here to be rude, he may leave. The angels suggest a competition to put a bandaid on the issue, but that falls flat. Makab then suggests they have a barfight, which the agitated snake takes a little too personally and ‘advises’ the angel to shut up. Kalmar takes this as a threat and the snake’s like “he’s being rude in my house, and I can do what I want in my house, don’t tread on me.” Kalmar then drops the “ego”-bomb on Sheng with a rant, to which Sheng replies, “aight, you know that alliance? Don’t want it no more,” and demands he leaves. Kalmar insists he first talk to Makab, which makes the snake cast them both out.

The angels part ways for like five minutes before the pissed off snake lobs the other two out, too, on account of what he perceives to be a lack of discipline. The snake finally decides to head to Atok East for some R&R.

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

_{The Learner, The Martial Dancer, The Compassionate, The Wanderer}

&

Qiang Yi and Zhengwu Crew

---

Arya stood before the statue of Shengshi, under the light of the Lustrous Garden. Wrapped in a bedsheet of white, she obscured her head except for two black eyes that peered out, unwavering and sorrowful as she stared into the statue’s false eyes. Uncanny as it was, she had to remind herself it was not him in the flesh, yet his gaze was ever like she remembered. Hard to please, and even easier to disappoint. She missed him a lot, she realized. Even if he never wanted to see her again, a part of her still hoped he did. As crazy as it seemed. The girl let out a small sigh.

Many nights and days had passed since she had stood before it, having faltered the first time she had been asked to join the crew in prayer and then after and after. Each time she came up with a different excuse, but she was running out of them. It was even worse because she could not bring herself to go to Ashalla’s less they think she was avoiding his Holiness. Perhaps it was better to avoid them both, or not, but she needed to stop the excuses.

It was time to confront her fear.

Arya fell to her knees before the shrine and took a deep breath. She shut her eyes, then said aloud, “Your… Your Holiness. It’s me, Arya. I… I’m so sorry. For what I did. For how I left. For the loss of the servants. For your home’s destruction. For running away. I’m so, so sorry. I realized my mistake… just after leaving you know. I feel so ashamed, even now and… my guilt. I'm guilty.” she stifled tears as her voice broke. “They say this is supposed to help, that it’s supposed to do something. But I feel much the same as I have been.” she finished, wiping her cheeks.

“Sometimes, knowing that you have a guardian who will listen to your fears and comfort you in your darkest hours, is enough,” came a deep, familiar voice in her head, followed by a ‘scwulp’ in a nearby bucket of freshwater.

She sat up, looking around to make sure she was alone. The deck was empty of people, save for a few scrubbing the deck near the bow, and she turned back to the statue. She gulped and said, “Your Holiness, is that really you? I didn’t think you would respond… The servants, they never say whether you do or not… I… I…” she let out.

“The servants are young, still, and their voyage is a phenomenal feat of mortality - they will get their reward in time. Until then, they will be content in knowing their lord watches over them, and that I have enough faith in them not to counsel them at every turn… You, however, I have actually wanted to speak to for a time…” There was a pause, one of agitating length. “... How have you been?”

She smiled warmly at the question. “Oh your holiness, it’s so good to hear your voice. I’ve missed you so much. I… I have been good. Better now. I call Split-Tooth and Penelope my friends, I travelled to Choppy’s sphere and delivered a drink called coffee, I got wounded by a foul creature and ended up on Tendlepog and I… I have two mothers now, your holiness and I love them so, so much. And the boys, they are so precious and loved. They will grow to be fine people under the tutelage of Hermes and Xiaoli, have no fear about that. Oh, there’s so much else that’s happened, good and bad. But your Holiness, how have you been?” she asked sweetly.

The voice laughed quietly. “How I have been is of little importance, dear. This is your prayer, after all. But my, that is quite an adventure. I am happy to hear that you came upon dear Hermes and Xiaoli - they are precious, indeed. I must make my way over there once more soon… Now you are on Zhengwu, I see. Your adventure will keep testing you, it seems.” There was a concerned grumble. “You know how dangerous this journey may prove to be, yes?”

She let out a small sigh, then said, “I know, all too well such dangers your holiness. They needed help, and I gladly went when asked. It was the right thing to do, for if you say such a journey is dangerous to me, think of how they might fare. I will be fine, I did not come unprepared.” she said.

There came a tickling hiss in her head. “Guilt is a poor motivator, dear… Is this truly a decision you have made from the bottom of your heart?”

She seemed to shrink at the hiss, her ploy so easily seen through. “I… Before I knew how easily it was to talk to you, I decided to go out of guilt, yes. Now though, my decision has never been more clear. Please do not tell them, your holiness. But after watching them do their jobs, laugh and socialize, I would have regretted not going if I yielded. My motivation is now only to protect them and see that this quest goes smoothly.” she said proudly.

“I see. Good, good.” There was another gentle chuckle. “You have changed so much, yet not at all. Your strong heart remains just as mighty as before. Though, it is a shame that we did not talk earlier.”

“I regret that, your holiness. I wish I had know how easy it was, I would have come back eventually, most likely after this quest was finished. I still have to find Penelope and Split too. We got seperated. But I thank you for your kind words, your holiness. Though… are you not angry with me for what I did?”

“Angry, no, no… Well, in the beginning, I was…” There was another pause. “Yet as time went by, I realised that your reaction had its reasons. The feeling of betrayal is a powerful one, and it made for an ideal moment to bless the Servants with new life. Now, all that remains is regret that we have not met in so long. However, there is another reason as to why it is unfortunate that we did not speak before. You see, your sister is looking for you.”

“Excuse me, my what?" she said dumbfounded.

“You have a sister, dear,” the voice said. “A young, flirtatious lady named Laurien. She is currently looking for you without a single clue to go on.”

Her world seemed to flip upside down, and she suddenly felt faint. Weakly she said, “I have a sister… Laurien? Laurien… But how? Why? Father never made another child on Veradax. I thought he didn’t even want me, but… I’m so confused, your holiness. Why is she looking for me? Flirtatious? Is that like a color or something?”

“She said she wanted to meet her sister, if I recall. As for flirtatious, well, someone will likely tell you when you are older.” He hummed. “Your father is an odd one, that is certain…”

She let out a groan, unsure of what to exactly feel. “Well, what does she look like?”

The voice paused. “Tall, like you. Bright, like you. Yet she is considerably more… Developed, if you will. It is difficult to describe.”

She let out a defeated sigh and flung herself onto her back, looking up at the night sky. “I should be excited, even happy. But… All I feel is jealousy. I don’t even know her, and I’m already judging her. Father gave her that name, no doubt about it and he probably gave her many other things. Things I… No… I can’t think like that, can I? It is what is. This is a lot to take in, defiantly and I can’t even imagine where to begin when we meet. Ugh, what do I do?” she asked aloud.

“Your reaction is natural, dear, yet she harbours naught but love and admiration for you - she was given all that you have earned through hard work and trials, paling in comparison to the powerful soul inhabiting that body of yours.” There was another hiss. “For now, you are to finish the mission; afterwards, you may seek me out, and I will arrange a meeting if it has not already happened.”

Heartened by his words, she used her hands to sit up and looked at the statue again. “Of course, your holiness. If she hasn’t already found me, I will seek you out and if she has, I will seek you out regardless. I know not how long this quest will take us, but I believe time will fly by regardless. Thank you, for everything you’ve done for me, your holiness. It means more to me, then you know.” she said softly.

“Oh, it was nothing, dear… Thank you for everything you taught me, as well. I am looking forward to the next time we meet… Now, I believe I sense someone approaching.” Right on cue, footsteps were making their way up the staircase behind her to the right. Panicking, she kowtowed in front of the statue, acting as if she was deep in prayer and waited to see who would show up.

“O-oh! My Lady Arya,” said Yong Mei, assistant quartermaster to Zeng En. Her bulky appearance cast a rather masculine shadow over the plank deck in the light of the Garden. She tapped her fingers together. “... Is… Is this one disturbing?”

Slowly she looked up at Yong Mei and blinked before giving a radiant smile. “No! Not at all, Yong Mei. If anything, I’m the one disturbing.” she said happily.

“O-oh, no, no! Don’t say that. This one can wait until Your Ladyship is done, no problem!” She sat down facing the deck. After a second, she turned, gave Arya a thumb-up and looked back ahead.

Arya gave a kind smile, then rose to her full height. She felt taller for some reason, as of late. Perhaps she was growing after all? She quickly shoved such a thought away and said in a warm voice, “Worry not, I was just finishing.” she finished with a yawn. “Come to pray?”

Yong Mei blinked over to her again and blushed. “Y-yeah… There’s this… No, no, never mind. One is not supposed to discuss one’s prayers.” She stood up and walked over to the statue, her head inclined all the way.

Arya cocked her head in surprise at the sight of the blush. She knew, having seen Xiaoli and Hermes, even herself, that it meant embarrassment. But what did Yong Mei have to be embarrassed about? She couldn’t help but smile at the girl, thinking her silly. “Of course, of course.” she said giving a small bow, “Have a good night, Yong Mei!”

“Y-you, too, My lady!” Yong Mei said, returning the bow. As Arya went back down to the deck, she could see Yong Mei behind her casting herself to the floor and whispering to the statue. Tired as she was, Arya felt restless, and instead of going below deck to her soft bed, she continued on to the bow of the ship. Under the moon the waves were subtle, like gently rolling hills. Her eyes played tricks in the dark however, and several times she thought she saw something flicker in the water, but it always escaped her. She crossed the deck on upon the other side she leaned against the railing, looking out into the far distance. What she thought as waves, quickly became something else as they were unmoving on the horizon.

It was land, the Dragon’s Foot perhaps? They would know more tomorrow for sure, but the sight was a welcome one. And upon the Dragon’s Foot, Laurien was looking for her. Her sister.

“My sister.” she said aloud to herself. She had never felt anything when hearing the word, but now saying it and knowing it be true, elicited a small smile. Though she had Hermes and Xiaoli, her mothers and the boys, her brothers, there was something special about having a bloodkin of her own.

“I have a sister!” she said happily, before beginning the journey to her bed.

“OH, BY SHENGSHI!” came a shout from the bow, followed by two screams. Arya spun around instantly, her heart beginning to race as she flung off her bedsheet, flying to the source of the shout. A servant came running towards the staircase down to the belowdecks.

“ALARM!” he shouted. “THE HORROR OF THE DEPTHS HAS RETURNED!”

Her heart began to race at the mentioning of a horror, but she quickly pulled herself together and continued on. Below the deck sounded the drums of a plethora of feet hammering against the wooden boards towards the stairs. The night was black as soot save for the shine of the Lustrous Garden, but cloaked in the robe of nocturnal shadows was the mirage of a distinct shape under the singular light in the sky - a bulbous form that gave Arya an eerie sensation that it was observing her. Qiang Yi ascended the staircase, followed by the rest of the crew, many of them armed with sticks and tools. Qiang Yi looked around at the surrounding seas - it seemed that the bulb had dived.

“What’s going on?” called someone from the back if the mob.

“Cap’n!” shouted the crew member that had summoned them. “I saw’r it! A big one! Like the one we fought last time! Oh, Shengshi, what will we--”

“Calm yourself, master Buqiong,” the captain said, firm in his words, yet the night evidently hid a quite visible hint of fear on his face. “Did anyone else see it?” The other two crew mates who had been scrubbing the bow deck raised shaky hands. “Lady Arya?” asked the captain and all eyes turned to her.

"There is something down there, Captain. I don't know what, but it's big." came Arya's reply. To say she was worried was an understatement and memories of the time she swam in the ocean for her life came to mind. There were dangerous things in the deep and they hungered.

Qiang Yi closed his eyes and grit his teeth together. "Curses," he spat. "Zhen-zhen, where is the nearest shore?!"

"Should be due port side, captain, but we are quite a distance away!" she called back as she assumed her place by the tiller up above. Qiang Yi sucked in a deep breath.

"All men and women, to your stations! Bring out the oars and take us port-wise! Move it, people!"

The crew scrambled to grab the oars and furl the main sail. In twenty minutes, nearly all crew members were hard at work rowing the vessel hard to port, towards the northern edge of the Dragon's Foot in the distance. There was something up ahead - a thick blanket of fog. Zeng En ran up the stairs to the helmsman post.

"Cap'n! Are we really sailin' into the Dragon's Strait?!" he bellowed. Qiang Yi shook his head defiantly and wiped some itchy sea foam off his forehead.

"No, we will only pass over it. The ship can handle it!"

Li Shan came running up behind Zeng En, waving his arms in warning. "Terrible idea, captain! The water will wrinkle and boil the bark hull!"

"She will hold!" Qiang Yi replied stubbornly.

As the crew sprang to action, Arya was left to her own devices. She wanted to help but knew not what to do. She stared down into the water once again, trying to see if anything was amiss. She thought she could see something like stars beneath the waves, and the garden-light reflected briefly off what might have been an eye. Whatever it was, it seemed to get more distant as the ship approached hotter waters.

Meanwhile, the wind against her face picked up as the boat gathered considerable speed - almost fifteen servants on each broadside, each pushing and pulling their oar like their lives depended on it. The light of the Lustrous Garden did little to aid the captain and crew in locating the shore, but the horizon seemed to grow craggier as time went on.

The air also grew unbearably hot.

Li Shan once more came up to Qiang Yi, his eyes wide with horror. “Captain! We must turn out to sea again! Already the hull is quivering!”

“Is the horror still on our tail?!” Qiang Yi demanded back. “Lady Arya, do you see anything?!”

"I saw it, but it seems to be gone!" she shouted to him.

The captain swallowed and grit his teeth together. “Very well, then,” he said quietly to Arya and turned to the deck. “HARD TO STARBOARD! Out to sea!” The tiller was pushed to the left and the oars turned hard. The momentum nearly tossed several crew members off the side. The steam in the air had begun to cloud the deck - many could not see their neighbour, even. Panic infected the crew as neither the sea nor the shore could be seen.

“Row forward, you squirts!” bellowed Zhen-zhen as she kicked the deck planks. The rowing began again, but the rhythm was out of sync. The hull began to whine and creak.

“CAPTAIN!” came a panicked call from below deck.

“Maintain focus, people! One-two, one-two, one-two!” the captain shouted at the top of his simulated lungs. Bit by bit, the rhythm reformed and the ship picked up the pace again. As the speed grew higher, so did the cloud cover grow fainter. Soon, the open sea was visible again, flanked on the left by the shore of northern Dragon’s Foot and the faint, faint silhouette of Xishan in the distance. Qiang Yi wiped his brow and looked around.

“Did everyone survive?!” he called.

“Captain!” came a voice from the belowdecks once more. Qiang Yi’s eyes widened and he sprinted down along with Zeng En. Arya anxiously followed along. Below the deck, the situation seemed very much under control, save for an incredibly close atmosphere and a tormenting heat. However, as they explored more of the hull, they found Li Shan and several other carpenters standing in a crescent around something. Upon closer inspection, they found that one of the crates had tipped over and spilled its contents. Tong Lao knelt down and poked at the bloody mess.

“What… Is this?” he managed through the disgust.

“That is none of our business!” Qiang Yi bellowed. “Clean it up this instant!” Even as the crew scrambled to scoop the meat bits into the crate again, Li Shan and Zeng En stood staring at it in disbelief. Qiang Yi could not help but stare ceaselessly at it, too.

“Cap’n, are we… Are we delivering--”

“What we are delivering is not for us to discuss and conspire about! Is the hull intact?”

Li Shan spoke an absent-minded “yes, captain,” but continued to look unblinkingly. Qiang Yi gave up with a sigh and nodded.

“Good… Make certain every bit is accounted for, and… And deliver your reports after it is done…” On the way back out, Qiang Yi gave Arya a concerned expression. “Lady Arya, are you alright?”

Her eyes had narrowed into slits at the sight of the flesh, silent alarms were going off in her head at what they were delivering. She had not expected flesh, and as she looked around at all the crates, she was incredibly unsettled. How had K’nell made no mention of this to her? Did Hermes and Xiaoli know what she was actually getting into?

She felt disgusted at the mere thought of hauling flesh of a creature she was glad she never got to see in life. It took her a moment to respond to the Captain, words briefly escaping her. But when she turned to look at Qiang Yi, there was no smile on her face, but a look of suspicion. ”I am fine, captain.” she said, running her hands through her hair. ”But we need to have a little chat.” she said boldly.

Qiang Yi sighed and nodded. “Naturally. Come, let us return to the helm and talk.” The captain gathered his hands behind his back and walked up the staircase to the deck. Behind him, servants were scooping up the icky masses with planks and improvised shovels, all the while gagging and sneering.

Momentarily surprised at the fact she was listened to, Arya waited a moment before following after Qiang Yi. The walk was quiet, far too quiet for her own liking but she understood the weight and pressure the captain had to be feeling. But that didn't really matter, because she needed answers. When they arrived on the helmsman post, Arya blurted out, "What's in the boxes?"

"I don't know," said Qiang Yi with a sigh. "It was not my place to ask. The Sovereign of Sleep made His request, and it is only natural that these lowly servants carry out His Holiness' will without objection or question. The contents of the boxes were not, are not and will not be of importance to us, with the exception that they be delivered unspoiled."

"But that was flesh, flesh!" she said, pacing back and forth in front of him. "Don't you see how that might be important to know? I am sorry if you feel differently, Captain, but those boxes are important whether you want to believe it or not." she said with concern in her voice. Her thoughts turned to what or who the flesh had belonged too and she simply did not know.

"No, it is not!" the captain retorted. "Regardless of what it is, speculation will only sow the seeds of discontent and mutiny. With all due respect, Lady Arya, please drop it. It will be cleaned up and forgotten and the quest will carry on."

"Let's hope you're right then." she said glaring at him. After a moment of silence between the two, Arya gave a small bow and then said, "Captain." in a soft voice before turning to leave.

Qiang Yi felt a clump in his throat and groaned quietly. In the distant horizon, dawn was slowly peeking over the edge, spilling red light over the dark sea and cloudy must. Behind him, Zhen-zhen pinched her lips together and muttered, "What was that about?"

"An unfortunate accident, first mate, that is all," the captain replied. "We will have to ensure that it does not reoccur once more. From now on, guards will keep watch in the storage room. Have Lady Arya's bed moved to the far back. It will be uncomfortable, but something tells me she may be a little too curious for her own good." He placed his hand on his chin in thought.

"You think she will object?" asked Zhen-zhen.

"Naturally," answered the captain, "But most of all, I hope she will understand."

"Let's hope together, then," she replied and shook her head. Qiang Yi descended the staircase to the deck and headed for the bow. Around him, the crew were slowly packing up the oars and going about their duties. The captain arrived by the figurehead and folded his hands in prayer.

"Oh, most blessed Ashalla, Queen of Oceans and sovereign of the seas - a most terrible thing occurred today. Once more, a beast from the depths gave chase to our vessel. However, by the grace of Your divine blessing, these servants thankfully escaped. Oh, thank You, great Ashalla - thank You for Your mercy and Your generosity to these most insignificant specks. These servants offer Your divine self our undying loyalty and love - for You are our Queen."

He kowtowed five times before the figurehead. "Thank you," he whispered. He then stood up again and gazed outwards across the sea. They had left the tumultuous seas of the Dragon's Strait, and once more they were sailing docile coastal waters. The itch of sea spray had he long since grown used to, and now all he could do was appreciate the beauty of the vast ocean. Behind him, the bow sail formed a wall between him and the rest of the crew. Here, at least, he was completely alone with his thoughts.

As Qiang Yi watched the ocean under the light of dawn, it eventually became apparent that one of the bulges in the water was not a wave, but something more solid, and moving closer. The captain blinked, at first not believing his own eyes, but could not force himself to move once he did. Even his voice worked against him, hiding for its life in his throat. All he could do was stare at the bullet in the water coming for him. Had he perhaps upset Ashalla at some point and incurred her wrath? Was this a visit from her, perhaps? Was this some rogue monster hungry for a snack? All were possibilities, all were terrifying.

The bulge slowed its approach as Qiang Yi watched, then water parted around it as the bulge rose. An oval-shaped body which was easily as large as the ship was plainly in view, and on the end closest to the ship, just below the water’s surface, were two large eyes which seemed to look straight at the captain. Then, suddenly, a burst of turquoise rippled over the creature’s body, replacing the navy blue which had camouflaged it before. A spiral of magenta twisted into the turquoise, and spots of primrose blossomed across its mantle.

Qiang Yi stood marvelling at the sight, entranced by the colours and patterns. He felt gruesome fear hammer at him from the inside, yet perhaps…

He stretched out a hand towards the beast. "You… You aren't hostile, are you?"

As Qiang Yi reached out, the beast slowly swam forwards until it was close enough to reach the ship. One eye sitting just beneath the waves angled itself to look at Qiang Yi, and a tentacle lifted out of the water. Sea water poured past toothed suckers as big as the servant as the tentacle rose towards him. As it came within reach of his hand, the tip of the tentacle shifted colour to match Qiang Yi’s sandy skin and even adopted a coarse texture.

The captain's eyes widened and he touched what essentially felt much like the hand of a brother, if not a little wetter than usual. He squeezed gently as he would shake a hand, and spoke, "No… You aren't hostile at all." A smile formed on his lips. "You are a blessing from our Queen."

Behind the sail, screams and calls for oars blasted through the air. Qiang Yi snapped out of his trance and turned. He gave the beast a confident nod and ducked under the sail.

The deck was in chaos. The panic of an ambush had caused several servants to trip over one another in search of oars or a place to hide. Zeng En tried to wrestle apart two sailors fighting over an oar when Qiang Yi bellowed, "EVERYBODY! CALM DOWN!" It did little to soothe the tumult.

Having been tired already, Arya was about to head below deck when the shouting started again and the crew began to panic. She turned to look as the sad sight, growing embarrassed for them. That was until she saw what the commotion was about and her eyes went wide.

The great sea beast had moved around to the port side of the ship and had moved back. Its mantle stuck out of the water, a backdrop of lime fading to turquoise with stripes of cream and lavender rolling across it, while two eyes watched from just below the water.

Whereas half the crew prepared oars, the other reached for sharpened sticks and tools. Qiang Yi gaped and waved his hands wildly. "NO! STAND DOWN! IT'S FRIENDLY!" Still no response, and Zeng En hurries over to the side of the ship with his group of harpooneers. The mighty quartermaster stretched his arm back, aimed for one of the eyes and--

There was a tearing sound, a crunch of gravel and a quiet 'plop'. Zeng En stared in horror as his javelin stuck deep into Qiang Yi's chest and out through his back. The thundering steps on the deck all went silent as the captain pushed himself up and pulled the spear out with a pained groan. He tossed it to the side and clutched the open hole in his robe, out which water slowly trickled. As soon as she had seen Qiang Yi get stabbed, Arya had turned her attention to him and with haste began to fly to his location.

"This… This creature… Is a blessing from Ashalla!" he bellowed through the agony and pointed over the side to the colourful beast. "We will not, ugh, -NOT- insult our Queen's generosity by harming it!"

The deck was silent as Arya landed next to the Captain. There was great concern in her eyes but she did not hesitate to put his arm around her shoulder and support him. Though she was taller then he, Arya bent slightly to make him comfortable. She then turned to look at the crew shaking her head, and said, "Panic does nothing but cause more problems. I am disappointed that most of you lack such discipline. It is most concerning but it can also be fixed!" she said cheerfully.

The crewmembers hung their heads in unison. Qiang Yi looked up at Arya and smiled faintly. "What do you propose, then?" Meanwhile, two servants of the Noble, one carrying a bucket of sand and the other a bucket of water, came over and began patting together the wound on the captain's chest.

"I know all of you are part of your own castes, but this does not mean you cannot learn from the others. Especially the warriors, for this quest needs all to be capable. Self defense is the only way you can protect yourself and I know a style of fighting that any can benefit from, if you accept my offer." she said sheepishly. Arya realized it sounded silly coming from her own mouth and she had no idea what she was doing either, but something had to change to prevent such panicking.

Zeng En and the Strong all put on collective smiles; Li Shan and the Skilled were slightly less enthusiastic; Wang Huangxia and the Noble seemed outright appalled by the idea. "What sort of style?" Yong Mei asked happily.

"Dancing!" Arya giggled.

Now the reactions had completely flipped: The Noble clapped enthusiastically at the idea; the Skilled still shrugged and meh'd; the Strong looked utterly disappointed.

"How droll!" Wang exclaimed excitedly. "What type of dance is it? And what music goes with it?"

Yong Mei frowned and crossed her broad arms over her broader chest. "Didn't you say it was a martial art?" Zeng En nodded disappointedly.

Arya looked at Wang and smiled, before she cocked her head at Yong Mei and Zeng En. "You'll see. I am tired now and need some rest, but most assured I will show any who want to learn the form of Martial Dancing. Later perhaps?" she said sleepily, turning to Qiang Yi.

The onlookers now all looked disappointed, but since there was nothing to be done, they bowed in unison towards Arya and went about cleaning up after the chaos. Qiang Yi smiled weakly up at Arya. "Well done. You kept your demeanour. You'll earn their respect in no time at this pace." He grimaced a bit as the healers dabbed some more sand onto the wound. "Not that they don't respect you, but.. You know." He straightened up and looked over the side. The kraken, which a minute earlier has lit up the sea with a rainbow of colours and a plethora of patterns, had disappeared.

"I understand, Captain. Probably more than most." she said softly.

Qiang Yi nodded. “We’ll get there. Now…” He waved the nurses off and rolled his shoulders. “... I must return to my duties. We will speak more later.” He bowed to Arya.

Reluctantly, she let go of the Captain and nodded as he left, returning the bow. Arya then went off, blinking as she did. What had she gotten herself into now?

Summary

Arya hasn’t joined in on Sunday prayer day ever (, and Okran is absolutely livid). She prays to Sheng and is surprised to hear him reply. They chat for a bit, mostly about how Arya’s sorry and that Sheng’s forgiven her. He drops that she has a sister and she’s like ‘shiet’. Then she is interrupted by Yong Mei who came to pray. Arya thinks happy thoughts about having a sister, but is interrupted by a cry about a new sea monster. Qiang Yi arrives and is like ‘calm yo ass son whaddup’. The kraken’s existence is made known and the ship sails through the outer edge of the Saluran Mendidih to avoid it. This luckily does not destroy the ship, but it does scare off the kraken temporarily. However, a box of Vakk is tipped downstairs, and everyone knows they’re delivering mystery meat. Qiang Yi asks people to forget it, but Arya admits she can’t and wonders what they are actually transporting. Qiang Yi says he doesn’t know, but that speculation will bring mutiny and doubt to the mission. Then, after Arya leaves, Qiang Yi and Zhen-zhen talk a bit about the mission and Qiang Yi decides to move Arya’s bed away from the boxes and post guards in the cargo hold to keep her curiosity away. Qiang Yi then goes to pray to Ashalla, but realises he’s being watched by a squid after he’s done. This squid is the kraken, and Qiang Yi is first frozen in fear, but then realises the Kraken is nice after an ET finger touch. The rest of the crew panic, though, and start prepping for war. Qiang Yi tries to stop them, but can’t, and ends up taking a harpoon to the chest to stop them from harming the kraken. Luckily, servants have no organs and all he feels is agony. The crew gets scolded by Arya for panicking so easily and she offers to train them in dancing. While not everyone likes this idea, Arya blueballs them either way by saying she’ll do it later. Qiang Yi is not harmed at all and finds the kraken has camouflaged itself and disappeared when he looks back in the water again.

Prestige

Arya: The Learner, The Martial Dancer, The Compassionate, The Wanderer
+26 Prestige Starting
+1 For Minor Role
+1 For Major Role
+1 For Following a Quest
+1 For Jolly Collaboration
= +30 Prestige Ending

Skills/Abilities Learned

+6 Prestige on Fighting
+6 Prestige on Dancing
+6 Prestige on Martial Dancing.
+1FP for flight.
+2FP for ‘evil eyes’ ability. Causes nightmares to those that distress Arya.

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

Children of Mortality

”Pop?

“No, that’s stupid,” Chagatai scrunched his particularly dirty face at Poppler. The young boy sat in a leafy push, his woolen pants pulled up to his knees and torn silly from the poking branches. He had foregone his loose shirt hours ago, leaving his naked torso scratched up and muddy. In his hand he held a slightly curved stick, or what he had called ‘the perfect stick’ when he had found it.

Poppler whizzed close and crackled quietly, and Chagatai nodded, “Good idea, he won--”

A twig snapped outside the bush and Chagatai’s face turned into a wicked smile, just as wide and cheshire like as his mother’s. With a screeching battlecry he jumped from his hiding spot, stick swinging wildly.

THWACK

The stick cracked across the back of a younger sibling, Li. The white haired child instantly broke into a loud wail and Chagatai cringed, “LI! Where’s Wenbo?”

“H-He... “ There was a sniffle, “We-went back in-insiiiide!” Li broke out into tears again, a blush of swollen red appearing around his collar. Chagatai scrunched his shoulders with guilt, “Oh come on Li, it’s not even that bad. I was just playing.”

Li just looked up at Chagatai with angry eyes, reddened with tears. He had eyes the color of heliopolis and freckles of gold glittered across his shallow set nose. He looked a lot like Momma Xiaoli. Chagatai sighed.

“You know Altansarnai plays this game just fine, she’s only three years older than you,” Chagatai defended.

Li frowned deeply, “Momma says I’m too little! Don’t hit the too little ones, Chaggie!”

“Fine, be that way,” Chagatai threw his stick on the ground, “I was just playing is all.” The two stared at each other for a while.

“Want to come help me ambush Wenbo?”

Li nodded. Poppler crackled.

---

“Temüjin! I told you not to play with it!”

Wenbo sat with an angry frown on his face next to the toddler Temüjin, who was still whacking his balled fists at what was once a small mud wall, and a pile of planks and building blocks.

“Now my city is in ruins!”

“Waaah!” roared the little Temüjin as it flattened a mud barracks.

“I’m telling mom!” Wenbo shouted. The toddler, arguably more frightened at the shout than the threat itself, gave him a quivering look and began to whimper. Wenbo groaned curtly and picked up his little brother. “... Yeah, you wouldn’t understand that, huh… Ai, could you come over here?”

Three small girls looked over at Wenbo, one of them standing up. She looked to be only a little younger than Wenbo himself, dressed in a blue woolen robe. She brushed her alabaster hair behind her ear and gave Wenbo a groan.

“Do I have to?” she muttered.

“Please?” Wenbo held the squirming toddler out towards his sister. “He’s ruining my city.”

“You and your dumb cities…” she said with a roll of the eyes and came over, took the toddler and went into the largely expanded family house. Wenbo put his hands on his hips and frowned down at the wastes of mud, stone and wood that had once been his magnificent work. He looked over to his other two sisters who seemingly were making small pots and bowls out of clay. The youngest, Bayarmaa, seemed to struggle with the proper placement of the straws in the pot’s skeleton. His week’s masterpiece having been levelled regardless, he went over and reached out to the girl.

“Hey, let me help you,” he said with a smile. Bayarmaa gave him a wide-eyed stare before carefully offering him the pot-to-be. With a few deft pulls and tugs, Wenbo had properly aligned the skeleton and left it for her to complete. He offered it back to her again.

“Here. Follow that seem as you braid the straws, and it won’t happen again.”

“Th-thank you, Wenbo,” Bayarmaa said with a smile. Wenbo nodded first at her, then at the elder sister, Laia, before walking off.

“LOOOOOOOK!” Altansarnai came storming through the gates of the estate. Her trousers were coated with red and dried blood covered her hands and arms as she held up a freshly killed quoll. Hermes walked behind her, a proud smile on her face and a basket of fresh kills.

The blue-haired girl presented the defeated quoll over her brother and sisters, “I am the master of the wilderness.”

“AH HA!” Chagatai suddenly pounced from behind a pile of drying straw. Altansarnai flinched and dropped her quoll, her fist coming up as she closed her eyes.

WHAM

Chagatai coughed as her balled fist rammed into his gut and he croaked, “Good... one.” Li peeked out from behind the straw, a wondered look on his tiny face as Chagatai fell to one knee.

Hermes rolled her eyes, “You two, always at it.” She scooped up the quoll and plopped it into her basket. She rested the burden on her hip as she surveyed her children. Chagatai looked up at her with a wince of pain but a small smile, Altansarnai standing proud. Hermes’ eyes fell on the mess of mud and wooden debris, “Oh Wenbo, what happened?”

Poppler whizzed by Hermes and circled Wenbo with a crackle. Hermes rolled her eyes, “I can only imagine what he is saying.”

“Nothing bad, momma,” Chagatai folded his hands after dusting himself off.

“Temüjin ruined it,” Wenbo said sourly and crossed his arms over his chest. “Mom, why are babies always so…” He clenched his fists. “Why--”

“Temüjin?” Hermes looked around, “Where is he?”

“He is in the house, momma,” Bayarmaa hummed as she plotted clumps of clay onto her pot.

Hermes looked back at Wenbo, “I’m sorry, my little honeypot. Maybe Temüjin can play with Li for a little… but baby, don’t forget that you were the little one who used to whack me on the head with a spoon. Give him time to grow up.”

Hermes cocked a brow and let her basket of quolls fall onto her butchering table, “Anyone want to help?” Chagatai ran over eagerly, scooping up a ceramic knife. Altansarnai jostled for her own on the other side of the table. As the two got to work, Hermes pressed her back against the table to look over at Wenbo, she folded her arms inside her cloak.

“How is my little baby anyways?”

“Mooom! I’m--...” He stopped himself and sneered. “... I’m fine. It’s just that, ugh, now I gotta start from the bottom again and--” He pocketed his hands in his robe and wriggled his nose at some bypassing dust on the wind. He looked over at the butchering table and raised a brow at Altansarnai’s attempt to bite the skin off her quoll. “You’re doing it wrong, by the way…” he said with a sigh and went over.

“I know!” Altansarnai frowned and stopped. She stared daggers and Chagatai gave Wenbo a knowing look from behind Altansarnai’s back. As his sister stared on, Chagatai started to make funny faces at Wenbo.

Wenbo’s serious demeanor began to gradually crack apart, snorts of laughter escaping as his mouth contorted into strained, flat smile - one that his eyes could do little to hide.

“W-what?” Altansarnai growled and looked behind her. Chagatai sucked in his lips and made a straight face. Altansarnai groaned and punched Chagatai’s side. The little warrior smiled wide, “For the twins!” He cried as he shoved into Altansarnai. The two fell to the ground, kicking up a small bit of dirt.

“Hey!” Hermes shouted over the wrestling match and the two froze. Chagatai rolled away from the scuffle and sat up.

“But mom,” He defended.

“Chaggie.” Hermes tilted her head.

“For the twins…” Chagatai sighed and stood up defeated.

Then, in a flash of movement, Wenbo snatched the quoll that Hermes had been careless enough to look away from and set off into a sprint towards the dining hall. “The twins will never surrender!” he shouted as he waved the bloody quoll about, spilling all over his sleeve, Poppler crackling madly beside him. He managed to ascend the tiny stone up to the main door to the house, when it was pushed open in a gust of wind by a frowning Xiaoli. Behind her sat Zhongcheng and Ansong, a brother and a sister both frozen in the middle of making dumplings, staring at the bleeding quoll carcass in Wenbo’s hand.

“Wenbo!” she shouted. Wenbo gulped with a quiet ‘uh-oh’.

“Oh, you’re in for it now,” Altansarnai mocked from over by the table. Hermes hushed her, a scared Li clinging to her hand.

Wenbo rose a defensive finger, but Xiaoli held out a stern hand, her brow furrowed to the point where it almost covered her eyes. “Give it here,” she said sharply. Wenbo obeyed mechanically and Xiaoli held the carcass a distance from her body. She grimaced at it and looked back down at her son.

“Wenbo, look what you did to your clothes…” she muttered and shook her head.

“It’s my fault,” Chagatai blurted in Wenbo’s defense. The shirtless warrior shuffled over, “Wenbo was just building his cities.” Hermes crossed her arms and looked up at Xiaoli.

Wenbo looked over his shoulder at Chagatai with a concerned frown, wagging his flat hand over his throat. Xiaoli’s eyes blinked over at Chagatai, then at the part of the garden where the ruins of Wenbo’s civilisation laid. She sighed and walked over to the butchering bench. Wenbo followed along with a hanging head. Meanwhile, Zhongcheng and Ansong shrugged at one another and went back to wrapping dumplings.

“I killed that one, momma,” Altansarnai said as Xiaoli got closer, “Real quick too.”

Xiaoli cocked her head to the side and smiled. “Our little Alta’s getting so fast, isn’t she?” she giggled and knelt down to nuzzle the cheerful girl. “At this rate, you’ll be as fast as your mother soon.” She rose back up and deposited the quoll on the table again. She gave Hermes a weary look.

“Well, killing them isn’t everything,” Chagatai muttered and crossed his arms jealously.

Hermes gave Xiaoli a tiny frown and put a hand on her son’s shoulder, “Don’t worry Chaggie, you have your own skills.”

“I could do it,” Chagatai shrunk, “But Altansarnai doesn’t have to listen to them before they--” He frowned. and Hermes patted his back. Altansarnai rolled her eyes.

“I know,” Hermes straightened out, “Anyways-- Xiaoli?” She looked over at Xiaoli.

“Yeah?” Xiaoli said.

“I’m thinking we should send Wenbo and Chagatai out to the gardens and then to do some shearing. Make up for what they ruined, maybe a little work will ease their abundant energy today,” She eyed the two.

“Mom! We were just playing!” Chagatai defended.

Wenbo stuck a protesting finger into the air. “We haven’t ruined anything! Others have ruined our--”

“Mhm!” Hermes looked at the half wrangled quoll, “I suppose Temüjin wrestled my quoll from the butcher table. You boys know that there is no rough play around the knives.”

“Altansarnai hit me first!” Chagatai whined, “You were there!”

Hermes looked over at Altansarnai then back at Xiaoli. At this point, Li was hiding behind Hermes leg.

“Hap-hap!” Xiaoli snapped at Chagatai. “You know what, I think that’s a stellar idea, sweetgrass,” Xiaoli let out and smiled warmly at Hermes.

“But mom--!” Wenbo began, trying to wriggle out of Xiaoli’s grip. Xiaoli sucked a sharp breath in through her nose, knelt switfly down before Wenbo and glared into his eyes. “Garden. Now.”
“Yes, mom,” Wenbo eventually groaned and shuffled towards the gate, nodding Chagatai along.

“Ahhh, snapfruit,” Chagatai groaned and sulked off with Wenbo, Poppler following along. Li peeked out from behind Hermes’ legs.

“Do I have to go too?”

Xiaoli looked down at Li and cocked her head to the side. “Do you want to?”

Li nodded his speckled face.

Xiaoli sighed. “Alright, but take Ai along with you. Someone has to keep you three in check.”

Li ran as fast as his little legs would go, quickly snatching Ai’s hands in both of his and tugging her along, her groaning all the way.

---

Whereas the garden had started as a humble patch in front of the gates to the mansion, it had since been moved to the nearby grasslands. A few tree-eaters that Chagatai and Wenbo had convinced to stay were lethargically chewing on chopped-up pieces of lumber stacked into small piles. The vegetables were arranged in neat, satisfying rows ontop of tilled earth. Wenbo pouted his lips and kicked a rock.

“You didn’t have to back me up like that, Chaggie,” Wenbo mutter, albeit in a voice that seemed much more grateful than his words.

“You know I always have your back, right or wrong. We are The twins.” Chagatai smiled wide, “I have you, brother.”

“Me!” There was a huff, “too!” Li panted as he ran up to the others, Ai strolling behind.

“Oh yeah? From behind Mom’s back?” Chagatai teased, the joke going over Li’s tiny head.

“Yep!”

Wenbo snickered. “Li, you gotta be more brave than that! Challenge a bit, you know!”

“Like you did with Mother?” Ai said and rolled her eyes.

“Yeah…” Chagatai picked up a hoe and rubbed the back of his neck, “Wen, I don’t think grabbing that quoll was the best idea. You know how quick mom is-- I’m surprised we are just gardening.”

“W-well--!” Wenbo gave Chagatai a look of betrayal. “I thought we were gonna do something big, you know! I didn’t know Mother was in the dining hall. I thought she was up taking care of Temüjin!” Chagatai shrugged and struck the earth.

“No, I was!” Ai snapped and put her hands on her hips. “Now are we going to shear or what?”

“Just don’t shear Old Tenchu,” Chagatai broke up a root, “He doesn’t like it. He says he is too old for it now.” Poppler crackled.

“Yeah, yeah, we know,” Ai muttered and took a stone sickle from the neatly arranged tools placed inside a tiny shed next to them. Wenbo winced and shrugged at Chagatai, mouthing something about the morning, peeing and fruit juice.

“Ai!” Li clung to his sister, “I can’t shear, I’m too little!”

“You always say that,” Chagatai stood up straight, “Go get a basket or something and try and find berries, you remember the ones?”

“Blue!” Li ran off to find a basket. Chagatai shook his head and jutted his chin at Wenbo.

“Do you want to go exploring tomorrow?”

Wenbo smiled wryly. “You bet. Need some new rocks for my new city anyway. Preferably red ones - the palace shall be made out of the finest clay and jewels!”

“Oh!” Chagatai pinched his chin, “You know… I know exactly where to get the best red rocks.”

Wenbo snapped his fingers. “Then that is where we’re going! Wait, where is it?”

Chagatai rubbed his arm over his mouth as he spoke, “errr… moving mountains.”

“No! You can’t go there,” shouted Ai and pointed a stern finger at the two of them, the tree-eater next to her nearly jumping with fright.

Wenbo groaned. “Ai, it’ll be fine! We’ve been there before.”

“And you almost got killed!” Ai snapped back.

“Not ‘spose to go there,” Li waddled up with a half full basket, “Momma said.”

“We didn’t almost get killed,” Chagatai whined, “At best we got a scraped knee or two from a tumble. You make it sound like the Warden in all his might descended upon us.” He nudged Wenbo, “Right?”

“Yeah!” Wenbo agreed. “A twisted ankle and bruised elbows. No biggie!” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Besides, it’s just for some rocks. It’ll be just like a stroll in the woods, if anything.”

“I’m going to tell mom and mother if you go,” Ai said strictly.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Wenbo said and squinted his eyes menacingly.

“She can’t,” Chagatai smiled smugly and nudged Wenbo, “Remember when she was butterfly watching… aaaaannnd someone saw her go too deep into the woods? The sparkles were in the air and everything.”

“Sparkles and everything,” Li repeated for little reason as he mushed a berry between his fingers.

Ai’s face turned near-completely red, her lips pressed together as her black eyes flamed with embarrassment. Wenbo snickered.

“Oh yeeeaaah, I think I remember something like that… So, we got a deal, Ai? We won’t snitch if you don’t.”

Ai cast her gaze down. After a moment, she let out a sharp “fine” and turned back to the tree-eater she was shearing. Wenbo grinned widely at Chagatai and winked.

“So tomorrow after morning chores,” Chagatai nodded.

“Can I come?” Li sparkled.

“No,” Chagatai shook his head, “You’re too little.”

Li frowned and went back to his berries. Chagatai looked back at Wenbo, “If we do it quick, we can come back before dinner and everything.”

“Then it’s settled. Let’s finish this up and pretend like nothing happened - maybe they’ll ease up tomorrow’s chores if we’re good now?”

“Maybe,” Chagatai thought about it, “Mother made sweetgrass pudding for tonight, you know.”

“O-ho-ho-ho,” Wenbo voiced with a blissful smile. “You bet I could smell that all the way into the courtyard. We’re eating dumplings, too!” A quiet rumble revealed just how hungry he actually was.

“Alright, let’s do this fast and properly - I am starving.”

“No dessert for the twins,” Li pouted, “You got in trouble.”

“Bah,” Chagatai waved a hand, “Mom will forget about that, and mother seemed to be in a good mood. Let’s do this.”

”POP!”

Prestigio

Starting at 47.

-6 to teach Shengshese reading and writing to the dreamers
-6 to teach clay and clay working to the dreamers
-6 to teach the basics of fire and cooking to the dreamers
-6 to teach clothing and wool making to the dreamers
-6 to teach gardening to the dreamers
+1 for minor role
+1 for collaboration

ending 19.

Child Count:10

Chagatai - 12
Wenbo - 12
Li - 5
Altansarnai - 8
Temüjin - 2
Ai - 11
Bayarmaa - 6
Zhongcheng - 9
Ansong - 7
Laia - 10

summary

Chagatai is out hunting his brother Wenbo with the aid of Poppler when he accidentally hits his younger brother Li instead. The two make up and decide to go find Wenbo.

Wenbo is pissed because Temujin, their youngest brother, is wrecking his mud city. He whines and gets his sister Ai to take him. He then shows his other sis how to make pottery better. Hermes arrives with Altansurnai, who had just killed her first Quoll. Chagatai ambushes Altansurnai but gets a gut punch in respose. The two then go butcher.

Wenbo sees that Altan is doing it wrong and corrects her. She is mad about it and Chagatai mocks her behind her back with Wenbo. She catches on and punches Chaggie. Chaggie tackles her FOR TWIN HONOR. They get in trouble with Hermes, then Wenbo takes it too far and steals Hermes quoll but ggets caught by Xiaoli.

Punishment is dished out and the twins are sent to the garden to work. Ai and Li tag along. Chagatai reveals a plan to get red rocks from the forbidden mountains. Ai argues against it but Wenbo is ready. Chagatai reminds Ai that he has dirt on her for going to a forbidden zone and she drops it. Chaggie and Wen wen discuss the plan

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

Serenis and the Wuhdige

It was a frigid morning. The naked branches of the woods were drizzling with snow like salt from a shaker, and the inhabitants had long since tucked away in their homes and holes. The only sound vibrating through the forest soundscape were two adjacent pairs of steps, denting the snow with low crunches. With a broad smile under his whiskers, an emboldened Jokuanhe led his slightly less bold betrothed Julempe, daughter of old Yupe, between the whitened trees. While they held hands, Julempe struggled to keep the pace of her partner, often falling behind a little. Jokuanhe eventually turned and gave her a sympathetic, wry smile.

“Juley, are you getting tired? Did you forget to eat breakfast again?”

The young girl stopped and twiddled her thumbs sheepishly. “It’s just… We’re really far away from the cave. We haven’t really explored the island yet and, well, we don’t really know what’s out here. The mainland had bears and things - the kind that took grampa.” She hung her head. “Maybe we should turn back.”

Jokuanhe sighed and went over to hug her. “Look, it’s not that far left. I told you, it’s the prettiest place I’ve ever seen. It’s got all these icicles and things that the Skylight shines through - it sparkles like the stars!” He pulled away to see Julempe smiling faintly.

“Like the stars?” she asked softly.

“Just like the stars,” Jokuanhe affirmed and tugged her along. “Come on. It’s just over this hill. With newfound vigour, the selka girl followed along. Eventually after climbing the rocky hillside for what to a selka was a frightening amount of time, the two reached a small clearing at the top, surrounded by grey-barked trees. There trees, however, were far from naked, and in the absence of leaves icicles had taken their place, hanging off the branches like a whiskers off selka lips. Julempe stood gaping, letting out quiet gasps. Jokuanhe grinned at her.

“Told ya, didn’t I?”

“Oh, Jokua…” she started and leaned her head on the taller selka’s shoulder. “This is like nothing I could’ve imagined…”

Jokuanhe wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Happy you like it. Look, if you really squint and look, you can almost see--...” He froze and Julempe frowned at him.

“Jokua, is something wro-Woah!” Jokuanhe pulled her along behind a nearby boulder and put his hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened as she looked up at her partner, who put one finger of his mouth and peeked over the side. There, in the distance, came a great, flying beast.

Serenis shivered, holding her arms close to herself. Even with the protection Kree provided, she could feel the frigid air on her skin. Kree growled curiously as he glanced upward, noticing his companion’s discomfort. Serenis rubbed him gently in response. “I’m alright, Kree. It’s just a little chilly, that’s all.” Things were looking rather depressing for them, though. The tree branches Kree usually ate to stave off hunger were now covered with icicles, making them harder to eat properly. There were few animals they could find to hunt down as well. Serenis wanted to make their journey more comfortable for Kree, but she wasn’t sure what she could do in a situation like this.

Suddenly, Kree began to dive, taking Serenis out of her own thoughts. “Kree? Where are you going?” As they flew closer and closer to the ground, Serenis could see a pair of humanoid seals. Kree landed next to them and began to sniff them, trying to determine if they were edible. The larger of the two stepped in front of the shivering smaller, snarling fiercely at the dragon, yet its eyes betrayed a hint of fear.

“D-don’t touch her!” yelled the larger one.

“Kree, stop it!” Serenis yelled. At once, Kree backed away from the two frightened Selka. Serenis slid off of Kree’s back and walked up to them, bowing. “Please forgive us, he hasn’t properly eaten in a few days,” Serenis apologized.

The smaller selka broke out of her cower and the larger one lowered his guard a little. “Wh-what are you? Are you from the western tribes? You don’t look like Selka!”

“My name is Serenis, and this is Kree,” Serenis introduced themselves. “We’re… visitors from a foreign land, traveling the world and seeing all that the gods have created.” Kree began to grumble, turning his head left and right in search of food. “Umm… we would appreciate it if we could have some food and shelter. We’ve been traveling for a while now, and could do with some proper rest,” Serenis begged, smiling weakly as she put her hands together.

The larger selka lifted his guard again with a scowl, but the smaller grabbed one of his arms and shook her head. She turned to Serenis and smiled. “I am Julempe, daughter of Yupe, and this is my man Jokuanhe, son of Tokuanhe.” Jokuanhe frowned at her for giving away their identities so quickly, but eventually just sighed. “We are of the Wuhdige tribe,” she continued. “We have fish if you want - lots of it, and a cave nea--”

“No! We don’t know you yet! You could just be like one of-... One of the other tribes that lie to steal our things! How do we know to trust you?”

“I’d never do that!” Serenis exclaimed as she took a step back, horrified at the thought. Kree poked his head in and glared at Jokuanhe, instinctively protecting Serenis, but a quick rub on the head calmed him down and he pulled back, returning his attention to the surroundings. “[Please, all I ask for is a place for a day’s worth of rest. I won’t be any bother to you,” Serenis asked again, bowing deeply to them.

Julempe put her right hand in her mouth and looked at Jokuanhe with wide, wet, pleading eyes. The male selka frowned at her at first, though he eventually capitulated with a huff. “Okay, fine,” he groaned and waddled down the hillside. Julempe grinned widely and hopped gleefully in place. She then beckoned along Serenis and Kree.

“Come, friend! The cave is this way!” she said, walked over and eagerly reached for Serenis’ hand to pull her along.

Serenis smiled as she was led along by Julempe. She felt that they were going to get along swimmingly. Kree snorted, then began to follow them. All he could think about was what they were going to eat when they reached their next destination, and hoped it would be something tasty.

The four walked almost two hours, though that was mainly due to the fact that the selka were extremely slow pedestrians. As they broke through the foliage into a clearing not far from the sea, however, Serenis could see between the remaining trees a cave in the cliffside, like a crack down the stone that spread into a triangular doorway into the mountain. A few more selka, mainly females and pups, were playing out in the snow, lobbing snowballs at one another and chasing each other in clumsy gaits. A few of the children came running over to Jokuanhe, who had jogged ahead to greet them. The mothers in the distance smiled at first, but then saw Serenis and froze - they then saw Kree and panicked, hurrying into the cave along with as many pups as they could shepherd. Jokuanhe’s and Julempe’s faces both drained of colour as Tokuanhe, Tokuhe, Yupe, Odende and all of the Elu brothers rushed out with stocks and stones in hand. The eight selka stood snarling and glaring at the newcomers, brandishing their improvised weapons and their sharp teeth.

“Jokuanhe, Julempe! Get behind us! There are two monsters chasing you!” Tokuanhe cried.

“Chieftain, no! They aren’t monsters! They’re actually really nice! Her name is Selenee and the funny dog is named Kolee!” Julempe defended as she picked up one of the pups who were curiously biting at Serenis’ dress, thinking it was a jellyfish. Jokuanhe sighed and shrugged at his father, who still waved his stick as the others lowered theirs with perplexed looks on their faces.

Once again, Kree tried to come to Serenis’ aid, but Serenis was quick to calm him down again. “It’s an honor to be here,” Serenis said, bowing at Tokuanhe and the other Selka who came to confront them. She turned her attention to Kree, realizing that perhaps his large size and threatening appearance would make anyone not used to him uneasy, and came to the conclusion that something should be done about it.

“Come on, Kree,” Serenis clapped her hands twice, and Kree began to shrink down. Kree soon found himself half buried in the snow and scrambled over to Serenis, climbing up and wrapping himself around Serenis’ neck more tightly than usual. Serenis could feel how cold he was, and placed a hand on a portion of his body to help spread a bit of warmth to him. “My name is Serenis, and this is my faithful companion Kree,” Serenis introduced themselves to the Selka. “We are visitors from a foreign land, and we hope to appreciate your hospitality.”

“Appreciate our hospitality?” Tokuanhe said with his fists on his hips, one of them still clutching his trusty stick. Females and pups were beginning to peak out of the cave at the distinct lack of outside commotion. “Just what have you been telling her, son?” He gave Jokuanhe a stern frown.

“Juley said we should bring them,” Jokuanhe said and threw his arms into the air. Julempe stood next to her man and looked pleadingly at Tokuanhe. Meanwhile, the other males slowly began to approach Serenis and stare in awe at this alien creature.

“Please, chieftain! They said they’re really hungry and really cold! We have lotsa fish still, right? We could--” Her words began to quiet as her demeanour shrank before the large, scowling selka that was Tokuanhe. Even Jokuanhe instinctively began to shuffle up in between his partner and his father. The chieftain’s glare soon left the girl, however, and he pointed a fat, grey-furred finger at Serenis.

“Listen here, you! I’m the chieftain around here, and I made a promise a long time ago to not only protect my own family, but to protect all families that are part of my tribe! As a pa, I will not hesitate to wack you if you try to attack my family, got it?!”

“I know about family all too well,” Serenis replied. Placing a hand over her heart, a solemn expression on her face, she added, “I swear neither Kree nor I will harm your tribe, on the honor of Arae, the Goddess of Family.”

The selka all looked at one another. Tokuanhe tilted his head to the side. “The goddess of family? Ain’t heard nothing about her, but…” He sighed and eyed the pups still fruitlessly nibbling at the hems of Serenis’ dress. “... If you say you know family, then we oughta make sure you can return to them. After all, what wouldn’t I do to return to mine…” He squeezed Jokuanhe’s shoulder tightly and smiled. “Come on inside. There’s plenty of fish for you to eat and walls to keep the wind out.”

“Thank you,” Serenis said, nodding to him. It was then that she finally noticed the little pups around her. “Hey now, that’s not for eating, little ones,” Serenis said gently, grabbing the sides of her dress and pulling the hem away from them. The pups kept hopping around her legs for a quick minute before they realised the dress wasn’t coming back down. They then decided to pounce one another, their game slowly turning into a round of catch as they waddled down to the beach. The selka did everything from grinning to cackling, and some even chased after the pups to play. Tokuanhe shrugged laughing.

“Pups,” he mused. “Come now. You must be freezing.” He and the other selka went to the cave entrance.

Serenis followed them inside. The cave ceiling was perhaps a little too low for a lady as tall as her, and forced her to bend down when standing anywhere but the centre. A beam of light shone in through a long crack in the ceiling that stretched from the opening to back of the cave. The cave was full of selka of all ages, most of whom at first cowered up against the wall at the sight of Serenis, but slowly grew more curious than scared at the funny humanoid. Tokuanhe sat down at the far end of the cave next to a female holding a pup, a small girl playing with a stick and a young boy suckling his fist. Tokuhe and Jokuanhe each offered Serenis a raw, juicy cod.

“Please, have a seat wherever you’d like.”

Serenis sat down in front of them, accepting the fish with a smile. It felt rather slimy on her hands, but she tried not to let the disgust show on her face. Instead, she brought it close so Kree could examine it first. Kree gave it a good sniff, then proceeded to snatch it away from Serenis’ hands and jump down to the floor, ripping apart large pieces of the fish as he ate it. Soon there was only a fraction of its skeleton left, which Kree continued to nibble on to get any remaining scraps out of it. The onlooking selka clapping excitedly. Serenis simply watched Kree with contentment, glad that he was getting what he needed.

Agoi was combing her reluctant son Agu’e’s fur with a jagged shell and gave Serenis a suspicious scowl. “Is the fish not to your liking?” she asked and Agu’e tried to use the distraction to escape.

“To be honest, I don’t really need to eat,” Serenis confessed. “Most edible things we’ve been able to find have been given to Kree.” Kree raised his head, but soon realized no one was talking to him and returned to his fish skeleton, scooping out the last eyeball with his tongue and swallowing it whole. Done with his meal, he returned to Serenis and coiled up onto her lap. Agoi sneered and dragged her son back into a tight grip and kept combing him.

“Agoi, stop torturing the poor boy,” Tokuanhe muttered. Agoi stuck her tongue out and rolled her eyes, but Agu’e managed to pull himself out of the hold. “It’s fine, mom, I’m pretty now!” he snapped at her. Agoi put her hands on her hips with an angry frown, but said nothing more.

“So, Selenee,” began the old, quivery voice of Yupe, followed by a pause and the tug of some grey whiskers. “How come you don’t need to eat? Did you eat earlier, perhaps?”

“That is a secret I’d like to keep to myself, at least for now,” Serenis said mischievously. “Also, my name is pronounced ‘Serenis’, not, um, ‘Selenee’.”

“Se-le-neesi…” Tokuhe attempted quietly before Jokuanhe shook his head and elbowed him gently. “No, silly, it’s ‘se-le-neesh!’” Tokuanhe grumbled. “Boys, you’re being silly. She just said it’s ‘se-ren-yees’. Learn to pay attention.”

“O-on second thought, you can just call me ‘Selenee’,” Serenis said hastily, a pained smile on her face. Eager to change the subject, Serenis moved on to say, “So, why don’t you tell me about the families living here? This tribe is quite the sight to behold.”
The selka stopped bickering over pronunciation and collected themselves. Tokuanhe stuck a finger in the air and grinned. “Why, naturally! As I am chieftain, I will first present my own family - the Tokuan family! This is my wife, Okako’e, daughter of the Dondweh…” The chubby Okako’e nodded her head. “Pleased to meet you, Selenee,” she said in a silky smooth voice. Tokuanhe pointed at Jokuanhe and Tokuhe. “Those two are my eldest sons, Jokuanhe and Tokuhe. That’s Odante, my eldest daughter, Yukuanhe, my youngest son, and that little furball,” he pointed at the small clump of white fur resembling a rough approximation of a selka, “is my youngest daughter Oka’e. We Tokuans hail from all the way back to the First Beach--!”

“We all do, chief,” came Elop’s snickering voice.

“I know we do, but it sounds really nice to say!” Tokuanhe huffed. “Well, as good a time as any. That one over there is Elop, eldest son of old Elupo who sadly passed on last winter.”

Elop and his siblings hung their heads and beat the chests twice in salute. “Yeah, we miss that old blubber ball sometimes,” he started. “Anyway, I’m Elop. This is my wife, Agoihe.” A timid female, who had been hiding behind Elop while he talked, peeked around him, waved shyly and hid again. Elop sighed and continued, “These here are my brothers Eliap, Jo’eliap and Eliul…” The selka in question all waved excitedly, little Eliul skipping up and down. Elop pointed to six females of various ages. “... And these are my sisters Ego, Egwoi, Yegwa, Agoweh, Aguhe and Ellahe.” The six girls giggled - the oldest two who Elop had identified as Ego and Egwoi were each holding two pups in their arms.

Tokuanhe nodded. “Good kids, the Elus,” he chuckled. “Yupe, share a bit about your kin.”

The old selka shrugged. “Wouldn’t want to overwhelm her either, chieftain, but…” Yupu crossed his arms over his chest and snickered. “Forgive our old man - he’s so careful nowadays, with that hip and all.”

“You be quiet, boy!” Yupe grumbled and wafted his fist at the smirking selka’s face.

“Sure, pa,” he mused. “Anyway, that’s Yupe, my pa. That’s ma, Tuko’e--”

“My sister!” Tokuanhe said and thumbed his chest proudly. Tuko’e shook her greying head and rolled her eyes.

Yupu chuckled. “I’m Yupu, his eldest son. That there is my wife Dondu’e.” A young selka female quickened from her sleep. “Wuh?!” she exclaimed and the surrounding tribesmen cackled. “These are my brothers Yuge, his wife Togo’e, and Yupi, and, uh, our sisters…” He took a deep breath. “Yui, Julempe, Yugege, Joo, Eguyu, Ugu, Yulee and Uyu…”

“You fo’ggot meh!” came a high-pitched squeak from a small, white-furred pup in the back who walked clumsily up to Yupu.

“Oduye, we’re talking about sisters now, not daughters - you’re my daughter.”

“Oh,” Oduye cooed and stuffed her fist in her mouth. “Woopshie…”

“Let’s see, who’s next…” Tokuanhe mumbled. “Odende, you go on. Tell us a bit about the Dondweh!” The muscular selka clicked his tongue between his sharp teeth. He snorted loudly and slapped two beefy males looking to be of equal age on their backs.

“These are my twins boys,” he rumbled. “Dondo’e and Donwah, the strongest boys in the tribe, I say!” The two selka boys hammered their unusually firm chests proudly.

“Now hold it, Odende, I said ‘tell us a bit’, not ‘tell lies’,” Tokuanhe challenged. “You know darn well that Jokuanhe wrestles both of your boys into the sand with his right flipper behind his back!”

“Pa, do you really have to--”

“I ain’t never seen him do no such thing, Tokky - who’s the liar here, HUH?!” Odende boomed and stood up. Tokuanhe also rocketed to his feet.

“We settle this now, you blubber clump,” the chieftain growled.

“You. Me. Outside,” the champion snarled back and stabbed a finger at Tokuanhe’s chest.

“First to fall loses,” the chieftain threatened.

“Prepare to lose, then, ‘chief’,” the champion spat back. The two large selka waddled out of the cave, radiating an oppressively strong aura.

“Oh, joy, here they go again…” Okako’e said and slapped a palm over her forehead.

Serenis greeted each Selka family with a smile and wave, occasionally adding a nod as well. The tribe was very lively, and Serenis could feel the community’s warmth for each other. However, the warm feeling soon disappeared when tensions rose between Tokuanne and Odende. Serenis was left in a panicked bewilderment when they began to leave the cave. “Wait, what?” Serenis said, swiveling her head between the two large Selka and the rest of the tribe. “Wh-what’s going on? What are they doing?”

“H-wahn! Tw-hoo! Threee!” came two voiced from the outside. Okako’e lifted her palm from her face and sighed.

“They are seeing who can lift the heaviest rock the most times… They always do this when they disagree over something.” Jokuanhe, Tokuhe, Dondo’e and Dondwah all hurried out after their fathers to watch - as did many of the girls. Okako’e shook her head. “I’m sorry, this must be odd to an outsider.”

“Well, I certainly haven’t seen such a custom before,” Serenis admitted. “It is odd, but every community has their ways. My role is simply to observe.” It seemed simple enough, really, but Serenis really wondered how such a custom came to be in the first place. There was just so much to learn.

“Our people didn’t have it easy to start off with…” Okako’e continued as she caressed the small, white face of the pup in her arms. “... After we got off the First Beach, there were a lot of fun things - and a lot of bad things… Tokuanhe’s pa, Tokuan, didn’t like life much with all the raiding and fighting, so he gathered his best friends and their families and went south along the tall mountains.” She pointed at the females of different ages sitting in the general area where Odende and his sons had been sitting. “The Dondwehs are Tokuanhe’s most trusted friends, but they lost a lot on the walk here. Odende was only a pup when old Dondweh and his wife were taken by raiders. It was thanks to Yupe that he survived at all,” she whispered. She then pointed to Agoi who still sat nuzzling her unwilling sons, surrounded by eight females, five of whom looking too young to be considered adults. “Poor Agoi may be a little coo-coo in the head, but she actually had four sons about a year ago, as well as a husband. Her husband and her eldest son got taken by fever. She used to be so sweet and kind… Now she only cares about protecting her boys.” She gave Serenis a sad smile. “Oh, but listen to me ramble. Hearing so many new names and stories must be overwhelming.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Serenis reassured her. “And my condolences for your losses,” Serenis put her hands together and bowed slightly.

Okako’e nodded in appreciation. “Thank you, it means a lot to hear that from an outsider, and it’s nice to finally be at peace after so many years of walking and swimming.” The pup on her arm let out a high pitched yawn and smacked its lips. It rolled his head around and stared at Serenis with large, round, black eyes. Okako’e smiled. “She usually doesn’t stare long at people she doesn’t like - I think she thinks you’re pretty.”

Serenis looked at the little pup and gave her a warm smile, reaching over to pat her head, the pup’s fur second in softness only to the expression on its face. “That means a lot to me,” Serenis said. This lasted for a second, then she returned her attention to Tokuanhe and Odende. “How are they doing? Who’s, um, who’s winning?” Serenis asked, gesturing towards the two Selka.

Okako’e peeked out into the daylight just in time to see Tokuanhe smash the large rock into the sand and point at it, shouting some incoherent, yet obviously utterly exhausted, banter at an equally sweaty Odende. The champion squatted down, straightened his back and lifted the rock high above his head, pushing it up and down with strained numbers. Around the two, their sons and many more were cheering them on. Okako’e giggled.

“Odende’s winning. I’ve seen Tokuanhe tired before and I know when he can’t go any longer.” Yukuanhe waddled over to Serenis, plopped himself down next to her and squinted at her pensively. Okako’e smiled wryly. “So, Selenee, what’s your home like?”

“Home…” Serenis said as she began to stare off into space. It wasn’t that long ago since she left Spekatha, but already it began to feel like an eternity to her. “There’s… a lot of grass. Grass as far as the eye can see, maybe even farther than that. There were trees, and lakes too, of all different shapes and sizes. They dotted the landscape. There were… a lot of them. It was a lot of work taking care of them, and I imagine there’s a lot more now. And… it was warm. It wasn’t just the temperature; there was love, too. Lady Arae was very kind. I wonder what she’s doing now…”

Okako’e smiled warmly, as did many of the other selka females who apparently had gathered around Serenis as she had spoken. Quiet coos from pups and the grunting and cheering from the outside were the only sounds breaking the silence that followed. “Your home sounds like a really nice place,” said Yui, eldest daughter of Yupe. There were hums of agreement.

“Is this Lady Alae your ma?” asked Ego, eldest sister of Elop, with a cock of the head.

“Hmm… I guess you could call her that,” Serenis answered. “It’s a little difficult to explain. Lady Arae created my home, and everything in it. Me included. She created the land to track families’ well-beings and maintain them, and I was the land’s sole caretaker.”

The surrounding selka all gaped. “Wah,” Julempe went. “Is… Is she like the big Killon? Can she make things out of thin air?” The others’ eyes widened as they looked between Julempe and Serenis.

“You are talking about… Kirron, correct?” Serenis said. “In which case, yes, very much so. Lady Arae is the Goddess of Family, much like Kirron is the God of… hmm, I can’t recall... but both of them hold very significant powers as gods.”

They sat with their eyes round as discs. In came a triumphantly cackling Odende followed by a shamed Tokuanhe.

“I’m sorry, boys, I lost the f--”

“Your ma is a goddess!” shouted Agoi in a frightened voice and pointed at Serenis. The selka all instinctively firmed up and Tokuanhe and Odende stood gaping.

Serenis looked around, confused. “Is- is that a bad thing?” she asked.

“... N-no! It’s just…” Okako’e started. Tokuanhe pushed himself forward and stood right next to Serenis, his blubbery belly hinting at considerable musculature underneath.

“It’s just that we haven’t ever met someone with a goddess for a ma,” Tokuanhe said. “C-can we have a blessing, please?!”

“Tokky!” Okako’e exclaimed. The large selka shrugged.
“W-well, this is my first time asking!”

“A blessing? I’m, uh, well, I-I don’t think I have that kind of power,” Serenis stuttered. “That’s really more of Lady Arae’s abilities than mine. And it doesn’t seem like you need any blessings, either. Just love your tribe and care for them, and I’m sure Lady Arae won’t abandon you in times of need.”

“Oh,” the chieftain said flatly. “W-well, any tips on how we can pray to Alae? Anything she likes? Does she like fish?”

“She gotta like fish. Who doesn’t like fish?” Yupe grumbled through his mustache-like whiskers.

“Lady Arae will take anything as long as you have love in your intentions,” Serenis replied.

“Huh… Well, if love between family is enough, Alae will get plenty of it from us!” Tokuanhe said cheerfully, followed by giggles and whoops from the surrounding selka.

Serenis simply smiled. This tribe of Selka was a lively bunch. She began to silent pray, Lady Arae, should these Selka be in a time of need, please help them. They’ve been through enough.

Summary!

Jokuanhe and his gee-eff Julempe are exploring the island together. They get to the top of a hill and spot Serenis on Kree. They get hella scared, but Serenis convinces them that she aight and asks they got any food to offer Kree. After some back and forth, Julempe convinces Jokuanhe to bring them to the cave. There, Serenis is again challenged by Tokuanhe and his lads - however, Serenis manages to convince them that she’s good by telling them about how she knows what family is like once Tokuanhe says he’ll do anything to defend his. They head inside the cave and get Kree a fish. While inside, Serenis asks to be introduced to all the families of the tribe. During the introduction, Odende and Tokuanhe disagree over who’s got the strongest sons, so they go outside to see who can lift the most. Meanwhile, Okako’e tells Serenis about the hardships the tribe experienced on the way to Wuhdige island. During the chat, Serenis drops the ‘I’m an avatar’-bomb and the entire tribe suddenly gape widely in awe. Tokuanhe fruitlessly asks for a blessing and Serenis tells them that they can pray to Arae for that. They laugh it off and Serenis drops a prayer to Arae herself, asking for her protection over these selka.